masterwordsmith-unplugged

It was only this evening that I discovered that Abraham Lincoln's speech delivered at the site of one of the Civil War's pivotal battles was only 265 words long. Meaningful, engaging and succinct, it is likely that he took less than four minutes to delver this memorable speech where he pleaded with his countrymen to pay tribute to Gettysburg's fallen heroes by honoring principles of liberty and equality - for which the heroes sacrificed their lives.

Here's the speech popularly known as the Gettysburg Address that Abraham Lincoln delivered on 19th November 1863.

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.


Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.


But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.

1. Being Clingy

Do you expect your boyfriend to inform you about his whereabouts every hour? Do you feel the heat of insecurity when he casually talks with other females? You expect him to conduct himself the way you want, and at the worst, you have hired someone to spy over him! If you relate to all this, you are clingy. You are also jealous and overtly possessive. I wish to ask you, what makes you a clingy girlfriend? Being excessively possessive is the first sign of missing trust, the building block of any relationship. Analyze for yourself what is making you so clingy to your boyfriend. Sort out the things as soon as you can, before your guy runs away from you. No man with brains, will tolerate a clingy girlfriend.

2. Suspecting for No Valid Reason

Suspecting her guy for small reasons is what a lot of female folk do in a relationship. Picture this – When your guy is out of town and calls you, you hear a female voice in the background. Suspicion starts building and you assume he is dating some other girl in your absence. You fight with him and make accusations with no concrete evidence. Is this suspicion justified? Your boyfriend, or say husband, might be helping a girl, considering she is his friend, or he is in a business meeting, who knows. So, never fight or suspect if you are not sure. Will it not hamper your relationship? Next time, do suspect and fight, but only if you have a valid proof and are sure that he is indeed cheating.

3. Cheating on Him

Women are known to keep commitments and promises among both the sexes, and that is an universal fact. But the natives of Venus are also humans and can sway on finding a better prospect. You are not happy with the way the bond is shaping up, and are not fully satisfied with your boyfriend, also you do not want to leave him. Your eyes begin to rove, you start flirting in an unhealthy way, and at last, you cheat on him! The reason for this mistake is – you didn’t take the effort to enliven the dying relationship, you failed in the relationship and didn’t talk it out with your boyfriend/husband. So, take all the efforts to make the relationship work; if not, quit, but not cheat or be with two persons.

4. Making Unrealistic Demands

Some girls commit this mistake of thinking that their boyfriend is their personal property. More than the guy, they think his wallet is their own. But it is not! Just to know they are being loved, girls start making unrealistic demands from their boyfriends. They become demanding, not realizing that he cannot afford what they demand all the time. A relationship is more about sharing your emotional securities with the other person, it is about supporting each other, it is finding yourself in the other person, rather than making material demands, or using him to fulfilling your motives and wishes. Also, females and males are wired differently hence this big difference in thinking. So, stop expecting him to remember all your anniversaries and birthdays. This one is for your own good.

5. Excess Intrusion

This is somewhat similar to being a clingy girlfriend. Even if you are a staunch believer in – “we are two bodies, one soul”, be practical. You two are two distinct individuals with two different bodies and souls, and so you just cannot cross that line the person has set for others, including you. Learn to give each other the required space, and do not excessively intrude in his life. When he says, he needs to be alone, he means it. Give him that independence, and you both will be happy. Know that he loves you, and let him do the things he enjoys doing. Do not force yourself to create a space in the person’s life. If he wants you, he will create a big one, for sure.

READ THE REST OF THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE AT THIS LINK.

The Malaysian Insider reported HERE that shoppers in Penang will be charged 20 sen for each plastic bag everyday from today, as the state government steps up its green campaign. The report said that the charge applies to all hypermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, pharmacies, fast food restaurants, nasi kandar chains and convenience stores, including those at petrol stations in the state.



However, mini markets and single-owned businesses will also have to comply with the state directive to stop giving out free plastic bags on three days in a week — namely Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays — when they apply to renew their licences. Only hawkers and market traders are excluded from the new rule.

CLICK HERE to read more details about this move.

Congratulations to the Penang state government for taking a very bold and unpopular step to implement the No Plastic day everyday beginning this year. Of course, such a move resulted in fierce backlash from the plastic manufacturers. The Malaysian Insider report said that together with BN and Gerakan, plastic manufacturers are distributing 180,000 free bags from this month. What a crying shame!! Instead of doing that, more should be distributing environment-friendly woven bags which we can all use instead of plastic bags. That would save everyone a lot of inconvenience and extra expenses. Is it really that hard and unpopular to conserve, reuse, recycle, and make an effort to save our environment?

