Pictures And What Nots

Could I do any less Father? After all that has taken place. I pray that You grab hold of me and steer me through. This is my desire, my cry.

Anyway, I'm going to cramp this post with all the pictures I took this past few weeks but couldn't (or didn't) post.

So a few weeks ago, me and Sean were clearing out some stuff from our room left by former occupants. And he found this:

3000 Iran Rial. Wah, macam boleh beli my Behringers already. So I hit up the currency exchange.

Ok, forget it.

Jacob, my Iranian housemate's sister Fatemah (typo), came over to Malaysia to spend her holidays and she was a pretty good cook.

Absolutely amazing Iranian dish. Fatemah and Jacob shared how the Iranian method of cooking rice is so much more different than how we do it here. For them, cooking rice alone is like part of their culture and they take great pride in it. Unlike us who just dumped it into the cooker and it turns out all gooey and sticky.

Making the above dish includes many processes which I can't remember all now but it involves mixing pre-prepared rice with tomato puree, meat, vegetables etc. And leaving everything to boil under a slow fire with a cloth wrapped over the pot's lid (apparently that's one of their methods for a great dish).

Some pictures I took while on the way to Kuantan last week where we had a little family gathering cause Jie is back from Nottingham for the hols! (=

Alternative look to Petaling Street.

It was pouring while travelling in the bus. In fact, it was so bad that I saw signboards twisted and trees blown to the ground as a result of the sheer rage of the thunderstorm. I had nothing to do in the bus, so I saja saja main la with the camera.

Just as lightning was sparking up the sky.

Spot the camera.

And today, I was around ss15 having dinner with CFers.

The things they think of to sell their wares. 

Wah. I call this direct support line.

That's about it I guess.

Now for some proper sleep! I'm having flu. Argh.. Though it's much better now, thank God.

Nitey!

Showdown Of Champions

I missed the last one. Definitely not gonna miss this one!

This time around Johnny Mac, Borg and either Nadal or Blake will join Fed Ex in Malaysia playing 3 rounds of exhibition matches.

For the full schedule, check it out here.

P/S: Rubee! Don't like this laaaaaa. (=

Lavigne To Celebrate Merdeka With Us After All

So it's back on track apparently.

Hmmm...it has been a week of surprises.

Oh Mikey...

How he managed to deceive everyone including his own family just boggles me.

I can't believe no one else knew of the feigning. There has to be someone. I mean, c'mon, 2 years?!

How he managed to live through 2 years of deceit just stuns me into silence.

I guess some part of me is hoping that there is actually a reason for Mike to do what he did.

I mean what about all the other 'healings' that he testified about and in all probability was witnessed by others too?

Perhaps there still was a cause and belief for him to write 'Healer'? Just that it wasn't cancer but some other ailment? What is it then?

ARGH.

I won't comment too far as I'm waiting for Mike himself to make himself clear.

Till then.

Lavigne Too Hot To Handle?

"An Avril Lavigne concert scheduled for later this month in Malaysia has been cancelled amid complaints that the show by the Canadian rock singer is "too sexy." The Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry says it had decided not to permit Lavigne's planned Aug. 29 performance because it is unsuitable for Malaysian culture.

The decision came after complaints by the youth wing of a fundamentalist opposition party, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic party. Kamarulzaman Mohamed, a party youth official, told the Associated Press on Monday that Lavigne's show was "considered too sexy for us" and would promote the wrong values just before independence day on Aug. 31."

Read it up here and here.

"Avril Lavigne too sexy for us."

Aiyoh...this people are getting more and more ridiculous by the minute.

As if this nation isn't in enough crap, they had to go and pull a stunt like this. Says it all doesn't it? How to Malaysia Boleh larh?

Isn't it time for the authorities to step up (yea...riighhht...) and decide to actually not to continue putting our country to shame for the sake of some bigots?

No offense to that ever complaining party and its enthusiasts, but isn't it time to step out of your shell and embrace the world as it is instead of trying to create a self-made existence of impairment?

Certainly the way forward isn't by looking back and driving your nails into the sand in a bid to counter the momentum? 

