I was reading a biography on Sir Winston Churchill last few weeks and found it very interesting. The master statesman stood alone against fascism and renewed the world's faith in the superiority of democracy. Power, prominence and a bit of a rebellious nature thrown in -- Winston Churchill quotes are definitely some of the most interesting you'll ever come across. For someone who was said to have a speech impediment, his words and message definitely did not suffer. Some of his famous quotes are:
1. "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."
2. "A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him."
3. "Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things."
4. "There is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published opinion."
5. "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile -- hoping it will eat him last."
6. "Once in a while you will stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry along as if nothing had happened."
7. "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
8. "If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."
9. "If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons."
10. "A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril."
11. "Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events."
12. "Never give in -- never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
13. "The price of greatness is responsibility."
14. "The farther backward you can look, the further forward you are likely to see."
15. "Difficulties mastered are opportunities won."
16. "It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations."
So there you have it -- a glimpse inside the mind of an extraordinary man. Honor, courage, bravery -- think it's the stuff fairy tales are made of? Guess again. These 16 Winston Churchill quotes show us just how real they can be in the right man.
An Article from Michael Backman (World Business)
Who are the modernisers and reformers steering the region towards good business practice, transparency and management excellence?
World Business is more forward-looking than that. We have spotlighted the individuals driving Asia forward - those that are helping to bring about rules-based civil societies, or who are advancing the cause of better governance, be it in business or government. One of the greatest guarantees of freedom is the free-flow of information, debate and commentary, and so our list includes several who are integral to promoting debate where governments of the region seek to restrict it. Included are several prominent bloggers who risk their livelihoods to bring to the people of Asia commentary and opinion that is a matter of course in the West.
We have included some of the region's prominent businesspeople, notable not only for their forward-looking approach but also for their philanthropy, which remains essential in Asia where governments for the most part lack sufficient resources to do all that should be done to take care of society's most vulnerable. And there are some prominent legislators: Asia is home to some of the world's most repressive regimes, but others, such as Vietnam's current leadership, have shown a preparedness to ditch ideology in favour of improving their people's welfare.
Some of the names will invite controversy: as administrator of Tibet, Hu Jintao was responsible for a crackdown in 1989 that saw hundreds of Tibetan protestors killed; Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad did not use his period of power to introduce greater transparency in government tendering or stamp out corruption in Malaysia's police force; and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, leader of the Maoists in Nepal, led a bloody decade-long war against the Nepalese government. But it is our contention that these individuals are now helping to reform Asia, so that in future the region's citizens will enjoy greater freedoms than in the past.
1. HU JINTAO, CHINA
2. RAJA PETRA KAMARUDIN, MALAYSIA
3. LOU JIWEI, CHINA
4. NARAYANA MURTHY, INDIA
5. NGUYEN TAN DUNG, VIETNAM
6. MUHAMMAD YUNUS, BANGLADESH
7. MAHATHIR MOHAMAD, MALAYSIA
8. LI KA SHING, HONG KONG
9. JAIME AUGUSTO ZOBEL DE AYALA, PHILIPPINES
10. SYED MOKHTAR AL-BUKHARY, MALAYSIA
11. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO, INDONESIA
12. RATAN TATA, INDIA
13. WARREN LICHTENSTEIN, JAPAN/KOREA
14. MAHESH, AJAY AND SHARAD AMALEAN, SRI LANKA
15. JARUVAN MAINTAKA, THAILAND
16. LEE KIN MUN (ALIAS MR BROWN), SINGAPORE
17. ZETI AKHTAR AZIZ, MALAYSIA
18. TARISA WATANAGASE, THAILAND
19. DAVID WEBB, HONG KONG
20. PUSHPA KAMAL DAHAL (ALIAS PRACHANDA), NEPAL
This is a website from a good friend of mine. Very interesting especially for those who are interested in taking parts in contest and competition. You can also earn some extra money from this website. Have a look, you might like it..
http://www.emenang.com/home/
Have a nice day!
Melayu itu orang yang bijaksana
Nakalnya bersulam jenaka
Budi bahasanya tidak terkira
Kurang ajarnya tetap santun
Jika menipu pun masih bersopan
Bila mengampu bijak beralas tangan.
Melayu itu berani jika benar
Kecut takut kerana bersalah,
Janji simpan di perut
Selalu pecah di mulut,
Biar mati anak
Jangan mati adat.
