so.damn.salty

Let's Link

2010-12-14T22:29:00.003+08:00

Hey guys,

Even though I don't update much, my stats show that there is still a constant flow of readers daily.

Who are you guys?
Do you own blogs too?
Are you linked to me?
Am I linked to you?

Drop me your blog address in the comments section and lets link.

2 years ago

2010-11-25T03:34:00.003+08:00

Man.... its been 2 years already since I posted this video up.

I've been so busy with other stuff I didn't even make the effort to learn another instrumental piece.

Something hasn't changed yet though, my love for guitars and my LesPaul.

Nonetheless, enjoy. Me @ 22 years old.

2010-11-09T22:00:00.002+08:00

Six Keys to Being Excellent at Anything

by Tony Shwartz

I've been playing tennis for nearly five decades. I love the game and I hit the ball well, but I'm far from the player I wish I were.

I've been thinking about this a lot the past couple of weeks, because I've taken the opportunity, for the first time in many years, to play tennis nearly every day. My game has gotten progressively stronger. I've had a number of rapturous moments during which I've played like the player I long to be.

And almost certainly could be, even though I'm 58 years old. Until recently, I never believed that was possible. For most of my adult life, I've accepted the incredibly durable myth that some people are born with special talents and gifts, and that the potential to truly excel in any given pursuit is largely determined by our genetic inheritance.

During the past year, I've read no fewer than five books — and a raft of scientific research — which powerfully challenge that assumption (see below for a list). I've also written one, The Way We're Working Isn't Working, which lays out a guide, grounded in the science of high performance, to systematically building your capacity physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

We've found, in our work with executives at dozens of organizations, that it's possible to build any given skill or capacity in the same systematic way we do a muscle: push past your comfort zone, and then rest. ~~Aristotle~~ Will Durant*, commenting on Aristotle, pointed out that the philosopher had it exactly right 2000 years ago: "We are what we repeatedly do." By relying on highly specific practices, we've seen our clients dramatically improve skills ranging from empathy, to focus, to creativity, to summoning positive emotions, to deeply relaxing.

Like everyone who studies performance, I'm indebted to the extraordinary Anders Ericsson, arguably the world's leading researcher into high performance. For more than two decades, Ericsson has been making the case that it's not inherited talent which determines how good we become at something, but rather how hard we're willing to work — something he calls "deliberate practice." Numerous researchers now agree that 10,000 hours of such practice as the minimum necessary to achieve expertise in any complex domain.

There is something wonderfully empowering about this. It suggests we have remarkable capacity to influence our own outcomes. But that's also daunting. One of Ericsson's central findings is that practice is not only the most important ingredient in achieving excellence, but also the most difficult and the least intrinsically enjoyable.

If you want to be really good at something, it's going to involve relentlessly pushing past your comfort zone, along with frustration, struggle, setbacks and failures. That's true as long as you want to continue to improve, or even maintain a high level of excellence. The reward is that being really good at something you've earned through your own hard work can be immensely satisfying.

Here, then, are the six keys to achieving excellence we've found are most effective for our clients:

Pursue what you love. Passion is an incredible motivator. It fuels focus, resilience, and perseverance.
Do the hardest work first. We all move instinctively toward pleasure and away from pain. Most great performers, Ericsson and others have found, delay gratification and take on the difficult work of practice in the mornings, before they do anything else. That's when most of us have the most energy and the fewest distractions.
Practice intensely, without interruption for short periods of no longer than 90 minutes and then take a break. Ninety minutes appears to be the maximum amount of time that we can bring the highest level of focus to any given activity. The evidence is equally strong that great performers practice no more than 4 Â½ hours a day.
Seek expert feedback, in intermittent doses. The simpler and more precise the feedback, the more equipped you are to make adjustments. Too much feedback, too continuously, however, can create cognitive overload, increase anxiety, and interfere with learning.
Take regular renewal breaks. Relaxing after intense effort not only provides an opportunity to rejuvenate, but also to metabolize and embed learning. It's also during rest that the right hemisphere becomes more dominant, which can lead to creative breakthroughs.
Ritualize practice. Will and discipline are wildly overrated. As the researcher Roy Baumeister has found, none of us have very much of it. The best way to insure you'll take on difficult tasks is to ritualize them — build specific, inviolable times at which you do them, so that over time you do them without having to squander energy thinking about them.

I have practiced tennis deliberately over the years, but never for the several hours a day required to achieve a truly high level of excellence. What's changed is that I don't berate myself any longer for falling short. I know exactly what it would take to get to that level.

I've got too many other higher priorities to give tennis that attention right now. But I find it incredibly exciting to know that I'm still capable of getting far better at tennis — or at anything else — and so are you.

taken from : HBR

A Long Day At Work

2010-09-09T00:08:00.007+08:00

Since we scored the deal for the Monsoon Cup, everything has been so hectic. There's so much to do and we're expected to deliver nothing but the best. Being the biggest order to date, we have definitely stepped up our game and "leveled up".

The most important thing in running a business is keeping your promise. Any business in this day and age that does not keep their word is almost destined for failure. Tell your customer how your product can benefit them, not how good your product is.

The 8th Month

2010-08-04T00:02:00.007+08:00

Just when you felt settled in to the year, it's August already! 4 more months and we're going into to a new year and getting older. As thing's started looking good once again, I had a clear mind to reflect on my year so far and my journey as an entrepreneur.

Once again I was put to the test by the powers of the universe and karma a month ago, and it all came crashing down in one weekend to be exact. The worst weekend of my year so far. I am a student of life and will always be one. If life experiences has taught me something, it would be to continue standing tall(just 5' 6" in my case) even though waves of bad vibes, bad shit keep coming. You know, something like calm before AND after the storm.

Anyways, on to the really really good shit that came after the storm, to be exact, F&N we're having an apprentice sort of competition where uni kids would have to come up with a business plan to sell truckload of Farmhouse milk to win a grand prize. (Website). YouthAsia, on behalf of F&N were kind enough to present Saltyskins /CustomShop with the opportunity to be a speaker for their college awareness tour. I represented and spoke at 3 colleges; Tunku Abdul Rahman(TAR) College, SEGi College and Taylor's College. Excitement overwhelmed me as I was preparing for my speech over the weekend. This was something I've always been dreaming of, and even included it in my New Year's resolution. I spoke to these guys mainly about how 'EPIC' past experiences that took place in my life helped shape my future without me even realizing. I encouraged them to make the most out of their student lives to get out there and do shit like join a competition, get an awesome part time job, join some societies, get involved with anything because all these experiences they pick up, will eventually change the course of their future. It's all really exciting when you're older and you look back and realize how each event taught you a life lesson or showed your own strengths and weaknesses to better know your own self. In fact, preparing for my speech was really a much needed reflection on what I have done so far. During the speech, I threw them actual business opportunities to take up that could potentially change their course of life and incorporated something interactive with them, where one volunteer would have to run out to get a free t-shirt. Not knowing that the requirement would be he/she would have to strip in front of the lecture hall and put on our Saltyskins t-shirt. That was pretty hilarious, but uhh... it was only guys who came out. I guess girls are shy. Anyways, there were all good sports and just participated(under much peer pressure of the lecture hall chanting on them to strip).

