I've lost it. I've lost the passion to blog. It's the 'diminishing factor'. Since I stopped blogging awhile, I don't feel like blogging anymore. Somehow, there isn't any more inspiration to blog. Actually there were, but I was too lazy to get on the blog and WASTE 45 minutes typing my thoughts about the soaring prices of rice and violence/protests rising due to these issues while we in Malaysia sit back enjoying our plates of Chap Fun ( or Economy Rice or Mixed Rice ) and Nasi Lemak and then leave the extra clump of rice at the corner of the plate complaining we are full while millions die to fill their stomachs with what you just wasted. 

Check out the image on this website http://www.poverty.com.

The image of every child dying every three seconds make you want to cry.

Let's not forget about the political scenes in our backyard, the healthy competitions between BN and PR, and I think PR isn't any that better but as long as there's competition, it's good until they start acting like monkeys on TV.

I've been commented that my blog is educational and political. Political because I kept talking about politics, well it is a hot issue now and I think a huge majority of Malaysian bloggers are talking about politics. 

Educational because I keep talking about my exams and classes and what not. So, education! I can't believe I am going to be a medical student in 4 months. Oooo, the thrill of it! I am pretty excited, my childhood dream being coming to completion. Haha, that's a lie. It was never my childhood dream to be a doctor. But undoubtedly, it is my heart-deep passion.

Exams start in two weeks.

Forgive me for the lack of updates. I have no inspiration to blog, and no time as well. Anyway, thank God for a couple of university offers. Don't be deceived by the words 'a couple of', actually it is really very few. But seems like I have decided what I want.

end

Fuh, my trials are finally over. I have no idea how I fared, but it's only trials. Gonna study harder for my finals. And full stop, that's gonna be the end of my discussion on my academics. I realise I have been dwelling pretty a lot on exams and complaining about it here and there on my blog, which I should stop.

* * * * *

Yesterday was the first time I ever given flowers to a girl. Haha, yes I made my history. I told myself I wanna make sure the first girl to receive flowers from me must be a very special person. Someone who I will treasure always, someone I truly love. So yes, I gave my first flowers to a very special girl.

Cut that. Cut the girl part. Special woman. Yeah, the first woman to ever receive flowers from me was my mom. It was her birthday yesterday.

I have no idea whether my mom reads my blog, but I think she does reads it privately (perhaps without my knowledge) since the link is widely displayed on the address bar, she might just click it some day.

So, this is for you mom: for being the best mom on Earth; for being there to tirelessly provide; for pouring much love and care; for act as though all things are cool although sometimes they aren't; for making sure everything is alright.

Happy Birthday.

* * * * *

Other than that, I'm going through some really tough times thinking, praying, deciding. My A-Levels will be ending in 2 months time. Thank God, I am so dead sure I wanna do medicine already. Problem now is I don't know where to go. I wanna go somewhere good (obviously) but money is a constrain, and I haven't even gained admission to any university yet. Sigh.

God, I want your best for me. Whether it is John Hopkins or India, or Harvard or Malacca Manipal, or Monash or IMU, or Indonesia (I pray this isn't what you want). Your best. =)

* * * * *

And yes, I'm done with the first quarter of the year. It's been pretty amazing. I have fulfilled some of my first quarter resolutions. My second quarter resolutions been made. Let's hope we can reach it.

* * * * *

The newspapers been rather interesting with the post-March 8 elections. March 8 will be a historical date, something that will be talked about a lot next time, something like May 13. Whenever you talk about May 13, first thing that comes to your mind is the riot that sheded blood due to racial issues right? Next time when people talk about March 8, they'll remember of the day Malaysians grew up. ( Haha, that's what the Malaysian Bar Council president said at Taylor's during the Parliamentary Reform talk. She said, "On August 31 2007, Malaysia turned 50. On March 8 2008, it grew up" )

The four new state governments have been doing pretty well - keeping its popularity among the people, and also keeping unity among the three parties of different ideologies but same goals. Surely, they have faced problems and resistance internally and externally ( disappointedly, that includes the mainstream media ) The Sultans been doing a good job exercising their rights to choose their MBs.

I have started reading some political blogs. Haris Ibrahim has been talking about having a free and fair media and I decline to comment because I hope theStar will contact me regarding scholarship I applied for. Haha. But just to let you know, if you (theStar Education Fund selection committee) stumbles upon my blog, I am not participating in his boycott of newspapers and mainstream media. I still faithfully read your most circulated English newspaper everyday as I always have since I started reading your comics when I was 5 years old.

