Saturday, August 23, 2008

OMG - I'm on the newspaper!!!

(Blog Update For 23rd August 2008)

Ever since June 2006, i've been appearing on newspapers for various different matters... it started out with getting the Best in PR award @ Curtin University of Technology (LUCCT), and becoming an announcer (radio) on Xfresh FM.
From time to time i'm on magazines and newspapers for quotes for movie premieres, and social life comments on The Sun and various other media. And it went on appearing on The Star for a few other stuffs...

March 2008, one morning - i was waken up by all the SMS that i've been getting on my phone and phone calls! Friends and family members calling me and says "Hey Shaz i see YOU in Bangsar / MidValley / Damansara / The STAR / MalayMail / Sin Chew Jit Poh / Guang Ming Daily and etc..." Although i love my sleep but really thank you guys for letting me know that i'm on the banners and on the newspaper. I didn't know that it was going to go up so soon! It was for this SVENSON Hair Care outlet advert, haha i go there to cut my hair and make sure that everything is all right!

Throughout several months...here and there friends have been keeping me up to date about where my banners have been like the Monorail stations in KL, pillars and all...OMG la! Anyways...

Today my friends and family members woke me up to let me know that i'm on TheSTAR! Wah lao eh... Yes, a very good friend of mine Nicole Tan (of TheSTAR and Blogger) interviewed me several weeks ago and was interested in the life of a Radio Announcer / Blogger. And since i'm maintaining 2 blogs for the current moment and my life is as hectic but as happening as ever she was interested in sharing about my life with others. And here goes the story... (Thanks Nicole for the article and for being a great friend!).

**READ My BLog UPdate for Daughtry's CONCERT LIVE in KL**
With Fabulous Pictures Taken By Me
CLICK HERE

XFresh FM DJ Shaz Mukhtar
has a passion for going online

BLOGGED OUT
By NICOLE TAN

I AM driving. It is pouring heavily and my speedometer tells me that I am not going any faster than 10km per hour. It is 5.30pm on a Wednesday and I am stuck in a jam with two million other people on the roads in the Klang Valley and will probably be stuck here for another hour or so. Brilliant.

I turn on the radio, like every other driver around me is probably doing, to seek some entertainment to distract me from this traffic misery. A booming voice speaking immaculate English comes through the speakers, and I instantly recognise it.

Muhd Shazli Md Mukhtar, better known as Shaz Mukhtar, works from Monday to Friday every week, for only four hours daily, from 4pm to 8pm. And, guess what? His main job is, believe it or not, to talk!

Well, actually that is not entirely true.

Shaz, 25, also gets to meet different artistes every day for the interviews he carries out on the show; attends press conferences, product launches and concerts, and is invited to official launches of restaurants and movie premieres. Sounds like a dream job? Well, it certainly is for this XFresh FM radio announcer.

“It’s not so much about the lifestyle but the things that you get to do and experience by doing these things. It’s like one of those lifetime experiences,” Shaz said.

Tall, dark and handsome, Shaz delivers an articulate speech, especially in English. He was born in the United States and raised in France (yes, he speaks French, too), where he lived and studied for six years before returning to Malaysia to continue his degree course in Film Television & Broadcasting/PR at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Cyber-jaya.

Like most people in his line, Shaz loves his job. He started working as a DJ in January 2006 but has been with the company since 2001, working behind the scene, save for a one-year break in between.

On how he landed his dream job, Shaz said: “We all have to start somewhere and move up the ladder, and that’s what I’ve been doing the past years — gaining valuable experience in various departments in the workplace.”

Yum!: Shaz enjoying his meal at his favourite restaurant, YO!sushi

Named “Chronicles of a Frenchie”, Shaz’s blog (http://shazfx.blogspot.com) documents many of his food entries, travel trips and his personal life. That means you will also get to read about the events he attends and the perks of being a radio announcer.

“I’ve been blogging since 2003, but I stopped for a year or two, then resumed it in 2005 and have continued till the present. I started off blogging with Blogspot and Xfresh’s online website blog system. I wanted something, somewhere I could put up photos of places I went with my friends, a platform where I could inform and keep my friends up to date with the events and happenings in my life,” Shaz said.

However, Shaz believes in keeping a blog personal and that the best way to market one’s blog is through word of mouth.

“One thing I don’t do is promote my blog by asking people to link me or any other means. A blog is a personal thing, but in my case, it’s not that personal any more ... even my clients read my blog!” Shaz admitted.

Despite working in the entertainment industry, he values the times he hangs out with his friends at mamak or coffee shops.

In his free time, Shaz has a passion for going online. From surfing the net, facebook-ing, chatting to playing online games, this DJ is a true born and bred Generation V – Internet generation.

Pop by his blog and get a taste of glam. You never know, it might just be your next step to fame.

**Thanks Nicole!!! By the way next update, be prepared for Starbucks Coffee Bowling Party, Movie Premieres / Special Screenings Updates, Macro Photography trip with friends to Bukit Cahaya - Shah Alam, Melaka Trip for FOOD, Bangkok Trip, Singapore Trip and not forgetting all my Birthday Celebration pics!

NEXT UPdate - Daughtry LIVE in KL Part 2 With More Great Photos!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

LACOSTE: Essential*

*Celebrating Sport Elegance for 75 Years!

Just recently, i went to collect this brand new collectors edition of LaCoste "Essential" fragrance! Well that's one of my hobbies actually. Trying out new fragrance every month or so!

This time around, well it was my birthday and the best part of it all is LaCoste is celebrating its 75th year anniversary and came out with a Collectors Edition to their "Essential" - LaCoste fragrance. And this was my birthday present to me from the nice people @ LaCoste.

