There i was...deciding if i should be heading on home before going out to meet a friend when I had this brilliant and ill fated idea to stop over from Subang to PJ for an early dinner. Dutifully turned off the Fed Highway onto to the PJ Hilton traffic light (green) then the 2nd traffic lite (red). Stopped at the traffic lite, looked into the rear view mirror, saw a Kanchil speeding at the first traffic lite, heard a screech saw the Kanchil ramming into my back.Bang goes 20 years of accident free bliss.
Kanchil front in a mess, guy comes out and says "you can go,nobody stops at the red here!" I look at him, look at the still red traffic lite and say "you must be kidding me, man!"
Driver begs not to make a police report as he works in a workshop (they somehow always do) and can get it done for me easily. I say nope..gonna make it anyways. Damage to Kanchil..massive. Radiator water flooding out, bonnet V-shaped. Damage to Vios: bumper caved in, boot cant be opened. Took pictures of both cars (knew there was a reason i was totting my digital cam around), drove dutifully to the friendly neigbourhood police station in Sec 8 (thank God for my years spent in Sec 8, otherwise i wouldnt have a clue which police station to go to). Along the way to police station i get 4 phone calls from Mr Kanchil trying to stop me from making a police report. Easy to ignore it when your still in shock and wondering "what if i had just gone home instead?". Reach the police station.
And thus begins my education on the whole process of having an accident. Make the police report, off to see the Investigating Officer, who takes down your details and grunts to his man to take a pic of your car. Then you gotta come back to get the Keputusan, i.e, the result of the IO's investigation as to who was at fault. Many thanks to my lawyer friend for accompanying me at the police station. Its funny how dynamics change when you have a lawyer friend present to see you through this.
Then comes the insurance claim. Apparently after your car hits the 5 year mark, theres this thing called the "betterment" clause, i.e a percentage is agreed upon which you have to top up when it comes time to repair your car.The older the car, the higher the percentage you have to top up IF you want the repair shop to use original parts. Seems that the older your car is, the lesser premium u pay the insurance comp, therefore you aint entitled to original parts. Sheesh.
So there i am, carless for a couple of days. Taxi to ANYWHERE from Sg Besi is definitely not cheap so after a few days, my friend's mum graciously lent me her Kelisa, bless her soul.
Now imagine a 6 feet 4 fatty squeezing into a Kelisa, driving on KL road. Thank God it was bright yellow or else i would have been totally ignored by the other bigger cars! My hats off to those who drive Kelisas in big bad KL. Love the car though for its zippiness.
Yes there are friends who said it was a lucky thing it wasnt that major an accident."Perhaps it would have prevented you from a REALLY major disaster. Well to me its like saying "lucky you broke your leg or else you could've broken your neck."
What a Raya....
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Hini Plague and Smoking in Malaysia
Well we just recently confirmed our 26th Death from H1N1 and NOW the government is beginning to panic.
Lack of interest and precaution at the airport was enough to tell me that this government is just hoping the whole virus would just die a natural death and that we can all go on being just the way we are.
Which tells a lot about the people running this country. The Tidak Apa attitude looks to be well and thriving as long as it doesnt affect them. Guidelines and laws made are a joke simply because enforcement of these laws are lax or non existent.
Our anti-smoking campaign surely cannot be taken seriously..slapping grotesque pics on cigarette packets is supposed to deter Malaysians from smoking? Tolong sikit! Know your people. Know the mentality of the Malaysian before you decide you want to tell her/him what to do and what not to do (i have friends who choose the pre-mature baby pic on ciggy packs cos they think it looks cute!) Being one myself I have neither been detered nor affected by the governments' so called half hearted efforts at curbing smoking.
I think as I age (which seems alarmingly fast these days) I have become more and more aware of my suroundings...perhaps its only human nature that you start noticing things around you when you suddenly are made aware that your time is running short.
Guess its time we all just stop for a bit and take stock of not only our lives but the well being and state of our country. FOr better or worse it is the place of our birth. Our families and friends are here. Our children will be inheriting it for them and their children. What exactly they inherit lies in our hands. Here.Now.
So lets put the true meaning of Malaysia Boleh to work.Be kind to your country. Contribute your expertise and wisdom to its development. Instill the love of Malaysia into your kids. Fall in love with Malaysia all over again.
Lack of interest and precaution at the airport was enough to tell me that this government is just hoping the whole virus would just die a natural death and that we can all go on being just the way we are.
Which tells a lot about the people running this country. The Tidak Apa attitude looks to be well and thriving as long as it doesnt affect them. Guidelines and laws made are a joke simply because enforcement of these laws are lax or non existent.
Our anti-smoking campaign surely cannot be taken seriously..slapping grotesque pics on cigarette packets is supposed to deter Malaysians from smoking? Tolong sikit! Know your people. Know the mentality of the Malaysian before you decide you want to tell her/him what to do and what not to do (i have friends who choose the pre-mature baby pic on ciggy packs cos they think it looks cute!) Being one myself I have neither been detered nor affected by the governments' so called half hearted efforts at curbing smoking.
I think as I age (which seems alarmingly fast these days) I have become more and more aware of my suroundings...perhaps its only human nature that you start noticing things around you when you suddenly are made aware that your time is running short.
Guess its time we all just stop for a bit and take stock of not only our lives but the well being and state of our country. FOr better or worse it is the place of our birth. Our families and friends are here. Our children will be inheriting it for them and their children. What exactly they inherit lies in our hands. Here.Now.
So lets put the true meaning of Malaysia Boleh to work.Be kind to your country. Contribute your expertise and wisdom to its development. Instill the love of Malaysia into your kids. Fall in love with Malaysia all over again.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I slept with the Manchester United Team and all I got was a lousy poster
No...there wasnt an orgy of gangbanging. We were put up in Mandarin Oriental for the duration of their stay here in Malaysia and what an event it was!
Thanks to the bombing in Jakarta, the team decided to stay on another 4 more days! Which was a dream come true for their die hard fans but a nightmare for us the promoters.
OK ...lets start from the first day July 17th. Got news that the flight could be delayed to Malaysia as news of the bombing reached us. Now everyone was frantically worried that MU might cancel their tour here for security reasons.
Thank God they didnt. So in comes the MU team for their first leg of their Asian Tour. After freshening up, we whisked the team for their autograph signing session with the fans.
First to go in were the VIPs (Pahang royal entourage) Forget about classiness with the blue bloods...all they were concerned was to get the signature of their fav players and to take pics with them...geez.
Then we let the public in. I must say the players were very gracious and friendly ( could also be that this was the first leg so they were all raring to go) . Ugly side of the fans? Plenty. Even the Mandarin Oriental staff got an earful from yours truly for ripping off the posters which we put up to get the players signature. Shameless name throwing just to get close to the players were abound and i didnt know so many of our VIPs had hundreds of relatives, brothers, etc etc.
Me? Couldnt be bothered. Never did understand the MU craze anyways.
So after half a day of crowd control and ensuring the players were settled in, we then prepared for the trainning session which was opened to the public at Stadium Bukit Jalil. There we could watch for a full hour how these world class players trained.
Back to the hotel room for dinner after which we retired to our rooms at around 1 am.
The rooms were beautiful and comfy (for RM2600 a nite apartment, they even had a washing machine and a mini kitchen thrown in!)
My roomate was a snorer and he had invited a gal to join in. I couldnt take either of them so I ended up in our hall instead. End of day one.
On match day, the 18th of July, we were busy with the logistics of the stadium and preparing the huge banquet hall to serve as stretching room for the players.
As expected, fans were everywhere in the hotel with some of the richer parents booking rooms for their kids at the hotel in the hopes that they would bump into them!
The stadium was packed to the brim (85,000 full) but the fans were well behaved so we were OK. Result: MU 3, Malaysia 2.
Post match press conference had a bit of a hitch as the press room was not secured. Had to clear off the pesky fans personally to make way for Sir Alex Ferguson and Bobby Charlton to make their appearance.
To top that off, FAM, who was in charge of securing the stadium decided to lock some of the stadium exit doors immediately after the match..which caused the MU officials to go back and forth looking for an open exit.
It was here that the announcement was made that MU would play one more match against Malaysia ( to make up for their cancelled trip to Jakarta). That meant that we had to stay an extra 4 more days at the hotel....groan.
Lets talk about Mandarin Oriental for a bit. One would expect top class service from this prestigious hotel but i found it wanting at the dining area where slow service and dumb waiters spoilt my impression of the hotel. Perhaps it was because i had scolded their colleagues at the signing ceremony. The food was Middle Eastern themed (to cater to the Arabs). OK for the the first 2 meals...tiresome after 6 days! I think i have had every single dish in their ala carte menu. Wont be going there for a while thats for sure.
Day 2 started off pretty well as it was merely to be a repeat of day 1. Final score 2-0 in you know who's favor.
Day 3 was for the team's free and easy day.To us it means even more worrying and fretting as players are supposed to be on relax mode in which anything goes. Request for a game of golf was sent out and thus began the frantic search for a golf resort to host these players.
Funny thing about being a celebrity football team..all the golf resorts were practically spreading their corporate legs begging the team to play at their resorts. (though one was particularly money crazed, demanding RM10,000 for a set of golf clubs EACH. We told them where they could stuff the clubs).
Ended up in KLGCC. GM there was 1st class in helping us get what we wanted for the players. The in-house golf shop made great business providing MU with RM600 dollar golf shoes and other necessary golf kits. GM came with a worried look telling us a crowd had built up in front of the lobby. We laughed when we saw a "huge" crowd of 20 fans waiting politely in line to get the players autographs(try staving off 200 fans in a cramped up hotel lobby and you know why we werent worried at all).
Team had a good time at the golf course though there was an early thunderstorm scare that threathened to put the whole thing off. Superb drainage and providence made everyone happy, especially Ferguson..
Well then it was dinner time with the MU officials and to be frank, didnt leave much of an impression on me. I mean here these ppl were, caretakers of probably the most famous brands in the world and from our conversations I still have this nagging feeling that at the end their're just common folks thrown into the limelight. With the exception of Sir Bobby Charlton, who was the epitome of class, the rest of them were just tagging along for the ride.
Ah well... thats one event down. Lets see if Real Madrid is in the cards for next year....
Thanks to the bombing in Jakarta, the team decided to stay on another 4 more days! Which was a dream come true for their die hard fans but a nightmare for us the promoters.
OK ...lets start from the first day July 17th. Got news that the flight could be delayed to Malaysia as news of the bombing reached us. Now everyone was frantically worried that MU might cancel their tour here for security reasons.
Thank God they didnt. So in comes the MU team for their first leg of their Asian Tour. After freshening up, we whisked the team for their autograph signing session with the fans.
First to go in were the VIPs (Pahang royal entourage) Forget about classiness with the blue bloods...all they were concerned was to get the signature of their fav players and to take pics with them...geez.
Then we let the public in. I must say the players were very gracious and friendly ( could also be that this was the first leg so they were all raring to go) . Ugly side of the fans? Plenty. Even the Mandarin Oriental staff got an earful from yours truly for ripping off the posters which we put up to get the players signature. Shameless name throwing just to get close to the players were abound and i didnt know so many of our VIPs had hundreds of relatives, brothers, etc etc.
Me? Couldnt be bothered. Never did understand the MU craze anyways.
So after half a day of crowd control and ensuring the players were settled in, we then prepared for the trainning session which was opened to the public at Stadium Bukit Jalil. There we could watch for a full hour how these world class players trained.
Back to the hotel room for dinner after which we retired to our rooms at around 1 am.
The rooms were beautiful and comfy (for RM2600 a nite apartment, they even had a washing machine and a mini kitchen thrown in!)
My roomate was a snorer and he had invited a gal to join in. I couldnt take either of them so I ended up in our hall instead. End of day one.
On match day, the 18th of July, we were busy with the logistics of the stadium and preparing the huge banquet hall to serve as stretching room for the players.
As expected, fans were everywhere in the hotel with some of the richer parents booking rooms for their kids at the hotel in the hopes that they would bump into them!
The stadium was packed to the brim (85,000 full) but the fans were well behaved so we were OK. Result: MU 3, Malaysia 2.
Post match press conference had a bit of a hitch as the press room was not secured. Had to clear off the pesky fans personally to make way for Sir Alex Ferguson and Bobby Charlton to make their appearance.
To top that off, FAM, who was in charge of securing the stadium decided to lock some of the stadium exit doors immediately after the match..which caused the MU officials to go back and forth looking for an open exit.
It was here that the announcement was made that MU would play one more match against Malaysia ( to make up for their cancelled trip to Jakarta). That meant that we had to stay an extra 4 more days at the hotel....groan.
Lets talk about Mandarin Oriental for a bit. One would expect top class service from this prestigious hotel but i found it wanting at the dining area where slow service and dumb waiters spoilt my impression of the hotel. Perhaps it was because i had scolded their colleagues at the signing ceremony. The food was Middle Eastern themed (to cater to the Arabs). OK for the the first 2 meals...tiresome after 6 days! I think i have had every single dish in their ala carte menu. Wont be going there for a while thats for sure.
Day 2 started off pretty well as it was merely to be a repeat of day 1. Final score 2-0 in you know who's favor.
Day 3 was for the team's free and easy day.To us it means even more worrying and fretting as players are supposed to be on relax mode in which anything goes. Request for a game of golf was sent out and thus began the frantic search for a golf resort to host these players.
Funny thing about being a celebrity football team..all the golf resorts were practically spreading their corporate legs begging the team to play at their resorts. (though one was particularly money crazed, demanding RM10,000 for a set of golf clubs EACH. We told them where they could stuff the clubs).
