The Star announced today,new guidelines on imposition of bank service charges by Bank Negara. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath, because the Bank concerned is large enough to hold its own against our benevolent Central Bank.
I am one of thousands who use this bank's electronic banking services and to be informed upon my complain that "it is the bank's prerogative as per the service agreement" is akin to asking to to take back my complaint and shove it!
Under the guidelines to govern the imposition of such charges from Feb 1, banking institutions will be required to offer basic services at "MINIMAL COST". This is as vague as it is impotent in my mind. It sounds good but means nothing.
Contrary to CAP's stand, the bank's increased profitability is no justification for such a protest. A bank is afterall, a business entity that should strive for profitability. However, the unilateral imposition of the bank upon its customers for a service that not only saves them money (but I suspect channels a lot of business their way) reeks a stench that can only be described as in bad taste.
But I guess I'd better reserve further judgement until this is announced. Till then, I am forced to fork out RM 1 per month in order to save my bank's money. Malaysia BOLEH!
Friday, December 10, 2004
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Hollywood "Not-so" Squares
Do you remember the Original Hollywood Squares and its comics? These may bring a tear to your eyes. These great questions and answers are from the days when "Hollywood Squares" game show responses were spontaneous and clever.
Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course.
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.
Q. According to Cosmo magazine, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No. Wait until morning.
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say "I Love You"?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.
Q. Why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde. Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get
any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.
Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.
One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q. When a couple has a baby, who is responsible for its sex the mother or the father?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him.
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and Laugh.
Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course.
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.
Q. According to Cosmo magazine, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No. Wait until morning.
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say "I Love You"?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.
Q. Why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde. Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get
any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.
Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.
One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q. When a couple has a baby, who is responsible for its sex the mother or the father?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him.
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and Laugh.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Septic Bladder Does it Again...
FIFA President Sepp Blatter, in an interview suggested that he would have supported an England walkout over the racist abuse thrown at the coloured players in England stripes during the recent not-so-friendly match against Spain. I am not sure that this is the way to build bridges with the English if recent comments by Blatter are anything to go by.
Condoning a walkout is stupid at best, and sets a regrettable precedence. It tells players that they can take justice into their own hands and almost castrates the effectiveness of the FIFA dsicipline committee. I use the word almost because Mr Blatter would surely not let that happen - at least not on purpose. Otherwise how could he penalise players (or not) at a whim and fancy?
If racial abuse is justification for a walkout, how about personal abuse? Where do we draw the line? Imagine Wayne Rooney walking out of a Manchester derby because City fans call him Shrek?? If anyone should have the authority to order a walkout, it would have to be the unbiased and well-trained referee - supposing there is such a thing (referring to the latter quality!). And even so, it should be at a point where hostilities are deemed to border on dangerous. Arbitrary no doubt, but isn't it better than putting the decision in the hands of 22 adrenaline pumped young men and their managers??
What is apparent is the presence of double standards in the game and the ability of the powers that be to manipulate this to their own advantage. Whether it is bigoted coaches, racist fans, delinquent drug test-ees or over vehement managers, these problems are not new, and if FIFA does not have a standard procedure in addressing such issues, perhaps it is them that are drug induced.
Condoning a walkout is stupid at best, and sets a regrettable precedence. It tells players that they can take justice into their own hands and almost castrates the effectiveness of the FIFA dsicipline committee. I use the word almost because Mr Blatter would surely not let that happen - at least not on purpose. Otherwise how could he penalise players (or not) at a whim and fancy?
If racial abuse is justification for a walkout, how about personal abuse? Where do we draw the line? Imagine Wayne Rooney walking out of a Manchester derby because City fans call him Shrek?? If anyone should have the authority to order a walkout, it would have to be the unbiased and well-trained referee - supposing there is such a thing (referring to the latter quality!). And even so, it should be at a point where hostilities are deemed to border on dangerous. Arbitrary no doubt, but isn't it better than putting the decision in the hands of 22 adrenaline pumped young men and their managers??
What is apparent is the presence of double standards in the game and the ability of the powers that be to manipulate this to their own advantage. Whether it is bigoted coaches, racist fans, delinquent drug test-ees or over vehement managers, these problems are not new, and if FIFA does not have a standard procedure in addressing such issues, perhaps it is them that are drug induced.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
An Avoidable Death in Paradise
My tropical island holiday in the sun turned sour last week as I had to pull the body of a young girl from the deadly clutches of the beach.
To those in the know, now is not the best time to visit this island paradise due to the monsoon. Surprisingly, this well known resort was opened and we were able to fly over direct from Subang. By and large however, weather was pleasant to a fault. However, stepping onto the sandy beach however, it is easy to see why many resorts are shut down during the monsoon season.
This child of 10 had wandered out, along with her relatives into a deeper section of the beach. Before long, they got into difficulties and the family on the beach were frantically calling for help. For a long while none came - no one realised or in some cases, cared enough to help. To be fair, many would have been intimidated by the rolling waves, fearing as much for their own lives. Thankfully, an Italian man responded to the cries and saved 3 of them, while an Englishman tried to reach the young girl.
I came to the scene just as they were hauling the girl from the sea and carried her on the last leg. By then, this child was foaming in the mouth. Subsequent attempts to resuscitate her was in vain - even this was done by the valiant Englishman. It was several minutes later that first aid assistance arrived from the resort, perhaps too little too late - and the child was confirmed dead at the local clinic.
Question at the back of my mind is, where were the life guards? Could they have been forewarned - for this was enforced the day AFTER the drowning? Where was the first aid support? Was this not foreseeable? Some senior management claimed that this was the first such incident in 4 years - NOT TRUE as many confirmed that a young local boy had drowned the year before as well! I am only speculating but perhaps this tragedy was avoidable, and certainly she stood a better chance had there been some form of emergency routine in place. For a resort of such status with a dive centre to boot, it is a wonder no news of this was reported in the local media.
To those in the know, now is not the best time to visit this island paradise due to the monsoon. Surprisingly, this well known resort was opened and we were able to fly over direct from Subang. By and large however, weather was pleasant to a fault. However, stepping onto the sandy beach however, it is easy to see why many resorts are shut down during the monsoon season.
This child of 10 had wandered out, along with her relatives into a deeper section of the beach. Before long, they got into difficulties and the family on the beach were frantically calling for help. For a long while none came - no one realised or in some cases, cared enough to help. To be fair, many would have been intimidated by the rolling waves, fearing as much for their own lives. Thankfully, an Italian man responded to the cries and saved 3 of them, while an Englishman tried to reach the young girl.
I came to the scene just as they were hauling the girl from the sea and carried her on the last leg. By then, this child was foaming in the mouth. Subsequent attempts to resuscitate her was in vain - even this was done by the valiant Englishman. It was several minutes later that first aid assistance arrived from the resort, perhaps too little too late - and the child was confirmed dead at the local clinic.
Question at the back of my mind is, where were the life guards? Could they have been forewarned - for this was enforced the day AFTER the drowning? Where was the first aid support? Was this not foreseeable? Some senior management claimed that this was the first such incident in 4 years - NOT TRUE as many confirmed that a young local boy had drowned the year before as well! I am only speculating but perhaps this tragedy was avoidable, and certainly she stood a better chance had there been some form of emergency routine in place. For a resort of such status with a dive centre to boot, it is a wonder no news of this was reported in the local media.
Monday, November 08, 2004
ESPNSoccernet.com: England: Blatter backs Utd fans over Glazer
ESPNSoccernet.comreports that Sepp Blatter, FIFA President has voice support of the efforts by United fans to thwart Malcom Glazier's takeover bid of the red end of Manchester. While I share a common apprehension about the real intentions of Glazier, I feel nothing but disgust towards Blatter. For someone who has time and again demonstrated bias and a willingness to intervene to get his way, it is easy enough to stand by the sidelines and claim the higher ground. But support of the same fans who have taken their protestations to the brink of legalities smacks a strong hint of irresponsibility of the part of the FIFA President!
Maybe it's because he has nothing to gain from this transaction. Maybe it's because Yankee intervention tends to lead to Yankee domination and surely Blatter can't tolerate good old fashioned capitalistic competition? Why take the higher road when you can take the whole road, as you usually do? Sadly Mr Blatter... nobody is fooled this time!
Maybe it's because he has nothing to gain from this transaction. Maybe it's because Yankee intervention tends to lead to Yankee domination and surely Blatter can't tolerate good old fashioned capitalistic competition? Why take the higher road when you can take the whole road, as you usually do? Sadly Mr Blatter... nobody is fooled this time!
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
North London Logic
ESPNSoccernet.com reporst that Wenger has "blasted" Ruud despite apology. The propensity of the media to sensationalise events is once again evident - reading Wenger's comments, one could hardly label it as a "blast" of any significant magnitude!
