MuMbO JuMBo

THE plan

2011-10-12T19:21:00.003+08:00

This is just a long overdue post! Thought I would post it up and get it out of the way.

Sometimes, you just get so pissed at the prospect of having to endure criticism from those who you think have no right to dish them out in the first place. So what happens if this person happens to be a boss? You cook up a batch of brownies and spike them with rat poison. Yeah baby! That sounds way cool. But of coz this is all but a fantasy.

In reality, u grit your teeth, take a deep breath and count to 10 in your head. Then you remind yourself that you need the job (the money anyways) and quietly endure the shelling.

Criticism is a part and parcel of life *cliché much* I’ve received loads of criticism and have handled most of it with my normal dose of machoness. There are isolated instances however, which just push me over the edge and test all my level of patience. Aww snap.

So at the end of the day, there really are only three paths to choose from.

Path 1: Shut up and take the criticism. The person will eventually stop his/her yapping. And you can get over the pain by drowning yourself in alcohol. I’ll call this the man up option. *no sexism intended*

Path 2: stand up for yourself. Argue your case, be armed with talking points, lay down your evidence and rest your case with a nice peppering of sarcastic notes.

Path 3: Stand up, stuff your personal items into your handbag, grab the jacket off the back of your chair and stalk out with images of the beach in your head.

*Disclaimer: This was written in a moment of anger and frustration. I went to my dark dark place and plotted. Plan to be resurrected if and when necessary.*

OH MANNNNNNNNNN

2011-06-02T11:36:00.003+08:00

Right after posting the complisults post, I decided to google the word just for fun, to see if my blog would appear (yes, I can be weird that way) and BAM, i saw that the word has already been invented! How can that be!

Ah wells, don't matter, at least I had 5 minutes of thinking I was genius.

Complisults

2011-05-30T01:04:00.011+08:00

Alert the Oxford English Dictionary! It is the momentous occasion of the creation of a new word, an amalgamation of two pre-existing words, which give birth to one awesome word! *i acknowledge the destruction of the English language by my hands* I wonder...how are new words actually added to the dictionary each year? Do people just send in letters to the Oxford office? Is there an Oxford office? Is there a man behind a desk, who sorts through the letters and see which word makes him laugh the most, then proceeds to plonk that into the dictionary? Or..is there an intricate computer system which spies on people all over the world and listens in on conversations to pick up new words as they are being invented? How do I then get my word out there?

Ah wells, I really do digress! Back to complisults. A combination of the words compliment and insults, complisults came to me while I was sitting and contemplating on life's great mysteries - people. Complisults are basically compliments which are interwoven with insults, complimenting you on one area while at the same time insulting another. Thinking i'm sprouting gibberish? Take a look at the examples below.

1. You have an excellent command of the English language...for an Indian.

2. Wow, you have a unique sense of style ah...for an Indian.

3. My parents will let me marry an Indian. It's not an issue, as my mum thinks Indian guys are good looking, just as long as they don't drink and abuse me.

4. You're too thin! But its okaylah, that's what girls these days want to look like anyways.

5. My parents really like you, they think you're nice and polite. They are surprised that an Indian can communicate so well with them.

These are but some of the complisults I have had to deal with. Some which border on being racist comments.. When giving a compliment, be forthright about it, why lace it with an insult. Jeez...people. *heads off to watch Korean drama and live in a fantasy world*

It Matters

2011-04-21T16:00:00.003+08:00

I try to tell myself:

1. it doesn't matter if the food on the table next to mine looks better than what's on my plate

2. ah well, its alright if i can't fill out the dress (due to my lack of shape), there are other dresses out there

3. it's alright if i wasn't born with a silver spoon, a plastic one will do just fine

4. it is no big deal if i can't max out a credit card while shopping, flea markets are so much more fun anyways

5. jetting off to a foreign land is not possible. pffft, like that matters, there is so much to see and to do in Malaysia

6. that i'm undervalued, overworked and underpaid.

7. that i feel i should be destined for bigger and better things, but opportunities don't come knocking on my door

8. that i want to be happy and appreciate the little pleasures of life..(like so many ppl i know do) but i have to endure stressful situations instead

More than once, I've found myself wallowing in self doubt and have often smacked myself on the head (figuratively) to snap myself out of this stupor. I have a lot to be thankful for and although I might not achieve heights that some will, I believe I will end up doing fine.

Just sometimes though...I wish life could throw me a bone. Just sometimes...

Clean Canvas - 2011

2011-01-11T21:28:00.003+08:00

So its been 3 weeks into the new year now and I haven't acknowledged the change in year yet. I am not one who gets excited about the new year approaching and draws charts, writes lists and whatnots filled with resolutions, ambitions and plans for the future. Instead, I prefer the time classic method of...winging it.

I remember the anticipation that use to fill me as a young child for the year ahead. As I grow older however, I realise that as the year progresses, so do I. The hopes and dreams that I crafted out at the beginning doesn't seem relevant anymore and new ones are designed to replace them.

Having sounded like a complete cynic above, this is how I see the new year.

2011 spreads ahead like a clean canvas waiting to be filled with achievements, marred with disappointments, bogged down with drama and emotions and to have moments celebrated with elatement.

If I were to have one aim for the year (besides obtaining a job & all the requirements of life these days) would be to appreciate the good things that life has to offer. So often...I forget.

Simplistic Minds

2010-12-14T12:01:00.002+08:00

Sometimes...I wish that my mind was more simplistic instead of the complicated maze that mine is.

People are so often contented with just being surrounded by their loved ones, taking each day at a time, falling into routine and not brooding about the future. I use to always wonder how is it that some people never seem to aim high, then I figured out that they live in the present and make the best of the situation they are in.

Although I realise that not achieving all that I want to, might lead to regrets down the road...I just wish I could stop thinking at times, and just embrace each day as it comes.

