Other Side of the World

I really don't care. Really.

2011-09-21T23:11:00.003+08:00

I think people complain too much. WAY too much.

And with the rise of social media, these complaints spread farther and wider. Out of 10 people, 8 people have no choice but to have knowledge of a complain which they don't give a shit about.

Here are some simple rules to be a better human being:
1) If you don't like it, FIX IT.
2) If you can't fix it, ADAPT.
3) If you can't adapt, STOP USING IT.

So if you don't like the new Facebook layout, you can either
a) Mess around with the settings/hack/whatev to make it what you want.
b) Get used to it.
c) Stop using it. Go find an alternative if you "can't live without it".

I could be meaner and say these people should just die if they are so dependent on something as inconsequential as this.

Stop spewing hatred. The world has enough negativity as it is, don't make it worse with trivial matters. Also because I and at least 7 other people don't give a shit about you hatin' on the new layout.

It would do everyone a whole lot more good to spend less time on your anti-social gadgets, stalking on the social network (such an irony, really) and spend more time with the REAL people around you. There are more worthwhile things out there to be done, more worthwhile problems to be solved.

Life does not revolve around Facebook. Seriously.

"Sole" mates

2011-09-12T21:26:00.000+08:00

♥,

Of being smart(er) and zombies

2011-09-09T20:55:00.003+08:00

I haven't been blogging for a very, very, VERY long time. Precisely since I moved back and started working. It's not that there aren't any juicy stuff going on (besides, I've always been random, so it doesn't really matter if I have something interesting to write about or not), just that, there wasn't really any urge to write.

I usually get a lot of ideas of daily stuff to talk about when I'm stuck in traffic jams or traffic lights, but after I got back, everything becomes "meh".

Tonight is different though. I have to fast tonight as I have a health screening tomorrow and since I can't have the munchies, nor is there any point of going out and can't have munchies, I thought I'd ramble a bit to distract my stomach from realising that it's a monster with a bottomless pit.

I've noticed that of late, I am getting weirder by the minute. For instance, today I wrote a note of warning and posted on my Facebook wall. The warning was for my phone. Perhaps tomorrow I shall warn some of my shoes to suck it up and stop being stupid. I know they are all plotting to fall apart at the same time. I also grudgingly have to agree that there is a direct correlation between the price of a pair of shoes and its quality. However things like Quiksilver/Roxy flipflops and my Nike tennis shoes do not abide to this theory. Especially the overpriced flipflops.

There is also this one thing that is kinda going on but THANKFULLY is not (yet?) a full-fledged idiocracy that bugs me. However, I will try to rant about it as nice as possible as there are some people whom I love that did it and so I have to forgive them and not scream insults to the general public.

One of it is that, it would be much appreciated if everyone would just check the facts of stuff before reposting and creating a brouhaha over nothing. End-of-the-world-warnings: Not Cool. If you believe it so much, please proceed to sell off all your assets and head over to China to fight for a place in the arks. Tsunami/earthquake/nuclear fallout warnings: I know you mean well, but please understand that there are a number of sick evil people in this world who have nothing better to do than to create unnecessary panic and chaos. There are also many silly people who would repeat, or worse, blow the evil maniacs' chaos out of proportion. Please don't be either of them.

The other thing is ~~stupid~~ "trends" disguised as awareness campaigns. For instance, how exactly do suggestive statuses promote something (usually breast) cancer related? Birthdates made scandalous into "I like it on the kitchen counter" or "6 inches" ... don't make people more aware and carry out breast self-examination. They make people talk about what a skank someone is. Creating a buzz as if you are pregnant, it only makes people speculate about "shotgun marriage coming soon?" or "so cheap, can't even afford condoms?". Maybe it promotes safe-sex awareness but then the message said something about breast (again) cancer, thus it is utter rubbish. Also there is this theory that all these are tactics cooked up by identity thieves, but I'm not so sure about that. Also, what is this obsession with breasts in particular? Try coming up with a campaign for liver cancer or is that not sexy enough?

So I shall end this with I'm 451 weeks and craving monkey brains.

You see, I am promoting zombie simian awareness.

Beware of zombies that look like monkeys/monkeys that are zombies. Bananas can't help.

This is supposed to be a monkey zombie. I suck at drawing with MSPaint.
I think it looks kinda like a discoloured Hello Kitty with road rage -- and air pollution.

I can't draw with MSPaint like how awesomely Allie Brosh can.

Have a good weekend!

The Airport Entry

2011-06-26T13:26:00.002+08:00

It's been ages since I did one of this and most probably this would be one of my last time doing it.

An Airport Entry is borne when I am travelling alone and have to wait for a relatively long period of time for the next league of my journey. For the sake of squandering the free wi-fi provided by the airport, I will post a short entry that I am, at present, waiting at the airport.

Boring. I know :)

Today is kind of like the prologue for the next chapter of my life. Also it could be the epilogue for the previous chapter. A little bit of nostalgia: when I first left West Malaysia for Sabah, I left with one suitcase and a pillow. Today I return with TWO suitcases, and two hand luggage. I've also sent seven boxes of things back the past few weeks. Junk accumulation is a forte.

Ironic to my current situation, time really flies. It didn't feel that long, but I have been away from home for six years. Six years is really a very long time, but it didn't feel like that at all. I have spent thousands (I'm sure) on air and bus tickets. I have also spent a relative amount of time in buses and in planes. It is quite surreal that that is all kind of at an end.

And the people whom I have bonded in those years: PRICELESS.

I really miss you all. But I have to admit, I really love being back too :)

Bittersweet

2011-06-25T02:11:00.000+08:00

I dedicate this entry to all who have been there for me in this past two years (and some longer): words can't really justify what I really want to say, so the only thing I could say to you is a big sincere THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

It's that feeling again... when you reach the end of one Life chapter, and will soon embark on a new one. I am looking forward to moving back for good, and that I am soon nearer to all my loved ones back home. I am excited of entering the workforce, and starting my career in the job and company of my choice.

But I also feel sad, of leaving this place and all the wonderful people who are here. Off the top of my head, I am feeling emotional when I think of:
- "I can't do funny dances in the car anymore...there's no one to do it with me."
- "I can't scream songs in the car anymore either."
- "I'm going to miss all the LOL moments...with the most recent amatuer group shuffling-attempt at the sidewalk."

*sigh*

I hate saying goodbyes, so I won't. Better yet, I'll just say, I'LL BE BACK.

I'm really really REALLY going to miss you guys...you know who you are.

A woman degrading women

2011-06-04T18:58:00.001+08:00

One of the reasons I shun reading local news is because you get really rubbish-y stuff being reported as "news". For instance, the latest one...which I think is "news" for promotional purposes. I mean, hey, like they say in showbiz, all publicity is good publicity, right? Even the ones that make people want to throw stones at you.

The Star: ‘Wives can curb social ills like prostitution by being obedient and alluring’
and
Free Malaysia Today: Club for obedient wives (you can see how she looks like here, just in case you are curious)

Just to be clear before we start, this is by no means a racist or religious-intolerant entry. Some people might find it racist MAYBE because this particular "club" is predominantly focused on one particular race, hence one religion. And also because of the race and religion of the club's founder. But I shall strive to be as unbiased in my comments and focus on the social point of this whole thing.

I'll start by being nice and say that she has a well-meaning purpose, that is to curb social ills like prostitution and domestic abuse, albeit the fact that she is being rather idealistic. Prostitution IS the oldest occupation in the world and it is still an existing trade. That already says a lot. Forming an Obedient Wives Club isn't going to make any difference whatsoever.

Then everything she said in the news article just goes downhill from there.

“Obey, serve and entertain.”

Club motto, I should think. It's rather sad that beliefs like these are at the top of the third page of the newspaper. After all the rights women all over the world have fought for: the right to vote, the right to work, the right for education, for gender equality, for mutual respect, this woman is advocating a backward mindset that opposes all that women have achieved.

I am not saying that a wife should fight and disobey her husband, or disrespect and ignore him. I mean, two people decide to get married for a reason...and obviously two people did not decide to get married so that they have someone to fight with everyday. That is just preposterous. However, a woman should not also be told that the reason she marries is to become a slave, a servant, a...clown?

If they want entertainment so much, they should just marry a clown.

Any relationship is built on love, understanding, and respect for each other. What she is saying is so backwards, she is placing females as a subservient to males. It is just degrading.

“Domestic abuse happens because wives don't obey their husband's orders."

That is just wrong in so many ways, I don't even know where to start. Whatever happened to all the "Stop Violence at Home", "Stop Violence Against Women" awareness campaigns? This is just like saying "If your husband beats the life out of you, it's your fault." Not only does the victim have to suffer the physical pain, she also has to suffer with the reason that she is in the wrong. With reasons like this, the statistics for domestic violence will increase, because to the weak men who beat their wives "it's not a crime, it's HER fault".

I can't go on. The rest of the things she said just makes me want to say "Sex slave much?".

This lady is also in another controversial club, the Polygamy Club. Initially, I thought it was pretty contradicting and redundant of the two clubs. But then, of course she is in the Polygamy Club, she is the second wife.

I, personally, am against polygynous marriages. Why not? It's unfair to begin with. It's always an allocation for a husband to have more wives, never the other way round. It's a patriarchal allowance. I understand that it is allowed in certain religions, but then again, religious texts that were written centuries ago ought to be adapted to the modern world, should they not?

Polygamy was allowed during that time due to war, famine, a lot of strife was going on. Men had to go to war, sometimes they die. During times of hardship and invasion, married women are deemed safer than the unmarried ones because they have the protection of their husbands, otherwise they get abducted and raped by invaders (although not always so, but that was the general idea). For the sake of the continuation of species, and not enough men to go about, men were allowed to have more than one wife.

However, in the progressive society, that isn't very applicable any more is it?

Besides, how would the first wife feel? I am sure irregardless of what they say (that they are happy, and the other wives are like sisters), deep down inside, she is devastated. People get married so that they can spend the rest of their lives together with the ONE person they love. Not having to share that one person with a bunch of others.

What this woman says and advocates is just degrading to women as a whole. It promotes lowered self-esteem, it is screaming "we are the weaker sex, you can do anything you want to us!" Think about it, if you are a man (or you ARE a man), would you want to see your mother, your sisters, your DAUGHTERS be treated this way by her husband?

We may be the fairer sex, we may at times be physically weaker, but we are never a second-class gender.

This woman should have more respect for herself.

Online Money Making Scams

2011-05-06T10:30:00.000+08:00

Previously I took to debunking the "nuclear acid rain" hoax which was just a terrible irresponsible thing circulating the net as an aftermath of the Japan Earthquake.

This morning a friend of mine discussed the validity of a website. Which turned out to be SCAM site. Which if one is greedy (and lazy) and could only think of easy ways to make money, then one would fall for this. Me however, am forever doubtful of anything on the internet, so I decided to look at it closer and point out all the "I'm a fake site" signs.

By the way, I don't really advocate this, so I am not going to put up the link. Besides, most probably you've seen it, or stumbled across something similar, or could figure out what this is from my screenshots.

Magnifying glasses ready? Let's begin, Nancy Drews and Hardy Boys!

The first thing that caught my eye were actually these (click on pictures to enlarge):

If this is really a news site, they wouldn't put SO MANY repetitive links as if promoting the scheme. There are a few more further down the page. That already made this whole 'article' dodgy.

Next, note the 'expiry date:

The date is "correct" where I am in, however since this claims to be a U.S. site, it is still Cinco de Mayo at the moment thus "tomorrow" would be the 6th of May.

I pointed out the Google picture because the scam claims that it's from Google and stuff, but in the other scam site (which I will tell you about later), the bottom of the page has a disclaimer and it says "This site and the products and services offered on this site are not associated, affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Google...".

Also, if you click on ANY links on the site, it leads you straight to the Scam Site. No homepage, no other news, no sports, health, etc. The little red arrow pointing to the line below "Consumer Career Trends" says "Last updated Friday, May 6, 2011" which brings us back to the 'expiry date' point, and current date in the U.S. point. I bet the date changes in accordance to the date set in your computer.

This is the Scam Site which you are led to by clicking on ANY links.

Last but not least, right at the top of the site, there is a "Sign In/Sign Up" thing. I've just realised that printscreen doesn't show your mouse cursors. But when I was at the site, placing the mouse cursor there doesn't change it into a 'link' cursor (like how it usually does with any email accounts etc.). It's just part of the site's design to make it look "legitimate".

Great work sleuths! Bet you can find more clues that this thing is a hoax, but for the mean time, I think I've said enough. Remember, it's always better to be sceptical than to be cheated. Don't get scammed!

Have a great weekend :)

That Egg Thing

2011-04-28T18:41:00.001+08:00

I'm not really sure what it's called actually. Some call it egg custard, some creme caramel, some flan, some pudding. I have a bastardised name for it: "dan dan" (rhymes with 'fun'), which in actual cantonese is "steamed egg" (炖蛋).

It looks good, just that I'm not liking the pores at the sides...

I absolutely love this thing. It brings back memories of my mom bringing me to this corner coffee shop some where in the old town, after school, and I'll be enjoying this in my school uniform. And it always comes with a glass of cold water.

Of late, The Fuzzball has been itching to attempt dessert making (for some unknown reason) and we've been volleying all sorts of ideas like bread pudding with rum. And then this sudden childhood treat came to mind and I have been stuck ever since. So I thought I'd experiment with it today (the last I attempted this was several years ago).

I sort of got the recipe from HERE. I knew the ingredients, I just didnt dare to wing it when it comes to volume. (By the way, I halfed the recipe, skiffed off the vanilla, and put in a little not enough sugar.)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 cups milk, scalded
4 beaten eggs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Butter 6 custard cups. (I didn't do this. Butter in this thing seems wrong, and I didn't have custard cups so I used a tin cup instead...you know, those they make teh tarik with.)

Melt 1/4 cup of sugar in a small heavy skillet, stirring constantly, until a caramel syrup forms; pour immediately into prepared custard cups.

Add a small amount of the hot milk to beaten eggs, stirring briskly. Add remaining milk; add 1/4 cup sugar and the vanilla; blend well. Pour mixture into custard cups.

Set cups in a large, shallow baking pan in a 325° oven. Pour hot water into the large baking pan to a depth of about 1 inch. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Unmold into shallow dessert dishes to serve.

Caramel custard recipe serves 6.

I made some massive changes after the egg-milk mixture. I didn't bake, instead I steamed it. Remember to cover your cup/bowl/container/whatever when it's steaming. It took roughly about 10-15 minutes, then I took it off the heat, left it to cool for a while, and then popped it into the fridge.

I also think you should ready the egg-milk mixture first, then only caramelise the sugar so that the syrup is still liquid when you pour the egg-milk mixture in (mine kinda hardened a little at the bottom of the cup). Make sure you pour slowly down the container's side so as to not create bubbles and mix up the syrup with the egg-milk mixture.

The inside looks awesome though. I iz happy.

Chill it, and enjoy! Good luck :)

Storms

2011-04-28T01:24:00.001+08:00

I love storms. I know that when it rains, it means I can't go out to do things, outdoor sport plans have to be cancelled, my car would be dirty...but there is something very magnificent about storms. Kind of like watching a fire: beautiful from far, but dangerous when you are too close.

I also love the words that are associated with storms: Raging. Violent. Unexpected.

Lightning. Rolling thunder.

I also like how they make storms as a simile to tea:

"A storm in the teacup."

"A storm is brewing."

Storms are awesome right from the beginning when the thunderheads roll in. You see the waves getting choppier, the leaves rustling more aggresively in the trees, and the wind whips up. I love the wind because at times when you feel down, stand outside on a windy day and it almost feels like the wind blows away all your problems, even only for that moment. Also it messes up everyone's hair so you don't really have to worry about how you look like. Seeing heavy dark clouds in the horizon is also one of nature's magnificent pieces of artwork.

I love the storm because when it is over, the world seems like a cleaner place. In a poetic sense, the storm comes and flushes all the dirt away, cleaning the slate anew.

I am sure a whole lot of people would be cursing me for this. I know storms suck when it strikes when you are leaving for work, or leaving for home. Storms cause massive traffic jams, flash floods. It sucks to be outside when the sudden storm strikes up.

