Monday, October 29, 2007

Wah! We are now a space power!

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Man, I feel damn jaded now. Work, work and more work. Hopefully I can get a break soon.
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A friend of mine just came back from KL, who happened to be a staff in The Star pointed me to this interesting article, related to a recent and popular event in our country; the first Malaysian to ascend into space.. Here's the stuff

Click below:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/18/focus/19171550&sec=focus

LOL - Hilarious..

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Keroro!!

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Which 23 year old nowadays would actually spend his first RM 50 of his monthly salary to buy a snap-up toy which is not so cool, but inevitably cute. Read on...
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It was Friday, 19th October 2007, where me and the lads had lunch as usual at Seng Kee (One of the many various spots we have our meals when the clock strikes 12 pm). We arrived early, lunch was brief, so after eating, one of us decided to have a stroll at a place I have not really been to for almost 6 to 7 years: Toys World (well, I did went there, but not really to look at the toys..).

It certainly brought back some nostalgic childhood memories, like what toys I used to like playing, some which I wished to have and some which I thought it was silly having it.

But one thing for certain, I like to build models. I remember building alot of car models, the last one was a Toyota Celica, which I almost broke my bank to buy just the paints and tools to help out with the build-up. But heck, I don't even know where the car is in my house now.

Anyway, I stumbled upong this little model, which I find quite attracting to me, and immediately I have the feeling that I need to get my hands on it.

Lim told me to get it, but hey, I was all dressed up for work, and you don't expect a working guy to suddenly pop up in a toy store to buy a friggin lame toy?

Well, I brushed off the thought of buying it until just now (Saturday, 20th Oct 2007, 8:30 pm), which I sneaked in to quickly make a purchase, before many people notice (Of course, I brought together with me a decoy, my brother, in case anyone familiar asks me who I am buying the toy for).

Anyway, let me reveal to you, the ultra-adorable character I had only seen once on TV and resulted in me buying the model of him: Keroro!


Yeah, say it's going to sound gay, but I have to admit, he's cute..

Well, I don't exactly understand what the bloody Japanese gibberish captions on the box says, the only characters that I can read is 'Keroro Gunso Ver. 1.5'.

It even says a 'Flying board' is included!

Such models do not come cheap, especially when it is branded (Ban Dai is famous in such models like 'Nike' in sports apparels). It busted my first RM 50 of the month after I got my salary yesterday.

*Hiss.. the sounds of burning in my wallet..
Price aside, the model is not exactly huge, in fact the box is just around the size of 13 cm x 8 cm x 3 cm. But what caught my eye was the various pose this little toy can do as illustrated on the side of the box.


Hold a fan, stand up straight, sit down cross-legged are just simple moves. It can even slip over a bloody banana!

Of course, once the box is opened, the contents are not as pretty as it seems, all in seperate pieces. Now, I really can't wait to fix it up.

Hmmm.. the legs are here, the arms there, where is the head??

Well, I've made more detail models than this, so it does not take me much time to actually finish the head. In fact, you need not worry if you get your hands on such model as the instruction manual is as detail as a picture taken by a 10 mega-pixel camera (errm... I know, it's the worst metaphor to describe the scenario..)

Ahhh! They removed your body, and left your head. Don't worry, they've got the fluids from your brain to regenerate new parts of your body... Err.. anyone with 20 cents please?
With the help of the manual, my experience with models and my mom's manicure set, the Keroro-slipping-over-the-banana is completed within just a short 20 minutes. Here's how it looks..

Lively looking little dude, I can even feel the pain from the fall too..
I was tempted to put this model in my car, but heck, I wouldn't want it to melt under the unmerciful Malaysian sun.
His legs are too short to do splits over the banana.. Ermm.. Pardon the pun..
The movements of this model is quite flexible, it can even change facial expression by swapping the mouth and turning over the eyes. Plus, as promised on the box, I get a flying board accompanying this little dude, my guess is that it is his official ride in the animation.

Another angle of the fall. Nice landing I presume..
Anyway, at the price of RM 46.90 (Exact figure, no GST nonsense included), I'm pretty satisfied with the end product. In fact, I made a vow to myself not to let this little guy to feel lonely too long by getting the rest of the members (This green guy is blue, he has a compatriot in the colour of blue, red and black).
"Get my lads to join the fall!"
Anyway, I guess it's time for me to do some budgeting for the next month..

