Offline

a²bog will go offline on temporary basis from October onwards. This status remains until further notice. To be exact, until I get Internet connection in the new place.

I'm moving! New chapter of the life! Yay!

Once a basketman; Always a basketman!

"Once a basketman, always a basketman."

That statement was quoted from a Taiwanese TV series, I think. Nevertheless, it is well-said. Once a basketman; you're always a basketman. I just can't say enough and express how much my love is towards the game.

I haven't been able to play basketball often nowadays. I guess that also explains my expansion rate of the waist size. Haha.. *embarrassed*

Nevertheless, I managed to play for the first time in almost few months. I was no longer at my best anymore. Struggle with fitness, stamina, speed and everything! Gosh. I was so much weaker than I used to be. I felt old.

Despite those, I still managed to create the highlight of the night. Use your imagination if you have one. Hehe..

Leading a fast break from the defensive end, I drove all the way to the basket from the left wing. I had 2 team mates trailing behind me. With one defender in my way, I made a little flip with my right hand, a no-look-behind-my-head-alley-oop-pass to one of my teammate, and he finished it off nicely! It was the bomb of the night. If he could dunk, it would have been picture perfect! Whoooa! The feeling I had was indescribable. It was priceless.

Priceless... Ya diggit, dawg?

English Talk

Today, our main highlight is on vocabulary. This, I believe is among this most frequent made mistake among the Malaysians, regardless East or West. Introducing the stars of the day, I present you... 'Accent' and 'Slang'.

People often the word slang in the place of accent. People are easily confused the word slang, thinking that that word actually carries the meaning of accent. This is actually incorrect. Example of the error:

"David talks with a British slang."

which they are actually trying to say:

"David talks with a British accent."

If you lookup for the meaning of slang. You will get these:

Slang (noun)

A kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech, made up typically of short-lived coinages and figures of speech that are deliberately used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humor, irreverence, or other effect.

Language peculiar to a group; argot or jargon: thieves' slang.

more information can be obtained from Dictionary.com

As for the word accent,

accent

n 1: distinctive manner of oral expression; "he couldn't suppress his contemptuous accent"; "she had a very clear speech pattern" [syn: speech pattern] 2: special importance or significance; "the red light gave the central figure increased emphasis"; "the room was decorated in shades of gray with distinctive red accents" [syn: emphasis] 3: the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people; "the immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English"; "he has a strong German accent" [syn: dialect, idiom] 4: the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch); "he put the stress on the wrong syllable" [syn: stress, emphasis] 5: a diacritical mark used to indicate stress or placed above a vowel to indicate a special pronunciation [syn: accent mark] v 1: to stress, single out as important; "Dr. Jones emphasizes exercise in addition to a change in diet" [syn: stress, emphasize, emphasise, punctuate, accentuate] 2: put stress on; utter with an accent; "In Farsi, you accent the last syllable of each word" [syn: stress, accentuate]

more information can be obtained from Dictionary.com

So, slang is not accent, nor accent is slang. Please bear that in mind, and try to correct yourself or your friends in future.

Practice good english. It helps!

Cheers!

Joke: School Day Morning

I got this joke courtesy from forwaded message in the Instant Messenger. I'll share it here:

______________________________________________________

One Early morning a mother went to her sleeping son and woke him up.

MOM : "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school."
SON : "But why, Mama? I don't want to go to school."
MOM : "Give me two reasons why you don't want to go to school."
SON : "One, all the chilldren hate me. Two, all the teachers hate me."
MOM : "Oh! that's not a reason. Come on, you have to go to school."
SON : "Give me two good reasons WHY I *should* go to school?"
MOM : "One, you are fifty two years old and should understand your responsibilities. Two, you are the Principal of the school.

English Talk

Somehow I just feel like bringing this issue to the attention. It's gonna be English, a language concern. I have noticed that people here in Malaysia have some serious problems with the language they're using. It all started with people trying to be cool, or trying to pick up some slang they thought which would be cool to use it in their daily conversation.

Here is a first to many mis-slang (that's what I name it here, misuse of slang) -- Damn. The word 'damn' is pretty much misused here. It is understandable where the slang was picked from. Thanks to heavy American movie shown in the cinemas, Malaysians, namely pennisular here started using Damn all over the place.

Firstly, the word damn is to be used to emphasis how bad the situation one is in. This is how it is meant to be used. e.g. "Damn, this ain't good. We ought to do something!" or "Damn! How could I missed that shot? I was wide open.." or this may sound bit offensive, but to God I swear, I have no disrespect to You, I just want to bring a valid example up. "God damn it!" (obviously, it's swearing, and show of disappointment, and dissatisfaction.)

