Friday, 30 June 2017

courage equal to desire

Young Girl Reading - Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, 1868
A. Facebook 

I un-friended a lot of people on FB, usually those whom are interesting for me to follow, either their comics, words, opinions, etc.

I've come to a time, when I am now married with family, hence, privacy is something I treasure.
And so, in FB, I only "friended" those whom I knew well in real life, and felt secure with, with me sharing things I like
Nevertheless, I still follow those people, either by me clicking "follow" button or I typed their name in the FB "search".
A lot of family and baby photos of relatives and loved ones, whom I think, there's no need for others except those who I am comfortable with.

I also set my account to "Private".

The reason is easy. Some people might have idea that I commented on their pages so that I can make my FB account, or this blog famous.

I don't.

And I felt comfortable, that I can share whether I liked, personal or not, interesting or bored to death, whatever, to those whom really knew me personally.

I don't want to get pleased by people whom I don't know, it felt like prostitution.



To A Friend Whose Work Has Come To Nothing
 Now all the truth is out,
Be secret and take defeat
From any brazen throat,
For how can you compete,
 
Being honour bred, with one
Who, were it proved he lies,
Were neither shamed in his own
Nor in his neighbours' eyes?

Bred to a harder thing
Than Triumph, turn away
And like a laughing string
Whereon mad fingers play
 
Amid a place of stone,
Be secret and exult,
Because of all things known
That is most difficult.

by Willam Butler Yeats

B. Courage equal to desire 

Those who possessed The Cranberries most famous album, No Need To Argue (the Zombie album), will surely know there's one song entitled Yeat's Grave.

And only this morning, after I found boredom after what I read in FB, that I'm bothered to find the William Butler Yeats poem "No Second Troy" which were read by Dolores during the middle of the song.

No Second Troy

Why should I blame her that she filled my days,
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,
Had they but courage equal to desire?

What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?

Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?

by William Butler Yeats
published in 1916 in WB Yeats poetry collection entitled "Responsibilities and Other Poems".

I don't want to tell you the story behind WB Yeats and Maud Gonne, you can google it and learn yourself the story behind it, I guarantee you it is one of the most interesting broken love stories. 

A bit of golden spoon-feeding though, as per below links.

Silenced by death in the grave
William Butler Yeats couldn't save
Why did you stand here ?
Were you sickened in time?
But I know by now
Why did you sit here?

In the GRAVE

(then proceeds reading W.B. Yeats "No Second Troy"

Why should I blame her
That she filled my days
With misery or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men violent ways
Or hurled the little street upon the great
Had they but courage
Equal to desire

Sad that Maud Gonne couldn't stay
But she had Mac Bride anyway
And you sit here with me
On the isle Inisfree
And your writing down everything

But I know by now
Why did you sit here
In a grave ...

Why should I blame her
Had they but courage equal to desire


C. Facebook and some love story
I felt that sometimes, those people whom I followed, with their huge following, sometimes try too hard that it felt stale.

But then, life teaches that, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything then.

Anyhow, a guy that I followed, always repeats the story of being rejected by girls or so.

I felt bored, so somehow I googled Chairil Anwar (Chairil was famous for making poetry to lots of girls)


TAK SEPADAN
Aku kira:
Beginilah nanti jadinya
Kau kawin, beranak dan berbahagia
Sedang aku mengembara serupa Ahasveros
Dikutuk-sumpahi Eros
Aku merangkaki dinding buta
Tak satu juga pintu terbuka
Jadi baik juga kita padami
Unggunan api ini
Karena kau tidak ‘kan apa-apa
Aku terpanggang tinggal rangka
Februari 1943
Source : http://was-was.com/2013/12/kumpulan-puisi-chairil-anwar-lengkap.html
KENANGAN
untuk Karinah Moordjono

Kadang
Di antara jeriji itu-itu saja
Mereksmi memberi warna
Benda usang dilupa
Ah! Tercebar rasanya diri
Membumbung tinggi atas kini
Sejenak
Saja. Halus rapuh ini jalinan kenang
Hancur hilang belum dipegang
Terhentak
Kembali di itu-itu saja
Jiwa bertanya: Dari buah
Hidup kan banyakan jatuh ke tanah?
Menyelubung nyesak penyesalan pernah menyia-nyia

19 April 1943
Source : https://spoilaaa.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/13-puisi-chairil-anwar-untuk-10-wanita/



 D. Facebook content which are more interesting


http://www.komikhk.com/2017/01/juara-wira-softcopy.html
(Juara Wira full set dari 01 ke 121 (end)




Jengking Merah comic 01
https://www.facebook.com/pg/LegasiManhuaMalaysia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1149787401794399


Jengking Merah comic 02
https://www.facebook.com/pg/LegasiManhuaMalaysia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1160678944038578

Jengking Merah comic 03
https://www.facebook.com/pg/LegasiManhuaMalaysia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1174167306023075

Jengking Merah comic 04
 https://www.facebook.com/pg/LegasiManhuaMalaysia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1186111961495276
 
Jengking Merah comic 05
 https://www.facebook.com/pg/LegasiManhuaMalaysia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1196964353743370


 That's all. Happy reading.

