Thursday, January 21, 2010

Remote The Life


This is by far, the best remote control that I've ever seen and I hope that someone actually figures out how to make this a reality and produce the damm thing!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

English Made Easy

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as 'Euro-English'.

In the first year, 's' will replace the soft 'c'. Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard 'c' will be dropped in favour of 'k'. This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome 'ph' will be replaced with 'f'. This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where! more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent 'e' in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as
replasing 'th' with 'z' and 'w' with 'v'.

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary 'o' kan be dropd from vords kontaining 'ou' and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.

Monday, January 11, 2010

The Beginning Of An End

Time flies when you're having fun really. I remember when I first got back from America after completing my studies and working briefly in Boston. Life was good while I was there. No worries in my life. The only worry I always had was quizzes and classes - I would trade my job anyday to be a student again but this time with loads of money.
I started my life from scratch when I got back. Gave up the high-life in Boston to be closer to family and emotions. Of course the fact that I just got a niece was a bonus for me to come home permanently but I don't regret a single bit of my decision then.
I guess you could say that life is here for me. Regardless what people say about Malaysia, it's truly the land of opportunities as long as you know where to tap it. I was at the right place at the right time and because of my focused journey, I'm where I am today.
But recently, I've lost the drive. The energy. The motivation. The ability to think big. Most of all, I've lost myself in all these fame and glamour.
Is this who I really want to be? Is this what I wanna do for a living till I retire? A friend today told me that I was made for bigger things? Why can't I have that confidence in myself like others do?
Why? Why? Why?
I think what is more depressing that failure is the lack to appreciate success when you have it. I haven't lost it so it's time I appreciate it all before I spend the rest of my life looking for it.
It will all end very soon!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Life is a POEM

Apparently it’s as simple as it seems
When people say that you no longer what you deem
All you had was hopes and dreams
Couldn’t make one bit of it become a smooth stream

I take a look around me and nothing feels right
The people, the things, the friends I once thought were tight
Maybe I’m just an ordinary man
Ordinary enough, to be forgotten from this land

The strive and struggle, I thought it meant something
All the sweat and pain, now I know, it meant nothing
Turning back time, could probably be an option
But really, do you think that would be the potion

A famous face, a famous name
No one in this world thought I could be tame
Flashes of lights and clicks of camera’s
Rolling out in a brand new Panamera

The warm welcome at the club and a reserved space
The VIP treatment and free flow never seemed as a waste
Taking advantage of the attention from the honnies,
Makes me the “man” with my homies

But at the end of the day, when all that is over
I hide underneath a huge blanket of cover
A blanket that hides true feelings and emotions
And to think that I was truly subject to devotions

An empty space that was once a home
Writing endless letter that was once a poem
Now all that is nothing but mere history
I’ve been made a complete mockery

But life remains stand still
And all I have is my own true will
Fighting for the hope that there would be love again
And someday, I will again be able to regain

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A New Age Conflict

I've been reading so much in the news about the dispute of the sacred word "Allah". Many are preaching that this is a word that belongs to the Muslim community and that it is not right for any other religious group to use it openly. If they want to refer to the "big man", they will need to use words like "Tuhan" or just plain "God".
Then we have the Christian's who are claiming that they have been referring to the "big man" as Allah for centuries and that they have never used the term "Tuhan" before as that word - "Tuhan" is a Malay word and not a Arabic word used to refer to "God"!
I'm neutral when it comes to this because, in Malaysia, I would like to think that as Malaysian's, we live as Malaysian's embracing the Muslim, Hindu and Chinese culture and practise. I don't label myself as a Hindu but rather as a Malaysian. I have no issues praying in a Chinese temple or a Mosque. I have no problems visiting these places of worship either. In fact, when we as Malaysian's attend a religious function - like a marriage or a death, ever wonder why we pay our respects according to the religion of the married couple or the deceased individual. You don't see an Indian going to a Muslim marriage and lighting up a set of joss stick and reciting a Hindu prayer right?
Anyways, I came across something interesting that I would like to share with the world - at least my world. This is something that every student in Johor had to sing in school regardless of race, religion and age. Check it out - it means, every Muslim, Hindu and Chinese HAD to sing this because it is the Johor State Anthem:

Allah peliharakan Sultan
'Nugrahkan dia segala kehormatan
Sihat dan ria, kekal dan makmur
Luaskan kuasa, menaungkan kami
Rakyat dipimpini berzaman lagi
Dengan Merdeka bersatu hati
Allah berkati Johor
Allah selamatkan Sultan


Go figure!

Fine! I'll stop denying it!


Over the past few weeks, lots of people have told me that I'm different. That I'm more human. That I'm more sensitive toward situations surrounding me and those around me as well. Apparently, this is a good thing so I'm not complaining. But they also did say that, although on the outlook, I'm happy, smiling, laughing and enjoying life, they are convinced that deep down inside, in life, I'm depressed and lonely.
I don't know what gave them that impression then and I always told them that I'm not what they say I am. I'm really fine! Things are really good! Blah Blah Blah! But they always kept telling me that I should let it all out and not keep it inside me. I really didn't know what the hell they were referring to - I really didn't - Until yesterday!!
I shall stop the denial. The running away. The ignorance! The "I don't care" attitude.
Depressed - No! But lonely maybe. I guess when you try something and it always fails, you just give up. You just get tired of trying anymore. Too much effort with very negative ROI. Maybe I will die alone, maybe I won't but at this point, although I am lonely, I know that I am also heartless!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Right To Be Malaysian!

