The Ultimate Rejection Letter

If you dont succeed at an interview TRY THIS!
----------------------------
Herbert A. Millington Chair - Search Committee
412A Clarkson Hall
Whitson University College Hill
MA 34109 USA

Dear Professor Millington,

Thank you for your letter of March 16. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer mean assistant professor position in your department.

This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusuallylarge number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals.

Despite Whitson's outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will assume the position of assistant professor in your department this August. I look forward to seeing you then.

Best of luck in rejecting future applicants.

Sincerely,
Chris L. Jensen
Tags: Rejection Letter, Assistant Professor, Funny, Humour, Jokes

Landmine Main Reason for Pageant

Landmines are devices planted into roads, sidewalks, vehicle paths or wherever you name it in countries where wars are occuring and had occurred.

Such landmines came in various designs and could come as Blast Mines or Fragmentation Mines. When such mines blew up, it would normally destroy any object within 1m to as far as 200m away.

Lots of people have been killed worldwide and if they were not killed, they would have been maimed for the rest of their lives.

Lots of works have yet to be done to eradicate these landmines and a global network called International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) which represents over 1,100 human rights, demining, humanitarian, children's, veterans', medical, development, arms control, religious, environmental, and women's groups in over 60 countries, who work locally, nationally, regionally, and internationally to ban antipersonnel landmines.

In Angola, the government is working hand-in-hand with several local organisations and the European Union in coming up with the Miss Landmine Angola 2008 pageant (see the website on the contestant's profile).




The Miss Landmine Manifesto (in no particular order):-
* Female pride and empowerment
* Disabled pride and empowerment
* Global and local landmine awareness and information
* Challenge inferiority and/or guilt complexes that hinder creativity- historical, cultural, social, personal, African, European
* Question established concepts of physical perfection
* Challenge old and ingrown concepts of cultural cooperation
* Celebrate true beauty

The world's first Miss Landmine event is to be held in conjunction with United Nation's International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April 2008. The winner of this event would receive a custom-made prothesis from Norway's leading manufacturer.

Reading: Angola to host landmine pageant - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Landmine, Blast Mines, Fragmentation Mines, Anti-Landmine Campaign, Angola, Miss Landmine Angola 2008, Africa, International Campaign to Ban Landmines, ICBL, International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, United Nations, European Union

Misadventure of Mr Big and RM2 Toilet Entry

'Stolen' the following photos from my friend's facebook. Khairul Anuar, found your comments amusing so I have to blog about it ...... LOL!

This is entrance to the premier paid toilet found in Suria KLCC, the shopping centre located at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers (world's second tallest building).

So he said, it must be crazy with a RM2 toilet entry fee.

His comments: the toiletwares should be silver plated and decorated with nice posters on the wall. As there were none, then this was just a normal toilet.

His comments: should have been gold plated la toilet seat. Why was still in white colour? I want my money back..nothing extraordinary..should gone for free piss instead.
His comments: Fuuh..beautiful, at last some class but where was the butler.
His comments: There were some Body Shop items.
His comments: This is what I call class but please put Harrods, Aigner or Davidoff toiletries la ... paid RM2 for this entry.
Tags: Toilet Entry Fee, Suria KLCC, Petronas Twin Tower, Premier Paid Toilet, Exclusive

Earth Hour

About Earth Hour
On March 31 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming – coal-fired electricity – by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world.

In 2008, 24 global cities will participate in Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.

It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?
The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

I'm in!

Reading: Asian cities prepare to kick off Earth Hour -AFP
Reading: Hour of darkness shines a light on our precious reefs - WWF
Tags: Earth Hour, Earth, Global Warming, Environment, Cut Emissions, Climate Change, Greenhouse Reduction, Energy Reduction, Global Movement, WWF

Taxi Scam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport

I have just blogged about Malaysian Style last week and on item 3, it was stated as follow:-

Lesson 3
You have no friends in Malaysia (yet) and you decide to take a cab from the airport. You'll soon realize that the one-way taxi fare is more expensive than a night's stay at most decent hotels.(this is still prevalent even though the government has said it again and again that illegal cabs wouldn't surface again)
----------------------------------------

In the newspapers lately, various complaints have been made known and are as follows:-

RM160 for taxi fare from KLIA to KL
I RECENTLY received guests from Russia who were here for the first time and immediately felt both embarrassed and angry that they had to fork out RM160 for a so called budget taxi coupon at KLIA.

