i’m so distracted by eat, pray, love. i wanted to do my work but everytime i stepped home, i can’t seem to follow through. i have tonnes of things to complete and not enough time at work, that i thought i would finish them at home. but a BIG NO.

i can have all them papers and notes but it can take me a while before i can accomplish something. but maybe it’s just my brain and body’s way of telling me that stop, it’s your rest time, you shouldnt be doing any work. you need to recuperate.

yes, recuperate. before i go on and rebelliously procrastinate things.

well, i’ve been to two talks for the past days. its mind boggling and as much as i missed those days back in uni reading all those books and attending lectures, and being in these talks somewhat brings back those reminiscence, apart from some fine information gained, i cannot help thinking, let’s leave all these theories to the thinkers, and let me do my work! irony. for one of the talk, or they call it workshop i went to was something on ‘thought’ leadership. very sociological and trying to instill in us on thinking strategically and having that sociological imagination, ok simply, having that bigger picture (for God’s sake, i learnt sociology back then). i mean these are good information for my work. i love knowledge. but am at a rhythm where i just want to get things done, practical mode. and i love thinking but if i want to think, it can take me a whole day just thinking and reading and trying to form hypothesis, but now i cannot do that.

and when people starts spewing those (word)-istic terms, with those oh-so-debating mode, i shut myself off. for knowledge sake, they’re just presenting and sharing their research. let’s not be too much argumentative about it?

and why am i so uptight about this?

oh yea, can i say it again, living in this small dot of an island is…difficult.

orchids

hehe, tell me i’m into flowers nowadays??!! but believe me, orchids ARE amazingly beautiful and my omnia proved to be useful in times of need. it took almost perfect pictures!!(to me laa)

anyway, if i’m going to be writing anything here, i’m telling you it’s going to be same old same old because i’ll be telling you that work has taken its toll and i’m going from one mosque to another (again!!) and for this whole week alone, i’ve been to and fro one mosque to another and rushing for meetings. as the time comes near, it’s getting more and more demanding! and shall i put this in…exciting!! hehe. and part of the job is buying books!! it’s like a dream come true when i can just pick out books, to my liking, and not having to pay for it, the legal way! haha!

may is going to be a blast~

although i’m thinking bearing a position does not mean we could raise voices to subs who are older, even if they’re only a support officer. i think they deserve more respect. i’ve observed and i’ve learnt. having worked at places, sometimes i feel my being quiet is a given. as long as the job is done la kan. speakig of which…i myself need to be more decisive and i guess the only way to be that is to believe in my choices and decisions. i’ve always been a person who likes negotiation and listen more, but i guess now is the time to be more specific with what i want and execute them effectively, even if it means making a mistake. and i’ve mentioned before…a mistake is a lesson learnt. 😉 although when you’re handling education, you really can’t afford to make mistakes.

amidst everything, i want to talk to God.

pavlovian mats

mats as in the ‘mat melayu’ in plural. pavlovian as in the psychologist ivan pavlov’s conditioning theory. although what i’m going to say here is not really about pavlov’s theory and how it works but believe or not, i’m thinking singaporean men, especially the malays, are getting their dose of education straight out from the tv and in the very comfort of their living room!

and it’s about time! since most tv programmes are somehow produced with women and housewives in mind. so to target men is the new trend, i think.

first there was M.A.T or Misi Anak Tempatan. and it’s an interesting show because it features young malay guys who’ve did and trying hard in their line of work or interest and who’ve somehow found success and satsifaction in the course of putting their heart, mind and body into a particular chosen line of work. whether you’re a racer, or a kompang boy, what matters is putting your best in it. and ada WAWASAN laa. and apart from that, having a positive attitude and some noble manners brings out a lot more that people forget the kental part. wait, let me correct myself, there’ll be no kentalans if a guy believes in what he wants and doing the best. it’s not about what is ‘cool’ or not, but more of passion and identity working hand in hand.

for example, you have interest in skateboarding. well that’s interest and can be a passion. but what shape your identity is not necessarily being a skateboarder, but your personality and manners, and let’s admit this, girls love smart guys.

although i haven’t watch these new drama series, i believe it’s targetted to men as well. there’s Anak Adam and Hi-Bro! and i believe it should be ‘edu-tainment’ as well somehow somewhere.

