How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Welcome to Nazri's Logic

Malaysia is democratic because there were elections every five years.

Malaysia's election is fair because the opposition won more seats in the last elections.

Malaysia has a court system, therefore there is rule of law.

There was a court ruling that election handouts is not a corrupt action, so BN can continue its 'you help us, we help you' during election.

Election Commission officers are appointed by BN and therefore cannot be independent unless they come from heaven!

All these can only come from the Man of Arrogance from BN...

Nazri tells TI-M to shut up, butt out

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nazri-tells-ti-m-to-shut-up-butt-out/

Almost like an immediate rebuttal from Kim Quek, informative for all level headed voters to take note of:

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Why we should be worried if Malaysia went ahead with nuclear plant

If this could happen in fastidious Japan, I dread to think what we are in for, judging from our third world maintenance mentality...

One of the reactors in the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant may have been relying on flawed steel to hold the radiation in its core, according to an engineer who helped build its containment vessel four decades ago.

Mitsuhiko Tanaka says he helped conceal a manufacturing defect in the $250 million steel vessel installed at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi No. 4 reactor while working for a unit of Hitachi Ltd. (6501) in 1974. The reactor, which Tanaka has called a “time bomb,” was shut for maintenance when the March 11 earthquake triggered a 7-meter (23-foot) tsunami that disabled cooling systems at the plant, leading to explosions and radiation leaks.

“Who knows what would have happened if that reactor had been running?” Tanaka, who turned his back on the nuclear industry after the Chernobyl disaster, said in an interview last week. “I have no idea if it could withstand an earthquake like this. It’s got a faulty reactor inside.”

More where that came from:

A Wacky idea from Woody Allen


Link

A surreal feeling

When I logged on to my blogsite, my blog list looked different, with inactive ones shown on top of the list. Then when I clicked on to each of them, most did not come on in their usual format or design. I counted 24 which had problems and decided to delete them one at a time. It was properly deleted, yet to my pleasant surprise, everything was back to normal. Was it viral attack? Not likely because the old list re-appeared. But I honestly do not know what happened. Most probably Blogger doing some housekeeping when I stumbled upon it.

I think this surreal music machine suits this post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIABTxAAX90
This is NOT real. Google "Snopes Farm Machine Music". According to Snopes "the device depicted in this video does not exist". It is a computer generated video entitled "Pipe Dream" produced by Animusic.

Link

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

As cool as the Japanese...

could be an apt description of the Japanese people, since the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear fallout in Japan. Someone has noted the following which I am sure many of us would agree:

10 things to learn from Japan

Japan's spirit of resilience is drawn from a unique combination of the Shinto, Buddhist,and Confucian philosophies.

1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.

4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

Link

Leaving a deliberate trail or just being foolish?

Could this be true?

"The rooms that was used to screen the tape to reporters at Carcosa was booked... of all people... by Risda, a federal govt agency...

and Risda’s chairman is Rahim Thamby Chik.

The room in Carcosa was actually booked by Ketua Umno Bhg Bukit Gantang, who is also special officer to Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik. Paid for it by credit card and worst of all... he asked for a corporate discount by using his Risda’s corporate account!"
Link

How to prevent your vote from being traced

The following video shows a typical scene of voting in progress during an election. It is useful for first time voters to know what to expect, especially to bring along your NRIC. The purpose of the video is to educate the voters on how to prevent illegal ways of tracing which political party you voted for. This is especially important to those civil servants who have the perception that they might be penalized for voting opposition. Voting is supposed to be confidential, a vital ingredient to ensure freedom of exercising your right to elect whoever you think is suitable for any constituency.

The gist of the video is about the following surreptitious ways which would enable someone else to trace how you have voted:

1. Your IC No. written on voters list;
2. Your IC No. written on counterfoil or the back of ballot slip.

There is also the possibility that someone else had voted earlier on your behalf without your knowledge.

For any of the above instance you can object by complaining to the Election Officer on duty.

Be sure to watch the video to refresh your memory before voting...
and be sure to re-check that you are still registered and that there were no changes since your earlier check:
Link

Monday, March 28, 2011

Just one way of getting rid of indiscriminate parking



Link

Unexpected effect of deforestation on male dogs...


Link

Backhoe-Loader Operator of the Year








Link

A doctor with the wrong oath...

hypocritic instead of hippocratic!

Let me tell you about my doctor.

