Jokes of the day

HERE and HERE.

Ok, enough of jokes.

HERE is something that I agree very much with, and very well written too. Please try to take a look.

HERE is also an interesting read, pretty long-winded though.

Ketara sekali DEB telah dijadikan alat untuk meraih pendapatan tanpa perlu berkerja. Kelompok tertentu mendapat pendapatan secara percuma daripada hubungan mereka dengan kerajaan. Akibat dari gejala ini, perbelanjaan kerajaan dibazirkan dan pembayar cukai tidak mendapat nilai dari perbelajaan yang dibuat itu.

The above quote is from HERE. Warning: Extremely long-winded. Read only if you really have nothing better to do.

While you are reading these, don't forget to read the Book.

A new member

I mean this...

Panasonic 7.0 kg, fully automatic. Came with a set of 5 air-tight containers, so-called Hari Raya promotional gifts. Went to the hardware shop to get some stuffs to modify a bit so that the hose is long enough to connect to the tap, without having to cut the nice white-original hose. And now it sits beautifully in my bedroom (huh?).

I can almost hear you scream... "now only you buy ah?! How on earth have you been surviving without a washing machine?"

Well, first of all I am very kiam-siap and lazy to maintain such a big piece of machine for one person's clothings. And yes I have been surviving without a washing machine for the past, say, seven years or so living out of hometown. God gave us hands, remember? I recall my student elective-posting days in Kathmandu, where the lady-folks bring their families' laundry to the public tap or river, and hand-washed them in full view of everybody... the line "do not wash your dirty linen in public" does not apply in a poor country like Nepal.

Well, I was actually doing quite well accumulating my cloths for one week, then washing them at one go on weekends. Emmm... do you know that a shirt or pants can be worn up to 2 or 3 days a week, provided if you don't wear them continuosly so that nobody will notice. Then, my very very kind neighbour auntie (God bless her) interupted my schedule by taking my clothes to wash in her washing machine and drying them and folding them and putting them back on my cupboard... before I get to complete my collection for one week. Then my schedule was again interupted when my girlfriend, then my loupo said aiya bring those clothes to her house to wash la, got washing machine there ma. I wanted to buy a machine in March after getting angpows from generous guests (God bless them) to our wedding. But then my house got broken in and the thieves (God bless them? why!) stole my angpow containing money for the washing machine.

Now that school holidays is coming and my loupo is coming to stay in Keningau, finally arrives the new member.

One pic was taken by me, the other by my loupo. Guess which is which.

Have you played this before?

Put a row of stuffs on the floor. Whatever. Ooops, wrong... must follow the list in mummy's childcare book. Then see which stuffs attact me first, second, third, and so on...

I chose the blue-balloon-filled-with-water first. So, maybe I'll be doing something related to water... hmmm... a marine scientist? Or maybe a yatch-club owner... or an offshore oil-rig boss?

Pleeeaaaasse... can i be a wrestler? I am macho like those guys on WWF. Nope, I am more macho than all those guys.

Kid's birthday

My neighbour's son Darren had his 1st birthday party on Deepavali day. I was "appointed" on the spot to be the photographer. So, here they are, the photos. My loupo and I got him some kiddie clothes from the local shopping center.

The party started with singing of hymms and songs.

Birthday boy with mummy and grandparents.

Pastor saying a prayer of blessing for the birthday boy. Obviously the kid was not paying attention. "Hey why are you taking my picture?"

Then he think's it's an arm-wrestling game!

I think I had this too when I was one-year-old. I am quite sure I remember seeing a party like this complete with a tray of red eggs in one of those ooooo..old photo albums at home.

"Look mummy I got a new hat... hey why aren't you guys looking?".

"OK, I am hungry and tired. Bring on the food for the new siew-yeh (little master)!"

My son got less

Remember the story about "Everyone is doing it, my house is small."?

This time it reads like "Everyone is doing it, my son got less.".

His son also had a contract... and the project his son got was bigger than the one Scomi got.

"Great" minds think alike huh?

Read feedbacks from tech-savvy Malaysian public HERE, if you are interested.

I remember a proverb learned during primary school days. In Mandarin it translates into "Fifty steps laughing at a hundred steps." The story is about two soldiers who went to war, got frightened, deserted their post and ran away. The soldier who ran 50 steps laughed at the one who ran 100 steps, saying that guy's such a timid coward, ran so fast. He forgot that he himself is guilty of the same misdoing.

And another proverb I recall... "If the upper beam is not properly positioned, the lower beams will be crooked." I am not an architect la, so don't know if it is true or not. The proverb means, if the leader himself is corrupt, so will be expected of his men.

Hey, I am amazed that I still remember those school-day Chinese proverbs!

TV3's Believe It Or Not

Read HERE if you are interested.

Don't feel like commenting la. Read it and make your own comments.

Lesson: don't bulat-bulat believe what people say / show nowadays. Evaluate.

I shall always remember the "small house".

Labour, for what?

The message from yesterday's church preaching...

Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalm 127:1

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5

Each day we labour for many things in life, and get ourselves occupied with many things big or small. I admit, I am one of such people.