However, in the aftermath of it all, I applaud RVN for having the courage to own up (which is more than can be said for Dennis Bergkemps misdemeanours of past and present). Perhaps humility may enter the gates of Highbury enough for them to admit that the better team won last Sunday. I can appreciate Wenger's concern in accelerating the Gunner's recovery from their first defeat in 50 games, but by virtually labelling RVN public enemy no.1 that side of London smacks an unnecessary hint of irresponsibility that Highbury's manager was so keen to point out when dealing with Sir Alex's pre-match comments!
I think Gary Neville knew what he was doing, even if Reyes claims to have no prior knowledge of such robust football. That's what the laws of the game are for and frankly, a player of his calibre will surely attract fouls like a naked supermodel in the baddest part of Soho...
Perhaps Henry would like to continue to take offence with Roy Caroll's time wasting antics... but a rewind of events a season ago showed little more urgency on the part of Arsenal having won at Old Trafford. Or perhaps the Arsenal frontline feels that United would just roll-over and play "dead" into their scrubby hands like the rest of the Premier League?
However, in the aftermath of it all, I applaud RVN for having the courage to own up (which is more than can be said for Dennis Bergkemps misdemeanours of past and present). Perhaps humility may enter the gates of Highbury enough for them to admit that the better team won last Sunday. I can appreciate Wenger's concern in accelerating the Gunner's recovery from their first defeat in 50 games, but by virtually labelling RVN public enemy no.1 that side of London smacks an unnecessary hint of irresponsibility that Highbury's manager was so keen to point out when dealing with Sir Alex's pre-match comments!
I think Gary Neville knew what he was doing, even if Reyes claims to have no prior knowledge of such robust football. That's what the laws of the game are for and frankly, a player of his calibre will surely attract fouls like a naked supermodel in the baddest part of Soho...
Perhaps Henry would like to continue to take offence with Roy Caroll's time wasting antics... but a rewind of events a season ago showed little more urgency on the part of Arsenal having won at Old Trafford. Or perhaps the Arsenal frontline feels that United would just roll-over and play "dead" into their scrubby hands like the rest of the Premier League?
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Rude Van Nistelrooy
Manchester United Official Web Site reports that RVN has been charged by the FA with serious foul play - for the uninitiated, it is to do his his "deliberate" foul on Ashley Cole on Sunday. As a Manchester United fan, I remember saying to myself that United need not have resorted to such tactics. Robustness aside, I stand removed from any support of RVN in this matter. A player of his calibre should not soil his tremendous track record with a despicable act of this sort! As bias as I may be, video replays unveiled his intentions plain and simple.I am sorry Ruud. It's time to own up and take responsibility - that is the way of champions, which I no dount believe you still are...
Friday, September 03, 2004
The A-factor
The news of Anwar Ibrahim's acquital spread like a wildfire on a dry and very hot day. While many greeted the news with satisfaction that somehow an injustice has been overturned, even more, I suspect, are ill at ease and very much aware what a free Anwar could do to their current position.
The old guard within the Cabinet in particular, would do well to watch their steps, because as I see it, Anwar will not be returning from Germany with a box full of strudel. Oh, and I don't mean he will be riding in to town at high noon reminiscent of the gun fight at OK Coral... but the ex-DPM has enough firepower in his arsenal to even some scores.
Having said that, PM Abdullah Badawi has probably made a calculated gamble in what is an elaborate masterplan that is designed to consolidate his position over the next decade and in the process sidelined potential threats to his premiership. He would have, among other resources, an awareness that while most Malaysians are fed-up with the sinister face of politics, the idea of Anwar doing a Mandela (no pun intended) is unlikely to happen. Idealogy may be good for the soul, but it doesn't pay the bills - unless you are an activist (and goodness me - how many of those do Keadilan have anyway??) who has not been polluted by the "stench" of honest employment (pun intended as directed!). Are we willing to risk another political and potential economic upheaval to right the wrong? No, I think we want to see the face of a credible opposition, and Anwar may represent Abdullah's best hope yet of "re-building" democracy or at least the resemblance of one.
The opposition ranks meanwhile must be wondering how to deal with this new development. An Anwar behind bars was a great advertisement for their struggles, but a free Anwar is a powerful voice that leaders of Keadilan, PAS and DAP cannot ignore. Lim Kit Siang may be the leader of the opposition in Parliament, but for now, at least, not the most effective voice for the opposition. However let's revisit a not-too-old idea: The merger of DAP and Keadilan. A weak Keadilan would naturally be drowned by the more vocal and feisty DAP - leaving Lim Kit Siang with an expanded support base and a jailed Anwar as a very effective poster boy for his agenda. With Anwar at the helm, Keadilan has acquired the voice of a giant - a respected intellectual no less, with enough understanding of what goes on behind the scenes to mount a credible challenge that would be unmatched by 12 Opposition MPs combined!
And what about the (wo)man on the street? Apart from being a very interesting topic of discussion, I believe this sends a positive signal that Abdullah has other priorities in mind for his legacy. I won't go so far as to say that he wants to restore democracy - not with Khairy lurking in the corridors of power. Perhaps he will be best known as the one who cleaned up after Dr M's legacy... not a grand legacy to be sure, but perhaps a necessary one.
The old guard within the Cabinet in particular, would do well to watch their steps, because as I see it, Anwar will not be returning from Germany with a box full of strudel. Oh, and I don't mean he will be riding in to town at high noon reminiscent of the gun fight at OK Coral... but the ex-DPM has enough firepower in his arsenal to even some scores.
Having said that, PM Abdullah Badawi has probably made a calculated gamble in what is an elaborate masterplan that is designed to consolidate his position over the next decade and in the process sidelined potential threats to his premiership. He would have, among other resources, an awareness that while most Malaysians are fed-up with the sinister face of politics, the idea of Anwar doing a Mandela (no pun intended) is unlikely to happen. Idealogy may be good for the soul, but it doesn't pay the bills - unless you are an activist (and goodness me - how many of those do Keadilan have anyway??) who has not been polluted by the "stench" of honest employment (pun intended as directed!). Are we willing to risk another political and potential economic upheaval to right the wrong? No, I think we want to see the face of a credible opposition, and Anwar may represent Abdullah's best hope yet of "re-building" democracy or at least the resemblance of one.
The opposition ranks meanwhile must be wondering how to deal with this new development. An Anwar behind bars was a great advertisement for their struggles, but a free Anwar is a powerful voice that leaders of Keadilan, PAS and DAP cannot ignore. Lim Kit Siang may be the leader of the opposition in Parliament, but for now, at least, not the most effective voice for the opposition. However let's revisit a not-too-old idea: The merger of DAP and Keadilan. A weak Keadilan would naturally be drowned by the more vocal and feisty DAP - leaving Lim Kit Siang with an expanded support base and a jailed Anwar as a very effective poster boy for his agenda. With Anwar at the helm, Keadilan has acquired the voice of a giant - a respected intellectual no less, with enough understanding of what goes on behind the scenes to mount a credible challenge that would be unmatched by 12 Opposition MPs combined!
And what about the (wo)man on the street? Apart from being a very interesting topic of discussion, I believe this sends a positive signal that Abdullah has other priorities in mind for his legacy. I won't go so far as to say that he wants to restore democracy - not with Khairy lurking in the corridors of power. Perhaps he will be best known as the one who cleaned up after Dr M's legacy... not a grand legacy to be sure, but perhaps a necessary one.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Now we have a 4-way race!
Manchester United Official Web Site - Club & News - News - Football News - 12:53:27 AM confirms the Rooney transfer!
RVN, Saha, Smith and now, Wayne Rooney. The last gasp transfer of the boy wonder some call Shrek serves up an enticing proposition - A competitive Manchester United able to fight blow for blow with the riches of Roman Abromovich and Liverpool's Spanish Armada with something akin to the firepower of Highbury's best!
The recruitment of Rooney offers Sir Alex a new dimension of options for example:
RVN - Rooney: with the latter playing behind the hitman
RVN - Saha/Smith - Rooney: in the case of an off form Scholes
Saha - Rooney: when RVN is injured - with potentially Alan Smith as the tip of a very attacking minded formation
Smith - Rooney: if we need some tenacity in attack!
And that is only covering the options with Rooney in it! With RVN, Rio and Henize staking claims to their respective positions, happy days are returning to Old Trafford.
It's even money if Rooney can fire up the imagination of the fans of the world's best supported club in so short a time as Alan Smith. However, his mercurial eye for goal and winning mentality will stand him in good company where others have failed. The question is - will 7 points be too much to make up with competition at the top being so close this time around?
RVN, Saha, Smith and now, Wayne Rooney. The last gasp transfer of the boy wonder some call Shrek serves up an enticing proposition - A competitive Manchester United able to fight blow for blow with the riches of Roman Abromovich and Liverpool's Spanish Armada with something akin to the firepower of Highbury's best!