Right after the college tour ended, we(Saltyskins /CustomShop) were then invited to be on the morning show on Business FM 89.9. Wow, just mind blowing to be on the radio, talking about what I love to do. After a few e-mails exchanged, we were confirmed for the "Open for Business" segment on the 20th of July. Honestly it really felt so amazing going to a radio station to be interviewed. It's not something that I personally dreamt of all my life but it was a very satisfying feeling. Click here if you wanna listen to the recorded interview.

So just to back in retrospect, I put up these New Years resolutions. Being able to strike off a few of those just made me realize how fortunate I have been. There's nothing you can't achieve when you put effort into it and of course, with blessings from God, family, many friends and some luck.

/ A much needed break

2010-07-02T02:20:00.002+08:00

Last weekend I spontaneously went away for a 3d 2n beach holiday in Pangkor. I made my decision to go only 14 hours before the departure time, called up another friend who was also as spontaneous as I was, he called up his other friend and the 3 of us set off to this getaway. Literally to get away from all the shit that was in KL.

My goals to achieve for this trip was to tell myself that there's so much more out there apart from what I've grown to get used to in my daily life, more interesting people that I needed to meet and its possible for the human mind to just get our mind off shit and enjoy the weekend.

The entire trip was really good. It was all about boozing up all day, not judging anyone at all and just opening up. Simple things like good conversation and sitting by the beach never felt so good. Of course, I brought my 7 foot dolphin float to ride the waves. That dolphin ended up being used by a friend of mine as a chic magnet. He did well. Some people I met we're amazing, they we're so down to earth it was unbelievable. Them being themselves and nothing like anything else made them the coolest people in my eyes. Damn.... it's been a while since I saw real non-pretentious people.

My favourite part of the getaway was playing the guitar and having everyone sing along on the beach, 2 nights in a row. Music and guitar playing has always, always been my personal anti-depressant drug.

I hope whoever who went on that trip to find answers got them. I didn't really get any answers but I think I'm on the right track to find them now.

Here's to the future. Have a drink on me. Cheers.

/ 2 Bic Ball Point Pens

2010-06-13T21:04:00.002+08:00

/ Freaking Angerssss much?

2010-06-08T17:05:00.001+08:00

A Ritual to Help You Keep Your Focus and Your Temper

by Peter Bregman

John McCaffrey* is a great guy. The CEO of a professional services firm, he's been successful by any measure. He's financially secure. He's happily married with several children. He's active in his religious community. He's smart, well read, reasonable, and likable. He's the kind of guy you'd enjoy talking with at a dinner party.

Then again, the other day, in anger, he threw a telephone across the room, nearly hitting someone.

"That's not who I am," he told me. And it's true. I know him well and I've never seen him act anything like that way.

Now, throwing a telephone is pretty extreme. But, if you take it down a notch, John is not alone. Jane Pennelton is another incredibly successful leader in a different company — someone who I like and respect tremendously. She's recently been receiving feedback that she's rude, abrupt, uncommunicative, and harsh. When I discussed it with her she said the same thing: "That's not who I am."

John and Jane are mostly right. It's not who they are. Usually, anyway. And it's certainly not who they want to be.

But under the wrong conditions, it is who they are sometimes.

While most of us would resist the temptation to throw a phone, many of us still lose our tempers more easily than we'd like. This morning, I yelled at my kids for fighting with each other at the breakfast table. And then a little later, I was on the line with an AT&T representative, and after 45 minutes of getting nowhere, I lost it again.

Anger isn't the only problem. We blow people off. Don't return phone calls. Don't pay attention when they're telling us something important. Many of us, at times, act in ways we don't like and don't recognize as ourselves.

And I think I've figured out what's causing it: we're overwhelmed.

We have too much to do and not enough time to do it, which results in two problems:

Things fall through the cracks. We don't answer all our emails. We don't return all our calls. We don't really listen. And this insults and disappoints others.
We live in a constant state of dissatisfaction. We feel ineffective and insufficient. And so we disappoint ourselves.

In both cases our tempers get short. There's nothing more frustrating than having good intentions and not living up to them. It feels unjust. Like a child who spills something and then cries, "But I didn't mean to do it," we don't mean to be mean. But we lose all tolerance for anything that slows us down. Or that makes demands on us that we can't fulfill. And we get angry at others for our own feelings of inadequacy.

I wasn't angry at the AT&T guy for wasting my 45 minutes. I was angry at myself for having stayed on the call that long. And I wasn't angry at my kids for fighting as much as I was overwhelmed with cooking waffles and pancakes and oatmeal and setting the table and getting the syrup and the orange juice and making a nice breakfast. But I was so intent on making a nice breakfast that I ruined it.

Managing our time better, doing less, and resisting the temptation of multitasking are all good — and important — long-term solutions. But we need something more. We need a discipline — a ritual — that can help us stay centered and grounded throughout the day. We need something to remind us who we really are and who we want to be.

For me, that something is a beep.

In An 18-Minute Plan for Managing Your Day, I suggested setting a watch, phone, or computer to ring every hour and at the sound of the chime, taking one minute to ask yourself if the last hour had been productive. Then, during that pause, deliberately committing to how you are going to use the next hour. It's a way to keep yourself focused on doing what you committed to doing.

But there's another way to use that minute as well. Take that deep breath and ask yourself if, in the last hour, you've been the person you want to be. And then, during that pause, deliberately recommit — not just to what you are going to do but also to who you are going to be during the next hour. It's a way of staying recognizable to yourself. And to others.

If we're going to reverse the momentum, we need an interruption. When I yelled at my kids I immediately regretted it, which interrupted my self-defeating behavior. That interruption was all I needed to remind myself that I was not that kind of father. I stopped everything I was doing, sat and held them, and apologized for raising my voice.

Wouldn't it be nice if the interruption were a chime rather than a yell? And if it came before I lost my temper?

But, most likely, your chime won't come at exactly the right time. How many of us lose it exactly on the hour?

It doesn't matter. Losing control, becoming someone you're not, happens over time. It builds throughout several hours. That once-an-hour reminder, that one deep breath, that question about who you want to be, keeps you stable. It keeps you you.

Ask yourself if you're trying to accomplish too much or focusing on the wrong things. In other words, disrupt the source that destabilizes you. Reduce your feeling of being overwhelmed. Reconnect with the outcome you're trying to achieve, not just the things you're doing. Then you'll react less and achieve more.

When John threw the phone he immediately regretted it. And he's still working to make up for it. Because, unfortunately, one dramatic disruptive act outside the norm quickly becomes a story that defines the norm.

There is a way to change that story, but it's not dramatic. It's deliberate and steady, and it takes time.

We need to remind ourselves who we really are, and then we need to act that way. Consistently, predictably, minute by minute and hour by hour.

*Names and some details changed to protect people's privacy.

via Harvard Business Review

/ My Beautiful Rescue

2010-06-01T03:48:00.002+08:00

I've been jumping from the tops of buildings.
For the thrill of the fall.
Ignoring sound advice.
And any thought of consequence.
My bones are shattered.
My pride is shattered.
And in the midst of this self-inflicted pain.
I can see my beautiful rescue.

I'm falling more in love.
With every single word I withhold.
I'm falling more in love.
With every single word you say.
I'm falling head-over-heels for you.