Previously, CM Lim Guan Eng had remarked that the local councils spent RM57.6 million, nearly a third of its income in 2007, to deal with garbage disposal.

Many do not realize that the easiest way to destroy the environment is to do nothing. Any form of inactivity, apathy, and general avoidance may show one's irresponsibility in carrying out what we know is needed to preserve our environment!

Say goodbye to plastic bags! Let us love and care for our environment and also support the Penang CM's move. It does not take a lot of effort to carry woven bags with us when we shop. Such a move will go a long way to cut down council expenses and to help preserve the environment.

Allow me to share with you a short article by Whit Gibbons from University of Georgia called PLASTIC BAGS ARE DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT.

Excerpt from the article:

Do you know what sea turtles, Ireland, and grocery stores have in common? All have been dramatically influenced by the excessive use of plastic bags.

Remember a few years ago when we brought groceries home in a big brown paper sack? Today we stuff everything from bottles to fresh fruit into those little plastic bags with the carrying straps. We then use the bags at home to hold everything from cat litter to lunch for the office. We cannot live without these plastic bags, which we were told during the paper to plastic transition would be environmentally prudent. We must cut down trees to make the paper bags, and . . . I cannot really remember the rationale given for substituting plastic for paper, but the handy new plastic product seemed practical in many ways.

Well, today so many plastic bags have been produced throughout the world that if we filled one-tenth of them with pennies we could pay off the national debt. The most conservative estimate is that a half trillion plastic grocery bags are produced each year. This is a staggering figure that might lead to such statements as "if they were made into a blanket, they could cover the entire earth and still have enough to cover the moon." I do not know if that calculation is accurate, but I would not be surprised if it were true. The United States uses about one billion each year, more than 10 tons a day. For people who like to bring issues back to the practical side of U.S. dependency on foreign oil, more than 10 million barrels of oil are necessary to make enough plastic bags for the United States each year.

Where do the bags go and do they cause any harm? Imagine being a leatherback sea turtle, the most enormous turtle in the world. You eat jellyfish. And where do you find jellyfish? Floating on top of the ocean, whereupon you merely swim along with your mouth open when you find them. Unfortunately, a tasty jellyfish and a floating plastic bag do not look much different to a sea turtle, so thousands of bags are consumed each year. Numerous sea turtle deaths caused by digestive systems clogged with plastic bags have been documented in recent years. The same phenomenon extends to whales, sea gulls, and seals. Plastic bags are a poor diet for any animal.

Are you one those people that are almost always happy, no matter what is happening in your life? Frankly, I am not but I know a few people like that in my life and I am amazed at their natural ability to maintain a smile every day and to be in high spirits all the time. A friend of mine is like that, and I have to shake my head in amazement when something goes wrong and he just makes a joke as if it was nothing. That is definitely a great attitude!

Do you think that the ability to be happy is that a natural inborn thing? I think for some people it is, and really if you think about it we all have a “happiness set mark” at birth just like any DNA trademark. Some folks have brown hair, others blonde. Some are left-handed and others are weird. Personally, I believe happiness is within our power since actions we take and thoughts we control are obviously a huge part of that influence on happiness.

What that means is that we are born with a certain happiness set point but we don’t have to be satisfied with our life the way we are at birth. I feel that we can change our circumstances by changing our behavior. But what changes should we make that can make us happy? That is a question you will have to answer yourself, because everyone is different. Nevertheless, I really believe that is the hardest part for many people!

I know it’s insane, but many people seem to drift through life with no real “long-term” vision, which means they know what makes them happy for the moment, but not what will really fulfill their needs on a long-term basis. That, in my opinion, is the real definition of happiness. Once we figure out the really important things, we can then start making solid plans for obtaining those goals.

I always ask myself common questions such as:

* Do I really love what I am doing now?

* Do I see myself staying where I’m at for the next five years, ten years, even twenty years?

* Am I spiritually where I want to be? If not, how can I get there?

Aristotle said, “All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.” But how much control do we really have, and how much is inborn and thus difficult to change?

I believe that happiness, a state of mind, is really under our control! (In other words, don’t try to blame others if we are feeling grouchy). And of course we can’t be happy all the time either, in fact it’s probably not even a realistic goal to set. But I believe that if we work on a well-defined list of characteristics that most happy people seem to present, our chances of happiness are much higher. I have read that the happiest among us have these traits in common:

* enjoy what they do for a living
* have close relationships with family & friends
* have a certain amount of faith (spiritual element)
* describe themselves as optimists
* have at least a modicum of good health
* and last, but not least, have enough material things that they don’t worry about
food or shelter for themselves or their family

I know what happiness means to me just as you do, and how I am sure there is much we can do to change how we feel about it.

What makes us happy? OURSELVES!!!

