Something Fishy

Fish pedicures, which involve tiny Garra rufa fish nibbling away at dead skin on the feet, can also be a harbinger for disease.

Back to Basics -- Traits of a Good Politician

Politics consists of "social relations involving authority or power" and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.

Political science (also political studies) is the study of political behavior and examines the acquisition and application of power. Related areas of study include political philosophy, which seeks a rationale for politics and an ethic of public behavior, and public administration, which examines the practices of governance.

The Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-471 BCE) was one of the first thinkers to adopt a distinct approach to political philosophy. His philosophy was "rooted in his belief that a ruler should learn self-discipline, should govern his subjects by his own example, and should treat them with love and concern." His political beliefs were strongly linked to personal ethics and morality, believing that only a morally upright ruler who possessed "de", or virtue, should be able to exercise power, and that the behavior of an individual ought to be consistent with their rank in society.

He stated that "Good government consists in the ruler being a ruler, the minister being a minister, the father being a father, and the son being a son."

The spate of demonstrations and public voicing that are mis-directed that we have so recently witnessed right here on the shores of Malaysia are akin to being embattled in a civil war. One that pits brother against brother -- inside us we are all the same. Now tell me, we certainly do not need a civil war to guide us and shape us like the one in America, do we?

The art and act of good government can exist when the leaders acknowledge that they serve the people of the nation. Overkill to say that they are sworn to protect them as well. Malaysians = Citizens of Malaysia. Are you a Citizen or a Foreigner?

Dim Sum A Chinese Delicacy - A Reflection on the State of Wealth and Economics

Dim Sum is a Chinese delicacy that is commonly enjoyed in the mornings over a pot of nicely brewed Chinese Tea. The Chinese believe that the tea helps to dissolves the oil in food and aid in digestion.

The name Dim Sum is aptly translated into "A Spot of Heart" meaning that it is prepared with a tinge of heart. Heart-full preparation to create these mouth sized bites of wonder.

I'm a bit saddened by the kan-seongs (traders) in the Dim Sum industry for raising the price of Dim Sum to almost double of what it was back in 2007 (last year). Its not that its no longer affordable but the price hike is ridiculous. It was so much a joy whenever I got wind of the latest promotions here and there with Dim Sum going at 50% discount -- seems that this will no longer apply. I am certain that many other business people in the food and services industry raise their prices not solely due to increases of the raw materials or resources that they use to in delivering their product or service but more often because of their own personal greed and increases in their own cost of living as an individual. Look at it: The employees are not getting paid any more, are they? There is simply no sense of balance here.

Okay, enough on the short insight. I vow not to indulge in Dim Sum but shall still enjoy it once a bluemoon (never on a shiny day or a weekday) as it is no longer good value for money...

Malaysia is not the only multiracial country

Face it...we Malaysians are not that special when it comes to being a multiracial country. Despite having come a long way since the time of our forefathers, we have regressed into a society full of controversy (as in singular sense). Perhaps we should bite the bullet and be humble enough to start learning from others. Tun Mahathir in all his glory during his overstayed rule in Malaysia did manage a good thing or two amongst his many other deeds. A good example is his introduction of the Look East Policy which nurtured Malaysia to emerge a formidable manufacturer of cars in Asia. No one is perfect...and neither is he.

I crossed upon an interesting documentary on Travel and Living yesterday of the ASTRO cable T.V. channel. It has this Bourdain chef guy on a visit to Columbia to seek pleasures of the tastebud...glorious food. It seems that Columbia has all skin tones imaginable. People of all the world can be seen here, White, Black, Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian, African...and all living happily. Although I could see that the majority were not in the trappings of a luxury lifestyle but heck..these people were happy.

It is my belief that Pak Lah had a good thing going and before positive things could come to fruit, bad things happened that were not entirely his doing. We are all proud to be Malaysians. It does not matter if we are an unknown (which we all know that the world in majority knows of us), multi ethnic group instead of multi racial, or even still making our mark on Earth, but the most we have to show at this moment is the childish behaviour we display to the international audience. Can we all just focus on the basics before we regress further. Think of a strong nation that is Malaysia and the Malaysian race that is the people living in harmony here. Is that not a goal worth achieving? Its fine to say that even lovers need a break or a vacation away from each other, but at the end of the day it remains that they get back together stronger and more geared for the future. We should all focus on being Malaysians and a multi ethnic nation - even the term multiracial denotes of a racial divide so drop it. In the true spirit of a global nation, we are beyond religion, race, skin colour, and borders. We are the same inside no matter who we are.

Keep the ISA --- Lose the Politicians

For whatever it's worth, the Internal Security Act or ISA as we all know it should not be abolished as it provides a comfort zone towards maintaining the home security of Malaysia. However the only point which needs to be ensured is that the power to wield it should be entrusted to an individual or a committee that is able to act intelligently and without fear or favour; the latter being more needed.

It is extremely embarassing to learn of politicians who are whimsical, childish, rude, and shortsighted. For example, we have those that comment for the sake of letting loose a stream of unintelligibles; fear not that it is offensive to some quarters, those that use filthy language, and more so those that act like children in a playground fighting over who gets to play. Tsk tsk shame on you.

To these politicians I bid you a quick end to your so-called glamorous political career; whereas to those that are respectable (in my eyes) ie Pak Lah - you have done your best and although the tide is against you, your integrity shall be fortified and your good name held in deepest respect.

Speed up your PC

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly.

Free up disk space
By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:
•Remove temporary Internet files.
•Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
•Empty the Recycle Bin.
•Remove Windows temporary files.
•Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
•Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.
Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer. Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.
Detect and repair disk errors
In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility. As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.
Protect your computer against spyware
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP SP2. Alternatively, there are other free anti-spyware software programs available.

Help my boss hates me

You can ignore the scowls and occasional nasty remarks as long as you're earning raises, promotions, and decent evaluations. Many supervisors just aren't warm and fuzzy. But if you think you're truly on thin ice, you need to talk things over with Mr. Nasty. This doesn't mean bursting into his office and demanding a dramatic, heart-to-heart exchange. Instead, request a half-hour meeting to get feedback. Most conflicts result from communication and work-style differences that make the boss uneasy. He doesn't have to like you, but he does need to trust you and feel comfortable with your habits. Tell him you want to be more responsive to his needs. Does he prefer e-mail or phone? Frequent updates or an end-of-the-month report? Is he cool with your two-hour lunches? Take notes. Heed his wishes. Check in a month later to see how it's working. You may find there is no pleasing the guy; you make all the adjustments and he still finds reasons to rip you apart. This is known as power tripping. Solution: Get a new boss.

Do You Need Life Insurance?

This is a common financial issue that has a fairly black-and-white solution. If you have a family that relies on your income, you need insurance.

If not, you don't, no matter what the salesman says. The more complicated question is how much insurance do you need? First, add up the assets you'll leave behind. Maxing out your financial investments builds savings that could help take care of your family. Second, estimate the obligations you want to cover--the mortgage and child care, for instance. Subtract those obligations from the value of your savings to figure out how much insurance you need.

Most people are better off with a term policy, rather than whole life, which includes a (pricey) investment component. A healthy 40-year-old man can buy a $500,000, 20-year term policy for about $400 a year. Term is a beautiful thing, because most people don't need insurance once they hit 60 as most have paid off debts, college is saved for or paid for, and retirement savings should cover survivor income.

Free Advice -- When you know you are in the right job

Are your pursuing the right career? Does it celebrate your strengths, creativity and leave you feeling fulfilled and enriched at the end of the day? Are you reaping the financial rewards you deserve? If the answer is yes to all, you can be certain that you are in the right job and for the right reasons.