Surprise! at 0000hrs!

Happy Birthday, Elaine!

Elaine gesturing.

More of us.

Somemore =)

and more =)

A classic look for a moment immortalised.

Cornerstone!!!

Cornerstone Church!

At the back.

Set up.

Matt the man =)

Congregation.

Worship!

More
and more =)

More =) In Stephen's Green

Statue

What plant is this?

A beautiful fountain.

The lake from the bridge.

Another statue.

More =)

The Spire in O'Connell's Street.

Click to see the big picture. In the middle of St. Stephen's Green.
No time to stitch properly hehehehe..

The Spire from ground level (second half of it).

O'Connell's Street

Penny's Clothes Store. Relatively cheap, actually the only place we can afford.

More Pics =)

My Room =)

The view from my room.

The Lake in UCD

Merville House 4, mine!

Part of the rombongan which took KLM.

Pics from Amsterdam and Ireland

Some pics from Dublin and Amsterdam =)

Tesco at Merrion Square

In Dublin city centre but forgot the name of this building.

A scene in Dublin

Another scene in Dublin

Schipol Airpot

A nice firehose in Schipol

Going to Gate 26 of Schipol to board Aer Lingus to Ireland.

Going to post pics of UCD and my apartment soon.

Perfect Timing

Leaving for a land halfway round the globe in a week and I'm having a cold. Things couldn't be more perfect. Darn all rhinoviruses. Darn them all.

Some Leaders are a Let-Down

A leader is someone who can set an example for many people and make decisions that could change and ultimately improve a situation. They are mature people who can process much information and have essential diplomatic skills. However, two political figures have failed to show these expected qualities. They have acted impulsively and shown shockingly shallow thinking before making decisions and statements. One of them did the unthinkable; he approved flag burning in public. The other has led demonstrations that led to scuffles and made provoking remarks that walked the thin line between stability and unrest of the peoples of this country.

Is this the sort of behavior we expect from leaders? These two so-called leaders have been chosen on good faith that young blood can inject fresh breath into the political arena and subsequently in the leadership of the country. Since these incidents, the people are shaken that these leaders have resorted to childish decisions and even more disappointing, there are supporters for these actions. We are in the 21^st century. If we are a neutral country with the vision of changing the world’s views for achieving peace, we should be showing the world that peace can first be brought about by mature politics and behavior. Leaders should not be engaging in petty fights and getting involved in scandals. Instead, they should be using their position to access the right channels to help those in need, domestically or internationally. They should be drafting ideas constantly to improve conditions in all aspects. They should realize that support is garnered when people see positive results of their leadership regardless of ideology. Undoubtedly, statements to the media are important as people want to know the happenings of the country, but statements should be made with utmost caution. They have to think hard before saying anything as their word have influence on many things such as the economy, political stability, and even the education system.

I believe that the recent events have scared many prospective investors to Malaysia and this is the main cause that has affected the foreign exchange rate. I also believe that if our leaders can change their attitudes, we can see the country strengthening like we have never seen before.

Health Is Bought With Money?

Medicines are getting incredulously highly priced. The rising costs of materials, transportation and foreign exchange rates are to be blamed. What can we do about it?

In Malaysia, our main problem is the foreign exchange rate. Even though the peg was removed, our currency did not appreciate that much. In order to bring down the impact of this problem, we should offer tenders and build the necessary infrastructure to manufacture imported drugs in our country. We have to make the offers look lucrative for the pharmaceutical giants so that they would willingly choose Malaysia as a manufacturing base. As a result, we could get better prices for the drugs as goodwill, the costs of transportation will plummet and the costs of imports could be almost completely waived. It would be even better if we could devise a deal so that we could import the technology and expertise of these companies to locally manufacture the drugs on our own. We have managed to get Intel to build chip manufacturing plants here, so we should have the confidence to approach pharmaceutical companies.