He's very good!
If you tell him you want a second opinion,
He'll go out and come in again.
~~~~~
Another time, he gave a patient six months to live.
At the end of the six months, the patient hadn't paid his bill,
So, the doctor gave him another six months.
~~~~~
While he was talking to me, his nurse came in and said,
"Doctor, there is a man here who thinks he's invisible."
The doctor said, "Tell him I can't see him."
~~~~~
Another time, a man came running in the office and yelled,
"Doctor, doctor! - my son just swallowed a roll of film!"
The doctor calmly replied, "Let's just wait and see what develops."
~~~~~
One patient came in and said, "Doctor, I have a serious memory problem."
The doctor asked, "When did it start?"
The man replied, "When did what start?"
~~~~~
I remember one time I told my doctor
I had a ringing in my ears. His advice: "Don't answer it."
~~~~~
My doctor sure has his share of nut cases.
One said to him, "Doctor, I think I'm a bell."
The doctor gave him some pills and said, "Here, take these -
If they don't work, give me a ring."
~~~~~
Another guy told the doctor that he thought he was a deck of cards.
The doctor simply said, "Go sit over there. I'll deal with you later."
~~~~~
When I told my doctor I broke my leg in two places,
He told me to stop going to those places.
~~~~~
You know, doctors can be so frustrating.
You wait a month and a half for an appointment,
Then he says, "I wish you had come to me sooner."


Link

More on yesterday's Little Penang Street Market


I have been to Little Penang Street Market
( http://www.littlepenang.com.my/ ) a number of times.

Last Sunday was special in that efforts were made to collect donations and messages for the victims of the earthquake, tsunami and horrendous effects of nuclear meltdown.

The remarkable effort by some enthusiastic and nice people of Penang (including some expatriates) had created a lively Sunday Market with live music entertainment (every last Sunday of the month) for the past 5 years! It seems to be going stronger in terms of spirit. The music part attracts me most while my better half likes the antiques and other collectibles.

The music are provided by volunteers, both professionals as well as amateurs, young as well as old, teachers as well as students. Each time, I look forward to some surprises and I was never disappointed with the never ending supply of musicians in Penang, willing to share their talents.

Yesterday was the first time we stayed till they closed at 5.00 pm. Before that, there were some impromptu performances by some youths who performed earlier. Regular jazz drummer, Tapa, was seen walking past. Then he came back to adjust the height of the cymbal stands and I was wondering 'Where are the drumsticks?' Each drummer would bring his own set of sticks. Then he took out the sticks hidden somewhere near or in the console of the man in charge of the mixer and other equipment. While the two youths were singing towards the end of a song, Tapa started drumming in tempo and gave the song the necessary 'oomph', which encouraged the singers. Being a professional jazz drummer, he could do so without much difficulty. I wish I could do that. In fact, each time I was there, I learned from the musicians, especially the drummer. I usually take note of how Tapa does his rolling and drums solo. Yesterday was also the first time a student of 3 months (learning the drums) did what I used to term as 'drumaoke' – playing the drums as accurately as possible to accompany a recorded song, similar to singing karaoke. He did it well and I learned something instead of guessing what it should be (problem with learning by ear). I could tell the second student drummer had problems with matching theory with the song beat. For example, you are taught to play certain beats and rolling and you tried to apply it to a song. By being too fussy over the beat, his drumming turned out too stiff. It lost the feel of the song. Being untrained, that is how I would describe it.

Tapa continued playing the drums to accompany the two singers playing their acoustic guitars. This is what I like about jamming. Then the MC (an expatriate whose name I did not find out but the name Mike comes to mind) started playing piano on the electronic keyboard with Tapa on drums. Both seemed professional and had been jamming before and they gave a nice impromptu performance. Out of the blue, a Chinese man joined in with his harmonica at the right moment of each tune! To add to the joyous atmosphere, a regular white woman joined in with her usual sensual dance. We left the place to look for dinner before we set off for home. I appreciate the efforts put in by the organizers and especially those involved in setting up the tents and music equipment. I know what it is like. Just packing and unpacking a drums kit is quite a problem for me now, not only the carrying part but also remembering and ensuring all the parts are complete!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Modern China Railway directed by zhang yimou / 张艺谋导演中国铁路宣传片

What money and political will could do to modernize China's railway network...



Link

Twinkle2 little star at little Penang



BMA's response to Budget cuts in UK

Did you hear the reactions to the recent budget cuts propsed by the British Prime Minister?

The British Medical Association has weighed in on the new Prime Minister David Cameron's health care proposals.

1. Initially, the Dermatologists advised everyone not to make any rash moves.

2. The Gastroenterologists had a gut feeling that things were serious, but the neurologists thought Cameron had a lot of nerve.

3. The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception whilst the Ophthalmologists considered the whole business very short-sighted.

4. Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Paediatricians told them to "Grow up!"

5. The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

6. The Surgeons said they were fed up with cuts and decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

7. ENT specialists found the economic proposals very hard to swallow and just wouldn't hear any more about them.

8. The Pharmacologists thought them a bitter pill and the Plastic Surgeons thought they put, "a whole new face on the matter...."

9. The Podiatrists wanted to put their best foot forward whereas the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say so.

In the end, one Rectal specialist declared that they should all leave it up to the arseholes in London .
Link

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Revisiting TVB's The Greed of Man

We have just subscribed to Astro's basic package, wanting only news and documentary. I discovered there are reruns of old TVB serials for free without having to subscribe for Wah Lai Toi.

One old serial which stood out is The Greed of Man, which truly brought back memories. It was during those years when I had to travel almost every weekend to and from Batu Gajah. My elder daughter Cheng was around 10 years old then and used to keep her eldest aunt company, watching TVB tapes. I watched whatever they were watching during the weekends so I did not follow the story completely. Even now, I watch whenever I am free and at home, and when my wife did not ask to see BBC World News or CNN. My eldest sister-in-law was really addicted to Hong Kong serials and even took the trouble to tape all the episodes of Man in the Net! The worst part was having them on Betamax which went out of favour soon after.

When I was in PJ recently, I asked my son about The Greed of Man and he used his Blackberry to show me the two theme songs by Adam Cheng and Alan Tam. I can never remember the Chinese names of the songs. But lately, I can hum to the two tunes and particularly like the bass in Unkind years sung by Adam Cheng. The last episode was shown on Astro last Friday night.

Wikipedia has a synopsis of the story with the following introduction:

