Pathways: What 2006 Meant To Me.

That would be the one word that would explain the unpredictable, crazy year i've been through.

A lot of things, both good and bad happened to me throughout the year. But like what Reverand Wendy Ching preached this morning in church, we remember bad things better and more emotional compared to the good times we had. I couldn't agree more.

But knowing that whatever situation i've been through this year, i believe it's God's master plan for me; a plan far beyond my tempermental human mind can ever comprehend. I believe there's greater things for me next year, and perhaps years to come.

My commitment to both the youth group and CF, going through industrial attachment in theSun, life in the campus as a sophomore, my state of mind and relationship with others and things in between. Looking back, i wonder what if i said no to certain things, or decided to take a risk for others. I can only imagine again and again what it would be like, like a broken record playing the same tune repeatitively.

But again, pathways are what i encounter everyday of my life. And if i had one resolution for the coming year, i want to be wiser in making the smart choices. With God's grace, wisdom, courage and guidance, i believe i can go through it in faith.


"...Before we let euphoria
Convince us we are free
Remind us how we used to feel
Before when life was real

And when I feel like I can feel once again
Let me stay awhile
Soak it in awhile
If we can hold on we can fix what is wrong
Buy a little time
For this head of mine
Haven for us...."

Taken from The Delgados' The Light Before We Land

Note: expect more for 2007!~

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Reset.

There's about 21 plus hours to go before friends and family alike singing Auld Lang Syne as fireworks go off in the sky when the ball drops.

I personally felt the youth camp was great - feeling God's presence once again has touched me, and me re-awaken. It's been awhile, but i was walking around with my eyes spiritually shut closed for too long. Perhaps this camp was what i really what i need to bounce me back to my axis.

No more time to waste. There are many entries to come for this blog, and more interesting events in my life for me to experience. I'll blog them to my pace, and i walk fast too!

Some things can wait, while the important ones need to be attended too.

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Three.

Four more days to before 2007 comes a knocking.

I'll be off to camp later till this Friday, having a ball with about 50+ youths in Port Dickson at our Youth Camp.

I'm not very thrilled about it, or am i frustrated with it. I'm just going through the motion for this camp. If there's one phrase to fit my feelings being in the committee, it would be "between the devil and the deep blue sea". Or maybe, it's just myself to blame.

On a lighter note, last week, i was up in Genting Highlands with Jocelyn Tan, Gillian Tan, Cherise and John Reuben and their bunch of friends from school. But being up there for three days wasn't that much more fun than a barrel of monkeys, being unable to play the outdoor rides.

With the news reports stating five states are suffering from the floods, it was fogging heavily way up there; where winds were strong and visions blurs 20 metres away. With the monsoon winds blowing, this wouldn't be a good time to be up there.

And i hear from Jocelyn that the next time they're planning something, they would invite me. This situation could be viewed from two different angles - either i could still jive with them despite the age difference, or that's how low my maturity level is. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

"...Way away away from here I'll be
Way away away so you can see
How it feels to be alone and not believe
(Feels to be alone and not believe)
Feels to be alone and not believe
anything..."

Excerpt from Yellowcard's Way Away

I've got a few hours to rest before getting up to reach church by 8 later.

Four more days, i wonder if i'll make it.

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Christmas - Is HE In It?

It never bothered me till a couple of years back, what Xmas really meant.

Though i'm a person who rarely use shorthand writing, it never occur to me what it meant till my lecturer told us students what it really means.

"To celebrate Xmas is to celebrate Christmas without Christ in it. It's the commercial way of celebrating it," said the lecturer to us.

Well, it sort of made sense there, i thought to myself.

But wishes came by in forms of e-mails and text messages saying "Merry Xmas" and "Have a Great Xmas". I do tell them what my lecturer's logic to them. So excepted it whole-heartedly, while others argued, stating it is a short form and refuse to budge.

So recently, i decided to check out the real meaning behind Xmas and was i shocked to discover what the fuss was about:

"Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the X represents a Greek chi, the first letter of Χριστος, “Christ.” In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian, “Christian.” But people unaware of the Greek origin of this X often mistakenly interpret Xmas as an informal shortening pronounced (ĕks'məs). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas."

