About Me

I have done a lot of things in my life and have also worked in many different jobs to make a living and to experience life. This blog is just some of my musings, sometimes funny, sometimes inspirational, sometimes sad, sometimes angry, sometimes simple but all the time, it's just me.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Auld lang syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
   Chorus:
   For auld lang syne, my dear,
   For auld lang syne.
   We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
   For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine.
We've wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae sported i' the burn,
From morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.

And ther's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll tak' a right good willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.


Shid ald akwentans bee firgot,
an nivir brocht ti mynd?
Shid ald akwentans bee firgot,
an ald lang syn*?

CHORUS:
Fir ald lang syn, ma jo,
fir ald lang syn,
wil tak a cup o kyndnes yet,
fir ald lang syn.
An sheerly yil bee yur pynt-staup!
an sheerly al bee myn!
An will tak a cup o kyndnes yet,
fir ald lang syn.

CHORUS
We twa hay rin aboot the braes,
an pood the gowans fyn;
Bit weev wandert monae a weery fet,
sin ald lang syn.

CHORUS
We twa hay pedilt in the burn,
fray mornin sun til dyn;
But seas between us bred hay roard
sin ald lang syn.

CHORUS
An thers a han, my trustee feer!
an gees a han o thyn!
And we’ll tak a richt‡ gude-willie-waucht‡,
fir ald lang syn.

CHORUS

Happy New Year folks. Keep an eye out for my posts in January where I plan to take this wonderful journey to a no regrets life.

Take care and be well.

Monday, December 27, 2010

(26A-Z)b's/D = 14A = Happy Anniversary

Not a calculus formula.

If you have not solved the open mystery of my December blogs...

(26A-Z)b's/D = 14A HA is basically 26 A to Z blogs in month of December for our 14th anniversary.

This month of December I decided to write a blog a day starting with alphabet A and ending yesterday with Z.

My blogs this month started with "A long time ago" on December 1.

It is dedicated to celebrations, love, life and my wifey and us for our 14th anniversary. So, happy anniversary wifey, thank you for everything.

I will only resume blogging in a week or so mainly just to take a break from computers and enjoy the city life a little. Therefore, I would like to wish everyone out there a Happy New Year.

My wishes for 2011 for this blog is just to entertain my readers and hopefully increase my readership out there.

Next month, I take a different journey of a no regret life. I will share my journey in my blogs.

All of you out there, have fun, uncork that champagne bottle and cheers to you.

Take care and be well.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Zee or Zed

It's Boxing day, and I have reached pretty much my last themed blog of the month. If you still have not figured it out, you will with my blog post tomorrow.

Earlier in my relationship with my wife, we used to have such joy in having a simple picnic in the Zoo. Times have definitely changed.

After going to South Africa and being in an open zoo where the humans are in caged jeeps, I have now no desire nor wish to go to any zoo or traditional circus.

There is nothing like seeing a herd of elephants, zebras and animals in their natural habitat. Many would call it animals in the wild or wild animals.

In all honesty, I think we humans are the wild ones most of the times. There are definite exceptions and I hope I will become the exception.

I have always told everyone that South Africa has been the best place I've visited thus far and there are quite a number of places wifey and I have been too. In second place would come New Zealand.

The worst in the list remains Egypt. But I am digressing. The 26th alphabet, Z, how do you pronounce it? Zee or Zed? Let me tell you another little story.

My parents hail from India.

My dad has been in Malaysia since he was 17, he is now 76, so 59 years. I think we will celebrate his 77th birthday and his 60 years in Malaysia next year, God willing.

My dad came from a smaller town and as he always used to tease my mom, he is also less educated than my mom.

My mom also comes from a small town that has now become quite a sizable city in Gujarat.

As I was growing up, I realised that my mom, never having studied in English, could not pronounce the letter Z or F.

I am used to pronouncing Z as Zee rather than Zed and F like eff.

But in the real Gujarati language, the traditional Gujarati language, Z and F do not exist.

But my mom came to Malaysia and made do and learned street Malay and English.

Curious now, how did she pronounce Z and F?

Well Z would be Jh, so Zoo was Jhoo, Zebra was Jhebra, Zip was Jhip.

It was funny at times but we got used to it as did many neighbours and friends.

And F was Ph, so Phish, Phan, Phunny. Of course my mom never in life said Phuck or go phuck yourself.

Of course, as things modernise, most Gujarati's now can say Z and F clearly but my mom and her generation were a different breed of people.

Life was phun and we often had the jhaniest of time.

Mom passed a long time ago, there is no sadness anymore, just the happy memories that will always remain.

Take care and be well.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

You are my Christmas present

The tree is all trimmed now
The fireplace is aglow
And outside quiet streets
Are all covered with snow
So darling, let me tell you
On this day of days
Baby, you're my Christmas present
My Christmas past
My Christmas always.


In the night, church bells ring
Their message, a cheer
And somewhere canvassing
Soon Santa will be here;
And this I swear
As into your warm eyes I gaze
Baby, you're my Christmas present
My Christmas past
My Christmas always.


So, on this silent night
Let me hold you tight
And make you know
Just how good love can be
There's no gift of hope
And no treasure untold
That's as precious
As you are to me.


The stars twinkle on high
Our world is so fine
And I wish you Merry Christmas
And as you pour the wine
For you, this toast, my darling
As my glass I raise
Baby, you're my Christmas present
My Christmas past
My Christmas always


You're my Christmas always.

The Christmas song above by Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners is obviously dedicated to my wifey.

Wifey, you are my Christmas present, past and always. It matters not what gifts you get me, it matters that you care generously, you love generously and you give generously.

And to my readers, have a Blessed Christmas too. Presents are always accepted in this household.

But reading my blog and commenting if you like has always been a present to me, I am humbled and honored.

As my simple present to you, I will keep on writing although I did think of stopping especially in September 2010. September 2010 was a time when the writing nearly stopped but something inspired me to write on and I did and some how and some way, more people started paying attention. To that, I am humbled and forever grateful.

As Khalil Gibran said, "There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward."

Take care and be well.

Friday, December 24, 2010

X'mas time again

Yes, it is the time of the year again. X'mas time.

X'mas has long been accepted to mean Christmas, so I have been lucky today. It could have been quite difficult to write a blog today talking about X-rays or something X-rated.

So, last night was rather busy cause we had this little gathering in our home for Christmas.

This is when the Merry-ness started. But apart from the fun and party and food and drinks, it is all done in the spirit of Christ.

X'mas is always about giving and generously and with gratitude receiving too.

Having people around to celebrate the birth of Jesus surely is fun. I love celebrating birthdays and I am sure the man up there, wherever up there may be, enjoys it that we are celebrating his birthdays.

I have noticed that most religions celebrate their prophets birthdays. In Islam, Prophet Muhammad's birthday is celebrated, in Hinduism, a few "Gods" birthdays are celebrated, in Jainism, we do celebrate Mahavir's birthday and I am certain most other religions celebrate birthday of their Guru's or Prophet's too.

So, as we celebrate their birthdays, it is nothing wrong for us to celebrate our birthdays too.

This year has been particularly an interesting year, a challenging year too. And yet, I am alive, I am filled with love, I am smiling, laughing and having fun.

Tomorrow, it is Christmas day. Merry Christmas everyone. Happy birthday too. Have a blessed day. May God Bless you all.

Take care and be well.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

What a wonderful world

It is a wonderful world, it truly is.

Today's blog is very simple. Just take time to absorb the lyrics, sing it out loud and rejoice at what a wonderful world it truly is.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of people going by, I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do, They're really saying I love you.

I love you all. Have a wonderful life, live in this wonderful world.

Thank you Mr Louis Armstrong by the song and performance below, I cannot say any better than that.



I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.


Take care and be well.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Virtues

The people out there, the educated ones want us to think that virtues are a trait or quality deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being.

The question is who is judging what is morally excellent? Society, government, people, bosses, companies?

What qualifications do they have to judge what is morally excellent.

