Mull over these...

Came across the following entries from my favourite bloggers that made me ponder a little longer than usual.

ONE - Taken from Noresh's post: Chicken Ala Carte

Chicken Ala Carte : Directed by Ferdinand Dimadura Genre: Drama Produced In: 2005

The synopsis says:

This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.

Very touching inde film. I have seen this link posted by a few people in FB as well. Makes you think about that extra scoop of rice you took during breakfast / lunch / dinner and was not able to finish. Makes you think where will that extra piece of chicken meat go if you don't finish them. Makes you really think how could they be so happy when they are actually eating leftovers - not even leftovers, you know.. It's more like sisa-sisa that you'd give to your pet cat. Really sad and kesian, kan?   I think I'd need to show this to my Khadra and Khaleeq to knock some sense and realization to them. Remind me, will you, hubs?

TWO -Taken from Idlan's post: Now it's not everyday that I rant but.. yonks ago. I know, I am lagging, but still... 

It is the story of Ms. Susan Boyle - a going to 48 year old spinster with a magical soulful voice. She is contestant number 43212 in the current Britain's Got Talent. In the pre-performance interview with Ant & Dec, she confessed that, "At the moment, I live alone with my cat, Pebbles. But, I've never been married. never been kissed. Aaahh.. Shamed.." and she added "But, that's not an advert!" 

When she first strutted her stuff onto the stage, she was stuttering, even looked like she was a little slow when she answered the judges. She swivelled her hips when Simon asked her how old she was. "I am 47. And that's just one side of me" Note the judges' rolling eyes and disapproving looks. When she proclaimed that she wanted to be a professional singer - two female audiences at minute 1:24 through 1:26 was going "Yeah right?", "What the hell are you doing here?" , "Are you sure you want to sing?", "Hrm?" - complete with the "Can you actually believe that?"-look. 

Before she even opened her mouth, I could see that some people in the audience and the female judge were secretly hoping , "Please, please.. let this one be able to actually sing." Oh, and sing she really can. :) Watch her on Youtube here. You'll understand what I mean. :)

Good on you, Susan. It just tells you to go for your dream, no  matter how ridiculous it seems to others. I also especially like the article by The Guardian's Tanya Gold. She gave an even more detailed breakdown of what went on that night.  I guess, I wouldn't go as far as saying that she is ugly. But, there is some truth to what Tanya wrote. Female are expected to be beautiful and smart and all that. If you are dog-ugly, then there is no hope for you. You are not expected to do well, nor is there even a slight possibility that you could have a remarkable talent. Most unlikely! There is no reason what-so-ever that anyone should envy you. Why is that so, really? Why don't we have these issues if it was an ugly man standing on Britain's Got Talent stage, instead? (Case in point, that Potts guy who went on to win the show!)

THREE -Taken from Ema's post: 99 Balloons

As usual, if you can't see the video now, click on the link later. 

The video-documentary is about Eliot Hartman Mooney, born on July 20th, 2006 with Trisomy 18 a.k.a. Edwards syndrome. It is a condition whereby there is a presence of an extra 18th cromosome in the baby's DNA. One should also know that this is the second most common trisomy, after Trisomy 21 a.k.a. Down syndrome, occuring in about 1:5000 to 1:8000 births. Unfortunately, Edwards Syndrome is usually fatal, with most of the babies dying before birth and even those who do make it to birth typically only lives for a few days. A small number of babies (<10%)>

Every day is celebrated , every day is God's gift for them to be one more day with their beloved son. It was inspiring to see how they coped with the cards that was dealt for them. It was also way too easy for them not to have felt the gratitude. To blame fate and their miserable fortune. To be bitter at life and God. To be angry. I am just plain amazed by their strength and their faith. How great to see 99 balloons were released on the day of his funeral to mark his 99 days he graced Earth. 

Now, who said that blog-hopping was a waste of time? Didn't you learn a thing or two today?

-dillz blogging out-

Ken Lee

I just can't get enough of this woman. She is Valentina Hasan, a Bulgarian trying to make it in their version of "American Idol". I just love her quiet confidence. Watch her!

