Here's what you need in order to negotiate properly:
1. Buddhism.
Leave any desire out the door. This means no expectations, no dreams, no goals. Let it all go. The opposing party would want to exploit any and all desires you have.
For example, a lot of women believe I want to fuck them. Around 12 years ago, this was true. I wanted to fuck all women.
Then I went to Thailand and trained under the Whore-Priestesses of Shabda-Oud. I realised that sex is only RM50. So any kind of the most debased fetish-filled fucking is only worth two cab rides to work.
I am sex-proof, in the nerdiest way possible.
Then, they think you'd want money. They think you want THEIR money.
After the heart attack in 2014, I realised that money is not everything and I mean that in the most non-cynical way. In fact, the greed or desire for money will make you lose money. Only when you allow money to come to you would you be able to make any significant financial progress.
2. Realise that you are not a slave and can walk away at any time
"You don't have to be nowhere forever" - Delirium, The Sandman Comics.
If things don't happen, or happen, the world will not stop spinning, and I mean that in the way galaxies spin or maybe the universe spins. I don't know that shit.
3. Finding true happiness is finding true wealth
If money or sex is no issue, and we have an over-abundance of food, then what is true wealth?
True wealth is time and happiness. The time to allow yourself to be happy. Happiness doesn't come from others or from things or from circumstances. Happiness is an absence of desire.
Let go of everything and be the wealthiest man alive. Or dead. Nobody cares.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
Hal Hal Bosan Berunding Dengan Penerbit/Stesen TV
Kepada penulis skrip, biasanya korang akan bercakap dengan penerbit atau stesen TV untuk jual skrip ko. Ini aku senaraikan beberapa benda yang diorang biasa cakap dan bagaimana ko boleh jawab.
Sebelum itu, beberapa cadangan:
1. Tinggalkan dunia produksi.
Rezeki di tangan Tuhan, bukan di tangan industri yang dangkal ini. Pergilah cari kerja lain. Mula berniaga ke, mintak derma keluarga diraja Arab Saudi ke.
2. Lepaskan nafsu untuk melihat karya ke layar
Dunia takkan berhenti berpusing kalau karya ko masuk TV atau masuk panggung. Lepaskan nafsu ini, demi mendapat kekuatan dalam rundingan. Lepaskan semua nafsu lain untuk beroleh kekuatan rohani yang tidak terkalah.
3. Semua orang penipu
Jangan percaya sesiapa pun.
Okay, sekarang kita beralih ke dialog biasa bersama penerbit.
1. "Ko buatlah projek ni untuk exposure. Boleh letak dalam CV ko. Jadi, harga ko tak payah tinggi sangat sekarang, nanti naikkan kadar bayaran ko, bila ko dah power nak mampus."
Terjemahan: "Jadilah hamba abdi kepada kami dengan bayaran seperti kena rogol kat lubang jubur."
Bila ada penerbit cakap camni, bangun dari kerusi dan mula berjalan ke kereta/stesen LRT/motor. Start motor, blah dan jangan sekali-kali toleh ke belakang. Kalau ko toleh, ko akan nampak pernbit tadi jadi hantu penanggal nak isap darah ko.
2. "Kitorang takleh bayar ko lebih atau bagi ko percentage sebab stesen TV yang menindas kitorang dan ambik semua hak."
Terjemahan: "Kalau ko berani, pergile saman stesen TV yang ada lawyer ramai gila tu. Ini bukan salah aku, walaupun aku perdulittaik pasal hak ko. Aku nak duit je. Ko boleh pergi mampus la."
Kalau dia cakap macam ni, ko terus book flight ke Siam, ko jadi hamba abdi pengupas udang. Sesungguhnya hidup sebagai hamba abdi pengupas udang mungkin lebih baik daripada jadi penulis skrip.
3. "Ko kena paham, kitorang dah keluarkan duit. DUIT! Ko paham tak kitorang dah keluarkan DUIT? Kitorang buat suatu kerja yang murni sebab melaburkan sesuatu yang kau takda."
Terjemahan: "Dengan nama Ringgit Malaysia yang Maha Hebat lagi Maha Kacak. Tiadalah Tuhan melainkan Ringgit Malaysia."
Sebenarnya, usaha dan idea kau sebagai penulis juga satu pelaburan dan satu aset. Masa yang kau sumbang untuk membuat apa-apa juga ada nilai. Dan duit stesen TV atau syarikat penerbitan bukanlah istimewa sangat sebab kau boleh dapatkan duit yang sama, mungkin dalam jumlah lebih banyak, kat tempat lain.
Dan sememangnya biasa untuk syarikat atau individu melaburkan duit ke dalam sesuatu projek untuk mendapatkan sebahagian daripada pulangan, biasanya bukan SEMUA pulangan. Jadi melaburkan duit bukanlah benda yang macam makhluk asing merogol anjing di lubang jubur di tengah hari.
4. "Kitorang je yang melabur dalam produksi tempatan. Kitorang je yang membela nasib produksi tempatan."
Terjemahan: "Hisaplah kote kami."
SEBENARNYA, semua stesen TV perlukan pengisian tempatan. Local content. Kalau kau ada data penyiaran, rangkaian yang menyiarkan pengisian antarabangsa (kalau ditolak bolasepak), angkanya agak kecil.
Aku kira-kira bodoh yang content antarabangsa di TV menarik lebih kurang 300-500 ribu orang sahaja. Netflix ke Malaysia, hanya relevan untuk beberapa ratus ribu orang.
Rangkaian TV yang menyiarkan pengisian tempatan pula mencecah angka penonton berjuta. Sebab itu Netflix/iFlix pun sudah mula mencari rancangan tempatan, begitu juga HBO Asia atau apa-apa yang lain.
Masa depan SEMUA stesen TV ialah pengisian tempatan. Oleh itu, pengeluar pengisian tempatan sebenarnya memegang telur semua orang dalam tangan.
Alihkan semua pengisian tempatan sama ada ke Netflix/iFlix atau mana-mana syarikat yang mahu bertapak di Malaysia, dan secara perlahan-lahan (5-15 tahun), kita akan lihat kehancuran.
Juga, alihkan semua pengisian tempatan ke platform lain seperti YouTube dan jual di situ. Adalah tidak mustahil, pada hari ini, untuk menjual pengisian di platform Internet dan meraih jutaan ringgit. Bukan bermaksud senang - boleh tekan butang dan tetiba jadi kaya, tetapi ini hanya salah satu saluran untuk usaha.
Dengan wujudnya ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) dan perjanjian TPPA, pengeluar pengisian tempatan atau pengisian rantau dalam posisi yang agak baik.
AEC membuka pasaran kepada Asia Tenggara yang ada setengah billion penduduk. Belum ada mana-mana entiti atau individu yang mengusahakan platform pengisian yang mampu menangkap pasaran ini, tetapi aku fikirkan hanya perlu tunggu dalam 5 tahun untuk sesuatu seperti YouTube berbayar rantau Asia Tenggara.
Entiti pengisian seperti HBO Asia dan studio pengisian dan pengedaran seperti Legendary pun sudah mula melabur dalam local content dan online content. Sesetengah projek itu sudah menjana keuntungan berpuluh juta dolar US dengan kos yang rendah.
Kita sekarang berada pada titik pusingan kuasa untuk pengisian, apabila dunia sudah mula melangkah ke alam baru. Apa yang aku impikan pada 30 tahun yang lalu dan apa yang aku hadapi 10 tahun yang lampau sudah banyak berubah.
Mari kita lihat apa akan jadi dalam gerak perlahan.
Sebelum itu, beberapa cadangan:
1. Tinggalkan dunia produksi.
Rezeki di tangan Tuhan, bukan di tangan industri yang dangkal ini. Pergilah cari kerja lain. Mula berniaga ke, mintak derma keluarga diraja Arab Saudi ke.
2. Lepaskan nafsu untuk melihat karya ke layar
Dunia takkan berhenti berpusing kalau karya ko masuk TV atau masuk panggung. Lepaskan nafsu ini, demi mendapat kekuatan dalam rundingan. Lepaskan semua nafsu lain untuk beroleh kekuatan rohani yang tidak terkalah.
3. Semua orang penipu
Jangan percaya sesiapa pun.
Okay, sekarang kita beralih ke dialog biasa bersama penerbit.
1. "Ko buatlah projek ni untuk exposure. Boleh letak dalam CV ko. Jadi, harga ko tak payah tinggi sangat sekarang, nanti naikkan kadar bayaran ko, bila ko dah power nak mampus."
Terjemahan: "Jadilah hamba abdi kepada kami dengan bayaran seperti kena rogol kat lubang jubur."
Bila ada penerbit cakap camni, bangun dari kerusi dan mula berjalan ke kereta/stesen LRT/motor. Start motor, blah dan jangan sekali-kali toleh ke belakang. Kalau ko toleh, ko akan nampak pernbit tadi jadi hantu penanggal nak isap darah ko.
