tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83509502154918812482024-02-20T00:53:34.358+08:00Venusian on Earthby Jennifer F NettoJ.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-59956199411270756422022-03-12T21:02:00.007+08:002022-03-14T15:26:33.548+08:0022 to M<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg403t37JV3ltEFFEaGBMF6S0J9NgpkyubRYkyqXu_JVY_RtATKORuRBbclRtdzuU2jdrzcGhhbdJZcGdnUQHOct8d7VL7iJT6WY33nuefm5wID9djMJ6MWRkxDlDHHlqAhAKKT_0SMb9rjgGwNbx4bq13Z6JT1Bla5waGKJA9kGF2De4HwIi4Qgiztgg=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg403t37JV3ltEFFEaGBMF6S0J9NgpkyubRYkyqXu_JVY_RtATKORuRBbclRtdzuU2jdrzcGhhbdJZcGdnUQHOct8d7VL7iJT6WY33nuefm5wID9djMJ6MWRkxDlDHHlqAhAKKT_0SMb9rjgGwNbx4bq13Z6JT1Bla5waGKJA9kGF2De4HwIi4Qgiztgg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>From being 43 kilos in my upper secondary years to hitting an all high 101 in August 2020.. yup that’s a size S to a Plus 22, I kept fooling myself thinking I had everything under control when I knew I didn’t.. as much as I was gradually loosing grip on my weight issues and denying the problems in my habits, maybe also a problem due to my high level of confidence regardless of my measurements since I never felt odd being whatever size I was (do read my older post on Living a Plus Size Life), my physiological self decided to teach me a lesson. <p></p><p>Turning pre-diabetic when I weighed point one of a ton (as my husband would say it) was a wake up call. The voice that kept crying to myself on how never to fall into this category of being diabetic, given my family history and being Indian basically, somehow drowned along the years because of all the excuses I use to make while juggling everything in life, which always kept fitness lost somewhere in my dreams. </p><p>I was a very active person in school, stayed active for most of my early twenties but somehow lost my passion and discipline for it hence the outcome. </p><p>One day I just felt odd and decided to do a self-test at home and when I saw my fasting blood sugar reading, I flipped. My GP challenged me, the meds freaked me out, and so it began.. my determination to change my lifestyle because I don’t want to die young and not be part of my grandchildren’s story - I know right, I sound like a woman born in the 1930s but seriously, the fact that I lost my parents when I needed them the most was why I don't understand how I lost my grip on this myself. </p><p>30 kilos and the drop of many many inches later, it all went down proving how habits played a huge role. Cutting out unnecessary calories was the main contributor to my weight loss. First it was eliminating sugar and rice, and stuff you would find in a bakery (yes all of it!) which brought me down by 10 kilos, and then in Oct 2021 I eliminated pastas, noodles, breads, jams, and my most favourite food in the world - peanut butter! In fact this happened quite unconsciously. I had to stay out of town with my daughter for her O-Level exams, and with all the running around, I barely had the time to think about food. When I discovered I had lost some more weight, I traced back to what I did differently and yeah, those stuff not being in my diet, helped me. </p><p>So what do I eat everyday? <br />Protein, vegetables, fruits. Yes I snack on some chips once a while especially when I crave for salt. But I make a conscious effort to not take sugar and all the staying away from it has helped me not to crave for it anymore either. I guess this is one thing you can say goes against the rule of distance makes the heart grow fonder? Hahah! </p><p>Do I feel deprived? <br />Nope. Scientifically it is proven that if you do anything diligently for 21 days, it sticks on. Yeah I knew this while gaining all that weight too, but the thing that lacked was discipline, and the horrors of procrastination. As they say, procrastination is the mother of all fuck ups, hence my fuck up!</p><p>Though managing my diet was 70% of the outcome, I still incorporated road cycling on weekends (targeting a completion of 10km each ride), skipping (300 times) on alternate days of the week, and since October 2021, I got myself on a fitness app called FitOn and I schedule my exercise routines for when I am in the mood, which is almost every other day once I get back from work. I know I needed to get fit to keep my heart from failing so I did that. Indians remember, diabetes and cardiac disease seem to be our trademark. </p><p>I also make a point to get off my office chair, stop staring at the PC, just to walk around campus. I try my best to leave my office on time, so that I get to be home on time for prioritizing myself, and once all that is done, I do spend time again before I sleep or when wake up again at 4am to start my day, to complete whatever unfinished work there is, cook for my family and head off to work. If there isn't any pending things to do, exercise comes before sunrise. I believe in being flexible, no actually I need to have such flexibility so that I don't feel tormented. I can't succeed if such an effort turns into a chore. All these habits have not just helped me lose weight and feel fit, it has helped me tremendously with my lumbar stenosis/sciatica which I was diagnosed with in December 2020. </p><p>In addition to all that, it sure feels great to be able to be extra fashionable as I was in my early years once again, not that I wasn’t when I was a plus plus size woman (remember my confidence level, it never stopped me from looking good and don't get me wrong, if you've been following my blog for the last 14 years, you would know I never linked size or skin colour to beauty, you don't need to be skinny to be beautiful, but I can't deny that clothes are cheaper when they aren’t plus size (at least in Malaysia is the case), cost of living is cheaper when you’re not downing just about any crap under the sun, and yes the medical bills (God willing) goes easy on you besides the potential gastric it can give. </p><p>So to those who have asked me how I did it, and to the person who asked me if I had gone to Turkey last December using my son's tennis trip as a pretense for a weight loss surgery (thanks for making me confirm how strange a person you are), well this is the answer - LIFESTYLE! </p><p>1.5 years since I took serious control of my lifestyle and I am diabetic free, size M, and quite determined to stay that way! Splurge yourself once a while if you want but hey don't kid yourself over that phrase "Cheat Days!"<i> Look out on my next post about that.</i></p><p>To all those who have been messaging me in my social media inbox, applauding me and sharing how inspired you are by what I have succeeded, thank you, thank you, and thank you! Just remember, it's your choice to make a difference for yourself, take control of it and most of all, BE HAPPY! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Disclaimer: Everyone has a unique body and biological adaptations, find the right fit for your weight loss journey. The above is not an advise for everyone, but a testimony of my weight loss journey.</i> <i>This is not an add for FitOn but my personal sharing. </i></p>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-55729218514425696862021-08-22T14:48:00.016+08:002021-08-22T20:28:55.921+08:00Asian Literary Society - ASIA FORUM CHAPTER 7: MALAYSIA<p> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8vdYK8RrJbsj8N6_QRkL2XcUfCEimloJBqZi7DkJT5x19w9BEamr8KMPcXn7FkZCMPuChJrTAeQ7ZIycEKCxMRXKtXwHRHE86VRDu6skk25ct-7cui9T9vPqQbkwKbzYSMqcKUkZakTo/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-08-18+at+12.26.47+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1280" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8vdYK8RrJbsj8N6_QRkL2XcUfCEimloJBqZi7DkJT5x19w9BEamr8KMPcXn7FkZCMPuChJrTAeQ7ZIycEKCxMRXKtXwHRHE86VRDu6skk25ct-7cui9T9vPqQbkwKbzYSMqcKUkZakTo/w640-h410/WhatsApp+Image+2021-08-18+at+12.26.47+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">When I was invited to join the Asian Literary Society and Journal of Asian Art, Culture, and Literature (JAACL) Presentation featuring Malaysian Literature, I wasn't sure if it was truly the platform for me for reasons only I know since I have not really been active in my "Literary Works". We all know, communicative and business writing or research-based science writing is far from the perfect literary world, but I was honoured to be on board as guest panellist in this forum, and to speak about Malaysian Literature - my take on it, and what channels my passion for writing as a published author myself. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">It was a pleasure making new acquaintances with two other renowned Malaysian writers, Professor Datin Dr. Ruzy Suliza Hashim, and Ms. Anuradha Chelliah. Dr Paul was not able to join us due to technical issue but, I've known Paul for some many good years already since we became friends through Aspires - a Facebook group that championed for Mathematics and Science to be taught in English in our National Schools.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="314" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAsianLiterarysociety%2Fvideos%2F361147255625375%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=25" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><u><i><span style="font-family: times;">Questions on the Forum:</span></i></u></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;">Q1)</span><span class="s1"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">What aspect of life in Malaysia does it touch upon in your short stories?</span></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p> </o:p>Life as a woman is usually the central theme to my writing. Our hurdles, our glories. I look for connection that make meaning to the existence of a person. <span class="s2">Interpersonal and intercultural connections. I believe no one can say their life is their own making, we owe someone or some event to shaping who we become.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s2">And with Malaysia being a multicultural country, there are many stories that can be written about hardships, successes, humour and horror and that too from various perspectives. So if there’s a good story to pen, one that carries a good lesson through humour, or horror be it… I’ll pen it.</span></span></i></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><i><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></i></o:p></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;">Q2) Coming from a multiracial country, do you think writers carry the voice of their own race better or is there a biasness to it in regards to post-colonial or political literature?