I've been dancing on the tops of buildings.
At the top of my lungs I'm singing you a song.
Don't you leave me alone.
My bones were shattered.
My pride lays shattered.
Well I'll trample my pride and tell the whole world.
To dance with me.

I'm falling more in love.
With every single word I withhold.
I'm falling more in love.
With every single word you say.
I'm falling head-over-heels for you again.

I'm crying out.
"Wash my hands, these bloody hands Lord. Open my mouth and I'll sing."

I'm falling more in love.
With every single word I withhold.
I'm falling more in love.
With every single word you say.
I'm falling head-over-heels for you.

I've been dancing on the tops of buildings.
With you.

/ Do Not Multi-task

2010-05-27T19:57:00.002+08:00

This article is take from Harvard Business Review. It's a very very good read, I love it and I hope it will teach all of us a lesson. DO NOT MULTI TASK. Enjoy!

How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking

by Peter Bregman

During a conference call with the executive committee of a nonprofit board on which I sit I decided to send an email to a client.

I know, I know. You'd think I'd have learned.

Last week I wrote about the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. Multitasking is dangerous. And so I proposed a way to stop.

But when I sent that email, I wasn't in a car. I was safe at my desk. What could go wrong?

Well, I sent the client the message. Then I had to send him another one, this time with the attachment I had forgotten to append. Finally, my third email to him explained why that attachment wasn't what he was expecting. When I eventually refocused on the call, I realized I hadn't heard a question the Chair of the Board had asked me.

I swear I wasn't smoking anything. But I might as well have been. A study showed that people distracted by incoming email and phone calls saw a 10-point fall in their IQs. What's the impact of a 10-point drop? The same as losing a night of sleep. More than twice the effect of smoking marijuana.

Doing several things at once is a trick we play on ourselves, thinking we're getting more done. In reality, our productivity goes down by as much as 40%. We don't actually multitask. We switch-task, rapidly shifting from one thing to another, interrupting ourselves unproductively, and losing time in the process.

You might think you're different, that you've done it so much you've become good at it. Practice makes perfect and all that.

But you'd be wrong. Research shows that heavy multitaskers are less competent at doing several things at once than light multitaskers. In other words, in contrast to almost everything else in your life, the more you multitask, the worse you are at it. Practice, in this case, works against you.

I decided to do an experiment. For one week I would do no multitasking and see what happened. What techniques would help? Could I sustain a focus on one thing at a time for that long?

For the most part, I succeeded. If I was on the phone, all I did was talk or listen on the phone. In a meeting I did nothing but focus on the meeting. Any interruptions — email, a knock on the door — I held off until I finished what I was working on.

During the week I discovered six things:

First, it was delightful. I noticed this most dramatically when I was with my children. I shut my cell phone off and found myself much more deeply engaged and present with them. I never realized how significantly a short moment of checking my email disengaged me from the people and things right there in front of me. Don't laugh, but I actually — for the first time in a while — noticed the beauty of leaves blowing in the wind.

Second, I made significant progress on challenging projects, the kind that — like writing or strategizing — require thought and persistence. The kind I usually try to distract myself from. I stayed with each project when it got hard, and experienced a number of breakthroughs.

Third, my stress dropped dramatically. Research shows that multitasking isn't just inefficient, it's stressful. And I found that to be true. It was a relief to do only one thing at a time. I felt liberated from the strain of keeping so many balls in the air at each moment. It felt reassuring to finish one thing before going to the next.

Fourth, I lost all patience for things I felt were not a good use of my time. An hour-long meeting seemed interminably long. A meandering pointless conversation was excruciating. II became laser-focused on getting things done. Since I wasn't doing anything else, I got bored much more quickly. I had no tolerance for wasted time.

Fifth, I had tremendous patience for things I felt were useful and enjoyable. When I listened to my wife Eleanor, I was in no rush. When I was brainstorming about a difficult problem, I stuck with it. Nothing else was competing for my attention so I was able to settle into the one thing I was doing.

Sixth, there was no downside. I lost nothing by not multitasking. No projects were left unfinished. No one became frustrated with me for not answering a call or failing to return an email the second I received it.

That's why it's so surprising that multitasking is so hard to resist. If there's no downside to stopping, why don't we all just stop?

I think it's because our minds move considerably faster than the outside world. You can hear far more words a minute than someone else can speak. We have so much to do, why waste any time? So, while you're on the phone listening to someone, why not use that extra brain power to book a trip to Florence?

What we neglect to realize is that we're already using that brain power to pick up nuance, think about what we're hearing, access our creativity, and stay connected to what's happening around us. It's not really extra brain power. And diverting it has negative consequences.

So how do we resist the temptation?

First, the obvious: the best way to avoid interruptions is to turn them off. Often I write at 6 am when there's nothing to distract me, I disconnect my computer from its wireless connection and turn my phone off. In my car, I leave my phone in the trunk. Drastic? Maybe. But most of us shouldn't trust ourselves.

Second, the less obvious: Use your loss of patience to your advantage. Create unrealistically short deadlines. Cut all meetings in half. Give yourself a third of the time you think you need to accomplish something.

There's nothing like a deadline to keep things moving. And when things are moving fast, we can't help but focus on them. How many people run a race while texting? If you really only have 30 minutes to finish a presentation you thought would take an hour, are you really going to answer an interrupting call?

Interestingly, because multitasking is so stressful, single-tasking to meet a tight deadline will actually reduce your stress. In other words, giving yourself less time to do things could make you more productive and relaxed.

Finally, it's good to remember that we're not perfect. Every once in a while it might be OK to allow for a little multitasking. As I was writing this, Daniel, my two-year-old son, walked into my office, climbed on my lap, and said "Monsters, Inc. movie please."

So, here we are, I'm finishing this piece on the left side of my computer screen while Daniel is on my lap watching a movie on the right side of my computer screen.

Sometimes, it is simply impossible to resist a little multitasking.

/ No Need For A Name

2010-05-26T02:55:00.001+08:00

Are there no shadows where you are
I can see everything as day
Problems that you try to hide away
Pushing me aside
(You're pushing me aside)

Could the winter calm come twice
'Cause your heart seems so cold tonight
Thirst for substance somehow isn't right
It's killing me inside
(It's killing you inside)
You're killing me inside

I don't wanna be where you are
I don't wanna be here even now
I don't wanna be by your side
If something isn't right
If something isn't right

This is our last goodnight
Say what you will
Say all that you can
Words have no meaning
When I've seen where you've been

This is our last goodnight
Say what you will
Say all that you can
This is our last goodbye
This is where love ends

Are you so naive to right and wrong
How could you watch innocence forgone
Does what we've done ever really belong
It wasted me away
I feel so wasted away

God if you can hear me out all right
Please take these feelings for her inside
My chest hurts when I breathe tonight
It's wasting me away
(You're wasting me away)
They're wasting me away

I don't wanna be where you are
I don't wanna be here even now
I don't wanna be by your side
Something isn't right
Something isn't right

This is our last
(This is my last)

This is our last goodnight
Say what you will
Say all that you can
Words have no meaning
When I've seen where you've been

This our last goodnight
Say what you will
Say all that you can
This is our last goodbye
This is where love ends
(This is my last)

/ Short Term Success

2010-05-24T16:44:00.005+08:00

I was catching up with my good friend/superstar entrepreneur Khai Lee last night. We were talking about our businesses and goals for the future. Then he asked me a question, “What would your short term success look like?” My answer was completely regarding monetary goals. When I woke up this afternoon, I realized that my answer was not quite right. Yes, of course the main objective of running a business is for profit maximization but the measure of success is subjective to each individual. Success for some people could be to own a Ferrari and a big house or providing the best education for their children or even being able to sit down twice a week for dinner with the whole family.

