Asshole, Australian Open, and President Obama

Assalamualaikum...

First of all, pardon me for 'the bizarrest' title for an entry so far yet for this blog. As you can probably see, all three are actually not related and i just want to touch every subject as briefly as i can...
I've to admit, after a very exhaustive 2-3 weeks of watching - and writing - about the bad news of Israel-Palestine issue lately, i feel kinda relieved to write about something else in this blog. Not that the Middle-east issues are far gone by now - because they never will - it just feels so good to write about normal stuff again.

Ok, first, the asshole thing...

Last night, i got an SMS from my good friend, Din a.k.a iceman telling me, "You better pick up or call back... or this is the last time you hear from me again!". And when i looked up, i realized i have about 3 missed calls from him...

So i called him back straight away, and after the normal greetings were over, one of the earliest word i heard from him was "Asshole!". Whoa! Never in my life had anybody called me that, and of course naturally it made me mad!
But about 15 seconds after that, i realized... ouch, maybe i deserved that! Turned out, Din just read this blog and he found out that i was getting engaged almost three weeks ago and it really hurt him that i didn't tell him about it.

I tried to downplay the issue, telling him i actually didn't tell anybody about it, except my bro, Aizzuddin and my housemates. It's no big deal, i said. But he countered back, saying he's not anybody! He's one of my oldest and my best friend! We've known each other for 9 years, for God sake!

And at that, my friends, i felt silent and i completely lost any argument left in me. I realized my mistake and for about 10 minutes after that, i can only listened to him berrating about how unfair and 'cruel' i was. I know he wanted me to feel guilty and i tell you, he's very good at it...!

So, last night i apologized to him couple of times through the phone. But somehow i knew it's not enough. So here, once again, to Din, I am really.. really sorry for being an 'asshole'! You're right. As a friend, i should do better than that. And as a friend, you deserved better than that...

On the bright side, i'm actually lucky he didnt call me 'asshole' in Malay! That will be nightmare, don't you think?

Now on Australian Open...

It has been so long since i last mention about my favourite sport in the whole wide world here, and it's the high time i started mention about it again...
As you may already know, the first Grand Slam in Tennis calendar this year begins with Australian Open which is already under play from yesterday, 19th January until 1st February, next Sunday.

As usual my favourite player is Nadal and as the World No 1 player, the pressure is on him to lift his first Australian Open. The challenge will come from the likes of Federer, Djokovic and Murray and it will be an interesting two weeks to see 'The Big Four' of tennis compete with each other to take the honour of winning the first Grand Slam of 2009.

Lastly on President Obama...

Today is the D-Day for United States of America and may i suggest here, for the world in general...!
Because, this is the day that the President-elect Obama will become President Obama, the 44th US President, replacing the disgraceful and - pardon me for my word here - the shitty, war-lover George H.W. Bush.

While i acknowledge that USA is not in the high list of our favourite country in the world, mostly due to their unexplainable support towards - again, pardon my word here - the shittest country of all, the Israel; we have to admit, what goes on in the US is very vital to the world.

As the most powerful nation in the world - so they called themselves - the president of USA is unarguably the most powerful man in the world. And this man, Barack Hussein Obama is about to become one today...!

I've followed almost every step of this man, rising towards the position he is now, and i can tell you - at least up until now - if there's even a glimmer of hope to see some improvement to Middle East issues, this man may be able to do it. He's fresh, honest, and so far still rational with his policy on America's foreign affairs, which is very important to the rest of the world...

Well, i know, it's too early to tell whether this man is really the Agent of Change and Hope he promised to be. So, together with the rest of the world, i'll wait rather hopefully for this man to make history and to do some good for the rest of the world. I tell you, even if he's only half as good as what he promised to be, we will witness some good changes on the way USA handled the Middle East crisis...




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Cease-fire?!!

Assalamualaikum...

After 22 days and more than 1150 Palestinians lives later, finally Israel agreed to a unilateral cease-fire against Gazans and Hamas.

Sadly however, the Zionist will stay in the Palestinian territories, amidst warning from Hamas to keep fighting until they leave.

I would love to stay optimist and think that at least no more Palestinians will die from the Zionist offensive actions.

