A Helping Hand? Don't Think So.

Excerpt from Reuters

BEIJING - A Chinese man was pushed off a bridge by an angry passer-by after his threat to commit suicide held up traffic for five hours, Chinese media reported on Saturday.

Retired soldier Lian Jiansheng, 66, broke through a police cordon and reached out to shake the hand of would-be jumper Chen Fuchao before shoving him off the bridge.

Read more [here].

My thinking:
1. Wow! The would-be "suicider" accepted handshake from "fans"! Is that for real???
2. If a "suicider" needed pushing it means that he was not really into suicide.
3. Why after FIVE HOURS no angry passer-by cheer, "Woi! Why don't you jump ahead and "ease" your life (and ours)!"?
4. Oh, ya. The title is inspired from the same news, at the end, (I misquoted) "Lian gave Chen a helping hand".

Real Man Has Beard - Duh! :D

My favourite Pix: A. Samad Said ;) Sasterawan Negara (1986) SEA Write Award Winner (1979) His Facebook He's in [Wikipedia] (Malay lingo)

Beauty is in the Eye of Beholder

Promised to write a post about beauty but never got quality time to draft. (Alasan!) ;) Presenting you this video, old news but always refreshing to watch.



Check her full singing [here]. (More than 59 million views)

Latest news: ['Britain's Got Talent' starts semi-finals with Susan Boyle leading the pack]

Interesting news excerpt: "By Douglas Wight, 10/05/2009
SUSAN Boyle turned down the chance of a dream dinner date with President Barack Obama in Washington . . . to stay at home and wash her hair, we can reveal." Read more [here].

Beauty is everywhere. You only have to look for it. Cheers! ;)

Current Mood

Feeling like this cat. :D

Instant Millionaire, Instant Criminal

Read the news [Police hunt couple fleeing bank error].

Excerpt: "SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand police have launched an international search for a couple who fled with millions of dollars after NZ$10 million (US$6.05 million) was accidentally deposited into their bank account."

My reaction:
1. How could you accidentally give someone NZ$10 million?
2. How could a highly secured and advanced banking system "make" a mistake?
3. The couple must be very quick on their foot (to flee) and mind (to take advantage). :D
4. Wow! They have become instant millionaire!
5. Wow! Now they become criminal (instantly after become millionaire). :D

[UPDATE]

The bank says the mistake was the result of human error and not a systems problem. It is pursuing criminal and civil action to recover the money and reviewing procedures.

Earlier this year a Pennsylvania couple withdrew more than $175,000 that had been mistakenly placed in their account after a bank error.

Randy Pratt, 50, and wife Melissa, 36, withdrew the money, quit their jobs and ran off to Florida before being caught. Randy said he thought the money was "a gift from God".

Westpac says the account holder tried to transfer about NZ$6.7 million out of the account but NZ$2.8 million was recovered, leaving the thieves with NZ$3.8 million.

Meanwhile, police say "two individuals of interest to the inquiry have left New Zealand and are believed to have travelled to Hong Kong. Enquiries to locate those individuals are continuing through Interpol in Hong Kong and official channels in Beijing."

Banker & Duck Tales

Spotted this on TV3 today. Have fun watching. ;)

Two Days Cuti

Check the item "I". Got this from Indonesian Consulate Perjanjian Pekerjaan (Work Contract), page 3. Wow! Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country asks Malaysian employers to give two (2) days off for their countrymen (irrespective of religion).

Cheers. Have a nice day. ;)

WHO needs time... Who? WHO. Who?

Like the AFP news topic. :D Read the [news].

Incommunicado

Incommunicado:
1. In a state or condition in which one is unable or unwilling to communicate;
2. In a manner in which communication with outsiders is not possible, for either voluntary or involuntary reasons, especially due to confinement or reclusiveness; [Wiki]
3. Without the means or right to communicate. [wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn]


Unable to update blog for 2 days due to:
1. Faulty monitor
2. PC got infected with viruses
3. Blackout (celebrating Earth Hour now and then) ;)
4. Busy-ness

Happy Teachers' Day

Unusually Me

Current Mood (One eyebrow raised/twitching), must be something will happen. Ugh, I'm quite superstitious. ;)


Modified Raised-Eyebrow-Smiley by ~Prince-of-Powerpoint on deviantART
Ugh! Was accused of being insincere. Didn't know what to say and still don't. Maybe I was. Sigh... Sorry if you can't read this text properly, the font size represents my current mood... Kecil Hati (小气)...

Dare to play "child's play", anyone?

Got this from email. Look at the pix below:
Which way is the bus above traveling?

To the left or to the right?





Can't make up your mind?

Look carefully at the picture again.

Still don't know?

Primary school children were shown this picture and asked the same question.

90% of them gave this answer:

'The bus is traveling to the right.'

When asked, 'Why do you think the bus is traveling to the right?'

They answered:

'Because you can't see the door to get on the bus.'



How do you feel now???

I know, me too.

