Monday, January 31, 2011

Anak-Anak Pakcik Batu

Pakcik Batu ada dua orang anak. Seorang lelaki dan seorang perempuan. Anak lelaki bernama Angus dan yang perempuan diberi nama Julia; yakni Angus Batu dan Julia Batu mereka dipanggil secara berasingan. Tapi disebabkan mereka selalu bersama, mereka dipanggil Angus dan Julia Batu untuk menjimatkan tenaga. Sebab nama ni memang macam mengundang persoalan, “Batu ape? Batu geliga? Batu tiga? Batu Caves? Antan Batura?”, maka mereka menglamorisasikan nama bapak mereka kepada Stone, sebab bapa mereka minat Sharon Stone. Maka *buat suara Kokoh Kerunch” jadilah Angus and Julia Stone.

Mereka dari Negara Ostrolia tapi suka makan masak lomak cili api *ko pun percaya kan?”

…cerita bersambung

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Tina Dico - No Time To Sleep

Saya tujukan lagu ini untuk kawan-kawan yang menerima nasib yang sama seperti saya. Silalah bersabar menempuhi dugaan assignment yang banyaks (<--for superlative purposes).

Dari album A Beginning, a Detour, an Open Ending silalah menghayati liriknya dengan rasa cemas dan mengantuk.



Who's gonna sing the song of change
If no one can imagine life outside the beaten track
And who's gonna stop a running train
If no one cares to dwell or no one wants to look back

Somewhere along the line you gave up askin'
When it got a little too complex
But if you don't question what has been
Does it mean that you don't care what's coming next

You got no one to follow
And no one will follow you
Ain't that a relief
That everything and everyone must grow in opposition
To resistance and contradiction
This ain't no time to go to sleep

This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep

So who's gonna sing the song faith
If no one prays for anything that can't be bought and sold
And who's gonna tell the story straight
Does anyone believe there's still a story to be told

Somewhere along the line you just stopped walking
When the undercurrent got too strong
Some day a lonely busker will come knocking
With a soft and long forgotten song

'Cause you got no one to follow
And no one will follow you
Ain't that a relief
That everything and everyone must grow in opposition
To resistance and contradiction
This ain't no time to go to sleep

This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep

This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep
This ain't no time to go to sleep

Friday, January 28, 2011

Does That Makes Me Human by Default?

*Mood: Cerebromyalgia*

Dah lama tak post blog.

"Like I care" katanya saya.

"I'm busy!!!" kata Lady Gaga dan Beyonce dalam lagu Telephone

So sebagai pengubat luka...









...saya hadiahkan Minyak Gamat, kerana entry saya secara klinikal tidak memberi sebarang perubahan terhadap luka. Hati yang luka? Sila dapatkan rawatan segera. Kecuali ia adalah hati ayam yang sedang anda lapah.

Oh sebenarnya saya tiada isu untuk diceritakan...

...mekasey!!!

*seraya memasang kagu Sekuntum Mawar Merah - Alleycat*


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The House of God

Laws of the House of God

  1. GOMERS DON’T DIE.
  2. GOMERS GO TO GROUND.
  3. AT A CARDIAC ARREST, THE FIRST PROCEDURE IS TO TAKE YOUR OWN PULSE.
  4. THE PATIENT IS THE ONE WITH THE DISEASE.
  5. PLACEMENT COMES FIRST.
  6. THERE IS NO BODY CAVITY THAT CANNOT BE REACHED WITH A #14G NEEDLE AND A GOOD STRONG ARM.
  7. AGE + BUN = LASIX DOSE.
  8. THEY CAN ALWAYS HURT YOU MORE.
  9. THE ONLY GOOD ADMISSION IS A DEAD ADMISSION.
  10. IF YOU DON’T TAKE A TEMPERATURE, YOU CAN’T FIND A FEVER.
  11. SHOW ME A BMS (Best Medical Student, a student at the Best Medical School) WHO ONLY TRIPLES MY WORK AND I WILL KISS HIS FEET.
  12. IF THE RADIOLOGY RESIDENT AND THE MEDICAL STUDENT BOTH SEE A LESION ON THE CHEST X-RAY, THERE CAN BE NO LESION THERE.
  13. THE DELIVERY OF GOOD MEDICAL CARE IS TO DO AS MUCH NOTHING AS POSSIBLE.



Sunday, January 23, 2011

Janelle Monae will Kanye'd you in an Arcade Fire: The Review


Well here it is. A combo value of reviews. So hate me. Hahaha.


Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

It was mundane and monotonous and vocally unchallenge-ing ...in a good way. What else do you expect from an Alternative/Indie Rock band? There are only two reason why they remained indie at a first place; either they are not cut up to it or just too good for mainstream. I bet my money on the latter. When you already got a hang of Franz Ferdinand, these might be the right band to keep that Britishy indie mood on. Fit enough for an indie royalty family. This is my sadomasochistic acoustic journey.

What I love about this album is, you couldn't care less for vocal interception when you just too in love with their mild stapedial insult of theatrical music. There's to much 'suburbs' in their lyric. Hence?

I have to admit, I hate this albums when I first listened to it. But, hey what have I told you of 'Rule of Third', it is that third spin that'll do the magic. I loooove em' ever since.



My Personal Favorites:
The Suburbs
Ready to Start
Rococo
Suburban War
Sprawl I (<--love this a lot)

(well if I continue listing all my favorite tracks, it will mean an entire album). Damn! I love them soo much).

Buy it or steal or kill somebody who bought it. Or you can just BTJunkie'd it? Jeez.


Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye! Kanye! Kanye!

What else can I say? He might've kanye'd Taylor Swift in that historical marking 2009 MTV VMA, but damn this fella is farking talented, not vocally though. He is one hella good of a rapper and collaborator since Timbaland. He makes me almost wanted to download Nicki Minaj (which I am still struggling with). Damn you Kanye! You bring out a Pop-Rap out of me. Well, if you are still angry with his infamous stunt, this album will hopefully redeemed him. I tell you this, if it is not because his wise choice of featured artists, this album was deemed to flop. Bon Iver collab-ing to Kanye West? Who would've thought? Nicki Minaj? So slit my wrist.

