Falling...

The bigger they are, the harder they fall... :) I am sure alot of people out there are sleeping more soundly with the realisation that no one is perfect and the seemingly unbeatable giants are also humans after all...

Fulham 1 Chelsea 0.

Too quiet?

Something is brewing in Man Utd. While every other top-tier Premiership club has been linked with some player... nothing seems to be happening in Man Utd. Well, not really... there's this talk about Van Niistelrooy. but that's about someone leaving... not someone coming... hrm... I really wonder who will be THE midfielder... I have a feeling its someone big, and not necessarily old too.

Plenty of names had been mention before the January deadline... Vogel, Zokora, Diarra, Gravesen... but lately, its been really quiet.

Hrmm...

Should I or should I not? That is the question...

My baby mentioned to me that she wanted this and I'm thinking of getting it for her... what do you think?

Ice ice baby?

Why is there a trend in canned drinks where the manufacturers add something to make it feel icy? Take Nescafe Ice for example. Its like adding mint into the drinks without the minty flavour. It just tastes weird. Don't you think?

Warp speed, Scotty...

The following was my comment (albeit an updated and amended version) on Viewtru's posting on our ever diminishing fuel...

--------------------------------------------------------------

Maybe the future of the nuclear-fueled car is not so far away...

You know something? cars that run on alternative fuel has always been around, gas, hydrogen fuel cell, bio-diesel, solar, hybrid... its all there... just more tweaking and we are off to mass production. They may not have to power for us to rev it loud and burn rubber down the street but it is more than sufficient to take us from point A to point B.

The problem is, alot is at stake here, no one is interested in putting lots of money in making such cars cos there are alot of selfish people out there who are eager to hold-on to, and make even more, petro-dollars. Oil companies, auto-manufacturers, oil-producing countries... imagine, most middle-eastern countries will be as poor as a beggar if not for fuel... they have plenty of nothing else, except... well... sand.

Countries were even willing to wage war over this "black-gold". You think Iraq was really a war on terror? Think again, its a war for gold... black gold. If the country does not have oil, do you think the US government would be willing to send their soldiers there to die for nothing? I think not...

So you see... we may want public transport, alternative fuel cars and a better environment but will we get it? Not likely anytime soon... :(

International Women's Day for all women?

Read about this from Viewtru's blog (one of those blogs that I read regularly). It was about Lucia's post on Marina Mahathir's article for the Star on International Women's Day that was rejected because it was dealing with some very sensitive matters... i.e. the rights of, or rather lack of, Muslim women in Malaysia.

Sighs... Wawasan 2020? Towards a mature, thinking, caring and sensitive society? I think we still have a long way to go huh?

Edit: I was told that Marina's article was published in today's edition of Star... but in a truncated form... sheesh... its like cutting your speech while you are speaking... how rude!

Everybody hates Chelsea

I wonder why someone would support Chelsea nowadays... there is an increasing number of sport news articles mentioning how even the hard-core Chelsea fans are disgruntled with their team... Their main gripe: the atmosphere is one of the worse in the Premiership... and they were also bemoaning the fact that currently they are playing very, very boring and negative football, that although they did not win much in the past, they played very attractive and attacking football then. Well, not anymore... thank you, Jose "Moan"rinho. Thanks for making Chelsea the most boring and hated them in the Premiership.

Now they are out of the Champions League... good riddance, I'd say. Its seems that this view is not only shared by me, but by a lot of football pundits too. Not only that, some are saying that Chelsea are the architects of their own downfall... that their riches and resources are the reason why their form are so very poor... cos there is not enough of a challenge for them to keep them at tip-top form.

Not only that, many are also saying that Chelsea will never be as popular as Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal because of the lack of history in, and passion for, the beautiful game... even clubs like Newcastle and Totenham Hotspurs play with more passion and flair than Chelsea.

Btw, if you have not realised by now that I really, really, really dislike Chelsea, you must be from another Universe...

Drama Queen

I read, on the Star newspaper today, this article about a guy who sued the paper and the writer of the an article that allegedly called him a "drama-queen lecturer", saying that it was damaging his reputation and causing him psychological damage...

Pfffttt... this guy just proved the point of the writer, didn't he? Sighs... :P

Sportsmanship

Barcelona's head coach Frank Rijkaard is calling for the team and the fans to act in a sportmans-like manner. This is in response to the actions of some Barcelona fans who spitted and hackled at the opposing team yesterday and this call has seemed to caught on, with lots of Barcelona newspapers and radio stations echoing Rjikaard's call.

Hrmm... This is definitely one attribute that is clearly lacking at a certain blue-clad South London football club. :)

Wind

Wow, I noticed that I've been blogging a lot more consistently recently. :) A second wind maybe?

Well, at least its not the OTHER kind of wind that I can generate! :)

Mellowing?

Do you think Sir Alex Ferguson is mellowing with his age? This was his comments after Man Utd's match with Wigan last night:

"They didn't deserve to lose - it was so unlucky for Pascal Chimbonda, he couldn't do much about it in the end. I don't think we've had a harder away game all season - Wigan were brilliant, absolutely terrific. We were poor in the first half but we improved and then gambled. I'd have settled for 1-1 as they were so good."

What do you think? So nice to see that he is more generous in his comments about other teams, with the exception of Arsenal, but that could all be just mind-games. :)

Even though football is a very competitive sport, I think there should some decency and gentlemanliness among managers when handling other teams AFTER the match.

I don't think Jose "Moan"rinho would ever say something like that huh?

Just wondering...

Edit: This is a rather idiotic post... bear with me ok? Its just me, doing some daydreaming and you, realising how empty my brain is...

