I can't believe someone, and a club at that, would provide me with so much entertainment and amusement that I am now writing a fourth installment on the same social issue. To refresh our memories, here's my third and second write-up.
OWC, a controversial women's club, has just released a book that is probably the most outrageous ever written by a Malaysian. The book encourages a Muslim husband to have sex simultaneously with all his wives.
First, a good wife should be like a high class prostitute. Now, a good wife should team up with her husband's other wives for orgy sessions. Wow!
I don't really care what they do behind closed doors, but really, don't they think they are degrading themselves by seeing themselves as sex workers rather than a wife? The status of a wife and sex worker is as different as night from day, so why would they want to sink to the level of a prostitute, and encourage other wives to do that, too??
Could it be because they have no brains, no personality, no character whatsoever that would hold the interest of their husbands, and sex is the only way they could sustain their husband's interest?
Check out this report in The Star today.
Showing posts with label random thots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random thots. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
When Euthanasia Is Merciful......
Ever since mum showed me a sudden appearance of a lump the size of a golf ball in her left breast in May this year, her cancer has been advancing aggressively.
In early August, every single night without fail, she felt intense tearing pain at her back, where the rib cage bones are located. She could not sleep and started taking Panadol for pain relief. The pain accelerated quickly, and by the middle of August, she was in pain more often than not. I had to give her 600mg of Ibuprofen twice a day plus rubbed her back with Counterpain, an analgesic cream.
By September, none of those helped relieve her pain and she finally agreed to see the oncologist for pain management. At the hospital, mum asked if she could be put to sleep painlessly (euthanasia), which, of course, is against the law in Malaysia. Needless to say, the specialist declined to help her along that path.
I had thought that stronger drugs like Tramadol or morphine would effectively mask mum's pain, but apparently, those narcotic drugs only take the edge off the pain, not mask it completely.
With mum opting for no treatment, we suddenly found that there are many people who chose not to be treated, too. Her church friends started to share about their own family members who opted for no treatment while my cousin shared about her friend in US who did not want treatment and opted for palliative care instead. Why did mum and those people chose to have no treatment, preferring to eventually die from their disease or condition?
Mum had invasive ductal carcinoma stage IIIB in 1999. She had mastectomy plus chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. She completed the treatment but it traumatized her greatly.
Those who has had treatment for life-threatening diseases or conditions, or knew someone who has had those treatments, are very aware of the pain and suffering the treatments bring.
My late father-in-law was a diabetic and when the time came for him to have dialysis, he chose not to do it. He had seen his brother, also a diabetic, who went for dialysis three times a week, and he knew of the pain his brother went through. Needless to say, my late father-in-law died in his sleep four years ago, but he did not suffer.
And so, comes the point of this post. It got me thinking of animals that are sick and suffering. Is it kinder to put them through invasive treatment or to put them out of their misery? Many of my friends, animal lovers and rescuers, are against euthanasia. Just mention the word and you'd be flamed.
But, if our pets could speak, what would they choose for themselves? Would they want invasive treatment, or would they choose euthanasia? Are we being selfish, reluctant to let our pet go when we choose to hold on to them by prolonging their life and thus, suffering? Euthanasia is after all, the most painful decision a pet owner has ever had to make.
I had to make such a decision once. And it wasn't easy. Up to 10 o'clock at night, the vet from UPM was still calling me, telling me I had to make a decision, whether to put Brownie out of his misery or to let him continue to suffer. The vet assured me that Brownie would definitely be in pain, and that it was more merciful to let him go peacefully. It was the most heartbreaking decision I had ever made and I hope no pet owner has to ever make that decision.
In early August, every single night without fail, she felt intense tearing pain at her back, where the rib cage bones are located. She could not sleep and started taking Panadol for pain relief. The pain accelerated quickly, and by the middle of August, she was in pain more often than not. I had to give her 600mg of Ibuprofen twice a day plus rubbed her back with Counterpain, an analgesic cream.
By September, none of those helped relieve her pain and she finally agreed to see the oncologist for pain management. At the hospital, mum asked if she could be put to sleep painlessly (euthanasia), which, of course, is against the law in Malaysia. Needless to say, the specialist declined to help her along that path.
I had thought that stronger drugs like Tramadol or morphine would effectively mask mum's pain, but apparently, those narcotic drugs only take the edge off the pain, not mask it completely.
With mum opting for no treatment, we suddenly found that there are many people who chose not to be treated, too. Her church friends started to share about their own family members who opted for no treatment while my cousin shared about her friend in US who did not want treatment and opted for palliative care instead. Why did mum and those people chose to have no treatment, preferring to eventually die from their disease or condition?
Mum had invasive ductal carcinoma stage IIIB in 1999. She had mastectomy plus chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. She completed the treatment but it traumatized her greatly.
Those who has had treatment for life-threatening diseases or conditions, or knew someone who has had those treatments, are very aware of the pain and suffering the treatments bring.
My late father-in-law was a diabetic and when the time came for him to have dialysis, he chose not to do it. He had seen his brother, also a diabetic, who went for dialysis three times a week, and he knew of the pain his brother went through. Needless to say, my late father-in-law died in his sleep four years ago, but he did not suffer.
And so, comes the point of this post. It got me thinking of animals that are sick and suffering. Is it kinder to put them through invasive treatment or to put them out of their misery? Many of my friends, animal lovers and rescuers, are against euthanasia. Just mention the word and you'd be flamed.
