Misriyyun Yattahaddasu Kelantayyun

To Sal: Remember our moments in the underground tunnel, Al Azhar Mosque and Khan al Khalili? O baby, those memories came crushing thru...

Economic Meltdown Lecture

The intended speaker, Umar Vadillo was a no-show at al Hunafa today. As replacement, Dr Ahmad Kameel Mydin Meera (profile here) lectured. He is an Associate Professor at Economics and Management Sciences Faculty, UIA. If you google his name, you will find that he's a proponent of the gold dinar; a regular speaker at Islamic Finance and Economics meets, as well as a much sought-after consultant.

His delivery was simple and easily understood by this layperson on a topic so academic. He explained the fundamental flaws of the conventional monetary system namely 1) fiat money; 2) fractional reserve requirement; and 3) interest rates have caused the global crisis that the world is experiencing now. The recent 1 trillion USD that the US is printing (out of nothing) will create hyperinflation the world over; its domino effect will hit Malaysia within this year or next, thus rendering the value of our money in the bank much reduced. Our best defence, he says is to invest our money in land, commodities or gold, and do it ASAP!

So friends, let be forewarned. Do not let your savings sit idly in the bank. If you choose to buy gold, I know a source.

BTW, do you know how much a trillion is? It is a million millions. Question: If you were to spend 1 million dollars a day, how many years will a trillion dollars run out?

Mid-life crisis

I chuckled when somebody used this expression “ stand out like a white hair” instead of the usual “stand out like a sore thumb”. Different words, but you get the meaning straight away, right?

White hair is becoming a major concern to a lot of my peers (cough, cough). Once you start having them, there's no turning back. The way the white hair just sticks out in the mirror any which way you try to comb your hair can be unnerving. The message is beemed to you bright and clear, indeed.

My reaction when I first notice one white hair was to pluck it, but I stopped when someone warned me that it would just bring more. Why is it that when you pluck one white hair, more white hair will appear? The wonderful wide world web has the answer. Apparently, when you pluck a single hair, you damage the follicle and it takes a really long time for the replacement hair to grow back. So by the time it grows back, more white hairs have sprouted out in the same area.

So hold the itch, and let the white hair takes its time to crowd your crown. You can appease your anxiety dragon by having streaks of golden blonde, chestnut brown or indigo blue in place of the white hair. Or, get an afro!

Susan Boyle — Britain’s Got Talent — I Dreamed a Dream

Now that I know how to post videos, here's one more that I feel worth your time.



What a lovely surprise! It was a similar experience with Paul Potts from a while back. Have your tissues ready!

David Archuleta

Can you picture, this very minute, in this rainy weather, David Archuleta could be sipping mineral water, licking his nervous lips before his concert tonight in Koalla Lumpoor. Seen here, (photo copied with permission from her facebook) is my friend Ja who is fofular herself, standing beside the cute American Idol 7 runner-up. Next time, if the winner David came to Malaysia, I would have to ring Ja up for a fix-up.

ETA: Ja told me that David Cook will be performing in Manila on 16th May and she won't be around for that concert. Truthfully, I am a fan of the AI David Cook, but not the rock music Cook is peddling post AI, even though his album went platinum.

Mr Mean

This is a true story related to me by my friend’s mother, Makcik N recently.

A 42-year old single Malay lady was introduced to and later married a 70-year old Malay widower. As newlyweds, they came to Makcik N's house once. She quit her government job to follow her husband on an overseas posting as a diplomat. After two years, the couple returned to Malaysia. Upon disembarkation at KLIA, the husband dropped the talak bomb on her. Soon after, he married another Malay lady who until then, was married to another man. The old man gave the first Malay lady RM30,000 for her tenure as wife. She is now jobless. She doesn’t care to ask for more money as she loves him still.

Now, whenever the old man comes on TV (for he is an important man), Makcik N would switch channel. I don’t blame her.

Someone said: I used to complain for not having shoes until I found someone with no feet.

Points to ponder

I scoop this gem from another blog, whose owner has recently been diagnosed with a degenerative nerve disease.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God [or your higher power] about what is going on in your life.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________.
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive, present moment.
8 . Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journeys are all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this really matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD [or your higher power] heals everything - but you have to ask Him/Her/It.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

How's this as a deterrent!

Blogger jailed for insulting the King
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 3/04/2009 at 05:13 PM

The Criminal Court sentenced a blogger to 10 years in jail on Friday after he pleaded guilty to insulting His Majesty the King in a landmark conviction under the computer crimes law.

It was the first sentencing under the new Computer Crimes Act enacted in 2007.

Suwicha Thakhor, 34, admitted to doctoring photos of His Majesty and posting them on the Internet, according to a court statement.

He was initially sentenced to 20 years, but the court reduced the term to 10 years in prison because of his guilty plea. If he had been charged with lese majeste under the Criminal Code, he would have faced a maximum sentence of 15 years.

Suwicha, an oil engineer, was detained in January.

He wept after the sentence was handed down. A father of three, Suwicha told reporters he has a family to support and that he needs help.

The verdict comes after the three-month old government launched a campaign to prevent lese majeste on the internet. About 4,000 websites have been closed down in recent months.