My Kind of Weekend Version A

To get a lovely, relaxing day where everything works as I wanted it to be or at least in a way that I can accept, I have to work for freaking 15 hours on Friday. Well, 15 hours may not be anything for some, but for a lazy lad like me, it's huge, and I hate it.

Well, this is a Saturday that I like, slept at around 1 the day before, got up and pee at around 6 something, which will be the time I get up in normal working days. It is rather satisfying to get up at 6 something and know that you can get back to sleep in matter of minutes. I really like to get up and pee at 6 something in days I need not to work.

Then I proceed my sleep until it became easily interrupted by anything. The little bell on the baby's feet when she walks, the whining of the pig, or even the faint hiss of the TV. These are the indication that my sleep is enough, and it is just OK to get up. For the first few interruption, I can still get back to sleep, but when I find that the frequency of getting awake is increasing, I know my sleep is complete, and I am save to get up~! This, is a variation of my "natural awakening".

After the usually rush to get shower, oral hygiene stuff and an express coffee down to my vein, I read the paper with no hast. Then I did my usually weekly check on my car, usually just checking the engine oil, wipe some glasses, that's all. Now quite in the mood to wash the car though.

Well, then my mum is working today (she baby sits, and both babies were dumped here today as well) so I decided to go for some shopping. See if there is any DVD or CD that finally succeed in seducing me into buying as well as getting some beer supply; was looking forward for a drinking session with the old man. Hey, I may not able to bring back his glory days of his youth, but he still has a boy who he can drink with and boast to.

After a visiting two shopping centre and late brunch-tea, at 3 something at a well known roadside hawker's rojak and ABC, the idea flash through my mind: Well, I got beers for old man, how about his woman? Hmm...maybe try some pasar Ramadan and get some food for her. She always fond of lemang.

And off I went to search for these...but thing is, maybe it is me being bad in this kind of hunt, or Klang people is just being boring. I found some Ramadan market, but most of them selling things that cannot be eaten. Oh craps~! So I just wasted my time and fuel for an hour for nothing but some sweat. I've tired some nearby Malays residential area and even Klang's pasar malam, maybe I was early (4pm consider early for Ramadan market?), but I just couldn't find any. At last I went home empty handed saved for some beers, chips and some Iranian date for my family to try.

At the night, before my old man went out getting my brother back, I watch Seinfeld DVD. Nothing like a good dose of comedy after a week of pissedoffness and stroke opportunity. After the old man bring back my bro, I got in the room where they are watching some Japanese detective series VCDs that I bought years ago and they have watch for N so many times and have a drink with the old man.

So, the whole family is there, talking about the good old days, some nostalgic events, while the plot in the TV being reduce to nothing but background ambiance. Talk with the family, and drink. Compare to Sunday, where the fact that "tomorrow back to work" is haunting me the whole day, Saturday 11pm till approximately 1 am for me is the "family hours". Here is when where we do nothing but relax and enjoy some quality time together.

Now, I'm not that family oriented person, but after you for weeks, around 12 hours of more everyday, where in the whole week you home is nothing but a hotel room for you...you will find that having a time where you are really doing nothing, but just being with your family and talk, is the greatest moment, funnest thing, and most enjoyable way to spend the weekend.

Of course, if the office was not that hellish, one will always looking for a more happening weekend. But for now, for me, this does the trick...

Malaysia's 'worst in the world' taxis tarnish national image

How true...

AFP - Thursday, September 18

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - - The ads promoting "Malaysia: Truly Asia" aim to welcome visitors with a warm smile to a prosperous and modern nation, so the taxi fleet branded "the worst in the world" can come as a bit of a shock.

Even the locals are not spared the shabby service of unkempt and hostile drivers behind the wheels of decrepit vehicles who refuse to use the meter, overcharge and pick-and-choose which destinations they will travel to.

At the popular KLCC mall under Kuala Lumpur's iconic Petronas Twin Towers is a typical scene, as a gang of cabbies negotiate with a young Norwegian couple just metres from a signboard warning against "taxi touts".

