Sales for Hotel Membership (Again!)

I'm not too well today, with bad sorethroat and hot/cold feeling over my body. Something like the symptom of fever, but however, as evil as I sound now, I cannot help but feel so much better receiving an amusing phonecall from a hotel membership sales representative.

His first words were something like "Hello, Mr Java, I'm calling from Park Royal Hotel and I want to introduce you to our membership priviledges. Park Royal Hotel is located at the Heart of KL." Straight away I knew he was practically READING OFF THE TEXT! As aloof as I am to say this, I really believe that no one should sell by reading text. Fine, I understand very new sales people need to have guidance, but I really think they need to just use the keywords, and make the sentences themselves, rather than reading and accidentally reading wrongly and correcting what they read. Anyway, seeing that he's a text-reading guy, and I was not interested in the membership, I swayed the conversation out of his text and see how he does without reading the text. Man, this paragraph sux, my england teruk.

The following is a copy of conversation I had with him as I was able to type out what he's saying, but it just came a bit late in the conversation. Practically, this is after I asked him to explain a bit on the dining priviledge. The italics in bracket is my own comment in my head. If you're bored, you can just skip to the last two bits of conversation which had me laughing my head off.

Salesman: Ok, Mr Java. If you don't mind me asking. Are you married or have a partner?
Me: Married.
Salesman: Oh married. Ok. So just say you and your wife is dining. And the bill is RM200. That's ok right?
Me: No, that's not ok. We normally maintain outside dining up to RM30 only.
Salesman: Up to 30 ringgit?? Okay, at the end of the meal, your total food bill will be reduced to 50%, it will be RM100. That sounds fantastic, doesn't it? Ya, for only RM388. For a 12 months membership. One more is that you can dine out as often as you like next year. So there's no limit how much you can spend. (Wah lan... this guy really encourage people to spend spend spend)
Me: No, it doesn't sound fantastic. I have other financial obligations, of course I won't go spending on dining the whole year.
Salesman: Just say your wife go to buffet dinner and let's say RM50 per person. If you're our club member, you just need to pay RM50. So if you dine 100 times a year, so you'll save RM5000. (Woo hoo... optimism at the max! It's like asking people to buy McD value meal everyday and save up to RM10000 per year!) So, how would you like your name to appear on your membership card, sir? Are you using Visa or Master? (This is the stupid push factor I hate in all salesman)
Me: Look. I only spend at max RM30 for my family, and at RM388 just to enjoy 50% dining is ridiculous.
Salesman: Oh I see, apart from dining benefit, as a member you will also receive 50% reduction or a 5% off promotional rate. Mr Java, don't you that represent excellent benefit? (Suddenly his english perfect again. And I like how he's going. Slowly push additional benefit one by one which is in fact already part of the package.)
Me: I'm already staying in KL. I don't think I need a hotel to stay in KL.
Salesman: We are extremely excited to bring you opportunity to this benefit. (Ha?!) You take leave or valentines, or on birthday can come stay for a romantic night. Or you can give the voucher to other people, and Park Royal is located in heart of KL. So the location is very nice. (Serioucly this guy need to do his sales pitch homework properly. If want me to give voucher to other people, ask other people to buy lah!) Or you can eact with your friend. Mr Java, where do you normally eat with your friend?
Me: Mamak lah.
Salesman: Mamak?! But don't you think dining in restaurant, you know, the status is different.
Me: Ya, but you can't laugh or shout or talk loudly and just be yourself.
Salesman: Ya, but the bill you pay is almost the same, coz' for two people you get 50% discount.

I stopped typing the conversation there coz' trying hard to tahan from laughing. The bill you pay is almost the same eating in hotel and mamak?!? Even at 50% discount?!? Damn, he must really be joking. Or he himself was trying to contain from laughing. As crazy as I have eaten at mamak last time, eating yong tau fu for starters, chicken chop for meal and satay to finish it off, with 2 fruit drinks, that'll bring the bill to about RM18 only. Two people eat is RM36. Hotel starts at RM50 (salesman say), and he forgot to include the service charge 10% and tax 5%, bringing to a total of RM57.50.

Really am tired of facing these new sales people who don't do homework.

Managers Title

This is a half rant and half observation post. The rant first...

This month is a superbly tiring month for me that I don't even have time to update my blog. Basically, I'm okay with my work, just that it sometimes amuses me at what I have to do since there are still no managers around for decision making. I have chaired another 'maintenance' meeting, this time it's even worst. When the meeting commence, I practically said "The purpose for this meeting is to.... bla bla bla, (looking at supplier), basically the things we need are bla bla bla, if you have any questions, these are the maintenance and security staff who will help answer your queries." And that's it! From then on until the meeting end, I just sit and listen coz' I have absolutely no knowledge on whatever they're talking about. Sigh.... even when the Bomba came to inspect the fire safety of the building, I had to get involved. Amusing, but really takes away time from marketing. End of rant.

There is a growing trend, actually, the trend is already in place, that the moment a new staff comes into the company, they're given a "Manager" title, or in some real estate industry, they're given "Senior Real Estate Negotiator". The pay is no different from that of an executive. The reason comes from people we meet who says the following "No, I don't want to waste my time talking to an executive. Can I speak to your boss instead?"

Yes, that's right. It's already a norm in the industry that says, executives cannot make a desicion. They're just a go-between. Might as well talk to someone in power. Power or not, I have met these managers and senior negotiators who still say "I have to get back to you on that." Duh, still NO power of decision making. What's the use of giving a title? It's a con job actually, conning people to really speak to non-decision makers in the end. :D So what's the use of that title?

The Human Mind: Controlling The Body

Side note: I will not get a computer by first quarter as I will wait for Dual Core Processor to drop in price. While many people will say it's a waste for Dual Core if I'm not multitasking, I do need the second core purely for chess analysis. I'd probably get the compy in August.

Most of my friends are already very aware of what I'm writing in this post because I've been bringing up this issue once in a while since 1998. The reason for this to be in the post is for me to have it documented, and not just stay on my mind, to wilt away. Come to think of it, I should document questions that I've yet to ask experts, but that's another post.

When I made a blunder while playing chess back in 1998, and saw my Knight swiped away for free, this coldness came over me. The panic, the sheer embarassment over my mistake. Believe it or not, my hands were cold. Our hands are cold when we're sitting alone, afraid of ghosts in the dark. Our hands are warm during anger, and we can even sweat being angry, or stressed!

You see, part of our body's temperature actually changes according to our emotions at that time. What I cannot accept is, why can't we control the temperature changes on our own? Who is Emotion, who is strong enough to control our body's temperature?? Why do fear, embarassment, anger and stress able to affect the body's temperature so greatly, while if you just sit down and say "now... hands, be cold!" and your hands will laugh at you... okay lah, if you hands really laugh at you, you're crazy.

Seriously, I've once in a while try to consciously change my body temperature, but to no avail. Somehow, we just don't know how, unless we ask Emotion for help. Simple, we just need to say, "Mind, please remind me of how I got beaten up by thugs last week that stole my wallet". Then the movie clip starts, then Emotion comes in and say "Grrrr.....", and Emotion adjusts the temperature control on our body. It's amazing. If you use memories, yes, you can change your body temperature, but why can't we do it consciously?? We can move our hands consciously. We can rub our eyes, dig our nose, wink at people, salivate or nose bleed when we see pretty girls (oops, okay, this one we cannot control), we can jump, and do so many things but sigh.... the search for the control of body temperature goes on.

How many people does it take to.....??

We've heard those jokes people ask about "How many people does it take to change a lightbulb?" that touches races, job skills, etc. Due to the fact that my M&E Manager has left the company, I had to attend a meeting this morning, regarding installation of a satellite dish on our mast-antenna (dunno the engineering term for this) rooftop.

The question is, how many engineers does it take to install a satellite dish?! In my case, 16 people! Wah liao, I've never seen so many people in the meeting room before that some had to stand and listen to the meeting. And there's only one M&E supervisor and myself having to discuss all these technical details to which I have totally zilch knowledge in.

Interestingly, I wondered why it takes 16 people. This is the case.

1. Three of them are from the radio wave company (the ones who owns the transmission).
2. Three of them are the suppliers of the satellite dish, to discuss with team No. 5 on the size required and other parts required for the satellite dish transmission.
3. Three are contractors, who will do the installation of equipments onto the mast-antenna and the control rooms.
4. Three are electricians who will study how much heat these equipments in the control rooms will generate, and they have to study on how many horse-power airconditioner is needed, and where to tap the needed electricity from our building's power source.
5. Three are engineers who will study the mast-antenna itself, to check in the loading of the dish, the weight, the diameter, whether the mast can hold during thunderstorm, strong wind, how much clamping is needed, etc.
6. Another one is the supplier for the equipments for the control room.

My colleague was shaking his head, saying that only one person is needed from each company, or at maximum, two is needed for successful discussion. Right now all 16 are at the rooftop, I think tenants of other buildings will look out their office windows, look at our rooftop above them and think "Hmm.... these people are training to climb Everest". Imagine 18 people (plus 2 M&E staff) standing smiling, holding onto the mast-antenna, instead of a Malaysian flag. :D

Location vs Hunger

Real estate says "Location, location and location!" or "Location, location and time".... usually to describe that you need to purchase real estate (for investment) in a prime location, and then time will do the necessary in making sure your real estate property goes up.

You buy shop houses in prime location and rent to banks, you're rich. You wanna open a business, you choose a place where there's plenty of people and market, and you open one, such as grocery store, or a laundry, or boutique, or bookstore, or whatever.

Then comes food, which kills that idiom of real estate to the ground. Why do people travel all the way to Melaka for the chicken rice ball when you can find in KL. Why would people travel out of the PLUS highway, just to drop by a Mee Rebus stall in Ipoh?? Why do people go all the way to Pandamaran for chinese seafood?! These locations are at least 50% and below cheaper in per square feet.

