"Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am; and keep ever burning before my vagrant steps the kindly light of hope." -- A Prayer, by Max Ehrmann
As a year draws to a close, human beings will normally do a stock check of the days gone by the past 12 months.The outstanding feature on my humble horizon is winning several new friends along the path of a cyber-journey that started on the Ides of March so that it enables me to "COUNT THE TOES" on Mother's GOoD Earth while doing the traditional k'ssin' under the MISStheToe at Yuletide. Ah, mGf Yan who became oo7 explains it thus to JPsc because the most recently gained Friend from across the crossway, You Asked For It!Here I also remember with fondness mGf Mr Coww who always reminds Desi to see with the heart and keep the faith, no matter what.
Desi was intrigued by one fellow blogger whom I often teased about his going MIA, writing about a recent gathering of five blogger mutual fans. I use "mutual" because in Blogsworld, citizenship is truly fre, democratic and equal. Everyone joins the conversation on his/her own free will and volition, on an "almost" level playing field, except the Ho(R)st always has the final say. Life is just, not fair!
Imran wrote about a seven-day-old event like it was seven years old -- hence titled ANNIVERSARY. And why not, to him, to me too -- it's only months we "knew" each other, and yet it seems a long, l-o-o-0-o-o-n-g time ago.
SO the conecpt of time in relationships is not measured by the brain cells counting the seconds, minutes and the hours -- going on to days, months and years.
The heart's time check rocks and rolls like a symphiny -- to the swings of the emotions of highs and lows and the plateaus. When we experience the hi-here, hi-there, hi-everywhere, life is a breeze and "physical" time passes by so fast.
As for lows,you sigh, you think you wanna die -- you wonder why time passes so slow.
As for the plateau -- we get used to it, working nine-to-five and catching forty winks in between, and hitting the hay during the weekends just to catch up with Lad' Sleep. Hopefully, in time, but YoungOnes, don't rush! -- one has a constant sleeping partner. Not that one in business, you dumbo!
Two among the five Blog fellows on a Fridae once upon a time at the Cable Car Restron (I/m spelling it as it should be PROnounced, versus WedNURSEday when it's spelt like it's frequently MISpronounced by the average Malaysia ... go figure ...Ah, Desi's indulgence in Digressing, a Blogger's luxury I often abuse.Alsso, Desiderata.English will close tomorrow with an Adieu piece for a respite while the teacher goes on sabattical.
Another member, I'd better look for him because he had gone MIA, taking over brother Imran's function after we both teAsed him a little, knotty Imran advising the Y&A to "go waste his youth" a li'l while the time is ripe (to this effect-lah, but I know he's being chicky!), and knottier Desi remarked that he (no, not Desi, the Young&ArticulateOne, dumbo!) is a "secret/sincere admirer" of another Y&A! I won't mention names lest he/she blush. As for young Kyels, Desi occasionaly pulls not only the T, but her leg, and she most times almost trips in the FuRong Maze. Or isit the Koala Lumpur Haze? My face is already feeling warm just thinking aloud...turns nigh lobster red as I visualise the scene ... painted by the closing strains, mGf, just be patient!Patience is generally not a vice.
About the fifth member, I wouldn't say more but end with whatever the rest have written: The sentiment and feeling at Desi's Place is all soul&spirit mutual.
I have enjoyed all the CONVERSATIONS with the visitors to desi's Place -- ho I always welcome with Haridas' piping hot tehtarik! -- to overseas Malaysians like Howsy in England, and Homo sapiens associates like Sweets Down Under -- it truly gives meaning to this stage of man's march in history -- we are now a Global Village.
Let our little chats and flippant and merry engagements continue with a kind and gentle spirit commonest guideposts to our quest for Happiness, elsuive to the second best Contentment we must be thankful for within our grasp. Hence, we strive towards a Utopia w have jointly defined as fellow travellers towards our fantasy I-LAND called SpiriteDestination!
As we head together into a new year,
I borrow from mGf Max the erring one,
A Prayer
Let me do my work each day;
and if the darkened hours
of despair overcome me, amy I
not forget the strength
that comforted me in the
desolation of other times. May I
still remember the bright
hours that found me walking
over the silent hills of my
childhood, or dreaming on the
margin of the quiet river,
when a light glowed within me,
and I promised my early God
to have courage anid the
tempests of the changing years.
Spare me from bitteerness
and from the sharp passions of
unguarded moments. May
I not forget that poverty and
riches are of the spirit.
Though the world knows me not,
may my thoughts and actions
be such as shall keep me friendly
with muself. Lift my eyes
from the earth, and let me not
forget the uses of the stars.
Forbid that I should judge others
lest I condemn myself.
Let me not follow the clamour of
the world, but walk calmly
in my path. Give me a few friends
who will love me for what
I am; and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope. And
though age and infirmity overtake
me, and I come not within
sight of the castle of my dreams,
teach me still to be thankful
for life, and for time's olden
,memories that are good and
sweet; and may the evening's
twilight find me gentle still.
I: i
S: say
A: amen
Thanks s-million:)
that me and mGf are still L'VING.
As I prepared my thoughts in the closing hours of 2005, I part with some memorable lines from an idyllic time when hearts were young and gay, and I wsih all my Esteeemed Readers to always remmebr, there's always:
A time for us, some day there'll be
When chains are torn by courage born of a love that's free
A time when dreams so long denied can flourish
As we unveil the love we now must hide
A time for us, at last to see
A life worthwhile for you and me
And with our love, through tears and thorns
We will endure as we pass surely through every storm
A time for us, some day there'll be a new world
A world of shining hope for you and me
For you and me
And with our love, through tears and thorns
We will endure as we pass surely through every storm
A time for us, some day there'll be a new world
A world of shining hope for you and me
A world of shining hope for you and me
NOTE OF INTEREST: Competing instrumental version by Henry Mancini charted at # 1
from the 1968 film produced by Franco Zeffirelli and starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey
- Words by Larry Kusik and Eddie Snyder
and Music by Nino Rota
Wishing All A Happy and Progresive New Year!
Desi,
from FuRong
With L'VE
:):):);):):):)
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Kudos to NST - The Star: Eat, Drink&Be Merry!
DESIDERATA was not going to make any resolutions for 2006 ...until yesterday when the following caught my attention, and IMHO, one was POSITIVE, from THE NST, and another, NEGATIVE, in THE STAR. Bear with me.
The bad first:
Top on Wong Sulong's wish list...
The Star (December 29, Page 4):
No resolutions from me but here are seven changes I would like to see happening in Malaysia in 2006.
1. Let’s be kinder to each other
The past year has seen an escalation of nastiness in the public arena. By word of mouth, poison-pen letters, SMS, through the Internet and the media, Malaysians seem to be more vicious in maligning those they envy or dislike for reasons best known to them. No one – high or low – is spared. Yes, we may not win many gold medals in international sports but Malaysians win hands down when it comes to spreading rumours, lies and distortions. This has become a national blood sport. It seems that there are many Malaysians who are envious of those who are rich and successful, and love to see such people being dragged down.
Fellow blogger screenshots'JEFF OOI extracted the first "change" that the Star GEIC wanted to see next year, adding:
"He mentions Internet, envy, "lies and distortion", "the rich and successful"... I'm scratching my head to find his context. This or that?
When newsmen become news, that's quite news-worthy. Who says perpetuating lies and distortion are the monopoly of one medium?"
The GOODER, from THE NST frontpage,and because it's GOOD VIBRATIONS, Desi is inclined to reproduce in full:
December 29, 2005
LEST THEY FORGET...
Some hot cases gone cold
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In just two days, another year will have passed. For many Malaysians, it will be a time to make new resolutions and reflect on promises made and broken. For several government agencies, it may be a good time to re-visit some cases, which have not been solved.
A painfully slow probe
THREE years ago, a senior Malaysia Airlines official lodged a police report alleging wrong-doings by former top executives of the national carrier.
At the heart of the report was dealings between the company and German company Advanced Cargo Logistics Gmbh (ACL).
ACL and MAS had agreed to develop a European cargo hub at a former military airbase in Hahn.
Hahn and another cargo hub in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, were to be part of MAS’ "Cargo Spine Network".
There has been glacial progress on the case for the past three years. Earlier this year, a director of the airline lodged another report with the commercial crimes division at federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman. In it, he implicated several former executives and alleged offences related to non-disclosure of interests and other breaches of the Companies Act.
In particular, the police report focuses on the need for a company director to state his interests, whether directly or indirectly, in a contract or proposed contract with the company at a board meeting at the earliest possible time.
Now that the spotlight is on MAS and Malaysians are demanding to know how a world-class airline hit the skids so abruptly, perhaps it is time for the police to burn the midnight oil on this case.
Arson probe that has gone on and on...
FROM the day it happened in March, the fire at the storage room of the Department of Environment office in Johor Baru carried the stench of arson.
Ninety per cent of the records kept, including files on high-profile investigations, were destroyed in the March 24 incident. Among them were those concerning the illegal importation of toxic waste from Taiwan last year.
In June, the Fire and Rescue Department confirmed arson as the cause of the fire .
More recently, Johor CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner (II) Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said that senior DOE officers may have masterminded the fire.
But till today, no one has been charged in court.
Mayor needs to clear his name
ONE of the most intriguing cases of 2005 involved Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ruslin Hassan. A book implicated him in corruption and sex scandals.
Later it transpired that two senior City Hall officials were behind the book.
They were arrested in October and released later. The writer of the book, Mohd Rafie Awang Kecik, was arrested but he remains defiant.
He lodged a police report and has challenged Ruslin to dispute the contents of the book. To be fair to the mayor, he needs to have his name cleared once and for all.
To be fair to Malaysians, they need to know whether there is any truth behind any of the allegations.
The one that got away
IN September, a senior Malaysian anti-narcotics official attending a regional meeting in Bangkok had to do much explaining.
Officials from the drug enforcement agencies around the region wanted to know how drug baron Qui Liang Jie could walk out of an Immigration detention centre. They are not alone.
Many others are wondering how he walked out a few days before being extradited to China.
Police arrested six Immigration officials and have recommended that they be charged with negligence. If they are convicted, they will face only up to two years in jail. Until their day in court arrives, they will perform desk duties.
Still on salary after so long
THE judge was ready. And so was the prosecution, or at least they thought they were.
Just as chemist Zurina Ramli began unwrapping the boxes to tender more than 60,000 psychotropic pills as evidence, she realised that something was drastically wrong.
All three boxes were empty.
The vital evidence in the drug trafficking case had gone missing from the evidence room at the district police headquarters.
That was nine months ago.
The New Straits Times has learnt that a police officer has been suspended on half pay for the past seven months.
The outcome of a disciplinary case against him hinges on whether the case against the drug trafficker proceeds.
It remains unclear why the police officer — a chief inspector — is still drawing half his salary if police investigators have already completed investigations into how the pills went missing.
Meanwhile, the drug trafficking case will be brought for mention on Jan 13, 2006 at the Shah Alam High Court.
Tua Bit, 61, faces two charges of trafficking the Nimetazepam pills in 2002. But can the case proceed without the evidence?
DESIDERATA:
FIRST, A big "kudos" to the NST team who tries very hard to make sure such "scandals" remain on our consciousness.
I feel a little sad that Kalimullah Hassan would take leave of the newspaper in less than two days' time as NST Group EIC-- "Syabas!" if he was still in charge of this first page play-up of important national issues at year-end roundup, yes, so timely, doing what essentially is fundamental duty of the Fourth Estate: LEST WE FORGET~
Let's proceed to the NEGATIVE, about The Star:
Before I "reprise" some of the points I had consistently raised at Jeff Ooi's blog when discussing issues of the Fourth Estate, Desi would like to decalre that he had served at The Star for five years, including some three years with then Associate Editor-later-Business Editor Wong Sulong. I write my views here as a professionally trained journalist, secondarily as a Civil Society promoter via blogging -- increasingly gaining credence as the Fifth Estate -- concerned about the state of affairs in the Fourth Estate in the country, and of course, also as a concerned Malaysian citizen. The dictum I follow in my own Blog, just as when visiting other blogs like Jeff Ooi's, comes from VOLTAIRE: "I may disagree with what you say but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it."
I always hold my conversationists in the highest esteem -- it's the issues that matter, NOT the personality.
So back to the said reference from The Star's wish list point 1, put forth by its GECI, DESIDERATA carries on the discourse started by Jeff Ooi, where I had also posted two comments with reference to his wish:
Let’s be kinder to each other
I also share Jeff's THINKING ALOUD, vis:
He mentions Internet, envy, "lies and distortion", "the rich and successful"... I'm scratching my head to find his context. This or that?
When newsmen become news, that's quite news-worthy. Who says perpetuating lies and distortion are the monopoly of one medium? extract as Posted by jeffooi at December 29, 2005 08:15 AM
May I pose these questions back: Indeed, who are the "rich and successful" that others have maligned? Hey, din't run down fellow Malaysians with one big brush.
With envy, lies and distortions? These are mighty serious allegations from the top gun of the largest circulating English daily in the country> Can this writer find the time to detail the charges. Otherwise,,, I was tempted to follow my Younger NBlogger Friends to let fly with F-worss, but that would provide this Wong guy with more ammo, wouldn't it?
Like Jeff, I'm scratching my head too, but I can venture some educated guesses. Can you bear with me as I adjourn back to my own archives and come up with some NUTgets, or NUTgifts since we are still in the Season of What? Eat, Drink and Be Merry!
Meanwhile, these were Desi's Initial Comments at Jeff's blog, here reproduced with typos and points amended for clarity:
"jeff -- maybe Desi's constant stance that the leading newspaper's GEIC post should not be filled by someone with one foot in Malaysia and the other in Australia?
I've several times said why this wong sulong guy's position at The Star is "untenable" -- to newcomers, here's gist in a summary:
*As in Dr Ng Yen Yen's case when she was sworn in as Senator then still a Permanent Resident of Australia, it raises the question of split loyalties; so also with the current The Star's GEIC.
* Holders of positions of high national office, with great political influence and reach -- for better or worse -- msut surely owe complete loyalty to the nation where he/she serves, and like a Minister/Deputy Minister, surely a group editor-in-chief ranks equally in power and influence and reach, does it not?
Ah, maybe the powerfool one thinks this scribe is mong the "poison-pen" distributors -- then tell me in the face.
I have only one Resolution for 2006: Expose the truly "ugly" ones among the 4th estate.
Posted by: desiderata at December 29, 2005 11:54 AM
Desi added the following in response to a comment by one WilliamL under "kinder to politikus?":
"williamL -- well said.
Just add: The Star under Wong's helm defaulted or committed sins of OMISSION:
* kept silent on APs lists being publicised UNTIL the Prime Minister had directed that the lists be made public, and a Star columnist went to town expressing 110% support as if it had taken a "fantatsic" stand, when the said stand had been overly stated by NGOs, Opposition parties and public-minded individuals among us, discerning and concerned citizens.
* Played up Ling Hee Leong's credentials,in the runup to the MCA Youth elections recently. NEVER did The Star question once his loans amounting to RM1.2billion to take over at least four public listed companies in 1997/98 -- in fact, Ling Hee Leong even boasted about his Eat, Drink and Be Merry motto, making what blatantly is a negative trait into something positive, with the help of a compliant press like the Star who plays dumb as if it does NOT know any of Ling Jr's past!
Dear God, for Our Country's sake, save us from such young and instant millionaires and billionaires now leading the nation's youth --- up the Garden path?
I'm heading to the bank for a RM10,000 to expand my business -- how many types of forms do I need, WilliamL?
Millionaires don't need to service their loans, but mortals like you, WilliamL, and me, will get a lawyer's letter if we failed to pay 3 instalments on a car or housing loan of RM30,000 or RM80,000 respectively. I'm speaking from PERSONAL experience...
Another banking bailout in 2-3 years' time? Have fun, Eat Drink & Be Married, to the Banks!
Posted by: desiderata at December 30, 2005 09:07 AM"
DESIDERATA: This is my INITIAL post to be uploaded at 2.20pm. I will study some relevant archived items at Jeff's and my own place and UPDATE with some relevant arguments to show how Wong's position at THE STAR as GEIC is not tenable; also the OMISSIONS by the paper in discharging its duties and roles of a responsible member of the Fourth Estate.
Meanwhile, my esteemed readers are ebncouarged and welcome to send me your views, which to me are of utmost importance in steering our media - mainly print English ones referred too here -- back to a more "Malaysia-Our Country"-caring course.
The bad first:
Top on Wong Sulong's wish list...
The Star (December 29, Page 4):
No resolutions from me but here are seven changes I would like to see happening in Malaysia in 2006.
1. Let’s be kinder to each other
The past year has seen an escalation of nastiness in the public arena. By word of mouth, poison-pen letters, SMS, through the Internet and the media, Malaysians seem to be more vicious in maligning those they envy or dislike for reasons best known to them. No one – high or low – is spared. Yes, we may not win many gold medals in international sports but Malaysians win hands down when it comes to spreading rumours, lies and distortions. This has become a national blood sport. It seems that there are many Malaysians who are envious of those who are rich and successful, and love to see such people being dragged down.
Fellow blogger screenshots'JEFF OOI extracted the first "change" that the Star GEIC wanted to see next year, adding:
"He mentions Internet, envy, "lies and distortion", "the rich and successful"... I'm scratching my head to find his context. This or that?
When newsmen become news, that's quite news-worthy. Who says perpetuating lies and distortion are the monopoly of one medium?"
The GOODER, from THE NST frontpage,and because it's GOOD VIBRATIONS, Desi is inclined to reproduce in full:
December 29, 2005
LEST THEY FORGET...
Some hot cases gone cold
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In just two days, another year will have passed. For many Malaysians, it will be a time to make new resolutions and reflect on promises made and broken. For several government agencies, it may be a good time to re-visit some cases, which have not been solved.
A painfully slow probe
THREE years ago, a senior Malaysia Airlines official lodged a police report alleging wrong-doings by former top executives of the national carrier.
At the heart of the report was dealings between the company and German company Advanced Cargo Logistics Gmbh (ACL).
ACL and MAS had agreed to develop a European cargo hub at a former military airbase in Hahn.
