The bridge over the Straits of Johor

FINALLY the government is proceeding with the bridge.

A tunnel instead of a bridge, from my non-engineering layperson point of view, may not be possible due to the short
distance between our border and our shoreline. (Unless you want gradients of roads exceeding 45%?)

Its not not surprising that our neighbour has been reluctant to participate. When one party may perceive that they may not gain much but instead may lose more economically, this feet-dragging delay may not be that surprising.

Over the years too there have been many attempts to discourage spending here. 3/4 full petrol tanks before leaving the country, restrictions on bringing in stuff like certain food or even cigarettes, are amongst such perceived restrictions. Then theres the preceived long delays in their CIQ to exit as well and enter.

And upon completion of a "scenic" bridge, there are great environmental benefits. Cleaner waters and healthier marine life. Some marine life would meet their long lost relatives too(as per berlin wall anology)! BUT if we are to utilize the waterways for economic reasons such as leisure based shipping, and more importantly linking PTP and Port of Pasir Gudang by way of large barges, then there is every reason to believe this may make our neighbours a bit uncomfortable. It may be helpful for our public if our authorities and ports open up and reveal the exact plans they have in this regard. Too many people on either side appear to underestimate the benefits of an open waterway along the straits, especially for us.

BUT if the waterways are going to be shallow and not dredged, then all the controversy against the bridge may be justified. The bridge then would be just an excuse to build an over-inflated priced bridge designed to enrich certain people, in the usual Malaysia Boleh tradition.

JB definitely needs this project. Traffic needs to be diverted out of the city. The jams are just clogging the inner city roads and becoming a nuisance for the people.

For too many years now things are at an almost standstill state in Johor, particularly JB. Its mostly been private sector driven development. The State and its local authorities are only busy planting carpet grass all over the town and lavishly landscaping and putting up expensively priced cheap lamposts. They cant even build proper roads and theres much potholes all over town. The papers highlighted an old man in a bicycle patching up potholes on his own, and i dont think any government official responded to that swipe. I digress again from the bridge issue.

An alternate viewpoint

An interesting read on current issue here.

and so...what some say are true

Dont think of the country. Dont think of its leaders. What they say, or what they do. Dont even bother to question how the country is run. Dont even bother to come up with suggestions to improve the country.

Accept this. You're but a guest with a colourful document validating your stay. Live your life, earn your living, school your kids and build an asset base, if you so wish to albeit at a higher purchase price.

Things arent going to improve. Mr Pessimist has overwhelmingly chased Mr Optimist into oblivion.

:)

Manchester United 1 Liverpool 0.

*smile*

vic

D-day approaches

Exactly 2 weeks to go before the moving starts and there is still much to be done. And as always, January has been a busy period at office. Need to delegate more work and concentrate on this more important stuff. No, not blogging, commenting, chatting or emailing. Moving house is definitely no fun.

The wet and dry kitches are partially completed. They have had to re-do the table top and re-position it as a result of a wider hob being utilized. The backyard is completed, except for painting. The latter should begin in the next day or two and hopefully completed within the week. The grilles will only be done early next week thus delaying the installation of lightings and alarm system. By then, the entire kitchen cabinet should be installed. Now the question remains. Should we go and get a proper oven.

The extended terrace should be completed by this evening. Need to flood the upper floor baths overnight and check out for leaks tomorrow. Hopefully there are none. Thats a big hope.

Perhaps we should have just engaged an ID company to do everything.

Lost in subtitles

I needed some laughs and decided to watch "The Pacifier" a couple of days ago at home. Had actually bought the dvd months ago. Whilst the movie was light hearted entertainment, the subtitles were out of this world comedy.

.... kidnapped by serbian rebels.

- came out as " ..kidnapped by serbian rebels". Ok, its close. Hearing problem perhaps.

"... I expect perfection." (Hero tells his mates before the start of their mission)

- came out as.."expect profession" !!!!

...." and you will dive from there"

- "dive from them" sigh.

... I'll handle the chopper! (hero will destroy enemy's chopper)

- "i'll handle the jumbo" (oi.. chopper and jumbo, dunno the difference ah?)

... " We are Seals!" (Hero proudly motivates his mates)

- "We're sealed" !!!!!!!!! muahahahaha.


And so the fella rescues the prof from the ship and the prof thanks him.

..." If i die out there, my wife is going to kill me" (he jokingly said to the hero)

- "The guy are there with my wife. He want to kill me" (the translator jokingly subtitled to humour us)

..."Give us another sec" (Hero tells someone)

- "give him signal of the set" .. huh???

..." In order to maintain the state of safety....."

- "In order to maintain the stadium safety" (perhaps he was watching a Malaysian football match on tv while translating!)


The subtitles were too distracting. Funnier than the movie. Decided to turn the subtitles off and proceeded to waste an hour plus watching an average movie. Nice way to kill time on a lazy morning at home.

(whats so difficult in subtitling in the same language????Perhaps i should have checked out the subtitles in Malay.)

