Curiosity, Thoughts and Whatever...

Long Holiday

2011-09-16T11:48:00.000+08:00

Well, I had been taking a long holiday since moving from one company to another. Since then had been getting a wee bit lazy in writing though i got the time on hand.

Last week a good friend of mine tells me that he's having his 4th kid. I was surprised but not stun. All men like sex. I bet those just married are more horny then those who are older. So sex is part of pro-creation. Nothing dirty to it and nothing to shy about. In fact I think it is just an exercise like a good massage or aromatherapy ......:)

It was partly accident according to him but he's ok with it. He like kids and he come from a family of 8 siblings. However, woman don't like kids when there are more than 2. They can't deal with it and are totally stress up. There are always 2 side to a story. On 1 side there are the old, DIY fashion type who thinks 'tin sang tin yong' all a matter of fate and destiny. Many Malays in Malaysia have 1/2 a dozen or more in the name of 'rezeki'. Most feel that the children will grow up to take care of the old folks. So if 1 kid give 200 for pocket money or whatever you call it, then multiply that with 6 or more........... that's a good income after retirement. In most cases, its even better than investment fund or any retirement scheme or pension scheme.......hahahha. On another side they are those who wants quality, perfection and non compromising style. Therefore, usually as with many cases the wife and the husband are usually in opposite group.

The husband want more kids while the wife want just bare minimum. Anyway, I hope this friend of mine can cope as I think its stressful and all hands will be full.

Eureka

2011-04-22T17:34:00.001+08:00

While I was driving today on the road, it hit me of a very good invention. Why don't technologist or some inventor come out with a signal/turn sensor ?

Many people I notice are just too lazy to flick the left/right turn signal on the steering wheel, so what if there is a sensor that detect a certain amount of turn and thus put out the signal itself. Why not ?

In fact, all the technology are readily available and therefore it's a matter of integrating it. In future cars, there is no need for the manual turn switch. Or how about a voice activated turn signal capability ?

Datuk Jimmy Choo

2011-04-09T11:46:00.000+08:00

I have been reading many news on mainstream media with regard to him and our tourism minister. Promote this and that, how Malaysia own famous world designer etc. I always want to puke reading and looking at the pictures.

Can someone ask him or the minister in Parliament whether is the so called Datuk still a Malaysian? Does he have a British citizenship or PR just like Harrod king? Does he pay Malaysian taxes etc? So please don't claim them to be Malaysian anymore even if they have a foreign PR. It is embarrassing the least to say. If their loyalty is to Malaysia please tell all you only have a Malaysian passport and no PR of a foreign country.

As for Mrs.Minister, I still remember the Australian PR fiasco you were embroiled in a few years ago. I don't have too short a memory.

2011-01-24T17:58:00.000+08:00

I need to get this off my chest. Have you ever been bombarded with calls from the bank asking whether you are interested in their personal loan ? I had on countless occasion. It's getting irritating. Whenever a sweet young thing ask if she can talk to you for a few minutes, then your engine will start to slow down. Seriously.....as I was driving, thinking back all the calls throughout my life......Sir, I am from Alliance Bank, Hong Leong Bank, Eon Bank.....but never had I got a call from Maybank asking for personal loan. Why? Never had I got any call from Public Bank either. Something fishy.......

Funny !!

2010-12-17T11:29:00.001+08:00

OK, the first pics is acceptable. What surprises me was the 2nd pics.

This was in Thailand.

It says "NO DURIAN".....hahaha ..........in the lift.

White

2010-12-17T11:26:00.000+08:00

PAPER BAGS

2010-10-23T19:30:00.000+08:00

SOME CREATIVE BAG MAKERS

AWOL

2010-08-17T16:56:00.003+08:00

I had been away and busy for quite some time.

Anyway, stay tune, cause I'll be BACK.

Idiots

2010-04-15T14:57:00.003+08:00

Ok I want to let off some steam. It had been approx 24 hrs since the incidence and sad to say I haven't calm down yet. My neigbour or my parents neigbour have a huge family. If not mistaken the lady has 5-6 kids who are mostly adults. The husband is not around most of the time cause he's working in Indonesia or something like that. They are not poor but neither rich. Anyway, the whole clan have a habit of double parking, 45degree slide parking and whatever you see on the street. The typical Ah Beng parking style. All this is fine with me except most of the time the clan and his friend impose their ste right in front of my parents house. I have lost count of the number of times my mom have to politely tell them to move the car.

Now last night it happen again for the ....th time and I was piss off. I was mad and thus let of a tirade in front of my porch and on purpose so that the neigbour can hear me. I f&@@k them up and screw them nicely. However my mom wasn't very happy about it and screw me back up. I fail to understand her point. She said the neighbour now like don't want to talk to her again. I was like ...fine who cares anyway. Unfortunately my parents care，they are just too nice with them.

I still think they are an arsehole, an idiot and no brainer. Nevertheless I am sad that my parents aren't supporting me on this but choose instead to be judge and fault me. So am I an arsehole or they are? I feel mad and angry thinking about the whole episode. I know I wasn't wrong but yet my parents still think I am intorelant and therefore my fault.

So does this mean I can park my car or act like them? ....and if nobody complain then what I am doing is right? I am still piss off.

2010-02-23T14:34:00.001+08:00

Income Tax

I want to talk about taxes today. This had been on my mind for quite some time. Lately there are a lot of residential area being barricaded, being gated-up and fence-up for so called security issue. Actually I have nothing against security matter but then again if these so called residential association are allowed to fence up their road at their whim and fancy, where does all this put the general public like you and me. Those road are public road. Service and maintenance are borne by tax payer money through land assessment, income tax and etc.

So I want to pose a very critical and relevant question. If these residential association are allowed to do what they want, then can I as a tax payer choose not to pay my taxes and assessment. The way I see it, is I am entitle to give my taxes where I want it. If public road can be taken “private” and barricaded and denying the general public from using it then what is there to prevent me from giving my taxes ? It is both relevant and pertinent. I am entitled to my right as well as the residential association.

Some of these resident association are reasonable while others are arrogant and bordering on exclusitivity. A case in point is some of these barricaded road are open from morning 6am till 12 midnight. The rest of the time it is close for security and crime prevention. I have no qualms with regard to this. However, those that think their houses are golf courses or exclusive enclave for their status elevation..........well, I have issue with them. If they want exclusive enclave then by all means please moved into a real golf course. If that road is maintain and service by the local council.....meaning the tar roads are being paid by tax payer then every citizen and people have a right to it.

Therefore, I am contemplating to making a protest note to my local council to ask them why I should pay my assessment and taxes.

2010-02-08T00:14:00.002+08:00

Dissection of my Sony Ericsson K750i

For Eye Irritation

2010-02-08T00:01:00.000+08:00

My son have a very bad habit. It's like a season. It happens 1-2 times a year while he always blink his eye awkwardly. So this 2 med was prescribe by the specialist.

2010-01-12T10:47:00.000+08:00

Yao Si Ting

http://elementsofvoice.blogspot.com/2009/05/yao-si-ting-collections.html

There are not many information that I can find online about this singer. Her name is Yao Sing Ti and she have this really wonderful clear, pure voice. After running some googling on it, I found out that she had recorded quite a few number of recordings and there are mostly in English. I think she really have some talented voice and suitable for solo……perhaps classical music too.

Now I know China have so many talented people. Some are unknown and not even in the mainstream and yet their quality is way better than most. Can you imagine the diverse variety and the kind of quality singers as well as other stuff that they have there ? Kudos.

Check or go buy her album. However, I still have some doubt whether her album is really genuine or fake. The quality and finishing of the album itself calls for some sceptism.

Buying a house (MOT)

2009-12-01T15:54:00.000+08:00

BUYING A HOUSE IN MALAYSIA

1. ELIGIBILITY

All Malaysian citizens are free to purchase houses within Malaysia save for low-cost houses which can be applied for through the relevant land offices or registries based on the relevant rules for eligibility.

Houses built on Malay reserved land can only be purchased by Malays. Thirty percent of each housing project is to be reserved for Bumiputra purchasers who enjoy 5% to 8% discount on the purchase price.

Foreign purchasers are subject to the approval of the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) of the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department based on the FIC "Guidelines on the Acquisition of Properties in Malaysia by Foreign Interests".

2. TITLE

There are two categories of titles:-

freehold - which gives the owner perpetual ownership;

leasehold - which allows the owner to stay in possession only for a specified period. When the specified period ends, ownership reverts back to the authority which issued the title.

Generally, a house is issued a title for the piece of land on which the house is erected; and an apartment is issued a strata title for the specific area on the specific floor of the building in which the apartment or condominium is located. A search can be done at the relevant land offices or registries to determine whether the title is encumbered. If the title has not been issued, a search can be done on the master title on which the whole or part of the housing project is erected.

3. FINANCING

Banks and other financial institutions have different packages of housing loan to assist house buyers in their purchase. Pursuant to a recent Bank Negara guideline, house buyers can now only obtain housing loan of up to a maximum of 60% of the purchase price for the purchase of a second or subsequent house.

Other than financing from a bank or financial institution, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) currently provides two schemes of withdrawal for its depositors prior to attaining the age of 50:-

for purposes of buying or building a house or a shophouse consisting of a residential unit, depositors can withdraw the difference between the purchase price and the loan obtained plus 10% of the purchase price, or 30% of the total amount deposited in the EPF whichever is lower

for purposes of reducing or setting housing loans, depositors can withdraw 30% of the total amount deposited in the EPF, or the amount of the housing loan remaining outstanding, whichever is lower.

4. DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES

All purchases direct from housing developers must use the Schedule G (for purchases of houses) or the Schedule H (for purchases of apartment respectively of the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act 1996 as the sale and purchase agreements. Payment of the purchase price the said Schedules G and H is by progressive payment based on completion of work as certified by the architects. Payment of the last 5% of the purchase price will be held by a firm of solicitors as stakeholders for the defect liability period, which is currently 18 months from the delivery of vacant possession.

There are no fixed rules on the form of agreement for purchases from existing house owners (more commonly called sub-sale). However, it is common practice that upon signing of the sale and purchase agreement 10% of the purchase price be paid to the seller, and the purchaser be given 3 months to pay the balance of purchase price with an extension of 1 month if he fails to do so within the first 3 months' period. Interest at the rate of 10% per annum calculated on a daily basis is normally charged for the extension period. Payment of the balance of purchase price is usually made to the solicitors acting for the seller as stakeholders to ensure redemption of the house (if the same is still charged or assigned to a bank or financial institution at the time of sale) and payment of real property gains tax by the seller.

Other than the sale and purchase agreement, a memorandum of transfer, which is Form 14A of the National Land Code 1965, must be completed to transfer the title from the seller to the purchase. In instances where the title has not been issued, then if the purchase is from a developer, the developer will undertake in the sale and purchase agreement to transfer the title when the same is issued; and if the purchase is through a sub-sale, the transfer will be through an assignment of the sale and purchase agreement between the developer and the seller (Principal SPA) to enable the buyer to take benefit of the developer's undertaking to transfer the title contained in Principal SPA.

5. STAMP DUTY

Stamp duty is levied on the document of transfer (i.e. the memorandum of transfer if the title has been issued, or the deed of assignment of Principal SPA if the title has not been issued) based on the purchase price as follows:-

a. 1% on the first RM100,000.00

b. 2% on the next RM400,000.00

c. 3% on the nest RM1,500,000.00 and

d. 4% on the remainder

(item 32 [a] of the Stamp Act 1949)

6.LEGAL FEES

The first Schedule of the Solicitors Remuneration Order 1991 sets out the fees to be collected by lawyers for work done in handling the sale or purchase of house based on the purchase price as follows:-

1% on the first RM100,000.00

0.5% on the next RM4,900,000.00

0.25% on the remainder

For each sale and purchase of a house, the solicitors concerned can only collect fees based on the above scale from either the seller or the purchaser and not from both of them.

MCA EGM

2009-10-11T17:14:00.001+08:00

I needed to comment on this cause I think obviously after the post EGM, I think the tune had changed.

“Once a simple majority is carried, I would be left with no choice but to step down. Anyone who argues that I do not need to do so, that only a two-third majority is required to boot me out, I think that is a great lie,” said the MCA chief.

Ong said that if the delegates voted for the second resolution, that would mean they were casting a vote of no-confidence against the entire presidential council.

“If this happens, the entire presidential council, where I am the head, will have to go because this is a collective decision and not a one-man decision.” Source : The Star

Politician will always be politician. Cannot be trusted and never keep their promises. Its an open secret. Google it.......:(

Pulitzer prize awardee speech

2009-10-07T15:11:00.002+08:00

Pulitzer prize awardee speech

This was a speech made by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Anna Quindlen at the graduation ceremony of an Amercian university where she was awarded an Honorary PHD

"I'm a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know.

Don't ever confuse the two, your life and your work. You will walk out of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree: there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk or your life on a bus or in a car or at the computer. Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank accounts but also your soul.

People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is cold comfort on a winter's night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you've received your test results and they're not so good.

Here is my resume: I am a good mother to three children. I have tried never to let my work stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer consider myself the centre of the universe. I show up. I
listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say. I am a good friend to my friends and them to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today, because I would be a cardboard cut out. But I call them on the phone and I meet them for lunch. I would be rotten, at best mediocre, at my job if those other things were not true.

You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you are. So here's what I wanted to tell you today: Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger pay cheque, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon or found a lump in your breast?

Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze at the seaside, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over the water, or the way a baby scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a sweet with her thumb and first finger.

Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work. Pick up the phone. Send an email. Write a letter. Get a life in which you are generous. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money you would have spent on beer and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big brother or sister. All of you want to do well. But if you do not do good too, then doing well will never be enough.

It is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, and our minutes. It is so easy to take for granted the colour of our kids' eyes, the way the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises again. It is so easy to exist instead of to live.

I learned to live many years ago. I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good
in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it, completely and utterly. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned. By telling them this: Consider the lilies
of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read in your balcony with the sun on your face.

Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be lived".

Red faced afternoon drinker

2009-07-09T22:19:00.000+08:00

Now I have been picking up my son from his school daily and I notice this man who has a red face and a body odour filled with liquor. I notice he has a few cars and all the cars have the same plate no. 555. My observation is always sharp and thus my first impression of him was he's your typical chinaman businessman. Nevertheless he has a baby faced and not those Genghis Khan look. To me a typical chinaman boss is the ones who always drink liquor with his supplier, his customer and basically eat drink and merry all day long. I have come across a few of these species if I may called them that for now. They don't have productivity at all and all they do is gather at a joint and have beer or liquor until each other are "high" or red faced.

He has been wearing a collar shirt with a website link emboss on it neckline. Out of curiosity I ran a check on it www.kewmeng.com and it doesn't come out anything. Thus I ran a google on it and I manage to deduce that it is basically a trading company supplying industrial grinding tools and etc. So I guess this medium size trading company is a hand down companies from their great grandfather etc. For me I think he has the best job in the world. Being a boss owning a medium size company who can make reasonable and handsome profit with his niche clientele. The company can run by itself without much fuss generating steady income with the niche market and thus allowing him to drink, eat and merry in broad daylight.

Actually I have seen this type of lifestyle during my grandfather times but for the last few years I have meet a few younger generations of hard drinkers who drink in broad daylight. It uses to be associated with night pubs and etc but there is another group who only drinks in the afternoon just for fun and pleasure. So there you have it…….a rich, broad daylight heavy liquor drinker of Malaysian Chinese businessman. In fact I have a cousin who falls into this category but then he's a salesman who mixed with the china men bosses. So drinking in the afternoon are the in and happening trend right now !!

Creative WWF Ad's

2009-07-07T00:18:00.004+08:00

Check out the series of really creative WWF ad’s. I was told that not all ad’s were made by WWF. Some were made by college students and concerned citizens of our planet but its truly good work. Besides the point of just creativity, this could be the situation of our planet if we don't start fixing the damage we have caused!

Cool Watches

2009-07-07T00:06:00.005+08:00

Best National Geograhic Photos

2009-06-17T22:48:00.002+08:00

How To Rename Photos In Batch

2009-06-17T22:20:00.002+08:00

All Window XP are 'supposed' to be pre-installed with Microsoft Office Picture Manager. Pls use this program. Follow the steps below. If you have any doubt pls let me know. Sorry for the long overdue tutorial. Had forgotten about it many times. Getting old.

Enjoy !!!

