the demon within

update: installing windows from USB

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:21:00 +0000

This is an update of an entry of my blog published a few months ago. You may click here if you wish to see the tutorial.

In the post, I mentioned that I have not tested the tutorial just yet, thus, albeit the claim in the title of that entry which says detailed 100% working guide, I just could not give you my words on whether there is any truth to the claim. I think the reason is clear enough - I don't want to be held responsible should anyone try the tutorial. hehe.

Understood people?

Nevertheless, you, my subjects, may rest assured now, for I have braced myself to finally put the tutorial to the test in order to seek the truth of such an ostentatious claim. And to prepare for this death-defying challenge, I have squandered my hard earned money for a new weapon [read: thumb-drive].

The reason to this is non other but due to the fact that the capacity of my saber at the moment is simply limited for such an uphill battle. And for that, I have chosen to splash out on a claymore which I see fit to engage in this hair-raising struggle for pride. Hammered and fashioned by one of the best blacksmith in town - Imation - there's just no doubt in my mind that this weapon is The One.

Everyone, introducing my claymore - "The One"...

Haha! I'm rambling nonsense again, I know. I can't help it. Even among my friends, they know fully well that they just can't get straight answers for any questions given to me. Normally, it would take me around 5 to 15 minutes to actually give them the answers to their queries. Hehe. What to do? That's just me. I love to jazz around. Hehe.

This is jazz. Jazz around, however, is not about music.

So, for some, no matter how pressing their questions are to be asked to me, they'd just keep it to themselves first, write it down in their small notebook, and think to themselves,

"Nahhh.. I think I'll just wait for Faz*..."

God damn you people! Haha! You should support a talented and budding storyteller like me, you know. Haha!

Well, anyway, before the floodgate of my applesauce broke even more wide open, let me just wrap some duct-tape on the leakage.

Let's get back to our original trail. All I want to say is, the tutorial really worked.

Yippie! No worries to follow the tutorial now!!

I've tried it on two notebooks and no problem related to the system has been detected so far. So people, now you can take my words for it. Should you have any problems, you can just ask me directly here at my blog or my Facebook.

* For those who did not know, Faz is my wife. She's a no-nonsense kind of woman, which is boring but for other people she often proved to be more useful than me. Haha!

Look at how serious she is.

Anyway, I haven't posted anything about my wedding. In a short while maybe. Ok, later guys.

The Value of Knowledge and Dignity of Academicians.

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:02:00 +0000

Nilai Ilmu dan Kehormatan Para Ilmuwan

1) Ketika saya berada di Universiti Al Bayt,di Mafraq Jordan untuk pengajian pra-siswazah, kami mempunyai seorang pensyarah yang amat diminati dan disayangi oleh para pelajar, termasuk juga pelajar-pelajar non-Muslim. Beliau adalah Dr Bahjat. Beliau disukai kerana sikap terus terang, jujur, berani dan ketegasannya di dalam menyampaikan kebenaran dan mesej Islam. Sebelum saya menyudahkan pengajian, dia pernah bercerita kepada kami bagaimana beliau telah diminta surat tunjuk sebab, dipanggil ke ibu pejabat Mukhabarat (SB) di Amman, diugut dan diberikan tekanan kerana kelantangannya.

2) Di peringkat PhD, saya telah bermukim hampir 4 tahun di Durham University di bandar Durham, UK. Banyak ilmu yang saya pelajari, dan banyak makna kehidupan yang saya tempuhi. Menariknya suasana keilmuan dan juga atmosfera keintelektualan begitu dirasakan di sini. Di dalam Universiti, para ilmuan, para professor dan para pensyarah dihormati pandangannya. Apa sahaja pandangan mereka sering mendapat tempat di media. Media di UK juga bebas, dan menjaga etika mereka di dalam hal-hal yang dibangkitkan oleh para akademik.

3) Setelah kembali mengajar di tanah air, saya melihat adanya sikap 'ketakutan' dan sindrom 'under-siege mentality' baik di kalangan pelajar mahupun sesetengah rakan pensyarah. Saya agak kurang memahami sebabnya kerana telah 4 tahun tidak berada di kampus tanah air. Namun, hari ini baru saya faham mengapa mereka bersikap demikian. Rupanya nilai ilmu dan kehormatan para ilmuan terletak pada penilaian ahli politik yang korup di dalam rejim yang berkuasa. Pendapat ilmuwan tidak lebih mulia berbanding salakan pengampu dan pembodek yang tidak bermaruah. Pendapat ilmuwan juga tidak bernilai di hadapan fitnah dan adu domba media yang tidak beretika.

4) Akhirnya saya terfikir, apakah di bumi Islam tiadanya keadilan? Apakah ilmu dan ilmuwan hanya dihormati di bumi kafir? Lebih malang lagi, jika yang berjenama Islam itu adalah sebuah gedung ilmu, tetapi tidak memberikan kehormatan kepada ilmu dan ilmuwan...apakah nilai 'Islam' pada namanya? Apakah yang 'bukan Islam' itu lebih baik, kerana lebih profesional, lebih menghormati akademik, malah lebih bersikap adil dan lebih buta politik.

5) Maka, terjawablah kini mengapa menara gading-menara gading di negara-negara Islam tidak mendapat ranking dan juga prestij di dalam dunia. Jangan salahkan orang lain, tetapi tunding jari ke muka sendiri. Terimalah hakikat: politik primitif, ahli politik yang kurap dan juga rejim yang zalim yang tidak menghormati ilmu dan para ilmuwanlah penyebab utama kemunduran menara gading-menara gading di negara-negara umat Islam!

Dr. Maszlee Malik
UIAM

p/s: Apparently, this is my first post in Malay. I don't have enough time to translate everything. I believe most of you must have noticed already by now as to the reason Dr. Maszlee wrote this memo. For those who are still not clear, you can click here. I will include below some of Facebook pages as well as an online petition which were created for this cause.

Kami Bersama Menyokong Prof Aziz Bari

10000 mahasiswa menyokong penuh Profesor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari

PETISYEN MEMBANTAH PENGGANTUNGAN PROFESOR ABDUL AZIZ BARI

The beginning of something? Let us hope so.

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:26:00 +0000

Fuck. I wanted to write something. As a matter of fact, i was already in the middle of it. But i got really frustrated and so i deleted everything.

I was infuriated with my writing acumen. It is as if i don't know how to write anymore. Halfway through the writing, i decided to go over from the beginning, and i asked myself, "are you still at the secondary school?". Fuck me.

I have to read more. More of intellectual writings. I created this blog because i want to write more in order to improve my English language. Instead of improving, i am only getting worst. I am teaching the language for God's sake.

And maybe read more of the Quran too. I have left my copy of the mushaf in the cold and the darkness of my drawer for far too long now. Perhaps, that is one of the reasons why i seem a dullard these days.

A change is necessary and has to be made mandatory.

Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey - Words I Never Said

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:30:00 +0000

I have just got to share this song with you guys. It's so.. overwhelming. And so true. This guy is one talented and critical colossus. If there is one thing you should know about me is I admire people who can think and analyse something critically.

