Who Is Shanna Hiel?

This post is in the category of diary, as it is a personal experience I had.

One of many overdue post I have yet to write is about my experience in the hospital during my wife's delivery which takes about 4 days and 3 nights. What I experienced I would consider it a "memory dream", that is, every night I will dream of other people's memories. These dreams are very not related to me, therefore I am seeing things through the eyes of others. Without fail, at least three memory dreams I had per night for two nights there.

Yesterday's dream however, is a mixture of fantasy and reality. The dream seems so real because it includes everyone in my current life, from my wife to my baby, to my mother and one of my siblings. Maybe the dream happened due to our (my wife's and I) anticipation of Flight Plan, but then again, I do not think about it at all. Nevertheless, this post will just account the details of the dream.

My wife and I are actually married in 1998. Go figure. I was just 19 then. Current time is now, 2005. We actually had a daughter who was taken from us, maybe when she was a baby or toddler, who knows. At this current time, we have already accepted the lost of our daughter. Here's where 'fantasy' comes in.

We are staying in a house. Funnily, we have never been able to open one single room in the house, which is actually the common toilet of the second floor. We can never remember when it was opened last. We are also very friendly with our neighbours. I think we have about three or four neighbours who are very close to us, and comes in and out of our house as if they're part of the family, and we do the same to their house. One neighbour was a huge man. I never liked him. He is the one I suspected who took our daughter.

This 2nd floor common toilet have been tried to be opened before, so that we can change the door since we can't find the key, but nothing can break the door. Even a hammer or axe have been tried but it cant dent the door in any way. The only way I guess, is to find the key for it, and the key looks like those steering wheel / computer lock kinda key.

It just happened that one day the huge neighbour passed away. Before he died, he asked me "You still think that I took your daughter?!". That got me remembering that we once had a daughter. And from my thinking, if he is currently having our daughter, it will be a matter of time before she will be out of drink or food if he has her locked up somewhere. So began a frantic search in his house for some kinda key.

One the fourth day of his death, I got frustrated that I broke planks by planks of his personal cupboard, and I did find a key attached by glue to the bottom of the cupboard. Rushed back to my house with the key and tried it on the toilet door. As you would also expect, the key worked. Found our daughter turned face down in the bathtub filled with water up to about 5 inches.

I carried her out while shouting "ambulance" many times. This part was so real. Neighbours and their children came out and the ambulance did come. I remembered holding her in while towel, and she has just stopped shivering but still unconscious. Then the dream jumped forward to when she's back home. While looking at her playing on her own, I asked my wife "How old is she now?" and my wife said "Born in 1998, what do you think?" and I mentioned "We married in 1998, means she's born in 1999 isn't it?".

Her name, as my wife and I recall is Shanna Hiel. I totally cannot describe her face, but to describe her in a way that I can, she has straight long hair right below the shoulders. Rather thin as how a 6 years old can be. Already potty trained as she did tell us how she learned it. Rather talkative and can speak in both english and malay. Seems to not hold a grudge on the huge neighbour as she thought he was her very protective father. She did show a swollen right jaw where he hit her. She was treated well, fed well, except that she's locked up to hide from us.

For me, I actually wished the neighbour was still alive so that I can kill(?!?) him. She readily accept us as her parents once more and said that she was too young to even remember. Yeah, and us being parents have somewhat already let her go from memory?!? She was given a tour of our baby's crib and toys. She particularly liked the musical twirling toy that sits on top of the crib. She enjoys playing with her younger brother.

I woke up this morning, seeing my baby sleeping next to me. It was surreal. I'm back in this time, but the dream was so vivid as it includes everyone else close to me instead of strangers. So, who is this Shanna Hiel really?! And why to such a detail on dreams? Most people forgets their dream the moment they wake up, or remember up to 30% of their dreams. I have had remembered dreams too, but never to such a detail. If you dream, there is no sound or voice, all sounds and voices comes telepathically (but in the dream you think you actually say or heard sounds lah). :P

Anyway, Shanna Hiel, whoever you are, hope you are happy with your family.


Update: My wife just asked me if I had a nightmare as I was crying in my sleep at about 6:00am plus. I guess that was the shouting for ambulance part (then again, people say full dreams happen in just 10-20 seconds) as I was most emotionally strickened then. Well, case will remain closed.

My Cheese Is Moved

This would be belong in the category of Rant, except that I have yet to do any categorizing on my posts.

For those who have read the book Who Moved My Cheese, you would know what I'm talking about. For those who have not, would not know what I'm talking about, obviously. :P Okay, in layman terms, I am now given a different job scope (actually, same, but more) and a change of scenery. Beginning Monday, I am no longer reporting to HQ where all my directors are, but instead reporting to the site office. Sounds good no? Not really. A simple list below would share what I might enjoy and not enjoy having to shift office.

My Gains
1. In my previous office, every three staff will be sitting in front of managers, therefore the manager will be able to see exactly what the staff does on the computer. I find this very de-motivating as I cannot work with the Hawthorne effect. I work better given the privacy to make my calls, do my work, without thinking that someone's criticising what I'm doing.
2. Closer to home. From the previous 30 minutes journey to work, and 45 minutes journey from work, now it will be a 15 minutes to and from work.
3. Buying DVD is a walking distance.
4. Less travelling for viewings of office spaces, since my site office is the main office I am trying to beef up occupancy. Save on petrol going to and from HQ to site office.
5. Free parking. At HQ, parking needs to be paid about RM100 per month, here, it's free since we're the landlord's management team. I do hope they don't take away my parking allowance though.
In Summary - I gain in finance (if my allowances remain intact) and in empowerment.


My Losses
1. HQ was a lot closer to KFC, McDonalds, Giant, RHB Bank, BCB Bank and Post Office. That's a all-in place for food, banking and groceries. Now, nearby banks are those I'm not an account holder of. It'll be more difficult to do my banking. Food places, sigh... seriously it'll be mamak food all the time.
2. Freakin' 45 minutes on my clock per day!! This one I am not happy about at all. I have to come in 15 minutes earlier and leave 30 minutes later as compared to HQ.
3. Add one more job scope, which is to manage a service office. I just hope the tenants are not those crazy ones who pick at the smallest thing.
4. Colleagues for lunch. Lunches with four other male colleagues will end up with a lot of knowledge sharing about real estate business and current trends. But now it'll be lunch with one male colleague who is an accountant (which I am not experienced in at all) OR one male friend who's a lawyer, OR ta-pau food and eat in office!! I really don't see myself eating with the two female admin staff.
5. Previously it was alternate Saturday working time. Now it'll have to be two working Saturdays, followed by one non-working Saturday, and then repeat.


Double-Edged
1. I had one marketing staff to help me in HQ. Now, I have TWO admin staff to help me in site office. I think I prefer marketing staff than admin staff eventhough there's two of them.We'll see how this goes.
2. Time-management. Running three bottom-line responsibilities is going to be a very scary thing. Money need to flow into the service office. Money need to flow into the building's office. And Money need to flow into my agency department (from deals on other office buildings). Putting a positive face for this one. The first will be the most challenging since it's the most expensive in terms of price per square feet.


In Conclusion
I have not made up my mind which job would satisfy me greater in the long run. If I deliver, then it's very transparent that it's my job because my ex-marketing staff has now been absorbed into another department. At least my bosses will know who to credit. If I fail to deliver, I have a lot to answer. But seriously, I do HATE the Saturday set-up. Will have a word to my boss on this issue. Hehe... the game begins.


Add-on: It's a good sign that today I am at 75% chance of closing a deal that will bring in at least RM15,000 into my company. More to come. Pray for me.

Of Supply And Demand: Glitters And Gold

This is a post based on small read-up, research and analysis that I have done before, as well as my own opinion from observations of the market, and the consumers. But I believe that I am more than 50% correct in my views.

Things of beauty have always been a consumer luring product, be it a diamond ring, cell phonesor cars. Truth be told, I purchase products on logic reasons (usage) more than attractiveness of the products, but here I will talk purely on the latter. Also, on the possibility of selling back the products for cash. Of course we know that cars prices drop about 20% - 30% in price the moment its bought from the manufacturer, but we'll talk on glitters and gold.

GOLD

Gold is an investment product. It is a controlled item. I'm talking about gold that's made of 99.9% gold and 0.01% urea. Kidding! I have totally no idea what the other 0.01% is made of. Anyway, if you purchase gold bracelet, you're actually paying for the real price of gold, plus the labour cost of handywork, shipping cost and trading cost. When you sell back the bracelet in dire times, you're selling back the real price of gold, or lesser depending on demand. What most consumers usually fail to request is the authenticity of the gold being 99.9%.

Most Malaysians in the 80s and early 90s are quite used to those aunties bringing around gold products in bags and selling it to women who wants to look rich. That's where that Mami Jarum come in. I have a very big doubt that it's at least 50% gold, if not just a gold plated product. Gold is anyone's market.

CRYSTAL















Crystal IS NOT an investment product. At least it won't be for the next 200 years or even 500 years because supply is greatly higher than demand. Worst of all, since perfect crystal can now be manufactured, there really is no value in crystal. That said, I deem it as a decorative product. Stones like the amethyst and onyx are from the earth, and I really have not much say on the ability for industries to create these stones, so we'll just stick to pure crystals.

