Over 2.3million viewers have watched the following video clip recorded at Mayo Clinic that features Fran and Marlo Cowan playing an impromptu duet of the 1920's song "The Old Grey Bonnet" in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. Marlo turned 90 in February and they have been married for SIXTY-TWO YEARS!!!
Incredible!!
It is not just the lengthy period of their marriage or their age but it is the exuberance, the joy, energy, love, harmony that this loving couple exude from the smiles on their faces, to their non-verbal communication to their music to their gait...
Please observe their body language closely while enjoying the lively music. It is obvious that they were just having a gala time doing what they do best together - making beautiful music and I am sure it is not just in musical notes but in many areas of their lives!
Even though the performance is not flawless in that there are slip-ups now and then, they did not glare at each other or frown or project any negative communication but they just went on without a care in the world. What mattered was their attitude - they love each other, love playing together, love making music and love entertaining through their music and hopefully touch lives with what they do.
Note that Fran even has the time to look up and smile at the crowd in the 20th and 30th second.
The first time they exchanged places, it is Fran who whispered instructions to Marlo in the 40th second and he voiced no objection but nodded and as they moved, note that Marlo gives her a loving pat on her derriere! How sweet!
And that's not all!!! In the 50th second, when they exchange places again, this time it is Fran who pats his butt!! And when they exchange places for the third time, both are wary of each other in a playful attitude. I am sure that when they were younger, they had loads of fun together :-) with lots of teasing, loving and just living life to the max.
The bounce in Marlo's stance as he moves in rhythm to the music is simply awesome considering his age. In the 1980's, I remember when I used to teach in the Yamaha ESFC (Electone School for Children) Course, it was so difficult to coax the kids to express themselves with their bodies at least moving a bit instead of sitting in front of the instrument like a statue! But here we have two senior citizens who are still obviously so in love with each other and you know what?
It is the attitude that makes the difference and I am sure that is why they have lived to such a ripe old age and have stayed married for SIXTY-TWO years of their lives with such awesome, joyful, energetic vibrant spirits!!! I hope you will enjoy the video clip.
CLICK HERE to watch the video.
There's more to this tale though...It is the significance of the piano. Music heals and does so much more than just entertain...Apparently, around this piano, the patients come together as an ad hoc family who are on a similar journey of healing and to share with others what has brought joy into their lives...
Tonight, may you be inspired to love, to really live life to the fullest and to remain as youthful as you can be...after all, it's all about attitude that makes the difference!
God bless you and have a good day/evening wherever you may be.
When 2,108 signatures can be collected in only two days from constituents residing around the Bayan Baru market and Tapak Pesta area in Sungai Nibong, Penang asking Bayan Baru Parliamentarian Datuk Mohd Zahrain Hashim to vacate his seat before Parliament reconvenes on March 15, what can he do?
Simple.
Walk like a man, talk like a man and leave that seat like a man!!!
The people have spoken and it is clear that they want him OUT OUT OUT!!! like the candle in Shakespeare's Life's Brief Candle poem.
Yesterday, he had proclaimed to Malaysiakini HERE that he would not relinquish his position as MP. He stressed that he did not betray the voters and would continue serving the constituents as he had informed the Parliament speaker of his status as an independent MP. He said that PKR members should know that he not an MP for the party but MP for the people.
Well, 2108 Bayan Baru constituents have spoken. I am sure more would have spoken if the signature campaign had been stretched over a longer period! Now what?
Datuk Zahrain had better realize that our human life is short. Our life is like a flickering candle blowing in the wind. It may get blown out at any time. Life is only temporary and can be a journey to a dark end if we lie to ourselves. By then, life would be overcast by the darkness that lies within our hearts. And then life would be sometimes meaningless if we live out a dream that does not exist because we created a living nightmare of our own.
Instead of hanging on to his position, I urge him to resign and walk out with dignity to make the most out of his life because life is short. He must always have a purpose in life and earnestly and sincerely desire to do good to others. Life will be more meaningful this way even if it means not having status, prestige or money because at the end of the day, he will have dignity and integrity all of which will mean he leaves a legacy for his descendants that they can be proud of!!!
