Melayu Bercakap American

Meeting with future in laws - didn't happen.

2012-01-30T10:35:00.002+08:00

Apparently her mother had called upon the entire family to brainwash her to not date me. And in fact, they were planning to bring her and see a witch doctor.

Shucks.

I don't need a witch doctor to put a spell on a girl.

I'm just that good.

My greatest challenge in life - meeting my future in-laws.

2012-01-26T15:29:00.002+08:00

I'm meeting up with my gf's parents this coming Sunday. And my heart is pumping like crazy. I don't know what to expect but my gf has been warning me that it might turn ugly. She mentioned about me to them recently, and they weren't too happy about it. In fact, the mother managed to get the father to get on her side. A few days ago, the father told my gf not to go out with me. But she totally ignored him. Bless my gf for defending my honor but I hope things will go smoothly this Sunday. At this point of time, I don't know what to say or do when that day comes. Hopefully, if God willing, they will be kind to me the moment they see me.

I had a rock and roll dream.

2012-01-06T02:41:00.006+08:00

I had a dream. I had a dream that I was rocking the stage with my rockband. From small to big venues, we had fans that were going hysterical. Men were jizzing in their pants and women were throwing their sweat-stained panties at us. Loud, blaring music filled the air as my guitarist shred sweet sounding solos that would even awaken the late Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Buddy Holly (weird). Then, my bassist would dazzle the crowds like the piper – flowing and dancing away to every key. And my drummer, my drummer would be playing it loud until heaven and hell decided to put more filter so none of the sounds will go through and make their inhabitants groove. Last but not least, I would be spitting venomous lyrics. Sharp yet witty that would even make Eminem like a 5-year old still trying to rap. Or put Chester Bennington to a crying shame. And when all of us came together, orgasm ensued. I had a dream that my band went on to perform the prestigious Rock The World concert. And each of us was going out with Malaysian supermodels. I dated Hannah Tan for a year then I broke up with her and went for Maya Karin. But it didn’t work so I went for Deborah Henry and at the same time, with Liyana Fizi. I didn’t settle but I went on to date some of the finest ladies in Malaysia. Needless to say, some of them never wanted anyone else after that. Such the life of a rockstar. I was collaborating with Bunkface, Altimet, M.Nasir, Faizal Tahir, Siti Nurhaliza, Joe Flizzow, Mizz Nina, Hujan, Azlan and the Typewriter and the list continued. Each collaboration was a success. It topped the chart. It made tons of money. Finally, my band and I were called to perform at Big Day Out in Australia. We were the opening act for Foo Fighters because Dave Grohl wanted us to tour with them. I said we’ll see because I don’t follow others. They follow my lead. It pissed Dave Grohl a bit, but he realized that he needed to take a chill pill. Suddenly, after Australia, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor called me up and asked me to join him at Rock Am Ring. Not only as a guest, but also one of the main lineups after Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Linkin Park. My band and I were stoked and we immediately flew to Germany. We met Lacuna Coil, Kidney Thieves and Evanesence. Amy Lee tried to get into my pants but she got more than that. Finally, after a magnificent show at Rock Am Ring, we partied with the bands. Drugs, drinks and sex were everywhere. Next morning was clear as day but the night before was nothing but a blur. Packets of condoms were around and Amy Lee was sleeping on my crotch. I bet she could sing better after this. Checked my phone and apparently we were invited to Japan for X-Japan. I had a dream that I had to turn that down because the band needed a much deserved break. So we flew back to Malaysia and took a year off while having a balance of RM15million in the bank account but we splitted it 5 ways. I had a dream that after a much needed rest, we were ready to release our sophomore album. Eventually we managed to get Rick Rubin to produce our next album and went and stayed at his personal home and recording studio in Arkansas. The next few months were excruciating as everyone learned new things. My guitarist have acquired the skill to play like Tom Morello and Joe Satriani and eventually created a hybrid sound. My bassist went to Quincy Jones and learned under him. And finally, my drummer went on a surfing tour with Jack Johnson and his band. I was dating Liyana Jasmay and she couldn’t get over the fact that she’s dating with one of the hottest vocalist/rockstar in Malaysia. She dumped Yusry KRU for me. As much as I liked Liyana, her fake innocence failed to impress me. So I dumped her. After a few months, we finally finished the album and let Rick does his magic. While waiting for the release, MTV Music Awards called us up for a performance. A special performance for Aerosmith. It was gonna be a tribute concert for them and we were chosen to be the opening act. We agreed because we loved Steven and his boys. It was an honour. Along the way, my band met up with Slipknot and we did a quick tour with them around the states. These guys were fucked up but they were nonetheless the coolest guys in the world. Who knew Cory, the awesome vocalist, loved poetry? After the tour, we went to meet up with the execs at RollingStones in New York, Madison Avenue. Apparently they wanted to do up an article about us and how the Asian sounds was rising at a meteoric rate – because of our doing. We agreed and got ourselves a nice looking picture for their cover. The magazine broke the record for the highest sales ever- right after The Beatles and Elvis Presley. We took the first flight back to Malaysia and prepared for the AIM awards and were expected to sweep all the awards for that night. But we didn’t care because we were doing what we loved best – rocking the shit out! Jin and Lazy Mutha Fuckas called me up for a quick collaboration in Hong Kong. Heck, we loved Chan Ho Nam,Chow Sing Chi and Jet Li, so we flew there straight without thinking. Jin was a cool character and even though he left the states to make it big in Hong Kong, we thought he was cool nonetheless. Our sophomore album released after a few months later and it got on the Billboard top 100 and stayed at no.1 for 2 months. It pissed off a couple of American bands and singers because we were a Malaysian rock outfit and shouldn’t be there in the first place. We made an appearance on Conan O’Brien and said that we are the biggest thing after Beatles and God. Ricky Gervais loved us and wanted to do a special sitcom so he can piss people off and make loads of money. People still loved us and we still rocked the stage. I had a dream indeed.

Ian, this one’s for you amigo.
(Sorry for the grammar mistakes and typos, guys. It's rock and roll after all).

Uncharismatic.

2012-01-03T04:39:00.002+08:00

For the longest time,I believed I was quite the charismatic guy. And then one day, reality threw a curveball at my face and BLAMMoO!! I never felt so insecure in my whole life. And there's a pretty good reason why.

Take a look at all the greatest people in the world, in no particular order, and you can see all of them have one thing in common: Gandhi, Hitler, Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Jack Nicholson, The Prophet Muhammad, Princess Diana, Mother Theresa, Stevie Wonder and even Yasmin Ahmad.

All of them have Charisma. And it's either you have it or you don't.

Having charisma can go a long way - in life and in your career. Because people want to listen to you. Adore you. Vilify you. Or even crucify you. And they can't help it. People with charisma are infectious. They spread both good and evil. You can't deny their existence.

But one thing remains certain. Charisma can take you a long way. And I don't have that.So how do I advance myself in the real world? Or in my career?

Do you have an answer? If you do, I would love to hear it from you. Good or bad, I will accept them with open arms. So let er' rip boys and girls. I am asking for your help.

I'm not a writer.

2011-12-30T17:51:00.004+08:00

So sue me.

There was a comment recently made by one of my lovely readers (didn't know I had any, but thank you nonetheless) saying that I'm not a writer. And at the same time, the commentee managed to slip in a little 'not yet' after that. Why thank you so much. I feel much better. Not only that, my reader (sounds good to say that) added more useful points to his stupendous comments such as 'no substance' and 'no style'. Methinks those two words are very important to a writer. Because let's face it, without them you are simply a hack.

Well Mr.Lovely Reader, as you can see, I'm not really a proper writer like you. So I don't need soul or whatnots to 'impress' anyone. And while I do respect your comments, you could have been more useful by adding your blog. Because I would love to see your writings. Who knows? I might pick a tip or two and bring it back here. So, the next time you come around you can say 'got substance' and 'got style'. Which I think the only two words you can say.

Wait, if I'm not a proper writer then what the hell am I?

Simple. I'am an Ideas person. I come up with ideas when other people are too busy doing something else - like commenting useful stuff.

But thank you again for reading my stuff. I appreciate it. I treasure and cherish people who are willing to spend a few minutes reading my stuff on my blog.

God knows. We need more people like you.

People from Planet Mars that is.

The deer, the party and the perodua.

2011-12-17T15:55:00.003+08:00

Well, 2011 is just about done packing up its luggage and retire with the rest of the years. And 2012 is warming up for its big entrance.

Three things happened as we come close to New Years:

1. The Kancils Awards 2011 saw Naga DDB(my current agency) rising up to number 3. Whilst Leo Burnett fell to oblivion.

2. Naga DDB held an awesome Xmas Party (I never knew ad agency party could be so 18SX dan lain lain).

3. From one finished campaign, my partner and I were roped into another one - Perodua Campaign.

Hence the title of this post.

Wow, I should be tired or pissed off about this right? I mean, give a dog a bone yo. No one works from one campaign to another!!

WRONG.

This is the agency life baby. If you can't hack it then sell some hot dogs. That's how we roll. For me, I've been fortunate enough to work really close with Alvin Teoh (Naga DDB, ECD) in terms of writing scripts and such.

But to understand the way he thinks, I'm lucky to see it before my very eyes.

Anyways, that's all folks. And if I don't see ya, Have a Great New Year and Merry Xmas!

God bless.

Censorship Board -1, Me - 0.

2011-12-03T05:02:00.002+08:00

Today was the first day I tasted defeat. My DiGi tvcs were shot down last minute by the censorship board. Some say it is because the new president is tryin to flex his muscle while others think it's because we didn't give 'peace offerings' to smoothen the process. Either ways, Azraai the Fearless has thrown in the gloves.

Let's just see how this saga turns out, eh?

Recognized.

2011-11-29T20:28:00.003+08:00

That day has finally come. The day Campaign Brief Asia finally recognized me as one of the hottest creatives in Asia.

I was at a recording today and was looking through the rankings until I reached no.804.
There it was, in print.

Sheikh Azraai. Creative ranking no.804 with 25 points accumulated.

It was the happiest day of my life.

I couldn't stop smiling eventhough I was piled up with shit loads of work.

Alhamdullilah.

Rainy Days.

2011-11-17T19:23:00.002+08:00

Cold drops touching my skin,
Awaking the neurons and the memories from the past,
I suppress the feelings that I can't comprehend,
No one knows what goes through my mind,
I don't expect to because I put on a pretty smile,

Dark days are bright days to me,
Only then the truth is revealed,
Some say is sad, I say that's subjective,
It's me against the world,
Whether or not you're with me,
I'm definitely not with you,

I have a stand,
I don't expect many to understand,
But it sounds right when it is in my heart,
An epiphany strikes at the same place,
Like how lightning strikes twice,

Stop me now I'm spewing gibberish,
An embarrassment to the society, very unlikely,
I saw what I say, and as pure as it can be,
Like crystal shards, clear as you'll ever be,

Alive.

