Wednesday, May 13, 2009
take a break....
Once in a while people get bored at work. They need to do other things, take a break, to rejuvenate, to refresh. The following lot should get the "Most Creative Break at Work" award for these masterpieces:
Monday, May 11, 2009
think safety, work safely.....
The first time I laid my eyes on this picture I laughed like hell as I am sure some of you will do. I still can’t stop giggling.
But on second thought and second look, it is indeed a very very good safety advice. Imagine without the notice, people will fall into the lift shaft. The guy who put the notice there does'nt just have a very good sense of humour (I am sure he does to be able to compose such an excellent piece), he has a very good civic sense. Humour makes a potentially alarming situation in to a less stressful experience. Knowing the lift is unreliable (to deduce this he must also be an excellent maintenance engineer) he put up this notice. Any mishaps will cause the owner of the building a big compensation case. (To have such assessment, he must also be a risk assessor).
So, the next time you see a safety sign or a safety advisory; please do not take it lightly. It’s put there for your own good by well meaning people. The act of putting the sign there takes a lot of effort, expertise and professionalism. Authorship, engineering, risk assessor, psychology, humour and many more.
Think safety, work safely....
latest model....
Latest Nokia phone anyone? Serves multiple purpose. Easy to carry around. Just slip it on. When it rings just lift your leg to answer the call..........
Mama....
Mama... I love you so much!
I am sure those words have been repeated thousands if not millions of times today as people in many places of the world celebrate Mother’s Day.
A few days ago, a friend asked me what I will do for Mother’s Day. I told him I don’t celebrate Mother’s Day on any specific date as I recalled places all over the world have different dates for it. What a load of bull! In fact the real reason was that I totally had forgotten about it!
Do we really need a specific date to tell our mums how much we love them and to make them feel special? Simple answer, No! In fact, it should be everyday they feel the love, feel appreciated and so so very special. Some of us may have taken our mums for granted. More often than not, her requests came in last after all other things in our life. It is not that we don’t love our mums, we just forgot to show her everyday.
So on this so called special day for mums, let’s make the extra effort and start to show more. Let our mums know regularly how much we love them. Not just by mere words, also by our actions. Don’t just remember her when we need help, to borrow money or even for her kari ikan we love so much. Keep her in our minds always even when we don’t need anything from her.
To my mum, I love you so much. Thank you for everything.
To my better half, thank you for being the best mum our kids could have wished for. And off course I love you too........
I am sure those words have been repeated thousands if not millions of times today as people in many places of the world celebrate Mother’s Day.
A few days ago, a friend asked me what I will do for Mother’s Day. I told him I don’t celebrate Mother’s Day on any specific date as I recalled places all over the world have different dates for it. What a load of bull! In fact the real reason was that I totally had forgotten about it!
Do we really need a specific date to tell our mums how much we love them and to make them feel special? Simple answer, No! In fact, it should be everyday they feel the love, feel appreciated and so so very special. Some of us may have taken our mums for granted. More often than not, her requests came in last after all other things in our life. It is not that we don’t love our mums, we just forgot to show her everyday.
So on this so called special day for mums, let’s make the extra effort and start to show more. Let our mums know regularly how much we love them. Not just by mere words, also by our actions. Don’t just remember her when we need help, to borrow money or even for her kari ikan we love so much. Keep her in our minds always even when we don’t need anything from her.
To my mum, I love you so much. Thank you for everything.
To my better half, thank you for being the best mum our kids could have wished for. And off course I love you too........
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Ada Udang Sebalek Batu...
Over lunch, a group of friends were having empty chatter just about everything that came to their mind. Suddenly, upon seeing a packed of wet tissues, one of them remarked “if I see someone who has no children, has a packed of wet tissue in his car, he is up to something dodgy”. Another added, “the same if a guy bought a packed of minty cool sweets, he must be getting the air condition treatment”. The whole group burst into big big laughter. Both statements conjured different pictures in the mind of every person in the group. The “yellow brain” ones with their 18 above rated pictures in their mind. The “not so yellow brain” ones with their innocent puzzled look, not knowing what picture to be framed in their mind.
See, how two innocent everyday items can lead to “dark alleys” of people’s mind when seen from different angle. Perceptions, some people call it. Perceptions rule the world. We live in a world that revolves around perceptions. Masters people’s perceptions, you more or less rule the world.
“80% of what we do is PR” someone said to me once. True, so very true. You don’t have to do what you are suppose to do well. Do the PR well and manage perceptions creatively, you will be in the good books of the public or so they say. Some call this “putting a spin”. I am sure they didn’t mean we put everyone on the merry go round and spin them until they can’t tell the difference between a “cendol” and “air samboi”.
Basically, I am sure everyone knows this, “spin” is putting all the positives of situations while not shedding the light on the rest especially the negatives. Some say this is not telling the whole truth. The experts prefer to call it “image transformation”, “transformation strategy” and even “rebranding”. Whatever, however you call it, more and more we are being “spun”. Our perceptions managed.
So, sit back, take your time, think and don’t take things at face value. In the world of PR, more often than not, “ada udang sebalek batu”.
See, how two innocent everyday items can lead to “dark alleys” of people’s mind when seen from different angle. Perceptions, some people call it. Perceptions rule the world. We live in a world that revolves around perceptions. Masters people’s perceptions, you more or less rule the world.
“80% of what we do is PR” someone said to me once. True, so very true. You don’t have to do what you are suppose to do well. Do the PR well and manage perceptions creatively, you will be in the good books of the public or so they say. Some call this “putting a spin”. I am sure they didn’t mean we put everyone on the merry go round and spin them until they can’t tell the difference between a “cendol” and “air samboi”.
