*Why So Serious?*

Managed to catch the much talked about movie Batman - Dark Knight over the weekend when I was down in JB to visit the in-laws. The movie of course got a lot of hype no thanks to the unfortunate passing of the actor that portrayed the role as the Joker in the movie.

If you’ve watched the movie than you know the Joker’s tag line in the movie is of course, lip licking induced “Why … so serious?”. How iconic of a statement given the shambles going around in this country that we live in.

When was the last time that you laughed at your own self? A really good belly laugh at yourself. It really is sad to know that not many do that these days. People are so bogged up with their lives that they forget somewhat to stop and smell the latte.

Maybe it’s because of my rather interesting past that I can laugh so easily at my own self. To be where I am today knowing that I was always a step away from turning out to the polar opposite of what I am today makes the success and achievement that I have earned all the more precious.

I used to do some rather crazy stuff when I was growing up. Some of course were not the most proper of things while others were your typical teen related stuff that one had to try. No of course I’m not proud on some of the things that I did but trust me, there are some who were worse off compared to me.

I’ve learned to understand that life, when taken too seriously, is not really good for one’s physical and most definitely mental health. Living on such a tight noose around your neck means only one thing, you can’t breath.

Yes it’s pretty difficult to try and see the funny side of things these days but if we do not make an effort to de-stress once in a while than who else? No one knows us better than ourselves and the right to laugh at ourselves lies in us also.

So yeah, life is tough as we navigate through the minefields that are littered throughout each step that we take but having said that, it’s not an excuse not to have a good laugh once in awhile.

So go on then, laugh out loud at yourself ;)

Cheers!!! :D

*Goodbye Motigo and Your Pop-Up Ads*

When I started Baine’s World way back in 2004, I’ve used the Motigo (formally known as Netstat) as my blog’s web counter but lately, I’ve realized that it’s starting to irritate me and the few readers of my blog.

A friend of mine highlighted to me a few days back that every time the blog loads, a pop-up window containing various ads comes up. This has been happening for quite awhile now but most of the time I tend to just close the pop-up but with so few readers to my blog, I’d prefer not to irritate them enough to chase them all away.

So after searching the web I found this from Motigo's own website:

"With the use of motigo products and services on the site it is accepted that WMS has the right to place advertisements on the site in any format or through any channel, including but not limited to e-mail, layer ads, pops, banners and other usual formats without any forewarning and it is furthermore accepted that WMS takes no responsibility for the advertising content and that WMS shall not be liable for any losses incurred regarding this advertising."

So yeah, pretty much it wasn’t some ad-ware running on my machine that’s causing the pop-ups but actually the counter itself. So after much surfing around I’ve decided to give SiteMeter a try to see if they pull the same tactics too.

At the point of writing, these are the humble stats for Baine’s World:

Measuring since ... 13 September 2004
Total number of page views up till now ... 26,483
Busiest day so far ... 29 December 2004
Page views ... 257
Page views yesterday ... 64
Page views today ... 28

Not the most impressive but hey that’s just the way I like it, especially considering the lean years for the blog after its initial birth. If you’re wondering about the post in December 2004 that is mentioned above having the highest view so far? Here it is though surprisingly it's not the most commented post I've ever had.

So here's to no more pop-ups when visiting the blog, for now at least...

Cheers!!! :D

*Google Read My Blog!!!*

Well I would like to think that did they despite the chances of it being true is near impossible. This is my blog of course so yeah, cut me some slack. A couple of weeks ago I posted an open letter to Google's CEO sharing ideas to make Google even more insanely rich than they already are.

Loh and behold in Blogger Buzz's July 18 post, I managed to convince myself that my open letter to Mr. Schmidt did reach someone at Google. In that post it says

"Blogger is now available in Malay! Blogger has a large base of users in Malaysia and we are excited to now bring them Blogger in their native language."

Amazing don't you think? It could either be pure coincidence or maybe they have been monitoring the traffic spike since the beginning of 2008 or maybe they only began to realize after reading my open letter? As daft as it may seem, for all we know it was Che Det's blog which has been subsequently moved away from Blogger that caught their attention.

What ever the actual reason for it is, I'd prefer sticking to blogging in English to be honest. I've posted in Malay previously but I've always find it weird when the web page or site would be in Malay. If there is an option to choose between the two, I'd always prefer reading sites that are in English rather than Malay.