Who is right and who is wrong is not a decision of humans, is it?

In the 18th century, opium was common and many people took it and was morally accepted. Now it is considered a drug and not morally accepted.

Thus a positive virtue then became a negative virtue now.

But who is to say that?

Benjamin Franklin in 1730's listed thirteen virtues that he felt were important guides for living. Along with each virtue Franklin included a principle to follow that—in his opinion—would define a person of good character. The following are his 13 virtues.

  1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
  2. Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
  3. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
  4. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
  5. Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
  6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
  7. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
  8. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
  9. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
  10. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
  11. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
  12. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
  13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
A little funny though. Ben Franklin was a good leader but was he virtuous? He admitted to having an illegitimate child and he also had slaves which he did eventually free. But still, was he virtuous? Who am I to say.

What are my virtues and what the Universe thinks is all that matters.

What are your virtues are up to you, but do give it a thought.

Just don't judge other people's virtues and don't even judge your own virtues, don't look at it as negative or positive, there are always two sides to a coin and the middle which holds the two sides together.

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. So, aim above morality. Don't just be good; be good for something.

Remember that water which is too pure will have no fish. So, be virtues if you want but do not judge yourself too hard nor judge others if their virtues do not meet your moral standards. Judgement will come from the Universe, from God perhaps, not from you and me.

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Understanding the universe and everything in it

What is the universe to you?

The scientist will have you believe that the universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all physical matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space.

But the key word is exist. What is the definition for exist? The word existence is limited to the human definition of something that exist and we are aware through our senses, only our five senses.

So, according to these so called experts, the Universe cannot be made up of things that do not exists or things that we are aware outside of our five senses.

To these experts then, God does not exist yet a majority of us including me believe in the existence of God. We do not sense God through our five senses but we know he exists through our other senses, some call it sixth sense.

So, to understand the Universe requires for me more than out natural senses. And we all all born with more than our natural five senses, just a matter of using it.

The scientist have us also to believe that two negatives make what looks like a positive.

But it isn't really a positive.

Taoism describes the interplay and balance between Yin and Yang. But it belies a deeper truth in the concept of wu-wei-- that passivity, a Yin characteristic, is actually the secret of mastering the Tao.

That secret is this: Yang doesn't actually exist.

Everything is Yin.

But there is a special circumstance of Yin, which is two Yin's together, which makes what looks like a Yang.

All of physical reality is Yang--which is to say, it is nothingness (Yin) which looks like it exists because of what happens with Yin meets with Yin--it bonds and repulses at the same time, meaning that what is actually nothingness begins to look an awful lot like something.

This basic bonding/repulsing action aggregates until the sub-atomic becomes atomic, and we have matter, material reality. But its all, underneath all that Yang, its really just Yin.

So when you are in a balance, when your Yin meets with Yin then the Yang will exist.

Okay, I understand the above is quite deep.

In Taoist philosophy, yin and yang arise together from an initial quiescence or emptiness (wuji, sometimes symbolized by an empty circle), and continue moving in tandem until quiescence is reached again.

For instance, dropping a stone in a calm pool of water will simultaneously raise waves and lower troughs between them, and this alternation of high and low points in the water will radiate outward until the movement dissipates and the pool is calm once more.

Yin and yang are thus are always opposite and equal qualities.


It is impossible to talk about yin or yang without some reference to the opposite, since yin and yang are bound together as parts of a mutual whole (i.e. you cannot have the back of a hand without the front).

Is it getting too confusing?

Let me put this simply, the scientist say that the universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists. It is not.

The universe is a totality of everything including things beyond your imagination and believes. Also, a combination of things that currently exist can create something that does not currently exists like a baby formed by the existence of a sperm meeting the egg and incubating.

The Universe is a lot more, it is infinite, it is wonderful and yes, you can understand it. Just open of your mind and allow yourself to dream and to believe and the wonders of the universe will hopefully be revealed.

Have a wonderful journey in this Universe.

Take care and be well.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Thank you

Thank you.

Yes you, you reading this blog, thank you.

I am grateful for many things, and today I simply wish to say thank you.

Thank you to those who take a few minutes of their day to read my blog. I know some have made comments but what matters is that you read it. Everyday, I am getting maybe 50-100 people reading this blog and I would like to say thank you.

This is going to sound like a Academy Award speech I guess but it is end of the year and nothing wrong to not only feel gratitude but also say it out.

So, you too, go ahead and thank someone.

I would like to thank my wifey, just for putting up with me all these years and sometimes having to deal with my super-ego-men. There is so much to thank you for and I could easily fill a hundred pages but please know I am truly grateful and thank you.

I would like to thank my dad for despite his oft crappiness, he is there, he can be quite helpful and he does care to some extent.

I would like to thank Al E, my lil boy, growing up and now 2.5 years old. Since you have come to my life, life has been filled with joy and laughter, sometimes just looking at you.

I would like to thank my other family members including my in-laws, for being there and sometimes thank you for not being there too.

I would like to thank all my friends, for being there and being honest and being you. Thank you.

I would like to also thank my employers, for with employment, I have the empowerment and money to do what I am doing.

I would like to thank my teachers, mentors and coaches throughout my life this far and an advance thanks to those who will come.

I would like to thank my Pakcik Cha in the indigenous land for providing me a home away from home when I need to get back to the nature as well as feeding me various interesting jungle vegetables every time I go there.

I would like to thank my Reiki master for teaching me Reiki including the Karuna reiki symbols, so thank you Master Sub.

I would like to thank my meditation masters, thank you Master Pra, Sha and Yog. And with that thank you Kriya Baba and Prityngara Dewi. And also everyone I have met during my Friday meditations. Thank you Dr B for introducing me to them.

Most of all, I would like to thank God and Universe, thank you so much.


And a big thank you to my guardians for guiding me to the better path, to the good force.

Again, thank you all, from readers, family members, strangers, acquaintances, friends and foes, Gods and Angels, Masters and servants.

Thank you.

Take care and be well.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Stilness of my Mind; Speak up then Shut up Super-ego-men

Super-ego-men are the beings within my mind that think they are super heroes but in all trueness, they are the vexations of the spirit and they are what are holding my dreams and desires back.

Wifey calls them monkey chatters and I call them super-ego-men.

They think they are doing you good but adding doubt into your dreams, they think they are helping you by adding fear into your life and they think they are super heroes for leading you to the right path whilst leading you to the wrong path, to the dark force.

However, the more you ask them to shut up, they multiply and the louder they will speak. The louder they will speak and this will unfortunately deprive you from the stillness of your mind.

Most people forget that they are in control of their super-ego-men and let these wannabe super heroes take over their lives which leads them to forget their dreams and wishes, their smile and laughter and their warmth and friendliness to become cold blocks of stone men and women you see everywhere in the world nowadays.

I am becoming more aware of my own strengths to be able to control these super-ego-men and able to still my mind and in the stillness of my mind is where the true wonders lie.

It has been a long journey but as Confucius or Lou Tze, I cannot remember whom, said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."

I have taken the first step.

Nowadays, I tell my super-ego-men to speak up, and once they have spoken up, I say thank you and politely ask them to shut up.

Once I have politely accepted what they have said, thanked them and ask them to take a break and shut up, they generally do.

And this is when I am able to achieve the stillness of my mind that takes me to journeys and places that I could only imagine and teaches me lessons and provides me the wisdom of ages. The stillness of my mind allows me to communicate with my inner being and some outer beings who are the real super heroes in this case.

The past couple of days has been difficult, the super-ego-men have been making more noise and the monkey chatters are getting louder and sometimes this leads to frustration and you give up trying to reach the stillness of your mind. And when these happens, they have won and I have lost.

So thank you my friends, super-ego-men, thank you for all your "advice" and wonderful "suggestions", I truly am appreciative of it, now I would also appreciate if you could maybe shut up for a while for me to reach the stillness of my mind that I require.

The stillness of my mind has already shared with me wonderful things.

