Quiz # 4

Tangan Siapa?

Answer to Quiz # 3

This is too easy. IPP Harley got the correct answer. It was Timmy's ear.

So Harley, you want your teh tarik kurang manis or manis kuat kuat? :)

Somewhere out there...

Contributed by Rtr Feilin

Taking a fast pace across the pantry to get myself a cup of hot tea and thinking quickly get back to desk ..

Here’s comes the live updates by CNN, again, :

“. . . xx soldiers been killed leaving xx casualties.. - Baghdad”.

Looking up at the screen, live recorded scene of soldiers executing their mission in a dead city foreign land. Corpse were clad with flag of America. Fighting for justice? Peace? But why take so long? I wonder.

Ergh, had I added a spoon of sugar?
…………………………………………

Days later:

On table, an upside-down magazine of what look like the monthly subscription of Astro . First thought came into my mind was another huge budget Hollywood movies with the profesionalism snapshots and cool dusky backdrop. Slightly over turned, it reads ‘any day I’m here could be the day I die’ with a sort of handwritten font as the theme. A special issue of Newsweek : Voices of the fallen, in a tag line above that coloured red.

Girl, This. Is. Real.

With a little tug of interest, I flipped to that page which I never believe that had my eye glued to it. There were moment where I am trying to get adjusted reality and sci-fiction while reading (no way was Newsweeks gonna write crap, right?) Reading journals of someone who knew they gonna die, but when, was really….. “something” . Person who came all way from their home, be it a fresh graduate, to an unknown land, to fight with being that are jihad-crazy, whom have a totally opossite perception value of live is also another…..“ something”, big. Every words, expression with commas, dot and exclamation mark written was scruntinized and registered that enough to bring one to imagine, however, that also only on surface. What unspoken was left untold and forever burried.

What came flash to my mind was anguished and over-reacted emotions from families and love ones when they uncovered the truth. What’s more for a single mother to break the news and explain the gone of their daddy to their child whom barely understand the whole truth, which is a tremendously devastating.

Below are journals that written by the respective soldiers that I was moved by, before they are gone. (choose to type it out instead of providing the link. Well, it can be argued the other way tho, :P)


MICHEAL G. MIHALAKIS

I don’t even recognise myself anymore. Completely shaved head, Army uniforms and zero fats. I try to remember who I used to be. Every soldiers is going through the same change. It doesn’t better who you are: prom queen, high school football star, scholar, idiot, or whatever. As soon as you get here, you become the copy of the person next to you. (pg.24,1st column)

. . . it is so hard to tell a straving 5 year old who is begging for food to go away. Finally I gave in. A sickly barefooted 6 year old approached the vehicles, touching his lips saying “please,please”. I told him to go away and he just looked up at me. It looked like he wasn’t going to make it much longer in the 133-degree weather. Again I shouted “ kief!!” (go-in Arabic). As we drove away, I threw an ice-cold bottle of water out of the window to him.Lucily no one saw me. (pg.25,1st column)

- Mihalakis died of injuries sustained when his Humvee overturned. He was 18.


JESSE A.GIVENS

We are heading into a bad place, I guess. We have a bunch of want-to-be GI Joes who say they cant wait to kill someone.Personally I don’t give a s—t if we kill someone or never fire a shot. I don’t want medals or to be a hero. I just want to come home and be a husband and daddy again. (pg.24,1st column)

- Givens was drowned on May-1. “Bean” was born 4 weeks later.


KENNETH M.BALLARD

There are some times here that you are able to stop and look around and find a moment of peace. We were crossing the Tigris River at night under a full moon. The light breeze floated through the trees. You think to yourself how nice this would be with someone special, then flares light up the sky and you see tracer fire off in the distance and the cold slap of reality sets in that ou are in the middle of a war zone. (pg.25,2nd column)

- Ballard died when a passing tree branch triggered the unmanned machine gun on his tank.


PATRICK TAINSH

After 9 hours in the heat with 80 pounds on your back, you don’t want to do much except sleep when you get back.People out here are SOMETHING ELSE. They just don’t care that other people trying to help them. I guess that’s the face of war, and yes, it’s still a war. Don’t believe everthing you see on TV.(pg.26,2nd column)


KANE M. FUNKE

Hi mom, sorry it’s been so long since I’ve last called. I’m fine, but I got story to tell you. . . . . . . I usually sit inside behind the driver but they wanted me up in the turrent on the gun today. So, I’m the only one exposed to the outside. One our way back to go to Bronze, a blast hit us, knocked me out and slammed me agaist the gun, and they said I fell lifelessly down into the hummer. They shook me and turned me all over looking for blood but there was none. “FUNKE get back on the gun, damn it! Get back on the gun.” I got up and got back on the gun. I was ok. Your boy’s alive mom. (pg.32,1st column)

- Funke was killed in action about 2 weeks before he was scheduled to leave Iraq.