And why do I travel all the way from centre of KL, on a busy traffic jammed evening, in the middle of the week, all the way to Klang to have seafood at Medan Muara?!? The answer is, when it comes to food, location is not important. Real estate for restaurant is "taste, taste and distance!" The further it is, the more people will go there. Ask around, people like to TRAVEL to get their food, especially when you first started dating and while you're in college/university.

Gonna go off to get my sotong goreng tepung now at Medan Muara now.....

Who's That Still There??

Taking a short break from career related posts, this is a combination between career related post and the paranormal.

My good friend's wife used to tell him that everyone in her office would leave the office by 7pm, because once the time reaches 7pm, the water from the water dispenser would start dripping slowly. It happens everyday, and scientifically, maybe we can analyse on the cooling effect the environment has as night comes, that causes some kind of reaction bla bla... dunno lah.

Also, our dear Kookycookie once had an interesting encounter whereby she came to the office with a colleague doing her work at her desk and leaving, only to found out later that the colleague was on MC and has never stepped foot in the office that day and no one else saw her. Interesting tale, or just the mind playing tricks.

Personally, like I've mentioned before some months ago, I don't discount the fact that 'things' live in a place where there's scarcity of people. My M&E Manager, two months ago told me that he used to stay back late at night, but have decided to go home early after two encounters. Nothing to see, but just that while he's alone in his office, the door to the reception opens and closes as if someone comes in, but when he calls out, no one answers. This is about 7:30pm to 8:00pm at night. You see, our office is really huge to place only 6 staff (and now it's only 4 staff!). The other time he keeps seeing someone walking past his doorway but he knows there's no one around. I dismiss this as a tired mind.

Last month, I was given the 'chance' to be alone in the office. Haha... too much work to finish up, while others have gone back. The thought of that 'thingy' moving about the office was not on my mind, but by 7:40pm or so, the door to the reception area did open and close. Then the memory came back. What's worse is that my own office is facing the reception table, with my view blocked by the partitions, and the door is just one meter away. Anyway, after three opens and closes of the door, I packed my stuff and left. Don't wanna stay until whatever it is shows itself up.

As you would have known that I'm taking care of a building, we do have floors which have been empty for the past 2 years. There's one floor in particular, whenever I require for the security to open up the floor for potential clients to view, they will go in pairs. Once I asked my receptionist to open the units there, and another colleague heard, he said "You going to open Floor 16?! Come, I follow you." MANY stories about that floor. Security guards on night shifts will always accidentally kicked something when the floor is totally flat and empty. I've been there myself alone, but have yet to experience anything out of the ordinary.

Anyway, these beings, that comes around after office hours, are actually what I would term as "Ghost of Family Love". They encourage you to go home to your family, because family is what's more important, and not career. The image below should also encourage you to go home when everyone else has left as well.

You Deserve It

Warning: This entry may seem to contradict my earlier entries about finance, but seriously, it does not.

During a certain financial crisis I once had three years ago which I had to spend a week using only the coins from my car, I changed my lifestyle somewhat. And reading those ‘tips’ to reduce monthly expenditure, I cut down on drinks during meals, and just have a plain water. Beneficial to health I agree, but also so-called beneficial for my wallet. If I don’t buy an Ice Tea at every lunch, I’ll save RM1.20 each time which translated to RM24.00 per month.

Then there was a time when I had to walk to a certain bank to put in a cheque for one of my tenant. The walking journey was not that far, about 15 minutes of brisk walking. On the way back, while sweating I walked past a convenience store conveniently located at a convenient road. I so much wanted to get a cool 100 Plus. Then I thought, hey, I’m just five minutes away from my office, I can get my free plain water from the pantry. And so I walked on.

Then it got me thinking. A 100 Plus will cost RM1.50, and it’s a small “want” and not a “need”. Still, RM1.50 (or even RM24.00 per month) when you’re earning over RM1000, it’s just a small percentage. Who are we who don’t flinch paying RM30 for petrol driving to and from work, who don’t flinch having to pay RM1.50 toll to and from work, who don’t flinch having to pay the bank a lot of extra money for our cars and house, and especially those who don’t flinch voting through sms for a celebrity who don’t even know your name at RM1.90 per sms, or sms on Channel @15 just to chat?? Anyway, going out of topic here.

Back to topic. Why do we accept paying these amount of money elsewhere, but we are not willing to get a simple RM1.50 worth of drink, or even a burger that costs RM4.00? These are hardly luxury items, yet they satisfy a “want” and they make you happy. There is nothing wrong with getting a chocolate bar at RM8.90, a small percentage of your salary, just to motivate yourself and say “Hey, life’s a wonderful thing!”

Analysis. (You may want to skip this part). As human beings, we are prone to not realize something we don’t hold physically. Simply put, we accept the interests on our credit cards amounting to RM35, but we have problems buying RM35 meal. We accept paying parking that costs RM4.00 – RM8.00, but we think twice to buy a good RM3.95 pen. That is why, when someone loses RM50 due to carelessness, it’s faster to accept the loss, than having to buy RM50 shoes, which after a few wears, they don’t fit right, and you regret buying it.

Again, the ones who should be receiving the most from your salary are yourself and your loved ones, not others. This one I have to agree with Robert Kiyosaki. He mentioned in his book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” to spend on yourself first, then on others. That is, keep aside your “needs” and some “wants”, before paying your bills and stuff. I prefer to put it as, you don’t need a budget if you don’t like doing it, but if you want to spend something on yourself, and you see that you can afford it easily (note: easily! Not a PDA Phone with 12 months payment!), then go ahead and buy it, and enjoy it.

If you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna stop writing and get myself a pack of Twisties, coz’ I deserve it, and you deserve something for yourself too today. Before you go home, go get something that’ll make you smile, or better yet, go get something that’ll make your loved ones smile.

Debt Account

Back in 2002, an ex-colleague had some good news to tell me. He said, “This is the final month I’m paying for my car installment of RM400++.” Three months later he said. “You know, though I’ve already finished paying my car installment, by the end of the month I don’t have savings left. What happened to my extra RM400++??” This story is very true to most people.

Some people have problems keeping more than RM300 in their wallet and prefer to keep a maximum of RM50 at all times. Reason being… “If I have money in my wallet, I’ll spend it.” Some people refused to have credit cards coz’ they know they’ll go overboard with it. This is all part of human greed to spend whatever extra money we have, instead of thinking of investing for the future.

Back to the issue on having no savings eventhough we’ve finished paying installments. I too have credit card installments on two items (for 12 months) and one item (for 6 months) which for two of the items my last payment is January 2006. I may or may not have the same problem as my ex-colleague above, and I’m not staying around to find out.

My own personal opinion is to create a debt account. My ex-colleague also have this ‘debt account’. We call it debt account, for the reason that eventhough we’ve finished paying our debts, we will still deduct the same amount of money from our income, but instead of paying debtors, we chuck it into an account we will have difficult access to. I have an account to which the bank is obscure. Not that the bank is lousy, but it’s difficult for me to go to that bank on any normal day. UOB Bank is one of that to me, but I’ve opened an account in another bank.

Open an account. Tell them you don’t need anything else other than the account book and strictly no ATM card! Using whatever bank you’re currently using, especially those that have online transfer thingy, every month, just deduct from your salary online transfer it to that bank. I’ve yet to start, but I will this February.

Anyway, for those who have been looking so forward to being out of debt, fine, just give yourself the RM400 for the month directly after debt settlement. Then, the month after, start putting it into a debt account. In one year (believe me one year moves fast!), you’ll get RM4,800 in the bank. Good to buy something needful like a PDA Phone. :P Kidding! Anyway, if we’re discipline enough, we can use that debt account to start another debt (haha!!) by using it as a downpayment for another car or whatever you think is needful but not a wantful (luxury items). Good luck to you, and to me too. Hey, look at it this way, if you could live while in real debt, you can surely still live in virtual debt. :D

Earning Money To Work

Working to earn money to spend on yourself and family is a common thing, but when people work to earn money so that they can continue working is another thing. This trend I've noticed quite some time ago, and I just cannot understand why we actually have to resort to this kind of mentality.

Two or three years back I came across three Jaya Jusco cashiers shopping for shoes in Jaya Jusco itself. I guess they're on their break, or have already finished their shift for the day. While two girls are looking for casual shoes, one girl was looking for work shoes. She said (in malay), "My shoes is in a bad condition already. Wanna get a new working shoes." A cashier in Jaya Jusco can earn about RM600 - RM800, and they wanna spend about RM100 on shoes to work?!

My wife knows very well that the I buy about 3 new work shirts in the past 12 months. And I'm still wearing some work shirts from 2002 and I'm fine with it. I wear the same work shoes everyday, with one back-up at home. I alternate between two set of belts weekly. I have four work pants, and several ties. Am I a cheapskate?! Yes I am! Hahaha... but seriously, who are we trying to impress to spend money on stuff we wear to work?! Our bosses?! So that he/she can say, "hm.... this employee's good. He wears different shirt in the past ten days, as compared to Mr Javalier who wears yellow on Monday, blue on Tuesday, red on Wednesday,... etc, let's give this one a raise!"??

What's worse is peer pressure in a working environment. I'm going to repeat myself here again. Just because you work in the big-5, you have to spend quite a bit of your income on expensive food?! "Executive like us, we better eat in places like Coffee Bean, and not mamak. People will think we are a failure to our company, or that our company is a failure not being able to pay us well." Really, we need to have a tv ad, not only about good consumer behaviour (buying only what you need), but we need to push the ad to purchasing for yourself and your loved ones, NOT for your company. Please lah.

Potential or Stretching Yourself Thin?

My lack of updating my blog came from ridiculous amount of work piling up on me due to manager's quitting and their tasks are assigned for me to do. Just eight months ago I'm concentrating fully on sales, then three months later I'm given a task of managing a serviced office on top of sales. Barely two months later, I have taken up liaison exec with all tenants of my building. And now, as two managers will be quitting this week itself, I have already been dumped legal documents for me to do some legal related tasks, and by Wednesday I'll be also managing the building's maintenance, of course, until both maintenance and legal/finance manager is replaced, whenever that will be.