Many women, myself included, yearn for more attention, more help with the kids, more hugs, more romance, more surprises, more time together, more intimacy and more and more in our lives. When in a silly mood, I dream of having a maid to do most if not all of my household chores and a chauffeur to take my son to and fro his classes.

And I do ask my better half and my son almost everyday..."Do you love me?" :-) I believe that many women yearn for more but seldom ask.

“But I shouldn’t have to ask” is the refrain I’ve heard many times when I ask my friends if they do ask their family members.

I reckon that could be a false belief that may cause unexpressed pain, deep suffering and even rage or frustration - a scenario which could possibly lead to quarrels. It is quite an absurd situation because unless our spouse is psychic, he/she won’t know what we want unless we ask!

It’s that simple!

In my younger days, I used to feel that my better half was not expressive because he did not love me haha! Older and wiser, I realize that if our spouses are not that expressive,it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t love us! It is just that they just have their own map of the world and can be caught up with their own way of thinking and experiencing the world. On a lighter note, and it just means they haven’t fully developed their psychic powers enough yet!

Just as the genie in Aladdin's lamp couldn’t grant me any of my wishes if I didn’t tell him what they were, I realize that my better half can’t try to guess either. Thus, our partners can’t fulfil our wishes, dreams or needs if they don’t know what they are! So we have to tell them. :-)

I learnt lots from the book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray. We really have to spell out what we want/need but within limits of course! It is an excellent book which contains many suggestions for improving relationships between men and women through understanding the communication style and emotional needs of the opposite sex. John Gray argues that men and women are as different as beings from other planets, and that learning the code of conduct of the opposite sex is of essential value even if individuals do not necessarily conform to the stereotypical behaviour.

So the line “If you really loved me, I wouldn’t have to ask” is not really a valid claim.

I should know because my better half and I are so different and after thirty three years of being together, I know that he loves me to bits but his idea of a good night out is a herbal tea and a Chinese meal while mine is white wine and smoked salmon. :-) Still, we have our fair share of herbal tea, wine, Chinese and Western cuisine.

Well, it was not easy to reach Peaceville :-). Like what I wrote in previous posts, we used to fight so much in the early years but time has a way of binding us together in love and understanding. It has been many years since we last fought. Finally, I am enjoying the lessons learnt from mistakes and am learning to communicate specifically with my loved ones. No more hints or guessing games.

Now, I encourage my better half to respond in the way I’d like him to by asking questions and not expecting him to be a mind reader. Now, if I want a romantic evening, I ask for it. If I want to go hiking, I invite him to join me :-).

Gone are the days when I used to nag, whine, complain or criticize. If only I had learnt earlier to just simply, pleasantly, cheerfully and respectfully ask. I would have spared myself and my family lots of painful episodes. I've learnt precious lessons from the decades of being together - not to tell or boss or make unreasonable demands but just to ask. That simple process can open up a whole new world where love, harmony and memorable moments can begin. I believe the same principle applies in other relationships....

And why am I writing this today? I have been reflecting loads about life - what I have been through the past years, lessons learnt, how I have changed and where I am heading in my twilight years. Each day when I go to bed, I thank God for life, my family and all I had been through that day. And when I wake up, I am thankful for yet another day that I am alive, to have my family to love and to cherish and to truly seize the day before the dusk sets in and my life comes to an end. So here's wishing you and yours a blessed week and love, joy, peace and happiness everyday of your life.

Once a man had a dream in which his hands and feet and mouth and brain all began to rebel against his stomach.



"You good-for-nothing sluggard!" the hands said. "We work all day long, sawing and hammering and lifting and carrying. By evening we're covered with blisters and scratches, and our joints ache, and we're covered with dirt. And meanwhile you just sit there, hogging all the food."

"We agree!" cried the feet. "Think how sore we get, walking back and forth all day long. And you just stuff yourself full, you greedy idiot, so that you're that much heavier to carry about."

"That's right!" whined the mouth. "Where do you think all that food you love comes form? I'm the one who has to chew it all up, and as soon as I'm finished you suck it all down for yourself. Do you call that fair?"

"And what about me?" called the brain. "Do you think it's easy being up here, having to think about where your next meal is going to come from? And yet I get nothing at all for my pains."

And one by one the parts of the body joined the complaint against the stomach, which didn't say anything at all.

"I have an idea," the brain finally announced. "Let's all rebel against the lazy belly, and stop working for it."

"Superb idea!" all the other members and organs agreed. "We'll teach you how important we are, you pig. Then maybe you'll do a little work of your own."

So they all stopped working. The hands refused to do lifting and carrying. The feet refused to walk. The mouth promised not to chew or swallow a single bite. And the brain swore it wouldn't come up with any more bright ideas. At first the stomach growled a bit, as it always did when it was hungry. But after a while it was quiet.

