I feel like doing a redesign

Yeah, so I'm going to follow Andrew Ho and post up a very short post. But I'm tired of the BUGS design. And so here I am, at 1 in the morning, asking for your opinion. What do you want to see in BUGS 2.0?

Note: I have 3 other blogs to redesign first, so I cannot give a deadline. But rest assured it will be done. I'm itching.

Few Things That Make People Do Supid Things

When you are angry, when you are horny, when people write one sentence blog and make you read. What more?

Malaysia's Internal Affair/Crisis!

As i have said in my blog, i want to comment on the issues that are concerning our beloved bolehland, Malaysia. First, i wanna talk about our first angkasawan/astronaut/cosmonaut/spaceflight participant, then the lingam video tape or lingam-gate scandal, the independent of the judiciary, the parliament and the general elections.

First, let us talk about the first Malaysian in space. Dr. Sheikh Muzzaphar Shukor, is our country's first man to go to space. He is also the first South-East Asian to go to space. Well, how proud are you, as a malaysian? The Russian called him a cosmonaut, the NASA called him a space flight participant and the Malaysian government insisted that he is indeed a angkasawan. Astronaut is the same meaning as Cosmonaut. Cosmonaut term is used by the Russians. The angkawan term is also the same with astronaut and cosmonaut.

Perhaps he will be conferred a Datuk-ship. This is Malaysia's style. There are many controversies surrounding the angkasawan project.

It all started in year 2003, when the Malaysian government agreed to buy 18 units of Sukhoi Su-30MKM. As part of the deal, the Russian government agreed to send a malaysian into the space in 2007. The cost is estimated to be US$900 million! Each unit cost about US$33-45million according to wikipedia. I think it is better to purchase F-16 fighting falcon as it is much cheaper than Su-30MKM. But US$900 million is too much. The money can be used for other projects, such as repairing the lousy roads across the country! There are many potholes in the country, and yet we spent millions to send a man into the space! What is this all for? The money can be used for other development projects as well! Look, the government spent more than the revenue generated for 11 consecutive years(budget deficit).

The exact figure for sending the man to space was never revealed. However, it is indeed very costly and they are planning to send 2nd man to space again.

Next, let's talk about the videotape scandal. This is not a pornographic videotape. This is not an anime's videotape. This is the arrangement in appointing judges. The Federal Constitution made it clear that it is only the DYMM YDP-Agong as the only one who can appoint judges(with the recommendations by the Chief Justice) and Chief Judge of Malaya, Sabah & Sarawak and Chief Justice of Malaysia acting on the advice of the PM and Conference of Rulers. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It is a prominet lawyer who recommend who to appoint as CJM(Chief Judge of Malaya). Well, i'm not a law student, so correct me if i am wrong in some facts. The video is quite funny. Watch at youtube for it! Do you know the Watergate Scandal that forced US. Pres. Nixon to resign from office? Let's see if this lingamgate scandal can force the CJ to resign.

After Anwar Ibrahim released the videotape, the government immediately form a 3-man Independent Panel to check the authenticity of the videotape. The Malaysian Bar Council organised a 'Walk from Justice' from the Palace of Justice to the PM's Department. There are thousands of lawyers and supporters took part in the march. They all wore black and white attire. The Bar Council demanded a formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry, as it has more power to investigate the scandal. And it is true that the Independent Panel failed miserably to deliver. The Bar Council's Pres Ambiga Srenevesan infamous quote:

"Lawyers don't walk everyday. Not even every month. Not even every year. But when they walk, then something must be very wrong."

I really admire the United States's Congress. They are very powerful. They can reject Pres. Bush's application for War funding. The Republicans and Democrats are free to vote in any motion. They have the senate committee. The Senate Committee can conduct any inquiry or investigation, such as the blackwater shooting in Iraq, the 1998 former Pres. Clinton's sex scandal that nearly kicks him out from office, the then 13yrs old girl who was sexually abused and many more.
If our Parliament can act professionally like this and have this power, it is really great!