I have lived here in Damansara Jaya for the past 19 years. I studied in SRK DJ and then SMK DJ. So, like many other true DJ-ians, the DJ spirit is damn strong within us and if there’s one thing for sure, we are all most proud of our two time national champion cheerleading team, Dynamitez.

Having left school for 7 years now and running a t-shirt supply, print & design business, we(Saltyskins /cs), were 100% full on on making this year OURS. The approach was no easy task. We knew no one in the team(coz we be old ppl), we struggled to get into that contact list of cheerleaders. Then once we got in, we were told that they already have their usual t-shirt guys in mind. We were at war, and had to win this war for the love DJ. We pitched them, we showed the cuts, we gave the designs, we offered sponsorship and most of all we put our DJ spirit into it and…………………………………. we got it.

So what would my short term success look like? Apart from the continuity of Saltyskins /custom shop, it has got to be being a part of the Dynamitez once again.

Here’s a teaser of the 2010 Dynamitez T-Shirt.

Available in Black & White.

Saltyskins /custom shop signature “Skin Fit” and “Baby-T” cuts.

/ This Has Nothing to Do With Actual Fishing

2010-05-20T16:04:00.005+08:00

Going fishing requires a few essential things, a good rod, some nice bait, maybe a nice chair, food/water and of course, a lot of patience. It also requires a goal. All those long hours will have to lead to a catch, a good catch. Every fisherman sort of knows the type of fish to catch and once that is identified, the fisherman goes to the right place to fish with the right bait.

The fishing process as well all know, takes a long long time. Patience is key. Eventually a fish swims up and bites the bait, the fisherman will hook that fish by pulling up his rod. This hook impales the mouth of the fish and there’s no chance of escape. The fish is reeled in and kept. The whole process is simple and straight forward for a fisherman who knows exactly what they are looking for.

However, that’s not always the case. Fishing has long been known as a recreational sport. Some people enjoy the process of fishing so much they do it so often, without any goal in mind. Recreational fishermen spend money on good rods, baits even transport to get to the right spot to fish. Since it’s more like a hobby, they become very selective over their catch and can afford to throw the injured fish back into the water. Some may argue that it was an unintentional catch and it really wasn’t supposed to be that fish. Well, sometimes it takes a bit of self realization.

There are a lot of experienced fishes as well as naïve fishes. Experienced fishes are harder to fall victim to bait. Regardless of the experience of the fish, if your bait is believable enough, you can bet on getting a fish. Every time a fish is impaled by a hook, it is injured. There is no proof that fishes feel any pain *but a spokesman for animal rights campaign group Peta, says: "If common sense isn't enough, the science is clear: being repeatedly impaled with a hook and yanked into an environment in which fish cannot breathe, like Benson, undeniably causes distress, pain and can lead to infections.

So before you go fishing next time, practice empathy.

*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8183547.stm

/ cpr

2010-05-19T23:56:00.000+08:00

cardio pulmonary resuscitation. CPR. know how to do it?

no excuse not to now.

/ Nike

2010-05-18T23:11:00.002+08:00

Man, I LOVE Nike. When I was younger, seeing Eric Cantona wearing those Tiempo's and Ronaldo (fat one) wearing the first Mercurial really aspired me to buy myself a pair when I saved enough. During my college years, I was fortunate enough to work with Nike Malaysia for various events including shoe launches. In those, couple of years working, I learnt more about marketing and 'cool' than any school, college or university could ever teach me.

They are the undisputed KINGS of marketing. All their ads are cool on a different level. No where near try hard and always ace. Only they have the power to (until this day), market a shoe that has been 25* years in the market, costs probably USD$3.50* to make, hype the shit out of it and sell them up to USD$1,000 a pair. They may have faced alot of issues regarding child labour and low wages to their workers in the part, oh well, it's a win-win situation... in a way. Nonetheless, I'm still a slave to the swoosh.

Here's a few of my personal favourites:

Au Revoir!

Ninjas!

Cage! i think this led to the crazy boom in Futsal

Becoming the player!

Nike SB P-Rod!

The Secret to Nike Air!

*http://www.clrlabor.org/alerts/1997/nikey001.html
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunk_%28footwear%29

/ Assam Laksa

2010-05-16T23:09:00.005+08:00

The weather has been so hot in Penang. Having a family reunion at this time of the year was great for everyone.

As for work, being away from it has left me itching to get back to my office/room and start working for the future. During my time in Penang, I received both good and bad news. I was pretty pissed off at the bad, but I guess, we always have to look on the positive side of things. So hmm... i'll take it as a lesson.

Here's a simple test
1+1=2
1+2=3
1+3=4
1+4=6

Why is it that the first thing you noticed or wanted to point out was that the last equation was wrong? Let's try and make this week a better one by looking at the 3 correct answers which makes up 75%. That's what most of us are anyway, never perfect. So, I challenge you this week to look at all things in a positive way starting Monday. See if it makes you feel like a happier person at the end of the week.

Seriousness aside, here's a song.
The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most - D/C

Buried deep as you can dig inside yourself, and covered with a perfect shell, such a charming beautiful exterior.

This is one time that you can't fake it hard enough to please everyone or anyone at all. And the grave that you refuse to leave the refuge that you've built to flee the places you have come to fear the most.

Buried deep as you can dig inside yourself, and hidden in the public eye. Such a stellar monument to loneliness. Laced with brilliant smiles and shining eyes and perfect makeup but you're barely scraping by.

Happy Birthday...

/ Principles tested?

2010-05-13T15:58:00.006+08:00

One day, two shop assistants spotted a man shoplifting. The man walked out of the store and the two employees gave chase. They tackled the shoplifter and got the items back. They were both fired after that.

According to their employers, all employees are aware, and trained, on the standard operating procedures for dealing with shoplifting or theft – which includes ceasing pursuit of a suspected shoplifter once they exit the store. All this is for the safety of both the employee and employer. The employer of course, wouldn't want any of their employees getting injured or even killed at work or their employees causing someone to get injured or killed for shoplifting. All this is mainly to save their ass from a huge lawsuit that may follow.
It is LEGAL to fire an employee but is it right? That's subjective.

From the boss' point of view, he/she works for the company. They owe a fiduciary duty to the company and it is bound by a contract. Firing someone who has gone against the system is good for the company and also potentially saves them from a costly lawsuit. However, if they were to see it from their own moral values, firing someone who did good? How can that be justified?

Lets look at this from an employee's point of view. Most of us grew up knowing to a certain degree whats right and wrong. Stealing is wrong, anyone can tell you that. So for these guys to chase a shoplifter, its only human nature, upbringing or maybe instinct. Then they're hit with the reality of the corporate world where law prevails over logic. You pay for being a hero.

When the day you are put to the test arrives, who will you be?
Human or Machine.

/ You Were The Last Good Thing About This Part Of Town

2010-05-13T01:58:00.005+08:00

Grand Theft Autumn - Fall Out Boy (back in the early years when they were great)

Where is your boy tonight?
I hope, he is a gentleman..
And maybe he won't find out what I know
You were the last good thing about this part of town..

