Saturday, June 16, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
In the 1500's
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the1500s:
These are interesting...
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water...
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.
Getting quite an education, aren't you?
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old...
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat...
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.
And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring? Educate someone. Share these facts with a friend.
These are interesting...
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water...
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.
Getting quite an education, aren't you?
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old...
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat...
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.
And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring? Educate someone. Share these facts with a friend.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Cow Corp. stories
TRADITION CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.
AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
You are surprised when the cow drops dead.
A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and
produce twenty times the milk.
You then create clever cow cartoon images called 'Cowkimon' and market them
World-Wide.
A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk
themselves.
A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.
An ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You break for lunch and forget about the cows
A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5,000 cows and none of which belong to you.
You charge others for storing them.
A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim full employment and high bovine productivity.
You have the newsman who reported on the numbers arrested.
AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.
A MALAYSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You signed a 40-year contract to supply milk at RM0.06 per litre. Then
midway through, you raised the price to RM0.60 or you cut the supply. When
the buyer agrees to the new price, you change your mind again and now want
RM1.20. The buyer decided you can keep the milk and they go look for milk
that comes from recycled cows or the cow urine instead. Your two cows
retire together with the Prime Minister with all the shit around him.
A SINGAPOREAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.>
One cow-peh and one cow-bu.
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.
AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
You are surprised when the cow drops dead.
A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and
produce twenty times the milk.
You then create clever cow cartoon images called 'Cowkimon' and market them
World-Wide.
A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk
themselves.
A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.
An ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You break for lunch and forget about the cows
A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5,000 cows and none of which belong to you.
You charge others for storing them.
A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim full employment and high bovine productivity.
You have the newsman who reported on the numbers arrested.
AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.
A MALAYSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You signed a 40-year contract to supply milk at RM0.06 per litre. Then
midway through, you raised the price to RM0.60 or you cut the supply. When
the buyer agrees to the new price, you change your mind again and now want
RM1.20. The buyer decided you can keep the milk and they go look for milk
that comes from recycled cows or the cow urine instead. Your two cows
retire together with the Prime Minister with all the shit around him.
A SINGAPOREAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.>
One cow-peh and one cow-bu.
Monday, May 14, 2007
How did Mother's Day begin?
I just found this article by chance, some Yahoo advertisement about Mother's Day...
Mothers (most of 'em anyway) are great. They're loving and selfless and will stand behind their kids no matter how damning the prosecution's evidence. For these reasons and more, a woman named Anna M. Jarvis started the Mother's Day tradition in the early 20th century.
Ms. Jarvis, though never a mother herself, was extremely devoted to her own mom. After the elder Jarvis passed away in 1905, Anna began seeking ways to honor not only her own mom, but all mothers. She started by organizing a Mother's Day Memorial Committee at her local church, but that was just the beginning.
Over the years, Jarvis wrote letters and gave speeches pushing for a national holiday. Alas, the vast majority "fell on deaf ears." Still, Jarvis pressed on, and by 1909, "forty-five states, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico observed the day." In 1914, a resolution was passed by Congress and approved by President Woodrow Wilson, declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. The holiday has been around ever since.
It's worth noting that Jarvis wanted to keep Mother's Day from becoming commercialized. Obviously she wasn't able to do that, but you can still celebrate the way Ms. Jarvis intended -- skip the overpriced flowers and just spend a little time with Mom instead
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Mama you...
Its was exactly a year ago that I recieved an email from Sher. It was a poem fit for Mother's Day, written by her friend. (Hope you dont mind sher? :) She said "It kind of hits chords you never knew they might because it's so so honest..." Well, I think so too ;p
Mama you raised me right...
From the cradle of your arms you taught me love
With every tear that i shed you showed me that
sometimes real men need to cry
for it is in their weakness they will find strength
Your very essence flows through me,
nutured in a perfect womb
4eva a part of me as i chart a path in this life
safe in your endless prayers and never failing thoughts,
i love you 4 always, my queen - the best part of me...
