Rebecca Black Friday (There's A Pun Somewhere In There, But I Won't Even Bother)

So, after days of resisting the temptation, I finally checked out what the fuss was all about, re: Rebecca Black. What I knew was that she had a song on Youtube and people were saying it was ("super f***ing") bad. To tell you the truth, I actually gave her the benefit of a doubt. I really thought it was people taking the piss of another tenny bopper pop star just because... Until I played the video... Then I got confused. Then sad. Then mad. Then amused. Then confused again. Then sad again...

OK, you get the picture. I wasn't sure if this was a spoof of anything, or that it was a legitimate song and music video. Turns out, it's actually the latter. Which made me confused. Then sad. Then mad... OK, OK, you get the picture. I mean, there's a big difference between being cheesy and just being bad. And Becca's BAD. With a Capital B. I refuse to waste more time searching for literature on the origins of the song, but whatever it is, I can't imagine there's a real explanation for the atrocious lyrics....

Here are some excerpts: Kickin’ in the front seat Sittin’ in the back seat Gotta make my mind up Which seat can I take? Duduk jelah mana2! Tak payah buat lagu, hokaaayyy??? More excerpts (and please be prepared to be dumbfounded): Yesterday was Thursday, ThursdayToday i-is Friday, Friday (Partyin’) We-we-we so excited We so excited We gonna have a ball today Tomorrow is Saturday And Sunday comes after...wards I don’t want this weekend to end I know, she makes ALL of us sound like Shakespeare.

And the lyrics are not even the worst thing about Becca. The worst thing about Becca is Becca herself. Can't sing for nuts, her voice has been autotuned to sound like Twiki from Buck Rogers. Only Twiki had more personality and style. I hate to do this, but I must now subject all of you to this mess. Go on, do it!!!  

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MHI Special: Back to IIU

So, last Friday was a very special episode of MHI (especially for me), when we broadcasted 'live' from International Islamic University in Gombak. For those who don't know me that well, IIU's my alma mater, the place where I spent six (good and bad) years of my life from 1989 to 1995.

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But none of those six years were actually spent in the sprawling campus in Gombak (covering over 700 acres of land). For the early intakes (the university itself was established in 1983), life was pretty hard in IIU, actually.

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When I entered the matriculation program, our "campus" was at section 15 in Subang Jaya, where Inti and Taylor's are located now. The hostel consisted of shophouses that accommodated 16-20 people per room.

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Second year of matriculation saw us shifting to Lembah Pantai after taking over the Institut Bahasa premises. It was rather okay, except that for one semester, we had to be relocated to Section 8, Shah Alam (near Bukit Cerakah, for crying out loud!). So every morning we had to take a charter bus and if we missed it, it meant us having to ponteng for the day!

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Finally when I got to the actual 4-year law degree program, we moved to the campus in Petaling Jaya. But as the university grew, and more and more student were admitted without really considering the facilities available, it became quite uncomfortable, both with the hostel and classroom situations.

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Anyway, maybe I'll write more about those wonder years in the future, but back to last Friday's espisode, I was thrilled to see the beautiful campus which I last visited maybe 10 years ago.

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As usual, we started at 6.30am, and in no time at all, we had a decent crowd flocking to the Business Centre to have a look at how a live morning show was done.

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From another point of view, I was rather surprised by what I saw of IIU during the broadcast. They had various arts and culture groups that were represented by both sexes.

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And we also saw some other interesting types of activities like the silent march, muay thai and even yoyo-playing!

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Back to my earlier point, I found this to be surprising cos that wasn't the scenario 15-20 years ago. Still during its infancy, IIU saw a "battle" of sorts between those from religious schools and those from "secular" schools, like myself.

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I won't say this was a good or bad thing, it's just that it was quite an interesting period where the culture and philosophy of the university were still being formed and manifested by its students. Segregation of the sexes was very strict, and there was no way an angklung group with both sexes included could have been formed back then.

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I remember once M.Nasir was invited to give a talk and even that became a source of disagreement for many.
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But again, the feeling was very special for me last Friday, especially when I even got to interview the Rector. Never had I imagined back then that one day I'd be interviewing the IIU Rector 'live' on national TV!

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Indeed it was a real eye-opening and a special day for yours truly...

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Pics: www.facebook.com/mhitv3

Food, Glorious Food!: Special JB Edition (Banafee, Malay Village, Tepian Tebrau etc)

So, instead of lumping everything under the monthly edition, here comes a special edition of Food, Glorious Food! featuring some of the most delicious grub from my hometown of JB (that's "Johor Bahru", for the uninitiated).

But before I begin, let me just reiterate a point most Johoreans love to make: We have some of the best food ever in the history of the entire world! Hehe.

OK, let's start...

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Sedap Corner is a Johor-born chain of restaurants serving some very delicious local fare, including a delectable line-up of kuih muih.

