The Next Station

Recently I received an SMS.

生命就如地下铁，下一站是起点还是终点？这全靠自己去寻找生命中的每一站！活的精彩，快了，没有遗憾！希望在你生命中的每一站永远都是最完美的！

What this means...

Life as the Mass Transit Railway, the next stop is the starting point or destination? This depends entirely on their own to find every station in life! Live brilliant, fast, no regrets! You hope every station in life is always the most perfect!

Thanks to Google Translate.

Cantonese Input (dot com)

Cantonese Input is a website that was created to allow its users to input Cantonese text via the web browser. This site is important because Cantonese input is different compared to Mandarin input, which has widely accepted means of input such as pinyin. Apparently, it was created and is maintained by a Hong Kong resident.

I think that I may find a use for this website one day. I wonder if there is a website that does the opposite of what Cantonese Input does? Meaning, the website takes Cantonese text and outputs Romanized pronunciation.



Click here to visit Cantonese Input.

Elections Song

A nice little ditty that was sung during the run-up to the first general elections in the Federation of Malaysia. Remarkably, the same ditty has been revamped and played countless times over the radio during the run-up to the recent twelfth general elections.

I like the song quite a lot, it was really a conversation starter during the run-up to the recent elections. It's got a catchy tune. The new "glossy" version seems more commercial, and can be a little too long. But the original is short and sweet. Even the slight off-key singing by the "mamak" looking singer is endearing. And when was the last time you saw a singer dance like that on television?

Here are the lyrics to the song (forgive me if I heard it wrong).

Undilah Puan dan Tuan
Dua puluh tujuh haribulan
Pilihanraya yang pertama
Pergilah, Undilah, Bersama-sama

Hari undi di Persekutuan
Julai dua puluh tujuh haribulan
Jangan lupa Encik dan Tuan-Tuan
Undilah calon yang Tuan Puan berkenan

Undilah Puan dan Tuan
Dua puluh tujuh haribulan
Pilihanraya yang pertama
Pergilah, Undilah, Bersama-sama

Undilah dengan baik hati
Siapa yang Tuan sukai
Cakap orang janganlah peduli
Fikir dulu jangan lambat terus mengundi

Undilah Puan dan Tuan
Dua puluh tujuh haribulan
Pilihanraya yang pertama
Pergilah, Undilah, Bersama-sama

Sebelum Tuan memangkah
Ingat dulu tanda yang nak dipangkah
Jaga baik bila nak mengundi
Pilih calon bila tetap hati sendiri (?)

Undilah Puan dan Tuan
Dua puluh tujuh haribulan
Pilihanraya yang pertama
Pergilah, Undilah, Bersama-sama

Jangan lupa kad pengenalan
Baru senang undi dijalankan
Itulah sahaja pesanan
Selamat mengundi wahai Puan dan Tuan

Undilah Puan dan Tuan
Dua puluh tujuh haribulan
Pilihanraya yang pertama
Pergilah, Undilah, Bersama-sama

Here's my rather rough translation of the lyrics. (Most translations would strive to rhyme, but that would take time...)

Please vote, lady and gentleman
On the twenty seventh of this month
The first elections
Let us go and vote together

Voting day in the Federation
July twenty seventh
Don't forget sir and masters
Vote for the candidate that you like

Please vote, lady and gentleman
On the twenty seventh of this month
The first elections
Let us go and vote together

Vote with a good heart
Who you like
Don't listen to people's talk
Think first don't be late and vote straightaway

Please vote, lady and gentleman
On the twenty seventh of this month
The first elections
Let us go and vote together

Before you place your cross
Remember which sign to cross
Be careful when you vote
Pick the candidate when you have decided in your heart

Please vote, lady and gentleman
On the twenty seventh of this month
The first elections
Let us go and vote together

Don't forget to bring your identification card
Only then will it facilitate the voting
This is all from us
Happy voting lady and gentleman

Please vote, lady and gentleman
On the twenty seventh of this month
The first elections
Let us go and vote together

I discovered Smorty!

