Usain Bolt : Is he for real???

I dont mean to sound cynical, and as much as I like to see world records broken, tapi as I watched Usain Bolt win the 100m and then the 200m yesterday, I couldn't help but have flashbacks about how Ben Johnson was disqualified for drug abuse, having so convincingly won the 100m, also in world record time at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Usain certainly brings smiles and charisma as he lines up for his events. He is not as arrogant as the Americans tend to be and he is a good boost for a sunset sport, which needs a boost of interest. A bit like how Michael Phelps has now re-ignited interest in swimming?

But to me, the real disappointment was seeing Chinese favorite and defending champion, Liu Xiang skip the 110m hurdles. I actually watched him kick at the wall during the warm-up session even before he lined up at the starting line. It was caught by chance on TV, and from there I knew something was wrong. Imagine all that hype and expectations of the people of China on him, only to exit so miserably. It makes grown men cry!

I'm looking forward to the 4x100m mens, where Jamaica have 3 runners who featured in the 100m finals. Should be another world -record breaker!

Lord of Turts

Everybody has at least one hobby. Some people tend to have more than one hobby. I would like to share about animals. Some people like cats, dogs, rabbit, hamster, iguana, snake, arowana. All of us knows that en Azman likes arowana, but my passion is in turtles.

I’ve 2 Red Ear Slider as my pets. It’s a very common turtle that you can see in most of aquarium shop in our country. It’s the green one, with some red lines at their head. Most of us will think that turtles like veggies. But believe me, some species/type likes meat (fish/shrimp). My Red Eared Slider is the carnivore type, eat fish and shrimp. Most of the local aquarium “tawkey” just think that all turtles eat that green pallets. Yeah, its true but they don’t eat that much.

There are 6 type of turtles

1. Big Pond

Good swimmers, but also need to spend time completely out of the water.

Species: Sliders, Cooters, Red-Bellies, Yellow-Bellies

2. Basking Log

Good swimmers, but also need to spend time completely out of the water.

Species: Painted Turtles, Map Turtles, Diamondback Terrapins, Chicken Turtles

3. Boggy Creek

In the wild, these turtles seldom leave the vicinity of water. They are mostly found in cold water streams.

Species: Wood Turtles, Western Pond Turtles, Bog Turtles, Blanding’s Turtles, Spotted Turtles

4. Murky Lair

They are carnivores, feeding upon mollusks, snails, aquatic insects, crawdads or any other animal matter they can find.

Species: Snapping Turtles, Mud Turtles, Musk Turtles, Softshell Turtles

5. Tortoises & Boxies

They can frequently be found along the edge of open meadows under shrubs or fallen logs. Moist leaf litter is a natural resting place. They are often seen soaking in shallow water.

Species: Tortoises, North American Box Turtles

6. Exotics

Rare species from all around the world

Species: Sidenecks, Snakenecks, Mata-mata, Malaysian Box Turtles

I’ve one Indonesian Snakeneck and one Cooters in my university days. But MAS plane do not allow me to bring them traveling with me, I’ve to left them at my university pond.

These are the species that I’m looking forward to adopt:

White Lip Mud

Albino Red Ear Slider

Alligator Snapper

Diamond Back Terrapin

Sawback Map Terrapin

Indonesian Snakeneck

Belize Slider (Painted)

Did Lin Dan win because he has bigger biceps??

Lin Dan in action after beating Chong Wei

Malaysia’s hope for the first ever Olympic gold medal was thrashed down the drain when our badminton star, Lee Chong Wei lost to China’s Lin Dan straight 2 sets; 21-12 and 21-8 in a short 39 minutes match. Even though the odds of winning were at 50:50 chances, it was proven that consistency in controlling the game paid off!!

Chong Wei in action after winning against Korea

Lin Dan was in control of the game that even the gallant and valiant effort by Chong Wei were not allowed to come to fore. He played a near-perfect game with very few mistakes. Chong Wei on the other hand, was under tremendous pressure to perform that he didn’t play his own game. Lin Dan scored points with every mistake Chong Wei made.

At some point, the games were rather lopsided. Lin Dan practically steamrolled Chong Wei in both sets. Perhaps the throngs of Chinese supporters did their part. The gap between the world’s # 1 and # 2 couldn’t be any wider. However, as much as Chong Wei’s performance was completely out of sort; we must acknowledge that he did try his very best and brought us back a SILVER medal.

Bear in mind that a SILVER medal in the Olympics is still a very big achievement in the Malaysian Badminton arena. Chong Wei is still our hero and hats off to him for reaching that far in the Olympics. It brings great feeling to see the Jalur Gemilang rise up in the Olympics!