I had already text them to ask for a budget taxi coupon, which they did. But somehow, my guests had to fork out RM160 for the one way trip from KLIA to Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.

In the morning traffic rush hour the following day, my guests took a cab to KLCC and it cost them RM6 because the honest taxi driver used the meter. But returning from KLCC to Setapak, they had to pay RM40 as no taxi wanted to use the meter.

This problem has been around for many years and perhaps hundreds of visitors have been cheated by taxi drivers. Why aren't the authorities able to stop this embarrassing situation at KLCC?

Don’t suspend just the licences of taxi drivers; charge them in court and blacklist them permanently.
MALU MALAYSIAN, Kuala Lumpur.
----------------------------------------

Unfair ploy to upgrade taxi at LCCT
AS A frequent traveller on AirAsia, I use the taxi service at LCCT often. I always travel from LCCT to the same place, and always with two passengers on board. Therefore, I know the exact fare that I should be charged, which is RM60.80.

That was not the case on March 21 when I wanted to buy a ticket to my usual destination, and I was told that my fare was more than RM90! When I asked the counter staff on this, they said that my luggage might be too big to fit into the Budget Taxi, and that they were charging me for the Premier Taxi.

I told them that we only had two bags and there were only two of us on board. Even if my luggage couldn’t fit into the boot, it could’ve been placed in the front seat or between the two passengers in the back seat.

After they checked the sizes of our bags and that they would fit, they let us buy the Budget Taxi ticket.

I felt that we were being forced to “upgrade” our taxi without a valid reason. The fare is RM30 higher.

We fought our case since we knew how much we should be charged. What about the others who don't know?
ALMOST SCAMMED, Kuala Lumpur.
----------------------------------------

Shame on LCCT taxi company
ON March 20, the attendant at the LCCT taxi counter refused to sell me a budget taxi coupon on the excuse that my suitcase was too big and the queue long.

I insisted on budget taxi because there were only my daughter and me sharing one suitcase and we are both quite skinny. No need to use a chopper to kill a fly, right? I also told her that queuing was my problem, not hers.

But she insisted we took a premier taxi costing over RM90 to Kuala Lumpur. On learning that both taxi counters belong to the same company, we took the bus to KL Sentral and from there, a budget taxi – a Proton Saga, same as those in LCCT – to hotel. It was a comfortable ride.

The total cost? RM30, plus a little more time. Shame on you LCCT taxi company!
REFUSED TO BE CONNED,Kota Kinabalu.
----------------------------------------

My own experience - I don't opt for the premier taxi at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) when I come back from overseas trip. I travel alone usually so the budget taxi is just nice for me. BUT!

Yeah big BUT .............. if you were not careful with the girls at the airport taxi counter just after the customs checkpoint at the arrival door, you could be duped. The company managing the airport taxi may sue me for putting this up but I'm only highlighting what happened to me just like those complainants that wrote to Star newspaper.

Each time when you approach the counter, they would wish you and then ask for your destination. For sure they would tell you the price of the premier taxi first. If you were not careful and pay for it and subsequently boarded that taxi, there goes your money. You would have thought that was the only taxi available in the airport not knowing that budget taxis were available too.

If you were used to their first offer, you could answer back - "please give me the budget taxi". Without questioning and haggling you any further, they would print out the budget taxi coupon, you pay for it and off you go.

From what I witness on many occasions, when a foreigner approaches the airport taxi counter, the girls at the counter would definitely sound very sweet and say "Afternoon sir, where is your destination please".

Foreigner would respond "Hotel so and so at Kuala Lumpur". Straightaway the counter girl would print out a ticket for the premier taxi without informing the foreigner of the budget taxi option. You call this a sales gimmick or keeping quiet on options or plain cheating or Caveat Emptor?

The operator could say that "Well, the customers never ask any questions or for any other cheaper options".

Where are the authorities? Which authority in the first place? Well, at this point various authority would be passing the buck here and there. All this are happening right at the first step (for the foreigner) into our country.

Related post:-
* Malaysian Style
Tags: Malaysian Style, Taxi, Cab, Airport Taxi Scam, Airport Taxi, Airport Limo, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KLIA, LCCT, Disputes

Investment in Facebook

Facebook - don't know what it is?

