New haircut

So here I am now, sitting in front of my dad's computer, typing while trying to convince myself that the new haircut I just got is quite good. It's working to a certain extent, but I think I won't be able to hold on once the church people see me...

 

It's been a while since I had a haircut, and it's been ages since I went to an Indian barber. Now they are decent barbers, it's just their style is different. I think it's the culture. Of recent years I have enjoyed the service of a particular barber, but those places are normally filled with girls and May couldn't accompany me there. So I chose the nearest barber to church. And convenience kills, man...

 

So what do I look like now (as if anyone cares)? This hairstyle reminds me of a certain famous person... And he had this hairstyle in the 90's. The fact that he doesn't use this hairstyle really doesn't say much about me....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Transportation - Buses (2)

You (yes, the non-existent you) may have recalled me talking about buses a while ago. I've not encountered a problem with the bus for a while now, partly because I take the train to work nowadays. Another reason would be because I've lost all hope in them.

 

Recently, the bus service in KL has experienced some sort of rebuilding. If I were proud of the system, i would in detail explain the entire system to you. I can, but I won't, because I'm not happy with it. You can google "Rapid KL" and go see for yourself. Ok I'll show you all once I get a hold on a route map. I've heard of some satisfied customers, so I thought I would try it for myself. Last night, I left May's place at 9.45pm and waited for the bus that would take me from Ipoh Road 4th mile to Ipoh Road 5th mile. I've waited for 10 minutes for the bus to arrive, and I was on my way. It was 9.55pm.

 

9.58pm I got on a bus that would take me from Ipoh Road 5th mile to Metro Prima. It was another pleasant journey, and I arrived at my destination within 15 minutes. And then the nightmare began. After 30 minutes, or eternity, the bus that would take me home finally arrived. I arrived home at 10.55pm, and I haven't had my dinner.

 

"What's wrong with the trip, joash" you may ask... well, let me give you a comparison of the current bus system and the old one. in the old days, there were 3 buses to choose from - 43B, 143A, 29. 43B is the favourite option, as it takes the shortest route back home, only a 10 minutes' journey. 143A and 29 are the alternatives for me. They use a longer route and would bring me home in 30 minutes. The problem they had was inconsistency. Buses weren't as frequent as they promise to be. The waiting can be really dreadful and even when the bus does arrive, it'll be packed with frustrated customers.

 

And so now, what has the new and "improved" bus system done to ease my pain? 2 things, just da 2.... 1, the price is lower. 2, I wait at a different location. Did it solve my problem??! NO!! The bus is still inconsistent, and I still need 1 hour to reach home. Nothing has changed!! Sure the price is lower, but I would pay more if you make the bus trips more frequent!! And the different location where I have to wait for my bus to come - it sucks. Dang it, that's where all the other buses are waiting for their passangers!! Their engines are running, and we breathing in the gas coming out of those buses!!

 

"well then, joash, do you have a solution?"... Vote for me, and you'll find out.

Laptop trouble

Dang it... Spilled water on my laptop just now. Hmm... I wonder what will happen next... A new laptop by the company? Come on, it's not like they gave me a brand new laptop. It's 4 years old, and the hard disc was ruined anyway. Come to think about it, I'm like the "old laptop spoiler". If this one is spoiled too, then I've ended the lives of 2 laptops already. But I'm hoping that after some heat and a few days' rest would be enough to restore this laptop.

Right now I'm using my desktop... Yes, the company let me keep a desktop and a laptop. You would think they wouldn't mind giving me a new laptop, wouldn't you? Just hope it doesn't come out of my year-end bonus... =(

It's time we pray, people...

MSN (1)

Chatting online came into my life only 6 months ago. I know, I'm outdated. I'm not really an IT or computer savvy person. I'm different from most of my generation in that sense.

There's a whole new lingo in this "online chat" world. I don't know who started it, but everyone uses it. The new lingo, along with emoticons, helps the conversation online to be as real as possible. Nevertheless, the ill-effects are undeniable. Many in my generation are constantly making really basic spelling and grammar mistakes in writing and in speech. My dad said that in 3 years' time, most students will have such problems, and I agree.

I find some quite useful, others I just find peculiar... GTG="got to go" and BRB="be right back" is quite alright. But I have a problem with LOL="laughing out loud".

People normally use LOL to show that they are laughing. Why? Why not use "haha"? I mean, in real life conversations, what comes out from your mouth when you find something amusing or funny? Imagine a Comedy Central Presents episode where the audience doesn't laugh or clap, and instead you hear hundreds of people saying "Laughing out loud!".

And why do people put "z" or "x" behind "LOL"? I mean, i know what "LOL"  means, but how does Z or X fit into the picture? Does someone have a good explanation for this?

By the way, if you have msn and would like to add me, here's my email account - pondering84@hotmail.com .