Crystal is purely a mixture of silica and lead. That means, your crystal products is made from sand, or glass and lead. Why people buy crystal is because it reflects light better than glass and that the more lead there is in crystals, the more difficult it is to break into pieces. Pure crystals are about 2% lead.

Swarovski crystals have a higher carbon composite that makes them chip and not break. Swarovski crystals command a very high price than the common Jaya Jusco crystal vase because of handiwork, perfect mixture of silica and lead in its per inch square and that it's brand is highly recognised, same like Hello Kitty.

For consumers, I'd really suggest that crystals are used purely for decorative purposes, and never to purchase for future reselling. Don't think of "It's really nice. I'd like to keep it, and if there's financial problems in the future, I can sell it off." Pawn shops will hardly accept crystal products. Crystal is a seller's market, not consumers.

GLASS

Glass has no value. Purely for decorative purpose that 'must not' be touched. That is, if a glass product is made so nicely and it placed for decoration, we'd have to be sure not to have children play nearby. It can break so easily, and for adults who wishes to view the handiwork of glass products, they will leave fingerprints. Glass is a very common consumer's item, therefore it's purely a seller's market. Crap, I should not even talk about glass since it's a superbly common item.

DIAMOND

It is said that a diamond is the hardest material in the world. Since only diamond can cut diamond, I guess it is,... but since I did not conduct and read-up on the whether it's true or not, I shall just believe the rumour, coz' this is about supply and demand.

Diamond, though it can be sold to jewellers or pawn shops, its value will decrease dramatically. The only way a diamond's value will increase if you buy a large diamond to cut them into smaller pieces and sell them at a higher price, just as Secret Recipe sells higher per piece than a whole cake. Diamond has a high supply and high demand. Easily, as much as there are marriages in a year, that's nearly as much diamonds sold in the same year. Diamonds are also bought during chinese new years and special occasions.

Due to that, it's largely a seller's market, not a consumer market. To sell a diamond, it will be more than 30% decrease in price to sell back to jewellers, and up to 70% decrease in price to pawn shops. Why?? Easy.... all men would want to buy diamond rings/bracelet/nose ring/tongue ring/tiara from respectable jewellers such as Tiffany & Co, Kedai Emas Gagal, Poh Kong, etc... and not from pawn shops or friends.

Guy: Will you marry me?
Girl: Wow, is this a diamond ring???
Guy: Yes, it is!
Girl: From Tiffany & Co?
Guy: No, I bought from my friend Jack, who I dunno bought from where.

Not to condemn girls in general, but not many girls will actually be elated to receive a diamond that was bought at a bargain. Therefore, diamond will always be a seller's market. It will be also another 500 years before diamonds can be considered an investment product.

Diamond will remain a product of significance. Wedding ring. 50th Anniversary Necklace. Relationship Bracelet. When the significance run out from break-up or divorce, that's when they get sold.

IN CONCLUSION

To me personally, all that glitters are beauty enhancement. At least 85% of glitters are worn on the body by women. Some wear it for the beauty, some for status and some for prestige. It's greatly common that at big functions people ask about the glitters a woman is wearing, where it came from, the price, all for prestige. At business meetings and appointment, glitters tend to show the current financial status of the woman (or the family, or husband, or boyfriend, whichever). For pure beauty's sake, people will only look from far, and will not question about the make, price or even place of purchase.

Due to that, I think it's better to buy items for beauty at cheap places. Rather than buying earrings (ear stud size) from jewellers, might as well buy from normal shops that sells 25% of the price. For plasticy items, rather than buying from normal non-branded shops, might as well buy from Sinma.













Oh,.... that said, Sinma's product is getting more expensive since their brand is starting to be well-known. Looks like in time-period terms, Sinma beats Mydin, but since they're totally of different industry, I cannot justify this sentence. :)

Now, what's the real purpose of this post!?? Nothing I guess. It just serve as a reminder to me, who used to be quite interested in stone crystals (cut to diamond shapes). They look really nice as they bounce light well, and are great products to be placed behind glass casings, but that's as much as it is. I think I have enough, I should not purchase more eventhough they're sold cheap in Penang's bargain sites. Well, at least I didn't buy diamonds or higher carbonated crystals for decorative purpose. :D

Things You Learn From A Baby

Having had our newest member of the family for 1 month and 4 days today, there are several things that we can learn from a baby. Among those that I can think up right now are: -

1. Ninja Skills - Stealth
Once the baby goes to sleep, and before the baby plummets into deep sleep, they can easily be awaken by any sound at all. If they were to fall asleep in noisy places, this is not a problem, but in the bedroom, to get out of the bed and to the toilet or kitchen or whatever, you really need to practise your tip-toe skills and sign language between husband and wife. Interesting, and fun.

2. Reading Body Language
Somehow or rather, nearly all my friends I know who have babies says that the probability of babies releasing their pee during a diaper change astounds mathematicians. A pee takes about 10 seconds to complete. A day takes 24 hours or to be detailed is 86400 seconds. Let's say a baby pees once every 30 minutes, that's 10 seconds of pee for every 1800 seconds. We'll give a figure for length of time for a diaper change to 60 seconds. In layman terms, the probability of baby peeing during a diaper change is once every 30 diaper changes. But my friends, for our baby, it's about once every five diaper changes. Only logical reason is that a baby feels 'ahhhhh...' to pee not feeling a soiled diaper. Reading the baby's body on when the baby is gonna release is a skill to be mastered.

3. Understand Japanese-Created Characters Successes
Now we know why Hello Kitty, Doraemon and Sin Chan are a success in Japan and the world! They cute. What makes them cute is that their head size is equivalent or bigger than their body. Same goes for baby! Baby's head is at a 1:1 to their body, while us as adults are about 1:4 of our body, which makes us a lot less cute. :-( But then ah..... we also have Lat cartoon whose head is bigger than his body, however, Lat is not cute coz' of his porcupine hair lah.

4. You realise you have time
Besides doing personal stuff like taking bath, eating dinner and fixed deposit in the toilet, most of the 'home' time is spent with the baby, be it just be nearby to look at at every few seconds, or holding or soothing the baby. Now, how is it that I have time for all of these. It seems like as if I have totally wasted my 'home' time before baby came doing what ah?! I also can't remember liao.

5. He/She ain't heavy, he/she's our baby.
Why is it that carrying a 3kg laptop is quite tiresome to the body, but carrying or holding a 4.5kg baby is fine? Maybe coz' laptop is not flexible enough to mold into your hands while a baby is. Anyhow, baby's weight is totally ignored in the process of cuddling, soothing and the likes. Love conquers all.

6. Doing Things Efficiently And Effectively
With baby's tendency to start crying without a written notice or agenda, doing things like taking a glass of water, or brushing teeth, or switching on the lights and tv have to be done as quickly and as successful as possible, or else you'll end up only halfway before the baby cries to call for you again. Baby keeps us on our highest alertness and sharpens our basic skills.

7. How To Appreciate Your Wife
Besides the common appreciation of pregnancy, labouring and delivering, there's also....i) the separation, whereby the baby sleeps between us and how to sleep with your wifey lar? You will surely miss having your wife like you used to. ii) the time sacrifice, while I'm sleeping and not hearing when baby wakes up, my wife will wake up to sooth him, sacrificing her sleep to ensure my own sleep to go to work. iii) the body sacrifice, coz' when the wife is taking care of baby, there's a high tendency to neglect taking care of herself.


In conclusion, there's a lot of things a baby will teach us, and that's only during the baby's first month. There's more lesson to come from the little one, for sure!

Why Have I Forsaken Xanga?

I have wanted to move out of Xanga once, and now I really have done it. Why?! Why leave some of my xangian friends behind and move over to some other blog host?? For me, it's really simple.

1. Not User-Friendly Enough
While I have background in IT, at this current time of my life, I have already gotten that 'not bothered to learn something new unless interesting' character. I used to spend countless hours with a Warcraft printout of unit info and damages just to plan a strategy, but those days are over. Back to Xanga issue, I notice that Xanga does not have user-friendly features for me to click or change things on my website, while this one does, and very easily at that to change settings, format or whatever. No offense to Xanga, it's just a matter of user preference.

2. Need To Register To Comment
Lurkers or non-registered Xanga readers would need to register as a Xangian before they can leave any comments on my posts. Being very tired, as all of us are, in keying in information about ourselves again, and then having to think up new password pulak, and all that, I understand why some people (especially KB. :P) does not want to sign up to something new when they are not using it at all. Well, maybe Xanga does allow non-xangian to comment, but like I mentioned in point 1, I am lazy to look around for it.

3. Occasional Site Down
There are several issues where the site does down on certain occasions, and that's the only free time I have to want to post something. So, it somewhat does get on my nerves.

4. Photos need to be taken from another URL
Photos posted on Xanga need to be taken from another URL, unless you are a Xanga Premium subscriber. If you don't have your own photos somewhere else online, then you need to put it up somewhere to link it. This one allows you to upload your photos into its site, therefore saving tons of trouble having to find locating to store files.

