Ramblings of a Mad Cow

The Cow is MOOO-VING!

2010-08-26T10:17:00.001+08:00

Yes - The Rabid Cow, after long long years here at blogger is finally thinking of moving his patch of grazing ground... Watch this space for more information!!!

HOPE: IN CAPELLO WE TRUST

2010-06-26T09:32:00.000+08:00

True 1Malaysia...

2010-04-29T12:39:00.002+08:00

As I was entering office this morning, I was unpleasantly surprised by the manifestation of 1Malaysia...

I have come to the conclusion that Malaysians are united in bad road behaviour and an utter lack of common decency and patience.

As I was trying to park into my allotted space in the office, there was a Chinese "Bengster" in his beat up Perodua blocking the spot. After 5 minutes of testing the extremes of my car horn, he decided to move back a few feet - forcing me to reverse into the spot.

This is when it gets interesting - an impatient Indian old man in his pricey SUV and another Tudung wearing Malay lady decided that it is time, near the conclusion of this saga to move forward, waving hands and showing some 'tulan' face at me, to attempt to pass by the narrowest of space in front of my car - preventing me from actually entering the spot.

Well - this is a remarkable show of UNITY in bad driving, lack of common courtesy and overall total idiocy...

Really, truly...
1Malaysia

And let us all break out our Jalur Gemilangs and start waving it in their pathetic faces attached to the third appendage of the hand!

Being too Defensive...

2010-04-12T12:06:00.002+08:00

I was talking to this pakcik when I was in a cab the other day (I was in JB so I did not have my car) and we ended up talking about cars... Of which I brought up Top Gear. Well, I consider Top Gear to be the very best car show currently available and I really enjoy the topsy-turvy no holds barred comedic atmosphere of the show.

However, at the mention of Top Gear, this pakcik's eyes darkened and started ranting about the evilness of western television etc. etc. and that they are out to get the ordinary Malaysians by parodying our cars. I was quite surprised actually - what in the world could this man be so angry with Top Gear?

So I went back home and looked it up on the Internet - and I found this...

It seems that this pakcik has not gotten over the above video, where Jeremy Clarkson destroyed a Kelisa. It was picked up by people in parliament in KL (both opposition members and government backbenchers) - and the house broke out in indignant anger at this slight in Malaysian pride - and created a furious firestorm in Malaysian media. And this furore has propagated to this day (4 years later).

I am actually aghast at this misplaced 'national' pride. Are Malaysians that un-self confident that a small parody on the (2nd) national car can cause such anger? Are we that blinded by the fact that Clarkson may be correct on a few counts that it is not that great a car? The fact of the matter is that Clarkson have blown up many cars before and since (including local British cars) and will continue to do so for its entertainment value. Why must we Malaysians have such a low esteem that we rise up in anger over it? Isn't this a serious case of 'Telinga Ringan'? And why must politicians on both sides rile up the situation so much so that some ordinary Malaysians still harbour ill will to a TV show produced half a world away?

I would want the politicians we elect to focus on our own important local issues than to meddle in the entertainment industry - and as a result made Malaysians the laughing stock of the world (some blogs even started to paint our reaction in a similar vein as Kazakhstan vs Borat). In the end it is a comedy. Period. Our politicians should rather focus in ensuring ordinary Malaysian's ability to continue to afford our Kelisas, our Mamak Food and our livelihood.

It may have been four years since that uproar - and Malaysia has since moved forward in our automotive industry. We now have our own (Britain based) F1 team and I seriously hope that we have matured as well - so much so that Malaysian pride is not so thin a veil that it is so easily injured and torn apart.

I am proud of my country - and no amount of parody can injure it - even though I am not blind to its faults and I am Malaysian - more Malaysian than Mr. "Shit 3 times". And to set the record straight about Top Gear, I look further back and found this...

Full of Shit...

2010-04-07T10:28:00.003+08:00

I love the way Ibrahim Ali promotes his view... Three times more shit than necessary for intelligent discussion. But then who says he is intelligent. Pakatan needs to find people of more suitable caliber to stand (even as independents)... since he just seems like an uneducated shit obsessed moron.

I can only think of 1 suitable reply to him - both for the standard of English and his shit obsession...

Great Expectations...

2010-04-04T13:02:00.004+08:00

It is not everyday that you gain an insight into what your life to be - an epiphany into your life so to speak. And to get one on Easter weekend is all the more poignant.

One of the things that leap up to me last week was my experience prior to, during and after a fateful April 1st evening. I went with the cell to do 7 stations of the cross - a church-wide event for us to better understand Christ's journey at the very last moments that lead up to the crucifixion. There are 7 stations on the journey - and space and time for us to contemplate each one.

(For those who did not know which are the 7 stations, here is a list :) - Station 1: Jesus washing the disciple's feet, Station 2: The last supper, Station 3: Gethsemane, Station 4: The Arrest, Station 5: The Trial, Station 6: The Way of the Cross & Station 7: The Crucifixion)

I can say that each of the 7 stations spoke to me but one station's recurring theme sets the tone for me this Easter - The Trial. From John 18, we see Jesus being led through a sham trial in front of the High Priest followed by another in front of Pilate. In this trial, he was convicted under the court of popular opinion, the court where the truth is lost in the cacophony of laws and dark whispers.

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” (John 19:12)

Through this station at church, we were brought through a series of questions and challenged to change our answers due to popular opinion. This exercise may seem absurd to some and to be in total futility to others but in my life I believe that what that have taken the place of laws and political intrigue is Expectations. In our relatively free society where the law rarely intrudes, we are now bottled in by expectations - the expectations of our parents, people from church, our friends, that special someone in our lives and even self imposed expectations. One of the most famous lines in our lives (and in mine over the past five days) is that 'we/I expected more of you', 'we/I expected more effort from you' and 'what you have done is below our expectations'. I personally have said to myself many times - "You should have done more - I expect you to be able to do a lot more." But why do we allow the expectation of others to dictate the way we live our life?!? Is it any different from the court of popular opinion that Pilate caved to?

What I have taken away from this weekend, not an easy one, is that we cannot let the expectations of others to rule our lives. They may not like it but their ideas about us to not define us. The standards other people imposes on us are not as important as our own standards - and our standards need to be inspired by God and His word. And by these standards defined to us by God I mean it from the bible - not some trumped up self righteous drivel that we see permeating from some quarters of 'conservatives' worldwide.

And more importantly, our walk with Jesus, our relationship with the living God should be what that defines us, not the expectations of others and of the world. And in this I am comforted by the prayers Jesus made for us in the Garden of Gethsemane (Station 3)...

Unity - Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (John 17:11)

Protection from the Evil One - I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15)

Sanctity - Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

And it is with great relief and agreement that I'd say, "Amen!"

Stupid Cows...

2009-08-30T17:51:00.002+08:00

Was reading about the idiot Kepala Lembu protests in Shah Alam...

I just have 1(Malaysia) thing to say about the entire thing. The fault lays on BOTH side of the political divide - on the side of BN and Utusan for formenting this simmering racial tension - on the PR side, PAS for coming up with the ridiculous alcohol issue!

No alcohol in Muslim majority areas? When will it stop? The Cowheads are already saying No Hindu Temple in Muslim Majority Section 23 (or is it 22) of Shah Alam! What is next? No church in muslim majority areas? what else????

Where does it stop? No non-muslims in muslim majority Malaysia?

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP! We are 1 nation, 1 people! As it is being said by 1Malaysia! Time to step up to the plate, O politicians on both sides!

Stop dividing us! Unite Us! or there may be no country left!

As I Lay Me Down To Sleep

2009-08-26T01:35:00.000+08:00

Just a song that caught my fancy... :)

A quiet morning...

2009-07-04T13:22:00.004+08:00

Yes, yes... I know - its has been a good five months or so since I hit the blog and wrote a few words...

But I feel that today is the day to do it.

Before I continue with my own ramblings - I would like to wish journey mercies to my friend Kelvin, half of the We Deed It duo who will be leaving to join Jon - who incidentally is already in one of my favourite countries - Scotland! :) I wish you guys well in your trip ahead - Another 480 days more around the world. And I do hope that somewhere along the way - I will be able to join you guys! To be honest I am very envious!

Now, back to where I am at the moment...

Today is a quiet morning - for with the exception of the tapping of my keyboard, not a word or sound to be heard. The scene outside the window - a scene of typical Singaporean suburbia, with laundry flapping in tandem with trees to the rhythm of the breeze in the bright sunlight - seems almost unreal. Nothing else seems to move. It was as if the world stood still to let me lay out my thoughts.

It has been a hectic and trying time for me and I would say my family. There has been some major upheaval in the business end and I truly wonder if we have bitten off more than what we can chew - but that is another story for another time and another day.

At this moment - what I have to say is that, all things considered, I am well and truly blessed. Blessed with friends that care, family that love. Blessed with many things in life, traveled to more places than most...

As a bird begin to chirp outside the window to accompany the tippity-tap of the keyboard and I see the gentle rise and fall of the creature in slumber (of which I am truly blessed to have her). I am blessed with a quiet morning...

Its all about the party - stupid!

2009-02-04T20:59:00.002+08:00

This post is about all the political shenanigans in Perak.

It has always been a well known fact that in Malaysia - when you vote, it is all about the party. From the 'Dacing' to the 'Roket' to the 'Bulan'. It is all about the party. So - when people who most people cannot remember their names changes their 'emblem' - it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

I have never agreed that elected representatives defect from one party to another. I never agreed that Anwar's insinuations of doing it last September and I have never agreed of Najib doing it today.

It sets a bad precedence! These people are TRAITORS! I cannot believe that Hee, who claimed to be a DAP member for 22 years would forever tarnish her name for such a move! A traitor is always a traitor - untrusted, unloved... the scum of the earth.

Now, if 30 BN reps cross over to Anwar - the BN has no more moral high ground. Any anti-hopping law is a sham! This may turn out to be a Pyrrhic Victory... if Anwar does get the numbers - BN may just get swept away by the seeds they have just sown.

However, this also gives me pause regarding the quality and integrity of the PR politicians we have voted into office. If their loyalty can be swayed - how can they truly say that they serve the rakyat who put them in office?

I truly fear for this country of ours...

Doing the Deeds...

2009-02-03T17:41:00.002+08:00

Onto a lighter note...

Another one of my friends, Jon is about to embark into a life changing journey! He and another friend of his is about to go around the world - for 500 days no less!

They have started off by starting a website for the journey - We Deed It!. They will be starting off in April from London and from there around the world!

Included (subject to change of course!) in the itinerary is the Trans-Mongolian Railroad, the Beijing-Lhasa Railway with a potential sojourn into North Korea! The journey is also open to anyone who wants to hop on and hop off at any part of the trip! So join them!

This Mad Cow here is contemplating to join them in at least one part of the journey :)

...Thinking about an old and absent friend...

2009-02-02T03:31:00.002+08:00

Its 3am and I have just had a sudden bout of wakefulness - was having a fitfull and restless sleep throughout this still and silent night.

I has been a weird night - with me recalling an old old friend I have not seen for almost 10 years (excepting roughly an hour around 5 years ago). It was a friend I used to have deep feelings for, my oldest friend...

I used to have daily conversations with her - even when we were overseas. Those phone calls dwindled with time - to weekly, forthnightly... monthly, quaterly and yearly over the years. Then one day, around 3 years ago - she dropped off the air and the internet. Almost as if she wished to disappear and forget her past.

I do not know why I suddenly remember you, my friend - I just hope that you are well and safe. And that your old friend here, who has known you for more than 20 years, prays for you...

Of Aspirations...

2009-01-21T02:26:00.003+08:00

About an hour and a half ago, Barrack Hussein Obama became the president of the United States of America. It makes me almost want to be an American instead of a Malaysian... Almost.

Although I am not a fan of Obama - of which I still think he has too much style than substance. I am more a fan of Clinton - less rhetorical, less kumbaya. But I can feel a tingle on my spine when he took office.

Here he was, a half African American, a minority in his own country, taking the the nation's highest office. Many say a realisation of a dream. I was both elated for America and driven to despair.

Despair? Yes, Despair...
For in this nation I call home under the current system - I cannot even aspire to hold the highest office of the land. I am a third generation of my family that lived here, grew up here and love this land as fiercely (or I would like to think) as any in this country. But unless there is a change, I can never ever lead this nation... NEVER!

I am not even saying that I am capable of doing the job - but it would be wonderful even if that avenue is open to me. An avenue that all Malaysians irrespective of creed, religion or race can aspire to...

For until then, let us not demean Americans and call them arrogant. Let us not needlessly boycott their products. Let us not protest in front of their embassy. For today, at 1 am Malaysian time, at noon Washington time - they are indeed a better nation, a better society, a more equal society.

A society that - From Every Mountainside, Let Freedom Ring...

Its not about products... stupid!

2009-01-11T14:37:00.002+08:00

You know what - we Malaysians are STUPID!