Perak Scuffle

2009-05-07T23:01:00.001+08:00

Reading the news on The Malaysian Insider and seeing those pictures of scuffle happening in the Perak State Assembly make my heart very sad. I only want to say I feel for Pakatan Rakyat and all who stand for justice and common sense. Wifey had told me that her boss had meet this "unelected" Perak MB and found him decent and ok from some job related issue before he became famous. Anyway after seeing some news and press conference by him and all those statement that he had made, ...... I want to puke. After all I think he is just like any other politician who is a hypocrite and can talk nonsense and twist and turn all facts to accommodate his own objective. I had hope he was on the nice and principle side not like those in UMNO warlords. After the last few days I don't think there are any justice in this world. Justice are only serve to those who are rich and powerful.

As the saying goes, if you have money that is what matter most. A rock can be turn into gold. I am disappointed with many people. Where is justice ? Is there any nice and principle people in this world ? I don't believe PR is a clean party. After all they are politician too. But rules are rules and everybody have to abide by the rule book in order to play the game. Seem like now the rule book are being thrown in the bin and you can dictate a new rules and do whatever you want.

It is really a sad day for Malaysia. 1 Black Malaysia. Common sense does not prevail anymore.

Honda The Power of Dream

2009-05-05T23:48:00.002+08:00

School

2009-05-05T23:43:00.002+08:00

I have been going to my kid school to pick him up everyday for the past 3 mth. I usually get there early and most of the time I can observed many things. There are a diverse group of people waiting for their kids outside the gate. There are old, young, wealthy, poor, learned and blue collar workers……………you name it, its all there.

In the beginning I thought many parents that send their kids to vernacular school are usually weird, perhaps speak in their own mother tongue only. However, as I observed longer I notice a trend. Most are English educated and if not all….they are Christian. I make this point after hearing most of them talking about churches and activities and who's who and etc. I am surprised that the Christian community here in MY are very open and thus subjecting their kids to Chinese culture. The way I see things is most of the churches are very very propaganda and run as a business entity.

You see, I had sent my kids to an average kindergarten in my neighborhood which is run by a Christian group. Not sure which group already but when I enroll in that school they told me they have a diverse based of kids including Malays. They even assure me that they will be very liberal and would not force any kids to recite the bible or morning prayers etc. However after a few years, my kids can practically recite the morning prayer and whatever else "brain washing propaganda" that they have. I have no qualms with their system and etc but right from the very beginning I have insisted that every kids deserve their own right and freedom of choice. Thus I strongly put my point forward that my kids can opt out and observed what other kids are doing but not participate. I want to make sure my kids have a neutral view of religion and hence when they grow older they can have their own decision and choice to choose what they want to believe in.

Nevertheless, I am disappointed with the school. They never keep their words and I have found out more recently from my kids that the teacher are very very religious and in fact had some bible story telling and etc to spread their propaganda. Therefore I was very very piss off. I had a serious discussion with wifey about this. We know they is nothing we can do about it unless of course we launch an official complain to the education ministry with regard to their kindergarten licenses and their "illegal" activities. Wifey and I just don't understand why these Christian group can't leave the kids alone. Why do they have to propagate their religion in an unfair manner. Using underhand tactics and subjecting the vulnerable soul for their own objective.

Throughout my life and my own personal experience I gather that the Christian groups are very very well organized and are being run as a business corporation. They have a structure organization and everything are well planned and effectively implemented. Their success in organization skills thus gave them the advantage of expanding exponentially and spreading their wings wide and far. Now, I am happy for their success but using kids to spread their preaching…….can you imagine what an under 3 year old mind is like. It is fragile and easily manipulated. OK after all that you have been reading you must be wondering by now what does it got to do with the vernacular school etc. Now my question would be…….what does this Christian group or member feel like if suddenly we all have Buddhism or Taoist teaching in the vernacular school. Can we have something similar as them and can we ask them what would their opinion be like if this Christian kids started going to Buddhism class and etc ?

Can you find Buddhism being spread in the same way ? Do we have Buddhism run kindergarten and have morning chanting or praying in Buddhism style ? I don't think so. Can you find kindergarten run by Buddhism philosophy above a shop lot or a corner house or their own landed property as Christian organization ? I don't think so. Not here in MY but perhaps Taiwan or HK and etc. So for that matter, I have totally lost respect for Christian group. This has nothing to do with religion but peoples attitude and mentality. Most are helm by ignorant and distorted mind. They themselves had been subjected to the same organization and system while they were growing up. I must say the person who envision all this and propagated all this with the introduction of the organization and business concept is a visionary Christian. That I believe is what deserve my respect but not the "force" preaching which is barbaric and smack of discrimination of freedom.

For goodness sake, can't they see themselves in the mirror and have some self conscience?

Ingenuineity

2009-05-05T23:40:00.002+08:00

Amusing English

2009-05-05T23:35:00.002+08:00

Ok, its been awhile since we had some laugh. Here's another manglish from the General Manager of a huge MNC. He's a local by the way and not some Jap. Nevertheless I think you can basically think of him as a Jap cause he has no …………argh……….you just take a guess yourself. I am not going to criticize him. His work and etc would one day speaks for itself.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

2009-04-28T19:33:00.002+08:00

I only manage to catch this movie last week. The starting part and the movie was ok and could hold itself right up until the middle where the robot was transferred to an underground silo. From there onwards it was all downhill. The ending was a little bit anti-climax. I think I watched the old version but only a small recollection and fade memory of it. I love the original show….the black and white version.

Anyway, Klaatu was ok but I just don't like the abrupt ending. There were no real emotions and a serious script to it. I was expecting some complex character and serious storyline but…..hey no. There was none and to me it seems to be an abrupt and quick ending by the director obviously to cut short the schedule and cost.

So my rating is 4/10 only.

A typical Sun afternoon

2009-04-28T19:25:00.001+08:00

I would like to highlight here what I experience that other day while I was shopping in a hypermarket. I encounter a queue jumper. Well, it wasn't exactly queue cause there was no queue at all. Wifey and I had a trolley and when we queue to make payment at our regular hypermarket store…..we usually keep a distance of 1 body person from the trolley to the person in front of us. We don't like how some shoppers usually push the trolley almost touching to the person in front of them. It just wasn't our way. We are kind of like gentlemen, well breed species…….:).

Anyway on that day there wasn't any crowd at all. Perhaps it was on a Sun afternoon and also middle of the month (beginning of the month would be the usual crowd after salary pay day). Therefore on that particular counter we were queuing there was just this shopper in front of us who was just in the process of making payment. There was another shopper in the middle of making payment on the counter to our left. I was chatting with wifey and then my kids was making noises wanting to go to the loo. All of a sudden this old lady (quite immaculate with her hand wavering a credit card which I presume to be platinum) politely said to me "excuse me". She was pushing a trolley of her own and exactly 90º against my trolley. I thought ….ohh…..she just want to go across…..but I was a bit puzzle cause there was plenty of space right behind us. Usually people just push the trolley on the pathway at the back but this lady was crossing the pathway right in front of the counter.

Nevertheless, I didn't suspect anything cause I assume she was going to the counter to the left. Therefore I pull back my trolley to give her way to cross right in front of me. To my astonishment she put her trolley right there in front of mine. For a few seconds there I was still hoping she's slow and was going to the next counter. It didn't happen. So I politely ask her….Auntie, may I know where do you want to go ? She told me she want to make payment and hence queuing for the counter. I was stun and speechless for a second there. After gaining composure I again politely told her, Mdm/Auntie………I am also queuing for the counter.

She gave me an innocent look and ….Ohhhh….sorry and proceeded to go to the counter on my left. There wasn't any hu ha……anything like that. It was just kind of not right and normal. The scenario was like a spoof or something. After she had gone to the next counter, I left with my kids to the loo. Later after coming back to the counter, wifey was just making payment. Again to my surprised, the old lady now was queuing behind my wife.

I felt weird with her. She was like something weird from another planets or something. You get the feeling you are interacting with an abnormal person…..an alien. Another point of weirdness was she was putting her stuff onto my groceries on the conveyer belt until the cashier was confuse and had to ask which one is whose one. I just let it be and told the cashier …… one at a time. After everything was done and all out groceries was put into the trolley, I saw that this old lady had another lady friend. She was pushing her own trolley cart and was meeting her up. Both of them were talking to each other about lunch…..MacD ….with my family and I in the middle between both of them. It was strange. The whole episode was like in twilight zone or something.

My guess is…she's probably out of town or something. However, the fact was she was holding a platinum credit card and her immaculate dressing tells me she's perhaps having dementia or something like that. Luckily it wasn't a loose cannon or some crazy auntie. I wouldn't know how to deal with that. That was a typical Sun afternoon for me. Phew……….

Nissan Latio

2009-04-28T19:21:00.002+08:00

A friend from SG came over to my house the other day. She was visiting me and I was surprise she drove a car. She told me ever since she got married she and husband need to travel quite frequently back home and thus having a car is very important. Anyway, what I wanted to highlight was the car. She bought this Nissan Latio…I think it was full spec because I could see leather seating etc on it. What capture my attention was the keyless entry thing. There was a reader (a small sensor bar) near the door knob that she touches with her finger and ….voila…the car door open.

Its looks cool and techie. A bit convenient for those who are always hand full and only have a finger to spare. I haven't check the spec. over here in MY yet. I guess its always the cost and the acceptability over here. There are more technology resistance driver here than over in SG.

I just read somewhere that Suzuki Swift in MY are having these "keyless" entry system too. In fact you don't even need a key to insert into the keyhole to start the car. Its all some sort of RFID and thumbprint identification. Cool.

Naughty Advertisement

2009-03-03T22:50:00.001+08:00

Four Liquid Stages of Life....

2009-03-03T22:42:00.002+08:00

This is COOL... self explanatory.....

What a way to summarize the stages of life - without saying a word!

Charging Chua Soi Lek with Oral

2009-03-02T22:51:00.001+08:00

I am not sure if it's a stupid idea or a wild idea. It seems to me his enemies have run out of ideas and are desperate. Today while I was reading the VK Lingam case which was filed under NFA (No Further Action)………..a replied by our PM in Parliament, I got a fantastic idea for Chua Sok Lek to make his greatest escape. Why don't CSL make a VK Lingam strategic manoeuvre? From my understanding, the great Lingam could still make an escape even with video evidence of his rogue activities, so I don't see why can't CSL make the same escape.

If he is ask about the video and if they intend to charge him with oral……….well, he can just tell them ….hmmm….it looks like me, perform like me but technically its not me. He would then bring a video "expert" in to contradict the evidence and ..bah blah…blah…………..you get the drift. So later……..it would just be like Lingam case…….NFA. However, can't help feeling which is more serious…..having oral with your mistress or trying to bribe the judges of this country and making it as an exclusive classroom which could determine the fate of 27million people.

Perak Fireworks

2009-02-21T17:48:00.002+08:00

OK I had layoff from commenting about politic for quite sometime. Now I would like to give a few cents of my own personal opinion.

Firstly with regard to the Perak Gov fiasco..........how on earth did it ever reach this level? I heard the foreign diplomats are laughing their socks off. How could a gov be form with personal dealing like a chop shop. There are laws, state assembly and procedure/protocol to be followed. If my memories serve me right, when Anwar wanted to raise the motion of "NO CONFIDENCE AGAINST PM", he was sadly rejected by the parliament house speaker. That was the end of the story. So I am wondering what can't the BN state assemblymen do ? Aren't the state assemblies just a smaller version replica of the Parliament? Can I ask with common sense ........that Anwar with his Parliamentarian + independent　+ crossover supporter get an audience with the King and voila..........he thereafter can form the gov the very next day. Can he? It's ridiculous.

Secondly, the power to elect MPs and state assemblymen rest solely on the people. The Sultan are procedural .........a seal of approval (the last miles). I was surprised and totally flabbergasted that an educated and wise sultan aren't that normal as it seem. If my memory serve me right again, just before the PR had taken over as the official gov, the sultan had personally interview and got a pledge from all PR state assemblymen to form a stable gov. Now it seems the Sultan are again "interviewing" all this traitors and so called assemblymen to get their pledge and full loyalty. Isn't this a repeat of what had been done and what makes the new BN gov not falling apart again 6mth down the road when those independent/traitor crossover again? What is there to prevent all this from happening again and again etc. There should be some binding law and pledge which are real pledge. Seem like meeting Sultan nowadays are a normal daily affair. Not something commoner use to be very afraid of anymore cause it use to be like meeting the headmaster.

Thirdly this lady Hee something. I am not sure and am very puzzle as with all common sense people in MY. Why did she crossover. What makes 20yrs DAP supporter and a house deputy speaker crossover all of a sudden and be seen to be our DPM best friend. I am sure many wise and educated people are puzzle. There must be some prawn behind the rock with regard to her story. Wifey was just asking me yesterday, how could she face so many people. Her friends, her relatives.....her family etc. The shame and the insult everyone would be hurling against her. I would be one of it. Then the conspiracy theorist in me would offer an opinion, perhaps she was threatened. Or else perhaps her family and people precious to her was being held to ransom. It sound logical cause I don't think a normal person would take s a huge risk and obvious to the public that she is raking in millions. She is just isn't right. I can smell a fish somewhere here.

Fourthly, do you think the resignation of the ex-chairman of BN of Perak and the taking over by DPM a coincidence or a plan all along ? I have my doubt but then since the dusk had settle I am beginning to get the overall picture. In my personal opinion the crossover from BN to PKR by this Bota assemblyman is all part of the grand plan. He was perhaps a pawn to make the other 3 crossover more confident or for some other reason. One thing was for sure is this guy didn't get to be the chairman for Felcra and etc as written in The Malaysian Insider. So he has more than 101 reasons to defect and re-defect again. Therefore this unscrupulous double face chameleon ought to be kick out of politics for life.

Lastly, these politicians must have calculated precisely and must have a real game plan to pull it all off and must have foreseen the wrath that would come in the next GE. Nevertheless, I think they would still win cause there are more stupid and dumb people in MY than any other places on earth. This is another reason why our gov are churning out more pea brains and keeping those kampong folks illiterate so that they can control their own destiny and their livelihood. Imagine what would have happen if everyone is more educated and wiser and have access to all information equally. MY would never be the same again.

Single and Available

2009-02-14T21:10:00.001+08:00

You know actually I know of many friend who are still single and available. Just this week a nice woman came to visit wifey and me. Wifey's friend from the college days and she's a nice beautiful woman. Anyway I think age is catching up on everyone now. She had been into a few bad relationships and I guess she's a bit sceptical and careful now. Then I thought why are there so many nice people in this world who are not married. Is it that difficult to find someone else …..the special one……the soul mate.

I wish I could help them all out but unfortunately my bad experience with Dr.Y convince me not to put my nose into others affair. I think I should leave it to them cause after all its their life.

Nevertheless, I can't help relate how wifey's colleague who successfully match make a friend with a beautiful young lady. We meet up every year for Christmas at her colleague house and therefore we are all acquaintance and know each other. This friend of ours is a businessman and quite a successful one too who drives a BMW. He owes a factory and etc but he's a very nice man with good looks etc but almost 40+ of age. So the colleague relate to us how she match make them but was unsuccessful initially. After a 2 yrs and the fire light up again and voila………they click. FYI she's only 30….so she quite young and beautiful. Anyway, perhaps since they have something in common….churchgoer thus more things, time and opportunity for retried…..hehahaha.

Therefore the door is not always closed. The heart need to open up in order for the "magic" to work.

Indian Foreign Worker

2009-01-30T16:46:00.006+08:00

There is this Indian chap I talk to occasionally whenever I sent my car for a wash. He tells me he is an Indian from India and he is being paid RM1000 for 16hrs a day job every month. There is no overtime, benefits or whatever. There is no leave except once a year trip back to India. Their contract here runs for 3-4yrs and thereafter most of them just go back and don't wanna come back here anymore. At first when I heard that he is paid 1k per mth.....I said wow......Indon are only paid RM400 per mth and they too have no leave and work 24hrs a day.

I think what started out as willing employer and willing employee has escalated to being more choosy and more demanding. After all this Indian chap here had been working for 4yrs straight now and he speaks fluent Malays. He is consider to be the senior among the other new faces I have not seen before. He told me he's not coming back anymore after his contract expire just like the earlier ones who went home. He said he can now get better employment options and opportunity back home in Chennai.

Now thats something interesting and new to me. At least I can see life changing and moving upstream. You are not forever a car wash attendant. Everybody needs to grow. Happy for him.

Iphone 3G

2009-01-30T16:27:00.003+08:00

Lately been very very busy hence my blog was neglected temporarily.

