Craig David's new album - Trust Me

Craig David - the UK bloke with the smooth R&B voice with hits such as 7 days, Fill Me In, Rendezvous, Walking Away, What's Your Flava, Hidden Agenda, World Filled With Love, All The Way, Unbelievable is back with a new album. Trust Me - released in the UK & Europe on November 13 2007 is now sold at record stores in Malaysia. Gone are his tea-cosy hat, goatee, singlet Pagoda and corn-rows. He has a 5 o'clock shadow all over his head and face and he's dressed rather spiffy on his album cover.

The material (musically and lyrically) is much more mature. No more stuff about teens sneaking around to make out hoping their parents won't find out(Fill Me In), mindless partying (Time To Party, All The Way), bragging about his fame (Slicker Than Your Average), etc.

This is however to be expected as his first album was out while he was still a teenager. Every subsequent album has reflected his increasing maturity - with less danceable numbers to more adult-oriented material. There is more reflection on love and life experiences in this outing. The music is much smoother and multi-faceted. Just A Reminder, one of my favourites- has a slight Latin feel to it. There is the romantic song like his previous albums - Officially Yours. The opening track, Hot Stuff (Let's Dance) has a sampling of David Bowie's hit of the 1980s, Let's Dance - a song that was one of my favourites when I was in upper secondary school, more than 15 years ago. The sampling was quite tastefully done, unlike Gwen Stefani's treatment of a certain song from "The Sound of Music". Currently these three are my favourites,but I've honestly just listened through the album twice. Will probably hook on to other songs as I listen more and more to this album.

Anyone expecting stuff like 7 Days will be disappointed. I however find this album not disappointing at all. I may be biased as I am admittedly a fan who has faithfully followed his career and bought every single album he came out with. I certainly appreciate how his music has evolved. However, I don't think this album will quite have the mass appeal of his first 2 albums. He is no longer "flavour of the month" but I do see his career progressing, the way careers of established artistes do.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Message: Go ahead! Give it a listen. Then buy it!

Ciao!

Amir Fuad.

More Splashes of Red & Black- Pictures from Department Annual Dinner

More pictures from the annual dinner, this time courtesy of Nazri, the (un)official photographer for the event. Thanks Nazri!

He took 400+ photos, but I'm only putting up a fraction of them here.

The relatively empty restaurant a few hours before the event started.

Kak Salmah & Kak Yang, staff nurses from our department.

Julina & I.

Haslinda, with suami & anak with Syikin.

Prof John George & Chanthriga.

Datin Sazilah with her Dato' Z.

The first performance of the night, a group nasyid performance by the radiographers.

The first game for the night, led by Hasanah.

Prof Norlisah & hubby Capt Nik Ahmad Azlee.

Herwan & partner in red and black.

Dr Caroline & Hafizi showing their stuff.

Mr Subramanian Ramainadu receiving a gift of appreciation for his upcoming retirement and also in recognition for his long services as the principal of UMMC's College of Radiography.

Prof Norlisah handing a gift of apreciation from the department to Prof BJ in recognition of his contribution to the department and long service as the department head.

Mat Perasan yang nyanyi lagu "The Girl from Ipanema".

"Andainya aku bersara dulu sebelum mu, janganlah kau gembira sangat..."

The Sungai Siput Superhero from (where else but) Sungai Siput.

Batu + Gajah = Batu Gajah. Geddit?

Ladies from Kucing, Sarawak do actually walk all over the city wearing these type of outfits. Meowww......

The Tasik Dayang Bunting Autumn-Winter 2007 Collection.

Yup, you guessed it right. This guy IS from Gua Musang, Kelantan.

Introverts in Durian Tunggal dress this way.

This is how courting couples in Menggatal, Sabah flirt. These are the exact outfits they wear while doing it.

Dr Fadhli modelling a Batang Berjuntai inspired fashion garment.

"Saat ku merindukan dirimu, Jiwa meronta kau ku damba.."

"Setiap Kali Aku tatap wajahmu, lidah ku kelu..."

Dr Arif, our 1st year MO cum Ustaz-baca-doa receiving the Big Kahuna Lucky Draw Prize for the night.

"Yesterday....All my troubles seemed so far away..." - or so we thought. Then, we heard you guys sing...

Our Queen of the Night - Sister Ummi.

