220. Malaysia Gancang Garuda

3 nil baby.

Hope floats, hell yeah it does.

Wikileaks?

Julian Assange has a plan.

The result
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/10/wikileaks-reaction-world-reaction

The poison pill
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/12/08/wikileaks.poison.pill/?hpt=T2

Cult status?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40559236/ns/us_news-wikileaks_in_security/


There has been so much goings on, with a lot at stake resulting predictable uproar and furore. Moneybags with entitlements are crying wolf on national security risks, whereas the naive young anarchists are questioning the so-called government transparency.

There is however only one question, are we shooting the messenger?

219. Renewal

So you've gone off the rails for a fair bit. Seen stuff. Done stuff. Stuff that you're not entirely proud of. Not quite reaching rock bottom because you suddenly realise you're on the way down. Sometimes life has a habit of reeling you back, making you see the error of your ways. It pulls you back, like that verb you trust that you can always count on, never letting you down as Pearl Jam would say.

I have my own version of that verb, that totem. I thank my lucky stars for it. It helps me reconnect to that "beautiful sadness" that Altiyan Childs sought in the solitude of the caves amongst the northern beaches of Sydney. Sometimes it takes that memory of sorrow to remind you of who you are and where you come from.

So anyway, there's much promise to be found in the New Year. Renewal one hopes. Hope always springs eternal, even for the jaded.

218. The Colour Out of Space

Slowly warming to Potter. Like the colour out of space.

I often wonder how it'd be like should it ever come to that.

217. El Clásico

As I sit and watch in stunned silence as Barca rip apart Madrid with the most breathlessly intricate passing and movement you'd ever see, I take a moment to ponder why anyone in the world would settle for the clumsy power play of the EPL?

One man's meat eh...

216. The Dark Knight Rises

You bet he does. Nolan's third finally named. Avatar sequels officially announced. What a great day.

215. Fragile Dreams

光

214. The State of Affairs (Part II)

The game is rigged...but you cannot lose if you do not play...

That was lifted off my fav TV series ever, the incomparable The Wire.

Those writers there sure knew the truth. What they set out to do was create an epic Greek tragedy set in modern times...of how men, heroes and villains alike, were doomed to fail against the Gods...only in this case, instead of Zeus and Aphrodite, we have bureaucracy and corruption as stand-ins.

No one can beat the system it seems. Whether you're a cop fighting against the chain of command, or a low-level drug dealer being played as a pawn. Whether it's the streets of Baltimore or Yorkshire, from Tokyo to Dubai...and even back home in KL.

Everything's tied to the system. It's the banality of evil really. Men out to make a buck, and protect their interests, whatever the costs. Institutions that matter fail...the police, the schools...public health and welfare...all are just collateral damage in the game that politicians and big businesses play. And that's the damning truth.

We are all surrounded by the rot and decay, yet we are blinded and distracted from it all by the mass media and entertainment. It's been the story of mankind, from the times of ancient Rome, right up to now. We've only become more savvy in playing the game, with new shiny toys like twitter and facebook to replace the days of mass flyers and posters. From radio to tv to the internet, the game's evolved. But the players haven't. They're still the same.

Those faceless men we never see but sometimes read about. The king-makers and deal-makers. The wheelers and spinners. Ever trading, ever moving, ever breaking, ever dealing. There's always money to made and power to be gotten.

So 100-storey towers are built whilst the people are in need of a decent education. Instead of progressing as a society, we're doing the complete opposite, becoming ever more tribal and compartmentalised.

And it's only what we deserve really. We're getting what we paid for. We're a people that have to do more with less. Thus we need all the bells and whistles to mask our inadequacies. The tallest this, the biggest that, the first this, and so on.

This is not a sermon, not a rant, but just a statement on the present state of affairs.

Stuff matters

Here are a few anecdotes or quotes found in Stuff Matters by Harry Bingham, which i found rather strangely fulfilling.

Risk
Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant dangers, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.

- Advertisement placed by Ernest Shackleton in 1914

Invention
Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something.

- Thomas Edison

Will
If you start to take Vienna - take Vienna.

-Napoleon Bonaparte

213. Bieber Must Die

I want me one.

212. Damaged

But nothing irreversible. A rebound at the Emirates is required. Time to stand fast lads.

On another note, in Josh McEachran Chelsea has a star for the future in the making. A good touch, vision, a bit of guile, he's one to watch.

211. Insufferable

Apparently I still suffer from the odd bout of insomnia...my version of insomnia that is, meaning I stay wide awake at night and force myself to get up come early morning, getting all zombied up for the betterment of mankind and to preserve humanity. Or was that to perverse humanity? Hmmm, I forget. One of those. Hehe hihi.