Wishful thinking I'm sure =)

Fruit Mania

2010-10-20T15:18:00.004+08:00

The rise of the blackberry and the Iphone has resulted in the disintegration of personal communication amongst people *pretty sure right about now people will be rolling their eyes at my so-called brazen statement*

I've experienced many a outing when my friends would whip out their gadgets and start clickity-clicking on them. Most of the time it doesn't bother me all that much, as I'm one of those brooding in quiet types..but it does make me wonder of the quality of time spent together in the presence of all these technology. It's amazing how far the human race has come in the development and advancement of technology, but at what expense..

Even children these days walk around with some of the latest mobile phones available in the market. Time spent running around outdoors with other children, is spent indoors with virtual games on their phones. With adults and teens, a meet up at pub or the mamak, turns into a session of tweeting and facebooking.

It's just ironic how these tools which aim to maximise the human connection is actually breaking down face-to-face communications ;) food for thought.

now..excuse me while i go curl up on my bed and tend to the wonders of facebook. after all not all technology is bad ;)

Thy are over-rated

2010-10-14T00:59:00.003+08:00

Crashing into the 20s didn't happen with the pizazz I expected to come along with it. All the preconceived notions of growing up and being in charge of my own finances, to be able to drink and be merry withered away as soon as I realised that growing up = more responsibilities. Its like what spiderman has to deal with, with more power comes more responsibilities.

Even the simplest of decisions seem to require excessive usage of brain power...from deciding which path to pursue career-wise to choosing the right person to be with. If this is what being a grown up is all about, it sure is over-rated.

Now, while I may come across sounding like a total cynic, I do know that I have no choice but to deal with the adversities involved in becoming an adult (its not like i'm Peter Pan) and I do try to do this with as much grace as I can muster *the only way I get through the days is cursing like hell and Korean dramas. thank god for hot korean blokes*

I guess whilst being an adult does entitle a truckload of heartaches..ploughing through them makes you a matured and sensible person.

ps: best thing about being a grown up...is boozing up ;)

Of White Canvases with Black Spots

2010-08-02T08:15:00.004+08:00

Staring out the window from my seat in the office...provides me with an awesome view of KL city in all its concrete glory. Sometimes as I stare out the window, I cant help but wonder about the mechanics of life. The whys, the whats, the hows..

There's been a lot of discussion about happiness recently..and it got me thinking about what happiness is to me.

I've always been the sorta person who focuses on the lil mishaps in life and plunge myself into sadness, instead of being one of those people who focus on the glass being half full concept. That being said, I do have my happy moments...I guess that recently there have just been few and are far in between.

I'm not quite sure what the point of this post is...I guess having a b'day around the corner is making me think a lot about life and all that jazz. (ET got the ball rolling too, in case you read this :P)

The title of the post btw..is dedicated to Joash. He was always one of those people who viewed life as a white canvas and the problems and hurt hurled his way as tiny black spots. As long as life was mostly that canvas of white...the black spots he could deal with :)

not sure if i'm making sense with this post -.- jeez

Words Hurt

2010-06-21T11:13:00.003+08:00

PRE WARNING: So, quite obviously my next few posts are going to be heavily centered around Joash. In case you readers (if i have any who aren't my friends, which I doubt =p) cant deal with the mush and the anger and emoness, feel free to skip the posts.

Okay, today I feel like highlighting words that people in grief don't want to hear. I've never really thought about the impact of insensitive words in moments of sadness, but having had to deal with it first hand has taught me lots about this. Lets get cracking then.

Pre-Note: A will be a friend or family member speaking and the Me part is on the most part my inner reaction to what they are saying.

1. A: I understand how you feel.

Me: You've lost a good friend as well?

A: No, but I know it must hurt.

Me: *If you have never lost a good friend, you will never know what it feels like to no longer have that person in your life, so please don't bother saying you understand*

2. A: Omg! Really ah? You sure that was your friend?

Me: Gosh no I'm not sure. I am that much of a moron.

3. A: How did it happen?

Me: (patiently explains the accident)

A: Ohh.. What did he die of? What are his injuries? How's the condition of the body?

Me: * (insert curse words) Why on earth would I want to know such details?! Its painful enough knowing that he's gone! (more curse words, creative unheard of ones)

4. A: I'm sorry. How close were you to him?

Me: Very close. We hung out often and I saw him everyday in classes.

A: Ooo. *with cheeky smile* Was he your boyfriend?

Me: *Yes. Now go run along and spread that juicy bit of gossip.* Smacks my forehead for having insensitive jerks in my life.

5. A: Do you remember the last time you heard from him?

Me: Yeah, he was trying to convince me to attend a party at his place. Sigh..which I didn't go to.

A: Oh, so you didn't get to see himlah then. You must be feeling so guilty for rejecting his invite now right? You should have gone. You didn't get to see him before he passed away.

Me: (heart breaks into a million pieces) *Yes, thank you for piling on the guilt, its not like I wasn't doing a good job of that already.*

These are just some of the stuff I have had to deal with when talking to people in the days following the tragedy. Although some of you might think I'm being petty and that the things people have said seem like the normal reaction in a sad moment...please understand that those that are actually experiencing grief are vulnerable at the moment. Don't add on to their sadness. If there's nothing that you can think of to say, don't say anything at all. That will be the best :)

Hehe, sorry Jo..I know you wouldn't approve of this post. But hey, you know me..i gotta blow up a lil.

For You

2010-06-18T15:41:00.003+08:00

Jo, I want to write a long and beautiful post about you. Something that will make readers shed tears and be in awe of your awesomeness, but I cant quite bring myself to think about all the memories of us together. So I owe you a post aite.

I'm going to make more of an effort to blog from now on, even if its short posts. Since you always told me that blogging will provide me with the chance to pen down my thoughts. Although I might not end up being a journalist, you told me that my writing is "good stuff" and that I should put my thoughts down. I promise to blog more from now.

