It’s really quite simple …
I don’t suppose writing consists in anything more than doing it.
John Steinbeck
Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
In other words …
Just Write!
Are you voting this Saturday?
This has been a constant question to everyone I meet, and when they hesitate with their reply, I then ask “Are you registered to vote?”
Some of them reply that they missed the last voter registration in November 2007, and there is a note of regret in the reply.
I remember registering to vote as soon as I was able to. I was in the first batch of post-Merdeka voters, and was even interviewed by The New Straits Times; it was a big deal in those days. I remember being asked who I would vote for, and my reply - the Opposition. Why? Cuz every government, however strong and fair, needs an Opposition to keep it in check.
As it turned out, I didn’t get to vote in every election, as I was out of the country during the 1990 and 1995 elections. For the latter, I was travelling to Zimbabwe for a work-related trade exhibition, and when we arrived, our hosts turned on the news where we saw that Barisan Nasional had once again won the elections.
During the last elections in 2004, I drove to the old neighbourhood with my father to cast our votes. By that time, mother was living in the nursing home and too frail to come along with us to exercise her duty as a Malaysian. Even though we had moved out of the neighbourhood, we continued to vote in this constituency as it was an Opposition stronghold.
Now that my father has left us, and mother remains in the nursing home, I will be on my own this Saturday. Late last year, I decided to update my voter registration details to my current address. For a few weeks after I made the change, I kept visiting the Elections Commission website to check if the details had been updated, but it wasn’t until 20 February that the info was finally updated; I am now listed as a voter for the Subang constituency (Subang for Parliament and Bukit Lanjan for State).
Yesterday, I went on a drive to look for my polling station, the SK Bukit Lanjan, which is apparently located in my neighbourhood. I couldn’t find it on my side of the humongous flyover system just past IKEA and Tesco, and while I did find Bukit Lanjan, located on the other side, I didn’t find any school in it, just lots of little shops and front yard motor repair workshops. No matter. I’m sure this Saturday, I will see lots of signs leading to the polling station.
Happy voting to all Malaysians registered to vote. Please vote. As Kam Raslan said in this week’s issue of Talking Edge, it’s our right.
Special Date
Happens only once every four years. (Picture of the corkboard on my desktop computer.)
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And tomorrow’s a brand new day, bringing with it the promise of a new beginning. Have a good one, everyone.
The Year of Mickey Mouse, Part 2
Here is a picture of one of the colourful buntings I mentioned in an earlier post:
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Yeah, Donald’s in on the festivities, too, bringing up the rear of a familiar CNY festivity, the lion dance. Or “was”, since today is the 15th and last day of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Today’s also the Chinese Valentine’s Day, when single people (especially women) are supposed to throw oranges into a nearby river and wish for their life partner to show up during the year. I suppose it’s a good way of getting rid of uneaten, and almost rotting, oranges.
Yes, I am cynical.
The Year of Mickey Mouse
Come 7 February 2008, we will be entering the lunar year of the rat. One major shopping complex in Malaysia is ushering in the year with a little help from a famous Disney character.
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In addition to this silhouette, there are colourful buntings throughout the complex showing Mickey and Minnie. My cousin commented that Disney must be making lots of money from the licensing rights. Me, ever the cynic, replied that maybe the complex is using the images without permission. He then said Disney should perhaps pay for all the free publicity this Chinese New Year.
A win-win scenario would be if the shopping complex came up with a Chinese New Year shopping contest in which the grand prize is a family vacation to Disney World in Florida, and other prizes to the Disneylands in Anaheim - US. Japan, France, and Hong Kong, too. I’m not sure if they are running such a contest; a quick check of their website did not show any such contest running for Chinese New Year.
Ah … a missed marketing opportunity for both the shopping complex and Disney, too.
Today’s Events
I was at the MPH LitBloggers’ Breakfast Club this morning, but not the MyMUG MacFest in the evening (due to dinner and shopping with sister, which takes precedence over everything else).
In fact, I was the only regular at the MPH event this morning. (Even the regular rabble-rouser was not in sight!) Eric and Janet don’t count as regulars cuz they’re the organisers. We also had two surprise visitors, and pleasant surprises they were, too.
Anyways, since there were reports of previous BCs, I feel there should also be one this time. But later. For now, I will say I enjoyed myself very much, and also that we were treated to more than a reading. And then there were the two surprise visitors. But later, yah?
How can I forget this?
Another month-end event to look forward to:
MyMUG MacFest
Date: Saturday, 23 June 2007
Time: 8:00 p.m. onwards
Venue: Hoxe’s Bookstore & Cafe, Block D-G03, Ground Floor, Perdana Condominium, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya
Speakers:
1. Zalee - FCS 2 Overview
2. FirdausLUCT - Swift 3D
3. marathon - mobile phone integration
4. Azul - OS X Tips & keyboard shortcuts
There will be a small charge of RM10 per person to cover cost of booking the venue (it will be closed just for the function), as well as hot drinks and finger food. The regular menu will also be available for orders.
Related Post
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
MPH Breakfast Club for LitBloggers 5
Date: Saturday, 23 June 2007
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Venue: MPH, Bangsar Village II
Speaker: Zhang Su Li, award-winning copywriter and author of A Backpack and a Bit of Luck
Readings
Date: Saturday, 30 June 2007
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: Seksan’s, 67, Jalan Tempinis Satu, Lucky Garden, Bangsar
Note - Please check Sharon’s blog closer to the date for list of readers
Date: Saturday, 30 June 2007
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: 16, Jalan Utara, 46200 Petaling Jaya
Note - this one’s a reminder to myself
Happy New Year 2007
I’ve got fireworks going on behind me as I type this. Separated by the window, but I can still hear them. It’s loud! In fact, that’s what clued me in that 2006 has left, replaced by 2007. According to my handphone, there was another 3 or 4 minutes of 2006 left. So the fireworks were a little early. Or maybe on time according to whoever was in charge of starting them.
If not for the new IBM building, I think it would be a perfect, unobstructed view of two sets of fireworks - one from One Utama and the other from The Curve.
Happy New Year, everyone who reads my weblog.
It’s New Year’s Eve
Two shopping complexes in my neighbourhood will have fireworks to usher in the New Year. From my apartment, I should be able to see them, and don’t have to jostle with the New Year crowds. Unfortunately, I won’t be home. My sister and her family are away and I’m house-sitting for them. More like maid-watching, actually, but I digress.
At 10:45 this morning, there was already a growing queue of cars turning into the road going to Ikano and The Curve. Last minute shopping?
No, this is not a year-end post. Dunno if there’ll be one later. Will see.
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