Ch-ch-change.

We're falling for it

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:20:00 +0000

At the exact moment I was born (as in slipped out covered in amniotic fluids into the hands of a doctor), there was I and me.

Myself hadn't exactly come around.

That would take another 10-15 years or so.
10-15 years of trying to figure out this life, figuring out that my legs weren't good for athletics, but not too bad in competitive cycling. Figuring out that i could play the guitar, but not too well. Figuring out that I was probably suited to being a loner. Although I always wished to be part of something.

And then adulthood struck. (Yes - that's just at 16, but that's when the white hair appeared).

It's hard. Knowing what I did early on. Beginning to realise my intuition was actually right about a lot of things. Truth doesn't hurt. It rips you apart - but if you let it, it puts you back together in a different way from where you started.

My intuition has been buzzing ever since. Louder and clearer, it's hard to tell me a lie. I have too many questions to make someone uncomfortable. And it shows. I can't ignore what shows up in front of me.

Although I tried to ignore. Like what it actually feels like to be crazy. To be so taken by somebody you don't have a reason. To be so catatonic, I couldn't reach out and show what I meant. To be lame, weak and spongelike. Not to do, say or behave the way that's normally considered the norm.

But normal? I've never been that.
Fantastic? That's last description I would be given.
Normal isn't even beginning to reach me.

I've wondered. And wondered hard. Dreamed more. Wished upon countless stars. And still, all I have is this realisation.

We've all been screwed. By advertising in one way or another, probably. Or by the many books, people, institutions and social whirls, we've been told. By other people, by experience or by personal momentary lapeses of reasons. They all tell us what its like to be in love. In lust. In the I-love-you-as-a-friend but not more. In ... fatuated. You think you know it inside, but really?

Truly, 70 year-old lovey-dovey couples have gone beyond. They've found the real secret. They probbaly found the thing that matters most to them, let go for the ride and made it the centre of everything that matters.

And sure, it's different for everyone.

It's all in belief. In the willingness to be wrong. In the huge gamble that is life. You might be wrong. You might be right. But if you rely on the same measurements as you did before, you'll be wrong all over again.

Really, as ironic as it seems, advertising does have the answer. If it didn't work out before, why is it going to work now?

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Why?

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:35:00 +0000

Why did it have to be this way?
Why did the wind blow the other way?
Why can't things go my way?
For once, just for one-tenth of once.

Is this a big deal?
No, most would say.
Get over it, and grow up.
Yea. Only if you could feel what i do.

Enough with the bull.
Enough with the chicken.
Enough with the pig.
(Although it's mighty tasty roasted.)

The truth will save you.
The truth will shave you.
Bare of any pretences.
Slick and shiny and free of the world.

I remember simpler days.
Looking up at the sky and dreaming.
Of what could be and what might be.
Wow - has that just slipped away?

Someoday.
One day.
In the future.
Or now.

It's all up to us.

One more time

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:26:00 +0000

Laugh one more time.
Laught at my ears, my nose my hair.
Laugh one more time at my lack of social grace.
Laugh all you want.

Poke fun at whatever you fancy.
Poke fun at a cynical stare.
Poke fun at a seemingly anal question.
Poke fun because - it's worth a laugh.

Ignore whatever you want.
Ignore whatever you can't get from anyone.
Ignore what you're worth.
And sell out for the material sutff.

Make Gods out of want you want.
Make Gods out of what you think you deserve.
Make Gods out of nothing at all.
Make a God out of your (perceived) power over someone else.

Lie. Lie often. Lie everyday.
No-one will catch you. Or so you think.
You're so slick you'll never get caught.
You're so slick you've been seen through since day one.

Mock the living.
Mock hope.
Mock love.
Mock yourself.

Make tomorrow what you want.
Make tomorrow anyting at all.
Make tomorrow your dream.
Make tomorrow a thing someone else decides for you.

Try to lie one more time.
Try it again and again.
Think you're getting away with it.
It's a nice illusion anyhow.

Everyone sees.
Everyone understands.
Everyone (almost) forgives.
Where do you stand?

You've got to get it all together.
You got stuck in a moment.
And you can't get out of it.
You got caught stealing lyrics from U2.

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Is the universe deaf?

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:27:00 +0000

In so many ways, i've been clear.
So many times, in so many various expressions.
Over and over, in words and thought and deed.
But still, it's mistaken for something else.

