The CD Spins

"It won't be long before we're up in zero-G"

Planet Tokyo - Puffy AmiYumi

The fuse grows shorter and shorter. The road just seems to drag longer as we approach SPM, but it does feel like time is growing shorter and shorter. It's a really unique feeling that is although uneasy, is soothing to the nerves but tiring to the brain, as there's more cramming to do and be done.

The countdown has dropped to a whopping 5 days. 5 days to the first battle of the war. I'm still building confidence. I'm not at the stage to call All Systems Go, but I believe I'm almost there.

I still need some response. I'm pulling a handful of twitter-ers into it, but hopefully you can contribute. Even one tweet a day would be awesome.

The box will appear here above the posts starting 17th November 2009 at approximately 8:00 PM. Drive The Sensation MAY be updated throughout the course of SPM, so do scroll down to see the rest of the blog. As for all of you SPM-ers that want a little auto updating, feel free to paste the code for the live box into your blog. This box will terminate operation on 9 December 2009. Put it into a post and the archive will remain there for a replay even after SPM is over.

The code is below in Courier font.

<iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=811b37b201/height=525/width=525" scrolling="no" height="525px" width="525px" frameBorder ="0" allowTransparency="true"><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=811b37b201">SPM 2009 - Emotions Through The Papers</a></iframe>

If you just wanna comment but not commit, you can message @paperemotion to submit your tweet to the board. Or if you're even lazier, there's a comment box on the board itself. Remember that messages to @paperemotion can be posted from TweetDeck, HootSuite, GladlyCast, Snaptu and any other twitter application. So if you wanna put up a shoutout anytime, just message @paperemotion!

Love,
Daniel

P.S. Need a reminder??

The Establishment Incorporated

"I feel the hearts of my people as we struggle every day to be the best we can"

Satu Malaysia - AMP All Stars

The days are turning into hours now as we shift into full gear for SPM. Somehow, SPM feels like it's still a year away.

I received my forecast results yesterday, and heck do I have a load to live up to. To keep my own hopes up i shall not post it here, or i'll let everyone down. The fun is really over. It's only 6 days to it. Not to the end of our struggle, but only to the beginning of the showdown. The chips are on the table, we have our cards. WE've passed the flop and the turn. With a diligent mind we can hopefully bring home the royal flush.

Sorry about the poker language. I'm getting hooked on Texas Hold'em. It's fun. It also improves your thinking :). Too bad I gamble with old conservative nuts who only play blackjack and inbetween every Chinese New Year...

Just after narrowing on my college choice, these folks had to come. I wanna cry :(.

Green Day. 8PM, January 14th 2010. It's a Thursday, and it's the second day of College. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh.

Nevermind. i'll get another chance. God wants me to pass this time :). I'll wait for their next album.

I found a great way to study BM. It not only helps your language skills, but can take you leaps and bounds in overcoming those Literature and KOMSAS issues. It's as simple as going to http://translate.google.com/ and doing this.

It works pretty well, though it isn't perfect. Beware! Not for those with diminished or absent common sense!

Love,

Daniel

P.S. I'm going to miss you guys...

And not forgetting you all too....

Love and hugs!

Daniel

We Made It

"But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit It out. I faced it all and I stood tall."

My Way - Frank Sinatra

Today is one day that'll remain in my heart forever. I never thought it'll come so soon, but it did. I've finally reached the pinnacle of my secondary school life. Although it's a little late, I still hold to my perogative that you're never too old to do anything, for age is just a number. Nothing more than a figure that appears on your biodata.

I used to have an illusion that bad schools produce good students and good schools produce bad students. It was what I thought during the painful year of 2007. I had to put up with some really rotten classmates, an ex-crush and SPM. The deepest emotional plunge that year was the passing of my grandmother. I still remember her pushing me to do well in my PMR, and the grief I felt when I couldn't live up to it. I regret making the promises I couldn't keep.

Upon entering form 4 in 2008, everything changed. New classmates, new emotions, new principal. It was a really strong culture shock. I couldn't believe that time has flown so fast since then. I never had the chance to do so many things. I felt that I missed out on what happened in the world.

Until something hit me in the face. Really, really hard.

It was thanks to the Character Building crew that came to Sri Nobel that I realized life isn't a negative struggle. Everything had a positive side. There are two sides to a coin and no matter how you toss it, it has a 50-50 chance on each side. The same way we can always choose to look at one side or the other. Everything that happens can be good and bad. It just depends on how we look at it.

My dad tried to take the video of us but the camera sorta messed up, so I salvged all I could to get the pics out.

Big sis <3 (Mandy)

Hold still la dear! So hard to get a good shot of you! :)

Miss Evelyn

 

Scotty!!

He wants YOUU!