Melayu di tanah Semenanjung luas maknanya:
Jawa itu Melayu, Bugis itu Melayu
Banjar juga disebut Melayu, Minangkabau memang Melayu,
Keturunan Acheh adalah Melayu,
Jakun dan Sakai asli Melayu,
Arab dan Pakistani, semua Melayu
Mamak dan Malbari serap ke Melayu
Malah mua’alaf bertakrif Melayu
(Setelah disunat anunya itu)
Dalam sejarahnya
Melayu itu pengembara lautan
Melorongkan jalur sejarah zaman
Begitu luas daerah sempadan
Sayangnya kini segala kehilangan
Melayu itu kaya falsafahnya
Kias kata bidal pusaka
Akar budi bersulamkan daya
Gedung akal laut bicara
Malangnya Melayu itu kuat bersorak
Terlalu ghairah pesta temasya
Sedangkan kampung telah tergadai
Sawah sejalur tinggal sejengkal
tanah sebidang mudah terjual
Meski telah memiliki telaga
Tangan masih memegang tali
Sedang orang mencapai timba.
Berbuahlah pisang tiga kali
Melayu itu masih bermimpi
Walaupun sudah mengenal universiti
Masih berdagang di rumah sendiri.
Berkelahi cara Melayu
Menikam dengan pantun
Menyanggah dengan senyum
Marahnya dengan diam
Merendah bukan menyembah
Meninggi bukan melonjak.
Watak Melayu menolak permusuhan
Setia dan sabar tiada sempadan
Tapi jika marah tak nampak telinga
Musuh dicari ke lubang cacing
Tak dapat tanduk telinga dijinjing
Maruah dan agama dihina jangan
Hebat amuknya tak kenal lawan
Berdamai cara Melayu indah sekali
Silaturrahim hati yang murni
Maaf diungkap senantiasa bersahut
Tangan diulur sentiasa bersambut
Luka pun tidak lagi berparut
Baiknya hati Melayu itu tak terbandingkan
Selaga yang ada sanggup diberikan
Sehingga tercipta sebuah kiasan:
“Dagang lalu nasi ditanakkan
Suami pulang lapar tak makan
Kera di hutan disusu-susukan
Anak di pangkuan mati kebuluran”
Bagaimanakah Melayu abad dua puluh satu
Masihkan tunduk tersipu-sipu?
Jangan takut melanggar pantang
Jika pantang menghalang kemajuan;
Jangan segan menentang larangan
Jika yakin kepada kebenaran;
Jangan malu mengucapkan keyakinan
Jika percaya kepada keadilan.
Jadilah bangsa yang bijaksana
Memegang tali memegang timba
Memiliki ekonomi mencipta budaya
Menjadi tuan di negara Merdeka
Got this from http://www.skthew.com/
When Multimedia University (MMU) is too indulged and frenzy about breaking records, a group comprising of students and graduates questioning the necessity of MMU-ians (as well as other Malaysians) to continue for records that can be easily achieved just by throwing in money.
The recent event that caused the outburst is a record breaking event for the longest kebab in Malaysia. It was alleged that RM24000 was spent to achieve the record and they felt that it’s a real waste of money which can be spent on better things mentioned below:
1. can save a cancer patient’s life.
2. can pay MMU tuition fees for 2 years.
3. can fund a master student to complete 50% of his/her research.
4. can feed a starving child for 6 and a half years to live in Malaysia.
5. is the daily living cost of 6857 people in under-developed region of the world.
6. can prolong the life of 8000 people in famine-stricken countries in Africa for another day!
Hence, they seek clarification from the organizers representing the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the university.
1. Is making Dodol and Kebab an effective way of promoting racial integration and understanding among different cultures, as what have been the main objectives of Cross Cultural Integration Program (CCIP)?
2. Is there other non-foppish way to achieve your activities objectives?
3. How does this different from buying a place in the record books?
4. Does making something longest (in length or in time) make it the best? Does quantity equal QUALITY?
5. Do the records make our university (as well as country) more competitive in facing global challenge?
6. By the end of the events, what are the benefits you bring to yourself, the society, our country and the humankind?
For those who are uninitiated, over the past few years (2001-2007), MMU has created 13 records ranging from the largest to the longest, you name it!
This blogger would like to call upon a halt to this wastage of resources, be it in term of monetary, time or human resources. In the end of the day, the objective of creating a world class university is to have a forward-looking world-view, cutting edge research, lead scholars, drive, high aspiration and strategy in order to stay ahead in the academic arena, not unwanted records!
Sajak yang sangat mendalam ini telah ditulis oleh Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad ketika beliau masih menjawat jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Sajak ini sering mengingatkan aku tentang kegagahan dan kehebatan bangsa Melayu suatu ketika dahulu yang terkenal dengan kemasyhurannya dimata dunia. Sajak ini ditulis Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad untuk mengingatkan bangsanya bahawa perjuangan membangun bangsa yang masih belum selesai.
Dari setiap bait sajak ini Mahathir seakan-akan mengingatkan bangsanya bahawa seorang pemimpin boleh datang dan pergi, tetapi semangat bekerja keras, disiplin dan semangat untuk selalu ingin hidup lebih baik harus terus menerus diperjuangkan. Ketepikanlah fahaman politik atau perbezaan ideologi yang disanjungi. Cubalah untuk menghayatinya dengan penuh semangat untuk memperjuangkan bangsa. Cubalah untuk menghayati kandungan dan maksud yang cuba disampaikan dalam sajak ini. Perjuangan kita memang masih belum selesai.
