Reaching for the stars

The boy had the opportunity to meet 'The Angkasawan' today when he dropped into his school. To be exact, have the book that the mrs queued up to buy yesterday, autographed by 'The Angkasawan' himself. The boy could stop talking about how he wants to be one in the future. But according to a friend who happened to be listed in the top 1000 during the selection said, "kalau dah mata empat tu lupakan je lah"... hehe ...

By the way, I was thinking, since the Angkasawan is doing the school circuits now, I think he could contribute to the development of the young. Being a hero and role model to them. In a world today, I think that it is essential for them to have someone that they can look up to. For me personally, I could say that the money spent on the space programme could have been utilised better but now he has to do his bit in nurturing young interests towards science or in life for the matter.

Now I would just reach for the birdies and pars, as my attempts to get back into the game have been proved futile and I have a game tomorrow. Berapa selubang esok? RM2 ..

BA vs JC

I'm not sure how this set of addiction occurs. I think that my first exposure to donuts would be of the home made type and our local version of kuih keria. It means that I don't have any craving for it or would go out of the way to get some. But I did had a phase with Dunkin Donuts during my secondary school, where we would go on outing have have a filled a bag to the brim with their munchkins.

When I went for my studies in the UK, i was exposed to the strawberry filled jam donuts much favored there, plus one chocolate coated custard filled from Greggs, and oh, how could I forget, cheese & onion pasty and savoury roll. Then late last year I discovered JC, where you have to queue to buy up donuts. First impression was made, and the heaven berry have become a standard order on every visit. Then friends told me about BA and found out that it has similarities with JC.

Back to back comparison reveals that most has similar spread of choices. Taste wise BA has caught on to JC. Also BA has a lot more outlets, hence lesser queuing time and its a tad cheaper too. All in all this has been leaning on BA for me. And that is not the only thing, the scale have been leaning on the higher side for me now.... maybe some day they'd come out with a lite-donuts...

e-Filing

This is the second year that I have utilised e-filing for my tax returns. I've decided to do it early this year as from previous experience waiting till the last minute is not advisable due to system congestion (as per my co's performance appraisal exercise). Surprisingly, I found out that the system was ok and in fact fast when I accessed it even from the office. But then again I have a few gripes about it as per the following list :

1. Trying to remember your password from last year was a PITA. The system will try to lock you out after the third unsuccessful try. How could you remember it when you only use it once a year?
   
2. You'll know how much you owed IRB after filling up the form but what you can't see is how much they owe you. Easy in Hard out for them eh?
3. I have jumped into a higher tax bracket for this year and attempts on further reduction s futile. Wonder whether the system recorded all the figure inputted in the event of adjustment to lower your taxable income?
4. Onus of record keeping of the deductions documents is on you and the documents has to be kept for a minimum of seven years.
5. The song that they use too promote it is CORNY ...
   

All in all I think that this is a good move by the IRB to collect due tax. Saves you the hassle of actually filling out and queuing at your local IRB to submit the forms. Just hope that they could change the theme song on the adverts...

Ignorance is a bliss?

Its good to see that parents in Malaysia are more aware about the safety for their kids whilst driving. This was a step in a good direction, as opposed to holding on to your kids instead of a designated child seat, and one of my pet peeves is seeing a reckless parent holding their kid in the drivers' seat whilst the vehicle is in motion.

But one thing that caught my attention during the daily commute today, a concerned parent did had a rear facing child seat installed, but it was in the passenger seat of a car fitted with a passenger airbag!!!!

I think in most cars there are this sticker pasted, meaning DO NOT USE REAR FACING CAR SEAT IN A PASSENGER FITTED AIRBAG, unless there a special switch or sensor that can turn it off. So he's taking a risk of decapitating his child in the event of the airbag sets off. And you might never know when it may go off as the slightest knock to the car in front may have set it off.

Or else save up to buy this car, fitted with eight of these airbags ... hehe ...

Quick Updates

• Had to work away this weekend on a project that I'm supervising. Hence, I've missed the boy participation and subsequent winning as runners-up in his school sukaneka. Better not miss the next sport meet next weekend, so I have been warned by the Home Minister.

• During the work trip, manage to catch up with the Eastern Kerandutz chapter. Hehe, some things still don't change eh? Message to the central chapter & King Kerandutz, buck up or your leadership will be challenged. BTW, did the 'candy' worked? if it's not up tp expectation, there's always the 'cane' with traditional preparation, hehe..

• Got a new toy, well not exactly a toy but a new accessory. Plug in your orifice type of thing but could be used publicly. Wonder why I didn't get one of those earlier. (To those who got the wrong idea, it goes to show how 'clean' your mind are)

• Managed to catch up on my reading. Had been on a 'local flava' phase for a while.Sometimes it just nice to be able to finish up a book without holding on to it for too long. What's the next phase I wonder?
  

Tell me where you get your body from

Baby where u got your body from,
Tell me where you got your body from,
Baby where you got your body from,
Tell me where you got your body from,

~I got it from my mama ~

~I got it from my mama ~

~I got it from my mama ~

~I got it from my mama ~

If the girl, real fine nine out of ten,
She fine just like her mama,
If the girl real pretty, nine out of ten,
She pretty like her mama.

Habis tu papa dia dapat apa?

Ni anak angkat you ke? Grrrrr....

Hooked on the stupid box

I would have to admit that being a proponent of no satellite tv at home, the choice offered on terrestrial tv was somewhat lackluster. Rarely would I follow any show, except for the Ghost Whisperer (JLH...drool). But nowadays I found myself waiting up every Wednesday for Actorlympics TV. An impromptu show where there are similarities with the Whose Line Is It Anyway(which I prefer the British version) albeit with a local touch. Some parts of the gigs have left me bursting at the stitches.

It just amazes me that Afdlin & Co can just think on their feet and perform along seamlessly episode after episode. And their guests actors would also add color to the show. Nice one Afdlin & keep up the good work.

So which one is better, JLH or Afdlin?

Trampled by a giant

No, this is not about a human or being of great size, more like a faceless giant corporation. As per previous post, somewhere near my neighborhood, a new hypermarket was opened. Naturally, we would patron the hypermarket as it is near to us as the others were about 5-1o km away. But as we progress along, we found out there were some differences in the prices of similar item and range of product carried in between these hypermarkets.

I'm not the one who would blindly stick to a brand, as long as it provides a value for money for the quality offered. Also I'm not rigid in the sense of brand loyalty or premise of purchase but do keep an eye upon the so called deals offered.

Imagine to my dismay, one shopping trip ago that a necessary item bought at this particular hypermarket were offered at the same price but upon reaching home only did I realized that the quantity was reduced. I mean, come on, you project yourself as a pioneer in price reduction, but in this case it was the same price for less quantity. Not only this particular item, but on the whole where some things that we need are priced slightly higher. Also most of the item on offer were on the Purchase with Purchase scheme, meaning that you would have to spend a minimum amount in order to get the 'savings'

Better change your tagline to, same price, same brand but lesser quantity (20% less to be exact)