When I wake up..
I'm willing to take my chances on
the hope i forget,
that you hate him more than you notice
I wrote this for you (for you, so)

You need him .. I should be him
I could be an accident but I'm still tryin'
And that's more than I can say for him

Where Is your boy tonight?
I hope, he is a gentleman..
And maybe he won't find out what I know:
You were the last good thing about this part of town

Someday I'll appreciate in value
Get off my ass and call you
In the mean time I'll sport my brand new fashion
Of waking up with pants on at four in the afternoon

You need him .. I should be him
I could be an accident but I'm still tryin'
And that's more than I can say for him

(ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!)

Where is your boy tonight?
I hope he is a gentleman
and maybe he won't find out what I know,
You were the last good thing about this part of town

(Won't find out ... He wont find out ...)
(Won't find out ... He wont find out ...)

/ hello

2010-05-11T19:53:00.014+08:00

Hi! I'm back. Everyone knows a blog is easy to start but impossible to maintain. Unless of course, you're paid to blog. I can't even write well to begin with. This may be due to my lack of interest in reading books from a young age. During my 23 years+ on earth, I've only read(apart from school related books) 3 books ever and they were the biographies of 1) Mick Foley(the WWE wrestler aka Mankind) 2) Tony Hawk and 3) Slash. So I guess, you can say the way I write will be just like how I would be talking to you.

I'll start off with what I do for a living now. Seems like alot of people I know still ask me what the hell I'm doing with my life since I left accounting. In case you don't already know, I started a company called 'Saltykins /custom shop' with my friend Nian King. It's a t-shirt supply, print and design co. specializing in great fitting t-shirts, screen printing and design consultancy. The goal was to supply loads of t-shirts that would fit everyone well for an event, company, school and etc. During my schooling years, I've worked for events and I think we all know how SHIT those free t-shirts are. They're oversized, baggy, drowns you and the girls always have to put up with guys sizes and having to tuck them into their jeans and roll up their sleeves a million times. I hated that. I feel that if you give people shirts that fit, something they can wear without feeling ugly, there's definitely a chance they might wear it again and not immediately use them for pajamas. I live by this formula;
"Frequent wear = Free advertising = Increased awareness = Incredible brand value"
Later on we(the company) decided to branch out into screen printing and design consultancy. Basically we wanted to build a one stop center where customers/clients can get everything done, hassle free and experience exceptional customer service.

So whats my work like?
Well since we just started, the two of us have to juggle ALOT of things like crazy. On my part, I constantly read tons of articles online regarding business set ups and management skills, creating proper system processes, the financial and accounting systems, source for new material, negotiating, personal appointments with customers, quality control, designing and clubbing. YEAH it's pretty intense. I have to honestly say that having an accounting & finance background definitely helped in doing most of these things on a daily basis. You know, alota people say screw studying, I just wanna start something. I used to think like that too, thank God my parents saw the bigger picture. They gave me the freedom to do what I wanted as long as I promised to finish up my studies. Knowledge is the power of the force.

So how do we operate?
Many people have slammed me for not having a website or a call card, trust me I punch myself every morning too. Well it's only because I've been so fussy on the direction and the branding of the company. It's all good now, we're expecting a website launch within the next month. Back to the question, how do I operate? Well for the past 10 months, believe it or not, only through word of mouth. We personally meet almost all our potential customers to create that bond that's more than just business. We understand their needs and then in a collaborative effort, work towards what they want. Top notch customer service which is really really hard to come by in this country and we are trying to set the benchmark for services for the coming generation. I read somewhere that 'your best salesman is your customer'. So yeah, word of mouth alone has sold us more than 3,000 t-shirts over the past 10 months. A very good friend of mine, Khai Lee mentioned this to me once, "Sales and marketing is only 2 things. Either telling truth well or making lies sell". I remember that till today, and pledge to always go with the former.

Whats coming up for the year?
Well things have been looking pretty solid. Word of mouth has spread across our borders into Singapore! So we're currently working with some customers there and hopefully we can put a big fat Malaysian stamp down there. Apart from that, we're still very active in helping out people who are empowering themselves to do big stuff ie. our friends over at Project Epic. Finally, we're definitely looking forward to launching our retail line. I hope for it to be a revolution.

What to expect from this blog called So.Damn.Salty?
I'll probably never write a post this long ever again haha. Hmm... probably more insights on the business world from a youth's perspective, more random song lyrics, guitar covers and anything else la. I'll just write as I feel. I don't need a direction anyway.

ps: Thx to Thia for giving me that ass kicking on twitter I needed to start this again. :D

its only murder if she walks away after piercing your heart, if she sticks around, that pierce was meant to be

2010-01-11T03:30:00.001+08:00

"Talking Bird" - DCFT

Oh, my talking bird
Though you know so few words
They're on infinite repeat
Like your brain can't keep up with your beak.

And you're kept in an open cage
So you're free to leave or stay.
Sometimes you get confused
Like there's a hint I am trying to give you.

The longer you think, the less you know what to do.

It's hard to see your way out
When you live in a house in a house
Cause you don't realize
That the windows were open the whole time.

Oh, my talking bird
Though your feathers are tattered and furled
I'll love you all your days
Till the breath leaves your delicate face.

It's all here for you as long as your choose to stay.
It's all here for you as long as you don't fly away.

2010

2010-01-01T16:01:00.002+08:00

Everyone's got resolutions, most of the time they dont work out. I'm aiming to hit at least 70%, that would suffice.

Here's my list

Let go of emotional burdens. Two feet into the brand new world.
Bring Saltyskins to the people. International by December 10'.
Learn to play drums. Record youtube video by December 10'.
Be successful enough to be invited to give motivational talks at universities.
Keep doing what I do, WELL and not go back into an accounting firm.
Treasure family and friends more than before.
Screw up fewer people's lives.
Prove all the skeptics wrong.

Make Yourself - Incubus

2009-12-08T00:57:00.002+08:00

If I hadn't made me, I would've been made somehow..
If I hadn't assembled myself, Id've fallen apart by now.
If I hadn't made me, I'd be more inclined to bow.
Powers that be, Would have swallowed me up
But that's more than I can allow.
But...

If you let them make you, they'll make you Paper-Mache
At a distance you're strong, until the wind comes
Then you'll crumble and blow away.
If you let him fuck you there will be no foreplay.
Rest assured, They'll screw you complete, Until your ass is blue and grey!

You should make amends with you,
If only for better health.
But if you really want to live,
Why not try, and Make yourself?
Make yourself (Make yourself)

If I hadn't made me, I'd have fallen apart by now.
I won't let them make me..It's more than I can allow.
So when I make me, I won't be paper-Mache..
And if I fuck me...I'll fuck me in my own way.
Fuck me in my own way
Fuck me in my own way
Fuck me in my own way
Fuck me in my own way...

You should make amends with you,
If only for better health (Better health)
But if you really want to live,
Why not try, and Make yourself?
Make yourself
Make yourself
Make yourself
Make yourself!