But in a moment out of time, when you are safely indoors, look out the windows, and just watch the beauty of a storm.

Storms are awesome ♥

Tuesday

2011-04-12T17:23:00.000+08:00

Because sappy happiness between two people should only be shared by themselves, I shall keep those expressions in my paper-and-pen-journal, and express my other self on this not-so-private-rant-space.

I think it's natural that when you read/write/cite you will reach a point where deja vu kicks in and then sentences (in different sources) start sounding familiar, and you see the same names being cited in different papers.

Leopold, Langbein, Petts, Brookes, Church.

Must be channel morphology gods or something.

Deja vu causes me slight confusion. I start questioning whether I've actually written something, or only read it and intend to write, or I might be facing plagiarism charges later.

Damn.

There's only so many permutations one can do with the words and grammar.

I like this though:
When you are actually writing, and working as hard as you should be if you want to succeed, you will feel inadequate, stupid, and tired. If you don't feel like that, then you aren't working hard enough.
--Michael C. Munger

Makes me feel less like killing myself because I feel like I suck. I was told this too: "Deep down inside, you know you don't suck as much as you think you do now." ♥

Three more days :)

Sunday

2011-04-10T16:59:00.003+08:00

I came across this quote from somewhere (and because I'm being me on a Sunday, I'm not too bothered to google for it): Life is not easy, but it is great to have a Life.

Tell me about it.

Part of the time I just feel like killing myself with my lack of progress. It's so wtfish...I know I can do this, and I know I MUST finish this crummy thing up but it drives me absolutely bonkers. And the chair sucks and my back blardy aches (and I'm now just bitchin' about anything I can).

Doodling my Man as a goofy fuzzball (on my thesis drafts)

So to overcome the pathetic suicidal feelings, I decided to procrastinate (yes, that is the smartest thing I could come up with) by folding paper flowers. Come to think of it, being Chinese and all, "paper flowers" and "suicidal" shouldn't be in the same sentence. Oh well.

I completely suck in colouring.

I attempted four types of flowers: a daisy, a lily, a kusudama flower, and a kawasaki rose. The rose ended up in the trash can, even after two sincere attempts. The others are proudly laid on my laptop for the world to see (and with the horrid reminder of me procrastinating for a background).

Bitchin' about stupid work aside (I really really should stop calling it stupid 'cos that's just bad attitude), it really is great to be alive. I mean, if you're dead, there's plenty of things you couldn't be doing. For instance, folding origami flowers. And discovering that your colouring skills have been left behind in kindergarten. And also the occasional feeling of complete sappiness. Sappy corny happiness. That sometimes can help to forget the aching back you have. But the promise of a great back massage would, of course, be better.

Also I met Sigourney Weaver last Friday. That was kind of my highlight of the week (despite the fact that I have pictures of paper flowers instead of her). Being on a job and having to be all professional, I can't take any photos of her or ask her for an autograph...which kinda sucked. I mean, she is the Queen of sci-fi! She's a very beautiful, classy woman, who is not only down-to-earth but oh-so-intelligent as well. I am so very impressed. Also starstruck.

She hinted on a prequel of Aliens (which she is not in) and also a sequel of Avatar (and she added that James Cameron told her that "nobody actually dies in science-fiction"). She said something which inspired me to deal with my writing crisis: to approach the same idea from another direction/perspective. I liked that...but was too tired to act on it on Friday (and Saturday. And Sunday).

'Nuff said. I can't wait for Friday (although I don't like that time is going by too fast and I'm not working fast enough).

I still can't wait for Friday :)

A ♥ For Japan

2011-04-04T10:20:00.002+08:00

Dear all generous kind-hearted individuals out there,

It's never too late to help.

If you are still interested in donating to Japan, you can do so by buying a really awesomely cutesy t-shirt from the Japanese Anime and Drama Club (JADC) Japan Earthquake Charity Drive. There are two designs to choose from and each shirt is only RM25.

Picture courtesy from JADC

All profits will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. You also have the option to leave messages of encouragement which will be compiled for The Japanese Red Cross Society and uploaded to JADC’s website. If you are interested, click HERE for more information. The website provides a detailed step-by-step procedure of becoming a proud owner of these fabulous tees.

Thanks in advance!

Spread the word! ('cos these really are very awesome tees)

Conspiracy Theories #1

2011-03-15T12:23:00.001+08:00

I shall name it #1 because I foresee a whole lot more. And each time I come across a baseless one, I shall refute it. Maybe I should call it "Stupid Theories", but then I want to be a teensy bit nice.

So maybe most of you haven't realised it yet, from my previous posts, but I seriously SERIOUSLY have problems with people who are spewing all sorts of baseless statements regarding the apocalyptic 2012.

Firstly, I think all these people are selfish.
If just for a moment they stop thinking that the world only revolves around them, and realise that there are many people who are separated from their loved ones in different parts of the country and the world, working hard to make a better future for themselves, they should really shut up about the world ending soon.

Secondly, I think these people are ignorant.
I mean like seriously, they are harping about the world ending because some movie with super duper effects said so? In that case Los Angeles should probably be a wasteland by now with the amount of extraterrestrial attacks, extreme natural disasters, and I don't know, zombies? piled on that city in so many movies.

So. The winner for today is this stupid line circulating the Net:

"USA lost many lives on 9-11-01. Now, Japan lost more lives on 3-10-11. Add the 2 dates together to get 12-21-12."

I just cannot help it but to ridicule people who put this up. There are just so many things to put down:

1) There are roughly 196 countries in the world, not only two: the USA and Japan.
2) Please know that 9/11 was a terrorist attack. A terrorist attack is NOT a natural disaster.
3) What about 12-26-04 (Phuket tsunami), 5-18-08 (Sichuan earthquake), 1-12-10 (Haiti earthquake), 2-27-10 (Chile earthquake)? Just to name a few. If you add all the dates together, you get a bunch of numbers for your lottery. Winning the lottery is not guaranteed.

So come on, people. Stop it already with all these nonsense. You do know that when you put things like this up, it doesn't make you seem smart. Not at all.

If somehow at the end of it, the whole thing turned out to be true, and everyone died, no one's going to be left alive to reprimand me about this.

But in the meantime, stop panicking over really stupid things.

Knowledge is Power

2011-03-15T02:30:00.005+08:00

You know how the old saying goes.

In these current times of panic and grief, and with the borderless global community, know that not everything you read on the Internet is true. Just because somebody claims that the information is from a certain 'reliable' source also does not make it true.

For instance, CNN: Hot chick is now ruler of new island community, formed from this chunk of land breaking off from this piece of peninsula due to active tectonic plate activity.
Fact: CNN does not have a report on this.
Fact: The "Hot chick" in the headline refers to yours truly.
Fact: Everything else after "CNN: Hot chick" is utter rubbish.

Therefore if you received text messages that are something like this:

"4:30 in the afternoon, a nuclear power plant exploded in Fukumi. Do not go out if it rains later today and tomorrow. If you are going out, wear a raincoat or use an umbrella because if you get rained on it’s said to be dangerous. There is tendency that your skin will be burned, you will go bald or will get cancer. Please pass."

or this:

"BBC FLASHNEWS: Japan government confirms radiation leak at Fukushima nuclear plants. Asia countries should take necessary precautions. If rain comes, remain indoors first 24hrs. Close doors & windows. Swab nec(k)skin with betadine where thyroid area is, radiation hits thyroid first. Take extra precautions. Radiation may hit Phil at starting 4pm today. Pls send to your loved ones."

remember that just because it says "BBC FLASHNEWS" doesn't make it true either. And instead of panicking and passing them on blindly (and perhaps heading straight to the pharmacy and clear out every bottle of Betadine they have in stock), find out how true these things are.

Looking at the first "warning", let's just say, if the rain is so dangerous as to cause chemical burns, baldness, and cancer, I am pretty sure a flimsy piece of synthetic material (umbrellas and raincoats) isn't going to provide you with much protection. And notice that the message has no explanation as to why exactly the nuclear power plant explosion has anything to do with the rain (and we shall discuss that later).

By the way, it's Fukushima, not FUKUMI. And it's Newsflash, not FLASHNEWS. Little mistakes like these also indicate the lack of reliability of these rumours.

The second message is also similar, but this one has one extra precautionary step which is to swab Betadine on your neck. First things first: Please know that Betadine is basically an antiseptic solution for cleaning wounds and used for disinfecting surfaces. ANTISEPTICS do NOT protect you from radiation sickness.

That in itself already made the whole "warning" very questionable. To add to it, these rumours start getting out of hand by claiming the occurences of ACID RAIN (which kind of explain all the warnings regarding staying out of the rain etc.) due to the nuclear power plant explosion.

Please know that a nuclear fallout and acid rain are two completely different phenomena.

Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally when lightning strikes and sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions.

The burning of fossil fuel also releases sulfur dioxide. Thus COAL power plants is a cause of acid rain. Not nuclear power plants.

A nuclear fallout is the residual radiation hazard from a nuclear explosion, so called because it "falls out" of the atmosphere after the explosion. It commonly refers to the radioactive dust created when a nuclear weapon explodes.

Note that a nuclear power plant explosion and a nuclear explosion are also two different things, just like a nuclear reactor and a nuclear bomb are two different things.

Here are some links, just in case some people still believe that a chunk of uranium from the core reactor is going to land on them tomorrow when it rains:
- Science officials: No threat of nuclear clouds, acid rain in PH
- Philippines hit by 'nuclear cloud' hoax
- Meltdown alert at Japan reactor

Irresponsible people start hoaxes like this by preying on people's fears. Ignorant people spread them out because they are, well, ignorant. You only fear the unknown.

Don't be ignorant, do yourself a favour and find things out for yourself.

Humanity

2011-03-14T15:36:00.001+08:00

I always ponder about this when I get too sick with work (I mean, there is only so much about rivers and hydrology that I can handle in a moment's worth). Like in one of my old posts, I was talking about how Junior Masterchef Australia gave me a spark of hope for the next generation.

However, the recent events which provoked these thoughts are of a sadder ("sadder"...is there such a word?) nature. JAPAN -- the one country which is on everyone's mind right now (and I hope, in prayers too). Devastating news. But in the midst of all that, you see inspiring articles up on the social media boards and across the internet.

One that caught my attention was this one: Japan Quake as Seen from Twitter (Translated by me so quality questionable) by Jun Shiomitsu on Facebook. This, along with the CNN article regarding the absence of human turmoil in post-disaster Japan.

The Facebook post is really touching. How many of you out there could attest to that? I highly doubt many nations could do that. I highly doubt mine can. Just for comparison on a tiny scale: the case where the four-wheel-drive that overturned on the North-South Expressway in Rembau which scattered a bunch of loose change on the road -- which then led to motorists risking their own lives, to frantically pick up as many coins as they can, not to return to the accident victims mind you, bur for themselves. COINS. As in, disregard of their own lives and the accident victims', for that.

An excerpt: "Some were also seen sitting along the roadside and picking the coins, oblivious of the crash victim..."

That just goes to show what kind of mentality the nation has.

As opposed to in Japan: "At a supermarket where everything was scattered everywhere over the floors, shoppers were helping pick them up and putting them back neatly on the shelves before quietly moving into line to wait to pay for them."

I have the most sincere RESPECT to these people and their wonderful country.

So here comes my rants.

I know of a lot of people who seem to have some kind of identity crisis and want to be all Japanese, peppering their conversations with snippets of broken Jap, claims to only watch Japanese dramas and animes, read only Japanese mangas...you know, that sort of thing, and it got me thinking: If you want to be so Jap, why don't you also embrace that respectable attitude the real Japanese people have? You know, just saying.

Then there are just those insensitive morons who are making jokes about Ultraman and Doraemon running away from the mega-natural disasters. Tasteless. The nerve of some people saying "Where is your sense of humour?" to people who are protesting that stupidity. There is a time and place for a sense of humour, and making fun of a nation's dire situation post-disaster is not one of them. If you want so much humour, go make fun of your politicians, since most of them are half-ass anyway.

Oh, and to those people who keep going on about how 2012 is true, just because of some mega-hyped movie and conspiracy theories: SHUT UP. It's people like you that the world doesn't need. We don't need your negativity during times like these. We don't need you to whine about your half-baked, no-basis speculations about the end of the world. If you think the world is going to end, shouldn't you be brushing up on being good and chalking up on your good deeds?

Do this one good deed: Stop being selfish and shut the hell up.

Also, if you want to be deemed 'awesome' and 'up-to-date' about what's going on, please brush up on your knowledge, and confirm that your information is true. False reporting is a felony, you know. Don't make hyped up reports, especially when you don't live on the coast.

Be strong, Japan. Our hopes, wishes and, prayers are with you.

Security, security

2011-03-05T12:27:00.000+08:00

Recently I took a trip to Hong Kong, departing from KLIA's Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), and returned to the country from Macau International Airport. Apparently, while we were at the Macau airport, a personnel told us that they had complaints of being lax and thus have upped their level of security. In other words, they were pretty strict about stuff.

Which made me think about how EXTREMELY over-the-top lax the airport security is in Malaysia. ~~No wonder people could smuggle bag loads of living snakes without anyone the wiser.~~ You see, on the day we were leaving, we decided not to queue up at the check-in counter so we checked-in at the kiosk. We could check all four people in, without the presence of everyone. With our printed boarding passes, we headed over to the luggage check-in counter to drop our luggages. The oddest thing was, the counter personnel did not ask us for any identification documents. No I.C., no passport. Nada. That was really odd.

On the contrary, in Macau, the check-in counter required our passports AND the presence of its bearer. And they require you to get your check-in luggage security-scanned all over again if you happen to tamper with/open your bag prior to checking-in and after it has been scanned.

I have to admit, tight security adds to the hassle whereas the lack of it makes your travelling experience downright a breeze. However, on the whole, it is quite worrisome as to how easy it is to get pass security, what more on an international flight.

It's something to think about, no?

Answering Questions

2011-01-24T09:50:00.001+08:00

I am going Home today! And the festive season is coming, time with loved ones, family and friends. It's going to be awesome.

One last post before I go off on my partial break :) Came across this post by the Monyet King and couldn't resist answering the questions. For a change, they're not a bunch of questions asking me about myself.

1. If we (Malaysia) had an extra RM 100 million to spend on scientific research – on which of the following areas should we spend it on ? (a) space (b) biodiversity (c) history (d) robotics (e) medicine
Either (b), (d), or (e). I'm weighing in on (b) -- improve on the wonders you readily have. Stop copying what others are doing and end up wasting a bunch of money on half-hearted, hangat-hangat tahi ayam attempts.

2. Is there intelligent life outside our solar system ? We already know that there is no intelligent life on our planet.
There very well might be seeing as the universe doesn't only revolve around us.

3. Before Parameswara came to Melaka, what were the people there (Melaka) doing ? Who were they ? What’s their story ? Surely, there is so much history prior to Parameswara but not highlighted in our history books.
The indigenous people were most probably going on their own business before this dude turned up, fell asleep under some tree, saw a mousedeer kick a dog, and decided to proclaim himself King (or so the story goes). But if that didn't happen, we wouldn't have what we have now. Perhaps something better. Or worse. Will never know.

4. If the tiger goes extinct (which it may), what animal should take its place on the national coat-of-arms ? Kambing?
The Sea Turtle. Oh wait, that may also go extinct.
The Orang Utan. Wait...also high risked.
Burung merpati.

5. Ibrahim Ali is a moron. True or Correct ?
Erm. *lalala*

6. To improve national unity, we should get rid of all educational institutions that cater for just one race - Tamil schools, Chinese schools, MCKK, Universiti Teknologi Mara, etc. Agree ?
Yes, especially when they prohibit/limit people of other races to enroll although academically and co-curricularly qualified.

7. Most (not all) of the world now accepts the Darwinian theory of evolution as the basis for origin of mankind. Even Vatican subscribes to this. The Earth was not created in 6 days neither did Adam and Eve appear suddenly in the Garden of Eden. How do you convince those who do not believe in evolution (most of them also believe that the earth is flat) ?
By setting all of them adrift on a boat. When they finally realise that they are not going to sail off the edge of the earth, they might be a little bit more smarter by then. If not, most probably they wouldn't survive the journey and they'll just die ignorant.