About Facebook - Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

Lots of my friends have it and I got an account too. I don't fiddle with it but just read what other people are doing in their life. This blog of mine is good enough. The facebook is just to maintain contact with friends or their whereabouts.

And if you think that Facebook is nothing or not interesting, read the following:-

* Microsoft has invested US$240M in Facebook's equities during Oct 2007. (source: Microsoft)

* Yesterday, Li Ka Shing, Hong Kong's richest billionaire, has invested US$120M in Facebook's equities via his foundation company. (source: Reuters)
Tags: Facebook, Microsoft, Li Ka Shing, Li Ka Shing Foundation

TATA, New Owner of Jaguar and Land Rover

Tata Motors Ltd ("Tata"), an Indian based company, has emerged as one of the frontrunners in the motor industry by purchasing the

Jaguar and

Land Rover marquees



from the previous owner, Ford Motor Company ("Ford") at a price of US$2.3 billion, less than half of what Ford paid for 8 years back.

In January 2008, Tata has launched the world's cheapest car also known as the People' Car - Nano in India to capture India's low income market segment which comprise hundreds of millions of people.

Will this affect Jaguar and Land Rover's luxury brand name by associating it with the world's cheapest car in the same stable?

Ford has no choice but to let go of this two luxury brands due to financial constraints and easier to sell off compared to other brands in its stable. The 15,300 workers employed under this two luxury brands would be shivering now, not knowing what would be in store for them.

With USA heading into recession, will there be more fire sale of other luxury brands of any industry to foreign-based companies.

Reading: Ford sells Jaguar, Land Rover to Tata - BusinessWeek
Tags: Ford, Tata Motors Ltd, Tata, Jaguar, Land Rover, People's Car, Nano, India, Motor Industry, Motor Vehicle, Car

Cost of Raising Up Year 2007 Babies

A study was done by United States Department of Agriculture on the costs involved in raising up a baby born in the year of 2007 till he/she is 18 years old (that would be year 2025).

With the cost of providing food (17%) and child care and education expenses (12%) taking up the majority of the costs involved, it also depends on your disposable income at the end. But on average, families were expected to spend US$204,060 on feeding, housing and schooling a child. That's easily RM650,000 for the full 17 years. Having two kids could make you an instant millionaire. Lemme count, that would be roughly US$12,000 or RM38,000 required per annum per child.

The study also stated that families making less than US$45,800 (RM146,000) per annum would likely spend around US$148,320 (RM474,000) on the full 17 years on one child . Those earning more than US$77,100 (RM246,000) a year, will spend approximately US$298,680 (RM955,776) till the kid's 18th birthday.

By the time they are a teenager, with inflation setting in in years to come, you have to be a multi-millionaire to raise a kid. Getting too ridiculous, isn't it?

I wonder why they stopped the study at age 18. Maybe you need to be a billionaire from there onwards with their college and university fees included.

Reading: Raising that '07 baby will cost $204,060 in U.S. - Reuters

Related post:-
* How to Survive With Your Salary?
Tags: Cost of Raising a Child, Child Rearing Cost, Cost of Living

Bible Humour

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany ?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden ?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark ?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.

PS. Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee? Yup, it's in the Bible. It says "He-brews"

Keep Smiling!!!!!

Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Bible Humour

Tunnel Not So Smart After All

Upon reading the news article "Smart Tunnel closed indefinitely", it was shocking to me. One being that I'm a regular user which would cut down my time spent in traffic jam, to and from office.

Secondly, it would cause major traffic jam again during peak hours at Jalan Sungai Besi, Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Jalan Tun Razak and the domino effect it would have on other roads leading to it.

I found that the Smart Tunnel operator should disclose the real issue behind the closure as the reason stated (which was - used to divert floodwaters to prevent flooding in the city centre) in the news article cannot be accepted at all.

The Smart Tunnel was built with three levels with the lowest level being used to divert excessive rain water to a retention pond near my residential area before being released to a nearby Kerayong river.

Unless the lowest level couldn't accommodate the excessive rain water, the upper two levels would be used for rain water diversion too.

I doubt at my highest level that both the traffic levels would be used for the diversion exercise as any flooding of those two levels would cause extensive damage to all fixtures and fittings, electrical wirings, cameras and signboards, etc.