"Flat rate, flat rate, no metre," one driver insists as the tourists try to find a cab to take them to their hotel, less than two kilometres (1.2 miles) away.

Anxious to escape the baking heat, they agree to pay 25 ringgit (7.22 dollars) for a trip that would have cost less than three ringgit on the meter.

"Is it expensive? We don't know, we thought it is normal here," said the woman as they piled in with their shopping bags.

More frequent visitors, however, are vocal in their criticism and say that aggressive and unprofessional drivers are tarnishing the nation's image as a squeaky clean and hospitable destination.

"I first visited Malaysia in 2006 and I was impressed by everything I saw except for the worst taxi service I have endured," said Kabir Dali, an Indian tourist waiting in vain for a metered taxi at another mall.

"I paid a whopping 260 ringgit (74 dollars) from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to town and was later told that was twice the proper amount."

Complaints about taxis are common in many countries, but in Malaysia it has escalated to an outpouring of frustration, on blog sites and in letters to newspapers.

In a survey by the local magazine The Expat, some 200 foreigners from 30 countries rated Malaysia the worst among 23 countries in terms of taxi quality, courtesy, availability and expertise.

The respondents lashed the fleet as "a source of national shame" and "a serious threat to tourists -- rude bullies and extortionists".

Salvation is in sight though, as a number of smaller, up-scale operators enter the market to provide a more expensive but quality taxi service for frustrated visitors and locals.

The uniformed drivers, behind the wheels of smart new multi-purpose vehicles and sedans, switch on the meter as a matter of course and do not refuse destinations -- surprising and delighting commuters in the capital.

Abdul Razak, operations manager for Dubai-based Citicab which launched here in January, said that even in poorer nations such as Thailand and Indonesia, taxis are smarter and the drivers far more courteous.

"I would say it is the worst in this region, undoubtedly. I have travelled to all countries in this region and our company operates taxis in many parts of the world. The situation here is the worst I have seen," he told AFP.

"The vehicles are in shabby condition, the driver will take you if he likes your face -- that is, if he agrees with where you want to go for the price he insists on."

The government has called on taxi firms to lift their standards, but various campaigns have achieved little, and many blame the lack of enforcement on rampant corruption in the police and bureaucracy.

"It is difficult for the roads and traffic department to take stern action," said a security officer at one city mall as he watched the touts swoop.

"Taxi operators and the company which hold the licences are all linked to some politician or another," he said. "Drivers here are ruthless because they are unchecked by authorities who are almost non-existent."

John Koldowski, from the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said that "less than desirable" taxi drivers have an outsize impact on a nation's image.

"The first contact a tourist gets with locals is often during airport transits to hotels and it creates a very, very strong first impression, either be good or bad," he said.

"Authorities certainly need to do their jobs and act upon any complaints strongly, quickly and visibly."

copied from: http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080918/tts-malaysia-transport-taxi-506e7eb.html

Well, one of the solutions...:

Violent Rant of A Pyscho Gone Berserk

Tired...tired..tired...fed up, fuck off, go to hell!

Today I unleashed some of my sarcasm to my manager. Yeah why not? I'm pissed. I've been doing three person's job, working 12 hours a day, and don't even have the little luxury of sitting in a proper kopitiam eating a proper lunch. Yet, the demand of reports and various update that has nothing to do with my current mission (at least not directly related to me) never ends.

I protested, she replied the senior management need it. Great, just great. I have to sacrifice my productivity, my personal time, my freedom for the sake of other people's curiosity? So far my perception of the senior management is the fail miserably in introducing the new system. What a good job they have done, freeze our leaves, and people starting to get sick and emotionally unstable. And I dare say I am not the only one, just my tolerance is almost burnt out.

Don't get me wrong, I do understand the position of this manager that keep on chasing for updates, she is being bullied by the senior idiot management as well. Just, the sad thing is, why she tend to dump everything on me? This is a critical period, everything need to do more, I am doing more, can she ask the Korean to do a little bit more? That Korean can leave at 5, I have to leave 5 hours after 5, damn it!