The recruitment of Rooney offers Sir Alex a new dimension of options for example:
RVN - Rooney: with the latter playing behind the hitman
RVN - Saha/Smith - Rooney: in the case of an off form Scholes
Saha - Rooney: when RVN is injured - with potentially Alan Smith as the tip of a very attacking minded formation
Smith - Rooney: if we need some tenacity in attack!
And that is only covering the options with Rooney in it! With RVN, Rio and Henize staking claims to their respective positions, happy days are returning to Old Trafford.
It's even money if Rooney can fire up the imagination of the fans of the world's best supported club in so short a time as Alan Smith. However, his mercurial eye for goal and winning mentality will stand him in good company where others have failed. The question is - will 7 points be too much to make up with competition at the top being so close this time around?
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Monday, August 23, 2004
(5-3) Smoking Gunners!
I never thought I'd hear myself say this - so I am writing this down... this Manchester United fan believes Arsenal are the real thing! Remember the all conquering United of the 90's and the glory days at Merseyside? Those teams never knew when to give up and on most occasions... they proved to be right. Arsene Wenger has put together not only a team system that works, he has assembled a group of young men who have the mentality of champions!
This is the attitude that Roy Keane has been trying to drum into the likes of Fletcher, Bellion, Ronaldo and the greener half of Old Trafford. Regretfully, it's currently to be found in London - not the glitzy blue uptown, but the red hot Highbury way.
Now this does not mean we are throwing in the towel... because really, it ain't even time for an early bath. With the likes of RVN, Saha, Rio Ferdinand and one (albeit unproven - at least in the EPL) Argentinian (and I really don't mean Mr Veron) soon to return, I would say Fergie has reason to be hopeful - just not ultra confident as before.
Throw in the riches of Mr Abromovich and the wily signings of Rafa, the new boss of the Kop, I take comfort in knowing that at least we are in the top 4 of England. And unless the brass at Old Trafford are willing to loosen the strained purse strings and bring in the likes of Rooney and Nedved for example, we may just strain to qualify for next year's Champions League and that would be a real shame...
This is the attitude that Roy Keane has been trying to drum into the likes of Fletcher, Bellion, Ronaldo and the greener half of Old Trafford. Regretfully, it's currently to be found in London - not the glitzy blue uptown, but the red hot Highbury way.
Now this does not mean we are throwing in the towel... because really, it ain't even time for an early bath. With the likes of RVN, Saha, Rio Ferdinand and one (albeit unproven - at least in the EPL) Argentinian (and I really don't mean Mr Veron) soon to return, I would say Fergie has reason to be hopeful - just not ultra confident as before.
Throw in the riches of Mr Abromovich and the wily signings of Rafa, the new boss of the Kop, I take comfort in knowing that at least we are in the top 4 of England. And unless the brass at Old Trafford are willing to loosen the strained purse strings and bring in the likes of Rooney and Nedved for example, we may just strain to qualify for next year's Champions League and that would be a real shame...
Friday, August 13, 2004
POLITICally Correct Nursery Rhymes
Something I picked out from one of the comments on Jeff Ooi's blog:
Kepong Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
Kepong Bridge is falling down,
My fair Samy.
Take a gag and shut us up,
Shut us up, shut us up.
Take a gag and shut us up,
My fair Samy.
How will we build it up,
Build it up, build it up?
How will we build it up again,
My fair Samy?
Build it up with tax and toll,
Tax and toll, tax and toll.
Build it up with tax and toll,
My fair Samy.
Roads and bridges bend and break,
Bend and break, bend and break.
Roads and bridges bend and break,
My fair Samy.
Blame it on an Act of God,
Act of God, Act of God.
Blame it on an Act of God,
My fair Samy.
Rocks and blames will wash away,
Wash away, wash away.
Rocks and blames will wash away,
My fair Samy.
Kepong Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
Kepong Bridge is falling down,
My fair Samy.
Take a gag and shut us up,
Shut us up, shut us up.
Take a gag and shut us up,
My fair Samy.
How will we build it up,
Build it up, build it up?
How will we build it up again,
My fair Samy?
Build it up with tax and toll,
Tax and toll, tax and toll.
Build it up with tax and toll,
My fair Samy.
Roads and bridges bend and break,
Bend and break, bend and break.
Roads and bridges bend and break,
My fair Samy.
Blame it on an Act of God,
Act of God, Act of God.
Blame it on an Act of God,
My fair Samy.
Rocks and blames will wash away,
Wash away, wash away.
Rocks and blames will wash away,
My fair Samy.
Friday, August 06, 2004
MyKad - Is Nothing Sacred Anymore?
The Star reports that a Man with fake MyKad was held after Police doubted the validity of his card based on his strong Indonesian accent. First and foremost, applause for the officer concerned who demonstrated the surprising skill of thought... but that's another tale another time.
I have often held the conviction that having a single multi-purpose card to store all our information is akin to putting all our proverbial eggs into one basket. The fact that Police uncovered what was described as a very good fake MyKad hardly brings joy of vindiction to me. This is because before the end of next year, I too would be compelled to comply with this e-Government initiative.
Believe me, I am all for progressive Malaysia - but at a pace and road map that is thoughtful and mindful of ALL the pitfalls along the way. Yes, I understand that at the moment, we are given the option of minimizing the amount of information made available on the MyKad - but to the uninitiated, who's ringing the alarm bells? A 60 year-old man would certainly like the idea of having everything on one card - it is simply one of the more acceptable methods of having a lighter wallet! And while he is at it, why not add RM 500 to the MEPS cash component? But hold on... what happens when the forgers finally learn how to rewrite the data on the MyKad... who will bear the risk of loss? Last I heard, losing your MEPS cash card is akin to losing your wallet - too bad!
Next, what is the integrity of data found in the MyKad? Could someone with a medical history of illness "remedy" his health by manipulating data on the card for insurance purposes? What about the use of the same data as evidence in the court of Law? Can the data be tampered to provide or negate an alibi? As far as this matter is discuss, MyFears regarding the MyKad far exceeds MyAppreciation for it!
I have often held the conviction that having a single multi-purpose card to store all our information is akin to putting all our proverbial eggs into one basket. The fact that Police uncovered what was described as a very good fake MyKad hardly brings joy of vindiction to me. This is because before the end of next year, I too would be compelled to comply with this e-Government initiative.
Believe me, I am all for progressive Malaysia - but at a pace and road map that is thoughtful and mindful of ALL the pitfalls along the way. Yes, I understand that at the moment, we are given the option of minimizing the amount of information made available on the MyKad - but to the uninitiated, who's ringing the alarm bells? A 60 year-old man would certainly like the idea of having everything on one card - it is simply one of the more acceptable methods of having a lighter wallet! And while he is at it, why not add RM 500 to the MEPS cash component? But hold on... what happens when the forgers finally learn how to rewrite the data on the MyKad... who will bear the risk of loss? Last I heard, losing your MEPS cash card is akin to losing your wallet - too bad!
Next, what is the integrity of data found in the MyKad? Could someone with a medical history of illness "remedy" his health by manipulating data on the card for insurance purposes? What about the use of the same data as evidence in the court of Law? Can the data be tampered to provide or negate an alibi? As far as this matter is discuss, MyFears regarding the MyKad far exceeds MyAppreciation for it!
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Alex's Lemonade Stand
CNN.com reported the death of Alexandra Scott, of Wynnewood USA, the 8 year old cancer patient who set-up a lemonade store to raise money for cancer research. My heart weeps, though not necessarily out of sorrow...In a wicked world of selfish intentions, Alex's Lemonade Stand became a stark reminder, not of our mortality... but our humanity.
Out of the mouths of babes come pearls of wisdom, and out of the deeds of this child, I hope comes a reflection of hope, goodness and ultimately love. As the moment of her passing drew near, she heaved a big sigh and went to sleep and I believe to open her eyes in front of heaven's gates.
I have heard people referring to such lives as a breath of fresh air, or a shower of goodness in a parched land. I would like to think that her life and testimony left an indelible mark on the hearts of people who took some time to ponder on the real significance of Alex's Lemonade Stand. The statisticians would probably refer to the $700,000 milestone she raised - or the $1,000,000 that Volvo pledged to fulfill. The romantics would melodramatize her passing into sainthood. Whichever way you look at it, a shining example shone into our lives - whether you actually bought a cup of lemonade or read about the marvelous stand.
One such light shone into my life. At some point in my life, I wanted to be a cancer surgeon in order to fight the scourge that took mummy's life. It's been 23 years now, and I hardly made a squeak, much less a stand for her. Alex is a stark reminder of nobler times in my life and I hope a resonating conscience for those of us too busy to make life and love count.