Ended up in KLGCC. GM there was 1st class in helping us get what we wanted for the players. The in-house golf shop made great business providing MU with RM600 dollar golf shoes and other necessary golf kits. GM came with a worried look telling us a crowd had built up in front of the lobby. We laughed when we saw a "huge" crowd of 20 fans waiting politely in line to get the players autographs(try staving off 200 fans in a cramped up hotel lobby and you know why we werent worried at all).
Team had a good time at the golf course though there was an early thunderstorm scare that threathened to put the whole thing off. Superb drainage and providence made everyone happy, especially Ferguson..
Well then it was dinner time with the MU officials and to be frank, didnt leave much of an impression on me. I mean here these ppl were, caretakers of probably the most famous brands in the world and from our conversations I still have this nagging feeling that at the end their're just common folks thrown into the limelight. With the exception of Sir Bobby Charlton, who was the epitome of class, the rest of them were just tagging along for the ride.
Ah well... thats one event down. Lets see if Real Madrid is in the cards for next year....
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Manchester United Invades Malaysia
Well its time once again where grown men are reduced to starry eyed little boys and dignified women go screaming and forget their composure..yes...Manchester United is coming to town.
Have been helping out in the organization of some big names in the soccer world, the last being for Chelsea in Malaysia.
Am not a football fan at all. I was always put in the goalie positions due to my height and even joined an Indian association football team (which was hilarious since I was the only Chinese looking player amongst all the Indians, but since my IC is Indian, technically I was allowed)
Not being a fan means I am not affected by the presence of these international celebrities. Am not awe struck or use the opportunity to get autographs from the players, unlike the fans.
Now that's a totally different breed of animals, the fans. They will camp outside the hotel during the player's stay, some will ride the elevators of the hotel the whole time hoping to bump into their favourite players, ignore all "no entry" signs and basically make an ass out of themselves but do they care? Not one bit. CEOs and MDs of companies are giggling little idiots when it comes to meeting their fav player. Captains of industries are shy and akward in front of the players.
I get a kick watching the reaction of these people. For me, its like "oh Wayne Rooney ah?...why so short?"
I suppose if Al Pacino or Robert De Niro were to come to Malaysia I would be reduced to hysterical screaming and jumping up and down like a starcrazed fan too.
Well I shall update on what happened after the event. In the meantime I have to get out my old t-shirts (the fans will tear at them to get to the players) and brush up on my martial arts (the fans will fight to get to the players)
Its gonna be a long weekend......
Have been helping out in the organization of some big names in the soccer world, the last being for Chelsea in Malaysia.
Am not a football fan at all. I was always put in the goalie positions due to my height and even joined an Indian association football team (which was hilarious since I was the only Chinese looking player amongst all the Indians, but since my IC is Indian, technically I was allowed)
Not being a fan means I am not affected by the presence of these international celebrities. Am not awe struck or use the opportunity to get autographs from the players, unlike the fans.
Now that's a totally different breed of animals, the fans. They will camp outside the hotel during the player's stay, some will ride the elevators of the hotel the whole time hoping to bump into their favourite players, ignore all "no entry" signs and basically make an ass out of themselves but do they care? Not one bit. CEOs and MDs of companies are giggling little idiots when it comes to meeting their fav player. Captains of industries are shy and akward in front of the players.
I get a kick watching the reaction of these people. For me, its like "oh Wayne Rooney ah?...why so short?"
I suppose if Al Pacino or Robert De Niro were to come to Malaysia I would be reduced to hysterical screaming and jumping up and down like a starcrazed fan too.
Well I shall update on what happened after the event. In the meantime I have to get out my old t-shirts (the fans will tear at them to get to the players) and brush up on my martial arts (the fans will fight to get to the players)
Its gonna be a long weekend......
Thursday, June 25, 2009
My Generation Icons are dead!
My most influential icons during my growing up years has passed away.
To havte both Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson go in one day surely cannot be bearable for Generation Xs all around the world.
Farah Fawcett with her hair and being Mrs 6 Million Dollar Man helped define what a hot babe was during my time. Any gal in school who looked like her was duly courted. Other the Charlie's Angels, i'm sure she also guest starred in many a boy's wet dream .
She succumbed to cancer.
Michael Jackson? Who hasnt Moonwalked in your classroom or Thriller 'ed at a school concert? Sure he got a bit whacky during the later years but love him or hate him , you would have done at least one of his dance moves at the disco dance floor at one time or another.
Thanks for the memories Farah and Michael....we will miss you.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Toy Doggies
As I was stepping into my lift at my apartment, a lady with a toy dog tucked under her arm stepped in too. TUCKED!
Whatever happened to the dignified and loyal pet that walked ahead of you in a leash.. I mean yes its the days of smaller, more compact and powerful but some things just must maintain its original form..
Let's not even start with those that dress up their dogs with cute little sweaters and pink/red ribbons around their fur! Kesian kesian the poor animals.What about those that take their dogs to restaurants and makan ON THE TABLE...i mean it may be a member of YOUR family but at a public restaurant where other people eat at the same table your pooch is drooling on ....puhleeese la!
I love dogs and the toy pets are cute but there's much to be said when people sacrifice cuteness for common sense..
A family friend saw a Chihuahua runing around some neighbours compound and he thought it was an overgrown rat! heheh
Whatever happened to the dignified and loyal pet that walked ahead of you in a leash.. I mean yes its the days of smaller, more compact and powerful but some things just must maintain its original form..
Let's not even start with those that dress up their dogs with cute little sweaters and pink/red ribbons around their fur! Kesian kesian the poor animals.What about those that take their dogs to restaurants and makan ON THE TABLE...i mean it may be a member of YOUR family but at a public restaurant where other people eat at the same table your pooch is drooling on ....puhleeese la!
I love dogs and the toy pets are cute but there's much to be said when people sacrifice cuteness for common sense..
A family friend saw a Chihuahua runing around some neighbours compound and he thought it was an overgrown rat! heheh
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Passing of A Legend
Just got word that the eldest son of the Chee clan, Joe Chee, my uncle has passed on.
The first generation of the Chee to be born and bred in Malaysia, he was a reporter in the little town of Kulim, Kedah. Being a reporter in a little town accords you with a celebrity status of sorts as he would look to the Kulimnians for information on the latest scoop and they would look to him for the latest, not in print yet news.
With me being unable to speak Hakka/Hokkien/Cantonese, he was the one of the uncle's i could converse with whenever I balik kampung. Younger, I had rarely interacted with this big uncle as there was obviously nothing in common for us to chat about.
Having said that, I remember looking through some black and white pics of the roaring 50s and 60s (every Chinese family has stacks of these old photographs...some framed in grey photo frames, some tucked away in a polished wooden cupboard or antique drawers..its always the case.
FUIYO....you should see these old, overweight aunties and uncles 50 years ago!
There they were...looking svelte, young and HOT! My mother has 8 brothers and sisters in total and in "those" days...meaning in "their" days, they were happening! Mini skirts, drain pipe pants, sideburns and of course...the side way posing that was popular those days.hehe.
Uncle Joe has one photo that sticks out in my mind that defines the young man in his prime in the 60s....Black sunglasses, Elvis styles hairdo, cigarette in one hand and riding his Vespa..the "it" bike amongst the youth in small towns those days.
Epitome of a cool , confident and cocky Chinese cat on the prowl.
My English speaking cousin and I called him Legend to commemorate his drinking skills. Here was one Chinaman who would drink everyone and i mean everyone at any Chinese wedding dinner or functions.As we grew old enough to drink, this ole school warrior inducted us into the world of drinks and merry making whenever the chance arose. A quiet, gruff man usually, when the party and drinking started, the devillish and ultra cool cat would emerge and everyone fell under his charm.
But, as with every legendary figures througout time immemorial, Death is the ultimate victor and it is to this inevitable force that he succumbed to on the 28th May 2009. Would like to think that he is at this very moment challenging Death itself to a sobriety contest.
So here's to you Joseph Chee. Will miss your presence dearly. Next drink will be a toast to your life amongst us.RIP.
The first generation of the Chee to be born and bred in Malaysia, he was a reporter in the little town of Kulim, Kedah. Being a reporter in a little town accords you with a celebrity status of sorts as he would look to the Kulimnians for information on the latest scoop and they would look to him for the latest, not in print yet news.
With me being unable to speak Hakka/Hokkien/Cantonese, he was the one of the uncle's i could converse with whenever I balik kampung. Younger, I had rarely interacted with this big uncle as there was obviously nothing in common for us to chat about.
Having said that, I remember looking through some black and white pics of the roaring 50s and 60s (every Chinese family has stacks of these old photographs...some framed in grey photo frames, some tucked away in a polished wooden cupboard or antique drawers..its always the case.
FUIYO....you should see these old, overweight aunties and uncles 50 years ago!
There they were...looking svelte, young and HOT! My mother has 8 brothers and sisters in total and in "those" days...meaning in "their" days, they were happening! Mini skirts, drain pipe pants, sideburns and of course...the side way posing that was popular those days.hehe.
Uncle Joe has one photo that sticks out in my mind that defines the young man in his prime in the 60s....Black sunglasses, Elvis styles hairdo, cigarette in one hand and riding his Vespa..the "it" bike amongst the youth in small towns those days.
Epitome of a cool , confident and cocky Chinese cat on the prowl.
My English speaking cousin and I called him Legend to commemorate his drinking skills. Here was one Chinaman who would drink everyone and i mean everyone at any Chinese wedding dinner or functions.As we grew old enough to drink, this ole school warrior inducted us into the world of drinks and merry making whenever the chance arose. A quiet, gruff man usually, when the party and drinking started, the devillish and ultra cool cat would emerge and everyone fell under his charm.
But, as with every legendary figures througout time immemorial, Death is the ultimate victor and it is to this inevitable force that he succumbed to on the 28th May 2009. Would like to think that he is at this very moment challenging Death itself to a sobriety contest.
So here's to you Joseph Chee. Will miss your presence dearly. Next drink will be a toast to your life amongst us.RIP.
Monday, May 18, 2009
LTTE
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE for short is a guerilla rebel army led by Vellupilai Prabakharan with the sole purpose of gaining autonomy and independence for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka.
Summary: Sri Lanka has the Sinhalese and the Tamils living side by side for centuries with the Sinhalese having the upper hand politically over the Tamilians.
There are many other rebel groups but the LTTE were the most organised and disciplined of the lot (no smoking, drinking and fornication alowed within the group).
Today its reported that the LTTE's supreme leader has been killed.
Well I personally wasnt that much involved in the development of this war in the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. My grandfather paternal was a Sri Lankan Tamil who migrated to Malaysia as was my grandmother. Dad and his siblings were therefore the 1st generation Sri Lankans to be born and bred in Malaysia.
Naturally, the development of the conflict interested Dad greatly with him keeping clippings of any news reports that he could gather always yearning for news of a Liberated Tamil state. He probably would have volunteered his services to LTTE given the chance going so far as to wear a mock cyanide capsule around his neck ( as all LTTEs do). Even our home in Kulim has a sign R&R Eelam (Rose and Rajendra Palace). We have a palmyra tree planted just outside our gate, a symbol of Ceylon.
Well unfortunately the war of 26 years hasnt brought us any closer to independence of a Tamil state nor has it done any good for the economy and tourism of the country.
I hope against hope that common sense will prevail over this conflict for the sake of Sri Lanka and its people : Tamils and Sinhalese alike.
Indi Nadarajah and Allan Perrera are two Malaysians who are Sri Lankan in origin...one is a Sinhalese, one a Tamil. Together they form Comedy Court and they are hilarious. Can we live one day to see these two parties get along in Sri Lanka? Hope so...cos once they clean up their act there im gonna make a trip to the birth place of my ancestors.
So lets hope death of hatred, injustice inequality and bigotry will be celebrated instead of death of any one person, group or ideals.
Summary: Sri Lanka has the Sinhalese and the Tamils living side by side for centuries with the Sinhalese having the upper hand politically over the Tamilians.
There are many other rebel groups but the LTTE were the most organised and disciplined of the lot (no smoking, drinking and fornication alowed within the group).
Today its reported that the LTTE's supreme leader has been killed.
Well I personally wasnt that much involved in the development of this war in the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. My grandfather paternal was a Sri Lankan Tamil who migrated to Malaysia as was my grandmother. Dad and his siblings were therefore the 1st generation Sri Lankans to be born and bred in Malaysia.
Naturally, the development of the conflict interested Dad greatly with him keeping clippings of any news reports that he could gather always yearning for news of a Liberated Tamil state. He probably would have volunteered his services to LTTE given the chance going so far as to wear a mock cyanide capsule around his neck ( as all LTTEs do). Even our home in Kulim has a sign R&R Eelam (Rose and Rajendra Palace). We have a palmyra tree planted just outside our gate, a symbol of Ceylon.
Well unfortunately the war of 26 years hasnt brought us any closer to independence of a Tamil state nor has it done any good for the economy and tourism of the country.
I hope against hope that common sense will prevail over this conflict for the sake of Sri Lanka and its people : Tamils and Sinhalese alike.
Indi Nadarajah and Allan Perrera are two Malaysians who are Sri Lankan in origin...one is a Sinhalese, one a Tamil. Together they form Comedy Court and they are hilarious. Can we live one day to see these two parties get along in Sri Lanka? Hope so...cos once they clean up their act there im gonna make a trip to the birth place of my ancestors.
So lets hope death of hatred, injustice inequality and bigotry will be celebrated instead of death of any one person, group or ideals.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Biggest Loser
This programme resonates with me cos im also on a quest to lose unwanted pounds that have been piling up lately.
Currently this programme is taking up my Sunday nites as I watch the contestants compete against each other (often against themselves mostly). What a show.
Yes im aware of the great American marketing gimmick of exaggeration and drama but you have to hand it to them in executing it.
You see the frustrations of the obese as they transform their lives and even those who get kicked out are given a follow-up so that you can see how they are leading their lives AFTER being kicked out of the game.