Taken from answers.com

So, i guess most of those who believe that Xmas was short of Christmas was true. But then again, i bet 9 out of 10 doesn't know the Greek origin of X, and believes it was just an English shortform. Many will just say, "Ya ke?" Hence, knowing is half the battle, forfeiting the fact that ignorance is bliss.

But there are a few articles stating that it's okay to use the Greek word 'chi'. Click HERE and HERE to read more about the information.

I guess there are two groups of schools here - those who opposes the usage of Xmas, and those who accepts it.

But to me, Christmas isn't about the fat dude travelling from the North Pole, delivering presents to good kids and coal to bad ones. To me, it's about giving and forgiving. To be more specific, it's about the birth of Jesus Christ, who came down to earth to die for our sins so that we may have eternal life - He's the reason for the season.

Well, which ever group you belong to, i would like to wish you all a Blessed Christmas!

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Hurting Within.

After a long time, i felt what is it like to lie to a mom.

It isn't a picnic - i felt horrible. It's at the same level as breaking someone's kneecap in anger or breaking up with a girlfriend in frustration over a bitter fight.

No matter which situation you can relate to, it doesn't matter.

Crap, i just want to get over this. The truth will be told, if neccesary.


"...Stab my back
It's better when I bleed for you
Walk on me
It never was enough to do..."

Taken from The All-American Rejects' Stab My Back

Love & Peace!~

BC?

They're Just Kids.... Tired Ones.

"Abby Brown:
What's wrong with you? He's just a kid. We're all just kids and we just have this life and the things you say and do, we feel that. How can you have so much hate in your heart? How can you act like it doesn't matter? It does matter. What happened to us? We're just kids. We can't be like this. It's not possible."*

Watching Last Sunday's One Tree Hill (Episode "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept") was really mind blowing. In a nutshell, that particular episode was about one of the high school student (Jimmy Edwards) brought a gun to school, and held a group of students hostage after firing a shot in the school. Click HERE for more info about this episode

"Jimmy Edwards:
You really think I am the only one. Then ask yourself this. Have you ever treated someone like crap in this school or left anyone out? Have you ever broken up with someone in the time it takes to pass a note and disappear? Or talk trash behind their back? Or maybe you just ignored it all? You know why you worry about the big game or the prom or the bake sale for the pep club. You ask yourself that and then you tell me if there is anyone else out there. "*

This seem to look a lot like the Columbine High School shooting that happened a couple of years back. I guess this is the retribution you get when not only kids wear casual clothings to school, but guns are easily obtained from the nearest K-Mart.

But then again, to blame guns outbreaks like this is no different from blaming knives for murders. Things around us can either be used for good or evil.

Maybe those kids were like Jimmy - the rejected and the bully. The invisible to the people around him, and abondan by his friends. And they decided to take out their frustration by pulling the trigger.

How many people like Jimmy do you know? I know, there are too many around me.

"Jimmy Edwards:
Everyone here is a loser. And the truth is: everyday I have to come to this school, is one less day I have to come back."*

One thing i know, he's just tired of the things that has been going on around him. I know.

"...But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest
Instead of taking a test, I took two to the chest

Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running but I couldn't hear nothing

Except gun blasts, it happened so fast
I don't really know this kid even though I sit by him in class

Maybe this kid was reaching out for love
Or maybe for a moment he forgot who he was

Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was I know it's because

We are, we are, the youth of the nation..."

Taken from POD's Youth of the Nation

* the quotes were taken from One Tree Hill, episode "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept".

Love & Peace!~

BC?

16 Days Left.

"...Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?"

Taken from Muse's Time Is Running Out

There's ten more days before Christmas.
A few more hours before the Moral paper begins.

Funny, how yesterday was spent reading manga, watching anime and checking out details about X-Files. Not only am i not a fan of the conspiracy series which ran for nine season, but i was afraid of watching it while it was on Malaysian airwaves. Not that i'm willing to watch it, though i'm curious about what kind of episodes and strange phenomena they have.

The best part is that i read very little of the notes. But then again, it's a LAN subject; grade obtained would not so ever affect my CGPA. Even if i barely pass it, it's still a pass. I remember studying for another LAN paper, Pengajian Malaysia only the morning of the exam. I ended up with a B+. I didn't see that coming!

Anyway, what grade i get for Moral would somewhat reflect the level of morale i have? Perhaps it does say a lot about me... or it's just another test that needs to be passed! I've already passed Feature Writing paper (yes!) and i've this hurdle to go.

