dorawenzhan

absence

2011-02-28T14:34:00.001+08:00

no posts and long absence from blog indicates i haven't been reading for long now...

four months since my last post....

hope to be able to finish more books this year round....

those that are still pending.....

anne frank's diary

sun tzu art of war

Blind willow, sleeping women

Man eating cats

2010-11-23T21:09:00.003+08:00

Man eating cats
Pg 118 - 120
Written by haruki murakami
Translated by Philip Gabriel
Something clicked between us the first time we laid eyes in each other... I can't recall exactly what we talked about but we found a million topics and could have talked forever. With a laserlike clarity I could grasp everything she wanted to say. And things I couldn't well explain well to everyone else came across to her with exactness that took me by surprise... This was the order of minor miracle - running across someone you express tour feelings to so clearly so completely. Most people go their entire life without meeting a person like that...
I turned the idea around in my mind. Greece? My alcohol-soaked brain couldn't follow the logic. "I've always wanted to go to greece" she said."It's been my dream. I wanted to go on my honeymoon, but we didn't have enough noney. So let's go - the two of us. And just live there, you know, with no worries about anything..." ...we calculated how much money we had between us. She had two and half million yen in savings, while I could come up with one and a half million. Four million yen altogether - about forty thousand dollars..."...what do you say? Let's go. We will let things sort themselves out later on" what a mess, I thought. I gazed at the palm of my hand for the longest time. Was this really what my life had come to? "All right," I said finally."let's do it."

sun tzu art of war

2010-11-23T11:53:00.001+08:00

Two... Waging war

"One who does not thoroughly understand the calamity of war shall not be able to thoroughly comprehend the advantage going to war."

The big battlefield shall become an empty shell with the peasantry losing seven-tenths of their property, while the government will incur expenditure for broken chariots, worn out horses, amours, arrows, crossbows, shields and supply wagons, amounting to six-tenths of its total revenue...

To kill the enemy is only out of impulsive rage but to profit from his defeat is to gain over his wealth. in battle, those who capture more than ten chariots from the enemy should be rewarded. change the enemy's flags with our own, mix the captured chariots with ours for our use. be kind towards captive and care for them. this is called "using the captured foe to strengthen one's own force"...

In war, what matters is victory, not prolonged campaigns. and therefore the general who understands war is the arbiter of the people's fate, and on him depends whether the nation shall be at peace or in danger.

an article about rain...

2010-11-12T22:28:00.001+08:00

It is raining outside. I sit in utter silence on this cold late night. The house is quiet except for the occasional sway of a tree branch opposite my house. Inside all is still, the only known breathing thing is, me, alone with my thoughts. Outside the rain is pouring, slightly blowing in the wind as it beats against my window.

I have never taken the time to carefully examine the droplets of rain like I am doing today. I lean against the window, resting my head lightly against the glass. As the coolness of the glass seeps into my skin, I feel as if it is colder inside than it is outside. I watch as each droplet crashes into the pane of glasses, creating a microscopic explosion of water.

The drops remind me of tears as they slide down my window pane. It seems as though the sky is crying. I wonder what pain the sky could be feeling to let loose of such a large amount of tears. I have felt pain like that before, I have felt like there would never be enough tears to suffice to the internal pain I felt. I think this is what the sky must have felt that day as it cried those billions of tears that streamed down my window.

The purging of the waters, cast down by heaven, silently attest to the disgrace and icy abandonment acutely consuming me, much as the ground swallows the drops outside, making a muddy, ugly swirl and darkly mocking the once beautiful flowerbeds and gardens. Almost nonchalantly at first, the storm seductively entices me to morbid indulgence . I feel the rain is telling me that it can clean my spirit, the cold is showing me that sobriety of mind sometimes comes abruptly but always when most needed to whet the parched, the wind pulls me beyond my hole of self-pity, and shows me how it connects through all things in view.

I look down at the mud, and it demonstrates that the earth is happy and playful, that little streams and puddles are alive and vibrant, and everywhere as the storm plays out I am revived and rekindled. For me, I could do no less than let the storm inside merge with the storm outside, and it is now a rejuvenating storm, an affirming and cleansing storm. It is now a combined perfect storm.

sun tzu art of war

2010-10-27T18:22:00.007+08:00

One... Planning

Five fundamental factors; moral law; heaven; earth; commands; doctrine. Therefore when laying plans, consider them carefully. By moral, whose commander is the most capable. Which army obtains the advantage of heaven and earth. Which side are regulations and instructions carried out better. Which army is stronger. Which has better trained officers and men....

All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable, pretend to be incapable. When active, inactive. When near, make the enemy believe that you are far away. When far away, that you are near. Hold out baits to lure the enemy. Feign disorder and strike him. When he has the advantages position, prepare against him. When he is strong, avoid him. If he is prone to choleric temper, irritate him...

More planning shall give greater possibility of victory...

more murakami

2010-10-05T17:43:00.002+08:00

more murakami coming...

airplane: or how he talked to himself as if reciting poetry

2010-07-30T09:23:00.007+08:00

airplane: or how he talked to himself as if reciting poetry
page 50-53
written by haruki murakami
translated by jay rubin

"is it an old habit, the way you talk to yourself like that?"

"like what?" she had taken him off guard

...

"no, no. Not then, just anytime. Like, when you're taking shower, or when i'm in the kitchen and you're by yourself, reading the newspaper kind of thing."

"i had no idea," he said, shaking his head. "i never noticed. i talk to myself?"

"you do. really." she said

...

"i used to talk to myself a lot, too," she said. "when i was little,"

"oh, really?"

"but my mother made me stop. 'a young lasy does not talk to herself,' she used to say. and whenever i did it, she got so angry! she'd lock me in a closet - which, for me was about the scariest place i could imagine - all dark and moldy-smelling. somethimes she'd smack me on the knees with a ruler. it worked. and it didnt take very long. i stopped talking to myself - completely. not a word. after a while, i couldnt have done it if i had wanted to"

...

"even now," she said, "if i feel i'm about to say something, i just swallow my words. it's like a reflex. because i got yelled at so much when i was little. but, i dont know, what's so bad about talking to yourself? it's natural. it's just words coming out of your mouth. if my mother were still alive, i almost think i'd ask her, 'what's so bad about talking to yourself?'"

...

"what do i talk about when i talk to myself?" he ask. "for example."

"hmn," she said, slowly shaking her head a few times, almost as if she were discreetly testing the range of movement of her neck. "well, there's airplanes..."

...

He laughed. "why would i talk to myself about airplanes, of all things?"

she laughed, too. and then, using her index fingers, she measured the length of an imaginary object in the air. this was a habit of hers. one that he picked up.

"you pronounce your words so clearly, too. are you sure you dont remember talking to yourself?"

"i dont remember a thing."

...

"you talk to yourself as if you were reciting poetry."

...

he pointed at the pen and said, "next time you hear me talking to myself, take down what i say, will you?"

she stared straight into his eyes. "you really want to know?"

he nodded.

she took a piece of notepaper and started writing something on it. she wrote slowly, but she kept the pen moving, never once resting or getting stuck of words

...

"i know it all by heart," she said. "this is what you said to yourself about airplanes." he read the words aloud:

airplane

airplane flying

i, on the airplane

the airplane

flying

but still, though it flew

the airplane's

the sky?

....

murakami

2010-07-29T09:40:00.006+08:00

reading murakami's writings always left me feeling bizarre...

....

it's great to be reading again. i couldnt recall why i stop reading since my last book. reading makes me think and writes too, i could feel i no longer lost of imagery and words

...

blind willow, sleeping women

2010-07-26T10:14:00.004+08:00

Blind willow, sleeping women
page 13-14
written by haruki murakami
translated by philip gabriel

"blind willows have a lot of pollen, and tiny flies covered with the stuff crawled inside her ear and put the woman to sleep"

she took a new napkin and drew a picture of the blind willow. the tree was in bloom, the flowers surrounded by dark green leaves like a bunch of lizard tails gathered in a bunch. the blind willow didnt resemble a willow at all.

...

"a blind willow looks small on the outside, but it's got incredible deep roots," she explained. "actually, after a certain point it stops growing up and pushes further and further down into the ground, like the darkness nourishes it."