But... this is Israel we're talking about!! They are the most despicable human being that lived on earth. They are bloodsucker and children-killer! Which is only a few from a long list of crime they already committed!

This is the time the Arabs and Muslims all around the world to unite and do something before this very fragile truce between Israel and Hamas will be under threat, and the Zionist starts killing again...!!! NOW is the time!

World leaders, Arab leaders, Malaysian leaders, and each one of us, individually; we have to keep the awareness of this issue at full height at all time!

It is the high time we do not repeat our past mistake and our 'hangat-hangat tahi ayam' attitude!

Right now, the sentiment of support-Palestine and hate-Israel, is so high. If we really want to achieve something, there's no better time for it!!
Don't wait until a week or two weeks later... (Just look at the landslide issues last month, hmmm...) Melayu mudah lupa!

That's why, in this opportunity, i want to urge and beg everyone to keep talking about our Palestinian brothers and sisters...

To all bloggers, please dedicate an entry or two to comment and have a say about this issue! Please, my friends!! Any words and discussions will do. InsyaALLAH, The Almighty will accept that small effort as ibadah...

And please.. please.. make a strong statement against the violence of Israel. Please remind people of what had happened, what is happening, and what will undoubtly happen again!

Keep this issue fresh in the mind of our people. In some way, do what the Israeli did with their children! - that the Palestinians/Muslims are no more than animal, and it is halal to kill them!!!

Also, please.. please proceed with Israel/US-boycott campaign! We do not want to contribute in however slightest in their campaign against Muslims and Palestinians, don't we?!! If that means sacrificing our favourite food or product, so be it! Seriously, it's nothing compared to the agony of the Muslims over there...!

And lastly, please continue to pray for the long-waited of Palestine glory and the annihilation of Israel. This last two weeks, we can listen to Qunut Nazilah everywhere. In the mosques. At home. But just like other things, soon it will fade out... until the next war begins...........





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O Palestine...

Assalamualaikum...


As i write this entry, the latest count of dead body in Palestine has increased to more than 850... and still counting...
And still, there's no sign - nothing at all - that the demonic Zionist will recede or withdraw from Gaza. Instead, they bulk up their army with significant - and very worrying - numbers by day as they increased their air and ground assault towards Hamas and the civilians of Palestine!

Israel Laknatullah will have their large chunk of punishment from ALLAH The Almighty for what they did - and still do - to the Palestinians and to Islam generally. They are the symbols of Satan in this modern world and no word in any language can describe the magnitude of their evildoing.

Curse Israel!!!!!

Curse Zionist!!!!!

Curse their Allies!!!!!

Curse them for what they did to the children, women, and civilians of Palestine!!!!!

AND Curse the Egyptian Government a.k.a the inexplicably rotten Hosni Mubarak for not allowing all the helps from all over the world to enter Gaza to help those people!!!!!

ALLAH The Merciful will make them pay for what they did!!!



O My Muslim Friends!!! In the wake of this sad and grieving situation that befallen our brothers and sisters in the Middle East; let us strengthen the resolve of our hatred to Israel and her allies!

Let's:

Harden our heart towards them as they harden their actions towards the Palestinians!

Sharpen our tongues and criticism towards them as they sharpen their weapon for the Palestinians!

Toughen our standing and resolutions towards them as they toughen their doings on the Palestinians!

And Tighten our wallets towards their products and economic prowess as they tighten their grips on the land of Palestine and their claws on the throat of the Palestinians!

Please my friends! Whether we realize it or not, we're in this together. No one is excused! The one who excused him/herself is the one Rasulullah said:

"None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself." - Sahih Bukhari.

(Taken from amirmukhtar blog. thanks Mir!)




Let's pray for them...

They need our prayer...








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Let's Boycott!!!

Assalamualaikum...

As i write this entry, the death toll of our Palestinian brothers and sisters has increased to more than 650 and counting...
As all the world leaders trying to show that they care (as if they really care!!) about the humanity crisis that is gripping Palestine, nothing seems to be able to halt the movement of Israel regime, which in its tenth days today... and still has no sign whatsoever to stop anytime soon!
Oh, have they no heart?!! Killing all those women and children like mad animals?!! Destroying hospitals and civilian houses like uncivilized heartless being?!! No, i bet they don't! Not after what they have done since thousands years ago until now!
And what the Muslim world do? Stare... maybe feel sorry a little bit and then.. nothing!