Lastly, cancer is not the undefeatable foe it is made out to be. Nor is AIDS. Truth be told, $1,000,000 is hardly enough to fund research in any significant measure. But 1,000,000 people working side by side, hand in hand and heart to heart, with a noble cause will surely honor the lives of people like Alex and make a difference that truly matters.
Out of the mouths of babes come pearls of wisdom, and out of the deeds of this child, I hope comes a reflection of hope, goodness and ultimately love. As the moment of her passing drew near, she heaved a big sigh and went to sleep and I believe to open her eyes in front of heaven's gates.
I have heard people referring to such lives as a breath of fresh air, or a shower of goodness in a parched land. I would like to think that her life and testimony left an indelible mark on the hearts of people who took some time to ponder on the real significance of Alex's Lemonade Stand. The statisticians would probably refer to the $700,000 milestone she raised - or the $1,000,000 that Volvo pledged to fulfill. The romantics would melodramatize her passing into sainthood. Whichever way you look at it, a shining example shone into our lives - whether you actually bought a cup of lemonade or read about the marvelous stand.
One such light shone into my life. At some point in my life, I wanted to be a cancer surgeon in order to fight the scourge that took mummy's life. It's been 23 years now, and I hardly made a squeak, much less a stand for her. Alex is a stark reminder of nobler times in my life and I hope a resonating conscience for those of us too busy to make life and love count.
Lastly, cancer is not the undefeatable foe it is made out to be. Nor is AIDS. Truth be told, $1,000,000 is hardly enough to fund research in any significant measure. But 1,000,000 people working side by side, hand in hand and heart to heart, with a noble cause will surely honor the lives of people like Alex and make a difference that truly matters.
Friday, July 09, 2004
Darren Kang's murder: Police are waiting for minister's son to give his statement
Darren Kang's murder: Police are waiting for minister's son to give his statement writes the Star. Considering the fact that this is a brutal murder investigation, the men in blue see fit to twiddle their thumbs and wait for the young man to come forth instead of hauling him in for questioning.
Common sense suggests that tackling this matter while it is fresh in everyone's mind would surely help provide a clearer picture, rather than allowing time, memory lapse and media distortion to shape the case. So instead of (NOT) focusing on snatchthieves and the like, priority remains in tracking traffic offenders who break the 80 kmh strecthes in particular along our nation's highways... and not forgetting securing the homes of the politicians and well to do.
Common sense suggests that tackling this matter while it is fresh in everyone's mind would surely help provide a clearer picture, rather than allowing time, memory lapse and media distortion to shape the case. So instead of (NOT) focusing on snatchthieves and the like, priority remains in tracking traffic offenders who break the 80 kmh strecthes in particular along our nation's highways... and not forgetting securing the homes of the politicians and well to do.
Monday, June 28, 2004
Roon Pitchforked and Ready to Dig in?
Wayne Rooney it seems is increasingly likely to join the ranks of United's tennage wonnders. Already, the precocious Ronaldo and classy Fletcher have carved out some level of permanence in the first team, and the addition of Rooney will only augur well for the long term prospects of the club.
The only way to erase the humbling experience of last season is to bounce back with a vengeance - and if Ferguson's trackrecord is anything to go by, Benitez, Mourinho and Wenger should be quakinig in their boots.
However, the time for a change of guard is looming. With Butt looking for a club to offer him first team football, and Neville looking like the obvious player to make way for Gabriel Heinze before the end of the season, it is time to see if the new guard is willing and ready to fight till the end.
In Liam Miller, we have possibly the long term replacement for Keane, although Djemba Djemba may beg to differ. I suspect the African's strength will augur well for his future, although a more economic use of the ball will surely aid his case. Perhaps even more ominous for him is the possibility of Steven Gerard making the trip to Old Trafford rather than the bright lights of London's Chelsea. His mutual admiration of Sir Alex is well documented and the prospect of playing for a real football club instead of just another expensive exhibit in the Abromovich playground may just nick it for the devils.
It is however the prospect of a Roo-Ro attack with Nistelrooy as the sharp end of a very deadly arrow that is causing a massive dose of excitement in the Red end of the Premier League - and we dun mean the cheap end :)
The only way to erase the humbling experience of last season is to bounce back with a vengeance - and if Ferguson's trackrecord is anything to go by, Benitez, Mourinho and Wenger should be quakinig in their boots.
However, the time for a change of guard is looming. With Butt looking for a club to offer him first team football, and Neville looking like the obvious player to make way for Gabriel Heinze before the end of the season, it is time to see if the new guard is willing and ready to fight till the end.
In Liam Miller, we have possibly the long term replacement for Keane, although Djemba Djemba may beg to differ. I suspect the African's strength will augur well for his future, although a more economic use of the ball will surely aid his case. Perhaps even more ominous for him is the possibility of Steven Gerard making the trip to Old Trafford rather than the bright lights of London's Chelsea. His mutual admiration of Sir Alex is well documented and the prospect of playing for a real football club instead of just another expensive exhibit in the Abromovich playground may just nick it for the devils.
It is however the prospect of a Roo-Ro attack with Nistelrooy as the sharp end of a very deadly arrow that is causing a massive dose of excitement in the Red end of the Premier League - and we dun mean the cheap end :)
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Honestly?
The symbol of Palestinian Resistance. Protesting against Coke. But want to know the story behind this? look up the following URL http://www.honestreporting.com/
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
The Fourth Estate
In France under the reign of the monarchy, the States-General or Estates-General was an assembly of the different classes of French citizenry. They always included representatives of the First Estate(clergy), Second Estate (lay nobility) and Third Estate (commoners). There was however, that wretched but necessary evil, more powerful by inferrence and referred to as the Fourth Estate.
Wikipedia describes the Fourth Estate as "the media, both in its explicit capacity of advocacy and in its implicit ability to frame political issues". How apt the translation - the ability to frame political issues. More so today, the sphere of influence that the Fourth Estate wields continues to manifest in its various forms of distortions. An uneasy bedfellow for some, a faithful enemy for others. They wield in their hands, the quilt that defines the truth they want to potray.
Take for instance the recent UN censure of Israel over accidental spilling of innocent blood in Rafah. In a repeat of Ramallah, press misinformation intinially placed the number killed at 23. This was subsequently reduced to 8. What was not reported was that a local Palestinian newspaper called for "women, children, and the elderly" to stand in front of Israeli bulldozers and tanks, despite the dangerous fact that Rafah was had been the site for armed battles between the IDF and Palestinian militants. Imagine what Mahatma Gandhi would have achieved if his doctrine of "Satyagraha" or passive resistance called for the same. Would he have won the hearts of the masses or be branded a cowardly nationalist?
What triggered Rafah? Again, unreported by the western media, 13 young Israeli soldiers were attacked and killed in Rafah the previous week by Palestinians who then paraded the body parts of their victims through the streets of Gaza. Four days later, the IDF enegaged militants in Rafah, killing some 40 armed men. Houses known to have harbored these men were bulldozed, as part of Israel's existing deterrence plan.
The Israeli leadership hastened to declare the incident regretful (and to be sure, I thought it was regrettable), which is more than can be said for Arab outrage over the killing of Tali Hatuel and her four daughters...
Just as Chairman Arafat is able to sign the Oslo accord and thereafter citing, during an interview on Egyptian television, cite Hudaybiyah (which basically invoked the principle in Islam known as Takiya i.e. the right to fake peace when you are weak for the purposes of defeating your enemy when you are stronger), and not incite a editorial response; the truth is more than just the absence of lies, in many ways, it is also the absence of some truths.
Wikipedia describes the Fourth Estate as "the media, both in its explicit capacity of advocacy and in its implicit ability to frame political issues". How apt the translation - the ability to frame political issues. More so today, the sphere of influence that the Fourth Estate wields continues to manifest in its various forms of distortions. An uneasy bedfellow for some, a faithful enemy for others. They wield in their hands, the quilt that defines the truth they want to potray.
Take for instance the recent UN censure of Israel over accidental spilling of innocent blood in Rafah. In a repeat of Ramallah, press misinformation intinially placed the number killed at 23. This was subsequently reduced to 8. What was not reported was that a local Palestinian newspaper called for "women, children, and the elderly" to stand in front of Israeli bulldozers and tanks, despite the dangerous fact that Rafah was had been the site for armed battles between the IDF and Palestinian militants. Imagine what Mahatma Gandhi would have achieved if his doctrine of "Satyagraha" or passive resistance called for the same. Would he have won the hearts of the masses or be branded a cowardly nationalist?
What triggered Rafah? Again, unreported by the western media, 13 young Israeli soldiers were attacked and killed in Rafah the previous week by Palestinians who then paraded the body parts of their victims through the streets of Gaza. Four days later, the IDF enegaged militants in Rafah, killing some 40 armed men. Houses known to have harbored these men were bulldozed, as part of Israel's existing deterrence plan.