Hahn and another cargo hub in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, were to be part of MAS’ "Cargo Spine Network".
There has been glacial progress on the case for the past three years. Earlier this year, a director of the airline lodged another report with the commercial crimes division at federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman. In it, he implicated several former executives and alleged offences related to non-disclosure of interests and other breaches of the Companies Act.
In particular, the police report focuses on the need for a company director to state his interests, whether directly or indirectly, in a contract or proposed contract with the company at a board meeting at the earliest possible time.
Now that the spotlight is on MAS and Malaysians are demanding to know how a world-class airline hit the skids so abruptly, perhaps it is time for the police to burn the midnight oil on this case.
Arson probe that has gone on and on...
FROM the day it happened in March, the fire at the storage room of the Department of Environment office in Johor Baru carried the stench of arson.
Ninety per cent of the records kept, including files on high-profile investigations, were destroyed in the March 24 incident. Among them were those concerning the illegal importation of toxic waste from Taiwan last year.
In June, the Fire and Rescue Department confirmed arson as the cause of the fire .
More recently, Johor CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner (II) Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said that senior DOE officers may have masterminded the fire.
But till today, no one has been charged in court.
Mayor needs to clear his name
ONE of the most intriguing cases of 2005 involved Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ruslin Hassan. A book implicated him in corruption and sex scandals.
Later it transpired that two senior City Hall officials were behind the book.
They were arrested in October and released later. The writer of the book, Mohd Rafie Awang Kecik, was arrested but he remains defiant.
He lodged a police report and has challenged Ruslin to dispute the contents of the book. To be fair to the mayor, he needs to have his name cleared once and for all.
To be fair to Malaysians, they need to know whether there is any truth behind any of the allegations.
The one that got away
IN September, a senior Malaysian anti-narcotics official attending a regional meeting in Bangkok had to do much explaining.
Officials from the drug enforcement agencies around the region wanted to know how drug baron Qui Liang Jie could walk out of an Immigration detention centre. They are not alone.
Many others are wondering how he walked out a few days before being extradited to China.
Police arrested six Immigration officials and have recommended that they be charged with negligence. If they are convicted, they will face only up to two years in jail. Until their day in court arrives, they will perform desk duties.
Still on salary after so long
THE judge was ready. And so was the prosecution, or at least they thought they were.
Just as chemist Zurina Ramli began unwrapping the boxes to tender more than 60,000 psychotropic pills as evidence, she realised that something was drastically wrong.
All three boxes were empty.
The vital evidence in the drug trafficking case had gone missing from the evidence room at the district police headquarters.
That was nine months ago.
The New Straits Times has learnt that a police officer has been suspended on half pay for the past seven months.
The outcome of a disciplinary case against him hinges on whether the case against the drug trafficker proceeds.
It remains unclear why the police officer — a chief inspector — is still drawing half his salary if police investigators have already completed investigations into how the pills went missing.
Meanwhile, the drug trafficking case will be brought for mention on Jan 13, 2006 at the Shah Alam High Court.
Tua Bit, 61, faces two charges of trafficking the Nimetazepam pills in 2002. But can the case proceed without the evidence?
DESIDERATA:
FIRST, A big "kudos" to the NST team who tries very hard to make sure such "scandals" remain on our consciousness.
I feel a little sad that Kalimullah Hassan would take leave of the newspaper in less than two days' time as NST Group EIC-- "Syabas!" if he was still in charge of this first page play-up of important national issues at year-end roundup, yes, so timely, doing what essentially is fundamental duty of the Fourth Estate: LEST WE FORGET~
Let's proceed to the NEGATIVE, about The Star:
Before I "reprise" some of the points I had consistently raised at Jeff Ooi's blog when discussing issues of the Fourth Estate, Desi would like to decalre that he had served at The Star for five years, including some three years with then Associate Editor-later-Business Editor Wong Sulong. I write my views here as a professionally trained journalist, secondarily as a Civil Society promoter via blogging -- increasingly gaining credence as the Fifth Estate -- concerned about the state of affairs in the Fourth Estate in the country, and of course, also as a concerned Malaysian citizen. The dictum I follow in my own Blog, just as when visiting other blogs like Jeff Ooi's, comes from VOLTAIRE: "I may disagree with what you say but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it."
I always hold my conversationists in the highest esteem -- it's the issues that matter, NOT the personality.
So back to the said reference from The Star's wish list point 1, put forth by its GECI, DESIDERATA carries on the discourse started by Jeff Ooi, where I had also posted two comments with reference to his wish:
Let’s be kinder to each other
I also share Jeff's THINKING ALOUD, vis:
He mentions Internet, envy, "lies and distortion", "the rich and successful"... I'm scratching my head to find his context. This or that?
When newsmen become news, that's quite news-worthy. Who says perpetuating lies and distortion are the monopoly of one medium? extract as Posted by jeffooi at December 29, 2005 08:15 AM
May I pose these questions back: Indeed, who are the "rich and successful" that others have maligned? Hey, din't run down fellow Malaysians with one big brush.
With envy, lies and distortions? These are mighty serious allegations from the top gun of the largest circulating English daily in the country> Can this writer find the time to detail the charges. Otherwise,,, I was tempted to follow my Younger NBlogger Friends to let fly with F-worss, but that would provide this Wong guy with more ammo, wouldn't it?
Like Jeff, I'm scratching my head too, but I can venture some educated guesses. Can you bear with me as I adjourn back to my own archives and come up with some NUTgets, or NUTgifts since we are still in the Season of What? Eat, Drink and Be Merry!
Meanwhile, these were Desi's Initial Comments at Jeff's blog, here reproduced with typos and points amended for clarity:
"jeff -- maybe Desi's constant stance that the leading newspaper's GEIC post should not be filled by someone with one foot in Malaysia and the other in Australia?
I've several times said why this wong sulong guy's position at The Star is "untenable" -- to newcomers, here's gist in a summary:
*As in Dr Ng Yen Yen's case when she was sworn in as Senator then still a Permanent Resident of Australia, it raises the question of split loyalties; so also with the current The Star's GEIC.
* Holders of positions of high national office, with great political influence and reach -- for better or worse -- msut surely owe complete loyalty to the nation where he/she serves, and like a Minister/Deputy Minister, surely a group editor-in-chief ranks equally in power and influence and reach, does it not?
Ah, maybe the powerfool one thinks this scribe is mong the "poison-pen" distributors -- then tell me in the face.
I have only one Resolution for 2006: Expose the truly "ugly" ones among the 4th estate.
Posted by: desiderata at December 29, 2005 11:54 AM
Desi added the following in response to a comment by one WilliamL under "kinder to politikus?":
"williamL -- well said.
Just add: The Star under Wong's helm defaulted or committed sins of OMISSION:
* kept silent on APs lists being publicised UNTIL the Prime Minister had directed that the lists be made public, and a Star columnist went to town expressing 110% support as if it had taken a "fantatsic" stand, when the said stand had been overly stated by NGOs, Opposition parties and public-minded individuals among us, discerning and concerned citizens.
* Played up Ling Hee Leong's credentials,in the runup to the MCA Youth elections recently. NEVER did The Star question once his loans amounting to RM1.2billion to take over at least four public listed companies in 1997/98 -- in fact, Ling Hee Leong even boasted about his Eat, Drink and Be Merry motto, making what blatantly is a negative trait into something positive, with the help of a compliant press like the Star who plays dumb as if it does NOT know any of Ling Jr's past!
Dear God, for Our Country's sake, save us from such young and instant millionaires and billionaires now leading the nation's youth --- up the Garden path?
I'm heading to the bank for a RM10,000 to expand my business -- how many types of forms do I need, WilliamL?
Millionaires don't need to service their loans, but mortals like you, WilliamL, and me, will get a lawyer's letter if we failed to pay 3 instalments on a car or housing loan of RM30,000 or RM80,000 respectively. I'm speaking from PERSONAL experience...
Another banking bailout in 2-3 years' time? Have fun, Eat Drink & Be Married, to the Banks!
Posted by: desiderata at December 30, 2005 09:07 AM"
DESIDERATA: This is my INITIAL post to be uploaded at 2.20pm. I will study some relevant archived items at Jeff's and my own place and UPDATE with some relevant arguments to show how Wong's position at THE STAR as GEIC is not tenable; also the OMISSIONS by the paper in discharging its duties and roles of a responsible member of the Fourth Estate.
Meanwhile, my esteemed readers are ebncouarged and welcome to send me your views, which to me are of utmost importance in steering our media - mainly print English ones referred too here -- back to a more "Malaysia-Our Country"-caring course.
I am a wanderer like you!
Last night, i was kept awake by previous day's "concerns" ...and at such moments, the mind wanders.
Always, Max Ehrmann's poem WANDERERS comes to mind.
A clear, cool night. I have been reading,
but the thoughts of man do not solace me.
I raised the curtain and looked at the moon,
clear and silvery; and I brushed
some of the unrest out of my mind.
I know all the theories of the moon.
There have been times when the symbols
of science have robbed me of some of its
mysteryu and charm.
But no one can explain the moon any
more than a grasshopper can explain me.
In youth, the moon promised too much.
But now I undersatnd better; that was not
the moon's fault.
Also the moon and I have this in common:
we both are wanderers across the night.
Wandering is an enjoyable escapade that one can afford, best done in the steal of the night! because you don't have to "disturb" another "human being". Tt's about the only adventure a "muddled"/ "muddied" mind can embark on anytime to clear the mind. You wander back to childhood, that maiden kiss, wedded bliss, adult sorrows, life's myriad lessons, and
still
one wonders
what's this life all about?
At year's end, I have only one Prayer to my Maker for 2006:
"Give me and all my dear friends time to continue to
wander the lanscape of the earth, moon and the stars.
More importantly give us time
To wander among the alleyways of the lost
the busy streets of passersby
and the highways of business people
to be able to find a few more
fRiends
among
fellow travellers,
fallin in love
mayhaps
with some wayward
wondering
souls?"
So to the luvly people who crossed my path over at Blogsworld,
I express this hope: We'll try to wander about, meet up sometimes, like long lost friends.
To mGf Young&Articulate, I end with a light hearted pulling of
one Y&A's leg a second time - for having gone MIA
for a fool one week!
"*A UNC student was infatuated with a freshman, but was
so timid he never had the courage to speak to her. In fact,
he even told his therapist that every time he got near her
he felt like he was unimportant. He said that he felt as
insignificant as a tiny pebble.
"Well," his therapist responded, "If you want to get the girl
you'll just have to be a little boulder!"******"
On one such wandering, I saw two of my blogger friends expressing the inclination towards James Blunt's You're Beautiful and I thought, Fools Seldom Defer!
Yes, Human beings are so alike
We seek happiness
We long for Beauty among Friends
Perhaps SomeOne Special
In the form of another Being
The Male for a Female
and Vice Versa
May you find that SomeOne Special
If not in 2006, then the following year
Maybe even still questing
forever and a day
The important thing is mGf: You try
and not give up and sigh
Wondering why.
You can only wander into
the depths of the night
But never hold back on the promise
Of finding that common beating
of life's symphony
in another human heart
Always, Max Ehrmann's poem WANDERERS comes to mind.
A clear, cool night. I have been reading,
but the thoughts of man do not solace me.
I raised the curtain and looked at the moon,
clear and silvery; and I brushed
some of the unrest out of my mind.
I know all the theories of the moon.
There have been times when the symbols
of science have robbed me of some of its
mysteryu and charm.
But no one can explain the moon any
more than a grasshopper can explain me.
In youth, the moon promised too much.
But now I undersatnd better; that was not
the moon's fault.
Also the moon and I have this in common:
we both are wanderers across the night.
Wandering is an enjoyable escapade that one can afford, best done in the steal of the night! because you don't have to "disturb" another "human being". Tt's about the only adventure a "muddled"/ "muddied" mind can embark on anytime to clear the mind. You wander back to childhood, that maiden kiss, wedded bliss, adult sorrows, life's myriad lessons, and
still
one wonders
what's this life all about?
At year's end, I have only one Prayer to my Maker for 2006:
"Give me and all my dear friends time to continue to
wander the lanscape of the earth, moon and the stars.
More importantly give us time
To wander among the alleyways of the lost
the busy streets of passersby
and the highways of business people
to be able to find a few more
fRiends
among
fellow travellers,
fallin in love
mayhaps
with some wayward
wondering
souls?"
So to the luvly people who crossed my path over at Blogsworld,
I express this hope: We'll try to wander about, meet up sometimes, like long lost friends.
To mGf Young&Articulate, I end with a light hearted pulling of
one Y&A's leg a second time - for having gone MIA
for a fool one week!
"*A UNC student was infatuated with a freshman, but was
so timid he never had the courage to speak to her. In fact,
he even told his therapist that every time he got near her
he felt like he was unimportant. He said that he felt as
insignificant as a tiny pebble.
"Well," his therapist responded, "If you want to get the girl
you'll just have to be a little boulder!"******"
On one such wandering, I saw two of my blogger friends expressing the inclination towards James Blunt's You're Beautiful and I thought, Fools Seldom Defer!
Yes, Human beings are so alike
We seek happiness
We long for Beauty among Friends
Perhaps SomeOne Special
In the form of another Being
The Male for a Female
and Vice Versa
May you find that SomeOne Special
If not in 2006, then the following year
Maybe even still questing
forever and a day
The important thing is mGf: You try
and not give up and sigh
Wondering why.
You can only wander into
the depths of the night
But never hold back on the promise
Of finding that common beating
of life's symphony
in another human heart
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Playing Thomas ... Doubting or Saint
This morning I woke up to a cloudy day, and soon the rains came -- perhaps to wash away all the sins of the earth committed by its two-legged inhabitants. Or perhaps the plants need H2O urgently to survive, and also quench the ASingaporeans praying always for rain so that their water supply never runs dry.
Whatever, water in the right quantity and the right time and in the right hands serves a benevolent function -- H2O gives LIFE.
So also with another thing humans call MONEY. BTW -- so Desi has mastered some blogging shorts, By The Way, some people add an "ass" after "y", I don't know why ...
Thou shalt not ask...
As I was saying before I was rudely intercepted (not you-lah,my ER, 'tis the waiter at the BF table, not CON-one!), 'Water' in Chinese/Kantonis sounds thus "sui", similar to the word for 'Money'.
In the right hands, Money -- like water -- is a creator, in the wrong hands, it is a destroyer.
Playing Thomas today, this scribe is still absorbed in his 'ollywood script, hence he won't hold opinions of the "nuggets" this AM, only questions. I believe my ER have exquisite minds after all thhe lavish food and entertainment most of them beget this Yuletide.
I am going against the grain of my less than esteemed nation's leaders' advice -- Yours is not to question why.
You have voted us into power, Let's do the job -- Have faith in our ability to govern.
Q: YEAH?
Let me give you three doses of woe on this dour and dark WedNURSEday morn~~~
from the New Straits Times, Dec 27, 2005:
Mental health tests for workers
PUTRAJAYA, Mon: Starting next year, workers in the public and private sectors will have to undergo psychiatric tests at least once a year.
They must also take blood and urine tests. "Whether they like it or not, they need to take the tests," Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar said today.
He said officials of his ministry would help employers and heads of government departments conduct the tests.
Rahman said the psychiatric tests would identity workers suffering from depression or "burnout", which could affect their productivity and state of mind.
The move, he added, would help enhance professionalism and services in both sectors.
He told the New Straits Times that those who had undergone the tests would be issued a health card.
"With the card, their employers will know what to do in cases where employees need help, like referring them to doctors and specialists for observation or treatment.
"It is vital that employers and heads of department do not take for granted the health of their workers by merely looking at their physical condition.
"From blood and urine tests, we will know the number of workers suffering from mental disorders, HIV/ AIDS, drug and alcohol addiction, and other ailments."
Rahman said safety and health committees must be formed at all workplaces to ensure the tests were conducted properly.
Employers who fail to abide by the requirement may be charged under the Employment Act 1955, which carries a fine of RM50,000 or two years’ jail, or both.
Yeah Question:
Does the Minister know whether the country have enough doctors to serve the people adequately? From the statitsitcs that had been quoted by Ministry officials to date, the country's doctors-to-people ratio is far, far below par comapred with other countries.
So now where is Malaysia going to get the psychiatrists required? As it is, there are so few in numbers to perform even basic duties, what more the function of doing annual testings? Yeah, I hear some murmurings of Timbuktwo...
From The Star, frontpage today:
Protion sells stake
in Agusta for one euro
PETALING JAYA: Proton Holdings has sold its 57.7% stake
in MV Agusta SpA, an Italian motorcycle manufacturer,
for one euro (RM4.48).
The national car company announced to Bursa Malaysia yesterday that
it had entered into an agreement to sell the Agusta stake to Gevi SpA.
An Italian investment holding company, Gevi, will assume
Agusta’s “restructured frozen debts”, which amounted to
106.9mil euro (RM478mil). Agusta is mainly known for its racing motorcycles.
The sale of Agusta will not have any effect on
Proton’s earnings this year as the latter had earlier completely written
off the investment.
Proton paid 70mil euro (RM313mil) for the Agusta stake in December 2004.
The disposal will free Proton from having to manage Agusta and
enable the management to focus on the manufacture and marketing of cars.
Proton said in its announcement that he sale was consistent with
its direction of divesting non-core assets.
Yeah Q:After one year, the Proton management suddenlt wakes up and realises the FACT that "manufacture of motor-cycles" is NOT a core business?
RM313million lesson to teach you that?
Yeah, I haer some undergraduates murmuring that the issue here is NOT whether motorcycle fits in with car-manufacturing but whether due diligence was properly carried out before Proton ventured into the investment, or it smelt like someone has taken our national car maker for a quick and expensive ride!
And lastly, also lustily, a Foreign Minister has found time to oversee a "fracas", assuring Malaysian citizens it's a "one-off" incident. Dammmmn Soooo Ass-ssssuring!
From The Star, page 16:
Fracas at MAYC a one-off incident
PUTRAJAYA: The fracas at the Malaysian Association of Youth Councils (MAYC) general assembly was a one-off incident and has not prevented it from carrying out its “transition plans”, said president Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
He also denied the existence of rival camps in the association, saying that the incident was perpetrated by “two or three unhappy people who came to the meeting with the intention of wanting to pressure me to stop the meeting”.