Boycott Coke? Starbucks? How petty can we get?
Grow Up!

Why not boycott Intel & AMD as well? They are American companies?
Why not boycott HP? Seagate? Western Digital?

What about Agilent? Oh Wait - What about Pfizer? MSD?
WAIT! We cannot forget! Let us BOYCOTT BOEING! Stop getting on Boeing Planes!

Stop Using the Internet! - it is so obviously an AMERICAN creation.

The Luxury of Politics...

2008-11-10T11:02:00.002+08:00

I was talking just the other day with a guy I know from business - and we were talking about the politics in our country - about the MCA, about PR and about Anwar. All very common topics of the day.

However, he pointed out a very interesting story about his experiences with a guy down south. This guy is in a rather bad position right now, with his finances in disarray and dependencies and liabilities stacking up. Apparently, this gentleman has utterly no interest in politics whatsoever - yet he was a former (and probably still is) MCA member.

The reason of his lack of interest in politics is because right now - he is too busy trying to make ends meet. And he sees no way politics or the government is able to assist him in anyway. In fact, he thinks that what the government and politics in this country is doing is even detrimental to him and his family.

To him politics is a luxury - as he is more interested in fulfilling his basic needs 1st!

But is politics a luxury? Politics can effect change to the most remote of people in a country of which the government cares. Politics and political offices are caretakers of the people's collective hopes, dreams and resources. I think that politics is not a luxury - but rather we have to look at the Luxury in Politics.

Confused? Luxury in politics means the little luxuries we can have in our political systems - like having ideologies and stands on issues. I have personally identified myself as centre-right and have argued my position on issues like abortion, to economy, to small government.

This may be because from a young age I have been interested in politics and have followed Reagan, Clinton, Howard, Rudd, Thatcher, Blair, Clinton (the lady), Obama and Cameron. Political systems that have established itself over the years to be a platform of national issues and policies. Democracies of the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

But now I realise these are luxuries in politics. It is unfortunate that in our country - our political system is so inherently flawed that issues are buried and factions and races are brought into the fore.

I have more than once declared my unease at the fundamentalist policies of PAS, the socialist policies of PKR and DAP. I have made myself clear that I identify myself with the policies of UMNO and MCA - conservative policies. Policies that I feel will benefit the people.

But I have been blind - events from yesterday once again opened my eyes. I cannot support UMNO and MCA any longer - because my adherence to conservative policies is a Luxury in Politics that our nation can ill afford.

Only when oppression, heavy handed police action and government abuse (throwing in weak leadership - e.g. MCA leaders who cannot even build his team) is overcome before we can be able to fight our fights on issues and policies.

Now we only have ONE ISSUE to fight - Justice & Equality for all the People. I want a country where I can stand shoulder to shoulder with my fellow citizens of any creed, race or denomination - as equals before the law and the government. I want a country where I could aspire to run for the highest office of the land - Not to win mind you, just the opportunity to run for the Prime Minister of this country.

I am not saying this because of the recent Obama victory in the states - I am more a Hillary supporter. I am saying this because of the symbolism of Obama's victory in the US - that it is indeed a country where all men are created equal... and I see the stark contrast of this right here in Malaysia.

I find that our foreign minister's statement supporting Obama before the US elections a mockery - for if Obama was Malaysian, he would not have even the opportunity to run for the Prime Minister of this land...

Liverpool & Jesus

2008-10-30T11:47:00.004+08:00

I would quote from a recent conversation I had with a few of my closest friends.

One of them was commenting that he has managed to convert two people to Liverpool but laments that he has lead no one as yet to Jesus.

Why is converting people to Liverpool 70% as good as bringing people to Christ?

*grin*

Because - before you can even comprehend God and His relationship with you... you need to realise one important thing...

YOU NEVER WALK ALONE!

This post celebrates Liverpool's victory over Chelsea and Portsmouth and signifies the writer still prays feverishly for further Red Victories!

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

2008-10-08T01:39:00.003+08:00

by Dr. Bob Moorehead

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."
I have the Holy Spirit's power.
The die has been cast.
I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back,
let up,
slow down,
back away,
or be still.

My past is redeemed,
my present makes sense,
and my future is secure.

I am finished and done with low living,
sight walking,
small planning,
smooth knees,
colorless dreams,
chintzy giving,
and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence,
prosperity,
position,
promotions,
plaudits,
or popularity.

I now live by presence,
lean by faith,
love by patience,
lift by prayer,
and labor by power.

My pace is set,
my gait is fast,
my goal is Heaven,
my road is narrow,
my way is rough,
my companions few,
my Guide reliable,
my mission clear.

I cannot be bought,
compromised,
deterred,
lured away,
turned back,
diluted,
or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,
hesitate in the presence of adversity,
negotiate at the table of the enemy,
ponder at the pool of popularity,
or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I must go until Heaven returns,
give until I drop,
preach until all know,
and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own,
He will have no problem recognizing me.

My colors will be clear.

I am not ashamed of the gospel . . . Romans 1:16

Missing Australia...

2008-10-07T20:12:00.000+08:00

Just a feeling... :)

Liverpool 3 - 1 PSV Eindhoven

2008-10-03T11:14:00.002+08:00

*Grin*
Stevie G scored his 100th Goal!

Steve Gerard Gerard...

Too Good to be True...

Acoustic Curves...

2008-09-26T09:11:00.001+08:00

Bring Back Our Independence

2008-09-24T12:01:00.008+08:00

There has been talk recently in the press and openly amongst many of my friends that the best thing Chinese based parties can do is to pull out of the national government and gives its support to the opposition to effect a transition of power that will be a "Second Independence".

While talking to a friend last week (or rather a week and a half ago), I was told that the MCA is a servant party and has always been a servant party since the beginning of the relationship between UMNO and MCA. It was said that this is reflected in the 'servant' ministries allocated to the MCA - ministries of transport, health, human resources, women & family planning - even local government. Nothing important like Defense, Finance or International Trade, always reserved for UMNO. This has been echoed by other friends and family.

I feel the need to set the record straight. The initial MCA-UMNO relationship is not that of servant-master but of equal partners. I want to share a vital piece of the puzzle - that the birth of our nation was almost a stillbirth - one that was prevented because the Malays of UMNO and the Chinese of MCA later with the Indians of MIC came together to fight for independence.

Back then, prior to independence and the existence of the MCA-UMNO Alliance, the major parties of the MCA, UMNO and the IMP (Independence of Malaya Party, a multi-racial party) each pushes its own agenda, often in conflict with one another. UMNO has its motto, Hidup Melayu! (Long Live the Malays!) much to the discomfort of the Chinese in Malaysia.

The first test of achieving self-governance leading to independence was in Kuala Lumpur. In 1952, Kuala Lumpur held its Municipal Elections. There were 12 seats that was contested and the vote was expected to be fragmented between UMNO, MCA and the IMP with no one party able to govern with a solid majority. This is because at that time, Kuala Lumpur is a Chinese majority area. UMNO, the largest Malay party at the time, decided to field 6 candidates and the MCA in response, urged it to field a multi-racial slate. Negotiations and contacts between the two parties gave birth to a MCA-UMNO alliance, as equal partners. As a result, the combined MCA-UMNO Alliance gained 9 out of the 12 seats. An MCA member was given the honour to being the Alliance leader in the council. UMNO, under Tunku changed its motto to Merdeka! (Independence!).

This Alliance (together with the MIC which joined later in 1952), using the formula formed under the Municipal Elections, went on to win election after election, culminating in winning 51 out of 52 seats in the 1st National Elections in 1955 - forming a strong united government that could demand and gained independence in 1957, a mere 2 years after the national elections and a mere 5 years after the formation of the Alliance.

The first cabinet post-independence is as follows:-

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra -- Prime Minister, Defence, Foreign Affairs
Tun Abdul Razak Hussein -- Deputy Prime Minister, Defence (1958)
Abdul Aziz Ishak -- Agriculture and Cooperative
Tun Dr Ismail Datuk Abdul Rahman -- Trade and Security
Tun Henry Lee Hau Shik -- Finance
Tun Omar Yoke Lin Ong -- Labour and Social Welfare
Tun V.T. Sambanthan -- Health
Tan Sri Haji Sardon Jubir -- Works, Posts and Telecoms
Datuk Suleiman Datuk Abdul Rahman -- Natural Resources and Local Government
Abdul Rahman Talib -- Transport (1958)
Tun Leong Yew Koh -- Justice (1960)
Tan Sri Mohamad Khir Johari -- Education (1958)
Tun Tan Siew Sin -- Trade and Industry (1958), Finance (1960)

This composition reflect a relationship of equal partners not of master and servant! MCA was awarded the important ministries of Finance, Trade & Industry amongst others. How come the MCA today is so different? so diffident?

Why is it today supremacists can scream Hidup Melayu! a slogan that has been discarded before independence? Why is it that the Chinese can be called 'squatters' when we are equal partners in the formation of this country? Essential in the first baby steps that lead to independence? It is my opinion that if MCA did not work with UMNO, there will be no independence in 1957 and we would be under the British yoke even until the 1980s (Brunei gained independence in 1984).

We are equal partners. We are friends, co-workers and neighbours - Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban and many others. We are a multi-racial society. Don't worry about the concept of a 'Second Independence' - Bring Back Our Independence!

Padang Musim Bunga...

2008-09-21T12:04:00.001+08:00

New Worry...

Malaysia to go nuclear with RM11 billion NUCLEAR power plant

Think Homer Simpson...

Centrist...

2008-09-16T23:36:00.003+08:00

Well, it has been a hectic week - of running around (like a headless chicken, I might add...) for work as well as... more work, albeit of a different kind.

It is today, of all days that I have realised a role that I have been constantly called to play, be it at work, at home, with friends and on special projects.

That is the role of a centrist - and I am using the word liberally. Not so much so as a centrist in politics (although I believe my views merit me a slightly right of the center position) But rather a centrist in the sense of the person steering the center course.

I think that has made me almost like a moderator in many issues between many of my contemporaries, ranging from between my parents, my friends or between business partners. It is not a role that I relish, as I feel constantly caught in between... *sigh*

But I hope God gives me strength... if this is the role I have to play...

Of Equal Measure...

2008-09-15T02:54:00.002+08:00

Datuk Dr Ma’amor Osman made an interesting statement today in the newspapers - of which I think merits an appearence in my thoughts...

"The detentions are proof that the Government does not remain silent in matters involving racial sensitivities and the Federal Constitution.

“Matters such as these should be viewed seriously because, if ignored, they could incite hatred in the people, especially the Malays, because their special position has often been disputed by certain quarters,” he claimed.

So my dear Datuk, I would say that in view of the greatness of this government in doing so, might we suggest that we arrest the racist nutjob of Penang? Because...

"The suspension of just 3 years by UMNO is proof that the Government remains silent in matters involving racial sensitivities and the Federal Constitution.

Matter such as the one in Penang should be viewed seriously because, if ignored, they could incite hatred in the people, especially Malaysians, because their democratic position has often been disputed by certain quarters."

Stop having different standards my dear friends, apply the law on equal measure as stipulated in Article 8, Clause (1) of the Federal Constitution or don't apply such a law at all.

Article 8 (1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.

And God Bless Malaysia... God bless us all...

A Babel-ical Victory!

2008-09-15T02:09:00.005+08:00

Liverpool 2 - 1 Manchester United

A match that will surely enter the annals of the neverending Liverpool - Manchester United rivalry.

Let's just say I am very happy and contented and put it at that... A victory at Anfield, our 1st in ages vs Man Utd. Caught snippets of the match, the Tevez goal at 3 minutes, Brown's own goal thereafter and a terrific 2nd half.

Indeed...

Babel-icious :P

Image by Alex Livesey - Getty Images
Obtained from http://liverpoolfcclips.blogspot.com/

Into the West...

2008-09-13T01:41:00.001+08:00

Lay down,
your sweet and weary head.
Night is falling.
You have come to journey’s end.

Sleep now, and dream
of the ones who came before.
They are calling,
from across a distant shore.

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see.
All of your fears will pass away.
Safe in my arms,
you’re only sleeping.

What can you see,
on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea,
a pale moon rises.
The ships have come,
to carry you home.

And all will turn,
to silver glass.
A light on the water.
All souls pass.

Hope fades,
Into the world of night.
Through shadows falling,
Out of memory and time.

Don’t say,
We have come now to the end.
White shores are calling.
You and I will meet again.
And you’ll be here in my arms,
Just sleeping.

What can you see,
on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea,
a pale moon rises.
The ships have come,
to carry you home.

And all will turn,
to silver glass.
A light on the water.
Grey ships pass
Into the West.

Professionalism...

2008-09-09T23:27:00.003+08:00

I quote

"Is that professional? He (Koh) is the state BN chief and he severed ties with Umno, how can he perform (his duty) like that? Who is acting emotionally now?"

Professionalism?
Ask this monkey below if what he did was ultra professional?

Idiot in Penang...

2008-09-09T02:22:00.002+08:00

I was initially very angry at the comments of a certain idiot from Flaghill in Penang...

Then I realised - there is no point being angry.

If a person pees on the pavement in front of your home - you have every right to be angry!
But if a dog pees on the same pavement - you don't get angry - its just a dog, probably a mongrel, a paria imported from the south pacific islands...

So - that is the spirit!
He is just a paria pendatang dog...

Above all...

2008-08-19T00:04:00.001+08:00

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Children...

2008-08-12T14:26:00.001+08:00

Heard about the protests at a forum last week...

One comment...

Grow up you barbarians, or go back to your jungle and let the rest of us get on with civilisation...

The comfort of the company of old friends...

2008-07-20T21:43:00.002+08:00

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Essayist

It has indeed been a fast paced and hectic weekend - one of my old old friends is getting hitched and there are many old old friends from way back in town to celebrate this joyous occasion. Many of us apart for many years, dwelling in various cities on different continents and timezones. So for two days, we relived old times.

It was amazing how we fell back onto the old camaderie - old jokes, dirty jokes, insults, gossip & texas hold'em poker. It is also amazing to see the changes we have since days past - weddings, engagements... new babies. And most of all - the sweet sound of laughter that continue to echo in my ears.

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”
Elisabeth Foley

One other thing is the amount of comfort we get from one another as we share confidences in our current lives. I just feel grateful that after all these years, the bonds of our friendships has developed into one that we can speak freely to one another of the current issues in our lives, seek opinions from one another, sharing our worries, troubles and hopes of the future. It may be because we see each other so rarely, that we are so far removed from each other's life, that allow us to share our lives without consequence... without fear... in other words...

In total freedom.

And God, for that I am grateful... truly grateful.

“Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
Albert Camus, French Author

Turning 100...

2008-07-15T23:28:00.002+08:00

I have been pondering for the past one week regarding this 100th post on the blog. I wanted to post up something meaningful - not one of the 5 posting possibilities that hovered in my head at various times over the week past...

Each and every one of them a rant, each and every one of them a complaint...
Each and every one of them something that I need to get out of my system.

It is then I yearned for the past - a past where I have used this blog more to ponder and to pray. It seemed that my language then was more prose-like - more refined so to speak.

Every word of certain posts seemed to have been deliberately placed next their punctuation. Every 'i' dotted with love and every 't' crossed with a purpose. It is then I realised that that 'lost world' is something I have held close to my heart all this while.

Then I remembered my interest and a certain morbid fascination I had in a horrible movie I watched at my friend's place - a movie entitled 'Chicken Rice War'. Set in contemporary Singapore with a Romeo & Juliet-esque storyline - it nevertheless set me off into a weird feeling over the past few days.

I noticed that I went back to my Shakespeare, my Ruyard Kipling and my Arthur Conan Doyle. I picked up my well thumbed tome of Richard Adams and my creased treasure of RM Ballantyne. Things I have read in ages past... and wondered what...

...have I lost?

My language today is of commerce, in marketing plans and proposals... short emails and shorter smses. My words are no longer chosen for their beauty and poignancy but for their simplicity and directness. It seemed that I have lost something I have held dear...

the simple beauty of a well written turn of phrase...
an adjective laden sentence dripping with prose...
a paragraph filled with great expectations of what is yet to come...

So I end this post - my 100th prose with a prologue that all seems familiar with - not to set any scene of the future, but a beginning nontheless. A beginning of which I hope I can bring forth more words from the past and some from the present or the future. Not all mine own words - but others that has brought enjoyment to my eyes...

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Prologue, Romeo & Juliet, William Shakesphere

Greetings & Solicitations...

2008-06-24T22:16:00.004+08:00

"先生，你好!"

Forewarned about talking to weird people on the street - I mumbled
"Don't know Chinese"
"Ohh.... Gurls u wan? Good good gurls! Top Top Qwalitee - local ones"

I walked away...
Repeat this three times in the span of 5 minutes... *sigh*

This is Nanjing Road East - Shanghai...

...Almost Shanghai-ed!

2008-06-24T20:57:00.004+08:00

Today was an eventful morning - when we were rushing from the airport hotel to the airport to catch the flight to Shanghai.

This is the reason why I think that considering China a great country is a bit premature. Take for example our incident in the morning.

Arriving early for check-in and after lining up for 20minutes, we were served by this woman at the check-in counter. She directed us to another counter for check-in. This is when I sense the falling sandbag.

There was this lady who duly informed me in her half-baked engrish that the ticket is not valid as we did not reconfirm with them. RECONFIRM? Why? This is an issued e-ticket that clearly state that it is CONFIRMED & RESERVED. The paper happen to mention it 3 times!

So WTF?
Arguing about 10 minutes later, the rather un-apologetic woman was hereby demanded by us to see their supervisor. 10 minutes later - still no word. Here we are stranded at the airport without a flight to make it to a meeting in 4 hours (the flight takes 2 hours) with the next flight departing way too late to get us there in in (it departs 2 hours later. 2+2 = 4 hours plus travelling time is way too late)

So i went further on the offensive - and finally after a 30minute ordeal, we finally got on the plane. But by then it was less than 20 minutes for the flight and the baggage is close. So we rushed across to the oversized baggage counter to get it in - quite a long distance - making it on the minute that service is closed for the flight. Then with 10 minutes remaining - it was the mad rush thru security and to a gate verily 500+ meters away!

So in the end we made it - but I carry away a distinct feeling that one of the premier airlines i.e. China Southern nearly shanghai-ed us - either by sheer incompetence or stupidity...

It appears that the much vaunted China - does have its incompetent side... and have a long long long way to catch up. Even with Malaysia...

Sleepless in Canton...

2008-06-23T16:04:00.002+08:00

It has been a hectic week of work work work and sick sick sick.
*sigh* *grin*

Well, it is official - I have not really slept for the past 48 hours - except 3 hours of cough wrecked sleep on Saturday night and a turbulence filled 2.5 hours on the cramped seat of an airplane.

So right now I find myself unable to go to sleep - even in a quiet hotel room in off Guangzhou. My mind is just racing around, from matters at work, matters with colleagues, leftover matters from that especially time consuming last minute causing me not to be able to sleep project, matters of what the hell I am supposed to do for the next four days as I proceed to Shanghai for meetings and more meetings.

Traveling used to be fun - and it still is. The 1st look of an approaching city from the air, the tarmac of an airport I have never before ventured, the lines at immigration and customs silently praying I have not done or brought anything wrong. I love it all... However, I am starting to develop some disenchantment with traveling so much - especially for work.

I sometimes wish just to lie on my bed, book in hand with my mind in some faraway place - be it Midkemia, Arrakis, Middle Earth or Treasure Island. But I digress - probably due to my sleep deprived state.

For those who want to be in the know on my going-ons in life, I just have lunch and is currently waiting for a talk in the evening. Tonight we will be staying at the airport hotel ready to be whisked away to Shanghai 1st thing in the morning...

Oh Canton, Canton...
I hardly know you...
But for the whispers of your character...
from the elevated highway

Oh Canton, oh Canton
People now call you...
Guangzhou, jewel of the Pearl River...
as I depart from you by the jetway

On tomorrow's morn

Prayers...

2008-06-15T15:44:00.003+08:00

Received this on email today... Everyone lets chip in and pray that God will remove all evil powers and potentates in our home.

Out Of Court Settlement In SIB Case Fails
Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Hearing for the SIB case over the lawfulness of confiscation of their Christian publications containing the word "Allah" finally started at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Monday (9 June) under a new judge, Justice Datuk Abdul Kadir Musa, after futile attempts to settle the dispute out of court.

The hearing of the application by the Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Church) Sabah for leave to sue the Internal Security Minister Syed Hamid Albar (previously Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) and the Federal government over the dispute was heard in chambers but was adjourned to 7 Aug.

SIB claimed that on 15 August 2007, three boxes of its Christian educational publications from Indonesia to Sabah were unlawfully detained on transit at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Sepang. They also contend that this had infringed upon their constitutional rights and their rights to freedom of religion.
After unsuccessful attempts to get the books released, the SIB filed the application for leave to seek a judicial review by way of a Certiorari Order from the court that the minister and government was wrong in law in confiscating and detaining the publications containing the word "Allah". It also filed for a Mandamus Order for the release of the books which were meant for their children's religions education. The church is also seeking several declarations from the court on their constitutional rights to use the word "Allah" in their religious publications, among other things. In addition, SIB is applying for a stay order.

In Monday's hearing, SIB was represented by Datuk D.P. Naban and Lim Heng Seng while senior Federal Counsel Azizah Nawawi represented the respondents. SIB Sabah president Pastor Jerry Dusing and church secretary Pastor Danny Limpakan were also present.

The books were returned to SIB on 25 Jan and it is understood that the application for Certiorari and Mandamus has been overtaken by events and the focus in on submission by SIB lawyers for the remaining declaratory reliefs and stay order. They are believed to have argued that the declarations are needed to protect their clients from continued harassment by the authorities regarding the use of the word "Allah" by the church.

The application was first heard before Justice Madam Lau Bee Lan on 27 Dec 2007. SIB lawyers tendered a certificate of urgency to case but senior Federal Counsel Azizah Nawawi asked for a postponement on grounds that there were moves by third parties to resolve the dispute out of court.

On 16 Jan 2008, when the case came up for hearing again before a new judge, Justice Datuk Wan Arfah. Azizah again asked for a postponement to 27 Jan. However, two days before that, SIB was given back their books and as a result both parties agreed to another adjournment on the understanding that following the general elections on 8 March, there would be renewed attempts to resolve the matter out of court but none was forthcoming till the hearing Monday. (By BOB TEOH/ MySinchew)

Home sweet home...

2008-06-15T15:39:00.002+08:00

Jack of all Trades...

2008-06-12T03:46:00.003+08:00

The funny thing about blogging (at least for me) - is that I am not compelled to do it. I never kept a consistent diary in my life, I never managed to fully use the calendar function - be it in my phone, my pda or my pc (and mac for that matter).

无事不登三宝殿

Chinese saying - basically 'if there is nothing, one will not go to the triple treasure hall' - in this case triple treasure means the temple. It is similar to what many Christians do - not pray unless we are already suffering.

Which is why there is so much ranting on the blog :P I do not come here unless I want to vent - to rant... which is why I am up at 4am here - rambling away.

Just want to say that I am tired...
Due to my work - I have been put into an unenviable position of doing many things for the many facets (and companies) I am involved in. That forces me to devote less time to everything I am involved in - and in some eyes of some idiots I work with, this is a sign that I am not 'pulling my weight'

Nevermind the extra hours I put in, nevermind the extra mile I go...
Nevermind the shortcuts I have created, the extra effort to get things out perfect

Nevermind the time I devoted in the darkest of nights
Nevermind the crazy driving from point to point, the hours I have to stay in the office

Nevermind the personal resources I put in...
My own money to complement my blood, sweat and tears.

I am sorry if this blog sometimes sound like a big vent of hot air and fury. But heck -I am indeed angry and frustrated.

So to the world out there, at 4:09 in the morning. If I just can't please you - go stick your head in your **** and **** yourself.

Cheers!

The fine line between White and Black...

2008-05-14T06:44:00.003+08:00

Mr PC... meet Mr Mac!

There you have it! The cow is now walking the fine line between my dearest black PC and my new white Mac (for my office).

However, contrary to what GCB says, I will never abandon the PC! Viva la PeeCee!

Besides, I only considered Mac now that it is INTEL INSIDE :P

:)

Darling, how was your day today...

2008-04-30T17:40:00.004+08:00

*spoken with a fake English accent*

Sitting on a plastic stool on a rather grubby SS2 pavement with a huge jar of syrup filled 'Lychee Special', I was duly informed (albeit in jest and without malice) that my blog is only rants punctuated by pictures and jokes, I have decided that my blog needs to have some 'human activity' - i.e. the coming and goings of my rabid cow life...

Thus,
I have decided to put more ramblings - entries that answer the perpetual "Darling, how was your day today?" question.

So here goes...

Work is hectic, juggling the interests of 4 companies is tideous at best... and confusing. The spark of the day? Dear dear Vera is questioning my sexual orientation (with good reason as I posted up in excess of 25 pictures of Greg on facebook)! *grin*

And I am travelling south again... in the evening.

Enough?
*grin*

The level of our enemies...

2008-04-11T00:34:00.002+08:00

I have been angry of late... mostly because of the issues at work and as well as in the home front.

Actually, not angry...
just irritated...
really irritated...

the 'I have an itch at the back of my eyes and cannot scratch it unless I claw out my eyes' kinda irritated!

Needless to say, work and personal stuff aside - another irritation is actually from the political front. Yes... I know, politics is the new black on blogs. But I got riled up by a few hypocrites, a 'lets overturn the people's votes by bypassing the state tourism exco' member of government as well as other Very Irritating Politicians (VIPs).