If I was a Lala blogger, I'd go like this...me kenot sleep wor...try so hard oledi...so tired dy...wan to die die oso kenot sleep...how hor?

If I was an UMNO stooge who so happened was also the DPP, I'd go...ashtray...ashtray... ashtray... before I start to demonstrate how one might strangle oneself...

And if I was Chuck Norris...well I'd just roar...ROARRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!

Things don't bottom-up in Malaysia...the shit just keeps getting deeper and deeper...without end...some say elections are round the corner...my question is...who are these people? And where did they come from? And how the hell did they make me quote them? What would Chuck Norris do in this situation? He'd fucking drop kick those motherfuckers is what he'd do.

Wake up...that should be the anthem for Malaysians everywhere. You know...like the Arcade Fire song...do something about it. No more quibbling, no more griping from afar. Just. Do. It. Impossible is Nothing.

210. The Unforgettable Fire

We all have one. Something that reminds us of who we once were lest we lose sight of where we came from.

So here's to remembrance, for those in present, and absent friends. Keep that chin up, hold unto whatever you've got, cause it'd be enough to see you through the wilderness.

Happy holidays. Be safe yo.

209. Kicking and Screaming

When good things end badly, as they tend to do, then they end spectacularly bad. No shit will go down without a fight, and it'd try to take you down as well, kicking and screaming.

Like a Premier League team being relegated, like a wounded animal in it's final death throes, like a cornered predator with no escape, like a scorned women with hell's fury, like an autocratic regime on the verge of final defeat...they won't go down easy, they'll find in their reserves a fierce and kindled spirit, fighting for survival, and if need be, they'd set their whole world on fire...scorched earth...

Having borne witness to one or two such incidences, I can tell you for a fact that it ain't no pretty picture.

Masch

Full name: Javier Mascherano
Employer: Liverpool FC
Wanted by: FC Barcelona

Well boys, who doesn't want to play for sexy fantasy football with Barca? It's the only club in the club that pays to have a 'sponsor' on their front kit. World champions as colleagues, the best player in the world (who is Masch's home boy) plays there too. Let's not forget the food, seista, beach and sun, compared to grim, thieving town famous for the Beatles, now 40 years ago.

So what's the hold up in this straightforward conundrum? The same reason I think why Cesc Fabregas is still a Gunner.

If I may quote Russell Peters, "doo the right thing". Pay up Barca.

Tantrum in a mall

John Bishop is a Scouse comedian or more accurately a comedian from Scouscer. He has a weekly prime time show, which goes to show that if a Scouscer can get on the Beeb, you know you're overpaying your TV license.

So he talks about parenthood, and the famous/infamous scenario of someone's kid throwing a tantrum in a mall. The parent then, spots you looking, gives you a shrug and forced smile.

Public social étiquette puts that down as an embarrassed parent failing to control his/her own offspring. And you on your high horse, proudly and solemnly swore your kid wouldn't be like that, your kid wouldn't throw any tantrum, your kid is gonna cool, colder than ice cold.

John proceeded, no one wanted a kid with attitude. It's just how it is, kid below the age of five is not going to comprehend beyond basic instincts ala Resident Evil zombies . So the next time you see a combo of a shrug and a forced smile, he reminded, it is not a gesture from an embarrassed parent. Instead it's a message for you to look away as this tantrum can be easily sorted, if you just look away.

Bang on, they may preach you should reason with kids, but it's on they mind to whip the shillbilly outta kid to discipline them here.

208. Ci-Teh

Are looking mighty good indeed...potential league winners? Not just yet. But that Toure fella is a tank with a velvet touch.

207. Tweet

The day I tweet and let the whole world know those dark dastardly things that go on in my mind is the day I rip myself a new a-hole...

Erm, now wait just a minute. What have we here?

206. The Guns of August

If history has taught us anything at all, it would be the fact that we should never ever underestimate the stupidity of others...

205. Dreams

Once I had this strange old dream. In it, I was a kid again, of maybe 8 or 9...doing stuff only a kid can. It was in a safe environment, I can't recall exactly where, perhaps a playground, with the sounds of other kids playing in earshot. And my mother was there, just out of sight, but I could feel her presence as only a kid can, feeling safe no matter where you were. And you could count on her calling you back whenever you attempted something too foolish or reckless as kids were apt to do.

So in my dream, I was playing amongst kid's stuff, perhaps building those wondrous castles of sand, or following a fascinating trail of ants right back to their Queen's lair, or blowing up alien fortresses in some made-up world. Then something caught my eye, an object that was amongst the other junk that was strewn about. It was a can that was filled with water. Immediately I knew that I had to drink it.