  
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Wednesday, 28 June 2017

sprinkled with emotion

Continuing from previous entry
http://firdaus-9898.blogspot.my/2017/06/mind-your-own-business-part-2.html


I found two beautiful videos, short animation that won Academy Awards for Best Animation for 2017 and 2016.

Winner for Academy Awards for Best Animation for 2017 


Winner for Academy Awards for Best Animation for 2016
It was inspired by the director's grandfather, who was imprisoned during 1973 Chilean coup d' etat, and spent his life living in exile from 1975 to 1990.

Both videos touched my heart, I think did shed tiny tears after watching each animation.

Simple yet emotive, powerful, beautiful.
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Mind your own business Part 2


Continuing from previous post :-
http://firdaus-9898.blogspot.my/2017/06/mind-your-own-business-part-1.html

C. Steamy Raya

Eugene Delacroix - Shipwreck on the Coast, 1862
Source : Wikipedia

And so this Raya, my wife and I went to Melaka, to my parent-in-laws village family annual Raya gathering at Bukit Rambai, the house of my mother-in-law's mom.

My sister-in-law, the mother of Sabrina and Chayra, car-pool with us, her husband didn't join us, with parent in law in their own car.

But, the catch in the story is that, my wife and I booked a hotel for two nights, somewhere around Jonker Walk, while my sister-in-law with her two kids stayed at another hotel somewhere around Klebang beach.

Hence, when we arrived, I was bombarded with question and daring looks from the relatives :- Why stayed in the Hotel when we can be here together? It supposed to be a gathering right?

My mother-in-law also punished me in front of the relatives but somehow I managed to keep quiet with my dumb look smile.

My wife's and sister-in-law's reason, is similar:- The house is quite steamily hot. 

But they kept quiet about it when questioned.

On Raya eve, around 8pm, I received a Whatsapp from wife to quietly go to the car.

Earlier, I saw my sister-in-law playing fire-crackers with Sabrina outside the house, when my mother-in-law suddenly excused herself from the relatives to go out to buy pampers for baby Chayra. 

When I arrived, I saw my wife were actually in the car with air conditions turned on, with Chayra, already in the baby car seat prepared.

Ceh! They already planned to get out from the house for a while, in secret, to go to nearest Ice-Cream Ice Bowl shop in Melacca town. Father-in-law was not involved as we will go with only 1 car.

And as the five of us go to our ice-cream getaway, my mother-in-law said "oh god your nenek (grand-ma)'s house is very very very hot".

This is the shop, I went to Kota Laksamana branch, Melaka
Source : http://nineteencapri.blogspot.my/2016/04/food-review-big-bowl-ice-batu-berendam.html

Somehow along the way, and at the Icecream shop, I learnt few family stories/gossips.

It was said that, every Raya at Grandma's house, something will get stolen/missing. And they actually identified the person who did it.

Wife and sister-in-law also shared that they hated some relatives due to their bossy attitude.

When they were young, wife and sister in laws was always criticised as lazy and sloppy by this special boss, while being scolded to do Raya house chores, ie. cleaning dishes, cooking.

They paid my ice-cream as well, probably as either bribe or drivers fee.

Anyhow, every family have their own dark secret and shit stories.

I think the good lesson in this, it is always best to stay in a hotel or lodge whenever we are on a visit to relatives house.

You minimise the conflicts, the bad stale stories and cursed emotions, and if something is missing, there's no finger-pointing.

Hey isn't Hari Raya supposed to be a well-intended vacation?.



I think this is a good practice also to keep a satisfactory level of privacy with your family.

Sometimes, you can see cousins and in-laws in their casualness but not quite appropriate. And you and your family might have your un-appropriate moments too. 

Some people might barged in to rooms of their relatives house, and some un-easiness might arise.

And as usual, as families, I felt, familiarity breeds contempt.

There is no reason of not helping with the cooking of dishes, cleaning dishes, plan it earlier, or just cook it earlier. Sometimes people might criticise, as usual, but at least you sweat during preparation before coming, rather than after seeing them, which might make their shitty opinion less painful.


This year's visit is extra special, as each time we returned to our hotel, we cleaned ourselves and rested while waiting for the traffic to subside (oh it was terrible traffic during Raya in Melaka town), then we went out, my wife and I only, enjoying our romantic getaway at Klebang Beach after having our dinner.

 
 Duran-Duran : Save A Prayer
(this video is here to let you imagine how it feels walking with your loved ones at a beach)



D. Waves of the un-necessary talk

Eugene Delacroix - Christ on the Sea of Galilee, 1854
Source : Wikipedia

A man, I feel, is a shit asshole if he have these two shitty qualities at the same time.

1. Hot-tempered
2. Talkative

I have both occuring at the same time, until I learned my lessons well, which enable me to properly court my wife to marriage. And you are a shitty worker or manager if you have those two things at the same time.

This is because this two element involve self-control, and in real life struggles, you might feel being pushed and end up being "hot", but actually, for me, a man should at least be less talkative.

