As I blog, it's raining now. The recent flood has made me paranoid about rain. Months ago, during the hot season, I was craving for rain. But now, I prefer sunny skies compared to rains. Sigh. I hope if a flood do happen again, the government will warn us 24 hours beforehand.
Continuing with my last blog post, I evacuated from my home to Aunt Chua's. After Biology exam, I had to find my way back through town to Taman Stadium. There were many roads being closed due to floods, and there was a massive traffic jam in Simpang Kuala. It seems that it was one of the few roads left to town.
That evening, when my father and I took a stroll down the taman to check on the monsoon drain, it was already overflowing. I was like "Here going to flood too? Where to next?".And true enough, the following day, at about 5 a.m., water started sipping in like a thief in the night. It was scary, I tell you. In just a mere 30 mins, the whole road was covered with water, and not to mention Aunt Chua's porch. There was a discussion on where to park the car. Finally, it was agreed that two cars will be parked at City Plaza's top floor, although we thought it might be a little unsafe. On the way up, EVERY floor was PACKED with cars, except for the top-most floor. And, there were ROWS of BRAND-NEW CARS parked there, Suzuki Swift, Toyota cars, you name it. I guess the car-dealers were afraid that their cars might be flooded. It was a good thing too, because that meant that nobody would want to steal my car, as there are so many new cars around. =D In the afternoon, Taman Stadium had already became like this. Later that night, the electricity was cut, and I had to spend the night in darkness and without a fan. =S I've became a creature of comfort, but thankfully, it was cooling that night.
These are the days that I shall remember for as long as I live. Well, I couldn't remember much about the last flood that happened 5 years ago. All I can remember is being sent to Aunt Chua's place for evacuation for a few days because of the flood with my sister, Teong Huan and his sisters. And we played Metal Slug 3 on Teong Huan's computer. But that was 5 years ago.Now I'm a boy of almost 18, I can help and see for my own eyes, how devastating a flood can be, to an individual, a family, a community, a district, a state, and the country. I believe I have gained more experience, that shall be useful in time to come, although to others, they have lost much.
In a short duration of 5 days, my family and I were literally running away from water. Everywhere we went, flood waters followed us. I evacuated on Wednesday, as the waters started to rise where I stayed, mainly because I had exams on the following day. I was tempted to "ponteng" school like what Chen Tat did, but I thought the better of it. But I probably do quite badly this time, well, I'll know soon.
My parents stayed back at the house. Shortly after I left, the electric supply was cut. I pity my parents. They stayed at home all night without electric and had to move the hall's furniture to a higher level.Look at Taman Golf's field. It looks more like a swimming pool now, right? I had the chance to take some shots here and there before I evacuated. The bicycle always comes in handy. When all electric and motor appliances fail, this is where your skills come in. The pictures here may explain a thousand words, but by experiencing it youself, it amplifies the effect by a thousand times more. It has been an experience. More stories to come. :) I hope the worse is over.
The world's population is increasing at a rapid rate, and the supply of food cannot meet up with the ever increasing demands of the world's needs. Countries have poured in billions in dollars for research in genetically modified food (GM food) in the hope in solving this problem. In my opinion, I believe that there are two sides two a coin about this matter.
GM food as we know, is something new. Scientists are still uncertain about the short-term and long-term effects that GM foods might bring, towards humans, and the environment. For all you know, after consuming these foods, we might find the next generation born deformed. Or the plants and animals we know today mutated into something new. And with these new unknown changes taking place, it might disrupt the many cycles that keep the ecosystem in equilibrium, creating more problems!
GM food crops can be genetically modified to be resistant to various diseases, herbicides and pesticides, but when the climate changes, or when a new disease infects the crop, the whole crop will suffer and dies. This is because somehow, genetically modified crops lose the ability to adapt to these changes. For example, if the Earth's temperature were to rise by 1 degree Celsius worldwide, all the GM food crops will be affected, and this will result in billions of dollars in losses, and we might find ourselves without food.
