Office

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Altimet on hot fm

March 7, 2008 in Art, Office by Zain

I’m a standing ovation, you’re a one handed man clapping.

I recently graduated from university and am taking a gap year before I further my studies. One of the things I do is publicity work for Altimet. Meaning, I arrange interviews for him with the media.

His new official website and myspace. Download (or stream) the SonRise Mixtape.

This Sunday 9th March, 9am on the frequency of 97.6 fm, he will be featured and interviewed on the chart show by the AM Crew (Fara & Faizal, two talented radio announcers I’ve personally met). You can also stream the program online here.

*As a publicist, they don’t really want to hear what you have to say. I was told the producer of the show asked Altimet, Faizal & Fara to lock the door and not let me in the vocal booth. I will have to settle by tapping my keys through the soundproof studio window from the sound engineer’s desk. If you listen real carefully, you might hear Morse code saying,

Undilah randomalphabets.com. Selamat, aman dan makmur.

Cambo project update

February 10, 2008 in Books, Egalitarian, International, Office, People, Travel by Zain | 1 comment

“Omitting the word “bitch,” cursing I wouldn’t say it,
Me and dog couldn’t relate, till a bitch I dated,
Forgive my favorite word for hers and hers alike,
But I learnt it from a song I heard and sorta liked.”
-Hurt Me Soul

For the moment:
C’est Si Bon-Janet Seidel

A few months ago I met a Malaysian who bought over a school in Cambodia teaching English. He asked me, among others, whether or not I wanted to come and teach.

I am not certain if he pays, but he promises to cover lodging and food. He does not need you to have a teaching certificate. You can teach for days, weeks, months. He is fine about that. And teaching methods are flexible. He told me that having his guitar with him there was a fantastic heartwarming ice breaking tool with the locals.

I decided to help him by supporting his cause in Malaysia(n): Travel Affairs and an event under the United Colours of Malaysia 1+2 Campaign Facebook groups. The response has been amazing.

I emailed him 3 weeks or so ago, and he finally replied. To those who have expressed their interest in this project and would like more info, I am afraid that this is all I have for now.

The email reads,

“Sorry for the late reply. I have been traveling since I got here and have visited and stayed in a few provinces.

Anyway, I have taken a flat in Phnom Penh and it has enough room for people to couch. Just waiting for the internet to come in before i am back working online again.

I am currently doing upgrades to the school while finalising the legal requirements of foreign ownership of a school.

I am also putting together a program for volunteers that encompasses teaching, volunteering, sight-seeing and cultural exchange. Issues that i have to think about is logistics for accommodation, transport, etc.

I am new here and just trying to understand how slow things work here.

Will let you know next week.”

I myself am interested, so let’s all wait together,be understanding and hope everything falls conveniently into place soon. I in fact want to go there for a few days so I can report it here on RA first hand. In any case, I will keep you posted.

Brief

January 30, 2008 in Art, Domestic, Men & Women, Office, People, Pictures, Women & Men by Zain | 1 comment

Before randomalphabets.com was set up in Nov 2007, it was on another URL which was established in Nov 2006.

The resettlement program is still underway. A few days ago I transferred two posts from the old portal, to the one that you’re reading now.

*Do not comment on family pictures*

This post is about a very (very) oblivious/ignorant girl who embarrassed herself (and perhaps country) in front of her boyfriends family. They broke up a month after this very (very) funny incident.

*Sharp receptionist*

This post is about perhaps a visually impaired lady I came across that had perfect eyesight. My literal interpretation of her words and a twist of sarcasm. Unless it was her being very subtly sarcastic with me.

*d a r l y’s f u n h o u s e*

A good friend of mine is selling off some clothes she own. Some new, some used. All in decent condition nevertheless. She is a part-time fashion consultant. Her pictures might not be similar to those that made Adam King-Guinness Man of The Year, but this good hearted girl does have style. She delivers personally if you live in the Klang Valley. By courier/post if it is not.

I vouch for most of her style, and would probably buy some for myself. But I can’t afford the sex op.

Global warming cat

January 24, 2008 in Office, Personal, Travel by Zain | 1 comment

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”
-Herm Albright

For the moment:
Save Room-John Legend

This morning, I found a cat sleeping in my helmet.

Bikers have a choice between locking their helmets to their bikes (somewhat exposed) or to keep it indoors.

I locked it to the bike. Which means, you can’t steal it but you can spit in it. Since it is parked in a fairly decent civilized place among many other bikes, the odds were very much against someone doing anything to it.

