IS IT SAFE?

Sometime last week, Honey Dearest and I decided to take elevated Kelana Jaya-Subang Jaya elevated route to go back home. It was around 5.15pm and we thought that traffic wouldn't be bad (sometimes you can see cars basically motionless on the entire stretch of the elevated portion). Our plan is to take the exit right after SJMC and head to Sunway Pyramid for a quick bite.

OK, so the traffic is heavy and with the exit being an a very sharp angle and only a single lane, traffic starts to build up. The lady in the Myvi infront of us seemed to be utilising her time well, by putting up make up, at at times, I believe, removing some body hair (that was how it looked like from our car).

The jam, we can take. However, the entire road was wobbly beneath of us. We really felt it as we we stationary most of the time. So, my question is... is the whole stretch safe ? I am no engineer, but I am sure when they plan for it, they must have calculated the loading etc. However, when they did the calculation, did they consider the weight of stationary cars on the entire stretch of the elevated portion ?

Honey Dearest never wants to be on that road during peak hours, ever again.

Alternative Products

It is always nice to have an alternative to the products you use or consume.



We have in-store brand by hypermarkets of almost anythings, from laundry detergents to sausages.



It is also nice to know that we have an alternative to Kentucky Fried Chicken.



I have heard about Radix Fried Chicken for quite some time but since the outlets are only available in the north, I never had the chance to try it. However, a visit to Mydin Mall in Ayer Keroh, Melaka gave me the chance to try out the product.



The taste is good and the price is reasonable.



I will definitely come back for more.



.. oh, do open one in Shah Alam or Subang Jaya, ye ?

BN Lost

So, BN lost the Sibu parliamentary seat in the May 16th 2010 by-election.

Warning bells in the East Malaysia, BN ?

BN Wins

In one of the most closely fought by-election, BN managed to come out on top with a 1,725 majority. The BN candidate, P. Kamalanathan of MIC beat PKR heavyweight Dato' Zaid Ibrahim in an electorate whose demographical composition is almost reflective of Malaysia at large.

I am a fan of neither BN nor PR, but I feel this victory is good for both sides. For BN, it pays to be more on the ground (of course, many detractors will cry foul about the money being spent to "buy" support, but hey, if the situation is reverse, would it be any different?) and for PR, it is a wake-up call for them to be more realistic (and to come certain, be more humble and stop politicizing everything under the sun).

Politics

Is politics really about the better of two evils ?

I am not old enough to remember "the good old days" when politics was about "serving the community, the people, the country etc.". When I was old enough to understand (or take interest, yes, that would be the right word for it), Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim was going after Tun Ghaffar Baba for the Deputy Presidency of UMNO and everything thereafter was about being into politics to make money. Tonnes of money.

I came back to Malaysia from my studies abroad right smack into the Reformasi times. It was indeed an interesting time and I contemplated into getting myself right smack in the thick of it but somehow refrain myself from doing so.

Then the so-called "political tsunami" took place in 2008. I remember there was an eerie silent the following morning. Two years down the road, I definitely do not like where the country is heading. Instead of people uniting, I think it made people more divisive. There is now a clear divide between "us"and "them".

Mana-mana pihak yang menang, sama aje.

To the lady driving a champagne colour Honda CR-V (MAV 8***) on ELITE highway, northbound to KLIA on 13/03/2010 @ 6.20pm

From my Facebook Note

I am not a confrontational person by nature. I think the people who knew me would attest to that. However, what happened just two hours ago, well, to put it mildly... pisses me off..

So, what actually happened ?

I was driving back from Melaka, with the missus, my son Haris (who is already 1.5 years old) and my maid. We went back to visit my father in law who had to have an emergency surgery due to an infection to his right foot. So, there we were in the ever reliable Perodua Kembara, driving within the stipulated speed limit (in a full time 4WD like a Kembara, I can be assured of not getting a speeding ticket since there is just so much I can floor the pedal) and was about 3KM from the KLIA exit. I was in the middle lane and I wanted to overtake the car in front of me. Looking at the rear view mirror, I saw a Honda CR-V in the far distance, so I turned my indicator signal and started to overtake*. Within moments, the champagne-colour Honda CR-V was tailing me so close that I could feel the car was barely inches away. After over taking, I turned the indicator signal again and entered the middle lane again. This is when the CR-V drove passed me and the long haired lady driver gave me a look as she was passing by as if saying "Get out of my f****** way you f***** kembara" or "I drive a Honda CR-V as opposed to your Kembara so I have more rights than you on this highway". The car got in front of me and continue to drive leftwards and took the KLIA exit. It was then that I saw the MAV8*** plate number and the "A*** **** Oldboys" sticker on its back windscreen.

