Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Malaysia National Day

Tomorrow, August 31, Malaysia celebrates 49 years of independence.

To all Malaysians reading this, Happy Merdeka Day!

Escort Service, anyone?

Last Saturday, I received an SMS extending congratulations that my SIM card won me a prize money of RM9000 (read nine thousand Ringgit) and that I should call a number to claim the prize. What? You think I am nuts? I did not make that call.

That string of numbers looked suspicious alright. It's got a '00' preceding it. '00' is the country code we dial to connect overseas. I wonder how many people got duped.

Talk about being duped, I read this interesting incident in the papers the other day. Looks like lots of opportunities out there.

Two gigolo wannabes come clean with story

KUALA LUMPUR: Two men who were promised lucrative jobs as gigolos by an “escort service company” ended up being duped of their cash.

The victims, who only wanted to be known as Martin and Alan, said they answered an advertisement in a Chinese newspaper last month which said it was looking for young and handsome men.

“When we contacted the company, we were promised a monthly salary of US$10,000 (RM37,000) if we did more than just escorting women.

“But the catch was that we had to deposit RM1,000 to an account belonging to the company,” said Martin, 22.

He was informed that the RM1,000 was a fee to become a member of the company.

Alan, 28, said to convince them, the company assured that their clients were all young and wealthy foreigners.

They took the bait and were later instructed to wait for clients at a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur. They realised they were duped when they tried to contact the company and discovered that its handphone number was terminated.

“I worked out in a gym to make sure I looked good and was strong for my clients. I even drank lots of essence of chicken,” lamented Martin.

“I actually walked up to several foreigners and asked them if they were my clients. I was nearly slapped by two women,” Alan chipped in.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said there were probably many others who were duped but were too embarrassed to come forward.

Source...The Star...Two gigolo wannabes come clean with story

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Letter to the Boss

Would you dare pull a stunt like this?


A Boss looking through his Mail Box was astonished to see a mail from an Employee who was supposed to be busy working at Client side on a critical project. It had the subject - "TaTa - Bye Bye". With the worst premonition he opened the mail and read the content with trembling hands:-


Dear Sir,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you, but I'm leaving the job. The offer was too lucritive and attractive for me to turn down. I had to abscond because I wanted to avoid a scene with the HR and you. I am sorry but I had no choice.

The project is working fine. There are only 108 issues pending, out of which only 38% issues are High Priority. Hence I am sure there is no need to worry about. The next Phase of major enhancements I have been working upon, have been completed halfway. I am sure the new person who would replace me would not understand what all I had done so far. Hence, for his and your convenience, I have taken care to remove all the work that I had been doing this far for nearly 3 months now. I am sure you will appreciate my insight and "big heart".

I am of course retaining the Originals that I had retrieved for the purpose of Passport verification with me, considering it as a parting gift from you. Ofcourse, I will not pay the bond amount that I owe the compnay (since I am breaking the bond). But I will consider this as a parting gift from our Dear company. I moving out of town since the new company is situated in another City.

Also, I have changed my contact number. So you will not be able to get in touch with me, to congratulate me. But I know your blessings are always with me.

Last but not the least. I also have the 7000 Rs entrusted to me by our company's cultural events group, for the upcoming movie event. I am sure you would have wanted me to keep it with myself as an added bonus from our company. I respect you very much, hence your wish is my command.

I thank you for that in advance, and assure you that I will surely invest them wisely (but not in your company's stocks of course).

Don't worry sir. I am 2 years experienced now, learning so much from your company. So I will surely use this knowledge to write better programs for the new company.
Someday I'm sure we will meet sometime in the future. If you wish, I will surely be glad to give my employee reference for you to apply for a job in the new company which I am joining.


Your faithful employee,

S. W. Engineer



At the bottom of the page were the letters "PS". Hands still trembling, the Boss read:

PS: Dearest Boss, none of the above is true. I'm am still busy working at client side. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than my "Request to reconsider my Salary Appraisal" attached with this mail. Please approve it and call when it is safe for me to come to our Office to discuss this. My respect and Best Regards to you!