May those earn my salute, rest in peace.. Widows, single-parent child, parents who’s love ones that involved, may many cherish moment lies ahead and so does for the next generation.

Sources are extract from hardcopy: Newsweek. April 2, 2007. Voices of the fallen. Anyday I’m here could be the day I die. The Iraq War in The Words of American’s Dead. Visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17798269/site/newsweek/ for more informations.

Quiz # 3

Whose EAR was that??

(Yes, Free teh tarik this time)

Quiz # 2

Dear great readers of this blog,


Since you'all love quiz so much, the Blogmaster shall offer you another picture quiz. This is a easy one, it's meant just for warming up (so NO free teh tarik this time, sorry oops). Have fun!

Look at this picture:

Something is "tak ngam" in this picture, can you tell?

and the Answer is...

Dear readers of this Blog,

Thanks for taking time and cracking your head to come out with the answer. Please look carefully at the Quiz again, it asked about direction. Some ventured to give answer very close to the one the Blogmaster was expecting, some just instead of giving answer, tried to explain something which he/she thought no one knew. Anyway, the Blogmaster humbly hopes everyone had funs. There may be more quizes in future!

The Correct Answer is:-

NORTH EAST



To those uninitiated, let me explain by showing you these photos

Try harder next time, Free Teh Tarik always taste better!

Quiz

Please look carefully at the following pictures:

Quiz:

What direction was the wind blowing at when these photos were taken?

The first to answer correctly will enjoy a free teh tarik during the next club meeting.

Answer will be announced on Monday (21-5-2007).

The World ain't all Sunshine and Rainbows

Contributed by Rtr. Harnniann

I watched the movie “Rocky Balboa” for the 2nd time yesterday. A lot of people criticise this movie, saying there’s little action and too much drama. I am no movie critic and I don’t intend to give a movie review here.

But that’s one part of the movie that struck me hard and deeply disturbed me. It’s at 1 hour and 1 minute of the movie.

It’s a scene where Rocky and his son walked out of Rocky’s restaurant. Rocky had earlier announced his intention of fighting the reigning Boxing World Heavyweight Champion.

The son started by asking whether Rocky was nervous about the fight. Rocky replied, “scared to death” but nevertheless he had to do it.

The son got so mad that he started shouting at his father. The son said it has not been easy living with Rocky. “People see me but they see you” the son said. That’s the reason he had a decent job and that’s the reason why people deal with him. It’s all because his father is Rocky. And now, with the fight, the situation is going to get worst. It will hurt him more.

He asked Rocky, as a favour, not to go through with the fight as it will do Rocky and himself no good.

Rocky, after being shouted at by his own son, remained calm. He thought for a few seconds. Then he raised his right hand and said this to his son (I quote in verbatim):-

You ain’t gonna believe this. You used to fit right here (pointing at his right palm). I hold you up and say to your mother: this kid is going to be the best kid in the world. This kid is going to be somebody better than anybody known. And you grow up, good and wonderful. It’s great just watch it everyday, it’s like a privilege.

When the time comes for you to be your own man and take on the world, then you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger on your face and tell you, you are no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.

Let me tell you something you already knew. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place. I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me are no body. It’s going to hit as hard as life.

But it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how it’s done.

Now, if you know what’s you’re worth then go out to get what’s you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits and not pointing fingers say: you ain’t what you want to be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You are better than that!

The above conversation hit me hard. It’s the highlight of the whole movie.

Life is tough. It is never easy to squeeze yourself into it and find a rightful place of your own.

What Rocky had just said to his son, I felt as if he was talking to me. Wasn’t I looking for something or someone to blame whenever I think I was not given something I deserve? Didn’t I cowardly avoid the hits and stay complacent in my own comfort zone knowing very well that there is a bigger world out there that is waiting for me to explore, to venture and to find my flag?

In the movie, Rocky found himself losing something. It’s the energy he once had. He decided to jump out of his comfort zone (manning the Italian Restaurant) and take on the world champion. Of course he lost in the fight but that’s secondary and largely immaterial. He had the guts to walk into the ring again, to go through the gruelling training, to risk the humiliation, to face his own fear etc. That, to me, is much more important than winning the fight.

I hope the above conversation somehow gives you some booster and motivation. Those of you who have the DVD, I suggest you to fast forward to the above scene (at 1hr 1min mark), and appreciate it.

“it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how it’s done.”

I am going to remember that.

4th Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference

Welcome to the Family, Rtr Hannah

Last club meeting (3rd May 2007), Rtr Hannah Tan (former President of Interact Club of SMK Raja Lumu) was inducted as our club member.