As we write our 'mother - son book'
there have been pages of hurt and pain
but they conclude with chapters of our unfaltering love
our endless bond - fashioned from Heaven
I may be gone for many seasons
but from you i am never far
for i feel u with every beat of my heart
and face the tomorrows guided by the foundation that you lay
preparing for the struggle of being a better man and triumph
of making you proud...
because Mama you raised me right.
Mama you raised me right...
From the cradle of your arms you taught me love
With every tear that i shed you showed me that
sometimes real men need to cry
for it is in their weakness they will find strength
Your very essence flows through me,
nutured in a perfect womb
4eva a part of me as i chart a path in this life
safe in your endless prayers and never failing thoughts,
i love you 4 always, my queen - the best part of me...
As we write our 'mother - son book'
there have been pages of hurt and pain
but they conclude with chapters of our unfaltering love
our endless bond - fashioned from Heaven
I may be gone for many seasons
but from you i am never far
for i feel u with every beat of my heart
and face the tomorrows guided by the foundation that you lay
preparing for the struggle of being a better man and triumph
of making you proud...
because Mama you raised me right.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Will I....??
It's 1am. 32 hours away from yet another Dental Materials test. What is wrong with me? A wasted weekend, a wasted monday night and another wasted cup of coffee. Where have you been Mr. Motivation? You elusive piece of s***!! I've only briefly seen you in my early secondary school life...you left as quietly as you came. Hold on..am I in self denial?? Am I making excuses to comfort myself, blaming it on "motivation"? Hmmm...maybe I am, maybe I'm just plain lazy...why is it that everytime it's close to exams or when the results come back to mock me, do I feel like this?
Sure, India has been a wild experience, a simple life. It's no where compared to KL, unless you were born in the late 40s. Oh how beautiful KL has become, with a humble home at the junction of Lorong Jarak. Its only two and a half time zones away, about 1/6 away around the world. But thats no excuse. I'm not the best student here, not even in my small class. I want to be, but reality is I cant go with this kind of attitude. In fact, I'll never get anywhere in life with this kind of attitude.
It's nothing to do with motivation. Since primary school days, we've been told to wear our uniforms neatly, keep our hair short, dont talk while the teacher is teaching, finish your homework, sleep early, wake up early, line up upon entering class, bow when you greet a teacher etc. Then you reach secondary shcool, pretty much the same, keep your nails short, keep a gel-free hairdo, dont sleep in class, dont skip class, and the list goes on. Its the same for scouts or any society for that matter, 10 push-ups per missing item of your full uniform, 10 push-ups per minute late to fall-in. And if your lucky, frog jump round the 'tapak', yipee!
Why go through the torture? Why do we follow stupid rules? Why must we always listen to the Penolong Kanan Hal Ehwal Murid? Fear of public caning? Hmmm...no no. I guess one word can sum it up. Besides academic reasons, discipline completes the word "education". Its one thing that I've never really aquired. I've obeyed, but thats it. The message was always clear. Even at home it was clear, my father's stern face will I never forget. It has occured way too often...
Discipline doesnt exactly hit the right spot. Its self-discipline. All those years of education, I've only managed a handful of As...which has all been forgotten and might I add, quite useless at this point of time. It doesnt matter whether you come from Catholic High School or SMK Pulau Ketam, it's how much you absorb and aquire at the end of it that really matters. Its what makes you persevere in the future. Its the "stuff" that matters in life. Not to mention when your doing a course like BDS or MBBS or any other course I presume.
Still which brings me back to my age old complain...Why won't I study? I mean, I have what I need, and I have what I want (almost...). A nice laptop to use, a nice table, a chair, a lamp in a single, spacious, fully air-conditioned room. Loads of maggi mee in my larder, pineapple tarts, oreos...and oh, not to mention a temporary new roommate from Perak...haha. (He's sleeping btw, using my extra blankett too!)