The Greed of Man (traditional Chinese: literally "The Great Times") is a TV drama series broadcast byTVB in Hong Kong in 1992. The story, spanning three decades from the 1970s to the 1990s in Hong Kong andTaiwan, addresses various social and financial phenomena of the times, from violence in triad criminal organizations to corruption in the Hong Kong stock exchange. It featured a top roster cast, including veteran TVB actors Adam Cheng and Damian Lau. The series is also well remembered for a Hong Kong stock market cultural phenomenon called the "Ting Hai effect".

The Ting Hai effect , Adam Cheng effect or Chiu-Koon effect is a peculiar stock market phenomenon. The phenomenon is observed that whenever Hong Kongactor Adam Cheng stars in a new television show, there is a sudden and unexplained drop in the stock market. This is still a popular topic amongst stock brokers, years after the drama series Greed of Man was broadcast in Hong Kong in October 1992. The effect is named after Ting Hai, the main antagonist of the show, played by Cheng himself.

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greed_of_Man


(My Life, My Love) Alan Tam Wing Lun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueRrPJS4JUs

Unkind years by Adam Cheng (a quick search shows it is unavailable because of copyright)

Link

A Christian analogy

A mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Iraq?'

A mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Saudi Arabia?'


A mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Kuwait?'


Another mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Vietnam?'


Another mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Korea?'


Another mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die on Iwo Jima?'


Another mother asked President... 'Why did my son have to die on a battlefield in France?'


Yet another mother asked President... 'Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg?'


And yet another mother asked President... 'Why did my son have to die on a frozen field near Valley Forge?'

Then long, long ago, a mother asked...

'Heavenly Father ... why did my Son have to die on a cross outside of Jerusalem?'

The answer is always the same... 'So that others may live and dwell in peace, happiness, and freedom.'

Link

Choice of House for a Home

Someone highlighted the humble abodes of Lee Kuan Yew and Warren Buffet...


The above picture of former Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew's house was published in the Straits Times yesterday. (From this perspective, the building reminds me of the demolished Lee Wong Kee Restaurant, now rebuilt housing Houz in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, KL)

It struck me that the founding father of modern Singapore - a man who can certainly afford to live in a mansion, has chosen to live in a rambling old house that was built in the 1940s.

It says a lot about him.
The sitting room has furniture that one would expect to find in an old folks home!

It is this picture that got me thinking. If clothes make a man, how far does a house reflect the core values of the owner?


I am reminded of Warren Buffet's house in Omaha, USA.

The world's third richest man with a personal fortune of US$47 billion still lives in a 5-room house that was built in 1921. He purchased it in 1958 for US$31,500.

I have left out the two Malaysian examples of politicians with delusion of grandeur because it won't do justice to the many out there, trying to outdo each other!
Link

Child's logic

Teacher: If I gave you 2 cats, and another 2 cats and another 2, how many will you have?

Johnny: Seven, Sir.

Teacher: No, listen carefully. If I gave you 2 cats, and another 2 cats and another 2, how many will you have?

Johnny: Seven.

Teacher: Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you 2 apples, and another 2 apples and another 2, how many will you have?

Johnny: Six.

Teacher: Good. Now if I gave you 2 cats, and another 2 cats and another 2, how many will you have?

Johnny: Seven!!!

Very angry Teacher: Where the hell do you get seven from?!?!?

Very angry Johnny: Because I've already got a blooming cat at home!!!


Link

Don't you even think about it!


According to Bayi, the picture won 2011 Taipei First Prize Photography Award!
Link

Explanation on Stress

You pick up a hitchhiker; a beautiful young girl. Suddenly, she faints inside your car and you take her to hospital. Now that's stressful.

But at the hospital, they say she is pregnant and congratulate you that you are going to be a father.

You say that you are not the father, but the girl says you are. This is getting very stressful.

So then... you request a DNA test to prove that you are not the father.

After the tests are completed, the doctor says that you are infertile, and probably have been since birth.

You are extremely stressed but relieved.

On your way back home, you think about your 3 kids...

NOW THAT'S STRESS!!
Link

Friday, March 25, 2011

Change Bank when your Fixed Deposit is no longer safe?

What's going on? They say a day is a long time in politics. Sarawak's forthcoming state election is proving to be the most exciting ever, it being the last election under Taib Mahmud's long rule which might end against him, as well as being the prelude to the fall of BN's federal rule. But money has been the most important factor in Malaysian politics thus far, will it continue to decide our fate? What a different scenario we get when reading the following Sarawak Report's articles after a couple of days...

NAJIB AND DEPUTY CAME TO SACK TAIB AFTER SHOCK POLLS – EXCLUSIVE!
Monday March 21, 2011

Sarawak Report has received privileged information from BN insiders in KL, revealing that Najib Razak and Deputy PM, Muhyiddin Yassin, came to Sarawak not to support Taib, but to make him stand down!

This was the reason for the unprecedented dual visit of both the PM and the Deputy PM at the same time.

”One held the pistol and the other a dagger and said ‘it’s time to stand down. We are not going to compromise with you anymore, you have to announce your decision or that’s it!’”, recounted our source.

More where it came from:



SNAP’S DEAL WITH BN – THE DAMNING EVIDENCE!
Wednesday March 23, 2011

Sarawak Report has received explosive evidence from the heart of Barisan National in KL, revealing that a secret deal has been forged with SNAP, in a desperate attempt to destroy the opposition and maintain BN’s grip on Sarawak after the election.

We have learnt that the deal, which involves Federal BN pouring money into the newly revived SNAP (Sarawak National Party, which is meant to be part of the opposition alliance), was finalised during the visit by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Deputy Muhyiddin Yassin just last weekend. The main broker was the UMNO information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan, who joined the federal delegation to Kuching and met with key players from SNAP.

(text received from BN supporter)
More where it came from:

We know this is just the beginning of 'wheeling and dealing' typical of Malaysian politics, with the situation being secretive and fluid, which added to its mystery and excitement. Politicians will continue to be treated with a bit of distrust until the picture is clearer after each election battle.
Link

Choose your backdrop when taking pictures

This is just one of a number of so-called 'cheeky pictures' forwarded to me by a friend. Most of them have been seen before, with the usual suggestive poses chosen, making use of the backdrops available to make a statement. Could this be an innocent mistake of choice or a mere coincidence?

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

A day in the life of a deity

Once there was a sweeper in the WellKnown temple and he was very sincere and devoted. Every time he saw thousands of devotees coming to take darshan of the Lord, he thought that the Lord is standing all the time and giving darshan and He must be feeling very tired.