One of the reasons why I don't frequent Friendster anymore is that by default, the language selected is in Malay. How stereo-typical of them to assume that people originating from IP addresses belonging to Malaysia cannot understand Englsih.

So yeah, someone from Google did read my blog and my open letter. Now if only they also followed up on the other things I wrote in that particular post, especially the post-script part ;)

Cheers!!! :D

*Current Five S*

I had a rather lengthy meeting today as the company gears up for its upcoming appraisal with external auditors. We went through the normal routine of sharing our experiences not only from our previous mock-run but also from our previous employer's experience.

There were many do's and dont's of course as it is with any sort of interview or audit by someone who may or may not agree with they way you are doing work. The meeting lasted for almost two and a half hours before it ended but one thing that did catch my attention was from one of the tips that were given to prepare us.

We were reminded to stick to the 5 S's in handling ourselves with the auditor but sadly for us, our colleague who obtained the material from one of the trainings could not recall what the 5 S's were. However, I've decided to come up with my own 5 S's in light of the recent shambles hogging us lately:

Scandals – Of any sorts from bribery, fake wedding certificates to scheming money launderers.
Sex videos – Need I say more?
Sodomy – Enough said to last me 3 life times.
Statutory Declarations – The integrity in which is lost amongst everything.
Stock Exchange – Shrinking and devaluing many businessmen by the day.

I could go on really but I think I'll just limit it to the 5 S's. Maybe you could share a few?

Cheers!!! :D

*Case of the Dejavu*

I went to Binx's wedding over the weekend with the wife and mum. It's the first time that I've been there since my own wedding not so long ago. It was a great wedding reception and I would like to congratulate Binx on a great event.

Being there again brought back a few memories from my own episode of things. Some brought back smiles while some just goes to remind me and everyone else how the best of plans does all rest in His hands.

Just like Binx I went through my own fair share of ups and downs during my wedding preparations. All in all some of His tests did brought me down to my knees and at times I even doubted myself if I'm going to be able to pull through.

Life has always had the enviable ability to knock some sense into you when it thinks that you're out of touch with reality. Sometimes these knocks comes in subtle nudges while at times it does feel like that you've been hit on the face by an 18-wheeler.

How we bounce out of it? That my friends is how we will be judged as a human being. Of all of God's creation we have been gifted with the ability to overcome adversity with the strength of one's limbs but also the strength of one's mind.

We've all experienced it, the whole dejavu thingy. Sometimes we just pause for awhile and during the time when we reflect how we've dreamed about the very situation before, time almost stands still. Question is sometimes we wonder if what is happening is real or are we dreaming of the dejavu. It can be quite unnerving for some indeed.

To Binx, my wife and I would like to wish you all the best as you step into the next phase of your life with Hakim. Believe me when I say that He shall give you a nudge once in awhile to make sure that we are on the right path. Some do say that the harder His trials are, the closer we are to Him.

Cheers!!! :D

*Baine is on Ubuntu*

Warning! A rather geek-related post!

To the very few readers of this blog, I'm proud to present you my first blog post on a desktop or PC that is not from Microsoft Windows. Yes after much thought and deliberation, I've decided to give Linux a shot and see if it can really one day be a match for the Windows giant.

I'm giving Ubuntu a try as it is one of the few pure free operating system that you can get support for. One thing's for sure though, things you normally take for granted can be quite a bane trying to get it work on Linux. I started the installation after lunch yesterday and then the fun began. I was lucky enough that all the drivers were detected with no big deal.

Remember how easy it was to get on the net on Windows? Just click on the Connect to Internet wizard a few clicks later you're on the great world wide web. Not so easy on Ubuntu I'm afraid. The setup is done via the command line though the best thing is, it auto-connects each time you log in so you saved some clicks there :P

Next was trying to get some applications installed. Now in windows of course all you had to do was double-click on the .exe installer and you'd be able to install the application and use it soon enough. On Ubuntu and on Linux in general, its not so easy. You need to download the source, the dependent libraries, the compiler and a whole host of other stuff before you could get your application's to work. So yeah, just to get the numerous IM's working was quite tough :P

All in all I'm quite surprised with Ubuntu in general. I'm able to find numerous alternatives to our normal applications that we use normally on our Windows PC or desktops. I'm using OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office and in fact with Google Docs you may not need to have such applications installed in the first place.

