Tuesday, December 11, 2007

We are moving !

Not really moving away from Malaysia (sigh !)
Just moving our blog....

Why ? Well, we need more space as our first baby is arriving so... he need his space as well!
When ? As soon I can finish to settle wordpress configuration... well you know what I mean.
Where ? http://blog/........ I will let you know later on, lah ! Better
With ? With my Queen Sharon, my King baby coming, my Duke Cucciolo and all of you and more!

So here guys we are moving to a bigger space... Do you want to lend an hand ?

We're already filled up!


... I will be back soon (to bring you over there) !

Monday, November 26, 2007

A name for my King...


For the first time in my life....
I have no words coming out from my mouth...
I already knew that Sharon (my wife), was expecting a baby since while we was in Europe for our summer holiday, but the emotion to become a fathers simply leave me speechless.
Today we just made the 5th month visit checkup and everything seems fine.
We have a little buffalo as it's already 500gr.
We're so proud of him, especially considering what did happen last year!
He's a boy, he's my King.

And here comes the problem: the NAME!
Yes, because I did agree with Sharon that if it's a boy, I'm in duty for chosing the name, while for girl she was in charge. How comes I can't remember all those nice name for boy that I heard before ? Where are they gone ?
Help ! Need suggestion ! Serious suggestion ! Please !
PS: I'm the most happy man in the world. There is no way to understand what is the happiness until you really get into it.... It's amazing and he hold you forever!
Today my heard feel like butter under the sun.... melt away for him!
Thank you my King! Thank you Sharon!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Malaysia: a new Myanmar ?


The largest political protest in nearly a decade erupted in Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, Saturday with riot police aiming water hoses and tear gas at thousands of protesters gathered to demand electoral reform.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to demand electoral reform.

Opposition parties and civic groups demonstrated against alleged fraudulent activity in the electoral process and demanded an overhaul of Malaysia's electoral commission ahead of general elections widely expected for early next year.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had vowed to suppress the demonstration, and on Saturday police had erected roadblocks and ramped up security in an attempt to close down the city's center.

Nevertheless, in defiance of a government ban, between 30,000 and 40,000 demonstrators massed outside the royal palace in Kuala Lumpar, according to media reports. Opposition group leader and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim put the number much higher, claiming more than 100,000 people had gathered in the streets.

One witness said police fired tear gas and jets of "chemically-laced water" at hundreds of demonstrators who sought refuge in the city's Jamek mosque and in commercial buildings.

"Squads of police are chasing hundreds of protesters along alleys and on the city streets," the witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said blockades had been set up around the city to hem in demonstrators.

Photos of the crackdown showed protesters dressed in yellow t-shirts and head scarves shielding their heads as water from cannons blasted down on them.


New York-based Human Rights Watch slammed the rally ban and urged the government to support free speech ahead of elections expected to be called early next year.

"If Malaysia wants to count itself a democracy, it can begin by upholding constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly. The way the system works now, only the ruling coalition can get its messages out," it said.

Human Rights Watch said Malaysian elections have been sullied by vote-buying, the use of public resources by the ruling parties and accusations of bias against the Election Commission.

Malaysia has had only one party in power since 1957.

Speaking to CNN after briefly addressing the opposition-backed rally, Anwar said "we are demanding that the (election) process be cleansed. There are no such thing as fair elections in Malaysia at the moment."

He said a memorandum detailing allegations of corruption by the commission had been handed to Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia's constitutional monarch.

Malaysian law stipulates the sultan must give his royal assent to the commission after it has been appointed by the government.

Opposition party leaders, including Anwar, called the mass meeting to protest alleged fraudulent activity in the electoral process.

"This was an attempt to threaten the people. But I am very proud that Malaysians were not intimidated and turned out in such great numbers and that they behaved peacefully," Anwar said.
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Anwar was heir apparent to former premier Mahathir Mohamad until 1998, when he was sacked and charged for corruption and sodomy.

The sodomy conviction was overturned, but the corruption verdict was never lifted, barring him from running for political post until next year.

SOURCE : CNN

From BBC WORLD :





Monday, November 5, 2007

Another week....

And here again we're with another week!
Lucky this week will be slightly short as Thurday & Friday there will be held the celebrations for the Diwaali (Deepawali) Hindu holiday.
To be honest today I'm quite in a rush.... so let's move to the funny video for the day!


Friday, November 2, 2007

Malaysians are spammers! Do you know that ?

I've received the following email a few weeks ago but not sure, at that point of time, whether post it or not.




Since that day I'm receiveing almost 50 email spams from Malaysia suppliers every day.

So, why not ambarassed this fellow ?

There is his h/phone and some of his details.

Someone out there that hate spammers and what satisfaction in mail-bombing activity... go ahead and punish him how deep you can.

And this is the funny video for today.
Yes, this is definitively on of my top five favorite videos.

Enjoy it and... Have a nice weekend!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

So late so late...so busy so busy

Hi folks!

It has been a long time since no news from this part of the world.
I believe you didn't miss me at all, right ?


Anyway sorry! I've been very very busy and soooo many things happened !
I will talk about this in next couple of days!

Okay so here is the deal for the next few weeks....
I'm planning to move back Italy in a couple of month to re-arrange and settle some important pending matters. So my time is thight especially considering that, I've decided (I should stop to watch some stupid show on tv late in the night) against any rules of logical thoughts that I'm re-arranging and setting up the offices in Malaysia one more time, to be sure that, on my way to Italy, I will not receive a phone call like: "Ehi Paolo, we can't access the server #2" or something like "Ehi Paolo, this morning the printer is not printing".


Yes Yes I have a multi purpose runner and service man but you know me....

So for the next couple of months I will split my daily (well, weekly if not monthly) posts into 3 sections each:

- Funny video of the day/week
- Funny photo of the day/week
- Personal considerations about anything sateliting (wow, google you don't have this word, right ?) and crossing my life.

So here we are for today, well for yesterday as this post is in the draft for almost 24 hours...

This if the funny video of the day.
It's amazing computer elaborated video but really shocking and impressive:




And this is the photo/comic for today.


Have a nice day my friends!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

It's confirmed: MICROSOFT Is dead!

I'm not a fan of Microsoft.
Well, I would like to say that I really hate Microsoft!
Why, ayo.... too long to tell you here!

Anyway it seems (well it's confirmed) that they are struggling to remain alive.
Their profit drop under the lost limit point.
30% of their best developers ran away recently.
VISTA is the biggest flop ever seen and it's much worst than any other operating system of last 10 years!
Their policy to kill "freedom", "open source" and derivats is not working....
... do you need something else?

I believe Microsoft should change that lousy marketer that is Mr. Ballmer!
Please have a look at the video below....
He is Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft.
The most st..id CEO for the most st..id software company up to date!

Have a fun!





Don't ask me how old is him!
I think he has his age....
....it was already acting long time back!
See his first movie ?

Have fun!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

1002


Happy Anniversary, Cucciola !

Today, it's a special day! Well everyday that I spend with my Queen, it's a special day!
But not, today is one of those that can't be described: it's our 3rd Anniversary!
We got married on that 02nd October 2004, three years today!
So now that everybody know why Sharon's car plate number is 1002, let me just tell you one thing: 1002 is meaning much more than our wedding date!

It's our secret! And maybe, one day, like an old man beside a fire that tell a tale to a number of granchildren, I will tell you the truth.

Because, yes, our story is based on destiny!

To you my Love!

You are and you will be forever my angel, my guidance in this life, my example of life and the best person I ever met in my life.

My life changed on THAT 02nd October..., that year only you know!
How many difficulties, how many problems, as how many wonderful moments, happyness we spent together.

Every night when I fall asleep, I close my eyes happy to be beside you, my pride!
Every morning when I wake up, I open my eyes happy to fall in love for you again like every other morning!

I love you cucciola, today, more than yesterday and less than tomorrow and forever!

"The Kiss, is a sweet joke that mother nature made to stop all the senseless talking when words are becoming useless"

Many of you did asked to see our wedding photos.

We are quite reserved about it. Nothing to hide, just we like our intimancy.

Here you can see some of the photos taken during the wedding dinner.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Good Morning Vietnam !


I'm just back from a trip to VietNam.
Fantastic country, amazing people, wonderful culture!

But horrible traffic!

My full respect to these people that I learned here in Malaysia as humble and hard workers emigrants! They leave behind their families for 3 years and come here to replace the lazy Malay people, willing to work for 12 hours daily, 365days per year to save, save and save whatever they can to assure a better future for their family.

Good Morning VietNam !


NO HOLDS BARRED !


[quote from: Raja Petra Kamarudin]

I crawled out off bed Wednesday morning with a heavy hangover. No, I did not spend the previous night boozing away. I went to bed Tuesday night coughing and wheezing and I knew I was going to wake up the next morning with a touch of flu. Nevertheless, Wednesday morning would be when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will address the assembly of 100 or so bloggers and writers. So, like to or not, I would have to drag my sick arse to Putrajaya to video-record the event.

I spent the rest of Wednesday afternoon plus Thursday morning working on the video. After I had uploaded the 21-part video, I leaped into bed and slept soundly. I woke up later that evening to update the website and then went back to sleep. I even missed my 'Thursday night' and this made me quite pissed really.

Understandably, I am in a most foul mood today -- what with the flu, coughing, sneezing, dribbling nose, and missing my 'Thursday night' to boot. And when I am in this type of mood I do not write nice things. I will whack and whack hard. And today I want to whack the Malays for being so stupid.

The issue that has got me all riled up is the matter of Wee Meng Chee, the Malaysian student in Taiwan who redid our National Anthem into rap format. Actually, I looked at the video and found it rather clever. Now, don't get me wrong, I did not say I approve of it. It is like me saying that I am awed at how clever a certain jewel thief is. He is certainly the best jewel thief in the world. No one can stop him and he has never even got close to getting caught. Nevertheless, in spite of his skill, he is still a thief and nothing more than that. Only that he is the best and should be acclaimed as so.

The same goes for Meng Chee. He certainly is resourceful and creative and I must say his rehash of the National Anthem was very clever. But this does not discount the fact he may have been 'blasphemous' in what he did. These are two different issues. A Casanova could be God's gift to women but he is still a shameless sinner of an adulterer.

What I am more concerned about is not whether Meng Chee is blasphemous, and a clever one at that, but whether all those who are outraged by what he did actually saw the video? It is like those riots across the Muslim world when the blasphemous cartoons or caricatures of Prophet Muhammad first emerged. Many rioted and even died in the riots without actually seeing those cartoons. They just heard about it and took to the streets based on what they heard and killed or got killed.

Nazri, Azalina, and many more in Umno and the Cabinet want Meng Chee's head on a platter. How many of these people actually saw Meng Chee's video? Are they reacting to what they heard from others or to what they personally witnessed? It is similar to those Ministers and Umno leaders who were up in arms about my article of 11 July 2007 that was supposed to have insulted the Agong and Islam and incited racial hatred. So they all repeat these allegations and urge that action be taken against me, Malaysia Today, and all Bloggers in general.

But which article are they talking about? I never wrote any article on 11 July 2007. I did on 8 July 2007 and again on 13 July 2007. But I never wrote anything on 11 July 2007. So which article did all these so many Ministers and Umno leaders read and which I was supposed to have written. Itulah. Kalau kata Melayu bodoh, marah. Tapi kalau dah bodoh apa nak kata lagi? Bodoh tetap bodoh.

The same goes for the Meng Chee video. How many of those who want action to be taken against him have seen the video? And which part of the video do they regard as offensive? Kalau nak cakap sekurang-kurangnya tengok dulu baru bercakap. Orang bodoh saja yang bercakap sebelum siasat betul-betul.

Okay, next point. These very smart Melayu scream and shout and froth at the mouth in defence of Islam Hadhari. What is Islam Hadhari? Is this form of Islam opposed to and different from traditional Islam? If so then I want to reject Islam Hadhari because I only want to follow the Islam that Prophet Muhammad introduced to the world. But if Islam Hadhri is in tandem with the Prophet's Islam then I can accept it.

Now, according to 'traditional' Islam, there are various laws such as Shariah, Qisas, Hudud, etc. Basically, Hudud deals with the seven serious crimes and what the punishment for committing them should be. Let us take one of those crimes, armed rebellion against the state. The punishment for this crime is very severe. But if you lay down your arms and surrender and swear allegiance to the state, then you are forgiven. In Islam, conflict must not be prolonged against those who have ceased their armed rebellion. Even Ali, the Fourth Caliph, had to reluctantly accede to this.

In this instant we are of course talking about an armed rebellion against the state. This is definitely treason. Some may consider the re-hashing of the National Anthem as equally treasonous. But the severity of re-hashing the National Anthem cannot surpass that of an armed rebellion. An armed rebellion involves loss of life and property. Re-hashing the National Anthem does not involve loss of life or property.

Hey, I didn't create these laws. God did. At least this is what Muslims are supposed to believe. So if you are not happy then go complain to God when you finally get to meet Him. And take my word for it you will all eventually leave this earth and will go meet whichever Maker you may believe in. I am just reminding Muslims on what their religion, Islam, teaches. Islam teaches that there is such a thing as Hudud and which Islam says is compulsory. Islam says this. Not me. And what is the implication if you were to reject God's laws? I don't know. But the ulama say that this makes you kufur. And, according to the ulama, kufur means kafir. And the meaning of kafir is those who reject and refuse to submit. A Muslim is one who submits and a Kafir is one who rejects. This is what the ulama say and would I dare say that the ulama are bonkers when they are supposed to be the experts?

So, my question now is: are the Ministers and Umno leaders above God? Do these so-called Muslims reject what God decreed? God says those who rebel against the state and lay down their arms are to be forgiven. The Ministers and Umno leaders however say that they will not forgive one who has re-hashed the National Anthem, not yet even one who launched an armed rebellion against the state. Does this make the Ministers and Umno leaders above God?

Wee Meng Chee may have done wrong. I am not going to dispute or endorse his actions. What we must now ask is whether what he did is so bad that he cannot be forgiven. The Islam of the Prophet says that under the most severe Hudud laws (which Muslims and non-Mulism alike reject because they argue that Hudud is very cruel) even someone who launches an armed rebellion against the state can be forgiven once he lays down his arms and pledges allegiance to the state. This, according to Islam, is God's decree. And we wish to decree otherwise and implement laws above God's laws?

Malays bikin tak serupa cakap and cakap tak serupa bikin. If they perceive that you have insulted Islam, Malays would get very angry even if this is only their perception and you did not really insult Islam. Malays claim they are prepared to die for Islam and will uphold the dignity of Islam till their last drop of blood. Yeah, sure, and I am a monkey's uncle. But these same Malays do not even know what God's laws are and will very happily invent their own laws, rules and regulations that serve their political needs.