At the same time, you may also want to stick this at your place to let your boss know that you have character:



And at the end of the day, polish your boss's apple with this:

























All's well that ends well.

Monday, August 28, 2006

A Ferrari Maranello, A BMW Z8,....

Sitting alone in a restaurant were a man and a woman. The man decided to be bold & send a bottle of Merlot to the beautiful young woman.

The waiter took the Merlot to the woman and said:

"This is from the gentleman seated over there." Indicating the sender. She regarded the wine coolly for a second without looking over at the man,and decided to send a reply note.

The waiter, who was lingering for a response, took the note from her and conveyed it to the gentleman. The note read:

"For me to accept this bottle, you need to have a Mercedes in your garage, a million dollars in the bank and 7 inches in your pants."

After reading the note, the man decided to compose one of his own in return. He folded his note, handed it to the waiter and instructed him to return this to the woman.

It read:
"For your information, I have a Ferrari Maranello, a BMW Z8, a Mercedes CL600 and a Porsche Turbo in my garage. There is over twenty million dollars in my bank account. However, not even for a woman as beautiful as you would I cut off three inches. Just send the bottle back."

Friday, August 25, 2006

Reading More and Dusting Less















This is a forwarded email and it is such a beautiful story I wish I know the author to give credit to. It's a little long but really worth the read.


A Story To Live By

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. This, he said, is not a slip. This is lingerie. He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion. He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special
occasion.

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.

I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not saving anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event-such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends. Someday and one of these days are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what my sister would've done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing - I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with - someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write - one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.

I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.

Every day, every minute, every breath truly is... a gift from God.

If you've received this it is because someone cares for you. If you're too busy to take the few minutes that it would take right now to forward this to people, would it be the first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? I can tell you it certainly won't be the last. Take a few minutes to send this to a few people you care about, just to let them know that you're thinking of them.

May love litter your life with blessings!

You've got to dance like nobody's watching, and love like it's never going to hurt.

People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Hello Earthling!

Nothing beats visual impact.




Source: Unknown


Interesting analogy here:
If we were to reduce the population of the Earth to a small town with 100 people and keep the proportions, it will look something like this:



70 coloured-skins
30 caucasians

6 people would own 59% of the whole world wealth and all of them will be from the United States of America

80 would have bad living conditions

70 will be uneducated

50 will be underfed

1 would die

2 would be born

1 will have a computer

1 (only one) will have higher education

If you look at the world from this point of view, you will see how there is a big need of solidarity, understanding, patience and education.

Also think about the following:

If this morning you've woke up healthy, you are happier then 1 million people that will not survive next week.

If you never suffered a war, the loneliness of the jail cell, the agony of torture,
or hunger, you are happier than 500 million people in the world.

If you can enter into a church (mosque) without fear of jail or death, you are happier than 3 million people in the world.

If there is a food in your fridge, you have shoes and clothes, you have bed and a roof, you are richer than 75% of the people in the world.

If you have bank account, money in your wallet and some coins in the money-box,
you belong to the 8% of the people on the world, which are well-to-do.

If you read this you are three times more blessed because:

1. somebody just thought of you.

2. you don't belong to the 200 million people that cannot read.

3. and... you have a computer!

As somebody once said:

- work as if you don't need money,

- love as if nobody never ever hurt you,

- dance, as if nobody can see you,

- sing, as if nobody can hear you,

- live, as if the Earth was a heaven."



While we are on planet-talk, I am sure you might have received an email informing that Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August.

The email said that

It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will culminate on August 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles of earth.

Be sure to watch the sky on August 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has two moons.

The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.

Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY
will ever see it again.


