Cups of Coffee

I have taken this post from the blog below:

masterwordsmith-unplugged: Cups of Coffee

I have been so busy today with various chores, errands, housework and then I spent the evening with my cousin and our mutual friends by the beach. My deepest apologies for not being able to blog on any sopo issue. I will get round to it tomorrow. In the mean time, here's an oldie but goodie. Take care and have a restful evening!

Cups of coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and in life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and do not change the quality of Life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided. So, don't let the cups drive you ... enjoy the coffee instead."

Author Unknown

MARKET RATES FOR DUIT KOPI TO BRIBE THE TRAFFIC POLICE

Got this from Here Jerine Lay's blog Go check out her other posts. Interesting.

Inspired by my uncle’s new Bentley Continental, I picked up driving again. I begged my parents to get me a car, and the best I could get is my mom’s kereta buruk. Upon hearing that at lunch earlier, my friend enemy, Gordon, told me of his “guide to bribing the traffic police”. Apparently I have to familiar myself with the market price. It’s one of the skill you need to acquire if you want to drive on Malaysia road.


If you're living in a city and drives a car worth RM100k and above:-

Speeding- RM50 to RM100
Did not use the seatbelt- RM50 to RM100
Beat the Traffic Light- RM50 to RM150
Make an Illegal turn- RM20 to RM50
Driving against the traffic- RM50 to RM100
Using the phone without Handsfree- RM50 to RM100
Driving under Influence- RM50 to RM300
Own an Unlawfully Modified Car- RM20 to RM200
Honk in Hospital Zone- RM30 to RM100
Carrying Illegal Drugs in your Vehicle- RM300 to RM2000 (I shall write about market price of bribing police depending on the drugs found on you. But that will be in another post)
Block an emergency Ambulance or Cops vehicle- RM100 to RM200
Drive "Commando Style"- RM50 to RM100
Caught racing with the Police- RM500 to RM1500
Gave a middle finger to the police while driving- RM100 to RM1000 (but that also depends how yong sui you are)
Knock a police vehicle- RM500++


If you're living in a city and drives a car worth below RM100k:-

Speeding- RM20 to RM100
Did not use the seatbelt- RM20 to RM50
Beat the Traffic Light- RM30 to RM100
Make an Illegal turn- RM10 to RM50
Driving against the traffic- RM50 to RM100
Using the phone without Handsfree- RM20 to RM50
Driving under Influence- RM100 to RM300
Own an Unlawfully Modified Car- RM20 to RM100
Honk in Hospital Zone- RM20 to RM50
Carrying Illegal Drugs in your Vehicle- RM100 to RM1000
Block an emergency Ambulance or Cops vehicle- RM50 to RM100
Drive "Commando Style"- RM10 to RM50
Caught racing with the Police- RM100 to RM500
Gave a middle finger to the police while driving- RM100 to RM500
Knock a police vehicle- RM500++



If you're living in a rural area and drives a car worth RM100k and above:-

Speeding- RM50 to RM100
Did not use the seatbelt- RM50 to RM100
Beat the Traffic Light- RM20 to RM50
Make an Illegal turn- RM20 to RM50
Driving against the traffic- RM10 to RM80
Using the phone without Handsfree- RM20 to RM50
Driving under Influence- RM20 to RM100
Own an Unlawfully Modified Car- RM10 to RM50
Honk in Hospital Zone- RM20 to RM50
Carrying Illegal Drugs in your Vehicle- RM100 to RM1000
Block an emergency Ambulance or Cops vehicle- RM50 to RM150
Drive "Commando Style"- RM20 to RM50
Caught racing with the Police- RM50 to RM200
Gave a middle finger to the police while driving- RM50 to RM300
Knock a police vehicle- RM500++


If you're living in a rural area and drives a car worth below RM100k:-

Speeding- RM10 to RM50
Did not use the seatbelt- RM5 to RM30
Beat the Traffic Light- RM5 to RM40
Make an Illegal turn- RM5 to RM40
Driving against the traffic- RM5 to RM40
Using the phone without Handsfree- RM5 to RM20
Driving under Influence- RM10 to RM50
Own an Unlawfully Modified Car- RM5 to RM40
Honk in Hospital Zone- RM5 to RM20
Carrying Illegal Drugs in your Vehicle- RM50 to RM1000
Block an emergency Ambulance or Cops vehicle- RM20 to RM100
Drive "Commando Style"- It's not Illegal under this condition.
Caught racing with the Police- RM30 to RM100
Gave a middle finger to the police while driving- RM20 to RM200
Knock a police vehicle- RM500++