It was reported the fracas at the MAYC meeting was a result of a power struggle between two factions vying to control the body, which is the country’s umbrella youth organisation.
Chairs were broken and fistfights broke out when one faction tried to suspend the meeting on Sunday after their nominations for the body’s national office-bearers were declared null and void.
Syed Hamid said the small group of people who had caused the fracas were no longer MAYC members as they had surpassed the 50-year age limit. He said they had come to the meeting with plans to adjourn it.
“When that failed, they resorted to Plan B, which was to create chaos,” he said yesterday.
He said it was important for the MAYC to leave the incident behind and move forward with its agenda for a takeover.
“I am pleased the incident did not affect the almost 400 members who clearly wanted the meeting to continue,” he said.
“In fact, the fracas took place for only five minutes or so and after that, the situation returned to normal. The rest stayed on and the meeting went on smoothly till the end, including the elections.
“Several representatives who spoke during the general assembly had expressed shame over the incident, saying this was certainly not the culture of youth groups and they hope this will not recur and tarnish the image of MAYC.”
Syed Hamid, who is Foreign Minister, has been MAYC president since 2000. He was returned unopposed in the Sunday elections while Ahmad Zaini Jaafar was elected deputy president. Nine new faces were elected to the 15-member MAYC central committee.
Yeah Q: How does a Foreign Minister find time to "preside" over a Youth Organisation?
Is "he" still under the age of 50? Oh, I hear some of my ER murmur: for cabibet members, some rukles don't apply!
Final Yeah Q: Does Pak Lah does where his priorities -- and those of his teamsters -- lie?
Okay, one LUST Yeah Q for old times' sake, since 2005 is running out:
Or shalt we unquestioning Malaysians continue with LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE?
Whatever, water in the right quantity and the right time and in the right hands serves a benevolent function -- H2O gives LIFE.
So also with another thing humans call MONEY. BTW -- so Desi has mastered some blogging shorts, By The Way, some people add an "ass" after "y", I don't know why ...
Thou shalt not ask...
As I was saying before I was rudely intercepted (not you-lah,my ER, 'tis the waiter at the BF table, not CON-one!), 'Water' in Chinese/Kantonis sounds thus "sui", similar to the word for 'Money'.
In the right hands, Money -- like water -- is a creator, in the wrong hands, it is a destroyer.
Playing Thomas today, this scribe is still absorbed in his 'ollywood script, hence he won't hold opinions of the "nuggets" this AM, only questions. I believe my ER have exquisite minds after all thhe lavish food and entertainment most of them beget this Yuletide.
I am going against the grain of my less than esteemed nation's leaders' advice -- Yours is not to question why.
You have voted us into power, Let's do the job -- Have faith in our ability to govern.
Q: YEAH?
Let me give you three doses of woe on this dour and dark WedNURSEday morn~~~
from the New Straits Times, Dec 27, 2005:
Mental health tests for workers
PUTRAJAYA, Mon: Starting next year, workers in the public and private sectors will have to undergo psychiatric tests at least once a year.
They must also take blood and urine tests. "Whether they like it or not, they need to take the tests," Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar said today.
He said officials of his ministry would help employers and heads of government departments conduct the tests.
Rahman said the psychiatric tests would identity workers suffering from depression or "burnout", which could affect their productivity and state of mind.
The move, he added, would help enhance professionalism and services in both sectors.
He told the New Straits Times that those who had undergone the tests would be issued a health card.
"With the card, their employers will know what to do in cases where employees need help, like referring them to doctors and specialists for observation or treatment.
"It is vital that employers and heads of department do not take for granted the health of their workers by merely looking at their physical condition.
"From blood and urine tests, we will know the number of workers suffering from mental disorders, HIV/ AIDS, drug and alcohol addiction, and other ailments."
Rahman said safety and health committees must be formed at all workplaces to ensure the tests were conducted properly.
Employers who fail to abide by the requirement may be charged under the Employment Act 1955, which carries a fine of RM50,000 or two years’ jail, or both.
Yeah Question:
Does the Minister know whether the country have enough doctors to serve the people adequately? From the statitsitcs that had been quoted by Ministry officials to date, the country's doctors-to-people ratio is far, far below par comapred with other countries.
So now where is Malaysia going to get the psychiatrists required? As it is, there are so few in numbers to perform even basic duties, what more the function of doing annual testings? Yeah, I hear some murmurings of Timbuktwo...
From The Star, frontpage today:
Protion sells stake
in Agusta for one euro
PETALING JAYA: Proton Holdings has sold its 57.7% stake
in MV Agusta SpA, an Italian motorcycle manufacturer,
for one euro (RM4.48).
The national car company announced to Bursa Malaysia yesterday that
it had entered into an agreement to sell the Agusta stake to Gevi SpA.
An Italian investment holding company, Gevi, will assume
Agusta’s “restructured frozen debts”, which amounted to
106.9mil euro (RM478mil). Agusta is mainly known for its racing motorcycles.
The sale of Agusta will not have any effect on
Proton’s earnings this year as the latter had earlier completely written
off the investment.
Proton paid 70mil euro (RM313mil) for the Agusta stake in December 2004.
The disposal will free Proton from having to manage Agusta and
enable the management to focus on the manufacture and marketing of cars.
Proton said in its announcement that he sale was consistent with
its direction of divesting non-core assets.
Yeah Q:After one year, the Proton management suddenlt wakes up and realises the FACT that "manufacture of motor-cycles" is NOT a core business?
RM313million lesson to teach you that?
Yeah, I haer some undergraduates murmuring that the issue here is NOT whether motorcycle fits in with car-manufacturing but whether due diligence was properly carried out before Proton ventured into the investment, or it smelt like someone has taken our national car maker for a quick and expensive ride!
And lastly, also lustily, a Foreign Minister has found time to oversee a "fracas", assuring Malaysian citizens it's a "one-off" incident. Dammmmn Soooo Ass-ssssuring!
From The Star, page 16:
Fracas at MAYC a one-off incident
PUTRAJAYA: The fracas at the Malaysian Association of Youth Councils (MAYC) general assembly was a one-off incident and has not prevented it from carrying out its “transition plans”, said president Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
He also denied the existence of rival camps in the association, saying that the incident was perpetrated by “two or three unhappy people who came to the meeting with the intention of wanting to pressure me to stop the meeting”.
It was reported the fracas at the MAYC meeting was a result of a power struggle between two factions vying to control the body, which is the country’s umbrella youth organisation.
Chairs were broken and fistfights broke out when one faction tried to suspend the meeting on Sunday after their nominations for the body’s national office-bearers were declared null and void.
Syed Hamid said the small group of people who had caused the fracas were no longer MAYC members as they had surpassed the 50-year age limit. He said they had come to the meeting with plans to adjourn it.
“When that failed, they resorted to Plan B, which was to create chaos,” he said yesterday.
He said it was important for the MAYC to leave the incident behind and move forward with its agenda for a takeover.
“I am pleased the incident did not affect the almost 400 members who clearly wanted the meeting to continue,” he said.
“In fact, the fracas took place for only five minutes or so and after that, the situation returned to normal. The rest stayed on and the meeting went on smoothly till the end, including the elections.
“Several representatives who spoke during the general assembly had expressed shame over the incident, saying this was certainly not the culture of youth groups and they hope this will not recur and tarnish the image of MAYC.”
Syed Hamid, who is Foreign Minister, has been MAYC president since 2000. He was returned unopposed in the Sunday elections while Ahmad Zaini Jaafar was elected deputy president. Nine new faces were elected to the 15-member MAYC central committee.
Yeah Q: How does a Foreign Minister find time to "preside" over a Youth Organisation?
Is "he" still under the age of 50? Oh, I hear some of my ER murmur: for cabibet members, some rukles don't apply!
Final Yeah Q: Does Pak Lah does where his priorities -- and those of his teamsters -- lie?
Okay, one LUST Yeah Q for old times' sake, since 2005 is running out:
Or shalt we unquestioning Malaysians continue with LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE?
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Sore throat? Drink more ... Ho-ho-horlciks? No-lah...
one mGf says she's cutting down on tehtarik as she gets migraine...
So Desi can down more cuppas of Haridas's tehtarik -- one lady's loss is another man's gain.
I'm sure many mGf, after all the Eating during this Yuletide -- chocs, cheese-cakess, turkey, chics -- some of you do get a Sorethroat, yes?
What's the cure?
Here's some advice:
According to a news report from dpa, out of sweet, fragrant:
COLOGNE: People suffering from sore throats
should drink as much as possssible, say experts in Germany.
Doing so moistens the mucous membrane and keeps cold viruses
from multiplyting, according to the magazine Medicine Today
(Medizin Heute), published by
Cologne doctors' organisations.
Especially useful are herbal teas or hot lemon juice.
Aside from drinking, other good household cures include gragling
with salt water, or charmomile or sage tea.
If the pain lasts for more than three days, a doctor's visit is
recommended. - dpa
DESIDERATA: Now that I've fgiven thee a recipe, where's my Damned
Hollywood Creeps? I mean S-c-r-i-p-t. I was thinking so hard
with the deadline approaching, I'm beginning to have a migraine.
Das, can I have a teh S-A-G-E...?
What doe that do to me, I wonder.
So Desi can down more cuppas of Haridas's tehtarik -- one lady's loss is another man's gain.
I'm sure many mGf, after all the Eating during this Yuletide -- chocs, cheese-cakess, turkey, chics -- some of you do get a Sorethroat, yes?
What's the cure?
Here's some advice:
According to a news report from dpa, out of sweet, fragrant:
COLOGNE: People suffering from sore throats
should drink as much as possssible, say experts in Germany.
Doing so moistens the mucous membrane and keeps cold viruses
from multiplyting, according to the magazine Medicine Today
(Medizin Heute), published by
Cologne doctors' organisations.
Especially useful are herbal teas or hot lemon juice.
Aside from drinking, other good household cures include gragling
with salt water, or charmomile or sage tea.
If the pain lasts for more than three days, a doctor's visit is
recommended. - dpa
DESIDERATA: Now that I've fgiven thee a recipe, where's my Damned
Hollywood Creeps? I mean S-c-r-i-p-t. I was thinking so hard
with the deadline approaching, I'm beginning to have a migraine.
Das, can I have a teh S-A-G-E...?
What doe that do to me, I wonder.
Wanna Join The Magnificent SE7EN?
This Scribe has expressed aloud his ambition to Write for Hollywood, or Bollywood, or Gollywood, whichever comes first. So the Christmas break provided a relaxing sojourn to the vast wonderland of the mind -- helped by the visual medium of movie and great film-director and producer.
I surfed the Net for a generous soul to give me a sample of a script of a good movie, but all I could get hold of after three days of riding the high plains and deep lowlands of cowboy country and city junglescape were synopses and movie reviews. The Graduate, High Noon, Gone With The Wind --- but no script.
I have bnow a story outline.
I have now a willing spirit.
But NO SCRIPT to model on.
No, Shakespearen or other playwrights' scripts are not "it".
So in the light of this being a season of goodwill and charity, Desi prays:
Somewhere out there is a Soul and Spirit converging with Desi's present journey aimed ta breaking Peter Jackson's monopoly on the big screen, okay-lah, settle for breaking Zhang Yimou's rice-bowl will do! -- please "borrow" me a film-script for the next 30 days to help a traveller along, can?
A Bribe: Barrels of Haridas' tehtarik before the H2O runs out in FuRong -- it always nearly does come Chinese New Year because all the folks come back from the boondocks or D'Jungle, eating like starved pigs as if there is no more New Year after 2006....
But was I plesantly surprised to spy a familiar name as I googled and found a Film Review by Daniel Chan.
I don't know if this was the same Daniel who more than ably conducted ScreenAsia's Writing for Hollywood one-day workshop downtown Big, Bad Wolfish Koala Lumpur which I attended a couple of months ago.
I "reprise" his review so that some of mGf will see some magic of the celluloid medium and moved to respond to gift Desi a piece of Yul Brynner's action. Also, now you understand why this writer's fave number is SE7EN.
ENJOY Daniel Chan's offering. (I hope he does not "court" me for CopyLeft infringements. Wella, I take my bet from one artiste's Christmas charity to anyother artiste; also it's the Season to be ...Knotty, so spring that lasso, mGf!
MOVIES: The magnificent sevens
by Daniel Chan
Dec 21:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAPPINESS is browsing at the friendly neighbourhood video store and coming across a new release of an old movie you first enjoyed decades ago but have not been able to watch it again since.
That was certainly the case for this writer earlier this month when paying RM16.90 for a VCD of 1966’s Return Of The Seven, the first of the three sequels to 1960’s unforgettable The Magnificent Seven (which was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 film Seven Samurai).
In Return Of The Seven, Russian-born Yul Brynner was the only one from the original cast to be back, reprising as gunfighter Chris Adams who again has to round-up a team to help protect the same Mexican peasant village from another gang of marauding bandits.
If you recall, only three of the original seven hired guns survived at the end of The Magnificent Seven, the other two being Chris’ sidekick Vin (Steve McQueen) and Chico (German-born Horst Buchholz).
In Press interviews at the time of the release of Return Of The Seven, Brynner said he tried persuading McQueen to return as Vin but McQueen wasn’t interested (and was busy with 1966’s The Sand Pebbles which garnered McQueen his sole Oscar nod for Best Actor).
Too bad as a Brynner-McQueen reteaming would have energised Return Of The Seven, directed by Burt Kennedy, which has its exciting moments but simply cannot match the majesty and retrospective star-power of The Magnificent Seven (directed by John Sturges).
Brynner was at the time the only big name star in The Magnificent Seven which served as a springboard to stardom for McQueen, Buchholz, also Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Robert Vaughn, while Brad Dexter was the only one who failed to hit the big time.
And compared to the three sequels, Brynner’s first six co-stars in the 1960 original all enjoyed much more in-depth characterisation, with McQueen a scene-stealer through his subtle antics (which apparently angered Brynner at times), Buchholz amazingly believable as a spunky Mexican (a role which McQueen actually coveted but did not get), Bronson the strong silent type whom the Mexican peasant children find the most approachable, Coburn the deadly knife-thrower, Vaughn a much-feared gunslinger who unknown to the others has lost his nerves, and Dexter who joined up with the belief that there was gold to be found. Of course, Brynner stands out as the cool, calm and commanding leader of the pack.
Return Of The Seven had Robert Fuller playing Vin, and Spanish-born Julian Mateos as Chico, and both lacked the charisma of McQueen and Buchholz, while rounding off the second team were Warren Oates (meant as the equivalent to Coburn), Claude Akins (physically remindful of Bronson), Jordan Christopher, and Portuguese-born Virgilio Teixeira.
One nice bit of continuity was that Chico has since married village girl Petra, with Spanish-born Elisa Montes in the role (in the 1960 film, Petra was played by Mexican-born Rosenda Monteros).
And just like what happened in The Magnificent Seven, not all members of the new team in Return Of The Seven survive the final shootout, although one senses that Chris, Vin and Chico will not die.
The local video release of Return Of The Seven surely gives hope that soon there will be VCDs of the other two sequels, 1969’s Guns Of The Magnificent Seven, and 1972’s The Magnificent Seven Ride!
Guns Of The Magnificent Seven, directed by Paul Wendkos, was the second best of the four films in the series, and had Chris (now played by George Kennedy) leading an entirely new team to free a Mexican revolutionary from a fortress, and there was fairly good casting of the new members, comprising Monte Markham, veteran James Whitmore, Joe Don Baker, newcomer Scott Thomas, Hispanic-American Reni Santoni, and African-American Bernie Casey.
The Magnificent Seven Ride! directed by George McCowan, had newly-married Chris (played by Lee Van Cleef) now a US marshall and when his bride (Mariette Hartley) is kidnapped by bandits, he goes to her rescue by recruiting a new team comprising Mexican-born Pedro Armendariz Jr, Ralph Waite, Michael Callan, Luke Askew, Ed Lauter, and William Lucking. But this fourth outing was disappointing, and perhaps why this film franchise ended - and 26 years would pass before it was resusticated as a (shortlived) TV series.
Although all three sequels were several notches below the 1960 original, the wonderful thing was that the sequels retain the terrific 1960 Oscar-
nominated musical score by Elmer Bernstein.
DESIDERATA: YOu want membership among The Magnificent SE7EN?
Beg, steal or borrow "me" a movie script, in Chinoserie also can.
I surfed the Net for a generous soul to give me a sample of a script of a good movie, but all I could get hold of after three days of riding the high plains and deep lowlands of cowboy country and city junglescape were synopses and movie reviews. The Graduate, High Noon, Gone With The Wind --- but no script.
I have bnow a story outline.
I have now a willing spirit.
But NO SCRIPT to model on.
No, Shakespearen or other playwrights' scripts are not "it".
So in the light of this being a season of goodwill and charity, Desi prays:
Somewhere out there is a Soul and Spirit converging with Desi's present journey aimed ta breaking Peter Jackson's monopoly on the big screen, okay-lah, settle for breaking Zhang Yimou's rice-bowl will do! -- please "borrow" me a film-script for the next 30 days to help a traveller along, can?
A Bribe: Barrels of Haridas' tehtarik before the H2O runs out in FuRong -- it always nearly does come Chinese New Year because all the folks come back from the boondocks or D'Jungle, eating like starved pigs as if there is no more New Year after 2006....
But was I plesantly surprised to spy a familiar name as I googled and found a Film Review by Daniel Chan.
I don't know if this was the same Daniel who more than ably conducted ScreenAsia's Writing for Hollywood one-day workshop downtown Big, Bad Wolfish Koala Lumpur which I attended a couple of months ago.
I "reprise" his review so that some of mGf will see some magic of the celluloid medium and moved to respond to gift Desi a piece of Yul Brynner's action. Also, now you understand why this writer's fave number is SE7EN.
ENJOY Daniel Chan's offering. (I hope he does not "court" me for CopyLeft infringements. Wella, I take my bet from one artiste's Christmas charity to anyother artiste; also it's the Season to be ...Knotty, so spring that lasso, mGf!