Hrmm... if I was given a Euro Millions lottery ticket and I won the top prize, I'd be RM169 million richer right? Then am I supposed to give 10% of my earnings to tithes?

On the same trail...

Edit: this post was inspired by the recent posting about the Kiso Valley, Central Honshu, on the Star newspaper.

Continuing from my previous train of thoughts about me having alot of money...

I'd want to use some of that money to:

1. learn Japanese together with Su Yin,
2. travel the width and length of Japan, and
3. make a travelogue about my trip. :)

Oklah, time to go back to earth again... :(

Cars and trucks and things that go

The recent increase in oil prices have been one of the most talked about issues in and around our country. I understand that the oil prices had to be increased and we have no control of that but there are so many things that we can do to overcome this problem.

When will anyone learn that the only way this country can survive the oil crisis is to move people onto public transport? Sighs...

There are so many countries with so many examples of successful public transport systems that are supervised by a unified transport board. Singapore, London, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Japan... Why can't we learn from them?

Here we have to cope with poorly maintained vehicles, unqualified drivers, unadhered-to schedules and badly managed systems. I am sure alot of people would be willing to hop onto public transport if it is safe, clean and on-schedule. Come on PM, make this your priority!

Bringing up children

I realise over the weekend that if we bring up children with the following principles, they'd be set for life:

1. Love God and obey Him.
2. Work hard.
3. Be thrifty.
4. Do not be afraid to fail.

I never said it was going to be easy instilling these principles into them, did I?

Must haves

Things that I must have in my kitchen:

1. Tomatoes
2. Carrots
3. Mince meat (chicken, pork or beef)
4. Sausages/frankfurters
5. Choi Sum
6. Margarine
7. Peas
8. Cheese
9. Chicken bone (for stock)
10. Potatoes
11. Cabbage
12. Coriander
13. Mushrooms
14. Eggs

If I have this around my kitchen, I can basically cook almost anything... :)

Hrmm...

I was watching Key Largo and To Have and Have Not recently, both by Humphrey Bogart, and I noticed that the fishing boat in Key Largo called Santana looks alot like the fishing boat Queen Conch in To Have and Have Not...

I know it sounds really meaningless but its just my observation, that's all...

Mind is blank

I wanted to blog something or other but now as I sit in front of my comp, I'm at a lost at what to write. Nothing... zip...

Sighs... oh well...

What can I say... impressive!

I just had a read of Soccernet.com's article on the coming Football World Cup's finalist countries and it was interesting to observe that Man Utd has the most number of players in the "Players to Watch" list for the coming World Cup... and they are:

1. Wayne Rooney (England),
2. Christiano Ronaldo (Portugal), and
   
3. Park Ji Sung (South Korea).

All of them are tipped to light up the World Cup with their performances for their individual countries. Personally, I'd like to see another player who's in the list, Rafael van der Vaart (Holland), join this illustrious trio next season at Man Utd.

Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Juventus and Arsenal each can only boast of having 1 member of their team in this list. Not even a peep from Liverpool or Real Madrid here.

Even though, Man Utd's financial power maybe waning, it seems to me that their star-pulling power is still undoubtedly strong... Now, if only Rafael and that silly John Obi Mikel are tempted to join them next season...

Sleepy

Oh, woe is me...
Starting my day sleepy...

Ho-hum, fiddle my thumbs... back to work.

Looking into the future...

This picture was taken off one of the websites I visited during my lunch break... sums up our current conditions aptly huh? Looks like we'd have alot more people joining him at the kaki lima if the trend continues...

Baggage

I realise from my chat with Su Yin tonight that...

1. We are so inconsistent with our feelings and emotions.
   
2. Material wealth can become like luggage that we carry around as we travel on this journey on the way home, our eternal home that is... that we must learn to travel light so that if and when God does decide to call us home, it would be so much easier for us. We wouldn't have so much to lug around, you see.
3. The reason why we feel life is unfair is because we tend to compare with those who seem to have more than us. That is why we are so easily envious of others and why we are all so greedy.
   

Superstition

I was thinking about this grandmother's superstition while taking my shower: we are always told by our elders that we should not run after a full meal, if not we will get appendicitis. I think there is some truth in it, though maybe not 100% so.

May I put forward this theory that its because when we run after a meal, the blood that is suppose to be concentrated around the stomach area is now somewhere else. Meaning the food will not be broken down and digested properly, meaning these food will have a higher chance of getting stuck in the appendix cavity. What do you think?

If it is true then I think someone out there would have figured it out by now, so let me know ya. If you have prove to refute this theory, please let me know also. Thanks.

Happy, happy!

Today marks a special milestone between myself and Su Yin... as of today, we have been going out for 3 years and you know what? I still can't get enough of her! :)

Yeah, sure we have our downers too but our relationship has been marked by a lot of significant ups, some of which I will remember for the rest of my life.

Thanks dear, for the journey so far... no regrets whatsoever.

This is bad...

Long distance relationships are HARD to sustain and maintain... after 3 years of LDR, I am still not getting use to it. There are nice things about it of course, like everytime we see each other again, its like rebooting our relationship and having a new girlfriend every time, which is fun in its own way but then there are plenty of downers too... like what's happening now.

In the past few days, I have been missing the physical intimacy of the relationship... no, its not the SEX bits, all you perversed minds... but the fact that you have someone by your side, someone to hug and hold hands with when you are out and about... someone whose eyes you can look into and see love reflected back. I miss that. I miss having Su Yin around. Its so hard to tease someone over the phone. A lot of physical nuances are lost. It feels so distant and cold...