Then, to the dreaming man's surprise, he found he could not walk. He could not grasp anything in his hand. He could not even open his mouth. And he suddenly began to feel rather ill.

The dream seemed to go on for several days. As each day passed, the man felt worse and worse. "This rebellion had better not last much longer," he thought to himself, "or I'll starve."

Meanwhile, the hands and feet and mouth and brain just lay there, getting weaker and weaker. At first they roused themselves just enough to taunt the stomach every once in a while, but before long they didn't even have the energy for that.

Finally the man heart a faint voice coming from the direction of his feet.

"It could be that we were wrong," they were saying. "We suppose the stomach might have been working in his own way all along."

"I was just thinking the same thing," murmured the brain. "It's true that he's been getting all the food. But it seems he's been sending most of it right back to us."

"We might as well admit our error," the mouth said. "The stomach has just as much work to do as the hands and feet and brain and teeth."

"Then let's get back to work," they cried together. And at that the man woke up.

To his relief, he discovered his feet could walk again. His hands could grasp, his mouth could chew, and his brain could now think clearly. He began to feel much better.

"Well, there's a lesson for me," he thought as he filled his stomach at breakfast.

"Either we all work together, or nothing works at all."


-Author Unknown-

Did you ever watch "Funny Girl" (1964) in your younger days? If you did, perhaps you might know the song "People". "People" is a well-known song, written by Jule Styne (composer) and Bob Merrill (lyricist) for the Broadway musical Funny Girl (1964) starring Barbra Streisand, who sang the song. Its most famous line is from its chorus, "People who need people....". This song has been recorded by Dionne Warwick, Jack Jones, Richard Clayderman, Perry Como, The Supremes and others, but is most closely associated with Streisand as her signature song.

With the passing of time, I cannot help but realize how much I have changed in my life. I reckon the biggest change that I have experienced is in the area of human relationships. Once upon a time, I used to make friends easily and was a very sociable person, having guests at my house, going out a lot and doing lots of stuff. A couple of experiences changed my perspective and the way I connected with people.

And then I slowly withdrew into my shell...into the world of blogging - a safe, secure world where I could express my thoughts and feelings. Those who know me from days gone are quite shocked that I have since become very reclusive, quiet and reserved.

What is it about human relationships that can be so complicated? If one is too caring, the recipient runs away. If one is too cold, where does it leave us? The older one gets, the more complicated life becomes because one may realize that people are not what they seem to be. Where then do we draw the line of how real we should be?

I guess I am blessed in that blogging has brought a few real friends into my life - strangely, friends whom I may not have met before and some who became real friends even before we met. That is one of the blessings of blogging that I have experienced in the last one and a half years.

Only time can tell who are our real friends. Sometimes, one can be a friend only for a season, for a reason. Perhaps I am being an idealist to hope and dream that my friends can be in my life for all seasons. Yet, with the many hard knocks in life and various disappointments, I have come to grips with this fact that people are complex and confusing creatures who can be warm and also cold, unlike dogs or other pets who are warm, kind and loving all the time.

I have come to accept that each person is different and I should just cherish the moment for what it is. Unlike before, I no longer get all emo when I lose a friend or if they choose to stay away or remain passive. I treasure the moments shared and move on. All these emotions that have been going through my mind brought to remembrance two songs - People and Alfie, both sung by Barbra Streisand.

The song "People" asserts that "people who need people" — that is, people who love others and are not emotionally cut off from them — are the "luckiest people in the world". I guess I am lucky then, by this definition, because I have not hardened by heart to love others and still have the capacity to love even though it is not as easy as it used to be.....CLICK HERE for Barbara Streisand's beautiful rendition of "People".

A friend sent me the following diagram that just about sums up the scenario in many households.
I showed this to my husband before I posted it and he smiled. Well, I do admit that we argued a lot during the courtship years and somehow, the frequency declined the longer we remained together. And now, 27 years later, I can safely say that it has been a very long time since we had any argument. I guess that is what marriage is all about - the commitment to love and the willingness to adapt to one another. For those of you who are about to be married or are married, here's wishing you and yours a lifetime of sharing, loving and caring. Have a pleasant weekend with your loved ones.

I am posting this inspirational piece in the light of what has been happening in our midst and the dire need for men and women of honor to serve this country. May there rise from amongst worthy Malaysians, a new breed of leaders who are 'unpurchasable' and will not be cowed in any way in their desire to serve the rakyat as elected representatives. Do leave a comment to share your thoughts. Thanks! Have a pleasant evening!
____________________________

"Learn to say no," said Charles Spurgeon. "It will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin."