You should repeatedly listen to:
Dark Fantasy
All of The Lights (featuring Rihanna)
Monster

By the end of this review, I decided to download Nicki Minaj 'Pink Friday'. So hate me (<-- on defensive voice tone).



Remember Imani Coppola?

Gnarls Barkley?

Santogold?

Don't make me sad please...but Boboy? Tomok? Seriously? That is all in your playlist? You know during my high school years, it is a great insult to be called that 'T' word, I mean people seriously became murderous when they were nicknamed Tomok. And nobody want to hang with a bunch of friends and be called Boboy band? I mean seriously? You can call them Niger they'll settled.

Well those latter two are not at all related to this review. I'll voluntarily blot clot my carotid if I am to be forced to write about them.

Janelle Monae, a definiton of Neo-Soul or Dance-Rock. Her style kinda like Santogold and Imani Coppola rather than Gnarls Barkley or Outkast. Remember Santogold 'Say Aha'? Well...let me re-put that in my playlist. And...and...and...Imani Coppola 'Raindrops from The Sun'? Well...that brings back memories ain't it.

Well Janelle is a breath of fresh air. A break from all those depressing British band. The Depression Breaker I must say. She is sooooo super-freaking-talented and vocally mesmerizing since Lauryn Hill. Plus she is soooo cute. That piercing eyes, and big rows of white teeth well...did you know she can 'click' like a Swaziland or was she beatboxing.

I insist that you listen to these:
Dance or Die
Cold War
Locked Inside
Come Alive
BaBopByeYa

And also I insist that you click play on this video. Because *creepy whisper voice* "I...am...that...insistent"




Friday, January 21, 2011

Obese *Scratch That* Obsessed With Facebook

This is some facts about Facebook obsesession. Aren’t we all?


Click to enlarge image


Möbius Strip



Since I got a hang of math and physic, lets talk about one of its wonder. Möbius strip. Objek simple tapi sarat dengan unsur philosophical and mathematical. Let see you take one strip of paper, and twist it at one end and glue em' up just like a picture above. Now here's where it got tricky, ambil pensel, or pen trace a line alone one side of it, continue tracing them. You will find out, that ia mengambil dua kali pusingan sebelum anda dapat menyambungkan satu hujung ke satu hujung yang lain. This single continuous curve demonstrates that the Möbius strip has only one boundary and one surface. Unlike a ring yang ada dua permukaan dan dua sempadan, Möbius strip hanya ada satu muka dan satu sempadan. What a little big wonder isn't it?

Sebenarnya, I came across this concept sewaktu membaca novel Dan Brown 'Angels and Demons', it was just a slight mention, but it really clicked my curiosity button. Discovered by German mathmatician August Ferdinand Mobius it was a work of genius.

THE FUN PART
Sekarang, take a deep breath. Here's where it gets super interesting. Untuk menambahkan keseronokan, saya memerlukan anda mengambil bahagian secara interaktif. Oh, saya bukanlah membuat open invitation to orgy party, tapi saya nak anda membuat tiga Möbius strip. No silly, saya bukan menyuruh anda strip seperti Möbius (whoever he is).

Pertama, trace satu garisan pada Möbius strip anda di tengah-tengah sehingga ia bertemu. Adakah benar Möbius strip hanya ada satu sempadan dan satu permukaan sahaja?

Kedua, guntingkan ia pada garisan tengah tersebut. Apakah yang anda dapat?

Kedua, menggunakan Möbius strip yang baru, sila trace ia pada 1/3 lebar strip itu. Apakah yang anda dapat? Sila guntingkannya pula, apakah yang anda dapat? Amazing isn' it?

Saya tidak akan memberitahu jawapannya, tapi sekiranya anda melakukannya dengan betul, anda akan ternganga sorang-sorang. Seperti mana saya tiba-tiba termencarut di pagi-pagi buta half-screaming "Holy f**k!!!" ketika melakukannya.

Di sinilah di mana first assumption kita tercabar. This is where physic and mathematic wins.

The equation for the numbers of twists after cutting a Möbius strip is 2N+2=M, where N is the number of twists before and M, the number after. Cutting a Möbius strip, giving it extra twists, and reconnecting the ends produces figures called paradromic rings.

Who would've thought, simple strip like this can produce an amazing wonder. Just remember not to scream too loud.

Tell me what you think about it?

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Run Baby Run Baby Run Baby Ruuuunn...


...kata Sheryl Crow...

Sedang taking a break dari kerja-kerja yang menimbun sambil mendengar Sheryl Crow's Hits And Rarities. Mencuba keras untuk menjadi denial walaupun saya tahu that sorts of coping mechanisms jarang berakhir dengan happy ending. Let say sleeping 16 hours in and extreme lordotic posture ended-up with waking with back pain. Bekerja part time sebagai pole dancer di dalam mimpi adalah salah dalam perlembagaan chiropractic.

Kerja bertambah-tambah dan dateline tidak berganjak. Kalau dateline berganjak seperti mana procrastination bermakna ia tidak akan selesai menjelang 2012 (read: Hospital Shah Alam). Perhubungan ini dipermudahkan dengan graf linear. Hubungan ini dinamakan direct proportionate atau berkadar langsung.


X-axis adalah waktu dateline yang diberikan untuk menyiapkan kerja, Y-axis adalah procrastination yang akan dilakukan oleh student.

Oh alangkah saya tiba-tiba mencintai arithmetic ketika ini. Tiba-tiba rindu pada cikgu Add Math saya yang memakai fesyen rambut bob cut with bang sewaktu fesyen itu di zaman kegemilangan tahun berapa puluhan dulu hingga kembali 'in' semula kini. Iya dia juga ada cermin mata goggle dan polka dot skirt dan blouse. Dia selalu menjadi bahan lawak jenaka student sebab she refused to leave that era during my school years. Sekarang, who's laughing? She must be the most retro-fashionable teacher kat alma mater saya sekarang, without even trying.