2011-11-08T02:10:00.002+08:00

Time and time again, without fail, the late Kak Yasmin always managed to bring me to tears. Maybe I'm just a sappy and an emotional fool, but the tears that ran down my face always made me feel more alive than anything else.

Sorry for the sappy posting guys.

Revisit Lost in Translation.

2011-10-31T14:04:00.002+08:00

I watched Sofia Coppola's 'Lost in Translation' for the millionth time last weekend. And one of the things that really persuaded me to watch this beautiful, artistic movie is Bill Murray and Japan. Forget Scarlett Johansson. She was just 'meh'.

The scene in Kyoto, where a married couple walked together in a temple, is breathtakingly beautiful. And add an enchanting music to that scene, Air's 'Alone in Kyoto', my heart and mind fluttered away. In fact, it touched my heart just because the sheer beauty, peace and tranquility of that scene.

Even though this was Sofia Coppola's first directorial debut, it gave me the impression that it was done by a film master. I can't lavish enough praise to Sofia Coppola for creating this movie.

In fact, she deserved to be praised due to the fact that when I watched this movie, I felt that I was in Tokyo itself (which in 2008, my dream came true. I was in Tokyo for a week). And only a few film directors can pull that off.

This is not a movie review. Heavens forbid that I have enough intelligence nor sensitivity to do so. This is in fact merely a confession. A confession of my love towards Japan.

But wait a minute. What about Bill Murray? Where does he fit in the picture?

It's Bill Murray. You don't need words to express how amazing he was in this movie. In fact, ever since he was in this movie, he has been receiving tons of offers. And ultimately, the revival of his stardom.

Go ahead. Find the movie. See it for yourself.

Maybe you'll like it for something else. Maybe for Scarlett Johansson or the lovely and still young Anna Faris.

But I promise you this, you won't regret it.

Relationships.

2011-10-27T01:31:00.002+08:00

If there's no argument, it ain't a relationship.

Why do we need an argument in a relationship? Well it's fairly simple. Because we are humans and humans will always have issues. If these issues are not taken care or shared, it will simply destroy us from the inside. When that happens, nothing good ever comes out of it.

By engaging in a simple argument, one will be able to understand what has been bothering the person so far. And from then on, even if it may not be pretty, solutions will come out of it.

Which is why it is good to let the bad things out of the relationship. You don't keep it in and let in linger until it explodes. A happy relationship begins with a good argument.

Movie writing.

2011-10-22T23:46:00.002+08:00

The BMW Shorties 2011 is just around the corner and I urge aspiring film makers to take part in this prestigious event.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I should join this time around. I'm feeling a bit depressed. Not because the theme for this time around is JOY. How ironic.

I'm depressed because I don't have the means to shoot my story.

A good camera is the first thing I need. I have my pen and pencil to begin my script. I have the idea.

Actually, I have no idea what I'm gonna write. Seeing that I'm not feeling the mood for this year.

Think Senior.

2011-10-21T20:35:00.001+08:00

If you think you are a junior copywriter, then you are a junior. If you think you are a senior copywriter, nuff said.

What to do when you know you're screwed.

2011-10-21T00:16:00.003+08:00

Breathe in and breathe out. Try and find out what went wrong and try to come up with the solution. If all else fail...

GO TO YOUR Creative Director or Executive Creative Director!

Goodbye Steve. You've done a good job.

2011-10-06T17:35:00.001+08:00

Unposted Posts

2011-10-05T00:21:00.002+08:00

I'm looking at my blog, and there are tons of unfinished posts (And I hope this post doesn't end there).

What are my strengths? Where do I see myself in 6 months?

2011-09-22T16:29:00.004+08:00

When I my boss asked me those questions, I kept quiet. There were lots of things running though my mind but none of them had anything to do in providing the answers. I just smiled and nodded like a fool. Obviously I hate doing that. It shows that you are just agreeing because you don't know shit. Or you don't understand him. Or you're just a tool.

I need to fix that.

Anywho, the questions bothered me the whole night. I asked my girlfriend/almost wife what are my strengths and her answer was what I feared it might be. She said I'm good in coming up with ideas. And very fast, too. That's because I was trained by Hisham (my ex boss at Dentsu Utama). I was not satisfied. It is for a fact my ex boss didn't do jack. In fact, he just made sure my copy didn't have any grammar mistakes. And I should work on my craft more often. However, he did mention that I come up with ideas pretty fast. The problem is, from my point of view, all the ideas are crap. Of course there's a few good ones here and there but at the end of the day, only a handful of ideas manage to live to see the day.

So here I am, back at one. Still wondering what is my strength.

At first, I thought my strength was in TV. Cuz I love doing TV and I have to say that it's because I was influenced by Allahyarhamah Yasmin Ahmad, my self-proclaimed mentor. In fact, when I first did my Petronas commercial, which had been changed a lot by the film director, I wanted to do more. Not only in ads but also in short film. Which is why I dabbled in scriptwriting for the BMW Shorties. I didn't win but I was proud of the outcome (and damn, I can act).

So let's leave it at that.

Now what are my goals in 6 months? I looked at my boss, still without an answer, wondering when will I figure it out. Today's the third day I've been thinking about it. Nada,zilch, zero, and nothing. I fear my ambition is fleeting away from my body. What happened to that young man who wanted to be the next Yasmin Ahmad? Who wanted to come up with ground-breakin' ads? Who wanted to be Asia's top creative?

Where is that young man?

Did age slowed me down? Is 29 the new 40? I don't know. I don't have the answers. And even though I feel lost, deep down I feel good to know that I can be honest. No longer do I need to act like I know everything. The truth of the matter is this - my knowledge is like a drop of water in a sea of knowledge.

So what are my strengths? Care to tell me?
And where do you guys see me in the next 6 months, 1 year or 2 years?

I welcome all comments. Who knows, I might be able to figure it out and share it with you in my next post.

Am I here because you need a Malay?

2011-09-15T17:02:00.003+08:00

In my experience as a creative in an ad agency, my whole 5 years to be exact,I always find myself surrounded by many (and I do mean many) Chinese creatives. And ever since the late Yasmin Ahmad, I have always wondered whether my employers are hiring me because I'm Malay and I'm there to fill in the Malay spot for the creative team OR am I hired because I'm talented.

I want to believe the latter so badly because I loathe it if I was hired because of my race.

Let's face it, the advertising industry is filled with Chinese peeps while the Malays and Indians are quite miniscule. Scary innit? And all of them are very hardworking, talented and highly educated. So, what can a college dropout do to survive in the fray?

I either sink or swim baby. Period.

Luckily for me, this situation puts me in a very delicious position. I can prove to myself that I can make it. That I can work as hard and better. That underneath our skin, we have feelings, emotions and the need for love. The love that we want to share with the world. And make the world a happier place. Not to judge people by their skin, but by their contribution, creation and making lives better. Pushing the human race forward.

So to answer my own question "Am I here because you need a Malay?"

"I'm here because I have the capabilities to do great things".

Persona, Money and Rock Bands.

2011-09-01T02:45:00.002+08:00

I need to get a car. But I don't need a lot of money. If you think that statements are weird then you're fine. I've been battling with me ownself lately to see what matters most- an imported car or a local one. A Kia Forte or a Proton Persona. Decisions, decisions. I hate it. I wish I can buy both of em' and just live happily ever after. But reality never ends the way I want it to be.

Meanwhile, I've been voraciously listening to my Hero Rock Band, Deftones, and the spirit of rock and roll within me is raging to come up. It wants to breathe the air of music and unleash havoc on the face of the Malaysian music scene. It's about goddamn time.

I don't care if I make it big. After hours and and constant karaoke sessions, I need to perform!

Let's do this.

A life that you can't afford.

2011-08-29T15:30:00.002+08:00

I was at KLCC today. Taking out some money for the electric bill, phone bill , lemang and my own expenditure. As I was paying for all these stuff, I looked back at my little black notebook (aka Bill updates and hutangs) and I realized one thing- how in the hell can I afford all this? It bothers me so much that I’m paying a lot. And yet I should be happy that I have a lot of money. But no, instead I feel worse. Even worse, I feel stressed and pressured. “The mo’ money I gets, the mo’ problems I gets” as to put it how P.Diddy does. The thing is, when I was a kid, all these bullshits were not necessary. It didn’t exist in my life. Yet that is beside the point, because at one point in time you have to start thinking about your future and where you are heading.

Yet once again, I digress. So I looked back at my black book and I wondered that I would’ve been fucked if I didn’t have a job. Cuz the shit that I need to pay is exorbitant. Which is why I’m kinda thankful to have a job with good salary. But to be honest, that was not my goal when I joined advertising. Honestly, I wanted to come up with the most ground-breaking ad campaign ever and a Petronas TVC. I only managed to do the latter. Still waiting on the former…

Hmm, I kinda lost the purpose of writing this article. Oh wait. I remember! Yes, I do complain about the money and the shit that I have to pay. But something happened when I was walking from D.K LRT to my Grandma’s place.

I was still thinking, calculating my money and the upcoming bills. And how I can save for a car, house and wedding. Then I noticed this old man. He’s a hobo and a very familiar one around Datok Keramat. He hangs out at Datok Keramat secondary school, outside. And I think he’s malay. I’ve seen him for the past three years and no one, not even his family members have helped him off the street. I hope he has a family. Raya is just around the corner and he is still wearing his raggedy shirt and pants. Hairs unkempt and he smelled bad. Save from the sweat from his body, which I assume is how he cleans himself. Then he wipes his body with an old, overused cloth.

I opened my wallet and took out 8 ringgit, which was pretty sad, and I walked towards him. He looked surprised but I smiled as I left him with the money. And suddenly I realized my situation is not that bad. It is just sad that I have to see these people to remind myself. But Allah has a better plan for people like him. Or maybe Allah is trying to tell me something.

What would a Good Muslim do?

For now, I don’t know and I shamelessly admit that I’m scared of coming near them. I can’t give them a shower or a home. I just wish there is something that I can do.
I hope Allah will show me what it is. Or the brain that He gives me comes up with a solution.

Yet for now, surely the lifestyle that I can’t afford is a life better than this poor old man.

Think about it.

26th August 2011, the tightest day of the month.

2011-08-26T15:45:00.002+08:00

A viral video in the midst of editing followed by a facebook fan page, for now, that has no name and description nor the mechanics. A device ad that's due today and has no headline. Mind you the headline has to be Silver or Bronze level. Finally, an ad for rewards that is also due today.

Is that tight or is that not tight enough?

That's pretty much how life is at Naga DDB. The work is mad. But the people are amazing. And once in a while, you get to see a gem out in the crazy world. I've done that at Leo Burnett and I intend to do the same here. I vow to leave a mark in the advertising scene whether it's good or bad. But I lean towards the good because I'm the only known Jedi in Advertising (as how my trainer nicknamed me).