Two kindergarten of thoughts arises here, one would be to look at it as potential, and another to look at it as danger. Some people would rub their hands together in glee, with the knowledge that more task = more responsibility = more indispensible = higher chance for promotion. I guess I can safely put this as the optimistic view. The pessimistic view will look at it as more task = less focus on each task = less performance on each task = higher chance for demotion/getting fired.

Whatever it is, I'm not trying to be optimistic or pessimistic. I'm going to be logical. With these tasks falling on me, I can already feel the "time vs work done" problem. I understand that there are many people out there who would love to be in my position holding so many responsibilities. What I need to do is prioritize. And my priority is to ensure that I deliver my work. To do so, I really need to analyse whether all these tasks can be handled effectively with the time given to me.

For one thing, these tasks require me to be in the building most of the time, therefore will affect my sales. If I'm out doing sales more, then the building will be in disarray with lack of management staff to handle any tenants' issues. Therefore, I have decided that I will need to let go of sales (with bosses' permission) until all the managers are replaced. With IT background and some other backgrounds not related to finance and engineering, I know I will not replace them anytime soon.

Anyway, this is not a business post. It's purely a post to myself to make sure I do not stretch myself too thin that I lose all potential.

Tele-Sales People

Here I wish to really put down several company's name BECAUSE they have overstepped their boundaries in getting sales.

Lately I've been receiving too many tele-sale calls from companies. Two things that I notice in their conversation which really turn me off is rudeness and pushy. Basically, all phonecalls went like this. Conversation in brackets is what's on my mind while having the phone conversation.

MCH Salesperson: Hello, is that Mr Javalier?

Me: Yes, speaking.

MCH Salesperson: Oh hello, I'm calling from Promark Partners. I understand that you have signed up with bla bla hotel before?

Me: Yes, I did.

MCH Salesperson: Well, I just want to let you know that hotel is no more related to Promark. Here I want to tell you of a special deal. You can stay at any 21 hotels in Malaysia for 60% off! And we even have dining priviledges, you can eat alone at 40% off or with friends and your share is totally free! Furthermore, bla bla (MCH, when this lady gonna stop talking?! Dun even have the courtesy to ask if I'm busy).

Me: Ok.

MCH Salesperson: It's only RM499, Mr Javalier. So, you want to charge to your Visa or Master?

Me: (WTF?!? Since when I agree?!?) Sorry, not interested.

MCH Salesperson: But why, Mr Javalier. This is a good offer. It lasts for a whole year you know. bla bla bla...

Me: Nevermind, it's okay.

MCH Salesperson: But... more sales pitch, more sales pitch...

Basically I'll end the call in a variety of ways. Now,... after receiving a few more phonecalls of similar manner, I decided to pay attention to which company they're from and give them a piece of my mind. The three companies that got the below respond from me are Hotel Istana, Holiday Villa and even Standard Chartered bank for their credit card.

MCH Salesperson: So, you want to charge to your VISA or MASTER?

Me: Well, actually I'm already interested to sign up coz' my friends did. But now after your call, I don't think I should.

MCH Salesperson: Why is that, Mr Javalier?

Me: Simply put, your hotel/bank is very bad on customer service. Their salesperson did not bother to ask if I'm busy, and then they act as if the phonecall is already a sales transaction. So, well, I don't have anymore faith in your hotel if you management trains the sales team this way. Thank you.

A tad direct, but I guess it'll have to be that way. Or else Malaysia will lose it's image as a courteous and polite country. My LAST tele-sales conversation with the Std Chartered Credit Card salesperson happened when I was eating, so while she blabs about her product, I made sure I ate soundly. :D

I even had this one tele-sales person who was a malay guy who I believe is in his 40's saying (and translated), "Please lah, but from me. You're malay, I'm malay. Malay must help malay you know" to which I replied "So I let go of RM400++ to you, how are you helping me? Give me a one-night stay for every ringgit I give, then we'll talk."

All is not bad in Malaysia. Since I've decided to be open with the companies I'm not happy about, there are some that was okay, albeit pushy. Walton International salesperson was courteous to ask whether I am busy and checked when I'm free, and then proceed to INTRODUCE ONLY the products without any push. Same goes for Southern Bank Berhad's salesperson who did ask if I was busy.

McDonalds Honest 'Mistake'?

Note: Thanx Kuek for telling me that the KFC's fish sandwich is already in circulation on other countries and doing well.

Lately, for quick lunches I opted for McDonalds since no hand washing necessary and no plates + tables necessary. I noticed that they have three burgers that's priced at RM2.50 as a promotion that has been going on for some time. One burger, amazingly is the double chess burger. I'll let you see the Value Meal in comparison for Ala Carta for the burgers.

McValue Meal


McChicken Burger + Fries (M) + Coke (M) = RM6.75


Dbl Cheese Burger + Fries (M) + Coke (M) = RM6.75


Ala Carte

McChicken - RM4.95 Fries (M) - RM2.50
Coke (M) - RM1.95 Total = RM9.40


Dbl Cheese - RM2.50 Fries (M) - RM2.50
Coke (M) - RM1.95 Total = RM6.95


SUMMARY
If you buy the McChicken value meal (RM6.75) instead of buying them ala carte (RM9.40), you save RM2.65. Basically, you get the Fries free of charge and another 15 cents.

But, if you buy the Double Cheeseburger meal (RM6.75) instead of buying them ala carte (RM6.95), you save only 20 cents.

You save 1200% more buying the McChicken meal than the Dbl Cheeseburger meal. McDonald's honest mistake? Or clouded agenda?

KFC's Smart Move

In the early 1990s, the name Kentucky Fried Chicken was changed to KFC. The still kept their motto of Finger Licking Good. The main reason for such change is to submerge (or hide) the word "Fried". I know this for a fact, and I don't need a bibliography to prove my claim.

Anyway, since the name KFC also successfully hide the other words "Kentucky" and "Chicken", KFC decided to launch a Fish Sandwich!!

When I first saw KFC's Fish Sandwich advert in The Star page 16 main paper, I was having my business cap on. My first thought was... KFC went out of focus. If I am a competitor, I will find this move a weakness on KFC's side, trying to garner market share from fish lovers. Like a desperate move to make more profit. I think many competitors will share the same feeling I am having. It's true if you look at it. Why would a food industry who have been relying on chicken throughout their 30++ years of business would suddenly lost focus and create a fish product?! 1) Desperation for profit aka weak or 2) A smart move.

KFC's rebranding from the original Kentucky Fried Chicken wasn't a fluke. Since they're KFC, and the motto doesn't mention 'chicken' at all, though their mascot is a chicken and display signs shows chicken, it's totally alright to start a non-chicken product. This will put them in the same playing field as Secret Recipe who started with the main product of cake, and has slowly moved towards a dining restaurant serving other things than cakes.

There is no lost in focus, the focus has always been 'customer', and putting on a consumer cap, one thing for sure, Malaysians love trying new products, and they will try the Fish Sandwich. And if it does well, it'll be incorporated into the menu. If they can be successful in that, we'll see more non-chicken products by them.

On the other hand, another franchise called Manhattan Fish Market is slowly being called MFM for short. Still, the long words appear on their logo. I wonder if in the future they will hide the word "Fish" and serve other products. Don't go into the battle of "Since it's FISH, why are they serving prawns, squids and crabs?!?". We don't need to go too detailed on english words now do we?

Another Stupidity

Because I'm at the site office, I faxed my leave form back to headquarters. It's the most logical thing to do.

Then, I got a phonecall. The HR Manager actually told my coordinator, to tell me that next time the original copy must be sent instead of a faxed copy. What the?! I decided to be sarcastic and said, okay, next time I'll get a courier service to send this one piece of paper back to the office, to which my coordinator said, "Yeah, that's what the HR manager wants."

Hello?!? How much is fax cost vs courier service cost? Some people really have problems utilising God's gift to the species called homo sapiens.

In The Face Of Stupidity

Before I get to the core point of the stupidity I faced, I want to bring up something that Morpheus told Neo when Neo was about to jump across the building in The Matrix. He said "Don't think you can, know you can." I had a discussion with my cousin on these usage of words. We decided that "know" is still doubtful. The following example, if used on you by someone, would have an impact, especially the last line.

"I think you are stupid" - 50% doubt
"I believe you are stupid" - 25% doubt
"I know you are stupid" - 1% doubt
"You ARE stupid" - 0% doubt

Back to the main story, this was what I faced. A family of five (2 adults and 3 kids) invited a two families, FamilyA being 3 adults and 1 baby, and FamilyB having 3 adults and 3 kids. They were invited to have lunch together. Key word: "together". So both these families came, who don't really know each other. We are FamilyA.

We came in, none of the host was around, though we did see the host pressing the automatic gate earlier. Only the maid is seen. After 3-5 mins, one adult host came to greet. Another 5 mins, another adult host came to greet. Then FamilyB came, and FamilyA intro-ed themselves to FamilyB. Seems FamilyB's kids know the host kids. So, the kids joined up and played. Female adult host was busy attending to the food on the table.

Then we were all invited to eat. All adults of FamilyA and FamilyB. What of the host?! Oh.. the male host was nowhere to be seen. The female host just sat there, looking at us eat. So much for a lunch get-together. No different from a restaurant setting except that the food is free.

New Year 2006

When I first entered college in 1996, I stopped making a new year resolution. Reason? Coz' I don't want to conform so I think it's 'cool' to not have a resolution since it's just another date, another number, etc. And then all those wise people saying "You don't have to wait for a new year to change, tomorrow is the beginning of a new day!" quotes. Since I'm married with a kid, I think it's not really a resolution to start character or life anew that's important, but it's more like a 'budgeting' of a new year for me and my family that's important. Thus, the following will be my new year goals (not resolution), more for me to achieve than to actually tell you readers.

