What happended this wednesday..

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My muscles still ache from the training this wednesday. My head still feels dizzy from the icy water I poured onto my head (bad idea, I know). At least I get to learn how to tackle!

My first training in Rugby starts with a game of catch and passing, but the real objective of this game is to communicate with your players. And we communicate real good.

I thought of how violent is the sport but after training I began to realize how fun and worthwhile this game really is. I was really pathetic on that field, honestly. But after the other members constantly shout out not to give up, how can I stop? I left the field tired, but relieved that there are still people who need me.

Zani had his kendo that same afternoon. He kept saying he did nothing much (He was told to meditate, I think he doesn't know the technique yet.

2
Kaka's back from Japan (along with her friend Annie from Finland) on that same day I had my first rugby training. Sure, i was happy, but didn't get the NDS and the PSP game I asked for in Singapore.... sigh. At least I still get to save my money to buy the guitar pedal..

THE DIMEBAG SIGNATURE CRYBABY FROM HELL WAH PEDAL!
$400+

Kaka got Zani a toy robot from Evangelion (don't think its childish, that toy is a piece of Art!) and also some posters by Naruto and Bleach. Annie's cool, I freaked out on how she translated what I said in Finnish. Her long name too is hard to pronounce or to remember.

3
300, the movie based on the graphic novel (which I own a copy) is now in the cinema. I obviously can't wait to watch that movie. I've been waiting for this movie for a long time and now I'm definitely gonna watch it very soon!

I was invited by my new friend (Nazrina, I call her Naz) to watch tonight but I prefer joining my sister to watch the movie on Friday. Ooohh, can't wait!

School!

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Three days ago was Friday, my first break in the new year. That's right, finally I started school after a long gruesome holiday and I'm now officialy outside my house every morning.

Orientation was lively, met new friends, played some games(?).
And the school? It's LARGE! What seems to look like going to your respective classes is like going around The Mall (only bigger!).

Let me tell you my experiences in point form,
-I have a 'Personal Study' section in my timetable where I can do almost anything I want in school time. Either I go to the Library, the Canteen or Do errands like meeting the Careers officer (that reminds me, need to get the form for allowance from Welfare).
-I now have to walk to different classes in different rooms.
-There are '$2' chicken rice for sale, with choices of differently cooked chicken.
-I have to call my teachers 'tutors' now
-My tutors are cool!
-They have this kind of stairway called 'The Titanic'. The corner of the stairs looked like the front of a ship. and looking at it makes you wanna go do that scene with the "I'm Flying, Jack, I'm Flying" ~*playing Titanic theme song in background*~.
-Finally, lockers! (can you believe this?! Zani bought his own, but luckily I get to put some of my stuff! hehehe)
-New friends! And reunion with old ones!
-etc..
-etc..
-etc!

I'll try to post some pictures (when I can!!).

2
Today was the last day of orientation, a briefing by the discipline commitee. Now I can we start the real school day, tomorrow!

Oh yes, before I forget.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have registered for Rugby.
That's right, Rugby! The sport that people would say "Like American Football, only there are no pads.." so I'm actually taking a risk by joining this sport (due to the brutish nature of the sport).

So why am I taking Rugby? Because I'm dreadfully fearful of footballs, Basketballs, Takraw balls, Net Balls, Volleyballs.. anything sphere shaped (I'll mention the 'Legend of the eleven balls' some other time). Also, I haven't done any sports so why don't I take one that matches my physique?
My friend told me when I came into the registration room, everyone in it was amazed (Maybe because this gigantic chunk of a man is taking Rugby). So this wednesday, I'm going to begin my learning and training together with the members in Jerudong International School. WooHoo!

Zani and my best friend, Jess are taking Kendo. I saw him bringing a list of Japanese terms for Kendo. He said to me, "I'm gonna slice you up with a sword!"
So I said, "While you're coming at me with your sword, I'll hit you with my Spear (pun intended)".

Pantera

I'm going to talk about my favourite metal band, Pantera.

So what's so special about them? Well, while Metallica or Slayer were in their height of their fame Pantera steps in with a new style of heavy music: Groove Metal.

How to explain Groove metal.. Groove Metal if you mix in with some hiphop influence you get: Nu Metal (limp Bizkit, KoRn, Slipknot). I don't like saying Groove Metal is an early form of Nu Metal because Groove has its own attributes and originality.


Pantera's breakthrough Album 'Cowboys From Hell' features the title song's greatest metal riffs (explosive!). This song got me into Pantera and Groove Metal. Notice the verse riff. Dadad dad dad dad dad dadaadad

Groove Metal is like a more refined heavy metal that defines headbanging like never before. Ok, that's a little hard to understand but just listen to it anyway. With a little southern influence (these guys are from Texas), the bands sound is most unique.


'Mouth of War' from the Vulgar Display album. The revolutional song 'Walk' is also in this album. I like Mouth of War for it's explosive display of metal.

As a guitarist, I have tremendous respect for my idol/influence, Pantera's Dimebag Darrell. His music and playing and sound has been revered by many metal bands. Everyday I listen to his solos and never get tired of them, including my favourite: Floods.


'Floods' from The Great Southern Trendkill album has been my favourite for its whipping solo, with constant pedal changes in the sound creating it into 4 parts (see if you can find it in this video). But the best part in this song is the outro. To me, it was this outro that makes Dimebag Darrell one of history's greatest guitarist. I only posted the solo and outro for you to hear.

So that's it, videos from Youtube.com actually works well here! Other recommeneded Pantera listenings are: Cemetary Gates, Walk, Hollow, 5 minutes alone, Psycho Holiday, Domination and more...

Who Watches the Watchmen?