Its mistaken for something shallow.
Something passing, like a fleeting physical touch.
Stolen from a moment, never returned ...
but without the realisation of where it came from.

Maybe I'm mistaken.
Maybe I should speak up.
Louder.
Clearer.

But a feeling inside is hoarse.
Nothing escapes, except for mumbles.
And apologies.
And the muttering of more under-the-breath mumbles.

And tiredness and resignation
and despair and tiredness and
a tired mind and dimmed inner light
AND a tiredness prevails.

What a waste.
Could have been beautiful.
Should have been beautiful.
Might have been beautiful.

Why isn't the universe listening?
Perhaps it's deaf.
Perhaps it's tired of listening.
Perhaps it's tired of listening to me.

Maybe someday,
she will, it will, the idea will,
stay and make a home,
and make it a place to be.

A place, decided and not in between,
for even alone is a place.
But a place somewhere.
Decided and sure and happy.

Maybe I should be clearer one more time.
One more attempt at being sure.
Loved. Secure. And in a somewhat floating state of control.
Maybe one more time.

Some time or other,
the universe has to remove the earplugs.
And hear what has been plainly spoken.
And make a decision if i should have it or not.

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You need a new browser

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:16:00 +0000

It's free.
It works faster than the old one.
It seems 'lighter' than the old one. (can a programmer explain?)
It does more.
It's free.
It's Firefox 3. At mozilla.com, if you can get in.

So on the net, they suspend the laws of physics and finance to do the impossible. Looks like the real-world, real-money companies have a lot more to do to keep up.

All's not too bad though.

Pressure can break anything.

Or make you exceed outdated goals.

It'll be a fun ride.

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Deserving and earning

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:43:00 +0000

I deserve:

The feeling that comes when you make someone smile.

The full benefit of intuition that comes with patience: I have spent much time observing.

Making my own mistakes; and carrying the burden it brings.

To try something new everyday - a new way of working, leading, following, listening.

To make an actual difference in the world - I'd hate to just take up space. Lord knows I already use too many plastic bags.

To find the actual difference I can make. Seriously, this one is difficult. Easy to say, hard to do and even worse to do consistently.

To be calmer. I've seen enough - so why do simple things raise my hackles? Why do I even have hackles?

To be able to pick up the ball, when its been dropped over and over.

To do the things I love and to get them right.

To be needed.

To find something I love.

To find something that loves me back.

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Experience IS bollocks. Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:00:00 +0000

There are places where experience counts. But I have to ask, is it really 20 years of experience or just 3 years of experience and 17 years of repeating that experience over and over?

How many times have I stepped into work and said, no problem - i've done this for a while now and its a simple process. It's much harder to step in, look at everything with fresh eyes then try to do something that's never been done before.

Sure the chances of failure are high. And of course, safe has always been popular. Unfortunately, one of my tomorrows won't want the same old safe thing anymore.

It's like being between a rock and a hard place. So i'll pick my risks, and go in with my eyes wide open. At the very least, it's going to be a fun ride.

And I'm not too worried. Because everyone's worrying about the same thing already.

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Experience is bollocks? Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:59:00 +0000

Wanted: Senior executive with at least 10-12 years of experience.

We've all seen recruitment ads like that. And it seems like experience counts for so much. Otherwise, why would it even be in the headline?

But most jobs you and I know are now changing so rapidly. We can't possibly do what we did 10 years ago and expect to get sterling results. Too much of the world is different.

For example, the poor unnamed US election candidate who made conflicting promises in campaign speeches in different towns. He was followed around with cameras and his speeches open to great acclaim - on YouTube. Suddenly the world could see he was making two conflicting claims on the same deal.

Or taking selling a product at truly stratospheric prices to keep it in the hands of the truly elite - today, factory outlets and out-of-season stores show you what it's really worth. Selling the same product to the masses - today the masses want a mass of choices, each one tailor-made for them.

Selling yesterday's solution, repackaged - hey the internet is now on our mobiles, and we know where you ripped it off from faster than you can claim 'but it's original.'

So other than keeping us alive and away from major disasters - what does experience do?

Oh wait. Weren't most great inventions lapses in reason and logic? Anyone with the experience to help answer this one?