I have so many regrets right now. I should have made it to the potluck dinner. That one small decision is going to haunt me forever.

I love you..to bits. Will keep you close to my heart always.

From:

Your sarcastic partner, Ro

The Symbols That You Are To Me

2010-04-24T12:37:00.005+08:00

I am usually not a very sappy sorta person and i vowed not to make this blog too much on my personal life, however, this is one of those special moments that calls for a personal post. Heading into the twenties has been an eye-opener for me. Made me realise many things about the person I am and the people around me. This post is for a special person that has been with me through my transition from a child - teenager - to the adult I am today.This is the 1st symbol that I think represents what you mean to me. Not that I picture you being that muscular or anything :P I chose this pic, coz you have always been a driving force in my life. Whenever I am self-doubting and feeling dumb, helpless or ugly, you've always been there to push me forward. You've made me realise so many things about myself and see the potential that I have to succeed. Whenever I have something to undertake and I am nervous about it, I just picture you giving me one of your famous pep talks and it helps boost my confidence. There have been countless moments through the years where I feel so stressed and trapped in situations (whether it has to do with my studies, family or relationships) and you've always taken the time to counsel me. I love that you don't just say, it's going to be okay, you'll be fine and all that crap, but you also smack some sense into me. You make me stop feeling sorry for myself and actually do something about the situation. Friends who are willing to step up to the plate and risk coming across as harsh to give strong advice...are the friends I wana surround myself with and you, are the top of the list =)

2nd symbol I chose because it symbolises the feminine moments I get to experience with you. I know I'm terible at shopping and all that crap, but hey its fun going shopping with you, coz you always encourage me to try new stuff and force me to try on clothes even when you know I would never buy it. Hehe. And I love that you freely dish out advice on fashion and tell me that you like me just the way I am =) you have no idea what a boost of confidence that is for me...especially after I lost all that weight. I also love sitting around doing relaxing things wit you, tea at your place, making desserts together, its so my kinda thing. I hate malls and being trapped in air-con places. Its so much more fun to play wii and screw up when in the kitchen. Thank you for always understanding the type of female I want to be and not trying to change me into something I am not. (hope you understand what that meant, coz it sorta sounds weird. hehe)

hahaha, this symbol is to represent the countless emergency moments I have had throughout the years and have needed you. Even after you left to Adelaide, whenever I have a crisis, need to drama or have good news, you're the one I always want to share it with. We've had countless hours of talking, smsing, chatting, webcaming about important things and also crap (of coz). You're someone who I never have to justify my drama with or who I can gossip to about the most random of things. Even when we don't know who or what we are talking about, we still listen to each other's rants. What more could a girl ask for =) Thank you for smsing me at random moments and spammin my fb wall, to let me know that you are thinking of me. It feels awesome to know that regardless of how busy or far apart we are, we still got each other's backs (no sexual intention here you pervs).

There are so many symbols that I want to include here. These 3 don't do our friendship justice. but that would mean the post would be super long. I hope you know what you mean to me and how much I miss you and love you. I'm glad we've grown through the years together and are the people we are today. Cant wait to see you. You're family and family always sticks together =) Sorry that this is so long overdue...should have done this much sooner. Loves

Green & Blue is now Grey & Black

2010-04-24T11:39:00.005+08:00

Titles with colours seems more appropriate when discussing issues to do with our world and the environment doesn't it. (in actuality had no other ideas)

I realise that Earth Day 2010 has passed, but hey I was very busy these couple of days and only got the time to sit and blog today. So here's my bit.

As we all know, our environment is being polluted on a daily basis *If you don't know that, please feel free to go stick your head under a rock somewhere * It is almost impossible to advocate and preach to the general population the importance of reducing pollution, as people will definitely go about their business doing what is most convenient to them. But little things can be done to reduce your contribution to the meltdown of our planet. Such as: off all electrical appliances when not in use, don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth, don't on the AC 24/7 and take part in days such as Earth Hour.

These are just small gestures, however they will still leave a positive impact on the world, especially if practiced everyday and by large numbers of people.

People around the world (including Malaysians) don't seem to get it into their thick skulls that our world is slowly dying off. The beautiful green (plants) and blue (seas) are being polluted and have now become black and grey (or will in the future). Lets just take baby steps at least in preventing our world from ending up like in those scary sci-fi doom and gloom movies.

Do your part people. :)

Orange & Black Stripes

2010-04-19T21:36:00.008+08:00

*Crackle* The sound of twigs cracking under the weight of touch can be heard resounding in the forest. I look from left to right searching for the source of the sound, terrified with the possibilites of what could be lurking in the dark. *Crackle* That damned sound again! This time I stand rooted, frozen in fear as the sound appeared to be getting louder and closing in on me. The blades of long grass to my right begin to move and suddenly, a little tiger cub jumps out and pounces at me. Its orange and black stripes are outstanding in a sea of green grass.

Okay okay fine...that whole encounter was quite obviously made up, but hey I would love it if my 1st encounter with one of these majestic creatures went as above.

The Malayan tiger has been an integral part of our country's national symbol for years. This being said, the conservation efforts for this beautiful creature has been slack at best. Illegal poaching and the destruction of rainforests are major causes of the tiger's depletion in Malaysia.
Organisations such as WWF have made various attempts to save and generate awareness regarding the diminishing numbers of tigers, however much more needs to be done if these animals are to be saved.

Being aware of the plight of tigers and generating heat on the people in charge will enable the wheels to turn and create measures to protect these orange and black beauties. Do your part people, however significant it may seem, it may be the cause of change and the saving move for tigers.