"and the files carry that pollen to her ear, burrow inside, and put her to sleep," ...

"but what happens to the files?"

"they stay inside the women and eat her flesh - naturally"

...

a young man climbed up the hill to rescue the woman the blind-willow pollen had put to sleep.

...

pushing his way through the thick blind willows, the young man slowly made his way up the hill. he was the first one ever to climb the hill once the blind willow took over. he pulled down over his eyes, brushing away with one hand the swarms of flies buzzing around him, the young man kept climbing, to see the sleeping women. to wake her from her long, deep sleep.

"but by the time he reached the top of the hill the woman's body had basically been eaten up already by the flies, right?" my friend said.

"in a sense," his girlfriend replied....

...

gossip

2010-07-09T07:42:00.003+08:00

most of the time people say it's best to avoid it... but i dont see people around me get any punishments nor lessons from gossiping...
"i dare you that sooner or later the day will come that you learn not to talk at people's back again.....!"

cant get bored of this....

2010-06-30T14:13:00.001+08:00

happy day

2010-06-27T00:36:00.002+08:00

sketches

2010-06-27T00:21:00.001+08:00

silence

2010-06-18T12:53:00.002+08:00

trying to break the silence after months of emptiness... will post
some images/drawings or perhaps a new face lift...? :)
post via blogger mobile

like the works of god...

2009-11-30T12:38:00.006+08:00

This music visualization by Peter Menich (Fast Fourier Transform Video – by Peter Menich) is so peaceful and magical. It’s a very complex and detailed video to the sound of Origine Nascota from Ludovico Einaudi. also azusa mano's work at prismgirl.org too

Fast Fourier Transform from peter menich on Vimeo.

third quarter year analysis

2009-10-28T09:58:00.002+08:00

one
nothing done to improve my design skills. havent been getting magazines to update myself. where's my passion? books i bought was filled with dust and my brain was left to decay.

two
did i read at least 4 books this year? let's see...
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final of the Harry Potter novels written by British author J. K. Rowling
2. Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (wonderful book! never give up on your dreams!)
3. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint
4. Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
4. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (i love children's storybook. dont you love them? imaginations run wild. so does Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events)
5. currently reading Neverwhere by Neil gaiman
That sums up to more than 4 books already. well, i know it's rather liltle but it's a good start!

three
huh-hmn, i pray lesser and lesser these days. didnt quite fulfill to visit mahavihara temple monthly... but i'm currently reading 'The Dhammapada' (okay, it should not be used as an excuse to escape)

four
my attempt to join sketchcrawl, a global drawing marathon did not happen. i have yet to take a day to journal and draw all that is around me. remember to keep drawing. just draw. draw draw draw!!!

five
oh yeah, there's zero money left in my account. (okay, if you really wan me to say the truth. it's only 5 bucks, satisfy?) and yes, i'm a victim of credit card. i'm spending the money i dont have.

15MALAYSIA

2009-08-18T09:02:00.004+08:00

15Malaysia is a short films project. It consists of 15 short films about Malaysia directed by some of the best young filmmakers in our country. Each film lasts between 3 to 7 minutes.

All our films have socio-political subject matters. These vary from corruption, race relations, inflation, Islamic banking, social apathy, ethical commerce, pedophilia, government health warnings and so on. Some are funny, other serious – all try to deal with aspects of Malaysian life. Each filmmaker was responsible for choosing his or her own subject matter.

spread the news about it...
http://15malaysia.com/films/

good one!

2009-07-21T15:12:00.002+08:00

Michael Jackson RIP

2009-06-30T09:17:00.004+08:00

7 ways Michael Jackson changed the world
By Jill Rosen

June 28, 2009

We would have remembered him if it was just the songwriting or just the dancing or just the eyebrow-raising fashion. But Michael Jackson dominated each of those artistic avenues - and so many others.

You see his influence in every Justin Timberlake who sweats to perfect a signature move. Every movie-esque flourish in a video. Every African-American artist who sits atop the pop charts.

His legacy is as enduring as it is multi-faceted.

1. Sound
When America first met Jackson, he was a lovable, pint-sized pre-teen with a puffy Afro and an electric voice.

Through the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, Jackson held onto the earnestness he had as the frontman of the Jackson Five. Back then, it was impossible to hate Jackson. He was just so likable. When he sang "We are the ones who make a brighter day / So let's start giving" in "We Are the World," you believed him.

As for the music? Pop, rock, disco, jazz - Jackson's tunes had a little bit of everything, all swirled together and peppered with plenty of high-pitched shrieks, squeals and "Hee-hees." His death leaves many questions, not the least of them being what, exactly, does "Shamone" mean?

Pop stars like the Spice Girls and Pussycat Dolls can sell millions of albums but never be taken seriously for their music. Not so for Jackson. His albums - Thriller especially - were embraced by fans and critics alike. He didn't just have 13 No. 1 singles; he had 13 Grammys, too.

2. Dance
No one moved like Michael Jackson. But everyone wanted to.

Music might have made him a star, but from the blunt sexuality of the crotch grabs, to the laser-sharp spins, snaps and pivots, to the mesmerizing group choreography spotlighted in his videos, to, of course, the otherworldly impossibility that was his moonwalk, dance launched Jackson into the stratosphere.

He might not have invented the moonwalk, but he might as well have. When the world watched him gliding like that for the first time, black loafers moving across the stage with liquid smoothness during a televised Motown Music special in 1983, no one had ever seen anything like it.

How many teenagers spent how many hours dragging their stockinged feet across carpeted bedroom floors, trying to master that illusion but remaining, alas, hopelessly earthbound?

3. Fashion
The single, white, sequined glove. The red leather jacket with so many zippers. The pegged pants. The fedora. The bedazzled military coats.

Like everything Jackson, his look was a precise exercise straddling desirability and eccentricity. Everybody wanted that leather jacket he wore in the Beat It video, but who, save Jackson, could pull off a solitary, spangled glove?

The Jheri curls? Maybe not. The mirrored sunglasses? Definitely.

He outfitted himself to show off his moves. Black shoes with glittering white socks? He knew no one could ignore feet turned out like that.

In regal coats with epaulets and rhinestone regalia, he was the King of Pop who dressed for the job.

4. Videos
When Jackson's full-length Thriller video was set to debut following an orgy of hype on MTV in late 1983, people wrote it on their calendars. They stayed home just to see it. The most expensive video ever made at the time, it was essentially a cinematic experience, a nearly 15-minute long mini-movie, a happening.

Unlike many artists who phone in videos with concert footage or pack them full of scantily clad models, Jackson used his MTV time to tell stories (as in Thriller and Smooth Criminal), push the boundaries of special effects (as in Billie Jean), produce full, Broadway-choreography (as in Beat It).

He single-handedly fortified the fledgling music television channel and turned the music video into an art form.

5. Influence
Like Elvis and Bob Dylan before him, Jackson reshaped pop culture in ways that are hard to comprehend. Jackson influenced just about every musician who came after him in one way or another. He was unavoidable.

Baltimore-based hip-hop performer MC Saleem Heggins can't point to one specific way Jackson helped shape his music. That would almost be insulting, he said. Jackson was much broader than that, and his legacy is almost impossible to pin down.

"For me, he was the largest figure in music," Heggins said. "I was inspired and entertained by his ability to reach all walks of life. ... It's a legacy of creating great music that appeals to people without compromising yourself."

6. Celebrity
This week as the world mourned Jackson, a CNN commenter wondered if there has ever been anyone on the planet with a more recognized name.

Maybe not.

He was a superstar, but a superstar whose eccentricities drove one tabloid headline after another. His marriages. His monkey. His plastic surgeries. The molestation trial.

For a generation, Jackson was an ever-present media image, selling millions of records, launching millions of rumors.

Byrd was hoping that Jackson's planned comeback tour would turn the spotlight away from the freak show and back to the artistry.

"I was praying even that Michael was going to return to the Michael we know and love," he said, "and the music that was the soundtrack to our lives."

7. Race
Before Billie Jean, MTV hadn't played a black artist. They weren't "rock" enough, the channel's executives said.

But as Thriller became the top-selling album of all-time, and its corresponding videos all but made MTV, Jackson soundly broke that color barrier.

