Devil May Cry... and I won't blame him

This is the old Dante. (from Devil May Cry 4)

This...

... emo-gothic, stoned punk...

...is the new, younger Dante.
(from DmC Devil May Cry)

What the heck are you doing, Capcom? Giving one of your most prized possessions into the hands of a noob video-game developer like Ninja Theory? You were better off developing your own games!

And... Dante? His silver hair. Silver hair!!! That was iconic. And now... this??? And smoking??!

I'll cut the game some slack for now. It is an origin story, and it'll probably shed more light on the bad-ass hero's history in the Devil May Cry series.

I hope DmC won't let me and the other fans down.
The trailer was... meh.

It was cool, actually, if you set aside the ''ruining-the-iconic-look'' concept.

Meh.

DmC Devil May Cry Debut Trailer

The Legendary Photographer

Yes, I am a photographer for The Malay Mail.
In fact, I'm a journalist too.
I'm a photo-journalist.
Two things strung into one, and they say it's rare.
There's a staff photojournalist there too, but she's a hag, if I do say so myself.

One day, during an assignment, I got chased away. By a pack of angry bus operators.
Now people, I'm trying to help you out.
I'm not from Harian Metro trying to dig out some dirt on you.
I'm from The Malay Mail, trying to find the cause of why you guys got stranded without a proper terminal.
But one middle-aged lady scornfully came up to me and said with utmost evil, ''Kid, scram, we don't need nosy photographers like you from Harian Metro to make us look bad; we're already in a bad spot here,''

Indignantly, I tried to protest, ''I'm not--''

With a growl, the ugly lioness menacingly said, ''Scram or we'll beat you up,'' she signaled other ugly lions and panthers (boars too, I think) and what was I suppose to do?

Yes, I ran. I caught up with my partner reporter and said, ''DUDE, we need to get out of here--''

''What? I've had a nice interview with these stall traders here--''

''The bus operator demons are after my BLOOD!''

He nodded wisely, pulled out the keys to his Kancil, and said, ''Understood. Let's roll,''

Back in the sanctuary of The Malay Mail's HQ, we told our tale to our Editor. When the scene of the attacking bus operators was mentioned, the Editor laughed.

I was wide-eyed. Dude, if I stayed longer, the operators would've run me down with their mammoth-buses.

And he spun his own tale, of a former photographer -- a girl -- fresh from UiTM, who defied the laws and took some illegal pictures, got caught, but with some magic and charm, got away, clean. Front page material, baby.

''Now her name was Hani -- no, not the Hani you know now, another Hani (there was another photographer Hani) -- yes, she was aggressive, vivacious and seductive when she needed to be. I remembered her as so. Very small, petite, one might say, and she could crawl through the smallest spaces in which big-sized people'' -- he looked at me, but then tactfully looked away in a flash -- ''couldn't fit through. Any photography assignment which required stealth... dear Hani was the one for it!

''A few years ago, KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) bought these new train engines, claimed to be used for the public. They were bought, but never used due to some undisclosed reasons. They were kept in storage, but KTM denied so and so. Millions of RM spent on these train engines, but was never seen or heard of.

''So The Malay Mail got itchy. We wanted pictures... but of course, we couldn't get them legally. So then we got a tip off about the engines' location. We couldn't get in-- so we sent Hani.

''Hani, bless her, she crawled under the rusty gates and climbed through a hole in one of the warehouses. And snap-snap-snap she went when she found the missing engines. But alas, it didn't go well for her. She was caught by the guards while she was trying to leave!''

My partner and I gasped. For dramatic effect, of course.

''With her cute over-sized eyes and quivering lips, she said, and she really did say this, ''Please, sir, I'm a UiTM student, I didn't know this area was off-limits, if I knew, I wouldn't have taken pictures of it for my final semester project! Please sir, I'm so, so, so very sorry!''

''And would you know it, the guards let her go. Melted their hearts, she did. She came back to the office, joyous with her victory and submitted the photos. Next day was a field day for us. How did The Malay Mail get those photos? Well, as we told our competitors, it was a trade secret; our legendary photographer, Hani.''

The Editor finished his tale with a smile. ''Now, Amirul, I expect you to show the same commitment as Hani did. Though I suggest you don't pull the Puss'n'boots mushy stare move like Hani did. You'll get an angry mob if you do that. When worse comes to worst-- run.

''Other than that, good job, both of you. Nice photos.''

Legendary photographer.
What a thrill!
If only I could meet her!
The courage!
The deception!
And she's cute!
I'll live up to your standards. Or maybe be better than you!

We'll see.

A Change of Pace

I've said it before. But you readers know me. I always like to repeat myself.

It's a change. A massive change in not just my life, but everyone else. Everyone of the same age, I mean.

It's normal, I guess. An average Form 5 student graduates from school after completing his SPM examinations, and enters the world of pre-adulthood. Still immature, uneven on the edges, but very, very close to being a full-fledged adult.

That, folks, is where the change happens. And I must tell you, it is quite a big change. I applaud to some, who managed to just go through the transition with ease. And I am sympathetic with those who have a hard time growing used to that change.

Because, obviously, I'm one of those people. Poor, poor souls who miss the old life in school uniforms, the rag-tag freedom of feeling unoccupied with nothing but schoolwork, and that nagging, somehow ironic thought of ''can't wait when I'm done with school--''

But now, thinking about it again, I'll have to call myself a hypocrite.