Basically, I am sure everyone knows this, “spin” is putting all the positives of situations while not shedding the light on the rest especially the negatives. Some say this is not telling the whole truth. The experts prefer to call it “image transformation”, “transformation strategy” and even “rebranding”. Whatever, however you call it, more and more we are being “spun”. Our perceptions managed.
So, sit back, take your time, think and don’t take things at face value. In the world of PR, more often than not, “ada udang sebalek batu”.
Friday, May 08, 2009
.... seeing eggs flying ......
Strange phenomenon! Lately I have been seeing so many eggs flying! What? Eggs flying? Some may say I have gone cuckoo. Some may say I must have done something bad and have come to the wrong side of my better half with me on the end of egg missiles barrage from her sweet hands. Others may say it’s the effect of the countless cups of espressos and cappuccinos, the latest craze in the office, playing mind games with the brain.
Well, there is a simpler, more real explanation. Over the last week or so, our office had this creative competition involving eggs, some papers, straws, sellotapes and a pair of scissors. The objective is to design an “egg transporter” that can withstand the impact of being thrown from at least five storey high structure.
So what has this got to do with the biggest technical organisation in the Government service? Believe it or not, a lot! Designing an “egg transporter” requires understanding of the basics of engineering especially in structures and aerodynamics. On top of that, you need understanding of aesthetics hence architecture. Add to that the need to have optimum design with the minimum cost possible, you have more or less the basic ingredients of an engineering or construction project.
So my friends, the next time you see eggs flying, don’t worry. Don’t even be scared. In fact please smile and be happy knowing there is plenty of creative people here which can only bodes well to the physical development of this country.
Well, there is a simpler, more real explanation. Over the last week or so, our office had this creative competition involving eggs, some papers, straws, sellotapes and a pair of scissors. The objective is to design an “egg transporter” that can withstand the impact of being thrown from at least five storey high structure.
So what has this got to do with the biggest technical organisation in the Government service? Believe it or not, a lot! Designing an “egg transporter” requires understanding of the basics of engineering especially in structures and aerodynamics. On top of that, you need understanding of aesthetics hence architecture. Add to that the need to have optimum design with the minimum cost possible, you have more or less the basic ingredients of an engineering or construction project.
So my friends, the next time you see eggs flying, don’t worry. Don’t even be scared. In fact please smile and be happy knowing there is plenty of creative people here which can only bodes well to the physical development of this country.
Goyang Kaki Friday....
With the workload piling up, office room in a mess from a recent move, and a packed calendar for the next few days, I shouldn’t really be “goyang kaki” (relaxing). I should really be in the office clearing things up despite today being a Friday. But that’s what I did this afternoon, “goyang kaki”, sipping tea and do what I do best, my favourite waste of time (there is a wonderful old school song by Paul Owen titled “My Favourite Waste of Time”), watching the fantasy box we all call TV.
Well into my routine of channel hopping, I came across the movie titled “We are Marshall”. At first I thought it was a movie about some security guys going after escaped convicts. In actual fact, it was a movie based on a true story about an American Football team of the Marshall University. Sad, moving, gripping and full of emotional roller coaster as the Marshall University and its’ community came to terms with losing the whole football team, players and coaches, in a plane crash and rise again through sheer determination of the new head coach and the whole community. (Opps! What am I doing? Promoting a movie? Hey the producer didn’t pay me a single cent to do this.)
One scene or rather one quote caught my eye (or was it my ear?). In that particular scene, faced with repeated rejections from the footballing authority to their letters pleading for some “kelonggaran” and allow freshmen to play in the senior team, the Head Coach said to the University President:
“I am willing to bet, you did not propose to your wife over the phone. I am also sure she didn’t say yes in a letter.”
All my senses were “aroused”, my ears stood up, my head turned, on hearing this dialogue! To me, in a nutshell, it is saying, if you really want to achieve something, if you want to get the maximum impact, do it “in person”, face to face. Letters, telephone calls, e-mails and text messages can only do so much to put your message across. There is no substitute to “face to face” conversation. So when in situations requiring decisions, especially importants ones, or you need the other party to understand your point of view, do make the extra effort to meet “face to face”. As my boss used to say and still says quite a lot, more and more people enjoyed playing “ping pong” and the game of “shooting letters”. In the end, nothing gets done, nothing will be achieved........
Well into my routine of channel hopping, I came across the movie titled “We are Marshall”. At first I thought it was a movie about some security guys going after escaped convicts. In actual fact, it was a movie based on a true story about an American Football team of the Marshall University. Sad, moving, gripping and full of emotional roller coaster as the Marshall University and its’ community came to terms with losing the whole football team, players and coaches, in a plane crash and rise again through sheer determination of the new head coach and the whole community. (Opps! What am I doing? Promoting a movie? Hey the producer didn’t pay me a single cent to do this.)
One scene or rather one quote caught my eye (or was it my ear?). In that particular scene, faced with repeated rejections from the footballing authority to their letters pleading for some “kelonggaran” and allow freshmen to play in the senior team, the Head Coach said to the University President:
“I am willing to bet, you did not propose to your wife over the phone. I am also sure she didn’t say yes in a letter.”
All my senses were “aroused”, my ears stood up, my head turned, on hearing this dialogue! To me, in a nutshell, it is saying, if you really want to achieve something, if you want to get the maximum impact, do it “in person”, face to face. Letters, telephone calls, e-mails and text messages can only do so much to put your message across. There is no substitute to “face to face” conversation. So when in situations requiring decisions, especially importants ones, or you need the other party to understand your point of view, do make the extra effort to meet “face to face”. As my boss used to say and still says quite a lot, more and more people enjoyed playing “ping pong” and the game of “shooting letters”. In the end, nothing gets done, nothing will be achieved........
