Merdeka

Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka....

Why am I not a bit excited? Why am I not happy? 52 years and still the same...

Nothing new, nothing improved except more buildings, more roads, more cars, more tolls, more traffic jams, more thefts...

...sigh, when can we see some changes for the better?

1Malaysia? But I see that we are more divided now than before, aren't we? Because now we are not supposed to sell beer in a Malay-majority area, not supposed to have Hindu temples in Muslim-majority area, maybe the same goes to Chinese temples and churches, at least not within a 5Km radius? Those non-muslims who stay in muslim-majority area will have to walk 5-6 Km to their temple to pray, if there's one! So are they not suggesting that all Muslims should stay in one area, Buddhists another area, Hindus another and Christians another?

So called 1Malaysia? I wonder if these people know what they are doing, in the name of their holy religion? And yes, we have to be sensitive to their feelings, needs and religion. Ours? Does not matter!

1Malaysia! Malaysia Boleh! Happy Merdeka.

The Challenge!

It's quite normal for people to challenge each other every now and then. A healthy competition? I think it's a healthy way to help improve oneself.

This time around, someone related to me and here they are...
...The challenge of the "RETARDS"...(well that's what they called themselves)

Stephanie

Edmund

A really short clip by Elayne

Another by Stephanie

Another one by Edmund

Okay getting a bit tired. Good try guys! But I'm sure all of you can do better than this. I'll be waiting....happy singing!

.

15Malaysia

15Malaysia is a short film project. It consists of 15 short films made by 15 Malaysian filmmakers. These films not only deal with socio-political issues in Malaysia, they also feature some of the best-known faces in the country, including actors, musicians and top political leaders. You may think of them as funky little films made by 15 Malaysian voices for the people of Malaysia.

15 short movies made by Malaysians. Local producers, directors, casts, crews. I think it's cool!

Watch them, they only release one movie at a time on specific dates. So you have to patient. I've viewed a few. Funny, touching, racist...all about us as Malaysians! I like some and couldn't understand some. Well I guessed I'm not smart enough to understand?

Here is the first movie released on the 17 August. Lmao!



The rest can be viewed here.

What An Insenstive Act!

The group of Malay-Muslim protesters claiming to be residents of Section 23 had dumped the severed cow's head outside the Selangor state secretariat and threatened bloodshed unless the state government stopped the construction of a Hindu Temple.

The "residents" said that the construction of a Hindu temple in a 90 per cent Malay- Muslim neighbourhood was insensitive because activities there would disrupt their lives.

“I challenge YB Khalid, YB Rodziah and Xavier Jeyakumar to go on with the temple construction. I guarantee bloodshed and racial tension will happen if this goes on, and the state will be held responsible,” shouted Ibrahim Haji Sabri amid strong chants of “Allahu Akbar!” as he referred to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and his state administration.

This is outrages! How can anyone who cries to the world that people should treat his religion with utmost sensitivity acts so insensitively!

Huh??? So, others have to be sensitive to your feelings and needs while you can treat others like dirt? Wey! Something is very wrong here!

This must be stopped immediately before anything worse happen! Yes, Mr PM for once I agree with you!

(Datuk Seri Najib Razak has ordered the police to take swift action against a group that brought a cow's head to Shah Alam to protest a Hindu temple relocation in a bid to calm swirling racial tensions.)

And I hope that you really meant it! If not, I hate to imagine what would happen next.

Eating from a toilet bowl?

How would you like your food to be served in a toilet bowl?

Yes, this restaurant that I passed by the other day while I was in Queensbay Mall Penang serves its food in toilet bowls and bath tubs. Miniature ones that is. This is some kind of a new concept called the Toilet Bowl Concept Restaurant.