At least being less talkative has its own macho qualities, you can ask numerous disappointed girls out-there on how shitty they felt after admiring a hot guy, only to find out he's an absolute fool after he opened his crappy mouth.

My brother and my mom, whom in this blog, I always mentioned about them being conflict, well....their recent conflict kinda change my perception.

Now I just felt like they are like Neelofa and Fattah Amin. They do "feel" towards one another. As Neelofa ran away when Fazura is around. There is a play of emotions and feelings.

And when you are deeply in love with someone, you want to be close, and you will end up hurting each other. You feel down, hope and tears, then somehow after some days of not speaking and felt a terrible pain of missing each other, they end up embrace each other in their  own sweet ways.

And the best part of it, the cycle continues.

Previously, I treat these as "chronic melancolic" problems, nowadays I just "cheh" / "meh", hey its a lovers quarrel.

The recent incident was idiotically simple.

Since I already declared I'm going to Melacca, so mom want to spend time with bro, at least a day before Raya (since she knew he won't be in her house at Raya day, as "Neelofa" and "Fazura" cannot stand being in the same room)...so she planned at least, she asked my bro's help to go together to Pasar Kajang for Hari Raya groceries preparation.

My brother asked a stupid question. "Whose money is being used to buy the meat?"

And my mother shouldn't answer that question that shouldn't be asked. It was "Fazura"'s money.

And so "Neelofa" felt pissed off and said not to even touch the dishes "Fattah Amin" (my mother) prepared. And of course a mother would feel hurt by those remarks
 
Eugene Delacroix - The Lion Chase, 1855
Source : Wikipedia


Un-necessary hurting. Un-necessary questions. Un-necessary answers.
But then, that's what lovers do, I guess.

 
Eugene Delacroix - A Young Tiger Playing with its Mother, 1830-31
Source : Wikipedia


Duran-Duran : Come Undone

[Prechorus:]
We'll try to stay blind
To the hope and fear outside
Hey child, stay wilder than the wind
And blow me into cry

[Chorus:]
Who do you need, who do you love
When you come undone?
Who do you need, who do you love
When you come undone?





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Mind your own business Part 1


1. Vulgar

Eugene Delacroix - The Death of Sardanapalus, 1844
Source : Wikipedia 

The above painting might be vulgar to you, so I ask for forgiveness.

Eugene Delacroix based it on the story of King Sardanapalus, which is summarised as the self indulgent king, nearing to his defeat, went to prepare to burn himself  (funeral pyre), with all his belongings, including his eunuchs and concubines too, killing them first before they are burnt together, with him.

Recently, there was a viral story, about a smoker who smokes at a restaurant, then a lady with her kid inside a stroller, giving a damned look to the smoker, signalling for him to stop smoking, only to be ignored. 

Someone took photo of the incident and viralling the issue. Apparently, it was told that the one who viralled it, told the smoking guy to stop, only for the guy to ignore.

For me, by looking at the public shaming and comments in the social media, everybody is a genius about the issue of smoking, And so they are right.

But then, I would like to ask you about privacy. Was it right to viral the thing online? Didn't the viral does not respect the guy, when the viral itself asks for people to respect with common sense?

We might not know, the guy looked disturbed while looking at the phone, hence the reason for ignoring when somebody "asked" him to stop smoking. We might not know how the smoking guy was told, maybe he was being jeered, hence the angry ignoring response...we don't know.

But then, people, a lot of people, give comments as if the guy deserved to be smoked in hell. As if they are pure innocent angels whom doesn't commit any misforgiving.

Listen, my point here is not the smoking. I'm talking, on what right does the guy have to viral it out in the web?

I did comment on this on someone's page, but then I deleted it. Why? Because I read this.


..........People who are unable to mind their own business are most likely internally miserable. They seek to find faults within others just to make themselves feel better. Offering insight to a friend whose present situation seems distressed can be helpful at times but there is only so much advice you can give without pushing the limits. Even if you don't agree with what someone else is doing sometimes, you need to take a backseat and let them make their own mistakes.
“Everyone has faults and there is a fine line in helping someone get through their indiscretions and chastising them for it. It's easier said than done for people to help each other rather than hurt, because some people might not even be aware that they are simply being a pain in the rear end versus being helpful.”.............
..................If you are not friends with a person and he or she does not personally know you, then do not make the mistake of letting his or her opinions and attitudes persuade you. These types of people thrive for attention and live for chaos. They tend to lead boring lives and have no excitement in their own, so they act in this manner to create something out of nothing. They seek to fill the gap in their lives by discussing the lives of others by judging them harshly, so that they can feel better about their own miserable existences.
“What I choose to do with my life is my choice and not yours, and what choices I decide to make is mine and mine only, and who I associate myself with is my decision and it's none of your business.”...............
...........................People are too quick to judge other people's shortcomings, but are reluctant to look internally and evaluate their own. Some people really just have nothing better to do than to gossip about others. They just seek to cause trouble because they thrive on drama. These people need to get a reality check and realize that this is an immature way to go about life.

If any situation doesn't involve you, instead of getting in the middle or putting your two cents in, you should mind your own business. If a situation concerns you or you have experienced something of a similar nature, then it's time to stand up and to talk.