One of my own favourites here is the fish head curry. Although on this particular trip, the fish wasn't that fresh, but the curry was still good.

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But like I said, you MUST try out the kuih. Slightly pricier than your typical makcik kuih joint, but you get 30% more taste as well.

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And speaking of kuih, the humble goreng pisang is taken to another level at Goreng Pisang Mawar at Jalan Sungai Chat (near Thistle Hotel).

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It's so good and so popular, we had to endure a half-hour queue just to get our paws on these babies. Best part? The sambal kicap for you to dip the pisang into. Memang berbaloi!

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And still at Jalan Sungai Chat and thereabouts, we strongly recommend Tip Top Ikan Bakar at Tepian Tebrau. What to try? Well, how about tahu bakar for starters? Some sotong would be nice as well.

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But the highlight should be these crabs (at RM15 a piece). The dish comes with these stupendous-tasting bread that you can't find elsewhere!

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Also near Jalan Sg Chat is this place that we discovered on this trip, Restoran Melayu Village. The place itself reminds me of places like Bora Asmara with gazebos and Bali-like decor.

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I've read some not so-good-reviews of the place, but I honestly think the whole experience wasn't that bad. The sambal udang petai was rather good, but the other dishes were quite average. So, overall, it was slightly above average.

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Another interesting place is Banafee Village at Jalan Dato' Abdul Tahir. This place on the other hand, reminds me of Rasta in Taman Tun, with a good blend of western and local dishes on offer.

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Banafee is famous for its Ayat Penyek (that's how it's spelt here), so naturally we just had to try it out. Verdict? Bagus! The chicken's tender and juicy and the sambal's got a distinctive kick. Recommended.

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We also tried out the Maharajah fried rice set which came with chicken, pickles, papadom and egg. Interesting, but only slightly above average.

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Something else on the menu that we just had to try was the sup tulang merah Singapura.

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It was red alright, but the rather strong taste was not quite for everyone. And WARNING: the red on the tulang might stick on your hand for days!

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So, amacam? See anything you like?

Senibong Seafood Adventure

So, I had made a mental note before coming home to JB this time around to visit this particular place that I've never ever been to before. In fact, I had never even heard about it until someone mentioned it a couple of months ago, i.e.: Kampung Senibong. Apparently, it's famous for its seafood with a stunning view to boot.

And so, after checking out the place on google maps, we confidently drove there which is near Permas Jaya. And really, with JB being one huge construction site now (more on that later), the drive itself was an adventure, what with various diversions, potholes and inaccurate signboards to negotiate.

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Seriously, it's nothing like driving up to Fremantle from Perth (don't laugh lah), which it really should be since Senibong COULD be a top tourist draw.

Anyway, when we finally got there around 6pm, we were greeted by the sight of various seafood joints on stilts. Woohoo! And yes, the view of Singapore and JB city itself in the distance were quite breathtaking.

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We chose a place called "Selera Senibong Seafood". What really enticed us was the lineup of impressive fresh seafood just at the entrance.

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We got a table by the Straits and proceeded to order; fish, squids, crabs, lala, vege and some other stuff. And by George, they were good!

The sotong goreng tepung was crunchy with a delicious batter. The dip was top notch as well.

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..The black pepper crabs were another definite highlight with ample white flesh to feast on. Cracking 'em open was quite a challenge though.

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We also ordered lala and soup daging.

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But the highlight of the meal was definitely the ikan ketarap, i.e.: parrot fish.

Can't recall ever having this fish before but it's now in my Top 3 Best Fish Ever list. The isi was simply extraordinary; tender and somewhat sweet. And the way they steamed it made it even better.

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In case you're wondering, the bill only came up to RM135 including the drinks. Bargain!

By the time we finished up everything it was already sunset, so we got to enjoy a different view of the skyline.

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There were also some pasar malam-type shops selling toys, fake branded good etc.

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In case you're wondering, OF COURSE I'll be coming back! There are still a few other stalls to try out. Just hope the roads won't still be fit enough for the Camel Trophy challenge by then!

Hot Topic 8/3 : International Women's Day

It was pretty cool how we were one of the first to talk about International Women's Day this morning on MHI. In fact, judging by some of the comments on facebook, a lot were unaware of the occasion until we mentioned it and made it a topic to discuss.
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Of course one of the questions posed was: "Siapakah tokoh wanita yang paling anda kagumi?".

Close to 300 people posted their reply on our fanpage and some of the names that kept popping up included Oprah Winfrey, Tan Sri Zety, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and the Prophet's wives.

Me? Well, the women I most admire have always been those who've impacted my life directly. My late mom was one of them. She gave me her everything, taught me to be a good and thoughtful person, and only wanted the best for me.