Jackson's appeal became near-universal, a sound as inescapable on white suburban boomboxes as it was in urban dance clubs.

Still, the idea of racial harmony played out throughout Jackson's career. He teamed with Paul McCartney in the 1980s for the singles "Say, Say, Say" and "The Girl is Mine," and years later, even as his own blackness seemed to be literally fading away as his skin tone became ever lighter, he sang: "If you're thinking about my baby it don't matter if you're black or white."

"His catalog revolves around love, around African-American pride and around uplifting all people," says Eric Byrd, a music lecturer at McDaniel College. "He was trying to tell people we can do better as a human family."

Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Sessa contributed to this article.

Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun
www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-ae.jackson28jun28,0,7072366.story

*

ren shen hai hai

2009-06-17T15:59:00.003+08:00

Ren shen hai hai

one day i was thinking if i am actually worth anything
or am i totally worth nothing
everyday without a purpose but still aim to prove the truth
other people farting from their butts but everyday i keep on saying i want to turn my life around

even though the whole world is giving up on me
but at least happy or sad i'll decide for myself
so i say let it be as i know after the tide goes down it will come back up

often times i sacrificed and strived and walked by but still i leave no marks
but i'm never afraid to dig up my burning heart
in my hand a coin with one deciding side to give up burping and farting
but deep inside i really dont want to give up

you yi tian wo zai xiang　
wo dao di　
suan shi ge shi mo dong xi
huan shi wo hui bu hui　
gen ben jiu bu suan dong xi

tian tian du man wu mu de　
pian pian you xiang yao zheng ming - zhen li
bie ren cong pi gu fang pi
wo que mei tian mei tian de
shuo yao ge ming

Chorus
jiu suan shi zhe ge shi jie　
ba wo pao qi　
er zhi shao kuai yue shang xin wo zi ji jue ding
suo yi wo shuo　
jiu rang ta qu　
wo zhi dao chao luo zhi hou yi ding you chao qi　
you shi mo liau bu qi

chang chang wo　
huo chu qu - pin le ming　
zou guo que mei you hen ji
ke shi wo - cong bu pa　
wa chu wo huo re de xin

shou shang you yi ge ying bi　
fan mian jiu jue ding fang qi - ge pi
dan shi a zai wo xin di　
que wan wan quan quan bu xiang fang qi

Chorus
jiu suan shi zhe ge shi jie　
ba wo pao qi　
er zhi shao kuai yue shang xin wo zi ji jue ding
suo yi wo shuo　
jiu rang ta qu　
wo zhi dao chao luo zhi hou yi ding you chao qi　
you shi mo liau bu qi

chang chang wo　
bi shang yan jing　
ting dao le hai de hu xi - shi ni
wen rou de lan se chao xi
gao su wo mei you guan xi

Chorus
jiu suan shi zhe ge shi jie　
ba wo pao qi　
er zhi shao kuai yue shang xin wo zi ji jue ding
suo yi wo shuo　
jiu rang ta qu　
wo zhi dao chao luo / zhi hou / yi ding you chao qi　
you shi mo liau bu qi

wu lun shi wo de ming tian　
yao qu na li　
er zhi shao kuai yue shang xin wo zi ji jue ding
suo yi wo shuo　
jiu rang ta qu　
wo zhi dao chao luo zhi hou yi ding you chao qi
you shi mo le bu qi
you shi mo le bu qi

la la la
la la la

james roper

2009-06-03T15:55:00.011+08:00

wah!!!!!!!

oooooo!!!!!!!

oh....!!!!!

ehhhh....!!! bear included!
wonderful artwork from james roper

coraline

2009-05-04T11:27:00.004+08:00

wonderful story, wonderful animation, wonderful website with wonderful downloads...
http://www.coraline.com/

just another writing

2009-04-22T07:51:00.003+08:00

Just not long ago, controversial arouse over the change of Little India to Medan Kelana and again recently following a public outcry Klang Municipal Council (MPK) amended the name Laman Sukan Majlis Perbandaran Klang back to Padang Chetty. These are not what Klangites are expecting from MPK in efforts to improve and developing klang town. For example, the newly build mosque by the riverside and new building next to the mara bus station (near the indian street) are left unoccupied. What are the future plans for these buildings?

MPK should have place their attention on more major issues like the Klang bus station and construction work of a flyover near Jambatan Kota.
THE MPK has been ordered by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to improve the North Klang bus terminal by end of february (The Star, Central, Khalid tells MPK to reorganize bus services, Saturday January 10, 2009). No progress had been made and it’s not only creating hassle to commuters but also to other motorist who travel pass by the station as it’s causing traffic jam.

Another is the traffic congestion around construction work near Jambatan Kota has gone from bad to worse. Klangites have to go through the traffic woes everyday and it affects our lifestyle and is becoming mentally stressing. The work on an upgrading road project is six months behind schedule in November and it still shows not much improvement since then. (The star,central, Klang traffic chaos to last till mid-2010, Saturday November 29, 2008).

There are so many issues around town that needed more attention than the names of a street or padang. We are hoping that MPK could look into matters the broader way.

blogger mobile

2009-04-17T09:56:00.005+08:00

this post was sent through my mobile. yippie :)
unfortunately, can't post images through mobile email posting...

support earth hour

2009-03-23T08:09:00.003+08:00

be creative!

2009-03-11T14:34:00.002+08:00

Make This Month More Creative
March 24, 2008
by Sam Harrison

Want to make this month your most creative? Our resident creative expert offers up a different exercise to complete each week. At the end of the month, see how differently you're seeing the world around you and your work.

Week One: Approach one project in a different way every day.
Each day since the 1960s, the Japanese-born artist On Kawara has made thousands of “Today” paintings, hand-drawing the month, date and year on canvas after canvas after canvas.

Try a variation of Kawara’s routine. Pick a creative project you’re working on—or one you want to start—and spend an hour each day this week approaching the project in a different way. If it’s a visual piece, look at totally different styles, colors and sizes each day. If it’s writing, try different words, rhythms and points of views. If it’s a recipe, substitute different spices, cooking methods or plating options. If it’s a piece of music, play around with different melodies, lyrics or instruments.

Do the same project a different way every day. See what turns up.

Week Two: Add to your notebook every day this week.
Don’t miss a day. Enter insights and observations, quotes and sketches, whatever. Being firmly committed to the notebook this week will cause your eyes and ears to pay extra attention as you walk down streets, sit in restaurants, browse shops.

And if you aren’t already keeping a notebook, use this week to start. All highly creative people I interviewed for my book “IdeaSpotting” called notetaking a must-have creativity tool.

Notetaking tip: Write a reference word in the top right corner of each filled sheet in your notebook. When tracking down info later, you can easily thumb through pages to find what you’re after.

Week Three: Climb out of a box.
A friend told me about a woman whose cat wouldn’t budge from its litter box. She finally called her vet, who asked if she had recently moved into a new home.

“Yes,” she said, “I relocated into a new condo two weeks ago.”

“That explains it,” said the vet. “Cats crave familiar surroundings. The litter box is the only thing that’s familiar.”

Sometimes we humans are equally attached to comfort zones that aren’t attractive or inspiring—they’re just familiar and cozy. And those velvet ruts often keep us from expanding our creativity.

Snoop around your life this week. What familiar box are you sitting in that tires rather than inspires? What can you change to stretch out of that rut?

Week Four: Be for rather than against all week long.
During the 2006 Winter Olympics, Americans Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick—two of the world’s fastest skaters—were scheduled for the 1500-meter speed skating event. For weeks before the match, they bickered in the media about each other’s behavior and who would win the Gold. As it turned out neither did—the medal was won by Italy’s Enrico Frabris.

Their loss is a good example of what Dr. David Hawkins says is the difference between power and force—what we’re for empowers us; what we’re against weakens us. This week try not to spend time and energy being against anything. Instead, invest that energy in your creative growth and personal best.

Sam Harrison is a speaker and consultant on creativity-related topics and a frquent presenter at the HOW Design Conference. He's the author of "IdeaSpottting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea" and "Zing! Five Steps and 101 Tips for Creativity on Command."

watercolor-ing again...