I must confess i havent been as gung-ho in keeping my dates with the gym after Min's wedding but this show somehow keeps me motivated to hit the gym again come Monday thru Friday.
Of course we are no where as obese as the contestants but the fact of the matter is I believe the motivation to get into shape should be instilled in all of us no matter what shape we are in.
Malaysia with its availability of food 24/7 is in danger of degenerating into the land of the obese with many of my age group falling to overweight diseases frequently.
As I ponder this sitting on my fat ass on the couch, I have to remind myself that this is the Year Of Change and of Stepping Ma Game Up....funnily enough easily forgotten in the midst of work crisis and Flying Pigs.
Time to be the Biggest Loser...
Currently this programme is taking up my Sunday nites as I watch the contestants compete against each other (often against themselves mostly). What a show.
Yes im aware of the great American marketing gimmick of exaggeration and drama but you have to hand it to them in executing it.
You see the frustrations of the obese as they transform their lives and even those who get kicked out are given a follow-up so that you can see how they are leading their lives AFTER being kicked out of the game.
I must confess i havent been as gung-ho in keeping my dates with the gym after Min's wedding but this show somehow keeps me motivated to hit the gym again come Monday thru Friday.
Of course we are no where as obese as the contestants but the fact of the matter is I believe the motivation to get into shape should be instilled in all of us no matter what shape we are in.
Malaysia with its availability of food 24/7 is in danger of degenerating into the land of the obese with many of my age group falling to overweight diseases frequently.
As I ponder this sitting on my fat ass on the couch, I have to remind myself that this is the Year Of Change and of Stepping Ma Game Up....funnily enough easily forgotten in the midst of work crisis and Flying Pigs.
Time to be the Biggest Loser...
Mummy
Its that time of the year where we "officially" celebrate the most important woman in our lives...our mothers.
I suspect unless you yourself are a mother, one cannot fully understand the bond between a mother and her child. But being a child I can talk about the bond a child feels for their mother.
Am not talking about the obvious dramatic sacrifices some mothers make to raise their family. Im talking about the daily acts of love ALL mothers make which most of the time a child can take for granted.
CEO, Finance Director, Counsellor, Motivator, Judge/Executioner...all rolled into one, she executes these roles from the moment a tiny being she's been lugging around for 9 months is presented to her. And she does it with only one thought in her mind : That her baby has a better life then she had.
So after the pain of delivery now comes the pain of figuring out how her her life is going to revolve around this new addition into her schedule. Single handedly and without complaint she takes on her responsibilty of raising and nurturing this bawling/puking/shitting little life.
Some struggle through it, some do it naturally but ALL of them fiercely protect their little cub as a tigress protects its own. Try saying ANYTHING remotely negative about their bundle of joy and risk the wrath of an angry mother.
Then the child grows and the mother now has to deal with this baby ( and of course the OTHER baby aka hubby ) and growing pains. Through it all she remains her child's greattest supporter. Adolesence kicks in and now she's got to deal with hormones and peer pressure in meeting her child's needs.
Through it all she's doing her best to fill the house with love, put food on the table and keep everything in good order whilst juggling a career and being there for her hubby.
And yet, there they are..silently soldiering on for their kids often without any gratification, expecting none.
So my hats off the all the mothers in the world. If ever we do encounter another intelligent life form from another universe, a mother's love for her child should be the first thing we should show them...cos that is really what makes this world a beautiful place. Happy Mother's Day!
I suspect unless you yourself are a mother, one cannot fully understand the bond between a mother and her child. But being a child I can talk about the bond a child feels for their mother.
Am not talking about the obvious dramatic sacrifices some mothers make to raise their family. Im talking about the daily acts of love ALL mothers make which most of the time a child can take for granted.
CEO, Finance Director, Counsellor, Motivator, Judge/Executioner...all rolled into one, she executes these roles from the moment a tiny being she's been lugging around for 9 months is presented to her. And she does it with only one thought in her mind : That her baby has a better life then she had.
So after the pain of delivery now comes the pain of figuring out how her her life is going to revolve around this new addition into her schedule. Single handedly and without complaint she takes on her responsibilty of raising and nurturing this bawling/puking/shitting little life.
Some struggle through it, some do it naturally but ALL of them fiercely protect their little cub as a tigress protects its own. Try saying ANYTHING remotely negative about their bundle of joy and risk the wrath of an angry mother.
Then the child grows and the mother now has to deal with this baby ( and of course the OTHER baby aka hubby ) and growing pains. Through it all she remains her child's greattest supporter. Adolesence kicks in and now she's got to deal with hormones and peer pressure in meeting her child's needs.
Through it all she's doing her best to fill the house with love, put food on the table and keep everything in good order whilst juggling a career and being there for her hubby.
And yet, there they are..silently soldiering on for their kids often without any gratification, expecting none.
So my hats off the all the mothers in the world. If ever we do encounter another intelligent life form from another universe, a mother's love for her child should be the first thing we should show them...cos that is really what makes this world a beautiful place. Happy Mother's Day!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
A wedding,
Whew... finished a wedding of an ex colleague over the weekend and talk about stress!
From the church wedding to the dinner reception, definitely cannot say I envy what the couple had to go through leading up to the big day. Here I am on usher duty and MC for the church and already I was freaking stressed..dont wanna imagine what the couple themselves would have felt.
But in spite of all the stress things went smoothly. Great and meaningful church cermony, unique opening gambit, dinner was long but never boring. Guests were well behaved. Alcohol flowed non-stop and hardly a hitch.
Which brings me to thinking what I would do for MY wedding. Looks like all the great ideas and song choices are already taken so the only option would be to elope, send sms to all friends and change status on Facebook...heheh.
There's a great magic that happens in ALL weddings at certain points of the whole ceremony, either with the church one or the dinner the recep. It happens when bride and groom arent caught up in the whole happenings around them and they are only aware of each other and the meaning of the ocassion. Thats when u see the groom standing with his bride and they realise all the heartaches, the arguments, the disapointments and worries are worth going through because its with the one they have chosen to spend the rest of their lives with each other.Thats kinda a magical moment when u do see it.
So way to go. Am definitely lookin forward for more magical moments in the future...:)
From the church wedding to the dinner reception, definitely cannot say I envy what the couple had to go through leading up to the big day. Here I am on usher duty and MC for the church and already I was freaking stressed..dont wanna imagine what the couple themselves would have felt.
But in spite of all the stress things went smoothly. Great and meaningful church cermony, unique opening gambit, dinner was long but never boring. Guests were well behaved. Alcohol flowed non-stop and hardly a hitch.
Which brings me to thinking what I would do for MY wedding. Looks like all the great ideas and song choices are already taken so the only option would be to elope, send sms to all friends and change status on Facebook...heheh.
There's a great magic that happens in ALL weddings at certain points of the whole ceremony, either with the church one or the dinner the recep. It happens when bride and groom arent caught up in the whole happenings around them and they are only aware of each other and the meaning of the ocassion. Thats when u see the groom standing with his bride and they realise all the heartaches, the arguments, the disapointments and worries are worth going through because its with the one they have chosen to spend the rest of their lives with each other.Thats kinda a magical moment when u do see it.
So way to go. Am definitely lookin forward for more magical moments in the future...:)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Why So Like Dat Wan (or Human Beans Pt 2)
Iyerrr.....dun no why ah the Engrish at the local blog so unreadable wan.
So many people snake snake and write in here but ho...theyr engrish so teribel liao.Some of them dono what to said but just come in and blow water only...haih. Blow water nevermind but at lease must tok smart thing la...this wan talk cock and sing song.
Yesterday i sleep late so make me com to work late..lucky hor my boss come more late than me...wakaka so i is escape lorrr...hope everything go shun shun li li today..
Oh My God....i cant stand even to write it in poor english and yet there are a whole bunch of them that actually think they are writing it correctly.
What the hell does "WAKAKAKA" mean? Laughing cutely? a simple heheh would suffice...but noooooo....it usually comes after a smart aleck remark as in " You ah..look like my grandmother's backside ....WAKAKAKA....jeeez..
And then there are those who write sickeningly cute phrases peppering each sentence with "gua", "nyek nyek" (!!) excrutiating!
Haih....so sienz liao....wakakaka
And then there are those who are practically donkeys : as in "He horr...go to the pasar malam haa and then buy goreng pisang wor..."
So many people snake snake and write in here but ho...theyr engrish so teribel liao.Some of them dono what to said but just come in and blow water only...haih. Blow water nevermind but at lease must tok smart thing la...this wan talk cock and sing song.
Yesterday i sleep late so make me com to work late..lucky hor my boss come more late than me...wakaka so i is escape lorrr...hope everything go shun shun li li today..
Oh My God....i cant stand even to write it in poor english and yet there are a whole bunch of them that actually think they are writing it correctly.
What the hell does "WAKAKAKA" mean? Laughing cutely? a simple heheh would suffice...but noooooo....it usually comes after a smart aleck remark as in " You ah..look like my grandmother's backside ....WAKAKAKA....jeeez..
And then there are those who write sickeningly cute phrases peppering each sentence with "gua", "nyek nyek" (!!) excrutiating!
Haih....so sienz liao....wakakaka
And then there are those who are practically donkeys : as in "He horr...go to the pasar malam haa and then buy goreng pisang wor..."
RAINism and Han
Was watching Discovery the other nite and came across this piece on Korea. Who do they feature but Rain, the singing sensation.
I must say i had my reservations about any manufactured eye candy parading as entertainers that is being churned out constantly these days so it was with total disinterest that i followed the story.
Slowly however, the story started to take an interesting turn as they delved into his earlier years as a struggling actor/dancer and the shit this boy had to go thru to get where he is today.
Apparently though he had some dancing and singing talent, nobody would sign him on as he didnt have what they required: Double eyelids. (apparently the chinky eyes wasnt commercially viable at that time).
But he soldiered on and then slowly started to get recognition for his true talent. The rest is history.
What was also interesting is the concept of "HAN"... being described as such :
"feeling of unresolved resentment against injustices suffered, a sense of helplessness because of the overwhelming odds against one, a feeling of acute pain in one's guts and bowels, making the whole body writhe and squirm, and an obstinate urge to take revenge and to right the wrong -- all these combined."
Well apparently this is a cultural thingy with them Koreans, described more or less as "unfinished business", this is apparently the philosophy that drove Rain to be successfull.
From a poor, meek weakly kid to an international superstar, he had used Han to drive himself to the top....all in his twenties!
Damn! What resolve! Imagine that: Using all that anguish, pain, humiliation and handicap to overcome your shortcomings and to great success....whew.
I wonder what Malaysians have in our culture thats driving us? MALAYSIA BOLEH is probably the closest but even then was coined by and advertising agency for a popular drink.
Resilience in the face of adversity....that used to be my personal motto and i have never felt the true meaning of this phrase as much as I do now..
I guess we all need a motto in life (no..not idiotic ones like "Born to be Wild" and all that shit ) to see us through the dark times that come.
So no...im not going to start buying Rain's albums ( am not THAT gay..actually im not gay at all...just a little bit happy) but i must say i have some new found respect for that chinky eyed batty boy. HEEM NAY SAY YO!
I must say i had my reservations about any manufactured eye candy parading as entertainers that is being churned out constantly these days so it was with total disinterest that i followed the story.
Slowly however, the story started to take an interesting turn as they delved into his earlier years as a struggling actor/dancer and the shit this boy had to go thru to get where he is today.
Apparently though he had some dancing and singing talent, nobody would sign him on as he didnt have what they required: Double eyelids. (apparently the chinky eyes wasnt commercially viable at that time).
But he soldiered on and then slowly started to get recognition for his true talent. The rest is history.
What was also interesting is the concept of "HAN"... being described as such :
"feeling of unresolved resentment against injustices suffered, a sense of helplessness because of the overwhelming odds against one, a feeling of acute pain in one's guts and bowels, making the whole body writhe and squirm, and an obstinate urge to take revenge and to right the wrong -- all these combined."
Well apparently this is a cultural thingy with them Koreans, described more or less as "unfinished business", this is apparently the philosophy that drove Rain to be successfull.
From a poor, meek weakly kid to an international superstar, he had used Han to drive himself to the top....all in his twenties!
Damn! What resolve! Imagine that: Using all that anguish, pain, humiliation and handicap to overcome your shortcomings and to great success....whew.
I wonder what Malaysians have in our culture thats driving us? MALAYSIA BOLEH is probably the closest but even then was coined by and advertising agency for a popular drink.
Resilience in the face of adversity....that used to be my personal motto and i have never felt the true meaning of this phrase as much as I do now..
I guess we all need a motto in life (no..not idiotic ones like "Born to be Wild" and all that shit ) to see us through the dark times that come.
So no...im not going to start buying Rain's albums ( am not THAT gay..actually im not gay at all...just a little bit happy) but i must say i have some new found respect for that chinky eyed batty boy. HEEM NAY SAY YO!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Celebrate
Well they say that one should always have occasions to celebrate as this would bring luck into your life. Personally i feel we should all have at least one occassion to celebrate every month...whether its a friends wedding or a birthday party maybe even a housewarming for that matter.
So now i shall seek out those who are celebrating whatever they wanna celebrate. No...its not for the free food and drinks (though that would be bonus). No.. its not about meeting gals (too cliched and too Wedding Crashers). I suppose its about being surrounded by happy people for a joyous occasion. Lately too many negatives have been plaque-ing the world...from shitty economy to shitty politics to shitty pigeons (as in they are shitting all over my condo area and on cars)
SO a good celebration once a month at least is in order..
I got an invitation to a friend's wedding this end month and am looking forward to it. Without giving away too much of the plot, all i can say that its one of the more creative wedings I'm attending with the couple planning differently than the usual video slides of the couple growing up, graduating and taking trips overseas (talk about being narcissistic).
That's the thing about weddings....notice how its always about childhood pics, followed envitably by the graduation pics, then the couples dating pics...yawn..
Then you have the MCs of the night.. some are genuinely good. Some just too much. Guess they forget its about the couple and not about them. Been to one where the MC had the cheek to quote some line from the Will Smith movie "Hitch" and then claim that he came out with the quote himself...duh!
But bad MCs and cliched gambits aside, most important is the atmosphere of joy and bliss of the occasion. After all...its for the celebrants to remember, not us.
So I'm looking forward to the invites. Wont say no!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Screw the Lightbulb, Pat the Dog
Well today i got to thinking about training the left brain and the right brain for better brain performance. Apparently, the brain is like a muscle, u need to use it daily to make it stronger. Apparently also you need to train both sides by switching your normally dominant actions once in a while to wake up the less dominant side of the brain....
Well now that makes sense....also explains why we have so many Indian ex pats working in the Advertising Industry. My theory is that they have mastered the art of using both brain hemispheres to produce brilliant individuals...
Think about it...their Indian Dance moves is just like Screwing a lightbulb with one hand whilst Patting a Dog at the same time with the other hand.. (refer to tiny pic above) Doing this dance moves actually trains both your brain hemispheres, hence you get brilliant Indians / individuals!
Now i wan to start going to Indian Pubs ...Screw the lightbulb, pat the dog, screw the lightbulb, pat the dog... now I'll either be exceptionally smart or a hit at the Indian dancefloor!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Massages Fast N Furious
Was introduced to one of the famous blind massage centers yesterday. As my friend was being massaged in a separate cubicle, i was on the other bed listening and asking the blind masseuse questions on the massages that they offer.
What really struck me was how full of life Ceceilia, the masseuse, was. She is partially blind and was talking about the everyday goings on with her life ( and some of her customers) without the usual bitching and sarcasm one has grown accustomed to hearing.
I mean here was a lady, with a severe handicap, making a living the only way she knows how and living the life of one who has conquered her not only her disabilities but expects no symphaties.
She was dishing out advice and joking and commenting about life in general and I must say after a while i forgot off her disablilities and was thoroughly enjoying every moment of the 1 1/2 hour.
Think im gonna be hooked on Ceceilia's oil massages..
Well after the massage we were off to watch Fast N Furious 4 ....now i rarely watch movies at the cinema (censorship sucks!) opting instead to support the pirates. But this being a slow Sunday, i thought i could do worse then to stay at home marinating. PLUS there was Vin Diesel making a rare sequel comeback. So off we went for the massage and then to midvalley for the movie..must say it wasnt AS bad as i thought it would be...as to be expected from the FNF franchise.
So there goes my weekend of Oil Massages and Fast Cars...Vroooom!
What really struck me was how full of life Ceceilia, the masseuse, was. She is partially blind and was talking about the everyday goings on with her life ( and some of her customers) without the usual bitching and sarcasm one has grown accustomed to hearing.
I mean here was a lady, with a severe handicap, making a living the only way she knows how and living the life of one who has conquered her not only her disabilities but expects no symphaties.
She was dishing out advice and joking and commenting about life in general and I must say after a while i forgot off her disablilities and was thoroughly enjoying every moment of the 1 1/2 hour.
Think im gonna be hooked on Ceceilia's oil massages..
Well after the massage we were off to watch Fast N Furious 4 ....now i rarely watch movies at the cinema (censorship sucks!) opting instead to support the pirates. But this being a slow Sunday, i thought i could do worse then to stay at home marinating. PLUS there was Vin Diesel making a rare sequel comeback. So off we went for the massage and then to midvalley for the movie..must say it wasnt AS bad as i thought it would be...as to be expected from the FNF franchise.
So there goes my weekend of Oil Massages and Fast Cars...Vroooom!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Throw Out 50 things
Oh Earth Hour has come and gone...are we the wiser for it? Doubt it. Knowing our penchant for hot chicken shit..thats probably what it was.
On a more positive note, I came across this interview that was done on CNN a few weeks back on Gail Blanke, the author of Throw Out Fifty Things.
What an interesting concept....Throwing out stuff that has cluttered your life both physically and mentally. That old love letter from "The One"...out! The old sneakers you thought u would get repaired but never got to it.....bye bye. Old Habits that dont get u anywhere...TATA..
Thought it was brilliant that the motto for this exercise is You cant Grow If You Dont Throw..
I must confess there is a plethora of barang and emotions that I need to throw outta my life. Other then mismatched socks and old newspapers theres definitely a need to cleanse off some emotional baggage thats been weighing me down.
Havent read the book but am definitely gonna start THROWING out these stuff. Oh yeah..apparently you're supposed to list down the stuff that you are throwing out of your life so that you know exactly what it was that was weighing u down..
On a more positive note, I came across this interview that was done on CNN a few weeks back on Gail Blanke, the author of Throw Out Fifty Things.
What an interesting concept....Throwing out stuff that has cluttered your life both physically and mentally. That old love letter from "The One"...out! The old sneakers you thought u would get repaired but never got to it.....bye bye. Old Habits that dont get u anywhere...TATA..
Thought it was brilliant that the motto for this exercise is You cant Grow If You Dont Throw..
I must confess there is a plethora of barang and emotions that I need to throw outta my life. Other then mismatched socks and old newspapers theres definitely a need to cleanse off some emotional baggage thats been weighing me down.
Havent read the book but am definitely gonna start THROWING out these stuff. Oh yeah..apparently you're supposed to list down the stuff that you are throwing out of your life so that you know exactly what it was that was weighing u down..
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Earth Hour 2009
Well well well...so we have suddenly decided to become green isit? To care for our Earth isit? Turning off the lights on 28th March are we?If Mother Earth can talk she probably would go NYAAA SENG!
I just get the feeling that this whole Earth Hour thingy smacks clear of exploitation for the sake of attention. From the ridiculously produced promos runnning on Astro( our so called icons and celebrities shouldn't try TOO hard....it comes out as being embarrassing) to people wanting to have a BBQ session outdoors during that hour (switch off your lights but have open burning outside...brilliant!), this whole hoopla is really sad. After March 28th? Back to our normal habits.
This reminds me of the time when I was working for the Environmental Protection Society Of Malaysia (EPSM) back in the early 90s. It was run by Gurmit Singh(i slap you if u make a Phua Chu Kang joke) and his wife Tan. ( i slap you some more if u make a Chinese+ Bai marriage joke)
Gurmit was/is the foremost environmental expert in Malaysia. We had reporters coming in seeking his opinions cos he wasnt the type that recycled (no pun intended) opinions about how Malaysia is treating Mother Earth. He was a true environmentalist. Many private companies wanted to sponsor EPSM but he turned them down as they always wanted him tone down his scathing remarks on how the government policies are ruining the environment ( he even once went kayaking on the Klang river with a gas mask on!)
We the staff could not turn on the fan simply.You cannot turn the fan to more then 2 speed. All electrical outlets had to be switched off carefully to avoid wastage. Our office was at SS2. One day he told me to go collect some materials from Damansara Utama. He called me up to his attic..thinking he was about to give me money for cab fare, he instead gave me a bicycle pump and pointed to an old bicycle! You try cycling from SS2 to Damansara at 2pm in the afternoon.
Detergents were used to a minimal, we sold organic produces from Tan's organic farm, we had charity nites where we sold our ALAM magazines to raise funds for the society.
I had to catalog and organize all the working papers he brought back from his conventions he attended. It was a cramped up terrace house he lived in doubled up as the center. We were young, idealistic and full of confidence we were going to make a difference. I dont know about my impact on the environment, but my stint there impacted me deeply.
After about 1 1/2 years, i decided to join the corporate world for a "proper" job.. he threw me and my colleague a farewell dinner! This hard man, who raised hell when we used one sided photocopies, who never allowed us to use the aircond in those sweltering days, who skimped and saved on transportation took us to Kelana Sea Food for a great dinner.
I was sad to leave but will always remember what it means to be a true lover of the environment..eventhough im NOW probably contributing to the Earth's destruction more then i should..for that one half years we were LIVING Earth Hour everyday...not just for one ridiculous hour.
I just get the feeling that this whole Earth Hour thingy smacks clear of exploitation for the sake of attention. From the ridiculously produced promos runnning on Astro( our so called icons and celebrities shouldn't try TOO hard....it comes out as being embarrassing) to people wanting to have a BBQ session outdoors during that hour (switch off your lights but have open burning outside...brilliant!), this whole hoopla is really sad. After March 28th? Back to our normal habits.
This reminds me of the time when I was working for the Environmental Protection Society Of Malaysia (EPSM) back in the early 90s. It was run by Gurmit Singh(i slap you if u make a Phua Chu Kang joke) and his wife Tan. ( i slap you some more if u make a Chinese+ Bai marriage joke)
Gurmit was/is the foremost environmental expert in Malaysia. We had reporters coming in seeking his opinions cos he wasnt the type that recycled (no pun intended) opinions about how Malaysia is treating Mother Earth. He was a true environmentalist. Many private companies wanted to sponsor EPSM but he turned them down as they always wanted him tone down his scathing remarks on how the government policies are ruining the environment ( he even once went kayaking on the Klang river with a gas mask on!)
We the staff could not turn on the fan simply.You cannot turn the fan to more then 2 speed. All electrical outlets had to be switched off carefully to avoid wastage. Our office was at SS2. One day he told me to go collect some materials from Damansara Utama. He called me up to his attic..thinking he was about to give me money for cab fare, he instead gave me a bicycle pump and pointed to an old bicycle! You try cycling from SS2 to Damansara at 2pm in the afternoon.
Detergents were used to a minimal, we sold organic produces from Tan's organic farm, we had charity nites where we sold our ALAM magazines to raise funds for the society.
I had to catalog and organize all the working papers he brought back from his conventions he attended. It was a cramped up terrace house he lived in doubled up as the center. We were young, idealistic and full of confidence we were going to make a difference. I dont know about my impact on the environment, but my stint there impacted me deeply.
After about 1 1/2 years, i decided to join the corporate world for a "proper" job.. he threw me and my colleague a farewell dinner! This hard man, who raised hell when we used one sided photocopies, who never allowed us to use the aircond in those sweltering days, who skimped and saved on transportation took us to Kelana Sea Food for a great dinner.
I was sad to leave but will always remember what it means to be a true lover of the environment..eventhough im NOW probably contributing to the Earth's destruction more then i should..for that one half years we were LIVING Earth Hour everyday...not just for one ridiculous hour.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
"BUAT LAH HANG!"
"As I was walking up the stair;
I saw a man who wasn't there;
I saw him again today;
How I wish, I WISH he'd go away."
Seems this little ditty by Hugh Mearns covers what most of us are feeling in these times of harsh financial times. People over-panicking for reasons unknown to them.
I think thats why AIG is now the four-letter word in the financial world.
On a more personal scale, how many of us actually hold back because of some undefined ( probably non-existent) fear? Fear of the unknown, fear of being rejected, fear of looking stupid in front of your clients / friends? If one REALLY breaks down and dissect this feeling, I am willing to bet that it was over nothing but a vivid imagination.
Dont get me wrong. Fear is important.It's what keeps us alive and steers us away from unnecessary dangers. Irrational fear, however is a totally different scenario.
Its those little things : "Cant stop smoking cos i will gain weight"; "Wanna be more successful but its too late for me..am too old"; "Cant open up to anyone cos i might get hurt and betrayed"; "I'll start once im more confident of myself", and the list just goes on and on."
But that's just life isnt it? It has its ups and downs..One day you'r on top of your game, the next day ur down on the dumps. And sometimes things are just....stagnant. No more wind for your sail.
I would like to think that at these times you gotta blow your own sail. Dont wait for that external magical motivation to get ur butt off the sofa and into action.Just do it.
Guess we gots to focus on what we CAN do: eating well, getting exercise, be well rested.
Like Nike said: JUST DO IT (BUAT LAH HANG in Malay)....;)
I saw a man who wasn't there;
I saw him again today;
How I wish, I WISH he'd go away."
Seems this little ditty by Hugh Mearns covers what most of us are feeling in these times of harsh financial times. People over-panicking for reasons unknown to them.
I think thats why AIG is now the four-letter word in the financial world.
On a more personal scale, how many of us actually hold back because of some undefined ( probably non-existent) fear? Fear of the unknown, fear of being rejected, fear of looking stupid in front of your clients / friends? If one REALLY breaks down and dissect this feeling, I am willing to bet that it was over nothing but a vivid imagination.
Dont get me wrong. Fear is important.It's what keeps us alive and steers us away from unnecessary dangers. Irrational fear, however is a totally different scenario.
Its those little things : "Cant stop smoking cos i will gain weight"; "Wanna be more successful but its too late for me..am too old"; "Cant open up to anyone cos i might get hurt and betrayed"; "I'll start once im more confident of myself", and the list just goes on and on."
But that's just life isnt it? It has its ups and downs..One day you'r on top of your game, the next day ur down on the dumps. And sometimes things are just....stagnant. No more wind for your sail.
I would like to think that at these times you gotta blow your own sail. Dont wait for that external magical motivation to get ur butt off the sofa and into action.Just do it.
Guess we gots to focus on what we CAN do: eating well, getting exercise, be well rested.
Like Nike said: JUST DO IT (BUAT LAH HANG in Malay)....;)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
PAIN
Whew...just started SERIOUSLY going back to the gym last Friday and man i forgot two things:
1) The pain
2) How out of shape i am
And this is just from RPM and Body Pump classes.Havent even hit the weights seriously yet!