With the haze hovering around us, the sun is hardly visible let alone the moon but I'll try and hey it's this Sunday.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Like Magic

Now you see it, now you don't - it's like magic. This can be applied to the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Take a look at the two pictures below. The picture on the left was taken some two weeks ago while the one on the right was taken yesterday. See the contrast? Left, blue skies and all; right, grey and blur. Thanks to the haze.

In the morning, the sun is like a faded orange ball in the sky darting in and out of the clouds or is it the smog build-up? Luckily, West Malaysia is separated by the Straits of Malacca - far enough that the ashes from the burning in Sumatra are not falling on us, unlike in Kuching (as mentioned by FH2o).

I don't know about other parts of the country but in KL, it's hot and humid. It feels like being in a pressure cooker - the air is still and warm. Thank goodness for the comfort of the air-cond though this is detrimental to the environment or the ozone layer to be exact (but that's a different story).



So, on hot days a dunk tank would be welcome - but with these occupants...I don't know.......
















An alternative would be to go around half-naked
















And stay hydrated...

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Help Feed the Hungry

Give free food.

All you have to do is click a button and somewhere in the world some hungry person gets a meal to eat, at no cost to you. The food is paid for by corporate sponsors (who gain advertising in the process because you see their logo).

All you've to do is go to the site and click. But you're only allowed ONE click per day. So spread the word to others and help make a positive difference.

>>>>>> http://www.thehungersite.com














ABOUT THE HUNGER SITE

Your click on the "Give Free Food" button funds food for the hungry, paid for by site sponsors whose ads appear after you click and provided to people in need around the world through the efforts of Mercy Corps and America's Second Harvest.

HUNGER: DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS?

It is estimated that one billion people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. That's roughly 100 times as many as those who actually die from these causes each year.

About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five.

Famine and wars cause about 10% of hunger deaths, although these tend to be the ones you hear about most often. The majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families facing extreme poverty are simply unable to get enough food to eat.

In 1999, a year marked by good economic news, 31 million Americans were food insecure, meaning they were either hungry or unsure of where their next meal would come from. Of these Americans, 12 million were children. The Hunger Site began on June 1, 1999.

Please remember to click every day to give help and hope to those with nowhere to turn. Every click counts in the life of a hungry person.

One Drink Per Person

Taking "Kiasu" to a new level?!

(For our foreign friends, "kiasu" is a word in the Chinese Hokkien (Fujian) dialect which means the fear of losing out as in wanting to be or having the best or the most. Of late, it has a rather negative connotation to it.
Actions like these among others are construed as "kiasu" - getting into queue way, way too early, heaping up on the buffet plate (and not finishing the food), scrambling and shoving for a seat (unruly behaviour), must have everything the best and the most expensive though at times the former outweighs the latter."



Here's a situation that qualifies as "kiasu"?

This is what happened when a company put up the following memo:

OFFICE MEMO
May all members of staff please note that there will only be one drink per person at this year's Christmas Party.

And please bring your own cup!
It's Party time!!!


Monday, August 21, 2006

UNICEF - Unite for the Children

Looks like I am going local today.

How would you like to have a fun time, get some exercise at the same time, get a stylish commemorative t-shirt in the process, have a hotel breakfast and get to meet new friends and all that at the fantastic price of only RM60.00? Yes, you can. Just join this charity drive organized by the Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur.






Greetings from Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur!

Since the UNICEFCheck Out for Children Challenge began in 1996, it has raised over $US3 million dollars in the Asia Pacific region. Guests of Starwood Hotels & Resorts have donated $US14 million dollars globally to UNICEF's immunisation projects through the program.

The UNICEF Check Out for Children Challenge is a Starwood employee fundraising campaign for UNICEF. It started in 2004 and continues to raise strong support throughout Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the Asia Pacific Region. This year the UNICEF Check Out for Children Challenge will focus on celebrating 60 Years of UNICEF.