Next month, I plan to take this thirty day journey. Everyday I will share my journey in my blogs. And this journey will lead me to a no-regrets life. At least that is my hope and aspiration and my guidance. If you would like to take this journey too, I will be guided by One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life

Nevertheless, I still got eight more December blogs to write before my journey above. So enjoy my blogs for this month, the last will be on 27 December, falling on my 14th wedding anniversary.

Take care and be well.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Rest of my life, rest of your life, rest of our lives.

I have no idea how long I'm going to live or when I will die and I don't really care at the moment what happens after I die. There is an afterlife, a presence in one form or another after we die, I do not know what form I will be but I've still got a life.

So, what will I do for the rest of my life, however long it is?

Among many things that cannot be put in a list, here are a few things that I will be doing:
  • 3 L's  - Love, Live and Laugh
    • Love - everyone and everything.
    • Live like I'm truly alive.
    • Laugh, I love to laugh and look for something that will make me laugh everyday.
  • Meditate daily.
  • Travel somewhere every year preferably somewhere new but not a rule.
  • Smile - something simple but a lot of people do not smile enough.
  • Teach - I would like to become a teacher - not necessary in a school.
  • Inspire - being inspired and inspiring someone else.
  • Dream - a lot of us stop having dreams when we grow up, but have dreams, I always have mine.
  • Exercise - this I really need to start doing .... maybe starting with Pilates in January.
As I said, there are a lot of things we can do the rest of our lives, but are we going to talk only or walk the talk?

What will you do the rest of your life?

The above poem was written by Joanna Fuchs and I modified or simplified it a little. This is how I would like to end my blog today, by dedicating it to someone special in my life.

I loved you before we wed,
I committed myself to you on that day,
and today I reaffirm to you
all the love, admiration, devotion, respect and gratitude
that I still feel for you.


You've been my shelter in stormy times,
my strength to meet life's challenges,
and an unending source of indescribable pleasure.
We had a great beginning, but the best is yet to come;
beautiful tomorrows filled with even more happiness.


I cross my heart and promise you
that I will love you forever.
I have perfect faith in us,
and I'm looking forward
to continuing the joyous journey
that we've been on together for 14 years
and forever more
for the rest of our lives.

Take care and be well.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Quite quick quips for Christmas and New Year

This is just going to be quite a quick quiet quip.

A quip is clever, witty remark often prompted by the occasion.

Many a times wifey says that I always have a quick wit about me. Well, most of the quite quick quips below are not entirely from me but since Christmas and New Year is coming up soon, it's about these two wonderful occasions. While these two occasions are wonderful, there is a extra special occasion falling in between these tow right after boxing day.

Anyways, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and his love for mankind. Imagine, God’s Grace is hard enough to understand, I don’t want to imagine the “wrath of God”.

Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.

Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.

The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.

Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer... Who'd have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously?

Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.

But in all honesty, Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.


So wishing all my friends and readers a Blessed and Magical Christmas.

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.

He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.   

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.    

My lil furry boy Al E's resolution is, "I will not chase that ball unless I actually see it leave his hand!"

Oh well, I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit rounder, but still none the wiser.

Have a Merry New Year, uncork that champagne and take a swig to my health and continued blogging.

Take care and be well.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

People are People

People are people, help me understand what makes a man hate another man?

Below are just stories from Malaysia. What more stories from outside Malaysia. Some personal experiences are added below.

Ayu, a male-to-female transsexual, was seriously beaten by state religious officials who detained her while she was talking to friends at the Old Melaka bus station in Kota Melaka, Melaka (Malacca) state, southwest Malaysia at around 11.30pm on 30 July 2007. Ayu may be at risk of further abuse, and other transsexual people may also be in danger.

A Church in Malaysia has been fire-bombed in an attack that gutted its ground floor, church officials said on Friday, escalating a dispute over the use of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims. A fire department official said all stations were on alert for more blazes at religious buildings, ahead of planned nationwide protests on Friday by Muslim groups angry over the use of the word as a translation for the Christian 'God.' The three-storey Metro Tabernacle church in suburban Kuala Lumpur was set ablaze in the attack which took place around midnight, said church leader Peter Yeow, 62. There were no casualties in the attack on the church, which occupies the corner lot of a row of shop houses. Anuar Harun, who headed the fire department operation, said that forensic experts were working with the police and a canine unit to probe the blaze. 'We are investigating the cause of fire. We cannot provide any more details,' he said when asked if it was a case of arson. 'We have asked all our fire stations to be on alert for such fires on religious premises.

Recently, two expatriate women (US and Canada) were attacked in the middle of the dance floor at Zouk nightclub in Kuala Lumpur. They described their attacker as an older Malay male (with bodyguards!) who claimed they were dancing "too close to the VIP area". The women, both teachers at International Schools in KL, were celebrating the end of the school year and saying good bye as the American teacher was transferring to a school in Buenos Aires. Sensing that this man may have been problematic, they moved away from the VIP area and continued to dance. What happened next brought tears to my eyes. Our Canadian friend said that the Malay man returned to the dance floor and began shouting at them to "Go back to where you came from" and called them a variety of choice names. He then grabbed the American woman by the ears and head-butted her in the teeth. Stunned, the American started after the Malay man as he stomped off toward the VIP area. The Canadian woman followed her, and was cold-cocked to the side of her head by...the bodyguard!! Meanwhile, Zouk's bouncers as well as the club- goers did nothing. It gets worse.The Canadian woman clears the stars out of her head to see the American woman being held - an arm by each bodyguard, while the Malay man kicked her repeatedly and savagely in the stomach - so hard, that she defecated on the floor. All the while, the Malay man uttered racial and sexist epithets against the women.Zouk's bouncers did nothing. After the older Malay man with bodyguards finished pummeling the American woman, the bouncers grabbed the two women and threw them out of the club.

A 22 year old Abdel Aziz Hassan Abdraman from Chad republic was gruesomely murdered in the full glare of the public and reportedly under the supervision of some police personnel. The incident which happened at Wangsa Maju, Selangor, Malaysia took place at around 9pm as widely reported in news especially the “The Malay Mail” of Tuesday, September 22nd 2008. According to the reports, the victims of the attack were on their way to the International Islamic University Malaysia to join the Tarawih prayer. While within the vicinity of the Wangsa Maju LRT station, some Malaysian youths numbering about twenty, and armed with weapons, swarmed at the deceased and his friends, inflicted them with severe injuries which ultimately led to the death of one of them – Late Abdel Aziz Hassan Abdraman (the other victims are still suffering from the pains of the attacks).

Some 50 residents enraged with the proposed relocation of a Hindu temple to their area staged a noisy protest with a severed cow's head this afternoon. The residents - from Section 23 in Shah Alam - who gathered after the Friday prayers, placed the head outside the gates of the state secretariat building for a short period before removing it. In another report, Section 23 residents action committee chairperson Mahyuddin Manaf said "We did a post mortem (on the protest) but could not identify the people who brought it," he told Malaysiakini. He should refer back to another statement made by his deputy. Addressing the crowd, Section 23 action committee deputy chair Ibrahim Sabri said: "If there is blood, you (the state government) will be responsible if you are adamant about building the temple. This is a warning. Relocate the temple to Section 22. This cow is a present to the state government. This is a gift from us," he added. Mahyuddin said that the cow head was likely brought by angry residents. This act of provocation, whether using a cow or a pig head, is insensitive and stupid.

There was a funeral, a wedding, and a misunderstanding over a broken van windscreen. These led to a full-blown racial clash in Petaling Jaya Selatan that left six people dead and scores others suffering from head injuries, slash wounds and broken bones. One of the victims, Vasu, 24, had both his hands hacked off by rampaging youths. Doctors managed to reattach his left hand but failed to save two of his fingers. There are several large stitch wounds on his forearm and on his wrist. There is also an unsightly wound on his palm. Another photograph shows a man with a 20cm healed wound from below the navel right up to the rib-cage. While a third shows a man with over 20 stitches on each wrist.

History of hate between man goes back hundreds of years and still goes on until today.