MOVIES: The magnificent sevens
by Daniel Chan
Dec 21:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAPPINESS is browsing at the friendly neighbourhood video store and coming across a new release of an old movie you first enjoyed decades ago but have not been able to watch it again since.
That was certainly the case for this writer earlier this month when paying RM16.90 for a VCD of 1966’s Return Of The Seven, the first of the three sequels to 1960’s unforgettable The Magnificent Seven (which was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 film Seven Samurai).
In Return Of The Seven, Russian-born Yul Brynner was the only one from the original cast to be back, reprising as gunfighter Chris Adams who again has to round-up a team to help protect the same Mexican peasant village from another gang of marauding bandits.
If you recall, only three of the original seven hired guns survived at the end of The Magnificent Seven, the other two being Chris’ sidekick Vin (Steve McQueen) and Chico (German-born Horst Buchholz).
In Press interviews at the time of the release of Return Of The Seven, Brynner said he tried persuading McQueen to return as Vin but McQueen wasn’t interested (and was busy with 1966’s The Sand Pebbles which garnered McQueen his sole Oscar nod for Best Actor).
Too bad as a Brynner-McQueen reteaming would have energised Return Of The Seven, directed by Burt Kennedy, which has its exciting moments but simply cannot match the majesty and retrospective star-power of The Magnificent Seven (directed by John Sturges).
Brynner was at the time the only big name star in The Magnificent Seven which served as a springboard to stardom for McQueen, Buchholz, also Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Robert Vaughn, while Brad Dexter was the only one who failed to hit the big time.
And compared to the three sequels, Brynner’s first six co-stars in the 1960 original all enjoyed much more in-depth characterisation, with McQueen a scene-stealer through his subtle antics (which apparently angered Brynner at times), Buchholz amazingly believable as a spunky Mexican (a role which McQueen actually coveted but did not get), Bronson the strong silent type whom the Mexican peasant children find the most approachable, Coburn the deadly knife-thrower, Vaughn a much-feared gunslinger who unknown to the others has lost his nerves, and Dexter who joined up with the belief that there was gold to be found. Of course, Brynner stands out as the cool, calm and commanding leader of the pack.
Return Of The Seven had Robert Fuller playing Vin, and Spanish-born Julian Mateos as Chico, and both lacked the charisma of McQueen and Buchholz, while rounding off the second team were Warren Oates (meant as the equivalent to Coburn), Claude Akins (physically remindful of Bronson), Jordan Christopher, and Portuguese-born Virgilio Teixeira.
One nice bit of continuity was that Chico has since married village girl Petra, with Spanish-born Elisa Montes in the role (in the 1960 film, Petra was played by Mexican-born Rosenda Monteros).
And just like what happened in The Magnificent Seven, not all members of the new team in Return Of The Seven survive the final shootout, although one senses that Chris, Vin and Chico will not die.
The local video release of Return Of The Seven surely gives hope that soon there will be VCDs of the other two sequels, 1969’s Guns Of The Magnificent Seven, and 1972’s The Magnificent Seven Ride!
Guns Of The Magnificent Seven, directed by Paul Wendkos, was the second best of the four films in the series, and had Chris (now played by George Kennedy) leading an entirely new team to free a Mexican revolutionary from a fortress, and there was fairly good casting of the new members, comprising Monte Markham, veteran James Whitmore, Joe Don Baker, newcomer Scott Thomas, Hispanic-American Reni Santoni, and African-American Bernie Casey.
The Magnificent Seven Ride! directed by George McCowan, had newly-married Chris (played by Lee Van Cleef) now a US marshall and when his bride (Mariette Hartley) is kidnapped by bandits, he goes to her rescue by recruiting a new team comprising Mexican-born Pedro Armendariz Jr, Ralph Waite, Michael Callan, Luke Askew, Ed Lauter, and William Lucking. But this fourth outing was disappointing, and perhaps why this film franchise ended - and 26 years would pass before it was resusticated as a (shortlived) TV series.
Although all three sequels were several notches below the 1960 original, the wonderful thing was that the sequels retain the terrific 1960 Oscar-
nominated musical score by Elmer Bernstein.
DESIDERATA: YOu want membership among The Magnificent SE7EN?
Beg, steal or borrow "me" a movie script, in Chinoserie also can.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Sharing on Spirit and Soul (2)
Desi is humbled and grateful to EsteemedReaders who find the time to share their knowledge so that others are enlightened on the subject.
GUEST BLOGGER JOE PNG
arrived at Desi's Place only recently, but I am happy he has made himself quite comfortably, perhaps because the mere Aroma of Haridas' Nasi Lemak and my offer of free-flowing, addictive tehtarik, plus susu lembu when inclined as we over-chat, especially lambasting one Minister or two, "JPsc" also is committed to preaching PEACE and GOODWILL, so vital in this era of strife and uncertainty.
Joe assures his JP is the Real One, so readers have no doubt he's writing in all fairness and concern for all brothers and sisters of the humankind. By the way, JPsc hails from across the Crossway -- hence Let's Welcome Him with the Besta of Our Gifts -- Pure, Clean and Spirited H2O!
***~~~~Mr Coww is right - Soul and Spirit are two different entities, from both the psychological and theological (religious) points of view.
Let me first make a few quotes hopefully to make understanding a little easier :
"Our FLESH is the BODY of the SOUL and the SOUL is the vessel of the SPIRIT."
The BODY we may term the sense-consciousness;
The SOUL the self-conciousness (including the mind) and
The SPIRIT the God-consciousness
Our Body (or Flesh) and Soul are recognized as a "dualism" and their values are contrasted, as in the statement: "Fear ye not them that kill the body....but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Another Quote:
"If there be a life after death, clearly the agent or subject of our vital activities must be capable of an existence separate from the body. The belief in an animating principle in some sense distinct from the body is an almost inevitable inference from the observed facts of life. Even uncivilized peoples arrive at the concept of the soul almost without reflection, certainly without any severe mental effort. The mysteries of birth and death, the lapse of conscious life during sleep and in swooning, even the commonest operations of imagination and memory, which abstract a man from his bodily presence even while awake - all such facts invincibly suggest the existence of something besides the visible organism, internal to it, but to a large extent independent of it, and leading a life of its own. In the rude psychology of the primitive nations, the soul is often represented as actually migrating to and fro during dreams and trances, and after death haunting the neighbourhood of its body. Nearly always it is figured as something extremely volatile, a perfume or a breath."
So, what is the SOUL ?
It may be defined as "the ultimate internal principle by which we think, feel, and will (the CONSCIOUS state of our MIND) as well as the VEGETATIVE activities (the UNCONSCIOUS state of our MIND), and by which our bodies are animated."
It's an ethereal and immortal entity, God given, that gives awareness or conciousness to the self. The very moment a woman conceives, means God has given a Soul to the foetus - it has a life of its own. That is why, Catholic Church and some others are against abortion.
Now, about the SPIRIT:
Refer the earlier quote from Tertullian, an early Church Father :
"Our FLESH is the BODY of the SOUL and the SOUL is the vessel of the SPIRIT."
In Psychology, the word "Spirit" is used to denote all that belongs to our higher life of reason, art, morality, and religion as CONTRASTED with the life of mere sense-perception and passion.
In theology, the word "Spirit" has various USES:
(1) It signifies sometimes the SOUL of man eg. "the spirit is willing..." ,
(2) Sometimes the supernatural action of God in man,
(3) Sometimes as God The Holy Spirit eg. "the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive.."
Spirit (or spiritus) = breathe
Metaphorically, Spirit means vivacity (liveliness)
[The breath is the most obvious symptom of life, its cessation means the invariable mark of death; invisible and impalpable, it stands for the unseen mysterious force behind the vital processes.]
"SPIRIT" therefore signifies
(1) the 'deepest' part of the "Soul" of man, and only through this "Spirit" can
human beings communicate with GOD;
(2) a living, intelligent, incorporeal being, like the 'Soul' and
(3) a fiery essence or breath (the stoic pneuma) which is supposed to be
the universal vital force.
Note: Angels are spirits who function as intermediaries between God and His servants. They are the 'heralds' who announce His commands, and often too the ministers who execute His justice. They take a benevolent interest in the spiritual good of men, like you and me.
Conclusion:
Soul and Spirit are 2 different entities; Understanding the difference is not easy or straightforward - intellectual understanding, using mental power, is like knowing the letter of the words without the spirit.
But experiencing the difference through the Holy Spirit (that is, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity = A Christian Mystery and Dogma) is the only way to 'fully' understand; sometimes spiritual verities cannot be understood by the natural man, except by spiritual 'revelation'.
Therefore, without the Soul (which means also without the Spirit, because it resides in the deepest part of the Soul) a man is dead. The body may be cremated or buried, but the Soul which is immortal or eternal, goes back to God our Creator (He gives us life in our conception). The Buddhist concept of "conciousness" is a close equivalent of "soul" and "nirvana" is equivalent to "heaven".
Warning: Interpretations can and most likely vary theologically depending on the church's source.
Regards & hope you get the spiritual enlightenment.~~~****
Joe Png
DESIDERATA: Those who give, they will surely, many times over. S-million Thanks to Thee, GIFTER Joe Png, for the sharing. Readers are welcome to address questions and viewpoints -- even differing ones -- to Yan and this friendly neighbour JP.
GUEST BLOGGER JOE PNG
arrived at Desi's Place only recently, but I am happy he has made himself quite comfortably, perhaps because the mere Aroma of Haridas' Nasi Lemak and my offer of free-flowing, addictive tehtarik, plus susu lembu when inclined as we over-chat, especially lambasting one Minister or two, "JPsc" also is committed to preaching PEACE and GOODWILL, so vital in this era of strife and uncertainty.
Joe assures his JP is the Real One, so readers have no doubt he's writing in all fairness and concern for all brothers and sisters of the humankind. By the way, JPsc hails from across the Crossway -- hence Let's Welcome Him with the Besta of Our Gifts -- Pure, Clean and Spirited H2O!
***~~~~Mr Coww is right - Soul and Spirit are two different entities, from both the psychological and theological (religious) points of view.
Let me first make a few quotes hopefully to make understanding a little easier :
"Our FLESH is the BODY of the SOUL and the SOUL is the vessel of the SPIRIT."
The BODY we may term the sense-consciousness;
The SOUL the self-conciousness (including the mind) and
The SPIRIT the God-consciousness
Our Body (or Flesh) and Soul are recognized as a "dualism" and their values are contrasted, as in the statement: "Fear ye not them that kill the body....but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Another Quote:
"If there be a life after death, clearly the agent or subject of our vital activities must be capable of an existence separate from the body. The belief in an animating principle in some sense distinct from the body is an almost inevitable inference from the observed facts of life. Even uncivilized peoples arrive at the concept of the soul almost without reflection, certainly without any severe mental effort. The mysteries of birth and death, the lapse of conscious life during sleep and in swooning, even the commonest operations of imagination and memory, which abstract a man from his bodily presence even while awake - all such facts invincibly suggest the existence of something besides the visible organism, internal to it, but to a large extent independent of it, and leading a life of its own. In the rude psychology of the primitive nations, the soul is often represented as actually migrating to and fro during dreams and trances, and after death haunting the neighbourhood of its body. Nearly always it is figured as something extremely volatile, a perfume or a breath."
So, what is the SOUL ?
It may be defined as "the ultimate internal principle by which we think, feel, and will (the CONSCIOUS state of our MIND) as well as the VEGETATIVE activities (the UNCONSCIOUS state of our MIND), and by which our bodies are animated."
It's an ethereal and immortal entity, God given, that gives awareness or conciousness to the self. The very moment a woman conceives, means God has given a Soul to the foetus - it has a life of its own. That is why, Catholic Church and some others are against abortion.
Now, about the SPIRIT:
Refer the earlier quote from Tertullian, an early Church Father :
"Our FLESH is the BODY of the SOUL and the SOUL is the vessel of the SPIRIT."
In Psychology, the word "Spirit" is used to denote all that belongs to our higher life of reason, art, morality, and religion as CONTRASTED with the life of mere sense-perception and passion.
In theology, the word "Spirit" has various USES:
(1) It signifies sometimes the SOUL of man eg. "the spirit is willing..." ,
(2) Sometimes the supernatural action of God in man,
(3) Sometimes as God The Holy Spirit eg. "the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive.."
Spirit (or spiritus) = breathe
Metaphorically, Spirit means vivacity (liveliness)
[The breath is the most obvious symptom of life, its cessation means the invariable mark of death; invisible and impalpable, it stands for the unseen mysterious force behind the vital processes.]
"SPIRIT" therefore signifies
(1) the 'deepest' part of the "Soul" of man, and only through this "Spirit" can
human beings communicate with GOD;
(2) a living, intelligent, incorporeal being, like the 'Soul' and
(3) a fiery essence or breath (the stoic pneuma) which is supposed to be
the universal vital force.
Note: Angels are spirits who function as intermediaries between God and His servants. They are the 'heralds' who announce His commands, and often too the ministers who execute His justice. They take a benevolent interest in the spiritual good of men, like you and me.
Conclusion:
Soul and Spirit are 2 different entities; Understanding the difference is not easy or straightforward - intellectual understanding, using mental power, is like knowing the letter of the words without the spirit.
But experiencing the difference through the Holy Spirit (that is, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity = A Christian Mystery and Dogma) is the only way to 'fully' understand; sometimes spiritual verities cannot be understood by the natural man, except by spiritual 'revelation'.
Therefore, without the Soul (which means also without the Spirit, because it resides in the deepest part of the Soul) a man is dead. The body may be cremated or buried, but the Soul which is immortal or eternal, goes back to God our Creator (He gives us life in our conception). The Buddhist concept of "conciousness" is a close equivalent of "soul" and "nirvana" is equivalent to "heaven".
Warning: Interpretations can and most likely vary theologically depending on the church's source.
Regards & hope you get the spiritual enlightenment.~~~****
Joe Png
DESIDERATA: Those who give, they will surely, many times over. S-million Thanks to Thee, GIFTER Joe Png, for the sharing. Readers are welcome to address questions and viewpoints -- even differing ones -- to Yan and this friendly neighbour JP.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Sharing on Spirit and Soul
Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.
Kahlil Gibran
L'VELY GUEST BLOGGER YAN
needs no introduction at Desi's Place.
The One with the yen for L'VE
never fails to oblige Desi when he needs
Light
whether from li'l bluetwinkles
or that ray at the end of the tunnel.
So on a Saturday preceding Christmas, the delightful one from yancorner.blogspot.com
sprinkles some Light on Spirit and Soul:
Leviticus – God establishes a pattern of life
Some thoughts by Yan
(based on Bible commentaries and The Maxwell Leadership Bible)
The key to the understanding of man is a building called “the tabernacle”. This building is built to represent man. All the functions of the building are intended to go within man, our body, our human spirit and soul.
The tabernacle was later reproduced in the temple.
That is the reason that throughout the Bible, tabernacle and temple receives such tremendous emphasis.
The building of tabernacle and temple teach man truth of himself – they are built according to the pattern of man.
In the book of Leviticus, we know that God gave Moses specific instructions on how to build the tabernacle. Moses was with God for forty days and nights on the mountain top. All Israel waited at the foot of the mountain. Forty days and nights to give instructions on exact plan for constructing the tabernacle? It shows its extreme importance, if not more important than the Ten Commandments, it is at least at par.
Mosses was very obedient and fulfilled exactly what God instructed.
Now let’s look at the pattern. (Refer to Leviticus 24)
The tabernacle had three divisions. Man has also three divisions.
First, it was the outer court – it is also the body of man. It is the outer court where Gentiles could also come. Like the pattern of man, the body is the part of the body which is in touch of the material universe.
The, the structure of the tabernacle had two divisions, the holy place and the holy of holies. This is the same as the division within us.
The holy place is our soul. The soul is the conscious life, of ideas, of knowledge, of emotions, of choices, of conscience and of memories.
The holy of holies of the tabernacle is hidden behind a veil in a secret area. Just like our spirit. This is the place where all our urges and hungers of life are. This is designed as God’s dwelling place.
There are three major functions of our soul – the mind, the emotions and will. Moses was instructed by God this –
“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning continually.”
Light is a symbol of truth. It is the mind that is designed to give truth.
The light is to be produced by the oil. Oil is a symbol of Holy Spirit. So, truth should be revealed by the Holy Spirit or God.
It is the Holy Spirit that revealed to us who we are, where we are, what’s life I all about etc.
Most of the problems of life are caused by the fact that we do not start with the mind being taught by God to see life as God sees it.
If we do not see things the way as God sees it, if we do not operate our business of family based on this, then everything go awry! Life is out of focus. It is here that we start buying paintings of millions of ringgit for our office to show our status. These are the deepest longings of our soul – the status, the recognition.
In the tabernacle there was a table with twelve freshly baked loaves of bread made of fine bread. What does that symbolize? The twelve loaves are the twelve tribes of Israel, in other words, all the people of God. It is sharing together as a community. This is a body life, bearing one another’s burdens, encouraging, ministering to each other, meeting the needs of others and rejoicing together.
Man is made up three divisions – body, soul, and spirit. Jesus came to this world in human form. Jesus experienced whatever we men experience. God also tested His Son, Jesus Christ on the level of three divisions. You can read it in the book of Matthew. He went into the wilderness as the Son of man and was tested.
Jesus was tested first on the body’s demands. He had not eaten for 40 days and nights, and the temptation came to him: “Change these stones into bread, if you are the Son of God, Preserve your life.” But Jesus did not give in. He chose to walk the will of God. What would you have done if you are offered bread after 40 days of fasting?
Then, he was tested on the level of the soul. He was taken up to the top of the temple and was given the opportunity to reveal Himself, to show what He can do. Such temptation plays upon the urge for status, for show of pride of life. We are constantly under such temptation, isn’t it not? But Jesus proved Himself true to His Father despite such pressure that come to the way.
Finally, he was tempted in the deepest, most essential part of his humanity, the spirit. The spirit is always looking for something to worship. The spirit is craving for someone to follow, something to worship. The Devil came and said to Jesus, “All these kingdoms of the world will be yours if you will fall down and worship me.”