The Israeli leadership hastened to declare the incident regretful (and to be sure, I thought it was regrettable), which is more than can be said for Arab outrage over the killing of Tali Hatuel and her four daughters...
Just as Chairman Arafat is able to sign the Oslo accord and thereafter citing, during an interview on Egyptian television, cite Hudaybiyah (which basically invoked the principle in Islam known as Takiya i.e. the right to fake peace when you are weak for the purposes of defeating your enemy when you are stronger), and not incite a editorial response; the truth is more than just the absence of lies, in many ways, it is also the absence of some truths.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Middle East loses its head over beheading
The spectacle of Nick Berg's beheading has seen airtime in some countries and for those with the stomach for gore, there's even the option of viewing the video via the web. For what it's worth, I could not bring myself to even consider any curiosity I may have in seeing how this monstrous act took place. Even the thought of it cringes my stomach to the core.
While Islamic law condones execution by beheading, I understand that Berg was heard screaming until he could scream no more, during the beheading. It wasn't the act of a executor... it was the crime of a very evil person. The same people who were protesting the presence of American forces in Iraq. The same people who lamented the cruelty of the Israeli "occupation" of Palestine. The same people who claimed to be champions of the true Islamic way. Yet, the same people who dealt Daniel Perl no mercy and who found reason to riddle a pregnant mother and her children with bullets of hatred.
In the same article, Jabar Khan, a Kabul shopkeeper, said: "This beheading is a good act because the Iraqis have been oppressed and whoever is oppressed should defend themselves. As a Muslim I support this act." The same people who cheered Saddam Hussein into the tunnel of shame against the US - the real Butcher of Baghdad and oppressor of his people.
Fears that a backlash on US troops and citizens because of the prison abuse scandal seem to have been realized with Berg's brutal killing. Yet taking the larger picture into consideration, this is merely the continuation of a terror-based strategy already entrenched in the minds of modern Islamic militants. A concession to such tactics will only bring the terrorists to the American door step, and Sept 11 proves that this is not unthinkable.
This is not an escalation of terror. This is not a new, more effective strategy. It only seems that way because in this day and age of connectivity and multimedia, brutality can be served and expedited at the click of a mouse. It also goes to show why one blameless Savior was needed to die a brutal death for our sinful ways...
While Islamic law condones execution by beheading, I understand that Berg was heard screaming until he could scream no more, during the beheading. It wasn't the act of a executor... it was the crime of a very evil person. The same people who were protesting the presence of American forces in Iraq. The same people who lamented the cruelty of the Israeli "occupation" of Palestine. The same people who claimed to be champions of the true Islamic way. Yet, the same people who dealt Daniel Perl no mercy and who found reason to riddle a pregnant mother and her children with bullets of hatred.
In the same article, Jabar Khan, a Kabul shopkeeper, said: "This beheading is a good act because the Iraqis have been oppressed and whoever is oppressed should defend themselves. As a Muslim I support this act." The same people who cheered Saddam Hussein into the tunnel of shame against the US - the real Butcher of Baghdad and oppressor of his people.
Fears that a backlash on US troops and citizens because of the prison abuse scandal seem to have been realized with Berg's brutal killing. Yet taking the larger picture into consideration, this is merely the continuation of a terror-based strategy already entrenched in the minds of modern Islamic militants. A concession to such tactics will only bring the terrorists to the American door step, and Sept 11 proves that this is not unthinkable.
This is not an escalation of terror. This is not a new, more effective strategy. It only seems that way because in this day and age of connectivity and multimedia, brutality can be served and expedited at the click of a mouse. It also goes to show why one blameless Savior was needed to die a brutal death for our sinful ways...
Monday, May 10, 2004
What would you do? (extracted from conceptwizard.com)
Here is a scenario that is not at all hypothetical –
A young woman, a mother of two young infants living in the Gaza Strip, arrives at the Israeli army checkpoint terminal. Each day this terminal crossing regulates the entry of 15-20,000 Palestinians into Israel. As this woman passes through the magnetic gate the alarm goes off. At this point the soldiers at the gate are instructed to do one of two things:
1) Not allow her to go through the gate, or
2) Take any precautionary measures necessary (including the use of firearms) in the event that they suspect this person is a suicide bomber.
In this scenario, the “person” is a woman. Women are treated differently (you can’t ask them to lift their shirts up). The woman at the magnetic gate starts crying – saying that she needs to get to the hospital urgently for treatment. She explains that the reason the metal detector in the gate sounded the alarm is because she has metal plates in her leg.
Now, here is the dilemma. There is a woman at the magnetic gate. She has triggered the alarm. We know that in past months there have been a number of suicide bombings carried out by women. So what would YOU do in this situation? What would YOU do if you were the one who has to take this decision? What action would you take?
Here are your options:
1) Send her away – and prevent her from receiving the treatment she claims she needs – and, by so doing, eliminate the possibility that she can activate the bomb in Israel. 2) Accept her explanation, and accept responsibility for letting her through the checkpoint despite the fact that she has triggered the alarm, and ask her to accompany you to a special room where a female officer can make sure that she isn’t carrying explosives (don’t forget that the metal detector went off as she passed through).
So what would you do if you were the person in charge of the checkpoint?
The scenario continues. The person in charge, under instructions to make life easier for the Palestinians needing to pass through the checkpoint, and especially faced by a woman who claims she needs urgent medical attention (a mother of two infants, don’t forget), decides to let her through and accompanies her to a room to be searched by a female officer. The woman falls over as she enters the room and, as people rush to help her up, the woman presses the button and activates the 5 kilos of explosives that she’d been carrying on her body. She blows herself up, murdering 4 Israelis and wounding a dozen others in the process.
Now, here is the REAL dilemma. What should the soldiers at that terminal crossing do tomorrow morning? Should they deny entry to the thousands of Palestinians seeking work in Israel in order to provide for their families? Based on their experience of the previous day, should they deny entry to Israel to any person claiming that s/he needs medical attention? These people, with their crutches, wheelchairs, pacemakers, etc., are the ones most likely to trigger the alarm on the metal detector.
Or – should they put this incident behind them, and carry on risking their lives just because the rest of the world (which isn’t present at this checkpoint) condemns them for not treating these people in a more humane way.
We would really like to hear your opinion on this matter. And please spare us the platitude that we shouldn’t be there in the first place. If we weren’t there, the suicide bombers would have absolutely free passage.
(wonder what you think?)
A young woman, a mother of two young infants living in the Gaza Strip, arrives at the Israeli army checkpoint terminal. Each day this terminal crossing regulates the entry of 15-20,000 Palestinians into Israel. As this woman passes through the magnetic gate the alarm goes off. At this point the soldiers at the gate are instructed to do one of two things:
1) Not allow her to go through the gate, or
2) Take any precautionary measures necessary (including the use of firearms) in the event that they suspect this person is a suicide bomber.
In this scenario, the “person” is a woman. Women are treated differently (you can’t ask them to lift their shirts up). The woman at the magnetic gate starts crying – saying that she needs to get to the hospital urgently for treatment. She explains that the reason the metal detector in the gate sounded the alarm is because she has metal plates in her leg.
Now, here is the dilemma. There is a woman at the magnetic gate. She has triggered the alarm. We know that in past months there have been a number of suicide bombings carried out by women. So what would YOU do in this situation? What would YOU do if you were the one who has to take this decision? What action would you take?
Here are your options:
1) Send her away – and prevent her from receiving the treatment she claims she needs – and, by so doing, eliminate the possibility that she can activate the bomb in Israel. 2) Accept her explanation, and accept responsibility for letting her through the checkpoint despite the fact that she has triggered the alarm, and ask her to accompany you to a special room where a female officer can make sure that she isn’t carrying explosives (don’t forget that the metal detector went off as she passed through).
So what would you do if you were the person in charge of the checkpoint?
The scenario continues. The person in charge, under instructions to make life easier for the Palestinians needing to pass through the checkpoint, and especially faced by a woman who claims she needs urgent medical attention (a mother of two infants, don’t forget), decides to let her through and accompanies her to a room to be searched by a female officer. The woman falls over as she enters the room and, as people rush to help her up, the woman presses the button and activates the 5 kilos of explosives that she’d been carrying on her body. She blows herself up, murdering 4 Israelis and wounding a dozen others in the process.
Now, here is the REAL dilemma. What should the soldiers at that terminal crossing do tomorrow morning? Should they deny entry to the thousands of Palestinians seeking work in Israel in order to provide for their families? Based on their experience of the previous day, should they deny entry to Israel to any person claiming that s/he needs medical attention? These people, with their crutches, wheelchairs, pacemakers, etc., are the ones most likely to trigger the alarm on the metal detector.
