Lonesome No More!

Fancy Miss Saigon surreptitiously staged nightly in some remote towns of Pahang. Paraded like the opening scene of the Broadway play, it’s not the GIs’ but fellow Malaysians who are ogling, and oohing and ahhing the young and attractive Kims that lined the coffee-shops and bride agents’ homes.

Walau! You pick your fancy, pay the bride price and off you go on your honeymoon. These mail order bride agents have really reinvented themselves. No more looking at photos…they give you the real thing in the flesh. What more can you ask. Malaysia Boleh!

While Michael Choong is lamenting on this sad state of affairs, his concerns are not shared by local singles, divorcees, the old and the rich. The Vietnamese beauties are a new option. What you see is what you get. Lonesome bachelors no longer fear being rejected outright by local girls; and the process of getting hitched is as easy as doing it in Las Vegas.

So waste no time, come to Triang and Jerantut and heaven is just a decision away.

Quote of the Day:

“To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven.” Karen Sunde

Heartsong

Just be Creative!

How can you beat the competition and stay ahead of the curve? That is the $64,000 question. Believe me - only creativity plus the ingenious use of computers will spell success for you in the new future.

Computers are taking over. Don’t ever doubt that, not even for one second. If you are no good in your field, just say goodbye to your job. Right now, powerful computer software is making writing music and lyrics a breeze. With computers, post production in films and animation is fast becoming child’s play. Similarly, self–publication is slowly making inroads into the publishing industry. In the design industry particularly in architecture, computers is taking over wholesale.

The genius of software writers coupled with engineering expertise has created the magic that is mechatronics. Soon, in many parts of the globe, computer-aided manufacturing will downsize labour and many will soon be on the streets with a pink slip in their hands.

The rate of adoption of computer in industry is just unbelievable. Very soon, only the gifted and the talented will be able to stand tall in this new world. With the aid of computer hardware and software, the gifted and talented in their various fields will be able to be more creative and productive. Are you one of them?

There is only one option open to all of us. Be creative.

There are tons of books in the market on creativity. How good are they? Do they give you practical ideas or are they shooting in the dark as well, hoping to hit a target?

Most books suggest things that are run–of-the-mill. Others recommend the ridiculous and the ludicrous.

As blog writers, don’t wait for inspiration. Do. Like the Nike slogan – Just Do it! Research and write on a few issues, cross-linked ideas and premises. Get out of the ordinary and avoid the mundane. Play with ideas. Do things differently. Experiment and have fun with your blog. Read all sorts of blogs. Be carefree-take a couple of generic elements and reconfigure them to see new developments Use tested methods and formats but innovate what is before you to develop new outcomes. If need be, collaborate with others in creative workshops to give birth to novel ideas. Work with the talented.

Before going on a project, always remember the SMART advice of Peter Drucker:

• Specific: Do you understand exactly what the task entail?

• Measurable: What constitutes success or failure or ‘good value”?

• Achievable: Can this be done at all? What are the obvious barriers? (Most important)

• Realistic: Can you do this with the resources you have and is it worth doing at all?

• Time-Related: How much time will you spend on this?

The future will not favour the ordinary recording artiste. People now want a ' live in action' superstar performer. They do not want to listen to any stand-up comic. They want to listen to a great stand-up comic with lots of smart come-back lines. They do not want to read just any book. They want to read a book with a super winning formula by a great writer. The list goes on and on…

Are you in that league? No, not yet... don't know.

Do something about it.

Be creative. Start now!

Quote of the Day:

“The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts the moment you get up early in the morning and does not stop until you get to the office” Robert Frost.

Heartsong

Christmastime - The Reason to Be Jolly!

It's yuletide season again!

Let us reminisce...

I remembered fondly my yuletide of yesteryears. I know you do.

During my schooldays, yuletide meant going to church, half-asleep listening to the sermon, enjoying Christmas carols and receiving door gifts as we left the church. Without fail, these always came in the form of nicely wrapped-up new scented handkerchiefs and toothbrushes.

There was one year, I cannot remember for sure. It must be the mid-1960s. Yuletide that year reminded me of a movie news magazine particularly its cover and contents - the December issue. This issue cost a little more and it was also a wee bit thicker. The cover was adorned by a youthful and beautiful Angie Dickinson holding a red Christmas stocking. The pictures inside,among others, were of Sandra Dee, Mary Tyler Moore, Rock Hudson, Pat Boone and Troy Donahue. Some of the movies featured included Hootenany Hoot and Music Man. I remembered that year well.