Can't believe I still have time to blog while the work piles on. I'm pretty gifted at this. Staying calm under pressure but the pressure inside me is about to blow up.

Gooosfraba.

Ok ok. Time to get back to work. Oh and before I forget, SELAMAT HARI RAYA TO ALL OF YOU AND MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN. Please drive safe so that there will be more joy than heartaches.

Assalamualaikum and peace.

Nervous, worried yet excited.

2011-08-24T10:18:00.002+08:00

I was telling my baby yesterday that I was really worried and nervous about today. It's my first viral video shoot with Alvin!!! Arggghhh!! And I have no idea how it will turn out. Do I say something? Do I keep quiet? Do I just let Alvin and Maurice, the film director, to take care of the rest? Am I suppose to give feedback? And if I do, what would it be? Would it be about the way the talents are acting? Or how they deliver the dialogue? Shit shit shit, so many things going through my mind. But you know what? It's going to be an interesting experience.

I got a great film director, a great mentor, and a great team. InsyaAllah, everything will turn out fine if I stop worrying too much.

I just don't want to mess it up.

Naga DDB

2011-08-18T12:53:00.003+08:00

Haven't got the time to tell ya'll about my move to Naga DDB. Been busy since day 1.

But overall, it has been ok. I mean, it's too early for me to tell.

Catch ya later after 4-5 more months.

Last Day at Arc Worldwide/ Leo Burnett Malaysia

2011-06-28T10:44:00.002+08:00

Today's my last day.

Feel pretty sad about it. But not shaken. Nor stirred.

It's a small industry and I'm sure I will come back one day. Not that soon.

Emo Friends.

2011-06-09T11:35:00.002+08:00

When Jimmy Eat World burst into the rock scene, they were immediately labeled as an EMO BAND. However, the relationship between Jimmy Eat World and my EMO friends are irrelevant. You see, an EMO friend is a friend that tends to get too emotional, all the time. Regardless of the topic at hand, my EMO friends are very in touch with their emotions. Which means, being EMO is like their second skin. In addition, they tend to get even more EMO if the topic is about relationship, father and mother issues, work, girlfriend, boyfriend, marriage or drugs. I would like to add more to that list, but for now it is suffice.

So how should one handle an EMO friend? Here’s a foolproof trick: never ever tell them off. Since they are ‘fragile little things’, you have to approach them from their point of view – the EMO point of view. If not, they will reject everything you say or the advice you give. Personally, having an EMO friend can be quite beneficial. And the most important one is, they will always STICK by you no matter what. And if you call upon them, they will be there right by your side.

However, to gain an EMO friend is tough. You have to earn their trust because you will be part of their world. And to be part of their world is like entering their secret garden – only the discerning few can be there. So if you have an EMO friend, be patient. God made them that way. If there were less EMO people in this world, we might as well be robots. And I for one, prefer to hear people whine than being cold.

My mom and dad.

2011-06-08T11:42:00.000+08:00

Marthalena binti Saad hailed from Padang, Indonesia. She came to Malaysia and was a very bright student and social elite. Her parents were of Minang parentage, which makes her very well connected to the vast Minang society in Malaysia. Sheikh Muhamad Azmi bin Sheikh Shamsuddin was a poor boy from Kuantan, Pahang. He lived a harsh life when his mother passed away. When his father married another lady, he was treated worse than dirt. However that didn’t stop him from becoming an excellent sportsman and student.

It is obvious that both of them were far from being a perfect match. But cupid had its way. When both of them met in college, they immediately fell in love and got married. My dad, being the poor man he is, came to KL with no extra clothes and money. And my mom’s dad, being the compassionate guy he is, gave him clothes, fed him and a home to stay; just for the sake of her favourite daughter.

I’m the byproduct of their marriage and I’ve learnt so many things from both of them, despite their different backgrounds. My mom taught me to be kind and compassionate to the people around me and my dad taught me to be a man. A man that not only protects women, but also stands up on his own two feet. Although his methods were a tad harsh, I became the man I am today. As a counsellour, my mom also taught me to understand the human behaviour. She finds it very crucial for one to understand the hows and whys when dealing with a person.

Without them, I would never be the man I am today. And if they were still around, I would say I love them in the morning, in the day, and in the night. Because they deserve it. And no amount of love from me, can compare to their love for me.

23kgs gone in 1 month.

2011-06-02T11:51:00.002+08:00

My next hair style would be a bright pink mohawk. It is not by choice, but because of a wager. You see, a few months ago, nay, 2 YEARS AGO I had made a challenge for my colleague and myself. Both of us were a tad overweight and we needed to lose it asap. Not just for health purposes but to make us look super hot. So anyways, the challenge was, both of us must lose 10-19kgs each. However, we decided that I should shed 17kgs and my colleague should shed 10kgs - based on our height. Now, if we fail to do this, both of us must be penalized. My colleague's penalization was if he couldn't shed 10kgs, then he must do up his hair like a ponytail for two weeks. And he must have the ponytail on during client meetings, lunch and everywhere else during office hours. He cringed but he accepted it.

Meanwhile, for yours truly, I had to get a mohawk and color it bright pink.

So, two years down the road and both of us still have gotten nowhere. In fact, I've gained more weight. From 95kgs in 2009 to 99kgs in 2011!!!.

I should start shopping for nice looking hats.

Crush.

2011-05-31T19:17:00.001+08:00

I've got a crush on a durian.
I've got a crush on a bear.
I've got a crush at a mangosteen.

If you are reading this, and you know who you are, leave a comment. :)

Negative? Emotionless? Serious!!?

2011-04-15T10:30:00.003+08:00

I recently created a new blog and the first person to have the luxury to read it was my girlfriend.

As I anxiously waited for her comments, my mind kept imagining how excited she was to have read the contents in my new blog.

Afternoon turned to evening, evening turned to night, and night turned to midnight. She was still taking her sweet time. But this is due to the fact that she had a pitch coming up.

Finally, around 11pm, she finally gave her answer. She said " Umm, ok lar. But no feel la. So serious. So not smooth", and the rest was about how she really hated the layout (art directors).

I really took her comment to heart because I needed to upgrade from an "ok" writer to a "decent" writer.

Heart broken and confidence destroyed, again, I tried to write something else that was close to my heart.

Eureka!!

Ikko was my answer!

Now Ikko was my most favourite cat. He lived with me from Cyberjaya to KL circa 2006 - 2009. I loved him to bits.

Writing about Ikko was easy. Words flowed like river and it filled up the pages in my notebook quite fast.

Finally when I was done, I read it to my girlfriend.

"Hmm, ok lar. Serious ler. Not really smooth," was what she said.

I placed my notebook by the side of the bed and slept.

Why oh why did I keep on sharing my writing with an art director?

Testinganewblog

2011-04-14T16:27:00.002+08:00

Azraai the Listener

That's the address to my newest blog. I'm doing this because I want to start fresh. Clean slate. Better writing. Better quality. Better shit.

Fuck la. I just wanna see whats the biggie about posterous. If it's good then I'll shut this blog down for good.

If not, then expect to see me update my current blog on a not so daily basis.

Cheers.

Haiku Try One

2011-04-13T17:36:00.001+08:00

On Ideas

Blank paper
rest easy, my pen
is idle.

Come rain (not the singer).

2011-04-12T19:24:00.000+08:00

It has been raining heavily in KL. It is good as the weather has been very unkind to me. Especially when I go to bed. Because whenever I wake up, I’m soaked. And the sweat will seep into my pillows, which in turn, make them smell like the river at Masjid Jamek. And I hate that smell. If the smell is really bad, my grandmother would change it for me and give me a quick guilt trip for treating her like a maid.

I could’ve installed an aircond but my salary wouldn’t allow it. There are just too many bills for me to cover. From credit card to insurance and to my sister, my money is disappearing faster than Criss Angel’s fame. So I did the unthinkable. I tried to ask my boss for an increment. Unfortunately, I was politely and diplomatically declined.

On top of that, I still think my writing sucks. How do the hell does one memorizes the rules of grammar? I don’t have a good memory to begin with! So in a nutshell, I’m pretty much fucked from all sides. Although I thank my lucky stars that I know the difference between “singular” and “plural”.

Yet, it is good that it is raining. It helps to wash these issues away.

A reminder from the past. How wonderful.

2011-03-15T17:14:00.004+08:00

It was 5.21pm. Which means I had exactly a few more minutes to waste. Rather than stalking other blogs and coming up with ideas for BMW, I decided to search for all of my work and organize them for the meeting on Friday. So, with a smile on my face, I happily plugged in my 500gb of harddisk to my computer and began my search.

Like a raving madman, I opened multiple folders just to see where all of my files were (and wondered why did I have folders with weird names such as "To Lick, To Change and Sucky Babes to name a few). During the search, I discovered something else. There was a file named "Shaking things up by Harminder Singh of Adoi Magazine" nicely tucked in between a porn video and an image of Donald Duck. Weird combo. Now the name itself got me intrigued so I opened it immediately - completely oblivious to what I was supposed to do.

With great anticipation,I read the document in my super slow microsoft words. Scanning through each word, I didn't a snicker appeared on my face. And a warmth feeling covered my like a warm blanket. I realized when I wrote this "article", I was still a young rookie writer. Trying to find my way in the advertising world. Filled with passion for greatness and nothing less.

I wanted to be the next Yasmin Ahmad.

This article revived my love for advertising. It showed how truly happy I was to be in this industry. And when I looked back, I realized I've come a long way to be where I am today.

Something that we all should think about when we joined this industry.

My Version of Drizzt Do Urden Part 3

2011-03-09T14:30:00.003+08:00

Iaarza was on his knees and he was smiling. He knew that his time was up and there was no way he will survive this ordeal. He looked to the left and right. Three men were down and were badly injured. He whispered to himself "At least I managed to bring a couple of them down.". The group of pirates, who were surrounding him, looked confused and dumbfounded. Iaarza's arms were broken, his nose was bleeding and his weapons were cracked in two. Why is he still smiling? Out of the blue, the leader of the pirates stepped up and asked Iaarza a question. "Are you scared boy? Is that why you are smilin'?"

Iaarza looked at him. He snickered and spitted blood at the leader's face. "I will die here today, but I will die as a man. And fought like one. I can't say the same for you." The leader, who was now all red, wiped the spit and hoisted his great axe. Iaarza closed his eyes. He waited for the kill. Suddenly, he heard the sound of swords clashing and people screaming. He opened his eyes and noticed all the pirates ran away in fear and the leader was now on his knees. The unimaginable fear in his eyes can be seen. He was kneeling before a large figure with silvery long hair. Iaarza couldn't believe his luck. Of all the places, he didn't expect to find his idol, icon or future master here in Icewind Dale.

The lone figure gestured to the pirate leader to take flight. And within a split second, the pirate ran like a madmen to join his fellow crew. As the lone figure sheathed his scimitars, Iaarza called him out.

"You are the one. The legend people have been talking about".

The figure turned around and smiled at Iaarza. Even though his ebony skin was as dark as night, but Iaarza can feel his charisma and kindness. He has found the legendary drow, Drizzt Do Urden.

"Please teach me the way of the sword!" Iaarza yelled.

My Version of Drizzt Do Urden Part 2

2011-03-09T11:52:00.004+08:00

The darkness was spreading across the rocky plateau. Drizzt knew he had to plan his next move carefully. Sarevok Anchev scanned the area with great focus. As the chosen fighter sent by the Spider Queen Lloth, Sarevok knew that he was up against one of Lloth's hated nemesis. And as soon as he knew it was the Dark Elf Drizzt, Sarevok felt the fear he had when he was still a human. For all his life, Sarevok had never felt any fear towards his opponents. Only anticipation and excitement. However this time, for this one time, he felt the fear creeping up and choking him by his throat. He loved the feeling of it. He gripped Skystar even tighter - a legendary sword given by the Spider Queen Lloth for defeating the Devil Errtu.

Drizzt breathed in and out. It was time to end this charade. First, he summoned a black orb to distract Sarevok. And it took Sarevok less than a second to notice this. Sarevok dashed towards the orb and smiled. His greatest fear was behind the orb and he's not waiting for a second chance. Sarevok leaped over the globe but he was welcomed by a quick slash from Twinkle. As Sarevok tumbled, Drizzt came down on him with a flurry of attack but to no avail, Sarevok managed to get up and parried all of the attack. With a quick counter, Sarevok released a heavy blow at Drizzt with his shield. Drizzt flew a few meters away. Dazed, confused and angry, Drizzt's lavender eyes shined brighter. He bared his teeth and ran towards Sarevok. Both of them were now in a storm of swords. Only clashes between Twinkle, Icingdeath and Skystar can be heard. The sheer power of their swordplay were so strong that even the ground below them started to shake.

Yet, only one will come out alive from this. And for once, Sarevok's fear grew even heavier as he noticed the change in Drizzt's eyes. They were no longer Drizzt's eyes. They were pure evil and malice. Much more than the Spider Queen's.

My Version of Drizzt Do Urden.

2011-03-08T17:50:00.001+08:00

The ogre took a defensive stance after it received a few blows from Drizzt Do Urden. It was trying to refocus and rethink its next attack on the spirited dark elf. Drizzt, on the other hand, was already planning his next move in five ways. He knew that the next blow would determine his well being or his demise. With his right arm clenched tightly to Twinkle, his magical scimitar, Drizzt threw a stone at the ogre and bolted towards it with elf like speed. The ogre snickered and flicked the stone at ease. At the same time, the ogre swung his axe and sliced Drizzt in two. Yet, the victorious smile across the ogre’s face disappeared immediately as soon as Drizzt’s decoy disappeared into thin air. As the ogre looked up, he knew it was the end. The mighty Drizzt Do’ Urden was in mid air with Twinkle, aiming straight at the ogre, at elf like speed.

The Legend of Drizzt Do Urden. FANTASY. SECTION K01-11

I don't know.

2011-03-08T16:59:00.004+08:00

I have this agreement with myself. And I was supposed to keep to this agreement until it made a difference to my life. Want to know that agreement?

To write up to 1500 words per day.

It's been 4 years now and the words I've wrote do not even come up to 1500 per day. More like 1500 words per 6 months. Does this mean anything then? Does this mean I hate writing or I'm making up excuses not to write? Have I become a hack? The copywriter who couldn't write? (insert suspense song here). Will I live up to 30 (I'm 29 now) and work in my current agency as one of those run-off-the-mill copywriter? Fuck. This. Is. Bullshit. Every single fucking day, I try to write but my mind ends up flying off to Lala land where MILFS, Videogames and Apple products collide. All trying their best to catch my attention. Even worse, I have to google these devilishly tempting annoying things online just to keep it on a minimal level. And when you use the HTC Desire to browse the net, it's like having a small rocket in your hands. A 3.4 inch rocket to be exact.

On a separate note, my grammar has been quite bearable (note the change between present and past tense). Usually, I would panic if I had to make a choice between "at the hospital" or "in the hospital". So, I guess all is not lost. There is still hope for me. And for my ever uncertain future.

Actually, the future is uncertain. And only a seer knows the future. Or God. However, as I pointed out, I'm not worried about the future. The future just fills you up with anxiety and stupidity. There's no benefit in thinking about the future. Which is why I believe in living in the present, one step at a time. The present does not fill you up with anxiety and stupidity. It is just there like a piece of clay. Waiting for me to do whatever the heck I want to do. Just like the beautiful ladies at Menara MPL (shout out to J, A and M - the true boys of Menara MPL).

I don't know.

It's been close to 5 years that I've been in advertising. And along the way I scored an advertising award or two. But those work are shared by the rest of the team. I'm still getting a pay that is not of market value. Do I want this? Do I really want to continue with this? Will I see the silver lining again?

I don't know.

Fuck it. Let's jam.

A Moment of Inspiration

2010-12-28T01:44:00.003+08:00

In The Social Network, a splendid movie directed by David Fincher, there is a scene where Mark(Eisenberg) looks completely engrossed in what he is doing- developing Facebook. And with a little magic from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the scene becomes magical conjointly inspirational.

Now, change that scene to a guy sitting on a sofa. The TV is on but he's not watching. There's a small fan on the floor spinning at medium speed. His headphone sways back and forth gently due to the cool wind. He's listening to one of the tracks from The Social Network OST. He is unaware of his surrounding as he writes on voraciously.

That whole scene is me writing down some copy (last minute). And I have to say, a little song to enhance your surrounding helps you do your work much better and faster - especially if it's songs from The Social Network (I know, I know I love the damn album).

Thanks to Reznor and Ross, I became Zuckerberg for that one moment.

Thanks again guys for creating one of the most spellbinding soundtracks ever.

Heart

2010-11-12T16:15:00.002+08:00

I've forgotten the most important thing in the world when it comes to life - the heart. I was sharing some stories with Yew Leong for CNY and I realised that my ideas are intellectual and expected. Even though these stories are inspired from fables.

However, when I told Yew Leong about my childhood, he said it was already interesting. Basically the story was about how I wanted to get this toy car badly but I didn't have the money to save. My mom knew about this and she didn't tell me. Instead, she said if I plucked her grey hair everyday, for one single grey hair, she would pay me RM1. And I did. Every single day without fail, I would wait for her and pluck her grey hair - in order to get my dream toy car.

Until she got cancer.

Her hair started to fall apart and I thought it was my fault. I plucked too much of her hair. But she insisted on me that grey hair will always grow back. So I shouldn't worry. In the end, I got the money and I felt really bad about it. I gave it to her but she didn't want any of it - it was my pay for a hard work.

Till today, I don't know what happened with the money.

Matchbox 20

2010-11-11T22:10:00.002+08:00

Now, by my standards Matchbox 20 has to be one of the greatest bands to ever grace America and on planet earth. However, with tons of Justin Biebers, Katy Perrys and Lady Gagas flocking the music scene, this band has become an underrated rock band. DAMN YOU POP!!

A few years ago when Matchbox 20 burst into the scene, they were hitting the nation with one hit after another i.e Push, Unwell, 3 a.m, and more. And as I'm typing this, the sweet sound of Rob Thomas (that sounds gay) and the hauntingly melodic guitars from Unwell fills the air - on repeat!

And I only have one word to summarize this feeling " TOTALLY ECSTATIC". (okey two words then). However, what really is more important that this song is the website that is playing this song.

I've read a couple of her articles and I have to say, I'm thoroughly impress with the way she express herself.

So if you want to find out more, just click here.

Drinking.

2010-10-31T23:38:00.002+08:00

I've recently started drinking again. And I feel like shit when I'm done.

The first started in Phuket and now I'm drinking again with my buddy from the good ol Mayang days.

And I think I need to grow a couple of balls and put my foot down. NO MORE FUCKING DRINKING. Whether it is a special occasion or whatever the fuck it is for, NO MORE.

So I went on and research online, in order for me to come up with a sound logic if someone asks me why did I quit drinking.

Here goes:

Alcohol is detrimental to your health especially your liver. Alcohol befogs the mind and prevents rational thinking. Alcohol causes road accidents and innocent lives lost. Alcohol increases the occurance of domestic violence. Alcohol addiction causes financial ruin.

I don't agree with the last two points because you are still capable of controlling yourself if you have common sense. But then again, you have no common sense left if alcohol has taken over you.

There is a verse in the Holy Quran that mentions about alcohol and the verse says "alcohol contains some good and some evil, but the evil is greater than the good (2:219)".

While the Christians have wine now and then,they don't do it at the point of drunken stupor. Which could mean, alcohol fucks the mind and prevents rational thinking. Sound familiar?

Right Heel Hell Pt.2

2010-10-25T10:08:00.002+08:00

I've went and done it again. I played futsal with the boys in One Utama. And the result was excruciating. We lost 3-1 and my heel was killing me. The wifey told me I shouldn't play, but my manhood got the best of me. And my stubbornness. In the end I learnt my lesson. Always listen to the wifey. And not your dick.

So here I am, in the office, with my busted up heel. I'm thinking whether I should go to that reflexology place at Taman Tun. I'm scared but I think it's worth a shot. I know I should go before it's too late because yesterday evening, I asked my lil brother to massage my right heel and I yelped like a giant ape! The pain was unbearable. I think I almost fainted (even though the massage was 30 seconds).

However, I believe this heel problem of mine started when I sprained my right foot. Then my abductor digiti , the big bulgy part of your foot, swollen up like a little balloon.

And that is when my right heel started to give me problems. It has been 3 weeks!!!

Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and A.Samad Said.

2010-10-24T23:57:00.002+08:00

I was with the wifey today at KLCC. I got tickets to R.E.D, an action packed movie based on a comic by DC. It's about four retired hitmen and they are being hunted. Except the prick who wanted these awesome foursome dead didn't know they were equivalent to the Four Horsemen.

Anyways, while we were waiting for the movie to start, we saw the great A.Samad Said. I mean you can't miss his trademark long silver hair anywhere. He was with the missus too. And me and the wifey were giggling like little school girls.

As soon as we got into our seats, the wifey wondered who were the people that will be sitting next to us. And the wifey went on to say wouldn't it be cool if A.Samad Said sat there and watched R.E.D with us! I mean that would completely shock us more. Knowing this esteemed intellect and Malaysia's very own national treasure, watching a flick about old hitmen shooting and blowing things up along the way towards destruction.

I joked it would be awesome if A.Samad Said watched this movie and got inspired to write a poem or a sonnet. For example:

Orang tua sedang menembak,
Tapi dua orang muda di sebelah ku,
Asyik mengatal dan bermiang,
Cibai aku nak tengok wayang, bukan tengok kamu.

Or something like dat la.

After a while, the lights went off. And me and the missus cuddled up.

