my niece took...

...her first four steps today (and that was on 2 april 2008). now, how could i be so exact? that's because i still keep the sms that my sis sent me from glasgow those many months ago. hmm, i guess i am wee bit sentimental. just because i've written it down here, doesn't mean i've deleted it. this is, just in case, y'know.
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somehow, it is a very significant event in my life. i mean, yes, of course for the wee lass; but also for me, interestingly. and why? well, having kept that sms all these months, only now it starts to dawn on me how important the actions and decision i make today will be to her future. true, i may not be (and probably will never be) in the position to guarantee her future. but, my presence (or absence) could still be a major influence in her life. we oft deem to be very remote from their future. funnily enough, we are their future. and that, is downright scary.

this little lass charts the path of my own offsprings (should the almighty be gracious to grant me a few). her life will indicate what kind of a role model i will be to these young ones. now, she has a brother. i care not to be the favourite (though, it would be nice, i must admit). i just pray that nothing i do will make them awkwardly adjusted adults. and if one were to look slightly beyond, my relationship with them will shape my relationship with my own.

deep? or not deep enough? funny....

as i allow my thoughts to wander (as i often do), it brings me to this 1malaysia thing the current prime minister is advocating. fantastic. but 50 years down the road after independence and malaysia is struggling with unity? how united must we be? i find the surrounding evidence very contradicting. perhaps, it's just me. whilst they (those advocating all this unity thing) strive for unity, our political system is still racially disparate. so, uhm...what?

i find malaysia is just fine. lets admit it, there will forever exist differences between people. that's why there's that word d-i-v-e-r-s-i-t-y. i say, change the bloody mindset. we have unity. i can offer no intelligent hypothesis as to what we don't have. but i can sure list down the things we're not doing. we're not; getting rid of the rempits; progressing as a society in the international arena; improving the cost of living of the people; revolutionising the education system.

however, here's my little contribution to the malaysian society. if there's anything at all that we must do right, that is to give our children the opportunity for a great future. not unlike what our forefathers have done for us - fighting for our independence. they have given us the right and the freedom to determine our own future. now, it's our duty to ensure that we exercise that right. and how? by ensuring that we do our best for the children of malaysia. and they, in their time, will have their own challenges and obligation towards that aspiration.

so, i offer now my great idealogy for malaysia. if we want 1malaysia, we must first understand what that means. to me, 1malaysia is a cultural product. by which i mean, malaysians lead the life as one society. together taking malaysia to new heights, bla-bla....bla-bla. we must then begin to put in place the foundations of such a culture.

i believe that language is the gateway to a culture. understand the language and you will appreciate the culture. my case in point; the mentality of an english-thinking malay is very different from a malay-thinking malay. (i deliberately use the word "thinking" as opposed to "speaking". the reason? why don't you give it a thought? and tell me what you think my reason could be).

let us then, start with that component of the foundation of the culture we are advocating and striving to achieve. lets have the "language" of 1malaysia. what's that? i don't know. but i reckon, if we make it compulsory for our children to learn the four (or five; depending on one's perspective) primary languages of our nation; we are at least half way to getting the language of 1malaysia. just in case you are still in the dark, the four (or five) languages are bahasa melayu, mandarin, tamil and english (and the fifth one, i would offer - arabic).

then, we can truly have a sekolah kebangsaan. what say you? a workable idea? moreover, the world is becoming smaller and smaller by virtue of globalisation. and, what more advantages for a progressing nation that its people being verse in four (or five) languages of the world? i mean, take bahasa melayu. probably 300 to 400 million of the world's population speak some kind of bahasa melayu. the no brainers would be mandarin and tamil. the peoples of the two languages alone make up at least 1/3 of the world's population. and english? heck, who doesn't speak it? even the deaf and dumb speak it in their sign language! and arabic? well, that probably covers another 1/3 of the global population....

so, once again, i call upon our nation's leaders (i.e. you, me and sami) to do at least one thing right. give our children a chance. revamp our education system! make them learn these languages. let us truly embark on the noble (and progressive) idea of ONEMALAYSIA.
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and i will do my bit to continuously ensure that my nieces and nephews, and perhaps someday, my own boys and girls; to not be robbed of a future they so deserve. so help me god.

the paradox of...

...our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?

~a message by george carlin~

the paradox of...

...our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower viewpoints. we spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. we have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. we have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. we drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. we have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. we talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. we've learned how to make a living, but not a life. we've added years to life not life to years. we've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. we conquered outer space but not inner space. we've done larger things, but not better things. we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. we've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. we write more, but learn less. we plan more, but accomplish less. we've learned to rush, but not to wait. we build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. these are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. these are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. these are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. it is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. a kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. if you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?



~a message by george carlin~

whilst women can...

...fake orgasms, men can fake an entire relationship.

women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
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yeah, right! easier said than done. and that's not the only thing that's easier said than done (pearls of wisdom, that!)
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(oh wow, been four and half months since i've written something in here)

the other day i was told that apparently, i fall for a girl rather too easily. hmm, really? well, just maybe, i go through my screening process much, much quicker. hehehe but i've never regretted.

this one i'm seeing right now, is just amazing. (you know who you are) and i'm keeping her under wraps for a while.

ah, but i'm not getting into that right now. what i do want to rant about is my increasing urge to lose weight. i'm getting a bit worried. that's another thing that's easier said than done. i was looking through some old photos the other day and saw myself a couple of years back. damn, i looked good. hahahah vain?

so yeah, just not sure whether i've got the drive and discipline and, habits that i used to. and my pathetic excuse for this? my freaking job! ok, so i should manage my time better. but how? i've been on this job for about two years. i'm doing what i can but still not getting the results i want. that means (at least to me), i've still got to plough my way through until the results start coming in. urggh.

the problem is, i enjoy my job. but there are a couple of factors affecting it. for one, the people. anyway, i'm resolving in the next few weeks to get back into a routine that would help me achieve my ideal weight and, achieve results in my job. hm, if only i could remember what i did back in those years.

ok, first. i had a very sporty lifestyle. it was one sport after the other. then, the walking. i had to do a lot of walking, everywhere. now that i have a car, heh, walk to the bathroom you say? hah! after that, i had the waking up early to do a complete regiment of exercises. used to wake up around four in the morning. everyday! for two years! and then, there's that carb diet. staying off the rice! hmm, think i'll start with that easy one.

so, first on the list. off the rice and taters! second, replace sporty lifestyle with gym time. since i've been paying for the membership for the past year, i might as well use it, no? or should i replace the sporty lifestyle with an overly active sex life? hmm, ok, gym it is. third, hour-long walks in the sunset? eh, wait a minute...that's for a different need. hour long walks during sunrise? ah, maybe....

ok, so i've got two out of a possible four. you know, you can't control the results. you can, however, control what you do to influence the outcome. targeted start date? tenth of may. why? cos i'm too lazy to start immediately! hehehe need to say goodbye to my slacker lifestyle. and i need to do justice to it.

so lets drink and be merry for the next one week! hooray!
(hey, anybody's got a reliable scanner i can use? i wanna scan my old photos.)