Disquiet on the Midnight Voices' Front...

A fellow blogger had a recent chat with Desi, and he did casually observe and ask: How come you wrote very few posts this year, and appewared quite "quiet".
My answer was that many things happening in our beloved country this year did not send out POSITIVE vibrations; many voices were screaming BUT IT WAS MOSTLY NOISE of the unwelcome kind; hence Desi finds it better to keep quiet then add to the "noisey" decibels.

DISQUIET refers to a heart's condition which feels lots of emotions but it's difficult to pin them down to what is the real ailment. We see many symptoms, but the doctr has run off with the WedNURSEday's Childe, so Desi and the nurse are SILENT.

WQhen morning breaks for a New Year, I'm not optimistic that all the disquiet of 2014 will go away. MH370 vanished; MH17 was allegedly shot down; QZ8501 continues to be a tragic story in progress...ARE THERE SOMEW THREAD to all these incidents involving 3 plane disasters associated with Malaysia?

I leave you with a few unanswered questions --

1. Has Malaysia been hit by Bad Karma because of failed leadership?

2. An English saying quite allied to the concept of Karma mentioned in  (1) is:
What goes around comes around; in its science compendium, it's the Newtonian Law:

To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

3. Does Lord Acton's maxim ring a bell?

Power tends to corrupt; Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Read my immediate previous post.

Dear mGf -- you know who thou art --and ER, Try to have a GOoD YEAR AHEAD!
 *****************************************************************************

PS: Just for the Recrod, It's hopefully just Adieu, Not Goodbye, YL, Desi with a downtime heart:~~~~

From news.com.au, (now it's 16.15PM Malaysian time)

AirAsia flight QZ8501: Plane crash in Java Sea

• 38 minutes ago December 31, 2014 6:35PM

• Video
• Video
• Image

Indonesian officials begin recovering bodies

• Wreckage of AirAsia flight QZ8501 located using sonar equipment
• Not known yet if plane is in one piece or several
• Seven bodies recovered
• Pilot tells of seeing victims holding hands in the water

STORMS have forced AirAsia search teams to suspend their operations early — just as Indonesian officials revealed sonar equipment had captured footage of the plane resting upside down at the bottom of the Java Sea.

A total of seven bodies have now been recovered, including four males and three females, all completely intact.
National Search and Rescue Agency chief BambangSoelistyo said one of the female victims was wearing a flight attendant uniform.

Indonesian search and rescue team members stretcher a body plucked from the Java Sea. Source: AFP

He said 168 coffins had been prepared — although the official number of people on board Flight QZ 8501 is 162.
Distraught relatives have gathered in Surabaya, where a crisis centre has been set up near the local police station and hospital, to hand over medical records and other documents.
It is here that the bodies will be taken for identification and police say they have taken DNA samples from 30 immediate family members to assist with the identification of bodies.
Among them was Hadi Widjaja, 60, who was preparing a Muslim funeral for his son Andreas and daughter-in-law Enny Wahyuni.
“I am anxious to know if the rescuers have found their bodies. The president has said that they will do the best they can to find them,” Mr Widjaja told AFP.
“But if they really cannot find them, I will scatter flowers in the sea here as a way to say goodbye.”

Relatives pray together inside a holding room at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya Source: AFP

Storms forced search teams to suspend their operations early today. Helicopters were later sent out as the weather cleared, but some returned again to the base in Pangkalan Bun, the town with the nearest airstrip to the crash site.
“For the safety reasons, we turned back,” helicopter pilot Tatang Onne Setiawan said.
“Besides the evacuation of the bodies, we also planned to search for bigger parts of the plane.”
Indonesain from the AirAsia flight has been found at the bottom of the Java Sea.
Mr Soelistyo said wreckage from the aircraft had been found using sonar equipment — but did not know yet if the plane is in one piece or broken up.
Earlier, the pilot who discovered the first three bodies from AirAsia flight QZ8501 said the victims were holding hands in the water.
Lieutenant Airman Tri Wobowo, who co-piloted one of the Hercules off the coast of Borneo, today said he saw up to eight bodies.
“There are seven to eight people. Three [of them] again hold hands,” he told Indonesian national newspaper Kompas.
Six bodies have been recovered so far, including a flight attendant.
RELATED: RELATIVES IN SHOCK AT HORROR FOOTAGE
RELATED: SECOND AIRASIA PLANE IN DRAMATIC INCIDENT
RELATED: FLYING IN ASIA: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
A report in London’s Daily Telegraph said an Indonesian fisherman, Mohammed Taha, 38, first spotted metal objects in the water, including ones that were red.
He saw them on Sunday but didn’t return home until the next day. He then learned of the AirAsia disaster.
“The largest was four metres long and two metres wide. They were red coloured with white silver. It looked like the AirAsia colours.”
He told police who then organised an aerial search which confirmed the objects, including a door, were from the plane.
Many local fishermen have helped with the search after being contacted by authorities soon after the plane vanished.
There were 155 passengers on board, with 137 adults, 17 children and 1 infant. Also on board were 2 pilots, 4 cabin crew and one engineer.

