:: Wink at Life ::

Christmas ~ What’s In For Me ^^

2011-12-27T13:51:00.001+08:00

Today, 27th December 2011, 3rd Day Of Christmas …

It has been raining since yesterday. It looks like the Accuweather.com app on my Blackberry had been playing foul on me (it was sunny day all the entire week through, according to that crappy app). Not that I am complaining, but rainy season could hamper (and dampens) the moods and walkabouts of many, especially Christmas is still hanging around the air.

I wonder if you guys are still having that Christmassy feeling, now that it is working day ( the overall feeling is all-too-formal ), plus with the school reopening next week. There’s a lot of backlogged work to tussle with, not to mention getting the kids all prepped up for school.

Which in many ways, made me proud to be Single….and Carefree ~

AND I am pretty sure most of you guys are still counting presents ya? ^^ The feeling is mutual. I got presents upon presents, but the killer would be Buberry’s The Beat. My God, it was as if my sister read my mind, since I’ve been wanting this baby so much ^^

Love this XOXOXOXO ♥♥♥♥♥

Leaping in joy I was, upon seeing this present of mine (believe me, I am exaggerating this), and Yes, and though I ‘suck’ on almost ‘everything,’ I am especially a ‘sucker’ for perfumes. Burberry is especially exceptional. Well, need I say more? I am a Teacher, I must be well dressed, and smell great ^^ A good looking teacher would look appealing to everyone, including his students, kan, kan, kan..

But of course, being good looking tu tidaklah sampai begini ^^ I ain’t handsome ( I’m kinda cute, but not that handsome, gorgeous,hunky type hahaha)

Eiks…cukup la imagining things tu Merv, hehehehe. Happy 3rd day of Christmas guys and please do take care when you’re out gallivanting ya.

Christmas 2012 ~ What’s In and About…

2011-12-25T01:43:00.001+08:00

First of all, I want to wish a wonderful Christmas to all celebrating this festive season. Christmas is like Christmas before this; An early start at the kitchen, foraging for foods, drinking soda, in the middle of the night. If Mr.Friedrich, my dietitian saw me gorging those oh-so-delicious-once-in-a-year punya food, I’m pretty sure, he’ll roll his eyes and strangle me on the spot.

Speaking of which, I was browsing my Facebook wall just now, and everyone is bracing themselves for next morning. Ramai juga yang sedang busy with their family and kin, tak kurang juga for some, the night-capping has already started. Drinking binge is not part of the festive season as a whole, mind you (Westerners don’t spend their Christmases getting drunk until they’re totally wasted the next day), it just happened to be that Christmas is celebrated in this part of the world where unity (and sometimes total discord) can virtually be achieved through mutual drinking of Tapai, Montoku, Bahar and all sorts of Beers and Liquors.

Okey, skip that, now, to the serious matters which prompted me to delve into deep-thoughts ~

DISCLAIMER

First of all, before someone shoots at me saying I’m being insensitive and poking on the wrong subject-matter, I want to make it clear to you. THIS IS MY HUMBLEST OPINION. Whether you would agree to it or not, it is up to you. This is my opinion alone, I am not being influenced by any party or anyone in that matter, nor I am forcing my opinion to other people. But by far, what I am about to say in response to the above statement is this ~

BULLSHIT!!

First of all, let us look at this matter from the root of the Islamic Faith. Let us make it simple and digestible. Any good Muslim knows that his/her faith is based on the Holy Koran and Hadith. Straight to the point. There are NO SINGLE LINE WHATSOEVER stated in the Koran or the Hadith that bans a Muslim to wish his/her Christian neighbors a ‘Merry Christmas’. Here’s another quote from http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/12/24/can-muslims-say-039merry-christmas039.html

“ Concerning using the Christmas greeting, there is no obvious Koranic verse or hadith regarding this matter. The Prophet Mohammad only had contact with a few Christians before he became a prophet and there was no further contact after he became one. Due to this fact, the reasoning of Muslims who ban wishing "Merry Christmas" is obviously questionable”.

It may sound like I am a social jerk, but it cant be helped. It really pissed me off to see such picture(s) as shown above, popped out like mushrooms on your Facebook wall on Christmas Day. I mean, duh! where’s that mutual respect and understanding we’ve been calling upon all this while?

Here’s another one that I would like to quote and share with you

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1851935

The arguments I've heard so far against being allowed to wish non-Muslims Merry Christmas are quite stupid, in my opinion.
They usually go something along the lines of "By wishing Merry Christmas, you're acknowledging that there is a religious need to celebrate Jesus' birthday, when there is not", or "You are agreeing that Jesus was born on 25th December, when there is no evidence for this".

I think the people who make these sorts of arguments usually come from cultures where Christmas is so rarely celebrated (and even then, only by those who are actually Christian) that they don't quite understand that for many people nowadays, Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Religion. The people who celebrate it don't necessarily believe there is a religious need to celebrate Jesus' birthday, nor does anyone think that Jesus was born on 25th December. In that sense, it's no more religious than celebrating bonfire night, or new year's eve etc.

I know that I don't believe in the religious aspects of Christmas. The person whom I am wishing "Merry Christmas" will not assume that I do either. And presumably God has access to my every thought, and therefore knows that I'm not making or acknowledging any religious statement. So I don't really see what the problem is. In particular, I don't see any Qur'anic verse or Hadith that prohibits me from doing this either.

Nuff Said ~ To All My Christian Brothers and Sisters and to all my Muslim Brethren, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2012.

When life gives a hard slapping back at you (Part 1)

2011-09-02T17:40:00.001+08:00

10 August 2011

I was briskly walking away around my school, after a short puff with my friends at our favorite spot. Looking at my watch, it shows another five minutes to eleven. I can hear my class was already engulfed in chaos.

11.00 ~ 11.30 am

I was teaching as usual in my class. But something was amiss. I don’t feel like my usual self. My chest was heavy, I was virtually panting for air, my forehead was covered with cold sweat..

A few moments later, I was feeling upside down. My heart feels like bursting out of my rib cages, as I was engulfed in a series of uncontrollable palpitations and chest discomfort. Yet, I stood in front of my children, teaching them about Weather, the topic of my lesson.

11.30am ~ 12.10 pm

I cut my class ten minutes short. Something was not right. My heart kept missing a beat or two. I went to the staffroom. My HM was sitting down chatting with the other teachers. My bud Jamidi was typing something on his laptop while my friends continued their chat, easing the afternoon away.

“What is this? Darn, I can’t put my fingers on how I feel now” I said to myself. I am a bit worried now. I am going through something that I have never felt before. I took a sip of water, and went to the loo.

And that is when I felt life slapped me the hardest for the first time…

I feel like fainting, everything turns kinda blurry, and my breathing was shallow. It was as if I have lost sense of my body. Something is really BAD happening right here, right now.

I went to the staffroom, fetched my keys and asked Jamidi to send me to the Clinic..

My HM was puzzled, the other teachers seems so concerned, and I was virtually fighting to stay alive.

Jamidi saw me swirling down into confusion, so he pulled me as fast as he could into the car and rushed me to the Clinic.

It took only 6 minutes but it felt like the longest journey in my life…

:: Klinik Kesihatan Apin-Apin ::

I only managed to talk briefly to the medical officer attending me. I was confused, drenched with intolerable anxiety and was obviously looking ‘like hell’. He took my Blood Pressure.

It read 230/190

… the outlook is not good… since I have quite an in depth knowledge in medical science, that BP reading was not good at all…

… and way beyond normal for someone my age….

Then, the MO asked me to remove my belt, my watch, everything metallic from my clothing.

I was hooked onto an ECG machine.

The MO’s face changed after the third ECG reading. Jamidi was in silence, comforting me to ‘be patient and relax’…

I couldn’t. I simply can’t. I felt the urge to ask the MO was happening, but my mouth was shut tight.

I knew something bad had happened.

“ What happened, what does the ECG says?” I asked the MO.

'” To be honest with you Cikgu, the ECG looked bad. We’re dispatching an ambulance to send you to the hospital, as soon as possible.”

‘ After a long pause. I fervently asked again. ’How bad?’

‘ Bad, I can’t say anything as of yet, but it doesn’t look good…..’ he replied. ‘And to top things off, your body seems not responding to the Nifedipine I gave you. As a result, your BP is still at a dangerous level”.

That was enough to silence me. I was asked to rest. But could I? There I was lying in the clinic, with the uncertainty of living through this life and that hell I was undergoing, and the possibility of ending up dead, at the brisk age of 31, from a disease known only to manifest much older people.

I called mom…

She did not pick up her phone.

I called my brother and sister….

Alas, No one at the end of the line.

I called dad.

He answered my call. I nearly broke into tears upon hearing his voice. But I kept my cool, and told him of my situation. I sensed him worrying, so I told him I’ll be fine. I asked him to call my sister and mom, to inform them of my situation, and I told him I’ll be ferried out to the hospital by ambulance. Before hanging up the line, he told me

“..Not to worry Byn, my prayers are with you…’

I turned my face away from Jamidi, and silently wept, as I hung up the phone…

To be continued.

maintenance

2011-06-19T20:40:00.001+08:00

This is a maintenance post made using Windows Live Writer 2011. Please disregard any posts made during this maintenance.

We’re updating your blog settings by downloading all the necessary files into your Windows Live Writer 2011 configuration assembly. This will enrich your blogging experience using Windows Live Writer 2011.

Regards

Windows Live Writer Team

2011-06-12T02:24:00.000+08:00

This is it!

After leaving the comforts of Windows ( actually I've got a copy of Windows XP still running on my PC), and moving relentlessly to the new environment like Linux Ubuntu, I cannot help but recall some of the defining moments I had with Microsoft Windows (although it sucks and chokes your wallet)

The one thing I miss most is Windows Live Writer 2011. Simply said, I am at loss without that favorite desktop blogging software. I mean, typing on Linux default Blog Editor makes me feel like I am better off typing on a piece of paper T.T

I've tried installing Live Writer in Linux through Wine 1.2.2 but to no avail.

I'll be creating a thread on this soon so keep your fingers crossed.

Nifty Fifty ^^

2011-05-02T13:45:00.001+08:00

Most of you may wonder what I meant by ‘Nifty Fifty’, right?

Nope, it’s not the best RM50 I’ve ever made in my entire working life, nor a creaseless RM50 note so sharp it may induce cuts to your skin ~ pretty much a banker’s tale.

But this nifty fifty costs me RM599 ~ and I am happy to add it to my arsenal of lenses. Yes. My new addition to the collection of lenses I own now. Here’s a bit about the ‘Nifty Fifty’

In today’s digital world, technology has made everything easier to reach, with many devices working as more than one device, and universal remotes to control them. The simple purpose – convenience. And that is what happened with the advent of zoom lenses. In today’s date, with high zoom compacts flooding the market, and manufacturers making lenses that zoom in far enough to bring a bird sitting 50 feet away seem as if it is sitting in front of your lens, a lot of us are so used to zoom lenses that we simply cannot imagine having a lens without a zoom, however much it may be.

But, it is for a fact that the best optical quality is delivered by prime lenses (fixed focal length, no zoom lenses). Why? In simple words, because they use a smaller number of glass elements inside the lens, which means lesser loss of quality, and hence better pictures.

Anyways, this post is not to highlight the advantages of primes over zooms, but to highlight one particular prime lens that I feel is a must use for everyone with an SLR, at least for some time. I am talking about the 50mm prime lens – or the nifty fifty as it is rightly called. At this focal length, these lenses show the same view that you see through your eyes, and so are also referred to as normal lenses.

The 50mm f/1.8 is the least expensive lens at this focal range. And this, dear readers, is a marvel. I’ll keep it very simple… why the 50mm is a must:

At under $100 starting, it is very very cheap, and an easy buy for the hobbyist with a budget.
Don’t let the price fool you. The optical quality of even the cheapest 50mm is amazing to say the least, owing to its rather simple design. Much better than many expensive zooms even, this lens is loved mostly for its sharpness and bokeh.
The nifty fifty is light, small and so very convenient to carry around, whether in your bag, or on your camera.
Primes in general, and the 50mm especially, are fast lenses i.e. they have bigger apertures that allow you to shoot at high shutter speeds even in low light – one major aspect where most zooms lack. The fastest telephoto I’ve heard of has a max aperture of f/2.8, and the fastest prime I’ve heard of is a 50mm f/0.95!
Perhaps the most important attribute of all primes, after their optics, is the learning they offer. With a fixed frame of view, the only zoom you have at your disposal is your feet. With this ‘restriction’ one ends up being very careful, and also very creative, with their compositions, and also more involved in the whole photographic process. With time you’ll find that even with zooms, you’ll end up getting more ‘keepers’ because of this. In essence, primes are great exercise for your composition muscles.

Last but not the least, we bust the myth that the 50 mil is used only for portraits and street photography. Mentioned below are some points that show just how versatile this little wonder is:

Shooting in low light: As mentioned above, the wide aperture lets in more light, allowing you to shoot without flash in low light. This lens is great for shooting indoors where a flash sort of ruins the feel. Of course the wide aperture also means that you’ll have a very shallow depth of field, and hence you need to compose your shot such that you get the subject completely in focus.
The Reversed Macro: Not all of us can afford a dedicated macro lens. And the good news is that you can use this 50mm as a macro lens by reversing it. You’ll need a reversal ring for that. You lose autofocus, but that’s not all that bad when you’re getting a macro lens at this price. For more on reversing the 50mm for macro, check out this post on DPS.
The Wide effect: If you don’t have a dedicated wide angle lens, don’t fret. You might not get as wide an angle as with a dedicated lens, but you can still get a wide angle look by moving farther from your subject, and using a smaller aperture (larger f number). This covers a wider area and gives a larger zone of sharpness, just like a wide angle lens.
The Telephoto effect: Just like above, you can also simulate a telephoto effect by getting close to your subject and opening up the aperture. This gives a nicely blurred background which is a characteristic of telephotos.
Candid Camera: The fact that this lens offers a field of view just like that of the human eye* i.e. you get what you see, plus the lens’s small size make it a great lens for getting candid shots without getting noticed. In fact, since it sees what you see, you can even shoot without using the viewfinder. Simply point your camera in the direction you’re looking, and click!
DOF: The large aperture offers extremely shallow depth of field which is another creativity stimulator. One can get some very nice looking photos with imaginative use of the shallow DOF.
Portraits and Streets: This lens is by far most used for portraiture and street photography and gives some great results in both fields.

Nifty, Right? ^^

For REAL?

2011-04-21T21:45:00.001+08:00

My Facebook buddies would have slashed me for the past 6 weeks since my posts were all laments and ramblings of my rather super-slow connection and Celcom Care-Line Center had clarified at my last call to them that I have been calling them nine times just to address the same question ~ Why the hell is my connection so slow?

Then, I went to buy myself a new Broadband Starter-Pack. I was so convinced that my connection was so damn slow because I have reached my data caps. Installed the SIM card and voila! the speed I have been wanting so much.

After one week though, I noticed that my connection tends to get slower by the day. Accustomed to the frustrations of super-stupid-slow-broadband, I went on to the conclusion that other providers may have the service that suits me.

Then, it went up again, I mean my internet speed. Instead of slugging off like it always did, websites that are laden with scripts and add-ons were loaded in a jiffy. Plus, I managed to download my all time favorite game Star Trek: Starfleet Command III in less than 2 hours.

And I thought ~ was it not Celcom’s ‘Fair Usage Policy’ still intact? If so, I guessed that many customers ditched their broadband in favor for other providers. Otherwise, the speed could not be this fast. So I told myself.

I came across one fellow blogger’s posting regarding the speed and quality of Celcom Broadband and DiGi Broadband. Here’s his verdict.

the similarities of both prepaid broadband are in terms of speed (384 kbps), and also the fact that they both do not provide the wireless modem device/dongle. This isn’t a big issue because you could just make a trip to your nearest PC shop and purchase the modem around RM169 or less. I got my Hutchison 3G modem for RM169, with a 2 year warranty. Both starter sim packs start at RM25, with RM20 pre-loaded inside.

THE DIFFERENCE?

For starters, DiGi Internet Broadband is cheaper priced, running at RM2 /day while Celcom offers 3x the price at RM6/24-hours. Connectivity is also a difference since Celcom does boast the widest 3G network, which basically means you can enjoy the maximum of 384kbps in most areas, as compared to DiGi’s limited 3G network. DiGi’s limited 3G network means that you will be running on EDGE most of the time, and that’s about 128kbps if you are lucky. Another difference comes in the cap of data usage. Data Cap means the maximum data you can download, and DiGi is putting a 1GB data cap for their prepaid broadband, while Celcom has yet to come with any cap so that means u can download as you want.

Duration of use also is a major difference with DiGi offering a simple RM2 per day activation, which basically means RM5o will last you 25 days, and RM10 will last you 5 days. The concept is sort of like your prepaid mobile account which will be calculated based on days regardless of whether you use it or not. Celcom on the other hand divides their prepaid data activation period into two with hourly use as RM6 is for 24 hours, and RM20 is for a weeks usage. This basically means that if you decide to get the hourly usage package, you’d be charged RM6 for 24 hour usage (which you can on and off because your usage is calculated based on hours and not a day), while the RM20 per 7 days is calculated based on days, regardless of whether you use it or not. Validity of your reload is similar to Xpax reloads, with RM10 lasting for 7 days, and RM100 lasting 100 days.

THE VERDICT?

Although I am a great fan of DiGi promotions and products due to their cheaper rate and fantastic rewards, I have to admit they have a far way to go to compete with the front runners in broadband services. They may be offering a hell lot more for a lower price, but being the new kid on the block, they hugely lack proper broadband coverage. While using the DiGi prepaid broadband is cheap, running at RM2 per day, you’d tend to loose your data usage cap due to the long wait for sites to load. I know so because I tried my using my DiGi Prepaid Broadband in an EDGE area, and I used up about 1MB for 5 minutes worth of surfing time with speeds running way below 200kbps, and some sites loading ultimately slow. Apart from that, RM6 per 24 hours by Celcom Prepaid Broadband isn’t bad considering it is unlimited, has wider coverage, and is calculated based on your hourly use. This means that you’d be spending RM0.25 per hour, which is actually very cheap.

I like it the way it is told ~ while Celcom has yet to come with any cap so that means u can download as you want ~ which means all this while, my assumption that my slow connection was because I have reached my data cap is actually baseless. Nice. Keep it that way. One thing you people at Celcom ought to know is how to keep your customers happy. Nuff Said.

So Okay, I don’t download movies and videos, I don’t go for Porns, but Yes, I download music all the time and with the maximum speed of 871Kbps, I could die happy. I ask for nothing more ~ just decent connection speed.

Whoaahh…AweSoMe!!

2011-03-19T23:25:00.001+08:00

Long time ago, this was the pride of PDRM

Then, suddenly, the government decided that, well, it looked too old, outdated and perhaps not so police-friendly, so they did a little makeover to PDRM’s Kereta Peronda ( or perhaps a major haul on their cruisers)

Absofuckingly Awesome !!

Who says winning isn’t everything?

2011-03-18T13:27:00.001+08:00

When it comes to competitive situations, we bound to hear people saying this adage

“ Tidak apa, yang penting, kita sudah mencuba..”

“ Kalau kalah, kita cuba lagi lain kali”

This school holidays got me all cracked up over my ‘loss’ on the InterZone Track and Field Competition held early this year. What more, my HM was not impressed with the performance of my athletes. She started to doubt my coaching ability, and though we did manage to move one rank up, she still considers it as ‘ rookie’s luck’.

I was shattered into pieces. She did not need to say it verbally, her expressions tells me everything.

She despise it. She detest it. It was incredulously unacceptable.

While everyone was busy holidaying, I was busy picking up my pride, and I swear, this time, there’s no more ‘rookie’s luck’. Cuz, this time, Winning Is Everything!

I ran through books upon books of Track and Field training programs I kept stashed away after the sports. I was looking through videos upon videos of new training regimes that I could adapt and use it onto my kids. I was burning with vengeance, especially remembering how my head coach (I posted about him somewhere inside this blog) looked down at me, yet again, when he himself were unable to produce any athlete during this year’s fielding. And the second class treatment my athletes received during centralized training is unfair and unacceptable. Coupling all that, I am most determined to bring down those 3 schools that dominates the Track and Field Competition. Yes, they are going down! I will get the respect I deserve as a coach at school, at the Interzone Level and at any levels my athletes may pass through. Most importantly, my HM would turn her head and look at me at the eyes while I blare it out to her ‘ My winnings will not be any ‘rookie’s luck’ this time ma’am" Cuz, For me WINNING IS EVERYTHING!!

Winning is Everything.Second Place just means you’re the FIRST LOSER!!

Life’s expectations

2011-03-06T14:16:00.001+08:00

I am blogging this because I felt like I have never been so messed up before. Life has been slapping me with so much things, I felt like I am all lost in between. Juggling for a balanced life is no easy task ~ for a student, you may still smile and swap your daylights with crazy things and still study for that big exam coming soon.

For me (and the rest of us working class peeps) balanced life is something like a holy grail. You know it’s there, but you’ve to go through hell to get it. I am lucky that I’m still happily single, cause I know, family life and professional life is hard to get by. A sick child may just pose that ultimate guilt, when you have to face your boss with that excuse, while he/she may give his/her ‘yes’ there’s always a string attached to it.

Yep, life’s slapping hits hard to our hearts ~

So, what do we expect from life?

Here’s some interesting people with their views of life (and their expectations)

“ pain & failure
what i expect and what i create are two different things
my mind ( the machinery is in charge of expectations)
and 'it' mostly expects pain and failure
i create from self which has no expectations or is not limited by expectations
if you ask another question What Do You Create In Your Life - then i will answer that as well “ ~ RebirthOfYou

“ I expect to live long, laugh well, and love mostly all that I think is good and right. I expect to be successful in my career choices and I know the only way to do that is to live one day at a time and take nothing for granted “. ~ Dannuelle

“ Its offerings; but more importantly knowing what I want and matching it to life's offerings”. ~ Hello_World

“ To NOT let things get too comfortable in life, to constantly expand the imaginary walls of my comfort zone (horrible cliche, I know), to not avoid pain and suffering to the extent of avoiding life, to live in places where I'm a minority, to challenge myself physically, not to watch more than two hours of TV per week, to give all my attention to my friends, children and lovers when I'm with them, to take my writing to unexplored places “ ~ MaDe_FrOm_EmBryOniC StEm CeLLs

“ work and heartache, and random joys that make the other worthwhile, at least for a while. And then, finally, I may be allowed to rest “ ~ Ruth C

“ I expect some hard times, some laughter, and hope. I expect that I will live a life with some meaning, to someone, somewhere, and that I will be remembered fondly someday when I die. I expect a fulfilling life. If these things do not happen, then I have failed, because everyone should be able to expect all of these”. ~ Angeliss

Many people with different views of life and what to expect. So I guess even IF I messed up with my life, there’s still ways to improve it, yes?

