My Wife is a Gangster 3

After reading Snippets' blog, I bought this DVD in Aman Suria yesterday night and watched the movie. It is a sort of a Korean-Chinese Kill Bill with the fun element really. This chicken and duck talk of a movie brings the heroine Shu Qi to Seoul where she met three floozies of the local Mafia. Manipulated by the interpretors, the movie sustained itself throughout in spite of its mundane story-line. Except for the three characters and the Korean translator, most characters in the movie were undeveloped. Shu Qi just struts around looking beautiful and trying to be as cool as she was in So Close.

Sometimes, in a warped sense, it is good that Shu Qi went and did that Playboy spread. This movie shows she is losing her beauty and I believe so, her body.

Anyway, it is an enjoyable movie, even though I can only understand it by reading the sub-titles.

Heartsong

Amassing Wealth

The secret of amasssing wealth is through multiple source income streams.

If you want to be a millionaire, so says KC See, you must have multiple source incomes. Who can have a wide array of income streams? Businessmen? So should we all become businessman after sometime as a tah kung chai or even as a professional?

Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

Bobby's Ideas. Will they work?

I met Bob at the KFC for lunch last Saturday. He talked shop for almost 4 hours and he informed me what is on his plate. Not the chicken, his projects. He spoke about his partner and how that person had struggled to keep his business afloat. According to Bob, his friend finally got his millions but lost his family.

He spoke to me about a project in China which is in its early days-design stage. Currently he is involved in the sale of language kits and may set up franchise training centres if it is viable. He is also looking into a Malaysia My Second Home Project as well as building a motel near a mountain to cater for eco-tourism.

Will his ideas work? He has requested that I put on my thinking cap and help him find a way to resolve some issues with his franchising project. I am still thinking. It's one mean deal if I can find a solution to his quandary.

Heartsong

The Anatomy of a Heart By-pass

Lest I forget, let me document what my friend related to me on his recent by-pass operation.

When he was confronted with the decision to go for the open-heart operation, he was worried. He was given a day to decide whether he wanted to proceed with the ops by the cardiac surgeon. Fear overcame him. He did not want to do it immediately. He decided to wait until his doctor brother returns from Rome. Meanwhile, he prayed and asked that God not take away his life as he was still relatively young. According to him, that was the longest, most miserable week. He just did nothing for fear of exertion.

When his brother came back, he got into Damansara Specialist Hospital for the ops. He brother pulled his leg by saying that the operation was just like extracting a tooth. There was nothing to it. When he came to, he found himself in the ICU with tubes sticking out everywhere and a big breathing apparatus was stuck into his mouth. The doctors then informed him that he had just undergone a major operation to remove 5 blockages and the operation took about 4 and a half hours.

After two days in the ICU, he was shipped out into the general recovery ward. He attempted to walk a few steps and succeeded. A week later he was discharged.

He showed me a 9-inch scar on his chest as well as the left leg where they have taken the vein to use in the by-pass operation. Real long scar from the thigh right down to the ankle. According to him, they cut open his rib cage and sternum and put him on a lung-heart machine before doing the ops. Then they sutured back his sternum with stainless steel wires. The rest of the threading were biodegradable and will go away on their own in no time.

According to him, he must get use to his new lifestyle. He had a miserable first few days trying to adapt to new food habits after the ops. He even went to a nearby restaurant to try and eat those food he loved but found he couldn't ."Tidak lalu", he told me. So today, he is just on the usual boiled stuff. No fried stuff ever!

Heartsong

Rice, more rice please

I have heard KC See's CD on how to become a millionaire about two times now. It gets more meaningful as you listen to it more. KC's concepts are gems of wisdom. Simple common sense. For me, it is about 35 years too late. Not that I cannot use those concepts. I do but it may not be as profitable as time is not on my side.

Let us look at the backbone concept. There are four things you must have. The acronym for these are R.I.C.E. To increase the propensity to become a rich man, ideally you should have all four of them. R stands for resources or resourcefulness. I for ideas; C for contacts and finally E for expertise or experience.

Let us look at all 4 of these building block of wealth closely.

You may have some resources; you can be resourceful and obtain the balance from elsewhere. Ideas-there is no monopoly of ideas. Nobody can ''corner'' ideas. It's a big wide world out there. Be perceptive, look at the needs, look at the problems begging for immediate solutions. Put on your thinking cap, talk with people of like minds. Gel some ideas together. You will end up with superior ideas in the end.

