Monday, September 29, 2008
Happy things dont last
(1) My boss just resigned, he is moving to a better position in a sister company. sigh.. hope they would find someone who is at least as nice as him. He is such a nice man.
100Km/h at MRR 2
I am happy today, ( at least at the this morning so far),
(1) 100 km/5 at gear 5 today at MRR2.... wowiee...a record speed....if like this you all can continue having your raya holidays for all i care.
(1) 100 km/5 at gear 5 today at MRR2.... wowiee...a record speed....if like this you all can continue having your raya holidays for all i care.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
A Case for Si Tanggang ?
(1) 3 posts a day ? Man i must have a lot of real time, the truth is actually i just love to post new blogs at my new "lawn" area, its just nice to write blogs while listening to bbcnews at background and enjoying the stars and the cold night air at my "lawn"
(2) The issue on the mind at hand right now is Sit Tanggang, a friend of mine jokingly brought it up. And on the eve of this raya nonsense, what better way to celebrate raya than to re-examine the belief system we have on raya and family loyalty.
(3) To those who never had the pleasure ( or pain ) to know who is tanggang, he is in a nutshell, a kampong dude who was kidnapped when he was small while fetching water from the river by merchants sailing in a ship, he became a ship hand, eventually becoming well off, had his own ship, married a pretty girl and well lived happily ever after. One day when he was sailing downriver he met some ulu people who was shouting estatically at him, it turned out to be his parents, to cut a long Bollywood story short, yada yada, he refuses to acknowledge them, they cry cry cry. The parents got broken hearted, yada yada yada. Cursed him and turned him and the whole ship into stone...sheesh...talk about collateral damage...dont the parents think about the OTHER sailors who have kids and wives to go back to..
(4) No, I am not going to retell the whole story, the case i am going to argue is regarding Tanggang, and his conviction of not acknowledging his parents. We all were brought up to believe that Tanggang is an arrogant fellow who had forgotten his roots. It was because those reasons that he was cursed into stone. Poor fellow.
(5) Did it ever occurred to anyone that Tanggang was probably doing what he thought was right ?, It is the fundamental principle of humans and this was even acknowledged by the writer of the excellent book Awaken the Giant Within , Anthony Robbins that humans operate on the principle of “ AVOIDING PAIN and TOWARDS COMFORT”. What if Tanggang knew that by going back he would be going back to a whole world of pain ? and this knowing the family and parochial system in place it would mean that he would once again be a servant to his family and tribe once again. Would you want to become a servant again after working so hard for your freedom and worth. Bear in mind that Tanggang came from one of those tribes where you are expected to pay tribute to the head villager at least once a year ( not that it is much different from the malay village, a tribute will have to be given one way or the other via sedekah, or belanja or whatever you call it nowadays). If he had acknowledge the parents back, he would have to be under that stifling system again. Would you want to be a servant again after working so hard for your freedom ?
(6) Suppose its not the village head or the parochial system that made him refuse to acknowledge his parents and lineage, but it was his parents ? Did it ever occurred to anyone that he may have a good reason not to acknowledge them?, Maybe he was abused as a child? Abuse need not mean sexually, it could also mean that he was tasked to bring water from the river to the house 50 times a day. Who would on his right mind go back to such a life ? We are not talking a life with air conditions and Astro and Streamyx here, we’re talking a hard tribesman life circa 1800. Also he may have not been the favourite in the family and was constantly bullied by his siblings and friends. What better way to give the thumb than by moving on from such oppressive life. What i am trying to say is that maybe life was harsh for him and he made a conscious decision not to have such oppressive life. Shouldnt we respect his decision ?
(7) Maybe if Tanggang were to admit his parents there and then there would be a mutiny on the ship, Maybe the sailors could not accept that their captain was a orang Asli from a backwater village. Try imagine a American galleon captain in the 1800s admit that he has Negro blood. His sailors would tie him to a log and throw him overboard. Knowing the mentality of people at that time they would certainly do so. They would rather be captained by a talking parrot than a half Negro captain. Not that i have anything against a Negro but i am just stating the mindset of the people living at that time.
