From: http://www.voicescarryblog.com/515/

Heaven gives Notre Dame priest thunderous standing ovation

by Michelle Minton
March 23, 2009 @ 12:09 pm

This week CEI announced the creation of Human Achievement Hour (HAH) to be celebrated at 8:30pm on March 28^th 2009 (the same time and date of Earth Hour).

Our press release described ways people might celebrate the achievements of humanity such as eating diner, seeing a film, driving around, keeping the heat on in your home—all things that Earth Hour celebrators, presumably, should be refraining from. In the cheekiest manner, we claimed that anyone not foregoing the use of electricity in that hour is, by default, celebrating the achievements of human beings. Needless to say, the enviros in the blogosphere didn’t take to kindly to our announcement.

Matthew Wheeland, an environmental journalist called the holiday “mind-blowingly strange” and pondered if Earth hour folks are including in their numbers people in countries that don’t have enough electricity to make the choice to turn out their lights. Of course, they don’t have the choice to acquire electricity whereas anyone can choose to stop using human technology if they wish.

In fact, one might even say that they are seething about it–lighting up the various green-oriented blogs with comments such as this sarcastic gem from Jon Petherbridge:

Human achievement hour. Another great idea. I’ll remember how great we all are as I watch the heat mirages rising from the surrounding hoods as my arm hangs out the window during my next July traffic jam.

Or maybe I’ll remember it the next time an American attack aircraft blows up a wedding party in Afghanistan. At least in that example we don’t have to feel bad for the dead Afghanis as they have a sexist culture that we are morally obligated to obliterate, quite literally if necessary. I reckon I’ll celebrate human achievement hour when everybody’s divorced or bisexual and drinking coca-cola in traffic jams on their way to work folding sandwiches for the lawyers and the bankers who we will worship for allowing us to support them by paying on our credit cards.

Go human achievement hour. Pile it on. Diversify, equalize, refinance and over qualify.

I’m feeling better already.

I love and will not give up my electric toothbrush.

They are also attempting to erase any attention directed at HAH, such as the Wikipedia article.

Of course, there are people out there who appreciate what we are trying to say. For example, Rajesh in India writes on his blog:

Coming from India where we routinely suffer power cuts due to mixed-market policies of the government, I found this post from

The New Clarion fantastic…Lets use the wavelength of both light and philosophy to keep darkness at bay.
Green and private conservation are fine. We have no problem with an individual (or group) that wants to sit naked in the dark without heat, clothing, or light. Additionally, we’d have no problem with the group holding a pro-green technology rally. That’s their choice. But when this group stages a “global election” with the express purpose of influencing “government policies to take action against global warming,” we have every right as individuals to express our vote for the opposite

If our Human Achievement Hour is at all a dig against Earth Hour, it is so only by the fact that we are pointing out what Earth Hour truly is about: it isn’t pro-earth, it is anti-man and anti-innovation. So, on March 28^th I plan to continue “voting” for humanity by enjoying the fruits of man’s mind.

http://www.openmarket.org/2009/03/23/human-achievement-hour/

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pro-earth means anti-man & anti-innovation..
so pro-man & pro-innovation means anti-earth…
then where is the borderline?

does that mean if man-made global warming is a hoax, all of us are unrestrictedly free to produce as many unnecessary waste as possible.

but if man-made global warming is real, does that mean we should reduce the human population? (to a more extreme case, genocide?)

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled some in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

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This remind me of an ex-coursemate who when a lecturer ask him how he get the idea for a solution, he answer common sense. All of us laughed. But seriously, some part of the world is losing common sense and some part maybe don’t even know what is common sense… scary…

YESUS - True Worshippers

VERSE
Hidup yang kupilih
Mebuatku berarti
Kar’na Yesus Tuhan
Tempat kupercaya dan berharap
Kubuka mataku
Lihat sek’lilingku
Kuharus nyatakan
Kebenaran-Nya yang membebaskan

PRECHORUS
Kar’na kuasa-Mu
Kar’na kehebatan-Mu
Ku dapat lakukan
Perkara Besar
Yang Enkau janjikan

CHORUS
Yesus Kaulah sahabatku
Yesus Kau yang akan s’lalu berada di sisiku
Kau sumber kuatku
Yesus Kaulah sahabatku
Yesus Kau yang tak pernah jemu-jemu di sisiku
Kau sumber kuatku

END
Kau sahabatku
Berada di sisiku
Kau sahabatku selama-lamanya
Kau sahabatku berada di sisiku

Yesus - True Worshippers

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until on day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.”Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

“I only got a dollar out of the $20,”declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,” but he got $10!”