A family member of passengers on-board the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 reacts after seeing an unidentified floating body during a search and rescue mission with Indonesian military over the Java Sea. Source: AFP

An Aerial view of the waters near Bangka Island being searched for debris from AirAsia Flight QZ8501 in a navy fixed wing patrol craft near Bangka Island, Indonesia. Picture: Ed Wray Source: Getty Images

Search area for the missing Air Asia flight QZ8501. Source: Supplied

A backpack, food and children’s shoes has been found in the water by searchers.
AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes said he is experiencing an airline chief executive’s “worst nightmare”.
Speaking in Indonesia’s second-biggest city of Surabaya after meeting with distraught relatives of some of the 162 passengers, Fernandes said he “apologised profusely” for the accident.
“The passengers were on my aircraft and I have to take responsibility for that,” he said, adding that he was focusing on supporting the families.
“It’s an experience I never dreamt of happening and it’s probably an airline CEO’s worst nightmare,” Fernandes said on Tuesday.

Members of the Indonesia marines unload their diving equipment as they arrive at Pangkalan Bun air base in Central Kalimantan. Source: AFP

An earlier statement from his company said employees of affiliate AirAsia Indonesia, which operated the crashed plane, had been sent to the site where debris was found and would fully co-operate in the investigation.
“There is at least some closure as opposed to not knowing what’s happened and holding out hope,” Fernandes told reporters.
He said the pilot of the ill-fated plane was “extremely experienced” with 20,000 hours of flying.
“There were some very unique weather conditions and let’s wait for the investigation to be concluded.” Out of the 162 passengers and crew on board, 155 were Indonesian.
“This is a very difficult moment for all of us at AirAsia as we await further developments of the search and rescue operations but our first priority now is the wellbeing of the family members of those on-board QZ8501.”

Indonesian Navy airmen search the waters near Bangka Island. Photo by Ed Wray/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Monsoonal weather continues to affect the area of the search site, which has been suspended for the night. Conditions are less than ideal, with thunderstorms in the area creating rough seas, with reports at least six inches of rain are expected to be dumped throughout the night.
“This type of extreme weather can result in catastrophic failure,” aircraft expert Anthony Roma told msnbc.
The plane was flying within a level five thunderstorm, while three other flights successfully traversed the same flight pattern as QZ8501.
“In this area there are storms a great deal of the time, aircraft fly all the time,” said Mr Roma.

A relative of a passenger on AirAsia flight QZ8501 receives medical attention as she collapses at the breaking news of debris and bodies being found. Picture: Robertus Pudyanto Source: Getty Images

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes at the crisis centre at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. Picture: Firdia Lisnawati Source: AP

“The passengers were on my aircraft and I have to take responsibility for that,” said AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes/ Picture: Manan Vatsyayana Source: AFP

San Diego-based guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson has responded to INdonesia’s request to support search operations. Source: AFP

After two days of searching, debris from parts of the aircraft, including an emergency exit door, luggage, oxygen tack and a life jacket, were found in the Karimata Straight between Sumatra, Java and Borneo, around 110 nautical miles south west from Pangkalan Bun.
Several corpses were spotted off Borneo island. Search and rescue teams were lowered on ropes from a hovering helicopter to retrieve the corpses, their efforts hindered by 2-meter-high (6-foot-high) waves and strong winds. They were recovered, swollen but intact, and taken to an Indonesian navy ship.
The ‘shadow’ of a plane was spotted on the seabed close to the debris.
Navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir told AFP earlier that, according to naval radio, a warship had recovered more than 40 bodies from the sea. But he later said that report was a miscommunication by his staff. Reports indicate some bodies did not have life jackets on.
The debris was spotted just under 10 kilometres from when the flight was last seen on radar.
“At the present time, search and rescue operations are still in progress and further investigation of the debris found at the location is still underway,” the statement read.
“AirAsia Indonesia employees have been sent to the site and will be fully cooperating with BASARNAS, National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), and relevant authorities on the investigation.”

Commander of 1st Indonesian air force Operational Command Rear Marshall Dwi Putranto shows aeroplane parts and a suitcase found floating on the water near the site where AirAsia Flight 8501 disappeared. Picture: Dewi Nurcahyani Source: AP

Relatives of passengers of the missing AirAsia Flight 8501 react upon seeing the news on television. Picture: Trisnadi Source: AP

Indonesian television have been criticised after showing bodies on the waters near the site where the jetliner disappeared. Picture: Trisnadi Source: AP

Several countries are helping Indonesia retrieve the wreckage and the passengers.
The United States announced it was sending the USS Sampson destroyer, joining at least 30 ships, 15 aircraft and seven helicopters in the search for the jet, said Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo.
A Chinese frigate was also on the way, while Singapore said it was sending two underwater beacon detectors to try to detect pings from the plane’s all-important cockpit voice and flight data recorders. Malaysia, Australia and Thailand also are involved in the search.

