A song that really makes you cry...

I needed a break from my notes making. So I just went to Willie's blog (go listen!) and there, posted on his blog, is this song that is the most heart felt one I've heard in a long long time. Tears rolled down from my eyes... in full view of my colleagues! But I could not help it... I was reminded of the One who put His arms around me when I was lowest... the One who was sad when I was. The One who smile when I rejoiced in His goodness. The One whose heart broke when I was callous and disobedient. The One who promised nothing but Himself to me...

Thanks, Willie, for that timely reminder... Thank you Lord.

Chasing after the wind

What is going on in this world? What is the most important thing in life? Is chasing after wealth, power and fame really so gratifying? I propose that the opposite is true. There is never enough wealth, power and fame for a person to chase, the more you have, the more you want, the less satisfied you are!

Apostle John knew this, and he wrote to warn us:
"For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:16

King Solomon when writing Ecclesiastes got it spot on, if you really deny yourself nothing, you end up with exactly that... nothing. Pastor Isaac's series on the Treasure Principle is a timely reminder to evaluate ourselves. In the end, as Solomon found out, it is only chasing after the wind.

Reality shows suck

This is my 2 cent's worth of this reality program... I don't like it, well, maybe with the exception of the auditions where contestants would attempt to perform their versions of their favoured song. Their antics are funny! :) But when the actual elimination rounds start I usually would just not bother. Why? I don't know... maybe because you get eliminated not because you can't sing, its usually because you are not cute enough. :/

Anyway... I have a feeling that the contest's popularity will wane sooner or later. Malaysia's pool of aspiring singers are only so big.

Generally I don't really like reality shows. With the exception of the Apprentice and the Amazing Race, which I watch periodically, the rest of the reality shows are really so boring and so fakey... Have you noticed that every one of the contestants for these shows are usually very nice to look at? Be it the guys or the girls... why can't they have some ordinary guy or girl to be in the show???

These shows gives me the impression that if you want to make it, you have to be good looking in order to do so. Furthermore, these shows all emphasises one point - everyone is motivated by GREED! The worst of human behaviour is brought forth by GREED. All those tears when someone is eliminated are tempered by all the scheming and conniving that goes on behind people's back and is just so sucky... don't you think?

Ramblings part 240905

Random thoughts again...

1. Su Yin shared something she had never shared with anyone before. When I first heard it, I was surprised by the revelation but then I thank God because I realised again how much we were made for each other. Now I realise Su Yin truly is my soul mate...
2. I also realised that it is possible for me to flee temptation... that all I had to do was to turn towards the very thing temptations were trying distract us from.
3. Its not easy trying not to chase after monetary gains. When I saw a new Mercedes SLK500 on the road today, something inside me felt envious immediately but I quickly realise that I am in a car that's air-conned and that's fairly comfortable, what else can I ask for? A car is a car... a vehicle that takes me from point A and point B.
   Its not the mode of transport that is important, it is how thankful I am for what I have. This is not easy because we are constantly bombarded with messages that tell us to get more and more... only when we remember the Giver can we be grateful for what we have.

Car for my baby...

If there was a car i want to buy for Su Yin, this would be it... the Daihatsu Copen ZZ. Nice huh, baby?


picture courtesy of paultan.org

Are you sure or not?

After the incident at the Jelutong Expressway in Penang where 7 people were killed when a car lost control and rammed into a police blockade, Penang's CPO Datuk Christopher Wan mentioned that he would direct the police personnel manning the road-blocks on expressways to use sandbags to protect themselves. Its sounds ok initially but then when you think about it, there is just something NQR with that statement...

1. How in the world are the policemen going to carry the sandbags when riding MOTORCYCLES??? Chia lart man... how can?! Next thing you know, you will see policemen driving lorrys/trucks around on their patrols... cos need to have sandbags to protect them.
2. Sandbags are HEAVY! What if the policemen kena hernia when carrying the sandbags to set up roadblocks??? Then it will be really qua qua qua qua for the unfortunate policeman liao! :/
   
3. Don't you think it is better for the police to man proper roadblocks where cones, lights and signs are placed up before and near the roadblocks for drivers to see from afar and they where reflective clothings and lightsticks??? People cannot escape on expressways on wat, right? Moreover, it will not frighten/shock/confuse the drivers while on the expressways, which was exactly what happened in this incident when the driver of the car was "shocked" to see the roadblock and lost control of his car (not my words but the words of the sole survivor from the car). I am sure many of us would have experienced this also when driving on Malaysian roads where the policeman would suddenly jump out from a tree/bush/dark hiding place and flag us down, giving us the shock of our lives.
   

