This is not a blog entry. I just wanted to inform all of you that I've added a newsreel at the bottom of the page. Thought it would make things easier to just see the important up-to-date headlines without having to surf a lot of webpages. This way you can visit this blog to see new entries, drop messages in the chatterbox and see current news headlines from prominent news agencies.

Cool, Not Cool

Remember how it was in school and college, where there's always a kid who was deemed as weird? Oh well, believe me when I say that Taylor's ADP is not exempted from the weird kid case as well. Why all this sudden rambling about the weird kid? Well let's just say he touched on a nerve, specifically my nerve today. Plus since I can't write about it in my blog, might as well entertain you guys with the weirdness of this huge, tall kid by the name of Cent.

When I said he's labeled as the weird kid in college, I have to tell you that I kid you not. His height and his big size (not fat mind you) is seriously not the reason for him to be labeled so. It's more of the fact on how he tries to look, act and dress up to look cool in college.

So first of all this is what you have to imagine; A tall, rather bulky guy with this spiky hair. He has this rather chubby face, with porcine eyes, and this smile which looks like an everlasting smug on his face. For his everyday attire, he wears a t-shirt like every other guy (exceptions for presentations), and slacks (sometimes a blue striped one which looks ghastly). This is then where his Winter 2008 semester trademark comes in - everyday, he wears this coat, not jacket mind you and GYM GLOVES on each hand! OK...personal image done and over with. Moving on...

So anyway, the reason he annoys the living daylights out of most of us, is this really annoying attitude of his where he thinks he's super smart and has to venture his valuable opinions to us poor ignorant laypeople in college. Sorry to sound condescending, but he definitely isn't. *scoffs*

But here's the hoot of the story. This semester he signed up for speech class, which is a really good subject to take, though I have no guts to do it. So recently, the class just gave out a presentation for their after dinner speech. Guess what Mr. Big Guy's topic was - How To Propose To A Girl. *Hold sides from laughing* During his speech he also included his own experience on how he proposed to his current fiancee. (a) Under the starry skies on the beach, and (b) when she was sick on the hospital bed. Where in the whole wide world does this guy dream this up anyway? Now everyone in college is snickering behind his back on the whole story.

Yes, I know I'm sounding like a total bitch in this blog, but seriously, the guy just really touched the wrong nerve today. I was up and about today, sleep deprived and exhausted from the previous night's group project report editing which can be a total nightmare, panicking from the fresh batch of additional info which I have to edit, print and do the referencing within an hour. So what happens, when I panic before a huge presentation, I get panic symptoms of stomach cramps and a temper close to the point explosion. So during our presentation, which ended up being 40 minutes long instead of the allocated 20 minutes, who decides to walk in into my class section? Yup, of course you guessed right - Cent!

That in itself was already irritating the whole class, because he's not even in our section. I kinda suspected that he was there to steal points for his presentation (Yeah again being a total B****). But anyway the main thing that totally burst my bubble was at the end of the presentation he wanted to have the chance to evaluate us and he wanted to give his comments. Don't take me wrong, comments and evaluation from people in my section are always welcome. The thing is he's only doing it to suck up to the lecturer. *seething with anger at the thought of it*

So to cut this already long entry short, I was bloody pissed with this guy after he tried to be Mr. Sucker-up-gym-gloves-guy. Honestly if he had pushed it further I would have stamped my heels on his foot. OK I have to admit that I might not have been able to throw a decent punch to his face with him being very tall. I mean OMG to be so pissy-fying and not even in his own class section too!

So yeah there you go. The very long winding story of the ADP weirdo, Cent. I really pity Desmond for having him as a group member for his final speech project. (Pssst...he actually went to complain to the lecturer saying that Desmond doesn't want to talk to him. Lol...what a "little" girl). I have yet to find anything interesting to blog about to you guys. So bear this incoherent with irritation entry and I promise to give a kick-ass entry in the future.

Pet Peeves

In my typical brooding over something, it’s been days since I’ve been trying to decide on what my pet peeves are. I kept on thinking about something but realized that it doesn’t irritate me enough to be considered as a pet peeve. So finally when I was driving home from getting dinner I realized what my pet peeve was even if it is only ONE. So here’s my pet peeve:

Someone who chews with his/her mouth open, and making chewing noises at the same time!

I guess most of you might be saying so what, right? Well for starters, it’s rude and secondly, there’s nothing more disgusting than seeing half chewed food in a person’s mouth all mushy with saliva. Not only does it causes me to loose my appetite no matter how hungry I am, but it also annoys me to no end. My temper straight away reaches its boiling point and it takes a lot of self control to prevent me from just voicing out my disgust at the whole scene. Seriously guys, it’s simply utterly and obscenely disgusting.