And stupidly, I found this at a forum which I love dearly https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4341501/

Aiyoh why so kepochi over petty issue?

the meaning of kepochi should you been wondering what the hell is it?
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080219100934AAXgLlK 





B. Politicians will never admit 

Eugène Delacroix - Liberty leading the People, 1830
Source : Wikipedia
On Raya night, an ex-minister made a statement, which for me, sounds stupid for that minister's level.
As usual, people bash him, including a mufti, some Islamic politicians, and most Muslim, since it was Raya, people are a bit emotive when people start questioning and make an issue out of "praying".
Today, that ex-minister gave a counter reply.
Actually, I kinda expected Zaid Ibrahim to reply like this. Deny and say the other side is wrong.

I believe that all politician somehow possess this "Deny, never admit" when they made some screw-ups, whether management, stupid statement, etc.

I learnt this from the 2010 series, depiction of Three Kingdoms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CIM5PnKuWA&t=1805s


You forward to Minute 11:37 and watch the whole thing to understand.

If you are highly ambitious, and want to go into politics, in the Asian world at least, and yet on some shitty day you made a screw up;

The first idea is to deny all the way.

The second idea is to accuse other fellas.

In Zaid Ibrahim's case, he denied that his statement is wrong, it was "misinterpreted".

The "accuse" tactic = he highlighted Nik Abduh, as if the whole thing is a defensive reply from Nik Abduh "scathing" remarks.

The same idea in FGV case, ie. Isa Samad. Denied the wrongdoings, then ask the CEO to take leave (indirect accusation).

Ambitious politician are like this, at least in the Asian world, I guess, but I might be wrong.

Screwups and excuses


He's bad to the bone, ain't you, Tyrone?

Of course I am.

Tyrone'll drive for us. He's done a rally driving course.

Of course I have.
I don't want that dog dribbling on my seats.

Your seats?
Tyrone, this is a stolen car, mate.

While I'm at the wheel, it's my car...
...so stop that dog dribbling on my seats. All right?

I can't believe you found it. Where'd it go?

It went back to the gyppos.

Shut up. And how could it find them?

Well, I don't know. I'm not a dog, Sol.
Ask him.
It's like he's a fucking homing beacon.

Steady on the brakes.
I thought you said he could drive, Sol.

Don't worry about me. Just worry about that dog on my seats.
All right?

What?

You said he was a getaway driver. What the fuck can he get away from?

Don't worry about Tyrone. He can move when he has to.
Worry about getting us a gun.
What's that?

This is a shotgun, Sol.
It's a fucking anti-aircraft gun, Vincent.

I want to raise pulses, don't I? - You'll raise hell, never mind pulses.

That does not look like a bookies.

Why'd we stop here? What's the matter with that space over there?

It's too tight.

Too tight?
You could land a jumbo-fucking-jet in there.

Leave him alone. He's a natural. Ain't you, Tyrone?

Of course I am.

A natural fucking idiot. Tyrone, what've you done?

Yeah, Tyrone, what have you done?

Look, you hassle me, you see what happens.

It's all right. No, don't move it now.
People'll see the damage. Why'd you do that?

I didn't see it.

It's a four-ton truck. It's not like it's a packet of fucking peanuts.

It was at a funny angle.

It's behind you, Tyrone.
Whenever you reverse, things come from behind you.

Control that dog as well.

Get that dog off him. - Get it off me.

Give me that squeaky toy. It shut him up last time.

Don't snatch.

He can't swallow the whole ball.

Yeah.


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Thursday, 22 June 2017

cold forgiveness

Albrecht Dürer - Praying Hands, 1508
Source : Wikipedia

I ask for forgiveness to everyone reading this. Happy Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin.

For this year's Raya, my wife and I will be travelling south.

Wish you guys luck and happiness.


Yeah, I want to travel south this year
Won't prevent safe passage here

Why you act crazy
Not an act maybe
So close a lady
Shifty eyes shady

Tears that soak a callous heart

Why you act frightened?
I am enlightened
Your weakness builds me
So someday you'll see

I stay away

Why you act crazy
Not an act maybe
So close a lady
Shifty eyes shady

I stay away

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Sunday, 18 June 2017

fire woods


William Simpson - Charge of the Light Brigade,1895
Source : Wikipedia

Malaysia 1MDB


First of all, I'm not pro or against any political parties, neither against or pro to those in power in Malaysia now.



The US Department of Justice made a second press statement on 15 June 2017.

Now, at that time, there were few comedic political issues which I think, were caused by the Malaysian government politician themselves, shooting themselves in the foot....Felda Global Ventures spat between Isa Samad and his appointed CEO, and the fiasco between Nazri Aziz with the ministers from Sarawak.

But what I see, Malaysia Today (a pro-Government blog) made more blog entry about US DOJ issue more than those 2 issues. And my intuition (hati kecil in Malay language) made me question, why with all these defensive measures, if it wasn't true?