Why is PAS so quiet? PAS, the so-called Islamic Party of Malaysia, screams and shouts about Hudud. It is because of this the entire opposition coalition got fucked up resulting in the 2004 General Election disaster. We told the PAS people to shut their gaps. We told them that Hudud cannot be accepted by Muslims, what more non-Muslims. But did PAS listen? No! They say that Hudud is God's laws and they will uphold Hudud even if the opposition coalition gets destroyed and the opposition gets massacred in the general elections. Well, the opposition coalition did crumble and the opposition did get massacred in the 2004 General Election. But did PAS care? No! They only care about Hudud.

Well, where is that Hudud that PAS propagated and defended so fiercely? The PAS leaders were frothing at the mouth like rabid dogs screaming about Hudud. Why do we not hear PAS screaming now? They are not even whimpering. Is not rebellion against the state one of the seven serious crimes under Hudud? And does not the Hudud law say that once you lay down arms and repent then you are to be forgiven? Is Meng Chee's crime worse than an armed rebellion? If you can forgive someone who launches an armed rebellion you cannot forgive someone who re-hashes the National Anthem?

Hello......PAS! Why so quiet? PAS also bikin tak serupa cakap and cakap tak serupa bikin.

Okay, while we wait for PAS to respond, one more point I would like to raise is that Umno has very cleverly used this National Anthem issue to distract people from the more serious issues plaguing this country. Around the same time that the National Anthem issue broke, 20 people died in a bus crash while the rest of the 29 people in the bus were seriously injured. It has now been established that the bus company has almost 100 summons, the bus driver has about 13 with two arrest warrants issued against him, and the bus has about 30 summons. How can the bus driver, the bus and the bus company still be allowed to operate? According to the police it is all because of corruption on the part of the Road Transport Department (RTD).

Yes, the police accuse the RTD of corruption. In fact, around that same time, one RTD director was arrested for corruption when he checked into a hotel room for a night of sex with his girlfriend. But no one talks about this. Meng Chee is more important. About 10,000 people a year die on Malaysian Roads because the RTD is so corrupted. But this is not an issue. The National Anthem and one Chinese student in Taiwan are more precious than 10,000 Malaysian lives a year. Hello.....PAS.....where are you? Tidor ke?

One ex-IGP said that going by their life-styles alone, about 40% of the police officers can be regarded as corrupt. One ex-Deputy IGP told me that if they want to clean up the Royal Malaysian Police then 90% of the police would have to be sacked. This is the one-time IGP and Deputy IGP talking . This is not what I say. This is what they say. Hello.....Malaysians.....Cabinet Ministers.....Umno leaders.....PAS.....why so quiet? Is this not alarming? Is Meng Chee more important than this?

Yes, is Meng Chee a Red Herring? Do they want to pull the wool over our eyes so that we don't see the tree from the forest? Was the Meng Chee 'crisis' created as a smokescreen to distract Malaysians from the real issues? Malaysia is in trouble. We have more serious problems in hand. We have a country being run on autopilot We have an extremely corrupt government. We have leaders paying lip service to Islam and who do not really want to serve Islam. In fact, they don't even know what Islam really is. And these people who have never even seen Meng Chee's video want his blood. This trivial matter is being played up to the hilt so that Malaysians will focus on this instead of what really matters.

Okay, Meng Chee erred. But he has now apologised. Accept his apology and let us put this behind us and move on. If he does it again then go for his balls. And let this be a lesson to other Malaysians to not do the same thing. And can we now get back to the more important matters? This country is fucked up. The government is fucked up. Umno is fucked up. The opposition is fucked up. Punishing Meng Chee is not going to change all this. Come to think of it, some of what Meng Chee said in that video is not too far from the truth.

[/quote]

Questo matrimonio 'sa da fare!

Melaka, Sunday 15th September 2007

Congratulations to Matthew & Evelyn for their marriage.

For them...

"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance betwen you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."



Sunday, September 9, 2007

50 years of racism


Tall buildings, narrow minds

After 50 years, Malaysia should stop treating a third of its people as not-quite-citizens.

THE government of Malaysia has laid on all sorts of grand pageantry this weekend, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Malay peninsula's independence from Britain. There is much to celebrate. Living standards and access to education, health services, sanitation and electricity have soared during those five decades of sovereignty. The country's remarkable modernisation drive was symbolised, nine years ago, by the completion of the Petronas twin towers, in Kuala Lumpur, then the world's tallest buildings.

Yet there will be a hollow ring to the festivities. Malaysia's 50th birthday comes at a time of rising resentment by ethnic Chinese and Indians, together over one-third of the population, at the continuing, systematic discrimination they suffer in favour of the majority bumiputra, or sons of the soil, as Malays and other indigenous groups are called. There are also worries about creeping “Islamisation” among the Malay Muslim majority of what has been a largely secular country, and about the increasingly separate lives that Malay, Chinese and Indian Malaysians are leading. More so than at independence, it is lamented, the different races learn in separate schools, eat separately, work separately and socialise separately. Some are asking: is there really such a thing as a Malaysian?

