I'm blogging. Wow.

How long has it been? Nearly a year? Yeah. And what a year it was.

Well every year has its ups and downs. Every year holds something special. Every year is different to each and every one of us. Nevertheless, I would say this year has been pretty interesting. In fact, this year 2010, held many life-defining moments.

Oh dear Multiply. Over the years since I've started blogging, I've been pouring out so many feelings and thoughts and emotions and ramblings and words to you. Some immature, some sensitive, some unnecessary, some thought-provoking, and many are simply nonsensical. Nevertheless, I'm glad I did. I still look forward to reading my own posts written from my late teenage years, to those written as I slowly mature and advance towards adulthood.

And I do not deny it, I will eventually regret not writing in Multiply for almost the entire of 2010. With the advancement of social media and the obsession with Facebook, Multiply is almost obsolete. So is blogging. No matter what, Multiply still holds a special place in my heart. Besides the dozens of photo albums which holds my precious memories from my worry-free years ago, regular readers (who probably aren't regulars anymore) will also remember this blog as the place where I constantly rant about my love life and girls and relationships. I've been in and out of a handful of relationships over the (short number of) years and despite burning bridges and breaking hearts, I can only say that I've learned more than I knew I would when I first started out and that's the most important part. Life is all about learning, and you never stop learning until the day you die.

2010. How do I begin summarizing it up?

I finished my education. After spending 2 years in Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (with most of those days etched here in this journal) and another two and a half years in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, I finally graduated with a degree. A degree in Graphic Design & Multimedia. As the last act of a student, me and my group of graduands decided to hold an exhibition to showcase our works throughout our years in UTAR, and thus PRIMETIME was launched. I must say, I wasn't the keenest of all people at the idea of getting together to organize an exhibition, but after I made up my mind to get involved, I put my heart and soul into organizing it and it was a grand success.

From the initial plans, I never dreamed it would be as successful as it was. And no other feeling would beat being the one up there on stage representing the bunch of students I was about to graduate with, giving out the opening speech to the guests and faculty during the launch of PRIMETIME.

PRIMETIME was definitely one of the highlights of the year for me.

So I finished Uni, the obvious question was: What's next?

I started my business - LANSI caps. It was a random idea of mine back in 2007, inspired by a car sticker I saw on a car parked in Midlands. I made my own LANSI cap for the Happy Saturday show, and taken aback by the response, I was determined to mass produce and market the cap. Three years and much planning later, LANSI Caps were out on the streets and on the heads of hip-hop lovers in KL.

The next steps for LANSI caps in 2011? Start to market it more aggressively to raise enough capital to produce the next phase of it, alongside The Swagger Salon, my online store.

Just as I finished producing the caps, and was ready to market them, I received a text message, to which I replied, and was followed by a call or two. Before I knew it, I landed myself a job at BBDO, an international advertising agency highly ranked across the globe and of course here in Malaysia as well. Knowing a chance like this would not come twice, I accepted the job offer almost immediately (not before spending a good 10 days down south in Melbourne) and I officially started work as a designer at the agency in July.

On my first day of work, I came to the office at 10am. I only finished work and got home way past 5am. I knew then that this was no ordinary nor easy job. The days that followed had me wondering if this was really the job I wanted, or the career I intend to pursue.

After many late nights, intense brainstorming, and long hours of work, I realized that I've been at the job for half a year. Not bad considering the usual turnover rate for those who just start in the industry is about a year to two years in one company. So that's another year and a half for me to go I guess. Unless I get my big break before that, that is. LOL.

Anyway, just as I was getting settled down and being comfortable with my position as a designer in the agency, having proudly accomplished several jobs and a few television commercials, I was told I would be given a chance to try out at copywriting. Being a copywriter was one of the careers I wanted prior to graduating from university. Therefore I am blessed to be given this opportunity. It is not an immediate switch however. I would need to undergo a month's probation on copywriting beginning this Monday, and upon completion of a month's trial, I would be converted into a full-time copywriter if they find me to be competent. I cross my fingers and hope to my stars to be with me over the next month because it would be a career-defining moment for me if I were to be successfully appointed to be a full-time copywriter at BBDO Malaysia.

My job has taken away most of my leisure time. I guess that's how things are when one starts working for the first time. No more party days, no more afternoon naps on weekdays, and definitely no long trips back to Penang. Yes, I do miss home and I can't wait to spend Chinese New Year in Penang next year. I just need to stay focused and persevere in this job of mine and hopefully have a bright future ahead of me.

