R

How do you turn SATAY into SEXY? (feel free to interpret this liberally)

2011-07-12T06:50:00.001-07:00

How do you turn SATAY into SEXY? (feel free to interpret this liberally)

Answer here

Oldboy

2011-06-15T06:25:00.001-07:00

I never thought I'd be where I am today.

Nope, this isn't the opening line of some sort of autobiography titled Ranaditya Alief: The boy who endured the hardships of his youth, and against all odds became a national icon. Moreover, the term 'hardships of his youth' becomes over-the-top politically incorrect when applied to my wonder years. Bloody hell, the closest thing I've ever experienced to the expected famine that comes with poverty is Ramadhan!

Anyway, what I meant by not having the slightest idea on where I would be right now refers no less and no more to where I am now academically, and how I envisioned it back before I regularly wore shorts to campus. During those me minus 8 kilogram days, I had a mental picture of myself in full graduation attire at the end of my 7th semester, and my name as a cummlaude graduate on the big screen in Balairung.

Simply put, flash-forward June 2011, I'm a veteran.

I didn't submit my thesis in time to graduate at the end of my senior year, and thus, my undergrad days will outlive the normal student lifespan of eight semesters. To be blunt, my dear mom -who happens to work where I study- chose to comment on this added longevity by stating, "those who do not finish in time diminish the accreditation points of this campus". Bummer.

No need to scathe, fellow veterans. What my old lady said was just a failed attempt to fire me up; she doesn't regard it inferiorly, and for all I know, she ended up with my dad, who took eight years to don his toga, long even for 80s standards.

But for a period of time, I myself did.

It wasn't a taboo, but if I had to fill in a form about all of the undesirable things in university life that could possibly happen, I'd definitely pencil graduating late somewhere in the middle of the paper.

Yet funny enough, here I am now, facing a late graduation in the eye, while peering occasionally at my classmates, all of them saying "It's a wrap!" to sunny Depok. The melodrama inside of me points out my delayed graduation date as a form of karma for all of my snobbery in the past. I'd like to think that it was true, because these kinds of quirks are both funny and charming in a way.

However, I can only point to myself for not getting the job done. I am guilty of slacking and more criminally, dwelling, especially when faced with questions I can't answer, and dots I can't connect. Some people say I'm too ambitious, but that kind of irritates me, because I have the least intention of crafting any kind of magnum opus. I just want it to make sense.

Sadly for me, it hasn't. Although in all fairness, I admit that my attitude could benefit from a change, namely in dealing with all of the stumbling blocks.

Excuses aside, the weird thing these days is that I don't consider graduating late as an inferiority anymore. For all I know, this might be another rational justification of mine, just to deal with the fact that I am graduating late. Or perhaps, the blow has merely been taken out by the optimism that I'll get my thesis finished in the end, I'll get my fair share of job offers, and I'll do well with one or two business ventures (pretty amped about it right now). Either way, I do hope that all of this doesn't bog me down, although premature indications suggest otherwise.

So with all that, I guess I'm a veteran, albeit a happy one who doesn't want to stay one for too long.

Well, God bless me. And my 'hardships'.

Late Night Karaoke Song 008: Luv (Sic.) Part 2

2010-07-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

by Nujabes (feat Shing02)

Once again, now where do I start, dear love
Dumb struck with the pure luck to find you here
Every morn' I awake from a cavernous night,
Sometimes still pondering the previous plight,
Seems life done changed long time no speak,
Nowadays I often forget the day of the week
Taking it by stride if you know what I mean,
No harm done, no offense taken by me
So let's rap, we'll catch up to par, what's the haps?
Perhaps we're even closer now after all things considered on this side of the planet,
Couldn't pick a better time even if we planned it!
To come clean and candid if I have to
Oh what I wouldn't trade for your laughter
Sweet and sour spice in my poetry pot melting,
Even better than the real thing!
It's like the God in me saw the Devil in you
I wanted to break myself in the worst way when I met you
Who would have thought, conversate by the river, celebrate birth,
Sit and delivered the lines that would prove to be the seeds of trust
Unsigned, yeah but destined to grow with sunshine
Self-assigned task piled on the desk of good works,
Knowing hardship appreciate the best of both worlds!

C'est la vie, as they say L.O.V.E evidently, see every song has a sequel
Never same, everything but the name, all fresh just like back then, how we do everyday
C'est la vie, as they say L.O.V.E eloquently, see dream has a part two
Never same, you got to keep it tight, all fresh just like back then, now hear me out...

Once together, now where do we go, dear divine
I pray that you keep watching over us,
From the heavens where light is the nucleus
To this space filled with darkness and negative matter
Anti-gravity pull is what I would rather feel when I leave this shell eventually
Ties to the mother earth ground me mentally,
Real vibes will keep me alive spiritually
Imagination brings bliss at no cost, when I blink blink I receive at no loss
Victory comes in small packages like a leaf of an olive tree brought back by a dove
From above, then I'm gonna rhyme love,
Well you saw that one coming ever since the beginning of the end
Well anyways, I am not a perfect being, yes I am a man full of sin
It's like the Devil in me saw the God in you,
You epitomize the etymology of enthusiasm!
Look it, up there lies the clouds that form the rain
That came from the ocean that flowed from the river
I'm a believer, firm with the first words, lyrical transceiver of our ancient roots
(Science + Arts) * Faith / # of our Ethnic Race!
Let me mention what I've been thinking
How to save the children, when the ship is sinking
So I'm singing, no lip syncing to slogans,
Political hooligans with tanks, missiles and guns!
Everything is relative when it's all in the family of man,
Understand the time has finally come to realize the great power of 1,
All formulas equalize under the Sun, Amen!

The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music,
In times of need I won't be leaving you sick
The beat plus the melody's the recipe,
Your vibe surely brings out the best in me!
The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music,
In times of need I won't be leaving you sick
The beat plus the melody's the recipe,
All good souls lost may they rest in peace!
(repeat)
Hiphop worldwide we got to live in peace, like that!

R: A combination of random myspace-ing and random youtube-ing brought me to this plethora of Japanese Hip-Hop, I suppose, in which DJ's utilizing some of the most feel good samples I've ever heard reign supreme. Thus, the likes of DJ Okawari, Uyama Hiroto, and of course, the late Nujabes (Jun Seba), have been playing in my ears every night for the past few weeks (accompanied by Seinen manga, of course!)

Luv (Sic.) Part 2 is my favorite in a trio of Luv (Sic.) songs (all of 'em are heaven to my ears) from Nujabes. Shing02's intonation is far from flawless, but the song is angelic due to it's beat. It just has this airy quality to it (sorry, I'm not a music-man), I think, that makes it all the more soothing than it all ready is.

In short: the perfect tune for a galau night.

Well, it still feels good in any kind of night :)

-R

Potato Couch

2010-07-06T01:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not an intern undergoing internship.
I'm an internet-addict undergoing internetship.

Life is good. So good, I've chosen to post this on my blog instead of on twitter.

-R

Benchwarmer

2010-06-02T00:36:00.000-07:00

Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary

(John Keating, Dead Poets Society)

The above line is one quote I find myself, not thinking of perhaps, but rather, vouching for, whenever I go to bed at night during the holidays.

Tommorrow will be another day, a new day.

The sun will shine, clouds will make way, for it will definitely be my day.