If you wanna be happy....
I was watching and enjoying the movie "Mermaids" starring Cher & Bob Hoskins, a wonderful movie. At the end, there was this song, very catchy song, If You Want To Be Happy (for The Rest Of Your Life) by Jimmy Soul. I wonder if you can get away with such lyrics nowadays. Here are the lyrics:
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
A pretty woman makes her husband look small
And very often causes his downfall.
As soon as he marries her
Then she starts to do
The things that will break his heart.
But if you make an ugly woman your wife,
You'll be happy for the rest of your life,
An ugly woman cooks her meals on time,
She'll always give you peace of mind.
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
Don't let your friends say
You have no taste,
Go ahead and marry anyway,
Though her face is ugly,
Her eyes don't match,
Take it from me she's a better catch.
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
Say man.
Hey baby.
Saw your wife the other day.
Yeah?
Yeah, she's ugly.
Yeah, she's ugly but she sure can cook.
Yeah?. Okay.
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
You can listen to the song here
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Air Mail Par Avion ......
It seems not so long ago we only had two TV channels. Big bulky video tape players churning Indonesian movies the whole Kampong will turn up to watch. A video player then will set u back the price of top of the range slim light ultra portable notebook now. The days the Sony Walkman were the “iPods” with back pack full of tapes.
Those were the days where the main mode of communication were few pieces of paper we scribbled on and “zoomed” to the sender via Mr Postman. If you are lucky, it will reach its destination in a few days. If you are not, it may reach its destination via foreign lands or worse still it will just disappear.
Then, everyone composed, folds the papers, licked the seal and “smooched” the stamp onto the envelope. It was indeed an art to write a letter. The beauty of a handwritten message. The effort made you feel appreciated. More meaningful when the so truly madly deeply in love lover sprinkled some perfume on the pieces of papers. Joy on the face of the waiting lover reading with the intoxicating smell creating a truly romantic effect. Truly magical! Still fresh on the mind waiting for letters to arrive. The wait gave it the extra edge, made the adrenalin flowed with extra vigour. Kissing those pieces of paper.You can’t get that effect with text messaging nor with emails.
Life with its slower pace then, were more manageable. Now, with the crazed for everything instant, from instant noodle, instant coffee, instant messaging to instant response and even instant love, life seems to pass by like a lightning. One blink, you are left behind. Instant response on the Instant Messengers, Facebook, Twitters. Update your status on Facebook, the whole world instantly knows what a fool you are. Add to that, the myriads of comments you will get from the so called friends half of which you hardly meet.
As the world gets closer, as everyone gets more and more connected, I can’t help feeling we are getting less and less “personal”. Long gone is the personal touch. A conversation is no longer face to face. Now a poke means pressing a button. A smile is just a symbol on the screen. How I long for the Air Mail Par Avion days ......
Those were the days where the main mode of communication were few pieces of paper we scribbled on and “zoomed” to the sender via Mr Postman. If you are lucky, it will reach its destination in a few days. If you are not, it may reach its destination via foreign lands or worse still it will just disappear.
Then, everyone composed, folds the papers, licked the seal and “smooched” the stamp onto the envelope. It was indeed an art to write a letter. The beauty of a handwritten message. The effort made you feel appreciated. More meaningful when the so truly madly deeply in love lover sprinkled some perfume on the pieces of papers. Joy on the face of the waiting lover reading with the intoxicating smell creating a truly romantic effect. Truly magical! Still fresh on the mind waiting for letters to arrive. The wait gave it the extra edge, made the adrenalin flowed with extra vigour. Kissing those pieces of paper.You can’t get that effect with text messaging nor with emails.
Life with its slower pace then, were more manageable. Now, with the crazed for everything instant, from instant noodle, instant coffee, instant messaging to instant response and even instant love, life seems to pass by like a lightning. One blink, you are left behind. Instant response on the Instant Messengers, Facebook, Twitters. Update your status on Facebook, the whole world instantly knows what a fool you are. Add to that, the myriads of comments you will get from the so called friends half of which you hardly meet.
As the world gets closer, as everyone gets more and more connected, I can’t help feeling we are getting less and less “personal”. Long gone is the personal touch. A conversation is no longer face to face. Now a poke means pressing a button. A smile is just a symbol on the screen. How I long for the Air Mail Par Avion days ......
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Panas....
So much had happened over the past few days. Heart warming stories of how Bruneians are supportive of charities as can be seen from the crowds and the support shown in the Special Olympics Walkathon and also the SMARTER Giant Walk... Bravo! Bravo! Bravo Bruneians!
And off course the “hottest” story of the week so far in Brunei is how the so called Swine Flu aka H1N1 “reached” our shores. Luckily it was just a scare... phew! The Press Association reported “And around 200 travellers were also placed under quarantine in the wealthy south-east Asian nation of Brunei.” We joined a list of countries “quarantining” (is there such a word?) people which includes Singapore, Hong Kong and China, amongst others. I wonder where they put up the 200 over people. In Singapore, they placed some of the “quarantineers” in bungalows at a holiday resort (free holidays?). In China it brewed into a political storm with the Mexicans who felt being targeted unfairly (aku mun mendangar dari Mexico pun tungkal not that I have anything against Mexico... I still eat the Mexicans flavoured pizzas !)
We cannot blame the authorities for taking such precaution. In fact we must salute them for taking such a swift action to protect all of us. At the same time, we can’t help pity all the travellers “stuck” at the airport. Happened to be at a private clinic last night and in the space of the 30 minutes I was there, at least three people came in to get some sort of flu tablets (was not sure it was Tamiflu or not) and a few enquiries over the phone. Must have been so boring waiting to see the doctor that I ended up eavesdropping (busy body jua eh) on the receptionist conversation. At least some positive impact on some businesses. In Singapore, many stores ran out of thermometers. Schools beware! If you find any thermometers (including the mercury thermometers which you can shove up your ***)missing, very likely some students “borrowed” them.
