THE MAGIC OF DISNEY

Living in the small town of Tawau there wasn’t much to do except go to school, go for tuition, swimming classes, art classes, music classes … you get the drift. It was all work no play for Eva’s mom. Our only form of entertainment was a video player and tons and tons of taped and retaped Disney cartoons.

Hence, I grew up watching Disney animated movies such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Dumbo (I cried my eyes out), Bambi (I cried my heart out), Pinocchio, Lady and the Tramp, Robin Hood, Oliver and Company, Alice in Wonderland, Jungle Book, Aristocats, 101 Dalmations, Sword in the Stone and the Rescuers.

Later on, I was stuck on Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, the Little Mermaid, the Lion King, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch (a favourite), and much later on, Pixar animated films like A bug’s life, Monster’s Inc., Toy Story 1 and 2, Finding Nemo (a favourite), Ratatouille, the Incredibles (my all-time favourite) and most recently Bolt and Up.

Disney is also responsible for movies like Enchanted, Hidalgo, the Princess Diaries, Pirates of the Carribbean 1,2 and 3, High School Musical 1, 2 and 3 (the only Disney movie listed here that I did not watch), National Treasure 1 and 2.

I’m looking forward to The Princess and the Frog and Rapunzel.

Wow, I’m such a Disney geek.

Okay, ramblings aside, Disney was synonymous with Happily-Ever-Afters, Prince Charmings and Princesses, villains in all forms (related or not) and good triumphing over evil or bad.

Everything was clear cut; everything was black and white; everything was simple.

From all those years of ‘research’, here are some of the typical themes in Disney movies.

Fairies use wands and have oddly-proportioned wings.
e.g. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Pinocchio.

Stepmothers are evil.
e.g. Snow White, Cinderella (and because these two are the forefronts of the Disney heritage, it will forever be imprinted in our minds that stepmoms are evil)

Villains exist in family circles.
e.g. Snow White and her stepmom, Cinderella and her stepmom+stepsisters, Simba and his uncle, Scarface.

You can be the hero or heroine only if you have no parents or just one.
Snow White (orphan), Tarzan (orphan), Aladdin (orphan), Mowgli (orphan), Peter Pan (orphan), Wart aka Arthur (orphan), Simba (only mom), Dumbo (just Mom), Cinderella (where’s her father?), Ariel the mermaid (only Dad), Nemo (only Dad), Tarzan’s gf, Jane (only Dad), Princess Jasmine (only Dad), Pocahontas (only Dad), Bambi (just Dad), Belle (only Dad).
Exceptions: Hercules (doesn’t know who his parents are), Mulan (they only come in at the beginning and at the end), the Incredibles (it’s a family so this does not count.)

There’s always a tinge of royalty somewhere.
Aladdin’s gf is a princess.
Cinderella’s bf is a prince.
Ariel, Snow White, Aurora are princesses.
Belle’s beast is a prince in reality.
Tarzan, Simba, Bambi and Pocahontas are royalty in their own lands.
Hercules is major royalty – son of Zeus aka Greek God.
Princess in the movie Enchanted and the Princess Diaries are a little off the tradition but still, princesses.

Female villains have very weird hairdos or hairpieces.
e.g. Ursula in Little Mermaid, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, Cruella de Ville in 101 Dalmations, the stepmother and step sisters (Prunella and Godzilla –whatever their names are) in Cinderella,

Princes and princesses are incredibly good-looking, have flawless skin, are well built , are not stuck up and have good morals too. The kind of people you look for in dating services.
All Disney princes and princesses

Animals talk. Particularly if you are a dog or cat.
All Disney cartoons.

If you’re the hero or heroine, you can definitely sing in tune.
All Disney cartoons.

If you’re the villain, you can definitely sing in tune.
All Disney cartoons.

If you’re a talking animal, you can definitely sing in tune.
All Disney cartoons.

The good always wins in the end and happily ever after is a definite must.
All Disney cartoons.