Hmm, wrong! We can still do something. However little and insignificant it seems. Let's boycott Israeli and Israeli-related US Companies! Come on my friends! This is the least we can do to help, not to mention the sad truth that it's the only thing we are able to do actually.

Below, i listed down some of the companies. i got the list from PPIM website. Go and have a look if you have time.

• McDonald
• Coke Cola
• Danone
• Starbucks
• Maggie
• Nestle
• L'Oreal
• Rexona
• Kit Kat
• Sprite
• Sunkist
• Intel
• IBM
• Gap
• Johnson & Johnson
• Kleenex
• Kotex
• Maybelline
• NOKIA

Let's pray to Allah to give strength to the Palestinian to face this battle with Israel Laknatullah...



Please my friends, let's do this! We owe this to our Muslim brothers and sisters out there...













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'Happy' New Year 2009?

Assalamualaikum...

Last night is the new year's eve and i was one of the thousands of people 'gathered' at The Curve, Mutiara Damansara to 'celebrate' the New Year. Oh, how i wish i wasn't there...!

A meeting with an old friend of mine - Zid from Sabah - turned to half-nigh
tmare... Yeah that was what's in my mind at the time.
After dinner at Dome about 11 pm, the three of us - with Nasri - were then stuck in a sea of people on the street of The Curve. And to be honest, i was sort of claustrophobic last night as we wriggled, squirmed and fidgeted our way out from the thousands of screaming fans as one Chinese singer - i don't know who the hell is the guy! - sang on the stage.

Lucky, no bad incident happened although several push-pull situations occurred, and after about 45 minutes, we safely escaped from the crowd. 45 minutes... for just about 50 meters walking distance! Even in the dark, our faces were flushed and sweaty as we stared at each other while shaking our heads several times. Huu, that was really.. really something, we said to ourselves.

Although we ended up watching the sky for the amazing 'fireworks show' - which can actually be seen from my house not far from there - i know for sure, i don't want to be there next year or the years after...

The next time i wish to experience such things, may it be at the appropriate place and time
As i said to Nasri soon after our 'great escape', "macam buat umrah, sesaknya!"

Here i attach some pics i snapped in the rush of everything that was happened. They are a bit blurry, as did my mind and my conscience last night...





















Hmm...



















































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Getting engaged!

Assalamualaikum...

Today, 27th December 2008 is my Engagement Day. Hmm, suddenly it sounds like 'Judgement Day!" But never mind that; yeah, i'm getting engaged today!

The story of my 'love story' - if you can call it that - is sooo ordinary... which in turn makes it kinda extraordinary.
Well, if you're arching your brows right now reading that, hehe, i'll defend myself by saying, that's not my 'saying' actually. That came from one and two of my friends!
Simply said; they told me, for a guy, who is not so 'melayu' (they said, not me!), i chose a very conservative and old-fashioned way of finding a spouse!
And you know what? i happened to agree with them. But, that's the story for another time. Because for now, i'm too edgy to tell anything in here...

Right now, i'm going to grab something to eat, and maybe later, go to gym...
Oh and one more thing, i won't even be there today. i just leave everything to my family. Ironically, i have 'kursus nikah', this afternoon, here in KL.

Hmm, kursus nikah in the midst of engagement day. Not bad huh...

Bye,
AidanZ







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Parroting...

Assalamualaikum...

Ok, it's officially has been sooo long since i last write in here.
Since Obama's win... i just realized now.

The last couple of weeks has been quite eventful and hectic for me, although i do not blame that as the reason i can't write anything in here. Not in the slightest.
For me if you want to write, you can absolutely write. It's that simple.
Either you do... or you don't.

So, since i just un-block my 'no-writing' mode - at least for today - i want to share about something very light here with you.

I got this yesterday, during a writing workshop near Wangsa Maju. Just so you know, it's not the main lesson. This thing i wanna share is actually from an article that we have to read and then were asked to do it all over again in our own word.