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Trucks gone wild

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:59:00 +0000

A wonderful lapse of reason can put a smile on your face.
And that's the same thing chocolate does for you.
Especially when you know you shoudn't.
Sounds like i'm making up reasons for this ad.
Oh wait, then I probbaly sound like those people who sit in a cold room with shitty coffee and cold pizza as part of a focus group.

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Naked Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:51:00 +0000

Agent Provocateur releases a new perfume called Stripped.
Exclusively in Selfridges.
The promotion is done in the store-front window.
A live model, poses for a painter. In the nude.
He's painting. Slowly, i suppose.
And passers-by probably don't pass by too fast.

Such a good fit with the brand name isn't it?
Some brand names just have it.
Agent Provocateur does. And they make it work for them.
Some brand names have it. And yet don't max it out.
Is it fear of the unknown?
Too much wondering what everyone's going to wonder about you?

So it might be true. Sometimes we need to be a little stupid to be smart.

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Leave the oil alone

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:49:00 +0000

The best comment i ever heard to save the planet. Better than any Government-led initiative. Better than any Nobel prize winner's thoughts. (Especially the doubtful ones, yes there are some even in Nobel circles) Better than, well, better.

And the idea is:

"Leave the oil in the ground" by George Monbiot.

Check him out here

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Lindsay does Marilyn's nudes

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Just before she died of a drug overdose, Marilyn Monroe's famous photoshoot with Bert Stern made headlines.
America's favourite squeeze, naked and flirting with the camera.
And now Lindsay Lohan makes her own waves.
With the same photographer.
Is it a copy or a tribute?
Is there a difference?
Anyhow, I remember reading about that famous photoshoot.
In some old issue of Cosmopolitan magazine that was sitting around a hair salon's magazine rack.
It was Bert Stern's story - about how he ended up doing one of the most famous shoots ever.
That story is lost now, unless someone can find that issue.
Funny how print dissapears, but the internet is forever.

For more on Lindsay's shoot, click here.

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Clap, or I shoot.

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:15:00 +0000

Ever been forced to do anything? Or have you gone along with the 'popular vote'? How about the time you backed down from what you really wanted to do or say - simply becuase there was someone there whom you didn't think would like what you said?

Funny how if you lived in a dictator's country, you'd be pretty used to it. Do what they say or else. Or if you've worked in a dictator's office, you do whatever it takes or the family gets no bread.

But today, we have so many choices. We don't have dictators running our country. We do have some dictators running some offices, but there are other jobs out there. We can choose where we want to be - if you're not around like-minded people, just go where you are. We don't have to be forced to do anything.

But yet sometimes we still capitulate. And there's no-one left to blame.

Sigh.

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Little drummer boy

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:24:00 +0000

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Every once in a while, you see something amazing.
He's 4.
His name is Jonathan Nicklagard.
And he plays drums way, way better than most of us can hope to.
Some of the live bands playing in this town could take a lesson or two from him.
It's must be all about passion.
Doing something you love.
It shows. Beyond all the talk and hype, it really shows.

Three movies i needed to watch.

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:59:00 +0000

Across the Universe, Once and Other People's Lives.

Although I came across all these rather late (as in recently).
Although I almost wanted to watch another Hollywood hit just to see what the latest bling-fad was.

But I needed these 3.
To remind me that well-told stories always move.
That human emotions are the best special effects on screen.
That real life is as far away from reality TV - so far that it's on another planet.
That herd instincts can bring instant fame, and yet be instantly forgotten too.
That money has little to do with good stories.
The the really talented people aren't necessarily on the A-list, or trying to get into the A-list. Or don't even care about that A-list.
Oh and that love and good music are really made for each other.

Have a watch and see what it reminds you of. I'd like to know.

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I dare you

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:20:00 +0000

Forget facebook dares.
Here's the real thing.
And caught on video too.
All the stunts done by people who had conversations that sounded like this:
"I dare you to. I double-triple dare you"
"Wuss"
And you know what?
The world's oldest strategy to get people to take action (or do dumb things)
works just fine.
Check out some of the video in here.
I dare you.
I double-triple dare you.

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Horrible day

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:58:00 +0000

It's been said that the best humour tends to be the type that cuts closest to reality.
So if that is true, offices must really be horrible places to be in.
But it can't be true.
Unless 75% of the world is wrong, and the French are right.
Four day weeks please, we're here for pleasure.
Hmmm. Sounds right already.

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What could you withdraw from a Milk Bank?