Suddenly, our dream came true.

A.SAMAD SAID SAT NEXT TO US! IN THE MOVIE FEATURING WILLIS, FREEMAN, MALKOVICH AND MIRREN!!!! A GUN TOTING VIOLENT AND MINDLESS MOVIE! AND A.SAMAD SAID IS WATCHING IT!!

The missus and I became really quiet. And our imagination went amok. We didn't know what to expect.

THIS INTELLECT IS WATCHING A MINDLESS VIOLENT MOVIE.

FUCKIN AWESOME@!!!!!!!!

Thank you for a good sunday encik A.Samad Said. YOU ROCK.

Constant Writing

2010-10-21T19:45:00.003+08:00

I realize the only way I'll ever be a good writer (as I am now somewhat decent) is to keep writing every single day. There's no big secret. If you want to be good at what you do then practice, practice and practice more. In fact,Alastair Crompton (author of The Copy Book),had a good idea on how to be a good copywriter. Crompton said he knew a colleague who would just write simply about everything and anything. And the best part of all, the colleague would write up to 1,500 per day!!!

Fuck! No matter how many twitter post you write, you'll never come close to that!

Nevertheless, this is the only way. Or, you can write lyrics like I do. But it works for me. I find it very therapeutic. It calms me down. In a nutshell, I'm improving my writing skills but also expanding my writing expertise. And I welcome you to try it. Don't moan and be lazy about it. This is the only way. There is not shortcut to greatness. Unless you decide to settle with "ok" and "decent". At least aim for good.

Right Heel Hell.

2010-10-21T00:36:00.003+08:00

Played futsal today and paid the price - the pain coming from my right heel has escalated to a whole new level. I don't know whether I kicked the ball wrong or my healing ability is deteriorating (fuck old age in the ass weih). Anyways, I've been trying to ease the pain by massaging it now and then with this smelly ass ointment from Indonesia - called Minyak Tawon.

But I think it's bullshit because it's not doing me any good. My colleague told me to try foot reflexology. It might just help instead of going to a Bone specialist. He further went on it is all in the blood circulation. Just a lil twist and turn, here and there, and I'll feel like a million bucks.

Good. Because I feel like shit right now.

Anyways, I have a sore throat, killer pain in the right heel, and a body that will experience excruciating pain tomorrow. Oh yeah. Loving it.

On a separate note, I realise I have the ability to act and come up with lyrics on the spot.

Call me gifted but I think it is all in the mind.

Peace out.

Boss on holiday. Work is less. Tummy is expanding.

2010-10-18T14:45:00.004+08:00

I'm feeling lazy today.

My boss is away so I feel relieved. Yeah, I admit it feels good to see my boss on holiday. She deserves it. And most of the work on my side is more or less done. So, I kind off have nothing on my plate. Which is a good and bad thing for me. The good thing is because now I can focus on doing other things. The bad thing is because by not having anything to do will make me look lazy.

Which explains why I'm doing up my blog. I look super stern and serious when I'm doing my blog. And it creates this perception to the suits in my office that I'm working on something big.

Yet this act comes with a cost. An ever expanding waistline.

Fuckin A, I gotta lose it before the end of the year.

Awards

2010-10-15T17:08:00.003+08:00

3 and a half years ago, there was a young man that wanted to win metals in the advertising scene, get a job in the most famous agency and earn a handsome salary.

That time has passed. I've won an award. I'm working in one of the most famous agencies in Malaysia. But my salary is still so-so.

This got me thinking. Why do I still want more of it? Why can't I quench the thirst? Is this normal? Or do I just enjoy the thrill of working in this line?

Dunt know. Don't care. I'm just going with the flow. As long as I don't force it in like a guy try to force his small sized penis into his girl's vaj, then it is all good.

But I fucking just love it when you win something.

The Comfort Monster. Pt.2

2010-10-12T16:31:00.002+08:00

There's a couple of ways to beat the comfort monster. Here is the list:
1. Do something crazy.
2. Do something scary.
3. Have an affair.
4. Make out with someone.
5. Confess your secret love.
6. Pick a fight.
7. Kiss a lesbian.
8. Sing on the way to the pantry.
9. Wink at every person you see.
10. Swear a lot of times.

I'm still thinking for more....

The Comfort Monster.

2010-10-10T16:25:00.002+08:00

If you are spending way too much time on facebook, spending way too much time chatting on msn or ym, spending way too much time reading craps and shits on the net, spending way too much time looking at movies, spending way too much time on the Airasia website, then you my friend, is a victim of the comfort monster.

Let me tell you a little something about the comfort monster. It's a nasty little bugger. It attacks when you least expect it and when it does, it will be tough to get the cure.

I know. Because I'm battling with the comfort monster. In order for me to get my cure, I need to go crazy. Or at least do something unexpected.

Which I'm still thinking.

Any examples?

mycontactlens.com - The Review

2010-10-04T14:29:00.002+08:00

I remember when I had my first contact lens. Putting it on was tough but after a few tries it felt great to see the world without my glasses. But to get it proved to be a hassle.

It was a tad pricey and the quality was not up to standard.

But those days are gone, thanks to my-contactlens.com.

My-contactlens.com is a marketing reseller for contact lenses based in Kuala Lumpur. And there are two things why I find them very good: the price and of course the products.

Allow me to elaborate further based on these two key points.
In terms of pricing, my-contactlens.com offers reasonable prices on all of their products. The difference could vary from a couple of RMs. However, during these hard times it is considered to be a very good thing for the consumer. Especially to the avid contact lens user.

Secondly, and probably the most important point of all, they provide only high quality products and have a wide variety for you to choose. So whatever type of contact lenses you can find from the normal shop, my-contactlens.com will definitely have it.

To find out more about my-contactlens.com, you can log on http://www.my-contactlens.com, or look them up on facebook and twitter.

Why some bloggers post their stuff almost every single day and why some don't.

2010-07-06T09:33:00.002+08:00

Extraordinary really.

I'm always in awe at bloggers who are able to keep posting new articles i.e Seth Godin, Xiaxue to name a few (that's because I don't know anyone else). I wonder if they spend too much time thinking about their next blogpost, instead of living in the outside world. Then again, when you have the interweb, you don't really need to get out much. Sad but true. However, I'm not indicating that these bloggers have no life. I'm just merely pointing out that as much as helpful or entertaining their blogs are, I do feel that they need to get out more.

Now, on to the bloggers who are unable to post blogs almost every single day. Why do you ask? Well, if you want to point out the most obvious reason, then it is because they have no time at all. What with all the stuff they are doing every single day, meeting people, living the life, it is fairly obvious that they are much more happening. For example, I rarely post my articles because I'm just drowned with work (advertising does that). And of course, when I'm done with work, the clock is already showing it is 11pm (my curfew).

So in a nutshell, bloggers who don't post as much as the other bloggers are just living a way cooler life.

P.s

This is just my excuse to justify why I rarely come up with new blog post. It sounds cooler than saying the same shit i.e "Sorry, been caught up. Don't have time. Work's been piling up."

Way Behind

2010-06-09T15:26:00.002+08:00

I've been drowning with work lately (don't know whether I'm too slow or business is good) and I realized that I need to get back to my blogging, facebooking, tech reading, movie reviewing, tumblering before I forget why they were created in the first place.

And voila, here I am. Trying my best to write something up and shake the blogosphere once more (as if I ever did). And the only thing that I could conjure up is the possibility of me moving to another agency (what again!?).

I know, I know. Why can't I just stay in one agency and be happy. Well, I wish I was like Yasmin Ahmad, Ted Lim and the old great advertising creatives, staying in one or two agencies for more than two decades. But unfortunately, those days are not similar to today's day. Things are way expensive and the only solution in getting oneself to stay afloat is mo' money.

And that's where jumping agencies is the best solution.

But in truth, I just want to jump agency because I want to solidify myself in ATL and dabble some digital along the way. That's all.

Anyways, if there's an agency looking for a strapping, bearded, soon-to-be-an-award-winning-copywriter, do holla back.

Peace.

Yes! I'm still alive (and in advertising too!).

2010-05-30T08:15:00.003+08:00

Yes, I'm back.

Yes, I'm still in advertising.

Yes, I still love this industry.

Yes, I'm still in Leo Burnett(Arc Worldwide to be precise).

Yes, I'm still a copywriter.

Yes, I still haven't won an award (even after 3 years).

Yes, I still haven't got my car license.

Yes, I still love ideas.

Yes, I have grown.

Yes, I have aged.

Yes, I have a girlfriend (almost two years and counting).

Yes, I'm happy.

Yes, I have the most awesome mentor in Arc Worldwide.

Yes, I have gained weight.

Yes, I'm balding.

Yes, I still want to work in Japan one day.

Yes, I still want to be a Creative Director in 4 years time.

Yes, I'm not jaded or burnt out for that matter.

Yes, I'm still writing lyrics, short film scripts and act.

Yes, I believe in the power of creativity.

Yes, I believe God has big plans for me.

Yes, I write my own destiny.

No, no one's going to stop me.

Death is coming for the young.

2010-02-27T22:17:00.003+08:00

First and foremost,I DIDN'T PUT A BRAD PITT picture because I have a man crush on him!(although I would have one if I was a woman. I mean who wouldn't right?) The reason why he is there is because I'm tired of the typical archetype of death - which dons black clothing, carries a large scythe and apparently lacks in the meat section. And scary as hell.

But there's a reason why I put death in this post.

Recently, I had the honour of meeting up with my old college mates from Lim Kok Wing. And it was a fruitful one. Everyone was laughing, eating and just simply having good clean fun. Although there were only four of us (yes, i'm not that like able amongst my peers).

However, our cheery, colourful conversation went a bit dark when Nome started talking about his office colleague. Apparently, his colleague was diagnosed with kidney failure because of his chronic drinking. And the sad part of all is that he is only 26 years old!

At that point I started to wonder. Are the young really dying fast nowadays? Is it a trend? Or is it just that our working environment is harsher, longer and more stressful?

I would like to point out that the third statement is closer to my heart. Because I am one of them. At the tender age of 27-28, I found out that I may have a light case of kidney stones. KIDNEY STONES for Allah sakes! I thought old people get that.

But surprisingly, the old are living older. Or longer to be exact. So, the picture here does not seem right. And this is where we, as young people should think seriously about the way we are leading our lifestyle. Smoking, drinking, getting high, not eating, dieting, not working out, not eating healthy. These are all the bad habits I see around me. And including the amount of stress the work poses on to us, it is fairly justified that we seriously need to recalibrate our lifestyle. Yes, I repeated that twice. Which should be seared in our mind!

So, to my fellow practitioners who are working in a career that has all the unhealthy things I just mentioned, PLEASE. Please take good care of yourselves. I'm not telling you to live your life in fear and like an old citizen. But at least remember that our lives are still fragile. Whether we are young or old.

That way you can postpone your meeting with Death.

Try writing a Direct Mailer letter in less than a day.

2010-01-09T23:02:00.002+08:00

Recently, Arc Worldwide was chosen as one of the agencies to pitch for a very lucrative car brand.

After days of blood, sweat and tears, it was only a mere 2 and half days before the big presentation came up.

I was tasked to write a letter for a Direct Mailer idea. It was a mountain out of a molehill task. And it proved to be a challenge.

Now why was it a mountain out of a molehill task? How can one simple Direct Mailer letter be such a nuisance?

Let me explain. The ideas had to be approved by the board of bosses first. Then, after the approval, it was down to the nitty gritty bit (this is where the molehill grows).

You see, the approval of the idea was done 2 and half days before the big presentation. And everyone knows, writing after a long day of working, is a NO-NO.

So, that leaves me actually with one and a half day left.

Ready for the kicker?

As I waltzed in the office today and getting ready to start writing the letter, my boss walks towards my desk and tells me that the big boss wants to see the full copy letter by today. At 8.30pm.

Snap.

I have a better chance catching a pink elephant than accomplishing that. Because writing this letter needs crafting. Big time crafting. Mega big time crafting.

And after many frustrations, changes, drafts and all, I realize my patience was running out. But it is not an excuse. Either ways I gotta write or die trying.

So. Did I manage to finish that letter?

Oh yes I did.

And my boss changed the whole thing (although it was here and there).

Welcome 2010 with No Excuses.

2009-12-29T11:27:00.001+08:00

If you want to make 2010 a good one, start off by watching this video.

The night Leo Burnett/Arc achieved glory!

2009-12-05T23:59:00.002+08:00

On 4 December, 2009,

At Sunway Lagoon, on a hot night, all the agencies in town saw the one agency that conquered DMAM and achieved glory.

And that agency was none other than Leo Burnett/Arc. It was a majestic sight and another true stellar show after conquering the Kancils Awards.

Congrats guys. I'm happy for you. Let's see what else can we conquer in 2010. Only this time, I will be getting up there for my own work.

Guess Who's Back?

2009-11-25T03:21:00.002+08:00

Back again, Azraai's back, tell your friends. Guess who's back x 3, parapara paraparapa
paraparapa paraparum!

Hello again readers, or if I even have any(please don't believe the numbers). It's been a long time since I last updated this blog eh? Well to begin off with a loud bang here are the big headlines!

First and foremost, I WAS MADE PERMANENT AT LEO BURNETT/ARC WORLDWIDE! and it happened on the day when I was about to leave to Jakarta for vacation. Alhamdullilah.

Secondly, I WAS BACK TO JAKARTA AFTER SO LONG!! And the best part was meeting up with muh big bro Ori and his wife Nina ( will update the pics soon enough).

Overall it has been a good month for me and right now I'm currently aiming to get my driver's license, my first awards and my new white macbook.

Fingers crossed.

Word of the Day
"Don't be a retard because you already look like one."

Halloween, a historic and a memorable night for Leo Burnett/Arc Worldwide Malaysia.

2009-11-01T22:34:00.002+08:00

At exactly 11.55pm, Friday, 30 October 2009, I received an sms from an ex-colleague in Dentsu Utama. In the sms it said " LB won Agency of the Year!" I stopped in my tracks and was in disbelief because it was almost surreal; I was with my gf that time and she was freaking out at my catatonic moment.

Congratulations guys. This is for Kak Yasmin and a bright future for all of us who went through the ups and downs. But most of all, to Kak Yasmin and her energy that exists in all of us.

Let's defend this throne in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Alhamdullilah.

p.s

The tribute to her almost got me in tears.

Making small talks ( Or the Idiot's guide to communicating-with-people-so-you-won't-come-off-as-some-arrogant-prick).

2009-09-27T12:03:00.003+08:00

All of us have been in that situation; where people are talking and chatting the night away simply about everything. And then there's you. The weird, out-of-place, yet want to be hip person that is struggling to think of a way to get into the crowd. Well have no fear because in this article, I will present you 5 bite sized easy to digest chunks to help you be the center of attention without buying those uber expensive self help books.

1. Listen
Probably the most easiest tip of all. This method has been proven to attract people to you because they simply want to be heard; or they desire to be the center of attention. Plus, add in a little nod here and there to show you ARE actually listening. It gives the talker/attention seeker the feeling that they are important to you. Cool eh?

2. Say "Nice" profusely
If you don't know how to respond to a person that keeps yapping about how important her new car is, or she still keeps in touch with her high school teacher, then just end with a casual " That's nice." It's proven to end the conversation quite abruptly and gets you out of awkward situation or that awkward silence when someone mentions that her husband cheated her and left her with crabs. That's nice.

3. Fake call
This is a no-brainer. If you can't seem to comprehend the person talking, then casually receive a fake phonecall by setting your phone's alarm every 30 minutes or so. Change the alarm with your favourite ringtone to show that it is a genuine call from someone. It works like a charm everytime. Oh wait, incoming call.

4. Toilet break
Need I say more?

5. Religion
Islam, Christianity, Buddhism or Jewism. Just talk about the current situation with religion nowadays and you got yourself a quiet evening without anyone approaching you. This topic is such a taboo amongst Malaysians that it tends to be volatile in the end; especially if someone's been drinking. But If someone overhears the things you talk about regarding religion, it might just get you locked up under ISA. So tread carefully young padawans when using this tactic.

P.s I know this topic is suppose to help you survive and be more normal when communicating at events and parties, but I just can't help to add in some tips on how you can break away from people who talk too much.

Best of luck! Now go and mingle with the crowds!

the awakening

2009-09-16T15:00:00.002+08:00

These past few days have been an intense journey for me into discovering how far Malaysia must go to become a harmonious country. With the rising problem of corruption, rempits, rapes, abortion and many more, i can't help but close my eyes and shut my mind from being poisoned furthermore and become a cynic and a hyprocrite. I need to find an outlet to let this out and advertising is just a small part. So, after days of singing with my guitar and listening to Zack's mean rapping skills and words of wisdom, I decided to create tunes, beats or songs to make a change. A change that could move the youth of the nation to reduce corruption, rempit phenomena, rapes, abortion and rise to lead the nation instead.

Because I believe music can change and move the human soul

"Music is the universal language of mankind"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet & Professor.

Pics shown above are my two rap heroes: Zack De La Rocha and Mike Shinoda

Gotta improve on these two things.

2009-08-29T13:05:00.003+08:00

I sure hope I've been doing these two things on a frequent basis. Would hate it if I weren't.

2nd Day of Puasa

2009-08-23T18:40:00.002+08:00

yes! My second day of Puasa and I'm breaking fast at home! Kuih muihs, fresh orange and tons of food! Ahhhhhh, I can't wait. The first day was with muh homies in Sungai Besi; had a choice to meet up my gf but I wanted to break fast at home since my grandmama didn't see me yesterday. Anyways, selamat berbuka puasa to all! Oh damn, I missed 2 of my sembahyang tarawikh!!

Yasmin made me proud to be a Malaysian.

2009-08-12T01:36:00.002+08:00

Here's a little something I like to share when she interviewed me for the first time.

Kak Yasmin was really nice, although I can't help but wonder a comment she said about my name.

Yasmin : Nama penuh ape?

Me: Nama penuh saya Shaikh Muhammad Azraai, Kak Yasmin, tapi kalau pendek Rae.

Yasmin : eh, Nama dah sedap jadi Rae! Bangga tau kalau nama dah sedap macam tu, tiba tiba pendek jadi Rae.

Another Dream of her.

2009-08-08T02:10:00.002+08:00

As I'm writing this, I'm trying my very best to remember the details from the dream I had a few days ago. It was just another day in the office, when suddenly an unexpected thing happened! Most of the staff I know gathered at the front desk ( which I don't know why) and suddenly, SHE showed up! She was looking radiant as ever but with shorter hair ( like the one you see in the newspapers). She smiled and teased all of us- me included. For a minute, everyone couldn't believe it but we were so glad that she's back. Her return has breathed life into the office again. Skipping ahead, I found myself wandering around the office. And I saw her about to rush off to somewhere. Her face was a tad serious and she noticed me. She stopped and started walking towards me and said things that I couldn't understand. She said " There's 20 nasi lemak and 20 drinks at the (something) floor. I want you to gather everyone there." At this point, I didn't really understand why but deep down inside of me, there was this huge feeling of sadness and yearning. Tears started running down my cheeks and to my shock, so was she! But she managed to give a faint smile and said "It's all up to you dear." And with those few words, she left. Then the next thing I know, I was at the floor she told me to go and the place was filled with food, music, arts, books and all the people I know from the office. After that I woke up, and it was 5.30am.

Irreplaceable

2009-08-03T08:12:00.001+08:00

Our turn to carry the torch.

2009-07-27T00:19:00.002+08:00

I was reading the articles written by our esteemed journalists about Yasmin Ahmad and I think some of it justified her. She lived her life to the fullest and tried her very best to close the gap on racism, and the result? People of all races were at her funeral. She has done her job very well. So, it is our responsibility to continue the legacy she had left behind, including finishing what she had done and what is left to be done. Amin

Al-Fatihah

2009-07-26T03:11:00.008+08:00

When Michael Jackson died, it was indeed a shocker to me. I can’t believe this man, who I grew up listening to, passed away at a very young age of 51. Approximately today around 11-12 pm, I received news that Yasmin Ahmad ,51 years old, has passed away. A part of me died.

For the longest long time I can remember, Yasmin Ahmad touched me in the movie Sepet. Since then, I have only the greatest admiration and love for this special lady. Little did I know that I would meet her in the most unorthodox method. When I dropped out of college, I only had my portfolio and none of those things you call C.V or degree or diploma. I was merely taking a risk by simply walking in one of the biggest ad agency in Malaysia, without knowing she worked there. I cheated my way joining Leo Burnett by approaching her when she got off the escalator with Ali Mohammed. The rest was history. She was the first person to give me a job, nay, I should say a chance to a struggling young man with no qualifications. What a kind soul. And since then, I wanted to work only for her and no one else. She was always full of life and passion and I was lucky enough to see her presentation skills, at Petronas; which was legendary. Plus her gentle kind heart makes it hard not to love her. Her work Sepet totally speaks to me. In Gubra, I felt something dark evoked from her heart. Then in Mukhsin, I wept at the end of the movie and I didn’t know why ,which prompt me to walk up to her room and gave her a hug for creating such a movie. And finally in Talentime, I cried in front of my girl at one particular scene ; which didn't have any dialogues to begin with! But when I see her everyday at work, as just another humble human being, her being there gave inspiration and joy to all. Yeah, she is one special lady indeed.

Tonight I cried for the fifth time. The first was for my late mother, the second was for my late father, the third in Mukhsin, the fourth in Talentime and finally, the last time I’ll ever cry, for her. Her passing is a tremendous blow to me,to her family, fans, friends and Malaysia itself. And I do not wish to emphasize how there will always and will be one Yasmin Ahmad.