2009-02-24T16:27:00.002+08:00

here's a new artwork painted with an additional media: the ox gall solution. it's great to increase the wetting and flow of watercolours. while painting i was wondering if it's really made from ox gall...

here's what i found from wikipedia
"Ox gall is gall, usually obtained from cows, that is mixed with alcohol and used as the wetting agent in marbling, engraving, lithography, and watercolor painting. It is a greenish-brown liquid mixture containing cholesterol, lecithin, taurocholic acid, and glycoholic acid."

alright, it explain the foul smell while i was painting... smells like raw egg. >_<

sketchbookproject

2009-02-20T09:32:00.008+08:00

i wonder why they dont have it around the world... or at least some campaign like this locally.... i would loved to be part of it....

http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/photos

here's some images of skecthbook that i think it's interesting...

watercolor-ing...

great strokes and rough...

this definitely need lots of patience...

you dont have to be skillful in drawing to be part of sketchbookproject.

just scrible!

just cut and paste montages...

just draw circles...

totally inspired!

drawings

2009-02-20T08:57:00.006+08:00

low key

high key

cicada story

2009-02-18T08:35:00.002+08:00

more coming soon... if i would have the passion to continue drawing cicadas...:P

watercolor-ing again...

2009-02-13T17:06:00.001+08:00

color expressionism

2009-02-13T17:02:00.003+08:00

just some pure color expressionism here. it just came about spontaneously on a bored evening.

"In abstract expressionism, the search of harmony and forms is not as important as trying to achieve the highest expression intensity, both from the aesthetic point of view and according to idea and human critics."

that's why, there's no explaination about these drawings here, but more to what you perceive from them instead...

evil eye

2009-02-13T16:55:00.001+08:00

ironically, these 'evil eyes' are considered to be a protection, according to the turkish tradition. the ancient belief that the gaze of strangers casts unwanted magic into the lives of the innocent; protected and all the bad energy will be directed to the amulet and it will brake.

love the cobalt blue shinning glass, the complimentary blue and yellow hue. after several attempt to get it right, here's the painting.

opps

2009-02-12T16:29:00.000+08:00

dead silence for months..........

love this!

2008-10-31T11:10:00.000+08:00

Cicada Do Brazil - Funny bloopers are a click away

third quarter year analysis

2008-09-05T08:37:00.020+08:00

one
nothing done to improve my design skills. havent been getting magazines to update myself. where's my passion? books i bought was filled with dust and my brain was left to decay.

two
did i read at least 4 books this year? let's see...
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final of the Harry Potter novels written by British author J. K. Rowling
2. Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (wonderful book! never give up on your dreams!)
3. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint
4. Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
4. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (i love children's storybook. dont you love them? imaginations run wild. so does Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events)
5. currently reading Neverwhere by Neil gaiman
That sums up to more than 4 books already. well, i know it's rather liltle but it's a good start!

three
huh-hmn, i pray lesser and lesser these days. didnt quite fulfill to visit mahavihara temple monthly... but i'm currently reading 'The Dhammapada' (okay, it should not be used as an excuse to escape)

four
my attempt to join sketchcrawl, a global drawing marathon did not happen. i have yet to take a day to journal and draw all that is around me. remember to keep drawing. just draw. draw draw draw!!!

five
oh yeah, there's zero money left in my account. (okay, if you really wan me to say the truth. it's only 5 bucks, satisfy?) and yes, i'm a victim of credit card. i'm spending the money i dont have.

so, that's what resolutions are all about

Quotes

2008-09-03T07:09:00.002+08:00

Solomon Ibn Gabriol:
The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others

i'm now in the last stage with what i'm working on currently.... soon, my time will come.... soon.......

another lesson learnt from evan almighty:
"Alot of times, God gives us a task or job to do and even though sometimes we resist it at first, God will chase us - He will not give up on us the first time. Yes it's true God will not force us, but He will not give up on us."

Quotes

2008-08-19T08:47:00.001+08:00

Karim Rashid:
Be who you are, do what turns you on!

Napoleon Hill:
If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way

Mark Twain:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover

mumbling-s

2008-08-14T07:58:00.001+08:00

many times you already have the answers
many times you already know it's the right decision

being recognised for your 'attitude' already means you've get yourself back. dont doubt yourself! dont even mourn over it!

MTV Asia 2008

2008-07-08T14:57:00.002+08:00

Fun stuff

sia

2008-06-21T10:02:00.002+08:00

monday blues

2008-06-16T09:40:00.014+08:00

it's happy getting updates from friends over the pass week but all of the sudden when it comes to a new start of the week, it all begin to feel the other way round. best friend is on his plan to continue to backpack, now to europe. another friend is working in europe. a close friend is going to be away for two weeks to australia.

i feel me too should learn and explore more as well. i feel so disconnected to the world i'm in... there's a sudden instinct moment i wanted to fork out whatever i've got to cash in for a ticket... and soon realise that i cant always follow my instinct knowing that anyhow i've got to return to reality sooner or later.

perhaps few more years down the road... perhaps few more plannings... perhaps few more encouragement and determination.... or perhaps at last, i'm still at the same place....

"Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
Lost myself again and I feel unsafe"
Sia-breathe me

i'll just continue to listen to the blues/indie for the rest of the day as happy and upbeat songs wont be able to lift me up......this one below from pete teo, "lost in america" helps a soothe bit....

Dare to dream

2008-06-10T10:07:00.004+08:00

"Imagination allowed the possibility that extraordinary things can be achieved if only we’d try... So here’s to those with delusional dreams. Long may they thrive...." - pete teo

MAFU

2008-05-17T11:32:00.002+08:00

Here in my home

2008-05-16T10:13:00.002+08:00

MAFU experiences

2008-05-13T07:49:00.007+08:00

at first, i'm worried whether i could carried out the task well as i was position in frontline to greet these guest star once they arrived. infact, they are really friendly and humble. one time that aflin shauki, reshmonu, ning baizura arrives, i had to greet them well but actually i freak a lil from inside..."oh my god! oh my god!!! aaaaaaaaahhh!!! almost faints" but yet we have to keep cool... a valueable experience.

"was thinking that it would be a plain and boring MV to have a static camera. but taking a deeper think through about it, i feel that it's the faces of the cast that's important. these people, these faces represents malaysia, represent multi ethnic. it sums up what's this mv is all about." - Yasmin ahmad

Malaysian Artistes For Unity (MAFU)

2008-05-05T16:07:00.010+08:00

Project Volunteers:
Project Producer Pete Teo / Assistant Producer Albert Law Song / Producer Greg Henderson & Pete Teo / Recording Engineer Greg Henderson / Mixing & Mastering Engineer Nick Lee / Song Composer Pete Teo / Video Production Chilli Pepper Films / Video Producer Effendi Harjoh / Video Director Yasmin Ahmad & Ho Yuhang / Director [Making Of Video] Michelle Lo / Director Of Photography Pete Abdullah / First A.D. Pitt Fierdaus / Editing House Mirage / Video Editor Raja Affandi & Kazman Kassim / Video Editor [Making Of Video] Akashdeep Singh / Video Technical Producers Farid Yusof / Fara Ghazali / Nina / Camera Krubanathan / Joe Kumar / Syukor Hashim / Azam Mohd Yusoff / Lighting Megat Anuar / Suri Grip Yazid / Zamzul / Styling & Make-Up Josephine Yam / Vivian Lee / Suning C

Volunteers
Edwin Goh / Emily Tan / Dora Chua / Melissa Tan / Fry Hew / Kelvin Yoon / Raymond Lee / Frederick Tan / Felix Tan / Chong Chin Siong / Vincent Lee / William Ong / Evangeline Wong / Jenny Heng / Lim Vi Vian / Alvin Law

Location Sponsor Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre / Catering Sponsors Alliance Cosmetics / Alexis Web Design & Services Muid Latif & Digital Malaya Aircraft Graphics Design Pete Teo / Albert Law / Frederick Tan / Felix Tan / Emily Tan Publicity Joan Lau / Millennium Associates

"Yuhang and I knew, at the very onset of the project, that we did not want fancy camera moves or graphics that would have brought attention upon themselves. (Music videos have a habit of doing just that!)