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Can I Story You (2): The Hospital Window

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Weather today in Miri changed quite rapidly, from a sunny morning became a rainy evening. Well, at least tonight will be a nice cooling night to sleep. Anyways, here is the second story from the new 'inspiration' slot which I would like to share some stories from the 'Can I Story You' book, so enjoy.
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Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the men in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

Unrelated pic: just to fill up the cold texts with a warm pic.

As the man by the window described all this exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside his bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside the window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."


Moral of the story:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite their own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but shared happiness is double the joy. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy. "Today is a gift, that's why it's called rge present." The wonderful things of life are within us. If you could see it in your mind, you can see it in your life.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Daddy.. where do I come from?

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Nasty schedule, hectic working hours and lots of tea with clients.. That sums up my current working time.. LOL...
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Often, little kids pop up 'the question', which leaves the poor parent(s) stammering with a vague answer. Little does the kid know, the usual response is seldom the truth, some may just be brushed off without any answer, leaving the poor kid searching in curiosity.

'Mommy/Daddy, where do I come from?'

Or..

'Mommy/Daddy, where do babies come from?'

Questions as such is always accompanied with a very innocent and curious look from the eyes, and the parent(s) is always in a dilemma to tell the real process of how they were actually made up..

They just can't say..

'Daddy made a mistake, forgotten to buy a special balloon and thats how you are here.'

Or,

'One beautiful morning, a white stork carrying a small bag flew to our chimney and dropped you on our unlit fireplace.'

With such vast media sources nowadays, the above statements just don't cut it anymore. What if they really google for the fact and realize that what 'Daddy' or 'Mommy' says is a lie afterall?

Of course, they can't just illustrate the steamy and illicit sessions on how they 'made' babies to the kid at such tender age. So the question is, 'How to overcome 'the question', without revealing too much and at the same time not telling a terrible lie?'

Of course, not everyone is like Luke Skywalker in StarWars, where he doesn't even know who the hell is his dad till Darth Vader unveils the horrible truth..

So, I happened to stumble upon a wise fella who answers like this:

'Its a little love from Daddy, a little love from Mommy and LOTS of love form God.. That's how you came about..'

Hmm.... fascinating...

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Can I Story You: The Red Marbles

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After the previous post, I just cannot no post this story. Hope you enjoy it; forget about your ego and let it move your heart. *Ahem..
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Jim Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.

“Hello Barry, how are you today?”

“Hello Mr. Miller. Fine, thank you. I’m just admiring these peas. Sure look good.”

“They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?”

“Fine. Getting stronger all time.”

“Good. Anything I can help you with?”

“No sir, I’m just admiring these peas.”
“Would you like to take some home?”

“No sir. I have nothing to pay you.”

“Well, what do you have to trade for some of these peas?”

“All I have is my prize marble here.”

“Is that right? Let me see it.”

“Here it is. She’s a dandy.”

“I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?”

“Not really but almost.”

“Tell you what, take this sack of pea back home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble.”

“Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.”

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, “There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps.”

I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering. Several years went by, each more rapid that the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there I learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts, all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

“Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size, they came to pay their debt.”

“We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,” she confided.

“But right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in the world.” With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

Moral of the story:
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Can I STORY you?

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During the conference in KL, there was a booth which sells some books; and this book, in particular, caught my attention. Without hesitating, I splashed out a few ringgits to get hold of it. I have to say, my 'few ringgits' are not wasted.
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Everyone loves a good story. The world thrives on intriguing plots, moving lines and many of its heroic characters. ‘Once upon a time’ and ‘happily ever after’ are the lines where all the readers or listeners anticipate, and the truth is; even Hollywood is built upon these foundations.

Story-telling has been around as soon as mankind learnt how to communicate. Stories are not just for mere entertainment. Many times, story is use to teach the next generation about values of life. It is the mould for a child’s dreams, inspiration for the ones tested, advice for the ones who seeks and motivation for the worn-out souls.


"Ahem, can I story YOU?"

The book ‘Can I Story You’ breathes in fresh air for the minds, enriching souls with words of wisdom from wise people who’ve lived a meaningful life. Some of the stories are parables to describe the meanings of life itself, some are real life experiences.



"Life is like a tree.. think about it.."

Basically, the book is divided into 5 sections:
1) Seed – Symbolises vision and goal,
2) Roots – Symbolises character and attitude,
3) Nourishments – Symbolises desire and motivation,
4) Tree – Symbolises growth, perseverance and persistence,
5) Fruits – Symbolises success and results


"Vision and goal, sprouts from the seeds in your heart."

This book contains several short stories, all with the purpose to let the readers think twice about their lives.

It is wonderful how people can come out with metaphors to describe life. I wonder; when was the last time I read a storybook?