*Magazine Distro Index*

Everyone has heard about the famous “Sarong Index” that was researched by one of the country's greatest mind, Royal Professor Ungku Aziz or as known to certain quarters, Pak Ungku. I may not have the time and skill to conduct an extensive reseach like Pak Ungku did but I would like to weigh in with my very own “Magazine Distro Index”.

It may sound a tad bit harsh but I do believe that the level of sophistication and percieved intelligence is directly correlated with the type of magazine being distributed in the locality. I guess my “Magazine Distro Index” index can draw some relevance from the saying “You are what you read” and “Read and you will be well read”.

It is in my honest opinion that my theory not only conincides with the previously mentioned theory but also in terms of economics of business. No business entity in their right mind would push such publications into certain areas unless they're pretty sure that the people living in the targetted area are afluent enough to understand its value and spend on the said magazine.

Urban magazine stores tend to carry a very diverse mix of magazines. From your no brainer slap-stick magazines such as Ujang, Gila-Gila and Apo?! to gossip laden mags that the female half of mankind buys by the truckload. You would also see magazines on health, vehicles, sports and also other recreational activities.

And almost exlcusively, business and finance related magazines are almost only found in the urban and city areas. In my travels around the other parts of the country outside of the urban and city area, it is almost impossible to find magazines such as Forbes, The Edge or Personal Money unless you happen to be in the rural and city areas.

I do believe that the level of afluency of a particular area can be somewhat correlated to the type of magazines that is found in the shops in the said area. With this one could gauge the level of maturity, sophistication and also afluency of the residents just by going to the nearby convenience store and look at the magazines currently on sale.

I'm not pre-judging that areas outside of the urban, city or concrete jungle are not as intelligent or sophisticated but at this present moment in time, these areas are maybe not quite there yet. With enough time, education, exposure and also knowledge, an area can easily turn from a sleepy town to a bustling city. Every city in the world started that way.

So the next time you're on your travels, have a look at the nearby shops to see the types of magazine that are being sold. Form your own opinions if my “Magazine Distro Index” has its worth and whether you agree or disagree with me, please do feel free to let me know. Such feedback can only further improve my observations ;)

Cheers!!! :D

*Where's The Jet Fuel?*

Yesterday me and the wife decided to take another of Malaysia's low cost carriers for our trip back to JB. This time we decided to fly with FireFly which was the first time for me too. At only being about RM50.00 more expensive than a bus ride from KL, the almost 5 hours saved was worth it.

First impressions? Not the best in all honesty. I'm used to delays with AirAsia and in fact, I think in the years that I've flown with AirAsia, not even once have an AirAsia flight that I have taken was on time or on schedule.

It is not often that passengers know why their flights would be delayed. Primarily this is because you couldn't see the plane on the airstrip. However, this time around I could see why my flight was being delayed. They forgot the jet fuel if you can believe it.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, our flight from Subang's terminal 3 was delayed by more than 30 minutes no thanks to the jet fuel to refill the prop-jet aircraft was late. Not sure what happened to the planning or the organization but it was apalling to know that our flight was delayed because of something so rudementory.

At least the in-flight refreshments were free unlike AirAsia although it did not stop us from wondering if we had to pay for it initially. The seats were much more comfortable than the one I had when I took AirAsia for my last backpacking trip.

I've been blessed to have been able to flown on almost all of Malaysia's carrier. From the traditional MAS to Berjaya-Air, AirAsia and now FireFly. Each carrier has its own flaws but if I were to choose from one of them for service, I'd have to say that it would be Berjaya Air.

Surprising isn't it? They flew on time and on schedule, had great refreshments and the experience was great. While MAS will always trump the rest in terms of creature comforts, their prices can be on the steep side of things at times. As for AirAsia, their flights will continued to be delayed with ridiculously priced in-flight meals.

So the next time you wonder why your flight might be delayed, have some comfort to know that it may not be anything more than just waiting for the airplane to have its jet fuel topped up for your flight ;)

Cheers!!! :D

*More Sheila Majid Please*

It is not often I watch RTM1 in all honesty. The programs are from the 80’s and the entire station looks like it is using equipment from the 60’s. News and events are not given the most neutral of reportings but last night I sat down with the wife to enjoy RTM1 for a change.