Hence, I wish and hope the authorities would really heed our calls to have the police man proper roadblocks, instead of using sandbags, to prevent such things from happening again.

Buying success

Chelsea notched another victory AGAIN, and while I can understand that they played well and their coach is one of the best around, I can't help feeling that without the money, they won't be having the success they are having right now. Why? Cos without Roman Abramovich, I don't think they would have attracted Jose Mourinho to the club, nor many of the players that are in the club. Other clubs would not even bother listening to their offers because they would not be able to offer the ridiculous amounts of money for players.

Most other Premiership clubs are facing major financial problems from increasing player wages, the collapse of TV deals and dropping attendances but not for Chelsea, every year they would splash out 50-60 million POUNDS... and that's just for players! Even clubs like Man Utd and Arsenal are becoming careful with what they have.

I have just read that they are looking at one of the most exciting defensive talents in Europe, Vincent Kompany, and his club, Anderlecht, are happy and willing to listen to a deal from Chelsea, while rejecting a deal of 11.75 million pounds from Sevilla for the 19 year-old. Obviously they are holding out for much, much more and the only club out there with such buying power is Chelsea, not even Man Utd or Real Madrid can afford to spend so much.

No doubt a number of clubs have benefited from having their coffers filled with Chelsea's money but in the long run it will just make the market very uncompetitive. Everything Chelsea's name is mentioned, the asking price rockets. Some might even argue that clubs are courting Chelsea to look at their ware just to balance their books. Is this really healthy for football as a whole? I don't know really.

Even though the season is only 6 matches-old, I am getting a little bored of Chelsea winning all the time. Its really becoming a 1 horse race. I wonder if that's how most other clubs felt when Man Utd was dominating the Premiership during the 90's but even then Man Utd stumbled every so often to allow clubs such as Blackburn and Arsenal to dominate the league and it was exciting. I have a feeling a lot of football fans are willing ANY team to trip Chelsea up and give them a beating. In reality, this is easier said than done.

As for Man Utd's chances of winning, unless Chelsea DOES trip up badly somewhere along the line and Man Utd plays VERY consistently, the best bet would be in a football management simulator such as Football Manager 2005! :/

FF7: Advent Children

Is it me or is he holding a Panasonic mobile phone??? :P

Just finished watching this movie... it is the best CG movie I've ever seenm, the details and movement of the characters and their environment is WOW, but the thing about CG movie (or maybe its just Japan-made CG movie) is that the facial expression still cannot be 100% captured... that's my opinion anyway.

If you get a chance to watch it, do... look out for the movement of the character's hair and clothes... you will drool.

Sighs...

I just found out from Su Yin that there was 2 cases of rape that recently occured in the Unimas campus she is staying in. One happened to the a friend of her friend's. The other case was covered up by the Uni authorities. These things are bound to occur because the Uni campus has not been completed and there are still construction going on within the vicinity of the hostels that the girls are staying in... why would they let the girls hostel be located near the construction site, I have no idea. Trust our local people to have the sense NOT to think about all these things before making arrangements for accomodation... Great! :(

I really feel helpless cos I can't be there to protect her. Times like this we really have to believe in God's promise to protect His children. Nothing else I can do except to advise her to be extra careful and vigilant and to pray for her. I think that's the best thing I can do for her, don't you think? Please pray with me for her safety and the safety of the girls staying there, and also for the authorities to take appropriate and thorough action to safeguard the students' security. Thank you, much appreciated.

Anniversary

Wow... I din realise it but I've been blogging for more than a year now! This blog came into being in August of 2004 but then I only blogged sporadically over the next 9 months until things began to pick up speed in May 2005. Things really got going in June 2005.

So I guess a greeting is at hand: Happy Belated 1 Year Anniversary, my dear boy... :P

Happy Malaysia Day

Did you know that today, 16 September, is the day Malaysia was formed? 42 years ago, in 1963, Malaya, Singapore (which pulled out eventually to form its own independent state), Sabah and Sarawak came together to form Malaysia.

Funny thing is we, in the Peninsula, never, ever celebrated this day... for the people in Sabah and Sarawak, this is to them their true independence day... where they became part of an independent country. Until now, the 2 states are still retain some autonomous rights such as separate immigration controls (which is why we from Peninsular Malaysia, until recently, still have to carry our passports when travelling to these 2 states and we have to apply for a work permit in order to work and reside over there...) but in every other sense we are part of the same country. Moreover, these 2 states has contributed alot to the economy of our country due to its vast natural resources. Its time we recognise the contribution of not only the people in the Peninsular but of Sabah and Sarawak as well.

