Change of ISP: From boiling pot to frying pan, and back to boiling pot? From YES to No and back to YES...

I was really disappointed this morning, when after using the internet for a while I was directed to YES website, indicating that I had used up my quota. But as it turned out minutes ago, it could have been a technical hitch soon after a major breakdown in YES service. While filling frustrated, this was what I drafted this morning for posting:

'Briefly, I was a YES subscriber before until I was put off by their minimum monthly fee of Rm30 which gave me the impression that even after termination, would be liable for the missing period had I re-subscribed later. Apparently, this has been done with, but I am still apprehensive in registering for YesLife!
Recently, I stopped my Maxis Home Wifi subscription and started on YES again, thinking it has a better offer. It so happened I was away for a few days and my YES huddle was switched off during the time. When I got back from PJ, I re-started it but there was no internet access! My friend in KL happened to call and asked about it and I told him about the problem. He checked the news on YES and I was reassured it was due to a general breakdown in the system and nothing to do with mine. Well, it came on just before 5 pm yesterday.
This morning, I had no problem with it until I could not connect to any other site. I was directed to YES website where I was given the options to reload and so on. Then it dawned on me that I must have used up my quota (at least, the peak hour part). But I just could not find any option to continue under 'throttled' mode which I was used to under Maxis! Is this the main difference between the two ISP?
Actually, I chose the Rm68 pm package to try out first before I decide on an upgrade to Rm79 which is supposed to be without limit. So my impression so far seems to be that the so-called 5 GB during peak hours lasted less than 10 days of my controlled usage (ie. not viewing video clips freely). Well, it is going to be decision time, but nothing much to decide during the 2-yr contract period. Hopefully, an upgrade will solve my problem once and for all. I would not trust the top-up option, knowing full well it is going to cost a lot more instead of a known fixed amount monthly.'

Now I am wondering how long my quota is going to last before I decide to upgrade. I have yet to use up the bigger quota meant for off-peak hours.

Update on Sept 19:

Since my earlier post above, I was happy to be able to connect to YES, despite earlier notice to top-up, but experienced difficulty in re-connecting each time I have disconnected. Just imagine taking at least half an hour or more to do so. Could be due to heavy use in BG during Malaysia Day. Today, received a message from YES that I have used up 80% of my quota (pro-rated) for the month. So it is going to be very restricted use to see how long this will last. I have yet to use up my bigger quota for the off-peak hours.
Link

Can a majority race be 'marginalized'?

During an interview with Christiane Amanpour, PM Najib actually said that we must not marginalize the majority race. I always thought only the minorities are being marginalized by the majority and not the other way round.

I Googled the word 'marginalized' and found a blogger who discussed the term under her post, 'Can we find a better term for 'Marginalized' people?

Excerpt:

'In sociology (and several other academic disciplines.) the term minority group(s), refers to any group that has less access to power; in other words any group that is underrepresented in the power structure of a country or culture. A synonym I use in my classes is subordinate groups. Some minority or subordinate groups would include women, children, Muslims, Jews, Asian Americans, African Americans, gays, lesbians, the disabled, poor people, the working class, and so on. In contrast, the majority group or dominant group, the most powerful groups, would include whites, men, the wealthy, able bodied people, and so on.

So here is the problem, most people don’t think of the term as something related to power. They think about numbers. There are way more people in this world who are not considered White than there are Whites. So people of color are a numerical or mathematical majority, even if they are a sociological minority. The same is clearly true for women.'

More:
http://amptoons.com/blog/2006/03/23/can-we-find-a-better-term-for-marginalized-people/

In Malaysia, the Malay race forms the majority of the population, has political power and controls all major institutions. Isn't Najib's statement paradoxical?
Link

The situation we're in: 'I'm fine'

A farmer named Paddy had a car accident. He was hit by a truck owned by the Eversweet Company.

In court, the Eversweet Company's hot-shot solicitor was questioning Paddy.

'Didn't you say to the police at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine?' asked the solicitor.

Paddy responded: 'Well, I'll tell you what happened. I'd just loaded my fav'rit cow, Bessie, into da... '

'I didn't ask for any details', the solicitor interrupted.'Just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine!'?'

Paddy said, 'Well, I'd just got Bessie into da trailer and I was drivin' down da road...... '

The solicitor interrupted again and said,'Your Honour, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the police on the scene that he was fine. Now several weeks after the accident, he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question. ' 

By this time, the Judge was fairly interested in Paddy's answer and said to the solicitor:

 'I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favourite cow, Bessie'.

Paddy thanked the Judge and proceeded.

'Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my fav'rit cow, into de trailer and was drivin' her down de road when this huge Eversweet truck and trailer came tundering tru a stop sign and hit me trailer right in da side. I was trown into one ditch and Bessie was trown into da udder. By Jaysus I was hurt, very bad like, and didn't want to move. However, I could hear old Bessie moanin' and groanin'. I knew she was in terrible pain just by her groans.