Granted, you may be late to the airport to fetch your husband/parents/maid/frien

d but what gives you the right to drive like that. If you don't want to be late, just leave your house a bit earlier. Don't have to endanger other people on the road.

To the wife of the A*** **** oldboy in the champagne colour Honda CR-V (MAV 8***), I don't give a rat's a** if you want to drive like a freakin' boy racer high on ecstasy but when your driving poses a risk to my family on board, here's what I can say to you...

...."**** ***"

I really really wish you are on FB and you can read this.

Pics.

Ramblings on a saturday night..

Aku bosan betul le dengan ADUN aku ni. Ada dalam facebook. Selalu la menghantar status update yang asyik mengutuk segala tindakan yang di ambil oleh govt of the day. Semua salah. Dia sorang aje yang betul. Parti dia aje yang betul. Parti dia aje yang truly Malaysian (ye lah tu... ramai orang lupa sejarah).

... no one says jangan pakai FB or Twitter, cuma bila pakai kena la jaga ethics and segala apa yang di post tu kena lah di analyze sebelum percaya bulat2.

... menteri tu was refering to the posting done by that chap who said he witness the devices being made in the church attacks, which was proven to be totally false.

.... and yg bagi comment bila dia buat this kind of remarks dalam facebook, tok sah cerita la. Kadok naik junjung...

.... tu pun masih nak berpecah belah lagi ....

.. bila nak sedar ??!!!

Fatherhood

I am blessed with a very very adorable boy, Amir Haris. Can't believe he is already a year plus today. Feels like it was only yesterday when I first held him in my arms after Honey Dearest gave birth to him at SJMC.

Haris is no longer walking, he is basically running around!

I entered fatherhood without even the experience of having siblings. You see, I am the only child in the family.

When Honey Dearest was pregnant with Haris, I always asked myself whether I can be a good father.

Alternative this Alternative that

We have so many people championing alternative views, under guise of so many different things.

Alternative ways of governing for instance.

Apparently, we were told that we have been "screwed" by the people who have been governing us for the 50 years or so.

Its refreshing to have alternatives, be it view or way of doing things.

However, what annoys me is that this people championing these alternative views think they could do no wrong. Everything being done by the establishment is wrong. Any actions taken by the people who are not for the alternatives are wrong.

What kind of alternative are we being presented here ?

Mission: Possible prt 2

Ok, I may not have achieved my target yet but from mid September 2009 until 31 Dec 2009, I have lost a total of 8kg...

... and the pants are fitting nicely !

Mission : Possible ? Prt 1

The doctor was quite straighforward.

"If you want to live longer, you better do something about your weight now"

The fasting month provided a useful kickstart to weight loss as I usually dropped a few pounds (which would gained back by the second day of Aidilfitri). This time I would like to try as much as I can to keep it off and even more.

Alhamdulillah, I am able to maintain some of the weight I have loss (well, plus minus here and there).

... who knows, I can put on my Oscar De La Renta suit which I only wore once during my graduation... way back in 1997...

... Impossible ?

Keeping it off

One of the best thing about Ramadhan is the almost assured weight loss. This is especially so if one does not splurge on the delicacies at the Bazaar Ramadhan.

I managed to shed some pounds.

... thats the easy part...

.... after a week of Aidilfitri, the question is whether I can keep it off...

Eid Mubarak

Two Days Before

We started our journey back to Hutan Percha, Melaka at around 10am (despite my earlier plan of leaving no later than 9am, in order to avoid the traffic congestion on the highway). My sis-in-law who is studying in Terengganu arrived in KL early in the morning and joined us for the drive. Traffic was amazingly clear (even at the usual Nilai, R&R and Seremban exit) and we arrived around 11.45am. Everyone were already back home except for my bro in law Azlan who would only be coming back tonight. Along got in on thursday, so too did Suhada. It was also the first time I met Along's son Raziq, whom Kak Ana gave birth in July. Haris now has another cousin to boss around, hehe!

In the evening, Along, Kema, Suhada and I went to the Pasar Ramadan in Alor Gajah. Talk about an IT savvy town, even the Medan Selera has frew WiFi. I can picture the UiTM Lendu students typing on their laptop at the Medan Selera, while savouring the cucur udang the town is famous for!

For the most part of it, everyone was fussing around Haris, who is happy to show his newfound mobility and his vocal cords. Haris somehow takes a bit of time to warm up to people but with Great grandma, he seemed to hit it off immediately.