and this is my favourite : My Dad is Better than Your Dad! a gameshow in which, fathers team up with their son or daughter going through some obstacles and quizzes. if these doesn’t teach fathers out there how to be bond with your children, i don’t know what to say. who says fathers can’t be gerek?

so really, i hope there’s a paradigm shift of perspectives, of attitudes. to talk about the ‘real’ situation of what’s happening on the ground, the number of financial assistance given out because there are men with families who just can’t live up to their fatherhood. of course, there are always circumstances and difficult situations and deserving of these assistance. but there are those who JUST don’t. i think my sdo-fdo-de friends can vouch for these.

ps: the new mosque is ready soon, i’m practically rushing for time to do a good job. and i’ve relieved of a project which has been burdening me and it has always been at the back of my mind. so releasing it is such a HUGE RELIEF. i can volunteer for it but i don’t want to lead.

i’ve said it before, my da’wah is this: education. and somehow knowing i have given up the said project, i know i’ll have some hours to spare…and i’m so going to read up books to enrich myself!! not story books la but books on education or religions. i so have to catch up!! 🙂

this ain’t a scene

seriously, if he cannot do any changes to the stupid site, then DON’T! it’s not as if he’s the one doing it, right? i’m sure what i want requires minor changes?? and for someone who has the knowledge, changing html codes would be a breeze la seh!! don’t make it sound as if it requires the whole Bl88dy world to make the changes!
and the thing is, i’ve informed how i wanted it to look like, not yesterday, not last week. it’s way last year!! and at that point of time, they say, let’s not talk on the details because it’s content-oriented, we’ll concentrate on the design, but now he’s saying otherwise! but all the same, i’ve given them details last year, i’m only bl88dy repeating what i’ve said.

i know i’m not equipped with this it-design knowledge, and don’t make it as though i’m the most stupid person for not understanding, but really, if i do, i can do all of it MYSELF, i won’t need you people to do it ok! i know what you’re doing, trying to put the blame on me.

honestly, i lost respect to this particular head of a unit. he’s not my boss anyway.
i don’t even know why i took up this bl88dy project in the first place. i thought i knew, but having to face people like him, makes me puke. ada juga orang suka kat kau eh, pelik ah.

i’m merely letting out my anger in this blog, coz, really, it’s a very very fine morning, but somehow one email spoilt it all. and i don’t want to spread this anger aura with the very nice people around me. pray that i’m over it now that i’ve written them down. what a way to start the day, shouldn’t have opened that particular email!

and you never fail to make me smile. blue knight saving the day, always.

waiting game

i feel like this is the longest january i’ve ever gone through.
seriously, i’ve been through so much in the span of 18 days!! it’s still january~

i’ve had good days…
i’ve had busy busy days which is good because it preoccupied my mind from glancing at my ericko-san too many times a day…;)
i’ve written a number of articles…
i’ve even got angry at a head of a strategic unit and practically showed it…
i’ve taught a total of 4 classes so far and enjoyed them much…
Lord, it’s been days fulfilled.

although
i’ve not understand, still, why tears and blood must be shed. only donations and Al-Fath read with hopes and thoughts that this will give them the strength.
i’ve not understand, still, at this age, you have to have sore feelings to your friends over a small misunderstanding…i thought we’ve grown out of those? the rare times i mass-messaged, there never was a reply from a particular friend. so tell me, who forgets who?
and, heh, i still hate taking buses 🙂

on repeat mode: waiting game by yellowcard.
no particular reason.

and then, i’m happy. you know why.:))

my yogic two cents

i was asked by a young buddhist friend from a recent workshop, about Yoga.
of course this part of the world was knocked with the issue of yoga being haram-ed in the neighbouring country.

oh no, i am not going to give some academic opinions with hujahs and dalils, well, not yet. but one thing came across my mind.

quite simply yoga is a religious ritual for religions like hindu and some buddhist practices, and when included with mantras and the recitings, of surety, it will affect the state of a muslim’s faith.