Kudos to both Lin Dan & Chong Wei for being the top 2 best (men) singles shuttlers in the world and most importantly for showing good sportsmanship and respect in the game.

------------------------------

On a lighter note, I couldn’t help but notice Lin Dan’s "flexing biceps" during the game. He out-muscled, outplayed and outpaced Chong Wei! The buffy Lin Dan made skinny Chong Wei looked malnourished. As Chong Wei is good at net-play, Lin Dan’s jumping smashes and drop shots were too much for Chong Wei.

As smash strokes uses the arm muscles at large, buffed biceps like Lin Dan's help contribute to the performance accuracy under high intensity. Trained muscles will provide higher endurance and greater strength for high speed smashes….Don't you think?

Tomorrow is Not Promised!!

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there. They serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are and who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be: your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential strength, will power, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests, whether they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere, safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life. The successes and downfalls you experience create who you are, and even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart...

Make every day count and appreciate every moment. Take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again...

Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself...for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either.
You can make of your life anything you wish.

Create your own life and then go out and live in it!

"Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last...Tomorrow is Not Promised"

Laskar Cinta

"Tepuk dada tanya selera"

Let us share what Datuk Dr. Fadilah Kamsah used to say

"Ada orang datang ke pejabat dengan perasaan penuh gembira & ceria, ada datang dengan perasaan 'biasa' dan ada datang dengan perasaan serba tak kena '.. Ingat lah, sesiapa yang datang hanya dengan perasaan 'biasa' saja, hasilnya adalah 'biasa' saja, sesiapa yang datang dengan ceria, hasilnya akan jadi lebih daripada biasa ataupun luar biasa. Bekerja la dengan ceria agar menghasilkan produktiviti yang luar biasa yang akan menggembirakan orang di sekeliling kita. Semoga hasil itu akan mendapat keberkatan insyallah..."

Jadi renungi lah :-

1. Ada antara kita datang ke pejabat hanya memenuhi tanggung jawab 'DATANG BEKERJA' tapi hampeh, hasilnya macam kita 'TAK DATANG' kerja

2. Ada kala kita rasa kita BUSY giler, rupanya kita hanya 'KELAM KABUT'.

3. Adakala kita rasa kita PERIHATIN', tapi rupanya kita BUSY BODY

4. Adakala kita rasa kita OPENMINDED and OUTSPOKEN tapi rupanya kita KURANG PENG'AJAR'AN.

5. Adakala kita rasa kita berpemikiran KRITIS rupanya kita hanya lebih kepada KRITIK yang mencipta KRISIS.

6. Adakala kita rasa kita ingin menjadi LEBIH MESRA tapi rupanya kita di lihat lebih MENGADA

7. Adakala kita suka bertanya 'KENAPA DIA NI MCM TAKDE KEJE', adalah lebih baik kita tanya 'APA LAGI KEJE YANG AKU BOLEH BUAT' Pejam mata dan renung lah diri, kalau kita perlu melakukan ANJAKAN PARADIGMA, maka lakukanlah...Segera, tapi manusia tetap manusia..sukar untuk berubah kerana kita selalu beranggapan kita lebih baik...adakah dengan merasakan itu kita sememangnya terbaik?

Maka untuk itu , mari kita mula senyum, ceria, mesra sesama kita dan tingkat kerjasama dalam kerja, tak rugi kita semai rasa 'kekeluargaan' dalam tugasan..kalau kita kurang kerja, cari la kerja membantu teman-teman yang lain. Tak dapat gaji lebih pun tak apa sebab pahala dapat..kita draw kat akhirat nanti...tapi kalau kita asyik dengki mendengki..nasib la sebab dah ditentukan jalan yang sukar itu yang kita pilih..

Renungi lah, berapa orang kawan kita dan berapa orang lawan kita, nescaya itu la kayu pengukur diri yang sebaiknya...

"mengkritik tidak bererti menentang,
menyetujui tidak semestinya menyokong,
menegur tidak bermakna membenci,
dan berbeza pendapat adalah kawan berfikir yang baik"

Saving is Rewarding

(Click on image to enlarge)

Look Better in Shorts - Duck Walk!!

What is Duck Walk?

It is the squat and the forward and reverse lunge that concentrates on the thighs and backside to increase body strength and flexibility. These are large muscles, so the harder you work them the faster you will see results. You will also look better & sexier, especially in shorts...

Step 1:
Begin in a standing position with your feet wider than your hips and your arms at your sides. Tighten your abdominal muscles to keep from injuring your back during the exercise.




Step 2:

Lower your hips as if trying to sit in a chair. Your weight should be back on your heels to prevent your knees from extending past your toes, which can cause an injury. To keep yourself balanced, clasp your hands together at chest level.