So one day very innocently he asked the Lord whether he can take the place of the Lord for a day so that the Lord can have some relief and rest. The Deity of Temple replied, "I do not mind taking a break. I will transform you like Myself, but you must do one thing. You must just stand here like Me, smile at everyone and just give benedictions. Do not interfere with anything and do not say anything. Remember you are the deity and you just have faith that I have a master plan for everything." The sweeper agreed to this.

The next day the sweeper took the position of the deity and a rich man came and prayed to the Lord. He offered a nice donation and prayed that his business should be prosperous. While going, the rich man inadvertently left his wallet full of money right there. Now the sweeper in the form of deity could not call him and so he decided to control himself and keep quiet.

Just then a poor man came and he put one coin in the Hundi and said that it was all he could afford and he prayed to the Lord that he should continue to be engaged in the Lord's service. He also said that his family was in dire need of some basic needs but he left it to the good hands of the Lord to give some solution. When he opened his eyes, he saw the wallet left by the rich man. The poor man thanked the Lord for His kindness and took the wallet very innocently. The sweeper in the form of the Deity could not say anything and he had to just keep smiling.

At that point a sailor walked in. He prayed for his safe journey as he was going on a long trip. Just then the rich man came with the police and said that somebody has stolen his wallet and seeing the sailor there, he asked the police to arrest him thinking that he might have taken it. Now the sweeper in the form of Deity wanted to say that the sailor is not the thief and he could not say and he was greatly frustrated. The sailor looked at the Lord and asked why he an innocent person is being punished. The rich man looked at the Lord and thanked Him for finding the thief. The sweeper in the deity form could no more tolerate and he thought that even if the real Lord had been here, he would have definitely interfered and hence he started speaking and said that the sailor is not the thief but it was the poor man who took away the wallet. The rich man was very thankful as also the sailor.

In the night, the real Lord came and He asked the sweeper how the day was. The sweeper said, "I thought it would be easy, but now I know that Your days are not easy, but I did one good thing." Then he explained the whole episode to the Lord. The Lord became very upset on hearing this whereas the sweeper thought the Lord would appreciate him for the good deed done.

The Lord asked, "Why did you not just stick to the plan? You had no faith in Me. Do you think that I do not understand the hearts of all those who come here? All the donation which the rich man gave was all stolen money and it is only a fraction of what he really has and he wants Me to reciprocate unlimitedly. The single coin offered by the poor man was the last coin he was having and he gave it to Me out of faith. The sailor might not have done anything wrong, but if the sailor were to go in the ship that night he was about to die because of bad weather and instead if he is arrested he would be in the jail and he would have been saved form a greater calamity. The wallet should go to the poor man because he will use it in My service. I was going to reduce the rich man's karma also by doing this and save the sailor also. But you cancelled everything because you thought you know My plan and you made your own plans."


Link

A tale of shares in 2 listed companies

A retired friend used to apply for IPOs and when he stopped applying, he was left with only two companies' shares which he had successfully applied for: 1,000 shares at Rm2.20 in Ingress Bhd and 1000 shares at Rm2.50 in QL Resources Bhd. But in terms of investment, they could not have been more contrasting!

At the time when I used to have breakfast with him and other retirees, the price of Ingress dropped to 20 sen! When I met him briefly a few months ago, he said he should have listened to me because Ingress's price has gone up past 70 sen, but admitted that he would have sold them at 40 sen when he would have recovered his book loss had he bought 10,000 shares at 20 sen. I can still remember telling him that if he were risk averse, even 1000 shares at 20 sen would have averaged down his investment to 1.20 per share. The NTA was above Rm2.00 per share.

In the case of QL, at the time of discussion, it was before the shares were split into two, and the price was more than Rm5.50 and his original shareholding has increased, with bonus issues, to 9,000 shares! I take my hat off to him for being able to resist selling them till today. Most people would have taken profit after say, 50% gain, if not, 200%; but his gain was almost 2000%!

I can still remember tales of those who bought and hold on to shares in Genting, Public Bank and Magnum. If not mistaken, an original 1,000 shares in Genting would be worth over Rm1 million, and I can still remember at the time Magnum was being similarly calculated, they were worth over Rm200,000! A friend in our old neighbourhood in KL used to buy IPOs and keep. Both husband and wife used to take the bus to town and both had experienced falling off them. Yet when he died, he left behind shares which he bought since he started applying for IPOs, in 1970!

Link

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Of piss and being pissed off

The most popular quote on pissing:

"Whenever you're pissed off, just remember that it's better than being pissed on."

I find the following graphic very funny though I can imagine people in Apple won't be amused.
It came with a comparison of capabilities between Android and Apple.


This picture came with a caption implying the babysitter was baby's dad!


The message on this is obviously a doctor's presumption of a typical senior's problem.

... no need for DNA tests.

Link

Land of the Northern Lights

A postcard just received from there and I googled it and found this particular post:

"An amazing journey in Norway's far North as Joanna Lumley pursues a lifelong dream to track down the elusive, stunningly beautiful Northern Lights - 'the true wonder of the world,' as she puts it.

Joanna grew up in tropical Malaysia, and as a little girl never saw snow or felt cold. Inspired by fairytales and picture books, she always longed to make the journey north. At last she travels north across the Arctic Circle, up through Norway to Svalbard, the most northerly permanently inhabited place on Earth, where she has to cope with temperatures approaching minus 30 degrees centigrade."

BBC One : Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights

Pictures of my two daughters' recent visit...
Highlights of their stay included the husky ride as well as taking turns to 'drive' the husky sledge!

I don't deny I was worried... as a comparison: a young dad said he would not allow his son to attend Outward Bound School, where it involves going out to the sea!
Link

National Monument?

At the rate we are going through sodomy trials, this could be one of our national monuments...


and this, our new nursery rhyme...

A sign of persecution


Somehow, this sign reminds me of how BN is treating Anwar!

'Trespassing' would refer to a non-Umno politician wanting to become PM of Malaysia. After Sodomy 1, Anwar survived; then comes Sodomy 2, which is currently on trial; and just to make extra sure, there is a Datuk T showing a sex video and claiming the man to be him!

What happened to the hype on 1Malaysia and Ketuanan Melayu?
Link

Which direction you read from is important...

The traditional way of reading Chinese is from the right to the left. It gets a bit complicated when there are more characters, and we have to read from the right downwards until the last character, then up again to the next character of the top line and read downwards. To the uninitiated, the order is as follows (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) :

741
852
963

Even till today, since the change from 'right to left' to 'left to right' many years ago, there are signboards which show the old-fashioned way. Anyway, I didn't know Arabic is read like the old Chinese way...