The T-Bowl (Toilet Bowl) Restaurant was established on 18th Dec 2008 at 3rd floor of QueensBay Mall. The restaurant was originated by the founder, Samuel while he was sitting on a toilet bowl one day. All of a sudden he has an idea of eating while sitting in the toilet bowl just as in the movie directed by Anthony Wong a few years ago. Furthermore, he would like to open a special concept restaurant in Penang, hence inspired him to fuse this concept into the food and beverage industries. This restaurant has designed base on the bathroom concept; where the toilet bowl used as seat, basin as dining table, mini toilet bowls as food bowl. Beside that, this restaurant has 3 cute and meaningful main theme characters call the Tbros (Toilet Brothers) such as the toilet bowl, stool and shower. There are varieties of food here range from Japan, Korean, Western, Hong Kong till oriental style.



Kinda cool...try it? Nope, not yet. Don't know if I want to, maybe I would but not now.





Hmm...if you could just flush the leftovers down the sink below then it'll be more fun!

Race-free Form?

Our DPM states that the cabinet is studying to remove the column requiring a person to provide information on his race in official forms.

This is in line with our PM's 1Malaysia concept. The decision was immediately welcomed by people from all communities! Wow! Impressive! But why?

Datuk Samy said this would make everybody feel "more Malaysian".

UMNO Youth chief, Khairy Jamaluddin said it would "put away whatever racial barriers there may be".

Johor MP Datuk Nur Jazlan said "it will ensure there is no bias when people deal with government staff as in the past, I received complaints that Malay Civil servants tended to put documents from non-Malays last". Yes! You realised!

But wait, is this important? Does stating your race and not stating your race make any difference here? Please tell me you cannot tell the race of the following names :

Muhammad Nizam - race ???
Nur Alisa Nordin - race ???
Tan Lian Mei - race ???
Kevin Lo - race ???
Matthew Nathan Kumar - race ???
Kavitha Das - race ???
Long Josi Patnik - race ???

Do I need to say more?

Roses without thorns.

We often hear people saying. ...'thorn among roses' and I'm sure we all know what that means. So I'm not going to elaborate.

Then one of my friends told me that there are roses which do not have thorns. Sounds interesting. I've seen and planted roses and I've never come across one that has no thorns. Well, is it true or false?

Before I continue there's one thing that I want to straighten out...those thorns? They are not thorns! It is a common error to refer to roses having thorns. Thorns are modified branches or stems, whereas these sharp protrusions on a rose are modified epidermal tissues...called 'prickles'. Got that?

Okay coming back to whether there are roses which do not have thorns? Eh no, prickles! The answer...'Yes', there are a few species of roses which only have vestigial prickles that have no points.

Prickle-free roses are particularly appropriate for elderly gardeners, young children and people susceptible to injury due to an impaired lymphatic system . Here are three top varieties of roses without prickles.

The Smooth Buttercup. The Smooth Buttercup is a compact floribunda (a class of modern roses in which the blooms are in clusters) that produces clusters of beautiful bright golden yellow blossoms.

The Banksiae Rose (Rosa banksiae lutea) is another variety that has been popular with gardeners since it was introduced in Kew Gardens almost two centuries ago.

The Zephirine Drouhin is one of the most popular roses without prickles. Named after the wife of a French rose enthusiast, the Zephirine Drouhin is a beautiful Bourbon rose with a strong and sweet fragrance.

So there you have it. Is everything clear now? Don't you just love roses? They are so pretty and they smell nice! And now you can touch them too without getting hurt! (some) I love them!

Here's a mandarin song for you...'Rose Rose I Love You' Lol!

G n G...Yes or No?

G n G? Gated and Guarded!

Yes, this was in the newspapers few days ago. For those of you who still have no idea what I'm saying...

A gated community in Malaysia is generally focused on the need for a safer community with secured and guarded surroundings. In our residential development sector we see advertisements almost daily, exhorting the virtues of gated and guarded housing schemes or gated community as they are commonly called as a new privatized way of life. Property developers today are reinvesting themselves in response to needs of an increasingly affluent population, keeping pace with the rapid changes in trends and consumer preferences in order to thrive. What has happened is that property developers have managed to creating a safe community through the provisions of security and exclusivity as part of a community’s lifestyle. Although some housing schemes are not categorised as gated and guarded schemes, residents have nevertheless taken steps to restrict access of the general by setting up guard posts with the hope of preventing and reducing crime in the area. Usually some form of physical barrier surrounds the boundaries to the housing estate where residents employ private security to provide security services. This often involves an attempt to restrict or regulate public spaces privately by erection of barriers on public needs, guardhouses, etc.