If the issue of 1MDB is like what the pro-Government wants us to believe, ie. US DOJ is just doing an investigation based on an allegation which is still not conclusive,

then their Media advisers and pro-Government guys will just "play down" the issue. But instead, I think, their defence only heightens the exposure.

Maybe they want to defend, but in the same they want to indirectly ask those who are involved to "come clean".

That's what I think after reading all the news, entries, and the slots at TV3 Buletin Utama. If it was "nothing", then too much hype over "nothing" might cause citizens like me to wonder "why?".

And at this moment, I do pity RPK and his daughter Sara, and all those people of the so-called clever Boffin Boys, because they did their best, but in the end, the politicians they supported, keep shitting in their pants, and these Boffin Boys had to clean their mess.

What a pity it is, being that clever and that good, and to do so much good, but in the end, are as dispensible as fire woods.


Islamic posting in FB 

I was sickened to the core when I read the following in Facebook.

"Ustaz Sampah, bagi kuliah pun macam sampah. Fitnah dah jadi benda yg disukai. Baik dia bagi pencerahan pd orang hadir tu bab Hudud, ruu35 sebab ramai lagi yang masih kabur atau tak tahu especially Hudud"

The comment from someone who criticised someone about religion stuff., because the latter criticised someone from Islamic political party who commented on religious stuff.

These things happen, I think, because of politics.

But the fire between those who are knowledgable about Islam. usually are made more rapid and wide by those "fire woods", aka, the supporters.

And then they wonder why people like me sometimes couldn't see the beauty of Islam. The beauty is sometimes obscured by the fires made more glittering and more hotness by these fire woods.

These fire woods thought they are doing something good. 

But I think, in the end, everybody is at loss.

Yet the fire rages.

Richard Caton Woodville, Jr - Charge of the Light Brigade,1894
Source : Wikipedia



This song was written based on the "Charge of The Light Brigade" of the British light cavalry led by against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854. The assault ended with very high British casualties and no decisive gains.

You'll take my life but I'll take yours too
You'll fire your musket but I'll run you through
So when you're waiting for the next attack
You'd better stand there's no turning back.

The Bugle sounds and the charge begins
But on this battlefield no one wins
The smell of acrid smoke and horses breath
As I plunge on into certain death.

The horse he sweats with fear we break to run
The mighty roar of the Russian guns
And as we race towards the human wall
The screams of pain as my comrades fall.

We hurdle bodies that lay on the ground
And the Russians fire another round
We get so near yet so far away
We won't live to fight another day.

We get so close near enough to fight
When a Russian gets me in his sights
He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow
A burst of rounds take my horse below.

And as I lay there gazing at the sky
My body's numb and my throat is dry
And as I lay forgotten and alone
Without a tear I draw my parting groan.


Below is the famous poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson about the Charge of the Light Brigade
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/45319

I 

Half a league, half a league, 
Half a league onward, 
All in the valley of Death 
Rode the six hundred. 
“Forward, the Light Brigade! 
Charge for the guns!” he said. 
Into the valley of Death 
Rode the six hundred. 

II 

“Forward, the Light Brigade!” 
Was there a man dismayed? 
Not though the soldier knew 
Someone had blundered. 
Theirs not to make reply, 
Theirs not to reason why, 
Theirs but to do and die. 
Into the valley of Death 
Rode the six hundred. 

III 
Cannon to right of them, 
Cannon to left of them, 
Cannon in front of them 
Volleyed and thundered; 
Stormed at with shot and shell, 
Boldly they rode and well, 
Into the jaws of Death, 
Into the mouth of hell 
Rode the six hundred. 

IV 
Flashed all their sabres bare, 
Flashed as they turned in air 
Sabring the gunners there, 
Charging an army, while 
All the world wondered. 
Plunged in the battery-smoke 
Right through the line they broke; 
Cossack and Russian 
Reeled from the sabre stroke 
Shattered and sundered. 
Then they rode back, but not 
Not the six hundred. 

V 
Cannon to right of them, 
Cannon to left of them, 
Cannon behind them 
Volleyed and thundered; 
Stormed at with shot and shell, 
While horse and hero fell. 
They that had fought so well 
Came through the jaws of Death, 
Back from the mouth of hell, 
All that was left of them, 
Left of six hundred. 


VI 
When can their glory fade? 
O the wild charge they made! 
All the world wondered. 
Honour the charge they made! 
Honour the Light Brigade, 
Noble six hundred!

Richard Caton Woodville, Jr - Charge of the Light Brigade,1894
Source : Wikipedia

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Thursday, 15 June 2017

Grenfell tower and some stories

(this was actually from my Facebook post, but with addition)




There were so many incidents in Malaysia and the world.

Malaysian stories involves some artist and their infidelity and affairs, FGV, Harumanis mangoes that were said to be burnt by farmers, the world's on fire with Saudi-Qatar disputes,Trump and his surprising words, in all which I never commented because I don't want to be trendy, hipstery, political.

I knew nothing about farming mangoes except HayDay, and I don't want to be a smart-ass commenting on world politics, and Trump..ok no comment.

One thing though, the Grenfell Towers fire.