Even if it was true, why closed indefinitely? Closed during heavy downpour or few hours after that would be well understood but still closed even 12 hours after the heavy downpour?

Or was the real reason being that the Smart Tunnel operator dare not guarantee the road users' safety if the lowest level was used for rain water diversion while heavy traffic were still on-going at the above two levels???????

Related posts:-
* Malaysia's SMART Tunnel
* Rain Water's Not Free in Malaysia
Tags: Smart Tunnel, Rain Water, Traffic Jam, Heavy Downpour

Medical Leave Due to Thigh Injury

My left thigh injury has acute pain since yesterday night which could be due to the excessive movements during the Easter weekend.

No choice but to see doctor this morning. As the clinic was located at the shoplots area where available car park was a rare case, I had to limp all the way to the clinic.

On the way, bumped into my car mechanic and a restaurant owner where I have to explained my situation as they saw me limping.

Was prescribed two types of tablets mainly for pain relief. Doctor also identified which of my leg's muscle which was in real stress - the Sartorius muscle. This muscle is one of the longest muscle in our anatomy which stretches from the hip bone till the knee. Need to have proper rest for it this time.

Thereafter, walked over to Restaurant Jalal Yusof for my brunch and ate two roti telur with a glass of teh tarik. If the government still insist that inflation is under control, that meal of mine cost RM4.40.

Late in the afternoon, I remembered that the Streamyx Combo promotion would end by end of the month, a few days left. Since I was at home might as well do it today as they are opened for business during the weekdays only.

Quickly hopped into my car and drove to the nearby TM Point Taman Desa shop to register for it. Don't care whether they would stare at a limping man but I would be saving a lot with such package. I signed up for the RM60 per month package which has unlimited broadband access, free rental for fixed phone line and a ADSL modem router.

This package would see me having a 384kbps / 128 kbps internet speed. If not mistaken, South Korea and USA are having an internet speed of 1GBps and mine would be a joke for them.

While waiting for the lady to submit my application online, I could hear the thunderstorm and see those trees being blown from all directions. My my ....... the system faltered when I was there. The lady told me to come back again tomorrow morning. I told her that I was just an employee like her and we just can't take leave as we want. Reluntantly have to call her supervisor to get the application submitted. Waited for more than 35 minutes to get my broadband service. Can you imagine that?

Took this picture when I got back to my condo and you could see the dark clouds forming. BTW, there was no rainbow in between the two towers at the bottom right as it was my phone camera's flash.
Tags: Medical Leave, Thigh Injury, Sartorius Muscle, Restaurant Jalal Yusof, Roti Telur, Teh Tarik, Streamyx Combo, TM Point, Unlimited Broadband, Internet Speed, ADSL Modem Router, Thunderstorm

Easter Day Celebration

This was after we had set the necessary music equipments up right early on Sunday morning at the International Youth Centre hall.

Quick rehearsals were required for certain performances to ensure familiarity with the new hall / stage area.

The Easter celebration began with the Chinese Church's presentation which was superb when they rendered their songs.

The morning service continued with Pastor Ben Ranis and Pastor Esther Lee leading the congregation into worship.
Part of the crowd that were worshipping during the worship time. An estimated crowd of 500 attended the Easter service.
The youth team presented their drama with a good moral behind it. The old lady in the drama had to pretend that she has died in order to get her three sons to come back to visit her. The three sons were so frightened with the "resurrected" mother who told them that it was the only way for her to see her three sons.

Have you been visiting your folks lately? What the old folks need is your time and not your Astro or materials stuff that you could provide.

The Easter service went on with another dance performance that has children as young as 5 years old.
Our Nigerian sisters came in with their dance movements. Always admired the way they shake their bodies, really natural. Even our Malaysian ladies were in awe of it.

These were the people that came up for prayers
seeking God to heal their sicknesses.

Our Nigerian brothers and sisters had their own presentation belting out three songs (or was it two? sorry guys).
The finale song entitled "Song of Ezekiel" was the last performance of the Easter service.
Was supposed to be one of the flag bearers but due to my thigh injury, unable to perform the dance this round.

