Sometimes the best solution...

In the morning, as I make my way to office, usually the traffic will resemble a crawl at one specific intersection. For two weeks, I need to wake up at 6am as the jam would require me to be on my way to office before 7am.

My first impression of the jam is that, its most probable cause is due by the sheer high volume of office/school bound vehicle, and the 'inconsiderate queue cutters' who have no consideration whatsoever for other people, as if ONLY their time is valuable. 

A two lane road somehow became three at the traffic light, while additional vehicle from housing estate make the lanes became four (mostly five) car wide after the traffic light, and within 100m, the cars would need to weave into one single lane going down the hill to another traffic light. 

Somehow after the second traffic light, its usually a clear drive to town. Anyway, my assumption that the high volume + inconsiderate drivers are THE cause of the traffic jam was squashed one day when I experienced an easy drive to office. it made me thinking, what actually caused the traffic jam in the first place?

The next day, I realised that its not the high volume of cars that actually caused the gridlock, its the traffic light down the road. The lights only allow a few cars pass each time, which do not tally with the high number of car driving through. So, the best solution is to station a policeman to manually direct traffic (and let more cars through from my direction)

So, for the past two weeks, it has been an easy morning drive to office. So, at times, the best solution might not be the most obvious choice.

I need (my) oil and my warning light are blinking!

This is what happen on the 4th of June, as I remembered it :)

The latest revision of oil price (and reduction of subsidy) caught the citizen by surprise, either in timing, implementation or quantum. Previously, the government assure us that the oil price will only be revised in August. So, when it was announced in the afternoon of June 4th, to be effective on the very next day, many sees it as an insensitive (and crazy?) move by the government.

The increase in quantum, as explained by The Leaders, is inevitable due to the spiraling price of the commodity on the free market. Unfortunately many citizen are fuming mad as the 92 cents (41%) increase in quantum is steeply surprising. Many would think that a gradual increase i.e 30 cents per revision over some time, could better prepare the citizen for the changes in lifestyle needed.

As the news spread like wildfire, everyone rushed to petrol stations to fill up before the new price came into effect at the stroke of midnight, resulted in long, no, make that very long queues at every petrol station. Everywhere you look, the situation is the same. 

Just my luck, my fuel tank is running empty (the warning lights are on) so naturally I make my way to the petrol stations. but, on seeing the (very) long queue everywhere, just gave up and goes straight back home.  Mana la tahu, tak pasal-pasal kereta mati tengah jalan sebab takde minyak, lagi naya. Disumpah dek orang je.. Belum kira bergaduh sebab ada yang cuba nak potong queue. Sumpah seranah jangan cerita la, berbakul-bakul.

So rather than trying to save some 30 dollars by 'trying' to fill my small car tank full before midnight, I would rather be sleeping at home. A friend who goes to a station to fill up, spends an hour in the car, inching towards the pump. That kind of stress, I could do without.

It makes me think, the powers-that-be who make this (insensible) decision DO NOT actually fill in their own petrol, so what do they know about how we, the citizen are coping?

Campeónes de Europa

The time is 4:42am, and I'm just finished watching the Finals of EURO 2008 between Joachim Loew's Germany and Senor Aragones' Spain. It was a hugely entertaining match, with both teams displaying attacking flair. In the end, Spain comes up tops, beating the Germans 1-0.

It seems that Germany lost the battle in the midfield (this observation came from a kaki bangku like me, hehe). Ballack and Co does not look convincing enough, while Senna, Xavi and Fabregas pull the strings for the Spaniards, pumping in ball after ball for Torres and the strikers.

Anyway, I do think staying up to watch football is a one off thing for me, highly unlikely to be a regular thing, hehe.. I'd rather watch basketball (patut la aku tengok bola, NBA dah habis...)

The certainty of life (is death)

There is only two things certain in this world, tax and death.

Its funny that as we live our life (and living it to the fullest), we tend to forget that death is all around us. We are faced with death in the papers, telling of news from distant land of war, earthquake and diseases. Sometimes we are jolted by news of crime, flood and accidents nearer to home, that ends in death.

We often felt that we are invincible and indestructible that we forget that death could come on the very next instance, or crept in slowly, getting near with every breath taken. And more often than not, we are reminded of our own mortality when one near and dear are on a deathbed.

The mother of someone dear to me is currently in one of the specialist hospital, fighting for her life. She has end-stage cancer. I met Mama (thats what I call her) two years back, after hearing so much about this wonderful lady. At that time, she just had mastectomy.

Sis is taking it hard seeing Mama fighting for dear life. Even though she knows that sooner or later, she would have to let go, she confided that its easier said than done. Seeing Mama suffer tears her apart, and she's not sure whether she would be able to go through life without mama's wisdom to guide her.

Dear Sis, hang in there and be strong, with God's willing. make her as comfortable as possible and pray for the best as life and death is God's prerogative, and only He knows best.

A sticker do not maketh a person

As i was driving to work this morning (I do work on weekend sometimes), I was caught in a jam at the usual place. Most probably its caused by the traffic light down the hill (and no traffic police manning the traffic flow over the weekend).

As I was stuck, i saw a car adorned with a few sticker about spca, which is an animal shelter, and i thought to myself, there are still a lot of compassionate people out there. After all, God asks us to be kind to all, not only human. These people must be animal lovers, I opined.

So, as we inches forward, and the many lanes of cars are coming to a single lane, suddenly, i was overtaken on the wrong side by the animal lover car, zooming forward without any signals indicating its intent. WTF! 

Cheh, it seems that animal lover DO not have that much respect for fellow human. Sia-sia je letak sticker macam tu. 

How much is gold (medals) worth?

Still on the discussion of a monetary reward to the Olympic medalist, an athlete would need to sacrifice a lot to be at the pinnacle of their career. A world record meant to be broken, but to be an Olympic gold medalist would rank high in any athletes list, if you asked them.

The level of dedication and sacrifice needed from an athlete, since they start representing the school, university up to wearing the national colour would meant staying back after school for training, putting extra hours perfecting their skills, competition on weekends, more time spent training to correct their weakness and away from family. Could you do that?

From being the best in the school, to the best in the state, and nation, each step would mean they have less and less time for friends, social life and family if they really aimed for the pinnacle of sporting excellence. Nicol David does not get to be World No.1 by resting on her butt or blogging (like I do). She did it by hard work, perseverance and meticulous planning up to the minute detail. Could you do that?

If a RM1 million (incentive/bribe/reward) could encourage more people to take up sports, less merempit on the streets, unite the people of this blessed country and generally be more healthy, the benefit far outweighs the perceived excessiveness. Who knows if we won a gold medal in cycling, more people would be cycling and less car on the road. Less pollution, we become more healthy, the effects of fuel hike might not be too bad :)

How much do winners of AF got? Close to a million ringgit. How much do the people spend on SMSes? A few millions more? How much is the benefit of AF to the country? Go figure.

How much do you think a gold medal should be worth?

Worth its weight in gold (medal)?

The recent announcement that our medallist at the upcoming Beijing Olympics are to be rewarded handsomely created some debate it seems. A gold would be worth a million dollars, while bagging a silver or a bronze medal would make an athlete richer by 300K and 100K respectively.

Most people think that it is excessive, given the current situation (high cost of living, higher fuel price, perbelanjaan berhemah), but the truth is, IS IT really that excessive? Some say, the athletes are materialistic and not patriotic but I beg to differ.

Sports should be looked as an instrument for unity, and to a certain extent, meritocracy at its best. Only the best athletes are invited to be in the Olympics, and they must satisfy a certain criteria. To satisfy those criteria, countless hours are put in, be it during preparation or training.

We do not send an athlete to the Olympics based on the color of their skin, race, or even their political leaning. There is no quota involved. As long as one are able to satisfy the qualification criteria, any Abu, Ah Chong and Muthu could don the coveted national colour at the Game. 

If you can't satisfy any of the qualifying criteria, the only way you could go to the Olympics is by using (lots of) money. Accomodation, transport and venue tickets does not come cheap, my friend. Thats what I meant, going to the Olympics are meritocracy at its best.