The Day Before Eid

Early in the morning, I followed Along and Mak to Selandar to pick up the beef for the rendang. Selandar is about 15 minutes drive from Hutan Percha. Mak told me that the meat supplier has his own cattle farm and usually during festivities like Eid, he only takes orders in advance. Oh, and he also drives a brand new Mercedes E240 :)

The rest of the day is spent with the normal spring cleaning and cooking preparation. The menu for the Eid would be as follows:

1. Nasi Himpit & Ketupat
2. Rendang Ayam (Mak bought lotsa chicken at Mydin MITC)
3. Rendang Cili Padi
4. Lemang
5. Kuah Kacang
6. Sup tulang

The BIG day.. Eid

Everyone woke up very early. Luckily there was no mad rush for the toilets and bathroom. After one month of fasting, its time to celebrate the "victory", as prescribed by Allah in the Holy Al-Quran. Haris, Honey Dearest and I put on our matching maroon baju melayu and baju kurung and Haris looked extremely cute in it. It was off to the mosque for the solat sunat aidilfitri and after the performing the solat, we went to the Tanah Perkuburan to recite the tahlil for Arwah Datuk. The community here has this Mass Tahlil and in no time, it was full of family members visiting the grave of the departed.

My classmate from MCKK, Jani, hails from Hutan Percha and his house is not far from ours. Kema and Suhada joined us but unfortunately Jani had to stay back in KL because her mother in law was admitted to the hospital.

The whole family then headed to Tampin to have our family potrait taken at the photo studio (this so reminds me of the Lat cartoon, heheh) and imagine my surprise when almost all the phot studios are packed. We had to wait for about 45 minutes before we were ushered into the studio and had our family potrait taken.

It was then visits to relatives houses. More food and drinks. Darn, I need to maintin my weight loss!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir & Batin to all !

Menjelang Syawal

It has been an interesting Ramadan for me this year.

First and foremost, I was down with viral fever for most of the first half of Ramadhan. It was quite a harrowing experience, with me being on bed most of the time. It started before the fasting month and I guess I officially recoverd on the 15th Ramadhan. Luckily it wasn't H1N1 but just as precaution, I was prescribed the the anti-viral alternative to Tamiflu and I believe I became one of the statistic for ILI (Influenza-like illness), heheh! Alhamdulillah, I have recovered (and lose some weight too!)

The thing about not being well is that I miss a lot of Tarawih prayers at the mosque. I confess, I am one of the Gang of 8 (read: lepas 8 rakaat, cabut balik!) and instead of performing it at the surau near my house, I opt for the SS19 moque (for obvious reasons, you should be able to guess!).

Fatherhood, the First Year.

On the 10th of September, my son Amir Haris turned one year old.

It also means that I have completed a whole year of fatherhood.

Hari Jumaat

First and foremost, takziah to the family of Allahyarham Ust Asri Rabbani. He will surely be missed.

The air con in the office is functioning really well, thanks to some minor service done by the repair guy. We did som minor furniture rearrangment too, in anticipation of adding some new staff by the fourth quarter and the office is looking good too. What would make it better is some potted plants perhaps ?

Thursday 13th Aug 09

Finally, someone came to have a look at the aircon. The split unit at my corner is working fine, just pity the rest of the staff who had to sweat it out.

I told Scha to take the rest of the week of. Its better her to be fully rested and come back to work next week.

Wednesday the 12th

1106 hrs

Wong told me to get another contractor to fix my office aircon. He is booked solid until next week.

I wanted to visit the FHM09 exhibition today but decided to do so tommorow as it will be more in line with my travel plans. Need to "jimat" petrol, heheh :)

__________________________________________________________

1610 hrs

It's raining outside. Call me sentimental but when it rains, it reminds me of Madison during the fall.. Of all the seasons, fall will always remain my favourite.

I just got off the phone with Yong. Gosh, I will be in trouble tomorrow. Yong's staff can't complete the product by today and I can't deliver to Pulau Indah tomorrow. Apparently Yong's staff goes AWOL in him and yours truly becomes a victim. Yong agrees to write in to explain the delay and I will forward the letter to the client to explain why they can't get their things tomorrow.

Air Con down...

Nope, I am not involved in any airline or starting one to con anyone...

.. its just that the airconditioning is not working. To make matters worse, our regular service provider will only be able to fix it on wednesday (itu pun kalau dia free). Luckily the split unit at my place still functions so it is still bearable.

.. Scha, the admin clerk was hospitalized yesterday due to miscarriage. All of us at the office are truly sorry for your loss. She was discharged later in the evening and is on MC for three days. Have enough rest Scha, all is under control here.

.. gosh, Wong, if you can't confirm when you can come to fix our aircon, have to get someone else to do it...