While I was studying in US, I was racially abused in the small town of Stevens Point where I studied. The students were identified and were suspended from University and were apologetic but such incidents happened over years and were left unreported. I reported the incident, it appeared in the University paper, then in the town paper and later in the state's newspaper including Milwaukee Journal and Wisconsin State Journal. The story was relatively big and more and more people started coming out. While most of the faculty including the chancellors office and the mayors office were concerned, what was most disappointing was that the Foreign Student Office run by Prof Marc Fang was not. In actual fact, he called me to his office for a meeting and basically admonished me for making this public rather than sympathise with me. This is where I have to thank my host family James and Carol Cook as well as my lecturer Cindy Chelcun for standing by my side and being understanding.

After my graduation, I went to search for the great American dream in San Jose, California. While I was searching for this dream, I worked the late shift in Subway sandwiches. Every week, without fail, one Caucasian or another will come in and hurl racial slurs at me and ask me to go back to my country. A few would even waste their money and buy a sandwich and hurl that at me. But such is life in the big city and the country of dreams.

Among my first jobs was as a journalist in the Star and The Sun newspapers. I used to cover news and was sent to a lot of events where the top politicians were present. So, I have covered Mahathir, Anwar, etc many many times in those years. I remember one time when I was covering the DPM at that time and now the opposition leader, he clearly called me a Keling, which is clearly a derogatory way of calling a person of Indian origin. Now, do you think I'll ever vote for him or his wife or his daughter who happens to be the MP of the constituency I live in? In another incident, the Indian party president, thank God he is retired, asked me quite sarcastically what type of an Indian was I that I did not speak any Tamil. Tamil is a language spoken only pretty much by Tamilians who hail from Tamil Nadu and nowadays picked up by other Southern Indian states but definitely not a language that is spoken elsewhere where Hindi is more popular.

This blog could go on and on and on, about the KKK, about slavery, about Babri mosque incident, about Israel and Palestine, about Hitler and Jews and many incidents where people have hated other people.

Which brings me back to Depeche Mode's song People are People. So we're different colours, and we're different creeds, and different people have different needs. Relying on your common decency, so far it hasn't surfaced, but I'm sure it exists.

People are people, I can't understand, what makes a man hate another man? Help me understand.

Take care and be well.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Only you

Today's blog cannot be said much better than the song below sung by The Platters.

As our 14th Anniversary approaches soon, wifey, only you and you alone can thrill me like you do and fill my heart with love for only you.

Well, there is so much love to go around and I love the whole universe especially those close to me like Al E, Ole Man, some close friends and now every night I send love to every living thing in the world.

All of this I do because of you and only you. I look back at all the 14 years of being married and the few years before that when we met and I can't help but to think that we have gone from strength to strength despite many obstacles and hurdles thrown in our path by family and friends.

There have been ups and there have been downs, but I can tell you this, thatmy love for you grows year after year, month after month, week after week, day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, seconds after seconds.

Only you
can make this world seem right
Only you
can make the darkness bright
Only you and you alone
can thrill me like you do
and fill my heart with love for only you

Only you
can make this change in me
For it's true
you are my destiny
When you hold my hand, i understand
the magic that you do
You're my dream come true
my one and only you, only you

Only you and you alone
can thrill me like you do
and fill my heart with love for only you.



Take care and be well.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Nil

That's my name. It is rather long, so most people just call me Nilesh, and some call me just Nil or Nils.

I'll get to why Nil in a bit but I do not by far have the longest name. A German from 1904 has the distinction of having the longest name according to the Guinness Book of Records.

His name was Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorffwelchevoralternwarengewissenschaftschafe rswessenschafewarenwohlgepflegeundsorgfaltigkeitbeschutzenvonangreifeudurch ihrraubgierigfeindewelchevoralternzwolftausendjahresvorandieerscheinenersch einenvanderersteerdemenschderraumschiffgebrauchlichtalsseinursprungvonkraft gestartseinlangefahrthinzwischensternaitigraumaufdersuchenachdiesternwelche gehabtbewohnbarplanetenkreisedrehensichundwohinderneurassevonverstandigmens chlichkeitkonntefortpflanzenundsicherfeuenanlebenslanglichfreudeundruhemitn icheinfurchtvorangreifenvonandererintelligentgeschopfsvonhinzwischenternart Zeus igraum Senior.

Many Indians generally have long names and names like Elankulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair are rather common especially in India.

So, as I was growing up, my teachers and friends would always call me Nilesh. Even in college in KDU, most teachers would call me Nilesh and some would call me by my surname and say Mr Timbadia.

In the winter of 1989, I went to study in Steven's Point, Wisconsin in the United States of America.

I was put up in the University dormitory in the 1st semester and was placed with an American roommate. The name of the hall was Neale hall. In no time, I was nicknamed Nil from Neale Hall.

So, since then, I have been Nil. Even when I moved and worked in Steiner Hall for 2 years, my name remained Nil. This name was used in any mail I received, as well as on my door.

After coming back to Malaysia, it resumed to Nilesh but now and then I will use Nil for my friends from the USA. And sometimes I would use Nil for my writings.

I started writing in the SXI newsletter when I was 16 and I used a pseudonym Preux Chevalier, but I did not stick to that as it sounded a little to presumptious.

Nil's Musings came about when I went to Sarawak and generally had a lot of time in my hand. The hustle bustle of KL was not there and neither were the malls, cinemas, theatres and pubs.

So, what does one do when sitting at home and looking at the wonderful sunsets of the South China Sea crashing onto the beach merely in front of the house?

My 1st blog was on a March day in 2008. Yes, I have only been blogging for 2 years plus.

I have previously written poems and my previous blogs have been as my blog suggests, just my musings.

In the past couple of months, I have put some obvious or hidden theme to my blogs. The 3 blogs in September were at a time when I had real writers block and only wrote 3 blogs about Happiness.

In October, my blogs were all titled "My Name Is . . ."

In November, it was "If I was a ...."

In December, half the month is gone, there is a theme to the blogs, have you figured it out yet? The hint of the theme is always in the title of the blogs and some hints were also given earlier.

Until then, and until next month new theme .... any suggestions for a theme for January 2011?

Take care and be well.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Motivation

What motivates a person to do something? Money? Fame? Glory?

Watch the interesting video below and you will see the simple miracle of motivation. It is rather simple yet difficult to implement because most companies will not want to think outside of the box to do this.

The key point for motivation according to the recording below is people are looking for Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose in what they are doing.

As such, many people including myself spend many hours of my free time picking up something I enjoy and motivates me more like cooking or even writing.

Autonomy refers to the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision.

Mastery is a comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment and a possession of consummate skill

Purpose is a result, end, mean, aim, or goal of an action intentionally undertaken. It is determination and resoluteness.

Is your live a purpose driven life? Are you seeking some mastery in a skill?

Can you make an autonomous decision where you work that gives you the mastery and fulfills your purpose?

For me, there are many things I would like to do but two that come to mind for me to share.

One is to eventually be a Chef and run a restaurant that is Michelin star status. Unfortunately, as far as I am aware, there are no Michelin star restaurants in Malaysia.

The other is to be an established writer and have a book on the New York Times bestseller list as well as in the Amazon bestseller list.

Now go watch this wonderful video on motivation that was shared by my previous manager.



Take care and be well.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Live life and love it

There are times that I am down for sure
There are days that despair takes over
There are days you'll be knocked down
But live life and love it.

Not live it like you're dead, like a zombie
Not live it like you're dying, where there is no hope for tomorrow
Live life vibrantly alive,
like every day matters and the future is just too bright.

Live it like the Foo Fighters sing it cause
It’s times like these you learn to live again
It’s times like these you give and give again
It’s times like these you learn to love again
It’s times like these time and time again

Be the new day rising
Be the brand new sky
Be the stars up on the sky tonight
Be the moon shinning bright.

Live life like the Foo Fighters sing it
It’s times like these you learn to live again
It’s times like these you give and give again
It’s times like these you learn to love again
It’s times like these time and time again.