That's about it I guess. I mean, though only 4 points, I think they're strong enough to make me pindah rumah. Anyway, I'm not saying Xanga is bad coz' one thing for sure, Adam Carruther (8tv Quickie dude) punya girlfriend is still in Xanga at www.xanga.com/kinkybluefairy. Since she's somewhat one of the popular bloggers in Malaysia, and she's still there, that says that Xanga is not bad at all. Like previously mentioned, it's just my preference. It's not business, it's personal.

I have transferred all my posts from my previous blog host to here, except that I did not bring along comments with me. The flooble (chat screen) will be brought over here in a couple of days. And changes to the layout will also change in a couple of days once I get used to the technicalities of layout management. I wonder if Eric from Casa Impian can help out with my layout designing.

Plain Musings #1

I'm putting #1 up there coz' I believe some time later in my blog life I will have more muses. Okay, I have absolutely no idea how to use that word muse. I think it comes from amuse, or whatever. And since I've seen it many times elsewhere (without taking the effort to find out what it really means and how to use it), I will simply use it as if I know what it means. So, well, here's my first musing.

In my previous post, while talking about Nursery Rhymes, I remembered other rhymes that to my opinion, is either downright cruel (I think I've wrote about this before) or is a terrorist intelligence hidden in a song. The cruel one, which I think I'm repeating myself, is the Three Blind Mice. A line of the lyric reads "She chops their tails off with the carving knife".... wah... hallo, children nursery rhyme talking about mutilation?! Also, while this may sound sensitive, I really find it peculiar for Intelligence saying that they've received reports of terrorist attacks, but to just let them happen. London was just attacked,... and luckily they did not blow up the london bridge. Or else some CIA or FBI or Scotland Yard Intelligence will say "Oh, we've known about it all along. It's been in the London Bridge nursery rhyme." London bridge is falling down, my fair lady. Duh... why make a nursery rhyme about that?! Others are okay like Yankee Doodle, or Pop Goes The Weasel which sounds good.

Lack of Vitamin D daily really brings up your temper. This year I think I have had several days (less than 5) in which I did not get hit by the sun rays as I stayed home from the moment I wake up until I sleep. Being stuck within four walls (or more) really really make me start to be restless. I don't know whether it's the lack of Vitamin D, or the lack of outdoor air, or just because I don't get to exercise my muscles much at all at home, but well, I'm quite sure this happens to a lot of people as well.

For my own personal actions, I find that from a series of actions that we repeat a day (not the unconscious ones like breathing lah!), such as farting, going to toilet, looking at the mirror, looking at the handphone, etc..... my top most repetitive action during the weekend at home is looking at the clock. Nearly every 15-30 minutes!! Why is that? Is it the dread that "Aww... have to go back to work tomorrow", or simply "I need to do something, what's there to look at to update my knowledge? I know! Let's update the current time in my head!". Aishh.... following looking at clock would be,... farting?! Let's see.. I've only done that 8 times today... hahah!! Cacat... no one calculates how many times they fart. It's ridiculous. I guess the other would be getting a drink from the kitchen.

Foodstalls I love are those where I can take my own food, EAT first, and then go to the counter and tell them what I took. Therefore, I can really pile up the meat, such as 3 scoops of sweet&sour fish meats and then at the counter, just need to say "sweet & sour fish". Foodstalls I totally hate are those that they take the food for you, and then when you say "tambah sikit", they add just another two pieces of sliced ladies finger, or three more ikan bilis. Wah-liao, just charge extra lah, give me another scoop. Gosh... let's see, in the past one month, this is the food price to what I usually take. That'll be white rice, fried beef slices, omelette, veggies. Nasi Kandar restaurant - RM6.50. Malay restaurant near my workplace - RM5.50. Maju Junction Mall - RM4.50. Food courts - RM4.00. In my opinion, the Maju Junction one has the best taste. Yeah, Maju Boleh.

Best advert currently is DIGI with Apek. First the scene was P.Ramlee type show where he said something to the likes of "Ya, dapat banyak untuk, boleh top-up prepaid!", then the Apek Idol "Saya rasa, package anda yang terbaik!", then the Apek Football can't really remember the lines, and lastly the AlleyApek "Maa... Sih!". The WORST advert has to be that motorcycle advert with the Malaysian group singing the background. I think the title of the song is Bomb or whatever.... it ends with this dude seeing the motorcycle moving past him and his girl, he stood up, looking all excited, and removed his glasses in as-if-gaya-lah way. Wah... really really bad advert man! Best motorcycle advert is where the indian guy was happy that girls were looking at his bike, and when one mat salleh was looking at it from behind, he drove away.

A cousin of mine used to recite "Aku Megah. Aku Gagah. Aku Makan Gajah." I think he would have forgotten this by now. That was in 1989. Another cousin sang Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice up to the chorus to my dad, just because my dad didn't say answer the hello's my dad gave. After he finished his chorus, he said "Hello?!" for the final time, and only then my father answered "Hello, Mr Jav please". 1989 too.

Lastly, there are some idiots, I mean people, who are blogging about their net worth. Hello?! What are you trying to prove? That you're rich?! I've seen a few of this 'net worth' posting of bloggers. Sadly, none of them even come close to the net worth at where I stand. Honestly, I do not know my real net worth, but simple calculations indicate that I have a net worth of more than four million ringgit. Read that right! RM4 Million Ringgit!How is that possible?!? If someone gives me RM1 million for my right arm, I will not part with it. Therefore, I know my right arm is worth more than RM1 million. Same goes for my left arm, my left leg and my right leg. That makes RM4 million. Just that alone has already gone over these bloggers' net worth I've read about. Sigh.... people with low net worth.

That's about it to my musings #1.

Baton Passing: Weirdest Behaviour

I've seen this 'baton passing' many times on other people's blog, but I never thought it will come to me. Nevermind that some batons are actually a series of specific questions to be answered, but no... this specific baton ask me to specify my five wierdest habits! That's such an open question! Thank you to HappyLagenda or Legendria for it.

Since my england is getting badder all the time, I've decided to look up the definition of 'habit', and it says: -
a. An unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition
b. An established disposition of the mind or character.

Alright then, it's either actions or even mental disposition. Meaning, thinking of KFC all the time can be considered a habit, no? Aish... england already badding, now have to use my brain pulak. Before I start, I will have to say that I DO NOT have a weird habit. It's totally natural to me, only weird to others. So I will write what I think would seem weird to others.

1. I like to remember, advice or apply life and motivation quotes from movies. While most good quotes should come from well-known people like Steven Covey, Theodore Roosevelt, Dr Mahathir or bin Laden, I totally still prefer to bring out quotes from movies or books, such as what I've written in previous posts before. "Freedoommmm.... - Braveheart" Haha.. no lar! Actually it's more to "Don't dwelve on the past, lest you forget to live. - Harry Potter 1" or "I love my life, I love my wife, and I wish you my kind of life. - Jerry Maguire's boss" and others lah, I malas to think of them now!

2. Walking while talking on the handphone. My Executive Chairman also does it, but not the other two directors of my company. My wife hates this habit of mine. Somehow or rather, walking aimlessly while talking on the handphone stimulates nerves and motors, thus pumping more blood to the brain for faster processing of data and making my england badder.

3. Eat, Drink, Eat, Drink, Eat. There are tons of articles and studies saying that one should eat their meal first, and then wash it down with their drink. I have this colleague who only orders food during lunches, and later drinks when she gets back to the office. I cannot! These people must have oily throats for all their food to go down easily. I need my drink to help the peristalsis.

4. Read in the toilet... eh wait, more than 50% of the world population does this. It's not a weird habit. CANCEL.... Again... Singing old nursery rhymes or old catchy songs in my head. Few months ago was "Loo loo, skip to my loo... skip to my loo my darling." Belardy weird song! Last month was "How much is that doggie in the window? woof woof." And last week it was "Kain Pelikat... la.la.la.la", and this week it's "This is the song that doesn't end... yes, it goes on and on my friend.... some people started singing not knowing what it was.... and they'll continue singing it forever just because.... This is the song that doesn't end... yes, it goes on and on my friend... some people started singing not knowing what it was... and they'll continue singing it forever just because... [repeat]". This song is a classic I tell you!! The best song to irritate your parents during a long journey in the car.

5. Lastly, I don't follow instructions. Yes, this is a habit, because I don't follow instructions very often. Be it electrical good's manuals, rules and guidelines of doing something... and even this email. I will NOT send this baton to five persons because I have not seen anyone running the 4x400meters where the runner breaks the baton into five and passing it to five different people. Think about it. Runner one passes to five others. The other five becomes twenty-five. Then the last runners will be 125 people. Just to run in the 4x400, each country would need to send a contingent of 156 runners. Also, the final lap of the 4x400 finals of the olympics will have 500 people running. Cwazee....

So.... this baton will only be passed to one person. Why I chose this person is because she have been hardworking enough to answer all batons passed to her. Not sure if she's done this, coz' if she has, then well, pass it back, I'll find another victim. The person in mind is KookyCookie who will jump with glee and prance around knowing that she gets this baton. She will prance around like the Prancing Whores in her Screw-Dia Cookierarie.

But wait!!! Being the long-winded fella that I am, I'm continuing this post. Gasp! I now will state THREE habits that I do find weird in others.