</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p> </o:p><span class="s2">Naturally most writer would feel safe in their own known zone - hence they write within familiar territories.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s2">There’s nothing wrong in writing what you are familiar with or can personally resonate to. However, there are good writers who daringly aspire to be the voice of someone who isn’t defined to their own race, or gender or religion. I think it takes a lot of courage to be such a writer - to have an exclusive level of respect for others and to bring out their story without championing their own race or religion. They can be called the colour blind writers, they write it as is.. fearlessly and with no filters.. only hopes of creating a more inclusive world.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s2">I believe knowing who the writer is gives us a chance to understand the intrinsic meaning of their writing. There’s always a part of themselves embed in their work no matter which voice they carry.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><i><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></i></o:p></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;">Q3) Could you give us an idea about the literature of Malaysia?</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><o:p> </o:p><span class="s2">Well, literature</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s2">in Malaysia is complex. It is a contribution of literary works from many different societies through space and time. We have the independent literature that’s native to each race and then there are those that are influenced by the presence of travellers, traders, and migrants from around the world given the geographical position of our country and the world’s access to us since the very early years of civilisation in fact which we can see resonated even today in our arts and literature. Right now, like many other countries, our literature is evolving and plays a critical role in combating current pressing issue faced in today’s age of globalisation.</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: times;">This Society has opened a new channel in the network of writers for me. It is amazing to see how many people in Asia is connected through the power of words - poetry, short stories, novels etc, and how they bring out the essence of their identity as individuals whose lives are interwoven with the identity of their country and their fellow countrymen. I wish to congratulate its Founder Mr Manoj Krishnan, and Dr. Bishakha Sarma, ALS Administrator who approached me and painstakingly contacted each of us on this forum to have it ready for its live premier, for a job well done and for putting so much effort to create this esteemed network of writers in Asia. Asia is truly rich is culture and it would take more than a lifetime to know everything about its immense beauty through its history, arts, music, food, and most of all people, but the admiration I have for how diverse we are as a continent goes beyond words. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">As yesterday was the first day into my Doctorate journey and my first time as a guest panellist on an International Forum, I am truly humbled and ever so grateful for the opportunities that are coming my way. I am convinced repeatedly that I am nothing without the people around me - my family and my friends, my county and my God. And that I have a lot more to contribute in making the changes I want to see in the lives of those who needs our voices as writers, as neighbours and as friends. We are more connected than we are made to believe, and this experience has made me put a check on the things I have been putting aside for way too long, my true passion to write and publish. I may not be able to make the world a greater place, but I know I can make at least one person's world a more hopeful place through my writing, and that is what I will aim for, one reader at a tine. And as the saying goes - Love Makes the World Go Round, let's continue to create the literature that proves it does and bring the world closer. </span></p></div>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-53892002633741990012021-07-20T20:16:00.003+08:002021-07-20T20:16:44.514+08:00A Hug for the Younger Me<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="Hug and Chill (Science Says It Really Works)" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="340" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/topic_centers/HugItOut_Header.jpg" style="height: 296.03086419753083px; margin: 0px; width: 527px;" width="606" /></p></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking back at the blog posts I have written way back when blogging began for me, it made me recall the things I had been through that got me writing those posts. It was my outlet to vent, to share, to celebrate, to cry... I wish I could go back to that woman and give her a hug for all that she had been through and to tell her you were right to believe you can make it. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have grown a lot since then. Grown to accepting the hardships I faced as a lesson to my personal growth. Who I was 12 years ago or even who I was even 2 years ago, which was the last time I wrote on this blog, are so very different to who I am right now. I am definitely proud of who I've become, someone who swims even in hot water. Yes that's the latest tagline I have given myself - I will swim even if you dunk me in hot water because I have survived and I will continue to do so.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lesser talk these days, lesser reactions to bullshit, lesser waste of energy - that keeps me going. I know how I was always irritated and pissed at the stupid acts others had, but you know what, stupidity will live on just as the cockroaches do and you just need to know how to avoid having them get in your way. I surprise myself a lot too these days by my ability to stay silent when people around me rant impractical ideas. I feel that if they want to feel like they are being heard, then let's just give it to them - eventually someone will tell them its a bad decision, or they'll learn it the hard way. What made me change? Most people don't appreciate an honest constructive comment, they want to feel like they know best, so why be the one to take that away from them? Yeah, I know.. that's mean, but if you're not the one to say it to them, someone else will, so don't waste you time raising your own blood pressure. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p><br /></p>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-42089812238002369502018-03-09T11:41:00.002+08:002018-04-25T15:30:46.371+08:00The Sky Isn't the Limit!I was busy googling for unique facebook bios and found this site that had about hundred plus of it. Went through each and I found this and it is so apt to what I always say against "The Sky Is The Limit" phrase. I don't know who came up with this saying.. but I love it!<br />
Decided to design it in a Facebook Cover and this is it.<br />
💗<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWMe8Ka-b0Y81gg1tBEeO5FeupiYhyphenhyphenzphitWWu-fNBNTzsumvb74Obpz81AqJvf3jeZ7VBIDtu2qBBJD5Bu-oPhgtyG7o-FfKVz68p41dI7AOYbMXpobT-EDisnxJpOu0_KzSIxfMK8_Q/s1600/Celebrate+Independence+Day%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="828" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWMe8Ka-b0Y81gg1tBEeO5FeupiYhyphenhyphenzphitWWu-fNBNTzsumvb74Obpz81AqJvf3jeZ7VBIDtu2qBBJD5Bu-oPhgtyG7o-FfKVz68p41dI7AOYbMXpobT-EDisnxJpOu0_KzSIxfMK8_Q/s640/Celebrate+Independence+Day%2521.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-33452132462214982192018-03-08T11:17:00.001+08:002018-03-08T11:35:35.125+08:00Happy International Women's Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhars4bGu8bg7VJiN4S0VhwRPYh1Oni-kgdPG4pps8BS5xEVRyRLVsiUz4kzcwVbjRIYj4407l9EEnjOKrYMakyKaIU2OC9AHs8gmNnuDzvC9p1Ud54Wpp-HfTuuIJtoTlDEozS5jDy2RWe/s1600/Happy+International+Women%2527s+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhars4bGu8bg7VJiN4S0VhwRPYh1Oni-kgdPG4pps8BS5xEVRyRLVsiUz4kzcwVbjRIYj4407l9EEnjOKrYMakyKaIU2OC9AHs8gmNnuDzvC9p1Ud54Wpp-HfTuuIJtoTlDEozS5jDy2RWe/s320/Happy+International+Women%2527s+Day.jpg" width="320" /></a>Yes, it's 8th of March once again and it's our day! But before I wish you a Happy International Women's Day, I'd like to ask you to ask yourself.. how many times have you wished for a woman to have a stone thrown at her for how much she has pissed you off? Or how many times have you accused a lady of something you have no clue about? Or join in a gossip not to help but only because it gives you the high to know how badly one is behaving or how rotten their life is turning out to be?<br />
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How much do you actually do to make the wrongs in another woman's life, right?<br />
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I may sound like Ebenezer Scrooge right now as he nagged over Christmas, but before we go wishing everyone with ovaries, can we ask ourselves this?<br />
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Just to set the record straight, I'm not a saint with my opinions on other women myself. I do let my annoyance and anger get the better of me, sometimes to the greatest extent of calling one bitch! Because that's the thing right, we think we can just call people whatever we want because we are raged over something they've done to us. Maybe yes sometimes some ladies deserve no respect from us - they've hurt us, spread rumours about us, stab us in the back, rob us of our happiness, etc etc etc. But strangely you know what, our bad reactions can sometimes be worse than what they've done to us.<br />
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Where do we draw the line?<br />
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If you believe in the energy of goodness, you'd say Karma will teach them one day. But the hurt remains and it takes a very courageous woman to put that pain aside and move on with her head held high.<br />
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I've been through a lot this week (not to mention the last 41 years as well) but I know the fact that my pain is nothing compared to the pain many others go through and are still standing strong. To those who are hurting me and stabbing me behind my back, all I can say is have a good time doing it. I hope you eventually find the courage to do it at my face so I can give you a round of applause for being the person you are! As for me, I have more important things to do with my life! And this to me is a growth, from being the person who used to rage over the ill manners some women can have to be one who wishes them well regardless of the crap they do. This is why I want to celebrate women's day! That to me sounds appropriate to the theme UN has adopted for IWD 2018 - Press For Progress. It's my personal progress - to be strong and not cave in the crap.<br />
