Rubbish

What's this? A blog with no readers? And no posts for 2 years?

What rubbish...!

Time flies

Wow, has it been over a month already since the last post? Malas betul aku ni....;)

I guess there goes the dream of making money from ads....hehe... If you cannot spare any time to write or even arrange your blog in a pleasing manner, then nobody's going to want to read it anyway...

But please standby, this is just a practice run. I might scare you with my prolific writing when the moment comes.

But first, got to go find me a unique angle. We can't all be scuba-diving orthopedic surgeons, can we?

Selamat Hari Raya Korban

Thursday 20 Dec 2007 is Aidil-Adha. It's celebrated just as merrily as Aidil-Fitri here in my part of the country. However this year I won't be present as my better half and I are going home to celebrate in Kamunting.

I am also sacrificing a cow this year. That's a first. Hopefully it won't be the last.

I just wonder how much the significance of this Holy Day is lost on Malaysian Muslims nowadays. Sure, there's little of the materialism of Aidilfitri and nobody under 12 expects duit raya from the adults. But somehow I always sense something lacking year after year.

Assuming we are all familiar with the history and story behind this celebration, then shouldn't we attempt to go back to the original intentions behind it?

What I see now is so much grandstanding and needless splashing out of money by our prosperous Malaysian Muslims. Going to perform the Haj isn't supposed to be like your annual vacation. It is supposed to be the near culmination and the peak point of our daily devotion to God. Treating it as nothing more than a yearly jaunt and common pilgrimage is not proper.

It is sometimes cringe inducing when I see wealthy Malaysians going to Mekah year after year. Alright, I understand that the pilgrimage has a unique and powerful attraction since it is the House of God they go to. But in many cases I see it as nothing more than waste and pride. Going to Mekah is supposed to bring out the humility in you, but where is the humility when you spend RM40-50k per person for a Haj package that cocoons you in a 5star hotel right at the doorsteps of Masjidil Haram and pampers you like its nothing more than annual vacation?

And would it not be better to use all that money instead towards other causes?

My PC is dead

Yesterday my office PC died while on the job. There will be no funeral service. All donation and wreaths should be in cash form so I can buy a new motherboard for the dead rig. All expressions of sympathy are welcomed, money being the best salve for my broken heart....

My deed for today

I am an ex student of Sekolah Sains Sultan Mahmud, KT. We are currently quite active, alumni-wise. It gladdens me that a lot of the alumnus are very eager to contribute to their former school, as they should be.

There are a lot of good things that can come out from this enthusiasm. Whenever I read about the activities of older schools' alumni associations, I feel envious and wish that in 40-50 years time, my own school would be that lucky.

Well, I guess it depends on what people like me do....

We are flip floppers

Every few years some new minister or leader decides he wants to introduce something new in Malaysia or intends to leave his legacy in one form or another. Then a new leader comes along and repeats the whole process, just so he can say that he's done something worthwhile.

Bahasa Malaysia? Bahasa Melayu? Maths/Science in English? Maths/Science in BM?

This is our country's future you know. Can't just go on making one decision this year only to change your minds three years down the road. What's wrong with what we had back then? Or for that matter what's wrong with what we have now?

Just make one decision after careful deliberations and thought and stick to it! Make it work! Don't think up some half-baked scheme and then realise in a few years that you're wrong, and then try to undo the wrong with another stupid policy change.

Sheessh...I guess we do deserve the leaders we elect....

How weird am I?

I have this compulsion to buy up any book that strike my fancy. Not necessarily to read them of course, just to revel in the knowledge that I have them secure on my shelves, ready to be devoured whenever I have the time and inclination.

Which does not come often these days. What with work commitments, family matters and leisurely pursuits, book reading has been relegated to the lower ranks of my daily priorities.

It didn't used to be this way. Time was when I wasted whole days just reading and reading anything that enters my grasp. Books, comics, magazines and especially newspapers. My writing style and my reluctance to speak English unless in grammatically correct verse and sentence stemmed from my voracious appetite for the NST, particularly during my early teens. I even discovered Roald Dahl during this period. Granted, he was more suitable for a younger set but I just didn't know he existed when I was smaller.