but at the same time, yoga has been ‘new-aged’ and most yoga practices only involved body movement and the state of mind and inner peace. most yoga practitioners will not identify themselves as hindus, because of their take that yoga is a practical exercise, aid and not a religious ritual. but this of course, in western perspectives, who have found good in some religious ritual, although wanting to avoid being affiliated to a religion, causes yoga to be ‘neutralized’. so what makes yoga yoga?

if you are to be in a sitting position, breathing properly, and putting your mind in a clear form, would that be yoga? or is it JUST a relaxing practice? is it just a state of mind? if you’re sitting, closing your eyes, trying to relax your mind, however reciting the zikrs instead, will that be a form of *bhakti yoga* on its own? the concept is quite similar doesn’t it? so why not just do zikr? you get your rest, inner peace + some afterworld rewards.

i think it’s just a sensationalied term. y-o-g-a stripped of its hinduist origins. sounds chim right? when actually it’s just a state of mind, a form of meditation. but how do you actually separate the physical movement from the spiritual essence of yoga? is there a point where you can say, ok i’m doing this yoga thing up to this, beyond that it’ll be syirk. would you know that border point? and really it’s very much vague what yoga really is without going through its process. just like sufi being vague and confusing to most because of not experiencing it. but that’s another story altogether.

i have always respected yoga practice as a special hindu ritual, and thus never thought of taking it up. leave the hindus alone!

look at it this way. solat without the spiritual essence. so any person can do solat just to gain some inner peace and tranquil state. that wouldn’t be solat you say right? it’s just any form of ‘exercise’. but how can you do the solat acts without the readings and being in a state of mind you need to be, the state of faith you are in.. it’ll be null.

so yoga without the readings and being in a state of mind you need to be and seek even, then it wouldn’t be yoga. it will only be yoga if you put in faith in doing it and there’s bound to be some reads/mantra you read through even if it’s only “oummmm” which by the way, refers to hindus’ concept of god. yoga comes in a whole package if you haven’t notice already. no matter how agnostic or atheist yoga practitioners are, they are, well, in a state of belief to the ritual. the whole paganistic nature and surroundings elements that go with it.

so, to do or not to do? i’ll just stick to my inter-faith respect towards it but at the point of conflicting my aqidah, i don’t risk it.

quote unquote

good morning. apparently my blog has been scoured by writers and directors and quoted aka copypasted. even if i’m talking about a theatre or a song or a book or a competition like a certain anugerah band, i’m thinking it’s my own views writing in a blog which i did not think will get to the first ten links to come up when you do google. i wrote something yesternight and today i got to find out it’s been quoted. my Lord, i’m only trying to be neutral. and that’s the thing, i trash something out, i got all these anonymous tags, i commented in my silly amateurish way, i got quoted blindly. it was ok initially but now i don’t like it.

but, that’s web 2.0. i know. well, it’s been said and done. all i’m thinking, this meagre theatric performance, has open up my own critical thinking system, and that’s a part of me which are rarely woken. and when this happens, it means, there is something close to my heart which is ‘mutilated in translation’ and quite simply, turned out wrong.

even though i said it was a STEP forward, they shouldn’t think it’s perfect. because eventually, a first step will set a benchmark and if there is something way much better than the first, the benchmark will definitely change. there is no need to be complacent in praises.

people often misunderstand sufism and mysticism. Captain Makh*doum personally, said it right to my face, “the path to sufism is not easy, you need to go through and understand the syariah carefully” the very system of syariah is simply said, difficult. there is no short cut i say.

i hope further plays which want to adapt sufistic elements, should be done with the utmost care and detail, up to the actors chosen and costumes, the lines of course, and take into account the people you are going to attract. for a circle of us, sufi is inseparable from being islamic. you don’t take it for granted. it’s not about laila and majnun, it’s not just about ana alhaqq, because once you misunderstand it, means that, you misunderstood it, that’s it. don’t take it for granted.

scary.

dreadfully cranky

but today was very very cranky. and the incident of tunang-ed friends who argued with one another, and out of nowhere, included my name in their issue. hey! apa nih??so nanti kalau dah kahwin, gaduh sikit, can use my name ah, and then can fingerpoint at me to put the blame on!! you want to joke around ke provoke one another ke, leave me out la. and kalau dah tunang tu, buat hal tunang la, why harbour old skool feelings??!! berfikir secara matang lah. honestly now, i felt betrayed by people i called friends.