8. The history syllabus in our national school focuses too much on Malaysian history and not enough on world history. When I was in school, I learnt a lot of world history and I think I am better off because of that. Is it time to change the syllabus ?
Yes. And not only that, they really have to look into how the subject is being taught. Sejarah is one of the worst, most torturous subject ever to study for and forced on for exams.

9. Pisang goreng tastes best when eaten at 5 pm with a big glass of teh tarik. True or false ?
4.15pm with a mug of green tea. To each their own :) (5pm is time to get stuck in traffic jams)

10. Public transport (bus and train) should be free. By providing good and free public transport, the nation can save so much money that would have to be used to build roads and subside fuel as well as gain from the increase in productivity. Setuju tak ?
Hampir setuju. Not only free but the whole system should be improved upon: punctuality, safety, etc. If the public transportation system is flawless, fuel doesn't really need to be subsidised and this will reduce selfish consumption, leading to *fingers crossed* a cleaner country. However with fuel price hikes, every single blardy thing has an excuse to be more expensive. Including milo ping.

11. The primary sector (agriculture, logging, mining, etc) has the greatest impact on the environment per ringgit generated to the economy. The secondary sector (manufacturing, etc) has lesser impact per ringgit generated while the services sector has the least environemntal impact per ringgit generated. Thus, pushing the country's economy towards the tertiary sector (services) is the best way to improve the quality of our environment and protect our forests and wildlife. What do you think ?
Would agree although not entirely based on the reasons stated. The lack of the primary sector would mean an increase of import of raw materials which may set a whole different turn of events into motion. However with how things are being carried out at present, that concern might not be viable.

12. Although human beings are numerous, have advanced technology and weaponry, it is the monyets that rule the Planet. True or Correct ?
The best of leaders can control the world without their subjects know that they are being controlled :)

p/s: do I get at least a few pisang rastali? can they be substituted with pisang berangan?

Morning brain juice :) Cheers all, have an awesome week!

Teeth

2011-01-18T11:13:00.000+08:00

Do you know the names of your teeth? The permanent set.

Let's begin:

First, we have the central incisors. For some, the top central incisors are the 'rabbit teeth'.
Next, we have the lateral incisors.
Followed by the canines -- the 'vampire teeth'. I chipped my top left one right after I had the permanent set...so it doesn't draw blood anymore.
After that we have the first and second premolars. I broke my bottom left second premolar the same time I chipped the canine. (Such a walking disaster.)
Then comes the 'big teeth': the molars -- first, second, and the occasional third "wisdom teeth". The teeth that wrecks havoc to so many people. Me for instance, my bottom jaw is not that big to accommodate all of them but they're forcing themselves out partially, which is so tiresome. And make my bottom central incisors to look like Christina Perri's:

Christina Perri in Jar of Hearts

Well, you know. At least I'm not the only one with teeth problems :)

Kids these days...

2011-01-14T14:54:00.001+08:00

I quite like that phrase. Although it sometimes makes me feel old saying it, I like that the "..." part is filled with endless possibilities. Good stuff, bad stuff, head-shaking stuff.

I love working with kids. Not only are they adorable, but I like that they are full of surprises. Sometimes they just come up with things that you'll never think of. However, of late (i.e. the last time I worked with kids) I find that there are times that I am disappointed with how kids are now and I tend to compare them with how my childhood was like.

Back then, my friends and I never had mobile phones, many of us didn't have handheld videogames, we didn't have "tuitions" (unless those extra-curricular stuff like art and music classes, or some kind of sport), we spent most of our evenings running around the neigbourhood or playing in the front/back yards. I used to catch bugs in small plastic bottles and collect tadpoles from drains.

When I worked with 8-11 year olds two years back, sometimes it just gets exasperating. They don't know stuff, they don't want to learn new stuff, the easiest way to keep them in place is to leave them with their handheld games. They're rude, to each other, to people who are older than them. It makes you wonder: what is the new generation coming to? (I sometimes also wonder "What are their parents teaching them?")

And sometimes I pity them. They spend half their day in school, and then in addition to that they are made to attend after-school classes, and on top of that they have tuition classes to go to. I know it is a lot more competitive in the academic world today, but still, isn't that robbing them of their childhood? It makes me sad.

If you watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, it makes you think even more about what kids know about stuff these days. Like, they don't even know how potatoes or tomatoes look like. They know burgers and fries though. Sad, really.

But then comes another reality show which has minimal drama and a whole lot of inspiration and hope: Junior MasterChef Australia. 8 to 12 year olds COOKING. With honest-to-goodness skills. Awesome talent. SO ADORABLE. OMG. Making things like souffle, duxelle, meringue...it's just amazing. Such a must-watch.

Like I said, kids...always full of surprises :) It really gives one Hope.

The Tale of Abandonment: Finale

2011-01-12T09:47:00.001+08:00

There's no Part 2. The poor thing went to kitty heaven last night :(

I was pretty devastated, of course. The many guides on the Internet actually gave me hope that I could keep the baby cat alive.

Oh well. Like someone told me (while I was crying on the phone, goodness..), at least it didn't die a painful and agonising death -- bitten/eaten alive by carnivorous ants, or drowning, etc. It had warm milk three times, a nice box with rags, so I hope when it died it felt pretty comfortable.

This is just so sad.

The Tale of Abandonment: Part 1

2011-01-11T14:18:00.000+08:00

Meet the poor thing, which spent almost half the night in the wet cold drain, abandoned by its mother right after it was born. It was mewing so pitifully, calling out "Mommy...mommy...don't leave me here." Gah. It was such a heartbreaking sound. But we didn't dare touch it, for fear if once our scents get onto it, its mother will abandon it for real.

I finally picked it up with some rags and put it in an empty tissue box. So that at least it's not that cold and wet.

Its mother didn't come. It's been more than twelve hours. A definite case of abandonment. The ants came. Those evil carnivorous ones. When I found it this morning there were a few of the ants biting the poor thing. They were attracted by the bloody thing which was attached to the poor thing by its umbilical cord.

I got rid of the ants, tied the cord and cut it; and decided to try giving it a chance to live. It's still called the poor thing because naming it would just make me more attached to it. If it survives, I'll name it Thing.

Now the poor thing is (I hope) warm and clean. I got it to consume a little bit of warm milk and got it to pee. Later when we have obtained syringes, I could feed it again.

*sigh* The poor thing.

*fingers crossed*

Happy 2011

2011-01-01T00:00:00.001+08:00

It's a new year! So good wishes and all that.

Health.
Happiness.

Joy.

Jubilation.
Love.
Luck.
New hope.
New excitement.

The older one gets, the less public rants should be up. I apologise for the previous post. No resolutions this year, just an overall determination to make this year even better than the last.

Happy New Year!

Just Report Spam

2010-12-29T19:03:00.005+08:00

Alright.

Let's begin by saying "What is wrong with the people in this world?"

What has happened to Courtesy? To Decorum?

It's odd when random stupid people whom I don't know decide to annoy the hell out of me, they tend to form some pact and do it consecutively in waves.

It began with those usual 'wrong number' calls. TWO different numbers this time, mind you. They call and then they hang up before I could answer. And when I do, they demand for some person whom I don't know, in some language which I don't understand. If I ask them to repeat themselves or ask them who they are, they will proceed to rudely yell at me for some godforsaken reason. If I tell them it's the wrong number, they will hang up abruptly (no apologies mind you) and then continue calling me over and over again.

Maybe they are blind, so they can't see the same ol' number displayed on their cellphones' screens. Or maybe they are as dumb as potatoes that they can't tell it's the same ol' number they are dialling.

I think if potatoes could talk, they would at least apologise. And what is it with these people who call the wrong number and then yell at the person on the other end as if it's their fault?

And then there's these bunch of people, interns from KPMG (insert sarcastic "ooohhh prestigious Big Four company") , who somehow by mistake have me in their private message-conversation on Facebook. I don't even know how did that happen because I don't know any of them. So after a few messages from these unknown people stating their phone numbers and current location and workplaces, I decided to inform them that they have made a mistake so if they could either remove me from the list (or if they are smart enough, seeing as they are Auditors in KPMG so I thought they are -- but apparently not -- to start a new message chain or whatever it is they are doing).

I was even nice enough to tell them that they wouldn't really want strangers to be privy of their personal information.

But as far as dumb goes, they continued with more contact numbers and then there was this conversation about "I think the *insert name* you tagged is also the wrong one" and "Oh no, not again! I tagged wrong people!".

AGAIN. Means not first time. Duh.

I think the point which took the cake was that they actually had a conversation about having wrong people in the conversation, as if the "wrong people" wouldn't be able to see that, and had absolutely no sense of courtesy to apologise for their mistake.

I didn't know the Recession affected the price of Apologies.

And since they continued to flood my inbox, I guess that qualifies as Spam. So...REPORT SPAM I did.

Maybe I should sell their personal details to telemarketers.

Or send those rude potatoes in Scenario 1 the phone numbers of the rude potatoes in Scenario 2 so that they could have a hashbrown party.

I mean come on, stop annoying people you don't know, and if it's a mistake, just apologise. What's so difficult about that?

p/s: I apologise to all potatoes for inadvertantly insulting them by calling these rude people "potatoes". Oh, and calling potatoes 'dumb'.

Condolences

2010-12-29T18:30:00.000+08:00

It's been a rather sad week so before I blog about certain rants, I thought I'd dedicate this entry to a dear friend of mine whose father has passed on. With all due respect, let's all have a moment of silence.

We are deeply saddened by your loss and we are with you during this time of grief.

May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead.

* * *

Love always,

Winter Solstice

2010-12-22T14:25:00.010+08:00

Brigitte with her eyes so bright,

Looks toward heaven at midnight,

On the longest night of year,
That's the one she holds most dear.

~ Brigitte's Ballad

Bruma, or the Winter's Solstice, marks the shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter in most temperate countries. I wonder if it will get dark any earlier here today, being so close to the equator and all...

Being Chinese, it also means it's time for tangyuan (湯圓) -- glutinous rice balls! I know that according to tradition, all these were done to bring about family togetherness, reunion, etc. However, for me, I reckon it is also an excuse to play with dough :) Last year I made a tortoise and a hare out of dough.

This year, I thought I'd make the whole thing from scratch and opted for au naturel colouring. Green from Pandanus amaryllifolius and red from beetroot. Unfortunately, the pandan plant in the backyard isn't really big so I did not had a lot of leaves to work with. After much pounding and some hot water, I only managed to extract a very small bit of green colour and it was rather diluted.

The beetroot however, was easy. The aftermath was like a massacre.

Thus, green dough wasn't as green, just a tinge...almost like white (background):

This year's balls, apart from the usual round ones with gula melaka (palm sugar) in them, and some marshmallow-shaped ones which my housemate made, I made one white elephant, and pink hearts.

Go figure.

For the sweet soup, pandanus, ginger slices, and I added some gula melaka (which explains the different coloured liquid) which were from the hacking of the large chunk of palm sugar for the rice balls.

Note: always boil the glutinous rice balls separately from the sweet soup. You don't want an ugly murky coloured dessert later.

My dough crafts for 2010 :)

Here's wishing everyone a Happy Winter Solstice Festival!

冬至节快乐!

'Tis The Season For Giving

2010-12-16T18:04:00.007+08:00

...and receiving gifts :)

Sometimes, I think that with the creation of e-mails, instant messaging services, and the likes of that, we miss out on the good old-fashion post. I'm not complaining...who isn't grateful for e-mail on the days when you need to get a document to someone, on some other side of the world a.s.a.p.? And the next best thing you can do with someone really far away is to IM them, because that is almost like being there together.

However, the post. Ah, the good ol' post. Of the days when I used to have pen-pals and we would mail each other letters documenting our so-called interesting lives, photos, and small gifts. I know the Post Office has rules regarding how a standard letter should be like, but I remember how we used to make envelopes out of posters from magazines. And the sneaky ways of saving up on stamps (by applying a layer of glue on top of the affixed stamps...they can be reused by the other party after soaking the stamps in water and drying them).

But the best of it all is the feeling you get when you check the mail box and find something in it addressed to you :)

I got a gift via courier today...which was totally absolutely awesome! (thank You!)

- ♥ -

Speaking about gifts, I got this really cool X'mas gift from Francoise (thank you!):

Introducing the Envirosax! Hello Mikado #3 :)

The Envirosax is "the original designer reusable bag", so now not only can I go around being green, declining plastic bags while shopping like I always do, I can do that with style (and join the ranks of celebs using it pfft) THANK YOU FRANCOISE!

Oh, and I saw a woodpecker today. In the tree outside my room...the tree which somehow has its roots wired to some temperate system. It decided to go all bare because it's winter up in the northern hemisphere.

Cheers,

Reusing is Recycling

2010-12-13T20:55:00.007+08:00

Like printing on not only both sides of the paper, but also over the previous stuff (especially when it involves drafts of graphs), I like to think that I have put a piece of paper to its full use before transferring it to the recycle pile.

So, remember I have this totally awesome field notebook (photo here) which was in this irreversible disgusting condition since the day I got soaked in the rain in Batu Putih last year during one of my sampling escapades? It has deteriorated since, what with more notes and thumbing through its pages to refer to the data. About a month ago, its back cover fell off, and it had to be held together by a flimsy piece of tape. Recently, part of the book came off its cover.

*sigh*

Although I do rather take pride of its state of deconstruction, I knew I had to do something before I start losing vital pieces of information. And then I had this brilliant idea with an old Starbucks paper bag I found wedged between some books in the shelf!

Voila! Good as new!

My green answer to "What else can I do with a Starbucks paper bag?" :)

And I didn't need to ply myself with drinks to collect stamps for a "Starbucks organiser".

Childhood Treasures: MLP Sunny Daze

2010-12-04T11:02:00.005+08:00

Apparently it's "Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday, December 6, 2010, there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is a campaign for children's rights and violence against children."

Confession: the word "Childhood" in this post is a little inaccurate because Sunny Daze is a Generation 3 pony (circa 2004). She's one of the newer ponies (not as new as those weird things they are selling now that look like miniature figurines with small bodies and big heads) and I got her just for the sake of nostalgia.

After my first three Generation 1 ponies from the 80s, I have not seen MLP on toy shelves for a long time (and even I changed to a different toy which I practically grew up on). So when they first reintroduced MLP in the early 2000s, I was intrigued and just couldn't resist buying one and compare her with the older ones.

Twenty years after its debut, MLP was reintroduced into the market with their first few ponies, and Sunny Daze was one of them Rainbow Celebration Ponies.

Sunny Daze has a white body and her symbol is a sun with a dark pink & yellow face, orange rays, and purple-outlined wind & cloud. Her mane is five vertical streaks in gold, dark pink, coral, dark pink again, and purple while her tail is a mixture of only dark pink and purple. Her eyes are purple with a lighter purple highlight and orange heart and there is a small orange heart on her hoof.

The ponies have a new packaging, and Sunny Daze came with a white brush (with a raised bow design on the back), a translucent w/ silver glitter pony charm on a white iridescent 'friendship ribbon'.

So that's my Pony collection, not a lot actually, because they were pretty rare in the market during my growing up years. I actually was more partial to the other 80s toy which is absolutely adorable (but potentially a choking hazard) which I may write about one day when I am all nostalgic again :)

I don't know how effective the "Facebook campaign" actually is, but this trip down memory lane has been nice.

And violence against children is one of the saddest things around. It makes one think, how evil a person has to be to commit violence towards the young who are unable to defend themselves. Worse, the perpetrators are usually the people whom the children look to for love and protection.

Childhood Treasures: MLP Windy

2010-12-04T00:21:00.008+08:00

To continue with this series of nostalgia, I shall introduce my final Generation 1 (produced and in the market from 1982 to 1995): Windy -- the Magic Message Earth Pony (circa 1987-1988).

Windy had streak on her mane, the symbol of a tree on her haunches and a ribbon icon at the bottom of her right eye. She came with a yellow flower comb.

Being an Earth Pony means she practically looks like a normal horse, but being a Magic Message Pony, she has a cool feature -- the trees on her haunches are heat sensitive: rubbing them would reveal different pictures. I remember one side reveal apples on the tree, and the other side has a kite in the tree. However, after twenty years or so, the 'special effect' wore off so now both of her symbols look like faded apple/with kite trees. Still cool, though :)

I don't remember seeing Windy in any of the cartoons though.