The tiger is our national animal. Our heritage. But today only less than 500 of them
remain in the wild. As Malaysians, we need to stand up and protect our heritage.
Speak to your children. Speak to your leaders. Everyone of us can make a difference.
For further information, please visit MYCAT (http://www.malayantiger.net/), WWF Malaysia
(http://www.wwf.org.my/) and Department of Wildlife & National Parks (http://www.wildlife.gov.my/)

Blogging for a Cause

2010-04-19T16:03:00.002+08:00

Will be blogging as part of the Tiger Blogfest 2010 later today. Doing my bit to save the tigers :)

Thats the official banner for Tiger Blogfest. With my limited tech skills am going to try uploading the flash banner onto the layout. Will see how it goes. hehe

Looking Good Without Going Broke

2010-04-12T11:53:00.007+08:00

It is doable. Looking awesome without busting your bank account is definitely a dream come true for most girls. Trends come and go and quite often thus wardrobe changes are called for. Personally, I have never been one to obsess over changing trends and to get the latest fashions piled up in my closet, but it has always intrigued me that most of my college friends are self-confessed shopaholics. It truly is an addiction which ends with them groaning and moaning by the end of the month (from lack of money) ;)

The solution to this I have come to realise is to be innovative and creative when it comes to assembling stylish yet affordable styles. Surfing the net will unearth various blogs which are filled with D-I-Y tips and ideas on how to mix and match pieces to create that ultra chic look.

These are some of my personally fav ideas. Things that even I (a fashion recluse) would try.

1. This is the most obvious tip. Pair an expensive skirt or jeans with a cheap top. Expensive here could mean from any of the branded shops, and cheap would mean..RM10 or below. Trust me...the results could shock you.

2. Bleach your jeans - all you need to revamp an old pair of jeans is to bleach it with clorox. Not only will you get the stone-washed look for a fraction of the price out there, it is strangely satisfying to watch something old come to live again (for me it is at least)

3. D-I-Y accessories. Grab a glue gun and some decorating items and you can decorate belts, bits of leather, hair bands, sandals and other stuff with studs, flowers and anything that you fancy.

4. Decorate shirts and shoes with just a bit of paint and some amount of creativity. Splosh cheap night market T-shirts with catchy words and you will have a one of a kind statement tee. Grab that old pair of white sneakers and start doodling on it as you wish, and lo behold you'll end up with a designed pair.

There are a bundle of tips out there, all aimed at aiding and abetting the down and out shopper ;) just take a few minutes to google and then think creative thoughts, and you're sure to come up with ideas that wont cost a bomb. Enjoy people. I'm off to experiment myself. Hehe

ps: one of my latest favourite D-I-Y haunts: http://yasminetran.blogspot.com/ check it out and see for yourself the wonders of D-I-Y fashion.

The Reign of Alcohol Advertising

2010-04-12T11:06:00.005+08:00

This is a piece I wrote on Alcohol Advertising and it came to mind recently..so tadaa, here it comes. I edited sections of the piece to highlight just one angle that has recently come to affect those close to me :)

Alcoholic beverages, in particular beer, have been a part of human life for centuries expanding into various societies around the globe. It comes as no surprise that in the contemporary society of today, alcohol advertisements are abundant, transcending mediums in the bid to reach the mass audience. The advertising of beer and alcoholic beverages, are influenced by several external factors such as age groups, culture, promotional techniques and advertising regulations, as they are beamed across countries to varying societies.

Mass media consists of a medley of diverse mediums which all function as an agent of socialisation, connecting people from all around the world through its discourses. The transmissions of both blatant and subtle messages by the media inadvertently provide them with the role of shaping attitudes and mindsets regarding a wide array of issues, including those related to the health and well-being of people. The audience are bombarded with numerous advertisements and commercials on health, which convey different messages on the issue, depending on the underlying agenda of each company.

The promotion of alcoholic beverages, in particular beer, has been one which has received considerable criticism over the years. This is mainly due to the fact that this product is deemed to be of sensitive nature, when advertised across the globe, surpassing race, religion, age and gender, to reach the mass consumers. It has been noted throughout various research that alcohol is an addictive beverage and can cause consumers to have poor judgement of character and ultimately lead to dire consequences. Most people discard the notion that advertising governs the decisions they make and the lifestyle they choose to lead on a daily basis because they possess the ability to form their own thoughts and make conscience decisions on their own accord. Whilst this may be true, advertisements do wield a certain amount of power over consumers, and the audience at large. As Farrington (1999) so aptly explains, advertisements are the ‘wallpaper of our world’ and we are exposed to them through sight and sound so frequently that the messages embedded in them ‘find a way to hang with a few of our brain cells’. Subconsciously, the audience are consuming the sales pitch of products and services, which the advertisers inject into advertisements and commercials, in turn spurring them to conform to its messages.

Despite the controversies surrounding alcohol advertising to the young generations, marketing strategists and advertising agencies constantly morph their advertisements and commercials to attract the adolescent market. Promotion of health and well-being aimed at this age group is beginning to decline in relation to alcohol consumption in this contemporary era. In contrast, alcohol advertisements “sell” alcoholic beverages by utilizing youth social communications and lifestyles. The youth market is a wide and constantly evolving arena, thus increasing profitability for companies which acquire strongholds among this generation. Adolescents between the ages of thirteen to sixteen become the crucial targets of the alcohol industry, owing to the fact that this target group ‘represents the market of the future’ (Dafalias 2001). In addition to this, those from this age group are active participants in social networking. Through word of mouth or online networking sites, these youths serve as marketers for their preferred brand of products, including beers. This form of viral marketing, is both time and funding efficient for the beer companies, as they gain popularity without having to endure the costs of advertising. The minds and knowledge of the young, are moulded by an interplay of various driving forces, such as parental guidance, mass media and culture, to name a few. According to Shyam Fam and Waller (2003, p. 3), culture is a concept that can be considered as a social system, with a ‘common set of shared beliefs’ and attitudes within its members. Although in most cases culture is associated with the race and ethnicity of a particular group, there exist various other forms of culture, such as the one being exploited in alcohol advertising, the youth culture.