Or – should they put this incident behind them, and carry on risking their lives just because the rest of the world (which isn’t present at this checkpoint) condemns them for not treating these people in a more humane way.
We would really like to hear your opinion on this matter. And please spare us the platitude that we shouldn’t be there in the first place. If we weren’t there, the suicide bombers would have absolutely free passage.
(wonder what you think?)
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Yankee Doodle Bangalore
Online NewsHour: Tom's Journal: American Jobs in India -- March 9, 2004 relates how as many as 4 million American jobs to be outsourced to India over the next 10 years (which I find conservative). New York Times columnist Tom Friedman spoke about the now large and ever growing outsource industry and identified a truly concerted Indian strategy to offer exactly what American firms needed - cheaper, yet well-trained English speaking human resource who have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Ever heard of an "accent neutralization" class? This is where Indian youths are trained to adopt different accents of the English Language when dealing with calls. This is a fine example of business adaptation which goes to show why India is now arguably the call center capital of the world.
There is even an impact on regional security covered in this segment:
TERENCE SMITH: You were there at a time, just recently, at a time when there is a real rapprochement between India and Pakistan settling some very long-standing differences, or working on it anyway. Is it related to the economic uplift of all these jobs?
THOMAS FRIEDMAN: Directly related, because India now is part of a global supply chain. These American companies -- GE, Microsoft, American Express -- have moved parts of their back rooms to India, to Bangalore. Now, comes along the India-Pakistan crisis -- I'll tell you exactly what happened. These American companies got on the phone and told their Indian back rooms, "Friends, we're going to have to look for an alternative for you. You don't want us to be looking for an alternative, and we don't want to be looking for an alternative."
When you're part of a global supply chain like that, you can't say, "Oh, we're going to take a week off to fight a war. We'll see you." You will shut down whole major corporations. Well, that has percolated up.
The Malaysian equivalent is an old story that is no longer valid with the phenomenal appetite of China. We have lost our manufacturing excellence and relatively cheap skilled labour. We need to identify our new niche - to see ourselves beyond OEM to ODM for example. Have we identified this?
Our skills are moving upstream and as yet, very little in form or intent has been demonstrated. How are we, as a nation equipping ourselves to compete? What steps have we put in place to train relevantly skilled labour? And I am not referring to the current programmes under the purview of our Human Resource Ministry which is merely subsidizing sub-standard skill training institutions.
We speak of building a knowledge-based society. Fair and well, except that for every knuckle-down programming job available in the market, 3 out of 4 finds its way to India and China. As a culture, we can scarce be called a nation of orators, which knocks customer service out of the list.
How about bio-engineering? It is relatively new and our rain forests are unique as they are filled with potential for new medicinal cures and nutrition. Until now, the largest single investment into this was by our much maligned MAVCAP. RM 20 million into a tongkat ali factory that clearly highlights which organs they are opting for when it comes to ideas...
There's Petronas and our natural treasure trove - how many Malaysian are trained to offer value added services and products along these lines? One only needs to ask around to realise that most of the upstream (and even some downstream) revenue is heading in the wrong direction - which is a distinct shame.
After looking east for so long, try Bangalore for new ideas...
Ever heard of an "accent neutralization" class? This is where Indian youths are trained to adopt different accents of the English Language when dealing with calls. This is a fine example of business adaptation which goes to show why India is now arguably the call center capital of the world.
There is even an impact on regional security covered in this segment:
TERENCE SMITH: You were there at a time, just recently, at a time when there is a real rapprochement between India and Pakistan settling some very long-standing differences, or working on it anyway. Is it related to the economic uplift of all these jobs?
THOMAS FRIEDMAN: Directly related, because India now is part of a global supply chain. These American companies -- GE, Microsoft, American Express -- have moved parts of their back rooms to India, to Bangalore. Now, comes along the India-Pakistan crisis -- I'll tell you exactly what happened. These American companies got on the phone and told their Indian back rooms, "Friends, we're going to have to look for an alternative for you. You don't want us to be looking for an alternative, and we don't want to be looking for an alternative."
When you're part of a global supply chain like that, you can't say, "Oh, we're going to take a week off to fight a war. We'll see you." You will shut down whole major corporations. Well, that has percolated up.
The Malaysian equivalent is an old story that is no longer valid with the phenomenal appetite of China. We have lost our manufacturing excellence and relatively cheap skilled labour. We need to identify our new niche - to see ourselves beyond OEM to ODM for example. Have we identified this?
Our skills are moving upstream and as yet, very little in form or intent has been demonstrated. How are we, as a nation equipping ourselves to compete? What steps have we put in place to train relevantly skilled labour? And I am not referring to the current programmes under the purview of our Human Resource Ministry which is merely subsidizing sub-standard skill training institutions.
We speak of building a knowledge-based society. Fair and well, except that for every knuckle-down programming job available in the market, 3 out of 4 finds its way to India and China. As a culture, we can scarce be called a nation of orators, which knocks customer service out of the list.
How about bio-engineering? It is relatively new and our rain forests are unique as they are filled with potential for new medicinal cures and nutrition. Until now, the largest single investment into this was by our much maligned MAVCAP. RM 20 million into a tongkat ali factory that clearly highlights which organs they are opting for when it comes to ideas...
There's Petronas and our natural treasure trove - how many Malaysian are trained to offer value added services and products along these lines? One only needs to ask around to realise that most of the upstream (and even some downstream) revenue is heading in the wrong direction - which is a distinct shame.
After looking east for so long, try Bangalore for new ideas...
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Hishamuddin: PTK passing grade very high
(Headline translation: I'm sorry, you failed and it's our fault) according to Education Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. Now, it is no longer a measure of whether teachers are fit enough to teach, since all of us are well aware of the incredible ability of our local teachers to perform educational miracles - just look at the PMR results, he says...
The question is this. If this is only a tool to determine annual increments for the teachers, should not it be based on the teacher's ability to teach? What does failure indicate? If Teregganu state continues to record the highest number of top scorers for UPSR for 3 years running, surely a majority, if not most of the UPSR teachers would at least pass the PTK. Or am I being irrelevant?
I am sure remunerative rewards or promotions of any sort are not based upon our birthright, since not many of us can claim to have an ex-PM as our father. Now we are told, it is not based upon their ability and therefore teachers should not feel discouraged.
My problem at the end of the day is that I feel that many of the 99.1% who failed deserved to in the first place - and that is not something to be swept under the carpet, even at the expense of poorly thought programs.
My dear PM, your sweeping mandate is one empowering you to sweep away the inconsistencies of such pathetic leadership. Silakan...
The question is this. If this is only a tool to determine annual increments for the teachers, should not it be based on the teacher's ability to teach? What does failure indicate? If Teregganu state continues to record the highest number of top scorers for UPSR for 3 years running, surely a majority, if not most of the UPSR teachers would at least pass the PTK. Or am I being irrelevant?
I am sure remunerative rewards or promotions of any sort are not based upon our birthright, since not many of us can claim to have an ex-PM as our father. Now we are told, it is not based upon their ability and therefore teachers should not feel discouraged.
My problem at the end of the day is that I feel that many of the 99.1% who failed deserved to in the first place - and that is not something to be swept under the carpet, even at the expense of poorly thought programs.
My dear PM, your sweeping mandate is one empowering you to sweep away the inconsistencies of such pathetic leadership. Silakan...
Monday, April 26, 2004
Death No.1 - NS
I take no pleasure in pointing fingers. Only wonder what accountability will be assumed by the organisers of the NS - top down. Based at the Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara campus in Kota Samarahan, one wonders what this stint will do to the group of youths faced with such tragedy.
Surely I will be practical enough to accept the fact that accidents do happen. However, a sense of accountability must exists where consideration is given to the adequacy of safety procedures and the abilities of those in charge to minimize, if not prevent such a reoccurance. Once again to ask if indeed the ministry was indeed ready to implement this is in the first place. Will we even see accountability in the first place?
To the family of Awang Mohd Fazil, we can only share in your grief. I wonder what would be the result if one of the evaders "forced" into camp were to become a victim of such an accident. Where will the axe of blame fall on?
Surely I will be practical enough to accept the fact that accidents do happen. However, a sense of accountability must exists where consideration is given to the adequacy of safety procedures and the abilities of those in charge to minimize, if not prevent such a reoccurance. Once again to ask if indeed the ministry was indeed ready to implement this is in the first place. Will we even see accountability in the first place?
To the family of Awang Mohd Fazil, we can only share in your grief. I wonder what would be the result if one of the evaders "forced" into camp were to become a victim of such an accident. Where will the axe of blame fall on?
Back... at last!
Yeah, and I am the only one waiting with abated breath...