As I grew older, Yuletide meant something if you were invited to a house party or if you were going on a group date to a public dance at the town hall. Presents were not that important. Adolescent fun was. To be seen with your peers, drinking and smoking was the "in thing". It was the "we thing" as well.

At the university, you must be seen at Carmen's Inn at the Penang Merlin Hotel or any of the hotel discotheques if it is Christmas Eve. Otherwise you would be labeled a certified full bloodied nerd!

These days my yuletide season is celebrated in a more sombre spirit. Early in the morning, we go to church celebration and after that we wished each other 'Blessed Christmas'. If we get invited to dinner, then it's the Christmas turkey that we will taste with cranberry sauce. If not, we enjoy a quiet evening, spending devotional time with God.

The yuletide season has been hijacked for a long time. Christmastime is the annual big-event for hotels, restaurants, resorts and superstores. 'Tis their season to be jolly as they rake in the big bucks. With Santa Clauses and Santarinas dancing and prancing and doling out sweets to children, they can practically smell dollars, happiness and gaiety in the air. Resorts are transformed into tinsel towns and winter wonderlands with revelers aplenty while hotel lounges and superstores boast of herds of reindeer and sleighs complete with jingle bells and Santa Claus. Also, christmas trees are set aglitter everywhere in toy shops, department stores and hypermarkets.

While, we enjoy Christmas and the delight it brings, let us not forget the true reason for Christmas. More than 2000 year ago, our Lord and Saviour,Jesus Christ,was born. He came and he died on the cross that we may have life eternal.

This Christmas, let us spread the message of salvation - The Word. Let us bless the many people we know that they will come to know the Lord as well and be saved.

Christmastime - 'tis the most wonderful time of the year. Let us rejoice for the Lord has come.....

So, let me wish all my blog readers, "A Blessed Christmas, everyone and do have a Happy New Year 2007 as well"

Quote of the Day:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Heartsong

Jane Seymour
Solitaire no More!

This happened in 1993.

It was almost twilight in Kuala Lumpur. I was at the Istana Hotel to attend a dinner. While waiting at the lounge to kill time, something wonderful happened. I saw a beautiful and familiar figure walking down the stairs. She held the arm of a burly-looking elderly man. She looked in my direction. Our eyes locked. She knew there and then that I recognized who she was. She flashed me a beautiful multi-million dollar smile. It was a wondrous moment to savour.

It was Jane Seymour in the flesh. Beautiful and statuesque, dressed to the nines. Her beauty was bedazzling! I was stumped.

Then I saw who the companion was. It was Ghaffar Baba, our ex- Deputy Prime Minister. The equation just did not fit. Why a stunning Hollywood broad was going out with this has-been came to my mind? She definitely did not need the money. Or even worse, the attention.

Anyway, I did not bother to ponder all these questions. I just watched her as she graciously sashayed into a waiting limousine and disappeared into the KL traffic.

For me, it was a moment in time. Most gratifying. My first chance - sighting of a Hollywood beauty in the flesh. Bonanza!

Today, as I vividly recall, the scene is indeed comical, reminiscent of one from the classic Walt Disney's “Beauty and the Beast”. In the 1993 Hotel Istana episode, Seymour was the beauty alright but what about the b...........

So, anyone care for Solitaire? I do if it is Jane Seymour!

Quote of the Day:

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty." John Keats

Heartsong

All the King's Men

A remake of a 1949 movie of the same name, this movie version, stayed close to the original.

Based on a bestseller, All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren, focuses on the lives of Willie Stark, an upstart farm boy who rises through sheer force of will to become Governor of Louisiana during the 1930s, and Jack Burden a journalist who helped Willie blackmail and control his enemies. The storyline mimics the politician Huey Long, who served Louisiana as both Governor and Senator from 1928 until his death in 1935.

The main theme of the movie is the question of political power and moral corruption. To Willie Stack, his moral philosophy is that everyone and everything is bad, and that moral action involves making goodness out of the badness.

Willie Stark uses and abuses everyone in his life while continuing to provide for his downtrodden constituents. In his ambitious quest to win the love and respect of his people, Willie loses his soul and the respect of those closest to him. And like Huey Long, he ultimately meets his demise in a most tragic fashion.