Tags: Easter Day, Easter Service, International Youth Centre, Chinese Church, God

Coated Snacks in Johor Baru

Singaporeans and Johoreans had been warned to be extra careful of what you put into your mouth. Crispy snacks like the pisang goreng or fried banana and keledek or fried sweet potato (local snacks which I liked too) were said to have been made more crispy not through the proper cooking method. How have they done it? Rumoured that plastic straws or bottles were thrown into the boiling oil before frying those snacks. The Consumers Association of Penang would be launching an investigation into such claims. How true is it?

Reading: Scare over 'coated' snacks - New Straits Times

Tags: Coated Snacks, Goreng Pisang, Keledek, Crispy Snacks, Consumers Association of Penang, Plastic Straw, Plastic Bottle

It’s A Tag...

Received this tag from Yipguseng and this was something similar to Viral Tags.
~~Begin Copy~~
This is the easy way and the fastest way to:-
1. Make your Authority Technorati explode.
2. Increase your Google Page Rank.
3. Get more traffic to your blog.
4. Makes more new friends.

Rules:-
1. Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog.
2. Put your own blog name and link.
3. Tag your friends as much as you can.

1. Picturing of Life
2. Juliana’s Site
3. Hazel-My Life, My Hope, My Future
4. Jeanne-The Callalily Space
5. Shower Your Children With Love - The Right Way
6. Life’s a journey, not a destination
7. Simple Life
8. Life is beautiful; Life is love
9. This is a miracle…
10. Project Heavy Traffic
11. UTOPIA
12. Boonage
13. Life's Happenings
~~End Copy~~

Now the passing part…i will tag this to the few people i met during the Pajama Party!
1. Curryegg
2. Skyler
3. Liyin
4. Yvonne Lee
5. Akira
6. Ione
Tags: Viral Tags, Tag, Blog Rank, Technorati, Matrix, SERP, Google Page Rank, Blog Traffic

Weekend Life in Kuala Lumpur

This morning, Poslaju, a national courier company, delivered this Apacer USB flash drive to my home courtesy of Citibank Malaysia under a credit card promotion. Thanks!

Went for a late breakfast and needs to be in church to move the music equipments over to the International Youth Centre hall located at Bandar Tun Razak for my church's Easter service tomorrow morning.

Was supposed to be at church by 3pm but the heavy thunderstorm was too much. Went in my friend's car and traffic was overwhelming at the Middle Ring Road with flash floods happening on both sides of the road.

Loaded the keyboards, mic stands, percussion set, wirings only into 1 van.

Forgotten about taking photos.

After setting up the necessary equipments, it was about 5pm and the weather was still bad. I'm sure there would be some places that would be flooded by now. Went back to church to see other teams having their last practises for tomorrow's service. Two groups of dance teams and the youth team (drama) were there.

Few of us came to my housing area and dropped by at Tasty Recipe restaurant and ordered our dinner. I ordered a Curry Fish Fillet and finished it off with two places of white rice. Everybody seems to be full until someone mentioned "Why not we go for durian?"

Well, my stomach has some remaining spaces left just for the durian. We hopped over to the durian stall just over my condo's perimeter brickwall.
Our lady friend from Hong Kong just wanted to show this big durian to her friends back in Hong Kong.










The stall owner was opening the durian for us and we just dug in finishing off five durians, right after a heavy dinner. How not to grow fat?














Out of five durians, only two were nice with the other three not up to our standards.

Until today, I still wonder why westerners couldn't cope with the durian smell. Westerners considered the smell as real pong.

In Malaysia, the durian is not allowed to be brought into hotels or airports due to westerners' smell sensitivity......hehe. It's true!

Cost - a friend treated us to it. Should have eaten more if we knew it.




The nice yellow juicy durian.
Tags: Kuala Lumpur, Poslaju, Apacer, USB Flash Drive, Citibank Malaysia, International Youth Centre, Easter Service, Bandar Tun Razak, Middle Ring Road, Tasty Recipe, Durian

Good Friday

Love this man

No one falls in love by choice, it is by CHANCE.

No one stays in love by chance, it is by WORK.

And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by CHOICE. He did something for you, now do something for him. Spread his word. Matthew 10:32 'Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven.
Tags: Good Friday, Jesus, Father in Heaven, Christianity

Another Party Theme?

On Thursday morning, I had a 3 hours sleep only due to staying up for the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Bolton. Worth staying up as Man Utd won to top the EPL, 3 points ahead of Arsenal. At 9am, went for a dim sum breakfast with my group of friends before embarking to a brainstorming session in organising the church's 20th Anniversary dinner.

