The Living Contract

Don't Stop til You Get Enough

2009-07-02T07:35:00.002+08:00

I've been too busy to blog. A business plan is revised and I am given additional working portfolio - Operational Risk Management. Usually, it takes me 4-5 hours to write a new song and I spend like an hour a day for the purpose. With additional work, I have to do lotsa business and field trips.

Since this blog is about publishing new songs, having not much time writing songs means I have nothing to post. I however may try the best to post something at www.mantessa.blogspot.com.

For security and practical purposes, I have to turn off the comment section.

I think I'll be back posting entries as early as January, 2011.

PS. RIP Michael Jackson :((

Elitism Exposed: Part 3 – Humans, Introduction

2009-06-24T11:06:00.002+08:00

Please read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

This blog is now starting with Elitism Exposed: Part 3 – Humans. I have to separate The Introduction and The Content or else this entry is lengthy.

Part 1 of Elitism Exposed deals with the ancient civilizations where in the end, three questions arises: Does the secret of Atlantis hidden in the Ancient Egypt? Where the sacred knowledge of Atlantis applied in Ancient Egypt did came from? Is the secret school still exists?

Part 2 of Elitism Exposed deals with the Djinns where in the end this blog mentioned the existence of The Secret Society who is The Devil Worshippers.

There are direct and indirect links between Part 1 and Part 2 in the form of clues by understanding both the achievement of ancient civilizations and the characters of Iblis aka Lucifer and his followers (among djinns and humans). Elitism Exposed will put all the links directly together in later part when it deals with the conspiracies conspired by Iblis aka Lucifer and his followers onto all humans and humanity.

Along the way, questions and arguments arise on these music videos through this blog, Facebook, YouTube and Tagged and interestingly, mostly shared the arguments on should we be secular or should we apply sacred science in our aspects of life – social, economics, politics and etc. Unfortunately, I have not answered the questions and arguments because Elitism Exposed has to complete certain parts so that the questions can be answered.

In advance, it has always been the major objective for Iblis aka Lucifer and his followers to separate us humans from utilizing our utmost advantages of our own natures. The fact is, Iblis aka Lucifer himself and his followers are major in sacred science. The thing is of course sacred science can be used either for evil or good.

Part 3 deals with us humans particularly on our own natures. It is very important for us to understand our own natures because Iblis aka Lucifer and his followers know our natures too well that every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year from the day we were born until our last breaths, we are constantly attacked.

Pointing out our natures, I believe the music videos do not contradict at all with Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and do not contradict that much with Eastern Theologies (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism etc). Of course as a muslim, all references are taken from Islamic point of view.

In short, our natures are divided into four – Body, Soul, Mind and Spirit.

Matematika

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Featuring Inderawangsa

Trading – Faith Over Knowledge

2009-06-09T06:13:00.002+08:00

Previously in this section, the blog mentioned on the Family Database which is a great tool for our family unity. It is now fully utilized for businesses. The database is fundamental in our capital accumulation and business growth. We don’t borrow money from the banks. As far as bankers are concerned, we consider them as the devils among the highest level.

In so many ways, wars and trading have a lot in common. Acehnese had fought against Raja-Raja of Beneres (India), the pirates particularly of India and China, Srivijaya, Singhasari, Langkasuka, Ayuddiya, Majapahit, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Japanese and Indonesia. Acehnese had built kingdoms like Perlak, Rokan, Pasai, Kedah, Inderapuri and two empires Malacca and Aceh. Historically, these kingdoms and empires were built and had lot to do with wars and trading.

So what makes us Acehnese have the willingness to fight (in wars) and to compete (in trading) which led to kingdoms and empires built?

Wars and trading have a lot in common BUT the MOST IMPORTANT COMMON us Acehnese have between the two is OUR HEARTS.

Fundamentally, Acehnese are very concern about their hearts. Between the hearts and the minds, Acehnese give more priority to the hearts because the hearts are a lot more alive. The hearts are where FAITH is. When the faith demands us to fight, the hearts don’t calculate how big or how strong our enemies are so we fight nevertheless. When the faith demands us to compete, the hearts don’t calculate how big or how strong our competitors are so we compete nevertheless.

Many years ago, people advised us not to open shops in places like Penang Road, Macallister Road, Campbell Street, Burmah Road, Chow Kit Road etc because these are Chinese dominated areas. They said to open shops in these areas will be business suicides. Unfortunately, our hearts never bother because the hearts have faith. We run our shops in these places nevertheless. Guess what? The Chinese in those areas are indeed very cooperative and helpful and we are doing okay.

With Faith, our hearts are brave. That’s why historically Acehnese have never done research finding rational reasons not to go to wars and not to trade. Our hearts never tell us something like … oh we might get killed or we might lose money so we better stay behind or find stable jobs with fixed salaries so we can live longer or accomplish more things with less risk.

Months ago, I sent some selected shop keepers to be upgraded as supervisors for training. They were trained by this government agency. At the end of the training session, I was shocked that the trainers told the keepers that running sundry shops are not prospective.

I was like … WHAT??? Back in January 2005 we started with 15 shops and today we have more than 800 and these trainers told my people running sundry shops are not prospective? So I contacted my friend who is actually their boss and complaint and funnily I found out that those trainers are sure paper qualified … they can talk marketing, branding, financing etc but none of them ever run own businesses their entire lives. What a bunch of jokers.
.

Sangkar Duka

I’ll be off blogging for a week or two starting Wednesday night. I’m taking my family for vacation and later traveling for business trips.

I have posted this song before and lately I had no time to write a new song. So I converted this song into music video featuring Inderawangsa.

‘Sangkar Duka’ means Cage of Sadness.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Inderawangsa – Hawa Gersang

2009-06-04T16:46:00.000+08:00

Finally Inderawangsa is given their first song – Hawa Gersang. Took me three weeks to complete the music video which is still a bit clumsy here and there. I am determined for improvements. Now that I understand a bit on how to make the characters move around, so it’s time to learn human movements in a lot detail. This is something I have never really bothered much so it’s time to start.

Hawa gersang are two Malay words meaning Dry Weather. The title also could mean something else which I am afraid could be a bit controversial … ahaks.

Inderawangsa is at www.mantessa.blogspot.com

Without doubt, animation and animation programming will be part of the blog but not too soon.

So, without further delay, I give you Inderawangsa, their first song and music video – Hawa Gersang.

Song, Music, Animation and Music Video by Azer Mantessa

Magick River by Antares M

2009-05-31T13:03:00.001+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Citizen Journalism.

Magick River is now upgraded into this section.

Superb English. Unconventional thinking. Unique.

Adapted from Magick River (April 14, 2009)

Somebody (I think that somebody was me … hehehe) pointedly asked a few days ago: WHERE IS MALAYSIA HEADING?

Part 1: Honesty is honestly defined :-) Unfortunely, Malaysia is saddled with a crime minister instead of a prime minister.

Part 2: (Wishfully story of course) With the resignation of the crime minister, a sizeable majority of parliamentarians have either crossed over or formed independent parties, leaving Umno/BN with considerably less than one-third of the seats.

Part 3: An insight of Mahathir and the police state.

Part 4: Antares himself is putting so much energy into ensuring that Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government as soon as possible from the hardened eco-criminals in Umno/BN.

Part 5: The notion that the physical universe was created by an all-knowing, all-powerful, ubiquitously existing Maker is fairly common, especially amongst the more conservative, more traditional - and therefore less adventurous – thinkers.

This can be controversial to those who read without an open mind and healthy dose of skepticism. Personally, this is a MUST READ POSTING :-)

Part 6: A bit on Sex Education :-)

Part 7: On the Royalty concept.

Part 8: On self-awareness (I think). Really heavy stuff here.

Part 9: Pictures paint them all :-)

Magick River

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Trading – The Family Database

2009-05-26T08:23:00.002+08:00

Previously, the section mentioned on how the family acquires capitals – Pooled Capital and Capital Investments and Family Borrowings and also on how basically we have grown from 15 shops back in January 2005 to more than 800 shops today – Centralized Purchasing and One-Month Credits.

Basically acehnese have the willinness to unite, to fight and to be independent. The characters are the result of 8,000 years historical developments which are nothing but calamities and wars.

In 1976, the UN granted acehnese the right to defend Aceh against Indonesia and so acehnese all over the world have united for the first time after the fell of Aceh Empire and formed GAM aka Gerakan Aceh Merdeka aka Free Aceh Movement.

There were problems.

Firstly, there was a financial problem as to fight against Indonesia militarily required a lot of money. Then there was a question of leadership as the royal family have been ousted and migrated particularly to the Scandinavian countries. Lastly, acehnese traditionally are divided according to families.

The solution was to unite acehnese all over the world according to the families and every family contributed financially or militarily.

In 1976, Langgar Family of Kedah took a step forward. A family database was initiated to identify family members. In 1982, the database was computerized but there was a problem.

Langgar Family is among acehnese families which are considered not originated from Aceh as for more than 1,000 years, the family has rooted in Kedah. 1,000 years being in Kedah has divided the family into two sub-families namely The Langkat Family and The Setul Family. The only significant difference between the two is that Langkat Family is still conversing in aceh mainly in Kedah while Setul Family converses in Siamese and mainly in Southern Thailand. After too many protests from other families, until today, The Setul Family is not considered as acehnese. So The Langgar Family is The Langkat Family but the name Langgar is maintained to honor the history.

In 1986, the database was declared completed. Today, there are more than 15,000 family members where 2,385 are Malaysians. Most family members are scattered all over Europe and Africa.

Some other families in Malaysia followed suit building their own databases. Coincidently, families with family database are strong trading families while those who have none are so not.

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Lonia

Dedicated to Lonia

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Answering Politicians - Rais Yatim

2009-05-21T12:30:00.003+08:00

Obviously the Elite like this Rais Yatim, Minister of Information, Communication, Multimedia and whatever love to remind us the people to always abide by the law although overall the people are abiding the law. It is good that people particularly bloggers sometimes be reminded and it is always good too that the Elite are reminded.

As said, it is good to be reminded that we all abide the law. The thing is, we should always abide the law and at the same time do the right things … morally right.

Breaking promises is morally wrong BUT can be still within the law. We were promised that there shall be no price increase but the Elite increased the fuel price in the parabolic manner. It is within the law BUT breaking a promise is NOT morally right.

To appoint a judge suggested by lobbyists is within the law BUT is it morally right?

The Elite themselves like this Rais Yatim too need to be reminded:
1. Personality is just as important as policy.
2. Words do matter. The delivery of them matters even more.
3. The internet isn't a channel, it's THE channel.
4. You can do things within the law BUT the people will judge your morality behind it.
5. You can't force people to like you.

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Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, The Ultimate Secret
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

I Voter: Unvote UMNO – Part 2/5 Unity ala UMNO

2009-05-16T13:27:00.003+08:00

This entry is based on an article of an Elite media which I personally consider very seditious. The article is here. (Unfortunately in Malay language).

UMNO has called on PAS (a Malaysia Islamic Party) to unite the Malay political parties. No, they did not invite the Malays of PKR (People Justice Party) although those Malays in PKR are quite significant in the political scenario of this country.

In fact, this reminds me of an incident watched on internet. When an UMNO youth from Selangor suggested to bring back Anwar Ibrahim (the de-facto leader of PKR, an ex-UMNO member and an ex-deputy prime minister to Mahathir) for the sake of Malay unity, the reply from UMNO members particularly supporters of both Mahathir and Mukhriz booed him, said FUCK YOU to him and dragged him out of the assembly hall in front of both Mahathir and Mukhriz.

Now wait …

This young man gave a suggestion to bring back Anwar Ibrahim into UMNO for the sake of unity … I repeat this again, for the sake of unity … those supporters of both Mahathir and Mukhriz booed him, said FUCK YOU to him and dragged him out of the assembly hall.

Weird is not?

A young man gave a suggestion for the sake of unity and the best thing those UMNO members particularly supporters of both Mahathir and Mukhriz could do was to boo, to say FUCK YOU and drag him out.

What is this UNITY suggested by UMNO in the first place?

Is it for the sake of protecting power? Protecting projects for cronies? Protecting wealth – Rolex, bungalows, BMW, Mercedez Benz etc etc etc?

Unity with PAS? Want PAS members to behave like UMNO members – say FUCK YOU or whatever other nasty words those UMNO members are so good at? How about keris-waving? How about teaching PAS that the Chinese and the Indians are ‘kaum pendatang’? Not to mention to kill a human rather a snake too …

UMNO is desperate. Their kind of unity is filthy. You know, desperate people resort to desperate actions … like the article linked above :-)

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Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, The Greatest Trick
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Back to Square Root One

2009-05-11T05:09:00.005+08:00

Currently I’m stucked with this 3D Animation Programming. When something like this happen, usually I go back to where things started. So I thought of those mathematical art programming stuffs. Pictures below are taken from my previous blog Halusi Matematika. The least I have something to enjoy while being stucked. Guess the same thing goes to Liverpool … ooppss.

Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, The Satanic Ritual
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Trading – One-Month Credit

2009-05-06T18:08:00.003+08:00

All calculations are only for demo purposes. They do not reflect true business transactions.

Previously, this section mentioned on Centralized Purchasing which paved the way to a very good trading opportunity – One-Month Credit.

One-Month Credit is a trading facility given by suppliers. Generally, this is a very rare opportunity given to sundry shop owners but acehnese traders as a whole are seen to be prompt in credit payments. When we promise to pay in one month time, it means, we will pay in one month time.

There are three major reasons why we are given this facility:
a) Since we have moved upstream and becoming wholesalers and to certain products as sole-distributors, we give ourselves the facility.
b) We are so known as good sellers that suppliers really don’t mind given us the facility.
c) That we control certain brands, suppliers of other brands have no choice but to offer us the facility so that their products are accepted in our shops.

At least, 30% of our inventories are built by this facility which means we have the advantage of having 30% extra cash allocated for purchasing for the whole month. Historically, once the extra cash of 5 to 6 shop owners combined, it is enough to start a new shop. On the following months, the new shops will contribute to the growth.

Inderawangsa

This blog has a new entry which is on Music Theory.

Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, The Existence of Evil
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Introducing INDERAWANGSA

2009-05-01T06:55:00.007+08:00

I have been a bit nervous lately for Liverpool might not be taking any titles this season (nothing is new under the sun) and a bit pissed as the devils just can’t stop winning … gggrrrrrrrrrrr … so I thought of starting a new blog.

I have been asked the same questions too many times so I think it’s time for a new blog talking about music, writing music, music and animation programming and anything in between.

I give you Inderawangsa :-)

Hi all! We are Inderawangsa and we are programmed by Azer Mantessa to Rock!

Welcome to our blog … Inderawangsa.

Melody of a brain intoxicated, rhythm of a pumpin instigated, beat of anti-establishment you hated, and harmony of anti-racism activated.

Be it baroque, jazz, bluegrass, ballad, tex-mex, electronica, country, waltz, hip-hop, trance, new age, inspirational, funky, latino, traditional, polka, pop, R&B, reggae, blues, route, ambient, we will rock fussionary and progressively beyond any technical and compositional boundaries.

We are Progressive Rock!

Where the people get to avoid the norm, think beyond … be it on literature, fantasy, folklore, science or fiction, worldly or spirituality, philosophy, social commentary, finance, economy, faith, nationality or all of the above. We shall combine the social criticism with own struggles against greed and madness.

Begun a new blog has :-)

Meantime, while Azer is having his 32-bit python programming for our rock music animation (most probably he has to go back to school and learn something … muhahahaha), allow us to introduce ourselves …

Lela

I’m Lela the Bass Player. Am so honored to be selected to play the instrument as playing bass can be very unconventional but still intact as the root notes for songs to keep flowing. You will find that simplicity is so not my style :-)

Adi

You shall know me as Adi the Drummer. I’ll be responsible to synchronize beats and tempos for the band. I love varieties and I will hit those drums and percussions with any musical genres I can think of and I will never bother :-)

Petaka

Hello, this is Petaka. I play the rhythm guitars. You’ll be hearing me playing those mutated chords harmonically. Once a while, I play the second soloist that is enough to make you wonder, who is the lead guitarist?

Waja

I am Waja who adds more dynamics with those keyboards and synthesizers. I love experimenting new sound to give the band more environmental effect. If you really want to know what sound technology is, hear me playing :-)

Aduka

Hi! I’m Aduka the Lead Guitarist. I play the melody which is the fundamental element in a song. I hope when comes to solo playing, I’ll taste you up with everything I can feed you – spicy, sweet, sour, and everything nice and likewise :-)

There! See you at our piece of web!

This blog will resume its 'normality' after this.

Critical Blog Reading #003

2009-04-26T09:19:00.001+08:00

What is more interesting than to read on this Mahathir aka Che Det aka TDM aka Tun Dr. Mahathir aka the ex-Prime Minister aka The Funniest Man Year 2008 who has returned to UMNO:

10 Dalil Kenapa Tun Mahathir Wajib Dicalonkan Di Seri Penanti
Tun Mahathir Perosak Agama dan Budaya Bangsa!!!
The Crooked Bridge – By himself (I consider this hilarious)
Mahathir – The Happiest Man Part 1
Mahathir – The Happiest Man Part 2

This Mahathir is asking Malaysians to explain what is Mahathirism. Funny isn’t it? As a blogger, he should have known that all he had to do is to google the word. There are many places in the cyberspace where Mahathirism is clearly defined.

Well, maybe he doesn’t want to know. Sweet :-)

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Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, The Characters
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

I, Voter: Unvote UMNO – Part 1/5 About Being Grateful

2009-04-21T07:42:00.000+08:00

This entry is based on an article of an Elite media which I personally consider very seditious. The article is here. (Unfortunately in Malay language).

Right now, if I were to vote, I will certainly not going to vote UMNO (United Malay National Organization). Who cares right? I’m still waiting to be an official voter and I’m nobody important but that’s exactly the point.

Last General Election, there were about four to five million Malaysians who are qualified as voters but have never bothered to register. I’m included because for years I have never trusted the politicians and I’ve been running businesses successfully without any political connection whatsoever.

There are many factors why I’ve changed my mind but the result of the last General Election is major. Not because the ruling parties are losing strengths or the opposition parties are gaining strengths but because there is a major negative thinking particularly among my Malay friends that the future is doomed once what now known as The People’s Alliance is to be in power.

To them, Malays will always been taken care of by UMNO though they know UMNO is full of corrupted people particularly the leaders.

Wow!

Let me repeat this, Malays will always been taken care of by UMNO though they know UMNO is full of corrupted people particularly the leaders.

Wow! Again!!

As a Malay, I admit that UMNO has helped me a lot particularly education. At the age of 13, I was sent to a fully government boarding school under government scholarship where everything was taken care of – education, money, food, shelter etc.

Here lies the argument – I am supposed to be “grateful” because all these years UMNO has helped the Malays in so many ways and therefore I must be “grateful” by showing support or vote for UMNO.

Two questions then have arisen:
1) How do you define “being grateful”?
2) Do I have to support or vote for UMNO though they and I know very well, in fact admitted by UMNO itself, that UMNO is full of corrupted people particularly the leaders.

I have defined “being grateful” in so many ways particularly in this section (I, Voter). Being grateful is simply to do the right thing and avoid doing the wrong thing.

To vote for a candidate that they and I know is corrupted and claim myself “being grateful” does not make sense at all.

However there is this kind of being grateful too. For many years I’ve been taking care of my grandmother who stays with us and she is old, sick and forgetful. Sometimes she is very irritating. No matter how irritating she is, I am grateful that she is still around because she is my grandmother.

To ask me to apply this is kind of grateful to a political party like UMNO is ridiculous.

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Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, The Super Racists
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Stocktube

2009-04-16T00:45:00.002+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Citizen Journalism.

I came to know this blog when one of its articles was linked with Malaysia Today:

RM35 Billion did you make any money?

Although nothing much is known regarding the blogger (this does not bother me a bit), his/her insight views regarding politics, economy and social are profound.

http://stocktube.blogspot.com/

Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, The Djinns
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

No, We Are So Not

2009-04-11T08:04:00.001+08:00

Many online-journalists (ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers) keep on saying that the people have been emotional and perceptive that they keep on voting against the Elite.

Unlike them, the people are not so good in English, a language now used in teaching science and mathematics as if the language has direct impact on how people think and calculate.

The people are perceptive?

Living in the same area for years does not make the people use judgment? The people can’t analyze and differentiate the differences in efficiency, transparency, honesty etc??

Maybe the people should altogether accept English as the language to be used in teaching science and mathematics. Maybe people like me should improve in English.

Why not?

Although being good in English does not necessarily make one to be good in thinking and calculating or in science and mathematics but there is an opportunity to become a journalist. Once one becomes a journalist, one can pretend as if one knows everything including how people think. Oh oh oh … A journalist who is good in English too can pretend as if she or he knows science and mathematics very well.

Wow!

Obviously the people don’t bother what the online-journalists (ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers) perceive on how people think. They are those who perceive not the people. That by-elections, the people walked the talking … ooppss … perceiving journalists :-)

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Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer, There They Are
Please do read the Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Elitism Exposed: Part 2 - Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer

2009-04-06T08:07:00.007+08:00

Please do read Elitism Exposed: The Disclosure Statement before proceed.

At the end of Elitism Exposed: Part 1 – Ancient Civilizations, this blog has raised two questions:

1) Does the secret school still exist?
2) Who were behind the teachings of the great ancient civilizations?

The two questions above are not answered in this Elitism Exposed: Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a. Lucifer because the questions are a lot more relevant to our present time. The questions will be indirectly and directly answered in further parts of Elitism Exposed. Part 2 however introduces the creature known as Jinn or Genie (in English).

In short, they do exist but we cannot see them (in their true forms) with our own eyes. Once they are in their physical forms, we can see them. There are many ways they can be seen. Basically, there are two ways: (a) they transform themselves into their physical forms (b) we do certain rituals so they will get to transform themselves into their physical forms.

I have put a lot of attention to this creature since I was a kid. As my ancestors were the people of Langkasuka who practiced sorcery in order to get the grip of the kingdom, some of us get to inherit some of ‘them’. Unfortunately, my other ancestors, the acehnese traders came and defeated Langkasuka and established Kingdom of Kedah. The ancestors were converted into Islam and sorcery was abolished totally. Still, we get to inherit them but the rule is not to use ‘them’ for any purpose.