One educator used to say that no society can last long unless it has a quorum of "unpurchasable people."

These are people of principle who cannot be bought; people who have learned to say no. I believe that these so-called unpurchasable people are the truly contented and fulfilled souls around us.

In Whitney Seymour's book MAKING A DIFFERENCE (New York: William Morrow and Co., Inc., 1984), Arthur McArthur, General Douglas McArthur's father, told his son of such an unpurchasable man.

This man was a Union general in charge of the occupied territory surrounding New Orleans toward the end of the American Civil War. He was pressed by local plantation owners to permit them to haul their cotton to the wharves in order for it to be sold for shipment to England. The general controlled all the wagons and horses, and his orders from high command in Washington were clear. He was not to let the cotton crop get to market.

Then one day, when Colonel Arthur MacArthur was visiting the general, two Southern ladies were ushered into the general's office, a "grande dame" and a beautiful young companion. The older lady came right to the point. She said that the landowners needed the temporary use of transport facilities to move their cotton.
sailboat Pictures, Images and Photossailboat Pictures, Images and Photossailboat Pictures, Images and Photossailboat Pictures, Images and Photos

The North did not wish to force England into the war, she argued, and was allowing some merchant ships to slip through the blockade. Therefore, the Union would not be opposed to the sale of cotton for English textile mills. To show her gratitude she handed over $250,000 in gold certificates. "And if you need other inducements, this young lady will supply them," she added. They departed, leaving behind a distressed general holding the beautiful young woman's address.

The general immediately ordered MacArthur to dispatch this message to Washington: "TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have just been offered two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen to betray my trust. I am depositing the money with the Treasury of the United States, and request immediate relief from this command. They are getting close to my price."

Many others may have fallen for the seductive offer. And though his decision was no doubt difficult to make, how much harder might his life have eventually become had he chosen wrong?

Saying yes to contentment and peace often begins with saying no.

For ultimately happy lives are guided by unwavering principles, such as honesty, trust and love.

Those who keep sight of their principles and use them as a guide in all their decision-making will eventually arrive at a place of lasting peace.

"Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands," says Carl Schurz.

"But like the (seafarers) on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny."

written by Steve Goodier

Steve Goodier Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com is a professional speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for more information. Have a lovely evening!

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."

Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.

He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.

Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.

-Author Unknown-

Love is grand; divorce is a hundred grand.

I am in shape. Round is a shape.

Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.

Conscience is what hurts when everything else feels so good.

Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly and for the same reason.

An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world.
A pessimist fears that this is true.

There will always be death and taxes; however, death doesn't get worse every year.

In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

I am a nutritional overachiever.

I am having an out of money experience.

I plan on living forever. So far, so good.

A day without sunshine is like night.

If marriage were outlawed, only outlaws would have in-laws.

It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

Life not only begins at forty, it also begins to show.

You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stopped laughing.

An optimist sees the best in the world, while a pessimist sees only the worst. An optimist finds the positive in the negative, and a pessimist can only find the negative in the positive.

For example, an avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.

He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog. As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. they fired, and a duck fell.

The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet. This continued all day long; each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it.

The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word.

On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?" "I sure did," responded the pessimist. "He can't swim."

-Author Unknown-

In life, we have a choice to be either an optimist, a pessimist or even a hopeful pessimist...What do you think? Do leave a comment to share your views. Thanks. Have a nice day!

My friend Freddie sent me this flow chart this morning which just about sums up the state of affairs where our country is concerned! When top level guys look down, they think they are so great and see others as only sh**. However, when bottom level guys look up, they see only a**holes! What say you?

I am so excited!!! I just cannot contain my excitement and I have been so hyper ever since I came home. Earlier, I had lunch with my old friend Patrick Tan and then I headed to a music store to service one of my guitars and to restring it plus buy a new case.

Originally, I wanted to get another acoustic guitar and had selected Custom Acoustic FG28E Dreadnought which comes with a build-in pickup tuner and equalizer and had also selected an amplifier to go with it.

Just as I was about to leave the store, I casually asked to see their range of saxophones. I had always longed to learn a brass instrument. So the proprietor showed me an alto saxophone and then a soprano saxophone. He said that I should get a soprano sax but I don't like the sound and in my heart opted for the alto saxophone.

Mr. Lim was kind enough to make introduce a teacher and I drove immediately to the music school and spoke to the owner and after that to the instructor!!!

I am so so so so excited!!! I will be starting my lessons next week and Ican't believe that at my age I am going to be a music student again. I play the piano and guitar and was a disaster at the flute so I hope my saxophone classes will be ok. Years ago, I gave keyboard and guitar lessons and composed lots of music, one of which has been recorded in an album (blogged about it last year) and I am trying to get in touch with a few music publishers to sell my music :-).

