quick post

Since I am having a full-3-month holiday, I think I should start thinking of how could I contribute to the society, and especially how could I help to improve 1Malaysia (next time I mention this word again, I will shoot myself).




1. I have been thinking of discussing (yes, discussing. not writing) with the Minister of Higher Education about the implementation of proper dress codes to all colleges and universities in Malaysia - be it public or private. I saw few pictures of my cousin at her university, and I was like, 'Oh my God! Is that what you guys wear to the lectures?' Such an eye-sore. I tell you. (let's pray she won't read this post huhu~).


If I were the Minister of Higher Education, I would rather synchronize the dress codes for all tertiary institutions. Strict and proper one. Failing to impose my rules (my rules? ^o^), all students from that particular institution have to wear UNIFORM (don't curse me!). Uniforms are provided. Don't worry. 


Oh, that's only if I am really the Minister of Higher Education >.<




2. I have been planning to organize a national campaign of No Mobile Phone for School Age Children. Mobile phones are bad for them. Let's face it. Giving the children a mobile at an early age might turn them into mobile junkies who are addicted to constant short messaging and games. (kinda reminds me of my sister. oh, she will kill me for campaigning this!).


Mobile phone is just a distraction for children's innocent mind. I recall the time when I brought the phone to school (oops!). I didn't even use it to call my parents, as what I promised them. They called me instead. I used it to contact this other person (double oopsss!). Then I lost the phone (padan muka!). Lucky my dad was not very angry (pheww -.-').


As for parents who still want to give mobiles to their children, just stick to simple mobiles with minimum functions. Not only more economical for the parents, but also can limit the children from using it for nefarious purposes.




3. I have been looking for an opportunity to meet the top people from any TV station (Dato' Farid will do). I personally feel that TV is a resource, that is not used to the full extent that it could be. TV programmes that educate are not shown too often. 


What are you watching on TV right now? Chances of the shows are, the rerun of Malay dramas - like Sumpah Puteri Bunian, which are really good for nothing. I would prefer getting myself off the TV, rather than to feel annoyed and disgusted in front of the lifeless TV screen throughout the show. 


These vulgar TV channels enter our home and bring us nothing but bad influences - to the young people, especially. The owner of the TV station wants nothing more, other than to make profit (of course!).




4. I am looking forward to seeing the advising board of all companies which involved in the entertainment industry in Malaysia. I want to convince them how bad the industry has turned into. And I would like to know why they are showing too much of their fondness to the western ways? 


Where else did they get the idea of producing Impak Maksima and KL Drift if not from Too Fast Too Furious (don't make that face. I knew it). And the scripts from the films were something which sound like, 'Lu apa barang lawan guna kayu ni beb. Tak cukup jantan ke?'. (urgh, gross!). That's not originally from this land, right? Don't try to use such dialogue in front of me. I will puke at your face (literally).


And my advise to the company is, stop emulating the western style with your under-budget-allocation. You make an attempt to use cool and posh cars like Mitsubishi Lancer, Porsche or whatever the species are. Good attempt there. But your cars look like something from the 1980's. Not cool at all!




**********


That's all for now. I will figure out what else I can do for this country. Oh, by the way, is there anyone who would like to sign up for this... reformation group? (I like Dumbledore's Army better ^^). I have to make sure I can grow a crowd of people before I can really stomp into those respective people's office. Or else I am as good as dead. You know, living in this democratic country, they will surely have me locked up in the basement of Bukit Aman headquarters.

tell me, i am normal

1. I will do a personality quizzes over and over until I get the result I want. Then, I will act completely surprised that I got what I wanted. [Note: I never end up being labeled 'someone-who-manipulates-quizzes-to-get-the-desired-result'. Thankfully.]


2. If I am wearing a white shirt and eating spaghetti, I have to give myself a pep talk beforehand (i.e. "I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I really can do this!"). As in I can eat the meal without getting on my shirt. From experiments conducted, the chance of food falling is significantly increased if (1). you wear white shirt, or (2). you wear your favourite shirt, or (3). you are trying to impress someone. (Or is it just me?)


3. I have trouble to determine which is the 9th month and which is the 11th. Each time the word September or November hits my ears, I will quickly make a mental calculation: N comes before S in the alphabetical order. But, it does not necessary November comes first. So September is the 9th month while November is the 11th.


4. When I go to fastfood outlet, I become irrationally worried that I am going to forget my order. I will spend the entire time stuck in the counter silently repeating the order over and over again. But attempting to say it casually and professionally as well.


5. Not only I do practise my order, I routinely practise conversations with a person who will only end up saying "That's RM4.95. Thank you". The person does not even smile.


6. If people say they don't like House, I just assume they are confused with another television series. I really, honestly cannot comprehend someone not liking that series.


7. Speaking of television series, I have been watching Prison Break and Heroes over and over again. And I can't stop (alamak!). Michael Scofield and Peter Petrelli are two items which are very hard to resist. 