But before you click on that play button, let us read a bit about the artist, yeah? Well, it could help you to appreciate the song more. And I'm going to put up some of his famous quotes too, some of which I think are interesting. (all information were taken from here)

Background

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco (pronounced /ˈluːpeɪ/ loo-pay), is an American rapper, artist, record producer and, entrepreneur. He is also the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. He also performs as the frontman of post punk band Japanese Cartoon under his real name.^[1] He was raised in Chicago, Fiasco developed an interest in hip-hop after initially disliking the genre for its heavy use of profanity and vulgarity; Fiasco eventually adopted the name Lupe Fiasco beginning to record songs in his father's basement then later joining a group called "Da Pak". This group disbanded shortly after its inception and Fiasco then met the bestselling rapper Jay-Z who helped him get signed to a record deal with Atlantic Records. In 2006, Fiasco released his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor on the label; Fiasco's debut album became a commercial success as well being critically acclaim. In the next year, Fiasco released his second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool in December 2007 which the lead single is titled "Superstar"; this became a market success and later becoming a music hit, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2]

Famous Quotes

On his upbringing

"I grew up in the hood around prostitutes, drug dealers, killers, and gangbangers but I also grew up juxtaposed: On the doorknob outside of our apartment, there was blood from some guy who got shot; but inside, there was National Geographic magazines and encyclopedias and a little library bookshelf situation. And we didn't have cable, so we didn't have the luxury of having our brains washed by MTV. We watched public television – cooking shows and stuff like that."^[13]

In asserting his anti-establishment view

"You should criticize power even if you agree with it."^[70]

"My fight against terrorism, to me, the biggest terrorist is Obama and the United States of America. I'm trying to fight the terrorism that's actually causing the other forms of terrorism. You know, the root cause of terrorism is the stuff the U.S. government allows to happen. The foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists."^[71]

You know what, this short introduction would not do this guy's talent any justice. You listen to his song first below, and then you tell me what do you think of him. And as usual, the lyrics is also provided below.

Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey - Words I Never Said [the official video clip]

Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey - Words I Never Said [the lyrics]

[Skylar Grey]
It's so loud Inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can't take back the words I never said
I can't take back the words I never said

[Lupe Fiasco]
I really think the war on terror is a bunch of bullsh_t
Just a poor excuse for you to use up all your bullets
How much money does it take to really make a full clip
9/11 building 7 did they really pull it
Uhh, And a bunch of other cover ups
Your childs future was the first to go with budget cuts
If you think that hurts then, wait here comes the uppercut
The school was garbage in the first place, that's on the up and up
Keep you at the bottom but tease you with the uppercrust
You get it then they move you so you never keeping up enough
If you turn on TV all you see's a bunch of "what the f_cks"
Dude is dating so and so blabbering bout such and such
And that ain't Jersey Shore, homie that's the news
And these the same people that supposed to be telling us the truth
Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist
Gaza strip was getting bombed, Obama didn't say sh_t
That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either
I'ma part of the problem, my problem is I'm peaceful
And I believe in the people.

[Skylar Grey]
It's so loud inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can't take back the words I never said
I can't take back the words I never said

[Lupe Fiasco - Verse 2]
Now you can say it ain't our fault if we never heard it
But if we know better than we probably deserve it
Jihad is not a holy war, wheres that in the worship?
Murdering is not Islam!
And you are not observant
And you are not a muslim
Israel don't take my side cause look how far you've pushed them
Walk with me into the ghetto, this where all the Kush went
Complain about the liquor store but what you drinking liquor for?
Complain about the gloom but when'd you pick a broom up?
Just listening to Pac ain't gone make it stop
A rebel in your thoughts, ain't gon make it halt
If you don't become an actor you'll never be a factor
Pills with million side effects
Take em when the pains felt
Wash them down with Diet soda!
Killin off your brain cells
Crooked banks around the World
Would gladly give a loan today
So if you ever miss payment
They can take your home away!

[Skylar Grey]
It's so loud inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can't take back the words I never said, never said
I can't take back the words I never said

[Lupe Fiasco - Verse 3]
I think that all the silence is worse than all the violence
Fear is such a weak emotion that's why I despise it
We scared of almost everything, afraid to even tell the truth
So scared of what you think of me, I'm scared of even telling you
Sometimes I'm like the only person I feel safe to tell it to
I'm locked inside a cell in me, I know that there's a jail in you
Consider this your bailing out, so take a breath, inhale a few
My screams is finally getting free, my thoughts is finally yelling through

[Skylar Grey]
It's so loud Inside my head
With words that I should have said!
As I drown in my regrets
I can't take back the words I never said

Related articles

Bonnet or hood?

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:57:00 +0000

Ever heard of English languages? haha. Well, considering this particular language is widely spoken and made as official language for many countries across the world, referring to it as something that is plural in nature, although may raise some eyebrows, is not really an overstatement, don't you think? More so if we also take into account on how English language has been localised to suit a country's aspects of culture and environment. Ok, let's just quit the linguistics talks, shall we? Besides, being merely a student of the language and without having proper textbooks with me, i'm afraid i might give you guys wrong information.

Back to my real topic.

People have always compared British English and American English, especially in pedagogical field because these two 'languages' or varieties are the ones that other varieties would always refer to whenever we want to learn and know more about the language. It's a rather natural and obvious choice as the epicentre of the expansion of English language was from these two nations. So, it's the same thing for us here in Malaysia in that whenever we're not sure about the language, we'd always go back to either of these two for reference. But, is that really true?

Forget Manglish. Let's talk about our 'proper' English.

Just the other day I happened to read a grammar book. I can't remember the title though. So forgive me for not having a proper citation for what I am about to write here. So, I was flipping through the book and I got to the section where the author laid out a number of vocabularies which have the same meaning but worded differently by the British and the Americans.

When I read through the list, I realised something. Malaysians are confused! hehe.

We exhaust our options interchangeably without knowing that they are of different varieties.

I believe it has everything to do with the fact that the first variety of English language that Malaysians know of is that of British and then as time goes by, as the influence of America is ever-expanding, we now have taken up the variety of English from this nation. So, Malaysians are confused. Most teachers or people from the time of British occupation still stick to the British standard of English language because of so many reasons but students on the other hand are commonly exposed on American English.

As much as I cherish language change, as a teacher, I still cannot tolerate my students mixing these two varieties in their writings. For me, if a language has to change, it has to change within the perimetre of its variety. That is to say, students of English as second language should not dictate what will change and what will not change in other varieties of English. We already have Manglish, so expand its vocabulary all you want, tweak the grammar to your needs, but we have to be respectful towards other varieties as they are not ours.

This is just my opinion, though. I could be wrong.

Anyway, I'm going to list down some of the words given in the book. It should be a good reference for all of us too.

British	American
Barrister	Attorney
Basin	Sink
Biscuit	Cookies
Bonnet	Hood
Boot [of a car]	Trunk [of a car]
Cooker	Stove
Dressing gown	Bathrobe
Lift	Elevator
Lorry	Truck
Maize	Corn
Nappy	Diaper
On holiday	On vacation
Petrol	Gas/gasoline
Public toilet	Rest room
Rise [of salary]	Raise [of salary]
Rubber	Eraser
Pavement	Sidewalk
Sitting room	Living room
Football	Soccer
Timetable	Schedule
Tin [of sardine]	Can [of sardine]
Torch	Flash light

Who do you think you are, Mr. Jibby?