But, if our pets could speak, what would they choose for themselves? Would they want invasive treatment, or would they choose euthanasia? Are we being selfish, reluctant to let our pet go when we choose to hold on to them by prolonging their life and thus, suffering? Euthanasia is after all, the most painful decision a pet owner has ever had to make.
I had to make such a decision once. And it wasn't easy. Up to 10 o'clock at night, the vet from UPM was still calling me, telling me I had to make a decision, whether to put Brownie out of his misery or to let him continue to suffer. The vet assured me that Brownie would definitely be in pain, and that it was more merciful to let him go peacefully. It was the most heartbreaking decision I had ever made and I hope no pet owner has to ever make that decision.
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
8TV Ramadan Racist Commercials -- Updated on 6/8/11
8TV, one of our terrestrial TV, recently screened some questionable commercials that caused some strong feelings in the Chinese community. While I understand that 8TV was trying to remind the public that the Ramadan is a Muslim holy month and that we should all respect it, the commercials were in rather poor taste.
The same message could have been conveyed in a better, and more sensitive manner. Instead, 8TV projected the message that the Chinese community is rude, loud, greedy and immoral. Great, thanks, TV8, you have just shown us what a bigoted racist you are.
The video can be viewed at --> http://youtu.be/JJmIrlb7gLw
Updates:
Thanks to Ms Kay Poh who notified us on the removal of the above video. The video is also available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8NECjDoves and a follow-up news of its withdrawal of the ads at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke7p5rp-nbI.
Updates:
Thanks to Ms Kay Poh who notified us on the removal of the above video. The video is also available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8NECjDoves and a follow-up news of its withdrawal of the ads at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke7p5rp-nbI.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Middle Class Affordable Housing Scheme NOT Affordable
While having my morning cup of coffee and a cheese sandwich, the news below caught my eye.
PETALING JAYA: Middle class Malaysians who are aspiring to buy a home will soon be able to do so once a new Government-led initiative to build apartments costing less than RM300,000 in major cities is launched this year, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said.
The affordable housing scheme, which is an addition to the My First Home Scheme for units costing between RM100,000 and RM220,000, will see stratified units priced between RM220,000 and RM300,000 being built for those with a household income of less than RM6,000 a month and who do not yet own a house.
~ source ~ The Star Online (click on link for full story)
~ source ~ The Star Online (click on link for full story)
My first reaction was, this will not work. If they are going to restrict purchase of properties priced RM300K and below for those with a household income of less than RM6K, those who earned RM6K and above will find themselves unable to purchase a home of their own while those who earned less would not be able to afford this so-called affordable housing.
In today's rising costs, if you earn RM6K a month as an individual, you do not have much disposable income. What more if it's a household income of less than RM6K, which translates to less than RM3K as an individual. But this is another issue. I only want to find out if those with a household income of less than RM6K could afford a home of RM220K to RM300K.
I will use the ceiling of RM5,999 as the household income in my calculations. I am using an example of a husband and wife with no kids. What is the actual take home pay this household has? RM4,976...after deducting EPF and tax, with the allowance amount taken into consideration before calculating the tax amount. (I did not take Socso contributions into account as the amount is rather negligible and some employers opt not to deduct Socso from their employee's salary.)
Let's take a look at the disposable income this household has. Out of RM4,967, a portion has to go towards car installment, utilities, petrol, parking fees and toll. I'm not even going to take into account the cost of a car's maintenance! Let's assume this household owns only one car.
RM4,967 - RM800 (car installment) - RM200 (utilities) - RM500 (petrol, a conservative figure) - RM100 (parking fees and toll, another conservative figure) = RM3,367.
RM3,367 is the remaining disposable income for this household. And what is the monthly installment payment for homes costing between RM220K and RM300K?
The monthly installment for a RM300K home would be RM1,467* if they are in their 20s or early 30s and could get a 30-year loan. For a RM220K home, the monthly installment for this young household would be RM1,076*.
So, if this household is foolish enough to buy a RM300K home, they will be left with only RM1,900, a sum hardly able to sustain a household. If they were to buy a home at the bottom of the range, their monthly disposable income, after deducting the house installment would be RM2,291. Still not a healthy disposable income for a household, but at least slightly better than if they had bought a RM300K home. (Bear in mind this is not an individual income, but household income.) And I am not even looking at a household with kids!
*Note - the best quote I know from a foreign bank.
*Note - the best quote I know from a foreign bank.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Polygamy, Prostitution and Homosexuality
For the first time since the creation of this blog in 2008, I am writing a third installment on the same social issue. Which is so not me, as I tend not to bother myself too much with this. There are more than enough serious blogs out there, and my blog was meant to be a light-hearted, perhaps frivolous ramblings. You know, a chance to talk to myself without being called a nut.
Anyway, this post is a look at polygamy and a follow-up to a previous post titled "More prostitutes please, we are Malaysians".
But that is not what I'm going to write about. I'm more interested in their claim that polygamy will solve those social ills. I SAY and I say it with capital letters, that polygamy creates MORE social ills.
Let's take a look at the entitlement of four wives to a man. The population in Malaysia is equally split between males and females. So if there are ten (10) men, then there are ten (10) women in Malaysia. Two men will get four wives each, while one man will get two wives only. The other SEVEN men will never have a wife.
What will those seven, wife-less men do? Turn to homosexuality? Share the other men's wives? Or indulge in incest with their sisters, daughters or mothers? Or turn to bestiality?? I see nothing but more social ills......