Anyway, during my absence, I got to show my newborn child how life looks like outside mummy's womb and I think we get along really well. Which is more than can be said about our so-called newborn government so far.
Let's look the the skid marks on the road to wherever Pak Lah and bandwagon are heading, starting with National Service - The publishing of names of young people who have evaded the NS. The ACA is nowhere near disclosing the names of people under active investigation for corruption even though some are public leaders who deserve more public scrutiny than a youth gone AWOL from a poorly planned boot camp.
Meanwhile, the problems associated with the training so far only goes to confirm the general suspiscion that it is nothing more that a poorly planned boot camp. The lack of proper trainers, supervision and I suspect, no agenda makes this an expensive but utterly futile exercise.
Lest I be accused of being a back seat driver, let me propose the following:
a. Reduce the number of trainees to a manageable figure e.g. 10,000 and allow the ministry to consolidate its resources like trainers etc.
b. Present a definite objective for the program - racial integration does not happen by putting kids of differrent races in one building - if not the national schools concept would suffice.
c. Present a definite statement of what national service does NOT cover - i.e. religious undertones, capital punushment etc.
d. Coduct a survey before and after the camp. Survey forms should contain questions on the program, trainers and even complains section. Ideally, the forms should be anonymous and collated by another ministry - e.g. Ministry of Youth for example - to promote transparency and prevent cover-ups. The same report should be make public.
e. Motivation for students to enroll - i.e. priority placement in local universities for trainees who achieve the minimum threshold. (P.S. This will definitely draw in the non-muslims)
f. The appointment of ex-headmasters and retired teachers, retired commercial and medical professionals to participate as trainers. How many 55 year olds are there in the program? Think of the experience we are losing out on... Also the trainer demographics should mirror our national figures.
g. The setting up of external inspectors (again from another ministry) to conduct on-site evaluation of programs.
h. The transparent disclosure of all events held at each camp for parents to monitor.
i. The implementation of 24 hour hotline for campers which reports directly to another ministry.
And the list goes on - which goes to show - if one silly blogger could come up with this, how much preparation was done by Mindef?
I am tempted to go onto gaffe no.2 but let's save it for my next posting...
Anyway, during my absence, I got to show my newborn child how life looks like outside mummy's womb and I think we get along really well. Which is more than can be said about our so-called newborn government so far.
Let's look the the skid marks on the road to wherever Pak Lah and bandwagon are heading, starting with National Service - The publishing of names of young people who have evaded the NS. The ACA is nowhere near disclosing the names of people under active investigation for corruption even though some are public leaders who deserve more public scrutiny than a youth gone AWOL from a poorly planned boot camp.
Meanwhile, the problems associated with the training so far only goes to confirm the general suspiscion that it is nothing more that a poorly planned boot camp. The lack of proper trainers, supervision and I suspect, no agenda makes this an expensive but utterly futile exercise.
Lest I be accused of being a back seat driver, let me propose the following:
a. Reduce the number of trainees to a manageable figure e.g. 10,000 and allow the ministry to consolidate its resources like trainers etc.
b. Present a definite objective for the program - racial integration does not happen by putting kids of differrent races in one building - if not the national schools concept would suffice.
c. Present a definite statement of what national service does NOT cover - i.e. religious undertones, capital punushment etc.
d. Coduct a survey before and after the camp. Survey forms should contain questions on the program, trainers and even complains section. Ideally, the forms should be anonymous and collated by another ministry - e.g. Ministry of Youth for example - to promote transparency and prevent cover-ups. The same report should be make public.
e. Motivation for students to enroll - i.e. priority placement in local universities for trainees who achieve the minimum threshold. (P.S. This will definitely draw in the non-muslims)
f. The appointment of ex-headmasters and retired teachers, retired commercial and medical professionals to participate as trainers. How many 55 year olds are there in the program? Think of the experience we are losing out on... Also the trainer demographics should mirror our national figures.
g. The setting up of external inspectors (again from another ministry) to conduct on-site evaluation of programs.
h. The transparent disclosure of all events held at each camp for parents to monitor.
i. The implementation of 24 hour hotline for campers which reports directly to another ministry.
And the list goes on - which goes to show - if one silly blogger could come up with this, how much preparation was done by Mindef?
I am tempted to go onto gaffe no.2 but let's save it for my next posting...
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Salesman found dead in burnt car
Salesman found dead in burnt car according to the Star.
What struck me was that despite the burning car being found near an abandoned mining pool, Sentul OCPD Asst Comm A. Thaiveegan said that police had classified the case as sudden death but would reclassify it if police found new leads that suggested foul play.
Anyone doubting foul play other than the police?
What struck me was that despite the burning car being found near an abandoned mining pool, Sentul OCPD Asst Comm A. Thaiveegan said that police had classified the case as sudden death but would reclassify it if police found new leads that suggested foul play.
Anyone doubting foul play other than the police?
Thursday, March 11, 2004
CNN.com - XXX-DVDs a new hazard for drivers - Mar 10, 2004
CNN.com's headlines - "XXX" DVDs a new hazard for drivers makes me wonder how the mechanics of driving and possibly sex have changed. According to the article, "more and more Americans are buying vehicles with DVD players, usually to keep the kids entertained. But an increasing number of other people on the road are catching a glimpse through the windows of more than just "Finding Nemo" and "SpongeBob SquarePants. Depending on where they are driving or parked, motorists could face fines and even jail time for screening X-rated stuff."...
"Just like there's no windows in a strip club, you shouldn't be able to see inside windows in a car when they're watching X-rated movies," said Carlton, a 26-year-old from Gurnee, Illinois.
It can only happen in the US of A you think? Increasingly, we find cars equipped with mini TVs and VCD recorders; not to mention the ease at which porn is obtained on the street corners. But here's a humorous twist in the shape of of present times - "Political Ceramah DVDs a new hazard for voters (with Debbie does Dallas for the 12 minutes intermission)!"
"Just like there's no windows in a strip club, you shouldn't be able to see inside windows in a car when they're watching X-rated movies," said Carlton, a 26-year-old from Gurnee, Illinois.
It can only happen in the US of A you think? Increasingly, we find cars equipped with mini TVs and VCD recorders; not to mention the ease at which porn is obtained on the street corners. But here's a humorous twist in the shape of of present times - "Political Ceramah DVDs a new hazard for voters (with Debbie does Dallas for the 12 minutes intermission)!"
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Let's NOT get personal
The Star Online News : Malaysia Election 2004 reports that political campaigners making personal attacks in the run-up to the general election will be arrested, according to the EC. So much for democracy and its triumphal return!
For many of us, this election offers hope for change. Not so much wholesale ones, such as in the change of guard - no way would we thrive under the current opposition - but rather to inject a sense of credibility in our leadership that is congruent with the righteous rhetoric streaming from the pinnacle of power. Yet, party loyalty aside, I believe that democracy should be an inspection of personalities and their personal-ilities. If a public representative cannot withstand the scrutiny of his or her private life, what right do they have to govern and serve the rakyat's best interest? Should not these same leaders be accountable for even the slightest doubt of their personality?
The EC was established to ensure that the democratic process was carried out fairly and unequivocally. Pak Lah has rightfully demonstrated an elder statesman approach to this matter by pledging that the Barisan Nasional would not resort to personal attacks because the coalition believed it was not the proper way to campaign. This despite sensitive provocation from the religious left. The EC on the other hand has approached this matter like a blindman shopping for T-shirts in Chow Kit. Such a gesture only stiffles and sweeps the issues under the carpet. Afterall, some of our "esteemed" leaders have even thrown the gauntlet down by wielding the threat of legal action when faced with personal attacks - this means that we have the mechanisms to deal with such matters! Surely the EC, of all people, should recognise this. Surely the EC, of all people, should think thrice before making such an unobjective ruling.
C'mon, you can do better than this!
For many of us, this election offers hope for change. Not so much wholesale ones, such as in the change of guard - no way would we thrive under the current opposition - but rather to inject a sense of credibility in our leadership that is congruent with the righteous rhetoric streaming from the pinnacle of power. Yet, party loyalty aside, I believe that democracy should be an inspection of personalities and their personal-ilities. If a public representative cannot withstand the scrutiny of his or her private life, what right do they have to govern and serve the rakyat's best interest? Should not these same leaders be accountable for even the slightest doubt of their personality?
The EC was established to ensure that the democratic process was carried out fairly and unequivocally. Pak Lah has rightfully demonstrated an elder statesman approach to this matter by pledging that the Barisan Nasional would not resort to personal attacks because the coalition believed it was not the proper way to campaign. This despite sensitive provocation from the religious left. The EC on the other hand has approached this matter like a blindman shopping for T-shirts in Chow Kit. Such a gesture only stiffles and sweeps the issues under the carpet. Afterall, some of our "esteemed" leaders have even thrown the gauntlet down by wielding the threat of legal action when faced with personal attacks - this means that we have the mechanisms to deal with such matters! Surely the EC, of all people, should recognise this. Surely the EC, of all people, should think thrice before making such an unobjective ruling.