Exactly one year ago, I saw that ''change'' in one of my school's former Head Prefects; Yie Hahn. Always suited up, always ready, always alert in his school days. Then, after leaving school and returning for a short visit, I saw a remarkable change in his exterior: unshaven face, baggy eyes, normal attire for an office worker and maybe the sluggish body movement of a drunkard. I'm not saying he ended up bad; no, but it seemed that the change hit him quite hard.

I scoffed at the thought. That would never happen to me, I thought. And of course I was wrong.

I went to my old school the other day. I had no beard, not even a shadow of it. But with my work shirt, a bagpack with my camera gear inside and that irritating green pass ''Pas Pelawat'' pinned on my breast pocket-- I saw the younger 'uns looked at me as I have looked upon Yie Hahn one year ago.

The change had hit me.

You get older, you get wiser. New friends gained, old friends drift away. New paths which you have to clear for yourself and ultimately, the choice of doing what is wrong and what is right in the world.

I can't bloody change even if I'm in the ''change'' phase. A change of pace, folks. It's a change of pace.

What Up, 4 in the Morning

You may ask.

What the hell am I doing up at four in the morning?

I mean, morning prayers are at 5.30-ish... and you're up at 4AM?

Well, folks. To be honest. I'm in love.

Something wonderful, terribly wonderful at the bottom of my heart, right now, but I'm sure, like a suffering drunkard, I'll wake up with a headache in the morning. Or rather, heartache. Whichever you prefer, really.

The joy and beauty of something in a dream! I'm looking forward to that right now. My room's in a mess, I'm supposed to wake up early for a Law-studies talk tomorrow (or rather, today) at Taylor's, and yet, I'm unfaltering from typing this somehow bimbotic post. *winks, Jacie*

Well then. Off to bed. Cheers! And good morning!

Another Year... Hi, 2011

Sorry I didn't post one up for the new year, I was feeling lazy, and opted for the clouds post since it was so... peaceful. Well, peace is almost over now, into the hustle and bustle of the fresh start of another year on planet Earth. College, work... and so much more.

Half my friends are off to college, Hui Jan, Maddie, Joshua, Ganesh... so rajin, these January-intake goers. The other half (which I am quite proud to be amongst) have gone on the road of job-hunting. One can be quite cerewet with the requirements that come with the job. ''What are the working hours?'' ''How many off-days I get in a week?'' ''How's the pay?'' and the most popular one, ''Do I have to wear a uniform?''

Yes, yes, a lot of moans here and there, but I got a job as a waiter at Sri Melaka restaurant in One Utama. The first two days were tiring but I gained a few things which I'm sure would be useful somewhere, sometime in the future. I planned to work for three months, then out of the blue--

My rejected internship application at the Star, was accepted by another newspaper company, the Malay Mail.

Not a newspaper giant like the Star or NST, but adequate for someone like me. I've just worked on my resume and sent it to the Editor-in-Chief last night via email. I received a call this morning from a Mr. Jonathan Chong who told me to report to Malay Mail's office at 9 o'clock in the morning on Monday.

My dad said my resume was quite good, and I did it without remembering all the details given by this lecturer lady who came to school to give Form 5s speeches on how to prepare resumes. *beams*

Nervous? Perhaps I'm on the same track with newbie college students.

A lot of things have been going on, as the old year breaks into the new, as it is inside my head. People around me are changing, as they move up and further, through a thin veil which separates immaturity and adulthood. Some may stay just at the border to retain that sense of foolish youth, but I see mostly jump through, happy to leave the child-like feeling behind and embrace what they think is freedom.

Don't get me wrong. Everyone wants to grow up! Everyone has that right! And if that's what you want, go ahead. We all deserve a piece of it. But I just like it here, on the other side of the veil very much. Sooner or later, yes, I know, I'll have to move and step over. But for now... I'll just wave from the other side.

Maybe this internship and soon, college, will help me cross over. Or I might just stay on that borderline between foolish youth and wise adulthood.

Look at me rant. It's been a while. Feels good. Good luck, to all college-goers, part-timers, and so on. Happy new year, and I hope the best comes out of 2011 for all of us. I don't know if it's dark days or sunshine ahead of us in the future, but everyone needs a lil cheer. Cheers then! Thanks for reading!

My head in the clouds...

Hi, folks! I've just came back from Singapore a few hours via plane. Singapore's been fun, my family and I visited Universal Studios. Photos are here. A good and long six days, five nights there, and though going to Singapore for the second time gave experience, I'm happy to be back in Malaysia.

One thing I like about flights. As you look out through the plane windows, through that reinforced glass, you could get an up and close view of the clouds. Yes, simple as they may seem, but the view, if looked upon closely... you can see the wonders of it.

See how the blades turn, against a background of clouds.

The opening in the centre of looks like an opening of the sea along the lines of a sandy beach.

The sun shines radiantly, and the clouds' curves capture the light, shadowed upon the stratosphere.

These clouds may look like a puffy white cotton ball, but they potray the serenity and peace of mind, when someone is really high, up in the sky. Thus, the saying, ''head in the clouds.'' See ya, folks! Thanks for reading.