Wonderland

"Got my elbows down, pinkies up. That's the way you sip my cup."

Tea Party - Kerli

Since I was young I've striven to live with the people and things around me. My family, the country, the world and beyond that. But somehow, there's one thing that I still find trouble living with...

I'm fine with bunnies. In fact, I quite like them. The thing I can't live with? TIME.

It was a helluva mission. Subang Jaya to Mid Valley Megamall in less than 2 hours by RAIL. There was no other safe choice to take. So I took the KTM Commuter to the Midvalley Station. Time taken? 1 hour 35 minutes. Goal time was 1 hour 15 minutes though.

That was my first evening out with the Advertlets gang. It was real fun being at a life-sized Wonderland in the middle of Mid Valley Megamall which was sealed off for a private event.

Dome Cafe catered for the Mad Hatter's Tea party. The scene was enacted just as Ean (from Hitz.fm) described. He said it looked like it was taken right out of wonderland and placed in Mid Valley. It was an experience like no other. The launch of the movie was mainly sponsored by MasterCard Malaysia, HSBC Bank and Walt Disney Studios Malaysia.

Swarovski Crystals and Nina perfumes also had their roles. Swarovski made awesome use of their Epoxy-aligned crystal jewelery and created a whole line of products to match the movie. From red hearts to represent the Red Quees to flowery designs to reflect to beauty of Wonderland.

Now about the movie...

In terms of chemistry, this movie had the twists like no other. But first, I don't think it should be called Alice in Wonderland. First reason being that the movie was not ENTIRELY based in Wonderland and that second, the movie was about Alice's SECOND trip into Wonderland. She made her first trip in the animated Disney movie.

Nonetheless, it was good. The theme and the computer graphics were breathtaking. Although the 3D was not put to good use at all, the scenes of Wonderland reminded me of the planet Pandora from Avatar. It was the fruit of talents well invested.

So I shall not spoil the story for you, but I bet if you're gonna walk into the cinema hall and expect to see the super pumped and 3D version of the old Alice in Wonderland you saw years ago on your CRT television hooked up to your VCR, you're in for a huge surprise.

My verdict? This is the sort of movie that's just right for the post-work mood. The chemistry of suspense was just right. Not too suspenseful but still quite predictable. Not the kind of movie that makes you pause and ponder about things, but the kind of movie you can just sit back, relax and enjoy.

Love,
D.A.niel

Overdrive Distortion

"Life's a game that isn't fair, I break the rules so I don't care. I'll be doing my own thing, standing tall against the rain. Victory's within the mile. Almost there, don't give up now."

Run This Town - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

This morning wouldn't leave me alone. I was praying and hoping that the whole of yesterday would be nothing more than a dream. Nothing more than a figment of my imagination.

I suddenly feel like I can't face this world. How did this happen? I try not to ask myself about what went wrong because I'm in the middle of forgetting the past and trying to move on. As I said in my last post, it was time to leave this in the past and go full steam ahead in SAM. But this morning, the shitload of negative thoughts just couldn't leave my parents' minds.

I used to think that I took control of my life. I used to be a top scorer. The pumped scores and the moderately uncompetitive nature of my class in form 5 got to my head and I felt like a butterfly after SPM. It wasn't the case. I was far from "in control". My dad kept ranting that I;m not in control of my life. I take full responsibility for my results, I'm not blaming anyone for the results I got neither do I blame them for the way I feel. In hindsight, I sudddenly feel that i shouldn't have entered the exam hall with a song in my heart and a smile on my face.

Now I don't think I can even face my class. My standing is at the bottom, in the pits. I'm in a dynamic class that can turn on the edge of a knife, and that is a good thing, but the only problem is, they can and I can't.

I don't feel like going for Mass in church ever again. The silent prayer room always has been and looks like what always will be my place of worship. Behind my locked room door facing my grandmother's wooden crucifix also was helpful, but somehow, somewhere, something went terribly wrong. Why can't I just move on and forget it!? Why can't it just leave me alone!

