Hating Persons, Wishing Impossibilities

I had just watched Rise Against’s ‘Ready To Fall’ video yesterday. And it really made a great impact on me. The video itself was very powerful, sad and eye-opening. If you haven’t seen in, please do. It’s in my multiply videos page, titled ‘Rise Against – Ready To Fall.’ Trust me, it’ll be one of the most eye-opening four minutes you’ll have in your life. I’m sorry if I sound like I’m exaggerating, but I can’t say I think I am.

If you have any conscience or sympathy at all, you’ll curse at our own cruelty towards animals, and our recklessness with our very own planet. If you don’t feel anything after watching the video, I’m sorry to say you’re a heartless bastard.


I have to confess, I cried after watching this video for a few times. For four minutes I actually hated everyone in the world who didn’t make an effort to make this stop. Everyone, and that includes you. I’m sorry if you’re offended, but that’s how I felt for four minutes. Hating every single fur-wearing, meat-eating person on Earth. Don’t worry. I’ve calmed down. I understand it’s not easy to give up meat. We were born and bred as carnivores. I just hope people would make some effort in at least one little way or another. I in my small little way have contributed by turning myself vegetarian. And so have some people I know. I’m willing to contribute more to this, especially after watching the video. I have a long way to go before I can be a true environmentalist, or vegan. But I’m striving towards it.

Rise Against, by the way, has to be a band I respect more than most, by a mile. I have never seen such conviction from a band to stand up for the Earth. If you haven’t listened to any of their albums, pick up ‘Siren Song of The Counter Culture’ and ‘The Sufferer & The Witness.’

“Real revelation begins at learning. If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.” - Tim McIlrath, vocalist for Rise Against

“The names of radicals are rarely etched in marble, but burn eternally in the hearts of man” – Saul Alinsky

Signing out

Over and out

Wasting Light, Waking Nights

I can't sleep! I've been working all night. And my mind needs a rest. But my body is still on work mode. I'm hungry. Which means breakfast is vital. I always do breakfast anyway. I need to sleep. Quick. Now. If I don't fall asleep now, I'll probab- zzzzzz..

Just a random blog about CDs. A few lists really.. I’ve just started buying CDs in the past few months. Original CDs, that is. I used to buy bootlegs quite often in Brunei. Now I don’t think I can bring myself to do that. These guys make decent music for a living. Who are we to steal it from them for our own pleasure?

These are CDs I wish to get in the future. If you’re nice enough, you can buy them for me :P Haha

[ ] Explosions In The Sky – All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
[ ] Yndi Halda – Enjoy Eternal Bliss
[ ] Lamb Of God – Sacrament
[ ] Chimaira – Resurrection
[ ] Gallows – Orchestra Of Wolves
[ ] The Ghost Of A Thousand – This Is Where The Fight Begins
[ ] Comeback Kid – Broadcasting…
[ ] I Killed The Prom Queen – Music For The Recently Deceased
[ ] Sounds Like Violence – With Blood On My Hands
[ ] Isis – In The Absence Of Truth
[ ] Planes Mistaken For Stars – Mercy
[ ] Kylesa – Time Will Fuse Its Worth
[ ] Battle Of Mice – A Day Of Nights
[ ] Teeth Of The Hydra – Greenland
[ ] Burning Skies – Desolation
[ ] These Arms Are Snakes – Easter
[ ] Cancer Bats – Birthing The Giant
[ ] The Devil Wears Prada – Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord
[ ] Mendeed – The Dead Live By Love
[ ] The Gorgeous – Great Lakes
[ ] Ultra Dolphins – Mar
[ ] Trivium – The Crusade
[ ] Mastodon – Blood Mountain

Albums I got since I got here {UK) in September 2006, up till now:

Lostprophets – Liberation Transmission [8/10]
Coheed And Cambria – Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Vol. 1 [9]
Coheed And Cambria – The Second Stage: Turbine Blade [8]
Coheed And Cambria – In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 [8]
Deftones – Adrenaline [7]
Deftones – Around The Fur [7]
Deftones – White Pony [8]
Taking Back Sunday – Louder Now [7]
System Of A Down – System Of A Down [8]
Mew – And The Glass Handed Kites [7]
Funeral For A Friend – Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation [8]
Funeral For A Friend – Hours [9]
Billy Talent – Billy Talent [8]
Billy Talent – Billy Talent [9]
Angels And Airwaves – You Don’t Need To Whisper [6]
Jimmy Eat World – Clarity [6]
Jimmy Eat World – Static Prevails [6]
The Ataris – So Long, Astoria [7]
Incubus – Morning View [7]
MTV2 Headbangers’ Ball: The Revenge [8]
AFI – Decemberunderground [8]
New Found Glory – Coming Home [9]
Deftones – B-Sides & Rarities [8]
Deftones- Saturday Night Wrist [9]
Lacuna Coil – Karmacode [8]
Tenacious D – The Pick Of Destiny [6]
Deftones – Deftones [8]
He Is Legend – Suck Out The Poison [8]
Incubus – Light Grenades [9]
Rage Against The Machine – The Battle Of Los Angeles [7]
+44 – When Your Heart Stops Beating [7]
Coheed And Cambria – Live At The Starland Ballroom [6]
The Blood Brothers – Young Machetes [8]
Alexisonfire – Crisis [9]
Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City [10]
Capdown – Wind Up Toys [9]
Aereogramme – My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go [9]
The Academy Is… - Almost Here [7]

Some of these are old albums, but who cares. Great music is still great music no matter how old they are. If you check carefully, you’ll know I’ve changed some of my ratings, for example, Billy Talent’s ‘Billy Talent II’ got a 3 out of 5 in my review. Now I’ve given it a 9 out of 10. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. I’ll update this from time to time. To include new CDs I will have bought. And trust me, I buy a lot of CDs.

These are my top twenty songs this week:

[1] Alexisonfire – We Are The End
[2] Rise Against – Prayer Of The Refugee
[3] Aereogrammes – Nightmares
[4] Yndi Halda – Dash And Blast
[5] Bloc Party – Hunting For Witches
[6] Isis - Dulcinea
[7] Deftones - Xerces
[8] Billy Talent – Perfect World
[9] Capdown – Surviving The Death Of A Genre
[10] He Is Legend – The Widow Of Magnolia
[11] Incubus – Oil & Water
[12] Vallenbrosa – The Hessian
[13] Adequate Seven – Gotta Stay Focused
[14] Airholes – My Epiphany On The Rebound
[15] The Audition – Don’t Be So Hard
[16] Lo – So Julie
[17] The Blood Brothers – Camouflage, Camouflage
[18] Captain Everything! – There Is No ‘I’ In Scene
[19] No Use For A Name – Friends Of The Enemy
[20] Rage Against The Machine – Take The Power Back

My top ten bands:

[1] Rise Against
[2] System Of A Down
[3] Coheed & Cambria
[4] Alexisonfire
[5] Deftones
[6] Billy Talent
[7] Incubus
[8] Bloc Party
[9] Rage Against The Machine
[10] Aereogramme

Worst ten bands. According to me. No offence to anyone who likes them. I used to like them too. But urm.. Now, I just don’t. For a few reasons..

[1] My Chemical Romance
[2] Fall Out Boy
[3] Evanescence
[4] Panic! At The Disco
[5] Good Charlotte
[6] Simple Plan
[7] Limp Bizkit
[8] Hoobastank
[9] Papa Roach
[10] Bowling For Soup

Bands that I hated (-ish) and now like:

[1] Lacuna Coil
[2] Trivium
[3] Lamb Of God
[4] Green Day
[5] Our Lady Peace

Bands that I liked and now hate/dislike:

[1] My Chemical Romance
[2] Good Charlotte
[3] Fall Out Boy
[4] Evanescence
[5] Hoobastank

Most overrated band:

[1] My Chemical Romance
[2] Fall Out Boy
[3] Panic! At The Disco
[4] Simple Plan
[5] Evanescence

Most underrated band:

[1] Rise Against
[2] Aereogramme
[3] New Found Glory
[4] Deftones
[5] Alexisonfire

Worst band name:

[1] The Devil Wears Prada
[2] My Chemical Romance
[3] Insane Clown Posse
[4] Dragonforce
[5] Cute Is What We Aim For

Best band name:

[1] Rise Against
[2] Angels & Airwaves
[3] Abigail Williams
[4] Deftones
[5] The Academy Is…

Worst song title:

[1] The Devil Wears Prada – Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over
[2] I Killed The Prom Queen – Your Shirt Would Look Better With A Columbian Necktie
[3] Lostprophets – Can’t Stop, Gotta Date With Hate
[4] Alexisonfire – Keep It On Wax
[5] AFI – The Rabbits Are Roadkill On Route 36

I’m just having fun here.. Haha. Making more and more lists..