i didn’t think this was serious when i first got to know about this, just some petty fights among tunangs. but then when i got to really think about it, i began to think i shouldn’t take this complacently. after all, they’re using my name!!

both of you have a little argument – got angry at one another – girl provoked guy (apparently including me as tool)- and guy ‘confessed’ of old skool feelings – girl tells me – i hunt the guy thinking the girl was wronged – but apparently the girl had always been ‘joking’ about guy and me- ni baru betul orang kata 2 kali 5 dol!alamaaak ni criter zaman biler ni? umur masih 15 tahun eh? i go and scold the guy like hell, and then much later the girl sms-ed me asking me to please not fight, everything is settled between him and her.
sorry girl, not that easy.

i don’t know why am truly angered by this, seriously, and very much sore still about this. it’s going to take time to forget.

you guys have been good friends, but even good friends have received the silent treatment from me. and to those who know, they’ll understand what silent treatment from me means…

…..

dreadfully cranky.

generasi S

i seem to have a personal disliking to sensasi the channel these days, heh. one after another. but setting the mind to anything goodness this month and sensitive to anything negative*, one particular trailer in sensasi caught my critical attention.
*negative here as defined by my own personal conviction.

a little bit background, there’s a number of ‘not so new’ dramas coming up at sensasi, which features the younger generation, dramas like Kami and Dunia Baru, the likes of Gol and Gincu drama. i have nothing against the dramas, other than it being a bit too modern in terms of lifestyle AND the way they dress, i do not deny that there are some message the dramas trying to convey, like independence, confidence, friendship, loyal and importance of education. but these have become the end product of modernity rather than a tool towards knowledge and living values. but today’s not the day to share about changes and what modernity is.

back to the dramas! so dramas about young pretty girls and young handsome guys, maintaining friendships, relationship problems and whatnots. so sensasi see the need to have a trailer to ‘promote’ these dramas (heh, maybe because most of us have watched these very dramas on malaysian tv, 2-3 years back, we don’t want to have to watch it again).

so the trailer starts “Generasi S!” “Generasi S mestilah….”. what does “S” stands for? first and foremost it mentioned:
SEKSI – ok in how they dress literally, and attracting attention nonetheless
STYLO – what’s is stylo? i don’t know. it’s a vague and non-malay word
Sibuk – sibuk with what?
….and i can’t remember one term.

it definitely sounds superficial. now we can all say seksi doesn’t all mean short skirts and shorter shirts with much make-up on. but that’s exactly what it shows on tv and mainstreamers already have a mindset what seksi would mean.

you know what sticks to mind when young people saw this trailer? they will understand that they are the now generation which is suddenly labeled generasi S, and being in this S generation, you must be this and this- referring to the criteria listed above. young people learn fast, and sensasi is doing a ‘great’ job in doing it. from my own personal conviction, it sounded negative and tak membangun langsung.

and just like what ‘muslimah anggun’ competition brought buzz on “why use the word anggun?” i want to ask “why use the word seksi?”

but these are for entertainment and media purposes. i’m not interested in talking about that business. but my concern was, tv are already ‘sanctifying’ the very characteristics we see everyday among our youth. what would be non-mainstreamers definition of Generasi S? in a mix of languages, i’m trying to list out what could S possibly stands for.

S= Solat, Sabar, Smart, Spiritual, Sporty, Sharp, Sensible, Steadfast, Strong

please, if you have more suggestions, tag them on.

let generasi S be quality generation, modern but wise, of physical health and spiritual strength, of knowledge and tradition.

just my two-cents. i’m not doing this alone.

nothing sensasi about it

was just browsing through friends’ blogs and one blog caught my attention, because it also reminded me that i was supposed to be blogging about it as well. out of request.

now you see, there was this ‘lampu’ launching of Bazaar at geylang. held at the carpark between tanjong katong complex and malay village. it was called Sensasi Aidilfitri? it’s not even ramadhan yet, and they are already thinking about Raya~

now honestly, i didn’t want to be there. but i was. for the sake of one person who so wanted to meet with popular indonesian sinetron’s actor/actress : Teuku Wisnu and Shereen of Cinta Fitri.

but why there is nothing sensasi about it. here’s a list.

