Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger!

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Image from http://www.newsbbc.org.uk/
Image from http://www.flatrock.org.nz/

• Every year 15 million children die of hunger



• For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years



• The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world is well-fed, one-third is under-fed one-third is starving



• One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5.



• Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion (a majority of humanity) live on less than $1 per day, while the world's 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with 45% of the world's people.



• Half of all children under five years of age in South Asia and one third of those in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished.



• To satisfy the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only
  US$13 billion- what the people of the United States and the European Union spend
  on perfume each year.



• The assets of the world's three richest men are more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries on the planet.



• Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger

Extract from http://library.thinkquest.org/C002291/high/present/stats.htm

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HAPPY NEW YEAR !

来自世界任何一个角落的朋友, 祝大家新年快乐 !

To all of you from every part of the world, HAPPY NEW YEAR !

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

- Extract of a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806 –1861, one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era.

My nephew Fadrul's wedding several days ago to his sweetheart, Imane Saphiia Imhof from Switzerland.

New Year Resolutions

It's that time of year again when most of us find ourselves making "resolutions" for the New Year. Some may be very straight forward, such as, to lose 10 kilos, to stop smoking, to drink less coffee, to take a vacation to a place you have never been before, etc. Most, I might hope, should focus on self improvement and the betterment of ourselves as a person. I hope we all would want to be a better person whatever our religious inclination and we would want to make a resolution to pursue ways to achieve the desire to become a better person.

Flowers in bloom

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo


My White Lady Anthuriums flowered again after 3 years. The last blooms were in September 2008.

PERHAPS you’d like to buy a flower?
But I could never sell. If you would like to borrow
Until the daffodil
Unties her yellow bonnet
Beneath the village door,
Until the bees, from clover rows
Their hock and sherry draw,
Why, I will lend until just then,
But not an hour more!

- Emily Dickinson (1830–86),a poet particularly taken with nature

Those in power should not take the people for granted

There is an on-going debate about "fairness". Let me quote Confucius.

According to Confucius, in order to lead, it is important for a leader to be fair so that all are given equal treatment and no one is considered inferior relative to the others. Confucius cautioned that those in power should not oppress or take for granted even the humblest of their people. "You may rob the Three Armies of their commander," said Confucius, "but you cannot deprive the humblest peasant of his opinion." If this does not happen, a leader will no longer be given the mandate to lead.

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Chid abuse in Malaysia

Child abuse is an offence in Malaysia, punishable under the Child Act (2001) and the Penal Code (revised 1997). Offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of RM 50,000 or up to 20 years imprisonment, or both depending on the offence. Offenders may also be punished with whipping in addition to the fine and/or imprisonment.

Despite significant strides made by the Government in improving child protection measures in recent years, statistics from the Department of Social Welfare show a rise in reported child abuse cases in Malaysia:

 2008: 2,780 child abuse reports
 2007: 2,279 child abuse reports
 2006: 1,999 child abuse reports.

The national reported figures in Malaysia represent ONLY reported cases to the Department of Social Welfare, police or hospitals/clinics when children are treated. Global experience shows that only a small proportion of child abuse of children is reported and investigated, and few perpetrators are held to account.

Source: http://www.unicef.org/malaysia/GetonBoard-Factsheet-Child-Abuse-in-Malaysia.pdf

Some years ago (15)

Date of entry: 4/6/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Last night I dreamt of my Aunty sitting on a bench. Sitting together with her was a man about middle-aged, wearing traditional Chinese costume. The man was neither fat nor thin, his face was full and square and he was hearty looking. I also saw wife and Hou. The man said "Do you know who I am? I am the god's angel who have come to protect Hou". Then I woke up from from my dream.

Grilled fish anyone?

Found these mackerels grilling on charcoal fire at the backlane of a popular eatery in KD, while waiting for my car to be washed! Give me the creeps to think that I have eaten there several times! Yaks!!

Two sisters

Two sisters through the years.

One used to be an introvert, the other nearly left home for Bollywood

Some years ago (14)

Date of entry: 1/6/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Abdullah told me that the Ipoh hospital had telephoned to inform that Hou is completely cured and could be discharged immediately. I was so happy. I did not even want to take my lunch. I went back to take some clothing for Hou and left immediately for Ipoh.

Wife and daughter Peng had already gone to Ipoh this morning. Not knowing that Hou can be discharged today she had not brought his clothing along.

I arrived in Ipoh at 2 o'clock. Wife, big cousin sister, daughter Peng and 4th cousin brother were already in Rex waiting for me. We went immediately to the hospital. Hou had stayed in the hospital for 13 days in total. He has lost a lot of weight and looks pale. My poor son, he is so young, cannot even walk yet but had to suffer from so much hardship for 13 days.

Enjoy today!