An Indonesian air force Puma helicopter takes off during search and rescue operations. Picture: Bay Ismoyo Source: AFP

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo speaks during press conference at the AirAsia crisis centre. Picture: Robertus Pudyanto Source: Getty Images

An Indonesian Navy Pilot looks out the cockpit window as he banks to check out an object sighted during a search of the waters near Bangka Island. Picture: Ed Wray Source: Getty Images

The tragic news was made worse when Indonesian television footage showed a body floating in the sea during aerial searches for the plane.
Pandemonium broke out at Juanda International Airport, at least two distraught family members were carried out on stretchers from the room where they had been waiting for news in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city and the takeoff point for the aircraft that disappeared during a storm on Sunday.
Many screamed and wailed uncontrollably, breaking down into tears while they squeezed each other. One middle-aged man collapsed and was rushed from the room on a stretcher.
“We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances,” said Sunu Widyatmoko, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Indonesia, in AirAsia’s statement.
“We would like to extend our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of those on board QZ8501. Our sympathies also go out to the families of our dear colleagues.”

Indonesian air force personnel carry aeroplane parts recovered from the water near the site where AirAsia Flight 8501 disappeared, at the air base in Pangkalan Bun, Central Borneo, Indonesia. Picture: Dewi Nurcahyani Source: AP

This aerial view taken over the Java Sea shows floating debris from AirAsia flight QZ8501. Picture: Bay Ismoyo Source: Supplied

A family member of passengers gestures while accompanying military personnel on a search and rescue (SAR) mission. Picture: Juni Kriswanto Source: AFP

Commander of Indonesian air force 1st Operational Command Rear Marshall Dwi Putranto, centre, shows the aeroplane parts and a suitcase found floating on the water. Picture: Dewi Nurcahyani Source: AP

In its statement, AirAsia Indonesia said it will be inviting family members to Surabaya, where a “dedicated team of care providers will be assigned to each family to ensure that all of their needs are met”.
“Counsellors, religious and spiritual personnel have also been invited to the family centre to provide any necessary services,” it read.

Family members of passengers react after watching news reports showing an unidentified body floating in the Java Sea. Picture: Manan Vatsyayana Source: AFP

Floating debris spotted in the same area as other items. Picture: Bay Ismoyo Source: Supplied

A relative receives medical attention as he collapses at the breaking news. Picture: Robertus Pudyanto Source: Getty Images

Family members of passengers pray together while waiting for a briefing inside the crisis-centre set up at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. Picture: Manan Vatsyayana Source: AFP

Earlier, Indonesia’s director general of civil aviation, Djoko Murjatmodjo, told AFP: “For the time being it can be confirmed that it’s the AirAsia plane and the transport minister will depart soon to Pangkalan Bun.”
“Based on the observation by search and rescue personnel, significant things have been found such as a passenger door and cargo door.
“It’s in the sea, 100 miles (160 kilometres) southwest of Pangkalan Bun,” he said, referring to the town in Central Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo.

A rescuer is lowered on rope from a hovering helicopter near a body in Java Sea waters. Source: AP

Relatives of passengers break down at the news of debris and bodies being found. Picture: Robertus Pudyanto Source: Getty Images

An Indonesian Navy airman prays on his plane before searching the waters near Bangka Island. Picture: Ed Wray Source: Getty Images

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo speaks during a press conference at the AirAsia crisis centre at Juanda International Airport on December 30. Picture: Robertus Pudyanto Source: Getty Images

A search for the aircraft has been underway since Sunday afternoon when it lost contact with Indonesian air traffic control.
The plane, with 155 passengers and seven crew, was less than an hour into a flight from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore when it is believed to have encountered a violent thunderstorm.
Its pilots requested a change of flight path due to bad weather, just minutes before contact was lost.

Chiara Natasha at right (who was not on the flight) pictured with her mother Indahju Liangsih. Chiara Natasha lost her parents and two brothers on the flight. Photo: Facebook Source: Supplied

The Herald Sun reports a Melbourne-based student was on-board the plane when it disappeared. Monash University student Kevin Alexander Soetjipto was travelling from Indonesia to Singapore with relatives when the plane vanished over the Java Sea.
Mr Soetjipto is from Malang in Indonesia and it is believed he was in Australia on a student visa.

A spokeswoman for Monash confirmed student Kevin Alexander was among the missing. Source: Supplied

Kevin Alexander Soetjipto, a student at the Clayton campus of Monash University. Source: Supplied

With Rebecca Sullivan, Frank Chung, Debra Killalea, Andrew Koubaridis and Sherine Conyers.

Run away to your MindEscape for a merrier and madder Christmas and New year, be like Kids le!

I have not been having a good year in Malaysia. I believe most Malaysians if true to their hearts would admit to similar sentiments like Desi's (see EXAMPLE *****) -- MAYHAPS I'm wrong so I beg your pardon.

I won't wish people the Traditional Yuletide greAtings; just wish that you exercise your mind more and aMore to escape to a wonderful world of possibilities. Like J K Rowling, via Bernama, viz:~~~

Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print More Sharing Services

Author J K Rowling Mentions Draco Malfoy In Her New Entry

LONDON, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- Author J K Rowling has written another story for the Christmas week about the most notorious student of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy and his family in her 'Harry Potter' publishing website Pottermore, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

The 49-year-old author said she failed to understand why many fans fell for a bully like Malfoy which was played by actor Tom Felton who is ironically the "nicest person" one could ever meet, Ace Showbiz reported.

"Draco remains a person of dubious morality in the seven published books, and I have often had cause to remark on how unnerved I have been by the number of girls who fell for this fictional character," Rowling said.

"Draco has all the dark glamour of the anti-hero; girls are very apt to romanticise such people.