Chase away the despair
Chase away the doldrums
Chase away old nasty chatters in your head
You're not easily knocked out even if you're knocked down.

Live life and love it
Learn to live again
Learn to give again
Learn to love again.

Live life and love it
Remember this
We do not remember days
We remember moments.

Live life and love it
And enjoy each moment.

Take care and be well.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Kayan in me

Selamet ngedau.
Good evening.

Nun Dengah. Sayu ka ika' ya?
Hello. How are you?

Lejau/Lejo Pitem aran kui.
My name is Lejo/Lejau Pitem (black tiger or panther).

Jam kesing, jam ngeli'em, jam meng bu'nget.
Don't laugh, don't smile and don't get angry.

Nusi kui jam/haman duan dahun Kayan. Jam ika duan dahun urang puti du?
I cannot speak Kayan well. Do you speak the white man's language (English)?

Kusung, ji, duak, telok, pat, limak, nem, tusu, sayak, pitan, pulu
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Now back to the language I can speak well and write well.

In September 2007, I moved to Miri, Sarawak after getting a job in a company based there.

On the 1st day of work on a hot Monday morning, I was taken up to my sitting area and was sat next to this tall young handsome boy named AH (not Adolf Hitler if you're wondering). We shall call my brother by his name Buang Puti or Polar Bear or maybe I'll just refer to him as Bu Bu.

Bu Bu was of Kayan origin, not much I knew about the indigenous tribes of Sarawak at that time but in no time, our cubicle was the party cubicle with snacks, laughter, joy and soon I was adopted into the Kayan family.

So, there, there is part Kayan in me.

 Bu Bu and I really had some good memories in that cubicle of ours.

I remember the time when he was pursuing this girl that is now his wife.

I remember the days when we were not to happy and we just decide to write songs based on various themes like Our Favorite Things and I Feel Pretty.

We brought snacks to the office and one of our cupboards was just filled with various snacks.

We created stories out of our characters Buang and Lejo's adventures.

We played ultimate Frisbee on Sunday.

We went on boat rides on the river.

We created our own version of Twister.

We laughed, we loved, we had great fun.

And slowly, this strange land of the hornbills became a familiar place with friends and family abound.

Of course, now Lejo is here in Kay El and Buang is there in Miri and over time and over distance, we have grown a little apart but we are brothers, and that will always remain.

Thanks Bu Bu, Buang Puti for accepting me in your Kayan family and brotherhood, for that I am truly and forever grateful. God bless you and when you go sleep at night, remember you have a brother that always sends his love to you'll.

Wishing you'll a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Take care and be well.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Just Just

I would precisely, merely, simply, certainly, exactly
like to be honorable, fair, consistent, righteous.

I just want to be honorable;
Graduate this life honorably, and move on without burdening anyone.

I just want to be fair;
Treat each living organism fairly and equally with respect and with honor.

I just want to be consistent;
Give love to everyone and every living object and being in this universe consistently and equally.

I just want to be righteous;
Always do the right thing and accept and seek forgiveness for any unintended wrongdoing.

I just want to be just.

Just just.

No more, no less.

Just just.

And you ....
Yes you ....
You're amazing ....
Just the way you are.

So please just treat me with just.
And I ...
I'm amazing too and
I want to create each day anew and
I just want to be just.

Just just.

Take care and be well.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Imagine

Imagine this, I am sure most of you can think of the song, of a time when you heard the song, originally written by John Lennon, you can even remember some of the lyrics if not all.

In actual fact, non of us want to be in such a world imagined and written in John Lennon's song.

After all, if you really read into the lyrics or think about it, it is an anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic song.

But because it is sugar coated and sung by many many famous artist we accept this communist song. I am surprised that China does not play this song more often.

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

There goes half the religious views out the door, no heaven, no hell - no Christianity, no Islam - but it's a nice song.

Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do

Karl Marx will surely be smiling in his grave, this is a page out of his Communist Manifesto.

Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

An Atheist dream, a communist dream, a pacifist dream, no religion, no worries, no wars.

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Surely John and Yoko Ono made a tonne of money on this song, I would like to imagine how much they gave for the cause? Who did they donate their money to? The communist party or the atheist organization perhaps.
How about all the other tonnes of singers who have made a lot of money on this song. Any of them have tried t achieve this world they imagine about?

You know how many singers have sang this song - some over and over again just to reap more profits?

Well, the following are the few people other than John Lennon that have sang this song over and over and over again.
  • Joan Baez
  • Andy Williams
  • Diana Ross
  • Susan Cadogan
  • Average White Band with Ben E. King
  • Roger Whittaker
  • Elton John
  • Queen
  • Rino Gaetano, Riccardo Cocciante, and Giovanni Tommaso
  • Tânia Maria
  • Gerry & The Pacemakers
  • Nana Mouskouri
  • Randy Crawford with Yellowjackets
  • Randy Crawford with Zucchero
  • Cleo Laine and John Williams
  • Mia Martini
  • Roberto Carlos with Gabriella
  • Tracie Spencer
  • Singh Kaur with Dean Evenson
  • Richie Havens
  • Scott Bakula
  • Jack Jones of Southern Sons with Tommy Emmanuel 
  • Human Nature
  • Liza Minnelli 
  • David Bowie
  • Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
  • Blues Traveler
  • Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
  • Noa, Khaled, Liane Foly, Faudel, Garou, Patrick Fiori, Luck Mervil, Julie Zenatti, Rachid Taha, Tina Arena, Julien Clerc, and Cheb Mami
  • Live
  • David Young
  • Etta Cameron
  • Our Lady Peace
  • Neil Young
  • Ray Charles 
  • Ruben Studdard and the Harlem Gospel Singers
  • Charlotte Church
  • Eva Cassidy's
  • Noa, Khaled, Mercedes Sosa, Nicola Piovani, Black Voices, Farhade Darva, Remo Girone, Bongo Maffin, Fiorella Mannoia, Danilo Rea, Dino Merlin, Bilja Krstic with Bistrik Orchestra, Alexander Lintott, Ensenble vocale di Roma, Solis String Quartet, Ray Charles and other artists
  • The Persuasions
  • Declan Galbraith
  • Yolanda Adams and Billy Preston
  • Antonio Banderas
  • The Bill Cunliffe Trio
  • Sissel Kyrkjebo, Josh Groban, Angélique Kidjo, Mari Boine, Michelle Branch, Laura Pausini, Willie Nelson, Jessye Norman, Santana, Suede, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and other artist
  • P.J. Proby 
  • Alex Parks
  • Aretha Franklin, Angela Gheorghiu, Orchestra Baobab, The Cardigans, The Chieftains, Rosanne Cash, Craig David, Jan Werner Danielsen, The Kamkars, Lene Marlin, Roberto Alagna, Robert Plant with Strange Sensation, Tim McGraw, and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra
  • Keb' Mo'
  • A Perfect Circle
  • Madonna
  • Dolly Parton with David Foster
  • Dolly Parton with Elton John
  • Katie Melua, Paul Carrack, Bobby Kimball, Leslie Mandoki and Ian Anderson
  • Łzy (Tears)
  • Rick Springfield
  • Allison Crowe
  • Jordis Unga
  • Leil with Bill Clinton and Arab and Jewish choir
  • Roberta Flack
  • Peter Gabriel
  • Cyndi Lauper
  • Donavon Frankenreiter and Patrice
  • Etta James
  • Avril Lavigne and Jack Johnson 
  • Willie Nelson, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Afroreggae, James Stewart and Josh Groban
  • Connie Talbot
  • Miley Cyrus
  • David Archuleta
  • Maureen McGovern
  • Lady Gaga
  • Amber Riley (Mercedes), Kevin McHale (Artie), Lea Michele (Rachel) and Cory Monteith (Finn)
  • Seal, P!nk, India.Arie, Jeff Beck, Konono N°1, Oumou Sangare
  • Christina Aguilera 
  • Will Ferrell and Manny Pacquiao
  • Dave Days, Tiffany Alvord, AJ Rafael, Jess Delgado, Amy Heidemann, and Sid Sriram
  • Cher Lloyd
Were you surprised to see this list? I was not.