2. "Kitorang takleh bayar ko lebih atau bagi ko percentage sebab stesen TV yang menindas kitorang dan ambik semua hak."
Terjemahan: "Kalau ko berani, pergile saman stesen TV yang ada lawyer ramai gila tu. Ini bukan salah aku, walaupun aku perdulittaik pasal hak ko. Aku nak duit je. Ko boleh pergi mampus la."
Kalau dia cakap macam ni, ko terus book flight ke Siam, ko jadi hamba abdi pengupas udang. Sesungguhnya hidup sebagai hamba abdi pengupas udang mungkin lebih baik daripada jadi penulis skrip.
3. "Ko kena paham, kitorang dah keluarkan duit. DUIT! Ko paham tak kitorang dah keluarkan DUIT? Kitorang buat suatu kerja yang murni sebab melaburkan sesuatu yang kau takda."
Terjemahan: "Dengan nama Ringgit Malaysia yang Maha Hebat lagi Maha Kacak. Tiadalah Tuhan melainkan Ringgit Malaysia."
Sebenarnya, usaha dan idea kau sebagai penulis juga satu pelaburan dan satu aset. Masa yang kau sumbang untuk membuat apa-apa juga ada nilai. Dan duit stesen TV atau syarikat penerbitan bukanlah istimewa sangat sebab kau boleh dapatkan duit yang sama, mungkin dalam jumlah lebih banyak, kat tempat lain.
Dan sememangnya biasa untuk syarikat atau individu melaburkan duit ke dalam sesuatu projek untuk mendapatkan sebahagian daripada pulangan, biasanya bukan SEMUA pulangan. Jadi melaburkan duit bukanlah benda yang macam makhluk asing merogol anjing di lubang jubur di tengah hari.
4. "Kitorang je yang melabur dalam produksi tempatan. Kitorang je yang membela nasib produksi tempatan."
Terjemahan: "Hisaplah kote kami."
SEBENARNYA, semua stesen TV perlukan pengisian tempatan. Local content. Kalau kau ada data penyiaran, rangkaian yang menyiarkan pengisian antarabangsa (kalau ditolak bolasepak), angkanya agak kecil.
Aku kira-kira bodoh yang content antarabangsa di TV menarik lebih kurang 300-500 ribu orang sahaja. Netflix ke Malaysia, hanya relevan untuk beberapa ratus ribu orang.
Rangkaian TV yang menyiarkan pengisian tempatan pula mencecah angka penonton berjuta. Sebab itu Netflix/iFlix pun sudah mula mencari rancangan tempatan, begitu juga HBO Asia atau apa-apa yang lain.
Masa depan SEMUA stesen TV ialah pengisian tempatan. Oleh itu, pengeluar pengisian tempatan sebenarnya memegang telur semua orang dalam tangan.
Alihkan semua pengisian tempatan sama ada ke Netflix/iFlix atau mana-mana syarikat yang mahu bertapak di Malaysia, dan secara perlahan-lahan (5-15 tahun), kita akan lihat kehancuran.
Juga, alihkan semua pengisian tempatan ke platform lain seperti YouTube dan jual di situ. Adalah tidak mustahil, pada hari ini, untuk menjual pengisian di platform Internet dan meraih jutaan ringgit. Bukan bermaksud senang - boleh tekan butang dan tetiba jadi kaya, tetapi ini hanya salah satu saluran untuk usaha.
Dengan wujudnya ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) dan perjanjian TPPA, pengeluar pengisian tempatan atau pengisian rantau dalam posisi yang agak baik.
AEC membuka pasaran kepada Asia Tenggara yang ada setengah billion penduduk. Belum ada mana-mana entiti atau individu yang mengusahakan platform pengisian yang mampu menangkap pasaran ini, tetapi aku fikirkan hanya perlu tunggu dalam 5 tahun untuk sesuatu seperti YouTube berbayar rantau Asia Tenggara.
Entiti pengisian seperti HBO Asia dan studio pengisian dan pengedaran seperti Legendary pun sudah mula melabur dalam local content dan online content. Sesetengah projek itu sudah menjana keuntungan berpuluh juta dolar US dengan kos yang rendah.
Kita sekarang berada pada titik pusingan kuasa untuk pengisian, apabila dunia sudah mula melangkah ke alam baru. Apa yang aku impikan pada 30 tahun yang lalu dan apa yang aku hadapi 10 tahun yang lampau sudah banyak berubah.
Mari kita lihat apa akan jadi dalam gerak perlahan.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Hal-Hal Bosan Penulisan Skrip
Aku nak korang baca email Alfie Palermo kepada Ketua Pengarah Finas ni.
Alfie menyuarakan kebenaran. Selama ini, penulis skrip di Malaysia secara keseluruhannya dilayan seperti hamba abdi pengupas kulit udang di Siam.
Semasa FINAS membuat kenyataan bahawa industri ketandusan skrip yang bagus, hal sebenarnya ialah penjanaan skrip tidak dibuat oleh penulis skrip, tetapi oleh penerbit.
Penerbit fikir skrip jenis rempit buat backflip atas lori sambil Whatsapp "Ucux nx tmn qaw bt ittew" boleh jual dan paksa penulis skrip tulis. Ini antara sebab banyak filem tempatan kalau kau tulis skrip pun, rasa malu nak bagitau orang kau yang tulis.
Untuk mereka yang bergantung sepenuhnya kepada penulisan skrip, pilihan yang ada biasanya ialah: tulis cerita merapu dalam jangkamasa yang amat terhad sebab penerbit nak buat duit sebanyak mungkin, atau mati kebuluran.
Sebab inilah aku tidak pernah menjadikan penulisan skrip sebagai mata pencarian utama aku. Aku bernasib baik. Ramai lagi penulis skrip yang tahu mereka buat kerja bodoh, tapi buat je pasal berdepan kebuluran.
SEMUA rintihan artis atau krew, pasal takde simpanan, insurans, KWSP, penerbit lari, bayar lambat atau tak bayar langsung, juga berlaku kepada penulis skrip.
Makin teruk lagi, penulis skrip juga tiada kuasa dalam menentukan integriti kreatif karya mereka, tetapi selalu dipersalahkan kalau pelakon tak reti berlakon, pengarah jenis ketua kampung melawat kawasan atau penerbit jenis melompat tak tentu pasal dan tak paham yang dia takde taste dan tak layak menentukan halatuju kreatif apa-apa industri, hatta industri katalog barang pencuci tandas.
Bukan semua penerbit bodoh piang, tetapi cukup ramai untuk menjadikan ini satu masalah. Bukan salah diorang je, tapi salah satu industri. Penulis skrip sendiri pun sebahagian masalah ni, kadang-kadang sebab taknak bersatu sokong bila ada penulis yang berani seperti Alfie Palermo yang memperjuangkan sesuatu yang perlu.
Aku kata Alfie berani sebab aku boleh maki sebab aku tak bergantung pada kerja daripada mana-mana syarikat penerbitan atau penerbit. Aku pernah tolak tawaran syarikat gergasi nak beli skrip aku dan diorang terperanjat. Aku pedulittaik? Aku nak pegang hak untuk buat komik berdasarkan skrip filem aku dan itu pun diorang tak bagi, pasal diorang nak pegang semua rights. Jadi aku bagitau diorang, diorang boleh fuck off and die.
Alfie bergantung sepenuhnya pada penulisan skrip. Sebab dia bersuara dengan lantang, ada kemungkinan dia akan disenaraihitamkan oleh sesetengah syarikat atau penerbit. Seruan Alfie agar kita mengikut Writers Guild of America (WGA), selaras dengan negara ini menandatangani TPPA ialah sesuatu yang hanya akan memperkasakan industri filem. Tetapi harganya mungkin mahal untuk Alfie.
WGA menjamin:
1. Hak menentukan kredit dalam mana-mana produksi.
SEMUA kredit di US atau mana-mana negara maju yang bertamadun, tak ditentukan oleh editor atau pengarah mahupun penerbit. Mereka hanya menghantar cadangan kredit kepada WGA yang akan menentukan siapa dapat kredit apa.
Ini menghalang mana-mana pengarah tak sekolah yang meletakkan nama mereka sebagai penulis lakonlayar dan penulis skrip sebagai 'penulis skrip' sebab FFM ada anugerah hanya untuk penulis lakonlayar dan bukan penulis skrip. Malaysia ialah satu-satunya negara yang aku tahu tidak memberi kredit lakonlayar kepada penulis skrip, sebaliknya kepada pengarah. Tak dibuat dek orang, ko tau?
2. 3++% across the board
Penulis skrip dapat 3++% across the board untuk semua duit yang dapat kepada sesuatu IP menerusi apa-apa platform. Ini gross, bukan nett.
3. Menjamin semua hak yang lain
Banyak sangat nak tulis.
Sebab dah ada orang macam Alfie, aku memutuskan untuk kembali daripada persaraan untuk menulis skrip balik, tetapi aku bersumpah:
1. Aku hanya akan tulis skrip kalau aku dapat sekurang-kurangnya apa yang WGA jamin. Ini bermakna aku akan tulis skrip yang hakciptanya aku boleh pegang, atau sekurang-kurangnya 3% of gross revenue across all platforms.
ATAU
2. Aku dibayar dengan lumayan untuk menulis skrip. Lumayan bagi aku dalam lingkungan RM40,000-100,000 untuk satu skrip filem.
3. Kedua-dua syarat di atas bergantung pada pengehadan bilangan draf kepada 3 (nak rewrite lelebih, aku caj) dan terma bayaran yang mengikut cadangan Alfie (pergi baca seruan dia).
Sekarang ni aku tulis skrip komik Nafiri pada hujung minggu dan waktu lapang, juga mula menulis benda lain kalau jalan. Semuanya aku pegang IP/hakcipta. Kau boleh ambil hak aku bila kau bunuh aku dan banish roh aku ke neraka.
Alfie menyuarakan kebenaran. Selama ini, penulis skrip di Malaysia secara keseluruhannya dilayan seperti hamba abdi pengupas kulit udang di Siam.
Semasa FINAS membuat kenyataan bahawa industri ketandusan skrip yang bagus, hal sebenarnya ialah penjanaan skrip tidak dibuat oleh penulis skrip, tetapi oleh penerbit.
Penerbit fikir skrip jenis rempit buat backflip atas lori sambil Whatsapp "Ucux nx tmn qaw bt ittew" boleh jual dan paksa penulis skrip tulis. Ini antara sebab banyak filem tempatan kalau kau tulis skrip pun, rasa malu nak bagitau orang kau yang tulis.
Untuk mereka yang bergantung sepenuhnya kepada penulisan skrip, pilihan yang ada biasanya ialah: tulis cerita merapu dalam jangkamasa yang amat terhad sebab penerbit nak buat duit sebanyak mungkin, atau mati kebuluran.
Sebab inilah aku tidak pernah menjadikan penulisan skrip sebagai mata pencarian utama aku. Aku bernasib baik. Ramai lagi penulis skrip yang tahu mereka buat kerja bodoh, tapi buat je pasal berdepan kebuluran.
SEMUA rintihan artis atau krew, pasal takde simpanan, insurans, KWSP, penerbit lari, bayar lambat atau tak bayar langsung, juga berlaku kepada penulis skrip.
Makin teruk lagi, penulis skrip juga tiada kuasa dalam menentukan integriti kreatif karya mereka, tetapi selalu dipersalahkan kalau pelakon tak reti berlakon, pengarah jenis ketua kampung melawat kawasan atau penerbit jenis melompat tak tentu pasal dan tak paham yang dia takde taste dan tak layak menentukan halatuju kreatif apa-apa industri, hatta industri katalog barang pencuci tandas.
Bukan semua penerbit bodoh piang, tetapi cukup ramai untuk menjadikan ini satu masalah. Bukan salah diorang je, tapi salah satu industri. Penulis skrip sendiri pun sebahagian masalah ni, kadang-kadang sebab taknak bersatu sokong bila ada penulis yang berani seperti Alfie Palermo yang memperjuangkan sesuatu yang perlu.
Aku kata Alfie berani sebab aku boleh maki sebab aku tak bergantung pada kerja daripada mana-mana syarikat penerbitan atau penerbit. Aku pernah tolak tawaran syarikat gergasi nak beli skrip aku dan diorang terperanjat. Aku pedulittaik? Aku nak pegang hak untuk buat komik berdasarkan skrip filem aku dan itu pun diorang tak bagi, pasal diorang nak pegang semua rights. Jadi aku bagitau diorang, diorang boleh fuck off and die.
Alfie bergantung sepenuhnya pada penulisan skrip. Sebab dia bersuara dengan lantang, ada kemungkinan dia akan disenaraihitamkan oleh sesetengah syarikat atau penerbit. Seruan Alfie agar kita mengikut Writers Guild of America (WGA), selaras dengan negara ini menandatangani TPPA ialah sesuatu yang hanya akan memperkasakan industri filem. Tetapi harganya mungkin mahal untuk Alfie.
WGA menjamin:
1. Hak menentukan kredit dalam mana-mana produksi.
SEMUA kredit di US atau mana-mana negara maju yang bertamadun, tak ditentukan oleh editor atau pengarah mahupun penerbit. Mereka hanya menghantar cadangan kredit kepada WGA yang akan menentukan siapa dapat kredit apa.
Ini menghalang mana-mana pengarah tak sekolah yang meletakkan nama mereka sebagai penulis lakonlayar dan penulis skrip sebagai 'penulis skrip' sebab FFM ada anugerah hanya untuk penulis lakonlayar dan bukan penulis skrip. Malaysia ialah satu-satunya negara yang aku tahu tidak memberi kredit lakonlayar kepada penulis skrip, sebaliknya kepada pengarah. Tak dibuat dek orang, ko tau?
2. 3++% across the board
Penulis skrip dapat 3++% across the board untuk semua duit yang dapat kepada sesuatu IP menerusi apa-apa platform. Ini gross, bukan nett.
3. Menjamin semua hak yang lain
Banyak sangat nak tulis.
Sebab dah ada orang macam Alfie, aku memutuskan untuk kembali daripada persaraan untuk menulis skrip balik, tetapi aku bersumpah:
1. Aku hanya akan tulis skrip kalau aku dapat sekurang-kurangnya apa yang WGA jamin. Ini bermakna aku akan tulis skrip yang hakciptanya aku boleh pegang, atau sekurang-kurangnya 3% of gross revenue across all platforms.
ATAU
2. Aku dibayar dengan lumayan untuk menulis skrip. Lumayan bagi aku dalam lingkungan RM40,000-100,000 untuk satu skrip filem.
3. Kedua-dua syarat di atas bergantung pada pengehadan bilangan draf kepada 3 (nak rewrite lelebih, aku caj) dan terma bayaran yang mengikut cadangan Alfie (pergi baca seruan dia).
Sekarang ni aku tulis skrip komik Nafiri pada hujung minggu dan waktu lapang, juga mula menulis benda lain kalau jalan. Semuanya aku pegang IP/hakcipta. Kau boleh ambil hak aku bila kau bunuh aku dan banish roh aku ke neraka.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Komik Tempatan
Sudah ada ramai orang cuba buat sesuatu untuk memartabatkan industri komik tempatan. Aku rasa tak layak dipanggil induatri, tetapi wajar digelar 'scene'. Aku tak tau apa perkataan yang boleh ganti 'scene'. Sebab tak cukup besar nak dipanggil industri.
Ada dah dibuat majlis anugerah, pesta, pasar, dan macam-macam lagi. Ini semua okay, tapi sebenarnya scene komik tempatan ketandusan satu benda - data.
Komik tempatan perlukan maklumat pasal 'industri'. Berapa orang artis komik yang ada? Penulis? Penerbit? Berapa ramai yang aktif? Apakah takrifan aktif? Berapa judul yang diterbitkan setahun? Berapa jualan?
Sebenarnya, tanpa maklumat pasal 'industri', apa-apa aktiviti atau program susah hendak dibentuk dan disasarkan tujuannya. Kalau ada duit pun, nak disalurkan ke mana duit tu? Kat member-member sendiri? Baik pergi rompak bank.
Dengan adanya data, kelemahan dan kekuatan scene boleh dikenalpasti. Juga, satu database yang sekurang-kurangnya hampir lengkap boleh menyalurkan kerja kepada mereka yang dalam 'industri', seperti satu guild.
Oh well. Dah lama aku tak menelaah sampel data yang besar.
Ada dah dibuat majlis anugerah, pesta, pasar, dan macam-macam lagi. Ini semua okay, tapi sebenarnya scene komik tempatan ketandusan satu benda - data.
Komik tempatan perlukan maklumat pasal 'industri'. Berapa orang artis komik yang ada? Penulis? Penerbit? Berapa ramai yang aktif? Apakah takrifan aktif? Berapa judul yang diterbitkan setahun? Berapa jualan?
Sebenarnya, tanpa maklumat pasal 'industri', apa-apa aktiviti atau program susah hendak dibentuk dan disasarkan tujuannya. Kalau ada duit pun, nak disalurkan ke mana duit tu? Kat member-member sendiri? Baik pergi rompak bank.
Dengan adanya data, kelemahan dan kekuatan scene boleh dikenalpasti. Juga, satu database yang sekurang-kurangnya hampir lengkap boleh menyalurkan kerja kepada mereka yang dalam 'industri', seperti satu guild.
Oh well. Dah lama aku tak menelaah sampel data yang besar.
Monday, January 25, 2016
When Evil Had Its Day
Some of my friends said I am more positive now after the heart attack rather than before. She said this a couple of weeks ago and I have had time to think about that comment.
