An average time spent in the morning traffic for me is 50 minutes per day.
That's 250 minutes per week, 1 000 minutes per month, 12 000 minutes per year which equals to 200 hours. If time spent to go home is also considered, that's an average of 400 hours per year which is approximately 9% of my waking hour spent just to face the traffic!
What upsets me is courtesy of Malaysian drivers. Not only they forget that their cars are actually equipped with signal lights, they do not acknowledge that people (like me) DO give way to these selfish bastards. It's bad enough that they are cutting queues, is it SO DIFFICULT to utilise the index finger to flick on the signal lights? Bus drivers (to much more annoyance) are not exempted. How did their license get approved anyway?!
Yes, I am grumbling.
The other day, I was waiting to cross to the other side of a road in front of a yellow box. A YELLOW BOX. Correct me if I'm wrong, shouldn't this space be emptied to be able for people from one side of the road to cross to the other? And then, the driver IN the YELLOW BOX insisted that HE should remain IN the yellow box instead of giving way, although the traffic flow on his side of lane is barely moving! The guts! I hate when people give out long honks, cause I think it doesn't make any difference than giving out an average short one, but at the moment - I cranked out a long one. That's how upset I was.
My question is, how did we get to this stage? Why are we so selfish? We all have our stresses at work, which is supposed to make us share a common goal of NOT getting anymore stress on the road! I would recommend the authority to step in and monitor the level of selfishness during peak hours. Summon all the queue cutters and non-signal users! Now wouldn't you think that'll be a good way to raise funds for the Traffic Police?
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Sekapur Sirih
Heard this wicked rendition of Sekapur Sirih on Klasik Nasional this morning on the way to work. Yes, I listen to old ladies' radio station.
Anyway, this song version was by Suhaily Shamsudin and according to the DJ, she was commented as having strong resemblance to Saloma... which she did. And the arrangement was funky, I tell you.. Heavy on the those hammond sounds and simple groovy bass lines.
So, I googled this Suhaily person to find out more about her, what albums did she do and how to get it. Then I came across a (yet wicked) retro site which is on Multiply. Okay, it's my first time encountering this Multiply thingy - apparently another rendition of Friendster, MySpace, etc.
The site (to my pleasant surprise) contains information and song collection on numerous other Malay singers in the retro years! He even posted his turntables and LD players... Best, best! So I signed up on Multiply so that I get in touch with this person. Freaky, but hey, it's for the love of Malay retro music! So what.
Oh, another funky song I heard on radio this morning was from CCR titled Suzie Q. Nice one.
Back to Sekapur Sirih, reminds me of the years when TV3 had a morning show of the same title. Brings back memories of lazy Sunday mornings breakfasts with my grandparents.
Anyway, this song version was by Suhaily Shamsudin and according to the DJ, she was commented as having strong resemblance to Saloma... which she did. And the arrangement was funky, I tell you.. Heavy on the those hammond sounds and simple groovy bass lines.
So, I googled this Suhaily person to find out more about her, what albums did she do and how to get it. Then I came across a (yet wicked) retro site which is on Multiply. Okay, it's my first time encountering this Multiply thingy - apparently another rendition of Friendster, MySpace, etc.
The site (to my pleasant surprise) contains information and song collection on numerous other Malay singers in the retro years! He even posted his turntables and LD players... Best, best! So I signed up on Multiply so that I get in touch with this person. Freaky, but hey, it's for the love of Malay retro music! So what.
Oh, another funky song I heard on radio this morning was from CCR titled Suzie Q. Nice one.
Back to Sekapur Sirih, reminds me of the years when TV3 had a morning show of the same title. Brings back memories of lazy Sunday mornings breakfasts with my grandparents.
It also sparked me to find out more about the betel leaf (politically correct: betel spice/plant) which in the past was normal consumption in a Malay household together with betel nut (politically correct: areca nut) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betel)
An interesting site with quite nice images stated that Sekapur-Sirih-Seulas-Pinang (ie: mineral slaked lime, betel leaf and areca nut) represents culture of the Malays which holds strongly on values to form a united community. (www.latifm.com/painting_show/tepaksireh_2006.html)
I also found out about 'Betel Nut Beauties' in Taiwan who are scantily clad young women selling betel nut on roadside kiosks. Main clientele? Truck drivers! Reason being? Betel nut attribute as a mild stimulant.
Hmmm.. too much time spent in front of this idiot box? Maybe. Betel nut, anyone?
Sekapur sirih sekapur sirih seulas pinang
Diberi bekal diberi bekal buat perangsang
Pergilah intan pergilah intan pergilah sayang
Ketengah medan ketengah medan pergilah berjuang
Biarlah gugur biarlah gugur bertumpah darah
Biar berlengkar biar berlengkar di medan perang
Janganlah undur janganlah undur menyerah kalah
Pantang pendekar pantang pendekar di tengah gelanggang
Janganlah sedih janganlah sedih meninggal kami
Senjata disandang senjata disandang sebagai ganti
Kami berdoa kami berdoa setiap hari
Selamat pergi selamat pergi selamat kembali
Au Sujet De Moi
Hmm.. getting a hang of this blogging thing. Okay, still at the office and dead bored so thought I'd post these for fun...
Fazlina, your true color is Green!
You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!
From http://www.flarn.com/~warlock/tarot/winged/3.html
You are The Empress
Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.
The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents, beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.
The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.
Fazlina, your true color is Green!
You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!
From http://www.flarn.com/~warlock/tarot/winged/3.html
You are The Empress
Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.
The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents, beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.
The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.
Things To Do
I'm just sending out this into the void cause at certain points I know I tend to forget things! Especially when it comes to the Things I Want To Do.. or rather Need To Do! So here I am stuck at the office, it's way past the work hour and it's raining heavily and the damn jam never seems to subside, let's gear up and think! What should we be doing soon. Life's too short to be wasted, right?
1. Bungee Jump
2. Wall Climbing
3. Participate and finish a run
4. Go-carting (yes... have never tried)
5. Climb to the top of Mr. Kinabalu
6. Visit the Taj Mahal
7. Eurotrip, baby!
8. Write and sell at least one song
9. Oooo.. Zorbing
10. Wide water rafting
11. Pahang National Park? Hmmm..
12. Great Wall of China
13. Colosseum (okay.. probably all of the New Seven Wonders)
14. Angkor Wat (been saying it for years)
15. Pyramids
16. Perform Hajj
17. Write and submit a short story
Okay... my brain just stopped.. Let's get this reviewed another time.
By the way, this is my first blog. So, hi and till the next time!
1. Bungee Jump
2. Wall Climbing
3. Participate and finish a run
4. Go-carting (yes... have never tried)
5. Climb to the top of Mr. Kinabalu
6. Visit the Taj Mahal
7. Eurotrip, baby!
8. Write and sell at least one song
9. Oooo.. Zorbing
10. Wide water rafting
11. Pahang National Park? Hmmm..
12. Great Wall of China
13. Colosseum (okay.. probably all of the New Seven Wonders)
14. Angkor Wat (been saying it for years)
15. Pyramids
16. Perform Hajj
17. Write and submit a short story
Okay... my brain just stopped.. Let's get this reviewed another time.
By the way, this is my first blog. So, hi and till the next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)