“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!”

“That’s true!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!”

“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!”

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

DAVID R. KAMERSCHEN, PH.D.
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND, NO EXPLANATION IS NEEDED. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND, NO EXPLANATION IS POSSIBLE.

There’s this friend which a couple of friends suggested that we go traveling together to Taiwan, just the two of us if the other friend couldn’t make it. I kept saying, we weren’t that close so why do they have that thought. Ha. I really have this bad habit to group friends. Anyway, I think I got a phobia of assuming being buddy buddy with someone only to have that person thinking you are a nutcase who think too much. Eh, I don’t think I’m making sense here. Ha. What I mean is, don’t know since when, I would rather action speak louder than words. If you are close to someone, why keep saying it but nothing you do show it. Anyhow, to the person who’s exactly two days younger than me, someone who is ID top student, I really hope we can go Taipeh, then years later go HK see Sammi Cheng’s concert! Yay! Oh ya, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ms Lee!

Well, well…I think I over react most of the time. Last Sunday, on the bus leaving Penang, I got an allergy reaction. I start having rashes. At first, I thought it was mosquito bites or some kind of bug cause it really does look like mosquito bites. Then it got worsen, my whole body was filled with rashes, including my head and face. Suddenly I felt it was difficult to breath. Die lor, then I got flashback of scene from “Game Plan” where The Rock’s daughter has an allergy reaction and can’t breath. Then as it got more difficult to breath, I really believe I might eventually die alone. Haha. Anyway, I ask the driver to pullover, telling him I need to puke so he better be quick if not the bus’ aroma will be nasty. I guess I did throw up whatever that caused it as I could breath better after the puking. But I was still weak, nausea, dizzy and shaking. I never shake (shake leg doesn’t count) before except shiver. Sigh..Went to the clinic once I reached KL. The doctor gave me a huge injection. OUCH! Few seconds after, I felt so sleepy yet I need to puke again. Almost fall asleep on the bathroom floor. EWE! I don’t know what I ate that caused it. Will never knew till I get a thorough allergy test done. Haish…mar fan.

Anyway, really paiseh I freak out few people. Sorry a, make you all worried. During that time I knew a friend was really worried but I didn’t know she was with a few friends. I heard she look pretty freak out. =p We talked before about if I die suddenly, maybe nobody will know. But then, I realize, I have a cousin who was in the same class with me in Form 6. So, the task will go to him to inform friends. ha.

ps: Thanks to everybody (of course, esp to my parents) who made my life worthwhile… ^_^

Went back to Penang last weekend for a “housemate” convo. That housemate was also someone who sat next to me in form 6, the first of many people who are born in 1984 I got to know very well. Ha. Can’t believe how time has passed. Seeing how much she had changed. How much we had changed. And how for now and many years to come, I’ll use going to Penang as going back to Penang because somehow that island has been another home for me. Haha. We used to dread going back to Penang.  We called it 神龙岛 (shen long dao). We used to say, going back to a birdcage, to more projects, to more sleepless night. But now, it is going for holiday!

We would be so happy to see the bridge whenever we leave the island, but will curse it when we were going back to it. But last weekend, seeing the bridge (although it looks worse) was nothing but excitement and joy. I guess one of the major factors would be the people who are still there. Will it still be the same if everyone matter has left?

Once, during a little gathering, we were ask to share what we are thankful for the year 2007. I said “Thank God for Penang”. Haha. No matter how much I hated it at first, that place has gave me laughter, sadness, love, friendship, knowledge (maybe) and the encouragement to know Christ more. And I hope I will see it again. Haha.

My birthday just passed. (few people still thought I’m born in 84. The wonder of who you hang out with determine your year of birth!? Ha) Nothing special, as I told my friend, being a part time student/full time worker means no life. Work in the morning, class at night. But I did have a little gathering with my nieces, nephew, cousins and sisters. Feel like a small kid. Not sure since when I last spent my birthday with family members. It was chaotic with all the kids screaming. Eh, maybe only 3 kids ba. The rest too little to scream.