I disagree. I'm still the distrusting paranoid wreck I was and forever will be. I am convinced that people are inherently, by nature, petty and evil. It is up to them to evolve beyond that and very few actually do.
What has changed could be that my friend has had time to know me a little better. Or perhaps I had more time to explain myself.
Inside my head are complex ideas and thoughts that I could never bring forth in their entirety in just one session or speech. There is so much information and I always believe that people need all the information I have before making a decision.
Unfortunately, this is not true. I collect information. Tons of it. It is in my nature. But most people would find all that information useless.
I entered the media industry precisely because I was weak in communication. Writing was my weakest subject in primary school. In high school, I trained myself to write better, but my connection with people still suffered.
I'm socially awkward in the way I always find myself feeling like I'm trapped in a glass bottle with all this information and I can't transfer them all to the other subject via telepathy. And you need ALL of it.
But you don't, do you?
What if the objective has changed? What if the game has shifted? It is not about how much information I can or should give you, but what kind of information do I decide you will have, in order for you to do what I want?
That sounds really evil, doesn't it?
Well, maybe not.
I disagree. I'm still the distrusting paranoid wreck I was and forever will be. I am convinced that people are inherently, by nature, petty and evil. It is up to them to evolve beyond that and very few actually do.
What has changed could be that my friend has had time to know me a little better. Or perhaps I had more time to explain myself.
Inside my head are complex ideas and thoughts that I could never bring forth in their entirety in just one session or speech. There is so much information and I always believe that people need all the information I have before making a decision.
Unfortunately, this is not true. I collect information. Tons of it. It is in my nature. But most people would find all that information useless.
I entered the media industry precisely because I was weak in communication. Writing was my weakest subject in primary school. In high school, I trained myself to write better, but my connection with people still suffered.
I'm socially awkward in the way I always find myself feeling like I'm trapped in a glass bottle with all this information and I can't transfer them all to the other subject via telepathy. And you need ALL of it.
But you don't, do you?
What if the objective has changed? What if the game has shifted? It is not about how much information I can or should give you, but what kind of information do I decide you will have, in order for you to do what I want?
That sounds really evil, doesn't it?
Well, maybe not.
DnD: Bard Yang Kesuntukan Masa
Aku bermain DnD dengan satu kumpulan geek sejak tahun lepas. Watak aku ialah seorang Bard halfling bernama Bardrolhisham Bidin. Nama timangan: Bard.
Peranan seorang bard dalam sesuatu kumpulan ialah sebagai 'watak sokongan' yang memberikan semua orang bonus ketika bertempur. Tetapi, baru-baru ini, dalam salah satu pengembaraan kami yang membawa kumpulan ke Neraka, Bard telah mendapat sebilah tongkat sakti yang ada sihir lightning bolt tahap tinggi.
Sejak itu, semua lawan yang sukar, jenis raksasa kelas tinggi, ataupun perajurit yang kuat-kuat, semua perlu dibunuh atau dilemahkan dengan tongkat sakti itu. Naga, hantu penanggal, Lunar Nagas, Knight, Warrior, Hydra, semuanya terkesan dengan tongkat sakti.
Tongkat sakti itu sekarang tinggal 22 atau 21 caj sahaja. Selepas habis digunakan, tiada cara untuk caj balik dengan murah. Aku sedang memikirkan dan menyediakan cara untuk mengimbal-balik kegunaan Bard dalam pertempuran sebaik saja caj dalam tongkat sakti itu habis.
Aku sedang mengumpul spell yang boleh digunakan dalam banyak keadaan. Tapi itu tidak cukup. Juga, ilham untuk menggunakan Alchemist Fire sebagai senjata baling belum boleh berhasil sebab kekuatan Bard hanya 5, yang membuahkan modifier -3.
Hmmm...
Peranan seorang bard dalam sesuatu kumpulan ialah sebagai 'watak sokongan' yang memberikan semua orang bonus ketika bertempur. Tetapi, baru-baru ini, dalam salah satu pengembaraan kami yang membawa kumpulan ke Neraka, Bard telah mendapat sebilah tongkat sakti yang ada sihir lightning bolt tahap tinggi.
Sejak itu, semua lawan yang sukar, jenis raksasa kelas tinggi, ataupun perajurit yang kuat-kuat, semua perlu dibunuh atau dilemahkan dengan tongkat sakti itu. Naga, hantu penanggal, Lunar Nagas, Knight, Warrior, Hydra, semuanya terkesan dengan tongkat sakti.
Tongkat sakti itu sekarang tinggal 22 atau 21 caj sahaja. Selepas habis digunakan, tiada cara untuk caj balik dengan murah. Aku sedang memikirkan dan menyediakan cara untuk mengimbal-balik kegunaan Bard dalam pertempuran sebaik saja caj dalam tongkat sakti itu habis.
Aku sedang mengumpul spell yang boleh digunakan dalam banyak keadaan. Tapi itu tidak cukup. Juga, ilham untuk menggunakan Alchemist Fire sebagai senjata baling belum boleh berhasil sebab kekuatan Bard hanya 5, yang membuahkan modifier -3.
Hmmm...
The Amir Hafizi Diet Plan
I had some success with my initial diet plan, losing 20++ kg in a span of six months, so I'm listing it down here. I'm currently working on a different diet that is more sustainable but would still make me lose weight at a slower pace. Some calculations might be a bit off. In any confusion, reduce the amount, never increase.
So here goes:
The ORIGINAL Amir Hafizi High-Fibre Diet and Exercise Plan
What you need:
1. Willpower
2. Swearing off ALL food not listed here
3. Psyllium Husk
4. Oats. Loats of oats
5. Lots of water
6. Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (for diabetic patients)
7. Fresh food stuff
8. Blackmores Multivitamins
So here's the list of breakfasts:
Monday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Tuesday:
Psyllium husk and water
2 Weetabix and some low fat milk
Wednesday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Thursday:
Psyllium husk and water
One banana
Friday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Saturday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Lunch is served!
Monday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Tuesday:
Four slices of Gardenia Purple Wheat bread
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Wednesday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Thursday:
3 chappatti + dhal
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Friday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Saturday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Sunday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Dinner:
Monday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Tuesday:
Four slices of Gardenia Purple Wheat bread
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Wednesday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Thursday:
3 chappatti + dhal
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Friday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Saturday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Sunday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Snacks:
1. Oats
2. Fruits - pears, apples, oranges, bananas. Limit to two a day.
Exercise:
Best to walk/run for 5km daily or one hour cardio at a heart rate of 140-ish. Higher if you are healthy and have no medical conditions. Or swim for an hour.
If you eat this, and absolutely nothing else - this means absolutely NOTHING else - I guaran-damn-tee you will lose weight at least in the first five weeks. The exercise helps start the burn process. After that initial period, you need to get creative.
So here goes:
The ORIGINAL Amir Hafizi High-Fibre Diet and Exercise Plan
What you need:
1. Willpower
2. Swearing off ALL food not listed here
3. Psyllium Husk
4. Oats. Loats of oats
5. Lots of water
6. Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (for diabetic patients)
7. Fresh food stuff
8. Blackmores Multivitamins
So here's the list of breakfasts:
Monday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Tuesday:
Psyllium husk and water
2 Weetabix and some low fat milk
Wednesday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Thursday:
Psyllium husk and water
One banana
Friday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Saturday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Sunday:
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Psyllium husk and water
Oats and some low fat milk
Lunch is served!
Monday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Tuesday:
Four slices of Gardenia Purple Wheat bread
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Wednesday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Thursday:
3 chappatti + dhal
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Friday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Saturday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Sunday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Dinner:
Monday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Tuesday:
Four slices of Gardenia Purple Wheat bread
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Wednesday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Thursday:
3 chappatti + dhal
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Friday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Saturday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Sunday:
Faiza Taj Mahal Herbaponni rice (100gm of pure cooked rice)
100gm chicken fillet, no skin, no fat - actually 200gm, cooked for two meals, lunch and dinner. cooked with two tablespoons of oil, garlic, onions, ginger, curry/kurma powder, star anise, water, half a teaspoon of salt.
100gm veggies, preferably butterhead lettuce
Snacks:
1. Oats
2. Fruits - pears, apples, oranges, bananas. Limit to two a day.
Exercise:
Best to walk/run for 5km daily or one hour cardio at a heart rate of 140-ish. Higher if you are healthy and have no medical conditions. Or swim for an hour.
If you eat this, and absolutely nothing else - this means absolutely NOTHING else - I guaran-damn-tee you will lose weight at least in the first five weeks. The exercise helps start the burn process. After that initial period, you need to get creative.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Iklan Tidak Berbayar: Maple Comics Sebuah Syarikat Penerbitan Polos
Beberapa kali, Melayu jenis urban berkata kepada aku, "Kau berniaga ni, kenalah ada untung."
Aku biasa senyum saja. Ya, aku tahu untung-rugi tu apa. Aku pernah ambil Kemahiran Hidup masa tingkatan satu-tiga.