As criticism has grown, UMNO's leaders have resorted ever more frequently to growling that nobody should question the “social contract”. This is a reference to the metaphorical deal struck between the races at independence, in which the Malays got recognition that the country was basically theirs, while the Chinese and Indians were granted citizenship. The veiled threat of violence lurking behind calls to uphold the social contract was made explicit during last year's UMNO conference, at which one delegate talked of being ready to “bathe in blood” to defend Malay privileges and the education minister, no less, brandished a traditional Malay dagger.

The hypocritical Malay dilemma

The social contract may once have seemed necessary to keep the peace but now it and the official racism that it is used to justify look indefensible: it is absurd and unjust to tell the children of families that have lived in Malaysia for generations that, in effect, they are lucky not to be deported and will have to put up with second-class treatment for the rest of their lives, in the name of “racial harmony”. When the mild-mannered Abdullah Badawi took over as prime minister from the fire-breathing Mahathir Mohamad in 2003, there were hopes of change for the better. Mr Badawi preached a moderate, “civilisational” Islam and pledged to crack down on corruption.

Four years on, corruption, facilitated by the pro-Malay policies, is unchecked. The state continues to use draconian internal-security laws, dating back to the colonial era, to silence and threaten critics. UMNO continues to portray itself to Malays as the defender of their privileges yet tries to convince everyone else that it is the guarantor of racial harmony. One commentator this week gently described this as a “paradox”. Hypocrisy would be a better word.

The damage caused by this state racism is ever more evident. Malaysia's once sparkling growth rate has slipped. Racial quotas and protectionism are scaring away some foreign investors. While Malaysians celebrate having done rather better than former British colonies in Africa, they must also notice that South Korea, Taiwan and their estranged ex-spouse Singapore have done much better still. The economic consequences alone justify ending Malaysia's official racism. Even without them, it would still be just plain wrong.

[source]

Sunday, September 2, 2007

The Mozart of 21st Century !


It's with my great pleasure that I introduce you the new Mozart !
Yes, you read it right, he will be a new Mozart !

His name is Julian Chan, he's Malaysian (chinese to be more accurate) and he's.... 6 years old.
Yes, that's right again my friends, 6 ( S I X ) years old.
He is our cousin (his father Henry is Sharon's uncle) and at, let's apart to be a great musician is one of the most intelligent and cute boy I ever met.

From his own website, you can clear ready:
"I'm a pianist and composer and I hope to be a well-known conductor one day."

He won numerous talent competitions and his talent is simply amazing.
Everybody think that he is the new Mozart.
I would like to suggest Henry to consider Salzburg, Austria for his career.


I don't take much more of your time here and I invite you to pay a visit to his blog.
What you are going to read and see today for free, it will cost you a lot of $$$ in next 10,20 years when this young talent will be a great conductor, because, if you still don't know, he already developed the first CD collection of 10 compositions and he has been required around the country for playing for auditions.

Here is a piece that He just completed. It's called The Bird Song. He played it for the first time during his school Prize-giving Ceremony and Concert on Nov 18 2006.


With the permission of his father, the Manager, we post here some photos.
Authograph are still free-of-charge, but I have no idea till when!
So hurry up!




Saturday, September 1, 2007

After all, well, Happy 50th Birthday Malaysia

There aren't only bad people in this country.
There are still many of them very good in heart, probably most of them.
It's simply that European way to handle a business can't match with the local attitude as employee/worker and here is where all my stress comes true.

So, at the bottom of my heart, there is still a little sweet feeling for this country and I take the opportunity, as usual to wish an Happy Birthday, the 50th, to Malaysia.


Friday, August 31, 2007

GMAIL behind the scenes

I've been using Gmail service since quite sometimes (approx when it has been launched in beta about 2 years ago) and I would like to say that overall it's quite a good service.
As Gmail rely on GFS (Google File System) that is the masquerade (upper layer) of a cluster combination of Linux servers, it's quite slow to upload the mainpage especially in countries where ADSL/broadband is not an option.

Anyway this post is not a comment to their service quality but to the following video that is a cut&join of hundreds private contribution from alla around the world.
A few months back Google request to all their users to submit a video of how they imagine an email can travel to arrive at its destination.

Well, if the service is not at 100% top, this video defitinively it is.
Enjoy!

PS: It's becoming the most voted/viewed video on youtube!
Peace!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Herrenchiemsee Caste. And the legend goes on...

06th August, a sunny morning and fresh hair did welcome our wake up in the quite vally of Swangau, Germany.

After open the windows of our cozy room, take a quick shower, we enjoy a wonderful healty breakfast in typical baverian style, with all the waitress wearing local tyrolean dress and serving local home made food.