A day to set things right, to turn on the green light, to make things happen, to take things by the scruff of the neck.

Giddy-giddy, Ole! Let's go people, time to roll!

Alas, by the time the 10 AM, or 11 AM, or -nah, 12 would be obvious- 3 PM o'clock pokes my insipid eyes the following day, all foolish notions are quickly vanquished. Here we go again. Twitter-set. Facebook-set. Formspring-sometimes set. Youtube-set. Pamper me, fellas.

Most times it's peeking and poking. A lot of times it's a case lalalalala... tube karaoke.

But sometimes, I go around and around and around and I find something worthy of my going around (aside from softcore porn).

That something for me today is the works of Japanese film director, Kosai Sekine.

I was originally googling for ad agencies, as I am currently possibly in need of an internship experience. By unorthodoxically stating 'possibly', I'm saying here that I'm still perplexed and not sure on if I really want such an endeavour or not, and on the reasons for both sides of the issue. Call it a long holiday pre-senior year undergrad complex.

"BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY"

(Epilogue text, Conan The Barbarian and Conan The Destroyer)

Anyway, from google I went to tube, a spin-off from the original pursuit. Now, was the time to see some cool ads, I thought (and tell about them to the world to make myself seem like a bloody eccentric, eclectic, hip, cool, quasi-aksara, know-it-all dudey-dude).

Keyword: Saatchi & Saatchi. Not that I want to end up there, but I've heard of the London-based multinational agency as one of the best in business of nabbing awards, and thus, I expected to have my need for some "oohs and aahs" fulfilled. Turns out they had this channel for this cool event at Cannes International Advertising Festival, dubbed the New Director's Showcase (NDS). On it (or is it, in it?) were these really cool shorts from young, up and coming directors from around the world. Needless to say, although they weren't exactly, ads, they were totally cool, and made me go ooh and aah.

One of the up and coming directors was the above mentioned Japanese director. I heart his following work for Adidas.

Original, insightful, and kind of funny. The grin I had from watching it drove me to browse the related video's sections and on and on, to indulge my curiosity further on. And boy I saw some cool stuff.

And lastly, my favorite, the award-winning short, Right Place

I really like how his works connect with the human, especially in Right Place with the OCD theme. The technicalities and the art, are top notch, and as commented by Richard Grey, Creative Director Global Culture S&S Worldwide on Break-Up Service,

"Excellent storytelling. Great editing -not a frame wasted. Love the casting too."

That comment kind of sums up all of my newfound admiration towards Master Sekine, I guess.

And, my something for today. Gosh, how can I someday be at least involved in stuff like those, I have no idea.

One thing's for sure, though. Carpe diem, needs to happen first. Although, for now....

I'm happy watching from the stands. Life is good :P

-R

PS: For more info about Kosai Sekine, visit his tube channel and his homepage

Italian Dressing

2010-05-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

Calma

is a chant I repeat over and over to myself whenever I'm frustrated, stressed, or a little bit short of breath. It's not that I speak Italian, or have any grudges against "Astagfirullah", but I just prefer saying 'Calma' out loud, despite the reckless pronounciation.

Calma.

Remember, everything's fine. You are happy, life is good.

Think about what you can do to others, instead of what others can do to you.

Okay, shoot, now I'm starting to sound all funkyfucius.

(pseudotrance mode -look how I used pseudo instead of pretend. Yeay)

Wow.

Good lord this blog is turning into the dreaded 'curhat' blog.

Okay, that is so not cool.

Okay, I am having second thoughts. Okay, I am having issues with this. Okay, this is so against the image I want to project through this blog. Okay, this is embarassing myself. Okay, well maybe I should...

Calma! Calma! Calma! Calma! Calma! Calma!

Does this shit really work?

God why does Berlusconi get to bang hot young women and jibe Finnish cuisine at the same time?

-R

PS: I knew the word from reading a volume of FANTASISTA, in which main protagonist Teppei Sakamoto shouts the word out loud to distract the opposing team's defender's concentration

I Saw You Doing Something With Your Hands

2010-05-30T02:45:00.001-07:00

Let's talk about Grand Gestures.

Objects, love-gifts, charming giveaways , whatever you name it.

I'm a fan of them, I craft them, I enjoy making them, although I don't buy them.

Some people (the well-educated, I presume) questioned why I needed to make them.

Useless, over-the-top, theatrical, they said.

One fellow even went to the point of analogising them as masturbation.

Yes, jerking-off, playing with yourself, rocking the snake, all just because the act was assumed for self-gratification.

Now my friends, this woeful misinterpretation, I think, is because some folks think that the climax happens when I'm spraying stories around with that gleam in the eye to the canteen crowd, when I'm engaging in some kiss and tell (inherited from my old lady) with my comrades, the so-called Kom, where gossip spreads at the speed of light (of which I know, Kom peeps are secretly proud of this notion. Sorry to say, my highschool still one ups you by a country mile).

Well, that would be a very, very daft conclusion, a dishonorable mention to who I intended all of my 'Grand Gestures' for. That's why some have a degree in Sexology, like Boyke, while some play the Love Guru, like Mike Myers. They just can't spot the difference between actual orgasm and that spring in your step the following morning post-sex.

Pardon the analogy, by the way. I've never had intercourse, of course, but I couldn't find a more appropriate counter-analogy to the one about masturbation, which irks me constantly. But my point is, the pleasure... --Okay, I'll defect from the sexual thesaurus, so it won't erode my point--...

That warm, fuzzy feeling, I'd never experienced before I woke up on the other side of the bed some 30 days ago, sometimes occur when you truly know that the one you gave a Grand Gesture likes it, feels that it's special, and likes you even more for doing it.

The effort doesn't count up for anything.

Whether the effort has any meaning for that special someone, however,

counts up for everything.

-R

PS: Do you know where I left my sweetener?

33 Days Ago I Finally Woke Up On The Other Side Of The Bed

2010-05-28T23:34:00.000-07:00

And I smiled.

-R:)

Movie Review: Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes Is One Captivating Crime Scene

2009-12-31T09:23:00.000-08:00

Case: Sherlock Holmes (Guy Ritchie:2009)

Evidence no.1: Robert Downey Jr.

Call him Tony Stark, call him Chaplin, call him Kirk Lazarus, call him a chameleon. Mr Downey now owns the legendary Sherlock Holmes, bringing an eccentric edge akin to Depp's Jack Sparrow, with more hustle and bustle, and without sacrificing the amazing deductive skills of the detective at all. The perfect reimagination married with the perfect actor.

Evidence no.2: The Conspirators

Or the supporting cast, rather. Jude Law plays Watson as the odd match to Downey's Holmes; straight, reasonable, but at the same time, fetishly attracted to the notion of adventure. Mark Strong is pure menace as the villainous Lord Blackwood while Rachel McAdams is charming is Irene Adler, although arguably both are reduced into cliched stereotypes by the final act. And last, Eddie Marsan steals the scene as dimwit Scotland Yard Inspector Lestrade, like he does in most of his films.

Evidence no 3: The Mastermind and his Plan

Kinetic, frenetic, but definitely one of a kind, Guy Ritchie is the right man for the job. After a string of mediocre and even bad efforts, Mr. Ritchie hits all the right notes by mixing his wonderful wit, his penchant for the pulsating and the uniquely un-linear with producer Lionel Wigram's reinvention of Holmes as a man of action. The story borders on the supernatural, but along with all of the other 'slight alterations', as long as the bond-brothers of Baker Street retain some of the good of old -as they undoubtedly do-, who gives a damn?