A simple but meaningful induction ceremony was conducted by Rtr Jia Thiam. Rtr Hannah has since joined the big family of Rotaract Club of Port Klang Centennial. Congratulation & Welcome!

Dear Rtr Hannah,

Our club welcomes you to be our latest recruit. We all hope you will gain and benefit alot from your participation and experience as Rotaractor of our club. All the best!

DRA - Final day!

Contributed by Rtr Jia Thiam

I was worn-out the moment I opened up my eyes. We’re supposed to be at the hall by 9.00am, but I was too tired to realize that. Somehow, I managed to drag myself out from my bed and headed straight to the cafeteria with Yiip Shaun. Way Wen were still fast asleep. I thought that I’ll be the only rotaractors left at the cafeteria. Nevertheless, to my amazement that there are others at the cafeteria doing their little business as if that they’re not late at all. I felt relief.

I rushed myself to the hall to hear the briefing. I was shocked to see an employee from 8TV eventually gave a talk about her career. The talk was short. Nevertheless, I’ve learned something new.

The speech giving session ended up quicker than I thought while the rest of the rotaractors exchanged email address and hand phone number with one another. Yiip Shaun told us that his dad wanted to leave Penang early. That leaves us no choice but to get ourselves pack as soon as possible. That means no lunch for us. The moment we load our luggage in to the car, Yiip Shaun dad asked us

Uncle: You guys don’t want to have your lunch?

Jia Thiam: Huh? (Thought you want to leave early. How to makan lar)

Uncle: Since you’ve paid for it, don’t waste it.

Jia Thiam: What about you Uncle? (So, you want to leave now or makan now?)

Uncle: Don’t worry about us. Just go have your lunch

Jia Thiam: Ermmm!

Something sounded very fishy. Anyway, we went for lunch and enjoyed them. I took a final glimpse at my surrounding and my newly-made friends, knowing that I won’t be seeing them, not until APRRC. We left Penang at 1.30pm and the journey took us hours to arrive due to the fact that Chin Ming was celebrated on the very same day. Cars filled up the whole road and that is when I knew, I won’t be arriving home early. We reached Klang at 11.30pm and had dinner after that.

My day at DRA is finally over.

DRA - Day 2

Contributed by Rtr Jia Thiam

I woke up surprisingly early knowing that I went to bed late last night. My stomach started making weird noise. That is when I knew that I needed food so badly. After settling myself, I went straight down to the cafeteria, in hoping that I’ll finally be able to treat myself to a nice breakfast. The food to my amazement was a delicious one with a variety of choice one can choose on.

Anyway, once my hunger has been satisfied, I headed straight to the hall for a Rotaract briefing. The briefing went on for hours without showing any significant sign that it will end. During the session, some of my newly–made friends came asking me,

A: “Why your Rotaract Club is so special ah? Got the word centennial at the back of it
wan.”
Jia Thiam: Yeah hor. I also don’t know

Sad to say that I have no answer to that question myself. Being a member of the club and not knowing how this club came about, truly putted me down to shame in front of the others. Nevertheless, I made an attempt to seek out the answer to that question by asking Rotaractor Hui Hui. Then I’ve finally realized that our club was chartered during the centennial year.

Rotaractor Hui Hui were one of the panelists during the session. When her turn has finally arrived, she stated that our club had our own club song- adopted from our Rotary Club of Port Klang Centennial. Way Wen and I were later requested to walk to stage to sing our club song. Singing in front of the mirror or in my bathroom is a norm thing to do but not on stage. I had butterfly in my stomach, yet I carried on. After we’ve finished with our songs, our club has instantaneously been recognized by many others for being the only club who went on stage to sing a club song. I was proud.

Lunch was equally good as well. But soon after lunch, we had our own Training program to attend. All of us went to our separate ways. As for me, I’ll be attending the Community Service Director training. I told myself that this will be a training I will never forget in my life. I made friends during the training and we even worked in pairs to come up with solution to a case study. Our solution will be analyzed by the trainees and pointed out on how we can further improve them. After hours have passed, the session ended. Way Wen wanted to treat himself to a nice game of volleyball with the other rotaractors where else I wanted to try out Jet-Skiing. As for Yiip Shaun he was no where to be found after the session ended. Anyway, we wouldn’t bother much and just carried on with our plan. Jet-Skiing have burn a deep hole in my pocket. Nevertheless, the RM25.00 spent will truly last in my memories. Thought that I never had enough, I went for a banana boat ride after that.


I was soaked wet from head to toe. All the rotaractors just wanted to have their little fun at the sea. Hui Hui became victim and was thrown into the sea. Every single rotaractors found on the beach have been thrown into the sea EXCEPT Way Wen. He was fast enough to avoid capture. Anyway, you can’t tell others that you’ve been to Penang without actually tasting Penang sea water. Shortly after that, I went back to my room to have a quick shower. I badly need them right now. I was smartly dress on that night due to the fact that I’ll be attending a classy dinner.