I have so much to write about. Let me start with Iphone 3G. I bought one recently and unfortunately it is lock to a network. I did some homework on the net and read up all the relevant material for a few days. There was a lot of contradiction, unclear tutorial and also different view from different blog as well as article. Anyway, finally gotten the courage to hack my iphone 3G with yellowsn0w. Fortunately it went smoothly and I have to thank the guys at dev blog for everything as well as those blogs and article I have gone through repeatedly. However the best part and the person I have to thank most is the 7 yrs old kid who taught me how to jailbreak my iphone 3G on youtube.......ahahehe. I know ...I know.....the stare and reaction from some of you guys. Anyway, a 7 yr old kid can jailbreak an iphone 3G............ what more an adult like me. Luckily I didn't outsource the unlocking to some chap on the street alley or some dingy shop in a shopping complex.

The hardest part of unlocking my iphone 3G was the JB (jailbreaking) part. Using yellowsn0w was easy enough cause it was some program that give command to change the baseband and fool the simlock on the iphone. Therefore I am not going to give another tutorial like the 7yr old kid. I would just put up some useful link which you can read yourself and also credit must be given to them for sharing. I find the www a wonderful place cause a lot of people are more willing to share knowledge compare with many of my collegue. Most Chinese Malaysian are very selfish especially those old fashion vernacular school educated.

The youtube link :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF-E-J5EIoE&annotation_id=annotation_790435&feature=iv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdwh6HBjBUM&feature=related

Article :

Iclarified Jailbreak 3G http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=1881
Iclarified Unlock 3G http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=2538
Iphone Hacks http://www.iphonehacks.com/2009/01/jailbreak3g-win.html
Iphone Hacks http://www.iphonehacks.com/2009/01/unlock-3g-guide.html

Anyway, as I write this article, there is another update and latest information from Apple. Therefore yellowsn0w might be outdated. So this hacking/breaking and counter thing is moving at a very extreme pace. Here are some of the FAQ which was in my mind before I checked and view those youtube videos

Do I need to have a sim card (original locked sim) in the iphone before doing the JB and also yellowsn0w ? Ans: No
Some of the site that I read up (iclarified, dev blog, iphonehack etc) says we need to download the latest firmware ".ipsw". Since my iphone 3G which is locked to O2 UK was bought just 2 weeks ago do I still need to download "ipsw file" ? I have all the latest firmware 2.2 (5G77) and baseband 2.28. Ans: Just download it and do a complete format of the iphone with the firmware ".ipsw".
Can I do yellowsn0w without any network access ? Ans: No you can't. To unlock with yellowsn0w you must have wifi or data network enable to access the repository location.
Do I need wifi for QuickPwn for JB ? Ans: No. Just download QuickPwn and run JB at your own pace anytime. JB and unlocking with yellowsn0w are 2 different thing and separate process. You can do JB and a day later do unlocking with yellowsn0w.
Is this all easy or just give the hp shop assistant/salesmen to do ! Ans: Its all very easy. Why need to give RM300 or more for a 1-2-3 job. Furthermore there are a lot of con men out there who wouln't think twice to take your iphone for a few hours and then tell you later.....opps...sorry when you gave me the hp ? This is very common.
Would I brick/spoilt my phone ? Ans: Well to me all this are just software. I ask myself does Apple produce 2 different version for the whole world ? Meaning 2 different hardware ? Don't think so. Reason is cost. So from my technical point of view this locking and unlocking are usually software control. Flashing them with the correct code.
Can I still access my itunes after JB and unlocking. Ans: Yes. Just don't update anything thereafter with regard to baseband version or anything. Disconnect your net when accessing itunes for safe precaution.

Treatment For Sugar - Lady Finger

2009-01-30T10:00:00.001+08:00

Please note that another name for Lady Finger (Bhindi ) is " OKRA ".

Last month in one of TV program I learnt of a treatment of Sugar
(Diabetes). Since I am diabetic, I tried it and it was very useful and my
Sugar is in control now. In fact I have already reduced my medicine.

Take two pieces of Lady Finger (Bhindi) and remove/cut both ends of each
piece. Also put a small cut in the middle and put these two pieces in
glass of water. Cover the glass and keep it at room temperature during
night. Early morning, before breakfast simply remove two pieces of lady
finger (bhindi) from the glass and drink that water.

Keep doing it on daily basis.

Within two weeks, you will see remarkable results in reduction of your
SUGAR.

My sister has got rid of her diabetes. She was on Insulin for a few
years, but after taking the lady fingers every morning for a few months,
she has stopped Insulin but continues to take the lady fingers every
day. But she chops the lady fingers into fine pieces in the night, adds

the water and drinks it all up the next morning. Please. try it as it
will not do you any harm even if it does not do much good to you, but U
have to keep taking it for a few months before U see results, as most
cases might be chronic.

How to tell the gender of a Fly

2009-01-29T16:44:00.003+08:00

How to tell the gender of a Fly

A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Hunting Flies" He responded.

"Oh. Killed any?" She asked.

"Yep, 3 males, 2 Females," he replied.

Intrigued, she asked. "How can you tell?"

He responded, "3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone."__._,_.___

Point Of View (NTV 7)

2009-01-29T16:43:00.006+08:00

My personal comment after watching POV (Point Of View)

1. Dong Zhong Association (United Chinese.....Association)

A gathering of a bunch of fanatic, obsessive and introvert people. Yeah I agreed with many of his later points but he was screw tightly at the beginning from the host and had to defend himself. He looks silly and incompetent for a Head of Legal Adviser to the association. The host was having a field day cause from my observation he wasn't well prepared and also don't have too many points. Now let's go into a little bit detail.

The host asks him why do you need to have a different school just to learn another language? She then proceeded to further ask what are the elements or so called Chinese cultures which are important to acquire.

Does it mean a Chinese who doesn't know mandarin is less likely a Chinese than a Chinese educated student?

Does a language really define a person or it's just a tool for communication?

Is there anyway for a common single school system to enable integration? Sometime in the future or never at all...............

Why is Singapore so successful or take for example Japan? They are pro Japanese culture and language and yet they can move so far ahead without knowing English at all.

So for me there are actually many issues affecting the integrity of a multicultural society. The overall government policy. The implementation of policy and etc etc. So it doesn't just boil down to a simple separation of school. Perhaps it could be the quality and the system of teaching that is alienating others. I have heard of cases where history subject had been twisted and use to purge all facts and rewrite history on the minority section of the population.

What about the entrance exam to go into local university! There are many ways and type of system which separate the races too. There are the matriculation school, the old fashion STPM school and then the form 5 route. So do you perceive this to contribute to the rift in the integration of the different culture? Therefore to solely blame the whole integration problem on the vernacular school is not acceptable.

If I look at the whole issue objectively, with the existence of the vernacular and national type school at the present form we can conclude that there are more demand than supply for vernacular. Why is this so? Is it because parents perceive them to be more superior compare to national type. Is it because the quality and standard are higher in vernacular compare to national? Therefore at the end of it we need to ask why national type school cannot outdo vernacular type school? Just look at the analogy of your local telecommunication/telco between Maxis and Digi. When there is competition, it would drive the companies to efficiency, better consumer prices and overall standard. Therefore, if we put Maxis and Digi case as National and Vernacular school both competing equally then we could deduce that the best man would win. Obviously with huge financial obstacle and policy against the vernacular school, yet they could still entice and attract significant student means a lot in MY education sector.

Thus should vernacular school be abolished and be integrated into national type school? I don't think it's a simple answer. There need to be a comprehensive report/study on the impact of these students from primary to university stage. We need data to backup the report and not 1or 2 so called "expert" to quantify the reason. The "expert" opinions are from their point of view and they are bias with their different background and characteristic. Data of these students who had gone through 12years of education and their diverse background and environment need to be collected to accurately give a better and truly actual picture.

Is a wife an object ?

2009-01-17T21:42:00.000+08:00

Recently one of my colleague wife pass away in a freak accident. The next thing you know some of the M in my company was already discussing the issue of poor old colleague and how is he going to manage and cope with 5 kids. Then came the suggestion that he take another wife but what would people think of him. Perhaps a filthy dirty old man ? Sadly, what others really think of them doesn't really matter to them. They still think its their right and their privilege to take another wife. Some were saying he have 5 kids and while the older ones are in boarding school the youngest one is still in primary 1. Thus he needs a woman to care for his kids and run the chore at home. Some told me that usually (a norm in their culture) they would try to find a relative that is not married yet or someone who is still untouched.

The first thought when I hear that was …it's all so simple to them. The wife is just like an object….a vase. Its as if there are no emotion involve or they choose to ignore it and lay everything squarely on god. How pathetic and swallow mind these people have been. No wonder why many people that I know of urges me to let it be. "! Don't teach them to be too smart" was the loud cry echo everywhere.

Exercise your neck

2009-01-02T18:08:00.001+08:00

Doctor advises patients to exercise their neck by just reading this message.

In the end, all patients go home happily without asking the doctor for any
medications. 'It is very effective,' said the doctor.

'All my patients never come back to me again.'

Vernacular School

2008-12-03T22:12:00.002+08:00

First of all I do agreed that in an ideal world and in an ideal country there should be only 1 system of education and 1 stream and method of teaching. This is what I called equality and fairness.

Whether vernacular school can create any racial tension or not, that I would have to agree and disagree at the same time.

I don't think the school contributes entirely to the fault of polarization and etc but the parents themselves. I have met a few so called fanatic Chinese and I really feel sorry for them. However, upon getting to know them in detail I found out that they are not raise in an entirely harmonious family and environment. Thus they could be neglected by their own family and thus causes their mind to be out of synch with the entire world. I find them having low general knowledge of the country as well as the world. So I think polarization has to do more with perception of fairness. Most of this kids etc feel they are at the receiving end of the education system. They can't get into local U, deprive of gov sponsor boarding school and thus have to see their parents suffer to make ends meet just so that they can be school properly.

I have been reading a lot of argument, debate and protest with regard to vernacular school in MY. Some fanatic NGO grouping which are associated with political parties are issuing threat, sue and street protest to gain attention and cheap publicity. However, I would like to give my own 2 cents.

If some smart alec wanna remove these vernacular school in the name of unity, then can we also at the same time removed all those matriculation and barrier for the sake of unity ? Can we not ? Pls be fair and pls have some common sense. The existence of matriculation is the same as vernacular school. Why have 2 system ? Why don't everyone just take the same standard exam which is STPM/STP. Some people who flung their SPM/GCSE are able to go into matriculation and thereafter into local uni. Student who have to sit for STPM/A-Level have to slog it out and at the end of the day hope and pray that they would be accepted into their own choice of uni and course. Do you think it is fair? Isn't this sowing disunity and discrimination? What do you think student would think if all of a sudden they found out that they have been getting excellent result yet he/she can't get into local uni just because his result is good? Many students have been disappointed time again and again. With this extraordinary experience the emotional disappointment is passed down from 1 generation to another. At the end of the day nobody is being happy or proud about it except matriculation student who are sure to go into local uni.

It isn't a great feeling to have 2 system. It isn't fair to have 2 different standards just for the admission into the same uni. There is no competition and hence complacency is a norm. I rest my case. Tic for tac. Therefore pls reciprocate some kindness and conscience and don't just think of the Malay agenda. We are all Malaysians. Be fair.

Joke: A New Computer Error

2008-11-24T19:03:00.002+08:00

If ever you have problems with your pc, it is probably an ID ten T
problem, read on....

I was having trouble with my computer, so I called Richard,
the 11 year old next door whose bedroom looks like Mission
Control, and asked him to come over.

Richard clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem.

As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was
wrong?

He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.'

I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired,
'An, ID ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it
again.'

Richard grinned. 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T
error before?''

No,' I replied.

'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll figure it out.'

So I wrote it down: I D 1 0 T

Relationship Without Sex

2008-11-20T19:36:00.004+08:00

Hmmm…this is a very interesting subject which I would like to elaborate about. Take a look to understand the background.Can a marriage survive without sex.?

Well, according to the article it's a BIG NO. It quotes some examples of celebrity and yada yada……….

But then my question is what happens when age catch up. I do understand the need and etc but is this the reason why men go out to hunt some younger fish or SYT. Is this all normal and part of the human nature? Can we all men blame all this on human nature? Can we all put the finger on men desire which is inbuilt?

I feel the article was a bit lopsided and didn't address men's human nature correctly. It was more of observing and studying the subject of men sex desire in British perspective. I don't feel Asians culture is anything like that. I think there are lots more love and compassion and understanding in this part of the culture. I have seen and believe there exist a lot of bond and relationship strength in older couple.In all honesty, I believe for Asians culture, the marriage stuff is a very sacred step. Divorce to many are frowned upon, despise and look down.

Therefore some marriages which started out as dull and no sparks would tend to last the longer miles. Some of my acquaintance from the Indian community have a totally conservative culture. They choose a wife who they have never seen before and everything are arranged by their family according to the "STARS". Surprisingly the marriage do last. How do you explain this ? My guess is s-- is not their top priority. But then again maybe not cause the traditional village woman has to service the man without question. Relationships do improve and with children in the equation, divorces would never cross their mind.

In western culture divorce procedure are easily done and easily accessible. In addition it had become a norm when too many woman are calling for it.If only couples try harder to work out the relationship or compromise. To give and take. For me the word divorce is a foul language. Before a marriage begin, couples ought to understand that "DIVORCE" should never ever me muttered out. Once either party have cry out the foul word, it could never be taken back. The reason I am saying all this is because I feel all this are important substance for a relationship to work.

Yes, sex is important to me too. I need it everyday if I could and with as many beautiful woman as I could. But then if my wife treat me well and mutual understanding exist, even without sex when we age, the bond would still be strong.I don't know. This is just my personal view on this. I am just thinking with my head and not my "BATON".............hehehehe.

FBI Recruits

2008-11-20T19:18:00.002+08:00

The FBI had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks,

interviews, and testing were done there were 3 finalists. Two men and a
woman. For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the men to a large
metal door and handed him a gun.

'We must know that you will follow your instructions no matter what the
circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair.
Kill Her!

The man said, 'You can't be serious, I could never shoot my wife..' The
agent said, 'Then you're not the right man for this job. Take your wife and
go home.'

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went
into the room. All was quiet for about 5 minutes. The man came out with
tears in his eyes, 'I tried, but I can't kill my wife.'

The agent said, 'You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home.'

Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions, to
kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were
heard, one after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the
walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and
there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow.

'This gun is loaded with blanks' she said. 'I had to beat him to death with
the chair.'

MORAL of the story:
Women will get the job done.
Don't mess with them.
Pass on this advice!!!

Democratic Practice

2008-11-20T19:16:00.002+08:00

He said that Mr. Obama wanted to expand on the practice of some
presidents of selecting one cabinet member from the opposition party,
but that whoever was chosen, it was rare for any cabinet members to be
named before December.

If only we have the same kind of democracy over here.

Spoon Feeding

2008-11-11T23:56:00.002+08:00

I am not sure whether I have told this story before. Nevertheless, I am going to tell you again.

I am really at a loss of what kind of workers we are churning out these days. I have loss track of just how many university there are in MY. Recently I came to know about the existence of a University of Perlis. It seems that every state in this country now have a so called higher learning institution called university. I have not Google it yet because I don't feel the need to. I think it is some kind of ex-polytechnic or institute that had been converted to university status.

Two engineers graduated from this uni came in to work in my place. Since they are both freshie and are in the same group as I am, I have some enlightening experience talking and working with them. I do not know how to describe them or how to categorize them. All I could think of was the word SPOON FED. I just can't help it. They can't think, won't ask, do what they are told and don't do what they are not told.

Simple as 1-2-3. So in our line of work we need to be creative, analytic and resourceful. It is disappointing to say they have none of this characteristic.

Therefore with this and my past experience with a first class honours electrical and electronic grad from our top prestigious University of Malaya, I find them all very very soft. Perhaps it's all due to spoon feeding. Some of them don't know the basic of wire stripping and yet had the nerve to tell me that they use to have a stripping machine in the lab. In my knowledge the stripping of wire are an extremely low skills act, in fact it is the most basic skills for any hands on engineer. The UM guy had the nerve to tell me that …..oh…….I never did any lab……….most of his project was software base. Can you imagine receiving an answer like that ? Its all so flaw……the whole education system. What are we training out ?? A bunch of operator or robots who just follow instruction. There is no independent critical thinking nor self reliance or resourcefulness.