A disappointed sales manager of Coca-Cola returned from his assignment to Saudi Arabia.

A friend asked, "Why weren't you successful with the Saudis?"

The sales manager explained, "When I got posted, I was very confident that I would make a good sales pitch. But I had a problem. I didn't know how to speak Arabic. So I planned to convey the message through three posters."

First poster : A man lying in the hot desert sand totally exhausted and fainted.
Second poster : The man is drinking Coca-Cola.
Third poster : Our man is now totally refreshed.
And then these posters were pasted all over the place.

"Terrific! That should have worked!" said the friend.

"The hell it should have!" said the sales manager.
"No one told me they read from right to left!"


The following poster shows a reversal of meaning when changing from top to bottom, to bottom to top, meaningfully...

Monday, March 21, 2011

Heaven... can't wait...

Tony and Yvonne were 85 years old and had been married for sixty years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because Tony watched their pennies.

Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to Yvonne's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade..

One day, their good health didn't help when they went on yet another holiday and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven.

They reached the pearly gates, and St. Peter escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold and fine silks, with a fully stocked kitchen and a waterfall in the master bath. A maid could be seen hanging their favourite clothes in the closet. They gasped in astonishment when he said, 'Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now.'

Tony asked Peter how much all this was going to cost.

'Why, nothing,' Peter replied, 'remember, this is your reward in Heaven.'

Tony looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever built on Earth. 'What are the greens fees?,' grumbled Tony.

'This is heaven,' St. Peter replied. 'You can play for free, every day.'

Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic deserts, free flowing beverages.

'Don't even ask,' said St. Peter to Tony. This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy.'

Tony looked around and glanced nervously at Yvonne. 'Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods and the decaffeinated tea?,' he asked.

That's the best part,' St. Peter replied. 'You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like and you will never get fat or sick. This is Heaven!'

'No gym to work out at?' said Tony

'Not unless you want to,' was the answer.

'No testing my sugar or blood pressure or...'

'Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself.'

Tony glared at Yvonne and said, 'If it wasn't for you and your blessed Bran Flakes. We could have been here ten years ago!'
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Sunday, March 20, 2011

911 calls can be hilarious

BELIEVE it or not ,
These are Nashville, TN 's REAL 911 Calls!


Dispatcher : 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I have on a blouse and slacks, why?


Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller : Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich .
Dispatcher : Excuse me?
Caller : I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen table and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher : Was anything else taken?
Caller : No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it!


Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.

My Personal Favorite!!!
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!

Dispatcher: 9-1-1
Caller: Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath. Darn...I think I'm going to pass out
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before you started having trouble breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police.


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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Dementia Quiz: for young and old

With Dementia Quiz, there is less risk of people complaining about repeats, simply because most people now are having memory problems and they would have forgotten what they have read before!

DEMENTIA QUIZ:

FIRST QUESTION:

YOU ARE A PARTICIPANT IN A RACE. YOU OVERTAKE THE SECOND PERSON. WHAT POSITION ARE YOU IN?

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

ANSWER : IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE FIRST, THEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG! IF YOU OVERTAKE THE SECOND PERSON AND YOU TAKE HIS PLACE, YOU ARE IN SECOND PLACE!

TRY TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME.
NOW ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION,
BUT DON'T TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU TOOK FOR THE FIRST QUESTION, OK?

SECOND QUESTION:
IF YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON, THEN YOU ARE....?
(SCROLL DOWN)

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

ANSWER: IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE SECOND TO LAST, THEN YOU ARE.....
WRONG AGAIN. TELL ME SUNSHINE, HOW CAN YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON??

YOU'RE NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS, ARE YOU?

THIRD QUESTION:
VERY TRICKY ARITHMETIC! NOTE:
THIS MUST BE DONE IN YOUR HEAD ONLY. DO NOT USE PAPER AND PENCIL OR A CALCULATOR. TRY IT.

TAKE 1000 AND ADD 40 TO IT. NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000 NOW ADD 30.
ADD ANOTHER 1000. NOW ADD 20 . NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000.
NOW ADD 10. WHAT IS THE TOTAL?

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER.....

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

DID YOU GET 5000?

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS ACTUALLY 4100...

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, CHECK IT WITH A CALCULATOR!
TODAY IS DEFINITELY NOT YOUR DAY, IS IT?

MAYBE YOU'LL GET THE LAST QUESTION RIGHT.... MAYBE...

FOURTH QUESTION:

MARY'S FATHER HAS FIVE DAUGHTERS:
1 NANA, 2. NENE, 3. NINI, 4. NONO, AND ???
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FIFTH DAUGHTER?

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

DID YOU ANSWER NUNU? NO! OF COURSE IT ISN'T.
HER NAME IS MARY! READ THE QUESTION AGAIN!

OKAY, NOW THE BONUS ROUND, I.E., A FINAL CHANCE TO REDEEM YOURSELF:

A MUTE PERSON GOES INTO A SHOP AND WANTS TO BUY A TOOTHBRUSH.
BY IMITATING THE ACTION OF BRUSHING HIS TEETH HE SUCCESSFULLY EXPRESSES HIMSELF TO THE SHOPKEEPER AND THE PURCHASE IS DONE.
NEXT, A BLIND MAN COMES INTO THE SHOP WHO WANTS TO BUY A
PAIR OF SUNGLASSES; HOW DOES HE INDICATE WHAT HE WANTS?

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

IT'S REALLY VERY SIMPLE. HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AND ASKS FOR IT....
DOES YOUR EMPLOYER ACTUALLY PAY YOU TO THINK??
IF SO DO NOT LET THEM SEE YOUR ANSWERS FOR THIS TEST!

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Cancer Symptoms, Most Ignored

... a list likely to increase a hypochondriac's anxieties...

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com Senior Editor

Annual checkups and tests such as colonoscopies and PSA assays are important, but it’s not a good idea to rely on tests alone to protect you from cancer.

It’s just as important to listen to your body and notice anything that’s different, odd, or unexplainable.

(You should also listen to those close to you, such as a wife or partner, because others sometimes notice things we’re unaware of–or don’t want to admit.)
You don’t want to join the ranks of cancer patients who realize too late that symptoms they’d noticed for a long time could have sounded the alarm earlier, when cancer was easier to cure.

1. Upset stomach or stomachache
One of the first signs colon cancer patients remember experiencing when they look back is unexplained stomach aches.

Those with pancreatic cancer describe a dull ache that feels like it’s pressing inward.