I am just imagining if all these capitalist who reaped a lot of profits from capitalist consumers like us must have known that nobody really cares about the an anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic lyrics of this song.

And while everybody would like to live in this imaginary world, in reality, I think nobody really does want to live in this imagined world.

Oh well, I guess people let their imaginations go a little wild with this one.

So let me end with this. This nice, old man really wanted to win the lottery. So, one week, he goes to a place of the Lord and he says, "Oy, Lord of heaven and earth, imagine how much good I could do with ze money I vould vin if I von the lottery! Imagine how much charity I could give! Help me vin the lottery and I will spent ze money wisely!"

He doesn't win the lottery.


The next week, he goes again and says, "Oh, lord of heaven and earth, you must not have heard me last veek! Imagine how many lives I could make easier with ze money from ze lottery! Help me vin ze lottery!"

Once again, he doesn't win.

The third week, he goes again and prays in a similar vein.

Suddenly, he hears a voice from the heavens: "Help me, help me!"

He says, "Lord of heaven and earth, what can I do to help you?"

"Buy a bloody damn ticket!"

Take care and be well.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Hindsight, Insight, Foresight, Out of Sight

An Irish toast to begin my blog today, and to end with it too.

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, The foresight to know where you are going, And the insight to know when you have gone too far.

There are many issues one faces in life, many challenges, many obstacles and many adventures.

Each of these issues, challenges, obstacles and adventures must be taken on like taking a bull by its horns.

So, how does one take a bull by its horns, how does one tackle their problems directly and is not worried about any risks involved.

For that, we must have at least 3 things called Hindsight, Insight and Foresight. Only with these three musketeers will your problems be Out of Sight - well at least they will be tackled.

Hindsight is the ability to understand, after something has happened, what should have been done or what caused the event.

Some of hindsight is obviously a reaction from a past incident but with hindsight, we can manage current issues and problems.

Replies to issues, questions, challenges not only come from your mind, but you can search your heart for the right answer.

But while learning something, never allow your ego to stand as a barrier. It is our ego that creates hindsight.

Ego blocks your understanding. In the worst cases, ego coupled up with fear restrains you from acting in case of necessity.

Insight is an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, esp. through intuitive understanding; penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth.

This is the glue that lets you move from hindsight to foresight. To have some insight on a problem, you will be able to use hindsight and foresight to resolve it.

Understanding is the father of insight. Feelings born from understanding produce pearls of insight

Foresight is the act or power of foreseeing; an act of looking forward; knowledge or insight gained by or as by looking forward; a view of the future. Foresight helps humans to be wholly transformed. Bizarre thoughts appearing in the forms of dreams for your future in your mind can not be termed as foresight. A pure thought as foresight completely transforms you like a caterpillar getting transformed into a butterfly.

No one can predict the future, but foresight is not about predicting, it is about using hindsight and insight to gain some power of foreseeing.

The foundation for foresight is laid when someone stays only in the present. Staying present in the presence of moments in your very life that God has given you is called meditation.

In such meditative state you observe yourself and bring changes you need the most. For everything in this mortal world is transient. Unless you change yourself and be transformed, the forthcoming time shall never welcome you.

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, The foresight to know where you are going, And the insight to know when you have gone too far.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Giving and receiving

It's a season for giving and some receiving,  but in this home, it's always a season for giving.

I grew up in a family where food was always in abundance no matter who came home unexpected, unannounced or uninvited. It did not matter, everyone was welcome and there was always sufficient food around.

Wifey had the same upbringing while her father was alive as her father was such a giver than even after his passing, many people remembered and recognised his giving. After his passing, I can only imagine that life would have got tougher for a mom who hailed from India with three young children, one being Down Syndrome.

Despite all these hardships, my mother in law brought up 3 wonderful daughters, 2 whom graduated from University and 1 that is just a joy to be with despite her challenges.

So, when wifey and I came together as a couple, we maintained our giving culture. As much as our time and finances allow, we donate our time and our money to charitable institutions.

Apart from that, we have had so many house parties and dinners for friends over the years.

When it comes time fro Christmas or birthdays, we will surely have a nice party to make the occasion more joyous.

Of course, sometimes we get a little frustrated that we never seem to get invited to things or we never receive as much as we give. But we very soon banish the thought from our minds.

We will always receive as long as we give. We give food, we receive joy and laughter. We give money, we receive gratitude. We give time, we receive joy.

So, giving giving giving has not made us any poorer but richer.

And having Al E, who just gives love and joy unconditionally 24/7/365 has just encouraged us that our life will continue to be one of giving and thus receiving.

Try it out for a change. If you are one of those that like to receive more than give, try to change. Have a party, celebrate something in life, donate your time to some needy institute or give some care to someone in need.

Try giving. And enjoy and be grateful for everything you will receive.

Take care and be well.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Five cents=5 sense,10 cents=10 sense,0 cents=nonsense,finance gone bonkers

Wifey likes to say nonsense especially to me quite a bit. So, in jest, I have started calling her five cents. And Al E ten cents.

See, if I have no sense i.e. no cents or nonsense, then I better hope others have more cents/sense then me.

So wifey is 5 cents, cause all her senses work well - sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.

I being nonsense, have no sense whatsoever sometimes what I am doing or saying or writing even, but sometimes it's happy being one without sense.

You see, if everyone in the world makes so much of sense, and this is what we have in the world, then I'd rather be the one without any.

So why is Al E ten cents or ten sense? I've always believed that animals and more so my boy has always had more sense than human beings. His sense of smell and hearing is phenomenal and his psychic sense and other telepathic senses are also very good. So, obviously he his higher than 5 cents.

So, we live in the house happily with two zero cents (the 2 men in the house), one five cents and one ten cents.

No wonder balancing the finances is such a difficult job ... after all, how to survive with just 15 cents.

Do you know that no matter how much you save, it seems never enough?

For example, you may have started saving for retirement when you were 25 and at that time a loaf of bread cost 60 cents. Being intelligent, you'd think the bread would cost maybe 2 or 3 times more by the time you retire, so you budget 1.80 for a loaf of bread for after you retire. And you do this for the rest of the essentials you will need.

So, every year you save money at a 3-5% interest rate, but the thing is, you are still 15 years aways from retirement and a loaf of bread is already more than 1.80 now.

So, what do you do?

Maybe you save more but then again, because housing prices, petrol prices, food prices and pretty much everything has gone up so high, you cannot save as much.

Then you dig yourself a nice hole by getting credit cards and personal loans.

Those were the days when a middle income person earning 3-5k a month could easily afford a decent house in KL. Nowadays, even houses in Cheras, Kepong and Puchong (which were all mostly jungles when I started working in 1991) are more than 700k for a decent property. What more places like Bangsar, Damansara, Subang, PJ?

My first car was a Nissan Sunny bought at 25k, a nice solid 1.3cc engine manual transmission car which had an absorber bumper still talked about today compared to the slotted in bumper that falls off with a slight bump. Forget the prices of cars.

Ten years ago, I used to buy roti canai for 50 cents, now, only 1 place I know still maintains that price whereas the rest are 1 dollar. When I was 15, it was 15 cents. I am not 100 now, but it is 100 cents.

Ten years ago, I would pump my car with 35 dollars worth of Petrol and would travel about 600 kilometres with it. Now, it requires me to pump about 110.

Ten years ago, companies that made something made money i.e. a manufacturer of some goods. Now, a fiance company that loans money to these manufacturer's at high interest rates as well as provide loans to all of us are the ones making money.

Well, the world is forever changing, but my 1Malaysia is changing ever so faster than the rest of the world. I guess we are in a different orbital cycle all together.

Oh well, sometimes it is better being nonsense.

I will have to keep things from a long time ago in my memories, just keep on believing in love and good things and lead a balance life. C'est la vie/That's life .... especially if people want to keep living in their Dog Eat Dog world but I'll be happy in my doggy dog world and continue doing what I do every night - which is to give love to every living thing in this whole wide world or ours.