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I have a mission to accomplish as a mother and a person of my own. I have an obligation towards the people who are associated with me - my friends, my colleagues and my loved ones, even to my country, and if I can't make them happy, at least I don't want to be the person that makes them miserable.<br />
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P.S. But don't get this wrong, if you've hurt me too many times, I'll still forgive you but please don't expect any more associations between us. I don't like to be reminded of the crap put on me.<br />
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So HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY to you!<br />
#pressforprogress<br />
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<br />J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-89052483746536669632016-08-23T16:39:00.000+08:002017-04-11T22:05:53.338+08:00Living A Plus Size LifeI had a rather unexpected yet interesting weekend after discovering a post on FB on what was supposedly or should I say apparently a FAT SHAMING advertisement by Hewlett Packard on their Spectra - the world's thinnest laptop.<br />
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This was brought to attention by fat-positive feminist, sexologist and author <a href="http://www.virgietovar.com/about.html" target="_blank">Virgie Tovar</a> of USA who says HP's new ad is unacceptable, absurd, and body shaming and that its tagline "Power To The Thinnest" is an insult to the fat community - yes you read that right, a laptop's tagline is an insult to the fat community.<br />
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In my amazement of this new world I discovered - a world where people are offended by <b>adjectives</b> used to describe an innovation that has no life within it, a machine with electronics and processors, used to connect with other people and do complete work and create more creations, is being condemned for being hailed thin and light. Really? I did have a hilarious time trying to understand this last Friday. I mean it's a laptop for crying out loud!<br />
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Should I feel offended that the laptop is thin? Or that people like a thin laptop? Or am I offending other plus size people if I go buy a thin laptop? Would that mean I am supporting HP in shaming people who are big like me? Hmmm... wait let me see... I have a Mac Book Air, if apple had any lighter and thinner MacBooks which I could afford, I'd go get that because my God it's a LAPTOP!!!!!! It's not like I'm out shopping for a groom or bride! And if you're walking down the street and you see this ad, how on earth can people think - "HEY! WTF! HP! YOU'RE FAT SHAMING ME!" How else are they going to word their world's thinnest laptop?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpOEeG99Nnss5B_E4kdn4g7qsZ8beswwu-cbh-DhV3pzP8oVbIHj3Q5GwudxYM4b1Oy0dO9Jjh8V0B2eEGI6Kt9KRCxP2uEi71LgF5ALO2MIeSjH-TDi56UpLIHLToAgu0p-wp44XMs4p/s400/tumblr_inline_oc66svRLOq1s3412d_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/does-power-thinnest-ad-campaign-000000314.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw</td></tr>
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What's with the obsession over words that mean the opposite of large? Can't people use them to state a measurement fact? Must the plus size community be so sensitive that it pisses people off thinking we are being ridiculous, expecting the world to change its vocabulary just to accommodate us? It's not a bra they are promoting you know, it's a laptop!<br />
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If HP had advertised its ultra thin laptop in the hands of an ultra thin model and said 'power to the thinnest', ok then go get pissed if you want, yes, fat people buy laptops too. But HP did not do that!<br />
Even with the above image, a slim model wanting to have the laptop - can you imagine if they had put a larger guy in the picture and the laptop being the thinnest in the world, that would have been another cry of insult, definitely claiming it as fat shaming too. Why must a fat guy be subjected to this? You know what, if we live our lives being pissed at everything, we'd be best locked up in a room with nothing around us.<br />
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So if you go get all upset about how an advertisement has worded their products, ask yourself, is that product a living thing? Should I get offended that people want things small and slim while I'm not either one of those? Is it fair to myself and those who might be depending on me to feel positive about themselves to go all berserk over an advertisement that has nothing to do with plus size humans?<br />
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Do I have to give all these words <b>power over me</b>? The power to destroy my self-esteem? If it were that easily destroyed, then I would think, I don't have any to begin with.<br />
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If you are big, as I am, and have no reason to believe you need to lose weight (I don't think that way by the way - I'd like to lose the weight I gained due to child birth and an inactive thyroid but I'm no less confident and I am happy with the woman I am today!) and is happy with the figure you are in; you celebrate life just the way you are, then don't go around expecting changes in things that don't fall in the category of true shaming towards you as what is put out by Virgie, or her followers.<br />
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I believe it is important to chose your fights. Don't scream discrimination over everything and anything without seeing it from a different, non absurd perspective. Keeping such an approach can only drive out all the seriousness placed on your cause (body positive) even when it truly means making people stop fat-shaming.<br />
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Empower the younger generation and the old by showing they are above adjectives! We don't need to customise the world to make it perfect for us, we only need to make sure HUMANS treat other HUMANS of any size with respect - this includes the plus sized not insulting the thin!J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0Malaysia7.013667927566642 101.249998-71.085941072433357 -63.984376999999995 85.113276927566645 -93.515627tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-8475570351155702802016-07-07T22:15:00.003+08:002016-07-07T22:16:21.412+08:00Of Pandas, Boyhood and PicturesI guess I can say that I lost the liberty to watching a movie on its release date the day I delivered my first child. No, I am not complaining! I'm merely stating a fact. As much as it was fun doing the things you can do before you're entrusted with a little baby in your life, watching a movie after a year or two or a decade later is still a good thing than not watching one at all. Anyway, since it is the Raya holidays this week, I managed to catch up on my movie viewing and watched Kung Fu Panda 3, Boyhood and Movies & Pictures.<br />
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KFP3 had many mixed reviews online, but the thing about me, is no matter what others say about a movie, I need to be the judge of it. Anyway I loved it! As I did for KFP1 and 2. It was funny and inspiring as always. The connection between all three movies I believe flowed well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7iyJCc1ju49I1dmr7mAhOB9tZJxeKLBGIxp3RSJqpHpUxzzJBmoPdqqRm59QiqAyO6TfP1mrOWiyzCKMNcWMe-8ymuA8uFSjMVUZOYDAmKTL-7DwpJqoQLqGyaoehvOLDzR_iFo6jmp6/s1600/13567265_10209935621046580_8980870039138399908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7iyJCc1ju49I1dmr7mAhOB9tZJxeKLBGIxp3RSJqpHpUxzzJBmoPdqqRm59QiqAyO6TfP1mrOWiyzCKMNcWMe-8ymuA8uFSjMVUZOYDAmKTL-7DwpJqoQLqGyaoehvOLDzR_iFo6jmp6/s320/13567265_10209935621046580_8980870039138399908_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: Dreamworks</td></tr>
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Then there was Boyhood, that was a 172 minutes well spent, but it would have been torture for anyone who hated constant silence as was the case for this. I guess the part that made meaning to me was when the mum screamed her anxieties at her son just before he left her apartment for college.<br />
End of the day, you wonder what life is suppose to be about when you've completed your duties in raising your children and they head on with their own lives. Are we suppose to think, ours is over? I highly doubt so. Motherhood should be about discovering and creating yourself and when your kids have their own wings to fly, shouldn't we take flight to?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVyUkS6byhVrDSn2ntpuaAnUHKmuh0apHH7PC4o0EGtVJIZ5KNiucO03Sfe3NS72oPZMkFHvHTqHXQj0a_G3r4z9isK_mO3OWP9wfc6fFcSR9AQos2cyJyCYNipRGgV-_CVO8c0W38Vas/s1600/13615345_10209951645887191_6080414349809519594_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVyUkS6byhVrDSn2ntpuaAnUHKmuh0apHH7PC4o0EGtVJIZ5KNiucO03Sfe3NS72oPZMkFHvHTqHXQj0a_G3r4z9isK_mO3OWP9wfc6fFcSR9AQos2cyJyCYNipRGgV-_CVO8c0W38Vas/s320/13615345_10209951645887191_6080414349809519594_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534661786990175435/</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzb9_C0KfbYLNrPzQPIr0EykFcaB_jfrEMFVbxDL2s1lALFX4-5P_N1OWub46WnOe2GMhk2Leu4rXT1ILw-ExF33uHlf2-1155SarHOwCnRpi-a5P1e3EvsZ7lyJnuEeqUNHedcdfXRbk/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzb9_C0KfbYLNrPzQPIr0EykFcaB_jfrEMFVbxDL2s1lALFX4-5P_N1OWub46WnOe2GMhk2Leu4rXT1ILw-ExF33uHlf2-1155SarHOwCnRpi-a5P1e3EvsZ7lyJnuEeqUNHedcdfXRbk/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://fatimaramosdelcano.com/2015/02/17/los-mejores-press-book-de-lo-mejor-de-los-oscars-2015-vol-7-boyhood/</td></tr>