The reason why I am putting all this here is not to create another hotbed of dissent but rather that I realised something when we get irritated... we tend to drop down to the level of our enemies...

Yesterday, I came within an inch of shooting a 'Vox Populi' email to the friendly people at Malaysiakini. I even typed up my comment and it goes along the line of - '...cut off the elected state governments again in arrogance or rather stupidity and be prepared to have a PR federal government (if and when elected) to do the same to BN held states...'

Today, I was engaged in what is best described as 'A modern practical dissertation of the tactics of an Italian prince - Nicollo Machiavelli'. Although the target of the said discussion is an hypocrite, I suddenly realised (around 10 minutes ago in the shower) that if I had went ahead with my ideas, I would have committed a grievious error - especially in the eyes of the world, and the Lord Himself.

This sudden 'revelation' has given me pause - that I have to cut through the mist of irritation and think the 'Godly' way out of things... not only on the political front - but also at work and the home front.

*grin*
Who said bad politicians have nothing to teach us...

It's Not Easy...

2008-04-06T01:59:00.002+08:00

I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
I’m just out to find
The better part of me

I’m more than a bird...
I’m more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
It’s not easy to be me

I Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home I’ll never see

It may sound absurd...
but don’t be naive
Even Heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed...
but won’t you concede
Even Heroes have the right to dream
It’s not easy to be me

Up, up and away...
away from me
It’s all right...
You can all sleep sound tonight
I’m not crazy...
or anything…

I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
Men weren’t meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

I’m only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me

It’s not easy to be me...

Don't know why I suddenly felt related to this song... Not that I am trying to say I am superman or anything. *grin* However, I do have a funny red sheet...

Rakyat: Time is Ripe for Samy to pack up and leave

2008-03-18T09:41:00.002+08:00

I do not presume to speak for the people, but rather this is a parody for the article by The Star entitled Samy: Time not ripe for Barisan to be a single party

Dear Mr Samy, I think your quote that "In today’s political situation, such an action will dilute the rights of the Indian community" is hollow and severely out of touch. This political situation has successfully dispelled the double edged sword that is racial politics - I think that the Indian community is well represented in the Barisan Rakyat ranks.

I further quote from the article " the smaller communities like the Indians still had to fight for their rights and this could only be done through MIC." This does shows how out of touch he is! Does the MIC have any claim that they and they alone have monopoly over the voice of the Indian community? Or rather the baton has passed to multi-racial parties like PKR or DAP?

Of all the noises coming out of BN - I am most heartened by Gerakan - echoing its call for BN to be a singular multi-racial party (as was in their AGM earlier). So what now for Gerakan if the old coalition structure remain? Would Gerakan leave BN? That is an interesting for the honourable Dr Koh to chew on. (I am still impressed on his composure and handling of the Penang handover)

In the end, I just could not resist - just a thought - maybe the people of Kepong should suggest that the MRR2 elevated highway should change its name to Lebuhraya Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj. *grin*

PS: For my friends - I know that this blog is fast becoming a political rag - I promise to put up other related news and hope that we will go back to my regular staple of piccies :). Cheers!

History...

2008-03-17T18:21:00.003+08:00

"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." -George Santayana

These are heady times - with new governments in many states and a new sense of unity amongst the people. As usual, the government-owned media has not managed to get this sense of unity on the ground - citing that Malaysians are divided as never before. I really do hope they are wrong, and some of my recent experiences the hope seems to be right.

I was talking to my aunt just today, about politics no less - a topic that is unusual simply that she is probably the most politically challenged person in this nation. In all honesty, this aunt of mine is rather narrow in her interpretation of race relatios - i.e. stay away from non-chinese people. Full Stop. But what was amazing is the words that was coming out of her mouth.

"Waah, this new president (it is actually MB but she ended up saying president) for Perak is good hor. Seem to be nice," she said.

"But Ah Eee, he is PAS wor. Isn't that not a good thing?" I quipped - knowing full well that like all Penangites (or rather Chinese Penangite) she has expressed her horror and disdain for the Islamist party many times.

"Aiyoh. Beh yau kin eh lar. E PAS mar PAS lor. Ha mi ma shi siang eh. Eh hiau ka wa lang teng lang ho lai ho kee mar eh sai lor." (Hokkien: Aiyou. Nevermind one - let it be PAS - so what, it is all the same. As long as he is able to work with us Chinese - that is enough)

I was flabbergasted. This was probably one of the only conversations that I have with this aunt in which she actually approved of a PAS supporter - much less a PAS MB! She went on to say that her friends back in Penang as well as some in Taiping and Pak Hai (or Seberang Prai) and our cousin in Sia Tan Ni (Sungai Petani) also have similar views (SP is in the now PAS dominated state of Kedah). I guess the people are indeed sick of race politics and are looking for an alternative - contrary to what is being presented by the press.

Now, talking about race relations - this is the reason why I titled this post of history. During election night, I was kinda forced back home around 1am because my mum was rather paranoid about potential riots. I was rather chuffed about it (I actually intended to go back to my election monitoring) and brought it up yesterday at dinner. It was then I heard a first hand account of a young girl (my mum was her teens) during the May incident.

"It was scary. At night we all switched off all the lights and crowded into one room. It is almost like a curfew. In the middle of our room we put a lot of big pots, pans and a big tangki - and we have our sticks. Someone will be awake to keep watch"

"The boys took their bamboo sticks and some of them took old hunting rifles (one of my grand-uncles was apparently a ranger) and hid in the rambutan orchard just across the road."

"The reason why the pans and pots was that if we see any lights coming - if there was a lot of lights like torches we would beat the pots and drums and the boys and men will form a barricade/blockade."

This was all new to me. And the vividness of it shows that this time must have impacted her a lot. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the details she said (it was a long time ago) but my mum gave me a sense that this must NOT be forgotten - so that IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

I am so glad that this was a peaceful transition at this critical time. I applaud PM Pak Lah for allowing this climate of change to happen - that he respected the people's wishes. Not all of our ex-prime ministers may have chosen the fair honourable way our Pak Lah has carried himself. I am aslo glad that the opposition did not goad and held their victories with grace and decorum.

In 39 years from now, our children will ask us about this election - this election that showed that this nation can move forward with peaceful change. And I will be able to tell my son or daugther that he or she has nothing to fear to party with the victors of the Malaysian General Elections 2047 (if I am alive then :P). I will tell them the day that a fair and honourable PM - who may not be the strongest or sharpest leader - who allowed this change. That Abdullah Badawi may be one of the most important leaders in the history of this nation - by simply allowing the people to be heard...

Get on with it...

2008-03-13T21:23:00.002+08:00

3 Days?
You have to be kidding... 3 days and the Perak government to be is already in crisis? What is happening? It is rather sad that a bright hope of a new era is now dimmed and off to a bad start.

So... I have only 1 thing to say... Get on with it! Go form your government, get down to work, dismantle the old regime and prove the biased official media wrong! You guys will probably get only one chance - don't blow it!

Ancient Chinese Wisdom...

2008-03-12T10:41:00.012+08:00

Photograph taken at the Baotu Spring (趵突泉) also known as the '1st spring under heaven' (天下第一泉), Jinan, China

It seems that even after the 'political tsunami' last weekend, the MCA leadership and its press bureau - The Star has still not managed to look introspectively at the rebuke given by Malaysians of ALL RACES...

I would like to bring you to the analects - by Confucius - considering now we are talking about the MCA...

"君子周而不比, 小人比而不周"

Written almost 2,000 years ago, its philosophy is still very much relevant in the political world today. The above line states - 'The superior man (Leader) is all embracing and impartial, while the inferior man is never embracing and always partial."

In this case it is very true - take Ong Ka Chuan who just yesterday criticised the DAP of duping voters (Page N8, The Star 11/03/08). What the DAP is doing is embracing all possibilities in a new environment - by showing itself to be an all inclusive, non-race based party. It must be a hard thing for them to contemplate a PAS MB for Perak, and they would be worried about the repercussions - but kudos to them for not balking at the possibility of an Islamist MB and allow Perak to go into disarray under a minority administration. So Mr YB Ong, be a 君子, not a 小人. Because the Chinese will never support the party of inferior men - stop wagging the dog and look inwards to rebuild the trust the people had for the MCA - for no amount of distractions can change the reality that the MCA has lost our trust, our votes for it no longer represent our voice.

Also from the Analects...

哀公聞曰：「何爲則民服」

孔子對曰：「擧直錯諸枉, 則民服; 擧枉錯諸直, 則民不服。」

Master of Ai (Duke): How can I make the people follow me?

Confucius: Go forward with upright righteousness and set aside the crooked, and the people will follow you. Go forward with crookedness and set aside the upright, and the people will not follow you.

This should also serve as a warning to the MCA, the people have left you and will not follow you until you bring back righteousness and principles to the party. It pains me for I have once supported the MCA greatly - only to be gravely disappointed. The MCA cannot be a community club or welfare society - it is a political party that needs to set the standard of leadership of the community and bring it into a multi-racial context - ranting about racial lines will only serve to belittle the people and bring MCA further into oblivion.

In the end...

子曰：「爲政以德, 譬如北辰居其所而衆星共之。」

Confucius says: "If you govern by the power of your virture, you will be like the North Star - you will stay in your place (of honour) and all the other stars will revolve around you."

Impossible?

2008-03-06T15:08:00.005+08:00

Its almost 5am and it has indeed been a momentous occasion...

There is a famous line from one of my favourite movies of all time...

"People should not fear their government, their government should fear the people"

I guess today we have taught our government fear...

Congratulations to all the winners of the election - on both sides. This is a chance for you all to show that you have earned the right to represent us. To the opposition, who has broken the 2/3 stranglehold - it is time for you to step up to the expectation that you will usher in a new dawn. To the government, it is time for you to renew and rebuild the trust the people have put to you for over 50 years.

And Mr Kuppusamy... I guess WE ARE ALL MALAYSIANS AFTER ALL!
P/S To the media, it is time for you to get your act together and represent the views of all Malaysians... I have posted this in 2005 and again in the last month - The biggest loser of this election is you who keep media blackouts, unfair reporting and biased editorials, You have heard the roar of the people - and the great expanse of the internet - act now of be irrelevant now and forevermore.

Sunlight

2008-03-06T02:47:00.004+08:00

“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
who is already sick and pale with grief that thou her maid art far more fair than she.”
- William Shakephere, Romeo & Juliet

Photograph taken in Singapore

Cill Rìmhinn...

2008-03-01T09:47:00.002+08:00

Recently, one of my Scottish friends told us the good news - that he has been accepted into St. Andrews in Scotland. In commemoration to that, I posted up some of the pictures I took at St. Andrews to get him excited *grin*

Well now I am going to share these pictures here...

A view from the entrance of the St Andrews Cathedral compound - looking across the cemetary

A view at ground level of the grand Cathedral entrance

Arches

View of St Andrews town from St Rule's Tower with the cathedral ruins in the foreground

Similar to the above but with more of the cathedral grounds in the foreground

Beautiful ruins of St Andrews Castle

A view of the sea from the ruins of the castle - including a pool/bath ruin in the foreground and the cathedral on the headland

A lone predator staring into the North Sea

Proud to be Malaysian...

2008-02-28T00:51:00.005+08:00

Whenever some nice caucasian dude asks me (and trust me I do get it a lot, especially in Australia, UK or even Ireland)... So what are you? I mean, what race are you? What nationality? What...

I usually just jump in... I am a Malaysian or rather a Malaysian Chinese (or sometimes Malaysian of Chinese descent.

This is often followed by an ahhhhh... Malaysian eh... nice country, beautiful beaches, that... what do ya call it - Pet-rones towers -wish to go there someday...
The fact that I am Chinese would not even crop up after that...

When I was an undergraduate down-under, I got myself involved in the Malaysian Student Council, a loose coalition organised by the MSD of university based Malaysian clubs. This coalition is organised at a national (in Australia) level and by state level. I had the privilege to be chairman of one such state Malaysian Student Council - and until today still extremely proud of the team I put together - Chinese, Malay and Indians working together under a common identity - being Malaysian.

In addition, looking at the larger picture nationally - I am Chinese, my counterpart in South Australia is Malay, in Queensland, an Indian. All united with one voice - being Malaysian!

You would probably be asking now - why am I bringing all this up right now? It is simple - I have been stirred by the press. I am proud to be Malaysian - Which is why I am now deeply offended by an article in the papers by a reporter, who in one fell swoop declared himself an expert in race relations in our beloved nation. In his article, this gentleman noted that Malaysia ia "a country where “Malaysians” are still rare and society is populated instead by Malays, Chinese and Indians and something called 'others'.” What in interesting insight!

This article was on The Star - Anwar reinvents himself again. It is obvious that the article is trying to analyse and point out the weaknesses of one of our opposition leaders - that he has abandoned his "twin pillars" and move on to a ground that he will never win. But in the process he revealed the dark underbelly of our national politics - if he is right, our government has failed in its grand attempt to unite us all - slogans of "Malaysia Boleh!" rings hollow, "Malaysia truly Asia" a sham, "Masyarakat Majmuk & Muhibbah" a pipe dream, our Rukunegara an empty formula hanging on the darkened walls of failed schools and broken fields... It is probably the saddest thing my eyes ever have the misfortune of reading.

