Of Presentations, Trends, and Bad Knock-Offs (and people with no listening skills)

I have a presentation for Styles and Trends Research next week. It's only the 2nd week of the term! Anyways, we have to do some research on the the trends in this country, since the beginning of 2005. They needn't be clothes only, but can also be just about anything that's considered a trend here, be it a certain clubbing place, a TV show, or even restaurant/food.
Since I'm a clubbing-virgin, I don't watch TV, and I have a love-hate relationship with food, I decided to stick to clothes and accessories. I haven't decided on all yet, but the one thing that I'm definitely going to talk (and slam) about is the fake LIVESTRONG wristbands (or fake any other wristbands that were made for a REAL cause or charity).
In this little country, you can find a lot of fake anythings. Just go down to Petaling Street (or Chee Cheong Kai, if you like). So I decided to go down there today, and look for 'em. And I found a plethora of fake everythings.

As far as I know, the Lance Armstrong Foundation made the LIVESTRONG wristband in YELLOW. And the website's even called http://www.nike.com/wearyellow/main.html. So the authenticity of the other colours with the same inscription is questionable. Especially so if they're coming from Petaling Street. And they're going for 3 for RM10. Yes, VERY questionable. If you didn't already know about the LAF and the LIVESTRONG wristband, here's some stuff you may find interesting...

The Yellow Wristband Project

For champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, yellow is more than just the color of the Tour de France's leader jersey. It's a symbol for hope, courage, and perseverance. Today, more than 47.5 million LIVESTRONG wristbands have been sold since they were first made available in May of 2004 to raise funds for the programs of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF). In celebration of Armstrong, who has inspired millions of people to overcome adversity, this fundraising effort will help the Foundation to enhance the quality of life of young cancer patients and their families.Founded by Armstrong in 1997, the LAF steps in at the moment of diagnosis to offer pragmatic information and tools to assist cancer patients and their families through the challenging process of treatment. The LAF is founded on the credo that knowledge is power, and encourages individuals to adopt the channeled, focused energy that Lance Armstrong used in his own battle with cancer. For more information, please visit www.laf.org. NIKE is leading the LAF fundraising project through the sale of five million yellow wristbands engraved with Lance's mantra, "Live Strong." To join in this effort, visit www.wearyellow.com. The Lance Armstrong Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Austin, Texas.

Yes, so I DID rip that off from the website, but they are obviously more well-versed in this than I am, and they did a good job, so sue me.

Anyways, I bought a yellow wristband that has LIVESTRONG inscripted on it, and it even came in the original (?) packaging. Even though I bought it from a shop, I still question it's authenticity. I would only buy it for it's actual cause, and to raise cancer awareness under ordinary circumstances, but I made an exception for this because I'm doing a presentation (which is fast becoming Show and Tell) and I needed examples. I shall be ambiguous so as to not be called a fake and a liar by telling My Adoring Audience that, "This is what the LIVESTRONG wristband looks like." I also bought 3 fake wristbands, just to show My Adoring Audience the difference. Or in this case, the similarity. There is one cause that I would really love to support. And that is Anti-Racism cause. Plus the wristband looks SO cool. Haha.

I saw a couple at the flea market in Mont Kiara last Sunday. I hope it's original. 'Cause I want to buy it. I'm not sure how much it costs, but it's USD1.50. I shall REFUSE to pay anything more than RM6! I bought the yellow LIVESTRONG wristband for RM3.90, which is close enough to the original price of USD1, after conversion.

I would stick some pics of the wristbands up here, but blogger refuses to let me. They keep giving me the "the page cannot be displayed" thingy. Maybe sometime, when the page CAN be displayed.

AAARGH!!!

As I'm trying to type and put my thoughts here, my mom keeps trying to engange me in a conversation that I can't be bothered with. And unlike her (and a bunch of other nameless, faceless, spineless people), when people are talking to me, I ACTUALLY listen. Yes, all those years of PRS (Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya) and training DID NOT go to waste. I really can't be bothered with what she's saying, but at least I try to listen. Or look like I am.

Because really, who wants to talk to someone who doesn't listen to them? Not me, surely. In fact, I HATE it, when I'm talking to someone, and they're not listening, or they cut you off mid-sentence (just when you're at the orgasmic climax of your brilliant but maybe a little, OK, more than a little, long-winded story, but so what?) with a, "What the fuck?! (referring to some twit or other stupid person/thing that has no relation whatsoever to your story, which goes to show they were not paying full attention, which is what everyone needs to do when someone is talking to them: PAY FULL ATTENTION) Oh... sorry. Go on."

Or when they completely ignore you mid-orgasmic climax and turn to someone else and start talking about the dog poo they side-stepped, but ended up falling and sitting on. I HATE THAT.

That's what my mom does. And a couple of other spineless people whom I shall keep anonymous. For now anyway. I would love to give them a taste of their own medicine. You know how teachers feel? Or when you give a speech/presentation in front of the class and NOBODY's listening? If you don't know how that feels, you're lucky. But I think everyone's had experienced a moment like that before. When you feel like nobody's listening.

Another thing is, you know when someone's confiding in you about a problem that troubles them, and halfway through, they scream, "You're NOT LISTENING to me!!!"? And you're thinking, "What the hell? I'm listening!!!" Well, I get that a lot. Not scream at the person (not all the time anyway), but feel that the person's not listening. Why?

When I (or a person) confides in you, you're supposed to listen, ask questions to show interest, to find out more, to have a clearer picture of the problem. But what you're NOT supposed to do (but that has never stopped a lot of people) is GIVE ADVICE. You're supposed to listen. Just listen. And by right, no-one should give advice without the other person requesting it, or his/her permission. If your advice were soooo great, EVERYONE would be poking each others' eyeballs out, trying to get to you to have their problems solved. But they don't, do they? Worse still are those who change the topic... to THEMSELVES. Like, "Oh, you think THAT's bad? I've got it WORSE than you..." People like that are so full of sh... themselves.

If the person is open to advice (I sometimes am), he/she will let it slide and not grab you by the neck and squeeze... For me, I try to avoid going to people with my problems if I know that they have no listening skills. When I DO go to someone with my problems nowadays, I pick the people that I know have the right approach to things (not necessarily my view of things), so even when they tell me off, or advise me to do something that I wouldn't have necessarily thought of doing (due to my ego, which is only about the size of Jupiter) , I will actually listen and maybe even follow their advice.

These are the people whom I respect and look up to. They may not know me as well as some people, but they can see things differently and objectively. Which is why I go to them.

So next time, when someone's telling you something, be it a lame joke or a serious problem, listen to them. Not just hear them, but LISTEN. People like people who listen. I know I do. And I'm not perfect (as much as I wished I was), and I do slip up, from time to time. But at least I TRY. If you're unsure whether your opinion or advice on the subject at hand is wanted/needed, ASK. Simple as that. "Would you like my opinion/advice...?" Wouldn't hurt, right? And you'd come off as more considerate towards the other person's feelings.

Well, don't take my word for it. Try it for yourself.