Next, let's talk about the fairness or Independent-ness of the Judiciary. I don't believe it they are 100% independent. Lina Joy's attempt to leave her former religion has failed in the highest court, the Federal Court. She was denied her freedom of religion, as guaranteed in the Federal Constitution, on Article 11. 'Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion.'

But lately, there are a number of lawsuits against the government are success. First, a former ISA's detainee was awarded RM2.5mil in the suit against the police and government. Then, the news just came in, Irene Fernandes was awarded Rm200k in her suit against an UMNO-owned daily. These judges who attend those cases are indeed independent and fair. One more lawsuit was filed 2 days ago. I believe there will be more and more suits will be filed in the future!

Next, let's talk about the General Elections. Many believe that it will be held after the General Assembly of UMNO. Oh yea, let's hope the delegates won't make any racist comments or statements during the assembly! Let's hope the keris will not be waved against other races.
Next year, i believe the fuel price will increase, at least by 10-20sen per litre. Toll rates will go up as well. Thus, the transportation costs will increase. Then, the price of goods will increase! This is called 'cost push inflation' in Economics. By then, perhaps a normal bowl of Kolo Mee will cost Rm3++!

The inflation rate is rising, and on April, Anwar will be eligible to contest. With the inflation, the people will get angry and the votes will swing to the opposition. So it does make sense that the GE will be called before the toll and fuel price hike. They will not be that stupid to repeat the mistake in the 2006 Sarawak State Election. It is like smacking your head with a hammer.

The question is, what is the date of GE and how many seats the opposition will grab! For sure, the landslide victory for BN in 2004 GE will not be repeated this time. The opposition should be able to win at least 45-50 seats. Perhaps the elections will be held later this year or early next year before they increase the fuel price and toll.

Signing off now...... Izzit ok to post socio-political stuffs in the UGS blog??
*kenny, our posts are equal now?

Dumbledore Is Gay

On behalf of Cedric who is too horror stricken to even lift a finger to blog. Source: BBC

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has revealed that one of her characters, Hogwarts school headmaster Albus Dumbledore, is gay.

"Dumbledore is gay," she said, adding he was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, who he beat in a battle between good and bad wizards long ago.

"Falling in love can blind us to an extent," she said, and added Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down" and his love for Grindelwald was his "great tragedy".

Hello there friends, families, closet perverts. I am quite sure that you understand the horrific events that have brought us here today. Dumbledore. Love of the magical world. Greatest wizard of all time. The embodiment of all things good and true. He who so valiantly gave up his life for Harry Potter and the Wizarding World.

Absolutely Gay.

I dont know about you but this scares me. As Jk Rowling so aptly puts it:

"Oh, my god," Rowling, 42, concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction".

3rd UGS Badminton Gathering

We've lost count of the gatherings that UGS members have held. Oh dear. I have to admit. We've really come a long way from the First gathering that was held. Eight people attended the first gathering. After that, the average number of members attending gatherings have risen steadily to 13.

The first gathering took so much persuasion. The latest gathering took a few msn msgs, a few smses and a few calls (Okay, so maybe ONE person in particular took more persuasion than the rest lol). UGS has really become a very tight knit community and I'm very very happy and proud of that =D Big cheers to admins Ced, Kenny and Wen Qi. And the ever supportive members! All. Of. Them. Not forgetting those who AREN'T members...but came anyway!



Okay. So on Wednesday, the third Badminton Gathering was held at Stapok again following the success of the first two. Here and here (Ced had Green/Yellow hair in this one haha!). A total of...13 people showed up. And all thirteen of them played!

It was scheduled to start at 12 until 2. I woke up at 11.30 because Nic called my house. Was in a flurry to get ready and ended up in my mums car instead of Nics as originally planned. Reached Stapok one minute before 12 and saw Vivian and Jasper whom my mum thought were together (rotfl) =D

I went down to greet them and got a chance to flip through the Lodge Magazine. The Azam winner was from LODGE! *Jaw drops* And there was a lot of posing in the magazine haha. Andrew Ho arrived soon after followed by Lai and then Nic, Lina and Zareth. After them was Josh, Ced, Tay, Benjamin and Josh Lim.