Unduk Ngadau (beauty pageant) at Wisma Merdeka

"Unduk Ngadau is a beauty pageant held during Kaamatan in Sabah, Malaysia.
The Unduk Ngadau, or Harvest Festival queen, symbolizes Huminodun, the sacrificed daughter of Kinorohingan.
The pageant was formerly known as Miss Kadazan (1960-1970), Miss Harvest Festival (1971-1980), Ratu Kaamatan (1981-1990). The current Unduk Ngadau title has been in place since 1991."

Source: Wikipedia

BTW, this is not an essay about Unduk Ngadau. :D Saw an advertisement from Daily Express on May 8, 09, about WISMA MERDEKA UNDUK NGADAU CONTEST, and this pix:


The text reads:

Ms Clarice Tony Winner of
Wisma Merdeka Unduk Ngadau 2007
(The actual year Ms Tony won was 2006.
She herself affirms it. Thanks Clarice!)


Asked Ms Clarice Cassandra Tony if it was her, said she was. And I was like, "Wow! I 'know' a beauty pageant!" :D Here is the link to her [post]. And here the colour pix of her.

Alang-alang post about this already. Why don't I just reproduce the whole ad. :D

WISMA MERDEKA UNDUK NGADAU CONTEST
16th May 2009 (Saturday)
12 Noon - 2 PM

Attention to all single girls (meaning you can lie, like I'm married but single, no?) :D aged 18-25! Do not miss the opportunity to enter the following contest. Hurry, only the first 15 contestants will be entertained. (Meaning what? They have ONLY 15 entry forms?)

This contest is open to all Malaysian citizen age 18 to 25. Those interested can obtain the entry form (free of charge (but limited?)) from our Information Counter at Ground Floor, Phase 1, Wisma Merdeka, (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, just in case someone from Perlis or Johor or Sarawak or all other non-Sabahans asking about WHERE THE HELL IS WISMA MERDEKA? They did say all Malaysian, didn't they?). :D For further information, please call Chris or Susan at 088-232763.
Closing Date: 14th May 2009 (or at the earliest entry form is out of stock, and at the latest 2 days before contest!)

No offense guys. :D

And Today is Mother's Day

Did a piece about my mother here. ;)

Guys, don't take your mother for granted! ;)

Spotted this from AngelBear's blog.

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me:
No Charge

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you:
No Charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years:
No Charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:
No Charge

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:
No Charge

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is:
No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".

Belated Wesak Entry

Cleaning my old boxes and I found my childhood love letters/diaries. :D Here is one that somehow related to Wesak. ;)

A friend once asked me, "What is the importance of Wesak (to you – the intended question)?" She thought I was an alim (devout) Buddhist.

"Holiday of course! And the feast!" I answered merrily. :D And she raised one eyebrow.

End of story.

That happened when I was 9-year-old. My (pretty) friend was 10-year-old mixed Malay-Kadazan. So you see, had she asked that question to me now I would have answered differently. BTW, I had a crush on her at that time. You know who you are. ;)

Don't want to take your time reading this crap. Have a nice day, and a meaningful (belated) Wesak Day. ;)

Not a Perakian but...

Watched NTV7 7PM news the other day about Courtroom bickering regarding who the "real" Perak's Menteri Besar should be. NTV news gave these two lists (provided by the respective counsel) for comparison:

NTV7: On why DS Nizar should be MB?

1. DUN not yet dissolved.
2. He has not resigned yet.
3. No vote of "unconfidence" made towards him.

NTV7: On why DDr Zambry should be MB?

1. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...
2. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...
3. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...

Basically, what NTV7 news tried to explain, I think, was (from various other sources):

1. PR had 28 ADUNs, BN had 28 ADUNs, the 3 Bebas were “partiless” BN supporters.
2. DS Nizar didn't gain the confidence of the majority, because [repeat no. 1].
3. The Sultan "expected" DS Nizar to resign, because [repeat no. 2].
4. The Sultan had chosen another to be MB, so [repeat no. 3].
5. It was considered disloyalty not to resign because [repeat no. 4].

Why can't NTV7 make simple person like me to understand? :D Ah, perhaps I'm plain stupid, not to mention demented! Of course, how could I NOT realize that?! ;)

BTW, where's the “Against the Constitution” part? *blur* :S Ah, perhaps it was hidden in the “forgotten” part...

---

Probably unrelated news:
Perak’s day of infamy and bedlam
Nizar claim today's sitting 'null and void'
What does the standoff in Perak mean?

[UPDATED May 11, 2009] High Court ruled DS Nizar was real MB but DDr Zambry could appeal.

[UPDATED May 12, 2009] DDr Zambry succeeded in appealing for a stay on the High Court rule in his favour. So DS Nizar may become unreal MB?

Your queue is...

The text reads:
Your queue is 1526.
Current number is 1257.
Please be seated. You'll be served after a while.

Went to Pos Malaysia the other day. When I arrived there was were perhaps 30-40 people only. Thought I was having hallucination looking at the queue number. Ah well, "Perhaps I'll come back after half an hour." (I thought.) Came back later, the number just moved about 20-something. Decided to come back one hour later, but then the number only moved 50-something. So, I put my slip for others. Konon-kononlah good samaritan. :D

Actually, I'm was pissed off. ;)

[Update] Decided to put Kay Leaf's comment here. ;)

KL wrote: Haha... so good business the pos office...

