Its a different world

More than twenty years ago, I applied for a credit card from a reputable international bank. My application was promptly rejected. Nowadays, cards land in my mailbox without me applying for it. All I need to do is just sign at the back of the card and viola! I can use them. This is not to mention the calls I am receiving everyday offering me cards, and money! If I'm not careful, I could end up with hundreds of cards and mountains of debts.

While Toyota is reeling, Hyundai is growing

No wonder the Japanese are keeping a wary eye on their Korean counterparts. Hyundai has been growing from strength to strength. They have been making record quarterly profits. Meanwhile, Toyota is reeling from the after effect of the recent economic woes. Just when they thought they are well on their way to recovery, faulty accelerator pedals put it to a halt. The situation could not have been worse! But knowing the Japanese, I'm sure they will find a way soon. No doubt about it!

After retirement...is there a life?

For some, its eagerly waited. For others, its a dread. For some, its totally unplanned and can even be unexpected. For others, its just the passing of a phase in life before going on to another which can be just as exciting if not more. For some, its waking up in the morning and not knowing what to do. For others, wow! its freedom! I don't have to go to work anymore! For some, its the feeling of being unwanted and unappreciated. For others, who cares! I now can live the life I want.
So, what it's like to retire? Is there life after retirement? I wonder myself!

Life is ..... but a moment

Last week, I visited a friend. He was suffering from cancer. Today, he passed away. Last month, I went to Korea. Today, Korea is only a distant memory. 10 years ago, I got a promotion and the future looks bright. Today, I'm just a number in the organisation. 20 years ago, my first child registered for standard one. Today, he is a working adult. 30 years ago, I first reported for work. Today, I'm about to join the retired. 40 years ago, I lived with my parents. Today, they are long gone.
Life, as they say, is but a moment.

What a difference a year can make!

This time last year, Nadal stands on the brink of tennis greatness. At the tender age of 22, he has already 6 Grand Slams to his name, having just won the Australian Open. For the fifth time, he beat Federer in a Grand Slam final. While Federer queitly shed tears in the background, Nadal was well on his way to greatness. Who can stop him, you asked?
A year later, much has changed. While Federer collected two more Grand Slam titles to make it fifteen, a feat no one has achieved before, Nadal is struggling with injuries. He lost in the French Open, where he was once thought invicible. In the ongoing Australian Open, he retired halfway in the quarter final, a result of a chronic knee injury. Meanwhile, Federer moves on ominously into the semis.
So, what will next year brings. A reverse in fortune?

Nadal knocked out!

Will Murray win the Australian Open? Having knocked out Nadal, he must be in confident mood. However, there's still Djokovic and most of all, Federer. With fifteen Grand Slam to his name already, he must fancy his chances as well! Let's see who will be the last man standing.

A nightmare

Was at Sunway Pyramid last Saturday for a bowling event organised by my department. The event itself was alright but I had a nightmare afterward looking for my car. Despite having taken down the floor and parking number earlier, I was still lost. Just couldn't find the place where I had parked my car. After searching aimlessly for about 40 minutes, I chanced upon a guard, very helpful and friendly who brought me near to where I parked my car but still, not the exact place. It took a phone call to his counterpart before he was finally able to direct me to my car. I couldn't thank him enough. Without him, I would still be in circles.

What will the Dow do tonight?

It will be interesting to see what the Dow will do tonight. Three straight days of heavy losses, shedding 5 % in the process. Will the losing streak continue? Or will the bulls finally take over? My guess is as good as yours!

Those days...

When I was about 10-12 years old, my best buddy was a Sikh. He was about two years younger than me. He also has a brother who was a year older than me and also a good friend. We were school mate as well as neighbours back home. Somehow, those days, race was never a factor. We were race blind. Nowadays, I'm not so sure. Anyway, I have lost contact with them for a long long time. Last I heard he is a pilot while his elder brother is a doctor.

Tigerless US PGA

The US PGA is back in full swing. However, without Tiger, it is just not the same. How can it be when the world no 1 is missing. He has not been seen since his mysterious car accident months ago. Whatever is his problem, it is sure not with birdies on the golf course. He needs to be back doing what he does best and that is playing competitive golf. I sure hope he comes back.....soon.

Jitters everywhere

Dow dropped 5 % over the last three days. All because of fears of banks tightening up their loans and thus causing a credit crunch. Meanwhile, China keeps on growing, unabated, causing calls for some credit tightening even stronger! Are we in for a meltdown again, economically?

Marathon cheats

Read today about the cheats in an international marathon in Xiamen, China. About 30 of them so the paper says. Very funny. Some used imposters, some take car rides, some take short cuts and some still used electronic means to cheat (don't really know what it means). Why would they go to great lengths to cheat in a marathon? The answer lies to the fact that finishing the marathon within a certain period contribute towards the CGPA at a university!

On the home stretch

Without even noticing it, thirty one years have passed since I first started working. Never even realised it. How can I when it seems only yesterday that I first reported for work. Suddenly ........ I find myself on the home stretch. There in the horizon, I can see the finishing line, getting clearer and clearer. I reached out for it with my hand and almost.....yes.....almost... touched it but alas, its just the sun playing with my eyes..... sigh!