With me coming from a 'kampung' family, I simply wasn't exposed to many of the literary influences, be they children's authors or adult writers. I had to make up for lost time during my late primary and the whole secondary school years to catch up with Captain Biggles, the Hardy Boys (and even Nancy Drew). Thank God for my primary school library back then. I think I read its entire collection of English language fiction.


Then I found the district library. Being located in the admin town of Besut (Kg Raja), it was blessed with past librarians and administrators who were more exposed and knowledgeable. Thus they stocked up many English books, which I systematically borrowed and read. Going back there these days tend be an enterprise in despair. Knowledge is not valued any more. The library is is a state of disrepair and good books a rare commodity.

Crass and inconsiderate

We live our lives not in isolation from others. Our actions in the public sphere affect other citizens and reflect what we think of them.

There's a fable that's always remained with me. One who removes a thorn from a road is considered to have done such a magnanimous deed that he is promised heaven in the hereafter. If the person who removed the thorn (obstruction) from the road is rewarded as such, then what of the person who created that obstruction in the first place?

Drivers who park indiscriminately and without thought to other road users always annoy me to the extreme. Of such importance do they place their business that everyone else is forced to avoid or stop for them. And yet these same people would bristle if they are branded rude and uncouth. Invariably we would find them pleasant enough people in person, but place them behind the wheel and they instantly turn deaf and dumb to the needs of others.

Have we been filial children?

There was this Petronas Raya ad on TV. I'm sure you readers (all one of you) will watch it eventually.

Very touching and poignant. It reminded me that though I have relatively been a good son, I could have been much better. How many times have I unthinkingly answered my parents' (though always my mother actually since my dad still evokes that fear/respect auto response) queries gruffly. No malice was intended of course, but still...you know what I mean.

Intermission

wow, I'm so swamped that I can't even read my emails.....

Are we really negligent, or is the world simply unsafe?

There are no words to describe how I feel about the child Nurin Jazlin. Were it to happen to mine or close kin, only that would give me an idea of what her parents must've gone through (and still going through).

I have no facts to support or disprove the contention that they were negligent. I'm sure they were not.

But let us see the realities of the world around us. What we observe everyday does to some extent uphold the claim that some people are just plain careless (or just couldn't care less).

I've lost count of the times I've seen children on the driver's seat (on the driver's lap a la Britney Spears). The sad thing is, they're usually unaware that they're endangering themselves, their child and other people too. Some drive so slowly to compensate for holding a child in their laps that they end up being a nuisance and a danger on the road.

What are we to do?

What Motivates You?

I've always wondered about this since I was a kid. Back then, I'd be roused from sleep each morning so I'd go to school. Even in secondary boarding school, there'd always be someone to wake me up if I was late.

But fast forward to the present. I'm sleeping alone this past few days and I keep thinking of all the times I've had to wake up by myself (with the alarm clock's help of course).

What is it that moves us to do all these things we do every day? Is there a small inner voice somewhere that prods us to wake up and go forth each day? So what happens on days like today when I woke up and decided to have a lie-in? Then I dragged myself off to the living room and switched on the PS2.

Yep, that's what I did today. Instead of going to work (which is quite important to me) I chose to play Final Fantasy XII. It wasn't until close to noon that I showered and finally went to the office.

So where was that voice today? Asleep too eh...?

So where did you get your body from?

I keep hearing this really catchy song on radio this couple of days. Well, below I've managed to snare the lyrics to that song (courtesy of Metrolyrics.com). Turns out it's from Will.I.Am (How the heck are you supposed to pronounce that?). You know, that guy from Black Eyed Peas.

Killer song, man.

Ain't it just true though...? ;)

Ladies… x3
Here we go…

Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it got it got got it…

Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it got it…

Honey lookin good from her head to her toe.
Beauty overload, body out of control.
She twenty-four, she could be a model.
So beautiful, also natural.
Mommy lookin good from her head to her feet.
She forty-four, but she still lookin sweet.
And you can tell her daughter aint even at her peak.
Cause her mama lookin so hot, packin that heat.
So be a good girl and thank your mama.
She make me steamin like a sauna.
Look out, look out, here she come now.
Look out, look out, here she come.

Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it got it got got it…




Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it got it…

Girl, your beauty is a sensation.
You sittin in, in a temptation.
I never knew a girl could shine like a sun.
You better thank your mama, cause girl, you the one.
We should have a date of celebration.
Celebratin god’s best creation.
Girl you got a beautiful vibration.
Everyday should be your birthday, hun.
You make the guys all dumb.
Maybe cause you’re blessed with the beautiful buns.
Maybe cause your beauty keep the dudes on sprung,
Wonderin just where you got that from.


Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it from my mama.
I got it got it got got it…

Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
You can tell all this right here,
I got all this from my mama…
All of this stuff right here,
I got all this from my mama.

Ladies... x7
Here we go…

If the girl real fine,
Nine times out of ten,
She fine just like her mama.

If the girl real pretty,
Nine times out of ten,
She pretty like her mama.

And if her mama real ugly,
I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama.

And if her mama real ugly,
I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama.

If the girl real sexy,
Nine times out of ten,
She sexy like her mama.

If the girl real hot,
Nine times out of ten,
She hot just like her mama.

And if her mama real ugly,
I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama.

And if her mama real ugly,
I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama, like her mama…


Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
Baby where’d you get your body from?
Tell me where’d you get your body from.
You can tell all this right here,
I got all this from my mama…
All of this stuff right here,
I got all this from my mama.

If you pretty, make some noise.
If you pretty, make some noise.
If you pretty, make some noise.
Make some noise, make some noise.

Ladies… x4

Hot and bothered and all for nothing

I was supposed to find out today about a contract I bid. Sadly the tender board meeting was postponed to next week.

That's the life of a businessman. Such uncertainties are common. Probably why businesspeople like political, monetary and fiscal stability so much. We need to know everything will stay predictable so our plans do not go astray.

One nagging worry is the current high prices of oil. At $80 plus per barrel, that's bound to have some impact. I bet the price of fuel goes up on New Year's eve.

What kind of effect would that have on me?

There's always one more left

Two hours after I posted my rant yesterday, I encounter one of the type I just described.

Is it libellous to actually post a car's plate number on a blog? I venture that it is not. So here it is- Black Alfa Romeo WEP 121, you are an idiot.

But I guess it isn't fair to just name without the shaming to go with it.

There I was, on my way back home (5.00 pm..ish). There were 2 Sagas in front doing 60-70 so I waited for a chance to pass. Then this 'mangkuk' decides behind me that he's above all this waiting and courtesy stuff. In all his 'wisdom' he overtakes all three of us even though there was clearly a car coming ahead. That poor Kancil had to swerve to avoid another accident like the one in Gaal on Friday night (3 died).

The thing is, he's not even going that fast. After I overtook the 2 Sagas, I easily caught up with him. The only thing preventing me from passing him was his penchant for overtaking on double lines.

More to this story, but he's not worth it. Suffice to say I'm tempted to 'coin' his car if I see him parked somewhere.....;)

I've been driving for 15 years. That's almost half my life. I don't consider myself to be the best driver, but I particularly try to be as courteous and accommodating as possible towards other road users.

And I expect the same treatment in return. It's not demanding too much, is it? I'm just a normal person, with maybe just as much brains as the next person.

So why does the next person always turn out to be an idiot?

Young Malay male drivers almost always manage to boil my blood. You know the type- modified car, large exhausts, large tyres, drives in an almost flat rear-inclined position, invariably wears a cap.

But there are other types too. Might I direct your attention to this:

• Male driver, 20 to 40 years old, drives fast (or so he thinks) and recklessly (two very different things). Overtakes on double line, at corners (even blind corners where they can't see oncoming vehicles). Modified car (you know the type- GT wings, skirts, ridiculous-sized exhausts). When he's alone or with male friends, that's when he's most dangerous. This is due to ego mostly. He doesn't care that he's endangering people. But the funny thing is, when there are family members in the car, he drives like a 75 year old dude. Slow and steady. A tortoise no less. What an idiotic hypocrite.