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And finally, Words & Pictures, the movie I have been waiting for, for so long! Finally watched it and the wait was worthwhile. Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche played their roles so nicely and watching him whisper words of intellectuality after their evening together, clearly defines the meaning of saposexualism - being attracted to someone's intelligence. In the end, I believe, art and words are essential and if possible, one should not be without the other. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd8YfykvvRBvMAJaldKYlyJwm_BvRjxTiba0FJGd4s_YU6-AapCLePm5daYFmvROwXPvgt4wyfszWxr5RT8FkgQcWuXjx03EBKH6RzyampoBof3nstHQgqjqNJ3a_xSBE8LvCK8uPuvv8/s1600/13606893_10209937762140106_6227613934396979693_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd8YfykvvRBvMAJaldKYlyJwm_BvRjxTiba0FJGd4s_YU6-AapCLePm5daYFmvROwXPvgt4wyfszWxr5RT8FkgQcWuXjx03EBKH6RzyampoBof3nstHQgqjqNJ3a_xSBE8LvCK8uPuvv8/s320/13606893_10209937762140106_6227613934396979693_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-57871064698628342642016-06-03T09:27:00.001+08:002016-06-03T13:22:48.138+08:00Your Name Is Your Shield<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcnaea30jxIscnn7CTj_M2sb-XlWC5gn_a7GEXiiJMmSD8qsQdVNOs3T4XoOVdMDxF6yFX4smanFGx0DQyojK1f3h04o-80eAXpxNUKS0t2eNZhetBcb9xpOztpXi6LOTMu88ccWuNNIS/s640/blogger-image--502580355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcnaea30jxIscnn7CTj_M2sb-XlWC5gn_a7GEXiiJMmSD8qsQdVNOs3T4XoOVdMDxF6yFX4smanFGx0DQyojK1f3h04o-80eAXpxNUKS0t2eNZhetBcb9xpOztpXi6LOTMu88ccWuNNIS/s640/blogger-image--502580355.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's a wonderful opportunity to revisit Alex Haley's book - ROOTS in the reimagined series by History Channel that was aired first on Memorial Day in the US.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Growing up, I remember the weekly anticipation my family experienced in watching Kunta Kinte in action. We never called the show by its actual name - Roots (1977), we named it Kunta Kinte.</div><div><br></div><div>It was a highly memorable period for many families who owned a TV set back then. Emotionally intensed and heart breaking at every point in every episode - learning how slaves were traded and treated like animals instead of humans. How a family struggled from one generation to another. How no African slave had the right to their own life, and how within 24 hours, one's fate could change tremendously for the worse. </div><div><br></div><div>Now after 30 years, watching Roots (2016) on TV with my little children, the emotions are even more intensed for me. With age of course you begin to understand the intensity of history. Of how things happened to shape the world we live in today. </div><div><br></div><div>In Roots (2016), phrases such as </div><div>- your name is your shield</div><div>- family matters most</div><div>- honour your ancestors </div><div>- live in dignity and honour</div><div>- behold the only thing that's greater than you (the universe!);</div><div>all these speak loudly to its viewers through this series.</div><div><br></div><div>Evaluate our present lives and we'll see how little people care for such substance and how unwilling people are to fight for our loved ones, our name, our roots. </div><div><br></div><div>Night 3's episode where Kizzy says goodbye to Marcellus, choosing her son and daughter-in-law over love shows how much a women sacrifices for the safety of her children and would do so even if it kills her. That was an honorable and heart-breaking scene to watch especially for a woman who was raised so gracefully by Kunta and Belle and had her life turned upside down because she was caught being able to read and write. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1uPsShyshBaQWJYMk7HyS3WjzhBL3TzAcQn7s8_cVoZAS_bh4zIT2yL99Hk2h_YkHPnjlHuUXV5bSBihKoHScoBRvVO_dwDRHAWAXODaqbz2kD43faH-TF9QV8tXnUR0YOAG9XeUg8v-/s640/blogger-image-170122492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1uPsShyshBaQWJYMk7HyS3WjzhBL3TzAcQn7s8_cVoZAS_bh4zIT2yL99Hk2h_YkHPnjlHuUXV5bSBihKoHScoBRvVO_dwDRHAWAXODaqbz2kD43faH-TF9QV8tXnUR0YOAG9XeUg8v-/s640/blogger-image-170122492.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My 9 year old son, upon seeing Kizzy dragged away, sold off to a new master because they found a letter of freedom she had forged for her boyfriend Noah, asked me what's wrong in knowing how to read and write? Knowledge is power and if you have it you are a threat back then. Even now not much of that idea changed. How governments control what we can and cannot learn. Segregation of elite and non elite groups. It's pretty much still in existence. Whenever I read about how women were persecuted for being able to read, I always tell my children, you have the opportunity to be educated so don't take it for granted! Remember the many who yearn for it and get persecuted instead. Educate yourself and use it to make the world a better place for your children! </div><div><br></div><div>Hence it sickens me when I hear people question why their children need to study certain subjects in school. There are even teachers who make statements like this on subjects such as ICT & RBT, calling it a waste of time. Really? When people in some parts of the world get shot for wanting to learn, here we have a different, more privileged way of taking education for granted.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm not an African American, but this history touches me very deeply. History has a lot to teach us when we evaluate the story told wisely. Of course it has to be history with a true account and not one manipulated by politics. </div><div><br></div><div>Here's something I cannot help but compliment after reading it on FB. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The caption to this post is very true. <i><b>Those who forget their past are condemned to repeat it.</b></i> We are suppose to make something better of our lives than the ones our ancestors had. They fought to break the chains bound to their hands and legs; to break free from the masters who owned them and abused them. Remember their trials and let not your generation now and the ones to come be bound to the unseen masters that insidiously destroys one's existence, one's root! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><div><b>Live and don't waste your life!</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>#roots</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WvGpuqZjRDmSfZb2yWffoXUdA8nv-Sb8o3DTL4CKCnMZxSTL8mZG1KuOY60Kb91hKLl1jXN5GIoNOaeGwDi7LvP7cOOYvBSfZzUgYpHNe5soAqR7lIkewlJl3jx6pdny7VdXuyj5n1kJ/s640/blogger-image-918739101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WvGpuqZjRDmSfZb2yWffoXUdA8nv-Sb8o3DTL4CKCnMZxSTL8mZG1KuOY60Kb91hKLl1jXN5GIoNOaeGwDi7LvP7cOOYvBSfZzUgYpHNe5soAqR7lIkewlJl3jx6pdny7VdXuyj5n1kJ/s640/blogger-image-918739101.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-33103020753210434022016-05-31T22:16:00.000+08:002016-05-31T22:17:06.472+08:00Citizen's ArrestWith everything that goes on these days, the words common sense being uncommon keeps sounding again and again in the media and in casual chats among friends and family, so often that we don’t give a damn anymore about it.<br />
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While being able to say what is and isn’t sensible, not many are willing to reprimand a wrong doer. Why? Is it because they don’t have the guts? Do they feels it is not their business or think someone else will deal with the correctional actions? Does it only become a hot topic of discussion on a social media site because most people are all about talk and not action? We just allow people to do what they want and give a blind eye to it - it’s more convenient that way because you want to avoid being physically injured by the other party for telling on them.<br />
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Imagine if we still practiced <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen%27s_arrest" target="_blank">citizen's arrest</a>?<br />
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How many people would be summoned for all the wrong things they do?<br />
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For littering (including throwing trash out of their vehicles) and illegal waste dumping, for vandalising public property, for peeing in open areas, for double parking, for smoking in non-smoking areas, for being drunk and disrupting public peace, road bullying and so many more.<br />
If only we had the right to apprehend them.<br />
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Everyday, without fail, you will see people taking things for granted and being so irresponsible towards nature and breaking the law on so many micro matters that if continues long enough would show insidious results.<br />
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It’s as if education was wasted on them and since education is not making citizens ethical, what else would?J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-23407324210631587432016-01-14T20:33:00.001+08:002016-05-15T22:17:33.517+08:0021st Century Educators<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Being a teacher in the Internet era is a completely different ball game with information being accessible to students at the tip of their fingers. </div></span></div><div><br></div><div>Being an educator in the 21st century, we need to keep ourselves updated and convey knowledge that is credible in order to gain our pupils' respect and this is not confined only to science and technology subjects but everything in the curricular including art. We need to be able to incorporate different teaching and learning methods to continuously capture the attention and interest of our students. </div><div><br></div><div>Are we technology savvy enough to be functioning as educators of the 21st century? </div><div><br></div><div>We live in the time where learning and learners are no longer the same as yesteryears. We've evolved so much that even <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">projects and presentations are no longer made on art blocks, manila cardboards or PowerPoint but made as video presentations and podcasts.</span></div><div><br></div><div>We need to watch what we say when we teach - say something ridiculous and parents who are no longer Grade 6 school leavers will come after you. I know I do with my children's teachers - no not because I want to act smart but when I know for a fact something is taught wrongly it needs to be corrected for the benefit of all learners of that teacher's - present and future. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGOHDAOfwl4R_qYtbmeDd7LlYZXqzXXLDzjLnqFLxyZ2hFsyR4Jz6LjnwWK9sYgwwqPFZX2aGKhsggiOi9D1u8ijOgqVHOQ4M8KH9G6Yg0aHlKoOQSEoY9k2YEtAyLGaEd2y-lQGOZDEm/s640/blogger-image-1016720853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGOHDAOfwl4R_qYtbmeDd7LlYZXqzXXLDzjLnqFLxyZ2hFsyR4Jz6LjnwWK9sYgwwqPFZX2aGKhsggiOi9D1u8ijOgqVHOQ4M8KH9G6Yg0aHlKoOQSEoY9k2YEtAyLGaEd2y-lQGOZDEm/s640/blogger-image-1016720853.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>What's horrifying is how many teachers fail to improve themselves and when they are questioned, queried or even spoken of on social media (which is the in-thing these days) they get offended! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8PH6EWEm7HjQqcQw_6TX4Rg18u8pQjX7m3TENHTYzhyNh2DRGM-4R3yad7w6mbbPfw5xzoL4p1M3QKnAs77NCV_4TB3DXz8jz8iCKnbqkWXtdJoNGO00a3Y0u7Hj4N_BSZhJOXLUFRHB/s640/blogger-image-1425058646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8PH6EWEm7HjQqcQw_6TX4Rg18u8pQjX7m3TENHTYzhyNh2DRGM-4R3yad7w6mbbPfw5xzoL4p1M3QKnAs77NCV_4TB3DXz8jz8iCKnbqkWXtdJoNGO00a3Y0u7Hj4N_BSZhJOXLUFRHB/s640/blogger-image-1425058646.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We should move up with time. We no longer live in the era where teachers are synonymous to almighty. We need to know what we are talking about in order to survive this fast paced world. Lag and we'll fall flat on our face and we'd only have ourselves to blame for the joke we've made of ourselves. </div><div><br></div><div>We can't keep blaming the system when a lot truly lies within the hands of the educator itself. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm6ss6DWF2aWCkuEvr6VNcScjvgjSZEsosWk76Kyf911WRkFEmwRE7gm62PbdysmbvvH5htK5zsqwM14uLs9NU_CnF3n7dhxjHgz37ubns1Ked1tRaq-IigKcVOJ8AP3JTYgxo0Q7JSRE/s640/blogger-image-1081866946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm6ss6DWF2aWCkuEvr6VNcScjvgjSZEsosWk76Kyf911WRkFEmwRE7gm62PbdysmbvvH5htK5zsqwM14uLs9NU_CnF3n7dhxjHgz37ubns1Ked1tRaq-IigKcVOJ8AP3JTYgxo0Q7JSRE/s640/blogger-image-1081866946.jpg"></a></div><br></div>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-57153854071141252712015-12-06T12:17:00.001+08:002015-12-06T12:27:35.562+08:00When Are You Getting Married?Ladies who are yet to be married really face a lot of bullshit from those around them. <div><br></div><div>As if it isn't difficult enough to find someone suitable for yourself, you are further tortured by having to justifying to every aunty, granny and sometimes even to the people who play no role in your life. <div><br></div><div>There many 'pun'ny replies already out in the open for you to use, but this, which I found yesterday, on the Internet, is by far the BEST! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv6oFIIDkMCCmmqEiaGPmEiSUc_QW7Lyh_fpc3D1xn3E35-8k3GxAVyCuYGz2geVqYtwjtzjTOtw-VZvi_fHqemIFfCWxCdmNw1BiB2iSj37ulWIGCyVyQdmDQZgIsf3298BY2wTcmNCH/s640/blogger-image-558982905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv6oFIIDkMCCmmqEiaGPmEiSUc_QW7Lyh_fpc3D1xn3E35-8k3GxAVyCuYGz2geVqYtwjtzjTOtw-VZvi_fHqemIFfCWxCdmNw1BiB2iSj37ulWIGCyVyQdmDQZgIsf3298BY2wTcmNCH/s640/blogger-image-558982905.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It sure cracked me up! L.O.L 😂</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Who ever came up with this need an award!!! Hahahahaha </div><br></div></div>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-25044390796309504102015-12-06T07:21:00.003+08:002015-12-06T07:45:37.093+08:00Art Therapy or Torture?<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3fmzUwWVfrSL756ZTKtuU5yV_jcLWMKsZ3P0j5SHasxmMwihupekOJcTC-w3mRvfItwn1UWRCVqAGhjxY9ci2r4qYsIzde6OkFQwa2HYhdhG9xTCOgfNeNNHl8I9AqDhH_NOUOf9ocmd/s1600/jskudf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3fmzUwWVfrSL756ZTKtuU5yV_jcLWMKsZ3P0j5SHasxmMwihupekOJcTC-w3mRvfItwn1UWRCVqAGhjxY9ci2r4qYsIzde6OkFQwa2HYhdhG9xTCOgfNeNNHl8I9AqDhH_NOUOf9ocmd/s320/jskudf.jpg" width="224" /></a>Do not be mistaken, I love colouring and I love art, but somehow, surprisingly, whenever I look at these adult colouring books that are now so abundantly sold in local bookstores, I find myself suffering with palpitations rather than calmness.<br />
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Strangely, I’m not attracted to them and I am shocked at my inability to grab a colouring book now that I can find them everywhere and not just on Amazon. Anyone who knows me well would know exactly how much I love to draw and colour both for leisure and work. </div>
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I’ve seen the posted images of the colouring pages done by my friends on FB and some of them have such talent to make their colouring seem just like a laser printed image. They must have been supremely calm? Bravo to them all!<br />
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Believe me, even to write this post about this topic is giving me a torturous ache in my chest, and writing is supposedly the one thing that calms my nerves down. </div>
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Well, I guess the judge of how therapeutic or torturous a hobby is, still remains personal.<br />
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To those who have found joy in reliving their childhood moments with their colour pencils - I say well done and keep it up, do more and post them for everyone to see. You should be proud of yourself!<br />
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To those like me (unexpected really!), I say please don’t kill yourself and go back to gardening, or sewing, or baking, or reading a book as your means of therapeutic calmness - you don’t need to take on something new just because it’s trending in the market right now, and in my case, give my heart a break! </div>
J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-91238098942749622392015-03-08T00:24:00.001+08:002015-03-08T00:46:54.249+08:00Happy International Women's Day 2015<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We've come to that time of the year again, where we honour and celebrate the women who had fought for equality, strived for peace and justice, those who reached great heights and those aspiring to do great things.</span></div><div><br></div><div>We celebrate and honour the women who have their names <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">constantly</span><br>mentioned in the media for their honorable deeds, women who have made it into our history books for their achievements, and those whose names are engraved and highlighted in the hearts of their loved ones - the ordinary yet extraordinary women like you and me.<div><br></div><div>The role of a woman is beyond limits, you and I know that and we also know that when we put our mind and heart to something, we can take it real far and reach the greatest height of success. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I always tell the people around me that we all have a purpose in life, no matter what our influential value is in society, we all have been given a role and a task to perform, we only need to discover it. These days, I've found myself saying so to my children too, either in context to their own life or in the books and movies, as well as the news that they've come in contact with</span></div><div><br></div><div>Therefore, in line with this year's theme, '<i>Make It Happen', </i>I'd say, </div><div><br></div><div>1. Make your dreams happen! Do not give excuses for yourself and most of all do not doubt yourself. If anyone gets in your way and thinks you can't, tell them to stand on the side and watch as you make it happen! </div><div><br></div><div>2. Stand up for what is right, most importantly women's rights, and not for a minute say "this is not my quest" or "this is not my business". You'll never know, how your lifting of a finger could help change another person's life for the better.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Embrace your status - single, married, widowed or divorced, you're not in a hopeless place no matter what your circumstances are. Ignite happiness so that others can feel it's warmth and be consoled. It's a great feeling to know someone cares, it's even greater to know you're safe. If you don't think you have it all, don't be envious of those who have it a little better than you. Remember, everyone fights a battle of their own. Don't hope to be someone else other than a better person you were yesterday. </div><div><br></div><div>4. Forgive! It really helps you lead a fruitful life. If you can forget, better still, but if you can't, you can just move on and conclude you have nothing in common with your wrong-doers and wish them well anyway. </div><div><br></div><div>5. Be a beacon of hope to the younger generation of girls and educate the little boys around you to grow up respecting their opposite gender. No matter what role you hold, a mum, an aunt, a grandmother, a sister or a teacher - you have a moral obligation to raise your girls with values that can help them through their life and to teach our young boys that they are equal to women - not greater but EQUAL!</div><div><br></div><div>6. Make the right choices every time possible. Your kids/siblings/friends will appreciate you and learn from you.</div><div><br></div><div>So go make a difference!</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Remember, if you've made a difference in one person's life, be certain that its rippling effects will go far. </span></div><div><br></div><div>Happy International Women's Day 2015! </div><div>We may all be different in our color, race, nationality and creed but we have one thing in common - we are women and the power to change the world lies in us!✌️</div></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcTzS7JwJ0hx3hDa5VTA8n3RSMAO1VjtVrSG4hXS4qHjQyLs5fW-o45TZzY9bhs0Mk8wNSz4hapQRi3fDiqMKRxT6DD2CzRjkOH74xsPTLkgQBVrz8suNOyWP0Z7FPT23jdwr0_12NZdz/s640/blogger-image-1256189916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcTzS7JwJ0hx3hDa5VTA8n3RSMAO1VjtVrSG4hXS4qHjQyLs5fW-o45TZzY9bhs0Mk8wNSz4hapQRi3fDiqMKRxT6DD2CzRjkOH74xsPTLkgQBVrz8suNOyWP0Z7FPT23jdwr0_12NZdz/s640/blogger-image-1256189916.jpg"></a></div>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-83742393481548547392015-01-22T05:39:00.001+08:002015-01-22T05:39:37.229+08:00Parenting Advice From The KURAL (Indian Sangam Literature)<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1. If your child lies to you often, it is because you over-react too harshly to their inappropriate behaviour. </span></div><div><br></div><div>2. If your child is not taught to confide in you about their mistakes, you've lost them. </div><div><br></div><div>3. If your child had poor self-esteem, it is because you advice them more than you encourage them. </div><div><br></div><div>4. If your child does not stand up for themselves, it is because from a young age you have disciplined them regularly in public.