Hypothesis:

Grimy, gritty, gripping, but above all, an immensely entertaining funride throughout Victorian London, Guy Ritchie's take on the world's most reknowned detective is the most captivating crime scene this Christmas.

8/10

-R: Live Long & Prosper

Late Night Karaoke Song 007: Tell Her

2009-12-21T12:11:00.000-08:00

by Percy Faith

Percy Faith - Tell Her

Tell her each day you adore her
Show her your love won't grow cold
Tell her each day how much you love her
Every girl likes to be told

Show her her problems concern you
Time when she should be consoled
Tell her it's you that she can turn to
Every girl likes to be told

You don't have to give her riches
That's not what she's longing for
Just give her your affection
And she'll give you so much more

So show her that you're thinking of her
And you're hers to have and to hold
Tell her each day how much you love her
Every girl likes to be told

R: Just adore Percy Faith's 'easy listening' work. Chose to put these over my other favorite Percy Faith piece (A rendition of 'Moon River'), because of the lyrics. Sweet.

-R

Movie Review: Avatar Isn't Perfect, But It Blows Your Mind Away

2009-12-19T20:18:00.000-08:00

Avatar is a visual smorgasbord. It fully lives up to it's hype as a game-changer, a revolution, a technical achievement, and every hyperbole adjective directed to James Cameron's lovechild for the past year or so. Never before has an effects-loaded event film look this beautiful, this dreamy, and this realistic.

But to acknowledge it's accomplishments without pointing out it's glaring setbacks would be mere advertising.

For all of the wonder appearing non-stop on Pandora, the story is old school instead of new school, which isn't a bad thing, until one recognizes the stereotypes, the predictable plot, the ad-copy dialogue and above all, a middle part (or second act, according to traditional Shakespeare), in which the film painfully invokes yawns.

To sum it all up, I was a bit smorgas-bored at some points throughout the whole 2 1/2 hours or so...

Until the final battle that is,

in which Cameron reclaims his throne as King of the World (and reclaims half a star in this mini-review) by unleashing all hell loose.

Michael Bay, please bring a notebook and a pen, because this is the way to do it.

At the end of our journey, a few light years away from Earth, I can only be taken aback by this level of artistry, one that seems nearly impossible to match for years to come.

Cameron might have stumbled in creating the ultimate sci-fi fantasy, but he succeeds with aplomb in invigorating your imagination,

and blowing your mind...

Away.

8/10

-R: Live Long & Prosper

TXTV

2009-09-06T06:45:00.000-07:00

As I entered the Bluebird cab to go home from my sister's B'day dinner at Grand Indo, I noticed something peculiar.

Yay!

They've installed LCD screens on the back of the front chair!

(I get overjoyed by such meaningless things)

It might be prerequisite nowadays in taxis abroad, but being stuck in the archipelago for around 4 years now, I was amused by the cute little thing in front of my eyes. I asked a few questions to the cab driver about it. He said that it had been around for 1 month and that it can only be found in a select 20-something number of Bluebird units. They're still in the pilot stages, I presume.

Speaking of the contents of what was on the LCD, most of it were ads. I loathed Dewi Sandra appearing over and over in some kind of Vaseline ad, but I really liked the movie ads. There was the trailer for God's (Kevin Spacey) new movie 'Shrink' and some summaries of upcoming flicks like Gamer, Nine, and The Surrogates. Cool.
(In retrospect, I think this is the only excuse that propelled me to blog on the LCD hahaha)

It'll be interesting to see how long these 'taxi screens' will last. Is it an effective outlet for companies to advertise their products? Only time can tell, peeps.

-R

Present

2009-09-04T10:35:00.000-07:00

Phew.

I'm in my third year in UI now.

I have a lot of assignments on my hands now. (And I can't f**k it up)

I have a fun part-time job now.

I have a monthly stream of income now. (If I don't f**k it up)

I'm both whining and bragging, for such superficial things now.

and self-depreciating, too.

Long time no see,

but nothing's changed, see?

-R

Tantalus

2009-07-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

Rant, Rant, Rant.

is what I am feeling, thinking, saying, and doing.

Why must I,

Rant, Rant, Rant?

Obviously because of a gap between everything I need, expect, want, and hope

with everything I have now.

But if it is so, shouldn't I try, try, try, instead of rant, rant, rant?

Is it because the grapes retract every time I try to grasp it?
Is it because the water dries up every time I try to gulp it?

-R

An Age Old Question

2009-07-10T03:05:00.000-07:00

In an hour from now, I will be sitting on a carpet in my Aunt Evy's house, somewhere in the eastern outskirts of Jakarta.

In random moments that occur while I sit and pretend to pay attention to whatever topic of conversation is brought up by the members of my extended family (Oldman's side),

I will be asked/told:

-In what class/semester are you now?

-What major are you taking?

-Wow, you're now as tall as/slightly taller than your father!

-You've already grown a mustache, ey? (seasonal)

Silently, I'll ask:

-Why do you guys always say the same things and ask the same questions?

-R

Artifact to Remember-3: Comm UI Cup Logos'

2009-07-06T04:38:00.000-07:00

For those who have clicked the link I posted in the Comm UI Cup thread in facebook, please comment, criticize, bash, rave, praise, dump on, blow away, and most importantly, vote on the following pieces of crap:

Logo

1) "Master Card"

2) "The Figure"

3) "The Flame"

update: "The Flame 2.0"

Mock Posters

-R

Late Night Karaoke Song 006: O Vento

2009-06-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

O Vento (The Wind)
by Los Hermanos (4)

Posso ouvir o vento passar
Assistir a onda bater
Mas o estrago que faz
A vida é curta pra ver
Eu pensei: que quando eu morrer
Vou acordar para o tempo

E para o tempo parar
Um século, um mês
Três vidas e mais
Um passo pra trás
Por que será?

Vou pensar
Como pode alguém sonhar
O que é impossível saber
Não te dizer o que eu penso
Já é pensar em dizer
Isso eu vi, o vento leva...

Não sei mais
Se tu quer, como sonhar?
Que o esforço pra lembrar
É vontade de esquecer
E isso porque diz mais
Se a gente já não sabe mais

Rir um do outro meu bem
Então o que resta é chorar
E talvez, se tem que durar
Vem, renasce do amor dentro de lágrimas
Um século, três
Se as vidas atrás

São parte de nós
E como será?
O vento vai dizer lento que virá
E se chover demais
A gente vai saber

Claro de um trovão
Se alguém depois sorrir em paz
Só de encontrar

(http://los-hermanoso-vento-lyrics-mp3.kohit.net/_/146166)

R: Call me dated or whatever, but this hit single from 'The Brothers' (as their known in Brazil) album '4', which coincidentally was also released 4 years ago, has been my feel-good anthem for the past fortnight or so.

-R

Three Year Olds Say The Darndest Things

2009-06-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

Meet my little three year old cousin, Keanuandri Alliyy. Yes, we call him by the first five letters from his first name (apparently his old man loved Speed).

15 minutes ago, He said to me:

Keluar kamu dari rumah ini!

Keluar! Biar kamu jadi orang yang minta-minta di jalanan!

Rasain!

Nanti tidak Keanu kasih Uang!

HUAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ah, toddlers grow up so quickly these days... Wonder where he picked it up?

-R

Movids III: The newest trailer for INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS + Photos from Alice in CREEPLAND!

2009-06-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

QT's back in town, and now he's in the mood to slaughter some Nazis.

Yeah, It's the Jews who do the killing in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.

As a bonus in this edition of MOVIDS, I hereby present the ultra-creepy photos of The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) & The Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) from visionary Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND (March 5, 2010)

(courtesy of USA Today)

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=56475
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-21-alice-in-wonderland_N.htm

-R

Spock Says

2009-06-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

"I will not allow you to lecture me on the merits of emotion"

R: I've heard this bit of dialogue way back from the debut of the first full trailer of my current favorite summer movie of the year, which happens to be J.J. Abram's Star Trek. With a warp-paced, character-driven (although in parts contrived) plot that focuses on the early years of Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the to-be Enterprise crew, this new take on Gene Roddenberry's creation is fresher, more likable, and definitely more accessible to the wider audience than ever.

A Trek character that has always fascinated me is none other than the most famous pointy-eared fellow in TV & Cinema (yes, even above those regal elves from LOTR): science officer SPOCK.

Played by Zachary Quinto, whose favorite past time is literally slicing open human heads as Sylar in HEROES, this Spock not only emulates the Spock of old, but as a younger version of it, brings an emotional side within the character that has never been unleashed to this extreme before. The dynamic between his Spock and James T. Kirk (admirably played by Chris Pine) is well-fleshed and pans out as one of the strongest points throughout the film.

This brings me back to the line above. Spock (as acting captain) utters it while being provoked by Kirk (why? go watch the movie). It actually sounds a bit cheesy without the context that Vulcans are uber-logical beings, and yet it keeps growing on me.

In fact, after watching the flick for an unprecedented 5th time (no, not because the movie's THAT good), I can't help myself from saying it at least once whenever I'm walking, looking in the mirror, taking a dump, and even when I'm typing a post on this blog (like now).

Seems illogical, right?

Is it illogical to say something,

that simply sounds cool as fuck,

although it's only a stylized version of saying:

SHUT UP!

Or is it just Mr Quinto's delivery?

Every God needs a Metatron.
(which sounds goddamn confusing without the context*)

And I may have just found one

-R

*)context

Artifact to Remember-2: Visual Communication Final Assignment

2009-05-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I am not an Art Student hahahaha...

Subject: Indonesia Kreatif 2009

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Logo

Late Night Karaoke Song 005: My Fair Lady

2009-05-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

My Fair Lady
by The Bird and The Bee (The Bird and The Bee)

I need someone to show
A little kindness
If he can turn his head
A little blindness
I know that I might seem
A little aimless
And I can also be
A little shameless.

Do you know the way?
I am from out of town
I need a place to stay,
someone to show me all around

A box of chocolates
And a dozen flowers
Just a little room
To sit and think for hours and hours

I will take it all
With little grains of salt
I make anything
Feel less like what it's not
Just say everything
As if it's not been heard
I will listen, hurt
I'm hearing every word.

Do you know the way?
I am from out of town
I need a place to stay,
someone to show me all around

A box of chocolates
And a dozen flowers
Just a little room
To sit and think for hours and hours

Do you know the way?
I am from out of town
I need a place to stay,
someone to show me all around

A box of chocolates
And a dozen flowers
Just a little room
To sit and think for hours and hours

Box of chocolates
And a dozen flowers
Just a little room
To sit and think for hours and hours and

(http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/bird_and_bee/my_fair_lady-lyrics-964965.html)

R: There's something in Inara's (the bird) soothing vocals that flies you away. It's dreamlike, wondrous quality feels amplified in this particular song, especially when the chorus kicks in. Is the fair lady singing in my ears? Ab-so-fuckin-lutely lovely.

-R

Movids II: The Summer Roast

2009-05-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

May's here and thus what is traditionally referred to as the "summer movie season" is in the air. It's that time of year when Hollywood unleashes their tentpoles to cater to the masses and gobble up revenue at the B.O. Of course the landscape these days is overpopulated and not every movie will be as good as the other, so the question is:

Which movies will hit the top, and which movies will be a flop?

Here are, according to www.comingsoon.net, on which I duly agree, 10 of the biggest movies to hit the silver screen this summer.

See you at the cinema!

-R

Mr. Mustache is My New Hero...

2009-05-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

Because he ---the security officer of our so-called 'World Class' library--- helped me open the wretched library toilet door from the other side. Picture me locked in a small room for hours, even days, with my trademark koko shirt on, shouting and pleading out of sheer loneliness (no, forget the social reasons, that's so not me)

What I got from googling 'Mustache Hero': Mark Spitz; 7 gold medals in Muenchen '72.
Dude looks kind of gay, though.

Where it happened

-R

Late Night Karaoke (Dance) Song 004: I'm Your Boogie Man

2009-04-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

I'm Your Boogie Man
by KC & The Sunshine Band (Part 3)

I'm your boogie man that's what I am
I'm here to do whatever I can
Be it early mornin' late afternoon
Or at midnight it's never too soon
To wanna please you to wanna please you
To wanna do it all all for you
I wanna be your be your lover boy
I wanna be the one ya love most of all - oh yeah

I'm your boogie man I'm your boogie man
Turn me on
I'm your boogie man I'm your boogie man
Do what you want
I'm your boogie man I'm your boogie man
Turn me on
I'm your boogie man I'm your boogie man
Do what you want

I'm your boogie man that's what I am
I'm here to do whatever I can
Be it early mornin' late afternoon
Or at midnight it's never too soon
To wanna take you to wanna hold you
I wanna give me all all to you
And I want you to completely understand
Just where I'm at and where I am - oh yeah

I'm your boogie man I'm your boogie man, ...

I'm your boogie man that's what I am
I'm here to do whatever I can
Be it early mornin' late afternoon
Or at midnight it's never too soon
I wanna be with you I wanna be with you
Yeah we'll be together you and me
I wanna see you ah get near you
I wanna love you ah from sundown sunup - oh yeah oh yeah

I'm your boogie man that's what I am
I'm here to do whatever I can
Be it early mornin' late afternoon
Or at midnight it's never too soon
To wanna please you to wanna hold you
To wanna do it all all for you
I wanna be you be your lover boy
I wanna be the one ya love most of all
I'm your boogie man aha ...

(http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/I%27m-Your-Boogie-Man-lyrics-KC-The-Sunshine-Band/7715DD0094FC59F748256E0500080602)

R: No, I'm not a stalker/boogieman hahaha. The thought of posting the lyrics of this song came to me after watching this year's best blockbuster so far, Watchmen. Played over and over in other films, TV and Cinema, it just works so well in The Keene Riot Act, one of the Comedian's standout moments in the whole movie.

-R

The Bypassing Gooner; Pay Attention to the Line Below

2009-04-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

(just scroll down to see the corny reason why this post even exists)

The term 'Gooner' refers to a fan of Arsenal FC, a top English football club nicknamed "The Gunners" (go figure why).

I've been a self-proclaimed passionate Gooner for over ten years now, simply because of the attractive way they play. I always try to watch all of their games on TV, even if it means staying up in the early hours on a school day.