C is for contacts. All of us have networks. We can tap on our friends' network when in dire need. Be they suppliers, political contacts, bureaucrats, information bases etc. As long as they bring us nearer to closing a deal, use them in a win-win strategic alliance. Lastly, experience and expertise. Not every one has all the required expertise for a job or project. Many projects need a trusted team to perform the required tasks to bring the project to fruition. Experience means you have made sufficient mistakes to avoid making the same ones! Expertise-you can buy if your team lacks that particular skill.

We need RICE. RICE is best procured through a team where each person bring his forte into the project. Get together, create a mean vehicle and prospect for wealth together. Share it. If the team works in one area, use the concept again and again in other projects until you are a millionaire many times over.

According to KC, 95% of the people are not rich. Only 5% are millionaires. We always seek advice from the 95% who are not winners. KC suggest we talk with people who have the knowledge to guide us to grab at theses riches. Like the Swedish saying. "Sometimes porridge falls from the sky, but few people have the spoons to scoop it."

Look for the spoons!

Heartsong

Shoot the Deal-maker

You just don't know how a thing will end once you start it. As usual, it started with the best of intentions. An innocent phone-call and viola, people are talking business. A quick succession of meetings and briefings. You have the final agreement and money thus changed hands.

Fast forward. A few months down the line.

Ego comes to the fore. Goodwill is thrown to the wind. Losses are suffered. Yes, somebody screwed up somewhere. Fingers are pointed and somehow along the line innocent parties are being drawn in to take the blame. What gives? If they had succeeded, innocent parties might just get a success rate fee. If not, nada! But not in the case here. Malaysia Boleh! The investors which are matured players may not point their fingers at deal makers but their wives certainly will!

You just can't win them all!

Heartsong

My Friend's By-Pass

Visited my friend this evening at 4.00p.m. He looks okay after a week's rest at home.

So what happened to him? Seems he felt a pain in his stomach after being on the treadmill. So he went to see a doctor who gave him some medicine for his suspected reflux problem. After that, he went back on his treadmill and could not survive even a minute. So he went off to see a cardiologist and did an angiogramme. The angio showed 5 blockages. These blockages were elongated, too close to each other and one was at a vein intersection. Angioplasty (balooning) was therefore out of the question. It had to be the mandatory open-heart by-pass.

He contemplated on the ops for a week, waited for his doctor brother to return from Italy and had his bypass done at the Damansara Specialist Hospital. It was a four hours major operation. Thank God everything went well. The ops cost him 30 grand.

So now he has to have a life-style change. No more gouging on cholesterol-laden food and more walking exercises until he fully recovers within 6 months. There will be the periodic checkups. The first one is due next week. Then it would be monthly check-ups followed by three monthly visits; 6 monthly visits and finally the annual checkups. According to him, he will be on life-long medication and has to have a strict exercise and diet regime. At all cost, he must managed stress. So he will be winding down his business and probably do some consultancy work .

Left his house at 5.30 p.m. with hopes and a fervent prayer that all will be well with him.

Heartsong

Nurul Azza's Wedding Lunch

I attended Nurul Azza's (Yakob's eldest daughter) wedding luncheon do at the Singgahsana Hotel in PJ on 10 June 2007. Got there late-almost 2.45p.m. since I had to fetch my daughter back from the Garden International School at Mon't Kiara. It was about to rain and so we brought a brolly along.

What surprised me was there were many guests who came late and so we were not that noticeable. I congratulated Yakob and his wife, Mariah on arrival. Food was okay. The beef was superb.

Met Daw Swan there and so there was at least one familiar face. Then I met Ishak Jaafar, my old classmate whom I have not seen since the late 70s. He is doing well and all his children are residing in Australia. Seems he got his datukship from Selangor.

Also met many new faces. Old friends of Yakob during his ITM days or those he met in working life. Also met his neighbour. Quite a chap. We had a light banter on mutual trusts.

Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

A Women's Dictionary

These were culled from the newspapers and interpretations were made to the terms used. Enjoy.

40-ish - 49 years old

adventurous-slept with everyone

athletic-no tits

average looking- ugly

beautiful-pathological liar

contagious smile-does a lot of pills

emotionally secure-on medication

feminist- fat

free spirit- junkie

fun-annoying

new age-body hair in the wrong places

open-minded- desperate

outgoing-loud and embarassing

passionate- sloppily drunk

professional- bitch

voluptuous- obese

large frame- huge

wants soul mate- stalker


Heartsong

A Simple yet Lovely Poem

If you want peace for an hour,read.
If you want peace for an afternoon,sleep.
If you want peace for a day,go to the beach.
If you want peace for a week, kiss Mum.
If you want peace for a year, give to the needy.
If you want peace for a lifetime, simply forgive....