Now, the damn in very Malaysian way:

"I am damn hungry.."
"That show is so damn nice.."
"Ooooh.. Brad Pitt is so damn cute.."
"Damn nice-lah, this fella.."

In the sentence, you condemn the object in the conversation anyhow you look at it. It just doesn't sound nice. Damn isn't the right word for stressing or emphasizing one situation. It is just wrong, and it does not sound nice at all! Never!

If you search "Damn" in Dictionary.com, you will get this in as the return of result:
As verb (verb means action, for those who don't know):

To pronounce an adverse judgment upon. See Synonyms at condemn.

To bring about the failure of; ruin.

To condemn as harmful, illegal, or immoral: a cleric who damned gambling and strong drink.

To condemn to everlasting punishment or a similar fate; doom.

To swear at.

As an adjective (to describe a noun: a noun means an object):

to express dissatisfaction or annoyance

So, before you start to damn at anything, think twice before you start using the word damn. Do NOT ever condemn the meaning of damn.

Practice good English daily! Even you are at a chat, or typing text messages! Make it a habit. Cheers!

Photo of the Day

This picture was taken on the 21st January 2005. Location would be at Melaka, Taman Dahlia. Shutter speed at 1/8 second, with Aperture at F/3.2. Exposure compensation was set to -1.3 step to enhance the color of the sky.

Birthday Dedication

Happy Birthday dedication goes to my cousin, who turns 24; and another old friend of mine, who turns 22. Have fun and enjoy! Be happy and stay happy! Cheers!

Owen to Premiership? Owen to Newcastle

"Owen Signs Four-Year Deal with Magpies"

After months of speculation, it is finally confirmed that English wonder boy (wonder if I still could call him that, he's 25 now) is returning to England with Newcastle United. I read the headline with disbelief. Few months ago, Owen has got his name linked to several leading clubs in England, namely Arsenal, MU, Liverpool and even Chelsea.

It is really a surprise that there is no other club who would bid for Owen's signature. Arsene Wenger was the first to openly to admit his admiration on Owen's ability, but he will have no place for the England striker. He claimed that he has already got Frenchman Thierry Henry, who plays very similarly to Michael Owen. Manchester United was reported to say that they will have the money to fund Michael Owen's transfer should Sir Alex wants the England striker. With the way they are playing at the moment, scoring 11 goals and yet to concede a goal in all competitive matches this season, they show that they do not really need Michael Owen after all. Liverpool is understood to refuse to match the asking price from Real Madrid, reported to be 17 million pound. The European champion has other department to invest on, to strengthen their squad for their challenge in the season. As for Chelsea, I don't think they really need a striker anyways. Their wingers and midfielders have done more than enough to cover their striker's ass woes.

That left Owen with no choice, but to sign with bottom-tabled Newcastle United. He desperately needs to get his bum off Real's bench, and Newcastle desperately needs to start scoring goal (they have yet to find the net in all the premiership game this season).

Speaking of Newcastle United, Graeme Souness may have gotten away from the axe in August. He may think that it is a sign a relief. But, true nightmare begins now. Despite late acquisition of Owen and Nolberto Solano before the closure of transfer window on 31st August. The Toons are doubtful to able to ignite the spark they have had some 10 years ago. Realistically, they could be in relegation dogfight this season. Jean-Alain Boumsong had displayed comical error, which Rooney fully capitalized on the chances given in MU's recent 2 nil success in St. James' Park. Rooney scored the first and set up the second for strike partner Ruud.

Alan Shearer is no longer a 15-20 goal per season striker. He's ageing already. Should Souness be sacked this season. I can see that the successor would automatically be Alan Shearer.

Only God knows how the Magpies' fate will turn out to be. For sure, he may have kept his job beyond August, but Graeme Souness' nightmare has just begun. Owen's four-year contract, may not last that long, if Newcastle fails to spark, or if they are relegated (hard to imagine, but that was what happened to Leeds few years ago)

We'll see how it goes. International break this weekend. World Cup qualifiers up next.


Prediction for the season?
English Barclays Premier League:
Champions: MU (simply becos I am an MU supporter, and that they are playing pretty well this far)
Runners-up: Arsenal
**Haha.. Biased! I don't like Chelsea anyways..

Spanish:
Champions: Barca
Runners-up: Real Madrid
**It will be tight this season...

Italy:
Champions: Inter Milan
Runners-up: Juventus
**Inter looks sizzling hot with Adriano, Figo and some recruit from Real Mdrid.