Vet Times

Bored as hell in hospital care! I think this is possibly my last ever 12 hour shift ever. Well maybe not, i do love those shifts at the Corus hotel during the New Year. That picture above is of me completely bored at the front of the small animal hospital. I did learn something today though and was entertained by the hotest vet nurse student ever. So ...

Here and Alive!

Hey peeeps,

Sorry for not reporting much on my life past six months. One thing is I've had not much time. The other thing is my computer has a virus that has blocked me from gaining any meaningful time on the net and from reformatting the computer. Shite for sure. Last few months of my Vet Med course! Then, I'll be let loose from this at times leash that has been immobilising me.

This new google blogger system is actually better and more efficient, hopefully its not slower!

Stumbling in Heaven

Perspective

Yesterday I regularly avoided
I often left thoughts amended
I certainly didn’t say it the way I wanted

Yesterday I was ashamed
I hid my face when I stumbled
I shut myself out, jaded

Yesterday I was inferior
I was easily intimidated in times of stutter
Left in the doldrums of quagmire

Yesterday I was afraid
I was uncertain of the road ahead
Held hostage in a cage I made

Yet in the midst of the haziness
Passion and aspiration worked my snazziness

So I embarked on a journey
Virtual self-help groups gave me the currency
That introduced me to the BSA and Safety in Stumblers’ courtesy

Significantly, I met Carolyn Allen
Speech Language Therapist of heaven

I was desperate; make or break
2 years it took for my fallacy to flake

Today here I am liberated
Gone are much of the inadequacies that I generated
I hold my head up exalted

Today I dictate my own life with a wink
I mostly speak what I think
Without holding back to sink

Today I no longer worry about tomorrow
I yearn for the challenges ahead minus the sorrow
Make my mission to destroy weaknesses, not to wallow

Today I look forward to tomorrow
With the supportive company stemming from my marrow
Hopeful that I can be that example to follow
Eager never again to see the gallows

Open Letter to MIC (via MIC London)

Recently, Malaysia has decided to embark on another phase of ICT development of the country after the previous one failed with the rebranding of MDC to M-DEC.

In line with our objectives to turn Malaysia into a 'First World Mentality' country, as quoted from Pak Lah's 9MP speech, I would like to suggest to MIC to take information dissemination to the next step. I know that MIC has a website and I commend them for taking their efforts to cyberspace. However, there is much to be done.

I am not sure whether you are aware of the recent spurt in Malaysian political cyberspace activity led by DAP and PKR. Lim Kit Siang, Teresa Kok and Fong Po Kuan have all got heavy traffic websites esp true of the former DAP supremo. Others have also follow suit within DAP. On PKR's side, Malaysian Today has led the way. Petra Raja Kamaruddin is a KeADILan founder. Today he has left PKR, but his connection lies deep. Many opposition politicians, even PAS, have been active in cyberspace.

However, where BN is concerned, the cyberspace activity has been deplorable. UMNO has taken the leading role with its Kelab Maya UMNO. It has a forum section. However, this is an 'ultra' sect of UMNO and is very Islamic in its outlook. It does not believe in fair sharing of power. I believe MCA and in this minute, MIC should encourage its top politicians especially those who hold federal positions to open up blogs. As each politicians have different views, this should be done individually. If cannot, then group blogs should not be discouraged.

Why are blogs important? Because it is interactive. It gives a chance for the average Rama to express his/her view directly to his representative in parliament.

Pak Lah has time and again said that during his tenure as PM it will be all about increasing the efficiency, transparency and accountability of our government. My perception of MIC is sadly not very positive. We seem to be desisting these virtues that has been espoused by Pak Lah.

Today, blogs are a must. People are busy. Blogging is the easiest way to get messages across and to assess whether they are receiving any support. As for you and me in the UK, blogs will further bridge that gap of distance. We will be able to express specific views without the need to engage in small talk. This initiative will definitely be time productive.

With regards to the implementation of the IPCMC and Ombudsman system being discussed in parliament, I hope the MIC representatives take a supportive stand. They should be more vocal to support this effort being led by PM Pak Lah. He is currently receiving much flak and dissent from a small group of UMNO MPs that are very vocal. They seem to be drowning out the PM's call. Why are the MIC and MCA representatives so scared to air their support? This is unacceptable. I hope it is because they too are corrupt and want to cover up their tracks. I have more faith than that in the younger generation. Datuk S Sothinathan should lead the way in going to cyberspace. My congrats to him for standing up and expressing his beliefs.

The main ploy here is to drown out the IPCMC idea suggested by Pak Lah. The IPCMC would be a body regulating the police in this country. It is available in all developed country. You may be familiar with the US's Internal Affairs that keep all US 'police' officials in check, this includes the FBI, CIA etc. If we do not allow the development of this system, how are we to tackle corruption at the root.

The Ombudsman system being suggested by these officials as an alternative should not be encouraged. Yes, we need an Ombudsman system so that people may make complaints against officials in power. This is no doubt another landmark of a developed nation. However, it should not be done at the expense of the IPCMC. The IPCMC has teeth, which means it may inititate action with all the powers given to it by the constitution. The faster we show our support, the quicker it will be for the silent supportive majority to also show their support behind the PM and the faster we may put in place the IPCMC and Ombudsman system. Resistance of the creation of this body says only one thing to me; that our politicians are corrupt, that our politicians do not espouse the transparency and accountability agenda that they gave a standing ovation for during the speech given by Pak Lah, basically the are simply playing to the tune of the age old saying in Malaysia, 'cakap tak serupa bikin'. I hope this is not true and only a figment of my imagination.