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:53:00 +0000

In the wake of recent Bersih 2.0 rally, happening right at the heart of our country, I would like to dedicate this special song to our own, one and only Mr. Jibby.

Jar of Hearts
by Christina Perri.

Song lyric

No, I can't take one more step towards you
'Cause all that's waiting is regret
Don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore
You lost the love I loved the most

I learned to live, half alive
And now you want me one more time

[Chorus:]
Who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
So don't come back for me
Who do you think you are?

I hear you're asking all around
If I am anywhere to be found
But I have grown too strong
To ever fall back in your arms

I've learned to live, half alive
And now you want me one more time

[Chorus]

It took so long just to feel alright
Remember how to put back the light in my eyes
I wish I had missed the first time that we kissed
'Cause you broke all your promises
And now you're back
You don't get to get me back

Who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
Don't come back for me
Don't come back at all

Who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
Don't come back for me
Don't come back at all

Who do you think you are?
Who do you think you are?
Who do you think you are?

If the audio I provided above does not work, just find one on your own la. Besides, I know you already downloaded the song for your mp3 player, so just play it and at the same time, go through the lyric up there too. hehe.

Who the fuck is Mr. Jibby? God damn you bimbos! How can you not know who Mr. Jibby is? Shame on you! Anyway, me being kind today, I will take a very special picture of his for you people.

There you go, a handsome man, won't you say? Before i captured this picture, I told him that I want to dedicate this song to him and his immediate response in oppugning me was, "what the fuck?" Hence, the face. hehe. Jibby, don't get me wrong. I did not dedicate this song to you because you were my ex. I know how gay can i be at times, but with you? And kissing you at that? No no no. haha.

Ok time to get serious. hehe. The song is very much appropriate and perfect to describe our current political situation. About how people have lost their trust in Barisan Nasional's unending rampant of violence, corruption, and nepotism. Yes, Mahathir started it, but you perfected it. Too perfect that we are so disgusted at the sight of you.

Who do you think you are, Jibby? Running around leaving scars. Do you think people can hold it any longer? Do you think people no longer care? Do you think people will believe all your lies?

And who do you think we are? Your toys? Your subjects? We are the KING in this institution. In this demoractic nation. Yes, we are the KING. It's sad to see how you have forgotten that. How you have failed to meet the expectations of the people that have voted you.

The very people that you betrayed have grown too strong for all your antics. We will teach you a lesson in the coming PRU. A lesson you can never forget. You and your so-called First Lady...

What? You people don't know who is our First Lady? Do you want God to curse you again? haih. It's ok. Before you get struck by the lightning for your ignorance, let me take her picture and show it to you.

Eh. Wrong picture. This is not our First Lady. This is just Permaisuri Agong. How can she be our First Lady, right? haih. Apologies. I got the wrong picture. Wait a minute, let me get the picture of our REAL First Lady.

That is a good picture. It's hard to find our First Lady picture with her tudung on. But it's only natural la. It's not like Malaysia is an Islamic nation. It's a secular one. Not liberal, but secular.

Actually, I want to say more about this Bersih 2.0 issue. But it's already 1542 now. I have to collect adik [my sister in-law] from Melaka Sentral later. But before i go, I would like to show you guys a few posters produced by Fahmi Reza. Who is Fahmi Reza? O~M~G~. Google la. Google. haih.

Mind-boggling, aren't they? I especially like the last one. "FUCK FEAR. LET'S DANCE". For more of his posters, go to his photo albums here.

Tutorial: Installing Windows 7 Or Windows 8 From USB Drive [Detailed 100% Working Guide]

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:44:00 +0000

Faz is going to buy a new notebook when she got her pay next month because the one that she has at the moment should be turned into a sculpture already. Put it somewhere around Low Yat Plaza and it would be a cool landmark for the plaza because it was bought there. So it's only natural that we put it to rest to where it first came alive.

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Genesis 3:19 (King James Version)

It was in the year of 2004 if i'm not mistaken. Now we're already halfway through 2011. So roughly it's been seven freaking years. She is one loyal woman. She does not really care about technology... that is why she can stay loyal to that laptop no matter what. Crazy huh?

Well, anyway, so she said she wants a small one. The mini notebook. Well, ok. But that desire might tag along a few problems with it. It's a personal problem really.

So my problem with these notebooks is that they don't have CD/DVD-ROM drive. Meaning, formatting and installing Windows by using CD/DVD-ROM is no longer viable, unless, of course, if i have an external CD/DVD-ROM drive. But that would mean extra money and i don't like that. So there is one more way to do it. Through USB drive, which is more affordable, easy to carry around, small, can be used to keep other important data and the list continues. Be that as it may, another problem has emerged. I don't know the how-to and never have i thought that i'd have to resort to USB to format a machine. Alas, the time has come. People, along with Faz, are getting fond of cute, small, colourful gadgets at the cost of practicality. It's unbecoming, really.

Nevertheless, i have decided. I am determined to learn on how to install a fresh copy of Windows using a USB drive. So i googled, obviously. And i found one that i think is reliable, although i haven't tried it yet.

Owh, by the way, if you must know, I am Faz's unpaid personal technician. Whatever technical problem that she has with her laptop will duly be thrown to me. But make no mistake, despite my unpaid endeavours, i really do like this part-time job. I'm a small-time geek. I like troubleshooting laptops/computers and once i manage to solve them, i'd feel like the i'm in heaven already. Heaven for geeks that is. And every time i failed to troubleshoot i'd just resort to formatting the system. It's become quite a habit. hehe.

So anyway, here is the tutorial that i found on the internet. This tutorial was taken from here. You might want to go directly to the link for full technical support because i won't be able to answer your queries following this topic considering i haven't tried it. This tutorial is here because i want to record it and share it with you guys.

This guide works 100% for Vista & Windows 7 unlike most of the guides out there. I have seen many sites/blogs that have “Install Vista from USB guide” but either with incomplete steps or not working guide. I have also seen some guides that don’t’ use proper commands in this guide. After spending many hours I have come up with this 100% working guide.

I just did this method on one of my friends machine and installed the new Windows 7 BETA. The main advantage is that by using USB drive you will be able to install Windows 7/Vista in just 15 minutes. You can also use this bootable USB drive on friend’s computer who doesn’t have a DVD optical drive.

The method is very simple and you can use without any hassles. Needless to say that your motherboard should support USB Boot feature to make use of the bootable USB drive.

Requirements:
*USB Flash Drive (Minimum 4GB)
*Windows 7 or Vista installation files.

Follow the below steps to create bootable Windows 7/Vista USB drive using which you can install Windows 7/Vista easily.

1. Plug-in your USB flash drive to USB port and move all the contents from USB drive to a safe location on your system.

2. Open Command Prompt with admin rights. Use any of the below methods to open Command Prompt with admin rights.

*Type cmd in Start menu search box and hit Ctrl+ Shift+ Enter.

Or
*Go to Start menu > All programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

3. You need to know about the USB drive a little bit. Type in the following commands in the command prompt:

First type DISKPART and hit enter to see the below message.