Dinner finished quite late and everyone is busy taking pictures with one another. I later hanged out at DRR Chandra’s room where we treat ourselves to a game of card. Ended up, I slept at 2.00 in the morning.


(to be continued...)

One Two Ouch!

Contributed by Rtr Shunglee


three four, Ouch! That was exactly what I had in mind as I drove down to Klang that fine evening for an introductory class at the XXX dance club.
(don't eiyer me la! it just slipped off my mind but i'm confidently sure that the tutor's name was sohurtoe)

(the legendary Mr. Sohurtoe)

Also, did I mention tt i was initially going to catch the new airbus A380 there because of the traffic but i opt.ed to drive instead?
No thanks to the new 100ml of liquid per passenger onboard rule.
My bladder had twice the amount of that, thus i was unnecessarily denied from the plane.

One Up! for you MAS and nope, that's definitely not my thumb.

Now, a lil bit on salsa.
Its a sexy, dazzingly dizzy ditsy kind of dance that turns people on.
On a less obscene note, salsa is truly a leisurely fun activity for the modern society, a step-up from collecting stamps and coins.
If society had not evolved, where touching hands equals to adultery and marriages.. I swear i wouldnt have left the centre alive.
...psstt! our first lady hands very de smooth le ]=O

Fast forward a lil and we were all in 2 lines, face to face with our salsa partners. Previously, some had fantasized to dance with girls other than their spouses but... alas! they moaned, silently. There were also some who just grabbed anybody closest to them like a cold blooded brute *cough* *cough*JT

. de march
.. crane steps
... crab walk
.... gasing spin

Those were the steps tt was patiently taught to us and the names had been changed to avoid lawyers breathing down my neck.
Having said that, one of them already did, religiously, for this article that is.

Now.... cum to think of it hor, never in all these years have I ever hated being vertically challenged.
That night.. alas! I realised tt i coudln spin a girl without exposing every inch of my underarms.
However, I reckon this is not as bad as what the vertically blessed hated - being distracted by u n c o n t r o l l a b i l i n g l y counting dandruffs from their partner's scalp instead of dancing steps. evilLOLakakaka

yet despite all that,

due to the nature of the dance which promotes closeness, ignites passion and reignites lust, u can actually tell whether a guy and a girl is in an intimate fiery r/s.kudos! prez..you make us men proud !ppffwwwtit! err not saying that you have dandruffs diana your hair looks great but errr i think i better shuddup!... will you still betroth babyleeann to me? :( Nevertheless u can also tell whether a person is hum sup or te ko pe as well la. *cough* *cough*JT

. . .

@#$%* .. CLUB MEETING .. *%$#@ !!!
Darn! i knew it was too good to be true. The prez organised the salsa thing and asked me to just come and enjoy wor - konon la! Just like a cheap lying bastard politician *cough* *cough*lawyer.. he conveniently left out the bit about a meetingNABEI!!

Ae-nyways, *Fei Lin, pls insert boringminutes of meeting here.. if you dare la* otherwise, here's mine;

bla bla bla talk
bla bla bla eat
bla bla bla *end of meeting*

p/s: RAC PKLG should thank their lucky stars that I wasn't elected honorary secretary 06/07. To hell! with my own set of twinkies. It would have been more fun being the phantom cum rogue secretary. evil*grin*

Meeting's conclusion:
- This blog entry is my report. Take it or leave it.

- Loydd, stop slacking cos its time to take over my duties as 'comm'.. service director.

- Z chickenpox excuse is such an old trick in the book, your ageing cerebrum can do better than that! and..

- I demand that you pop 44 poxes to proof your innocence.

- - end of club related formalities - -


I have to admit that i was initially not comfortable with this salsa thing cos just like jumping jacks need wounded springs and evil marathon rabbits need duracell, i needed booze to shake my brittle joints
... but i was sober tt night :/ or rather, my hands had to be kept sober.

This is all thanks to the friendliness of the salsa tutor, mr sohurtoe and the rest of the participants who danced equally as bad.

SOo... I dunno about the rest of you but i was counting salsa steps instead of sheeps when i hit the sack that night. Ladies, on behalf of the guys, thank you for not leaving us with sore-toe/s.

And to the lovely beaus whom I had the chance to dance with, it was a great pleasure and i hope ya'll had an enjoyable night! ^^

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ya! ya! same shiet applies for the rest of the guys as well la ..

S H U N G L E E


Editor's note: I was debating with myself whether to edit some language used in this article to safeguard the image of this blog. Well, I guess we cherish freedom of speech and respect creativity. So here it is, full text unedited. Enjoy!