SIGH...
Here I am typing this entry, my book is still staring at me. Its mocking my laziness damn it! Look, its doing it again! You know whats my problem? I complain too much...my father had much tougher times when he was a student, and he doesnt complain at all, in fact, he doesnt like to talk about it. But look where he is now, and he didnt get there by complaining. I respect him wholely, and I'll be glad if I become half of what he is, rather, what he's made out of. People say I look like him, thats about the closest I get to being something like him. I'm proud to be his son, and to have brothers whom I look up to. I know I can be among them, I'm not that far I think...
Right now...it all begins with this stupid green book in front of me. It's not too late to stuff what I need to know for the coming test. Oh I will do it. I'm somewhat a rebel...but mostly a rebel for other non-important things. Not this time though...I've studied the chapters before, I can do it again. I have to tame my inner demons, show them who's boss. It isnt easy being far away from home, I guess it makes you more mature, but only if you manage to battle through it. The reward is more than just a certificate or knowledge or character.....it's blissful wisdom....
SIGH
This clearly isn't just a class test, whatever it is...I will get it right this time....will I...??
Sure, India has been a wild experience, a simple life. It's no where compared to KL, unless you were born in the late 40s. Oh how beautiful KL has become, with a humble home at the junction of Lorong Jarak. Its only two and a half time zones away, about 1/6 away around the world. But thats no excuse. I'm not the best student here, not even in my small class. I want to be, but reality is I cant go with this kind of attitude. In fact, I'll never get anywhere in life with this kind of attitude.
It's nothing to do with motivation. Since primary school days, we've been told to wear our uniforms neatly, keep our hair short, dont talk while the teacher is teaching, finish your homework, sleep early, wake up early, line up upon entering class, bow when you greet a teacher etc. Then you reach secondary shcool, pretty much the same, keep your nails short, keep a gel-free hairdo, dont sleep in class, dont skip class, and the list goes on. Its the same for scouts or any society for that matter, 10 push-ups per missing item of your full uniform, 10 push-ups per minute late to fall-in. And if your lucky, frog jump round the 'tapak', yipee!
Why go through the torture? Why do we follow stupid rules? Why must we always listen to the Penolong Kanan Hal Ehwal Murid? Fear of public caning? Hmmm...no no. I guess one word can sum it up. Besides academic reasons, discipline completes the word "education". Its one thing that I've never really aquired. I've obeyed, but thats it. The message was always clear. Even at home it was clear, my father's stern face will I never forget. It has occured way too often...
Discipline doesnt exactly hit the right spot. Its self-discipline. All those years of education, I've only managed a handful of As...which has all been forgotten and might I add, quite useless at this point of time. It doesnt matter whether you come from Catholic High School or SMK Pulau Ketam, it's how much you absorb and aquire at the end of it that really matters. Its what makes you persevere in the future. Its the "stuff" that matters in life. Not to mention when your doing a course like BDS or MBBS or any other course I presume.
Still which brings me back to my age old complain...Why won't I study? I mean, I have what I need, and I have what I want (almost...). A nice laptop to use, a nice table, a chair, a lamp in a single, spacious, fully air-conditioned room. Loads of maggi mee in my larder, pineapple tarts, oreos...and oh, not to mention a temporary new roommate from Perak...haha. (He's sleeping btw, using my extra blankett too!)
SIGH...
Here I am typing this entry, my book is still staring at me. Its mocking my laziness damn it! Look, its doing it again! You know whats my problem? I complain too much...my father had much tougher times when he was a student, and he doesnt complain at all, in fact, he doesnt like to talk about it. But look where he is now, and he didnt get there by complaining. I respect him wholely, and I'll be glad if I become half of what he is, rather, what he's made out of. People say I look like him, thats about the closest I get to being something like him. I'm proud to be his son, and to have brothers whom I look up to. I know I can be among them, I'm not that far I think...
