Black Magic And Superstition - Leaders and Victims

It is well known that Malaysians are generally a superstitious lot. Irrespective of race, Malaysians still believe that they can better achieve wealth, power, career, love etc with the help of supernatural means. We all know of people that have sought the assistance of bomohs (Malay witch doctors), feng shui masters (Chinese geomancers), Chinese and Indian astrologers and mediums etc to achieve whatever their goals are in life.

Most Malaysian still remember the famous bomoh Mona Fendy's case in 1993 - She killed and chopped her client, the then Batu Talam Assemblyman, Datuk Mazlan Idris into 18 pieces. Mona Fendy and her 2 accomplices were sentenced to death in 1995 and were hanged in 2001.

It was apparently reported by a well known online newspaper, last year, that a famous "bomoh politik"Awang Mohd Yahya admitted that Malaysian politicians seeking top posts in their party elections have sought his help.

Apparently Asahan, in Sumatera, Indonesia is well known for "bomoh tourism" - Malaysians visit Asahan to consult its powerful bomohs.

It is also rumoured that Blitar, a city in East Java, Indonesia, the birthplace of Sukarno (Indonesia's first president), also attracts "tourists" seeking assistance from its famous bomohs.

It is also not unusual to hear of Malaysians traveling all the way to Thailand and India to seek "spiritual guidance" from spiritualists there.

Are Malaysians the only ones obsessed with the supernatural ?

It has been reported in The Times that Burma’s Junta are intensely superstitious and have long been guided by a belief in prophecies, cosmology, numerology, magic etc

The newspaper further reported that politicians, in general, are superstitious:

• Hitler, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Charles de Gaulle, François Mitterrand and Leonid Brezhnev have all sought advice from astrologers
  
• President Roosevelt would apparently never travel on a Friday
  
• Napoleon feared black cats, and believed that eating chicken and crayfish would bring victory
• Catherine de’ Medici consulted Nostradamus

“We stand at the edge of the age of reason. A new era of the magical explanation of the world is rising”, said Hitler.

Well, we all know what happened to Hitler, right ?

The Times also quoted Gilbert Murray having once said “The best seed ground for superstition is a society in which the fortunes of men seem to bear practically no relation to their merits or effort.”

In 1970, Time Magazine reported that Indonesia's President Suharto and members of the Thai elite do rely on the advice of spiritualists. The magazine also said that the then Malaysian Minister of Works Tun V.T. Sambanthan regularly consults Hindu priests to determine the best days to open new facilities. However it reported that Lee Kuan Yew and President Marcos were the only 2 leaders in this region who do not believe in the supernatural. The ex President of Sri Lanka is believed to have used military helicopters to drop blessed soil on territories as advised by his astrologers.

Well, I believe that I must now get dressed and go for a cool beer or whatever, on a beautiful Saturday like this - Bye !.

Don't forget to tell me...what do you believe ?

How special are you ? Lessons from Mourinho

José Mourinho the Manager of Chelsea Football Club was sacked last week. Although I'm not a Chelsea fan but what happened to Mourinho reminds us of some very important lessons...

• You must never forget who your boss is
  
• You must kiss your boss' arse and make him like you
  
• You are not special, your boss is
  
• Your boss' opinion of you, whilst arbitrary, is much more important that what others think of you
• You can be replaced by someone else - talent can be bought.
  

In January this year, the BBC Sport reported, amid rumours that Mourinho will leave Chelsea, that John Terry said he was prepared to lead a players' protest to persuade the club's hierarchy (i.e. Abramovich) to keep Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

I would like to say this to John Terry: John, you are a nobody. You're an employee just like Mourinho, if you wanna act like a "tai-kor" rebel, you will also be sacked by Abramovich. All employees are replaceable.