But then again, if you know when your time's up, it really doesn't matter, does it? I guess i'll keep this for another entry.

For now, i guess i need to live for the moment.


"...Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over

This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose... "

Taken from Switchfoot's This Is Your Life

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Christmas Came Early 1: A Mis-Adventure

A couple of weeks back, David Heng, Dewgem and i met up with Justin Tan, who came all the way from Sg Long for dinner in Mid-Valley.

If i've not mistaken, the reason for the meet-up was to just meet up. I guess Justin was shocked to discover that David and Dewgem are seeing each other; never thought that this Melaka joker would actually be dating someone!

And yes, both David and Dewgem currently an item. I'm not being a loud-mouth, party-pooper or even a nosey-journalist - i'm just informing those who are uninformed, and those who bother to know.

After a nice meal, we headed to Animetech to browse around. In the end, we three guys decided to something for ourselves. And below are the item we bought:

Samurai Champloo, Thee TV Comlete Set (No spelling error here- It's written that way on the DVD cover) for me.


Gungrave OST 1: Righthand. This was the second item i got.


Gungrave OST 2: Lefthand. This was what David got as a Christmas present for his friend.


This was the Final Fantasy VIII OST that Justin got for his friend.

IN addition of applying the membership, i spent a total of RM200+, which burnt a deep hole in my Tropicana Life leather wallet. Though both Justin and David did pay for their part, that was still a lot of money that i coughed out (perhaps some blood in the process as well...) And if i paid those items with my credit card, is no different that giving my dad a heart-attack by writing his name in the Death Note!

Anyway, getting Samurai Champloo was really worth it lah. I've watched up to episode 17, and i'm still amazed by it. It's hilarious and action packed. The story revolves around the protagonists Mugen, Jin and Fuu, in their journey to search for the samurai who smells of sunflowers.

Mugen is a wild vagabond with wild hair and a devil-may-care attitude, accompanied with his fierce break-dance fight-style, while Jin is the silent, disciplined ronin with incredible swordsmanship and a dreadful past. These two warriors who can't look eye to eye without trying to kill each other group together on this search quest by beautiful young Fuu, who has not only a unbelievable appetite, but is kidnapped almost every episode!

Not only is the fighting scenes goreful and intriging, but the whole story takes place in Edo period of Japanese history with the cultural influence of today; which explains the fact that the characters has piercings and dyed hair, and phenomena like beat-box rapping and graffiti painting during that time. This anime combines chambara and modern hip-hop nicely.

The anime (up to now) seems good, and so was the soundtrack i got. I might get the soundtrack for Samurai Champloo next year.

Justin stayed overnight, as it was a tad to late to catch the KTM train back to Sg Long. (David was still hanging out at my place too)

Anyway, what Justin mentioned to me while i was sending him off to the KTM station the next day struck me; that is when people call others out, there's always a reason behind it. I couldn't agree more.

Whether it's to accompany a group of friend, to eat with someone, to have a long deep conversation or to scam a poor soul into joining a pyramid scheme, there is a reason behind inviting another person out. I still remember the last time this person i know who invited me out dinner in PJ with the sole purpose of getting me into this pyramid scheme plan. That bus-tard, i had to play for my own dinner!

But what about inviting someone out just for the sake of it? I find it hard to do, without the strings attached.

Love & Peace!~

BC?

What Secrets Do You Have?

Pictures are taken from PostSecret.

There are times, i feel like expressing myself with those two pictures.

Remember the music video clip for The All-American Rejects' Dirty Little Secret, where in the video, various postcards with different secrets were displayed by the those people? There are all from the same website. I really find this postcards interesting.

Anyway, to find out more about these postcards, do click HERE to look at more.

I might write one myself someday....


"...I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret

Who has to know
The way she feels inside (inside)
Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
These sleeping dogs won't lie (won't lie)
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart
Trace this life out..."

Taken from Dirty Little Secret, performed by The All-American Rejects

Love & Peace!~

BC?

NOthing Much To Do.

I've been tagged by a few other bloggers to do this. Since i'm not really in the mood to blog (though i have a lot of things in mind), i'm just doing this for the sake of doing it.

Four things many don't know:
- I got my head shaved to impress a girl.
- Before entering college, many of my crushes are older than me!
- I might have an undiagnosed mental illness.
- I had a mild heart-attack before entering primary school.

Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Batman Begins
- The Matrix Trilogy
- Metropolis
- Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Four places I have lived:
- Taman Uda Jaya, Ampang
- Taman Bukit Indah, Ampang
- Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, KL
- In a hostel

Four TV shows I love:
- Lost
- House
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- One Tree Hill

Four places I have been on vacation:
- Port Dickson
- Ipoh
- Genting Highlands
- Cameron Highlands

Four of my favourite foods:
- Pizza
- Dry Pork Noodles
- Chips
- Spagetti and meatballs

Four places I'd rather be:
- At home
- Borders bookstore
- In the office
- In bed

Currently listening to songs:
- The All-American Rejects - Move Along
- Yui - Rolling Star
- The Delgados - The Light Before We Land
- Beat Crusaders - Tonight Tonight Tonight!

Four other people who will be tagged:
- Those reading this blog entry.
- Those who have not updated their blogs lately.
- Those with nothing else better to do.
- Those who like to be tagged! (just do it)


Back to getting my assignments done!

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Are We Ready For It?

I'm done with my first paper, and patiently waiting for the next paper next Friday. Praying hard that i could get an A- or a B+ for Feature Writing. But nonetheless, i need to get other things done before the year ends.


"...It's in despair that I find faith
Summon the night to bow down to day
When ignorance is bliss
Save me from myself

And then I see You there
With Your arms open wide and You try to embrace me
These lonely tears I cry
They keep me in chains and I wish they'd release me
Cold is the night but
Colder still is the heart made of stone, turned from clay
And if you follow me
You'll see all the black, all the white fade to grey..."

Taken from Jars Of Clay's Fade To Grey

Interestingly, after the exam on Monday, Dr Carmen distributed this pamplet around to the students;




It's the Freedom of Information (FOI) campaign. Basically, it's a campaign for a legislation that allows access to information - as they are a lot of things that we, the citizens, do not have the slightest idea of what's going on in our country.

Do you have a clue where your tax money goes to?
Is the government being open enough to the public?
What secrets should be consisted secrets?
Why are whistleblowers punished instead of being rewarded?

Anyway, just click HERE for details about FOI.

But then again, for this to actually go through, we need to move away from the typical 'tak apa' attitude that we have. I believe many of us are ignorant, if not indifferent, about the issues that goes on around us.

The only time we take notice of something is only if it has direct effect on our daily routine, not the bigger things that are weightier and indirectly affect us. I guess only when it reaches the critical level-four bio-hazard stage, do we voice out our opinions and concerns.

We really need to take interests in the things that's going on around us. After all, knowledge is power, right?

But then again, it's no use calling the kettle black when the pot himself knows nuts about politics and the government....



"Say what you want, mean what you say
Remember the deepest seeds still find the light of day
Do as you please, and be who you be
I'm telling you, this thing's gonna bring you to your knees

The truth is what we need, it is the end of mystery
You know the truth will set you free
The truth is out there, the truth is out there..."

Excerpt from DC Talk's The Truth

Love & Peace!~

BC?

Lame VS Funny.

No... not the crippled or physically disabled kind, but what some of my friends are (somewhat fortunate, it's just a figurative speech)

I've been wondering, what the heck separates a funny joke from a lame one? Putting both of them down the table, it's obvious that people laughs at both of them... well, less for the lame one though.

I got curious, and tried to find out what sets them apart. Taken from answers.com, this what lame means -
"Lame is a slang adjective used to describe things of poor, or incomplete, quality in a manner that is synonymous with crap or dim-witted. It is also used as a mock against inexperienced users and less than provocative, or 'uncool,' performances..."

Sometimes i wonder if we were refering to someone as lame, should we have just labelled him/her 'pathetic'?

Sometimes, some people are just plain lame, with the blinking capital 'L'. (no reference to L of Death Note; he rocks!)


A Russell Peters video, about beating your kids! Hilarious.


Love & Peace!~

BC?

It's December 1.

WOW!~

I can't believe it's already in December already! After this, and January 2007 is come rolling in. Thirty more days to go before the new year comes.

As the end approaches, i wonder if i've done great deeds this year and is there time of amendments?

I don't know.



Remember, World AIDS Day today.

Love & Peace!~

BC?