My peers are often taken aback and in disbelief when I tell them about my working hours. They think I'm crazy to be giving so much of my time to my job. At times, I wonder if I am as well. My friends tell me to switch jobs before I go crazy. It does cross my mind if I might go mental because of my work, but deep down I know that I won't quit. Not only because I like the challenges and pressure (and dress code), but also because there's someone that keeps me sane and eases my work pressure each and every day since I started my job.

And that person is Alicia Thein.

Given all that has happened in 2010, nothing comes close to defining the year that was for me as Alicia Thein did.

No, I won't get into another long-rambled post about all things lovey-dovey but all I can say is, it's Alicia Thein. It has always been Alicia Thein, and it will always be Alicia Thein. I just thank my stars that she feels the same way I do for her.

2011? Bring it on.

Good night Multiply, goodbye 2010.

Happy New Year!

Yes I know, I'm exactly one week late.

I've just moved into a new place in PJ, no longer at Millennium Place, but still somewhere close by. However, I'm without the Internet for a while now and I doubt I'll be surfing Facebook in the comforts of my room anytime soon. Speaking of which, my room is still freakishly empty (and huge) so I would appreciate any kind donations of furniture from tables to chairs, beds to air-conditioning.

Johan Dan Rakan-Rakan will be performing for the last time at The Library this Sunday, so do come on over and support me if you're free! :D

So what does 2010 have in store for me? I certainly hope it involves getting more publicity and having another album out - which is already in the works. If 2009 was a year of new experiences, all I can foresee for 2010 is work, work and more hard work. Time to take the lessons I've learnt from 2009 and work on them to achieve even better goals this year.

It's gonna be a year full of hustling, music, business, photography, and hopefully - money.

2010 is my working year - and I hope it works for me.

Have a great year ahead guys, let's stay in touch okay? ;)

This comes pretty late for this dear ol' blog of mine but in case you haven't done so, do vote for your favourite Penangite for the Best Hip-Hop Act (Solo) at the VIMA 2010 awards. Yes, yours truly has been lucky enough to be nominated for that category alongside fellow Rogues Jin Hackman and MicWrecka, while Kraft and Altimet are also in the running for the same award. :D

Apart from that, MicWrecka and SSK have been nominated for several other awards as well, as follows:

So do take some time out and vote for me and the rest of the Rogues cos you know you love us and our music. :D

And yes, I think you can vote as often as you want, right up til January. Ahaks.

Apart from that, classes are finally over and now I'm just waiting for December 22nd to come by where I have my one and only exam paper for this semester - for Organizational Psychology. Huhu. 

So right now I'm just chilling and planning on a couple of stuffs that I'm gonna start working on once the holidays are over and the New Year kicks in. New songs, new photoshoots and hopefully and new album again. :D At mean time, however, I'm enjoying my cameras very thoroughly and I can't wait to get this new batch of films developed and scanned. Although many veteran and seasoned photographers will tell you there is no such thing as having too many cameras, I'm already feeling kelam-kabut with all my different cameras and not knowing which one to use for which occasion.

I think that is kind of how Chris Hughton feels now that Shola Ameobi is fit again, and he has too many strikers to choose from, with Carrol, Harewood, Lovenkrands, and also the young Nile Ranger, all good enough for a starting place.

And now that West Brom lost at home last night to Cardiff City, Newcastle Utd had better kick some serious ass at Coventry City tonight and secure all three points and more importantly, a seven-point gap between second-placed West Brom. Woohoo!

Speaking about Newcastle, should I even think of getting that vintage jersey that I came across that night? Hmm. No, you cannot get it for me MsGF. Huhuhu.

Oh well, Christmas is just around the corner and I have this sudden urge to start making gifts instead of buying them. Wahahahaha. But somehow I work better with my worktable back in Penang. I can't seem to be productive at all here in PJ, what with all the distractions. -_-

But then again, having too many things to do is better than nothing at all. You can't have too much of a good thing right (e.g. MsGF's love LOL)? This weekend I might be following Jin down Melaka (where I just went last Friday) and then two Malay weddings over the weekend, and not forgetting Johan Dan Rakan-Rakan's set at The Library on Sunday night. Woot woot. Busy busy week.

That said, don't forget to vote vote vote for me and the gang for the VIMA awards and come down to The Library this Sunday to catch us in action cos I know you haven't seen me perform for quite some time already. Gagaga.

Oh and I might be moving away from this room soon. Huhuhu.