For non-football fans read this first

For the the benefit of you non-football fans, I will elaborate a little on José Mourinho.
Mourinho is a very successful football club manager because he won four consecutive league titles (two at Porto [a top Portuguese football club] and two at Chelsea) and also the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup with Porto. Mourinho is also currently the most successful manager in Chelsea's history having won a total of six trophies for Chelsea in three years.

Mourinho moved from Porto to Chelsea in June 2004 becoming one of the highest paid managers in football with a salary of £4.2 million a year, subsequently raised in 2005 to £5.2 million.

He is referred to by the media as the "special one" because of what he said at a press conference after joining Chelsea: "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one".

Despite being disliked by managers, players and fans of other football clubs in England, Mourinho is somewhat a folk hero at Chelsea.

His boss was Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire. According to Forbes magazine, Abramovich has a net worth of $18.7 billion and is the 16th riches man in the world. Abramovich is currently the riches man living in the UK. He bought Chelsea Football Club in 2003.

Abramovich and Mourinho started having some misunderstandings last year over the management of Chelsea. Despite José Mourinho achievements at Chelsea, Abramovich unexpectedly and without prior warning sacked Mourinho last week, 20 September 2007, giving some frivolous and lame excuse. Abramovich then replaced Mourinho with unknown manager Avram Grant. Note that Abramovich appointed Grant although Grant has no significant achievements in high level professional football competitions.

Post your opinions, please

Don't give me a missed call, dammit !

Aren't you annoyed at some inconsiderate people who give you a "missed call" on your mobile phone and expect you to call them back ?. Another variation of this is the standard text (sms) message that says "please call me". I personally have not received very many missed calls or call me text massages. If I did, I would just ignore them - no call backs from me. Or if I'm feeling sarcastic, I would return their missed call, by giving them missed calls in return, or send them back a standard call me back text. My motto is, if you cannot afford to use a mobile phone, don't. Send an email, instead.

I'm thus not surprised to read the report in Yahoo News that this "missed call" practice is prevalent in 3rd world countries in Africa as well.

Giving a missed call is also called "beeping" or "flashing" in some African countries.

According to the report, there is even a "social protocol" for this practice, namely:

• Beep richer guys than you
  
• Don't beep someone if you intend to ask a him favour
• Don't beep your girlfriend

In Malaysia I noticed that people who get loads of missed calls are:

• sales people (call me back, I want to ask you something about your service / product)
  
• students (aiyah, no prepaid credit lah !)
  
• men with "working class" female friends (the girls will always beep the guys)
• those with cheapskate "friends"
  

Have you guys been irritated by being beeped ? Share your comments.

Turn Your Hobby Into A Business

If you want to do meaningful work and change your career, you should maybe consider starting with your hobby.

According to an article in Monster.Com, if you intend to turn your hobby into a business, you must first be sure that your hobby has commercial potential - being passionate about something is not enough. You can begin by researching job / career sites to see if there are any jobs that relate to your hobby.

Then, you must consider whether you would be happy working in it as a business. Remember that doing something as a hobby is different than doing something as a business.

"When your hobby becomes your work, it may not be the same," says Bevington. "This change can take the fun out of what you are doing. In addition to making the product or providing the service, you now have to think about pricing, deadlines, doing it someone else's way, etc." said Nancy Hayes Bevington, a management consultant.

Bevington also stated that your personal experience won't necessarily be transferable professionally. "The workplace will look at you as someone who comes in with no professional experience, even if you have done this for years" on a personal level, she said.

You must be willing to start from the bottom again, to gain experience doing your "hobby" on a professional basis. You can do this by working for a small outfit, first.

Curt Rosengren, a career consultant advised not to quit your day job, yet. He suggested that you "continue to do what you are doing to bring in revenue, while taking a parallel path to help make the transition" to your hobby job.

Read the full story here.

Related post - Are you fed up with your job ?

Please let me know your views on this.