Picture this: 9 am, just showered, all fresh and dressed walking to your mode of transportation to go to work, and then you see a cat snuggled inside something you protect your head with. When I saw it, I literally said, “Yooo, come on man.” He jumped away. My eyes followed him.

I then realize that waiting for the animal to respond to my statement is just insane.

I place my hand on the insides of the helmet and found certain areas warm. Probably from the cat’s body heat.

If I could travel right now, there is only one region* in the northern hemisphere that I’m interested to be in.

Longitude: 15-45 degrees east, Latitude: 30-60 degrees north.

Let’s just assume that my head is the crust of the earth and the helmet its ozone layer. I think that is the same region* where the cat’s asshole was.

I hope I’m wrong because it was a 15 minute journey to the office.

I don’t know about you, but that’s one fcked up climate change experience.

Dog eat man

January 15, 2008 in Men & Women, Office, People, Women & Men by Zain

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
-Malcolm-X

For the moment:
Got To Get My Heart Back-Keiysha Cole*

*I am so digging that song right now. Listen to it with good bass/woofer speakers. Lost.

I had my first job when I was 15. Almost 10 years down the road, I’ve had over 13 jobs since.

I treat each one as a learning curve and try to look at the value of the job, rather than the monetary gains. I try.

That said, funny things always come with it. About 40% of the jobs I’ve done were in an office environment. Meeting people and breaking the ice is always interesting.

This one time, not in band camp, I was not on conversational level with one of the ladies from the admin department. I was an intern in the academic circles of this humanitarian organization* where we worked. I personally thought that she was slightly timid and didn’t say much.

*Take note.

She turned the tables one day when I overheard her on the phone,

What shit is he talking about?

What’s he telling you he travels here, travels there? I see him in town here all the time what?

Aiya. I tell you. All this men aa, liars. Bloody shit you know.

Take a gun, shoot the men.

Feed them to dogs.

Then shoot the dogs.

I left the office for (a very early) lunch.

Restaurants and concerts

December 23, 2007 in Art, Food, Men & Women, Office, Women & Men by Zain

“To know one life has breathed easier, that is to have lived.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

For the moment:

Naughty Eye-Timbaland

In the past week, I went to two of those increasingly popular semi-pseudo-glamorous restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Palate Pallate and Basil Leaf.

Before that, today marks the final day of the MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) Exhibition. It ran for 3 weeks. Each weekend, on the side of the exhibition there would be music performances (hiphop, jazz, rock), among other things. Me and my friend got hired to be the MC for the 3 weekends. Pictures, should come soon.

*click on link*

*Palate Pallate*

Jalan Mesui. Next to No Black Tie. Behind Hotel Istana. One of those colonial terrace house turned into a restaurant.

A friend of mine threw a surprise birthday party for our friend. She reserved the whole of the second flood, which is very suitable to organize something private. Food was buffet.

Downstairs, you can seat inside or outside. The hedge will provide you with the privacy from the passing cars. Coincidentally, I had two different groups of friends sitting downstairs, one inside and outside. Judging from the food I had upstairs, and the word of my friends seated downstairs, the food here is just average. Just plain average.

That said, they did have a brilliant decor. It’s very contemporary art ish. Reminds me of the Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven. Though I wish that they would have focus more specifically on the theme, and not just simply having artwork on the walls.

You must have a look at the ‘Peacock’ upstairs. Just climb the spiral steps and you will see it. Amazing.

*Basil Leaf*

Thai and Indochinese. The food was either above average or brilliant. I had the Thai Pineapple Fried Rice. Some of the dishes can be mad spicy.

The decor is amazing. It’s fantastic that they didn’t over maximize the space they had. I say this because they still have quite an unoccupied sizable garden.

It is somewhat pricey but not too over the top. I had very little food on my place and paused to talk to a friend. I had my fork at 7 o’clock and my spoon at 5 o’clock. Half of the table was done eating and waiters came to clear the table gradually. They took away my plate. I felt like saying something but was not in the mood because I was already full. Anyway, point being here is that such a hiccup by a waiter would be excusable at an average restaurant. But not at a restaurant where the average bill per head is a minimum RM30. Two thumbs down for this.

I thought that while the ambiance is imperative in such a restaurant, it was a little too dark. I was there with 9 other friends. At least 3 of the girls insisted that the darkness was spot on.

One even admitted that it’s good for people with poor complexion.

And also for guys who have insufficient courage to tell the girl their with that red chili on the front teeth is not sexy.