It is in the deepest recesses of my mind and heart that screams out - wishing that it is not true. That being Malaysian is being in a special society... where in the night market a Malay vendor sells halal char koay teow next to a Chinese dude selling Nasi Lemak, where Chinese taxi drivers speak fluent Tamil, Malay taxi drivers swears in Cantonese and Indian taxi drivers complaining about traffic in Kelantanese Malay vernacular... A society that worships our gods and deities side by side, where D24 Durian stalls have men (and women) of all races frantically digging into our King of fruits... A society that kawans hang together as heng tais... Where the people speak in funny incomprehensible English (such as Hey Joe, mana lu pergi? or Alamak! Like that si liao)

In short - a Malaysian society... Just as it was envisioned by our government leaders 51 years ago when they got together in Alliance to form a common National Front

More laughter...

2008-02-22T09:33:00.003+08:00

Hahhahahahha... *grin*
This morning I received an email from a friend with two songs on youtube worth sharing. I tell you - this is funny S*** *grin*

Also comments on the ongoing 'Lingam Affair'

Apparently, these guys are comedians that perform at the actors studio in Bangsar - their website is at Comedy Court. These guys are geniuses *grin*

Plague on both your houses...

2008-02-15T20:54:00.003+08:00

It is kinda sad to say that as elections approach, I have increasingly been feeling shortchanged - by the simple fact that I am in this electorate...

I yearn to be in the electorate in the United States - whose ideas, ideals and issues driven race - even in the choosing of the party nominee excites me. I yearn to be in the electorate of Australia, where an orderly transition from one party to the next shows a generational change... All sadly absent in this country

Choosing in this upcoming election - is almost impossible as I am now faced with the choice between the devil and the deep blue sea...

On one side is a government that has indeed brought success and development to this nation I love - but has lost credibility in my eyes - especially with the announcement of the dissolution of parliament - after outright denial that it would do so. Such a behaviour had indeed left me feel deceived.

But on the other side, is an opposition - that neither have the ability or credibility to govern. In my eyes they are neither tested to lead or show a slightest hint that they will be able to deliver except to rattle the bushes and be an opposition.

*sigh*
My mind is definately not made up - and I think so are many other Malaysians out there... so shame on the both of you...

F8 at 1/250...

2008-01-24T11:20:00.000+08:00

Although I am a dedicated Nikon user - sometimes Canon do come up with terrific adverts. This is one perfect example *grin*

This is one thing that will bring grief to many aspiring photographers to come - to choose between a good photograph and face the consequences or let the photo go for the moment.

I think I choose the former a bit too many times *grin*

Shattered no more...

2008-01-21T09:35:00.000+08:00

I have gotten back the precious...

*grin* *GRIN*

Bone tired...

2008-01-21T09:07:00.000+08:00

*sigh*

I really wonder what it the purpose of all this at times - all this work/activity. Today I woke up feeling bruised and battered, probably due to the absolute nutcase of activity over the last weekend.

I think this was the busiest end/beginning of the year that I have ever had. Weddings, events, launches & other challenges rolled all into one. It has made me muddle headed, a bit of a wreck and wishing to be sipping pina coladas in one of the quieter islands of the world - where the pace is slower, the sunsets beautiful and the risk of being driven mad by errant drivers minimal.

The need of clearing my thoughts - take a breather so to speak is now a primal need. I have started to mention names and products of the 3 different companies I am looking after incorrectly - and them being competitors just my life a wee miserable. I have named the wrong company twice, the wrong product thrice and the wrong leader's name at least once!

I need a break... for I am tired to the bone - but looking at my schedule, I see no reprieve... *sigh*

But you know, contradictory as it may seems, I welcome opportunities to help my friends to do things that are close to my heart. In my eyes - they are attractive little portable holiday islands that come my way... now to get that alcoholic drink to wash it down.

On SMS Dynamics...

2008-01-15T10:40:00.000+08:00

My smses are getting shorter?
Why?

Is it the absence of time? or rather the presence of more work?
Is it an increment of snappiness? or a reduction of grace?

I would love to think it is rather a switchback to a Nokia phone from an O2 phone...

1 phrase, 3 words...

No More Auto-Dictionary!

Random laugther @ 2am...

2008-01-12T01:56:00.000+08:00

Hahahhahahhahahahhahahhahhahhahah!
Hahahhahahahah!

HAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHHA!
So there!

*Note: Credit has to go to Dr Egg for her contribution.... *grin**

And then I found this... (also good and appeals more to my pharmacy side *evil grin*)

Enuff said... Then I heard this one...

I think its time for me to go to bed... *grin*
Cheers!

Shattered...

2008-01-08T16:20:00.000+08:00

Spanking New Car...
Proud Owner...

Sungai Besi Highway...

Runaway Rock...

Shattered!

*sigh*

Give me a break!

Heavy thoughts for a new year...

2008-01-02T17:12:00.000+08:00

Greetings to everyone out there! Happy New Year 2008...

This New Year's Eve was a rather anti-climatic affair - with some excitement (or rather poisoning) by oyster mushrooms - thus making my 1st act in 2008 a prolonged visit to the toilet *sigh*

However, this new year is different... really really different...

1) My best friend is MARRIED!!! Oh my goodness *grin* How did that happen? Well - all I can is that he is indeed a lucky man and I wish him all the best in the new journey ahead... I will definately be posting up pictures from the wedding soon! Promise!

2) A lesson on New Year's Day... For this all I can say is Sorry... I realised that I was extremely insensitive (albeit in ignorance)... even antagonists have families and my heart sincerely goes out to them for the traumatic events of recent days...

Hong Kong Streets...

2007-12-12T10:06:00.000+08:00

It was just recently that I have came back from HK - and whilst I was there for business (and not pleasure *sigh*) for just a day (and the night before) I managed to catch some pictures of the streetlife in this vibrant metropolis.

The following four pictures shows not the glittering towers of glass and steel but rather the gritty streets of the Kowloon area - where tradition and neon lights meet in equal measure...

A snapshop of a typical 'chinese medical hall' which can be found all along Nathan Road - in particular the near the Jordan MTR station.

Traditional Bamboo Scaffolding is still very much in use in the city centre - it is amazing how high these scaffoldings go!

Neon & Traffic along the busy Nathan Road - At night it is a riot of colours

A Bird's Nest store just across from our hotel...

Relieved...

2007-12-12T09:46:00.000+08:00

Liverpool 4 - Marseilles 0

*Phew* *grin*

Thank goodness - we are past the group stages...

Dubious Food?...

2007-11-15T10:45:00.000+08:00

While slowly exploring the night scene along the Bund (Pudong side) in Shanghai in my recent trip - my eye caught what I would best describe as a 'dubious' food establishment...

In actual fact, according to my colleague, it is a famous HK dessert place - called Hui Lau Shan (or Xu Liu Shan in mandarin) - however the lack of maintenance on the sign makes it a much more sinister place.

I LAU SHAI??? OMG!!! (Hokkien for I am going to get the sh*ts)

Fear traverse down my spine, and a cold cold feeling crept up my back (which incidentally was a cold gust of wind...) Girding my heart, we trundled up the path to meet our destiny... Shakesphere comes to my head...

To Lau Shai or NOT to Lau Shai - that is the question...

*In actual fact, the food there was perfectly nice, perfectly hygienic & perfectly safe...* *grin*

Photograph taken at night, Pudong (South) Bund, Shanghai, China

Here I am to worship...

2007-11-13T08:40:00.000+08:00

It has been ages since I have committed a post to worship. Worship can come in many forms - praise & worship (singing), prayer as well as the things we do daily. In that vein, Lord, please accept my humble worship in the pictures I took of your wonderful creation...

Sunset @ Damai Laut Resort, Lumut, Malaysia

Light of the World
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes,
let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of life spent with You

The sun setting behind Thirasa from Imerovigli (on Santorini)

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely,
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me

Late afternoon sun @ the 12 Apostles at Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

King of all days,
oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above,
humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Evening sky upon St. Mark's Square, Venice with the roof of the Basilica di San Marco a Venezia on the left and the Campanile on the right.

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely,
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me

Dawn clouds over Genting Highlands from Awana Resort

I'll never know how much it cost,
to see my sin upon that cross. (Rpt x5)

Evening sun over a chapel on the cliffside @ Skaros, Santorini

Call upon the name of The Lord and be saved... (Rpt x8...)

Sunset over Middle Island on Stingray Bay (Southern Ocean), Warrnambool, Victoria

All I can say is that Lord, you are indeed the light of the world - and your beauty and the beauty you sculpted is beyond words and descriptions...

...the lure of the sea

2007-11-02T08:19:00.000+08:00

I must go down to the sea again,
to the lonely sea and the sky;
and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.
-John Masefield

Photograph taken in Ayodya Resort, Bali, Indonesia

...Roses

2007-10-31T09:10:00.000+08:00

What's in a name?

That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet

- William Shakesphere, Romeo & Juliet

Photograph taken in Hotel G, Galway, Republic of Ireland

...Thin Gray Line...

2007-10-30T02:06:00.000+08:00

Alrite, alrite - I shall admit it...

Yours truly, the rabid cow is a sucker for... yeap - you guessed it...

Fairytales
Indeed, I think I have a remarkable appetite for fairytales and a remarkable capacity to want to believe in them.

It was rather unsettling - as you know most 26 year olds usually consider themselves beyond the age of fairytales... but I have had almost 8 hours to think about it as I travelled between Paris and KL just earlier today (yes - I am back in KL).

Flying Singapore Airlines for the 1st time in yonks - I was treated to the new Krisworld entertainment system (which is miles better than MAS Select!!!) of which I happen to choose the movie "Stardust"

It was a simple tale - one of which I could predict the ending from a mile away... a story of a hapless hero becoming a seasoned prince in shining armour, falling in love (not with the lady he intended to marry) with a heroine-damsel in distress... escaping from evil princes, dark witches... running into honourable buccaneers... with magic, warped realities and falling stars thrown in with equal measure...

In all honesty, the simple story somehow affected me deeply. The clear delineation between evil and good - no grey areas, just black and white that is ever present in fairytales seems to appeal to me at the moment (or rather all my life).

It is this almost far-fetched simplicity that makes fairytales... not the unicorns, flying ships or hidden princes... not the beautiful princesses, perpetually honourable handsome princes and impossibly tall palaces and castles. The essence of fairytales that set them apart from reality is the fact that good and evil are so tangible and clear cut. Reality is so much different - half of the time I question whether my actions, be it at work, in my family, in romance and relationships are right or wrong... it seems that my life is painted more grey than anything else, with murder, pillage and plunder the black band on the far end, prayer, church and respect the white bar on the other end.

Watching this refreshingly simple tale made me wish and pray that one day that the life I choose to live will have more black and more white - with only a Thin Grey Line seperating them. That this confusion I seem to be always in on recent days be in the past.

*sigh* Fairytales...
If only...

If only life was that simple.

and everyone can live... Happily Ever After

The above pic is actually taken in my office of one of my 'castles' to test out my new 50mm lenses :)

More travelling...

2007-10-21T21:17:00.000+08:00

Greetings from Changi Airport - in transit on the way to Paris CDG... this time in a way for work (or rather babysitting) @_@

Hope I can put up pictures (as I always promise but fail to deliver)... *sigh* I don't know why but a sense of foreboding depression seems to have crept into my outlook as I look into the faceless mass of travellers in Changi...

A nagging questions begs to be answered...

Everytime I came into an airport the feeling is different - as well as the outlook, the opinions and the state of mind. The last time I transited Changi - it was almost 1+1/2 years ago on the way to Frankfurt. I realised that since my dreams have been amended, my prose of life have been edited... my outlook irrevocably changed, my heart have shifted...

The only thing that seems the same - is that I have yet to find the purpose of my life...

Man, I am bloody depressing...

:P

Not Another Traffic Post...

2007-10-20T17:07:00.000+08:00

Really... this is not another traffic post :)

A close friend of mine, Fergs (GCB) happen to mention today that my blog is starting to sound like roadkill central - so I will take up his suggestion to post some piccies up.

Well, now that I went back to my photos - I realised that there has been a tremendous backlog of pictures I have not yet 'processed' - reaching back to January!!! So here is some pictures from June-July 2007...

Street Fellowship
The WAJR cell visited the Street Fellowship on Petaling Street (or rather very close to Petaling Street)...

The Street Fellowship in Petaling Street

Reena leading worship in 3 languages (or rather 4 languages if you count dialects)

God's presence was in the house!

"You are my everything... You are my Lord..."

YJ sharing...

