Credit Card

I have been thinking of cutting down the number of credit cards that i am holding ever since last year. I am holding 5 cards and only 2 of them are frequently used. Though i have been thinking of cancelling some non active cards, but i have procrastinated that for a while as there is no harm of keeping the additional cards "in case they will be needed one day".
with the budget 2010 announcement of having to pay RM50 each card as government charges, I really have to put my thought into action soonest I can.
Though I am enjoying discounts or rebates from some of the cards, but the amount of rebate will never be accumulated to RM50 per year. There is no point paying the extra to government without getting the real benefit of it.
I don't care about the rational behind the RM50 charges. I only care about the amount that i need to fork up in owning the cards. It is just not worth it.
I am glad that our leaders have found out a new way of increasing country's income. RM50 per card X 1 mil cards in circulation, it would be RM 50 mil sum of money.

赶时间

古时候的人们，一辈子都没看过时钟，却从不会妨碍他们日出而做，日落而息。 也不曾听说他们误了春天播种，秋天收割的时辰。
时代是进步了，人们有了时钟，还有林林总总的时间管理学说。人们开始和时间赛跑了，仿佛节奏越快就越能体现强者风范。
于是：
我们快快的吃饭，所以有了速食。
快快的做家务，所以有了微波炉，洗衣机，洗碗机及吸尘机。
快快的赶时间，所以有了火车，汽车及飞机。
快快的掌握，所以有了速成班。

有没有这样的经历，赶时间时时间似乎过得特别快，仿佛是在和你作对？红绿灯总在你赶时间时转红？是真如此还是你急懆的心让你觉得万事不从人愿呢？
我们常说要快快把东西做好，所以一定要赶时间。结果把赶来的时间又快快去赶下一件事情。
生活在快节奏的都市里，患的是”时间病“与速度崇拜症。常斤斤计较于时间的宝贵，而忘了感受时光，做一个时间的主人。
或许是要等到学会用三分钟省个三小时，而不是拼老命在三十分钟内省出三分钟时，我们才会更享受及掌握生活节奏吧。

2009 年的中秋节

今年算是女儿第二年庆中秋。2007 年中秋，小妮子还没满月，不算有庆祝过。
今年和她表兄姐妹们一起，大伙的父母们搞了个“potluck"， 聚餐兼让小孩们提灯笼过中秋。小妮子因年纪小，好像还很怕灯笼。可能是第一次触摸时不小心灼伤了小指，有了恐惧感的她全程都不敢提灯笼。我只有握着她的手帮她提灯笼绕着公园走了一圈。
她毕竟还小，对公园的设施如滑板及千鞦兴趣远过于灯笼。其实，这一个活动是为了让她往后的记忆里有这么一个节日。
现在庆中秋的感觉少了很多。小学甚至于中学时的自制灯笼和月光会那种场面及激情只成了回忆。但期望下一代还是有他们对中秋的一份憧憬。自然而然这任务就在我们这班父母身上了。所以，庆祝形式还是其次，是那一热诚与精神才是关键。
中秋快乐。

乡音俚语

看了翁总抛书包一连讲了「马前卒」、「鹰犬」、「狗腿子」 等的词，让我想起有一些字，一些词，少用了难免会曲高和寡。 小时常听妈妈及长辈们说的乡音俚语，似乎连他们本身也少用了。

想藉此挑几句福建乡音来分享一下：

瞎眼鸡啄到虫：指侥幸，上天恩赐的意思。
死某鬼：冤家的意思。
牛仔不识虎： 与初生之犊不畏虎同义。
吃头路： 就业的意思。
着青惊：被吓了一跳。
黑白讲：乱乱讲。
一分钱比牛车轮还大：指极度吝啬。
被捉去拔毛：被削剥。
卖咸鸭蛋：指已过世了。
做戏疯，看戏傻：指一个愿打，一个愿挨。

很有趣是吗？我想其他籍贯或许也有类似的俚语。重点是，这些都是我们文化的精髓。虽未能登大雅之堂，但有必要让它延续下去，让我们的下一代还能保留一些诸如此类的乡音。

Why Cow Head?