New Year Goals (On Self and Family)
1. To get more humanity away from my zombie side. Before the end of the year, I aim to have at least 10% of my income NOT from my full-time job.

2. Achieve the four times blood donation scheduled for Mar, Jun, Sep and Dec. And NOT in Pusat Darah Negara.

3. To further continue spending as less 'extra' time at work as scheduled in my letter of offer.

4. To upgrade my PC somewhere in the first quarter of 2006. Hehe.... tsk tsk tsk.

5. To reduce fear of being professionally social and really BE professionally social, to clients, tenants, whoever I meet, by mid-2006.

6. To get rid of my my morbid self, or reduce it to a minimal. Oh no you will not, Mr Javalier! - Morbid Self

7. -to further add within the next week when I can think of more things-


New Year Goals (On Blog)
Because I can see a better focus for my blog, the theme of my blog for 2006 will be geared towards businesses.
1. Finish my five-part story on Ah Kim. Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

2. Growing up, there were a few businesses/product that caught my attention. Might as well learn more about them. Therefore, will do a study and research on the following businesses.
a) Projet - How Projet fight for market share against 6-7 established petrol station in Malaysia.
b) Tic Tac vs Kit Kat - Both are long-standing brands, and Tic Tac's small snack product for niche market of little children is a co-sponsor for an F1 team.
c) Airasia - How they generate profit with low cost and profit millions, and how they decide on strategies of expansion leaving their 'competitor' far behind.
d) Bread Market - 2004-05 was a boom for new bread business such as the likes of Bread Story, Bread Talk, Papa Roti, and tons more! How is La Boheme, King's Confectionary and other long-standing bread shop handles the competition?
e) Fads - Tamagochi lived and died. Pokemon lived and is dying. Mashimaro lived and would be dying soon. So, what makes Hello Kitty and Garfield survive through the years?
f) Market share battle - After 10 years of gourmet coffee shops (Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Gloria Jeans) in Malaysia, how does fast food (KFC, McD, A&W) industry fight for market shares.
g) Can I create a business for a niche market, or fight against competition for mass market? (probably private postings)

3. Detail with 'kept information' on my journey towards humanity.

4. To update my blog at least 3 times a week.


The above goals shall be reviewed on 1st July 2006.

Understanding Religion

Note: A financial consultant called me up the other day, told me of a product that can bring 15% interest per annum. As a bumiputera in Malaysia, guaranteed unit trust like the ASB gives at least 7% a year and savings within Tabung Haji gives at least 5% a year. Also, this investment is in real estate, and because I'm in this line, I can foresee real estate earnings in Malaysia within the next 2-3 years, and it's not on a positive note at all. Since he's very adamant to see me, I think he'll shut up when he can't convince me coz' I'm very sensitive to investing money on risky ventures.

It's not really my liking to write about religion, coz' three topics that I definitely do not want to get involved in any debates are about religion, politics and female vs male. However, this time I have to because I think that there are times when the respect for other people's religion need to be really appreciated or else you might just end up depressing someone.

In my workplace, and in some friend's workplace, religious issue has came up. Because I'm a muslim and so far stories I've heard from my friends who are muslims, therefore the only thing I can talk about in this post is about Islam. Nothing too distressful like those news/rumours happening in Iraq, but still, there is lack of respect from what I see.

Issue 1: One colleague, during the fasting month, was required to attend a meeting and site evaluation with the directors in another state. This was on a Saturday. Reaching there, they had to walk several miles for the evalution under the hot sun and while yes, we do need to do work as usual even during fasting month, but these people really have not even the least decency to at least acknowledge that our friend here is fasting. At lunch, all was called and have had food and drinks served. Being really thirsty, my colleague still fasted till Maghrib. But he ended up in bed after that till midnight.

Issue 2: One driver, a malay, is asked to drive the boss around no matter the day, no matter the time. He has missed Friday prayers many times and only prays about once in five weeks. This is from a boss who does not have respect for another person's religion.

Issue 3: Top management people, in a bid to secure a deal, demands that a Muslim marketing employee join in the dinner at a restaurant. Problem is that the meal ordered is non-halal, and was pressured to join in the dinner so as not to ridicule the 'guests'.

This happened in just the past 3 months. I'm not saying this only happens to muslim. I'm sure there are other issues whereby a muslim manager mistreat his/her buddhist staff or christian staff. The fact of the matter is that I think it's high time that everyone is given a basic understanding of religions around the world, so that we know what is right and what is wrong.

To mistakenly insult a culture can still be forgiven, but it's harder when it's a religion as it's more close to heart and faith.

Secret Meeting of two Entrepreneurs

A long time ago, before there were colleges and universities, the advanced countries produced the same kind of graduates from high school, with the same knowledge. None the wiser, none the dumber. One of the first company owners who hit the $1 million mark in assets met up with the first owner of a university. The conversation was documented and lost, until it was found during an excavation for a new condominium. The conversation went as follows: -

Company Owner: I'm rather sick and tired of these kids coming out, and without the skills I need to properly run my company. I can just pick any Tom, Dick and Harry and they'll do the job, but they just can't think for themselves. They don't have the strategic thinking I need in my fellow employees. Can you do something??!

University Entrepreneur: I tell you what. I'll start a new education system, something to begin creating different skill sets in these kids, so that they can work for you, and other companies as well. Let them think that they're so smart having different skill sets from other people that they will be very vain and proud, earning 'high' income.

Company Owner: I love how your evil mind works! Haha... 'high' income indeed. I can foresee by the year 2000, these so called 'smart' and 'skilled' people will earn $2000 - $15,000 not realising the minor shareholders of a company who plays golf and go on holiday most of the time earns $50,000 per month.

University Entrepreneur: You have to help me then. Let's create some education categories that sound smart. We'll leave doctors and lawyers out since we cannot control them, because their core competency can already make them own a business with minimal capital. Hey, how does 'economics' sound?

Company Owner: Woo hoo... that sounds bombastic man! Hey, how about erm... 'finance'? Make them think that they can be a money expert! I foresee that in the year 2000 there'll be "Financial Advisors" who seem to be expert in finance, but why the hell are they working as "Financial Advisors" instead of owning a company since they're soooo good in making money?! What else?

University Entrepreneur: There are tons more ideas, I'll compile them for you to see. We'll have skill sets placed in different erm... let's call it 'diplomas' shall we? There'll be so many different diplomas of skill sets that I will create, so that they can all work for you and other entrepreneurs.

Company Owner: Urm... well, don't you think that out of 1 million kids, and if there are 10 different diplomas, entrepreneurs like me will still face 100,000 kids with the same skills and mindset!?

University Entrepreneur: I have an outlet there. 'Degrees'!! We'll bring them up to a different degree and give them a 'degree'. This will create more so called advanced 'smart' people. And those who wants to be smarter so that they can earn well in a company, and totally blind them from being entrepreneurs, we'll give them Masters. Haha... Masters... how does that sound like?!

Company Owner: That sounds good, my master! Hahaha.... oh god, I'm having cramps in my stomach. Masters... haha... wait, lemme get some tissue to wipe my tears.

University Entrepreneur: Get this.... after Masters, I'll create Doctors! Highest standard of them all! But to differentiate them from medical doctors, I'll call them Philosophical Doctors instead. What do you think?

Company Owner: That's good. That's good. I have to be running along soon. I wish you good luck in your attempt to blind the world. Oh,.. please do have an excellent marketing strategy! Ensure that nearly everyone in the world wants to take up these 'degrees' or 'masters' thingy, that they're totally blindsided from being entrepreneurs. By the time they get these 'degrees', ensure that they're already in debt from buying cars, renting houses or buying them, so that their money is tied down from putting any capital into a business. I don't want knowledgable people to own businesses, not people dropping out before they're in debt.

University Entrepreneur: That would not be a problem. We don't want another drop out to be rich and famous like what happened to Einstein. But, Nostril-damus actually predicted that there will be one, before the year 2000, a high-level education drop out will actually create one of the most successful company in the world! How do I prevent that?!

Company Owner: I'll be dead by then. I don't give a damn. Just make sure that in the future, there are so many blind people chasing after papers they forgot that the papers are actually handcuffs from being an owner of businesses. The 'bigger' they are, the 'bigger' things they'll buy, cars, house, and then the 'bigger' their debts will be. Do this for us, the entrepreneurs!

University Entrepreneur: It will be done, I assure you. We, the higher education entrepreneurs will make sure that humans crave papers with ink, that they will forget to see what can make them earn real money. We will ensure 80% of the world population will fall within this collective. We will ensure that they will make people like you earn more money, twofold, threefold even, while they tehemselves are rewarded with just a 10%-25% increase of their income a year. Muahahahaa......

First Day Out

Lil Steven told his mama, "Mama, I think I'm finally old enough to go out exploring with the other ants to search for food. Can I go, mama, can I can I?" Mama ant and looks at Papa ant. He said nothing. Then mama ant looked back at Lil Steven and said, "I guess it should be alright, go get ready first!"

"Yay!!", Lil Steven exclaimed. He rushed to his room and took out a nice set of new clothes and shoes and then rushed to have his bath. Singing in the toilet, he overheard papa ant saying to mama ant, "You sure he's old enough to go out alone?" and mama ant replied "In the insect world, the female is supreme, so don't you dare question me on my decision. You're lucky I'm not a praying mantis or a bee."

Lil Steven got out of the shower, dried himself, put on his new clothes and looked in the mirror. Mama ant was looking at him and said, "You look smart! Come have breakfast first and then you can go." Then the three of them had breakfast.

After breakfast, they hugged and as Lil Steven prepared to go out of the anthill, mama ant said "Don't forget your backpack and your shovel." Lil Steven went to the closet, took out his bag and shovel and smiled at his mama. "It looks bright out there, mama."

"Yes", mama ant exclaimed. "Enjoy yourself!"

Lil Steven crept out of the anthill and smelled the fresh air for the first time outside his habitat. Then he saw the trails of ants and puffing his chest out, proceeded to follow the troops. "I'm gonna be a hard working ant, yeah, I'll be!".