The ULTIMATE Ramadan Bazzar and Hotel Buffet List

In its Metro section on 23 September 2007, The Star has reported that "just days into the fasting month, already the air of festivity cannot be nudged aside as people throng the Ramadan bazaars for tasty treats. It has been the norm that long before the start of Ramadan, the elaborate and painstaking preparation for it would have already started. For hotels, every detail would have been looked into to revise and update menus for the daily buka puasa events. For bazaars, though the planning is at a smaller scale, the preparation is no less gruelling and time-consuming" - read the full story here.

Photo above by Moriazi (Lensa Malaysia)

This is the ultimate list of Ramadan Bazaars in the Klang Valley

Kuala Lumpur

Bangsar
Jalan Telawi Satu
See Masak-Masak

Wangsa Maju
Section 1
Stalls begin from Alpha Angle Shopping Centre right up to the LRT Station. It is in front of low rise flats. From the Wangsa Maju LRT Station, cross the road and walk towards the flats.
See Masak-Masak
See the NST

Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3 and 4
Stalls are located in front of Sinaran Condominium work site and in front of the row of shop houses which has a Guardian Pharmacy.
See Masak-Masak

Gombak
Taman Greenwood
From Jalan Duta, drive straight down towards Jalan Kuching. Take the elevated highway after Makro, then turn left into Batu Caves. Take the lower road towards Gombak. At the traffic lights, drive straight. The bazaar is on the right hand side of the road.
See Masak-Masak

The NST's list of Ramadan Bazaars in Kuala Lumpur:

In city centre:

• Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman
• Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman 3, 5, 7
• Tapak Wakaf Pemuzik Buta
• Lanai Seni
• Jalan Masjid India
• Lebuh Ampang
• Jalan Haji Taib
• Jalan Raja Alang

In Cheras/Sg Besi:

• Desa Aman, Cheras
• Flat Sri Melaka
• Taman Len Sen
• Jalan Tasik Permaisuri
• Jalan Tasik Permaisuri 1, Bandar Tun Razak
• Pangsapuri Sri Penara Fasa 2
• Pasar Pagi Jalan Jujur
• Pusat Komuniti Bandar Tun Razak
• Velodrom Tun Razak
• PPR Desa Tun Razak
• PPR Sri Alam
• PPR Pudu Ulu, Cheras
• Jalan Pasar Pudu (susur)
• Desa Tasik, Sg Besi
• Pekan Sg Besi
• Jalan Raden, Sri Petaling

In Wangsa Maju/Setapak/Gombak:

• Pasar Datuk Keramat
• Medan Selera Semarak
• Keramat Wangsa
• Persiaran Setiawangsa
• Jalan Wangsa Melawati 3
• Setapak Jaya
• Danau Kota, Setapak
• Jalan Langkawi/Teratai Mewah
• Lot D Medan Idaman, Gombak
• Medan Idaman, Gombak
• Plaza Idaman Gombak
• Pasar Moden Gombak
• Taman Melati, Setapak (pasar malam site)

In Sentul/Batu:

• Bandar Baru Sentul
• Taman Dato Senu
• Taman Desa Bakti
• Taman Koperasi Polis Fasa 2
• Kg Batu Muda

In Kepong/Segambut:

• Metro Prima, Kepong
• PPR Beringin
• Taman Mutiara Fadason
• Jalan Kuching (Flat PKNS)
• Taman Segambut (SPPK)

In Lembah Pantai:

• Jalan 8A, Taman Sri Sentosa
• Taman Pasir Permata
• PPR/P Kg Kerinci, Bangsar
• Flat 17 tingkat, Kg Kerinci
• Tapak Pasar Tani Mega, Pantai Dalam
• Jalan Pantai Dalam (bawah jejambat NPE)
• Jalan Bangsar Utama
• Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar
• Jalan Sri Jati 3, Off Jalan Puchong

In Kampung Pandan:

• Desa Pandan
• Jalan 5/76B, Desa Pandan
• Pusat Penjaja dan Pasar Jalan Wirawati