Only a few months left and she'll be back for good... and so, here I am, holding on... missing her but hoping for... no, knowing that better days are ahead when we see each other again.

First casualty

Wow... I was trawling through some of my friends' blogs today and I noticed that there was one blog that was not updated since October 2005. I guess the person has more life than me. I wonder if we should organise some kind of funeral service for the blog! :) I know AL will rid his blog links of those blogs that are inactive... Hrmm...

Anyways, kudos to XH for running the good race... boos all round to LY for lacking the pace! :) Giving up so soon LY when your darling XH is faithfully posting her Hmms? :)

Edit: Like AL, I'm taking off links that have been inactive for the pass 3 months. I hope those whose blogs have been taken off do not feel too bad about it... don't worry, I will drop in to your site once in awhile and add you once you are abit more consistent with your writing. I'm not criticising your inactivity... just wanna make sure that my links are up-to-date. Thanks.

Good one this...

From Ps. Isaac's "virtual" message today:

"PRAY as if everything depends on GOD, but WORK as if everything depends on YOU!"
- St. Augustine.

What would you do?

I don't know how many people would actually respond to this but what kind of job you want to do or business you want to go into if you had loads and loads of money (think Roman Abramovich or Bills Gates...). Give me your answers in the comments section.

You don't have anything holding you back... you don't have to give me any saintly answers like open a charitable foundation. Feed your dreams! Ok?

Like for me, I'd probs use the money to start up a sundry shop... you know, the traditional kind where there are loads of things everywhere and its always dark and smells funny? Or maybe like the previous posting, start an animation company for myself or... wait for it, buy Manchester United from Mr. Glazer! :)

Use your imagination but keep it clean ok? Maybe got children reading this blog leh? :) I'd love to hear your comments. Thanks. :)

Edit: Looks like no one is interested in this inane survey huh? :) Anyway, here's another way I'd spend my billions: buy up the hotel in Penang Hill, spruce it up, give it a homely feel and start a bed and breakfast to pass time. Not bad right?

Ultimate match-up?

One of the most amazing design for a "baddie" mobile suit in Gundam is Char's Sazabi in Char's Counterattack. This thing is one hot mecha.

I wonder which MS will win if I pit this monster against the MSA-0011[Ext] Ex-S Gundam?

Attention: chicken crossing the road...

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get away from the stupid bird flu lah...

Thoughts to ponder:
Apparently it is ok to consume chicken meat after being cooking it well. Even if this is so, you still have to handle the meat to prepare it for cooking, right? Yeah, yeah, some of you will say that you can use gloves but you still use your HANDS to take the gloves off right? What if the virus is on the surface of the glove then??? Hrmm...

Anyway, no more half-boiled eggs for me until this whole thing blows over.

Making movies

If I have loads and loads of money, I will put some of it to create the Gundam Sentinel movie or OVA (original video animation). Why? Cos this novelisation of the Gundam series has one of the most impressive mechas around (check out the Ex-S Gundam above, impressive eh?).

Let you on a little secret: Ever since I was 6 years old, I've always wanted to do create my very own animated feature length movie. Its true... me and my friend, Chong Kin Keong... that's our dream. Hrm... I wonder if it would ever come to pass?

United we stand

Got an idea... why don't all the teams that are facing Chelsea for the remainder of the season come together and share notes to find a way to beat them?

Well, MU did it... and so did Middlesborough... Will that help? Somehow, I think not... :(

Devastated about Alan Smith... but I know he will recover soon. He's a fighter... one of my favorite player.

MU out of the FA Cup... what to do? They do not have a proper midfielder... Come on MU, go get Javier Mascherano to protect the back four and another guy as reserve! Aldo Duscher maybe? As for a creative midfielder, what about Rafael Van Der Vaart? Do something lah, please...

Ok... that's the end of my rant... Whew...

Special day?

Happy Valentine's day to everyone... not that it holds much significance to me cos Su Yin and I have never celebrated it together in our almost 3 years of courtship... still, there are some things you'd just have to do...

My dearest Su Yin,

Though we can't celebrate this day (again!), I would like to use this day to remember the many "Valentine's" days that we have everytime see each other... though those days have been few and far between... thanks for the special love that you've showered me and thanks for the effort you have put in to make this relationship a success. You are God's special, special gift to me and I want to tell you what an honour and a privilege it is for me to have you as, first, my friend, then my girl-friend, fiancee and hopefully... my soon-to-be wife. I love you and I hope that everyday would be a "Valentine's day" to us in the truest way.

Happy Valentine's day, baby.

Milestone

Wow! I did not realise this but my last post was the 200th post in this blog... its like Van Nistelrooy scoring his 200th goal for MU. So... cheers to me! (Somehow that sounded really lame).

Hopefully, I can sustain this for another 200 posts more and beyond. :)

Genie in a bottle...

Why do we sometimes treat God like a genie in a bottle? Turning to Him only when we need him, rubbing our hands together, hoping that He will come and rescue us or give us what we want. I admit that I am guilty also of doing this from time to time but is that the main reason why we become a Christian?

Why do we take God as a cure-all? Do we really believe that after accepting Christ, all our problems will disappear? Isn't that just naive because we have to realise that when we become Christians, we are not joining another religion but are beginning an eternal relationship with the Most High God. Experience on this earth would have told us that being in a relationship is one of the hardest things to do in this life. This is especially hard when one party is holy and perfect and the other is not...

Sighs...

Its so easy

It is so easy for us to be envious of what other people have and take for granted what we DO have. I'm afraid I'm guilty of falling into this trap time and time again. It is sosick true that everything in this world is drawing us in 3 ways, through our eyes, our desires and our pride. We do so much to go after all these things that we forget that all these things would mean nothing to us when we die.