Heartsong

A Friend Just Had a Bypass......

My friend who was suppose to fetch me to a wedding lunch on Saturday last had to check into the Pantai Medical to have a bypass.

Lately,he has been having one operation too many.

First, it was an operation for the removal of cataracts at the Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital. He was not satisfied with this op and had another with a private clinic which he claimed he was much happier with the outcome.

All of a sudden, he had to do this by-pass. I do not have the full info yet since I have yet to visit him. He told me he had regular check-up and exercise daily on the tread-mill. Expensive piece of equipment - cost above RM20K. Moreover he told me the Chinese herb he took- concoction of black bogney was truly effective in removing heart-blocks.

He had earlier visited a cardiologist and they found he had three blockages. However, after the Chinese herb regime, all the blocks somehow miraculously disappeared. An angiogramme which was performed; confirmed this.

So why the open heart by-pass?

I will possibly be visiting him this Saturday and so I will know the real story behind this.

Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

Mother Board Went Overboard!

Well, I got the bad news. My computer mother board screwed up and had to be changed. Poor me, the warranty is just over 40 days ago.

So I had to cough up RM225 to get a new one or else, I have to say Sayonara to my computer.

Thank God, I could pay with my credit card to delay payment by at least a month.


Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

Getting Along

Do not seek so much to be consoled, as to console;

Do not seek so much to be understood, as to understand;

Do not seek so much to be loved as to love,

Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully.

Avoid talking negative things, gossip, and listening a gossip.

Before we say anything to anyone, ask our self 3 things:

• Is it true?
• Is it kind?
• Is it necessary?
  

Don’t miss the opportunity to compliment or say something

encouraging to someone.

Have a forgiving view of people. Believe that most people are doing the best they can.

Keep an open mind; discuss, but don't argue. (It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.)

Forget about counting to 10. Count to 1,000 before doing
or saying anything that could make matters worse.

Let your virtues speak for themselves.

If someone criticizes you, see if there is any TRUTH to what
he is saying; if so, make changes.

If there is no truth to the criticism, ignore it and live so that no one will believe the negative remark.

Cultivate your sense of humour; laughter is the shortest
distance between two people.

Heartsong

PM Gets Married

In Malaysia, this is a truly exceptional and unique occasion. A rare occasion that a sitting Prime Minister marries.

Today, our Prime Minister, 67 marries Jeanne Abdullah, 53 at a quiet ceremony attended only by family members and close relatives. The media was not present at the request of the Prime Minister's family.

The marriage was solemnised at the Putajaya Mosque at 2.50 pm. After that, they visited the grave of the Prime Minister's late wife.

The Prime Minister was attired in a cream-coloured Baju Melayu, songket sampin and songkok while the bride wore a baju kurung and a selendang.

We wish the Fist Couple the very best of health and a good life together.

Heartsong

A True China Man- Are You one?

Here is a listing of what constitutes the behaviour traits of a true chinaman.

1. You unwrap gifts very carefully hoping to save and re-use the wrapping paper and the bows.
2. A toilet paper sale will mean buying at least 100 rolls which you will stash in the unused guest-room.
3. A Thermos flask with hot water is always by your bedside every night.
4. All grocery bags are kept. They will be re-used as garbage bags.
5. You never waste food even if you have almost maxed out. When someone says that they will throw away the left-overs, you will eat them all up as you think of the starving children in Africa.
6. You never really need to buy Tupperware. Butter tubs and take-out containers would do the job and your cupboard is filled with them.
7. You have a fierce collection of hotel shampoo bottles which you collect each time you stay in a hotel.
8. Your plate and utensils must be washed in a small basin of water each time you dine at a restaurant.
9. You invariably own both a rice cooker and a slow cooker.
10. Rice must be washed at least two to three times before it is cooked.
11. You will literally fight over who should pay the dinner bill at a restaurant.
12. You drink tea in a cup with an aluminum cover on it.
13. If you are under the age of 20, you own a really expensive Walkman. If you are above 20, you would own a really expensive Japanese camera.
14. You cook with a wok.
15. You always cook too much.
16. You eat every grain of rice on your plate or in your bowl but don't eat the last piece of food on the table.
17. You starve yourself before going out for a buffet dinner.
18. You know some-one who can get a good deal on jewelry, electronics or computers.
19. You only make long distance call after 7 p.m.
20. You prefer eating prawns with heads and legs intact because you think they are fresh.
21. You never called your parents to say,"Hi!"
22. If you don't live with your parents and they call; they will ask you whether you have eaten even if it is midnight.
23. Your parents advise you to boil herbs and stay indoor when you are sick. They also caution you not to eat fried or baked foods as they are "heaty"- "Yeet Hay" in Cantonese.
24. You e-mail your Chinese friends at work even though you sit less than ten feet away from them.
25. You own you own meat cleaver and sharpens it.
26. Your tooth-paste tubes are all squeezed paper-thin.