Anyway, hope the music videos are educational in knowing the creatures (who know us very well indeed). Again, as a muslim, most of the views are from Islamic point of view. This blog however will try the best to make this issue as universal as possible. Well, it is a universal issue anyway. Evil is everywhere.

Content

There They Are – One of the many secrets of the secret school is the history of human past which is cyclical. Civilization, consciousness, understanding and ability rise to the incredible height and then fall back into barbarism again and again …

The Jinns – A bit on how the jinns are classified and described.

The Super Racists – The history of racism initiated by Iblis a.k.a Lucifer.

The Characters – Iblis a.k.a Lucifer and friends, their actions and characters.

The Existence of Evil – Why Evil Exists?

The Satanic Ritual – A bit background on how a ritual is performed to see the devils.

The Greatest Trick – Since the history of mankind, Iblis aka Lucifer has been using the same trick to lure humans into Devil Worshipping.

The Ultimate Secret – There is a major reason why the devil worshippers go underground and unnoticed.

.
Beyond
Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Trading – Centralized Purchasing

2009-04-01T07:21:00.004+08:00

All calculations are for demonstration only. They are not based on real business transactions.

Previously on our family trading activities, this blog has mentioned on capital acquisition which are Pooled Capital and Family Borrowings. Starting Year 2005, the business went parabolic in numbers of shops due to many other business strategies.

Centralized Purchasing

Basically, us acehnese traders are individualistic type in a sense that we don’t like to work under other people or we prefer to be our own bosses.

Acehnese farmers however have been applying collectivism where they work collectively for good yield which benefits them as a whole. Acehnese traders however do not apply collectivism but we do apply what is known as Corporative Individualism. This is a strategy where shop owners work collectively for the benefit of every shop owner.

To demonstrate what Centralized Purchasing means is as follows:

1) Say an average shop sells 10 tanks of cooking gas a day.

2) In a month, the shop sells 300 tanks of cooking gas which means the owner have to buy 300 tanks for the sales.

3)Say for every 100 tanks purchased, a shop owner received a tank for free. This means, for 300 tanks purchased, a shop owner received 3 tanks for free.

4) Say there are 100 shop owners. Therefore 30,000 tanks are purchased monthly. Also, 300 tanks are received for free.

5) That free 300 tanks then means the family as a whole has grown 1% in inventory which are sold to a new shop owner with handsome profits.

Note: Shop owners lose the free tanks but gain profits from the sales to the new shop owner.

Centralized Purchasing however does not directly involve in the family business growth … however …

There are two major advantages in Centralized Purchasing:
1) Having the power for business merger or acquisition being the distributor of a product.

2) Having the business benefit called One-Month Credit.

Having the ability to purchase 30,000 tanks monthly is huge. Once we are a big buyer, we can force the distributor to accept us as business partner or face the consequence of losing us as buyers. This allows us to move upstream from running sundry shops and become distributors/wholesalers. We do this all the time to many products.

This blog will mention The One-Month Credit which is major to our business growth. Some other time … God’s willing.

Faith
…….Knowledge
…………………Trades
.
Ringtones by Azer Mantessa

Okay, five more ringtones for everyone to choose from:

Ringtone: Azer Reggae

Ringtone: Azer Blues 2

Ringtone: Azer Rock

Ringtone: Azer Blues

Ringtone: Azer Pop 2

Sketchup

2009-03-28T18:17:00.001+08:00

Adapted from : http://sketchup.google.com/product/gsu.html

Create 3D models and share them with the world

Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything you like.Get started right away.

Most people get rolling with SketchUp in just a few minutes. Dozens of video tutorials, an extensive Help Center and a worldwide user community mean that anyone who wants to make 3D models with SketchUp, can. Check out our training videos »

Model anything you can imagine.

Redecorate your living room. Design a new piece of furniture. Model your city for Google Earth. Create a skatepark for your hometown, then export an animation and share it on YouTube. There's no limit to what you can create with SketchUp.

Get models online for free.

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Ringtones by Azer Mantessa

I’m having difficulties uploading several songs consecutively. I have tried to upload 8 ringtones for everyone to choose from but so far only 3 are successfully uploaded:

Ringtone: Azer Samba
Ringtone: Azer Pop 1
Ringtone: Azer Baroque

Advent Remix Challenge

2009-03-20T21:06:00.004+08:00

Do click the pictures for better view :-)

See my name and my song? Hehe

My Song 'Sunsets' is now on sale for charity purpose!

Yeeehaaa!!!

Tom Norfolk has converted my song Sunsets in an interesting remix and is selected in the above album ‘Squatter’s Advent Remix Challenge’. Any proceeds raised by using the remix of my track in the project, will be donated to the registered charity 'Making Music (The National Federation of Music Societies)' (No 249219)

A Message from Tom Norfolk:

Wooooohooooooo!!!!!

These tracks are now available as shiny CDs in little clear boxes, expertly forged into seamless mixes by two of Pyrate Music's top DJs Disfunk and Anek, and feature not only bucket loads of original music but also exclusive Squatter stylee artwork.

The mixes will be available at a later date, but these CDs are strictly limited edition, so act fast. In order to get hold of one do the following:

1. Email me - squatter.email@yahoo.co.uk - tell me your address, and how you want to pay for it - either in person or by post

2. I'll then send you an email back with payment instructions

3. You pay the dosh - need i remind you that every and all profits from this are going to charity (http://www.makingmusic.org.uk). i get nowt

4. I post it in the next few days or hand it to you. hell, i can even sign it if you really want, or dribble on it a little bit.

How much you cry? For two CDs featuring 26 tracks comprising 140 minutes worth of music?

Ten pounds (plus £2 postage in UK, a bit more for overseas) Bargain. And it's for charity.

Just think how cool you'll look walking down the street holding the CDs high above your head and shouting for joy...

http://squattersound.com/ as per usual

take it easy :)

So to those who are interested in buying the album, please do contact Tom at the said e-mail.

Two songs for this entry

Way the go Tom!

Meantime, I have two songs for this entry ...

Waves of Friendships

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Dedicated to friends listed on my Facebook.

Diamonds

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Dedicated to friends listed on my Tagged.

Poor Devils :-)

2009-03-15T23:28:00.003+08:00

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Elitism Exposed: Part 1 – Ancient Civilizations ... The Secret School

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Please read The Disclosure Statement before you proceed.

Death

2009-03-10T20:56:00.003+08:00

Step 4: Ready for Death

“To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return”
(Quran 2:156)

The above verse beautifully encapsulated and gives meaning to our day-to-day existence in this world and thus simultaneously gives us direction, comfort, solace, anticipation, hope, courage and fear. Muslims basically utter the above verse during times of difficulty or when we are informed that someone has died. Some or maybe most don’t notice that the above verse is the reason why we are here in this world. It is our main goals. It is our ultimate function as humans. Our goals are to return to Allah. But in what way do we return?

Simple understanding can be done through followings:

Do you know where you are going?
No - Could be Heaven or could be Hell.

Do you know when you are going?
No - it can be at any time -usually sudden.

Do you know when you will be returning?
Never – one way ticket.

Do you know how long you will be gone?
Forever - millions, millions …years - Eternity.

Do you have the opportunity to say farewell to friends & family before you go?
No.

Do you know what currency to take?
Good deeds - but have I saved enough.

Do you know what provisions to take?
Yes - Few meters of white cloth only.

Have you planned adequately for the journey?
I don’t know. I haven't thought about it much.

Understand Death – Do the politicians understand it? What are their visions? Do they act as if they are aware that someday they will die? You see, those who are not aware tend to do whatever they like – murder people, put people to jail without trial, beat people to death, corruption, practice injustice, accumulate the nation wealth to themselves and cronies etc.

So whatever the missions the visions the politicians are talking about, my question on them will be on this - Death.

There! Four steps that I have to take as a voter.

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Elitism Exposed: Part 1 – Ancient Civilizations ... Symbolism

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Please read The Disclosure Statement before you proceed.

Critical Blog Reading #002

2009-03-05T00:06:00.003+08:00

As on March 3, 2009.

Perak … what else is more interesting than this :-)

Rumors had it that the two Perak Assemblymen of the opposition parties were threaten for their corruption cases. Should they jump and join Barisan Nasional(BN), then it should be obvious that they … anyway, eventually and begun the frogs hopping had. It was quite a political scenario the nation has ever seen.

It was a very chaotic situation. …and confusion. Three immediate incidents happened – The Ex-Chief Minister meeting with the Sultan, Fauzi Muda police report on The Elite buying assemblymen out and PKR Emergency Meeting. Election Commission was accused for residing with BN for not granting the State Election and Perak State Constitution was in question.

Malik Imtiaz however did try making sense of the situation. Art Harun too did explain on the legal side.

In no time, BN which was not elected by the voters took over. New BN Perak government was endorsed by the Sultan.

Matters worsen as both sides claimed to be in power. There was a question of failed democracy. Stocktube however gave a surprising perspective behind the Sultan’s decision.

There were times that people were thinking of the emergency law. Mr. Karpal Singh voiced out what happened in Perak was the issue of Rep buying not Rep hopping.

The Elite Party too made the rally pledging support for the Sultan though without the real people’s supports.

The New Chief Minister of The Elite Party without delay bought his way into the people’s hearts by throwing money during Chinese New Year’s festival. I was personally surprised that the racist Hamidah binti Osman was selected as an exco member.

Mr. Sivakumar, Perak Assembly’s speaker hit the nail by banning the new excos to be in the assembly.

Then … From Malaysian Insider: Under a tree assembly – votes for fresh polls

However … Court declares the assembly illegal …

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Elitism Exposed: Part 1 – Ancient Civilizations ... Sacred Science

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Please read The Disclosure Statement before you proceed.

Trading – Capital Investments and Family Borrowings

2009-02-28T09:26:00.004+08:00

Previously, this blog mentioned Pooled Capital which is major in developing our 15 sundry shops on January 2005 to more than 800 shops today. Besides Pooled Capital, my family applies two other methodologies in order to acquire capital: (1) Capital Investments and (2) Family Borrowings. One thing for sure, we will never allow anyone to go to the banks for business loans. This is traditionally a no-no and we intend to keep it that way.

Capital Investments is a method where an individual with enough money is encouraged to run business. I am included in this category. I invest but having other people to manage the shops. In some cases, a shop is set up through partnerships. In some cases too, individuals who have the money are forced to have own shops. Usually, these are highly educated people with money who hesitate to run own businesses. Ironically, they are in the corporate sectors holding high positions. They can talk marketing, human capital development or corporate management and all but in reality, they have no guts running own businesses. So we have no choice but to force them to do what they are preaching. Of course they hire people to manage their shops while they keep being the corporate guys.

Family Borrowings is a method applied by individuals with not much money but ambitious enough to run own businesses. Usually they are young, inexperience and not from the ‘rich enough families’. What we do is to gather enough family members who are willing to give the loans collectively. The trick is when you give loans for someone to run own shop, you will be respected for life and keep the clan intact as one.

I think for the first year, all shops are established through these methodologies - pooled capital, capital investments and family borrowings. However, the growth turned parabolic in year 2006 through two other trading methodologies hopefully to be mentioned in future entries.

Faith
.........Knowledge
............................Trades

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Elitism Exposed: Part 1 – Ancient Civilizations ... Ancient Egypt

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Please read The Disclosure Statement before you proceed.

Elitism Exposed: Part 1 – Ancient Civilizations

2009-02-23T17:14:00.005+08:00

This blog starts Elitism Exposed with a music video 'They Are Here' giving an indication of what is going to happen in the near future. Elitism Exposed as a whole is going to be based on that. However, there is a need to start the whole thing with history.

The Elite are or were great historians. There is a reason – Those who hold the past, hold the present and those who hold the present hold the future.

History is a very important subject. There is a saying that says ‘Those who forget the past shall be doomed to repeat’. Ironically, history keeps repeating itself. I personally believe any civilized individuals should learn history. Else, do consider as barbaric.

Content

Timeline – The music video is to give a glimpse on human civilizations in historical order. The last part of the video reveals a surprising discovery on Ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egypt – The music video is about Ancient Egypt which is discovered to have two concurrent levels at work. One is the study of Ancient Egypt as a civilization in a factual geographic place and time and another is the quality of intelligence.

Sacred Science – The music video is about the quality of intelligence of Ancient Egypt which was full of secrecy, deep wisdom and magical ability believed to be inherited from unknown older ancient civilization. Unlike modern civilization of today that uphold secularism, Ancient Egypt practices what known as Sacred Science which blends science, religion, philosophy and art as one.

Symbolism – The music video is about symbolism which is a testimonial that ancient Egyptians were not superstitious in anyway. If fact, symbolism proves that ancient Egyptians surpassed today’s modern science and technology in so many ways.

The Secret School – The music video questions who taught the ancient Egyptians?

Part 2 – Iblis a.k.a Lucifer. The content of Part 2 shall be revealed once Part 1 completes.

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Elitism Exposed: Part 1 – Ancient Civilizations … Timeline

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

The music video is to give a glimpse on human civilizations in historical order. The last part of the video reveals a surprising discovery on Ancient Egypt.

Please read The Disclosure Statement before proceed.

Elitism Exposed - The Disclosure Statement

2009-02-18T00:18:00.003+08:00

Things will happen while they can. It is interesting that historical events just keep on repeating.

I am not a scholar. Obviously you can tell :-) ‘Elitism Exposed’ is designed for everybody to do own research or to treat it as subjected to subjectivity or the least as an entertainment :-)

Although I am a muslim and most of the illustrations are based on Islamic point of view, I will try the best to keep the section as universal as possible.

You see, The Elite don’t care who we are – Asians, Australians, Oceanians, Africans, Europeans, South Americans, Central Americans, North Americans, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, E.T believers or those of other beliefs or faiths or religions or codes of ethics. What they care is either we can or cannot be their subjects or their followers or under their total control. That is their objective.

Yes, they too have their own religion which is also one of the oldest in the history of mankind. One thing for sure, their religion is so totally opposite to us be it Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Atheism, Buddhism, Hinduism, E.T beliefs or those of other beliefs or faiths or religions or codes of ethics. Unlike them, we strive for humanity – to do the right thing and to avoid doing the wrong thing.

The Elite however strive to do the wrong thing and avoid doing the right thing. To them, what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right BUT they are very crafty in illuminating the right thing as wrong and the wrong thing as right. They have always been good in using humanity as their primary trickery tool.

Yes, they are very powerful as they have always been. However, there is one thing that they have always feared. You see, humans share one common ground – HUMANITY. This has always been what they fear of.

One day they will ask a question that they have asked throughout history:

ARE YOU WITH US OR ARE YOU AGAINST US?

To those who will decide to be with them, in advance, I wish you good life. To those who will decide to go against them, may humanity prevails through you.

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Elitism Exposed – They Are Here

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa.

The section starts with what is going to happen in the future (very near future in fact). You can tell if you really understand what has been happening since World War 2. For sure, we are living in the most interesting time throughout history.

Hamidah Binti Osman

2009-02-13T10:14:00.009+08:00

This is Hamidah binti Osman (sworn in as a Perak EXCO member)

This is what she said

"If you see a snake and an Indian, kill the Indian first.' Do you agree or disagree with it?"

So to Datuk Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Amir Khan, so sorry that you guys are indians unlike your great ... great grandfather Genghiz Khan ... anyway...

WATCH OUT !!!

THAT'S HAMIDAH BINTI OSMAN !!!

To indians in Malaysia, Singapore, anywhere in South East Asia, anywhere in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, North America, Central America, South America, anywhere in the world ...

WATCH OUT !!!

THAT'S HAMIDAH BINTI OSMAN !!!

Tall indians, short indians, big indians, small indians, indians fans of Manchester United (though you people think you are the devils), not the red indians ...

WATCH OUT !!!

THAT'S HAMIDAH BINTI OSMAN !!!

To my indian neighbours, indian friends all over the world, indians that I know of, indians that I don't know of but I'm sure your name is somewhat like Sami Vellu, Karpal Singh, Karam Singh Walla, Gobalakrishnan, Rajagopal, Arumugam, ...

WATCH OUT !!!

THAT'S HAMIDAH BINTI OSMAN !!!

You !!! Yes you with flowers around your neck. You look like an indian to me ... hahahaha ... whatever your name is I know you are the new boss of Hamidah Binti Osman. You too ...

WATCH OUT !!!

THAT'S HAMIDAH BINTI OSMAN !!!

Interesting isn't it. Racists like Hamidah Binti Osman prefers to kill a human rather a snake. Seems like you racists are protecting the snake. You know what a snake represents right?

You IBLIS FOLLOWERS !!!

Mere Sapano Kii Raanii

From Movie: Aaradhana

Vocals by Azer Mantessa

I have posted this one before but am re-posting it again. I apologize for any wrong diction in my singing. Though I don't understand a word I sing, I believe the song meant well.

Read Part 3/3

2009-02-08T18:27:00.004+08:00

Previous entries on Reading 1 and 2, this blog did mention the importance of Acquiring Knowledge.

Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood; Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful; He Who taught (the use of) the pen, Taught man that which he knew not.
(Quran, 96, 2-5)

The word ‘Qalam’ is translated as a pen. In Arabic, the word ‘Qalam’ is considered a progressive technological word related to documentation written by the utensils. Attention is put forward on documentation as this is how any knowledge can be preserved. Any documented knowledge then can be brought forward for further progressive developments.

Step 3 is not just about the importance of reading, acquiring knowledge and documentation. It also points out the importance of appreciating those who are knowledgeable because they are considered highly valuable.

Combined with Step 2 which prioritize morality, a learned person may possess personal qualities that may pave the way to have wisdom. Such knowledge allows one to be independent in earning one's living and will be the key which unlocks the door to worldly success. Thus, a voter has the responsibility to vote but equipped with knowledge does not mean a voter is dependent on politicians and politics.

It is important to be an informed voter. There are several important differences between the learned (who know only the theory of how to do good deeds but may not practice it) and the wise (who may not know much but use everything they know to boost their opportunity to do good deeds). Unfortunately, knowledge in the hands of a fool (or even a learned person) can be a dangerous thing. If our only knowledge is academic knowledge, no matter how clever we might be, there is always a risk of making a mess of our lives.

On Perak and Pakatan Rakyat

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pakatan Rakyat who had served Perak well. As a businessman, Pakatan Rakyat have proven that Change Is Possible. Am glad that all I had to do was to fill up some forms, provide certain photocopied documents, some required payments and the best of all, in most cases I did not have to wait long and things were mostly done within 24 hours without 'extra costs'.

Perak voters did the best they can. After all, on March 2008, they voted The Elite Out :-)

Looking forward to seeing you serve again. If it's not too much to ask, come next General Election, take the whole nation :-)

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Merger and Acquisition.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa.

Azly Rahman

2009-02-03T16:35:00.000+08:00

Adapted from http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/:

Doctorate in International Education Development, dissertation on Cybernetics and Social Change -- "Hegemony and Utopianism in a Southeast Asian State -- (Columbia University, New York), Masters in International Education, specialization in Peace Studies, essay on Hegemony and Spaces of Knowledge and Power (Columbia University, New York City), Masters in Communication (Columbia University, New York City), Masters in Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction (Ohio University), Masters in International Affairs, specializing in Politics of Southeast Asia (Ohio University), Bachelors of Science in Education, specializing in English Literature, Teaching and Education (Ohio University). Certificates in Multicultural Education, Teaching and Learning in Technology, Social Studies, Educational Leadership/Supervisor/Principalship. Member: Kappa Delta Phi International Honor Society in Education Columbia University Chapter, International Understanding Honor Society Ohio University Chapter, Member of Spring 2007 Oxford Round Table on Diversity in Society. More than 200 published analyses on Malaysia. Taught more than 40 courses in a variety of fields.

His blog is one of my favorite. His articles also can be read at Malaysia Today under the section ”A Republic of Virtue”.

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The Bongkersz

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Dedicated to bongkersz

Trading - Pooled Capital

2009-01-29T21:35:00.002+08:00

Last November, Dewan Perdagangan dan Perindustrian Aceh (The Acehnese Commercial and Industrial Chamber) was incorporated in Kuala Lumpur. Memberships are opened to acehnese traders all over the world. Friends asked me questions on ‘Acehnese Trading Traits’ …

My family has been in business since the establishment of Kingdom of Kedah (now Kedah). When Sultan Iskandar Muda established the acehnese regime during the height of Aceh Empire, we were allowed to control ‘Pekan Rabu’ or trading places which contributed to our economic supreme for hundreds of years. The fell of Aceh Empire however was a major turning point to our deterioration in trading.

When Tsunami 2004 hit Aceh, it ended the war. Suddenly, acehnese all over the world found ourselves saving money at tremendous rates we have never experienced before. We took advantage to start focusing on one thing we were so good at – running businesses.

Pooled Capital

On January 2005, my family (2,385 family members locally) started with 15 sundry shops. Today, we have more than 800 shops located from Muar, Johor down south to Lumut, Perak up north. Combining all acehnese trading families, today, there are more than 7,000 acehnese sundry shops all over the peninsular including two new untraditional areas – Kelantan and Terengganu.

Pooled Capital (also known as Kuutu) is a trading strategy. It has a 2,000 years history. Some say it originated from India but some say from China. It is quite major to the development of those 15 shops to more than 800 shops. Never mind the historical part, this is what it is all about …

Step 1 – Have a collective members … say 100 members.
Step 2 - Every member contributes a monthly amount … say RM 100 for the next 100 months.
Step 3 – Total monthly amount = Pooled Capital = RM 10,000.
Step 4 – Every month, the amount is given to a member as a starting capital to start running a business.
Step 5 – In 100 months, there shall be 100 businesses run by 100 members.

There are many advantages in applying Pooled Capital: Usury free, Family unity, A major motivating factor in running businesses etc etc etc.

Faith
…… Knowledge
…………..…… Trades

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Celestial of Love

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Dedicated to Celestine.

I Heard Voices Too

2009-01-25T02:27:00.004+08:00

The title of this entry is adapted from Che Det aka TDM aka Tun Dr. Mahathir aka The ex-Prime Minister aka The Funniest Man Year 2008's blog posting titled "I Heard Voices" ...