Multitasking juga tidak membantu apa-apa dalam usaha anda. But memetik kata-kata Sheryl Crow "If It Makes You Happy...it can't be that bad".

Semua benda nak dicampakkan kepada saya, ko ingat aku ni Mikhail Gorbachev ko nak campak tomato suke-suke hati.

Kadar kemalasan saya juga sudah menghampiri tahap kritikal.

Dan Shery Crow juga berkata "A Change Will Do You Good"



Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Ringan Sama Dijinjing, Berat Tak Payah Angkat

Medical Student U.S

VERSUS

Medical Student MSU


Workload and Burnout = memasak dengan banyak dan gigih tetapi masakannya hangus?

NOT!

Tadi bincang dengan Dr. S tentang questionnaire for dry research yang my group nak buat untuk Community Medicine nih. Mula-mula beliau kata it is okay nak target OPD client, tiba-tiba dapat tahu semalam yang tak boleh target OPD client sebab supposedly kena ada keizinan dari KKM memandangkan research ni nak di-publish-kan (dengarnye lah) *rolled my eyes and whistle*, so kalau KKM tahu kitorang buat research kat OPD client kat Klinik Kesihatan Sungai Buloh ni, mesti kena investigate punye. Kitorang sepatutnya berada di luar pengesanan radar kawalan. Kiranya kalau KKM tu ada radar mencari mutiara naga keluaran Capsule Corp, kitorang yang ditempatkan di jajahan Gombak ini, takde sorang pun menyala berkelip-kelip. *aku sendiri tak paham analogi ini*

Hari ni aku tunjukkan contoh questionnaire Goldberg untuk check mental health kat Dr. S, dia approve my dwibahasa version tapi tiba-tiba dia kata kena buat kat general population pulak. Yelah nama pun Community Medicine, of course kena buat kat populasi awam. Sebab banyak sangat orang buat research among students. Kalau buat kat OPD, pastikan bukan pada client tetapi pada peneman client ataupun pekerja klinik. As long as orang yang diberikan questionnaire itu bukanlah pesakit. Pening nye. Lepas tu dia nak aku validate-kan questionnaire tu mintak pakar BI translatekan dari BM ke BI dan pakar BM translatekan dari BI ke BM untuk memastikan kualiti soalan dalam questionnaire itu adalah valid agar tidak ter-Sophia Coppola-kan Scarlet Johannson (apekah?) maksudnya tak 'Lost in Translation'. Memandangkan hari ini kepala hotak saya boleh terima darjah tekanan dan irrationality pada threshold tinggi, saya angguk-anggukkan sahaja.

Bila ditanya rasional buat research berkenaan kesihatan mental, aku explain bahawa kebelakangan ini isu burnout among medical student dah banyak di-publish di journal dan news articles, paling prominent adalah research Burnout and Suicidal Ideation among U.S. Medical Students so maybe nak buat local research pasal benda ni. Of course-lah MSU medical students adalah strain rentan (resistant) terhadap burnout because we are 'that good' (on the contrary), *laugh and puke* *laugh and puke* --> *LOL* --> *ROFL* --> *RIP*

Merenung jauh menembusi dinding *untuk effect dramatik*, terfikir rupa-rupanya banyak benda nak kena buat. ingatkan nak buat research bodo-bodo je, of courselah bias sangat tinggi.

Procrastination adalah 8th Deadly Sin yang patut diwartakan.

Mari kita lihat kenapa cranial bone fracture with scalp dehiscence (due to previous trauma) dan brain exudation dikalangan Medical Student MSU adalah tidak berunsurkan jenayah. Ini adalah contoh checklist saya (ada 90% prevalence dengan risk factors yang sama).

1. Log Book Ophthal (11 Cases)
2. Log Book ENT (11 Cases)
3. Log Book = Buku Latih Tubi SPM (*SPM= Social & Preventative Medicine = Comm Med)
4. Weekly Presentation
5. Weekly Report (softcopy + hardcopy)
6. Clinical Diary
7. KPL study group monitoring
8. Studying for upcoming 3rd Internal Purgatorial (ENT + Comm Med + Ophthal)
9. MSU: Kami Prihatin Campaign - Ketua Division 'School Attack'
10. Assignment 'Asbestosis'
11. Probably Weekly Quiz
12. Perkara-perkara berbangkit

Sekarang sila berikan alasan kenapa aku tak sepatutnya melakukan stunt intentional self-inflicting tergelincir ketika turun tangga sehingga mendapat crack skull dan request medically-induce comma with DNR request? With insurance benefits from Etiqa, PruBSN dan Aviva.


~*~* DONDAAAAAAANG SAYAAAANG!!! *~*~


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Album Review: The Black Keys - Brothers


Kali ni kita buat review dalam BM. Bukankah grammar kau macam haremm, ada hati nak buat entry BI *muhasabah diri sendiri*

Okey, bila dengar album ke-5 duo ini kita akan teringat The White Stripes dalam era moden dan Lynyrd Skynyrd (sobut Linerd Skinerd dengan tajwid phonetic) dalam era bapak kita. Apakah persamaannya? Iya adik-adik, Punk-Blues, Blues-Rock, Garage Punk. Pening tak? Oh tak perlulah mengkastakan muzik sebagai genre apa-apa. Kita simpulkan konsep album mereka ini sebagai Dondang Sayang sahaja. *stroke*

Elemen muzik utamanya, seperti band rock yang lain adalah overdosage of electric guitar in a good way. Ia membuatkan kita rasa tinnitus kerana muzik yang bingit dalam masa yang sama suara vokalisnya Dan Auerbach (as in Auerbach plexus kat intestine, hehehe) compensate tanpa di-overpowered oleh muzik. Meaning stapedius muscle kat ossicles anda contract dan relax dalam confusion. Tapi selepas beberapa track, anda kan terbiasa dengan style muzik sebegini.