First up, Johan Dan Rakan Rakan will not be performing for the Got Talent Or Not? competition at The Library this Sunday.

It will be on the following Sunday, 13th December 2009. Sorry for the change of dates, they notified us at the last minute.

:D

Anyway, let's give a very warm welcome to the long anticipated FE2 of mine:

Right now, the only things that are going through my mind at the moment are the words: FUCK YEAH.

LOL.

And I fucking LOVE the depth of field on this lens. Sorry for sounding like such a bloody jakoon but I'm seriously damn satisfied with what I got today. Money well spent. Plus the fella who sold this to me was an awesomely nice chap, and not only did he give me a cheaper price than mentioned, he threw in three rolls of film for free and also a Polaroid picture of me as well. LOL.

DOF = SEX.

Once again, forgive my jakoonness. I mean, I knew these f1.8 lenses were awesome the way WordsManifest has been worshiping them but now that I actually have one, I finally know how it feels. LOL. Now I can't wait to get my hands on a f1.4 Nikkor. Hohoho. 

Okay enough jakoonness, I gotta finish up my Final Year Project proposal (nearly two weeks ahead of schedule - for once)  so I can sit back and enjoy the whole month of December. :D

REMEMBER - Next Sunday at The Library! :D

Wahlau. I walked out to get my photos which I sent to develop yesterday and only realized halfway that I forgot to bring my harddisk along so they can save the pictures for me. So I walked back home. And then it started to drizzle.

And then I walked all the way there again, only for them to tell me it will only be done by 3pm. So I walked back home again.

Wahlau.

Oh well, good practice for this Friday's hike at Broga Hill.

Anyway, UnseenTV Malaysia has released the video which they sorta interviewed me during Vandal's Cypher Sundaze event at Cloth & Clef a couple of months ago. :D

I look funny in the video. I even speak funny. Maybe it's because of the hot chick that was interviewing me. Hmmmmm.

Anyway, this Sunday is THE DAY. Well, sort of lah. Johan Dan Rakan Rakan will be performing at The Library at e@The Curve this Sunday, 6th of December for the Got Talent Or Not? competition, round of 16. SO COME DOWN AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT GUYS. :D It's free and you guys get to vote. HOHO.

Oh and by the way, check out http://coodles.tumblr.com if you're free. It's probably stuff you guys have seen before anyway, but I'm just using it as my online portfolio for my works. 

And it's still not 3pm. GOSH. I need new pictures to upload. And then tomorrow will be another fucking awesome day because I'm gonna be spending money again. And then Thursday will be awesome too because I plan on handing in my Final Year Project proposal (which is actually due on the 14th) once and for all, and then Friday will also be awesome because of the Broga Hill hiking trip.

And I'm randomly nominated for next year's VIMA, so that's also awesome. More details on that soon.

Anyway, I hope I don't jinx all the awesomeness. HAHA. But I hope to cap off and end the awesome week by advancing to the next round of the Got Talent Or Not? competition this Sunday. Hoho.

Will blog again tomorrow. Nyehehe. 

Hi MsGF! :D

Ever since I got back to KL, I haven't had the chance to really go all out and play around with my cameras unlike when I'm in Penang, and right now I'm really itching to get back into photography once again. 

However, numerous attempts at convincing my classmates to visit Broga Hill had been futile. But at least now they agreed to head there in two weeks' time, once this semester comes to an end. Can't wait!

Nevertheless there are a few things I need to remind myself to do:

Don't you wish you can just right click, click "save as", and save a moment of your life in your mind where you can load it again in the future and replay/relive it?

Thank goodness for cameras, at least.

I dunno what's up with Multiply. All the pictures that I've uploaded lately are not showing. And I'm so afraid that my older pictures from 2005 will disappear as well, I've been saving those pictures from my photo albums into my laptop (since I don't have the pictures anymore) and I'm not even half done. SO MANY MORE TO GO.

And when I come across random ugly pictures of people, I upload them into Facebook! :D

Really makes me miss the post-SPM days. Anyways, I also know I'm gonna be missing my Uni days really soon once I graduate in about half a years' time. Huhu.

Classmate's birthday celebration again today. I love the togetherness we have as a class unlike how it was back in college when everybody had their own separate cliques. Hmm.

Anyway, midterm test tomorrow and I haven't studied at all. And I think half of the class didn't as well. This semester feels so lazy and so full of procrastination. Haha. I dare not imagine how we're gonna suffer when the next semester comes alone. -_-

Can't wait for this bloody rainy spell to be over so I can finally go to Broga Hill safely.