I still rely on theStar as my main source of news so I do hope that you will give a fair and accurate view especially on our local politics. By the way, I do enjoy your interviews and columns. I especially like the columns written by Wong Chun Wai.

I think that's enough updates. You might hear more from me, I am having two weeks break! =)

P/S: I don't write tags. But if I do get bored, I might try one one day.

I'm MARKTEEN. And also EIGHTEEN!

And I have the most amazing friends who stubbornly crashed into my house on my birthday to surprise me eventhough I insisted that they didn't come (because I had trials to study for). Thanks Suh Ming, Sarah, Melissa and Kevin and whoever else who were involved in the planning. (Please tell me, because I'm really grateful for such awesome friends)

Thanks Suh Ming, Sarah Tan, Pui Yean, Kevin, Darren, Ben-Ji, Peg-gy for being there and Melissa for being VERY late (11pm).

It will be a very memorable one because it is the first time my friends planned my birthday for me. Haha, I feel lousy saying that. But you guys rock!

It was supposed to be a surprise but too bad I'm good in finding things out when things turned fishy and clues lie around my house. So Melissa, I lied to you and dug it out from you =)

And sigh, my trials starts on Wednesday with Biology. I haven't finished half yet. I haven't even started Chemistry (Friday) and Physics (following Tuesday) but thank God for the time in between to study. I'll probably just skip class on Tuesday to study.

Yes, that was meant to make you feel bad for saying that it will only take 2 hours. But you guys came at 7pm and left at 12am. But I felt reluctant to let you all leave cause we were having a good time. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Thanks again.

I can't help saying thanks lah. I enjoyed myself.

Well, yeah, I'm eighteen, stepping into full adulthood. Time to grow up and mature. It's a process. No more high-pitched screams from me, I hope. I'll try. It's time to close a chapter of my very playful and highly enjoyable childhood and open up a truly challenging yet very inspiring one.

Placing my future in God's hands, I know life is gonna be challenging, but the fruits of it all will far exceed any obstacle I'll hurdle through.

I'd say, this one and a half years of college life has been one of the best periods of my life. God's slowly unfolding even the great things I'll do. I'm excited, but there are many things I have to overcome before I reach there.

Life's gonna be amazing. The next 50-60 years of my life is gonna be amazing! Yes, I'm excited!

And yeah, I didn't really bother telling anyone about this before this.

But I got baptised today!

It's a great start to my first day of being eighteen. Truly "to bury my old nature with Christ by baptism and to resurrect with Him by the glorious power of the Father. Now I may live new lives." (Paraphrased from Romans 6:4)

God is awesome =)

Happy Easter and Resurrection Sunday!

Change! We CAN believe in?

WOW!!! That is all I can say, "WOW!!!"

There isn't much that need to be said, it's all finally written over the media, TheStar, New Strait Times, NTV7.

It is finally obvious what the public want: a change in government. Perhaps they are sick and fed up of the highly-corrupted government. So am I. The highly corrupted part, not the government.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I am no supporter of any party, neither am I anti-government. I just want what's best for my 'Malaysia yang kukasihi' (English: The Malaysia I love).

I guess what's said is true: the biggest winner this time is the public - and that should be the way.
They've got what they wanted, the government they want - precisely the gist of democracy.

Looks like the opposition has taken over the 4 highly developed states on the West Coast of the Peninsular Malaysia - (from North to South) Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor [not to forget Kelantan which has been held by PAS for many years now]

Perhaps, it is a good change, a change we can believe in, the change Barack Obama has been advocating, the change that the public wants; a positive change.

Well, this is the chance for the Opposition to prove that they are the positive change. Work your butts off the next 5 years and you will continue gaining the public's confidence. If you successfully do that, Malaysia will advance so much especially in mentality; democracy will reach a whole new level. Politics won't be dominated a single government - democracy will achieve a whole new meaning in Malaysia.

On the other hand, Barisan has to work just as hard to gain back the public's votes.

In the end of the day, with such immense competition, it will only be the public's advantage. That is, of course, if both parties are wise and matured enough to compete fairly and positively.

Anyway, congratulations to the Opposition for gaining the public's votes - you have done well campaigning. Job well done =) But this isn't the end of it. It's time to get to work!

Congratulations Hannah Yeoh. First time in politics, and you won big! My deepest respect for your very clean campaign and Christian values inculcated in your stands and principles. Be the voice against corruption, we need that. You will be an inspiration to me if I ever get into politics.