Three meters from the anthill, he turned back to look at his home. Mama ant was there, standing proud and waving at him bye bye. And bye bye it was. He was just in time to see mama ant shout in disbelief when the world turned dark around him.

Splat!.... Mr Javalier's shoes squashed Lil Steven as he brings his family for a walk at KLCC park.

Humans and Zombies

No disrespect to the zombies who wish to remain zombies.

A common question related to obesity. Do we live to eat, or eat to live. The former shows tendency for obesity, while the latter shows logical human needs. Heck, I do both! At times I eat to live, at times I really eat what I want and enjoy, no matter the calories no matter the cost.

Zombies roam the earth. They're the ones who grow up with the mindset of "cycle of life", meaning they succumb to society's rule of 80% population works to make the other 20% richer. So these 80% are happy (or brainwashed to be happy) living in constant debts, earning a low salary and facing high demands for performance. Darn, I'm a zombie too, aren't I? A zombie looking towards humanity.

Zombies follow Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to the dot. Who's Maslow? Maslow's the King of Zombies. Yes, zombies wants to eat, and then finds a shelter, and then when some humanity comes in, they want friends, they want recognition and then wisdom. A friend asked "Why do I live? What's the meaning of life?" Another friend answered "God give us life to enjoy life." Then why are there so many who chose not to enjoy life?

Zombies work to get money. Money buys food (Maslow's Tier 1). Money buys house on high debt for 30 years (Maslow's Tier 2). Money buys friends (Maslow's Tier 3). Money... you get the point. The meaning of life of a zombie is... "We live to owe. To pay the owe, we find money. To find money we work. We don't want to risk being an entrepreneur because Maslow's Tier 1 must be met and we're already stuck there. Money is now precious and sacred."

I am a zombie wishing to be a human. Are you already a human? If you're not, are you with me, seeking humanity, or you wish to remain a zombie forever?

It's close to midnight, and something evil's lurking in the dark. They're out to get you, to make you owe and owe and owe till you die.

Newbie at Expert's Place

A friend of mine and I used to donate blood at blood drives and also at hospitals. When I was in Kedah, I went to the Kedah hospital and he went to Klang hospital. Now that I'm back in KL, we go donate together, at least can catch up with stories and news over lunch or makan-makan or while donating.

So, well, this time we decided to go to THE place to donate blood, where else but Pusat Darah Negara (trans: Country Blood's Bellybutton). No, it's Nasional Blood Bank. The place is nice. You even have to take a number and sit down awaiting for your number to be called. Interestingly enough, there's only three of us, so why waste paper to print the numbers?

Without needing for me to give a story about the process to donate blood, I will skip directly to the blood donating room. Just to give a visual here, the room is like those army bunkers with at least 15 beds at one side and another 15 at the other side. So, anyway, on with the main story.

The lady came to me, swab my arm with alcohol to look for the elevated vein. She took a few moments then told me to hold on. She called her supervisor and both of them came, and the supervisor said "correct lah, there lah". Wha?! First sign of danger. Then she proceeded to do the necessary. Checked my blood pressure and squeezed on the biceps area, and then proceeded to put in the needle (there are more processes before needle go in, but I'm not story-ing that). Then, standard operating procedure (SOP), to release a bit of the squeeze from blood pressure thingy to allow blood to flow back into the arm freely.

The needle went a bit too far in (as compared to my usual blood donation at other times) before it punctured a blood vessel. Then, usual SOP, she will tape the tube (that's attached to the needle) to my arm so that the needle does not come out. The tape, she taped on her glove as well, so when she pulled her hand away, the tape followed her gloves and nearly pulled out the needle. Wha crap?!

My friend faced similar situation with another 'nurse'. Looks like the expert blood 'extractor's are all out on blood donation drive. Anyway, about halfway through, due to the bad placement of the tape on the tube (should be nearer to needle, not 3 inches away on the arm), the needle started to get pushed out of the blood vessel. Less blood got pumped into the bag. I found this out especially at the end when they took some sample into a test-tube from the cut tube (ya, they cut the tube after successful filling up the bag). My blood was practically just dripping and not flowing.

We left the place saying that we won't come back to Pusat Darah Negara and opted instead for blood drive (best preference) or normal hospital.

A day after my donation, the following happened to my arm. I believe when the needle got pushed out from the blood vessel, some blood still entered the needle, and some spilled into my inner dermis. And then blood clot happened, and ended up clotting another area as well. Below is a picture of my arm

I had no choice but to massage the blood clot area (especially the big one) with Minyak Gamad and then two days later, it became like this....

Today it looks a lot better already. Still some sign of the small blood clot. The rubbed blood clot is almost gone.

Note to self.... find the expert, not the place that people think experts are supposed to be at.

Toy With Sound

Again, a post on our luck as someone who can log on to the internet, and read a blog.

No matter where we stand, there is always someone unluckier than us. No matter where we stand too, there's always someone luckier than us. Too many people nowadays prefer not to look up, because they'll be humbled by someone more successful than them, and prefers instead to look down and feel almighty by "I'm driving a Merc, this guy a Kancil... hmmph".

In a standard human world with compassion and integrity, people should look down and feel humbled, and look up for motivation. That's the purest way to improve one's life as well as other people they come in contact with.

What's the title gotta do with the post?! Christmas is coming, and lotsa kids are asking Santa Claus for many toys. Most of the kids in orphanage are asking for very simple items, that any executive can easily fulfill their dreams. The items asked are the likes of t-shirt, dolls, soft toy and shoes. Of course there are a couple of exception who did ask for walkman, discman and small radio. I think small radio is ok to ask for, looking at the cheap radios nowadays that can be bought for RM19.90. Better than Harry Potter's cousin asking for 20++ toys for Christmas which is crazy! Or better than current lucky people asking for handphones, new car, computer and the likes for Christmas.

From these children at orphanages, there are further unlucky ones, probably sent there by cruel and uncaring parents. These are the blind ones. Nearly all of them ask for one thing only, a toy with sound. At least if they can't see the colours on the toy, they can hold it, appreciate it, and enjoy the senses of touch and sound, compensating for the loss of sight. And there I was at 9 years old asking for Micro Machines when another 9 year old somewhere is elated enough to receive any toy with sound.

Hospital De Javu

I went back to the hospital in which my wife gave birth, to collect a document. I went back to the maternity ward area. As it's a common place for visitors, I was not asked what I'm doing there. Just approached the door to the ward we were in. Door was closed, but I could hear voices inside.

Funny thing was, the voice was so familiar that I actually opened up the door. Curtains were still drawn so I can't see who it is. Table with food not yet eaten was right before the curtain. The voices can still be heard. It was the mother talking and singing to the baby. When I peeped from beside the curtain, I could finally see who it is. Got a big shock of my life when I saw my wife holding and cuddling my baby. I can see the luggage we had there. The fluffy green blanket in which I slept on the floor.

I choked, couldn't say a word, and before I could draw the curtain open, the toilet door opened. It was me. But how can that be? Memory energy? When I gasped I covered my mouth with my hands, not to disturb what I saw, but they didn't notice me. But I did see my other self looking at my direction eventhough the curtain was closed. Then the baby made a sound and he looked back at the baby.

At this time I left the room, lucky that the door didn't creak. The nurses looked at me, saw my pale face I guess, because they asked me who I am and am I alright? I said I'm ok, just visiting the room we were in after the delivery of the baby. She asked which room, and I pointed to the room right near the end of the hallway to the right. "And you went in?!", she asked again. I nodded and she shook her head.

She said that I couldn't have possibly enter the room because the door is locked. It's now used momentarily as a storage area while three other rooms are being given a cleaning overhaul. I laughed, told her no, the door can be opened and I went back to the room with her, and she was right. The door was locked. Not wanting her to find me a whacko and place me in a psychiatric ward, I told her I entered the wrong room and pointed to any other room.

I then thanked her and walked out of the maternity ward back to the lift. As I stepped away from their view, I heard a nurse say "Treasure every memory with your loved ones close to your heart, for they are the foundation on which family love and relationship grows. - Javalier"

- In dedication to my wife and firstborn.

Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia

With totally no disrespect to the government, and to the individual, I write the following parody.

I was heading to lunch at my old office today when I saw a sign saying "Seminar oleh Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia". My first thought was, "man... there's just so many departments in the government that I dunno who do what?! Literally translating the sign, it will say "Seminar by Malaysian Fish Development's Shadow". Kidding, it's Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia.

Then I wondered, is there also a "Prawn Development Authority, Squid Development Authority, Worm Development Authority, Frog Development Authority, and what have you's." Not planning to visit any website on the department, I assume the following.

Vision
Our vision is to be the best in fish development in the world.

Mission
To enhance the growth of fishes in the Malaysian industry, as well as the development of the fish's skill.

Wawasan 2020 Objectives
1. We plan to research on growth serum for our fishes, so that they will grow at least ten times from 1995. Mid-way 2005 report shows tremendous progress in our research, findings and experimentation.

Exhibit A: Our fishes in 1995















In 1995, our ocean condition was so bad with all the oil leaks on the Straits of Malacca that our fishes could only grow to the size of a 1 cent coin.

Exhibit B: Our Fishes In 2005
















Due to our extension research in growth hormones, we are proud to report that our fishes has grown to the size as shown in the picture. Please bear in mind, this is not the limit to the growth. It will only get bigger.


2. We also plan to reseach on skills to integrate with the fishes. Our skills development team was was divided into five groups; Language Team, Music Team, Aviation Team, Diplomacy Team and Taste Team. In 2005 now, we cannot yet disclose our success in the teams other than the aviation team.

Exhibit C: Flying Fish in 1995
















We have always wondered why God created flying fishes. We pitied looking at them flying out of the water only to fall back in. It seems that there are bigger plan for these fishes, with the intervention of humans into their development. Thus the Aviation Skill Development Team was created.