Next type LIST DISK command and note down the Disk number (ex: Disk 1) of your USB flash drive. In the below screenshot my Flash Drive Disk no is Disk 1.

4. Next type all the below commands one by one. Here I assume that your disk drive no is “Disk 1”.If you have Disk 2 as your USB flash drive then use Disk 2.Refer the above step to confirm it.

So below are the commands you need to type and execute one by one:

SELECT DISK 1

CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS
(Format process may take few seconds)

ASSIGN

EXIT

Don’t close the command prompt as we need to execute one more command at the next step. Just minimize it.

5. Next insert your Windows7/Vista DVD into the optical drive and check the drive letter of the DVD drive. In this guide I will assume that your DVD drive letter is “D” and USB drive letter is “H” (open my computer to know about it).

6. Maximize the minimized Command Prompt in the 4th step.Type the following command now:
D: CD BOOT and hit enter.Where “D” is your DVD drive letter.
CD BOOT and hit enter to see the below message.

7. Type another command given below to update the USB drive with BOOTMGR compatible code.

BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 H:

Where “H” is your USB drive letter. Once you enter the above command you will see the below message.

8. Copy your Windows 7/Vista DVD contents to the USB flash drive.

9. Your USB drive is ready to boot and install Windows 7/Vista. Only thing you need to change the boot priority at the BIOS to USB from the HDD or CD ROM drive. I won’t explain it as it’s just the matter the changing the boot priority or enabling the USB boot option in the BIOS.
Note: If you are not able to boot after following this guide means you haven’t set the BIOS priority to USB. If you got any problem in following this guide feel free to ask questions by leaving comment.

Update: If you find this guide difficult to follow, please use the easy-to-use guide to create a bootable USB to install Windows 7 using official tool.

Wedding Invitation [Bridegroom's]

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:30:00 +0000

We, Mohd Azlan Shah Sharifudin & Fazlinda Hamzah,

are delighted to announce that we will be married!

We will be celebrating our second wedding reception ceremony on;

Saturday, the eighteenth of June, two thousand and eleven [18th June, 2011],

at the residence of Mr. Sharifudin Taha and Mrs. Noraini Abdullah;

PT 646, Jalan Salak, Kampung Tersusun,
Salak Baru, 31050,
Sungai Siput (Utara), Perak

Because you have shared in our lives by your friendship and love, we would like to request the pleasure of your company to kindly join us to share our happiness for fellowship alongside a humble luncheon, served from 11.30am until 4.00pm.

P/S: If you're coming, please leave your full address in my or Fazlinda's inbox for the invitation card. Our first reception ceremony will be held on the week before at Batu Pahat, Johore. Please state as well in our inbox if you wish to go for both or if you wish to go to Johore, instead. Your cooperation in providing quick response in confirming your presence is highly appreciated. Thank you.

Wedding Invitation [Bride's]

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:26:00 +0000

We, Fazlinda Hamzah and Mohd Azlan Shah Sharifudin,

are delighted to announce that we will be married!

We have chosen the first day of our new life together as;

Sunday, the twelfth of June, two thousand and eleven [12th June, 2011],

at the residence of Mr. Hamzah Zainuddin and Mrs. Latipah Abdullah;

No. 72, Jalan Megah, Taman Megah,
KM 7, Jalan Kluang, 83000,
Batu Pahat, Johore.

Because you have shared in our lives by your friendship and love, we would like to request the pleasure of your company to kindly join us to share our happiness for fellowship alongside a humble luncheon, served from 11.00am until 5.00pm.

P/S: If you're coming, please leave your full address in my or Azlan's inbox for the invitation card. Our second reception ceremony will be held on the following week at Sungai Siput, Perak. Please state as well in our inbox if you wish to go for both or if you wish to go to Perak, instead. Your cooperation in providing quick response in confirming your presence is highly appreciated. Thank you.

Happy Teacher's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Mon, 16 May 2011 07:10:00 +0000

Now that i am a teacher myself, I can't help but to write in an entry dedicated to this day. I'm just going to keep it short though. As a matter of fact, I must tell you that I actually have been thinking to keep my future post as condensed as possible. hehe. Because, that way, I will be able to write more, rather than having one long post and stop writing for one or two months. Ok, before i ramble unnecessarily, yet again, let's just stop there and talk about Teacher's Day.

First of all, I want to say thanks and congratulate all my ustaz, ustazah, teachers, and lecturers from TASKI Abim, Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Ampang, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Clifford, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Slim River, and International Islamic University Malaysia, who have taught me well despite the hardship you may have encountered in teaching this blockhead. Your sacrifices, your efforts, your patience will always be remembered.

Really, I know it's not easy if you have students like me. I remember this lecturer, from... I can't remember from which department, it's one of the Human Sciences departments, Mass Communication, maybe. Ok. Let me tell you what did she say to me in our last meeting. hehe. She said something like, "You are one student that I think I will always remember." And no, she did not mean it in a positive way. haha!

I have to admit, when I was a student, I was quite 'naughty'. Not naughty bad, but naughty good, if you ask me. The thing with me is that I hate closemouthed classroom especially when teacher in front posing questions to students to discuss. Most often than not, at least in my case, the best student in the class always decided to keep quiet despite knowing the answers and that baffled me all the time. It could get worse, sometimes you could actually hear the crickets chirping out of nowhere. So, that is where I came in. I would make stupid jokes out of the questions, I would answer the questions comically, I would ask ridiculous questions, etc., just to keep the class lively, or so was the intention. haha!

Alas, as ill-fated as any Shakespearean hero, tragedy has always set to befall me. My good intentions have always been undermined and treated with contempt. People marginalise me as a trouble-maker, anarchist, villain! How can the world be so unjust to someone who has been noble in his intentions and sincere in his deeds?

But, you know what, having been a teacher, and having had experiences in handling students who were pretty much like me, I think i can say their opinions towards the student-me were actually justified. hehe. I mean, this type of students can be pretty annoying at times, especially when we are being serious in the class. But you can't deny their importance in keeping the crickets away too. hehe. So, i think, in the end it all comes down to how you handle them.

Well, anyway, that's all for now. But before that, Happy Teacher's Day to all teachers all around the world!

A broken promise?

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:16:00 +0000

I nearly forgot that the other day i promised to teach grammar to this online community. Not that they asked me to teach them, there are better teachers there, it's just that i was the one who willingly offered myself to teach them about this one topic. It's about the aspectual features of verb. Not an easy topic to discuss.

I have been a bit too busy these few weeks, with students' mid-term tests, and obviously, afterwards, i have to mark them. Worst part is there are only two weeks left. When you come right down to it, simply said, a series of work avalanches just crushed the leisure time out of me. So, i hope when everything's done, i will get back to the forum and tell them a thing or two that i know of aspects of verb.

But i think i have to read and boil some grammar books before i can do that. Not that i did not know anything about it. Why would i 'advertise' myself to teach them this topic if i know nothing. That is just silly.

The problem is that, everything with regard to this topic is only kicking and punching inside my head. I never really jot down my understanding of this topic. hehe. So, that is why i have to read again in order to get some idea of how can i eloquently express and interpret this esoteric conception classified within the parametres of my brain. hehe.