The gathering begun a little after twelve and once again we were in Court B. Contrary to Joshua's belief, I did NOT ask Jasper and Lai to play with him and Andrew to mensiasoikan him. ;)

The presence of two SBA players didn't affect anything, badminton was played, new friendships were forged, new people attended their first Gathering, Laughter was...laughed, Strings were broken. Badminton Gatherings are definitely getting livelier even without the presence of Taboo!



The gathering ended at around 2.30 which shows that 2 hours is not enough for us. Will have to extend gathering hours next time. One thing still remains the same though. No matter how many gatherings we have (And I think it's safe to say we've passed the 20 mark)....One thing STILL remains the same.

The troubles that arise when it comes to take group photos. Shout. Dash. Run.


Sigh.

Sam enjoys Badminton.

Math genius in action:

Watch this genius!!!



ta

Just sharing =)

Bread and Dollor Notes.

In the bread shop with family

We walked in briming with confidence, with a trail of fire and glory blazing in our wakes. The silent air reverberated with bristling electric power; the foundations of the bakery shook and trembled even as we entered its domain. The Gods looked down, and they FEARED.

We were a family on a mission- buy bread, and escape before they hunt us down!

We looked around after our prime targets, sausage buns and country bread. The lady in black at the counter watched our every movement obliquely, as though suspicious, as though we were something else other than normal human beings. After quickly picking our selective pieces, we proceeded to the counter.

My father (who declines to be named) took out a few notes and gave it to the lady.


She counted it.


Then she sniffed suspiciously, and looked up.

Horror gripped our hearts, and fear settled down like a heavy cloud. Were we found out? Had it all been for nothing?! The door slammed shut... the lights blacked out... a shrill scream... and then...

Nothing.

Actually, my dad accidentally paid in a US dollar note. ISH.

Rain

Random Things To Cheer Me Up

iPod beater, you think?

*

Conversations real vs imagined

(from collegehumour):
Imagined
HOT MUSCULAR ISRAELI LOCKSMITH INSTALLING MY DEADBOLT: So you live here alone?
ME: No.
HMILIMD: You live with roommate?
ME: No, boyfriend.
HMILIMD: Oh, that’s too bad. You are hot.
ME: Oh, thank you. ( I cast my eyes down as if he’s embarrassing me)
HMILIMD: I want to stop screwing in this bolt and screw you right here on your sofa.
ME: I’m sorry I’m can’t. I’m spoken for.
HMILIMD: But I must have you NOW.
ME: No, you have to control yourself! Please, put your shirt back on!
HMILIMD: I beg you, if you won’t let me screw you on your sofa right now, then at least let me install this lock for you without wearing a shirt.
ME: Okay, I guess that’s fair.

Actual
HMILIMD: So you live here alone?
ME: No.
HMILIMD: You live with roommate?
ME: No, boyfriend.
HMILIMD: Me too.

*

They don't make grandmothers like that in Malaysia.

English In Foreign Countries

Got this from an email.

In a Bangkok temple:

"IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN A FOREIGNER IF DRESSED AS A MAN."

Cocktail lounge, Norway:

"LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR."

At a Budapest zoo:

"PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY."

Doctors office, Rome:

"SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES."

Hotel, Acapulco:

"THE MANAGER HAS PERSONALLY PASSED ALL THE WATER SERVED HERE."

Information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner, Japan:

"COOLES AND HEATES: IF YOU WANT JUST CONDITION OF WARM AIR IN YOUR ROOM, PLEASE CONTROL YOURSELF."

Dry cleaners, Bangkok:

"DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS."

In a Nairobi restaurant:

"CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER."

On a poster at Kencom:

"ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO, WE CAN HELP."

In a City restaurant:

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS.

One of the Mathare buildings:

"MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION CENTRE."

A sign seen on an automatic restroom hand dryer:

"DO NOT ACTIVATE WITH WET HANDS."

In a Pumwani maternity ward:

"NO CHILDREN ALLOWED."