The last one is probably one of the strongest reasons why we all love Disney. Deep down inside, everyone is looking for a happy ending and whilst our ending does not come after the credits, at least when we are in the cinemas or in front of the telly watching a Disney animated film, we forget all our worries, submit to the stereotypes and succumb to that nonsensical notion that good will forever be triumphant over evil.

If you Bribe me, It's your Fault.

The Star Online > Focus

Friday September 25, 2009

GIVERS OF BRIBES TO BLAME FOR CORRUPTION

WHENEVER it comes to corruption and its ills, we conveniently pin the blame on parties on the take. We lose sight of those who give.

Sure, the takers have to be blamed. But if we truly believe that corruption is evil and must be eliminated, we must walk the talk ourselves. We must stop offering money to suit our selfish ends or to get ourselves out of a wrong that we have committed.

To me, the giver in any corrupt action or transaction is more guilty than the taker, as not many people can let an opportunity to earn easy money pass. The irony is that the givers are those most vocal about the deteriorating state of corruption of this country.

The next time you are caught breaking a rule, like a traffic offence, think twice before offering any incentive to get yourself a shortcut or selfish way out.

If you do make the offer, please do not blame others for being corrupt. It is you who started it.

CONCERNED CITIZEN,

Subang Jaya.

Did the contents really make you think twice about giving bribes? It didn’t do me much help.

Like many other people, I don’t like people wasting my time. And whilst I am not one who earns a lot, at least money can be earned back; my time, once wasted, can never be replaced. And I am not getting any younger either.

So given the choice of using money to buy back time which I find valuable, I think that it is a fair trade. To be clear, I do not condone bribery as I see it as a form of moral decay, which is not good for the soul.

But by saying that it is not the person’s fault to accept bribery because “not many people can let an opportunity to earn easy money pass [sic]” is like saying it’s not wrong for men to rape women because they dress in revealing outfits.

Truth be told, the service sector hasn’t been speeding up despite the advancement in technology and the use of computers and internal networks to aid them in their work. Gifts and greens are better motivations. This is reality. People needed to survive. Morale takes a back seat to a full stomach.

But in fact, both sides are wrong morally. You shouldn’t give bribes if you are at fault or have committed an offence, and you shouldn’t accept bribes to help someone get away after committing an offence.

In conclusion, just as it takes two to carry out bribery, it also takes two to not.

East Malaysia: the forgotten lands.

Read this this morning.

TheStar Online > Wednesday September 23, 2009

SOME FUZZY OVER SEPT 16 AND NATIONAL DAY

KOTA KINABALU: The difference in perspectives between Malaysians in the peninsula and those in Sabah and Sarawak over the country’s formation is making them think that there are 2Malaysias, says a human rights commissioner.

Former state secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun said Sabahans and Sarawakians in general regarded Sept 16, 1963 as the day the nation was formed. The date was when the two states teamed up with Malaya.

“However, in a recent discussion involving academics, lecturers and students in the peninsula, it was obvious that there was a different view of Sabah and Sarawak’s position,” said Sipaun, currently Suhakam vice-chairman.

“Some even said Sabahans should be grateful to Malaya for giving them their independence,” he said.

Sipaun said Aug 31, 1957 was the day Malaya attained its independence.

“But that date has no significance to the people in Sabah and Sarawak as it was only Malaya that became independent then.”

He said if such perceptions were allowed to prevail, there would be “a misinterpretation among some that there is a 2Malaysia.”

In this regard, he said efforts to boost the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia concept should go beyond mere slogans.

“We will only feel a sense of unity in the heart when the Government is not perceived as marginalising or discriminating against anyone, and is instead seen to be fair to all, regardless of their race, religion or culture,” said Sipaun.

He said Sept 16 should thus be given due recognition and celebrated on a national scale.

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Strange that no one gives a damn about Sabah until five peninsular states were lost to the opposition. Tawau still experiences blackouts, the traffic is horrible for a town the size of one or two West M shopping malls, the international airport is quiet for most of the day and illegal immigrants outnumber Malaysians, at any time of the year. You want to talk about 1Malaysia? Do something Malaysian for Sabah first.