I also mentioned my teachers. The majority who made an impact on me were women. They were strict, yet sincere in their duties to impart knowledge and wisdom on us. One particular teacher I will always remember was my primary one teacher, Mrs Singam. You could say I was the teacher's pet, but she didn't hestitate to threaten to wallop me if I was in the wrong.

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And of course, no one is as important in my life today than my wife. She's been caring, understanding, loving and forgiving, more than I could ever hope for. I couldn't ask for more, really...

3-1 : The Morning After

Oh what an awesome win for Liverpool last night against long-time rivals Man U (insert your own nasty nickname here). 3-1. Emphatic, excellent and extremely exciting.

Sure it was only 3 points won, but it's a victory that I'm sure, have changed the title course for the teams involved. And yeah, a victory that confirms the renaissance under living legend "King" Kenny Dalglish.

Of course the match will be remembered for Dirk Kuyt's hattrick, Andy Carroll's debut and Luiz "gentel" Suarez's sublime skills that left many a defender for dead, but it was the tactics that stood out for me yet again.

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I thought Dalglish lost the plot a bit in the 1-1 draw against Wigan a couple of weeks ago, but he killed off my doubts with a bold formation last night, opting to stick Kuyt upfront instead of going with 5 in midfield.

But still, the players had to perform, and how they did. Most importantly the midfield and defence maintained their discipline and individual brilliance at different points of the game paved the way for an easy win.

And yes, the fiery passion that was missing during Uncle Roy's tenure was there for all to see and enjoy. How I wish I was there at Anfield on days like these!

Anyway, what matters is always the next game. No point in winning against Chelsea and Man U and lose to the West Hams and Stokes.

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But let me just end with another shoutout to our awesome Reds. Woo hoo!!!

Food, Glorious Food!: February 2011 Edition

I know, I know, a bit lambat with this month's entry, but hey, better late than never, right?
..Right. Let's start with some good Mexican grub courtesy of Carlo's in Pavilion. With a strategic location and a great view of the weird and wonderful people that pass by the mall, it's a great place for weekend afternoons in particular.
..As for the food, I would recommend the following: Chips, oysters (although they come in smaller sizes these days - bummer), mushroom soup, nachos and the paella. Delicioso!
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Was in a Melaka for a weekend and dropped by an ol' favourite of mine: Bert's Seafood Garden near Tanjung Kling. It's quite out of the main road, so you need to google to find it.

Anyway, it's one of those places right by the Straits, although that won't be the case with reclamation work being done there. Thank you, development. (cue: rolling eyes)

Apart from the scrumptious seafood dishes, you just HAVE TO order the nasi lemak. It will go well with whatever else that you order.
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And you must simply order these two dishes. The first is buttered prawns. Seriously, one of the best I've ever tasted anywhere in the world. The prawns are always fresh and the kerak on top is equally delectable.

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The other must-try is the black pepper crabs. They'll provide you with the tools to crack open the crabs, so yeah, it'll be a bit messy, but oh-so-worth-it.
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And finally - saving the best for last - this was Favola at Le Meridien in KL. Yes, a tad swanky I admit. Known as one of THE best Italian restaurants in the country, I can just say that it delivered in terms of the food served and the ambience. Score!
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We started with the complimentary breads. And if you didn't know already, I'm a totally bread person. Surprising, huh? And with the selection they served, I could sit around all day eating breads. No kidding.
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Then it was time to hit the mains. The first was Capellini con Gamberetti ai Pinoli, i.e. : angel hair pasta with chili, prawns, parsley, pine nuts, and mushrooms in extra virgin olive oil. Yumm mee. It's both soothing and satisfying. And not to mention, very healthy. And you know how I ALWAYS eat healthy, right? Ahem.
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We also had the lasagna. I know what you're thinking, "I also can cook lasagna, what?" Well, THIS particular lasagna boasted a very special ingredient: wagyu beef! Yup, did I mention this place was a tad swanky? And the verdict? Absolutely fabulous...
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...And we finished off the experience with a couple of scoops of the finest gelato. Oh what a day!
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Ian Rush!

So, it was quite a rush (pardon the pun!) for Sri Pentas folks when Liverpool and British football living lengend Ian rush dropped by for a couple of interviews on our stations. Yes, Ian Rush!

He's been to Malaysia before, but I think this was the first time he stepped into Sri Pentas. Needless to say, I was like a schoolboy skipping downstairs to catch the man in the flesh.

The skipping paid off when Rushie autographed my Liverpool memorabilia!!

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How cool is that?

And I guess now you're wondering where does Rush stand on the list of my all time favourite Liverpool players? Well, he's actually number TWO. Check it out:

MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE LIVERPOOL PLAYERS

1. Kenny Dalglish

2. Ian Rush

3. Steven Gerrard

4. Robbie Fowler

5. Ray Clemence

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2043. Fernando Torres