1. Eating Dhal. No... not Sophie Dahl! I'm sure many of you would love to see someone eating Sophie Dahl, but what I'm talking about is the roti canai and dhal. I have one friend who, after finishing his roti canai, will drink all the leftover dhal from the bowl. On another end of the spectrum, I have one friend who dips only 1mm x 1mm of his cebisan roti canai into his dhal. I can bet that even after eating 50 roti canai, there'll be more than 75% of dhal left.

2. Touching or caressing their shoes. Not many do this at all, but they exist. And usually you can find them at cafe's during lunches, where most business talks happen. What am I trying to say?!? Imagine this (because it really happens!!), two dudes in long-sleeves with ties sitting at the cafe chairs chatting. One dude crosses his legs (guy version of crossing legs please), and one of his hand rests at the sock area of that leg. Slowly, his hands will go towards his shoes, starts to rub it as if it's dirty, and then touch at the bottom of his shoes, not realising what he's doing. Unconsciously, he's CLEANING his shoes! And then he'll bring that same hand to his mouth to pull away some meat between his teeth, or brush his hair. Eeeewww... but hey, it happens!

3. Strangers looking at the food you're eating! This is not a weird habit, but a superbly irritating one! Try eating at any foodcourts in shopping complexes or restaurants, and you'll meet some people who just love staring at the food you ordered. They will stare from the moment the food leaves the waiter's hand, up until you put your first bite into it. Hello! People eating lah. Look somewhere else can or not?! Watchoo lookin'at, foo?! Aku bagi kang! Terajang kang, telanjang!


p/s: Please pray that my england will get gooder.

The Other Side Of The Interview Table

Today, I was given the priviledge to be an interviewer for potential newcomers to the company. Now, being 26 and having the director making me only other personin the room, interview dudes who are older than me, seems like a cool thing. But then, we're interviewing dudes for post of IT Executive, and since I'm the only guy with IT background, there's nothing to shout about.

So what did I actually learn during this interview?? I have been told to be intelligent and active if I were to go for a job interview. There's this guy who did just that. He's very vocal, giving opinions on questions, and talk a lot about his expertise. Somehow or rather, it turned from a "hmm... this guy is knowledgable" to "err... when will he stop talking?!" to "alright, this is downright irritating!". Okay, first of all, answer an interview question short and sweet and to the point.

Secondly, I learn that you have no choice but to squint your eyes when the sun shines directly into it. My director room's window faces the evening sun. His back is to the window, therefore, you know where the interviewee is facing lar. Poor dude have to squint his eyes during the entire interview that you can mistaken him as a sleep-walker answering questions in his sleep. Of course you don't expect him to say "Sir, can you shut the window?" Okay, this means, do not question the director unless requested to (usually at the end of interviews)

Thirdly, for men, marriage is a bonus. My director (and I, haha!!) thinks that one dude was suitable because he's married, therefore he knows responsibility. Quite bias huh? But I guess that is a bonus point for men!

Fourthly, when interviewee comes, you stay in room. When interviewee leaves, show him to the door. In other words, you're not keen to meet up with the interviewee, but when he does show up and finishes, escort him out! Macam security guard lah pulak.

Fifthly (okay, usually I hear up to thirdly only.... no more than that), most interviewee will clasp their hand in the other hand. This is to avoid shivering due to nervousness. Poor dudes all had their hands shaking. I think either my hands did shake during interviews, or I placed them into my pants pocket. Some will even bite their lips in between waiting for questions.

Sixthly, interviewers are very comfortable with interviewees who answers from the heart, not from the mind. This one dude answered to candidly with broken english and informal words surprises us to a point that we find him sincere. At least we know that there's no 'actor' behind the interviewee. Not easy to achieve this kind of easi-ness with interviewer-interviewee events.

Finally, I learn that we MUST discuss about the interviewee the moment they are done with the interview after we have thrown them out, I mean, showed them the door out. "So, what do you think?" "Boss, I think he forgot to zip his pants." "Really ah?!" "Ya lor, so means he do slipshot work, not complete." :P

Here are a few questions that was in my mind, but it didn't reach my mouth to voice it out. I guess the main reason for me not to bring out the question is to save my own skin.

Q: If our gay director make a move on you, how would you react?

Q: If you meet the director in the toilet peeing, and there's no place for him to pee, will you stop halfway and give him your spot?

Q: On your way in from the main door, you would have seen some of our colleagues. Describe our hottest colleague!

Q: Explain the difference between a server and a waiter.

Q: If our director wants you to write a private and confidential email, but you must not know the meaning of the contents of the email, how would you do it?

Q: Our old IT guy used to press the toothpaste for our directors in the mornings. What brand would you recommend?

Q: Is the sun shining in your eyes?! If you dare, ask my director to shut the blind lah. Dare not? Dare not?!

Q: How many computers did you see on your way in?

Q: Who wrote "Gone With The Winds?"

*sleeps*

How To Avoid A Slick Salesperson

Use lemon to wash off the oil and they won't be slick anymore. :) No seriously there are tons of slick salesperson in this world. The words they use to sell you products are really respectable (at least to me) coz' they're so full of confidence you just have to laugh in your laurels (whatever that is, since I england not good just follow what I have hearing before). Here are various example of salesperson from an innocent one to a bloody, I mean slick salesperson: -

Innocent Salesperson
(After showing the showhouse to the potential customer)
Dude: Sir, what do you think, sir?
Client: It's not bad, really. I'll go home any think about it first.
Dude: Sure, sir. I'll just give you my card, if you have any further question you can call me and I'll assist you further.

Stupid but Honest Salesperson
Dude: Sir, I think it's best that you look around more for other better deal, sir. Ya lah, I don't want later you come and scold me if you find better deal somewhere else. So, please go to that housing project over there, and over there... wait ah, I give you the address. Aiyah, I draw out the roadmap there lah. One thing they have there is that their toilet is nicer, bla bla bla, compared to ours which will flood if it rains, bla bla bla.

Bloody, I mean slick Salesperson
Note: This is the kind of salesperson that have peaced (nicer word for you-know) me off many times. Feel like giving a Level 5 Shin Shou-Ryu-Ken up their ribs.
Dude: .... and that's the whole beauty of the house, sir. Sir, please sit down, sir. So, which bank do you prefer sir? Oh, before that, congratulation sir. This is a wise investment. I will get a banker to talk to you while I fill up your purchase form.

What the *toot*?! Since when did I agree to buy the house?!? Anyway, the continuation of conversation will usually go like this....

Client: Actually, we're just looking around. We need to discuss first.
Dude: Sir, what's there to discuss. This is the best deal around. If you come back next week, you won't get the free electric gate already. Also, they say that the price might increase due to overwhelming demand. For all you know, you'll lose your dream home because all will be bought by then. Do you really want to risk losing your dream home? (look at the son) Adik, adik suka rumah ni kan? (look back at dad) See, your son already look at this as his home, probably already choose what room he wants.
Client: No, it's okay. I will come back.
Dude: Think about it, sir? I'll call the banker for you right now. At least see how this will be a good investment for your family.
Client: Actually, I have a meeting to go to. I'll give you a call if I'm interested. (Tipu only, just wanna go home.)
Dude: Sir, it's 5pm. I'm also leaving already. Perhaps I can follow you to your meeting, then I can discuss with my boss if your meeting colleagues are also interested. (I know you sure tipu to run away, now I wanna follow you, what you want ah?)
Client: It's a private meeting. How can you turn up in a private meeting?
Dude: Sir, I can wait outside until the meeting is over, then we can discuss more. Meanwhile, I get a banker to talk to you, okay?
Client: Bloody idiot!! I say I wanna think about it first, I think about it first lah!!
Dude: Sir, please don't get angry. I'm only trying to help you. I don't want to see you make a mistake by not getting this dream home. Later when you regret, I cannot help already because all the houses sold.
Client: SHIN.... SHOU-RYU-KEN!!
Dude: Arrgghh......
Game Voice: Client Wins. Perfect!!


"But I only want you to buy the house. "

In reality, not many can actually run away from slick salesperson and end up buying a mini-skirt and a tube-top eventhough the client is a guy. So, how do we go about avoiding one? Here are a few methods to try, and I will also put in my usual retord (retort? retard? aish... my england...) against salesperson who comes up and sit at your dinner table.


First Things First: Do not run away!
Do not excuse yourself to get money, get credit card, etc... in summary, do not try to run!
All salesperson know that if you say things like you need to get something to pay for the product, it means you're running away. They WILL follow you! Don't be crazy. Deal with them. If you run, they will chase. This is not really a method. The methods are below.

1. Question them dry
Client: So these vacuum cleaner can suck well? Like that turbo tiger on TV that can suck a bowling ball?? Can I have a bowling ball? Just want to test. What?? You don't have? How can I believe? Get me a bowling ball and then I'll see if what you say is true.

Client: Oh, this credit card free for life? So, even if I don't buy anything I still don't need to pay for the credit card until I die? Really?! Oh... good, can I have that in black and white, with your company's letterhead and director's signature? This is purely for legal purpose because sometimes we cannot just verbally agree. Or else I can say to you now "Can I borrow your wallet for a while? I wanna see how it looks like in the sunlight. If nice I will also buy. So I'll come back afterwards with your wallet, ok?" (info: If the credit card is free for life, it means you either have to spend a certain amout per month to have it really free, OR they will terminate your credit card once it expires. FREE FOR LIFE my belakang-tepi!)