My results served their purpose YESTERDAY, but that's probably just as much as it did. I'm in a shitstorm of emotional crap right now, and the worst part is that I have no one to blame but myself.

I gotta go for class now. I'm already late.

Love,
D.A.niel

Exodus

"I heard you're lost. Do you know your way around?"

Chop Me Up - Justin Timberlake

It is true that one can learn something from everything that happens, good or bad.

For today I learnt that being optimistic CAN backfire very badly in the following situations.

FIRST. Do not confront hardcore problematic pessimists with optimism. It'll do more damage than good. They need help in other ways.

SECOND. Affirmation is NOT necessarily optimistic.

THIRD. Optimism often fails to work on the money-minded pessimist. Everything s/he thinks up boils right down to the money that's behind it

You can't blame money-minded pessimists. They work their bums off for the money that puts food on the tables for their families and they have a right to be like that. The working class is an ongoing everlasting shitstorm. The life is hard and the pay is moderate. The only way out is to find a job you love of end up being a...Yes. You've got it...Money-minded pessimist.

Ok. Fast forward. The exodus was hell on earth. My score?

3 A   3 B   3 C   1 D

I'm satisfied, but not happy. I'm not sad nor am I beaten up about it either. Why? First of all, I was anxious about getting kicked from Taylors. Second? I didn't live up to my forecast.

AND NEITHER did I live up to the results on the post about SPM 2009: Emotions Through The Papers. I didn't make mama proud.

Mum didn't take it that well. She was pissed at the fact that now a scholarship is way out of reach. At least I didn't waste my time looking around.

However, after a peek into the Twitterverse and Facebook, my little delicate happiness bubble grew dry and popped.

It looks like tomorrow there's going to be an idiot among geniuses in P1. I'm screwed. I've been sticking out like a sore thumb in almost all the classes I've been inside for my entire life. I won't be surprised if I'm the one with the lowest score around.

But one thing is for sure. The results served the purpose I intended them to. To get me safely and securely in Taylors. Now it's time to forget the past and move on. It's full steam ahead for SAM now. Bless my soul...

And from the bottom of my heart, Drive The Sensation wishes all SPM 2009 students

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Even if you failed it all, even if you topped the nation, this congratulation is FOR YOU.

You did your best

      You believed in yourself

            You lived 17 years of your life

                  You aimed for the bulls-eye of your goal

                        You chose to take the path that led you further

                              You were brave enough and courageous to rise up to the occasion

                                    and finally,

                                       YOU MADE IT!

Love,
D.A.niel

Pulling Teeth

"I know I'm not lost I am just alone but I won't cry. I won't give up. I can't go back now. Waking up is knowing who you really are."

Exodus - Evanescence

Just when you thought it was safe to step back into the school compound...

BANG!

The time has come for the final paper of 2009's SPM. No it's not a question paper, nor is it an answer script, but it's the ultimate paper of the whole exam. It's the paper that everyone's been waiting for. Some anticipated it, some can't wait for it, some don't want it. Either way, it's here. The results for SPM 2009 are coming out in 9 HOURS and 15 MINUTES from now (time of posting).

So now it boils down to one question for me. Will I testify the forecast, overshoot it or fail to meet it. It's all dependent on that slip of paper. It's the critical moment of truth that decides how much effort we put in last year and how it pays off.

Now I'm nowhere near being a Straight A student, but with what I've got, I managed to use everything I've got to it's max and now, the time has come to reap the profits from the seeds I've sown.

Ok. I need sleep now. My eyelids can kill me.

Love,
D.A.niel

Tamil Splash Remix

"Can you feel it? Music thumping, stars are shining and we're grinding. We were moving."

Nobody Like You (Chirantan Bhatt Remix) - Neeraj Shridhar, Anoushka & Ishq Bector

It took one really, really hard tight slap in the face to wake me up from this perpetual spiral of prejudice I was in.

Honestly, P1 has brought me through a whole new stage in life that I never thought i would pull through. But today I owe alot to our class rep, Kenn.