If you use a motorbike (Below 500cc) [Increase 20% for 500cc and above]:-

Speeding- RM5 to RM50
Did not Buckle up Helmet- RM5 to RM20
Did not wear a Helmet- RM5 to RM30
Beat the Traffic Light- RM5 to RM40
Make an Illegal turn- RM5 to RM40
Driving against the traffic- RM5 to RM40
Using the phone without Handsfree- RM5 to RM20
Driving under Influence- RM10 to RM50
Own an Unlawfully Modified Bike- RM5 to RM20
Honk in Hospital Zone- RM5 to RM20
Carrying Illegal Drugs on your Bike- RM50 to RM1000
Drive "Commando Style"- RM10 to RM100
Caught racing with the Police- RM30 to RM100
Gave a middle finger to the police while driving- RM20 to RM200
Knock a police vehicle- RM500++



If you're a pedestrian/cyclist:-

Jaywalking - It's not Illegal
Beating the Pedestrian Traffic Light- It's not Illegal
Cycling in the wrong path- It's not Illegal
Knock a police vehicle- RM500++ (I don't see how you can do that if you're a pedestrian)


For more useless guide you can check out Gordon's blog or follow him on twitter @CKGord. But I must warn you he's a huge nuisance on twitter. Worst than me!

masterwordsmith-unplugged: The Wisdom of Dale Carnegie

I have taken this post from the blog below:

masterwordsmith-unplugged: The Wisdom of Dale Carnegie:

Dale Breckenridge Carnegie (originally Carnagey until 1922 and possibly somewhat later) (November 24, 1888 – November 1, 1955) was an American writer, lecturer, and the developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. Born in poverty on a farm in Missouri, he was the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936), a massive bestseller that remains popular today.

His book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1948) really changed my life.

Here's a selection of quotations from his books.

"Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think." -- Dale Carnegie

"Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners." -- Dale Carnegie

"Tell the audience what you're going to say, say it; then tell them what you've said." -- Dale Carnegie

"The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way." -- Dale Carnegie

"There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave." -- Dale Carnegie

"When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade." -- Dale Carnegie

"Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have." -- Dale Carnegie

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep." -- Dale Carnegie

"First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst." -- Dale Carnegie

"There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it." -- Dale Carnegie

"There is only one way... to get anybody to do anything. And that is by making the other person want to do it." -- Dale Carnegie

"Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment. " -- Dale Carnegie

"Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still." -- Dale Carnegie

"Applause is a receipt, not a bill." -- Dale Carnegie

"The expression a woman wears on her face is far more important than the clothes she wears on her back." -- Dale Carnegie

"Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto." -- Dale Carnegie

"We all have possibilities we don't know about. We can do things we don't even dream we can do." -- Dale Carnegie

"The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure." -- Dale Carnegie

"The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore." -- Dale Carnegie

"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion." -- Dale Carnegie

"You can close more business in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you." -- Dale Carnegie

"The person who seeks all their applause from outside has their happiness in another's keeping." -- Dale Carnegie

"Your purpose is to make your audience see what you saw, hear what you heard, feel what you felt. Relevant detail, couched in concrete, colorful language, is the best way to recreate the incident as it happened and to picture it for the audience." -- Dale Carnegie

"Each nation feels superior to other nations. That breeds patriotism - and wars." -- Dale Carnegie

masterwordsmith-unplugged: If You Think You Can...

Copied this from the blog below:

masterwordsmith-unplugged: If You Think You Can...:

"My feeds are not being updated in Google Reader and in blogrolls so please take note and do check my blog directly by clicking the blog link or in feedburner subsriptions. I figure it is a blogger issue and have alerted blogger about this. Thanks for your patience, understanding and cooperation. Here's an inspiring poem I'd like to share while I write my next post. Do swing by again later. Thanks! Have a great evening.

The Man Who Thinks He Can

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.

By WALTER D. WINTLE, “The Man Who Thinks He Can.”
—Poems That Live Forever, comp. Hazel Felleman, p. 310 (1965)

IF YOU AGREE PLEASE FORWARD..dun be afraid

Received this in my email inbox from a friend with my own English translation:

Geng....contoh yg ana tak boleh terima.....
Tiap kali nak makan...kat bil dah tulis government service tax 6%.....
Masa bila yg dia servis kita tu...?...dan banyak lagi yg kita boleh
pertikai...dgn gomen msia skrg ni.....


Monday, January 17, 2011

Satu masa dulu,adik aku pernah menetap di UK selama lebih setahun. Tapi adik
ipar aku duduk situ dah lama,dekat 6 tahun.Duduk situ,kerja bukannya kerja
besar,kerja pun chef kecil-kecilan dekat restoran.Adik aku pulak kerja jadi
baby sitter.Gaji,takde la besar, tak sampai pun seribu pound tak silap
aku...tapi...

1. Baju kat sana 3 pound. Kat Malaysia baju2 tu hanya dijual di
Pavilion,KL.Baju orang kebanyakan di UK ,baju orang kaya di Malaysia .

2. Kasut Lacoste kat sana 20 pound.

3. Sewa bilik ada dapur 200 pound.

4. Transportation,takde,naik bas,naik tube,satu hari punya tiket 5 pound
unlimited ride.Tak payah tunggu lama, paling lama tunggu bas,5 minit 2 bijik
datang.Naik tube tak pernah rasa tak selesa.Ada Oyster kad,senang nak ke
mana-mana.