Kampung Sungai Pencala
Taman Tun Dr Ismail

See the NST


Selangor

Section 14 Petaling Jaya
Jalan 14/28, Petaling Jaya
Landmarks: Jaya supermarket, Digital Mall. The stalls are near Right Angle's shop houses - Utusan Melayu (the shop lots near the mosque).
See Masak-Masak

Kelana Jaya
Jalan SS6/1
The bazaar is on the left hand side just next to the government quarters. This is near the small Giant Supermarket in Kelana Jaya.
See Masak-Masak

United Subang Jaya Web Forum's list of Ramadan Bazaars in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam:

Petaling Jaya:
* Seksyen 17/1A
* Seksyen 14/27
* Lembah Subang
* Desa Mentari
* SS 8
* Damansara Damai (Vista Business Centre)
* Stesyen Bas Jalan Othman
* Kg. Baiduri, Seksyen 51A
* SD 13/2, Sri Damansara
* Kg. Sg. Kayu Ara Damansara
* Seksyen 6 Kota Damansara
* SS 8 Sungai Way
* Seksyen 7 Kota Damansara
* Damansara Damai (Apartment Idaman)
* SS 6/1 Kelana Jaya
* PJS 8
* Pelangi Damansara
* Taman Medan
* PJS 6/3 Kg Lindungan
* Taman Sri Manja
* Pasar Taman Dato' Harun


Subang Jaya:
* USJ 7
* USJ 4
* SS 18
* USJ 1
* PJS 11/2
* Summit Shopping Complex Open Car Park


Shah Alam:
* Seksyen 2
* Seksyen 17
* Seksyen 18
* Seksyen 20
* Seksyen 25
* Seksyen 28
* BBSB Fasa 1
* Subang Perdana
* Stadium Shah Alam
* Seksyen 27
* Seksyen 19
* TTDI Jaya
* Pekan Subang
* Seksyen 7 Tlk Dewan Seksyen 7
* Seksyen 18/34
* Seksyen 18/42
* Tlk Restoran Daud Seksyen 6
* Tlk Dewan Seksyen 16
* Taman Subang Pinggiran
* BBSB Fasa 2
* BBSB Fasa 3
* Seksyen 24
* Seksyen U10
* Bukit Jelutong
* Subang Suria (Jalan Matahari)

See United Subang Jaya Web Forum

Charkueyteow.Com's list of Ramadan Bazaars in Subang Jaya and Puchong:

Subang Jaya
Jalan SS 18/6
USJ 7
Jalan USJ 4/5
USJ 1 (Angsana flats)
Jalan USJ 1/4G
Putra Heights (in front of Mutiara flats)
SS 19
Jalan BK 5A/1
Taman Tenaga

Puchong
Jalan Taman Kinrara, Section 1 Taman Kinrara
Jalan TPK 2/1
Jalan Perdana 2, Taman Puchong Perdana
Taman Puchong Permai (flats)
Taman Puchong Prima
Jalan Utama 2/1
Jalan Wawasan 2/2
Jalan 18/35, Taman Seri Serdang
Jalan 2/10, Taman Universiti Indah
Taman Pinggiran Putra
Jalan PP 1B, Taman Equine

See Charkueyteow.Com


Hotel Ramadan Buffets in the Klang Valley

Mohdimran.com's list
An extensive list of more than 70 places for the "buka puasa" feast. Please note the interesting price comparisons between the years.

Zestful Eats' list.
A list of nearly 50 restaurants and hotel ramadan buffet offerings.

Good Food Everywhere's list
About 40 eating places to dine for Ramadan. Note the links to the various establishments.


There you have it, the most extensive list of Ramadan food feasts on the World Wide Web.

Selamat Berbuka Puasa.

Related posts

Pasar Malam - Kuala Lumpur

Pasar Malam - Petaling Jaya

The World's Secret Billionaire

Who is Chuck Feeney ?