I cringe to imagine the views of the international domain over our pitiful stand and excuse over cancelling this concert.

And saying the wrong values would be portrayed just before our national celebration as an attempt to rationalise for their impediment is just plain ridiculous and selfish.

"Malaysia requires all performers to wear clothes without obscene or drug-related images and be covered from the chest to the knees. They must also refrain from jumping, shouting, hugging and kissing on stage."

Wow. Mind boggling. As a Malaysian, I didn't even knew such regulations were in place.

Hello? Is this too sexy for you?

I admit it doesn't measure up to the standards of being covered from the chest to the knees, but this doesn't even hinge on the borderline of decency. We've all seen worse.

And please, do not speak on behalf of the nation's youth. What right do you have of that?

Fingers crossed a new date would be agreed upon soon. 

That is if Avril STILL wants to come after all this major bull.

Argh!!

Picture courtesy of REUTERS/David Gray

Horror of horrors!

Liu Xiang has pulled out of the 110m hurdles due to a combination of injury damage to the achilles tendon of his right leg and a bone spur on his ankle. Oh crap, this is the real heart rending stuff for the Chinese, Liu Xiang especially.

Imagine having the hopes of millions pinned on you and having to walk out due to that niggling injury. 

I just hope he won't be judged heavily as I believe he has done everything humanly possible to start the race and at the end just couldn't.

Ah...the cruel twist of fortunes.

Recap

I guess all of you have heard or seen videos of the infamous fire over at my campus, so i'll not mentioned it anymore here. I was sure that the CF's 1st anniversary was going to be cancelled. So me and dean were at the security centre cracking jokes about ceramahs and what nots. And apparently half the population over at LCS are bloggers la, judging by the amount of cameras, handsets raised throughout the evacuation.

We came out from class and found the staff lined up neatly against the wall. Talk about uniformity.

Finally found Benny and the CF gang at the front of Kurnia and he said that the celebration would be cancelled if we were not allowed back into coll in 30 minutes. But lo and behold, at precisely 5pm (yes, I saw the time), they allowed us back it! Now is that a miracle or what? Now here comes the tricky part, biking back to ridz, lugging my guitar, keyboard and stand to the awaiting dean downstairs, and rushing back to campus.

By the time I reached, I had barely enough time to set everything out and change before the celebration began. So much for having a soundcheck. heh.

All in all, the celebration went pretty well, lots of laughs, fun and a short but timely message from Florence all the way from UPM's CF. 

Do visit our CF's blog for more updates and highlights of the celebration (Coming soon).

By night, I hopped along with Joe and Cassie to Putrajaya to witness fireworks by the Malaysian team. It seems to be some annual competition in conjunction with the Merdeka celebrations with teams all around the world participating. 

The below 2 pics are grabbed from Cassie's blog.

John, Joe, me looking out of sorts in my oversize CF shirt, Stephanie, Lydia and Aaron.

The 2 Sony alpha users setting up while me and Joe had Mackers.

With 2 DSLRs and Cassie's digital camera, I was feeling real out of sorts with my 2 mp phone camera. Me mere mortal am not worthy to be in their holistic presence.

Below are some chosen shots of the night.

I'm surprised by some (note: some) of the pictures clarity. Don't compare to the higher end cameras la. By 2 mp standards I daresay it looks pretty good.

Probably my favourite. Love the way the crowd is silhouetted against the burst of flare.

Taylors CF 1st Anniversary

Its been a year of learning, fun and excitement. And all the while soaking in His glory. There is more to come we assure you. Taylors PJ's CF is celebrating our 1st Anniversary this coming tuesday and you're invited! Doesn't matter if you're not a student here, you're invited too! 

Date

12 August 2008 (Tuesday)

Time

5.15 pm - 7 pm

Come one, come all!

Hope to catch you there to join in the celebrations! (:

Visit our blog for add info. Any ques, just drop me a line.

Revolution

The revolution tour will be heading to the sunny shores of Kuantan on the 16th of August.

Get excited and be prepared for an awesome time with the REVO ACADEMY , power-packed messages and a P.A.R.T.Y! Click on the banner for a detailed view. 