The King of the Night - Mr Hafizi receiving his award from Prof Datin Sazilah.

Ciao!

Amir Fuad.

Department Annual Dinner - A Splash of Red & Black

gIt was on Saturday night, 24th November 2007 and the theme was "A Splash of Red & Black". The place was the Inn of Four Seasons Restaurant, Holiday Villa Subang Jaya.
True to the theme, the place was decorated accordingly, with the tables having red tablecloths and black runners with red napkins and the entrance to the restaurant had a balloon arch made out of a DNA-like spiral twist of red & black balloons. Red and black balloons decorated the walls of the restaurant.
Our staff, sporting peeps that they are, came full force in red and black attire. It was a sea of red and black and besides the occasional mistaking of someones piece of clothing for the table napkin, everything went very smoothly. It was clearly a fun night for everyone who came.
Since I was the chairman of the organising committee, I was rather nervous as to how the reception of the attendees might be. However, their gregariousness and fun-loving spirit made the night something to remember.
The event started at approximately 8.20pm and after welcome speeches by Lisa (department head) and moi there was a recital of a doa by our resident medical officer/ustaz, Yuzairif.
The room was darkened and the servers served the first course in a simple but elegant food presentation.
There were karaokes (handled by Dr Fadhli & his karaoke posse), lucky draws (handled by Dr Hilwati & gang)and performances by the Radiographers (A group Nasyid presentation), medical officers (a unique fashion show based on the names of Malaysian towns), games handled by (Hasanah & Zaidi). There also was a presentation of appreciation to Mr Subra and Prof BJ.

Anyway, here are a few of the pictures that I managed to take last night:


Our small stage with the theme on the backdrop. That's Hilwati walking gracefully as she always does.

This bunch of guys decided to be more black than red.

Pretty ladies and good-looking guys in what else but red & black.

The couple voted "Most romantic vegetarian couple".

A Bevy of beautiful ladies in red and black registering for the event.

Fizi - the King of the Night, Zila, Kak Zakiah & Kak Faridah.

Drs Caroline, Ho & Nazri in what else but red & black.

Dr Hilwati & Dr Afkhar preparing for their performance.

Dr Wati, Dr Ho, Dr Loh, Dr Toe Boon Ping & Mr Subra.

I just couldn't help taking a picture of this thing in which the 4 season hot and cold combination appetizer was served. It was this gold-coloured dragon-like thingy -kewl, huh?

One of the games played that night. Participants are required to dance when the music is turned on and freeze when the music stops. One by one those who move gets eliminated and the last man/woman standing gets the big kahuna prize.

Dr Mazin, modelling a couture garment inspired by the town of Lumut, Perak.

Dr Rizal (a.k.a. Ray) modelling a fashion garment inspired by Pulau Ketam. Don't quit your day job just yet, Ray!

The climax of the evening was the King and Queen of the night awards. The King of the Night award went to Hafizi while the Queen of the Night award went to Sister Umi.

The night ended at 10.45pm and everyone went home happy.

I would like to thank members of the organising committe - Adura, Wati Sr, Wati Jr, Syikin, Hanizan, Haslinda, Chanthriga, Nazri, Ray, Fadhli, Mr Subra, En Rosli, Hazman, Anushya for their assistance and cooperation in ensuring that the night became the success that it was. Thanks also to our boss, Prof Lisa for her support. Also thanks to all who performed- I never knew that there was so much creative talent in the department! Thanks to Hasanah & Zaidi for handling the games. Thanks to all those helping out at he reception counter and also to those helping with the lucky draw.

Yawwwwwnnn.......better go to sleep now.

If I am rajin, will post more pics later.

Ciao!

Amir Fuad.

This Blog is rated PG (?)

Got my blog rated by http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/blog_rating . I couldn't believe it when I got a PG rating. I have always thought this blog was more the G-rated kind.

Anyway, they said that "This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
shit (1x)".

I may have used that word when making a comment of the kind of words used in "Chicago The Musical".

Oh well...

Ciao!
Amir Fuad.

Bee Movie & Alicia Keys' new album - As I Am

Friday, 16 November:
The November 2007 MRad exams are finally over yesterday. Now I've got to get off my butt to finish off other stuff I've been putting away as I was rather busy during the exams.