We are delighted to welcome you to join Sheraton Imperial's UNICEF 60 Minute Fit For Life Run on Saturday, 9 September 2006, 7am at Taman Tasek Perdana. To participate, kindly fill up the participation form below and fax it back to us! All funds raised will assist UNICEF in immunising thousands of children against the six major childhood killer diseases.

It's at RM60.00 inclusive of a stylish T-shirt and an enjoyble breakfast.

Thank you for your support for children in need around the world. We look forward to seeing you at the run!

Best regards
The Sheraton Imperial Team
Tel: 603 2717 9014 |

Warehouse Stock Clearance

If you are in PJ, KL or nearby and if you use any of these products, this is worth checking out.

Adopt a Cat Today



We hear much about charity, saving lives, saving the world, adopting children, adopting schools, adopting zoo animals, saving the dolphins, the whales, the environment, etc., etc. What about saving everyday animals like stray cats?

If you are in Singapore and a cat-lover or know someone who would love to have a pet cat or two, please visit Robin's blog. The Cat Welfare Society also welcomes support in the form of food, kitty litter, toys, shampoo and medicine. Unfortunately, no cash donations are accepted.

Please get in touch with Robin at
Robin's Empire for details.

Dell Notebook PC

If you own a Dell notebook PC you may want to check if its battery is affected by a recent recall. There have been cases of the battery heating up starting a fire. So hurry, check out your Dell notebook and take appropriate action, if necessary.

For details, please read article below, published last week in The Star.



Dell - Battery Recall

Friday, August 18, 2006

Women are from Venus

Answer to the eternal question "Why do women live longer than men?"







Why does a woman have two hands?




Why does a man have two hands?


















hehe....

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Create a Beautiful Day

I know, I know, I need a joke too but thought this article is pretty good with some nifty, practical tips. So read on for some extra tips (besides those you already know) to help you create a beautiful day for yourself.



By: Ron Spiegel

How do you spend your business day? Do you plow through a dreary to-do list? Do you struggle through regular tasks that you've been doing day in and day out? What do you listen to while you're working? Silence? Soft rock? The Rolling Stones? Audioslave? May I suggest Tom Waits and Miles Davis during the quiet hours of 3:00 a.m.?

How you spend your day has a huge impact on your potential success. Henry David Thoreau said that economics comes down to how people spend their time. He also said that you can improve the quality of your life by improving the quality of your day. So if you want to move your business forward and you also want to create a better life, it all starts with changing the nature of what you do each day.

Here are some suggestions that can help improve the quality of your day. These tips may also help to boost your individual economics. They certainly are trite, but I can attest to their importance from my own weathered experience. I learned them the traditional way, by doing the exact opposite for more years than I'm willing to admit over sober conversation.


* Don't do everything on your to-do list
You know the old quadrants of "urgent versus important." The point is that many of the items on your to-do list don't really need to get done at all. There should be a few do's that remain at the bottom, undone. Do what's critical to your business and what's important to your life. Save the rest for the afterlife.

* Take time off
Can you remember each and every day you put in a big effort at work? No. Can you remember every day you took off the afternoon and slipped off to a movie? Of course. I'll bet you can remember every minute of your play-hooky days. They are precious. Make more of them.

* Delay gratification, but not all gratification
I admit that one of the tricks to creating a successful business is to delay gratification. But don't get too ant-like. Don't wave your flag for the charge of self-sacrifice.

* Pride yourself on short hours
How many times have you bragged about your long hours. I know the shtick. You make it sound like a complaint, but it's really a brag. I don't understand this anymore - though I lived for years in the trap of priding myself on long, hard hours. It's actually much more of a brag to be successful in very few hours. That's worth bragging about.

* If you're doing a good job, you don't need to be at your client's every beck and call
The hard-to-get date is the coveted date. As a journalist, I prize the interview it takes me weeks to nab. Yet we slobber over our customers and clients until they lose all respect for the value of our work. Let them know you actually have other clients and a real life. Don't be rude. But don't drop everything to meet their tiniest whim of a need. Excellent service is a matter of doing the right things for your customers, not doing everything.

