Michael Jackson (1959-2009)

Mt. Bromo

pic courtesy of

http://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/gallery/index.php?n=30322

3rd KK Jazz Festival - 2nd Day - UMS Saxaphone Quartet

The UMS Jazz Saxaphone Quartet deserves more than a filler post. I really hope this quartet will get a prominent spot in the coming festival next year.

I suspect this is the lecturer who heads the quartet. Bravo lecturer!!!

The passion shows not only on their fingers on the saxaphone but the feet tapping too!!!

3rd KK Jazz Festival - 2nd Day - SIA Syndicate & RIMBA

The SIA Jazz Syndicate made up of the lecturers and students of Sabah Institute of Art kicked start the 2nd day.

RIMBA followed up with their brand of local music fused with jazz.
"Boys of courage boys of daring!!!" La Sallian Walter!

3rd KK Jazz Festival - 1st Day

The night was started with the SIA Kudos from the Sabah Institute of Art. The female lead vocalist has a nice voice.

Jonathan Tse doing his boy-next-door-with-a-guitar thing. He's armed with an album and of course his passion for music. He can go far and doing more live shows like this can certainly boost up his confidence and his showmanship. Local talents need to be supported.

Jonathan was trying hard to get the crowd moving.

Jason Mraz vibe?

The MCs did a commendable job creating the "ambiance" for an entertaining night.

The foremost acapella group from KL called Six to Eight.

They did some interesting tunes such as Billie Jean (I still remember Double Take's Mia version I heard somewhere someplace ago), Can't Take My Eyes Off You and YMCA. My opinion is that the female voices are a bit weak and it takes off some attention listening to them. As acapella is without musical instrument, the voice is very important to keep the audience glued. Or interesting funny dancing gestures of the male member on the far right can keep the attention as well.

The Son2nos.

I remember watching them the first time in the 2nd Miri Jazz Festival. They were also part of the line-up in the 2nd KK Jazz Fest in 1Borneo in 2008, which I didn't attend as the indoor venue turned me off.

Boasting international member line-up and their brand of Latin-infused musics, I think the organizer tauted them as the crowd puller or can be instrumental in getting the crowd to dance. I can only say, not quite this time. Not entirely their fault cox I think the "dance-floor" and stage arrangement contributed too.

If they're performing in the 2nd instalment, then it's their 3rd appearance this time. I will guess they'll still be here for the 4th time.

Some babes went up the stage to dance but all I can say is, it pales compared to the one I saw in Miri. See it here and here if you haven't.

3rd KK Jazz Festival - Yang Tak Berkenaan dan Yang Lalu

The just concluded 3rd KK Jazz Festival created a mixed feeling in me. Being a jazz fans I think I have a lot to say but yet somehow don't know how to say it. Anyway, I will start a series on the performances and some observations I made during the 2-days event.

I am an avid reader but in the middle of a concert/performance? Hmm.....

Of course.... fiddling with the handphone is even more common.

These sound engineers are cool... One of them brought a toy with them. It's like their lucky charm or something?

Meanwhile, if you guys are interested to know my take on the 1st KK Jazz Festival and also the 2nd Miri International Jazz Festival (I couldn't find the link for the 1st instalment in my hard drive), click the following link:

1st KK Jazz Festival

2nd Miri International Jazz Festival Part 2

2nd Miri International Jazz Festival Part 1

Chong Wei Won Too

The highly expected mouth-watering semi final was a foregone disappointment. So, stop dreaming of a game between laduk and Super Dan.

Our laduk beat the erratic Taufik Hidayat in final in just two sets. Credit should be given where it's due and it's quite obvious that Hidayat is well passed his glory.

I am biased I admit because I always think that the charm of our laduk will be significantly reduced when the opponent is Lin Dan.

Having said that, I always like to watch Taufik play though he has tonnes of eccentricities and bad habits such as giving up the game but he has the charm when playing.

SALUTE TO MALAYSIA BADMINTON WOMEN DOUBLE WONG PEI TY & CHIN EE HUI

FINALLY THEY DESERVED THEIR NO 1 RANKING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They downed the Chinese in 2 sets!!!!

ONE INTERESTING POINT :
The crowd boo-ed Malaysian team all along which traditionally shouldn't be the case unless it's Malaysia vs Indonesia. So, you should know the sentiment now especially after the Siti Hajar maid case, Ambalat and Manohara fiasco.