Now, the water in the can was clear, and seemed safe to drink, but the can itself seemed rusty and old, and definitely not safe to drink from. Even as a child, I knew that I'd be asking for trouble if I drank from it. But I had suddenly become thirsty, and everybody knows that you need to quench your thirst.

So I reached for the can, full aware that my mother's eyes were on me, and at any time I would hear her voice, low but firm, calling my name to stop me. But it never happened, she never did call, yet I could still feel her stern gaze upon my back, almost visualise her nodding her head disapprovingly.

But I couldn't help myself, I took the can and drank from it. Immediately, I felt a deep sense of regret. I knew that it was the wrong decision, every cell in my body told me so. I turned my gaze to my mother, and quite predictably, her eyes were on me.

"Now why would you do that?" she asked, with that quiet disapproving voice of hers.

Why did I indeed?

"A dream is a shadow...of something real" - The Last Wave

204. Ring Rusty

If you do not cut your toe nails...then they will grow...
Yes, that's my profound little byte for the day.

Ohh

Imagine.

Saturday afternoon, at home, coffee and quiet.

Your 4 year old kid sped across the living room asking if you would take him to the loo. "Mommy's busy at the kitchen" says the 2 feet odd recently toilet-trained halfling.

So you'd do your part in this hunter-gatherer combo, followed the kid to the destination, lifted him up so his chubby tiny feet lightly stands on the rim for small business to transact.

Wifey walked past the toilet and she lovingly questioned if you've lost your marbles.

'What's the shizzle?' you'd inquisitively grunt.

"Next time you're not around, he's gonna do that by himself." Gatherer would say. "And fall over".

Ohh.

203. Incept This, Motherf#@ker!!!

Now if inception was truly possible, I'd go deep into my own dreams, delving into the furthest and darkest regions of my subconscious mind...and plant the idea that I was Chuck Norris.

Now how cool would that be? I'd karate chop my way to the top, making people my beeeyatches by just looking at them as I went about my way, throw a good flying kick or two, all the while roaring like freakin' lion...no one would be able to stop me, no one... ROARRRRRRR!!!!

By the way, catch the flick while you can...in a year that's been absolute shite for movies, this and Kick Ass are the ones that stand out. I just wished Chris Nolan would polish his action scenes, maybe take them up a notch or two...right now, they're still a dreary and confusing mess...he should pick a few pointers from Cameron, now that's a fella who could shoot action. Or if he wanted to go the realistic route, at least get some of the intensity of a Michael Mann shoot-out like in Heat or Miami Vice.

Makes you wonder how awesome Norris and his timeless mullet would've looked under the direction of Mann.

202. Viva Espana

Spain wins the ugliest World Cup in years, well-deserving though.

201. Espana

Paul the Psychic octopus has gone for a Spanish win. I'm going for them as well, having played the best football (but not the most exciting) in the tournament so far. It's been a good World Cup, not spectacular...but worthwhile to see a new team win it. Spain hasn't been great, but they deserve to win it for playing the best football for the last 2-3 years or so. And of course, the English flopped spectacularly as expected. Nothing puts a smile on my face more than seeing those muppets go home early.

I'm deeply rooting for an Argentinian victory next time round in Brazil.

200. Et tu Italia?

The muppets go through and the world champions are out. Unreal, but based purely on performance, justifiably so.

No Italy, so my picks in order of preference...

Argentina

Spain

Germany

Brazil

199. Weak Summer

This is probably one of the worst summer movie season in years. Right now, I would place Kick-Ass above anything that's come out so far. Probably only Inception can save it from oblivion.

Luckily there's the World Cup to take away the pain. Less than 2 hours away now.

Women

These are toilet signs, but i couldn't resist taking this photo.

198. World Cup Muppet Watch

Ferdinand out. Those two words fills the heart of joy. Another moppet gone. There is yet light left in the day.

I hate England. And Ferdinand most of all amongst active English players (Neville still the top dog, and I mean that quite literally).

Karma's a sonobitch ain't it. Posers will also get their comeuppance. Who's next? Stevie Me? Cashley Cole? All deserve a bit of karmic retribution but I've got my eye on you, Terry.

Early days yet, but he's another moppet I wouldn't mind seeing the back of. Chelsea Captain or no.

197. The Weight of the World

Sometimes it's placed on your shoulders. Not that you want it. Or seek it. But it's there nonetheless, and it is yours to bear.

The stamina for life...who can deal with it eh? You gotta keep working at it, one day at a time. What's the alternative? Go loco and start a Fight Club? Ah, if only we could. But we're too chicken shit. No one goes walking barefoot in the park any more. There is no magic left to be discovered. Technology and convergence has seen to that.