The only way to combat this is to really fix our eyes on God and be consciously thankful for everything, good or bad, that He has allowed us to have... the good to bless us, and the bad to help us grow to be more like Him.

Lord, I thank you for what you've so richly blessed me with. Family, fiancee and friends to love... a job to work in... a home to live in... food to eat... clothes to wear... Thank you Lord. Thank you also for trials, illness and problems that come my way too, cos it allows You to work in me, and through me. Thank you for all that You've done for me, for being there for me time and time again... Thanks.

If I were a sports car...

I just found out that...

I'm a Lamborghini Murcielago!

Results: You're not subtle, but you don't want to be. Fast, loud, and dramatic, you want people to notice you, and then get out of the way. In a world full of sheep, you're a raging bull.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Xing Nien Quai Le

Here's wishing everyone the best of health, most of wealth and loads of blessings from the Lord for the year 2006. Happy Chinese New Year one and all! :)

Woe is me...

My girl-girl currently crazy about... Marcos Baghdatis! :( Well, at least he is not...

David Nalbandian... :)

Fair play

Man Utd vs Burton: 5-0. End of a fairy tale. However, this is not the end of the story... you know something? I wrote in a previous posting that something smelled fishy when Man Utd drew at Burton Albion a week ago... but with hindsight, I realised that it was a good thing. Why?

1. Man Utd's out of all European competitions, meaning they are playing less matches. Meaning less opportunities to let fringe players to get games under their belts. So getting a draw AND thus playing an extra match like this is a good thing.
2. It also gives a very, very small club like Burton a chance to get some much needed funds into their coffers. It is said that a replay like this will earn Burton an estimated 500,000 pounds in extra revenue.
3. It gives Burton's players a chance to play in a stadium like Old Trafford and allow their fans to also get a feel of such a stadium, which they will never ever get to do so for a normal Premiership match, with Premiership ticket prices being so extorbitant.

If not, why do you think that in fielding almost the exact same team, with the exception of Darren Fletcher who came in for Ritchie Jones, Man Utd manage to put 5 goals into Burton's net? Funny eh? :) Anyway, its only my own speculation... you draw your own conclusions. :)

I'm glad Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to praise the Burton players for their positive spirit, the home team was nice enough to leave the field quickly after the match to allow the Burton team to make a lap of honour and the home fans had stayed back to cheer their opposition... I don't know how many big clubs are willing to do just that.

That's how football should be played don't you think?

The Great British Sale

Come one, come all, the Great British Sale is on right now... on offer: British car makers (almost all sold?), British confectionery companies and now the latest, British football clubs!

As proof of guaranteed greatness after purchase, see - CHELSEA.

For guaranteed notoriety, see - MANCHESTER UNITED.

Already Portsmouth and Hearts has been taken and Blackpool, WestHam have all been mentioned to be up for sale. So hurry, hurry, hurry - limited clubs left!

Sighs... I wish I had a few billion pounds to spare... I'd buy me a club or two and play real-life Football Manager. :)

P/S Can someone answer me this? Why is a football club called a club if there are no members and only 1 owner???

That sinking feeling

Sighs... from the moment I picked up my phone after I woke up from my nap I knew I was in trouble... 3 missed calls and 2 SMS messages. BIG trouble... I had my phone on silent mode since this afternoon's class and I had forgotten to switch it back to normal mode. No wonder I didn't hear my phone ringing throughout the evening... Sighs...

One message was normal... asking what I was doing... the second... well, let's just say I am in BIG, BIG trouble now...

It really was an honest mistake and an oversight that I should not have overlooked... Sighs...

Baby, I am really sorry... it was my fault but it was an honest mistake... my mistake... I'm sorry.

Shelf life

Just curious... what will happen to my Casio watch after 2039? My watch can only tell the date till 2039... what happens after that? I know its probably not going to last till then, but what if it did? Then what? Will it be able to adjust itself or give me the wrong date or just die on me?

Can someone enlighten me on this?

Sneaky suspicion

Is it me or am I the only one to come to this conclusion while watching the match between MU and Burton Albion? As the game progressed, it began to feel as if the 2 teams were playing for a draw, thus allowing Burton to snatch a replay at Old Trafford... Such a replay will earn Burton an additional 500,000 pound-sterling. MU is also none too worried cos their fixtures this year is not so congested with them being out of all European competitions.

Anyway, its just my own opinion. More likely, MU played with their nose too high and underestimated the way lower-league/non-league teams such as Burton are inspired by past giant-killing feats and continue the time honoured tradition of the FA Cup.

So there, that's my contribution to this year's load of conspiracy theory ler :)

Playing catch up?

Its only half way through the season but Man Utd and Arsenal has already thrown in the towel. The MU vs Arsenal game is one of the the most mundane I've ever seen in recent seasons. I am not so much worried about the mundaneness of the game but about the fact that the season is more or less effectively over in the Premiership. If the Premiership authorities are not careful, more and more people will start to tune off as it becomes more and more predictable.

Many pundits and commentators are already making the same conclusion. Surprisingly this is not the case in Spain, where Barcelona and Real Madrid, especially the latter, has dominately the league for a long time. Yet, teams such as Valencia, Real Sociedad and Deportivo La Coruna has had genuine chances of clinching the Liga Primera title and has done so.

Sighs... for now, I'd rather play Football Manager 2006 where most teams has a better chance of winning the Premiership.

Pressure

I can't say much about it but I have just had someone hinting to me to do something that I don't think I should do. I hate this... need God's guidance here. The good thing is that the thing has not happened yet. Since it is still in the future, I trust God to help me overcome this situation. I know there are things I can't do, only God can.