This notion of culture heavily draws upon the social standards that society and adolescents themselves, place upon the lifestyle of this generation of young people. Advertisements on alcohol increasingly employ the use of images that appear to promote alcohol drinking as integral in upholding youth culture, to gain social acceptance amongst the young generation. The boom of these advertisements, which market alcoholic beverages as a part of the youth social entity, abandon all conceptions of well-being, indefinitely giving birth to a new group of consumers who are ignorant to the consequences of these beverages.

In packaging alcoholic beverages for its presentation to the audience, a variety of advertising skills and techniques are incorporated in masterminding commercials and advertisements for mass consumption. These formats of promotion however, differ from one country to another, due to the existence of individual regulation policies and the influences of religion on the material being conveyed. Kline (Nixon 1998, p. 5) states that constructing effective international advertising campaign for products, including alcoholic beverages, requires conforming the advertisements to allow the product to fit in with local ‘cultural sensibilities’. The World Health Organisation, through its various studies has managed to determine that several countries around the world place restrictions on alcohol advertising through selected mediums, and yet others completely ban alcohol advertising in their country. Taking into consideration a local perspective, Malaysia has restrictions on alcohol advertising through broadcast mediums; however it is permitted in cinemas and in print media (Asunta 2001). The three main races recognised in Malaysia are: Malays, Indians and Chinese with each race being steeped in their cultural values and beliefs. This has caused advertisers seeking to target the consumers in Malaysia, to be sensitive in their advertising in regard to cultural views. However, there are exceptions to this rule. The lack of government control on advertisements being printed in newspapers, has led to the publishing of one such outrageous beer advertisement in a local Tamil newspaper.

As the targets of the advertisers are Malaysian Indians from a lower income group, the advertisement was based on Deepavali, a religious Hindu festival, which is a tactic to enable the target audience to clearly comprehend the message of the advertisement. The advertisement was of a Hindu traditional decoration, known as Rangoli kolam, which was defiled with the inclusion of Skol beer bottles in the middle of the kolam. The text which accompanied the advertisement translated into ‘Deepavali celebration will be more enjoyable with Skol beer’ (News Straits Times 2008). This advertisement will have damaging effects on youths, as they will perceive that getting drunk during Deepavali is acceptable and thus causing them to continue the practice into their later years. The lack of governmental assertion on alcohol advertising depicting health and well-being of the people has led to advertisements such as this and many others to reach the audience. The combination of cultural traditions and social practices are a pathway to heaven for most youths. This will undoubtedly give rise to a generation of people who pay no heed to health messages and instead associate alcohol consumption with cultural notions. Members of the public, who strongly oppose this form of advertising, resort to measures such as cultural jamming. The defiling of billboards and advertisements promoting alcoholic beverages is a counter attack against these corporate messages (Klein 2000, p. 281).

Alcohol advertising is a large and industrious market, which expands across countries and societies. The advertising of alcoholic beverages in most nations, wayward from promoting moderate consumption and promoting intrinsic values in relation to drinking, and instead focus on marketing their products to the mass audience. This leads to the discarding of the serious consequences of drinking, from their minds, and creates a generation of young alcohol consumers. The exploitation of adolescents in alcohol advertising is accomplished through the inclusion of youth culture in advertisements and commercials. Associations with the pleasures of life and social standings amongst peers take preferences over the effects of excessive drinking. The tainting of cultural traditions, to give way for alcohol advertising, is yet another form of discarding health and well-being in relation to drinking. The introduction of advertisements which promote healthy consumption of alcohol and emphasise the well-being of the audience are the deal clinchers in the bid to form a society of informed and educated alcohol consumers.

Flies and Calls

2010-02-24T17:46:00.002+08:00

Kids and men can say the darndest things.

Kids

Was back in hometown and hanging out with my 8 year old cousin.

Cousin: How come you get to drink cold drinks and I cant? *pouts*
Me: Its coz you're sick and also coz I'm fly. *smirks*
Cousin: *gets all excited* So if I become a fly I can drink it as well?
Me: Huh?

Cousin runs off for awhile and comes back with something in her hand.

Me: What's that?

Cousin puts on a big sunglasses. Way too big for her face.

Cousin: Look look. Now i'm fly too.
Me: Huh?
Cousin: I got two big fly eyes.
Me: *smacks forehead*

Men

House phone rings, and I rush to pick it up.

Me: Hello?
Dad: Where are you?
Me: *thinking..this is the house phone..where could I be* Home, dad.
Dad: Then how come you aren't picking up your handphone?
Me: =.=" But I answered the house phone, which means I'm home.
Dad: Hmm

Sigh...the importance placed on handphones. Go figure.

Lame but True

2010-02-12T00:41:00.000+08:00

I was chatting with a friend of mine and we were discussing relationships. Out of the blue I said

"Now that you're single, you're free to mingle". For some strange reason I like the line :P So although I realise it's lame..thought I would pen it down.

Let Pictures do the Talking

2010-02-09T21:45:00.005+08:00

Baubles

Speck in the Sky

Bokeh

Didn't feel like writing much..so put up pics I took instead. :)

Big City Girl in A Small Town

2009-12-21T15:50:00.022+08:00

Towering concrete buildings, cars milling about like ants in a colony and the sounds of people rushing from one place to another (which somehow reminds me of fishes swimming..don't ask), are all part and parcel of life in a big city like KL. Most people get along with their daily tasks without taking time to notice the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures in life around them...me included.