"All of this left me in the unenviable position of pouring cold common sense on ardent readers' daydreams, as I told them that Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice. He and Harry were not destined to end up best friends," she said.

Rowling also wrote about Malfoy's marriage with fellow Slytherin Astoria Greengrass and their son Scorpius and how his parents do not like Greengrass because she is more tolerant to non pure-blood people.

Rowling has been updating the Pottermore website with Harry Potter related stories for the Christmas event since December 12.

-- BERNAMA 

*******************************************************

DESIDERATA: I have lately been literarily visiting or escaping to my mindscape or dreamscape; unfortunately sometimes the landscapes become dark and forbidding, like a Nightmare overwhelming your sweet dreams viz: the dreamer ala Desi is chased by that Hound of Baskerville! If you know not this dog, please do some READING -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would then be willjng to accept thee as a disciple if only Thou Art Willing. I am wilful, so besides trying to play Sherlock Holmes, sometimes I enjoying the dark escapades befitting the state of the world in Malaysia today, or izzit TO DIE?

Showbiz

Harry Potter author expands on Draco Malfoy

Published: 23 December 2014

J.K. Rowling has updated her Pottermore website with a story on Draco Malfoy and his family. – x pic, December 23, 2014.Author J. K. Rowling has written another story for the Christmas week about the most notorious student of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy and his family in her Harry Potter publishing website Pottermore, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The 49-year-old author said she failed to understand why many fans fell for a bully like Malfoy which was played by actor Tom Felton, who is ironically the "nicest person" one could ever meet, Ace Showbiz reported.
"Draco remains a person of dubious morality in the seven published books, and I have often had cause to remark on how unnerved I have been by the number of girls who fell for this fictional character," Rowling said.

"Draco has all the dark glamour of the anti-hero; girls are very apt to romanticise such people. "All of this left me in the unenviable position of pouring cold common sense on ardent readers' daydreams, as I told them that Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice. He and Harry were not destined to end up best friends," she said.
Rowling also wrote about Malfoy's marriage with fellow Slytherin Astoria Greengrass and their son Scorpius and how his parents do not like Greengrass because she is more tolerant to non pure-blood people.
Rowling has been updating the Pottermore website with Harry Potter related stories for the Christmas event since December 12. – Bernama, December 23, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/showbiz/article/harry-potter-author-expands-on-draco-malfoy#sthash.qWo7zX3s.dpuf

_______________________________________******

Malaysia ranks No 5 in illicit outflows, GFI

Posted on 17 December 2014 - 05:38am

Rupinder Singh
sunbiz@thesundaily.com

Print

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia lost over US$48.93 billion (RM170.7 billion) in illicit outflows in 2012, making it a cumulative US$394.87 billion during the 10-year period from 2003 through 2012, according to the international anti-corruption group Global Financial Integrity's (GFI) latest report.
In the latest update, GFI reported that a record US$991.2 billion in illicit capital flowed out of developing and emerging economies in 2012 alone, facilitating crime, corruption and tax evasion.
GFI's 2014 annual global update on illicit financial flows pegged cumulative illicit outflows from developing economies at US$6.6 trillion between 2003 and 2012, the latest year for which data is available.
The think-tank said due to Malaysia's downward trend in outflows since 2010, the country is now ranked fifth, switching places with India which climbed a notch to fourth.
GFI measures illicit financial outflows using two sources, outflows due to deliberate trade misinvoicing (Gross Excluding Reversals or GER) and outflows due to leakages in the balance of payments, also known as illicit hot money narrow outflows.
The GER methodology, which draws upon the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS) database in conjunction with its International Financial Statistics (IFS) database, estimates trade misinvoicing by looking for imbalances in reported export and import values between a country of interest and the world.
The vast majority of illicit financial flows – 77.8% in the 10-year period covered in this report – are due to trade misinvoicing.
Last year, Bank Negara Malaysia disputed the GFI figures, saying that the estimates of illicit outflow was overstated as the estimates in the report of trade mispricing had not been taken into consideration.
The central bank said then that the GFI estimates were essentially unrecorded financial flows, which were not necessarily synonymous with illicit financial outflows.
Asia continues to be the region of the developing world with the greatest volume of illicit financial flows, comprising 40.3% of the world total over the ten years of the study.
Titled "Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2003-2012," the report finds that illicit outflows are growing at an inflation-adjusted 9.4% per year or roughly double global gross domestic product (GDP) growth over the same period.
"As this report demonstrates, illicit financial flows are the most damaging economic problem plaguing the world's developing and emerging economies," said GFI president Raymond Baker in a statement.
The outflows, he said, was already greater than the combined sum of all foreign direct investment and official development assistance flowing into those countries and are "sapping roughly a trillion dollars per year from the world's poor and middle-income economies."
"Most troubling, however, is the fact that these outflows are growing at an alarming rate of 9.4% per year – twice as fast as global GDP," Baker added.
He noted that it was simply impossible to achieve sustainable global development unless world leaders agree to address this issue head on.
"That's why it is essential for the United Nations to include a specific target next year to halve all trade-related illicit flows by 2030 as part of post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda," he stressed.

DESI: Note that this latest data makes it a cumulative US$394.87 billion (RM1388.19 billion) during the 10-year period from 2003 through 2012 according to the international anti-corruption group.
The staggering amount puts Malaysia in fifth place for illicit outflows with India, Mexico, Russia and China leading the way in ascending order.

If you divide the absolute figures by the respective countries' populations, MALYSIA WOULD RANK NUMBER ONE! Cos all the other four countries have huge populations!

And our leaders are bickering over Christmas banners and publications using the "allah" term being not allowed, and now -- deserving a mention in world Guinness book of Records? -- some i.dot says it's Wrong for Muslaims to wish Christians "Merry Christmas" during this festive season. What have the God's gited brainsg bequetrhed to these F**King Malaysians have gone to? SDorry, Desi seldoms goes into this territory of using proF...words, but sometimes it's not even strong enough to express one's sentiments.

OK, I willlllrrrrread more Sherlock Holmes for Chhristmas tide, and try to guess the "culprits" before turning the last 13 pages!

Showbiz

Harry Potter author expands on Draco Malfoy

Published: 23 December 2014

J.K. Rowling has updated her Pottermore website with a story on Draco Malfoy and his family. – x pic, December 23, 2014.Author J. K. Rowling has written another story for the Christmas week about the most notorious student of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy and his family in her Harry Potter publishing website Pottermore, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The 49-year-old author said she failed to understand why many fans fell for a bully like Malfoy which was played by actor Tom Felton, who is ironically the "nicest person" one could ever meet, Ace Showbiz reported.
"Draco remains a person of dubious morality in the seven published books, and I have often had cause to remark on how unnerved I have been by the number of girls who fell for this fictional character," Rowling said.

"Draco has all the dark glamour of the anti-hero; girls are very apt to romanticise such people. "All of this left me in the unenviable position of pouring cold common sense on ardent readers' daydreams, as I told them that Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice. He and Harry were not destined to end up best friends," she said.
Rowling also wrote about Malfoy's marriage with fellow Slytherin Astoria Greengrass and their son Scorpius and how his parents do not like Greengrass because she is more tolerant to non pure-blood people.
Rowling has been updating the Pottermore website with Harry Potter related stories for the Christmas event since December 12. – Bernama, December 23, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/showbiz/article/harry-potter-author-expands-on-draco-malfoy#sthash.qWo7zX3s.dpuf

Harry Potter author expands on Draco Malfoy

Published: 23 December 2014

J.K. Rowling has updated her Pottermore website with a story on Draco Malfoy and his family. – x pic, December 23, 2014.Author J. K. Rowling has written another story for the Christmas week about the most notorious student of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy and his family in her Harry Potter publishing website Pottermore, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The 49-year-old author said she failed to understand why many fans fell for a bully like Malfoy which was played by actor Tom Felton, who is ironically the "nicest person" one could ever meet, Ace Showbiz reported.
"Draco remains a person of dubious morality in the seven published books, and I have often had cause to remark on how unnerved I have been by the number of girls who fell for this fictional character," Rowling said.
"Draco has all the dark glamour of the anti-hero; girls are very apt to romanticise such people.
"All of this left me in the unenviable position of pouring cold common sense on ardent readers' daydreams, as I told them that Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice. He and Harry were not destined to end up best friends," she said.
Rowling also wrote about Malfoy's marriage with fellow Slytherin Astoria Greengrass and their son Scorpius and how his parents do not like Greengrass because she is more tolerant to non pure-blood people.
Rowling has been updating the Pottermore website with Harry Potter related stories for the Christmas event since December 12. – Bernama, December 23, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/showbiz/article/harry-potter-author-expands-on-draco-malfoy#sthash.iRVLyNDa.dpuf

Harry Potter author expands on Draco Malfoy

Published: 23 December 2014

J.K. Rowling has updated her Pottermore website with a story on Draco Malfoy and his family. – x pic, December 23, 2014.Author J. K. Rowling has written another story for the Christmas week about the most notorious student of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy and his family in her Harry Potter publishing website Pottermore, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The 49-year-old author said she failed to understand why many fans fell for a bully like Malfoy which was played by actor Tom Felton, who is ironically the "nicest person" one could ever meet, Ace Showbiz reported.
"Draco remains a person of dubious morality in the seven published books, and I have often had cause to remark on how unnerved I have been by the number of girls who fell for this fictional character," Rowling said.
"Draco has all the dark glamour of the anti-hero; girls are very apt to romanticise such people.
"All of this left me in the unenviable position of pouring cold common sense on ardent readers' daydreams, as I told them that Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice. He and Harry were not destined to end up best friends," she said.
Rowling also wrote about Malfoy's marriage with fellow Slytherin Astoria Greengrass and their son Scorpius and how his parents do not like Greengrass because she is more tolerant to non pure-blood people.
Rowling has been updating the Pottermore website with Harry Potter related stories for the Christmas event since December 12. – Bernama, December 23, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/showbiz/article/harry-potter-author-expands-on-draco-malfoy#sthash.iRVLyNDa.dpuf

Malaysians would get a double whammy when world oil price falls further!