Client: How much can this house be sold next time? Are you sure it'll go up 10% in just one year? Can I have documentations from your developer that their other projects manage to sell 10% extra? Nevermind, just get me latest transacted prices of houses from your developers.

In Summary: Make sure they prove what they say!


2. Shut their mouth
This is wits versus wits. You really need to be fast on your toes on this one. They will sell, and they will push you, you need to defend, defend and then push back and then they will shut up. When they shut up, you can leave (not run). One of the effective method that I have so far noticed having to work well is....

Dude: bla bla bla I'm talking nonsense trying to sell you my product bla bla bla
Client: Nevermind, I'll go home and think about it first.
Dude: Sir, you're making a mistake. If you go home and later want it, there'll be no more. And some more, this price is special only for today.
Client: Last week when my cousin met you, you say the same thing. Aiyah, the price will remain lah. I know. You want me to prove it, I come back tomorrow and ask you the price, want or not? Anyway, still a lot more empty lots, not a problem. If all finished, then tough luck lah. I don't cry over spilled milk.
Dude: Sir, most people when they go home, they end up not buying. Because they think too much of finance problem, and all that negative thing fill up their head. This is a good investment. Don't let your conscience later tell you otherwise.
Client: So, are you trying to tell me that this house is not good enough to win over my careful thoughts and analysis? Then that solves it. No need to think anymore. I don't want it coz' you yourself believe that I will not find it worth it.

Funny example lah... but nevermind. What I'm trying to say here is that if they ever say that you will change your mind if you go home, tell them that it means the product is not really worth it since they have already believed you would change your mind. A good product is a product you will still buy after careful consideration.


3. Be Stupid
Dude: So, I will call up the banker and prepare the house purchase? Hold on.
Client: Wah... it's really is a nice house lah. You sure bank will pinjam me ah? I'm not working wor....
Dude: Eh?! Actually no problem sir. Your wife is working right? And I'm sure you work before, so you can show your old payslip.
Client: Sorry, I didn't have payslip. Selling pirated VCD you think got payslip to show ah? My wife also no payslip to show. She works sending student to school in the mornings.
Dude: (Not wanting to lose this client). How about your parents, sir? They can help with downpayment and pay for you until you find a job right?
Client: I'm just waiting for police to give back my VCDs, then I start work again lah. My parents pension already, they not willing to pay for me.
Dude: Sir, the banker wants to speak to you.
Client: Hello? Ah... I want to buy this house. RM200,000. Can you loan me RM300,000 ah? Just put the house at RM300,000 lah. And then I want 100% loan. Need the RM100,000 to buy more movies for my VCD stall lah. Ah?? Actually, I already bankrupt lah. That's why sell VCD. But you banker sure know how to play around with the loan right? Hello? Hello?? Why he hang up ah?!


4. Sell something back
This is the method that I usually use (when I'm alone or just being sickening) if a bloody, I mean slick salesperson just come and sit at my lunch or dinner table without me giving them permission to join me.

Dude: Sir, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I am sellin.....
Me: Thank goodness it is. I'd surely don't wanna see your face ever again in my lifetime.
Dude: This product wil.....
Me: Will ensure that I will never ever see your face again? Nevermind, no need to buy also I will not see your face.

KIDDING.... no way will I talk like that unless I'm really peaced. :D Here's the real deal....

Dude: Sir, usually in the market price this pen costs RM20, today it's special only RM5 today.
Me: (I use a trusty Kilometrico at 40 cents, so usually I will take out my kilometrico pen and they go. Anyway, let's just say I am not using a kilometrico pen.) Okay....
Dude: And sir, let me show you a demonstration. See, this pen when you write and have some water smudge, the ink don't come off. Bla bla bla sell sell sell bla bla bla sell sell sell.
Me: Okay, why not we do this? I scratch your back, you scratch mine. I'm currently selling Life Insurance for . If you have a minute, let me explain my insurance coverage to you....
Dude: (Thanks me for my time and leaves....)

This works really well coz' insurance costs a whole damn lot more than a pen. I have done this twice and it works.... but please do study a bit about insurance so that you can use it back on them. I have also once try to sell back as a direct-selling person.

Sorry to those I've chased off, but I really don't need to have my peace disturbed when I'm doing what I need to do. If I need to shop, I will shop on my own.

Lastly, to all those who are involved in so-called selling of products for donation, the papers has already covered the issue. In an RM10 product, only about RM1-3 will go to the donation house. RM7 will be taken by the company hired by the donation house. If I need to donate, I'll go on my own, thank you. So.... STOP standing in front of ATM machines trying to stop a good person doing banking transactions!! You think just coz' they take money out of ATM, they want to BUY your product?! And what?? You make them feel like they're evil scum that after taking out RM100, that they don't even part RM10 for the needy,... oops correction, they don't part RM7 to your company?!? If I ever see any of you in front of ATMs again, so help me God, you'll feel the wrath of Shin Shou-Ryu-Ken that you can't even jump up and down Chun-Li like, to squeel Yatta!

Difficulties Of Not Having RM1 Coins

With the government taking back the RM1 coins and using RM1 notes again (back in the 80's), quite a lot of people are going to face difficulty. It will then be a provider vs consumer battle. That is, if service providers do not want to change their 'setting', then consumers will be the ones to suffer. If they do change, it'll be good for all. Here are a few parties who will feel the lack of RM1 coins, in my honest opinion.


Macro, Tesco, Carrefour, Giant and others
I sincerely believe these hypermarts will change their trolley locks (those that you need to put RM1 coins to release from other trolleys). This was not merely to actually lock the trolleys for security. I mean, stealing a trolley at RM1 is very cheap! The RM1 coins is merely a service cost for the workers to pull back the trolley from your car that's parked like 1 kilometres away. Anyway, back to topic, it now seems quite ridiculous to jam in a 50 cents coin into the trolley. Well, we'll see what happens next. For all you know, you'll need to change your RM1 notes for a token (normally used in video arcade centers), put it on the trolley, and later change it back to RM1 notes. I think this is the most cost saving way for these hypermart. But hey, why not... a Tesco token, or Carrefour token, for collection. Orr.... use TouchN'Go.... yea right!


Rapid KL and other related common transportation
I seriously doubt that machines in the busses will change towards something that you can insert a RM1 note into. Therefore it'll just go back down to accepting a coin as high as 50 cents only. Busses will make a longer stop due to double time of loading and more than double time of looking for TWO coins, therefore contributing to longer traffic, and so on and so on. This will be a domino effect to the traffic on the road. Too bad there.


Vending Machines
Not much problems here because before the RM1 coin was introduced, people are already conplaining of having to put in small coins to get a RM1.20 worth cup of Nescafe or Milo. It will just take longer to get your Nescafe, and the vending machine will actually earn less because most people are lazy to carry too many coins, like me! :) Carrying three RM1 coins was simple enough, than having to carry six 50 cents coin. Vending machines earnings will be affected. This will also affect some video arcade machines that hasn't changed to token-type coins.


Parking Meters in Low Yat Plaza
Hahahaha.... I personally singled out Low Yat Plaza because.... I have faced on five different occasions, a parking machine that does not accept ringgit notes! So, I usually have to go to my car, get some RM1 coins and use them instead. So let's see. First hour would be RM2.50 and additional hours are RM2 per hour. If you were to be in Low Yat for 4 hours, you need to pay RM8.50.... and on a machine that does not accept ringgit notes, you need to fork out eight RM1 coins and one 50 cents coin. I have done this on three occasions, the other two occasions I just go back up to their manned counter and have my ticket paid there. Anyway, these machines will be vandalised badly if they don't accept ringgit notes again, and instead ask for seventeen 50 cent coins. Hello?! No weirdo will carry up to seventeen 50 cents coins in their wallet.


Bank Negara
Let's see what Bank Negara will do with the RM1 coins that they will receive. It will add about a hundred or more tonne of 'metal' from the RM1 coins on their premises.


Counterfeiters
If they can easily fake a RM1 coin, they can easily fake other coins as well, but of course it does not justify the cost to fake a 50 cent coins. But what if they do?! Then in the future we'll have 10 cent notes and 5 cent notes too. :D


Question: It's already past 7th December, I still have RM1 coins, what can I do with them?
Good question.... here's a good answer. Several friends of mine have claimed that vending machines in some countries can accept Malaysian RM1 coins as their own 1 dollar coin. And some friends have actually gone to putting the RM1 coin, only to flush it out again. Some machines uses the First In, Last Out way of returning coins, therefore when you put in the RM1 coin, you'll flush out a 1 dollar coin. You can do that. Or.... you can just buy whatever the vending machine sell with your RM1 coins. I will not disclose the countries that accept our RM1 coin. It's up to you to fly around the globe and try it out.


Sidenote: If my grammar or spelling ends up being very atrocious in this post, it's not done on purpose. It just means that my england need repair one.

I Killed For Merdeka

Dear Mr Javalier,

My name is Haji Samad from Mersing, Johor. I'm 77 years old, and dying of old age. I write this to you now to release what I've been keeping in my heart and mind for the past 50 or so years. Even my family does not know of my past. What I write to you now, I hope you will spread to others so that they know what war can create in a man. I will try to detail events that I remember and experience.