It's not what I expect out of life-it's what I expect out of myself.

Giving My Best?

2011-03-03T23:25:00.001+08:00

It has been a while since my last update, sometime last year.

Life has been so hectic, I was on the edge of losing my sanity and inner self-consciousness. When everyone is expecting you to be at your best, life slaps you with challenges that only the Gods in Olympus could complete such a feat ~ almost.

I am no God, or Demigod, well, I am just who I am. A simple guy with every reasons to shout back at life.

And Here I AM, talking about ‘Giving Out My Best’, of which, in this newly aged improved perspective I have, the question is ~ Did I?

I hope I did. And hell yeah, I want to do my best ~ all the time.

Prelude to Sports Day Part One

2011-01-23T22:38:00.001+08:00

Sports Day is here again, and I am in dwelling in my utmost natural surrounding ~ the sports stadium.

Yes, scorched skin (only this time, my friends says, ‘ rata sun burn ko vyn..’ hehe), swift dwindling energy level, fatigue and a messed up thoughts, emotions, expectations, rolled into one and repackaged into Mervyn Simon Peter, Sports Mode.

And I was given only two weeks to set up my athletes for the competition. What gives..

Plus, since we were the host for this year’s InterZone MSSM Zon Apin-Apin Track and Field Championship, mentioning about the other workloads other than those on the fields is thought cracking.

I’ve been a walking 30 years old man with a life swiftly passing each day ~ only to be filled with exhaustion, both physically, mentally and spiritually.

My kids ~ I hope they will do okay in their athletics discipline. As far as I remembered, this is the very moment that I’ve put more than 100% of my effort in team building, coaching and technical babblings. I hope, not for me, but for them, that they would do well and excel in the sports competition.

Fingers crossed, I hope everything would be okay tomorrow..

Please……

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T22:53:00.001+08:00

In a few hours new year will set in, and Au Revoir to 2010

And here I am thinking about what would the new year yield to me. I AM old, and I am feeling the effects now ~ new pain sensation, dwindling energy, and weakening memories.

I want to make 2011 my year. A fulfilling 1 year 1 hour and 12 minutes (and counting)

Resolutions? I’ll save that for the next post ^^

Anyways, have a wonderful year ahead friends, Cheers to ‘The Journey’

See you guys in my 2011 post ^^

My life in 2010…

2010-12-23T22:57:00.002+08:00

The title of this post says it all ~ My life in 2010..
Am I proud of my achievement this year? Hardly…
This year has been one most happening year in my life. I’ve been here and there, done this and that, and still, arguably, this is not the pinnacle I’ve always anticipated..
Why?
Because the moments in my life breezes in and out of my thoughts and I was left empty. I do recall many sweet and fond memories of the happenings in my life this year ~ but none sticks into my head. It’s like having your memory card flashed out, and at the end, you’re down with only blurry memories of where and when the moment happened. I kept checking on what is wrong. Maybe there’s some medical explanation to this, so I thought, but then, someone told me to really search inside my soul. Left no stones unturned, face your deepest guilt and your weaknesses, she said.
She’s true.
I am virtually a guy who had fallen from grace. Here I am prostrating on my blooming career, making three steps instead of crawling in the ladder of success. I smiled and smiled and smiled for all those praises I’ve received. Yes, professionally I am successful.
Spiritually ~ I am a dud.
I always forgot that there’s a powerful force driving me through all of that. There’s reasons to understand that what have had happened entirely in my life was not spontaneous but has been fated to me. There’s give ~ and take ~ with strings attached. But I failed, most of the time, to show how grateful I am to God for all that have had happened in this puny life of mine.
So here I am ~ with a smile and with an unhappy heart.
I never wanted to be ‘casted out’ from God’s Grace. Never. I never wanted to be alone, in times of trials and tribulations, in moments of happiness and joy. But it’s a mistake I’ve done too many times this year…
I’ve forgotten Him one too many times…
God, don’t leave me.. I need you…

Bermain dengan hatiku

2010-12-22T18:22:00.001+08:00

Entah berapa lama
Aku menunggu
Kau buat ku percaya
Kau inginkan aku

Apa maumu bermain dengan hatiku
Kau beri harapan untuk kau remukkan
Berulang kali

Pernah aku berpikir
Ini tak mungkin
Lalu kau datang lagi
Membutakan aku
courtesy of TopLyrics.Info
Apa maumu bermain dengan hatiku
Kau beri harapan untuk kau remukkan
Berulang kali

Kau tahu aku terlalu menginginkanmu
Hingga ku biarkan hati kau hancurkan
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Sesame Street On Scrubs

2010-12-22T00:38:00.001+08:00

There’s one thing about US Medical TV Shows that intrigues me this much, and that one thing is on how they can actually relates ‘Sesame Street’ in their show. This is a rendition of the ‘Sunny Day’ song by Joshua Radin on Scrubs. Love this ♥♥♥

My 2011 Feng Shui Outlook

2010-12-21T23:33:00.001+08:00

Do you know the 2011 outlook for the Monkey zodiac person in the 2011 rabbit year horoscope? What are the fortunes for the Monkey in the 2011 Chinese astrology Monkey predictions? There are much to be learnt from the wisdom of the east through the 2011 Monkey horoscope predictions as the readings will give us the wealth, health and romance secrets for those who are born in the Year of the Monkey. The personality and characteristic of the Monkey will tell us their strengths and weaknesses and thus we will know the 2011 feng shui outlook for those with the Monkey zodiac sign. Use this complete 2011 astrological guide for the Monkey in the Year of the Rabbit to make the metal rabbit year your best and most prosperous year. Use these Monkey astrology predictions to your best advantage.

The 2011 Year of the Rabbit will bring many happy moments for the Monkey. Since Monkey are known to be intelligent, well read and smart, they will most likely enjoy good career developments in the rabbit year. The Monkey are good and convincing talker and they like to participate in discussions and debate. The rabbit year will be very rewarding for them if they are in the PR business. The Monkey will sometimes achieve their aims quicker that other zodiac animals because they are seen to be more cunning, crafty and occasionally dishonest. They have so much charm that others tend to fall for their tricks. Monkey may have so much confidence in themselves that they rarely listen to others and this may sometimes caused their own downfall. The Monkey in 2011 need to address this negative aspect of the lives.

The 2011 Monkey horoscope predicts a good rabbit year for the Monkey because they are seen as the master of self-preservation. Monkey will have good wealth luck as they are known to have many diverse talents that could bring in more income in the metal rabbit year. More diversification means more money and getting rich faster. The Monkey loved their freedom and will become unhappy if they tied down by rules and regulations. They sometimes find it hard to concentrate on a single task when the task becomes boring. They can easily become distracted when a new opportunity arises. Monkey can find true love and romance with those who have the signs of the Dragon, Goat, Pig and Rat. More Dragon horoscope in 2011 here. hereThe Monkey must avoid the Tiger since the Tiger will have little patience with their tricks.

The Metal Monkey who are born in 20th February 1920 to 7th February 1921 or in 16th February 1980 to 4th February 1981 will have a good chance to achieve some positive results according to the 2011 Chinese horoscope rabbit year predictions because they are very strong-willed people. The Metal Monkey set about everything they do with dogged determination. Their wealth will keep on increasing because they are very astute in financial matters and have the ability to choose the best investments.
The 2011 astrological forecasts for the Water Monkey tell us that they are prepared to work towards a specific goal rather than be distracted by new openings. They are more likely to get the rewards because unfinished tasks usually signaled failure. The Water Monkey, born between 6th February 1932 to 25th January 1933 or between 4th February 1992 to 22nd January 1993, can be sensitive to criticism and this may prevent others from telling them the truth about their projects.

If your birthdate is between 25th January 1944 to 12th February 1945 or between 22nd January 2004 to 8th February 2005, then your Chinese zodiac animal sign will be the Wood Monkey. The Wood Monkey horoscope in 2011 rabbit year predicts a good period for the Wood Monkey as they are very efficient, methodical and conscientious when carrying out their work. They are not afraid to take risks and are held in great esteem by their friends and colleagues. However, when things do not go their way, the Wood Monkey can get really agitated.

The 2011 rabbit outlook for the Fire Monkey is very positive. The Fire Monkey are born between 12th February 1956 to 30th January 1957 and their competitive nature will allow then to succeed in the Year of the Rabbit. The Fire Monkey are intelligent and will have no problem commanding the respect of the colleagues at the workplace. The only disadvantage seen in the personality of the Fire Monkey is that they can have wide interests and may be easily distracted.

The Earth Monkey who are born in 30th January 1968 to 16th February 1969 can be very distinguished in their chosen line of work as they tend to have lucky career luck. The Earth Monkey are less outgoing and prefer quieter pursuits. The metal rabbit year will be financially good to them as seen in the 2011 Monkey Chinese astrology predictions because they are successful in handling financial matters and have the chance to become very rich in the future. The Earth Monkey are usually well liked by their families and acquaintances.

source: http://www.aguidetoasia.com/rss/index.php?itemid=1295

Yuletide Spirit

2010-12-19T12:30:00.001+08:00

It is 5 days, 12 hours, 3 minutes and counting before Christmas day. My friend Shane posted on her wall telling that the town seems to be quiet with less cars and people. Not a very typical Keningau setting, because this little town is always bustling with life all year round.

Well, perhaps, not for today.

If you’re a chap born and raised or you’ve worked and lived here in Keningau, you’ll catch the drift. But I guess it is pretty much like any other places. Now is the time when everyone will start to work their butts and end their day in beer or any of that sort. Canopies and camps would be erected, house would be sparkling clean, family starts gathering in anticipation of Christmas Day. Homes well decked with fake Christmas trees, plastic mistletoes, colors toned up to red and green, just nice to jumpstart the Christmas mood. It’s the ultimate Christmas concoction.

We do not have snow here, but with all the family members gathering, you can actually feel the warmth of unity and the love shared as one family that it makes you feel all cozy inside.

Yep, that’s the Yuletide Spirit.

As a child Christmas was an exciting event, but now as an adult it feels like a chore. Christmas has changed so much in recent years for me, that I don’t look forward to it anymore. It’s to commercial and people don’t think about the real meaning of Christmas.
In the 1980’s when I was a child , I couldn’t wait for Christmas and all that goes along with it. Family was a very important part of the season. We had cousins, aunts, uncles, even people I never met that were related to us came over to our house. I can remember watching the women making all kinds of biscuits, the men prepping and decking the house, and all of us kids messing around. The entire family would eat dinner together, obviously I sat at the kid table. Through out Christmas Eve, their was a lot of music playing ,laughter, and warmth. Once everyone ate and it started to get late, it was time to put the kids to bed. I would try really hard to go to bed, but I was so excited it was difficult. So I would stay up and try to listen to the adult conversations.

Then as the next day dawns on us, we would all sports our newest clothes, pampered ourselves and went to the church for the Christmas Mass. The sheer enjoyment, that wonderful, intense aura of joy ~

Christmas. It is about the birth of Jesus Christ, and with that in mind, we gathered together united as a family. As the evening approached, the smell of Christmas dinner excited me. This was the time I had waited for all day. My stomach rumbled with hunger and I could smell the roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and the sight of the colorful foods ; it was wonderful. The supply of food was tremendous, more than I could ever imagine. The table looked like a royal feast. The sparkling crystal, beautiful arrangement of flowers placed so neatly in the middle of the table and the light brown of the glazed turkey made our eyes gleam with anticipation. The family gathered around the spectacular table setting, and my Uncle said grace. When the feasting began, the room turned silent, as everyone savored every breath-taking bite. Christmas dinner is the best meal of the year, because so much time and effort is put into making everything perfect. Every year after Christmas, I think about how the holiday means so much more than Santa, parades, and singing. It truly is about celebrating Jesus Christ, having family unity and eating Christmas dinner as a family. I will never forget the years.

Yep, that’s the Yuletide Spirit.

Merry Christmas Friends ^^

A Snap Of Thoughts

2010-12-19T01:39:00.001+08:00

It is 1 am. I have not yet taken my bath ~ but it’s okay ^^

There’s not much to say about this post, it’s just that I need to let out and so I hope everything is okay.

My best friend’s mother passed away this week. It came as a shock to me. Though I did not met his mother and get to know her more, her loss seems to have an impact on me. My friend Lu Tze Fui, was a close friend of mine. We spent our college days together. He was, well, a momma’s boy, while I was a wild card, and was able to cope and adjust to my immediate surroundings rather easily. The demise of Lu’s mom have had a greater impact on him, since he was so close to his mom than he is to his dad. I feel your sadness too my friend, and I pray that you will have all the courage in this world to go on with life as usual.

“ Kepada mereka yang masih mempunyai ibu dan bapa, hargailah dan sayangilah mereka”

Lu posted this in his Facebook wall last week. I could only say ‘how true’. It makes me reflect back the first week of my holidays, where I suffered a nasty burn on my calf. Mom was the one patiently took charge cleaning and dressing my wound, with all the tender and care and love, until it healed. I wished I could do more to show her I appreciated her care, rather than just a mere ‘Thank You’.

Funny that someone’s loss makes you feel more close to the one you love so much. But I guess that is how things worked out, as God have had wanted it to be.

Sometimes things were not as rosy between me and mom; most of the times, we would disagree on how things are done, and sometimes I would trade barbs with mom over some opinions for all what is worth.

But as I grow older, I know mom is always right, no matter how impossible it is to refute them. Obviously since Mom, being brought up in a compassionate, ultra-conservative surrounding held to her principals, while I, being a free, open minded person, stands out as a perfect opposite to her.

It won’t be that way, anymore.

I love you mommy, and I don’t care if the world shuns me as an overgrown momma’s boy. I will forever be your momma’s boy mom.

I thank God not for the wealth of money and Gold, but the most precious gift of all ~ my mom, whom I find tender, loving care within.

Christmas is in the air … but…

2010-12-12T22:12:00.001+08:00

Apart from the occasional torrential rainy season, yes, Christmas is looming in the horizon

And maybe, not the best Christmas celebration for me, though : ( ….

When everyone is prepping themselves for Christmas, I find myself looming over the thoughts that this coming Yuletide celebration, I won’t be having my beloved sister around to celebrate it with..

Since she will be working on the 26th, the decision came that she would celebrate Christmas at her fiancé's home, and with her examinations just around the corner, well, the tidings did not favor us, since she wants to study and all…

For a close knit family, I think most of you would understand the feeling of not having your loved ones beside you during this festive season. I may sound childish, and rather selfish, but sometimes, I find myself hard to adjust with these changes.

In fact, this would be our first time celebrating Christmas away from each other since we were kids.. that awkward feelings clinging onto you ~ It doesn’t help much, in fact, I felt a bit saddened inside..

Well, too bad, she will be happily married next year, so inasmuch, I must learn to cope with this little changes in my family. I knew deep inside me that she’s trying as hard as it is to cope with this changes too, but for the sake of happiness, I think we must let the changes settle in.

For my dearest sister, Joyce, just remember that our love for you will lighten your Christmas day, and I promise, we’ll have it like our childhood days again next year ^^

Times Of Your Life

2010-10-26T18:38:00.001+08:00

Good morning, yesterday
You wake up and time has slipped away
And suddenly it's hard to find
The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember?

The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you've seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember
The times of your life? (do you remember?)

Reach out for the joy and the sorrow
Put them away in your mind
The mem'ries are time that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow

Here comes the saddest part (comes the saddest part)
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember

The times of your life ….

Exam, Exam, Exam …

2010-10-21T23:54:00.001+08:00

Now I know why I hated exams when I was a student myself.

I know it was a nerve breaking ordeal, and that one part of student life I would not want to repeat anymore.

The ordeal, the suspense … especially when it comes to report card, which I did consecutively signed myself sometimes, because my folks would just go ballistic upon seeing all the botches I have made on some subject …

The same thing applies to me as a teacher, now. I hate exams because of the two reasons aforementioned; the ordeal, the suspense…

The ordeal is when you get to check examination papers this thick, and when results are required in a nick of time =.= ( at this time of blogging, there are two more papers on PE for the final leg of the examination .. *sigh )

The Suspense?

The suspense is when you did not expect your not so average, 11 years old to score 33 out of 40 for his/her English Paper 1…

…. and still, after all the efforts you have given throughout the year, there bound to be a student or two, who would dwindle from an average C to a stupid E … which makes you feel as if you want to just throw them out of the classroom windows…

and I know I’ll need some valium or any pain killer on standby … cuz I haven’t gone through their P2s yet, and for sure, I’ll lose a bit of my sanity…

New Me ~ Hopefully

2010-10-20T23:01:00.001+08:00

Seriously guys, for a teacher, there’s nothing more than a heartfelt welcome to the year end’s holiday, after nearly a whole year of toiling sweats, not to mention exasperating parents, and those frequently agitating students.

Hopefully I won’t be blogging about how the holidays rots on me though, for this school break, I’ve planned to do things that I’ve wanted to do all this while..

Like for example … toning down my Double Extra Large chubby self to a fully fledged Medium Sized Guy. Yes, that is my priority now, since I’ll be having a fresh athletics team next year, I need to be well-shaped so that coaching them will be easier ~ rather than breaking your back in the process.

and I’ve managed to keep up to my side of the bargain in this weight loss thingy ~ I’ve been procrastinating myself from all those fast foods especially those oil laden chicken breasts, burgers filled with mayo, and those fries …

and I’ve cut down my sugar intake, and have had been gulping over gallons of water ; a lesson well learned after a week of pain and agony ( a calculi (bladder stone) got stuck somewhere in my urethra and It was like a walk to hell every time I want to pee… It went out a week later, and I promised myself NOT to EVER-EVER get into such trouble again..

and I need to quit smoking ~ ten years of smoking galore is enough, cause it will take me fifteen years to get my lungs fully purged from the nicotine and other stuff.

With that, I hope to see the new me next year ~ but then, holidays are filled with temptations, hopefully I’ll be able to get over that before anything else ^^

My Rambling October and my wildest Imagination kenen…

2010-10-19T20:24:00.001+08:00

Yes, October 2010 has been a rambling month.

Forget about the fucking parents, October is like a spot reserved for teachers in hell, cuz there’s a lot of works to be done. And Exams..

And I HATE EXAMS..

Not only that I have to cover 92 students x 8 Papers, I HATE IT even more to do those other menial tasks ~ Headcounts, Performance Analysis, Final Semester Report.. I prefer blabbering for 2 hours in my class, rather than sitting in the Staffroom, fiddling with your calculator, typing your analysis, and having a flat butt after all that long sitting hours.. I was a totally darken out noob when it comes to mathematics, lest it be in statistics, a subject I nearly flopped during my Semester VI internship in Kent College.

[ holding my breath ] arrrgh..I hate those statistics… =.=

So I decided to fleet away in my dreamiest of dreams and rekindle with the material side of me. Sometimes, it’s therapeutic ^^ most of the times, it would be like committing suicide, especially when your dream comes true, and your wallet (and account) runs kaput.

What do I want to reward myself this year..hrmm.. okay, let’s play along with this one..this is one game I liked most, the kunun-kunun game. I learned this from a counsellor I met during one of those National Level English Course.. First, visualise the things you wanted most ( if you have the brochure, the picture of that particular item, the better), look at it and visualise you are using it. Feel the tangible feeling when you imagined those items, and at the end, simply say kunun-kunun lah hehe.

It’s simple, it goes like this…

Me: I want … ( a very long ‘want’)

A Blackberry 9000 Bold

Kalau dapat la kunun…hehehehe ^^

A Sony Alpha a55v

Itupun kalau la dapat kunun..hehehehe ^^

ahhh, this is very soothing… then, you can start visualising those thing you would dream of, then, voila, sometimes, your dreams would come true.. after you’ve worked hard on it, unconsciously. I did this, and that’s how I got my dream DSLR, among other things I’ve always wanted ^^ I don’t know what psychologists would coin this, but being materialistic sometimes works many wonders ^^

Strange, but it does work…

Okey, I’m visualizing this, and I want a ….

Proton Inspira V1 …yaaaaiiiii….mangkali…hahahaha ^^

parents’ Idiosyncrasies and massive stupidity

2010-10-18T15:46:00.001+08:00

Teachers ~ we’re that bunch of human beings where the majority would love to throw things with, and the parents especially, I really believe it now that they would love to stone us to death.

Nope. I am not kidding you.

Apparently, this month is THE month where schools are bustling with lots of activities. And comes the Final Semester Exam, where we teachers had to construct, print, clips and prepare the papers on our own. HMs and Principals knew the fact, that by doing so, teachers would have to miss a class or two.

It’s normalcy in every schools. Except,maybe, my school…

My HM called me this morning, so I expected a long chat. Maybe about the Master Time Table, or some classes she would like me to take, well, that sort of talk.. Until, she broke the news to me …

“ Mervyn, you know, I’ve heard that about two weeks ago, the school received an anonymous call from a parent telling us that you have been missing classes… The call was attended by one of the PKs so they informed me of this.. I’ve been meaning to discuss you about this matter personally but since we’re so busy with the MGB and stuff, I only had the chance to talk to you about this matter today..now as the head of school, I know your whereabouts and I know that you’ve been entering classes. Rest assured that the parent (whom never mentioned his/her name) was not being rowdy and I would take this as a gesture of reminder, since the call was actually for me (my HM) and I was not there at the time of the call….”

What The Fuck?

The aftermath was intense, though I was able to keep my cool, I know deep inside me that I want to know this particular parent..and I KNOW the SCHOOL KNOWS … why bother keeping the truth from me.

I know how stupid some Sabahan parents could be. I know that out of their narrow-mindedness, there’s that heroic feeling if they have had slain a teacher with their cussing, temper and profanities. I tell you, they would go for months making up long tales about their triumph …I know that what my HM told me was just the icing of the cake, and I want to know more…

Me? deliberately skipping classes? Absofuckinglutely NOT!

