Can we trust the news media anymore?

News media these days are taking sides instead of just reporting. It may be the prerogative of news media and their owners to take sides but in doing so they are undermining the very basis for their existence, i.e. reporting. News media are supposed to inform readers about the issues and events, not sway their opinion.

Just look at our two mainstream newspapers- the way they present the news, they way they frame the headlines to favour the establishment, while giving an unfavourable slant to those they choose to slyly condemn. Then look at Malaysia's two popular alternative online media sites - these had been trying their best to paint the establishment in the worst possible light. In one of these sites, readers' comments which are pro-establishment are classified "lowly rated" and hidden from view.

Can we trust any of the "NEWS" anymore at face value ? I may be too naive to expect the news media to be impartial. Maybe this does not happen anywhere in the world.

Would they give away their wealth like Tun Sambanthan?

One of the first Ministers I had the great privilege of working for, almost 35 years ago, was the late Honourable Tun V.T. Sambanthan (1919-1979), the fifth President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (1955). My work station was a room near the entrance to the office building and he made it a habit to stop by almost everyday on his way home. We chatted about almost anything under the sun, from issues of national unity, to welfare of the estate Indians, to hobbies. One thing we shared in common was rose planting. I had followed him home, to his government quarters house located near the Parliament House, not far away from the office, to appreciate his rose garden which he tended to himself. Whenever he bought fertilizers, insecticides or growth hormones for his roses he would buy a similar set for me and I would do the same for him. He treated everyone in the office like his friend.

Tun Sambanthan, together with Malaysia's first PM Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Dr. Ismail and first Minister of Finance Tun Tan Siew Sin were Malaysia's pioneering political leaders who had worked together to attain the country's independence from the British in 1957.

Although Tun V.T. Sambanthan was born into a rich family he spent all his personal wealth on the MIC and the people who approached him for asistance. It is a well known fact that Tun Sambanthan gave up his fortune for his people.

That was Tun Sambanthan as I knew him, a simple man, a selfless politician, a towering Malaysian!

Can you imagine our politicians today giving away their wealth? The opposite would be more likely. In fact one was caught with his pants down, with his ill-gotten millions in his suitcase halfway around the world!

The self-serving politicians on both sides of the divide today, always conniving and plotting, accusing and counter accusing, spinning deceits and lies, really nauseate me.

Flowers on our walking trail

The Ixora is one of the best known garden shrubs in Malaysia. It loves the sun. In the Malay language the flower is known as Jejarum, which means Needle flower because the buds look like needles. It blooms all year round and comes in a variety of colors the most common being bright red.

Bird of paradise

Lobster Claw Heliconia. It is commonly known as Sepit Ketam in Malaysia.

Yellow flowers on a tree. Name unknown

White bougainvillea. The bougainvillea is a common ornamental garden plant in Malaysia. It seems there are over 250 species of bougainvilleas. It blooms throughout the year and the flowers come in many different colours.

Pink bougainvillea

Adenium, sometimes called the Japanese Frangipani

The Lantana is a shrub like plant. The flowers are in a cluster, shaped like an umbrella. They come in various colors though orange and yellow are the most popular. The plant's hairy thorny stems and rough leaves have a strong and sharp aroma that is almost pungent. It is known as Bunga Tahi Ayam in Malaysia, translated as chicken's droppings flower.

Morning glory

Hibiscus, Malaysia's national flower which comes in many colours, including, white, yellow, pink, bright red, deep red. Called the Bunga Raya in Malaysia. It seems there are 200 species of Hibiscus.

Orange and pink Bougainvillea

Ixora

Yellow Allamanda. The Malaysian names are Bunga Akar Kuning and Akar Chempaka Hutan. It seems that all parts of the plant, including its milky sap, are toxic.

I and Nor take a 1 hour brisk walk everyday, except on days when the weather does not permit. Today I decided to record the images of some of the glorious flowers that greet us on our brisk walking trail.

Whoever loves and understands a garden will find contentment within. - Chinese Proverb

Rest in peace, Maria Amelia Lopez

News about the death of the world's oldest blogger Maria Amelia Lopez (pic on the right), http://amis95.blogspot.com/, aged 97, was in the papers today. Her family left a final post, thanking readers for their support. I knew about her sometime back but unfortunately I did not have the privilege of reading her blog because she wrote in Spanish. Apparently after becoming a Blogger 2 years ago, she became a sensation and her fame even saw Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero drop in for a chat.

I did a little internet search on senior Bloggers and found an article Senior citizen bloggers defy stereotypes. It seems Web logs are gaining a foothold as a new leisure-time option for senior citizens. Joe Jenett, a Detroit-area Web designer who has been tracking the age of bloggers for a personal project called the Ageless Project, said he has noticed more older bloggers in the past two years. From the "Ageless Project" site I had picked several Blogs owned by senior Bloggers, which I found to be regularly updated, and added to my Blog List.

Where are the "Big Truths"?

I came to learn recently that the “Big Lie” is a propaganda technique developed by Josef Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda, and Adolph Hitler in the 1920’s.