(and below is the translation of  posting, originally in Malay language) (Update 28 June 2017: my FB link has been deleteddue to privacy concerns)

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/jun/14/grenfell-tower-major-fire-london-apartment-block-white-city-latimer-road

Since I was involved in fire fighting services installation, this news is something.

A 23-storey building on fire at midnight around 1am local time. The building was constructed and completed on 1974. As per the time of writing, 12 were confirmed killed.

A little background story on Grenfell Tower
Grenfell Tower is situated nearby Notting Hill, which is an exclusive place in Greater London.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notting_Hill


This area and the actual flat was seen in the popular movie Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant/Julia Roberts. There were few luxury flat nearby, hence the idea of installing building cladding which is speculated to be the reason why the fire spread quite fast.


Recently in Iran pun a similar incident happened, Plasco Building, 17 storey. Due to the fire, the building actually collapsed, killing 20 firemen working to stop the fire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasco_Building


BS9251 Sprinkler Systems for residential and domestic occupancies.

http://www.fire-sprinkler.co.uk/…/2011/09/BS%209251-2005.pdf
http://www.bafsa.org.uk/pdfs/publications/1/00000121.pdf
http://www.ultrasafe.org.uk/bs9251-fire-sprinkler-british-standard/ 

However, I believe that this Standard came out around 2005, but I might be mistaken on this. 


BS5839 Part 6 : Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings - Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises
http://www.bafsa.org.uk/pdfs/publications/1/00000121.pdf
BS5389 came out around 1995.


Grenfell Towers were not built with sprinklers and fire alarms during its 1974 completion.

http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2017-06/40965739-grenfell-tower-tragedy-proves-need-for-fire-sprinklers-in-high-rise-buildings-008.htm


Before BS Standard came out, contractors refer to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association, US based), FM (Factory Mutual) and LPC (Loss Prevention Council) for standard of sprinkler installation in residential. 


USA, by its active body NFPA, released standard NFPA13 (Sprinkler on Residential) on 1975 by a report made in 1973 which stated that about 8000 people died annually in USA due to structural fire.


UK and Ireland, before the release of BS Standard 9251 and 5839, referred to Building Regulations (England and Wales) which were then lead to the formation of  Loss Prevention Council (LPC) which later went on to develop a certification body called the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) on 1984. 


The FOC technical documents became Loss Prevention Council rules and standards, and the approval schemes became Loss Prevention Standards (LPS).




 

Malaysia also have their own Building Standard in the form of Malaysian Uniform Building By Law. UBBL 1984 latest revision (the latest revision I have with me is 2013, but I believe there is later revision recently), which latest revision deals with scope of installation in service apartments, as current construction market favour mixed development type of building.

http://badrulhishamarchitect.blogspot.my/2011/03/overview-of-uniform-building-by-laws.html

Camille Pissarro : The Boulevard Montmartre at Night, 1897
Source : Wikipedia

A story

Reflecting back, somewhere on 2009, I proposed to do a Master by Research di UM about building services, but I was told by a lecturer at Engineering Faculty UM, that if I were to proceed with the topic, I would have to go to a different faculty, Fakulti Alam Bina.(Faculty of Built Environment)

Since I knew no one in Alam Bina and it had to take time then to get a supervisor, I just drop the whole idea. Anyhow there is a paper I found in Net about Malaysian Fire Safety on PHD level. (link below).
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0ahUKEwiZzaTbmL7UAhUEi5QKHaOlBGMQFgg2MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ros.hw.ac.uk%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10399%2F2281%2FYatimYM_0609_sbe.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1%26isAllowed%3Dy&usg=AFQjCNGLpFtALu-10aO1KVELI-8jku1UYQ&sig2=lDRCSRg8yFzq17HzOeR8vQ&cad=rja


One of the suggestion the Engineering Faculty lecturer did was to change the Research topic, which I was asked to do a research about energy efficiency untuk refrigerators.


I was sceptical as Malaysia is not a refrigerator-maker country.I did not see the rational behind his suggestion and thought of it being silly.



 http://www.worldstopexports.com/refrigerators-exports-country/

Refrigerator Exports by CountryBelow are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of refrigerators during 2015:

  1. China: US$7.9 billion (19.8% of total refrigerator exports)
  2. Mexico: $4.7 billion (11.7%)
  3. Italy: $3 billion (7.5%)
  4. United States: $2.9 billion (7.3%)
  5. South Korea: $2.7 billion (6.7%)
  6. Germany: $2.2 billion (5.5%)
  7. Thailand: $1.8 billion (4.6%)
  8. Turkey: $1.7 billion (4.3%)
  9. France: $1.4 billion (3.6%)
  10. Poland: $1.2 billion (3.0%)
  11. Singapore: $743.9 million (1.9%)
  12. Austria: $724.2 million (1.8%)
  13. Sweden: $561.8 million (1.41%)
  14. Netherlands: $546.3 million (1.37%)
  15. Japan: $516.5 million (1.3%)
 Among the above countries, the fastest-growing refrigerator exporters were: Poland (up 44.7% since 2011), China (up 19.1%), Mexico (up 14.5%) as well as Thailand and the United States (each up 4.6%).