Population index:
Gender ratio:
at birth - 1.07 male :1 female
under 15 years - 1.06 male : 1 female
15 - 64 years - 1.01 male : 1 female
65 years and over - 0.79 male : 1 female
total population - 1.01 male : 1 female
~~ source: Malaysia Department of Statistics
Updated on 13/10/11:
OWC - Obedient Wives Club or Orgy Wives Club
Anyway, this post is a look at polygamy and a follow-up to a previous post titled "More prostitutes please, we are Malaysians".
"Men are by nature polygamous", said Dr Rohaya, Mohamad Ikram Ashaari's third wife. “We hear of many men having the ‘other woman,’ affairs and prostitution because for men, one woman is not enough. Polygamy is a way to overcome social ills such as this.”~~ source: The Muslim ObserverThis is the woman who said "a good wife is a good sex worker to her husband" and "disobedient wives are the cause for upheaval in this world because men are not happy at home and their minds and souls are disturbed". Her husband, Mohamad Ikram Ashaari, the man whom Al-Arqam insisted could forgive the sins of Muslims, established Ikwan Polygamy Club to promote polygamy in August last year. While polygamy is legal for Muslims in Malaysia, where a man is allowed to have four wives at a time, husbands who are polygamous have found it difficult to provide for all their wives and children.
But that is not what I'm going to write about. I'm more interested in their claim that polygamy will solve those social ills. I SAY and I say it with capital letters, that polygamy creates MORE social ills.
Let's take a look at the entitlement of four wives to a man. The population in Malaysia is equally split between males and females. So if there are ten (10) men, then there are ten (10) women in Malaysia. Two men will get four wives each, while one man will get two wives only. The other SEVEN men will never have a wife.
What will those seven, wife-less men do? Turn to homosexuality? Share the other men's wives? Or indulge in incest with their sisters, daughters or mothers? Or turn to bestiality?? I see nothing but more social ills......
And for this Obedient Wife Club, Malaysia is on the map again!
Malaysia Obedient Wives Club: Good sex is a duty in Yahoo News
Malaysia 'obedient wives' Club: Good sex is a duty in Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Malaysian club urges wives to be' whores in bed' in news.com.au
'Obedient Wife Club' urges women to be whores in bed in The Sydney Morning Herald
Obedient Wife Club set up to curb divorce in The Telegraph
Malaysian Polygamy Club Draws Criticism in The Muslim Observer
Wives told to be whores in bed in Bangkok Post
Population index:
Gender ratio:
at birth - 1.07 male :1 female
under 15 years - 1.06 male : 1 female
15 - 64 years - 1.01 male : 1 female
65 years and over - 0.79 male : 1 female
total population - 1.01 male : 1 female
~~ source: Malaysia Department of Statistics
Updated on 13/10/11:
OWC - Obedient Wives Club or Orgy Wives Club
Sunday, 5 June 2011
More Prostitutes Please, We Are Malaysians!!!
I never thought I'd need to follow up my post "More Sex Please, We Are Malaysians" with another post. But life in a circus is unpredictable and Malaysia is a circus.
Take these news articles in today's and yesterday's The Star, for instance.
'Wives can curb social ills like prostitution by being obedient and alluring'
Obedient Wives Club to offer sex lessons on how to pleasure husbands
A good wife = a first class prostitute
A first class prostitue = a good wife
Therefore, all wives should be prostitutes. Or is it all men should aim to marry a first class prostitute??
The Obedient Wives Club is created by Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd, which also has an Ikhwan Polygamy Club. Perfect compatibility. After dinner, the husband leaves for his Polygamy Club while the wife proceeds to her Obedient Wives Club.
Perhaps I should start an online business selling whips, hooker boots, leather thongs, pornography DVDs and graphic comics. I bet I will be a millionaire in no time, since a large population will be prostitutes and in need of those supplies! Any buyers here? :P
P/s: Prostitutes Wanted: Must be willing and grateful to be whipped, beaten up, thoroughly abused, raped and used in any manner the man, her master, wishes. If you think it is a priviledge to be treated thus, or that this is the pathway to heaven, please apply here.
P.P.S: Come join us to take a stand in the We do not want Sexist Nonsense from Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd Facebook page.
Updates: FB group counters sexist wives club.
Related topics:
Polygamy, Prostitution and Homosexuality
OWC - Obedient Wives Club or Orgy Wives Club
Take these news articles in today's and yesterday's The Star, for instance.
'Wives can curb social ills like prostitution by being obedient and alluring'
Obedient Wives Club to offer sex lessons on how to pleasure husbands
When asked whether it was the wife's fault for being abused, she said: “Yes, most probably because she didn't listen to her husband.”
Sex lessons to help wives “serve their husbands better than a first-class prostitute” will be among the courses provided by the Obedient Wives Club (OWC) to help promote harmonious marriages and counter social ills.
Its vice-president Dr Rohaya Mohamad said it was time sexual prowess took a front seat in marriage beyond the traditional “good mother or good cook” roles.So, let us see....
A good wife = a first class prostitute
A first class prostitue = a good wife
Therefore, all wives should be prostitutes. Or is it all men should aim to marry a first class prostitute??
The Obedient Wives Club is created by Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd, which also has an Ikhwan Polygamy Club. Perfect compatibility. After dinner, the husband leaves for his Polygamy Club while the wife proceeds to her Obedient Wives Club.