There’s was this time when I went out for dinner with my family and next to our table was this really pretty girl. After the food came to her table I accidentally saw her chewing with her mouth open and talking in between mouthfuls! Thank goodness I couldn’t hear the chewing sounds escaping from her mouth. But seriously it was hardly a pretty sight. It was simply horrific to watch someone as pretty as that without the least table manners.

So what about you guys? Anything worth being labeled as your pet peeve(s)? So tell us about it. Can’t wait to hear from you.

Now and Then

In the eight years since we've left high school things have really changed. Kids nowadays are so different compared to when we were back in school. If I were to take one of them to our school time, I would have thought that kid to be simply posh. Not only are they more well dressed, more technologically advanced, they also look more mature for their age (again refer to the word LOOK).

I was standing in the lift this morning waiting for the everyday ride to the 12th floor, checking my phone inbox when I suddenly had a flash back of Sainty, Beth and me at the public phone in Pondok Ilmu. We were so proud of ourselves for learning and mastering the art of making free phone calls. If I recall correctly I think we learnt that from Alfian. Getting electrocuted was nothing compared to the ability of making that free call and of course our pencil cases was never without a pin! Now looking at the kids today, I realized that their cell phones are more advanced compared to mine, not to mention more expensive. Back in our time, if someone carried a cell phone the reaction would be, "WOW! A CELL PHONE! WOAH!" *Laughs*

Music has also changed really fast and in a lot of way. In high school I was simply proud of my RM300 walkman, which I considered a luxury to have. Few years later, discmans was almost everywhere. Then came the mp3 player followed closely by today's mp4 with the ever increasing memory capacity. I am hardly exaggerating when I say my last year's iPod is fast becoming an antique. I'm already contemplating the new iPod touch.

For those of you who have siblings who are still in high school, spend sometime observing them. My conclusion about my brother? He has a way cooler phone than I do, a way more advanced stereo in his room, a better computer for his gaming (I was never allowed to play computer games!) with speakers good enough to blast the next room as well, and if that isn't enough, the little bugger has mother's laptop, which is his for the taking as well. The only thing I can say he lacks for now is an mp3 player, which I think he's phone compensates well enough. Even then I have to constantly hear him beg me to give him my iPod - As if! At my age, I've realized it's about the only gadget I have that makes me look 'cool'.

So take a look at the kids around you. I say "Spoiled Brats", but then again I guess it's because I'm jealous and wish we had the things they have today, affordable and available during our time. Also realize how this entry has in a nutshell, made me feel as ancient as the Dark Ages. *Chuckles* So how about you guys? Any complaints?

Technology Gone Religious?

So has religion really caught up with technology, that we can now reach out to God online? No more going to church for confession and having to shiver in our shoes, thinking, "I wonder how shocked would the priest be with my sins?" or perhaps finding out which priest is in which confessional booth to make sure we get the more "cooler" priest? Well not exactly according to the American Catholic Church. But then again, I leave you guys to decide on that.

On the website ivescrewedup.com, a woman now in her thirties "confessed" that she stole 15 grand from her family, another person said that he's committed murder and so many more has turned to this method of confession.

So how are they granted the absolution of sins? Sheesh, I really don't know. I guess it's more to get it off their chest if anything without having to think whether or not the priest listening to your confession judge you. Of course they're not suppose to do it, but human nature says we simply can't help the thought. I know I for one sometimes replace saying a humiliating sin with "for all these sins and the sins which I have forgotten", although that, come to think about it is a sin in itself. But we can't help feeling low and ashamed to saying the real thing.

Another one of this religious online outreach website would be LifeChurch.Tv. It looks less serious compared to the previous site and more organizational kind of website. In other words more friendlier compared to the first one. So go religious online and decide if it's Religion Gone Wired or Technology Gone Religious.

Birthday Greetings

Happy Birthday Christine!

I can't believe that this would be the year to mark our first quarter of a century. That does make us sound extremely old now doesn't it? OK, the first 25 years of our life then. I have to say that 25 years sounds like a long way, but whatever right? What's important is that this entry is dedicated to Christine. Hope you have many happy returns for the day.

How about the others? Ready to celebrate the year that marks us as lame old 25 year olds? I'm still wondering what happened to all our classmates. Let's see I'll list them all down and for those whom I've forgotten you guys would have to fill it up.