Right now...it all begins with this stupid green book in front of me. It's not too late to stuff what I need to know for the coming test. Oh I will do it. I'm somewhat a rebel...but mostly a rebel for other non-important things. Not this time though...I've studied the chapters before, I can do it again. I have to tame my inner demons, show them who's boss. It isnt easy being far away from home, I guess it makes you more mature, but only if you manage to battle through it. The reward is more than just a certificate or knowledge or character.....it's blissful wisdom....
SIGH
This clearly isn't just a class test, whatever it is...I will get it right this time....will I...??
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Closer to home...
Story 1
It was a dark and rainy day...in the afternoon to be exact - typical KL weather. I was waiting for the car at the lobby of KLCC and saw the usual string of people queueing for taxis. A white-haired man, probably in his 60s, rushed out under the rain to a taxi with his hand covering his head, opened the door and asked the driver if he was going his way.
My first impression was "kiasu"!! But after what seemed to be a successful arrangement, the man closed the door, and signaled to his wife, who came immediately. He waited for her patiently under the rain until she came, opened the back door for her, waited until she got in and closed the door. Then he opened the front door for himself and got in...I think he was a true gentleman. I mean, he could have easily signaled to her to come and get into the car first!
Story 2
A van approached a church and stopped his vehicle, as if waiting for someone to come. True enough when my aunt came out, she was approached by a stranger with a stack of 50sing dollar notes. Quite a thick stack to be exact.
He said " Aunty, aunty...here take this money!!" Startled, my aunt clutched her handbag tighter, recoiled and declined the money.
"No aunty! you must take it...last time you helped me and gave me some money, now I've become rich...you see, I bought this van."
"It's ok, you can keep it, I dont want your money", still shocked..my aunt left in a hurry.
It was not until she reached home when she began to think about that man. Strangely, he looked vaguely familiar. She gave it a little more thought, and realised that she did help a man once while she was at church. She remembered giving him 30dollars or probably more, many many years ago.
I suppose small actions and gestures can make a difference. I'm sure that old couple has had a successful marriage even after so long; and that stranger probably has a changed life because of someone felt generous that day. Whether its between family, or stangers...think. Just think of the difference you can make, if you bother...
It was a dark and rainy day...in the afternoon to be exact - typical KL weather. I was waiting for the car at the lobby of KLCC and saw the usual string of people queueing for taxis. A white-haired man, probably in his 60s, rushed out under the rain to a taxi with his hand covering his head, opened the door and asked the driver if he was going his way.
My first impression was "kiasu"!! But after what seemed to be a successful arrangement, the man closed the door, and signaled to his wife, who came immediately. He waited for her patiently under the rain until she came, opened the back door for her, waited until she got in and closed the door. Then he opened the front door for himself and got in...I think he was a true gentleman. I mean, he could have easily signaled to her to come and get into the car first!
Story 2
A van approached a church and stopped his vehicle, as if waiting for someone to come. True enough when my aunt came out, she was approached by a stranger with a stack of 50sing dollar notes. Quite a thick stack to be exact.
He said " Aunty, aunty...here take this money!!" Startled, my aunt clutched her handbag tighter, recoiled and declined the money.
"No aunty! you must take it...last time you helped me and gave me some money, now I've become rich...you see, I bought this van."
"It's ok, you can keep it, I dont want your money", still shocked..my aunt left in a hurry.
It was not until she reached home when she began to think about that man. Strangely, he looked vaguely familiar. She gave it a little more thought, and realised that she did help a man once while she was at church. She remembered giving him 30dollars or probably more, many many years ago.
I suppose small actions and gestures can make a difference. I'm sure that old couple has had a successful marriage even after so long; and that stranger probably has a changed life because of someone felt generous that day. Whether its between family, or stangers...think. Just think of the difference you can make, if you bother...
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