PR lost Perak. That's a fact. This is simply a temporary setback. This event in itselt empowers PR. The rakyat is forced to move and choose now and UMNO's ways are shown to everyone who could see. Clear sight is a prequisite to seeing properly of course. So, all in all, it's a good thing. I am sad but this is the challenge now. What could I do within my capacity?
I received an e-mail from Airasia telling me about their sincere desire to explain their new KLIA-East airport. The e-mail invited me to go the their website or blog to read and understand better. Note the lack of 2 way communication implied here. I was curious about their attempt at gaining public trust so I went to the blog.
The facts they laid out was simple, rough, overly pessimistic at points that would invalidate the new planned airport and overly optimistic with reasonings that support the new airport. Statistics given were also overly optimistic, assuming growth is ever infinite, up to the point of growing beyond well established airline companies. The fact that Airasia focused on companies is also very misleading as they are trying to justify an airport which means they need to list down numbers for airports rather than companies since one company doesn't monopolise a whole airport unless it's Airasia and it's pet LCCT of course.
I of course typed in a comment which lays down some of my doubts and grievances which led me to the next discovery. They moderate the comments. My post isn't shown immediately and still no sign of it after 15 minutes. Flipped through the pages. Most were positive and supporting comments. There were a few slightly critical comments and very few disagreeing comment.
All in all, the attempt at gaining support from the general public is like any Malaysian Government publicity campaign. A stage act that's one sided, closed to discussion and criticism with sprinkles of some truth thrown in to seem to be open. I would rather they be sincere and open with discussing this issue with the general public which includes organisation and political leaders who represent the people. One sidedness and an effort to silence criticisms implies something to hide.
Welp, nuthin much. The year came without much fanfare, as usual. Hey it's just a calendar date change, man needs something to measure life by right? Nyways I've an attention seeking cat wedging himself between my right foot and my side table. This cat really neeeeeds attention so he'll get it any way he can.
Oh, I got my first tyre puncture with mah new car last nite, 2nd Jan, about 8pm. Bummer. Found out the moment something got stuck on my right front tyre. Was a big ass screw!! How did that get on the right lane of a busy 3 lane city road I've no idea but I didn't have a safe spot to change to my spare (It was the driver's side yo~ Risk of becoming a Hilmi splatter on the road!) So I crawled slowly, with a drub drub drub accompaniment, to a safer place. Took me 10 mins and by the time I got there the screw was firmly wedged in. Was only halfway in the tyre when I first checked.
Driving on a dedicated spare is a new experience fer me. Amy the Volvo had a full 15" alloy rim as a spare haha. Wobble wobble wobble to Saujana Utama. Lo and behold, a tyre shop was open. That was a lucky break. The nice Indian chap (couldn't be more than 18) told me they close at 7.30 but as long customers are comin, they'd stay open huhu. My lucky nite. So anyways I already reinflated both front tyres with the proper pressure this morning.
Gen2 is a very touchy car when it comes to tyre pressure. When I sent it for servicing the fellas checked my tyre pressure and filled it up some and I had a fun time drivin home pullin the steerin a wee bit to the left to go straigth. The next morning I got the story at the petrol station air pump. The tyres were unevenly inflated. Never fill up air in your tyres when they're not cold (mornings man, air cools very slowly so parkin at the office or shopping complex doesn't count). Roads and driving style would warm some tyres and the air inside up more than others so~~ Bad mojo man, balance is the key.
I need to find meself a nitrogen fillin tyre place when next comes time to swap rubber. Doesn't make much difference to driving feel but it keeps the tyres cooler. Maintain grip and prolongs lifespan. Well, only the initial fillup would be nitrogen but the checks and refills wouldn't add much air, it would still be mostly nitrogen~~
Since mah younger bro just got his back fixed, read here, here's some thoughts I just had when I was in the loo. Yes, the loo is where ideas foment. Anyway back to my thought. I actually learn a lot from my bro. Ever since I was small I had these strict thought patterns that are akin to a set of boxes that interlock with each other. So this rigid thinking makes it really tough for me since some shapes don't fit into the pattern and there are also a lot of other vague forms that aren't even shapes. So this is where my bro came in. He would happily say something or explain something to me in such a way that shapes didn't matter anymore and it the thoughts, ideas, opinions just slip in.