Bila aku menjelaskan polisi dan prinsip Maple Comics yang sebenarnya mengikut ramai penerbit komik dan buku yang lain, tetapi bukan yang bernilai berbillion-billion, mereka akan marah. Menggeliat-geliut seperti cacing kepanasan.
Kenapa Maple Comics memberikan sepenuh hakcipta kepada pengkarya? Kenapa Maple Comics memberi kebebasan berkarya (tetapi hanya kepada projek dan pengkarya terpilih)? Kenapa kami tidak mengusahakan penjualan barangan? Kenapa kami tidak mahukan duit?
Kenapa aku begitu bodoh dan dangkal?
Maka ketahuilah dan beritahulah kepada semua manusia, bahawasanya Maple Comics ialah syarikat penerbitan komik bebas (indie) yang begitu baik hati dan mesra-pengkarya. Malah, kami memberikan deal yang cukup hebat kepada artis.
Sebenarnya, Maple Comics ialah syarikat yang sustainable tetapi tidak profitable. Maksudnya apa-apa pendapatan kami daripada jualan satu judul komik hanya cukup-cukup untuk menerbitkan judul yang seterusnya.
Aku senang dengan cara ini. Tidak perlu pening kepala dengan tuntutan lembaga pengarah ataupun pemilik saham. Kami bebas menerbitkan apa saja judul yang kami rasa menarik.
Aku amat gembira apabila pembaca membeli komik-komik kami dengan muka yang ceria. Aku teruja bila komik dihantar sampai ke rumah, dan aku membeleknya buat pertama kali. Aku sering tersenyum apabila membaca pdf atau imej komik sebelum diterbitkan.Aku kagum dengan ramai bakat komik yang menghantar cadangan karya ke email kami di komikmaple@gmail.com. Sama ada kami tolak atau terima, lain cerita. Yang penting - masih ada yang berkarya.
Ada banyak karya aku terpaksa tolak atas pelbagai sebab. Dan ada beberapa projek terpaksa dibatalkan sebab terlampau lambat untuk disiapkan. Apapun, aku gembira dengan judul-judul yang kami terbitkan. Semuanya berkualiti dan mempunyai je ne sais quoi.
Pasal untung pula, aku hanya perlu pastikan, setiap jualan atau promosi tidak merugikan dan adalah sedikit margin yang tidak besar sangat.
Sekarang, pada tahun kedua Maple Comics, aku memikirkan beberapa hal yang sukar. Maple Comics sebagai sebuah entiti penerbitan, menjadi semakin kukuh dengan lebih banyak judul tahun ini berbanding tahun lalu. Kami juga sedang memikirkan pengembangan bentuk niaga ke arah yang lebih lebar.
Aku dan beberapa rakan telah membuat Ma-Play Card Game - satu permainan kad yang bakal dicetak sebaik sahaja para artis siapkan lukisannya.
Aku sudah memikirkan cara pemasarannya. Ada beberapa idea yang aku fikir boleh dipertimbangkan secara serius, tetapi memerlukan penyertaan pihak lain. Sebab kami sahaja tidak mampu hendak buat semua benda.
Dan kalau ada pihak di luar sana yang mahu bekerjasama dengan kami dan pengkarya yang menjadi rakan niaga kami, adalah amat dialu-alukan. Cuma perlu diingat yang kami menegaskan hakcipta sepenuhnya milik pengkarya dengan hanya hak adaptasi ke barangan cenderahati atau medium lain yang menjadi medan rundingan.
Kami tidak teruja dengan godaan untung PULUHAN ringgit.
Aku biasa senyum saja. Ya, aku tahu untung-rugi tu apa. Aku pernah ambil Kemahiran Hidup masa tingkatan satu-tiga.
Bila aku menjelaskan polisi dan prinsip Maple Comics yang sebenarnya mengikut ramai penerbit komik dan buku yang lain, tetapi bukan yang bernilai berbillion-billion, mereka akan marah. Menggeliat-geliut seperti cacing kepanasan.
Kenapa Maple Comics memberikan sepenuh hakcipta kepada pengkarya? Kenapa Maple Comics memberi kebebasan berkarya (tetapi hanya kepada projek dan pengkarya terpilih)? Kenapa kami tidak mengusahakan penjualan barangan? Kenapa kami tidak mahukan duit?
Kenapa aku begitu bodoh dan dangkal?
Maka ketahuilah dan beritahulah kepada semua manusia, bahawasanya Maple Comics ialah syarikat penerbitan komik bebas (indie) yang begitu baik hati dan mesra-pengkarya. Malah, kami memberikan deal yang cukup hebat kepada artis.
Sebenarnya, Maple Comics ialah syarikat yang sustainable tetapi tidak profitable. Maksudnya apa-apa pendapatan kami daripada jualan satu judul komik hanya cukup-cukup untuk menerbitkan judul yang seterusnya.
Aku senang dengan cara ini. Tidak perlu pening kepala dengan tuntutan lembaga pengarah ataupun pemilik saham. Kami bebas menerbitkan apa saja judul yang kami rasa menarik.
Aku amat gembira apabila pembaca membeli komik-komik kami dengan muka yang ceria. Aku teruja bila komik dihantar sampai ke rumah, dan aku membeleknya buat pertama kali. Aku sering tersenyum apabila membaca pdf atau imej komik sebelum diterbitkan.Aku kagum dengan ramai bakat komik yang menghantar cadangan karya ke email kami di komikmaple@gmail.com. Sama ada kami tolak atau terima, lain cerita. Yang penting - masih ada yang berkarya.
Ada banyak karya aku terpaksa tolak atas pelbagai sebab. Dan ada beberapa projek terpaksa dibatalkan sebab terlampau lambat untuk disiapkan. Apapun, aku gembira dengan judul-judul yang kami terbitkan. Semuanya berkualiti dan mempunyai je ne sais quoi.
Pasal untung pula, aku hanya perlu pastikan, setiap jualan atau promosi tidak merugikan dan adalah sedikit margin yang tidak besar sangat.
Sekarang, pada tahun kedua Maple Comics, aku memikirkan beberapa hal yang sukar. Maple Comics sebagai sebuah entiti penerbitan, menjadi semakin kukuh dengan lebih banyak judul tahun ini berbanding tahun lalu. Kami juga sedang memikirkan pengembangan bentuk niaga ke arah yang lebih lebar.
Aku dan beberapa rakan telah membuat Ma-Play Card Game - satu permainan kad yang bakal dicetak sebaik sahaja para artis siapkan lukisannya.
Aku sudah memikirkan cara pemasarannya. Ada beberapa idea yang aku fikir boleh dipertimbangkan secara serius, tetapi memerlukan penyertaan pihak lain. Sebab kami sahaja tidak mampu hendak buat semua benda.
Dan kalau ada pihak di luar sana yang mahu bekerjasama dengan kami dan pengkarya yang menjadi rakan niaga kami, adalah amat dialu-alukan. Cuma perlu diingat yang kami menegaskan hakcipta sepenuhnya milik pengkarya dengan hanya hak adaptasi ke barangan cenderahati atau medium lain yang menjadi medan rundingan.
Kami tidak teruja dengan godaan untung PULUHAN ringgit.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Aku, Maple Comics dan Memelihara Hakcipta
Sudah tiga orang yang mengatakan aku bodoh atau sekurang-kurangnya dangkal sebab mengurus Maple Comics seperti yang aku uruskan.
"Kenapa kau bagi pengkarya pegang hakcipta? Patut kau penerbit, kaulah pegang!" kata seorang yang bekerja di Malaysia.
"Kau seharusnya buat duit, bro. Kau perlukan duit," kata seorang dari negara jiran.
Setiap kali mereka berkata begitu, aku rasa sangat mulia. Seperti aku menjadi Siddharta Gautama yang melepaskan semua nafsu dan mengikut Jalan Lapan Lapis. Akulah Boddhisativa Hakcipta! Arhat Harta Intelek! Avalokitesvara Tanda Niaga.
Seolah-olah aku telah menolak berjuta-juta ringgit, malah mungkin berbillion, sebab aku tidak mengambil hakcipta daripada pengkarya. Mulia, bukan?
Sebenarnya, aku malas. Ya. Itulah sebab sebenarnya. Aku memang pemalas.
Aku lebih suka Maple Comics menumpukan usaha kami yang masih terhad ini kepada menerbit dan memasarkan komik. Dengan ada milikan hakcipta dan harta intelek, peluang dan potensi untuk membuat duit memang ada, tetapi adakah kau fikir semudah itu? Hanya pegang hakcipta dan semua benda - uang dan perempuan - akan bergolek ke kaki?
Semata-mata kau buat mainan atau t-shirt daripada sesuatu harta intelek, adakah kau fikir ia akan terjual dengan sendiri?
Tidak ada satu sen pun duit yang datang dengan mudah. Semuanya harus diusahakan. Komik perlu dijual, pemarasan, branding, product visibility, product availability, storage, logistics, front desk, back-end, ease of payment, fulfillment, crisis handling, error and risk management.