Sounds okay to me. A safer place to live in, you can sleep better at night and you can leave your house to go on a vacation without having to worry much about break in. Perfect? No?

No, because some people in the neighbourhood just couldn't agree with this. They do not want to live in a gated place. When they bought their houses there 20 years ago everything was perfectly fine. Then 20 years later some new folks moved in to their neighbourhood and somehow they got burglarised or robbed and then they freaked out and they introduced this G n G scheme to their neighbours. With this scheme every household has to chip in a sum to pay for the security package like cctv, setting up of barriers, fences, guards' wages etc. Some agreed, some don't. Or most agree and a few don't? Then how? Yes or no?

I think if you have been robbed before or if your house has been burglarised before then you might say "yes". Why "no"? Could be the money. Some folks who have stayed there for more than 20 years could be retired by now and they might not be able to afford paying thousands a year. Maybe they have no income at all? Or maybe they thought they have nothing valuable in their house and therefore no one would want to rob them? So, they felt that they do not need this G n G thing.

Okay, they did it anyway because majority say "yes". The majority are paying and those who oppose did not pay. Then problem arise, someone would say "Why do we need to pay and they don't and yet they get to enjoy the security provided?" Hmmm....unfair? Then car stickers were introduced and those who pay gets them. When the guards see the stickers, no question asked. Those without stickers will have to be screened and filtered with many questions. And of course this goes to those house owners who didn't pay. This is where the inconvenience comes in for them and they felt they are being penalised! And they got angry and somehow things turn ugly? Sigh....

I think this problem will continue and there is no good solution as long as someone still oppose to the idea. I guess you just have to tolerate? If you can afford it, for the safety of your loved ones, why not? If others are not in line with your thoughts, let it be. It's not important. But try to compromise? Try also not to cause any inconvenience to others? Peace!

What's wrong with having white hair?

I remembered someone told me if you pluck one piece of white hair from your scalp, 3 more pieces will grow! Wow! What if I pluck the black ones instead? So, I'll have a lot more hair in no time! Then we'll have no worry of losing our hair because the more we pluck, the more they'll grow! 3x!

Rubbish! Kill me! I cannot take this! Eh no! It'll only happen if you pluck the white ones, not the black ones! Huh? No, I'm not going to take this further. Totally rubbish!

But wait? What's wrong with having grey or white hair? Because people associate white hair with age? Old age?

As we grow older the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more transparent color - like grey, silver, or white - as it grows. As people continue to get older, fewer pigment cells will be around to produce melanin. Eventually, the hair will look completely grey. So, white hair means "old age"?

No, some people will loose their hair colour earlier than others. Even as early as in their teens. It all depends on your genes.

But whatever it is I think it's better to have a full head of white/grey hair than to have no hair! Unless you are blessed with such pretty features that make you look good even if you're bald!

Well I think black hair, white hair, gray hair or no hair, it's just whether you look good or not.

Here are some people who look good with white/grey hair. Guessed it's your luck!

Calming Effect, Happiness restored...

After having listened to all the political squabbles, senseless remarks, unreasonable demands and flip flop decisions of our leaders. And news of more death caused by the A H1N1 virus, death of irreplaceable legends, death of people whom I know...I felt that I have been driven into a state of unexplainable....???

Sadness? Anger? Disappointment? Emptiness? I don't know. That's why it's unexplainable?

But as I walked through my garden a while ago, I felt a little calmness. Looking at the greens and pretty flowers blooming, gives a slight lift to my spirit. Yes, life goes on! Happiness restored, for now!

Ban Roast Pork?

NO! At least not yet?