Many liver cancer patients say they went in complaining of stomach cramps and upset stomachs so frequently that their doctors thought they had ulcers. Liver cancer patients and those with leukemia can experience abdominal pain resulting from an enlarged spleen, which may feel like an ache on the lower left side..

If you have a stomachache that you can’t attribute to a digestive problem or that doesn’t go away, ask your doctor to order an ultrasound.

Finding a liver or pancreatic tumor early can make all the difference in treatment.

2. Chronic “acid stomach” or feeling full after a small meal
The most common early sign of stomach cancer is pain in the upper or middle abdomen that feels like gas or heartburn. It may be aggravated by eating, so that you feel full when you haven’t actually eaten much. What’s particularly confusing is that the pain can be relieved by antacids, confirming your conclusion that it was caused by acid in the stomach, when it’s more than that.

An unexplained pain or ache in lower right side can be the first sign of liver cancer, known as one of the “silent killers.”
Feeling full after a small meal is a common sign of liver cancer as well.

If you have frequent bouts of acid stomach, an unexplained abdominal ache, or a full feeling after meals even when you’re eating less than normal, call your doctor.

3. Unexplained weight loss
If you notice the pounds coming off and you haven’t made changes to your diet or exercise regime, it’s important to find out why. Unexplained weight loss can be an early sign of colon and other digestive cancers; it can also be a sign of cancer that’s spread to the liver, affecting your appetite and the ability of your body to rid itself of waste.

4. Jaundice
Pancreatic cancer, another one of the “silent killers,” is often discovered when someone notices jaundice and asks the doctor to do a battery of tests. Jaundice is most commonly thought of as a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, but darker-than- normal urine that’s not the result of dehydration is also a sign. Clay-colored stools are another little-known sign of jaundice. Oddly, jaundice can also cause itching, because the bile salts in the bloodstream cause the skin to itch.

Some people with pancreatic cancer say they noticed the itching before they noticed the jaundice itself.

5. Wheezing or shortness of breath
One of the first signs lung cancer patients remember noticing when they look back is the inability to catch their breath. “ I couldn’t even walk to my car without wheezing; I thought I had asthma, but how come I didn’t have it before ? ”, is how one man described it. Shortness of breath, chest pain, or spitting blood are also signs of testicular cancer that’s spread to the lungs.

6. Chronic cough or chest pain
Several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung tumors, can cause symptoms that mimic a bad cough or bronchitis.
One way to tell the difference:

The problems persist, or go away and come back again in a repeating cycle. Some lung cancer patients report chest pain that extends up into the shoulder or down the arm.

7. Frequent fevers or infections
These can be signs of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes the marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy white cells, sapping the body’s infection-fighting capabilities. Doctors sometimes catch leukemia in older adults only after the patient has been in a number of times complaining of fever, aches, and flu-like symptoms over an extended period of time.

8. Difficulty swallowing
Most commonly associated with esophageal or throat cancer, having trouble swallowing is sometimes one of the first signs of lung cancer, too. Men diagnosed with esophageal cancer look back and remember a feeling of pressure and soreness when swallowing that didn’t go away the way a cold or flu would have. Consult your doctor also if you have a frequent feeling of needing to clear your throat or that food is stuck in your chest; either of these can signal a narrowing of the esophagus that could mean the presence of a tumor.

9. Chronic heartburn
If you just ate half a pizza, heartburn is expected. But if you have frequent episodes of heartburn or a constant low-level feeling of pain in the chest after eating, call your doctor and ask to be screened for esophageal cancer.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — a condition in which stomach acid rises into the esophagus, causing heartburn and an acidic taste in the throat — can trigger a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which can be a precursor of esophageal cancer...

10. Swelling of facial features
Some patients with lung cancer report that they noticed puffiness, swelling, or redness in the face. The explanation for this is that small cell lung tumors commonly block blood vessels in the chest, preventing blood from flowing freely from the head and face.

11. Swollen lymph nodes or lumps on the neck, underarm, or groin
Enlarged lymph nodes indicate changes in the lymphatic system, which can be a sign of cancer. For example, a lump or an enlarged lymph in the neck or underarm is sometimes a sign of thyroid, head, or throat cancer.
A painless lump on the neck, underarm, or groin can be an early sign of leukemia.

12. Excessive bruising or bleeding that doesn’t stop
This symptom usually suggests something abnormal happening with the platelets and red blood cells, which can be a sign of leukemia. One man with leukemia noticed that his gums bled when he brushed his teeth; another described bruising in strange places, such as on his fingers and hands.

The explanation : Over time, leukemia cells crowd out red blood cells and platelets, impairing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and clot.

13. Weakness and fatigue
“I had to stop halfway across the yard and sit down when I was mowing the lawn,” said one man when describing the fatigue that led to his discovery of pancreatic cancer. Generalized fatigue and weakness is a symptom of so many different kinds of cancer (and other ills) that you’ll need to look at it in combination with other symptoms.

But any time, you feel exhausted without explanation and it doesn’t respond to getting more sleep, talk to your doctor.

14. Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
“I thought it was hemorrhoids” is one of the most common statements doctors hear when diagnosing colorectal cancer.
Blood in the toilet alone is reason to call your doctor and schedule a colonoscopy.

Another sign of blood in the stool many people miss is stools that are darker in color.

15. Bowel problems
Constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stools can all be signs of cancer.

As with many other cancer symptoms, the way to tell if this is cause for concern is if it goes on for more than a few days without a clear cause, such as flu or food poisoning.

People diagnosed with colon cancer say they noticed more frequent stools, as well as a feeling that their bowels were not emptied completely.

One of the early signs of pancreatic cancer is fatty stools, which can be recognized as frequent, large stools that are paler than normal and smelly. This is a sign that your body’s not absorbing your food normally, and it should be brought to your doctor’s attention.

16. Difficulty urinating or changes in flow
Hands-down, the most common early sign of prostate cancer is a feeling of not being able to start peeing once you’re set to go. Many men also report having a hard time stopping the flow of urine, a flow that starts and stops, or a stream that’s weaker than normal. Any of these symptoms is reason to call your doctor for an exam and a screening test for prostate-specific antigen.

17. Pain or burning during urination
This symptom can also indicate a urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted disease, of course, but in any case it warrants an immediate trip to the doctor. This symptom is often combined with the feeling that you need to go more often, particularly at night. These same symptoms can also indicate inflammation or infection in the prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia, the name for what happens when the prostate grows bigger and blocks the flow of urine. However, you need to get checked out to tell the difference.