Those were the days...

Shall end this run with one last pony tomorrow!

Childhood Treasures: MLP Whizzer

2010-12-04T00:03:00.005+08:00

Based on the above excuse, I shall continue with my trip down memory lane. Meet my second pony: Whizzer -- a Twinkle-Eyed pegasus from circa 1985-1986.

Whizzer has symbols of beanies on her haunch and being a Twinkle-Eyed pony, she has 'jewels' for eyes (which made it very quaint to me when I was a kid). Her mane and tail were also of two colours and she is bigger than Morning Glory. Whizzer came with a purple (I know the picture shows pink but, yea, mine was purple) Shooting Star comb:

In the cartoons, Whizzer had a more colourful mane and tail, and honestly, I reckon she was pretty annoying. Living up to her namesake, Whizzer moves about and speaks really fast, usually stringing her sentences together. And usually saying everything in one breath.

Generation 1 ponies...good stuff :)

Childhood Treasures: MLP Morning Glory

2010-12-03T17:37:00.005+08:00

There's this thing going round Facebook today: "Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday, December 6, 2010, there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is a campaign for children's rights and violence against children."

Fad or not, I thought it'd be fun to showcase some My Little Pony (it's been a long while) and whilst doing that, I got a little nostalgic. And it being a Friday and all, I thought, "What the heck, Fridays are for corny entries." So here goes:

My very first My Little Pony (MLP) was a Flutter Pony named Morning Glory. And it being a product of 1985 made it even more cool.

You can see her namesake are marked on her sides :)

Flutter Ponies differ from the other Ponies in regard of their size (they're slightly smaller) and they have longer legs. Their wings are of the iridescent variety (and the toy-version breaks easily -- they're removable and when you stick them into their slots on the pony's back, there's this button which you press makes them wings go up and down LOL). I remember Morning Glory came with this pink flower comb:

What I remember too was that when I was a kid, I watched a lot of MLP cartoons. They used to have them over the weekend mornings, and I had some of them on VHS tapes too. I think there was one which they called the MLP Movie where Ponyville was attacked by some purple goo which made creatures that came into contact with it hostile and unfriendly. The Ponies seeked the help of the Flutter Ponies (and their magical wings) and I remember this was how Morning Glory looked like in the cartoon:

What amused me was that I used to watch the cartoons with the dolls. And if I see them in the cartoon, I would say to my dolls "Look! That's you!" :) Also, as with all little girls and dolls that come with comb-able hair, I used to bathe them ponies and shampoo their manes.

Kids.

Ahh...the good ol' days *hums MLP theme song*

Easy Rat-ta-too-ey

2010-12-02T20:28:00.010+08:00

I came across this recipe here and it seemed pretty simple (otherwise the "easy" part of the recipe's name would be a lie) so I thought I'd try it out. The first time around, it looked a tad too mushy and dull of colour for my liking, so I tweaked it and I think it was better the second time.

Easy Ratatouille

Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 onions, slivered
• 3 bell peppers, cut into one inch squares (try different colors)
• 2 eggplants, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
• 2 pounds tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1. Heat olive oil in a heavy soup pot on medium heat. Sliver onions and add to oil.
2. While the onions cook, chop the bell peppers and add them to the pot, stirring well.
3. Chop the eggplants and add to the pot, stirring well to coat theeggplant with oil. At this point all the olive oil will have soaked into the eggplant, so you need to stir often to keep things from burning until they soften some.
4. Chop the zucchini and stir it in once the eggplant has softened a bit.
5. Chop the garlic and add to the vegetables, stirring well.
6. Chop the tomatoes and add them.
7. Mince the thyme and add it along with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and cook two minutes.
8. Turn down heat and cover the pot. Simmer until everything is soft and well blended - about 40 minutes.
9. Stir in basil and remove from heat.

4 to 6 servings

* * *

What I did was I cut everything first, then only started cooking, adding each vegetable starting with those that take longer to cook. Slicing reduces cooking time so I won't end up with uncooked vegetables later (seeing as I didn't let stuff cook in accordance to my cutting time -- which is a bit slow). By doing so, I end up with a prettier dish as the vegetables don't get overcooked and become all yellow and olive green and gross.

By the way, it is not nicely arranged as per those pictures of true ratatouille dishes because I couldn't possibly do that with a pot on a stove. Things at the bottom of the pot would start burning if not stirred :)

Good luck!

Hello My Darlings

2010-11-20T19:43:00.004+08:00

On the last day of Adidas' Refresh Your Gear campaign, I finally got my new pair of running shoes which look like a cross-between Superman and Thomas the Tank Engine.

ClimaCool Modulate

Will rave/rant about them after I've put in several miles.

I know, so flashy, right?

Dearest Yen Chiew

2010-10-18T10:20:00.001+08:00

This entry is especially for you:

Fifteen years ago, when I first moved to the 'city' from another town, my mom made me attend this extra class at night so that I could be a little bit more literate in the Chinese language. After a series of mishaps (i.e. I went to this horrigible tuition class which the teacher is a dragon), I wasn't really looking forward to this new class. That night I was apprehensive.

That night, I also became friends with this little girl whom, at that time I didn't know, would be one of my best friends for life.

For the next two years in primary school, we were in the same class, we were made school prefects, and being kids, we had a genuine uncomplicated friendship.

At 12, we went on our first school fieldtrip to Cameron Highlands :)

Somehow or other, we were never fated to be in the same class ever again for the next five years of high school. Always the 'class next door', but the friendship never wavered.

At 17, we threw a surprise party for Jin on her birthday :)

Fate switched course the following two years, making both of us classmates and seated us together to overcome the challenging Sixth Form years. The awesome, yet incredibly tough years, the fear of a certain subject teacher, the class projects, the laughter and the tears.

Can you believe it, we've been friends for NINE years!

After that we parted ways and went really far across the country. You went all the way up north in West Malaysia, and I flew across the South China Sea to attend tertiary studies in the Land Below The Wind. We still call each other, or talk to each other online. I picked a fight with you in 2005 (which I am still extremely sorry and embarassed for--that was stupidly dumb).

In 2007, you shared with me this little piece of exciting news about a certain boy who cycled all the way to your place to see you and gave you coffee because you said you were out of it (you coffee-addict, you).

In 2008, during Chinese New Year, you came to my place with this jock in a chinese shirt, whom we bullied shamelessly :)

Early this year, you shared with us one of the best piece of news ever when you informed us about certain special dates, and all of us oh-so-far-away got all hyped looking for flight tickets and applying for leaves.

And last night, you, the beautiful, bee-yoo-ti-ful bride! Both of you make such a gorgeous couple!

Did you know we were so touched with your speech, we almost cried? (Shireen did :P) Did you know how proud and happy we are for you? (Very immensely indeed.) Does your husband know that we meant every word of the threats we made in the tiny changing room behind some storage closet? (Because we seriously will kick his @$$ if he mistreats you.)

Fifteen years, my dear. Fifteen years and counting. Now I'm going to tear up typing this.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you and Boon Tatt all the best and lots of happiness. ♥

Yours sincerely,

P/S: You know what Yen Chiew? You were right. Friendship IS forever, especially when it comes to special people like you :)

Maturity

2010-10-05T13:25:00.004+08:00

25.

Twenty-five.

I always think the number 5 is like a cross-roads of sorts. It's kind of like a mid point of things.

When you were 5, you weren't as juvenile as when you were born, you have been around the playground a bit. You have been to nursery school for awhile, and in a few short years you will be 'officially' entering the education system.

At 15, you were in the midst of your teenage years. Still not very wise, but at least you do have slight realisations of stuff. Most probably you've had your first crush, first away-from-home trip, first etc.

Twenty-five. Another set of cross-roads.

To some it marks the exit from the education system. To some it means a decision to learn some more. Most have already entered the other system - the job market. Some are green, some are already veterans. Some have already set up their new family units, some are still discovering themselves.

A close friend is getting married soon. Another friend just had her first child. Several acquaintances are engaged.

Some may say that getting married at 25 is too young. But what exactly is too young? Is too young synonymous to being immature? Thus, is age a measuring scale for maturity?

I believe that maturity does not come with age.

Maturity comes with awareness, with experiences, and how we perceive and internalise the things we have learnt and been through. It comes with the acceptance of responsibility, to be accounted for every thing we do. The only factor age plays in this is that the older we are, the more time we have for experiences. And more time to reflect on them.

It's just like a research. The more time you have, the more data you collect, the more accurate your results will be.

That is, if you analyse your data at all. Some people just don't.

I think it is not very accurate of people to say that someone getting married at 25 is "too young". It is a social stigma, yes, it is a stereotyped perception, but I believe that such opinions are unjust because it is subjected to many other factors. I believe that if two twenty-five-year-olds are mature enough, are responsible and in a stable relationship (financially, emotionally, etc.ly) and they both made a sound decision to commit to each other, why not? I know a hell lot more older people who are less mature and are making a mess of things, so go figure.

Twenty-five. It's just another number.

Go PINK!

2010-10-02T18:54:00.006+08:00

"Ignorance is bliss", so they said. Which may some times be true if you really don't want to know anything about anything at all.

But remember, just because you are ignoring its existence doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let's talk about the silent killer.

Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 10.4% of all cancer incidence among women, making it the most common type of non-skin cancer in women and the fifth most common cause of cancer death. In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths).

In the world,

Every 3 minutes, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer (USA).
Every 11 minutes, one woman dies from breast cancer (USA).
Every year, 30,000 women and 200 men are diagnosed with breast cancer (UK).

The incidence (number of new cancers) is steadily increasing. The statistics are more frightening in countries like the USA where about 184,000 new cases of breast cancer are detected annually. The National Cancer Institute estimates that by age 50, one out of every 50 women will develop breast cancer. By age 80, it will rise to one in 10. If this risk is calculated over their lifetime, one in 8 women will suffer from breast cancer. One in 28 will die of the disease. One in 3,000 women develop breast cancer during pregnancy and pregnant women tend to develop them usually in their 30s.

In countries where rates have been low, especially in Asia, the rate of increase has been the greatest with steep increases in the incidence as well as death rate.

In Malaysia,

Breast cancer was the most common overall cancer as well as the most common cancer in women amongst all races from the age of 20 years for 2003 to 2005.
Breast cancer is most common in the Chinese, followed by the Indians and then, Malays.
A woman in Malaysia has a 1 in 20 chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime.
The cumulative life time risk of developing breast cancer for Chinese women, Indian women and Malay women were 1 in 16, 1 in 17 and 1 in 28 respectively.

(Radiology Malaysia, 2008)

A ONE in 20 chance. Are you aware of that? Banish the ignorance, because fear always springs from ignorance. Learn about it, read about it. Remember, convincing yourself that "It won't happen to me" doesn't change the statistics.

Click HERE for a guide on BSE.

Thank YOU for the ducky and the picture :)

Turn PINK for October.

I am turning pink to support all the strong women out there who are battling the silent killer with their every being; in honour of all the brave ones who have fought and have lost; and in celebration for all the survivors who have fought hard and won.

Why are you turning pink?

The Fine Thin Line

2010-09-28T11:06:00.005+08:00

I came across a question the other day that asked me to complete the sentence "Facebook is..." and the first thing that came to mind was "...making stalking easier."

Stalking. Which is also roughly equivalent to feeding the attention-whore monster in the other party (the stalkee?) Sometimes it's weird as to how some people would later complain that they're being stalked, or people are nosy, when in the first place they plaster all their personal problems on public domain.

courtesy of Nata lie Dee

In retrospect, it is a fine thin line between Concern and Obsession. Crossing that line would be intruding the invisible wall of Personal Space. And I don't know about the general public, but me, that is like one of the ultimate pet peeves. It tempts me to say "Excuse me, I would like a restriction order.."

courtesy of Nata lie Dee

A fine thin line indeed.

How would you know then?

Answers.com says:

"They (the obsessed) will constantly try to be in contact with you when they are not around you, always want to be around you, always question you about all things, possibly get angry or a temper arises if you are not talking to them enough. You will see a very apparent neediness as well as become overbearing in a variety of ways."

But I reckon that paragraph is just to reconfirm your own hunches because if you don't suspect it, then there is a high possibility that it is not an obsession.

Said William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice: "The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedom." but Jimmy Durante may have put it more apt by saying "Why doesn't everybody leave everybody else the hell alone?"

Concern bordering on Obsession. The Fine Thin Line. Crossing it would result in Dislike, Stifling, Annoyance.

Hostility.

Fear.

Paranoia is soooo not hot.

A Slice of Heaven

2010-09-14T16:57:00.006+08:00

Absolutely Awesome Carrot Cake:

Ingredients
4 eggs
3/4 cups vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups grated carrots (use larger grater...like for cheese)

1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, applesauce, brown sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in walnuts. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (reduce for less sweet)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cake.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com with modifications. Thanks Françoise for the awesomeness :)

Have a great upcoming MALAYSIA DAY!

Nomads

2010-08-25T12:25:00.006+08:00

I found this old thing I wrote down several years ago, and I thought it was a very good insight and still applicable although I may have changed and stuff.

The Nomads of Life

I had an insight the other day. You know, what with people around me are leaving and things are all coming to an end.

I reckon that Life is always nomadic. Even if you stay put in the same place, you still pack up and move to another new PHASE of Life. In a way, we are not much different from our nomadic ancestors. Evolution just changes the context of being a nomad. It can be the need to adapt to a new place, or meeting new people, or having to face new challenges.

Just that, sometimes, I wish there is something familiar to fall back on at the end of the day.

I also reckon one of the hardest things to do is to hold in the tears and smile while watching someone step into the departure area.

~ May 01, 2008

Surrealism

2010-08-19T08:38:00.006+08:00

Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members.

Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory (1931)

That aside, I am experiencing some indescribable feelings. It's not something bad... it's just surreal. It's like a bunch of anticipation plus a dash of anxiety. Did I say anxiety? I meant nervousness. Apprehension.

Right. I admit. I have pretty low expectations of people in general. Perhaps it is some kind of defence mechanism, but I seriously don't take people's word for whatever it is they say they will do. Better to not expect than to be disappointed, right? Sorry, maybe I've just come across one too many dumb@$$e$ along the way.

So yea. When somebody keeps their word about things you absolutely did not believe they will do...it's called a pleasant surprise.

And it's all very, very surreal.

Thank you very much for being the odd one out. Knowing that there are special beings who still keep their word keeps the hope alive.

I overkill word usage.

~ omg. countdown has reached Day 0!

Opportunities

2010-08-17T16:40:00.004+08:00

So today someone posed a question: When two jobs are offered, one with 'Good Salary' and another one with better 'Career Development', which one would you pick?

Off the top of my head, I would pick the latter seeing as I still find myself on the learning end of things. I don't know about most people, but to me, learning and experience count a lot and the thought of an indirect self-development sounds more fulfilling in the long run.

However, who can ever argue with more money? It is so hard to survive as it is these days with 'minimum wage'. The higher the income, the easier life gets, no?

It is a tough decision, and as always, right at that moment when you have to choose which path to take, you fear that you would be making the wrong decision and regret it for life. And that the similar opportunity will never again present itself.

True.

Most probably the same, exact opportunity will never come again. On the other hand, sometimes, better stuff actually do come your way. Or just different stuff, which if you had chosen differently in the first point, you would never come across.

I guess Life really is always a gamble. It just depends on how much risk you are willing to take. At the end of the day, when you come to questions like this, perhaps you can just ask yourself "What is it that I REALLY want?" and make your decisions based on that.

As you grow, you change; and as you change, your wants change along with you: with your past-experiences, your past-decisions, your level of maturity, your way of thinking.

There is this saying that goes, "Some say opportunity knocks only once. That is not true. Opportunity knocks all the time but you have to be ready for it."

I concur.

An anecdote:

A couple of years ago when I began my graduate studies, I was offered a tempting deal to yet further my education with a lucrative scholarship and prestigious affliations. At that point of time it was really tempting, but as luck would have it, it turned out that I was a tad unqualified for it (they wanted someone to do PhD, I only have my BSc). I wasn't too bummed but the thought of "Darn it, wasted!" did cross my mind.