Fortunately so far there are no travel restrictions just some travel advice. For those travelling, make sure you do not, I say DO NOT urap (put on) the minyak panas (dan yang sewaktu dengannya) or take anything that will increase your body temperature drastically (Kopi Tongkat Ali comes to mind here), you may end up being a “Swine Flu Suspect”. So beware!
This piece is written as if I am an expert on this so called Swine Flu. Well I am NOT! Me, like all of you out there relies on the authorities especially the Health Authorities to keep us informed and more critically protect us. To them we say well done! So far they are doing the right things, taking the right measures and keeping all of us well informed despite some of the “menungkalkan” news. It was good to see the Health Minister in the News last night talking about the flu.
I cannot leave without congratulating a close friend aka “rakan seperjuangan” who just got his well deserved promotion. Congratulation my friend! Good luck with your new job. I am sure you will do well. Your first challenge? Stop the bugger H1N1 from entering Brunei through our “aerial gateway”.
And off course the “hottest” story of the week so far in Brunei is how the so called Swine Flu aka H1N1 “reached” our shores. Luckily it was just a scare... phew! The Press Association reported “And around 200 travellers were also placed under quarantine in the wealthy south-east Asian nation of Brunei.” We joined a list of countries “quarantining” (is there such a word?) people which includes Singapore, Hong Kong and China, amongst others. I wonder where they put up the 200 over people. In Singapore, they placed some of the “quarantineers” in bungalows at a holiday resort (free holidays?). In China it brewed into a political storm with the Mexicans who felt being targeted unfairly (aku mun mendangar dari Mexico pun tungkal not that I have anything against Mexico... I still eat the Mexicans flavoured pizzas !)
We cannot blame the authorities for taking such precaution. In fact we must salute them for taking such a swift action to protect all of us. At the same time, we can’t help pity all the travellers “stuck” at the airport. Happened to be at a private clinic last night and in the space of the 30 minutes I was there, at least three people came in to get some sort of flu tablets (was not sure it was Tamiflu or not) and a few enquiries over the phone. Must have been so boring waiting to see the doctor that I ended up eavesdropping (busy body jua eh) on the receptionist conversation. At least some positive impact on some businesses. In Singapore, many stores ran out of thermometers. Schools beware! If you find any thermometers (including the mercury thermometers which you can shove up your ***)missing, very likely some students “borrowed” them.
Fortunately so far there are no travel restrictions just some travel advice. For those travelling, make sure you do not, I say DO NOT urap (put on) the minyak panas (dan yang sewaktu dengannya) or take anything that will increase your body temperature drastically (Kopi Tongkat Ali comes to mind here), you may end up being a “Swine Flu Suspect”. So beware!
This piece is written as if I am an expert on this so called Swine Flu. Well I am NOT! Me, like all of you out there relies on the authorities especially the Health Authorities to keep us informed and more critically protect us. To them we say well done! So far they are doing the right things, taking the right measures and keeping all of us well informed despite some of the “menungkalkan” news. It was good to see the Health Minister in the News last night talking about the flu.
I cannot leave without congratulating a close friend aka “rakan seperjuangan” who just got his well deserved promotion. Congratulation my friend! Good luck with your new job. I am sure you will do well. Your first challenge? Stop the bugger H1N1 from entering Brunei through our “aerial gateway”.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Rita who? .........
Knowledge is power... so people say. I must agree. For people who have watched the Mami Jarum movie, I am sure they will agree. In my case, this revelation came a few years back in a room in Sheraton Utama Hotel (please do not get the wrong idea here... it’s the meeting room lah... nah kan sikit lagi ada orang kan jadi mami jarum...) A few frens managed to convince me, in fact they forced me to sit in (yeah my intention was just to sit and enjoyed the free food) a talk which for the life of me I can’t recall what the talk was all about. All I remember after two agonisingly long hours (with my eyes betungkat) was the lady speaker saying “Knowledge is power... every day try to talk to at least 5 people who has the knowledge”. This stayed with me till this day .... Try it, look for the 5 people every day, keep your ears open and your brain tuned in.... I am sure you will experience a big leap in the your “power meter”....
Another form of gaining knowledge other than talking to people is through reading. I love reading... I read everything... even in the loo. But my better half kept reminding me, reading in the loo will make forgetful.. Well there may be some truth in what she is saying as I kept forgetting things nowadays... lucky I don’t forget my way home hehehe... A friend recently told me reading in the loo will add extra burden to the Government Health Service as there is a higher chance of me getting the “buasir” ... so I better stop reading in the loo to save the Government money and primarily to save me from having discomfort at the strategic location (mun paham bisai ....) Coming back to my habit of reading, when I was a little boy (I am still one in a lot of ways...), we used to take our dinner on a table covered in used newspapers (not that we couldn’t afford proper table cloth, may be my parents were doing their bit on saving the environment... use biodegradables other than plastics)... what did i end up doing? Reading ... at the same time as having my dinner... an example of multitasking pre windows era .......
I read all sorts of things... (I meant everything ...) Among my favourites were the science fiction stories by Isaac Asimov. A box full of the complete series which I had “khatam” many many times is somewhere here... Lately, most of the books I bought are the nonfiction books... maybe I will write about a few of the books in future... Books are mandatory items in my “must get things” list when I travel ...