Not long after being shocked by Cahill's goal ... I heard voices. Not sure where the voices came from though ... perhaps the devils were surrounding me while I was in great shock and misery. By the way, why do the devils love hiding themselves behind this word "United"? ... like ... you know, there is this football team named Something United and The Elite Party with the name United Something ... and so on and so on and so on ...

Maybe the voices were from the common people. You know, people with common likes and dislikes ... in short ... humans. Yes, simply humans. To say simply humans however could be too simplistic to certain people because certain people just could not see humans simply as humans.

The voices voiced out something about reality. So to you ... Elite, your supporters, even your admirers, your online-journalists (ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers) and your Elite Media ... sorry but the voices did say your era as the influenced external sources to the common people is SO OVER :-)

No matter how hard you Elite did try (through money politics, bribery, threat, empty promises, lies and so on ... what have you) ... your rational is irrational, your truth is not the truth, your reality is not the reality.

Sorry again too but the voices did say that you ... Elite, including your supporters, even your admirers, your online-journalists (ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers) and your Elite Media ... you just cannot tell the common people how to think anymore. In fact, why don't you just simply ask your princesses aka Puteri UMNO (Wow! they call themselves as princesses so I guess one day they want to be queens at the age of say ... 60? 70? the least) to stop monitoring what your kind of reality define as NASTY BLOGS. You see, as heard, your rational is irrational, your truth is not the truth, your reality is not the reality.

Oh, I heard voices which obviously voiced out that common people can be more savvy than you Elite, your supporters, even your admirers, your online journalists (ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers) and your Elite Media. How savvy? Enough to say that being savvy is knowing to differentiate what is right and what is wrong and do what is right and avoid doing what is wrong. Guess what? Being savvy is being common :-)

The voices too did say your days are numbered. No? Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu are not telling you anything? You Elite want to make great changes? Re-branding yourselves?

Oh please ... The list of candidates for the next leadership is obvious that you Elite won't change.

Oh yes, I heard voices of common likes and dislikes.

Sorry, but common people dislike corruption, cronyism, nepotism, abuse of power, lies, fuel price hike, brutality, injustice, racism, internal security act aka ISA where you get to jail people without trial and so much more common dislikes which reflect the REALITY of you Elite :-)

In case you Elite, including your supporters, even your admirers, your online-journalists (ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers) and your Elite Media never knew, that's the beauty part of being common :-) Common people have common likes and dislikes and should you Elite, including your supporters, even your admirers, your online-journalists (ooppss they do call themselves as bloggers) and your Elite Media want to learn something ... in short ... common people are ...

Simply Humans :-)

GONG XI FA CHAI

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The Thick White Line

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

What da...

2009-01-20T06:30:00.001+08:00

When Cahill scored the equalizer for Everton, I was like ... never mind ...

Bad mood now ...

Critical Blog Reading #001

2009-01-14T20:25:00.003+08:00

My Pick On Malaysia’s Social, Economy and Politics Blog Postings …
(As on 7th January, 2009)

Malaysian Insider proclaims Mahathir Mohamad as Malaysian of the Year 2008. ARTiculations ... hereby proclaim him as Malaysia’s Funniest Man 2008.

Art Harun was asked about UMNO current situation and how they should improve themselves. Art Harun did give some good advices …

To do that, I believe that we do not have to look any further than the Constitution. The key elements of An-Naim’s model are provided for in this manner: it limits the administration of Islam to matters of personal law and in doing so mandates the neutrality of the public law system. It nonetheless allows for Islam to be developed fully through a separate system of personal law administration. The Constitution also guarantees the freedom of expression and association that allows entities such as PAS and ABIM to exert influence to the extent that they can, their views being counterbalanced by different views. These and other guarantees guarantee the free exercise of human agency – Malik Imtiaz on An-Naim’s model.

I fail to see what penal code offence there is against people wanting to indulge in group sex in a private premises. There is nothing illegal about that; immoral perhaps from the standpoint of local cultural morality and religions but certainly not illegal. So private group sex parties are none of the State religious authority’s business nor the local authorities’. - Loyar Burok On Sex Party.

To voters of Kuala Terengganu … Vote well :-)

Because They Can’t Speak

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Warning: The footages contain violence on animals.

Year of 3D Graphics

2009-01-09T00:29:00.005+08:00

This blog has started with songs and posting songs is the initial intention of why I blog. Last year, I started another intention – animation. Basically, I use Flash MX but unfortunately, Flash has always been a 2D animation software. I did try writing up flash scripts for 3D graphical output using the Perspective Ratio as the mathematical calculations but the result was not so 3D. Above all, Flash tends to eat up a lot of memory spaces that make 3D processing a very slow process.

Year 2009, this blog declares ‘Year Of 3D Graphics’.

Though I will still depending on Flash MX as the tool, I’ll initially be using Poser 6 as the 3D figure (or character) tool. Picture above is done by using both Flash MX and Poser 6.

I have used Poser 6 before in many of my music videos but I have never fully utilized the 3D part of it. This year onwards, I will be exploring more of its 3D step by step. Hopefully, as time goes by, I’ll be progressing.

I have noticed that there are too many bugs in Poser 6 but to discredit this software is unreasonable. This is because Poser 6 is an Open GL particularly with Python PL. To those who are interested in 3D programming, I highly recommend Python running on Linux OS then integrate it with any Open GL 3D software.

Music video below is my first true Poser 6 3D animation integrated with Flash MX. Not much because I am starting. As I’m experimenting, there are errors. The least, I learned how to create a figure and learn how to move the camera.

Navel Gazing

Dedicated to Art Harun.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Another Year

2009-01-05T22:33:00.003+08:00

Between the rocks and wide spaces … boom to bust, doom to dust … down to brother can you spare another corruption, another nepotism, another cronyism, another racism, another marginalization, another fixed jurisdiction, another media manipulation, another war, another economic meltdown, another fuel price hike bla bla bla … it’s another year … this blog is still grammartically problematical and should it be another boredom, do apply another avoidance.

People can be very inspirational. Nope … it’s not the look, not the colour of the skin, not the language, not the ethnic background, not the race, not the religion or whatever kind of beliefs, not the location, not the nationality, not the age, not the gender, not the money, not whatever kind of other differences BUT it has always been what’s inside … the content … the values … so I look beyond the surface.

It has always been the pleasure to have the nice feelings to those I have bumped into the cyberspace. During the blogging hiatus, I have composed and posted some new songs :

GMG Travels The World dedicated to gmg.
Maya dedicated to Maya.
Susupetal dedicated to susupetal.
Anfield Devotee dedicated to anfield devotee.
Magick River dedicated to Antares M.

Another year and I don’t mind more…

Ermmm … Congratulations to Miss Russia who is crowned Miss World. Oh baby, you can be my drink too! I’m sure you are yummy!

Happy New Year Everybody :-)
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Moment In Time

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Sunsets

2008-10-30T00:01:00.003+08:00

I have been very busy off late and going to be a lot busier by the end of the year. Although I rely a lot on the internet for work purposes but I have to cut down my blogging activities. I think this is the last entry for the year.

A lot of business tasks to be done, business trips and wedding ceremonies to attend to. As most of the ceremonies are family-related, they made me the wedding committee member. Being in the committee means I am now considered in the ‘elderly’ group … yikes.

For security and practical purposes, I have to turn off the comment sections. Hopefully to see you guys next year.

I may however post new music videos of my older songs at:

www.youtube.com/azer64

and some greeting cards at:

http://www.a-cards.blogspot.com/

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Sunsets

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Special thanks to gmg, the guy everybody loves to envy. He gets to travel all over the world. I only get to make music out of his pictures … hehehe.

The Other Malaysia

2008-10-24T19:46:00.002+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Citizen Journalism.

The Other Malaysia is a site set up by a number of Malaysian scholar-activists and volunteers with the simple aim of providing other sources of information for those who are interested in unearthing aspects of Malaysian history, politics and culture that have thus far been sidelined, marginalised or erased in the official historiography of the post-colonial state. It is a resource site that will continue to post articles, columns, travelogues and samples of creative writing by the members of the othermalaysia team and readers of the site. Its aim is to construct a database for those who wish to learn more about Malaysia’s complex and plural history, and to offer a space for young researchers, scholars and activists who wish to contribute to the store of subaltern knowledge in the country.

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Happy Deepavali

Deepavali, or Diwali, (Markiscarali) is a major Indian festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. [3] Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Light," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being . The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhists.

This blog wishes HAPPY DEEPAVALI to Malaysian Hindus, Jains and Sikhs particularly and the rest of the world generally.

HAPPY DEEPAVALI
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
HAPPY VACATIONING
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND

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Pains of Stress

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Read – Part 2/3

2008-10-21T09:17:00.003+08:00

This entry is a continuation of a previous entry.

Reading is a multi-dimensional cognitive process of decoding objects (primarily texts and symbols) for the purpose of deriving meaning. I repeat, it is a process to decode objects to understand the meaning. This is where the problem is – most people (myself included) don’t even bother to understand the meaning of what being read. The politicians know well this kind of situation and always take advantage of our reading disabilities. Therefore, there is no other way to read but to read critically.

There are many types of reading – text reading, reading through observation, psychic reading, comparison and contrast reading, reading via intuition etc BUT still no matter what types there are, it is about a process to decode objects for the purpose of deriving the meaning.

As said, we have no choice but to read critically as politicians can be very tricky:

Politicians – We are not telling lies.
This could also mean – We are not telling the whole truth.

A Politician – Not everything about democracy is good.
This could also mean – Not everything about dictatorship is bad.

A Politician – Our economic fundamentals are stable.
This could also mean – It is just that our economy is managed by the funny mentals.

Reading and understanding what is being read is IMPORTANT.

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Greeting Cards

More Greeting Cards at http://www.a-cards.blogspot.com/

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YouTube

I have posted a new music video My Angelina Jolie.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPOSE A NEW SONG FOR THIS ENTRY.

Competent Leaders, I Agree!

2008-10-16T11:16:00.003+08:00

The operating word is “competent”.

This entry is adapted from TDM aka Che Det aka Tun Dr. Mahathir the ex-Prime Minister’s Blog with the entry titled "Do We Need A Strong Government."

Previously, TDM did wrote "A multiracial country needs a strong Government". And I did blog on somewhat opposite to his view.

This time, this entry will not disagree with the fact that Malaysia as a multi-racial country do need strong leaders … no …. Competent Leaders. This entry however will point out how Competent Leaders can build competent Malaysians which in the end is good for multi-racial Malaysians.

So what does it take to be a Competent Leader?

A Competent Leader is Competitive

A competent leader views competition as healthy. He encourages competition so he destroys nepotism, and cronyism. He promotes openness and meritocracy to a higher degree. He will value his people and the works by performances done. Titles are granted with a lot of respect. He will stop money politics immediately.

A competent leader is an exemplary leader. He will fight for justice so he does not have to fix the judiciary unlike the other way around where most probably good people might be found guilty and bad people might be found not guilty.

He values Human Capital. To those who mocked that there is nothing new in Human Capital Development shall be put their political career ended. This is because he knows that Human Capital Development is always a continuous process so there is always something new.

He does not view any human being based on the colour of skin, language, religion, culture etc because he views any human as human. He does not belong to any Racial Based Political Party because he is not a racist. He knows that God creates humans into tribes and nations because God wants us to know and learn from one another. He ends political careers to those who do the keris-waving and gave out racial remarks. Oh, he will also end those who are so arrogant that says, “We have been ruling this nation for 50 years and even without your votes, we can still rule this nation”.

As he promotes competition, he does not favour anyone but those who are competitive. Should his own sons might be in corporate financial troubles, he will not bail them out. He knows well that Government money are people’s money especially tax-payers money contributed by every working beings.

A competent leader inspires a shared vision. He promotes freedom of speech and dialogue not monologue. He is a loving type not hatred type. He will not put anyone to jail without trial.

He searches opportunities in fair manners. He grows, innovates and improves. He dares to be different from the rest of the world and take risks. He is so innovative that even the global fuel price hike will not affect the nation financial stability. In fact, as a net oil-exporting nation, he will make the nation even richer not the other way around by introducing fuel price hike to the people.

He never gives up. He encourages everybody to keep going with high morality.

A competent leader is so competent that he enables others to lead. He does not worry about his own position should there is a rival or competitive politicians. He builds more leaders so that his successors are not sleepy leaders to be. When he finally resigns as a leader, he will not criticize the management he once led simply because he has made them competent.

And the operating word is “competent” :-)

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Colours of Friendship

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Read - Part 1/3

2008-10-12T08:37:00.003+08:00

I have registered myself as a voter (courtesy of The Fuel Price Hike). The study of socioeconomics to me then has becoming more important than before as a voter has huge responsibility.

The First Step in my studying, I understand that I am God’s perfect creation thus I am so not to be a racist. With that, I am not to vote for any racial based political party. The Second Step is to understand that I am created to worship God in order to be good. Therefore I must support candidates with good morality and political parties that prioritize morality.

Step 3: Acquire Knowledge.

So what is the basic foundation of a voter? It's a state-of-MIND! Anybody can induce it - but only if one is willing to drive oneself enough!

A good voter is always a knowledgeable or informed voter else a voter may just another mere follower. Mere followers are easily fooled by the Political Campaigns like:

CLEAN, EFFICIENT, TRUSTWORTHY

OR

VOTE FOR US, VOTE FOR THE COUNTRY

OR

CEMERLANG, GEMILANG, TEBILANG (whatever) …

The Living Contract

“Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),” (Quran, 96, 1)

Read is the first word in Islam and the above verse is the first verse in Islam.

So to read is the very first commandment from God because only through reading, one can acquire knowledge. I’m not going to point out types of reading here or else this entry is going to be lengthy. Anyway, text reading is a methodology of reading.

So reading yield knowledge which makes someone becomes knowledgeable or informed or educated. Unfortunately, having education is one thing but being educated is another thing. That’s why to me, even though someone is Oxford graduated but by saying that bloggers are BUNCH OF chimpanzees, that’s not an educated person. Racists, no matter what level of education they do posses are never educated people.

So what does it takes being a voter?

Anyone will be soooooooo amazed at how easy most things are if one just try to read first! The truth is: Most people don’t bother to read at all or worst – can’t read. Should a voter can’t really read...STOP BEING A VOTER. GO learn to read first. If you can't read, you SHOULD NOT BE a voter and forget about being a politician. Reading is the basic skill one must have to do EVERYTHING BEYOND ANY POINT.

So everyone has to start somewhere, and since voting will continue, there will always be new voters. Those new to the scene like ehem ehem … moi, to get started on their foray into voting, the best way to start, and continue, building knowledge base is to read up on material. I will try locating everything I can, on and offline, about politics and all - Read it. Study it. Understand it no matter what Puteri UMNO of a Racial Based Political Party and alike may say.

After all, no matter how much we have read throughout our lifetime, there is no such thing called KNOWING TOO MUCH.

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Greeting Card

I have updated the Greeting Cards at

http://a-cards.blogspot.com/

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At Youtube

I have posted a new Music Video titled “Rosse”.

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Wayang Kulit

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

M. Bakri Musa

2008-10-04T23:58:00.003+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Citizen Journalism.

I have bumped into this name, M. Bakri Musa so many times particularly at Malaysia Today but being an ignorant as always, only recently I bother myself to his blog and his website.

Just before Hari Raya, I downloaded one of his complete articles:

An Education System Worthy of Malaysia

“It is never a smart idea to stop anyone from expanding opportunities”.

Above is a statement written in the first chapter of the article that have caught my attention and from then onwards I just can’t stop reading.

The article or also sold as a book is his effort to make Malaysians look at their education system from a perspective different to what they have been accustomed – without much surprise, politics and racism of course.

So to those Malaysians (myself included) who prefer to look at a different perspective than those of the racial based political parties and racists, I highly recommend his blog and website.

About M. Bakri Musa

Malaysian-born Bakri Musa writes frequently on issues affecting his native land. His essays have appeared in the Far Eastern Economic Review, Asiaweek, International Herald Tribune, Education Quarterly, SIngapore's Straits Times, and The New Straits Times. His commentary has aired on National Public Radio's Marketplace. His regular column Seeing It My Way appears in Malaysiakini. Bakri is also a regular contributor to th eSun (Malaysia). He has previously written "The Malay Dilemma Revisited: Race Dynamics in Modern Malaysia" as well as "Malaysia in the Era of Globalization," "An Education System Worthy of Malaysia," "Seeing Malaysia My Way," and "With Love, From Malaysia." Bakri's day job (and frequently night time too!) is as a surgeon in private practice in Silicon Valley, California. He and his wife Karen live on a ranch in Morgan Hill. This website is updated twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays at 5 PM California time.

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On YouTube

I have posted a new music video with a song Keretapi Malam (The Night Train).

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Greeting Cards

My greeting cards blog is updated:

http://www.a-cards.blogspot.com/

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The Evil, The Light and The Heat

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Selamat Hari Raya

2008-09-26T08:27:00.005+08:00

Eid Mubarrak is coming and to my surprise, nearly half of the working force are taking leave. I'll be left to cover many positions including monitoring the loading and unloading activities at Pasar Selayang as early as 2 o'clock in the morning. Pasar Selayang is the largest wet market in Klang Valley. I am asked to start monitoring starting this Saturday so I'll be busy doing extra works. The 'clan' has 600 lorries functioned to do the distribution all over Klang Valley and elsewhere and I am asked not to screw things up ... erks ... yikes.

Eid Mubarrak is also known here as Aidil Fitri. Fitri derived from an arabic word 'fitrah' which means nature which specifically pointed to human nature. So it's not only the day muslims celebrate the victorious fasting month of Ramadhan, but also to celebrate human nature. As previously mentioned, humans are God's best creation so it is the day to celebrate among ourselves, humans.

As it is nature that everybody die, the feeling of the day is mixed with both happy and sad. We'll be happy as the fasting month is over ... hehehe ... but the thing is that celebrating without those we love due to death and distance is sadly. As death is a certain thing, it also the day we'll be asking for forgiveness.

This is what I am so proud of being a Malaysian. As a whole, Malaysians, be it Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Others are very forgiving people. Yes, Malaysians as a whole are very forgiving people. Having Aidil Fitri makes this forgiving and be forgiven thing more appealing.

Fantastically, that us Malaysians are very forgiving people, us Malaysians too are very forgetful people. You know, after we ask for forgiveness and be forgiven, we get to redo things that require us to ask for forgiveness and be forgiven again and again. You know, things like, we get to accuse someone of sodomy even without any witness, or things like, we get to swear that someone sodomized us though there is a clear proof that we are not sodomized by anybody, or things like, we get to fix the judiciary so that bad people are found not guilty and good people are found guilty, or things like, we get to jail bloggers for two years without trial, or things like, we get to increase fuel price though we did promise not to, or things like, we get to give racial remarks and marginalize other people, or things like, we get to be so arrogant and say something like ... "Oh, we don't need your votes because we have ruled the nation for 51 years and we will continue to do so without your votes", etc etc etc.

Why not right? After all, Malaysians are very forgiving people.

I myself too ... you know ... most probably be back being a jerk, being nasty and naughty and all.

Anyway, I'm taking this opportunity as a blogger specifically, am asking bloggers and readers for forgiveness for all my errors and sins be it done intentionally or unintentionally, be it from my words or actions and everything I might not aware off. I'm just human and it is my nature to err but to those who are willing to forgive me ... that's divine.

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Greeting Card

I have updated my Greeting Card blog at

http://www.a-cards.blogspot.com/

'Selamat Hari Raya' card is the latest.

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I Need YOU

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Lyrics and Vocals by Azer Mantessa

About this song.

I need YOU
deep inside
the cavern of my heart
never part.
.
I need YOU
by my side
to keep guiding me well
all my life.
.
This world is full of lies
It's hard to see the truth
I'm not that wise
.
To YOU I seek refuge
of what I'm to decide
of which to choose
and once I'm on the way
Don’t let me stray away
.
When my death
comes invite
I'll be lonely and wrapped
cloth of white.
.
Let the light
be in sight
so I won’t be afraid
in my grave.
.
Please lead me to the field
With the streaming light
On Judgment Day
.
Let me waiting in peace
for my book of deeds
to be received
and given on my right
Once YOU call for me.

I Am Created

2008-09-21T00:32:00.003+08:00

I have registered myself as a voter (courtesy of The Fuel Price Hike). So what does it mean being a voter? It means from now onwards, I am among those responsible in making decision on which kind of people should govern the nation. The study of socioeconomics to me then has becoming more important than before as a voter has huge responsibility. Though socioeconomics is a multi-disciplinary study, I prefer to take things a step at a time.

Step 2: Understand Why I Am Created

In Step 1 : Understand Who I Am, I have mentioned that humans are God’s best creation therefore I will not vote for any racial based political party because no matter what they are claiming, they practice racism. Obviously, they are the ones who have been giving the racial remarks.

Why I am created is already explained in my previous entry, The Dimensions. Only humans and Jinns are having the freedom to choose. Only humans and jinns are given this privilege to have the will power to choose be it good or evil deeds. No other God’s creations have this privilege. That is the main reason why Iblis and satans start having this inferior-superior things practically is RACISM. However, that I have the will power to choose good or evil deeds does not explain why I am created in the first place.

So why am I created?

The Living Contract: “I have only created Jinns and humans, for the sole reason of worshipping Me.” (Quran, 51-56).

So God tells that I am created to worship God.

This leads to further questions. What do I understand about worshipping God? How am I supposed to worship God? Why I am created to worship God?

Worshipping God

Generally, to worship is to honor and to love as a deity or to regard with ardent or to adore with esteem and devotion. So to worship God is to honor and to love God to regard with ardent full of devotion. Since I am created with uncountable blessings, I should worship God with so many reasons. One of the reasons is to show how grateful I am that I am created.

Worshipping involves acts integrated altogether – spiritual, mental and physical. That I am created to worship God, part of worshipping is to perform the worshipping rituals namely praying. That I am created, it is obligatory to me to pray 5 times a day like the animation below:

The physical ritual consists of four main acts: stand, bow, prostrate and sit. Simple graphics are demonstrated as below:

If you were into Arabic graphic writing, the actions present four Arabic words: Alif, Ha, Mim and Dal as demonstrated below:

Once combined, in roman it spells Ahmad which is an Arabic word for good.