I wish I had more time to talk with her and I wish, I wish that I could fulfill the one thing I kept telling her over and over again whenever I see her “ Kak Min, I’ll catch you later ya?”

I wish to share a dream with you. I was dreaming about Yasmin Ahmad on Friday night. She was sitting in the lounge at the hospital and she looked thin and pale, but cheery as ever. I was about to go and see her until I realized she got up and walked towards me. She smiled at me and I asked if she was okey and I wanted to give her a huge hug because I was relieved she’s back. But I decided not to hug her because I know she was still a tad fragile. She agreed, she was a feeling a bit fragile at that time, and told me that she will talk to me later because she had some work to present to; while not forgetting to flash one of her bedazzling smile.

Then I woke up. And then I realized that I’ll never get to catch up with her.

To end this article, I would like to share one of MJ’s beautiful music.

"Gone Too Soon"

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

Al-Fatihah.

Keep smiling in heaven Kak Min, because your legacy will continue and live on forever.

No it's not true

2009-07-23T17:15:00.001+08:00

Whatever you heard the rumours about Yasmin Ahmad is not true. So please don't be a douchenouzzle and spread shit.

Creative Writing

2009-07-06T00:29:00.003+08:00

Here's a nifty little exercise for writers:

Choose a word that you like:

1. Burp 2. Reasoning 3. Pour

Choose another word:

1. Milk 2. Exotic 3. Prior

And another word:

1. Invent 2. Weekly 3. Behind

Now use the three words you have chosen and start your writing with "Sometimes I feel so aimless inside this fish tank....."

Example:

Sometimes I feel so aimless inside this fish tank and I wonder what is the purpose of my life. I can't find any REASONING as to why food always come from above. And this water is getting too comfy for my liking. In fact, I rather if this tank is filled with MILK. That way I'll get calcium and some vitamins instead of eating algae. Sigh, I would leave all of this BEHIND if it weren't for my damn flippers and lack of feet.

Now you try it.

Bull

2009-07-03T12:36:00.003+08:00

To those who are in advertising, I think most of you will agree that the Cannes Grand Prix for Print, Wrangler's "We Are Animals" campaign - TOTALLY SUCKS!

I don't want to show it here because that would just dirty up my blog.

But if you must see it, then click here.

Unforgettable

2009-06-26T12:55:00.001+08:00

First Post

2009-06-26T00:07:00.002+08:00

I was reading my first ever post and I have to say, I've come a long way.

"Wait a sec, why would you say that Azraai? Are you trying to be sarcastic to your old self?"

With all due respect, I was not. In fact I merely wanted to tell you Azraai, that your style of writing has evolved so much in the last 4 years. In fact, I would be terribly annoyed and deranged if there was not much of a difference.

So there you go Azraai, rest assured. You're a decent writer, bar none, although I see no bar for you to measure with.

"Oh, kewl."

P.s

I know, it's a weird post.

The thing about being good.

2009-06-25T23:26:00.005+08:00

Everyone wants to be good.

Who wants to be bad? It doesn't make sense right?

If I get sick, I want to meet a good doctor, cuz he knows his shit, right?

If I want to sell my product, I want to find a good agency, cuz they know their shit, right?

If I want to get a camera phone, I want to find a good camera phone brand, cuz it knows its shit, right?

And etc.

So to sum it up, it feels great to be good at what you do.

But here's the thing about being good, it has a price. A hefty one.

Can you be consistent?

Can you take it if one moment you suck so bad?

Can you handle burn-out?

Can you handle random depression?

Can you handle not having a personal life?

Because the thing about being good is, it ain't EASY.

So for those who think they are not good enough, consider yourself lucky. Because you have a choice to be mediocre.

And for those who wants to be good, consider yourself screwed. Because you have no choice but to go up.

The only best part of being good is, it pays well and respect pours like honey. And the view from the top is always the best.

Think about it.

p.s
Big ups for Hugh Macleod's philosophy. It inspired me to write this.

Actor

2009-06-20T13:26:00.002+08:00

Will be acting in a short film soon. Hope you guys are looking forward to see it as much as I do.

Mokhtar Dahari lives in Wan Kuzain

2009-05-21T01:04:00.006+08:00

A child football prodigy residing in the United States but of Malaysian heritage. A talent similar of the late Mokhtar Dahari. I look forward to see him blooming into a force to be reckoned with in the football arena.

And I hope Arsene Wenger gets him.

Doubts

2009-05-15T11:00:00.002+08:00

A good friend of mine asked me a very good question yesterday night,

“Have I ever had any doubts about being good/talented in advertising?”

Usually I would shudder in fear or even scowl at the louse that dares to ask me this question, but, in light of what I have achieved so far, talent was not enough and this question no longer bothered me. See, no one I know in this world is special, with the exception of the Prophet Muhammad. He was the greatest creation by God. In fact, give him ten job recs and he can crack it, give award winning ideas and execute it splendidly in one day. That’s how special he is.

For the rest of us, hard work is the key to being good or talented. There’s no secret. And the thing about doubts is that it only exists for a fleeting moment, like a speck of dust, like a candle that is slowly melting away. In fact, having doubts is good. It keeps you on your toes. It makes you think on how to make yourself better. This is a good sign that you refuse to be stagnant.

So, have I ever had doubts?

My answer to you is a big fat YES.

And once you accept that, you’ll be at peace with yourself and you’ll start working doubly hard.

And from the words of the great Neil French, “Luck is not everything, but, the harder you work, the greater the luck.”

How to be the best in your respective field.

2009-04-13T00:48:00.003+08:00

1. Stop complaining.

2. Accept that you aren't a born genius so work doubly hard.

3. Learn everything about your field then forget them and evolve.

4. Don’t follow everyone. Make your own path.

5. Getting comfy at work is the sign of retrogression.

6. Don’t ask for approval; ask for critiques.

7. Don’t work on weekends.

8. Eat healthy.

9. Go for a brisk walk during your lunch time.

10. Get enough sleep.

11. Gather knowledge outside your field.

12. Visit an art gallery , watch a play or go to a concert.

13. Work with ONLY the best in your field. Forget the rest.

14. Listen to classical music.

15. Read self-help books.

16. Stop showing off or God will screw you nicely.

17. Think 10 steps ahead. Or 1000 steps ahead.

18. Don’t listen to bubble gum pop music bullshit. They kill your brain cells.

19. Pray – for a little conversation with god.

20. Learn the rules then know when to break them.

21. Don’t meet expectations. Crash them.

22. Impossible is not a fact. That should help you in times of doubt.

If you are still going nowhere in your respective field after 6 months or a year, pack up and move on to something else. Don’t kill yourself if you can’t make it. Opportunities are everywhere, and life is too short to be in constant frustration. God knows we deserve to die happily.

Actually...

2009-03-13T01:57:00.003+08:00

Your view on yourself:
Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

The seriousness of your love:
You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?

Your views on education
Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:
You have many goals and want to achieve as much as you can. The jobs you enjoy are those that let you burn off your considerable excess energy.

How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.

Who is your true self:
You are full of energy and confidence. You are unpredictable, with moods changing as quickly as an ocean. You might occasionally be calm and still, but never for long.

You're next, ready?

2nd Week of Staying up Late in the Office

2009-03-13T01:46:00.003+08:00

It's approximately 1.46 am, 13th March 2009, Friday; somehow it is not mere coincidence that it should be Friday the 13th; perhaps it was meant to be; maybe I'm just being schizo about it.

So today officially marks my second week at Arc Worldwide/Leo Burnett KL, holding the position as a Copywriter. To be honest, my performance has been on fire; from working on a radio ad to a press ad and a catalogue for a very special client - ideas were coming from many directions - whizzing past like a bullet.

Today is also my first time working this late since I left Dentsu Utama, and the pay is better.

Alhamdullilah, I thank HIM for blessing me with this opportunity.

It's HERE!!

2009-02-27T17:56:00.003+08:00

It's finally here!! Come Saturday and I'll be one of the lucky ones to see my hero Roscharch!

2009-02-26T14:23:00.003+08:00

I just received a weird sms around 1pm. Read it.

Please note that this is the original message and no alterations have been made due to the author’s consent.

Things to know:

St- Streething.com is a site that keeps up with the hottest shoes, style and anything that has to do with pop culture.

Begin SMS

>Unknown SMSer: Guys... Im yar mate from St.. Does Da n95 8gb stil available..?

Me: Yup!

>Whre u located ya? R u Chinese? How was da condition.?

Me:Condition is 8/10. 7 months old. I like (live) in kl, nearby klcc.

>R u Chinese? Mind to ask for pic? But will be tonite, cuz im workin rite nw... Da price stil negotiable ya..?

Me: Nah, im malaysian. The lowest I can go is 1k. And im workin too. I will send u the pic soon.

End of Smsing.

Now what is wrong here? Yes I wanted to sell my phone and I used Streething as the place to do it. And despite my mistake in the sms, WHAT do you really see here? The guy was more concern WHETHER I’M CHINESE or not! Not that it’s any of my business but WHAT in the BLAZES does that have to do with the phone? It is totally irrelevant and it kept me thinking so what if I’m Malay or Indian or American or whatever? Is that gonna result in me losing the chance of selling the phone to him? Is he afraid of getting swindled? What’s the deal yo? I mean if we have come to a point where people buy stuff based on the colour and ethnicity of the individual, then racism has taken another low point in Malaysia.

Maybe next time I’ll just walk into a store and ask the shopkeeper “Hey that is a nice looking Ming Vase. Is it Hungarian? Huh it's not? No thank you then".

What's your entrepreneurial I.Q?

2009-02-26T10:22:00.003+08:00

Your Score Is... 18

Your background, skills and talents give you excellent chances for success in your own business. You should go far.

Not bad. Watch out Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Richard Branson. I'm gonna be sippin tea and coffee ( or whatever it is you rich bastards have) with you soon enough.

Wanna know your I.Q? Click here

The Wrestler - such a powerful song.

2009-02-26T09:51:00.002+08:00

This tune was made specifically for Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke. The song is not only a masterpiece, but it is the next best thing after Springsteen's "Secret Garden" for Jerry Maguire (go ahead and laugh). I've been playing this song over and over the moment it finished downloading. Just listen to the lyrics, the melancholy flow of an amazing song writer. No wonder they call him(Springsteen)the Bossman. He's the man and the big boss in the music business! I've got this tune on my ipod and my N95 just in case either one runs out of energy. And in case my morale is on an all time low.

Have you ever seen a one trick pony in the field so happy and free?
If you've ever seen a one trick pony then you've seen me
Have you ever seen a one-legged dog making its way down the street?
If you've ever seen a one-legged dog then you've seen me

Then you've seen me, I come and stand at every door
Then you've seen me, I always leave with less than I had before
Then you've seen me, bet I can make you smile when the blood, it hits the floor
Tell me, friend, can you ask for anything more?
Tell me can you ask for anything more?

