Equality in Life

Referring to the classroom socialism article, is equality ever fair? I must say that there are several flaws in this article. Firstly, it implies every students in the class works as individuals and not in group. For socialism to work, leadership and team work are essential to achieve a common goal. Secondly, we can always remove the so-called rotten eggs in the group who just want a free ride or give extra guidance and attention to those who are less brilliant. Thirdly, with right motivations and great leaderships, the test results could have improved from B to A instead of getting worse. I can imagine people helping one another instead of letting go and pointing fingers when results are not desirable.

However, I strongly agree that if everybody is treated or rewarded equally, sooner or later, no one would work harder than what is required. I am a supporter of the Bible's saying of, "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away." My understanding of this statement is people who have skills, knowledge and virtues will attain more in life whereas those who have not, sooner or later they will lose whatever they have if there is any. Isn't it only fair that people who are better get the better things in life? If you are to buy from one of the two salesperson who are selling the same thing, would you not buy from the one who is dressed more smartly, smiles more sweetly and provides better service?

Jack Welch talks about differentiation in his book titled Winning. He would reward his best people handsomely and fire those who are at the bottom. This may seem unacceptable to many but the results speak for themselves. During his tenure at GE, the company's value rose by 4000%. I agree that this is the way forward. Just a food for thought, if Jack was to lead a country instead of a company, could he evict the citizens who are not performing?

Lao Ma Zis Home Cooked Dishes Restaurant

Last Sunday on 24/02/13, I was brought to this highly recommended restaurant at Jalan Ipoh. Yew Vern and Janice were so suportive towards this place and I have decided to write a review on the food there. They have a corny tag line, "Reviving Local Dialect Cuisine".

Lou Sang

Since it was the last day of Chinese New Year, we had Lou Sang to start the meal. It was decent but definitely not the best I have taken.

Smoked Pork Belly

Then we ordered a few of the signature dishes there. The smoked pork belly has a special home cooked taste. The meat was succulent and tasty but it was the fragrance which distinguishes this dish from the other pork belly dishes.

Lily Pad Fish

Fried Fish

We had fish which a half was made to Lily Pad fish while the other half was fried. These two dishes are not outstanding but good enough. Apparently, the really good one is the Chin Cai Steam Fish. I kept making fun of the name because "chin cai" in Hokkien implies immaterial and indifferent (can't think of the exact English word now).

  

 

Salted Egg Yolk Bean Curd and Vegetables

The salted egg yolk too foo was pretty good and the vege was decent.

Located off Jalan Ipoh in the basement of Wisma Yoon Cheng

Overall, I would recommend this place. Need to go back again to try the highly acclaimed Chin Cai Steam Fish.

This restaurant is located at No. 726, Wisma Yoon Cheng (Basement), 4 and 1/2 Miles Jalan Ipoh, 51200 Kuala Lumpur. Opens 1100 - 1500 and 1800 - 2200 everyday except Monday.

Rant! Rant! Rant!

For the longest time I have been ill and cannot recover. I usually get much better after sleeping but I have been sleeping a lot and the condition remained the same. I must be under stress. Things have not been going well for me. A lot of things just cannot be completed. Sales which is already at hand cannot be concluded and has to be canceled. I feel like falling into an emotional breakdown.

Looking back at things, my life has really been too good. My rate of failures and rejections are relatively low and yet I find it really hard to stomach losing and move on. It makes me wonder how can somebody take so many rejections in life and I have seen many people who have to go through that. Is there no dignity, chance and future? I really feel sorry for them. 

As a matter of fact, I have been feeling loveless. Despite being a positive, optimistic and enthusiastic person, I feel drained, weakened and helpless. I just hate this feeling of hanging in the air and indecisive of how to move forward…

Maybe it’s a sign that things don’t happen don’t happen for a reason (I’m referring to my rental cases and there has been a lot of heartaches). Come on come on, let me have a good thing. I wish that when I fall, I will just pick myself up and started running again. Its great if I learned my lesson so that I don’t fall the same place again but its also good if I don’t know why I fell but I kept moving again cause staying where I fell and cry ain’t gonna get me nowhere.

Alright, just read the through 100 inspirational quotes and now I’m feeling much better.

I wrote the paragraphs above 12 hours ago. The inspirational quotes had significant effects on me. I’m still not feeling well but now, I’m up and running again. This time, it took me about 40 hours to pick myself up since the last defeat. The next time, I shall recover much faster!