Perhaps I should start an online business selling whips, hooker boots, leather thongs, pornography DVDs and graphic comics. I bet I will be a millionaire in no time, since a large population will be prostitutes and in need of those supplies! Any buyers here? :P
P/s: Prostitutes Wanted: Must be willing and grateful to be whipped, beaten up, thoroughly abused, raped and used in any manner the man, her master, wishes. If you think it is a priviledge to be treated thus, or that this is the pathway to heaven, please apply here.
P.P.S: Come join us to take a stand in the We do not want Sexist Nonsense from Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd Facebook page.
Updates: FB group counters sexist wives club.
Related topics:
Polygamy, Prostitution and Homosexuality
OWC - Obedient Wives Club or Orgy Wives Club
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
More Sex Please, We Are Malaysians!!!
It has been thought that food is a Malaysian national obsession. A friend from the UK once noted that Malaysians are always eating, no matter what time of the day or night it is, and if they are not eating, they are thinking of eating or talking about eating. I agreed with him.
On the surface, it does look like Malaysians are obsessed with food. However, if you take a closer look, you might think again. For hidden beneath the layers of gluttony, lies another, secret obsession. People from all walks of life -- politicians, police, wardens, lawyers, engineers, teachers, cooks, housewives, the media, the general public -- are obsessed with one thing...SEX.
No, we are not making out like rabbits and hamsters 24/7, we are obsessed with knowing about other people having sex and sodomy. *slap forehead* Just take a look at our newspapers, day in, day out, there is bound to be a few reports on other people having sex. Just do a search for the word "sex" in The Star Online and you'll be amazed at the tons and tons of news that came up.
We have police crowding around a table, watching videos after videos of politicians having sex, and we have politicians clamouring for said videos to be screened for their viewing pleasure.
And then, we have Ibrahim Ali who stumbled upon the realisation that the reason Malaysian men stray from their wives and have affairs is because their wives neglect their duty by not dropping whatever it is they're doing and jumping into bed with their husbands when they (the husbands) have the urge.
And today, we have an engineer who saves her marriage by watching porn while the police say they are willing to expose the performer of a sex video. Gee, is the public going to get a treat of the bums of a sex performer??!! I'm sure all Malaysians are waiting with bated breath for more....give me more, give me more, we are Malaysians.....
Sources of the news mentioned above:
Leaked Clip and 'Wifely Duties Excite House'
Engineer Saves Her Marriage By Watching Porn
Sex Video: Police Won't Hesitate To Expose Performer
Speaker Shoots Down Call To Screen Sex Video in Dewan
Women File For Divorce Over Hubbie's Unusual Sex Drive
Woman Can't Stomach Cook's Ardour
Sexcapade Of Teacher And Warden On Video
Award-Winning Teacher's Secret - Reading and Sex
P/s: Perhaps I ought to start a label 'Sex' in my blog and file this post there instead of 'Laughs' or 'Random Thots'....
Updated posts:
More Prostitutes Please, We Are Malaysians
Polygamy, Prostitution and Homosexuality
OWC - Obedient Wives Club or Orgy Wives Club
On the surface, it does look like Malaysians are obsessed with food. However, if you take a closer look, you might think again. For hidden beneath the layers of gluttony, lies another, secret obsession. People from all walks of life -- politicians, police, wardens, lawyers, engineers, teachers, cooks, housewives, the media, the general public -- are obsessed with one thing...SEX.
No, we are not making out like rabbits and hamsters 24/7, we are obsessed with knowing about other people having sex and sodomy. *slap forehead* Just take a look at our newspapers, day in, day out, there is bound to be a few reports on other people having sex. Just do a search for the word "sex" in The Star Online and you'll be amazed at the tons and tons of news that came up.
We have police crowding around a table, watching videos after videos of politicians having sex, and we have politicians clamouring for said videos to be screened for their viewing pleasure.
And then, we have Ibrahim Ali who stumbled upon the realisation that the reason Malaysian men stray from their wives and have affairs is because their wives neglect their duty by not dropping whatever it is they're doing and jumping into bed with their husbands when they (the husbands) have the urge.
And today, we have an engineer who saves her marriage by watching porn while the police say they are willing to expose the performer of a sex video. Gee, is the public going to get a treat of the bums of a sex performer??!! I'm sure all Malaysians are waiting with bated breath for more....give me more, give me more, we are Malaysians.....
Sources of the news mentioned above:
Leaked Clip and 'Wifely Duties Excite House'
Engineer Saves Her Marriage By Watching Porn
Sex Video: Police Won't Hesitate To Expose Performer
Speaker Shoots Down Call To Screen Sex Video in Dewan
Women File For Divorce Over Hubbie's Unusual Sex Drive
Woman Can't Stomach Cook's Ardour
Sexcapade Of Teacher And Warden On Video
Award-Winning Teacher's Secret - Reading and Sex
P/s: Perhaps I ought to start a label 'Sex' in my blog and file this post there instead of 'Laughs' or 'Random Thots'....
Updated posts:
More Prostitutes Please, We Are Malaysians
Polygamy, Prostitution and Homosexuality
OWC - Obedient Wives Club or Orgy Wives Club
Thursday, 25 November 2010
How Accurate Is The GPS?
Have you ever been asked "do you have a GPS?" whenever you asked for directions? Well, we have. It seems that almost everyone these days expect you to use the GPS to get you to your destination.
But how accurate is the GPS? Can you totally rely on it to get you to where you want to go? Most of my friends who own one swear by it.
I have my doubts. I mean, well, the GPS would probably eventually take you where you want to go, but I believe there would be some inaccuracies. After all, it relies on the satellite signals, which I feel could be obstructed by tall buildings, huge trees or even the weather. Astro, our satellite TV, is a good example of how satellite signal is lost during a storm. Moreover, in KL, a junction where you could turn right might become illegal to turn the next day and the maps might not be updated right away.