SO EE HUI AND PEI TY DESERVED EXTRA APPLAUSE FOR WINNING IN THE FAMOUSLY NOTORIOUS ISTORA SENAYAN!!!

Well, the show hasn't stop yet as the next match will be our laduk Lee vs Taufik Hidayat. Laduk really has to beat the crowd this time.....

Vietopia (Cikini, Jakarta)

Love the name... Vietopia...

Nice fish though a tad bit sweet.

I Wish Them Luck

We have some recent cases of Siti Hajar and Manohara (though it's another thing altogether...). This pic taken in Jakarta Airport and from the look of it, they look like preparing to risk everything to bet on a better new life in Malaysia.

I really wish them luck....

Excited From Afar

Almost everytime when I am not in beloved country, the happenings become really interestings. We have Nizar being kicked out soon after being sworn-in, Malaysia joins 6 African countries in the UN list of "human-trafficking", TDM pissed off with constant attention to his arch-rival LKY and not to forget Nik Aziz asked Nasha to join UMNO!!!

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the music of Muhammad Dhani & The Swinger. (more about this later....)

Thanks to YouTube... I present to you....

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Your life is defined by its opportunities... even the ones you miss.

Along the way you bump into people who make a dent on your life.

Some people get struck by lightning.

Some are born to sit by a river.

Some have an ear for music.

Some are artists.

Some swim the English Channel.

Some know buttons.

Some know Shakespeare.

Some are mothers.

And some people can dance

so...how about you?

Are You Still Consuming This?

What do you call them? I remember them as navel biscuit.

Berbudi Bahasa

Try this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz9CSOCA2Tc&feature=related

It's not that "unfamiliar" right? And I should say that he's very polite. He ended it with terima kasih and selamat petang.

PAS Election - Husam Fell, Nasharudin Retains Deputy President

Nasharudin retained his Deputy President post and now it seems to me the pro-UMNO leaders were heading PAS, with Hadi Awang returned unchallenged. Only the Mursyidul Am Nik Aziz still firm with his stand of not co-operating with UMNO.

I think this is what the UMNO people is hoping for and I see they will be celebrating this more than their only post-308-by-election win in Batang Ai, Sarawak as the impact will be far extensive especially in the Malay voters' sentiment in the Peninsula Malaysia.

Now, Anwar really need to tend this with care. I found resonance with Chegu Nazir (Kata Tak Nak)'s opinion which I read in Uncle Zorro's blog and I pasted the same piece of writings of Chegu Nazir here.

Thursday, 4 June 2009
Right or wrong this is how I feel.

I have not said anything about PAS and their general assembly and about the Ulamaks and the Erdogans and about the conservatives and the progressives because I had always thought that that is their business so why meddle.

I don't think I could keep quite any longer. I have my reasons. I have been banking on PR to someday wrest control from BN. Since PAS is an important component of PR, whatever that befalls PAS would have a bearing on PR.

My stand is simple. PAS is an Islamic party, not a Malay party. The end, end of story. PAS has no business trying to identify itself as a Malay party. The religion is above race. Heck there are more Muslims in China, therefore Chinese, than there are Muslims in this country so Islam is not the sole property of the Malays.

Any attempts to try to court or be courted by UMNO is a betrayal to PAS's constitution. Has PAS not learnt their lessons from UMNO's betrayal? Do some personalities in PAS sincerely believe that UMNO has changed since that day?

Yes, UMNO has changed but not for the better so what do these people in PAS expect from UMNO then? I tend to agree with Husam in his fight for PAS to be an alternative to UMNO and nothing else. I do not subscribe to this Malay solidarity bullshit because it is the people who talks about Malay Solidarity who are splitting the Malays for their own personal gains.

All UMNO want is to weaken the PR and through PAS and some of their leaders, who are more Malay than Muslim, they have an avenue. All these talk about Malay solidarity sickens me, a Malay. Look the Malays are united as a race but differ politically. That is a good sign, not a bad one. That is maturity.

I have read about how some Ulamaks say that their attempts to bridge the distance is because of the religion. They argue that UMNO is made up of mainly Malays who are Muslims. Fine but have they forgotten who helped them to be as strong as they are now that got the people in UMNO come abegging? Would they have been there without the support of the non-Muslims in the last general election and also at Bt. Gantang.