So, yes, up to this hour, it can be considered a broken promise. hehe. Well, no worries, i will do it eventually. I will post it here as well when i finally did it.

Owh, there is another important subject i want to put up here at my blog. It's about the relationship between Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotics and M.A.K Halliday's systemic functional grammar. But, before i write anything about that, you may just jump the gun and shoot me with your opinions regarding this subject matter if you want to.

lesser-minds; they never cease to amaze me

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:14:00 +0000

Please study the print screens below first. Click on the picture for a better view. My comments follow:

What do you guys think? These people are really good at making jokes... of themselves, aren't they? haha. Well, i've already replied to them, not really academically or extensively, though. You don't reason with these people. You kill them. haha. Raise up the curtain, bitch. The show is about to start.

**********************************************************************************

well, i'm not sure what your real intentions are. perhaps, you just want to troll, which i like to do too. hehe. but it's also possible that you are serious with your comments.

truth be told, if you are serious about your comments, then i must say that i'm not that enthusiastic to respond to you guys. hehe.

because i hate discussing something when my opposition lacks substance in their arguments.

it leads to nowhere.

having said that, i think it is incumbent upon me to properly address this issue anyhow as there will always be people like these.

and if possible, i want to straighten this issue out once and for all to all english haters out there.

should you take offence to any of my statements here, my apologies, sincerely, but surely, you should have seen this coming.

First Round

I dislike english very much. Why? Coz I tend to confuse plural and singular. English sucks big time.

this happens all the time. some people would ignorantly blame english language as being tedious or difficult for their poor performance in the language. well, i say, why don't you blame your lowly intellect first before you go on venting your anger towards something that does not even care about your existence, you lowly lesser-mind. english sucks? uuuuuuu... it appears to me that the one that sucks is your low capacity brain. hehe.

To hell with English, who needs english? Besides I can choose to speak kelantanese if I wannna. English is just not complacent to be spoken, but for writing then ok la.

Even in countries where English is not a primary or official language, it is taught as a foreign language and used as the language of technology and diplomacy. English is spoken in more parts of the world than any other language and by more people than any other language except Chinese.

Source: Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

this, i hope, could answer your questions and no offence, but you can choose to stay in your cave as long as you desire.

Plus I never have the gut to speak english in front of the crowd, they're all like.. 'Eww, poyo sial mamat ni!'

classic. the blaming game again. now you're blaming others for your own incompetency and timidity?

of all people, i've never thought you to be the fragile and lily-livered type. well, i guess, i thought wrong.

Second Round.

**** it!!! English is ugly, damned ugly! Im just using it

1. To pass an interview
2. To get the job
3. Bloody CA YA NUN ALIF-ese cant speak Malay in my office, damn ugly!!!
4. To impress my client
5. To communicate with a dog or an alien

Yea, its ugly!!! But the only best thing, people who write in English usually will
make it properly compared than ugly "Mne deeerr, kite x g sne pn... Ko nk g ner nih?"
**** it!!! **** it!!!

- Nur Zihan, Windows User - **** it!!!

first of all, i'm surprised that mr. moderator allowed such a comment to even appear here at iluvislam community when it's full of racist remarks.

perhaps mr. moderator loves to play with fire. hehe.

what is -it!!!- anyway? has anyone got a clue?

urghhh.. you really make me sick.

i really hope i don't have to reply to this comment.

what do you have to rant and rave at?

can't you just be cool and write like a normal human being?

anyway, like i said, before you even think of putting the blame on english, i suggest that you blame that tiny brain of yours first.

3. Bloody CA YA NUN ALIF-ese cant speak Malay in my office, damn ugly!!!

i think you're uglier than them. if you want to argue for something, could you please do a proper study over it first? because this behaviour of yours only testifies to my claim that you only have a brain no bigger than a pea.

5. To communicate with a dog or an alien

wow. that is a good dog. and alien too. they could appreciate good english while some pigs don't... owh no, i did not refer to you as a pig. why would i? just like other people hate it when you call them dogs and aliens, i could fully understand that you would hate it as well if i call you a pig.

**********************************************************************************

I was too harsh, you said? Well, they should consider themselves lucky that i did not even mention the -f- word and that i have mellowed down the condescending level of my responses.

p/s: English language is my baby, especially the scaffold from which the language is built - its lexico-grammar.

I’m losing it.

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:13:00 +0000

My brain is getting rotten. It’s deteriorating. All these talks about politics kill every cell in my brain. Corruptions. Frauds. Mismanagements. Racism. Fuck these people. If there is someone you should not trust in this world, it’s politician.

I need something to burgeon my brain. I need to talk about something. Something profound to me. What is it that could save my brain?

Grammar.

Yep. I think it is grammar.

Which is why i decided to join sysfling. A grammar discussion group which was recommended to me.

A bad decision, i must say, as i’m only adding more fuel to this flickering woes. Now, it’s raging.

The members of the group are real grammarians. Even Michael Lewis is there. What the fuck? What could this minion possibly contribute anything to anything that they discuss? I can’t even follow a shit they’re talking about.

Every time i got an email from sysfling, i feel disappointed with myself. I want to get on the stage, but the stage which i have prepared for myself somehow serves as a reminder of how inconsequential i am in that world.

“Then, just join any entry level discussion group. What’s the fuss?”

Get this. I have joined two or three ESL-based groups on facebook. I have created a few discussion threads with regard to grammar in them. I have engaged in discussions created by others. Alas, all they are interested in is with nonsensical, off-topic trivialities.

People always say, if you do not know the way, ask. So, whenever i am in the muddle of matters related to grammar, i would always ask people who i think might know the answer. And often, i was left in the cold. Now, that left me thinking, should not i ask?

But i would not allow such situation to be in the middle of my way in getting the answers. In the end, I have always managed to find out all the answers to my uncertainties. All by myself.

For some reason, i think i know why have i always been ignored. It must have something to do with the Malay attitude.

I’m pretty sure these people think that i’m just another showboat. Asking people here and there, instigating discussions about this and that, they are all because i want people to know that i am sailing through when it comes to grammar. *sigh*.

It is only my hunch, though. Maybe they really did not know how to answer my questions. Well, maybe, but i certainly did not deserve to be left in the cold. I was hoping to see the positive Malay attitude where at least they could show their concern or interest in the subject matter.

I have nothing else. I only have this tiny brain to be proud of. Leave it to decay, then i would no longer be me. Tell me, what do i do now?

what the fuck?

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 09:39:00 +0000

I was just browsing the internet in my house when suddenly a woman whose age, i believe, was around 40, came to my house bringing two big plastic bags with her. And as any Muslim or Malay would, she gave her salam. Owh, and she dressed decent too, had 'tudung' on and everything. At first, i thought she was from this neighbourhood, so i opened the door, but not the grille [yes, the crisscrossed bars is spelled grille, not grill].

This was not the woman that came to my house.

As it turned out, she's not from this neighbourhood, and she actually wanted to sell some kerepek like tempeyek and cakar ayam, which explains the two big plastic bags. So, ok la. It's food, and you know i love food, right? haha. There is, but one problem. She came with the tag-line "donation with purchase" and the donation will go for malaysian teachers, according to her la. That, in itself, is already suspicious. Malaysian teachers? Did you know how much teachers earn these days? You-have-got-to-be-kidding-me! Do your research first before you think you can fool me, fucker!