Do you do most of the above? If you do, you are one true blue-blood chinaman! My congratulations!

Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

My Cranky Computer

The computer was down in early April. I brought it to the shop and got the hard disk reformatted and all the relevant software re-installed.

In April, I agonized as I could not really blog. The postings just could not be published. Then in May, I experienced the computer rebooting itself. In June, it refused even to boot-up on several occasions. What irritated me was the whistling noise it gave before it died down on me!

My virus software,however, gave it a clean bill of health.

So I did spring cleaning. I removed most of my files into a thumb-drive which is now full. We erased a lot of software applications we did not use.All other files were subsequently transferred to D drive.

It is working okay now. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will not fail me.


Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

Love and Magic

The Illusionist is a must-see movie. It is the ultimate in escape movies.

Do not compare it with ‘The Prestige’ which is more star-studded and much publicised. Whereas the cat-and-mouse rivalry between the two competing magicians are blatantlyexhibited in The Prestige, here the rivalry is more sublime and tastefully concealed.

The quality of the magic here is much more mystifying and intriguing. It is not limited to illusion on the stage for the whole movie is one huge illusion that will catch you unawares just like it did the Chief of Police, Url. You will laugh with joy in your heart just like Url as Eisenham made us all to feel like joyful suckers.

Set in a bygone era in Vienna, this is an extremely satisficing love story,if there ever was one. It demonstrates the strategies that Eisenham employed to get back Sophie from the clutches of the Crown Prince of Austria. Born a a lowly cabinet-maker’s son, Eisenham becomes a world class illusionist and used all that is within him to battle the overwheming difficulties and powers to get back the love of his life. Contrary to critics, I can see magic in the wonderful performances by both Edward Norton and Jessica Biel. Biel performs as wonderfully as Johanssen in The Prestige.Exciting from the opening scene, it moves from scene to scene until the coup de grace at the end.

Simple story telling with a well crafted script. Tight screenplay and editing-not a single second of boredom. Bizarre special effects. Very entertaining. You must go and see it!

Heartsong

Father's Birthday

I have just received an SMS from my elder brother that it is dad's 82th birthday today.

Knowing him, birthdays has little meaning to him.He goes about his chores as usual and would not like to be reminded about it.

So what do I do? Well I just wished him in my heart - the very best of health, many returns of the day and may God continue to bless him each and every day. That his comings and going each day be protected and guided by God.

Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

Are Brands Really Important?

On 26 May 2007, I had to buy a new washing machine as the old one conked out. So shopping we went and we looked at both front-loading machines as well as the top-loading ones.

My wife decided that we should for a change buy a top-loading machine. So after much window-shopping, we narrowed down to either SHARP or Panasonic. My wife was influenced more to buy the Panasonic but she felt its design was a bit out-dated. The SHARP looks good in gray.

And so she finally settled for SHARP which was RM100 cheaper. So now this new SHARP washing machine has joined its counterparts - our SHARP Microwave and our SHARP refrigerator. Looks like we are a consumer of SHARP products!

Do brands really matter? I believe it does but more on the high end. Do not but any strange brands or unheard of brands for they will be just trouble in the long run. Buy those that will offer you good after-sales service, availability of spare parts and have a history of endurance.

Quote of the Day:

Heartsong

The Value of Coins These Days....

Took the family out for curry mee at Restoran Okay in SS2. Curry mee here is real popular. We ordered four bowls. I then proceed to order my cuppa of teh o. "Berapa?" I asked when the drink was delivered. "RM1.10." came the reply. " Naik 10%?" I retorted. Yes, starting June; that is today.

I believe many stalls are increasing their prices mid-year, whatever PM can say on TV and the media. It's willing buyer-willing seller. Unless these are controlled items, you can't touch me; say those MC Hammer wannabes.

If an item goes up 10 sen, it means 10 sen is now valueless. The same goes when black pea porridge went up 20 sen. 20 sen is now supposedly useless. For a plate of char keow teow, if the price goes up 50 sen, then 50 sen is useless and so on and so forth.

Soon, a ringgit will be banana money. Get my drift?

We are in full gear run-away inflation mode in three sectors; namely food,education and health.

Very painful for the common folks!

Quote of the Day:

Heartsong