Thailand? Yeah Thailand produces lots of refrigerators.


However, on 2015, Malaysia by Suruhanjaya Tenaga released MS2574 : Minimum Energy Performance Standard for Refrigerators, and so I was wrong about it after all.

Somemore, the initial report on Grenfell Tower incident mentioned that the source of the fire might be from an exploding refrigerators.

Oh my.

Camille Pissarro : The Boulevard Montmartre at Morning, Cloudy Weather, 1897

Another story

http://badrulhishamarchitect.blogspot.my/2011/03/overview-of-uniform-building-by-laws.html
http://badrulhishamarchitect.blogspot.my/2011/03/overview-of-uniform-building-by-laws_04.html
http://badrulhishamarchitect.blogspot.my/2011/03/overview-of-uniform-building-by-laws_963.html
http://badrulhishamarchitect.blogspot.my/2011/03/overview-of-uniform-building-by-laws_5979.html

I ask you guys to read on the comments section of each entry.


Ar. Badrul Hisham is not only a practising Architect, but also a Lecturer, and so he has a tendency to explain things, and I think he is a person with good honest intent to share and explain things.


But look at the comments. Some asks for free consultations, which is actually highly charged in the market, some asked stupid questions that shows they are not really in construction industry.


Worse, some asked where they can get a copy of UBBL, which should not be asked at all.


Imagine you go to your lecture, and then asking your lecture, "which shop can I get those book from?"


The question does not give respect to the one questioned.


You have to understand that this person shared for FREE the knowledge which came from skill and practice that cost years of hardwork, and in real life, people would actually charge with a high price for a consultation.


But this guy did it free, and I guess he felt honest about sharing it, and by writing it in his blog, will somehow became notes for him to remind of so and so.


The problem is people don't appreciate free things.


I remembered one time when I was asked by someone on some technical issues. I just answer to my best knowledge, and guess what?


This guy used my answer to screw other guys, and if I didn't tell him, he wouldn't be the smart-ass he was, when he screwed the other guys.

Camille Pissarro : The Boulevard Montmartre, 1897

Don't become info-bit**

Sorry if my writing here is vulgar. But when thinking of this jerks, one couldn't help themselves from feeling vulgar and miserable.


I have some friends from the old days, whom turn out to be jokers in social media.


These people thought, one of the best ways to learn things is by asking and debating.


Their modus operandi is simple. They will heighten your emotions by psychological "soft-bullying" and in turn, your rage drive your passion to delve, learn and note on the "knowledge" so you can present it to shoot them back.


The problem is, somehow you end up became their info-bit**. It is because you give time and effort to scour for knowledge, but they just read on what you present to them.


It is easy on their part because they learn things effortlessly, only by playing on emotion.


That is why, I hate debates because one way or the other, someone will open books, sometimes holy books and end-up as info-bit**. Stupid game.


You see, knowledge takes years, efforts, experience of mistakes and good ones, and you gave it all away like giving flowers to monkeys just because of heightened emotions.


I did block some of my best friends from the old days due to this. No regret.




NEWS (notable events, weather, sports?)


My answer to all this is easy. If you have something good, and you felt like sharing it, treat it as if you are a newscaster on TV reading news.


You never allow the feedback, even though it is nice sometimes to have good warm comments, but from years of reading social media content, I feel much more content presenting whatever I write here like a newscaster on TV reading news.


If the content is good to them, they feel good about it, but I don't need to know, my concern is just that I just finished updating/writing to my best knowledge.


If the content bores them, they can just flip the channels.

Nirvana - Very Ape

I am buried up to my neck in
Contradictionary flies
I take pride as the king of illiterature
I'm very ape and very nice

If you ever need anything please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first

Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt

If you ever need anything please don't
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I'm too busy acting like I'm not naive
I've seen it all, I was here first


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Sunday, 11 June 2017

one day you'll walk alone

Portrait of Young Woman with Unicorn - Raphael - 1505 or 1506
Source : Wikipedia

This drawing came out after Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Unicorn in images meant chastity and purity, as it is said that unicorns can only be captured by virgins.

However it was revealed by radiography in 1959 that actually Raphael drawn a dog, a symbol of infidelity, ie "being a bitch", but later Raphael altered the drawing to be unicorn.

Might be that the lady was holding a dog during painting, ie. honest mistake, but we will never know.

Sistine Chapel ceiling drawing by Michaelangelo


I had the idea of this writing last week, when my wife and I visited my parent-in-laws. whom taking childcare responsibility of my cute niece Sabrina and his beautiful baby sister, Chayra (pronounced as Khairah), as both Sabrina's parents are busy at work. By the time they got back from work, they were quite tired, but they are assured with Sabrina and Chayra being well fed and groomed.

I didn't post any recent photos of Sabrina and Chayra as I don't want their parents to become disturbed.

Anyway,

I realised that Sabrina is not just envy of her sister, but also kinda despise her baby sister a bit.

I always saw that Sabrina likes to squeeze her baby sister hands a bit too rough, sometimes when taking photo her smiles looks fake, I knew that Sabrina is confused as she do love her baby sister.