So I hope this new foray in the world of brass marks a rejuvenation of my musical roots! I think some of you may not know that if I could do it again, I would choose to be a musician and then a writer :-)....the bohemian mws emerges today.

Of course I will not give up blogging. Never will.....:-) This post is an outlet to release my excitement and exuberance because I have always wanted to learn how to play the saxophone, thanks to Kenny G etc. My sons are also very musical. My older boy, a final year contemporary music student in university is in the semi-finals of a talent competition this weekend and I am also so excited about that.

Ok. That's all for now. If you are in Penang, please head to the Chinese Town Hall tonight @ 8pm for a forum on the Sibu by-election. Penang CM, Tunku Aziz, Dr. Dzulkefly and many others will be there. Next post will be up in two to three hours after I finish surfing the net. Have a nice day!

A Walk To The Park

Angelina Jacqueline is a single Australian mom, living on the outskirts of Southern Australia near to the Charles Darwin University (CDU). She has a six year old child whose name is Croco. This name was given to him after his father was eaten alive by crocodiles while he was hunting fishes in the nearby marshlands, almost a year ago. Now Angel, as she likes to be called, is attending college at the CDU.

Last Sunday afternoon, Angel took Croco for his usual free play in the nearby park, where he would be able to play with other kids in the neighbourhood. While they were strolling along the footpath towards the park, an English professor, named Obingi Obungu was walking alongside them; he was heading towards the CDU library. He was from South Africa on contract with Charles Darwin University English Department.

As the English professor was about to pass Angel and her son, Croco on the sidewalk, the child suddenly held his mother’s hand with a firm grip. She looked down at him questioningly, her forehead almost revealing a question mark.
“Are you alright, Croco? “ Angel asked the child. She paused for a moment to look down at him.

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Note: March 21, 2010 is International Day for the Elimination of Racism. Racism exists in every part of the world. Ignorance is no excuse. We need to understand and embrace our diversity; we need to appreciate our distinct differences. We need to strive to make our children participate in activities that allow them opportunities to live well among others.

During my secondary school years, I collected the poetry of Helen Steiner Rice. Then, I still remember that Hallmark cards featured many of her inspirational poems.Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981)was born in Ohio into a family of immigrants. Often referred to as “poet laureate of inspirational verses” Rice dreamed of attending college and one day became a congresswoman.

Her ambition was shattered when her German father died during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, making her the sole breadwinner of the family. To make ends meet she worked at a lighting company, helping other women to decorate lampshades.

She climbed up the corporate ladder until she managed to get to the position of advertising manager.

Due to the nature of the business, this petite lady (she's less than 5 feet tall) went criss-crossing the nation for lectures in her industry. During this time she met a young and rich banker and married him. After their honeymoon, Rice lived in a 14 rooms house, complete with 3 expensive cars at her disposal.

On the same year, the stock market crashed and her husband lost his job, went broke and both were in enormous debt. Rice went back to work for a greeting card company to make ends meet. One day while at work, her husband committed suicide. She was a young widow at 32.

Her work writing verses at the greeting card company was where she made her mark in the literary circle with her inspirational poetry. During her lifetime she published around 10 books of poetry but after her death, her foundation published 65 more.

She suffered from arthritis during her old age. At 79, she fell, broke her hips and two years later Helen died – leaving behind a Helen Steiner Foundation to help the poor and needy; and a collection of beautiful inspirational poetry to the rest of the world.

Here's one of her poems which is most appropriate for all of us in the light of what has been happening in our country. Be inspired! Have a nice day!

We all have dreams - as a kid, as a student, then as a young adult to find a partner and then to be a parent. And as citizens, we also have dreams for our country. May this poem motivate us to achieve our dreams in as many areas as possible and to know that nothing is impossible, if we believe and work in the right direction of that dream. Take care and have a great day!

My deepest apologies for this delayed post. My older boy came back last night and I had to take him around for some errands before he leaves tomorrow :-(. Lately, blog readers have been leaving very thought-provoking and honest comments which give me so much hope that things will get better even though the sky may have darkened. I believe that a blog is not a one-way form of communication where the blogger airs his/her view but is a place to enable a healthy exchange of ideas in an open forum where we respect one another even if our views may differ. As always, here's a selection of comments from the past few posts which I wish to share with you, just in case you missed reading the comments. I wish I could air all the comments but because of space constraints, I have listed the following. Just because yours is not here does not mean it is not important. Once again, thanks to all readers who visit my blog and leave a comment or pass through/pass on the blog posts to others. I am inspired and encouraged by your presence and hope that you will continue to leave your heart prints here. Thanks! Have a nice day!

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Ahoo said...