Our Lord’s answer was, “…it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”
I have included this part of the temptation of Jesus to show clearly the three divisions of man – body, soul and spirit.
The passion of the body is self-preservation.
The passion of the soul is self-expression.
The passion of the spirit is to worship.
Amazingly, the book of Leviticus gave guidelines on leadership as noted by John C. Maxwell. I have a copy of the Maxwell Leadership Bible authored by John C. Maxwell. The Maxwell Bible is lessons in Leadership from the Word of God.
In the book of Leviticus, John Maxwell writes,
What characterizes those who choose to pursue life at God’s higher standard?
*They adopt godly values
*They care for the interests of others
*They live with integrity
*They keep their words
*They develop their gifts and potential
*They manage time and money well
*They pass on to others what they have received
*John Maxwell also includes this in the book of Leviticus a column –
Sowing and Reaping: Decisions and Consequences
(Leviticus 26:3-39)
Leadership, like life, is the sum total of the decisions we make.
Every decision has consequences. We decide how we will respond to people. We decide how large to make a budget for promotion and marketing. We decide whom to hire. We decide which values are worth going to the mat for.
Toward the end of Leviticus, God lists the blessings He offers to those who obey Him and the punishment they’ll receive for disobedience. God, the Ultimate Leader, clearly outlines the consequences for His people’s choices.
Leaders who fail to make good decision …
*Lack of commitment
*Suffer from a scattered focus
*Look for excuses
*Forget the big picture
*Go public with private thoughts
*Adopt the motto, “That’s good enough”
*Don’t take God’s direction seriously
*Behave inconsistently
*Create poor relationships
*Avoid change
According to John Maxwell, the Book of Leviticus illustrates the leadership principle and the following applications can be applied –
+A leader must pursue moral purity
+A leader must offer excellent effort and service
+A leader must commit to prioritize relationship
+A leader must request forgiveness when wrong
+A leader must desire to maintain communication/momentum
One lesson that Malaysian leaders can learn from Leviticus is -
Leadership must be driven by values, not public opinion. Character counts!
On Character, John Maxwell has this to say (I quote a few) –
Sound character communicates credibility and consistency
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there
We cannot rise above the limitations of our character.
May this Christmas season be a time for us, the leaders and people, a time of rest, an opportunity for reflection, a time for reward and repair, a time for relationship and a time to refocus.
DESIDERATA:
A note of S-million Terima Kasih to sister Yan, my mentor mostly, my sometimes mentee.
My ER. please address any opinions, or any questions, on Spirit and Soul to Yan; Desi will oblige with tehtarik, tambah manis for Yuletide for Santa is always generous with chocs and cakes. ENJOY!
As midnight draws near today, mGf from Blogsworld, and loved ones, wherever you are, Desi sings with thee a favourite carol.
Yes, I missed carolling with the Boys and Gals, when we were young and gay,
But sweetness is still the night
That comes with a voice and vision
on a Mdinight Clear.
Just listen with your heart --
I hear your voice too.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear :
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
***It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was written by Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849. The carol started life as a poem written by its author who was a minister living in Massachusetts at the time. The music for the Christmas Carol was composed by the American musician Richard Storrs Willis in 1859 who was inspired by the words of the poem.
YAN: Again, S-million Thanks for the sharing.
Kahlil Gibran
L'VELY GUEST BLOGGER YAN
needs no introduction at Desi's Place.
The One with the yen for L'VE
never fails to oblige Desi when he needs
Light
whether from li'l bluetwinkles
or that ray at the end of the tunnel.
So on a Saturday preceding Christmas, the delightful one from yancorner.blogspot.com
sprinkles some Light on Spirit and Soul:
Leviticus – God establishes a pattern of life
Some thoughts by Yan
(based on Bible commentaries and The Maxwell Leadership Bible)
The key to the understanding of man is a building called “the tabernacle”. This building is built to represent man. All the functions of the building are intended to go within man, our body, our human spirit and soul.
The tabernacle was later reproduced in the temple.
That is the reason that throughout the Bible, tabernacle and temple receives such tremendous emphasis.
The building of tabernacle and temple teach man truth of himself – they are built according to the pattern of man.
In the book of Leviticus, we know that God gave Moses specific instructions on how to build the tabernacle. Moses was with God for forty days and nights on the mountain top. All Israel waited at the foot of the mountain. Forty days and nights to give instructions on exact plan for constructing the tabernacle? It shows its extreme importance, if not more important than the Ten Commandments, it is at least at par.
Mosses was very obedient and fulfilled exactly what God instructed.
Now let’s look at the pattern. (Refer to Leviticus 24)
The tabernacle had three divisions. Man has also three divisions.
First, it was the outer court – it is also the body of man. It is the outer court where Gentiles could also come. Like the pattern of man, the body is the part of the body which is in touch of the material universe.
The, the structure of the tabernacle had two divisions, the holy place and the holy of holies. This is the same as the division within us.
The holy place is our soul. The soul is the conscious life, of ideas, of knowledge, of emotions, of choices, of conscience and of memories.
The holy of holies of the tabernacle is hidden behind a veil in a secret area. Just like our spirit. This is the place where all our urges and hungers of life are. This is designed as God’s dwelling place.
There are three major functions of our soul – the mind, the emotions and will. Moses was instructed by God this –
“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning continually.”
Light is a symbol of truth. It is the mind that is designed to give truth.
The light is to be produced by the oil. Oil is a symbol of Holy Spirit. So, truth should be revealed by the Holy Spirit or God.
It is the Holy Spirit that revealed to us who we are, where we are, what’s life I all about etc.
Most of the problems of life are caused by the fact that we do not start with the mind being taught by God to see life as God sees it.
If we do not see things the way as God sees it, if we do not operate our business of family based on this, then everything go awry! Life is out of focus. It is here that we start buying paintings of millions of ringgit for our office to show our status. These are the deepest longings of our soul – the status, the recognition.
In the tabernacle there was a table with twelve freshly baked loaves of bread made of fine bread. What does that symbolize? The twelve loaves are the twelve tribes of Israel, in other words, all the people of God. It is sharing together as a community. This is a body life, bearing one another’s burdens, encouraging, ministering to each other, meeting the needs of others and rejoicing together.
Man is made up three divisions – body, soul, and spirit. Jesus came to this world in human form. Jesus experienced whatever we men experience. God also tested His Son, Jesus Christ on the level of three divisions. You can read it in the book of Matthew. He went into the wilderness as the Son of man and was tested.
Jesus was tested first on the body’s demands. He had not eaten for 40 days and nights, and the temptation came to him: “Change these stones into bread, if you are the Son of God, Preserve your life.” But Jesus did not give in. He chose to walk the will of God. What would you have done if you are offered bread after 40 days of fasting?
Then, he was tested on the level of the soul. He was taken up to the top of the temple and was given the opportunity to reveal Himself, to show what He can do. Such temptation plays upon the urge for status, for show of pride of life. We are constantly under such temptation, isn’t it not? But Jesus proved Himself true to His Father despite such pressure that come to the way.
Finally, he was tempted in the deepest, most essential part of his humanity, the spirit. The spirit is always looking for something to worship. The spirit is craving for someone to follow, something to worship. The Devil came and said to Jesus, “All these kingdoms of the world will be yours if you will fall down and worship me.”
Our Lord’s answer was, “…it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”
I have included this part of the temptation of Jesus to show clearly the three divisions of man – body, soul and spirit.
The passion of the body is self-preservation.
The passion of the soul is self-expression.
The passion of the spirit is to worship.
Amazingly, the book of Leviticus gave guidelines on leadership as noted by John C. Maxwell. I have a copy of the Maxwell Leadership Bible authored by John C. Maxwell. The Maxwell Bible is lessons in Leadership from the Word of God.
In the book of Leviticus, John Maxwell writes,
What characterizes those who choose to pursue life at God’s higher standard?
*They adopt godly values
*They care for the interests of others
*They live with integrity
*They keep their words
*They develop their gifts and potential
*They manage time and money well
*They pass on to others what they have received
*John Maxwell also includes this in the book of Leviticus a column –
Sowing and Reaping: Decisions and Consequences
(Leviticus 26:3-39)
Leadership, like life, is the sum total of the decisions we make.
Every decision has consequences. We decide how we will respond to people. We decide how large to make a budget for promotion and marketing. We decide whom to hire. We decide which values are worth going to the mat for.
Toward the end of Leviticus, God lists the blessings He offers to those who obey Him and the punishment they’ll receive for disobedience. God, the Ultimate Leader, clearly outlines the consequences for His people’s choices.
Leaders who fail to make good decision …
*Lack of commitment
*Suffer from a scattered focus
*Look for excuses
*Forget the big picture
*Go public with private thoughts
*Adopt the motto, “That’s good enough”
*Don’t take God’s direction seriously
*Behave inconsistently
*Create poor relationships
*Avoid change
According to John Maxwell, the Book of Leviticus illustrates the leadership principle and the following applications can be applied –
+A leader must pursue moral purity
+A leader must offer excellent effort and service
+A leader must commit to prioritize relationship
+A leader must request forgiveness when wrong
+A leader must desire to maintain communication/momentum
One lesson that Malaysian leaders can learn from Leviticus is -
Leadership must be driven by values, not public opinion. Character counts!
On Character, John Maxwell has this to say (I quote a few) –
Sound character communicates credibility and consistency
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there
We cannot rise above the limitations of our character.
May this Christmas season be a time for us, the leaders and people, a time of rest, an opportunity for reflection, a time for reward and repair, a time for relationship and a time to refocus.
DESIDERATA:
A note of S-million Terima Kasih to sister Yan, my mentor mostly, my sometimes mentee.
My ER. please address any opinions, or any questions, on Spirit and Soul to Yan; Desi will oblige with tehtarik, tambah manis for Yuletide for Santa is always generous with chocs and cakes. ENJOY!
As midnight draws near today, mGf from Blogsworld, and loved ones, wherever you are, Desi sings with thee a favourite carol.
Yes, I missed carolling with the Boys and Gals, when we were young and gay,
But sweetness is still the night
That comes with a voice and vision
on a Mdinight Clear.
Just listen with your heart --
I hear your voice too.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear :
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
***It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was written by Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849. The carol started life as a poem written by its author who was a minister living in Massachusetts at the time. The music for the Christmas Carol was composed by the American musician Richard Storrs Willis in 1859 who was inspired by the words of the poem.
YAN: Again, S-million Thanks for the sharing.
Friday, December 23, 2005
li'l bytes of friday's luvly feelin'
Today's piece is for that special Friday's Child, wins at L'VE, they say, according to M&M.
Also, it's CHRISTmas in two days, so Desi hunts down some whol;esome titbits to put my EstemedReaders in a steamed mood for goodwill and luv and life. Jolly, holly. Good Golly, Miss Molly! Yeah, let's all have a ball.
For starters, where three of mGf all l've with abundance (and abandon2? in the poetsy sense...Sab knws what I mean...)dwell, comes somethin swell:
The Star: Wednesday December 21, 2005
Eat all you want at halal buffet for RM3.90 nett
PENANG: Despite the escalating cost of essential goods, one restaurant has defied the market trend and launched “The Cheapest Halal Buffet in Malaysia”.
For only RM3.90 nett, you can eat all you can from 11am to 2pm, and savour up to 26 varieties of local cuisine at Warung Sampan, along Anson Road (next to Garden Inn Hotel) here.
The restaurant has even named its range of curries after football teams – like Manchester United pajeri nenas, Arsenal sambal ayam, Liverpool prawn sambal, Chelsea masak cili api, Barcelona gulai nangka and Real Madrid rendang ayam.
CHEAP AND TASTY: Some customers trying out the food at Warung Sampan in Penang yesterday, which offers 26 varieties of local cuisine for RM3.90 nett.
The restaurant offers Nasi Kandar and Malay or Thai cuisine, with several types of curries like fish and chicken, as well as vegetable dishes.
Based on the concept of providing “kampung food”, the restaurant caters to government offices and colleges nearby, wooing up to 100-odd patrons daily.
Its managing director, Faaizul Hisham De, said the restaurant was banking on the eating habits of Penangites who always looked out for “cheap and delicious food”, adding that he started the restaurant in June.
“A lot of our customers are students, and we don't want to burn a hole in their pockets by making our food too expensive.
“We also decided to embark on this venture because there is no halal kampung-style buffet line around this area,” he said.
Faaizul Hisham said Warung Sampan was a favourite haunt for football fans as it had two projection television screens and four 49-inch TV sets featuring daily football matches on Astro.
DESI: Dear SH and Sharon, (Sab -- you are on a diet, hence excused -Thou shalt not submit to termptation...) when I visit on a return courtsey call, I'd definitely need your guidance to visit this "buffet" spread -- RM3.90? did they move a decimal point somewhere?
And from the not-too-far horizon, a Crouching Tiger and a Flying Dragon are quietly creeping up on us Malaysians and Singaporeans, and all Asean-ians, Desi found a piece of news worth our second thoughts (My 'regrets' to ori-sauce that in my rush I did not capture the source for attribution):
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
China and India
It is an interesting question - can you estimate the wealth of a country by the number of existing billionaires? I am not sure about that but I am sure that the Asian century is dawning when the number of billionaires in India and China is growing.
I actually don't care about the number, because probably, I won't be a billionaire in this lifetime. But it is interesting to see that magazine articles comment on the growth of billionaires in the two countries and take it as a measurement for which country is ahead.
In this sense, it is India. And there are as many as "27 billionaires, which is more than double (of) last year's count." And more: "Even more interesting is that the collective net worth of the 40 richest Indians outstrips that of Asian rivals China by as much as four times.
According to Forbes' data, the collective net worth of Indian billionaires stood at 106 billion dollars as against just 26 billion dollars of their Chinese counterparts."
Question is: Do you care?
DESI: I care. I know many likeminded Malaysians care.
WE care what actually is happening to the billions churned out from the nation's petroleum and other oil&gas resources?
We care if the NEP continues to churn out instant millionaires and instant billionaires.
We care if some 27-year-old bloke could borrow RM1.2billion with only his Daddy's nama and what else? And later the banks have to be "bailed out" to the billions using Our Money, Taxpayers blood, swaet and tears.
We care if 90% of Malaysia's wealth, riches and net worth -- supposedlty to be equitable distributed in a CARING SOCIETY -- go to only 10 per cent of the people -- those with political connections and blue blood heritage and maybe one more lucky bloke who getsthe main prize at Da Mai Cai...one every three weeks. (Sorry if Desi took a detour, as in abusing the blogger's privilege of DIGRESsin') from gifting thee cheery news only on a LuvLy Fridae...)
I've heard an estimate there are some 2,000 plus multi-millionaires in Koala Lumpur alone -- if the status was acqyuired by stink of hard work and creative juices, it's alright by Desi. Butt...I don't see the mooney being churned within the boundaries of dear Malaysia...NEGARA-KU. Likely in Olde England, the great United States of America, and Down Under ...oh, yeah I told Imran brother, in some neighbourhood SwissBakeryShoppe!
"God Save Us from ...
I: I
S: Say
A: ?
At the cineplex, around this time, it's always Harry Potter weaving his Magic.
LOTR has finished its triple jump, but Peter Jackson steals still the show with his Kong queen ... Li'l children and Adults who never grew up ensure these film gurus will continue to erarn their millions. Butt they earn it.... every sen in in every sense.
From Reuters
Potter More Magic Spell for Kids
LONDON: Boy wizard Harry Potter has already cast his spell on millions worldwide, but new research shows his magic has a hiterto unimagined effect. He has been shown to protect accident-prone children.
Researchers at John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford studied attendance records for children aged seven to 15 years at the hospital's emergency deaprtment over summer weekends between 2003 and this year.
They found that the number nearkly halved on the two weekends in June 2003 and July this year when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were published.
"We observed a significant fall in the numbers of attendees to the emergency department on the weekends that the two most recent Harry Potter books were released," they wrote in today's edition of the British Medical Journal.
They suggested that teams of writers could be recruited to produce similar books for the purpose of what they termed "distraction therapy" to prevent injuries.
But such therapies were not without their own risks in the age of the couch potato.
"Potential problems include an unpredictable increase in childhood obesity, rickets and loss of cardiovascular fitnesss." -- Reuters
DESI: Still working to cultivate carbohydrate and toxin free potatoes foe these couch potatoes. I've alreadyy invented the uncomrtable counch to deter their positions, but most parents and children then adjourn to yogasmic positions -- Imagine, watching TV with thy head inverted and the legs pointing at the ceiling. Even the Beatles could not master that technique after spending millions at that ashram in India.
Butt one Maharishi guru had become a multi-millionaire catering too these orgasmic seekers -- long train of Benz, Ferari, Kleensman, R&R (not Rock&Roll-lah, jest Rest&REcreation!) and, ah, Proton PegiSiniSana.
And lustily, some mGf like newly acquited JP our friendly neighbourly always asking for more, and cheaper, water:
here's the hint about the Counting of the Toes affair at Desi's Place-
Monday, December 19, 2005
Missing the trees for the toes! in England
LONDON (Reuters) - An outbreak of opportunistic mistletoe rustling is threatening a Christmas kissing crisis, British environmental experts said Wednesday.
The Wildlife Trusts said over-harvesting of the plant that only grows in the wild and is mainly found on old apple trees meant it was becoming increasingly rare.
'Mistletoe is being taken in increasingly large quantities from orchards, hedgerows and ancient trees to be sold at markets to Christmas shoppers,' said The Wildlife Trusts -- a partnership of 47 British wildlife organizations.
'There are cases of mistletoe rustling, and once the whole plant has been removed from its host tree it won't grow back.'
The parasitic green plant with white berries has been associated with fertility since the time of the ancient Druids and kissing under the mistletoe has long been a Christmas party tradition."
DESIDERATA: Can some good Samaritan -- or Santarina -- send o'er some mistle trees to Desi's Place? The lust time I looked, I steal have my toes, counted 'em 1 to 10.