Exhibit D: Flying Fish in 2005
















In our attempt to make these fishes feel useful to community, we have researched and taught them aviation skills to propel humanity to greater heights. By Wawasan 2020, we expect the newly acquired Airbus by airlines corporations all over the world will be obselete with our new Flying Fish Airlines. No fear of crashes into the sea as the airline is also sea friendly.


LKIM RESEARCH AMBASSADOR
To properly educate and create awareness to the public on our activities, we have decided to follow the marketing strategy of most major companies by hiring an ambassador. In 2003, we approached Situ Nurhaliza and Amberry Chia. Situ was too expensive for the government to afford and too busy, and Amberry Chia does not like to eat fish. Other candidates just would not do.

We have decided to create our own ambassador. From our research on the growth serum and the combination with cloning technology as well as transformation technology, we have created the perfect Ambassador, Fish Leong, grown directly at our Kuala Pilah research site! We hope we made the right choice.

Compensation Claim

The story: A company was to take up some space to rent. The agent has given a letter stating that the company has confirmed their intentions and wish to sign. The company came on signing day, said to hold a few days and didn't sign. Two days later, the agent called saying that the company is no longer interested. Bye bye.

The retribution: Because there is a letter stating the confirmation the company is sent out, there is legal proof to justify a lawsuit. I am instructed (along a few others) to claim for compensation for all processes that includes man hours, over time, logistics and processes claims. I am to detail every bit of cost to the company to charge for compensation. I have done so.

The compensation: They include the following (and nearly include some of the following)...
(note: The costing is changed to protect real confidential information).

Process Claim
1.Viewing Conducted - Five viewings in total.
Hours personnel involved = 30 hours X RM50 per hour
Hours directors involved = 15 hours X RM150 per hour

2. Documentation - Three proposals, one offer letter, one tenancy agreement
Hours personnel involved = 10 hours X RM50 per hour
Hours directors involved = 5 hours X RM150 per hour


So far so good?? Check out my logistics claim.


Logistics Claim
1. Travel Cost
To and Fro Agent's Office = 120km X RM0.50 per km
To and Fro Lawyer's Office = 20km X RM0.50 per km
To and Fro Director's House = 100km X RM0.50 per km
To and Fro two offices = RM80km X RM0.50 per km
Car tyre wear and tear = 320km X RM0.08 per km
Steering, clutch and gear oil used = 1.4 litres X RM50 per litre
Accident risk compensation = 320km X RM2.00 per km

2. Material Cost
Paper for proposal = 60 pages X RM0.30 per page
Paper for offer letter = 30 pages X RM0.30 per page
Paper for tenancy agreement = 100 pages X RM0.30 per page
Binding cost = RM10 X (3 proposals + 1 offer letter + 2 tenancy agreement)
Ink cost = 190 pages X RM0.10 per page
Shoe wear & tear cost (to and fro desk and printer) = 6 trips X RM5 per trip
Body energy = 25 joules X 6 trips X RM2 per joule
Name card given = 8 cards X RM0.50 per card

3. Phone Charges
To landlord = 50 minutes X RM2.00 per minute
To agent = 150 minutes X RM0.60 per minute
To lawyer = 60 minutes X RM0.60 per minute
Accidental wrong number dialed = 8 calls X 1 minute X RM0.60 per minute
Saliva used = 430ml X RM0.10 per ml
Ear pressure = 200gm X 165 phonecalls X RM0.02 per gm
Finger pressure (from dialing) = 100gm X 210 phonecalls X RM0.02 per gm
Arm energy = 10 joules X 165 phonecalls X RM2 per joule


Being rather frustrated myself, I included the Name Card Given in the real claim I submitted.

Wash your hands

I used to quarrel a lot with my parents whenever they ask me to wash up or change clothes after playing in the field. I understand the need to wash my feet so that I don't dirty the house, but my clothes? If I lied down on the grass, I'm with nature, and nature is clean and pure, why do I need to change clothes? I believe running in the sand at the beach cleans my feet better than any tap water can.

Anyway, the topic is about washing hands. I do wash my hands when I wanna eat, especially after doing quite a lot of house work. When I was helping mum with gardening in the past, even when I run in sports, or after a nice hike in a forest trail, I do not wash my hands before eating something. It is my belief that the current 'hygiene' business is doing our body more bad than good. By not washing hands and letting germs or bacterias or worm eggs (eewww...) get into the body, it tests our immune system and make it stronger, not weaker.

I'm bringing this up because of my kid. (Yes, KB, I'm bringing my kid into the blog again). He would have touched tons of things, the blanket, bedsheet, milk bottle, the crib, my wife's and my clothes, the coolant cap of my engine when I asked him hold it, any many more.... and then the fingers goes into the mouth for cleaning. I am totally alright with this, except for the coolant cap lah. It's good for him rather than having him suck chlorine all the time.

I have a colleague who ensured that everyone bathes when they come home, before touching the baby. While it's more hygienic this way, I think it's good to bring the outside environment into the house and in close contact with the baby. I have no scientific proof, but really, I think the more dangers babies are face with (not superbly dangerous lah, don't pulak let him fall down the stairs to teach him balance), the better they are in adapting to them as they grow up.

High School Reunion

In 12 days from today, I will be attending one of the biggest reunion of my high school year, class of '95. We have always been a close knit group or 200 friends, and hopefully many will make it this year being the 10th year since we last met with each other. It brings back memories to the yesteryears where you grow up being good friends with one another, some people you have a crush on, some people you feel like crushing, teachers who are strict, teachers who are linient, teachers who dunno how to teach, many more of those good ol' days stories will come up.

The venue, interestingly enough will be at the school itself. Talk about being nostalgic. We'll make sure we do a site visit to the 'haunted toilet', 'haunted hall', bla bla... those stories we always hear when we do a camping at the school field. Since teachers are also attending the reunion, it makes it all the better. However, those 'gangsters' who were in a lot of trouble with the teachers might not attend due to their uneasiness being with teachers, cannot shout out loud, act violently and no vroom vroom of cars.

Recalling my secondary days, mine was superbly pathetic. I had a crush with a girl for four years and got rejected twice. I would have been considered a nerd, playing chess for school, joining clubs like nature club, BM club, geographical club, school yearbook committee and the likes, but save due to being active in school sports as well. I have had my shares of admirers, one in particular that I just have to look back and laugh is when I was in Form 4 and a Form 2 japanese girl (she is pretty) actively trying to make me talk to her.

It was in a school trip to Terengganu I believe. She made someone beside me changed place with her, sat beside me, and later even nonchalantly leaned against me. But being a duh-duh fella that I am having a crush on someone who don't give a dime about me, I totally ignored all signs of intention. Another admirer joined the taekwondo club to befriend me. This one is interesting. I find her interesting and attractive when she is just a school girl from far, but it was kind of a turn-off when she joined taekwondo. I wonder why. Anyway, her taekwondo lasted only 1 month. Darn, I wish I have more shares of memories of me admiring someone, but this cuckoo bird was stuck in a stupid crush that he's practically oblivious to everything else around him.

If there was one thing I can be impressed with myself in my school days, it'll have to be my hair. Being good friends with all three discipline teachers, I get stopped by prefects after assembly too many times to have a meet with my discipline teachers. What I get is just "Just sit down like 5 - 10 mins, then go to class." Well, would you consider that as 'using' your friendship with teachers?! The only dude in school with back hair covering collar and front hair's fringe up to the chin.

One tribute I'd like to give is to a Mr Morais, a very keen maths teacher who calls nearly all his students 'monkey'! He is small size but very strict. My first impression, actually, my only impression of him is that he used to be in the army as a mole, not the spy, but the ones who crawls into ditches to plant bombs. He passed away peacefully in 2004. He's the true definition of a teacher, who measure his own performance by how many students gets A from SPM, and he stays back everyday to give free tuition to anyone who wants, free of charge. A good man, hard to replace.

There certainly will be no photos of the reunion that's going to be posted here. This is more like a diary entry for me.

Sack Of Stuff

1. Lawyer Killing My Company
Everyone knows that when a company rents an office space, at the end of the tenancy, should they want to continue tenancy, the rental will either go up, or go down. Therefore, a lawyer of ours had this to write in the clause.

"The new rental shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the prevailing rental or at the prevailing market rate, whichever is lower".

While the clause above seems to be nicely worded in law terms, it kills the company. Just say the company is paying RM4000 now, when the new tenancy comes, we cannot ask them to pay anymore than RM400! Because "new rental shall not exceed 10% of prevailing rental". That lawyer got a nice screw from my director for his mistake. The word "increment" is missing.


2. Lying on back to lying on tummy - My Kid
This date, 1st December 2005, marks the first time my kid is able to turn from a lying down position, to a meniarap (lying on tummy) position. This happened in the afternoon about 12:30pm.


3. Watafak?! RM2000 for allowance?!?
Anyone reading The Star Section Two of 30th November would have read about expenditure of youth nowadays. Most of them mentioned that RM300 is not enough. One dude even said that he put aside RM150 for one date, just in case it's a materialistic girl. Whoa!! Man! I'm only 26, so how can in 8 years, a date that costs me only RM15 to RM30 per night (plus movies and food) jumps to RM150 per date?!

One dude that I cannot tahan even suggests that parents give RM2000 for allowance, because "kids nowadays need to pay for a lot of things, like food, coffee at Starbucks, fuel, phone, etc...". Wah lan! A girl mentioned "I cannot ask more money from my mum because she'll ask me to stay home instead of going out, so that I can save on food, petrol and not buy anything." Well, if money not enough, stay home lah.

You got see your parents going to their employer saying "Eh, not enough money lah. I got 3 teenagers who asks RM2000 per month from me, can you give me triple raise ah?!". Crap! Eight years ago my friend lived on RM50 per month! I think the RM2000 dude must be totally spoilt or totally crap for not realising that if he gets RM2000 per month, his college education is about RM800 per month (RM2400 per semester) and his internet at home, his breakfast and dinner, his stay, his laundry being done, etc.... his parents need to earn RM6000 just to support him, coz' RM4000 goes to the son, RM2000 goes to both parents plus household items, plus both parents fuel, phone and food. Really got me worked up reading that story.