1. Daisy
2. Christine
3. Fitriani
4. Fitriani's cousin ( what's her name again?)
5. Betsy - KK
6. Stella
7. Emilia
8. Anney - Labuan
9. Hasfaezah - UMS Labuan
10. Ian
11. Teh Chih Siang (Teh where have u been????!!!!)
12. Betty - KK
13. Sainty - KK
14. Timmy
15. Dainah - UMS
16. Wong Li Yee
17. Jessica @ Mulan - Tawau
18. Susanto - KK
19. Roger - Keningau
20. Sabran - Tawau
21. Jeremy Wong
22. Faye - Keningau (teaching)
23. Flovia - KK
24. Jessica F. - KK
25. Alfian - Police inspector somewhere here in KL.
26. Elvin - Keningau
27. Jerry - UiTM Shah Alam
28. Dimond - UMS KK
29. Aaron - Selangor
30. Melvin
31. Yeremia - Indonesia (last I heard from him he was doing engineering)
32. Hardi - KK
33. Fisyra (erm...I think that's the spelling)
34. Rosalind

I know I'm missing out people here, like that really quiet girl thats always with Wong. So keep me updated people. As for Dedikasi all I can think of is Seona, Karen and Memeh.

Where are all of you guys? It's four more months before I leave...time is ticking!

Russell Peters

I hope all of you have heard about Russell Peters. If you haven't, all I can say is, "Dude, where have you been?" He seriously has got to be one of the best stand up comedian. It's really too bad that I missed him when he came to Singapore. Besides the shortage of cash wasn't helping with matters. I hate the fact that I have a meagre amount of purchasing power. I keep on dreaming of the day when I can finally lavish myself with designers' items, proper pampering and proper travels (Not educational tours my dad thinks are necessary. I am thankful for him paying for the tour I took but not being able to go to the Holocaust museum was frustrating!). Oh no, I have managed to stray from the main topic with my ramblings. Anyway enjoy these short clips of Russell Peters and understand why he is amazingly funny.

And this is for you guys who are already with kids. Watch this and know the main reason why beatings are necessary for them. It's not for discipline. It's to make sure they don't turn out to be total social outcasts! LOL! So let them brag about the cool beatings they got and know that you can be the coolest parent around. OK that was a total joke. No kids beating encouraged, please.

Cat Fight!

Well guys this is simply funny. I can't believe that movie tickets are worth 2 strangers getting engaged into a cat fight.

Procrastinating

Being the procrastinator I am, I've decided to blog first instead of doing that take home quiz first. Besides I need a break after doing one question, reading the news, another question, again back to the news and back to the third question. It's hard work! (Yes I know - Lame-ness).

Melvin! OMG I totally forgot about him. Thanks Dimond for reminding me of his existence. Totally my bad. But no let's put the blame on Jerry (Hahaha!) who has been giving me updates about the so called Tung Sing and failing dreadfully in reminding me of Melvin.

It's good to see that more and more people are actually visiting this blog. At least more and more of us are getting back in touch, which of course is the sole purpose of this blog. So please...please start spreading the news or this grapevine wouldn't work at all. Plus if you don't, I quote Russell Peters "Somebody gonna get a hurt real bad...". OK well that was a joke. But yeah I promise to make your visit to this blog as least painful as possible and try and include as many interesting things such as events, videos, news, blog sites, whatever I find relevant enough.

As for those Friendster and Facebook account holder you can simply find me there (Email: 8cyncyn8@gmail.com). Highest recommendation given to Facebook. Oh and I'm most of the time on MSN: cynthia_malim@hotmail.com

Looking forward to seeing more of you here!

Election follow up

With the Malaysia 2008 Election officially over, I am dog-tired relieved. Sleeping at only somewhere between 4am and 5am, after coming back to my room, I spent my remaining waking hours refreshing the MalaysiaKini website (free only until March 10) over and over again. I must say although it was expected that many incumbent BN seats would be won over by the opposition, it was very much a surprise when around 90% of the Hot Seats were taken over by the opposition, with quite a number of seasoned leaders losing their seats.

Veteran MIC leader, Sammy Vellu were among the casualties as well as Sharizat, Penang's former CM Dr Koh Tsu Koon , and infamous Al-Jazeera interviewee Zainuddin Maidin. So visit the Malaysia Kini website to see who has managed to grab Hot Seats in the Peninsular.