Thriller

2009-11-23T18:54:00.004+08:00

(source: http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/images-2/michael-jackson-thriller-zombie.jpg)

in 1982, the greatest entertainer that ever lived, Michael Jackson released an album named "Thriller". that album went on to be the highest selling album of all time, 110 million copies.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_worldwide#Legend)

months after his death, another great musician whom i admire so much, Imogen Heap, covered the legend's "Thriller" on BBC radio. she made it her own. playing the song in different keys and just turning it so dark and haunting. stellar.

Black Heart Intertia - Incubus

2009-11-23T03:50:00.002+08:00

Walking alone tonight
‘Cause I’ve only got room for two
Me and my burdened black heart
It’s all we know how to do


Yet I look for a bigger bang
Than the kind I continually see
Sick of all this inertia ow
Won’t you mend me?

Lover, can you help me?
I’m a child lost in the woods
A black heart pollutes me
And I think

You’re a mountain that I’d like to climb
Not to conquer, but to share in the view

Pulled by a false inertia
Pushed out by circumstance
Pistol firing at my feet
That’s coercing me to dance

Yet I look for a bigger bang
Than the kind I’m sorry to know.
Here I am, first foot of the climb
Watch me go.

Lover, can you help me?
I’m a child lost in the woods
A lit path eludes me
And I think

You’re a mountain that I’d like to climb
Not to conquer, but to share in the view
You’re a bonfire and I’m gathered ’round you
Set this old black heart inertia aflame

Send it away (repeat)


You’re a mountain
That I’d like to climb
Not to conquer, but to share in the view
You’re a bonfire
And I’m gathered ’round you
Set this old black heart inertia aflame

Set it aflame, send it away

i turn 23

2009-11-02T16:37:00.001+08:00

woohooo

AVENGED SEVENFOLD!

2009-09-27T14:36:00.004+08:00

yo guys,

here's a new cover i made. i've recently gone crazy over avenged sevenfold. this happened after i was browsing youtube one night and actually watched their live in long beach performance. of coz i've heard of them prior to this but after watching them live, you really know that these guys aren't just another stupid studio/music label product kinda band. they're the real deal yo. a7X!

YO! Imma let you type but let me post this first

2009-09-16T19:20:00.003+08:00

HAHA I woke up this morning, inspired to do something funny.

Fresh from the labs....
Thinking of whether to actually print these tshirts.

Blink-182 pays tribute to Adam

2009-09-01T19:47:00.000+08:00

Mark breaking down while talking about DJ-AM. so much sadness....

RIP DJ AM

2009-09-01T19:40:00.002+08:00

good bye man... rest in peace

my screamo heroes are back!

2009-06-04T23:36:00.002+08:00

the guys who brought my favourite song to date to me with the opening line "you lipstick, his collar. don't bother angel, i know exactly what goes on" are BACK.

after a 2 year hiatus, and a new guitarist/backup singer, they've released a 11 track record called "New Again". how do i feel about it? i'm not sure, still on the fence. they've definitely lost their signature 2 emo dudes screamin and overlapping each other's lyrics. hmm, i guess it'll take some getting used to.

if only john didnt leave the band. or fred. dammit. they keep losing their guitarists/screamers.

woah shit this is freaky!

2009-06-03T22:29:00.002+08:00

the female version of this guy is gonna increase the number of single nerd gamers in the world!!!

THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN!

2009-06-02T22:51:00.003+08:00

I've always been a hardcore Travis Barker fan ever since I was 13-14 years old. In case you don't know, he's the drummer from Blink-182 (after Scott left), +44 and The Transplants. He's got the mad skills man and hella style when he plays. Apart from drumming, he owns a dope clothing company called Famous Stars and Straps and I've always been obsessed with their tattoo inspired designs.

Sometime last year, Travis collaborated with DJ Am (Crazy Town, Mandy Moore's ex) to mash up turntable scratching with live drumming. Needless to say, the results we're mind blowing, orgasmic in your face mixes. They released a free album online called Fix You Face, which I still listen to till this day.

Here's a preview of the first track to give you a taste of what they do

A couple of months later, a plane they were on after a show crashed, killing their bodyguards and Lil Chris (Travis' assistant). It was fated by God that both of them would survive the crash. Now in June 2009, they're back! Stonger and more alive than ever! A new mix was made and free to donwload in exchange for a tweet. A fkin steal!

If you can appreciate cool drum beats + rock + retro + indie + pop songs all mashed up, I swear you're gonna love TRV$ Dj AM. Quit surfing porn and download it now!

The First Personal Post

2009-02-26T00:33:00.002+08:00

my passion burns strong but i'm losing hope. it is blocking me, i'm lost, i don't want do it anymore. but in a world where cash is king and careers aren't always about what you love to do, how do you make a decision. nothing... no one around inspires. reinvent, rediscover, realize....

MCQ 1:
a) i need a holiday and find myself
b) i need to stop pushing myself to hard
c) i need to stop thinking so much everyday
d) i need to be more like other people

choices define who we are and what we become. i just want to Make Myself

WOAH!

2009-02-15T14:02:00.000+08:00

saltyskins clothing

2009-01-19T00:52:00.002+08:00

SALTYSKINS.COM

hey all!

the much anticipated event Youth 09' has just ended. there was a section of Youth 09 that was organized by Bijou Bazaar called Creative Mafia and i had a booth there. for the 2 good days that it lasted, a small crew of saltyfriends (thanks alot! really! u know who u are) came over to help me out/keep me company.

so what was i selling?
my latest project which is called 'SALTYSKINS'. SALTYSKINS is all about basics. plain tees that fit so damn well and comes in many colours! each SALTYSKIN size is measured to fit you like a second skin.

why plain tee's?
a plain tee is the most underrated item in fashion. you can create so many looks with a plain tee. layer it up, wear a scarf, a vest, just plain or watever you can think of. living in kl, where you'd think its easy to find really nicely cut tees, i found it extremely difficult find one. most of the tees i own are not local and occasionally bought online. i was frustrated that a simple thing like a nice cut tee wasn't even available for a cheap price. one of the few places where most of us have frequent to get one is TOPMAN, and a plain tee there sets you back RM36.

measurements?

Size S = 18" chest, 16 1/2" shoulder, 6 1/2" sleeve
M= 19" chest, 18" shoulder, 7" sleeve
L = 21" chest, 18" shoulder, 7 1/2" sleeve

i assure you each tee will fit you so well, you'll wear em everyday just like i do now.
at the moment, i dont do baby tee's or girl cuts. you don't really need those, work it like mich stit

why buy SALTYSKINS?
it fits well. it is homemade so you're actually giving your own people jobs. it is made with quality cotton that gets softer and softer the more u wear and wash it. most importantly, its affordable.

alright so how much is SALTYSKINS?
superfkincrazy... 1 for RM 20, 4 or more for RM15 each. i'm serious. that's RM15/AUD6/USD4.20/2.8 POUNDS. at the moment now i have 4 of the most popular colours which is BLACK, RED, SKY BLUE, WHITE.

i do wholesale orders too in a wide range of colours. so if you've got a school club, event, a band or just wanna design your own tshirt

drop me a saltyskins email at saltyskins@gmail.com to order some right now or inquiries on wholesale prices.

50 + of these were sold at the Youth 09' booth in just 2 days, i'm ready to help make this place a better looking one. are you with me?

yours truly,
ps: the first saltydogg tee is using the same measurements but a more superior cotton quality

my current obsession

2009-01-16T23:51:00.000+08:00

i love this shit!
best thing i've heard this week.
graveyard girl by M83

SPOTTED

2009-01-13T01:10:00.001+08:00

oOoOooOOOO spotted....

saltydogg writeup on Femmething

CLICK CLICK CLICK

sooo damn salty!!!