Exclusive Premiere League broadcasting rights have put a leash on this hobby of mine. A year and a half ago, I tried to catch each game by attending public match screenings -held by the official fan club, Arsenal Indonesia Supporters (AIS)- although I was not a registered member of it (well, it's public anyway hehe). The second half of that season was a bit more relaxed. My dad hooked up the god-awful Astro and so, I could watch the matches regularly at home again. But it wasn't good value, because Astro was crap in content and quality, aside from holding the rights to broadcast the Premiere League football matches.

A fracas in the upper-echelon of that damned corporation ensued, causing broadcasting rights to shift hands. Not wanting to burden my oldman, I said that he didn't have to subscribe to the next cable TV operator who'd purchased the rights. And so, I began streaming football games on the net, despite the mediocre connection speed in Indonesia. Think 90 minutes of stop and start, low-res tube vids: that's how I enjoyed my footy games...fuck.

As you might have read in the previous post, I have been mightily bored these few days.

Coincidentally, AIS was celebrating it's 6th birthday and was having another match screening at 'Gooners Corner' (formerly known as Langsat Corner).

So what did I do? I went there alone of course (like always).

Sticking like a remora on a shark, I pretended to be a simple bypasser who had decided to go in just to eat some food (like I did in the past, I'm not good in being acquainted ,see).

The game I watched (against Boro) was a bit bland. It was an easy win for the boys in red and white, Captain Cesc being a hero by bagging a sweet brace.

The real test looms ahead, when the boys visit Old Trafford to play the Mancunians. If they play like they did today, I daresay it might not end well.

-------if you've paid attention--------------------------

Off the pitch, there were regular Gooners,

Primus (yes, Panji Manusia Millenium) and David Tarigan (Aksara Records)!

Although I don't know a hairbreadth about what he actually does or has done, I've always perceived David Tarigan as this artistic indie dude whose biggest success has been hypnotizing the uptown youth of this bloody city to believe that they're hip, unique, and plain cool by just listening to the stuff he listens to!

(relax, I don't know anything I'm saying hahaha)

And if it is so, then he IS truly, truly, truly awesome hahahaha...

Cynicism aside, the cool bloke sat across me.

And this, is the corny reason why this post even exists.

-R

Fucking Awesome

Walk The Walk, Oink The Oink

2009-04-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

I was bored,

like always

I had nothing to do, or rather, no will, desire, and commitment to do the things I had to do,

like always

So what did I do?

I walked to Grand Indonesia from my house*.

not like always

No, this ain't bragging (well, that's up to you, I guess).
I walked the walk not to talk the talk, but to experience the walk,
to see the things I usually see at a glimpse
when sitting inside a vehicle that moves at 50 to 60 km/hours...

I ended up in arguably the most upper-class of malls in Jakarta all sweaty and dusty.

Okay, I'm here.

Now what? Window-shopping?

Yes, window-shopping, because I only brought 50.000 rupiahs.

Yes, I don't have an independent income flow that streams regularly.

What would I do with 50.000 rupiahs?

I definitely had to spare half for the cab home. (I already walked the walk, right?)

So what did I do?

I ate pork**.

Nasi Campur Babi Kenanga, to be precise.

not like always

No, again, this ain't bragging (well, that's up to you, I guess)
I oinked the oink not to talk the talk, but to taste the oink,
to eat the things I usually see on the plates of chinks and bataks' (no offense)

I believe that most of my associates who have conversed with me upon the taste of ham are divided; some hate it while some love it.

It's quite good, but not a world-beater.

Enough said

And then I used what was left of the original 50.000, and took a cab home.

And now I'm in front of my laptop again

And now, I'm bored again

like always

-R

Oink the Oink, Delicious

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*) I live in Patra Kuningan. Not Menteng, so it wasn't that close or that far.
**) I'm a Moslem

A Bad Week-Cont'-end

2009-04-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's obviously a different week. But the following paragraph has something to do with the 'bad week' post.

Most of the midterm results have been handed out. The ones I predicted to be average turned out to be quite good (and feel good thanks to the art self-depreciation), and the ones I predicted to be rock-bottom were...rock-bottom.

100% unrelated, the icing on the cake was layered a few hours ago. My beloved Arsenal bowing out at the FA Cup Semifinals courtesy of Chelsea and co. Pisses me off, not only because of the result, but more because of the seemingly formulaic manner of our defeats against the Blues. Flowing football definitely doesn't work when you're up against world-class,tall and strong experienced players, who don't give you time and space to play your game. A disastrous showing from our makeshift defense didn't do us any good either, against The IVORIAN MONSTER who seems to have a knack of scoring when playing us. Crap.

I like to be (or seem) pessimistic, so I'll just say that our chances of filling up the cabinet after four trophy-less years are fading fast.

The Ivorian Monster enjoys making Condomhead into his bitch!

-R

556

2009-04-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

5 on over here.

On a 5 over there.

But all I want, is a 6.

-R

A Bad Week

2009-03-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Bad midterm exams, actually. Here's the breakdown:

-Tuesday

Global Marketing Communication
not sure about some of the argumentation -60-80

IMC
likewise, but on a greater scale -50-70

-Wednesday

Creative Planning
a breath of fresh air, too bad everybody had a chance to cheat, so no novelty -70-90

Media Planning
MISS-COMMUNICATION WITH MICHAEL CORLEONE. Fuck -30-50

-Thursday

Hard Sell
a relief -70-90

Visual Communication
this is not, I repeat what everybody had in mind of when they chose the subject -40-60

-Friday

Social Research Methodology
a showcase of stupidity and lack of logic -40-60

WORSE MIDTERM EVER. Ranks up there with semester one.

-R

Creativity, Where Have You Gone?

2009-03-10T05:09:00.000-07:00

10/3/’09

I’ve just returned home from an oh-so-normal day at campus. However, one particular moment in my IMC (Integrated Marketing Communication) class bugged me continually, even when I was already sitting on the bus, somewhat enjoying the rattles, shakes, and up and downs of the Ragunan-Kuningan Busway, while gazing perversely at the tanned thighs of the female tennis player who sat in front of me. That being said, maybe it wasn’t really oh-so-normal after all.

It was a small and insignificant moment, seriously. Not even worth talking about by a country mile. Problem is, I seem to contemplate a lot on these minute minutes, even when they seem to bear no ramifications.

It was simple. But let’s delve into the disclaimers beforehand: 1) my mind was, in a split-second, somewhere else 2) I was innocently drawing faces of people that don’t exist.

Spare a bit of your precious time, will you?

Building H, Room 20-forgot. Second session of IMC, the subject is something about consumer analysis. Until the end of the first session, I was still taking notes, but leisurely and in the awareness that mid-term exams loom next week. Delve back into the disclaimers, because that was what I was indulging in. The lecturer suddenly asks a question:

“blabla…new consumers blabla old consumers..”

My mind absurdly goes to the importance of relationship marketing over targeted marketing, and that too, is shrouded by an aura of forgetfulness. Like an idiot I say:

“Because old consumers will come back and back again” (shitty answer, I know)

The lecturer just looks at me and says:

“I expected more from someone like you”

I go all jerky and let it out that I wasn’t in the mood (lame excuse, but truthful in some ways)

She then passes the question to the bright pal beside me, who answers with aplomb.