* Fire some of your clients
If you're like every other business or profession on earth, you have a number of clients who are simply not worth the trouble. Fire them just as quickly as surely as you would fire a negative employee. They'll sap your energy and your profit margin, and the kicker is they'll trash you behind your back.

So, get off for a hike in the mountains. Plant a flower garden - vegetables are too utilitarian. Skip a shower. Indulge your very mammalian nature. Chances are, you'll come back from the backsliding with some fresh - and useful - ideas.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Rob Spiegel is the author of Net Strategy (Dearborn) and The Shoestring Entrepreneur’s Guide to Internet Start-ups (St. Martin's Press). You can reach Rob at robspiegel@comcast.net.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

EQ: How to Develop Your Personal Authority

Ask Susan Dunn, EQ Expert

You get through college with IQ, but you get through life with EQ—emotional intelligence. 80% of the qualities that lead to success are “soft”skills, EQ. People with high EQ experience less stress, enjoy better health, demonstrate higher levels of morale and performance, and report a better quality of life. It’s competencies like resilience, optimism, intentionality, and empathy. It’s applicable to team work, leadership, motivation, negotiation, ethics, and sales. EQ isn’t new, but full recognition of its value is.

Check out great pointers from Susan.

About the Author:
(C) Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach, brings emotional intelligence to the workplace with individual and executive coaching, workshops, presentations, Internet courses, the EQ Learning Lab and ebooks. Visit her on the web at http://www.susandunn.cc and sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE EQ ezine. Please put "EQ ezine" for the subject line. EQ Alive! - http://www.eqcoach.net - the tools and training you need to coach emotional intelligence, for coaches, managers, therapists, counselors. Classes starting monthly.

Want to know what's your EQ? Here's a simple test which I found in Red Sponge's blog.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Bitter Pill



Going to the doctor used to be so much more cheaper those days. With the cost of everything escalating, inevitably drugs too are not spared.

Malaysians are finding it tough to swallow the price increase for popular drugs like diabetic and birth control pills, medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, and cholesterol and hypertension pills. External factors including higher foreign exchange rates and expensive raw material have caused imported drugs to rise by up to 28% annually for the past 10 years. More...The Star

Monday, August 14, 2006

Manic Monday

When I was in school, I remember I used to feel miserable on a Sunday evening. The prospect of a weekend coming to an end and the thought of having to wake up early and suffer another school week brought on the blues.

But now, I actually look forward to Mondays. However, today has been especially manic. Monday blues? Nah! No time for that. What I need now is some peace and quiet - to let my mind rest, no need for mind labour. Hush.


Picture above is courtesy of a good friend of a good friend. Thank you, ladies.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Flight Chaos

Some unfortunate people are still suffering the effects of war and here another senseless incident has occurred causing anguish (I am lost for better words) to those involved. Seems like some people enjoy death, others as well as their own. Fortunately, the horrible act was nipped in the bud.

The word "FOILED!" is splashed on The Star's front-page today in connection to a plot to blow up planes from Britain to the US.












LONDON:
FLIGHT CHAOS:
Hundreds of thousands of travellers around the world were left stranded following the foiling of a terrorist plot to blow up planes flying between Britain and the United States.

The worst affected were those travelling in and out of Heathrow Airport where authorities imposed stringent rules on baggage especially carry-on bags.

> British police say they have arrested 21 people in London and Birmingham.

> Plot involved a “number of aircraft” and a “liquid chemical” device is believed to be involved.

> No hand luggage allowed on planes except essential items in see-through bags.

> Some European airlines cancelled flights to all British airports. Thousands of passengers stranded.

> US raises security alert on passenger planes to its highest level for the first time.

> US bans carrying of liquids on airplanes.

> LATEST ... British airports operator BAA said it has been given approval by air traffic control authorities to resume shorthaul flights.