I hope somebody in the gov realizes this sooner better than later. If this goes on, we would all be robot and thus creativity would be dead and long gone.

Joke

2008-11-11T23:46:00.005+08:00

Bear Remover
 A man wakes up one morning in Alaska  to find a bear on his roof. So he looks in the yellow pages and sure enough,  there's an ad for 'Bear Removers.'

He calls the number, and the bear remover says he'll be over in 30 minutes.  The bear remover arrives, and gets out of  his van. He's got a ladder, a baseball bat, a shotgun and a mean old pit bull.

'What are you going to do,' the homeowner asks?

'I'm going to put this ladder up  against the roof, then I'm going to go up there and knock the bear off the  roof with this baseball bat. When the bear falls off, the pit bull is trained  to grab his testicles with his jaw and not let go. The bear will then be subdued enough  for me to put him in the cage in the back of the van.'

He hands the shotgun to the homeowner.

'What's the shotgun for?' asks the homeowner.

'If the bear knocks me off the roof,  shoot the dog.'

BN or PR Its all the same

2008-11-11T23:45:00.002+08:00

I  thought I highlight what got me all piss off the other day reading this article.  All was normal until I reach the end part of the  article."He  said Pas would hold a meeting soon to look at the list of party members who  could take PKNS to greater heights."
Its  not a joke. The running of state  investment arms / corporation and others are headed by nincompoop, idiots who doesn't have an IQ higher than 10. I  mean when dealing with finance or companies, just stick with credible, proven and corporate  individual la. Why hired some members who even doesn't have a CV. Its pathetic. How to grow if this keeps going on ?

Yoga is Religion

2008-11-11T23:43:00.002+08:00

I had read a well written article on Sun. Here's the article. Thought I need to share it with the 'learned' world.

After I had finish with the article I wonder what those fanatics, ulama and so called religious expert reaction would be. To compound the issue further it was written by a muslim woman. I hope there are some .......no I hope there are more good people in this world who aren't selfish and aren't self centre. Please open the minds and unlock it potential. I always govern my life by 2 principles.

1. Think common sense

2. Think logically

Random Thoughts

2008-11-11T23:41:00.002+08:00

  
I wasn't very active this week because was busy and also having a major back pain again.
  
I would like to comment about what's the major issue in the cyberspace. "FREEDOM OF PRESS". I had been an occasional follower of this blog. Nevertheless, it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I only become a regular and hook to its political report and etc. However, the blogger totally piss me off with his recent support of a politically bias mainstream media. All this in the name of "FREEDOM OF PRESS". He was actually against the idea of a prominent MP having a go at his favorite paper.
  
I was aghast and what the fu*%&*. The bias paper wrote an absolute nonsense fabricating a story and got this MP sent to ISA detention. I mean how bad it can get. There's no rule of law here obviously. What is really freedom of press? Is it a free hand to write whatever rubbish or even fabricated ones? There's a fine line between what's right and what's wrong. Obviously the editor and the writer was being irresponsible to write something like this in times of critical tension. After all because of an irresponsible writer the MP was detained under ISA for almost a week. If it didn't cause any hardship to her and her family then I think the writer could still be forgiven but then she was detain and denied the right for self defense. I don't think being detained under ISA or the police are a walk in the park. It is neither fun, relax and casual. Its like the end of the world I presume. So you wanna talk about "FREEDOM OF PRESS". Just ask the writer to volunteer himself for a week detention and see how he feels about it. Preposterous.

ENGrish ....Manglish whatever

2008-10-29T22:57:00.000+08:00

This is real English by a company corporate director of one of the top Japanese Company in the world. Don't laugh cause I almost choke when I got this in my mail. Its not from a Japanese cause if it was then I would not have choke. The Engrish is so bad.........it makes my bad english feel better. I am relieve cause I am no DIERACTOR..............hehehah. Enjoy!!

Crashing of Financial Institution

2008-10-20T19:42:00.006+08:00

Have anyone notice at all

1. Most banks are now in the red.

2. All major central bank are putting in money to bailout and rescue these banks from collapsing.

3. All these bailout are using tax payer money to finance and rescue because it's from the central bank. The bank that were sucking the customer in the first place and charging exorbitant rate and penalty for customer to use their service.

4. Warren Buffet is taking up many banks and investment institution? He's investing while others are divesting.

I think I want to talk a little bit on point 3.

It isn't fair on consumer and for tax payer to foot the majority of the bailout financially. What happen previously when consumer were in the losing end when all the banks raise their service charges rate and implement one sided rules. It's ridiculous. Its pathetic. I agreed to bailing banks so long as there's a reciprocate gesture. There's should be voices highlighting these ridiculously mercenary bank who don't think twice to scam or bully weak customers.

For example: This is a true case and a true scenario cause I have been consulted and I have seen all the document. My friend T have 2 kids saving account (higher interest) with the largest bank M. T open both account on the same date and 90% of the time put in money simultaneously. Therefore both have sum XXXX and interest are compounded daily rest. All were well until recently when all of a sudden she notices the interest deposited into the account are not very equal. If there was a few dollar difference then we would have accepted it etc but ..................gosh it was a few hundred difference. Almost like account 1 = RM 60 while account 2 = RM 700. So T had doubt and ask my opinion and whether can the largest bank M make a mistake with printing or system malfunction etc. I took a look at the kids saving book, and immediately cannot comprehend/accept the discrepancies. I told her to make an enquiry or lodge an official complaint.

I took T to the nearest M bank and she proceeded to show the officer the book and relate her doubt and queries. To our amazement the officer not only left her brain at home she was totally discriminatory. Perhaps she saw my friend T wearing a operator uniform and etc and can't believe she had so much money and thus gave the look of a would be thief. T ignore her and later ask for a higher officer to explain her case. There was no luck either cause the officer says its all under computerised system and thus should be correct. No way could it be wrong. However, this officer have some common sense and thus took down T number and would called T after more investigation. He concur that the interest difference is illogical because the total amount and bank in date are almost simultaneous.

After almost a week the officer called to say he has no jurisdiction and ask T to refer back to her own saving branch to check. Therefore she had to start all over again with her banking branch and the officer attending to her complaint also took down her number and promised to investigate. After what look like more than a month of waiting T finally got the confirmation to say that there was a glitch and thus printed wrongly and ask her to bring her saving book for update and correction. All interest mis-calculated will be refund. I ask T whether the bank gave her a black and white and whether any official explanation was given. Sound to me a lame excuse and easy way out. How did the largest bank in MY have a system that can mis-calculate or was it on purpose done by some officer to mislead and con the customer. We have all heard of unscrupulous banking officer doing white collar fraud and transferring customer monies into their own account. Nevertheless, T doesn't want to push forward the case and want to just let it be bygone. I was like huh……………you should at least get a good clarification from them and make sure they reassure you this would never ever happen again. After all what makes you think it wouldn't happen again?

So you see from the above case, aren't the banks trying to rip off the customer? The rules of engagement for bank are lopsided and thus denied the customer the right to a fair and just service. If you were a tax payer, would you want to fund and give approval for the treasury to save all this arrogant and unscrupulous banks? Think of all the charges, overdraft rate, cheques and other ridiculous rate that had been imposed on you just so that they can have a fat pay cheques and increase their revenue and profit. If you think its alright then perhaps you are one of those upper class citizen in the society.

Wounds

2008-10-20T19:42:00.004+08:00

You know you are getting old when your wound takes longer than usual to heal. I had a few cuts and bruises on my finger. Don't ask where I get it from but................there's this cut on my knuckle and it is taking ages to heal. I didn't bother to apply any med nor clean or bandage it up. I just leave it as it is. However, the wound would usually heal after a few days and perhaps a day or 2 quicker if exposed to air and not damp environment.

With this present wound, nothing seeming to be healing. It has been a week now and the wound is only showing a slight improvement. I guess this is what people call aging and thus self healing deteriorating. Scary isn't it!!!!

Listening to an Old Tune and ........

2008-10-20T18:59:00.002+08:00

I came back early today. I wasn't late but as usual. Anyway, all of a sudden I had this urge to stick a CD into my Hi-Fi system and just enjoy the crystal clear music. I wanted an English song but I couldn't find the Cd's which I had accumulated throughout the years. I guess I had bought more than 100 original Cd's in my younger days. So I look through the rack and drawer and finally found something I was familiar with. It was an old Cd's bought by a "friend". A CD which I was listening to very often back when I was in UK. When I was alone in my room or when I was very emotional I would just put the CD in. It was my favourite CD then and it still is. However nowadays I have less time listening to music.

Here's the CD title "(1997): Jeff Chang's Compilation 选哲（精选辑）".

It really brings back memory. Emotional memory and I really miss home. I think I had listen to the CD almost at least 100 times. I really love the CD. It make me cry often and the tune of the song was melodic and touching.

I got to stop this......I had said too much.

Ex - Kindergarten Gathering

2008-10-06T16:08:00.004+08:00

I had a long and tiring holiday last week. Long cause I was off work for a week. Tiring cause I was trying to be a construction worker laying bricks to build a half-wall. The job look simple enough but by the time I had managed to mixed all the sand, cement and water.......the sky started to turn black. I was very sure that it would be a sunny day when I "predict" the weather in the morning. Needless to say, all hell broke lose. Finally after 2 days of sun bathing and injuring my back and spraining some muscle, I finally got the half wall up. I will tell more on this later.......the history why I am building a half wall. Its a long stories.

In the middle of the week, wifey held a small gathering. I am sure many people have gathering, reunion or whatever you call it. However, wifey was organising a gathering for her ex-kindergarten friends. Can you believe that. In this ages and time, how many of you have friends dating back to kindergarten ? I am not surprised if its gathering for lower and high school friends or uni/alumni but kindergarten..........man its like Jurassic. The fact is I respect all her friends. They are all very genuine and honest people. Very down to earth and are very very nice. Actually I really envy wifey.

I know some of her friends way back when I was in high school. So I wasn't totally stranger and throughout many years we have all been very close like traveling around Malaysia, meeting up each other for a cup of coffee or to thrash relationship matter out. So we are all very matured and open about everything. That's what I like about them. We don't talk about sex just for the sake of 'sex' .................I don't know how to put it but we are men not kids.

For example, a friend of ours are still trying to conceive and thus she is very frustrated and had resorted to seeing Chinese medical practitioner. Nevertheless, I felt she was totally all stress up with work and all. Perhaps there isn't any spark or fire in their relationship. Some are very platonic and thus sex for them are solely for procreation purposes only. I hope she manages to conceive. Anyway even the medical practitioner advices her to quit her job as well as the husband. I gave a thought .....................is it worth it all to make a 5 figure pay with all the mental and physical stress ? Is it really worth it ? She was working in a very high position and was considered 3rd in line of command of her ex-company.

Anyway, I hope everybody had a great time cause I had a great time. Though a short gathering, its good to see old friends. To know everybody is doing well and happy. 30++ yrs of friendship and I am glad wifey had such fantastic friends. I am glad I am apart of it all.

Friendship isn't easy to built and it ain't easy to maintain. Takes a lot of knocking, patience and openness to reach 10, 20 and 50 yrs. I hope I have friends like these.

2.5" Harddisk Media Player

2008-09-30T16:36:00.004+08:00

Sarotech DVP-260s

This little gadget cost me RM 530 in lowyat. Actually its RM 365 (Player) + RM 155 (160GB WD HDD) and etc as cc charges. The image on Sarotech website was impressive. It looks solid, tech savvy and cool. However, the actual real product is far from the truth. The image of the product on the website itself had been touch up. So you can't see the flimsy, transparent plastic cover wrapping around the whole unit. There is only a thin aluminium piece wrapping around on the side of the unit to disperse the heat. Ventilation isn't very good. There are some holes at the back cover but not enough to disperse the temperature. Therefore while the unit is running the heat from the hdd and the enclosure is very very bad. I couldn't hold or touch it for long while its running. I think it could do with more heatsink or aluminium fin or an internal liquid cooling or something. Beside that there is an electrical charge on the body of the metal/aluminium case itself which gave me a shock. This is most prevalent when I try to use S-cable to hook it up to my TV. When I read the power adapter specification, it was stated 2A operating current. Wow, that's a lot for something so small and though its DC a 2A electrical shock will definitely give you a wake up called. After a few shock, I think I already built up the phobia and hence was reluctant to hold the unit anymore.

What I don't like about these electronic devices is that usually there are not grounded. I mean there should be a regulation to govern and protection of devices as well as customer. I have a few VCD/DVD players and all of them come with a 2 pin plug which technically are not grounded. Thus Sarotech I felt wasn't very safety conscious by supplying the standard 2 pin plug socket. Hence, I am thinking of whether to make a formal complaint or return the unit to the seller. Nevertheless, I have written a simple email to Sarotech asking for their opinion and feedback whether the electrical shock is confine to my unit alone or its "standard" for all unit. A week is coming to a close ad I have not heard from them. So that speak a lot about their company reputation and also their product. If I am right, my guess is that this so called Korean company is just like those Chinese company. For all we know it might be manufacture in China but stamped with a Korean badge.

OK, besides the 2 problem above, the unit does work. However, the visual quality isn't that fantastic. To me its just normal. I try connection through TV using RCA and S-cable and both yield very much the same output quality. I am giving Sarotech the benefit of doubt and thus place the quality issue on my TV. Perhaps a LCD would yield a much better quality. However, my CRT Panasonic TV is very much very new and is only 2 yrs old. If I am not wrong my TV resolution can support up to 1080i also. Thus I would try to connect to my other LG LCD to make another comparison later on.

Malaysian Politics

2008-09-22T18:56:00.003+08:00

If you have been reading regularly, you will notice that I had sway from commenting about politics for awhile. Anyway, I felt I need to say what's in my mind at the moment. I am feeling a sense of loss and injustice on what's happening to Teresa Kok (The Seputeh MP).

How on earth can people have no common sense or any rule of law. Is this 2008 or 1908 or barbaric ages. Its like spanking your kids without finding out the truth. What and how does a parents teaches its kid ? I am totally not agreeable to ISA being use on MP Teresa Kok. Where is the fair opportunity to be offer to your kid to explain his side and version of the stories ? You don't lock your kid up and chain him hoping that he/she will be repentant.

My Lorenzo Experience

2008-09-18T21:44:00.004+08:00

This happen approx. a month ago. There was this big full page advertisement under the title Merdeka celebration or something like that. I looked through and saw a reasonable looking sofa which I like. So on the same weekend, we went to the nearest Lorenzo to check the actual set. The sales girl was good, friendly and customer oriented. The price quoted was RM1980 on offered.

However, when we decided to purchase, the sales girl told us that there's no more stock. Even the existing display unit was sold. However, the same sofa design with different fabric from the display unit (of course extra $$$) is available. We query how much have to add with different fabric? I felt the additional 1k extra wasn't worthwhile at first. Let's say if we would had able to purchase RM1980, we could in fact request an extra fabric with an extra 1k. Thus not only were we purchasing the same design with the original fabric but top it up with an extra 2nd fabric with a total of 3k.

Instead since the sales girl told us there's no more "old" fabric as display then we have no choice but take other new fabric. We really like the design, the size, the cutting and above all the outlook which pleases our eye. Since she left us no choice, we abandon the purchase. On the way home, we discuss and felt we really like the design very much. So I figure ok, we go to another Lorenzo branch in K.Damansara. We though we try our luck in case that branch were pulling our legs. You know how Chinamen businesses are run. There's never cohesion and centralization. No organization. Man, was I spot on. Lorenzo in K.Damansara have the exact same sofa and exact same fabric. Wait a minute I noticed there was something not quite right. After looking around, I finally know that the price was totally different from the earlier branch. Over here instead of 1980 they were selling it at 2130.

