ah ok lah

15 July 2006

Eye for an eye

I finally watched the movie Munich on DVD. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Eric Bana (Hulk, Troy) as the lead character, the film was released late last year but I don't think it will be shown on Malaysian screens.

Reviews tell us that the movie is "Inspired by true events" and it opens with the Munich Massacre during the 1972 Olympics in Germany when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by the Palestinian terrorist organization Black September. The film follows a covert Mossad squad, which are ordered to track and kill a list of 11 Black September members thought to be responsible for Munich (and hence the title of the film).

Without giving much away, one scene that I found to be really interesting was the converstation between "Avner", the leader of the team and a PLO member. It's interesting because here Spielberg tries to give a Palestinian viewpoint - about someone fighting for his right to a home. See what happens to the guy later.

The movie is based on the book Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team by George Jonas. Some say that it is not realistic. But I discovered that there was an - "Operation Wrath of God".

Anyway, today I read about Israeli Interior Minister Roni Bar-On's announcement on radio that "Nasrallah decided his own fate" and "We will settle our accounts with him when the time comes." FYI, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is the head of the Hizbollah.

Mahatma Gandhi once said "An eye for an eye, makes the whole World blind," but I guess, no one is listening.

Get the Munich DVD (Widescreen Edition) here.

Related Link: An eye for an eye

TAGS: Israel Movie Munich Terrorism

13 July 2006

Mumbai

Yesterday, Tuesday the 11th of July, while driving to work, I heard the news on the radio - about a series of train bombings killing hundreds of people in Mumbai (upto 200 on the 13th).

All I could think of at that time was... "not again!".

In 2003, more than 55 people died in twin bomb blasts. In 1993, around 250 people died and nearly 1,000 were injured in a series of bomb explosions in the same city.

Emailed a few of my friends working there but haven't received a reply from any one as yet. Not sure whether they travelled by train to their places of work.

My prayers goes out for those who perished in those blasts and their families.

Islamic militant groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir are the main suspects. However, two of the more famous, viz., Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, have denied any involvement in the blasts.

Whoever it was, hope those bastards go to hell straightaway.

Related Links:
- A day of Terror in India: Mumbai and Srinagar Blasts
- Mumbai bombers 'will never win'

TAGS: Terrorism Mumbai

12 July 2006

Miss my other half

WARNING: Emo post ahead

My wife just smsed me from Amsterdam airport. She's drinking latte at some cafe at the airport there waiting for her connecting flight to UK.

I only get to see her and the kids on weekends (people refer to us as weekend husbands here in my organisation). This weekend I will be alone with my two babies while my wife attends a conference in London.

She also plans to get the tenancy agreement for a house there - a UK visa requirement.

Miss you darling. Good luck with your presentation.

TAGS: Conference UK Babies

11 July 2006

I have an International Driving Permit

It's not often that we hear people praising Government departments but this is one such post.

Recently learnt that there is such a thing as an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by the JPJ (Road Transport Department).

As we would be leaving for UK soon, I thought it would be a good idea to have one. Remembered that I have a friend (who can’t be named) at the JPJ office in Alor Star. Promptly called him up.

Learnt that he had been involved in some kind of accident during the recent Sukma games and was on leave. However, he mentioned that he would call up some of his colleagues there.

He called me back after a few minutes and told me that I needed to bring along afew things:
1. 2 copies of passport size photograph
2. Passport
3. Original driving license
4. RM150/

So I took half-day off from work today and drove to the JPJ office in Alor Star.

It was funny because on the way some officers of the JPJ stopped me at a roadblock. My license was expiring 3 days later and the officer asked me when I planned to have it renewed. “I am on my way to your office right now,” I Told him.

Dropped by a photo studio and had my pictures taken. Took a few minutes and I had 4 copies plus a CD of my photograph (RM11/). Thank God for technology.

I roughly knew where their office was but had to ask a few people before I finally got there. Once there, I called up my friend who directed me to go inside and meet up his colleague.

They were really efficient and friendly (unlike some Government offices I have been too). Took them nearly half and hour to renew my driving license for 2 years (RM60/) and prepare my IDP (valid for 1 year).

It is nice to have friends at the right places. Thanks a lot.

Something unrelated or maybe it is.

On the way back, I don’t know why, I had this strange warm happy feeling. Maybe due to the fact that I was cruising down a nearly empty North-South highway with green paddy fields on both sides with Dire Straits playing on my cassette player. A feeling that can’t be described.

Tags: International Driving Permit JPJ Networking

10 July 2006

Original CDs dirt cheap

Always keep your eyes open because you can sometimes come across real bargains at unexpected places. Take my recent experience at Mega Mall, Kuala Lumpur.

Day before yesterday, was doing some last minute shopping at Carrefour before my wife leaves for a conference in UK.

After we finished paying for the stuff, I suddenly noticed a sign at a music shop right in front of the cashiers, advertising original CDs on sale for only RM9.90 (approx. UD$2.70). That's literally dirt cheap.

I was amazed at the choices on display. Some were real collector's items. My wife who shares my taste in music was also excited. Some teenagers did browse around but they left without buying anything and I realise why - most of the CDs were classic rock including heavy metal groups, Iron Maiden, Megadeath, etc. The kids now-a-days simply do not appreciate rock music.

I was a bit sceptical about the quality of the CDs even though they had the Goverment authorised "original" hologram stickers. However, after testing them at the shop, found that the quality was OK.

In the end we grabbed 5 CDs - Eagles, Deep Purple, Europe, Santana and Bob Marley. I can't recall the titles right now.

It was amazing to listen to a totally different version (live concert recording) of Hotel California by the Eagles.

Rock music lovers, grab them while stock still lasts. (I don't think it will run out that soon.)

Tags: Discount Music Rock

05 July 2006

Linda Onn and his excellency

Have you watched the Power Root Perl cafe TV ad featuring Linda Onn?

In case you haven't, click here. In it she says "I need lasting energy for excellency, blah blah blah".

Do you notice something wrong with the sentence here?

A lot of people might not have but it didn't escape the ears of my friend Shahmir. Whoever wrote the script needs a lesson in English.

In case you didn't know, Power root Sdn Bhd is one of Malaysia's fastest growing companies selling energy drinks fortified with traditional Malay medicinal herbs, namely, Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia Jack) and Kacip Fatima (Labisia Pumila).

Mawi of AF3 fame and radio announcer Linda Onn are among the celebrities are among their various celebrity brand ambassadors (I guess that sounds better than spokesperson).

Tags: ad Linda Onn Power root Tongat Ali

Tony Fernandes Interview

I would like to share this interview with Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAisa in the Wall Street Journal Asia. It was forwarded to me by a friend. Thanks Ziana.