Meetings (2)

Have you ever attended a meeting where someone has to explain the most confusing thing? It would sound like the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard, and the dude is trying hard to defend the reasoning behind it all. Well, some people just like to make matters worse...

A good example would be someone cutting to help out in explaining, but makes the whole matter even more confusing. He probably can't really understand it as well, and will likely turn out to be the last person to grasp the idea. Then there are people who like to ask questions before the "explainer" finishes. This is frustrating, and I can identify with this. Why do you have to ask before I finish? Could it be possible that by the time I finish your questions will all be answered?

 

Sometimes certain people don't understand what I say during meetings. Maybe I speak too fast, I don't know. Because when I repear exactly the same things I said earlier, everything would be cleared up. Haha, communication requires effort from both sides - the delivery and the listening.

Public Transportation - Trains (4)

You would thought by now somebody would stop me and say "What more could there be to talk about on the train service of Malaysia?", but I suppose no one even reads this page. And you would thought that I would figure that out long ago. But I won't stop writing, regardless. This will be my platform where I pen down my thoughts and store my material, as I pursue my dream of one day becoming a stand-up comedian. Ni'h.

 

Today's train experience was rare and awkward. Ever realise the word 'awkward' is such an awkward word? (Haha, that one I stole from a comedian) It's been a long while since I took the 8.20am ride, so I was a bit surprised to see quite a crowd at the station. So I picked my spot and waited, hoping that the door would be right where I stood. I waited before the yellow and tilted my head to the right, just like everyone else. A yellow object started to appear from the horizon and people from the seats took their places behind us.

 

This particular has only 2 doors for each coach, one on each end, which is kinda weird and troublesome. Furthermore, the doorway could only fit 1 person at a time. This way the probability of the door being right in front of you in less. But I felt today was going to be my lucky day. But no, some lady had to stand in front of me, and BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE, mind you... The train finally stopped and true enough the door was just in front of me, with that rude, law-disobeying, inconsiderate lady standing in between me and my destiny (or is it my destiny and I? Hmm...). But 2nd in line was not bad at all, so I was smiling. But that was before the door opened.

 

Once the door opened, ladies pushed their way from the left, right, and even behind of me!! It's like ants suddenly appeared!! I had to look up and make sure no one got over me. From 2nd, I was like 27th now. But that was not all my misery. No, the ladies behind had to push me into the train. Not with their hands, mind you!! They would do anything to get into the train!!

 

I'm like, "What happened?! You girls are suppose to be sweet and polite and gentle, but look at you!!"... Of course, my mind was shouting, not my mouth. In my years of using public transportation, I have concluded that 90% of those that enter without courtesy and  gentleness are ladies. And I'm serious!! Even men behave better!! So what's up with that, girls??

I want this!!

Someone please get me this T-shirt!! It's so cool!! Maybe you can get me a "I am so Vlogging that" T-shirt as well, since I'm a vlogger as well. Aiyo... I seriously have so many things I want, but not willing to pay for. Maybe I should put up a list sometime. Then prayerfully, you may consider which you want to get for me. Ni'h.

 

Of course I can pay for the T-shirt. Just find it for me, ok? Ok thank you.

Public Transportation - Trains (3)

In my earlier post I talked about letting old people have our seats in a public transportation. Now, while there are people who just don't care, there are people who wouldn't mind doing that at all - but only for an elderly. Do you know another group of people that would need a seat on the train or bus?

 

Pregnant ladies.

 

There was once a pregnant lady came on the train and couldn't find an empty seat. Without hesitating, she approached a young lady, probably in her 20's, and asked for her seat. Haha, I'm not saying that the pregnant woman (in her 20's too) was rude. I've heard of the strange effects of pregnancy on a lady. Personally, I won't blame her for "demanding" a seat. What really captured my attention and memory was the look on the other young lady's face. She gave away her seat, of course. But throughout the day I couldn't stop thinking about her and what thoughts might have gone through her head... The following are some possibilities :

 

.............

 

On second thought, maybe i'll just leave my imagination to myself. You think up something to amuse yourselves lah. I'm out.

Public Transportation - Trains (2)

Different people respond differently to the old man or woman that comes on the train : Look away, close their eyes, read a book, talk on the phone... I remember an incident where this elderly man came into the train. To me, he looked like he was in his 50's. During the initial stages of the ride, he looked around, as though desperate to find a seat. He would sigh every now and then, pretty obvious and loud, clearly showing his frustration and disappointment toward the young people that occupied seats. A young malay lady stood up with a smile on her face and offered him her seat, but he very quickly rejected and the lady sat back down.

 

Hmm... maybe he was being a gentleman. This old man went on to say how he doesn't need to sit, as he's not that old. He even said he's only 40. Ok, I'll take his word on that.