We know by now that the coalition govt is only an unmo govt nothing more nothing less ! MCA & Gerakan and others are all on life support systems. It is entirely up to the master to decides whether the "supply of free oxygen " should be continued or switch off.

How pathetic can these parties be ? Once the shinning stars but as of today are irrevalent not only due to its ineffectiveness but also the arrogance of their master. When they behave as the "three wise monkeys", see not, hear not and speak not, surely the people have had enough of such callous MPs' and state assemblymen who care for themselves and the perks that come with high office.

The road ahead is winding and narrow but all that is worth to see true democracy for Malaysia, is worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears. We shall overcome and return Malaysia to its former glory with all right minded Malaysians. Cheers !
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Following PR’s defeat in HS, I noticed (after reading this and other blogs) many PR supporters are beginning to display signs of battle fatigue. Some are in fact shell-shocked and losing their marbles fast, while others are playing the blame game, looking for scapegoats, anything to vent their frustrations and disbelief. Looks like many can’t handle the loss very well. To overcome this grieve, they can perform one or several of the following:

Immediately go and hang yourself
Go on a hunger strike
Go coo-coo
Sulk for the two years until GE13
Send hate mail to CheDet & Company
Join or support BN

Or they can do like what I do – remain calm and steadfast in your political conviction.

Losing HS is not like losing your life. The fact that BN has won is really no big deal. In fact they had to pay dearly to win. That BN had to spend more than RGT60 million to win, (by their own admission) in their own stronghold, speaks volumes about the strength of PR. Add that to the might of a ruling government with an assortment of war machines at their disposal, from EC to police, to TV stations and hired thugs; it would in fact be a big surprise if they lost. Winning by a mere 1,700 votes actually reveals how weak in fact BN is. BN would have lost miserably if it were the opposition.

Remember, out of 10 by-elections, PR has won 7. This is already a healthy sign and is something PR can and should be proud of. There are many more bruising battles to be fought and PR will have to keep on fighting with resolute and determination until they win the war.

I have this to say to BN – enjoy the spoils while you can 'cos PR’s going to kick some ass in the BIG ONE.

YB Zaid Ibrahim, my respect for you as a future leader have not diminished one bit.

StraightTalking
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Chong said...

Sometimes I think when my voting area will having by-election? because in 15 days, so much the people can get what they demand for more than 15 years.

So, in sincerely, I hope all the MPs can resign from their post 1 by 1 to have by-election(no need to die) in order to give a chance to people to receive the actual help/development etc from government more easily.

But, is all dream (promise) will come true after BN win? If BN can get back 2/3 majority, we all need to pay to BN. GST, High compound, high water rate, high electricity rate, high toll rate are all waiting for us if BN win more......

Malaysian are selfish. We only think of ourselves, we don't think of our next generation. Today, HS people vote for the little sugar given by BN, but all rakyat will pay for the bill in future.....HIGH TAX.....

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There’s another factor called the Angry Malaysian. This factor is made up of a growing number of angry educated Malays, Chinese, Indians, and others who are:

Fed up with being called traitors when they should be called heroes
Fed up of being called pendatangs in their own country of birth
Fed up of seeing the escalating and blatant racist policies
Fed up of being called beggars when they helped toil the land
Fed up of being called prostitutes by the racist regime
Fed up with the NeverEndingPolicy now re-named NEM
Fed up with race-based political parties
Fed up with rampant corruption and bribery
Fed up with cronyism
Fed up with threats of another May 13
Fed up with seeing the country’s wealth enjoyed by an undeserving few
Fed up with the deteriorating education standards
Fed up with the brain drain and BN doing nothing about it
Fed up of seeing the ringgit getting weaker and weaker
Fed up of seeing us losing our business competitiveness
Fed up with Ketuanan Melayu
Fed up with racist UMNO the No. 1 traitor actively dividing Malaysians
Fed up with racist MCA the No. 2 traitor
Fed up with racist MIC the No. 3 traitor

This will be the ultimate factor that will bring down the BN regime in the next GE.

Grrr…grrr…grrrrrrrr
Little Corgi

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Anonymous Ex-MCA Man said...

The Chinese support for BN explicitly indicates that the Chinese electorate has politically matured to the point that they are relatively immune to BN’s election bribery. For them, nothing short of real reforms would do.

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'Change is not a choice but an imperative!"

NOTHING in Nature exists here without changing. One gotta be(for all intent and purpose) pretending to be God if he claims to be immutable.

It is imperative that Man change his ways for the better!

~wits0~

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Wan Sharif said...

With most of politically related "death" remain unexplained, we are a long way from true democracy if there is one..

A small by-election that has been openly converted into "buy-election".. the bolehlah sink deeper into "corrupt" democracy.. a huge battle ahead for anyone who wish to make a necessary change..