Was tempted to post my before and after pics of a semi nude Kevin here but somehow decided otherwise bcos: a) Might cause heart palpitations ( hey i look good in a sarong!) b) Might superimpose my face having sex with some Opposition's wife or daughter or pet.
Some of the gym members take their training seriously though with MOST of them going for two classes BACK TO BACK!!
I know there are hotties around the gym but honestly..how on earth are u gonna hit on someone (or be hit upon for that matter) when your huffing, panting AND sweating your guts out literally! I mean its ok to check on a cute one's ass before the class starts but during and after?? Fogetaboutit.
Its good though to see we Malaysians getting into the fitness lifestyle and making it a part of our lives but I have one grouse though: Why isit that the Matsallehs get paid USD 50 an hour and our locals get RM70 only? Yes i know they are probably overseas trained but it seems to me that the locals really move amongst the members correcting their postures whilst the Matsallehs dont bother. Best part is the SPGs crowd around the foreigners after class asking for advice..Geez.
No doubt its a money making franchise as well...the so called personal trainers using every sales tactics to get you to sign up for their personal training packages and Diamond Membership fees..which is OK if its in the hundreds but when it goes into the thousands its daylight robbery! I mean come on ....at least LOOK interested that you really care instead of going through the standard sales pitch with an impersonal/impassive look on your mugs. And having a curvy hottie in a miniskirt attend to you might impress a college kid perhaps but I need someone who actually knows what she is talking about when she suggest i take up a RM3000 package!
Back to the pain..reminded me of back in my regular gym days where i could workout, party till dawn on the same day and still shrugg off the muscle weariness the next day. Now i workout, struggle to get to my car and wake up at dawn from the muscle weariness!
I must confess i feel ashamed to light up immediately when i step out from the gym ( here u are, all pumped up in ur after gym clothes taking a smoke just outside! heheh Bet Celebrity Fitness would have a fit if they had that pic taken!
So here i am...back on the treadmill again which is cool as for that couple of hours your focused on your body....as well as the cutie in the pink leotards.
1) The pain
2) How out of shape i am
And this is just from RPM and Body Pump classes.Havent even hit the weights seriously yet!
Was tempted to post my before and after pics of a semi nude Kevin here but somehow decided otherwise bcos: a) Might cause heart palpitations ( hey i look good in a sarong!) b) Might superimpose my face having sex with some Opposition's wife or daughter or pet.
Some of the gym members take their training seriously though with MOST of them going for two classes BACK TO BACK!!
I know there are hotties around the gym but honestly..how on earth are u gonna hit on someone (or be hit upon for that matter) when your huffing, panting AND sweating your guts out literally! I mean its ok to check on a cute one's ass before the class starts but during and after?? Fogetaboutit.
Its good though to see we Malaysians getting into the fitness lifestyle and making it a part of our lives but I have one grouse though: Why isit that the Matsallehs get paid USD 50 an hour and our locals get RM70 only? Yes i know they are probably overseas trained but it seems to me that the locals really move amongst the members correcting their postures whilst the Matsallehs dont bother. Best part is the SPGs crowd around the foreigners after class asking for advice..Geez.
No doubt its a money making franchise as well...the so called personal trainers using every sales tactics to get you to sign up for their personal training packages and Diamond Membership fees..which is OK if its in the hundreds but when it goes into the thousands its daylight robbery! I mean come on ....at least LOOK interested that you really care instead of going through the standard sales pitch with an impersonal/impassive look on your mugs. And having a curvy hottie in a miniskirt attend to you might impress a college kid perhaps but I need someone who actually knows what she is talking about when she suggest i take up a RM3000 package!
Back to the pain..reminded me of back in my regular gym days where i could workout, party till dawn on the same day and still shrugg off the muscle weariness the next day. Now i workout, struggle to get to my car and wake up at dawn from the muscle weariness!
I must confess i feel ashamed to light up immediately when i step out from the gym ( here u are, all pumped up in ur after gym clothes taking a smoke just outside! heheh Bet Celebrity Fitness would have a fit if they had that pic taken!
So here i am...back on the treadmill again which is cool as for that couple of hours your focused on your body....as well as the cutie in the pink leotards.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Unreasonable Happiness
Whoa..what a freaky couple of weeks..
Seems LIFE is having a field day throwing brickbats and bouquets at your's truly.
Worklife seems to be taking the most battering with obstacles, dramas and plot twists galore, which in turn has affected the personal side a wee too much..Have gotten on the smoking wagon again (arrgh!) Though I give each stick a VERY dirty look when im finished.
Personal batteries are running low these days, a quick JumpStart with Ian usually does the trick but March 2009 really takes the cake.
Then amidst all this chaos comes Dan Millman, he of the Peaceful Warrior fame. Ian lent me a copy of the movie (hate to say I havent even watched it yet). Decided to google up the movie to see what's it all about...not bad reviews promising life changing/altering/inspiring moments. So im looking forward to it.
Decided to check on Dan M himself to see what's his story and came across his blog and one entitled Unreasonable Happiness. Here's an excerpt:
".....we act happy, radiate a happy positive state in the posture of our body, in our voice, in our expression — because that is something we can control. We can will ourselves to smile; we can behave and move and breathe as if we’re happy. Whatever the shifting state of our actual emotions, we can let our feelings be, get on with life, radiate energy into the world, and expand into the moment. This practice can be extremely difficult at times, but it remains possible...."
Well talk about being mind screwed.. Acting, behaving, pretending to be happy eventhough we arent??? Hmmmm makes sense....'cos Feelings change like the weather...we can't be all sun shinny and ur fart smells sweet all the time...u get down, u get low...life gets to ya....
"But isn’t it mere pretense to act happy even if we’re not feeling that way? Yes, it is — the way a terrified young soldier pretends to be courageous as he picks up his friend and carries him back through the firefight, the way the shy young girl walks across the middle-school dance floor and pretends to be confident while she asks someone to dance...."
Food for thought. Thanks Dan.
So Stepping Ma Game Up 2009: Be in the state of Unreasonable Happiness all the time.
Seems LIFE is having a field day throwing brickbats and bouquets at your's truly.
Worklife seems to be taking the most battering with obstacles, dramas and plot twists galore, which in turn has affected the personal side a wee too much..Have gotten on the smoking wagon again (arrgh!) Though I give each stick a VERY dirty look when im finished.
Personal batteries are running low these days, a quick JumpStart with Ian usually does the trick but March 2009 really takes the cake.
Then amidst all this chaos comes Dan Millman, he of the Peaceful Warrior fame. Ian lent me a copy of the movie (hate to say I havent even watched it yet). Decided to google up the movie to see what's it all about...not bad reviews promising life changing/altering/inspiring moments. So im looking forward to it.
Decided to check on Dan M himself to see what's his story and came across his blog and one entitled Unreasonable Happiness. Here's an excerpt:
".....we act happy, radiate a happy positive state in the posture of our body, in our voice, in our expression — because that is something we can control. We can will ourselves to smile; we can behave and move and breathe as if we’re happy. Whatever the shifting state of our actual emotions, we can let our feelings be, get on with life, radiate energy into the world, and expand into the moment. This practice can be extremely difficult at times, but it remains possible...."
Well talk about being mind screwed.. Acting, behaving, pretending to be happy eventhough we arent??? Hmmmm makes sense....'cos Feelings change like the weather...we can't be all sun shinny and ur fart smells sweet all the time...u get down, u get low...life gets to ya....
"But isn’t it mere pretense to act happy even if we’re not feeling that way? Yes, it is — the way a terrified young soldier pretends to be courageous as he picks up his friend and carries him back through the firefight, the way the shy young girl walks across the middle-school dance floor and pretends to be confident while she asks someone to dance...."
Food for thought. Thanks Dan.
So Stepping Ma Game Up 2009: Be in the state of Unreasonable Happiness all the time.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Michael Jackson Comeback
Just watched CNN and Michael Jackson is making a comeback attempt...which is OK in itself, until we are informed that Michael Jackson is 50 YEAR's OLD!!
Hold the freakin phone! I sat up immediately and took a 5 second stock on the whole thing before it sank in fully. Here was a superstar of MY generation, turning 50 and making a comeback....where did the time go??
Im 38 this year. Seems like only a short time ago me, my youngest sis and Mum were waiting eagerly for his albums to come out. The guys were trying to do the moonwalk and before our mirrors we were THRILLER-ring the zombie walk.
How did time zoom by so freakin' fast??
Then I remeber reading somewhere on David Bowie's ( who's turning 62!!) take on why time seems to be passing by faster as we get older.
A year when you are 10 years old is 10% of your life. Time passes at a snail's pace and u can't wait to be a teen. Then you cant wait to be 21, then 30, etc etc.Makes sense...when your young, you think time passes by SLOWLY but what's a year when you're 50? A split second by comparison..
As the mortal coil unwinds and we get older, I guess we suddenly realise our time is running out and we're getting closer closer to the Big D..which probably means we will then suddenly try to cram in as much as we can with the relatively short time we supposedly have left.
Whew...talk about a reality check moment. Hope Wacko Jacko doesnt throw his back.
Hold the freakin phone! I sat up immediately and took a 5 second stock on the whole thing before it sank in fully. Here was a superstar of MY generation, turning 50 and making a comeback....where did the time go??
Im 38 this year. Seems like only a short time ago me, my youngest sis and Mum were waiting eagerly for his albums to come out. The guys were trying to do the moonwalk and before our mirrors we were THRILLER-ring the zombie walk.
How did time zoom by so freakin' fast??
Then I remeber reading somewhere on David Bowie's ( who's turning 62!!) take on why time seems to be passing by faster as we get older.
A year when you are 10 years old is 10% of your life. Time passes at a snail's pace and u can't wait to be a teen. Then you cant wait to be 21, then 30, etc etc.Makes sense...when your young, you think time passes by SLOWLY but what's a year when you're 50? A split second by comparison..
As the mortal coil unwinds and we get older, I guess we suddenly realise our time is running out and we're getting closer closer to the Big D..which probably means we will then suddenly try to cram in as much as we can with the relatively short time we supposedly have left.
Whew...talk about a reality check moment. Hope Wacko Jacko doesnt throw his back.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Human Beans
Read a few local (Malaysian) blogs and found it hilarious that Human Beings is constantly reduced to Human Beans. What a bummer to be reduced to kacangs.
Absolutely detest those bloggers who blog for attention sake, not speaking their true minds but catering to what they think people will like to read. The level of English is atrocious (which is always a major turn off). The mixture of Cantonese mixed in is cute done properly but gets freakin irritating when overdone.
Then there are the skanks who just love to draw attention to themselves. Come on...blogging a social commentary which comes off as self glorification is tres crass, no?
I must admit however, it is a constant source of humour (though un-intentional) when these bloggers attempt to be serious and only show how silly they are. If it is true you can tell a person's character from his/her blogs the these monkeys must really think they shit diamonds out of a platinum plated asshole.
I mean i have only just recently started blogging and thought would be interesting to read and share within the blogging community...even I know u just gotta draw a line somewhere!
I pity those who attempt to challenge / comment on these types of blog...suddenly u get attacked by their other friends (who basically are apple polishers trying to get into her pants) with even WORSE poorly worded counter arguments...sigh.
Maybe i should just brush up on my blogging skills before i comment further...and maybe we are just a nutty bunch of Human Beans after all.
Absolutely detest those bloggers who blog for attention sake, not speaking their true minds but catering to what they think people will like to read. The level of English is atrocious (which is always a major turn off). The mixture of Cantonese mixed in is cute done properly but gets freakin irritating when overdone.
Then there are the skanks who just love to draw attention to themselves. Come on...blogging a social commentary which comes off as self glorification is tres crass, no?
I must admit however, it is a constant source of humour (though un-intentional) when these bloggers attempt to be serious and only show how silly they are. If it is true you can tell a person's character from his/her blogs the these monkeys must really think they shit diamonds out of a platinum plated asshole.
I mean i have only just recently started blogging and thought would be interesting to read and share within the blogging community...even I know u just gotta draw a line somewhere!
I pity those who attempt to challenge / comment on these types of blog...suddenly u get attacked by their other friends (who basically are apple polishers trying to get into her pants) with even WORSE poorly worded counter arguments...sigh.
Maybe i should just brush up on my blogging skills before i comment further...and maybe we are just a nutty bunch of Human Beans after all.
Monday, February 23, 2009
And the Oscar goes to.......
Well tis that time of the year when everyone tunes in to one of the most watched events in the world..the Oscars.
This year saw Slumdog Millionaire sweeping 7 of the 10 nominations. All due to a magnificent producer and cast/crew.
Being in the media line with a smattering of production experience, I wonder if people actually appreciate the effort that goes into a production? From the initial meeting to formulate the idea to storyboarding and finally completion, the finished product is the sum total of sweat, tears and blood laid bare for all to see ( and judge).
What drives these monumental effort? After all that's dissected and analyzed I conclude its the EGO. The very thing that possesses each and every cast and crew member to push forward to give their ultimate best, even when money is short, detractors throw shit and friends start looking the other way.
Thats life. Need but just one woman or man to strive for the ultimate, dragging the kicking and screaming masses on nothing but her/his total believe in herself/himself.EGO.
I still have the tattered copy of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and I think it should be made compulsory reading in all high schools.
So I salute those women and men who quietly strive not to betray their ego. Who think original thoughts and who arent living second-hand lives.
See you at next year's Oscars!
This year saw Slumdog Millionaire sweeping 7 of the 10 nominations. All due to a magnificent producer and cast/crew.
Being in the media line with a smattering of production experience, I wonder if people actually appreciate the effort that goes into a production? From the initial meeting to formulate the idea to storyboarding and finally completion, the finished product is the sum total of sweat, tears and blood laid bare for all to see ( and judge).