Aku tahu bagaimana hendak buat duit - kalau terdesak sangat, ko boleh hisap kote politician - itu bukan cabaran minda yang menyeronokkan, tetapi hanya cabaran stamina. Aku akui, aku tiada stamina untuk mengeksploitasi semua harta intelek aku sendiri, apatah lagi harta intelek orang lain?
Jadi, jawapan mudahnya, aku malas.
Satu lagi ialah pasal keadilan. Aku juga pengkarya dan setakat ini walaupun sudah 12 tahun bekerja dan pernah menulis 6 filem, beberapa siri TV dan benda-benda lain, aku tiada harta intelek di luar sana yang aku boleh eksploit.
Aku tak pernah minta milikan harta intelek projek-projek ini sebab aku dibayar untuk kerja aku. Walaupun bayaran picisan, itu ialah kadar yang aku sudah persetujui secara bertulis.
Namun aku fikir jika seorang penulis, misalnya, menulis cerita garpu yang jatuh cinta dengan pinggan, maka dia berhak memiliki cerita dan watak itu secara keseluruhan, tanpa soal. Tak kisahlah idea dia bodoh atau bagus.
Lagipun, apa yang penulis itu ingin buat dengan hakcipta itu pun? Dia hampir pasti tidak mampu mengadaptasinya menjadi siri TV muzikal atau persembahan pentas. Hakcipta dan milikan harta intelek, kepada seorang pengkarya yang tiada pengalaman dan dorongan nafsu komersial, samalah seperti seorang budak dengan bantal busuk.
Biarkanlah si pengkarya terjun dengan harta inteleknya. Biarkan, biarkan.
Adalah amat kejam kalau dalam hidup seseorang pengkarya yang hanya ada sebuah kisah cinta yang takde la best mana pun - dan itupun dirompak dan disamun oleh mereka yang akhirnya gagal mendapatkan apa-apa keuntungan sebab mereka tidak faham yang harta intelek tidak menjamin apa-apa pulangan mudah dan harus diperah sampai separuh mati, dalam jangkamasa yang agak lama. Sama macam kerja lain.
Sebab pada akhirnya, harta intelek dalam apa jua bentuk - mug, t-shirrt, seluar dalam - harus dibeli oleh seseorang kalau hendak ada keuntungan. Siapakah orang ini? Kenapa dia ingin membeli barangan itu? Kebanyakan pelabur tahap atasan tidak mampu membayangkan transaksi tahap bawahan ini. Mereka yang berada di atas piramid buta kepada dasarnya.
Kalau kau mahukan pulangan pantas dengan jumlah untuk yang tinggi, kau pergilah jual kuih. Ini aku cakap dengan serius. Sesetengah kuih dan air berperisa, kadar keuntungannya mungkin setinggi 70%.
Jadi, kesimpulannya, aku ialah orang mulia yang malas.
"Kenapa kau bagi pengkarya pegang hakcipta? Patut kau penerbit, kaulah pegang!" kata seorang yang bekerja di Malaysia.
"Kau seharusnya buat duit, bro. Kau perlukan duit," kata seorang dari negara jiran.
Setiap kali mereka berkata begitu, aku rasa sangat mulia. Seperti aku menjadi Siddharta Gautama yang melepaskan semua nafsu dan mengikut Jalan Lapan Lapis. Akulah Boddhisativa Hakcipta! Arhat Harta Intelek! Avalokitesvara Tanda Niaga.
Seolah-olah aku telah menolak berjuta-juta ringgit, malah mungkin berbillion, sebab aku tidak mengambil hakcipta daripada pengkarya. Mulia, bukan?
Sebenarnya, aku malas. Ya. Itulah sebab sebenarnya. Aku memang pemalas.
Aku lebih suka Maple Comics menumpukan usaha kami yang masih terhad ini kepada menerbit dan memasarkan komik. Dengan ada milikan hakcipta dan harta intelek, peluang dan potensi untuk membuat duit memang ada, tetapi adakah kau fikir semudah itu? Hanya pegang hakcipta dan semua benda - uang dan perempuan - akan bergolek ke kaki?
Semata-mata kau buat mainan atau t-shirt daripada sesuatu harta intelek, adakah kau fikir ia akan terjual dengan sendiri?
Tidak ada satu sen pun duit yang datang dengan mudah. Semuanya harus diusahakan. Komik perlu dijual, pemarasan, branding, product visibility, product availability, storage, logistics, front desk, back-end, ease of payment, fulfillment, crisis handling, error and risk management.
Aku tahu bagaimana hendak buat duit - kalau terdesak sangat, ko boleh hisap kote politician - itu bukan cabaran minda yang menyeronokkan, tetapi hanya cabaran stamina. Aku akui, aku tiada stamina untuk mengeksploitasi semua harta intelek aku sendiri, apatah lagi harta intelek orang lain?
Jadi, jawapan mudahnya, aku malas.
Satu lagi ialah pasal keadilan. Aku juga pengkarya dan setakat ini walaupun sudah 12 tahun bekerja dan pernah menulis 6 filem, beberapa siri TV dan benda-benda lain, aku tiada harta intelek di luar sana yang aku boleh eksploit.
Aku tak pernah minta milikan harta intelek projek-projek ini sebab aku dibayar untuk kerja aku. Walaupun bayaran picisan, itu ialah kadar yang aku sudah persetujui secara bertulis.
Namun aku fikir jika seorang penulis, misalnya, menulis cerita garpu yang jatuh cinta dengan pinggan, maka dia berhak memiliki cerita dan watak itu secara keseluruhan, tanpa soal. Tak kisahlah idea dia bodoh atau bagus.
Lagipun, apa yang penulis itu ingin buat dengan hakcipta itu pun? Dia hampir pasti tidak mampu mengadaptasinya menjadi siri TV muzikal atau persembahan pentas. Hakcipta dan milikan harta intelek, kepada seorang pengkarya yang tiada pengalaman dan dorongan nafsu komersial, samalah seperti seorang budak dengan bantal busuk.
Biarkanlah si pengkarya terjun dengan harta inteleknya. Biarkan, biarkan.
Adalah amat kejam kalau dalam hidup seseorang pengkarya yang hanya ada sebuah kisah cinta yang takde la best mana pun - dan itupun dirompak dan disamun oleh mereka yang akhirnya gagal mendapatkan apa-apa keuntungan sebab mereka tidak faham yang harta intelek tidak menjamin apa-apa pulangan mudah dan harus diperah sampai separuh mati, dalam jangkamasa yang agak lama. Sama macam kerja lain.
Sebab pada akhirnya, harta intelek dalam apa jua bentuk - mug, t-shirrt, seluar dalam - harus dibeli oleh seseorang kalau hendak ada keuntungan. Siapakah orang ini? Kenapa dia ingin membeli barangan itu? Kebanyakan pelabur tahap atasan tidak mampu membayangkan transaksi tahap bawahan ini. Mereka yang berada di atas piramid buta kepada dasarnya.
Kalau kau mahukan pulangan pantas dengan jumlah untuk yang tinggi, kau pergilah jual kuih. Ini aku cakap dengan serius. Sesetengah kuih dan air berperisa, kadar keuntungannya mungkin setinggi 70%.
Jadi, kesimpulannya, aku ialah orang mulia yang malas.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
The Mosque Project
Years ago, I developed The Mosque Project with a friend who have now parted ways with me.
We have our differences and The Mosque Project is one of them. He saw The Mosque Project as a means to funnel funds to mosques. I don't think mosques need funding to build more stuff on their grounds.I think mosques should emulate churches in the kind of shit they do.
I believe that mosques could be used as a means to do a few things, namely:
1. Show the people that they are not helpless and can actually do shit.
2. Showcase the practical and philosophical aspects of Islam rather than the mystical mumbo-jumbo bullshit like bomoh hujan or magic shit.
3. Give some Muslims something to do rather than take up arms and bombs and kill themselves for ISIS.
4. Improve the community through shared activities and bring people together through mosque activities that are actually beneficial
5. Make charity programmes work like crazy.
The majority of the people in Malaysia are Muslims. So it is natural to tap into this segment to do shit. Shit like, handling natural disasters or some shit. The kids are now dumb as nails so the community can do shit about this through mosques as a center for education.
Okay, here's how I see it. Mosques have two resources:
1. Space - this shit is vital, brah! Space can be sued for lots of shit, like turn it into a tuition center for stupid kids or poor kids or something. The grounds can be turned into a small business arcade for say, single mothers or former junkies or 'at-risk' motherfuckers.
2. Access to the community - free manpower, bitch! Get them engineers and get them to teach math once a week to stupid kids. Get the lawyers to reach readin' or whatnot. Once a week. Don't tell me you can't commit to once a week? Talk to the kids, man. They stupid.