Back during the Japanese occupation, I fought for Malaysia, but really, I fought for myself. I am the only child of my family. I was 15 years old that early December 1941 when the Japanese came into my kampung in Kota Bahru, Kelantan. Three Japanese soldier came into my house, ransacking and pillaging food and supplies that they can find before leaving. My father tried to stop them but they killed him in front of my mother and I. I fought them as well but they slashed me at the stomach, and I fell. Two of them left my house while another tried to rape my mother.

The cut was not deep, and in bloody rage, I managed to grab a knife and plunge it deep into the back of the Japanese's neck. That was my first kill of many. The other Japanese heard the commotion and came back into the house. That's when my mum told me to just run, get away through the kitchen door. I wanted to run, but I cannot leave her alone. The two Japanese pulled my mother up, making her face me. They asked me to come closer. Then they thrust a sword right through my mother's body, smiling and laughing, coaxing me to fight them. They were careful not to hit vital organs in my mother's body, then they twist the sword with my mother crying in agony. They pulled out the sword, and thrust again. Amidst the crying, my mother shouted me to get away. I think it was the third thrust that I left, after hearing my mother said her final prayers.

I couldn't remember how long I ran. I was not found that day. During the night, I met a few other survivors in the forest, and most were young. I did not talk to them. I found knives and I kept two. I cannot recall the details of my first few days living alone in the forest. My father taught me well on jungle survival that I was able to find food and water easily. I was more fueled by revenge to feel hungry or thirsty most of the time.

My second kill came within a week. I came up behind a soldier and slashed his throat, and he fell. He didn't die straight away as I didn't slash deep enough, and he was shouting for help. I hid, for about a minutes I hid listening to him calling out for help amidst the blood oozing out from his throat and mouth. I came out of hiding then, looked at him right in the eyes. War then turned me into a monster. I took our my sharp knife. I stabbed him in the stomache, and remembering how my mother died, I twisted the knife that was still in his body. He body went into violent shiver at the pain, I pulled out the knife. Again, I stabbed between his right ribs, and again I twisted the knife. Again the soldier shook.

That was the turning point of my humanity. I was not only doing it for revenge, but I was enjoying it. Many days afterwards, I repeated my tactics. Everytime I spot a soldier, I will watch him for hours before making my move. Everytime I sprang at them, I will be careful not to kill them, but instead silent them enough to not allow them to shout. I will let them look at me, and let them see the way I stab and twist, stab and twist, also careful not to hit important organs. Then I leave them there to die slowly. It was an adrenalin rush torturing them before death. I smiled, I laughed, I turned into one of them.

Stab and twist. That was my lust. It feeds my already darkened soul and it was my only source of entertainment. Days come and go, I started to be partly insane. I learn human anotomy by my own knife. I learn where to stab, where to cut, where to twist to inflict the most pain, at the same time to prolong their dying minutes. A month later, I came across Malayan soldiers. I've already lost count of my kills after twenty in just three weeks. They took me in after I told them of my ability and my experience.

I was only with them for two weeks. I grew tired of battles in the forest, and capturing and questioning of surviving Japanese soldiers for information. I'm not at all thrilled with the capturing of prisoners and questionings. It slowed my time, it slowed my need to kill. One night, I killed all four Japanese prisoners and left the group.

Without realising it, I was travelling southbound. I stayed alive by hunting and fruits, and I kept killing. By the time the war ended four years later, I have not make any friends. I was 19 then, and showed myself for the first time in Negeri Sembilan. A family took me in to be one of their own. The kampung has two sympathetic Japanese soldiers who stopped getting involved in the war since early 1942 and has stayed in the kampung, under the guise that they are still loyal to their nation, but has actually decided to help out in the kampung.

For two months I was with my new family in 1945, when I decided to be on my way again. I left the house in the middle of the night, headed southbound, but not before I have taken care of two victims. My hatred for the Japanese was too great to leave them alive in the kampung.

It was in Mersing that I settled down. I was accepted into the community, got married and had children. I was content. No one knew of my past. I changed my name. Samad is not my given name. Then I got to know of Merdeka. I respect the late Tunku Abdul Rahman for his diplomacy in giving Malaysia its independence. I do not have the patience for diplomacy.

My contribution to my country is by taking people's lives. I am not ashamed of that, but I cannot make that an example for my family. I am at awed at how the Japanese shifted from military strength to industrial strength. Until today I still hate them. Nothing can change that.

Life does not come without irony. My daughter has a Japanese husband. She claims he's a very nice man. They got married in 1985. I gave her my blessing, but I did not meet him, nor did I attend their wedding. She did not understand why, nor did my wife or my two sons. I only tell them that I grew up in the Japanese occupation and left it at that.

Forever my hatred for the Japanese will be in me, and I believe it will follow me to my death. I do not regret it. If it wasn't my thirst for revenge and my hate, I will not have lived until today. I have sometimes believe that I was the one who killed my mother, by killing that Japanese soldier. It might have turned out differently, but I cannot change the past. Even if I can, I will do the same, killing the soldier than letting him have my mother.

Malaysia was liberated by diplomacy, but the road to freedom was by blood. I wish for all Malaysians to understand, at least to relive how it feels like to be a prisoner in your own home, only then can we understand freedom. Happy 48th Birthday to Malaysia, and thank you Mr Javalier, for having the time to read what I had to write.

I can die in peace now, that the skeletons are out of the closet.


Truthfully,
Haji Samad Solehuddin

Are You A Psychic? Part 1

Are You A Psychic? Part 1

The following is an interview between a reporter and Javalier in regards to psychic ability. The interview contents should not be taken seriously, nor should it be totally ignored.

Media: Are you a psychic?

Jav: I'm not. Far from it actually.

Media: But you do have some degree of psychic ability, I suppose?

Jav: Well, I do have some hint of ability within the psychic understanding, but I cannot at all claim to be having any psychic ability. There are too many areas of psychic, from telepathy, telekinesis, seance, and many more. I will not attempt to explain what they are, but it's enough to convince you that I'm not even at 1% of having anyone of the psychic ability.

Media: Okay then, explain to me your definition of psychic.

Jav: A psychic is someone who has control over their psychic ability, be it telepathy or seance. To just chance upon a telepathic message is not a psychic, but someone who have some degree of that telepathic skills within the psychic line. To just accidentally experience a psychic ability is just a common thing for many of us, but it could be that they're starting to develop a psychic ability, or not at all. Like I said, it's the ability to control a psychic ability that makes a person a psychic.

Media: Okay then, I won't call you a psychic, but you did say that you have a hint of psychic ability. Is this considered also a common accidental feeling? May I know what ability that is?

Jav: In all honesty, I would say that what I have it not an 'accidental experience' as I have been facing it for a long period in life. But I have no control over it, and also, it's to a very small, or I would even say miniscule degree. Therefore, I'm just a man with a hint of psychic ability. To your question on what my ability is, it's within the line of seance. But only a superbly small hint of skill at that.

Media: Are you saying you're able to see ghosts? Or talk to them? Something like that M. Knight Shyamalan show, Sixth Sense? That's really cool!!

Jav: No! That's why I say it's a small hint. I'm able to feel them most of the time, more so than seeing them, or even communicate with them. Easy enough to say that out of 100 times I feel a ghost or energy, I will see only once to thrice. Communicate, I have no idea. I do tell them verbally that I do not wish for them to be around me, but so far it did not work. They'll still be lingering around.

Media: Why do you say 'ghost or energy'?

Jav: Because I really don't know what I feel. A ghost,... no, I would rather call them spirits. A spirit is a soul that's still here on earth without its casing or body. An energy is not a spirit. It's a residue of a large amount of energy left behind upon the death of a person. Let's say a person is about to be murdered, his fear, panic, anger and other emotions blasts out from his body until he really get killed which releases a vast energy around that area he died at. Now, a psychic or a person who can feel energy would be able to sometimes see the event happening again, but the spirit is not really there. The easiest way to give a difference is that a spirit does not really repeat its actions, while an energy will repeat its actions.

Media: Care to give an example?

Jav: Let's put a scenario. At night, you look out your window and you see someone jumping off a building. You scream out of shock, you see the body falling but suddenly vanish into thin air. And then you notice that the person is back up that building, ready to jump off again. And then he jumps off, mid-flight he disappears, and this repeats. That's energy. He must have felt total anguish and depression that led to a crazy choice of ending his life.

Media: So then, please tell me an example of your own experience. I'm sure you have tons, but just one that you cannot forget. Before that, can you tell me how one knows whether they have psychic ability?

Jav: I don't have any direct way to see if a person is psychic, but I have read, and have come to believe that a certain line on the palm does tell whether you have some psychic ability or you don't.

Media: Psychic line on a palm? How's that? So you believe in palmistry?

Jav: No, I don't believe in palmistry. I don't think anyone can really tell what you future is from your palm, but to tell a past or current event is an open question. Now, look at your active palm, that is, if you're left handed, look at your left palm, and your right palm if you're right handed. We all have three distinct deep lines, I have no idea what they're called. However, I describe them as first, from edge of palm to anywhere between the middle finger and the index finger, people call this the love line I think. Second is from middle of wrist to the area between the index finger and the thumb, I believe people call this the life line. And the third is a shorter one that extends from somewhere in the middle of the palm, towards where the life line is between the index finger and thumb.