So what got me just now is that these random non-pattern thingies that got into my regimented form and substance thought world actually helped reduce the importance of patterns. So by late teen-age my mind was more open, things dind't need to fit for me to accept and understand. Understand anything so far?
What I'm saying here, wrapped concisely is, my brother played a big part in me having the unique way of thinking that I have now. My basis was a left brained based thinking. My bro helped me utilise right brain thinking. That's why I could relate to people easily and empathise with them. Throughout school and later university I always was the person people talk to about their problems. Some aren't even actually my friends, more like acquaintances. It's simply how I think and how I really listen to everything they say.
Note there's an exception to the listening without judgement. The closer the person is to me, emotionally speaking, the more prone I am to revert to my older more primitive way of thinking. I've been working more than 4 years on this particular issue. The fact that I get upset at family members and loved ones easily. There had been a lot of progress but this touches the core. I believe, my emotions are formed during childhood and as such it doesn't link with the improvements I developed later.
Ok, meeting now so I'll wrap off this post then.
Huwaaaaah~ Internet....
I've been out of the office even longer these few weeks (in fact I didn't even go to the office Thursday and Friday) so that means less internet. Seriously thinking of maxis's wireless service tho it won't be that fast since my place only got 3G and not HSPDA. Anyways too laaazay to write nything much.
Got The Witcher tho. Lovely game. No time to play it much. So sad. Oh Hana chan, if you read this... You'll drooooool over The Witcher. Think Neverwinter Night but nicer graphics and Planescape quality (not type) storyline :D
Went to Putrajaya for berbuka the other day. Was the Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan's majlis berbuka. One thing. The food sucks and I mean really sucks. How do I describe it? It's like majlis berbuka when I was in high school. Not normal everyday food lah but a real majlis. Still, considering that it's one whole ministerial division of the government.... I spoke with the pakcik next to me and he said it was a major disappointment. He worked there for three years and the least two times it they was grand. Everyone received expensive gifts and all.... Note that that's taxpayers money and I'm glad they cut the gifts out but what's with the bad food?
A picture from Putrajaya. Please click it so you can see what the banner there says~
On my trip to Australia the other day. I'll post updates bit by bit. Here are some pictures of the Singapore budget terminal. It's smaller than our LCCT here in Malaysia but has much better ambience. Everything looks slick and spiffy. Anyway the place I put my laptop on is their surfing terminal. You could also register and surf wireless for free.
What do you think of the title? Is it a chicken accidentally laying a goose egg? I've no idea myself but I read it on a restaurant menu here where I had lunch (before the fasting month!!)
Well, actually the kang kong (king kong?) belanca is also a grammatical + spelling mistake.
On another note, I'm getting a Gen2 CPS. Manual of course. I'd have to change gears a lot in town but I'd have the option of zoom zooming when I drive out of town. As I said to the sales guy, I'd get an auto Gen2 only if Proton comes up with a model with paddle shifts haha.
So anyways here's my lovely old car sandwiched between 2 younger (newer) siblings.
It's still a good car (with some rattles, clanks and holes). One thing I love about this car is the power. The thing I hate is fuel consumption. I'd roughly halve my petrol bills (hey company doesn't pay I still for balik kampung or jalan2 cari makan!) since the gen2 should have something around 6.5l-7.5l/100km whereas the volvo uses 12l - 18l/100km.
Oh, I'd have to change my driving style. Right now I depend on power surges to overtake and shift lanes. My out of town driving is also a rear wheel drive style which really doesn't suit a front wheel drive car. I know this from driving my bro's Gen2 before this and also my dad's Perdana. Normally I half drift my car through fast corners since the volvo really doesn't take corners that well. I've to learn how to take corners fast with fwd car now.
So okay. Back to work now. I'm driving to meet clients~