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We might have lost a battle, but the war is yet to be won!
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Apa Nama said...

How much is one gram of 'integrity' worth in this Bolehland?

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Anonymous said...

Integrity is something you build on and improve. 53 years of Recolonization has not done that amid the flood of hypes, deviousness and duplicities pretending to be virtues.

How can you cultivate integrity in the soil of all pervading racism and fascism fed by elitist feudalism?

~wits0~
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Anonymous said...

A person is not given integrity. It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times.

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Catherine said...

We discover ourselves as human beings when we move in the direction of our dreams. When we are fighting hard and striving, with all our might, that is when we become truly human. When we forget about challenging ourselves, we grow lazy and degenerate, falling into a state no better than animals.
________________________

""If I don't fight to get what I want, I won't get my fair share.""

There are at least 3 salient points to closely re-examine within this simplistic statement itself.

1. Fight
2. Want
3. Fair.

From a human perspective, you can never 'fight' right as a hollow racist/fascist.

Want, as a human desire, usually degenerates into insatiable excesses via greed. Need is a different thing generally. The lack of integrity and character ensures this willful confusion.

Fair, is a word so corrupted and defiled in Bolehland and is always bandied around by the most unfair of vile and shallow people.

These three corrupting of basic understanding has long been drowned in the political cacophony appealing only to the Neolithic mindset.

~wits0~

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Anonymous Ex-MCA Man said...

The Chinese votes cannot be bought with goodies during elections. The Chinese have woken up. Nothing less than concrete policy changes and reforms to ensure fairer opportunities and treatment for all races will bring back the Chinese votes.
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Justice said...

Whoever wins, please remember those hard core poor and the unfortunate!
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Anonymous said...

Character assassination, racism, bribery and brute force may help win one or two by-elections, but the rakyat will not be deceived all the time.


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I just cant believe the little pea size brain of Perkosa have the guts to make such a call to the government to punish the Chinese! and the government is not taking any action for this racist and seditiuos statement.

MWS, i apologise for venting my anger in yr blog. But this guys just stepped on my tail as the chinese usually says.
Mr Pea brain I-bra-him (yup, yr father told the world that he put a bra on you),
Let me tell you this, the more you want to punish the Malaysia chinese, the more resentment you will get from us. I hope you study history, we are fighters and we will not die as we know the word perseverance. Check your facts, chinese are everywhere in the world , even in Africa. Oh... boy, i forgot that yr English vocabulary is limited to ONLY sh*t as you clear demonstrated to the world in an interview conducted by foreign TV. I can only guess the the word "perseverance" is too long to fit in yr tiny brain. Let me tell you this, you want to punish the malaysian chinese, BRING IN ON. I have no fear.

You call the Chinese ungrateful, in fact you are also ungrateful. You also serve as an independent director of a company owned by a Chinese. In other words, you have bitten the hand that had fed you. You are also an ungrateful piece of rotten meat. Let me give you another example of you being ungrateful. Yr staunch supporter , Mahathir told Malaysians that 90% of the tax collected by IRB are from non bumi. So why the hell you driving your car on Malaysian roads, use the subsidised petrol and a lot more things which are too long to write here. These are paid for by our tax $$$.(MAHATHIR SAID 90% OF TAXES ARE FROM NON BUMI)

Also, i doubt that you clearly understand the mean of an independent director. Please be reminded that a director has fiduciary duties to it shareholder. I sincerely hope that you have performed those fiduciary duties with a sincere heart otherwise those money you earn will be haram.

So please keep your mouth shut before really nasty things come out from my mouth.

Darth Vader
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ahoo said...

When the result of this "buy-election" known, I was disappointed initially BUT then with only 1725 votes majority, how can BN celebrate ???

Note that the postal, spoiled votes accounted for over 1000+ and also that Orang Asli ICs' were taken a day before the election day. So, while the loser needa to admits that this battle is lost but we, the people take courage that the war is still within reach.

Despite this battle being the most corrupted to date, the "mother of all buy-election", we us hope that many more of such elections will come to the rural poor. With many instant projects and millions thrown in, it will surely benefit the people. Even though we know that those are our taxpayers fund, at least it benefitted the people directly rather than mere election promises.

The tide has indeed risen by the votes for Pakatan and the state govt need to address those that are still in bn camp. Work the ground from today and the harvest for GE13 will be sweet for sure, no matter who stands as candidate. Have a fruitful week ahead !
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Young Voter said...

There is no cause for alarm.We still have hope! The younger voters will always yearn for justice, fair play and good governance!

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Anonymous said...

When conditions are most hostile, that is precisely the time when we need to summon forth our courage and take action. A coward cannot become a leader.