I love roast pork! And I hope they won't ban the sales of roast pork in malay-majority areas!
Yes, because that's where I stay!

Be sensitive to thy neighbours, they say? Be sensitive to their religion? Okay...so who's going to be sensitive to mine? My taste buds??? Maybe I am the not so important minority?

So, I must 'kow tow' to the majorities. Darn!

Well then, I'll make my own roast pork! Not too hard, but not so easy either. But it turns out okay okay. I loved the stabbing part (where you stab the skin to make it tender and pop like crackers when you roast it later) Can let go some steam too!

Oops! A small portion is burnt! And some part are done not as they should be? Otherwise the taste is quite good. This is my first shot at this dish, I'll try again. Hopefully it will turn out better.

Taxi! Taxi!

I'm not a common user of the taxi's services in our country. Of course I've used them before but I kind of try my best not to...why?

No, I didn't quarrel with any taxi drivers. I just do not like to bargain with them. Bargain? Well yes, you have to! Everyone knows that! Here are the few steps you take when you need to use their services.

Step 1 : You flagged down a taxi. If he stops...you do not jump right in.

Step 2 : Ask the driver if he wishes to go to your destination. If he say "No", back to step 1!
If the answer is "Yes", proceed to step 3.

Step 3 : Ask him if he is using the taxi meter? If "Yes", it's your LUCKY day! Hop on and enjoy your ride! If "No", proceed to step 4.

Step 4 : Ask him politely how much is he charging for your trip? If you think the fare is reasonable hop on. If not, let him know politely how much you are willing to pay. If you can strike a deal with him, bravo! If not, back to step 1!

At any point do not argue with them, not worth your time and energy. Might spoil your day too because 8 out of 10 taxi drivers have the same attitude problem. The other 2 are the rare species.

Am I glad that I do not have to go through this everyday like some of you. And our government said that they cannot do much about this because these taxi drivers are somehow quite stubborn and there are too many taxis around, it's hard to keep track on all of them? I really do not agree.

I've been to other countries (well I'm a bit lucky lah) and I've never encounter such problem with their taxi services. Singapore - uses the meter all the time, just add a nominal fee if it's after 11pm. You just have to tell them where you want to go, no question asked. Unless they do not know where's the place. Thailand - same. Indonesia - same. China - same.

Please tell me if these countries are smaller than Malaysia? Any difficulties to keep track on their drivers by their authorities? How do they do that? Why they can and we cannot?

Sigh...I think our authorities should look into this situation seriously and do something about it. It's not cannot, it's whether you want or not? There's always a solution.

Utusan Malaysia - Bloody Racist Paper!

I think Utusan Malaysia has published one of the most race discrimination article in my time! The person who wrote the article should be taken away under ISA! He is causing hatred among our multiracial community with the intention to create disharmony in our country. Isn't this a threat to national security? Why is the writer not arrested? Why is the paper not banned? Is it because it's related to UMNO?!

The whole article is about Malays' Special Rights being taken away from them. Their power is being retracted, their land is being invaded by other races, the Chinese, Indians and PAS! I wondered, since when has PAS become a race?

The writer condemned the Malays who took part in the recent anti-ISA rally. He called them cowards? He said they are stupid because they allow themselves to be ridden as horses? The riders are the non-Malays, of course! Tell me this is not creating disharmony among races?

He wrote about how the other races are using the Malays to achieve equal rights, fair treatment and democracy. I think this writer is so 'Kiasu'. Why is he so worried that his special rights are being taken away? This means he is not ready to compete fairly with his counterpart to excel? He needs the government to help him? Put him in front, 50m ahead of others?

Sorry bro! You are so wrong! What these Malays stand up for on Saturday is not for their own special rights. It is for the rights of every single person in our country. It's a decision in unison to protest against the use of the Internal Security Act! Protesting against power abuse! This is a fight for OUR rights, for every single face on our land! Irregardless of what colour they are!

To me this is not an act of cowards...this is a brave move! And please...do not compare yourself with them. You are no where near!

