They say patience is a virtue...because so much of life is spent on waiting.
-kitty-
Something I photographed in SoHo quite some time back but forgot to share...
This one is for my felines and all free-spirited souls who yearn for more than the simple life.
[Thanks to Garfette for drawing attention to the following article in the Australian Age on Nov 15]
While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry
Michael Backman, November 15, The Age, Australia
MALAYSIA’S been at it again, arguing about what proportion of the economy each of its two main races — the Malays and the Chinese — owns. It’s an argument that’s been running for 40 years. That wealth and race are not synonymous is important for national cohesion, but really it’s time Malaysia grew up.
It’s a tough world out there and there can be little sympathy for a country that prefers to argue about how to divide wealth rather than get on with the job of creating it.
The long-held aim is for 30 per cent of corporate equity to be in Malay hands, but the figure that the Government uses to justify handing over huge swathes of public companies to Malays but not to other races is absurd. It bases its figure on equity valued, not at market value, but at par value.
Many shares have a par value of say $1 but a market value of $12. And so the Government figure (18.9 per cent is the most recent figure) is a gross underestimate. Last month a paper by a researcher at a local think-tank came up with a figure of 45 per cent based on actual stock prices. All hell broke loose. The paper was withdrawn and the researcher resigned in protest. Part of the problem is that he is Chinese.
“Malaysia boleh!” is Malaysia’s national catch cry. It translates to “Malaysia can!” and Malaysia certainly can. Few countries are as good at wasting money. It is richly endowed with natural resources and the national obsession seems to be to extract these, sell them off and then collectively spray the proceeds up against the wall.
This all happens in the context of Malaysia’s grossly inflated sense of its place in the world. Most Malaysians are convinced that the eyes of the world are on their country and that their leaders are world figures. This is thanks to Malaysia’s tame media and the bravado of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The truth is, few people on the streets of London or New York could point to Malaysia on a map much less name its prime minister or capital city (hence the reason why everyone thinks Jessica is my newfound name and is constantly puzzled as to why I even speak English)
As if to make this point, a recent episode of The Simpsons features a newsreader trying to announce that a tidal wave had hit some place called Kuala Lumpur. He couldn’t pronounce the city’s name and so made up one, as if no-one cared anyway. But the joke was on the script writers — Kuala Lumpur is inland.
Petronas, the national oil company is well run, particularly when compared to the disaster that passes for a national oil company in neighbouring Indonesia. But in some respects, this is Malaysia’s problem. The very success of Petronas means that it is used to underwrite all manner of excess.
The KLCC development in central Kuala Lumpur is an example. It includes the Twin Towers, the tallest buildings in the world when they were built, which was their point. It certainly wasn’t that there was an office shortage in Kuala Lumpur — there wasn’t.
Malaysians are very proud of these towers. Goodness knows why. They had little to do with them. The money for them came out of the ground and the engineering was contracted out to South Korean companies. They don’t even run the shopping centre that’s beneath them. That’s handled by Australia’s Westfield.
Next year, a Malaysian astronaut will go into space aboard a Russian rocket — the first Malay in space. And the cost? RM95 million ($A34.3 million), to be footed by Malaysian taxpayers.
The Science and Technology Minister has said that a moon landing in 2020 is the next target, aboard a US flight. There’s no indication of what the Americans will charge for this, assuming there’s even a chance that they will consider it. But what is Malaysia getting by using the space programs of others as a taxi service? There are no obvious technical benefits, but no doubt Malaysians will be told once again, that they are “boleh”.
The trouble is, they’re not. It’s not their space program.
Back in July, the Government announced that it would spend $RM490 million on a sports complex near the London Olympics site so that Malaysian athletes can train there and “get used to cold weather”. But the summer Olympics are held in the summer.
So what is the complex’s real purpose? The dozens of goodwill missions by ministers and bureaucrats to London to check on the centre’s construction and then on the athletes while they train might provide a clue.
Bank bale outs, a formula one racing track, an entire new capital city — Petronas has paid for them all. It’s been an orgy of nonsense that Malaysia can ill afford.