What do I gain from skipping classes? Logic dictates that doing so only add to your woes; catching up with the syllabus, not to mention the students high chance of dwindling their academic performance. NO, I’m not a GURU MITHALI or such an angelic teacher but hey, I know my place at my school and nothing is more fulfilling other than being with the little brats in the classroom and watch as they grow and learn new things.

Why should I do such things? and what do I gain from doing so? These are the questions that kept me in line with my professional conscience, and yet, there are some fucking, shitty parents who just could not stop scratching their asses and have to blabber mouth about things which aren’t right at all.

Who is this Anonymous Fucking Jerk, a typical Idiotic Sabahan Parent who loves to bark at the wrong tree, at the wrong moment, place and time in this universe? What did I do in any ways that they would simply love seeing me going down? And to top thing all, that mother fucking asshole’s child is in one of my favorite class !!

1st of all, I am only human, with weaknesses and setbacks.And my HM knows me very well that I am a short tempered person. FYI, this is my second brush with parents this year, and it was never a beautiful story for the school nor for me. I know, the school knows whose that shit and his/her child and kept the information out of my knowledge cuz they know what would I do next…

I want to know who is this fuck-hole that had the nerves to tell me not to miss my class when I know I did NOT. It would be a very rare occasion for me to skip my class, and it would be because of other important matters i.e. courses, meetings, seminars etc. And I would never leave my class without any works. AND, AT ALL TIMES, I would slither my way out of situations where I would not be at school ~ which is a prove that I am not what that asshole insinuated me to be.

yes, I am writing this blog in anger and disgust. Stupid parents ought to just stay and home and teach their children by themselves. No need to send their child to school and be a fuckingly sooo prihatin and penyayang punya parent. Get lost, vamoose, It’ll be a few moments till I get my hands on who you are stupido, and for the time being …

APC ~ the myth and the truth..

2010-10-17T14:14:00.001+08:00

It’s that time of the year again. It’s APC time.

For those who might not know what APC stands for, well, it’s an acronym for Malaysia’s very own Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang, an award given to civil servants for the acclaimed prestige in their respective professions.

For those who would be getting their APCs, it will be well defined. Clad in their creaseless suites, polished shoes and a pride in their heart, it would be a crowning moment, after a year long of toiling sweat and hard work.

Years before, civil servants would be fighting over for the chance to ‘claim a spot’ in the APC ranks so that they would have their Anjakan Gaji. The government, however, decided that it was too plush, so they changed the rule a bit ~ APC, with a certificate and a cash reward of RM1K. No Anjakan Gaji, no whatever that has to do with your salary.

Nowadays, APC is (permit me to be bold, straightforward and cynical) way out of its original objective ~ as an award for those who are really deemed as worthy to receive such prestige.

Have you ever heard of APC rotation? It’s like, this year, it would be Mr.A’s turn, next year, Miss B’s turn, the year after next year, my turn, then after me, Madam C’s turn… That’s the harsh reality of APC nowadays. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve done your share of sweats, cuz you’ll be in line for the APC anyways.. it’s only a matter of time and some patience.

I remembered once, while working in my previous school, some teachers from the same zone would brag to me saying Saya pi rehearsal APC hari ni, best oh, ko Merv, bila lagi hehe? . Well, simply summing up the matter, I would just smile, cuz Perkhidmatan Cemerlang on my part, is done on a daily basis ^^. When I do my job to my utmost will and endurance, with my entire strength and diligence and with a thankful heart for the blessings in everything I do and did, it is Perkhidmatan Cemerlang for me, at its best ^^. I did what I would have done, congratulated that friend of mine, though knowing, he had not turn up to school for months, and if he ever went to school, it would be a day or two, then off to town, waiting for Pay Day, searching excuses upon excuses to keep his butt and his shining car off the dirty muddy road to the place he should have been working.. The wonders of APC rotation.. sometimes, I’ll laugh at its degraded objectivism.

Luckily, the matter is very localised and isolated, and thank God, there are still bosses who thinks the well being of their workers and grants them their rightful rights on this matter.

And to my two wonderful colleagues who had been so impressive in performing their duties up to the utmost standards, I wish you guys all the best cuz you guys really deserve it, and our boss have had the most rightful choice in granting this year’s APC to two of the most astounding colleague/friends I ever had.

And for the rest of us, let us work hard not for the APC itself, but for the sheer enjoyment of being together in togetherness in the same field of profession as one big happy family ^^

F**K

2010-10-09T12:06:00.001+08:00

Fuck is an English word that is generally considered profane which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. However, by extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed.

"Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb, adjective, command, interjection, noun, and can logically be used as virtually any word in a sentence (e.g., "Fuck the fucking fuckers"). Moreover, it is one of the few words in the English language which could be applied as an infix (e.g., "Am I sexy? Absofuckinglutely!"; "Bullfuckingshit!"). It has various metaphorical meanings. The verb "to be fucked" can mean "to be cheated" (e.g., "I got fucked by a scam artist"), or alternatively, to be sexually penetrated. As a noun "a fuck" or "a fucker" may describe a contemptible person. "A fuck" may mean an act of copulation. The word can be used as an interjection, and its participle is sometimes used as a strong emphatic. The verb to fuck may be used transitively or intransitively, and it appears in compounds, including fuck off, fuck up, "fuck you", and fuck with. In less explicit usages (but still regarded as vulgar), fuck or fuck with can mean to mess around, or to deal with unfairly or harshly. In a phrase such as "don't give a fuck", the word is the equivalent of "damn", in the sense of something having little value. In "what the fuck!", it serves merely as an intensive. If something is very abnormal or annoying "this is fucked up!" may be said.

The word's use is considered obscene in social contexts, but may be common in informal and domestic situations. It is unclear whether the word has always been considered vulgar, and if not, when it first came to be used to describe (often in an extremely angry, hostile or belligerent manner) unpleasant circumstances or people in an intentionally offensive way, such as in the term motherfucker, one of its more common usages in some parts of the English-speaking world. In the modern English-speaking world, the word fuck is often considered highly offensive. Most English-speaking countries censor it on television and radio. A study of the attitudes of the British public found that fuck was considered the third most severe profanity and its derivative motherfuckersecond. Cunt was considered the most severe (Hargrave, 2000). Some have argued that the prolific usage of the word fuck has de-vulgarized it, an example of the "dysphemism treadmill". Despite its offensive nature, the word is common in popular usage.

The highly profane term remains a taboo word to many people in English-speaking countries, while others feel the word remains inappropriate in social etiquettewhen used by a male in the presence of women. The word also carries a sacrilegious connotation to some. Many religious people oppose the use of profane, vulgar, and "curse" words which they see as offensive to a deity. It is considered highly offensive to utter the word in the presence of children.

Non-English-speaking cultures tend to recognize the word's vulgarity. However, it generally is not censored as frequently in those fora.

Source: Wikipedia

Annoying People Be Gone

2010-10-09T10:01:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was like any other day. I was minding my own business in Facebook, replying to some messages and some posts, commenting on a few pictures, and chatting with friends via their walls...

Until someone starts making a big deal on the way I write my wallposts and the expressive language I used.

Yes, it's annoying, and to top things out, I hate it when people comes straight to your face and says that you're wrong just because your way is not 'in-compliance to the rest of the majority'. This person, whom I will call Mr.D, annoys me with his shallow know-hows, and even undermined my work by (without no clear positive intention) blatantly criticizing it. I hate these kind of people. These people are the maggots of our society. They fell out of place from the rest of us and in search of attention, they poked other people with their annoyances. Fuck, it does not matter how I wrote my wallposts, or whatever expressive catchphrases I use, it's about me and it has nothing to do with anyone else, right?

Speaking of which, If you find yourself in the constant presence of irksome individuals, you have to take extra measures and learn how to deal with annoying people. Annoying people come in different personalities, and not all of them are even annoying in one particular way. That's why, if you want to know how to deal with annoying people, you have to identify what exactly about them galls you.

Some people may be annoying because of their voices and how they speak. Some may just have an outlook on life that gets you down and irritates you like crazy. Others could just have an entire array of annoying habits--talking about their weekends relentlessly, burping in your face--that it takes everything you have to keep from throttling them!

You don't need to learn a whole lot of techniques to be able to face annoying people. What it's going to take is a great amount of patience and an ability to tune them out. Here's what you can do to keep annoying people at bay--and keep yourself from losing your cool.

Learn how to block them. You can let yourself get worked up over the numerous annoyances or you can just distract yourself and do your thing. Ignoring the source of the annoyance is one important step to learning how to deal with annoying people. The less attention you give them, the less chance there is of them coming up to you again.

If the annoying person swooping around you talks too much and takes up a lot of your time, you don't have to cut him off abruptly. Try responding with some perfunctory nods and "uh-huhs" while letting your mind wander; and when there's a lull in the conversation, you can interject and say you need to be doing something else. Just don't show any more interest than that, because that will only encourage them to regale you with more stories.

No matter what kind of annoying person you're dealing with, it will really help to have a good long talk with him or her to set things straight. Keeping annoying people at arm's length can increase your chances of being unaffected by their prattle and their behavior. If you're serious about knowing how to deal with annoying people, the best thing for you to remember is to not give them an opportunity to get into your personal space; and if you really have to interact with them regularly, then just do your best to block the irritating behavior and focus on what needs to be done instead.

Well, dear Mr.D, you are annoying and I don't like you. Your comments are pure shit, you see your surroundings in a short sighted perspective, so stop bugging me and get lost.

p.s: by the way, If you're trying to say that your photographic works are better, then, so sorry to burst the bubbles dear, I've seen awesome works of arts out there, and yours are simply LAME!

Nuff Said ~

To all those annoying creepy people out there....

And Here I Ramble

2010-10-03T00:27:00.000+08:00

Yes, it's here alright. Rainy days are getting wetter here in Keningau, and with no breaks in the clouds too, especially in the evenings.

And with the wet season setting in, comes the ever so typical flu a.k.a cold, selsema..it comes in different names, but still ~ it's nasty, and I'm showing its telltale sign already... *.sigh..

My camera is nicely tucked inside my locker.. there's nothing much to shoot after Seoul and Beijing. I've been down with a calculi (batu karang) recently and God knows how my journey to the loo was one hell of an experience ( imagine peeing with a stone stucked in your urethra ) ..and I assure you, the pain was nerve wrecking ...

But alas, it went out today, and I'm calculi free ^^ but again good ol' flu is knocking in. I'm feeling a bit giddy, lethargic and with a heavy head kinda feeling.

And next week, the old fart from my old school will be walking about in my current school... will be doing some 'penyeliaan' said my HM... which adds onto my woes...cuz I hate that old fart.

Flu+Old Fart = I don't know how whether I would fair better next week =.= ....argh..fark !!!! I hate double-whammies like this...

How I wish that I could sit the day off, sipping on a cup of coffee, feeling great and healthy
and free from mind boggling thoughts...

Iphone 4 Awesomeness ^^

2010-09-29T17:58:00.000+08:00

Do you fancy the ever so exclusive IPhone? After a successful sales campaign and a big load of fans, Macintosh decided to repeat its success story in the IPhone franchise by launching the next generation of Iphone christened Iphone 4

Apple's launch of the iPhone 4 has seen the greatest excitement for a new phone ever - and with HD video recording, a super high-res screen and ridiculously slim dimensions, it's not hard to see why.

But things are a little different now - not only was the iPhone 3GS something of a non-update to the iPhone range, but there are finally decent alternatives in the smartphone market, with the HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy S leading the Android fight right to Apple's door. Add to that the first major leak of an Apple product a couple of months before launch, and suddenly the iPhone 4 has a lot to do to impress.

At least Apple has unleashed the big guns for this effort - before we get into the headline specs, the design itself is a massive talking point on its own. Jobs' chats on stage to unveil a new iPhone might have got a little repetitive (best this, magical that etc) but this is the first time since the first iPhone way back in January 2007 that we've seen a variation on the standard iPhone design.

Gone is the traditional curved back and plastic exterior with slightly chunky dimensions; in is a chassis that's only 9.3mm thin at its thickest point and a new stainless steel and glass industrial design.

If you're an iPhone fan, there's a good chance you won't like the look of the iPhone the first time you pick it up - it's the same weight as the iPhone 3GS at 137g, but it's a lot smaller, with dimensions of 115.2mm x58.6 mm x 9.3mm, so it feels like a much weightier and compact model. The edges are stainless steel, apparently forged by winged unicorns in an iceberg (or something) to be 10 times stronger than 'normal' steel.

But then, who would spend thousands of Ringgits on a sling box so that you could brag off to your buds?

I feel lots of love with this baby ^^ It may not be an Iphone, but it's sure a chic phone ^^

Dazzling Holidays and What's Not Part 1

2010-09-18T23:54:00.000+08:00

Going abroad was one of my utmost passion ~ seeing new places, smelling new scents and merely enjoying how people in other countries goes about their daily lives. So with careful planning and budgeting, I managed to butt in with my mom and dad and the rest of the kins on the journey to Korea and China.

I was blaring with excitement since this would be my ultimate outing.

After 6 grueling hours of flight from Kota Kinabalu to Incheon, we arrived at around 6.15am (5.15 Malaysian Time).All in all, Korea was exceptionally awesome. The food (though literally tasteless) was nice. Not too spicy, and it was carefully donned as if it was a piece of art, but then, like most orientals, Koreans (and their neighbor, the Japanese) do treat their food in a same way Picasso would treat his color palette. ad unguem factus I may say.

After spending a night at Seoul, and covering places like Myeongdeung ( A savvy shopping district in Seoul), Incheon ( Korea's Chinatown was super) and Seoul itself, we were hopping on our next flight to Beijing.

Resting on the comfortable seat on board KAL's A380, I was swiftly dozed off while en route to Beijing ( a 1 hour 30 minutes flight from Seoul). I was anticipating that Beijing would be the pinnacle of my outing, visioning the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and many interesting places to visit and the cool pre-autumn weather... Again the excitement mounted as the Captain announced that we would be arriving at Beijing International in 10 minutes...

Korea was exceptionally awesome ~ clean, spotless and well organized. I wished I could have said the same to Beijing ~ it's either you'll be risking severe pneumonia or bronchitis or you have to walk using a gas mask around the city.. because Beijing is filthily polluted =.= With visibility limited to a few hundred meters, I wondered how the people there could've endured life day by day. Hrmm...

And, friends (especially to the guys) don't be surprised if you walk into their public toilets and sees people doing their 'business' with their dicks dangling freely cuz, the cubicles there are doorless.. The sight of a man shitting, with his dick swaying in open air really freaks me out, I mean, we don't do that in Malaysia for Pete's sake. I was embarrassed upon seeing that man, and backed off from the Public WC, promising myself never to walk into their Public toilets again. That's was a tiny fraction of what Beijing has to offer, but again, it is a megalopolis and things could happen unexpectedly. So I learned to anticipate things throughout the rest of the week in Beijing.

Now you know what I mean when I say it's doorless =.=

Anyways, here's some of the common issues in Beijing, and how you could do to avoid them (should you plan to go there in the future). I got most of these from the Internet but since I've seen this in real time, it's worth sharing..

1. Taxis: if you take a taxi, sit at the back because many of them don’t have front seat belts or if they do probably won’t work (usually the most expensive taxis, 1.60 or 2.00 Yuan, have seatbelts, however, just follow my advice and seat at the back). Be involved in traffic accidents in China could be one of the most complicated issues of your entire life.

2. Pickpockets: it is also a big issue in China. Pay special attention when you travel in crowded buses, trains or subway.

3.Unattended bags or coats: wherever you take a seat (except in the hotel room or at your friend’s house) don’t ever leave your belongings.

4. Ripped-off: always bargain for untagged prices (except at the major department stores). If you feel the price is too high or feel there is something you don’t feel comfortable with simply don’t buy, shop around.

5. Fake goods: watch out!

6. "Best before"…: check the expiry date or date of validity, especially foods and drinks.

7. Strangers: don’t accept free drinks or food from people you don’t know. Being drugged and waking up only with your clothes have happened many time.

8. Beijing seems to always be in traffic hour, perhaps this is why the drivers feel they must rush and cut in front of everyone whenever they have the chance. when crossing a road with no lights (or even if there are lights) always stick to the crowd. the drivers (esp the bus drivers!!) seem to speed up when they see people crossing, hoping to cross before you do! stick to the crowd and you'll be fine!!

That's that for now, I'll be rambling about Tianjin and my awesome journey to the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square in Part 2 of this blog ^^

I'm back ^^

2010-08-26T23:43:00.000+08:00

Life was never easy when you have to juggle too many things at one go. There's that crowning moment where 'business' meant simply 'being stupendously busy', and it is where time and tide really leaves you knocked out. Such a life ~ as a teacher ; and a free lance photographer ~ still learning though ^^ But between books and your Camera, I realized that there's life after all. A fashionably exhausted, fatigued Mervyn Simon Peter I am, still willing and able to do lots of wonderful things. I'll be back soon with rants about my wonderful chaotic life ^^ Sometimes, being at peace is not cool at all ^^ See you guys around ^^

Unrequited Love Part 2

2010-07-29T16:45:00.001+08:00

It has been a while since the last update. Frankly speaking life was quite bumpy, but of course I managed to get out of it alive and well Anyways, I was forever thinking about AMF (the person that was responsible for my ‘porak peranda’ state of being. I was able to catchup with that person and there was a teenie weenie bit of response I know I’m pushing my luck so hard but hey, I have nothing to lose, right Anyways, here’s a Japanese Song by Suemitsu and Suemith ‘Sagittarius’

Zutto mabushii koe de
Kitto eien ni aru
Furueteta mune wo tomeru
Natsu no kizami tsuzuite
Sotto kimi wo kanjiteru
Fuu to nagareru gensou wa
Nani mo kamo koko kara
Saratteku yoyuu de shizuka ni
Kasanari atte tojita me ga mitsumeru kokoro wo
Wasurenaide wasurenaide
Aoi namida no kazu hoshi no kazu
Musunda sora ni nowhere nowhere nowhere
Itsuka kiete yuku
Tsukamu hikari hitotsu hitotsu dake
Egaita yume wo somewhere somewhere somewhere
Nagamete iru
Motto hohaba otoshite
Yatto yoko naranda rizumu
Mayonaka no odayaka na
Nami ni osare tabi suru
Ima kasanari atte tojita me ga mitsumeru kokoro wo
Wasurenaide wasurenaide
Hajimete no sekai ni kono basho ni
Kinou no kage wa nowhere nowhere nowhere
Katachi ushinatta
Mimimoto de sasayaita ima tsubuyaita
Kimi no kotoba wa somewhere somewhere somewhere
Asu ni nageta
Wasurenai sa wasurenai sa
Aoi namida no kazu hoshi no kazu
Musunda sora ni nowhere nowhere nowhere
Itsuka kiete yuku
Tsukamu hikari hitotsu hitotsu dake
Egaita yume wo somewhere somewhere somewhere
Nagameru futari
Somewhere somewhere somewhere
Kono kimochi goto
Somewhere somewhere somewhere
Wasurenaide

I don’t know what the hell it meant but I like it it makes me feel so cosy inside

Unrequited Love~

2010-07-21T19:33:00.001+08:00

I am a man of many words. But I do fail miserably when it comes to expressions of feelings. It is either because of that, or I was destined to be the honorable bachelor in my family, as in referring my current state of being…

Do I believe in love at first sight? I do, well, technically. I am a non risk taker; I do not like to take unnecessary risks and at some degrees I am so meticulously careful that I could even say I am in total paranoia. There have been many situations where I know some people are making a pass on me but I did manage to, urm, ‘silence them’.

Scary huh.

For me feelings and its state of being is not to be toyed with. It is straightforward, an entity which reacts to its surroundings. The yin and yang of our feelings is that when you’re happy, there’s time you’ll be sad, when you laugh, there will be that moment you’ll cry. A simple Zen philosophy that I applied to my feelings. Like every normal people out there, I do fall in love ( in refuting my cousin’s claim that I’m too stiff to be in love)

Do you believe in that mother’s tale, when you’re thinking of that particular person so much, he/she is thinking of you too?

How I wish it is true ~

Salva Me ^^

2010-07-04T11:05:00.001+08:00

Do you fancy listening to choirs? Those magnificent voice which is so harmonious it gives you goose bumps all over, especially when they’ve reached Timbres Conglomerate (when their voices rounded up into one) then to the Pinnacle ( where the soloist would reach a high C note or much higher octave). Or maybe you’ve heard the Vienna Choir Boys? If so, you’ll get the drift.

I for one, awes at this magnificent talent ( I am the English Teacher cum Choir Instructor at my school so it was obvious)

I was listening to a few rendition of choirs in preparation for this August Inter-Zone Choir Competition and I could not help but noticing this superb choir boys, Libera.

“ Libera, as we know it today, is the publicly performing boys section of St. Philip's Church choir from South London. Their concept is to make boychoir music more accessible to a wider audience, many of whom might be put off by the words 'church choir', by integrating classical and traditional music with a more contemporary, mainstream sound. The repertoire they sing as Libera is in addition to, not a replacement of, their church singing. It does not detract from the fact that the core activity of the choir is their duty as part of the Anglican parish church. When heard during Sunday services, they are more like other church choirs than the Libera we see on TV and hear on CDs.
To help distinguish between the two there have been different names given to their separate roles as a choral group - first, the St. Philip's Boys' Choir, then in 1990 they changed to Angel Voices, then to Libera in 1998 ("Libera" being the Latin word for "Free", the title of their 2004 album).
St. Philip's Church is over 100 years old and has a long choral history. Its choir was established many decades ago and became a firm foundation on which the future was built. As a result of this, the current key to Libera's public success and popularity lies with two former St. Philip's choirboys - Robert Prizeman, choirmaster, and Ian Tilley who is the sound and technical genius.
Prizeman often composes and arranges pieces with individual soloists in mind, to emphasise the variety of characteristics and qualities in the boys' voices. The end result illustrates the complexity of his art and the magnitude of his musical excellence. The addition of electronic synthesisers and a judicious use of lower voices, especially from former trebles who stay on with the main church choir, help make the Libera sound so unique. The aim of these is simply to enhance the listening experience by complementing the use of synthesisers with the full tonal range of the boys' voices. As can be heard on many of their album tracks, the electronics are not always necessary - the voices sound equally sublime with or without these extra musical tools. Since it is difficult to label Libera's style as one specific genre, it has come to be widely known by fans across the globe as the "Libera style".
Libera's popularity is also helped by a number of excellent videos produced each year, with the boys in their distinctive white robes, which are broadcast primarily on the BBC's religious programme Songs of Praise, where Prizeman is Musical Adviser, and on Classic FM TV.
By taking a modern approach to classical and church music and succeeding in attracting listeners who would not usually listen to sacred choral music, as well as introducing many people to the world of boychoirs, Libera are already well on the way to achieving what they set out to do ”

My favorite choristers are Thomas Cully (the boy in the front, middle) and Josh Madine (the boy just behind Tom). God, I’ll prostrate to the awesomeness of this choir boys if I could emulate their essence in my choir team. Such an angelic voice. Such superb talent. They’ve performed at the Vatican in the presence of His Holiness The Pope, in front of the US President George W.Bush and are actively partaking in choir tours around Europe and the US.