What drives these monumental effort? After all that's dissected and analyzed I conclude its the EGO. The very thing that possesses each and every cast and crew member to push forward to give their ultimate best, even when money is short, detractors throw shit and friends start looking the other way.
Thats life. Need but just one woman or man to strive for the ultimate, dragging the kicking and screaming masses on nothing but her/his total believe in herself/himself.EGO.
I still have the tattered copy of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and I think it should be made compulsory reading in all high schools.
So I salute those women and men who quietly strive not to betray their ego. Who think original thoughts and who arent living second-hand lives.
See you at next year's Oscars!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Adverteasing
About a few billion years ago, (50 years in ad-speak), the Mighty Wind looked unto the dark, vast entity of ad spaces and decided to create advertising agencies. Mighty Wind Blew and blew and so formed the ADman.
Mighty Wind was pleased by what it saw..and it was good.
One day ADman was busy doing ADwork and taking ADbriefs, jerking off and spewing ADvertsemens that he decided to ask Mighty Win for a mate. Mighty Win thought about it and decided ADman definitely needed company so he created another ADman for his bonking pleasure.Thus GayAdman was born. Mighty Win saw...and it was good.So good that he decided that all who enjoy the services of ADman and his Advertsemens must worship the God of Fifteen%.
Eventhough ADman was enjoying himself screwing the Clie-nt, he was running out of ideas and the Clie-nt tribe was getting stronger and smarter and no longer turned on by the ADman and the GayADman's ideas of new positions to be bonked PLUS being forced to worship Fifteen%.
Mighty Win was concerned..wasnt there enough Hot Air being blown up these idiots' asses? How dare they question the creative genius of ADman!!
The Clie-nt tribe got smarter and smarter until they decided to deal directly with the Med -iaOwner tribe themselves. Suddenly, the ADman saw that his position was being underminded by the Med-iaOwners. But Mighty Win consoled him and said as long as Fifteen% is continuosly being worshipped and glorified, ADman can continue spewing out his Advertsemens for all to swallow.
Mighty Win saw this...and was pleased.
After many eons (about 8 years in ad speak), Mighty Win died down but ADman and GayAdman continued their practice of insisting the worship of Fifteen% whilst continuing the screwing of the Cli-ent.
The Cli-ent tribe however, was not so lucky in their evolution. They became lazy, the old guards were being ignored and they started to rely on the ADman more and more. A few clever ones managed to escape the clutches of Fifteen% (they insisted they liked the 7.5% god more..some even started paying tribute to the 0% god).
Med-iaowner on the other hand, became rich, fat and lazy...so much so that they decided that they could monopolize the entire media landscape..thus a new God was born.
This new God changed the AD-universe as we knew it..they could do whatever they wanted and the ADmen and ADwomen became slowly powerless..even ADvertisers had to kow-tow to this MegaGod.
The MegaMediaowner was so powerful that even when they increased their rates and decreased the power of the 15% god nobody could do anything but to accept it.This is known as good negotiation.
AdMan was sorely displeased as this undermined his importance (since MegaMediaowner started calling the shots).MegaMediaowner's minions in the meantime continued to dish out shit and the rest of the ADUniverse felt cheated and taken advantage off but, being helpless to do anything, continued to take it up the ass.
Mighty Wind was pleased by what it saw..and it was good.
One day ADman was busy doing ADwork and taking ADbriefs, jerking off and spewing ADvertsemens that he decided to ask Mighty Win for a mate. Mighty Win thought about it and decided ADman definitely needed company so he created another ADman for his bonking pleasure.Thus GayAdman was born. Mighty Win saw...and it was good.So good that he decided that all who enjoy the services of ADman and his Advertsemens must worship the God of Fifteen%.
Eventhough ADman was enjoying himself screwing the Clie-nt, he was running out of ideas and the Clie-nt tribe was getting stronger and smarter and no longer turned on by the ADman and the GayADman's ideas of new positions to be bonked PLUS being forced to worship Fifteen%.
Mighty Win was concerned..wasnt there enough Hot Air being blown up these idiots' asses? How dare they question the creative genius of ADman!!
The Clie-nt tribe got smarter and smarter until they decided to deal directly with the Med -iaOwner tribe themselves. Suddenly, the ADman saw that his position was being underminded by the Med-iaOwners. But Mighty Win consoled him and said as long as Fifteen% is continuosly being worshipped and glorified, ADman can continue spewing out his Advertsemens for all to swallow.
Mighty Win saw this...and was pleased.
After many eons (about 8 years in ad speak), Mighty Win died down but ADman and GayAdman continued their practice of insisting the worship of Fifteen% whilst continuing the screwing of the Cli-ent.
The Cli-ent tribe however, was not so lucky in their evolution. They became lazy, the old guards were being ignored and they started to rely on the ADman more and more. A few clever ones managed to escape the clutches of Fifteen% (they insisted they liked the 7.5% god more..some even started paying tribute to the 0% god).
Med-iaowner on the other hand, became rich, fat and lazy...so much so that they decided that they could monopolize the entire media landscape..thus a new God was born.
This new God changed the AD-universe as we knew it..they could do whatever they wanted and the ADmen and ADwomen became slowly powerless..even ADvertisers had to kow-tow to this MegaGod.
The MegaMediaowner was so powerful that even when they increased their rates and decreased the power of the 15% god nobody could do anything but to accept it.This is known as good negotiation.
AdMan was sorely displeased as this undermined his importance (since MegaMediaowner started calling the shots).MegaMediaowner's minions in the meantime continued to dish out shit and the rest of the ADUniverse felt cheated and taken advantage off but, being helpless to do anything, continued to take it up the ass.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Living Life to the fullest
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Monday, February 16, 2009
Beautiful Sparks Of God
Noticed lately in the business of living we seem to miss some of the Beautiful Sparks of God.
From the friendly smile of the tired toll gate girl or the simple act of random kindness a person does for another without hoping for anything in return, I think we are slowly but surely losing track of the little things and searching out for the big bang...then wonder why nothing seems to be going well in our lives.
Would like to think that in our daily living we are surrounded by not only by the pressures of work, relationships and surviving but also by demonstrations that warm the heart and kindle the soul.How easy it is to be sarcastic and cynical at one another. Easier still to be affected by those who practice it.
So smile at the makcik in the canteen, open the door for the elderly gentleman/woman, joke with the security guard at the condo and give way to the harried looking mummy in traffic..You just might make that slight difference and costs nothing.
Guess that means that its not what we achieve but what we become that is more important...:)
From the friendly smile of the tired toll gate girl or the simple act of random kindness a person does for another without hoping for anything in return, I think we are slowly but surely losing track of the little things and searching out for the big bang...then wonder why nothing seems to be going well in our lives.
Would like to think that in our daily living we are surrounded by not only by the pressures of work, relationships and surviving but also by demonstrations that warm the heart and kindle the soul.How easy it is to be sarcastic and cynical at one another. Easier still to be affected by those who practice it.
So smile at the makcik in the canteen, open the door for the elderly gentleman/woman, joke with the security guard at the condo and give way to the harried looking mummy in traffic..You just might make that slight difference and costs nothing.
Guess that means that its not what we achieve but what we become that is more important...:)
Malaysian Photography
Latest reports seem to highlight a hidden Malaysian talent: Photography. Especially nude photography.
I mean I always thought we were quite the artistic nation but the latest spate of errr.."self potraits" seem to bring it to a whole new level.
The nurse in Penang (total skank), the politician (cute..i always had a thing for gals in glasses) showcases some of the hidden talents apparently prevalent amongst malaysians
Perhaps i should consult my photographer friends, cos im no expert, but if you go to this website : thegutterpost.blogspot (go to Malaysia or Malaysian posting) you would probably have to admire some of the poses. Of course im talking about the "artistic" nature of the angles, the lighting, the framing, the exposure (no pun intended)...NOT!
What the hell? In these days of digital imagery and fast and easy downloads /transfering I cant believe it DIDNT occur to them that there MIGHT be a possibility of it being leaked out...Heaven's sake...there's enuff idiots out there who have already gone thru hell and yet there really is a sucker born every minute.
Am OK in as far as exhibitionists are concerned (certainly is an "uplifiting" experience) but to have it leaked out just cos he/she spurned you? tsk tsk tsk ...
Which reminds me...gotta get rid of the pictures of "The Beast".....
I mean I always thought we were quite the artistic nation but the latest spate of errr.."self potraits" seem to bring it to a whole new level.
The nurse in Penang (total skank), the politician (cute..i always had a thing for gals in glasses) showcases some of the hidden talents apparently prevalent amongst malaysians
Perhaps i should consult my photographer friends, cos im no expert, but if you go to this website : thegutterpost.blogspot (go to Malaysia or Malaysian posting) you would probably have to admire some of the poses. Of course im talking about the "artistic" nature of the angles, the lighting, the framing, the exposure (no pun intended)...NOT!
What the hell? In these days of digital imagery and fast and easy downloads /transfering I cant believe it DIDNT occur to them that there MIGHT be a possibility of it being leaked out...Heaven's sake...there's enuff idiots out there who have already gone thru hell and yet there really is a sucker born every minute.
Am OK in as far as exhibitionists are concerned (certainly is an "uplifiting" experience) but to have it leaked out just cos he/she spurned you? tsk tsk tsk ...
Which reminds me...gotta get rid of the pictures of "The Beast".....
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Breathe Easy 2009 Campaign
Well it was inevitable..time to throw away the cancer sticks.
Im gonna do it by putting a theme to my campaign "Breathe Easy 2009".
Not that naive to think this rah-rah feeling is gonna last, but think the time has come to check this addiction finally.
I gotta get my smoking buddy Venki in on this as well. We started thinking of quitting in 2009 as he had just welcomed a daughter to his family and I said we should go for the Breathe Easy title. We were pumped for about 2 weeks then slid back into it.
Well i had just SMSed him that i had just finished my last stick and am gonna broadcast it as loudly as I can to avoid the embarassment of picking up the habit again...heheh.
Have also decided to hit the long abandoned gym by this week ( hope my membership wont be halted by me not attending so many months!)
Loaded up my IPod with the required Kanye West and Eminem pump up songs and been walking the block at my place.
So it begins!
Im gonna do it by putting a theme to my campaign "Breathe Easy 2009".
Not that naive to think this rah-rah feeling is gonna last, but think the time has come to check this addiction finally.
I gotta get my smoking buddy Venki in on this as well. We started thinking of quitting in 2009 as he had just welcomed a daughter to his family and I said we should go for the Breathe Easy title. We were pumped for about 2 weeks then slid back into it.
Well i had just SMSed him that i had just finished my last stick and am gonna broadcast it as loudly as I can to avoid the embarassment of picking up the habit again...heheh.
Have also decided to hit the long abandoned gym by this week ( hope my membership wont be halted by me not attending so many months!)
Loaded up my IPod with the required Kanye West and Eminem pump up songs and been walking the block at my place.
So it begins!
Greta
Since me and a buddy of mine were valentine-less, we decided to hit the KL nitespot. Ended up at Changkat Raja Chulan row of pubs and decided on this place called GYPSY.
No...no olive skinned, dark haired beauties with flowing hair as waitresess. But it was a nice and cosy pub sandwiched between others.
We got ourselves comfy at the sofa instead of sitting at the bar and with few customers and not too loud music, was having good conversations over the first bottle of white wine...The nite was warm and balmy, the weather was perfect and we had the perfect view of couples (with the gals holding single stalk roses) sauntering about the walkways.
Next to us was this foreign couples, about 5 of them all in their late 40s, early 50s and during the course of the night we had exchanged pleasanteries and gotten to know each other (they were Brits here on holiday)
Who stood up for me was Greta, because she was beautifully all dressed up, hair done, made up to look fabulous and was the most vocal and friendly to EVERYONE at the pub. She was so full of life and was dancing to EVERY song the DJ played. She even had her tongue pierced! Im talking about a 50 year lady who seemed to be living by the minute and I was in awe.
Then my buddy came and told me that she was going for a medical examination tomorrow and was expecting bad news. ( this was garnered thru conversations with Greta's other mates)
Whoa..here she was, living like there was no tomorrow with THAT over her head?
Well why not? Here was a profile in courage dancing and single handedly lighting up the whole pub with her exuberance and UMMPH for life and she wasnt gonna let some silly medical diagnosis spoil her Valentine.
What's my excuse for not seizing the day?
Thanks Greta. Dont care what the diagnosis is tomorrow..I'll always remember you as you were on Valentines 2009.
No...no olive skinned, dark haired beauties with flowing hair as waitresess. But it was a nice and cosy pub sandwiched between others.
We got ourselves comfy at the sofa instead of sitting at the bar and with few customers and not too loud music, was having good conversations over the first bottle of white wine...The nite was warm and balmy, the weather was perfect and we had the perfect view of couples (with the gals holding single stalk roses) sauntering about the walkways.
Next to us was this foreign couples, about 5 of them all in their late 40s, early 50s and during the course of the night we had exchanged pleasanteries and gotten to know each other (they were Brits here on holiday)
Who stood up for me was Greta, because she was beautifully all dressed up, hair done, made up to look fabulous and was the most vocal and friendly to EVERYONE at the pub. She was so full of life and was dancing to EVERY song the DJ played. She even had her tongue pierced! Im talking about a 50 year lady who seemed to be living by the minute and I was in awe.
Then my buddy came and told me that she was going for a medical examination tomorrow and was expecting bad news. ( this was garnered thru conversations with Greta's other mates)
Whoa..here she was, living like there was no tomorrow with THAT over her head?
Well why not? Here was a profile in courage dancing and single handedly lighting up the whole pub with her exuberance and UMMPH for life and she wasnt gonna let some silly medical diagnosis spoil her Valentine.
What's my excuse for not seizing the day?