How about taking a little break to evaluate our labours in the light of the verses above. They're in old English, KJV style.

My house is small

Quote of the day...

Everyone is doing it, but my house is small.

Part of my tax money (probably yours too) goes towards sponsoring this small house through the Never Ending Policy and Never Enough Policy because he is considered the "marginalised" people group. He never even say thank you.

I wonder who are the "everyone" he's talking about. Everyone is breaking the law, I am just a small fry la.

A Bible for your computer and PDA

I just came over from Uncle Tony's blog posting about the Word.

Are you looking for a digital Bible for your computer or PDA? Or maybe your high-tech handphone can handle a digital Bible?

Check out this site: E-Sword

It's FREE. It's WONDERFUL. You can download not just one Bible, but also Bibles in Mandarin, Bahasa Indon, and many other languages, if you can understand that is. Moreover, you get Commentaries, Daily Devotional readings, Topical write-ups, Dictionaries, Maps, e-Books, and many more goodies.

Well if you don't have a broadband to download all those good stuffs, send Rick a little donation and he will mail you an E-Sword CD with more goodies than you probably need. I tried, it worked! If you need more stuffs, just download the extras (there're too many goodies, he couldn't pack everything in one CD).

Just do it, like Nike said.

Values

I never quite got to learn about economics during my school days. Nowadays there are so much talk about par value and market value in the news, I thought I could learn a bit. However, those things still sound quite complicated. I find this illustration particularly helpful...

My parents own two cars... a Proton Wira for dad to use, a Perodua Kancil for mum to use. The old Honda 100cc kapchai doesn't count la, it's a vehicle but not a car.

So, let's say my rich nextdoor neighbor owns a shiny Mercedes Big-Small-Eye for the driver to bring Datuk to office and functions, while Datin sits at home and summons the driver whenever she wants to go somewhere.

According to my limited understanding, by par value calculation, my family is richer than our neighbour... we own 2 cars, they only 1! Gosh, they need help! And I guess we're even richer coz we own 3 vehicles, they only 1. Those poor folks.

So, according to policies that are in place, we need to help our poor neighbours.

We should therefore
... give them a big discount on buying properties, including their million-ringgit bungalow,
... sponsor their children to study in college and then scholarships for overseas universities, using our hard-earned tax money,
... give the poor Datuk a directorship in the company, even though everybody knows he knows nuts,
... give him easy contracts, tenders etc even if it means turning down better offers from people who can do the job well,
... the rest you know I know la

Malaysian economics, true and amazing. I got my lessons HERE.

Shut up, no please

More interesting comments...

“This must be about the sixth time we've been told we can't talk about something this year,” said Kota Baru MP Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

“I would have thought that, if the CPPS bumiputra equity figure of 45% is accurate, the government and Umno should be pleased that their policies have succeeded and take credit for that.

“The irony is maybe they don't want to reveal the actual figure so that they can keep on asking for more.

“I just came back from Prague where we were discussing something more 'sensitive' – co-existence among Jews, Muslims and Christians.

“It was a shock to come back and hear we aren't supposed to discuss or dispute the government’s equity figures.

“What will it be next time – no discussion on the haze and the API because it would affect national security?” asked Zaid.

Here is someone who has seen what the world is talking about at the Prague (today I googled and learned that it is the capital of Czech Republic; now to google-earth... hehe), and came home shocked to see his country's top people are still at the mud-playing phase.

Quoted from Avoid gag orders, governmet urged

Mid Autumm Festival

Who says Chinese forget their traditions when they become Christians?

A group of Christians here celebrated the Mid Autumm Festival, or more affectionately known as the Mooncake Festival last week.

The night started with praise and worship session. Then an elder told a story about the origins of the festival, followed by a simple Book quiz. There was even a colouring contest open to all ages. And of course, lots of good food!

Mooncakes are expensive these days. Somebody should organize a mooncake-making class next year. Any willing teachers out there reading this?

To see more photos, click HERE.

Transparency, integrity and honour

Two interesting comments from the latest squabble in town...

Mr Toh

The government's rejection of the report on bumiputra corporate equity published by Asli's Centre for Public Policy Studies, which challenges the official data, has sent the wrong signal that dissent is not tolerated and honest pursuit of knowledge discouraged, says state executive councillor Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon.

Toh, a University Malaya-trained economist and Gerakan central committee member, said this was a sad development and seemed at odds with the government's professed aim of wanting to make the country a more open, transparent and liberal society.

"This is because the expansion of democratic space, and the strengthening of the right to dissent and challenge, are so important in moving the nation forward," Toh stressed.

"Dr Lim disagreed and stood by his methodology. Being the honest scientist that he is, he took the honourable way of resigning, rather than meekly comply with the views of his president."

"His stand is a very refreshing departure from the culture of compliance and subservience that the ruling elites in our country attempt to cultivate," Toh said.

Mr Najib

"The government will continue to insist on the official data. We hope this will be accepted and will not be questioned by anyone."

"Initially, it could be seen as intellectual discourse but once it touches on sensitive matters, it can incite racial feelings," he said.