8. I think of new Harry Potter movie everyday. I even reread the book and try to put everything in mind so that once I watch the new movie, I can complain every single thing from the movie which doesn't follow the book.


9. I have the entire rack of books to read, but I always pick up Dan Brown's, or J.K. Rowling's, or sometimes Sophie Kinsella's books which I have already finished reading. While others are still in the waiting list to be read.


10. I cannot have more than 20 emails in my inbox at once. Any more, I will succumb to a nuclear meltdown and end up lying on the floor. Emails have to be immediately responded to, archived or deleted. I have no idea when this habit started, nor why it has to be 20 and not 30 or 50. 


11. I don't get the cupcake craze. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like cupcakes. (what's not to like? icing? cake? sprinkles?). But there is this intensity around cupcakes that I don't quite follow. If a cupcake is around, sure - *I will eat it, but I'd always rather have sour candy.


*Or may be I won't eat it. Last week, I ran into a parent (dad's colleague) whom I hadn't seen for years. And his exact words, "Is that your daughter? Oh, I really can't recognize her. Hey, girl! You look so much... fuller." Fuller. Why, on earth did you use that word? Fuller? Sigh. Ladies and gentlemen, just... let's put it out here. NEVER use the word FULLER to describe a girl. Even if you are an old folk, bear in mind that girls cannot tolerate with such word.


12. I wake up every morning blaming myself for not waking up much earlier. And regreting for unconsciously hit the snooze button in my sleep. And hating the fact that I don't find the sound of an alarm clock disturbs my sleep.


13. Every. Single. Time. I hit 'publish', I have an irrational fear that someone will read my post, feeling annoyed. I am not worried of comments, I just have this moment of panic whenever I think, 'Oh, this post is way too crappy!'. (I heard you are saying, 'just like this one!')

- Okay, actually, for the past few days I have thought of thirty-seven million things I wanted to post about and so today, when I finally get to sit down with my computer, obviously I would have nothing to share. 

- So, for the sake of updating, I just post these random things which are totally not worth reading... and writing. 

- Sorry for wasting your time. Really!

sorry, wrong number

Wrong-number-dialers are sometimes so annoying. And sceptical-me cannot just accept the same wrong-number-dialers. 


1st time
Dialer: Hello, may I speak to.. -whatever-the-name-of-your-friend-is-
Me^^: Sorry, wrong number.
Dialer: Oh, who is speaking?
Me^^: Err? Don't worry. (hung up. who are you? stalker?)


2nd time
Dialer: Hye, -whatever-the-name-of-your-friend-is-! It's me.. bla bla bla..
Me^^: Eh? Wrong number, is it?
Dialer: Oops.. sorry. Is this really your number?
Me^^: Of course!
Dialer: I thought I've dialed the right number. Who is this?
Me^^: (hung up. how rude.)


3rd time
Dialer: ... (not even open the mouth yet.)
Me^^: Wrong number again. (hung up. actually I was about to say, 'Hey, you are annoying! Ask your mom how to correctly dial a number. Didn't your kindergarten teacher teach you that? Never mind. Ask your mom.')


This is so annoying, kan? Another thing, I cannot accept when the dialers choose to keep silent all along. Why? Are you suffering from inferiority complex? Or you've been hypnotized by the voice? Oh, you poor thing!


So, I am seriously fed up with wrong numbers and anonymous, silent callers. I am thinking of using some scary and threatening (and insulting?) voicemail messages. 




I've been thinking of using this..


Hello. Thank you for calling the State Mental Hospital. Please select from the following options:

1. Press 1 repeatedly if you are obsessive-compulsive.
2. Press 2 if you are co-dependent. Oh, you cannot. Please ask someone to press it for you.
3. Press 3, 4, 5, and 6 if you have multiple personalities.
4. Press 7 if you are delusional and your call will be forwarded to your imaginary friend.
5. Press 8 if you have short-term memory loss. Press 8 if you have short-term memory loss. Okay, press 8 immediately. Now.
6. Press 969696 if you are dyslexic. Or 696969. Either way.
7. If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you what number to dial.
8. If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Stay on the line so we can trace your call. [echo: so we can trace your call.. so we can trace your call..]
9. If you are bipolar, please leave a message after the beep, or before the beep, or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.
10. If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. Our operators are too busy to talk with you.

Or this..

Hello. You have reached the CPX-2000 Voice Blackmail System. 

• Your voice patterns are now being digitally encoded and stored for later usage. 
• Once this is done, our computer will be able to use the sound of your voice for literally thousands of illegal and immoral purposes. 
• There is no charge for this service. 
• Our staffs of professional extortionists will contact you in the near future to arrange for your schedule payment. 
• Remember to speak clearly at the sound of the tone. 
• Thank you.

Or this..

Hello. Thank you for choosing our company. Please be patient. You will be connected to our consultant shortly. For the training and improvement purposes, your conversation with our consultant will be recorded. Thank you.