We figured that when you have charismatic people like Afdlin Shauki, Harith Iskandar, Awie, Jason Lo, Reshmonu, Sheby Singh, Ning Baizura, the "Sepet" couple (Ng Choo Seong and Sharifah Amani), Maya Karin, Tony Fernandes, Reshmonu, Jaclyn Victor, Ida Nerina, Amber Chia, Atilia, Nikki and all those other wonderful personalities singing and dancing to a beautiful song, the best thing to do was to keep everything constant. A mostly un-moving camera, lots of space for people to run around in, and a flat coloured location.

So in the end, what you'll see are Stars in their element." - yasmin ahmad

They will be releasing the track and video for free to the public in the near future. You can get more information on the project from their website soon...

MAFU Official Website

Malaysian Artistes For Unity - Trailer

2008-05-02T16:08:00.002+08:00

Here In My Home - Teaser - Malaysian Artistes For Unity

Keep a lookout for this noble act of music and universal love!

2008-04-30T10:25:00.017+08:00

The song is entitled ‘Here In My Home’. Pete Teo wrote the song especially for the project... sung by 16 different artistes

Here’s the list of artistes and celebrities featured on both the single and video:-

Artistes [Singers]
Adflin Shauki / Awie / Ning Baizura / Jaclyn Victor / Reshmonu / Pete Teo / Attilia / Jason Lo / KLG Sqad / Altimet / Suki / Daniel Lee / Nikki Palikat / Melina William

Cast [Cameo]
Tony Fernandez / Maya Karin / Harith Iskander / Adibah Nor / Singletrackmind / Stephen Chua / Izzy Mohamed / Shebby Singh / Nell Ng / Mak Ho / Badri Ibrahim / Hans Isaac / Chan Fong / Mark The / Kamal Sabran / Sharifah Amani / Ng Choo Seong / Evelyn Hii / Nurfatimah / Justin Lim / Pang Khee Teik / Jerome Kugan / January Low / Sharifah Aleya / Azmyl Yunor / Amber Chia

there'll be a music video too, co-directed by Yasmin Ahmad and Ho Yuhang,

Malaysian Artistes For Unity is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit national unity project made possible by the participation of over 120 notable Malaysians. Enlisted to the project over a short period of 2 weeks in April 2008, these participants range from artistes, celebrities, arts activists, media-personalities, musicians, dancers, sportsmen, filmmakers, web designers, producers, technicians, poets, models and more. All participants contributed their effort on a pro-bono basis. The project has a production budget of exactly zero.

Keep a lookout for this noble act of music and universal love!
Support Malaysian Artistes For Unity - first time ever launching of the MV on 3rd May 08, AIM live broadcasting at NTV7

Quotes

2008-03-26T11:21:00.003+08:00

Salvador Dali:
Mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature. Never try to correct them. On the contrary: rationalize them, understand them thoroughly. After that, it will be possible for you to sublimate them.

Robert H. Schuller:
Let your imagination release your imprisoned possibilities.

dark clouds

2008-03-25T09:21:00.001+08:00

more drawings

2008-03-04T11:56:00.015+08:00

the colours from my palette

most of these drawings are meant to be sketchy but i always over do it. i'm aiming for more spontaneous and continuous drawings. anyway, i'm enjoying it...

watercolor

2008-02-22T08:12:00.012+08:00

recently i'm having fun with watercolors again...as a result from this. It's the idea of sketchcrawl, a global drawing marathon: taking a day to journal and draw all that is around you.

Plans to take part in the 18th World Wide SketchCrawl is growing inside me(Saturday March 29th 2008). Well, locally of course and i would tour around KL again. Before i really go outdoors for drawing, i'm pretty much sure to test out my watercolors skill first. it's been years since i last paint with it.

here's one recent sketch. it feels great.
And then, probably just this morning, it occurred to me that maybe i could take the bus ride on kl hop-on hop-off (if they're still providing the service. i have not seen the bus around for months) it would be fun and there's pretty much to see... wish me luck!

Stefan Sagmeister

2008-02-19T09:56:00.014+08:00

it's been sometime since i last encounter design/art that take my breath and swept my feet away... since Ron Mueck. Recently, i encounter Stefan Sagmeister's new works and it inspires me and in hope it inspires you too

here's the photos of his latest exhibition on the theme "The collection of Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far" at the SuperSpace gallery in Belgrade

i always like his works, from a simple name card to the series of posters.

When Stefan Sagmeister was invited to design the poster for an AIGA lecture he was giving on the campus at Cranbrook near Detroit, he asked his assistant to carve the details on to his torso with an X-acto knife and photographed the result. Sunning himself on a beach the following summer, Sagmeister noticed traces of the poster text rising in pink as his flesh tanned.

His design for the Talking Heads box set earned him a Grammy award.

His works mostly are outcomes of his personal life, turns out to be famous and this is where i admire his courage and the way he use of design as part of life. When a girlfriend asked him to design business cards which would cost no more than $1 each, Sagmeister printed them on dollar bills. And when a friend from Austria came to visit, having voiced concern that New York women would ignore him, Sagmeister postered the walls of his neighbourhood with a picture of his friend under the words "Dear Girls! Please be nice to Reini".

He sets from engineering background to graphic design after working on illustrations and lay-outs for Alphorn, a left-wing magazine. For the poster publicising Alphorn’s Anarchy issue, he persuaded fellow students to lie down in the playground in the shape of the letter A and photographed them from the school roof.

In June 2000, Sagmeister decided to treat himself to a long-promised year off to concentrate on experimental projects and a book Sagmeister, sub-titled Made You Look with the sub-sub-title Another self-indulgent design monograph (practically everything we have ever designed including the bad stuff.) The worst of the "bad stuff" was a 1996 series of CD-Rom covers for a subsidiary of the Viacom entertainment group. "Don’t take on any more bad jobs," Sagmeister scolded himself in his diary. "I have done enough bullshit lately, I just have to make time for something better. Something good."

here is a 2004 TED video with Stefan Sagmeister, titled “Yes, design can make you happy”

his official website

Interivew with sagmeister

Book review - The collection of Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far

what i did during my Chinese New Year (CNY)

2008-02-18T10:41:00.026+08:00

i aim to win back my TV/Movie Queen title (in my house).....

After hours and even days of potato couch-ing, fighting sessions with my family to gets hold on the remote control, going through terrible moments when the Astro couldn't work on rainy days... here's the list up to this day, the 12th day of CNY

20 episodes of "Wars-in-laws"
Wishing Upon the Star [Chinese]
Seven Swords [Chinese]
Rob-b-hood [Chinese]
Just Like Heaven
Lord of the Rings - The return of the King
The Legend of Zorro
Initial-D
Happy feet
My Neighbor Totoro
Princess Mononoke
Memoirs of Geisha
Vertical Limit
Spirited Away
...
...
... the 13th day - House of Flying Daggers [Chinese]
... more to come till the 15th of CNY...

Raymond Chandler once said
"Television's perfect. You don't have to concentrate. You don't have to react. You don't have to remember. You don't miss your brain because you don't need it. Your heart and liver and lungs continue to function normally."
i guess that's why I'm so addicted to TV. I'll just have to keep my eyes stick to the screen... not my brain. If some person comes along and speak to me, i pay him/her no mind.

One thing about watching TV that i dislike is that when you're on a meaningful drama or a enthralled half way through some chiller scenes, proceedings are interrupted by commercials. well, I’m in design and advertising. what else i can say? I just have to go through it whenever i can. At times that i cant, I snooze off....

Of all pros and con we hear about TV, i just have to agree with this one...
"I believe television is going to be the test of the modern world, and that in this new opportunity to see beyond the range of our vision, we shall discover a new and unbearable disturbance of the modern peace, or a saving radiance in the sky. We shall stand or fall by television - of that I am quite sure." ~E.B. White

2007 pictures of the year by Reuters

2008-01-22T14:03:00.001+08:00

well to look at what happened in 2007, here's some pictures to satisfy your eyes and in hope, it enlightens your soul...

some happy ones...

Children play near a fountain at the Parque Central in Guatemala City October 1, 2007. REUTERS/Daniel Leclair

A Chinese military band conductor prepares to perform before the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 5, 2007. REUTERS/Jason Lee

truthful ones...