Thanks Greta. Dont care what the diagnosis is tomorrow..I'll always remember you as you were on Valentines 2009.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Events and Such
Got caught in an unusual jam today..thanks the Le Tour De Langkawi. Planned very carefully to avoid the jam from yesterday and yet it happened.
Which got me to thinking on how Malaysians operate.. do we have the foresight to handle major events?
Having the course of the Tour running thru our major roads on a weekday is not the issue here. Its the plannning and the foresight of the organisers that should be brought to task for causing such massive inconvenience to the public and ultimately bad publicity for the event. Publicity? Hah! nobody even knew it was the Tour that was causing this headache!
Seen enough to know that this was a slip-shot-ly handled logistic. Organisers were more concerned about how much they were getting out of this rather then having the pride of a well thought off event.
Was at the Maybank Malaysian Open yesterday. Blatant disorganization galore with poor crowd control, poor signages, quality of food dropped, overwrought organisers and distressed looking sponsors. This is the 3rd (!!) year this event is organised and still we cant get it right. OK..so major sponsor cut the freakin budget but thats no excuse to shortchange the public and the sponsors.
Am into events as well and am glad that my partners take pride in the execution over profits. There are the usual clients who haggle over price. Very simple...if we can deliver the goods to OUR standards, we take the job. If not...walk away. Rather no business then bad business.
Heard that Levi's 501 had organised a Sting concert for the launch of their new jeans. Anybody knew about it? Hardly. Sting had initially refused to perform because paying ticket buyers came up to a measely 500!! At the end the organisers persuaded him to sing a FEW songs for the benefit for those who bought the tickets. Gracious as he was, he obliged.Sting! in Malaysia! and nobody knew about it!!! Lets not even get into the fiasco that was the Kings of Tennis in Penang..
Sarah Brightman is up next. Her LAST performance here was a logistical disaster as well as the organisers didnt get the dimensions of the stage correct and her stage oveflowed into the Royal Box...wouldnt be surprised if the organisers get wrong AGAIN this year...sheez!
God knows every event has its problems but if these screw ups are too basic and banal to be forgiven. Take pride in your work for God's sake...before its too late.
Which got me to thinking on how Malaysians operate.. do we have the foresight to handle major events?
Having the course of the Tour running thru our major roads on a weekday is not the issue here. Its the plannning and the foresight of the organisers that should be brought to task for causing such massive inconvenience to the public and ultimately bad publicity for the event. Publicity? Hah! nobody even knew it was the Tour that was causing this headache!
Seen enough to know that this was a slip-shot-ly handled logistic. Organisers were more concerned about how much they were getting out of this rather then having the pride of a well thought off event.
Was at the Maybank Malaysian Open yesterday. Blatant disorganization galore with poor crowd control, poor signages, quality of food dropped, overwrought organisers and distressed looking sponsors. This is the 3rd (!!) year this event is organised and still we cant get it right. OK..so major sponsor cut the freakin budget but thats no excuse to shortchange the public and the sponsors.
Am into events as well and am glad that my partners take pride in the execution over profits. There are the usual clients who haggle over price. Very simple...if we can deliver the goods to OUR standards, we take the job. If not...walk away. Rather no business then bad business.
Heard that Levi's 501 had organised a Sting concert for the launch of their new jeans. Anybody knew about it? Hardly. Sting had initially refused to perform because paying ticket buyers came up to a measely 500!! At the end the organisers persuaded him to sing a FEW songs for the benefit for those who bought the tickets. Gracious as he was, he obliged.Sting! in Malaysia! and nobody knew about it!!! Lets not even get into the fiasco that was the Kings of Tennis in Penang..
Sarah Brightman is up next. Her LAST performance here was a logistical disaster as well as the organisers didnt get the dimensions of the stage correct and her stage oveflowed into the Royal Box...wouldnt be surprised if the organisers get wrong AGAIN this year...sheez!
God knows every event has its problems but if these screw ups are too basic and banal to be forgiven. Take pride in your work for God's sake...before its too late.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
My Valentine...
Would be a bottle of wine, some ridiculously expensive chocolates to be consumed together over a dimly lit cosy room. Quietly, without funfare or all the fulfalutin'.
Dunno what on earth brings out the fakers during this period but it seems that the nearer valentines gets, the nicer the fairer sex becomes. Gals I havent heard from in ages suddenly make contact with the most pretentious and fake sweetness (shudder).
I mean come on! Looks like the competition to see who gets the most flowers / valentines gifts has begun. Guys are no different..some idiots are actually having a list of gals they're "lining" up to and are sending a FEW bouquets to several gals. When asked, "I love all of them..." Christ!
I remember writing some killer valentines letterMto a gal i fancied back in school only to be devastated when she couldnt understand what i meant! (damn the level of English in Malaysian secondary schools!) But it was meant for that one gal.
I also remember going out with a Chinese exchange student once and apparently Malaysian men have "flower hearts!" It seems that in China when a guy pines after one gal..he goes after her for life. (which sounded a lot like stalking to me...but she was cute and i liked the way she pronounced my name so i let it slide)
What a concept..pursuing that one gal and that one gal only until she either accepts you or breaks you. Dont see much of that happening these days. Romance is dead? Hardly, i would like to believe. But i do miss watching the drama of a love-sick puppy pinning for his lady love, the long nites on the phone consoling the heartbroken as well as the giddy excitement when the guy gets accepted by the gal (thats another long nite on the phone on how to take it to the next level...sigh).
In these days of commercialized love and one night stands i guess Valentines would bring out the best (a thoughtfully arranged bouquet, the surprise gift for an overworked lover)...and the worst (who's getting the biggest gift, mass texting of valentine wishes).
Happy Valentines!
Dunno what on earth brings out the fakers during this period but it seems that the nearer valentines gets, the nicer the fairer sex becomes. Gals I havent heard from in ages suddenly make contact with the most pretentious and fake sweetness (shudder).
I mean come on! Looks like the competition to see who gets the most flowers / valentines gifts has begun. Guys are no different..some idiots are actually having a list of gals they're "lining" up to and are sending a FEW bouquets to several gals. When asked, "I love all of them..." Christ!
I remember writing some killer valentines letterMto a gal i fancied back in school only to be devastated when she couldnt understand what i meant! (damn the level of English in Malaysian secondary schools!) But it was meant for that one gal.
I also remember going out with a Chinese exchange student once and apparently Malaysian men have "flower hearts!" It seems that in China when a guy pines after one gal..he goes after her for life. (which sounded a lot like stalking to me...but she was cute and i liked the way she pronounced my name so i let it slide)
What a concept..pursuing that one gal and that one gal only until she either accepts you or breaks you. Dont see much of that happening these days. Romance is dead? Hardly, i would like to believe. But i do miss watching the drama of a love-sick puppy pinning for his lady love, the long nites on the phone consoling the heartbroken as well as the giddy excitement when the guy gets accepted by the gal (thats another long nite on the phone on how to take it to the next level...sigh).
In these days of commercialized love and one night stands i guess Valentines would bring out the best (a thoughtfully arranged bouquet, the surprise gift for an overworked lover)...and the worst (who's getting the biggest gift, mass texting of valentine wishes).
Happy Valentines!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Reign OVer mE
About 6 months back i revised my astro package to get rid of the movies package as they were repeating the good movies one too many times and starting to show B-grade ones.
I am a movie buff but theres only so many re-runs of Sniper 3 i can take so i got rid of the package. Mum came over for a couple of months and so i took her astro card over to KL (she's got the full package).
Last nite was lazing in front of the telly ready for bed when i flipped over to HBO and happened on the movie that was already playing ...Reign Over Me..totally bowled over. Sometimes, and this comes quite rarely these days, a moviemaker comes out with a gem. After mind numbing flicks like Pirates Of the Carrbean 1-3, a chance stumble on ROM was a pleasant and welcome respite.
Starring of all people Adam Sandler(!!) Don Cheadle, Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland. Here i was, coming in quarter way thru the movie and expecting some comedy as only Adam Sandler can deliver.
Was wrong.
Never will i look at Adam sandler with the same eyes again. The dude's fantastic here playing a father and husband who lost his kids and wife to the 9/11 attacks, and his struggle to deal with the loss. From his Bob Dylan-esque hairdo to the part where he finally opens up to Don Cheadle, he just brought the characterization and the emotions spot on (with the usual Adam Sandler touch peeping thru once in a while).
Reign Over Me reminded me why I'm a movie buff. Its rare pieces like these that the movie gods throw at us mere mortals to remind, to teach, and to touch on how much we lose sight of our lives while we go about our daily chores. Not much on the cinematography but the story and the freakingly awsome and unexpected performance by Adam Sandler brought me to tears at one point that i just looked at my tears and said WTF!! (luckily mum had gone to bed).
I hope i never get tired of movies no matter how astro tries to spoil it..
Gotta get that freaking DVD!!
Crazy
Sometimes you just wanna scream your lungs out at the sheer stupidity that surrounds you.. Not knowing can be enlightened, under trained can be trained, lost can be found but sheer apathy and indifference must never be forgiven...
I swear this is how my vission gets when im confronted by such idiots.....ALL BLURRY! Must be the rush of blood to the head/eyballs.
Other then this myopic vision my brain just shuts off and all i see is RED.
Part of Stepping My Game Up 2009 would be to adopt a more soothing pose and perhaps try to smile a bit whilst seeing BLUE.
:)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
90
Went for steamboat with my mum and aunts. Along came our grand-aunt..ripe age of 90.
The minute she sauntered in with her cane she was joking about "..handicap coming thru..." , I fell in love immediately. Observing her, there was this twinkle and a shine in this lady's being.. how does she do it??
Still sharp, healthy appetite, whilst the other, 30 -years-younger aunties were pancit after the steamboat, our friend was holding court.. attentively listening and contributing to the conversations.
Fantastic how perceptions change as we age. We fight the good fight, try to stay true to the cause, follow through courses and challenges..to what end?
Stepping My Game Up : Time is NOW. Gotta live it to the fullest.Seize every inch life gives you and make it worth it!
Cant wait to be 90.
Im gonna be like her when i turn 90
The minute she sauntered in with her cane she was joking about "..handicap coming thru..." , I fell in love immediately. Observing her, there was this twinkle and a shine in this lady's being.. how does she do it??
Still sharp, healthy appetite, whilst the other, 30 -years-younger aunties were pancit after the steamboat, our friend was holding court.. attentively listening and contributing to the conversations.
Fantastic how perceptions change as we age. We fight the good fight, try to stay true to the cause, follow through courses and challenges..to what end?
Stepping My Game Up : Time is NOW. Gotta live it to the fullest.Seize every inch life gives you and make it worth it!
Cant wait to be 90.
Im gonna be like her when i turn 90
Kevin
Was going thru the internet to find out the meaning of Kevin and came across a few...
There was this:
Kevin, Irish Caoimhín (old Irish Caoimhghín or Caemgen), is a male first name of Irish origin. It is believed that Saint Kevin was the one who popularized the name, although Kevin is not a biblical name. Kevin is believed to be derived from the Irish coem "kind, gentle, and handsome" and gein "birth".
There was also this:
Dictionary meaning: meaning for Kevin
There was this:
Kevin, Irish Caoimhín (old Irish Caoimhghín or Caemgen), is a male first name of Irish origin. It is believed that Saint Kevin was the one who popularized the name, although Kevin is not a biblical name. Kevin is believed to be derived from the Irish coem "kind, gentle, and handsome" and gein "birth".
There was also this:
Dictionary meaning: meaning for Kevin
| The real name meaning for - Kevin | |
| Kevin | Always attracts really fit girlfriends also has a large penis, really nice to women. |
So true, so true...heheh | |
Friday, February 6, 2009
Old Friends & Reunions
Got a pleasant surprise when was contacted, via facebook, by old school mates. Am talking primary school mates from way back when i was considered short (height that is..)
Gerik, Perak was a communist occupied little town which so happened to be nearby the Temenggor Dam which was where LLN (TNB now) was deriving its power from. Dad was with LLN so the family moved from Prai to this outskirts as he was posted there. The town was under constant curfews as the Commies were aparently still holding fort in the jungles of Perak then. Started my Standard 2 and was there till Standard 6.
School was where u had ur most friends and friendships formed during primary school days are rather special and diferent from those at other phases of your life. I suppose its the formative years where you still believe in magic and ur innocence is still intact.
I remember our class clown Rostam who'd bring the house down with his antics and impersonations..Hew Fong Pin who introduced me to the Beatles, Ugarajah who was with me the tallest in the class, Vallarmathi the Chinese gal raised by Indian family, Faridah who was the school tomboy, Raymond who was the best badminton player, Judy, the city gal who came and showed us city attitude and was always getting number one, Laila the thoughtful one, Esther who thought the boys there was more to life then football and guli playing.
Amazing how tis the gals who take the trouble to track us down one by one. Guys cant be bothered at all.
Then we had the college reunion with the now lawyers all gathering and talking about the happenings in Perak and the current judicial system. Was glad to meet up the old gang but got quickly bored when they started throwing legal terms left and right as the alcohol got flowing( making me silently thankful i didnt take that path).
Would say the best reunion would be when old friends gather not so much to see where ur working now and which surburbs u're living in but just plain ole catching up on good times. U'd like to believe they havent changed a bit and hoping that same old person you knew as the snotty nosed clown or the thoughful and serious 9 year old would come out and transport you back to the days when race, status and how much u'r parents earned didnt matter.
Seems to me everyone is trying impress each other with what they have achieved since we last goofed around as kids.
Thankfully there are those who still long for the magic we all shared then and still bring up embarrasing and laugh ur ass off moments of yesteryear (though a few of them outright denied it ....as if those years never happened).