By planting GM food crops can also bring unintended harm to other organisms. For example, in the United States, they planted genetically modified corn. And scientists have found out that a certain species of butterfly population, Monarch butterflies, has decreased at an alarming rate. This clearly indicates GM crops might bring harm to other organisms. Imagine if genetically modified grain causes chickens to die when consumed by them, we would find the world without chickens within months!
Although GM food has its cons, we cannot deny the fact that it has its pros too. With GM crops planted, less area can now produce more! Imagine 10 acres of land can now produced 10,000 tonnes of grain instead of the normal 2,000 tonnes. It's an increase by 5 times! Therefore, the world's food problem can be solved in no time. GM food can also genetically modified to be of a higher nutritional value. A scientist can now insert genes that can make the fruits of the plant contain more nutrients. Take an orange for an instance, scientists can take a good gene of a tomato and implant it in an orange. This means the orange can now have the nutritional value of BOTH the orange and the tomato. It's 2 in 1!
In conclusion, although GM foods solve the world's food problems, there are many unseen and unknown effects towards mankind and the environment that might be disastrous. Therefore, I believe that we should tread carefully and carry out extensive tests before we plant GM crops.
1Malaysia was introduced by our current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak. It mainly stresses ethnic tolerance and national unity (according to the aims when it was first launched) on 16th of Sept 2008 (Malaysia Day), about 2 years plus from today.
Many speculations about this program being a scheme to attract more votes for UMNO was speculated around. But, if one really follows this 1Malaysia concept, I believe the aims targeted could be reached, making Malaysia, a better place to live in. Every Malaysian has a role to play in order for this concept to work, ranging from young to old, even little children!... which might look insignificant in the eyes of many. Firstly, let me take the role of an individual in making this a success. As a parent, one can ensure that their children attend National Service if they are selected. I am a product of National Service, and I know how it's like there. National Service is a program that promotes unity and builds one's character, not to mention also building one up physically. By making sure their kids attend, their child wil be exposed to different cultures and make new friends of different background and religion. From my experience, I have made new friends from different places and background, ranging from Perak to Perlis, and also Kedah. I believe that such an experience can only be obtained from NS. That's why, if you got selected for National Service, you're LUCKY! =D
Back to the topic... The government should also ensure that schools are made up of equal number of students from each race. I believe, in this way, students from different races would unite together as one. Currently, the only effort in promoting such unity is through a method called "Sekolah Wawasan". I believe not many people know about Sekolah Wawasan, right? I must admit that I didn't know such a school existed until my primary school (Pumpong) was moved into such a school. And by the way, Sekolah Wawasan is a school where three different school exist in one same environment. This means the students will only meet each other from different schools during recess or after school only. And, as we all know, who wants to make the first move in making new friends when they are not studying in the same class or school? This doesn't bring the same effect as studying together with different races in just one school.
The Ministry of Education can also have a hand in this by ensuring that there is a compulsory subject that students must take about the different cultures and practices carried out throughout Malaysia. This would cultivate understanding. When one understands other cultures better, misunderstandings between races would be reduced. At the same time, one would also prevent oneself from offending one another. For example, by serving a Muslim pork, or a Hindu beef, that is provoking them right?
The 1Malaysia concept is a good idea, but should be carried out for the right reasons. Afterall, unity is the foundation of a country, like the old saying that goes, united we stand, divided we fall.
I was sitting in the car on the way to Penang just now. There was a massive jam towards Penang! It was a bottle-neck situation, where about 7 lanes became 2? I was stuck there for almost two hours! We only moved 100 meters in 30 minutes! It seems that there was a power cable on fire, and it was clogging up the WHOLE bridge with cars! You can read about it here or here. And guess what, I never made it to Penang!
We wasted RM 5.60 on toll, and made a U-turn back. By then, the jam was already spilling out all the way to the North-South highway. I pity the people at the back, they would be wondering why there is a jam. Wasted time. Wasted petrol. Next time, wanna stage such a havoc, go la stage it on April Fool's day...