I've decided that from now on Ubuntu will be running at home while I use the same laptop and the famous Windows XP at work. It's good for me to practice and keep my technical stuff in check. There will be headches in the future but I think it's going to be a fun ride ;)

So yeah, there is an option if suddenly by freak of nature Microsoft somehow dissapeared from the face of the earth :P

Cheers!!! :D

PS>> Back to the normal Baine's World posts after this one ;)

*I Just Don't Get It*

I’m left wondering at times lately if there will ever be a let up on the happenings around us. It’s starting to resemble an old broken record on repeat and I must say it is starting to drain the life from what is already a rough ride.

I just don’t get it to be honest. I mean why it is so hard for people to just move on with things. In such difficult times there must be more beneficial things that we should be doing but the question is how we do it with all the mess mudding our lives lately.

If you happen to be a Muslim than you know that one cannot run away from one’s deeds and sins. Repayment is guaranteed by Him either in this life or in the after life. If that does not remind them and us of the right and wrong’s in life than you’re really wasting your breath.

I don’t give a rats a$$ in all fairness. I just want to get on with my life and enjoy it with my loved ones. I want to be able to live my life happily without someone barking in my ear or blinding me with such nonsense that I wouldn’t even care even if I wanted to.

No one is perfect, nobody can and will ever be perfect. To me it is those who preach that they are the “one” that everyone should be fearful of. The last that came close to being perfect was the late Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and no one else has come close ever since.

We all have chinks in our armor and we have to live it but most importantly, people have to accept it too. At the end of the day the one and only person that really cares for you is well basically just you. Who else do you expect if not you?

I know I am not alone on this. In fact we’re actually the majority but we’re suffocated with the nonsense around us that it becomes so deafening that one cant here one’s thoughts anymore. It’s all about the he said she said junk.

If I could have one wish right now I’d really go for just some peace and quite. That would be all that I want and maybe a couple of million other people around me. Life’s far too precious so enough is enough.

As pointless as it seems to be I am still waiting on the world to change. I know it sounds so optimistic but really I don’t know what else to hope for. We mere mortals are weak and not without our faults.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had the ability and courage to forgive even his most staunch enemy and that is not even his greatest gift from the heaven’s. We all have the same and should be able to do such a simple thing first before thinking about much bigger things in life.

Cheers!!! :D

*Internal Conflicts*

How do you judge someone's career performance? Sounds easy doesn't it? If you work properly and don't miss any deadlines than you're fine but how easy is it when you're judged based on work that you're not paid to do while at the same time you're not doing the things that you were paid to do?

Got you confused yet? I know I am. But really, the above really does make you wonder doesn't it? I mean are you considered good at what you do if you do something that you're not paid to do but do it well and at the same time you don't do well at something that you're actually paid to do. So to ensure that we're rewarded properly we should be excelling at doing what we're paid to do but then again, how many of us can really claim to be doing that?

The other scenario often we see is what to do if someone joining your organization has a rather dodgy past? Do you just mind your own business or do you feel compelled to tell your new employers that they’re making a big mistake. Would you put your paymaster’s interest first or do you fear of being labeled as a person who likes to “jaga tepi kain orang”.

The above situations are just some of the many that bombard us from day to day. It pushes and pulls at one’s inner beliefs and practice. Do you stand up and fight for your rights and colleagues at the risk of being a whistle blower or do you just go about not caring for what happens around you as long as you get your monthly salary.

Does telling your boss that he or she is making a huge mistake by taking on this person whom you have suffered in the past with before deprive him or her of a second chance? What would you do if history repeats itself and could you live with the guilt that you had a chance to do something but did not? Worse still, what happens when you are made responsible for a call that you made based on the assumption of what you observe? Humans do not really conform to the WYSIG theory, what you see is not what you get.

I understand now why some people shy away from work that involves interacting with people. It brings a complex fusion of emotions that challenge what you believe is the right thing and causes you to doubt your own self at times. Some prefer working with machines or numbers or paper which does not pose the same myriad of emotions when working with a fellow human being.

I’ve posted before of how one should stick to one’s belief system amidst the noise that fills up our lives. Heh, maybe I’m just as guilty of that too in these scenarios eh?

Cheers!!! :D

Translations:

Jaga tepi kain orang: Being nosy or a busy body about other’s interest/life

*Malaysian Weddings Part 1 - Malay Wedding*

Despite being of the same religion, Malay weddings in Malaysia tend to be determined by the practices of each individual state’s Islamic Religious department. Weird isn’t it but well that is the fact of Malay weddings here. The religious department at the national level does have rules and regulations which most of the states follow to a certain degree but not enough to avoid confusion sadly.