One day the spark will come again. But not today. Nay, today is a time to contemplate the vast emptiness of space. And of matter that sucks the light out of the universe. Like some monstrous invention of Lovercraft.

In fact, I'm feeling like one his deranged protagonists at the moment, just a step beyond insanity, having borne witness to the horrors that lurk just beneath the surface of our reality. Horrors that are just out of reach from the human eye, but lurking...waiting...ancient and sleepless...malevolent and hungry...

Be warned constant reader...though I may take the mantle of the unreliable narrator, there is yet truth that escapes these dastardly musings.

196. Bad-Ass

195. The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills

It sure does. Again and again and again. Sigh, sometimes it's a bummer, sometimes it's great, and sometimes, it's just...bleh. You know what I mean?

194. The World Cup Cometh

It's gonna be a long, hot and busy summer...just the way I like it. The defending champs, and my fav team, have no chance of retaining it. No Totti, no Nesta, no Cassano...and for the love of all things holy, there's no new Roberto Baggio. The great pretender, Giovinco, is out injured, and hasn't had the best of seasons.

So, I'd go for Argentina or Spain. Why? Because in Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Villa, they have the best players in the world that's why. Will be tough for the Argies though, that Maradona fella is a crack head, and I'm sure he'll self-destruct, and bring his team with him, sometime during the Q-final stage.

Portugal to win it? No chance in hell. As with any African team. Lots of talent, but lacking in mental strength.

Brazil? Functional and efficient, no flair. They just might win it. Dunga knows what he's doing, he's modelled his team on the '90 winning side he played in.

And England? Well fuck them. Over-hyped muppets are doomed for sweet failure once more. Good coach though, but with wankers like Gerrard, Ferdinand and Terry in there and about, well, they have no chance. Self-deluded sods the lot.

Forza Italia!

193. The Surface of the Sun

This is a remix version of John Murphy's The Surface of the Sun from the little seen but compelling sci-fi flick Sunshine. For non-film geeks out there, Sunshine was directed by none other than Danny Boyle, whose wide-ranging directorial credits include the brilliant Trainspotting, the under-rated travel thriller The Beach, zombie apocalypse feature 28 Days Later, and of course, Slumdog Millionaire. For those of you keen to explore his earlier work, Millions and his debut Shallow Grave are good bets.

Now John Murphy is one of my fav film composers, his tracks have an epic feel to them that elevates any scene to an entirely new level. Besides Han Zimmer, I think no other composer right now has the scope of his scoring. This track was used to good effect in Sunshine, but was even greater when in Kick-Ass for the Hit-girl rescuing Big Daddy scene. It made it the most intense and emotionally powerful scene you'd ever see on film this year.

Also check out his In the House - In A Heartbeat from 28 Weeks Later (which was also used to good effect in Kick-Ass).

192. At the Double

Now for the Big One. C'mon you Blues!!!

191. The Pride of Malaysia

Ah bliss, looks like this year will top the last one in terms of the comedic value. We're not even midway through yet and we've already had trigger happy cops upping the ante, a hilariously inept sodomy trial, an even more inept murder trial involving our beloved Watchmen, and of course taking the cake, this wonderfully poetic attempt by a fellowship of true Malaysian patriots to hold a rally celebrating the wonders of diversity, equality and togetherness today, the 13th of May, a date that brings back the most beautiful of memories for all Malaysians, young and old alike.

Awww man, it's great to be Malaysian. Just lovin' it.

190. Champions

Barring a ludicrous turn of events, Chelsea wins it. About time too. Now for Aguero next season to bring the Big One to the Bridge.

C'mon you Blues :)

189. More Kick-Ass

188. KICK-ASS!!!

Freaking Kick-Ass kicks some serious major ass. Believe all the hype, it's everything that a Michael Bay or McG film is not...in a nutshell, something that's actually entertaining and worthwhile to watch.

Next to the Dark Knight and the flawed but well-intentioned Watchmen, Kick-Ass sits heads and shoulders above all the other comic book films out there, beating the likes of The Incredible Hulk, Superman Returns and the entire Spiderman series by a good mile.

It's a love letter to all you genre geeks out there...and undoubtedly, it'd be the most thrilling, funniest, bloodiest and heart-breaking film you'd see all year. Confused on how a comic book action film can be all that? I won't spoil the surprise, but it'll blow your mind...in a good way :)

Fingers crossed for a sequel, something still uncertain with it's mediorce box-office takings, a travesty considering that vastly inferior heaps of shit like Transformers 2 and Alice in Wonderland can make heaps of money worldwide. Surely a sign of the End of Days if there was ever one...