On a side note, imagine with me, when I complete my medical degree, and get involved in politics, and win, and get into the Cabinet; then I might become the Health Minister. Apparently, that post is cursed ( like the teacher of the Defence against Dark Arts in Hogwarts in the book Harry Potter ). If I do become the Health Minister, I might end up like Chua Soi Lek. Haha, touch wood. I won't! But he is a man to admit his mistakes. He is a really dedicated politician, he would have been a great voice for MCA, too bad he failed to control his raging hormones and itchy 'you-know-what'.



Just a very personal opinion on politics. Almost all politicians are like this. I have said this in one of my previous post dedicated to the very-respectable Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar. She once said in one of her famous speeches entitled "Freedom From Fear". She said, "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it."

How very true. Politicians very often only put up a show during the election campaign; some people claim that polls are rigged; so that they retain their seats in the next election but when it's time to get to work during the 5 years, no good work is done.

I like how PM Abdullah said: "Congratulations to the winners. BN accepts the results as this is the way democracy works. I urge all parties to accept the results... " That is really a man to accept defeat.

Well for the rest of the politicians, let this term be the difference. Serve the nation, not just to retain your seats, but because it gratifies you!

Let us cast our votes tomorrow

Let us cast our votes tomorrow.

Wait! I'm not registered as a voter yet. I'm not even 21!

I would have gladly helped out at the Subang Jaya polling station through AYA. Dang, they only allow people above 21 to help out!


Anyway, before it's too late to cast my Malaysian political views, since voting starts tomorrow already (Actually, honestly, it's not 12am yet. It's actually 11pm 6/3/08. But I want to say tomorrow is the voting day so I'll fake the time a little bit =) )

I just went for a 'ceramah' by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). No, I am no supporter of PKR, neither do I respect Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Does he still have the title in front of his name? Shouldn't it be stripped off since he went to jail?) I still don't understand how can they let such a man who has before been charged for corruption still play politics.

Yeah, I went for the 'ceramah' anyway because I didn't want to miss out in the election fever and I might have to wait another 4-5 years to be able to witness another political campaign. Besides, I have been reading the newspaper so much (which has been mostly a Barisan Nasional, the ruling party, propaganda) I thought I should hear more from the Opposition's side.

So anyway, the 'ceremah' was quite boring. It was packed, apparently there were much more people compared to the Barisan Nasional talk held the day before. But I found it quite boring because the issues that they brought up were the same things over and over again. I hear until 'muak' / 'jelak' already. I think I really have got enough listening all these political views. Even when reading the newspapers after awhile, I get sick and just flip through because it tends to get so uninteresting.

Anyway right, there is this issue that Barisan Nasional has been bringing up which I personally found very disturbing. They have been saying about how Anwar Ibrahim is anti-Chinese; and how he wanted to close down the National-type Chinese Schools by refusing to amend the constitution which placed these Chinese Schools on the danger of being closed down; and how he is a 'chameleon' who changes according to his audience. By the way, it was while he was Education Minister (about 1988) he refused to amend the constitution as proposed by the Chinese community. And then he is also said to be anti-Hindus because while the Indian Hindus and Indian Muslims were arguing (or something like that), he said that he wants to hear the temple bells stop ringing.
Basically, their point is that he is not up for a united multiracial Malaysia as he is proposing now in the leadership of PKR.

But then right, hear me out, he said those "disturbing" words before 1990. On the other hand, he was promoted as Deputy Prime Minister in 1993 (Source checked: Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Ibrahim) Doesn't that make you wonder, if UMNO / BN is able to promote him to the next in line for Prime Minister despite having said such racist/religionist remarks, perhaps the parties themselves are just the same. Perhaps, I said perhaps.

But anyway, as an avid reader of The Star, I do have to say that I am rather brainwashed to be supportive of the ruling party as well.

I agree that BN is more experienced in bringing development in Malaysia. But of course, that is not exactly a very strong reason, because the Opposition has been in politics as long as you (BN) have been and would also know the 'selok-belok'. And if BN can learn, why can't they.

But of course, one reason brought up by a The Star reader today, I thought it was quite a strong point for us, urbanites especially to vote for BN. Read here http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/6/focus/20548762&sec=focus
Her ( I think it is a female writer because the style of writing seems rather female-ish) point was that if the urbanites are voting for BN; and most of the urbanites are Chinese; and most of the BN reps are Chinese, then the representation of MCA and Gerakan (both are all / mostly Chinese parties) will be very small. Without MCA in the government, then the welfare of the Chinese will be neglected.

But then again, if BN still wants the votes of Chinese in the following election, then they will have to take care of it anyway, or else they won't get our votes again.