Polar bear cub Knut is reflected in the water during the bear's first presentation in Berlin zoo, March 23, 2007. Knut, born on December 5, 2006, had to be hand fed every four hours by Berlin zoo employee Thomas Doerflein after its mother Tosca refused the baby. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz

Indonesian children play on a railway track in a slum area in Jakarta, January 30, 2007, as a train travels past. REUTERS/Beawiharta

A Turkish demonstrator stands facing Turkey's national flag during a protest against the Kurdish PKK organization in front of the European Union headquarters in Brussels November 3, 2007. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

shocking ones...

A farmer walks on a dried-up pond on the outskirts of Baokang, central China's Hubei province, June 10, 2007. REUTERS/Stringer

A bloodied and mud covered Eileen Shannon (C) is led away by Kieran Beer (L) and a policewoman from the scene of an explosion near Grand Central Station in New York, July 18, 2007. A transformer exploded in midtown Manhattan, creating a roar and a huge plume of smoke and sending pedestrians fleeing from the area in scenes reminiscent of the Sept. 11 attacks. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

and definately more of those sad ones...

Bosnian Muslims cry beside a coffin of their relative prepared for a funeral near Srebrenica July 10, 2007. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Firemen evacuate a victim of a suicide car bomb which exploded near the prime minister's headquarters in central Algiers April 11, 2007. REUTERS/Louafi Larbi

see more

may 2008 be a better year....

fish

2008-01-22T09:43:00.002+08:00

get one here

resolutions

2008-01-16T22:23:00.001+08:00

The beginning of each New Year makes me feel all new. Another fresh new year is here . . . Another year to live! This bright New Year has given me the spirit to live each day with zest . . .

Once again, it’s time for the annual New Year's harmless annual intuition… New Year resolutions! It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Recently, I read through several quotes and article that made me thinking seriously about this ‘harmless annual intuition’ of mine…..

"I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me." - Anais Nin

Like Anais, Sujesh (columnist, The Star Paper) feel the same too.

"New Year resolutions tie you up for the rest of the year, if you take them too seriously – they can squeeze the fun out of your life..."

But don’t get him wrong, he's into resolutions when they’re made by other people, and especially if he's going to benefit from them. It’s just making his own ones are what getting into his nerves. All this is because making resolutions is a good ritual of self-assessment but on the contrary, breaking them is part of the routine as well.

“New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual” - Mark Twain.

This is so true that I remember how motivated I am during the first week when I set my resolution last year. I designed a special calendar and begin to keep a journal on it. But weeks after that, things begin to slow down until recently, I realise we’re now crawling in to 2008! well, it's time for a new one!

"He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool" - F.M. Knowles, A Cheerful Year Book

ha! i shall continue to be a 'fool' then, and for years to come.....

sharing

2008-01-15T21:59:00.003+08:00

“The greatest difficulty with the world is not its ability to produce, but the unwillingness to share.” - Roy L. Smith

i get this from a friend's blog...

2008-01-04T08:28:00.000+08:00

Born In The Year's of 80s

If you are Msia's 80s baby, read through this, we grew up watching Transformers, Thundercats, Woody Woodpecker, Chipmunks, Mickey Mouse, Jem, Mask, Ninja Turtles, Voltron, Baja Hitam, Ultraman n not forgettin POWER RANGERS n BUGS BUNNY!!!and anderra yippa mice? Smile McGyver?

Had to brush our teeths during recess at primary school? had to hold plastic cups, line up with your classmates sideby side and start brushing our teeths at some open area... or maybe near some drain??

Do you still remember that we had 'dentist' rooms where we had to have our teeth check?

Not to forget our 'program minum susu' in primary school... everybody is suppose to buy cartons of milk that costed 30 cents... and you would see everyone drinking it everyday... its d UHT milk...

The teachers who would want to punish us must use yellow rulers to hit us on our palms?? 1 metre length..

That a bowl of mihun soup or some soup only costed 50 cents at the school canteen...

Went to some sundry shop near the school or to the 'roti' man waiting outside our schools so that we can buy junk food like chickedees, mamee, ding dang with some toys in it, 'Ti Kam', ice-cream and we would play games like monopoly, uno, old maid, and all other card games like that...

Another fun time would be during Pendidikan Jasmani. the boys would play football while the girls would play netball... and it would be like we were playing in the world cup... But of course, the best would be main guli, batu seremban, bottlecaps, ice- cream sticks, 'Pepsi Cola one-two-three', Cops and Robbers, main kejar-kejar duduk, getah... and for the not so active, those kind of 'book games' where we would use buku latihan to draw and ask our friends to play...

Do you remember the ice-cream tubes which are actually ice and colouring that are sold for 10 to 20 cents... the colourful ones... where you usually bite off the top to glup it down.orange taste s b best..(pop-ice) & what about days when we felt like doing naughty things such as folding papers so small to make 'lastik' amd shoot each other... how about throwing chalks??

Back then, micheal jackson was just turning white... and still had albums coming out... compared to CD's, we were listening to tapes that sold for only RM9.90...

In computer class, we were still using black and white computer moniters... played 'Atari'... maybe SEGA or NINTENDO..

Well, are we all getting older or what?
1) If you understand what you have read and you are smiling...
2) We have friends from school that are already married...
3) We shake our heads everytime we see high school students fussing about their handphones in school..
4) We don't hang on phone with our friends for hours a day talking about nothing...
5) When we meet back with our friends from time to time, we feel excited and happy talking about old times, the funny 'adventures' or stories that we experienced as a kid..
6) Last but not least, that when you read this, you would think of all the happy & sad memories that you have experienced when you were still a kid and would think of forwarding this to your old friends that you have known since forever... i'm sure they would have a huge smile on their face after reading this.....
7. If u feel u're one of them who experinced this, repost this to share it wif ur frens...

year-end getaway...

2008-01-02T15:35:00.001+08:00

i may be far from my dream to visit the cyclades in greece but i recently just visit a place that's equivalent; kohsamui in thailand.the view of koh tao and oia in santorini

samui island is as wonderful as Cyclades Islands, that everyone should take a chance to visit the place. well, perhaps not as captivating as santorini in cyclades but it's an agreeable alternative...angthong marine park and the old habour in Fira, the Greek Aegean island

most part of the samui island is really marvelous with turquoise waters, unexploit lush green natures, and picturesque scenery. hope samui will be able to balance the rich nature in the process of commercialism. crystal clear waters in both koh tao and Amoudi bay

i believe the elements of nature may look alike but no doubt cultures and people is what make a place unique.buildings by the beach (lamai beach) in contrast with architecture along the cliff of Oia

sampan in kohsamui, an asian place but vessels in greece are with the western feel

my regrets is that i dont have the chance to immerse in the beauties of nature there and stare to it for hours, perhaps all day long without worries... not being able to just gaze at the view, to listen at the sounds surrounding, to feel the ambient... infinite horizon

captivating sunset in koh phangan and santorini

but at least i'll have these beautiful photographs to keep in hand and memories to keep in mind. afterall, it's indeed a good way to end my 2007. view of koh nangyuan from the hill top of koh tao

the volcono view from Mýkonos Santoríni, the best known tourist island of the Cyclades

amazing!

2007-12-07T14:22:00.000+08:00

Funky Forest from Long Tran on Vimeo.

december

2007-12-04T08:21:00.000+08:00

christmas is around the corner!

it didnt turn out well

2007-11-07T11:06:00.000+08:00

aiks, it didnt turn out well. i guess i overdo with the colour pencils... next try, watercolour. like these below...