C'mon, you can do better than this!
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Election Errection
So everyone is sitting up straight like an eager phallic device anticipating some action! There is afterall the big picture that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now at the helm of the charge, seeking a decisive first mandate. There is also the battle for Najib to first justify the right to contest the new Cameron Highlands seat at the expense of PPP, and throw in the usual East coast battles. What do we have? Yeah right...
This is my prediction. BN will sweep all states except Kelantan (no prizes for guessing why!) and a close fight in Terengganu. A new face at the helm with something to prove, I believe many are willing to give Pak Lah the benefit of the doubt. He is afterall the face of a more conciliatory UMNO and despite the pessimists, has dealt some blows to the rich and corrupt... although not nearly enough.
A strong mandate will see the real Abdullah Badawi come out of the shadows, and surprisingly this may not augur well for the establishment (read Rafidah Aziz, Najib and co) and surprisingly the stupendous opposition (read PAS). A respected religious scholar with the bonus of some machiaveliian understudy, Pak Lah can ill afford to demonstrate his more upright backbone. This may change with a popular mandate and show us why Dr Mahathir resisted extending his reign this time around.
A weak mandate helps no one except the opportunists within the establishment and only encourages thoughtless rhetoric from the less atuned religious opposition. Perhaps in this case, DAP may be the rejuvenated winner - if Kit Siang and co stand firmly against PAS' poorly advised script. But I'd rather not dwell on this, what I'd describe as the worse case scenario for the country!
This is my prediction. BN will sweep all states except Kelantan (no prizes for guessing why!) and a close fight in Terengganu. A new face at the helm with something to prove, I believe many are willing to give Pak Lah the benefit of the doubt. He is afterall the face of a more conciliatory UMNO and despite the pessimists, has dealt some blows to the rich and corrupt... although not nearly enough.
A strong mandate will see the real Abdullah Badawi come out of the shadows, and surprisingly this may not augur well for the establishment (read Rafidah Aziz, Najib and co) and surprisingly the stupendous opposition (read PAS). A respected religious scholar with the bonus of some machiaveliian understudy, Pak Lah can ill afford to demonstrate his more upright backbone. This may change with a popular mandate and show us why Dr Mahathir resisted extending his reign this time around.
A weak mandate helps no one except the opportunists within the establishment and only encourages thoughtless rhetoric from the less atuned religious opposition. Perhaps in this case, DAP may be the rejuvenated winner - if Kit Siang and co stand firmly against PAS' poorly advised script. But I'd rather not dwell on this, what I'd describe as the worse case scenario for the country!
Monday, February 16, 2004
Loud-er Ads hurt more than ears
Notice how the advertisements on Astro are significantly louder than the movie itself? While many of us put up with it as simply a harmless way for Astro to draw attention to and therefore make more money of its ads, the truth is that it probably hurts a lot more than we realise. Notice how children are automatically drawn towards ads on TV? For long we have attributed this to the punchy tunes and animated eye candy. However, in North America, such tactics have been banned as it is seen to develop short-term attention span in children!
As if to add insult to injury, the loudest by far, belong to Astro's own inhouse ads. This must stop!
As if to add insult to injury, the loudest by far, belong to Astro's own inhouse ads. This must stop!
Thursday, January 29, 2004
What a world to be born into
The recent the rape-cum-murder of 10-year-old Nurulhuda Abdul Ghani made more than a few people sit up and take notice. The government has indicated that rapists be accorded the maximum sentence while such crimes that end in the death of the victim to be tried as murder cases.
While I applaud fervour, one wonders what difference this would make. Someone who is willing to risk the wrath of public scorn, face the prospect of prison and possible abuse behind bars (yes, felons have sisters and mothers too) will probably not be deterred by some legislative changes. Impose the maximum penalty on a repeat offender by all means. And send the murderers to the gallows. But a proper resolution must take place before and not after the fact.
As a matter of fact, most rape cases go unreported. Yet it is the same offender who will ultimately go way over the line and contribute to another gruesome headline. And why not? The stigma attached to being a rape victim and the lack of professional intervention, especially towards the victim is reason enough to suffer silently. Better to forget and get on with life than to have your life probed and other people wondering if somehow you had contributed to the crime... protection and privacy needs to be accorded to the wronged.
In a few months' time, I will have welcome my baby girl into this world. It makes me shudder to think that I do not know where to draw the line between being protective versus overly protective. What kind of world will she be born into? Well to begin with, it will be one where I am willing to pay the ultimate price to ensure her safety... and that is perhaps the first step every parent should take.
While I applaud fervour, one wonders what difference this would make. Someone who is willing to risk the wrath of public scorn, face the prospect of prison and possible abuse behind bars (yes, felons have sisters and mothers too) will probably not be deterred by some legislative changes. Impose the maximum penalty on a repeat offender by all means. And send the murderers to the gallows. But a proper resolution must take place before and not after the fact.
As a matter of fact, most rape cases go unreported. Yet it is the same offender who will ultimately go way over the line and contribute to another gruesome headline. And why not? The stigma attached to being a rape victim and the lack of professional intervention, especially towards the victim is reason enough to suffer silently. Better to forget and get on with life than to have your life probed and other people wondering if somehow you had contributed to the crime... protection and privacy needs to be accorded to the wronged.
In a few months' time, I will have welcome my baby girl into this world. It makes me shudder to think that I do not know where to draw the line between being protective versus overly protective. What kind of world will she be born into? Well to begin with, it will be one where I am willing to pay the ultimate price to ensure her safety... and that is perhaps the first step every parent should take.
Monday, January 05, 2004
Hunger in the New Millenium
In CNN's feature on "Hunger" African journalist Sorious Samura goes for five weeks without food as he investigates famine in a special documentary. It was an eye opener and reminds us that after the "We are the World" albums and "Live Aid" concerts, long after we pat our backs for doing our utmost for the starving in Africa, there remains a lot of people whose hunger and plight we can only imagine but never understand.
Here's my tapas - with the millions being raised each year in aid of hunger, I wonder what proportion of these reach its intended destinations? Is there a way to ensure that more of the aid finds its way to the hungry instead of the greedy along the by-ways? How can these aid be used to generate more wealth in a system that would offers more than short term relief? If middlemen are required to transport the food for example, why not make it mandatory for the company providing the service to hire at least largely from among those they intend to help? Surely they would be cheaper, and over time even more durable?
Let's go one step further, companies that maintain a high ratio will be given repeated business and sponsored programs to improve the quality of their workforce. Could the money be used with longer term strategic milestones in mind? I do not have the figures, but I am sure that pilferage and wastage would have accounted for a lot. Take this and multiply it along the supply chain and what proportion losses are we talking about? Could a part of the money, for example, be used by the relief centers to implement better inventory management using technologies like RFID for example?
I know the rationale mind will question the wisdom in diverting funds from their intended purpose, but that is taking a myopic view to the whole issue.
Apparently one billion people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Of this, one in hundred die. But as you read this, I am sure the statistics will occupy the lesser used realm of your minds... statistics is an inhumane way to view hunger.
Surely hunger is a poor excuse to die of, and yet the strained voices of the hungry go unheard in the hysterical night as those who are willing, fight a losing battle to stem the slow but dominant tide called death...
Here's my tapas - with the millions being raised each year in aid of hunger, I wonder what proportion of these reach its intended destinations? Is there a way to ensure that more of the aid finds its way to the hungry instead of the greedy along the by-ways? How can these aid be used to generate more wealth in a system that would offers more than short term relief? If middlemen are required to transport the food for example, why not make it mandatory for the company providing the service to hire at least largely from among those they intend to help? Surely they would be cheaper, and over time even more durable?
Let's go one step further, companies that maintain a high ratio will be given repeated business and sponsored programs to improve the quality of their workforce. Could the money be used with longer term strategic milestones in mind? I do not have the figures, but I am sure that pilferage and wastage would have accounted for a lot. Take this and multiply it along the supply chain and what proportion losses are we talking about? Could a part of the money, for example, be used by the relief centers to implement better inventory management using technologies like RFID for example?
I know the rationale mind will question the wisdom in diverting funds from their intended purpose, but that is taking a myopic view to the whole issue.
Apparently one billion people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Of this, one in hundred die. But as you read this, I am sure the statistics will occupy the lesser used realm of your minds... statistics is an inhumane way to view hunger.
Surely hunger is a poor excuse to die of, and yet the strained voices of the hungry go unheard in the hysterical night as those who are willing, fight a losing battle to stem the slow but dominant tide called death...
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