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-06T23:42:00.011+08:00

photos by my buddy Zillieman. Worn by Gingerfish, Discostick and Stit Stit

Introducing the Star Wars inspired Saltydogg T-shirt. Printed on Saltyskins custom made T's so that means you're assured of the best damn fit possible. Made with much love, fun and passion. Limited to 25 pieces only and no reprints, no more awkward moments seeing someone else wearing the same shit. Awesome?

Get them at RM50 each NOW NOW NOW. Drop me a msg/comment/scream at my face when you see me if you want one. If you're overseas, drop me an email.

It's gonna be a Salty year ahead...

ROFL WTF :p

2008-12-22T23:18:00.002+08:00

woot woot.. photoshoot is DONE. just waiting for the pics to be sent over.
as usual, here's another song for you guys..

25th of November 2009

2008-11-23T11:32:00.003+08:00

I'm excited. Will you be excited with me too?
The first prints are coming out in a couple of days! 25th(Tuesday) to be exact.

My first ever t-shirt brought to life. Carefully measured, fully loved and custom made to perfection. I kid you not when I say it's going to be so damn salty.

Actual pics coming soon...

THE OFFICE WEAR GUIDE FOR GUYS PART 1

2008-11-05T22:09:00.006+08:00

So you're done with studying, exams and damn assignments. You're graduating or have just graduated. Now comes the new phase in life, the part where real responsibility and independence kick in. WORKING LIFE. As usual, choosing what to wear is essential in creating an image in the firm and among your colleagues. Choosing your outfit has to match the working environment so that you don't look like a moron out of place.

You'll soon realize that you can stereotype working attire. For example, a group of people in crisp white shirts, ties and black slacks, you know they're from the law firm on the 3rd floor and a group of very fashionable, daring and somewhat indie style clothing, they're from the ad agency in the next building.

So what should I wear for my first interview? What colours should I wear? Are cuff links needed? Do I wear my jacket to work? What pants do I have to buy? Shoes?
So many questions, so many opinions. Style is really individual. It is obvious to others when someone copies another ones style. Simple because he or she just can't pull it off that well. So, take my opinions, alter them, and make it your own style.

First things first, choosing the shirt, pants, tie, belt and the shoes
The shirt

Essential tips before buying your shirt
1) Style of collar
2) Cuff
3) Fit

1) Style of collars - There are several types of collars for working shirts. I wont go into detail because I feel that they're all fine and it's really up to you which collar works for you. However, take note that some collars were made for skinny ties.

2) Cuff - There are two common types of cuffs. The barrel cuff and the French cuff.
The barrel cuff looks like your standard shirt with two buttons.
The French cuff is a double cuff that is folded back and locked with Cuff Links. Nowadays, you can find french cuff's with buttons which are more convenient but in my opinion, loses the purpose of having the French cuff. This shirt is a more formal shirt usually worn with a jacket or a class event.

3) Fit - Among all 3 tips, this is the MOST IMPORTANT. Even in my previous posts, I have emphasized on how important it is to find a good fit. You look a million times better in a shirt that fits as compared to one that does not.
Size - Shirts have two sizes on the collar, for example 15/32. This means that the shirt has a neck of 15" in girth and 32" in sleeve length. Good brands would have increment in sizes by 1/2's. The length of your sleeve should be slightly past your wrist. Think of it as, enough to cover your watch.
Cutting - Most brands would have 2 fits. The relaxed/casual fit and the slim/athletic fit. Different brands will call them different names but serve the same purpose. The rules are simple, if you are big sized, or chubby, start looking in the relaxed fit section. Vice versa. In my opinion a great fitting shirt would have enough cloth to cover your upper body and arms (not tightly) without much excess cloth hanging. You should be able to extend both arms forward without tearing the back of your shirt.

The pants

Essential tips
1) Front
2) Fit
3) Material

1) Front - There are two kinds of designs for the front of the pants; pleated and flat front. Pleats are known to be more formal and dressy as compared to flat front. Again, this depends on the reason you want to buy the pants. Flat front pants is essential in completing the 'slim fit' look. I feel it's gives a more modern look too.

2) Fit - When choosing a pair of pants, do make sure that they do not look baggy on you. Leave that to the jeans, not the pants. Alter the pants to where the bottom of the pants touches the floor so you can nicely cover the back of your shoes. That's right, I said alter, don't ever cuff them.

3) Material - So many. It really depends on your budget. The common materials used would be polyester or cotton. NOTE THIS : for some reason, when you use a hot iron on cheaper material pants, they tend to get shiny. After some time, your pants will begin to look similar to a spacesuit. Either save money and buy new ones each time they get really shiny, or invest in a good pair.

The tie
There are two kinds of ties; skinny and the normal ones. Skinny ties may not be appropriate for some work places such as they seem unprofessional. When deciding on a design of the tie, it's always best to bring your shirt or know what shirts you have really well. Always pick a tie that has matching colors with your shirt. Keep in mind, if you're going to pick an elaborate designed tie, keep the shirt plain(white would be best). You don't want to scream too much attention. Think of it this way, make people focus on one piece. Either the tie or the shirt.

The belt
Minimal! Thin leather belts with small buckles. Black, of course. On casual Fridays, you can put on a belt that you would normally wear out. However don't over do it with massive buckles and studs. Brown leather belts are perfect for casual Friday's paired with khaki's.

The shoes
Firstly, it has to be black leather shoes. Now, there are many variations to a shoe. Again, depending on personal taste. Laces/Slip on, Patent(Shiny)/Matt Leather, Very pointy/pointy/square. Laces and patent leather always appealed to me, they always seem more professional. When choosing a shoe, I immediately ignore the square front shoes. Very pointy shoes are for the tall people.

Just for fun...

2008-10-29T23:28:00.003+08:00

it's been quite a while since the last post. i've been busy studying for my exams. i just finished my last paper today. while i'm writing up the next post, which would be an interesting one, i decided to play a song for you guys haha.

enjoy, flame me if u want. constructive criticism please :D

ha.. ha..

2008-10-18T17:35:00.002+08:00

because i watched the movie 4 times, i deserve to wear this. cheers to rohan all the way from the UK.

to pop or not to pop?

2008-10-14T18:28:00.003+08:00

Polo T's are one of the most common tops worn by guys. today, i'm not going to discuss a polo t in detail. however, i am going to open a discussion here. as you know, the collar of the polo t is pretty controversial.

do u like to pop your collar or not? if you do, why? if not, why?
i personally don't. i prefer a look that doesn't shout cool.

love to hear your views.

collar not popped

collar poppped

i thought this was pretty funny

image source:ralph lauren

Genius

2008-10-09T23:47:00.002+08:00

(mensrag)

Carolyn Massey for Topman "LENS" project. pure genius. so many possibilities.

Fashion Sin No.2

2008-10-09T18:22:00.004+08:00

Here's Fashion Sin No.2, CROCS! oh my god, where do i even begin with that piece of shit. they are downright the most hideous & disgusting shoes ever created. i really don't understand how anyone can buy em. I DON'T GET IT!!!