 

The next stop came (came? but the stop was just there. it didn't move...) and a seat was made available. He spotted it, and he shouted out for the people around the seat to leave it for him. But before he could finish his sentence, the seat was already taken by someone who didn't understand his language. This really pissed him off. And from then on till the time I stepped out of the train, he was cursing loudly. What a weird contrast of responses!!

 

There's this other incident. This time I was seated comfortably. Then when we arrived at the next stop (this sounds right), 3 old ladies entered. There were no seats left for them, and they began to speak :

 

Lady A : Aiya, no more seat ar?

Lady B : Never mind lah, it's very fast one.

Lady C : Ya ya. I don't mind not sitting, as long as I get to lean on something.

I'm not sure if they intentionally speak really loud to gain attention or they just do. But I had mixed emotions to their conversation. I laughed, because that's silly talk. They can have my spot anytime. No one would want them to be injured or hurt or be uncomfortable. I gave 1 my seat, and another also did the same. In my heart, I felt sad. There's one more old lady left standing and people just don't care.

 

The fact that old people take public transport scares me. I mean, they have to endure everything that's bad about public transport with their much weakened bodies. What happened to family? Why they can't fetch their old man with their Protons? It's just a matter of going from point A to point B. Isn't that why people buy cars? To ease the hussel of travelling? I really wish that I won't have to travel with public transport when I'm 70 years old... Will I have that choice though? Hmm...

Funny stuff

Check out this guy, he's really good. It's the funniest when he's on the piano.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsjfNef15a0&search=comedy%20central

 

Don't forget to visit my main blog too. Put some videos on it. Hope you'll enjoy them.

Bad timing (1)

Does anyone notice the implications of having the smelly-water problem and the rise in petrol price happening at the same time? Let me perform this simple equation for you.

 

a. People + Smelly water = smelly people.

b. Petrol price + 30 cents = more people take public transport

c. Smelly people + more people take public transport = moving shit pools!!

 

We smelled like shit

Not too long after I had my dinner, Lemuel invited May and I to go with him to his new favourite hang out, where you can't wear slippers, singlet, or shorts. So May and I were in the car with Lemuel and Melanie, right? We were going to have a good time. Then May asked us if the water in our houses smelled bad. "You had it too? So it was the water?". Yes, I noticed something smelly when I took my bath earlier. Everything went pretty smooth until I started to rinse off the shampoo from my hair. That's when I smelled it. I smelled shit.

 

In that short moment of shock and disgust, i first concluded that it was bird shit on my head, must have got it on the way to the train station. So I quickly rinsed my hair and clean my body, hoping that the smell would go off. But no... Now the smell is more intensed. So now I thought that the bird shit had found its way into my nose. What a bumper. Now the truth is known, and Segambut, Selayang, and Jalan Ipoh has been affected. And there we were, 4 people, 1 car, heading to a cool place, smelling like shit. I already felt

 

I took extra precaution that night. I wouldn't want to smell like shit forever. I bought mineral water from 7-11, and met an old classmate. I asked him if he faced the same water problem. He was shocked - "Ei. You tau rumah saya kat mana?", which is malay for "Why you know where I live?".

 

As I walked pass some hawker stalls in front of the train station the next morning, they gave me a friendly smile and gave an invitation to treat. I'm not ignorant, I know they washed their hands and their food with shit-smelling water. I assumed that it was a national thing, so o nce I reached the office, I asked if anyone smelled like shit today. Of course everyone ignored me, as usual. I read the newspaper to find out more about this, and I found the explanation to be unsatisfactory.

 

'that dirty water from rivers and ponds, which overflowed into Sungai Selangor following the heavy rain on Sunday morning, caused the problem. In a statement yesterday, Syabas said the overflow had caused an increase of ammonia in the raw water source from Sungai Selangor.  The operators at the three water treatment plants in Sungai Selangor had to increase the level of chlorine to bring down the ammonia level in the raw water – and the high chlorine content was what made the water smelly. '

 

Now wait a minute. I know what chlorine smells like. I even know what chlorine water tastes like. And they certainly don't smell like shit!! If not, we won't be going to the swimming pools no more!! Today I searched for more information and I found this.

 

'due to the heavy rain , water from IWK treatment plant overflowed into sungei Selangor and into PUAS raw water intake. Indeed a press release at PUAS website confirmed this'

 

Now I googled IWK treatment plant, and it's actually Indah Water Konsortium - Sewage Treatment Plant!! Now that explains the shit smell!! Let's read on on what the newspaper had to say still -

 

' "Consumers need not worry. Based on tests done, treated water supplied to consumers is safe as it followed the standards set by the Health Ministry," he added.'

 

Now I'm no expert in health. But if I were part of Health Ministry, faeces-contaminated-water or shit-smelling-water certainly won't fit my standards. So vote for me. Thank you.