Goodbye UPSI IS MY ALMA MATER

I will no longer be posting entries on this blog. The URL of my new blog is http://fromapolylecturerdesk.wordpress.com

Me and The Karate Kid Film Release

When The Karate Kid, directed by John G. Avildsen was first released on 22th June 1984, I had not even come out from my mother’s womb. Over a quarter of a century later, Harald Zwart stepped in Avildsen's place to direct the remake of the movie. Both film versions share almost the same plot. If Avildsen’s directed version sets in 1980s and also in the country of America, Zwart’s film sets in the postmodern world and takes place in China and partially in the States. Most of the incidents in Zwart’s remake version are adopted from Avildsen’s movie, starting from Dre Parker and his mother’s transfer to China to the former’s experience while seeing Mr. Han and a number more to list till Dre’s victory over his opponent, Cheng in the final bout of a kungfu competition. If Miyagi calls Daniel LaRusso as Daniel-san, Han addresses Dre Parker with the name Xiao Dre.

In spite of all the similarities, there are actually some changes made to adapt to the different time frames and circumstances in both movies. At least one can notice the use of sophisticated gadgets like mp3 handphones in the remake movie compared to Avildsen’s version where in the 80s, those gadgets were not popularly used. Besides, Japanese karate is taught by Miyagi to Daniel in contrast to Chinese kungfu which is learned by Dre from Han. During both protagonists’ bouts against their respective opponents, even though both are injured and they stand on their single legs, Miyagi tells Daniel to focus but Han does not say anything to encourage Dre. Daniel eventually lands his kick to Johnny’s (the antagonist of the original film) chin while Dre kicks on the top of Cheng’s head to bring him down.

When the remake of The Karate Kid was released yesterday, its tickets were sold like hot cakes. I had to miss two occasions to watch this film with my brother before I could grab the tickets to watch it at Cathay Cineplex in JB City Square. Both of us had to sit at the first-row seats because most of the back seats were occupied by other movie freaks.

My Nature of Quick Temper

I once threw a bunch of keys on my laptop keyboard and the keys bounced and hit the LCD screen of my laptop. It cost me a laptop and I had to buy another laptop. The whole incident was indirectly caused by my classmate who kept igniting my feeling of hatred towards him. I do admit that my jealousy towards him was the chief cause behind this feeling of hatred.

A few months back, there was a day at night, upon learning that a girl I used to like had a boyfriend, I smashed a mirror into pieces. I was upset. Why didn’t she tell me about her status and her availability earlier? Why did she give me a false hope by letting me keep her company in Kuala Lumpur on a Saturday evening? Why did she accept my Valentine gift? All these questions came across my mind when I became insane that night. I’m glad this feeling of crush has lost its appeal and I don’t have to see her again.

Last night, I was pissed as a workmate of mine urged me to send two plates of cooked food to some customers quickly in such a rude way. Everyone knows how I work at my workplace. I was not intended to slow down sending the food to the customers. I only wanted to check what the two plates of food were because they looked almost the same even though they were not. I did not talk to her that night. As she happened to tap her palm on my shoulder, I pushed her palm away. Fuck that bitch!

After I went back from work, I could not help yelling at another workmate whose current residence is same as mine. We stay at a hostel rented by our boss. This stupid Filipino disturbed and distracted my friend and I who were watching musical video clips by trying to imitate loudly the sound of a man singing a song played on my laptop. But only before I was about to post this entry, we shook our hands as a sign to forget the friction that we had.

$$$

People from all walks of life have always dreamed to be rich. But not all of them are lucky enough to end up becoming wealthy. So, people look for keys to get rich. In fact, there is a number of keys to be blessed with loads of money in possession. Some people start their own business but still find that they do not profit much to be deemed rich from their respective fields of business. Others work hard throughout their entire lives only to realize that they are still paupers. If those two ways are the legal means to earn bread and butter and get rich, some rich-person wannabes even go extreme by resorting to illegal ways of making money which are understood by many. Licensed lotteries and other games of chance are however deemed legal because parts of the profits are pocketed by the government. There is however an issue worth a debate. How rich is being rich? Are there criteria or guidelines to qualify one to be called a rich person? How much does one need to earn in order to wear the tag, 'the rich person'? RM 100K? RM 1 million? People may drive BMWs and Benzs on the road but still do not call themselves as rich people.

Ip Man 2

When Ip Man (Donnie Yen) comes to Hong Kong, he faces many difficulties to open his own school of martial arts. He has to beat a few kungfu masters from many different kungfu schools before a joss stick finishes its burning. He overcomes them. Master Hung challenges Ip Man. The duel between Master Hung (Sammo Hung) and Ip Man is a draw. Eventually, Ip Man is allowed to teach Wing Chun kungfu to his students. An arrogant British boxer, Twister (Darren Shahlavi) invites all kungfu masters to challenge him in the ring. Master Hung accepts the boxer's challenge. The former is defeated and died inside the ring. Upon his death, Twister throws a challenge to any Chinese kungfu master to fight him. Then, Ip Man answers to Twister's challenge at a media press. When the bout between the whiteman and the Chinaman takes place, the latter earns the hard-earned victory against the former. The most touching part in this movie is when Ip Man says that he does not fight Twister to prove that the Chinese kungfu is better than the European boxing. In fact. he mentions that everyone regardless of any skin colour should respect other people including those who do not share the skin colour with him or her. This movie is full of sentiment. When I watched the movie, I kept swearing at the arrogant white boxer.

Let's start afresh

All that happened yesterday were indeed a series of nightmares though there were couples of sweet memories since I set my foot on this soil of Tanjong Malim. For better or for worse, all the things that happened in the past have turned into facts. They are not subject to change. All the ups and downs that I have experienced can only be deemed memorable. They are attached to my mind after all. There is no way for me to go back to where I started. I can only walk this journey ahead bearing in mind that I'll never repeat the same mistakes over and over again. I do hope that every day I wake up from my sleep, I will become a brand new person.

I'm sorry

I would like to offer my apologies to my dad, relatives and those who have been pinning their hopes on me to do my best in my studies. However, I have failed them. I promised them to give my best shot in my studies but I did not. If someone needs to take the fall, the person is me. Perhaps, teaching courses are not what I wanted to pursue in the first place, but I should have tried my best to produce my best assignments throughout the eight semesters at my university. I should have also prepared well before the final exams. After my graduation, I hope I will give my best in my work and at the same time look for better opportunities in life. After all, I am not a teacher, let alone an educator.