I wondered, do they even go to school and study like the rest of the kids their age?

Anyways, My favorite songs from this choir boys are :

a) Salva Me

b) Recordarde

c) Ave Maria

d) Orinoco Flow

e) Silent Night

f) Sanctus

g) Far Away

Tom Cully were the soloist in much of these songs, backed by Josh Madine and Ed Day. Tom Cully’s solo rendition, which hits the higher octaves really send shivers down my spine.As I said, he’s my favorite soloist in Libera.

Just being trivial, If I could get my choristers hitting that high notes, would they be able to sing Tanah Pusaka (my card of ace in this choir thingie) or other Malaysian Patriotic songs? Such is our typical Malaysia ; when it comes to school choirs, it must be all out patriotic… hrmm… sometimes, it sucks.

I know it’ll be against the rules and regulations, but for the upcoming Choir Competition, I’ll be putting my bets on Salva Me (lyrics below) as my second song. The first one is of course, the Lagu Wajib..all those patriotic songs *.sigh.

Domine deus miserere mei
Carry me away
From the dark I fear
When the storm is near
From the endless night
From my blinded sight
To a sky of light

Free me to fly away
Salva me

Carry me away
From the things that harm
On a sea of calm
From the endless night
From my blinded sight
To a sky of light

Or maybe a rendition of Recorderde, in alto, soprano and tenor voices (my typical choir setting ^^)

Miserere, recordare
Miserere nobis
Confutatis, maledictis
Recordare, miserere
Dona eis aetarnam requiem
Recordare, miserere
Deprecationem nostram
Salva, salva me

Would it be an eye opener or will I end up as a complete dud? My kids would have to bear with me on this ^^ especially twisting their tongues to the Latin words.

WTF? Now I Know..

2010-06-16T16:57:00.001+08:00

As I told you guys, I’ve always been on the road on 2004-2005, since I was actively involved with many of MOE’s curriculum reforms. Being on the go for MOE, I got myself into luxuries of staying in 5 stars hotel (where the course is conducted). I’m quite a meticulous person when it comes to my hotel room (not that I demanded RSVP service or that sort) but sometimes, hotel rooms can be er…comforting,luscious and rich..if not scary.

I remembered once, we were conducting a course in Perkasa Keningau and some of the participants went to me to complain about the hotel lacking rooms. I went to the front office and kindly asked the manager, and they said the hotel was full. Then came some reports from other teachers that the second floor was vacant. I was about to ask when a fellow JU cuts me off. He said to just leave it as it is. SO the unfortunate teachers were relocated to some other hotels around town.

So what gives? It is not until a hotelier friend of mine recently revealed this to me.

"For single hotels, there is at least one permanent room which should be left vacant at all times. No matter how full the hotel is, they are not to sell that room(s) to any guest. It is said that the special room is reserved' for those 'special visitors'. So, if you plan to stay in some hotel, always book in advance. Try to avoid walk-ins. If the receptionist tells you there's no more room available, do not insist to get one anymore or try to bribe them to give you a room. If you do that,most of the time the room you have will be that 'special room'.

"Sometimes those 'special visitors' might go to other rooms also, so here's some tips on how to protect yourself. "Before entering your room, always knock on the door first, even if you know the room is vacant.

"After you enter the room, if you feel very cold suddenly and have 'chicken spore', leave the room quietly immediately and go to the reception to request to change room. Most of the time, the receptionist will understand what's happening.

"After you enter the room, immediately switch on all of the lights, and open the curtain to let the

sunlight in. "Before you go to bed, arrange your shoes so that one of them is upside down.. Some say this represents yin and yang to protect you while you're asleep. "Always leave at least a lamp on while you're sleeping, preferably the toilet lamp. "If you' re staying a l one and they have give you a twin bed, do not sleep with the other bed vacant, try to put your things, like luggage, on the other bed before you sleep. "Here's another tip. When you enter your hotel room, look for the Bible. Most hotels place the Bible inside a drawer, however, if upon entering, you see the Bible on the table, DON'T STAY IN THAT ROOM. It means 'special visitors' are there.

This happened to me when staying in one of those 5 stars hotel in Kota Kinabalu. I saw a bible lying ON THE TABLE and I thought it must be meant for reading ( I assumed it that way since western tourists flocked that hotel ~ and I thought ‘maybe some of ‘em do pray…)So I went and set it aside INTO THE DRAWER and made myself comfortable. And I was patting my self on the shoulder because it was so lucky of me to have the room ALL TO MYSELF. After the night slot, and a tummy full supper ( I gained 2 kgs in 3 days), I went back to my room and pampered myself in a tub of warm water. After replying to a few emails, going through with my presentations, and some other final checks, I decided to hit the sack..and then…

I Swore It wasn’t the Air Conditioner, because it was hell COLD that first night and it was as if there’s a FAN spinning at full speed above me. I don’t feel right, but neither was I felt spooked out of the situation. I simply switched on the table lamp, and turned on the telly, and it was gone…Shit, so this was the real deal all this while?
"If you see the Bible opened up on the table,LEAVE THAT ROOM IMMEDIATELY and request for a change of room! It means the 'special visitor' is really creating trouble in that room!

Nuff said…

Life Handbook 2010

2010-06-16T15:27:00.001+08:00

I was cleaning off my inbox recently and God, I hate spammers. 2985 spam mail, flood mails, ads and everything in between. However, at the end of the list, I found one email from my friend Gina Yap, who forwarded me with this. Thanks Gina. It came just in time ^^

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less
food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time for prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her
mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate
others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems
are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like
algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your
family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about .

Life is a Sexually Transmitted Disease ^^

My June WishList

2010-06-07T00:06:00.001+08:00

I’ve always wanted to have this baby all this time. And finally I would be able to have my own web album : ) yay!!

and now, for sure, I’ll be clicking away with it pretty soon, as in after this month’s salary ^^. It costs around RM2099… complete with the 18mm-55mm Zoom Lens. It’s pretty basic actually. If you want to add on the ‘ummph’ you might want this..

A 200mm macro lens worth RM593..

or this sweetie with a RM12,459 price tag..

or this magnificent piece worth RM24,599…

not to mention accessories that can cost you a hefty RM10K++….

all is worth for beautiful pictures like this..

or this…

all of which you can google it for free off the net!!

Hrmm..

Clash Of The Titans ~ My Review

2010-06-03T22:28:00.001+08:00

When I first saw the preview of this movie, I said to myself ‘ This is definitely good”. I guess none of you guys were aware that Clash of the Titans (2010) was a remake of the 1981 movie of the same title, but there’s No one to blame really since it was 1981 and we’re nothing more than growing up tots then.Luckily My dad kept a VHS Tape of the COTT 1981 and I did watch it ^^

Clash of the Titans is set in the Greek city of Argos, where a war is about to explode between man and the gods. A narration introduces the three Olympians who battled the Titans long ago: the brothers Zeus (Liam Neeson), Poseidon (Danny Huston), and Hades (Ralph Fiennes). Hades provided the means of defeating the Titans with his creation, the Kraken. After the Titans' defeat, Zeus created humans and ruled them while Poseidon ruled the sea, but Hades, having been deceived by Zeus, was forced to rule the Underworld. Zeus and Poseidon gain power from the prayers of humans, but Hades learns another way: fear.

A fisherman named Spyros (Pete Postlethwaite) finds a coffin adrift in the sea, discovering a baby, Perseus, and his dead mother, Danaë (Tine Stapelfeldt), inside. Spyros decides to raise Perseus as his own. Years later, Perseus (Sam Worthington) and his family are fishing when they witness a group of soldiers from Argos destroying a statue of Zeus as a declaration of war against the gods. Hades appears and commands harpies to massacre the soldiers before he himself destroys Perseus's family's fishing boat. Perseus tries to save his family, but to no avail.
The surviving soldiers take Perseus back to Argos. During a feast for the returning soldiers King Kepheus (Vincent Regan) and Queen Cassiopeia (Polly Walker and Katherine Loeppky) of Argos compare themselves and their daughter, Andromeda (Alexa Davalos), to the gods, much to their daughter's dismay. After convincing his brother to let him loose on humanity to punish Argos for its hubris, Hades appears in the courtroom before killing the remaining soldiers while Perseus is unaffected. Revealing Perseus to be the demigod son of Zeus, and aging Cassiopeia to death, Hades threatens that if Princess Andromeda is not sacrificed to the Kraken, Argos will be destroyed in 10 days. Hermes (Alexander Siddig), the messenger god, approaches Zeus on Olympus, revealing the location of his son Perseus. Hermes suggests offering Perseus sanctuary, but Zeus declares that he shall be left to his fate, along with the other infidel mortals.

The king seeks the help of Perseus after he is placed in the dungeon. Perseus refuses until he meets Io (Gemma Arterton), a woman who does not age as punishment for refusing to be seduced by a god. Io reveals that Perseus' conception was a punishment conducted by Zeus on Acrisius (Jason Flemyng), the former king of Argos who was married to Danaë, for his actions against the gods. When Acrisius set Danaë and the baby Perseus adrift in their coffin, an enraged Zeus struck Acrisius with lightning, leaving him hideously disfigured. After learning that killing the Kraken would allow him to have his revenge against Hades, Perseus agrees to help. He and Argos' finest soldiers embark on a quest to find the Stygian Witches with a pair of Persian monster-hunters named Ixas (Hans Matheson) and Kucuk (Mouloud Achour), and Io following. To counter this turn of events, Hades enlists Acrisius, now called Calibos, to kill off Perseus. Hades imbues Calibos with superhuman powers.
In the woods, Perseus and his men discover a sword forged in Olympus that will only display power if it is wielded by Perseus. While separated from the group, Perseus encounters Zeus' sacred herd of flying horses, the Pegasus. However, Perseus refuses both the sword and the pure-black Pegasus that the gods offer as assistance, as he does not wish to be a god. Calibos attacks the group and tries to murder Perseus, killing several soldiers in the process, but Calibos is unsuccessful, losing his hand before escaping. However, Calibos's blood forms giant scorpions from the sand that attack Perseus and his group. Though they kill several scorpions, most of the group are slain, and the survivors are surrounded by more of the monsters. They are saved by the Djinn, a band of once-human desert sorcerers who have replaced their earthly flesh with ash and dark magic. The mysterious beings are able to hypnotize the scorpions into submission. Though not trusted prior to healing Perseus's wound, the Djinn leader, Sheikh Suleiman (Ian Whyte), joins Perseus's group. The Djinn want to see the gods' wish for destruction fail.
The heroes arrive at Garden of Stygia, learning from the Stygian Witches that the head of the Gorgon Medusa (Natalia Vodianova) could kill the Kraken, but that Perseus and his group will die in the process. After leaving the witches, with the hunters taking their leave, Perseus is visited by Zeus who offers him asylum on Mount Olympus, but he refuses. Zeus gives him instead a golden drachma, which Perseus later learns is a means to bribe Charon for passage into the Underworld. While Io remains outside Medusa's lair, due to a spell that forbids any woman from entering the area, Perseus' remaining soldiers fight hard to stay alive but are turned to stone one by one by her gaze. But with Suleiman self-destructing and Draco's sacrifice, Perseus manages to behead Medusa. Perseus emerges in time to see Calibos kill Io by stabbing her from behind. Perseus engages Calibos in combat and kills him using the sword from Olympus, turning him back into Acrisius in human form. With his final breath as Hades's power leaves him, Acrisius tells Perseus to never become a god. Perseus stays with the dying Io until she passes on, then rides Pegasus back to Argos with Medusa's head to find some of Argos' citizens have formed a cult of Hades and are planning to sacrifice Andromeda to the Kraken against the king's wishes. By then, Hades reveals to Zeus the destruction of Argos will give him enough power to overthrow the other Olympians before leaving his powerless brother to ensure his victory.

Perseus returns to Argos, but Hades sends his harpies to stop him. Perseus defeats the creatures sent by Hades and uses the head of Medusa to turn the Kraken into stone as Kepheus is killed by the cult leader, who is then crushed under the shattering Kraken. Hades appears and sneers that Perseus cannot kill him, since he is a god. Perseus retorts that while Hades can live forever, it will not be in the world of men and uses the sword to banish Hades back to the Underworld. Because Perseus has saved Argos from destruction, Andromeda suggests that Perseus become king and rule Argos at her side, but he declines. Zeus appears before Perseus again and offers to make him a god, but for a second time he refuses. Zeus warns Perseus that Hades will return to rule the world in darkness when he amasses enough fear from mankind. Since Perseus is intent on staying on Earth, Zeus resurrects Io, and the two embrace while Pegasus flies above them.

Personally, I think this movie is so trivial. Why, you may ask?

1. The 1981 movie revolves around the city of Jaffa and Argos.

2. Hades was way out of the story in the 1981 flick.

3. Calibos was supposed to be Athena’s son, slain by Perseus.

4. Hades claimed that the Kraken was his ‘child’(2010). Kraken was actually under Poseidon’s care and he is the one who unleashed the ugly monster in the 1981 movie.

5. Perseus 1981 (Harry Hamlin) married Andromeda (Judi Bowker) at the end. Perseus 2010 (Sam Worthington)… hrmm.. There’s something about him I could not put my fingers on to…

6. Back in 1981, Perseus fought the three headed dogs of the underworld, along with Medusa and the Kraken. In 2010, he had to fought his conscience as a demigod… and of course, Medusa and the Kraken..

7. Bubo, a mechanical owl sent by Artemis was not in the 2010 version of the movie. (It made a cameo appearance though, but it was dismissed)

Anyways, here’s some more previews..

The Beardy Big Guy

Zeus Almighty as he is now..

and how he was then (Gods grow young don’t they?)

The Evil Scary Monster

The scary kraken was about to devour poor lil’ Adromeda.. (Andromeda to the Argosian Army: You Son Of A Bitch, don’t just stand there, DO SOMETHING!!)

Fuck! I think Andromeda just shitted her panties…

Miss Medusa

1981.She looks like my evil aunt… on a bad hair day..REALLY!!

2010. baby, are you sure I’m supposed to turn into stone, cuz there’s something else growing hard as stone here ^^

Calibos the unfortunate guy

Here’s Calibos from COTT 2010

Calibos from COTT 1981… check out the hair…

The demigod himself..

Hunky Lovable Sam Worthington…

..or the chunky,meaty Harry Hamlin..? It’s your verdict.

The Forgotten…

Bubo? Artemis must be verrrrry angry……

5 Stars..for those who haven’t watched it yet, it’s worth your monay…

Need Some Airrr…

2010-06-02T23:31:00.001+08:00

It’s 11.20PM already, and I am nearing the completion of Component 1 of my Psycholinguistics assignment. Not to mention piles upon piles of exam papers to be graded…

I’m a teacher and right now, my head is spinning like hell.

This cute picture really reflects what my forthcoming schedule as soon as school reopens.

Got the Laporan Penyengaraan Bangunan Sekolah to do, the Jadual Waktu Induk , Headcout Matapelajaran, Laporan Penyengaraan Peralatan ICT, Laporan Separuh Penggal, SKT for the remaining months of 2010, Program Latihan Intensif Olahraga…

and yes, the PPD asked each and every reports to be submitted ‘tanpa gagal’.. and I’m fading out from this hectic life of mine…

ahoy, school holidays is here

2010-06-02T15:43:00.001+08:00

…but again, as always, there’s no such thing as a ‘blissful’ school holidays for me. This is is why ~

Exam papers to be assessed, marked and analyzed (sigh)

Assignments,assignments, assignments…(big time sigh…)

Hrmmmghhhh…

Confused? Quite Contrary..

2010-06-02T01:35:00.001+08:00

First and foremost whatever I’ve posted here implies to no one. This is merely the post-thoughts and recollections of a get together I’ve been last week. I was overwhelmed by a friend, whom I got to know (before he went out of the closet that is..)

Well, frankly speaking, too bad, for a man with a good look and physique like him, no one bounds to believe he is one of those“rainbow warrior” (catch my drift?)

A secret well concealed over the years and finally, over a crack of beer he decided to let the cat out of the bag. For him, it was a triumphant moment, but for the rest of us, it was as if boulders upon boulders of rocks hits us right on the cerebral cortex. What the fuck, I mean, him? GAY?

I have nothing against him, nor his true self.I find some people who came to know the fact that he IS a fag felt tremendously uncomfortable to say the least. I mean, okay, so he’s one fruitcake boy but does he deserve to be rejected by the society?

But there was some of us there who are totally open-minded over this matter. Most of them including me salutes his courage to walk out in this narrow mindset society of us. I mean, it took a lifetime courage for me to stand up for my rights when I was openly and intentionally mistreated by my former GB and here he was, blissfully blurting out his most guarded secret. Now that’s what I called courage.

Later, he texted me, asking for a third opinion. Whether he have had made the wrong move. Whether his coming out was a stupid thing to do and the possibilities of him losing his best buds and pals. I told him everything he should hear, and I was being totally frank over the matter. Telling him what he wanted to hear could make things even more sloppier for him. Whatever that I’ve told him seems enough to convince him to move forward, and I pray that he would succeed and prevail.

And after the long counsel with him, I thought to myself ‘Gosh, Can things be be more dramatic than this’? Feels like living in America hehe ^^

I remembered one song by the Hanson Brothers, titled ‘Weird’, that has this catchy phrase in it..

When you live in a cookie cutter world where being different is a sin…

After the whole gamut I’ve underwent last week, well, to think of it as a whole, I don’t want to live in a fucking stereotype cookie cutter like world, and being different, what so sinful about it?

He asked me ‘Merv, now I’m not insinuating anything, but after all this, would you be still my friend?

I replied ‘Of course ^^ That’s for sure’

Still, I think Emma Watson has grown herself a big, decent boobs, don’t you think?

Shine Baby,Shine ^^

2010-05-17T23:39:00.001+08:00

I woke up late today, partly because I did not get enough rest the night before (weekend is such a bliss) and mostly because of the weather; wet, cold, cozy ^^ Anyways, I did manage to get up, got myself swinging to the Monday Madness because for all what is worth, I was the Honorary Guru Kebersihan dan Keceriaan Sekolah who was privileged with decent talk time during the school assembly. So, as to not disappointing my headmaster, I managed to get to school in time (not really) I mean, they were singing the State Anthem as I arrived and still I clocked 0715am, so am I to blame? : p

Anyways, we were treated with chocolates today ^^ Thanks to Madame Josie our headmistress. Then, everything went as usual. Teachers, off to the class.

Looking at different angles, I sincerely AM very proud because my PPD decided not to send me to any school with crappy HMs and sickeningly awkward line of staffs. Instead, they send me here, in my school now, and my oh my, (well, other than some cranky parent) my school is just GREAT! I love the teachers, the pupils, the scenario and the raw power that you can easily channel to make yourself and everyone shine ^^

Talking about how you could shine at work, I’ve always abide by these following rules:

Step 1: Be reliable. Unfortunately, the average person tends to only perform good enough to meet their daily quota. True successors, however, always go for that extra mile to step up as a valuable employee, and as a good overall person. Analyze the tasks that you might be most helpful with, and those that people seem to need often. Be your colleague's "go-to" person when they need a specific computer application troubleshot. If the workplace requires a lot of written communication, study your colleague's weaknesses. Not so that you can secretly laugh at them, of course, but so that YOU can be their hero when, let's say, someone needs help with their grammar. Do not be satisfied by being just a number in the office!

Step 2: Be as dependable as you can, and make sure others notice your willingness to assist. When feeling under the whether, it is absolutely important to call well over ahead. Same goes for an estimated late arrival to work. Do not just arrive to work "on time", but instead make it at least ten minutes early, if possible. If stuck in traffic, calculate the approximated time you will be helpless among the crowd, and call your boss immediately. If you happen to fail in doing so (if already late before calling) make sure you STILL place a call, if late for longer than ten to fifteen minutes. While health issues and personal matters are clearly not anyone's choice, nevertheless try to be present as much as humanly possible. All in all, take responsibility for your actions.

Step 3: Show initiative! This is in fact one of the most helpful things one can accomplish at work. Let's say you work as a customer care representative (or service desk technician,) and everyone seems a little uncomfortable understanding the latest program implementation in the office. Everyone feels relatively safe working with it, but nonetheless could need a little more experience. If you understand how the application works, write down a step-by-step e-mail (or attach a document with your work) describing the program's most basic features, to the most advanced ones. Additionally, insert a screen shot of every step you are explaining to help everyone understand what you are referring to. Visual learning can never be underestimated. Once finished and revised, send it off to everyone and ask them to leave you any feedback, or to come see you personally if any other confusion arises.
This is only a small example of how powerful taking initiative can be. The point to this is to simply try to accomplish things you are not asked to perform. Of course, just make sure that you have the proper authority to perform such task(s).

Step 4: Keep yourself organized. Whether referring to your office desk or keeping your e-mail client clean, this will, without a doubt, let everyone know (especially your boss) that you have everything under control. There is no stress, no procrastination, and things are always taken care of. By the way, by keeping that e-mail client clean will save you priceless time when someone asks you to forward an important e-mail that person might be missing. Some ways to organize such information would be by deleting trivial data, or by categorizing them by named folders, for instance.

Step 5: Commit to your responsibilities. You will never be successful at making it through a hard day at work if you do not enjoy what you are told to do. If a task happens to be hard to grasp, simply ask for help; remember you are only human. Rather than force yourself to an overwhelming procedure, talk to your colleague and look for ways you can both work step by step. Practice what you have learned, and remember that everyone is fully depending on your great input in order to drive business forward, and possibly to even move you up the ladder as well.