Hitler in his autobiography "Mein Kampf" (MY Struggle) defined the Big Lie as a lie which is so BIG that no one would believe that anybody would distort the truth "so infamously". It seems that Hitler was a master of manipulating the minds of large numbers of people. Hitler believed that if you tell a simple lie, people who know the truth will easily reject it. But if you tell a huge, huge BIG lie that is absurdly false people will believe it because it would be too absurd or impossible for you to have told such a BIG lie!

It seems the only way to counter a Big Lie propaganda is to tell the Big Truth many more times than your opponents can tell the Big Lies. Someone told me there are many Big Lies recently in the politically motivated alternative media, but I am still waiting for the Big Truths which should counter the Big Lies.

What are men like?

Men are like ... Weather. Nothing can be done to change them.
Men are like ... Blenders. You need one, but you're not quite sure why.
Men are like ... Commercials. You can't believe a word they say.
Men are like ... Government Bonds. They take so long to mature.
Men are like ... Horoscopes. They always tell you what to do and are usually wrong.
Men are like ... Mascara. They usually run at the first sign of emotion.
Men are like ... Lava Lamps. Fun to look at, but not very bright.
Men are like ... Parking Spots. All the good ones are taken and the rest are handicapped.

Source: http://www.todaysseniors.com/pages/Clean_Jokes_Stories1.html

Nothing much, just thinking aloud on the first anniversary of activegoldengirls.blogspot

When I first started this blog in May 2008, it was done out of curiosity, i.e. my curiosity about the technicalities involved in maintaining a blog. Well...by now I think I already know some of the basics.

When I started making entries I had no planned themes in mind. But slowly I posted items that interest me, like issues involving the elderly since I belong to this age group; cases of child abuse for which I feel a very deep sense of disgust and always wish "if only there is something I could do"; jokes and anything amusing since I love to have a good laugh and tend to google for humour quite often and also my own personal feelings about some everyday encounters or something I happen to recollect from the past.

There are many blogs with political overtones and I enjoy reading them. As a student of History and International Relations, and having been involved in the public service for over 30 years, I have my own views, some leftist, some rightist, some in between. I had been tempted many times to post my comments and opinion on the current political scene, but I think I will keep those as "saved drafts" for the time being. I will keep this blog a light hearted one where I can retreat to whenever I feel like taking a short break from my other activities.

Confucius on old age

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator -Confucius

My personal recollections of May 13

Today is May 13, the 40th anniversary of Malaysia's racial riots tragedy of 13 May 1969. The riots led to a declaration of a state of national emergency, suspension of parliament by the Malaysian government, and the establishment of the National Operations Council to govern the country between 1969 and 1971.

I was in University then. In fact just 3 days before emergency was declared, on 10 May 1969, to earn some extra pocket money, I was working as a polling clerk in a polling station in Brickfields Kuala Lumpur for the Elections Commission. The racial riots happened after the fateful 10 May general election. Infact when I was at the polling station there were whispers that trouble could be brewing in Kuala Lumpur. The polling station supervisor told all his polling clerks to go back home straight away after work and not to linger around. In fact, my Father came around to the polling station on his way back from work and we went home together.

When the curfew was imposed and we were all confined to the house, the exception was my Father who was taken to work by the police in the police 4 wheel drive everyday early in the morning, coming back only very late in the evening. I remember my Mother was always very worried. I remember asking my father what work he had to do. He told me that he was taken by the police to some Chinese areas where he had to explain the situation to the Chinese community. I think probably the police used my Father's services as a translator to reach out to the community in an effort to restore confidence and law and order.

When finally the curfew was lifted and I went back to lectures, even in the University, the Malay and the Chinese students became wary of one another. The normally noisy faculty canteen was unusually quiet for quite a few days. My best friend then was a Malay girl who I had been close to since secondary school days. Even she and me were avoiding each other for a while. I also heard that my friend, Ruby lost her elder brother in the riots and a few weeks after that Ruby stopped attending lectures as her whole family migrated to Canada.

What prompted the worst racial riots in Malaysia's history? I don't think the Malays hated the Chinese neither did the Chinese hate the Malays. Many of us have good friends from different races. The Malays and Chinese could not have suddenly decided to fight. I don't think it was like that. I blame it all on politics and the politicians.

My conversation with the petrol pump attendent

I was at a petrol kiosk not far from my house today.

Petrol Pump attendent : Saya Faisal dari Pakistan (I am Faisal from Pakistan)

Me: Berapa lama sudah di Malaysia? (How long have you been in Malaysia?)

Faisal: 3 tahun (3 years)
Me: Umur awak? (your age?)
Faisal: Saya 21 (I am 21)
Me: Boss okay? (is your boss okay to you)?
Faisal: Ya, sangat baik boss saya (Yes, my boss is very good to me)

Me: Ada hantar duit balik kampong? (Do you send money home?)

Faisal: Ya. Saya dapat RM700, hantar RM500 tiap bulan (I earn RM700, send home RM500 every month).

Me: RM200 lagi untuk belanja? (Another RM200 for your own use?)