It's a long day (at least for me that I have to drive all the way from Fussen to Salzburg in Austria) and I've aim to stop and visit the second castle of Ludwig II, Herrenchiemsee, known also as little Versaille, because it's the perfect copy of the same fortress in France.

I will not annoy any longer, but just let me share with you how pleasent is drive in Europe, especially (little note here for all Malaysian readers) when there is traffic jam or congestion.



In about 300km we encountered 2 accident and no one, repeat, no one... one more time... NO ONE driver did use the emergency lane, overtake, cut queue, etc..

Oh well, maybe just one, MYSELF: after driving for last 8 months in Malaysia I've became use to survive in this jungle where you remain alive only trying to squeeze other cars out of their way, use any disparete system just to gain few more centimeter of road.
Sharon, my professional navigator, promptly reminded me where we was and after realized my mistake I quitely re-align my car to the others and patiently wait for the road to be clear.
Germany highways (AutoBahn) are still great way to drive!

So finally we arrive at Prien after lunch, just in time to catch one of the boath to the major island (chiemsee) that host this wonderful palace.

The Chiemsee is a freshwater lake in Bavaria, Germany, between the towns of Rosenheim and Salzburg. It is often referred to as the "Bavarian Sea".The region around the Chiemsee is called Chiemgau and is a famous recreation area, and believe it or not, I don't know whether because was Sunday or whatever else, the lake was full of amateur boats and families envolved in pic-nic and similar activities.






So after 30 minutes of boat we arrive at the the second of the four castles build by Ludwig II of Baveria.


The Neues Schloss (New Palace) is the most famous of these buildings and it is the biggest of Ludwig II of Bavaria's palaces. It is in a sense a monument to his adoration of Louis XIV. In the great hall of mirrors of the palace the ceiling is painted with 25 tableaux showing Louis XIV at his best.

It was to have been a full scale replica of the Palace of Versailles but only the central portion was built before the king died. 50 of the 70 rooms of the palace are still unfinished. It was never meant to be a perfectly exact replica of Versailles. At several places it surpasses !
Ludwig II became famous for the fortune he did spent on building his castles.

Between 1863 and 1886 a total of 16,579,674 Marks was spent constructing Herrenchiemsee. An 1890 '20 Mark' gold coin contained .2304 troy ounces of gold. Therefore, 16,579,674 Marks would equate to 190,998 oz of gold, which at recent gold prices (March 2007) is worth approximately £70,500,240 English Pounds or (August 2007) $125,380,637 United States of America Dollars! 120 years ago!

I add in no more words... the following photos (sorry we are not photogenic), will describe better this wonder (yes Sharon, yes I know, you are also a wonder, but this time I'm talking about the Castle !).


One important suggestion.... if you plan a trip here and you are in need to bite something, call it "food" please bring along a dictionary of German because although this is an international tourist destination, at the major restaurants, no one waitress speak a word of English.

I would like to thanks my teacher of latin in high school that during some breaks did teach us some words of German that helped me already few times around Germany.
You are advised ! Otherwise bring your own food along!

It's almost 6pm and sun is setting down the west as every its evening....
We're walking to our car with a soft wet breeze arising from the lake, as something want to regards us for the last time...

There is something that remain in ourselves everytime we enter in one of these castles, something that you can still feel alive, no matter it's more than 100 years old.
Is it the sound of horse running in dark roads to bring some princess of royalty ?
Is it the silence of the place broken only by the harmonic notes of Wagner music in background played in favour of the King ?
Is it because in each of these castles, Ludwig II did not sleep more than a few weeks ?
Or maybe because all of his Castle have never been completed, like the best of the opera should be ?
I don't know, but for sure, yes this I'm sure about it, there is something magic, probably the same feeling Ludwig II had when he decide to build such wonders.

They say the best and most romantic moment to come here is during winter when the lake is frozen, and the armony of silence is more powerful than ever.

Bye Bye Herrenchiemsee, just a "see you soon" because I will come again soon!
[to be continue...]

PM: Rumours of racial clashes are lies

KUALA LUMPUR: Rumours that racial clashes have occurred in Pasir Gudang, Johor, are “lies, lies and nothing more than lies,” said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister said the rumours were an attempt to create an uneasy atmosphere, incite anger and tension among the people.

“All these are lies made up by people who have nothing better to do,” he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting yesterday.

Abdullah, who is the Umno president, said such lies were slanderous and a big sin for Muslims.

“Allah curses people like that but these people can’t be bothered and do it anyway,” he added.

Yesterday and the day before, Johor was abuzz with rumours that racial fights had broken out in Pasir Gudang.

The police, too, had denied the rumours but some people still avoided going to the area.

To a question on people who raised racially sensitive issues, Abdullah said these people did not think about unity and the good of the country.

“They can give their views but just don’t cause chaos among our people and the country,” he said.

Abdullah said action would be taken on those who go overboard and cause tension among the racial groups.

With only three days to go to the 50th Merdeka celebration, the Prime Minister urged Malaysians to fly the flag and display their pride for the country.