</div><div><br></div><div>5. If your child takes things that do not belong to them, it is because when you buy them things, you don't let them chose what they want. </div><div><br></div><div>6. If your child is cowardly, it is because you help them too quickly. </div><div><br></div><div>7. If your child does not respect other people's feelings, it is because instead of speaking to your child, you order and command them. </div><div><br></div><div>8. If your child is too quick to anger, it is because you give too much attention to misbehaviour and you give little attention to good behaviour. </div><div><br></div><div>9. If your child is excessively jealous, it is because you only congratulate them when they successfully complete something and not when they improve at something even if they don't successfully complete it. </div><div><br></div><div>10. If your child intentionally disturbs you, it is because you are not physically affectionate enough. </div><div><br></div><div>11. If your child is openly defied, it is because you openly threaten to do something but don't follow through. </div><div><br></div><div>12. If your child is secretive, it is because they don't trust that you won't blow things out of proportion. </div><div><br></div><div>13. If your child talks back to you, it is because they watch you do it to others and think its normal behaviour.</div><div><br></div><div>14. If your child doesn't listen to you but listens to others, it is because you are too quick to make decisions. </div><div><br></div><div>15. If your child rebels it is because they know you care more about what others think than what is right</div><div><br></div><div>Share this with other parents if you think they could benefit from such advice. </div>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-66702812066552072532014-09-04T14:21:00.003+08:002014-09-04T14:22:10.573+08:00PG Recommended <div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb6t2uVkD-kjKmASn73WvJ9t5M7GNeyoa509055Fw0ymlW-rVcwqeaSJHCcpaDFicHNaSzpPq5bd-1EI_G5wd2TwOzj_cFwUFgGyjOmcRdyDc5k1Fs63dHRpfZblAdcu30e7p-RntBggA/s1600/523px-OFLC_large_PG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb6t2uVkD-kjKmASn73WvJ9t5M7GNeyoa509055Fw0ymlW-rVcwqeaSJHCcpaDFicHNaSzpPq5bd-1EI_G5wd2TwOzj_cFwUFgGyjOmcRdyDc5k1Fs63dHRpfZblAdcu30e7p-RntBggA/s1600/523px-OFLC_large_PG.png" height="152" width="400" /></a></div>
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Only recently since my children started watching Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon's noon shows which are meant for older children, did I notice each show now comes with a TV parental guide. I decided to look at the list of cartoons and their rating from those 2 channels and surprisingly, only less than quarter of Cartoon Network’s shows are actually meant for general viewing, some even comes as TV-PG-D which means its dialogue has sexual connotations. </div>
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It’s good that cartoon network has a parental control guide and I wonder how strictly parents follow them. In fact many times, although cooking in the kitchen, I have heard on Disney Junior and Disney Channel, characters addressing each other as “LOSERS” and throwing word like “DAMN”, etc.</div>
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I know in the end we can’t bubble wrap our child, I mean, we grew up with TOM and JERRY, and ROAD RUNNER as our cartoons. Look how well we turned out? Well, I can only speak for myself and my friends but I must say we never went running behind anyone calling them horrid names, and being bullies, but may be those cartoons thought us how to deal with bullies and how not to turn into one? There are many lessons in life that one can subconsciously gain from cartoons. </div>
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Whatever the case, the shows we let our children watch, or play on their devices leave an impact on them socially and psychologically and the way they carry themselves. The first signs to know when things are not right, is the language they speak when they are angry about something or with someone. Their choice of anger words and their body language must be observed and if required, evaluated and advised appropriately.<br />
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However, like the mischievous cartoon characters we come across on TV, some kids are very smart at pretending in front of their elders and being a real menace behind. Since my children started studying at a new school, my son especially has a lot of complains to share with me about the type of kids in his class especially about one particular boy who ability to switch modes just shocks the living daylight out of us. His parents of course believes no one but their son and that’s when you wonder, what’s going on back at home and how do these kids do it?<br />
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So the next time your kids watch something on a kiddy channel, don’t forget to check out if the show is meant for their age and exposure. These codes serve as a purpose - guidance for us as parents. </div>
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J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-86254416968094149272014-09-03T10:31:00.002+08:002014-09-03T10:35:43.233+08:00The Book Bucket Challenge - are you up for it? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The famous Ice Bucket Challenge brought about the Rice Bowl Challenge and as you see, the Book Bucket Challenge too. Listing 10 books and nominating your friends to do the same but for what purpose, is the big question.<br />
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The story behind the Book Bucket Challenge is clearly written in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/What-The-Book-Bucket-Challenge-Is-All-About/articleshow/41508614.cms" target="_blank"><i>The Business Insider of India</i></a>’s article - being a charity drive to increase literacy rate and donation of books to villages by setting up one village, one library concepts initiated in Kerala, India, the land with 93.91% literacy rate (2011 census). <br />
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Anyway, over on the social media platform, we see this challenge going around and the question that comes to my mind is, what am I going to do with the 10 books I’ve listed? Donate them to the town library? The my club library? Display it on my soon to set-up library? Honestly, I’m very attached to my books, physically, mentally and emotionally. I want these books to be read by my kids and their friends if they are interested so what can I do in form of charity? I need to contemplate on it and come up with an answer for myself. Till then, lets do it the way some people have re-invented it to be; a challenge to '<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203774458614184&set=pcb.10203774479734712&type=1&theater" target="_blank"><i>FINDING YOUR BEST PAL</i></a>’ through books.<br />
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With that here is my list:<br />
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#BookBucketChallenge<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">1. The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas - John Boyne </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">2. Luka And The Fire Of Life - Salman Rushdie</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">3. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">4. The Fifth Child - Doris </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Lessing<br />5. Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Hurston<br />6. Inside the Whale - George Orwell<br />7. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde<br />8. The Sky Burial - Xinran<br />9. Desert Royal - Jean Sasson<br />10. The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella </span>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-77940269547455121962014-06-17T18:20:00.002+08:002014-06-17T18:22:38.478+08:00Game Of Thrones Theme Song <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Don’t ask me why this a post on my blog - I’m a HUGE FAN of everything G.O.T, that’s why!</div>
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<iframe height="298" src="http://www.noteflight.com/embed/0aea0f20f7606a5d9efba54c803c21d8681c94ff?scale=1" width="640"></iframe>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-1874069322171336242014-06-16T09:25:00.001+08:002014-06-16T09:32:53.513+08:00Pool Toys vs Beach ToysIf you took a minute to google these two items<br />
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<li> Beach toys</li>
<li> Pool toys</li>
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and look at the images that appear in your search results, you’d know the distinct differences between these two sets of toys, which are:<br />
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<li> their texture </li>
<li> their edges</li>
<li> their purpose</li>
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The reason I decided to write this post today is because I am deeply annoyed with parents and guardians who think it’s absolutely alright to place their toddlers in a kid’s pool (not private) and along with that child, dump a bag full of BEACH TOYS, which ultimately would float away and cover the entire pool of kids.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Beach toys are called BEACH TOYS for obvious reasons - they are meant to be used on the beach!!!!! The beach is where there is sand for raking and shovelling - activities which require edges to craft and shape. Do you think a rake is appropriate in a pool where kids are jumping and mini diving into water which is supposed to be clear of sharp and pointy objects? </span><span style="text-align: left;">NO, it’s not the place for it. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Responsible parents and guardians would know, or rather should learn to know that in a bag of beach toys, only one or two items deem fit for a play time in a pool, such as the watering can or pail and the round head spoon which can be lots of fun for your child to scoop and fill water. </span></div>
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You don’t go dumping EVERYTHING you have in the bag of toys into the pool and create a hazardous environment for other people’s children. Accidents can happen in many ways and the most common one is with kids who have difficulty in sharing their toys and end up using their toy as a weapon to hit another kid - something I have witnessed many times and for many years in my life - kids being hit and scared by rakes and shovels. It’s not a pretty sight especially when the parent of the perperator acts like he or she is not at fault for creating trouble and destroying the peace in a pool, thanks to their inappropriate toy dumping.<br />
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So the next time you think about taking your child out to the pool where there are other children swimming in it too, consider taking a little time to sort out what toys should NOT go into the pool with your kid, better yet, stick to the right toys - POOL TOYS! Those won't go wrong for your kid and others.<br />
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Spread the word, educate and make a difference.
