Category Archives: Thoughts

Posts to fire up your thinking cap.

Sep 17

Malaysia Day on 16 September

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16 September.

There are people who do not realize that yesterday was Malaysia Day — myself included. Although, I did have a feeling that I am forgetting an important date lately. After making sure it was not an anniversary or birthday, I did not bother about it any longer.

Then, I started reading all this birthday wishes on twitter going out to Malaysia. How could I forget something this important? Well, not life or death important but important nonetheless. Thankfully (just for the sake of not feeling such a big arse myself), I am not the only one around me who have forgotten about it.

Strange, isn’t it? Such a significant date — the day Malaysia was “formed” — yet it seems like not everyone gives a shit about it. Well, at least no way near the importance of our Independence Day on 31 August. That is if they even bother about 31/08.

I would like to describe the atmosphere as sad but I think strange is a more accurate feeling.

Aug 26

Why Should Race be a Required Information in Official Forms?

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I noticed TheStar online started running a poll a few days ago. The question asked was, “Should race be a required information in official forms?” 20% answered “Yes” while 80% answered “No”.

The Star Poll: Should race be a required information in official forms?

Personally, I find it rather amusing. I have had no problems filling up the race field in any forms since I was a kid. I would just write CINA or CHINESE, depending on the language of course.

Does it really matter if individuals are required to fill in their race information in official forms? So what if the government of the day decides to remove the “race” field from all official forms? Will 80% of those who answered the poll (together with the others who support the move) finally feel [whatever they were lacking by having to fill up their race in official forms]?

I say, leave the forms as they are.

I am neither in favor nor against retaining the race information in official forms, or any other forms for that matter. In fact, I think the issue isn’t whether race should or should not be mandatory in official forms.

That is simply because (chances are high that) Teoh Ah Kao isn’t Indian, Mutusammy A/L Supramaniam isn’t Malay and Abu Bin Ali isn’t Chinese. (NOTE: Names mentioned are imaginary figures and does not relate to anyone alive or dead.)

So, until and unless we solve the actual “problem” — provided they is one at the first place — having race as a mandatory field in official forms is a nonissue.

Should race be a required information in official forms? Why not?

Aug 18

Formula One Points Scoring System Flip Flop

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I must admit that my interest towards Formula One (F1) has somewhat deteriorated over the years. I no longer feel the urge and willingness to stay up all night to see 20 over cars circle a race track like I used to. In fact, I have only watched one or two live races on the television this year alone.

I never really understood why at first. I thought it was because of the bad reception I have in my rented room due to a weak/bad antenna. It is also troublesome to move and set up the television just for a couple of hours of use. Maybe I was just too busy with my work the past few months. I don’t know.

Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone

After reading this article on Bernie Ecclestone’s attempt to justify his proposed “medals” scoring system, I realized why Formula One has become what it is today.

I never really understood his proposed “medals” scoring system. The whole idea of his system seems to only concentrate on rewarding the race winner. I understand that he is just trying to fix a problem — when a driver leading the drivers’ championship by a huge margin settling for lowers positions instead of risking and pushing for a win.

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Apr 27

Blood Donation Checklist

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My company is having a blood donation drive this Tuesday. Below is a checklist on whether a person is eligible to donate blood.

Blood Donation Checklist:

1. Healthy today.
2. 18 – 65 years old.
3. Weight 45kg or more.
4. More than 5 hours sleep.
5. Breakfast or lunch before donation (within 4 hours).
6. 3 months or more after last blood donation.
7. No medical problems (discuss with Medical Officer).
8. Not on any medication (discuss with Medical Officer).
9. Not having menses for the past 3 days.
10. Not pregnant/breast feeding.
11. Not a drug abuser.
12. Not a homosexual (Men having sex with another man).
13. Do not have multiple sexual partners (more than one partner within 6 months).
14. Do not have sex with prostitutes.
15. No tattoos, ear/body piercing or acupuncture within 12 months.
16. Not stayed in UK and Europe during 1980 – 1996.

Based on the checklist above, I should be allowed to donate blood, if I wanted to. Let me check.

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Apr 25

Trap Question: Putting One In A Tight Spot

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If there was a law persecuting blog owners of “blog negligence”, I would have been thrown into jail and/or fined.

Two weeks ago, I went to the PC Fair at KLCC to get myself some tech gadgets — RAMs, external hard disks (one for myself and another for my brother) and a mouse. The RAMs were for office use. The external hard disk is because I can no longer tolerate the lack of space of my existing drive and constantly repeating these 6 steps to increase hard disk space. Lastly, the scroll wheel on my mouse stopped functioning just days before the event.

Add that all up and I had a perfect excuse to go for the event. After my girlfriend found out that I have been to the PC Fair and back without even mentioning it to her, she asked me jokingly if I was there to check out the booth babes.

Now, this is a trap question. Whatever answer I give can and would be used against me. If I answered “No, I was not there to check out the PC Fair booth babes”, she would never believe me. If I answered “Yes”, well…

I ended up choosing to act stupid and answered, “What booth babes? I was there to get some tech gadgets and did not see any of them. Must have been the economy.” Of course, that was not a correct answer. Just do a quick image search on Google for the term PC Fair and you will see more pretty (judgmental) booth girls than tech gadgets.

What would you have answered?