How do I end up talking about knowledge and book? All because of Rita Levi-Montalcini. (Who? You may wonder ....) I can cut and paste pages and pages about this lady here but it may bore you to death. In short, she is a 100 year old scientist, a global expert on the brain and the Nobel Prize winner in 1986 (she has got a long list of achievement). What struck me despite her failing hearing and eyesight, she is still a full time scientist and add to that a Life Senator in Italy! Most, if not all 100 year olds we know (we are lucky if we know any) are already “lali”. So what is her secret? Her daily routine: get up at five in the morning, eat just once a day, at lunchtime, keep your brain active, and go to bed at 11pm. We may not be able to get up that early, may not be able to eat just once a day (I definitely can’t) or even go to bed early and miss our favourite late night TV programmes, the least we can do is keep our brain active (bukan active angan-angan)... the best way to do this is by reading, reading, reading and reading.....
Another form of gaining knowledge other than talking to people is through reading. I love reading... I read everything... even in the loo. But my better half kept reminding me, reading in the loo will make forgetful.. Well there may be some truth in what she is saying as I kept forgetting things nowadays... lucky I don’t forget my way home hehehe... A friend recently told me reading in the loo will add extra burden to the Government Health Service as there is a higher chance of me getting the “buasir” ... so I better stop reading in the loo to save the Government money and primarily to save me from having discomfort at the strategic location (mun paham bisai ....) Coming back to my habit of reading, when I was a little boy (I am still one in a lot of ways...), we used to take our dinner on a table covered in used newspapers (not that we couldn’t afford proper table cloth, may be my parents were doing their bit on saving the environment... use biodegradables other than plastics)... what did i end up doing? Reading ... at the same time as having my dinner... an example of multitasking pre windows era .......
I read all sorts of things... (I meant everything ...) Among my favourites were the science fiction stories by Isaac Asimov. A box full of the complete series which I had “khatam” many many times is somewhere here... Lately, most of the books I bought are the nonfiction books... maybe I will write about a few of the books in future... Books are mandatory items in my “must get things” list when I travel ...
How do I end up talking about knowledge and book? All because of Rita Levi-Montalcini. (Who? You may wonder ....) I can cut and paste pages and pages about this lady here but it may bore you to death. In short, she is a 100 year old scientist, a global expert on the brain and the Nobel Prize winner in 1986 (she has got a long list of achievement). What struck me despite her failing hearing and eyesight, she is still a full time scientist and add to that a Life Senator in Italy! Most, if not all 100 year olds we know (we are lucky if we know any) are already “lali”. So what is her secret? Her daily routine: get up at five in the morning, eat just once a day, at lunchtime, keep your brain active, and go to bed at 11pm. We may not be able to get up that early, may not be able to eat just once a day (I definitely can’t) or even go to bed early and miss our favourite late night TV programmes, the least we can do is keep our brain active (bukan active angan-angan)... the best way to do this is by reading, reading, reading and reading.....
Monday, May 04, 2009
diehard....
Brunei, the Land of Unexpected Treasures.. never ceases to amaze me .... Read recently in the Singapore Straits Times ... “ The S-League recorded its biggest turnout for a match in 13 years yesterday. But, the football game was not played in Singapore. Some 10,583 fans attended the game at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, as S-League newcomers DPMM beat defending champions Singapore Armed Forces FC 2-1”. Wow .. that’s almost 3% of our population...
I still remember and recall fondly the days we have almost 20,000 people in the Stadium supporting our national team in d M-League... that’s almost 6% of the population ... No matter what ... we will always hold the record of the biggest stadium in the world ... I laughed when I first heard this ... rupanya nda pandai panuh stadium ani ... hehehe. Well .. being a Brunei football fan now must be like walking on cloud nine (lawa tu lagu Bryan Adams ah) ... the DPMM FC is doing well .. top of the pile in the S-League...
Recalling back since I was first introduced to the national football scene way back in 1979 ... the first match Brunei played in the Malaysia Cup at Padang Besar (siok kali ah watching from the wodden stands... some people were watching from top of trees...) till now, it has been a roller coaster ride. The climax (lain bunyi nya hehehe) was the 1999 Malaysia Cup win. There were many lows... the days where there were hardly anyone in the Stadium but the hardcore ones ( I am one of them... a certain singing DPS was also one of them). Rain or shine .. win or lose we will be there... no matter what jemputans we had .. we will be at the stadium. A friend even went to the stadium right after his nikah ... I wonder what the wifey felt that time, football more appealing than the malam pertama? Hehehe ... But ironically, a friend once said he wished we kept losing.. less people watching meant less hassle to find a parking spot near the main gate. Hahaha .... atu baru ia supporting team and wishing teamnya kalah ...
Nowadays we have the EPL... everyone seems to be supporting some top team.. Liverpool has their approved legal licensed fan club, the Setan Club aka Man Utd got one albeit not a legal one.. the Chelskis may have one (do they?).. I wonder if there is one for Hull City or kelab orang sundar aka Sunderland?... some tempat makans are associated with the teams ... Le Stadium is the Kopites Liar... Restoran Kaka and Red Canopy are for the Setans .... Chelskis used to be at D Other Office ...
A die hard EPL club fan’s life is like being on Pusing Lagi ride ... the highs of the wins.. the lowest of low when the team lost to their bitter rivals... Imagine if the team lost, your mobile will be the most popular in Brunei .. belatupan with sms from your so called friends .. no matter if it is tangah malam buta.. Recently when my beloved team lost.. I got an sms from a friend in Mekah congratulating me as soon as the match ended.. I wonder was he doing his umrah or .... and that was 4 am in the morning hehee... A friend who is a fanatical supporter of the Setans will be hiding for a week if his team lost..
So what is my point? Hahah I dont know ... I guess I am just rambling about nothing...