So, hubby and I decided to conduct a little experiment over a period of two weeks. We decided to use the GPS on his mobile handphone to take us home from places we're totally familiar with.
The result? If we had followed the instructions of the GPS, we would probably be going around in circles before we reached home.
The first test was from Bukit Bintang to Kepong. The instructions were correct only up to a point. At a junction, the GPS instructed us to turn right at a traffic light which does NOT allow any right turn. Due to the way the traffic lights were programmed, traffic has to move straight ahead and not turn right. Not unless we wish to crash into another vehicle, or have a vehicle smash into the left passenger side of our car. While we'd love to go to heaven, we don't want to die. So, we ignored the instruction.
As we followed the course of the road, the GPS started to 'recallibrate calculation'. And that was the message we were going to hear over and over again throughout the test as we ignored the GPS' instructions and headed in a different route. GPS, why should we turn off onto the NKVE highway to get to Kepong when we're already on Jalan Duta? No doubt we could get to Kepong via that route, but that would be driving off-course to the West to get to the North when we're already on the North.
And in one of the tests from the "belly" of Pudu, the GPS misread our position and instead of directing us to turn right when we expected it to, it asked us to proceed straight for another few meters and then instructed us to turn right, smack into a building. Yes! It kept saying "Turn right now!". Well, no thank you, GPS, we have no desire to smash our brains against a wall.
Undeterred, the GPS continued to try to direct this recalcitrant couple by instructing us to turn right when we came to a junction where there is a huge divider in the middle of the road. We have two options: either we smash into the divider, or we could drive against the traffic on our side of the road. No brains required to figure out which option we took. Neither.
So, what's wrong with the GPS? Initially, I thought that perhaps our maps aren't updated. But as the tests progressed, I realised that the GPS most likely had misread our position. It didn't know our precise location. Its signals were probably deflected or blocked by the tall buildings surrounding us for the times when the instructions were wrong, we were in a "belly" of buildings or underpasses.
To check if my hunch was correct, I googled and found that, indeed one of the disadvantages of the GPS is its inaccuracies. I found quite a few articles, but the article below sums it up. http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_5912431_advantages-disadvantages-gps-systems.html
But how accurate is the GPS? Can you totally rely on it to get you to where you want to go? Most of my friends who own one swear by it.
I have my doubts. I mean, well, the GPS would probably eventually take you where you want to go, but I believe there would be some inaccuracies. After all, it relies on the satellite signals, which I feel could be obstructed by tall buildings, huge trees or even the weather. Astro, our satellite TV, is a good example of how satellite signal is lost during a storm. Moreover, in KL, a junction where you could turn right might become illegal to turn the next day and the maps might not be updated right away.
So, hubby and I decided to conduct a little experiment over a period of two weeks. We decided to use the GPS on his mobile handphone to take us home from places we're totally familiar with.
The result? If we had followed the instructions of the GPS, we would probably be going around in circles before we reached home.
The first test was from Bukit Bintang to Kepong. The instructions were correct only up to a point. At a junction, the GPS instructed us to turn right at a traffic light which does NOT allow any right turn. Due to the way the traffic lights were programmed, traffic has to move straight ahead and not turn right. Not unless we wish to crash into another vehicle, or have a vehicle smash into the left passenger side of our car. While we'd love to go to heaven, we don't want to die. So, we ignored the instruction.
As we followed the course of the road, the GPS started to 'recallibrate calculation'. And that was the message we were going to hear over and over again throughout the test as we ignored the GPS' instructions and headed in a different route. GPS, why should we turn off onto the NKVE highway to get to Kepong when we're already on Jalan Duta? No doubt we could get to Kepong via that route, but that would be driving off-course to the West to get to the North when we're already on the North.
And in one of the tests from the "belly" of Pudu, the GPS misread our position and instead of directing us to turn right when we expected it to, it asked us to proceed straight for another few meters and then instructed us to turn right, smack into a building. Yes! It kept saying "Turn right now!". Well, no thank you, GPS, we have no desire to smash our brains against a wall.
Undeterred, the GPS continued to try to direct this recalcitrant couple by instructing us to turn right when we came to a junction where there is a huge divider in the middle of the road. We have two options: either we smash into the divider, or we could drive against the traffic on our side of the road. No brains required to figure out which option we took. Neither.
So, what's wrong with the GPS? Initially, I thought that perhaps our maps aren't updated. But as the tests progressed, I realised that the GPS most likely had misread our position. It didn't know our precise location. Its signals were probably deflected or blocked by the tall buildings surrounding us for the times when the instructions were wrong, we were in a "belly" of buildings or underpasses.
To check if my hunch was correct, I googled and found that, indeed one of the disadvantages of the GPS is its inaccuracies. I found quite a few articles, but the article below sums it up. http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_5912431_advantages-disadvantages-gps-systems.html
Monday, 1 November 2010
How To Drive Customers Away From Your Shop
This post is dedicated to all the shops and sales people that have mastered the art of chasing away potential customers.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experienced this. I walked into a boutique (or any shop for that matter) and before I had a chance to swivel my head left and right to see what the store has to offer, a sales assistant stepped up to me. "What are you looking for?", "You want to buy clothes?" are just some of the varied questions that assaulted me. It's a boutique, so what did they think I was looking for? Salted fish?? Coffin??