When world oil prices rose from around USD70 per barrel to above USD100, the Malaysian government raised pump prices by 20 or 30sen per litre, CITING HIGHER SUBSIDIES. The world price hit a high of USD145per barrel and so we Malaysians were "suckered" again and again by HIGHER pump prices. I had argued then that Malaysians should "enjoy" the benefits of a lower price at the pump when the world oil price rose every time BECAUSE MALAYSI A PRODUCES MORE OIL, and THE PRICE OF OUR SWEET CRUDES ARE SOLD AT A PREMIUM OVER THE PRICE OF IMPORTED OIL.

We enjoyed a 4sen decrease in pump rpices recently, BUT THE GOVERNMENT RAISED PRICES BY20SEN OR 30SEN for several occasions over the past few years.

The government thinks it can fool the people ALL THE TIME?

Read the following news report today:

Oil closes below $60, 1st time since July 2009

A late session dip pushes oil below $60 for the first time since July 2009

By The Associated Press | Associated Press – 7 hours ago

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The price of oil fell below $60 for the first time since July 2009 on Thursday and ended trading in New York at $59.95.
Benchmark U.S. crude oil dropped 99 cents, or 1.6 percent. Oil has fallen steadily for nearly six months, and is down 44 percent since reaching a high for the year of $107.26 in late June.
"We don't see a price bottom," wrote energy analyst Jim Ritterbusch in a note to investors. He expects oil to fall further, toward $55 a barrel, in the short term.
The drop is a result of rising global oil production, especially in the U.S., at a time when demand has weakened because of slowing economies in Asia and Europe.
OPEC said this week that higher production from non-OPEC members and global economic growth will reduce demand for its oil to 28.9 million barrels a day next year. That's the lowest level in more than a decade, and far less than the 30 million barrels per day that the group says it plans to produce next year.
The price collapse has pushed down prices for gasoline, diesel and other fuels, lowering expenses for drivers, shippers and airlines and giving a boost to consumer-driven economies like that of the U.S.
The average price of gasoline in the U.S. fell to $2.61 a gallon Thursday, according to AAA. That's 64 cents below last year at this time, saving U.S. drivers $7 billion a month. The Energy Department predicted this week that lower gasoline prices next year will save a typical U.S. household $550 over the course of the year.
Lower crude prices have sent the share prices of oil companies and drilling services companies spiraling lower, though, and caused many to cut back drilling projects.
As a result, the Energy Department this week trimmed its forecast for oil production growth in the U.S. for next year, though it still expects a sizeable increase. BP announced a $1 billion restructuring plan this week that analysts said could result in the elimination of thousands of jobs.
The lower prices are also pressuring government budgets in oil-producing U.S. states and cash-hungry oil exporters such as Iraq, Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

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DESIDERATA:

So now WHAT happens?

Hey, our national oil corporation will now report a fall in revenues and profitsd; so my prediction is the government will use the argument that SINCE OIL REVENUE CONTRIBUTION FROM PETRONAS TO THE NATIONAL COFFERS WILL "FALL" NEXT YEAR (2015), the pump prices will see a rise to compensate for the government's decrease in revenue from Petronas.

EITHER WAY, THE RAKYAT WILL PAY as the subsidies argument will be ngated by the nett decrease in Petronas' contribution to government coffers. So don't celebration the 4-sen decrease in oil price at the pump.

We the Rakyat should have been GIFTED ower prices when the world oil prices rose to dizzyting heights nearing USD150per barrel, FOR WE ARE A NETT OIL PRODUCER-cum-EXPORTER.
No, the government would compare our oil pump prices with those in OTHER "Non-oil Producing" countries.

Desi asks my ER to be patient while I temporarily take leave and later retrieve relevant arguments form my OLDER posts, cun? "ENJOY" thy lunch break, OK! Tapau fishhead curry for me, can?:)


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MEANWHILE, fellow blogger at kosongcafe.blogspot.com has this write:

Friday, December 12, 2014

Brace ourselves for some belt-tightening this coming new year

  
We are in for some difficult times ahead, even before the implementation of GST. As an oil producing country, we are affected by the drastic drop in oil prices. Though we might be able to get some benefits out of it, but we have yet to see it translated into lower fuel prices. The government will face lower revenues from Petronas but has to maintain salaries and bonuses as well as hand-outs like BR1M.


I have just read an article which revealed that some top oil and gas related companies listed on Bursa Saham Malaysia had their market capitalizations reduced by Rm33 billions when compared with their prices as at July 1, 2014.


We, the public, are definitely going to be affected adversely from this drastic drop in share prices, in one way or other. If even Petronas has to cut capex or other related expenditures by 20%, it would affect those relying on the company for their business revenues. They in turn, would reduce their spendings and affect lesser companies who rely on them for business. Employees of such companies would face no salary increases, bonuses, or even the sack! The effects would eventually be felt by the people, in terms of purchases of houses, cars or even going out to fancy restaurants or entertainment centres.


To the super rich, who each owns and controls such companies, their personal wealth would have been reduced (at least on paper) by hundreds of millions, if not billions. To put in perspective, a super rich could have sold off all his shares on July 1, put all his money in the bank and now buy back at less than half or even one third of what he sold for. Just imagine what he could have done with the profits made! But the reality is that he cannot do that, unless he was already prepared to lose control of his companies. But even the effect of just selling some shares could mean making enough to buy extra properties and luxury cars.