Synthetic drugs are now a luxury. It is becoming an ugly scenario where health is actually bought by money. Since Malaysia has an abundance of herbs and marine resources, we have to speed up our research on these organisms for their medicinal value. We have to start manufacturing traditional based medicine in bulk to supplement the shortage of high end drugs. I’m not saying that we should shun modern medicine but there is undoubtedly an enormous power of traditional medicine that has yet to be unleashed. If we could make this work, not only can we save on drugs, we might actually be able to earn more money from selling our own patented medicines.

Good health should be everybody’s right. Drug companies as well as their distributors and retailers should also be more considerate and honest with pricing. If doctors have to follow a code of ethics to provide health care to all, pharmaceuticals too have a responsibility as they work side by side with medical personnel.

Bombers, the Bullies from Junior High, not Soldiers

Terrorist bombers are the world’s worst cowards. They are too scared to fight for their right using intellectual means as they have no ability to argue, only physical ways. They try to frighten others using fear. They are no different than school bullies, just that now they have the knowledge to build their weapons.

Why should innocent people die when they have nothing to do with national policies? More over, are policies worth killing for? If they have the guts to kill, why aren’t they brave enough to take on the national army? Pick on someone your size, not harm unarmed civilians. It’s just ironic how some people have the heart to support these so-called fighters. If they call themselves soldiers for their cause, they are certainly not showing so. Every soldier has to follow a universal rule of engagement: to only shoot at armed enemies. These people do not.

Bullies in school pick on weak students and beat up unarmed people with all sorts of weapons. We even hear of some gangs in schools fight with parangs. Why can’t we follow the footsteps of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Ghandi, and other freedom fighters? They definitely had gotten what they wanted without blowing up something or someone but instead managed to use their God given brains to shake powerful people. These are the true heroes who should be emulated for fighting for their cause. We can’t blame US for reacting the way it is doing now because these terrorists had murdered thousands of its people, although the execution of the offensives could have been better and safer. We always condemn the US for the wars, but if it were to happen to our people, I don’t think we would stay quiet either. We would have to fight back and defend ourselves.

We need to rise up against these terrorists. Think before supporting any ideology. Does it benefit mankind or for that group of people only? We need not be scared to stand up to them because I’m sure that they are outnumbered by the rest of the five and a half billion people in the world who would dare to stand up to their atrocities. We have to crush these who are the real enemies of the world.

CSI: Malaysia – DNA database

I reckon everyone loves watching the CSI franchise. We love the cool factor of the technology, visual effects and of course the intriguing stories. Best of all, the cases are almost always solved using the DNA profile database.

Can crime investigation be as effective in Malaysia? Here, many people have criticized the proposal to create a national DNA database. Some say that it would be an invasion of privacy or people could be framed easily. But what about a DNA database of criminals, ex-convicts and foreign workers? It has been proposed before but it hasn’t materialized. In these times of increasing crime rates, I think that this database is crucial. With due respect, we know as a fact that a majority of released convicts will turn back to their old ways and many foreigners have known to cause problems. As a precaution for national security, we need to be able to identify each and every one of them. It would be devastating if criminals get acquitted for lack of evidence. It has happened before and many cases may go unsolved just because we can’t match the DNA sample to anyone.

Come to think of it, what is wrong with having a DNA database of everyone? Not only can crime be almost totally prevented but it will help with identification of unknown dead victims of crimes or accidents. We can also confirm our identity when other authorities like the immigrations of another country doubt the authenticity of identification documents. Issues on ethics will rise, but to date, the pros of this project definitely outweigh the cons by a huge margin.

Let us make use of the RM490 million wisely. Why not use some of it to upgrade our national security system? It is time that our government, lawmakers and police force look into this issue urgently. I call upon the people of Malaysia to support the implementation of this DNA profile database project. With proper planning and management, this will be a very effective way to curb crime.

Forgive, try to forget, and forget

We always ask for forgiveness from God every time we do something wrong and conscience kicks in. But how often do we forgive others? We face plenty of transgressions done against us ranging from petty issues to serious crimes. Anger keeps us from forgiving. Do we really want the anger last till eternity? A saying goes: “Don’t let your anger continue past sundown.” The act of forgiving doesn’t mean that you must forget the deed on the spot. The act of forgiveness is releasing all anger related to that issue and holding no grudge toward it.