Cell Leader FY leading Word Study

Nightscapes in KL & Putrajaya
This is a random selection of nightscapes around Putrajaya and KL taken between June and July 2007...

The fountain located in front of the Putrajaya Mosque

One of the bridges leading to the administrative centre of Putrajaya

KLCC Fountain at dusk

Everything...

2007-10-19T02:06:00.000+08:00

Well, its 2:08 am but I am still wide awake - the aftermath of too much coffee and a drink with my very old frens Yin & Su-Li...

Checking my email just b4 bed - I came across a site that is worth visiting - Godtube with a video that touched my heart tremendously...

It is from a song called 'Everything'... and I would like to thank God for allowing for such creativity to spread his message as well as people like Reena (which I got the mail from) for spreading it...

It truly touched me.

Of Trust... and Friendship

2007-10-13T00:48:00.000+08:00

I have around 5 minutes to write (my own allotment - I need to sleep in 5 minutes to wake up around 4:40 am tomorrow (or rather later today)... but somehow I need to have a release from the fright I just had.

It was raining heavily and as I was proceeding back home - I ran into a partial accident - partial that nothing much was affected - accident that my car received a knock... It is all attributed to my tiredness *sigh*

I literally press the accelerator when I went over a bump - instead of the brake - dun know why I did it - but it was scary. I knocked some thingy over (thank God it is not a wall) and went over the bump in a crash... the rain was not helping... so basically I hit the undercarriage of the car, and swipe my bumper... no biggie - except that I am now worried about leaving early tomorrow to Singapore.

Thus, I am sleeping at home - not over at a friend's. Because I need my sleep and to calm my nerves. I just need to be trusted to turn up at the appointed time (5:45am) and proceed down to Sg. So... I go to bed with this prayer.

Lord,
Grant me peace and calm my nerves. Let me have a good sleep so that I may be refreshed on the morning.
Grant me strength and the ability to wake up early tomorrow... and grant me the will to fulfill my friend's trust in me.
Grant us journey mercies and safe passage... and protect us from all harm.
This I pray in the name of Christ Jesus.
Amen!

A friend once quoted to me - "Relationship is all about trust..." So is friendship...
So Lord, please please help me out!

A Crime Story... in living daylight

2007-10-10T00:03:00.000+08:00

I received this email today from a close friend of mine working at a company in Petaling Jaya. So, anyone reading this - especially ladies - please take NOTE!!!

My boss almost kena carjacked yesterday. She sent out an email to the entire department telling her story - as a caution to all single women drivers. It sounds damn scary. Can not imagine what I'll do if I was in her position. I've pasted her email here in its entirety. Girls, please be careful and be wary of your surroundings - bad things can happen DAY OR NIGHT - bad guys don't CARE anymore.

Here, her email:

Colleagues,i was chased and attacked by a group of men in 2 cars trying to hijack my car in the afternoon yesterday. I was driving my husband's car alone on my way back from mid valley at about 4.30pm and only noticed these 2 cars as I was turning left into jalan beringin, damansara heights. They came awfully close and fast which I thought strange as it was a residential area and full of road humps.

Then the first car (which was a E class Mercedes) came to my side and the passenger (had a policeman's hat but not in uniform) had a walkie talkie and was gesturing for me to stop. When I didn't, he overtook and parked in front of me and the second car (which was the new 3 series BMW) was parked right behind me. the guy came up to my window and using his walkie talkie again, was frantically asking me to wind down - it was that split second that I realized that they weren't undercover cops (yes sounds silly now when one is rational!) and I just reversed and drove off. Both cars were chasing me trying to swerve and corner me.

I was stopped 3 times by them - the second time was the road downhill between SC and the Science Centre and the same guy from the Merc came out - this time with a parang. I reversed as far as I could - these people were definitely professionals and didn't want their cars damaged cos everytime I reversed, the bmw at the back also reversed. I thought I'd be safe going onto a public road so I went on the sprint highway - they continued to chase and managed to stop me again- and I was on the fast lane of sprint highway (right between the SC and Bukit Kiara) and there were plenty of traffic - and this time - they parked so close to me - one in front and one at the back and the guy with the parang came out and this time was smashing with full force at my driver's seat window. Another guy came from the black bmw and started hitting on my passenger seat window - there were plenty of cars but no one stopped or honked despite seeing these 2 men smashing my car. I just reversed not caring if my car got knocked and trying to get some space so that I can drive out and finally managed to. I lost them when I turned onto jalan damansara highway.

It is absolutely traumatizing as I, like many, only read about this.. but the audacity and desperation for them to be doing this in broad daylight and at such a public place is unimaginable. I am so thankful that I am ok but I have to write this because i know many of us take it for granted that it would not happen to us.. but it has happened and it will happen again.

Please please be careful - one can never be vigilant enough. you've read it all:

1. ladies - don't drive home alone at night - they will target women driving alone - day or night.

2. don't stop when you're being chased

3. know that they're not the real cops when the proper police cars are not being used

I was given this no. by the inspector - 2274 4465 - it's the Bilik Gerakan in Brickfields and if you think you're being followed or chased - call this no. and they will send a mobile team who's nearest to where you are.

Needless to say - I am appalled by this happening - and that the fact that no one even attempted to help this lady... The least we can do is to honk or CALL THE POLICE ON HER BEHALF. SO EVERYONE - take the number 2274 4465 down or just dial plain old 999.

Remember - Safety demands our eternal vigilance... same as Freedom :)

Stupid... Stupid.... STUPID

2007-10-09T16:22:00.000+08:00

I really don't understand Malaysia sometimes...

A friend of mine just got rammed but an idiotic driver at KM 29.9 of the Sg Besi Expressway... which is just NORTH of Putrajaya and NORTH-EAST of Kajang... But, it appears that it belongs to the Sepang district of the Royal Malaysian Police...

She went down to Putrajaya - and was turned away and SENT TO SALAK TINGGI. OMG!
Salak Tinggi is SOUTH of Putrajaya and SOUTH-EAST of Kajang... why not to a nearer police station?

This is just another sign of the utter bureauCRAPcy and red tape of Malaysia today? When will we get a reprieve?

I do have to say that I was impressed with the RMP when I made my report in Kajang over an accident (I got hit by a mosquito... aka motocycle) - I just have to wait 4 hours for my turn (buka puasa was in the way - understandable...) and got my report done in just under an hour...

Which makes me the lucky one...
At least I am not being sent on a wild goose case to tiny towns in the Selangor hinterland... we need to rationalise... really do...

I hope that one day I can report a traffic accident at any police station - no matter where my accident occured...

*sigh*

...Passionate about everything... and nothing at all

2007-09-21T01:15:00.000+08:00

I always fail in the concept of consistency...
My heart and mind are both inconsistent...
Within and without...

I am inconsistent in my blogging
in my philosophy...
in my interest...

I am scientific, yet kinda artsy
I define idealism - yet I compromised faith and principles
I strode down the path of righteousness, yet dogged by side trips into the alleyways of the wicked...

I love moderation, yet excited by radicalism
I am a capitalist - yet I hold social ideals
I belong in the world of western thought and western ways - but cling to my eastern tradition and long for equilibrium in the eastern thought

I love the morning, adore the night
I quote shakesphere, wilde, virgil and confucius - but expresses profanities to many who crosses me in my path
I listen to Rachmanikov, Beethoven & Dvorak - together with Metallica, Beyond & Pink
I believe in ascendency of humanity, but worry about our godlessness
I revel in high technology - but feel comforted by simple pen and paper

I attend church and go to cell - but lives in a house of idols, alone in the darkness
I speak of christian principles, yet conveniently forget them when it suits me
I shout for the Lord to come on Sundays, but have no time for Him from Mondays to Saturdays...

I am confident, yet holds a great doubt in my heart
I am filial - giving up my dreams for my family, but holds them responsible for the destruction of my aspirations
I love to be challenged by my companion, but longs for someone who accepts my every move
I am capable of great love, but I fear the darkness I can bring to bear

I am inconsistent... ever changing...
Without root - without foundation...

Who am I? What am I?
I am human... and my heart is heavy
I am human... but my arms are tired
I am human... with a million opposing thoughts clashing in my head...

But in this clarity of the night - in this moment of despair... one thing rings out that comforts me...

"LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." -Psalm 18:2

Amen.

...Through Heathrow in different eyes

2007-08-23T02:21:00.000+08:00

The bane of all travellers...
A zone of paranoid security,
A locale of smug, petty power hungry more British than the British immigrant officers,
A mad disorganised chaotic nightmare...
Heathrow Airport

But this time I travel through this place via different eyes...

On the way back from my brief (although not altogether happy) respite in the Mediterrainean - swinging through the most 'stoic' and classical of cities - Athens, then the raw volcanic beauty tempered by romantic quaintness that is Santorini, ending with the bustling Renaissance city of Venice... I finally got what I wanted...
The claiming of points for an upgrade to Business Class...

And it make hell a lot of difference...
Check-in in less than 15 minutes (instead of the usual 1 hour)
Whizzing thru security in 10 minutes (instead of the usual 30 minutes)
Now having internet access from the lounge...
(This is despite the fact I landed into London at 2pm plus and having so little time (even to enter London to visit favourite haunts and friends - waited for check-in for 4 hours)
For once, I actually enjoy going through Heathrow...

But it is with a rather depressed attitude and mood that I am flying directly into a storm brewing in Malaysia - @ work, @ home and personally...

But nevertheless - I am going to savour all I can from these 14 hours... *grin*

Greetings from Santa Irini

2007-08-15T03:46:00.000+08:00

*grin*
Am writing from a cybercafe in Santorini - am here because the taxi stand has a major argument - or rather a major jam...

it appears that some people were jumping queue and the cab driver go prissie *grin*

Will be in Venice tomorrow... hope to write then - promising pictures of Athens and Santorini over the week (I hope)

...commitments & obligations...

2007-08-02T13:40:00.000+08:00

Once again I am using this space to express emotions and feelings that are best left in the woods... but this seems - in the darkest of nights, in this most gloomy of morning - the one and only recourse.

My thoughts span the world... from Ireland to Melbourne, from Kuala Lumpur to Eberbach in Germany, from Bangi to Shah Alam, from Damansara to Bukit Jalil (yeah... not really spanning the world - but close enough)... Life is indeed complicated.

God tells us that we cannot serve two masters - that we are not of this world but only living in it for His name. But it is the world part that gives me the biggest problems - as both my heart & head is serving two masters at the same time. I don't want to explain the salient details - nothing juicy about it but family, career & love occupies most of my mind at the moment.

Funny enough - it is the physical pain in my stomach when I woke up this morning that set my mind clearer today than it was yesterday. I made up my mind this morning to be fair to all that is involved and but with a difference... I need to do it in my own way and by my own judgement and my own desires and dreams. I will not abandon anyone or anything and will not regret anything that has happened since last Friday and Saturday. I will only look onto God for guidance - and for the next three weeks I need to set my mind free to think about everything and everyone, and make my decision solely on His wisdom and strength...

Sounds easy enough - but it will be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life - It will be hard to acknowledge that only God is my helmsman and let him steer the ship but I shall pray thus...

Lord, lead me to a quiet place with no distractions, remove my hands from the tiller - pry if away if you need to... and steer this lost ship to the shores of Your KINGDOM - so that I can be whole again and bring abundance and grace to everyone - just as I have Your grace and Your abundance.

And all God's people say... AMEN!!!

Contrarians...

2007-07-26T08:12:00.000+08:00

Time is long overdue for me to rant about Malaysians - but this time I would like to highlight two equal and opposite incidents of Malaysians in traffic.

Firstly - its about this gentleman in Petaling Jaya. I saw his grace while being stuck on the LDP in the morning. This guy - who was driving down a side road actually stopped - got down from his car to help an old lady who was trying to cross the road carrying a very large shopping bag. He actually stopped his car in the middle of the road (of course there were no cars behind him) and help the lady by taking the bag into the lady's house. I do not know if they know one another - but this kind of behaviour is what our country needs - not the ridiculous scenario I will rant about in 2 minutes. (of course he could be robbing the old lady - but I doubt it :P)

Now, on the contrary - I present the story of Mr Chow Ah Beng and Ms Chow Ah Lian in Bukit Jalil. There was a police roadblock in front of the National Stadium. This roadblock was temporary to facilitate traffic from the stadium (due to an AFC Cup match - quarters or semis - can't remember). Now Mr Chow insists that he can go straight - even with the gesturing of the police for him to turn or u-turn. Ms Chow, with her fake blond locks and what can be best described as a 'tu-lan' face emerged from the little Punto she and her Ah Beng boyfren was holding up traffic with and started arguing with a traffic cop - which looks like he was about to pull out a gun to shoot her (too bad he did not). The cop insisted no way that they could go straight - so Ms Chow returned to her car - AND THEY DID NOT MOVE. Meanwhile, all the cars - who want to follow the policeman to turn or u-turn was honking and flashing for this small annoying little Chow Punto to move out of the way. It took around 4-5 minutes of honking, flashing and gesticulations before they deigned to move the 1 meter it needed for traffic to flow.