Ada dua major elements dalam muzik ini, guitars (lead & bass), drum dan kadangkala synthesizer. Range suara Dan Auerbach bermula dari suara orang bangun tidur jawab telefon, (a.k.a mendayu-dayu malas) hingga ke falsetto. Oh bagus, dia juga menggunakan megaphone, saya teringat kat asrama masa warden kejut bangun solat subuh.

Sebagai rutinnya saya mendengar album terbaru, saya akan mendengar kali pertama untuk mendapat tahu general style. Kalau rasa cam tak suka, saya ambil masa beberapa hari untuk recuperate dan mencuba sekali lagi with a clean slate of mind. Kali kedua untuk menghayati sambil mencari lagu yang mana satu yang best dan kali ketiga untuk revisit each song manalah tahu ada lagu best lain yang tercicir.

Album ni ada 15 lagu, secara generalnya saya sangat suka album ni. Sangat suka *superlative intended*. Semua lagu best tapi among yang betul-betul meninggalkan kesan adalah 'Tighten Up', 'The Only One', 'Too Afraid to Love' dan 'Ten Cent Pistol'.

Kalau album ni ada jual kat Malaysia, silalah beli dengan kadar segera (selepas anda bersedekah sekadarnya kepada yang memerlukan). Tapi malangnya selain dari album The Best of Siti Nordiana, yang ado Jenal!!! Jadi fikirkanlah ikhtiar contohnya *cough* *cough* BTJunkie torrent *cough* *cough*.

NEXT UP: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs


Song of the Day: Shawn Colvin - Fill Me Up

I don't understand why am I waking up this morning humming to this song, with an awfully morbid headache. Seriously maybe that part of my hippocampus suddenly fired up. Well that headache sure hell of my worst withdrawal ever. I should now remember not to suddenly skip on caffeine dose and not to ignore a hunger pang. This song has been long left my playlist, I have not listen to it since somewhere in late 2009. But to be rudely awakened and humming this song while negotiating headache, well that neurons better be telling me something.

This song is not one of Shawn Colvin's famous song since 'Sunny Came Home' but something about it really feels so right. It wasn't a favorite in YouTube nobody care to upload a studio version of it that left me with the live one. You can listen to her studio version in her Myspace site HERE

I don't know what is going on up there in my twisted brain, maybe it is a sign or something?





Fill me up fill me up
I'm a long way from home
And I don't have a lot to say

Fill me up fill me up
Cause you're all that I've got
And I traveled a long, long way

Cheer me up cheer me up
Cause I'm all alone
And I'm taking it day by day

Cheer me up cheer me up
Cause you're all that I've got
And I traveled a long, long way

I'm a bellhop now on a busy day
And I'm starting at sunrise
And the color of dawn from this plane that I'm on
Is the day breaking in your eyes

I'm a still life now on a tabletop
I'm a case study in French blue
And it's clear to me now that the whole of my life
I've been making my way to you

And I know where you live
And I know who you are
Don't get too close
And don't go too far

And I might be alright
If I just see the light
I don't care if the phone don't ring
And I'll know when it's right
Like a voice in the night
And the right shade of tangerine

And I know where you live
And I know who you are
Don't get too close
And don't go too far
Don't get too close
And promise me that you'll never go too far

Never go to far...

Fill me up fill me up
I'm a long way from home
And I don't have a lot to say
Fill me up fill me up
Cause you're all that I've got
And I traveled a long long way
Cheer me up cheer me up
Cause I'm all alone
And I'm takin' it day by day
Fill me up fill me up
Cause you're all that I've got
And I traveled a long long way
But I traveled a long long way
Yeah I traveled a long long way.


Favorite Quote of the Day #1


...at some point, you gonna have to forgive me.
And it may as well be now
Because I am in love with you
And you are in love with me
And all I'm asking for is one more chance...

--- Dr. Arizona Robbins,
Grey's Anatomy, Season 7, Episode 12 "Start Me Up"


Saturday, January 15, 2011

Surgical Tenet

Don’t stand when you can sit,

Don't sit when you can lie,

Eat when you can,

Sleep when you can,

Don’t f**k with a pancreas.

Friday, January 14, 2011

(You're) the Other Side of the World

Well I did told you about this as my all-time favorite song in my previous entry. This song has never left me throughout my music players evolution since 2005. Never grew bored of it.

So here it is KT Tunstall's 'Other Side of The World'. I love this song so much to an extend of making it a theme song of my life. It hits me at a right place, my heart. Gave me a renewed feeling and all the same chills everytime and shook me bone deep. It wasn't just a music or a vocal, it's the lyric that gets to me everytime.

Just what do I love about this song? It was written in a man point of view though sang by a female. Other Side of The World can be seen in three different perspectives for me.

First, video clip wise, it is about a man who have not yet find the right one for him. He might have dated several beautiful girls but couldn't find any connection with anyone of them. The one that is destined for him can be someone he haven't even met yet, living her life wondering the same about a right man for her. Both of them carry a same notion that "He/she is out there, one day we will finally met,"

They might have cross path somewhere along their life feeling an awkward unexplainable sensation in their gut everytime they passed each other. Looking around wondering, "Who could possibly did this to me? Who makes me feel this way?"

Second, lyric wise, it is about a break-up or separation that has not reach closure. Both parties still harboring feeling for each other. Whatever they do, they'll wonder "What could she/he be doing right now?" "What would she/he think about this if she/he was here?" knowing there will always be a void and hollow in their heart ever since. No matter how hard they try, still they haven't completely move on. Expecting one day they will see each other again. Re-discovering their love.

Third (a supplementary to the second perspective). They are on a time-off. Both are free to date whoever they want. To see if destiny will finally bring them back together again. The phrase 'other side of the world' can also means that their behavior, personality, way of thinking are totally different and contradicting each other. They are working against all odd to keep it together but the harder they tried, the more they realized it is not worth it and giving up is the only way. Above it all, still love is a fine fragile thread that connect them to each other.

Enjoy the song...