But, that is not all, ladies and gentlemen. The next problem is with the exorbitant price of kerepek. A pack of that kerepek, were it sold at any normal retail, could have only cost me at most RM2. But the price that she offered me, in the name of "donation with purchase", was RM10 for three packs of the tempeyek.

When i googled, most people call it 'rempeyek' haha.

What the fuck? Consider this, i said earlier, RM2 is the highest retail price for each pack. Now, the wholesale price could be a lot more cheaper, right? So not only she could get away with possibly RM4 per sale, she could also squeeze a few more bucks from the wholesale price! fuck.

And what if those tempeyek were made of pure feces? What if they taste like crap? But i've already bought three of them? What the fuck do i do with them? Throw them away? But they cost me 10 fucking bucks. So, being a good muslim, i tried to do logic with her, saying that i live alone and three is too much. I asked here too, what if i just buy one? Guess what? It has to be three. haha. What the fuck? So naturally, i said 'fuck you' to her. It's only fair that i said that, right? haha.

Now, this is what i call Imam Muda!

Are you crazy? I'm a candidate for next season's Imam Muda show. How could i possibly say that? And how could you possibly think that i would do that? You have way too many negative images about me in your mind. haha. So, being a good muslim that i always am, i politely refused her.

Seeing that i was adamant with my refusal, suddenly she said i can buy only one if i really wanted to. So i asked her, how much? She said, RM5. Yep, i kid you not. For a small pack of tempeyek, she asked me to buy it at five fucking bucks. All under the name of "donation with purchase". Thank God, for this beautiful brain of mind, i can still logically think that offer was no better than the previous one. Yet again, i refused her, mind you, politely. I even said thank you to her. I don't even know what was that 'thank you' for! haha. It's just me being polite.

Wait, we haven't even got to the best part just yet. Please keep on reading this. I know it's long, but hey, aren't other posts? hehe. Ok, so, let me get to the most troubling, ominous, annoying problem of all - the best part of this story - the ethnic group of this fucked up extortionist; Malay! Eh? Ethnic group? Malay? What? My bad, my bad. What i meant was the attitude of the woman. Not the ethnic group. It has nothing to do with the ethnic group. For Malay apologists out there, i'm really sorry i even mentioned that. I didn't mean it. It's slip of the fingers. hehe. But now that i think about it, maybe her attitude really is related to her ethnic group.Why did i say that? hehe.

Hmm... truly Malay.

Let me have a recap of the whole incident. When she first came to my house, she was all smile. She looked amiable. She's doing a noble job - to get donations to help teachers, so the personality of an amicable, positive individual is a must. Over time, however, she has gradually been showing her true colour which is light brown, obviously. haha.

You see, there was this time when she was trying to convince me to waste my well-earned money on her, she tried the best she can to shove all her kerepeks through my grille door. What the fuck? That was not really a decent thing to do. Imagine what could happen if i opened my grille door. She might even have a knife hid behind her sleeves, for all we know! Pheww.. thank God i didn't. God knows what could happen if i did.

The pinnacle of her ruderal attitude was when she had this disgusted looks in her eyes and she even sighed and groaned uncouthly right to my face, upon my unwavering yet pertinent refusal to all of her offers. Even when i said 'thank you', she responded spitefully by quickly grabbing her plastic bags and went away without even looking at me. What the fuck? Where were all your smiles just now? Owh yes, i forgot. it was me, right? I just ripped off every fucking smile that you had, didn't i?

What the fuck?

Hey, woman, let me get this straight. First, you tried to hoax me into giving away my money to you, second, when i appeared to be someone with the right mind, you fucked me off? I'd say, that is so fucking Malay!

This is exactly why Malays never succeed at anything. Malays are even a failure at running a simple devious scheme like that woman's. I know you didn't do it for the teachers. I know the price of the kerepek is much more cheaper. I know you would have lied to every person that you come across. But that does not mean you can fuck me off. Learn from the Chinese, please. Even when people refuse with whatever deceitful business that they come up with, they will always end it with a smile. No matter what. But you, Malay woman, are a bad egg in this business, a total sin, so i suggest that you fuck off.

p/s: for all Malay businessmen out there, please read this.

Sample of Acknowledgement of Dissertation

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:02:00 +0000

First and foremost, Alhamdulillah, there is no one but Allah who I cannot be indebted and grateful enough for every guidance and blessing that He has showered upon me in the process of completing my dissertation.

This thesis also would not have been possible if not for the continuous support which I had received from Dr. Normala Othman, whose immense knowledge, patience, and motivation have persuaded and brought the best of my thinking and writing ability to the surface. I am heartily thankful to you.

Last but not least, I would like to correspondingly express my acknowledgement and gratitude to all of the important individuals who have contributed from the beginning to the finishing point of this dissertation in any possible respect. This goes especially to Dr. Adrian Ernest Hare, Dr. Mohamed Ismail Ahamad Shah, Fazlinda Hamzah, Fara Syuhada Mad Isa, Nor Hafezah Hussein, Mohd Fadli Zakaria, and Syafiq Amri, to name a few.

Thanks a million.

Mr. Azlan's Teaching Philosophy [this shit is serious]

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:10:00 +0000

“Intellectual virtue owes both its birth and its growth to teaching...”
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

From the day one I decided that I want to be a teacher, I do realise that it is incumbent upon me to take up the responsibility of nurturing the blossoming minds of my potential students to the stage where they can be deemed as having desirable quality. Such an asset is really important to any human being as the indication of living a blissful life may just lie in it. As a matter of fact, the above quote was taken from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, wherein the discussion of the nature of happiness being its essence. Prior to that, it has always been my belief that having an intellect worth of golds is quintessential in living a good life as it has the ability to produce an individual of a distinctive behaviour. All the more reason to believe so is due to the fact that I am a language teacher and if a reminder is necessary, it is no surreptitious that language is very much related to the behaviour of the speaker.

As my decision to become one of the many individuals who devote themselves consistently for the same cause stands, I have always been prepared to dedicate the best of my ability as a teacher and as a fellow human being to assist my potential students in guiding them to the boulevard of excellence. Having said that, I am conscious of the fact that in order to produce excellent students from time to time, I must presume my students as my teachers as well, in showing me the rooms for improvement regarding my teaching ability. As such, it is expected that the intellectual virtue of my students and mine could both be refined correspondingly.

p/s: Don't believe everything i said, please. I'm just a joker from hell anyway. Truth be told, all i care about is how i can improve my knowledge in grammar, and how i can teach my students to be a grammar freak like me.

Demand-list: books...??

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 02:24:00 +0000

I'm not much of a bookworm. In fact, i've never thought of registering 'reading' as one of my hobbies. That is, if i do have hobbies which i don't think i do. I'm boring. I'm lame. So what? ...Damn! Don't you ever get me started writing! You know it's going to take you at least one month to finish reading my normal post. haha! Today i'm just going to keep it short and concise. Hopefully.