(8) My last point, when he was turned into stone, he had a ship and also a wife, that would mean he was a man of his own already, The parents should have been happy to see that their son had turned out to be better than them, not drag him back to their backwater meandering ways, Even if he didn’t acknowledge them maybe it is for the best of things. Maybe such lineage should be forgotten in order for him and his generations to live better.
(9) It is near raya, Maybe it is time turn the stone into man, Failure to look at it differently it would mean that the stone is set in our hearts instead.
(2) The issue on the mind at hand right now is Sit Tanggang, a friend of mine jokingly brought it up. And on the eve of this raya nonsense, what better way to celebrate raya than to re-examine the belief system we have on raya and family loyalty.
(3) To those who never had the pleasure ( or pain ) to know who is tanggang, he is in a nutshell, a kampong dude who was kidnapped when he was small while fetching water from the river by merchants sailing in a ship, he became a ship hand, eventually becoming well off, had his own ship, married a pretty girl and well lived happily ever after. One day when he was sailing downriver he met some ulu people who was shouting estatically at him, it turned out to be his parents, to cut a long Bollywood story short, yada yada, he refuses to acknowledge them, they cry cry cry. The parents got broken hearted, yada yada yada. Cursed him and turned him and the whole ship into stone...sheesh...talk about collateral damage...dont the parents think about the OTHER sailors who have kids and wives to go back to..
(4) No, I am not going to retell the whole story, the case i am going to argue is regarding Tanggang, and his conviction of not acknowledging his parents. We all were brought up to believe that Tanggang is an arrogant fellow who had forgotten his roots. It was because those reasons that he was cursed into stone. Poor fellow.
(5) Did it ever occurred to anyone that Tanggang was probably doing what he thought was right ?, It is the fundamental principle of humans and this was even acknowledged by the writer of the excellent book Awaken the Giant Within , Anthony Robbins that humans operate on the principle of “ AVOIDING PAIN and TOWARDS COMFORT”. What if Tanggang knew that by going back he would be going back to a whole world of pain ? and this knowing the family and parochial system in place it would mean that he would once again be a servant to his family and tribe once again. Would you want to become a servant again after working so hard for your freedom and worth. Bear in mind that Tanggang came from one of those tribes where you are expected to pay tribute to the head villager at least once a year ( not that it is much different from the malay village, a tribute will have to be given one way or the other via sedekah, or belanja or whatever you call it nowadays). If he had acknowledge the parents back, he would have to be under that stifling system again. Would you want to be a servant again after working so hard for your freedom ?
(6) Suppose its not the village head or the parochial system that made him refuse to acknowledge his parents and lineage, but it was his parents ? Did it ever occurred to anyone that he may have a good reason not to acknowledge them?, Maybe he was abused as a child? Abuse need not mean sexually, it could also mean that he was tasked to bring water from the river to the house 50 times a day. Who would on his right mind go back to such a life ? We are not talking a life with air conditions and Astro and Streamyx here, we’re talking a hard tribesman life circa 1800. Also he may have not been the favourite in the family and was constantly bullied by his siblings and friends. What better way to give the thumb than by moving on from such oppressive life. What i am trying to say is that maybe life was harsh for him and he made a conscious decision not to have such oppressive life. Shouldnt we respect his decision ?
(7) Maybe if Tanggang were to admit his parents there and then there would be a mutiny on the ship, Maybe the sailors could not accept that their captain was a orang Asli from a backwater village. Try imagine a American galleon captain in the 1800s admit that he has Negro blood. His sailors would tie him to a log and throw him overboard. Knowing the mentality of people at that time they would certainly do so. They would rather be captained by a talking parrot than a half Negro captain. Not that i have anything against a Negro but i am just stating the mindset of the people living at that time.
(8) My last point, when he was turned into stone, he had a ship and also a wife, that would mean he was a man of his own already, The parents should have been happy to see that their son had turned out to be better than them, not drag him back to their backwater meandering ways, Even if he didn’t acknowledge them maybe it is for the best of things. Maybe such lineage should be forgotten in order for him and his generations to live better.