• Welcome to the company. We assume you are ready to be a part of us. 
• Your first assignment will be sent to your address soon. 
• Always put the identity of the company secret. Confidential is our main priority. 
• Follow the order. Any mistake done, one bullet will penetrate your head precisely into your brain.
• Any attempt to betray the company, you and your entire family have to pay the price. 
• We are watching you. We are everywhere. 
• One of us, one of them, remember?
• Leave your message after the beep. 
• Or you also have the right to remain silent.
• Good luck.
• Beep..

Those weird dialers will end up paying for the long voicemail. Well, they deserve it for not learning from mistakes. And for intruding in someone else's peace life too. 

Till then.

p/s 1: this post is aimed to educate readers on how to smartly avoid unwanted calls.

p/s 2: this is not really an educational post, but (I think) it is quite resourceful.

truth about gossip

I just ran across an article from 2006 Tricycle by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, "The Truth about Gossip". You can read or download the pdf here: 


www.tricycle.com


[Gentle reminder: the author is a Buddhist. Don't just swallow everything given, wisely select the good apples among the bad ones.]


So, here's an excerpt (which I deem the good ones):


Seven tips for giving up gossip:

1. Recognize that gossip doesn't undo the situation you are talking about. It only puts in motion another situation based on negative feeling.
2. Know that comparing yourself to others is useless. Everyone has his or her own talents. In this way, give up jealousy and the wish to put others down.
3. Be aware of and transform your own thoughts, words and deeds rather than commenting on others.
4. Train your mind to see others' positive qualities and discuss them. This would make you much happier than gossiping ever could.
5. Forgive, knowing that people do harmful things because they are unhappy. If you don't make someone into enemy, you won't want to gossip about him/her.
6. Have a sense of humor about what you think, say and do. Be able to laugh at all the silly things we sentient beings carry out in our attempt to be happy. If you see the humor in our human predicament, you'll be more patient.
7. Practice saying something kind to someone every day. Do this especially with people you don't like. It gets easier with practice and bears suprisingly good results.

In BTQ, I have been introduced to the term backbiting. I could imagine what does it mean. Talking behind someone's back (in a way that would not please them - like getting bitten). 

As far as backbiting topic is concerned, many people have difficult time knowing what to consider backbiting and what to consider just talking about someone. 

The thing is, ask yourself, would the person want you to be saying that about them? If the answer is no, than it's backbiting. So, backbiting simply means you are telling true thing about someone to other people, while that particular person wouldn't want you to be saying that or would be sad upon hearing that from other people. 

What if you are telling untrue thing about someone to other people and that particular person would be sad upon hearing that? Yes, that is slandering!

For the sake of knowledge, I will give a brief idea based on my experience [read: how did I backbite]. And hopefully making other people realize that they are doing the same thing. Because I believe most of us do the same thing. 

I have a friend. I just could not find it in me how to tell her to have some self-respect in the way she mingles around with the boys. I became so frustrated that this person I love and I know is so sweet and kind can act that way and have so little respect for herself. I can't tell her, I really can't. So, it just simply came out from my mouth when I talked to these other 2 friends of mine who happened to be very close to me. We found ourselves discussing of her and what she did. This was so totally backbiting, I know. And somehow, the words leaked. I had no idea how. But, obviously she was so disappointed.

So, any advice? Should I get that frustration out of the way and just tell her somehow? Might it ruin the friendship and make us feel so awkward if she takes it the wrong way? But, if she learns from it, it could make her realizes things, right? 

So pals, every time you want to talk about someone, think of it many many times, and put yourself in that person's shoe. Sometimes you might think that you are doing the right thing, maybe you wanna discuss with your mates how to solve the problems, or you wanna ask your friends' opinion, or you simply wanna get some good advices. Yet, whether you realize it or not, you are hurting the other party.

I, ladies and gentlemen, wish not to backbite and I am trying. Next time, if I do the backbiting thingy, please knock my head.

Ouch. That hurts!

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Okay, this is just for those who recently text me and send offline message to my Yahoo account. Others can just ignore this last few lines. 

Don't waste your time. Seriously!

These few days, the question I get asked most of the time is, 'What are you doing during the holiday?'

Well, for the sake of those out there who haven't seen me in quite a while but are interested to know what I am doing currently (perasan!), here it is.

Currently, I am not in college (of course, it's holiday!), nor am I doing thing that resembles actual studying, you know, nerdy stuffs like physics and mathematics.

My days are usually Internet, TV, novels, some house chores, sending and picking up my little brother from school, going to conveniences store. Mostly Internet and novels. >.<

So, yeah. Believe it or not. That's what I am doing everyday. Wasting time, I know. -.-

Seriously thank you for taking an interest. Or more likely you are reading this just because you are curious. Or because you are on my blog. Whatever.

to whom it may concern:

p/s 1: yahoo messenger is totally problematic. so you won't be seeing me online unless I use the house pc or my dad's laptop.

p/s 2: don't try to prank me using fake yahoo ID. this is a serious warning!