LeesaLeva has some great colorful watercolors of urban hipsters
(see more)
(and more)

colours

2007-10-15T12:05:00.000+08:00

well, recently i felt that i've not been playing with colours as if i live in the monochrome world. i need to study more on colours. so, here's my recent sketch in colour. this is done with my markers (those that i abandoned for years, only to dig it out again from the dusty boxes in the store room)

next, i'm looking forward to paint my sketches with soft pastels. (i never really learn how to use soft pastels, all i do is follow my instincts) wish me luck, then! :)

suddenly i see

2007-10-10T09:32:00.001+08:00

"...There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them"
~Jennifer James

KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See
Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me
Suddenly I see
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me

I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
You can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on a wire
Suddenly I see
This is what i wanna be

Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me
Suddenly I see
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page of a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see
yeah, yeah

Suddenly i see
she's got the power to be
the power to give
the power to see
yeah,yeah x3

Suddenly I see
this is what i want to be
Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me x 2
suddenly i see why the hell it means so much to me

green-eyed monster

2007-10-09T08:49:00.000+08:00

i turned to become a green-eyed monster over the weekend. it took away my heart and suck life out of me... i'm no longer me. jealousy is the most stupid of all habits, corrupts my mind and left me to decay... like acid raindrops, blurred my vision. it keeps me thinking that if things did actually turn out as i should have done, all these will not happen as it is today. indeed "jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with it"

drawings

2007-10-04T08:59:00.000+08:00

here's my recent sketches...
well, if you come to see closer, they arent that 'recent' anyway. i drew these several months back but, only to complete the final touches yesterday.

these are just random sketches. it's just a start to keep my hands busy drawing again. i gotta continue till i make it a habit... and soon one day i might end up as famous as mulheresbarbadas... or as skillful like julie morstad or as random as experimentree. well, just ignore my silly mumblings...

doo-dle-ee-oo

2007-09-28T16:56:00.000+08:00

actually this post was meant to talk about this pair of designers who love to doodle...
mulheresbarbadas

"We are two bearded ladies working together.
We take turns drawing until we either fill up the canvas (or are too tired to go on, whichever comes first). We like monsters, icky stuff and tender love"

im pretty much attracted to this one...

before i found this one...
check out there's little giraffe with wings, monster creature with long legs and teletubies-looking-creature in red....

here's the illus for the latest coke ad...

but then, i found another cool one....
juliemorstad

love them all.....

Cyclades Islands

2007-09-27T15:44:00.000+08:00

when i watched the movie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (dont ask what's the movie about, it's a girlie movie), but i came to see a scene which took place in one of the magical island in Greece. It's such a wonderful place that everyone should take a chance to visit the place. it's called the Cyclades Islands

The islands are peaks of a submerged mountainous terrain, next to the sea. All Cycladic Islands share some distinctive features, such as the renowned Cycladic architecture, narrow cobblestone alleyways, fascinating archaeological, historical, religious and natural sights, quaint seaside and mountain villages and endless beaches.

one of the famous one is santorini.
pix of the various islands here and here

interestes grows to a very much intense level that i vow to visit this place and start to read up more about greece, their culture, learning their language, planning for budgets... imagining with greater desire for a long stay and soon to realise there's so much more to be done before i can keep this promise to myself. much sacrifes to make.

is this how dreams supposed to be? always be something that one can see but cant touch. it's like making a promise that one cant reach... and later be disappointed for not being determine enough.

maybe all these desire happen all in the sudden, out of admiring friends who are travelling all the way to another part of the world to discover and gain their own experience, and knowing that i cant be in place to do the same....

the place is saturate with different hues of blue, ochre and white

the buildings are build so close to the sea

not to miss, the spectacular sunset

romantic views during nightfall

if you're interested with these as much as i am, see this

draw draw draw

2007-09-18T14:24:00.000+08:00

I hope i could draw like experimentree studio. these would remind me to draw draw draw~
i know it's kinda late to add to the list, but i just have to

2007 resolution #5:
keep drawing. just draw. draw draw draw!!!

ideas ideas ideas

2007-09-13T14:21:00.001+08:00

for inspiration and idea generation...

hhmn, what else can be done?

Fantastic Plastic Machine (FPM)

2007-09-04T10:29:00.000+08:00

here's Tomoyuki Tanaka (田中知之), the J-pop artist/DJ/producer, who's also Fantastic Plastic Machine. one thing about him is most of his pictures are all stylish and chic. hmm....

He is considered to be part of the Shibuya-kei movement. i began to love the Downtempo music, a very laid-back electronic music style similar to Ambient music. recently learnt that it's also called chill out music. even the UNIQLOCK clock background music is from FPM. his songs are distinguishing, very much of "tanaka's touch", that one cant get it from others. here's some....(i recomend track 6, 7, 10)

Fantastic Plastic Machine official website

love this!

2007-08-17T11:59:00.000+08:00

more to see

i stole this from friend's blog

2007-08-17T11:52:00.001+08:00

In a world of comparisons and comformity, Make your own statement. Honor your own truth. Have the courage to be yourself; risk speaking your own thoughts and claiming your emotions. Share your vulnerabilities, fears, doubts, and insecurities; let others experience the real you. Have the courage to be yourself, and realize that you are a wonderful person.
-Diane Holcomb-

:(

2007-07-26T13:41:00.001+08:00

did i mention before that keong is on his plans to backpack / study in UK? hmnn, okay, i'm mentioning it now....and nicole just broke the news that she's leaving too. she's on her way to Norway on a 18-months contract to work there. what an oppurtunity! indeed i'm very proud of her as she always did so well during her studies and now in her career as well. but im sad. there goes another friend. i always hope for the best for my friends, that they get what the they dream for in abroad. above all, my biggest hope is no matter how far or how long they go, they would still come back and we would still be best friends again. i hate it as friendships often ends just there as eventually, i'm no longer in his/her life..... without eric, without keong and without nicole, life is really blue...it makes me wanna cry.......

i like this!

2007-07-13T12:09:00.000+08:00

see more street art in woostercollective. there's many interesting artworks!

Lightwriting With Lichtfaktor

2007-07-13T12:06:00.000+08:00

on the other hand, this is real cool!

2007-07-03T12:01:00.000+08:00

3-D Graffiti with Light! Using LED glowsticks.

witty and cool!

it makes me wanna try it myself....
*click here for more*

Diesel’s Spring/Summer 08 catwalk show

2007-07-03T10:20:00.000+08:00

i really wonder since when Diesel become this cool! how come i didnt realise what i'd missed.....? well, not too late. here's their recent catwalk show. it's really amazing what 3D hologram can do...

(okay, the front part of the clip might bored you, but must see those in the middle. there's really nice hologram)

"Diesel’s Spring/Summer 08 catwalk show, staged a few days ago at the Pitti Immagine Uomo fair in Florence, was nothing short of stunning. While regular human models paced up and down the runway, a host of polyp-like CGI characters appeared in mid-air to interact with them within an underwater landscape. And in a unique twist, these animated holograms were entirely viewable from both sides of the stage...

Diesel’s Creative Team (under the direction of Wilbert Das) based the show on an aquatic theme entitled “Liquid Space” and brought together Barcelona animation studio Dvein – who worked on the CGI visual effects and 3D animations – and Danish multi-media production agency, Vizoo, who provided the innovative technology for the show, which they had created themselves. Neither studio, say Diesel, had previously worked on anything like this before." -CR review

after watching the video, i felt the holograms and models are moving individually at their own pace. models catwalk passing by without interaction. if the 3Ds could blend in with the model (eg: greeting gestures, hopping together or tailing each other; just some simple body gestures), it could be more captivating. plus, with background music, this could be a real big show!

must see!

2007-06-29T15:27:00.001+08:00

OMG! i'm thrilled with the dance! i never watch such a complete clip for the 1000 hands dance.

1000 Hands Dance(Guan-Yin Dance Dance) - video powered by Metacafe

?!!

2007-06-29T15:23:00.000+08:00

seeing my blog with less postings recently certainly hints you that i'm busy...
ya! yes! busy indeed.... busy keeping my brain cells alive.....! busy thinking ways to keep my mind moving! busy rescuing my design sense from drowning into nothingness!

2007-05-31T15:44:00.000+08:00

cinta

2007-05-30T09:08:00.002+08:00

this makes me cry! really really crying....

to read more (click here)

there are many scenes around klang valley, especially KL. i'm familiar with some of the places; one is the central market and another is the houses near abdullah hukum beside the railway track. i past by them back and forth on the journey to work.

the message of this movie is indeed love! love itself......... it covers the wider defination of love. the concept is very similar to 'love actually' but in the local context. this makes me cries even more than 'the holiday'.

there are wonderful songs in the movie, mostly famous local singers. here's few OST songs that i would like recomend:

1. perpisahan by anuar zain (this one will make you cry)

2. Cinta by Misha Omar & Jaclyn Victor

3. Ikhlas Tapi Jauh by VE (this will make you happy)

4. pantun by zainal abidin

love it all!

mukhsin

2007-05-21T11:54:00.000+08:00

this is my first yasmin's movie.
Felt nice to be able to immerse again into the malay culture and be captivated by it.
i have not been praticing my malay language for some time now. watching mukhsin indeed makes me amazed with the movie, not only the message, the storyline, the artistic cinematography but mostly the playful language.