“What’s wrong with spending RM2 or RM3 to buy a flag? This is a very important day for us, a day on which we should express our pride and gratitude for what we have achieved and enjoyed for over 50 years,” he said.

“I hope Malaysians will feel proud. There are other countries where there are internal fights and are poverty stricken. We do not experience such situations – perhaps only once on 13 May (1969).

“So show that you love the country and are grateful that the country is progressive, peaceful and safe. If you don’t get flags for free, buy them. If they are sold out, then make your own,” he said.

Abdullah said not everyone got everything that they wanted and acknowledged that there were still parts of the country which were still not so developed, where there were poor people.

He said the Government would continue to do its duty and bring development to these areas.

“We will continue to do what we have done for the past 50 years,” he added.


My 2 cents:

"We will continue to do what we have done for the past 50 year" = NOTHING good or maybe NOTHING AT ALL!

People I believe is curious to know why the PM rush to calm down a boiling situation that is arising a bit too much over the limit recently not only in the south but almost everywhere else in Malaysia and Singapore as well.

Simple: next GE (General Elections) are knocking at the door and guess what ?
The Government has lost the repution because of too many corruptions scandals recently (see my post of yesterday as one example) and they are afraid to lose this turn of votes in favor of the opposition party leaded by the majority and most powerfull richest and dynamic people in Malaysia: the Chinese community!

Anyway here below you can find 2 import links; I believe you will be delighted to read behind the fake "multi-racial" concept issued by the Government in last 30 years. There is no other countries in the world (imho) where there is so much racism and separation among citizens. It seems to be back of 100 years to something like the Italian's "secret society" with the Chinese living their daily lives undergroundly, running 90% of the national business and mostly carrying the 90% of the private richness of this country with the others, you know who, spindling around asking for free-money after been spoon-feeded by their majors for years pretending that anything must be allowed to them and granted again for free.

Enjoy your reading...

May 13th

Marina Yusof

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

31st August 2007. Malaysia 50th anniversary!

Next Friday 31st August will be Malaysia 50th Anniversary of Indipendence.

50 years.... and today we still find that....

Govt throws lifeline to Port Klang Free Zone

PORT KLANG: After weeks of speculation, the government broke its silence yesterday with a firm undertaking to support the controversial Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) in Pulau Indah.

The Transport Ministry said in a statement that the total outlay for the Port Klang Authority (PKA) project was estimated at RM4.632 billion, after interest, professional and variation charges were added to the RM1.088 billion in the purchase price of the 405ha site and development costs of RM1.845 billion.

"Because of the high overall cost of the PKFZ, the government has approved a soft loan to the PKA. Details of the borrowing are being finalised," the ministry said.

The project has been criticised as too expensive, particularly after its price tag ballooned from a reported RM1.1 billion at the time of its inception in 1999 to a level that has left the PKA deeply in debt.

In a breakdown of the free trade zone’s costs, the ministry said the PKA had bought the land from Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd at RM25 per sq ft, based on a valuation conducted by the Valuation and Property Services Department.

Kuala Dimensi, an "associate" of Wijaya Baru Global Bhd, had bought the undeveloped property in 1999 from a local co-operative for RM95 million or RM3 per sq ft.

The ministry said the PKA’s purchase price was reached because of work done on the site, including land reclamation, drainage, construction of access roads, installation of street lights, water services and payment to various utility agencies.

"The repayment period to Kuala Dimensi is 15 years at an interest rate of 7.5 per cent and the land cost came up to RM1.807 billion."

It also explained that an initial plan to develop PKFZ in two phases had been merged into one on the advice of the then PKFZ operator, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza).

Jafza exited the management contract signed in October 2003 last month, citing "strategic" reasons.

Upon Jafza’s recommendation, the development costs of PKFZ totalled RM1.845 billion, comprising four blocks of eight-storey leased office buildings, 512 light industrial units, three-storey free zone authority office, three-storey Customs office and checkpoint, 175,000 sq ft exhibition centre, a multi-storey car park, security building and ancillary buildings.

It also included infrastructure work such as landscaping and security fencing, the upgrading of roads leading to the PKFZ, construction of a 135-room business-class hotel, electrical works and construction of a 42km concrete trenching.

"Taking into account the land acquisition and development costs, as well as 7.5 per cent interest rate, 10 per cent professional fee and 20 per cent variation order, the entire development cost of PKFZ is RM4.632 billion."

It maintained that the PKFZ, which opened for business last November, was a viable national project to enhance Port Klang as a loading centre, stimulate the economy, create spin-off activities and provide jobs.



and then the surprise in typical Malaysia style....

All charges dropped against Zakaria, partners

KLANG: All 37 charges against controversial Port Klang assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros and five of his business partners instituted by the Companies Commission (CC) have been withdrawn.

The CC had taken Zakaria and the five to court by virtue of their position as directors of Harvest Court Industries Bhd and Titi Steel Sdn Bhd, which had contravened the Companies Act 1965.