Faisal:RM 100 saya belanja, RM 100 lagi saya simpan (I use RM100 and I save RM100)

Me: Awak anak baik (You are a good son)

Faisal: Mak saya pun ibu baik (My mother is also a good Mother)

I felt like hugging him! You are a good son and I am sure she is a good Mother, having brought up a responsible, matured 21 year old like you. May God look after you and bestow his blessings on you!

Some cute jokes

Why wear wedding ring on wrong finger?

At a cocktail party, one woman said to another, 'Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?' The other replied, 'Yes, I am, I married the wrong man.'

Wife wanted!

A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: 'Wife wanted' . Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: 'You can have mine.'

Too blind in love to notice!

After a quarrel, a wife said to her husband, 'You know, I was a fool when I married you.' The husband replied, 'Yes, dear, but I was in love and didn't notice.'

Credits to: http://www.guy-sports.com/jokes/woman_jokes.htm

Not too old to study?

A friend suggested I should enrol for a PhD program as the University where she works is giving a 75% discount to senior citizens. Mmm... I am not sure...why do I want a PhD at such an advanced age? "Why Not?" she said.

Have your heard of Kenyan Mr Kimani Nganga Maruge who made headlines around the world in 2004 for being the oldest man in Kenya to start school - aged 84? The great-grandfather has won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest person in the world to start primary school. Mr Maruge says he never had the opportunity to go to school when he was younger.

Two of his 30 grandchildren attend the same school but they are in more senior grades.

Information from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3746101.stm

Mmm...maybe I should give the PhD program some serious thought!

Life and work should both be enjoyed!

I just took the Which color is your aura? quiz and the result is yellow

This is the anlysis:

Yellows are the sunniest, happiest and most childlike personalities in the color-spectrum. "All I want to do is have some fun!" is a song which is a wonderful representation of Yellows and shows their easy going, light and sunny character. These playful people have a wonderful sense of humor. They love to laugh and intimately enjoy life from many different angles. They advocate relaxation, the pure joy of life and live spontaneously. They are always reminding other people to not take life too seriously and to always look on the bright side. Life and work should both be enjoyed.

I cannot say that the analysis is totally accurate, but, yes, I do believe that Life and Work should both be enjoyed. If a person does not enjoy his work, how is he to enjoy his life?

Actually I am privileged

I was driving along Jalan Stoner in the vacinity of KLCC today. There are several luxurious condominiums on both sides of the road and a few more under construction. I was wondering to myself how much it must cost to buy a condo unit in this area, how nice it must be to stay in this "high class" area and how privileged these people are compared to me. Suddenly the person driving in front of me stopped abruptly and I followed. Apparently, the car had to stop for a disheveled looking middle age woman who could be mentally deranged, who was crossing the road aimlessly without paying any attention to the traffiic. So sad. Does she have a family? I wondered.

I was angered, for I had no shoes

Then I met a man who had no feet- Chinese Proverb

Growing old is a privilige

Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege -Unknown

How could any human being do this?

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA, Crystal Keith, 24 is charged with beating her nephew, 13-month-old Christopher (pic on the left) to death and torturing his 2-year-old sister for months.

Milwaukee County Medical Examiner told the court that Christopher suffered more than 47 injuries! His arm was torn away from his shoulder. His other arm was broken. He had been punched in the face so hard his teeth bruised his inner lips. His brain had hemorrhaged and his eyes bled, a condition seen only in car accidents, falls from great heights and child abuse.

Crystal Keith also abused Christopher's 2 year old sister. Crystal Keith told the detectives she hit the child with the brush on her knuckles and feet. The skin on her hands began to peel away, and her toenails began to crumble. In her confession Crystal Keith said "It got so bad with the feet that I wouldn't let my husband or anybody see her feet. So I left socks on her all the time. One morning . . . I had her in the kitchen on the pot (child's toilet) and she was turned wrong so it made me mad so I smacked her in the face so bad that her eyes were closed." After the beating, Keith said, she wrapped the girl's head in a scarf, placed her facing backward on the toilet, made her put her head in her lap and left her in that position for the rest of the day.

Information from: http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/44423522.html

Rest in peace, little Christopher. You now now safe in God's embrace.

Weight training keeps us young!

• Weight training for the elderly help those who have lost mobility to regain some movement and even improve mental functioning.
• Weight training for the elderly puts back muscle mass and strength that has been lost.
• Weight training for the elderly strengthens the immune system helping them to avoid many illnesses.
• Weight training for the elderly renews much of the suppleness to the skin that aging can take away
• Weight training helps the body to manufacture greater amounts of hormones.

Reference: Weight Training for the Elderly

Mmmm...time to take out my son's irons !

Just to be alive is a grand thing

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing. - Agatha Christie

A man of principles

Today I am very much saddened to have lost a former boss and a good friend, Ir. Tan Hoe Tim, to leukemia. The greatest impression he made on me was his way of solving problems. Whenever we were confronted with a problem or discussing an issue, he always used to say, "Let's look at the principles of it", and we normally got our work issues resolved in a manner acceptable to everyone.

He had demonstrated to me that principles can give us useful guidance in a wide range of situations and that living by principles will encourage moral and fair choices, judgments and actions.

We have something in common

Credit to: http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Seniors.htm