KY replied: Sure, very good business. :D The other counters were ... "occupied" with other "duties". The lone functioning counter staff was doing her job as fast and efficient and polite as she (humanly) able. ;)

[Added May 11, 09] Angel Bear commented: u should see if there is any invincible words that says "tidak payah tunggu, bagus kau pulang."

Hahaha. That was funny. ;)

[Added May 12, 09] DeePo said: usually i will makan first and have my hot coffee...since my head is almost explode wait for it...sambil mnyumpah seranah......hahaha

KY: I did exactly that, er, the sumpah seranah (curses) part. :D

An Unforgettable Experience by Michelle Cham

Read this in Daily Express (May 4, 2009), Express Child section (page 15). Written by a brilliant secondary 2 Michelle Cham. She won the first price of, er, perhaps story writing contest, for the entry with this essay. :D So I put it here (obviously without permission) for you to share. ;)

An Unforgettable Experience by Michelle Cham

Experience is a hard teacher as she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. And I surely had an experience – an unforgettable experience.

It was the end of May coming to June when we were having our school holidays. My friend came to sleepover with me one night. Before we got onto bed, I climbed up onto the table trying to grab two blankets from the top of huge, tall wardrobe.

As I was grabbing the blankets, my friend sat on my bed when she suddenly saw a cockcroach on the floor. She screamed out loud and held on my legs tightly. She was trembling in fear. She then knocked on the edge of the table when the cockcroach went near her. That was then I fell onto the floor. Ouch! What a terrible pain! I was sent to the hospital soon after that.

I was in the hospital for about two days as I had strained my back and broken my left knee. One morning, a little girl came into my room. She sat on my bed, introducing herself, “Hello I’m Lily from room 205 just next to yours. May I know your name, please?”

I looked at her frowning and rolling my eyes. She then looked around and spotted my my patient card on the table. “So, hello, Annie. Nice meeting you and what a nice name you have,” she said.

She asked me to wait for her before rushing out of the room and at that time, my mother had just arrived to visit me. Not long after, the little girl stood by the door, knocking on it. “Can I come in?” she asked while peeping her head into my room. My mother was about to allowed her when I replied rudely. “Can’t you see that I’m busy talking to my mother?”

She then spoke in low voice, “I love drawing but nobody has ever drawn with me. Can you draw with me later?”

I was annoyed and replied, “Better not as I’m going to be busy for the whole day. Furthermore, I hate drawing.” “Oh, sorry for the disturbance then.” She then left my room sadly with her head down looking at her box of crayons.

My mother was giving me a certain look which she always did whenever I had made a mistake. She was about to say something when I interrupted, “I’ll apologize to her tomorrow. I’ll draw her a card of apology. But I’m tired now. I’ll do it tomorrow.” And a smile wiped across my mothers face.

The next day, I woke up early to get my drawing done. I took the card and went to Lily’s room next door. I opened the door silently and was surprised to see people packing up the bags. I asked surprisingly, “Is Lily here?” One of the people shook his head sadly and answered, “I’m her father. She passed away last night due to cancer.”

My jaw dropped. And I immediately asked, “Cancer? Since when?” “Lily has had cancer for three months already. Uh, are you Annie?” I nodded. “She left this for you,” he said and handed to me a piece of paper with a drawing attached. I read the words on the paper:

Give me the eyes of an owl,
To look at you everyday, every night.
Give me the ears of a giant,
To listen carefully to everything you talk about.
Give me the heart of a friend,
For me to touch, for me to understand,
The true meaning of friendship.

From dearest Lily

Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I went out of the room and hid at a corner. I cried loudly as the pain in my hear deepens. Every friend is a chance to open your heart, but whether you take it or not is your own decision. Therefore friendship is a test. I learnt that friendship is what people always talk about but friends give it the meaning, the definition.

No More Foreign Workers for Service Sectors

[Warning: This is a hearsay. Unless someone tell me it's official then I'll remove this heading.]

"TAWAU: Employers who are applying to hire foreign workers are told to forget their intention apply for local workers instead. This is because the Labour Department (Tawau) will no longer issue the letter of certification confirming the utilisation of JCS (Job Clearing System) for employers in service sectors and thus denied them the permission to recruit foreign workers."

The letter of confirmation on JCS utilization is only one of the requirements for recruiting foreign workers. To understand more, please read this news article.

What is considered Service Sectors? This is taken from handouts from Immigration Department.
Restoran / Kedai Kopi
Pemborong & Pembekal
Kontraktor yang tidak mempunyai Lesen CIDB
Perniagaan yang tidak mempunyai Lesen Pengilang
Rumah Kebajikan (Levi RM600)
Pulau Peranginan (yang digazet sebagai Pulau / Pusat Peranginan)
Recycle (Barangan Logam, Lusuh, terpakai)
Pencucian & Pembersihan (Hanya bagi yang mempunyai Tender)
Rumah Ibadah (Tokong / Gereja bagi Tukang Kebun)

However, the source didn’t specify whether all or only certain service sectors are involved in the decision (not to issue letter of confirmation).