Step 6: Be flexible. Take notes while attending a meeting, ask questions, and let your voice be heard. By doing so, you are giving everyone a great example of leadership. When providing feedback, state both sides of a story to ensure everyone is on the same page. Should your opinion be overruled and you're still unsatisfied, ask for a moment in private with your superior and make sure there is a clean understanding of your needs. Whether you never get to achieve what you set out to accomplish is not a problem; the important thing is that you are willing to lend a hand in the company by all means necessary. This, as you know, is a priceless piece of information to your manager's knowledge.

Step 7: Think outside the box. This phrase is commonly used, but whether it is actually taking place is up to you. Usually in fast-paced environments, changes are very common and new strategies are developed in order to keep up with their services and/or surroundings. Not everyone is able to keep up with such overwhelming activities at work (or changes in general). If you notice this is becoming a problem, talk to your superior and provide some advice that will help everyone from certain emotional distraction. For example, ask to organize a thirty-minute meeting on a bi-weekly basis. This will give your boss a chance to catch up on everyone's progress, and your colleagues will have a very good chance to ask any questions, and/or speak their mind when something is making the job difficult.

Step 8: Take action even when not entirely necessary. For example, many businesses create rotating schedules if they happen to be short on staff. If a colleague seems a bit uneasy about working on a certain date, lend a hand and make an adjustment. Perhaps he/she will feel better working on your scheduled date! Once discussed, it is up to your boss to make the final arrangement. Overall, always encourage and support your co-workers.

Step 9: Do not get ahead of yourself. Sure, working hard is all about endless effort to show your true colors. However, how will you be able to accomplish this if you're feeling overwhelmed by your own actions? Live one day at a time, and then perform your tasks carefully. When you're on a mission, stress is one thing you do NOT want in the way. In the long run, you will manage to achieve so much more as long as you analyze, organize, and plan accordingly.

Step 10: Finally, doing "good" is never enough. Try to analyze the way your environment works. What is the office/company doing well? What could it be missing? Ask yourself optimistic questions and create scenarios that could potentially improve the way your company does business. If you already know how to do a good job with the things your office offers (applications, for instance) think of new ways to improve your own knowledge, or try and assist others in need. Create tutorials if necessary for any new employee that joins the organization, and so on. You might not be the next best adviser or CEO, but in the end, every single contribution adds up. Believe me.

Prelude: Happy Teacher’s Day

2010-05-14T15:43:00.001+08:00

It’s that time of the year again. 16th of May is the day for all teachers, of all sizes and from all walks of life. Life was not being so forgiving to us teachers, at most, some would say it sucks, but not all. Some says it was their ‘calling’, some say it was an honor bestowed upon them by God, some say it’s because of good salary, hefty allowances, frequent and long school holidays. Whatever the reasons was, here we are, all in all, with the title ‘CIKGU’ that comes before our names. Stand proud, because THAT title landed you on the helm of our nation’s future.

So to speak…

There’s an enigma that plagues the ‘CIKGU-CIKGU’ of Malaysia. 20 years ago, we’re comfortably sitted in our class, teaching and doing educational works. Flip the news and you’ll see glorified teachers in creaseless three piece suits receiving awards of the highest order in our society. News Headlines during the pre-national level teachers’ day would go like…

JASAMU DIKENANG: CIKGU X GARAPAN BANGSA, CITRA MASA DEPAN NEGARA

KEJAYAAN SMK Y: PENGORBANAN GURU² SEWAJARNYA DICONTOHI

PAK Z: TOKOH GURU YANG DISANJUNG, TOKOH MASYARAKAT YANG DIKASIHI

Would you find such enticing news nowadays? Flip any news within the past 2 years and you’re bound to see news like this…

KES GANGSTERISME DI ASRAMA SMK F: WARDEN DAN GURU DISIPLIN DIDAKWA

MEROTAN PELAJAR: GURU DIHADAPKAN KE MAHKAMAH SESYEN

KAJIAN: RAMAI GURU BERHUTANG PADA ALONG

GURU DIDAKWA KERANA BERPOLITIK DIDALAM KELAS

…and yet, many people would say that the teaching profession IS inexplicably EASY. Some even went a bit overboard by labeling teachers as ‘a strain in our nation’s resources’. When it comes to teaching and teachers, everyone of us is GREAT. No one has ever endured the sacrifice we have to give in when we sworn our oath as a teacher. And many would surmise that a GREAT teacher is anyone who has PhD in Nuclear Science or Temporal Mechanics (duh!) But what makes a GREAT teacher, GREAT anyways?

What makes a great teacher? Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Here are some characteristics of great teachers:

Great teachers set high expectations for all students. They expect that all students can and will achieve in their classroom, and they don't give up on underachievers.

Great teachers have clear, written-out objectives. Effective teachers have lesson plans that give students a clear idea of what they will be learning, what the assignments are and what the grading policy is. Assignments have learning goals and give students ample opportunity to practice new skills. The teacher is consistent in grading and returns work in a timely manner.

Great teachers are prepared and organized. They are in their classrooms early and ready to teach. They present lessons in a clear and structured way. Their classrooms are organized in such a way as to minimize distractions.

Great teachers engage students and get them to look at issues in a variety of ways. Effective teachers use facts as a starting point, not an end point; they ask "why" questions, look at all sides and encourage students to predict what will happen next. They ask questions frequently to make sure students are following along. They try to engage the whole class, and they don't allow a few students to dominate the class. They keep students motivated with varied, lively approaches.

Great teachers form strong relationships with their students and show that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Teachers with these qualities are known to stay after school and make themselves available to students and parents who need them. They are involved in school-wide committees and activities, and they demonstrate a commitment to the school.

Great teachers are masters of their subject matter. They exhibit expertise in the subjects they are teaching and spend time continuing to gain new knowledge in their field. They present material in an enthusiastic manner and instill a hunger in their students to learn more on their own.

Great teachers communicate frequently with parents. They reach parents through conferences and frequent written reports home. They don't hesitate to pick up the telephone to call a parent if they are concerned about a student.

We’ve been there, we’ve done that and we ARE what is stated above. We are GREAT teachers to start off with no matter what limitations we are enduring, it is good to know that all is in good hands. After all, the helm of our nation’s future is in our hands.. second rated opinions are merely ‘coffee talks’. Happy Teachers Day ^^

So, your friend lied..

2010-05-13T21:56:00.001+08:00

What will you do when your best bud keep showering you with promises upon promises of good things and tidings to come? Will you succumb to that pleasant feeling of hopefulness or would you be wary and cautious of what your friend is incessantly promising you?

I’ve been going through this predicament for quite some time now. My friend keeps raining on promises, saying this and that, promising this, promising that… I have been so cautious about this; I detest people who lied to me because I am pretty much a straight forward and frank kind of guy. I have never promised anyone without fulfilling that promise; because I expect others to do the same to me. But again, here he is, my best friend, beating around the bush, fervently hailing his so called ‘promise’ to you as his ‘number one’. God, he’s a jerk.

I hate being lied to. Short of violence, it is the worst thing you can do to me. Not because of God, or the Ten Commandments, or any universal moral precepts. The reason that I hate lies is because, like you, I wish to navigate carefully through life, and to do so I must be able to calculate my true position. When you lie to me, you know your position but you have given me false data which obscures mine.

Lying is theft. When you tell me something which I take to be true and as a result I invest my time, or my money, or even my care, you have stolen these things from me because you obtained them with false information.

Lying creates inequality. Since you also do not like being lied to--I have never known anyone who wanted to be deceived-- you have acted as if there were two classes of humans: you, with the right to lie, and everyone else, who must be truthful to you so that you too will not lose your way.

Lying treats people as means to the end you wish to accomplish, and not as ends in themselves.

Lying is one of those rare areas in which the moral rulebook and the legal one overlap each other quite neatly. Fraud is defined as an intentional falsehood on which another relies to his detriment. A fraud is a lie writ large, often in a financial context, where the damage to me is quantifiable in money. Even those lies which the law does not define as fraud tend to fit the same definition: a knowing false utterance which the mark is intended to rely on to his harm, and does. The only differences are of degree, for example, when we cannot assess the loss in money.

The basic tenet that lying is wrong seems to be universal to all cultures, probably because humans are social animals. To live together in a society we must tell the truth to each other about such basic matters as sources of food or of danger.

Jonathan Wallace is so right by writing this. I feel like shoving this piece of thoughts down onto my best friend’s throat.

It was just another day...

2010-05-11T23:22:00.000+08:00

I woke up late today. Not that really late, but way beyond my waking hours. I was overwhelmingly happy (sort of) because I could skip another day without going to the hassle and dazzle of school. I was assigned to attend a Taklimat Penyengaraan ICT which started around 9am. Believe me, although Mr.Junggal was so entertaining, I could have sworn I dozed off a few times, surrounded by all the headmasters and other teachers. The day was routine; after the Taklimat, I went home, all home alone, walked around in my underwear, and picked off a nice cool spot in my living room to continue dozing off, until, my aunt rings from the hospital.

And I thought she was asking for me to send her home, instead, she sounded so serious I sensed that something was not right.

And it was.

Somehow my baby brother ( a name I've coined my cousin Ayrone Yap) was beaten up yesterday by a group of thugs. I felt darned. Hurriedly I got dressed and went to the hospital. Upon arriving, my aunt was there talking to some people, and I saw my baby brother sitting alone, withdrawn, and fairly unscathed (apart from his bruised ego, thank God he's in one piece). And it took me and baby bro to the Police Station for interrogation, only then by a referral letter from the Police that I would be able to seek necessary treatments.

One thing for sure, If I could get my hands on those cock-sucking thugs, I'll beat the daylight out of each and everyone of them with my bare hands. Believe me!! (fuming!!)

PS: I know, my predicament is a bit bollywoodish here but hey, no one cross me nor my bro

The worth of an apology..

2010-04-28T21:16:00.000+08:00

I went brawling with fate, yet again, last week. I nearly ditched my professional life into sticky situation that (as most of my colleagues would say, was avoidable) trampled my boss's trust and confidence in me. I nearly lost it when all the actions I've taken in the name of improving the overall discipline among my pupils were taken as hostile. What good am I as a disciplinary teacher if I could not carry out my duties? Heck, there was two or three circulars from the Ministry supporting my actions but as we all know, parents will be parents (sigh)

I was immediately in the line of indictment when I solemnly executed my punishment to that particular hooligan (my HM said it was all within regulations). I was bounded by that fact, but however, unknowingly, the punishment I gave resulted with some troubling marks and bruises (which really made the boy's parents unhappy)
God, only God knew how intimidating it was when you were told that the father would pursue this matter to the Ministry. I was all prepared to make myself clear with the decision I made, in justification with the boy's deliberate characterization which was against the school regulations. Then, it struck me; why not apologize?
I knew that my school would back me up, but clearly, an apology was all I need to clear things out of my throat and my messed up mind.

Betrayal, aggression, and just plain insensitivity: People can hurt us in a million ways, and forgiveness isn’t always easy. Whether you’ve been cut off in traffic, slighted by your mother-in-law, betrayed by a spouse, or badmouthed by a co-worker, most of us are faced with a variety of situations that we can choose to ruminate over or forgive. But forgiveness, like so many things in life, is easier said than done.
Forgiveness can be a challenge for several reasons. Sometimes forgiveness can be confused with condoning what someone has done to us: “That’s OK. Why not do it again?” Forgiveness can be difficult when the person who wronged us doesn’t seem to deserve our forgiveness -- it’s hard to remember that forgiveness benefits the forgiver more than the one who is forgiven. Ultimately, forgiveness is especially challenging because it’s hard to let go of what’s happened. However, it’s important to let go and forgive.

So, to sum it up, forgiveness is good for your body, your relationships, and your place in the world. That’s reason enough to convince virtually anyone to do the work of letting go of anger and working on forgiveness.

So I did. I visited the boy's home, talked with his mother and asked for an apology, and personally, forgave what ever his son did prior to the incident. Life. It was never unforgiving...

HaHa

2010-04-16T22:13:00.000+08:00

It was raining cats and dogs, and with the net being a bit sluggish, I decided to recall my passion and long forgotten ambition ~ to become a Pilot. HaHa, I'm living my teaching life comfortably now but thanks to Flight Simulator X, I managed don myself as a pilot, even though I did not fly the real thing. For today's fixture, I'll be flying the B737-300 and land it safely...

My B737-300

Imaginary ATC: Beta Three Seven, you're cleared to descent to FL250.

Me: Affirmative ATC, slow descent to FL250 heading zero zero three decimal one.

Me to imaginary Co-Pilot: Landing Gear Down..

Me to imaginary ATC: Maintaining hold position at FL250

Imaginary ATC: Roger Beta Three Seven. Maintain FL250. You're clear to land at Romeo Two Seven Left when ready.

Me to imaginary ATC: Roger that, clearing FL250. Initiating landing at Romeo Two Seven Left. Slope Guide on. Cutting throttle to one five.

Imaginary ATC: Beta Three Seven, you're coming in too fast..

Me: ANU (Airplane Nose Up) angle is banked at forty five degrees. Please advise.

Computer on cockpit: Pull Up...Pull Up..Pull Up..

Imaginary ATC: Trim your elevators, set to FL150 mark zero seven seven decimal one, bank left and make another attempt to land..

Me: Roger ATC (Computer voice: Steep Angle...Pull Up..Pull Up..Pull Up..) shit....

Imaginary ATC: Beta Three Seven, your descend angle is high, please be advised for possible tail strike...

At this point...I was already dead with the rest of my passengers... : p The moral of the story is; I make one lousy pilot HaHa

Regrets?

2010-04-16T21:29:00.000+08:00

This post is dedicated to my ever dearest baby brother cum cousin for his exemplary act of decision-making. Not only he screwed so bad, his decisions are now haunting him back.

One standing ovation my dear bro.

It all started when he came back late from school one day. I was there with his mom and dad, chatting the afternoon away. As he came, dear old dad asked why he came late, and he fumingly told it's because of the darn car he had chartered. Not only the driver came late, she was ultimately not a punctual driver. My bro told his dad that if this continues, he would not wait and just hitch for a bus ride home. His dad shoved to him some crude advice. Being a hard headed noob, he went straight to his father's face and rebutted the old man. A little fight soon ensues, with my everdearest cousin made a quick flight to his aunt's house nearby, naturally because he knew it all to well whatever we grownups said is true and he has been menegakkan benang basah. But No one anticipated that he would do the most stupidest thing in his living world..

By self-transferring himself to the lowest ranked school in Keningau

Yes, self-transferring. The art of DIY school transfer, all in the noble cause of 'saya tidak mau kasi susah² daddy, mummy sama abang.." Fark, they should've security clearance before administering the transfer for pete's sake.

And now, less than a week he's been in that darn school, he's about to be bashed out of his daylights by the local school gangster,and no doubt, it's all because of girls. As a teacher I knew this school all to well ~ I just hope my bro's gonna make it to the end of this year.

Okay, the truth is, I would like to see him bashed out so that he would listen to me and his folks next time AND NOT going about making major decisions for himself. Of course, I would not be hoping for anything bad to happen, but his badly bruised ego would do me justice.

So that he would not cross me out anymore anytime in the future.

Way Odd ^^

2010-04-06T22:59:00.000+08:00

Don't Do Drugs, it shrinks your brain and makes you go loco, yes..agreed. Don't shoplift, or you would end up with a hollowed ass hole ^^ Agreed? Haha..

How Not To Be A DoorMat

2010-04-03T10:41:00.001+08:00

Not everyone is a doormat. In life, there are some givers and some takers. Unfortunately, some givers give so much of themselves people will take advantage of them and they will become doormats. Usually, it's not intentional on either part, but it does happen.

If you haven't experienced a totally fulfilling Life in your Personal, Business, and Professional Life, you maybe letting others take advantage of you. This is known as the 'Doormat Syndrome' because you are allowing too many people to walk over you. Those that develop this syndrome usually bring it on themselves.

Why do I say they bring it on themselves? I say this because people can only do what you what you allow them to do. Those that become a Doormat for others usually cause it because they are a little too nice, don't want to hurt others feelings or are afraid to speak up for themselves. It really is just that simple.

So, how do we as individuals combat this Doormat Syndrome? Well, first off, you need to start visualizing yourself as a strong and courageous person that doesn't take crap from no one. It is important to note that you can still be respectful. If you need help on this, see my Visualization post for help visualizing yourself for the result you want.
What are some of the ways that you possibly portray the Doormat Syndrome? A few examples could include:

(1) You are constantly lending money to people and lack the courage to say No

(2) People bombard you with orders throughout the day when you know there are other things you must get accomplished.

(3) People are constantly taking advantage of you in one form or another.

As you can see, there are no real advantages to being a doormat. Build yourself up, assert your own authority and show that you cannot be used as a doormat. Respectfully show others that you are in no position to be taken advantage of and they will reciprocate the respect you deserve.

Selamat Malam

2010-04-03T09:50:00.000+08:00

Biarkan berlalu
Semua kepedihanmu
Lelapkan matamu
Biarkan mimpi membawamu
Ke mana kau mahu
Selamat malam
Tidurlah sayangku
Siang kan tiba bercahaya
Bermula baru semua untukmu

Biarkan berlabuh tirai kisah semalam
Yang indah itu ada padamu
Dengan setiap impian dan harapan
Selamat malam
Tidurlah sayangku
Siangkan tiba bercahaya
Bermula baru semua untukmu

Kan ku menjadi arjuna dalam mimpi-mimpimu
Kan ku panah tepat ke jiwamu atas nama cintaku
Pari-pari ku utus bawa kau ke sini lagi
Terhapus semua air mata dengan senyuman

Selamat malam sayang
Selamat malam kasih
Selamat malam sayang
Woooo...

Selamat malam sayang
Selamat malam kasih
Selamat malam sayang
Woooo...
Tidurlah sayangku
Siangkan tiba bercahaya
Bermula baru semua untukmu

Selamat malam
Tidurlah sayangku

Lirik Selamat Malam - Faizal Tahir

"The" Moment

2010-04-01T20:26:00.000+08:00

For the rest of the people who knew me, I'm an easy going person who seldom goes ballistic and really showing it publicly. Yes, that's me. Some of my buds would say how on earth did I got to control the temperamental side of me, since it was obvious when (on some very,very rare moments) I went all hell got loose with my kids at school. It'll take great self control and sacrifice, yeah, when your ego is at stake, as any men would do they would rather charge forward than backing up. I was able to maintain my coolness so to speak, and maintain it I did.

But then, at the last staff meeting, I decided to let go....

To say I'm proud of it, no, there is no way that I am proud of it. But there's that thin line where mutual respect and logic is well separated with sheer emotions. Sometimes, mostly at wobbly situation, I would rather shut my mouth and keep my silence till the entire ordeal is done and over with.

But then, at the last staff meeting, I decided to let go....

I don't have to close my eyes and carefully select my words to convey how and what I feel then; with one deep breath, I just let it go, and instead of giving my thoughts any chances to reevaluate the consequences, I just let my heart do all the talking..

I don't want to repeat it here what I've said during that meeting, I know some of my friends would sniff out this blog of mine later on, so I'll keep that to myself.

" Daras juga cakap ko Mervyn...Tapi sa salute ko juga la..ngam juga ko cakap macam tu..." a friend of mine later smsed me...

I don't know how will I endure the entire week next week..but I'll survive

Urgh! When Life's but a total mess...

2010-03-14T09:53:00.001+08:00

I like to blame my workload when it comes to how messed up my personal life is. It's easy and worked out charmingly. Things gone terribly wrong and voila, with one go I would say ' God, I think it's because of the work I've been through all this week. I'm sorry, I'll make it up for you"...

But not this time

I've seen others around me with lives so cranked up with deep shit that they would rather die. I've seen people went loco because ah!yes, the problem just wouldn't go away. But never will I place myself in between those categories. Just want to say, I'm fashionably messed up. First and foremost, I would like to convey my eternal thanks to my never ending workload (see, I did it again...) for messing up my life. Next, to those insignificant others who'd been making ho hums, gyrating gossips and twisting facts ( and to the disgrace of all men, I've finally met 'gossip guy' who is fucking straight but had a mouth of a whore). I'm virtually shouting for a make over. And so, after all those noodling around, I will resolve to this:

1. Forget that pesky gossip guy who said he's Adonis but as a matter of fact he's like a cheap hooker with issues.

2. Organize my entire life starting from A to Z including getting all those laundry done, shirts well pressed, books eccentrically arranged, bedroom sparkling clean, catch up with the whole week of Lesson Plan ( I went for the Interior Athletics Championship so that is one good excuse), my pre-semester test, Jadual Waktu Induk, yadda,yadda,yadda...Argh!! Hell! Back to square one.

3. I really need a booze right now..

= All messed up and no one to choke = (*.sigh)

Head Coach, You're Jerk!! Be Gone!!

2010-02-19T16:45:00.000+08:00

I know it's Lent, and it is when your local parish would sa 'be nice and kind to each other..' But, Life is with exceptions, and ultimately this is my not so usual rambling about oh! how nice you've been and still people stumps you right on your ass. Why do you have to be so sweet and nice and at the end people would just shove you under the doormat and steps on you like you're goner? Like, I'm gonna ask how fair is life? save me from that complexity and yes, my Head Coach is an Uncredible Jerk. I'll just put it straight out.

Never in my professional life that I've been treated to such a lowly, undignified 'Team Work" where you do the dirty work and your so called HC sits comfortably under the shades with a few of his cronies and made some very,very serious judgment on your otherwise flawless capabilities. The sight of his bloated belly in tight belly hugging cheap shirt wearing cheap tracksuits and those cheap pair of shoes which weren't even meant for athletics training while blabbering rubbish instantly landed him the Ugliest Jerk in my List of Jerks. He's the Head Coach,yes, as most teachers would recognize him to be, but for me, he's the Head Cocksucker, a low land gorilla with a small prick to match with his jerkiness. My say is, Never EVER pass your judgment on me you JERK when you yourself FAILED to complete your own work right away from the start!!

Yes HC, You're THAT Uncredible Jerk

~ I feel a lot better now...

Whoa..it has been a while

2010-01-31T18:41:00.000+08:00

Work loads has been taking tolls on my Online privileges, and I'm singing to Arkarna's " So Little Time So Much To Do". 2010 is still dawning on us, so is those tons upon tons of works that needed to be attended and beveled out. And in passion (and burned out skin) I say 'Bravo Provisimo to my Athletics Team (though I can honestly say, with respect to the boys and girls from the 80m hurdles, long and high jump events) my boys from the 100m and 200m events SUCKS BIG TIME!!(The rants starts here...) I've been playing along all this while, prepping them up for the Competition, and (upon reaching the Stadium) the first thing those two darn boys did was flirting with the girls aka their sworn competitors ~ IN FRONT OF MY BARE EYES!!! Yes, I've been accumulating this anger for some time and I have decided to go ballistic on them this coming Monday! Yes, they're preadolescence boys whose balls just barely starting to kick off testosterone but THAT IS not THE REASON for screwing up their events. (The rant stops here)..