Why? Because Malaysia’s oil will run out in about 19 years. As it is, Malaysia will become a net oil importer in 2011 — that’s just five years away.
So it’s in this context that the latest debate about race and wealth is so sad.
It is time to move on, time to prepare the economy for life after oil. But, like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, the Malaysian Government is more interested in stunts like sending a Malaysian into space when Malaysia’s inadequate schools could have done with the cash, and arguing about wealth distribution using transparently ridiculous statistics.
That’s not Malaysia “boleh”, that’s Malaysia “bodoh” (stupid).
*****
However, I must say Malaysia certainly 'boleh' when it comes to power abuse...
strip off all titles from the Deputy PM and beat the shit outta him...
humiliate the crap outta that Chinese woman by getting her to do nude squat whilst in custody...
imposing the Islamic justice system on non-practitioners by failing to release the dead body of M. Moorthy to his Hindu widow, who claimed he never converted to Islam. The Syariah court judge told her and her family to go back and leave the body of their beloved to be buried by strangers.
The cases are endless and mind-numbing. Here are some more food for thoughts.
Ending on a lighter note...
Happy Thanksgiving!
As I'm writing this, we're actually waiting for the 22 lbs turkey to cook in the oven. It's huge, I know. We'll be eating turkey for the next week, I know. Oh well. The story is this - we placed our order - an 8-10 lbs turkey - but they got it mixed up and didn't have a turkey for us when we got there. So we decided to grab whatever they have available, which is a 22 lbs turkey. Huge, heavy, humongous. The bird has been cooking for a good 3 1/2 hours now (apparently for that size it's supposed to be cooked for 4 1/2 - 5 hours).
It's my first Thanksgiving and I'm giving thanks to...hmmm, I think its too soppy to say this kinda things out loud. I'll just keep it to myself. It's gonna come out all cliched. Let's just say I'm thankful for alot of the people that I have in my life blablabla. U get the drill.
I had fun basting the turkey (considering the fact that I'm actually bird-phobic. haha)
or something to the effect.
After much of Kitty's links to IHT, I too started surfing and reading news from there. I came across one which I thought was absolutely hilarious.
Australia spending millions on U.S marketing. It is a must read! I'm sure Kitty you would have already read this post, right? Damn funny la. I guess John must really love the Bush. Haha.
Seriously, I didn't know that people would actually spend money to promote image of someone else - or the likes of it anyways.
Umm...yeah.
Short, quick post indeed, but please do go read it up.
I knew from the weather forecast earlier in the week that it was going to rain. But I proposed for the walk in Central Park anyway because I knew it was going to be beautiful. People say sometimes words aren't enough, I say, photos are definitely not enough.
Here here.
Along the Central Park reservoir...
the Upper West Side skyline
As I browse through International Herald Tribune for some Malaysia goss, I found this. Come on, read it, read it!
I cant help but say this - it makes me so sick to hear what he has to say. What exactly is he defending? I think it is very hypocritical of him to say the things he said in the article.
He said,"Their agenda is to see Malaysia torn apart, for us to fail as a multiracial, multi-religious nation."
He gave out "warning of tough action against people who incite racial hatred between majority Muslim Malays and ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities."
....but that is exactly what the Malaysian government is doing.
Mr PM, your government's agenda is tearing us apart...failing us as a multicultural, multi-religious nation. We have tolerated the 'special privileges' issue all these while, most notably during the Mahathir's era. On whether or not it is justified, that's an entirely different story altogether, with potential for debate.
But the time has come for your government to change. Having gone through so much since Mahathir first took reign, this whole 'special privileges' thing has gone stale- as stale as Mr Bush's defend on the war on Iraq. And what happens when such excuses become stale? In Mr Bush's case, the Democrats takes control of the House and Senate. 