Sometime in December, me and my sister decided to take a bus trip to Lumut, a small town in Perak. The bus journey was 4 hours and despite the apprehension of being cramped in a seat for that long, it was quite relaxing. Being a KL-ite through and through meant being a noob and getting excited over things some might consider trivial ;P The vast green of the paddy fields swaying in the wind, the little stalls selling snacks and the colourful kampung houses all filled me with a sense of contentment...made me realise there were so many things out of the big city that were beautiful and free for all to enjoy.

Nature was a big part of the activities we planned during our stay. I was a total idiot and got excited over every little thing (as my sis's bf said...that's just how we KL people are) hehe. It was a nice change of scenery to be honest. When you're surrounded by all the greenery, it makes you ponder on the simplicities that life has to offer. The inner theater in my mind was filled with images of flowers, coconut trees, mangrove swamps, wildlife...and the list goes on.

Albeit the elation I appear to convey in this post, I am not packing my bags to move into a smaller town at this moment. I enjoy living in a big city...it was just a relaxing and eye-opening trip is all. Pics below!

Mangrove Swamp

Mudskipper
Flowers

BEACH!!

*The downside of the trip: the moment you walked outside the house...you get attacked by hordes of mosquitoes. I got swellings all over the body...seriously..not kidding...it was gross.

Facebook Abuse

2009-11-19T12:21:00.003+08:00

(sourced from deviantart..for the heck of it)

It's pretty obvious that more and more people use facebook these days. It's no longer shocking to see your parents, uncle, aunties, grandma even..on facebook. Whilst facebook (which from now on will be referred to as fb for short, i'm a lazy git i noe ;P ) is an excellent tool of communication, its abuse is rampant.

Instead of using it to keep in touch and updated with friends, and perhaps making new ones, many use if for various other confounding purposes. Well, it is after all a free space for all to do what they want...but hey, sometimes, somethings are just so out of line. I find it amusing rather than irritating however, to see these things.

For me..the most annoying things about fb, is:

1. Couple declaring their undying love for one another. "Oh poochie, snookums boogums, I cant stand to be away from you for even a minute." and...this is the part where I usually roll my eyes and pity them folks for not having a life. I mean come on..declare ur love somewhere private why dontcha..I don't get what's so great about lettin the whole world see your lovey-doveyness. Jeebus.

2. Photographs of couple making out. Now, I ain't a prude. I am not gona go around preaching that one must not put up photographs of kissing and what not (altho, why you would wana put it on fb escapes me). To be honest, couples kissing and what not...those pics *at times* tend to be really sweet and make me go aww. Then there are those pics..which show full blown make out sessions. *Skirt halfway up leg with guy's hand on it, girl sitting on guy's lap with his face in her boobs, girl straddling guy* Please keep those pics private ppl...we all know you're a couple..we dont need to see you in action. ;)

3. The taggin ur friend on weird stuff. I keep getting tagged on the weirdest things. *cant for the life of me remember what those things are called* Some of em have dollar signs on the person's head and say something beneath. The point of the taggin is....? I have no clue at all to be honest.

These are just some of the things I consider as abuse of fb. A friend of mine showed me this site some time ago, and I like the way the writer expressed his thoughts on the abuse of fb. Check it out: The 10 Commandments of Facebook.

Let me know what u guys dub as abuse of fb.. :D ps: let me noe if the linkage has problems. first linkage of the blog :P

The Case of Chivalry vs KTM passengers

2009-11-12T22:40:00.024+08:00

Lets begin the case with a short introduction to the word chivalry (seeing as how so many out there don't seem to know the word exists ;P). Chivalry in the easiest sense means having some general virtues..in this case, we are going to focus on courtesy.

Case: KTM passengers (not all but most) don't seem to have an inch of chivalry present in them. They know not of such "insane" notions and seem ignorant to the fact that the world really does not revolve around them.

Evidence & Reasoning:

1. When the train seats are full, passengers tend to have the compulsion to stand at the mouth of the doors to the train. This not only blocks other passengers from the various other stations from stepping in, it creates an illusion of a full train, when in reality its not. If people could use their common sense (i know they have some somewhere) and move further in the train, more people can get it and not have to wait for the next train. Come on, at the end of the day, everyone's exhausted and just looking to get to their destination.

2. Passengers don't bother giving up their seats for senior citizens or pregnant mums or families with really little kids. It seems to escape their comprehension that these people require the seats more than they do. I've seen teens and young men and women just stare straight ahead and ignore the people mentioned above when in trains. It ain't hard to just stand up and offer your seat to them is it..come on..your butt isn't going to fall off if you stand a few minutes, and you can feel a sense of content that you made someone's day better.

Verdict: Chivalry...dead and gone. It's been sent to the electrical chair ages ago. It's quite a loss that people don't recognise the importance of these small gestures. To those who do bother to exercise some chivalry, kudos to you guys. Taking public transport is daunting enough, lets make it a better experience by just applying some goodwill into them :)

*written by a regular KTM passenger*

Interesting Observation

2009-10-05T21:46:00.002+08:00

On the train today, on my way home from college. I saw something that amused me.

A white British guy walked into the train with 2 Japanese (or were they Korean?) dudes. They sat down and when the train started to move, the white guy proceeded to explain the sights of KL as the train passed those place. Lol. Figures isn't it, they get a white guy to show other foreigners around our own country.

This amused me at least :P I'm a bored woman..who is easily amused

Jams

2009-09-19T15:42:00.006+08:00

I raise my head from the cool glass against which my forehead was pressed, and stare out in front of me. My eyes blink through the blurry haze as I force my mind to focus on the scene before me.

It appears to be a sea of red dots. Brilliant deduction ron. You're seeing floating dots..it's definitely mini UFOs *rolls eyes at self*

About 10 blinks later, I finally awaken from my stupor and realise that the dots are actually the tail-lights of cars. Loads and loads of cars. Sigh..back to sleep it is.

Admittedly, traffic jams are a norm in KL. You either see one, or are in one almost everyday. Its almost a requirement here in KL, to be stuck for hours in jams. That's not even my beef with the issue...its the fact that jams are sometimes caused by the crappiest reasons.