Kenn, you taught me something today that made me realize how much of an ass hole I've been (spelt that correctly for once :)). Somehow, somewhere along the line, I went against my own beliefs and became extremely hypocritical. It took a friend like you to turn that around. I know you walk away from the insignificant, but thanks for counting me in and accepting me for who I am. I'm willing to change just as much as you are.

Sometimes, walking alone on the journey of life is a dangerous route to take. Especially when you get caught in this downward-spiraling vortex of depression. The kinda crap that happens is really silly. I mean, look at me. I keep telling my pals that we shouldn't look upon others by their race, but look at me now. I do it myself and don't even realize it.

As Jude Antoine said during one of our training camps: "God created us such that we cannot see our own face. He made it the job of another to look at it and tell you how you are from the outside because it's really not supposed to be our job to judge ourselves. If it was, there would be more vanity in today's world than ever before.

So I would like to apologize for all the crap I wrote in the past 2 posts. I've been a little very inconsiderate and I can't believe that I even did such a heartless thing. I know I made the excuse that I grew up in racist conditions. From the day I was placed in Chinese school to the time I was shifted to private school and now, in college. I'm still discriminated, but the folks who treat me by my race know always apologize for what they say, and I guess it's my turn to say sorry to the world. Especially the Chinese.

I would like to close with a little something that Kenn left in my ShoutMix:

kenn:
...saying 'no offence intended' after offending people is like giving someone a slap and telling them you didn't.

With that, God bless you Kenn, and everyone else who reads this AND forgives me.

True and Unconditional Love,

D.A.niel

Kung Fu Fighting

"And If I had one wish come true, I'd surf till the sun sets beyond the horizon "

Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride - Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus (from the soundtrack of Walt Disney Pictures' Lilo & Stitch)

"The one thing I don't like about the SAM Student Council of 2010 is that they're all of one single race, not because that one race is Chinese, but it's just that it's too homogeneous."

"Aiyah. nothing one lah. You half-Chinese ma..."

Edward, if only you knew how racist some Chinese folks can be...

From a young age I have been discriminated. First for my skin colour, then my race, my religion and now my gender. I've suffered from racism, ageism, body-hairism, colourism, religious fanaticism and gender discrimination. Thank God they were not all at the same time.

So now, trying to reject any prejudice that comes to my mind is not as easy. Growing up was difficult, and now, erasing the bad traces of the past are difficult. It's like trying to clean a motor oil spill with nothing but a roll of tissue paper.

I found the key to my happiness a few months back. All it took was just looking at every good thing that comes out of a bad thing. If I just can't find that silver lining, I...

Bloody hell, what gives!!?

Chinese will take over in the next election, warns Perkasa

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Malay nationalist group Perkasa warns that the Chinese community will use the next general election to take over the country. 

Perkasa feels that the last general election weakened the Malays and empowered the Chinese community.

Dr Zubir Harun, director of Perkasa’ economic bureau, who was at the Malay Consultative Council’s (MPM) round-table discussion, said during his presentation that a divided Malay community will empower the other races.

According to delegates at the discussion and documents received by The Malaysian Insider, Perkasa wants the New Economic Policy (NEP) to be the “spirit” of the New Economic Model (NEM).

“Perkasa believes that disunity among the Malays has weakened Umno, causing the non-Malays to be more vocal in their demands. They say that the Chinese are also blackmailing the government to give in to their demands by threatening to vote for Pakatan Rakyat,” said one of the delegates.

Zubir also said that Perkasa is worried that the New Economic Model will have a Chinese agenda.

“The Chinese people feel that the next general election is the best opportunity for them to gain power in this country.

“This is why Chinese NGOs, such as Ziong Dong and Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce, are using this chance to make demands of the government. If their demands are not met, then they will vote Pakatan Rakyat who are willing to give everything to the Chinese,” he elaborated in his presentation.

Zubir added that the Malays have “sacrificed” for the country by allowing “the immigrants” to live in Malaysia.

“It must be reminded that the Malay people have sacrificed tremendously since independence with a quid pro quo policy...  the Malay race have compromised by allowing foreigners into the country. The Malays endured hundreds of years of colonization and the result is the migration of foreigners into the country. We were forced to accept this policy,” he said.