The movie is well narrated and edited and the dialogue is pretty catchy. Sean Penn’s Willie Stack, contrary to unwarranted criticism, is convincing.

Once again, Sean Penn took on his role with manic energy, transforming himself completely into a fascinating character. He is dynamic as the politico with his ranting and raving. His Machiavellian manipulator side was played with furious energy and sheer gusto.

Jude Law played a blue-blood “pretty boy” journalist. A burnt idealist, he was quietly supportive in his role as the second lead. As a confidante of Stack, Jude Law’s Jack Burden witnessed the effects of power and compromise on "All the King's Men".

However,there is some disconnect in the movie for it never did tell what wrong Willie had committed to cause impeachment proceedings to be leveled at him as Governor. Also, the relationship between Anne Stanton (the character played by Kate Winslet) and Jack was not well developed to provide useful insight into the passion of their love.

Overall, it's a good looking production steeped in place and period. The movie paces itself very well. I enjoyed it especially the witty dialogue.

For those who enjoyed Casablanca and other movies of that genre,they should enjoy this movie.

Quote of the Day:

“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” George Sand

Heartsong

Woman On Top

Fetching and sexy, Penelope Cruz exudes the same sultry appeal as the legendary Sophia Loren. That pair of seductive eyes and luscious lips can melt any man’s heart.

Nicknamed the Madonna of Madrid, Penelope Cruz is the most famous Latino actress to grace our silver screen. This Spanish enchantress has left her competitors way behind. I think Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez are way past their prime. Paz Vega is just a fresh face. Except for her portrayal in Sex and Lucia, Vega has not shown any break-out.

Penelope first gained recognition after acting in the film, "Belle époque” but it was the erotic film, Jamon Jamon that transformed her into a national fantasy.

I first saw Penelope Cruz in a major role in Woman on Top and fell in love with her. She was spontaneous in her acting, had an attractive bubbly nature and brings with her a wonderful screen presence. She showed a mysterious side in All the Pretty Horses and was coy and scintillating in Blow.

However, her performance was below par in Vanilla Sky (also the Spanish version, Open Your Eyes) and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. I believe the poor scripts had something to do with this. Volver was good but a bit draggy with it's many- layered twists and turns. As usual, Cruz cruised along with her naturally attractive bubbly self.

In her private life, strangely, Penelope Cruz continues to show a consistent patent weakness of involving herself romantically with most of her co-stars - Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp and Nicholas Cage.

Be that as it may, I think Penelope Cruz will join the fabulous Nicole Kidman in the big league of Hollywood as she has the verve and skill to up the ante on the silver screen. If things go right, she may just win herself an academy award!

Quote of the Day:

“Friendship occupies your mind. Love occupies your soul.” Author Unknown

Heartsong

Fatinah’s Wedding- Love’s Synthesis

Saturday, 9^th December 2006

We are heading towards Putrajaya. The broad boulevards looms before us. Ornate street lamp fittings and wondrous, majestic bridges fills our sights.

We are in Putrajaya to attend the wedding of my best friend’s daughter, Fatinah. Weather is fine and directions and signages are good. We got a good parking lot and proceeded to the venue at Putrajaya Holdings in Precinct 2.

It is now 12.15 pm in the afternoon. Not many guests have arrived. We greeted Nik and Noriah on arrival and congratulated them. I also met Zaiton, Nik’s sister. Could not have recognized her if she had not told me who she was. Then we were greeted by the beautiful Farah, Nik’s eldest daughter who introduced her little daughter to us. “Mari sini, ini adalah datuk’s best friend….Uncle Heng.” I hugged his daughter. I hoped it was not taboo!

The last time I saw Farah and Fatinah was about 2 decades ago. They were still kids then and yet today they could still recall me. Must have made quite an impression on them.

Her husband then led us into the main hall where I met a few friends - Mohamedshah, Alias and Sumali. Later I met Nik Hishamuddin and almost his entire clan. Next came Sharif and Sharifah Fatimah. We settled down to partake lunch. I was saddened to hear that a mutual friend, Fatimah Raya had cancer.

At 1.15 pm, the bersanding began. The bridegroom looks like an actor and Fatinah, in all her splendour, was beautiful, a splitting image of her mother in her younger days. After, the doa, everyone settled back into their conversations.

Those who came early decided to leave.I said my goodbyes to Nik, Noriah and Farah. We were given some buah tangan to bring home.