5. Pegi Asda ke Tesco ke, beli barang dapur,satu troli 20 pound.Lepas untuk
seminggu.

6. Tak pernah rasa nak beli kereta sebab membazir, orang kaya berlagak aje
pakai kereta ke mana-mana.

7. Jalanraya sesuai untuk bawak basikal.Adik ipar aku, main transportation
dia,basikal,undang-undang...wajib pakai helmet.

8. Tambang tube nak ke airport...3 pound.

9. DVD ori sekeping 3 pound.Aku beli Ice Age 1 dan 2 boxset 6 pound.

10. Apa-apa barang pun mcm pakaian, tak puas hati dengan produk, boleh
pulangkan dalam tempoh 30 hari, takde banyak soal asal simpan resit dan tag
tak dicabut.

11. Dan aku malas nak cerita pasal Black Friday dan sale musim panas...

12. Bayangkan anda mampu beli kereta Mercedes second hand cash... dengan
hanya mengeluarkan 500 pound. Sini? Hutang 5 tahun untuk bayar kereta second
hand.. kereta di UK tidak ada value sangat kerana... pengangkutan awam
membuatkan kereta tidak relevan dan penting dalam hidup.Perkhidmatan teksi
adalah sesuatu perkhidmatan premium sebab teksi tidak diperlukan sangat.

Bila dia balik Malaysia,

......kerja mesti kena ambik overtime, kalau tak duit tak cukup. Barang
makanan sekali pegi beli Rm200.Nak pegi beli barang pun susah sebab public
transport susah. Apa yang Ismail Sabri Yaakob pelik macam mana RPK boleh
hidup mewah kat UK kalau orang Malaysia yang kerja dia waiter kedai makan
dekat Malaysia Hall pun boleh hidup senang kat sana? Adik ipar aku balik
sini, sambil hisap rokok dengan aku dia tanya aku, "Apasal hidup kat
Malaysia ni susah sangat?"

Lagi la pelik bila menteri tanya apasal ramai orang lebih gemar migrate ke
negara lain... Tukang sapu pun boleh hidup senang kat UK . Marah pulak
diorang bila rakyat mempersoalkan "Kenapa menteri mampu hidup mewah kat
Malaysia ,layak ke diorang?"

IF YOU AGREE, Pass On

My translation:


Great...example that you can’t accept....
Every time want to eat...on the bill is written 6% government service tax.....
When did they give us that service... ? And much more that we can consider... with Malaysia’s government now.....

Monday, January 17, 2011

Some time ago, my sister used to stay in UK for a year. But my cousin lives there longer, up to 6 years. Live there, not doing anything big, work as a small cook at a restaurant. My sister worked as a baby sitter.
Salary, not much, not even ₤1000 if not mistaken...but...

1. Clothes there cost ₤3. In Malaysia those shirts are only sold in Pavilion, KL. Clothes for common people in UK, is clothes for rich people in Malaysia.

2. Lacoste shoes over there cost ₤20.

3. Rent room with kitchen is ₤200.

4. Personal transportation, none, take bus, take Tube, daily-ticket ₤5 unlimited ride. No need to wait long, longest, 5 minutes, 2 buses comes. Take Tube haven’t felt uncomfortable before. With Oyster card, easy go everywhere.

5. Go Asda or Tesco; buy groceries, one full trolley ₤20. Good for 1 week.

6. Never have the feeling to buy car because wasteful, only rich people show off use car here and there.

7. Road is suitable for bicycling. My cousin, his main transportation – bicycle, the only law... is compulsory to wear helmet.

8. Take Tube to airport...₤3.

9. One piece original DVD cost ₤3. I buy Ice Age 1 and 2 box-set ₤6.

10. Anything at all example clothes, not satisfied with the product, can return within 30 days, no questions asked regarding keeping original receipt or not removing tags.

11. And I’m lazy to talk about Black Friday and summer sales...

12. Imagine you can afford to buy 2nd hand Mercedes – cash... with only ₤500 upfront. Here? Owe 5 year debt for 2nd hand car.. Cars in UK have not much value because...public transport makes cars not relevant or important in life. Taxi service is premium service because it is not much needed.

When she came back to Malaysia,

.....have to work overtime, if not, not enough money. Groceries each time spent RM200. Want to go buy things also difficult because public transportation sucks. Why should Ismail Sabri Yaakob be curious RPK can live in splendor if Malaysians working as waiter at Malaysia Hall can live well over there? When my cousin came back home, as he was smoking with me, asked “why living in Malaysia so difficult?”

Stranger still when the minister asked why people like to migrate... Janitor also can live well in UK. However when citizens asked “why ministers can live in splendor in Malaysia, are they qualified?” they get angry.

IF YOU AGREE, Pass It On.