Together Forever Whatever Nevermind

Tired and Sick Of Everything..

2010-01-16T15:33:00.001+08:00

What is happening to this damn country? You turn on the telly and it’s ringing the same bell. The ‘A’ word, you cannot do this, do that, say this and that. You know what you people (who likes to stir up things and flaming issues beyond proportions) needs the most? A good handjob, a blowjob, and a hard slapping on the cheeks. Sheesh!

Classic!!

2010-01-11T23:34:00.000+08:00

I was gallivanting from my cousins house to another last year and everyone was blaring their brand new sling box (es). From Iphones to Sony Ericsson's latest offerings, each and everyone was like fiddling around with their cells. Seeing this as an opportunity, I raked on their old phones, rummaging on their nifty boxes and most of 'em were like eras before 64Bit pixels color screen but one of my cousins stashed away this baby out from my sight.. well, try again next time hehehehe. It's a classic, discontinued phone model from SE. The W850i. It's a decent phone, with nice sound and a good battery life, so I grabbed it, make a dash out the door only to promise my dear cousin that I'll be giving him a SE Greenheart for his birthday. Dang!! hahahaha.

Peace, The Final Frontier

2010-01-09T14:29:00.000+08:00

Peace. We all seek it. Yet, it eludes us.

Nations go to war, often quoting peace as the reason. We must realize peace is a journey, not an end. Yet, in our efforts to obtain peace, we often do the most unpeaceful things. Instead of seeking inner peace, we seek to enforce peace on others. And that just doesn't work. Peace is a gift you can give to others and to yourself.
If you seek peace with a sincere heart, you can find it. Sometimes, you need some deep thoughts to bring you to peace. Sometimes, you need thoughts that are not so deep. Sometimes, just a good book dealing with the topic of peace is exactly what you need.
If you are looking for such a good book on peace, try Peace Works, by peaceful author Cinthea T. Coleman. This illustrated, entertaining book will help you on your journey of peace. Even the price is peaceful, so buy the book and be on your way toward an existence that is both more peaceful and more joyous.
You can find peace, even though peace is elusive. But, you have to know where to look.

Peace tips

Here are some tips on finding peace within yourself:

Read inspirational books, such as Peace Works.
Realize you cannot control every event in your life.
Organize your life in ways that reduce stress, rushing around, or forgetting things.
Behave with integrity, so you never have to look over your shoulder.
Make a "peace appointment" with yourself once a week, and write down those items and events that most threaten your sense of peace. Make an action list for resolving the top three.
Realize that most events are simply not worth worrying about or being upset about.
When you are worried about something, write down the worst thing that can happen. Then write down the most likely thing to happen. Cross out the worst thing and focus on the most likely thing.
When something upsets you, ask yourself if it is really that important.
When something upsets you, ask what you could do differently in the future. For example, if someone cuts you off in traffic, could you have left yourself more room or gone a less-traveled route?
Look for the positive part of a negative event.
If someone insults you, recognize that is only one person's opinion, and you are not obligated to refute it or insult that person back.
Recognize that each person is special in some way. You are special. You have gifts and interests that make you a worthwhile human being.
Accept that some people will like you, and some will not. Accept that some people will love you, and some will not.
Accept failings in other people. Nobody is perfect.
Accept failings in yourself. Nobody is perfect.
Live to your own expectations, not those of other people.
Meditate on peace, once a day. Fill your mind with thoughts of peace, and it will direct you toward peace. If you need help with such thoughts, get a copy of Peace Works to help you on your journey of peace.

1st Week Recap

2010-01-09T13:51:00.000+08:00

It's the first week of January, and this is my 1st blog for this week. It has been a long, arduous week with workloads piling high, expectations to be met, kids and their never ending antics and of course, my life, which has been spinning around over personal matters which, to my dismay, is getting a bit off hand..hrmm..
Anyways, speaking of which, New Year Resolutions., you may ask? I've got a few, but in order to achieve it, I've to double back and start new. My professional life is no exception, but I must give myself a cheers, cause, I may say, It was a good starting, to begin with this roaring year of the tiger. How I wish I could say the same thing about my personal life though..hrmm.. needless to say, I faired better when I was alone, I mean, handling my life all by myself IS tedious, complex and mind boggling process (to my folks at least) but, I'm okay. I have now yet to decide, whether all my efforts all this past four years to this person I've loved most is worth it. I've a lot to lose, but if that is the only way to clean up my life, start new and move forward, by all means I'll do it. If it is indeed a time for me to turn a new leaf, then let it be. I'll not straddle myself on the rocky shores of life and cry in vain when everything went horribly wrong. That ain't me..

So I'll say hola to 2010, I hope it'll yield the best out of me.

Nota Editor: Happy New Year 2010...

2009-12-30T01:40:00.001+08:00

Hi all,
Pertama sekali, Selamat Menyambut Tahun Baru 2010. Sesungguhnya kehadiran 2010 pasti menyapa makna disebalik kehidupan bekerja kita, mahupun kehidupan seharian yang dilalui. Apapun biarlah langkah pertama kita pada tahun baru ini kita mulakan dengan semangat yang luar biasa. Keluarkanlah segala kelebihan diri, dan rebutlah segala peluang yang tebentang dihadapan mata. Setahun berlalu tidak terasa berlalunya. Marilah bersama kita mulakan langkah baharu dalam apa jua keadaan, dan kita teruskan tanpa sekelumitpun rasa ragu. 2010 tidak sama seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya, kerana jika semalam kegembiraan mengiringi setiap langkah kita, janganlah pula kita menempelak pada diri kerana laluan yang menanti ditahun baru ini tidak seperti yang diharapkan. 2010 lain iramanya, malah badai yang bakal melanda lebih kuat dan memerlukan kita cukup bersedia secara fizikal dan mental.

Bagi rakan-rakan seperjuangan, terima kasih kerana telah bersama-sama saya mengharungi ranjau dan liku kehidupan sebagai seorang pendidik. Tidaklah pula kehidupan sebagai guru ini sesenang seperti titipan kata ramai orang, tetapi dengan hadirnya kalian, ianya tidaklah seberat mana yang disangka. Dengan Izin Tuhan, setiap kejayaan yang diraikan sebelum ini, akan kita teruskan lagi pada Tahun 2010 nanti. Dengan kudrat yang ada, marilah kita memiliki 2010 ini dan menghiasinya dengan segala sesuatu yang baik.

To you all insignificant others mengimpikan akan jatuhnya saya, dan mereka yang acapkali meniti cerita-cerita basi mengenai saya, Selamat saya ucapkan. Semoga tahun ini akan membawa pengertian besar pada kalian bahawa saya tidak akan jatuh, atau meratapi kekalahan saya, kerana saya akan teguh berdiri. Walaupun kalian boleh terus dan terus mengata, saya tetap akan menelusuri tahun baru ini dengan gembira sekali. Dipenghujung tahun nanti, saya pasti akan tersenyum pada kalian.

Akhir kata, kepada rakan² Bloggers saya, Elsa, Daniel, Amanda dan AJ, keep up the good work guys. Anda merupakan ilham saya untuk terus blogging sehingga ke hari ini.

Happy New Year 2010

Master Mervyn ~ Life's A Wink®

Ding A Ding Ding...Ho Ho Ho..Merry Christmas Fellas

2009-12-26T15:50:00.000+08:00

Ho Ho Ho..Tis' is a season to be Jolly tralalalala....lalalala.. Poor Santa, he had been going around the globe at warp speed leaving a horny Mrs.Santa all alone at home. Well, Christmas is for loving and cherishing love, so who would blame Santa as he lies on the table, wasted, semi naked with a semi-hard dick. That must be one hell of a quickie he got hahaha.. I mean, look how worn out he was ^_^ Merry Christmas Fellas, Have a Blessed Days ahead ~wink~

New Year Countdown...

2009-12-26T15:20:00.000+08:00

Christmas is still in the air. People are still going about visiting friends, stuffing themselves, patting their tummies, saying thanks and off to the next house. So is the typical Malaysian open house scenario. Being today is Boxing Day, I've decided to lay off some of my galavantings and settle down on the couch, watching some corny telly programmes while blogging. Time and Tide waits for no man, for sure, because as soon as next week's over and done with, it's time to go to school and another New Year's calling for us people humby called upon as Teachers. As I dig into a jar of mom's choclate cookies and sipping on a glass of cold soy bean drink (and fiddling on my netbook in between) I've come to realise that it's that time of the year again..making resolutions and (on most cases, trying in vain) to fulfill it. What would my resolutions be? It's a tricky question to tackle, since almost all of my New Year's Resolution was (as a Malay saying goes..) sekadar berbunga dimulut... I want to do this, I want to do that, this and that, this and that and the list goes on and on..and at the end of the day, I would come to realise that I have let my fate to just go along with what had God planned on to me. But seriously, I really need doing that resolution thingie again for 2010 and (hopefully) I'll be able to accomplish some of it if not all. It's 2010, It's a New Year and I'll make it MY YEAR ~wink~

That " I Hate It" Moment In Your Life

2009-12-18T02:06:00.000+08:00

Have you been into any situations that you've wished you would have said DUH! straight off to the face of that someone in front of you? Yup, it's annoying and God forbids, I really hate when I'm caught in one of those situations. I remembered well enough one such incident so here goes...

So, okay. You have to stand in front of a large audience comprising of teachers who are newbies to anything (and in most cases, everything) computers. Well, that is why MOE appointed us to give courses as to enlighten our future currently-teaching- teachers that ten years from now, you'll be warping in and out from your classroom~NOT. I mean, we are benefitting whatever technology is offering to us. So is our purpose there...until....interrupción...

Me:(about to end my slot...) So teachers, please ensure that you abide by the rules of CASPER in producing your teaching presentations using Microsoft Powerpoint and...interrumpido

T1: I have a question, supposed that I have and IDE SATA Harddrive and I want to hook it on my Socket 7 motherboard, are there any jumpers that I should be setting on and off

Me(looking at the rest of the team): They shrugged and all eyes rolling up...

Me: Sir, if you don't mind..let me finish with my slot first...

T1: Nooo...I'm using Windows XP SP2 and I cannot install my IDE SATA HDD..do I need to use different connection cable?

Me ( pre-annoyed): Sir, please. (okay, God said be kind to old people...)... you should update your Windows XP to SP3 and change your BIOS setting from AHCI to IDE before installing the hard drive..

By now my audience is all eyes to this particular fella...

T1: My setting says that it has been already turn to IDE automatically by default.

Me: So it is turn to on by default, then plug it in, install it lah... (still pre-annoyed)

T1: That's I'm asking you, how to troubleshoot this....

My officers are glaring at me, and oh! how their eyes are sooo saying to me "skip this guy and just finish the farking slot" so I did... cut off eye contact with the subject and continued my presentation..then..

T1: Cikgu, you have not answered my question yet.... and just when I'm about to boil out he said

T1: What to do lorr, the HDD sudah hangkang.... and he laughed and sneered and his not-so-sporting friend told me later on that he said I was crappy, not well versed and itu pun dia tidak tau ka....... Now, that's the pinnacle of my annoyance to this particular piece of shit...

And after lots and lots of complaints about this particular fella's antics, I went hell all loose on him over the next slot.

Me: Ladies and Gents cikgu2 semua, today I'll be explaining to you the basic maintenance of your school laptops AND PLEASE TO THE TEACHER, MR.....FROM SK.......IF YOU LIKE IT SO MUCH SITTING AROUND ANNOYING THE JURULATIH UTAMA OR OTHER CPs' PLEASE, MAKE HEED THAT YOU MAY AS WELL RETURN TO YOUR SCHOOL AND DO NOT ATTEND THE REMAINING 5 DAYS OF THIS COURSE AND I REPEAT..DO NOT ATTEND THIS COURSE!!

And he did..that pathetic man did not return....

Sizzling Stresses and What’s Not..

2009-12-14T20:48:00.001+08:00

Holidays is a bliss. No work to do, no calls, no nothing. It was supposedly a quiet time time where you enjoy your favorite books, eat to your heart’s content, and be blissful and feel blessed..NOT!! Now, not that I’m lamenting or throwing rabid tantrums or such sort, but I am somehow missing the essence of my entire holiday. My holiday, as Armanda Christie would coin it, was a total craptastic endeavor one after another. In fact, my holidays started with an emotional scars and bruises and up to this point the spirit of Felize Navidad failed in materialize in me despite the 200+ Christmas songs I’ve been spinning all day through.Why? Why am I looking forward to go back to school? Why am I so eager to start off my class? Why did not the Christmasey feeling sets in to perk me off? As I would say off again and again, after tumbling down and all flattered with the moods, yep, here I am saying it again My holiday totally rots on me ~sigh~

Blog with Windows Live Writer

2009-12-11T23:49:00.001+08:00

Oh this is so nice. Now I can actually do my blogging without the need to go to the dashboard and clicking ‘New Post’. Hmm, how intuitive Microsoft is. Well, I guess there’s a lot of people who have known this and you may say I’m old school, but hey, who had never thought you can use Live Writer to write your blog, I mean, it’s Microsoft we’re talking here and sharing technology is not among their best attributes. So I guess, so long the strenuous days of logging in and hitting the dashboard button and hello simplified blogging. Live® is good : )

Windows 7 - The Review

2009-12-11T02:14:00.000+08:00

It has been always the hardest choice for me when it comes to choosing OSes for my netbook, notebook or PC. It's like searching for the ultimate best from the offerings Microsoft have to give. My best bet was Windows XP but since Microsoft would be discontinuing their support for XP later in 2010 so I guess well, this is it..it has always to be either Vista or Ubuntu. You people may as well say ' Just get the fark out and choose any of those two" but unfortunately, it does not work that way for me... Just like any car aficionados that would pump up thousands of Ringgits just to make sure that their ride(s) has the torque, the speed and agility whilst pimping out the bodywork so that it would stand out from the rest of the crowd, well, the same thing applies when it comes to me and my eccentricity towards OSes and my gadgets. Based on my experiences in coaching teachers on Technology all these years, I could really see that most of them would just buy a laptop and let hell loose inside. I mean, this was the moment when I coined the term Penternak Virus Berjaya since they're so negligent in keeping those expensive lappies healthy and fit (and virus free of course). In my ultimate search for a x86 perfection, I finally ruled out Ubuntu and opted Windows 7 instead. So many would ask, What's so farking good with Windows 7? Sure it looks like Windows Vista on steroids but you've got to see it (install it first) then only you could feel it. To keep things simple, here's what many people would think ~

7 is faster than Vista, and in most cases, faster than XP.
7 has a lot of new and very nice features that aren't in other versions.
7 looks nice, is designed for touchscreen interaction (everything is larger by default)
7 is fully compatible with Vista (uses the same kernel)
7 has compatibility mode with XP SP3 & Vista SP2.
7 is not easily upgraded from XP, it's the same process as XP to Vista

So, enuff said hehe : )

Reminiscing My Christmas Memories

2009-12-10T01:01:00.003+08:00

Day: Thursday, 10 December 2009 Time: 0022 Hours

This was the 6th conspicuous attempt in installing a decent, non-memory hogging anti-virus on my poor netbook. And on each and every attempts I've made, everything went square one and I've to start over again. While waiting in anticipation for my copy of Windows 7 which I'm so eager to try, I went through doing my routines on my main PC. It was just some dull routine. Downloading updates and degunking my PC. That kind of stuff. So went some Old edited music, some depressing songs I'd used to torture myself back then into my Recycle Bin, and a folder of some nameless files..so I thought. What was it? Like a complete dud, I wondered myself...

It was yet another collection went MIA in my 500GB Hard Drive. Without hesitation, I went on double clicking on it and voila... it was some Christmas song stashed away in the belly of my PC. Looking exasperatingly at my netbook, I decided to just lay down and stretch out after straining myself for a few hours back to back. How nice,the Old Christmasey music, from instrumental pieces to golden oldies.. God, suddenly an avalanche of memories from my fondest past came like a giant tsunami on me and how I missed those old care free days.. Where I would have fun and fool around with my cousins and kins like it's forever (and) looking at the stars glistening in the sky above (for real, Christmas was so not a monsoon affair years ago..unlike now...) Since it's the second week of advent. I felt compelled to share with you guys and on behalf of my fondest Christmas yesteryears

"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…

It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Seek That Which Is Above,1986

Happy Advent guys and girls and everyone in between =)

If Only I Could Turn Back Time...

2009-12-05T22:49:00.000+08:00

The past three weeks has been quite a hell to me. Just as I thought that it was all clear horizon for me to just space out myself for the rest of the holidays, an unseeingly endless predicaments brewed up. And I was never that good in handling my own emotion. What started as a good intention was soon turning into ugly state of affair and there I was, trapped, in the midst of it all. As soon as the spark started, I began to trade barbs with the other one, closing my eyes and letting my egoistical self loose,heedless of what the consequence would be. Without thinking much, anger looms, and the brisance of it envelopes into a much complicated event... As a man I am, I sincerely acknowledged my mistakes of having such presumptuous impression of the other one. An action that have caused me dearly. It did not clarify anything. It opened wounds and as I was trying in vain of clearing the mess I've done, it was like pouring salt onto it. Without knowing, I've hurted the one I loved and cherished so much, to the point that there seems to be no more hope. But I know, I am hoping that this hurting would ease and heal by itself. This would serve as a bitter lesson for me; words are mightier than any swords. So I've learned, and I'll keep my mouth shut.

Does The World 'Really' Ends In 2012?

2009-12-04T23:53:00.000+08:00

Here's another hype in Tinseltown. A movie that gauges people to believe, up to the point that my inbox was filled with callings to this particular year. 2012. or 23rd of December 2012 to be exact. People were saying that the world is definitely going to end on the exact time and date of that year. My question is, will it be the planet's final curtain in 2012? Are we now counting days and second to the 'End'? I'll not be reviewing the movie yet, but let's put it to an open discussion. Why 2012? The 2012 commotion spawned from an ancient Mayan calendar that shows significantly when (exactly) the world ends. Do we have to wait for the year 2012AD to see it for real of what would happen to this planet and its annihilation? Many religion, cultures and beliefs out there do affirm on to the fact that the world would end at any time. The question of 'when' is considered out of bound. When exactly the world ends is beyond us. I mean, we've gone through bouts of wars and never ending armed conflicts, diseases and illnesses that kills hundred millions of people, famines and natural disaster that seems to be more frequent in our news lately. And then, out of chaos and mass confusion, here we are mostly saying that the world would end in 2012 without doubting it. But is it for real? I mean, to say the world is going to end in 2012 is quite a short-sighted perspective, just because of some Mayan calendar and Nostradamus being blatantly saying about it. The end of the world is a divine matter. It'll take a divine being like God to usher a divinely end to this not so divine world. Literary speaking, the world has already 'ended' when we had lost our humanity ages ago as we wage our wars and uphold worldly sentiments, mocked religions and abused our planet. So why wait for 2012?

Yesterday and Today

2009-12-04T01:39:00.003+08:00

This is another one of those songs which I would really relate my life with. I do not know the meaning of the lyrics, but I know it is just as good. This reminded me of my pinnacle moments back in 2003/2004 when I was at the peak of my career =)

The song is catchy, clean cut and I really like the sound of the English Horn at the background. Classic.

Pilot of the Airwaves, Hear My Request....

2009-12-04T01:13:00.000+08:00

It is strange when you would listen to some music and those old memories would come cascading on you. I remembered that my childhood revolves around Disney and Sesame Street but this particular country oldies number really jump start my roller coaster ride down memory lane. I don't know whether you guys are even familiar with this song, but I felt compelled to share it with you ^_^

Pilot Of The Airwaves - Charlie Dore

Pilot of the airwaves
Here is my request
You don't have to play it
But I hope you'll do your best
I've been listening to your show on the radio
And you seem like a friend to me

Or a record of your choice
I don't mind
I'd be happy just to hear your voice
Saying this is for the girl
Who didn't sign her name
Yes, she needs a dedication just the same

Late at night I'm still listening
Don't waste my time chasing sleep
People say I look weary
But that 's just the company I keep

Ooooh, you make the nighttime race
Ooooh, I don't need to see your face
You're sounding good (sounding good)
Sounding good to me

Pilot of the airwaves
Here is my request
You don't have to play it
But I hope you'll do your best
I've been listening to your show on the radio
And you seem like a friend to me

[Instrumental Interlude]

Late at night I'm still listening
Don't waste my time chasing sleep
People say I look weary
But that's just the company I keep

Ooooh, you make the nighttime race
Ooooh, I don't need to see your face
You're sounding good (sounding good)
Sounding good to me

Pilot of the airwaves
Here is my request
You don't have to play it
But I hope you'll do your best
I've been listening to your show on the radio
And you seem like a friend to me
(Oooooh, I been) listening to your show on the radio
And you seem like a friend to me

Oooooh-ooooh-oooooh
Oooooh-ooooh-oooooh
Oooooh-ooooh-oooooh
Play that song for me
Oooooh-ooooh-oooooh
Oh, won't you just play that song for me

My Say on The New Moon

2009-12-03T22:42:00.009+08:00

When I went gallivanting with some of my buds yesterday, Something peculiar happened. Instead of swapping stories on their favorite EPL match, they kept talking about this movie from the Twilight Saga, New Moon. Okay, so I thought that I was imagining things but alas. I was totally dumbfounded. Being me a superficially self appointed Trekkie, movies that relates with vampires and werewolves were not my cup of tea. I mean, I've seen American Werewolves in Paris movie and God..it was lame, too pornographic and so tad boring. So what is this fuss about New Moon? So, I decided that I should go around doing some readings on viewers review of this movie. To start off, I went to read Aj Sangkalang's review and my ol' chum said, It's boring!! That does not explain all the ruckus swirling around this movie.. I went all Sherlock Holmes sniffing in and smoking out the facts, stats and everything that concerns this New Moon.Since cinemas are so no-way-to-be-found in Keningau, I opted for the most tiring task of downloading the movie via ThePirateBay . Once that is done and over with, I grabbed my chips, a bottle of coke and logged myself as a self-proclaimed, locally brewed movie critic. 2 Hours 1 Minutes and 12 Seconds later (and New Moon suddenly ends without the EC), and here is what I think ~

1. New Moon is for mushy guys and romantically stricken girls who likes sudden dramatic spikes and read-between-the-lines conversation.