(9) It is near raya, Maybe it is time turn the stone into man, Failure to look at it differently it would mean that the stone is set in our hearts instead.
Good Morning
(1) What a beautiful morning today is, today i've accomplished what i;ve been dreaming to do for a long long time. To blog and surf at my own green lawn. Been planning to do that ever since i got here but there seems never was time. Thankfully there is today.
(2) Hmm.. come to think of it , its been a while since i had a lawn...thinking real deep of it.. i dont think i ever had a lawn before ( not that the current one is wholly mine but since my unit is on the ground floor that makes me the first in rank to enjoy it hehehe)...high school... dorms...forget about lawns...then uitm matrics....no lawn....then sri permata...no lawn...then sek 7... no lawns either...hmmm... that would mean that this is the first time since i was 13 that i have a place of my own where i can call a lawn...thats like...12 years ago .... wow....the things that you miss...
(3) Its nice to wake up to the smell of fresh dew and coolness of grass... there's just something about nature that is really nice to wake up to...When Serenia Gardens is complete i'll make sure that the house would be as green as possible (not colour wise but nature wise).. Speaking of Serenia, i think i'll go and have a quick look today of what is going on with my new house..
(4) I think today i'll be out shopping for an outdoor lazy chair, it's gonna be tough though with all the raya shoppers around... damn you people...why dont you all stay home and bake rendang or something.... i know jln tunku abd rahman would be packed to the brim today, hmmm on which maybe i should consider getting myself a songkok...Nowadays im quite fond of the songkok...maybe because there's people out there who politicise it... because of that nowadays i would proudly wear the songkok and show defiance to those idiots....it is a symbol of pride for me... enough politics..i couldnt care less who wins or losses anyway nowadays... UMNO is beyond saving...PKR is not worth joining..We need a credible platform and right now there seems to be none....woops...enough politcs...sometimes i think there's a political streak in my blood....hmm wonder where i got that from... i dont think thats the life i want...i've seen it first hand the suffering it had caused to the family of the politician...heck..i experienced it first hand...but then again... im glad of what i am today... couldnt ask for a better upbringing...self sustaining and never needing somebody help to the point of being considered aloof and a hermit...hehehe...oh well...
(5) Anyhow, have a great morning everyone...i know i'm surely having a good one blogging at "my" lawn...
(2) Hmm.. come to think of it , its been a while since i had a lawn...thinking real deep of it.. i dont think i ever had a lawn before ( not that the current one is wholly mine but since my unit is on the ground floor that makes me the first in rank to enjoy it hehehe)...high school... dorms...forget about lawns...then uitm matrics....no lawn....then sri permata...no lawn...then sek 7... no lawns either...hmmm... that would mean that this is the first time since i was 13 that i have a place of my own where i can call a lawn...thats like...12 years ago .... wow....the things that you miss...
(3) Its nice to wake up to the smell of fresh dew and coolness of grass... there's just something about nature that is really nice to wake up to...When Serenia Gardens is complete i'll make sure that the house would be as green as possible (not colour wise but nature wise).. Speaking of Serenia, i think i'll go and have a quick look today of what is going on with my new house..
(4) I think today i'll be out shopping for an outdoor lazy chair, it's gonna be tough though with all the raya shoppers around... damn you people...why dont you all stay home and bake rendang or something.... i know jln tunku abd rahman would be packed to the brim today, hmmm on which maybe i should consider getting myself a songkok...Nowadays im quite fond of the songkok...maybe because there's people out there who politicise it... because of that nowadays i would proudly wear the songkok and show defiance to those idiots....it is a symbol of pride for me... enough politics..i couldnt care less who wins or losses anyway nowadays... UMNO is beyond saving...PKR is not worth joining..We need a credible platform and right now there seems to be none....woops...enough politcs...sometimes i think there's a political streak in my blood....hmm wonder where i got that from... i dont think thats the life i want...i've seen it first hand the suffering it had caused to the family of the politician...heck..i experienced it first hand...but then again... im glad of what i am today... couldnt ask for a better upbringing...self sustaining and never needing somebody help to the point of being considered aloof and a hermit...hehehe...oh well...