To ordinary mortals like us, most of us would have kept some shares and see them losing values, day after day until they are worth probably half of what they used to. For those who kept all their money in the share market, it could have been worse because each time he needs money, he has to sell shares at a loss... reluctantly but with no choice. It might be a good time to switch from not-so-good counters to really good ones, but the feeling of realising book losses to do that can have the effect of 'seller's remorse' - a term I have just learned from watching Pickers!

INsaniTY rules some segments of our society, YES!

From malay mail online:

WHAT YOU THINK

Thank you, Perkasa; thank you, Isma; you’re doing a fantastic job! — P. Ramakrishnan

PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 9, 2014 08:59 PM

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DECEMBER 9 — Yes, Perkasa and Isma, you have successfully driven more voters away from Umno and BN into the arms of Pakatan. You must be congratulated for doing a job deserving of applause.

What Pakatan has failed to do — i.e. drawing voters in droves away from Umno and Barisan Nasional to support Pakatan — you have succeeded beyond Pakatan’s wildest dreams. You have successfully driven them away from Umno and BN into the arms of Pakatan.

Just because opposing views have been muted that does not mean that your shrill and strident rhetoric has been received without question. Far from it. Indeed, many moderate and concerned Malaysians — both Malays and non-Malays — have been revolted by your extreme and uncompromising views that continue to threaten national unity and harmony. You have compelled these concerned people to make a stand for the good of the nation.

But many like you and those of your ilk mistakenly think that you gain the upper hand in the political arena by heaping blame for the misery of the poor Malay on those who have nothing to do with it. These innocent people did not cause this misery; they are not the cause of this unfortunate situation.

The moderate Malays have reached a point when they can no longer tolerate your intolerance, insolence and vituperation against those who don’t see eye to eye with you.

Those at the recent Umno General Assembly faithfully echoed your vitriolic views and went on a bashing session against those deemed as their enemy. There was no let-up, no attempt to compromise, no common sense displayed for the good of the nation.

What was spewed was undiluted, unbridled hatred and venom which perhaps made those gathered feel “syiok sendiri” within the walls of the assembly. But the sentiment felt beyond the confines of those walls was one of shock and unbelievable trauma — sentiment that reverberated across the country.

It was all about race and religion and the monarchy at the Umno assembly when none of these was under attack or threat. There was no challenge whatsoever over these issues. But it was made to look as if there were crazy people out there running around confronting these sensitive issues, hell-bent on creating chaos.

Good, decent people have run out of patience with this group that has been spewing out such venom. Refreshingly, in a move that holds out hope for the nation, 25 prominent, concerned and caring Malays have come out boldly to express their outrage at the direction this country is heading and to demand rational dialogue on the position of Islam in a constitutional democracy.

According to their statement, they “are deeply concerned about the state of debate on many issues of conflict on the position and application of Islamic laws in Malaysia”.

These are no ordinary Malays and Malaysians. Among those who signed the statement were Datuk Noor Faridah Ariffin, former Malaysian ambassador to the Netherlands; Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Haji Din, former secretary-general, Home Ministry; Tan Sri Ahmad Kamil Jaafar, former secretary-general, Foreign Affairs Ministry; Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman, former secretary-general, Finance Ministry; Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, former director-general, Health Ministry; Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim, former secretary-general, Finance Ministry; Tan Sri Mustaffa Babjee, former director-general, Veterinary Services Department, Datuk Seri Shaik Daud Md Ismail, former Court of Appeal judge; and Hendon Mohamad, past president, Malaysian Bar.

Taking a forthright stand, they fearlessly stated, “It is high time moderate Malays and Muslims speak out. Extremist, immoderate and intolerant voices as represented by Perkasa and Isma do not speak in our name…

“We also urge more moderate Malaysians to speak up and contribute to a better informed and rational public discussion on the place of Islamic laws within a constitutional democracy and the urgency to address the breakdown of federal-state division of powers and finding solutions to the heart-wrenching stories of lives and relationships damaged and put in limbo because of battles over turf and identity.”

In the statement, the signatories said, “As moderate Muslims, we are particularly concerned with the statement issued by Minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, in response to the recent Court of Appeal judgment on the right of transgenders to dress according to their identity.

“He viewed the right of the transgender community and Sisters in Islam (SIS) to seek legal redress as a ‘new wave of assault on Islam’ and as an attempt to lead Muslims astray from their faith, and put religious institutions on trial in a secular court.

“Such an inflammatory statement from a federal minister (and not for the first time) sends a public message that the prime minister’s commitment to the path of moderation need not be taken seriously when a minister can persistently undermine it.”

The Prime Minister, sadly, is not setting the trend and leading the nation as expected of a leader. Very regrettably, he has not condemned or chided those advocating acrimony, animosity, rancour, resentment and bitterness. He is simply echoing the sentiments and views articulated by these extremists.

This did not go unnoticed by these 25 brave and courageous Malaysians: “More importantly, we call on the prime minister to exercise his leadership and political will to establish an inclusive consultative committee to find solutions to these intractable problems that have been allowed to fester for too long.”

These exemplary, eminent Malaysians who had worked with the government — and for the government — have reached a stage where they can no longer tolerate these extreme elements, who are clearly a threat to our way of life. By taking this bold stand, they have earned our undying gratitude and respect. They have gone beyond race and religion to be on the side of justice.