If this is not unity, tell me what is?
If you are protesting against this...you've got a biiig problem!

Now I know!

I read the news of how lone pro-ISA supporter, Mohd Khairul Azam Abd Aziz got passed tight security and police barriers to hand a memorandum to the palace yesterday and I was not a bit amused by it. What caught my attention was the t-shirt that he was wearing!

Did you see it? Can you understand what is written on it?

ISA
PERTAHANKAN HAK-HAK
KEISTIMEWAAN ORANG MELAYU

Need translation? ...ISA, Protecting the Special Rights of Malays...

I guessed now I know what these pro-ISA people wants. And now I know that they think that by defending the existence of the Internal Security Act in our country, their special rights as 'Bumiputra' will be protected. So, in their minds this act is passed to protect them? From what? From who? The Government? The non-Malays?

And what special rights? Only for the Malays? Isn't this racial discrimination? What message are you guys trying to send out? Are you trying to stir something up here? And our PM is talking about creating 1Malaysia? What 1Malaysia?

Most importantly, what does ISA got to do with Malays' Special Rights? It is how our government uses this special act to over ride the rights of its citizen! No matter what race you are. It's being used by the ones in power to shut the people's mouths. Which means your mouth too! Got that?

So mind you pro-ISA guys, this ISA is not here to protect your so called special rights! Please, get your facts right before you put your future in the dark! Do not follow blindly!

Why does it have to be so sad!

One week after fake news of the death of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino was circulated via sms, the real thing kicked in on 1st August. She passed away after battling with colon cancer for more than a year. She carried the torch of democracy for the Filipinos and let's hope that this torch will lit forever in the hearts of not only the Filipinos but all pro-democracy people. May she rest in peace. Sad...

And I learn today that someone I know, passed away yesterday. Although we are not friends but I know her son who was a figure skater years back. He was such a charming boy and has never failed to acknowledge me when we were at the ice rink. Losing your mum at such a young age is really heart breaking. Hope he and his sister would be strong. May his mum rest in peace. Sad...


A 10 year old girl from Perak died of A H1N1, making it the 5th in our country. And she didn't seek medical attention too late. It's the medical attention that she got were too late to save her! Is this her fault or her family's fault? Who are you to blame now? The medical officers who took her situation lightly or just push the responsibilities aside by saying, "Oh, we thought it was a just common flu and we did follow medical procedures, she didn't show any signs of .... and we did treat her accordingly....and..blah blah blah... Sigh...! My heart goes out to her family. Sad...



Why does our government has to act like big bullies? Why are they arresting peaceful demonstrators who are just trying to have their rights heard? Why are they acting like as though there was a riot going on? Why are they arresting children, detaining them in jail and denying them food? Why are they denying us of our rights as a citizen of a democratic country?

Why does it have to end this way? Or is this only the beginning? So sad...

Totally Uncalled For!

If you got stuck in a traffic congestion for a few hours that's caused by police roadblocks, you'd probably curse them till the end of time!

Yes! #@*%##@...whatever you can name!



What in the world are they trying to do? Trying to stop us from joining the anti-ISA rally or the pro-ISA rally? How? By setting up roadblocks? That caused miles and miles of traffic congestion on a working day? During peak hours? Why don't they just declare a curfew! Keep us all at home and shoot anyone that comes out! That will do, right? Create some kind of disturbance among us and correct it later just to show us they are the 'good guys'? Trying to protect us?

Well, whatever they are thinking. Those roadblocks are NOT working! Just look at how many people had gathered to show their support peacefully and yet being harassed and attacked with water cannons and tear gas? Unbelievable!

Whoever started this pro-ISA is definitely the culprit! Agree? What pro-ISA? What is so good about ISA? So that they could nab anyone they fancy without any valid reason? So that whoever that's against their plans will be shut away without a trial? So that they can show who's in POWER! I think this act is more of an 'Insecurity Act' rather than Internal Security Act!

Damn!