Major programmes could include:
1. Natural disaster relief.
Imagine a network of mosques, during floods or earthquakes. A mosque in affluent Bangsar or Damansara can collect donations be it money or in kind. Then they funnel it to a sister/partner mosque in Temerloh. Let the mosque attendees form their own committees and handle collection on one end and distribution on another.
Other mosques can source for volunteers to go and clean up houses or whatever the fuck.
If any kid gets kidnapped, then round up a posse from the mosque. Or use the mosque as a situation room to round up the search posse.
2. Improving the economy of people in shitty circumstances.
We got single moms, addicts, homeless folks, crazy folk, blind niggas, whatever. Open up the mosque grounds and do business arcades like the one at Bangsar mosque. Sell books or some shit.
3. Engagement with stupid kids
The skilled fuckers can teach the dumb fuckers. Nuff said.
The impact from all this will be Islam in a positive, proactive light. Islam has been facing a public relations war for decades if not centuries, but most Muslims are too goddamned stupid to combat this. Except with heavy weapons. And violence doesn't work, unless you have lots and lots of nuclear weapons.
So it alleviates suffering in the country, empowers the people doing these projects - of their own initiative and volition, and it improves Islam's image.
Now, the Gov KENOT do this, because a top-down approach will not work. The problem with Malaysians is that they are apathetic motherfuckers. We, as a people, believe that everything is set by higher powers. That shadowy conspiracies rule our world and that we are powerless to do anything. So we do nothing.
You want these mosque fuckers to do this shit, you have to inspire them to do so.
Which means a multi-year, sustained multimedia campaign to show examples of such successful programmes in other mosques. Eventually, perhaps a few at first, then several then more, then perhaps more and more mosques will do it.
The Government MUST be instructed to "move bitch, get out tha way." The Government KENOT interfere. They will just stand by the side and nod.
Politicians KENOT take control or assume a point of leadership in any of the programmes. They must serve either as lieutenants or balacis, if they want to gain any credit at all. In fact, it is best if politicians get the fuck out.
Which is why this project will fail its original objective - to empower people.
To convince Malaysians that they can do anything and that there is no higher power other than God and their own free will. That money is a false God and so is the Government.
Do you really think the politicians will allow anything that convinces the people to be independent from their bullshit? Something that empowers people to the point that they realise they don't need any of these politicial parties - they can do shit on their own, thank you very much.
Hahahahaha.
And so it will fail. And they will all continue going back to the mosque and talk about how wrong other people are and everyone will stay stupid and poor and the politcians will win and their conspiracies will kill us all with red dust.
I just needed to write something stupid cause my brain doesn't work anymore.
Fuck off and die!
We have our differences and The Mosque Project is one of them. He saw The Mosque Project as a means to funnel funds to mosques. I don't think mosques need funding to build more stuff on their grounds.I think mosques should emulate churches in the kind of shit they do.
I believe that mosques could be used as a means to do a few things, namely:
1. Show the people that they are not helpless and can actually do shit.
2. Showcase the practical and philosophical aspects of Islam rather than the mystical mumbo-jumbo bullshit like bomoh hujan or magic shit.
3. Give some Muslims something to do rather than take up arms and bombs and kill themselves for ISIS.
4. Improve the community through shared activities and bring people together through mosque activities that are actually beneficial
5. Make charity programmes work like crazy.
The majority of the people in Malaysia are Muslims. So it is natural to tap into this segment to do shit. Shit like, handling natural disasters or some shit. The kids are now dumb as nails so the community can do shit about this through mosques as a center for education.
Okay, here's how I see it. Mosques have two resources:
1. Space - this shit is vital, brah! Space can be sued for lots of shit, like turn it into a tuition center for stupid kids or poor kids or something. The grounds can be turned into a small business arcade for say, single mothers or former junkies or 'at-risk' motherfuckers.
2. Access to the community - free manpower, bitch! Get them engineers and get them to teach math once a week to stupid kids. Get the lawyers to reach readin' or whatnot. Once a week. Don't tell me you can't commit to once a week? Talk to the kids, man. They stupid.
Major programmes could include:
1. Natural disaster relief.
Imagine a network of mosques, during floods or earthquakes. A mosque in affluent Bangsar or Damansara can collect donations be it money or in kind. Then they funnel it to a sister/partner mosque in Temerloh. Let the mosque attendees form their own committees and handle collection on one end and distribution on another.
Other mosques can source for volunteers to go and clean up houses or whatever the fuck.
If any kid gets kidnapped, then round up a posse from the mosque. Or use the mosque as a situation room to round up the search posse.
2. Improving the economy of people in shitty circumstances.
We got single moms, addicts, homeless folks, crazy folk, blind niggas, whatever. Open up the mosque grounds and do business arcades like the one at Bangsar mosque. Sell books or some shit.
3. Engagement with stupid kids
The skilled fuckers can teach the dumb fuckers. Nuff said.
The impact from all this will be Islam in a positive, proactive light. Islam has been facing a public relations war for decades if not centuries, but most Muslims are too goddamned stupid to combat this. Except with heavy weapons. And violence doesn't work, unless you have lots and lots of nuclear weapons.
So it alleviates suffering in the country, empowers the people doing these projects - of their own initiative and volition, and it improves Islam's image.
Now, the Gov KENOT do this, because a top-down approach will not work. The problem with Malaysians is that they are apathetic motherfuckers. We, as a people, believe that everything is set by higher powers. That shadowy conspiracies rule our world and that we are powerless to do anything. So we do nothing.
You want these mosque fuckers to do this shit, you have to inspire them to do so.
Which means a multi-year, sustained multimedia campaign to show examples of such successful programmes in other mosques. Eventually, perhaps a few at first, then several then more, then perhaps more and more mosques will do it.
The Government MUST be instructed to "move bitch, get out tha way." The Government KENOT interfere. They will just stand by the side and nod.
Politicians KENOT take control or assume a point of leadership in any of the programmes. They must serve either as lieutenants or balacis, if they want to gain any credit at all. In fact, it is best if politicians get the fuck out.
Which is why this project will fail its original objective - to empower people.
To convince Malaysians that they can do anything and that there is no higher power other than God and their own free will. That money is a false God and so is the Government.
Do you really think the politicians will allow anything that convinces the people to be independent from their bullshit? Something that empowers people to the point that they realise they don't need any of these politicial parties - they can do shit on their own, thank you very much.
Hahahahaha.
And so it will fail. And they will all continue going back to the mosque and talk about how wrong other people are and everyone will stay stupid and poor and the politcians will win and their conspiracies will kill us all with red dust.
I just needed to write something stupid cause my brain doesn't work anymore.
Fuck off and die!
Porn Sacrifice (Not Really)
I spent five hours today in KL trying to fix my PC.
Last night, it kept detecting and not detecting my hard drive. Another hard drive died recently as well, so there were only four possibilities:
1. Fucked up SATA cable
2. Fucked up hard drive
3. Fucked up power supply unit
4. Fucked up motherboard.
I have five deadlines today, so getting my PC up and running was imperative. I also decided it's time to check out what this Mara Digital thing has to offer. I mean, fuck the politics and the racist bullshit surrounding it. Fuck the Malay-Chinese bullshit. I needed to fix my PC and I didn't care who could do it.
So I went to Mara Digital first. I used to go to LowYat since 1999 but moved on cause the traders there became so 'lansi'. They even laughed at me when I was looking for a Blackberry phone.
Fuck you, man. Blackberry forever!
So I got to Mara Digital and it looked okay. I was going around carrying my PC when a kind dude showed me where the repair shop is. Apparently, Mara Digital has only ONE - that's right, ONE - repair shop.
I know we're under the age of 1Malaysia and 1MDB, not to mention One Direction and 1Israel, but fuck having just ONE repair shop in all of Mara Digital.
And guess how many techs they have at the single repair shop in all of Mara Digital? That's right - ONE.
I told him my problem and the initial diagnosis. He said he could check the PC for me in 3-4 days. I was like, "Hell naw!" And picked up the PC and made a beeline out the door.
Then I doubled back and wanted to buy a SATA cable. At least I could fix that myself.
The guy called someone on his phone and texted whoever before telling me they don't sell SATA cables.
I felt the burning hatred building within me like the intensity of a thousand suns, so I picked up the PC and stormed out before I did anything stupid.
Went to a shop downstairs to cool down and eat something. The cashier was on her phone and totally ignoring all her customers, including me. Fucking bullshit.
So I went to the mamak shop across the road, thinking mamaks might know how to do business. No chance. They also completely ignored me and I had to order from the drinks dude myself. Apparently, everyone was on their phones.
I was like, fuck this shit and hailed a cab and went to LowYat Plaza. This was the first time I went to LowYat since I dunno, 2005?
So I searched and found the most Cina-looking dude in C-Zone, which I'm convinced meant Cina-Zone and pressed him for answers about my PC. I grilled him to see how he would react and it was acceptable - one lansi smirk and I would have fucking killed him with my Blackberry. I would have Theon-Greyjoyed him on the spot. I would have Rob-Starked him. I would have cut off his head and sewn his dick in its place.