Humans remember bad things vividly but forget the good ones almost immediately. We must always try to overcome this trait. First, we must let go of all petty issues. Why clog up our minds with useless information? Then, we must run through our minds and make a list on whom we have lost contact because of misunderstandings. It is not a time to judge but to make amendments. Be humble and take the first step in apologizing and readily accept others’ apologies too. You may not forget the incident because how our brains work physiologically but we can control our minds to treat matters differently. I admit that I do not understand how it feels like to lose a loved one accidentally or deliberately. But in my opinion as a word of comfort, which is a cliché, it’s no use harboring revenge and anger because it will not change anything. Let God be the avenger as we have no authority to take the law into our own hands.

We have to admit that some major fights that we had will be forgotten over time. We may look back and even laugh about them. But why take such a long time to realize the absurdity in such issues? Look at children. A few minutes after a fight or argument, they would be playing together happily again. The faster we forget conflicts, the happier our lives will be. Grudging is one of the causes for shortening life-span. The world would be a happier place if every one of us changes our mentality. If only that could happen right now.

Compare with what?

Ever wondered why you see rural children and their parents and entire families beaming away in photos or videos? They are happy with what they have. The key to that type of happiness is the absence of comparison.

People in the city are totally of the opposite. We look at others in envy of what they have; good looks, big cars, big houses and many more. Why do we stress ourselves so much? It is not wrong to set goals to achieve and it is definitely good to want to improve on one-self. However, it is detrimental to compare with another person and get envious. You’ll start setting unreasonable goals and push yourself to the limit just to get where you want.

Don’t join the crazy rat race for the sake of success. Why not take some time to reflect on what you have? Success has no meaning if you don’t enjoy it. You may all the cars and houses that money can buy, but is your health good? Is your relationship with your family strong? Students like to rush to compare exam marks after getting their results. Some teenagers like to compare their looks with actors and actresses. Some couples compare marriages. Some people even like to compare who has the more expensive cell phone! As the list goes on, it just gets more ridiculous.

Comparison is the root of stress. Not a single person is destined to have everything. In the simple towns and villages, their wealth is pretty much well distributed and therefore they are not compelled to compare with each other. Take that scenario, assimilate and adapt it into our urban lives. It’s alright to be jealous, but never envy.

Cowardly Offenders

Hands up, those who received fines and other warning letters from the authorities addressed to someone whom you have no idea existed or not. I see the entire audience responded.

Who are these irritating people? How is it possible that their fines are directed to others who are not even related to them in any way? From my understanding, vehicles are registered to the person following information from the identity card and other documents that you have to have the real addresses of residence like insurance and bank statements. If all these are true, how is it that the vehicle can be registered to another residence? Why didn’t JPJ check in detail? All these discrepancies will be automatically transferred to other authorities such as the municipal councils. Now, I am getting continuous letters concerning compounds from MBPJ about a certain offender who used my house address. These selfish people have put a lot of other poor victims through trouble. Imagine the look on your neighbors’ faces when the authorities come knocking on your door.

When a registered letter which looked like another fine came for this unknown person, I simply told the postman that there is no such person and this has been happening too many times. The good man graciously took back the letter and hopefully, he would alert the sender. It is high time the authorities look into these cases and start investigating. It can’t be that hard to investigate these details and consult the banks and insurance companies if is that easy to buy a car. And these offenders have committed the most transparent identity theft ever. Stop it now and face your own transgressions.

Government As A Corporation

“God gave us such a beautiful gift. Why are we destroying it?” - Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi.

The reason is, we lack people with the right qualifications and the right attitude in managing such cases. We need more people like Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek. He is a doctor and therefore, we have the confidence that he is most qualified to advise the nation on health issues. You might question his management skills. The PSD is then responsible to supply him with the proper personnel. For the record, he has done a marvelous job so far.