Best song title. Some of the titles, you have to hear the song to know why:

[1] Rise Against – The Approaching Curve
[2] Jimmy Eat World – Lucky Denver Mint
[3] Alexisonfire – This Could Be Anywhere In The World
[4] Airholes - For You It's The Biggest Day Of Your Life, For Me It's Tuesday
[5] Bloc Party – Hunting For Witches

People I like to see fight against each other:

[1] Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) vs Kerry King (Slayer)
[2] Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) vs Shawn Crahan (Clown of Slipknot)
[3] Amy Lee (Evanescence) vs The Donnas
[4] Simple Plan vs Godzilla
[5] Panic! At The Disco vs Freddy Krueger, Jason & the monster from Jeepers Creepers

Bands that deserve and have gained my respect:

[1] Rage Against The Machine
[2] Rise Against
[3] Deftones
[4] System Of A Down
[5] Trivium

Bands I wished I didn’t use to like, and kill myself before I do again:

[1] Simple Plan
[2] Avril Lavigne
[3] Good Charlotte
[4] Fall Out Boy
[5] Evanescence

Bands I wish I had liked, so I can say, “Yeah, I liked them before they got really big”

[1] Trivium
[2] Lamb Of God
[3] Mastodon
[4] Bullet For My Valentine
[5] Dragonforce

Bands I had liked before they got really, really big. Now everyone just likes them, which is annoying. Haha

[1] Lostprophets
[2] Jimmy Eat World
[3] System Of A Down
[4] Incubus
[5] All-American Rejects

I can’t understand the hype about:

[1] The Fratellis
[2] Muse
[3] My Chemical Romace
[4] Jamie T.
[5] Evanescence

Asian bands that I do like:

[1] Lo (Malaysia)
[2] Love Me Butch (Malaysia)
[3] Sheila On 7 (Indonesia)
[4] Airholes (Brunei)
[5] [H8] (Brunei)

And Asian bands that I don’t:

[1] Padi (Indonesia)
[2] Flop Poppy (Malaysia)
[3] Spider (Malaysia)
[4] Ada Band (Indonesia)
[5] Peter Pan (Indonesia)

Local Bruneians bands I’d like to know more about and listen more to:

[1] Airholes
[2] Draconaeon
[3] Chomp Bucket
[4] Senjakala
[5] [H8]

Pop (or anything outside rock, really) stars I can stand (and like, in some cases)

[1] Joss Stone
[2] Eminem
[3] John Legend
[4] Gnarls Barkley
[5] Moby

And those I can’t stand:

[1] 50 Cent
[2] Britney Spears
[3] Pussycat Dolls
[4] Hilary Duff
[5] Paris Hilton

Okay. That’s a massive list of lists I’ve put on there. I know some of them are pretty harsh, and outright disrespectful. But that’s just me giving my opinion on which bands I like and I don’t like. I don’t mean to offend anyone. And I don’t mean to make fun of other people’s musical preferences. I don’t mind if you like My Chemical Romance or Simple Plan. Just don’t expect me to join in when you’re discussing whether Gerard Way should’ve never dyed his hair or if Simple Plan is the best punk band ever (oh hell, no).

Signing out

Over and out

Lasting Nights, Blazing Seconds

Well, I’m one day late of the promised Sunday update on the second performance of our house play. Sorry about that, I think. Haha. You guys aren’t bothered anyway, I can tell. If my blog isn’t updated, you’ll just have a thousand different alternative blogs to read. Haha. Ha.