But seriously.. (as if I can be serious), if we put our mind, heart and soul into something, we will do anything for it (I am not condoning criminal acts here)... just like being a football fan ... come rain or shine... win or lost... you will still be there giving your all.. even when the crowd has left ...
I still remember and recall fondly the days we have almost 20,000 people in the Stadium supporting our national team in d M-League... that’s almost 6% of the population ... No matter what ... we will always hold the record of the biggest stadium in the world ... I laughed when I first heard this ... rupanya nda pandai panuh stadium ani ... hehehe. Well .. being a Brunei football fan now must be like walking on cloud nine (lawa tu lagu Bryan Adams ah) ... the DPMM FC is doing well .. top of the pile in the S-League...
Recalling back since I was first introduced to the national football scene way back in 1979 ... the first match Brunei played in the Malaysia Cup at Padang Besar (siok kali ah watching from the wodden stands... some people were watching from top of trees...) till now, it has been a roller coaster ride. The climax (lain bunyi nya hehehe) was the 1999 Malaysia Cup win. There were many lows... the days where there were hardly anyone in the Stadium but the hardcore ones ( I am one of them... a certain singing DPS was also one of them). Rain or shine .. win or lose we will be there... no matter what jemputans we had .. we will be at the stadium. A friend even went to the stadium right after his nikah ... I wonder what the wifey felt that time, football more appealing than the malam pertama? Hehehe ... But ironically, a friend once said he wished we kept losing.. less people watching meant less hassle to find a parking spot near the main gate. Hahaha .... atu baru ia supporting team and wishing teamnya kalah ...
Nowadays we have the EPL... everyone seems to be supporting some top team.. Liverpool has their approved legal licensed fan club, the Setan Club aka Man Utd got one albeit not a legal one.. the Chelskis may have one (do they?).. I wonder if there is one for Hull City or kelab orang sundar aka Sunderland?... some tempat makans are associated with the teams ... Le Stadium is the Kopites Liar... Restoran Kaka and Red Canopy are for the Setans .... Chelskis used to be at D Other Office ...
A die hard EPL club fan’s life is like being on Pusing Lagi ride ... the highs of the wins.. the lowest of low when the team lost to their bitter rivals... Imagine if the team lost, your mobile will be the most popular in Brunei .. belatupan with sms from your so called friends .. no matter if it is tangah malam buta.. Recently when my beloved team lost.. I got an sms from a friend in Mekah congratulating me as soon as the match ended.. I wonder was he doing his umrah or .... and that was 4 am in the morning hehee... A friend who is a fanatical supporter of the Setans will be hiding for a week if his team lost..
So what is my point? Hahah I dont know ... I guess I am just rambling about nothing...
But seriously.. (as if I can be serious), if we put our mind, heart and soul into something, we will do anything for it (I am not condoning criminal acts here)... just like being a football fan ... come rain or shine... win or lost... you will still be there giving your all.. even when the crowd has left ...
Sunday, May 03, 2009
450 ...
450 is a number we must keep in mind ... its a significant number ... its the amount of water in litres an average person in Brunei uses. How much do u pay for that? Well only 5 cents ... harga sebiji gula-gula Hanya Aku Cinta Kau Sayang aka HACKS .... That’s dead cheap. But what is 450 litres of water? Its 300 bottles of air sehat botol basar..300 big bottle sehat will set u back $240... That’s in a day.. $240 dollars a day is $7200 a month ... lapas jua Porsche Cayenne tu bayaran sebulan hehehe ...... 450 is also significant ... that means we have the honour.. The top spot as the nation kuat main aing in this region (steady eh dapat numbor wahid!) .. Malaysia with 220 and Singapore 160...
So where does the 450 litres go to? More than half goes to shower and mandi .... the rest to other house chores such as flushing, washing etc etc ... so we as a nation must be one clean nation as we use such big amount of water .. or is it the effect of all the mandi wajibs (mandatory showers)?
So what’s the point? We can’t go on like this ... we must reduce our water consumption ... but how? Can we stop mandi? Hahah I am sure if we do that, we will get number one in being the smelliest nation ... what an honour! So what can we do? Nda barus gigi? Even worse ... rugi tia kadai kaling (sori ah i don’t mean to be racist) as no one will be buying ubat gigi.. our economy will be affected... if kadai lingka closed down we have to drive so far to get our groceries... so our environment will be more affected ...so what can we do?
According to a few friends in the water business, some simple things will help ... First.. jangan mandi lama-lama even mandi wajibs... don’t play with soap with the tap turned on... this will reduce the water consumption from shower by three times. Another simple one is when brushing your teeth... just use a glass of water with the tape turned off... you will reduce the water consumption from brushing by 45 times! Yes 45 times! There are many others ... to know more you should visit the World Water Day exhibition at the Ministry of Development .. you can even check your bills online but make sure you don’t owe them alot as they will display your bills on a big tv screen hehehe......
Oh... while you are checking your water bill .. you can go on the flying fox ride .. just to bawa rasa after people laugh at you seeing your IOU in the water bill .... or to calm yourself down you can do sport fishing or even walk on the reflexology rocks (ani tutup kadai reflexology hehee) at the beautiful new taman.. after that you can go makan at KFC, lalap, ayam panggang etc or better still make youself look sillier by playing the c Tok Sing Game .. a game where you have to carry two buckets across many hurdles just like the famous night soil businessman in the 60s.. on top of that catch the man made waterfall .. great place to take pictures to be put in your Facebook ...
All in all.. you will have a great time and learn a thing or two... so do come to the exhibition at the KACAKEST building at old airport aka the Ministry of Development .. it will be on from Saturday 2nd May till Friday 8th May 2009 ..... you will have a supa dupa fabulous time ...