Thank you. That is all at this time.

Malaysia boleh.

F1 Ramblings

Sakhir Grand Prix ended pretty much as expected. Schumi and Alonso squared it out for the winner with the latter having the upper hand as he came out half a car length at the pit stop. Kimi did a good job coming from the back all the way to a podium finish. It pretty much looks more of an even fight this year with potentially Jenson and Montoya joining the fray. I hope Giancharlo will be able to do the same. Why oh why does he always get the rubbish share of mechanical problems. Is it because he hurls abuses at his car? Hmm. Barrichello looks lethargic behind the Honda wheel with the usual bad streak of mechanical failures shadowing him to Honda from the Ferrari days. Felipe looks fast as expected in scarlet. At the same time he is erratic and as expected makes amateur mistakes during race time. All in all it was just great to see the raceboys back behing their wheels. I await the Sepang Grand Prix in 2 weeks time.

F1 Ramblings

Another year, another F1 season. 22 cars line the grid tomorrow at 11.30am. I've been waiting for today since the end of last season. Yes, pretty sad.

As expected, the new qualifying format created lots of drama and excitement for the fans. I had expected Honda and Ferari to make a strong start. McLaren's unreliability was also expected. I wasn't even a bit surprised with Kimi's suspension failure.

This year I will be expecting Giancharlo to make an impact and win far more races than he did last year. I was damn disappointed when his Renault F1 suffered power loss when he changed into a new set of tyres in the final session of the qualifying period. 9th position isnt where I would ideally want him to start from considering Alonso starts 4th. Still I believe in him. Must be even more disappointing for him, his teammate getting the better of him by a substantial margin even before the word go.

Picture above shows Alonso (in front) and Giancharlo crossing the line in the last few seconds to take 4th and 9th respectively on the grid for tomorrow's race.

I would expect a lot of bracking and tyre wear in tomorrow's race as Bahrain has the knack to wear down these cars and bring out the 'best' in them especially in terms of reliability. I am expecting Renault to do well followed by a hot contest between Ferari and Honda. It will be intersting to see whether Rubens will be able to catch up with Michael and provide an entertaining duel. I have a feeling he is on a higher fuel load, so he might come in to play later in the race. I expect the McLarens not to last the race as they seem to have carried forward their low reliability issues into this edition of the sport.

Well, its all good and i will certainly be there for tomorrow's check off.

Ruminations in Passing

I took this 10 minutes ago. Why? I thought it was because I was bored. Then I thought about it again. Yes, I was bored. Tuesday, exams over last week and now just back after 2 solid hours of badminton and a rather mediocre episode of Dark Angel. Yes Im a Jessica Alba fan.

I think I will reside to bed shortly after reading a few articles from the Economists. The cover page reads George Bush's Passage to India. I read the cover story earlier in the day and found it quite intruiging (hopefully thats spelt right). Bush is certainly aligning US with India. How will this affect the region? US is in my opinion sending the 'wrong' signals to India.

Recently, US agreed to share civilian nuclear technology with India. This is in turn done with the assuarance India adheres to the guidelines set by the US. But alas, falling short of US demands, Bush still goes ahead with the agreement. Why? He is showering Manmohan Singh and indeed India with presents to suppress the rise of China. This is the White House strategy.

However, if we look closely, China and India are not really competing with each other in terms of products and services. The only products that I can see them competing against each other is in the textile industry. There are many other players in the market where the textile industry is concerned mainly from other asian countries. Im positive that there are other fronts where China and India compete head to head with each other, but on the whole their 'business' is different from each other. Hence, I question the nature and the intention of the US with regards to this matter. By making the agreement, Bush has created doubters in Washington and Manmohan Singh is on a tight rope by letting the US 'in'. Both need positive outcomes to blossom from this unbloomed rose bud. Otherwise severe whiplash can be expected on the 2 camps.

As I see it, the US is being needy. US needs a market to expand in and a key ally in Asia to 'stop' China. However, I believe what really is stopping China and what will in the next 50 years be the limiting factor in the Chinese growth is the inability to get as much oil to fuel the economy's needs. Could this be a reason why the US went into Iraq in such a hurry and if not for financial restraints very soon be in Iran? After all the oil rich Gulf is their future. Oil fields explorers in Texas don't have as good an outlook as they had decades ago.

I have always held Bush in the lowest regard possible ever since his election into the White House. In my opinion he is playing too dangerous and desperate a game. The foreign policy is not consistent and bares a negative testimony to the US's future. India although a key member of the Non-Aligned Movement tended to side the former USSR in the Cold War. India, as far as I know, have certainly no intention of 'stopping' China or curtailing its economic growth. Again, I question what motives Bush harbours, or does he not have any motives and is just using his joke of an intelligence to maneuver something that isn't there, or even better is US with the 'advice' of Condoleeza Rice aiming to start another Cold War style confrontation with China by 'buying' all the other major growing economies.