A friend sent me this today. Think I'll share this here:


TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN,YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE; SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

Some years ago (13)

Date of entry: 30/5/1948 (Sunday)

The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Yesterday afternoon at 4pm I arrived in Ipoh to see Hou. The nurse told me that the diphtheria has subsided but Hou now has a cold and cough. It seemed as though he recognized me. I went out to buy a tin of Marie biscuit for him. When I came back I found him lying down. Since I noticed he was not asleep I touched his forehead. When I touched him he yelled out aloud. I immediately withdrew. He did not feel cold or hot, like normal.

This morning I again went to see Hou, together with 4th cousin brother. He did not seem very active, probably due to the cold and cough. The nurse removed his clothing and asked the hospital attendant to bathe him. She put soap all over his body and washed him with warm water.

At 10 am I went to see Hou again and brought along some grapes. I found him standing on the cot, looking happy and active. I asked the nurse to give him a grape. He took the grape, and was smiling at me while eating it. I found him quite happy and active and I then went back to Parit.

According to the nurse, the hospital had received the letter that I had written. The hospital will inform us about the date and time Hou could be discharged. I hope he can come home by tomorrow or the day after or the latest by next week.

One of the nicest things you can have

I love everything that's old, — old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine - Quote from Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act I, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th edition (1919).

This week, almost everyday of the week I had been meeting up with old friends.

Lunch with my old boss, his wife and several previous colleagues. Even though I had been transferred out of the Department in 1994 and since retired, we have kept in touch and meet occassionally.
Meeting up with several of my classmates. Even though we had left high school 47 years ago we had remained bosom frineds.

Enjoying a buffet lunch with neighbours in my previous housing area. Even though I had moved away from the neighbourhood 2 years ago, they have remained my close friends.


A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Some years ago (12)

Date of entry: 25/5/1948

The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Wife with daughter Peng went to Ipoh to see Hou. When she came back she told me that the Marie biscuit and the three tins of milk I bought several days ago had finished. The nurses were not polite. Hou looked healthy and should be discharged in a few days.

Those of us at home do not have any symptom. I go to work and daughter Kim goes to school as usual.

One million children work with mercury everyday!

Mercury, the silvery liquid metal, known to many from old thermometers, is one of the most toxic substances on earth. Inhaling even small doses of its vapor is dangerous. There is no known safe level of exposure.

Yet the one million children around the world engaged in artisanal gold mining work with it every day.

Please read full article: Take mercury out of children's hands

Image credit to http://photo.net

Some years ago (11)

(The entries were made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Date of entry: 22/5/1948

In the afternoon at 2pm I went to Ipoh to see Hou. I bought a tin of milk and a plastic toy for him. He was sitting in the baby cot and looked normal. When he saw me he seemed to recognize me but it's like he was not sure.

The nurse said I have to buy a thermos flask. I immediately went out to buy. I also bought an additional tin of milk,4 oranges and some grapes. The nurse looked pleased.

Date of entry: 23/5/1948

In the morning at seven I went again to see Hou. The ward attendent said he was eating biscuits. I again went out and bought another tin of Marie for him.

I went to cousin's house to chat and at 10 am I went back to Parit.

Some years ago (10)

Date of entry: 20/5/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Yesterday 19th I took my son Hou to a clinic in Ipoh. At 12 noon he was examined by the doctor, who declared that Hou had Diphtheria. The doctor immediately wrote a reference letter and told me to send Hou to the hospital immediately, saying that this is an emergency and Hou's condition could become worse any time soon and he needs to have an injection.

When wife heard what the doctor said she was overcome with fear. We immediately hired a trishaw to go to the hospital. After the admission procedure, Hou was warded in "Ward 12". He has to stay in the hospital and visitors are not allowed. When my wife left Hou in the ward she was overcome with sadness and cried non-stop.

At 1 pm we arrived in eldest cousin sister's house, after which I went to inform 4th cousin brother.

At 2pm wife and eldest cousin sister went to the hospital to see Hou. Wife fed milk to Hou. When the nurse saw this she shouted and scolded wife. Wife immediately put Hou down and with tears in her eyes she left the ward. Hou immediately started crying very loudly.

I wanted wife to remain in the hospital to look after Hou and asked the clerk for permission. The clerk told me to ask Dr. Dourado's permission. I searched the hospital but could not find Dr. Dourado. Upon enquiring from several persons I was told that as Diphtheria is communicable, definitely the Mother cannot stay back to look after Hou. We have no choice but to return to Parit, leaving Hou alone in the care of the nurses.

Some years ago (9)

Date of entry: 8/5/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

My son Hou was infected with a boil on his head. Today I took him to the Parit Medical Assistant to remove it. Pus was extracted. After that the infected area was bandaged and secured tightly. He is so young, does not know anything and had a good cry.

Quote: Joon/Woon SC

We start and end with the family

Cheesy cake baked by Deedee's friend, Naeem, yummy...

A meaty dinner at a Brazilian restaurant

Farouk and wife Azni

My new canon digital, gift from Farouk and his wife

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt