Finally, I mean FINALLY, a real supermarket has come to our town. I have mentioned before that our only hypermarket here is a real lame deal, but the only deal, so we couldn't complain. But now, NOW, we have a proper one.
Sure, it's not Tesco or Carrefour, but this wholesale market is pretty good. Finally, it's good to see brightly-lit aisles, comfortable air-conditioning, and two floors (two! TWO!)! Extra exclamation marks could not convey my excitement.
This particular chain of wholesale markets specialize in cheap goods. 'Cheap' as in low price and also as in inferior quality. They have 20 plastic combs selling for RM2.40, and 3 pairs of sunglasses going for less than RM15 a pack. This is seriously the place to go if you're planning to open your own sundry shop or pasar malam stall.
Having said that, my only complain is the lack of food stuff and the horrible Islamic music played at 90 dB. I'm not discriminating religious music or anything, but mainstream pop is still the best way to go for supermarket music. Their food stuff corner feels pasted on - not weird considering that it's not their specialty anyway.
At the end of it all, I now know where to get cheap combs and lifetime supplies of henna without spending more than RM10.
15 October 2005
14 October 2005
The Funniest Pictures I've Seen
I got these photos from my lecturer. One is just so damn cute, and the other is just so damn scary.
13 October 2005
The Cigarette Man Can
In the world of The X-Files, there is a shady character called The Malboro Man, if I'm not mistaken. In every scene he has appeared in, he'll be puffing away on a death stick.
Well, I think I found his equivalent in my hostel. There's this guy about 5 units up from mine who is ALWAYS smoking. And that's just the 3 times I see him every day.
He's smoking when he's standing outside his room.
He's smoking when he's taking a drink from the water fountain.
He's smoking when he goes to pee.
He's even smoking when he went for a bath! (I saw him bring a fresh stick into a shower stall)
It's really sad to see a young person be addicted to cancer sticks. I somehow think that the final years of his life ain't gonna be pretty.
Well, I think I found his equivalent in my hostel. There's this guy about 5 units up from mine who is ALWAYS smoking. And that's just the 3 times I see him every day.
He's smoking when he's standing outside his room.
He's smoking when he's taking a drink from the water fountain.
He's smoking when he goes to pee.
He's even smoking when he went for a bath! (I saw him bring a fresh stick into a shower stall)
It's really sad to see a young person be addicted to cancer sticks. I somehow think that the final years of his life ain't gonna be pretty.
12 October 2005
Sucker for Free Food
I admit it - I'm a sucker for free food.
Our college had its Academic Awards Presentation today but I didn't go. I was slated to receive an Excellence Award but I didn't go because it is an absolute waste of time. My performance has been recognized by a piece of certificate several times now, but I've only been to the Academic Presentation once, and promptly swore never to attend again.
For all the trouble of wearing formal dress, I had to sit and listen to boring speeches for 30 minutes before they start calling out names. And then I had to sit some more while clapping my hands for the 250 other students waiting for their own turn. When I finally got my 10 seconds of fame, it went by with a hand shake and a cert pushed hastily in my hands.
It's not like I get to make a speech.
It's not like I get a cash prize.
It's not like reporters are there to take my photos.
What I do get, however, is free food. Yes, free as in FREE FOOD. This time, they were serving pastries. In each box is an egg tart, a sardine puff, a bun, and a kaya puff. Pretty good stuff overall.
But wait! How did I get it if I didn't attend the ceremony? Well, I was walking back from a briefing when I saw the FREE FOOD placed outside the hall. It was manned by a few general workers, so I strolled by casually and took my box of FREE FOOD as if I was a victim of the event. And they didn't suspect a thing! Of course, I had the booklet with my name inside to use as proof if they became suspicious.
Yes, I am that cheap.
Our college had its Academic Awards Presentation today but I didn't go. I was slated to receive an Excellence Award but I didn't go because it is an absolute waste of time. My performance has been recognized by a piece of certificate several times now, but I've only been to the Academic Presentation once, and promptly swore never to attend again.
For all the trouble of wearing formal dress, I had to sit and listen to boring speeches for 30 minutes before they start calling out names. And then I had to sit some more while clapping my hands for the 250 other students waiting for their own turn. When I finally got my 10 seconds of fame, it went by with a hand shake and a cert pushed hastily in my hands.
It's not like I get to make a speech.
It's not like I get a cash prize.
It's not like reporters are there to take my photos.
What I do get, however, is free food. Yes, free as in FREE FOOD. This time, they were serving pastries. In each box is an egg tart, a sardine puff, a bun, and a kaya puff. Pretty good stuff overall.
But wait! How did I get it if I didn't attend the ceremony? Well, I was walking back from a briefing when I saw the FREE FOOD placed outside the hall. It was manned by a few general workers, so I strolled by casually and took my box of FREE FOOD as if I was a victim of the event. And they didn't suspect a thing! Of course, I had the booklet with my name inside to use as proof if they became suspicious.
Yes, I am that cheap.
Prunes
Prunes are a strange fruit - they're not very popular in this part of the world. Indeed, one look at the sticky, black ball of fruit can scare first timers away. That was my reaction as well, especially since prunes are rarely found here. But one or two bites into the sweet fruit and I'm addicted for life!
I started enjoying prunes after seeing the Sunsweet TV ads (anyone remember that?). The announcer will go to shopping malls and then ask random people to try it while showing their reaction. Obviously, it only showed those positive responses. But the ad campaign worked, and it made me give prunes a try - and I like it a lot.
If I were to describe it, it will be a cross between grapes (for its taste) and raisins (for its texture). In fact, I think all three come from the same family or something. Sunsweet prunes come from California, after all. The only gripe I have is that they are very expensive as it is imported. Not much different from buying fresh grapes. So I only get to eat prunes, like, once a year and I enjoy every moment of it.