Regardless of whatever excuses or reasons he may give, the fact remains that he betrayed the trust of the people who voted for the party. Some may have voted for him but most would have voted for the party and their voices are ringing loud and clear so walk like a man, talk like a man and leave like a man!
After all that is happened, it is the least he can do to make his constituents happy.
Update: I have just been alerted by Penangite (bless your heart) of a report in TheStar HERE that during a lecture on The Future of the Malays at Bangunan Tabung Haji in Bayan Lepas yesterday, Bayan Baru PKR Youth chief Ahmad Azrizal Tahir walked in to hand Zahrain a memorandum containing 25,000 to 30,000 signatures of constituents in Bayan Baru seeking Zahrain’s resignation as MP. So it is clear what he should do next. He can put to rest his plan to set up an “Independent Caucus” for the seven MPs who left their parties and use it as a platform to continue with their political struggles and service to the people. Let's see if he will walk, talk and exit like a man now that so many have spoken in black and white. Don't play play with Penangites in Bayan Baru!
Please leave a comment if you wish to share your thoughts and views. You can read more HERE. Thanks! Have a lovely evening! Special thanks to reader Penangite who alerted about this news.
I am putting up this post written by Hakim Joe (which appeared in cyberspace in August last year) to add a broader perspective to my arguments in my previous post called DO WE REALLY NEED THE GST? and also because it is a very good article that my dear friend Angela believes every Malaysian must read. Do leave a comment if you wish to share your thought. Thanks! Have a nice day!
______________________________________IT'S A LONG ROAD written by Hakim Joe
Would anyone sensible award a multi-billion Ringgit mega-contract for the building of a 512 kilometer highway to an engineering cum construction firm that has zero experience in the construction of highways and has never built an inch of it?
Would anyone sensible choose this company over two other local companies that had bids lower than “the chosen one”?
Would anyone sensible choose a company that has such a poor record (of other constructions like the infamous collapse of the Northam Court in Penang) that it was suspended by the KLSE and had accumulated RM90 million in operating losses between 1981 and 1985 over two financially sound companies?
Would anyone sensible award this mega-contract to a company that is almost insolvent (stocks suspended at 30 sen) that the body that is awarding the contract also needs to provide part of the capital, stand guarantee for the remaining commercial loans that is taken and provide a written guarantee of profitability when the other two competing companies did not seek such extreme financial assurances?
Would anyone sensible award this mega-contract to a company and then grant them “Pioneer Status” so that this company will be exempted from taxes for the next 10 years?
Well this someone did all the insensible things above. Not only was the multi-billion Ringgit highway mega-contract awarded to this “zero-experience highway builder” over other experienced highway builders, this someone also had to cough out the initial “almost-interest-free” capital plus stand as guarantor over the massive billion Ringgit loans this “KLSE suspended public company” would have to take in order to complete this mega-project. Additionally, this someone also had to provide written guarantees that the “poor-record-construction-company” would not lose one sen in this venture. To cap it all off, this company is exempted from taxes for the next ten years and the proposed 25 years concession period is extended to 30 years.
Let’s start from the beginning.
In February 1986 the Ministry of Public Works launched a tender exercise for privatizing the construction and operation of the remaining portion of the North-South Highway (NSH). The 867 kilometer NSH was about 41% completed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) then. Five out of the six pre-qualified companies showed interest, namely Pilecon Engineering Berhad, United Engineers Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Shahpadu Holding Sdn Bhd, Unico Holdings Sdn Bhd and Pembinaan Hasbuddin (M) Sdn Bhd. Of these five companies, only Pilecon and Hashbuddin had the necessary experience building highways and only Pilecon and UEM submitted “conforming bids”. (MBF Holdings Sdn Bhd showed no interest at all.)
The question is why the construction of the NSH is being privatized when almost 41% of it has already been completed by MHA. What is an additional 512 kilometer of highway after building 355 kilometer? The Government’s answers to these questions were (1) It is aimed at relieving the financial and administrative burden of the Government in undertaking and maintaining a vast and constantly expanding network of services and investments in infrastructure; (2) Privatization is expected to promote competition, improve efficiency and increase the productivity of the services; (3) Privatization, by stimulating private entrepreneurship and investment, is expected to accelerate the rate of growth of the economy; (4) Privatization is expected to assist in reducing the size and presence of the public sector and its monopolistic tendencies and bureaucratic support in the economy; and (5) Privatization is also expected to contribute towards meeting the objectives of the New Economic Policy (NEP).