Anyway, after going home, I rested for a while and about 5.30pm, together with Julina & Dayana, I went to GSC 1-Utama as we had tickets to watch Bee Movie at 7pm. When we arrived at 1-Utama we walked around and had an early dinner at Sushigroove. The place has sushi and other Japanese dishes which have been "grooved" up.

Then we went to see the movie:

The movie starts off with the graduation of the one particular bee by the name of Barry B Benson (voice of Jerry Sienfeld), a non-conformist bee aiming to be a pollen jock. Pollen jocks are a group of elite male bees who get to go out of the hives to collect nectar and to pollinate the plants. He hates the idea of being an ordinary worker bee like his parents and the majority of the bees in the hive.

On his first trip out of the hive with the other pollen jocks, he gets trapped in the rain after a series of unfortunate events and ends up meeting a young woman florist, Vanessa (voice of Renee Zellwegger) whom he befriends and breaks one of the cardinal bee rules forbidding bees to talk to humans.

Anyway, he gets the ultimate shock of his life when he discovers shelves and shelves of honey being sold at the supermarket and actually takes humans to court, suing them for stealing the bees' honey.

What goes on after that is really unexpected (in a nice way, I mean). It's really enjoyable with lots of jokes catering to adults and children. There are cameo appearances by CNN's Larry King, Sting and Ray Liotta. Nice animation and a feel-good story but no mega laughs like the first two Shrek movies. The ending is also not disappointing.

My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Message: Go see the movie and remember to take your kids with you!


Today
Went to Holiday Villa Subang Jaya with Julina at 11am. My department is having our annual dinner there so Adura, Fiza, Fadli & I being committee members were there to settle some stuff with the attending F&B manager. After looking at the hall and ironing out some stuff we went our separate ways.

After that, Julina & I went to Subang Parade to have lunch at Eden restaurant. We had dim sum and some chee cheong fun. After lunch we walked around the place. I actually bought a black shirt to wear for the dinner (the theme for the dinner is "A splash of black & red") at Parkson Grand. Later we ended up at Speedy where Julina bought the latest Celine Dion CD. I looked for the latest Alicia Keys' album but it wasn't there.

Then we went to Rock Corner and I found the Alicia Keys CD there! Julina was a little miffed as she found the same Celine Dion CD at a cheaper price. So I bought the Alicia Keys CD!

I have listened to the album approximately 3 times over now and I find that it did not disappoint at all. Ms Keys stuck to her contemporary RnB and Soul formula with some pop/hip-hop elements. The musical arrangements are smoother but you can hear the same raw passion coming from her voice. As with her last two albums, there are no tracks that I dislike and the more I listen to the album, the more I'm liking it. My favourite tracks are Superwoman, No One, Lessons Learned, Prelude To A Kiss & Tell You Something.

My verdict: 5 stars!

Message: What are you waiting for? Go out and get it you twit!

Ciao!

Amir Fuad.

Dinner @ Rebung

The clinical master's examinations are going on for the universities. For the conjoint MRad (UM) and MMed(Rad) (UKM) examinations this year, we treated the external examiners to dinner at Rebung restaurant. This restaurant is owned by Malaysian celebrity chef, Chef Ismail & Malaysia's first cosmonaut. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al-Masri. His involvement in the restaurant is highlighted by the many buntings with his name and pictures all over the restaurant.

The restaurant serves authentic traditional Malay cuisine with a slight bias towards Negeri Sembilan, since the owners are from that state. Food is served buffet style and dishes that I enjoyed include the pucuk ubi tempoyak, rojak buah, ikan bakar, gado-gado, kerabu pucuk paku, the ulam and sambal belacan, masak lemak cili api, popiah, the pengat keledek and kuih talam.


Below are some pictures that I took that night.

Dr Hamzaini & Prof Zahiah from UKM.

Prof Bux & Prof Kumar.

Dr Kasthoori & a UKM staff member.

Dr Aini & Prof Sobri from UKM.

Dr Hazman & Dr Kasthoori.

Prof Ng & Dr Tan Sook Pei.

Mr Subra, Prof Roziah, Dr Adrian, Dr Christine Walker (from Dundee, Scotland), Prof Alan Perkins and gang enjoying their dinner.

That's all.

Ciao!

Amir Fuad.