Take care and be well.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Every night

Every night I hug and kiss my wife to sleep.

Every night I cherish the moment, the years spent together, despite all ups and downs.

Every night I bid my ole man a good night.

Every night I cherish that despite all his crappiness at times, he is there, he has been supportive and he has been proud of his children.

Every night I wish my boy Al E good night and he bids me good night by licking up my face.

Every night I cherish his unconditional love for me and my family despite his Mr Hyde behaviour at times cause his love overcomes everything else.

Every night I say a thanks to my guardian angel for guiding me to a better life.

Every night I cherish his advice and his guidance and his love.

Every night I say a prayer to God, I thank him for all his guidance and his help.

Every night, I cherish God or as some may want to say the Universal energy.

Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you and that is how I know I can go on. (Okay, so this was taken from the Titanic theme song but still ...)

Every night, when I gaze up into the sky, I know that there is a place up there for me.

When you gaze at the sky at night, I'll be living on one of those stars, I'll be laughing on one of those stars, and you'll feel as if all the stars are laughing. And when you're feeling better, you'll be glad you know me. You'll always be my friend. The laughter will be my gift. (and this is from The Little Prince, one of my favorite children's story book which I recently purchased in an comic book format).

Every night I am thankful that I still have my laughter and sense of humour, my health and peace of mind.

Every night I pray a prayer and send love to everyone in this whole wide world of mine.

Yes, there is an abundance of love, and I will never be short of it, so I just wish upon each living thing on this planet Earth to receive love. From the trees and the bushes, to the ants and the elephants, to the anchovies and the whales, to the bacteria and the fungi, to each living animal including each person in this world receives some love from me every day, in my night.

Every night, I bid you all a good night and a good life.

Take care and be well.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Doggy Dog or Dog Eat Dog

Is it really a doggy dog world or is it a dog eat dog world.

Many people have said that it's a dog eat dog world, every man for himself.

A place where you either eat or get eaten. It refers to competition, and means that the world can be highly competitive.

But most of these people do not have a dog.

So, humans giving dog some bad rep by saying dog eat dog world to refer to their own competition and selfishness.

I rather live in a doggy dog world.

If you think dogs are fierce and bad and can attack people, please note that this dogs have been trained as such, they have been trained as guards or attack dogs.

In Malaysia, you will see many German Sheppards being trained as guard dog, but in reality, they are just farm or sheep dogs as the name suggests.

In a doggy dog world, every dog will know each other through unique distinct smells and everyone will know each other and will be wagging their tales away.

In a doggy dog world, the young dog will always respect the older dog, even if he is old, deaf, limp, big, small. The old man or woman gets the respect, no matter what.

A dog will scratch himself if he itches, anytime, anywhere.

A dog loves to play, always.

A dog can sleep in any position, at anytime on any floor.

A dog hardly ever complains.

A hungry dog will eat anything and will be grateful for any food that is given to him or her but they will not eat another dog.

A dog will always be grateful.

A dog will give you unconditional love.

And most of all, I've never seen a dog eat another dog. So how could it be a dog eat dog world? More like a cannibal world, where humans eat humans, kill humans, stab people in the back or shoot them in the head.

And wifey and I, and even my ole man, have changed our lives because of the dog in our world. Sometimes I wonder if I have taught him more things or if Al E has taught me more things. I am leaning towards him teaching me more things, humility, gratefulness, unconditional love and lots more.

For us it's definitely a doggy dog world and while people around us may be living in these "dog eat dog world", we have moved on to something better and more fun and more fulfilling.

Take care and be well.

Friday, December 3, 2010

C'est la vie

That's life.
C'est la vie

We always hope to balance our lives but sometimes things are beyond our control like a two and a half hour traffic jam for no apparent reason.
Nous espérons toujours à équilibrer notre vie, mais parfois les choses sont hors de notre contrôle comme un deux et un bourrage demi-heure de la circulation sans raison apparente.

We sometimes loose our faith and loose our believe in ourselves.
Nous avons parfois perdre notre foi et de perdre notre confiance en nous.

We sometimes have beauty but we do not appreciate it, we do not take time to smell the roses.
Nous avons parfois la beauté, mais nous ne l'apprécient pas, nous ne prenons pas le temps de sentir les roses.
 
We sometimes neglect our homes, what more small home towns like BM. As for the language, BM, that is best left neglected.
Nous négligeons parfois nos maisons, ce que les villes maison plus petite comme BM. Quant à la langue, BM, qu'il vaut mieux laisser négligées.

But that's life. We hope to make the best of life, and we do our best. As my wifey always says, those who try fail, those who do, may fail but at least they did.
Mais c'est la vie. Nous espérons tirer le meilleur parti de la vie, et nous faisons de notre mieux. Comme mon wifey dit toujours, ceux qui essaient échouent, ceux qui ne peuvent manquer, mais au moins qu'ils ont fait.

A person, who dreams of becoming a doctor drops his studies to work because his dad decides to retire early. At 17, his work life, hardship started.
Une personne, qui rêve de devenir un médecin sera en baisse ses études pour travailler parce que son père décide de prendre une retraite anticipée. A 17 ans, sa vie de travail, les difficultés ont commencé.

Why did his dad retire early? I have wondered and now I have understood. Some people retire early because of purely selfish reasons. My grandfather retired early because he was cheated by his own brother and he had no will to start a business again.
Pourquoi son père prendre une retraite anticipée? Je me suis demandé, et maintenant j'ai compris. Certaines personnes prennent une retraite anticipée à cause de raisons purement égoïstes. Mon grand-père pris une retraite anticipée parce qu'il a été trompé par son propre frère et il n'avait pas la volonté de démarrer une entreprise à nouveau.

So, at 17, a man, with 4 younger brothers and 2 sisters started working at Indian Rupees 100 per month and he continued working until he was 70. Over the years, he sees one of his sister die young, another brother goes missing and becomes the black sheep to escape.
Ainsi, au 17, un homme, avec 4 frères et 2 soeurs commencé à travailler à 100 roupies indiennes par mois et il continue à travailler jusqu'à ce qu'il était de 70. Au fil des ans, il voit un de ses soeurs meurent jeunes, un autre frère est porté disparu et devient le mouton noir de s'échapper.

Two boys work hard, one in Malaysia and another in Singapore. But the eldest always bears the responsibility and the burden in that generation. The burden is especially heavy on the eldest. The 2 youngest ones work in a small shop in India and eventually follow the father's footsteps .... brother's argue, shops get sold, and soon an early retirement follows.
Deux garçons travaillent dur, un en Malaisie et un autre à Singapour. Mais l'aîné porte toujours la responsabilité et la charge de cette génération. Le fardeau est particulièrement lourd sur l'aîné. Les 2 plus jeunes travaillent dans une petite boutique en Inde et, éventuellement, suivre les traces du père .... frère soutiennent, les magasins soient vendus, et bientôt une retraite anticipée suit.

When one goes through a life of hardship, dropping his dreams to work hard to support his family, the hardship he faces soon makes him into a hard person, like a rock. Strong and firm but sometimes no heart.
Quand on passe par une vie de misère, laissant tomber son rêve de travailler dur pour aider sa famille, les difficultés qu'il rencontre bientôt fait de lui une personne dure, comme un rocher. Solide et stable, mais parfois pas de cœur.

As you get older, you start to understand this firmness, this lack of love. When he himself has not been shown true love from his parents, it is not easy to have the heart. When he has been conned by many, the heart becomes strong, so strong that it becomes a rock. When this happens, like wifey says, we have to show him and give him love.
En vieillissant, vous commencez à comprendre cette fermeté, ce manque d'amour. Quand il a lui-même pas été démontré que le véritable amour de ses parents, il n'est pas facile d'avoir du cœur. Quand il a été escroqué par beaucoup, le coeur devient fort, si fort qu'il devient un rocher. Lorsque cela se produit, comme wifey dit, nous devons lui montrer et lui donner l'amour.