"berapa kati minyak yang kau tepek atas kepala engkau tu? ini kalau engkau duduk di tengah hari panas, boleh goreng telur atas dahi. amboi, bermalam biji mata aku menengoknya"

"kamu!! dah lama menyimpan lemak, ya"

"dah pukul budak tu...? hidup lagi ke...?"
"nyawa-nyawa ikan!"
"kami mita diri dulu, ya... menyesal datang mengadu...."

"Bujang, bujang. Betullah kau ni. mencemar budaya"

Here's the OST...with good language as well...

Hujan Keroncong (OST Mukhsin) - Adibah Noor

Mega mendung di angkasa
Hembusan bayu dingin terasa
gerimis berderai di merata
bagai mutiara

Rahmat dibawa bersama
Limpahannya meresap dijiwa
adakala bahgia terasa
meskipun duka nestapa

Tika hujan turun
sayup mendayu lagu keroncong
merdu irama dialun
bersenandung

Hujan membasahi bumi
melahirkan keluhuran budi
mengeratkan perpaduan suci
kasih sayang abadi

Youmi Kimura - Always With Me 木村弓いつも何度でも

2007-05-20T02:08:00.001+08:00

this song reminiscence of childhood fairy tales when they are at the most sincere and innocent...it's the OST of miyazaki's "spirited away". love it!

The Sultan’s Elephant

2007-05-15T09:31:00.001+08:00

what an extraordinaire! never i imagine such a giant puppet can be made!

this is a show "The Sultan’s Elephant" created by theatrical magicians Royal de Luxe.
the puppets are so huge, that they have to maneuver it with a crane that's specially created to even include the puppeteers. the show comes with a story plot about the little girl woke up one morning got shower from the sultan's elephant and wandered of to play in the park.....

this is their teaser

here's the little girl

and the elephant

if you want to see more, click below
here's the official website
video - the elephant
video - The Little Girl

Doll Face by Andy Huang

2007-05-14T13:56:00.000+08:00

watch this video! (click here)
it's with a very a nice message. why didnt i think of it for my final project.........?!

senz umbrella

2007-05-14T13:16:00.000+08:00

Assymetrical is the new shape for the new SENZ umbrella. Also, designed with smart aerodynamic!

this new design does not go inside-out and with the aerodynamic shape, one dont have to struggle against the wind to get to destination. it's really cool that this dynamic design will find its position in the wind.

this unique shape also provides better view than the traditional umbrellas. "No longer will you embarrass yourself for running into telephone poles, cars or brick walls with an umbrella that completely blocks your view!" - this is so true as i also once running into advertisement boards on the side walk. (alright, go ahead and laugh... i also cant stop laughing myself :p

well, it's an awesome umbrella! this could be really handy during the year end raining season ...but my my, it cost €39.95!
here's to read more

Ron Mueck

2007-05-11T10:55:00.000+08:00

while reading through notcot.org, i came to surprise to look at one of the pictures that it instantly attracts my attention for the next few days. at begining, knowing from my own understanding, the women is looking at miniature sculpture....

....soon, i know i was wrong. instead, the women itself 'is' the sculpture.

In bed (2005)

Ron Mueck,an australian, is a hyperrealist sculptor working in Great Britain. Most of the sculptures by Mueck is highly realistic - that with a glance, you'll think that it's a real person, except of the size. with human as his main subject matter, his sculptures are several metres in size. see, size does matters!

'Boy' an artwork produced in 2001, is about 5 metre tall.

look at the details on 'boy's' foot

as a puppet maker in early career, Mueck moved to making photorealist items to creating small figures and furthers to led him to the piece 'Dead Dad'. it is a rather haunting silicone and mixed media sculpture of the corpse of Mueck's father reduced to about two thirds of its natural scale.(if you really want to see the sculpture of his father click here(scroll to the end)

his artworks are made from mixed media, which includes fibreglass, resin, silicone, acrylic fibre, polyurethane and even human hair, punched in by a sharp needle, one by one. Amazing!

if this is enough to make you crave for more visuals of Mueck's artworks, here's to satisfy it.....

for images behind the scenes during his exhibition
for images of his artworks on show

after goggle with my eyes, mouth and mind wide open at his artworks, i feel that Mueck's works creates an annoying discomfort feeling. it's rather hard to put it in words to describe his works. it created a sensation of deep emotion. some would feel that he's essentric and others would highly admired him.

i felt his creatures are bizarre and profound, eg: the bold man sitting be the corner of the room looking deeply depressed; the 'wild man' sitting nakedly on a chair as if he's staring angrily at the audiences, feeling insecure; 'mother and baby' in a position of the newborn on the mummy's belly. i applaud and admire his ability & patience in creating such highly detailed artworks.

sketch

2007-05-11T10:36:00.000+08:00

Telepopmusik - Breathe (2003 Version)

2007-04-18T09:21:00.000+08:00

here's a song to all my friends :)

colleagues :)

2007-04-14T22:55:00.000+08:00

makan makan.....

and karaoke.....

i wanna watch this!

2007-04-03T09:25:00.000+08:00

Visit this - it's with synopsis
http://www.panslabyrinth.com/

ya, i know the opening is in December, but it's still on cinema. It seems amazing, and pan's labyrinth is winner of 3 academy awards (best cinematography, best art direction and best makeup) Hope i'm not too late.....

work!

2007-03-22T10:48:00.000+08:00

here's what i did at work............

weekend getaway....

2007-03-15T08:18:00.000+08:00

Raptor Watch is an event organised by the Malaysian Nature Society in partnership with the Melaka state government. It’s a festival to celebrate the return of migratory birds of prey, better known as raptors, on their journey back to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.

okay, i know they look very small in the picture. That's why binoculars is a must!

having lunch with keong, nicole and brendon....

Beach front resort is so wonderful!

not to be missed, sun sun sun!

The trip became naturalist and conservative when we also visit the night zoo in Melaka.

The animals that we successfully get the shot in the dark; linx, red panda and peacock. oh, the panda is so cute!

Weekend getaway like this is heavily recomended!

Alone

2007-03-09T11:21:00.000+08:00

this is so true!

Long live music!

2007-03-09T10:29:00.000+08:00

4 January 07 - 5.55pm
Sitting on the opposite direction of the train moving, it reminds me of the scenes we see in movies for flashbacks. With the song “hurt” by Christina Aguilera on the background and am traveling in reverse, I’m filled with regrets. The sadness travels to my soul through her vocals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbcltLf2VHo

5 January 07 – 5.10pm
This day on my journey home by train again, I’m listening to “Chasing cars” by Snow Partrol. Running low of energy and wear out, I just hope to "lay here and forget about the world". The songs give me hopes; about what a great designer I could be and about how my life would be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxXwIIBlSgw

10 January 5.30pm
Home! Home! Home! There is where I’m heading. Listening to Mayday makes my life feel better. There’s room to think with their songs playing in the background. Even their sad lyrics in “Live for love” don’t sound sad, or at least doesn’t make me feel sad….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yLkQsyBxNM

1 March 07 6.45pm
I always dislike to catch a bus home from work, but that’s what i did and will be doing. It’s slow and stressful way to go home. Almost frozen to death in the bus, the road traffic isn’t doing much help, taking me 2 hours to reach home. The ambient feels melancholy with ‘angel’ by Mayday and Eric’s departure was 2 days ago... i really feel gloomy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FQXG4BnWWo

5 March 07
Indeed, I’m a walking zombie, but this time it’s far worst. I’m a dead corpse without soul…

9 March 07
This song is a hit! Itu Kamu by Estranged
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfR7EHvX0_U

:)

2007-03-06T07:22:00.001+08:00

it's been a long time.... it's been a long time.........

~

2007-01-26T14:32:00.000+08:00

b o r i n g . . . .

in office 2.36pm