I think its time we celebrate this fact, seeing that its because of this day that we are no longer Malaya but Malaysia? Anyway, as a MALAYSIAN, I am going to do my bit by remembering this special day.

Happy Malaysia Day everyone! :)

Ramblings part 150905

1. Popularity contest:
Funny how some bloggers become so popular that their blogs become a little impersonal... you have to be extra special to get a respond from them (I am not naming names cos there is none to name, it is just my general observations).

Of cos, there are some who are really nice and respond to you though... so I guess it balances it out.

So I guess its ok-lah, since most bloggers don't really get much readership wan... for every popular blogger, there are hundreds more who gets a readership of a handful of people...

2. Fetish:
Do you think I have a watch fetish?

3. Missing her:
Its time for "I miss my fiancee" show again...

4. Not blogging:
Still don't know why I don't blog as much... another theory: Too much Football Manager 2005?

5. Debt:
My sleep debt is way too high... need to repay it a bit... now if only the clock would wind faster...

Malaysians to space?

Malaysian in space by 2007? Wow... and apparently you can vote for the person to be the first Malaysian astronaut/cosmonaut ala Malaysian Idol... Hrmm...

Much has been made about the requirements for a potential spaceman/woman... one of which is that you have to run 3.5km in 20 minutes. Sounds tough huh but being a space-person is not easy you know... you have to be fit to float around! :P Seriously though, the heavy G-forces you will feel when going up AND down will test the strongest person... so I guess its only far that the fittest is chosen... but then what about the space-person's intelligience? Is that not needed? Hrmm...

Yeah, lots to ponder today... :P

Which one do you prefer?

This is for Su Yin... (but if you want to add your comments you are welcome...)

Which one would you prefer?

This one (1)...

or This one (2)?

I want, I want! - part 3

Another one for my wish list :P

Casio MSY-501L

Noticed that recently I have developed a liking for Casio watches??? Yeah, they are cheap, durable and really nice looking... Those who still owe me a birthday present, you know what to do ok? :P

Be careful what you pray for...

Had a very, very nice and meaningful talk with Su Yin last night. We realise that it can be scary asking God to help us love our neighbours and help us grow in our patience with others. Often when we pray that kind of prayer, we hope God to change the annoying and unlovable people around us so that it is easier for us to love. However, this is not how God works is it?

Instead He surrounds us with exactly the type of people we don't like in order to change OUR perspectives... He does this so that everyone involved will benefit, if we would only listen to Him and do as He says... We will gain because through testing our patience and trying our ability to love unconditionally, we bear the fruits that He wants us to bear, people He surrounds us with will be touched by Him and sees Him through us and our actions and finally, God gets the glory ultimately...

Truly, His ways are higher than ours...

Is this true for you too?

Thinly spreaded...

Wah, so many days never blog already (actually, it has only been 2 days). Furthermore, I cannot give excuse that Su Yin is around, cos she's not. In fact, it was she that commented that I have not been blogging for awhile. Yeah, I guess so. Hence the next logical question should be... WHY?

I don't know really. Maybe its a combination of laziness, bz-ness and tiredness. It was a bz weekend cos I had to run around town for some reason and I was replacing someone for sound duty on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I've also been spending more time reading people's blogs than writing my own. Novelty's wearing off on me maybe? Burn out? I don't know ler...

Nevermind-lah, this is my blog and I shall blog at my own pace. If I feel like walking, I'll walk. If I feel like doing a marathon, I shall do that too... :P

Anyway, I finally figured out how to play Diablo 2 on my home network... Woohoo! Just as Xe Hui came back from KL... Timing is so perfect! One day later and Leslie would be plonked here in my home... bugging me to play with him. :P

Hmm... I was just thinking, should I continue to use people's real names on my blog? I noticed that some bloggers will use pseudonyms/nicknames for people mentioned in their blogs... should I do that too? Let me know what you think lah (especially those who frequently appear as guest stars in this drama-blog of mine)....

Snatch-theft solution

I was reading Kenny Sia's blog about Patriotism and he mentioned that one of the endemic problems that our country is facing is snatch theft and that got me thinking... how do we get rid of this scourge?

After 2 seconds of thinking... I came out with the solution: GET RID OF THE SCOOTER/KAP-CHAI/MOSQUITO-TYPE MOTORCYCLES!