Book Review: The Lost Symbol

It's been a week since the release of the Lost Symbol by Dan Brown so I guess that it is safe for a book review, without spoiling it for people who don't need spoiling.

The Lost Symbol (left: US cover, right: UK cover)

The storyline is reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code in the lines of having a crazy villain on the loose, a female counterpart on the run with the protagonist, Robert Langdon, a disabled person with partial answers, secret keys to unlock (this time it's a pyramid), references to famous buildings and monuments, flashbacks to lectures and a very long epilogue afterwards.

What's new in this book (I've read all of Dan Brown's books) is an attempt (albeit a weak one), to try a Jeffrey Archer immediately before the climax. For this one, Jeffrey Archer had spoilt it for me, but it's no big loss anyways. There's also references to Noetic Sciences. What it is, I'm still not sure even though I've finished the book; I'm sure Brown's knowledge about this is nowhere deeper than the rest of us, based on the single physical example he used in the book. Otherwise, his every point is heavily substantiated with numerous examples, like in a PhD thesis.

It's a good read, although some of the chapters are quite repetitive. I'm not an editor of a novel publishing house but I read plenty of novels written by British and American writers... and the Lost Symbol was frankly, quite tedious reading. I had to put the book down a few times out of annoyance. But I kept on.. as I never read a book and leave it unfinished.

Ironically, the factual parts i.e. Robert Langdon's lectures, were more pleasurable to read than the story itself. The book is more than 500-pages thick but a good quarter of it could have been edited away as they were merely page fillers.

The solution to the whole puzzle was not as explosive as the Da Vinci Code (cause how can you top that one?) although the word 'enlightenment' pops up a lot in this book. I did learn much about magic squares and would be googling more about it in this coming few days.

There is also the deal about clues hidden in the cover... which I'm going to go 'play' with now. I need to get back my money's due.

The right attitude on the roads: Try your best to avoid accidents!

Every day when I leave for work, I switch on to one of three of my regular radio station dials and listen to the traffic report. Apart from the usual areas that are hot spots for traffic congestion, there are occasionally a few needless traffic jams that were caused by onlookers and more directly by people who caused accidents on the roads.

Most of these accidents in fact can be avoided and should have been avoided, if only people adopt the right attitude on the roads.

In Malaysia, there is this 'my way / your way' syndrome that is taught by drivers and driving instructors to newbie drivers. Way here is a direct translation of the word in Chinese (all dialects) and BM, as no such word exists in the English dictionary. The closest would be "right of way", which still doesn't ride the idea home.

In essence, if you are on a particular lane, and someone cuts in, that person should not have done so as that is 'your way'. And usually, a driver would show their authority over their 'way' by not giving way. Be a bit lackadaisical in your driving and boom, another accident has occurred in an otherwise 4-lane highway, free of any jams until that bloody moment.

So why don't you stop caring about whose 'way' it was supposed to be and just try to mutually avoid banging into each other? Giving way to a car or two on your daily drive home will only set you back 5 to 10 minutes but at least, you would avoid being a casualty or a statistic in the accident numbers of the day. Plus, giving way would let the traffic flow more smoothly and slow-moving traffic is still better than stagnant traffic.

What? Familiarity breeds contempt? If you let one car pass, all the other cars will follow suit and you will be forever stuck in that junction? I doubt you believe that that will happen in reality. If everyone gave way, once you give way, someone is bound to give way to you to proceed into the lane. Someone just has to start the cycle. I try to start it every day. Personally, I feel that it is working, but that could just be the drugs talking.

I kid.

And as for those who cut queues, why endanger yourself and your passengers by getting in their way? They may be in a hurry due to an emergency, and if they are not, they'd have to face up to summonses by the officers in white or deal with the consequences when they get themselves into an accident while cutting queue.

And if you don't already know, if you get into an accident, you would be fined for reckless driving, regardless if your head is bandaged or not.

---

Crud.. I just remembered that the holidays start tomorrow for Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Selamat hari raya, Malaysians!) and today's traffic would be.. horrendous.