Which one them do you think displayed more maturity and intellect? For a mention, the "official data" is but a single number given (does it qualify to be called data?), without telling exactly how it came about. And they expect it to be "accepted" and "not be questioned by anyone", with the usual threats of "sensitive" and "racial".

Dear sir, why not just say you think that we are all fools?

When reading journals, I am taught by my teachers to evaluate the validity and credibility of any research data/study by looking at its Sample Size and Selection, Research Methodology, Statistical Analysis, Results, Conclusion and Discussion, any declaration of Conflict of Interest etc.

A single number produced by a research clouded in secrecy, with somebody having a conflict of interest blaring thou shalt accept it, thou shalt not question it, thou shalt not even discuss it... is probably worth only a place in my dustbin.

Next year we will be celebrating 50 years of National Independance. Society is moving forward, embracing knowledge and going for global competitiveness. Sad indeed, people in high positions are still stuck such backward mentality.

Let's choose a better team to move forward, the next time round.

If you wish to read more, click below...

Rejection of Asli report sends wrong signal: Toh

Brickbat for Asli, bouquet for Dr Lim from DAP

Citizens of heaven

In the midst of recent squabbles over Bumi non-Bumi issues, first class and second class citizens, the chosen race and the marginalised race... I found a refreshing verse in this morning's reading.

We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven.

Phi 3:20

I am glad that the Book says that our life on this earth is but just a little passing phase on eternity's timeline. Our final and definite citizenship, is in heaven.

If things down here do not look good, try looking up.

The apostle Paul, born into the chosen race with all it's birth-right privileges, adhered strictly to the chosen religion, a member of the elite circle, a zealous scholar and an exemplary model of excellence... clearly understood the futility of boasting about his worldly achievements.

But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ and be completely united with him.

Phi 3:7-9

How do we fare?

Hat trick

The stork has been really busy these days.

No they're not mine.

The mum could not differentiate which is the eldest, the middle, and the youngest. Could you?

Triple the joy...
triple the midnight cries,
triple the soiled diapers,
triple the suckling times,
triple the laundry,
triple the infant formula purchase,
and everything else...

... we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:3-5

So that's what parenthood is about huh.

The interview with God

Mr PenaRajawali sent me a link to THIS site, which has a presentation with the beautiful poem below and wonderful landscape photos.

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.
“If you have the time” I said.
God smiled. “My time is eternity.”
“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered... “That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.”
“That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health.”
“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.”
"That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked... “As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.”
“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”
“To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.”
“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.”
“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.”
“To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.”
“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”
“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"
God smiled and said, “Just know that I am here... always.”

-Author unknown

Expecting

John: Hi Jack, long time no see! How're you getting on?
Jack: Everything's fine. My wife is expecting.
John: WOW! Your wife is pregnant! Congratulations!
Jack: No... she's expecting.
John: Hey... I thought they meant the same thing?
Jack: Well, now she's expecting me to make the meals, expecting me to do the laundry, expecting me to clean the house...

The kacang

Here's the reason why my loupo cannot tahan travelling... otherwise we would be playing snow in Korea/Japan this December.

On flight again

Dad sent me to the LCCT airport on Monday morning.


My flight was scheduled for 9.35 am. Was glad when the boarding gate was opened on time.... then... we were made to sit in the plane for the next 30 minutes, and no explanation was given.

Well, at least the flight was OK and landed safely. Brought MyVee to Perodua for maintenance servicing. Drove back to ulu-ulu interior Sabah after that.

Photographers' meet

On Saturday, took an early train from Seremban to KL for this.


The event was held at the TNB building at Petaling Jaya, very conveniently reached by Komuter + LRT train. Drizzled a bit though, and I did not have an umbrella. The event also celebrated the 1st anniversary of LensaMalaysia.

LensaMalaysia is an online photography forum which I've been visiting from time to time, and put up some pictures and posts too. It's still quite a new forum, with limited members. Therefore, I would say the turnout was pretty good.


Most of LM's members are beginners to photography (like me), especially digital photography. Some are more serious amatuers though. These guys below are carrying 5-figure worth of photography gears ... I am still dreaming when my day will come.


Arthur Teng, a Sime Darby graphic designer who is also a multi-award winning photographer, gave an inspiring showcase of his photography works. He describes himself as a 'very serious' amatuer. This guy is still die-hard on using FILM. His works are WOW!


Met an old classmate at the event. He's now doing 3RD YEAR Masters programme. I was so envious. If only I got the right skin color. Anyway, here's the view from the TNB top floor, where the LM event was held. And I got a photo with Jeff Ooi who writes in the Screenshots blog (very useful at exposing news that the mainstream media does not tell you). He is one of LM's founding members, and an avid photographer himself.


Met up with my ol' uni pals of the Navigators Church for lunch... (Pstr) Jun, Siaw Yen, and Ngiu Li. We went to eat at PJ State. Ai ya, too busy with the food, forgot to take photos.

Took the train back to Seremban after that.

Dad brought us out for dinner in a Western restaurant. My brother Alvin and his loupo Jenny, and my sister Julia were back home too. We had... steaks, fish and chips, deserts... kenyang habis la.