I am the myst in a heat... Floating freely, touching anything... I am the chill in a spine... When fear crawls, when sorrow lurks...
I am a drop in the ocean... Important yet unnoticed... I am a spark on a cigarette lit... Tiny yet Shiny...
I am the Father of everything... Wise and childish... I am the Ruler of my ego... Humble and arrogant... I am who I am... Let me roam freely to myself and dismay you, shall I not...
First of all, don't forget to turn off the music played on the right section of this page.
Hehehehe, here is a very funny clip. I got this link from a friend of mine, Tina =) But unlike her who can still find some private moments to herself, I have no time to put some serious and lengthy stuffs because of my works, activities, etc. (like usual, works and wushu/taichi on weekdays, studying GMAT almost anytime, and visiting people during the daytime and dinner parties on weekends. But I'm not complaining though. I just need to find some moments on weekend for myself.) I have a really tight schedule lately. Well anyway, she provided the link for other clip though, but I kinda look for other stuffs in this site. Anyway, this is the worst singing ever, before the public in a stadium =D Check out the guy wearing glasses and a white shirt. He kinda remind me of Carlton from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (the way this guy dances).
This is a very, very funny clip, I laughed hard when I watched it. Check out the reactions from the audience. It's a serious insultment to any singer performing on a stadium (I would cry if I were in that situation), but hey, who can blame the audience? =D These clowns (the singers) are lucky enough not to be thrown with rotten eggs =p There are so many off tunes, they don't even harmonize their voices, they can't catch up with the rhythms, the nerdy guy wearing glasses and a white shirt is too hyperactive (even Michael Jackson doesn't move that much =p), and BTW, I just edited this article as I said these clowns were the Dutch Idol contestants. Correction, these people are the rejects of the 2004 Dutch Idol, shamelessly singing for the public on one of the Dutch soccer matches. Well, I'm so astonished, I can only laugh and laugh (I've been watching this clip for million times and I still laugh hard on the last part of the song) =p Just imagine them singing "Star Spangle Banner" on one of those NFL matches. It would be a total disaster and a mockery =D
I couldn't even recognize what the song was at first until they started singing the reff (and I mean in a horribly, terrible way). I think the title of the song is "Simply the Best". And pay attention to the last part of the song. It sounds as if they were howling like some wolves or something =p Did they practice before the performance or is it just because of the horrible quality of the sound system? Even if they are rejects of some sort of a talent show, they could have better prepared themselves. The completely cluelessness of these "idols" as to how bad they suck is absolutely amazing =p (their self-confidence beats that of American Idol's William Hung)
Touching up your make-up after using the loo is a common ritual in women's rest rooms around the world.
But when the person using the mirror next to you is Michael Jackson, the scene borders on the bizarre, if not downright scary.
This is another bizarre story of the self-proclaimed King of Pop =p Michael Jackson was reported entering a Ladies toilet in capital's Ibn Battuta Shopping Mall over the weekend, trying to put on some make-up on his cheeks before spotted by someone else.
Jackson was reported innocently wandering to the wrong toilet, wearing a T-shirt and trousers with a traditional Tunisian head-scarf Sheila. When the pop superstar revealed his disguise and powdered his cheeks with rouge, a 37-year old Tunisian woman standing at the next mirror, screamed in horror, realizing the fact that a man was powdering rouge right next to her. Jackson, who has been living in Bahrain since being cleared of sex abuse charges, let out a screech in return, calling off some of his bodyguards to rush by his side.
But as soon as she realized who the man is, Latifa M., the 37-year old Tunisian teacher, started to take pictures of the poor pop superstar with a frightened look on his face by using her mobile phone. Because of this, the pop superstar chased after Latifa, attracting the security of the mall who then tried to take the phone from Latifa. But she refused and asked for compensation, while the two women accompanying Jackson tried to convince her to sit in private and settle the issue.
Wary of this suggestion, the teacher called the police. Colonel Abdul Jalil Al Mehdi, Deputy Director of the Preventive Security Department of Dubai Police, took the matter in his hands and tried to solve the issue, while Jackson left it to his companions to explain who he is and solve the matter.
While Latifa insisted on compensation, Jackson flatly refused to pay up. The police informed Latifa that the UAE laws do not entitle her to any financial gain from the situation and they convinced her to hand over the mobile, which she did after erasing the photos for the fear of being penalised.
You Might Do Wushu If... - You have posterior and anterior shinsplints. - Your hamstrings are pulled, all the time. - The only person to cause you serious injury with a traditional chinese weapon is -- you. - You cut those plastic things off the end of your shoe laces. - You have a gaping hole in the crotch of your pants and you don't care. - You don't make fun of the guys in all pink silk uniforms, because you know they are crazy good. - You don't stare at girls doing the splits anymore. - Pick your pants based on how high you can kick in them. - Can't grab a basketball hoop, but you can kick it. - You have more scuff marks on your ceiling than your floor. - You think it is normal to touch your head to your toe -- without bending your knee. - You can hold your arms straight out for 30 minutes, easy. - You think all white people look the same. - The idea of training 8 hours a day sounds like the best vacation ever. - You find yourself casually standing in a low empty stance. - Shutting the top cabinet door with you side rising kick. - Choose your house based on ceiling height. - You just busted your lip open with your shin. - Done your clothing with kicks, thrusts, and punches. - Test out new shoes with back sweeps and slap kicks. - Can't walk by anybody else from your school without casually exchanging a flurry of mock strikes and kicks. - Everyday chores turn into elaborate training drills. - You get real upset when people say "oh you mean kung fu!" - You randomly do a hammer fist while walking on the street. - You do poses while sitting on the toilet. - You do a front slap kick at work. - You're dating someone that does wushu. - You start chanting "jia you" for every competitive activity. - Your hands hurt more than your feet from doing kicks.