Link to Smorty

I have often driven by traffic lights with the random signboard that says, "Earn Money From Home". Sometimes I wonder whether these advertisements actually attract response. And of course, I also wonder about what kind of work is being done. Is the work legitimate, or illegal? Is the work dignified, or debasing?

Nowadays, there is a legitimate way to earn some pocket money from the comfort of your home. But first, you must have a blog. Just the other day, over dinner, a relative of mine asked me about "blogs", and "How do you start a blog?" He must have been amazed at the power of blogs at the recent general elections. His little 10 year old daughter overheard his question and loudly replied, "I have a blog!" We had a good laugh as his wife teased him, "Wah, see! Even your daughter can blog! You're outdated...."

Just what is this elusive method of earning money? Well, allow me to introduce you to a service called Smorty. Smorty is a service where you can sign up and get paid to blog. What better way to earn money from home than to be paid for blogging?

Basically, Smorty is a method for advertisers to find their "spot" in the blogosphere. Most retailers have their racks and shelves where they display their goods. But in today's world, cyberspace has become a place where goods are perpetually on display. Online services that run on automated scripts need only a server and a domain name. These would stand to gain more from online advertising than products and services that are based in the brick-and-mortar world.

Again, looking at bloggers, and the whole phenomenon of blogging, it is possible that people who read blogs, are more willing to accept the statements in the blogs as genuine and authentic. Smorty's take on the situation connects bloggers to advertisers by allowing advertisers to place "paid content" on the blogs. More importantly, the product is not an outright advertisement, but takes the form of a writing assignment. The blogger's voice is retained and it is easier for the reader to connect to the blogger. Yet, the aim of product promotion is met. Advertisers basically pay bloggers to write opinions on their products and to post them on their blogs.

Who would like to advertise on blogs? Does blog advertising work? Contrary to popular opinion, cyberspace and the blogosphere do shape public opinion somewhat. I have time and time again been influenced by movie reviews written by bloggers. I am sure that I am not the only one, and that there are many people out there who do the same thing. From movies, to mobile phones, blog advertising may be the way of the future.

Link to Smorty

Check out Smorty today.

Smorty is a service connecting advertisers with bloggers. Advertisers can pay bloggers to write opinion posts with links back to the advertisers site.

Perak MB Conversation Starter

Dear Reader,

Elections is still hot on everybody's mind. Undoubtedly the opposition (Barisan Rakyat) has won big. But can they sustain? Or are they merely a marriage of convenience as averred by Barisan Nasional candidates during the 2008 elections?

You'll be interested to know that DAP man Lim Kit Siang objected to Perak's Menteri Besar being selected from PAS. Interesting. Here is the link:

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/03/12/no-dap-cec-mandate-for-pas-menteri-besar-in-perak/

It's covered on Malaysiakini as well.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/79733

Hope this makes an interesting conversation starter for the next few days. In any case, most of the comments on Mr. Lim's post seem to call for a show of genuine co-operation amongst the parties forming the new Perak state government.

It might be worthy to note that the PAS man to be elected as MB, Ir. Mohd. Nizar Jamaludin, seems to have good credentials:

• Early education at Sekolah Rendah Anglo-Chinese School(ACS) Kampar
• Continued at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Anglo-Chinese School Kampar
• Finished secondary school at Sekolah Menengah Teknik Ipoh
• A-levels at England
• Obtained degree at Aston University of Science & Technology at Birmingham, England

Personally, I wonder whether PAS's announcement that they plan to introduce hudud law in Kedah had anything to do with it?

An interesting day at court

Today something quite interesting happened while I was at one particular court. The Magistrate was on leave, hence the Registrar was given the duty of hearing the criminal cases.

A friend of mine, Mr. M______, stood up when his case was called.

“Puan, hari ini ditetapkan untuk bicara penuh kes. Pegawai Pendakwaan tidak hadir. Ini adalah kali ke-___ kes ini ditangguh. Saya pohon supaya OKT dibebaskan tanpa dilepaskan. Pegawai Pendakwaan boleh memanggil semula OKT untuk mendakwanya apabila pihak pendakwaan sedia untuk memulakan perbicaraan.”