It has been awhile since I’ve seen Sheila Majid on the tube, in fact I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her perform and if there was any entertainer that could garner enough of support for most people to turn on RTM1, it would be her.

In my honest opinion, she is one of the most talented yet down to earth songstress of her generation, if not ever. No one has come close except for the other powerful lady of Malaysia’s entertainment industry, Siti Nurhaliza.

Talent, charisma, great songs and an overall stage presence that would woo even first time viewers are just some of the characteristics of Sheila Majid. She has a voice that would be recognizable and unlike her younger predecessor, she sings well both in English and Malay too.

She is one of the few local artists’ that have made it just as big outside of the country. She is known not only as the great jazz vocalist in the region but also in Japan and the rest of the world. Safe to say, her talent is just more than face value indeed.

She would hold the crowd in her palms may it be on a stage outdoors, in a small enclosed club or be more than comfortable holding her own in places such as the philharmonic orchestra hall of Petronas.

Her songs are enjoyed by fans of all ages. From the TV I saw people of all ages, of all races and religion singing along to the songs almost by heart. What shocked me that the whole place was maybe only about 80% filled to capacity and if more knew that she was coming on, the place would have been packed to the brim.

My greatest fear is that she is the first and the last of her kind. An entertainer who at the same time is a musical legend if she isn’t already is. Her talent transcends boundaries and her music truly tugs at the souls of all those who listen to her works of art.

Most singers today sound more like they are manufactured from an assembly line more than anything else. Most rely more on revealing flesh and saucy headlines than in the arts and craft of music. Some are even more bothered in wrecking people’s marriages or running off to Thailand to get married.

If even half of the musicians today could come up with such musical brilliance that she has, we wont have to rely on Indonesian musicians to fill up our airwaves and have such a stupid “90%-10%” rule being shoved down the throats of the broadcasters. She has the uniqueness in her voice that makes her just as recognizable as U2’s Bono.

It is really hoping against hope that during my lifetime I would be able to see another musician just as good to take over the mantle as one of the most gifted and talented musicians in the country but until then, I hope she continues to ply the stage for her fans still long for her.

Talented, gifted, brilliant, outstanding, charismatic, lyrical genius, the superlatives could just go on really. She is in my books at least, the most talented of all time and perhaps for generations to come.

More of Sheila Majid please, most definitely indeed.

Cheers!!! :D

*Serves You Right*

It is not often that I agree with the people that runs this country. In the almost 5 years that this blog has been around, not once has it agreed with them. However, this has got to be the first time I have to grit my teeth and agree with them.

It all relates back to this article found in one of the local newspapers. Everyone knows that the cost of living in the Klang Valley is the highest in the nation so it is normal for people to whine about it but after reading the article, my reaction was simple. “Serves you right you useless c***!”

You eat nothing but prepared food from the restaurant, what gives? If you know that prepared food is expensive why not pack? A loaf of bread is about RM2.10 and it would last you at least a week. The cost of “roti bakar” is easily between RM1 to RM1.50 depending on the area.

What’s so wrong with packing lunch from home? Are you ashamed to be eating lunch in the office alongside other ladies? If you spend a minimum of RM6.00 including drinks during lunch, just by packing lunch for a week saves you RM30.00! That's a jug of beer depending on where you go.

And you have the audacity to complain about the price of laundry too. Can’t you do it on your own? I bet that if you just wash and iron your own clothes, you would see that you can more than pay for your water bills and still have money to save.

I do agree that our public transport is in and will be in a sorry state for quite awhile but have you been to the LRT stations lately, it’s pretty empty. Malaysians have very short memory indeed but I don’t really blame them on this.

Mr. Tommy Lee needs some sense knocked into him. I’m not too sure how much Mr. Tommy earns a month but I used to get by living in the city with just RM1.5k a month. I still had enough money to live in KL and also enjoy myself at the same time. Though I maybe earning more today, my dependencies have increased tremendously and yet I’m surviving just fine.

We as consumers are king. If you don’t like the prices at one place, just go to another. The rule of economics is pretty simple. There’s always someone, somewhere that can provide the service at a more competitive rate.

So my question to Mr. Tommy Lee is simple. Why don’t you pack food? I’m sure you can make a simple sandwich? You know how to cook rice and boil an egg right? Or are you ashamed of eating your lunch in the office with maybe the other ladies. Why not be the only thorn among the roses if it means more money in your pocket?