18. Blood in urine or semen
Men are often warned about blood in the urine, but they may not realize that blood in semen is also a danger sign for prostate cancer. Blood in the urine or semen isn’t always visible as blood; urine may just be a pink, dark red, or smoky brown color, while blood in the semen may just look like a pinkish streak.

19. Erection problems
As prostate cancer progresses, another very common sign is difficulty getting or sustaining an erection. This can be a difficult subject to talk about, but it’s important to bring it to your doctor’s attention. It could be a sign of sexual dysfunction with another cause, of course, but it’s a reason to have an exam and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

20. Pain, aching, or heaviness in the groin, hips, thighs, or abdomen
One sign of prostate cancer is frequent pain in the hips, upper thighs, or the lowest part of the back. Men with testicular cancer report noticing a heavy, aching feeling low in the belly or abdomen, or in the scrotum or testicles themselves. They sometimes describe it as a feeling of downward pulling or as a generalized ache throughout the groin area.

Prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes often makes itself known as discomfort in the pelvis or swelling in the legs.

21. Testicular swelling or lump
The lumps that indicate testicular cancer are nearly always painless.
It’s also common for a testicle to be enlarged or swollen, but lacking any specific lump that you can see or feel.

Some men report feeling discomfort from the enlargement, but not an outright pain.

22. Unexplained back pain
Back pain can mean all sorts of things, of course — most often pulled muscles or disc problems. But unexplained, persistent back pain can be an early sign of cancer as well, so get it checked out.

Pain in the lower back and hips can be a sign of prostate cancer, while pain in the upper back can signal lung cancer.
A pain in the upper abdomen and back is one of the few early signs of pancreatic cancer.

23. Scaly or painful nipple or chest, nipple discharge
Men do get breast cancer; they also get a condition called gynecomastia, which is a benign lump in the breast area. Breast cancer is usually detected as a lump, but if it’s spreading inward it can also cause chest pain.
Other signs of breast cancer include patches of red, scaly, or dimpled skin or changes to the nipple such as turning inward or leaking fluid.

Bring any lump, swelling, or skin or nipple problem, or any chest pain, to your doctor's attention.

24. A sore or skin lump that doesn’t heal, becomes crusty, or bleeds easily
Most of us know how to watch moles for changes that might indicate skin cancer.
But other signs, such as small waxy lumps or dry scaly patches, are easier to miss.

Familiarize yourself with the different types of skin cancer — melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma — and be vigilant about checking skin all over the body for odd-looking growths or spots.

25. Changes in nails
Unexplained changes to the fingernails can be a sign of several types of cancer.
A brown or black streak or dot under the nail can indicate skin cancer .

A newly discovered “clubbing,” which means enlargement of the ends of the fingers, with nails that curve down over the tips, can be a sign of lung cancer..

Pale or white nails can be an indication that your liver is not functioning properly, sometimes a sign of liver cancer.

Epitaph of a hypochondriac: 'I told you so'.

In case anyone accuses me of being insensitive, my wife thinks I am one. Since then, I rather keep health problems to myself.

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Osteoporosis: myths and more...

3 COMMON MYTHS ON OSTEOPOROSIS

1. Myth: Young people should not worry about osteoporosis.
Wrong. You will not realize that you have osteoporosis until you have this condition in advanced stages. That is why it is very important to begin proper nutrition and regular exercise as early as childhood to promote healthy bones.

2. Myth: Only women get osteoporosis.
Wrong. Although less common, men can get osteoporosis, too. 20% of those affected by osteoporosis are men.

3. Myth: Drinking plenty of milk will help you prevent osteoporosis.
Not entirely true. Even though drinking milk is a good way to get calcium, it is not the only factor in preventing osteoporosis. There are others as mentioned in this article.

What You Should Know About Osteoporosis

by: Junji Takano

When you say "osteoporosis", we immediately think it is caused by lack of calcium. Doctors will recommend you to take more calcium, vitamin D, and sun exposure or sunbath.

However, the latest findings in various hospitals show that the majority of osteoporosis patients are not caused by lack of calcium. Their bones are complete and absorbing calcium. So what is wrong with them? CT scan results show no signs of osteoporosis, yet, the patients easily suffer from bone fractures. What's going on?

Here, we came to know about a new strain of osteoporosis that was discovered since about two years ago.
The most common type of bone fracture nowadays is "spinal fracture". If spinal fracture occurs, the risk of death is eight times higher than any other type of bone fractures.

What is the reason that bones are weakening? Why do patients suffer from broken spine?

It is an important factor to have bone strength, not just bone density. Bone collagen connective tissues are also an important factor to create flexibility. Many of us didn't realize this at first sight. In the past, osteoporosis was viewed more on bone strength, and we never hear and realize about these connective tissues. To improve bone density, it's a common knowledge to do regular exercise and have a higher calcium intake like by eating calcium-rich dried fishes.

But now, we have to think of a new measure to maintain bone collagen connective tissues to have enough flexibility. From this simple measure, you may escape from the risk of death caused by fracture of spinal bones.

To measure or determine strong bone and bone mineral density are not as easy as what you may think. Clinically, it has to pass various tests.


Well, what is the major cause that leads to reduction of bone collagen connective tissues? Do you believe that it is because of high blood sugar?

The major component of bone, which is about one half of its structure, is calcium, and collagen is the other half. Collagen fibres run through hundreds of bone materials (calcium), and the bones that we know are made. You can imagine that the bone materials (calcium) are somewhat bonded by collagen and kept with reasonable flexibility. However, when blood sugar increases, the collagen will be joined as if there is an adhesive cement around, and the bone will become brittle.

To avoid the increase of blood sugar, exercise is one of the best things to do. Aside from it, we recommend you to take a balanced diet that contains vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, and foods such as mackerel, sardines, clams, folic acid, broccoli, spinach, garland chrysanthemum, soybeans, and asparagus. By taking these foods, you can have strong flexible bones.

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Of FLOMs and an unexpected comment from my wife

One thing almost all of us would agree is that the most controversial FLOM must be our present high-profile Rosmah. Can anyone remember the name of our first FLOM, wife of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman? I honestly cannot remember Tun Hussein Onn's wife, and most of us can remember Siti Hasmah, being wife of our longest serving PM, Tun Dr. Mahathir.