You will not believe that Chuck Feeney is a billionaire. According to published sources, he carries plastic bag that serves as a briefcase, wears a $15 plastic watch, flies economy class and does not own a house or car. Chuck Feeney was born in New Jersey during the Depression to a blue-collar Irish-American family, he co-founded Duty Free Shoppers, the world's largest duty-free retail chain. In 1988 he was listed by Forbes Magazine as the 23rd richest American alive and worth $1.3 billion, richer than Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump.

Thus far, Chuck Feeney has given billions away to schools, hospitals, universities, medical research and human rights from the United States and Ireland to South Africa and Vietnam.

He is obsessed in keeping his identity a secret. He incorporated his charitable foundation in Bermuda and attached confidentiality agreements and cabal-like vows of secrecy to his foundation's grants. After the cashier's checks cleared, there were no black-tie parties, no self-effacing speeches.

I have tried searching for his photo on the internet, but can't find even one - the photos listed on Google Image search, isn't him.

His photo is not even published on his charitable foundation's website The Atlantic Philanthropies

However, there is a rare group photo of him published by Time Magazine in 1997

According to news reports, Chuck Feeney made money in his youth selling Christmas cards door-to-door, clearing snow from driveways and caddying at golf courses. He loved the challenge of making money but had little use for it.

"The Billionaire Who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune" is a new book written by Journalist Conor O'Clery about this remarkable man.

Read more about Chuck Feeney in MSNBC and Business Week

What would you do if you had a million ringgit ? Comments please.

Do you like it black and strong ?

Know your coffee.

Malaysians these days like to drink "Gourmet" coffee...at franchised cafes...talking away on their hand phones and tapping away at their laptops, while sipping their favorite java. Wah, how classy ! - just like in Paris or New York ;)

Not important facts about coffee

Coffee can trace its history as early as the 9th century, from the highlands of Ethiopia. From Ethiopia, coffee spread to the Middle East and to rest of Africa, then to Italy (and Europe).

Although there are about 10 types of coffee species in the world, Arabica and Robusta are the most common coffee beans traded.


Arabica, however, represents about 75% of the world's coffee trade.

Arabica is a species of coffee indigenous to Ethiopia; it is hand picked by the natives.

Robusta is grown mainly in Africa, Brazil and Vietnam.

Arabica beans are considered superior to Robusta. Robustas are usually limited to lower grade coffee blends as a filler - usually used for instant coffee.

Important facts about coffee

Different coffee companies blend and "brand" its coffee differently, just to confuse people. It's more or less the same shit, with different names.

Anyway, coffee beans are relatively cheap as it is produced in 3rd world countries. Why then, you may ask, is coffee so expensive when you buy it in the shops ?

Why is regular petrol (RON 92 - RM1.88 sen per litre) still very much cheaper than a mug of the cheapest coffee ("coffee of the day") at Starbucks ?

A regular / medium mug (about 300 ml) of the cheapest coffee (coffee of the day) at Starbucks cost about RM8.

300 ml of petrol cost only about RM0.56 sen.

I can see you coffee drinkers are all sad already...

Now you know who is the super Star and who has the big Bucks. ;) - sorry, it ain't you.

Pointed out earlier, the coffee beans itself are cheap.

What special expertise does it take to make a cup of coffee ? A Rm4.50 per hour waiter (opps...Barista) ? Absolutely not.

No high technology or expertise required, at all, to make a cup of coffee. And yet, its.....RM ? per mug.

At least for petrol, there are high costs for exploration, extraction, research, scientists, chemists, engineers etc etc just to produce the final product. But it is still very much cheaper than....hehehe....coffee.

Ok, I wont make you people depressed anymore...

On the bright side, this is what all the exotic stuff you've been drinking mean:
view Coffee For Dummies

To cheer you up further, I've also included a fun quiz Do You Know Your Coffee ?

You won't win any prizes if you get all the answers correct, but its a great time waster and it is free ! :)

Comments please - "Gourmet" coffee and tea drinkers are especially invited to comment after you "cool down".