More...The Star


The New Straits Times: Biggest terror threat since 9/11
Britain says foiled 'mass murder' plot to blow up planes


In the New York Times:

Pictures from The NY Times:
Armed policemen roamed the floor Thursday in Gatwick Airport near London.















Baby formula was one liquid allowed on flights on Thursday. An infant at Edinburgh airport kept a ready supply













Tightened security rules produced long lines and confusion at the San Francisco International Airport, and other airports across the United States Thursday.




















At Newark airport, Alex Quinterla repacked his suitcase after learning that certain items could not be kept in carry-on luggage.




















At Dulles International Airport outside Washington, a new warning for passengers.















Various liquids are now prohibited in carry-on bags




















Under the new rules, liquids cannot be taken through security checkpoints. A passenger at Dulles International Airport in Virginia quickly finished a bottle of water.














A passenger in Boston Thursday added her lipstick to a bin of confiscated items.




















Andrea Gomez, 30, of Miami, returning from London, went through customs at Kennedy Thursday holding a clear bag with her passport and other items, as British officials had required.




















Video from the NY Times:
Airport security tightens

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Laws women should live by

I don't mean to start a sex or gender war but was going through my archives doing housekeeping and came across this - too good to trash without giving it some more mileage so here it is. Some of you might have read it before though.


1. Don't imagine you can change a man---unless he's in diapers.

2. What do you do if your boyfriend walks out? You shut the door.

3. If we put a man on the moon we should be able to put them all up there.

4. Never let your man's mind wander---it's too little to be out alone.

5. Go for younger men. You might as well---they never mature anyway.

6. Men are all the same---they just have different faces so that you can tell them apart.

7. Definition of a bachelor: a man who has missed the opportunity to make some woman miserable.

8. Women don't make fools of men---most of them are the do-it-yourself types.

9. Best way to get a man to do something: suggest he's too old for it.

10. Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener.

11. If you want a committed man, look in a mental hospital.

12. The children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years. Even in biblical times, men wouldn't ask for directions.

13. If he asks what sort of books you're interested in, tell him checkbooks.

14. Remember: a sense of humor does not mean you tell him jokes; it means you laugh at his.

15. Sadly, all men are created equal.

And this one, we already know:
Ever noticed how all of women's problems start with men?
1. MENtal illness
2. MENstrual cramps
3. MENtal breakdown
4. MENopause

And when we have real trouble, it's HISterectomy


Oops!! Peace, guys.

Little Johnny in Class

Looks like today will be yet another glorious sunny day in Kuala Lumpur. Actually, it has been since Tuesday after the heavy downpour on Monday. The KL skyline is clearly visible again elevated from where I am in the office. Just as we speak, I'm feeling the morning heat of the sun's rays coming through the glass panel. Lovely really and I'm singing The Beatles, "Here Comes The Sun". So, with this sunny feeling, I suppose a little mischief is in order? Let's go see what Little Johnny is up to then........

Little Johnny and his classmates are supposed to draw a picture on the board...















James returned to his seat.

The teacher called on Ernie next.















Ernie returned to his seat.

Now it was Suzy's turn.















Suzy returned to her seat.

Next. the teacher called Jerry to the board.















Jerry returned to his seat.

Kim was called to the board.















Kim returned to her seat.

About this time, little Johnny began waving his arm hysterically. Little Johnny was well known for being dirty minded, so the teacher was reluctant to call on him for anything. But as the teacher looked at the picture on the chalkboard, she thought that there was no way that little Johnny could possibly do anything to make this picture dirty. So she called on Johnny, and he ran to the chalkboard.















Little Johnny had done it again!

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Latest Traffic Summons Charges From JPJ

Useful info for Malaysian drivers:

Price quoted below are nett without further discount, bargaining are subject to price increase without further notice.