After a long time, today I read something that is truly written from the heart and it shows how united Malaysia "was"! There was no need for an advertising campaign to tell the nation that we are all under "1" (One) nation. And that we don't discriminate people regards of their skin color, language and look and religious beliefs. If you ask me, the common nation of the country have no issues with each other and most definitely have no racial issues raging amongst each other. It's those people who created the ONE Malaysia concept that has the true issues. It is them that need to realise that this country doesnt need an advertising campaign to unite but rather need united leaders! I read today the best self-written article by a lady which I'm sure you will all appreciate. Well done Mariam!

A day in the life of an ordinary Malaysian by Mariam Mokhtar

I wake up and retrieve the newspaper lodged in the letter-box. My “Keling paper” has delivered it faithfully, come rain or shine.

I go to the kitchen and make breakfast. Into the toaster goes the bread sent to my home, the previous afternoon, by my “Keling roti”. It has been made by the local bakers, the FBI — Federal Bakery Ipoh — owned by a mamak.

But if I am out for breakfast, it is usually a roti canai at my local Indian’s. Followed by a char koi snack from “auntie”, a Chinese lady.

Halfway through the morning, the sound of a horn alerts me that Ah Fatt, our “grocer on wheels”, has arrived. He brings me fresh vegetables, fish and the usual dried condiments.

Once a month, our local “Keling botol” comes round to collect our empty bottles. Our “Cina paper” too comes to collect the old newspapers.

My neighbour comes round with some pisang grown in her garden. She is Indian, married to a Chinese policeman. I am grateful for his tips on how to keep my house secure. When my ubi kayu harvest is plentiful, I’d go round and return her kind gesture.

I have a gardener. His name is Velu. From the name, you can guess he is Indian. He is much adored by my children. If my son is not in his room, I know where to find him — under the mango tree, in the garden, sharing chapatti, dhall and “tapau” teh tarik with Velu. I told my son off for demolishing Velu’s packed breakfast, but Velu was happy to share his meal. Both were sporting toothless grins — Velu has no teeth and can’t afford dentures. My toddler has just lost his two front teeth. I’ve no idea what they chat and laugh about. Sometimes not a lot of gardening gets done. But who cares? At least they're happy. When Velu died, my son was distraught. He had been with our family for decades and refused to be pensioned off.

My general practitioner for the usual coughs and colds is Chinese. All women have a gynaecologist — mine is Indian. And my dentist is Chinese. These people provided services to my parents in the past, and I simply carried on with them. No complaints. Good service. Reasonable fee.

I did go to a Malay doctor once, but he was more interested in “tackling” my younger sister. I dismissed his lack of professionalism as testosterone driven. He was still a bachelor then.

And on the second visit, years later, he was fishing for information about other members of my family. One personal question might be excusable. But twice is too much of a coincidence. I never did return to him. In my eyes, his professional conduct was compromised by these intrusions. I know I shouldn’t be generalising, but this was my personal experience.

When I had to be admitted to hospital, the surgeon who operated on me was Indian. The nurses were either Chinese or Indian.

I once had to use the services of a lawyer — an Indian.

The person who supplies me with stationery is a Chinese woman married to an Indian man. She once supplied my father’s business with his office stationery needs.

When I once had a leaky water tank, the plumber who successfully mended it was an Indian. He now takes care of all the house’s plumbing repairs. He was my parents’ plumber too.

When my house needed new electrical wiring, the electrician was a Chinese person. When I needed outside electrical work to be done, the electrician was Indian. Both had provided long-term services to the family.

Before Raya, I would go to my Chinese tailor to make my baju kurung. My hair is cut by a Chinese woman. As before, these people once supplied my mother, all her tailoring and hair-grooming requirements. My father’s barber is an Indian.

Again, before Raya, my mother’s Chinese friends at work would send tins of “love letters”, kueh kapit, for us to enjoy and serve at our open house. And early on Raya day itself, several plates of pie tee would arrive and my father’s Indian colleagues would send a big pot of chicken curry and putu mayam. The dining table groans with our rendang and the contributions from our friends, of all races and religions.

For several decades, until my parents were too old and infirm to receive guests, we would have an open house that was a riot of people sporting various national costumes. A real melting point — a true reflection of Malaysia .

These people once provided my grandparents and my parents essential services. Either that, or they were colleagues at work, or friends from their younger days. They, who have grown old alongside my grandparents and parents.

And now, people are telling me that these non-Malays whom I have grown up with and who have remained friends, through thick and thin, are second-class citizens? That they do not deserve to be Malaysians? That they are far inferior to me?

So am I to believe that should my neighbour’s husband, a Chinese, make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, that his life is not as valuable as a Malay policeman’s?