2. It's definitely for Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson die hard fans and wannabes.

3. I would say kudos to the Cullens for keeping their promise to keep the Vampo-Lycean Treaty alive a.k.a truce between the Cullens and the Werewolves.

4. The story line develops quite slow, with less drama, more talk, less action, more confused Bella, a more daring Jacob, more Edward in apparition than in real life, and Alice being a naive but oh so sweet vampire. The climax of the story for me was when Jacob finally revealed his true fluffy self to pale boy Edward (I would really like to see them fight) but that intensity suddenly flops to a mere Jacob exiting the scene and Edward proposing to Bella...so freaking lame.

5. I think the best aspect of this movie is the showing of Jacob and his pack of well built friends morphed into big, fluffy and rabid wolves.

6. Victoria's presence is not only cameo-ish, it really disrupts the story. You know if I'm to co-direct this, I'll add a twist something like this one; Victoria got to Bella, throws her around and as Bella is critically injured and bleeding profusely and Victoria is within seconds of killing her, Jacob and Co. came to the rescue and hunts down the red haired vamp in distress. But you might as well say " that's for the next sequel Eclipse' so don't bother.

7. Jacob should've clawed or bitten Bella so that she has the werewolf factor in her. Then, she would really beg on Edward not to dump her because she smells like a wet dog. And if Bella and Edward eventually lives happily ever after, their daughter should have the vampire-werewolves-human hybrid genes lurking in her thus making her a super two way vampire-werewolf morph swapping chick.

8. This is one movie where you could see vampires walking in broad daylight and werewolves don't need full moon to morph. Count Dracula would be so jealous and so would be the other old school werewolves haha.

9. But again, if so I happen to be the director, I'll just transport Picard and his Away Team to wipe off the Vampires with Tetryon Grenades or Photon Burst or Standard Issued Federation Phaser Rifle or a Phaser. Or simply coerce the Borgs to assimilate the Cullens for all that is worth hahahaha..

Yes, I know it's a rabidly sickening twist of story. Maybe that's why I was never fated to have any opportunities in directing any of my school drama years ago because if so, J.J Abrams and Steven Spielberg may as well hire me hahahahaha...I'm so Jejaka Perasan right now. Nuff Said.

The Cullens vs The Wolves
Overall Rating: 4/5

Christmasey Feelin' Kickin In

2009-12-03T01:39:00.000+08:00

How I love that Christmas feeling
How I treasure its friendly glow
See the way a stranger greets you
Just as though you'd met him Christmases ago
Christmas helps you to remember
To do what other folks hold dear
What a blessed place
the world would be
If we had that Christmas feeling all year

It's that season of the year again.. Bells jingling in the air, shopping complexes spinning off loads of Christmas songs, and you'll see kids and teens alike wearing Santa's hat while walking around the streets. And carolers clad in their tees, hopping from home to home, singing Christmas Carols and fervently wishing the host a happy Christmas to come. Such is the Christmas feeling. The only thing is we don't have snow here (I could imagine how nice it would be, throwing snowballs and all those winter gigs). We have our off season monsoon downpour, which everyone comes to term it as 'Keningau's Snow'.. It's wet, it's cold... definitely.

The Christmas feeling is that of charm, bliss and happiness. There can be no better feeling in this world than being with your loved ones, sipping on hot chocolate and just enjoying life in general. It is the time when people go out Christmas shopping and indulge in getting some of the best gifts for everyone they love. There are also plenty of Christmas decorations that are bought and hung to give a complete festive feeling. Holly, mistletoe, pine trees, stars and candy canes have become popular decorations associated with Christmas and has become representative of the beauty that this season and festival seems to represent.

Popular colors of red and green predominate, with trees of green and Santa red being splashed all round the place. Decorations and lights dot the fringes of the neighborhood and people come together to meet their family and enjoy an amazing celebration. Xmas is a time of merriment and all cultures celebrate it with an equal enthusiasm and fervor. Traditional Christmas feasts differ from country to country but the mood is the same and the feeling of love and sharing is experienced by all.

Shops are replete with a lot of books, toys, and new gifts and items that are enthusiastically bought by everyone to be shared with their favorite people. Everyone has special Christmas memories attached with this amazing season because there are so many wonderful associations with this entire concept of Christmas. Children love it because they have fond loving thoughts about the Santa Claus bringing gifts. Cookies and milk are set in table for Santa to have as he comes on his nightly visit to the little children to leave them their favorite gifts by the fireside.

Pictures, symbols, representations and popular myths have become well associated with the entire concept of Christmas celebration. This much loved day is extremely enjoyed by people from different culture. Lights are put up, and decorations come out of the closet to adorn homes and neighborhoods, it is a wonderful feeling of love, hope and happiness. Cities, sub-urbs, nations –there is not a single community or place which has not been affected by the amazing spirit of Xmas. It is extremely special because it provides a relief of sorts from everyday existence and life that makes everything so complicated. It is often a good idea to take a break from everything complicated and speedy and that is exactly what the season of Christmas provides.

Make your Christmas extremely special by enjoying with people you love, give them a lot of time and take part in fun family activities. Prepare a hearty meal together even if you can’t cook too well! Go out ice skating or building a snowman from the snow, shop till you drop and get hold of all the amazing decorations from the shops, take long drives with people you love at night to enjoy the lights and the festive feel. Try helping others if you want to spread the feel.

How to mend a broken heart...

2009-12-02T23:43:00.000+08:00

Heartbreak is caused by the end of a relationship. It can also be caused when we fail to get a relationship we fervently desire. It can even happen slowly when we realize that we are in a relationship from which all the love has gone. However it happens, after the shock, it takes some time for reality to sink in. Then we experience a welter of feelings. We can be angry, sad, devastated, despairing, distraught, desperate, remorseful, regretful, ashamed, embarrassed. The emotional bombardment is overwhelming.
In the long term, we have a natural way of dealing with these feelings. We have an emotional mechanism that allows us to recover from losses and from pain. If we didn't have it, the whole world would be in mourning forever! Bereavement, parting and suffering are unavoidable parts of our life experience.

L. Joan Allen, MA, co-author of Celebrating Single and Getting Love Right, suggests the following:

Do something for someone else. Volunteer in a soup kitchen, a hospital, a nursing home, or for any other organization that you support. "Giving your time to help someone else helps take your mind off your troubles and makes you feel really good at the end of the day," says Allen.
Pamper yourself with a massage, manicure, fresh flowers, or a weekend getaway to a place you've never explored. (This is not the time to trip down memory lane and stay in that charming B&B you and your ex-beloved once visited!)
Adopt a pet. "Pets give you an unlimited amount of attention and love," says Allen. If you live in an apartment and can't own a pet, then pet sit for friends or volunteer at a local SPCA.
Keep a journal and write down what you learned from the relationship, what your role in the breakup was (even if you're convinced you were blameless, chances are, you weren't -- at least not completely). Write down what you'll avoid in your next relationship. "This should give you a good idea of what your non-negotiables are," Allen says.
Spend time with friends and family who will nurture you and keep you from feeling lonely.
Learn something new. Take a class. Start a hobby.
Think of this time as a new chapter in your life, says Allen. "Explore your passions and make a plan to accomplish a goal ... start a business, go back to school, write a book."

Well, I don't know....

Here's To My Broken Heart

2009-12-02T16:32:00.000+08:00

What's the point of being kind, loving and faithful when it's you who'd suffer at the end ~sigh~

Just plain dumb XD

2009-11-27T17:52:00.000+08:00

I don't know, is it me or is it the world is getting a bit waywardly dumb. I know China was littering with dumb English signposts everywhere prior to Beijing 2008 but the dumbness seems to have rooted into humanity's existence. Here's some dumb warning for a starter....

1. Keep away from children

Little Ones Baby Lotion

2. WARNING: Do not smoke until hair is dry.

Clairol Herbal Essences Maximum Hold Hairspray

3 Final step: “Pull up underwear”.

Unknown Tampons (Ed: you must be kidding me)

4. WARNING: If an amount considerably larger than being used is swallowed, seek professional assistance or contact a poison control center immediately.

Mentadent Dual Action Mouthwash (Ed:What the f..?!!)

5. Do not swallow. In case of ingestion call poison control or hospital.

Listerine Mouthwash

6. Warning! Do not attempt to drive under, over, or through this truck. If you should choose to ignore this warning, good luck and have fun! Do not pass on right side.

On Rear of Big Rig, San Francisco, CA

7. Made in America. Parts from Japan. Assembled in Mexico.

Fender Guitar

8. Do not return used condoms to the manufacturer through the mail.

Ansell Condoms

9. Use for sex only – not to be eaten

Trojan Condoms

10. You cannot save the world!

Power Puff Girls Halloween Costume

Nuff said..~wink~

My Christmas Wishlist

2009-11-27T10:59:00.000+08:00

Okay, so christmas is on the horizon, and there's less than 4 weeks before we anticipate this one major present swapping and party marathon day. I've been thinking, if Santa does exist, he would not have me in his good boys list but let's think global and more capitalized. If indeed I'm so off his list, I'll shove my wishlist to him anyways haha. Here's what I wished I would get on Christmas, not much but Santa would be really stricken out ^_^.. here's goes...

1. Perodua Myvi SE (Metallic Black and fully accesorized)

Okay, so you guys are thinking..WTF?!! I like it by the way haha.

2. Mac iBook G4

This baby has been staying for a while in my wishlist ^_^

3.Olympus E-3

I'm no photography aficinado but I do have taste on

high end photography

4. Sony Ericsson Satio

Don't you just LOVE Sony Ericsson?

Now, these are the 4 things I would like to have for this Christmas and.... hey..Santa...Santaaaa...come back here this instance!!! Are you deaf or sumthin'? Don't play dumb! Saaanta.!!!

Be Good Feel Good

2009-11-23T08:37:00.000+08:00

I woke up this morning after I found myself jilted out in a sudden quick-going fear. I skipped a breath while my heart missed a beat. Is it a nightmare or is it some divine warning that I'm way too far at certain things I did a few days ago..or maybe it's that unconscious guilt building up in me, thus making me feel in this (awkwardly) way..

The truth is..I don't know. Yeah, I've been cursing some people over the net the past few days (those darn people lost their senses in the argument and, unfortunately, so did I) and I find that I'm quite good at shitty talks and cussing at point blank. I felt taken aback, knowing that the cursing and swearing hurts me more than it hurt them. The only thing I said to myself was "what the fuck is going on in my head?"

So, I concocted this Be Good Feel Good kind of "hakuna matata" philosophy to ease myself out. Well, realistically saying, it's a good thought to begin with. "Be good and you'll feel good; to feel good, you must be good".. It's kinda back to back thinking but, I think it'll do just the right magic. Here's the 4 1 1 on the " be good, feel good" thoughts.

Three Ways to Feel Better Now

Reach for your feel-good file and read through it slowly, basking in the accolades you've accumulated there. What? You don't have a feel-good file? Well, it's time to start one. Make a list of every accomplishment of which you're proud. Go back as far as you can recall. From now on, every time someone gives you a compliment or you accomplish something that fills you with pride, put it in your file.
Grab your list of personal values and slowly read through them, acknowledging that someone with this value set is a good person, indeed. What? No personal values list? You guessed it, time to start one. Make a list of every personal characteristic that is very important to you.
Dig out your list of favorite activities, those things you just love to do. Pick one at random and jump into it. If it isn't practical to actually do it, simply daydream about it. Imagine being immersed in this activity and the pleasure you feel whenever you do it. Oops! You don't have this list either? It's time to start a list of everything you really love to do. Go back as far as you can remember. Even the activities you loved as a child have adult versions that will give you just as much pleasure

I crossed my fingers and hope the magic works ^_^ ( taking a big deep breath), now, back to the warzone

A Teacher's Creed

2009-11-10T22:19:00.001+08:00

believe I have been called by God to teach.

I believe in children...young and old...black and white...rich and poor....each in need of learning.

I believe in blackboards, chalk dust, textbooks, and computers for each has a part in imparting knowledge.

I believe the love I give to my students will someday be reflected in their lives.

I believe the gift of teaching is not measured simply by marks, enrollment, or the end of the school year.

It is in the witness I give and the fullness of the life lived by those I teach.

I believe I have the power to lead those in need of learning to the threshold of their own minds.

I believe in my giftedness to use each of the tools available no matter how new or old..for the light of knowledge in the eyes of another is my goal.

I believe teaching is more than tests, diplomas, paperwork, and fundraising.

It is the values I breathe daily into another...slowly.

It is in the faith I share in Jesus...ever changing and growing...never ending.

I believe my success today goes unnoticed...until those I teach and touch can stand alone and say "in my life I have learned..."

I believe if I have taught and touched one person...in God's name...I have used my gift to me justly..and can humbly say...

I believe in teaching....

I AM A TEACHER!!

~Julie McClellan~

**My Thoughts**

Who would've guessed that I would now end up as a teacher. A teacher is indeed a noble profession. I remembered that I got this creed from a friend before I went for my 1st posting and I pasted it on my wall. Everyday after my morning prayers I would read it through, thanking Jesus Christ that I've indeed being endowed with this beautiful profession called teacher. I've endured everyday life with patience, remembering that my first school was so far and out of reach. Living life was not as easy as teaching A,B,C back then. From patience, I came to love my kids. I've always wondered what will become of them for another 20 years from now... Sure, I'll be happy to be able to see them grow up and be something.. a doctor, a lawyer, or even a teacher like me.. I hope to grow old and see a successful doctor or an intelligent lawyer or a charitable businessman and able to say to the person next to me "hey, that's my kid years back at school..." and be proud of it. I'm happy to be what I am now ~ they'll call me 'cikgu' or 'master'.. what ever it is, I'll be their teacher, who'll be wondering, hoping and praying for them..all the time..

p.s: a teacher affects eternity; you'll never know when their influence stops....

Sesame Street~The way I remembered it...

2009-11-08T18:56:00.002+08:00

Here is the end credit roll I used to see all the time during my childhood back in the 80's. Looking back at it makes me mushy all over inside..

This was the latest end credits for Sesame Street. It was sometime around the 90's... Somehow it has lost many of its essence, maybe due to competition from other children's program. I remembered Barney and Friends toppled Sesame Street in ratings around that period..so sad.

Sesame Street and Me...

2009-11-08T15:39:00.000+08:00

" A man landed on the moon; a little weekend music festival mushroomed into Woodstock. And a big yellow bird and his fuzzy friends took up residence on a street where the air is always sweet and the sky is always sunny.

The year 1969 was a busy one for big events, and 40 years later, lots of anniversaries are popping up at the intersection of history and pop culture. But when it comes to stirring whirlwinds of memories and before-and-after reflections, the debut of Sesame Street is at the top of the list. " TOM MAURSTAD, Media Critic

I remembered it all so well. I've always been fascinated by those muppets of all colours and sizes, each with their own distinctive personalities. Most of all, I've always enjoyed the show (and don't mind watching the reruns all over again). It's like Barney or Tigger and Friends for the kids that grew up in this part of the century. But Sesame Street has always been my favorite. Back then, when there was no ASTRO or any cable television, I would sit in front of the telly watching an hour of the show on RTM1 and then switch to RTB (Radio Televisyen Brunei) to watch the rerun of the program. My parents said I caught up with most of the songs the muppet sang ( personally I like Ernie's and Kermit's rendition the best) and at the wee age of four, I started counting with Count Von Count. I remembered chuckling to Grover's antics, and Cookie Monster affection towards anything round in shape (like the letter 'O') where he'll eat up the entire thing when he's out of his regular chocolate chip cookies (so I've noticed) and I even wondered how deep was Oscar's bin, where sometimes his voice echoes inside. This is the show when I first heard of the song "Sing" sang by Luis and Maria in the show, which is later in my life, I got to know that the original singer was actually Karen Carpenter from The Carpenters, and this was the very show that taught me to speak and spell in English. I owed so much to this show for what I am now; I can converse English well today because part of my early learning includes Sesame Street on the menu.

After 40 years, the show still stands. Even though Jim Henson deceased some time during the show's pinnacle moment, it never cracks them down. They've vowed to continue Henson's legacy to this day. Honestly, I cannot imagine living in this world without those muppets and Sesame Street. I've always been their loyal fan, and I am still now. This is no ordinary show. It was intelligently crafted by teachers and educational experts, and they even have their own curriculum. It is an intelligent show, produced by intelligent people, manned by fluffy and colourful and yes, intelligent actors and meant to make kids intelligent along the way. Happy Anniversary Sesame Street.

My God, My Savior, My Salvation

2009-11-08T13:37:00.000+08:00

I spend the entire night yesterday commenting and giving my opinions on a Jesus Christ Hate Group in Facebook. It was filled with people in anguish and in pain, and they blamed God for it. There was also a lot of atheists, mocking and swearing and cussing the faithful of their beloved God. But whatever they may say, it's their say. Their opinion. I love my God, and I'll never forsake Him. I may not be a devout church goer but I knew God is with me. And He shall be with me, forever.

Life's a second back...

2009-11-08T13:16:00.001+08:00

It has been a while since my last post. I've been phasing in and out from my extremely tight and busy schedule. I've been so preoccupied with work, sometimes, I just don't know where to stop.. As soon as I hit my bed, I'll doze off almost immediately. Such is my life. Not only that my skin is getting tanned and burned by the athletics training, sometimes I find it difficult to concentrate to almost, well, everything in hand.

I celebrated my 29th birthday last friday. Since it's a working day, so just like all my birthdays before, I celebrated it in the field, with my pupils. Theonly exception was that there were no Birthday Cake and no post party bash. I was there, running in my glorified 29th year of living, with my kids.

I was resting in the canteen drinking some juice when my phone rang. It was mum. I thought she had forgotten that it was my birthday that day. Here's what she said

Mum: Are you still training on the field?

Me: No, I'm resting now. I'll continue my training afterwards

Mum: Okay, you don't go about and do vigorous training ah. You might injure yourself.

Me: Okay mum.

Mum: And happy Birthday... Mummy loves you so much....

Me: (a moment of silence)..Thanks Mum. I love you too.... But why didn't daddy called me up? (Initially I though he had forgotten his dear son's birthday)

Mum: He'll call you up later. Okay, I've to go to work now. Have a nice day.

p.s: mum, we never agreed on almost anything but one thing for sure, I love you soo much.

At around 3pm, my dad rang me up..

Dad: Are you still at school?

Me: No Dad, I'm going to kily's place. We're doing some assignments together. Why?

Dad: Just want to say happy birthday to you. Sorry, I did not forget about your birthday. It's just that I was too busy with work lately and have to go to office early.

Me: It's understandable dad, no worry there..

Dad: Mum phoned me just now, she thought I've completely forgotten 'bout your birthday. I didn't. Anyways happy birthday. Have a nice day.

p.s: Mum and Dad; I love both of you soo much

Later in the evening, as I came home from my friend's house, I was hugged by my youngest brother. He never did that to me, and my sister gives me a peck on my cheeks. Looking around me, I've realised that my siblings are all grown ups now, and they lead a wonderful life, each to his/her own. But the essence of being a family never tarnished, despite all of us are 24/7 working professionals..and that was the best birthday gift I've ever had.

Ask Yourself These Questions...

2009-11-01T13:53:00.000+08:00

I love reading lists of things to do before you die, but after reading several of these lists, I’ve realized that each list is a very personal thing. It can only apply to the writer of the list, and not to all human beings in general. No such list can do that.

And think about this: if you’re trying to follow a list of things to do before you die … trying to check things off the list, just to say you’ve done it … what’s the point, really? To be able to tell people you’ve done it? To follow the life prescription of some writer?

I won’t try to tell you what to do before you die … but I will suggest some questions to figure out how to live … right now. Each and every day.

Because you never know how much time you have left, and trying to cram a list of things into that unknown time can be futile. Instead, live every day to the fullest. Get the most out of life.

1. Who do I love, and what am I doing about it? When someone dies, you realize that you never know how much time you have with the people you love. They can go at any time — as can you. And so you must make the most of this time. If you aren’t spending time with the people you love, change that. If you are holding a grudge against a family member, let it go and reconcile. If you’ve done something to hurt a loved one, ask for forgiveness. Drop the pride, and make up. If you haven’t seen someone in awhile, call them now to set up a date.

2. Am I pursuing my dream, or is fear stopping me? What have you always wanted to do? Maybe something you dreamed of as a child but have given up as unrealistic? Maybe something you still want to do but are afraid of failing? What fears are stopping you? And what would be the worst that could happen if you overcame those fears and pursued your dream?
If you’re already pursuing your dream, pat yourself on the back. You’re doing awesome!

3. Am I doing something that matters? There’s a difference between doing work, and doing work that really matters. Much of the time, we use up the few days we have on this earth with busy-work, stuff that doesn’t make much difference, and that’s sadly a waste of our lives. Recently on Dumb Little Man, writer Ali Hale suggested you ask yourself, “Will this matter in five years?” I think this is a great question. It helps you distinguish between trivial busy-work that will take up all of your time but not matter in a few years, and tasks and projects and goals with high impact that will make a difference, in your career, in your life, in the lives of others.

4. What am I doing to help others? Kind of ironically, you get the most out of life not just by taking what you can for yourself, but by giving to others. What have you done lately to help people out? Have you been kind to people? Have you been compassionate? Have you been there for anyone? Listened? Volunteered for those in need? If you’re not doing anything to help others, this is a good time to figure out one thing you can do for someone, and put it into action. Ask this question on a regular basis, and you’ll make kindness a habit.

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – Albert Einstein

5. Am I as good a person as I want to be? I ask this of myself all the time. Sometimes, when I’m impatient or selfish or less-than-helpful, I think back on what I’ve said and done and realize that I could have done better. Instead of beating myself up about it, I endeavor to try harder, to remember to allow my better angels to guide me, to rise above the trivialities of life to a higher plane. It’s not easy to be a good person, at least not all of the time. It’s easier to be selfish, without thinking about it. But is that how you want to be remembered? Is that how you want to live your life? Give it some thought, and act accordingly.

6. What am I doing to live life with passion, health and energy? You can do all the right things, and yet live a life that’s dull and sluggish. If you let your health go, you will have little energy and you will waste the minutes you have left on illness. Instead, learn to live a healthy life, with good foods and exercise. This will lead to more energy in your life. And then direct that energy into something you’re passionate about. If you haven’t found that passion (or passions), start looking. You’ll thank me. :)

“We are always getting ready to live but never living.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do I? Do I? I Don't Think So....