And with that, I have come to the last paragraph of this chapter of my life. I don't believe in closing doors, and you shouldn't either. Keep your past as a reminder that you once could do it, and that you could do it again. Life is full of challenges. Face them one by one. Just like the lyrics to the famous ABBA song I Have A Dream,

"You can take the future, even if you fail."

- ABBA

With that. Good luck. Live your life. It's yours.

Love,

Daniel

 

I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing

"What have I got to do to make you want me?"

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - Elton John

"Hello. This is your Hotlink service. Sorry, you have insufficient credit to place this call. Please top-up..." *hits end call button*

I was reluctant to top up till I was in front of the ATM earlier today just before heading for lunch at Hong Kee. It was AWESOME. I have never had Dim Sum that tasted so good in my life. It's probably the simplicity of the restaurants that contribute towards the good food they serve. The boss there was really nice with us. He sat down at the table with us telling us what's good. He even took time to explain to us what was good about each dish. Best part? He put up with my shit-level Cantonese.

If you've noticed my odd behavior you should know that I've been bitten by the lovebug again. I've run out of bugspray and excuses to cheat myself. I finally fall into this pit just days from SPM, and it's an emotion-ripping experience. I can't believe I'm having feelings for someone again. My old heart is rusty and squeaky from all the crying over relationships that didn't work out. I don't blame anyone. It's my fault. I was stabbing myself in the chest.

It's a painful lesson to learn a bitter pill to swallow, but I sure as hell did it. I'm not saying that I don't want to be in love, but I don't want to fall in love at this time. I need my results to get into college. Maybe later...

but heck, she has PMR next year...grr.

That heart-shaped island you see up there actually exists off the shore of Croatia. It's a satellite picture taken with Google Earth. Go search. If you find the real estate dealer let me know. I wanna move there and live there!!

So how now? I could probably squeeze in a date between SPM and college, but it's  no use. What's love when it's just a date? Besides, I don't want to mess up her life.

It is at times like this when I say

F-M-L

My life still rocks though! What a walking contradiction I am.

Love,
Daniel

Welcome To Scatland

"Everyone is born to compete as he chooses, but how can someone win if winning means that someone loses?"

Scatman's World - Scatman John

I'm in bed now because my ear infection didn't get much better. I went to the doc in the morning and he switched me to a so called $100-a-box antibiotics from Bayer labs. The pain has gone down now, I hope it's the antibiotics and NOT the painkillers.

I was YouTubing some stuff yesterday night, and I came across another unique talent in the world that again, can't be replaced by anyone.

That Charlie Chaplin dude you see up there is none other than John Paul Larkin. His close friends and family called him John Larkin, but to the rest of the world, he was known as Scatman John.

You've probably heard the song that I have quoted up there. His ability to scat is so good and spontaneous that he could turn any song towards his style. But the history behind the mouth he has is deeper than you think.

Since childhood he was diagnosed with a severe stammer. He couldn't speak properly. The trouble brought him an emotionally turbulent childhood. His difference set him apart from the rest of the world. He came across scat singing at the age of 14, but he didn't pick it up too much. Instead he became a professional jazz pianist and took to pubs for a living. He found the piano as a way to compensate for his stuttering mouth.

He released a self-titled jazz album entitled "John Larkin" in 1986. It didn't seem to sell well but today, an original copy of that album is deemed extremely rare and fans will pay through the nose to get it. At that time, alcoholism and drug abuse got the better of his wife. He remarried a recovering alcoholic and she inspired him to make something out of his talent. He feared that the world would know that he stutters so his wife told him something that we all could use as a piece of advice.

She told him to open it up. Talk about it openly to the world. Thus the single "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)," was born. It was to inspire stammering kids to not let their disabilities put a limit on their life. He then adopted the name Scatman John.

He achieved worldwide fame in 1995, at the whopping age of 52. He made the Europe Top Singles chart with his renowned single "Scatman's World". His third album "Everybody Jam", however, didn't receive the same pickup. He took it to Japan, where he became an idol to the people there.

In 1999, he released his final album "Take Your Time". He battled with illness since 1998 and struggled to finish the album. Shortly after the release he was diagnosed with lung cancer and was admitted to intensive care. He was positive throughout. He told people that "Whatever God wants is fine by me."

On the 3rd of December 1999 at age 56 and only 28 days to the new millennium, he passed away peacefully in his home in Los Angeles. His cremated remains were buried at sea in Malibu. The world mourned the loss of another inspiring talent. Before he left, he did say one thing that touched my heart:

"I hope that the kids, while they sing along to my songs or dance to it, feel that life is not that bad at all. Even for just a minute." - John Paul Larkin a.k.a. Scatman John

He wanted to make the world a better place, and didn't want to make anyone believe that life was worthless. He turned to scat music because he stuttered. He turned his biggest shortcoming into his biggest asset. He turned a weakness into a strength. He didn't care about his age when he reached international fame. He didn't let his illnesses inhibit his dreams. Though he has left us, his dream hasn't. It still lives on. This is already pretty much living proof that dreams don't end with death. The dream lives on to give people with disabilities a better future, a brighter one and a reason to live. It gives all of us a reason to testify God's creations.