That way, people will either carry out the crime on foot, by bicycle or by car... all of which are abit silly cos if you carry out this crime by foot, even the auntie whom you just snatched from would catch up with you and bash you on the head. If you do it by bicycle, people can also easily stop you. By car??? If you can afford a car, why go snatch theft? Go rob a bank or something! At least you can DIE in a blaze of glory! :P

What do you think? Can?

Getting my attention

Boy... God really knows how to get my attention... and lately He's been trying very, very hard... in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Don't know if it is a good thing but I'm glad to know that I'm still in His thoughts...

Old?

Officially I became 1 year older yesterday... just want to say thank you for all the wishes and blessings conveyed to me last night. I really appreciate it... alot. As you get older, my birthdays doesn't seem to hold such a huge significance to me anymore... hmm...

I am beginning to feel the effects of growing older... can't eat that much, feel sleepy earlier in the night and you feel tired more easily that say when i was in my teens but on the other hand, you begin to enjoy and appreciate the simpler things in life. I thank God that He is still my strength and the supplier of my needs. Thank you Lord for Your faithfulness...

Well, another year ahead... hopefully it will be as wonderful as the last. It doesn't matter if there were a few bumps here and there, it was still a good year and worth giving thanks to God for...

I want, I want! - part 2

Another for my wishlist... Nice???

Casio Pathfinder Triple Sensor Titanium, Model:PRG-70T-7V

Description :
-Electro-luminescent backlight
Full auto EL light, afterglow
-Solar powered
-Low-temperature resistant (-10°C/14°F)

-Digital compass
Measures and displays direction as one of 16 points
Measuring range: 0 to 359°
Measuring unit: 1°
20 seconds continuous measurement
Bidirectional calibration and northerly calibration function

-Altimeter
Measuring range: -700 to 10,000 m (-2,300 to 32,800 ft.)
Measuring unit: 5 m (20 ft.)
Memory capacity: Up to 41 measurement records (month, date, time, altitude, and altitude indicator);
one maximum altitude record (month, date, time, altitude, and altitude indicator)
Reference altitude setting
Altitude indicator
*Changeover between meters (m) and feet (ft.)

-Barometer
Display range: 260 to 1,100 hPa (7.65 to 32.45 inHg)
Display unit: 1 hPa (0.05 inHg)
Measurement timing: Daily from midnight, at three hour intervals (8 times per day);
Every five seconds in Barometer/Thermometer Mode
Atmospheric pressure tendency graph
*Changeover between hPa and inHg

-Thermometer
Display range: -10 to 60°C (14 to 140°F)
Display unit: 0.1°C (0.2°F)
*Changeover between Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F)

-Duplex LC display
-1/100-second stopwatch
Measuring capacity: 9:59'59.99'
Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
Others: Minute indicator, seconds indicator
-Countdown timer
Measuring unit: 1 second
Countdown range: 60 minutes
Countdown start time setting range: 1 to 60 minutes (1-minute increments)
Others: Auto repeat, progress beeper, minute indicator, seconds indicator
-Daily alarms
5 independent daily alarms
-Hourly time signal
-Battery power indicator
-Power Saving (Turns off the display when the watch is left in the dark)
-Auto-calendar (to year 2039)
-12/24-hour format
-Regular timekeeping: Hour, minutes, seconds, pm, month, date, day
-Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
-Approx. battery operating time: 6 months on CTL1616 (Operating period with normal use without exposure to light after full charge)
23 months on CTL1616 (Operating period when stored in total darkness with the Power Save function ON after full charge)
-Size of case/total weight: 56.0 X 48.2 X 13.9 mm / 113 g

Taking a break

I realised that it is possible for me not to blog for a long, long time... :) Did not really blog much during the week when Su Yin was back. Now that she's gone back to Kuching, I am not so inclined to blog. :) Not bad eh? Hmm...

What a week!

Su Yin left for Kuching on Saturday... and I miss her so much already. It has been an uneventful and yet very eventful week at the same time.

It was uneventful cos for the first time in a long time, we managed to do what most couples do when they are courting... that is to go dating! :) Its weird I know but we have hardly done that for a stretch before... like everyday also go out on a date... its so rare for us cos everytime we see each other we can only meet for a short period of time and we try to do something more special such as travel. This time we managed to do something normal couples would do, such as window shopping, having dinner dates and the like. Hence it was quite eventful... everyday I'd go home tired but happy...

I'm still having a hang-over from the whole week... I missed out on the regular evening naps and I was out doing stuff in the evening with Su Yin so I guess it did not help but I really didn't mind... since she was back for only 1 week. Sighs... I'm off to bed now... 2 months to recuperate! :)