Zubir also slammed non-Malays and liberal Malays for wanting to rewrite the country’s Constitution and social contract.

Perkasa believes that the NEP is still relevant because it will help the Malay community to counter a market which is dominated by the Chinese.

The Malaysian Insider reported today that the government has decided to incorporate the proposed New Economic Model (NEM) into the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) in June, as fine-tuning and tweaks will go beyond its initial end-March launch.

It was learnt the delay came after feedback from various quarters prompted the government to rework its ideas and proposals that will turn Malaysia into a high-income nation based on innovation and creativity.

Among those with reservations about the NEM are the MPM which yesterday demanded it be based on the 1970s-era New Economic Policy (NEP) and should comply with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution that protect Malay and Bumiputera’s special position.

(Taken from The Malaysian Insider)

I somehow hold on to my distorted belief that Malaysia has a little too many Chinese folks. Some of them are complete assoles, but no race is perfect. I'm still trying to accept that. I'm not meaning to discriminate the entire race, but in my life I've been living with Chinese people everywhere I turn. Every part of my life has a Chinese in it. Why? I'm half-Chinese myself.

So I guess I look like an idiot stabbing myself in the chest with all these statements. What you see is what I see.

No offence intended people. It's just the crude, pissed-off conservative Daniel Anthony of 2005 talking.

Ok, back to the topic.

...I get down on my knees and pray to God to give me hope and show me the good things that come out when shit happens. That's my key to happiness.

My second task was to un-learn how to hate. Hate is useless. It brings about no good but good riddance. It's sad, depressing and full of anger. That is why I don't join hate groups and all anti-whatever or whoever groups on Friendster and Facebook.

Well, Now I gotta get down and pray that God bring me the good that comes out of the current news...Gah. Homework is tapping my shoulder too. Gotta go.

Love,
D.A.niel

Audio Adrenaline

"Now we're here in a world that's got plenty of beer. I've got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here"

Tik Tok - Ke$ha

Friday night was a real blast (as the name suggests, it was supposed to be a NuclearBlast.). The DJ was awesome, the lighting was bombastic and the reception was great.

One thing I didn't really like was the homogeneous SAM Student Council for 2010. I mean, I can't expect everyone I voted for to win, but somehow, I can't help but question.

WHY ARE THEY ALL CHINESE!!?

No offence intended, but why is the board so homogeneous!? Can't we have a variety of races? I mean, if the president is Chinese I'm ok, if the secretary is Chinese I'm ok, but heck!? Everyone there is Chinese!

To be honest, if they were all Indian, or all Malay, I would be just as unsatisfied. The spectrum is too racially narrow, in my opinion, to weigh the opinions of all those who speak on behalf of any one ethnicity.  Too many Chinese people really do lead up to an unbalanced committee.

But heck, what's done is done. I'll just shut up and accept it. So congrats to all the winners. You've done a great job in making your manifestos heard. Now live up to it kay? :)

Ok. I have outstanding homework and I really need to get it out of the way. Nights.

Love,
D.A.niel

Teach Me How To Dance

"There's something 'bout the night and the way it hides all the things I like. Little black butterflies deep inside me."

Mama Do - Pixie Lott

I missed Legal studies consultation to go for Christian Fellowship. It's my last free Friday in Taylors so I decided to spend it in the glory of God.

It's gonna be an awesome night. I can't wait for the SAM Fiesta starting in a bit.

There's a Legal Studies Essay test on Monday, and with all I can do I sure hope that's gonna boost my grades. I messed up the Short Response paper on Monday and now I hope this helps. Please God, I need this.

After all, I scribble alot in class. Sometimes I can be pretty artistic :)

Mr. David told us a lil bit about maturity yesterday. It was an interesting approach he used. He said that we must be able to handle people properly and with care. He also said that if we're mature, we need to be able to see through others' point of view and live our lives with taking that into consideration. Of course, it should NEVER get in the way of your dreams.

I gotta go grab a bite. I've never been in Taylors this late before.

Love,
D.A.niel