Who are these self-serving, self-righteous bigots kidding?

Happiness - What Is It?

Happiness and unhappiness are opposite sides of a judgement about your situation. If you judge your situation as bad for you, that's unhappiness. If you judge a situation as good for you, that's happiness.

The experience of happiness is one of those general terms we use to say, "I feel good emotionally." People use different terms to describe what feels good for them. For someone it might be excitement, passion, exhilaration, fulfillment, freedom, feeling fully alive with inspiration and joy. For another it might be more peaceful, content, capable, hopeful, satisfied, and comfortable feeling. Whatever you call it, it just feels darn good.

Our natural state of being is to be happy. When you remove all the uncomfortable emotions we humans can experience (and they are numerous), you're left with happiness. So it's easiest to define happiness by what it is not.

Happiness is what you feel when you're NOT feeling....

self doubt
depressed
hateful
fearful
worried
unsatisfied
bored
grief
shame
guilt
discontent
anxious
annoyed
angry
irritated
stressed
frustrated
upset
down
sad
envious
or
jealous.

Whew! That’s a long list!

Pleasure vs. Happiness
Happiness is not pleasure although they can appear similar. Pleasure is enjoyment of an outside stimuli. You might find pleasure in buying a new car, or in going on vacation, or having friends over for dinner, or having sex, or....the list is long on what you might enjoy experiencing. Pleasure requires an external stimuli for you to experience it. Happiness does not. Happiness is a belief about yourself and the outside world. You can be doing something you normally experience as pleasurable but not be happy! Pleasure is born from the external world, happiness is born from the internal workings of our own minds.
Happiness is Everyone's Goal

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Akon - Double Standard Law?


Akon came to Malaysia in October 2009, rocked Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach and left an impression to everyone. But what he really left that we should focus on, is a very relevant question - "Is the Malaysian guidelines on public decency seem to be a grey haven for some concert promoters?"
I mean, even a blind, deaf and dumb person can notice that there was a clear double standard in this matter. The ruling prohibited artist like Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Gwen Stefani on performing unless they covered up their breasts because they are deemed as bad moral to have them exposed. Even the Pussycat Dolls were given a fine for suggestive dancing even when they kept their clothes on.
But it's completely okay for Akon to:

1. Perform given that he has a legal problem with dirty dancing with a preacher man's teenage daughter at a club in Trinidad and Tobago
2. Perform even though there was a reckless endangerment charge against him for tossing out a minor concertgoer into the audience in New York during his show
3. Strip his pants and body surf over the crowd in his concert in Malaysia
4. Perform half naked in Malaysia

Is Malaysia turning more relaxed towards naked or half naked grown men coz they are trying to say that it's okay for a man to be presented that way but it's wrong for a woman to perform half naked or even fully clothed but with suggestive dance moves?
If you ask me, I would say that this is clearly suggesting "gay is cool" - and I have no problem with gay individuals, in fact, I have friends who bat for the same team but I think the guidelines and rulings are just presented on a double standard platform. Worse of all, Akon is a Muslim artist and a liquor brand was said to be the concert presenter - another double standard policy.

With all this going on, no wonder why Malaysia is not on tourists favorite destination!

1Malaysia!

Monday, January 4, 2010

It's 2010 already

So, it's a New Year. I can't believe how fast 2009 went by and it seems just like yesterday that I wrote a post moving out of 2008 and into 2009. I think 2009 has been a great year - yes of course there were ups and downs but mostly, it's been a year where realized the true meaning of life and how much I've misjudged the people around me and also myself.
Now, I know there are selected few that read my blogs and those are the one's that mean the world to me - coz they actually care and take the time to read my blogs :P
I don't hold any grudge against anyone anymore. I figured that I rather invest in positive things in life rather than sulking over the negativity. I feel that 2010 is the year where my life will take a turn and twist for the best. I'm looking forward to many changes and if they don't happen on their own, then I will definitely make it happen. Whether it's by walking away or extending the deadline but whatever it is, it happens in 2010.
So, let me see - what have I learned?? My inspirations all come from artist like Tupac, Notorious BIG, Mobb Deep and people like that.
"The cut might be deep but it's the benefits that you need to learn to reep" - that is so true. No matter how deep you get hurt, the idea is to pick up, let go and see the positive side of things.
"Super nintendo sega genesis, when I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this" - I look around me and I see the kind of life that I have built for myself. Although at times I feel the emptiness inside but overall I think I will be fine.
I've decided that this year onwards, I need to be focused on 2 big things in life - career and money. These are the 2 most important things in my life right now because I have full control over them and I know for a fact that they will keep me happy as long as I know how to manage it.
I've realised human affection is a variable. Someone once told me that everyone is a variable - so if they are such, then why invest in it right. The right thing to do is to invest in a fixed asset rather than a variable liability.
"Get the dope, get the cash and the legs follow" - the dope is the career which gets you the cash. The legs here refer to women.
Concept - make sure the dope and the cash is in countless amount - coz only then you get to travel from one variable to the other. But remember, leave the emotions out coz that is the biggest downfall.
2010 is already looking good.