Speeding: Exceeding 1 - 20km/h = $130 + 4 demerit points.
Exceeding 21 - 30km/h = $150 + 6 demerit points.
Exceeding 31 - 40km/h = $180 + 8 demerit points.
Exceeding 41 - 50km/h = $200 + 12 demerit points + Court.
Exceeding 51 - 60km/h = $200 + 18 demerit points + Court.
Exceeding 61km/h = $200 + 24 demerit points + Court.

If you want to be a hero and fight the court case yourself, and you lose, you pay the court charges yourself, which will add up to your fine. I guess the court charges is at least $200 and above.

Careless driving = $150 + 6 demerit Points.
Inconsiderate Driving = $170 + 9 Demerit Points + Court.
Dangerous Driving = $200 + 24 Demerit Points +! Court + Vehicle Compounded.
Illegal Racing = $200 + Vehicle Confiscate + Court.
Fail to put Seat Belt = $120 + 3 demerit points.
Crossing Double White lines = $130 + 4 points.
Phone and Drive = $200 + 12 demerit point + Phone Confiscate.

Do not hold your handphone in your hand when you drive even with loud speaker or ear piece.

Drink Driving (first offence.) = Up to $5000 Fine and, or Jail Term + Licence Susp ended + Court.
2nd time offence = Jail term + Fine + Court.

Making an illegal U Turn when there's no U Turn sign = $70.

Fail to Signal when changing lanes = $70.

Driving at night without headlights or taillights switch on after 7pm = $30.

No Number Plate = $70.

Obstructed Number Plate = $70.

Obscured Number Plate = $70.

Number Plate Of Unapproved Type = $70.< /FONT>

Demerit Point system:

Let's say you have 0 point on 1st January 2005, and you committed the offence of Failing to Put on Seat Belt.
So now, you will have 3 demerit points and this will last for 1 Year.

If during this 1 year you have no demerit points offence at all, your 3 demerit points will be gone on 1/1/2006.

But, if during this one year, From 1/1/2005- 1/1/2006, you commited another offence with demerit points, your very first offence will be
extended for another year until 1/1/2007.

For more information on demerit points (Kejara) go to

http://www.jpj.gov.my/

Sons and Daughters and Moms
















This is touching and could be a reality check.

THE WORLD IS FULL OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS LIKE ME & you.

I had a marvelous mother who loved me, sacrificed for me and helped me in every way possible. In all of my growing up, through college and eventually marriage, my mother was always at my side. And when I needed help with my little ones, she was there for me.


Today, we buried this wonderful woman. Can you imagine how I felt when I returned from the services and found this poem in her desk drawer?

THE TIME IS NOW
If you are ever going to love me
Love me now while I can know
The sweet and tender feelings
Which from true affection flow

Love me now while I am living
Do not wait until I am gone
And then have it chiseled in marble
Sweet words on ice cold stone

If you have tender thoughts of me
Please tell me now
If you wait until I am sleeping
Never will be death between us
And I won't hear you then

So if you love me, even a little bit
Let me know while I am living
So that I can treasure it

Now she is gone and I am sick with guilt because I never told her what she meant to me. Worse yet, I did not treat her as she deserved to be treated. I found time for everyone and everything but I never made time for her.
It would have been easy to drop in for a cup of tea and a hug but my friends came first. Would any of them have done for me what my mother did?

I know the answer. When I called mom on the phone, I was always in a hurry. I feel ashamed when I think of the times I cut her off. I remember too, the times I could have included her and didn't. Our children loved Grandma from the times they were babies. They often turn to her for comfort and advice. She understood them. I realize now that I was too critical, too short-tempered, too stingy with praise.
Grandma gave them unconditional love. The world is filled with sons, daughters and a child like me. I hope they see themselves in this letter and realize from it.

** If this has touched you, PLEASE PASS IT ON

Important policy in Live
1. Forgive and Forget
Forgive peoples mistake and forget about it.

2.Give and Take
Understand/respect others feeling

3.Ego
Be Happy with what you have, dont'show off


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