Abstractly, to worship God is to be good. So I am created to worship God in order to be good. One who is into being good may become righteous. What is righteous? Righteous is to do good deeds and to abandon bad deeds. This elaborates further on why I am created. I am created to worship God in order to be good so I can be righteous.

What are the good deeds and what are the bad deeds? That’s step 3.

My Political Stand Based On Step 2

As a father of five kids, it is my duty to remind them that the main objective in life is to be good which may lead into being righteous. In short, to worship God. If they can achieve this, I can consider myself a successful father.

Politically, I will look at those political parties that emphasize high morality. Fortunately, all political parties in this country do prioritize morality in their political mission. Unfortunately, writing down policies is one thing, implementing policies is another thing.

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Introducing Tom Norfolk

Tom Norfolk is a poet and a musician at YouTube. He took interest in one of my song, Lapa. He has created a very interesting version of Lapa (with my permission of course) which I thought is very interesting.

Do listento Lapa by Tom Norfolk.
Original version of Lapa at Cadenza MIDI Diary.
Music video of Lapa at YouTube.

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Greeting Cards

Two additional greeting cards are at my other blog:

http://www.a-cards.blogspot.com/

All are welcome to copy and paste the HTML codes onto other social-connecting websites.

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Pollution Now

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

About this song

I, Human

2008-09-15T06:37:00.003+08:00

Weeks ago, I have registered myself as a voter (courtesy of The Fuel Price Hike). So what does it mean being a voter? I t means from now onwards, I am among those responsible in making decision on which kind of people should govern the nation. The study of socioeconomics to me then has becoming more important than before as a voter has huge responsibility.Though socioeconomics is a multi-disciplinary study, I prefer to take things a step at a time.

Step 1: Understand Who I Am

I am a human, spiritually, mentally and physically. Some of you may think that it is stupid of me to start this socioeconomics study by defining myself a human. Hold your thought please because there are so many idiots out there who have been actively involved in politics and still fail to look at humans as humans. Trust me, just by understanding myself physically as a human, I can make a decision on who should rule the nation.

Let me explain …

You see, if you were into animation like … ehem … ehem … moi, you will have to come across this bone animation thing. Bone animation is the animation of skeletal hierarchical which can be roughly classified in four parts:

a) Head and neck
b) Chest and arms
c) Abdomen and Pelvis
d) Legs

The above parts are described as the animation below.

Now, let me adjust the animation to suit a situation.

You see, there is this behavior in humans called greeting. Yes, it is human nature to greet because it is human nature to wish another human to be in peace. Generally, humans shake hands to greet be it with a hand or two hands. Image below is a simple demo on how a human looks while greeting from side angle.

Now, let me adjust the image horizontally like below.

If you were into Arabic writing, the image spells four(4) Arabic letters as below.

The letters are mim, ha, mim, dal and once combined yield a word in roman as Muhammad or Mohamed. Muhammad is an Arabic word meaning ‘praiseworthy’. Coincidently, it is a name of a prophet. Abstractly, any human being is worth to be praised and it is human nature to greet.

The Living Contract

“Verily, God created man of the best stature.” (Quran, 95, 4).

So God tells that humans are His best creation.

My Political Stand Based On Step 1

As a husband and a father of five kids, one of the earliest lessons that I taught my wife and my kids is

“Unless you really know how to, do not judge people based on their looks”.

Why?

Simply because humans are God’s best creation. In fact, humans deserved to be greeted. I mean everybody no matter a Malay or Chinese or Indian or European or Bangla or Kadazan or Iban etc. So I made it clear to my wife and kids that it is important to greet everybody including ourselves, relatives, neighbors, friends and everybody else.

So from what I have taught them as based on understanding myself as a human, my political stand is very clear – I will not vote any racial based political party.

Why?

Simply because any racial based political party practices RACISM. Ever wonder why members of any racial based political party love giving out racial remarks?

A racist may say something like this:

“Oh, we are not racists. We just want to group among ourselves to fight for our rights. 51 years of ruling has proved that we have managed to work well with other racial groups in harmony and the nation has progressed very well”.

I will deal with the above statement much later as it requires further steps.

Greeting Cards

I have started a new blog:

http://www.a-cards.blogspot.com/

As to greet does make the difference, anyone is so welcomed to copy and paste the HTML codes from the blog into other social connecting websites like myspace, tagged etc. That humans greet, a study emerged from it known as … SOCIALOGY.

Below is a sample of the card:

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Greeting Card by Azer Mantessa

Azer Terbang Lagi

2008-09-09T21:12:00.007+08:00

Terbang Lagi means Flying Again.

After years in system developments - database programming, artificial intelligence and neural networks, I decided to take programming into a different zone. Music and graphical art then animation hit me once I got the idea.

1983 was the year I started programming. It was FORTRAN on mini-computer. My first program, 'Hello World', was a disaster as while I was compiling it, tons of errors came out with huge buzzing noise. While everybody in the lab was so pissed and stared at me, I was like ... "Whoaaaa ... this is cool". That was the moment I fell in love with computer sound. Unfortunately, it took me another 23 years to come back to sound programming.

Writing songs has becoming something special to me. Not only it is another kind of programming, it is also another kind of being creative. To be able to compose a new song and becoming the first person in the world to hear it is joyful. Although there is nothing great about my songs, to be irrational, illogical, and messing up all the reasons has helped me balancing out both hemispheres of my brain. It is healthy as life is not just about technical thing.

This entry means I have posted a hundred songs at Cadenza MIDI Diary. Should you ask me years ago, I would say this is unthinkable. You see, in order to accomplish something, there is no substitute but to keep on trying. Of course, we really need to have a lot of patient and passion.
.

Below are my ten most difficult songs I've ever written. All of them are quite my earliest and written in MIDI.

I Pop - Originally it was written based on complicated Baroque chord progressions. While trying to get some ideas on the melodies, my son strummed his guitar for a pop song. I noticed that, melodies for pop are quite easy so I experimented by strumming a guitar based on Baroque chords. It was chaotic in the beginning that I decided to move the chords closer to each other. Surprisingly, the strumming yielded the funky sound that I really like. I then added the clapping drums and synth for the pop trick.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/i-pop.htm

Aku, Sheryl dan Malam - I have to admit that this song is derived from a very complicated fractal calculations. I was experimenting on some mathematical formulas to yield an ambient sound. However, an error in programming caused the equation to yield an interesting picking riff which later tested out on my acoustic guitar (nylon). I really like the sound of the picking which later has become quite my musical playing style and later give births to many ballad/romantic songs be it on guitar or piano.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/aku-sheryl-dan-malam.htm

Peter Olson In Paris - So far, this is the only song I have written on Ragtime genre. I consider this one tough because I'm not used to listen to rag. It took me to study rag for about two weeks before I started writing it. As I wanted to write something about Paris, I decided on continental rag rather american rag.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/peter-olson-in-paris.htm

Curiga - The idea of this song hit me suddenly when I was reading something about Fugue. Fugue is described as repetitive sound and I like the idea so I told myself, "Okay, why not write different melodies and combine them all together." Once the melodies are combined, I have no idea what the
song is all about and so I named it as 'Curiga' meaning Doubtful.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/curiga.htm

Ketika Bulan Mengambang - This is the most controversial song I've ever written. I can understand the controversy as this song is derived from a mathematical geometrical pattern. Traditional musicians were so pissed because the musical notes are so impossible to be played. I have never written any song based on any mathematical formula or mathematical pattern since then.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/ketika-bulan-mengambang.htm

Keretapi Malam - Musically, this song has the most notes events I have ever written on one musical instrument. It is baroque and the chord progressions are very complicated - an usual case for a baroque song anyway. Originally, the idea is to prove to a friend of mine that a pianist is faster than a guitarist. Of course it is a fact but this song is meant for a joke.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/keretapi-malam.htm

Bersama Selamanya - Originally, it was written on Baroque chord progressions but for an unknown reason, I just had to turn the song into slow rock progressions. It required many re-adjustments as I had to suit both baroque and rock and had to made them both intact as a song.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/bersama-selamanya.htm

Layan Kepala - What is so difficult about this song is, it has the most genres as a song - hard rock, baroque, adagio, polyphonic and progressive rock. When comes to screwing things up, I really am so good at it ... ahaks.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/layan-kepala.htm

Rampaisari - It took me five weeks to complete this song. Basically, it is quite a simple jazz song but because the song was requested, it was written with thinking (the only song so far that was written with thinking). From then on, I decided not to entertain requests because I prefer to write songs out of my heart rather my brain. Obviously, I hate to think ... LOL

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/rampaisari.htm

Terbang Lagi - Okay, this song is among my earliest through MIDI programming. As starting things up are always the hardest, I consider this one difficult. Once the song is compiled and run, I told myself, "Holyshit! Did I wrote that?!!!" Until today, this is the song I like most :-) Of course I have the right to be biased on my own songs ... hahahahahaha.

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/terbang-lagi.htm

At Cadenza MIDI Diary, we received monthly hits of about 100,000. To me, that's not bad.

The Patterns

Okay, this song is officially my 100th song posted.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

All mathematical patterns are calculated by Azer Mantessa

About this song.

Project Malaysia

2008-09-04T20:46:00.004+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Citizen Journalism.

http://www.projectmalaysia.org/

Adapted from the website above:

For a long time, Malaysians from every walk of life have noticed something intrinsically wrong with our nation. Some are less pleased than others, but the fact remains that nation building is a constant, ongoing process that requires hard work, and diligence from all parties involved. In realising this, and in looking for ways to move forward, we hope that Project Malaysia will inform Malaysian stakeholders to solutions for this nation's success. Especially for those who want to move into a direction of accountability for our actions, transparency and justice in every area of public life, and most of all, in the pursuit of a nation that is home to all Malaysians regardless of race, religion or creed.

I personally support the project above. Already they have voiced out many interesting issues. Do check out on the project. Again at:

http://www.projectmalaysia.org/

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Another Morning

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Vocals and Lyrics by Azer Mantessa

More About This Song

Another morning
Wake up and start pretending
That everything is fine
Just shut up and don’t cross the line

Living the everyday
You wake up
Assuming all the troubles hide away

Another morning
Never mind all the feelings
Another sunshine
Just mind to bother your own mind

Things might be out of hands
What to say
We are living in sensitive land

Between you and me
Far apart and it’s not meant to be
Love can never be a crime
Take a step at a time

We may see the day
Our hearts are never far away
Never mind those who are blinds
You and I, one of the the kind

Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan

2008-08-31T14:14:00.004+08:00

The operating word is ‘Merdeka’ which stands for Freedom or Being Independent or Free from external control and colonization or self-governing.

51 years ago, this nation set herself free from the British colonization so Malaysians today can enjoy freedom in the sense of being independent rather foreign domination.

Personally, an interesting word this ‘independent’ is.

As a person who believes in being created by The Mighty Creator, I cannot declare myself as an independent individual. The faith is, I am dependent to God to keep me safe and healthy, helps me out to do the right things and to avoid doing the wrong things from within and from without throughout my life and lives beyond.

Still, what an interesting word this ‘independent’ is.

During childhood, I depended upon my parents, siblings, relatives, kampong folks, neighbors, teachers, friends, society be it from the public sectors or private sectors and even good strangers. Also not fair that I don’t mention the government too who have paved the way for education, public facilities and all.

Childhood then was about being dependent, growing up was about learning all that I could to be independent. The reason was quite understood as I myself noticed on how the society strongly prejudiced against those who are not fit as being independent. So I did the best that I could, hitting all the books, qualified myself for the fully government boarding school, furthered my studies overseas and graduated.

Unfortunately, it was the economic recession so I had no choice but to work with my father helping him out in his auditing and consulting firm. Words emerged among circles of friends that I was still a very dependent person as I was working for my father. In fact, when I got married at the age of 23, I was considered more dependent as all the wedding expenses were paid for. My parents even bought me the house, the car, the furniture and all as my wedding gifts.

So I moved to Singapore as I was accepted for a very good position and good money working for one of the richest man in Asia. I have to admit that breaking away from family business did make me feel a bit independent.

Strangely, I had the urge for something more. So I came back running my own business (with a business partner of course). In the beginning, we had no choice but to depend on ex-boss for sub-contracts in system developments. It helped for our earlier survival. However, it did not take us long to develop our own line of products in risk management and financial information systems.

Trying hard to be as independent as possible, we encountered something awkward in running businesses particularly in obtaining contracts. We discovered that, no matter how good our products were, to sell had something to do with what was called as ‘Political Connections’. People in the industry suggested that we allocate some equity to certain politicians and let them do their political connection things. It was the strategy so known for obtaining contracts be it in the government sectors, or GLCs (Government Link Companies) or even the private sectors.

After lengthy discussions, we decided to be the production house, supplying modules to the Enterprise Resource Planning international companies and became independent consultants to the Multi-National Asset Management companies. Depending mostly on the international markets, circles of friends started calling us, “Truly Independent Businessmen”.

We propose, God disposes. Everything begins must come to an end. My partner got seriously ill and I knew well we both had depended on each other too much. Also we both did foresee that depending too much on the international markets spelled risk so we decided to sell the business to the international players.

Having some equities in the businesses, we both still enjoy annual dividends and monthly fees for being the senior consultants and member of Board of Directors. What we both enjoy most was the ability to live life with what known as having the Financial Independent. In short, we don’t have to really work to earn money.

Having this kind of independent has allowed me to do something else. As I always wanted to be creative in an artistic way, I started writing songs, do some mathematical art and animation. Circles of friends then started to say, “Oh, Azer is dependent on his properties”.

Relatives too have reminded me that there is more than doing nothing much. So I turned myself as a retailer running several sundry shops and initiated companies for my kids. The least I can consider myself being independent as I don’t have to worry about achieving contracts through ‘Political Connections’.

Any retailer particularly of a sundry shop will notice that sales of consumer daily based products are 90-95 percent foreign. Malaysia without doubt is so dependent on foreign items. The situation was voiced out many years ago by those who have been in retailing for years. I then joined myself with the family connection which to my surprise is about 57,500 work force consisting about 7,500 retailing shops all over the country not including other businesses like farming, fishing, small-medium industries etc. The idea of the connection is simple – to be dependent to each other and to be less dependent to the external factors.

The connection has no major problem whatsoever in synergizing each other out but to be less dependent to the external factors is really something else. So here we go again, while running own businesses, the businesses are depending on the external factors - government policies, fuel price hike, political situations, global situations, authorities etc. This leave us no choice but to move into a higher level in order to have more say in running businesses.

Last week, we initiated our a preliminary step into what we call, “The Family” Chamber of Commerce and Industries. The ‘Chamber’ shall connect family members who are into running businesses be it hawkers, self-employed, insurance agents, retailers, industrialists, farmers, fishermen and not only family members in this country but family members world-wide.

I guess the word ‘MERDEKA’ stands for having the choices to be a bit independent. 51 years ago, Malaysia has started well by achieving FREEDOM from British Imperialism, Colonization and Domination. Today, Malaysia and Malaysians are given more freedom in every aspect of living life. Although there is no doubt about us being dominated by other kind of domination, MERDEKA is with us giving us own choices to break free from the domination.

Today is a Merdeka Day. I as a blogger am proud to present Jalur Gemilang, the name of the flag which is always to me, the most beautiful flag in the world. I am presenting it the way it supposed to be unlike some of us who are presenting it upside down. In case some of you never knew, some of us died defending it.

Puteri UMNO

2008-08-25T18:46:00.005+08:00

So Puteri UMNO has set up an IT Unit dedicated to monitor ‘nasty’ blogs. Personally I’m not sure what do they really mean by being ‘nasty’ but aren’t these ladies prefer nasty guys as nasty guys are more fun and suit well with what considered as their ‘high maintenance’ thing? No?

Obviously everybody has own way to classify things. Before the General Election, their Elite branded bloggers as chimpanzees. Funny thing, after considering blogging a bit did play role to the result, they themselves blog.

I however think blogging is not major. Today, THE PEOPLE are not that stupid and easily fooled by any political campaign. Blogging however helps a bit to make an informed decision. Anyway, go ahead Puteri UMNO with your kinda monitoring. THE PEOPLE too do monitor through blogs or other ways. It’s not really that difficult to see the keris-waving, oath swearing, highways collapsing, finger-signing, ‘F*&k You’ saying, documents shreadding, mouth cursing, price hiking bla bla bla bla bla …

Worrying so much about the people being nasty eh. THE PEOPLE are more worry about The Elite being cruel.

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The Faces

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustration by Azer Mantessa

About this song

Permatang Pauh

2008-08-19T14:19:00.009+08:00

To all voters of Permatang Pauh, please do vote for Barisan Nasional.

They have Pak Lah, Datuk Seri Najib, Tun Dr. Mahathir (ooppss, sowwie ... he quits) but it's okay, they have his son Datuk Mukhriz ... yeahhh!!!, Datuk Sri Khir Toyo, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, Datuk Idris Jusoh, Datuk Rustam Ali, Datuk Adnan of Pahang, Khairi Jamaludin, Datuk Isa Abdul Samad, Datuk Ali Rustam, Datuk Hishamudin, and many many many many many many more ... and of course ... Fuel Price Hike too :-)

Heard that Tun Dr. Mahathir will migrate once Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes Prime Minister ... so I wonder where?

Hmmmm ... this is tough ... so lemme think...

Japan? Maybe, they want him ... wow!

Singapore? You've gotta be joking!!!

India? Quite possible ... hehehe

France? Possibly too

Los Angeles? Maybe, everything can be made legal there :-)

Canada? Why not ... nice and quiet.

Mauritius? Not bad a choice too.

Dubai?

Yeah I bet ... Dubai it is !!!!!!!

All the best to you Dubaians. Good thing, you people get to have more highways. But ... pssstttt ... you shall have to pay for the tolls though and the toll plazas shall be highly congested.

Yep ... I bet ... Dubai!!!

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On YouTube

I have posted a new music video Teia de Ariana.

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Stayin Alive

While to us all who have to wait for a lil while for the whole changes ... keep stayin alive :-)

I have registered myself as a voter :-)

Backups

2008-08-13T23:58:00.005+08:00

LOL … my son accidently deleted all my musical setups and files so for this entry I fail to compose a new song. Since things do happen with purposes, this gave me an idea to have an internet backups for the works done.

So I have created my own webbie at:

www.geocities.com/azermantessa

I should’ve had this idea before :-)

Luckily all my original songs are posted at Cadenza MIDI Diary. Anyway, it’s good to start everything from scratch again … LOL.

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On YouTube

I have posted a new music video with a song titled “Pink Ginger”.

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1,3 Bee Gees

I have posted this one before. It’s me singing Bee Gees. I think this one was recorded about 3 or 4 years ago. I have known these songs since I was 4-years old. Funny thing is that, the songs are my first 3 English songs I learnt and another funny thing is that I did not even know they were in English … LOL.

Back then, old friends called me ‘Mat Bee Gees’ meaning I was so a Bee Gees affectionado!!! To be honest, I am still now!!!

Song and Lyric by Bee Gees
Guitar and Noises by Azer Mantessa
Vocals by Azer Mantessa
(Me trying to sound like Barry Gibb … LOL)

888

2008-08-08T18:40:00.005+08:00

All the best to Olympians :-)

Compete well :-)

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On YouTube

Has posted a new music video Layan Kepala.

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Samantha

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Lyrics and Vocals by Azer Mantessa

One day I was surprised
Like winning the first prize
The minute when I saw her smiles

So I found myself a way
When everything is grey
To let me rest my weary day

I’ll make it for a while
To let myself drop by
For many reasons why
The lady has some style

So pure
The lady is a cure
And any guys will sure adore

Always with a happy face
Any time any place
A habit that is full of grace

Happiness is the key
And she’s reminding me
Sometimes I couldn’t see
What I’m suppose to be

There is a good lesson to learn
As we have to choose all the turns
Along the way
Just smile … to light and live the day

The lady is a pearl
Ever since she’s a girl
Now she is in my wonder world

It’s always a worthwhile
To look into her eyes
And the smiles that can tell no lies

There’s so much more to say
Why don’t you make a stay
For her precious smiles
Diamonds in my eyes

Samantha …

You Jump I Jump

2008-08-02T14:41:00.012+08:00

Picture above is taken from a comment posted at Malaysia Today. It is believed, the picture is fictional and has nothing to do with those who are still alive, dead or not yet dead.

Tectonic (The Unreal Story)

There were these people who loved each other. They loved each other way too much that they started a club called, United Something …

United Something … decided to build the largest ship ever called Tectonic. Once the ship was ready, they sailed into the open sea.

Among them, there were these two guys who loved each other the most (no, no, no, no … they were not homosexuals, that was accused onto someone else). One of them was Che Dek and another was Lah. They were so close to each other that people started to called them both, Che Dek Lah.

The love of Che Dek Lah had changed love into jealousy in the group. United Something … then had broken into many cronies. Noticing the situation, Che Dek approached Lah:

Che Dek: Tectonic is sinking.
Lah: What?! … Why?
Che Dek: United Something has now broken into many cronies. We are now so known for corruption, nepotism, cronyism, and racism and God knows what else.
Lah: Oh! No wonder we are losing popularity.
Che Dek: Want to make a Gentlemen’s Agreement?
Lah: A Gentlemen’s Agreement?
Che Dek: Yes. You jump I jump.
Lah: You mean, once I jump into the ocean, you will jump with me?
Che Dek: Yes.
Lah: Why not you jump then I jump. You jump first then I will follow you.
Che Dek: Sure, same thing.

SPLASHHHHHHH …

Suddenly, Che Dek jumped into the ocean.

Thriving to make for the swim, Che Dek yelled …

Che Dek: Jump Lah! Jump!
Lah: Hehehehe

THE END

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On YouTube

A new music video (of sort) is posted with a song titled Rampaisari.

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Nothing But A Mushroom

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

Subsidi Cintamu

2008-07-27T16:35:00.008+08:00

This is my first Malaysian Language song so instead of posting it as flash sound which is in mono sound, I prefer to post it as YouTube video which is stereo.

Subsidi Cintamu means ‘Your Subsidized Love’.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Lyric and Vocals by Azer Mantessa
Video by Azer Mantessa

I apologize for my voice sucks big time as always … LOL

Obviously, I’m getting too old to sing rock … LOL

Just a matter of time, I have to completely stop singing ... LOL

Warning: Do listen to this song at your own risk. I cannot guarantee your ears won't fall off. My singing is the worst ever ... LOL ... To those who are prone to heart attack, please don't even try ... LOL

Kau berjanji tidak akan memberikan kesusahan
Setelah dirimu dipertaruhkan sebagai pilihan
Dengan tak ku sangka kau tak mengotakan kata-katamu
Tidakkah kau ingat pada kegagalan di masa lalu

Seharusnya kau fahami
Dalam jiwa disemadi

Kau berdusta pada semua yang mengharapkan padamu
Walau kau bagaikan telur yang berada dihujung tanduk
Sedikitpun tidak kau hiraukan kepayahan yang lain
Penderitaan kami sengaja kau buat main-main

Seharusnya kau halusi
Tidak terus kau yakini

Kau beralasan pada rentak dunia
Mengasihi dengan subsidi cintamu

Kau fikir kau bijak dengan menyusun segala langkahmu
Apakah kau fikir kami sedikitpun tak akan tahu
Kepura-puraan yang kau berlatih untuk dipentaskan
Penipuan dan pemalsuan yang akan engkau lakonkan

Terimalah suatu nanti
Engkau akan dipinggiri

This song can be downloaded at (in MP3, 3.99MB):

http://www.diary.cadenza.org/azer-mantessa/subsidi-cintamu.htm

Raja Petra Kamarudin

2008-07-21T10:03:00.004+08:00

As previously mentioned, I’ll be promoting citizen journalism throughout my third year in blogging.

Adapted from Wikipedia:

Citizen journalism, also known as public or participatory journalism, is the act of citizens "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information." The intent of this participation is to provide independent, reliable, accurate, wide-ranging and relevant information that a democracy requires." Citizen journalism is a specific form of citizen media as well as user generated content.

The term citizen media refers to forms of content produced by private citizens who are otherwise not professional journalists or online-journalists (Ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers).

I however prefer to promote those who are not in any political party BUT do blog on any political issues. Also I prefer to promote those who are on side of Individualism, Anti-Elitism and Anti-Racism or Anti-Racial Based Political Party.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Blog-wise, I’ve known Raja Petra and his blog Malaysia Today about three months once I’ve started blogging. Without question, I’ve missed a lot of his writing. Paper-wise however, I’d followed his articles when he was writing for The Sun which is distributed for free (the only paper I ever bother to read and simply because it is free).

Raja Petra is an accountant by profession (if I’m not mistaken). When I was doing the Risk Management Consulting business, Raja Petra is also quite known to us in the industry as he managed various management programs and seminars which I attended.

As a blogger, Raja Petra is phenomenal. No matter what the readers are saying about him, especially those supporters of The Elite Party and The Elite, I view him as a man who fights for Malaysians as a whole.

To those who are interested in Malaysian Political Scenarios, Raja Petra’s Blog is a must:

Malaysia Today

The Agogo Cats

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Animation and Imported GIFs by Azer Mantessa

The Racist

2008-07-15T22:06:00.009+08:00

This entry is serious and I apologize for not being able to make a little humor out of it.

This entry is based on a racial remark by Hamidah binti Osman (MP UMNO/Barisan Nasional, Sungai Rapat, Perak) at Perak State Assembly:

“Indians are worse than snakes.”

"There's a well-known Malay saying that goes 'If you see a snake and an Indian, kill the Indian first.' Do you agree or disagree with it?"

Protests against her remark are raised and I recommend these links for further reading:

An Open Letter To Hamidah binti Osman
Malay Indian Protest Against Racial Slur
Rascist YB Hamidah UMNO Assembly Woman

The Origin of Racism (According to Abrahamic Faith)

Perhaps she has that sweet look so any fool can easily be fooled by the look. By the remark, without a slightest doubt, she is a racist. How to describe the real look of a racist?

To describe the real look of a racist, one ought to go back into time and re-look the origin of racism.

It goes back to the beginning of mankind's creation. This new creation of God was created from clay and named Adam. After his creation, God ordered the Angels and those with them to prostrate to Adam. They all prostrated except Iblis. Iblis believes he is better than Adam as he is made of fire while Adam of clay.

Without question, the Devil was consequently the world's first racist! Racists do have these “Pride and Arrogance” which lead to thinking that they are better than others. Pride and arrogance are truly Devilish traits which humans have learnt from Iblis. Having learnt something from Iblis, what makes racists?

Yes, Iblis followers.

They have to be. You see, racism is not human nature. Don’t trust me?

To those who have kids (Racists are excluded although they may have kids), may sure notice that ANY BABY WILL SMILE OR LAUGH at ANY PERSON who make ANY KIND OF FUNNY GESTURES. Since all babies are humans in pure form, racism then is not human nature.

The Look …

So how do racists really look like when they throw away their racial remarks?

They can be described in many words:

SATANIC, DEVILLISH, ARROGANT, ANGER, HATRED, UGLY, SPOILED, REVENGE, CYNICAL, …

Too many words I must say. In short, the description is not nice at all.

The Character …

Not only racists have that satanic looks every time they speak their racial remarks … they too share their common Iblis trait … they love to whisper.

You see, it is Iblis’ nature to whisper because whispering into the hearts has been a very good strategy. So when not speaking openly in the public, racists do group with each other and speak among themselves the satanic whispering way … their racial remarks or statements or jokes and racists will do their satanic giggling way which of course make them look …

SATANIC, DEVILLISH, ARROGANT, ANGER, HATRED, UGLY, SPOILED, REVENGE, CYNICAL, …

The main objective of racists doing all these whispering is to spread HATRED, DISGUST, ANGER and other SATANIC FEELING toward those who are not them and at the same time to build their SATANIC PRIDE, ARROGANCE, SUPREMACY and other SATANIC CHARACTERISTICS among themselves.

Strangely, as previously said, racism is not human nature. So what went wrong?

Humans fall for the age-old trick of Satan and start playing the silly inferiority/superiority game. Some stereotype others and tolerate prejudice against other human beings, despite the fact that all human beings are equal, from the same man and woman.

Since all babies are not racists, racism then must have started during the upbringing and influenced by the environment.

The Upbringing …

Since racism is originated from Iblis, there must be some reasons on why racism started.

You see, before Adam, Iblis enjoyed some kind of privilege and the major one was being the righteous among all creatures. The creation of Adam however has given some kind of competition which led to two very extreme feelings in Iblis – JEALOUSY AND PRIDE where the former is an extreme INFERIORITY FEELING while the latter is an extreme SUPERIORITY FEELING.

Racists then must have grown up with these two extreme feelings.

The Environment …

Why does it not surprised me a bit that racists like Hamidah binti Osman are from a racial based political party like UMNO?

The Living Contract - Racism Is Against God

Quran: Nisa’a, 1:
"Reverence God Who created you all from one person".

Quran: Rum, 21-22:
“Signs of His Power are His creation of heaven and of earth, and the varieties of tongues and skins; in all of which are sermons for the wise. And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.”

Quran: Al-Hujjurat, 13:
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. pious) . Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware”

Quran: Aali-Imran, 6:
“He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise”

Quran: Ghafir, 64:
“Allah, it is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with good things. That is Allâh, your Lord, then blessed be Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).”

Quran: At-Thghabun, 3: “He has created the heavens and the earth with truth, and He shaped you and made good your shapes, and to Him is the final Return”

The Effects of Racism

There are many racists in this world. Historically, when the like of Hamidah binti Osman give the racial remarks at state level, national level and international level, bad things do happen – street violence, torn wars, the lost generation, waste land and other bad things.

The Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad

O people, Remember that your Lord is One. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a black has no superiority over white, nor a white has any superiority over black, except by piety and good action (Taqwa). Indeed the best among you is the one with the best character (Taqwa). Listen to me. Did I convey this to you properly? People responded, Yes. O messenger of God, The Prophet then said, then each one of you who is here must convey this to everyone not present.

With this, I as a blogger have conveyed.

On YouTube

I have posted another video with a song titled Deepak Gopi.

The Elitism Series: Civilization Before Civilization

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Flash Animation by Azer Mantessa

The Living Contract

2008-07-09T10:04:00.005+08:00

The recent fuel price hike has taken everything I have wished for. The Family had decided to go slow on retailing and halted all planned Small-Medium Industry development.

I was called during the weekend and they have decided to utilize my utmost skill in Risk Management for the whole connections.

“The Living Contract” is the combination of all my blogs. Hopefully it suits my working schedule. As I have to put my business thinking back to the previous stage I was before, blogging stays.

You see, running businesses is not about linear thinking but ABSTRACT THINKING. That’s why writing songs and now doing animation is highly important to me. Given today’s prices of the commodities, given constraints on what constitute a product, then make the cheapest product. You see, solving problems is about having some kind of imagination.

As always, I have learned a lot. Special thanks to Dayang, I value this one the most: The earlier period of menstruation – go max and winged; Later period of menstruation – go slim. 20 years as a husband and a father, finally I got this one correctly. Obviously, I’m ignorant type.

So Elite, you see, there is more into blogging than meets your reading :-)

I am glad to start my third year with this video.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Video by Azer Mantessa

PQ4

2008-07-03T21:10:00.005+08:00

Too many things are happening now. Politicians of all sides are now actively exposing things. Though only at the beginning, we are yet to see more. The favorite chess move opening has commenced.

Meantime …

The Elite are getting smarter than ever. Though they lost the 2/3 majority, still they have the power for many prerogative decision-making. Blogging then is getting even more relevant than ever.

You see, mass action these days can be very frustrating and I believe it will stay that way from now onwards. As said, the Elite are getting smarter and they have learnt ways to overcome problems given by mass actions. Oh yes, they have learnt a lot from HINDRAF, BERSIH, The Lawyers Walk and soon … The Fuel Price Hike Demo.

Why am I saying the Elite are getting smarter?

You see, though the demos launched effectively and were major facts behind the lost of the 2/3 majority, only minimal improvements are achieved. Obviously, the kind of improvements we keep seeing are actions taken to strengthening their own positions and groups. Mass actions then have never really reached the top heads.

So what am I personally going to do about this?

I have tried countless times to voice out my opinions to the Elite themselves as nowadays, they too blog. Unfortunately, my comments have never been published because the way I look at it, they hesitate to publish any negative comments against them. What even disgust me more is that, certain journalists and known writers back their postings up all the way.

Rather somehow, this kind of situation has never surprised me a bit. From the beginning of my blogging activities, I have already described both groups as brothers-in-arms.

I’ll be promoting citizen-journalism by participating more in blogging with those non-journalist and non-Elite. I foresee the future of citizen-journalism is getting brighter as society itself is getting individualistic. With citizen-journalism over journalism by journalists themselves, I do see the possible change where the mass in general can come to conclude any form of changes. Only when once the mass have the ability to conclude, the mass can become more independent. Once the mass can become more independent, the Elite can be directly be shaken. Of course too, journalism by the journalists can be irrelevant :-)

When the power stays in the hands of a limited group of privileged individuals (The Elite), most humans will remain secondary citizens. So it is time to change. Let everyone has some power.

Today … my second year of blogging … completed.

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On YouTube

I have posted another music-video of sort titled “Bersama Selamanya (Together Forever)”.
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The Elitism Series: The Miners

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Vocals and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Flash Animation by Azer Mantessa

We are ready when the sun shines
To the river, to the gold mine
Gold or silver, copper or lead
Treasure hidden in the earth bed

Working with our own hands
Blessed by the motherland
This is our story
This is our glory

This is our dear lives
The love for our wives
This is our story
This is our glory

So the miners work all out mining
Passionately with their every breath
Helping growing up the nation …

TDM – Terrific Deformed Megabridge

2008-06-27T22:00:00.010+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Assholes United. Yes, we do have assholes :-)

We at Assholes United are so impressed by the design and explaination given by the ex-Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir aka TDM on his Crooked Bridge at his blog.

We feel so sorry for the cancelation :-)

As TDM had the ambition to also build a bridge that link Malaysia Peninsular and Sumatera across Strait of Malacca (you know … the busiest strait in the world with lotsa earthquake activities and not to mention the possibility of another tsunami), we think it is our obligation to dream of the bridge and picture above is our preliminary sketch.

The bridge will be named as TDM which stands for Terrfic Deformed Megabridge.

This bridge is designed to be more crooked and is estimated to be the most expensive man-made structure the world has ever seen. Malaysia Boleh! (Malaysia Can!).

Though we know the technology does exist to make the bridge as straight as possible but … ehem ehem … the more crooked it is, the more expensive it will cost and the more expensive … ehem ehem … the more we get paid *wink*

We believe Malaysians and Indonesians and the whole world don’t have to worry about the cost as it will be covered by … ehem ehem … toll paid by users.

As the bridge will require mega high cost for maintenance, don’t worry, we have also set up companies to be run by our sons and our next generations for the job.

We at Assholes United are also glad to inform on our next project which we believe to be the only wonder of the whole universe. It is also a bridge which will be named as MM.

No no no no no no … it does not stand for Mahathir Mohamed. It stands for Malacca to Moon.

Long Live Legacy!!!

So step aside you Puteri Gunung Ledang!!!

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On You Tube

An old music video is posted at YouTube with a song titled Mere Sapano Kii Raani

It is an old Hindi Song adapted from the movie Aaradhana. As Azer sings, we at Asshole United cannot guarantee your ears won’t fall off. We too apologize for any wrong diction as we don’t understand a word of the song. We hope they meant well.

The Elitism Series: The Arrival

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa

Flash Animation by Azer Mantessa

Animation

2008-06-21T14:20:00.003+08:00

My 6–month probation period on Animation is nearly over now. I’ve learned many things. Sadly, I notice doing 3D animation requires very large memory. Until I can write better 3D script for Flash, 2D will have to do from now onwards.

Even for 2D, I have no choice but to rely mostly on drawings. ‘The Elitism Series’ will be my kind of animating style. I decided to create characters based on ‘Wayang Kulit’. I like morphing and tweening. Yet to improve more on Bone Animation as Frame-to-Frame can be very taxing and lousy. I love sceneries and I guess, pictures of women should be frequent. I like diversity of colours too.

Hope the animations synchronize and describe the songs well and vice versa.

To those who are interested in animation, I highly recommend Flash MX or better versions. Still, you need patient and passion.

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The Elitism Series: To The Great Kingdom

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Lyrics by Azer Mantessa
Vocals by Azer Mantessa
Flash Animation by Azer Mantessa

I’ll make you pay
For throwing me away
You’ll be surprised
Paying the heavy price

You’ll be in my hand
I’ll take your precious land
So here I come
Things will get so undone

To the great kingdom we go …

Hello Mr. Banker
Are you ready for your destiny
In the land of plenty
Monopolize
With your phoney money

Hello Mr. Traitor
I am ready for my destiny
In the land of plenty
Monopolize
With my phoney money

Go Fishing

2008-06-15T20:45:00.003+08:00

What a week due to the fuel price hike. When the new accounting data-entry business started this year, I thought I was very smart when I only initialized clients' balanced sheets. The reason was to start the data-entry only according to what we are paid for. The methodology worked well for at least to identify clients' current financial situations. The fuel price hike however gave a different perspective.

When the fuel price was raised, I was immediately instructed to enter backdated entries without any charge. As the family business connection is the major shareholder of the business, they have all the say.

It was a good move though the business have to bear all the cost of the extra expenses.

Something is confirmed significantly. Though the price hike has immediate affect on some business sectors (logistics and transportation, wholesaling and retailing), other sectors are not affected and in fact they are growing very well:

a) Plantation - Paddy, Coconut, Cocoa, Coffee, Palm and Rubber
b) Fruits and Vegetables
c) Poultry
d) Agriculture Services
e) Fisheries and Aquaculture
f) Human Capital Development
g) Other Services

Yesterday (Saturday), we had a business meeting where for the first time this year, all family business connections of all sectors participated. With the pro-forma of projected financial statements, we decided to:

a) Stop immediately all planned developments in SMI (Small-Medium Industry).
b) Reduced the targets for wholesaling and retailing.
c) Increase more investments in the better growing sectors.
d) Immediate deployment of human capital.

The fuel price hike is troublesome in most business sectors. It however has direct impact on some sectors to perform better.

The chinese are right. Danger does spell OPPORTUNITY and that's why the word danger is symbolized by the word opportunity. In fact, throughout my business experience, we made HUGE money in crises - The mid-80s Economic Recession, The Asian Financial Crisis, The 1999 Edible Oil Glut, The Gulf Wars and there is without doubt the Food and Fuel Crises spell BIG MONEY!

This is the best time to go fishing in troubled waters. I'm talking about A LOT OF MONEY here.

Think........

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On YouTube

I have posted another music video (of sort) titled 'Ajami'.

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The Elitism Series: Phoney Money

Due to lack of time, I have posted another flash illustrations (with text only, without any animation).

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash by Azer Mantessa

Enjoy the Ride

2008-06-09T14:00:00.002+08:00

Saidina Ali (A cousin and a good friend of Prophet Muhammad) somewhat did say:

"I prefer to argue with my friends in unity rather acting nice with them in disunity".

The Elite initiators of Islam Hadhari however prefer otherwise. Before the election, they promise us no fuel hike but nearly 3 months after being elected again as the government (though without 2/3 majority), the fuel price is raised in a parabolic pattern. Contrary to what was promised by the opposition, the Elite made a move considered as political harakiri. Their only reason is simple - to accept reality in tandem with the global pricing. The elite decided to float the price to the open market.

This was not the first time. Fuel price hikes were done many times before during the tenure of their ruling. The last time they did take out the chunk of the subsidy, the least they did it in a nice way or funny way by first explaining to the public the reasons behind the move. They even gave us a very funny slogan:

"HELP US TO HELP YOU"

Well we did help (by force of course) but what do we get in return?

Taking on Malaysian voters for a ride by telling lies is an act of hypocrisy. No? Being in their suits and tie, nice talking, smiling and waving for the means of being elected is not hypocrisy? Let's check on how Islam (probably not Islam Hadhari) lay out the elements of hypocrisy:

a) When they speak, they tell lies - Yep
b) When they promise, they break it - Yep
c) When given the trust, they betray it - Maybe yes or else why bother to shred the documents after losing?
d) When in arguments, they will never admit to concur especially to their lies, broken promises and betrayal of trust - Obviously and their Elite Legend is the worst of them all.

Interesting...... Open markets in execution among so many other commodities and necessities of life, it has to be the fuel.

Is it really logical? Is there a scam? Is it because of something else?

Elite oo Elite, is it a mystery that we are the net oil exporting nation? Has Petronas becoming even more mysterious not only in bailing out but also something else that the financial statements has never been revealed (of sort)? How come you Elite still have not sacked that Elite? You Elite don't sack another Elite right?

Elite oo Elite, we too are an oil importing nation right? Who owns the shipping company that is responsible for the importing operations ... ehem ehem *wink* ... importing via Singapore some more ... wow!

Elite oo Elite, among so many commodities and necessities, fuel is now floated to the open markets but why not automobile? Comparing Proton Wira and Toyota Vios, Malaysians are paying at a premium price of about RM 26,000. That's 9,600 liters of fuel!

Elite oo Elite, without doubt Sabah and Sarawak have becoming politically phenomenal and now a deciding factor to whom to rule the nation. Question is, in tandem with global pricing or in tandem with political allies? You know, perhaps their demand in better oil royalties are fulfilled (Can't blame them right?) *wink*

Elite oo Elite, why the global pricing has to be the reason behind the hike? Is not better global pricing is good for us? Is it because something else? Are you selling our oil at 1998 oil price ... you know, Japanese loans during the financial crisis in return for oil contracts? *wink*

Elite oo Elite, should the japanese loans to be true, aren't we in double troubles? You know, not only the mismanagement in the nation wealth handling (selling oil at a ridiculously low price) but also the conversion of more ringgit to JPY as USD has been weakening along the years.

Elite oo Elite, if not so, then never mind at USD 130 per barrel, even at USD 30 per barrel, the nation as a whole should enjoy luxurious life right now as in Dubai! No? :-)

Elite oo Elite, price hike is said to help upbringing national developments? What developments dear Elite? Like building the highways which in the end Malaysians have to pay for the toll kind of development? Like moving University Malaya to Sepang area (where the lecturers, university staffs and the students have to travel from everywhere to a remote place with fuel price hike some more) so you Elite can build all those luxurious living-with-style for you Elite kind of development?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Sorry but the slogan "HELP US TO HELP YOU" is not funny BUT disgusting. The fuel price hike is not helping anybody and the nation completely. Economically, it does not even make any sense for an oil exporting nation UNLESS ... there is a wealth mismanagement somewhere. Come to think of it, it has to be ...

There are many reasons on why the fuel price hike will not help anybody (exceptional goes to the Elite):

Without doubt businesses will have no choice but to adjust to the new rate. This is where you Elite have missed greatly with mega ignorance - FUEL IS THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL COMMODITY IN BUSINESSES. Prices in any products (or mostly should we discounted some services) will have to rise no matter how the Elite thought they can control.

Consumers too will have to re-adjust their expenditures (exceptional of course will have to go to the Elite). Standard of living will have to go down.

In economics and even in reality, there are so many products that rely heavily on pricing. Certain products can sell well at certain price and can at least make some profits should business raise the pricing. Any products however (exceptional goes to those which are inelastic ... like ... ehem ehem ... FUEL!!!), cannot be sold at certain price level. Should a product be adjusted according to the new fuel hike and is pricing at the level it can't be sold, a business have to re-structured or close down. Should this happen and will happen to certain businesses, unemployment shall rise.