Being the person who i am, i won't buy a new fragrance just because i want to, but if only it suits me and it satisfies me to the max. Very picky i know, but LaCoste's Essential was my choice for this month of July 2008. Happy Birthday Shaz!!! (that's me...oh!).

Essential is one of LaCoste's classic fragrance that not only depicts a men but also his lifestyle. You can smell that classic and elegant feeling once you have it on you or even smell it as a person who sprayed it on them and passes by.

LaCoste essential has a fresh feel to it, yet but the classic feeling too. From other reviews i've read regarding the "Essential", I've been inspired by their comment on the essential having a "citrus" kind of smell. There are many kinds of fragrances out there, it really depends which type you like but the most common type is the citrus and sweet smell.

The one thing that's sure to strike you at first application of the fragrance on your skin is a burst of intense green freshness - yes, and i mean it! The composition of the fragrance has this feel of "Tomato Leaves" and not forgetting "Citrus" - fruit and water as well.

Awww, so sweet! Yes i'm feeling the sweetness in me right now after applying the perfume but let's not also forget the other feel of the fragrance where it has this Black Pepper feel to it giving it a spicy, intriguing sweetness. Different than any of my other fragrances but it's a challenge for me to try the Essential by LaCoste.

What's so GREAT about this fragrance is its innovative patented "Time Release Technology" in which LaCoste Essential benefits from as you are able to "re-animate" the scent (because sometimes you may feel that the fresh notes fades off too quickly. So the next best thing is this Time Release Technology where you can simply re-animate the scent by breathing on the skin, making the scent be on you and makes you feel and smell great for a longer period of time than a conventional fragrance.

Alright, it's your turn to get a glimpse and purchase the limited edition 75th Years of Sport and Elegance "LaCoste - Essential" which is only available from 15th July onwards till stock is finished. So, better get it before its too late. I have to admit the bottle does look nice with curves that's far different from any of my other fragrances here at home.

P/S: I brought the fragrance over to the office right after i received it, Faraa our Content Editor @ XFM LUVES the smell! Hahaha, now i'm no longer known as the person who just loves to eat, but who loves to explore more on fragrances, gadgets and other stuffs! Long live my stomach...diet diet diet...yes it's about time!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Microsoft TECH.ED SEA 2008 - A Success Story

A great event is when Microsoft holds the TECH.ED SEA conference and sees participants from throughout the region. But it became a Success Story when it is held back to back consecutively in Malaysia for the past few years and especially when over 3,000 developers and IT Pros converge to be a part of the experience last 11th August 2008.

The doors opened at the KLCC Convention Center giving entry to participants from 41 countries throughout the region and speakers from various different entities. Imagine what can you learn or find at this convention if you're a technopreneur, IT administrator, software developer, software architect. With so much you can learn and share the future might just be here for you.

I was there for a few days, the keynote speech was amazing! This was my first Microsoft TECH.ED SEA conference that i've been to, i have always wanted to go to the previous ones but failed to do so. But believe me i've learnt so much from the opening ceremony, the speeches shared by the speakers and not forgetting mingling around with the pros!

So if you missed out on this one, and you are one of the above or just a student! (Yess...students too are there to have a feel of what TECH.ED is all about and to learn stuffs), yes one of my friends Wen Loong (from Taylors College Subang Jaya) was there for the event and he gained so much from the conference as he was part of the experience during this 4-day event - Well, only one thing can be said if you missed out. Be sure to come to next year's TECH.ED SEA 2009.

Tech.Ed SEA 2008 featured more than 100 breakout sessions across 12 key tracks, namely Architecture, Database platform, Developer tools, and languages. Not forgetting Office & Sharepoint, Management, Security, SOA and Business Processes. Web and User Experience, Windows Client, Windows Mobile and Embedded, Windows Server Infrastructure and Unified Communications.

If you're an IT student and are studying any parts of these components you will simply love this conference as it helps to share with you the current innovation and technology across the platforms and programs.

Now, if that's not enough! During the press conference it was mentioned by Tyson Dowd (Senior Director, Malaysian Software Economy @ Microsoft Malaysia) that there's even Instructor-Led labs and Hands-on Lab sessions where you are able to evaluate products, smart technologies and computing practices from both Microsoft and a number of its most important industry partners.

Awesome innit!!! - Well over the four days conference, key speakers from Microsoft's top executives and product team members were there to share with attendees of the conference. Who are they you may ask! Haha, none other than Ward Ralston (this guy is funny! Really made the conference hall LIVELY), Steve Riley, Joel Oleson, Tony Krijnen and Loke Uei Tan.

All-in-all, i am pretty much sure those of you who are in college have heard of Microsoft Tech.Ed before as Microsoft did some small based seminars, hands-on lab sessions and exhibitions in several colleges in Malaysia to educate students on some of its products and technology. Most of these are conducted by Microsoft and helped by students from participating colleges / Uni and best of all is that it's FREE!

See you next year for Microsoft TECH.ED SEA 2009 :-)
Below are pictures from the Microsoft TECH.ED SEA 2008 - Opening Ceremony & Press Conference.

(From L ? R)

Tyson Dowd, Senior Director, Malaysian Software Economy, Microsoft Malaysia
Saw Ken Wye, Vice President, Microsoft Asia Pacific
Dato’ Badlisham Ghazali, Chief Executive Officer, Multimedia Development Corporation of Malaysia (MDeC)
Yasmin Mahmood, Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia
Saiful Shamlan, Vice President, Multimedia Development Corporation of Malaysia (MDeC)