The title of the article: How To Never Need To Wonder, "What Do I Say Next?"

Nice title, isn't it?

In summary, The article discussed about what to do when you're at lost of anything to say in the middle of conversation. Especially, when the person is someone you just met, or a long-lost friend that you still need time to get familiar again. Hmm, on the other hand, maybe you can include anybody that you distaste or even despise, but you know you need to make good impressions on him/her! (Hmm, your boss, maybe? hehe)

So, the author introduced a rather nice word - PARROTING - inspired by parrots that will repeat other people's word.

In the article, he gave a quite hillarious example of him using the paroting tecnique to coverse with his friend. But i'm not gonna copy that down here.
Instead, i realized i also happened to be in the same position this morning with my housemate, in which i used the technique without i realized it.

One advice beforehand, especially if you're known as a 'good listener' among your friends and peers, this technique will help you greatly.

So this morning, as usual, i was sitting in front of my laptop in the living room, and tried very hard to do my writings.
And then one of my housemate came and sat beside me. For the sake of this entry, i will call him B and just so you know, lately he just developed an interest in Music and has actually been searching for Piano class...

The conversation was something like this:

B: Abg Zahar, yesterday i went to One Utama and there are two Music Shops there, selling musical instrumens.
Me: Music Shops?
B: Yup. But i only went to one of the shop because the salesgirl is really cute.
Me: Huh? Cute salesgirl? Hehe.
B: Yes, really! Anyway i asked if there's piano lesson offered there.
Me: Piano lesson... there, in the shop?
B: Aah. She said yes. And she told me the fee is blah...blah...blah... Really expensive.
Me: Expensive? (Then somehow i remembered about his other survey)
Me: Compared to before?
B: Expensive. (He confirmed)

Then things got quite for several seconds. In case you're wondering, i still struggle with my writings at the time, which made me quite annoyed when he continued talking.

B: But if i take the piano lesson, i need to buy a piano, maybe a classic piano. To practice...
Me: Classic piano?
B: Yeah, classic piano. It differed from 'Keyboard' and 'Organ'
Me: Keyboard? Organ?
(Patiently, he explained to me the difference between those three. I've to admit i can't remember a thing of what he told me. In fact, what i remember was me and my friend, Amir, made a joke out of it until my stomach hurt) Then,
Me: Go buylah. (I suggest, rather uninterestedly)
B: Expensive!

(And at that time, somehow the topic shifted away and although i was still required to be in the conversation, i can't recall any of it.)

Later, i was thinking about something, when suddenly i remember about the 'Parroting' technique i read yesterday and the conversation i had this morning.

At the time, i realized... Wow! I've been using this technique for so long without i realized it. I've survived long and boring conversations with this technique, and i am known as 'the best listener' among the lot!!

Hu, then everybody can be a good listener, right?
Just repeat what your friend is saying, stress the last word to indicate that you want explanation or you're asking question, and believe me he/she will gladly comply and do all the talking.

And while you 'listen', you can do other things also, such as, thinking about what you want to eat after that, perhaps?

(Hehe, But please, never, never do this technique to play-play with people's heart ok...!)

TQ


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Barack Obama - The 44th President of USA

Assalamualaikum...

It's confirm now!

Barack Obama, 47 is the new President of United States of America!

A son of a black man from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, Obama is the first black president in the US history.
As now (1345) , he leads John McCain, 72 of Republican with insurmountable lead of 338 Electoral Collage compared to McCain's 141, far surpassed the 270 needed to be the president.
Other than traditional Democrat-leaning State such as California (55 AP), New York (31 AP), Obama managed to snatch almost all the swing states that are tightly contested between the two candidate.
Ohio (20), Pennsylvania(21), Virginia(13), Florida(27) and Colorado(9), all tilted towards the Democrat, giving him the decisive victory over McCain.
The landslide victory is as predicted as the Americans facing their worst economy crisis since 1980, which many pundits put the blame on the failed policies - foreign and domestic - of President Bush's government.

The peril journey of this remarkable man from Chicago is nearing it's end as the next challenge as the president of the most powerful nation in the world, looming ahead of him.