Thank you Father for your assurance.

A Christmas greeting

Blessed Christmas one and all...

No good christmas commercialism...

Just found out that this guy who sells toys in 1-Stop increased his price of a toy I was interested in by almost 50%. Why? Cos he is expecting the christmas gift buying crowd to increase... hence the increase in price to cash in on the rush... :(

Isn't Christmas a time for goodwill? Obviously not to businessmen... :(

Ramblings part 231205

Willie is back from Australia... and is now in front of the computer... again... :)

Watched King Kong on Wednesday with Su Yin... paid only RM6 per person for a 3-hour movie. Not too bad lah for that price. The show made me cry! Never in my life would I think of empathising with a CG animal... but let me tell you. it was THAT good... Hated the scene with the bugs though... oh yeah, its not a show to bring your children really... got to cover their eyes lots of times and you've got lots of explaining to do about why the people had to kill such a nice gorilla... yeah, like you don't know that King Kong dies in the end... :P

I'm on holiday but I am marking my student's papers at the same time... don't ask... :(

Bz like a bee

Today is just so hectic. Students coming to see me endlessly to complete their coursework. Its rushy but I like it when I am bz, as long as there are intervals between the questionings... otherwise I am fine. Thank God that I would be on holiday for 6 days after today... At least I can spend some time with Su Yin.

Willie is coming back. Can't wait to see him again. Hopefully we can have a family Christmas dinner...

Korean dramas

Korean drama serials are really funny... funny in the sense that most of them are so formulaic.

Take 2 men and 2 women, mix them about by making one like the other but the other likes another... if it is a comedy, then make them get into funny situations that will let the 4 people chase each other endlessly, or if its a serious drama, then give them a lot of impossibly difficult situations to go through... like the couple almost get together only to be torn apart by guilt or obligation.

Why like that ah? Its frustrating watching it sometimes and yet, it is so very popular. They have virtually taken over HK and Japanese drama serials as the thing to watch. Its on TV almost all the time. Can someone tell me why are they so popular?

Another one for the wishlist

The above radio is the Grundig FR200 Emergency radio. It works without even needing a battery because it can be powered by turning a crank by hand. 60 cranks in 2 minutes allows 1 hour of listening pleasure... pure genius! Unfortunately can only buy in the US. If anyone knows how you can get one elsewhere, please let me know. Thanks.
This one is even better... the Eton S350DL. A lovely travel radio... nice? Anyone interested in getting me one? :) Eh... Michael? ;)

MU dumped out of Europe

Mu was dumped out of ALL European competitions last night after they lost to Benfica 2-1, finishing last in their group. Wasted my time waking up for the so-called crunch match. I think this is the final nail on the coffin of Sir Alex Ferguson's management. Sighs...

Transience

Recently, I received a call from my friend... telling me that one of my former colleagues had just contracted cancer. When I heard of it I could not believe my ears because this guy would be the last person on earth you think would contract some kind of serious illness. He looks healthy and fit, without a hint of fat his body... and he IS healthy, plays badminton a few times a week, goes for walks and exercise during the weekends... how could it be him!?! but it was... as difficult to believe it.

It proofs that life is really fleeting... must make the most out of it. If you can wake up in the morning, take a breath of air and get out of bed without any problems... then one must really give thanks to God.

Please keep my friend in prayer... I understand that he just accepted Christ and so as fellow brothers and sistes, lets support him with our prayers. We pray, doctors treat, God heals...

2 days of suffering

I miss my dearest... after 2 long and agonising days, I now realise how much Su Yin means to me... that she is such a big part of my life. She's now somewhere in the jungles of Sarawak collecting prawn samples for her Final Year Project and there is no way for me to contact her. Sighs... :(

I am using this time for some ME time... That's just an excuse really... I think its more like I dun like going anywhere and seeing all the couples everywhere, then realising she's not with you. Its hard not to have your beloved with you...

So, I'm trying to use this time wisely for myself and enjoy it with my grandma, which is good, AND allow God to use this time to talk to me, which is good also. Still, I really, really miss my baby...

Being thankful...

Today I had a timely reminder that having Su Yin as my fiancee is a privilege, not a right. Many a times I have taken her for granted and caused me to be a little complacent, expecting her to be here all the time. But all relationships are fragile in nature and has to be carefully nurtured, just like life itself. God giveth, and God can take it away in an instance.

This is just an entry to give thanks to God not only for Su Yin, but for my family and relatives, friends and acquaintances that He has placed around me, throughout my life... and to those readers I know personally, it includes you too... :)

I have been waiting to get this for a long time...

PC Fair is coming up (between 2-4 December at the PISA) and this is THE thing I will be getting there (here's to hoping that they are still selling it!)...
Presenting... the Storm MP-8000 MP3 Player. I know it does not look like much but the thing about this is player is that it has a SD expansion slot on it... allowing you to bump up the memory on this baby... sweet! :)

Greatest footballer on the planet?

Do you want to know why Ronaldinho is regarded as the best football player in the world right now? Check this video out... he just got his new football boots and goes for a test run... watch his ball skills... cool but that's not all... suddenly he does a volley and BAM! the ball ricochets of the crossbar and comes back to him... and to prove this is not a fluke, he does it again... and again... and again! Is he good or what?!

What does this say about him? He can put the ball anytime into the net man... we hit the crossbar because we were "lucky"... he hits the crossbar because he WANTS TO!

How to replace a legend

The big question floating around the footballing world right now is this... who's going to replace Roy Keane at Manchester United?

Thank you for the memories...