(5) Anyhow, have a great morning everyone...i know i'm surely having a good one blogging at "my" lawn...
Saturday, September 27, 2008
My Life Thus Far
(1) As we are blissfully unaware of an impending world financial crisis, us Malaysians folks are happily spending what little money we have in preparation of a single day which is suppose to be a joyous one. Why is it a joyous one is beyond me. It will end by noon anyways as by then all would be stuffed with lemang and rendang and is looking forward for a nice noon nap.
(2) When i turned on the BBC news just now i saw a blown up Gen2, for a moment there i thought terorism has finally reached our shores. It turned out to be a bomb somewhere in Syria. Pheww.. I guess we have to thank the men and women in the police/intelligence/army service for that. Like it or not, there has yet a single assasination and bombing to happen in Malaysia. In our neighbouring country of Thailand and Phillippines and Indonesia it happens like a daily fact of life.
(3) I am thankful for today. Today is the day i finally get to unwind, rest, wake up late, do my laundry, watch old movies (Casablanca is my new favourite). Even then these kind of days seems to be getting rare and rare. Sigh. And all i wanted was a day to relax. Is that something too much to ask?. I guess thats life. Roll with it. At the very least itll make me cherish the day even more.I am very protective of my weekends and free times nowadays. This is mostlly due to the fact i have so little of it.
(4) I miss Ashley and Keisya, I wonder how those two little ones are doing? i bought them bunga api but havent gotten the time to give it to them. Hmm... maybe tomorrow.
(5) Sometimes i wish there's a Starbucks or somethinng like the cafe in Friends where Joey and gang hangs out, somehow Malaysia has yet to achieve that level yet, we're still pretty much a mamak and Uptown kinda level yet. Not that i have much complain, but a change of scenery would be nice, the Starbucks at Shah Alam right now is my fav, but heck its way too far to go now.
(6) Casablanca: OMG what a great movie!!!....i know it was made like in 1 AD or something but heck it is such a great movie, i guess the reason why i like it is because how they talk and dress in the movie, men greet, bow, and behave in a most gentlemanly manner. even the police dont just arrest the fugitive in the middle of the dinner, They request the fugitive to come to the police office, and whey,....the fugitive even came. i know i know its a pipe dream but hey..wouldnt it be nice if all people talk and behave like that. I know some people say its old school but i guess im someone who was schooled in the old school ways. i do not believe in all this looking and acting rebellious to look cool nonsense. One should always be courteous at all times.
(7) Raya is coming up, i am glad, the only reason why i am glad is because all this nonsense is nearly over.
(2) When i turned on the BBC news just now i saw a blown up Gen2, for a moment there i thought terorism has finally reached our shores. It turned out to be a bomb somewhere in Syria. Pheww.. I guess we have to thank the men and women in the police/intelligence/army service for that. Like it or not, there has yet a single assasination and bombing to happen in Malaysia. In our neighbouring country of Thailand and Phillippines and Indonesia it happens like a daily fact of life.
(3) I am thankful for today. Today is the day i finally get to unwind, rest, wake up late, do my laundry, watch old movies (Casablanca is my new favourite). Even then these kind of days seems to be getting rare and rare. Sigh. And all i wanted was a day to relax. Is that something too much to ask?. I guess thats life. Roll with it. At the very least itll make me cherish the day even more.I am very protective of my weekends and free times nowadays. This is mostlly due to the fact i have so little of it.
(4) I miss Ashley and Keisya, I wonder how those two little ones are doing? i bought them bunga api but havent gotten the time to give it to them. Hmm... maybe tomorrow.
(5) Sometimes i wish there's a Starbucks or somethinng like the cafe in Friends where Joey and gang hangs out, somehow Malaysia has yet to achieve that level yet, we're still pretty much a mamak and Uptown kinda level yet. Not that i have much complain, but a change of scenery would be nice, the Starbucks at Shah Alam right now is my fav, but heck its way too far to go now.