I am quite surprised when my wife mentioned that the best must be Siti Hasmah, BUT the only criticism she could think of was her comment that Wan Azizah should have stayed at home and look after her kids, and Wan Azizah replied something to the effect that how could she stay at home when her husband was assaulted by the police? Seems like a one-off comment from usually quiet Siti Hasmah and it backfired!


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'lol' is no laughing matter when you gaffed!

Mobile phone and internet (with its social networking sites) have revolutionized communication in the way we express ourselves by using abbreviations and initials. While older generation folks are still coping with jargons like uploading/downloading, delete, copy and paste, many have got onto 'textcronyms' being used by the younger generation.

Below is an example which we must avoid, so please make sure you know your textcronyms before using them...


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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Confucius says no confusion...

Just kidding because they sound quite alike. In the internet there are many quotes attributed to Confucius or Buddha, but I am sure not all are true. Just a convenient way of quoting something that could have been said by either of them. They were no longer around, so there is no way to know, unless you are a true scholar of Chinese Studies and the like. A number of friends forwarded the following 'wise saying' or rather wise crack to me, presumably for me to post it.

Fair or not

Woman asks:
If I sleep with 3 men, everyone calls me a slut. But when a man sleeps with 10 girls,
everyone calls him a real man. How come?

Man replies:
It's very simple. Confucius says 'When one lock can be opened by 3 different keys, it's a bad lock. But when one key can open 10 different locks, we call it a master key!
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A Bangladeshi's lament of discrimination in Malaysia

Excerpt:

I do not remember life before permanent residency, but I do remember how much of a pain it was to be as a Permanent Resident (PR), a seemingly unknown status within Malaysia, one where I had to keep explaining my right to exist over and over again. What made it even worse was that I was a Bangladeshi, a supposedly "dirty illegal"; never mind that my parents were educated middle-class and that my father was brought in as a civil engineer.

No child should ever have to be told by their teachers to "go back to your country". No child should ever have to explain the news reports that claimed that Bangladeshis were robbing houses and stealing women (only to be told upon protest that I should "grow thicker skin"). I had teachers tell my classmates, in front of my face, "don’t let the Bangla girl do better than you". Even my art skills came under scrutiny, with teachers mocking me during exams saying "my six-year-old could do better". The students copied the teachers in their mockery of me. It didn’t matter that I won tons of awards every year, that I was the best English language student the whole time I was there—their perception of my race invalidated any good thing I tried to do or achieved.

No one stood up for me. Instead, when I attempted suicide in the prayer room at age 11, the only other person there said "God will send you to hell". I begged my parents to send me elsewhere, even overseas, but a combination of their overprotective paranoia plus the fact that as a PR I am meant to be in a government-run school (ironic, given the fact that my school kept trying to expel me every other year claiming I didn’t have a "student visa") had me staying in the local school system for 11 years. Not that secondary school was much better—a little less overt in their racism, perhaps, but you notice it when the Malay prefects and the non-Malay prefects hold separate meetings on why the other group should not field a candidate for Head Prefect, or when you’re sitting in assembly and one of the admins suddenly announces that no permanent residents will be accepted as prefects — when everyone knows you’re the only permanent resident there anyway.

The last day of SPM was like a release from jail.

The questions asked of me were inane enough ("Write 150 words on the importance of National Day!") but the most galling part involved sitting in the interview room, being asked what my most important responsibility and contribution was as a new citizen…only to be told by the interviewers that the right answer is to vote for the ruling party, because they were the ones who gave me the "gift" of permanent residency.

Source:
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Singapore walks the talk on Meritocracy

The following is stale news by now but nonetheless noteworthy for those who have yet to know about it:

Brigadier-General Singh (left) will take over from Major-General Chan (right) as Singapore's Chief of Army.

By Krishna Singh

Singapore: The appointment of Brigadier-General Ravinder Singh, a Sikh, as the next chief of the Singapore Army is the culmination of a long tradition of the community serving in uniform, both as policemen and in the armed forces, in the city-state.

Their role in Singapore belies their small number: There are only an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Sikhs in Singapore, a nation of five million people.

Their number is small even when compared to 100,000 Sikhs living in Malaysia. Sikhs came to this part of Southeast Asia as soldiers and policemen during the British era.

Brig. Gen. Singh will replace Major-General Chan Chun Sing as army chief March 25.

Singh, 46, currently deputy secretary (technology) in the defence ministry, was previously commanding officer, 3rd Signal Battalion; commander, 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade and assistant chief of general staff (plans); head joint communications and information systems department.

He has also held the posts of head joint plans and transformation department; commander 6th Division and chief of staff - joint staff.

Singh holds a Master of Arts (Engineering Science) from the University of Oxford, Britain. He also holds a Master of Science (Management of Technology) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US.

He joined the Singapore Armed Forces in December 1982. Brig Gen Singh is also the first non-Chinese Chief of Army in nearly 30 years.

Colonel Mancharan Singh Gill was the first ever when he took up the post in 1982, the report said.

At the end of such an article, inevitably the question that comes to mind to any Malaysian reader is, 'Will it happen in Malaysia?' and I think the likely response from the likes of Perkasa would be 'Bantah' Singh instead!
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A song suitable for a recent court case...


When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman

When you're in love with a beautiful woman
It's hard .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
You know it's hard .
Everybody wants her
Everybody loves her
Everybody wants to take your baby home .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
You watch your friends
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
It never ends .
You know that it's crazy
You want to trust her
then somebody hangs up when you answer the 'phone .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
You go it alone .
Maybe it's just that ego problem .
Problem is I've been fooled before
My fair weatherfriends
and faint hearted lovers
but every time it happens
it just convinces me more .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
you watch your eyes .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
You look for lies .
Everybody tempts her
Everybody tells her
She's the most beautiful woman they know .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
You go it alone
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
You watch your friends
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
It never ends .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
you watch your eyes .
When you're in love with a beautiful woman
Keep lookin' for lies .

Words & Music by Even Stevens
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