4. We forgotten what is a need and what is luxury.
Following up with No. 3 above, I think most Malaysians have forgotten what is luxury and what is a need. There are a few reasons why I don't even want to try two of the new franchise in Malaysia, which is "Chicken Rice Shop" and "Only Mee". Their concept is this. "Let's take a normal Malaysian meal and franchise it and triple it's cost!" and taadah, both those franchise is born! But come on, asking a few friends, the taste is nothing to shout about at all. Can easily get a tastier chicken rice at food courts that will cost only RM3.50 - RM3.80. One franchise I left out if Laksa Shack for one reason, their variety of laksa cannot be found in normal food courts in town. It makes me feel like creating a franchise called "Nasi Goreng Village" that serves all type of nasi goreng at RM10 per plate. Or maybe "The YTF Gourmet Kitchen - Your One Stop Luxury Yong Tau Foo Restaurant". Please lar people, food in franchise restaurants that you can find within the vicinity of a stone's throw anywhere in Malaysia is a luxury.

Also, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Gloria Jeans and others are also a luxury. Make your own nescafe at home lar. If you go to Starbucks, get a coffee, open your laptop, tap their electricity source and internet, then it's a need. At least you spread your cost into several areas, not just a drink. Driving a car IS a luxury in Malaysia. I myself would say that I AM living in this luxury of driving a car. It's expensive not only on fuel, but on toll and parking as well. Using LRT or bike is cheaper. I think people really properly need to do a budget. Everyone should do a budget to be reviewed quarterly, though is sounds so much like a business practise, it saves you a lot of money. Or else you'll end up every month concentrating on reducing debt, but still spending a whole lot.

Notwithstanding the generality of the sentences I have written (too much reading agreements lately), I have left out luxury of a family because I am just beginning to face the needs vs luxury as a parent and husband with a kid.

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Sunway Pyramid Tower Hotel: A Review

I’m sure many of you have had these calls from hotels trying to sell their hotel membership that always comes with ONE free night stay at their hotel. I have had tried a few of these membership but then I have wasted some too by not even taking that free stay. Now that I’m wiser (after being conned many times), I find it totally and ultimately ridiculous for anyone to sign up a membership with a hotel, in a town they’re staying in. Why would I, someone living in KL City, be signing up a membership with say Istana Hotel, or Renaissance Hotel, or other hotels in KL.

Think about it, I live in KL. I go for a free night stay in Istana Hotel. The next day I can go visiting, yay!! But visiting KL while I’m already going around KL even when I stay at my own house?! What for?? Paying like RM300++ just for a room, but no difference in environment. I do I think it’s fine to sign up with only ONE hotel, for special occasions, and that I have done with Renaissance as I enjoy the ambience and the food selection. So, Renaissance, free membership ah next year ok?! Since I advertised for you.

Anyway, because I’ve signed up with Sunway Hotel’s membership end of last year, my family and I had the opportunity to stay in Sunway Pyramid Tower for 3 days 2 night stay. This is one of the package that has a 3 days 2 nights free stay, as compared to other packages. At first I was also thinking, well, at least we’re staying outside of KL so places we can visit should vary just a little.

The stay turned out to be great. Due to its linkage with Sunway Pyramid, there’s no need to drive out. It’s a walk directly from the lobby to the mall. Also, from the hotel room, you can view nearly the entire Sunway Lagoon and watch people having fun there. It’s also a walking distance to Sunway Lagoon. In a nutshell, staying at Sunway Hotel is like staying in Genting Highlands where it’s a city of its own. Since Genting Highlands is soooo packed, it’s nice to be staying at Sunway Hotel for the enjoyment of a vacation. And to balik rumah after vacation is only 30 mins away, not hours away or the need to use airplane. :P

The room is nothing to shout about. TV, Fridge, Safe, Bathtub with showerhead and minimal furniture. If I were to describe the room in one word, it’s ‘TIDY’. Just enough for basic usage. Ironing have to be done in a separate room. Ice is free of charge, but need to get it from an ice machine somewhere nearby the lift area. Good place to stay for a vacation if you don’t want to travel so far or on a budget.

Encounter! The ironing room is rather large with 9 ironing boards. They are placed like the picture below. Forgive the ugliness of the picture.


The black rectangles are the irons. The gray rectangles are the ironing board. And the black quarter-circle is the door. I came into the room at 6:00am plus in the morning to iron some clothes, and there was no one there. Being right-handed, I’d have to use the irons on the top side of the room, unless I wanna face away from the door. So I stood at ‘me’ and started ironing. Ironed clothes I placed right behind me on the other ironing board so that I have space on mine.

After a short while, I heard the friction of iron and cloth coming from behind me and I turned around, nothing was there. Naturally not wanting to think of ridiculous things, I continued only to be disturbed with the sound of iron being placed back at the side, and clothes being moved. I turned around again and this time I see that my pants is still on the iron board behind me, but my shirt has moved to the ‘X’ ironing board, opened in such a way that it’s being readied to be ironed.

I scooped whatever that I have, grabbed my pants, rushed over to ‘X’ ironing board and grabbed my clothes, and then left the room. For all you know, the lights might just go out and the room door cannot be opened and I do not want to face that.

So, well, that summarizes my stay at Sunway Hotel for 3 days and 2 nights, and still we had a lot of fun eventhough we didn’t go to Sunway Lagoon. And that also summarizes up my fake encounter. It didn’t happen at all, just for show only. :D

Signs

A simple context will be as follows. Though I am tremendously careless in the things I do daily, I have never been this superbly marvelously stupendously careless in a documentation that I have to do regarding one specific tenant. I sincerely believe they are signs to show that getting the tenant in is not advisable, but what to do, my bosses are very keen on the big tenant and I can’t blame them. Let’s just hope the ‘signs’ I’ve been receiving are false.

All the signs are documentation related. From miscalculation (I hardly do this), to leaving out information (okay, I do this sometimes) to type error (I hardly do this), to calculating wrong dates (I hardly do this) and lastly, to have three pages not in order during binding (Have never done this). And this is not from the first draft of the documentation either. It builds into the second draft, and then things happen again in the third draft, and so on and so on. The amount of mistakes just cannot justify that I am *THAT* careless.

Anyway, how many people in this world actually believe in signs?! Not Zodiac signs or the Chinese horoscopes, but more to things that happen that tries to give you some kind of message. If I were to recall signs in relationship. Let’s see… for my first ex-gf, there were some signs that it will not work out. A bracelet I gave suddenly broke during normal usage and a helium balloon (the plastic kind) bursting, is that a sign?? I really don’t think so. My second ex-gf is a sign of her own. She’s the sign! Enuff’ said.

If you were on the way to attend an interview, and suddenly you ripped your shirt somewhere, or get splashed with puddle, is that a sign? How about intending to go to the mall, and your car can’t start, and next day you read that there was robbery at the mall? How much would you relate to your car unable to start be related to the robbery at the mall? I believe there are signs that we receive regarding some big decisions that we are going to make, but on a daily basis, they are just coincidences.

To recall if there was any ‘signs’ that happened to me on big decisions, hmm… I received no signs on my decision to marry. I received no signs on the decision to work out of state for a year. I received no signs on going into a bad relationship. Haha… practically I did not receive any signs at all on important decisions I have made in my life! If there was one, which I will not consider it a sign, is that I stopped my decision to study in UK in 1997 and instead stayed back in Malaysia because my college suddenly had that same degree introduced the very next year. But duhhh… that’s not a sign.

Modelling Agency Business

One thing good about being part of the building management team is that I'm able to understand some of the businesses of my tenants. I've read a few grudges by some girls (and guys) to being cheated by a modelling agency that they have to buy stuffs at crazy prices and still do not get chosen to be a model. Who's at fault? Is the agency conning them?

This is how the model agency works. They collect to-be-models information by hiring a scout. The scout will go to shopping complexes, parks, cemeteries and the likes to find interesting people. Then they will lunge and attack these people and ask them to have a model audition with the modelling agency.

So that's where the person will make a choice, to either go to the agency or not. Are they being conned or not?! Anyway, the scout will get some commission when the to-be-model comes to the agency and sign up. What happens at the agency?! Basically, the agency will get the particulars and the photographs of the model, and say that training is free. Here's the catch!... to register as a model of the agency, they'd have to purchase something, and in my tenant's case, a set of make-up that can cost anywhere between RM300 - RM800. It's not really the make-up that's expensive, they'll also teach the proper way to put make-up and give training such as cat-walk and what other things models should know.

A few weeks later, they'll get a call from the agency for a casting shoot, or a shooting cast, or whatever. When they turn up for these shooting lesson using a sniper rifle, I mean, for the casting, they'd see themselves with several other models as well. Usually only one or two models will be chosen. What happens to the un-chosen models?! Well, looks like they're not Neo of Matrix, the chosen one. Seriously, they'll leave to their car disappointed, sit down in the car, sulk at their bad luck, call up a girlfriend or the mum and complain about how stupid the agency is, and that they wasted their time, bla bla, not realising that another hour is added up to their parking ticket time.

This is the time the agency gets attacked a lot! "What stupid agency! Call me up, ask me to buy make-up and then train me and I get nowhere! I wish I wasn't found in the first place by that stupid scout!" What really goes on behind the agency business?!?

Modelling agency gets money from the make-up and training and of course, the hiring of their models for any media or tv shooting or catwalk or leapfrog. A company will call the agency saying "Hello, I'm doing a new commercial for a new 4G phone that can teleport through time, we're looking for a model with the following description: bla bla, height, bla, weight, bla, bald, bla". The agency then gives a looooong list of model names and photos and the company will cut down the choices to anywhere between 3 to 15 or 100 for all I care! Then the casting begins. Models are called for casting, and the company then tells the agency which model they've decided upon.