Actually, I am rather grateful I don't have to vote yet. I really don't know who to vote. Both BN and the Oppositions' propaganda are confusing voters. They don't give hard facts and figures, and real plans that are carefully detailed ( like how they would do for the US Presidential Elections ) I daresay Malaysia is still rather backward in terms of mentality.

Actually, I have to say I don't really support any particular party / candidate. I am supporting the government and what's best for the government. What I am looking for is the right government to rule my beloved Malaysia. Yes, I really love my country and I refuse to see my parent's (and in future, my) taxes wasted - on projects that don't work, and through corruption. I am wholeheartedly against corruption and I wish to see all those money-minded politicians get sacked / charged and jailed for corruption. Be satisfied with your pay and serve the nation like you claim, for goodness sake!

Hence, I say, that I am neutral with the outcome of whichever party wins, I am just gonna say my prayers every night before I sleep till the results come out - I want the right politicians for Malaysia. Politicians who want to see Malaysia develop.

ALL the best Malaysia, the best / worst of the next 5 years will be consequence of tomorrow.

God Bless Malaysia!

It's 1.30am and I'm supposed to be studying / doing homework - it's the same lah. I study while doing homework. Trials is next month already, God bless me. And March is a super duper busy month. Omg, trials is end of this month, not next month anymore.

I don't know why - but I'm feeling really quite optimistic about things. Perhaps a change of point of view. Life still rocks despite the challenges we go through - the challenges make it interesting. I'm looking forward to much amazing things ahead.

*Just some random rambles during this very reflective moment*

Saturday March 1, 2008

Couples take the leap on special day

By ANURADHA RAGHU

JOHOR BARU: A wedding anniversary that comes only once in four years has not stopped young couples here from registering their marriage on Feb 29 yesterday.

Newly-registered couple Wong Jinn Fuh, 24, and Ang Siaw Sze, 25, felt that the prospect of having to wait another four years for Feb 29 to arrive again would not dampen their love for each other in any way.

“Instead, it will only make the anniversary more significant and special,” said Wong, who met Ang while studying in Taiwan.

“Celebrating our anniversary once every four years gives me the opportunity to come up with a bigger and more exciting anniversary present,” said Wong.

Another happy couple who took the leap were Kenny Lim, 29, and Wendy Woon, 25.

They were both undaunted by the fact that their next anniversary would only be in 2012.

“Happiness in a marriage is not measured by how often the wedding anniversary is celebrated, but by how both husband and wife cherish each other every day,” said Woon.

She added that to make up for the missed out wedding celebrations, they would celebrate each other’s birthdays in style every year until the next leap year arrives.

Both the couples registered at the Johor Theng Chuan Tan Clan Association in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak.

These guys are so smart. Know why? Because they only have to celebrate their anniversaries once in four years, how convenient! They save themselves from cracking their brains every year to create a unique plan to celebrate their years of happy marriage. Perhaps in that once in four years, the guy can save enough money to spend RM40 000 to put "Happy Anniversary, Dear" on a billboard at LDP.

Next time I know when to propose / register for marriage / ask for first date. 29th of February. Saves me a whole lot of trouble. Mark is an unromantic genius, or perhaps an idiot.

Correct, correct

Yes, you've seen it right, Lingham's Chilli Sauce is selling itself with V.K. Lingam's "Correct, correct, correct, correct"

This is a very long video of his conversation on the phone which has brought him to court "to investigate into an allegation of illegal intervention into the judicial appointment process of Malaysian judges purportedly occurred in 2002"

This is the one of the full videos

BARACK OBAMA

I CHOOSE YOU

although i am no American
although i am no one to vote
although i put you in a Pokeball

but i still choose you

because it a greater revolution to be the first black president that the first woman president
because change we can believe in
because yes you can
because yes we can
because you can do America more good
because you can continue John Fitzgerald Kennedy's legacy
because you end the Iraq war
because you are better than Hillary-ious Clinton
because she picks on petty issues like she's been the First Lady before
because ....

because I need to study for my Bio test, so I shall stop my list. My name is Markteeno biophillus. Watch out, I'll pass my biophilic DNA plasmids to you!!


P/S: Sorry, my Photoshop skill is next to zero.

P.S. I Love You ( ini bersempena dengan Hari St. Valentine pada hari esok )

And I am gonna spend Valentine's Day with Ms Durga (my bio teacher)'s notes. Hahaha! Yes, her notes, not with her.

I am gonna spend time
expressing my love for insulin
staring at the beauty of neurons
as the sun shines for photosynthesis
and the human genome is mapped out
I will study ACTION potential
and ACTION spectrum
and get some resting potential

Okay bye!