While I was in the car, I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if all who were stuck in the jam together could talk? After all, aren't we all Malaysians? Even if there were foreigners around? Aren't we all humans? And don't humans like to talk? But sadly, it's just a dream. I believe no one in the right mind would do such a thing? We let our differences come between us; races, the way each of us think, and so on...
Ah, if we were truly a society of such, I believe that the country would be a better place. Ah...
Step Up 3! I'm impressed... for it's choreography (mainly). The plot was, predictable? Oh well, I'll come to that later...
I was late in arriving in Alor Setar Mall. Jane, W. Lynn, Wei Ping and Goay had already arrived. I was delayed at the post office. At least I wasn't the last to arrive. Hahaha... Sunny arrived a minute of two later than me. we missed the first 5 to 10 minutes of the movie, too bad. And oh, I saw Susu Hean fetching a 5 girls home in his car. xD
The plot was rather predictable...? When Natalie appears in the movie, I was thinking to myself, will she be the one betraying the "Pirates"? It turned out that I was right. =D
The movie was about this guy named Luke, a dancer-cum-filmmaker which is desperate for money to pay back loans from the bank to avoid being evicted from his only home, a warehouse that's a haven for dancers! He hunts for fresh talent and finds Moose, and Natalie. In order to repay the loans, he and his team has to win the World Jam Competition which has a whooping prize money of 100K. However, it complicated here and there, as the team breaks up and reunite again.
I believe, the film is only nice for it's dancing, and "WOW" factor? I like the choreography. Moose is a great dancer! I wished I could dance like that, but I guess it's too late to learn. Me bones have harden. =S
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! That were the cries of Tunku Abdul Rahman on 31st of August 1957, that was remembered from then till now. It was the first time Malaya smelt freedom!
There is this site, http://www.malaysiamerdeka.gov.my/index_bm.php, about Malaysia's 53rd year of independence, where you can read about the history of how Malaysia was formed, our achievements, etc...
But there is this one thing that I cannot agree on. Why are we still celebrating Merdeka Day and not Malaysia Day? After all, we are Malaysia now and not Persekutuan Tanah Melayu or Malaya. On 16th of September 1963, Sabah and Sawarak joined Malaya to form Malaysia. It was supposed to be combined on the 31st of August 1963, to coincide with the sixth Hari Merdeka, but it was delayed due to some Indonesian and Filipino's objections. But still, it was made possible through the introduction of the Malaysia Bill.
So, since Malaysia was formed on the 16th of September, why are we still celebrating the independence of Malaya and not the independence of Malaysia? By celebrating Merdeka Day, it would seem rather unfair to Sabah and Sarawak, right? And usually the celebrations of Merdeka Day are often at a bigger scale compared to the celebrations on Malaysia Day.
Finally, after much debate, Malaysia Day has been made a public holiday, starting from this year onwards! They should have done this much earlier. And I also think our independence should be changed from 31st Aug to the 16th of Sept. Let's make it fair to Sabah and Sarawak too, okay?
And true enough, the following day, at about 5 a.m., water started sipping in like a thief in the night. It was scary, I tell you. In just a mere 30 mins, the whole road was covered with water, and not to mention Aunt Chua's porch.
There was a discussion on where to park the car. Finally, it was agreed that two cars will be parked at City Plaza's top floor, although we thought it might be a little unsafe. On the way up, EVERY floor was PACKED with cars, except for the top-most floor. And, there were ROWS of BRAND-NEW CARS parked there, Suzuki Swift, Toyota cars, you name it. I guess the car-dealers were afraid that their cars might be flooded. It was a good thing too, because that meant that nobody would want to steal my car, as there are so many new cars around. =D
In the afternoon, Taman Stadium had already became like this. Later that night, the electricity was cut, and I had to spend the night in darkness and without a fan. =S I've became a creature of comfort, but thankfully, it was cooling that night.
Town in the afternoon.