I started enjoying prunes after seeing the Sunsweet TV ads (anyone remember that?). The announcer will go to shopping malls and then ask random people to try it while showing their reaction. Obviously, it only showed those positive responses. But the ad campaign worked, and it made me give prunes a try - and I like it a lot.
If I were to describe it, it will be a cross between grapes (for its taste) and raisins (for its texture). In fact, I think all three come from the same family or something. Sunsweet prunes come from California, after all. The only gripe I have is that they are very expensive as it is imported. Not much different from buying fresh grapes. So I only get to eat prunes, like, once a year and I enjoy every moment of it.
10 October 2005
Failure in Love
Someone commented that I am a 'failure in love' after reading my few posts regarding relationships. I agree - I'm not very good with the "I love you" routine. But I'm only 20, and there's still plenty of time to rebound from my lack of trying.
I do believe in love, and being the romantic sod that I am, I also believe that when you meet The One, you don't even need to doubt it.
I do believe in love, and being the romantic sod that I am, I also believe that when you meet The One, you don't even need to doubt it.
We're No Longer Safe
Below is a reproduction of an article I read on The Star Online. As their website uses inconsistent linking which might expire after a week, I decide to copy and paste the whole article.
It's a sad state of affairs, especially since the whole idea of blogging is freedom of speech.
HISHAM Mohd Abu Bakar sat quietly in court as the prosecutor read out the seditious remarks his friend of five years, Benjamin Koh Song Huat, had posted on his blog.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amarjit Singh called Koh’s jibes at Muslims “highly inflammatory and insulting”.
Senior District Judge Richard Magnus said they were “particularly vile”.
Hisham sat right beside his friend before the court session started on Friday and gave him a pat on the back before Koh entered the dock.
Koh, 27, was sentenced to a month’s jail.
Koh and another man, 25-year-old Nicholas Lim Yew, are the first two people to be convicted under the Sedition Act here in almost 40 years.
Lim was given a “nominal” jail term of one day.
And although both men admitted to making seditious remarks on the Internet, both told the court they were not racist and had many Muslim friends.
Koh submitted a letter from a Muslim classmate to prove his point.
Siti Ainiyah Jafarin, who has known Koh for 15 years, said in her letter that she had never heard him say anything racist.
The two became friends in 1990, when they were in the same class in Swiss Cottage Secondary School.
Madam Siti Ainiyah, 28, said: “We were very close in school. Because we lived near each other, we would take the bus together almost every day. Not one day went without us talking to each other.”
She said she laughed when she heard about the things Koh had written.
He had a tendency to “spout things he doesn’t really mean when he’s angry”, she said.
“I know he’s not that kind of person. People might change, but I really don’t believe he’s like that.”
Koh’s lawyer, Irving Choh, said his client had been “provoked” by a letter in The Straits Times, in which a Muslim woman suggested that dogs should not be allowed in taxis.
Koh works in an animal shelter and holds strong views on animal rights, said Choh, who described his client as a “disturbed individual” who had tried to kill himself three times while serving his national service.
Lim submitted his own letter to the court, apologising for his conduct.
The former assistant manager at an events management company said he has many close Muslim friends and had the “privilege of enjoying their hospitality during festive and family occasions”.
Lim’s lawyer, Helen Chia, said Lim’s actions were “childish and stupid”.
“He did not consider the repercussions of his actions and the parties that might be affected.” –The Straits Times/ANN
It's a sad state of affairs, especially since the whole idea of blogging is freedom of speech.
Bloggers: We’re not racist
HISHAM Mohd Abu Bakar sat quietly in court as the prosecutor read out the seditious remarks his friend of five years, Benjamin Koh Song Huat, had posted on his blog.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amarjit Singh called Koh’s jibes at Muslims “highly inflammatory and insulting”.
Senior District Judge Richard Magnus said they were “particularly vile”.
Hisham sat right beside his friend before the court session started on Friday and gave him a pat on the back before Koh entered the dock.
Koh, 27, was sentenced to a month’s jail.
Koh and another man, 25-year-old Nicholas Lim Yew, are the first two people to be convicted under the Sedition Act here in almost 40 years.
Lim was given a “nominal” jail term of one day.
And although both men admitted to making seditious remarks on the Internet, both told the court they were not racist and had many Muslim friends.
Koh submitted a letter from a Muslim classmate to prove his point.
Siti Ainiyah Jafarin, who has known Koh for 15 years, said in her letter that she had never heard him say anything racist.
The two became friends in 1990, when they were in the same class in Swiss Cottage Secondary School.
Madam Siti Ainiyah, 28, said: “We were very close in school. Because we lived near each other, we would take the bus together almost every day. Not one day went without us talking to each other.”
She said she laughed when she heard about the things Koh had written.
He had a tendency to “spout things he doesn’t really mean when he’s angry”, she said.
“I know he’s not that kind of person. People might change, but I really don’t believe he’s like that.”
Koh’s lawyer, Irving Choh, said his client had been “provoked” by a letter in The Straits Times, in which a Muslim woman suggested that dogs should not be allowed in taxis.
Koh works in an animal shelter and holds strong views on animal rights, said Choh, who described his client as a “disturbed individual” who had tried to kill himself three times while serving his national service.
Lim submitted his own letter to the court, apologising for his conduct.
The former assistant manager at an events management company said he has many close Muslim friends and had the “privilege of enjoying their hospitality during festive and family occasions”.
Lim’s lawyer, Helen Chia, said Lim’s actions were “childish and stupid”.
“He did not consider the repercussions of his actions and the parties that might be affected.” –The Straits Times/ANN
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