Another New Year

Yes, we are at the cusp of a new year again.

2014. The year of the Horse.

What it will bring for us depends on the cards that will be dealt to us.

For those who are naturally "good" and forthright, it will just another year of doing good and feeling good after doing it.

For the majority, it will be the same-whiling away the time God gives us.

For the wise, make time to do what you want.

Be it to travel far and wide, to meet old friends and relatives regularly, or to attempt to keep new year resolutions....just do it!

The best of the new year to all my readers!

A Dexter December

This series certainly has its high moments and its lows too.

While the series was more excitement than dullsville, the finale was certainly not up to expectations.

Jennifer as Debra Morgan

This serial killer tv series is downright bloody and watching eight seasons at one go in 10 days in December 2013 did take a toll on one of my eyes. Imagine 8 years of the series in one go; so I got a Red Eye.

Julia Stiles

Definitely a series to watch, it will go into its ninth and final season next year.

The main stars are Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter though the ninth season will not have Carpenter as she was written off  in the eight season-due to death to complication in surgery. I guess it may have to do with the divorce of these two main stars in real life.

Poisoner Hannah Mckay played by Yvonne Strohovski

The Cast

Playing subsidiary and eye candy roles are Julie Stiles, Yvonne Strohovski, Julie Benz,Aimee Garcia, Jaime Murray and Katia Winter.

Dexter with serial killer Hannah Mackay

Let us see what the cat will drag in for Dexter in Season 9.

Looking for a Chair

There was once a table.

She was looking for a chair.

After finding the chair, she wanted to change him into a table.

She found it almost impossible.

And so it is with relationships.

The girl who married the boy wanted the boy to change to her ways.

He may conform out of practicality to sustain the marriage or as in most cases, result in marital disasters.

And so the lesson to be learnt here-love a man for what he is.

Never try to change him if he can't!

And that my friend is the secret behind a good relationship or marriage.

So, remember this story of the table and the chair!

Ex MOSTE Dinner on 7th November 2013

Band of Brothers

It was a great time to meet up with old friends, have a few drinks, trade stories and to while away the night with songs on the karaoke machine.

We had the dinner in a function room at the Pantai Seafood Restaurant at Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara in the vicinity of Damansara Jaya

The greatest singer that night was Dato' Chang followed by Dato' Leong.

Daniel, Goan Lee, Prof Thiru and I played second fiddle, hopefully to be able to carry off a song or too.

Camaraderie and Bonding

We were so glad to have Frederick and Robert with us.

In fact, Frederick came in all the way from Sarawak to be with us.

Such was his affection to bond with us!

Great times

And so to recapture more of our bygone youth and camaraderie, we have decided to meet once more on 21 February at the same restaurant  to relive good times once more.

This time around we had Dato' Cheah, Dato' Leong, Dato' Chang, Tan Meng Leng, Frederick Wong, Robert Foong, Daniel Chew, Ooi Goan Lee, Prof Thiru, Lee Heng Keng  and myself.

Animated Display of  Friendship

We hope to have a bigger group on 21 February to welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Horse!

A Dismal Male

I was at the Orthopedic Department at University Hospital this evening.

Out of the more than 100 patients awaiting their turns to see their specialist doctors, I notice one glaring thing.

About 95% or even more were females.

I was one of the dismal male.

After all ladies who give birth to children lose their bone calcium to their babies and the aftermath is osteoporosis.

So, what are the males doing there?

How do they lose their bone calcium?

I guess it must be the X Factor for me here.

Brace for More Pain

Bleak Year

Well, 2014 may be just a few days away but the negative  reverberations are keenly felt.

As I mentioned in my last post, the current government is heaping it all up until it truly hurts the poor, the retirees, the poor pensioners and those who are already at the end of the financial rope.

While they increase their pay to a few hundred percent, the politicians and civil servants are basking in new found wealth. The lower rung civil servants can only  gloat with envy as they got only tuppence.

Meanwhile, they have increased quietly the renewable energy contribution on TENAGA's bill as well.

Also, they have increased toll charges from 1st January much to the consternation of users after they have promised no new toll hikes for the next 5 years!