So where does the 450 litres go to? More than half goes to shower and mandi .... the rest to other house chores such as flushing, washing etc etc ... so we as a nation must be one clean nation as we use such big amount of water .. or is it the effect of all the mandi wajibs (mandatory showers)?
So what’s the point? We can’t go on like this ... we must reduce our water consumption ... but how? Can we stop mandi? Hahah I am sure if we do that, we will get number one in being the smelliest nation ... what an honour! So what can we do? Nda barus gigi? Even worse ... rugi tia kadai kaling (sori ah i don’t mean to be racist) as no one will be buying ubat gigi.. our economy will be affected... if kadai lingka closed down we have to drive so far to get our groceries... so our environment will be more affected ...so what can we do?
According to a few friends in the water business, some simple things will help ... First.. jangan mandi lama-lama even mandi wajibs... don’t play with soap with the tap turned on... this will reduce the water consumption from shower by three times. Another simple one is when brushing your teeth... just use a glass of water with the tape turned off... you will reduce the water consumption from brushing by 45 times! Yes 45 times! There are many others ... to know more you should visit the World Water Day exhibition at the Ministry of Development .. you can even check your bills online but make sure you don’t owe them alot as they will display your bills on a big tv screen hehehe......
Oh... while you are checking your water bill .. you can go on the flying fox ride .. just to bawa rasa after people laugh at you seeing your IOU in the water bill .... or to calm yourself down you can do sport fishing or even walk on the reflexology rocks (ani tutup kadai reflexology hehee) at the beautiful new taman.. after that you can go makan at KFC, lalap, ayam panggang etc or better still make youself look sillier by playing the c Tok Sing Game .. a game where you have to carry two buckets across many hurdles just like the famous night soil businessman in the 60s.. on top of that catch the man made waterfall .. great place to take pictures to be put in your Facebook ...
All in all.. you will have a great time and learn a thing or two... so do come to the exhibition at the KACAKEST building at old airport aka the Ministry of Development .. it will be on from Saturday 2nd May till Friday 8th May 2009 ..... you will have a supa dupa fabulous time ...
Friday, May 01, 2009
40% off? .....
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Flipping and browsing through the advert section of a well known local paper, suddenly I burst into big big laughter on my own.. If I was in a public location, I am sure I will get strange looks @ jelingan ganjil from people around me ... they will think I am someone who has some loose screws upthere (kurang sintar nya orang brunei....) the reason for my laughter? There in front of my eyes an advert offering “Bust enhancement up to 40% off!” ... ha ha ha... I can’t imagine any sane ladies out there will take this offer of having their prized assets 40% ... yes 40% .. almost half of it reduced! More likely they want them to be doubled! So Advertisers beware how you put across your message or offers .. If I can see it this way I am sure many others can see it too ... 40% off ur busts! Hehehe ..
On a serious note, exactly on the opposite page, something caught my interests... yes .. an advert seeking Expressions of Interest, popularly known as EOI for Feasibility Study for a bridge to Temburong ... Imagine a bridge to Temburong? Imagine the famous cendols, wajids, udang galah just 30 mins drive away? Imagine not having to travel in the flying coffins to reach Bangar? And for the young ones (and may be some of the not so young anymore), the Taman Batang Duri as an option for a dating place? (hahaha.. I am sure I am going to get into trouble for saying this!). Imagine not having to go through Limbang to go to Bangar... the endless queues at Immigration Posts, multiple chops on your passport (capat abis passport mun selalu ke KK via Limbang phenomenon).. those are among the good things if the bridge is ever built ... but as in life, everything has its pro and cons ... the big worry will be its impact on the environment ... not the just at the corridor the bridge pass through, the closer the Ulu Temburong jungle is, the more likely its environment will be affected.. well.. we shall see what the study will conclude ...
Today’s khutbah jumaat very interesting (since when do I stay awake during khutbah... i wonder!).. well i just hope everyone was listening, the ones at masjids and the ones at home too, the message is simple and straightforward... Jangatah luan memilih keraja..... I dare to add.. yang tedapat keraja, keraja tah bisai-bisai, waktu keraja buat keraja, it’s not the time kan bemain nor facebooking etc etc (hahah macam menyindir diri sendiri ni)... well who eats the chilli, they will be the ones who get the padasnya .... hahhaha.........
to be or not to be....
on 4th of july 2006, on the USA independence day, this blog came alive.. just over 6 months and a meagre 4 postings later it went on retirement.. a fate i m sure it shared with alot of other blogs... being an avid follower of the local blogging scene, blogging and to a large extend bloggers intrigued me.. some view blogs as a personal domain so sacred no one is allowed to read them, which i am sure no one bothers to read or interested in them (sad case of self indulgence i suppose), some publicised it to the extend listing it in the local blog list and even compete for honours just like going after the oscars, some even made it into a business earning them big bucks (i love some of that hehehe), some definitely became very popular as they are very very informative...
blogging infact is OLD STORY now so why do i bother about it... well i was reminiscing why or what in the world made me start this blog and then let it went into retirement then out of the blue it arouses itself again (hey dont get me wrong on the choice of words here, may be the malam jumaat syndrome is getting to me hehehe)... in the beginning i tried to justify it by saying its just ramblings of an individual ... i suppose the real reason (again this is relative to time.. no relation to Einstein’s theory of relativity though) is to let out what is in my head ... i dont know if its normal or only applies to crackpots .. i have so much running around in my head .. questions .. arguments .. deep thoughts... 247 even in my sleep.. is that normal? ( i realy realy hope so ....) my brains is always in multitasking mode ... just like an internet forum with multiple threads at the same time (without this i feel i will lose the edge) ... i suppose can be seen with the so many brackets in my postings (as long as as i wont be known as OKB ... orang kaya brackets)... here i go again .. digressing....