In a cemetery:

"PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN GRAVES."

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations:

"GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED."

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:

"OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR."

In a Tokyo bar:

"SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS."

Hotel brochure, Italy:

"THIS HOTEL IS RENOWNED FOR ITS PEACE AND SOLITUDE. IN FACT, CROWDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FLOCK HERE TO ENJOY ITS SOLITUDE."

Hotel lobby, Bucharest:

"THE LIFT IS BEING FIXED FOR THE NEXT DAY. DURING THAT TIME WE REGRET THAT YOU WILL BE UNBEARABLE."

Hotel elevator, Paris:

"PLEASE LEAVE YOUR VALUES AT THE FRONT DESK."

Hotel, Yugoslavia:

"THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE CHAMBERMAID."

Hotel, Japan:

"YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID."

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery:

"YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY."

Taken from a menu, Poland:

"SALAD A FIRM'S OWN MAKE; LIMPID RED BEET SOUP WITH CHEESY DUMPLINGS IN THE FORM OF A FINGER; ROASTED DUCK LET LOOSE; BEEF RASHERS BEATEN IN THE COUNTRY

PEOPLE'S FASHION."

Supermarket, Hong Kong:

"FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE RECOMMEND COURTEOUS, EFFICIENT SELF-SERVICE."

From the "Soviet Weekly":

"THERE WILL BE A MOSCOW EXHIBITION OF ARTS BY 15,000 SOVIET REPUBLIC PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS. THESE WERE EXECUTED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS."

In an East African newspaper:

"A NEW SWIMMING POOL IS RAPIDLY TAKING SHAPE SINCE THE CONTRACTORS HAVE THROWN IN THE BULK OF THEIR WORKERS."

Hotel, Vienna:

"IN CASE OF FIRE, DO YOUR UTMOST TO ALARM THE HOTEL PORTER."

Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:

- - ENGLISH WELL TALKING.

- - HERE SPEECHING AMERICAN.

Meow

PMR is over, F3's will be back in full swing around UGS I expect. (I hope) I demand The other day, I went to my mums school with my camera in hand. Unexpectedly, the cat that lives there wasn't out socializing around the neighborhood with her kittens. She was sitting there. Alone.


So I decided to take pictures of her. She was gorgeous. What can I say? The camera loves her!!! The parallels between her and Puss from Shrek are undeniable. They both do the Cute stare thing with their huge eyes.



After a few pictures, I realized...this is one photogenic cat. *Reviews photos* she's POSING FOR ME! She was staring straight into the lens in most of the pictures!

Okay, so maybe it was because she was fascinated by me my camera. Or maybe it was warning signals that she sent through her eyes saying *Go away*.

She was yawning kay!

I squatted there for at least 5 minutes and she just sat there. Staring in my general direction. She changed her position once. And then continued to stare.


Cat Trivia!!! Cats' hearing is much more sensitive than humans and dogs.
Ailurophilia is the "love of cats." Cats have three eyelids
Almost 10 percent of a cats bones are in its tail Cats have thirty teeth. Kittens have baby teeth which are replaced by permanent fangs at around seven months of age. If your cat is near you, and her tail is quivering, this is the greatest expression of love your cat can give you. If her tail starts thrashing, her mood has changed --- Time to distance yourself from her.

Sam likes kittens cats.

Halo 3

Radiohead Releases New Album. Price? Up 2 U

Jylene recently did a Radiohead review for The Square, and a recent news item caught my eye: they have a new album. They're going sans label, and you can have it two ways: the first is by buying the physical box set, which costs £40.00, no matter where you live in the world. The second is by download, off their website. Cost? Up to you.

According to a spokesperson for the band, most are paying the normal price for an album (~£10) and few are going for ~£0.01. Downloads start 10 October. I've placed my pre-order. £0.00.


This is radical. No record label, no big brouhaha in music stores worldwide. You can pay anything you like ... I wonder if they accept used undies?

Let's see how this turns out. Those of you interested, place your pre order here. The site rocks.