Thaipusam in Batu Caves 27 Jan 2013

After almost 29 years being a Malaysian, I finally set foot on one the the most famous Malaysia heritage, the Batu Caves. Every year, thousands and millions of our Hindu friends visit this place during the Thaipusam festival.

I didn't focus much on the event as the crowd was too big and I rather spend time serving food as a charity event invited by Nimalen. The charity food serving started since Nimalen's grandpa time. At that time, the food was given from a van. Then, the crowd grew larger and they began to pitch tents. Over the years, the tents grew bigger until one day they raised funds to build a hall.

 The hall can fill up to about 250 people at one time and the place is cleaned before the next group of people are allowed to come in.

Volunteers systematically serve food starting from the banana leaf and then followed by vegetables, rice, curry and papadom (thin, crisp Indian bread made from lentil flour).

It was tiring but was interesting and I truly enjoyed being there. I should have taken some photos of how the food was prepared and cooked. After all, cooking for about 15,000 servings is no easy feat. Shall take some photos next year.

Bernard Ong, Family and the Baha'i Faith

Met with Bernard Ong and family couple of hours ago. Lovely family they are and it was a great pleasure meeting them. The purpose of me meeting Bernard is to learn more of the Baha'i Faith and I find the Baha'i Faith very relevant especially in today's society.

How the series of events unfolded itself were interesting discoveries and I cannot think of a more appealing discovery. I was reading the book, Business Stripped Bare by Richard Branson and in one of his stories, Richard was talking about Zhang Xin, a highly successful Chinese lady who founded SOHO China. Being someone from the real estate industry, I'm curious to know who Zhang Xin and and googled her name. Her profile is outstanding but I was most curious about the Baha'i Faith which she adopted. That was how I learned about Baha'i.

Am looking forward and really excited to study more of the Baha'i Faith. I'm sure the discovery will be enriching, fulfilling and rewarding.

On a separate note, it is decided that on Jahn 6 I quit alcohol and and Jan 8 I quit smoking. The cigarette a friend offered me was my last and I truly enjoyed it. However, I cannot agree more with the stories by Zig Ziglar. My favourite story is the one where Ziglar's mum commenting on his childhood friend being the 'worst kind of drinker'. Ziglar half jokingly asked, "what is the worst kind of drinker?" His mum answered that the classmate would buy a bottle and in the quietness of his home, take a drink. He never denied his family anything, never became abusive and never got drunk. His drinking did not affect his job, that he was a respected member of the community and had recently elected to a political post.

If you are like most people wondering is that really the 'worst kind of drinker'? Be assured in no uncertain term it is and the reasoning is simple. He set a "good" example of drinking and his children saw nothing wrong with Dad, who worked so hard to support them, relaxing and taking a drink. They identified drinking with a kind, considerate devoted husband and father. Had he been inclined to abuse his family and deny them the necessities of life, the children would have been disgusted with drinking. Personally, I witness this in my extended family. Some of the younger generation ones are already suffering the consequences because we see nothing wrong with drinking and smoking.

 10 Jan 2013

2013 Resolution

The year 2013 is set to be my best year. I have set myself exciting, challenging and achievable goals. This is my 2013 New Year Resolution:

1. Physical exercise – I completed 5 runs including 2 half marathons in 2012. In 2013, I shall complete 5 runs including a full marathon.
2. Financial – My goal for 2012 fell below target of RM220,000. This year, with more experience and honed skills, I aim for a yearly income of RM350,000.
3. Reading – In 2012, I read 9 and half books. In 2013, I shall read minimum 10 books.
4. Social activities – My last year’s goal was to attend 2 parties or social activities every month. This year, I shall join 8 every quarter.
5. Spiritual – I shall pray every day and meditate at least 5 minutes every day.
6. Public speaking – Thanks to the encouragement from a friend, I finally re-joined the Toastmaster and completed 5 speeches from the Competent Communicator manual. This year, I shall complete all the 10 speeches and be a Competent Communicator.
7. Traveling – The aim is to travel once every quarter with at least an international, 2 close to nature and 2 family tours. My ski trip to Korea did not happen last year and is brought forward to this year provided I achieve my financial goal.
8. Soul Mate – This year, I shall ask for dates, go dating and get myself a truthful, faithful and filial girlfriend.
9. Learn a new skill – Undecided on what to learn yet but I want it to be related to art.
10. Writing – This year, I shall write consistently and post at least 3 entries every month.

May all who read this be my witnesses, support and encourage me as I journey into a successful 2013.