Don't they know, that UMNO's intention is for them to ditch these very people who had put PAS where they are now? I want to ask them one question. Do you think it is fair for you to do that all in the name of your race? Where is your religion now? Do you think that the religion condones this?Islam is universal and not the domain of the Malays and PAS must realise that. Malay unity, if it leads to oppression of others is not Islam. Malay is not important in Islam. Malay is nothing in Islam. In Islam, the teachings of the religion is important. In Islam, equality is important. In Islam fairness is important. In Islam valueing one's partners who seek justice is more important than sleeping with one's foe who happens to be a fellow Malay and Muslim but do not know the meaning of honesty and humanity.

PAS 55th Muktamar

I guess never in history of the MSM the PAS muktamar was given such a wide coverage. And for me personally, the happenings in PAS is very much like UMNO to certain degree as you get to see how the party is gonna steer itself forward and it's kind of an indicator of what to expect in the future.

After all the news etc.... I have only this to say. I am very much confortable with Nik Aziz but I have a deep uneasiness with Hadi Awang. Enough said.

Another WTF AGAIN???

Amir Muhammad must be having a field day recently if he's still collecting the quotes of stupidity uttered by Malaysians. I read this in Niamah, Patrick Toeh's blog and it really got me ROTFL!!!

Director-General of teh Department of Environment (DOE) Datuk Rosnani Ibarahim said, "It just looks haze but there's no haze in Malaysia at the moment"

Read in full here. I rest my case.

PKR? I Have Reservations Now

OK... the appointment of a civil servant to head the Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai which was welcomed by a boycott of PKR councillars is another blunder in PKR. I think the PKR Penang especially has a lot of detoxing, cleansing whatever it is to do to avoid being turned into another UMNO, a multi-racial ones (from somewhere I read).

The so called PKR whip came up with reasons such as previous agreements in-between Pakatan Rakyat component parties didn't really augur well to me and I strongly believe I am not the only one feel that way. It's very much obvious that these are a group of power-grabbing, position-seeking people who will destroy the party and the coalition in the end. As I said before after the PKR duo in Perak were being investigated for accepting bribe, PKR and DAP, to a certain extent need to do some house cleaning on their current crop of MPs and assemblymen.

Anwar should focus more on this agenda which I seriously think is more important trying to be Prime Minister (if that's what he wants) because as much as it's possible for PR to turn over the table in the next election, it can be another way round with all these scums in the house infecting the coalition from inside.

Another WTF! Minister understand England kah?

Read this repost in WhatALulu's blog. And you can understand what intellectual level our minister possesses. When commenting on statement by B.Braun VP that the company is considering moving part of its operations, specifically pharmaceuticals from Penang to Indonesia, our Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said his ministry always practised open tender system when buying pharmaceuticals and medical products as the companies registered with Finance Ministry can go through Pharmaniaga Berhad that had the exclusive rights to distribute the pharmaceuticals and medical products to the ministry.

Liow... you understand England kah?

Be Prepared

Well... why I said be prepared? 曹格's song 背叛 is one of the most overplayed in radio, most over-attempted in tonnes of singing reality shows and most "killed" song in karaoke. And due to that, lots of us were the casualties while watching those reality shows on TV or while singing in karaoke.

He's gonna strike again, this time with a tune with the vocal acrobatic on par with 背叛 if not of a higher difficulty level, i.e. 寂寞先生. Well... en"z"oy!!!

WTF???

Read this: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/28105-melayu-dikhianati-awang-selamat

I don't know why no one take any action against this awang selamat of Mingguan Malaysia but aiya.... Utusan and Mingguan owned by who?

Uncle Zorro should put him/her in his fart chamber. I will put him/her in the hall of shame.

Alma Mater?

OK...my alma mater is making news now.... not the good one though. Such a shameful incident. It's the so-called Apex University. But who's proud of their uni alma mater nowadays? Well.... not the local unis.... Oh... I shouldn't generalise. It's just me.

Last Day of Holiday

It's still holiday today. A replacement of 31st. 30th and 31st are the public holiday in Sabah. HARVEST HOLIDAY!!! KOTOBIAN TADAO DO KAAMATAN

And 1st and 2nd of June , GAWAI FESTIVAL!!!!!