I bet you it'll be tops at any karaoke session you might attend in the future. (I can personally attest to that!) So, please feel free to cut and paste the lyrics for memorizing purposes. I don't mind. heh heh heh

No one ken to ken to sivmen

nor yon clees toju maliveh

When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more

new yonuz tonigh molinigh

yon sorra shooo

yes ees shooo, ooo

Ken Lee

tulibu dibu douchoo

Ken Lee

ken lee meju more

Ken Lee

tulibu dibu douchoo

Ken Lee

ken lee meju more

Berhantu, kan? I find myself playing this clip over and over again... And laughing and smiling like a silly cow while staring at my laptop sceen. My colleagues must all think I have finally lost it! heh heh heh

Just love that "tulibu dibu douchoo" part - can't resist it!

If you are like me then you can't get enough of her. So, here's a bit more of her, in a slightly improved (ie. with better English) version. She's called back as a guest artiste in Music Idol - ala William Hung. Cayalah minah ni..

-dillz blogging out-

April, am I a Fool?

It was this day, 7 years ago, I stepped into the HR office to serve my 10-year bond. Teringat pulak adinda zaman dolu-dolu...

I was chosen in 1993 to be one of the scholarship recipients to continue my studies abroad. Off we (all 100 or so of us) were shipped to Kolej Bestari (#4, was it?) in UM for our obligatory 2-months English course. Then, for a 10-day Outward Bound School in Lumut and another 2 weeks of induction course in Taiping. Lucky, eh? Little did I know that this was where lifelong friends were made. We laughed, learnt, cried, camped, gossiped and grew together.

This was the basis of our close-knit support group for our studies (no matter where it was), our work life and now, our family life. At 18-years old, I already had my whole life charted for me. Study A-levels in the UK for 2 years, 3/4 years for my Degree/Masters in Engineering and back to my country to serve "The Company" for 10-years. It seemed like a sweet deal at the time. Damn lucky, I tell you..

I had a lot of fun while I was in Cobham doing my A-Levels. Went horseback riding, boating, camping, rock climbing, even went for an exchange program to the US of A for a month! Especially so with schoolmates like Che Nah, Lisa and Liza. We had loads of fun eating nasi sejuk with KFC brought all the way from Malaysia. The exeats were blissful as we got an apartment to ourselves right smack in the middle of London town! The midnight exploration to Trocadero, the new year celebrations, the makan feasts! All seemed to go as planned when I got my conditional acceptance of AAB into Corpus. Come the day for our results, I got just that! Was I relieved.. I just made it to Cambridge! Lucky, no?

Later, the results was changed to 3As due to my Chemistry teacher's complaint. hah hah *She is sooo sweet, even wrote me a card to remind me to tell my sponsor that I got better results!* I have to admit that I took it easy in Cambridge; went rowing in the morning, (well, not really.. I was the cox, so I kinda shouted more than anything else) going to classes, labs and tutorials, taking part in the Malaysian dances, pot lucks and such but all the time I was silently thinking when will my lucky streak run out. It was just kinda surreal to me.. Can't really explain it.. I even made plans to visit Lily in Australia to spend my summer there. But, as soon as I entered the exam hall, I knew I was not coming back the next year. Suddenly, it hit me. This is it! I'm gonna have to start fresh.

I was a fool. I know. Not many people got the opportunity that I did. Yet, I blew it! After crying my eyeballs out, I decided to face the consequences head on. The problem's not gonna go away just because you are hiding from it. Bounce back, girl.. You know you can do it.. So, I decided that I shall do exactly that! It was decided for me by the powers that be that I shall start my American Degree Program in PPP/ITM , Shah Alam. No credit transfers - just start again, my dear! I wasn't in the objecting mode, so I just kept it low and went to Shah Alam with my tails tucked neatly between my hiney. It so happens that I got to make more lifelong friends and one of them happens to be my soul-mate. *hah hah hah Nasib baik I kena balik Malaysia, kalau tak tak jumpa you, yang!*So, you see, things could not have turned out any better! There is always a silver lining in every storm, if you know where to look for it.

You see, there are many events in my life that I can truly bitch about.

YES, even now..

and NO, my life is NOT a bed of roses, unlike what some people might think.

Just because I don't whine, it does NOT mean that I do not have problems. I believe that everyone gets their fair share of shit. Me, included. I do, however, try to search for the lessons to be learnt, the positive side of things, the goodness in people.. Some may call it being optimistic, some may call me a fool. Call me what you want, it's just my way, my choice to stay happy.

Be rid you negative people. Stay as far away from me! Shoo!

-dillz blogging out-