Today marks my 15th birthday. One year older! And somehow, for the first time in all my 15 years, I find myself at a loss for words. I look at the past events, all the things I’ve done, I’ve experienced, and I’ve achieved these last few years, combined with all the blessings I’ve received along the way and for whatever reason, I am honestly speechless. I sat down to write this thinking that it would be a simple birthday post, then the whole feeling hit me.

Trying to push the whole ‘speechlessness’ thing aside hasn’t really worked, so I thought it would only be best to dig a bit more into it. And doing so has led me to realise that maybe, just maybe, this time around, after having reflected on my previous years, I’m meant to be speechless. It’s my cue to take my metaphorical slate, wipe it clean, and do something different by branching out - may The Almighty open up more doors for me!

Admittedly, challenging myself to try new things and trudging forward is not an easy job; in fact, it does seem rather daunting to myself at times, which is why I couldn’t consider myself luckier to have been accompanied all this while by my parents - Mrs Mom & Mr Dad - my two closest companions. To be quite frank, ‘lucky’ doesn’t even begin to encapsulate the blessing that Mrs Mom & Mr Dad are. With any path I have taken, they have always given their utmost support, and I know very well that with any path I choose to take from now, they will not only give their invaluable support, but expert, one-of-a-kind guidance.

Such an incomparable, unique and personal support system has given me the self-strength that I needed to challenge myself more. In past years, I’ve prayed to God for health, happiness, safety, and other abstract concepts along the same lines. For this year, I think that the only thing I’d really like (aside from that eternally-treasured spot in Jannah for me and my loved ones) is opportunity. After my pondering, and my realisation of the opportunities I’ve had and how they’ve panned out, I pray for more chances at using opportunity. Let’s see where my 15th slate takes me this year.

Happy Birthday To Me,
O. Mukhtar O. Mukhlis
#theomarmukhtar

Foreign enterprises based in Hong Kong are “unsettled” about the vagueness of the Beijing-imposed national security law, and have difficulties trudging through the legislation, according to the president of the city’s American Chamber of Commerce.

Read: https://bit.ly/3cHjlCr

香港美國商會認為港區國安法帶來很大不確定性，企業以及個人在很多範疇上都不知道其「紅線」在哪裏，令到企業失去信心。

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Yay! No more trudging up to Silom or Charoenkrung to smash one of these. #BeefLovers Read full article: https://www.bangkokfoodies.com/26-braised-beef-sukhumvit

...this spin off shop of the 40 years old establishment, Nai Soey Beef Noodle on Phra Athit Road have enjoyed their success in Charoen Krung for the past couple of years, and now Bangkok Foodies can enjoy their family recipe in the bustling, Sukhumvit area as they’ve just opened their doors to their 3rd branch right off BTS Phrom Phong. “We wanted to introduce our cooking to a wider audience, and we thought Sukhumvit area would be a perfect location for that,” said Khun Phung, co-founder of the restaurant.
#BangkokFoodies #26BraisedBeef #FoodiesOfficialAsia

這樣的2020年，我們寫了一首這樣的歌——〈敬啟者 Dear Humans〉。

給所有活著、並期待或害怕末日來臨的人們。人們鑄下大錯、人們後悔、人們領悟、人們乞求著被世界原諒。但何不從現在開始？好好愛著那些該愛的，好好珍惜地球上的每一個生命、每一方土地。

這封信，給末日來臨時逃離地球的人類們。我們是當初曾與你們相伴，卻被獨自留下的寵物，是狗、是貓、是烏龜、是一株盆栽。

這次，請換你們聽聽我們說。

In a time like 2020, this is the song we wrote —— “Dear Humans”.

To all the living humans who expect or are afraid of the coming of apocalypse: People made big mistakes. People regretted making them. People admitted the wrongs. Now, people are begging to be forgiven by the world. But why not start making amends right away? Love those who deserve to be loved. Cherish every form of life and every inch of land.

This letter is written to the humans who left the Earth when the apocalypse came. We are the pets that accompanied you in the past, but then you left us here alone. We are dogs, cats, turtles and potted plants.

And now, please listen to what we have to say.