*Deep sigh*

With that over, I am back in focus with the US Presidential Election. Although very much a supporter of the Grand Ol' Party, I am very much inclined towards the Democrats this time around. No...no...I'm not saying that I was once a Democrat hater, because I am nothing but in awe with previous administrations such as JFK and Clinton. Lyndon B. Johnson you say? Of him we won't even mention (erasing him from current history ain't that bad of an idea).

Why the interest? Well with current US economy being in recession and affecting global economy, one really can't help but be involved in the issue. We have had enough war and it is time to see some turn of events that would bring changes. My money is on Clinton, although Obama is a close favorite. My only greatest disappointment is my inelegibility to vote in that election.

So with that I am very much looking forward to leaving to the States in August. Plus you can bet your ringgit that if I were to transfer to Iowa, I would be listening to political talks and rally in Des Moines. Though save your money if it is to Buffalo, New York I am transfering to. Unless...oh well we shall wait and see.

In a nutshell, this is a very interesting year for politics. Not just in the States and Malaysia but other countries such as Pakistan, Kenya, Korea, Serbia, etc. *hugs self gleefully*

So if any of you really are interested about politics, I'll try and see if I can get ex-SFXians political expert Ms. Leonie contribute to something. It is high enough time we got ourselves involved with the outside world anyway and not just focus on our past SFX lives.

'Til next entry...

ELECTIONS!

While Jerry is busy denying his age and is very much convinced that he's stuck at the age of 19, I have been running up and down the whole evening keeping up with updates of the national elections. With updates being inconsistent online and live from TV (online seems to be faster) I have been getting pretty much of the very needed exercise.

Alternating between RTM, TV3 and BERNAMA, I'm left feeling frustrated at how slow updates are. Even my bottoms have begun to feel the pinch of the very much slow and delayed results. As it's nearly 1am, I'm bound to be pulling an all nighter. Thank goodness I have the whole of Sunday to sleep.

Back downstairs for now...updates later on.

Wedding Bells

Yup! Someone is getting ready to walk down the aisle. Well in this case most likely to only walk down it at the end of the ceremony as the first part would be waiting anxiously at the altar. To keep the suspense short, I'd like to extend the heartiest of congratulations to Hardi. When would this event take place? Well, according to one of this closest of friends it's bound to happen at the end of this month. So thank you Jerry for this news.

Flashback!

My last recollection of Hardi, is him as a 17 year old with a sense of humor which I struck as simply strange. He always walked up to me saying the weirdest of things that normally took me a few minutes to be able to interpret. Then again I'm guessing it must be my slow brain malfunction. All I can recall is that he always moves in a group with his infamous "Tung Sing" gang (adopted from that popular Hong Kong movie - The Young and Dangerous). The irony about this group is that they're a far cry out from the triad gang name they patronized so much. Let's see the groups members are supposed to be - Hardi, Jerry, Yeremia (?), Elvin (?), Sabran (?), Dimond (?) and Aaron (?). If you're wondering what's with the question mark, well it's those I have no idea about their whereabouts.

So back to present time. As to when the exact date is bound to be and the venue I'm sorry I can't confirm that. Though I'm sure that any of the above name is bound to know about it or try asking Jessica a.k.a. Mulan. Still check out for future updates that are bound to be posted! AND try getting those lost souls that have simply evaporated upon high school completion!

Yes Sainty it's been 8 years! Gosh we're OLD! Two more years before we hit the two digits figure of 10. And like Anney said, we really should have our reunion sometime soon. Well I'm hoping before August, at least for my part. Until next entry...

The beginning of SFX grapevine

Greetings SFX-ians!

Apart from that martian sounding greeting, I bet most of you are wondering as to why blogging has been chosen as a last resort. With no time for newsletters (and let's face it, that's one hell of a workload), blogging is simply the cheapest and most convenient online newsletter anyway. Besides, nothing to take the mind off work, assignments, etc. like catching up with the latest news.

High school seems like eons ago from where we stand now, and I bet most of us have not met up with ALL of our classmates and schoolmates since leaving school. As for those who have managed it (not counting close friends) I say kudos to you. We have all those memories to cherish, secrets we'd take to the grave, all those happy moments that can never be replaced in colleges, universities and work. So why not recall them here simply for some nostalgic reminiscing of the past? Of course new pictures of you and you're friends are always welcome as well. Most importantly where you've been since leaving SFX? What has happened to you? Plans for the future?

So send in your stories, pictures, links to your personal blog/website and whatever piece of information to smsfx2000@gmail.com . Don't be fooled by the email address though. Of course any SFX-ians are welcome. You can also leave short messages in the Cbox to anyone you want to. Looking forward to hearing from you all!