Also, it's CHRISTmas in two days, so Desi hunts down some whol;esome titbits to put my EstemedReaders in a steamed mood for goodwill and luv and life. Jolly, holly. Good Golly, Miss Molly! Yeah, let's all have a ball.
For starters, where three of mGf all l've with abundance (and abandon2? in the poetsy sense...Sab knws what I mean...)dwell, comes somethin swell:
The Star: Wednesday December 21, 2005
Eat all you want at halal buffet for RM3.90 nett
PENANG: Despite the escalating cost of essential goods, one restaurant has defied the market trend and launched “The Cheapest Halal Buffet in Malaysia”.
For only RM3.90 nett, you can eat all you can from 11am to 2pm, and savour up to 26 varieties of local cuisine at Warung Sampan, along Anson Road (next to Garden Inn Hotel) here.
The restaurant has even named its range of curries after football teams – like Manchester United pajeri nenas, Arsenal sambal ayam, Liverpool prawn sambal, Chelsea masak cili api, Barcelona gulai nangka and Real Madrid rendang ayam.
CHEAP AND TASTY: Some customers trying out the food at Warung Sampan in Penang yesterday, which offers 26 varieties of local cuisine for RM3.90 nett.
The restaurant offers Nasi Kandar and Malay or Thai cuisine, with several types of curries like fish and chicken, as well as vegetable dishes.
Based on the concept of providing “kampung food”, the restaurant caters to government offices and colleges nearby, wooing up to 100-odd patrons daily.
Its managing director, Faaizul Hisham De, said the restaurant was banking on the eating habits of Penangites who always looked out for “cheap and delicious food”, adding that he started the restaurant in June.
“A lot of our customers are students, and we don't want to burn a hole in their pockets by making our food too expensive.
“We also decided to embark on this venture because there is no halal kampung-style buffet line around this area,” he said.
Faaizul Hisham said Warung Sampan was a favourite haunt for football fans as it had two projection television screens and four 49-inch TV sets featuring daily football matches on Astro.
DESI: Dear SH and Sharon, (Sab -- you are on a diet, hence excused -Thou shalt not submit to termptation...) when I visit on a return courtsey call, I'd definitely need your guidance to visit this "buffet" spread -- RM3.90? did they move a decimal point somewhere?
And from the not-too-far horizon, a Crouching Tiger and a Flying Dragon are quietly creeping up on us Malaysians and Singaporeans, and all Asean-ians, Desi found a piece of news worth our second thoughts (My 'regrets' to ori-sauce that in my rush I did not capture the source for attribution):
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
China and India
It is an interesting question - can you estimate the wealth of a country by the number of existing billionaires? I am not sure about that but I am sure that the Asian century is dawning when the number of billionaires in India and China is growing.
I actually don't care about the number, because probably, I won't be a billionaire in this lifetime. But it is interesting to see that magazine articles comment on the growth of billionaires in the two countries and take it as a measurement for which country is ahead.
In this sense, it is India. And there are as many as "27 billionaires, which is more than double (of) last year's count." And more: "Even more interesting is that the collective net worth of the 40 richest Indians outstrips that of Asian rivals China by as much as four times.
According to Forbes' data, the collective net worth of Indian billionaires stood at 106 billion dollars as against just 26 billion dollars of their Chinese counterparts."
Question is: Do you care?
DESI: I care. I know many likeminded Malaysians care.
WE care what actually is happening to the billions churned out from the nation's petroleum and other oil&gas resources?
We care if the NEP continues to churn out instant millionaires and instant billionaires.
We care if some 27-year-old bloke could borrow RM1.2billion with only his Daddy's nama and what else? And later the banks have to be "bailed out" to the billions using Our Money, Taxpayers blood, swaet and tears.
We care if 90% of Malaysia's wealth, riches and net worth -- supposedlty to be equitable distributed in a CARING SOCIETY -- go to only 10 per cent of the people -- those with political connections and blue blood heritage and maybe one more lucky bloke who getsthe main prize at Da Mai Cai...one every three weeks. (Sorry if Desi took a detour, as in abusing the blogger's privilege of DIGRESsin') from gifting thee cheery news only on a LuvLy Fridae...)
I've heard an estimate there are some 2,000 plus multi-millionaires in Koala Lumpur alone -- if the status was acqyuired by stink of hard work and creative juices, it's alright by Desi. Butt...I don't see the mooney being churned within the boundaries of dear Malaysia...NEGARA-KU. Likely in Olde England, the great United States of America, and Down Under ...oh, yeah I told Imran brother, in some neighbourhood SwissBakeryShoppe!
"God Save Us from ...
I: I
S: Say
A: ?
At the cineplex, around this time, it's always Harry Potter weaving his Magic.
LOTR has finished its triple jump, but Peter Jackson steals still the show with his Kong queen ... Li'l children and Adults who never grew up ensure these film gurus will continue to erarn their millions. Butt they earn it.... every sen in in every sense.
From Reuters
Potter More Magic Spell for Kids
LONDON: Boy wizard Harry Potter has already cast his spell on millions worldwide, but new research shows his magic has a hiterto unimagined effect. He has been shown to protect accident-prone children.
Researchers at John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford studied attendance records for children aged seven to 15 years at the hospital's emergency deaprtment over summer weekends between 2003 and this year.
They found that the number nearkly halved on the two weekends in June 2003 and July this year when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were published.
"We observed a significant fall in the numbers of attendees to the emergency department on the weekends that the two most recent Harry Potter books were released," they wrote in today's edition of the British Medical Journal.
They suggested that teams of writers could be recruited to produce similar books for the purpose of what they termed "distraction therapy" to prevent injuries.
But such therapies were not without their own risks in the age of the couch potato.
"Potential problems include an unpredictable increase in childhood obesity, rickets and loss of cardiovascular fitnesss." -- Reuters
DESI: Still working to cultivate carbohydrate and toxin free potatoes foe these couch potatoes. I've alreadyy invented the uncomrtable counch to deter their positions, but most parents and children then adjourn to yogasmic positions -- Imagine, watching TV with thy head inverted and the legs pointing at the ceiling. Even the Beatles could not master that technique after spending millions at that ashram in India.
Butt one Maharishi guru had become a multi-millionaire catering too these orgasmic seekers -- long train of Benz, Ferari, Kleensman, R&R (not Rock&Roll-lah, jest Rest&REcreation!) and, ah, Proton PegiSiniSana.
And lustily, some mGf like newly acquited JP our friendly neighbourly always asking for more, and cheaper, water:
here's the hint about the Counting of the Toes affair at Desi's Place-
Monday, December 19, 2005
Missing the trees for the toes! in England
LONDON (Reuters) - An outbreak of opportunistic mistletoe rustling is threatening a Christmas kissing crisis, British environmental experts said Wednesday.
The Wildlife Trusts said over-harvesting of the plant that only grows in the wild and is mainly found on old apple trees meant it was becoming increasingly rare.
'Mistletoe is being taken in increasingly large quantities from orchards, hedgerows and ancient trees to be sold at markets to Christmas shoppers,' said The Wildlife Trusts -- a partnership of 47 British wildlife organizations.
'There are cases of mistletoe rustling, and once the whole plant has been removed from its host tree it won't grow back.'
The parasitic green plant with white berries has been associated with fertility since the time of the ancient Druids and kissing under the mistletoe has long been a Christmas party tradition."
DESIDERATA: Can some good Samaritan -- or Santarina -- send o'er some mistle trees to Desi's Place? The lust time I looked, I steal have my toes, counted 'em 1 to 10.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
This Broken Road
Last was a disturbed night. Earlier, I surfed to keep an eye on some A-Angels -- One Y&A wrote in her Blog (go visit, before she flies away! at http://sabrinawstan.blogsome.com) -- vocally seconded by a "secret" admirer -- okay, not secret, but sincere, johnleemk -- that the Malaysian state of affairs does not 'appear good'. THIS 'sumup' is an understatement, the closer one is "Tis really a hopeless situation".
I ended with an equally downhearted:
"*
at the end of the day, the people get the government they deserve.
As i realise the futility of the political process, the nimcompoop govt we get must have come about from a “majority” of the electors who have been every 4 years putting the cross against the Dacing — these put have lost their right to complain. AS for those who supported the Opposition, the “idiotic” Oppo leaders have been taking people for granted, or a ride — with each chief quite happy with the niche “kingdoms” they have carved up for themselves.
Sad to report, dear mGf from Blogworld, Desi sees “no solution” in the near horizon — Quo Vadis?
my Young&Articulate Ones, the future is in thy hands. Desi can offer more tehtarik and some humour along the five foot way!
Sab: you’re right — Desi has been too Optiimisitic, hence Delusional.
But what choice does this writer have? I am truly concerned and disheartened that my YoungFriends find the scene so dismal and hopeless.
Pak Lah — what art thou doing for the next two years?
Comment by ylchong — December 21, 2005 @ 2:39 pm
The young hostess' reply, from the Horse's mouth:
Desi: sad to say, i too don’t see a future with this place in the meantime. things are getting bleaker by the day, and we don’t know if it’s going to get worse from here.
forming a political party i heard? don’t think it’s feasible.
like i’ve said before, we need connections: and connections lead to corruption.. yadda yadda..
Comment by Sab — December 21, 2005 @ 3:00 pm
Pensive, at dinner I "exchanged" the two topics of Spirit versus Soul and Sabrina's Laments.
I was not surprised that my esteemed coleague said Soul and Spirit are "ome and the same". If was re-assuring to Desi 'cos all alonmg, I said as long as I can seek solace and peace in my Poetry, I am on the right Road. But a more discerning and educated one puts me in restive mood by saying that My Poetry takes careth of my Soul, NOT my Spirit.
My ER, please respond to My Soul Survey so we can later share more "reliable" findings come 2006, an-OR-not? I offer tehtarik, tambah gula also-can-lah!
Back to the nation's State, mGf pointed to the day's news, affirming more or less Sabrina's contention that the picture is indeed, and in deed HOPELESS!Read on...
Some extracts only from...
Wednesday December 21, 2005
RM1.5m paintings hot topic
KUALA LUMPUR: The purchase of three paintings worth RM1.55mil by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to decorate the chairman's office was to maintain the stature of the place, the Dewan Negara heard yesterday.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar said the money came under MAS' current expenditure.
The paintings were a hot topic among members of the Dewan Negara yesterday, besides the hiring of expatriates on high salaries.
Tengku Azlan also clarified that the salary received by MAS senior general manager Chris Andrews of RM7,525 a day was normal, no different from the pay received by any individual who had held the post in the airline.
“If there are any unsatisfactory answers, please come for a briefing on MAS tonight (yesterday),” he told the senators during his winding up of the debate on the 2006 Budget.
– Bernama
DESIDERATA:
If there was a "Nigerian" headman heading MAS in the past few years, I can undersatnd, (as every other week, for the past year, I have been receiving an email seeking to share USD500million largesse with Desi for just using my Malaysian bank AC to place the idiot's imgained DC (DaCon) riches left by the most corny sounding name like African Lord Rufus the dufus of an Imwauna dynasty persecuted by the present regime...see just arrived sample preceding Post)but ...? WT...okay I put an "H" for Hell not an "F" plus an Ass for ....but that's too complimentrary to these cons at the national airline.
From another The Star update today, page 4:
(Lazy not Ignorant nor insignificant, please get a copy -- don't photostat the extracts please, get Da Orioginal, RM1.20 sahaja!)
Artists in the spotlight
Readers learnt --
Those paitings were from world famous (Desi's: Yeah?) Fernando Botero and Sophia Vari.
Yeah, has the average Malaysian Joe heard of these two guys?
I've had the privilege of helping to organise shows displayiing works by artists like Latiff Mohidin and Syed Jamal (a former National Art Gallery director)-- why could their works promoting Malaysian creatives not be bought. Prices were the most tens of thousand ringgit. Or these Malaysains have no class -- can't raise the carrier's image. Need ball carriers, is it?
Hey, MAS stands for Malaysain Airline System, NOT Colombian or Greek!
And they labelled some others "unpatriotic" like not flying the Jalur Gemilang on August 31!
MAS bought Botero's Still Life With Violin and Still Life With Lobster amd Vari's Coeur de L'Impenetradble at RM1.14million, RM342,000 and RM75,000 respectively.
The Star report even hinted that one of the paintings could even be a "fake", and carried a poser:
Could MAS have settled for prints of these works that are sold much cheaper online?
Frankly, in the first place Desi aks: Why the F.... should a Malaysian iconic company display non-Malaysian works, print of original, maybe fake?
Now you understand a li'l how MAS had entered into the red territory.But there are lots more skeletons in the hangar. Hanger? Boardrooms decorated up to world standards. Like some blogger cracked: Gaya Mau...
Another bailout of several billion ringgit o the KLIA horizon.
Using oil money? OR our -- taxpayers' -- money?
Your guess will be 50% correct either way. They even paid back one smart investor who borrowed some RM1billion to do a NO-RISK business because the giovernment bought back his shares at DOUBLE the market price then. WoW, no wonder we can boast of non-failures among our esteeemed MAS top guns.
And some expatriate -- this Andrews fellane must have MAS/golden cables! --took us on a ride too. This man must have been 1,000 times blessed -- RM7,000 plus for a day's work, maybe woirking the Beatles' Eight Days a Week as an added burden.
I wonder how our esteemed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abndullah Ahmad Badawi would feel?
Inferiority complex, I presume -- after comparing his church mouse gaji -- like Desi's the stoopid writer, did not go into CONsultancy!, even then not sure it's coming at the end of the 34-day month!
The Malaysian Broken Runway ... Da Road we know by heart already.
Bless The Broken Road
Rascal Flatts Lyrics
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.
PS by Desi: God Save Us from Our Leaders,
Political and Corporate.
Amen.
Now I feel my Spirit quieted. The Soul is still wanderin' somewhere.
I ended with an equally downhearted:
"*
at the end of the day, the people get the government they deserve.
As i realise the futility of the political process, the nimcompoop govt we get must have come about from a “majority” of the electors who have been every 4 years putting the cross against the Dacing — these put have lost their right to complain. AS for those who supported the Opposition, the “idiotic” Oppo leaders have been taking people for granted, or a ride — with each chief quite happy with the niche “kingdoms” they have carved up for themselves.
Sad to report, dear mGf from Blogworld, Desi sees “no solution” in the near horizon — Quo Vadis?
my Young&Articulate Ones, the future is in thy hands. Desi can offer more tehtarik and some humour along the five foot way!
Sab: you’re right — Desi has been too Optiimisitic, hence Delusional.
But what choice does this writer have? I am truly concerned and disheartened that my YoungFriends find the scene so dismal and hopeless.
Pak Lah — what art thou doing for the next two years?
Comment by ylchong — December 21, 2005 @ 2:39 pm
The young hostess' reply, from the Horse's mouth:
Desi: sad to say, i too don’t see a future with this place in the meantime. things are getting bleaker by the day, and we don’t know if it’s going to get worse from here.
forming a political party i heard? don’t think it’s feasible.
like i’ve said before, we need connections: and connections lead to corruption.. yadda yadda..
Comment by Sab — December 21, 2005 @ 3:00 pm
Pensive, at dinner I "exchanged" the two topics of Spirit versus Soul and Sabrina's Laments.
I was not surprised that my esteemed coleague said Soul and Spirit are "ome and the same". If was re-assuring to Desi 'cos all alonmg, I said as long as I can seek solace and peace in my Poetry, I am on the right Road. But a more discerning and educated one puts me in restive mood by saying that My Poetry takes careth of my Soul, NOT my Spirit.
My ER, please respond to My Soul Survey so we can later share more "reliable" findings come 2006, an-OR-not? I offer tehtarik, tambah gula also-can-lah!
Back to the nation's State, mGf pointed to the day's news, affirming more or less Sabrina's contention that the picture is indeed, and in deed HOPELESS!Read on...
Some extracts only from...
Wednesday December 21, 2005
RM1.5m paintings hot topic
KUALA LUMPUR: The purchase of three paintings worth RM1.55mil by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to decorate the chairman's office was to maintain the stature of the place, the Dewan Negara heard yesterday.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar said the money came under MAS' current expenditure.
The paintings were a hot topic among members of the Dewan Negara yesterday, besides the hiring of expatriates on high salaries.
Tengku Azlan also clarified that the salary received by MAS senior general manager Chris Andrews of RM7,525 a day was normal, no different from the pay received by any individual who had held the post in the airline.
“If there are any unsatisfactory answers, please come for a briefing on MAS tonight (yesterday),” he told the senators during his winding up of the debate on the 2006 Budget.
– Bernama
DESIDERATA:
If there was a "Nigerian" headman heading MAS in the past few years, I can undersatnd, (as every other week, for the past year, I have been receiving an email seeking to share USD500million largesse with Desi for just using my Malaysian bank AC to place the idiot's imgained DC (DaCon) riches left by the most corny sounding name like African Lord Rufus the dufus of an Imwauna dynasty persecuted by the present regime...see just arrived sample preceding Post)but ...? WT...okay I put an "H" for Hell not an "F" plus an Ass for ....but that's too complimentrary to these cons at the national airline.
From another The Star update today, page 4:
(Lazy not Ignorant nor insignificant, please get a copy -- don't photostat the extracts please, get Da Orioginal, RM1.20 sahaja!)
Artists in the spotlight
Readers learnt --
Those paitings were from world famous (Desi's: Yeah?) Fernando Botero and Sophia Vari.
Yeah, has the average Malaysian Joe heard of these two guys?
I've had the privilege of helping to organise shows displayiing works by artists like Latiff Mohidin and Syed Jamal (a former National Art Gallery director)-- why could their works promoting Malaysian creatives not be bought. Prices were the most tens of thousand ringgit. Or these Malaysains have no class -- can't raise the carrier's image. Need ball carriers, is it?
Hey, MAS stands for Malaysain Airline System, NOT Colombian or Greek!
And they labelled some others "unpatriotic" like not flying the Jalur Gemilang on August 31!
MAS bought Botero's Still Life With Violin and Still Life With Lobster amd Vari's Coeur de L'Impenetradble at RM1.14million, RM342,000 and RM75,000 respectively.
The Star report even hinted that one of the paintings could even be a "fake", and carried a poser:
Could MAS have settled for prints of these works that are sold much cheaper online?