Seriously ppl, must you all stare when there is an accident on the road...seriously. =.=" its pointless.

sigh..was stuck in a long long jam just a few days ago and was exhausted..hence the ranting ;P

Sexual Words

2009-09-18T15:30:00.002+08:00

So, I was chatting to a friend of mine the other day, can't quite remember the exact conversation but it suddenly shifted to words related to sex. It cracked me up to see what she thought the sexual words meant. Here's the list:

1. Dick = Dick? Ohhh...you mean Tom, Dick and Harry?

2. Cock = Isn't that the male equivalent of a chicken?

3. Shag = Its like the fur of a dog ain't it? Like from that disney movie, Shaggy Dog.

4. Orgasm = Its organism spelt wrong!

5. Masturbate = Masterbed?

6. Porn = Oh...that's short for popcorn?

Hehe. I laughed like a nut when chatting to her about this. Its amazing that in this corrupted world, there are those who are still innocent ;) enjoy.. Let me noe if you guys got any words wrong before and I will add em to the list.

Things I Love About The Rain

2009-09-01T12:01:00.002+08:00

Its raining right now and I'm at home..on my day off from college..so I thought I would just type up a spur of the moment list. Randomness strikes :)

In no particular order...

1. The cold wind that blows through the house, causing temperatures to drop
2. The pitter patter of the raindrops on the roof
3. Being able to wear huge shirts and walk around the house without a hint of care
4. Having the chance to curl up with a book and read to my heart's content
5. The general sense of peace and calm that comes with a rainy day
6. Feeling lazy without feeling guilty about it ;P

There are probably many other things to add to the list..but the urge to pick up a book is overwhelming ;)

Enjoy the rainy day.

PS: of course i only love the rain when i'm at home..if i'm out at college and what not..that's a whole different story altogether..

Paranoia at its peak

2009-08-21T01:06:00.003+08:00

AHH – CHOO! *sniffle sniffle* After sneezing for about the zillionth time (4 times in reality) I begin to feel the cold hand of death close around my throat. Okay..fineee..this is a heavily exaggerated piece..so sue me ;p

The insane rise in H1N1 numbers in Malaysia has been alarming. Fatalities have snowballed in just a short period of time, further adding to the panic. I’m not about to launch into a long winded speech about the dangers of the influenza as I’m sure everyone’s aware of it by now definitely. Scores of websites out there about the symptoms and causes, Google is the way. :D

Instead of discussing the upcoming (pain in the butt) assignment, the orange lights at the status bar blink due to the heated discussion regarding the new case of confirmed H1N1 case in college. Four lights blinking at once indicates the anxiety with which people are digesting the shocking news.

Admittedly, I myself am quite paranoid about this development as it hits so close to home. Same course, just by luck different class. However, we switch classes all the time and juniors come in and out of some of these classes. Sigh..

Taking precautionary measures such as wearing masks doesn’t seem so far-fetched any more.

I realize this isn’t really a creative piece thingie…but I had to pen down a bit about what’s going through my mind. Paranoia is at the top of my list of emotions for now...undoubtedly.

Hopefully we all manage to get through the next weeks, sem, year, without complications. Reaching for the stars I know, the way things are going now, but hey..a girl’s allowed to hope.

Happier topics to be posted when mood is lifted :)

Layout Change

2009-08-15T19:29:00.002+08:00

Hehe..was jobless so decided to change my blogger template to something more me :D. I realise I haven't been posting anything new recently..that's owing to my brain freeze. Thoughts keep flitting through, but still haven't managed to create a proper post.

Will do that soon though :P hopefully..

Overdue..

2009-08-05T18:00:00.002+08:00

heya! This is suppose to be the piece i had to write 800 words about..but I ran out of steam in the process... :P so here's the intro.

Caressing the body of the chestnut horse and poking into the white fleece coat of the sheep fills me up with immense happiness and I immerse myself completely in the scene before me. The miniature animals, trees, people and houses under me are astoundingly beautiful and soft to the touch. Sounds of excited squealing cause me to glance up and look around me. I smile and wave at my sister who flies past me on her way to an enchanted land, where unicorns prance about and the trees are made of cotton candy leaves.

For children, even the most ordinary of things stimulate their imagination and allow them to experience magical adventures from the comfort of their living rooms. The toy of desire in this case is ...carpets! (could you predict that from the intro? ;D)

Will try and at least post up intros once in a while..some practice better than none :)

Its a challenge..

2009-07-30T01:21:00.000+08:00

I’ve been racking my brain for days in the hopes of coming up with a topic for the next blog post..but to no avail. I keep imagining a lightbulb to suddenly go off in my head and tadaa, I have an excellent idea. Like that ever really happens...sheesh. cartoons..so misleading ;P

Out of the blue though, Pash comes up with the idea of challenging me to write a 800 word piece on some topics she will conjure up, in the bid to get myself functioning (for her sick personal amusement I tell you). Of course..the topics are a killer...but hey..might as well shake the rust out of my brain and put it to work. Got nothing to lose...well except my dignity, but whats that amongst friends eh ;P

So..a piece will be up by the end of the week and hopefully I emerge triumphant from this, instead of caving in to my laziness. Till then..:D

Jeebus

2009-07-21T01:16:00.001+08:00

I know that the post was super long. I apologise..will keep the other pieces as short as I possibly can :P

Toodles.

Trials in the evolvement of dance

2009-07-21T00:56:00.000+08:00

For my first post, I chose to publish a piece I wrote for my creative writing class in college. Just to test the waters. Deep breath and here it goes..