Over the sea and far away
She's waiting like an Iceberg
Waiting to change,
But she's cold inside
She wants to be like
the water,

All the muscles tighten in her face
Buries her soul in one embrace
They're one and the same
Just like water

Then the fire fades away
But most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world
to me

On comes the panic light
Holding on with fingers
and feelings alike
But the time has come
To move along

Then the fire fades away
But most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world

Can you help me?
Can you let me go
And can you still love me
When you can't see me anymore

Then the fire fades away
most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world

Ohh.... the other side of the world
You're.... the other side of the world
To me.


Artist Review: Jamie Woon

He plays guitar, he beatboxing, he has a gullible voice with a look to match. What am I bullshiting about? Well...JAMIE WOON anyone?



He has not yet an album to be frank but some singles will do fine for him to be placed under my musical map. Thumbs up for his originality, he has soul and at times R&B vibes. He reminds you of John Mayer on his early days. He has methodical and experimental singing, an unorthodox vocal technique and again (for emphasizing) this shizz can beatbox. Well...umh...who did he reminds me off? Oh yes, Regina Spektor, and KT Tunstall. Well, he is musically influenced by Tim Buckley what can I say.

His music style is non-contemporary with a gist of dark and non-Bjork style of eccentricities. Thus, tolerable. In short, he just love sounds and with that he make songs.











Well my personal favorite is this. Nuff' said.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

KK...KayKay...eKeKeKeKe


Saya ni selalu je buat entry pasal artis dan lagu. Well saya cuma mahu...shat!

Tukar tune.

...bertukar menjadi alter lain...

Well aku just nak berkongsi sesuatu yang aku rasa nak berkongsi. Bukankah muzik itu dalam latest research yang diterbitkan dalam Nature Neuroscience Journal mengatakan bahawa ia boleh meningkatkan aktiviti dopamine di otak. Ko kenape nak stress-stress? Ko kaye ke kalau kau stress?

Tiba-tiba terfikir nak buat review latest journal macam kat IPR dulu ada Journal Club. Ko nak? Ko nak tak?

KK Sungai Buloh (ke Buluh) menjadi destinasi penempatan klinikal seterusnya....just so you know *buat muka sombong* <-- tak paham apakah signifikannya. Memandangkan dah dua tahun setengah tak balik Kota Kinabalu (KK), so dapat pergi Klinik Kesihatan (KK) pun kira fair lah kan? Well saya menyukai tempat ini just like any other place we posted before. Masing-masing ada keunikan dan pengalaman baru yang dapat ditimba. Sementelahan UiTM ada dua bilik doktor untuk klinik dan satu bilik khas dimana menggunakan access kod untuk masuk, kami tak jeles pun. Sila lihat di manakah tier mereka dalam penilaian SETARA itu. Huhu...kau berlagak tak bertempat.

Saya sebenarnya dah rindu kat HTAR, saya rindu pada tandasnya yang banyak tisu dan wangi kerana sebelum saya jatuh cinta pada sesuatu tempat, saya akan menilai tandasnya dulu. Well at least okey ape, tandas dia tetap bersih. KK ni ada bilik Kesihatan Mental, dan Occupational Therapy dan Breast Feeding (the latter is of unknown significant of mention). Dan saya bercadang untuk membuat scaling dan tampalan di klinik giginya.

Aku nak citer apa lagi ek? Ape lagi ko nak tahu? Cepatlah aku nak berak neyh...

Okey itu saja, sphincter saya sudah memberi signal

Daa...

Susanna & The Magical Orchestra

These are my personal triad of thier heart-ripping songs. I featured her countless time in my entry and playlist. She was that good with her piercing octave and siren voice. A mixed of slow pop, jazz and electronica done at its best.

I called these songs 'HKL Triad' as opposed to Trauma Triad of Death (Hypothermia, Acidosis, Coagulopathy) because these are my favorite haunting songs during my three days attachment in HKL A&E back then on 2008. I listened to these songs as I flipped through Netter atlas late at night.

Ladies and Gentlemen...I present you...

'Love Will Tear Us Apart' (a dark version of Joy Division'); 'Condition of The Heart' and 'Believer'











Now don't you just want to find that dark space and reflects on yourself?


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Album Review: Lissie - Catching A Tiger

Well, Lissie what can I say? I came to know her not long before she become matter. You will remember her haunting song I've placed in my playlist back in February last year 'Everywhere I Go'. I even featured her in my entry. Try dig into my archives. She was not much a recording artist then. She play her music live with her band and post those videos in YouTube just like any other discovered talents alike except that she started with gigs all around UK and not from a bedroom or home videos shat. She use YouTube just to promote her talent worldwide.

(DIVERSION START)
Remember Tay Zonday, Esmee Denters (her album sucks), Marie Digby (her album sucks too), Justin Bieber (she [sic] is a complete sucks in package for a lesbo, dang!), and Charice (her album half-sucks).
(DIVERSION END)

There's always a triad of songs I love at first impression for every new artists I just come to know, but for her it was quad; 'Everywhere I Go', 'Wedding Bells', 'In Sleep' and 'When I'm Alone'. Not so much of 'Little Lovin'

I subscribed to her channel 'lissiemusic' and watched her perform in 'tripwiredotcom'. She released her first album, 'Catching A Tiger' and most of my favorite songs are featured except for 'Wedding Bells'. I just love that song because it was written in a man's perspective. Of a wrecked sadness when the girl you love marry someone else. You are invited to the wedding and you came just to fantasized the man she married into is you. If I am to be that man, I'll be Bill and I'll massacre the whole ceremony Kill Bill Vol.2 style. Except that I wouldn't let the bride alive to revenge me. *Oh God I am wretched*

Here is some of the VCs I managed to legally embed. Take some time to listen. Her official channel didn't let viewers from outside UK and US from viewing them, which is too bad. But thank God for VEVO.

And also I embed 'Wedding Bells' live sessions. Tell me what you feel about it. Read its lyric and feel the calm sadness.

These are songs featured in Catching A Tiger according to track number. This album is totally awesome. I loooooveee every song but apart of the above-mentioned songs, I'd like to highlight you to 'Record Collector', 'Bully' and not forgetting 'Worried About' especially a bridge...