And the one that would surely win an award if I'm in a mind to give one is this: "Found anything?" This is asked before I had even had a chance to see what merchandise the store has!! How could I find anything if I haven't even had a look??!! Excuse me, I had just stepped into your store right this moment and you saw it.
If I was in a good mood, I'd say yes, and hurried down the aisle, taking only a cursory glance so I could get out quickly as politely as I could. If I happened to be in a grumpy mood, I'd say "No, I'm looking for salted fish" and walked out.
I really wish those sales assistants would leave me alone. Perhaps I'll then buy from them. To those who stood at a discreet distance and offered useful information when I asked, kudos to you. You are what a good sales person should be, discreet and informative.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experienced this. I walked into a boutique (or any shop for that matter) and before I had a chance to swivel my head left and right to see what the store has to offer, a sales assistant stepped up to me. "What are you looking for?", "You want to buy clothes?" are just some of the varied questions that assaulted me. It's a boutique, so what did they think I was looking for? Salted fish?? Coffin??
And the one that would surely win an award if I'm in a mind to give one is this: "Found anything?" This is asked before I had even had a chance to see what merchandise the store has!! How could I find anything if I haven't even had a look??!! Excuse me, I had just stepped into your store right this moment and you saw it.
If I was in a good mood, I'd say yes, and hurried down the aisle, taking only a cursory glance so I could get out quickly as politely as I could. If I happened to be in a grumpy mood, I'd say "No, I'm looking for salted fish" and walked out.
I really wish those sales assistants would leave me alone. Perhaps I'll then buy from them. To those who stood at a discreet distance and offered useful information when I asked, kudos to you. You are what a good sales person should be, discreet and informative.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Is This Our 1Malaysia??!!
I was horrified to read the news that two Malaysian men of Chinese ethnic were attacked when they went to watch the Merdeka eve fireworks for simply having Chinese ethnicity. What is happening to our nation? The perpetrators are teenagers, why are they harbouring so much hatred for their fellow-countrymen?
The news report : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/news/general/9834-two-beaten-up-in-merdeka-eve-racist-attack
The personal account of the victim in Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=432073840741&id=586500176
The news report : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/news/general/9834-two-beaten-up-in-merdeka-eve-racist-attack
The personal account of the victim in Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=432073840741&id=586500176
Friday, 23 April 2010
Malaysia Excels At Giving Inaccurate Figures To Look Good
Last night, while watching American Idol - Idol Gives Back, a two-and-a-half episode with big names like Sir Elton John, Mary J. Bligh, Black Eyed Peas, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keyes, Annie Lennox and a duet performance by Joss Stone and Jeff Black, I kept hearing this: "one in six people in America are living in poverty".
This can't be true, I told myself. If it's true, it's a very high figure. The poverty rate in America surely can't be 16%. I decided to check for verification, and found that, YES, America's poverty rate is between 13% to 17%, at any given time.
Curious, I compared it with Malaysia's official poverty rate of 5.1%.
And what I found is this:
1. The US poverty threshold - those considered living in poverty actually own a telephone, a car, a home (albeit a trailer home), a microwave oven, in other words, items considered basic necessities.
2. Malaysia poverty threshold - only those with a household income of less than RM500 in a family of four is considered to be living in poverty.
Hello!!!! This figure is unrealistic. A monthly rental of a small low-cost flat ranges from RM450 to RM650, depending on area. Near towns, it would be RM650.
Anyone earning below RM1000 (I'm not even mentioning combined household income) would have difficulty making ends meet. Why do you think those who earned RM1000 from one job has another part-time job? Why do you think those with a household income of RM2000 need part-time jobs to supplement their income if they can make ends meet?
Let's take a real good look at the raw data.
There are 5.8 million households in 2007. Out of these:
1. 8.6% of the households had a monthly income below RM1,000
2. 29.4% had between RM1,000 and RM2,000
3. 19.8% earned between RM2,001 and RM3,000
4. 12.9% earned between RM3,001 and RM4,000
5. 8.6% had between RM4,001 and RM5,000
6. 15.8% had an income of between RM5,001 and RM10,000
7. 4.9% had an income of RM10,000 and above
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Malaysia)
What is a fact is that, with development & urbanization, any family of four with a household income of less than RM2,000 is not likely to make ends meet, and they are not going to be able to own a car or a home. And if you have a car and a home, RM3,000 is barely enough for a family of four. So, how could a household income of RM500 be the poverty threshold??!!
And RM5001 and RM10000 should not be lumped into one income range. There is a huge disparity of what a household income of RM5001 cannot afford which a household income of RM10000 can afford. Ask the man on the street and he'll tell you that surviving on a RM5001 household income is not easy.....why else do office executives with a combined household income of RM5,000 work part-time after office hours?
So, what should the poverty rate in Malaysia be in order to reflect the actual state of affairs? On a very conservative level, I would say 38%, although 57.8% would be far more accurate. That brings us back to the time of independence in 1957 when half of the country’s households were living below the national poverty line, with very little changed up to 1970, at which time 49 per cent of households were poor. (source http://www.undp.org.my/malaysia-measuring-and-monitoring-poverty-and-inequality)
Conclusion: Nothing has changed till today. Half of Malaysia's households are still living in poverty, like it or not. Rather than spend time trying to window-dress and hide the brutal facts, the government should instead work on solutions to increase the income of Malaysians.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Mahathir says 9/11 was staged....