“I’ll guess this one out. It has something to do with awareness. Getting new consumers requires the marketer to gain their awareness. This makes it harder than retaining old consumers” (This may even be fallacious misquotation of what he said, but who cares?)

The lecturer: Correcto Mundo

No, I’m not envious of the dude for profiting on my spoils. As a matter of fact, I was already half-way drawing a set of pointless characters representing feelings, like anger, loneliness, happiness, etc.

It was when I went downstairs, where the “Lae” of the dude who answered the question said, “Not in the mood, ey?”

I smiled, but something irked me. Come on, I thought. I can’t really use disinterestedness as an excuse, the fact had been written: I simply couldn’t answer the question, and that’s that.

But that was only a footnote, it was still remotely trivial. That was until my mind linked the preconditions of his answer to my own personal ghosts.

Let’s put it this way, the fellow who answered the question isn’t majoring in advertising, so he had not academically studied marketing before. Secondly, he didn’t take any notes during the session. And most importantly, he answered instantly, as if he pulled out a rabbit out of the hat.

Some might attribute these qualities to the sharpness of intelligence, but of my own accord, I’d register them as creativity. Why, you may ask? It’s down to the fact that he wasn’t as used to the subject as much as I was supposed to be. To be able to see how concepts align with each other at a glance and invent a logical assumption that in turn, answers a question you’re not familiar with, that’s definitely creativity. Don’t be fooled by the insertion of the word ‘logical’ in the explanation, because I’m referring to both sides of the brain working reciprocally to result in this burst of creativity.

And it is this concept, ‘Creativity’, that has been, for the past two years, my personal ghost.

I wondered where it had gone.

Let me pull out the bragging rights. I was always involved in creative-associated projects since as long as I can remember. As I kid I loved to draw all day, I was always influential in almost every significant creative project during high school, and I cheekily gained admission to the two arguably most creative majors in the country. A renowned art school in Bandung, and the highest-ranked communication program in the country. I chose the latter because it was, technically, an offer I couldn’t refuse

Like I said, those were bragging rights, in some way pointing out that, I like to brag. Yes, but not explicitly. I like to weasel myself to receive verbal accolades, position myself to gain a certain impression, self-depreciate myself to gain some appreciation (which is probably what I’m attempting now).

And so I entered Depok with a gleam of cockiness in my eyes. Things rolled out smoothly. A few favors here and there, and my abovementioned trifecta of bragging attempts were on the run. The branding was going as planned. Another four years of being praised as a creative individual, I thought.

But here I am one and a half years later, ranting about how creativity has become my personal ghost since then. Reason why? I’ll use the words of ‘Ada Apa Dengan Cinta’ screenwriter Prima Rusdi during her guest lecture (insightful for movie-geeks like me) to explain.

End of ’08, Creative Thinking Class, Building H, Room Also Forgot.

Prima Rusdi: How do you measure creativity in a professional environment?

Class: (silent, but most of them probably already knew the answer)

Rana: Their consistency?

Prima Rusdi: Bingo, In other words, their performance. The amount of creative end-product a scriptwriter, a copywriter, a director, anybody working as a creative, can come up with, week in, week out.

Her words made me reflect. How was my creative performance? I kept thinking about it for the following weeks. It kind of diminished any pride I had previously amassed from my boasting.

The list of personal creative failing for me contains many projects since I went to University.

-Comm Weekend: Never realized to its fullest potential. Although, I can take it, because of the circumstances

-Drug Prevention Program for the Social Department: Stuck on coming up with a story, didn’t really contribute in its conceptions. Presently messing up the storyboards.

-TV AFS Documentary Project: Stuck on episode 2, no creative gale whatsoever.

In regular life.

-Pretending to be a sort of ringleader that reflects and collects ideas from all over the board during a creative discussion, especially academic. This is actually down to the fact that I’m afraid to be stuck in the idea-building process.

-Posing as a movie know-it-all, conveniently positioning myself as a budding director. All you have to do is spent 60% of your time on wiki, imdb, aintitcool. comingsoon, and joblo. It’s that easy.

The list goes on, capitulating in that insignificant moment in IMC class.

Have I regressed creatively during my time as a university student?

I think the evidence is crystal clear.

Like my bright friend, please invent an answer to that, my friends

Wait…

Hold on a sec…

Having ranted all that, maybe there is still a bit of spark left in me.

I’d need that to write this post anyway, wouldn’t I?

Oops, I guessed that just spoiled the bragging attempt :)

-R

Late Night Karaoke Song 003: Keep Fishin'

2009-03-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Keep Fishin'
by Weezer (Maladroit)

You'll never be
A better Kind
If you don't leave
(the world)
The world behind

Waste my days, (waste my days)
It Drown aways (drown aways)
It's just the thought of you
In love with someone else
It breaks my heart to see you hangin' from your shelf

You'll never do
The things you want
If you don't move
(and get)
And get a job

Waste my days, (waste my days)
Drown aways (drown aways)
It's just the thought of you
In love with someone else
It breaks my heart
To see you hangin' from your shelf

Oh girl when I'm in love with you
Keep fishin' if you feel it's true
There's nothing much that we can do
To save you from yourself

Waste my days,(waste my days)
It Drown aways (drown aways)
It's just the thought of you
In love with someone else
It breaks my heart
To see you hangin' from a shelf

Oh girl when I'm in love with you
Keep fishin' if you feel it's true
There's nothing much that we can do
To save you from yourself

You'll never be
A better kind
You'll never be
A better kind

Waste my days (ohhh)
Waste my days (ohhh)
Waste my days (ohh whoo)
Waste my days (ohhh)
Waste my days (ohh whoo)
Waste my days

(http://www.metrolyrics.com/keep-fishing-lyrics-weezer.html)

R: I've been fishing for almost two years now, or to be more precise, saying to my folks that I'm gonna fish. The truth is: how the hell am I gonna fish when I don't have a fishing pole and some fresh bait? Haha, sad me :)

Too bad I couldn't find the original video clip. Love those fucking muppets. As a bonus, here's an ukulele cover of the song by Julia Nunes. Sweet.

-R

Artifact to Remember-1: 1st Shot at Advertising

2009-03-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

An assignment for advertising creative planning class. About the misuse of hazard lights during rain. Cheesy indeed.

-R

PsychoMom's Word of Wisdom (3/3/'09)

2009-03-03T05:24:00.000-08:00

comes out of these kind of conversations, only vice-versa with the designated seating.

R: (silent)

"What's a mature person?"

PsychoMom:

"Someone who can balance what he thinks, feels, and does. He knows what he's doing, why he's doing it, and how best to do it."

-R

Rapid Status-Changing at the 81st Oscars

2009-02-23T07:17:00.001-08:00

I don't usually follow the Oscars in great depth. I'll read information about them and make plagiarized guesses on who'll win, but I never put myself to watch the 4-hour routine. However, having seen some of the movies in contention beforehand, an unusual jolt of excitement made me want to watch this year's festivities live. It wasn't generated from a tight-locked battleground between nominees, for the pre-Oscar atmosphere was pretty-clear cut: Slumdog Millionaire would reign supreme. On the other hand, it was also this amazing story that became the sole catalyst in pumping me up for the Oscars. I liked the flick so much, from it's classic rags-to-riches theme, to it's little moments of shocking cruelty, to it's vibrant colors and sounds, and mostly, to it's feverish feel-good factor , all mixed into Danny Boyle's masterful masala of a movie. It had a certain brand of magic, the type of movie that appeals both to the critics and masses alike. It made me want to cheer for it to take all honors, although I haven't seen movies like Frost/Nixon, The Reader, and Milk. It made me believe that winning Best Picture was it's destiny, as I think almost everyone who watched the movie believed.