In Malaysia's case now, the country may not have enough intelligensias (most choose not to be in Malaysia, not because we have none) or people with enough self-awareness to cause an uproar or people's uprising but of course the time will come. The only question is when. As more and more Malaysians are being highly educated, particularly overseas, they will all one day come to the realisation that the answer to a quality life in Malaysia is not "oh-there-is-nothing-you-can-do-about-it" but in fact, "people's-power". I doubt the ISA detention camp could hold the entire non-bumiputera population of Malaysia.
Should the country choose to continue down the same old path, then it is doomed. It is going to self-destruct and it is just a matter of time before we experience another May 13th and say it happens within Badawi's reign, he wouldn't have a clue as to how to deal with it.
Mr PM, it is about time for your government to wake up and smell the roses and stop deluding yourself with the "ever-so-harmonious-Malaysia" utopia - because that has never existed and undoubtly won't happen by you throwing around your "words of wisdom" in order to paint a good picture to international press around the world.
Here is another article which further reaffirms my views on how our Malaysian leaders are in constant denial and delusion over the state of the country's political situation. Click here.
*last photo courtesy of JooLi at www.jooli.com. I stumbled upon her website and she's nice enough to let me use it. Felines, check it out. The dolls are gorgeous. Anyone into collecting dolls?
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was out last night celebrating a friend's bday
coincidently, bumped into poosy & drew
that's all. nothing much. heh.
This post is born out of anger + frustration + scorn + disgust + every other adjectives that you readers can think of alongside those themes.
I briefly mentioned it to Bee whilst chatting on MSN this morning and I also told her it isn't something new; I'm not really bothered by it. It is true.
But in the shower my mind pondered on it a little and I find myself fuming by the time I got out. So what's a feline to do? Bitch about it on a blog! After all, everyone needs to vent out that bubbling lava once in a while.
Let me start with my Malaysian counterparts although the thing that triggered this happened yesterday here in NY.
To my fellow friend *Steve who greets me on MSN with the phrase
"...so new yorker ehh.."
or
"so...asianwhite ehhh?" (following my posting up some link to some discussion on interracial relationships btwn asian females & white males)
i say, "FUCK YOU". I wish someone would shoot you to the Moon. Quit being a sore loser and accept the fact that I am just plain not interested in you. Just because I am dating a white male doesn't mean I have anything against my own race or that i uphold the 'white is superior' conundrum. Instead of making it seems like I, as an Asian (Southeast Asian to be precise) female has a problem (because I am dating a white guy), has it ever occured to you that maybe you yourself suffers from low self-esteem, hence choosing to take it personally that the reason why you are not my love interest is simply because of your skin color? Just because you've been spent time in one of my top 5 travel destination doesn't mean you have what it takes to make me fall in love with you. FUCK YOU.
To my close acquaintance *Richard who said,
him: what does ur bf do again?
me: IT consultant
him: U pandai choose bf lahh. So easy... smarts girls like you pick the rich ones and run off with them...
to him I say,"DOUBLE FUCK YOU". If you think that girls like me wouldn't runaway with you because you're a ________ and don't make enough money, then go prostitute yourself and make enough money to get someone to runaway with you lar. Although if you ask me, I'd say chances of someone runnning away with you to some foreign land is still pretty slim even if you're a billionaire. If you don't have what it takes, look in the mirror, admit it and improvise via constuctive criticism lar. Don't use the excuse of not having enough money. That's lower than low.
Moving on to what happened yesterday. To *Adrien my bartending instructor(i visited for refreshment class) who said,
Him: heyyy how have u been?
me: good good.
we proceeded to talk about other things whilst a brunette girl in the class listened.
she interrupted, asking if I'm currently looking for a job since I've graduated. I said no, and continued to explain why. *Adrien interrupted.
him: Jessica doesn't need to work.
she: (has a very interested look on her face)
me: shut up *Adrien.
him: Jessica has money coming in from somewhere without having to move a single muscle...
I'm not gonna tell *Adrien to fuck off. I guess considering the fact that he was my instructor, I just have this ignorant attitude as to it doesn't really matter what he wants to think. Anyway, I told the story cuz its connected to the following conversation.