If she (Korean) does great job, maybe I can still swallow it. But she's giving us rubbish! Not at all proactive, lazy, unhelpful, irresponsible and sometimes I just feel she is downright stupid! If we have a local people know Korean, we can really do away with her cause her contribution is almost non-existent! And I don't bloody if she reads this! I'm a public enemy, no harm adding another one.

I missed Baldy's girl. She's a Korean as well. When she was around I ever deal with her, but at least she is good looking! This? Damn!

I remember when is asked the-person-who-I-am-not-naming-here about our problem, the person explained that different people has different attitude and personality, we have to try accept it. Agreed. But only if it is personal. If the Korean is but a acquaintance or friend, it will be my wrong to pissed off, but now it is business, and her incompetency is killing the already fragile team, if there is a team to start with. If you stand in my professional way, I will not hide my annoyance. I'm sick being a nice guy, Kellyz is right, wearing mask is no good.

From the manager point of view, they can always dump to me. Irony is, I always help, but when I need help I don't even have to asked, I won't get any.

Actually, I don't mind working with lazy people, I also don't mind idiot or stupid, slow learner I can accept, irresponsible is also a part of me, not being helpful is just normal. What I hate is, the combination of all this. And I think you I am talking about!

Yes, I'm pathetic! But I'm not hypocrite!

Fuck the K person!

Hate me, dislike me, isolate me! It will only makes you the same kind of person I am~!

I'm pathetic!

I'm very very very unhappy!

Video: How to respond to a telemarketer - The Seinfeld way

Anyone care to try this?

Good sleep

Hmm...last night better than the night before. In fact it is the best I have in weekdays since Everest.

I manage to force myself to shut down the computer and bed after 11.30. And it only took me a couple of minutes to get asleep~!

Nothing funny happen in between. No external interruption, no nightmare, no weird noise, nothing. I slept like vegetative state person.

It was until around my usual wake up hour than my conscious was coming back. Maybe the sleep was too nice, my eyes were playing trick on me. I looked at the clock and thought it was just 6.15, still have at least 45 minutes to sleep...but a second after I closed my eyes the annoying music of the alarms faded in. Then I got a clearer view. The clock was showing 7.15 instead of 6.15. And lucky I'm psycho enough to set my clock to indicate 15 minutes earlier than the actual time. So at 7am, I got up and start the day that ends with numerous task pending.

Damn~

Video: George Costanza - How To Pretend That You Are Busy

For all working class,
some nice skill to learn...

I hate insomnia

I hate insomnia, I hate it when I have to sleep but couldn't sleep!Please take note, I said "when I have to sleep" not "when I am sleepy".

Don't know what happened last night. Is it something I ate or drank? The triple shot espresso vanilla latte? No no, caffeine won't have this effect on me anymore. Then what else? Did I ate something I don't in daily routine? The water melon after dinner? Ridiculous. Water melon, haha, can't sleep, haha.

After my usual blog entry, checking a few sites online, I decided to sleep rather on time last night. I got to the bed at 12, and since, trying, changing pose, changing pillows for more than 2 hours. Man, that is torturous.

Idiotic part is, my sister was washing some bowls or pots in the kitchen at around 1 am. Hey that midnight~! And she is not the polite type of girl, so it sounded like some triad was having a fight in the kitchen. Worse is, she didn't even close the door separating the kitchen with the other part of the house. So the sound can just simple travel to my room and torture me.

Then it was my brother. Boy, I bought a Seinfield Season 1 DVD, and I was stupid enough to release it out to share it with my family, actually my brother only. What he did was, we watch it when I trying to get sleep. Last night he have the sense to turn down the volume,but the sad thing about TV is, it has some annoying hiss whenever it is turned on. You may not notice it normally, but in the middle of the night, when everything is noiseless and quiet, you will hear it. There are two TVs in my house, one in the living room, another in my mothers, and I can tell which TV is on without ever need to step out of my room, even if they mute it.

So, that was last night. How this night will going to be? Hmm....see la.