Why don’t you wash and iron your own clothes? If you have never done this before than I guess you must come from a fairly wealthy family where the maid does everything for you or you never enrolled in a boarding school in your life.

You write as if you represent the masses but in truth the very things that you complained about are the things that most people cannot share with you. So many people had a huge sigh of relief when the supermarkets brought down their prices. The only reason you may not “feel” it is maybe because you don’t even buy groceries or diapers for the so called baby that is crying in your article.

So piss on back to Penang if you want and tell us if the cost of living there is any cheaper.

Cheers!!! :D

*Incentive For Bribery*

If bribery is such a bad thing to practice, why is it found in almost every society plying this temporary earth of ours? Everybody knows that it is wrong and no parent would ever teach their children otherwise and yet, so many do it.

The fact of the matter is that humans, all of us, respond to incentives and when the benefits far outweigh the risk than it is just natural progression for the human being to succumb to the temptations of things such as bribery.

Like it or not it is just human nature for us to try and achieve the best things that we want in life with little or no effort. If that wasn’t the case, numerous MLM’s would never prosper in this world by conning its inhabitants.

Bribery fits into the category so nicely I believe. With little or no risk involved at all, the rewards far outweigh the risk or consequences that may arise. Another thing going for it is the fact that reward is instant. Now that is certainly an incentive to tempt most people.

The general excuse for this behavior is found in newspapers. The rich wants to get richer while the poor is just trying to make ends meet. However, it must be said that what both parties share is the fact that bribery is one of the most coherent incentive available to man-kind.

Would bribery be ever rid off from this country or the earth? Most probably not to be honest. Morals alone do little or none what so ever because moral is not a strong incentive enough to provide a barrier against it. The fact of the matter is that everyone responds to incentives and our brain is constantly comparing between one incentive and another when doing something.

Maybe just maybe, religion could be the answer. To the best of my knowledge, no religion on this earth preaches that bribery is not a sin. The Holy Quran says “Do not use wealth gained by illegal means for legal uses and do not use wealth obtained from legal means for illegal uses”.

However therein lay the quandary. Retribution in religion is sometimes instant but most of the time far too distant in the future for most to appreciate its incentive. Again the human brain will process between the two incentives when the situation arises. As I have mentioned earlier, people respond to incentives.

To be honest, we all practice bribery in one form or another. Parents promise their children so much if they would just keep quiet or behave at the shopping mall and repay their children’s excellent results with money. Aha, I hear some of you saying that it isn’t the same. That is a reward rather than a bribe but couldn’t it also be a threat?

People respond to incentive and there isn’t any better one than bribery. The risk (at times) is low while the rewards are not only big but also instant. While religion is one of the best bet to combat such a menace, I believe the better solution is to “tweak” the balance between risk and incentives of bribery.

Breaking that significant balance and shifting the incentive accordingly could be more effective than morals, ideals, enforcement and laws can and will ever achieve in combating this menace to society.

Cheers!!! :D

*Reality Encompasses All Life*

Who ever said life was easy. When one goes through difficult times in life one would find it hard to keep it real and staying positive. Some say that it is how one bounces back or recovers after being pummeled to the ground characterizes a person.

It is during the most challenging time when one’s true character is truly tested. How would one cope with the cards that life has dealt? What would be the avenue that one seeks to get up on one’s own two feet again? Where would the inspiration come from to get back up again?

When will life’s trials and tribulations finally relent and give way to the sunshine after the downpour. Some would even ask, why get up anymore to only get smashed to the ground all over again.

Some say that the night is darkest just before sunrise but night is dark none the less. Some also say that there will always be light at the end of the tunnel but it can so easily be an oncoming train slamming you head on.

So how does one keep it real when the chips are down? Well it varies to be honest. Some turn to prayers, music, books, food, their partner, their friends while there are also some who resort to vice in a bid to find some reprieve.

REAL can easily be the acronym for Reality Encompasses All Life as the title might suggest which at a glance, one cant escape life when it turns south on you and only expect to enjoy when things are smooth. It is just a part of life that no one, whoever you may be can escape from.

As a reminder to everyone and especially to me, when the plans do not go to plan (it will, life is just like that), do whatever it takes for one to do and keep one’s chin and spirits up and keep it real.

Cheers!!! :D