Recently, I was yet again offered another similar deal. So here disproves the point that "opportunity only knocks once". And this time, I could consider it, seeing as I am almost at the end of my MSc. However, I declined.

Because, for one thing I know I am not ready (or should I say, not willing?) to sacrifice another 5 more years of my life STUDYING *groan*. And secondly, after these past two years, I have pretty much made up my mind that this is not what I want (on a lot of levels). I want something different.

So yes, I declined, irregardless of the "tempting bait" the big guns cast out. It was a bit hard to say "No", especially when people seem to think that you are so capable of succeeding in it.

Which is actually something else that I've always wondered. Why do other people always seem to have so much confidence in me than I do myself?

But yea, saying "No" gets easier with practice.

I digressed so much, I think I've lost my point.

Opportunities come and go. It pays to be more open-minded and not kick yourself too badly when you think you've foregone an opportunity. Life's too short for that.

* * *

I suck at making a point :P

*gasp* Less than 48 hours!

What's In The News?

2010-08-12T10:34:00.007+08:00

Nothing, apparently.

As 'promised' in the previous entry that an 'inspired' entry might come forth, I thought I'd get it done and out of the way.

So yea, news. Or the lack thereof nowadays. Like seriously. I mean, it could be that nothing interesting is happening in the nation for perhaps certain days, but for stretches? It's so blatantly odd that conspiracy theorists are hyped.

Last I remembered of stuff I saw on the news:

- some lady who used to work in the bank, lost a bunch of weight, is happy she lost a bunch of weight, and became a porn actress

- mat rempits have evolved to four-wheelers and the police can't fine their 'illegally modified cars' if they stop by the road before a police roadblock. If the car's not moving it cannot be fined

- some Malaysian cinapek is hanging out with Paris Hilton

Applause.

Okay. Those were actually in the news days ago...it's been niggling at my mind but I was too busylazy to blog about it.

And then of course, Justin Bieber was crowned with a bottle (that was awesome...the thrower had really awesome aim) and that he is writing his memoirs. The latter is just ridiculous. Firstly, he is like what, 10? (yes, I know he is 16) Unless he had been abducted and forced into a guerilla army when he was 5, fought in it for 7 years, somehow managed to escape death and his captors at 14, and two years later finally found safe haven and freedom in some foreign country, that might be worth a space on the bookshelves.

Apart from anything similar to that, someone should tell him that putting that stupid rap about buying some club and turning it into Chuck E. Cheese in print does not count as a 'memoir'. Maybe he'll draw a picture of a giraffe with crayons in his 'memoirs'. Who knows.

What is the world coming to?

Oh yea, this just in: The Sultan of Brunei has 604 Rolls Royces, 382 Bentleys, and 21 Lamborghinis.

Applause.

I'm sorry, the news didn't say anything about him selling off half of them cars and donating the money to some charity.

Really, what is the world coming to?

* * *

My γιαούρτι με μέλι and I wishes everyone a good day!

See, isn't pretty food waaaay more inspiring that silly news?

On a completely different note: 1 more week!

Almost Greek Wednesday

2010-08-11T12:08:00.005+08:00

Greek-inspired lunch:

Foreground: Greek salad (χωριάτικη σαλάτα) -- almost. I didn't have kalamata olives, so had to make do with them green ones, and no feta cheese (the white clumps are actually yogurt, pretending to be feta).

Background: Yiaourti me meli (γιαούρτι με μέλι)-- yogurt with honey. Mmmmm....yummers!

More 'inspiring' entries may come forth, although I don't know what is more inspiring that pretty food :)

About a week left *excited*

Regrets

2010-07-19T22:06:00.005+08:00

Because no new entries have been posted for about two weeks, I feel a tad sorry for the blog. Thus I thought I'd post something here to reduce the unfortunate vibe.

Before anything, I realised I didn't post an update for the previous entry which is supposed to say SPAIN WON THE WORLD CUP *world-domination-triumphant-laughter* And, of course, I won my bet. Unfortunately, again, it's not cash...so, pfft..

Right. Title check.

The other day, a friend asked me if there were anything of the past that I have regretted. When I thought about it, I could quote Frank Sinatra's "Regrets, I've had a few...". Who doesn't, right? I guess it's simply a matter of learning from the regrets and move on. Let bygones be bygones, live and let live, all that cliché.

One of the most common regrets I sometimes have is when I'm bored with my work. The "I should have just gone back and did something else..." and the "What the heck am I doing?" thoughts. But those come and go so fast, they don't really bother me.

I think one of my regrets was that some things in the past ended on a sour note. Ugly crap. And since I'm tired of being the one who is always so forgiving (read doormat) I just thought "Screw all" and severed all ties. Sometimes I do think about it, like, was it actually worth it? "What if the same thing happened in a different way? A less ugly way?" I wouldn't know. But after so long, you know, whatever.

Maybe the answer all these while was: Yes, it really wasn't worth it.

So. Screw All.

Monday's musings.

Tomorrow shall be Tuesday's thoughts (duh).

"We seldom regret the things we do in life, only the things we don’t do."

¡Viva España!

2010-07-12T03:21:00.005+08:00

World Cup 2010 Finals Checklist:

Red t-shirt - checked

Red and yellow rubberbands - checked

Spanish dictionary - checked

Red and yellow gummy bears - checked

¡VAMOS España!

This is how I am watching the finals match:

Am streaming ESPN on Sopcast but it lags more than one minute, so to ensure I get accurate live results, I need to watch the live scoreboard on Yahoo!

The stuff I do once in many years.

What a match. Half-time 0-all. De Jong got only a yellow card for kung fu kicking Alonso in the chest. WTH.

Back to the game,

The Almost-End of Every-Four-Years Football

2010-07-08T08:19:00.011+08:00

I think I have not written an entry regarding the mega-hyped world-stage football competition, so since it's coming to a close soon (and we can all rest easy till 2014), I thought I'd share some of my World Cup 'fun' since it started.

That and also I somehow woke up early and can't go back to sleep :P

So, firstly there is Paul the Psychic Octopus, whom everyone has been either skeptical of, or smitten with, till he chose Spain over Germany. Then everyone didn't want to believe him. Then they lost. Then they started talking about Sushi. Poor Paul...all he did was choose the mussel from the winner's box.

And then there's me, but then you don't see any hype over me, do you? Maybe that's because I am not a cephalopod mollusk, and I do not have eight extremities. But I have been right all these while. So far in every match, the team I've rooted for has won.

For the record:

The Dutch Oranges' victory over the Japanese Sushi earned me a dinner.
The German Bratwurts' triumph over the Argentinian Sunshines won me RM30. (I was right about the English Muffins too, but unfortunately, I didn't make anyone bet with me.)
The Red Fury's trouncing of the German Bratwurts got me a RM50 shopping spree.
The worst was the tie between the Portuguese Cherries with the Brazillian Bananas.
And of course the time when I was conned into betting on the Uruguay Sunbeams over the Dutch Oranges, although I have specifically said that I was rooting for them Oranges.

OctoPaul ain't that awesome, you know. However, I do refer to him occasionally. So, what's my take on the Finals? I hope I don't jinx it by blogging about it, but I bet everyone know by now that I am always a supporter of the Spanish Red Fury. They are the only team that I have not given any ridiculous names to.

Rafa says: We Matadors are going to tame those Orange Bulls*!

*Anyone ever noticed that the Dutch plays really rough? So carabaos, I tell you...hence the bull metaphor.

¡La Furia Roja va a ganar!

An Ode to Shoes Pt. II

2010-07-05T18:45:00.003+08:00

Here's a fact that's oh-so-true,

A girl can never have 'nuff shoes,

A pair of pumps, or maybe two,

A different pair of every hue.

One for pavement, one for court,

One for fun, it's just for sport.

Flip-flops just to shuffle around

Two blacks, and a gold that's sound.

Sandals for the stylish casual,

Gladiators, and beaded ankles,

Embroided canvas espadrilles,

They make walking so glamourous.

Flats are also all-the-hype,

Leather, gold, or canvas stripes.

Black pumps are a staple must,

For work and the formal fuss.

Four pairs I have, I kid you not,

Three and a half inches, they're so hot.

A zebra pair that's just too sexy,

A pair of boots that's oh-so-cosy.

I've just realised the amount of shoes,

EIGHTEEN, omigosh it's true!

Author's Note: I conclude that I have not really regrown much brain cells since the previous post earlier today thus leading to the urge of concocting this nonsensical rhyme. Also the picture shows one-third of all of them mentioned in the poem. This is a strategy so as to a) not freak everyone out, b) not show-off, and c) I was lazy to go downstairs to bring up the other shoes.

I also promise that I shall not blog about shoes anymore.

Unless I get a pair of new running shoes seeing as my old ones are giving me some kind of feet torment.

Hugs and kisses,

An Ode to Shoes

2010-07-05T13:08:00.005+08:00

I don't usually write about shallow stuff like this, but once in a while, a girl has to succumb to her love for shoes and the phrase "We were meant for each other!".

Oh Roxy Fiesta Sandals, you were definitely meant for me!

It was love at first sight, when I first set eyes on the pair of white embroidered espadrilles a while back, when it was on the New Arrival shelf. After a whole lot of admiring, a quick peek at the price tag confirms that "No! I'm sorry, but I can't have you!"

RM239.90 for a pair of dress shoes? No way. I'd rather spend that amount on a pair of running shoes. It's always function over form when it comes to splurging, yes sirree!

So I thought, it was "Fare thee well, oh pretty shoes."

Fast forward many months later, and I have put the shoes at the back of my mind. I came up with this random random thought of "Hey, let's go check out bikinis, just for the heck of it."

And would you believe it, them shoes are in the bargain bin going at 70% discount. SEVENTY PERCENT!!! And it was the LAST DAY of the sale (which has been going on for, apparently, a month -- which brought about this remark at me: "What have you been doing for a month? How could you not know this?")

It was "Hello my dearies..." all over again...till I discovered they were not in my size! A request was made to the other outlet, if they have the same pair in my size and... they said Yes! All seems to be good again.

After a whole lot of mucking around, we eventually went to the other outlet to claim my shoes, but would you believe it? They reserved the wrong pair! The wrong design!!! So I hurried over to the bargain bin, and as luck would have it, there is one last pair hanging miserably on a hook. I could hear them calling to me "Save us...oh please, save us!"

And I really lucked out. It was the RIGHT SIZE! *big sigh of relief*

And just to prove how the shoes and I were meant together, someone else wanted them when they saw it on the counter. "Sorry lady, all's fair in love and war. They are MINE!!!"

Them shoes and I live happily ever after. The end.

~ ♥♥♥~

Right. I hope you've enjoyed my melodramatic entry. Now I shall go try regrow some brain cells.

Cheerio!

KOFF

2010-06-23T11:58:00.004+08:00

I hate coughing. I think it's one of the worst parts of being sick. Being sick is already sucky enough as it is, and especially when one doesn't fall sick ever so often, when the sick comes, it COMES.

Productivity - below zero
Proper sleep - almost zero

It's difficult to sleep when you are coughing your lungs out and trying your best not to cough your brains out as well. I always wonder if that is possible. Take last night, for instance: I should have had a good sleep seeing as I took a piriton prior to bed (which is supposed to knock me out) and not to mention, some sweet sweet stuff :) yet I woke up so often I wondered if I ever did sleep.

So I decided to pay the doctor a visit this morning and ended up with a bottle of Dried Ivy Extract Cough Syrup. Yay! OD time!!!

Coughing is so exhausting, I think I have abs from all these abdominal-pectoral 'exercise'. Rubbish.

I've noticed a couple of things though. When I'm sick, I become awfully compliant. Perhaps I'm just too exhausted to argue or say anything else so I just go "okay". Now you know when is the best time to ask me stuff. I've also realised that sometimes I tend to become all ooey-gooey due to the self-pity I feel. What's that local word for it? Oh yes... 'manja' :P

Gah.

Hope I get well soon enough.

*koff*koff*KOFF*kOfF!!!*

Them darned radicals...

2010-06-21T17:50:00.004+08:00

I remember reading a blog entry once by kinkyjasmines about religion and at that point of time I thought, "Well, so I'm not the only one..." although not so much as of the same context/situation, just feeling insulted and all that.

I once saw this button with a message on it that is so true. Wait, I'll look around for it.

Here you go:

Yup. That's the one.

Firstly I'm not saying everyone of that religion is like *insert entry title*, just that I've come across some of them, and I am not generalising, just ranting in public in hopes of them reading this and stop bugging me.

I know it is a sensitive topic, but yea, if they can always go around insulting others, why can't I for this once?

I am offended when these people parade about as if they are more superior than others and trashes other people's beliefs. It is also dumb when people of different denomination trash each other. You do realise it is the same religion, just slightly different, right?

I think they are ridiculous when they start condemning fantasy books and movies because they are "blasphemous", and then say movies with alien-robot-species actually have a biblical storyline.

I dislike it when they parade their religion around and rub it in other people's faces. You know how in social events, you try to include the people around you by coming up with general conversation topics? Not excluding them by babbling about how great your religion is and trashing everything else. Manners, people...manners.

I am insulted when they say things of religion-based to me. Asking me to attend their "camps/retreats/etc.", saying that I should say "real prayers". Do you think I'm that dumb to be saying a prayer on Facebook addressing "The Big Guy in the Sky"?

These people should read Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens. At best the book will whip them up in a tizzy. At worst, they'll most probably stage a book-burning session.

I have actually been insulted more than that, but you see, my belief teaches me not to keep grudges, so now that I have got this out of my system, I will just go on with my life until some *insert entry title, minus first word* insults me again.

Thankyouverymuch,

Thoughts of the moment

2010-06-10T10:21:00.004+08:00

You know how it feels when you are waiting for something, like, for instance, at the moment I am waiting for a friend to pick me up and it is one of those 'anytime-now' moments. If I were to start reading or writing anything research-related, she will most probably be here before I could grasp the gist of what I am doing. However, by not doing anything, it feels exceptionally long, and the mind wanders.

Maybe that is what random blog posts are for -- to while away the small frame of time which you otherwise do not know what to do with.

For this, I shall type out all the random thoughts that came to mind for the past 30 minutes.

- I am going to be a witness at somebody's ROM. How random is that? And I haven't even practiced my signature!

- I realised the real reason why I totally severe connections with some people is because it is just too painful to have anything to do with them. Ever. It is like, if you don't take out the splinter, your wound isn't going to heal, is it?

- My dad sends me the best quotes at times.

Update: The entry ended abruptly this morning because (obviously) my ride came. Skimming on the surface of thoughts of the mo were that, but to further elaborate now I shall.

Initially when I was requested to be one of the two witnesses in someone's ROM, I just said "yes" and didn't think more into it. But later, I realised the significance of the role, albeit it wasn't a very difficult/full of responsibility one, but hey, my name and signature is officially on somebody's Marriage Certificate. It is not something which everyone has a chance of getting in life. It's like a small but important thing. Besides, I heard that sometimes people do argue over who is to be the witness. So this was incredibly cool.

It was also cool that the Registry of Marriages takes the whole thing really seriously (as aptly be) although technically, it is their day-to-day job. They actually have a nicely decorated room for the solemnisation ceremony and even have the advantage of printing out the married couple's names on a paper and putting it on a sign outside the room -- making you feel special on your special day.

And the best quote I got off the wall written with "Rules of a Happy Marriage" today? "Never scream at each other unless the house is on fire."

Cheers all,

Updates in the Manglish Dictionary

2010-06-07T18:11:00.006+08:00

I was having a conversation today with a friend of mine and we discussed certain important things that should be included in the Manglish dictionary.

1) Adding an extra 'H' in certain words creates an added emphasis.

For example:

yes - yesH
no - noH

In the case of the word which expresses frustration,

Haiyah is more powerful than aiyah

This is because when you say it out loud, you have to take a deep breath and then emphasise on the first H in the word. This manner conveys more frustration than the plain 'aiyah'.

2) Adding 'the' strategically in sentences or remarks increases the value of the adjectives.

For instance:

"Very the good." is better than "Very good."
"It's so the painful." is more excruciating than "It's so painful."

