Salam Aidil Adha

to all muslims. May your Aidil Adha be blessed by Allah S.W.T. Enjoy the feast!

what's cool? what's hot? what's not?

What’s cool? Hard to define right? Cool is a subjective matter. Definition of cool would be different if it were asked to different people. Generally, cool would mean great, the best, up to date and stuff like that. Someone who’s cool would be someone who’s up to date, knowing today’s trend and is very likeable by other youths around him. “That’s a cool band!” would mean that the band is playing great and the audiences fancy them.

So what’s the trend today? What’s considered cool? Well, from what I see, in terms of fashion, a cool guy would have short spiky hair or sometimes messy, wearing a simple t-shirt with a jeans or some baggy slack, a pair of snickers or a flip-flop and have some leather or beads bangle as their accessories. A cool girl would be wearing anything matching, with high heels or wedges or sometimes just some simple flip-flop with some accessories of their own. That’s what youths today are wearing. Come to think of it, would someone sporty look cool to a group of gothic? Would a mohawk look cool to some rich guy in a suit? Of course not! So, you should dress according to what you are. Then, you’re cool!

Youth’s today can never be separated with gadgets. What’s cool today is to have your own laptop which allows you to surf anywhere. I bet, a youth without a handphone would surely not be considered as cool. Cause handphone is like a necessity to youths today. With the fast growing of technology, a lot of gadgets are made available and affordable. Sometimes, someone with a Wii is always way cooler than someone with a PS2. Another trend today is having a DSLR. You’re not cool without one. But then again, who are you to judge who’s cool and who’s not cause cool can be judge from many different perspectives.

Another cool thing today is to have a friendster profile, or a facebook or a myspace or hi5 and the list goes on. Who doesn’t have those today? Even someone who doesn’t have internet connection in their home would have their own profile cause it’s ‘the thing’. It’s the trend, everybody is doing it and we should follow. Well, I believe it’s a good thing. Cause it’s one way that you can get connected with friends, old or new. Even the grown ups are having their own profile now.

Youths today spend most of their time on the internet. They blog, they chat, they play games. These are some cool stuff to do. They also spend their time with their friends in cinemas, karaoke box, or in futsal courts. These are some healthy stuff that are also cool. Some would consider smoking as cool. Don’t want to cause any spark here but is it cool to be a slave to the cigarette?

Using short forms like LOL and BFF while typing sms and chatting is cool. If you spell the words one by one, you’re not cool. Youths today have even developed their own language. They have they own slang that only they (or sometimes their parents) would understand. Some examples of slang have been discussed in our previous chapter which is Chapter 5. Click here to read Chapter 5.

Cool youth watch cool movies and series. Some of the movies and series considered cool to these youths are Heroes, Transformers, Twilight and other movies and series with the same genre. If a guy watches some cheesy romantic movies and cries after watching it, he’s not cool. And if a girl watches a horror movie without ever closing her eyes with her hands, she’s cool. Reality shows are another today’s ‘in thing’. If you don’t know what is Malaysian Idol, The Apprentice, Explore Race or One In A Million, you’re really not up to date. Believe me, even small kids would know who comes from which reality show.

Appearance is a crucial thing for youth these days. Appearance for them is everything. They believe in “you’ll never have second chance to make a first impression” so the first must be good. If you’re all covered up with brands, you’re cool. Adidas, Gucci, Nike, and Chanel would always attract people. And if you’re using them, you would obviously become people’s attraction too. Indie brands are also cool these days. Indie brands are simple yet are really attractive. However, brands are not that important. If you know how to mix and match and look cool, you’re still cool.

Another today’s trend is there’s no such thing as only for girls, or only for guys. Some stuff that are previously made only for girls are also now made available for the guys too. For example, men’s face washer, face cream, hair cream, as well as masker. Previously, it will be weird if guys pampered themselves with these stuff but nowadays, it’s no longer like that. Sometimes, these guys care for their appearance more than girls do. Today, jerseys and boots that are previously only for guys are also made for the girls. They even have baby-t jerseys nowadays. Girls who watch football till 3 am in the morning is cool. Girls who plays football are also cool.

Then again, being cool is subjective. Every people have their own definitions and perspectives on being cool. If A says you’re cool doesn’t mean that B would say the same thing. What’s important is to be yourself. If you’re being you, YOU’RE COOL!! and sometimes, NOT BEING COOL IS COOL!!

Read my original post for Real Voices here.

the tens that top my chart

I've been tag by Youthsays' Today's Top Ten. Let’s have a look at my chart, shall we?

Top 10 things I can’t live without

• Handphone: I need it to call my family, take pictures, etc.
• Mp3 Player: my day will be dull without the sound of music
• Laptop: I can’t sit still without my laptop
• My external hard disk: cause it has a lot of movies and important stuff in it
• Internet connection: I’ll start itching when my gtalk says “Failed to connect”
• TV & Movies: I need entertainment, duh?
• Selected novels: what else to do at night before you go to sleep?
• Car: It keeps me moving.
• Money: I hate to need this but who can live without money these days?
• House: I wouldn’t want to crash at my friends’ place all the time

Top 10 must haves

1. Luerd Kattiya a.k.a. The Princess Box Set: I’ve been looking for it about few years already
2. My own car: Can give back daddy’s car
3. A bigger gig and RAM on my laptop
4. Sony Cybershot: I like taking pictures and be in pictures as well =p
5. A pair of Nike: To replace the one being stolen during the exam week. Huhu
6. An iPod: If my bro have one, I should have one too. Right? Haha
7. New handphone maybe
8. More and more clothes and apparels: Fashion never dies. Haha
9. Another PSP for myself: Tired of quarrelling about who gets to play with it
10. An all expenses paid around the world trip: Ya right! Like that could happen.