Media: Okay, I have all those three lines. And a few more actually.

Jav: Right. There are several other not-so-deep lines. One extends from the middle of the wrist towards the middle finger. This is called the career line. And another comes out from the career line towards the ring finger. This is very faint, but it's there, and it's called the finance line. Another line is a short one, that some people have and some don't, which is between the life line and the thumb. Now, the psychic line, which is what you want to know, is the line that starts from middle of the wrist towards the little finger.

Media: Hmm... I don't have that.

Jav: Not many do, but quite a number do have it. Like I said, from what I've read and have come to believe, the deeper this psychic line is, the stronger the psychic ability you have. Mine can be seen, but it's not deep. That explains my ability to feel spirits or energies. One of my siblings, however, has quite a deep one, which explains why that sibling more prone to feeling spirits and energies and have seen 'things' more often that I have.

Media: Interesting... so you're telling me it runs in the family?

Jav: I don't think this ability is hereditary. It comes to whoever is ready to embrace it. Or it just comes no matter who you are. I don't know. But I do know that if you already have it, it will only get stronger in time, as long as you're ready for the advancement. It will come naturally.

Media: Then why haven't you improve on it? I would surely like my ability to grow stronger.

Jav: Would you really want to see the spirit you're feeling?? Would you like to enter the toilet at some public places and see more people than there should be?? I don't. Therefore, I am not ready.

Media: Haha, I get what you mean. You say quite a few people have these lines, so they can feel spirits?

Jav: I don't really know. Perhaps their ability is more attuned to other people. I have seen psychic skills that lets a person know if someone else is sick or in trouble. Or to feel your parents needing you and when you call them up, you find that they were just thinking of you. It comes in many types. You know, everyone in this world has psychic ability, but they are not aware of it. I'm sure at least 9 out of 10 people has thought of a song, and upon turning the radio on, that song plays. Or another very good example, why is it that a phone's ringing tone at its loudest, placed somewhere beside you, does not shock you when it rings. It's because you've already received the signal that the phone is going to ring, but was not aware of it.

Media: Okay, just tell me one experience you faced that you can still remember.

Jav: This happened in 2002. It's not scary, but its an experience nonetheless. I was coming home at about 11:45pm or so, and while taking a turn somewhere 2 minutes to my house, I saw a boy in blue in the middle of the streets. He was smiling at me, I smiled back, but when I looked around, all house gates are closed and lights are switched off. I felt weird, so when I drove on, I looked at the rear view mirror and he was not there.

Media: Perhaps he was not staying there and about to go home, and have moved out of the sight of the rear view mirror when you looked.

Jav: That may be possible, but why then did the car behind me swerve to avoid nothingness? It means the driver saw the boy as well. I cannot say if the driver is psychic or not, but the car really swerves to avoid something at the middle of the street that was not there.

Media: Maybe a cat was crossing the street.

Jav: Nevermind. Think what you like, I'm just telling it like it is. So, I continued driving. Dogs are already howling seeing things, and upon reaching my house gate, it was already open. One of my siblings have already opened the door asking me to get into the house as soon as possible. Surely this is not a fluke. I saw something, felt many things, and my sibling was already aware of things out there. I guess that night had all the right environment and moisture and whatever to really turn up the spirits' existence. Anyway, the very next day, there was a man jogging at the same street. I purposely stopped the car to look in the rearview mirror and he doesn't show. But the car in which he was suppose to pass by was there. When I turned around, he is still jogging away. Okay, up to you to say that I looked too soon or too late, I'm just answering your questions.

Media: Okay, don't get mad at me! I'm just being logical. Alright, let's just say that you have this skill, how often do you feel it? How strong is it?

Jav: Not strong at all. I don't 'seek' to feel them. If they are around, and their energy is a little stronger than other spirits, yes, I can feel them and know the direction of where they are. I will know if they are coming closer or going further.

Media: That's nice to know. You should really be spooked. Oh, yes, I just remembered. Congratulations on your new baby! I love watching Kingdom Hospital. Here's my question. Did you feel anything at the hospital?

Jav: In the hospitals, even non-psychic have a chance to experience something.

Media: So you did feel something??

Jav: Yes, I did experience something slightly bizarre, but not to the extent that will give me nightmares.

Media: Can you share it with me?

Jav: Sure, but not today.

Media: Okay, I will meet up with you again. Thank you for taking some time off for this interview.

Jav. Pleasure's all mine.

New Member To My Family

I am not going to post on anything today, but just a dedication of this song lyrics to the new member of my family since Wednesday, 17th August 2005. Arrived at 1:45pm, weighing 3.51 kg.

Here's to you...

CREED - "With Arms Wide Open"

Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I closed my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open

Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything ...oh yeah
With arms wide open..wide open

[Guitar Break]

If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open...

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything..oh yeah
With arms wide open....wide open

Wise Sayings.... Or Are They??

When I was in the lift this morning, I overhead a conversation between two guys. One dude was advising his friend on a personal problem I guess. He said "Be on the problem. Don't be in the problem. When you are on the problem, you can see how to solve it. If you're in the problem, everywhere you look you see problems." Err... hearing that I was straight away reminded of Robert Kiyosaki's (Rich Dad Poor Dad author) advice (which I don't see as advice at all, just trying to sound smart) when he said "Don't work for money. Make money work for you."

Seriously, I find a person totally distant whenever they think that a saying can solve whatever issues that another person brings up. Imagine you go crying to someone and saying "I've just lost my beloved" and he replies "Weep not for the departed, only weep for the living." Or, you go to someone with career problems and he says "Don't be too worried about your career's problem, worry more for the problem's career, because the problem is facing a tough fight against your persistence, and the problem will lose." Yeah, these crappy advices in this paragraph are all created in 5 minutes of my time. They sound smart, but they are not! There is no human touch in advices like this. It's like saying "Hahaha.... you are facing a problem?? I'm not, see. So therefore, let me rub it in about my non-problem status by saying something smart. Let's see... how about 'For the world to be at peace, war must be declared upon war, because negative against negative is positive.'" What the crap?!?

There are several sayings that relate more closely to the person. Among those I've heard on movies or have seen is in Harry Potter 1, when Harry was looking at the mirror to his parents, and the Professor Engelbert Humperdink (Hahaha!!! I don't READ Harry Potter, okay! So bear with me, it's the old dude!) said "Do not dwelve on the past, lest you forget to live." or something to that message. I find that to be a good message. At least he didn't say "Miss not the time with your parents, instead, miss your parent's time with you." The message like the Prof Humperdink (crap, what's his name?! It's sounds something like that!) said pops an understanding in your mind, and is a lot better than a message that's confusing and makes you look stupid.

If however, you have no choice but to repeat a 'smart' message, please follow up with a layman method to address the issue. Robert did follow up after his "Don't work for money, make money work for you", but his follow up, my friends, are to use the money you currently have. What if you don't have enough? How to make money from zilch?! He didn't say anything about that, did he?

Personally, I think that sayings are very good. I have one on my fridge that says "Children's laughter makes a home". I have sayings at the back of my head that jump to me whenever I am in need of motivation in a certain area, and these motivational sayings may come from friends, something you read, or even from a rapper!

My own motivation to gain courage, especially to consciously do something that's risky or shameful, and especially when trying to approach a complete cute girl stranger to befriend in the past, would be "If you think you can't, you've already lost without even trying." At least here it's not a 'smart' message, playing with words. It's direct... and it makes sense. If I just look at her, forever we won't be friends unless fate makes us get introduced by others. But if I at least approach her, there is even that 1% chance or even higher, we'll just never know! Enough to say that I have had done that thrice and ended up with two friends. Or maybe I've done that more than thrice, but that three occasions was really a shivering and heart-stomping situation.

Other courage motivation I derive from Eminem's Lose Yourself that says "If you had one shot, one opportunity, to sieze everything you ever wanted. One moment. Would you capture it or just let it slip?" Direct advice from a rapper. It's a good one. It keeps me (and hopefully all of you) on your toes to not just let opportunity goes by. Lastly, when I'm at a 50% chance on deciding whether or not to do something and time is running out, the best advice ever to push me to do it would be Nike's "Just Do It".

Speaking on Nike, the new advert about that jogger who runs and then have a conversation against himself, whereby one wants to continue running, and the other doesn't want, is quite nice. But it reminds me oh-so-much of Smeagol/Gollum of Lord Of The Rings. Nike should star Smealgol wearing nike shoes climbing mountains instead.

Smeagol: "We needs to climbs this mountain"
Gollum: "No we don't, my love, we be real good rights here."
Smeagol: "No! Mountain calls for us. We needs to go."
Gollum: "Hobbitsess in the mountain. Remember how Hobbitsess trickses you?"
Smeagol: "But we wears precious Nike shoes. We can outruns them!"

Matrix Begins

Note: The previous post was not completed. I was doing it halfway when the browser jumped away and I thought I lost it. Even after refreshing it didn't come up, then the next day, there it is. Contents has nothing to do with title. Sigh... will re-update that one.

Currently the media is leading the public astray about the real situation on the haze that's affecting many parts of Malaysia. It is not Indonesia's fault. Well, to a certain extend, it is their forest fires that's contributing to this haze, but seriously, why would they do an Iraq on their own soil when they're not being conquered. (Doing an Iraq = burning own oil plants). There are more unseen powers at work here.