* * *

On another note, everyone should check this out: 10 Words You Need to Stop Misspelling by The Oatmeal. Because it is really annoying when people don't know weather there wrong or not :P

Doesn't mean you can't laugh just 'cos it's a Monday

Gypsy by Shakira

2010-05-27T23:38:00.003+08:00

This is one of the hottest video I've ever seen, with two of the hottest people in the world. And since I *heart* this vid so much, I shall put it up here so that I know where to watch it again and again :P

I wish everyone a blessed long holiday weekend!

Classic!

2010-05-22T21:25:00.003+08:00

Best fun ever on Google :)

Happy 30th Anniversary Pac-Man!!!

"Many companies reported a significant drop in worker productivity on the day the Pac-Man banner was posted, leading some companies to temporarily block access to Google's website." -- here

C'mon! Eat them pac-dots!

American Gods

2010-05-19T03:10:00.004+08:00

One of Neil Gaiman's many masterpieces (I would say my second favourite, after Good Omens which he wrote with Terry Pratchett) in which he spins the tale of long-forgotten gods and goddesses, trying to survive in modern America, competing and battling for worship and belief from the contemporary 'deities' of Technology, Television, and Credit Card.

It is always an interesting read when old-world myths are smoothly blended with modernity. (Of course, if you favour the myth+sci-fi combo, check out Eoin Colfer's And Another Thing... the finale to the ever-popular The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.)

It is also extremely challenging to guess who the deities are from Mr. Gaiman's descriptions before he reveals their names since his deities came from a broad spectrum of pantheons -- Norse, African, Celtic, Hinduism, etc.

And then, there's The Forgotten God. The one who tweaks every reader's curiousity to the max, pondering "Who could this god be?". The one who is found prominently from pages 281 to 286 of the paperback. Mr. Gaiman wouldn't reveal him. There are forums online discussing who he could be, with curious souls pitting their two cents worth of deductions and theories.

Such irony.

The Forgotten God. The one whom no one recalls.

But everyone remembers.

Any CHANCE per se?

13 May 2010

2010-05-13T22:16:00.004+08:00

A supposedly 'riled-up day' for some morons out there. FYI, it's called "history" because you are supposed to learn and not repeat it. Originality, people, come on.

As opposed to the previous line, it was another mundane day. A mundane, brain-juice-draining day. And I am absolutely pissy.

Pissy at:
- stupid people who complain about shallow racial sentiments...how ignorant are you?
- emoticons that move a lot (so I turned them off)...it gets on the nerves those stupid bouncy things
- being overall pissy

Okay. Fine. PISSED. Pissy does not refer to a non-stop urge to pee. Or to any act of peeing, for that matter.

The only high point of today, I would say, was when I helped a friend review his cover letter. I think that was the most fun I had. Goodness.

On a completely different note, I think I have some thoughts regarding the nuclear power thing going on recently, but am not in the mood to write up something insightful at the moment. Just that nuclear power may be a solution to the energy crisis, and it is relatively clean compared to what we are using now. Clean and safe, but only, and ONLY, if it is handled properly and with utmost responsibility. That said, in that case, perhaps we should just say 'No' or be prepared for another Chernobyl.

Yes. Pissy and cynical today.

Marathon Day

2010-05-02T16:46:00.006+08:00

First order of business: a round of hearty congratulations to all!

Yu Li, Pei Ying, Snel, Claire, Jim, Kai Yee, Aldillah, Woan Yee : for finishing your run!

Because I run with the minimal amount of stuff, I don't have any shots of the start of the race, people on the road, the awesome sunrise...only after-run photos from a borrowed camera.

This being my first serious run, the Borneo International Marathon was an experience to me. I reckon marathons are not only a physical challenge, but a mental one at that too. And this is the first time I actually ran 10km.

The breakdown was constant running at the first 4km, and then an alternate of speed-walking and running faster than usual for the remaining 6km. I couldn't keep the pace because my toes were hurting from the chafing. Yes, I have blisters :( which means: TIME FOR NEW RUNNING SHOES!!!

Yu Li and I completed our 10km run in roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes, which personally, is quite an achievement. So am truly proud. For that and also for completing :) Up my next time target, perhaps? 1 hour 5minutes for 10km? LOL KL Marathon is coming up late next month *am tempted*

We have our proboscis monkey Finisher's medals :)

*oh yea*

There's a lesson to be learnt here: You'll never know what you are capable of doing until you've tried and done it. I wouldn't have thought I'd ever had the stamina to do long-distance running (all these while I thought I could only do sprints) but I proved myself wrong today. It is very satisfying though. Food for thought.

Self-satisfaction pride,

Pre-Marathon Day

2010-05-01T18:30:00.004+08:00

The countdown has been going on since like ever.

And now it's less than 12 hours to my first serious run (7K Charity Run not counted, okay).

Am actually a tad nervous for goodness-knows-what reasons...and I'm only doing the 10km.

Things to do:

stock up on pasta

stock up on bananas

sleep early

update iPod

Dear Running God,

Please don't let my shoes, feet, legs, muscles fail on me. Also please don't let my iPod die on me.

I vow to finish my run within the appointed time (please please please).

Wish me luck you guys!

LOL moment 28042010

2010-04-29T12:38:00.006+08:00

yenchiew says (12:34 PM):
got updates for me?

liying says (12:34 PM):
i'm engaged

yenchiew says (12:35 PM):
?????????????????????
WHAHAHHAHAHAHA
seriously ?

liying says (12:36 PM):
whatdayathink?

yenchiew says (12:36 PM):
kenot be kua.. unless .. (unnecessary info edited)

liying says (12:37 PM):
wth
u are nuts

yenchiew says (12:41 PM):
means no updates le right.

liying says (12:41 PM):
nope

Would you say I have busybody friends? Yes, I do. They would say they're "concerned of my welfare" though.

On to another topic, isn't it annoying that there are people who can't get it in their stupidass brains that they called the wrong number? And they keep calling back to ask more stupidass questions.

And at 3.13am.

IN THE MORNING. WHEN I'M ASLEEP.

These people should DIE.

#5: Goodbye Tiger Week!

2010-04-23T18:00:00.004+08:00

Just because it's the end of Tiger Blogfest doesn't mean everyone can just forget about our beautiful feline friends and leave all these behind as if only a hype.

Here's an outtake I came across today:

WASHINGTON – Michelle Obama told a group of curious kids visiting the White House Thursday about her daughter Malia's most frequent question about Dad's job: What's he doing to help tigers?

Asked about her family's favorite animal, the first lady said they talk about tigers at least once a week, because Malia, 11, is concerned about what President Barack Obama is doing to save the endangered animals.

"He tells her he's working on it and there are a lot of people who are thinking about it," she said. "But I think, the Obama household, we're trying to save the tigers."

Although most of us don't have a direct personal line to the top of the power-chain, we could still do our part. For instance, as suggested by Planet of the Monyets: send an email to the Prime Minister and ask him to attend the Tiger Summit in Vladivostok in September this year. Ask him to make firm commitments that Malaysia will protect its tigers.

With the end of Tiger Blogfest 2010, certain banners will have to come down from the blog. So to commemorate the majestic animal, and to remind us of their plight, here's a closing banner for this succesful online event.

Yours truly,

#4: Double Whammy

2010-04-22T20:24:00.008+08:00

Today is Earth Day.

A double dose of plight.
A plight for our planet.
And a plight for our tigers.
(and every other inhabitant too)

Where else in this universe do you get to see sights like these?

A white sandy beach and crystal blue sea, a backdrop of blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
(@Shangri-La Rasa Ria)

Gorgeous orange and royal purple hues during sunset.
(@Bukit Mengkabong, Tuaran)

Lush green majestic trees, 'neath the canopy on a sunny day.
(@ RDC, Sandakan)

Perhaps you might say that there may be another similar planet somewhere out there in the unknown abyss, but even if that is so, it's not like you can get there anyway. So why not do your part to ensure that these breathtaking sights are still there for the future generations, YOUR future generation?

Think about it.

Happy Earth Day!

#3: The National Icon

2010-04-21T00:10:00.002+08:00

"The Malayan tiger is depicted in the coat of arms of Malaysia, symbolising the government and appears in various heraldry of Malaysian institutions such as Maybank and Proton. It symbolizes bravery and strength to Malaysians.

When the Malayan tiger was accepted as a sub-species of the tiger family, the news was warmly received in Malaysia. However, there was soon debate over the scientific naming of the Malayan tiger. Researchers proposed a name to recognize the work by Peter Jackson, a zoologist, with big cats: Panthera tigris jacksoni.

However, the Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (MAZPA) and the Government of Malaysia protested, arguing that Malaysia should have been consulted over the naming of its national icon. Malaysia holds that the naming should reflect the geographical region, Malaysia. In Malaysia, therefore, the Malayan tiger is known as Panthera tigris malayensis."

One would assume that if you were to protest and argue so passionately over the name of something, you should be making your utmost effort to care for its welfare.

Besides, it would be VERY EMBARASSING INDEED if the 500 or so tigers in the wild were to be extinct, and the only example of a Malayan Tiger you could ever show someone who asks is the symbol of a car. Or a bank. Or a football association. Or the t-shirts of the athletes. **

Think about it.

**or the pictures that I have drawn.

Believin' in thyself

2010-04-20T14:30:00.008+08:00

Another intermission from Tigers
-- (what to do? It's a very very interesting action-packed week) --

Firstly, a loud resounding CONGRATULATIONS to MELVIN TONG for making it to the peak of Mount Kinabalu. That is a tremendous feat of awesomeness (sorry, am too in awe so am rather at a loss for words). I remembered my climb where I kinda crawled at certain parts just to make it to the top, and here is this gutsy guy going all the way up with his crutches. Just awe-inspiring.

Melvin is the gutsy dude in white. Btw, where's my flag? :P

Photo credit: Melvin Tong

CONGRATS MELVIN!
I shall belanja you coconut pudding for your success.

Melvin has proven to us that if you set your mind to do something, no matter how impossible it may seem, you CAN achieve it. Such a living legend.

* * *

Secondly, there was me. This is very much less awe-inspiring. In fact, it's nothing inspiring at all. Just that I didn't die after my personal-training workout session with Sam Tan of Core Fitness. He made me do three circuits of everything and basically worked out all my muscles (even those I've never realised existed in my life) and towards the end, I just wanted to lie down and not move anymore. It's not so much as not being fit, but more of...am not really sure what (muscle-laziness). I am so gonna be sore tomorrow. I'd be grateful for any backrub offers LOL

Wth.

I made it sound like I had a torture session. On the contrary. It was AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH SAM!

Now I feel like I can go to bed and sleep like a log :)

Good night!

#2: boo-ROAR!

2010-04-20T00:10:00.001+08:00

In addition to its usual menu of boar and deer, the tiger has been known to feast on the occasional monkey.

While it cannot climb trees with the agility of monkeys, a tiger would work its way stealthily under a tree and roar...

...to frighten the monkey so that it would fall off its perch down to the waiting tiger.

Did you know?

With unplanned forest managements, huge acres of forests are being cleared, reducing the natural habitat and hunting grounds of the tiger.

People who mindlessly protest and boycott forest products are not doing any good. What everyone should realise is that either we give up entirely our dependency on a certain commodity or carry out better management plans for development projects. Since the latter ain't gonna happen any time soon, perhaps corruption should stay out of projects that involve the environment.

Think about it.

Hear hear...

2010-04-19T12:26:00.006+08:00

... to the happy couple!

In response to Yen Chiew's (Mrs Oo-to-be): "To a whole new beginning!"

-- Intermission from Tiger Week --

Congratulations are in order to my dear friend for her ROM (Registry of Marriages, not the computer parts term) last weekend. *big grin* You are officially married in the eyes of the legal system! Huzzah!

And also, congratulations for upholding the noble morales of our upbringing for being the only couple there that isn't pregnant and/or underage. I know it makes me sound mightily old-fashioned, close-minded (and every other profanity you 'contemporary' types out there are hurling at me now) but I still stand by my beliefs of holding on to some virtues as an Asian, and all that.

I mean hey, Asians were once known for their strict upbringing and morality, so why not?

Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS once again to the happy couple.

Update: I have photo!!!

p/s: Stay tuned for another TIGER entry tomorrow! (this time it involves a monkey *oooh*)

#1: Hello Tiger Week!

2010-04-19T00:30:00.002+08:00

Did you know?

There are less than 500 tigers in the wild.
There are more students in ONE school than tigers in the wild.

Think about it.

Re: PoTM #13042010

2010-04-18T14:59:00.004+08:00

Less than a week ago, Monyet King of Planet of the Monyets put up an entry regarding his honour of meeting a Giant ~ Melvin Tong.

Well, today, I had the honour of meeting said Giant too. What's more, I also got to meet his sister, and the rest of the troop who will be climbing Mount Kinabalu tomorrow to raise awareness and funds for the fight against child abuse. The climb is organized by Shelter Homes(03-79550663).

Me, being a scatter-brain as usual, completely forgot that I had my camera in my bag, so I don't have any photos for this post. But yea, basically Melvin 'appointed' this 'task' to me yesterday that I have to get them a Malaysia flag. Which I did. So I had this short ~~awkward~~ moment where I felt like a minister handing a flag to some elite troop going to battle.

Anyway, all the best to the 33-member team who will be climbing the country's highest peak (SEA's 5th) tomorrow and the day after. Let's hope for the best climbing weather for them!

- - -
On to another topic, just for the record of my 'egocentric' self, this is roughly how my sketches are when I take a pencil to paper:

I am putting this up today because for the next week, thou shalt be wow-ed by my artistic skills (or lack of). Honest-to-goodness. That's a teaser. Tiger Week starts tomorrow!

Less than 12 hours to Tiger Blogfest 2010!

"Do they eat jellybeans?"

2010-04-14T18:47:00.008+08:00

Back in my 'tween days when most girls my age were hyped on the Sweet Valley Twins series, I on the other hand, for some unbeknownst reason, preferred The Baby-sitters Club. Perhaps it's the lack of 'popular-clique' vs. 'the nerds' social strata thing (those things never seem to get old, although we don't have them here either), and more of a 'daily adventure in a friendly neighbourhood' kind of thing.

Btw, I am still collecting the books now...they're very difficult to find, usually only in secondhand-bookstores.

The first book in the series. Ah, I miss those good old days...

Of course the book has some rather illogical stuff like how can a bunch of 13-year-olds never grow up after BSC#10 and they just seem to have a myriad of adventures over the summer and winter over and over again. That's the perks of being a fictional character I guess.

Anyway, in reality, I have baby-sat before...in a way. You know, the looking after younger cousins kind of stuff. And I DON'T get paid. And let's not forget my short stint working in a childcare (I was paid, but that was slightly more of a nightmare at times).

What inspired me to write this entry was that I met two adorable little girls just now when I was out running (more like after running) who live in the house opposite. They like the puppies but as they are Muslims, they can't touch. But they still wanted to do something, so they were practically running in and out of their house with food to feed the pups, and toys (oh my).

Conversation snippets with the 8-year-old:

"Do the puppies have chew toys? Why do they like to chew so much? Can we (meaning her younger sister and her) give them our toys?" She had a plastic toy banana in her hand.

"Wouldn't your mom mind? Are you sure you want to just throw your toys away?"

"It's okay. We don't play with it anymore, it's going into storage anyway."

and :

"What do they like to eat? Sometimes we buy food, but we don't eat them. Do they eat cereal? Do they eat jellybeans?"

"Well...they eat biscuits. But nothing chocolate okay?"

They brought Danish butter cookies out to feed the dogs. (feed: as in throw pieces on the road and the dogs eat them.)

and the one that takes the cake:

"I'll try to feed them again tomorrow...before my mom comes home!"

Oops.

I don't mind baby-sitting kids like that though. They'll be fun.

Cheaters' Pizza

2010-04-14T14:06:00.005+08:00

Because PBJ is boring.

* 6 more days to my personal training session *

Ulp.

That said, I'm at the moment trying to reduce rubbish-food intake and confining myself to certain types of food. Wholemeal bread for one. Because I still need the carbs to run. And milk, because calcium is good.

And because starving yourself is just plain dumb.

So anyway, since I have to eat bread-oh-boring-bread for the next few days (lest hello fungus and I have to throw out the rest of the loaf), I came up with another way to make my bread interesting.

Introducing the "Cheaters' Pizza"!