So that is what we do, we show him and give him love and the journey has been long, the journey has been difficult and the journey has been rough like a roller coaster. But beauty has brains and beauty has heart and with all our might and heart, we show love. Through daily life, through spirituality, through Reiki. We do not run away from responsibilities. We take it on.
C'est donc ce que nous faisons, nous lui montrer et lui donner l'amour et le voyage a été long, le voyage a été difficile et le voyage a été rude comme les montagnes russes. Mais la beauté a des cerveaux et de la beauté a du cœur et de toutes nos forces et de cœur, nous sho amour. A travers la vie quotidienne, à travers la spiritualité, thorugh Reiki. Nous n'avons pas fuir les responsabilités. Nous prenons le.

Gone are the days when the eldest in the family bears the burden. Not any more, eldest or youngest makes no difference. Some people hide in their anonymity and run from responsibilities. Live the dream. But that's life.
Il est révolu le temps où l'aîné de la famille a la charge. Pas plus, l'aîné ou le plus jeune ne fait aucune différence. Certaines personnes se cachent dans leur anonymat et exécuter des responsabilités. Vivez le rêve. Mais c'est la vie.

C'est la vie. Nous allons persévérer.
That's life. We will persevere.

Prendre soin et être bien.
Take care and be well.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Believe, Balance, Beauty and BM

Let's start with BM. BM for Bukit Mertajam, a place where I started my schooling in kindergarten and BM for Bahasa Malaysia, a language of my country.

A long time ago, when I was 11 months old, my family moved from Penang island, 6, Che Em Lane, off of Penang Street to 6, Gandhi Terrace, Ghatkopar, Mumbai.

After a few years there, when I was 3, my family moved back to Penang, but in the mainland in a small town called Bukit Mertajam and lived in a corner terrace house numbered 6 in Taman Jaya. I went to a Chinese kindergarten and learned English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. My best friend in kindergarten was named John. My teacher whose name I cannot remember was also a left-hander like me.

I remained in Bukit Mertajam until I was 6 and then my family moved to 49, Kelawei Road, Pulau Tikus back on Penang Island. I remained on the island until I was 17 and did miserably in my SPM.

After a few years in KL, I went to USA and stayed there until the completion of my degree. When I moved back to Malaysia in 1991, my family was back living in Bukit Mertajam and that is where my parents lived until as recently as 5 years ago. Bukit Mertajam has grown in years but still a little town that I spent a considerable amount of time in.

My Bahasa Malaysia is horrendous. I scored a P8 in SPM, which is just barely a pass and just a few marks above failure. However, in my first jobs in my career, as a journalist as well as a manufacturing supervisor, I had to use BM quite a lot.

Now can you imagine someone who speaks street Malay dealing with politicians as well as manufacturing operators?

Yes, I have interviewed Mahathir, Anwar, Badawi, Najib, Samy Vellu, Ling Liong Sik and the rest who were in power then. I witnessed the frog hopping election in Sabah in 1992 that was won by opposition PBS and then bought over by the ruling coalition.

One day I was trying to motivate my manufacturing operators and they started laughing at me because the word I translated for "This is such a big embarrassment." ended up being "This is such a big ass" because I used "kemaluan" which in my P8 BM translated to an embarrassment.

Of course we all had a good laugh about it and that is what life is about. Laughing at our own mistakes and not making them again.

Beauty is a person I once saw a long time ago. This person did not like me in the beginning like I mentioned in my blog previously but 1 wonderful date changed it all.

Balance is always having a balance in life, you need to balance between your work and the money you earn with your time and what you do with it.

We have 24 hours in a day that we will never get back. On average, nowadays, most people spend 10-12 hours working and being in between work in a car, train etc. 8 hours we sleep on average. That just leaves 4-6 hours to do something with your life.

And what do most of us do with these 6 hours? We watch the idiot box, we eat, we blog, we read but rarely we really spend quality time with loved ones and nowadays people rarely talk. I have not spoken to some people in years and months.

So, my goal is to thrive for more balance. Work the 8 hours and every now and then put in the 10 or 12 hours. And spend more time with loved ones, meditate and seek guidance from the Universe or God or Guardian Angel.

Believe in yourself, believe that there a good things planned for you and for sure you will get balance in your life.

And what more can I ask but to have believe, have some balance and beauty beside me? Well, I guess I could improve my BM if I want to be and be less of a "kemaluan".

Take care and be well.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A long time ago

Many fairy tales begin with the line a long time ago, so, while as adults and humans we tend to stop believing in fairy tales, I start my December blog with "A long time ago...."

Hopefully some of you will figure out the theme of my blogs in a few days, some may take until the day after Christmas to realize it and some may not realize the theme at all.

A long time is a matter of perspective, for a 5 year old kid, a long time ago, is maybe just a month ago and for a man of 76, a long time ago was when he was in his 30's.

I am in my 40's now and for me a long time ago is anything before I was 30.

A lot of wonderful things happened a long time ago.

So here are a few of my stories from A Long Time Ago...

A long time ago I met this wonderful girl. We did not like each other in the beginning but after a couple of months, by coincidence and by accident, we went on our first date on April 30, 1994. I was a journalist in the newly started Sun newspaper in Malaysia. Our 1st date was in Mario's Italian Restaurant inside the Holiday Inn on the Park (many will not remember that such a hotel existed and now it is called Impiana KLCC). Our courtship and relationship was by far not a smooth or fantasy filled one but we did have a lot of fun and laughter. Eventually, I got married to this girl I met on December 27, 1996 and have been married to her since. Life has it's ups and downs and certainly ours has had some turbulent times that we have dealt with but one thing I know is that despite all our shortcomings, we have a lot to be thankful for and we love each other no different and perhaps even more than a long time ago.

A long time ago, a boy who had lost all hope after doing miserably in the SPM exams (equivalent to O levels in UK). This boy was not stupid, all his teachers and headmaster would not have considered this boy a below average student. But yet, he got grade 3 although he did not fail any subjects. All hope was lost as what could a relatively smart boy with a Grade 3 in SPM do at that time? All thoughts had crossed his mind, would he become a waiter, or a taxi driver or even a post man - all of which are commendable jobs that require some intelligence. At grade 3 in SPM, he did not even qualify for an entry level job in the government, so being a postman or a policeman or a soldier was already out of the question. One day he followed his friend to check out some private colleges in Kuala Lumpur. We checked out a few amongst which was KDU. Despite the shortcomings, some lecturer's saw the intelligence and allowed this boy with a grade 3 to enroll. This boy ended up growing into a man that is now me, having been on the dean's list and graduating with a B+ average, having done his Masters degree and working in a global role in a multi national company and having travelled many parts of the world with his lovely wife.

A long time ago, a boy who was 17 had his dreams of becoming a doctor destroyed when his father prematurely retired and being the eldest, he was forced to go to work to support his large family. The boy first worked in the dockyards in Calcutta and then moved to Penang in 1953. He worked with his uncle who paid him a sum of Indian Rupees 100 per month as wages (that is about USD3/month not an hour or a day). Lucky for him, he had free room and board at his uncle's place, so a decent lice filled bed to sleep on and 3 square meals a day for his labours of ensuring goods were unloaded from the port and sent to the shop. This man, with his hard work, his trustworthiness is my dad. Now 76 years old and has made his millions. By far not a super rich millionaire but a relatively well to do person who despite his crankiness at this age has lived a life of honour and respect among his peers and his elders as well as the younger generation who know him.

A long time ago, a wonderful mother and wife was taken by God in her sleep.

A lot of inspiration has come from a long time ago, but also remember, a long time ago, we used to eat mee goreng (fried noddles) in the school canteen for 30 cents. And we used to buy curry puff from the old man with a basket and his pickled onions for 15 cents. A long time ago, when we sang our national anthem, state anthem or school anthem, we meant it.

Well, a long time ago is a long time ago. We all have our wonderful memories. I certainly do keep these memories and cherish them but I do not live in a long time ago, we all have to live in the present, in the now.

Take care and be well.