2009-10-31T21:53:00.000+08:00

Facebook users beware. Psychologists are now probing a new kind of addiction called Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD). Psychologist Dr. Michael Fenichel, who has published numerous writings on FAD online, describes it as a situation in which Facebook usage "overtakes" daily activities like waking up, getting dressed, using the telephone, or checking e-mail.

"The amazing thing is that, like cellphones, nobody seems to notice the vast amount of time and energy - at work, at home, and now while on the move - people are devoting to Facebook. It has become a given," Fenichel writes in an online post titled "Facebook Addiction Disorder- A New Challenge?"

FAD could be classified under the more broad "internet addiction disorder" or internet overuse.
Academic papers have already posed theories on internet addiction and social networking addiction, and even less, cellphone addiction. "Like most activities, moderation and integration are key. Those that may seriously label and treat FAD as a behavioral addiction will clearly need to use context in determining if a behavior has become demonstrably harmful to overall social, work, or face-to-face interpersonal efficacy," Fenichel added.

You are a Facebook addict if...

According to Joanna Lipari, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles who was interviewed for a CNN report, here are some signs that you are addicted to Facebook:

1. You lose sleep over Facebook. When using Facebook becomes a compulsion and you spend entire nights logged on to the site, causing you to become tired the next day.

2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook. Lipari said it is difficult to define how much is too much when it comes to Facebook usage, but that an average person need only spend half an hour on the site.

3. You become obsessed with old loves or exes you reconnect with on Facebook.

4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook. This means you do not do your job in order to sneak time on Facebook.

5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in cold sweat. If you try going a day without Facebook and it causes you stress and anxiety, this means you need help.

According to the same report by Elizabeth Cohen, Senior CNN Medical Correspondent, Facebook addiction is not yet an actual medical diagnosis.
However, the report notes that several therapists in the United States have noticed a rise in the number of clients who get hooked on social networking, to the point of social dysfunction.

Facebook fun
Facebook, launched by the world's youngest billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, has over 300 million users worldwide, half of whom log on to the site every day.
Further, about 2 billion photos and 14 million videos are uploaded on various Facebook pages a month and about 6 billion minutes are spent on Facebook a day, worldwide.
According to Willis Wee, founder of the social media and marketing blog Penn-Olson.com, this is twice as much time that people spend on Google.

The global social networking website allows users to post and share content (like photos, links, videos, and notes), play casual games and applications, and interact with friends and family through messaging and chat.

Rain,Rain,Rain

2009-10-31T14:07:00.001+08:00

A peek through my bedroom windows.. dark clouds converging on the horizon...it's gonna rain again soon

Today's like no ordinary Friday..

2009-10-30T22:05:00.000+08:00

I woke up this morning at around 5.45am. Since everyone at home is all early birds, you have to be virtually fighting for the bathroom queues. As I waited for my turn, I took some extra minutes to go through the net, posting and replying on my Facebook and listen to some music. Since I've finished with our school plan yesterday, I took some liberty of going through it again before submitting it to our Headmistress. Hopefully the Ministry of Education's Schools Division would accept our proposal for the addition of another two blocks of building by next year. I saw my planner lying around the table... bath first, I said to myself..

All done and over with, after a "tummy full" breakfast with my folks and siblings, I lazily drove my Toyota Unser to school. I mean, it's gloomy, it's cold and all I can think about this friday was sleeping around killing the hours. I saw my planner again, on the passengers seat. Nope, maybe later, I'm driving. I told myself so.

I arrived at school, only 3 minutes late. But it's okay, at least for today, since we were having the launching of 1MRP around 8.30am and everyone was busy moving around doing their tasks. The headmistress was busy relegating the work load to everyone, including our students, while her "secretary" a.k.a me, was walking half heartedly to the staffroom. The planner was in my hands. I put it on my table, and set to pace out with everyone...

The sight of exam papers everywhere makes me feel dizzy. Piles of them, some marked, most of it still on the waiting list. I went to the Office, at least the sight of it doesn't piss me off that much. Came our headmistress in red, so I went on and gave her the school plan. She smiled. Everything's perfect to the exact scale. I'm no engineer but luckily I've got the skills at hands. Then, Kak Nida, my colleague, who was the emcee for the launching ceremony, enquires me on the tentative..What Tentative? Tentative? Oh My God..........

I got to my table, look at my planner and there it was..written in large bold red ink pen it says.. "Tentative, Must Be Completed A.S.A.P"...My God!!! I've had totally forgotten about the tentative... Not allowing my HM seeing this, I sneaked out and begs Aunt Deita, our clerk, for me to use the computer, the printer and some coloured cards... Almost instantaneously, I started typing out the tentative like hell.... (my HM is soo meticulous when it comes to work; you have to go through it to the minute details so imagine the stress that comes with it)....

A sigh of relief~ my tentative, finally done, and everyone helped on cutting it to size. I managed to do a dry run on my choir team, and at last, I settled down in the hall, while following the flow of the occasion..

Post Launching Agenda ~ with the launching ceremony carried out to completion, we gathered ourselves and surprised our HM with a simple, 4 course lunch.. It was a happy moment, our HM was really surprised and, after cutting her birthday cake, our PKIII even offered her a bite of the cake (..representing her husband, he said..) and everyone laughs and enjoyed the sight.. We ate, and my oh my, I nearly burst a button on my batik because I was so full... we chat, we laugh together some more and for once (and I hope it'll stay that way forever in SK.Liau), I felt like I'm amongst my best of kins...we're family for sure; a big, complicated but happy and united family of teachers in our school. Thank God for everything today. (even though I missed a few keys while playing the keyboard and sweated profusely for some reasons I don't know..maybe I was hungry hehehehe...)

Endnote~I wished I could've said the same thing about my former school... The End

1Malaysia Reading Programme...

2009-10-29T22:22:00.000+08:00

We've just finished with our examination week and our work load seems to be for eternity.. Not only we have to crush our noodles to mark the exam papers (which can go on until the wee hours of morning), comes in the 1Malaysia Reading Programme a.k.a a pain on our butts..

Like, can't it wait? The paperwork strictly ordered us to start off on the 26th of October (in the midst of the final semester exam) and reports must be submitted to the DEO exactly on the 15th November ( schools must abide to the date, it added).. and I think it is quite (I quote: craptastic!!) since there's no way we could fit it in to our schedule.. but again, when the headmaster says his piece of mind about the matter, there's nothing much to say anymore..

My head felt heavy, and I'm a bit blurred out since early this week. I think the reason is because of the extreme work I have to endure the entire week through..

I can't wait for the holidays to come...I need some time to space out...

Life Unboxed-We Are UniQue

2009-10-28T16:17:00.000+08:00

We have given a lot of thought, paid an indecent amount of money and taken much action over the years to change the way we are. To become ‘better’ human beings. To make the most of this life we have. To get rid of the behaviours that are counterproductive. The behaviours that cause harm to us and others.

We have attended numerous courses, workshops and seminars around the world. Only to find that the bottom line is that no one can do it except us. No one can change the way you are except you.

Adding a technique or two, or focussing on a behaviour that causes upset does not work. In order to ensure you are constantly happy, healthy and more at peace with the world you need to change the way you think about yourself.

Have you ever thought about the way you describe yourself? When you are asked who are you? What do you reply? Do you start with your occupation or your role? If you did you replied in the way you have been trained by society. But you answered the wrong question. You answered the question What are you? Or What do you do?

So when asked: Who are you? What is the reply?
One answer would be, “ I am a human being”. OK . Now turn it on its head. What about: A being that happens to be human? How does that fit? Does that describe who you are?

But, what does that mean? What does it mean to be a being that happens to be human?
Aren’t you just playing on words?

No. To us it is important. It changes the way you view yourself. For us the phrase; ‘ a being that happens to be human’ means someone who is unfinished, uncompleted. Someone who is on a journey. Someone who is becoming something. Someone who has a natural tendency to grow. Someone who is free to choose whatever path they want. Someone who, left alone, naturally chooses positive and constructive paths. Someone who has a natural tendency to grow, to develop, to achieve their natural potential.

We know, it sounds scary, but just think about this for a moment. Wherever you go for a bit of peace and quiet go there and think for a moment.

I am a being. Someone who naturally chooses what is best for me. Someone who is always becoming. Someone who has an inherent talent to take care of themselves. Someone who is naturally motivated to grow, to develop and to achieve their natural potential.

This means: not only are you are unique but you have a natural ability to move towards fulfilling your potential.

Take a minute and look back over your life. Note down all the major events good and bad. Now review them. When you look back were they turning moments in your life? Can you see a benefit? Can you see how you are choosing what is best for you even though it didn’t feel like it at the time?

Every child has an inner timetable for growth—a pattern unique to him. . . .
Growth is not steady, forward, upward progression. It is instead a switchback trail;
three steps forward, two back, one around the bushes,
and a few simply standing, before another forward leap
Dorothy Corkville Briggs
Your Child’s Self-Esteem, (1975).

We each have our own story. Our own life with its ups and downs, with its variety of experiences and problems. But eventually when we look back we can see the benefits..

The only thing that slows down your growth and makes it more difficult to achieve your natural potential is You. The way you see yourself.

If you:
see yourself as an attachment to another person

allow yourself to be in fear of or in awe of another person

let others rule your life

depend on others

blame others for your feelings and behaviours

hide the real you through forced or affected humour

spend time building a façade to hide behind

display defensive behaviour to defend yourself against…….

then you have lost your uniqueness .

Your role is now to serve the other person. You are a slave to their dictates. The minute you are drawn to do something that is driven by another’s agenda you are no longer choosing what is naturally best for you. You are choosing what they want you to do. You are accepting that they are the ‘expert’ in your life. Another person knows what is best for you.

The bottom line is that you are the only person who really knows you. You are the only one who has had all the experiences that make up you. Others have witnessed and experienced parts of you but you are the only one who has seen, heard and lived the lot. You are the only one with the built in self motivation to grow, to develop to achieve your natural potential.

How do you do it?
Trust yourself. You are unique. You have a natural ability to move towards your potential. When you trust yourself you naturally flow and are able to move towards what you are supposed to become. When you trust yourself fear disappears. You no longer feel the need to protect yourself from this and that. You no longer feel that you ought to, should do or must do in order to meet the expectations of others.

Trust enables you to grow and creates energy. Trust enables you to be who you are. A fully functioning natural unique individual.

These are our few thoughts to change your inner state.

You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled,
Then something has been lost.
(Martha Graham)

Good Luck

Loneliness...

2009-10-25T18:28:00.002+08:00

There was a time in my life, a long time ago, when I felt very lonely in the world. Do you know what it is like to feel you will never be loved for who you are? To never feel truly understood? To feel that when people see you, they are not seeing the real you - and they don't even try to see the real you. It is like the real you is invisible to everyone but yourself - and everyone thinks you are somebody you are really not. To be next to a person and feel so far away. That kind of loneliness is even more lonely than being just by yourself. At least by myself, I can just be me. I can feel who I am.I felt as if my life had no real value to anyone, and thus no value for myself. For me, this was worse than "death", because death seems a relief from loneliness. After death, I thought, there is probably nothing - and nothing is at least less painful than loneliness. For the tears of loneliness are one of the most painful experiences I have ever felt in my life. They are not tears of the body, but those of the soul. I wondered, why live when it seems so much easier to be dead? To be born into the world with so many people, and all your life feel alone. The present and the future seemed to stretch out into one long eternity. To tell you the truth, I did think of ending my life. But my heart told me, "That is against the law of nature." Were I to end my life, I think I would have only been creating more suffering for myself in the next life. But if an angel had come in those dark times and asked me if I wanted to leave this world, I would have gladly gone with her.And that is how I knew I was in hell. If heaven is the place where you never want to leave, then hell must be the place where you always want to leave but can't. The place worse than death. And for me, loneliness is such a place, and it is one such a hell. Always wanting to leave, but not knowing how, seeing no way out, and no one to save you. And this hell was inside me, and I carried it everywhere I went, all the time, unable to be free. If only an angel would come and deliver me, for I did not know how to deliver myself.But such an angel never came. Nobody came. Nobody came to save me. Nobody came to understand. The only person in the world, it seemed, was me. I was all alone, as it had always been, and seemed it always would be.And in this darkness, I saw the only way out into the light… love. Love can save you. Love is the only way out of hell. Not someone loving you, because you can never expect anybody to love you. But you loving someone else. If no one loves you, at least you can love someone else. Love, without expecting love in return. There are others who are suffering in the hell of loneliness - love them so they need not suffer as you have suffered. Live so that others need not experience the hell you have experienced. A gentle eye, a kind word, a helping hand, a patient ear, a generous smile… these are the free acts of love you can give to ease the suffering of others. These acts of love take away loneliness - both their loneliness and yours. And they add to love - both theirs and yours.I can't guarantee anyone will ever love you back in the way you need to be loved. Love is always a choice, made freely by people and by fate. But I can guarantee that the love you choose to give freely, returns to you freely to live inside your heart. As love lives, so you live in love. For in the love you give to others, lies the seed of heaven. The hell of loneliness you once felt gradually fades away into the past. Love has the power to transform hell into heaven.If you don't understand any of this, then you are lucky, because you have not experienced the hell of loneliness, and so do not understand its language. Perhaps you live surrounded by love - or perhaps you feel you do not need love. But if you do understand the hell of loneliness, then know you are not alone. I know it may seem no one cares, but I care. That is why I write this for you. To let you know that you are not as alone as you may believe. And you need not envy those who never seem to have been lonely, for you are lucky too.Yes, you are lucky too, even though you may not see it now. You are lucky because you have the chance to be stronger than others, for true strength is born from the ability to accept and overcome weakness. You have the chance to not fear death, for those who have been to hell no longer fear death. The chance to know how to love, for those who have never been loved have no choice but to love others - or die. The chance to always carry and feel love inside your heart, for that is the beginning and ending place of all love. To be a true survivor, for only those who have suffered can be said to have survived, and it is only the survivors who can become the true leaders. It is you who are lucky, because you have the chance to gain the power to transform hell into heaven, for only those who have been to hell can transform it into heaven.

Thanks To Evan Lyn for sharing this

Aww..I like it!!

2009-10-24T20:30:00.005+08:00

I was searching for a Microsoft Code Signed theme for my Windows XP which is running on my Aspire One and saw this cute pic. Such an inspiration. Instead of leaving my Aspire One's marble casing plain black, I will do something like this..I like it ^_^

That monster sure looks so nice on that netbook hehehe. Oya, the monster's name is Domo®, I think it's NHK mascot or something like that. Nice².

What is Love

2009-10-24T19:05:00.003+08:00

The dictionary describes love as "a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude towards a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness", or perhaps "a feeling of intense desire and attraction towards a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance".

In truth this is only a part of what love is. Sometimes when we take time to ponder such questions we use the term meditation to describe it. However, just listen to your heart to know the answer. You can do this anywhere, anytime. However, be sure that you truly do desire an answer to your question, as the universe will answer you. The answer lives within us, for we are Love.

Love is all around and within us, for the entire universe and beyond is Love. You are a co-creator of this entire energy field. When we know our power and realise we are co-creating our lives with love, then we will start to see profound changes in our thoughts, actions, patterns, beliefs and more. We were born with this power. Love is the creator, and will create anything we desire.

Free will is the ego part of ourselves. No one will ever take that away from us, for this is part of Creation. So use your ego positively to create a love-filled world. Start truly manifesting this world filled with so much love that nothing else can live in it, we will not allow anything that isn't Love.
Think of your life, think of the love that you have right now. Even in the situations you may not see as loving, remember that love is all there is. Think of the place where you live. See the love in all of creation. Now expand the vision completely outward to all areas of the universe and see Love in everything.

Remember, we are Love and Love is All, we are all One, from the stars and the moon to the trees and the earth, and all things in between. Let's now use this loving energy that we have created to send out forgiveness to ourselves taking responsibility for what have created in this world. If there is anyone in your life that you have ever fought with, judged, said or done that wasn't in Love, take a moment to send forgiveness out to them. Forgive to be free of the pain and fear that was part of this relationship with ourselves.

Take a moment each day to do something that brings forth Love to those around you. It can be as simple as sending out loving thoughts to them, or show a loving action to someone who feels unloved. Often we experience emotions that we think are Love. We will see that it's not truly love, it's a fragment of love that has been "watered down". Love is all encompassing and compassionate without any judgments or attachments to the emotion. Start to look at your life from a new perspective to see where you can show the true meaning of love once again. Allow the truth of who we are, the God that has been individualised in each of us, and allow it to bring forth that true self to the world, that Unconditional Love and live the life you were meant to have.

Life Unboxed-mothers will be angels, forever.

2009-10-24T18:47:00.002+08:00

I was wandering the net and I came across this beautiful story about a mother's priceless sacrifice. I felt compelled to share it with you.

The story began when I was a child; I was born as a son of a poor family. Even for eating, we often got lack of food. Whenever the time for eating, mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was removing her rice into my bowl, she would say "Eat this rice, son. I'm not hungry". That was Mother's First Lie.

When I was getting to grow up, the persevering mother gave her spare time for fishing in a river near our house, she hoped that from the fishes she got, she could gave me a little bit nutritious food for my growth. After fishing, she would cook the fishes to be a fresh fish soup, which raised my appetite. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat the rest meat of fish, which was still on the bone of the fish I ate. My heart was touched when I saw it. I then used my chopstick and gave the other fish to her. But she immediately refused it and said "Eat this fish, son. I don't really like fish." That was Mother's Second Lie.

Then, when I was in Junior High School, to fund my study, mother went to an economic enterprise to bring some used-matches boxes that would be stuck in. It gave her some money for covering our needs. As the winter came, I woke up from my sleep and looked at my mother who was still awoke, supported by a little candlelight and within her perseverance she continued the work of sticking some used-matches box. I said, "Mother, go to sleep, it's late, tomorrow morning you still have to go for work." Mother smiled and said "Go to sleep, dear. I'm not tired." That was Mother's Third Lie.

At the time of final term, mother asked for a leave from her work in order to accompany me. While the daytime was coming and the heat of the sun was starting to shine, the strong and persevering mother waited for me under the heat of the sun's shine for several hours. As the bell rang, which indicated that the final exam had finished, mother immediately welcomed me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared before in a cold bottle. The very thick tea was not as thick as my mother's love, which was much thicker. Seeing my mother covering with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!". That was Mother's Fourth Lie.

After the death of my father because of illness, my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent. By held on her former job, she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. No days without sufferance. Seeing our family's condition that was getting worse, there was a nice uncle who lived near my house came to help us, either in a big problem and a small problem.

Our other neighbors who lived next to us saw that our family's life was so unfortunate, they often advised my mother to marry again. But mother, who was stubborn, didn't care to their advice, she said "I don't need love." That was Mother's Fifth Lie.

After I had finished my study and then got a job, it was the time for my old mother to retire. But she didn't want to; she was sincere to go to the marketplace every morning, just to sell some vegetable for fulfilling her needs. I, who worked in the other city, often sent her some money to help her in fulfilling her needs, but she was stubborn for not accepting the money. She even sent the money back to me. She said "I have enough money." That was Mother's Sixth Lie.

After graduated from Bachelor Degree, I then continued my study to Master Degree. I took the degree, which was funded by a company through a scholarship program, from a famous University in America. I finally worked in the company. Within a quite high salary, I intended to take my mother to enjoy her life in America. But my lovely mother didn't want to bother her son, she said to me "I'm not used to." That was Mother's Seventh Lie.

After entering her old age, mother got a flank cancer and had to be hospitalized. I, who lived in miles away and across the ocean, directly went home to visit my dearest mother. She lied down in weakness on her bed after having an operation. Mother, who looked so old, was staring at me in deep yearn. She tried to spread her smile on her face; even it looked so stiff because of the disease she held out. It was clear enough to see how the disease broke my mother's body, thus she looked so weak and thin. I stared at my mother within tears flowing on my face. My heart was hurt, so hurt, seeing my mother on that condition. But mother, with her strength, said "Don't cry, my dear. I'm not in pain." That was Mother's Eight Lie.

After saying her eighth lie, my dearest mother closed her eyes forever.

ANGEL around us is MOTHER

"M" is for the million things she gave me
"O" means only that she's growing old
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me
"H" is for her heart of purest gold
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining
"R" means right, and right she'll always be

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER", A word that means the world to me. For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your mom this is beautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful.

Life Unboxed~Feeling Happy

2009-10-24T00:15:00.002+08:00

What is the quintessential definition of happiness? I collected the following 8 on my own happiness journey. Some are esoteric, others down to earth and practical. In truth everyone's happiness is exactly that - their own.
Happiness is a thing of beauty and is uplifting. Which definition of happiness most closely resembles your ideal?
If flowers are not beautiful to you, then picture in your mind an image that will ultimately define happiness for you. You have the freedom to dream, to picture for yourself that happiness that will be yours.

1. Happiness is the dawn before the chorus - the quiet expectation that wonderful things will happen. Joy and sadness are equal partners and both have a place of recognition within the heart. Neither is more powerful than the other. They must co-exist like day and night.

2. Happiness is an emotion in which one experiences feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy

3. You don't have to be ecstatically happy, but are you satisfied with your life, do you feel that you're growing and changing, do you get on well with other people, are you comfortable with yourself, do you have a purpose in life?

4. Happiness is not our only emotion. It is the outlook we have chosen to cultivate becaue it is the most effective, thoughtful and productive.

5. The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather loved in spite of ourselves.

6. The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions. The little soon forgotten charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment - countless infinitesimals of pleasurable and genial feelings.

7. Happiness is a true state of mind, that you can have anytime, anywhere. Happiness comes from love, wholeness and peace. It is an inner state of being that comes naturally as you become connected with who you really are, your gifts and your purpose.

8. Happiness is basically a feeling when you don't have to worry about anything

In pursuit of happiness? How will you recognise it when you have it?
Sure, check out somone else's Definition of Happiness, but does it resonate with you?
Can you feel the vibes as you read their words? Listen to your inner voice, what is it telling you?
Be clear about your own definition of happiness. Create your own and write it down.

Some more AG stuffs I like

2009-10-21T23:49:00.003+08:00

I browsed around AG and found two of these beautiful caption images. A work well done here.