Of the five bids, only 3 were considered. Pilecon submitted 4 alternative proposals ranging from RM3.372 billion to RM3.76 billion. Hashbuddin submitted various alternative proposals with a standard tender of RM3 billion. UEM also submitted various proposals but had the highest bid of RM3.5 billion. Additionally, Pilecon’s tender also only specified a requirement of a RM498 million standby credit from the Government while Hashbuddin needed the Government to provide loan support (to its commercial loans). UEM needed RM1.65 billion from the Government. Pilecon proposed a 7 sen/km toll rate for a concession period of 25 years. Hashbuddin proposed a 5 sen/km toll rate for a concession period of 22 years and UEM once again came in highest at 7.5sen/km toll rate for a concession period of 25 years (extended to 30 years after the contract has been awarded.)
If conforming bids were mandatory, only Pilecon and UEM can be considered and Pilecon would win the tender owing to its lower bid, its proven experience at building highways plus the fact that the company only required a RM498 million standby credit facility from the Government.
If conforming bids were not considered mandatory, Hashbuddin would win this tender hands down. One, the company was an experienced highway builder. Two, its bid was the lowest at RM3 billion. Three, the company did not require any money from the Government, it merely required the Government to provide loan support to its commercial loan application(s) and lastly, its proposal for the collection of toll is the lowest at 5 sen per kilometer and the shortest concession period of 22 years only. In fact Hashbuddin also submitted the lowest estimated toll collection at RM17.9 billion. (Pilecon estimated it at between RM18 billion to RM19 billion and UEM’s figures were a whooping RM34 billion.)
On 8 July 1987, Samy Vellu tabled the Federal Roads (Private Management) Amendment Bill, and the Highway Authority Malaysia (Incorporation) Amendment Bill in Parliament to enable the government to privatize the NSH of which was awarded to UEM ahead of Pilecon and Hashbuddin. The total contract was worth RM3.5 billion.
When one studies the conditions imposed upon the Government by the contractor, it exhibits a parody of sorts whereby it is akin to a beggar enforcing strict rules and regulations upon a rich man that has offered him a high-paying job. UEM is asking practically everything (including the kitchen sink and more) from the Government in order to cover all possible risks in the NSH project and yet the Government proceeded to award the NSH project to UEM.
One, UEM does not have to lay one single sen into the RM3.5 billion project. The UEM award is based on a pre-completion government loan of RM750 million to be drawn down during the construction period and a post-completion government loan of RM950 million (reduced to RM900 million) to be drawn down during the operation phase of the project. Furthermore, UEM also wants the interest rate on both these huge government loans to be floating at an interest rate set at the rate of inflation (this means that UEM will pay no interest to the Government if the inflation rate is zero) which the Government eventually denied after protests from DAP in Parliament.
Additionally, UEM wants an External Risk Undertaking (or commonly called a Guarantee) from the Government, to cover costs arising from adverse foreign exchange movements on its external debt, adverse interest rate movement, adverse changes in taxation, delays in completion due to factors outside its control, and cost overruns due to changes in Government Policy, and that this External Risk Guarantee is to be supported by a revolving loan facility whereby UEM could make drawings from the Government in order to cover any costs caused by external risks. (The External Risk Guarantee was rejected by the Government after once again being protested by DAP in Parliament but the revolving loan facility of RM500 million was approved.)
If one thinks that these demands are unreasonable, wait, there’s more. UEM is also asking for a Traffic Volume Undertaking (Guarantee) whereby the Government has to provide a revolving loan facility to it to meet any shortfall in the volume of traffic using the expressways. Repayment of principal of this loan will be subordinated to all operating cost, debt service and dividends due to equity investors. Furthermore, the completed sections of the NSH (by MHA) would also be handed over to UEM gratis. (The RM3.32 billion cost to build the 355 km stretch by MHA will be absorbed by the Government including the discharge of RM1.7 billion in commercial loans made by the MHA.) Click HERE to read the rest of the post.