So yeah. As the title of this post suggests, i'm going to list a few books which i'm demanding that you buy it for me. For my late birthday presents, if that's what you want to think. I didn't get anything for my birthday, Goddamn it! I have all the rights in the world to be demanding. haha. And they're books. So it's all for a good cause. You might wonder, why books? I even said i hate reading. haha. I'll tell you why after this. For now, take note of the books that i want here.

An Introduction to Functional Grammar [Paperback]

M. A. K. Halliday (Author), Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen (Author)

Functional English Grammar: An Introduction for Second Language Teachers (Cambridge Language Education) [Paperback]

Graham Lock (Author)

Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics: 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Suzanne Eggins (Author)

Yes! You can say it out loud! I'm worst than any living bookworm there is! They read story books, novels, narrative books, but i read grammar books! haha. Yes, i'm addicted to grammar. Yes, 'reading' is not a hobby of mine, but 'reading grammar book' is. Actually any grammar book would do for me, but these books listed here are in my demand-list because i need them for my future. I want to master the field of Systemic Functional Grammar. I want to be a linguist, a grammarian, and a pedantic retard at grammar. A lofty ambition i must say, but hoping is never a sin. haha.

And why do you have to buy them for me? Because it's been a long while since the last time anyone ever gave me a present or a birthday present at that. And secondly, I'm literally living a beggar's life. haha. I need to save a lot of money for a much bigger cause, you see. What is it? Will tell you bitches later. haha. And these books are not cheap. Academic books never are. So that's why i'm arrogantly, condescendingly demanding you people to buy these books for me! haha!

p/s: Please don't buy story books for me. Because i just don't get them. I tried to read a few, but most of the times, after a few minutes, i would just look for a grammar book. haha.

achtung! this is not me being struck by love!

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 03:23:00 +0000

I was just testing Picasa's new features called Face Movie among its many other interesting features. Another feature that is interesting about this application is it can detect faces, and once you have tagged each face to a particular name, it will automatically identify all similar faces to this one name. Cool, isn't it? So in the new version of this application, they're stretching the ability of this feature to the one that i mentioned earlier, Face Movie, in which you can create a movie from the pool of faces of this person... wait, that does not sound that interesting, does it? haha. Well, maybe we should see what Google says about this feature.

Face Movie--You might be in charge of making a slideshow for a birthday party or wedding. Maybe you have only have two days and all you have is a bunch of group photos. Don’t panic. With the new Face Movie, you can quickly create a slideshow featuring that special someone, centered around that special someone, complete with transitions, music and captions.

The best part of this new feature is that it can align all faces of this same person right in the middle, automatically. Somebody already used that feature and produced a video out of it which is available here. It's not 'me', yeah? It's just not 'me' to do this kind of mellow, lovey-dovey thingy. That guy did say he was just experimenting with this new feature. So, just shut up and watch it. You say another word, i'm going to rip your balls off and wrap it up just nice for late christmas presents for my neighbours' dogs, yeah? haha. Why the fuck am i being so defensive here? It's not like i was the one who made the video. It's that guy. I don't even know who that guy is. Fuck. haha.

Cool application, huh? Owh, by the way, the girl in the video is that guy's fiancee. Not just a random girl. haha.

Hi ya!

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:48:00 +0000

Yep. It's been a fucking long while since the last time i updated my blog. Got a lot of things going on for the past few months.In chronological order:

I started working as a full-time around six months ago at Kolej RISDA Melaka. Yep, you heard it right. As a full-timer, no longer part-timer. I need a stable income you see. I'm getting married next year and fuck, I've got no savings whatsoever. Didn't i tell you? Money hates to stick with me. Fuck money. Fuck capitalism. Wait a sec... I already told you that i'm working there, didn't i? Ah, well. Fuck it.
The more money hates me, the more i would do to get her. haha. So, in need of money, I applied for personal loans from all potential and legitimate 'Alongs', if you know what i mean. If you don't, it means bank lah. Aiyyo. But none so far has given me positive answers because i just started working and I'm only on contract to boot. So, yeah, basically i have successfully proven that money just hates me. She fucking hates me.
Within the last month, i've been breaking every fucking bone in my brain to start writing my dissertation from scratch until it is a completed product! I'm not fucking around. I really completed my masters' dissertation within only a month. I don't know how i managed that either. One thing for sure, i've got a whole lot of word 'thanks' in my bag for first and foremost, Allah SWT, and secondly to my supervisor and my Fazlinda as well as... Adik! haha. Without them, i might have given up already. For your information, i am compelled to finish my thesis before 10th of December 2010 and if not, i either have to apply for extension which is highly unlikely to be given or i stop and stare. haha. And so, a day or two before my birthday, yesterday (09-12-1985), i have completed it which i subsequently dedicate its completion as my birthday present. This is the best present ever. It really feels fucking awesome.
But now, i'm a bit anxious waiting for it being proofread. I hope there won't be too many corrections because the semester in IIUM is starting next week, if i'm not mistaken, so if anything, evertyhing has to be finished at least next week. *sigh*

So, yeah. That, i think, has aptly encompassed all the things that have happened so far with me. There are others, but i can yet disclose it. Later lah. Owh, there's one more thing though. I'm getting fat! haha!

Parts of Speech I Don’t Like

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 01:58:00 +0000

Parts of Speech I Don't Like

[First runner-up in National Grammar Day contest]

The articles! The determiners!

Oh, what trouble they bring to the budding English speaker.

These things that don’t exist in many tongues,

And when they do exist, they change and don’t make sense.

The articles! The determiners!

Oh, what trouble they bring to the second-language English teacher.

Why can’t they get them? Why can’t they use them?

And when they do get them, why don’t they use them in a way that makes sense?

Teacher, please to tell me why is it a drink and not some drink?

Let’s get pizza, a pizza, some pizza, one pizza, how to say it?

Don’t count the pizza! It’s not one pizza unless you’re counting.

Can you come over for a dinner tonight? Why not like that?

The articles! The determiners!

The bane of second language learners—any questions?

Any? Why is it any?

Never mind, we’ll just keep practicing, even when they don’t make sense.

-- C. E. Varney

some nerdy stuff

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:31:00 +0000

MAGIC #1

An Indian discovered that nobody can create a FOLDER anywhere on the computer which can be named as “CON”. This is something pretty cool…and unbelievable… At Microsoft the whole Team, couldn’t answer why this happened!

TRY IT NOW, IT WILL NOT CREATE “CON” FOLDER

MAGIC #2

For those of you using Windows, do the following:

Open an empty notepad file
Type “Bush hid the facts” (without the quotes)
Save it as whatever you want.
Close it, and re-open it.

Is it just a really weird bug? :-? ?

MAGIC #3

Microsoft crazy facts

This is something pretty cool and neat… and unbelievable… At Microsoft, the whole Team, including Bill Gates, couldn’t answer why this happened!

It was discovered by a Brazilian. Try it out yourself…

Open Microsoft Word and type

=rand (200, 99)

And then press ENTER

Then see the magic

MAGIC #4

Try this:

Go to notepad
Type “q33n”.
Now change the font size to 72 and change the font to “wingdings”.

Now see the magic.

For 11/9 wtc attack, the planes that crashed-one had the number “q33n”.