Today is a good day. Good days are rare.We must treasure every good day.

Quote of the Day:

"A good marriage is the union of two good forgivers." Ruth Bell Graham

Heartsong

An Anatomy of a Sexual Relationship

Take a budding actor and a fresh face model. Give them three days to get acquainted. To ensure ‘real sexual performance’, ensure they do not communicate once filming starts until it ends. So what was performed on screen is genuine raw sexual craving, passion plus action. Sex at the apex! Finally, hyped up the film with pulsating music and hypnotic pacing. And viola! there you have it – a naughty peep show -9 Songs. Cinematic brilliance!

After 69 minutes of viewing, I must say that 9 Songs has moved up the ratchet at least a notch higher. Like the proverbial frog being slowly cooked in a hotpot, we are made to ‘acclimatize’ pleasurably to sex voyeurism in the cinema. While there were other less successful attempts at this, 9 Songs is by far the most explicit.

Winterbottom has actually succeeded in filming the penultimate movie of cinematic voyeurism showcasing real, uncensored sex between its lead actors. For many, it should be a turn-on. Interspersing 9 un-simulated sex scenes with 9 live-concert songs, Winterbottom’s avant-garde attempt to persuade us to accept that ‘sex is beautiful’ has brought on both bouquets and brickbats.

Except for a few scenes showing the beauty of the icy Artic waste, most of the scenes were confined to the bedroom and a nightclub showcasing various bands in action.

Most found 9 Songs much akin to watching a long music video laced with toned down “hard-core pornography’. There is little dialogue; more like sex poetry in motion - a lovely real snapshot of a brief encounter between Matt and Lisa. The sex becomes kinkier as the movie progresses.

A simple storyline. After meeting at a rock concert, the lead actors ended up in bed. Together, over a period of several months, they pursue a mutual sexual passion whose inevitable stages are familiar to anyone who's ever been in love. Quietly fascinating yet moving; it is direct, touching and lovely to watch.

Those who find traditional porn too artificial should be pleased with the treatment of sex in 9 Songs. Here, Winterbottom attempts to arouse the viewers but the scenes are too brief to be satisfying.

So, is it bouquet or brickbat for 9 Songs?

I must salute Winterbottom’s daring experimentation at cinematic voyeurism. I think he has succeeded where Breathless and Last Tango in Paris has failed. Bouquets to him!

Quote of the Day:

“Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit.” Khalil Gibra

Heartsong

Glamour Puss on the Roost

Red-haired Nicole Kidman, a half-bred Scot, now rules the roost. From television and mini-series, she has now taken the coveted position as the highest paid actress in Hollywood, surpassing the likes of Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon.

She was spotlighted when she played critical roles beginning with the suspenseful thriller, Dead Calm. Then she co-starred with Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder. She continued partnering Cruise in Far and Away, a silly yarn about Irish immigrants grabbing land in America. In Batman Forever, Nicole Kidman first took the glitzy label as star material.

To Die For gave her the first Golden Globe.

Nicole was a brazen hussy of an actress. She was an artist through and through.She knew no fear nor shame.

She bared all in Billy Bathgate, Eyes Wide Shut and in Cold Mountain. On stage, she went completely nude in the faintly lighted Blue Room. Then she enamoured the whole world with her role as the lovely courtesan, Satine in Moulin Rouge, dying tragically in the end. The world's runaway craving for Nicole Kidman started and they gave her continuing support in the film; The Others.

There were other controversial films besides Eyes Wide Shut. One of them was Birth, a film that explored the reincarnation of the human soul. The bath tub scene with a naked young boy became the talk of the town.

Kidman won the Academy Award in 2002 for her role in The Hours. It seems that the Academy regretted not giving her the award a year earlier for Moulin Rouge and was definitely making amends here as she hardly acted in The Hours movie, behaving morosely all the time like some autistic savant.

Except for Cold Mountain, Nicole has not been making any great movies lately. Dogsville was a dumb dog of a art-house movie. The Stepford Wives was one rotten remake .The best-be-forgotten Bewitched came next; capitalizing on Nicole’s looks as she uncannily resembled Elizabeth Montgomery. The Interpreter lacks punch while The Human Stain was unexciting, dark and brooding.