Each charge could be punished with a fine of up to RM30,000 and five years jail.

They were charged with failing to notify of change of address, failing to hold annual general meetings, failing to submit financial statements and failing to submit profit-and-loss accounts.

Mozni Sham Ahmad and Joseph R. Samuel who appeared for Zakaria, his partners and the two companies said the charges were withdrawn because the "outstanding problems had been settled".

Companies Commission's prosecutor Azmil Haron told magistrate Fadzilatul Isma Ahmad Refngah that he had been instructed to withdraw the charges against the two companies and its directors.



If I can avoid any comments because I'm definitively tired to speak to the wind, someone, Malaysian, through her blog, one of the most views and followed, speak out simply straight to the point:


[quote]

Grievous Insult

The other day Mike Tyson accused Raja Petra Kamarudin of among other things, insulting Islam.

As a Muslim, let me tell you what is insulting to my religion.

It is insulting when Pak Lah says he is guided by the principles of his so-called Islam Hadhari concept, but does nothing against Umno members involved in the totally un-Islamic affair called Port Klang Free Zone.

The worst thing in this whole thing, as far as I am concerned, is that the Umno thieves basically made use of a fishermen’s cooperative, Syarikat Koperasi Nelayan Melayu Pulau Indah, to make a huge profit from a land deal.

They used poor people for their own greedy ends — how much lower can you get? Ini Islam ke ni, Pak Lah?

It is even more insulting to Islam when after so much has been aired in public, the Prime Minister, a Muslim leader and tireless proponent of Islam Hadhari, has said and done so little. Islam apa ni, Pak Lah?

Satu …Dua …Tiga …Lekuk!


Beberapa pejuang agama, bangsa dan negara

Islam is a religion that burns with righteousness when it speaks and acts against the oppression of the weak, the poor and the downtrodden. This makes Pak Lah’s silence and inaction against his party members involved in the PKFZ scandal even more telling.

Again I ask: Islam apa ni, Pak Lah, when you do nothing?

This man urges Muslims to show the “true” face of Islam, and markets his Islam Hadhari as that “true face”, and what does he do in this instance?

NOTHING.

Hina, lagi menghinakan. MERDEKA!

[/quote]


My 2 cents here... Do you still consider Malaysia a developed country ?
Do you still wanna come Malaysia as an FDI ?

I'm really curious to see where Malaysia will be next year in list of most corropted countries.


Happy Merdeka Malaysia !!!
(Merdeka = Indipendence, Merdeka that sound so familiar with another Italian word... MERDx, that probably is more appropriate than Indipendence! Yes Malaysia you're really a MERDx)

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Neuschwanstein Castle! An eternal mystery

It has been my 4th time here the 2nd for Sharon; honestly I'm impressed all the times I come to visit this castle.

It's huge, amazing, mysterious, scenic, and thousand words are still not enough to describe the feeling you can prove when you reach the top of the hill.

It's not only beatiful, but simply a shocking proof of european engineering and manufacturing quality if you consider that some of its bulding technics (end of 19th century) has been only recently introduced in... Malaysia for the development of new housing estate! (120 years later).

We've been lucky because we arrived in Fussen for a late lunch (1:30pm) and we did take our time to enjoy the first local meal. We approched the Castle's ticket office at 3pm to found that selling tickets was for the next day approx lunch time. Lucky, I was telling, because 2 korean tourist approched Sharon (probably because of the asian features) and asked whether we was interested to buy 2 tickets for the tour. With our surprise, the tour was in 1 hour time, just nice to walk up to the hill and wait a while there. I was a bit scare to buy, but after I saw that they was in tour group, well, I said to Sharon: "she can cheat me for only 18,- euro" and did take the risk. Everything okay (Koreans are not Italians) and our afternoon has been great.

The atmosphere you can feel inside the castle is something can't be described here, all the times.




It was almost 7pm when we reach the main plaza nearby the ticket office, so we decide to complete our first day in romantic way; we take a room at the hotel in the castle area and spent a sweet night over there. Our dinner ? Italian pizza in an italian restaurant in Fussen, ready for an energetic next day ahead....
[to be continued...]


King Ludwig II.
King of Bavaria 1864 - 1886,
* 25. 8. 1845 Nymphenburg,
† 13. 6. 1886 in Lake Starnberg.
http://www.neuschwanstein.de/english/index.htm

Even before he died, the king had already become something of a legend. "I want to remain an eternal mystery to myself and others", Ludwig once told his governess, and it is this mysterious element that still fascinates people today. The poet Paul Verlaine called Ludwig II the "only true king of this century". The shy dreamer, who had none of the typical characteristics of a popular king, lives on, still idolized, as "the Kini".


His palaces, which were barred to strangers, have been visited by over 50 million people since his death. They are records in stone of the ideal fantasy world which the king built as a refuge from reality. His historic, poetic and ideal interpretation of his role as king was finally his downfall. It is possible that he preferred to die rather than return to reality.

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