1. the almost 5 hours wait for really, a mere 10 minutes appearance of Farell and Fitri! and it was obvious right from the start, the crowd were looking forward to seeing these two persons than those other lame performances! and there were old grandmas coming to watch. imagine, if young people like my siblings can’t stand the standing, what more the elderly people?

2. for people who work in the entertainment world, the organizers doesn’t seem to have much intelligence organizing this event. for one thing, the arrangement of the stage and area for audience. the stage was at almost the centre of the carpark, more towards the Village, facing the Market, a big area of the parking space has rows of seats for, apparently the VIPs (there was SM Goh and some MPs), and a number of empty rows for i don’t know the heck who’s supposed to be sitting there.

so basically, there’s no seats for the audience. none at all. and what’s worst, the stage and the seats were cordoned off with fences. FENCES. the crowd stands outside these fences, and technically already a bit too far from the stage. you can’t even see the faces of the artists clearly. granted, they put up two stupid screens near the audience.

3. we have no idea why the organizers ‘lokek’ sound system. you don’t hear a thing. YOU CAN’T HEAR A THING what the people onstage were talking. not even when SM Goh, was going to launch all those lampu-s.

4. the two MCs, nurulaini and huda, despite having experiences hosting, they don’t present well that night. such a disappointment. well, it couldn’t be much their fault, when people CAN’T HEAR A THING!

5.Let’s not talk about performances, for they were unnecessary redundant dances. the by 9 pm, the crowd are too restless and really, if it wasn’t for the occassional shots of Farrell and Fitri on screen, there would have been a fight. stoopid dances and stoopid acts of comedy, there’s this silat performance which was supposed to be funny, too bad, nothing funny about it. Like an uncle behind me was saying “asyik lawak gaduh jer, ingat melayu ni gangster ke?”

6. and some local comedians came onstage to bring some laughs. but they didn’t. because people CAN’T HEAR A THING, what they were blabbering about on stage. and you can’t hear the singers well. Adil’s acostic performance went totally unheard. didicazli tried hard to sing loud. only zaleha hamid managed to cheer the crowd, by bringing SM Goh onstage. and performers kept looking to their left- to the audience, instead of the VIPs and not so vips.

7. and when Farrell and Fitri did came up. Again, you CAN’T HEAR A THING. you don’t even see them clearly. not on stage, obviously, not even on screen, because of poor lighting.

but what heal the disappointment was when Farrell and Fitri went down to meet the crowd. only, from people’s talk of those in front, they mentioned that when Farrell wanted to meet closer to the fans, one of the event staff who’s with Farrell were pulling his shirt to stop him from getting closer. but the hero pushed him away and walked on straight to the fans!

whatever. but when asked most of the people, especially the aunties, which channel did they watch Cinta Fitri? surprisingly, their answer was SCTV. NOT sensasi.
so sensasi, don’t think you’re popular yet.

and with how unpleasant the whole thing goes. It’s a big disappointment. they wanted protocol? i don’t think our SM minded that much if the crowd was placed much closer. come onlah, our MPs and PMs are People’s People!

it was all wrong to start with. and i noticed so many people. mothers in tudungs, wth tattooed sons and uncovered daughters. groups of young girls who don’t seem to feel ashamed being looked at by uncles and fathers with their short skirts and shorter shirts. groups of young men smoking and looking all proud to be spewing swears. parents who look too young to be holding babies and toddlers. older parents who looked like they are the VERY REASON why their children looked like them.

they were there for? i was there, but i’m not proud to admit that. but i was there to be taught about the real world. and what ramadhan means to these people?
and when the host was saying something like, “semua puasa tak nanti? kalau tak puasa, tak boleh raya!” ceteknya ilmu..

so end of story: NOTHING SENSASI ABOUT IT. NOTHING.

Mainstream Ramadan- shopping, late night dinners, and best part, glamour of hari raya. it’s not Aidilfitri at all.

but i’m not from the mainstream. i’m from the Elite. not’elites’ of the community. i don’t care if i’m not among them. i need to be an elite spiritually.

but only Allah knows better how much i wanted this. Lord help us all.