Go take a listen to his biggest hit "Scatman's World", which was featured in the mixtape NOW! That's What I Call Music!

He still continues to inspire 10 years after his death...and he will still be an inspiration to me and to everyone who holds fast to their dreams.

Love,
Daniel

Filter Sweep

"Love is rare, life is strange. Nothing lasts, people change."

Old Friend - Michael Feinstein

Love is a rare commodity...it isn't a dollar for a dozen pounds. Heck, you can't even buy it with money, let alone measure it.

I'm a walking contradiction. I tell people to do things that i don't do myself. At least that's what it seems like. I try to be a better man every day. I try my best, I let God do the rest. It's just sometimes God knows that I put in insufficient effort and plays along. That's when I have to come in again, and finish my part of the job.

I don't usually make extra miles in what I do, but when I do so, please bear in mind that fuel isn't free, and in this case, time isn't free.

Yes. Mr. X. I'm pissed with you again, and I bet you saw this coming, so don't complain.

I'm 17 and I haven't had a decent date in my life. Sucks huh? But looking back, i regret my choices. Many of the girls I stalked aren't open minded enough. And i don't want people to love me for my looks or my achievements, but for who I am. It taught me a lesson that I will not regret.


Open-mindedness is an even rarer gem now. It's worth more than all the diamonds put together in the world laid upon the biggest mass of gold this earth has. You lack it. You see the narrow path. You can't make out what's at the end of the road because you don't even know the road you're on. You have it deep down in your heart but you don't want it. Why? Because our messed up rotten society doesn't want it.


Oh wait. You said that you're hard-hearted, and even brought me the dictionary to show me the Oxford definition. Well. If you insist that you're a hard-hearted hag then sorry! You know what? You shouldn't date anyone! You shouldn't be complaining to me about romance problems. You shouldn't be accusing me of a breakup. You shouldn't be in love at all! You don't deserve it!


If you wanna love someone truly, look beyond the money. Look beyond the dates and hugs and kisses. Look way beyond that. Remember the line that differentiates a true lover and a cheap good for nothing: If you ever do cry, a true lover will instead of telling you to stop crying or to be a man, will dry your tears and feel for you. Empathy is the strongest of emotions. It allows you to exit your mental conscience and enter the shoes of someone else. It's the closest thing to a first-hand experience.


You wanna talk about maturity? Fine! Take a look in the mirror. You're suffering from delusions of maturity yourself! Look at the definition of maturity. We all can learn something from wine bottles. Yes. The slow-brewing liquor. The older it gets, the more mature it gets. Why? It gives out carbon dioxide gas slowly, bubble by bubble. It doesn't ask for anything in return. If lucky, that small bit of oxygen seeps in.


In the same way, one can only achieve maturity by giving one's best all the time without asking for anything in return, because one day someone will uncork the wine and savor it to the last drop. Just the same, one day you'll serve your purpose to the max, and everyone will want a bit of what you've got. Bad wine, especially those that have oxygen and airlock leaks are thrown away. They are bad wine or immature wine that has gone wrong.


In case you don't know, suicidal thoughts are an immediate sign of immaturity. Anyone considering killing themselves is terribly immature, and very materialistic. They think it'll bring them more good than bad because all of life's troubles will just disappear in a puff. It doesn't. All your troubles go to others around you because your stingy heart doesn't give a damn. Who wanted suicide just because one guy doesn't like her? I know I have had that stage, but I didn't go around telling the world that I'm a mature bastard. Heck, I wasn't even looked upon like that.


What!? Sexually mature? Okay big guy, you wanna talk about sex at the age of 16? Sex isn't hard to come by, but true, romantic, intimate and beautiful sex THAT is hard to find. You're probably looking at me as if I'm a sick bastard, but what's wrong with my last sentence? Sex is basically an act of reproduction, and it deserves some respect. It's pretty obvious you look for cute pretty girls who have the looks, chest and a** that suits you.


Love isn't about treating people out for dinner or for a movie. It isn't about flowers, big weddings and heart-shaped things. Love isn't about looks, disabilities and muscle. Love is blind, love is pure. What you're experiencing now is a pirated version of cheaply done up "Love". It's dirty, short-lived and too self conscious. The worst part is some folks even take it to erotic levels...


If you're dating and you're around your early or mid-teens, please take a while to ponder about what you really are doing. I know it isn't easy, but you need to know it now before others take advantage of you.