A group of angry residents of Shah Alam section 23 marched to the State Government office last week in protest of the relocation of Hindu Temple from Section 19 to Section 23.
I don't see any issues with peaceful protest for any matters that concern public interest but I was sadden by the way it was conducted. Residents carrying severed cow head, shouting Islamic slogans with something sounds like "protecting our religion" or the sort.
But why cow head? I was puzzled by the motives of carrying a severed cow head in the demonstration. Din't they know that cow is considered a sacred animal in Hindu?
If they are protesting, why should they hurt others' feeling by acting in such an extreme manner?
Watch it yourself in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytAkNMyGd1M and you will know what I mean.
Malaysiakini who did the posting refused to remove the video despite "advice" from MCMC, has maintained its stance to report the truth.
I felt uneasy with the scene but was glad that it was made available so that we can judge it ourselves whether it was indeed not intentially done to provoke Hindu as what Minister Hishammuddin claimed in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXc0AO4MrWA

Behind the hype of a cheaper RON 95 petrol

Effective Sept 01, vehicle owners will be offered a new blend of petrol RON 95 and the cheaper RON 92 will be phased out.
“By Sept 1, RON97 will be the alternative petrol and a premium product.
Instead, the RON95 petrol will be the choice petrol for consumers and be rest assured, the product is of high quality and is good enough to be filled into even luxury and high-powered cars,” said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Why he has to label RON 97 as "premium product". The reason is simple. This petrol is going to cost 20 sen more than what we are paying for the same product right now!
Why claiming RON 95 as "high quality enough"? Simply because it is obviously a lower quality petrol than what we are currently having (RON 97).
No doubt that we are paying 5 sen less for RON 95 (RM 1.75 per liter), but we are forced to settle with something with lower grade obviously. Why so, you can refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating for information about RON rating. The higher the number, the greater the power it is going to offer. For ease of reference, Shell v-Power is of RON 100.
In conclusion, we have been forced to suffer a quality loss with lower quality petrol effectively Sept'09, by paying 5 sen /liter lesser. And that there is a sharp 11% increase of our usual petrol RON 97 from RM 1.80 to RM 2.00.
Thanks again to the ever effective Malaysian government.

灰灰的七月

六月和七月的天空，昏昏暗淡的。有几分伤感，有些许离愁。
六月尾有颗巨星陨落了，那是大家再熟悉不过的麦克杰逊。 也没有大反应，因他本来就不是自己的偶像。媒体不停轰炸这则新闻倒也令我开始去深思这位一代巨星所带给我们，我们的父辈，甚至于我们子女们的影响。
七月中，从妈口中得知姑丈病逝的消息。这对我来说倒不是很意外。自从去年诊断出罹患胃癌后，他的病情每下愈况，从没让他家人在觉得有任何转机。
最后一次见他是在过年时，那也有六个月了。庆幸的是爸爸还有常去他家探望过，至少不至于有遗憾吧。是的，爸妈和姑姑一家感情一向不错。
对于我来说，姑丈算是我的国语启蒙老师。虽没曾在正规系统上教过我，但他的国文造诣却是我中学时一直所钦佩的。有上过一阵子他的补习课，还蛮另类的。不会有填鸭式的教学，常着重活学活用。就是他这样的教育精神启发了我对国语的兴趣，也因此而多学多用，不视学国语为畏途。
差不多同一时候，国内传来了一宗令人难以置信的新闻。行动党的一位政治人物助理“不知何故“在反贪委会办公楼坠楼身亡。 我不认识这位赵明福，但对他的遭遇深表同情。对于事情接下来的演变也蛮纳闷的。摆在我们眼前的，是一个悲剧，但政治人物们是否是认真的为赵家请命呢，还是为了自个儿的隐议程呢？我看到的是后者居多。就算是再多的保证，信誓旦旦要把真相摊给国人看，结果呢？ 结果让大家拭目以待。希望国人不要那么健忘，记得常提醒自己还有那么一个真相待解。
烟霾有恶化迹象，但还是希望天会快快转晴。