The Registrar was worried. She didn’t know whether she had the power to give a DNAA order. (DNAA means “Discharge Not Amounting to Acquittal”)

My friend continued: “Puan, Puan mempunyai kuasa untuk membebaskan OKT.”

Immediately the burly policeman by the door came by and said in a low voice, “Puan tidak punyai kuasa untuk melepaskan OKT.”

My friend said again, “Puan mempunyai kuasa untuk membebaskan OKT dan berikan DNAA.”

I pulled out my trusty Practitioner’s Edition: Subordinate Court Practice. Turning to the Subordinate Courts Act 1948, Fourth Schedule, it was found that “Senior Registrars and Registrars of the Subordinate Courts” qualify as “Ex Officio Second Class Magistrates”.

The Prosecuting Officer, Mr. K___, hurried by and said, “Puan is a Registrar only, she’s not a first class magistrate but a second class magistrate. Section 88 doesn’t give her that power to DNAA!”

Here is what section 88 of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948 says:

“A Second Class Magistrate shall only have jurisdiction to try offences for which the maximum term of imprisonment provided by law does not exceed twelve months’ imprisonment or which are punishable with fine only:

“Provided that if a Second Class Magistrate is of the opinion that in the circumstances of the case, if a conviction should result, the powers of punishment which he possesses would be inadequate, he shall take the necessary steps to adjourn the case for trial by a First Class Magistrate.”

Mr. M________, having seen the section, said: “Puan, saya dengan rendah diri pohon supaya tarikh akhir diberikan. Jika Pegawai Pendakwaan masih tidak hadir, saya pohon supaya DNAA diberikan oleh Mahkamah.”

Everyone sighed in relief. Especially the Second Class Magistrate (Registrar) who sat on the bench.

that special date

i am sorry that i wasn't there
but i tried to do my best.
now i know, and know i care
for i hope to pass your test.

for you i have done many things
and burdens still i bear.
but this i find through suffering:
that special date
could seal my fate
because it has your care.

to leave all else to focus
only on that date
would leave me with the locus
to say this:
that what i did
with much focus of late

was to secure the opinion
of that one important person:
she! who else? none other
than she who loves me true.

Sometimes it is sad ...

... that you may never know
the road not taken.
When you travel on a journey
but never see its destination,
or labour in the dark
without hope of fruition.

And yet in spite of this
I can't help but feel pleased
to see a group so tireless
to cure our nation's disease.

How many years of labour?
To clinch this moment sweet.
One could almost feel their fervour
For this victory.

Behold our fearsome candidates:
Strong and well and good.
Along came the tsunami
And they became old driftwood.

Listen to what the people want!
Or pay the price again.
Sometimes a raving lunatic's rant
may revive the slain.

Shallow is the mind
of the man who thinks he can
do it all alone -- he's blind
to the new realities.

Sadness fills the heart sometimes
until it is flushed away.
Then we start anew again,
step into this glorious day.

Remake the world we see
but not with Shafi'e
nor Ghazali.

Instead the people's voice should be
e n s h r i n e d
for all humanity.

Popular networking sites

Stumbled across this link: Popular networking sites around the world. Click here to visit.

Networking websites are important developments and can be expected to remain a permanent feature of the Internet. Networking websites fulfill the purpose of connecting individuals over the Internet. People network on the Internet for many reasons, chief among them being the need to develop social connections, such as friendships and intimate relationships. Other reasons include networking for business opportunities, connecting with others who share niche interests, and establishing an online presence.

Networking websites are attractive because they provide a secure platform that shields the identities of individuals on the Internet. Unless and until both parties are confident and secure about releasing their personal details to the other party, their details remain confidential. In the early days of the Internet, most people connected over BBS's (bulletin board systems) or IRC (internet relay chat). Keeping in touch meant either revealing personal details (e.g. telephone number) or emailing. With the advent of networking sites, the rules of the game have changed. The networking site commonly sends updates to its member. There is no need to reveal the email address, hence ensuring a degree of privacy.