"Oh my heart, my heart's gonna break again
Oh my God, my God won't forsake again
Oh mercy, I want to be taken in
Oh mercy"

  1. Record Collector
  2. When I'm Alone
  3. In Sleep
  4. Bully
  5. Little Lovin'
  6. Stranger
  7. Loosen the Knot
  8. Cuckoo
  9. Everywhere I Go
  10. Worried About
  11. Look Away
  12. Oh Mississippi
  13. Needle Starts to Fall
  14. This Much I Know
MY VERDICT:
5 out of 5 stars and whole bunch of constellations.

I don't think they sell this album here, so by all means you can purchase it in iTunes or Amazon.com or you can illegally download it (I'm not encouraging you this).



I personally not too in love with this version though, it was kinda out there instead of dark, caged and haunting original version.



Tell me why her live version is always better than the recorded one. To many sophisticating process and this song rendered soul-less.





And finally this is the song I am talking about...WEDDING BELLS



VERSE 1
I have the invitation that you sent me
You wanted me to see you change your name
I couldn’t stand to see you wed another
But dear I hope you're happy just the same

CHORUS
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
Should be ringing out for you and me
Down the aisle with someone else you're walking
Wedding bells will never ring for me

VERSE 2
I planned a little cottage in the valley
I even bought a little band of gold
I thought someday I'd place it on your finger
Now the future looks so dark and cold

CHORUS 2
Wedding bells are ringin in the chapel
I hear the children laughing out with glee
At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
Wedding bells will never ring for me

BRIDGE
Ooh oohh ahhh oooh oooh
Ooh oohh ahhh oooh oooh
VERSE 3
I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
As the organ plays I love you truly
Please let me pretend that its me there

CHORUS 3
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
Ever since the day you set me free
I always knew that you would wed another
But wedding bells will never ring for me
Wedding bells will never ring for me
Wedding bells will never ring for me



Monday, January 10, 2011

Spot Diagnoses

“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.” -- William Robertson Davies


Story 1

It was late afternoon after our theory examination for a most reputable brutal Second Internal Assessment. My friends and I were hanging out at nearby restaurant after practicing ophthalmoscopic examination in Campus U-Café to everyone’s weird stares.

There are group of adults hanging out and there was a woman wearing her glasses at this dim of dusk. At first I couldn’t understand why. Could she be some sorts of popular celebrity in an attempt to be unrecognizable? She sat next to a man I believed is her husband and there he is, their little rascal. The other guys at their table most probably her husband’s friends. That little boy looks kinda cranky and annoyed. With his bloodshot eyes I finally understand why.

I told my friend “Don’t turn to your back this instant, but I think that kid behind you and his mom got viral conjunctivitis.”

“What make you think so?”

“That kid has red eyes and his mom wearing glasses, viral type is the only one form of infective conjunctivitis.”

I presume that kids must’ve gotten it from nursery or kindergarten and gave it to his mom.

Story 2

In ENT clinic, went into one of a senior specialist room. There was an obese women looking lethargic.

“Spot diagnosis. What did she got?” the doctor asked

“Emmm…” none of us get it

“Come on, I just told you yesterday in class,”

“Emmm…” still no one answer. We were looking for some sorts of discharge or prominent mass but no, nothing.

“What did I taught you yesterday?”

“Emm…rhinolith…?” one of us answer, I am still blur.

“She got sleep apnoea! Look at her!”

Okey, that was uncalled for. How do we spot diagnosed sleep apnoea? She can easily fit narcolepsy or something. But again, she is obese with short neck, lethargic and admitted to ENT. Yeah that is textbook sleep apnoea for sure. It would be easier to spot Kaposi's sarcoma and spot diagnosing HIV-positive or spot-diagnosing complex fracture in those wearing Ilizarov apparatus. Then again...


“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.” -- William Robertson Davies


Sunday, January 09, 2011

Article Review: Are You Feeling Depressed?

This article is wholly taken from The Differential: Medical Student Blog at Medscape. It is written by Joshua Batt, Medical Student from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada. No copyright and intellectual properties infringement intended. Posted here for sharing purpose. All credits to where it is due.


After writing my last post, Experiencing Happiness as a Medical Student, there was a lot of interesting feedback from readers. Even before reading their input I wanted to address the subject of depression among medical students for some time now. According to a recent study in JAMA, medical students are hesitant to seek help for depression due to an overwhelming stigmatization effect. We are high-strung, "type A" personalities that seek perfection in ourselves and everything we do. When there is a dent in the armor we are quick to hide the flaw in any way possible, in effect hiding the "imperfection" and living in denial.

Medical school is hard. We have worked endlessly to get here and we work even more just to stay here. The list of reasons why it is so challenging is long. We stress about the current work load in the classroom or clinic, the future residency or career we have not yet obtained, and our past experiences or grades that may keep us from meeting these goals. As if that is not enough, we have relationships to feed, family to nurture, and service or occupational responsibilities to fulfill. Mix it all together with little sleep, high expectations and the occasional public mistake and you have the perfect recipe for burnout or depression. The study authors state, "Medical students experience depression, burnout, and mental illness at a higher rate than the general population, with mental health deteriorating over the course of medical training."

Medical students are stubborn. We want to put forth the image that we can hold up the world even when everything inside is falling apart. Worry that peers, residencies or future employers will view oneself as inadequate if depressed simply compounds the problem. Rather than seek needed assistance, students will flounder alone to avoid stigmatization. Interpreted survey results "suggest the importance of developing a medical school culture in which medical students have the opportunity to discuss their mental concerns, irrespective of actual diagnosis or treatment, in a safe and confidential way." Finding help may not be hard to find, but is implicitly difficult to seek.

Experiencing firsthand the lack of energy and a non-euthymic state 100% the time, I ventured to find out what resources were available. Most schools have counselors or programs to assist students with such concerns. Mine has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that is independent of the school, free to use, and completely anonymous. In fact, EAPs are offered by many employers, but few people know that they exist. If your institution does not have this, find a mentor that can talk with you or at least point you to where you can find help.