During break I went downstairs for a smoke. The brunette from before was downstairs smoking too.
she: So u don't work?
me: no, i moved here with my bf about 4 months and i don't have a permission to work yet.
she: ohh...what does he do?
me: IT consultant
she: so... he does ok?
me: erm...eyahh I guess so. (thinking, how weird)
she: he's american right? how long have u guys been together? how did u meet?
me: he's australian. we met in malaysia. he was working there.
she: so he's like, blond haired and blue eyed right?
me: yeah he's caucasian (out of all the weird questions i've ever been asked, this is the weirdest one of all from someone i've known for 30 minutes)
she: ...he's alot older than u?
me: 12 years yes.
she: ohhhh...i used to be like that too.
me: what do u mean?
she: with my ex bf, i didn't work as well. but then we broke up.
That's part of the conversation. I wouldnt say I was really pissed off or anything like that...as most people seem to stereotype girls like me that way anyway. What I found really weird is when she asked "so he's like blond-haired, blue-eyed right?". WTF. It was as if she was trying to confirm some sort of perception that was forming in her head.
The later whilst I was bartending, this guy *Chris and I started talking.
him: so I heard from *Cindy that ur from Malaysia
me: yep I am. been here a couple of months
him: so you live with your family here?
me: nope. just me. friends, family, job, dogs all back there.
him: just you?
me: well, i came here because my bf started working here.
him: ohhh. bf. he's from malaysia?
me: australia. we met in malaysia.
him: what does he do?
me: IT consultant.
him: so you decided that he's gonna be a rich american so you came over here huh?
me: (laughed) i told u he's not american
him: ok so u decided that he's gonna be rich so you came over here.
me: (i can't remember how i reacted)
him: why u laughing if that's not true?
me: (at this point i was ready to grab the nearest bottle on the bar and smash it across his smug face)
me: well, what do you expect me to do? punch you in the face and get booted out of the bar? since i'm a bartender i think i should have a sense of humor right.
Later on I learnt more about *Chris. He's probably in his early 40s- trying to make a living as a bartender. Divorced. 2 Kids. During our group walk to the subway he said,
him: once u get married the guy looses all the power. its different when you're dating- when you're dating the guy can do whatever he wants. but the moment you get married, the power shifts. you have kids, the power shifts even more. you get divorced, the woman takes everything- your money, your house, your kids.
me: (thinking) ahhhh. another one of those sore losers.
To *Chris I say TRIPLE FUCK YOU. Just because you had gone through some fairytale-gone-sour marriage and that your ex-wife is some inconsiderate bitch who took everything away from you does not mean that the whole world is filled with similar females. Instead of scorning us females maybe you should scorn yourself for being stupid?
Last but not least, the the Pakistani cabbie driver who took me home(I finally lost my temper). Getting in the cab I said,
me: how u doin tonight?
him: not too bad. quite good actually. ur a sweet customer.
me: ppl never ask u how u doin?
him: most ppl dont.
me: i guess i am sweet then.
Then we did the usual where-you-from, how-long-you-been-here thing which I'm getting really really sick of btw.
Suddenly, the friendly Pakistani cabbie said,
him: so being friends with an Australian does have its advantages huh? (he is referring to the E3 visa we were talking about)
me: (mortified) excuse me? he is MY boyfriend.
him: so are you planning to marry him? no? come on, you can tell me, i'm just a stranger.
me: WHATTT? what the hell are you sayin? look just stop here.
him: but you said mott and prince.
me: just fuckin stop here. which part of that don't you fucking understand? i'd rather walk than sit in your fucking cab.