News today

Inter 3-1 up on Barca.

An elected MP in Perak, a catalyst in the notorious state takeover was awarded Datukship.

Ribery, only last year was the hype of football transfer market questioned over a call girl.

Goldman, the most evil (read powerful) bank being sued.

Fergie's clock starts ticking, again.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Dailies

There are numerous dailies in London, for every man, for every caste, for every party, for everyone. Guardian, Times, The Sun, Daily Star, FT, etc. Each with press freedom, each with its responsibility to report the what is happening out there, keeping us informed of what is important where its corruption among members of parliament, Arsenal going into the last eight of Champions League without Fabregas or if there is a hot 36DD girl from Leeds on Page 3.

One thing we count on is that news will be reported, and that duty is in the safe hands of the dailies. There is information, and there will be bias. Guardian isn't always going to agree with the London Standard, Tories v Labour supporting papers. Arguments and bloodspit had and to be had for everyone to read and I can only wish the same for Malaysian broadsheets.

I do understand the need to cushion the bad & embellish the good..in the name of peace. It is striking how there are common themes among mainstreams but not the independents, Strait Times/Star v Malaysiakini/Malaysia Today news. This post by no means illustrates my right or left inclination but anyone who would read any of the abovementioned papers would opined that there are more pressing internal matters to debate, to learn, to action. It is dreadful to think that even in this day and age, information stays premium.

187. So-Do-Mee

You betcha. That used to be the buzzword on everyone's lips. Now it deserves nothing more than a passing glance and, on good days, a good old fashioned roll-of-the-eyes. Too predictable that one. Everyone could see it coming. Why can't people be more creative sometimes. Surely there are better ways to ruin (for a second time) a one's reputation other than creating lurid tales of secret rendezvous's at condominiums and physical re-enactments of the dirty deed for all to see.

Now, if you really were creative, and you really wanted to make sure you annihilated one's reputation completely, why don't you just create something that involves sex, money, murder and of course, an elaborate conspiracy involving the highest echelons of the powers-that-be to cover it up? Yeah, that should do it. Have the murder be performed in extremely vile and explosive (literally) circumstances. Then, the investigation should lead right to the top, and of course this should be ensued by a cover-up so devious and Machiavellian in nature that the actual perpetrator(s) are let off scott-free with patsies (whose faces are never revealed) taking the fire for the murder. Of course the one person responsible denies all involvement, but the stink of it will follow him till his dying day.

Now, that would be something else, wouldn't it? Eh? Eh?

186. Same Same But Different

The world's still a dark cold place, and full of people who watch Twilight and listen to Miley Cyrus. Nothing's changed. As we speak, legions of Avatards grow, with hundreds of new minions making Tsahaylu, the bond, each day. By 4 pm, December 12, 2011, approximately 1/3 of the world's population will be speaking Na'vi and have had their skin colour surgically altered to permanent blue. Roughly two months later, a quarter of that number would've been killed trying to plug their ponytails in the orifices of numerous wild animals while attempting to ride them or by jumping out of a plane over a rain forest without a parachute. Fret not, they shall be one with Eywa.

It still rains shit on good days, and on other days we get menfolk who think that the combination of a shirt tucked into a pair of shorts that go way up and shoes worn with socks is morally acceptable clothing (sorry guys, not unless you subscribe to Paedo's Weekly). There are still people who answer the telephone in the cinema. There are still people who cut queues or stand up before the plane stops. And people who think that Liverpool are a good side and that Arsenal have a chance of winning the league this year.

There are still 5-day working weeks that aren't quite 5-day working weeks and old bullshit packaged new and shiny. There are still those who suffer from an inflated view of themselves and those who make it possible.

It's all the same really. Only it's different.

Resuscitation

This blog is dying in the new decade huh. It was once short on money and long on time. Dying as young anger and meditated fight are leaving this space. The travel of time sands your edge. Enthused imagined ideals lingers and only hopeful bursts in spurts. A star no more but well rounded to fit into a circle hole in the house of blocks.

185. Twenty Ten

Well, this post is pretty long overdue. Heck, this blog's been pretty much dying a slow and lonely death, all out here on its own, save for the posts of a dodgy Arsenal supporter suffering from delusions of grandeur in terms of that sodding team's title winning chances.

So anyway, happy belated new year folks, hope all is well with you all. Remember how lucky you guys are out there considering the turn of events around the world. So be happy, be merry, say hey nonny, nonny. Do what you can, when you can. Walk the Good Path, and keep your eyes clear and your hearts full.

Good Night and Good Luck