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:50:00 +0000

Obviously, milk.
Not obviously, mother's milk.
Just as a blood bank is a life-saver, so will this be.
It's for premature babies.
Babies whose mothers are unable to feed them.
Babies with no mothers.
Babies who are critically ill.
What a well-fed idea from Naomi Bar-Yam of Newton MA, a social entreprenuer.
And that's a nice thing to be. Make a profit out of a project that is a genuinely profit to society.
And the people with the guts to spot it and put their money where their mouths are? Advanta corp through their ideablob.com contest.

See more here.

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Truth sells

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:26:00 +0000

How about that?
Blatant, honest truth.
Even if it is only true for one person in the world, and that would have been the writer.
Although you gotta admit, the shoe-maker who admits to just being there to make you look good is probably leading the truth stakes by quite a bit.
And how about that non-factual factual claim? We know what we're doing.
Lovely. Makes me wanna go out and buy a pair.
I think i will.
Now I hope the universe will suggest a colour i should get?

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What's with OPEC?

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Is this indicative of how greedy mankind has become? Or is it truly scary?

Oil prices rocket northward when supply is low, when demand is high or a combination of both.
Supply must really be low, because we're seeing record prices now.

At the same time, non-OPEC members say they can't produce more. Their fields are at peak production already.

OPEC says it won't produce more. Won't or can't?

That could only mean; if oil production has peaked, it's downhill all the way from now.

On the bright side, solar-powered cars can't be that bad.

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How's work?

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:49:00 +0000

Is it something you have to do?
Do you drag yourself out of bed everyday, wishing for 40 more winks while pulling on what feels more Monkey Suit than Hugo Boss?
Is the traffic getting worse on your way to work? The tolls higher? The petrol more dear?
Is lunch full of packed elevators and confused waiters?
Do you wish for Friday to come quick? On Tuesday?

Or

Is work something you get to do?

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Another spot of good writing that's not from a writer.

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Really. This is for all the people who say it's so hard to write something good.

"I'm not a writer" they whine. I didn't do literature or go to journalism school. I didn't read Shakespeare. Oh bollocks.

All you need is a good idea. Then tell someone what that idea is in the simplest form possible.

In the picture below, not only is it good, clear writing, it's also pretty persuasive in some ways.

Written persuasion. Now that's a really lost art. Anyone have a clue where it's gone? I think excuses have swept it away.

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So just how different are we?

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:29:00 +0000

The Mongols have high regard for horses. Not surprising, since for most of us geographically-challenged people (but national-geographically fed), the main image would probably be Genghis Khan on a horse, leading his horse-riding troops to yet another victory.

Well that's cool. Animals deserve to be regarded highly. And not just that, they also have a spiritual significance in their lives. Juts like some Buddhists (or is it Taoists?) regard cows highly and so do the Hindus.

Here's the clincher. Apparently the Mongols eat horse meat.

Okay, so Genghis was quite the brute history made him out to be then.

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Charity loans

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:33:00 +0000

Ever given money to charity? We all do, sometimes.

And there are so many ways to nowadays. There are reps in the street with their official documents, appeals in The Star (a local newspaper), emails from friends trying to help someone out and even direct-debit monthly contributions for just about everything.

Although it's not nice to wonder - 'how will the money be used?' - it does cross your mind.

Well here's a great idea. Kiva.org

You decide how much you want to put in. Just like charity.
The people use the money to improve their lot in life, usually with small cottage-type industries. Just like micro-lending.
When they make money, they pay you back. Quite unlike charity.

It's not the 'getting the money back' part that appeals to me. It's the chance to help someone set up something longer-lasting.

For the contributor, there are only 2 outcomes.

One, the money you gave away never comes back. Well, it is charity.
Two, the money comes back and you put it back to work again for someone else, maybe even put in more money.

It takes a bit of work to start, but someone should really start one for Malaysians. A country with zero-poverty is a good thing. Any-one willing to help? I can provide copy and site design for free.

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Where's God?

noreply@blogger.com (Gavin E Hoh) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Om Namah Shivaya.
I honour the divinity that resides in me.

A yoga mantra.
And a thought that crosses all forms of worship.
You'll also find this thought in the Bible, Koran, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism and every other religon.
God created us.
Religon helps us find a path to ourselves.

And ultimately, to God – who lives in us.

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