I was up a bit late, and then found out that there were not any live airings on the tivo, so I had to find a stream on the net. Luckily, I found one and it ran pretty smoothly. Some awards like best supporting actress and best animated picture were already handed out, so I had to do with Hugh Jackman, Zack Efron, and Beyonce performing cabaret in a tribute to the musical genre.

The other tab I opened was at the homepage of E!, where facebook status updates from people around the world watching the Oscars were flickering by the second. Every single moment brought a change to someones shoutout. And I thought: Hey, Why I shouldn't I do this?

Ranaditya is streaming the Oscars. 9:49am

And so I did.

Ranaditya isn't sure what to say about the tribute to the musical... 9:58am

Yup, I didn't really know what to make of it. It wasn't bad, but probably I wasn't just in the right set of mind to hear a medley that included Lady Marmalade and Summer Nights. But one thing was sure. Hugh Jackman is one hell of a stage performer. He totally fit the bill to host.

Ranaditya likes the way the nominees are announced this year. 10:07am

This was a really, really neat twist. By having five previous winners of an acting category each read a praise toward one nominee, it made the whole thing really feel like a peer to peer recognition of merit. You could feel as if a bond was created by the legends on stage presenting with the select nominees waiting for the call of triumph.

Ranaditya is seeing Heath Ledger's final tribute. 10:09am

The Joker's last laugh was a shoe in, but it was touching nevertheless to see Heath's family accept the award.

Ranaditya thinks that Benjamin won by a country mile for visual effects... 10:29am

With a playing field including the well-done Iron Man and the realistic Dark Knight, it was there all along for Benjamin Button to win best VFX with it's seamless use of CGI to portray it's aging (and more importantly, backward-aging) characters.

Ranaditya : Slumdog is on a roll! Not bad, Chai-Wallah!!! 10:37am

Not bad indeed. By this moment, Slumdog had already collected 4, adding the little gold men for sound-mixing and editing.

Ranaditya : nice medley! Define Dancing + Latika's theme! 10:54am

Wondrous. Both songs have already been on this blog's music player for quite a while hehe...

Ranaditya : A.R. Rahman's work is genius! 10:55am

From http://ranadityaalief.blogspot.com/2009/02/late-night-karaoke-song-002-jai-ho.html

"A.R. Rahman's work on the soundtrack is diamond. Every note of music (including the use of contemporary songs) blends in and enchances the emotions throughout every second of the film. Magical".

Ranaditya : A.R. Rahman's is performing AND winning at the same time. 11:02am

He just won best soundtrack and performed with John Legend on a medley of "Down To Earth" (OST Wall-E), O..Saya (feat vocals from M.I.A.), and Jai Ho. Was it Deja Vu when he immediately won best song for Jai Ho?

Ranaditya hmm... I must watch this 'Departures' from Japan. Funny speech! 11:09am

Winning best foreign language film, the cast & crew receiving the award courageously spoke in broken English on stage. Did he take cues from the governator on the end?

Ranaditya : it was Danny Boyle's destiny. 11:21am

From start to end. And so for his magnum opus (though some may argue). Only he could bring the energy needed to lift Slumdog to its heights.

Ranaditya thinks that best actress Kate is hot, but Marion from last year is even hotter. 11:35am

For this night only, I thought she looked way hotter. Congratulations to Kate for finally winning it after 6 tries.

Ranaditya :A gay politician may have cost me a month's worth of free tickets at Blitz. 11:45am

On a Blitz Megaplex Oscar sweepstakes quiz on the net, I shamelessly followed comingsoon.net's final picks for the winner in each category except best lead actor. The Oscar Warrior went with the tailor-made (biopic, gay), while I defected and went with the sentimental Golden Globe winner. My only original choice turned out to be costly, as it was the only one wrong choice I made. Sean Penn edged Mickey Rourke in the battle between the reborn 80's badboys. And I should stop pretending to be know-it when it comes to movies hehe...

Ranaditya : The Best Picture nomination montage is haunting. 11:51am

The more I think about it, the more this year's Oscars seems to look like hall of fame acceptance show. You really get a sense that each winner is etching their name in history.

Ranaditya : Slumdog is finally crowned a millionaire. Best Picture. 11:54am

Finally, the obvious moment I had waited so long to see. Destiny fulfilled.

One last goodie:

All in all, an improvement from last year!
Good Night, and Good Oscars!

-R

Late Night Karaoke Song 002: Jai Ho

2009-02-21T09:29:00.000-08:00

Jai Ho
by A.R. Rahman (OST Slumdog Millionaire)

jai ho
jai ho

aaja aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale

jai ho
jai ho

ratti ratti sachi maine jaan gavayi hai
nach nach koylo pe raat bitayi hai
akhiyon ki neend maine phoonko se uda di
neele tare se maine ungli jalayi hai

aaja aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale

chakh le ha chakh le ye raat shahad hai chakh le
rakh le ha dil hai dil aakhri had hai rakh le
kala kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na

kala kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na

aaja aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale

jai ho jai ho
jai ho jai ho

kab se ha kab se tu lab pe ruki hai kah de
kah de ha kah de ab aankh jhuki hai kah de
aisi aisi roshan aankhe roshan dono bhi hai hai kya

aaja aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale

jai ho
jai ho
jai ho
jai ho

(http://www.metrolyrics.com/jai-ho-lyrics-ar-rahman.html)

R: Sweet Bollywood homage in the credits of this truly awesome movie. A.R. Rahman's work on the soundtrack is diamond. Every note of music (including the use of contemporary songs) blends in and enchances the emotions throughout every second of the film. Magical.

-R

Movids I: 'Transfomers: Revenge of The Fallen' teaser

2009-02-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

Even if there's gonna be some Megatron-sized plot holes and logical lapses in it, I'm still gonna see it for the spectacle and popcorn. It's good to feel like a kid...

-R

Waking up at 10.00 PM

2009-02-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

As I'm typing these words, the clock on the screen says 3:00 AM.

I woke up from an 'extended' nap around 10.00 PM yesterday, so I guess I'm not totally insomniac, either. I'm also positive that humans aren't nocturnal beings, more so to those who don't work or go out at night on a daily basis. Having said that, these kinds of 'irregular sleeping patterns' usually infect me on holidays. Before bed, I'd go online and surf through all kinds of stuff, from the important to the trivial to the completely irrelevant (not necessarily in that order), and end up shutting down before dawn. In other words, an excuse I'd register as a reason for my behavior would be that I'm addicted to the internet.

But I'm not typing at... 3.10 AM to talk about why I've shamelessly embraced this habit, but rather to get to know about it a bit better. I don't smoke or take any kind of shit, so I'm not sick or anything, but I'm just a bit curious about sleeping through the day and waking up through the night.

It's now 3.23 AM, I've just googled up 'irregular sleeping' and visited:

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000800.htm

and focused on this part of the article:

PROBLEMS STICKING TO A REGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE

Problems may also occur when you do not maintain a consistent sleep and wake schedule. This occurs when traveling between times zones and with shift workers on rotating schedules, particularly nighttime workers.