I ask why there was a discrepancy. In fact the promotion was written all over the paper. I couldn't be wrong. But with those sales girl mentalities, you know la.............."we are right, its this price and its 55% discount instead of 60%." I rest my case and no point arguing with them. Following to that I ask what type of fabric they have and whether there are stock for the exact fabric as shown on display unit. To my astonishment, the answer was yes which was different from the one I had gone earlier. Nevertheless, we opted for another fabric combination and was going to pay when the sales lady ask us " Sir, can you choose another different fabric just in case the first one don't have ?". I was like flabbergasted. Did I hear that correctly !! I mean I choose that fabric which I like very much and thus I don't think I want to have a 2nd choice, 3rd choice and so forth. I ask her, what happens if I pay up and I don't have a 2nd choice. This is not right. I mean this is not an objective examination or anything but something to do with taste and preferences. Quietly I thought to myself, hmmmmmmmmm no wonder some people can take and are allowed to have 2nd, 3rd and 4th wife.
I told the sales girl I insist on having a single fabric of choice. Therefore, I would not pay if she can't confirm the product. You mean to tell me that some of your fabric are leftover and thus old stocks or whatever ? You mean to tell me you are selling this sofa and yet you don't know you have the fabric or not. Can a business be run like this ? I was really disappointed. From that point onwards I knew that Lorenzo is definitely being run by a Chinese businessman. It has all the symptom and tell tale of a Chinese disoriented organisation with no professionalism nor sense. I gave her my no. and told her to called me if you have confirm everything else deal is off. Sayonara. However for the next 2 days I did not hear from her. Only on the 3rd day I receive her called and by then I had gone back to the first Lorenzo and ordered a custom fabric for the sofa of my taste.
Therefore to cut a long story short,
1. Beware that Lorenzo is a typical Chinese business entity.
2. There are different prices at different location. Its not all standardise.
3. They don't know if they have the product or not. They can promise you the moon and the sun but its all still just talk. So don't pay upfront or deposit if they can't give you a confirm answer.
After almost a month of waiting, I finally got my new sofa. It does look nice aesthetically but if you look closer there are flaws and quality issue. Therefore paying almost 3k for a 1.5k product is quite disturbing. Everybody I knew will tell me ".....Lorenzo.......that most expensive and over price furniture store ? " Yeah they are right. Its overprice. I am willing to pay but the product you are getting unfortunately isn't "HIGH CLASS" as if you are paying 20k for it. In addition be prepared to be disappointed a few times before getting your sofa. At first the logistic or lady called me to promise me a date which was 2 weeks earlier. However, on the day I was on leave and so to say an hour before the delivery they called me to inform that they can't delivered cause ......"truck broke down.....blah blah......". In fact earlier appointment had also been delay due to inconvenience and etc. So after making a few calls and telling them the basic of integrity, keeping promises and customer relationship.................finally the 3rd appointment came but not on time.
So the moral of the story is this is just another local company which isn't that impressive.

A Forgettable Wedding Dinner

2008-09-11T00:32:00.003+08:00

I attended my cousin wedding last weekend in Malacca. It was the worst wedding dinner in my entire life. Not only the food was bad, there was no programme nor any entertainment in what I feel is a 3 star hotel. Since food was halal and my cousin have invited some Datuk and Datin as mention, I didn't have high hopes on the food but at least a minimum expectation. To my horror it was worst that the worst in KL.

Before I go further I perhaps have to talk a bit about my cousin so that you know why I say its a "Forgettable Wedding Dinner". A background and history some sort. Thus this cousin of mine is lucky cause his dad is ex-VP of a MNC. So he is from a well to do family and he got his bachelor from UK even though results are nothing to shout about. He plays golf, go to gym (Fitness First), drink expensive wine and have a fridge to store all his so called favourite wine. Anyway, he is staying with his dad on their own plot of land with a purpose build designer house. Since he was getting married, I heard that his dad pour in 400k just to re-renovate the whole house for his wedding. The house looks good but not fantastic if you ask me. However, it has 2 living hall, a dedicated movie room, 2 kitchen and a garden where you could put a swimming pool and still have lots of land to spare. The funny thing about all this fancy houses and fine living is that it doesn't all tally up.

Honestly since he was the only son, I "expected" his dad to throw in a lavish pre-wedding buffet dinner and a gathering for his ex-client, friends and family. With his vast contact I think his house would be most appropriate to showcase his success since he did so much renovation. Man, was I disappointed to find out that not only was there isn't any buffet/catering but no guest invitation but just home cooked stuff from some of my aunties and only a few relatives. To add salt to wound the host didn't even have the courtesy to call me or my parents to inform of their son's wedding. The invitational card was also through another aunt of ours and thus all info was through many words of mouth.

What really happen was when I checked into the 3 star hotel, the staff counter had ask for our detail and etc. Then she proceeded to ask for my credit card. I ask her why. Then the staff said its for payment verification and etc. I was like jaw drop trying to justify and understand the situation. I ask in detail whether the rooms are provided by the host or pay personally ? When they told me its self paid, I still didn't believe it. So I gave my cousin a call but nobody was answering. I presume the house was noisy and lots of guest so I called my aunt and then after another cousin. When this another cousin pick up I clarify with her about the rooms. She was stun and taken aback too and thought it is suppose to be on the host. To be certain she hand over her phone to the groom (my cousin) and when I ask him straight to the point who pays, he said self paid. Simple english, no beating behind the bush and no mis-understanding etc.

I felt being rip off or taken for a ride at that moment. What kind of relatives is this. I mean I treat them as relative and they treat you as shit. The good thing that come out of this is that as least now I know they aren't that close. We therefore don't need their presence and their relationship. If it wasn't the whole hotel room fiasco thing, I think we could have a good time. In fact I had wanted and offer to pay everything our self with a planned 3days 2 night holiday in one of the hotel near to the beach. Since, I was told that the room was booked for us as guest thus, I have to oblige and cancel our original plan. I was really looking forward for my kids to go to a beach and let them wander and play on the sand.

Lesson learned from the whole episode. Never ever trust and believe and expect the rich to have manners, courtesy nor common sense. For all you know its all only a shell with the house the greatest trophy they can parade proudly.

Investment

2008-09-11T00:28:00.003+08:00

I thought I give this issue a go since I had been surveying around and had got a few input from a few tycoon...:). Anyway, the issue here is, do you think buying property is really such a good investment ? My own experience tell me that its not. Its all a marketing gimmick and hoax by those investment guru and whatever portrait by those marketing people. I mean I am talking about average here not somekind of lucky hotshot, or a wealthy tycoon kids and etc. So for normal ordinary average guy to purchase a property, a lot of people will tell you its a good investment. Property will appreciate, rental is good and anti-inflation. But there are actually a lot of hidden cost in the purchase like

1. Lawyers & Legal Fees

2. Stamp duty for land office

3. Insurance (Mortgage loan as well as house fire and etc)

So let's say if the house price is RM300k, you gonna folk out approximately RM 330k for the whole process to go through for the initial stage. After the house had been completed, there's another land title/strata title conversion which in lay man terms mean owning the land and the house itself. Technically when you buy a house the house land title has not yet been subdivided from the master title. So it still belong to the developer or the financial who borne the project cost.

Assuming your house is completed or in this example an apartment/condo. You need to pay maintenance cost as well as water, electricity and sewerage and etc. I have met with many opinions with regard to rental. Some pay RM300k for the house and on top of that as soon as getting the keys dump in another 20-30k to renovate the house. Their reasoning is they want to rent out at a higher price. But I have skepticism and without using a calculator I roughly figure its not a good business deal. Why do I say that

1. Let's say if you put in a modest RM20k renovation. How many months at the minimum do you need to keep the tenant ?

2. Maintenance initially are low since a fully furnish house have all things new. However, if the tenant are very irresponsible and you are unlucky things might breakdown frequently.

3. Every time a tenant moved out there will be a significant cost involve. This is like repainting the whole house, repairing broken tiles and etc.

4. Bear in mind that not all tenant are willing to pay more than RM1k for a long term contract. In fact in most cases renting a place for more than 1k are usually a stop gap measure till they can raise enough money to put down upfront deposit for a new house. I mean common sense tells me who in the right mind would want to rent when his monthly rental can pay for a new house ?

5. Besides all the above, there are the sinking fee, assessment rate, annual and reoccurring charges which we don't notice initially.

I have a lot more to share and write about but somehow I can't find the time to sit down and write it. When I do have the time I ended forgetting many of the stuff and point I would like to highlight. This email itself had already taken me a few days to complete. I hope after another month when all my project had been completed I can find the ryhthm and time to write regularly again.

Cartoonkini....

2008-09-03T23:08:00.002+08:00

...and this is my favorite......how true it is........unfortunately :(

Friends

2008-09-03T22:59:00.005+08:00

I am not too sure how to begin this but yeah...........I want to talk about friends. Perhaps if you had read my previous post you will know that I had lost another good friend of 11yrs to Singapore. I still feel her lost and I have to acknowledge that she was the center of the my dept. She was the gyroscope which balances the ruling power and the opposition. You get the picture. Nevertheless, her lost to me was more than that. She was there to give me another perspective most of the time thought not always I accepted her opinion. I find her occasionally old fashion, stubborn, conservative and wee bit too auntie. Anyway, I miss the out of this world answer. Her witty yet sharp tongue and above all some noises. She was talkative as I was and thus we complement each other. Even our bosses didn't dare to say anything with regard to us making loud noises because we just don't give a damn. She was the epitome and her existence created a sense of comfort and light up the atmosphere.

She was nervous for the major change. The moved, the new job and the new environment. I told her to relax. New place new curiosity, new perspective and new experience. As for the job............she wasn't even aware lady luck had struck her for she would be working in the world's most profitable and largest company in the world. Yeah, it's the top number 1 O&G company in the world and yet she never heard of it before. Now you see where she is from. Then I tell her what can be worst than the Jap company she's working in. There's systematic, blatant woman discrimination, biased and arrogant policy and philosophy practices by the Jap culture. She thought for a second and had to agree with me on that. There's just nothing worst than what she had been experiencing.

Anyway I wish her luck and hope to meet up again with her someday for a nice cup of coffee. Provided she still remembers all that I taught her cause she was computer illiterate when she first started out. She was just your ordinary next door neighbour auntie who doesn't know a thing about facebook, gmail nor what is IM..

My Son

2008-08-18T16:18:00.000+08:00

You know, after a hard day of work in the office, I come home and this is what was shown to me by wifey. I was speechless. I don't know whether to smile, laugh or cry. He really surprises me and never fail to amaze me with spontaneity and affection. Receiving this in an envelope and reading it just melt my heart. I love you too......but toy is another matter..............hehehe .... :)

Med Record 1

2008-08-15T12:00:00.000+08:00

I have forgotten what this is for already. Long overdue. Care to give any comment any doc out there !! If not mistaken its an antibiotic for my elder son.

Chinese Educated Mentality

2008-07-25T00:09:00.002+08:00

I still don't get Chinese speaking mindset. No matter how I try to explain and open them up, its useless. I can confidently conclude that Chinese educated people are really short sighted and cannot see things beyond their present time. That's why most of them are KIASU and KIASI
people. Its the truth and you can never denied that. Even wifey who is Chinese edu have a very short term view of life, things and etc.

Example, this morning I had a discussion with my colleague. She is moving and relocating to Singapore soon. I ask a very simple basic question. Since her husband and her speaks fluent Japanese, she had an added advantage for Japanese companies. Therefore, I ask out of curiosity whether she knows that the number 1 FDI in Singapore are Americans and not Japanese ? Unlike in Malaysia the number 1 FDI is Jap and hence you have a huge big expat population of Jap in the region of 100k++. Furthermore the way I see it is in SG, there are more English speaking citizen than in Malaysia. Therefore in terms of value and niche market, Jap speaking professional are more valuable over in MY than in SG. The gov policy aren't that pro Jap as far as I am concern. Not like over here in MY where everyone have to "Kow Tow" to the Jap as we have the look east policy. This doesn't apply to SG.

It was just a simple curious question and yet it was taken out of context. Therefore, I feel Chinese edu people are not very far sighted nor visionary. All they see is over the next few days.

Single or Married

2008-07-21T22:35:00.002+08:00

I need and am compel to write something with regard to this subject. Lately, I'm not sure I'm being over sensitive or what but being surrounded by single bachelor man and woman. Honestly, I have many friends that are still single and many are married too. I have debated, talk at length and chat with many many friends with regard to this but at the end the conclusion is still open. Here is my personal view after getting many feedback and thoughts from different angle.

1. Being single usually are not by choice. Perhaps only 1-2% are by choice.

2. Bachelor are singles because they are shy, introvert and lack communication skills.

3. Bachelor are single because they did not realize the need for companionship until after the trigger point at age 35 and above. By this time its already too late. However there are always exception and thus I am only talking about the average regular data in my observation.

4. If you are between 20-25 yrs, there is a very high chance for you to get hook while you are studying. If you are between 25-30yrs, there is a 80% chance your get hook from someone in the office or social networking circle. However if you are between 30-35yrs the chances fall drastically to 50% and thereafter above 35yrs the percentage is 20-30%.

5. Most people that I know meet their soul mate either from high school or university. The chances of meeting someone outside of this 2 area I feel is very slim but not impossible. What I mean here is success stories and not acquaintance or social friends and etc.

Therefore, if you ask me whether staying single or being married is good or not..............well I don't think there is a correct answer to that. Being single might be good while you are younger and under 40 but what happen when everybody that you know is dead, no relatives, no friends and yet you are still single through 55 and above??? I have seen many cases and things that I experience in my everyday life. Actually this issue/topic is almost similar to some of my friend who
opt not to have kids after marrying for a few years. Though not sure they really don't want kids or just that they had try their best but can't procreate..................this can only be answer by themselves and their own god. Usually they don't want to tell and will just say ..............nah we don't want any kids yet. You get the drift. However, if you dig deeper than you find out......hei, they like kids and they have been trying for a baby for a few yrs and yet nothing came out. In Asian culture and Chinese mentality/stigma...............not many people are that open and frank
about their own life nor their problem.

Recently I manage to meet up a long lost friend who was very close once. Its a complex situation but then my wife best friend is his wife best friend.............sound confusing right but hei, you get the drift. Anyway, I found out that he had been married for a few years now. I didn't manage to attend his wedding the last time I think was due to my son falling sick and etc. You know how married men conversation is. He asks me how my family, how many kids and etc etc are. Then I return back the question and blah blah blah.................. Then I know he is still childless. So I ask him what his plan is!! He said,.....................erh.................not yet planning blah blah blah................skirting the question, changing off topic stuff and etc etc. I come across this kind of situation quite often and am use to it already. Later I ask him point blank. You don't want
to have kids? Then come the long silence the pause.......erh..........depend on god la...............not under my control and etc etc.

I can still give a few more examples. A good friend of mine in US also same. She was skirting that question when we were skypeeing. Then finally she said, depend on god la..........blah blah blah.....been trying very hard....giggling and etc.

So you see, you can't get any truth out of Asians actually in the first few lines. You will only get the truth if you dig deeper and after a long conversation. Opps............skirting from the main
topic issue already. I think having kids and procreation deserve an individual topic by itself. So back to the above...................ah.....my mentor from work. He had already resign from my work place long long time ago. He's successful and he has everything. He's almost 42 now. Way pass his hunting season. He is no longer eligible for the game because he is not entering the game
itself. He is now a real estate agent and I guess there are occasions when he would feel the world is cold and quiet when he is not busy running around. My aunt felt that way too. I never thought my own aunt feel that way. It was review to me by my cousin in one of our conversation. Sometimes my aunt cried alone at home and feels the world is cold and lonely.

So from my experience and observation, I still think being single and bachelor is not by choice. It's something to do with social environment or other external factor which influences a person
perspective to life. Now I am a bit worry about the future of my kids. It's scary to know of so many people who are single around me...............hehhe. I always believe the existence of positive chi will generate a negative chi. There's an equal to everything. So a man
existence on earth isn't complete without the other half. Equilibrium.

Of topic but quite relevant. Recently I have a friend of 11yrs who migrated to another place. Since then I feel a bit alone. There's no more firefly, no quarrel, no someone you can just talk rubbish with. Heck, if I can't survive without this friend of mine how on earth am I
going to make it without my wife. She's my soul mate. She's my everything. We share everything. We talk, we quarrel and we grow together. She completes me.

Another Good Joke

2008-07-15T18:55:00.002+08:00

A Japanese doctor says

'Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out

of one man, put it in another, and have him looking for JOB in six

weeks.'

A China doctor says

'That is nothing, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in

another, and have him looking for JOB in four weeks.

A Singaporean doctor says

'In my country, medicine is so far progressed that we can take half a

heart out of one person, put it in another, and have them both looking

for JOB in two weeks.'

The Malaysian doctor, not to be outdone, says

'You guys are way behind, we recently took a man with no brains, out

from Kepala Batas, Penang, put him in the Parliament for 5 years, and now

half the country is looking for JOB.'

Using LISTERINE as Mosquito Repellent

2008-07-13T22:07:00.002+08:00

Using LISTERINE as Mosquito Repellent

I can't wait to try this in the summer!

Mosquito Spray...Worth a try

I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don't leave home without it.....Pass it on.OUR FRIEND'S COMMENTS: I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works - in fact, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn't take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as the can of Bug-spray you buy that doesn't last 30 minutes. So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house.