After I made the U-turn, I can see that traffic was backed up for almost 2 km because of our dear Mr & Ms Chow.

Amazing how much you remember about the bad - and how vague the good sounds :P

Contrarians indeed...

Think before you build...

2007-07-24T08:07:00.000+08:00

Hmmm...

What is flesh/cream coloured...

Comes in Pairs...

Looks perky and rather sharp...

Topped with sharp brown tips?

The answer often surprise you...

Come on architects - you can do better than that! There are kids about... Taken outside Sunway Pyramid...

Of Rocks & Hard Places...

2007-07-18T02:25:00.000+08:00

Its 2.30am and I am still unable to sleep...

Things seem to have gotten more difficult lately - and I am increasingly being caught between (a rock and a hard place) x1000 times. And this happen everyday!

Why is it so difficult you may wonder?
Why does things sound so bleak?
or rather so depressing...

All I can say is that the worst problems in this world are those that have multiple reasons requiring multiple solutions to the satisfaction of multiple parties. Most of all it means a slow and painful journey towards what potentially be a dark deep bottomless abyss...
It means that everyone will not be happy... whatever the outcome you get...

It means that you are caught between worlds... between the hammer and the anvil. Knowing that the pain and end is coming - but unable to do anything about it...

In support of an old friend...

2007-07-17T17:58:00.000+08:00

*holding bated breath*

I did not have the time to blog since last week - mainly due to some commercial related problems and also family matters (somehow both are interlinked...)

But in this day, at this time I am waiting for news for the release of a very old school friend - Nat of which I have been monitoring his progress via the website of both his younger sis and girlfriend...

I hope everything will be fine buddy - and thanks for reminding us to hold to our principles, ideals and views! Although I have never supported Keadilan (and unlikely I ever will...), I really do hope that this unpleasant situation is cleared up and support your release!

*breaking news*
As I was typing this (yes - it took me around 4 hours to do so - being at work and having meetings) - Nat has been released from custody but will be due for a revision tomorrow! *grin*

*smile*

Cracked

2007-07-07T22:35:00.000+08:00

Well - all I can say is that today is an eventful day... 1st we managed to get (or rather the registration and hosting of... not the actual contents) http://www.themakingofsherlynchua.com/ online but I also ran smack into the side of a wall, literally - almost surely concussing my head in some way or the other...

It was just a direct 'crack' and now I have a beautiful bump around an inch and a half above my forehead just above the hairline.... I just hope I have not demolished any part of my frontal lobe - but then... it would not make me any more insane rite?

Maybe I am just a wee bit paranoid - after consuming the entire Season 2 of House... *sigh* *ouch*

Coming out of mourning...

2007-06-29T12:08:00.000+08:00

Today is a similar day to when I heard the news of your passing, grandma... it was overcast and once again small droplets of rain fell from the sky.

Grandma, I will miss you and I will remember you in my heart always... You have indeed led a full and wonderful life and I am so blessed to have been under your guidance and your love.

Thank you - and I will try my best to live up to your expectations... and your legacy.

Baby on Board...

2007-06-29T11:50:00.001+08:00

I am back... well - almost back (once again on a long blogging hiatus).

And rant I shall *grin*

It was in the traffic chaos in Seri Petaling a few days back when I noticed an amazing sight - of what is best described as an ironic parent - in a *drumroll* Kancil! (the quintessential malaysian crazy driver containing small excuse of a car)

This Kancil - proudly displaying the sign Baby on Board, with another bigger kid visible on the back seat (sandwiched between what appears to be his grandparents) and what appears to be a pregnant (or very fat, take your pick) wife, holding a baby in her arms - darted out illegally from a side road, travelled a short distance on the oncoming traffic lane and right into the small space in front of my car.

I think he should move the sign, right smack in front of his nose, to remind him that he has women and children on board - then maybe he would not be so gung-ho and trying to kill his entire family in one proud self destructive utterly Malaysian driver moment. Maybe then he can improve his sorry excuse of driving. But I digress.

I do not say that I am a saint on the road, or a really careful and law abiding driver - but the least they can do is to have some consideration to the safety of their own young families. Horror stories of an entire family of 8 or 11 in a terrible accident in a Kancil may be long and far in between but they do happen - and now I have a personal experience on how they could happen and why they happen... Irresposible parents and utter gross stupidity.

Really...

Of Old Friends... Part II

2007-05-31T13:30:00.000+08:00

The blokes at the pharmacy @ Western. Basically the entire crew of the 2003/2004 batch with our preceptors.

Hmmm... What can I say - a bunch of inane huns at a barbie in Melbourne. Please note that Joshua is not really retarded - he is just really bored.

Me at the YAA Exhibition - no - I did not have a beer gut then... now it is different. Besides, we swept the YAA awards that year *grin* all the way to the national level. Really wonder how is everyone doing...

OMG - it is Brochure Boy and GrowthChart Man - somebody get the broomstick!

Vernon overseeing the bread haul at Pita Bread Bunch - we were about to distribute bread door-to-door at the Flemington Council Flats. I really miss those days *grin*

Sue Lee, Drey and Kai Kai at breakfast - somewhere on Smith street (I think) or maybe Nicholson. Man, Melbourne breakfasts are still the best!

Of Old Friends... Part I

2007-05-31T11:16:00.000+08:00

26 and singing the blues... *grin*

As promised, I am putting up pictures of old friends and old memories... however, today I am rather not expressive - it just seems that I am having writing constipation... so I will just hurry right into the pictures and their captions...

Fireworks on the Southgate Bridge in Melbourne - this would be from New Year's - I think for 2005...

Joshua, Sean & Myself at the Mrs Macquarie's Chair - overlooking Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Sean should be in Melbourne still - hope all is swell and Josh - hope you are enjoying your exile in Adelaide - *smile* Spend more time with patients - not in Coonawarra.

The Cempakan Crew somewhere in a dodgy side street in Melbourne (circa 2005) Khoo (who was visiting at this time), Myself (no I am not trying to slap myself), Mindy, Yen, Jan, Sui San & Shins! Hope to see you guys (Khoo, Mindy, Yen) the next time I am in Melb!

Me and my housemates attempting to make the world's ugliest totem pole. From Top to Bottom is Jeremy, Carol and myself - attempting to look like an owl and just ending up looking like an absolute nutcase... Hey - Jeremy - we definately need to meet up!

Friends and former friends from the student council - this one taken in Brisbane for the conference there - should be in 2004. Left to Right - Ms Sheau, Leanne, Su-Li, FF#1, The former MSD Director for Australia, myself, Chris & Bel.

Me - in the faculty courtyard with Ryan and Wei Leong and in a horrible fake glasses. Someone stole my nose and beard... this was on 'muck-up' day - last day of our uni life - EVER!!!

Old Song, Old Friends & Old Memories

2007-05-25T14:35:00.000+08:00

It was a moment of the inane... or rather a moment of inactivity that triggered off a morning song trivia in the conference room... and it was an old old song from the past - I think almost 10 years ago that I can't seem to get out of my head. I brought back old memories & old friends - while I was revelling in the company of my new friend and colleague :)

Here it is... 朋友 (Friends)
For the benefit of my banana friends (you know who you are... and there is a lot of you guys :P) I will put the English translation on the side...

这些年一个人 (All these years... alone)
风也过雨也走 (the wind has passed, the rain is gone - basically there were storms)
有过泪有过错 (there were tears, there were wrongs)
还记得坚持甚麽? (Can you remember what I am fighting for?)

真爱过才会懂 (With True Love, then you will know...)
会寂寞会回首 (..the meaning of loneliness, and you will reflect that in the end...)
终有梦终有你 (there is your dreams, there is you...)
在心中... (in the heart)

朋友一生一起走 (Friends will walk together for a lifetime)
那些日子不再有 (The days of old is no longer here)
一句话一辈子 (One Word... One Lifetime)
一生情一杯酒 (Eternal Love... and a cup of wine)

朋友不曾孤单过 (Friends will never be lonely)
一声朋友你会懂 (Once you call out to them you will know)
还有伤还有痛 (There were injuries... there was pain)
还要走还有我... (But we will still have to walk... and I am always here)

My translation is rather liberal - but I do think it is more in the spirit of the song... I wonder where have all my old friends gone... friends from ACCF, from Uni, from Student Council, from Taylors, from Cempaka... from Penang, from KL, from Melbourne, from London... where are all of you...

I remember all the good times, and the bad... I remember all the things we did and I will always remember all of you...

*runs off to search hard disk for old pictures - will post them up over the week - so prepare to be embarassed!!!*

Upset?

2007-05-19T08:29:00.000+08:00

Woke up this morning feeling upset... just don't know why?

Is it an after effect of the recent events? Today is after all Saturday - the 1st set of free time ever since the crazy events of the past two weeks...

Or is it my lack of enthusiasm at work? or my lack of ability to sleep well in the past couple of days? or that I just seem to make people upset - from family to friends to colleagues @ work?

I have a feeling that this may be the onset of depression... *sigh* nevertheless I know that He will comfort me in my time of need...

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23 (KJV)

One night in a lift...

2007-05-13T14:20:00.000+08:00

It was late last night when we came back to our hotel (@ Gurney) from grandma's house. It was booming with music from the Chillout club next door and a wedding being conducted at the hotel ballroom...

We went to the lift, my brother and I, and after a significant wait - we boarded with a few others... but it was an interesting crew that got in - on the corner was a couple, dressed immaculately, the lady was dressed in white with lace and makeup while the guy was in a tuxedo with a red bow. Quite obviously from the wedding.

On the other corner was these two rather young beautiful girls - dressed to party - must be returning to the hotel from the club next door.

Then there was this old white couple, seriously tanned but dressed in a relaxing beachwear - looks like retirees on a holiday.

And us, my brother and I, dressed in white with black slacks - coming back from honouring our grandma at her funeral.

Two distinct occasions... a wedding and a funeral. Distinct age groups... different stories... all in one lift...

My RSD trained movie sense lit up!

...When it leaks, it pours...

2007-05-11T22:34:00.000+08:00

Enough of ranting about the going ons back in Penang... however sad I may be or however angry I am - this mad cow still comments on politics - in particular when it shows that my fellow Malaysians are both racist and sexist!

You have gotta be kidding - that during VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2007 our HEADLINES say... Bank Withdraws 50% Bumiputera requirement for accounts & Let off despite ‘sexist’ remarks. I am a Malaysian Patriot to the boot and have always supported the government but sometimes - I just wonder... I really do...

To our beloved YBs from Jasin & Kinabatangan, just apologise for making such a sexist comment. How would you feel if Batu Gajah has replied glibly - like I would - watch my words "Maybe you are used to the leaks coz your mothers, wives and daughters leak every month as well!"

Such comments are not becoming of the people's representatives - whether in jest... and should never be uttered in the hallowed halls of this nation's centre of governance. Would any BN MP stand quiet if an opposition said that Dtk Rafidah or Dtk Ng Yen Yen? In this day and age - it is unbecoming...

"orang liar"????

Quite...

Madness? Craziness???

THIS IS MALAYSSIIIIAAAAAAAA!!!

Princes of Darkness... BEGONE!

2007-05-11T15:55:00.000+08:00

Never was I this angry in a long while already... After all the years my family has contributed to temples - temple politics come to play @ grandma's funeral...

No idea what to make of it... it started like this - an 'abbot' of a temple in Penang of which my mum is a major contributor was supposed to come to 'pray' @ grandma's funeral but he is not totally free - he can't make it on Sat & Sunday... so another 'abbot' - this time from another temple of which my family is closely associated with offered to come on both days...

I can see that the family would be overjoyed - but when the 1st 'abbot' heard that the 2nd 'abbot' is coming - he said that now he is busy and is not coming. It appears that both temples have a vendetta or some crap like that... then the 2nd 'abbot' said that he better not come as it may cause another rift or some crap like that... So in the end - no 'abbot's are coming and the 2nd temple sent some others here to 'pray'... so in essence, both temples have left my grieving family to hang out dry over 'prayers'.

I am very angry - that these idiots dare use my grandma's funeral as a chip in their political game... these monks are truly 'princes of darkness'. Although I have came to the lord - I have nontheless maintained a healthy respect for temples and I have honoured my family's beliefs. From this day onwards - any temple are merely a tourist attraction in my book and I shall no longer abide by my family's donations to them...

In mourning...

2007-05-09T11:47:00.000+08:00

Why is it seems like just yesterday that you held me on ur lap?
Why is it seems like just this morning you woke me up to watch you do taichi?

How is it that the years passed so fast - and that I grew out into the world and saw you less and less with each passing year...

What happened to watching 'Justice Bao' rented from an old video store down the road that has long been demolished?
What happened to walking with you to buy hawker food from the corner shop... that has also been cleared to build a new series of shop houses?
Or the times I waited with 2nd Aunt for you to finish your MCA meetings, usually eating Ice Cream Potong...