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<span class="userContent">There are all types of TEACHERS around us both in specialisation and calibre. Whether you teach in the ministry or in a home, you deserve to know that your role is significantly important to the one you teach, so do what you do with pride and dignity as you hold the mould of the future generation. HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY!!</span></div>
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P.S. Snape was my favourite fictitious teacher! Thank you JK Rowling.</div>
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J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-55231923860430921762014-04-17T10:40:00.003+08:002014-04-17T10:40:59.745+08:00Rest In Peace Karpal Singh - The Tiger of Jelutong.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Most of us grew up hearing his name uttered by our parents as they read the daily papers. We grew up knowing him as a man with guts - a man who feared no one and who's mouth questioned what no others dared. Titled a trouble maker by those w</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">ho were threatened by his boldness but for those who loved him, we are grateful for how he rocked the boat for us. Malaysia has lost a political giant and will forever be grateful for his advocacy and fight for the better half of this nation! May his soul rest in peace. You were a TRUE MALAYSIAN!</span></div>
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J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-14937343122979630602014-04-04T21:23:00.003+08:002014-04-04T21:58:50.664+08:00THE DEBATE: The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Cannot Rock The Board RoomI watched this debate live on BBC, last month, yes amidst the running headlines of the missing MH370 and I must say Allison Pearson, the author of <i>I Don't Know How She Does It</i>, which became a hit movie in 2011 acted by my favourite Sarah Jessica Parker, hits the nail with her argument for the motion saying that it is not possible to be a committed mother and excel in the boardroom as the demands of motherhood makes it impossible to accommodate both worlds. <br />
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Aside from agreeing with her, I enjoyed her presentation and watching the reaction on my husband's face every time she hits the hammer on what a husband selfishly expected out of their wife was absolutely amusing.<br />
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Most boardroom women are successful because of the support they have behind them. Parents, relatives or/and house-maids play a huge role in their children's life and without this, it's close to impossible to achieve it all. The minute you have to pay attention to your career, you pay the price of losing something at home - time, attention, affection, or the mere presence of yourself as a parent to your child. Your child's needs don't come set in a time-table, and the older your kids grow, the more their needs for you increases, no matter how independent they may seem (although we like to believe it's the reverse).<br />
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On the contrary, you can be a successful career woman and a successful mother as well, if you played your role smartly with proper time management, as debated by a member of the opposing team, Helena Morrissey. Morrissey is a successful business woman and a mother to 8 children. She did not miraculously run both rooms without the help of others in her absence at home, although she highlighted how she managed her time for business and home, which made it possible for her to win both sides - to be a good mother and be married to her job. <br />
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I personally did that for 3 years and was miserable over my lost of time with my children who had to be at the babysitter's since I had no parents to help me in that department. Leaving them at night (as I had to because their dad was at sea) when I had to go on night calls was by far the worst feeling I had to deal with in my career-motherhood combo. Then when their dad was back and I had to go to work, I left the kids with the babysitter and the husband at home and felt completely useless. It was horrible!<br />
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I guess it goes down to one thing in the end, what is the definition of a good mother? The definition of a successful career woman is quite straightforward but a successful mother? Till which point in your life or your child's would you or rather could you measure your success as a mom? I'm yet to know the answer to that. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Watch: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-business/10714383/Its-just-not-possible-to-be-a-good-mother-and-be-married-to-your-job.html" target="_blank">The Debate</a></span>J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-6676015156788377802014-03-08T17:26:00.001+08:002014-03-08T17:54:07.985+08:00International Women's Day 2014Been ages since I posted anything on my blog and it only seems appropriate that I officiate my 2014's blog postings on a day as auspicious as today - International Women's Day.<br />
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Seriously it is no JOKE being a woman!<br />
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The amount of weight that is carried upon our shoulders, the amount of struggles we face be it momentarily or a lifetime is by far unimaginable and every one of us have our own unique story to tell or kept hidden away, that makes us all a hero of our own book!<br />
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Couple of days ago, I wrote on my FB that "<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When we take life as a VOCATION and not a perpetual VACATION, we'll discover the meaning and purpose of our existence." </span>I wrote this in close reflection of my own life.<br />
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Have you sat a moment and thought about what your purpose is or are in this world? Is it to raise the next President of the United States or is it to die giving away your entire savings to an NGO because you found no sibling or family or friend worthy enough to be your beneficiary? (True events of 2 women in the past.)<br />
Which ever it may be in the spectrum of happiness and sadness, I hope you discover what you are meant to be, and take pride in your vocation because as it's said, "A life lived for others is a life worth living," I don't think any of us are made to live for ourselves. We are in one way or many, made to be at the service of others - family, friends, strangers... and if the need arises to ask yourself "Why me?" as cliche as it may sound, ask yourself "Why not?"<br />
There is good in everything that happens if we just let ourselves see hard and clear enough.<br />
Therefore:<br />
celebrate your womanhood as a gift to mankind,<br />
celebrate your womanhood as a gift to yourself,<br />
be proud of who you've become as you stand before God for there is no greater importance than to please God ultimately as this gift of being you is bestowed upon us by the Almighty.<br />
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You are ENOUGH and you are as powerful as you allow yourself to be.<br />
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Happy International Women's Day to all you gorgeous and strong women of the world!!<br />
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Cheers Ladies!<br />
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<br />J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-19661357443362922812013-12-14T17:15:00.000+08:002013-12-14T17:15:08.765+08:00Where Are We On The PISA Map? <br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">If a society is not capable of SELF-ASSESSMENT or SELF-CRITICISM, then it is not a MATURE SOCIETY (V.S.Naipaul).</span></i><br />
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Let's put that in context of our Ministry of Education and our current state especially since the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pisa-rankings-2013-12" target="_blank">PISA</a> results have shown where Malaysia stands in the face of the earth - is MOE mature enough to put aside political agendas and truly FOCUS on the future of this country?<br />
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My other big question is this :<br />
Is MOE truly sincere in their OBJECTIVES and are their OBJECTIVES structured and equipped for the need and expectations of the 21st Century and globalisation?<br />
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We have reached 56 years of Independence and right now we stand behind Vietnam and a step ahead of Indonesia and tucked comfortably in the bottom 30% in regards to the performance of Math, Science and Reading. By the way, I am not looking down on Indonesia nor have I been looking down on Vietnam when I saw the results. In fact, I wasn't even the least shocked! I'm actually disgusted with the arrogance of our leaders and their idiotic talks. I believe many Malaysians and foreigners know we have an Education Minister who lives on a different planet and dances to a very odd tune and an Education ministry that behaves like it is stuck in a PERPETUAL COMA!<br />
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In all honesty I for one have many times believed we would have been better off under the British rule only for the sake of where our kids are going to land with the state our education system is going! 56 years and we are in the MUD! 56 years to show how much we could be on our own feet, but we are headed to opposite poles between economy and quality of graduates. Are our unemployed graduates going to be spoon fed by the government? Or sent out to other developed countries to work as maids and labourers in the near future?<br />
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No matter how much reports and letters are written to them and the press by people who are in position and bright concerned parents, we do not see any form of acceptance on MOE's part. Are they too proud to admit their mistakes? Are they too PROUD to accept our opinions and International reports? Aren't they ashamed to be told that 97% of the teachers they had picked to educate our children and the future of this nation were candidates that didn't meet the selection requirement? So nobility of profession over-ruled quality and standards is it? Or did their priorities get tangled up with their need to prove a point to the rest of the world that they believed they were swimming the oceans and failed to see they never actually left the mud they got themselves stuck in thanks to their pride, ego and fallacies over identity crisis and Nationalism?<br />
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So long as MOE and our ruling government play their drums to the tune of Malay Identity and Nationalism (which isn't even the true issue at hand), deeper into the mud Malaysia will go. Unless the Malays realise the mess our government is putting their kids in, the double standards they impose on our children, we are not going to go anywhere where reformation of the Education is concern. It's quite obvious that the majority really don't know who holds the power to this country!<br />
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We are pretty much doomed by these people in power and to think that majority Malaysians who voted them are responsible for this mess is a bigger blow on our faces and our children's future!<br />
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Our leaders seems to be more interested to have their names in history books than to actually do things that can make this country succeed in the international front! Dumbing down its citizens to remain in power, and uplifting elitism is precisely what they are doing in broad day light, and just remember that when you stay silent, you don't help to put an end to it! Be a society that cares and makes the difference by demanding for MOE to be fair and right in their aims and objectives!<br />
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Want to make a difference.. join us!<br />
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J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-84697932097765572182013-12-04T18:15:00.003+08:002013-12-04T18:16:56.815+08:00PARENTS GATHER IN PROTEST 4-Jan-2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To know more about the objectives of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/Aspiresgroup" target="_blank">ASPIRES</a> please visit the Facebook Group</div>
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Every parent and citizen has a responsibility towards making sure their children and their children's children gain the best quality in education without any forms of inequality.</div>
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ELITE? NON-ELITE? Who's to say what your child is and is not? </div>