You don't wanna miss out in the event of the year right here in KUANTAN! If you need more details, log on to www.urtherevolution.com! SEE YOU AT REVO KUANTAN!

There you go Jasher. :)

Death Has Lost Its Sting

Only just realised from online radio Air 1 that Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter Maria passed away in the month of May 08 due to a freak accident at the Chapmans home. You can read it up here.

Calling it tragic would be an understatement, however deeming it as part of God's timing and grace supercedes it all. However trite this sentence may sound, I'm living by it. 

I've encountered my fair share of untimely deaths. Deaths that in all the common sense of the world, shouldn't have happened, not at this age, at this junction of time. And I am strengthened by the resolve, faith and determination shown by each family during this time. Not cursing, not raging; but simply a silent prayer of faith and surrendering to God for all it's worth. Now THAT'S faith.

Isaiah 25:8 "....The Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces...."

Hosea 13:14 "....sheol, where is your sting?..."

After everything, GOD IS GOD.

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

Chorus:
God is God and I am not                                                                                           I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains 
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are 
all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

God Is God
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #5

Passion Kuwala Lompor

I finally have gotten the chance to see these dudes in the flesh. Come to think of it, it's surreal that I was worshipping just a few feet away from them. IT'S JUST TOO BAD DCB WASN'T HERE TOO. But there's nothing to complain about yesterday night. Amazing.

The waiting crowd. It was pretty cool with the phony countdown and all. And I got to know a Singapore couple with their cute daughter who claims to be a Chris fan. And guess what? They are Wees too. Cool eh?

Spot Benny!

This is where my line starts. 

Before.

Joe. My fellow Mayer fan.

The opening.

Chris!

Ah yes, Daniel Carson with all his jink and dinks. Emotional rocker to the max. 

It was amazing when Louie told us that Passion Manila had prayed for us and contributed financially to make Passion KL possible. And we in turn were to contribute to Jakarta, the next city on the tour. It's an amazing feeling to know that someone has sowed love into the making of something incredible and in turn awesome to know that you're doing the same for the next city.

One of the highlights for me was to be able to stand smack at the frontline witnessing Daniel and Kendall (of Charlie's band) doing their stuff on the electric. One thing's for sure: they do have fast feet and nifty toes; dancing away pressing, turning, stomping on their effects arsenal.

I like it that they used the capo on the elec for many songs. Goes on to show that Nigel and I are not alone. HAHA. 

Ashley's journal goes on to show how one unassumming 'fruitcake' is able to impact one's life in just 2 weeks. How could I do less? 

For Daniel Carson's rig setup and him explaining the dials, check here. Be warned that setup was a year ago.

When they gave the warning again for no flash photography, I took one last picture of his board and decided to call it quits and focused fully on lifting up the Lord's name. 

Looks like he added a Route66 and maybe other nifty gadgets. Couldn't make it out from the ground. And I like the fact that he used only his Gibby throughout the show. Same went for Kendall.

Ahhh...think I'll write no more,

But do check out Passion's blog for more,

Check out the comments for the KL post,

Looks like we beat Manila's record with our 362 comments posts.

And it's just after one day, goes on to show how pro we Malaysian bloggers are. Heh.

Good night to all.

Keep the Passion flowing!

Fried Fats

Where can you find fried nasi lemak?

Come to Ridzuan. It's all available at The Arcade.

How good it is, is up to you to decide. Just ask Joshua.

The next time you're there, DO NOT request for the Nasi Lemak to be warmed.

King Rafa

The new king of grass is guaranteed to claim the number 1 ranking regardless of how he fares in the latter part of the tournament after storming to a 7-6 6-1 quaterfinal victory over Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti.

His rise to number 1 depends on his performance in cincy:
- If Nadal wins, he will become No. 1 this Monday.

- If Nadal loses in the final, it's August 11.

- If Nadal loses in the semifinals to Nole, it's August 18.

This bringing an end to Fed Ex's reign on the top of men's tennis after 235 weeks (currently).

It's no less what Rafa deserves after a splendid season thus far.