The silent millionaires

In a week, at least once I will visit the local night market (pasar malam) with my wife as she shops for her weekly provision. Being a regular, some of the traders there selling their goods are familiar to us as week in week out we see them. Recently I read a book which says that don't be surprised if some of the traders are millionaires. Yes..... you read it right, millionaires! Can you believe it?

On the Road

I was in Perak from Monday afternoon and came back to KL late Wednesday. All in all, I travelled almost 1000 kms, from Ipoh to Grik to Sitiawan and halfway up the hills to Cameron Highlands. Very tiring but I managed to complete what I wanted to do. That is very satisfying.

The simple life

Realising I was early for my appointment, I decided to stop at Lata Iskandar for a rest before pushing further up the hills towards Cameron Highlands. Somehow, I got into a conversation with some orang asli teenagers (Semai tribe). From what I managed to gather, for some of them, life is still so simple. No need for TV, handphone, internet, air condition, radio, cars and whatever. They sleep early, wake up early, enjoy fresh air....... If only life can be that simple.

Can't decide

Visited the Matta Fair for Muslims at Shah Alam this morning looking for some holiday packages. After about two hours, still couldn't decide where to go and when. So many interesting places on offer. Must decide fast as the fair will end soon .... and so will the offers!

Future looks grim for Liverpool

What's happening to Liverpool? Its still only half the season but for Liverpool, its virtually over. Knocked out of the Champions League, the FA cup, the League cup and out of running for the Premier League, there's nothing else to play for! For a club that has always been at the top, it really is unacceptable. Things need to change soon or else......

Terrible...terrible

The internet was just terrible tonight. It was just total frustration, that's what it was. So damn slow! Don't know what cause it to be so slow.......but it was really really bad. Just can't wait for the day when internet is a lot faster..... frustrating!

Good Ole' England .... in Klang

This was my place of work for eight long years, from 1982 to 1990. Though many things have changed, the grand old building is still standing, strong and majestic. Memories are a plenty, enough to last a lifetime.

The House

This was where I lived while working there. Eight years. An old colonial type of bungalow built in the fifties. Three of my four children begin their life here. Those were very productive years!

Carlos Tevez, leading the way for Man City

Carlos Tevez is really going strong in the colours of Manchester City. Ten goals in the last seven games, a tally any striker worth his salt would die for. How come Man U let him go? With this latest win over Blackburn, Manchester City is now fourth in the table, just two rungs below Man U. Are we going to see City pipping United at the end of the season? That will be the day..........

Going green

Went to Amcorp Mall for lunch this afternoon using the Light Railway Transport (LRT). I always prefer the LRT over driving. Its convenient, healthy (requires a bit of walking) , cheap and in its own small way, promotes the green revolution. While there, had a rendezvous with a friend. The subject of interest.... life after retirement!

Diabetes worry

The number of people over the age of thirty with diabetes increased 80% over the last ten years in Malaysia. That's what was reported in the papers yesterday. It is shocking, to say the least. Are we Malaysians taking too much sugar? If that is so, then the recent increase in the price of sugar could turn out to be a blessing in disguise!

Dialogue the only way

I don't like to say it but really, I was not shocked when I heard that two churches had been attacked by unknown person(s). Given the sensitivity of the issue at hand, and the level of understanding of it among the Muslims themselves, I saw it coming. Its a shameful act and never should have happened. It goes against the Quran (Al Hajj 40) as well. I hope this matter can be solved soon, through intellectual dialogue.

My experience with ...........

Some years ago I went to Iraq. There I had meetings and discussions with the Iraqis. During the meetings or discussions, when talking about the things we were going to do in the future, we would add the words, Insha Allah (al Kahfi 23-24). The thing was that among them, even the Christians would say Insha Allah! I found it very odd then and couldn't understand.
Now I can (Luqman 25).

The bears are retreating

The World markets have started the year on a bang. All over the world, markets are hitting new highs. Not to be left out, our local 'bursa' has also been on the upswing. My two cents worth of thought is that it will continue to rise and will hit a peak just before the Chinese New Year. After that ......................

The extreme weather

While countries like US, Europe, China and Korea are experiencing the heaviest snowfall in a century, Australia is going through the hottest summer in a decade. That's the extreme weather situation the world is going through now. Is it because of human intervention or is it a natural phenomena?

Its back to work

After eighteen days of break, its back to the routine of work tomorrow...........

Lessons learned

My holiday has been spent, among other things, watching the TV . I watch some very interesting and beautiful documentaries and learned quite a lot too. Never knew there more than 40, 000 people who managed to escape the Berlin Wall. Then there were about the many Islamic scholars and scientists who discovered many new things. There was also this documentary about the universe and the mysteries surrounding it and many others that are simply too many to recalled. The television, I must say, can be a great learning experience.

Islam and Science

There was a program called Science and Islam on the History channel. It was about the Islamic scientists and their works during the heydays of Islam from the 9th to 15th centuries. A fascinating insight on their researches and findings which later became the foundation of modern science as we know today. Unfortunately, those glorious days are long gone. Can Islam ever reach that level again? Only God knows.

2010, the beginning of a new decade

2010 was welcome with fireworks all over the world but for me, it was a whimper. For whatever the reason, my internet connection was suddenly at a snail's pace. As a result, I couldn't get anything done. By the time it was back to normal, 12 hours of the new year was gone! Very frustrating!