As students, we can carry a lot on our shoulders, but this does not mean we have to do it alone. Medical school is intended to be difficult, because one day we will be responsible for the health of someone else. This education is difficult and can often lead to depression among students. If you need it, take time now to heal yourself so that you can function at your optimal level later. Hands down, this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It is also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Focus on the positive and hang in there, you can do it.



Joshua Batt
December 19, 2010

Music Review: Mt. Desolation - State of Our Affairs

I'll be damned if I don't write about this band. I'll be freaking damned.

Okay, if there is one thing British bands always fail to do, it will be producing crappy music. They are such genius it is almost impossible to hate their music even for Pete Doherty's Babyshambles. Bands are surfacing with multitude of genres and styles and smart-ass music which will leave you with a question, what in world do their parents feed them? Great vocal is a plus.

Here is my latest obsession, Mt. Desolation. If you look at each one of its bandmembers, you'll recognize a face or two of familiarity. This extensive bands actually made of members of Keane, Noah & The Whale, The Killers, The Long Winters, The Staves, Mumford & Sons. The core of the band, though, is composed of frontmen Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin, both members of Keane.

It has A A Bondy's "A Slow Parade" (I have his song for a while in this blog's playlist back in March last year) hints to it, just how Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" influence Bondy's.

Now let just listen to this song.




Morning wears a veil of rain above the city I live in
The traffic‘s edging forward again
But no-one knows where they’re going
Could it be a sign of our affairs
I'm seeing

Cause we’ll still be here
When weather turns, and blue skies reappear
And you’re crest fallen
Well you climb Mt. Desolation yet again
And you find we’re all just ordinary men.

Find some comfort in a bar and hear the news from my brother
He tore his happiness apart and says his heart won’t recover
Is this just a sign of our affairs
I’m seeing?
Cause we’ll still be here
When weather turns, and blue skies reappear
When you’re crestfallen
You climb Mt. Desolation yet again
And you find we’re all just ordinary men


Friday, January 07, 2011

About Them Asses...


I know I haven’t write about my Clinical Life as Medical Student that much anymore. I know maybe some of you wondered (or not) whatever happened to us in HTAR. Are we sinking and fade onto a background and be just as ordinary? Well the reason is, I am not too keen to write about it or maybe I just don’t remember much of the details at the end of the day. I am that wrecked of brain from all those sleeplessness and overcompensation that I might dangerously confabulated about it, believing that was actually happen. Life was just like a routine now and somehow along the way you lost all the excitement you once had and given-up to temptation of slacking and be plain Joe or Jane. At least to me it is true.

In regards to this topic that most likely to draw you into clicking this link and expecting to see butt cheeks, lemme tell you this, I am sorry because you ain’t got one and I am not sorry because you are pervert. Hahaha…

Assessment…that is what it stands for.

Well, this second round of assessment actually involving Theory Part and Clinical Part. The theory part is a common travelled part where you do nothing much but to scratch them OMR papers then go home and pray. Because whether you know it or you don’t, them OMRs still handed out lead-scratched all 30 freaking rows of it. Whether the answers right or wrong, let just leave it at that. Worry for another day.

The clinical part is what I called purgatorial. It made me go ghetto and pedestrian. This is the part where you HAVE to know or you are risking yourself getting embarrassed in front of examiners. To mention about examiners in a plain sentence is an understatement. What I meant by examiners were Head of Department of Ophthalmology and ENT and them Super Specialist.

This is our first Clinical Assessment ever so expectation should never be held high. I can sense adrenaline all over Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC) and Fight or Flight response were homogenous. This is where an interest for survival reached 0, nobody care about eating when they are busy making love to their previously abandoned reference books, notes, ink-fresh flashcards and short notes. This is unanimous conformity to self-massacre and we are on undivided agreement of trading Clinical Exam with our own live (or was I the only one?).

This is a summary of how examination in Ophthalmology Department went on. You were given 10 minutes to examine a patient while being evaluated by Ophthalmology HOD and Super Specialist. The trick is, you know nothing much even a slightest of patient history. You need to rely solely on your power of observation and Clinical Examination skills or you can choose to slit your carotid and fake injury by intentionally dislocating your hips. Either way, you are dead.

Before the examination started, everyone from the same group will be quarantined. We were called upon one by one. Those who have been called and tested, we’ll never see them again. No or contact connection whatsoever. Not until the whole process is over.

In that room, your examiners are waiting while row of patients with multiple ocular ailments anticipating their turn to be examined. The time-keeper lady seemed so dangerous or at times a life-saver. It was a dimmed lit room and all eyes were onto you and your every move, all ears were listening, it was as deafening silence as a pure tone audiogram room. All you can hear is your own heartbeat or at times your cold sweat erupting out of your sudiferous gland and sliding down your cheek. All the silence will be broken by a question…

“Please examine this patient eye and continue…”

That question by itself was deadly mandatory. It wasn’t like you were given options. Like…

“Examine this patient...or don’t, we love you anyway. XOXO your examiners”

Cases possibility are ranging form as simple as Corneal Ulcer or Squint to as complicated as Glaucoma, Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect (RAPD), Uveitis, Cataract, Post-Op Cataract with Pseudophakia, Papilloedema, Diabetic Retinopathy etc etc.

What I am trying to say is, you just don’t know what are you going to get. Patient aren’t going to manifest according to textbook. They will come with lots of clinical manifestations. You have less than 10 minutes to diagnosed them or your ass will be roasted to charbroiled. Sounds superlative am I? Well wait till you get your ass on a grill rack, then we’ll talk business.

My personal experience as a second person of a first group from an entire batch to undergone this first ever clinical exam in my entire life since last Clinical Methods subject, it was nervewrecking. The group that came after us were considered as lucky. They already knew what to expect, how the room going to be, what type of question will they get, to what extend the reading is necessary. They got tips here and there, they get more time to practice, they know what to do and whatnots. Basically we learned from theory, we haven’t yet practiced it on real person and be judge on the correctness. Whatever crap we did in the ward with patient, fooling around a slit lamps and taking less than adequate history will help you...not much.