Now these are Good Mosquitos!!!

Some Jokes

2008-06-26T00:01:00.002+08:00

Think before you speak... Here are six reasons why you should think
before you speak - The last one is great!
Have you ever spoken and wished that you could Immediately take the
words back...

Or that you could crawl into a hole?
Here are the Testimonials of a few people who did....

FIRST TESTIMONY:

I walked into a hair salon with my husband and three kids in tow
and asked loudly, 'How much do you charge for a shampoo and a blow
job?' I turned around and walked back out and never went back. My
husband didn't say a word... He knew better.

SECOND TESTIMONY:

I was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was
unhappy with the women's type I had been using. After browsing for
several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen
who works at the store. He asked if he could help me. Without
thinking, I looked at him and said, 'I think I like playing with mens
balls'

THIRD TESTIMONY:

My sister and I were at the mall and passed by a store that sold a
variety of candy and nuts. As we were looking at the display case,
the boy behind the counter asked if we needed any help.
I replied, 'No, I'm just looking at your nuts.' My sister started to
laugh hysterically. The boy grinned, and I turned beet-red and walked
away. To this day, my sister has never let me forget.

FOURTH TESTIMONY :

While in line at the bank one afternoon, my toddler decided to
release some pent-up energy and ran amok. I was finally able to grab
hold of her after receiving looks of disgust and annoyance from other
patrons. I told her that if she did not start behaving 'right now' she
would be punished. To my horror, she looked me in the eye and said in
a voice just as threatening, 'If you don't let me go right now, I will
tell Grandma that I saw you kissing Daddy's pee-pee last night!' The
silence was deafening after this enlightening exchange. Even the
tellers stopped what they were doing. I mustered up the last of my
dignity and walked out of the bank with my daughter in tow. The last
thing I heard when the door closed behind me, were screams of
laughter.

FIFTH TESTIMONY:

Have you ever asked your child a question too many times? My
three-year-old son had a lot of problems with potty training and I was
on him constantly. One day we stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch,
in between errands. It was very busy, with a full dining room. While
enjoying my taco, I smelled something funny, so of course I checked my
seven-month-old daughter, she was clean. Then I realized that Danny
had not asked to go potty in a while. I asked him if he needed to go,
and he said 'No'. I kept thinking 'Oh Lord, that child has had an
accident, and I don't have any clothes with me.' Then I said, 'Danny,
are you SURE you didn't have an accident?' 'No,' he replied. I just
KNEW that he must have had an accident, because the smell was getting
worse. Soooo, I asked one more time, 'Danny did you have an accident?
This time he jumped up, yanked down his pants, Bent over, spread his
cheeks, And yelled, 'SEE MOM, IT'S JUST FARTS!!' While 30 people
nearly choked to death on their tacos laughing, he calmly pulled up
his pants and sat down. An old couple made me feel better, thanking
me for the best laugh they'd ever had!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST TESTIMONY:

This had most of the state of Michigan laughing for 2 days and a very
embarrassed female news anchor who will, in the future, likely think
before she speaks. What happ ens when you predict snow but don't get
any? We had a female news anchor that, the day after it was supposed
to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked:
'So Bob, where's that 8 inches you promised me last night?'

Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too they
were laughing so hard!

Single or Double Storey ?

2008-06-23T00:07:00.002+08:00

Now, I think I am in a very good position to put my side of the opinion forward cause I have stay in either one of these houses. Firstly let me tell you, I have been staying more than 20yrs in a single storey house. I don't fancy it and always envy those who stay in a double storey house. From visual aspect of observation, I think many will find double storey houses looks bigger and more glamour. Usually single storey houses are very run down, in a dilapidated state and associated with low cost or slum. Let's put it this way, the whole society are very artificial and very materialistic. Everything are judge by looks, visual observation and subjective view.

So now let me tell you my personal opinion objectively.

Single Storey House:

Kepong Metropolitan Park (KMP)

2008-06-23T00:05:00.002+08:00

Thought I do a write up on this. I love the park. I like how tidy and beautiful the place is landscape. Before this I thought the park in my area was the most beautiful and most modern considering that it has 2 separate lake, a restaurant, huge area for parking and a fountain. Man, was I wrong. I just love how Metropolitan Park are design. It has 3 separated lane for bicycle, jogging track and a walking track running parallel with each other. To top it all off, the jogging track are laid with those soft compound which you find in international race track event. Its soft blue colour track just attract your attention and hence make jogging much easier. It so nice and fun jogging on it. No ache or pain complaining sore feet as the force and impact of your sore is minimize with a the soft rubbery flooring.

Walking around the park, I notice it is very wide..........comparable to "my" park. However, another stand up attraction was the viewing tower or observatory tower perched high up 5 storey above ground Then there was the small open ground for kite flying and etc. Perhaps its a new area cause I notice that everything from the path way to the trees and bushes are all very well kept and maintain. Pristine clean and tidy which is a rarity in a developing country.

Anyway, I also observed that there was quite a nice kids playground with all the latest and child friendly equipment being used. In addition, while I was there, a gov body was having a family day gathering with tents , table and chairs all setup. During an hour or more there, I manage to see 2 DBKL officer or was it cops riding on horses making patrol around the park. They were dress decently, neatly and presentable which befits a tourist attraction park. I still remember the world famous Hyde Park in central London. If was huge, clean tidy and above all well maintain and run.

Now, I think KMP have a huge potential as a tourist attraction. Perhaps add some water fountain, some fishes in the lake or river (I mean nice good fishes and not tilapia) then it would attract some tourist instead of just joggers and residence nearby. I didn't really get a chance to really run or tour the whole place yet but I saw some nice landscaping with the use of bamboo around the observation tower. I always like landscape with bamboo providing the backdrop and shades to the surrounding area. It is peaceful and the tranquillity can smoothen our emotion. While I was there (both times in the morning), I didn't see any rowdy youth or any of those smooching couples bringing public park a bad name. I mean if you go around some public parks you can find this quite widespread and a common scenario. Hopefully this beautiful place can be maintained for quite some time.

Petrol Price Hike

2008-06-22T17:51:00.000+08:00

This is going to be a quick want. No I don't mean sex, but about what I am about to say. You see today I sent my car for a car wash at my regular place. Usually its really pact and there will be a long queue and double park for washing stuff and vacuum and etc. Today I was the only car being washed. I ask the fellow what happen. I can't believe my eyes or the empty parking bay and etc. He said, its all due to petrol price hike and everybody is cutting down on expenses.....hehehe. Can you believe that !!! Its for real.

Random

2008-06-02T16:13:00.003+08:00

I have lost the urge, the excitement to blog lately. Not that I don't have any interesting subject to brag and bruhaha about but every time I had something interesting, I will always be too busy to sit down to write about. When I finally have the time to sit down to write, I would somehow or rather forgotten about the issue at hand.

So I will just write what fly by my head at the moment.

I attended a friend wedding last weekend. She was a good friend for like approx. 18yrs. Yeah its been long. I have not meet her for awhile and I notice that she had totally change as a person. For the good of course and I am very happy and glad she had finally settle down and to start planning for a family. You see, when we were younger and hanging around and partying till wee hours in the morning she was always very sad and down. She hated herself for her timid physical appearance and felt she was under weight and blah blah blah........u know girls la. Anyway, she was a determine girl and therefore went on a strict regime to put on weight and moving away from home hoping to start afresh and etc. She did a lot of things. She is the most positive person I have ever meet. She will always do what she had promised and always keep her target on track no matter what the obstacle maybe.

To cut it short, she had proven to me she always walk the talk. She was an ambitious and determine person. Once, I try to match make her with one of my good friend Dr.Nerd and it didn't turn out too well. While my friend didn't mind and thought to give it a go with this Dr.Nerd, this Dr.Nerd didn't feel the same way. He was anti social and totally unsporting and rude. She was totally put off and felt offended with this Nerd childish behaviour. Furthermore, he was suppose to be a MD.......a true Medical Doctor. I was standing in the middle and felt sorry for my dear sis. I believe and thought it was the Nerd fault for being so ungentleman. I mean guys have to be open minded, make the first approach and if you are interested then just give some indication and etc. If not then say no thank you, I prefer to remain friends.....blah blah blah la.

But no........he totally cut her off and didn't have the courtesy and etc to give a reply and etc. I was piss off with this nerd at that time. However, as time passes by I slowly come to the conclusion that the matter was between both of them and I should be neutral and not take sides at all.

After more than 10yrs, I think the differences had been put aside. She invited Dr.Nerd to her wedding though she had seek my advice first about it. I thought why not, there is nothing weird about it. After all we are all once very good friends. Anyway, I am glad that everything turn out well for my sis. She was like the Cinderella who found her wonderful prince in shining armour and sweep her off her feet in a white horse.

Great Innovative Art (Part 1)

2008-05-01T16:22:00.000+08:00

Nice tray. Good hold and firm grip but can't put anything other than small cups and etc.

Great belt idea. Practical and useful to many people.

For not very high shelf. Great design, easy to keep and innovative but lack practicabiliity and marketing.

Cancellation of Izzi Wireless Broadband Service

2008-05-01T16:15:00.002+08:00

If I remember correctly, I return the hardware terminal on the 4th April just right before the 180 days refund policy entitlement. The sales guy wasn't very much help but nevertheless I got the feeling that when they want to sell you something they can promise you the moon but when you complaint and wanna return their product they can give you lots of excuses and reason to avoid you. Just look at it this way. When I enquire about their product, the sales guy can call you, attend to your queries and make appointment to see you day or night or even on weekends.

But when it comes to returning of their product, they can give you 101 reason why they are not so flexible and why you need to personally go to their office to filled up the form and etc. If I may add, what if I show some interest or use another person name to request another demo and to make an appointment with the sales guy to come over to my house ! Can I then return to him/her the hardware terminal at the same time and filled up whatever form that is require ? It just doesn't sound right. Its just pathetic, hypocrite and stupid. Therefore, when I called up the same guy who came to my place to complete the transaction and give me their hardware terminal.....that very same guy, he had the cheek to ask me to go to his office.

What the *&%*%& and what kind of attitude is that. What make me puke and at the same time hilarious was, that fellow is very very uneducated. He dress smart, drive a nice car and etc but if you spend 5 minutes with him, you will know that he isn't as clever as he portrait to be. If my instinct and observation was right, at best he's a local grad most probably from UTAR or TAR college only. Initially when he came over to my house and gave his name card to me, he was just a sales executive. After a few month later when I email him, he was already an assistant sales manager. It took me by surprised. That kind of level and mentality and attitude. I could only sum it all up in 2.

1. Either his sales target was very good and hence by performance he was awarded and promoted to assistant manager. or

2. The previous assistant manager left and thus created a vacancy. Since, the company is small and doesn't have any capable people, they have no choice but to promote him.

From the above, it tells me that Izzi is an Ali Baba company. It is not run based on performance, efficiency and any KPI standard. It is just an over hype company trying to con people into believing they are offering 4G product when in fact there is no such a term and thing called 4G. They coined it all up to entice uneducated and unsuspecting consumers. My personal opinion about this iburst or wireless broadband technology is that it isn't very stable and practically flaw. You wouldn't get seamless connection while traveling in 80km/hr or smooth dl when you are moving from 1 cell to another. In fact, if you don't have direct LOS, your could get intermittent strength signal. In my case the best signal strength I had was 80-90% but then huge error frame rate occur. On a bad day the best signal strength I could get was only 40-50%. Worst still was on certain day or night I can't even log on to the service / network.

Izzi customer service or complaint tele line or email doesn't have any response. Though you can leave a message in their voice box but its never replied nor acknowledge. To sum it all up, service response is crap and its no difference from other sub standard Chinamen company. Therefore don't put your hopes too high and sweet words from their advertisement and marketing wings.

I will write more in detail and perhaps include some sample of my analysis after I had obtain my 50% refund. Until then I can only keep my finger cross.

How People in China Queue Up

2008-05-01T15:18:00.002+08:00

大陸人怎麼排隊 ( 防插隊 ) ~

How People In China Queue Up

這是一個典型的例子，在北京火車站排隊買票的人龍，排成這樣就沒辦法插隊了吧？
This is a typical example. In Beijing 's railway station people are
queuing to buy a railway ticket. It is impossible to jump queue.

您可能會說：「這一定是只有北京人才會這樣！」那可就錯囉！ You are wrong if
you think only the Beijingers do that!

看看這千里之隔的四川人排隊，怎麼這樣相像？ Look at Here's how the Sizhuan
people queue up.

讓我們最後再來複習一次，怎麼像排隊？
很簡單，和您前後的人（不論男女）前胸貼後背，外加伸出您的玉手抓住前一兩個人
的肩膀或是手臂，這不就完成了嗎？ Would you want to put your hands
together? But it's not easy to break a chain.

笑話是這麼說的： Here's the joke:
在北京地鐵內有位老兄抱怨地鐵太 In Beijing a man complained that the queue
in the MTR had caused his wife's miscarriage, 擠，
害得他懷孕的老婆流產了。
旁邊一位上海來的開口說話，
哼！北京有什麼大不了，
我們上海的地鐵擠得害我老婆懷孕了。Another man complained that it was no
big deal because in Shanghai the queue had made his wife pregnant!

TM Streamyx Combo

2008-04-17T00:12:00.002+08:00

Its been quite awhile since I wrote anything. There was just too much happening around me. I don't even know where to start. Anyway, life is on the fast lane now. I can't stop time and neither can I pause to take a deep breath. There are so much I wanna write about but yet finding time is like looking for a gold nugget in a river.

Anyway, kept procrastinating and trying to figure out what best to write. Why is the sky blue or why is this done this way and etc. Nah..........it's too boring.

Recently, I try out streamyx combo package on offered. It was a hassle. I never expected it and neither was I up for it. I have heard of many complain and therefore I was taking the initiative to approach TMPoint directly. I thought I go to the source directly and hence save me all the trouble. Man, was I wrong. It took them 2 weeks to have my phone line up and another few days to have my streamyx account activated.

All this after I had make numerous complain, faxes and calls to their call centre. What make me more frustrating in the whole episode was I cannot get a single PIC who can handle my case nor could I follow up with someone I could get a hold on. It was like I was trying to grab hold of a shadow. There wasn't anyone who I could get back to. There was no tele no., no direct contact no. and etc. If was all futile.

If it wasn't because of the internet line which I was desperately in need of, I would had forgone their product. The fact was in my younger days I would had throw a tantrum and blast them to oblivion with my foul language for their inferior product and their monopolistic attitude. However, times have change. I tolerated and had to practically beg and be nice to them so that I could at least still get my line up in less than a month. Mind you, the job itself of installing the line and sending the streamyx in a box to me actually takes no more than 2 days. Taking 2 weeks to do a 2 days job is ridiculous and speaks volume of their efficiency. When the man came to install my phone line, all it takes was just him climbing up the tele pole and connecting the wires to the terminal allocated. He doesn't need to take out any special or heavy equipment. He doesn't need to squeeze his brain out to figure how to connect the wires. Then the height of the pole was just about 6 feet which isn't very high itself and thus does not pose any risk to justify paying RM30 just to connect a single wires.

Bloody hell, if I have known the correct terminal to hook up, I could have just easily did it myself. It was practically a 2 minutes job. He didn't even need to go into my house and stamp his footprint all over my place.

Hell, I thought that was it after he had completed the connection and left. I immediately called up TM at 100 and enquire whether I could pick up the streamyx in a box so that I don't need to waste precious time and making double round. To my surprised nobody knows anything. The people on the line kept putting me on hold and to make matter worst they are only call operator. Therefore what ever problems or services that you require will not be attended by them immediately. Their main function and purpose is just to log down the complain and enquiry that you may have.

Whether there will be people attending to your complaint or feedback to your problem is entirely another matter. I have make numerous call and email their customer service desk, however I only manages to get some good officer out of a slew of bad apples. One that stand out from the rest was Mr.Selvam from Streamyx dept which took the time to take down my problem and also had the guts to keep his promises to call me back as agree. Usually they don't keep their promises and never call you back to follow-up whether the problem had been settle or not.

At the end of the whole experience, I am glad it had all been settle and dusted. Nevertheless, recently I discovered that my tele line had a lot of noises while my streamyx line was turn on. Not sure what was the problem but it couldn't be my hardware nor the connection over at my place. It must been something to do with TM side. Some noise suppressor or filter not inserted at certain point. I have not lodge a complaint yet cause too busy with many things. Hopefully it doesn't take them another 2 weeks. Keeping my finger cross.

