Moving??? Tell me about it....

I can't recall when was the last time I moved. 11 years ago?? And back then we were staying juz a couple of years in Malaysia. And tell me about moving stuff in a couple of dozen boxes when we moved from Brunei to Malaysia. Still that was back then. NOW when we are all so nice, comfy and adjusted to the environment, we are going to move again, of course to a better place...hehe

Not that I'm complaining. Ok yesss...I'm complaining about the sheer amount of stuff that we have amassed over the past decade plus years. No, I'm not complaining about the new place that I'm going to move into soon. The huge amount of rubbish and useful stuff is probably as high as Gunung Tahan then I have to agree with someone that shifting or moving is one of the biggest, energy-draining, time consuming things that one certainly have to come across in life well at least once...Thank goodness I don't need choppers or cargo planes to move my stuff. Granted, one can move more than once depending on various factors but of course financial status does allow more "moves".

For the first time in a long time I have to think which should be classified as "real rubbish", "soon-to-be-rubbish", "fake rubbish" and "sentimental rubbish". It gets extremely difficult when you begin to develop some emotional attachment to something that brings back sentimental memories and are priceless. Ok, yeah even some sentimental memories can be ranked differently.

Ya sentimental rubbish can be things that people give you, when that particular person is very important to you. But there are so many important people who have given me all these things which had become sentimental over time. So its like trying to discard something based on how important a person who give you that something is. Granted, I would have called up all those people and say.. "You know what.... I'm going to dump that card you gave me because there are better things you gave me later on. "

(Hmmm, I can see something that looks like a chair flying to me right now.)

Moving is indeed one of the hardest things to do. Its not just about moving furnitures, your oven, your gas tanks, the ASTRO satellite dish/decoder, your water heater, air-cond and clothes. Its about thinking what needs to be thrown away if there's already an excess of them. Its also about whether or not you want to have stuff that reminds you of something so poignant, sentimental and touching that you have to continue having it so that one day you can say...AHhh, I remember this...yadayadayda.. Also, figuring where to put those things in the new house. Ok, buying furnitures is not my business but is kind of when we start choosing which is nice. And designing and planning the layout of the house which of course involves the insides and the outsides.

So yes..I'm moving.


WOW talk about moving. Quite a number of people that I know have done that already this year.

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Are the XY species going less??

"If you are thinking of having children and want to have a boy, you might want to book that romantic weekend getaway soon. Boys are getting harder to make, according to a new analysis.

Worldwide, a handful of extra boys have historically been born for every 100 girls. Boys are also more likely to die young, so it all works out by the time they start dating."

Not too sure of the facts here. Since the article referred to only 2 studies. See below >>>>

"Devra Lee Davis of the University of Pittsburgh and her colleagues gathered data on U.S birth ratios from the National Center for Health Statistics. From 1970 to 2001, they found, the number of boys born for every 100 girls dropped steadily from 105.5 to 104.6. Male births among U.S. whites dropped even more steeply, from 105.9 per 100 girls to 104.7."

"The researchers found similar declines in Japan, another industrialized country with excellent birth records. They also found that the proportion of deaths among fetuses after the 20th week of pregnancy (before that, gender can be difficult to determine) has steadily risen in both countries. The data suggest that some, but not all, of the decline in male births is because of fetal loss. The remainder appears to be because of fewer males being conceived."

Does this mean that the world would soon run out of men and is this a good thing? Should we be all concern about this information?


Well if you ask me, I wouldn't but it is worth exploring since those claims came from two countries whose health care system is one of the best in the world but I would not be able to tell if the study carried out is of good quality. How was the study carried out? Were they any difficulties in obtaining accurate data? Though it has does not provide reasons for these claims still I wouldn't believe it yet until more studies are carried out.

But it seems strangely convenient for data to appear in two first world countries to make a claim that "Worldwide a handful of extra boys have historically been born for every 100 girls....." when the 100 girls actually came from US. The lower male births could be attributed to the rapid pace of development for Japan and US, which could have been due to chemicals in the food, water or lifestyle.

If you ask me, these claims are simply atrocious because there don't represent the world as a whole. And if the male species is going extinct, I don't think that two countries can decide the fate of the male species in general.

OK, let's clear this out. The reason why I post this is not in any way, a form of male sexism or chauvinism. As a medical student, more so for a medical research student, we have learned not to accept every darn information from research studies or papers.

Read this on Y chromosome not going extinct. >>>> Link

Because strong claims and even weak claims could have so much impact towards society, that suddenly you see many people start to believe in something so medically significant to the point that they are willing to make dramatic changes in their lives like the antioxidant scam.