Venue was at Kuchai Entrepreneur's Park. That restaurant's business was so good that even getting them to collect money as we wanted to leave took ages.













As the restaurant was not condusive for the brainstorming, we went to Amandesa condominium's poolside cafeteria (at Desa Petaling). One of the committee member stays here.
When we reached the cafeteria, we started to put four tables together as seen in the picture but the person-in-charge told us that we can't do that. HUH? Why?

He said we have to sit at different tables even though we were friends as his boss would reprimand him for allowing people to move those tables / chairs.

Really weird, isn't it? We told him that we were all friends and wanted to sit together to talk and would put all the tables / chairs back to its original positions when we are done.

Then he nodded his head and said "Oh, you all wanted to sit together but please help me put back all the tables / chairs later on".

The meeting proceeded just before 11am and went into serious discussion. With this group, however serious, ridiculous suggestions / ideas would come out from their brains. All talk only but those things would be unachievable.....haha.

Well, we like to dream and when we dream, we dream really beyond what humans could do.

As we went on, we talked about the souvenirs, ticket pricing, venue for the dinner, menu, programmes and lastly the dress code.

Just attended Nuffnang's Pajama Party on 15 March 2008 and did enjoy myself with their programmes / activities. Fresh from that, the committee wanted to have a party theme for it too. Wow, another one?

Various ideas came out:-
* Purple colour theme
* Pink colour theme (pink panther costume accepted)
* Pirates of the Caribbean theme
* Malaysian Culture theme
* The 80s theme
(at this moment, all crazy ideas went way beyond human intelligence)
* Pajama theme (my eyes rolled and nuffnangers may storm into this party)

I told them that I'm very sure that the response may not be good. The church comprise of people of all ages and those uncles / aunties (aged 60 and above) would come in their pajamas? Besides that, some could be conservative and could spoil the night by coming formally dressed for the function.

At last, we settled with this theme - Sports Theme. Immediately, the person staying in this condo went up to her apartment and came down with a shirt. She told us this shirt belongs Lin Dan from China (top badminton player).

Ok ok it would be such dress code that would be allowed.

One fella wanted to come as a chess player. We told him we would ban him from coming in.

Alternatively, a swimmer is also acceptable but you would freeze to death in the restaurant.

I thought of coming as a scuba diver but it could be boiling hot within the scuba suit.

Frontal of the shirt. Must be filled with Lin Dan's sweat too....hehe

We also decided that all committee members would have to be dressed in various sports' referee dressing. Easiest would be football as it would be all black but must come in real football socks / boots.

Referee? Which sports referee has a nice dressing? Baseball?






The meeting ended around 2.15pm and a few of us went up to our friend's house to chit chat. There goes my sleep.

What a view up from the condo where you could see the KL Tower and the Petronas Twin Towers.
On this supposedly nice day, we were supposed to enjoy the public holiday and went straight home for a rest.

As there was some rain between here and there, at one point I ran a bit say 10m - 15m distance. Do you know what? That day was the dog shit and now, the short distance slow run just to avoid the rain. I pulled my left thigh's muscles again. Oh no!

When I went for dinner, was walking as if one leg was in pain. Can't even take a full stride when I walked. My friend said "You are getting old lah". Must admit but then how could it be when I go to gym regularly. This is terrible. How am I going to participate in the dance drama this Easter Sunday?

That was my day on a public holiday. Told you that busy days are coming up again.

Related post:-
* Busy Days Coming Up Again
Tags: Dim Sum, Kuchai Entrepreneur's Park, Amandesa, Desa Petaling, Church Anniversary, Party Theme, Sports Theme, Lin Dan, Pulled Muscle, Easter Sunday

World Will Be Silent for 4 Hours

The Bali Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Collaboration for Climate Change is appealing to communities all over the world to switch off electronic appliances for four hours on March 21 to tackle global warming.

When I opened up the World Silent Day's website, I saw the following screen. They really practise what they say. Never heard of this day before, only today, after reading that the Malaysian Qualifications Agency would be participating as well albeit for two and half hours.
My office will be joining this event right after office hours ;)
Tags: World Silent Day, Bali Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Collaboration for Climate Change, NGO, Environment, Global Warming, Malaysian Qualifications Agency

Busy Days Coming Up Again

Good Friday and Easter weekend is here again and I'm involved in the dance drama. Not headed by me this time but by lady who's quite creative with choreography owing to her passion for it only. What? Johnny is involved in a dance? You didn't know that I could at least move my butt?