Top 10 favourite movies of all time

1. A walk to remember: English
2. Heart: Indonesia
3. Love Story: English
4. Sydney White: English
5. Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 1 & 2: Malay
6. Transformers: English
7. Saw I till V: English
8. High School Musical 1 till 3: English
9. Gol & Gincu: Malay
10. Tentang Dia: Indonesia

Top 10 favourite music of all time (or should it be Top 10 favourite band of all time ?? )

1. The Beatles
2. KRU
3. Westlife
4. The Police
5. Peterpan
6. Backstreet Boys
7. Duets: I really like to listen to duets. Don’t know why.
8. Aerosmith
9. The 80’s and 90’s song: English or Malay, any will do.
10. When I’m crazy or wanted to release my tension, I listen to dangduts and songs in foreign language like Spanish, Thai, Korean though I didn’t understand. Haha.

Top 10 favourite hang out places

1. Queensbay Mall, Penang
2. Golden Screen Cinemas, anywhere
3. Gurney Plaza, Penang
4. Mamak Stall, anywhere
5. Sunway Carnival Mall, Seberang Prai City
6. Sunshine Square, Penang
7. Jaya Jusco, Ipoh
8. Any food stalls will do
9. McD Medan Gopeng, Ipoh: That’s the best McD nearest to UTP.
10. A friend’s house: What?? It’s free, the food’s free too.

Top 10 brands (In terms of apparels)

1. Diesel
2. Adidas
3. Nike
4. Wild Channel
5. Reebok
6. Tropicana Life
7. Levi’s
8. Goggles
9. Body Glove
10. Fila

Top 10 junk foods I love

1. Burgers: Especially the ‘tepi jalan’ one, with the stalls and the long haired bro cooking it.
2. Maggi Mee and those in the same category
3. Instant Cucur, Paratha, etc.: All this instant stuff makes me look like a good cook =p
4. Potato Chips: Doritos, Mr. Potato, Chipster and the list goes on.
5. Ice Creams: Baskin Robbins and all but my favourite is the 50 cent ice cream the apek sells on his bicycle
6. Sweets: I eat sweets after every meal
7. Lot’s of chocolate
8. Soda’s: What’t junk food without soda right?
9. Fries: but very lazy to fry it la
10. Bubble Ice Blended

Read my original post for Real Voices here.

Luerd Kattiya (The Princess)

I'm dying to find the box set for this thai lakorn. I followed the series in 2004 and ever since then trying to find the dvds. all I've found is those without subtitles. where can I find one with either english or malay subtitle? anyone? I really like this story. I really mean really. btw, this is some info about the lakorn taken from http://wasashimi.blogspot.com

Released : 2004
15 Episodes

Cast:
Phiyada Akkrasenee (Aom) as Princess Tippayaratdara-Kumaree
Jesadaporn Pholdee (Tik) as Anothai
Krit Hiranpruk as Prince Sittiprawat
Mayurin Pongpudpun as Princess Khaekhai-Jaras
Supakij Tangtatsawas (Man) as Prince Chaiyan
Duentem Salitul as Princess Panuprapas

Synopsis:
After The Ruler of Yasothorn state was assassinated, his daughter, Princess Tippayarat-Darakumaree is relegated and live her life as a common girl. She accidentally meets Anothai, a son of the former right-hand soldier and he just knows her as Dara, a common girl. They become friend and develop to love each other later.

With his intention and his father's hope, Anothai attends the military school because he dreams to be a soldier to protect his country as that his father implant him since he was a child. Finally, he can be a soilder as he wish and becomes commandant later. Anyway, he just realizes the truth that Dara, a girl who he loves, actually is the third crown princess of Yasothorn. Anothai is very sorry to know that a common man like him can never reach a royal princess like her. But with his great love, he intends to do everything to help her to succeed the throne as a Queen of the Confederation State although his duty have to exchange with his life.

I'm home!!!

hye guys! I'm home! sorry for not updating my blog frequently. as I've said, I'm having my final exam. damn, this semester it's hard! well, thank God it's over. I've done my best, so I leave the rest to Allah.

now I'm busy with YouthSays "Real Voices" Project. this project from YouthSays.com is intended to capture the lives of 50 malaysian youth and I'm one of it. so, I'll be busy blogging there for 5 weeks writting about 15 chapters every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I may not have much time to blog here. but don't worry, I wouldn't neglect you dear blog. I thinks that's all for this post. I'm going to Lumut with my family this holiday. I'll post about it later k? meantime, feel free to read my posts in YouthsSays "Real Voices". click here

the battle begins!

I have another week before my finals. here's my time table.

10 Nov: Algorithm & Data Structure

11 Nov: Health, Safety and Environment

14 Nov: Database Systems

20 Nov: System Analysis & Design

21 Nov: Object Oriented Programming

22 Nov: Operating Systems

but the battle begins now. it will be against my laziness, the coziness of my room that drives me to sleep, and all other factors that will make me not studying. so, let the battle begins! gambatte!

It's a halt!

sorry for not updating my blog frequently. I've been very busy the past month as I have a lot of tests, assignments, projects, presentations, and a lot more stuff that I need to do. I don't have much time even for myself what more this blog.

and today, I'm home! yeay~ utp study week has officially started (but not mine. my study week will start much later. I'm even gonna attend an open house tonight! haha). so, I'll be busy studying (ya right!) and making my self prepared for the finals. so, don't hope for much updates from this blog. to utp students, Good Luck studying!