What is happening — and has been allowed to happen — is not in the larger interest of the nation. What is happening is a concerted effort on the part of a minority to concentrate power and position in their hands to serve their selfish interest — for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many who want an inclusive and caring society that will take care of the needy and the deserving.

Well-meaning and caring Malaysians must speak up to send a clear signal that Umno and the PM do not represent the moderate and accommodative views of the majority Malaysians, who only want to live in peace and harmony.

As was stated by William Faulkner, writer and Nobel Prize laureate, “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world… would do this, it would change the earth.”

Certainly, it would change our beloved Malaysia.

* P. Ramakrishan, the long-serving former president of Aliran, has been granted a respite and now happily serves as an Aliran executive committee member. He has carried the flag for human rights and democracy for Aliran since its inception in 1977, when the term “human rights” was considered something of a dirty word.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.

Desi would like to congratulate the Group of 25 senior citizens referred to, quoting from above: ...,they “are deeply concerned about the state of debate on many issues of conflict on the position and application of Islamic laws in Malaysia”.

These are no ordinary Malays and Malaysians. Among those who signed the statement were Datuk Noor Faridah Ariffin, former Malaysian ambassador to the Netherlands; Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Haji Din, former secretary-general, Home Ministry; Tan Sri Ahmad Kamil Jaafar, former secretary-general, Foreign Affairs Ministry; Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman, former secretary-general, Finance Ministry; Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, former director-general, Health Ministry; Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim, former secretary-general, Finance Ministry; Tan Sri Mustaffa Babjee, former director-general, Veterinary Services Department, Datuk Seri Shaik Daud Md Ismail, former Court of Appeal judge; and Hendon Mohamad, past president, Malaysian Bar.

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Desi had similarly writ on Nov 28 thus: .... that I had observed this MADNESS/Insanity during the recent UMNO General Assembly...YES!

Madness Is WHEN UMNO General Assembly Is On...So Desi WILL TRY...

to lessen the INsanity. The party is beyong slavation, just salivating from RM...greed; the veom coming out of the PIMinPin's blemishing the Rakyat's soul, dirtying everything that is withing reach of PWTC the past few days; don't even read the NST and UM!

So take a KitKat break by reading this LIFTER from a new news source I spied todie:)~~~YL, Desi


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from sungaiderhaka.blogspot.com:~~~~

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Najib buat pekak seruan dari 25 tokoh negara..

Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang berkata, Datuk Seri Najib Razak ‘memekakkan telinga’ terhadap permintaan 25 tokoh Malaysia yang menggesa Perdana Menteri untuk menyelesaikan segera ketegangan antara kaum dan agama di Malaysia.

Reaksi pasif Najib yang ‘memekakkan telinganya’ kata Kit Siang adalah bukti kurangnya keazaman politik untuk menamatkan isu-isu ekstremisme dalam negara.

“Seruan 25 tokoh Malaysia itu tidak diendahkan oleh pemerintahan yang pekak diketuai Najib.

“Bukan sahaja telah melupakan dasar 1Malaysia untuk mencipta warga mendahului kaum, agama, geografi, dan status sosio-ekonomi, bahkan Najib membiarkan dirinya terus dikawal kelompok ekstremis, suara-suara tidak moderat dan tidak bertoleransi yang diwakili golongan minoriti di negara ini,” kata Kit Siang dalam satu kenyataan.

Semalam, sekumpulan 25 tokoh Melayu yang terdiri daripada bekas pegawai tinggi kerajaan, ahli akademik dan profesional menggesa Najib menyelesaikan segera ketegangan antara kaum dan agama dalam negara.

Surat terbuka itu ditandatangani 25 individu yang mendesak penyelesaian segera kerana isu tersebut melunturkan keyakinan rakyat terhadap keselamatan, perlindungan dan menjejaskan kestabilan negara.

Penulis surat itu Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, bekas Duta Besar Malaysia ke Belanda yang juga bekas Ketua Pengarah Penyelidikan, Perjanjian dan Jabatan Undang-undang Antarabangsa, Kementerian Luar bimbang dan kecewa dengan perbalahan berterusan berhubung kedudukan dan amalan undang-undang Islam di negara ini.

Mereka turut mendesak Najib menilai semula undang-undang Jenayah Syariah dan memastikan hak rakyat untuk berbahas tentang bagaimana agama Islam diguna sebagai sumber undang-undang serta dasar awam negara.

Kumpulan 25 tokoh itu menambah, penggunaan Akta Hasutan sebagai alat menggertak dan mendiamkan sesiapa yang mempunyai pandangan yang berbeza juga amat membimbangkan.

Kenyataan mereka itu melalui surat terbuka sepenuhnya sila baca di ( SINI )

Justeru itu, kata Kit Siang adalah suatu perkara yang sangat malang apabila Najib tidak mampu melakukan apa-apa, selain gagal untuk membuktikan kualitinya sebagai Perdana Menteri.

“Hanya rakyat biasa – yang majoritinya mendiamkan diri – merentasi parti politik, bangsa, agama yang mampu memastikan kejayaan agenda kesederhanaan dicapai,” kata Kit Siang.