You see most people, believe that taking antioxidant pills or tablets will give you a better quality of life. Antioxidants actually prevent damage to cells thus allowing its repair and growth amongst its many functions. Some oxidants can set a precedence towards cancer for example gastric cancer and colon cancer. Unfortunately according to a study, antioxidants administered in pill form is no more effective than taking a placebo.

A meta-analysis study carried out produced some shocking results which is quite a bitter pill to swallow for some...
>>>>>In fact some studies have actually proved that antioxidants cause a SLIGHT INCREASE in cancer.

So for those who wants to still take antioxidants take it from fruits and vegetables.

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The Final 3

Now for my predictions, which seems to have some uncanny similarities with Simon's, since Sanjaya got booted.

First

Second

Third (would be booted out tomorrow.)

Today's performance by Melinda simply shows that she is such a versatile singer, giving her best, IMO in all her 3 performances. Truly I've never seen any other idol coming close to her consistent performance all throughout the show.

I say Jordin has improved aaaa.... lot, and at the age of 17, I say she has great talent.

Blake is not as vocally secure as the rest, of course he's beatbox style is the first of its kind throughout the talent show. I would say he did fine in today's performance. 1st song was bleaaargh... second song better but I can't decide whether the third or second is better. I say its a tie . But he's certainly not my fav...

Though, this is what I predict, I would prefer these results:

Winner: Jordin
Runner-up: Melinda
Third: Blake

Ahem.... simply bcoz, Melinda is already da best!! Why don't we just give Jordin a chance to win it all?? When she can use all the prize winnings to boost her image and jump start her career.

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Sqquiiiished 2

Just an update to the previous post. If you are thinking that the LRT is the most squished of all the public transport at peak hours. Well think again, because the monorail beats it all. Try waiting at Sungei Wang monorail station, and you will be amazed, as I was, that it takes 4 trains to pass by before I can actually get inside the monorail without squeezing and pushing even when a guard is standing at the entrance

Mind you this only happens between 6-7pm at the Sungei Wang monorail station. If you're wandering why I would be so amazed, that is because I never expect so many people to actually line up in their own vaguely defined vertical queues into the train entrance. I never thought the monorail would be so popular given the pricey ticket fare. RM1.20 from Hang Tuah to Bukit Bintang?? RIDICULOUS!!!

So, when it comes to queues defined by people at rush hour into a carriage which is barely even 50ft, the queues almost literally doesn't exist and all our uncivilized demeanour surfaces which really makes you compare us to the Neanderthals back in the Stone Age and testifies to a complete antithesis to our so-called modern day thinking and values.

Only when the 4th monorail came, did I manage to set foot into the air-conditioned metal cylinder a.k.a monorail, which was suppose to ferry people around town. Maybe the monorail should consider increasing their carriages. The squisshed factor was brought to an entirely new level here inside. Thank God for the air conds, if not all of us would be suffocated with the heat and humidity.

Luckily, i only have to bear the "squishness" for 2 stations. Even so, getting out was so difficult because there was practically body contact everywhere and moving around is like rubbing out onto other people's clothes and hands while forcing your way out as if trying to resist some powerful magnetic attraction.

Then there was some "ouches" and groans while trying to carve a path out of the monorail.

Thankfully I didn't have to seat because I wouldn't have to poison my view with all the asses staring at my eyes. (Ok this is a bit of exaggeration)

At eye level, it ain't much better safe for a few crevasses which allows one to look between all the hands and head to the outside world.

If there was any room for improvement for our monorails, I guess there should be more carriages. There should be more guard rails but then again, it's not like 1000s of people take them everyday. More room wouldn't fix it because if it wasn't that packed it would be spacious enough inside. And if it was fatter every station has to be modified to accommodate the extra space.

Is this the Beauty or Bane of Public Transport??

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A Great Imbalance Part 2

I have nothing against Americans. If I met one, I would certainly greet him with the same respect and treat him with the same dignity if I were to meet a Malaysian. No, this is not a racist talk. I seriously respect the more outspoken nature and the more empowered Westerners, when it comes to gaining their rights and speaking on matters which they don't agree. They hold massive rallies, peaceful protests, sometimes violent protests but most of the time, it is without a doubt they manage to get their massage across in a clear and direct manner but of course not always with great success. Unlike for most of us Asians, who more or less settle down with changes especially the bad ones prefer to grumble in silence or just write nice, politically correct letters to dailies or tabloids to get their message across without getting into much trouble.

