Year-end sojourn

It's about me

I have been looking at my blog archives, and I noticed one thing: the number of posts each year has been declining steadily since I entered the virtual world of writing. Okay, fine, I lied, I noticed another thing: The quality of my writing has improved (I hope!). When I first started this blog, I have this idea of 'my blog about myself' planted in me. After all, the blogs of most of my peers revolves around themselves, or posting several cryptic sentences about happiness and life. 

Taken from an unspecified source. Cryptic, isn't it?

Hence, my early writtings focused too much on myself. Blogger was like Facebook at that era (Oh I feel so old). After all, that's before Facebook became THE social media to use, where the focus is basically yourself. Oh mankind, why are we so narcissistic?  

Face it, it's all about yourself

So lately, I have been placing more emphasis on posting writings that doesn't really involves me, but are things of interest to me (such as football!). I take this chance to implore my fellow peers to do the same, or at least make your writing a tad more humorous and a little less cryptic. I am not saying I don't like your posts...er hello? Are we still friends? Hello....never mind. 

End of the year, end for dictators?

Thus, 2011 is drawing to a close, and 2012 approaches. Personally, I thought 2011 has been a bad year for dictators, whether fictional or in reality. 2011 is the year I completed reading the Hunger Games trilogy and the Inheritance series. In these series, evil dictators were dethroned against all odds (what a shocker). On a more serious note, Mubarak, Gaddafi, Kim Jong-il, Steve Jobs* are now gone. 

'Nyahhhhhhhh!!!! Don't forget me!'

*Obviously, it's a joke, but some people take things too seriously. 

Year-end sojourn

Once again, I will be MIA-ing for the next 10 days or so. I am going overseas, so I can't guarantee I have access to internet. No, I am not going to be Tarzan and stay in the wild. My six-packs is not quite ready yet. 

My new year resolutions? Instead, let me tell you about my hopes for 2012 (since I have no one to talk to). I hope that by some miracle, all of us will sort out our differences, and seek peace. Forgive, but don't forget. Let go of that hate, and start anew, with fresh determination and impetus. 

Happy new year.

NFC, new notes and Luis Suarez

As usual, I have been absent for quite a long time from my blog. Now I am back with a vengeance, to discuss the puzzling, the mind-blogging and the downright outrageous.

Disclaimer: To understand my writing, you must have a sense of humour, with a pinch of sarcasm and all your wits thrown into the mix.

National Feedlot Corporation (NFC)
The NFC is a Malaysian government initiative to increase the production of local meat and hence, reduce dependency on imported meat. Aligning with the Prime Minister's slogan of 'People First, Performance Now', there has been allegations that the NFC is doing just that. The NFC is benefiting the rakyat alright, but only a select few. And yeah, the NFC's performance is top-notch,with the Auditor-General's Report 2010 released in October stating that the NFC have failed to meet its objectives. What a shocker, isn't it? And throwing in claims that the cows under the NFC is getting excessive VIP treatment (BMWs and high class condos were involved), you get your typical dose of a ridiculously expensive, ultimately fruitless Malaysian government project. Whether the NFC scandal will head towards the direction of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) or the SMART tunnel is still up in the air*. Oh, did I mention that RM250 million sent by the government to the NFC is allegedly misappropriated?

'I only earned that much, really!'

*I could write a pretty long post regarding the PKFZ scandal or about the SMART tunnel's failure to halt KL's floods problems, but do yourself a favour and Google it alright?

New Notes

Bank Negara recently announced that new notes and coins will be issued by the central bank July 1 next year. The new notes and coins will contain elements that reflect Malaysian culture and heritage. I admit, I am rather impressed by the new currency, but the question is: how much was spend, and will be spent for the new currency to enter circulation come next July? And more importantly, is it necessary? Shouldn't the central bank be focusing on, oh I don't know, how to ensure Malaysia doesn't go bankrupt by 2020, as claimed by Idris Jala? After all, it is Bank Negara's role as a banker and adviser to the Malaysian government to ensure Malaysia remains financially sound. Yes, I am looking at you, Europe.

'I did warned you, you know.'

Luis Suarez: racist?

Inevitably, I return to football. If you are following English football (or soccer, if you insist), you should know by now that Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been slapped with a hefty fine and an eight match ban from the English Football Association (FA) for racially abusing Man Utd's Patrice Evra during an English Premier League match. If you didn't know before, now you know. As expected, there has been varying reactions from different parties. If you are pro-Liverpool, you will be very likely to slam the FA, and defend Suarez by saying that he isn't racist, or that Suarez abused Evra in the heat of the moment, or that Evra is a lying,cheating scumbag. Liverpool shouldn't be too worried, after all Liverpool is clearly not a one man team, and don't rely on Suarez to score/create goals. Remember, they still have Adam, Henderson, Downing, Carroll. That's sure to make opposition defenders quiver in their boots.

'Hey, at least I am better than Flop-nando Torres!'

My humble, unbiased opinion on this issue? I say that any form of racist,whether said in the heat of the moment or not, should not be tolerated at any moment during a football match where millions of people are watching, including young kids (not to say kids aren't young, it' all relative). In fact, racism should not be tolerated at all. So yes, I support the ban. It may be true that Suarez used words that are acceptable in his native Uruguay, but he is in England, and he needs to abide by the local norms. If anything, it shows the lack of cultural understanding between the English game and anything else non-English (interesting article on this issue: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/12/22/2814253/liverpools-luis-suarez-should-have-known-better-but-his). Anyway, I am pretty sure the FA wouldn't risk their credibility on the word of one man, especially if that one man is Patrice Evra.

Next? John Terry.

'Who?'

Merry Christmas all.