Step 3:

SHARK ATTACK!!!!

Asking the right questions

What is Effective Communication? ?

Ali and Yusof are walking nearby the mosque.

Yusof wonders whether it would be all right to smoke while praying (berdoa).

Ali replies, "Why don't you ask the Imam?"

So Yusof goes up to the Imam and asks, "Imam, may I smoke while I pray?"

But Imam says, "No, my son, you may not. That's utter disrespect to our religion."

Yusof goes back to his friend and tells him what the Imam told him.

Ali says, "I'm not surprised. You asked the wrong question. Let me try."

And so Ali goes up to the Imam and asks, "Imam, may I pray while I smoke?"

To which the Imam eagerly replies, "By all means, my son. By all means."

Moral:

The reply you get depends on the question you ask

So, when you want to go on vacation while working on some projects, don’t ask

“Boss, can I continue this project after my vacations?”

Better ask like this:

“Boss, can I work on this project during my vacation?”

Mat Rempit Kantoi lagi

Pagi tadi semasa didalam perjalanan ke ofis seperti biasa aku terpaksa bersesak-sesak dengan penunggang motosikal yang lain menyusuri jalan 6 lorong di tol LDP yg bila masa puncak (pagi) akan berubah manjadi entah 9 atau 10 lorong aku pun tak pasti. Tiba tiba terdengar bunyi seperti benda berat terjatuh. Sekilas pandang kebelakang ku lihat mat repit yg mengekori belakang ku telah dilanggar van dalam usahanya mengekori motorku dan lain lain mencilok ke sebelah kiri untuk masuk ke lorong motosikal. ‘hendak ku tolong atau tidak’ terdetik di hatiku. ‘ahh… takpelah pasti mat2 motor yg dibelakang akan membantunya ,lagipun kalau aku berhenti pasti aku akan bertambah lambat sampai ke ofis hari ni ‘ bentak hatiku memujuk parasaan bersalah kerana tidak membantu orang yang didalam kesusahan.

Sampai di ofis perasaan bersalah masih bersarang dan fikiran ku menyorot kembali semenjak tahun 1988 aku memegang lessen sehinggalah sekarang sudah terlalu kerap aku melihat kemalangan jalanraya sehingga dengan selambanya aku boleh meninggalkan org yg terkapar2 kesusahan seolah olah esok lusa aku akan jumpa situasi itu lagi dan jika ada masa barulah aku berhenti untuk menolong. Hmmmm itulah negara kita Malaysia , merupakan antara negara yang paling tinggi di dunia mencatatkan jumlah kemalangan jalanraya. Semalam pun berita TV turut menyatakan memandu motosikal 17 kali lebih berisiko daripada memandu kenderaan lain. Statistik suku tahun 2008 sahaja dah mencecah beratus ribu kemalangan http://www.mot.gov.my/BM/stat/darat/mac%201.10.pdf

Menurut kajian punca utama kemalangan ialah :-

Faktor manusia (lebih kurang 85 %)

Faktor persekitaran

Faktor kenderaan

Salah laku jalan raya bermaksud tindak tanduk pengguna jalan raya yang salah, dan mungkin membawa kepada kemalangan jalan raya. Salah laku jalan raya biasanya berkait dengan sikap pengguna jalan raya dan bukan kemahiran pengguna jalan raya itu sendiri. Haaa...maknanya sikap kitalah yang paling jahat sekali yang menyebabkan majoriti kemalangan berlaku. Kajian menunjukkan ‘sikap’ menyumbang sebanyak 85% daripada jumlah keseluruhan kemalangan.Salah laku jalan raya boleh berlaku dalam pelbagai bentuk dan di mana sahaja.

Secara kasarnya ia terbahagi kepada:

1. Kecuaian memandu: bermaksud kelalaian atau tidak berhati-hati yang dilakukan semasa memandu. Perkara ini merupakan satu salah laku kerana perlakuan ini boleh menyebabkan kecelakaan kepada diri pemandu itu sendiri dan juga kepada pengguna jalan raya yang lain. Secara jujur ,pernah dan banyak kali juga sepanjang aku memegang lesen aku memandu secara cuai , sebut sahaja 3 punca kepada kecuaian memandu iaitu tekanan jiwa,memandu tanpa konsentrasi dan mabuk . Majoriti pernah ku lakukan seperti memandu dalam stress, lepas bergaduh , memandu sambil jawab telefon ,sms , bergurau dengan penumpang secara berlebihan , curi-curi tidur semasa memandu disebabkan keletihan yang melampau dan banyak lagi. Nasib baik Tuhan masih sayang kat aku kerana kemalangan yang pernah kualami tidak melibatkan nyawa lagi,paling teruk pun bengkak di pergelangan kaki kanan ku hingga seminggu bercuti. Mungkin ketika itu tuhan memberi peringatan kerana ponteng sembahyang jumaat dan tiba-tiba boss ku telefon ajak teman outstation ke Kuala Selangor dan Sg Besar. Ingat lagi ketika itu aku terus melompat dari sofa tidur ku dan memecut motorku full throttle dari Subang Jaya ke Damansara Uptown. Baru 200m dari apartmentku ada proton satria hijau terpacul di tengah jalan. Apalagi …'superman' lah aku di atas jalanraya hari itu. Alhamdulillah aku selamat , terima kasih tuhan kerana memanjangkan lagi hayatku walaupun aku melanggar perintahmu ,mudah-mudah liku perjalanan hidupkan dijauhi dari kemalangan jalanraya.Amin..
2. Memandu secara terburu-buru: bermaksud memandu dalam gaya yang cepat dan bergegas-gegas. Pekara ini boleh ditafsir sebagai satu kesalahan mengikut Seksyen 42(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan (APJ) 1987 iaitu “memandu secara melulu dan berbahaya hingga mengancam keselamatan pengguna jalan raya lain” dan boleh dihukum penjara hingga lima tahun atau denda minimum RM5,000 atau kedua-duanya.

Aku rasa ramai dikalangan kita disini yang pernah memandu secara terburu-buru.(mengaku sajelah..heheheh..) Semasa remaja kerap juga aku memandu secara melulu , mungkin ketika itu usia muda, darah panas heheheheh… kerap jugalah aku merempit laju laju depan aweks di UITM-ku semata mata untuk mendapat perhatian murahan lagi bodoh. Juga ketika bapaku menghadiahkan kereta kepadaku. Ketika itu ramai kawan kawan yang takut hendak menumpang kereta ku kerana skill memanduku yang hebat setaraf dengan Lewis Hamilton atau Michael Schumacher. Cewahhh.. Tapi , akhirnya apabila usia meningkat tua ..ehh silap dewasa yg tepatnya .Cara pemanduan ku berubah menjadi lebih berdisplin mungkin disebabkan banyak dosa-dosa silam atau takut isteriku jadi balu muda atau takut masa depan anakku melarat agaknya. Itu telahan ku sahaja . Mungkin yang lebih dewasa dari ku di Intralogic ni boleh beri jawapan kenapa secara semulajadi kita lebih menyayangi nyawa bila semakin dewasa.

Pelbagai langkah telah diambil oleh kerajaan untuk mengurangkan kemalangan 52 program akan diadakan dalam Pelan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia 2006-2010 yang menggariskan 9 langkah jangka panjang untuk mengurangkan kadar kemalangan jalan raya dalam tempoh 5 tahun:

• Penambahan dan pengekalan pendidikan serta langkah psikologi;
• Mengurangkan kecuaian manusia dengan menggabung dan mengguna pakai kepakaran teknologi;
• Mempertingkat dan meneruskan program kejuruteraan;
• Mempertingkatkan pelaksanaan program keselamatan jalan raya melalui komuniti dengan membabitkan majikan, pemimpin, ahli politik, ketua agama, pendidik, badan profesional, sukarelawan dan belia;
• Menggalakkan penggunaan kenderaan awam;
• Fokus kepada perbezaan jurang keselamatan jalan raya dengan matlamat mencapai faedah kos optimum dalam pengagihan sumber;
• Menumpu perhatian kepada pengguna jalan raya yang kerap terbabit dengan kemalangan, iaitu penunggang dan pembonceng motosikal, pemandu, penumpang dan pejalan kaki;
• Mengkaji semula dan meningkatkan peraturan keselamatan jalan raya; dan
• Mempromosikan perkongsian dana antara orang awam dan swasta bagi menjalankan program keselamatan jalan raya.
• Lorong motosikal di seluruh negara akan ditambah membabitkan kos RM63 juta.

Walaupun begitu akhirnya tetap bergantung kepada kesedaran dan sikap para pengguna jalan raya itu sendiri. Rakyat Malaysia memang terkenal dengan sifat ramah mesra dan berbudi pekertinya tetapi kenapa apabila menggunakan jalan raya bertukar menjadi kurang ajar dan tidak bertimbang rasa? Adakah sistem pendidikan kita yang terlalu menjurus kepada peperiksaan telah mengabaikan aspek-aspek sahsiah diri seorang itu? Mungkin juga ibubapa gagal memupuk nilai-nilai murni kehidupan kepada anak-anak? Sebelum menuding jari kepada sesiapa, cuba kita periksa dulu diri kita, bagaimanakah cara pemanduan kita?

Point of Authority