PERJUANGAN YANG BELUM SELESAI
Sesungguhnya tidak ada yang lebih menyayatkan
dari melihat bangsaku dijajah
Tidak ada yang lebih menyedihkan
dari membiarkan bangsaku dihina
Air mata tiada ertinya
sejarah silam tiada maknanya
sekiranya bangsa tercinta terpinggir
dipersenda dan dilupakan
Bukan kecil langkah wira bangsa
para pejuang kemerdekaan
bagi menegakkan kemuliaan
dan darjat bangsa
selangkah beerti mara
mengharung sejuta dugaan
Biarkan bertatih
asalkan langkah itu yakin dan cermat
bagi memastikan negara
merdeka dan bangsa terpelihara
air mata sengsara
mengiringi setiap langkah bapa-bapa kita
Tugas kita bukan kecil
kerana mengisi kemrdekaan
rupanya lebih sukar dari bermandi
keringat dan darah menuntutnya
Lagi pula apalah ertinya kemerdekaan
kalau bangsaku asyik mengia dan menidakkan,
mengangguk dan membenarkan,
kerana sekalipun bangganya negara
kerana makmur dan mewahnya,
bangsaku masih melata
dan meminta-minta di negaranya sendiri
Bukan kecil tugas kita
meneruskan perjuangan kemerdekaan kita
kerana rupanya selain memerdekakan,
mengisi kemerdekaan itu jauh lebih sengsara
Bangsaku bukan kecil hati dan jiwanya
bukankah sejak zaman berzaman
mereka menjadi pelaut, pengembara
malah penakluk terkemuka?
Bukankah mereka sudah mengembangkan
sayap, menjadi pedagang dan peniaga
selain menjadi ulama dan ilmuan terbilang?
Bukankah bangsaku pernah mengharung
samudera menjajah dunia yang tak dikenal
Bukankah mereka pernah menjadi
wira serantau yang tidak mengenal erti takut
dan kematian?
Di manakah silapnya hingga bangsaku
berasa begitu kecil dan rendah diri?
Apakah angkara penjajah?
Lalu bangsaku mulai melupakan kegemilangan
silam dan sejarah gemilang membina empayar
Tugas kita belum selesai rupanya
bagi memartabat dan memuliakan bangsa
kerana hanya bangsa yang berjaya
akan sentiasa dihormati
Rupanya masih jauh dan berliku jalan kita
bukan sekadar memerdeka dan mengisinya
tetapi mengangkat darjat dan kemuliaan
buat selama-lamanya
Hari ini, jalan ini pasti semakin berliku
kerana masa depan belum tentu
menjanjikan syurga
bagi mereka yang lemah dan mudah kecewa
Perjuangan kita belum selesai
kerana hanya yang cekal dan tabah
dapat membina mercu tanda
bangsanya yang berjaya
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Mei 1996
I'm currently hooked on the new CD from Amy Winehouse 'Back To Black'. 'Love is a Losing Game' is my favourite song on this album. Actually i bought the album in Dec last year but only got the opportunity to really listen to it for the past couple of weeks. She is a jazz and soul singer/songwriter from London. I really enjoy listening to new artist because their music are so pure and honest. Some say that it is only at the beginning before they go BOOM and soon they will only talk about something that doesnt even make sense. But i dont believe in that, i'm sure there are lots of artist who are very sincere in making music.
I believe, music can be beautiful, a beautiful expression of emotions. And for those who play an instrument, the musical experience is even richer, especially if you want to be a professional musician. No matter what your chosen instrument is, there is a professional path. Some desire fame. Others simply want to get paid doing what they love. No matter what their goals are, there are things to consider that will help put them on the path to success.
I admit it's kind of hard to find a very good and sincere artist or musician in Malaysia. I'm not trying to be ignorant but i hate the fact that most of the people dont really appreciate the real talent. Everybody talks about the 'whole package' when they really dont know what the real package is. To them you have to be beautiful or good looking to be a good singer. We do have lots of talented artist in Malaysia but they rather call themselves as 'Underground/Independent Artist'.
I dont really care if they are mainstream or underground artist as long as they can produce good music. But this is a question that I am most commonly asked. 'Why do undeground or independent artist fail?' I had an opportunity to talk to a friend in Indonesia who works as a producer there and this is what he said to me. The answer is pretty simple – most independent artist do not understand the concept of marketing let alone online marketing. The first thing that they MUST do is learn to put themselves in the shoes of their target audience or in this case their fans. That is a lot easier said than done. Without a fan base they wont have a music career. Internet is a good way to create a strong fan base.
So maybe our beloved Malaysian artist should really consider this idea. I'm signing off now, going to continue listening to Amy Winehouse.