However, yesterday is a very sad day for a friend. I hope she’s coping well. Her grandma just passed away. May God rest her soul in peace. 

source: MAHAGURU58 

http://mahaguru58.blogspot.com/2008/03/sore-losers-of-umno-penang-and-fru.html

Sore Losers of UMNO Penang and FRU Doublestandards

蒲公英的约定  | Pu Gong Ying De Yue Ding | Dandelion’s Promise

曲：周杰伦
Qu: Zhou Jie Lun
Music: Jay Chou

词：方文山　
Ci: Fang Wen Shan
Lyrics: Vincent Fang

小学篱芭旁的蒲公英 
xiao xue li ba pang de pu gong ying
The dandelions that lay beside the elementary school’s fence

是记忆里有味道的风景
shi ji yi li you wei dao de feng jing
Scenery beautiful in my memories

午睡操场传来蝉的声音 
wu shui cao chang chuan lai chan de sheng yin
The cricket’s chirping in the courtyard during a noon nap

多少年后也还是很好听
duo shao nian hou yei hai shi hen hao ting
Still sounds good years later

将愿望折纸飞机寄成信 
jiang yuan wang zhe zhi fei ji ji cheng xin
Put wishes in a paper airplane and mailing it as a letter

因为我们等不到那流星
yin wei wo men deng bu dao na liu xing
Because we couldn’t wait for the meteor

认真投决定命运的硬币 
ren zhen tou jue ding ming yun de ying bi
Throwing destiny’s coin in all seriousness

却不知道到底能去哪里

que bu zhi dao dao di neng qu na li
Yet I have no idea where I can go

*一起长大的约定　那样清晰打过勾的我相信 
yi qi zhang da de yue ding / na yang qing xi / da guo gou de wo xiang xing
The promise that we will grow up together is still fresh in my mind, believing the pinky swore I made

说好要一起旅行 是你如今 唯一坚持的任性
shuo hao yao yi qi lv xing / shi ni ru jin / wei yi jian chi de ren xing
We said we’d travel together, the sole thing you wilfully insist on, till now*

在走廊上罚站打手心　
zai zou lang shang fa zhan da shou xin
Being punished to stand in the hallway and getting our palms smacked

我们却注意窗边的蜻蜓 
wo men que zhu yi chuang bian de qing ting
Yet all we noticed were the dragonflies beside the window

我去到哪里你都跟很紧 
wo qu dao na li ni dou gen hen jin
No matter where I go you’d always follow closely

很多的梦在等待着进行
hen duo de meng zai deng dai zhe jin xin
Lots of dreams are waiting to be carried out

Repeat **

一起长大的约定 那样真心　与你聊不完的曾经
yi qi zhang da de yue ding / na yang zhen xin / yu ni liao bu wan de ceng jing
The promise that we will grow up together, so full of sincerity, never-ending chats about the past

而我已经分不清　你是友情 还是错过的爱情
er wo yi jing fen bu qing / ni shi you qing / hai shi cuo guo de ai qing
I can no longer tell the difference. Are you a friend? Or a love that has passed me by

Translation: FSUTan - www.jay-chou.net

Hehe, nothing better to do. So just post this song’s lyric cause I really like the melody way before it was only a instrumental piece without lyrica.Later when Jay’s latest album was out, very surprise to find this song. And the lyrics is written by the famous Vincent Fang! Very nice indeed, for me la.

Yay! The longest 1 minute of my life was over last Saturday! Yup, I manage to play a violin piece alone in the middle of the stage, cuz my teacher is sitting at the right side playing the piano. haha.. What’s the big deal? It was a big deal for me ba. Although the rational me know that is no big deal at all! So, I didn’t tell anyone, except few. And I didn’t ask (and discourage) anyone to come because it was only 1 minute long. But wanna thank the only one who came la.

But from this experience, I know that, I could do anything when God’s with me. haha. Why? Cause, surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous at all when I was on stage and before going to the stage. I felt more nervous during jazz band concert when I was playing with other band membersssss. Anyway, it was really amazing how God calmed me. I remember in the morning, I was freaking out as I was practicing. I kept playing the wrong notes and my violin sound squeaky most of the time. hehe.. The conclusion? My teacher said it was good. Thank you to everyone who called me, smsed me and prayed for me. Thanks for the encouragement!

So, Wendy’s coming to Malaysia??

Seems like berjaya group, the group that seems trying to grab any franchise possible, had successfully clinched the franchise to operate Wendy’s! Yay! I miss Wendy’s!! hehe. But maybe it won’t have the same taste as the one I had. For the time being, I still can go to Carl’s Junior once a blue moon, when I receive my paycheck! But the best burger place according to my sister is In-N-Out Burger! I don’t remember how it taste liao..haha.Oh well.. Gotta get back to work..haha.