For starters, we performed to a very small audience. A modest thirty compared to Friday night’s two hundred. But that proved to work in our favour. It was a very good audience, much more responsive. It was satisfying to perform in front of them. They laughed at every joke, they appreciated every sentiment. They loved it. We loved it. I have to say, I have never felt so satisfied after any kind of performance in my life. I was literally bowing at the end with the biggest grin on my face that my lips could manage. I think because of the small size of the audience, we felt less pressure than the night before, and therefore weren’t afraid to experiment and just went for it. Everyone projected their voices better. Everyone interacted with each other much, much, oh so much better than Friday night’s. We articulated our lines better. Everything was just done better. We didn’t skip four pages like on Friday. There were no major cock-ups at all. Just plain lovely. Smooth sailing all the way.

Geo did his opening scene by replacing the phrase ‘English women’ with ‘English cunt,’ which was obviously much more offensive. Actually in the actual play, it was ‘cunt,’ not ‘women,’ but it got changed to try and not offend anyone. But a few minutes before the curtain opened, I said to Geo, “Are you gonna say cunt instead of women this time?” because he did contemplate it before.

“Do you think I should?” he replied.

“Go for it. If they get angry, just say you forgot to censor yourself and used the original lines instead,” was my stupid suggestion.

And so he did. I almost burst out laughing on stage. I had to control myself from giggling in front of the audience. I could feel the others were giggling off stage.

But then we found out Matt – our director – was holding his face in his hands not being able to believe that Geo had just said the word ‘cunt’ on stage. Geo quickly used the ‘excuse’ we had planned. A few people were sceptical. They had a right to be. But only Matt and our housemaster, Mr Vickers, were genuinely upset. Even the Headmaster didn’t get angry. He congratulated Geo’s performance on the way out. No one knew I was the one who made the final push to convince Geo to say it on stage. He was thinking about doing it, but he wasn’t sure before. And he did almost get into trouble for it. But since the play went so well – and the audience had no problem with it, in fact they loved it – Matt and Mr Vickers didn’t get so angry with him afterwards. He could’ve easily got suspended, or at the least, got given Headmaster’s Detention. Now I can just laugh thinking about it. The harm it would do to my conscience if he got to any kind of trouble.

And oh, thanks for Adi and Hanif for coming to see the play that night. I really appreciate it. Means a lot to me.

The after-party was okay. The lads had some Carling and Kroneunberg. I just had some Coke along with the third-formers. Haha. We had slices of pizza, a lot of Pringles, and a hundred other kinds of junk food. It went on till half past 12, after which we went to bed, to officially end what has been a genuinely fun and engaging few weeks in theatre.

Signing out

Over and out

Reviewing Hushes, Reminding Violence

I feel knackered..

Last night was good though. Not that it went perfectly. It was the fact that it didn't, and nobody noticed it didn't, was the most satisfying fact. In Act 1 Scene 11, my first big scene, Will Collins managed to skip four pages, without anyone noticing at all. I didn't. Half the cast didn't. Even the director didn't. We all had a big laugh after about it. It could've easily been a complete disaster, but it didn't.

I don't think I acted well though. And that was to be expected, I guess. My first play, my theatrical debut, and I was given quite a role. Not that it was massive. It was a supporting role. I had five scenes out of a total of 22, so I wasn't a pivotal character or anything. Looking forward to tonight's performance, and the inevitable chaos in the afterparty.

On a much darker note, some local people hanged about our school site. Some local youngsters - some would call them chavs - were walking around school with chains and hockey sticks, just looking for trouble and a fight. Jeremy Waterworth, a guy in our house, got smacked in the face with a hockey stick. He's in the Sanitorium now. Poor guy. His older brother, Sam, who's in my year, is surely really baited. I don't know. It's just..

It's not fair. Jezza (Jeremy) surely could've not done anything to provoke them. They were here for a reason. There's a lot of speculation on why they were here. But so far I've heard nothing solid. Maybe something will come out in the next few days.

Signing out

Over and out

Hushing Angers, Playing Nights

What a night.

We rehearsed the play till half past 12 at night yesterday, from 5 o'clock. We did two dress rehearsals and a lot of technical stuff to be sorted out.

Everyone was pretty knackered by the end of the rehearsal.

But it went pretty well, I must say. The actual performance is tonight. Slightly nervous, but hey, I know all my lines and all my cues. So pretty much up for it.

I'll update the story on the play maybe on Sunday..

Signing out

Over and out