There is strong evidence that the Sept 11 attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 could have been “staged” as an excuse to mount attacks on the Muslim world, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/21/nation/5516554&sec=nation
And our former Prime Minister went on to say that if they could make Avatar, they could do anything. Wow. What a totally irresponsible thing to say, for a public person of significant influence! He should make a movie himself. I'm sure his imaginations of conspiracies would far surpass that of James Cameron's.
source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/21/nation/5516554&sec=nation
And our former Prime Minister went on to say that if they could make Avatar, they could do anything. Wow. What a totally irresponsible thing to say, for a public person of significant influence! He should make a movie himself. I'm sure his imaginations of conspiracies would far surpass that of James Cameron's.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
A Second Letter to Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah bin Sanusi
This second letter to Akhramsyah is in response to his recent article in his blog titled "Half A Million Ringgit of Misplaced Generosity....".
------------------------------
Dear Akhramsyah,
Your most recent article showed you for what you are: a bitter young man who fear that his political career might not go far ever since his father, Sanusi Junid, was sacked as the IIU President in 2008.
This time, you don't even have any valid points to make, misinformed though they were. I would have simply ignored your post, except for the way you ended it.
"I also hope that the absence or reduction of violence from Monday does not give everyone a false sense of security. The violence is probably reduced as people are at work..." (quote)
This statement of yours is intimidating and threatening. Are you trying to incite more hatred and violence? Do you take pleasure in seeing the country in turmoil? This is dangerous, and someone should report you for your seditious comments.
And please do not speak on behalf of all Malays. I happen to have quite a few good Malay friends, and they don't agree with you. The majority of Malays are peace-loving, not an extremist like you. Unlike you, they do not think that Muslims should be encouraged to torch churches, or hurled rocks at Hindu temples, as reported in today's news.
Go get a life!
------------------------------
Dear Akhramsyah,
Your most recent article showed you for what you are: a bitter young man who fear that his political career might not go far ever since his father, Sanusi Junid, was sacked as the IIU President in 2008.
This time, you don't even have any valid points to make, misinformed though they were. I would have simply ignored your post, except for the way you ended it.
"I also hope that the absence or reduction of violence from Monday does not give everyone a false sense of security. The violence is probably reduced as people are at work..." (quote)
This statement of yours is intimidating and threatening. Are you trying to incite more hatred and violence? Do you take pleasure in seeing the country in turmoil? This is dangerous, and someone should report you for your seditious comments.
And please do not speak on behalf of all Malays. I happen to have quite a few good Malay friends, and they don't agree with you. The majority of Malays are peace-loving, not an extremist like you. Unlike you, they do not think that Muslims should be encouraged to torch churches, or hurled rocks at Hindu temples, as reported in today's news.
Go get a life!
Monday, 11 January 2010
A Letter To Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah bin Sanusi
I am writing this letter to Akhramsyah in response to his article in The Malaysian Insider. A copy of it has been posted in the comments section.
http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/49130-torched-churches--reaping-what-is-sown--akhramsyah-muammar-ubaidah-bin-sanusi-
Dear Akhramsyah,
I've never read a more preposterous statement than this. This is a classic example of someone who has insufficient information and makes a judgement based on little bits and pieces of information.
First, your point on non-Malay leaders calling Malays "pendatang". May I remind you that it was a Malay leader who first called the non-Malays "pendatang". How would you feel, if someone were to call you a "pendatang" when your great-grandparents or grandparents have taken up arms to fight together with them, stood together with them, to protect Malaysia? Would you not retaliate and call them "pendatang", since according to Sejarah, the real bumiputra are the indigenous people (orang asli)??
Second, "No majority ruling race has happily allowed for the culture of other races to bloom other than this country ruled by Malays." May I remind you that in the whole wide world, there isn't a country where the minority supports the majority, where 90% OF THE TAX IS PAID BY THE MINORITY. In all other countries, it is the majority that carries the minority, but in Malaysia, it is the minority that carries the majority. In Malaysia, we have a mouse carrying an elephant!!!!
Third, "Most Malay students have nowhere else to go other than public universities whilst non-malays can go private!". Are you sure of your facts? Have you looked around? There are many non-Malays who are NOT able to afford to go to a private university. There are many non-Malays who live in small flats, who work day & night to feed their family, many who can't get a job because most corporate companies are now bumiputra-owned, and as a last resort, are selling pirate DVDs, or going from table to table in coffee shops selling RM10 items? Are you aware of this?
Wake up, it is NOT the non-Malays who are screwing up the Malays. In fact, the non-Malays actually sympathise with the Malays who are poor, because we know that the people who are screwing the Malays are a few Malays who are in power. Those few Malays are the ones who took all the money meant for the Malays (money contributed by non-Malays) and use it for themselves.
So, please check your facts before you speak.
http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/49130-torched-churches--reaping-what-is-sown--akhramsyah-muammar-ubaidah-bin-sanusi-
Dear Akhramsyah,
I've never read a more preposterous statement than this. This is a classic example of someone who has insufficient information and makes a judgement based on little bits and pieces of information.
First, your point on non-Malay leaders calling Malays "pendatang". May I remind you that it was a Malay leader who first called the non-Malays "pendatang". How would you feel, if someone were to call you a "pendatang" when your great-grandparents or grandparents have taken up arms to fight together with them, stood together with them, to protect Malaysia? Would you not retaliate and call them "pendatang", since according to Sejarah, the real bumiputra are the indigenous people (orang asli)??