I can't believe it, Ramadhan is about to end in 5 hours from now! What have I achieved so far? Frankly speaking, I don't know. I can't judge myself of or tell what my accomplishments were in this past month. All I know, this year I "only" missed 20% or 25% of the Tarawih prayer =) Is this an accomplishment? I don't know. But then, I failed to keep my emotions over a disappoinment, sorrow, and anguish earlier on this Ramadhan month. Is this a failure/lost? I don't know either. To me, it's very easy to withdraw my appetite. I can even go on a whole day without eating or drinking at all. But withdrawing from appetite IS NOT the essential meaning of Ramadhan. I remember a story about my friend, whose cousin lost his Dad on Ramadhan, 4 or 5 years ago. Because the true essence of Ramadhan is to withhold any emotion and human ego (appetite is part of emotion), the living family (including this person, the cousin of my friend) attended the burial ceremony without any tear flowing out (or at least they tried not to cry). But anyway, let Allah be the valid, the Almighty judge for my deeds this past month =)
Anyway, back to the main topic. As I successfully did good deeds on one hand and didn't do good deeds on the other hand, have I won the "spirit" of Ramadhan or have I successfully failed this month? =) What do you think? IMHO, my winning or losing is comparably relative. Only He, Allah the Almighty, who can decide this. But why did I say that my result and progress in the training of this year's Ramadhan is comparably relative? Because I'm basing this only on human's logic and perceptions. I am losing the "spirit" of Ramadhan if you compare my efforts to the efforts of those who are trully, undoubtedly religious. Those who even spend most of their times in the Mosque. But then again, do they win the "spirit" of Ramadhan? Well, from the religious ceremonial perspective they might do, but what do you think of their results if you compare these people to the Moslems who engage in various charities but don't have time for religious ceremonial because of their busy schedules? These social people didn't mean to avoid their religious calls, busy/tight schedules force them to do so. I don't mean this by avoiding the daily 5-time prayers though. These tight schedules are those involved with charities and good deeds other than religious ceremonials. But do these social people win over the "Mosque" people or is it the other way around? IMHO, again, this is comparably relative. But if you compare me to them, of course, I lost.
But what if you compare me, to those who ignore Ramadhan? Well, don't take the extreme case, such as comparing myself to those Moslems (or at least they admit they are Moslems) who don't even fast on daytimes and often go to night clubs getting drunk every night even on Ramadhan (I feel terribly sorry for these people and I pity them. Uhmm, I know this is mean or cruel, but what if they suddenly die on an accident in an hour from now? Gee, I wonder where their souls/spirits might be. I wonder whether they are prepared for death.). If you compare me to these people, of course I tremendously win the "spirit" of Ramadhan. But compare me to those who often lost their tempers and are not able to withhold their emotions even if they perform various satisfactory religious ceremonials. Believe me, there are a lot of these kind of people, and I am likely one of them (although I try my best to withhold my emotions). Now, this is the hardest part, you can't tell if I win or lose the "spirit" of Ramadhan. To some people, it's easy to judge and point their fingers to someone else. But their basing it only on human's logic and human's made ethics and norms. I know that ethics and norms are derived from philosophies and religions, but the derivations depend heavily on human, mortal assumptions and comprehensions toward topics of various philosophies and religions. That's why, only Allah who is allowed and is able to judge one's sincerity.
There's a proverb in Indonesia saying "kuman di seberang lautan tampak, gajah di pelupuk mata tiada tampak". The translation is "you can spot a virus lie across the ocean but you can't even see an elephant standing right before your eyes". The meaning of the proverb is that it's always easy to blame others but it's often difficult to admit that you are wrong. And it takes a big heart to admit your mistakes. Well, let me start by begging for your forgiveness for things I did or said on purpose or not. I don't remember each of my mistakes, but hopefully my efforts will mean something to you. In the end, I would like to say happy Eid Ul-Fitr to my Moslem Brothers and Sisters. Taqabalallahu Minna Wa Minkum, Minal Aidzin Wal Faizin.
Ah, Ramadhan finally ends...
Am I happy or sad?
I don't know...
I am happy for all the things I've been through this month...
I am sad because I will miss the atmosphere of Ramadhan...
It is like a little boy bidding farewell to his sibling...
He is happy and he is sad...
He is happy because the jerk is finally out of his life...
He is sad because he's losing his bestfriend and his "enemy" to fight with...
It is like a junkie giving up drugs...
She is happy and she is sad (outraged)...
She is happy that she'll lead a healthier and meaningful life...
She is angry because she lost her only painkiller and source of happiness...
Farewell Ramadhan...
May I live for another one year...
Even if I can't promise you to be a better person in a year till I meet you again...
But for now, let me say "Minal Aidzin Wal Faizin"...
:: posted by Fari Nasution @
11:57 AM :: :: ::
Chief Editor
Name: Fari Nasution
Description: A man born an artist and raised as an analyst. A man who tries to see everything from the good side. A man who tries to mature every second, every moment, but tries to see the world through the eyes of a child. A man who uses music as his main source of inspiration and as his secondary air to breathe.