Not only unemployment shall rise, employers too have no choice but to bargain with the newbies who are starting to look for a job for a lower salary. Exceptional of course goes to you Elite because you are Elite :-)

Well, unlike you Elite who can afford to go for your vacations overseas (where got class for you Elite to do local vacation ... at least New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, London and all), the people have to cut down on vacation spending. This is okay to us because we don't mind taking our kids to the nearby parks for fresh air and playing (unlike your Elite kids, our kids are not that demanding) but pity the local tourism industry that will suffer. With the price hike, cost on traveling is getting huge. No? You Elite go figure la. Ooppss, exceptional goes to you Elite as the price hike is just peanuts to you.

You Elite don't have to worry as you have managed to shelter, feed, dress and educate your kids very well and luxuriously too. To the rest of the people, they can start to worry a lot. Even before the price hike, we already have faced the food price hike where parents having difficulties providing money to their kids particularly those studying at the college or university level. Expect more and more university students to be hungrier than ever. So what happen when they are hungry? Well, immorality breeds immorality and these are the only tips of the iceberg.

Not only starvation is so close to immorality, it is also close to violence. It is not statistically new that poor standard of living is proportion to criminal rates. You Elite of course don't have to worry that much regarding the safety of your family because you Elite can afford better security. So far, they were not your kids who have been snatched, kidnapped, raped, murdered and other inhuman acts right? You Elite are not the ones who have to walk alone at night or early in the morning to the train stations or bus stops to work right and exposed yourself to be snatched right?

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Enjoy Your Ride

The fuel price hike is sure a political suicide move OR is it your Elite tricky move? You know, like the Sparsky chess opening where you start off with aggressive and offensive openings then retreat back for a long play defensive game. Perhaps, you Elite have foreseen your total lost in the next election so the need to rake the nations wealth as much as possible before the coming election in the name of developments cannot be prolonged?

Whatever behind your moves are, obviously there is a mega desperate need to know what exactly has happened particularly 22 years of premiership by you know who. There is a mega desperate need to know how the wealth of the nation is managed. The price hike is obviously the signal that something somewhere is so mismanaged. As you Elite has provided the signal yourself, enjoy the ride. Oh yes, don't forget to get ready with the shredding machines too. You Elite can ask your Selangor Elite for help on this one as he has the experience :-)

Strange isn't it. Before the election, you Elite were so arrogant, so not behaved with keris waving some more, but after the election, you are getting even worse. After the election, your faces look more stupid and funnier than ever :-) Right after the price hike, your faces look disgusting :-)

By the way, to you Elite who do blog, please don't bother to keep acting that you are into helping the poor and so on whatever. You know what they say, YOU CAN JOKE TO SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES BUT YOU CANNOT JOKE TO ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. Oh by the way, please don't joke around. Now onwards, whatever you do, say, not say, whatever ... IS DISGUSTING.

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On YouTube

I have posted an old song of mine: Aku, Sheryl dan Malam (Me, Sheryl and The Night) Aku, Sheryl dan Malam (Me, Sheryl and The Night) at YouTube.

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The Elitism Series: Behind Nationalism

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

The Book

2008-06-03T22:04:00.004+08:00

The book does not exist :-)

Title:

"HOW MY SONS BECOME BILLIONAIRES"

Review:

"Without doubt, this book is his greatest legacy"
- An Online Journalist (Ooppss, he does call himself a blogger)

"Finally, the struggle may be over"
- Ex-member of The Elite Party

"Finally, the struggle may be over"
- Current member of The Elite Party

"I have never thought being rich has nothing to do with intelligent"
- An Ordinary Person

"I think everybody should be happy being just a millionaire"
- Another Ordinary Person

"I think everybody should be happy being a multi-millionaire"
- A year later, same person above.

"I think everybody should be happy being a billionaire"
- Ten years later, same person above (who is a non-elite, UNFORTUNATELY barely having any savings due to inflation, rising standard of living [of sort], assets financed by liabilities - loans, personal loans, credit cards .... bla bla bla bla bla BUT he still admires the LEGACY).

"Political power at its best!"
- A Political Analyst

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On YouTube

Have posted a new music video of an old song of mine:

Taman Lingkaran (The Spinning Garden)

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The Elitism Series: Elitism Rising Part 2

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

Duh

2008-05-28T21:57:00.003+08:00

Quite a busy week so this is the only thing posted.

Song: The Elitism Series: Elitism Rising
Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

Reality Check

2008-05-22T22:45:00.005+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Azer Leadership Unfounded.

TDM claimed himself as a Realist and at the same time, he is very sarcastic on Malay Supremacy:

Note: Tuan = Master (Of sort)

Tanah Melayu = Malaysia Peninsular

Adapted from his blog:

I am a realist and hold to reality. Previously, the Malays are the 'Tuan' in Tanah Melayu.

The Malays however did not fight against the colonialist in the era where Tanah Melayu was colonized by the British and in fact, the Malays themselves refer the British as Tuan.

We can call ourselves as Tuan only and only if we are independent on other people and not becoming their coolie, to call ourselves as Tuan then is meaningless.

We have the political power in 50 years of independence. This allows us to call ourselves as Tuan. However, we are not wholly Tuan. We can call ourselves as Tuan in a meaningful sense if the Malays are able and succeed in economy and social. This can be done if we are determined to acquire knowledge and all skills in the era of high technology. Unfortunately we strive not as much toward this objective. We prefer an easy solution. We allow things to be fed to us.

Today the Malays have lost the political power. The Malays and the Malay Institution are no more respected by the non-Malays. Whatever considered as the Malay Privileges are questioned and challenged. The Malays are doing nothing in the challenge and to strengthen their positions.

In fact, they have asked certain people to protect the Malays positions. This is 'passing the buck' as said by Westerners, including the reasons that this is all because of Dr. Mahathir who governed for 22 years and had chosen Dato' Seri Abdullah as successor.

The Malays destiny is in the hands of the Malays. We cannot be Tuan simply by reviving the history. We can be Tuan should we are bold in our actions, willing to take the risks, willing to acquire knowledge and skills without relying on anybody.

To deny the real and true facts will not bring anything. Accepting that we are having big problems and act to overcome the problems are the ways to bring back our dignities.

That way we don't have to call ourselves Tuan as the world shall call us the Real Tuan.

TDM is a politician...

This writing however may also act as his way of cynical expression to elaborate more on what he said in Johor Baru on May 17th:

He warned the Malays that they stood to lose much in the new political environment where the non-Malays were unafraid to make demands.

“If we don’t speak up, if we choose to keep quiet, we will lose our rights and the other races will take over,” he told some 1,000 people at a gathering in Johor Baru.

If the writing is not meant for being cynical, then again, TDM is being contradictory as always. That TDM quits UMNO (the political party he renewed does indicate his continuous fighting for the Malay Supremacy through political power ... here we go again and again and again.

In different circles, he keeps pulling the ground. In different circles, he keeps spinning round and round and round.

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Reality Check

I'm not sure on what he meant as being a realist. Today, reality is, there is a huge demand in EQUALITY. Equality is where there are no distinctions and there are no superiorities or supremacies. This is a reality of human nature which is so against his own kind of reality.

REALITY demands perfection in equality that affords NO TEMPTATION. The result of the general election clearly shows there is a growing demand to stop corruption, nepotism, cronyism, marginalization, racism and so on BUT the REALITY is ... UMNO is perceived otherwise.

The way towards REALITY demanded is to throw aside narrowness of soul, that selfishness of principle, which the niggards of all professions are so unwilling to part with, and one will be at once delivered of one's fears on that head. Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.

REALITY is HUMANS are all of one degree and consequently that all humans are born equal, and with equal natural rights, in the same manner as if posterity had been continued by creation instead of generation. Marginalization is INHUMAN.

REALITY is nearly all the leaders in the law-makers side are of his own management. Should leadership today is considered weak, then there should not be any difference between today's leadership comparatively during his time.

What does this weak leadership could mean?

REALITY is, it is the continuing of his own LEGACY ... be it in the process of leaders selections, project implementations, egoistic expenditures etc etc etc.

Struggling is not yet over in what sense? Nationalism in what sense? Reality is, do UMNO members love each other OR the other way around?

Reality is, TDM is now out of UMNO BUT keeps on with his own kind of struggling. What struggle is? Helping the poor? His own son follows his move too. Mind telling people how much the sons worth?

So much of the Reality Man.

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On YouTube

I have posted a new music video (of sort) titled "Bersama Kenangan (With The Memories)".

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The Elitism Series: Losing Values

Song, Music and Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

The Elite Party

2008-05-17T18:04:00.003+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Azer Leadership Unfounded.

Adapted (in red) from a press statement (Channel News Asia) by Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr. Mahathir:
Mukhriz says Dec elections for UMNO "a matter of life and death"

He feels the election outcome will decide whether UMNO will remain relevant in Malaysia's political scene. Mr Mukhriz – a Member of Parliament for Kedah – also thinks that it is important for MPs in Malaysia to have greater connectivity with the voters and electorate.

He said: "Right now, we are seen as an elitist party, which is strange because we used to be a party representing the grassroots, the rural areas, teachers and farmers, but now there seems to be a disconnection between (us and) the people who are supposed to be our main supporters from states which we consider our bastions. We really need to effect this change."
But Mr Mukhriz added that this is not the only area where change is needed. He has been vocal in his calls for change in Malaysia's top leadership since the poor showing of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the March 8 elections. He said: "My position is that he (Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi) needs to step down as soon as possible and hand over the reins to his successor, Datuk Seri Najib. If he needs some time, I hope it's not too long and I hope it happens well before we start our branch meetings in July... we don't want to get into UMNO elections with this leadership crisis not resolved."

Firstly, that the Elite Party is an Elite Party is not strange at all. Yes, it used to be the Grassroots Party before something did happen and the party was dissolved. His father however revived the party which from then on turned out to be fully controlled by the Elite rather the grassroots.

How does Elitism occur?

There are too many examples to be listed here. The main reason for Elitism easily taking charge is the systems they have within themselves.

Just take one example - The Taxi Permits.

During the existence of the Grassroots Party, taxi permits were given to those grassroots as this was how the Party tried to help the poor. This served two purposes:

a) Helping the grassroots
b) Maintain loyalty among the grassroots

Although the methodology had raised unfairness issues in giving out the permits (not to please everybody is well understood) but at least, the permits were given to those deserved.

The Elite Party however decided to cut off all the complaints by setting out companies controlled by the Elite. Taxi permits were given only though these companies. Whoever want to operate a taxi, have no choice but to pay the daily fee including own expenses on fuel and maintenance. Though this methodology helped to decrease the complaints in permit ownership, it however yields three situations:

a) The emerge of Elitism
b) Permits are given to those who certainly not deserved.
c) The loss of loyalty among the grassroots as it benefit the Elite (oh yes, the Elite make tons of money by basically doing nothing much).

Funny thing about this Mukhriz is that, he was the one who mocked the previous assembly ... "There is nothing new about Human Capital Development".

Well, if it's nothing new, how come your father failed to recognize who the deserved the permits in the first place?

There are many examples regarding the corporate world systemized by the Elite Party but the concept is about the same.

Secondly, is UMNO relevant in the Malaysian political scene?

There are many questions asked by younger generation these days regarding the relevancy:

a) Is marginalizing other people relevant?
b) Are Malaysians as Malaysians or is there still the need to segmenting people through the color of their skin and religion?
c) Is spoon-feeding certain group of people is the way to help that group of people?
d) Should Elitism which lead into many unhealthy scenarios (corruption, nepotism and cronyism) be allowed?
e) Should a racist-based party be supported?

The younger generation who are now becoming the major force in voting, have the strength to ask these questions. They are more open-minded, more liberal and to under-estimate their way of thinking is a big mistake.

Lastly, is poor leadership has a lot to do with the lost of 2/3 majority for the ruling party in the last election?

I'm not so sure on how this Mukhriz define a good leadership. Overall, the current leaders of the ruling party are those leaders who are with his father during the premiership. Therefore, that the current leaders are having poor leadership does mean that the previous leaders too were having poor leadership. Question on leadership should not arise but the result of the last election does show something - there is a bad leadership, be it currently or previously. Hint: Corruption, Cronyism, Nepotism, Elitism, Marginalization, etc etc etc.

Oh, by the way, the matter of life and death depends on who you are. Some people don't die but do rise after falling. As a scouser, I know this well. After all, at Anfield, we'll never walk alone :-)

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YouTube

I have posted a new music video titled "Ketika Bulan Mengambang (During The Full Moon)".

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If I Could Have

I apologize for some sexual explicit displayed in the illustrations.

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa
Vocals (Terrible bin Horrible) by Azer Mantessa

If I could have

If I could have known you better and sooner
I could have been more than but not as friend anymore

And took you out
Lots to talk about
And there's no disguise
In your pretty eyes

Call you everyday
A small price to pay
Because you are the one
I've long for quite some time

If I could have known you much sooner

If I could have some of the things I would like to do
Sharing the breath lying next and so close to you

Dreaming a dream
What the future could bring
Tuning to the tune
Where our hearts sing

Making love to you
Make you feel so good
Where my touches are right
Every day and every night

If I could have all these dreams come true

Stronger Rakyat are good for Multi-racial Malaysia

2008-05-11T23:05:00.004+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Azer Leadership Unfounded.

Adapted (In Red) from the ex-Malaysia Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed's (TDM) blog titled: A Weak Government is not good for Multi-racial Malaysia.

This entry is contradictory to his views on his subject in two ways:

a) Definition of Strength and Weakness
b) The Rakyat (People) way of thinking comparatively to the way politicians like him think.

Political Thinking

Previously, this blog did mention that political thinking CANNOT whatsoever solve any political problems simply because there are no such thing called political problems. Regarding any nation, there are two issues SOCIAL AND ECONOMY. Social problems can be solved only through social thinking. Economic problems can be solved only through economic thinking. Politics represented by politicians however can act as mediators BUT not as problem solver.

Who are the politicians?

Who are the politicians depend on how they themselves define who they are as politicians. Basically they are the representatives to the Rakyat they represent. So whatever it is, when comes to politics, two groups involve directly: (a) The Rakyat (b) The Politicians

Strengths and Weaknesses

To define what are strengths and weaknesses depends highly on who are considered to have the strengths and weaknesses:

a) Both rakyat and politicians have the strengths
b) Both rakyat and politicians have the weaknesses
c) The rakyat have the strengths while the politicians have the weaknesses
d) The rakyat have the weaknesses while the politicians have the strengths

The correlation related to Strengths and Weaknesses:

a) Independent - The more independent a group is, the stronger the group. The more dependent a group is, the weaker the group.
b) Decision Making: The more involvement a group has in decision making, the stronger the group. The less involvement a group has in decision making, the weaker the group.
c) Information: The more information a group has, the stronger the group. The less information a group has, the weaker the group.
d) Behavior: The more behaved a group is, the stronger the group. The less behaved a group is, the weaker the group.
e) Knowledge: The more knowledgeable a group is, the stronger the group. The less knowledgeable a group is, the weaker the group.
f) Freedom: The more freedom a group has, the stronger the group. The less freedom a group has, the weaker the group.
g) Unity: The stronger unity a group is, the stronger the group. The weaker unity a group is, the weaker the group.

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Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla ...
With regards to my first posting on the appointment of judges, most commentators disagreed with my comment that when Government works with the opposition it is a sign of weakness, and that I consider the opposition as the enemy.

Most commentators disagreed BUT there are not much of the disagreement comments displayed on his blog. I guess one of the reasons why he hesitated to display those comments is due to some profanities. Still I'm sure, some of the views against his are professionally written and relevant to his content. Not showing the comments is so against the concept of blogging as this is how we can really learn with each other.

Politically, the opposition is the enemy.

This is a bit tricky. TDM himself once said: "In politics, there is no friend and there is no enemy".

To say the opposition is the enemy is so contradictory against his own saying.

Being forced to work with the opposition is not undemocratic but it shows up the weakness of the Government.

TDM may say whatever and however he wants to say it. I myself can put it this way: "... to work with the opposition is democratic".

Does it show any kind of weakness in the government?

It depends on how one look at it. The rakyat way of thinking is so opposite comparatively with how the politicians may look at it. The result of the latest General Election clearly shows how balance in national political power is needed. The rakyat (who voted for the opposition) want more say in the nation administrative decision making.

That the rakyat (who voted for the opposition) have more say in the decision making could most probably means that the rakyat is gaining strength. That the rakyat have more strength could mean that there is a better collective effort comparatively to few politicians in the government who have the political power. Probably there is a sign of weakness in the government BUT this is also a sign of strength to the nation as a whole.

A weak government is not good for multi-racial Malaysia. It leads to unwarranted challenges against its authority.

Any unwarranted challenges against the government authority does not mean it is not good for multi-racial Malaysia.

Say the rakyat demand more transparency ... is that not good? That transparency can lead to healthier competition ... is that not good? That healthier competition can lead to competitive products and services ... is that not good? That competitive products and services can curb corruption, cronism and nepotism ... is that not good? That curbing corruption, cronism and nepotism can attract more investments ... is that not good? More investments can provide more employment ... is that not good? More employment can reduce crimes ... is that not good? Reducing crimes may lead to peaceful living ... is that not good?

Governments cannot please everybody.

It is not the question of pleasing anybody. It is a question of pleasing the rakyat as a whole. It is certainly also the question of not to please the few who are the cronies.

If a Government cannot be firm and is forced to flip-flop there will be a lack of confidence which does not augur well for the smooth implementation of policies or project. Some people might already have noticed this.

The rakyat have noticed too many things once the government is given too much of power in so many areas. How about judiciary fixing for example? Better consultation with the rakyat does not mean a government is lacking confidence. It could also mean implementing a policy or a project with conviction.

A Government with little need for opposition support would be better able to disregard the sniping that all Governments must face. It should however take note of opposition views and respond where necessary.

Ever heard of synergizing things up where two teeth is better than a tooth?

In today's context, the Federal Government is unable to initiate necessary changes to the constitution and would be held to ransom every time.

It depends on what kind of changes. Is OSA good for rakyat?

One of the most important things about a two-thirds majority is that there would be hardly any threat of defection. Today we hear of this threat everyday. The leadership of the Barisan Nasional is like a cat on hot bricks. And cats on hot bricks cannot achieve anything.

Since when do us cats stupid enough to walk on hot bricks??????!!!!

Previous Federal Governments had never failed to obtain the two-thirds majority. As a measure of strength, a two-thirds majority allows a Government to do everything on its own and be totally independent.

That the government can do everything on its own is something worth to tout about. No? :-)

But perhaps the proposed request for opposition support is made with sincerity in the spirit of democracy.

Are you asking people to walk on water to prove sincerity?

The question is why now? Why not when the Government had 90 percent majority after the General Election of 2004? Changes to the way judges are picked could have been done after the 2004 resounding victory.

Let me answer this question!
Let me answer this question!
Let me answer this question!
Hello! I'm raising my hand here!

Thank you :-)

I think because of you ... hehehehe

I have always been of the opinion that this country must have a strong and independent Federal Government which can then serve the country and people without fear or favour.

Hmmmm ... anything on independent judiciary? How about independent BPR? How about independent ... you know ... many things?

But I have been on record in advocating a strong opposition. This is to ensure the Government does not stray from the right path, or abuse its authority.

Oh please ... the last General Election clearly shows the rakyat are watching ... closely ... intimately ... passionately :-)

The combination of a strong (two-thirds majority) Government and an Opposition with the capacity and willingness to check abuses by the Government would serve Malaysia well. As to the Government's latest proposal to set up a judicial commission, is it because it now thinks it is a good thing or is it a desperate attempt to win back the support it has lost?

You know what they say, desperate people resort to desperate action *wink*

As for my criticisms of the leaders of the present Government, I believe I have every right to do so. Retiring from the Government simply means giving up authority and power. It does not mean I must abdicate my role as a citizen.

Go ahead, it is always funny listening to your criticisms on the management you once led for 22 years ... hahaha

I have every right to be concerned over the flip-flopping mismanagement of this country and that of the party I helped to revive in 1987. The party does not belong to Dato Seri Abdullah alone. Nor is it meant to support him as leader even when he mishandled the elections and the country. The party does not belong to me either. It belongs to all its members. Presently the members are not permitted to be critical. They can merely say yes to what Dato Seri Abdullah says or does.

Your party is no concern to the rakyat as a whole. Tupperware party ... YES!

Since the opposition is also supporting Dato Seri Abdullah, if I do not criticise, then no one will. And without criticisms the Government and Dato Seri Abdullah can really go wrong.

Ehem ... ehem ... without criticisms, you too can really go wrong ... hahahahaha

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Never Mind The Elite

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa
Vocals (Horrible bin Terrible) by Azer Mantessa

Never Mind The Elite

Let's pay a deaf ear to this monotonous society
Let's roll ... Let's smile ... Let's dream ... Let's speak ...
define what is humanity
Let's show the Elite
the real strength is in unity
walking together
into the true prosperity
with dignity

Let's look away from this narrow minded society
Reject ... Discard ... Decline ... Deny ...
say 'no' to dull supremacy

Let's show the Elite
There's only one ethnicity
living together
in one true nationality
in harmony

The real strength is always in our hearts
So keep believing without a doubt
Though they will keep on breaking us part
and blinding us
while we do share the same red blood
and much more between you and me
so much more

Exchanging glances
Towards each other
Wishing the kisses
So full of pleasure
It's human nature to love each other indeed

Exciting moments
While we desire
A bit of torments
When I did tremble
It's human nature so never mind the Elite

Elitism Made Easy

2008-05-06T06:26:00.005+08:00

This entry is brought forward by Azer Leadership Unfounded.
(Adapted from an imaginative Elite)

So you want to be an elite ... Muhahahaha. Well, good for you. You see, being your average Elite, I've done my share of corruption, nepotism and cronism. I've had my share of success, and of mishaps, but I have never been prosecuted.

To err is human, correct? Well in our circle of Elitism, to err is freedom. Yes, you fools, this wonderful land of the free, where the law is blind and easily fixed, so let us go through the average step by step of Elitism.

Step 1: An Elite must have a vision. Whatever vision it is, one cannot forget to champion the poor of the majority. The trick is, the poor of the majority IS the majority :-) Summarize a vision with one compelling sentence. A compelling sentence of a vision must define the final objective and to whom a vision is address to.

An example:

"If any of the poor of the majority can sit down and have a cup of coffee in a coffee house (or coffee beans as these days), the poor of the majority will be happy".