Roy Keane has finally made the decision to quit Manchester United with immediate effect. It is sad to hear the news that one of the best midfielders in the world in his generation and the most successful captain MU has ever had, has decided to quit the club that he has loyally and whole-heartedly served for 12 and a half years.

To me he is the best midfielder, ever. A box-to-box combative midfielder, his style, his skills, his character, his determination and leadership quality puts him above the rest. Yet, age has been catching up with him, and maybe it as apt as anytime for him to move on and have a clean break with the club he has served for so long. Where does he go from here? Nobody knows for now but what is certain is the fact that Roy Keane has left a great legacy in MU...

Thank you, Roy Keane, for what you've given to the club, the fans and the game of football.

Its been awhile...

Wah... its so good to be back! :) Its been so bz at work, with work piling up (due to my own laziness and the fact that exams are coming) and also with the long Raya holidays making me rather lethargic.

Anyway, I realise that I have quite a number of loose ends to tie up. Like my Sarawak trip and also the trip to Pedu Lake that I went with Su Yin...


A few updates...

1. As you can see, I am an uncle now... first grandchild in my family... nice! :) Just that I won't be able to see him personally until he is 8-9 months old. Hrm... I wonder if we will click...
   
2. Well, Su Yin and I have finally managed to come up with a date for our wedding... more or less... we think the middle of 2007 would be nice. Just don't know if we can get everyone back, so much planning would have to be done. How will I get it done? I dun really know, trust God for that I guess :)
3. God is still at work in me... though many times I only realise it after He has done something with it and NOT before or during... hmm... need to work on my sensitivity.
   

Like that lor... the key to life is the simple faith that we have, trusting God to see us through. It is not something that is achieved after many years of theological studies... in fact, that may blur the fact that the Christian faith is simple yet profound. Many Christians in the most impoverished, destitute and oppressed countries, have known this fact all along, that all we need to do, at all times, is to trust in Him.

Sad stuff, happy stuff

Su Yin left for Sarawak yesterday... having her come and go so many times, you'd think we have already gotten use to this type of separation and thus, make it easier for us... actually, the opposite is true. It gets harder and harder everytime. I just pray and hope that this will end soon and that we would have a period of time where we can just be an ordinary couple... Nevertheless, I must admit that these separations has done us alot of good too, keeping our relationship fresh and exciting. The pain of separation is always coupled with the joy of reunion...

We had an eventful 2 weeks where we held 2 engagement parties... we'd probably do another one for the family, I think...

I would like to thank all of Su Yin's and my friends who graciously attended either one of the parties. Thank you all who also gave us gifts for the occasions. Thank you. We are very happy that you've decided to celebrate our engagement with us. Thank you.

Welcome to the family

People, say hi to the latest member of our family... introducing, Isaac Cheng! :)

Is he cute or what?! Looks like the mother right? :)

Back from the Land of Hornbills

The past weekend was truly eventful... I went to Kuching to visit Sarawak on Friday and came back with her on Sunday. It was a tiring trip... had lots of good memories to bring back but one bad memory too... well, its not too bad cos it really reminded both Su Yin and I about the goodness of God and how He really watches over us.

So why was the trip eventful??? Here's what happened on Friday...

1. The AirAsia flight from KLIA to Kuching was delayed for 2 hours (according to some passengers, this has been happening quite frequently on AirAsia flights, dunno if it was true...).
2. The delayed flight was further delayed cos some silly family decided to take the grand tour of KLIA and the whole plane had to wait for them! Then, another Ah Pek decided to test his mobile phone in the plane... silly old man, I had to go tell him to turn it off! Sighs...
3. During the flight, it was quite uneventful until the very end of the flight, when the plane decided to encounter some very, very bad air turbulence, causing my stomach to turn upside-down... there goes my Burger King's Whopper brunch... :(
4. Still feeling queasy from the flight, Kuching decided to welcome me with a rain and wind extravaganza... the wind was so strong that the clouds just flew by when I looked up to the sky... I have not since such a sight since I returned from Australia or UK. Clouds in Malaysia are usually slow moving...
   
5. Managed to get Su Yin's friend Grace to lend me her BF's car... unfortunately she forgot to mention to me that the brakes didn't work too well... had a couple of scary moments but no accidents. Whew! :)
6. Arrived at Unimas early, so I had to wait for Su Yin to finish class to see her again... the tension was so unbearable! You don't know how its like not seeing your beloved for so long and though I'm now just a stone's throw away from her, I still could not see her! It was one of the longest 30 minutes of my life.
7. Finally, I see her again! It was such a wonderful feeling... indescribable!
8. Both of us were very hungry... nothing to eat since breakfast. So we headed down town to have dinner. Had the best Fried Oysters in the whole world! Anyone who's going to Kuching must try Restoran Venue's fried oyster that comes with fish sauce dip. Yum! :) You also must try the Ulam Midin (Midin is a type of vegetable that looks like fern... nice!).
   
9. Then we went back to Su Yin's friend's place to rest and bathe. After awhile, I was feeling a little hungry again (what else is new about me eh?!). I managed to persuade Su Yin to go to this noodle store that we saw earlier driving into her friend's place. Her friend mentioned to her that it was very nice but did not have a chance to try as it was always closed. Anyway, it was open and so we went and try... it was Kolo Mee but the noodles was home made.The place was also very nice... old style atmosphere. Brought back alot of memories of my childhood. Nice! :)
10. We went for a drive, with Su Yin driving... and it conclusively proves that she has a bad bad bad sense of direction! :)
11. Went to Coffee Bean for a Malibu-Dream Ice-blended... so nice! :) Found out that both of us liked the same kind of coffee - Cafe Mocha!!! So cool! :)
12. Then we went back home to take a deserved rest... Zzz...