Nights folks.

Awesome weekend, it has been. 

Despite the jitters and the delays and the half-assedness of it all, I pleased to say that the new Rogue Squadron hip-hop supergroup, Johan Dan Rakan-Rakan, safely made it to the next round of the Got Talent Or Not? competition by The Library at The Curve. :D

The next round will be on December 6th so I really hope you guys can turn up and show support because the audience's votes (through scorecards) makes up 50% of the votes and to be honest, we were real lucky to get through tonight because we didn't bring any friends over to cheer for us, and yet we managed to beat the others who had dozens of friends cheering and voting for them.

So mark your calenders and make sure y'all are free on the first Sunday of December, to come down and support us for the next round, ok plees? :D

Anyway, Newcastle's awesome win yesterday added to the wonderful weekend of mine and even though they failed to keep a clean sheet, and I'm happy that Jonas Gutierrez finally scored his first competitive goal for the club! Woot woot! Looking forward to more goals from the Argentinian winger and hopefully his Spiderman mask celebration as well. XD

But now, it's back to reality again. And that means classes and assignments and all that. Gaahhhh. And it's another long day tomorrow so I better hit the sack right about now. Huhu.

Nights people! Nights MsGF!

Oh and do watch Pisau Cukur! Funny as hell! Panas! XD

/jizz

I think all my photography skills and interest would be of no use if I never live to see the day I get to shoot a cover girl like this. Totally...smoking...hot. Front Magazine's blog never fails to amuse me with their awesome posts as well as their sizzling hot chicks. Where the hell do they find all these beautiful women?! Urgh!

Anyway, speaking of photography...I finally successfully developed a roll of film which I snapped using my Russian FED4 camera which my uncle gave me 10 years ago. :D I did, however, ruin one or two rolls of film while trying to figure out how to use it correctly.

Too bad only these few pictures turned out nice. Pretty high price to pay for each of these pictures if you ask me. LOL. But now that I know the camera still works pretty well, despite the random light leaks as you can see in the pictures, and also the fact that I need to rewind the film manually back into the cartridge after I've finished snapping.

Nevertheless, pretty satisfying result for my first roll. :D

Anyway, I better get some sleep. This week is going to be hectic as hell as I've got tonnes of stuff to complete for my Final Year Project, for approval next Monday, while I need to practice for my performance at The Library on Sunday night with my new found supergroup called...Johan Dan Rakan-rakan! LOL

Time to step up the hustle! :D

Where the hell do they find such hot chicks for their magazines?!!

Don't know if I've posted this song here before, but it is my favourite one off their "When The World Comes Down" album.

I started writing this knowing very well how I want to word it, but then I got distracted and very demotivated. And then futsal totally drained me of my energy, so I didn't really have the urge to finish up this piece properly.

Nevertheless, it's been a while since I've actually been writing. Therefore, do forgive the rust.

Last night was surreal. Good night world.

Nasi lemak Asia Jaya LRT at 8am is most certainly blissful.

A great way to start the day, if only I am not about to go to bed after this. Huhuhu. I still can't believe how free I am. Another day without classes. And then tomorrow, a couple of classes, and another long weekend up before the following class on Monday.

And that's the way it's gonna be this whole semester.

I dread to think how my next and final semester next year is gonna be if I continue feeling so carefree and complacent this semester. My Final Year Project is no joke man. Huhuhu. Can't wait to start on it. However, I'm not very sure if I made the right choice in choosing Organizational Psychology over Public Speaking for my one and only subject this semester. But no matter what, I certainly have no regrets. Hohoho.

You know, sometimes people may seem cold and heartless. But then I came to realize that, even if you can take the heart out of a person, you just can't take a person out of one's heart. :) Go figure.

I need my sleep now. Or should I work on my typing assignment. Grr.

It feels like a wonderful day today. Enjoy it to the fullest people. :)

It's bad enough I have an urge to shit. Then I had to walk half a mile to the SS2's pasar malam with my classmates - carrying my bag with my laptop and cameras in them. -_-

When I finally got to SS2, sweaty and constipated, imagine my astonishment when I came across this:

No shit José! Is this even legal?! LOL. But it sure is a dope idea! Not only is it a cafe, it sells all sorts of DAP merchandise and apparently you can register as a voter here as well. Hmm.

I'm not very sure if the food is good, cos I'm not hungry, but the Nasi Lemak smells AWESOME. Woot woot. And there's a plug point for every table in here plus the Internet connection is super. Hohoho.