All you need are:

Bread
Butter/margarine
Tomato Puree
Mixed herbs/dried herbs/fresh herbs
Black pepper
A skillet
A stove/cooker/fireplace/campfire

I don't even need to tell you what to do 'cos it's so simple. Just that basically you either butter the bread and throw it onto a skillet, or melt butter in the skillet and throw the bread in and just keep turning it over and over so that you get toast ('cos I do not have a toaster). Next to go on is the tomato puree, herbs, and black pepper. Keep them on the skillet (on low flame all the time) for a bit till the puree doesn't look like it just came out from the can.

Pretty much, that's it. Hence I call it Cheater's Pizza* 'cos it's so simple.

* you can call it Pumpkin Eater's Pizza too, if you like

Here's a close-up. I apologise for the bite 'cos I couldn't resist not trying it before I had the opp to take a photo.

Right. Back to work. Flow duration curves, regional regression curves...oh you are the bane of me!!!

Cheers y'all, and have a good mid-week!

The Boyfriend Shirt

2010-04-08T20:54:00.005+08:00

Something that I rarely post about, but what the heck, I feel like it.

Today I pulled off the 'boyfriend-shirt' look, and felt pretty suave about it (although all I did was went to campus and had lunch and dinner at some shops; and I was, as most of the time, without makeup).

This is the 'boyfriend-shirt' look:

(photo from Facehunter)

Obviously that's not me. I'm not one who's going to take a picture of myself to show off what I'm wearing. Besides, some differences:

my shirt is white with thin lavender stripes
it's not exactly a boyfriend shirt, it's my shirt
not black shoes

Thing is, I highly doubt that I can pull off the look with a real boyfriend shirt, because, let's face it, I don't think any normal-sized guy could fit into my shirt, and I can definitely not fit into any normal-sized guys' shirt without looking like I'm in jammies.

Darn it. Low prob of wardrobe expansion.

But I really like the laid-back but chic look.

10 more days to Tiger Blogfest 2010, it's still not too late to sign up!

Confessions of a Narcissist

2010-04-03T09:06:00.003+08:00

I've been told I'm cute.

And I know whoever who has ever told me that is regretting it immensely now.

Although I would have preferred to be called HOT, let's face the facts, I may not be, and beggars can't be choosers. Compliments are still compliments. So I'm all fine for being 'cute'.

And I don't care that "cute" means "ugly but adorable". There's nothing wrong with being adorable. Besides, who coined that silly definition anyway? It doesn't say that in the real dictionary. I see words like "attractive" and "quaint". I'm not gonna go into more self-complimenting adjectives.

But for the record, I am cute. I have rabbit-hamster teeth and I look like Kermit the Frog.

I know, right?

First of April

2010-04-01T17:00:00.006+08:00

Smoke and mirrors.

You know what they say...be on the lookout for pranky stuff. (Pranky? Isn't there like a prawn cracker called Pranky Prawn?)

Anyways, I was kinda talked into this prank on Facebook whereby I was "in a relationship" with this friend of mine for about 3 hours (which he later went into "it's complicated" and then "single" and we had a fight in the comment boxes).

Talk about drama. Talk about scandalous.

Funny tho, I only got a grand total of five comments from friends whereas he had like twenty. Goes to show whose friends frequent FB more during working hours. But then again, I realised that my privacy setting doesn't show nuts, so I was practically 'not newsworthy' for the first 90 minutes. *sorry*

For the record, I am still not in a relationship with anyone at the moment. I am single. Hunky hunks are welcomed to sign up. Nice guys are definitely encouraged to sign up.

I promise I'll be nice :)

p/s: I apologise to my friends who fell for it and were so nice to "congratulate" me and stuff. So sorry!

pp/s: Speaking of which, check out Lifehouse's new album - Smoke & Mirrors!

A Message from CNNGo to KK Twestival 2010 Team

2010-04-01T00:26:00.003+08:00

Mr. Liu Mun Yin, Marketing Manager of CNNGo.com has a message to all us KK Twestival 2010 volunteers. Thank you!

And thanks Jackie, too!

Awesome awesome

Bruises

2010-03-31T00:00:00.005+08:00

Today I had a wrestling match with a stupid clothes rack. Bugger it. The stupid thing just broke and somehow landed-crushed-wrestled-wtfish me.

I almost broke a finger. But I didn't. Bruised and swollen is a gazillion times better than a broken finger.

And there's this bruise-scratch on my arm that looks like I've been a victim of domestic violence.

Right. Blood clot.

Now I need a hunky hunk who has first-aid knowledge and soft hands to get rid of this patch of clotted blood for me. The ability to sweet talk will be an advantage (seeing as I have to put up with pain -- I do not like pain).

Any takers?

Observations

2010-03-29T20:26:00.002+08:00

Short one this.

Sometimes the "most beautiful" of people are not the "most beautiful" inside. If I'm not wrong this is a cliché, but I did observe this several nights ago.

A beauty queen who used her foot to kick fallen decorations away, as if nobody would see. Is it so hard to bend down and pick it up? Even if it's trash (which it wasn't).

Disappointing really. Although I am not surprised.

Am disgusted.

Angelina Perete & Roger Wang in KK Twestival

2010-03-27T11:46:00.004+08:00

First performance vid of KK Twestival is up by MSJ Media (awesome awesome btw)

Angelina Perete and Roger Wang performing Every Breath You Take:

Somehow (and I really don't know how) a link to my KK Twestival entry is in the info box for this video on YouTube. Which is cool 'cos it's like free publicity for my unknown blog. It's really a "YAY" :)

EARTH HOUR IS TONIGHT!!!

xoxo

Kota Kinabalu Twestival 2010

2010-03-26T18:57:00.008+08:00

The problem with having too much fun on a Thursday night, is that it feels extremely boring not to be doing anything on a Friday night. (Thesis writing, I repeat, does not qualify as FUN.)

I'm bored. And it's only 7pm. Bah.

As promised, here's a less short and ~~less~~ still sweet entry of the KK Twestival which happened yesterday. Which, by the way, was a succes. (The grand total is still yet to be known, but we did good.)

So.

Yes.

Writer's block, dammit.

Let's start with volunteers showing up early and being put to cutting cutting cutting stuff...more birds, raffle tickets, food vouchers, etc. And stringing the little birdies. And hanging them up. Adriance and I had to cut letters out with a blade (do you know how hard it is to cut the letter 'S'?) and stuck them up on the wall.

Volunteers were all in black...with tags. My lanyard was red 'cos I'm a Boss (a lousy one at that).

We ushers basically had nothing to do, so we mingled and busy-bodied around. I ended up serving food and ~~stealing food~~ messing with people's heads. Then 'cos someone was being over-excited and was cheering too loudly by herself for her own good, I joined her to at least form a Sound Machine Duo (which turned into a Group).

Food servers started off serving Miss Sabah Marie Bibiana Baxter...that's like the best time to get food 'cos food was aplenty so we were pretty generous (and not to mention a bit vague on the portion bit).

HoneyBee was selling her cupcakes for RM10 per box. These cute yummy birdie cupcakes! And all proceeds go to the children! How about that?

Jonathan Tse performed his all-original songs (and a coupla covers).

Angelina Perete and Robert Wang performed.

The auction was KRAZY. It's amazing how generous people can be "for the children". Bottles of wine went off in a flash, The Bag Bar's special Birdie Bag fetched an awesome amount of RM350.

The guys were also auctioned off (everyone fetching more than RM100) ...

... all for the sake of the children. The impoverished children who'll be going to school thank all of you good people.

Great job everyone, a great job indeed. *self-pat on back*

Ha. Looks like I managed to keep it short and sweet after all :)

DON'T FORGET IT'S EARTH HOUR THIS SATURDAY THE 27th MARCH 2010!

Cheer's y'all and have a good weekend.

Blue Potato Strategy

2010-03-26T14:01:00.005+08:00

This was supposed to be up a coupla nights ago, but I didn't want it to, you know, take the spotlight away from KK Twestival and all that. So I put it off till after.

It's short but I just have to show it to the world.

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a root/tuberous vegetable that many of us are very familiar with. The most common orange one, and of course the purple. Usually, I don't really give it a second thought, but if I see one lying around the house, I am always tempted to boil it to make fan shu tong sui (fsts) -- which literally translates from cantonese to "sweet potato sugar water".

Diabetes-waiting-to-happen.

It's not that bad. Honestly. And the all gooey potato is really nice.

Digressing. Sorry. My point is, when one makes fsts from the purple species of sweet potato, one expects the fsts to be purple in colour. Which is the norm.

The fsts made by yours truly turned out BLUE.

Honest-to-goodness.
Thank you very much,

Post KK Twestival

2010-03-26T03:00:00.008+08:00

Right. Short one. I'll have a proper (well relatively) entry up later today or in the next few days. Now that Twestival is over and I don't have an excuse to procrastinate, I have to get back to my work.

What can I say? KK Twestival was just awesome. Great fun people, had a rockin' time. In points ('cos it's 3am and I'm rather lazy to type proper sentences; yet reluctant to go to bed):

laughed so so so so so SO much (and woot-ed, and cheered...so gonna lose my voice tomorrow)
legs are aching, from standing too much
switched jobs from ushering (although I ushered, like three persons) to food-serving...'cos one can get free wine from that job (thanks, Genn!)
saw Françoise becoming too too TOO happy (hee hee)
watched really great performances
gave away a sum of money
befriended a bunch of fun people
embarassing moment: spilling water down my front (I don't even know how it happened) right in front of the two hunks who were auctioned. OMGWTH. Frogs.
note to self: work out to get really fit, so that I can go for the personal-training-session with Sam Tan at Core Fitness (I know, redundant, but it's so that I don't embarass myself by keeling over when Sam makes me do something severe. Let's just hope I don't fall off the treadmill or something.)

~with Jonathan Tse (where am I? behind the camera, of course!)

Next social/cause event coming up: EARTH HOUR 2010!

xoxo

Countdown to KK Twestival 2010

2010-03-24T23:09:00.007+08:00

Less than one more day (?) erm...I don't know in exact hours and minutes :)

But yea, do come for it if you have the time. Come meet and give bah!

Tonight being the night before the event, volunteers are all abuzz, being briefed on what we're to do tomorrow, and also to get some stuff done (i.e. decorations). Jackie (@fooz) was in a bit of a tizzy, but it's all good. More goodies from sponsors are pouring in.

The banners arrived *weeeeee!!!*

and we spent several hours cutting birds. Blue and yellow Twitter birds. I have Lady Gaga's infamous crooked fingers now.

Can't wait!

xoxo

Social Networking Etiquette

2010-03-23T19:10:00.004+08:00

Saying "excuse me", not interrupting, not coughing into people's faces.

Just like our everyday lives, there is social etiquette for the lives you lead online. Being in the virtual world doesn't mean one can just leave all their manners at the door and be a complete jackass. What with all the social interaction one conducts online, some people should really really learn.

There are sites and articles about this, you know. Just Google.

Off top of my head (and these are common stuff, especially on Facebook -- that darned social media outlet):

a) CAPS MEANS SHOUTING. AND THAT IS RUDE. Well, unless when you can't italic or bold words, thus a capitalised word means emphasis, but otherwise, IT'S FREAKIN' ANNOYING TO READ THINGS IN CAPS 'COS YOU ARE BEING A JACKASS YELLING AT OTHERS. Get what I mean? (I apologise for the 'yelling' btw, am just making a point.)

b) Jackass comments with spelling and grammatical errors, and make absolutely no sense, just proves to the world how much more of a jackass you are.

c) Differentiating between really public photo tags and personal photo tags. And commenting on them:

If it's a photo of yourself, your friend, you and your friends, etc. then its perfectly fine for it to be commented on. That is the point you put up the photo anyway. If you don't want anyone to comment then turn off the option.
If it's a public thing which you have been tagged to be alerted about something (an event, an invitation, etc) please take into account that any airhead comments you make will be in the inbox of everybody tagged in the picture. So unless it has anything to so with the event, be considerate and not post your personal schedule or whatever in the comment boxes. People do not appreciate rubbish flooding their inbox, and the original person who posted the alert sure does not appreciate you utilising their post for your own shoutouts.

d) One of my ultimate pet-peeves which is not exactly an etiquette thing ... it just annoys me: The Self-Promotion.

The "cutesy" photos, the fitting room photos, the bathroom photos (come on, people, can you be any more vain?).
The nobody-gives-a-damn-that-you-are-in-the-toilet status updates (seriously).
The "I broke up/I love you to bits/I can't live without you" posts (seriously).

These people do realise that all those junk are in public domain, don't they?

But then again, some people just have some kind of disorder.

*shrugs*

What's behind your name?

2010-03-22T15:24:00.009+08:00

As with most names, there are always meanings behind them, irregardless of language and culture. I kinda roughly know what my name means but not specifially, so I took the initiative to find out after I realised that

a) people seriously think that I'm such a BANANA that they underestimate me
b) my name has a beautiful meaning to it
c) it is so not shallow (thank goodness)
d) this is a very good conversation topic :)

Just to make things clear (and to support my non-shallow-superficial remark) the 'Li' in my name is not written as "丽" in "美丽" which means 'beautiful'. Every single person who has ever tried to take a stab at my name makes that mistake.

My mom will never give me such a shallow name, thank you.

Roughly translated my name means "water trickling into an overflowing urn".

Which means...here's a picture of it!

Okay. That's more like trickling out but...apples and oranges.

I have friends with names that mean "Swallow", "Firefly", "Friendly Carp", "Jade Pearl", and "Good Wisdom". I know, we sound like a native tribe.

Btw, HAPPY WORLD WATER DAY EVERYBODY!!!

Do you know what your name means?

Broken Vow

2010-03-18T14:07:00.003+08:00

I broke a plan today. My plan to meet up with my supervisor and plague him with questions. You see, my plan was to wake up at 6am, be stuck in the jam (for not too long), head down to campus and park myself in front of his room.

Then I went to bed a little later than usual, curled up with the final few chapters of Jeffrey Archer's False Impression...and you know how it all went. "I just had to finish the book" (although I am actually re-reading it)...3am came around. I laid in bed, in the dark, with eyes forced closed. Next thing I know, Rachel Berry was screeching in my ear (I really have to change my alarm from Glee's Don't Stop Believin' to something else. Maybe DeBussy's Claire de Lune...but then, most prolly I won't wake up at all with that.)

Then I did the most dreaded thing: SNOOZE.

Actually I accidentally turned it off.

Next I knew, it was hot and it was 11am.

DARN IT.

So most prolly I'll head out later (with the few stapled pieces of junk -- capital embarassment) or try my luck tomorrow morning. Wait...this afternoon is better. If I strike out I don't have to wake up too early tomorrow.

This is just random ranting. I just felt the need to type. It has absolutely no journalistic appeal whatsoever.

By the way, anyone in Kota Kinabalu interested in being part of the Kota Kinabalu Twestival, check out their site ( click on their logo on the right column of my blog ). Come, come...volunteer for a worthy cause!

xoxo

Return of the Jinx

2010-03-17T22:49:00.004+08:00

It never fails. Every single time. For the past two years.

*sigh*

Why is it that whenever it comes to thesis-related printing, my printer has to act up on me? Even though now it's only the draft of a chapter (thank goodness, actually).

Project 1 in Final Year: my printer DIED.

Undergrad thesis: the new printer ran out of ink and none could be found anywhere in the city.

And now:

Appalling. I know.

The Special Edition 50 Note

2010-03-16T21:20:00.004+08:00

I know this is really old news -- the country's money reserve issued a new 50 ringgit note last year to commemorate the 50th year of independence, etc. with more designs to prevent counterfeiting etc.

It's just that today, I noticed that there is a Special Edition RM50 note which bears the '50 years of independence' logo on the top right corner on the back of the note.

It was by accident actually.

I was paying at the cashier and only had an RM50 note to spare, and it's a new one at that. Out of habit, I tend to be a bit reluctant to spend the 'new' note because I still don't come across it very often ( I don't know why, but the ATMs here still spew out old RM50 notes to me ). And also out of habit, I usually keep a new note in my purse just for the fun of it.

The split second it takes for me to feel 'reluctant' was all that was needed to notice the little logo on the note.