Shortly after da accident, a policeman on a motorbike turned up. He could hear Bessie moanin' and groanin' too, so he went over to her. After he looked at her, and saw her condition, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes.

Den da policeman came across de road, gun still in hand, looked at me, and said, 'How are you feelin'?' 

'Now wot da fock would you say?'

Yes, indeed!

This is how most Malaysians are feeling now... with the frenzy of actions taken by police under the Sedition Act. Politicians who have been insolent to the Sultan have to 'grovel' to please him regardless of what is in the constitution and practised by the ruling coalition for the past 57 years.

These two seem open defiance... but understandable...

This is art done surreptitiously...

But this (old photo) is asking for trouble...

                                         

Link

Understanding the Jews

An Arab is going to have open-heart surgery. The doctor is preparing the blood transfusion.

Because the gentleman had a rare type of blood, it couldn't be found locally. So the call went out to a number of countries. Finally, a Jew was located who had the same blood type and who was willing to donate his blood to the Arab.

After the surgery, the Arab sent the Jew a thank-you card for giving his blood along with an expensive diamond and a new Rolls Royce car as a token of his appreciation.

Unfortunately, the Arab had to go through a corrective surgery once again.. His doctors called the Jew who was more than happy to donate his blood again, believing he will receive more gifts from the Arab again.

After the second surgery, the Arab sent the Jew a Thank You card and a box of Almond Roca sweets.

The Jew was shocked to see that the Arab this time did not acknowledge the Jew's kind gesture in the same way as he had done the first time.

So he phoned the Arab and asked him why he had expressed his appreciation in not a very generous manner.

The Arab replied: "Ya Habibi !!, (Dear Friend) you have to remember, I have Jewish blood in my body now"

Link

Of puppet and remote-controlled politicians

Everybody knows Dr Wan Azizah as Anwar Ibrahim's wife, since her husband was sacked as DPM and Finance Minister in 1998, arrested in a high-handed way, charged and then jailed for 6 years. How could anyone forget his famous 'black eye' at the hands of then IGP?

Since then, she went on to form PKR and had been party president, MP and Madam Opposition in Parliament. More recently, she was elected as ADUN of Kajang in Selangor. Prior to her entry into politics, she was already a doctor (even gold medallist) and eye specialist.

Even with such credentials, her attempt to become MB of Selangor had been resisted by many, who described her as a puppet of her husband, remote-controlled and more recently, as unqualified to be MB by none other than President of PAS, Hadi Awang! That it came from a fellow president of a coalition partner makes it more hurtful, especially after much delay and confusing statements on her appointment.

Hadi Awang himself had been Mr Opposition, MB of Trengganu after GE12 (and lost it at the next election) and mainly responsible for having lost Kedah too. Already, for his statement that Dr Wan Azizah is not qualified to be MB, his own performance had been questioned and criticised.

What then should be the qualifications of an MB? By today's standard, people expect someone with a university degree or a professional, with several years of working experience. So far, we have had examples of MB without university education, a dentist fresh from dental practice, and Najib who was MB of Pahang at age of 29! There were no complaints or objections which could match those against Dr Wan Azizah, simply because those were Umno appointments. The only factor which most critics refuse to admit is her gender.

As to whether someone is a puppet of her spouse, how could we tell how much influence a husband or wife has over his or her spouse? There were many who criticised Rosmah as the de facto PM, but did anyone object to Najib being PM? There is no direct election on premiership and since independence in 1957, it was traditionally reserved for the President of Umno.

If spousal influence is such an important factor, should we choose only those who are unmarried? Even with married couples, we cannot rule out the influence of mistress or lover which might have far greater impact by way of pillow talk.

A state's administration should already be working smoothly, helmed by experienced civil servants. An MB's job is like that of CEO, helped by Exco members or state ministers. So what is most important is decision-making. He or she could be decisive or consultative, depending on his or her style of leadership or personality. Even with a perceived weak leadership, any decision which is for the benefit of the people, fair and unaffected by corruption will be welcome by the people. So unless someone is given the chance, how can we tell whether she is capable?

As to being remote-controlled, there is no way we can stop anyone from being secretly influenced by others. We can only judge from her actions and decisions, and again, unless given a chance, how can we tell?

After all the shadow play in the current MB imbroglio, I think it boils down to pride. PAS was unhappy because the choice of MB had been decided by PKR and DAP and merely expected their confirmation. This was further complicated by HRH Sultan of Selangor's insistence on more than one name.  By insisting on one name, PKR and DAP seem to go against Sultan's wish. But if more than one name had been submitted, it would be awkward if Sultan chose the one without majority endorsement.

From Perak's experience and now Selangor, it would appear both Sultans were not in favour of Pakatan. In Perak, the late Sultan accepted BN's claim of majority (31 vs 28); now in Selangor, Dr Wan Azizah's endorsement by 30 ADUNs's SDs (effectively 30 vs 26) seems not good enough.
Link