The point is the government must be run like a corporation. In the business world, once your performance is creating a setback in a department, you’d either be given a warning or you’d get fired. We need to revise the strict consideration of seniority for promotions. I have heard of some government servants slacking when they near the retirement date from their government servant colleagues themselves. We need to recognize that some young people have the better attitude and mind set that is needed. By being tough on performance, there is a 100% guarantee that government servants will immediately cut the slack and we would see a total change in the country inside out, ministers and politicians included.

Back to Sipadan. The prime minister has expressed anger at Chief Minister of Sabah for going ahead with the destructive club house project. In my opinion, there are enough reasons in this issue to severely reprimand him such as a fine, suspension or more severe punishments with immediate effect. He has caused the country substantial loss and in the corporate world, he would be labeled a liability. I urge the prime minister to get real tough on such cases, not only on environment issues but others such as public transport, finance, sports and so on.

It is high time we get the country’s management right once and for all. Let’s adhere to the saying: “When an employee has a problem, the company has a problem.”. Let us get rid of the problem now, before it’s too late.

Love Yourself As You Love Others

Takziah to the Sultan of Pahang and the royal family over the tragedy yesterday.

It must be realized that this sort of event has become more rampant in every strata of society. We need to check with ourselves again.

Everyone knows the saying: Love others as you love yourselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The problem arises when the “Love others” part overshadows the “love yourselves” section.

We care for one another; sibling to sibling, parents to children, spouse to spouse, bosses to employees, and many more. However, are we caring for others until we sideline ourselves? Most commonly, married working adults have a tendency to stop caring for themselves at a certain point. They have too many worries blanketing their lives that they don’t have time to spare for themselves. The work becomes mundane, family life becomes a routine, friends become just names written in the contact book, and they themselves become a machine just living out their lifespan.

Strangely, loving others doesn’t always mean having a happy time or having a compassionate moment. Sometimes it means that you care more about what others feel and think about you. In recent years, we hear of many suicide cases. We have no right to judge them, but there might be some element of inferiority complex and it seems that worrying about people’s perspective on one-self is one of the main causes of depression.

Life is too short to let those worries overcome you. We must try to look at things at a different perspective and of course, positively. Respect your responsibilities at work and when it becomes mundane, make it a fresh goal everyday to conquer your objective and reward yourself at the end of the day by doing yourself something nice like getting a warm cup of superb, thick Milo, lying lazily on the softest couch you can find and soak in a foam bath while letting go of everything on your mind. Even five minutes of pure release of your mind will do wonders. Keep your health in check. Look at your body as a home which you will be living in for the rest of your life. Don’t overeat or under eat when stressed or angry. Don’t take out anger on anyone. Everyone has their own set of problems and if you truly love them, don’t add more problems to them. And don’t ever take drugs. All these are masks and weapons that the devil uses against us to hide the truth and this is dangerous. Instead, find a reason not to get overcome by these negative emotions. Always find a positive side to every situation, with discretion.

Everyone is special with individual abilities. Look for it in yourself and unleash that potential. Make yourself happy and the happiness will radiate from the inside out. If you don’t love yourself, how are you going to love others?

Working on Marriage, the Positive Outlook

An episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” last year had discussed a point which struck me and had never left my mind. It featured Reese Witherspoon, a respected actress on-screen and an even more respected person as well as a devoted wife and mother off-screen. At such a young age, Reese and her husband had had understood the importance of constantly working on their marriage and they have been very open for counseling and going for therapy.

Reese made a point: “In what capacity is working on your marriage a bad thing?” . We have this perception that whenever a couple goes for therapy, they had to have problems. This has caused many people to avoid going for advice or getting some help just to avoid embarrassment. As a result, we have seen divorce rates rocketing sky high at alarming rates. We don’t have to wait until problems arise before getting help. We should in fact get advice on how to tackle problems or conflict before they even happen, should the need arise.