Politic 101

2008-04-17T00:11:00.002+08:00

I was watching the news last night and there was this old man that capture my attention. He was basically surrounded by reporters, cameramen and etc. People kept asking him question and he was answering it in impeccable royal British English. I was stun and I have to give him credit and respect for it. From the wrinkles on his face and his dark complexion and aging skin condition I think I put him in around 80yrs old. What surprises me more was that he was voicing his strong support to our current PM. If I remember it correctly, he was saying all Mubarat members and UMNO veteran are standing firm and fully 100% supporting out beloved PM. To add salt and to spice the interview, he told everyone that there are only sporadic and uncultured UMNO members who are voicing dissatisfaction against the PM outside the system. It wasn't people in the association itself but rumbling outside the fence. He was backing his claim with self representation of his own association and others as well. He loudly proclaimed when ask whether he was an UMNO member or not, that he was the pioneer and had join it since 1945. His strong words like asking the PM not to sway and rock by the wind and etc was convincing.

If you ask me, I think he would make a better PM than the Bodowi guy. At least I get convince by his facial expression and his immaculate English. He portray someone with vision, brave and confident. Unfortunately, Mr.Bodowi doesn't even come close to the fellow. Whenever, I see him on the news during a speech or interview, he looks fragile and like someone who doesn't know what the world is going on.

Not sure was it real or he is faking it. If I remember correctly when he first ascend the position, he was full of confidence, vibrant and looks like a bull. Nowadays, he is just like a mouse to me.

IPhone

2008-03-06T00:20:00.003+08:00

Last Sat I got myself holding on to the latest craze gadget in the US. It was an Apple IPHONE. I knew about it and had thought it was overly hype and with big marketing strategy and etc. Nevertheless, when my friend Grace show it to me, I was surprised by its elegant finishing.....gloss mirror finishing. Something like Samsung but which has more class cause its got a huge large LCD screen on it. What I like most about it is its touch screen features. It was smooth, responsive and quick. Not like most of the PDA's I have seen before which require a pen to make pin point accurate movement for responsiveness. I could just zoom in on a pic or zoom out with just 2 finger moving simultaneously inward or outward. The screen colour and pics were sharp. There doesn't seem to be any time lag at all on its OS system. For example when you call up an application and viewing a huge amount of photos. The built in 8GB flash hard disk was very quick.

She told me it only cost USD350 without any state tax. If you include state taxes which vary from states to states then it would come to about USD400. With the current exchange rate of 3.2 only, that is about RM 1280 for a suave Apple product. That's not a bad bargain. In fact I think its really cheap compare with what people are selling here under black market. If not mistaken I think it started out at RM3000 but then now you could get it at RM2200 including unlocking and etc. Still it's no way close to US prices.

This is my must have gadget and my next hand phone replacement. Therefore just need to wait either for wifey hand phone to fail or my own phone before I have a real good reason to make the splurge. Heheheheh. I hope Apple would bring in the phone here. However, don't think they will offered it as low as RM 1200 considering we are in the "land of overprice." Overprice car, overprice house, overprice hp, overprice commodity and etc.

A Road Pave With Gold

2008-03-06T00:17:00.002+08:00

Everyday while I go to work, I use the same road whereby I need to pass many factories. However, for the past few months the road condition was very bad with pot holes and crack here and there. Driving your car on the road is like driving a jeep under off-road terrain condition. Since I wasn't driving my 4WD I had to go slow with my Harley. You know what it means for guys with heavy equipment and Harley. Its so frustrating having to cruise like a scooter when u can fly at the speed of sound.

Moving on to another location .......a middle-class area whereby I have been using it everyday, the condition of the road is as bad as the ones in front of the factories. Winding forward to present day, after the announcement of GE2008 suddenly the road has been pave with gold. I mean the road is silky smooth.......smooth as chocolate. No pot holes, no rugged terrain, no earthquake like crack and etc.

However, the road in the middle-class area is still littered with pot holes and etc. It is pretty obvious that there is some differences when it comes to GE. This is the time of the year when the genie is release from the bottle. All wishes of the people would be fulfilled. But beware cause this would last for only a few weeks. After that when the genie is back into the bottle, all wishes would only fall on deaf ears. Perhaps the genie can even take back whatever was given too.

Didn't you read about those poor veggie farmers in Perak a week back. All of a sudden co-incident or whatever you call it, they are all getting their lease extended for another 30yrs. I could see many happy faces and all the politician were clamouring for marketing leverages in the paper. I was thinking hard and loud............but isn't it only a short and temporary measure. After 30yrs what happen ? They are not going to get their grant for the land. After more than 50yrs ....since independence day and working on the land harvesting veggie and fruits, the land still doesn't below to them. At the end of it what do they have. Alright, if you could make lots of money from this industry and then upgrade the life of your family especially the kids, then I am grateful for the genie. However, the way I see it is......after 50yrs of working on the land, most of them are still living under the poverty condition. Some of their kids are taking over their parents trade and thus are 2 or 3 rd generation farmers.

Being a farmer isn't so lucrative unless you are a corporation and have the backing of a huge conglomerate and doing it in big ways. Hydroponics and organic farm are mushrooming but their popularity is still not as wide as the traditional method. Furthermore it cost more.

It's real apathy. You can easily and systematically manipulate human so easily with money. You can't blame them either cause if I am in their position its still a solution and its better than nothing. At least they wouldn't be around after the 30 yrs lease expired. What you say ?

Funny Baby Instruction Notices (Part 1)

2008-02-28T00:41:00.001+08:00

Vanilla Sky

2008-02-28T00:26:00.002+08:00

Yesterday I had the rare occasion of sitting in front of the tellies and enjoying a beautiful story. I didn't start with the show. I only manages to catch it after a quarter of the show had transpired. The lead actor was Tom Cruise and he immediately capture my attention. His acting skills was top notch. He is a pro and I have to give him credit. Anyway, the plot/script of Vanilla Sky was interesting and it manages to capture my full attention. It was a complex dark fiction. I was trying to put together the whole plot and trying to guess how the ending would be. The show moved in great pace and it was leading me to think where the hell was "David" (Tom Cruise character). He was shifting from the state of dreaming and reality and I couldn't quite follow at first.

Its was a special show which was unusual and something different. I would recommend it to all who like a good fiction.

Meeting A Long Lost Friend

2008-02-28T00:19:00.001+08:00

Last Sat I met a long lost friend who I have lost contact with. I really haven't heard from her since she got married. She still haven't changed a bit and still look elegant, vibrant and young. I am not too sure what happen. It was a long time ago. During that time, I know that she was in a bad relationship with her ex-boss son. They have been together for quite sometime and thus after a reluctant break off she was in a turbulence time. They got back together but it only lasted for a few months I think.

I still remember calling to check on her and trying to console her cause she was then in really really bad shape. Then I thought P was going after her but then I advice him not to push it and it was an inappropriate time. After a few month, the next I know she was already with another guy. There after she quit her job and went over to the States for so called vacation under holiday working visa. It was over a year and the next I knew and heard was she called to tell me she's getting married soon ....so and so on that date. I wasn't sure and confuse actually but hey it wasn't my life and I have no business putting my nose into other peoples business. But I am glad she had found the love of her life. The guy seem very natural, friendly and a good husband. I hope she really is happy and enjoying her life to the fullest. There is nothing more happy for me then seeing a good friend happy and enjoying life as a breeze. I always like a good happy ending.

She tells me and P that she and her husband have bought a house in Orlando, Florida. She show us her house photos, her colleague and etc. I think she is in good hands and having the best time of her life. Its so wonderful seeing her again.

Anyway, I have forgotten how come P knew my friend. Perhaps it was one of those trips that I organises and I always bring P along when I meet up with my other friends. I think it all started with the trip to Redang in year 2000 or perhaps before that. Those were the best time of my life.

Innovation: NATIONAL air conditioners with DEODORIZER

2008-02-28T00:13:00.001+08:00

FOUND IN A RESTAURANT IN SABAH….

(( tak payah develop susah-susah….if people want they can make themselves !! )

Singaporean

2008-02-28T00:10:00.002+08:00

I tell you I have to give the hats off to the Singaporean. They are really smart ..........I mean government wise compare to my government. You see, yesterday as I was reading the paper I came across an interesting news about SG F1 race. I am not a die hard F1 fan nor spectator but nevertheless I occasionally follow in on the progress and its development. I know who the teams are, the champion and some of the drivers on the circuit.

Ok, enough of the background. What I wanted to write is we really have to give SG credit and respect for their geniuses and outright "thinking out of the box". As far as I understand it, MY have gotten the rights to an F1 racing slot for 5 yrs which is renewable and etc. F1 racing rights and exclusivity is held by F1 maestro Bernie Ecclestone. Therefore since Malaysia had gotten the racing slot and upped the stake with SG nobody thought there could possibly be another racing track located just a stone throw away. Many people including myself thought SG had loss out big time on the potential windfall and publicity avenue with regard to worldwide audiences and coverage. It is among the biggest sports coverage with huge following worldwide after football.

To add salt to wound, many years ago SG PM Lee Kuan Yew and MY PM Mahathir had always quarrel and trying to outdo each other with the grandest project and the most glamour's of the lot. Mahathir must have been smiling since he won the first round and his son is the rights holder and organiser of the F1 race. However, a few years back SG fought back and came out with an ingeniousness plan of holding an F1 race in the city state but it didn't stop there. In order to make it special and to entice Bernie Ecclestone they are making it a first in the world with night racing. Now isn't that smart.

The brains behind all these moves is actually one Mr.Ong who use to be a Malaysian. These Singaporean are actually not Singaporean in the beginning, but in fact Malaysian. They actually migrated to SG and obtain their PR and citizenship after many many years in SG.

Therefore if you really look at the bigger picture and analyse, you will see that all the best brains and brightest are going off to Singapore and being absorbed by them. That's why we have a huge brain drain. All those ASEAN scholarship, bursary and meritocracy system are paying off for them now. They are reaping in the rewards of years of good policy and stable decision. You don't see flip flop decision or policy especially on the education system.

On another note, the man who conquer Mount Everest twice and the only ASIAN to do it and now a famous adventurer turn motivator Singaporean was previously a Malaysian. I only knew about this lately when he visited his father in Port Dickson. Malaysia really Boleh. Born in Malaysia, bred in Malaysia but bury in other countries.

A CNY Visit

2008-02-22T00:44:00.003+08:00

Recently, one of my friend Mr.P who use to stay nearby came over to my house for CNY with his gf. That was the first time I meet his gf though he had told me so much about her. I have been pestering and reminding him many times to bring his gf along but unfortunately I think there were many occasion which wasn't right. Example, when a bunch of guys was around howling aloud throughout the middle of the night.............hehe........you see I think its awkward when you have a bunch of nerd or wolves sitting around a table talking about politics, medicine, stocks and etc. It kind of scared all the girls away. I notice his gf looks a little bit like my ex-classmate. There was a 80% resemblance but she had more baby fats..............heheheheh.

Not that my other friend would ever care or take notice. They are just blunt and stone to be precise. Nerd ......... well............don't think they are now. Square, stone or whatever you call it. I still think and in fact common sense said its awkward to have a bunch of guys surrounding a single girl in a mamak.

Nevertheless, I find it hard to tell these single bachelor what is right or what is wrong. They are obviously egotist and don't like to hear it from someone who doesn't have a "Dr" in front of my name. Thus I hope they realize themselves and get their act together and improve on their social skills.

I still remember a few years back when P was driving me back after a late night of mamak and I had the chance to have a one to one conversation with him. At first I didn't know how to put it to him on his "short" coming and what I felt was his missing link with girls. However, since we had been friends for quite some time and I thought we should be honest with each other. After all I was concern with his social life at that time. He wasn't having any success with girls or scoring any goals. I felt and thought I needed to say something even though it could damage our friendship. As long as the end result was effective and he manages to find a gf, then I would be more than happy to be the sacrificial lamb. The bad guy.

Thus, I told him his short coming straight into the face. However, I still try to be as diplomatic as I could be.

1. Man need to be more open. Not in the head but also the wallet. I remember vividly that a mutual friend of us relate how P was a little bit stingy and thrifty. Yeah, thrifty is good but not when you are trying to woo and chasing your future wife. Yes there are exception but what I am trying to put here is the majority and the field where I am more familiar with. Girls like to be pamper, treated well and when they are on top of the world, you need to make them feel like heaven. I don't remember in my experience seeing a girl who doesn't like the guy to pamper or treat her well. I mean for the 1st stage of tackling a girl, I have never meet a gal telling me.....pls keep your wallet in your pants. Either the gal aren't interested in you or she isn't sure yet. Therefore the keyword here is be a gentleman. We are not Americans nor Europeans. We are still very traditional and in this part of the world the woman are still very much old fashion (money wise).

2. He always fumble or was it nervous when he speaks. He would try very hard to make himself the centre of attention and prefer to be the main person talking. I still remember he use to jumble up in his conversation and a few of my friends have a hard time trying to figure out what he was trying to say. Throughout the years I think he has improve tremendously cause I never notice this anymore. Perhaps he had moved on and fully matured. This could be true cause I have a kid who happens to be a year end b'day boy. As I had been observing my kid, I think there is a huge difference between the month of birth of a kid. A kid who is born beginning of the year compare to year end have a huge maturity gap and learning skills. People treat him as 2 when he is only 1. Its the education system we are having here that is influencing all this. This is deep, I know. But the fact is he wasn't at the level I presume he was in yet.

3. I still remember blurringly about our Sg.Lembing trip. We went up the hill in the wee hours of the morning with touch light. Just before sunrise, we went further hoping to explore the hill and find a more suitable viewing angle. P and I was in a group. Wifey was there too. As I was walking in front trying to clear some bushes and path for others to follow, P suddenly went in front of me. I wasn't sure what was happening and I might be wrong. But at the end, he got himself lost when we decided to turn back to the original hill. My friends and I couldn't find him. Everybody had panic. We call out his name but there was no reply. Not sure if he was holding any touch light but I scout around the bushes and can't find any sign of him at all. It was total darkness. Then I told the rest of the member not to break off to look for him cause I worry others would get lost too. There wasn't many guys in the group. Mostly gals and thus it was dangerous to ask them to go down hill to search for him. I felt really bad then. I was responsible for him cause I invited him. I told everybody we would wait for a few more minutes to see whether he can find his way back before we call for help. Finally P manages to find his way back. There was no reaction from him at all nor any thank you for our concern and effort of trying to look for him. He was those guy with big egos and thick face then. He just pretend nothing had happen and continue his usual fumbling talk but I sense then that he wasn't at all at ease. This wasn't my opinion but from other friends as well. Can you imagine how the gals see him. Moral of the story. Don't try to be a hero if you are not a hero. Being average and normal is enough.

To cut things short, my friend P is now a happy man. He has finally manages to land himself a trophy gf........hehehhehe. A young sweet gal. I am so happy for him. I hope he will quickly take the next step forward and join me in my experience. Going further 1 step up to another level and enjoying life. I notice there is a huge change in him to the better. Physically as well as mentally. I am happy to say for once that my friend P is now a step ahead of me in life and in coming years. Gambate, and omedeto gozaimasu.

Liar, Liar in the top most Hierarchy

2008-02-20T00:19:00.003+08:00

I came across this today. Anyway its an old news now. I felt it was contradictory and hence deserve to be mention here. The flip flop fellow really can lie through his teeth. He doesn't feel ashamed of it and neither is he a man of his word. This really speaks volume on the people he leads. Perhaps its the other way round where other people are actually leading him.............hehehe.

Anyway, come this GE2008 I hope everybody would vote wisely. Nevertheless, I know of many friends, acquaintance and etc who are not going to vote at all. Some are going away for holiday on the 8th March itself and also some are totally abstaining themselves from voting.

Many of my colleague are hypocrite. They always tell me this and that and kept complaining about toll hike, price hike, many injustice and etc but yet they are not even going to try to register themselves to vote. Some are as old as 40++ and yet they have never in their entire life voted. They never felt the need to vote cause its pointless, lazy and ignorant. Their attitude towards their rights are really apathy. Don't care and never bother.

I read a great article in 1 of the blogs the other day. Its was about the body snatching activities which had been going on lately and it just send a shiver into my spine. I hope it doesn't happen to my colleague but yet felt perhaps they need a lesson in life to open up their selfish attitude and also to open others eye wide. We always teaches kids not to be selfish, self centre and ignorant. We teaches them to stand for principal and to be honourable. Yet, non of my colleague possess any of this character at all. Sadly I am disappointed with them. But what can I do. They are those typical Chinese educated who are born and bred like a frog in a cage. Spoon fed throughout their life but lucky to be as successful as they are now. They don't know much about the green house effect, world news, politics but only themselves and money.