Said Obama, "Yes, We Can!"



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Autism dan Anda

Telah lama penulis tidak menulis dalam blog Aidan ini. Dalam entry pada kali ini, penulis akan membicarakan tentang sebuah buku yang ditulis oleh Jenny McCarthy yang bertajuk 'Louder Than Words'. Buku setebal 200 muka surat ini adalah berkenaan tentang anak Jenny McCarthy iaitu Evan yang menghidapi penyakit autism dan pengalaman Jenny apabila berhadapan dengan masalah ini


Apakah itu autism? Autism, mengikut pandangan peribadi penulis, ialah sejenis penyakit mental atau dengan lebih tepat lagi penyakit 'neuroimmune' dan adalah hasil daripada gabungan genetik dan persekitaran. Mengikut buku tersebut, pada tahun 1970-an, 1 daripada 10,000 orang menghidapi penyakit autism dan meningkat kepada 1 dalam 150 orang pada kurun ke 20. Walau pun penyakit ini merebak dengan cepatnya di Amerika Syarikat, penyakit autism ini semakin dikenali di Malaysia walau pun jumlahnya kecil. Buku ini merupakan buku bukan fiksyen kedua yang penulis baca yang ditulis oleh seorang wanita. Buku pertama bukan fiksyen yang pertama dibaca oleh penulis yang ditulis oleh seorang perempuan ialah buku 'I am Muslim' oleh Dina Zaman.
Jenny McCarthy menceritakan bagaimana dalam menghadapi krisis ini, beliau telah dilanda masalah emosi dan kekeluargaan yang dahsyat. Bayangkan, dalam usaha mendiagnos penyakit yang dihidapi oleh Evan ini, Evan telah mengalami 'seizure' sebanyak 8 kali. Doktor demi doktor dan hospital demi hospital gagal memberi keputusan yang tepat berkenaan tentang penyakit Evan ini. Sehinggalah apabila Jenny membawa anaknya bertemu dengan seorang doktor di Texas, Amerika Syarikat. Baharulah diketahui bahawa anaknya mempunyai penyakit autism.
Untuk maklumat yang lebih lanjut tentang bagaimana Jenny McCarthy menghadapi masalah autism ini dengan jayanya, capailah buku ini di kedai buku yang berhampiran......Jumpa lagi.....

US Presidential Election 2008

Assalamualaikum...

The US presidential election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November, once in every 4 years, .

Which means, this Tuesday, on 4th of November. And no matter what the outcome this Tuesday, it will create history of either the first black man ever to hold the presidency in the form of Barack Obama, 47, or the oldest US President ever in the form of John McCain, 72.

I've followed this election since February this year, when Obama first made a huge surprise by upsetting the clear favorite at the time, Hillary Clinton, 60, in the first presidential primary in Iowa - to determine who's going to be the candidate for their party.
Then, in early August, i cheered heartily when Obama finally clinched the nomination for Democrat Party to face McCain of Republican, in November election.

Many pundits say, this election is for Obama to lose, meaning he's supposed to win -and with a big margin at that. Why? It's simply because the Americans are sick of George Bush, the Republican who has steered US into almost-complete chaos, mainly because of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also because of the Economic recession.

Some even said, IF - and it really is a big if - Obama lose, there will be blood in the cities. America will be divided, Democrat and Republican will clash as never seen before, and worst of all, racial crisis will once again arised.

Foreign Polls conducted by International newspaper all around the world showed overwhelming support for Obama. They said Bush presidency has managed to alienate the world with wars and harsh foreign affairs, especially in the middle east. Obama, they said will exercise more diplomatic foreign affairs, which is what the world needs. More than ever now.

Personally, i believe- i hope, Obama will win. He is the epitome of younger generation, educated, and most importantly, fresh from the old politics of Washington that has been there for so long now. His motto of 'Change' echoed across the America. He managed to rally 100,000, 75,000 people wherever he goes to campaign. He amass hundreds of millon dollars from his supporters and run the most expensive election campaign the world ever see.

And with just i day to go, the world is holding it's breath to see if the young, black, first term Senator from Illinois, who came from nowhere suddenly on the verge of becoming the most powerful man in the world.




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