The fluid movements of the dancers on stage are quite the marvel to look at. Leaping through the air against a backdrop of a stunning starry night, they almost appear to defeat the very laws of gravity and become like the angels in the sky. Serenaded by beautiful classical tunes from a life orchestra, they execute seemingly impossible feats with ease and dexterity. Their bodies are canvases through which they express the various feelings required in the theme of the day, ranging from anger all the way to peace and serenity. Dating back to the 1400’s, this dazzling dance form – ballet – is deeply rooted in tradition and in history.

Ethereal visions of dancers, be it from a classical background or a more contemporary one, have graced the world for a long period of time. Dance, as a renowned member of the fine arts commune, has become an immensely integral part of human culture since its induction into our life. Its main essence involves the skill of expressing one’s self through movements of the body in tune to the rhythmic beat of music. The wide spanning nature of this art form, causes the building up of a fixed definition to be a complex and indefinite task. Often considered in a larger sense as a form of non-verbal communication amid humans, its composition can be broken down into molecules of social, cultural, aesthetic, artistic and moral influences. Blending these components together at varying degrees, allows the crafting of various styles of dances to take place, transcending cultures and countries.

The artistic nature of dance has often earned it various high appraisals and is often viewed upon as a status symbol. This being said however, it is pretentious to assume that dancing has progressed through the years without its fair share of controversies and stigmas, as have all other art forms have to endure, in their bid of achieving greatness. In order to further understand the trials and tribulations of certain dance forms which have been overcome with time, the examination of ballet will be taken as a stepping stone to unearth the wonders of dance.

Ballet is considered to be a unique dance form due to its structured movements and techniques. There is little or no room for the free flow of ideas to take place, as ballerinas aim to execute the steps taught to them, with perfection. The history of this marvellous art form, can be traced to the courts of Renaissance Italy, where prolific shows of dance and music were often held amidst banquets, with the theme of the dance closely relating to the meal being served. It was in France however, where the splendour of ballet was further cultivated and explored. King Louis XIV, who ruled France in the late 1600s, fell in love with the dance and became the founding father of the Royal Academy of Dance - later developing into the Paris Opera Ballet – as the first specialized instruction venue for ballet. From there, began the ascend of ballet as a professional dance form, culminating in the creation of various steps and techniques.

In spite of the enthralling allure of the dance, discrimination against women was rampant during that time. Female roles in the performances, until the year 1681, were executed by men, as women were considered incapable of carrying the heavy costumes and immense headdresses on the frame of their smaller bodies. Dancing in a public arena often shed a negative light on the ballerinas, and this degradation continued for years to come.

On tiptoes, gliding and flitting across the stage in their tutus, the ballerinas of the 19th century graced the Victorian ballet stages, moulding ideals of grace and elegance in the minds of spectators. Quite the opposite was taking place behind the curtains however, as these girls were often over-worked and underpaid, in addition to being made to work in perilous conditions. Injuries were abundant during this period of time, owing to the lighting method used on the stage – flame of gas jets – and the flammable material of the dancers’ costumes. Clara Vestris Webster, a British ballerina with immense potential and at the peak of her career met a tragic ending, when she succumbed to burns after her costume accidentally alighted during a performance at Drury Lane in 1844. Clara’s death is just one example from countless others which took place during that era.

A huge chunk of the prejudices surrounding the ballerinas in this era was due to the clothes they wore on stage and the rich suitors who were always seen strutting with their chosen pursuits. In Victorian England, ballerinas were often discredited for their choice in ‘parading’ across stage, for all to see. The Chamber Edinburgh Journal in 1853, published a story on ballerinas and quoted a source as saying: ‘We cannot have our nephew, Captain John Wentworth's shirts made by a ballet-dancer. It would be setting a young man far too bad an example’. This further highlight the denotations often associated with the women who participated in this art form and drew immense crowds to each show, all eager to see the artistic talents of the ballerinas as they perform pirouettes and splits on stage, but none willing to bestow the respect and appreciation they deserve.

Modern dance, which began to emerge in the 1900s stemmed from the disgruntlement of dancers to the rigidity of ballet and the various stigmas often denoted upon stage performances. Classical ballet was conformed into a form of dance which allowed the free expression of feelings and emotions when dancing, instead of being confined to the structured techniques of traditional ballet. Doing a complete 360 degree turn from the heavy costumes and ballet shoes, modern dancers opt instead to dress in revealing clothes and be bare feet when dancing, immersing themselves in the freedom this dance entails upon them. Extravagant backdrops and classical music are swapped for simple stages and tunes which suit the mood and character of each individual dancer. In addition to being free from the restraints of classical ballet, negative connotations associated with women and dancing, began to ebb in the 20th century. Social reforms and realisations led to women carving names for themselves in the field of dance at an international scale.

Be it dancing with a loved one at important occasions such as weddings or practicing dance moves from famous songs, it is evident that dancing is imbedded in the lives of humans. Dances which are steeped in history and traditions like ballet for instance, have come to be revered as artistic art forms and are still held in esteem to this date. The evolvement of various traditional dances into modern ones is inevitable in the fast paced changing world of today. The rise of various new dance forms in different parts of the world does not push the traditional dance forms into extinction. Whereas, they have been polished and presented with a renewed status, one free from stigmas and negative connotations. Knowledge on both eras of dances - the old and the new - will provide an excellent starting point for the journey through the rich cultures thriving in our world today and enable us to be devoid of stigmas and discriminations, in order to empower our future.

Shot

2009-07-21T00:45:00.000+08:00

Hello :) This is my..um..third shot at a blog. Wahaha. I am so fickle about keeping one. Keep changing my mind after a few days and end up deleting the blog. But this time..am gona try and give it a serious shot. (hopefuli ;P)

I'm no good at writing about things that are happening in my life..so am gona post creative writing style pieces. Better than bottling up thoughts in my mind..this is gud practice at least. Hehe.

Ideas for pieces are most welcome...comments as well. Now lets see how long this blog lasts. ;)