True Love,
Daniel

A New Day Has Come

"I'm infected by the sound. Stop this beat, it's killing me!"

Evacuate The Dancefloor - Cascada

Just got back from Scotty's place for a pretty worthwhile study session. We had a pizza party on Sat for his 17th Birthday, and it was funnn!! We all kneaded our pizza dough and prepared it ourselves. It wasn't a pizza party as a order-pizza-for-dinner party. And I think you all know what I did to my dough...

Pretty? Took me a long 20 minutes to mould it properly. I screwed up a few times but I was just in the mood. Haha. I'm lovesick again...

And the toppings...Tomato, salami, sausage, ham and cheese.

Made 3 lil' pizzas to use up the dough lol. After the oven it came out, and I had no heart to cut it...

Haix...me just being me. Scott couldn't get the circle well so he folded the edges in. And alas...idea. Home made stuffed crust...

Total screw up. Never gonna do that again...XD

Okay it's 17 days to SPM and I should be on my books byebye.

Love,

Daniel

Man In The Mirror

"No message could be any clearer: If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and then make a change!"

Man In The Mirror - The Jackson 5

I forgot to blog about getting tickets to the premiere of Michael Jackson's This Is It! I know I shouldn't be out watching this stuff when it's only 3 weeks fom SPM...but then this show airs only for what? 2 weeks? It's a worldwide selloff, and I've always wanted to watch him perform live.

So I got to KLCC with my parents at about 6:45. It was rather crowded for a regular day. It turned out that a lot of folks had turned up for the show. This premiere was a fundraising effort by AWAM to raise funds. They booked 2 full-house cinemas and I believe they made quite a lot...

It started like a movie would. Trailers, adverts and opening credits. But for RM51 per ticket, I thought this has really gotta be worth it... So in the beginning there was..........

I shall not spoil it for you okayy?? :)

It's about 12:30 am and I'm speechless once again in awe of the Kng of Pop's last concert. A final concert is always the best, because that's where everyone gives their all and the mistakes are ironed out perfectly. Unlike managers, businessmen and contractors, performers never make the last show the sloppiest. Good performers save the best for last, but give their all along the way. Good performers don't do it for the money, but for the glory.

Michael was way past these circumstances. He pushed his career over the hill and into a whole new territory. He no longer was in it for the cash it brought. He believed in nature and wanted to fight for it. He was a faithful believer. Everyone on the set of This Is It has heard him say God Bless You from him. He wanted to change the world, and by all means, he did.

Not because of a bossy attitude, neither because of his perfectionist perogative did he achieve that dream. It was though changing himself. The change he made in himself brought him the power to change the world. He started with himself. He started with the man in the mirror.

That's why folks, before you try to change the world, tak a lesson from the Jackson kid. He made it because he was willing to make a move in his own heart. Everyday we are influenced by others and what they say. We are easily inspired and discouraged by a lot of people around us. If we have the power to control what we want to change in us, and to hold on to our perogative where we want to fight for what we believe is true, how much harder would it be to change someone else?

You've probably heard of the utopian Pay-It-Forward system, which was thought up by an 11 year old in the USA. He believed that if he were to do 3 people a big favour, they should do a big favour to another 3 people and so on and on and on. Just when he thought it was a failure, pay-it-forward was already halfway around the world. He was bullied to death by schoolmates shortly after finishing his third favour. He tried to save his friend who was under extortion by standing up for him and he got stabbed in the stomach with a knife the bullies had.

A painful story eh? But still, he started with himself and changed the world, only that he didn't live to see it.

You too have probably heard Adam Khoo's concept of living for your future, and who you will be. It works for some, but then not for all. Then there's Eckhart Tolle's idea of living for today and the power of Now. He believed that we should live like we would die tomorrow, but I beg to differ from both. Why? Death is in God's hands, when it comes is out of our hands.

I believe in living for your dreams. Yes. Live for what you want to see in this world. Worried about death? Why so? Millions have died en route to their dreams coming true. In the end, they did. Dreams really do come true! Believing and faith in them that they will work brings you to a whole new stage in life where you no longer worry about what will happen if you die tomorrow. Dreams don't die with you. Dreams keep on going. Someone, someday will bear that torch you're carrying and in his dying breath, cross the finish line in pride. That's why we shouldn't fear death in the course of the dream. A life is a life and it really, really doesn't end with death.

I'm not referring to eternal life, no. I'm referring to the reasons for you to be missed. If you fought for your dream, in someone's mind, your name is engraved in stone and set there. Your journey doesn't end in death, it ends when you give up, unless someone motivated enough comes along to start pushing the envelope again.

So live for your dreams! IT'S WORTH IT!

Love,
Daniel