But it was adequate. He diagnosed my hard disk in 10 minutes and said it has bad sectors and I needed a replacement. This meant sacrificing all my porn, accumulated over 10 years, but it was necessary.
So I bought a new hard disk from him and asked him to install Win 7 on it. I already brought my ORIGINAL copy because I wanted a new hard disk anyway. But that was on the condition that he could do everything in an hour. That was the time he quoted me, so I went off for a simple meal of chapatti nearby.
It took him 55 minutes, but he did it. And so fast forward, I am now home and typing a blog entry before I go do my actual work.
I must say that it is early days for Mara Digital. They just opened in December and focusing on high-margin trade of laptops and phones. Didn't check the prices cause I was so angry. I did notice lots of old people in kopiahs buying stuff there, so the business model is wayyy different than LowYat's. It's for dead end users and old people scared of being scammed in a world they are unfamiliar with.
Mara Digital needs shops that offer the same services as C-Zone, Jayacom and the like. They need places where people can fulfill all their computing needs. They need more techs and more supplies.
One of the more lucrative businesses is supplying offices with computers and currently, I do not see them being capable of doing so. If you don't even have a fucking SATA cable, fuck you if you think I would buy whole systems or furnish an entire office with your PCs.
LowYat 's PC businesses survive not on single sales to desktop jockeys like me, and the overclocking scene is niche. The PC gaming scene is niche. They make big money by supplying offices, where volume makes up for thin margins. As it stands, if I had a business that needs multiple computers, I would go to LowYat.
It would be great for consumers like me to see competition based on price and service quality rather than politics or racist sensibilities, either by the Cinas in LowYat or the Malays in Mara Digital. You think I give a fuck? You think a majority of businesses and people give a fuck? It's Service number one, and Price number two. Race is like, fuck your mother with a dog.
I wish that Digital Mall in PJ is better than LowYat and run by people not from LowYat. And I wish that there are vibrant IT sections in all shopping malls. It would be easier for me when things like this happens, and they will, because computers are not perfect.
I also wish Mara Digital would get their act together. You can't call yourself LowYat 2 if you don't offer the same or better services and products than the original.
Last night, it kept detecting and not detecting my hard drive. Another hard drive died recently as well, so there were only four possibilities:
1. Fucked up SATA cable
2. Fucked up hard drive
3. Fucked up power supply unit
4. Fucked up motherboard.
I have five deadlines today, so getting my PC up and running was imperative. I also decided it's time to check out what this Mara Digital thing has to offer. I mean, fuck the politics and the racist bullshit surrounding it. Fuck the Malay-Chinese bullshit. I needed to fix my PC and I didn't care who could do it.
So I went to Mara Digital first. I used to go to LowYat since 1999 but moved on cause the traders there became so 'lansi'. They even laughed at me when I was looking for a Blackberry phone.
Fuck you, man. Blackberry forever!
So I got to Mara Digital and it looked okay. I was going around carrying my PC when a kind dude showed me where the repair shop is. Apparently, Mara Digital has only ONE - that's right, ONE - repair shop.
I know we're under the age of 1Malaysia and 1MDB, not to mention One Direction and 1Israel, but fuck having just ONE repair shop in all of Mara Digital.
And guess how many techs they have at the single repair shop in all of Mara Digital? That's right - ONE.
I told him my problem and the initial diagnosis. He said he could check the PC for me in 3-4 days. I was like, "Hell naw!" And picked up the PC and made a beeline out the door.
Then I doubled back and wanted to buy a SATA cable. At least I could fix that myself.
The guy called someone on his phone and texted whoever before telling me they don't sell SATA cables.
I felt the burning hatred building within me like the intensity of a thousand suns, so I picked up the PC and stormed out before I did anything stupid.
Went to a shop downstairs to cool down and eat something. The cashier was on her phone and totally ignoring all her customers, including me. Fucking bullshit.
So I went to the mamak shop across the road, thinking mamaks might know how to do business. No chance. They also completely ignored me and I had to order from the drinks dude myself. Apparently, everyone was on their phones.
I was like, fuck this shit and hailed a cab and went to LowYat Plaza. This was the first time I went to LowYat since I dunno, 2005?
So I searched and found the most Cina-looking dude in C-Zone, which I'm convinced meant Cina-Zone and pressed him for answers about my PC. I grilled him to see how he would react and it was acceptable - one lansi smirk and I would have fucking killed him with my Blackberry. I would have Theon-Greyjoyed him on the spot. I would have Rob-Starked him. I would have cut off his head and sewn his dick in its place.
But it was adequate. He diagnosed my hard disk in 10 minutes and said it has bad sectors and I needed a replacement. This meant sacrificing all my porn, accumulated over 10 years, but it was necessary.
So I bought a new hard disk from him and asked him to install Win 7 on it. I already brought my ORIGINAL copy because I wanted a new hard disk anyway. But that was on the condition that he could do everything in an hour. That was the time he quoted me, so I went off for a simple meal of chapatti nearby.
It took him 55 minutes, but he did it. And so fast forward, I am now home and typing a blog entry before I go do my actual work.
I must say that it is early days for Mara Digital. They just opened in December and focusing on high-margin trade of laptops and phones. Didn't check the prices cause I was so angry. I did notice lots of old people in kopiahs buying stuff there, so the business model is wayyy different than LowYat's. It's for dead end users and old people scared of being scammed in a world they are unfamiliar with.
Mara Digital needs shops that offer the same services as C-Zone, Jayacom and the like. They need places where people can fulfill all their computing needs. They need more techs and more supplies.
One of the more lucrative businesses is supplying offices with computers and currently, I do not see them being capable of doing so. If you don't even have a fucking SATA cable, fuck you if you think I would buy whole systems or furnish an entire office with your PCs.
LowYat 's PC businesses survive not on single sales to desktop jockeys like me, and the overclocking scene is niche. The PC gaming scene is niche. They make big money by supplying offices, where volume makes up for thin margins. As it stands, if I had a business that needs multiple computers, I would go to LowYat.
It would be great for consumers like me to see competition based on price and service quality rather than politics or racist sensibilities, either by the Cinas in LowYat or the Malays in Mara Digital. You think I give a fuck? You think a majority of businesses and people give a fuck? It's Service number one, and Price number two. Race is like, fuck your mother with a dog.
I wish that Digital Mall in PJ is better than LowYat and run by people not from LowYat. And I wish that there are vibrant IT sections in all shopping malls. It would be easier for me when things like this happens, and they will, because computers are not perfect.
I also wish Mara Digital would get their act together. You can't call yourself LowYat 2 if you don't offer the same or better services and products than the original.
Friday, January 15, 2016
State of the Ultron Address
It is 2.20am. I got back home at 1am and immediately did a few documents and sent them to relevant parties who were waiting for them. Then I printed a few things for an important meeting tomorrow. Transferred a video file to a thumbdrive... and we're all done.
My father was warded a few days ago. Some recurring minor complications that I hope would not turn out to be a painful experience for him. I'm slated to go back in three weeks' time, for Chinese New Year.
Some people have been spreading malicious rumours about me, as they always do, but I know the truth and God knows the truth. Everything and everyone else are irrelevant and a waste of time.
Maple Comics is making strides after we decided to make some changes. It is still not profitable, simply sustainable - each title we do pays for the next one, often leaving the bank balance at zero. I recently discovered that some people think I have money, and the fact that I do this comics publishing thing for fun makes them think I have even more insane amounts of money.
Because who does things for fun anymore these days but the wealthy?
Ah, but I do consider myself wealthy. I enjoy an obscene amount of fun, free from hate and despair, away from idiots and evil people. I enjoy long chats with some treasured friends, talking about nothing and relating stories to one another.
I dare say that even if I were to win the lottery this weekend and gain say, RM13 million - which is the amount of the current jackpot - I would probably do exactly the same thing.
Comics is also a lifelong dream, fulfilled.
It's my little hobby that I share with some friends, as is my DnD campaign. I am now a Level 6 Halfling Bard who has recently turned Chaotic Evil after my propensity to torture prisoners for information. I also eat them afterwards. And sometimes, I would cut off their heads and sew their foot in its place. I will one day create the 'tiga kaki' logo, just for fucks. We play almost every weekend.
My health is okay, though I need to decide on a date to quit vaping. Also need to get some fish oil and schedule more exercise sessions. I'm averaging twice a week now, which is lower than 2015's four times a week.
Also planning a holiday soon. So many trivial things to tend to, and I am happy to have a very quiet life, away from any spotlight.
I will never do anything more significant than enjoying my limited time on earth and watch the world end.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Kekecewaan Pertama 2016
Dah 2016, tapi ramai gak Melayu percaya pada Konspirasi Rahsia Yahudi dan Kristian untuk menjatuhkan Melayu.
Melayu dah lama jatuh dah, bodoh.
Melayu dah lama jatuh dah, bodoh.
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