——————

2020 大象體操跨界計劃｜
【莎士比亞的妹妹們的劇團 王嘉明作品《物種大樂團》】
▶︎時間：2020.10.23-10.25
▶︎地點：台北國家戲劇院 National Theater
▶︎購票：https://bit.ly/2YPsC4j

——————

〈敬啟者 Dear Humans〉

放棄了的 進化了的
The abandoned, the evolved
你是不是仍然相信著當時的選擇
Do you still believe in the choice you made?

後來的 大象早就 學會遺忘
Before long elephants learned to forget
流浪的 北極熊也 在天上飛翔
Nomadic polar bears now soar in the sky
突然 一艘船 從天而降
A vessel dropped from the clouds all at once
狼狽的 沈重步伐
Plodding, trudging
你是否 就是早已離開的人啊
Are you the one who’s already left?

宇宙中 完美的家 你說那是無聊的謊
“The ideal home in the universe” You call this a tedious lie
眼前的 這片海洋 卻恢復原來的模樣
The ocean before our eyes has renewed, revived
為什麼 人類 渴望遠方
Why do humans thirst for the distance
卻 無法守護 腳下土壤
But fail to protect the soil under their stride?
你問我 該怎麼做 才能被原諒
You asked me what to do
To receive forgiveness

曾相信的 曾心愛的
Once believed, once beloved
現在的我仍然相信著當時的選擇
I still believe in the choice I made

我從來 沒有離開也不想要遺忘
I never left, I don’t forget
一輩子 都在這裡等待 著你回來
Waiting for your return with all my life
好想 告訴你 不用害怕
To tell you that don’t be afraid
放下所有的 後悔悲傷
Lay down all the regrets and sorrow
只要你 願意擁抱我們曾受過的傷
As long as you embrace our woes

偶然的 巧合 已開始流轉
Circumstantial, Coincidental, Circulation
那 隨機的 安排也不斷在變換
Random orders, tireless changes
淘汰的 願望 又回來了嗎
Is the eliminated hope rekindled?
曾 緊緊擁抱的 和深深愛過的
Once caressed, once cherished
未來的 還在 遙遠的未來
The future is still in the far-fetched future
而 過去的已經消失在過去了
Yet the past has vanished in the past

——————

【音樂製作 Music Production】

製作 Producer：大象體操 Elephant Gym
作詞 Lyrics：張凱婷 KT Chang、張凱翔 Tell Chang
作曲 Composer：張凱婷 KT Chang
編曲 Arrangement：大象體操 Elephant Gym
電吉他 Electric Guitar：張凱翔 Tell Chang
鍵盤 Keyboard：張凱翔 Tell Chang
電貝斯 Electric Bass：張凱婷 KT Chang
鼓 Drums：涂嘉欽 Chia-Chin Tu
錄音工程師 Recording Engineer：陳瑩哲 Ying-Che Chen @小白馬音樂工作室 White Pony Music Studio
混音工程師 Mixing Engineer : 邱建鈞 J-Jyun Ciou @玩痛音樂工作室 Playtone Studio
母帶後期處理工程師 Mastering Engineer : 陳陸泰 A-Tai
母帶後期處理錄音室 Mastering Studio : 原艾母帶工程錄音室 Mugwort Mastering

——————

【MV製作 Music Video Production】

監製 Executive Producer：伊晉褕 Eric Yi
導演 Director：許睿庭 RAY
攝影師 Director of Photography：萬又銘 ONE
攝影助理 Camera Assistants：張岳群 Henry Chang
燈光師 Gaffer：萬又銘 ONE
燈光助理 Best Boys：曾鈺展 Yu Zhan Cent、楊鈺銘 Yu Ming Yang、陳宇颿 Yu Fan Chen
美術指導 Production Designer：潘幸均 PAN
小精靈 Elf：馮會元 Hui Yuan Feng
演員 Cast：艾迪 Addy、吳為 Wei Wu、Ray Han、蹦蹦 Bong Bong
後期製作 Post production：萬事屋影像制作 Onezpro Studio
剪接 Editor：朱威 Wei Chu
調光 Color Grading：周采葳 Cai Wei Zhou
合成 FX Artist：江偉 Will Chiang
器材協力 Equipment Support：乒乓影像器材 Ping Pong Film Studio、仙人掌影業器材 Cactus Studio
歌詞翻譯 Lyrics Translation：覃天愛 Tien-Ai Chin
特別感謝 Special Thanks：眉角映像 MEGA Pictures、TheBayStudio、嚴敏 Mia Min Yen