back to what i am trying to say ... here i am at this crossroad i suppose other bloggers had or will be experiencing... do i become a closet blogger or let others read my postings.. a well known VIP blogger i talked to recently said bloggers are funny .. they want to remain anonymous yet they want their blogs to be famous .. may be this is true ... so what do i do? I suppose it will answers itself ...
blogging infact is OLD STORY now so why do i bother about it... well i was reminiscing why or what in the world made me start this blog and then let it went into retirement then out of the blue it arouses itself again (hey dont get me wrong on the choice of words here, may be the malam jumaat syndrome is getting to me hehehe)... in the beginning i tried to justify it by saying its just ramblings of an individual ... i suppose the real reason (again this is relative to time.. no relation to Einstein’s theory of relativity though) is to let out what is in my head ... i dont know if its normal or only applies to crackpots .. i have so much running around in my head .. questions .. arguments .. deep thoughts... 247 even in my sleep.. is that normal? ( i realy realy hope so ....) my brains is always in multitasking mode ... just like an internet forum with multiple threads at the same time (without this i feel i will lose the edge) ... i suppose can be seen with the so many brackets in my postings (as long as as i wont be known as OKB ... orang kaya brackets)... here i go again .. digressing....
back to what i am trying to say ... here i am at this crossroad i suppose other bloggers had or will be experiencing... do i become a closet blogger or let others read my postings.. a well known VIP blogger i talked to recently said bloggers are funny .. they want to remain anonymous yet they want their blogs to be famous .. may be this is true ... so what do i do? I suppose it will answers itself ...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
steaming hot .......
Wow! What a week! ... the last few days have been hot hot hot ... steaming hot with the so called heat wave, it is so so very hot, my aircond at home “kial-kial” to cope at night leaving me drenched in sweat. Add to that the world hit by another form of “damam binatang” .. before it was bird flu now its swine flu aka ”damam bayi” hehehe.. so now we have to be extra extra careful .. so kids & adults do wash your hands... wash everything for that matter ....... then there is Obama reaching his 100 days in office with not much of the so called change.. he still let free the CIA torturers ... But to me, the most significant hottest steamiest event of the week must be the tanam padi thingy.. what a touching moving gesture from a ruler ... all i can say let the whole country go on “beras laila craze” .. we aim for 60% but i am sure we can achieve more .. go go go beras laila!!!! ........... oh on a small yet significant note, Brunei hosted the “ASEAN Haze Meeting” ... with the current unpredictable inexplicable unsangkarable unseasonal weather extremes we have gone through this is a significant step towards a haze free region... add to that the cleaning of Brunei River initiative, our country will be a better place for everyone... big small black yellow white etc etc (ooops! Is this politically correct? Never mind, as long as it is said with good intention .......)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, January 06, 2007
water anyone?
is it wet season? or is it dry season? that's the question... the final week of 2006 definitely reflected the water question.. some may think the plentifulness of water others may say lack of it. on a rainy night of the 27th ... water is everywhere.. some people woke up literally floating .. yet the next day they turn on the tap wallaaaah! no water... that's panyaluru spot on. well.. some say u cant equate flood water and potable water but isn't it ironic? you read the next day a long winded statement in the media explaining why there was no water.. even before reading it some already guessed... no power again! again? its becoming beyond a joke now .. to us simple people out there we just want a continous supply .. so we can do the normal things we do.. the showers.. the washings.. the mandi wajibs hahaha ...now 2007 is here we hope for the better.. always strive for better .. good luck guys.. you need it ;)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Its that time of the year again ....
It seems only a moment ago we started 2006... now here we are at the end of it... the time to look back the time to set new unachievable goals (which are bound to be failed by the first week of January). Its the time where everyone is in the holiday mood ... no mood to keraja ... even the bosses. Its the time of empty feelings especially in the offices .. its the time to decide what to do where to go to usher in the new year ... well the usual will be Empire .. the hotels ... flying away or driving away... even dreaming away... talking about dreams, i suppose everything started with a dream but then again most will end disastrously ... crash landing and down with a bang very very big bang hahaha. The ending depends on you .. on how badly how you want it ... you do not need the public to sms vote your dream into a reality (sshhhh! dont give DST this idea ... they make enough money as it is ...)
Looking back and looking around .... wow 2006 was a year of ... let me think ... nothing really hahaha ... workwise .. personal wise (is there such a word?!!) .. add here minus there .. its really nothing to shout about. At least 2005 we have the tsunami to wake us up . Well for a nothing year, 2006 definitely was a challenging year.. many obstacles overcame ... many hills climbed ... many roads travelled (not necessarily in the right direction).. learn from it we must (i sound like Yoda the Master Jedi .. too much Star Wars lately hahaha) future will be a brighter one ... (not so sure about this hahaha)
with Star Wars in mind ... may the force be with you in 2007 ... Happy New Year and may the new year be a at least the same as the previous if not better hehehe ... (well .. we like status quos ... )
Looking back and looking around .... wow 2006 was a year of ... let me think ... nothing really hahaha ... workwise .. personal wise (is there such a word?!!) .. add here minus there .. its really nothing to shout about. At least 2005 we have the tsunami to wake us up . Well for a nothing year, 2006 definitely was a challenging year.. many obstacles overcame ... many hills climbed ... many roads travelled (not necessarily in the right direction).. learn from it we must (i sound like Yoda the Master Jedi .. too much Star Wars lately hahaha) future will be a brighter one ... (not so sure about this hahaha)
with Star Wars in mind ... may the force be with you in 2007 ... Happy New Year and may the new year be a at least the same as the previous if not better hehehe ... (well .. we like status quos ... )
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
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