Sadly even with what I call a more bolder approach on unpleasant or unlawful issues, some things never change. I know I have digress a little but the point I'm trying to make here is that the entire war on terror is so cloudy, hazy and unsuccessful that despite the continuous protests and mockery, President Bush still continues to go on with his war on terror. Has it been successful? Suicide bombers suddenly seem to mushroom everywhere, more killings and the terrorists have even manage to improvise on their methods of causing mass killing, so much so that there is even a restriction to bring water bottles or containers in the airport to US. Ok that was a long time ago. But I don't know if the law has changed.

The result of billions spent....more dangerous terrorists, Osama is alive, Saddam is hanged and Iraq, without Saddam Hussein but nothing more than a wasteland filled with separatists and jihad fighters and now somehow Bush isn't just satisfied with the war on terror. Now he wants to go to war with Iran because they simply don't want to agree to stop their nuclear proliferating activities and allow inspection. It seems that no matter where his troops are, the enemy seems to be able to spawn in even far greater numbers and potency. By right the greatest and most advance army in the world should stem the progress of terrorism. It seems that the seeds have already been sown for more vicious enemies and the world now hates Bush more. Now that he is going on a new term in office, I wander what would he plan to do in his remaining years, will he come up to his senses and address the more pressing issues in his country rather then focusing on terrorism and Iran.

In truth, the battle against terrorism is lost, the billions lost should have been spent for much better things. Already there has been plans to send more soldiers and spent more money to continue the war on Iraq, a place I believe where the war will never end and started by Bush. Already so many soldiers have died, some psychologically affected and yet he needs more soldiers there. I simply can't understand why he has to keep fighting in Iraq despite the clear results from the war on Iraq. It can NEVER finish and it will get WORST. More taxpayer's money spent for nuts and lives lost. The middle east region is already such a volatile region and now he plans to make it worse... Indeed God Save America.

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A Great Imbalance Part 1

It doesn't take a genius to figure, that the world is troubled by a host of problems big and small. If there are such things as aliens, I bet these extraterrestrial beings would be drafting a neat plan to annihilate the troubled human race and start rebuilding this already wretched world if, and only if their intentions are noble.

One of the most troubling events that men has neglected for a long time is the implications of human activity on the weather. Take flooding for example, already about 100 000 people in Johor have been displaced due to severe floods which has consequently disrupted the livelihood of thousands, damaging property, delaying education and also the outbreak of diseases most commonly associated with massive floods. Though most would prefer to think of it as natural, so many thousands of people who had to resort to living in temporary makeshift shelters as a result of the most severe flood in a hundred years definitely isn't just a mere natural coincidence. In the minds of many, a natural occurrence is "safe" thinking. We all would not need to think why the weather is reacting in such a devastating manner, neither the politicians would have to spill more taxpayer's money to figure out how to reduce the damage cause by this unusual natural occurrence so to speak.

Until it comes to a point where the weather system is thrown into complete chaos, then only we would start working, by then it will be too late. So what about a 1 degree increase in temperature. So what if there's sudden increase in rainfall. The weather is not governed by a set of predefined rules. Most people would prefer to think that when the weather pattern changes, it's a once in a blue moon kind of thing until when nature strikes back on our procrastination.

The weather guys has said it all, the world has become warmer and no doubt with great confidence that it is due to human activity. Once upon a time, there was much doubt in this statement (minus the confidence) but that was history. Fast forward into the present, with substantial information and research, it is with great confidence that this statement has been reinforced with all the data collected and money spent over decades of research. There was a time not long ago, an issue like this was raised but swept aside due to more pressing issues like terrorism, the war on terrorism, Osama bin Laden and 9/11. With all the billions of dollars spent on it possibly trillions, Osama is still alive and well, terrorism lives on and the world is now an even more dangerous place thanks to the US led war on terror. When it was revealed that US was the major contributor to the greenhouse effect, they thought that the weather guys were trying to exaggerated, the facts are not right or they just wanted more attention so they downplayed the issue.

6 years had passed since 9/11 Osama bin Laden still walks around like a free men and the world continues to get warmer. This time there was compelling evidence that if we don't plan to safe our planet from heating up, floods will become more frequent, polar ice caps will melt and thus more low-lying cities like Shanghai will be swallowed up eventually. Imagine moving away a population of about 16 million at the last minute....It would be worst than the war on terror!! I seriously hope that President George Bush decides to make a shift from the war on terror to the salvation of Earth from a future weather disaster.

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