Inspite of this long hiatus, there may yet be a silver lining for Nicole Kidman. She lent her voice to Norma Jean in Happy Feet. She starred in Fur and will next appear in Wong Kar Wai’s Lady from Shanghai. Soon, she will be reunited with Buzz Luhrmann in an Australian movie.

Nicole Kidman did some directing as well as singing. The movie In the Cut was simply dreadful but singing Something Stupid with Robbie Williams was purrfect to cement her superstar status as the song climbed to No: 1 position both in the UK and in Australia.

In private life, Nicole Kidman found life not as rosy. After a whirlwind romance with Tom Cruise, they married for a decade. However, he left her in 1990 and she had a miscarriage. She has since remarried the cowboy looking singer, Keith Urban.

Nicole Kidman is coy, exciting and desirous. She literally oozes sex, is amorous and seductively beguiling. I think the world is still very much in love with her. I, for one, adore her.

Quote of the Day:

“Life is about choices. We choose every day to suffer or celebrate.’ Anonymous

Heartsong

Heartsong is back!

It's freaky! Weird is the word.

After a sleepless night, I got up early and went to my blog.

I deleted the entire html content from the Heartsong template and substituted it with another. No magic.

Then, I decided to change Heartsong's template.

What happened next was just unexpected. Too good to be true. The blog came back, as if it went for a sojourn in blogosphere; and like the prodigal son-came back.

So I updated the entries and everything is now back as before...

Walau! Made my day!

Quote of the Day:

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance" Oscar Wilde

Heartsong

Walking with God

Do you believe in God?

Call Him what you may. The Supreme Being, The Great I Am, the Big Guy in the Sky, or Big Kahuna.

He’s the Guy who watches over you. A guardian angel. He shelters you from all harm, guides you in life and He makes good things happen to you. To have all this protection, you must first believe in Him. No buts and no ifs. It must be all or nothing.

I can testify that I have felt His protective hand since I was a lad.

The following events and incidents tell me that He has been at my side all my life and have protected me and brought help when I needed it most.

• Escaping from the jaws of death on the treacherous Air Kuning-Gemas Road when the car we were in spun out of control. After spinning three to four rounds on the road, the car clung to the edge of the road with a deep yawning valley below. We all got out safely and none of us had a scratch. How blessed we were to be covered with His blood.

• Going up accidentally on to a yet to be commissioned lift in the then Regent Hotel (the current Park Royal KL) and getting off on a floor that has no lift control panel. The staircase was not completely safe for public use. After an hour’s wait, the lift came up and opened at my floor for me to descend. God read my mind.

• Going back to town which was 6 miles away after missing the last bus. I was about 12 years old then. It was 7 pm. It was almost pitch dark. After walking for less than a mile, a motorcyclist who happened to be my father’s friend happened to pass by and gave me and my brother a lift to town. I do not know what would happen to us if that benevolent man had not come along. God sent help when we needed it most.

• I jumped into a brook and hit my face on a rusted tin can. Slight cut on the area around the nose. However, God has been kind. There was little bleeding - a slight bruise was all that was visible on my face. Thank God, I did not get lockjaw.

• Stranded in an unknown hotel way after midnight in Colombo in the eye of a hartal. Anything could have happened to me as there was civil strife in Sri Lanka. My life could have been in danger. However, God’s angels hovered over me and gave me protection.

• Escaping a stampede in a cinema after someone screamed "Fire!". There was complete pandemonium in the cinema hall with patrons screaming and running helter-skelter for the exits. You could see the silhouettes of panicky patrons in the balcony fleeing from their seats in all directions and stepping on one another. I sat in my seat shell-shocked and watched the grim occurrence all around me. No harm came to me. I was shrouded in His protective arms.

These are some of the incidents I can remember when God watched over me. He knows my heart. If I face a setback, I knew that it was meant to be. For God knows what is best for me and He lights the path for me to tread upon...

Today God is still watching over me . He is protecting and guiding my family. He resides in our hearts always and is ever present in our minds. We pray to Him and bless his Holy Name.We know He hears our prayers.

Everyday He gives us our daily bread. His grace, mercy, protection, provision and love keep us refresh every morning. We are forever in thanksgiving.

Do you have God in your heart?

Quote of the Day:

“Blessed are all who fear in the Lord, who walks in his ways” Psalms 128:1

Heartsong

Sequels,Prequels, Trilogies and Serials

It is now becoming a trend for Hollywood to continue milking a successful box office formula. Lately, we had some interesting trilogies, some good sequels, one or two oddball prequels and some tired serial installments.