The Don't: Don't be the champion of the Poor of the Minority. Don't be the champion of the Rich of the Minority. Don't be the champion of the Rich of the Majority.

Step 2: Join any group of the Poor of the Majority. The more the better. Speak out and sell your idea. Make sure you'll be at the middle of the circle. Make sure you stand out. Make yourself known. State your case. Layout your points. Write a book. A good book must describe the current situation of the Poor of the Majority, why the Poor of the Majority are being poor and what should be done to help the Poor of the Majority. Choose a good title for the book. The more controversial the title is, the better.

An Example:

"The Poor of the Majority Dilemma"

Extra: Try the best that you can to insult other groups especially the Rich of The Minority. It helps to gain your popularity among the Poor of the Majority.

Step 3: Build a pyramid. You see, an Elite is like a Pharaoh. However, the pyramid we are talking about is the MLM-like pyramid NOT the real one. You need to be at the top level of the pyramid. This is the best time for you to start recruiting and build up your crony. Sell the idea of leadership. Compose a compelling script for recruitment. A good script must apply the AIDA marketing concept.

An Example:

Trainee Elite: Hello Mr. Prospective Crony. I have something very interesting for you but I'm not so sure should you are qualified for it yet.
This line is to create Attention.

Trainee Elite: Well, we are a group of the Poor of the Majority looking for prospective leaders to champion our good intentions. We believe you have certain leadership qualities we are looking for. We are not sure however on your willingness to be adventurous and struggles along the way to reach our objectives. Is there a way where we can meet at your most appropriate time?
This line is to create Interest.

Trainee Elite: It is always a pleasure to meet you Mr. Prospective Crony. You see, we have a system that is guaranteed to work. So what is it for you? Well, you set your own dreams. The sky is the limit so how high is high?
This line is to create Desire.

Trainee Elite: We are 'United of the Poor of the Majority National Organization' and we will be so honored if you join us. We hope you are interested so this the the registration form.
This line is to create Action.

The Do: While recruiting, always state your vision and your mission. This is where the book can come in handy. Explain and answer questions promptly.

Step 4: Find yourself a financier. You see, an Elite is like a magician. We will make the audience watch our right hands while our left hands are doing something else. So in the eyes of the public, we will champion ourselves as the champions of the Poor of the Majority but in reality, we are the champions of the rich. This is the best time to test your negotiating skills. State your case to the prospective financier describing your group which is fast developing in numbers and supports. Learn the phrase "I'll scratch your back and you'll scratch mine".

The Don't: Never ever tell your crony who is your financier. Should anybody question the money, just shrug and say, 'It is from the grassroot".

Step 5: There is one word which is the most important word for an Elite - PROJECT. Learn to pronounce this word wrongly as Proeeek. Yes, I spell it correctly which is pronounced as Pro-ee-ek.

The Do: Practice to pronounce this word wrongly - Practice! Practice! Practice!

Step 6: Apply the system to your crony. Offer them the Proeeek to guarantee their supports. Ask them to offer smaller proeeek to their cronies and so on and so on and so on top-down like the pyramid.

The Do: Build business entities for the proeeek under proxies.

Step 7: Once in POWER, practice nepotism. Implement the Proeeek in the name of DEVELOPMENT. Get as many as possible (not so many though) of the Poor of the Majority to get involved in the Proeeek.

Reminder: It is so important not to get most of the Poor of the Majority to get involves in the Proeeek. The logic is, once the Poor of the Majority are not POOR, you are then SO IRRELEVANT!!!

Step 8: Make a good relationship with the media. Some of them will come in handy as your online-journalists (Ooppss, they do call themselves as bloggers). Make sure the media do highlight your proeeek that benefit the Poor of the Majority.

The Do: At the same time, monitor the media closely. Should your hanky-panky thing is detected, apply media censorship.

Step 9: Repeat the whole steps as frequent as possible. Once you are suspected for corruption, try with all might to be as composed as possible. Equipped with 'No Fear' slogan. An Elite will always speak in a normal manner and fear cannot get the better. It is important to remember that nothing is done wrongly and an Elite know that can be proved in court. The only way to be actually guilty of corruption or anything is if the merchandise (or whatever) is found on us. Silent is gold. We shall state our case if we are brought on trial and never ever to someone who is just trying to get something out of us.

The Do: Handle the media the Elite way. Smile the Elite smile. Wave the Elite wave. Answer the Elite answer - Answer a question with another question.

An example:

Media Question: Did you fix the judiciary?
Elite Answer: Do you think so?

THAT'S ALL!

Well good luck. Elitism can be a very profitable business, especially if you know what your doing.

"Love, hugs, and ISA"
Your average Elite

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On YouTube

We are proud to re-post our first music video ever at YouTube with a song called Beyond Eliteland. As Azer Mantessa sings, we cannot guarantee your ears won't drop off.

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Shiny Spain

Unlike the Elite who love pin-pointing other people, a scouser however has taken a different path:

"As a manager you are important sometimes and you make mistakes, but the most important people are your staff and your players. Never call me the special one!"
- Rafael Benitez.

We are proud to post this new song dedicated to the beauty of the Spanish eyes in Rafael Benitez, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Song: Shiny Spain
Song, Music and Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

Feelings and Relativity

2008-04-30T12:56:00.005+08:00

“Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity.” Albert Einstein

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How I Write Songs (Part 8)

The above quote by a great man Albert Einstein has a lot to do in writing music as it is highly related to

a) Tempo
b) How tempo represents feeling

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Tempo Classification

From fastest to slowest, the common tempo markings are:

Prestissimo — extremely fast (200 - 208 bpm). Click here to listen to my Prestissimo Heartbeats.
Presto — very fast (168 - 200 bpm). Click here to listen to my Presto Heartbeats.
Allegro — fast and bright or "march tempo" (120 - 168 bpm). Click here to listen to my Allegro Heartbeats.
Moderato — moderately (108 - 120 bpm). Click here to listen to my Moderato Heartbeats.
Andante — at a walking pace (76 - 108 bpm). Click here to listen to my Andante Heartbeats.
Adagietto — rather slow (70 - 80 bpm). Click here to listen to my Adageitto Heartbeats.
Adagio — slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (66 - 76 bpm). Click here to listen to my Adagio Heartbeats.
Larghetto — rather broadly (60 - 66 bpm). Click here to listen to my Larghetto Heartbeats.
Lento — very slow (40 - 60 bpm). Click here to listen to my Lento Heartbeats.
Larghissimo — very slow (20 bpm and below). Click here to listen to my Larghissimo Heartbeats.

Tempo and Feelings

From the quote given by Einstein, Happy feeling is related to higher tempo. Sad feeling is related to slower tempo. Generally, in writing music, this is true BUT there are many other elements in music that can represents feelings. One of a very important element is MELODY.

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Quantifying Feelings

Yes, feelings can be quantified although generally, feelings are something felt. Below is a picture of a musical roll of a main melody of a song 'Terbang Lagi':

Do click for details.

Notice that the melody has the ups and downs movements.

Below is a price chart movement of Crude Palm Oil Futures Contract:

Do click for details.

Question: What does a futures price chart has to do with music?
Answer: EVERYTHING :-)

(Hint: I did mention about our human nature to feel where the most extreme optimistic feeling is GREED and the most extreme pessimistic feeling is FEAR).

More about this in my future entries.

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On YouTube

I have posted a new music video of an old song of mine: Teringatkan Kamu (Thinking of You).

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To Feel

"Sometimes, I can really feel you".

Nurin Jazlin Jazimin

2008-04-25T01:00:00.003+08:00

Special thanks to Mr. David Santos of http://sverdades.blogspot.com/ for the request to put up the picture of the late Nurin Jazlin Jazimin today. I however decided to put up this video, Madeleine - Missing Children as substitute.

This blog remembers Nurin Jazlin Jazimin.

Al Fatihah...

Diastole and Systole - The Human Equation

2008-04-20T14:09:00.003+08:00

How I write Songs (Part 7)

As previously mentioned, musical notes are given by nature or by God. The notes are A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G and G#. They do not change. In fact, whatever is nature does not change.

So is human nature. Human nature has never changed since mankind is created. What has been changing is change itself. As, change itself does change, we have seen the ups and downs of life in total. The ups and downs create unbalances searching themselves to be at the equilibrium state. Should the unbalances do not bother finding the equilibrium state, exists then what is called extremism.

I did write something about The Thinking Heart. In the end, I did mention that reality does exist. Everything that we see outside of us comes from the unseen world. Actions taken emerge from the unseen realm of the hearts. That is why, my first step in writing songs is always to listen to my own heartbeats. If one can hear the beats, one can compose a song. Listening alone however is not the only procedure.

You see, the beats are highly effected by our emotions or feelings (I prefer to use the latter word). That we do feel is what makes us don't change. It is our nature to feel. Unfortunately, humans do forget own nature. We forget to feel. We prefer to think because we thought that only the brain is doing the thinking. We forget that it is the heart that do the primary thinking.

So the first step is to listen to my own heartbeats. The next step is to feel. Question is, what am I to feel?

Changes occur by the rhythm of our hearts. Once the beats get into the excesses, it causes both extremes. One is excess in optimism and the other is excess in pessimism. Equilibrium is reached only and only once the rhythm is in constant manner at a healthy rate.

Psychologically, the most excessive optimistic feeling is GREED. The most excessive pessimistic feeling is FEAR. The most equilibrium feeling is GRATEFUL. There are many kinds of feelings between these two extremes GREED AND FEAR and everything is human nature which does not change. Changes then occur once there is excessive in feelings. The changes are responsible to whatever we do see outside of our inner-selves - upwards and downwards of businesses, glut and scarcity in the markets, changes in supplies and demands, wars and peace, etc etc etc. where the rhythms of the hearts keep swinging into one direction then swing into another direction and so on and so on. The diastole and systole beatings of the hearts is never-ending succession.

Human feelings can be classified into two categories (a) Collective Feelings or Mass Psychology (b) Individual feelings. Between the two, the former is better understood than the latter. As this blog is about how to write a song in an easier way, I will only focus on the Collective Feelings.

As previously mentioned, a song is a song but I do prefer to understand it as a story. A song has its own story to tell (or to feel). It is always my objective to make people feel by listening to my songs. Listeners are to feel sad should I composed a sad song. I fail in my composition should people feel otherwise (which probably is the case ... erks ... yikes). Therefore, before I am trying to make others feel, I myself must get into it first.

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On YouTube

I also have re-posted a revised music video named 'Peter Olson in Paris'. Credits to Peter Olson for the pictures :-)

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Ondas de Luz

Su of Teia de Ariana has requested something which is uneasy for me to do. I am here apologizing for my failure to follow up with the request. To me, good things in life are not things. LIVERPOOL FC IS LIFE !!! Hehehehehe.

In return, I have composed a song named after her poem 'Ondas de Luz'.

Song: Ondas de Luz
Song, Music and Illustrations by Azer Mantessa
Special thanks to Su of Teia de Ariana

Copyright

2008-04-15T09:50:00.003+08:00

Before we go seriously into composing songs, I think it is better to explain why it is important to copyright our pieces.

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What is copyright?

Copyright is a form of legal protection given to works of creative expression. The owner of the copyright in a work is given certain exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce the work and to sell it. I personally use this right to publish my works all over the internet. All musical works should be copyrighted. Basically, I copyright the musical notes. The work copyrighted must be original in nature. I will explain later on what is considered originality.

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How do I register copyright?

To be honest, there is no mechanism to register copyrighted musical works in Malaysia. Since there is no registration procedure, there is no certificate which can be granted in respect of copyright. The recommended way to assert ownership of copyright is to execute a Statutory Declaration.

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What is Statutory Copyright

A statutory declaration is a legal document defined under the law of certain Commonwealth nations. It is similar to an oath, however, it is not sworn.

Statutory declarations are commonly used to allow a person to affirm something to be true. I therefore apply the statutory declaration for the originality of my musical works.

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How long does copyright last?

For musical works, copyright will last for the life of me and 50 years after my ... err ... death.

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Is Malaysia a member of the Berne Convention?

Yes. In short, Berne Convention is the countries of the Union, being equally animated by the desire to protect, in as effective and uniform a manner as possible, the rights of authors in their literary and artistic works, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Revision Conference held at Stockholm in 1967, Have resolved to revise the Act adopted by the Stockholm Conference, while maintaining without change Articles 1 to 20 and 22 to 26 of that Act.

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Where to copyright?

I copyright my musical works through my company's secretary who is linked with a legal firm. One can copyright through a lawyer, an oath commissioner, and a patent company too.

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Again, how to copyright?

Write the Statutory Declaration, provide two copies of Malaysian Identification Card OR two copies of Company's Registration Document, two copies of the musical notes (in form of computer files is acceptable) and stamp duty of RM 5.00. Once the stamp duty is paid, automatically the work is copyrighted.

Note: Azer Mantessa is an enterprise name. An enterprise name is a registered entity's name. In Malaysia, all registered entities names are qualified for any Statutory Declaration. It is so much better for my musical works to be declared done by an enterprise as this may increase the goodwill. There are many advantages of having an entity's name over birth name but I'm not explaining as this is out of scope. Those who are working in the public sector or corporation, do check with your employer's rules and regulation on having an entity's name.

Note: In Malaysia, all birth names are qualified to be registered as enterprise or entity names. Entity names however are not qualified to be registered as birth names. (Some countries do allow so).

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Publishing the songs

Okay, I make it a habit to publish my songs all over the net simply because I want to make known that those are my songs. Usually, I publish the songs right after that RM 5.00 is paid. Cadenza MIDI Diary is the first place to be because the site do declare that all songs are original from composers who posted them.

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About Originality

Okay, this is a very tricky issue in musical works. Let me explain.

There are two main dimensions in music:

1) The acoustics of sound which was previously explained in the past entries. The sound is the notes A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G and G#. The sound cannot be changed because it is given by nature or by God (to the believers ... hehehe).

2) This is the one which is tricky. It has some sub dimensions:

a) Harmony - A major chord will always sound like a major chord, a harmonic minor scale will always sound like a harmonic minor scale. I will explain what are chords in future entries.
b) Rhythm - The result of the mind of the composer. Rhythm is basically the beat of a song but I will explain more on rhythm in future entries.
c) Melody - The notes played at certain duration at certain time as explained previously in the previous entries.The originality of this dimension is all of the above combined.

Note: There are other types of originality in music like a singer's voice, or the way a singer sings or the way a musician plays a musical instrument BUT this is not the originality type in concern. It is however one of an interesting issue in music and I will write on this in future entries.

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A bit more on Originality

How do we know that our work is original?

The answer lies back at the Berne Convention where there are procedure to MEASURE originality. The procedure is highly mathematical and I am not going to explain it here as it involves heavy mathematical calculations. In short, an originality of a song cannot be more than 50% of the originality of another song.

Perhaps, some of us have not noticed but the idea of the song "Baa Baa Black Sheep" is quite similar with the idea of a song "Wonderful World" by Nat King Cole BUT still the song by Mr. Cole is considered original as it exceed more than 50% of the originality of the former.

In short, as all of us are unique from one another, it is rare that the songs composed are more than 50% similar to other songs composed by other people.

YouTube

2008-04-10T11:06:00.005+08:00

How I Write Songs (Part 6)

Hopefully, this is the last entry on the mechanism of songwriting. Future entries should be on the technical and creativity aspects which are the reasons I am writing.

Part 4 has described how beats and tempos are recorded on measures. Melody too has to be recorded on measures.

A song has a melody with notes are played by certain duration at certain time. Therefore, there are 3 parameters that required to be recorded:

a) Note
b) Duration
c) Time

There is one more parameter which is the Velocity. Velocity is the note's volume or how hard a note is hit. I'll be describing the velocity later on but not today. To record the parameters above, our measures have to be reconstructed.

Below is an example of a musical keyboard (Do click for better view):

Basically, a musical keyboard started with note C2 not C1 but since I use the computer as my musical instrument, I need to start with C1 for the bass sound. Listening to the the song "Baa Baa Black Sheep", our event list is as follows:

If you are into programming, the event list above matters most. In order to make it more presentable, the event list need to be converted into graphical mode as in measures:

Time Note Duration
1.1.000 G4 110
1.2.000 G4 110
1.3.000 D5 110
1.4.000 D5 110
2.1.000 E5 110
2.2.000 E5 110
2.3.000 D5 230
3.1.000 C5 110
3.2.000 C5 110
3.3.000 B4 110
3.4.000 B4 110
4.1.000 A4 110
4.2.000 A4 110
4.3.000 G4 230

If you are into programming, the event list above matters most. In order to make it more presentable, the event list need to be converted into graphical mode as in measures:

E5 ---- ---- ---- ---- xxxx xxxx --------

D5 ---- ---- xxxx xxxx ---- ---- xxxxxxxx

C5 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --------

B4 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --------

A4 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --------

G4 xxxx xxxx ---- ---- ---- ---- --------

E5 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --------

D5 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --------

C5 xxxx xxxx ---- ---- ---- ---- --------

B4 ---- ---- xxxx xxxx ---- ---- --------

A4 ---- ---- ---- ---- xxxx xxxx --------

G4 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- xxxxxxxx

Note, every xxxx = 110 time unit duration. The measures are read Left-Right, Top-Down.

There! In order to write a song, one has got to know how to write down the melody.

Tagged.com has changed their video section from egg technology to YouTube and all my posted videos are deleted. I have no choice but to post the videos through YouTube. It is quite frustrating as I hate redundancy. Below is a video previously posted. Last year, this video hit top 10 at Tagged for a week.

Song: My Sakura Girl
Song, Music and Illustrations by Azer Mantessa
This video is a tribute to the oriental ladies.

The Debut Albums

2008-04-05T08:08:00.005+08:00

I am tagged by anfield devotee on five(5) most influential debut albums that I think is five most influential albums I consider great. They are as follows:

Debut Album: Mir Ist Kein Weg Zu Weit by Gilla

It was 1974 when we moved to Penang and I stayed with my untie. My cousin, Abang Salim worked as a bassist in a hotel. As Penang was/or still the tourism center, he had no choice but to keep up with the latest music. One day, he brought home this album.

Gilla played good running bass in a new kind of music which was initially known as German Beat or some went into the extreme and called it as Gilla's Beat. Two years later, Gilla's music gained popularity known as disco. The beat was phenomenal and was responsible ... sparking up a new business trend - The Disco. Unfortunately, Gilla was not that famous but some of her songs out of this album were converted into English and popularized by Boney M ... songs are Belfast, Sunny, and You Take The Heat of Me.

In 1977, Gilla converted one of the songs, "Ich brenne" into English titled "Help! Help!".

Disco music reached its height and sudden death right after the popularity of a movie, Saturday Night Fever.

Gilla at YouTube: Rasputin (German Version - From later album)
(Later on, Boney M popularized this song in English)

*I could not find the song Ich brenne in the net :((

Debut Album: Flowing Rivers by Andy Gibbs

I have to be a bit bias here because I am a big fan of Bee Gees. What is so unique about this album is that the Gibb brothers (Barry, Maurice and Robin) started to write songs for other artists and for the beginning, they did it for their own brother, Andy. This album turned out to be very successful with the song, I Wanna Be Your Everything became the world hit. Following this success, Bee Gees started to write many songs for other artists and the list is too lengthy to mention here.

According to BillBoard, Bee Gees has the most world hits BUT according to Rolling Stones, The Beatles has the most. I personally don't mind either one, The Beatles are from Liverpool. Thank you :-)

Andy Gibb at YouTube: I Just Wanna Be Your Everything

Debut Album: Terima Kasih by Alleycats

It was back in 1979 and I have got to admit, I had never bothered listening to malay songs especially the 70s as they sucked. Out of ordinary, a friend back in the hostel started to play this song, a malay version of I Was Made For Dancing by Leif Garrett titled 'Aku Terperangkap' and all the sudden I asked at him 'What is that?!'.

So he showed me the album (in tape) with a band named Alleycats.

This album is a classic! Alleycats have made all musical arrangement - bass, drums and percussions, keyboards, lead guitar and guitars so well balanced that they really cropped out as music. Then there were voices of so unique ... voices of something I've never heard of by David and Loga.

Malay music has never been the same. This album has changed everything! As far as I am concerned, the malay music industry owes a lot to these guys. Period.

Alleycats at YouTube: Senandung Semalam

Debut Album: Madonna by Madonna

This album was sensational. I've never heard of an artist who make it all the way so high by a debut. Five songs of this album hit World Top Ten - Lucky Star, Borderline, Burning Up, Holiday and Everybody.

Not only the songs are so great, the artist herself was revolutionary sparking trendy fashionable fusion dressing the whole world have ever seen.

The early 80s was a very confusing musical era where with many new musical genre emerged - metal, new wave, grunge, slow rock, latino hit ... and when everybody thought pop music is dying ... along came Madonna and proved the critics wrong. Madonna herself has something else to prove - It's not how she sings BUT how she looked when she sing. I'm yet to see a sexier belly button than hers :-)

Madonna at YouTube: Borderline

Debut Album: Acoustic Gestures by Az Samad

To explain why I have to choose this album is somewhat very difficult. I bet most people have never heard of Az Samad. I think, Az Samad is the best guitarist this country has ever produced.

Okay, it is about acoustic guitar playing which includes many different musical styles - Jazz, Latin, Classical, Rock, Pop, Funk, and Spanish which are played through a unique finger-tab playing. Az sells his albums while doing his gigs so I had no choice but to watch him play in Bangsar. I was in the front row and was asking myself, "How the **** does he do that?!"

I think Az did notice something ... maybe there was a big question mark above my head or something that when I was about to buy the album, he came to me and gave me a free copy!

Unfortunately, Az is not an influential musician in the entertainment industry BUT the local guitar training and lessons industry has changed drastically where guitar-tab playing is included and Az playing style has become the industry reference.

Az Samad at YouTube: Train to Ericland
(He dedicated this song to his teacher ... The Late Eric Roche)

I Am Tagging

Mrs. Top Monkey. - As tagging is quite troublesome, obviously, I'll pass the troubles to her. This is how us scousers treat each other ... haha.