Do not comment on family pictures

July 7, 2007 in Egalitarian, Featured, Men & Women, Office, People, Travel, Women & Men by Zain | 1 comment

“Je ne veux pas mak kau punya laki.”
-Ancient proverb

For the moment:
Night Over Manaus-Boozoo Baju

An ignorant incident. A funny story.

When I was an intern/apprentice at the Legal & HR dept of Eurocopter Malaysia (ECM), my supervisor kept on reminding me that my emails to her were always long and never understood what I said. A sentiment shared by most working adults I email. But now that I am no longer there and she has been posted to Eurocopter France, in her email she said:

… and you can write as long as you want as I would definitely enjoy your funny stories. Its okay we are not at ECM anymore.

Ever since, it has become a practice to end each email to her with a story. In her reply, she would rate the story. Below is a mass email I sent out earlier today.

“This is a story I emailed my former boss yesterday who found it extremely hilarious. This is bound to go up in the blog soon but I will share it with you now. A friend of mine told me about it 2 days ago. Here it goes…

Charmaine, here’s another story which is more on ignorance than it being funny. Its funny but I was just so shocked when I found out. In awe, my jaw drop for so long I can feel cold air on my tongue. A friend of mine has this friend studying in the States. Malaysian. Not socially skilled and some what reserved and nervous as a person. But in short, she travels and is exposed. Studying in Chicago for some time now. Has an American bf for over a year. After which he says he wants her to meet his family. So she follow him back home. I am not sure out of nervousness or bodoness or self imposed obligation to say something, she comments a picture in their home.

Who is that? Is that your dad or your uncle or someone in the family?He is so good looking.

There was silence.

It was a picture of Jesus Christ.

They broke up a month later.”

The student office frame of mind

January 4, 2007 in Office, People by Zain

“Ever wish you could freeze frame a moment in your day, and look at it and say, “this is not my life”?”
-Mrs. Doubtfire
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Songs of the moment:
Forrest Gump Theme-John Williams
Save Room-John Legend
How To Save A Life-The Fray
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John Williams is brilliant.
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Again, I have gone fasting. To my 2.48 million loyal readers, I must apologize. I have actually written two posts in the past and save it as Drafts as oppose to Publish Now. It is because I have not completed it or have no time to reread it at least once for editing. I got back from Singapore at 2am Tuesday. And on tuesday evening, went surfing and then later a lovely birthday dinner for Dina (23) and 9 more other people. If I counted proper, that would make 11 of us. All of them were ‘foreigners’ so I played host and sort out the dinner arrangements. After numerous phone calls. I settled with Za’s recommendation on Soi. A Thai Restaurant on the 23rd Floor as Menara Pan Global in KL. It is good. It has good food. You must try. I was sooo geram with the tom yam, i clenched my teeth and went urgghhhhhhh. In other words, ‘so sedap, tak boleh angkat.’
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It is my last week of apprenticeship at EC Malaysia and tomorrow will most probably be my last day but I’m not surprised if I am required to come in on sat and sun. I’m fine by it. I’m still learning a great deal there. All of my three superiors are women. There are only four of us in the department. Instead of going on about my days, that previous sentence is what has been lingering on my mind for some time.
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I’ve come to notice that I’ve no problem working with or under women. And I especially have no problem with authority. And I thought everyone is like this. Or so I thought. When I tell others of what happens in the office and what I am subjected to in terms of tasks, hours, etc. I observe a peculiar response. Nevertheless, we must remember horses for courses right? I have also come to notice that alot of students and undergrads have a tendency to feel that they are more significant to something/someone more than they actually are when it comes to employment and other similar matters.
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For my field of study, I have been told elaborately and extensively that the hardest part and the steepest learning curve is the first 5-6 years of practice. One said “You’ll be in for a rude shock.”Nevertheless I feel this pretty much applies for everyone. Quite a number of people I feel, have difficulty with responding to authority, working with a team, seeking advice, neglecting the fundamental purpose and disregarding the true value of a job especially in terms of what that experience is doing to you and shaping you. But more often than not, they are too preoccupied with how much they are getting paid, and if not enough, then they ‘deserve’ better because they are ‘that’ valuable. I suppose, to some reasonable extent, four or more years of tertiary gets you there sometimes.
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The question I forcefully pose to myself at times, and I will share it here as I feel that it helps, is “What is it about you (me) that makes you feel that you are better than him/her? What is it about your experience that makes you feel that you are more significant than him/her? What is it about your arrogance the makes you feel that you have nothing to learn from him/her?…”
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That’s the summary I’ve made up after working over 12 jobs since I was 15. Hence, I got issues I’m sure you’ve noticed.