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Who's to say where your child should go and should not?</div>
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WE WANT</div>
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One education for all with no double standards. If IGCSE and IB syllabus can be given to MRSMs why not every national school?</div>
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and</div>
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the OPTION for the teaching and learning of Maths and Science in English (PPSMI). Is 2 subjects that governs the world economy going to make you lose your identity learning it in English? </div>
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Wouldn't you have your children taught in English with the necessary terms at primary level itself instead of seeing them suffer when they step into tertiary education or upon graduating only to end up being an unemployable grad because our Government fail to equip them with what is IMPORTANT?</div>
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If all these are important to you.. spread the word around and join hands as ASPIRES take it peacefully to the media about our concerns and how we the voices of Malaysia are being ignored for the greater glory of our political parties! </div>
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We are non-partisan and we want to be heard for the sake of our children and our country!</div>
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J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350950215491881248.post-18166042876936956952013-10-16T10:42:00.000+08:002013-10-16T12:14:07.556+08:00Exclusivity of The BOLEH-LANDThe verdict is out!<br />
Now thanks to the Court of Appeal, Christians in Malaysia have no rights to using the word Allah for GOD for those who speak in Malay. Well to be exact, only HERALD has no rights to publishing it in their Malay section of their paper, because last night, permissions have been given to those in Sabah and Sarawak (the Borneo states of Malaysia) to the use of ALLAH in the Indonesian Malay bibles and in their daily worship in church. WHY? Mr. Prime Minister suddenly realised he has just set his seat on fire and this could cost him big time in the next general elections, is it? End of the day it seems that's all they worry about. Not the actual logic of the matter itself.<br />
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No. Don't get me wrong. I don't care for that linguistic rights personally, because Malay is not my mother tongue nor is it my Lingua Franca as it is for the Bornean Christians, whom after 50 years of being part of Malaysia, is now told that they have no rights to calling their GOD Allah, which the world, especially the Muslim world outside Malaysia agrees, is the same God for all Christians, Muslims, and Jews.<br />
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We might have to come to a point where we will be expected to print our own Malay Bibles and rename Allah as TUHAN (after all that is the Malay translation for GOD) and educate the East Malaysian Catholics to change their addressing of God in their worship... well change can be good (I'm just trying to remain positive here!). After all, let's be practical, we are not Arabians as some think they are and we can't blame Indonesia for it either, because some Dutchman translated the first Malay Bible back in the 15th Century and used Allah because he must have heard it from the Arabian language which meant God and found it appropriate for usage, linguistically. Unless of course if Sabah and Sarawak seek out Independence from Malaysia and govern their own land. Endless possibilities right?<br />
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Leaving all that etymology, theology and history behind, what strikes to me as disturbing is the fact that people are willing to fight on the wrong context tirelessly. It's as if, if these loud sounding protest say 1+1=3, we'd have to accept it and how our judicial system favours these moronic stands.<br />
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It makes me wonder what justice is there really in this country for the minority?<br />
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Obvious isn't it, that our law favours VANDALS and GANGSTERS who doesn't need to be 'shot at sight' because they bully in the cause of 'PURITY'? Because they stand as 'crusaders' for the majority in this country who within this same majority itself have many who doesn't dance to their drumming. Because they are the louder voice of the official religion in this country. The fact that Putrajaya and Perkasa could warn the outcome of chaos if the court ruled otherwise goes to show that, they don't care about living in UNITY through proper ethical channels but by saying things would get worst than it did back in 2009 if we were given the rights to using this arabic word for God. They literally threatened the LEGAL SYSTEM and us the minority in broad daylight! And they carry on as champions with their heads held high.<br />
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Their blackmails, threats, act of vandalism, accusations and condemnations are certainly going to haunt them someday, may be not now, but hey since we are talking religious, it might be what they will have to answer, when they stand in front of Abba/Yahweh/Allah - that one almighty GOD we commonly share when he asks them did you live a righteous life on earth? God bless their souls then! And watch your mouth cause the judge up there was not appointed by the people down here!<br />
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The other thing that makes me wonder is why after all these years are the Muslims in Malaysia claiming they are threatened, so much so, there are Malaysians who call themselves Neo-Nazis and pledge to fight for the purity of Malay? Purity of MALAY? What is that supposed to even mean in this modern era? I just don't get it. Who is fighting THEM? How are they, being the majority, the ones who are faced with threats and terror from the minority? How did they come up with such Voldermort ideologies? Who instilled it in them? Every time an issue arrises between majority and minority, you'll come to hear it being preached in the Friday sermons at the National Mosque in front of thousands of muslims young and old, and often after Friday prayers, there have been marches and picketing held for various issues. Are these sermons checked out before they are shared? If I am not mistaken, sermons of other religions cannot be politically inclined, but theirs can? Another exclusivity is it?<br />
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I'm not questioning rights over sermons, but a word of advice.. preaching is a big responsibility and as a preacher, you owe everyone the right not to be misled or misguided by selfish ideologies especially on the pretext of fallacy and for heaven's sake, stop using God's name in vain!<br />
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Frankly, I would rather listen to a sermon that would help me understand my search for God and how I can be his instrument to help others irrespective of race, gender or religion. I don't enjoy one bit of politics being preached in Church during worship because being in the midst of Christ and in his house, I want peace. Not some brewing of ruckus, not that there ever was in fact. We keep taking matters directed at us in prayer but sadly that's not how I feel others take us. The countless times we have prayed for peace amongst our fellow Malaysians. The endless times we have raised them ALL up to God in prayer and asked for guidance, for security, for love, for kindness to be blessed and bestowed upon every citizen and immigrant in Malaysia. I only wonder if their sermons ever included us in a loving manner, or are we only brought up as a THREAT? A plan to extinguish and exterminate, like how the Jews who minded their own business yet ticked an insecure mental case Hitler who drove his crazies through others upon them. We are not a threat you know. We are Malaysians seeking for nothing more but a home to live in and to move on to the next one with our Almighty. And when one fights for justice, it's only because its justifiable that no one has exclusivity over it. Be a grown up and think rationally instead of acting like a spoil brat that only knows how to throw tantrums and throw up a ruckus.<br />
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Back to my point of concern again, what's the purpose of a Parliament and a Government if religious sermons carry more weight in controlling the law in this country and acts as a decision maker and driver to establishing some new rule after another that goes against all logic? What is the purpose of us voting in the respective leaders to run this country if some fellow from PERKASA talks more than the PM itself and has his words RESONATING everywhere as if he was ELECTED by the RAKYAT????<br />
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I feel Malaysia has gone so backwards in its way of thinking!<br />
We have parents who expect more and more religious education to be carried out in schools for their kids in the expense of our children's time at school. I respect them for wanting religious education to be significantly involved in their children's life but why don't they have it on their own after school hours? It is so selfish to expect the non muslims to keep studying Moral education so as to have the muslim kids go for Islamic education, when for a fact you know everyone could do with more hours of Maths, BM, English, and Science in their commonly shared time at school! This many hours of moral education in school is pointless and irrelevant. Ethics can be taught through language learning as well and it can benefit all races in fact. When I look at the people standing and protesting with their placards, and the groups that go about fighting for some so called 'PURITY', I wonder what education have they been receiving? They all studies side by side with other races and come out thinking this way? They believe everyone else is a threat to them? Even those who take up an argument in the most professional way. What 'ajaran sesat' went on for them to be so insecure? Who did what to them in this country in this present time and age for them to be so defensive? To think so many have had the privilege to go abroad and experience the world and to come home and act as if none of those experiences meant a thing to savour the respect we have for each other as Malaysians? Think again, who's being threatened and made to feel insignificant? We are all children of the same GOD end of the day.<br />
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Our political leaders talk so much about globalisation, modernisation, pluralism, etc etc, yet at the same time, stand in silence and allow others to preach on making matter which aren't theirs to own in the first place, be exclusively theirs and theirs alone. The silence of these leaders are not a declaration of disapproval, mind you. They would rather have someone else fight that battle for them and be a hypocrite in front of us, as long as they get to gain power, wealth and probably a place in the ever evolving, crap load of a history book we have!<br />
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From declaring we were never a colonised nation, to a new declaration of Arabian line age for the Malays and the exclusivity of things linguistic and non, Malaysia hides behind the slogan MALAYSIA BOLEH and believes they know it all but in reality is becoming nothing more than a backward and ruthless nation who keeps taking for granted the subtlety, patience, tolerance, and civility of its people while the 'noisy gongs' go on fooling people, that they are true warriors of Malaya! Oh yes... they are warriors indeed, warriors of a battle they created in their own heads.<br />
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Wake up and smell the disaster that is brewing because the scent of roses in Malaysia is sadly fading away.<br />
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I pray to God, like many of my fellow Catholics, that the sound minded majority remain as the majority in this country to keep Malaysia stable, safe and protected with rational thinking in every aspects and manner of governance for the stability of this nation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/editorial/word-allah-is-not-exclusive-to-islam?fb_action_ids=10202246782070411&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210202246782070411%22%3A1427094640843412%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210202246782070411%22%3A%22og.recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D">The National</a> </td></tr>
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J.F.Nettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03885839309704545312noreply@blogger.com