Frankly, in the first place Desi aks: Why the F.... should a Malaysian iconic company display non-Malaysian works, print of original, maybe fake?
Now you understand a li'l how MAS had entered into the red territory.But there are lots more skeletons in the hangar. Hanger? Boardrooms decorated up to world standards. Like some blogger cracked: Gaya Mau...
Another bailout of several billion ringgit o the KLIA horizon.
Using oil money? OR our -- taxpayers' -- money?
Your guess will be 50% correct either way. They even paid back one smart investor who borrowed some RM1billion to do a NO-RISK business because the giovernment bought back his shares at DOUBLE the market price then. WoW, no wonder we can boast of non-failures among our esteeemed MAS top guns.
And some expatriate -- this Andrews fellane must have MAS/golden cables! --took us on a ride too. This man must have been 1,000 times blessed -- RM7,000 plus for a day's work, maybe woirking the Beatles' Eight Days a Week as an added burden.
I wonder how our esteemed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abndullah Ahmad Badawi would feel?
Inferiority complex, I presume -- after comparing his church mouse gaji -- like Desi's the stoopid writer, did not go into CONsultancy!, even then not sure it's coming at the end of the 34-day month!
The Malaysian Broken Runway ... Da Road we know by heart already.
Bless The Broken Road
Rascal Flatts Lyrics
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.
PS by Desi: God Save Us from Our Leaders,
Political and Corporate.
Amen.
Now I feel my Spirit quieted. The Soul is still wanderin' somewhere.
Santasy Offer from a CONversationist!
flagged. [ Flag Message - Mark as Unread ]
From: "J Beaney" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Very imperative from Mr John Beaney
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:19:40 +0000
Dear Friend,
I am Mr John Beaney, head of international invoice finance at HSBC Bank
plc.Here is a 100% concealed and mutually profitable business proposal for
you.
After the United States and Iraqi war, our client Hatem Kamil Abdul
Fatah
who was the deputy governor of Baghdad in Iraq had a frozen account of
Twenty-Six million United States Dollars only in our branch.
Several notice were sent to him, even in the first quater of this year.
Again another notification was sent and still no response came from
him. We
later found out that the Deputy Governor has been assasinated in
Baghdad.
The websites below is a proof and verification of the news about his
death:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/3970619.stm
http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=6979
The purpose of the notification was for him to provide all the required
documents that will enable him to trade freely with the funds, most
especially all the relevants documents to shows the legitimate source
of
the funds.After further investigation it was also discovered that Hatem
Kamil Abdul Fatah did not declare any next of kin in his official
papers
including the paper work of his bank deposit. So, Twenty Six million
United
States Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come
forward
to claim it. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will
like
you as a neutral person to stand in as a Beneficiary to Hatem Kamil
Abdul
Fatah. There is nothing to worry about as i have perfect all modalities
needed to ensure the completion of the project with the help of a
reliable
and trusted attorney here in the United Kingdom.
THE PREREQUISITE OF THIS PROJECT:
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we
come
out successful. As soon as you consent to this I will immediately
contact
the attorney to furnish you with more details of the transaction.
There are no risks involved in the matter as we are going to adopt a
legalized method and the law firm will prepare all necessary documents.
Please endeavour to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning
this
issue.
I await your response to this mail.
Kind Regards,
John Beaney
DESIDERATA:
"My reply" (retrieved as a standard stored in Draft)
Go fly a layang-layang.
YLC
From: "J Beaney"
Subject: Very imperative from Mr John Beaney
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:19:40 +0000
Dear Friend,
I am Mr John Beaney, head of international invoice finance at HSBC Bank
plc.Here is a 100% concealed and mutually profitable business proposal for
you.
After the United States and Iraqi war, our client Hatem Kamil Abdul
Fatah
who was the deputy governor of Baghdad in Iraq had a frozen account of
Twenty-Six million United States Dollars only in our branch.
Several notice were sent to him, even in the first quater of this year.
Again another notification was sent and still no response came from
him. We
later found out that the Deputy Governor has been assasinated in
Baghdad.
The websites below is a proof and verification of the news about his
death:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/3970619.stm
http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=6979
The purpose of the notification was for him to provide all the required
documents that will enable him to trade freely with the funds, most
especially all the relevants documents to shows the legitimate source
of
the funds.After further investigation it was also discovered that Hatem
Kamil Abdul Fatah did not declare any next of kin in his official
papers
including the paper work of his bank deposit. So, Twenty Six million
United
States Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come
forward
to claim it. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will
like
you as a neutral person to stand in as a Beneficiary to Hatem Kamil
Abdul
Fatah. There is nothing to worry about as i have perfect all modalities
needed to ensure the completion of the project with the help of a
reliable
and trusted attorney here in the United Kingdom.
THE PREREQUISITE OF THIS PROJECT:
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we
come
out successful. As soon as you consent to this I will immediately
contact
the attorney to furnish you with more details of the transaction.
There are no risks involved in the matter as we are going to adopt a
legalized method and the law firm will prepare all necessary documents.
Please endeavour to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning
this
issue.
I await your response to this mail.
Kind Regards,
John Beaney
DESIDERATA:
"My reply" (retrieved as a standard stored in Draft)
Go fly a layang-layang.
YLC
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Nursing Wednesday from 'Her' Woes
Tis the season to be jolly, so let's not spoil this
WedNURSEday with Woes.
I put the "Her" in the title because recently this knotty writer let slip he could be an "Angel" of sorts -- and some knottier, but 'Ang'elic child' asked wryly/dryly/maybe mildly, slyly how could Desi be?
I was plunged into momentary confucianism because I ne'er expected an "inane" -- perhaps insane -- passing remark could invite attention.
So I reflected on te subject, and like the "Her" above, Desi concurs that
In the public mind, an Angel - like a Wednesday's Child of Woe -- is best ascribed as a 'Her'.
Back to Desi's attempt to lighten up,brighten up on these Cloudy Days (which the Eagles are trying their luvers' best to drive away! Butt Lundun is mighty far, far away!). If I appear to be speaking in tongue often, it's the Season to be Chic!
Yesterday was not a typical Tuesday with Worrie, we were regaled wit(h) some NUTgifts of Amore; today's survey findings about kids rival the one about yesterdae teenagers.
Poll: Kids love being rich and famous
LONDON, Mon. -- Becoming rich and famous is the most important thing in life, a revealing survey of British children said today, also showing that the nation’s youngsters consider footballer Wayne Rooney more famous than Jesus.
The survey of 2,500 under-10s to mark National Kids’ Day asked children to rate what they considered "the best thing in the world", with becoming rich taking top spot.
However, expectations of what constituted wealth varied somewhat, with estimates ranging from £200 million (RM1.33 billion) to a more modest £460.
Being famous came second, above the more traditional pursuits of football, pop music and animals.
In findings that should perhaps have some British parents examining their lifestyles, a corresponding list of the worst things in the world had "drunk people" at the top, followed by smoking.
When asked to name the world’s most famous person, young Manchester United and England star Rooney not only beat Jesus to take second place, he also pushed his national team captain, David Beckham, into fourth.
It was left to God to restore some Christian pride, taking top spot. — AFP
DESI was in deep thought as I started BF Yesterday when I was feelin' young and gay, non-CON because I'm most times a socialist. "non-CON' refers to the breakfast, not to Desi's claim he's 'young and gay'. Feeli' and Being are a world of difference, or isit deference? See, much misuse or abuse of this medium of Blogging -- luckily these British kids have not got onto it. Mayhaps, next year "it" wil outrank Rooney the mooney, but below Christ-lah, Tis the season of Goodwill -- Feeli' Good and Willing, not Wilfool. Today Desi's on a Hi.
I was asking mGf quite well-versed with Christian theology IF CHRISTIANITY is actually quite in concord with SOCIALLISM. IMHO (See, I've mistressed some Blogger lingo, just after nine months! Hehehe...another1:)) Desi says most Christain values -- eg of Love thy neighbour, and Live a life of humility and humanity, in line with Virtues of Love, Compassion and Charity -- quite atune with my perception of my political bent towrads Socialist cant.
"He" nodded his head some 90%, BUUU....UT...followed by a long pause, whether for me to ponder, or for me to eat my "Tai Pau" smoothly with my piping hot tehsi. mGf with a name, Hehehe, that rhymes with an animal that goes Moo-Moo, then added:
"Socialism does not cater to thy spirit, only thy soul."
Dear ER, for the past 24 hours, I was still in deep contemplation, not CON-1, real reflection as my contemplative sifu Thoreau would in his woods, on most days butt a Wednesday, which Child born that day is sooo fool of woe, which is not healthy living, against the grain of Thoreau's philosophy. Desi's2, of course I allow some latitude with foods, and drinks, not hard, soft on myself.
Okay, where was I? Yes, Soul versus spirit.
I checked with another mGf whose name rhymes with Wong, fortune, fortuitous, remember? with this
POSER: In thy underastyanding, is there a difference between Spirit and Soul?
He paused, hesitantly answered, seemingly impressing me that I had asked him a 'trick" question.
"No, to me the Soul and Spirit are one and the same, interchangeable."
So my ER and mGf, please help me with Desi's Survey, called The Soul Survey ending 2005 to be released for welcoming 2006:
Do you go for
(1) Mr Coww's version -- Soul and Spirit are two different entities
(2) Mr "Wong's" version -- Soul and Spirit are one and the same
(3) Like Desi, Steal Not Sure.
For choice (1) and (2) giving thy RAT-ionale, mousey-one also-can, will be useful for understanding.
For (3), no need Rationale as Desi's in the same Boata! Desi understands Da Dilemma -- child, youth, man, and oldie.
Please EMAIL answers to: chongyl2000@yahoo.com
Deadline: Dec 31, 2005.
Results to be announced" First week of 2006.
PRIZE: Share my resoltion for the New Year. Read a Booker!
If buy Desi a tehsi, will lend you that bitch-eared On Walden Pond -- bitch because if the borrower does not return the treasure, the Dog bites!
At a personal level, before all else, I normally start the day with taking care of the growlin' tummy in the anti-'meridien' (can sometimes mean capitalist:()period.
New-found friend JPsc and I had been Xchanging words for a week now, and sometimes we seem to fly off tangent (JP hinted at "stray", but it's not healthy since both of us aspire towards staying put till 110, yes SC?). To loosen up, we engage in -- I pause, oh WTH! intercourse, using wry language, also dry, like gin and wits. The last italicised phrase -- which is often used at Desi's Place to mislead readers into a state of cunfucianism -- is a metap(w)hor', I think I covered that one sundae ...Ne'er mine, today is steal WedNURSEdae!
And compare this with idiomatic use of language like the cautionary: Mind your Ps and Qs...admonishing people to Mond their manners, Behave-lah, or I'd throw thee out of My Place, whose origins apparently were traced to:
*In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down." It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
When in sin-land, I learnt it's impossible to spot any citizen spotting or sporting grey, matter or hair. JP offered that's 'Cos the government makes things so very clear, it's either Black, or White.
When in mine-land, JPsc is educated by Desi it's not common to spot any citizen without a title, preferably front, sans which, backside also-can:
For instance, So-and-so is a Tun, the wide's a Tonne; Dr Tan is a medical doctor, the wife cannot be plain Mrs Tan, she has in her name card reading: chef staff nurse, FRCP, MMP, PMN behind her name (I think the last stand for Post-Menstrual Somethin').
The Datuk Benda is a Drs, his wife calls him 'Bang, Doctor 'bang. (The ' stand for A, Abang is literally brother, butt is for husband here in Malay...)
The 70-old-tycoon's family is so ashamed when he moved on - the rags-to-riches self-made man who started as a riskshaw-puller but died a multi-millionaire - had no prefix or suffix to go with his nama. The surving members called a PC and announced a RM1million grant to the University of Gonnerland.
They bestowed a title to the philanthropist: Professor Ignoranmus.
The mourning heirs were happy the oldman died in peace, none the wiser.
. Commonest of course is: she's a datin, he's a datuk, (s)he is in-between so they wont fight over whether the Datin was rightfully gained, or the Datuk truly had the grandchild's genes. And the one-in-betwen, they call him/her a Tukin.
And from our common ancesters in faraway Engrund who gave us the best heritage, Queen's English, we learn to whistle down the wind, or at the gals:
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
Now you get the picture why when you wolf-whistle at that gal-who-turns-ou-to-be-a-boy, they make you all wet by throwing you into the re-fill beer barrel and turn on the beat, and sing:
Those were the days my friend
We thot they'd never end
We'd sing and dance
Forever and a day
So w'et your appetite with me,
Let's down the birs in glee,
For we were young
And those were the days.
~~~~~~~~~~~AND BEFORE FINALLY Desi Closes Down Da Place~~~~~~~~~~~~
I borrowed this from the one with the yen for L'FE at yancroner.blogspot.com:
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to
rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amznig huh?
Surfing the NET in the quiet of the night gives Inspiration to Desi to write his deeper thoughts. Somehow creatives juices flow more readily, mayhaps darkness brings on a blanket that chases all the daylight blues. We are wrong if we think the Devil works best in Da Darkness.
Malaysian criminals truly commit Daylight Robbery -- literally and metaphorically.
You don't believe, I'm sure yopu believe the print media. Self censorship does not hold in this department --in fact, they even juice it UP in crime coverage; contrasted with, believe me, it's 90% in the cover(UP) of Politics.
I read a profound quote from my philosopher friend taking a quiet walk near Walden Pond.
"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." - Henry David Thoreau
Desi tries to lead a l've of contemplation and 'rit(e)ing in the quiet hours of Darkness my Olde fRiend. As human as the person next door, I also may appear a CON artiste sometimes with my wordplay to build an imgainary world as a form of escapism. Don't we all indule in some form of Fantasy and Flight -- on the wings of imgination, yes, in moments of desperation and despair, more often in moments of longing.
So church mice writesr can afford some Longin's watches some of the time.
White bread withB&B on weakdays, with some kaya thrown in.
CON BF2 on sundaes. Call that desperation, but it's never quiet with my mates and buddies. We often have looks of "rebuke" (some could even border on murderous!) from our neighbour's square tables. Tis alright, mGf and I are 'nites of the Round Table.
More Nutgifts sis(s) it's the Season for-Giving:
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great ruler from history:
Spades: King David
Hearts: Charlemagne
Clubs: Alexander, the Great
Diamonds: Julius Caesar
Parting card: I forgot to add, Dave D' Joker!
WedNURSEday with Woes.
I put the "Her" in the title because recently this knotty writer let slip he could be an "Angel" of sorts -- and some knottier, but 'Ang'elic child' asked wryly/dryly/maybe mildly, slyly how could Desi be?
I was plunged into momentary confucianism because I ne'er expected an "inane" -- perhaps insane -- passing remark could invite attention.
So I reflected on te subject, and like the "Her" above, Desi concurs that
In the public mind, an Angel - like a Wednesday's Child of Woe -- is best ascribed as a 'Her'.
Back to Desi's attempt to lighten up,brighten up on these Cloudy Days (which the Eagles are trying their luvers' best to drive away! Butt Lundun is mighty far, far away!). If I appear to be speaking in tongue often, it's the Season to be Chic!
Yesterday was not a typical Tuesday with Worrie, we were regaled wit(h) some NUTgifts of Amore; today's survey findings about kids rival the one about yesterdae teenagers.
Poll: Kids love being rich and famous
LONDON, Mon. -- Becoming rich and famous is the most important thing in life, a revealing survey of British children said today, also showing that the nation’s youngsters consider footballer Wayne Rooney more famous than Jesus.
The survey of 2,500 under-10s to mark National Kids’ Day asked children to rate what they considered "the best thing in the world", with becoming rich taking top spot.
However, expectations of what constituted wealth varied somewhat, with estimates ranging from £200 million (RM1.33 billion) to a more modest £460.
Being famous came second, above the more traditional pursuits of football, pop music and animals.
In findings that should perhaps have some British parents examining their lifestyles, a corresponding list of the worst things in the world had "drunk people" at the top, followed by smoking.
When asked to name the world’s most famous person, young Manchester United and England star Rooney not only beat Jesus to take second place, he also pushed his national team captain, David Beckham, into fourth.
It was left to God to restore some Christian pride, taking top spot. — AFP
DESI was in deep thought as I started BF Yesterday when I was feelin' young and gay, non-CON because I'm most times a socialist. "non-CON' refers to the breakfast, not to Desi's claim he's 'young and gay'. Feeli' and Being are a world of difference, or isit deference? See, much misuse or abuse of this medium of Blogging -- luckily these British kids have not got onto it. Mayhaps, next year "it" wil outrank Rooney the mooney, but below Christ-lah, Tis the season of Goodwill -- Feeli' Good and Willing, not Wilfool. Today Desi's on a Hi.
I was asking mGf quite well-versed with Christian theology IF CHRISTIANITY is actually quite in concord with SOCIALLISM. IMHO (See, I've mistressed some Blogger lingo, just after nine months! Hehehe...another1:)) Desi says most Christain values -- eg of Love thy neighbour, and Live a life of humility and humanity, in line with Virtues of Love, Compassion and Charity -- quite atune with my perception of my political bent towrads Socialist cant.
"He" nodded his head some 90%, BUUU....UT...followed by a long pause, whether for me to ponder, or for me to eat my "Tai Pau" smoothly with my piping hot tehsi. mGf with a name, Hehehe, that rhymes with an animal that goes Moo-Moo, then added:
"Socialism does not cater to thy spirit, only thy soul."
Dear ER, for the past 24 hours, I was still in deep contemplation, not CON-1, real reflection as my contemplative sifu Thoreau would in his woods, on most days butt a Wednesday, which Child born that day is sooo fool of woe, which is not healthy living, against the grain of Thoreau's philosophy. Desi's2, of course I allow some latitude with foods, and drinks, not hard, soft on myself.
Okay, where was I? Yes, Soul versus spirit.
I checked with another mGf whose name rhymes with Wong, fortune, fortuitous, remember? with this
POSER: In thy underastyanding, is there a difference between Spirit and Soul?