Why does it seem so empty this morning after I heard that you have passed on... Grandma, it was raining today - and it rained since yesterday night. I don't know if it was raining back in Penang or if you would have realised that it was raining even if it did... but it was raining... it was as if the sky was doing my crying for me...

I am so glad that I took the morning to visit you and talked to you this time when I went back to Penang - it has been so long since the last time I talked to you... and I will always feel sad that you were struck down with stroke 20 years ago... I only wish you could be with me when I travelled around the world, the places I have seen and the places I know you would have loved to see - for without you all this would not have been possible and I would not be the person I am today...

Grandma - farewell and goodbye... I love you...

New Life Memory Verse I...

2007-05-07T22:06:00.000+08:00

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New International Version -

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things has passed away; behold, all things has become new"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New King James Version -

"若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了 "
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, Chinese Union Version (Simplified) -

Lord, I come to You in the name of Christ Jesus - our Lord and Saviour whom I adore... Lord, I thank You for this verse that reminds us of our new life - for it sets the tone for our life today. Lord, I thank You that in You, I am a new creation - an empty slate for You to work on, a canvas for You to paint in your image. I thank You for telling me the old me is gone - that You have taken my sins away at the cross. I thank You for giving me a new life...

Lord, I confess that I have been less than pristine in my new life - and that I have fallen well short of the mark You set before me. I confess that I have put good works before the understanding that Your grace is all I need - that my salvation is assured. I confess that I have put ministry above foundation and servanthood before sonship...

Lord, I thank you for this day - of all the wonderful things I have in life. I thank you for last wednesday - that I may once again sit beneath Your feet. I thank you for SIB, and for cell... for Fergus, for Hoong Fai - my fellow brothers walking with me in this path...

Lord, I pray that You will continue to shower Your blessings upon us - and that You will give me the strength and wisdom to continue to walk along this narrow path. I pray that you will constantly remind me that the life I have today is NEW and it belongs to YOU! That I am a new creation - that the OLD has GONE and the NEW has COME...

I am yours in Christ Jesus. Amen!

In the memory of Bacon...

2007-05-07T12:54:00.001+08:00

And I am not referring to Francis Bacon... but rather - real bacon, succulent when fried, covered by a wonderful sheen of bacon oil... golden brown edges curled softly in the caressing heat of a not so non-stick pan.

Hmmm, I think food is featuring a bit too much in my life rite now - even under the close monitoring of various parties. *grin* The bacon I am referring to is the one so rapidly consumed @ vern's a few weeks back - ah, sweet sweet memories!

Anyway - for those with gastronomic inclinations (bordering on the oil soaked carnivorous nature) - the bacon was dearly bought from Uncle Ho's @ BSC having first being air flowned in across the Arafura Sea (from Australia!). So it was no mere pork - but rather a well travelled Aussie Pork! The cost of these 14 pieces? A mere RM74 *chokes*

Nevertheless it was well worth the price. Also as promised here are some pictures from the day...

A dramatic assembly of pork, eggs, more pork, mushrooms, pork again and veal...

(Clockwise) Vernon, Gordon, Fergus & Carol hard at work in the kitchen. This author/photographer slaved earlier over the bacon... and sausages (I have a nice little red mark on my throat that day to prove it - due to a flying vesicle of oil!)

One last longing look at the bacon - just prior to its initiation in the raging inferno... Fergus claims that this is one artistic piece of pork :)

Hitting the Dailies...

2007-05-03T15:13:00.000+08:00

Today, the 1st (of a whole series of articles we hope) interview of RSD has been published on the New Straits Times (NST) *grin*

Read all about it HERE!!!
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/MoviesTheatre/20070502154244/Article/indexpull_html

Or alternatively - *grin* also get to know more about the movie at
http://redstreetdiner.blogspot.com

THIS IS ANFIIEEEEEELLLDDDDD!!!!

2007-05-02T06:00:00.000+08:00

Liverpool 1 (4) - 0 (1) Chelsea (1-1 on aggregate)

Need I say more? Of course!

It was a messy and gritty game - as expected for a Chelsea - Liverpool encounter. We just lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last week but there is a difference...

Today we play in Anfield - with the Kop behind us. In the 22nd Minute, Agger scored a set piece by Gerrard from about 32 meters from the Chelsea goal (from the left hand corner). The rest of the game is a serious of high flying kicks and flailing arms... but in the end - Liverpool held to the very end.

So it went down the wire... 1-1 on aggregate at the end of extra time, Right to the Penalties and like in Istanbul, Liverpool pulled through...

Once again... we erupted in cheers as Liverpool now flies to Athens for Champions League GLORY. We have knocked Chelsea out of the competition THREE TIMES!!! So I write this entry at 6am... Madness?

NOOOOOO!

THIS IS ANNNNNNFIIIIIIEEEELLLLLLLLDDDDDD!!!

Hmmm - I think I need counselling :P

Breakfast @ Vernony's

2007-04-21T22:55:00.000+08:00

After the lameness of the above title - I have no choice but to further this totally pointless activity...

I love V for Vendetta... It was one of the most interesting movie I have watched recently - and of all things this line - of which V spewed out during his 1st contact with Evey...

"But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then... to suggest the character of this dramatis persona.

Viola! In view a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished.

However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.

Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V."

This is probably one of my favourite move line sequences of all time… and one that some emulation would be really fun…

YES - I TOOK the TIME to write THIS... :P

So I verily say to you that on this most rainless of days, permit me then – your most rabid of cows – to suggest the events of this morning’s rampant rampage of ravenous humans upon poor bacon rashers rinds and all…

This rambunctious demolition of rations, however, is not a mere random event of rapid consumption without thought of its ramifications; it is rather a rigorous practice of a rare and relaxing act – a release shall we say, a refreshment from the regulated rituals of our daily grind – that from hence forth need to be religiously celebrated with regularity.

The only reason for caution therefore is to remember the need for rest and reclination after today’s ravishment - a moment of retreat shall we say of our raging cholesterol levels – a month at least of rehabilitation to allow the regeneration of our reliable and required organs.

Readily shall I now remove my ridiculous and reprehensible fixation with the letter R and let me simply add that this morning’s breakfast is simply delightful – better than any reputable restaurant – and I relish every moment of it!

PS: Pictures of the breakfast will be up soon - just as soon as I figure out what is wrong with my server... cheers!

Overcoming 300...

2007-04-21T00:42:00.000+08:00

Overcoming 300?

What? You say? That this rambling mad cow is somehow interested in a movie featuring men with overly expressive musculature? Crazy? Madness?

Say it! Say THIS IS MADNESS!!! You know you want to... SAY IT NOW!!!

NO THIS IS NOT MADNESS...

This is MADCOWAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

*sigh*
You get the picture...
It is not a beautiful side - rather it is kinda... mad...

Like many others - I am now bitten by the 300 bug... (If you have not you MUST read Amir Hafizi's blog @ www.amirhafizi.blogspot.com or directly to HERE or HERE) and I have gradually been sucked into what is best known as 300 lameness...

of course - fueled by our very own GCB... if you don't believe me - go have a look at Mr Prata here... or rather at this beautiful gif sent to my email just early this week...

Just to clarify... I don't think this is funny - but rather hilarious and kinda trying to my poor victims... however, God provided me with many opportunities to practice my rather childish fascination of all things 300... Read on...

Occasion 01
Location: Office
Victim: Poor Dear Dear Nutritionist with my company...

The Premise: Bad day in the office... busy - I act crazy
The Result:
"Errr... crazy..."
"No not crazy... Mad"
"Nooooo"
"Say it - say that I am MAD!!! Say that THIS IS MADNESS"
"ok... this is madness"
"Noooooo - THIS IS SPAAAARTTTAAAAA"

Occasion 02
Location: Office next to my office
Victim: Poor company secretary

The Premise: She asked for it
The Result:

"Hey - don't u think the weather is crazy?"
"Not really - I think it is MAD"
"Ya lor.... this a madness... so much rain"
"Hahahhaha - NOOOOOO - THIS IS MALAYSIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Occasion 03
Location: In KLCC waiting to pay for parking
Victim: Dear friend and colleague

The Premise: Long day at KLCC - many people gathering around autopay machines... 1 was broken
The Result:

"Wah - so many people... this is madness"
"THIS IS KAY-EL-SEEEEE-SEEEEAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!"

Occaision 04
Location: Office building next to my office building
Victim: Nobody yet - but soon

The Premise: Idiots next door makes noise about us parking on our own premises... basically playing politics...
The expected result:

Mad Cow gets annoyed... rams into the behind of the COO and the CEO's car... screams... yells... takes out weapons...

"Nooooo - what you are doing is madness...."
"HAHAHHAHAHA - THIS IS MADNESS??? THIS IS PAYBACK YOU F*$&KAAAAAAAA!!!!"

"Tonight we dine in hell...."

I rest my case... I am mad
Say it... say it - SAY IT!!! - I know you want to....

Say that I am MAD... SAY THAT THIS IS MADNESS

"THIS IS THE MAD COOOOOOWWWWAAAAAA!!!!"

Today I am a true Malaysian Driver...

2007-04-20T10:54:00.000+08:00

Often was the question asked? What makes you a true Malaysian Driver?

Is it the deft touch of the wheel when you swerve through traffic jams? Is it the constant speeding on clear highways at night? Is it getting parking tickets? What about a brush with the law?

The obvious answer is... all of the above!

Today I am now a trueblood Malaysian driver!

I started by swerving in and out of traffic... RM430.00 to get new wheels (of course I am polite and put on the indicator)

Then I speed on highways at night... and in the day... RM150.00 for a speeding ticket

Which was followed by a parking ticket of which I ignore... RM30.00 (this was in PJ btw and I was only 5 minutes late to my car!)

Finally today I feel complete... RM100.00 to be forced to bribe the police (he asked for it!)

Being a true Malaysian DRIVER!!!... Priceless... :P

This is how it went down...
0915 AM: Southern KL-Selangor border... Picked up handphone to call waiting colleague in town around vicinity
0916 AM: Spotted Police
0917 AM: Car was stopped
0918 AM: Police inspects IC and Drivers License and proceed to whip out his summons book
0920AM: Still looking at summons book
0922 AM: "Encik, you tahu tak sekarang you akan kena RM300 untuk saman?"
0922 AM: *pause*
0923 AM: "Yes sir... I know - sorry, so how can I pay saman ini?
0924 AM: *pause*
0925 AM: "Sekarang pun boleh... you kerja mana?"
0925 AM: "Around here - picking up colleague saja - sorry - rushing for time"
0926 AM: "Ok... Ikut saya"
0927 AM: Follows Police into back lane behind a couple of shops... cue onlookers... cue chirping birds. Stops...
0930 AM: "Ok tuan..." writes down name and address on blank paper... looks really busy... onlookers look away
0933 AM: "Tuan nak saya bantu tak? Berapa? Senang sahaja... I boleh ambil you punya saman now... 1st time? RM 100 boleh..."
0934 AM: Whips out wallet and gave him RM100
0935 AM: "Ok - next time jangan ok?" returns license and IC... smiles... get on bike... zooms off...
0936 AM: Becomes true blood Malaysian driver...
0937 AM: Picks up colleague
0940 AM: Feels guilty to have been forced to bribe a law enforcement officer
0941 AM: Curse Malaysia
0942 AM: Decides to go back to Australia
0943 AM: Decides to stay back in Malaysia... hey... Malaysia! Apa-apa pun Boleh!!!!

...of blogs and of lack of activity sigh

2007-04-20T07:16:00.000+08:00

...

Once again I have realised the complete and utter lack of activity on my blog - and since November!

Of late I have been bitten by the writing bug again - but as one of my closest friends said... "I am tired of checking your blog for updates - so inconsistent!"

*grin*

Well - Life is like a box of chocolates... u never know when the mad cow is gonna blog...
I promise to do more... I really do

Shutterbug 02: In a house of god...

2006-11-28T20:57:00.000+08:00

Notre Dame de Paris...

A great brooding edifice stands upon the end of the island,
its haughty towers looks upon the throng below...
Craning their necks to catch a glimpse
of the fabled creatures of legend...

Creatures of horror, Chimeras
Looking upon the mortals below...

A view of Paris facing Montmartre (and the Sacred Heart) from the Gallery of Chimeras atop Notre Dame. The journey up involves a 400+ step spiral staircase.

Cool and dark.
The 1st impressions of Notre Dame's cavenous interior.
It seems almost forbidding...

Flicker. Flicker.
A sea of waving flames, caressed by the draught of people entering.
Peace... & Awe

An altar with a cross... with an embossed INRI at the head of the cross...
IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

Hwa lights a candle... and we prayed...

Notre Dame de Paris has one of the world's oldest surviving stained glass windows (in its original context)

The stained glass windows were removed during WWII to prevent German bombing and replaced after the war...

This is all for now... once again if you are after more piccies - go visit the RSD site! *grin*

Cheers!