Coming soon!

Humongous fare hikes for school bus, buses, taxis and LRT!

Alas, what happened to the life-line slogan of 'Rakyat Didahulukan"?

Dead in the water?

Post Election Inflation blues

Cry Fellow Rakyats!

It was not unexpected.

For all the excesses that were promised by the politicians during the elections, someone has to foot the bill.

So, hardly, into the sixth month after the 5th May GE, its payback time.

First, it was the reduction of subsidies for petrol and diesel at the pump, affecting all transport industries that will add to cost of all things. Then the sugar subsidy was taken away en bloc.

The unkindest cut is the 15% rise in Tenaga rates beginning January 2014 with a thumping multi-layered   effect increase for all residential use and industry too. Another inflation booster!

Now there are talks of increased assessment and also toll rate increases.

Can the poor lower income class and the pensioners take this all at one go?

Meanwhile, the politicians and senior public servants are increasing their salaries and allowances by leaps and bounds at the rakyat despair.

So, where do we go from here?

Is the slogan of  "Rakyat didahulukan" dead and frozen forever?

Room and Love at The Top

Sensual Love

This two-parter UK made telly series, Room at the Top s is a powerful rendition of the classic book.

As I have not seen the Simone Signoret film version which won Academy award acclaim, I can make no comparison.

The characters and the actors that hone them into flesh and blood make this one a refreshing new outing.

Romp in the Hay

The eye candy is the tragic Alice played by Maxine Peake and the lovable cerubic beauty Susan played out nicely by  Jenna Coleman.

Cerubic Delight

Matthew McNulty takes on the stoic protagonist Joe.

Sadly because of copyright issues, the series was aborted.

The Current US TV Series-Wonderful!

Sure, some of the series can be downright engaging, taut and suspenseful.

Then there are the other almost documentary and light stuff too.

Let us look at the suspenseful ones first.

Cat and Mouse

The series Homeland takes the cake here;followed by Boardwalk Empire.

While the first is CIA-centric, fast paced and cat and mouse stuff, the second one based on the life of Nucky Thomson and Al Capone in Prohibition era  Chicago is razor-sharp and bristling with excitement. Both have ended their current season last week and will sea their next seasons in 2014.

Blood and Gore

The second type of series is the smart-talk category. Here we have the English Lord and Lady setting for the fictitious Downton Abbey as well as the legal wrangle called The Good Wife. Both are great series with its twists as well as riveting and downright engaging dialogue.

Naughty and Sexy

Then, there is the lighter series, Witches of East End. A lot of mumbo-jumbo and it can test your patience. It may have its last seasons in 2014 unless it can get a slew of great writers and better editing. Quite fun to see what unfurls in the parallel world.

Hocus Pocus

Of special historical significance is the docu-drama Treme chronicling the rebuilding of the city of New Orleans after Katrina and how the community begin to re-built their lives amidst corruption in the police force and City hall..

Antoine Batiste and his Trombone

Currently in the 4th Season and four more episodes to go before it goes off for good.

Great series.

Halcyon Days

Then, we have another docudrama of historical relevance, The Vikings. It chronicles the early days of Viking society and their raids to bring home bounty. It has just completed Season 1 and Season 2 will be released in 2014.

Violence and tradition

The Senior Years

Acquiring new skills at 82!

Yesterday I had the good fortune to run into Mrs Liew.

We just about met each other last week.

So, we spent some time talking when we went together to submit our Genting Warrant subscription at Tricor in North Tower, Mid-valley as well as over a drink at Little Penang.

What I found fascinating is that at 82, she is fit as a fiddle, travels well and can still drive very well.

Driving a storm!

She told me she started driving when I was only 5.

She bought her semi-D  house at a shockingly low price of RM 22K.

Those were the days, I told myself.

I would not walk her path even in my dreams.

She already has 8 grandchildren.

She spends her time exercising in the morning; cooks her own meals and have the occasional liquid diet.

For recreation, she watches the Hokkien series on TV8 and whiles her time away at Aeon Big in Subang Jaya.

She now wants someone to teach her computer skills.

Great senior citizen, this!