But those years DID happen. Im glad i can see these captains of industries not for where they are now (which im glad for), but for what they were then..kids i used to live, learn and fight with. I treasure David, who was the one everyone went to for advise and made all feel speacial, Sharon who tutored me at the cafeteria after college, Ben who possesed a calm, quite and gentle soul, the late Ler Weng Siang whose nerdiness we tried to change but we loved him anyways, Prem my best friend and starving partner during the lean years, Stephen who called a spade a spade, even to a shovel.Judy who made me go from number 21 to number one..Azlan who knows what friendship truly means, Zakaria whom i had my frst beer with..
Would i have gotten better education/social ranking if i hadnt moved around too many times all those years? Perhaps, perhaps not...but i know this for sure, wouldnt change a single thing if i had to do it all over again if it meant not meeting these friends.
Gerik, Perak was a communist occupied little town which so happened to be nearby the Temenggor Dam which was where LLN (TNB now) was deriving its power from. Dad was with LLN so the family moved from Prai to this outskirts as he was posted there. The town was under constant curfews as the Commies were aparently still holding fort in the jungles of Perak then. Started my Standard 2 and was there till Standard 6.
School was where u had ur most friends and friendships formed during primary school days are rather special and diferent from those at other phases of your life. I suppose its the formative years where you still believe in magic and ur innocence is still intact.
I remember our class clown Rostam who'd bring the house down with his antics and impersonations..Hew Fong Pin who introduced me to the Beatles, Ugarajah who was with me the tallest in the class, Vallarmathi the Chinese gal raised by Indian family, Faridah who was the school tomboy, Raymond who was the best badminton player, Judy, the city gal who came and showed us city attitude and was always getting number one, Laila the thoughtful one, Esther who thought the boys there was more to life then football and guli playing.
Amazing how tis the gals who take the trouble to track us down one by one. Guys cant be bothered at all.
Then we had the college reunion with the now lawyers all gathering and talking about the happenings in Perak and the current judicial system. Was glad to meet up the old gang but got quickly bored when they started throwing legal terms left and right as the alcohol got flowing( making me silently thankful i didnt take that path).
Would say the best reunion would be when old friends gather not so much to see where ur working now and which surburbs u're living in but just plain ole catching up on good times. U'd like to believe they havent changed a bit and hoping that same old person you knew as the snotty nosed clown or the thoughful and serious 9 year old would come out and transport you back to the days when race, status and how much u'r parents earned didnt matter.
Seems to me everyone is trying impress each other with what they have achieved since we last goofed around as kids.
Thankfully there are those who still long for the magic we all shared then and still bring up embarrasing and laugh ur ass off moments of yesteryear (though a few of them outright denied it ....as if those years never happened).
But those years DID happen. Im glad i can see these captains of industries not for where they are now (which im glad for), but for what they were then..kids i used to live, learn and fight with. I treasure David, who was the one everyone went to for advise and made all feel speacial, Sharon who tutored me at the cafeteria after college, Ben who possesed a calm, quite and gentle soul, the late Ler Weng Siang whose nerdiness we tried to change but we loved him anyways, Prem my best friend and starving partner during the lean years, Stephen who called a spade a spade, even to a shovel.Judy who made me go from number 21 to number one..Azlan who knows what friendship truly means, Zakaria whom i had my frst beer with..
Would i have gotten better education/social ranking if i hadnt moved around too many times all those years? Perhaps, perhaps not...but i know this for sure, wouldnt change a single thing if i had to do it all over again if it meant not meeting these friends.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Letting Go
You know when its time to let go and take a step back to re-evaluate a relationship when it starts getting toxic.
Lately been re-looking my relationship with a certain bloke (no, its not a Brokeback Mountain moment). Known this guy for the past 10 years and within our circle of friends we have come to accept the fact that this guy is just plain domineering but with a great heart, which is why we are all still friends with him.
Its the littlest of things that gets to me. The fact that we all have to participate in whatever he suggests, the subtle emotional blackmail he pulls on us (yes..even guys can be real bitches) which I have tolerated because his pros always outweighed his cons.
No more...as part of Stepping My Game Up 2009 I am ending this one sided relationship. Have stopped agreeing to whatever his arguments are, stopped taking in his negative comments on issues to heart, refused to be cajoled and bullied into having things done his way.
Was pleasantly surprised at how affected i was looking back and the childish crap i had to put up with all this while.
No more.
Nows the time to regain control of this relationship and after reviewing it, am surprised I took a lot from this poor guy. Funny how we sometimes subject ourselves willingly to the whims and fancies in the name of friendship...but its not friendship if the other party is toxic.
Sorry Bro, but a man's gotta go his own way sooner or later. Cancel, Delete, Erase.
Lately been re-looking my relationship with a certain bloke (no, its not a Brokeback Mountain moment). Known this guy for the past 10 years and within our circle of friends we have come to accept the fact that this guy is just plain domineering but with a great heart, which is why we are all still friends with him.
Its the littlest of things that gets to me. The fact that we all have to participate in whatever he suggests, the subtle emotional blackmail he pulls on us (yes..even guys can be real bitches) which I have tolerated because his pros always outweighed his cons.
No more...as part of Stepping My Game Up 2009 I am ending this one sided relationship. Have stopped agreeing to whatever his arguments are, stopped taking in his negative comments on issues to heart, refused to be cajoled and bullied into having things done his way.
Was pleasantly surprised at how affected i was looking back and the childish crap i had to put up with all this while.
No more.
Nows the time to regain control of this relationship and after reviewing it, am surprised I took a lot from this poor guy. Funny how we sometimes subject ourselves willingly to the whims and fancies in the name of friendship...but its not friendship if the other party is toxic.
Sorry Bro, but a man's gotta go his own way sooner or later. Cancel, Delete, Erase.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Republic Island of Kevonia
First thing i saw in the papers were BN proclaiming their "takeover" from PKR over Perak. Lets not get into the fact that it was NOT the people's choice but rather the machinery of Politics working the way it has always, and will always work: by wheeling and dealing, scheming and lompat-ting here and there.
This also comes along the heels of the fiasco that is now America caused by the Bush administration. Political pundits all over the world are having a field day anal-lyyzing what went wrong and who is to blame, yada, yada.
Got me to thinking though: we're so caught up with all the cockamamy goings-on around us that we're missing out the most important politicking of all...that of the self. We do it all the time. Scheme, bribe, lie, cajole and even backstab ourselves without realising it.
So im declaring a new found island: The Republic Island of Kevonia.
Current population: 1.
Official Language : Manglish
System of Government: Egotistical with 1 head of government
Independence: Sept25, 1971
Area: 193cm, 96kg, Water%: 93% water(except on weekends 93% alcohol)
GDP: Nominal
Climate: Occasional smog(govt, working on eradicating completely with the Zero carbon emissions by 2009.) Gets very cold when confronted with meanies and idiots.
Executive power vested in both Heads of Government: His Royal Highness Kevin Rajendra Kandiah as well as His Mighty Big-ness, Little Kev.
Constitution stipulates 3 meals a day, wine and beer optional.Voting is not compulsory.
All citizens of Kevonia enjoy full citizenship with the exeption of Little Kev, who is granted invasion rights only exercised when necessary.
Natural resources include natural gas and organic soil produced daily...sometimes exported to other countries out of spite or accidentally.
Religion: Mainly Christians with occassional homage being paid to Jessica Biel (by Little Kev).
So there you have it. No man is an island? Please-lah.
This also comes along the heels of the fiasco that is now America caused by the Bush administration. Political pundits all over the world are having a field day anal-lyyzing what went wrong and who is to blame, yada, yada.
Got me to thinking though: we're so caught up with all the cockamamy goings-on around us that we're missing out the most important politicking of all...that of the self. We do it all the time. Scheme, bribe, lie, cajole and even backstab ourselves without realising it.
So im declaring a new found island: The Republic Island of Kevonia.
Current population: 1.
Official Language : Manglish
System of Government: Egotistical with 1 head of government
Independence: Sept25, 1971
Area: 193cm, 96kg, Water%: 93% water(except on weekends 93% alcohol)
GDP: Nominal
Climate: Occasional smog(govt, working on eradicating completely with the Zero carbon emissions by 2009.) Gets very cold when confronted with meanies and idiots.
Executive power vested in both Heads of Government: His Royal Highness Kevin Rajendra Kandiah as well as His Mighty Big-ness, Little Kev.
Constitution stipulates 3 meals a day, wine and beer optional.Voting is not compulsory.
All citizens of Kevonia enjoy full citizenship with the exeption of Little Kev, who is granted invasion rights only exercised when necessary.
Natural resources include natural gas and organic soil produced daily...sometimes exported to other countries out of spite or accidentally.
Religion: Mainly Christians with occassional homage being paid to Jessica Biel (by Little Kev).
So there you have it. No man is an island? Please-lah.
I am an Addict
Hello. My name is Kevin and I am an addict.
Cigarettes used to be something I used socially but lately its been getting out of hand. Make no mistake...it IS an addiction.
Lately there's this spate of horrifying pics being advertised as part of the government's effort to quell this addiction.
Here's the thing about addiction...the addict does not register hers/his habit as a BAD ADDICTION but rather console themselves by labelling it a BAD HABIT. Ciggy companies have conceded to the BAD HABIT part to a certain extent but are still fighting tooth and nail to it being an addiction. Do you think putting a pic of some poor soul's badly damaged throat/lungs or gangrenous leg is really going to put off the ciggy addict? Hardly.
It'll probably put off the non-smokers off smoking and thats cool to prevent them from even starting but for the addicts?
Yes you would have heard of some great grandmother who started smoking when she was 10 and is still ploughing the family padi field in her 90s but even that has to wear thin sometime.
So lets call a spade a spade and declare it as an addiction..I know I have. Excuse me while i lite up.
Cigarettes used to be something I used socially but lately its been getting out of hand. Make no mistake...it IS an addiction.
Lately there's this spate of horrifying pics being advertised as part of the government's effort to quell this addiction.
Here's the thing about addiction...the addict does not register hers/his habit as a BAD ADDICTION but rather console themselves by labelling it a BAD HABIT. Ciggy companies have conceded to the BAD HABIT part to a certain extent but are still fighting tooth and nail to it being an addiction. Do you think putting a pic of some poor soul's badly damaged throat/lungs or gangrenous leg is really going to put off the ciggy addict? Hardly.
It'll probably put off the non-smokers off smoking and thats cool to prevent them from even starting but for the addicts?
Yes you would have heard of some great grandmother who started smoking when she was 10 and is still ploughing the family padi field in her 90s but even that has to wear thin sometime.
So lets call a spade a spade and declare it as an addiction..I know I have. Excuse me while i lite up.
Confessions of a virgin blogger
Well now isnt this quaint / embarrasing,
Here we are at the height of the Information Age and here i am only begining to get the hang of things (thanks to Miss Phoenix).
Lets see if the IT age will finally catch up with me ...so far managed to avoid the deathtraps of "I give up...its too canggih for me"
I guess soon will be time for me to start posting pics (which means i gotta get the hang of posting blogg-able pictures with the right resolution and size, which leads to me having to get one of tose gizmos that actually TAKE a blog-able pics in the first place,which means i have to download some bloody application to USE the gizmos that do take blog-able pics!) DAMN YOU BILL GATES and MICHAEL DELL as well as HEWLETT and also PACKARD!!
Here we are at the height of the Information Age and here i am only begining to get the hang of things (thanks to Miss Phoenix).
Lets see if the IT age will finally catch up with me ...so far managed to avoid the deathtraps of "I give up...its too canggih for me"
I guess soon will be time for me to start posting pics (which means i gotta get the hang of posting blogg-able pictures with the right resolution and size, which leads to me having to get one of tose gizmos that actually TAKE a blog-able pics in the first place,which means i have to download some bloody application to USE the gizmos that do take blog-able pics!) DAMN YOU BILL GATES and MICHAEL DELL as well as HEWLETT and also PACKARD!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Beginnings
Its 2009 and supposedly the year to lay foundations for future years ahead. Am 38, employed, own my pre-requiste must haves and yet somehow looking back cant help but wonder if there are something (s) I missed out over the years.
NO..its not a "Matrix" moment but I suppose its something that one faces when one has reached "that" age..
That aside, 2009 started out promisingly enough with the usual making (and breaking) of resolutions, the good wishes being passed around, the usual frat moments with the usual business associates and friends...maybe that's it...the USUALNESS of life thats probably getting to yours truly.
Which is why am Steppin' Ma Game Up for 2009!
Ipod bought- motivational songs slowly being loaded, guitar bought- chords being sourced from internet, NLP coach sought- sessions going on well, health check ongoing-time to dust off that bloody gym membership and quit the cancer sticks.
What's the game plan? Discovering and LIVING out the highest potential in moi.
What's it mean? Stop making excuses.Start making results.Stop laying blame (from the weather to politics). Start taking responsibility. Stop sweating the small stuff.Start sweating out the toxins.Stop asking God.Start talking to God.
Yeap its gonna be a year of change. Watch this space!
NO..its not a "Matrix" moment but I suppose its something that one faces when one has reached "that" age..
That aside, 2009 started out promisingly enough with the usual making (and breaking) of resolutions, the good wishes being passed around, the usual frat moments with the usual business associates and friends...maybe that's it...the USUALNESS of life thats probably getting to yours truly.
Which is why am Steppin' Ma Game Up for 2009!
Ipod bought- motivational songs slowly being loaded, guitar bought- chords being sourced from internet, NLP coach sought- sessions going on well, health check ongoing-time to dust off that bloody gym membership and quit the cancer sticks.
What's the game plan? Discovering and LIVING out the highest potential in moi.
What's it mean? Stop making excuses.Start making results.Stop laying blame (from the weather to politics). Start taking responsibility. Stop sweating the small stuff.Start sweating out the toxins.Stop asking God.Start talking to God.
Yeap its gonna be a year of change. Watch this space!
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