Second, "No majority ruling race has happily allowed for the culture of other races to bloom other than this country ruled by Malays." May I remind you that in the whole wide world, there isn't a country where the minority supports the majority, where 90% OF THE TAX IS PAID BY THE MINORITY. In all other countries, it is the majority that carries the minority, but in Malaysia, it is the minority that carries the majority. In Malaysia, we have a mouse carrying an elephant!!!!
Third, "Most Malay students have nowhere else to go other than public universities whilst non-malays can go private!". Are you sure of your facts? Have you looked around? There are many non-Malays who are NOT able to afford to go to a private university. There are many non-Malays who live in small flats, who work day & night to feed their family, many who can't get a job because most corporate companies are now bumiputra-owned, and as a last resort, are selling pirate DVDs, or going from table to table in coffee shops selling RM10 items? Are you aware of this?
Wake up, it is NOT the non-Malays who are screwing up the Malays. In fact, the non-Malays actually sympathise with the Malays who are poor, because we know that the people who are screwing the Malays are a few Malays who are in power. Those few Malays are the ones who took all the money meant for the Malays (money contributed by non-Malays) and use it for themselves.
So, please check your facts before you speak.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Malaysia, Malaysia, Oh My Malaysia.....
Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku,
Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju,
(My country, the land where my blood is shed,
The people live united and progressive,)
Today, I weep for Malaysia, the Malaysia I know and love. For today is a sad day, indeed, when children of Malaysia took the law into their own hands and started torching churches, ahead of the planned Friday demonstrations in mosques.
And the ONE man who can put a stop to it, the ONE man who is promoting ONE Malaysia, is guilty of escalating this tension, despite his denial. How could he deny that UMNO is responsible for this tension when he has approved of the planned demonstrations? When he and Hishamuddin had said that Muslims have a right to protest against the High Court ruling in favour of non-Muslims using the word 'Allah'??
Malaysia has indeed regressed, with a mentality worthy of a one-year-old kid!!! Grow up, Malaysia.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Life In Malaysia Is Stranger Than The Movies
Life in Malaysia is like a box of chocolates....you never know what you're going to get. Each morning you wake up to be amazed at what you read in the news.
First, we have the Pahang Syariah Court ordering the whipping of part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for consuming beer in a hotel lounge. (read more here)
Then, we have the Andy Lau-Carol Chu debacle. Whoever heard of a son-in-law who is ashamed to be seen at his father-in-law's funeral procession?
To the extent where he was shielded from view from head to knees by numerous silver umbrellas??!! It's preprosterous! (Last wish of Carol Chu's dad, Son-in-Lau goes under cover and Quite a scene at funeral of Chu's dad)
Is he ashamed to acknowledge the Chu family? After all, they are not rich and famous, owning only a nondescript business selling incense worship items. Or does he still want to play the field? Or does he have the same under cover relationship with another or more women??
And then, today, PAS Youth amused me by condemning the Michael Learns To Rock concert which will be held in Genting on September 5. The party chief said his party would not hesitate in mobilising its members to prevent the concert from happening if the performance was not stopped. (read more here)
Excuse me, Nasrudin, have you ever heard any of MLTR's songs? They are love ballads, not metallic rock or whatever it is that you imagined them to be! Please do not protest for the sake of protesting. It only makes a laughing stock out of you.
First, we have the Pahang Syariah Court ordering the whipping of part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for consuming beer in a hotel lounge. (read more here)
Then, we have the Andy Lau-Carol Chu debacle. Whoever heard of a son-in-law who is ashamed to be seen at his father-in-law's funeral procession?
To the extent where he was shielded from view from head to knees by numerous silver umbrellas??!! It's preprosterous! (Last wish of Carol Chu's dad, Son-in-Lau goes under cover and Quite a scene at funeral of Chu's dad)
Is he ashamed to acknowledge the Chu family? After all, they are not rich and famous, owning only a nondescript business selling incense worship items. Or does he still want to play the field? Or does he have the same under cover relationship with another or more women??
And then, today, PAS Youth amused me by condemning the Michael Learns To Rock concert which will be held in Genting on September 5. The party chief said his party would not hesitate in mobilising its members to prevent the concert from happening if the performance was not stopped. (read more here)
Excuse me, Nasrudin, have you ever heard any of MLTR's songs? They are love ballads, not metallic rock or whatever it is that you imagined them to be! Please do not protest for the sake of protesting. It only makes a laughing stock out of you.
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Choosing A Good Day To Die....
Before I start, this post might be offensive to some who are extremely serious and take themselves very seriously. If you are this type of person, please stop here and read no further.
If you are reading this second paragraph now, please know that I bear NO disrespect to the dead.
That said, it is very important to choose a right day to die if you wish your death to be noticed and publicised. It would be a tragedy if you don't.
Farah Fawcett-Majors, one of the original Charlie's Angels' cast, died at age 62 of cancer on early Friday morning (M'sian time). It was the same day that the iconic Michael Jackson left this world, too.
There was hardly any mention of her passing in radios, televisions, newspapers, blogs or forums. The world's attention was centered on Michael Jackson's death. The world was either too busy grieving for Michael Jackson or gawking at all the fanfare.
The most the late Farah Fawcett got was a cursory mention or two. Had she died a week earlier, she would probably have better media coverage than that.
So, the lesson I learned is, to choose wisely the day I want to die....or my friends & relatives might be too busy mourning the death of a celebrity. :)
May Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett rest in peace.
I had hoped that Michael Jackson might make it to KL in his tour concert. Looks like it's not likely to happen anymore. I shall forever remember Michael Jackson, the black boy that became the white man. *singing Black or White*
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