A Broken Wine Glass

2008-02-20T00:10:00.002+08:00

Last week during CNY period, I had a few friends over to my place for a visit. I invited them over to have a drink cause I told them I have a few bottles of white wine. I like white more than red at the moment. Its much more smoother, rich and easier on the tongue................that's how I feel. But if the red is a top notch quality bottle and not any under RM100 per bottle then I would gladly try it out cause so far reds are something like mass production to me. I have attended numerous wedding dinner, functions and special occasion and usually the host serve the red. Its those cheap, sour, dry and can kill your taste bug kind of wine. I don't see many people serving white at the moment and I prefer it that way. Maintaining that exclusivity and authentic taste.

Well that's not what I really want to shout about today. Its about this doc friend of mine. Since he's staying in UK practically 90% of his time, I thought wine is in his blood cause you know how Europeans and British really enjoy their wine........or was that beer !!!! Hehheheh. Anyway, the moment I serve him his glass........I was practically on the edge of my floor cause I notice how awkward his movement or his body language was telling me. I just move his wine glass away from reach (1 arm length) and I thought he should be getting the message. It was predictable. I am telling you I am a very good body language observer. I know how people react and what kind of things they are going to do before hand. I just have the gift.

Not long after, the dreaded nightmare came. With 1 swing of the hand or arm, he knock over the glass and it felt on my marble dinning table. Broken glass was shattered everyway. It was a mess and I had to clean up the mess. Was I piss off or was I angry with him ? Later on another friend related to me how this doc felt I was piss off with him. Actually I wasn't angry because of the broken glass but the mess and the worry I am in if my kids accidentally step on a small broken pieces. I worry if I didn't manage to sweep all the shattered glass. I worry if I miss out on any small pieces stuck under the chairs, table leg and etc.

It seems that young single bachelor don't really understand we man who have family. What I had in my mind about single adults and married adults was right. We think differently and we act differently. I felt single adults have to grow up and think bigger picture but unfortunately all they can talk about occasionally is sex and sex. I mean I talk about sex and sex and etc but then ....................you get the drift. Maturity. I will talk about this more next time. Its all instinct for me.

Well, the doc did offer his apology but then the harm was already done. You see, if this incident would had happen to some of my other friends who have family or mature......................perhaps its not maturity but some other aspect which I can't pinpoint as of now, their immediate reaction would have been to get up and help me clean up the mess itself. They would be very worry too cause they know broken glasses are dangerous especially family with kids. Now that's the difference with thinking, reaction, social skills and awareness.

So, I don't get piss off with the broken glass cause its only a glass which I can always buy with $$$$$ only. But I am worry about the safety of my kids and family. That's the single most important priority of any man with a family.

GIS Map

2008-02-12T23:42:00.002+08:00

This is a nice alternative of wikimapia for local malaysian road.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/main.adp?country=MY

Hard Disk Data Recovery

2008-02-12T23:29:00.002+08:00

I got this from here. Thought it was useful.

Ways to restore lost data
This video tutorial shows you ways of restoring files four different ways. I do not claim this video to be the ultimate way to restore files. These are just suggestions, so if you know of better methods, please leave a comment with the suggested method. Listed below are the four different ways and the programs needed.

Restoring files that have been deleted from the Recycle Bin
A great program for doing this is called Restoration. Download it and install it. The program installs itself to a folder in c:/restoration. Double click on the ".exe" file in that folder. Once the program launches, it will allow you to search the specified drive. Once the results are pulled up, highlight any files that you intend to restore and click the "Restore By Copying" button.

Restoring files from damaged CD/DVD's
This method is for restoring files off of scuffed CD's/DVD's, where it often says that it cannot copy the source file or it gives a "cyclic redundancy" error. The program for this method is called CD Recovery Toolbox. Download and install that program and, once installed, it should create a shortcut on your desktop.
-Go ahead and run the program.
-The first window will have you select the drive that you want to restore (the corrupted media should already be in it at this point). Then click next
-Select a folder where you want to restore the files to. Default is "c:\_CDRestored". Then click Next.
-Select the files on the CD that you wish to restore and click "Save"
-When it's through, it should open up the folder in which it saved the files to.

Restoring files from formatted hard drives
This method is to restore files from hard drives after they have been re-formatted. For instance, this would come in handy if you have reinstalled windows on a drive and then want to see if you can restore a file that was on it before you reinstalled windows. A great program to do this is called PhotoRec. Download, install, and run the program.

-Open up the program (it will open up in a DOS window)
-First you will need to select which hard drive you want to restore (using the arrow keys) and then hit enter to Proceed.
-Second, you will need to select how your hard drive is partitioned, whether it's a PC,MAC, Linux, etc.
-Then select the file system. If it's a Mac/XP/Vista, it will be HPFS or NTFS. If it's pre-XP, then it will be FAT32. If it's linux, then you should know which one it is :-)
-Select where you want to restore the files to. The default is "C:\Phtotrec". It's recommended not to restore the files to the same drive that you are restoring from.
-Then just let it restore the files and select which ones you want to keep.

Restoring files from unbotable hard drives.
This method can be used when you can't even get your computer to boot to the hard drive. The method is by booting to what's called a "Live CD". You can download Linux Live CD's from almost anywhere. Ubuntu is probably the most popular and will serve the purpose. However, if you want a Windows LIve CD, we can make one of these by using a WindowsXP cd and a program called BartPE"".

-Download, install, and run the program
- Put in your XP cd, and use it as the source path. You can also select alternate paths for things to include with the CD. Under Output, you can select the name of the folder that it will put the working information in.
-Then select, under Media Output, "Create ISO image". And click "Build"
-Once it's finished, you can use a program such as Deep Burner to burn it to a CD.
-Then just boot to the CD once the computer is starting up.

Bribe

2008-02-12T23:26:00.001+08:00

Hmm........this sound very interesting but let me give a little bit of a background. We all know that the G machinery are very corrupted and to certain extend some private comp which are own by the G as well. Unfortunately through my own experience this is very much a culture as well as the norm thing ingrain in many layers of society as well as company. It is not confined to G corporation anymore.

For example, take the place where I work. Due to my company expansion.............hence this creates an opportunity and a window for corrupt practices to occur. New equipment, new services, new renovation, new computers and etc etc. I still remember vividly when I started working in the company my Japanese boss was a very tough and no nonsense kind of guy. He instil in me the virtual of fairness, good practices whereby every procurement of equipment and services have to be evaluated thoroughly and scrutinise in detail. Every procurement have to have at least more than 3 suppliers or competitor. It was tough then. I have get the best bargain and the best deal in order to be able to submit and get his approval.

After 10 years had past, same company but different Jap and local management. Things had drastically changes for the worst but better for the corrupted few. There is no longer 3 competitive bid. No transparency. Only the corrupted are involve in this procurement now. Its is no longer rotated and hence the corrupted are reigning in supreme. They collaborated with the supplier to make the "BEST" bid and collaborated to misled everybody involve into believing its all above the board. We use to buy direct and not through trading house. We use to believe trading house doesn't add value to some major equipment manufacturer as they are well represented here in MY. Hence, trading house are taking a big slice of cut just to be in the middle of the action. No work but big slice of commission and etc. That's how we use to see it. Therefore we use to go direct and contact manufacturer to get the best deal and negotiate the best equipment available.

Now after the procurement transaction had been completed suppliers take the corrupted few to lavish dinners. Shower them with gifts and souvenirs the way a man try to woo a woman. Can a woman refuse such a lavish and expensive gifts if there wasn't any love link relationship involve ? This had long been happening now and had already set a precedent and now this corrupted culture had been ingrain deeply into the system. I had been observing this for a time now and when the situation had reach cancerous stages, its time I wrote this as a reminder.

I won't be happy to wait for the day when the whole system come crashing down. And I won't be happy to tell some of them.................." I TOLD YOU SO.".

Portability

2008-01-26T00:22:00.001+08:00

No I'm not talking about mobile number portability but the same concept and system being use for banking account !!! Can this be done ? From my viewpoint its possible but surprisingly have anyone ever thought of it. In the job market and company scenario there is just one single company dominating many many business/account. That's Maybank. For years, they have the monopoly, the undisputed right and protectionism from the G. Hence, many workers, staff and etc are bound and have no rights or freedom of choice to choose their own prefer bank.

Those rights are dictated by the company prefer banking or finance manager choice. Therefore you might not have an account with the company bank and hence when you choose to accept the job offered, you inevitably have to open an account with that bank just so that the company can bank in your salary.

Can you imagine what its like if you are a frequent job hopper and etc. If you would have jump 5 different companies, perhaps you might have 5 different account with different banks. It puts the word "consolidating"into shame. By the end of your career and also after at least 7 yrs after which some account are dormant, the bank would reserved their right to close the account and charge you a penalty fees and hence forfeit whatever balance that remains in the account.

Can you see the trouble and the huge amount of red tape that crops up by the whole "stupid" system ? Perhaps a part of the system already existed, for example. MEPS but it needs to be fine tune and also upgraded to enable portability where by once you have open an account with this bank A, you could just transfer it to another bank B with the touch of a button or an application. Can you see the convenience. Its like transferring your whole financial asset seamlessly without any huge red tape and to any banks that offered the best rate or services available.

I use to have 5 banking accounts in my younger days. BSN, SBB, Maybank, PB, HSBC but now after many years had manage to consolidate into 2 main bank only. The rest as I said had been dormant and taken over by the bank itself. Its no longer free to have a banking account in this country. There is a cost involve for each and everything.

Therefore, isn't it convenient and ideal if only we could performed banking portability as same as mobile portability !! But then again, mobile portability had been thrust forward for many years now and with many promises but I have yet to see it fruitation. The latest promises is by the middle of this year, but I don't have anymore expectation with regard to this already. It is always postpone, delay and etc and in the end the tele-com are the main beneficiary. Banking portability............a far fetch concept ideal............most probably not in my life time.

Global Incident Map - now THIS is technology...

2008-01-26T00:07:00.001+08:00

This is interesting. Cool......just take a look and move your cursor over to those tag.

Marlboro Box Hand Phone

2008-01-20T23:50:00.002+08:00

I had put this off for many weeks or even month. I find this cool and something original.....authentic. I was sending my car for service and there was this auntie who is very close with the mechanic and the staff there. She was showing off her new "Toy". Therefore the mechanic was very excited and aesthetic and hence show me the real thing.

It was a hand phone with the casing of an actual size Marlboro cigarette box. If you would had left the hand phone on the table, nobody would notice that it was a hand phone at all. It just look like the real thing. A typical cigarette box with the Marlboro logo and everything.

What seem intrigue was it had camera function and features as well. Therefore, isn't it cool ? You could have been recording a video using the hand phone and nobody would ever notices or aware the camera was pointing at you. It was just like one of those 007 Bond gadgets from Q.

Therefore I did a search on the catch Marlboro Hand phone and it seem some Taiwanese manufacturer are producing it. Not sure it was legal or illegal but hei, it was cool, something original and worth mentioning I thought.

Btw, the Auntie quote that her daughter bought it from Shenzhen, China for RM600. Hmmm.....not expensive but not sure what model of Nokia it was source/based on. Perhaps it was a basic Nokia camera phone which cost only RM400 and they just insert the plastic cover box into it. But it was nice work and seem good, not something out of a DIY thing.

Quick Note

2008-01-10T14:50:00.001+08:00

New Year, .......new school, new responsibility .............it's going be a long year ahead. Stock market is pushing upward but its freaking scary. Just not sure when the big ,major avalanche is going to occur. Am still waiting for it. Don't know how much longer I can wait cause I have gather all my bullets already. Just waiting for a sign or a signal from the almighty.

Snooping Around

2008-01-10T13:11:00.000+08:00

My blog seem to be very popular it seem. A few of my friend snoop around here and there occasionally I was told but never left any comment or whatsoever. Perhaps then I have to consider adding lots of advertisement and etc in this blog so that I can earn some money from their nosy attics .........hehehahah.

This is going to be a short one cause going for lunch already. Will try to write more on this blog by squeezing more time out of my hectic schedule of FLYING AROUND THE WORLD :) Busy with work, busy with girls and busy with kids............heheh.

Spin Doctor

2008-01-10T12:57:00.001+08:00

I got this a few weeks ago in one of my email. Quite funny if you ask me.

> Hillary's Ancestry
>
> Judy Wallman, a professional genealogical
> researcher, discovered that
> Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham,
> was hanged for horse
> stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889.
>
> The only known photograph of Remus shows him
> standing on the gallows. On
> the
> back of the picture is this inscription:
>
> 'Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana
> Territorial Prison 1885,
> escaped
> 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by
> Pinkerton detectives,
> convicted and hanged in 1889.'
>
> Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton for comments.
>
> Hillary's staff of professional image adjusters sent
> back the following
> biographical sketch: 'Remus Rodham was a famous
> cowboy in the Montana
> Territory. His business empire grew to include
> acquisition of valuable
> equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the
> Montana railroad.
>
> Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his
> life to service at a
> government facility, finally taking leave to resume
> his dealings with the
> railroad.
>
> In 1887, he was a key player in a vital
> investigation run by the renowned
> Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed
> away during an important
> civic function held in his honor when the platform
> upon which he was
> standing collapsed.'
>
> And THAT is how it's done folks!------
>

Politics

2008-01-10T12:47:00.001+08:00

I have grown bored of it already. No point talking on and on with regard to AAB and etc. Its getting mundane and its occurring repetitively. I have lost all will and common sense with this man. Just what the hell are all this politician doing to my country. My one and only country !! As for them, they can just fly off to anywhere in the world and lax around and just tell the local mainstream media to report as "Attending A Meeting" and etc.

They can just apply for political asylum whenever there's chaos at home and etc. They can just fly to Switzerland and live off with all the ill gotten gain for the rest of their life. I think most of those on the top rank are living off more than their own means. If I am not mistaken even the top post of PM are being paid RM20k++ only. So how can our dear minister live off with such an extravagant lifestyle.

You have to dig deeper to really understand it. Unfortunately journalistic investigation is dead in My and there's no freedom.

Buying a Dell (Part 1)

2007-12-16T22:25:00.001+08:00

With the recent conclusion of PC Fair, I inevitably make a purchase of a Dell on their online offered. This is the first time I am buying a Dell machine and my first experience with them. Usually I just browse through their website to check on their pricing and spec. and etc but for the very first time I had to go through the real Dell experience.

What I feel and gone through wasn't easy. I felt the information was quite comprehensive but lack certain ease of use interface. Details for specification and etc are good but nevertheless, as I was studying their warranty options I find it a little bit confusing. I needed to refer to another site and needed a few mins to gasp what was it all about. Dellcare Plus, Dellcare Premier and etc..........and in each category there is additional 24/7 support, Dell on-site and etc which make the whole deal more confusing. Finally I understand what was most important/essential was their completecover package. With this cover, any parts breakdown, accident or etc parts would be replace without any charges. Others additional support is only secondary especially on the software support and etc.

After a few hours of going through their steps by steps ordered form, I finally manages to complete it without any hassle and major problem. What I like best about their site is the "Saved To Cart" options. I could just saved it temporarily under my email address and then retrieve it later to complete the purchase.

I only have difficulty with their service warranty issue and some other minor spec. which was not highlighted during the spec. confirmation and etc. Therefore, I needed to open another page on the product without going into https.

Overall the experience was a little bit stressful and not as fun and easy as 1-2-3 as I would like it to be. But considering the amount of spec. and detail a computer usually have I think they still deserve a pat on the back though not on full marks.

Besides the "Save To Cart" options, the 2nd best thing I like about them is their follow-up or ordered status view and info. It is just like FedEx or DHL where you could actually "tracked" the stages your ordered are going through. I place my ordered on the night of 09/12 but was only process on the next working day on the 10/12 and then billed on the 11/12. As of today I see that it is under "Work-In-Progress" category. However, the delivery date is tentatively set for next year.

I like the small detail showing the status and progress of the flow which makes everything so transparent and informative and can be easily read and interpreted. Thumbs up for them on this. I just hope the experience hereafter will be better. But most importantly of all the quality and reliability of the machine I ordered need to be above excellence. After all this is my first experience of using a Dell and if it is disappointing then I guess I will remember this throughout my whole life.