He paused, hesitantly answered, seemingly impressing me that I had asked him a 'trick" question.
"No, to me the Soul and Spirit are one and the same, interchangeable."
So my ER and mGf, please help me with Desi's Survey, called The Soul Survey ending 2005 to be released for welcoming 2006:
Do you go for
(1) Mr Coww's version -- Soul and Spirit are two different entities
(2) Mr "Wong's" version -- Soul and Spirit are one and the same
(3) Like Desi, Steal Not Sure.
For choice (1) and (2) giving thy RAT-ionale, mousey-one also-can, will be useful for understanding.
For (3), no need Rationale as Desi's in the same Boata! Desi understands Da Dilemma -- child, youth, man, and oldie.
Please EMAIL answers to: chongyl2000@yahoo.com
Deadline: Dec 31, 2005.
Results to be announced" First week of 2006.
PRIZE: Share my resoltion for the New Year. Read a Booker!
If buy Desi a tehsi, will lend you that bitch-eared On Walden Pond -- bitch because if the borrower does not return the treasure, the Dog bites!
At a personal level, before all else, I normally start the day with taking care of the growlin' tummy in the anti-'meridien' (can sometimes mean capitalist:()period.
New-found friend JPsc and I had been Xchanging words for a week now, and sometimes we seem to fly off tangent (JP hinted at "stray", but it's not healthy since both of us aspire towards staying put till 110, yes SC?). To loosen up, we engage in -- I pause, oh WTH! intercourse, using wry language, also dry, like gin and wits. The last italicised phrase -- which is often used at Desi's Place to mislead readers into a state of cunfucianism -- is a metap(w)hor', I think I covered that one sundae ...Ne'er mine, today is steal WedNURSEdae!
And compare this with idiomatic use of language like the cautionary: Mind your Ps and Qs...admonishing people to Mond their manners, Behave-lah, or I'd throw thee out of My Place, whose origins apparently were traced to:
*In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down." It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
When in sin-land, I learnt it's impossible to spot any citizen spotting or sporting grey, matter or hair. JP offered that's 'Cos the government makes things so very clear, it's either Black, or White.
When in mine-land, JPsc is educated by Desi it's not common to spot any citizen without a title, preferably front, sans which, backside also-can:
For instance, So-and-so is a Tun, the wide's a Tonne; Dr Tan is a medical doctor, the wife cannot be plain Mrs Tan, she has in her name card reading: chef staff nurse, FRCP, MMP, PMN behind her name (I think the last stand for Post-Menstrual Somethin').
The Datuk Benda is a Drs, his wife calls him 'Bang, Doctor 'bang. (The ' stand for A, Abang is literally brother, butt is for husband here in Malay...)
The 70-old-tycoon's family is so ashamed when he moved on - the rags-to-riches self-made man who started as a riskshaw-puller but died a multi-millionaire - had no prefix or suffix to go with his nama. The surving members called a PC and announced a RM1million grant to the University of Gonnerland.
They bestowed a title to the philanthropist: Professor Ignoranmus.
The mourning heirs were happy the oldman died in peace, none the wiser.
. Commonest of course is: she's a datin, he's a datuk, (s)he is in-between so they wont fight over whether the Datin was rightfully gained, or the Datuk truly had the grandchild's genes. And the one-in-betwen, they call him/her a Tukin.
And from our common ancesters in faraway Engrund who gave us the best heritage, Queen's English, we learn to whistle down the wind, or at the gals:
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
Now you get the picture why when you wolf-whistle at that gal-who-turns-ou-to-be-a-boy, they make you all wet by throwing you into the re-fill beer barrel and turn on the beat, and sing:
Those were the days my friend
We thot they'd never end
We'd sing and dance
Forever and a day
So w'et your appetite with me,
Let's down the birs in glee,
For we were young
And those were the days.
~~~~~~~~~~~AND BEFORE FINALLY Desi Closes Down Da Place~~~~~~~~~~~~
I borrowed this from the one with the yen for L'FE at yancroner.blogspot.com:
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to
rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amznig huh?
Surfing the NET in the quiet of the night gives Inspiration to Desi to write his deeper thoughts. Somehow creatives juices flow more readily, mayhaps darkness brings on a blanket that chases all the daylight blues. We are wrong if we think the Devil works best in Da Darkness.
Malaysian criminals truly commit Daylight Robbery -- literally and metaphorically.
You don't believe, I'm sure yopu believe the print media. Self censorship does not hold in this department --in fact, they even juice it UP in crime coverage; contrasted with, believe me, it's 90% in the cover(UP) of Politics.
I read a profound quote from my philosopher friend taking a quiet walk near Walden Pond.
"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." - Henry David Thoreau
Desi tries to lead a l've of contemplation and 'rit(e)ing in the quiet hours of Darkness my Olde fRiend. As human as the person next door, I also may appear a CON artiste sometimes with my wordplay to build an imgainary world as a form of escapism. Don't we all indule in some form of Fantasy and Flight -- on the wings of imgination, yes, in moments of desperation and despair, more often in moments of longing.
So church mice writesr can afford some Longin's watches some of the time.
White bread withB&B on weakdays, with some kaya thrown in.
CON BF2 on sundaes. Call that desperation, but it's never quiet with my mates and buddies. We often have looks of "rebuke" (some could even border on murderous!) from our neighbour's square tables. Tis alright, mGf and I are 'nites of the Round Table.
More Nutgifts sis(s) it's the Season for-Giving:
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great ruler from history:
Spades: King David
Hearts: Charlemagne
Clubs: Alexander, the Great
Diamonds: Julius Caesar
Parting card: I forgot to add, Dave D' Joker!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Peggy NutGives Amore on a Tuesday!
From the Business Times-NST,
December 20 2005, page B5:
Tis the Season to be Jolly, hence some Santa-sy news break,
Blue-chips may see Christmas rally
DOMESTIC funds scrambling for cheap blue-chip stocks to dress up their portfolios promise to bring some Christmas glitter to the benchmark index, Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI), investors said.
High oil prices, foreign competition and rising borrowing costs in the US economy have been blamed for a spate of poor results at some of Malaysia’s biggest companies, such as carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd and carrier Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS), which have led the index lower than it began the year.
The KLCI has risen in the last half of December in 24 of the last 28 years, said Chris Lobello, a risk and trading strategist at CLSA, the investment banking and brokerage arm of French bank Credit Agricole.
And a repeat of the gain is possible, he added.
“There’s a strong motivation for people to end the year in positive territory. There isn’t much liquidity, and with lower turnover and lots of domestic funds with a high cash level, any potential for window-dressing could drive the market higher,” said Lobello.
He added: “This year there is good reason to expect the trend to continue with current levels just below last year’s close, and strong interest from many parties for the index to close the year in positive territory.
As at yesterday’s closing, the KLCI was down 1.4 per cent, compared with a gain of 13 per cent in Singapore’s Straits Times Index and a 19 per cent advance in the Indonesian benchmark. Thailand’s SET Index has had a 3.4 per cent advance in the period.
But rather than the Malaysian stock market staging a collective advance, only selected blue-chips are expected to rise in the weeks ahead, some traders said.
“A broad-based Christmas rally is as likely as Santa Claus appearing,” said a senior dealer with a local brokerage.
“A rally in terms of selected index stocks is not a problem, but a broad rally? Forget it. People are looking to sell on any sign of a rally.”
The KLCI has been dragged down by a spate of losses at some of the nation’s largest firms.
“The usual suspects will be pushed up for dividend declaration or window-dressing. But I don’t think anybody is any wiser on the question of whether there will be a sustainable rally, or if it’ll be a one-day wonder,” said Raymond Tang, chief investment officer at CIMB Principal Asset Management.
“The fundamental reason for a Christmas rally is that most state funds will have a net asset value (NAV) that is underwater for the year and that’s going to look terrible,” said a senior dealer with a foreign brokerage. — Reuters
DESIDERATA: As I had written before, here's repaet of a caution. Those speculative players, which comprise 90% of retail, on the market (Saham, not pasar-lah!) stand less than 10% chance of "winning". Their odds will improve to 4 to 6 at the Genting Highlands, or Lowlands at the 3D+1 Da Ma Cai or 4D Magnum or Sports Toto outlets (I declare I have zero interest/s in these aforementioned highly capitalised companies ...). This is attributed by one Economist I know whose name rhymes with Wong, which in Chinoserie means Fortune, which means you win in 9 out of 10 at any game of Dice, mice and men. I forgot Vice, came as an forethought recalled.
Let's go over the counter for more Amore lifters.
At mGf Yan's Corner - In Touch, I steal love notes quite often for digestion -- entree, dish, desSert, also-canned.
So Love Quote of the Day on November 28, 2005 (Luv, like wine, beautifies with Age, butt this came from the Olde folks, hence it's loaded, or pregnant, or hemmed up, watever!) reads:
Love: A temporary insanity curable by marriage.
Ambrose Bierce
Of all the music that reached farthest into heaven, it is the beating of a loving heart.
Henry Ward Beecher
And a new ESTEEMEDREADER Peggy had an interesting collection which I "borrowed" off her, in the same spirit of Yuletide, with NUGGETS, one must give to share with others.
Yuletide is the Season of Jolly (Shandy) and Giving (Nuggets), so here goes some gems by courtesy of Peggy, new friend at Blogsworld.
In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them.- Johann von Neumann
"When you encounter seemingly good advice that contradicts other seemingly good advice, ignore them both."- Al Franken
When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?'- Don Marquis
Stoop and you'll be stepped on; stand tall and you'll be shot at.- Carlos A. Urbizo
SPECIAL MISSIVE to "Peggy" from Desi:
Cos I "RECOPIED" your maiden commment at Desi's Place, to correct the date of entry wrongly recorded during to a quirk in blogsworld, I forgot to note the name of your Blog, which I visited via your Named link. So dear Peggy, I Hope you re-comment today and I promise I won't make the "same" mistake twice! I'll offer two cuppa of tehtarik of Welcome! Wellcome!!
And lustly, so that we do not appear to be like Katak dibawah Jambatan Lundun :the latest World Update
Monday December 19, 2005
Sex, lies and surveys on students’ chastity
BEIJING: Media obsession with female students' chastity, or the lack of it, has moved up a notch with a student paper at a top university here refuting a report on the high rate of sexual activity.
The survey was conducted in response to an online claim that only a minority of female students at Beijing Foreign Studies University (Beiwai) were inexperienced in sex.
“I feel this is unfair. Female students as a group have been the target of a demonisation campaign,” said He Min, a junior of the school majoring in journalism, who spoke on condition that her real name not be revealed.
Chinese media, especially the tabloids, seem to be fixated on the private lives of female college students.
There are numerous reports of college girls moonlighting in houses of ill repute, with some stories putting their number very high.
A posting titled “The night life of a Beiwai girl,” which has been making the rounds on the Internet, claims to be a first-person account of a san pei (escort) girl in the city's Sanlitun bar district.
Also, an online survey, purportedly conducted by the Beijing Film Academy's “Single Men Society,” concluded that by the time they graduate, only 15.86% of female students at Beiwai are virgins.
He Min defended their “good name” with their own poll, which was done on campus.
The result, published in 107 Investigation, a student newspaper, said that only 11.5% of female students engaged in sex during their college years.
Discussions on Internet forums show that most Chinese are troubled by a sense of sliding morals, which they attribute to a growing materialistic craving.
The loss of virginity at a young age is often seen as a manifestation.
Some experts have different views.
“The Beiwai students were trying to protect their values,” said Ai Xiaoming, a feminist scholar.
“But it played right into the traditional virginity obsession.” – China Daily
DESI: I apologise for not gifting thee the link to the surveyors' - or isit purveyors? - webpage. I think among many of my ER are some under-age of non-dissent fans, so I shall not teat on dangerous waters. Or euphemistically speaking, Desi behaving like An angel who roams where the Devel fears to tread ... sumthin' close to that,closin' NutGift of Vicedom for another Tuesdie with No Worrie!
December 20 2005, page B5:
Tis the Season to be Jolly, hence some Santa-sy news break,
Blue-chips may see Christmas rally
DOMESTIC funds scrambling for cheap blue-chip stocks to dress up their portfolios promise to bring some Christmas glitter to the benchmark index, Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI), investors said.
High oil prices, foreign competition and rising borrowing costs in the US economy have been blamed for a spate of poor results at some of Malaysia’s biggest companies, such as carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd and carrier Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS), which have led the index lower than it began the year.
The KLCI has risen in the last half of December in 24 of the last 28 years, said Chris Lobello, a risk and trading strategist at CLSA, the investment banking and brokerage arm of French bank Credit Agricole.
And a repeat of the gain is possible, he added.
“There’s a strong motivation for people to end the year in positive territory. There isn’t much liquidity, and with lower turnover and lots of domestic funds with a high cash level, any potential for window-dressing could drive the market higher,” said Lobello.
He added: “This year there is good reason to expect the trend to continue with current levels just below last year’s close, and strong interest from many parties for the index to close the year in positive territory.
As at yesterday’s closing, the KLCI was down 1.4 per cent, compared with a gain of 13 per cent in Singapore’s Straits Times Index and a 19 per cent advance in the Indonesian benchmark. Thailand’s SET Index has had a 3.4 per cent advance in the period.
But rather than the Malaysian stock market staging a collective advance, only selected blue-chips are expected to rise in the weeks ahead, some traders said.
“A broad-based Christmas rally is as likely as Santa Claus appearing,” said a senior dealer with a local brokerage.
“A rally in terms of selected index stocks is not a problem, but a broad rally? Forget it. People are looking to sell on any sign of a rally.”
The KLCI has been dragged down by a spate of losses at some of the nation’s largest firms.
“The usual suspects will be pushed up for dividend declaration or window-dressing. But I don’t think anybody is any wiser on the question of whether there will be a sustainable rally, or if it’ll be a one-day wonder,” said Raymond Tang, chief investment officer at CIMB Principal Asset Management.
“The fundamental reason for a Christmas rally is that most state funds will have a net asset value (NAV) that is underwater for the year and that’s going to look terrible,” said a senior dealer with a foreign brokerage. — Reuters
DESIDERATA: As I had written before, here's repaet of a caution. Those speculative players, which comprise 90% of retail, on the market (Saham, not pasar-lah!) stand less than 10% chance of "winning". Their odds will improve to 4 to 6 at the Genting Highlands, or Lowlands at the 3D+1 Da Ma Cai or 4D Magnum or Sports Toto outlets (I declare I have zero interest/s in these aforementioned highly capitalised companies ...). This is attributed by one Economist I know whose name rhymes with Wong, which in Chinoserie means Fortune, which means you win in 9 out of 10 at any game of Dice, mice and men. I forgot Vice, came as an forethought recalled.
Let's go over the counter for more Amore lifters.
At mGf Yan's Corner - In Touch, I steal love notes quite often for digestion -- entree, dish, desSert, also-canned.
So Love Quote of the Day on November 28, 2005 (Luv, like wine, beautifies with Age, butt this came from the Olde folks, hence it's loaded, or pregnant, or hemmed up, watever!) reads:
Love: A temporary insanity curable by marriage.
Ambrose Bierce
Of all the music that reached farthest into heaven, it is the beating of a loving heart.
Henry Ward Beecher
And a new ESTEEMEDREADER Peggy had an interesting collection which I "borrowed" off her, in the same spirit of Yuletide, with NUGGETS, one must give to share with others.
Yuletide is the Season of Jolly (Shandy) and Giving (Nuggets), so here goes some gems by courtesy of Peggy, new friend at Blogsworld.
In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them.- Johann von Neumann
"When you encounter seemingly good advice that contradicts other seemingly good advice, ignore them both."- Al Franken
When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?'- Don Marquis
Stoop and you'll be stepped on; stand tall and you'll be shot at.- Carlos A. Urbizo
SPECIAL MISSIVE to "Peggy" from Desi:
Cos I "RECOPIED" your maiden commment at Desi's Place, to correct the date of entry wrongly recorded during to a quirk in blogsworld, I forgot to note the name of your Blog, which I visited via your Named link. So dear Peggy, I Hope you re-comment today and I promise I won't make the "same" mistake twice! I'll offer two cuppa of tehtarik of Welcome! Wellcome!!
And lustly, so that we do not appear to be like Katak dibawah Jambatan Lundun :the latest World Update
Monday December 19, 2005
Sex, lies and surveys on students’ chastity
BEIJING: Media obsession with female students' chastity, or the lack of it, has moved up a notch with a student paper at a top university here refuting a report on the high rate of sexual activity.
The survey was conducted in response to an online claim that only a minority of female students at Beijing Foreign Studies University (Beiwai) were inexperienced in sex.
“I feel this is unfair. Female students as a group have been the target of a demonisation campaign,” said He Min, a junior of the school majoring in journalism, who spoke on condition that her real name not be revealed.
Chinese media, especially the tabloids, seem to be fixated on the private lives of female college students.
There are numerous reports of college girls moonlighting in houses of ill repute, with some stories putting their number very high.
A posting titled “The night life of a Beiwai girl,” which has been making the rounds on the Internet, claims to be a first-person account of a san pei (escort) girl in the city's Sanlitun bar district.
Also, an online survey, purportedly conducted by the Beijing Film Academy's “Single Men Society,” concluded that by the time they graduate, only 15.86% of female students at Beiwai are virgins.
He Min defended their “good name” with their own poll, which was done on campus.
The result, published in 107 Investigation, a student newspaper, said that only 11.5% of female students engaged in sex during their college years.
Discussions on Internet forums show that most Chinese are troubled by a sense of sliding morals, which they attribute to a growing materialistic craving.
The loss of virginity at a young age is often seen as a manifestation.
Some experts have different views.
“The Beiwai students were trying to protect their values,” said Ai Xiaoming, a feminist scholar.
“But it played right into the traditional virginity obsession.” – China Daily
DESI: I apologise for not gifting thee the link to the surveyors' - or isit purveyors? - webpage. I think among many of my ER are some under-age of non-dissent fans, so I shall not teat on dangerous waters. Or euphemistically speaking, Desi behaving like An angel who roams where the Devel fears to tread ... sumthin' close to that,closin' NutGift of Vicedom for another Tuesdie with No Worrie!
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