Typical traffic jam scene in Malaysia - from theStar

The TnG Reload Saga

A saga that spanned 6 weeks and is coming to a close. Finally. And over what? RM100. It’s a sum that is not big, but it isn’t negligible either. And will I even get it back? The finale looks grim.

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28th July 2009
The ATM reload was not working so I had to use the Cash Deposit Machine. It was only 8 am and an hour’s away from the busy transactions of MB bank.
“Damn machine took my money!”
My RM100 had disappear into the mouth of the metal beast. It regurgitated only a small piece of paper, the words already half fading away. I look at the contents.

Transaction Accepted
RM100 = 1 note

Old Balance: Rm16.65
New Balance: Rm16.65

Shouldn’t a fatal error sign pop up right about now?
I look at my TnG card, sighed and left for work.
----
Lunch time
“Fill in this form while I make a copy of that receipt. We’ll see what we can do. But you won’t get the money for another two days.”
Little did I know, when I smiled at him and replied “It’s alright.” that it would take a lot longer than two days.
----
29th July 2009
“Miss, we checked your TnG card and the value has already been reloaded.”
What? “No, it hasn’t. I just used it this morning!”
“But… TnG says that your card value is already more than RM100. Can you call them to confirm?”

Five minutes later…
“I reloaded the second RM100 just this morning (29th July). If the card value was correct and the reload at the card deposit machine was successful, I’d have more than RM200 in my card by now.”
What did they expect me to do? Wait for the first reload to come through? I need to get to work regardless of whether or not the system is faulty.
TnG: “Let us check and get back to you.”
You do that. Sigh…
---
30th July 2009
“Miss, we can help you apply for the refund if you can fax over a written report containing all the relevant details.”
Ok, then.. maybe now I can see my money.
---
Things were quiet. For two weeks.
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14th August 2009
Details poured into my call to the TnG consumer careline.
“Can you check and update me on the issue?”
I hung up.
phone rings
“Miss, we need 30 working days to conduct the investigation and refund you the money. Please call us back after 30 working days or your check your account for the refund. Thank you for calling.”
She hung up.
30 working days. [Insert expletive]
---
Things were quiet. For a whole month. (I was playing it safe)
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10th September 2009

Note: To recap, it had been 45 days/6 weeks since my RM100 note entered that machine.

I emailed TnG: Where’s the refund?
TnG: We already process and submit the refund to MB bank on 25th of August.
No one thought to inform me?
Me: But I have not yet received the money. Please advise.
TnG: (the obvious lar Miss) Call MB.
---
MB Bank Customer service: We have no record of your report.
WTF
MB Bank Customer service: Please call the branch and speak to the savings accounts officer.
I dialled the branch number. They placed me on hold. Then hung up on me.
Sigh.
----
What’s this?
Hello?
Miss … I’m calling from MB bank HQ. We have received your cheque from TnG.
You did?
Which account do you want me to insert the money to?
I was at the verge of thanking her when…
Oops. Can you confirm your Identification Card Number?
I gave her the number.
Miss. You punched in a different number into the machine.
So?
We need to conduct another investigation before we can credit the money into your account.
You gotta be f….
Or like this lar… why don’t you fax me the receipt [from 6 weeks ago] to me then I check on my end then I let you know when the money can be credited into your account.
Ok.

I hung up and rummage frantically through my documents.
Thank goodness I still have the receipt. I faxed my receipt over.
I sit down.

---

I feel so pissed about this.
I need to write.

Hmm..
Why not write about this?
Hmm.. good idea.
I sit and type… The TnG Reload Saga.

Update: Okay maybe I was in a dark and really 'soggy' mood but I got my money back already. It was banked in the day after I wrote this. But I've started shifting my money to my other bank accounts. Next I will take out my FD and the lousy returns the damn bank gave me over the past 10 years. Then, I will also not be getting any education funds from that bank or any of its subsidiaries for my daughter.

I do not feel safe with them handling my money no more and hence... apart from credit cards and my salary, the bank will touch no more of my money.

Soggy mood still.