Will write more tomorrow... sorry, no photos... I was too bz enjoying my time with Su Yin... Will see what I can post up... until then... tomorrowlah.

A minute's silence

Our PM's wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood passed away this morning after a nearly four-year battle with breast cancer. She was 64 years-old. The country will mourn the passing of a couragerous First lady.

I would like to extend my condolences to Pak Lah and his family for their bereavement.

As a mark of respect, I request that anyone reading this post would observe a minute's silence for my country's leader's wife... Thank you.

This blog will also not be posting anything until Monday as a mark of respect.

Going to Kuching

I'll be going over to Kuching over the weekend to see Su Yin and to have our engagement party over there. We have been planning for one since we got engaged but could not find the right time for me to go and see her... until now. Its long overdue and so I am very happy to be able to celebrate our engagement with her friends there.

Will also have another one here for people on this side of the divide during the Raya holidays. I have alot of work from the college as well... deadlines moved forward or stuff I have procastinated for far too long. Finally, they have all caught up with me. :/

So I think I will be very bz over the next few weeks. Oh well, I will enjoy the good times... I'm can't wait to see Su Yin again, miss her badly... :) and I will persevere through the bad... deadlines, deadlines, deadlines... :( Still, thanks be to God, who leads us into triumph! :)

Ultimate 4WD experience

If Su Yin and I were ever to fully dedicate our lives to research work, this will be the vehicle to take along on our trips!

Introducing the MaxiMOG, based on the Mercedes Benz's MOG. Cool huh?

A song for grandma...

This song is dedicated for my dear, dear granny... ;)

Super Gran

Stand back Superman, Iceman, Spiderman, Batman Robin too,
Don't wanna cause a ruckus with B A Barracus have I got a match for you,
She makes them look like a bunch of fairies, got more bottle than united dairies,
Hang about, look out for supergran.

You can stick your heroes, your Robert De Niro's, Al Pacino too,
Lex Galone's just another phoney, couldn't lace her shoes,
After her they're all big girls' blouses, got more front than a row of houses,
Hang about, look out for Supergran.
Sup-Sup Supergran,
She's a serious granny,
Sup-sup Supergran,
a serious granny, she'll do the things that you never saw your granny do ...
is there nothing that she cannot do?

On your bike Wonderwoman, lets just say you had it coming, this one is for real,
Charlies angels pack it in before it gets embarrasing, this lady's solid steel,
She comes on strong like a Bengal lancer, she makes you all look like a bunch of chancers,
Hang about, look out for Supergran.
Sup-sup Supergran,
Hang about, look out for Supergran.
Sup-sup Supergran,
Sup-sup Supergran,
Sup-sup Supergran, To end.

[ btw, thanks Alvin for giving me the source of the song! :) ]

WA Fm is no more

After today WA.fm, one of the Chinese radio stations here, is no more... Why? I dun really know also, just wanna blog about it. It was very interesting listening to the station. The station, using good programming coupled with good DJs, had managed to capture a small but loyal following. Alas, some of the phone-in talk shows were deemed to controversial for our tastes by certain parties. Hrmm...

Super-gran

My granny (Mom's mom) is really a Super-Gran. Why do I say that? Cos even though she is already nearer to 90 years-old and her movements are noticeably slower, her brain is still as sharp as any well-polished knife! I realised this recently as I noticed that my usual banter with her as increasing becoming more funny. Her responses are really sharp and quick and her comebacks are really, really funny... something you'd normally not associated with someone of her age, and I am so proud of her. I really love her to bits.

Btw, Super-gran was this UK show that I used to watch as a kid. It was about a very old, bent-over lady who can become a super-powered grandma when some yound kid is in trouble. It was hilarious as she could perform feats that would shame even Superman! :) Moreover, she was also armed with a wicked sense of humour... just like my very own Super-gran!

Home alone... sort of

Mom and dad leaving for Adelaide on Saturday as Mei is due anytime now. Yeah, my baby sister is going to give birth to her own little "terror". My sis was quite the terror when she was born... still is actually. You think my temper is fiery? You've not met Mei Ching yet! :)

Anyway, as they are going over, I will be home alone for about 2 months. "Whoopie!" you'd say? Well, that would have been my reaction 10 years ago but now, actually I am kinda sad that they are leaving, the house would be a lot more quiet without my mum's nagging and my dad's 24-hour TV. Its left to me, my very own super-granny and Seong, my cousin, to hold the fort.

Hrm... looks like I'd have to start thinking about meals, laundry and other household chores liao. Just like my Uni days! :) Its spaghetti/pasta for dinner again! :) The only thing I dread is remembering to pay the bills. Thank God there is Seong and super-gran around.

Chicken dung grown cold

I know the title is not one for putting up during lunch but its just something that I want to rant about. It is a sad but true fact that the blogging fever has died down among our circle. Many who enthusiatically started a post a day has now trickled their postings to a post a week, some even a post a month!!! Don't want to name names here but you know who you are :P

Its left to the few pioneers who are managing a few posts a week, especially Alvin (good job, keep it up!) who consistently deposits his crap in his "toilet bowl" except on weekends where he remains constipated for 2 days until he relieves himself on Mondays! ;) I guess that is the reason why it smells especially bad on Mondays! :)

Admittedly, I myself has slacked alot lately. Its purely down to laziness and indifference on my part and the lack of response from the part of the readers (if there is any... hehe) but do I really need to blame myself for lack of postings? Do I really need to keep asking people to update their blogs? I think something's just not quite right when you ask someone to update your blog... its their blog anyway... so for those whom I've asked to update your blog, I'm sorry ok? And update your blog lah... why? Just lor ;)

What is a blog really? Should I take the effort to make my posts interesting readings or ensure regular postings? I think if we take too much effort in doing something as frivilous as blogging, then we've lost the plot. Really... that is unless you have a wide readership like some bloggers... So I will continue to keep to my random thoughts and whatever that my heart inspires me to write (not that it does that alot anyway :/) Be it rants or raves, I will write for myself and my few loyal readers... and maybe a little for Su Yin, so that she knows what is in my heart... putting down things that I might find too difficult to say with my mouth. Otherwise, you can go read someone else's blog ler...