Now again, I’m not going to go through each and every rule that is there for you because that would be just a waste of time. Head on over to their individual websites and you’ll find all the information you need to get yourself hitched. What this post is about is more towards the things you should be prepared for that isn’t in written in the rule book.

Here it goes then.

Firstly, be prepared to use up your entitlement of annual leave. No it’s not for disappearing for your honeymoon in Koh Samui the very next day after the reception but more for the procedures that you must adhere to. You would need to apply leave for getting the marriage registration form, meeting up with your local mosque’s wedding register, meeting up with the wedding register at the location in which you will be getting married, going for your HIV test and even collecting your marriage registration cards after the whole event. That of course, does not include if the annual leave you might take up for traveling outstation.

Next the HIV test itself. A good thing as far as I’m concerned and it should be made a requirement for all weddings in Malaysia irregardless of race or religion. The “bakal pengantin” is required to conduct this test only at government clinics and hospitals. Results obtained from other than these two institutions are not recognized. These tests do have a specific time period of validity so do make sure not take the tests to soon but worse still, don’t take it the day before your wedding as if the results do not go your way and requires further testing, you are not allowed to get married no matter what.

Location, location, location. We’ve all heard that before and it’s no laughing matter indeed. Unless you’re planning to hold your wedding at home, you may want to skip this paragraph though you do still have to obtain approval from your local council to do it. Most weddings these days take places at hotels (for the few rich) and “dewan” (for the rest of us) so you would bet your life that these “dewan” are at a premium. Secure the “dewan” as early as possible as there is no harm in doing so. I booked my wedding at the TTDI Community Hall almost a year in advance and still couldn’t get a Saturday date scheduled in. You have been warned.

Be prepared to travel all around is another thing you have to be ready for. You don’t have to be a genius to know that getting your “barang hantaran”, “bunga telur” or even wedding cards from the posh and air-conditioned shopping complexes would mean you’re paying the premium for these items. Be prepared to go to places such as Jalan TAR, Pudu and especially the Jalan Brunei area for the best prices especially for wedding cards. Some have even taken the option to head for Bandung in Indonesia and find it just as worth it too.

Other principles such as shopping during the sale period also are never a bad idea. One way to make sure you don’t go overboard with your purchases is to avoid the temptation of the plastics. Do your utmost to pay with cash and even when you do use the plastic, pay it in full at the next opportunity that you have. I’ve seen enough cases where couple’s are still paying for their credit card or personal loan debts from their wedding preparations even though their child is starting primary school.

Timing is also crucial for third parties that you engage for your event. Good caterers, photographers, wedding clothes rental boutiques and even the “kompang” boy’s services should also be secured in advance. With weddings now taking place all throughout the year and no longer restricted to “cuti sekolah”, their services can be quite difficult to get during your planned date.

Get a wedding planner to help you out especially if both of you are working. They can be your family members, your relatives, your BFF, your friend or even professional wedding planners to help you out. Yes you might still be able to handle it on your own but some help in anyway doesn’t hurt at all. You may not be able to guarantee a perfect reception but at least you won’t be getting the color of the tables and chairs being the polar opposite of your wedding dress or theme.

Finally and I think the most important ingredient of all is of course patience. Believe me the trial and tribulations that He has in store for you during your preparation juggernaut would really test you and your future partner’s bond to the max. Be there for each other and give in to each other so that all will be ok and the event turns out to be a success.

I could go on really but I think the above are just some of the key points for preparations of a Malay wedding in Malaysia. To all the “bakal pengantin” who happen to chance this blog, remember that although one should respect the “adat & budaya”, it is the religion that binds us together and that must take precedence on top of anything else. In Islam, the whole event is to let people know that you’re married to avoid suspicions and not to “menunjuk-nunjuk”.

Congratulations to Saiful@Abon, Ajim and Haniff for your wedding reception and to Binx, we’ll definitely be there for yours!

Cheers!!! :D

Translations:

Bakal Pengantin: Bride and groom to be
Dewan: Hall
Barang Hantaran: Gifts similar to dowry given to each other by the bride and groom
Bunga Telur: Gifts given to attendees of the reception
Kompang: Classical Malay musical instrument
Cuti Sekolah: School holidays
Adat & Budaya: Local customs and practices
Menunjuk-nunjuk: Showing off to others