Have you ever seen a scarecrow filled with nothing but dust and wheat?
If you've ever seen that scarecrow then you've seen me
Have you ever seen a one-armed man punching at nothing but the breeze?
If you've ever seen a one-armed man then you've seen me

Then you've seen me, I come and stand at every door
Then you've seen me, I always leave with less than I had before
Then you've seen me, bet I can make you smile when the blood, it hits the floor
Tell me, friend, can you ask for anything more?
Tell me can you ask for anything more?

These things that have comforted me, I drive away
This place that is my home I cannot stay
My only faith's in the broken bones and bruises I display

Have you ever seen a one-legged man trying to dance his way free?
If you've ever seen a one-legged man then you've seen me

Heading Back to where I started

2009-02-20T13:13:00.002+08:00

It is official. As of by the 3rd of March, I'll be coming back to the place that hired me when I was a young fledgling creative.

Gotta say.

It's glad to be back.

Recession Obsession

2009-02-19T13:46:00.000+08:00

As the world moves towards the deeper, darker slums of recession, I, on the other hand, am trying to swim upwards to catch the fresh air of opportunities. And as crazy as that may sound, I truly believe it is the only sane thing to do, unless, you prefer to let go - and drown yourself in the current. When the U.S went through the Great Depression in the 1930s, a man by the name of Leo Burnett opened up an advertising agency; which was a crazy idea and thing to do. Yet what made the crazy engraved to his name was when Leo Burnett made sure that fresh apples were being served to clients - every morning – to date. Upon hearing this, the masses assume it was not long until the man himself would be out on the sidewalks; selling apples. They wish. Instead the Great Depression and the people that were caught in it failed to drown this man to their level. Only success, fame and growth followed the moment he started out. But it was also his vision, shrewd thinking and temerity to create opportunities in dark times made things possible. And it was in his words that said “when you reach for the starts you may not quite get one, but you won’t come up with a handful of mud either.”

(Okey maybe that last bit was not necessary but it is a nice touch, no?)

So what can we learn from this story? Take risks? Be brave? Seize the moment? Open up an agency during these hard times? Maybe, but it is open to anyone’s and everyone’s interpretation. And if it means something to you, then keep it. Because as we face the hard times once more, it is the only thing that will keep you afloat.

So, how do you like dem’ apples now?

I didn't know Wikipedia ostracizes info

2009-02-17T15:45:00.004+08:00

Looked up something in the Bahasa Malaysia version of Wikipedia on Yasmin Ahmad and this is what came up:

Yasmin Ahmad
Dari Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu, ensiklopedia bebas.

Yasmin Ahmad merupakan seorang pengarah kontroversi di Malaysia. Anak kelahiran Muar, Johor ini berkelulusan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Psikologi dari Universiti Newcastle, United Kingdom.

Very lame and judgemental. But check out what I found in the English version:

Yasmin Ahmad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yasmin binti Ahmad
Born Muar, Johor, Malaysia
Occupation Film director, film writer

Yasmin Ahmad is a critically-acclaimed film director and writer from Malaysia. Her feature films to date include:

* Rabun (My Failing Eyesight) (2003)
* Sepet (Chinese Eye) (2004)
* Gubra (Anxiety) (2006)
* Mukhsin (2007)
* Muallaf (The Convert) (2008)
* Talentime (Slated to be released in March/April 2009)

Biography

Yasmin began her career in advertising as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather, eventually rising to creative director at Leo Burnett Kuala Lumpur. Her television commercials are well-known in Malaysia -- particularly her ads for PETRONAS, the national oil and gas company.

Yasmin's films have won many international awards and praise from the critics and public alike. Most of her films have been screened at the Berlin, San Francisco, Singapore and Cannes international film festivals. Her films were featured in a special retrospective at the 19th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2006. An April 2007 retrospective of her feature films was sponsored by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Hawai`i, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Guess Malaysia doesn't like her that well, but the rest of the world does. Sucks for Malaysia then.

16th February 2009

2009-02-16T18:40:00.004+08:00

10.05 am – Came in the office feeling lethargic.

10.07 am – Computer is now set to work.

10.20 am – Checked Facebook, Gmail and Adoi Magazine simultaneously.

10.25 am – Suit sends funny job recs with kindergarten level English.

10.40 am – Went out for breakfast.

11.00 am – Moped and sulked as I eat my bland roti telur.

11.30 am – Back in the office.

11.46 am – Wrote this.

11.59 am – Facebooking.

12.43 pm – Just went through Yasmin Ahmad’s pictures on FB.

1.05 pm – Read some serious articles about marketing.

2.35 pm – Felt like shit and watched Miley Cyrus fuckin up during a live performance.

2.51 pm – Ass feels like shit. Laughed at some funny illustrations.

2.59 pm – Googled on how to write the perfect resignation letter.

3.37 pm – Waited for my boss to have a teh tarik session. And hand in my resignation.

5.07 pm – Turn in my letter of resignation.

5.13 pm – Printed out my resignation letter again because the first, second and third one had a wrong date, format and name.

5.48 pm – Looked through a couple of interesting design for an exhibition booth. Realized that I should be sleeping.

5.58 pm – Ass hurts. My feet are aching. And I’m super cold. Waiting for the countdown to departure.

6.33 pm – Waiting for the time to end while Jon Stewart talks with Barack Obama- whether people would buy whatever he was selling.

6.39 pm – Shut down pc. Go home. Sleep. Pray to god that the day has finally ended.

Spread the story

2009-02-11T12:06:00.001+08:00

A tv commercial created by Yasmin Ahmad. Let's spread the message behind it.

If I was a Prime Minister, this would be my speech.

2009-02-10T11:54:00.003+08:00

Good Evening my fellow Malaysians, family and to all the people around the world who are tuned in to watch this man, who is standing before you with great humility and as god as my witness.

This nation has gone through many ups and downs. Through it all, we have stood united side by side – stronger, better and closer. Malays, Chinese and Indians working together towards a common goal.

As I stand here, I’m humbled and honoured by the tasks that are at hand; towards making this nation great, once again. As I stand here, I desecrate those whom are quietly manipulating, scheming, and trying their very best to destroy the harmony that we have.

I will tell you this right now. You can try but we will rise again to be the better person. This never-ending battle between good and evil is expected. But we always know in the end, who is the victor.

So, I give my hand out to you, and with my arms wide open, to work together and help me build this nation, nay, your home, into a better place for our future generations to bloom into great people.

Yes, the government is not perfect. But I ask you this; do you want a perfect government or one that works? I for once aim to bring back Tunku Abdul Rahman’s dream – a nation that is hold in high regards by other nations. And that is when respect is earned, not given.

I intend to get my hands dirty, and I intend that the government should not have any hidden agendas when we are working for you.

Yes work.

For long have we been taking things for granted. For long have we been letting things done based on rules that do not benefit. For long have we been having the teh-tarik talks. Well no more.

From now on we will work on issues that are unjust. From now on, no longer will people look at the government and complain and discuss over a cup; instead, we will solve the issues. And although some may not like the way things are getting done, in retrospect, things are working in order and the government is once again, deemed reliable. Which is what makes a nation progress ,towards world-class level.

Yay! I Won an Award!

2009-02-06T19:08:00.003+08:00

Thank you for the award Rozie, I accept this award shamelessly and humbly.

Check out what she wrote about it here.

Sick

2009-02-03T15:03:00.003+08:00

As I'm writing this, my nose is making horrible sounds induced by the phlegm. It's fun when it annoys the hell out of your work mates ; whom are all sitting less than 3 feet away. It's getting cold in here - because the ac is on full blast. So much for saving earth. I have to be frank and Frank hates being sick. It totally destroys his flow; if he has one. There are loud banging noises coming from the outside - courtesy of the ultra mega expensive mall work in progress. Thank you progress. But my cough reigns as the champ in the office. Nothing beats the hell out of blaring coughs that tests the nerves of my colleagues.

I need to see a doctor. Sadly, to be frank, I refuse to see a doctor - it lessens my machismo attitude in front of my girlfriend. She's reading this. Hello baby.

Not what I wanted.

2009-01-21T14:17:00.003+08:00

I have a feeling that my boss wants me to be the Creative Head at the agency. But I doubt that I'll get more money; instead I'll get more responsibilities.

Don't know whether that is good or not.

Creative Writing

2009-01-20T14:32:00.001+08:00

This article, that you are about to read, was inspired by Two in The Bush. The guy is a brilliant writer and I was lucky enough to get to know him while I was working in Leo Burnett KL. Anyway, not to digress further, I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did, 2 years ago.

This is a writing exercise. It’s pretty interesting and I think, in some metaphysical sense, makes a good practice for aspiring writers.

First, select an object or weather.
I chose a pencil (naturally cuz I’m a writer).

Give it a personality.

A pencil is:
Very skinny. Boring. A servant in disguise like Jeeves from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Blunt – in your face persona. Can be fragile.

Now write a poem.

Pencil was a boring kid
He is quiet, reserved and fragile
If someone wants to use him
He must be handled with care

He breaks easily if you press him
But if you let it be
He’ll make beautiful lines
And masterpieces that stand the test of time

Pencil is slender
Because if he was too fat
People would opt for the computer instead

He can be blunt
Sometimes he can be too sharp
It’s hard to predict his emotions

Dismally Incompetent

2009-01-19T15:47:00.004+08:00

My blog friend - Vodka-Fuelled Diatribes - is on a mad blogging session ; it would be silly of me not to join the fun (and the unoriginal post).

As I'm typing this, the so-called right hand man of this agency is truly and utterly pissing off my partner - who unfortunately, happens to be an illustrator/designer. This right hand man, who I shall not name, constantly bugs the hell out of her - just because of a simple leaflet and bunting. He harasses her and constantly asks her the progress every second. Me being me, I just smiled whenever he talks to me because:

1. I'm in my favourite place.
2. I'm blogging
3. I'm going to Chiangmai in 2 days time.

Sadly, for my partner, with her position in this agency, the man had to turn to her all the time when it comes to these kind of small, useless, last minute jobs. I don't blame her - right now she has her favourite Hugh Macleod's Gaping Void cartoon "small, shitty moments" cartoon as her desktop image.

Desire no. 2

2009-01-19T00:00:00.000+08:00

A fool and his money is soon to be parted. I say " Let it be baby!!"...

The Desire

2009-01-18T22:56:00.005+08:00

My Next Dream Phone. How sexy, illusive and yet people think it is a "Cap Ayam" brand..

A short story

2009-01-16T18:40:00.002+08:00

Once upon a time, there was a boy who wanted to be Superman. He is now a writer.

The End.

Visit Thailand

2009-01-09T14:58:00.000+08:00

The Adfest Lotus from the previous year was also won by the same Tokyo team. Here is their winning entry. Absolutely cool idea and a brilliant execution.