After reading Alan Moore's V for Vendetta graphic novel (you saw the film adaptation?) I was amazed on the storywriting of this comic. This lead me to love graphic novels.

Then I heard of the greatest comic/graphic novel called The Watchmen.

A story that changes Superhero comic traditions forever.

I finally downloaded all 12 Chapters and was filled with unique cinematic experience of the comic itself. Pulled into panel to panel, the story and the characters grip you to read more of the story.

In the 80's alternate history America, masked adventurers are real and are now illegal and banned. The story begins when one of their own was murdered and Rorschach, the only masked adventurer still active, suspects a mask-killer on the loose.

But the real pull in this story is the lives of these superheroes who, compared to our own, are very human.

With characters like The Comedian, Ozymandias, Nite Owl II, Rorschach, Silk Spectre II and Dr. Manhattan, you will find out what is it really like to be a superhero.

A film adaptation is on the works (don't mind the year, the poster up there is a failed project about to be relived again) with Zack Snyder on the director chair (His latest movie, 300 will be released in March 9th).

There are other movies you can find in youtube.com where Watchmen fans make their own adaptation.

A video version of Page 5 in the comic, featuring Rorschach.

And a mock trailer in 3D. It would be cool if they actually made one.

Finally! I can post PICTURES!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Dean Dime-O-Flage.
One of the rarest guitars in Brunei.

But not anymore, its available through mail order.

My Guitar has Wings

1
I changed the blog's title to match my passion for guitars.

But why 'Wings' you ask?
It so happens that my new Dime-O-Flage (again!) has a Dean logo at it's headstock.
And the logo has wings.

After I got the DOF (BTW, like the rest of my guitars I nicknamed this one 'Spartan') I got this obsession on Dean guitars, especially the ML shaped ones.

My friend once said, "Azzi, you finally have your dream guitar!"
Then I said, "Not exactly"
"Then what's your dream guitar?" he asked.

Well, after going through the list of guitars in Deanguitars.com I fell in love with the Dean USA Razorback (drop dead gorgeous!). It's just so violently cool!
Other guitars include the Dime-O-Flame, Warbird, Dime War camo, and the greatest of them all: The Dean From Hell.

Dean From Hell? It's just a guitar with lightning bolt designs!
Well Yeah, but then it's fitted with a floyd rose and Bill Lawrence pickups.
Plus, not only is because Dimebag Darrell used it in the Cowboys From Hell era..
If you watched the final Battle in Tenacious D: Pick of Destiny, you'll notice that Satan used one while he was singing "Check this Riff it's f&*^ing tasty...!"

So maybe in a few years, I'll find a luthier somewhere and modify the Spartan by fitting it with a Floyd Rose tremolo.

http://www.deanguitars.com/

2
I think I need to change my form 6 subjects from Math to Psychology. Why? Because of this question..

Mom: What is 1/2 minus 1/3?
Me: Uh...
Aira: 1/6 (she said instantly)
Me: Uh.. OH NO! I CAN' T BELIEVE I FORGOT HOW TO CALCULATE IT!!!

Dean ML / Results are in! / PTE

You know, actually I was planning to update my blog around 2-4 times a month. But then I got too lazy and I end up writing less.
Luckily I write alot for each post, then for each event I separate in chapters. Like so...

1
If you still remember, I recently bought the DEAN Dime-o-Flage ML (Lets call it DOF) early this January. Well, I got so into it that I broke two strings in a week.

And for some reason, I finally got better in my shredding (that's playing a solo fast to people who don't know the term) and I discovered how my playing with the DOF made me play better in my TGM Stratocaster (I've made modifications on it over the years and it fits my confort in playing). I was faster, more technically experienced and sounded better than my years with the TGM.

I also discovered my own sound (I remember showing this Bang Zul and he said ,"Extra Crispy"). All I did was messing up the knobs for overdrive on the Amp than combine it with the Onerr Distortion Pedal.
And what do I get? Spicy KFC Extra Crispy, but doesnt smell like one though. Still, it's finger licking (pun intended).

Yesterday I met two friends I haven't seen after a long time, and both of them said ,"Z, I like your guitar. It's really cool!"
Why not'? It's the meanest metal guitar I've played in my life!

2
After a gruesome wait for those results on my O-level exam, they finally came out last Tuesday.

And what did I get?..... 7 Os! Thank you God.
To be precise, it's : 1 A , 2 Bs, 4 Cs, and 1 D.

To be more precise: I got a distinction in English Literature, this is the second time I got an A unexpectedly (last time being an A for Commercial Studies).

To be a little more precise:
Eng Lit : A2
English : B3
Malay : B4
Geo : C5
Math : C6
Chem : C6
Bio : C6
Phy : D7

I've done well in my exams (people were saying congratulations and all that) but I could have gotten 8 Os. (If you remember, I did mention getting a computer when I get 8 Os? That's the only disappointing part!)

3
Today, I finally registered myself to Pusat Tingkatan Enam (Form 6 centre, also a College)

The subjects I'm taking are : English Literature, Sociology and Math (this is for you Mom). The subject recommended to me is English AS (obviously due to my results in English and Literature).

For Math, after checking with my results they had to move me to another teacher for an interview.
It was difficult because the teacher said he doesn't recommend me doing math (since I got a C6) and try a subject that focus on my English results.
At first I wanted to take Psychology, but since my mom insist I take math because of the opportunities I can get in the future, I had to fight back the comments and recommendations they gave.

So finally I got to take Math (Uncle Ahmad commented that I was a very confident speaker during the interview). The teacher interviewing me said that 2/3 of the students with C6 failed while those who pass got mostly Cs and Ds. So I said to the teacher, "Then let's hope I get to the 1/3 successfully."