(6) Casablanca: OMG what a great movie!!!....i know it was made like in 1 AD or something but heck it is such a great movie, i guess the reason why i like it is because how they talk and dress in the movie, men greet, bow, and behave in a most gentlemanly manner. even the police dont just arrest the fugitive in the middle of the dinner, They request the fugitive to come to the police office, and whey,....the fugitive even came. i know i know its a pipe dream but hey..wouldnt it be nice if all people talk and behave like that. I know some people say its old school but i guess im someone who was schooled in the old school ways. i do not believe in all this looking and acting rebellious to look cool nonsense. One should always be courteous at all times.
(7) Raya is coming up, i am glad, the only reason why i am glad is because all this nonsense is nearly over.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
STOP SHARK FINNING NOW !!!!
(1) Shark finning is a cruel and inhuman act. Sharks that are caught as you can see in the picture above will have their fins remove while they are struggling for their live to get back into the water.......try n imagine if someone were to plunge you underwater and use a parang to remove your hand...that'll give you an impression how it feels like for the shark...
(2) I believe that the practice will only stop once there is no demand for it. Otherwise it will continue in existence foreverNo matter how much regulations that is put in place as long as there is a demand for the shark fins there will always be more than an ever willing suppliers to supply the shark fins regardless of the laws.
(3) It came as shock to me that on a break fast dinner at a 5 star hotel in Kuala Lumpur there was shark fin served in the 8 course menu.
Each person was presented with one bowl, at each table was around 10 person....6 tables means 60 bowls.....assuming it takes one fin to make one soup...that translates to 60 SHARK FINS per banquet....and i imagine there must be more than one banquet going on at that time PER DAY !!!.....assuming on the conservative side that there is another similar banquet going on at that time...thats another 60 bowls......total added to our banquet...thats 120 SHARK FINS per day...
thats........120 x 30.....3600 SHARK FINS a month ...FOR ONE HOTEL !!!!.......truly we humans are the real predators in this world....... imagine if it is more than one hotel in KL ( which i suspect it is) that is doing this abominable practice.......
(4) I am now in the midst of writing a letter to this irresponsible hotel. This menu must be taken off from their servings or otherwise they will find themselves in the midst of a very unpopular publicity fiasco.
Note:
"According to the "Global Biodiversity Outlook 2", a report released by the United Nation's Convention on Biological Diversity, we humans are currently responsible for the 6th major extinction event in the history of the Earth, and the greatest since the dinosaurs disappeared, 65 million years ago."
(2) I believe that the practice will only stop once there is no demand for it. Otherwise it will continue in existence foreverNo matter how much regulations that is put in place as long as there is a demand for the shark fins there will always be more than an ever willing suppliers to supply the shark fins regardless of the laws.
(3) It came as shock to me that on a break fast dinner at a 5 star hotel in Kuala Lumpur there was shark fin served in the 8 course menu.
Each person was presented with one bowl, at each table was around 10 person....6 tables means 60 bowls.....assuming it takes one fin to make one soup...that translates to 60 SHARK FINS per banquet....and i imagine there must be more than one banquet going on at that time PER DAY !!!.....assuming on the conservative side that there is another similar banquet going on at that time...thats another 60 bowls......total added to our banquet...thats 120 SHARK FINS per day...
thats........120 x 30.....3600 SHARK FINS a month ...FOR ONE HOTEL !!!!.......truly we humans are the real predators in this world....... imagine if it is more than one hotel in KL ( which i suspect it is) that is doing this abominable practice.......
(4) I am now in the midst of writing a letter to this irresponsible hotel. This menu must be taken off from their servings or otherwise they will find themselves in the midst of a very unpopular publicity fiasco.
Note:
"According to the "Global Biodiversity Outlook 2", a report released by the United Nation's Convention on Biological Diversity, we humans are currently responsible for the 6th major extinction event in the history of the Earth, and the greatest since the dinosaurs disappeared, 65 million years ago."
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