• Female driver. New car. Less than 5 year old license. Moderately skilled driver. Drives slowly and thinks she's driving safely (another two different things). Never looks in her rear view mirrors (all three of them) to look out for other vehicles. Signals yes, but 2 meters from where she wants to turn off. No parking skills at all. Can't parallel park to save her life. Also scared of kerbs when parking so her car juts out from parking spaces and blocks traffic. Even when she drives a Kancil, she can still block traffic (no sense of distance at all). On two laned roads, she always chooses the right one and hogs the lane. This she learned from her male family member (See no 1 above). No amount of flashing or honking will budge her from this lane. On the rare occasion she's on the left lane and wants to do a U-turn, she'll take the right lane 5km away from the turn and give the signal, forcing other people to go around or get stuck behind her.

• Female driver. Older version of no 2. Drives even slower. Does all the things that no 2 does, but at even slower speeds. Usually older cars. Children in the back seat (and sometimes on her lap). Hugs the steering wheel. You could practically see her breasts and the steering touch.
  

• Male driver. 40-50 years old. Never signals. When coming back into traffic from the road shoulder he almost always just drive into your path at minimum speed. Doesn't matter if you're at speed, he won't care. Either you brake, hit him from behind or swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid him. If you honk at him, he'll return the favour because he doesn't think he's done anything wrong. A variant of this is the driver who slowly moves into traffic, thinking that he's allowing people to go first. All he does is block traffic because nobody can pass him anyway. Doesn't know the effect his driving has on others.
  

• The right lane hogger. Male and female. If they could drive on the road divider, they would. Because they want to be on right lane always. At U-turns they drive on the lane portion reserved for those actually doing U-turns and just goes on straight ahead. All this at 60-70km/h. Maybe they'll move over if you flash and horn. But not before. When you pass them they'll give you the glare. Or worse, they smile condescendingly at you like they're doing you a favour and you should be grateful they moved over. Thinks they will arrive late if they give way to faster drivers.

• The slow-poke. Discounting those with older cars and commercial vehicles ( who can't go fast anyway), this type is probably the worst for some. The road ahead is clear but oncoming traffic disallow overtaking, and yet they won't drive a bit faster to relieve the congestion. They'd rather people make a convoy behind them and they be the leader (we call being a tok imam here in T'ganu).
  

• The slow-poke assistant. This the one just behind the one above or they're following a truck/lorry. They cannot (and usually will not) overtake but they tailgate the slow one in front so that people behind cannot pass. On clear roads this is not a problem but when traffic is intermediately heavy, you can't overtake more than two cars at a time. So the convoy builds up. This is when no 1 above come from the rear and try to pass everyone at high speed and recklessly. Usually he makes it but once in a while, a pile up happens and some innocent driver and his family end up dead.
  

• Male or female. Can't read road signs. Enters petrol stations from the exit lane and is blissfully unaware of the rules. Leaves engine running. Sometimes smokes while filling up. Go out through the wrong way also.

• Traffic light jumpers. Drives moderately slow, blocking faster cars, when the lights are green and they're still some distance away. The instant the lights turn amber, he (uually a he) accelerates and won't stop even after it turns red.
  

• Queue jumpers. The worst by far. They think they're the only ones in a hurry. Not a care for those queueing. There are no words to describe how much I despise these people.
  

Are you one of these?

Oh God, I feel really silly. How does one start a blog anyway? Introduce myself? Or just start rambling and writing whatever comes to mind?

It seems so faddish to blog. Everyone's doing it, so must I too?

I confess that sometimes bloggers annoy me. Pontificating on trivial issue and spouting their opinions on everything under the sun- that's bound to set someone off on a mindless rant of anger and hatred. At times, I've seen people engage in shouting (on-line shouting le...) matches over things they cannot control anyway. Stupidity in motion?

Now that I'm one, would I be annoying too?

Anyway, a bit about me. I guess you could say I'm English-educated. Though that's not strictly true. But I did go to a former old-style primary school (before all this SK stuff) in Besut, Terengganu. Guess the name?

More about me later on, if there's interest...:)