So there I was standing before them, trying to silenced my heartbeat, faking a smile to greet both examiners. It was crooked like CNVII palsy.

Row of patients behind them looking at your with their pathologic staring eyes expecting to see you making fool of yourself and there he was, my patient sitting under a dim light. Not for dramatic espionage drama interrogation scene, but to be examine by you with a unilateral dilated pupil. *if only I saw it sooner*

“Please examine this patient’s left eye with a flashlight and proceed.”

There was a period punctuation mark in my head by the end of resonance emitted by that questions. All my examination proper was magically deleted from my brain and I was there standing, swallowing my own saliva nervously, looking at that patient, formulating what to do next. Shall I put a gun to his head and threat him to tell me what the freak is wrong with his eye or I’ll blow his brain out. But wait, I am not in that espionage movie. This fella is a foreigner, I couldn’t decide whether he is Indonesian or Bangladeshi, they all look the same to me.

So I started by introducing myself to that patient, (in English ladies and gentlemen). What the cookies? He is obviously seemed pedastrian then why the heck am I conversing in English. But we never know, this fella might have been university graduates from a foreign country for all I know.

I ask him, “Do you prefer me to speak in English atau Bahasa Melayu,”

“Melayu,” he replied. Damn, I am so screwed.

I explain my general inspection to the examiners. Then I stuck again. Now what?

Next I asked him for any painful site around his face. He pointed to his left eye. Of course. I was offered a big torch light by one of the examiners but I prefer my own torch pen. His lid is sticky, his conjunctiva and sclera is injected, and there you go my little culprit, I saw some white deposit on his cornea. I am freaking happy, I am so excited that I forgot to do all of other examination proper. I didn’t check his right eye, I didn’t do pupillary light reflex test, I didn’t mentioned to the examiners what I should do first before I proceed with examination of anterior chambers. Instead I am searching into my whitecoat pocket for my cotton buds.

“I would like to do corneal reflex test,” what in mercy of God.

“No need, tell us what you see.”

“This patient eyelids and eyelashes look normal, there’s an injection and redness in his conjunctiva and there is a white patchy deposition on his cornea at an inferior part.”

“Okey, do you know if there is anywhere to explain about location of the lesion other than what you told us?”

I pondered for a while. Try to recall if there is such memory in my brain.

“I think maybe we can divide the eye into quadrant. Superior nasal, inferior nasal, superior temporal, inferior temporal. The lesion is on inferior temporal of course.” both examiners nodded.

“What do you think this patient has?”

“I think he probably has corneal ulcer or keratitis. It can be caused by infections by bacteria…like commonly pneumococci…or viral, fungal infection like in vegetative eye injury, protozoa…or maybe by trauma, exposure keratitis and if he is wearing contact lens, it could probably be caused by that too.” I told them like I was told before. To talk and talk and talk until the examiners stop you.

“Which one do think this patient has?”

“Infection, bacterial keratitis?” damn, I should look at that patient as whole and surely he works at palm oil plantation and of course it is vegetative injury and yes it is fungal you prick. Plus he has that funny smell. What am I thinking?

Both examiners nodded while writing something on the marking paper. Hope it is not 0.

"What would you do to this patient?"

"First I will give him cycloplegic to rest his pupil. So he won't strain his eyes. Then I will give him broad antibiotic." I should add 'spectrum'

"Okey, don't you think we already gave him cycloplegic?" I seriously hope that they won't ask me what type of it.

Damn! Fark! I re-examined that patient's eyes. His left pupil dilated like 6 to 8mm. The one finding I failed to mention. "Yes, this patient is on cycloplegic."

"Why didn't you mentioned it in your initial finding then?"

Okey, if I puke or shat my pants, will I be excused?

"I'm sorry, this patient have injected conjunctiva or sclera, white deposition on his cornea and dilated left pupil,"

"That's fine. Do you know why we give cycloplegic to him?"

"Other than for examination purpose, I think it is to relax the iris so patient won't strain."

"Why?"

"So that he will not make it worst. To prevent acute glaucoma?"

They look at each other with a funny stare. I remember at exact point I am bullshiting myself. Cycloplegic is the one thing should be avoided to prevent angle-closed glaucoma. It was contraindicated for cookies sake. Damn! Fark! Damn! Fark! Damn!

"Glaucoma? Are you sure?" that disturbed look on his face, like a punch on my stomach.

"I don't know sir," it should easy if I just admitted it at first place. Again my ego won't let me until this point.

“Okey, let say if he wore contact lenses, what investigation would you do?”

Hell no, he is not that vain to wear contact lens. But I answered them anyway.

“I’ll take corneal scraping and that contact lens and send them for culture to identify the bacteria and to decide on which antibiotic to start for treatment.”

“What will be your advice for this patient?”

“I’ll ask him to stop wearing contact lens until his cornea heals completely.”

“And after that? If he decide on wearing contact lenses again, what will be your advice?”

“My advice is that he should keep his hands clean before inserting and removing contact lens and to keep his nail short because he can accidently nicked his cornea if he didn’t.”

They both nodded again. Writing again.

“What about contact lens solution. What would you do to it.”

“Well if I am not mistaken, the solution can only be used up to a month upon opening and passed that, it needs to be disposed. Because it is nutrient rich solution and bacteria can probably grow in them.”

“Any other thing you want to do to that solution?”

I scratch my head imaginatively. “I’ll send it for culture?”

They nodded silmutaneously.

“Would you advised this patient to wear a contact lens again?”

“Yes, after his cornea is fully healed. If he want to.”

“The same contact lens?”

“No. A new pair.”

They both look to each other. Nodded. “Okey you can go,”

I thanked the patient and both examiners and leave faster. Fuhh! I scurried away. That place repelled me. I felt sick in my stomach, my heartbeat won't go down. I needed fresh air. There, at the balcony, I actually gasping for proper ventilation...of warm air.

Humor me for one last time.

THE END

nuff.nang

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