Ha. And I got this from the cashier at the petrol station the other day :)

Digressing from work,

Call of the Tiger

2010-03-15T13:36:00.005+08:00

ROAR.

Planet of the Monyets is organising the Tiger Blogfest 2010 which will be held from 19 – 23 April 2010.

To quote POTM: "The Tiger Blogfest 2010 is an avenue for the blogging community to contribute towards protecting our national heritage. Tell a story, write a poem, post a technical paper, draw cartoons, compose a song, relate your personal experience – anything as long as it convey the message of the need to protect our tigers."

For more information, check out the First Announcement at the website. If you are game to do your part for our tigers and participate in this blogfest, please contact Planet of the Monyets at gbm.ere@gmail.com to register your blog.

A Tiger Blogfest participant,

I'm not at home

2010-03-10T12:00:00.002+08:00

QOTD: "There is no easy method of accomplishing difficult things. The method is to close the door, tell people you are not at home...and work."

It's embarassing really, to have a meeting with The Supervisor with unfinished work, thus I put off seeing The Supervisor until I tie up the few loose ends. Which is taking me longer than expected. Which is back to being ultimately embarassing. This is SO ruining my reputation.

This also increases my urge to go out and hit some balls, albeit the murderous hot weather. Honestly, is 2012 really coming true? Because the weather is rather dodgy these days.

The room is also in such a mess with papers, scribbled drafts, scribbled notes, post-its, opened books, more papers...a printer that occasionally acts up. This is so environmentally-unfriendly, I tell you.

Please forgive my tardiness,

More Stupidity Ensues

2010-03-08T20:16:00.004+08:00

It's difficult to prevent animosity when disrespective idiotic issues like this is allowed to happen:

Malaysia magazine sorry for communion-spitting offence
A Malaysian Muslim magazine has apologised after two of its journalists pretended to be Roman Catholics and took Holy Communion in a church.

Some comments:

"The government's top lawyer, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, said the pair had not understood the significance of the wafer."

a) How can they be 'journalists' when they are THAT "ignorant"? It's like having to report about dolphins and thinking they are fish. Don't they do any research prior to the assignment? This is such an insult to the journalistic community.

"The actions of the two reporters may have hurt the feelings of the people but I was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone. It was an act of sheer ignorance."

b) Why did they receive the communion anyway? One can go "undercover" to church and not forced to receive the Holy Communion. Oh yea, wait..."IGNORANCE". I guess you can get off any misdeeds nowadays by pleading "non-intentional" and "ignorance".

"The journalists said they had found no evidence of the illegal conversion of Muslims."

c) DUH.

Honestly, can these people be any more stupid?

Chap Goh Meh

2010-03-01T12:05:00.003+08:00

Funny how the hokkien version of the name of the day is generally accepted.

Chap Goh Meh, which literally translates to the 'fifteenth night', is the last day the Chinese New Year celebrations. It's also supposed to be some wishful night for singles out there. LOL. Mandarin oranges tossing, etc. Stuff I've never done.

Last night, for us, is more like a celebration of friends. And food -- two homecooked food: chicken rice and bubur chacha for dessert.

And a lot of free fireworks for entertainment.

And a lot of guys to finish up the food.

It's very satisfying when you've spent some time cooking and then people appreciate your hardwork, asked for seconds, and finish up everything. Finishing up everything. Magical words. I also liked the fact that the guys insisted on washing up (because I don't like to do dishes).

Although it is a bit weird to be complimented (I think) that my cooking taste like somebody's mother's.

On an entirely different topic, I am not kedekut ilmu okay?

:P

Enter the Tiger

2010-02-23T18:34:00.001+08:00

Another new year, another load of stuff for the memory vault.

Chinese New Year has been becoming more and more meaningful to me as I grow older. I thought last year was good. This year, however, but much better. I guess its the amount of quality time spent with the family and getting to be together with relatives who I only see a few times a year. But yea, the limited amount of time makes one cherish each moment more.

It also serves as an urgent reminder for me to finish up and go home for good. I think I've spent enough time being away.

LOL. Nostalgia kicks in with age.

It dawned on me that many of us have been friends for the past 15 years (thanks Yen Chiew for that reminder!) so let's keep it going for the next 15 years and more!

And of course, the family. I know it makes me sound really old, but here you go: three generations! And finally we're all gathered at the same place :)

Gong xi fa cai and a *ROAR*,

Fish Day

2010-02-08T18:13:00.003+08:00

WTFish.

Whataday.

Because my blog is not for ranting, here's something to think about:

"Since all words starting with a lower case "i" have already been TMed, let's begin anew with a lower case "u" and an animal name." -- John Mayer

Good one.

I call dibs on uMonkey since it's a very commonly used insult (or compliment, depending on your take of life).

I verb nouns,

The Self-Elucidation

2010-01-25T17:00:00.002+08:00

Because answering random questions honestly about oneself helps with self-discovery and understanding.

Also because I made a conscious agreement with myself and am determined to deliver. Cryptic, I know. It's just some battles with the inner-~~procrastinator~~ -demons.

I got this off Kum's FB Note by the way. I just had an urge to deplore myself.

Here goes nothing:

Can you fill this out without lying?
Yes. Self-deploratory rules said so.

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Water.

Have you ever kissed anyone named Matthew?
No. I don't know that many Matthews. Come to think of it, I don't know any Matthews personally.

Where was your profile picture taken?
That nice field in front of the Concert Gebouw in Amsterdam. The one spot where we went camwhore-crazy.

Name someone that made you laugh today?
I haven't exactly spoken to anyone today. Wow. That is possible. LOL. Oh look, I made me laugh.

How late did you stay up last night and why?
3am. I came back late and got caught up with some reading. And oh yea, watching Glee.

If you could move somewhere else, would you?
Yes. I am half-sick of being here now. Europe would be good, but then it's always the 'greener grass other side' syndrome.

Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Yes. Happy 2007, I think.

Which of your friends live closest to you?
Bibi, Fera, Jesper - 3 mins walk away, Vanny - 3 streets down, Jim - 3 mins run away, and Mei - 2 streets back. Pretty close-by seeing as we're all in the same housing area.

Do you believe ex's can be friends?
I want to believe that, but personally, I don't think so. It's hard.

When was the last time you cried really hard?
I can't remember but it should be quite a while back, at least 2 years ago. I haven't found much stuff to cry over since I throw tantrums when I'm stressed and not burst into tears.

Where are you right now?
In my room.

What bed did you sleep in last night?
My own bed. Mattress courtesy of some effortless thievery.

What was the last thing someone bought for you?
Michael Crichton's State of Fear -- a very advanced birthday present from Francoise.

Who took your profile picture?
Lawson did. Amazing pic, thanks :)

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Somebody during SUNRED 2010 last Saturday. I'm not sure who it was tho.

Was yesterday better than today?
Perhaps, seeing as yesterday was SUNDAY.

Are you mad about anything?
Yes. It has something to do with my workload progress (or lack of it) and my discipline (or lack of it).

Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
I think I'm too young at this point to be too much of a skeptic, so it's a loud resounding YES (and hoping really hard that I'm right).

Are you a bad influence?
No. Controlling parents actually think I'm 'safe-company' for their offsprings. Go figure.

Night out or night in?
Typically night-in. But I wouldn't say no to an occasional night-out.

What items could you not go without during the day?
Cellphone. And the trusty laptop.

What does the last text message in your inbox say?
Dad said: A happy family is but an earlier heaven.

How do you feel about your life right now?
Honestly, it could be better, but I'm not complaining. It's just mundane. I would absolutely appreciate some excitement.

Do you hate anyone?
I think I do.

Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
Hands-down, no prob.

Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
I highly doubt it. I don't know that many deluded people.

What song is stuck in your head?
Journey's Don't Stop Believin' -- the one done by the Glee cast.

Someone knocks on your window at 2am, who do you want it to be?
My room's on the first floor, so if anyone were to knock on my window at that time I would be very-freaked-out.

Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50?
No. Also, logically, I think that cannot happen.

Ever yours,

The Orang Utan STAYS

2010-01-23T17:23:00.004+08:00

Because I said so.

Right.

So the latest news (well, not that new but not too long ago either) was that the PM requested for some orang utan to be sent to Peninsular Malaysia to promote eco-tourism.

The STAR 20 Jan 2010: Sabah against relocating orang utan

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not keen to relocate any orang utan to Peninsular Malaysia for eco-tourism purposes.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said not only is it dangerous to remove the sensitive primates from their natural habitat but the local people were against such a move to send the state’s icon away.

He said this when commenting on a statement by Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk James Dawos Mamit, who said they would obtain orang utan from Sabah and Sarawak to set up an eco-tourism attraction similar to the Sepilok orang utan sanctuary in Sandakan and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in Kuching.

Mamit had told reporters in Kuching on Sunday that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had requested for some orang utan to be sent to Peninsular Malaysia to promote eco-tourism.

Masidi said yesterday orang utan were not like some other animals that could be easily relocated from their habitat. He said any relocation could be traumatising enough to cause their death.

He said relocating an orang utan involved a lot of technicalities and planning.

“The orang utan should stay where they are. Those who want to see orang utan will have to come to Sabah to see them,” Masidi said adding that there had been no official request made to the state government for the primate.

Thank you, Datuk Masidi. At least, a voice of reason.

And I am embarassed, yet again, to be from the Peninsular. What kind of moronic idea is that? It's like saying "Hey, let's clear *insert a town in West Malaysia* , turn it into a savannah, and bring in some lions, giraffes, and zebras. You don't have to go to Africa, you can just visit *previously inserted town* !"

Might as well move Mount Kinabalu while they're at it.

One doesn't even have to go as far as to contemplate the economical and social implications. The account of the orang utan welfare alone is enough to know that this is stupid.

They should just go ahead and say they want to relocate all the native animals of all the countries in the world so that everyone will visit Peninsular Malaysia for eco-tourism and nowhere else.

VERY against the relocation of orangutans,

C25K

2010-01-14T13:15:00.005+08:00

As always, because I like to share cool stuff.

Here's one for all the couch potatoes out there who really want to stick to the resolutions and get some calories burned, but just can't find the drive to do it: The Couch to 5K program.

I'm now in my 7th week of the 10K regime, however I realised that the regime is geared towards exactly 10 weeks to Run Day and since I'm not participating in any 10K soon, I thought I'd just repeat the 5th week plan (but it's getting boring).

So I found a new regime for the mean time and thought I'd try it out.

All you need is a pair of running shoes and a mp3 player -- things I never go without when I run.

And download the podcasts from HERE

Basically it spares you the time of creating playlist of power songs (although that is quite fun) and the hassle of timing yourself. All you have to do is play the respective podcast before you start and just listen to what Robert Ullrey tells you to do (run, walk, go on, you're doing great).

Google this running regime if you're interested to read more about it. All the best in sticking to the keeping fit resolution (I have a feeling most people have that in their list).

Happy running!

That 'Banned' Word

2010-01-13T23:28:00.003+08:00

In all honesty, that whole dispute on the 'A-word' (which I'm not allowed to use 'cos the Enactment said so) is ridiculous.

That said, I reckon I am miffed about the whole thing not because of faith issues, because, let's face it, I am kind of a skeptic when it comes to religion. Besides, I'm of neither faith, and I almost never use the word. So risking being disrespectful and vulgar, I'd say I couldn't care less if both parties want to fight over it.

But then the 'exclusivity' issue. Bringing in "The Enactment". In the first place, why is an issue like this in the Enactment, which was created more than 20 years ago, only a dispute in recent years? It's like fighting with a neighbouring country about who came up with the idea to cook rice with coconut milk and then realising that 150 years ago, the native islanders of some pacific isle did it first because they got tired of cooking rice with seawater.

Stupid law. Stupid dispute. Stupid people making so much stupid noise and riot over it.

The news here

What's even more silly (sillier?) was that in the news regarding the 1988 non-Muslim Enactment prohibiting non-Muslims from using the 'A-word' is closely followed by, in the same page mind you, news regarding some local 'pop princess' and her RM40,000 Louis Vuitton handbag for her 31st birthday, in addition to other previous luxurious gifts (and their price tags).

Either the news is nuts or this is some subtle move to ignite the anger of "revolutionary radicals" to perhaps hurl molotov cocktails at the upper crust. Whichever, the news nowadays is really trash.

Thank goodness for free news online,

Embarassment

2010-01-08T17:22:00.006+08:00

To my dear country,

Congratulations yet again for making worldwide headlines on such embarassing matters.

If you yearn to pick fights about "your claim of rights", try sticking to arguing with a neighbouring country about the founder of nasi lemak and rendang daging.

At least that is on par with the level of mentality and ridicule.

Am I embarass to see all this? Am I furious? Yes I am.

And I am almost an atheist.

p/s: To all international readers (if any), please note that just because there are stupid Malaysians in the headlines, that does not mean all Malaysians are stupid.

Yours sincerely,

The Countdown

2010-01-01T13:20:00.002+08:00

Disclamier: I am not a Party Girl.

That said, let us usher in a new decade of the 21st century!

Typically for New Year's, my celebratory ways were pretty much on the quiet side. 'Cos I don't like crowds. And traffic jams. D'oh. But yea, whatever you know..it's only one of the few times to meet up with people you don't see a lot throughout the year, so hey, why not go out and be squished for 2010?

Besides, I got to see the transformation of KK Times Square from a very mundane (almost dead) block of buildings to this really happening place. I was surprised.

It was kinda like, last party of 2009, first party scene of 2010. They caged off the place sorta like at The Curve. We snuck in with our friends' ingenuity and strategic moves.

In other words, it was full and they wouldn't let us enter even if we wanted to pay.

Partied from the outside...

...to the inside

Awesome.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Foresight (?)

2009-12-31T16:07:00.004+08:00

Now, as a follow-up to my previous entry -- just in case people don't get cynicism and that I meant everything in the hyperbole.

I'm not really a believer of horoscopes and what-nots, being a skeptic and all, but hey, where's the fun if you don't usher in the new year with some faith on the astrological plane?

Btw, just in case you are curious of what the future has in store for you in 2010, here's a link.

Right.

I shall now dissect mine and analyse:

"The next year is going to give you the opportunity to use those sharp mental powers to focus on what it is you really want out of life."
Resolution #1: Enhance brain usage (good, good..)

"Saturn is also going to be bringing big changes as to your philosophical approach to life. This year, your life is likely to be a saner, better-adjusted place for it."
Oh, thank the stars!
Resolution #2: Stop being disgruntled at the world.

"The middle part of the year will see close friends and partners coming and going in your life, more so than you've seen in a long time."
Well, there will be a wedding...but only in October.

"The entire period of January through September will see dramatically improved luck; not necessarily "winning the lottery" type luck, though."
Awesome. I don't do lottery anyway, and luck is always good.

"Work in general will continue to be the same combination of grind and reward that you're used to throughout most of the year, with an overall slight reduction in pressure."
Rubbish. I know I'll be pressured to meet my personal deadline.
Resolution #3: Complete MSc thesis by June 2010

"Wherever Cupid finds you on your birthday, in the following year you will be ending up somewhere significantly different."
I'll be at home for my birthday, so hurm...this might be interesting.

It's your worldview, Aquarius -- make it the best you can! Sounds like it's going to be a pretty good year to look forward to :)

Happy 2010 everyone!

Resolutions

2009-12-31T01:02:00.002+08:00

Last day to:

1) not be productive
2) bum around
3) maximise the usage of profanities
4) be disgruntled at the world
5) be a bitch to all
6) sleep late

I wanted to add "not run" but then seeing as it's the last day to rack up miles for Run for Hopenhagen that's not gonna happen. Besides, I don't want to break the regime.

In case I don't recall what I did to usher in 2010, here's wishing you all an advanced HAPPY NEW YEAR! Have a blessed and amazing one!

1 more day,

Potential

2009-12-29T22:31:00.004+08:00

"You're alive. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you change the world, the world will change.

Potential.

Once you're dead, it's gone. Over. You've made what you've made, dreamed your dream, written your name. You may be buried, you may even walk. But that potential is finished."

- Silas to Nobody Owens, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Potential. Makes a good new year's resolution, don't you think? Fits all those clichés too: "realise your potential", "unleash your potential"... The perks of being alive -- the thought of what you do in your lifetime, really does matter.

2 more days,