Now I'm gonna get me some DAP button badges after this. LOL. Dope dope dope!

I wonder if Lim Guan Eng & daddy comes here to makan or not. Hohoho.

Birthdays.

They come and go don't it? I mean, so what if you can't celebrate it this year? There's always a few more years to go right? Besides, there are many other occasions to celebrate than just your own birthday. Actually, insisting on celebrating your birthday would be a very selfish thing to do. You make people oblige to do things for your birthday and for you, and they have to make an effort to please you.

To do what? Celebrate your life?

Sheesh. I think birthdays should be meant for us to celebrate the life of all the other people who have helped and gave so much to us in our every day life, year after year.

Anyway, as we grow older, birthdays aren't much to shout about anyway. I mean, when we were small and young, it were the presents that were the main deal for birthdays. Don't deny it. Birthdays were only exciting to look forward to because of the presents.

Now, what are presents anymore? You won't get presents unless you throw a birthday party where you ended up costing your parents and yourself more money than what you actually receive in return. No?

And if you don't throw a party or go clubbing or something to "celebrate" your birthday, then who the hell are you expecting presents from except your parents? Even presents don't come in surprises or wishes anymore. They come slim and crisp. Money, money, money.

I guess after a decade or two, parents and relatives figured it would make more sense to give us the freedom to buy whatever we want - that way, they won't be troubled, and we would be happy. Win win situation.

I dunno about that, but I guess that kinda defeats the purpose of looking forward to your birthday. Especially when money is already something you have to work so hard to get.

I don't usually mind much about presents, it's the company that matters to me.

This year, I'm really kind of touched. I guess. In a huge way which I rather not let it show. Most of the time, it's not really about what you get. Sometimes, it's also not about the thought that matters. This time, it means that much to me because of who it was from. And I really appreciate it. The presents. The thoughts. The effort. The gesture.

Maybe there are some things that I still do look forward to, after all. :)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Obviously someone plans to get me all fattened up, and yet make me not feel bad about myself while doing it. Huhu.

All I want to do at the moment is grab everybody and shout out to the world, telling them how I feel and what a fool I've been.

But I know all I can do now is to eat my own words, smack some sense into myself, and wait for tomorrow to come.

And then I'll come back home, and reminisce about what would have been.

Am I really happy with life at the moment?

...but then again, I don't drink. Huhu.

So today marks my one last week here in Penang. And panic mode is starting to kick in. Not only because I have yet to finish more than half the stuff I'm supposed to do before I go back KL, but also because I just realized how much work that I'm facing once I go back to Uni when I received my Final Year Project brief yesterday.

It's astounding, to say the least.

As for stuff that I have yet to complete, I really need to kick myself in the head and really, really get down to getting them done, such as - repairing my laptop, changing my glasses, recording some audio samples, renewing my passport...which reminds me that I need to repay my PTPTN loan because I just received a letter dated 14th JULY 2009 saying that I need to settle my payment within 14 days from the date. Or else, face getting barred from leaving the country.

HOW TO GO MELBOURNE. T_T

Gosh. I hate how all these crap starts getting to you all at once. I've always hated getting into debts and borrowing money. And just as I thought I could finally settle one debt, another one like this pops up. Hoseh liao.

Okay nevermind. I'm gonna just put this shit aside, and focus on other matters which I need to settle in this final week of mine in Penang, before I head back to all the good things that await me back in KL this coming week.

But then again, there are some things in Penang that I just can't bear to leave behind.

As much as I wish to be a success in pursuing a career in the music industry, doing my rap music, I'm thankful to know that even though I know that will hardly materialize, I still have many options to choose from, in building a career in life.

And for that, I'm loving everything I do, and never once do I regret choosing to further my studies doing graphic design.

At the end of the day, I will have to decide on a path to walk in the next phase of life - but I'm glad to know that all the other choices that I do choose, will still be bonuses in life for me to enjoy.

Have a great day at work tomorrow people, and love what you do!

Today, my alarm clock woke me up at 2.30pm.

I got out of bed, and I checked my email.

It was raining. I took pictures of the mist and dark clouds.

I stared at the rain.

I had Mee Goreng for lunch at 5pm. By the time I finished, it was already 7pm.

I checked my email again.

Oh gosh it's already 9pm. I feel sleepy already.

Good night.

Holidays, how I love thee.

Did a couple of graffiti stuff for the F&N Freestylz 2009.




Got featured in the NST and ROTTW.





And also performed for XFM's X-Gig Xtended Music Kedua.