On Monday, the housing developer's lawyer, for my new house, called me up about the sale and purchase agreement for the new house and he was nice in emailing the draft copy for my review first. Normally you don't get to read it but sign on the spot. I remembered when I first bought my current condominium, buyers who had selected the condo unit was required to walk to another room where lawyers from the housing developers' panel of legal firms were waiting for buyers. Was given the sale and purchase agreement to be signed on the spot. Did ask what was the rush and the lawyer said it was usual for such launching event.

You got no choice but to sign it otherwise your unit would be given to another purchaser as my all the 450 condo units were sold off on that launching date itself. Take it or leave it. So, this time was something different. Even though the sale and purchase is a standard agreement, I rather read through to have the comfort of what I would be signing later on. I'm sure many of you have the same experience.

Well, the lawyer sent me a soft copy of his invoice too. How convenient. A staggering RM9,000 bill? Oh my my. I'm gonna faintttttttttt ...............

With that almost in the bag, I have to source for a financier now. Approached UOB Bank, CIMB Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Alliance Bank, Hong Leong Bank and ING Insurance. Have to be melancholy as it involves a big amount that would tie me down for next 28 years. Thought I was smart in getting many proposals so that I could make good judgement but a bit confused now with the various interest rates offered for different years by different banks. Need to meet those bankers to overcome the dizziness.

Managed to get two of the banks to send me the quotation for legal fees just for the home loan and could come up to RM6,700. I have gotten three friends to take a look at the legal fees and wondering whether I could get further discounts from those charges imposed.

Need to settle it fast as a friend of mine who bought at the same area has told me that the developer has issued a letter requesting for the payment of the second 10%. The house is expected to be completed next March 2009. Twelve more months to go.

As at todate, I have not been to the gym for last three weeks. Reason - I pulled my left thigh's muscle. How it happened - you won't believe it. Stepped onto some dog shit in a public garden and went back to the roadside to scrape those shit off my right slipper. Left leg was holding steadfastly on the ground while right leg moved rigorously, trying my best to get those shit off my slippers. The pain the day after and lasted for three weeks now albeit much much better now. Should be jumping back into the gym by early next week.

Well, tonight was a rest day and while watching the English Premier League match between Manchester United vs. Bolton live, I typed this blog entry. Man Utd was leading 2-0 at halftime and would definitely, read the words here, top the league three points ahead of Arsenal. Man Utd's year again? Hopefully (toes are crossed now).

Match will finish by 6am and I'm supposed to meet up with few friends for breakfast at 9am later on to discuss / plan for our church's 20th anniversary come August 2008. Huh? Everything 8 8 ??? Too bad 8.8.08 is on a Friday. We haven't fix the exact date but August would be the month. Dim sum breakfast at Sri Petaling ............... yummy!

Good thing the meeting would be held at a restaurant for a some brainstorming session. If it was to be held in a meeting room, I guarantee I would go zzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Would come back to sleep after the meeting and hopefully those fellas don't plan for anything else that could tempt me.
Tags: Sale And Purchase Agreement, Home Loan, Legal Fees, Dim Sum Breakfast

Malaysian Style

A simple guide to Malaysian Style for foreigners in Malaysia in which Malaysians could vouch for it:-

Lesson 1
You have just landed in Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the first thing you want to do is to call your Malaysian friend. If you're calling him at home or at the office, the first thing to say on the phone is "Eh, what you doing?". If you're calling him on the handphone (cellular phone) the standard greeting is "Eh, where are you?"

Lesson 2
Your Malaysian friend has graciously offered to pick you up from the airport. He said "Give me half an hour...", be prepared to wait at least one and a half hours. This is probably your first encounter with Malaysian Timing. There's no need to adjust your watch. Whatever time a Malaysian tells you, just add another hour, and you won't go wrong.

Lesson 3
You have no friends in Malaysia (yet) and you decide to take a cab from the airport. You'll soon realize that the one-way taxi fare is more expensive than a night's stay at most decent hotels.
(this is still prevalent even though the government has said it again and again that illegal cabs wouldn't surface again)

Lesson 4
If your friendly limo or taxi driver, says "Sir, you want to try some Thai chicken?", he's definitely not suggesting a good place for Thai food. If you encounter the word "chicken" in a taxi, hotel lobby or street corner, it usually means a lady who charges you a fee in exchange for pleasure.