So there. That's how the industry works. Human nature shows that once the model gets connected to the company, future modelling is done between the model and the company hush hush and the agency loses out. So, for those models who are unhappy that they're not in the Chickadees or Tora advert, they must understand that Modelling Agency is just a stepping stone (with some investment), more like a match maker. Agency does not exist to con models, unless you see some really-cannot-be-model-one type of people coming for registration with the agency.

Current Interesting Song: You're Beautiful - James Blunt

I was thinking of putting "favourite" instead of "interesting", but to me, favourite means something that will last quite some time, like how my favourite songs amongst others are "Stay Another Day - East 17" and "Anak - Freddie Aguilar". Gosh... I sound so oldy. Anyway, those are really old favourite songs of mine. Of course there are current ones.

Back to the topic. I find this song very interesting in its most basic and pure form of being attracted to someone. I will not go into the over-analytical or being matured part to comment "Wah, this guy can fall in love just because he saw someone so beautiful. How shallow!!". It's a very simple song about love at first sight, no, more towards seeing someone beautiful that you want to get to know better, but you can't, coz' she's with someone else.

In case you readers do not know the gist of the song, it's the singer, seeing this girl in the subway with her boyfriend. The girl did notice him, but because meeting by chance like that, and the singer being logical, he sings about that 'short but special' moment of meeting the girl, and mentioned in his song "And I don't think I'll ever see her again, But we shared a special moment that will last till the end." Sounds nice. The last bit of the song is "But it's time to face the truth, I'll never be with you."

Reminds me a lot of college days when you just chance by someone attractive, someone you really adore from far even in that 5 seconds timeframe, and wish to get to know her. She might also notice you, and you might or might not try to make a move to get closer to her, even to just have a short talk with her, but problem is, she's with her boyfriend, or with family, or whatever. A friend of mine has followed this girl who notices him looking at her, and she smiled at him. He followed her trying to get to talk to her, and she on the other hand tried to creep away from her mother in the shoe shop.... but well, it just didn't happen. They're both 16 at that time. :P

Me? Let me think of a moment where the 'song' kinda happened to me. Trying hard as I can, I really cannot recall anytime meeting someone and adoring the girl at the same time the girl noticing me and giving me green light to befriend. If such a thing DID happen, it's the girl noticing me looking at her and she smiled back, and I befriended her the next day since I know where she works. Haha... that's hardly the way the song goes, so well, I'd say "The song didn't happen to me." But I'm sure it did to some of you.

p/s: Because I've not seen the Music Video, I may just misintepret this song, but I cannot be that 'duh' to misintepret it huh?! But why did he used "F**king high" on one of the verse?!

Congratulatory Ad To Ownself

I think people in big companies as well as people in the media are quite aware of this practise. I only found out about it last week, and in my honest opinion, I find it rather awkward and it puts people in a dilemma. While big corporations may find it as an opportunity for smaller companies to show goodwill, I find it a direct extortion of small company's money.

What the heck am I talking about?!? It's about putting up congratulatory ad in the newspaper. You know, you've read "Congratulations to Mun Mun's Furniture Shop on achieving ISO9002." or "Congratulations to Ahmad's Grocery Story on the opening of a new branch in Sentul." When I read those thingies, I at first thought it's the vendors' nice thoughts of putting congratulatory ad for their big client so that they can gain further support from them.

The real news is this. Murugan's Chee Cheong Fun Restaurant is just about to open its 5th branch in Selayang. So this is what Murugan does. He calls up the media (The Moon, Old Straight Clock or The Chinese Letter) and tells them that he wishes to put up a congratulatory ad one full page in the newspaper. He then gives the media names of his vendors, including Pak Cik Mat who supplies the kuey teow, Muthusamy who supplies the fishballs and other fish related stuff, and Kheong Ho for his sauce.

So, the media then contacts these vendors saying "Hey, your client Murugan is opening their 5th branch, so I'd like to know how much you want to contribute to the congratulatory ad. It's RM5000+ for quarter page black and white." This puts the vendors in a difficult position. They are actually asked on their goodwill to take out money to pay for a congratulatory ad by Murugan to congratulate Murugan. Errr... I just simply don't agree with this picture. Yes, I understand that under the page it will say "From: Pak Cik Mat (logo), Muthusamy (logo) and Kheng Ho (logo)".... still, it's like trying to sell a direct selling product to a good friend hoping on his goodwill as a friend to purchase the stuff from you. Not ethical.

But I guess that's how the world works. Sigh....

How To Be Rich

There are many self-help books on how to be rich. Some examples are like "How to make money in your pajamas - written by a Malaysian" and then there's that Robert Kiyosaki who writes that purplish books. I seriously think Robert Kiyosaki got rich by writing "How to get rich" books. If he didn't write that book in the first place, he won't be as rich as he is now. Making money in your pajamas... wait, that sounds totally wrong. Anyway, ya, there are those who understands the market and created a supply for that demand.

Here's a story of Ali, who made is rich, by saving an ant.

Ali works as a sandwich seller. He's 23 years old. One morning, after he's done making his sandwiches and started walking about the village peddling his sandwich, he saw an ant stuck in a pool of water. He decided to fish the ant out, and placed it on a rock nearby the pond. Then Ali walked away happy.

Unbeknowst to the ant, gasp! Jeng jeng jeng.... (too many dramatised sounds lah pulak)... what the ant don't know won't hurt him, but it did. The tongue of the frog snapped it off the rock and into the belly of the frog. Now, froggy has not eaten in days, and being able to finally eat something, it hops off across the dusty street to another pond nearby.

Unbeknowst to the frog, ribbit, ribbit..... a snake swallowed it whole! And the snake, so happy that it finally get to makan, went to visit his friend nearby the town area. While slithering across the pathway like the Slitherine of Harry Potter, a chinese restaurant owner saw it and took it away, to serve at his restaurant.

Happily carrying the snake in his bag towards his car, he didn't noticed the drunk driver of a Mercedes heading his way. Crash Boom Bang - Roxette.... the driver hit the chinese restaurant owner and killed him instantly. A month later, the driver who was so guilt-ridden with well,... guilt, decided to throw away all his money. He decided that he'll pose as a beggar and try begging and see who have a kind heart.

While begging, he chanced upon a young man selling sandwich who approached him, and gave him not one, but the entire load of sandwiches that he could not sell in the morning. That's about let's see... 10, 12... 15 sandwiches in all. The Mercedes driver was so proud of this young man that he gave him a cash cheque of RM1,000,000 to his good deed. Doing so, the driver feels better that well, he thinks by giving away RM1 million, his spirit can soar again despite his mistake for killing the chinese restaurant owner.

He took Ali to the bank, have Ali cashed the money and then he sent Ali back to Ali's house, and gave his car keys as well as all the proper handover of the Mercedes to Ali. Feeling happy, the driver walked to the nearest bus stand to get a bus home, and while waiting, he opened the sandwich and started eating.... only to bite through quite a bit of sand. With the krap krap krap khorb khun krap sound and the sand hurting his teeth, he threw the sandwich away.

On the other side of the picture, just few hours before, while Ali was selling his last 16th sandwich, his basket handle broke and the sandwiches all rolled on the sandy path of his village. Still determine to earn his money, he decided to cheat by selling the sandy sandwich. While looking for his victim and slowly succumbing by guilt, he saw a beggar, and he decided to just give the sandwich away. Beggars aren't choosy if they're too hungry.

So that's the story of how to be rich. How To Get Rich: Save An Ant and Give Away Your Sandwich.

You Know You're A New Parent When....

Eventhough I'm only nearly in my third month as a parent, there are differences I have noticed from being single, to being married, and lastly to being a parent. Here are my own experiences in differences in being married and being a parent. They are not an exhaustive list at all, just what comes to mind.

You Know You're Married When....
1. You are not afraid to sleep in the dark anymore.
2. The toilet door opens in the middle of the night and you don't jump in fright.
3. Your closet has her clothes, her closet has your clothes.
4. Eh, who's shirt is this? Yours or mine?
5. Staying in hotels together don't get your families reaction.
6. There's someone to go home to.
7. You fight for the tv programme. Well, not really since I'm not a tv person.

You Know You're A New Parent When....
1. Watching movie in a cinema is something rather impossible to do.
2. You hear the crying of a baby in the middle of the night and you don't jump in fright.
3. Your baby's luggage is as big as yours and your wife's luggage combined.
4. For someone so little, the car space taken up is rather large. (ie car seat, stroller, baby bag)
5. You eat alone quite often, as when you were single, since your wife or you is holding the baby while the other eats.
6. Your parents call you up to ask about the baby first, then about you, that is if they remember to ask about you. :P
7. Strangers seem to warm up on you.
8. Baby poo, vomits, and saliva on your skin is highly acceptable.
9. You start singing nursery rhymes even when you're doing house chores at home away from baby and while working at the office.
10. If you're alone with the baby, taking bath and doing "big business" is a racing sport.
11. You speak baby talk and don't mind making funny voices in public.
12. Your baby lies on your lap more often than your wife does.

Tahu, Takpe!

For some unknown reason, I have been hearing a lot of "Tahu, takpe!" in my company that it's driving me nuts. I think it came from some kind of malay show, and people started using it as a common 'words to use'.... such as the sickness with "Kenapa? Tak percaya?" (Why?! Don't believe?), "Mereka dan keluarga mereka" (They and their family.).

"Tahu, takpe" (Know, nevermind) I believe is practically used to reply to someone saying something that already has an answer. Such an example would be "I'm tired today,... maybe due to the long meeting this morning." "Tahu, takpe!" My staff uses it, the maintenance staff uses it, even an indian admin staff uses it!! Now I'm just waiting for those words to come out from managerial position-ed staff.

For those of you who wishes to incorporate "Tahu, takpe!" into their vocabulary, just wait for anyone to talk to you, and mention something (more towards themself actually) in which they're questioning why, and giving an answer to that. At least that's how I think the words are used. In this case, I tak tahu, and I tak kisah.