The point here is, we should get advice on spicing up marriages and relationships as well as proper financial and family planning for the better of the future. This is the positive perspective of the term “working on your marriage”. Reese also stressed that “marriage is like a journey”, a spiritual journey where two people come together, stay together and grow together in love, respect, compassion, and support for one another. We can’t profess that we are perfect persons, having perfect relationships, think that everything will work out and we don’t have to do anything about it because inevitably, there will be the ups and downs of life. But with good values instilled with the help of effective counseling and advice; we can avoid conflicts and other complications. Better still, we should have in fact understood what having a life partner means before even getting a life partner.

We don’t have to be power earners to pay psychologists exorbitant fees for advice. We could simply talk and discuss with family members, friends, and pastors, go to free marriage clinics organized by many religious organizations like churches where sometimes psychologists do take part in, or even start by opening up ourselves to our spouses. Open up your heart and mind, and do not let the views of the world affect you. You are doing yourselves a righteous thing and there is definitely nothing wrong and shameful in doing so. Ignore the jeers and gossips; these are from the people who do not have to courage to improve on themselves.

Let us end the existence of the word “divorce” once and for all. Therefore, start the healthy practice of constantly working on your marriage and relationships right now.

Notice

For the record to readers, contents written to blog.thestar.com.my by drinkingcocoa is from me, Jien Han of drinkingcocoa.blogspot.com . Thank you . =)

Problem

We have a problem

Condolences to the tsunami victims and their families in Java. Killer waves strike again, even though they are of a smaller scale. The question is, what happened to the alrm system? Many countries had pledged to install the system which is vital to Indonesia which is sitting on a huge fault line? The reported reason was they had not enough funds to install more bouys. And the two bouys in service are now destroyed. This is an issue of laziness and half-heartedness of man. We think that lightning couldn't strike the same place twice. We must realise that the world is changing, no matter what we think. Monsoons are getting erratic, lightning is killing people at an abnormal rate, hurricanes are getting wilder, earth plates are moving faster, and some migratory animals have shown some disturbances. It looks like we are too comfortable with the knowledge that we have the technologu to survive anything. That is the biggest mistake. Do you think that the movie "The Day After Tommorow" is just for creating hype? It is made to be a public awakening. Scientists have been monitoring the North Atlantic Current. It has been proven that the Ice Age of the Nothern Hemisphere is going to happen if the current shuts down. Subtle things like this causes great disasters. And when it happens we blame our Mother Nature for being cruel. The truth is, She is trying to get earth to stabilise and heal itself again. We are supposed to be guardians of the earth. And yet, there are some countries which still refuses to sign the Kyoto Agreement just because of the threat to their economy. They said," no petrol, no money.". And they are the ones with alternative fuel technology which they are unwilling release for furthur improvement. Come to think of it, why punish Microsoft when the impact of these misdeeds are life threatening?

Back to Indonesia. All those who offered help, please walk the talk. By not doing so, it is basically manslaughter because it is intentionally witholding available and necessary help to avoid death of human beings. However, Indonesia must not keep quiet too. They should put foward requests and also try to figure out other plans for the sake of it's people. Is it about money and profits? What is money but pieces of paper if it's not used. It's time we look at each other as just variations of a single race which dominates the planet and realise that we are the only ones who have the power to change everything for the better.

Think about that.

We're Not That Poor.

MYR490 million.

What can we do with it? Let's see, build better ports, furthur improve the public transport, give more scholarships to students, national financial investments, improve on electricity production equipment, repair dilipadet schools, repair hospitals, upgrade police equipment, build rubbish incinerators, build alternative fuel research and production facilities, clean up beaches, conserve nature, build proper roads and safer bridges, expand telephone coverage natiowide, canvas the nationwith broadband connections, give much-needed bonuses to government servants, build or import alternative fuel vehicles technology, start a social security system, upgrade social health, proper geriatric care, get more improved and up to date equipment for hospitals, improve RTM, improve Astro, solve flash flood problems, and solve KLIA's taxi problems.

How about a sports center in London? Do we NEED it? Think about it. History will repeat itself: Remember, remember, the E-Village disaster.