In reality, there are some species that does not rely on oxygen who have mapped out ways to taking over earth. South-East Asia is the easiest target for now due to the humid and dry season. So, it's easiest to stop sunlight and fotosintesis beginning from South-East Asia and moving on from there. People, we are in the verge of losing our humanity here. What firefighters faced are fires, but no one has ever seen who started the fire. And that, is the key question of all.

Who actually started the fire? Many crop circles have proven that they have landed there, but they did not start a fire, as crop fire dies fast, and in a cold weathered country, it will not cause so much haze. We don't have crop circles here in Malaysia, so we cannot confirm their landing, but they did land, somehow or rather. Fishes have started to die in ponds. They have learned well from War Of The Worlds and they're getting rid of nature first, before harvesting us humans as energy source.

As much as we try to deny it, my friends.... Matrix has begun.

Bullies Turned Heroes

First of all, I do not condone bullying or even extortion that happens quite rampant in schools. However, it happens in many schools as much as teachers or headmaster/mistress try to avoid it from happening. Anyway, this is not about me being bullied. I was lucky enough to be in good tidings with the junior member of the extortion bullies in my school. Good tidings because we share the same hobby that many others in the class does not.

Anyway, he was involved in extortion yes. Even in Form (Secondary) 1, he extorts money from other Form 1 kids, with the help of his other bully members from Form 2 all the way till Form 5. Now, one thing to note is that by Form 3, his seniors have all finished schooling and he started to lead the new bully and extortion team. Quite a havoc having these bullies in the school, with police cars coming once every two weeks to bring one of them to the police station, as well as having bombs explosion in the toilets (kalium dumped into the toilet bowl), firecrackers breaking window panes, teachers' cars scratched, well, you get the point. While these are happening, it's very interesting to note that all of these bullies are active in sports, especially basketball.

To cut the story short, by the time we entered Form 5, they're about 15 members strong. They have stopped extortion since Form 4. Only thing they do is to create problems in schools. You know, the common rebel and bullies. Pushing younger kids around, making them get them drinks, things like that. I have totally no idea what possessed these dudes to suddenly have a change in Form 5, but what they did I cannot forget until today, because... well,.. let's start another introduction.

From before I entered Secondary 1, this school's sportday have been won by one house and one house only. Up till Form 4, this house have always won, due to superior athletic skills and the likes. I wonder if the principal hand picked the house members rather than going random, since he's the teacher in charge of that house. None of the bullies ever took part in any of these sports, as it's "part of the school system", therefore it's not cool taking part in school system. So it comes to the start of Form 5, whereby a theft occured.

The house list of students was stolen. Students are again asked to tell teachers which house they belong to. Some students stayed loyal to their house, some lied to the teachers. Suffice to say that nearly all students were truthful to the teachers, except for the bullies. And what do we have?!

During the FIRST house meeting, all 15 bullies turned up in the same house (my house colour). No idea how they chose which house to be in. What's interesting is that during these house meetings, we are supposed to elect captains of each sports (ie basketball, soccer, field & tracks, bla bla bla) and guess what? Nearly each of these sports department were headed by one of the bullies. One bully will elect one of their own, another will second. And few more potentials were chosen. But these bullies won. Kids are afraid to not vote them, in fear of retaliation outside of class hours.

And that year, we had one of the most grueling training sessions ever. It was part scary but part hilarious seeing bullies adorning house coloured shirts, training the students in the respective sports like a drill sergeant. I mean, here we have school bullies, who are rebelious and mean, despised by teachers. Here also we have school bullies, who are in the school system, going all out in their coaching and training.

Suffice to say we won the sports day that year. No thanx to these bullies. It was a sight to see eight out of ten of the bullies being the ones who pulled in the tug-of-war. Talk about leaving one good impression before leaving the school. Then, after SPM, there was campfire of using school clothes in place of wood in the parking lot, but that's another story.

Lottery Emails

In the news today, someone was duped into giving away some money in order to pay for the transfer of a lottery winnings amounting to some millions ringgit to be sent to the lottery winner. To get RM2.6 million, the 'winner' need to send about RM6,000 for courier cost. Why not just tell the lottery to keep 100,000 ringgit and use that to courier and win RM2.5 million instead?!

Anyway, it's a con job, for them just to get your money and run away with it. Poor victim has to pay up the loan sharks an axorbant amount of money back. While these emails are old, why are people still falling for it? It's coz' internet user numbers grow everyday, and therefore there's also some new innocent user who will just be fooled.

Dear sir, I am the grandson of some rich uncle of some awkward named country. My uncle has died and has left me USD3billion. I cannot transfer the money so I need your help. I will give you half of the USD3billion if you can help transfer a fixed amount of money first to my personal account. <-- Very Commonly Seen. I guess the law of that country is so screwed up that wills can only be processed with outside interference.

It real life, we do receive some kind of coupon to scratch, and upon scratching, we find that we win the TOP PRIZE of electrical products, bla bla. Each and every freaking coupon will make you win the TOP PRIZE. It's coz' to get that electrical product, you need to buy another electrical product. So it goes like this,.... You win a washing machine, television, fridge and vibrator! Congratulations! Please buy just ONE product from our list of products, present the coupon and get your winning prizes. .

Just buy one of these, and win your TOP PRIZE: -
Rice Cooker - RM25,000
Mosquito Killer - RM25,000
Desk Light - RM25,000
Pistol - RM50,000
Nuclear Warhead - RM1,000,000

What a crap of cow dung (nicer word for bullshit). How is it possible for companies to resort to this kind of advertising just to get money?! It's like having KFC saying, buy Zinger burger for RM20 and get one piece chicken absolutely free. No moving cost. No stamp duty. No hidden fee. Might as well say "Get a Proton Gen-2 absolutely free, with a minimum purchase of RM75,000" or "Write a slogan and win a bungalow! With just an initial investment of RM1.5million for the contest form." Get it today! :D

I'd rather face horrible Tora advertisement than seeing purely stupid marketing strategies that lead customers astray. At least that dude with the big eyes, fake smile and damn cool acting playing with toys in Tora adverts are not cheating the customers. Well, they do, especially with the toys moving on its own. But well, at least you don't waste so much money if you really do fall for the toy-moving-on-its-own ploy. Actually it didn't move on its own. Ah-Kim pushed it. "Tora datang lagi, dengan mainan pengorek telinga. Lihat adik-adik. Lihat adik ini korek telinganya. Wahhh... alangkah bersihnya telinga adik ini. Adik juga boleh korekkan telinga kawan adik. Mari adik-adik, sama-sama kita korek telinga kawan-kawan. Wahh.. hebat. Dapatkan hari ini, mainan korek telinga! Tora!"

Amidst all these marketing ploy, there's one area where you can win in law. Should you see those signs "Once broken, considered sold" and you really would love the product, go break it! Serious! Go break it, coz' once you break it, it's considered sold. Sold, as a past tense for sell, means that the item has completed its transaction of changing owner. In other words, once broken, it's considered sold, and therefore does not belong to the shop anymore. Congratulations, go ahead and get all the items you want! They're free! See, I do show my good side by giving you tips on how to purchase items for no payment.

What's this gotta do with lottery emails?! Should you receive that lottery email stating that you win, write back to them and say "I haven't die yet, you bloody nephew of mine! How dare you tell people that I've died! For that, I will change my will. You will not get a cent from me anymore!"

Bad Delay

It's not my intention to be on coitus,... oops, I mean hiatus from my blog. I think in the past 14 days, I have only posted thrice, and that's quite bad. So anyway, why did I do that? I really don't know. Besides facing some ridiculous working hours that have lunch missing, I'm also facing with the most sickening event to be the first in my company to use Suse Linux with OpenOffice 2.0 and everything opensource. I don't mind the OpenSource softwares, totally fine with me, but with my IT person who's so screwed up, I can't do much work at all.

Why I can't do work? First of all, I need my email. This IT dude didn't configure my email client for me, and for me to configure my own email client, I am to give administrator password coz' only administrator can configure my email. Next I tried to access the server for my own personal folder. Oh... server not found. Can't locate! My IT skills in Suse Linux too weak?? Maybe, but really cannot locate the server. I can't change my time too, now it's 3:08pm but it says on my PC as 9:13am. To change time, need administrator password. Lastly, the most ridiculous of ALL craps, is that once I leave my computer to enter screen saver, I need to key in administrator password to get out of screen saver. Hello, my friend, where are you? IT guy has not been seen in the past one week. Aiyoh.... even adding printer needs password. Why not just create a correct profile for me to use rather than asking me to use the PC directly, coz' they haven't set up my profile.

Computers and work aside, there's nothing else for me to complain about. :D Feels like eating KFC.... or maybe A&W Fried Chicken since I have been fed the thoughts that A&W serves the best fried chicken. :D I used to like A&W back in secondary school, but after that they got quite dry. I guess it should be okay again now. Also found out Madam Kwan's is something like Secret Recipe, not like those expensive gila Kelantanese restaurant same level as Madam Kwan's in KLCC. Still, I think KFC is the only chicken that still taste good after 5 hours, while other chickens tend to harden up.