The reason of this? Attention.

And Sabrina is naughtier, but her naughty-ness is more rough nowadays. Even her grandfather, whom always favours her and was patient with her tantrum, nowadays acts more stern towards Sabrina.

And that makes her more hateful of the situation I guess.

I noticed all of that, but I didn't really think much of it.

It was only when I heard Sabrina with her finger pointing towards her babysister Chayra, said this to her tired mom :-

"Mak, tu si gemuk dah bangun!" (Mom, the fatty kid has woke up).

Chayra is just three months old.


 Sistine Chapel ceiling drawing explanations



Hopefully my wife and I will have kids of our own soon.

I hope, one day I will be able to teach my kid/kids of these words.

"One day, you'll walk alone".

And I hope they will understand and not feel abandoned. I hope they can still stand up straight proud of themselves.

But then, maybe they will probably feel like Naruto, the character in Naruto comics.



They will cry and feel desolate at times. But if I am there, I would like to say "hold on buddy, that's life".

Cardinal and Theological Virtues by Raphael, a fresco at the wall of Stanzae Vatican, Vatican City, 1511

Ignorance is bliss

Quite recently. I sent emails to few people I knew online on certain matters and interest. Somehow I never get a reply back.

Then I realised, I didn't felt irritated or disturb. It felt light.

If it happened 10 years ago, I must have thrown stupid tantrums over it, and I realised it was all because of insecurity.

Now, being married, for sure, the insecurity level is different compared to when I was single.
And getting old also might make one more mature.

By then, I guess that those who didn't reply, have their own thing and we just crossed paths, but never interweave. And you gotta respect that.

When you are denied attention, yes you might be wondering why, but at my age, I would advice not to think much about it.

First, there are other major and pressing things in life that need that brain power.

And, as the Raphael's fresco "Cardinal and Theological Virtues" as you see above there suggest, there is a higher purpose of things in life.

When you think of it, you'll tend to ignore most gossips and idle talks, or small things in life, or, rather work with what you have rather than bitching about what you don't have.

So one idea to let yourself, to be able to walk alone one day, is to look things in a bigger perspective, to look at your life as if you're on top of a hill on a city, where all those cars, people and noises look small.

Religiously, if you somehow are able to treat your life as a traveller in a desert, religiously it felt like being closer to God. If you're an atheist, you might disagree to this statement, and it is your own right.


The School of Athens by Raphael,  a fresco at the wall of Stanzae Vatican, Vatican City, 1511

School of life in desolation

 I would like to tell my kid/kids, that most first steps in life, are those steps where you have to walk alone.

I remembered on the day I took off to Dubai for my first job. I was on the plane alone.

Most of the mega beautiful things that I saw and experience is when I was alone.

I guess everybody living in this revolving earth experience loneliness as much as I did, like a traveller on a Lonely Planet.

Hence,

I think one of the best thing a dad could offer to his 3-4 year old kid, when they ran happily and suddenly stumble and fell down, is;

To tell the child to relax, not to cry and try to get back on their two feet back standing proud.

It is because everybody falls, whether you're young or old, naive or gifted, everybody falls but what matters is the standing back again after the fall.

And after that, to be able to do that, alone.

Death of Ananias, drawing by Raphael, 1515

Attention and Disconnect

The problem nowadays and might be of the future to come is, attention becomes more like a drug to people.

I've seen recently in my FB, a former colleague "liked" few posts, of a bereaved mother being sad over her dead baby.

There were a some post from the same person, that somehow I start wondering, "shouldn't death be a private thing?"

She might got her own reasons, maybe she didn't have a reason ie. didn't think much of it, just simply post whatever she felt heavily at that time.

But then seeing her dead baby wrapped in cloth, with thousands of people watching, giving sympathy FB likes, and commenting with prayers...

I don't know the "cure" to this "addiction", and it is tragic somehow, to realise that actually, one day, you will die and be forgotten yourself.


In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- In Flanders Field by John McCrae



Megadeth - Addicted to Chaos

Only yesterday they told me you were gone
All these normal people will I find another one?
Monkey on my back, aching in my bones
I forgot you said "One day you'll walk alone"

I said I need you, does that make me wrong?
Am I a weak man, are you feeling strong?
My heart was blackened, it's bloody red
A hole in my heart, a hole in my head?

Who will help me up?
Where's the helping hand?
Will you turn on me?
Is this my final stand?

In a dream I connot see
Tangled abstract fallacy
Random turmoil builds in me
I'm addicted to chaos

Light shined on my path,
Turn bad days into good
Turn breakdowns into blocks, 
I smashed 'em cause I could
My brain was labored, my head would spin
Don't let me down, don't give up, don't give in

The rain comes down, cold wind blows
The plans we made are back up on the road
Turn up my collar, welcome the unknown
Remember that you said
"One day you'll walk alone"

Who will help me up?
Where's the helping hand?
Will you turn on me?
Is this my final stand?

In a dream I cannot see
Tangled abstract fallacy
Random turmoil builds in me
I'm addicted to chaos

Note : All photos here, the sources is from Wikipedia and WikiCommons 
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