Briefly, I can recollect the following worthy of some mention.

• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
• The Matrix Trilogy
• The X-men Series
• The Harry Porter Series
• The Pirates of the Caribbean Sequel
• The Spiderman Series
• The Batman Prequel
• The Superman Series
• The James Bond Franchise

I have touched on the James Bond franchise in an earlier blog.

Here are my comments on the others:


The X-men Series started rather well, went into high gear in the second installment but limped to the finishing line in the third. I think a new director was the possible cause of this nadir.

The Matrix trilogy started on a fresh new premise - on a high note, then it went a bit manic (kung-fu style) in the second and lost its velocity in the third. The 'revelation' installment failed to capture the magic and momentum of the earlier two installments.

Harry Porter was a bit soft and uncertain in the opening installment, it up the ante for excitement in the second and was darkly suspenseful in the last installment. I think it is moving upwards in the public eye. Emma Watson as Hermoine has certainly grown up charmingly beautiful with each passing installment. Stirs the adrenaline.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is by far the strongest of the trilogies. It came on strong in the first installment, punched like a hurricane through the second and shot through to the apex on the third. Peter Jackson's masterpiece was one entertaining trio. He deserved the Academy award!

The Spiderman Series - getting better and the plots and villains gets more sinister. I am just waiting for Spiderman to engage Sandman in the forthcoming third installment in May 2007.

The Superman Series. This time it is different. Superman now has a son, he almost died showing that he is 'not too super 'after all. I am still wondering when Lois married her husband. Was she a single parent when she married? Quite a dumb story. Exciting special effects though.

The Pirates of the Caribbean was entertaining alright. I had my share of belly laughs. Truly enjoyed the first installment but I am getting tired of the antics of the trio of Depp, Bloom and Knightley in the second. Story-line and plot continues to be good. Let us see how they finish off the third installment.

The Batman prequel was quite good but it was certainly dark and brooding. Christian Bale makes one good Batman.

On hindsight, most of these movies are okay. The special effects and the Dolby Stereo sound system is worth the money. Since the cinema has always been a pleasurable outing for Malaysians, do spend your time and money wisely.

Quote of the Day:

“Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.” Chiasmu

Heartsong

The Stock Market - Killer or Saviour?

Almost everyone has a story or two to tell of his exploits on the KLSE.

Some may be happy to relate about the bumper harvest that they reaped. A killing on the stock market, so they say...

But alas! The vast majority cringed at the times they took the blows big time... especially so in 1991 and in 1997. Stock prices were at dizzying heights then when they took the advice of good-intentioned friends and their trusted remisiers to pun on the market. Many took out their hard-earned savings and plomped it on "guaranteed" solid counters and many sought the EPF avenue to play the much touted "sure winners" mutual funds.

However, not many survived. Most saw their life savings went up in smoke..

But there remained some who could take the brunt - the stale bulls. They are just waiting to liquidate.

So greenhorns out there with mucho dinero... watch out... You could just be the suckers who may be caught holding the hot potatoes, tamales and tortillas until the next cycle comes around. Boleh tahan lasak-keh?

For those who took the EPF money, I think the time is just about right for them to exit as the market has out ran itself playing catch up with the other Asian bourses. My brudder, it pays to be discrete. Take your winnings and run and return your contributions back to the EPF while you still have that window of opportunity.

I had my share of losing. It is all sad. Lost plenty; lost my Camelot...

My humble advice on 20-20 hindsight. Never ever speculate on the stock market with money you don't have i.e. with bank overdrafts, personal and friendly loans and especially easy money from Ah Longs.The bells will surely toll for thee!

On hindsight, it is best to play only when the market is down. Be the contrarian. Buy counters which have big landbanks, super dividends and solid track record. Play long term. You shouldn't go wrong on that!

Itchy fingers... now that the CI has breached the 1100 points? Beware....you may just get them burnt!

Quote of the Day:

"A failure is man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on his experience." Elbert Hubbard

Heartsong

Omigosh!

Blog Failure!

Blog Failure!

It was past 8 pm. The family was in a rush to go out for dinner. The children were getting hungry and I was still fiddling with the blog template. For your information, I was trying to put on a counter on my blog. I believe, in my mad hurry to get out of the blog, I could have erased more than was necessary from the template.