I walked 8 blocks home with my cigarettes. That was my entire night. On the way home I was trying to find comfort in something and I remember the nice conversation I had with Alan, the sixty-something guy whom I had met at the bar whilst waiting for my turn to guest bartend. I like talking to old people. It's my fetish. I like to listen to the lessons they've learnt in life and what advice they might have to offer to someone like me. I knew that Sasha the Yugoslavian dude from bartending class was a little confused as to why I chose to have a conversation with Alan instead of him. (Sorry mate. A lot of things get better with age- especially conversational skills)
me: so what would you say is the secret recipe to a successful relationship?
him: I don't know (shaking his head frankly)
me: u have no advice or words of wisdom to offer me?
him: well, i say this. not really for relationships in general but to a man, i would say, 'marry a woman with a brain'.
me: marry a woman with a brain?
him: yes, when you're young you can fuck like a jackrabbit, day in and day out. but there'll come a day when you can't. and if you can't what are you going to do if you married someone who can't carry a conversation with you? that's the reason why my wife and i divorced. after 36 years.
Remembering Alan's word I smiled to myself. I may not know everything- I don't think anyone does- but for such a hellish night I take comfort in knowing that at least I had started off on the right path.
went to Penang over the weekend. =) Road trip up. it was all good because it was all about Food Food Food. hehehe. 
pancake
pig's blood
variety
variety
keropok
chendol
"ngap tui min"
ais kacang
assam laksa
Sorry felines...I procastinate alot when it comes to blogging lah. But Poosy's pimping me on the site now- she's going out of her way to make me feel bad about neglecting the website by posting my NY updates on my behalf. I feel really bad now yo.
Anyway, I'm lazy too so I'm cutting and pasting from my Multiply ok:
When we woke up on Sunday I gave Mr. Walden two proposals - take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty or walk the Brooklyn Bridge. He picked the latter.
Most of the photos taken on the bridge...the whole time cursing myself for not having a more advanced camera (unlike some ppl I dont have a Nikon D60!). On the other side of the bridge we discovered Brooklyn Heights - a real gem- and again too bad we were too busy stuffing our face with fantastic Chinese food before we realised that by the time we finish it would be too dark for me to photograph the beauty of the historical brownstones. Daymn. Other times I guess.
I truly recommend the walk especially for alone time and self-reflection (no Walden, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy your whinging *sarcastic look* when I stopped many many times for my many many shots. I did. I had a fantastic time sweetie).
for more photos, visit my multiply page.
since no one has been updating..
here are some photos...
*enjoy*
nice??
anyway, for the other readers who don't frequent my blog. here's an update on my life.
sorry am cutting and pasting, damn lazy to write. heh.
Followed mom to a Burmese refuge on Monday to check the place out as her friend volunteers to teach there. Before entering the "classroom", we were told that we needed to log our visit in the Visitor's Log Book, just four names above mine, guess whose name was there.
Maureen Wheeler.
Yes, the co-founder of The Lonely Planet.
Yet, another sign.
Hmm...
on another note...
to those that know my short-term (next two-three months plans),
i've decided to take the low-payroll because I want to volunteer at this Burmese refuge as they are in need of volunteer teachers. so heck, the low-paying job should be pretty flexible with time and what not, thus allowing me to do the volunteer job for the next couple of months.
does that mean I'm saying no to money? in a way i guess i am.
but hey, i'm still wide open for other work-from-home stuff, which enables me to make that additional buckeroos. last nite was good money though. two hours job for 500. :) i wonder if hookers feel the same. haha. no, well, i helped photograph an event, i didn't whore myself, mind you.
so yesterday, Friday was my FIRST day. :)
he class I taught today had an approximate of 25 students, age ranging from 3-15. I know, it is ridiculous isn't it? Mixing up that age group with different level of understanding. See, the system that they have, I suppose it is still quite new, hence the big concoction of ages in a class. Anyway, it was fun. It really was. I never ever thought that > I < would enjoy teaching.
ok that's all.
happy weekend
HANG ON
since Kitty has been slacking in her updates.. *cough cough*
I'm going to whore her out BIG time. Check out my Kinky Friend.
now , now BOYS...
hold your horses together. :)
well, yeah of course you can't have the original sized!! duh!!
see Kit at least I desaturated it, made it look less err...attractive. hehe.
SHE IS TAKEN OK!!!! by that guy.
psst...if u really want me to take it down let me know. heh.