Sleep disruption disorders include:

Irregular sleep-wake syndrome
Jet lag syndrome
Natural short sleeper (the person sleeps less hours than normal but has no ill effects)
Paradoxical insomnia (the person actually sleeps a different amount than they think they do)
Shift work sleep disorder

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by 3.33 AM I've assumed that I'm suffering from the disorder in bold, even though I don't exactly 'work' at night. So I searched it on the net and was led to this site:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Sleep_Disorders/hic_Shift_Work_Sleep_Disorder.aspx

here's an excerpt:

What is shift work sleep disorder (SWSD)?

SWSD is a sleep disorder that affects people who frequently rotate shifts or work at night. Schedules of these people go against the body’s natural Circadian rhythm, and individuals have difficulty adjusting to the different sleep and wake schedule. SWSD consists of a constant or recurrent pattern of sleep interruption that results in insomnia or excessive sleepiness. This disorder is common in people who work non-traditional hours, usually between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

What are the symptoms of SWSD?

Difficulty concentrating
Headaches
Lack of energy

Not every shift worker suffers from SWSD. However, if you are a shift worker and experience any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor.

What are the consequences of SWSD?

Increased accidents
Increased work-related errors
Increased sick leave
Increased irritability, mood problems, etc.

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Hmpf, no wonder I really, really have a bad mood whenever I have to attend class after a long night's 'shift' or more evidently, when I pick up a call from my friend in the morning (ask Eja).

Well, It's already 4.54 AM, and I've had some detours, so I guess it's time for me to test my luck in tucking in.

See you when I wake up (if I can sleep)!

-R

Late Night Karaoke Song 001: Bella Notte

2009-02-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

Bella Notte
by George Givot, Bill Thompson And Disney Studio Chorus (OST Lady and the Tramp)

Oh this is the night, it's a beautiful night
And we call it bella notte
Look at the skies, they have stars in their eyes
On this lovely bella notte.
Side by side with your loved one,
You'll find enchantment here.
The night will weave its magic spell,
When the one you love is near!
Oh this is the night, and the heavens are right!
On this lovely bella notte!

(http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/classicdisney/bellanotte.htm)

R: Lovely song, perfect serenade for one of the most romantic scenes ever in animation history, from arguably Disney's most romantic masterpiece. The fact that I can enjoy these kinds of tunes is pretty ironic, by the way.

Here's a Japanese take on it. Sadly, it says on the page that the singer passed away a few years ago. Bless her soul.

-R

All-Star Weekend Phoenix '09: Below The Ring

2009-02-16T01:55:00.000-08:00

As usual, since the decline of my beloved Pacers, the only NBA-related events I follow are the NBA All-Star Weekend and the finals at the very end of each season. This year's star-studded festivities were held in Phoenix, home of the Suns. The question is: did it live up to previous weekends?

Let's elaborate a little.

All-Star Friday saw the sophomores continue their dominance over the rookies with a 122-116 win . Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder led the way with a record 46 points. He was in the middle of things again when he won the inaugural HORSE competition the next day.

Like Kevin, this year's 1st draft pick Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls certainly did no harm on his tag as one of the brightest young players in the game. His silky point guard skills were on showcase as he passed the obstacles throughout the skills challenge to win with aplomb (check out the dunk finish).

Moving forward, the shooting stars competition wasn't really a crowd-pleaser in this year's event. Team Phoenix were beaten by Detroit in the second round. Their inability to hit the half-court shot cost them dearly (it took 22 attempts).

Next, Miami Heat shooting guard Daequan Cook performed impressively in the 3 point shootout. Dethroning 2-time champion Jason Kapono, Daequan needed a tiebreak to beat Orlando's Rashard Lewis to win the contest. He finished with a total of 19 points over Rashard's 7.

And to cap things off, the slam dunk contest brought defending champion Dwight "Superman" Howard to face-off against 2006 champion Nate Robinson, J.R. Smith of the Nuggets, and fan-voted Spaniard Rudy Fernandez from the Trailblazers.

There were some neat dunks, although most of them seemed like slight modifications of previous dunks seen in the competition. Having said that, the showmanship, especially from Howard and Robinson was exceptional. Dwight had me laughing on my pants when he brought out a telephone box and a higher ring just to pull off his tricks. Nate was also hilarious when he went to the dressers and came out all green. He was dubbed "Krypton-Nate" as opposed to Dwight being the man in red and blue tights. Probably his dunk over Dwight in the end justified his win with a 52% fan vote. A poor final dunk from Howard also blew the wind in his direction, so I guess the villain deservedly had the last laugh

To wrap things up was Sunday's All-Star Game. Of course it was more circus fare than competition with all the big names and party tricks. It even began before the game, with Shaq showing sweet dancing skills for a seven footer.

Shaq was the center of the attention for the course of the match, with my personal fave of the night: a give and go with CP3 through the legs of Dwight. Now that's funny.

In the end, the romanticism that was Kobe and Shaq playing again in the same team proved deadly, easing the West to a resounding 146-119 over the East. Rightly so, Kobe and Shaq were both named as co-MVP's for the game.

So, to answer the question on how it measures up to the All-Star Weekends of yesteryear, the answer would be yes, but barely. While the usual excitement and razzle-dazzle was there, no records were shattered, and more over, bar-Sunday, no one really brought the house down (read: Carter in '00, Dwight in '08). With that in mind, I can safely say that while the weekend was fun, it was below the ring for those expecting to be blown away.

-R

2 Shirts

2009-02-15T07:55:00.000-08:00

Aloha!

Just got back from watching 'Valkyrie' (3.5/5) at Blitz, GI. Haven't bought any clothing for a while, so when I popped by 'Alun-Alun Indonesia' on the 3rd floor, my eyes were instantly fixated at a certain display entitled "Indonesia Hari Ini".

There were some celebrity-designed environmental bags, installment art, and some local designer fashion wear. I guess it was quite nice, although my judgment was probably clouded by the fact that I'm not much of an art curator and that the store was halfway closing down (some of the works were in the middle of being shelved for tomorrow).

However, the thing that really brought me there was a stack of tees with some pretty sweet prints. In my opinion, the designs were definitely on par with those you usually see in upper-end retail stores. But what struck me the most was the content: everything was centered around something Indonesian; potraits of Soekarno, wayang siluets, Sumatran tigers.

And then, what hit me like lightning was:

Hoorah! The tees were around 140.000 -150.000 IDR. Put the discount in and I got two for the price of one. Fucking sweet. Love this bitch of a country.

So I got these:

Gerindra in dark chocolate

and...

Aceh's very own Xena

Not to shabby, don't you think? Call me lacking of class or unfashionable, but at least I firmly believe that these are better value than those in topman or graniph (the latter isn't bad, if you go for 4/5, that is).

I mean, who needs a body fit when your body isn't fit?

Oops.

-R

http://www.alunalunindonesia.com/
http://magichappensclothing.blogspot.com/

I'll know I'm in Heaven if...#1

2009-02-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

God the Almighty says hi to me in the form of this:

and talks to me in different impersonations, like this:

Spacey rules. That in mind, this is what I call blasphemy:

-R

Four or Five Years Old

2009-02-14T01:42:00.001-08:00

The 18th Letter

2009-02-13T23:08:00.000-08:00

is R