I am suppose to tag another but am not to. This song is meant to be the substitution :-)

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Vocals by Azer Mantessa
Imported Files and Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

Never Meant To be

You and me are never meant to be
Nothing is right and you just can't see
I could never see us both as one
We both are done

I'm not wasting any of my time
Hope you see this is the end of line
I'm a human, I am not that tough
I've had enough

So I need you to go away
and let me rest my weary day

I am glad being alone
It's good to be back on my own

You'd thought I was too weak
I'm gone, get used to it
That you are out of my sight
It feels so right

Tasik Senja

2008-03-31T10:40:00.002+08:00

Tasik Senja are malay words for Sunset Lake.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

How I Write Songs (Part 5)

Correction: I apologize for the misuse of words in Part 3 describing what a song is. The correct word is 'note' or 'musical note' NOT 'key' so what differentiate a song and a story most is a song has a melody which is a group of notes played on certain tempos. To a song, a note is like a letter to a story.

The Musical Notes

A note is a pitched sound itself. The song 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' begins with two notes having the same pitch," or "the piece begins with two repetitions of the same note."

Musical notes are represented by the first seven letters of the Latin alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F and G). Scientifically, a musical note is represented by sound wave frequency, for example, a sound wave frequency of 440 Hz is named A4.

In modern tuning, there are notes called sharp. Sharp notes are between A and B notes, C and D notes, D and E notes, F and G notes and G and A notes. Therefore in order to read musical notes as reading the alphabetic ABC to Z, the musical notes are read as:

A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#

Another interesting fact about musical notes is that, two(2) notes are of same wave span BUT different pitch. For example, note A4 has the same wave span as note note A5 but note A4 have half pitch lower than note A5.

Number of notes depends on a musical instrument. As I use my computer as the ultimate musical instrument (yes, a computer is a musical instrument and I am so tired arguing this fact with the traditional musicians), I have programmed my computer to have 108 musical notes:

A1, A#1, B1 .... F#9, G9, G#9.

Programmatically, I can write notes lower than A1 and higher than G#9 but it is useless to do so as the sound will not be heard by human ears. Worse, the note can damage my computer too.

Melody = Notes + Tempo

Getting to know the musical notes is key to writing songs as the heart of a song is the melody which is the combination of notes and their tempo. Before we get to write songs, it is very important for us to know the notes.

Mr. Jim Taylor, a frequent composer of Cadenza MIDI Diary has demonstrated what notes and tempos are all about through one of his great song or artistic sound called 'Fun With Mr. Chromatic'. Please do click here to listen to his piece.

There! In order to write a song, one has to compose a melody and in order to compose a melody, one has got to know the notes.

Make Your Move

2008-03-26T10:04:00.003+08:00

Adapted from: Chess Corner

Cynically, chess and politics are alike ... hahaha

Chess is a fairy tale of 1001 blunders. Chess is a mental torture. Chess is ruthless: you've got to be prepared to kill people. You cannot play chess if you are kind-hearted. Every grandmaster was once a beginner. A chess game is divided into three stages: the first, when you hope you have the advantage, the second when you believe you have an advantage, and the third... when you know you're going to lose! All that matters in chess is good moves. The pawns are the soul of chess. The blunders are all there in chess, waiting to be made. A player surprised is half beaten. A pin is mightier than the sword.

Su of Teia de Ariana has requested me to list out six(6) songs that are very important for me along my life ...

The answer is ... NONE.

No songs can be so important to me. No songs can affect me living up my life. The reason for this is simple ... I live my life according to the Faith I believe in, the knowledge of what I have learnt and acquired and my life experiences (good or bad).

I however do admire some songs that I wish they were mine. The followings are 6 songs which I think are the best songs I have ever heard:

1) Spirits Having Flown by Bee Gees.

At YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CkjIHLp8E0

2) Lay All Your Love On Me by ABBA

At YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST6qpR0iO_s

3) Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

At YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-MLxgkiPNg

4) Hotel California by Eagles

At YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBJTNx5qrVU

5) Rasputin by Boney M

At YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDMlk3kSYg

6) Maybe Next Time by Rainbow/Ritchie Blackmore

At YouTube: hhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfsJhSE1Rk&feature=related
(Not by Rainbow but this guy is good)

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Vocals by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

Make Your Move

You know ... I always doubt
with every move you make
so full of questions
of your intention
by the commotions
stirred up by your hands

by the movement you make

a victory to take

satisfied breath

of another death

Here I am to face with

all the choices that I have to take

with uncertainty on the other side

A cynical smile spread across your face

just raised another maze

for me to scrutinize another look

Suddenly I realize I am back with my rhyme

Suddenly you just out of time

Now you better think twice

I am full of surprise

I can see in your eyes

A bad streak

To choose or not to choose

To stay or not to stay

The clock will keep on ticking

So make your move

There you are to face with

all the choices that you have to take

with the ambiguity on the my side

A cynical smile spread across my face

just raised another maze

for you to scrutinize another look

Suddenly you realize I am back with my rhyme

Suddenly you just out of time

Earth

2008-03-21T11:42:00.004+08:00

My goodness, the flash file is bigger than ever so expect some lagging there.

Only one picture is imported out of a nice 3D software. Check out for TERRAGEN. It's free! Special thanks to Jim Taylor, a great composer of Cadenza MIDI Diary for this one.

Incorporated in Flash is another animation technique - Masking. While waiting the flash file to be downloaded, I'll continue on this one.

How I Write Songs (Part 4)

My first step in my kind of writing music is to listen to my own heartbeats as discussed in Part 1. Next is to write down the beats and the tempo.

Beats and Tempo

Click here to listen to my heartbeats as recorded via a drum beat.

Notice that there are two elements: The beats and the tempo.

Writing down the beats and tempo

I have to apologize for this. I'm a self-thought composer. I'm not a real musician. I do however play a bit of guitar and piano BUT still am not really a good musician. I am however, a good programmer. I too do read a lot about music but strangely, I don't really listen to music much.

I know nothing about music notation so my methodology in writing music is so not conventional and can be very disturbing. From now onwards, all musical terminologies that I might use could be so totally wrong (It is so common that I misunderstood what I read ... ). So in advance, I apologize.

Okay let's talk about tempo.

All songs have own tempos. Some songs are fast and some are slow. Okay, let's listen to my heartbeats again.

Tempo is measured in quarter-notes per minutes or qpm. What is qpm? I have no idea ... hahaha. Just kidding :-) I'm skipping the details. Anyway, the heartbeats are measured at 120 qpm.

So, the first thing in writing a song is to know the tempo. I jot this down as:

Tempo = 120

Next is to write down the beats and this is the key in writing songs. You see, when we talk about beats and tempo (or speed), it is like driving a car at a speed and throwing stones at certain time. The beats then are sound occur at certain time. In order to write down the beats, we need what is called, a Time Signature. Listening to the heartbeats, we can hear two beats for every two seconds. I jot this down:

Every 2 seconds, there are two beats.

I however turn what is written above in graphical mode known as measure:

+----+----+----+----+

This is the measure of two seconds. Note that this measure is partitioned into 4 units. This is what we called a Time Signature of 4/4. Why 4/4? Basically, most songs have time signature of 4/4 as it is human nature to start music by counting beats as 1-2-3-4 ... or tap tap tap tap.

Next is to determine when do the beats occur in this measure (or every 2 second).

In order to write down the beats, our measure needs to have the Time Unit. Conventionally, measures are of 480 time unit (our 2 seconds have 480 time unit):

+----+----+----+----+
0 120 240 360 480 time unit

So, when we listen to the heartbeats, the beats occur at 0 and 120 time unit with a duration of 20 time unit for every beat. Our graphical measure now looks like this:

+x-----+x-----+------+------+

where x is the beat at 20 time unit duration.

The heartbeats are recorded for 8 seconds so our beats are graphically represented as:

+x-----+x-----+------+------+ +x-----+x-----+------+------+

+x-----+x-----+------+------+ +x-----+x-----+------+------+

Notice that every measure is separated from one another.

There! Before we start on writing music, first we must determine the tempo. Next is to measure the beats. Beats and tempo are very important because they make a song to keep on flowing.

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa

Vocals by Azer Mantessa

Imported file (TERRAGEN) and Flash Illustrations

by Azer Mantessa

Earth

Do you remember me?

I am the Earth

Losing beauty
Getting reversed

And the Earth is me.
Each bit of mud
Why can't you see
A dying life

Skin and bone - of every bit
Make me well - My body fit
Make trees grow

Out of me … naturally.

This song is available (Flash, MB) at Cadenza Midi Diary

My Colours Serene

2008-03-16T13:27:00.004+08:00

The size of the flash file is the biggest I have ever posted (1.2MB). I apologize for the lagging.

This song was originally sung by my youngest son. Unfortunately, he hesitated to re-sing this song again as it is nothing like Muse or Mika or James Blunt and all. I have no choice but to sing this song myself with Helium.

This is the thing. The kids keep on growing up and just a matter of time they play their territorial games looking for spaces of their own.

That they are able to avoid doing the wrong things is something I have trained them. My hope is, it is their nature. In fact the primary mission of any religion or code of ethics is the perfection of how people behave - their manners. I am consistently watching them as their behaviors will reflect back to me as a father. There is no point of believing something good in their hearts only without manifesting the believes in behaviors. Without doubt, good manners and good behavior are linked directly to Faith. Generally, only those with good manners and behaviors deserve respect from others.

No matter what the mainstream media and the Elite are trying to tell us, I stand to say that the major reason for the loss of 2/3 majority by the ruling party in the recent General Election is because the lack of their good manners and behaviors. They are so not respected. One of them waved the keris challenging the marginalized people to question their powers and policies. Many of them arrogantly stated that they don't need marginalized people's votes. They are so arrogant, so ignorance, so prejudice, so racist, so corrupt that when one of them died recently, I nearly laughed only to be stopped by my wife.

Without question, their supporters today are getting worried. They are worried about their future. Once, they were so arrogant telling everybody ... rallies are not a Malaysian culture. That was exactly what they did in Penang recently.

You see, Ibnu Khaldun was right. He noticed that the decline of a society does not depend on any one factor but rather on the interaction of moral, social, economic, political and historical factors over a long period of time. This is exactly what is happening.

That they are worrying is something very shameful. 50 years of independence has never really thought them to be dependent, to preserve high morality, to be hardworking, to value family structures, living conservatively, uphold humility etc etc etc. Not only they are worrying, they also create doubt on other people. Stereotyping other people. One thing for sure, they even forget who and what they are really made of.

This is the time to learn to be independent. Depending on politics and politicians is ego and disillusion. Political thinking cannot solve political problems because there is no such thing called political problem in the first place. We have social problems which can be solved through social thinking. We have economic problems which can be solved through economic thinking. We have financial problems which can be solved by financial thinking but there is no such thing called political problem. This is then the best time to consider not to rely on politics and politicians be it The Elite Party, The Husband, Wife and Daughter Party, The Dap Kedap Dap Party or The Honeymoon Party.

50 years of independence, what we received most is being doubtful towards other people. The Elite are so arrogant. Their followers are so dependent. Some people are so marginalized. That the ruling party lost 2/3 majority is sure a good thing. This is the best time for us all to be more open. To know each other. To learn from each other. To love each other no matter what the Elite, their supporters and the media are trying to say.

After all, this is nothing new. It was taught and said more than 1,500 years ago:

O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with God is who has At-Taqwa (do the right things and abandon the wrong things and dependent only to God).

Quran 49:13

As Malaysians, we should be very grateful. We are indeed very fortunate that we are blessed with multi-races, multi-religions, multi-ethnics and multi-languages. We are indeed colourful. We are like rainbows. We are beautiful.

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa

Vocals (with Helium) by Azer Mantessa

Imported Pictures and Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

(x, y, z)

2008-03-11T23:27:00.003+08:00

I am so affected by the surprising (too pleasant indeed) result of the General Election that I am so grateful for being invited into a party I have so longed for. I just could not believe that Tupperware Party is still around. Hope to be served Mee Hoon and hope that will ease the pain of my personal loss in Jerlun. I'll deal with that son of an Elite later!

Yeah! Lotsa work to do for another 4-5 years to come...

Meantime ...

I did try writing a program through Flash ActionScript (quite similar to Java indeed) for this entry but unfortunately, I'm having a setup problemo due to my ignorance in the application installation. Had no choice but to use my old c-programming program for the graphical thing with one as an .avi file. Until I figure out the installation problem, the import into library files will have to do.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Imported Files and Flash Illustration by Azer Mantessa

How I Write Songs (Part 3)

Let's not jump the gun directly into writing songs. You see, whatever we want to do, it is wise to understand what we are to do. Though I have blogged on this one before, I think a bit of revision won't hurt.

Understanding A Song

A song is a song. Period. I however prefer to understand a song as a story.

Just like any story, a song has letters which are the keys, words which are the chords, paragraphs which are the grooves and of course, the song is the story. A song can be with singing or with music or both.

What differentiate a song most comparatively to a story is that, a song has melody.

What is a melody?

A melody is like you sing ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep …’ without music. Two components constitute a melody - Keys and tempo.

Do note the word 'tempo' because the main reason why I listen to my own heartbeats is because I want to determine the tempo of the song yet I am to write.

So, what is a song again?

A song is a song but I do prefer to understand it as a story. A song has its own story to tell (or to feel - will say something on this later on). A song has its own paragraphs in grooves. A song has its own words in chords and its own letters in keys. What differentiate a song most comparatively to a story is, a song has its own melodies (in keys and tempos).

There! Next lesson on this is to convert the heartbeats into beats and tempos.

I'm A Clone

2008-03-06T23:06:00.008+08:00

This song is a combination of Hip Hop and Rock musical genres. Am studying the ActionScript so no animation for this one.

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

Vocals by Azer Mantessa

I’m a Clone

Look at those politicians

Goodies with their conditions

"Better life welfare for thee

Only if you vote for me"

Speaking with so many tongues

Some promoting for their sons

And if you read the real news

Everybody seems to have their own views

Coming with all sort of bands

The candidates will shake our hands

Kiss our babies telling lies

Praise their leaders to the skies

I have no flaws to identify

This policy poured from your pen
You have written from the day I was born

All words for words in black and white

The MPs wanted to be judged

So I wonder based on what?

Your father has some legacies?

That you donated some money?

Do you listen to the people?

To those who are poor and in trouble

Or you listen to the cronies

The way going up the hierarchy

Look ... their faces for a while

Don't be fooled behind their smiles

The formation of Elite sect

Correct ... Correct ... Correct .... Correct

I just couldn't find a way

When it comes Election Day

I couldn't find an honest man

I won't cast a thing in the can

(I'm a clone):

We are identical to each other and each other

With everything we say, we say it in the same tone
But there is not much choice laying upon between us
And there is not much choice laying upon between us

I have no flaws to identify

This debt signatured from your pen
You have borrowed long before I was born

All words for words in black and white

(Don't be like clones):

Joy your differences, your weaknesses, your weaknesses

It’s something special of your own you can be proud of

Don't let the Elite decide all the choices for us

This song (Flash, 420.4 kb) is available at Cadenza MIDI Diary

Have a great weekend ... Happy School Holidays

Be back hopefully on Monday.

Begun It Has

2008-03-03T21:42:00.003+08:00

This is an instrumental song, a combination of Ballad and Rock musical genres.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Animation by Azer Mantessa

This song (Flash, 494.7 kb) is also available at Cadenza MIDI Diary

How I Write Songs (Part 2)

In part 1, I wrote on how I write songs by started things up. To easily write a song, I did mention to listen to own heartbeats and the beats are yet to be converted into songs. Before converting the beats into songs, there is a second important step which needed to be taken - Having the Right Attitude.

Having the Right Attitude

Whatever you do, having the right attitude to do it is highly important. Here I am, not even an amateur musician and obviously not a singer and a writer but am fooling around composing music. Having these weaknesses, there are many mental obstacles yet to overcome.

1) Defining the purpose - Why writing music in the first place anyway? The major purpose is to be creative. To have a clear purpose is a good way to start because this is what we are going to hold from the beginning until the end. Why being creative is so important?

You see, if you develop a Neural Network Artificial Intelligence System, you might think everything is about logic right?

Wrong!

Throughout my experience developing such systems, though we incorporated 997 logic sturctures there are, we too incorporated at least 50 looping procedures that require the system to think illogically or irrational ways or in other words, we push the system to be creative by itself. Personally, I have experimented the same thing by setting two grocery/sundry shops side by side. Both shops sell the same products at the same prices but why Shop A is doing 7 times better than Shop B? It is about being creative ... product relocation, fittings, services and all. Being creative therefore is very important and is a good purpose.

2) Just Do It - This is the Nike Slogan that I really admire. There is no point of having an intention but not doing it. A good attitude is to just do it instead of holding it back.

3) Don't be a perfectionist - Only God is perfect so don't worry about making mistakes. The fact is making a lot of mistakes is a good thing. Don't trust me? Here is the trick about making mistakes - Write a computer program and compile it ... you'll find that you are learning more with errors rather a program without errors.

4) Don't Worry Be Happy - Don't worry about what other people may say about the songs. There is no such thing called good song or bad song. A song is a song ... period. Okay ... should it be a bad song, the least we get to joy our own weaknesses. Enjoy doing it. Once a song is completed, you are the first person in the world to hear it. Is not that great?

There! The second step in writing music is to have the right attitude.

Your Medicine Man

2008-02-27T17:52:00.004+08:00

Previously in animation, I have learnt tweening and frame-to-frame animation. The illustrations below is another lesson in animation - Synchronization. I have not learnt 'Bone Animation' where bodies are connected to a wrist, elbow, shoulder etc just yet. This is quite tedious ... so later.

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Flash Animation by Azer Mantessa
Vocal (with Helium) by Azer Mantessa

Your Medicine Man

Hello, I am your medicine man
I come to you with my master plan

Hello, I am your medicine man
I am your right choice I know that I can
Come and shake my hand
I'll make you understand
You people tend to forget
Vote for me so you won't regret

Don't you listen ... to the liars
I'm here to fulfill your desires
For more money ... lots of money
I'll build the strong economy
With me I have special remedy
Can't you see ... can't you feel
You have got nothing to lose
To vote is free
So vote for me
You'll be given ... warranty

Vote for me ...

This song (Flash, 349.5 kb) is available at Cadenza MIDI Diary

VOTING FOR A HYPOCRITE?
VOTING FOR ANOTHER HYPOCRITE?

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO VOTE.
USE YOUR RIGHT!

"1. Rewards shall come to those who can wait BUT not to those who hesitate.
2. Not taking any position IS A POSITION."
- Two Golden Investing Rules by The Turtles of Richard Dennis

A Theme Song

2008-02-22T20:59:00.003+08:00

I'm testing out a .SWF file to be directly connected with Cadenza MIDI Diary. The song is only 24 seconds in length with size file of 44.2 KB.
I'm yet to see how the connection rate is handled.

Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
Flash Illustrations by Azer Mantessa

How I Write Songs - (Part 1)

Meantime, while I have some space here, I'm taking the advantage of telling you how I write songs.

To Start Things Up

So how do I get to write songs?

It can be very difficult OR it can be very easy. Never mind about doing things in a difficult way, I prefer to talk about how I do things in an easier way.

The easier way to write songs is to do it intuitively. In other words, I listen to my own heartbeat rather thinking of an idea through my brain. The main rule in applying this technique is not to plan what to write OR not to search for any idea of what to write. This is good because I don't have the luxurious time for planning or for searching anyway. There is more to life than just blogging right?

So how do I listen to my own heart beat?

I need to relax. To relax is very important because this is the way how I can stop the higher blood pressure plummeting into my cerebral cortex which can cause me to start thinking. Remember, the last thing I need is to start thinking.

I start to relax first by taking a deep breath through my nose. Hold it. Release it. Take a deep breath again but this time I close my eyes. Hold it. Release it. I do this repeatedly until I feel a bit sleepy. Feeling a bit sleepy means I am relaxing.

I then picture whatever is nice and peaceful. My favorites are Maria Ozawa, Jacylyn Smith, my village nearby Mount Jerai and of course, Anfield (during off season). I keep on picturing until I can hear a bit of my heartbeat. There are many ways to hear own heartbeat but the idea is to relax and to listen.

Next is to make my heartbeat to beat a bit harder without increasing much blood pressure. The trick is to find a humor while relaxing. I need to picture whatever is funny. My favorite is visualizing the politician faces because to me they all look funny (It is not nice to make fun of anybody because the politicians too are God's creations but this is how I do it). Once I start to smile affectionately at my silly uptightness, this is the best time to really listen. Once I start to clearly listen, I memorize the heartbeat. Usually I do record the beat because I tend to forget. The beats are yet to be developed as a song.

There! That is how I start things up :-)

This song (Flash, 44.2 KB) is available at Cadenza MIDI Diary

Eyes In The Streets

2008-02-17T20:36:00.007+08:00

This video is available at Tagged.

Previously, I applied tweening in animation. This one I apply a bit of Frame-to-Frame technique.

Song, Music and Lyric by Azer Mantessa
Animation and Illustrations by Azer Mantessa
Vocals by Azer Mantessa (Turn off the volume!)

Eyes In The Streets

You just never want to comprehend
All the things that was done by your hand
They seem have started falling down

So I wonder what had you been thinking
For all these years
I wonder did you mean what you'd said

You just never want to understand
Things are not executed as planned
We are standing on losing ground

So I wonder what had you been doing
As all these years
Our dreams still far from being reached

.
Eyes in the streets
Side by side they will be
Marching by holdings hands

In your own Eliteland
Should you look in their eyes
You can just realize
They will keep on demanding
For you to stop lying

Eyes in the streets
For the whole world to see
The rich are into greed
The poor are into needs
You have looked in their eyes
Still you wondering why
There are truths in their cries
Because their eyes just don't tell lies

Still you think you are a great stateman
Living up with the slogan: 'I can'
And fighting for your legacy

Don't you ever wonder to stop talking
As all these years
You'd covered the dirty works so well

You're not the item for years ago
Why don't you start to learn ... Let it go
Rather keep talking fallacies

You should wonder what had you been doing
As all these years
Our dreams still far from being reached

This song is also available (MP3, 6.9 MB) at Cadenza MIDI Diary