Now if you try typing "q33n" after font changing, it won’t work

adakah anda seorang yang berbangsa Melayu?

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:46:00 +0000

melayu? hmmm... i think i've heard of the word somewhere.. but i don't quite remember la. hahaha.

What?

Acquired taste

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:54:00 +0000

Acquired taste

Animal brain, spleen and lung is not everybody’s idea of dinner fare.
SINCE my son returned from university to spend his summer break at home in Penang, strange things have been appearing in my fridge. Take the other afternoon, for example.

I’d just opened the fridge door to get a cold drink, when I spotted a bulging plastic bag sitting on a plate on the topmost shelf. Curious, I opened the bag, only to recoil with shock. For there, stretching the sides of the pink plastic, was a glistening brain.

I quickly closed the fridge door and called out to my son in an adjacent room.

“Is that your brain in the fridge?”

“No, as far as I’m aware, my brain is still encased within my skull,” he said.

“Seriously, what do you want with a brain?”

“I plan to eat it.”

That evening, as I was sitting down to a conservative dinner of roast chicken, my son placed a bowl of chopped brain on the table.

“I’ve sautéed it in garlic and stirred in an egg,” he announced in the same tone of voice that celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay might use when presenting a discerning diner with a cordon bleu dish of the finest quality.

As I watched my son shovel sliced brain into his mouth, one thought, and one thought only, occurred to me: “Switched at birth. He must have been switched at birth.”

I gingerly began to eat my dinner, as he devoured his sautéed brain with gusto.

“You’re actually enjoying this?” I said after a few minutes.

A fork full of brain was thrust across the table at me. “Here! Try some!” he said. He grinned widely, and I had to look away. I couldn’t bear the possibility of seeing even the smallest bit of brain stuck between his front teeth or clinging stubbornly to the corner of his mouth.

“I think I’ll stick with my chicken,” I said.

But my appetite was shot.

“Whatever happened to the boy who used to love roasts, pasta, spicy curries, crisp salads and crusty bread?” I asked myself.

Before he left to study in the United States two years ago, he would pop into a nearby fast food outlet once a week and have a burger and fries washed down with copious amounts of soda. Unhealthy though it was, I could cope with the idea of him eating the ground flesh of a cow slathered with a liberal dose of blood-red tomato sauce, but when it comes to other parts of the animal that are not mainstream fare, my stomach churns.

The following afternoon, my son returned from the local wet market with a cow’s spleen and a lung.

That evening, I entered the kitchen to prepare my dinner and almost reeled from the strong smell of iron; the same raw smell that can only be associated with exposed blood. My stomach remonstrated at the sight of the cow’s spleen oozing redness.

Later, I was forced to breathe through my mouth as I attempted to eat my dinner of stir-fried beef strips and vegetables; the smell from that spleen lingered.

Unfortunately for my son (but fortunately for his mother), the thick tail-like piece of spleen was inedible.
“There’s too much iron in this,” said my son as he pushed his plate to one side. “Can I have some of what you’re eating?”

“Of course, you can,” I said, as I smiled and pushed back my chair, “there’s more in the kitchen. I cooked everything to suit your new diet, just in case: no sugar or vegetable oil or starch.”

As a mother, it’s sometimes difficult to keep quiet when I see my children deviating from some of my own values and habits. But then, I brought up both my children to be independent and develop opinions of their own, so part of me can’t help but feel proud when they stand their ground in the face of adverse comments from others.

But then again, I’m thinking of putting a “No brain allowed!” sign on my kitchen door, even though I’ll be leaving myself wide open to smart-Alec comments from my son.

sample of complaint letter

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:16:00 +0000

UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICE'S STAFF

This letter is to serve as a statement of dissatisfaction about treatment we, new lecturers, recently received from a Kolej !@S^& administration staff named &@ (#&!^^#@.

2. On 28^th July 2010, one of my colleagues went to see this particular staff to ask him to fix the mistakes that he had done with regard to the new lecturers’ stamps in which our position at this college was not included in those stamps. Although he finally obliged to fix the problem, it must be mentioned that he was at first wanted to fix only my colleague’s stamp and in addition to that, the way he reacted upon the request of my colleague was unprofessional and unacceptable.

3. Afterwards, given that he was going to fix the mistakes with the stamps, we asked him to correct the names of the lecturers that he got wrong as well. However, we were really startled with his backlash upon my request as he complained he had many other jobs to do and he actually asked us to fix the mistakes due to his carelessness albeit the fact that fixing them, is one of his jobs. We were, and actually still are, bewildered by the manner shown by this particular staff. Even when we said that we will report on him, he said he did not care. Needless to say, we were really frustrated with his unprofessional behaviour.

4. We had expected a much higher level of professionalism from the staff of the administration office as we are moving towards becoming a university college, sadly however such is not reflected by this staff and perceptibly such manner of working is certainly unacceptable. Besides, just because of one particular staff, the efficacy and the good name of the administration office are understandably at risk of which we assume it is not something that we all want including us, being already an integral part of Kolej !@S^& We hope this matter will be addressed appropriately because we do not want the same thing to happen all over again.

ABM 9603 vs. JMH 9061

noreply@blogger.com (xlanxdiablox) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:50:00 +0000

You know, the only car in my life that i could remember its registration number is that of my Atok's. It's a van and the registration number is ABM 9603. I have so many memories with that van. I remember my Atok would always let me sit in the front if i wanted to and even my Opah would have to sit at the back. hehe. Such a culprit that i was when i was a small cute cuddly boy. haha. But now the van is long gone. The family have sold it off after the demise of my Atok. Well, anyway, yep, from that time until now, with new cars 'come' and 'go', the only, and i mean the only, car's registration number that i can sew well to this big brain of mine is that of my Atok's - ABM 9603.

Nevertheless, with all that being said, i now have successfully sew another car's registration number to my long-term memories section of my brain. hehe. The registration number is JMH 9061. hehe. Now, why can i, all of a sudden, remember this registration number? hehe. The reason is, the car is ours!! My Fazlinda and me!! Well, technically, it's hers. It's under her name and everything but you get the idea, right? hehe. And at the moment, i'm the driver of the car because Faz can't drive that well just yet. It will be up to me to train her just like before her JPJ test. But you see, she's really something. When her dad teaches her how to drive, you can see the perfect and loyal daughter listening to every words of her dad but when it's me teaching her, do expect me teaching a lioness, yeah? haha. Anyway, i have to tell you, i am actually really happy. I can't describe it. hehe.

Owh. About the car. It's Perodua Myvi - Limited Edition. The colour is... pink!!! hahahaha. Can you imagine? Me, driving a pinky car?? haha. Wherever i go, i must make sure Faz is with me. You know, so that people won't give that weird stare at me. hehe. Nonetheless, i am loving the car. hehe. Seriously, i am. You can imagine me all excited while writing this. haha. Ok, below are some of the pictures Faz took of the car. and pictures i grabbed from the internet So, feast your eyes! haha.

The real credit however, has to go to her dad, Mr. Hamzah. hehe. Without him, we would not be able to even dream about having a car already. And her mum too, for being really supportive and caring. I owe them a lot. Or rather, we owe them a lot. And Adik, for choosing the interesting colour of the car. haha. Thanks.