After roti canai, rojak Singapura, sup daging and teh tarik at the Pelita Restaurant in SS2, I came back to continue with my blog duty.

But alas! Mama mia! @#@#$%^?***&^!!!

Heartsong-Heartstrong.blogspot.com could no longer be displayed. What was on show was a couple of entries in edit mode.

My blog has gone into a blackhole in blogospace...

I tried desperately to get help on the blog. The instructions came in an e-mail. A novice in this blog game, I could not understand the instructions. So I failed to manage the recovery process. Heartsong-Heartstrong.blogspot.com could not be resurrected. An early demise to my first blog. .. a pity..

So I went off into the template and started damage control. Feverishly, I went into a copy-and-paste frenzy to ensure all my entries were safely etched on my hard disk.

As it turned out, all was not lost. Quickly, I created another blog and started pasting the entries on to the new blog.

By this morning, I had almost everything back... except...

What was different this time around was all the entries carried the same date. The time was wrong as I did not readjust it to Malaysian time. Also all the comments were missing.

To overcome this, I went back to my e-mail and copied what was available in storage. Managed to retrieved most of them. Thank God!

The lesson to be learnt here is: Copy your template contents onto your hard disk before you start monkeying around with the html language. In the event, there is a screw up, you can always call for back up.

I have learnt my lesson the hard way...

Please learn from my lesson.

Quote of the Day:

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." Carl Jung

Heartsong-Heartstrong

Health Screening – Listen to your body talk..

The National Population and the Family Development Board and Sau Seng Lum Loving Charity organized a Family Health Camp in Petaling Jaya Utara this morning.

With my wife, I took a brisk morning walk to the Taman Aman Park where it was held. We saw a big crowd at the basketball court where the sponsors had set up camp.

To be eligible for our cholesterol and glucose test, we fasted a full 10 hours.

After registration, we weighed in and had our heights taken. My body mass index was okay. We then took our blood pressure. Mine was good. Next, was the blood test to know our glucose and cholesterol levels. Within three minutes, we had the results! My glucose level was fine but I flung the cholesterol test. The lady medical personnel quickly advised me to get off my butt and exercise. Also, I was to be more selective in my diet.

At the next station, I got some advice on diabetes. Then, my wife went for her breast cancer screening while I took the ECG. My ECG was A-okay. I skipped the bone density test as there were just too many elderly ladies ahead of me.

Looking back, I was rather happy to be able to partake of this free-of -charge health screening, especially in the comfort and vicinity of my neighbourhood. Good effort on the part of the sponsors. Bravo!

As a taxpayer, we should take advantage of such freebie health screening opportunities. Believe me; it will make a big hole in your pocket to have one done at a private clinic or hospital.

I think the Member of Parliament has done her fair bit here as well. Apart from the health screening, there were exciting programmes for children, karaoke singing and line dancing for the elderly folks.

And yes, there was free food sponsored by Kelana Seafood Restaurant. Since they only provided food to those with food coupons which were distributed and snapped up at 8.00 am, we went away hungry…

Poor me and the wife..

Quote of the Day:

“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.”Arabic Proverb

Heartsong-Heartstrong

Nasty Murphy’s Triple Whammy!

Murphy is always lurking around, as mischievous as ever. He strikes and you are out!

We decided to leave the library early today as storm clouds gathered ominously on the horizon. We got into the car but it refused to start. The air in the car was stuffy; the children got restless. We took them to the canteen nearby to cool their heels and to have a bite or two.

We then called the car salesman on our cell-phone. He suggested we open the bonnet and try to disengage the suspected faulty immobilizer; hopefully by doing so, the car may possibly start. But Murphy can be downright nasty. Now, we could not even open the bonnet. It stuck fast.

Now, how bad can it get?

The salesman came around. He put in the key into the ignition and lo and behold! The engine roared into action.

So you can see - this Murphy is really a cheeky fellow as well. He is not only screwing things up for us, he is now also insulting us and embarrassing us in front of the salesman.

I am sure you had your fair share of Murphy’s pranks. Care to relate an interesting run-in with this pesky chap?

Pray tell.

Murphy’s Law needs revision. It should now read as:

“If a thing can go wrong; it will go wrong… doubly wrong. Or triply wrong…”

So watch out for Murphy. He is now super-sized and on the loose!

Quote of the Day:

Murphy's Law

"If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong."

Heartsong-Heartstrong