Lesson 5
If you're a newbie expat, your colleagues will definitely introduce you to the mini Beverly Hills of Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar. Believe me, there are other more interesting places to shop, eat and drink. And by the way, get the pronunciation right! It's "Bar-ngsar" not "Bang-sar" as in "Bangkok".

Lesson 6
Why do Malaysians call all Caucasians "Mat Sallehs"? About a hundred years ago, drunkard sailors from the West were a common sight in the Port Klang area. The locals used to call them "Mad Sailors". Somehow, it got corrupted into the Malay name "Mat Salleh". The Chinese will still call you "Gwai-Loh" or "Devil". To the more polite Hokkiens you're a "Ang Moh" or "Red Hair".

Lesson 7
If your Chinese friends invite you to join them for a Chinese meal like "Hokkien Mee" or "Bak Kut Teh", eat as much as you can. You're never gonna get it anywhere else. Not even in China, Taiwan or HongKong. There's another Malaysian invention, the "Yee Sang" or raw fish salad (served during the Chinese New Year). Before I forget,if you're the queasy type, avoid ordering "spare-parts" when you're having "Bak Kut Teh", unless you fancy all the internal parts of a pig.

Lesson 8
When you're in a restaurant, always "pop" the disposable tissue packet as loud as you can. Don't worry, nobody will get annoyed. Usually, at the end of a ten course dinner, there'll be one "Big Bang" as everybody "pop" theirs. In order to express your appreciation to your generous host, remember to throw in a loud belch as well. Although it may be normal in your own country, don't ask the waiter for a separate bill (check). Either you pay for everything or just keep your mouth (and wallet) shut. If you feel bad about it, offer to pay the next time. Anyway, don't worry too much about it as most locals know that most Mat Sallehs are "stingy buggers".

Lesson 9
Don't like to be a stingy Mat? Take your friends to a Mamak "fish-head curry" restaurant. Order the prawns and the crabs as well. Be totally reckless, don't ask about the prices and don't check your bill as well. I guarantee you'll find a big hole. The one in your pocket, not the ones you're always chasing in Bangsar. Whether you're in a five-star hotel or at a roadside stall, always ask for the "bill". Nobody will understand when you say "check" or "tab". Need a paper napkin or serviette? Just say "tissue".

Lesson 10
Every Wednesday or Thursday night is Ladies' Night at the "fun pubs" and discos. That's the night when most club operators get rid of all their stale and unwanted alcohol. They mix it into some strange cocktails and give it away free to the ladies. Ladies' Night is actually Men's Night! That's the time when all the predatory "buayas" (crocodiles) go out in full force. Stick to normal nights, you'll find less competition. If you're a lady, stay away from the "buayas" and the free drinks (unless it's pouring brands).

Lesson 11
Stop hassling the street vendor who sold you a 3 VCD set of "The Titanic" that didn't exactly meet the ISO 9000 specifications. C'mon, what can you buy for US $3 back home? Besides, you should listen to your own government and not buy pirated stuff. But from what I see at Imbi Plaza, pewter and batik are no longer the favorite souvenirs. By the way, when you're at Imbi Plaza, don't forget to check out another distinguished landmark of Malaysia; the world's first and only permanently static escalator.

Lesson 12
Malaysian drivers tend to slow down when they come across any road accidents. They are not being cautious nor are they intending to give assistance. They must catch a glimpse of that ever important "Nombor". Even if the number (license) plate is broken into a million pieces,* *the passersby will patiently re-assemble it just to obtain that "lucky" number. Then, it's off to the 4D betting shops. If the numbers don't come this way, they do some quick interpretation of their dreams through the handy Chinese Dream Book. It looks like a Clip Art Visual Catalog.
Nightmares are included as well.
Tags: Malaysian Lifestyle, Malaysian Style, Funny, Humour, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KLIA, Malaysian Timing, Bangsar, Caucasians, Mat Sallehs, Hokkien Mee, Bak Kut Teh, Yee Sang, Disposable Tissue Packet, Mamak, Fish Head Curry, Ladies' Night, Buayas, Imbi Plaza, 4D