Crocs are acceptable if you wear them at the beach, in your OWN garden, if you've had some major operation on your toes and you need them covered or for some medical reason. apart from that, no i'm sorry. you can't be forgiven.

it is NOT cool or cute to be wearing colorful rubber shoes that look like freaking ski masks from Friday 13th. anyone above the age of 9 should be banned from wearing Crocs. well some people i've talked to have defended Crocs by saying they're really comfortable. WELL GUESS WHAT! alot of other shoes are comfortable too.

as much as everyone says its fugly, Crocs retail stores are opening all over the place. what makes it worst is that now, there's a wider range to Crocs such as the Crocs laces, Crocs with sheep skin, Crocs high heels, Crocs wedges and other shit. you can even accesorize your Crocs with those pin on jewelry for Crocs. omg.

i tried to put myself in the position of those with Crocs to try and understand why they wear them but i couldn't. it was almost like forcing myself to follow Fashion Sin No.1

can you really pair any outift with crocs? no you cant. this pic here is probably one of the worst styles ever in the history of mankind.
it's OFFICIAL this is the worst thing you can ever do to yourself as a human being. wearing shorts, SOCKS and crocs that don't even match. may God bless you/the force be with you.......

the Vest

2008-10-06T17:10:00.008+08:00

the vest sure gives a touch of class to any outfit. sure makes you look like a waiter too, if you don't match the colors right. i noticed that the whole vest trend exploded in late 2006. people started wearing vests on a casual basis, usually paired with a plain white t. in my opinion, i'd have to say Justin Timberlake was partly responsible for this. at that time, he had the biggest hit in the world and was always seen(tv,mags,online) with a vest and a fedora in public and in his videos too. i guess he really brought that look mainstream.

vests arent the cheapest things that you can buy for your wardrobe. some of them costs as much as a nice shirt or a pair fo jeans. it can, however give that one extra notch of awesomeness to your outfit for the day.

so what are the ways to rock a vest?

Kinda Formal

Semi Formal (yes he's a midget)

Casual

So are all vests the same? Nope. Some got a lot more buttons, some have less. Some are 100% cotton (front and back), some are cotton in front and shiny silk-like at the back.

So, go hunting already!

THE SKINNY JEANS GUIDE FOR GUYS

2008-10-05T22:44:00.017+08:00

(source:myscribblesite.com NUDIE JEANS)

SKINNY JEANS, everyone's rocking them now. well...... almost everyone. however, many guys are still contemplating on whether its acceptable or just plain gay. but seriously, if you don't give them a try, you'll never know.

So how many types of skinny's are there? I like to believe that there are 3 types.
1) super skinny(tight as hell almost like leggings)
2) skinny
3) girls jeans(before skinny's got really commercialized, this was how they rocked tight jeans)

here's one thing about skinny's. u can't just say hell no i'm definitely not getting the super skinny ones or the girl jeans. you gotta put them on and see which one fits you best. most people tend to get a size smaller than their average waist for skinny jeans. from my observation, only really stick thin people can pull off the super skinny or girls jeans.

Are they comfortable? Despite how uncomfortable they look, skinny jeans are the most comfortable pair of jeans i've ever worn. good cuts will fit your ass like a glove. my friend once said, once you put on a pair, you'll never want excess cloth in between your legs again. i couldn't agree more. well the sucky part about wearing skinny jeans is the fact that u cant stand straight and lift your knee above your waist anymore. which means there goes your flying kick days or kneeing ppl in the face. if you're alright with that, go on and put some on.

Can I pull off the look? NOT EVERYONE can or should wear skinny jeans. harsh, but it's the truth. i guess some trends aren't really meant for everyone :/.

DO NOT WEAR SKINNY'S IF

1. you're really buff/built. seriously, you'll look like a freaking marshmallow on a toothpick.

2. big sized. ok the drawing is a bit exaggerated but if you're on the bigger size, stay away. seriously. muffins belong in the bakery not on the streets.

for those that fit into these categories, just get straight cut jeans, they'll look much better.
well so who can? in my HONEST HUMBLE opinion, skinny and average sized people.

What brands can i buy? to name a few; seven jeans, nudie jeans, g-star raw, levi's black label, lee riders black stitch, lee riders japan, cheap monday, ksubi, topman

personally, i wear nudie jeans and levi's black label. both different but superb in their own way.
nudie jeans are known for their ability to loose it's color to custom your creases.

Where and how much? unfortunately, these brands are hard to come by in Malaysia. however, with the right determination and will power, you will be wearing them.

Seven jeans - Bread & Butter, Pavillion, KL. RM1000+
Nudie jeans - Queens Couture, Singapore. RM600+
G-star raw - Paragon, Singapore. RM600+
Topman - Topman, One Utama, PJ. RM200+
Levi's black label - General Pants, Australia. RM300+
LEE riders - General Pants, Australia.
Cheap monday - General Pants, Australia.
Ksubi - General Pants, Australia.

I'll keep this updated when i get more info or suggestions from ppl. DON'T SUPPORT FAKES!

Fashion Sin No.1

2008-10-05T13:22:00.007+08:00

Here's Fashion Sin No.1(Mr Chialat aka most Malaysian guys) spotted in One U
1) Oversized T-shirt
2) Cargo Pants
3) The latest running shoes

A nice fitting t-shirt may be very hard to find. Even if you find one, they're probably quite expensive. However, investing in just ONE good t-shirt makes hell of a difference.

As for cargo pants, nothing to say.... unless you wana pack your lunch, swiss army knife, a bottle of water and a comic book when you go out, DONT wear them.

It should be against the law to pair running shoes with cargo pants. I'm not talking about those old skool ones that pass as a sneaker nowadays (ie. nike air max 1/90/95), i'm talking about those that are meant for the gym.

Quick fix for Mr.Chialat

1) Fitted(not necessary)/Right sized t-shirt
2) Belt
3) Slim fit/Straight cut pants
4) Slip on shoes

trvsam

2008-10-03T21:49:00.003+08:00

Get well soon guys...

bang bang

2008-09-28T17:24:00.001+08:00

some old stuff

2008-09-15T00:46:00.007+08:00

i figured i'll just stick to blogspot, so i'm bringing over some old crap i posted on my xanga.
click for a superfreakinglarge view.

there he sits, thinking that the world is crashing down on him alone. he does not see the faces of those who are behind him, sharing the same grief, feeling lost in life and not knowing which direction to go. although his path in life has been somewhat set by other people, he feels as if he is made for something else. just because he cannot see the others, it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t reach out and ask for help because little did he know, even the most unlikely person may have the same problem as him.

You Are Not Alone

she holds the missing piece for the bruised and broken heart. her eyes shut/a question mark.

who?

this pretty much sums up my experience in Australia, drawn in a capital F which is one of my favourite brands (Famous Stars & Straps by Travis Barker)

so anyway from top left clockwise.

beer and liquor bottles on top of our fridge
the balcony with the tiny round table where we spent almost every night drinking
the view of my hostel from outside
the tons and tons of photos we took
saltydogg and i hanging out in my room making music almost every night
the australian flag
my heart projecting the saltydogg clothing co logo

the end of my final year, i designed our flat page for the yearbook. i was remember being really obsessed with the show 'heroes' at that time.

very often, alot of people fall into this situation. for you, my friend.