[Note: as you can see, my thoughts are rather random right now... I myself don't know what I just said!]

Stories

Lately I have been reading this blog alot. It is written by this guy name Viewtru and he has a real knack in telling stories. I like his postings (much more than kennysia nowadays!) and as he posted something today about entering a storywriting competition and he left a story hanging at the end, asking his readers to continue the story in the comments section, I thought this would be an appropriate time to introduction his blog to you.... just click on the link HERE and go have a look, and maybe even continue his story... :)

[ Edit: I have also contributed a number of seqments to the story... click here to go directly to the posting. :) ]

Just curious...

This question is posted out of curiousity: Would you leave your car at home and take the public transport if it is well-organised? Leave your answers in the comments section...

Penang desperately needs a well-organised transport system and there are calls recently to quickly set up the monorail system to help elevate the problems. There is merit in having a monorail system but such a system needs time to be built and I don't think it will help much in the short run. Actually, what needs to be done is just to better manage the current system available. So that when the monorail system is built, the feeder systems (buses and taxis) needed to support the system would be in place already.

Here are a few suggestions that the Penang government may want to take note of:

1. Get your backyard in order. It is not the facilities that are available that is important, it is the way it is managed that is important. The Underground system in London is one of the oldest in the world but it is well managed. Its facilities are not the most modern but it is well organised. Get a good management and support team in place.
   
2. Unite all transport companies under a single transport board. Like all well-run transport systems, they come under the umbrella of a single transport board that oversees all the different aspects of a transport system. Employing the same colors and motifs will help users, especially tourists, when using the system.
   
3. Get the feeder system ready. All rail systems need a system of feeder transportation such as buses to take people from the stations to their destination as monorail/LRT/MRT systems cannot reach every area whereas buses can, on the existing road network.
   
4. Have standardise rates and introduce day/season passes. This will reduce confusion for travellers when it comes to paying for fares and day/season passes will make it easier for regular commuters and tourists to use the system.
   
5. Standardise the timetable and introduce time-based incentives to the drivers. Meaning if the drivers can make the timetable with some allowances (usually 2-3 minutes before and after the scheduled time), they are given extra incentives for their efforts. This would make them more conscious of the time and make them more on time.
   
6. Have a team of inspectors that check for problems faced in the system. Both for users who evade payments and for buses or drivers that are not well maintained.

That said, I realise that most well-run transport systems get alot of financial backing from the government, local and federal. This means that we may need to pay more in terms of tax to get it set up properly. However, if it is done properly, I really wouldn't mine not taking the car to work and I am sure most of you wouldn't mind too right? Moreover, it would free up the roads alot more and maybe even allow and encourage people to use alternative mode of transport such as the bicycle since there is less traffic on the roads then...

What the?!

"Cops foil robbery at cigarette hoarder’s house" This was the headline that accompanied this picture featured in today's edition of theStar newspaper. What is your initial reaction after looking at the picture? You'd think that the police driving the Waja crashed into the MR2 driven by the robbers to prvent them from escaping right? WRONG!!! Here's the accompanying caption to the picture:

DESPERATE ACTION: The sleek silvery Toyota MR2 driven by a police officer was rammed by fleeing robbers at Taman Seputeh in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

After reading that caption, the first thing that pop into my mind is this: what is a policeman, earning a government servant's salary, driving a sleek sports car like this?! Either the policemen are very well paid nowadays (meaning there should be less corruption right?) or something is very fishy here. Hrmmm... maybe they are mimicking Miami Vice, where the police gets to drive fast cars and dress in fancy clothes....

What do you think?

Picture courtesy of the Star newspaper, dated 6 October 2005.

Smokers and Bombers

there is a distinct similarity between smokers and suicide bombers, both carry out acts that not only hurt themselves but also other people around them, even those who explicitly not condone their acts...

To both groups of morons... get a life... figuratively AND literally...

Piousness or hypocrisy

I was going to work today and I had to pass through Pulau Tikus. Guess what, because it was the Nine Emperor's Festival, there were a number of roadside stalls that were set up to sell vegetarian food and the people who are buying them had the audacity of parking not only on the road table, but on the road itself, causing a massive, massive jam! What is going on here, people?

I am not against people observing and pursuing their beliefs but I don't understand 2 things:

1. Why do people eat food that mimics meat and non-vegetarian products such as eggs? Doesn't it defeat the whole purpose of cleansing the body AND mind? To put the thoughts of having meat away from our minds??? Strange...
2. Why do people who observe this period so religiously, can be so inconsiderate as to park their cars indiscriminately, even on the ROAD, blocking the traffic and causing a jam?! If they want to be pious and pure, why are they still acting this way? Doesn't it goes against the very thing they are striving for???

Obviously something is not quite right here... Are people just doing this as a trend or are they doing this just to create an impression that they are pious or are they truly repentant? If they are, then I doubt the above 2 points would not happen liao right? Piousness or hyprocrisy? I dunno, you tell me...

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! :)