Further enlightenment

This is an article on the discussion going on about having clothes on when married couples have sex. The additional info appears to be quite enlightening. Picked up this orginally from here.

Some of their answers about what "good Muslims" should or shouldn't do in bed are very explicit, so readers under 18 should stop here. While some of the advice is sensible, a lot of it is completely daft, so remaining readers over the age of 18 may wish to get a second opinion before putting it into practice.

There is even a comment about oral sex. To some people, oral sex plainly means "F%$# you.. and the response is 'F%$# you too'",

Delivering a fatwa on oral sex, 79-year-old Dr Qaradawi describes it as a disgusting western practice, resulting from westerners' habit of "stripping naked during sexual intercourse". But he continues: "Muslim jurists are of the opinion that it is lawful for the husband to perform cunnilingus on his wife, or a wife to perform the similar act for her husband (fellatio) and there is no wrong in doing so. But if sucking leads to releasing semen, then it is makruh (blameworthy), but there is no decisive evidence (to forbid it) ... especially if the wife agrees with it or achieves orgasm by practising it."

On this issue, Dr Qaradawi's views are more permissive than those of several other clerics on the internet. One states that oral sex is definitely forbidden, adding that "this hideous practice will draw the anger of Allah". Another, asked if oral sex is permitted, replies: "I don't know what is oral sex, please define it."

Wow.. interesting.

And then, theres masturbation. Something thats definitely a good followup to my earlier "cut-n-paste" posting.

Masturbation is generally frowned upon by Islamic scholars, though they disagree about how sinful it is. The Inter-Islam website describes it as an indecent practice that has "crept into the youngsters of today". Masturbation has become prevalent, the website says, because of the modern tendency for young people to marry later (contrary to the advice of the Prophet). As a result, they feel a need "to fulfil their carnal desires but ... cannot do so in the normal way, ie sexual intercourse". Islamic Voice describes masturbation as an "abominable and wicked act" which is forbidden in Islam. "Its harms are great and it has disastrous consequences as established by doctors."

The "proven" medical effects of masturbation - which, of course, include damage to the eyesight - were once listed by Abd al-Aziz bin Baz, the late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, and his list is reproduced on numerous Islamic websites. According to bin Baz, masturbation causes disruption of the digestive system, inflammation of the testicles, damage to the spine ("the place from which sperm originates"), and "trembling and instability in some parts of the body like the feet". In addition, there is a weakening of the "cerebral glands" leading to decreased intellect and even "mental disorders and insanity". Furthermore, "due to constant ejaculation, the sperm no more remains thick and dense as it normally occurs in males". This results in sperm which is not "mighty enough" to make a woman pregnant or produces children who are "more prone to disease and illness".

There is even a further comment on anal sex. Hmmph.

Whoa... am speechless.

After being entertained whilst reading the article, I found the last paragraph to be the most enlightening part. The tendency to indulge much resources into this issue of sex matters.

Hope people find that article at www.guardian.co.uk to be insightful and englightening. I sure was.

Sex and relationships - Are you multi-orgasmic?

Found this while surfing the net and reading other blogs. Its a piece at a women's site. I believe this is a must read for all, women and men alike. Please share your thoughts and your experiences, if you wish to.

Sex and relationships - Are you multi-orgasmic?
How to be multi-orgasmic?

Masturbation is the absolute best way for anyone, to learn about their bodies and what they like sexually. So, when you masturbate, stimulate yourself to the verge of orgasm, then pause, hold back, wait and continue in a slower more relaxed pace. Repeat the whole process, until you absolutely can't hold off any longer, then allow yourself to orgasm.

As you start to calm down then stimulate your vagina, and the area around the clitoris until you feel the waves building up, then move more directly to your clitoris. Use your fingers or a small vibrator such as the "fingertron"

The most advantageous position for a woman to experience multiple orgasms is the Woman-On-Top position. This allows her to initiate and direct most of the movements as far as how quickly and deeply she's penetrated and she can also control the amount of stimulation to her clitoris.

its already almost 2 weeks..

Time flies when one is busy, i guess. Its been hectic and will continue to be so for the next 3 weeks or so. Renovation works are going on at the new place. Praying hard that all the contractors deliver on their promises and the early february deadline is met.

The kids have started their classes. Ahhh am getting older. Theyre off to school. K, having just turned 3 last november, has started her nursery class. Sunflower Nursery is the name of her class. D on the other hand who turns 5 this April, enters K1 with Rabbit, being her class name.

Surprisingly theyre both coping well. Neither cried from day one. They enjoy going to school, though initially they were a little shy. The experience will do them well. On hindsight, perhaps it was a mistake not sending D off to nursery last year. Well, with extra coaching, am sure she will do just fine. Am proud of them. Both of us are.

Classes start at 8am!! Therefore i have to be up by 630am.....*sigh* Its been ages since i woke up that early. Need to sleep earlier nowadays too. As we age, some of us need more sleep. The lucky ones need less sleep. Perhaps this need for extra sleep is related to my lack of fitness.

By 11am their classes end, and the school van sends them to my mom's place. Around noon, i would call to make sure theyre fine. And to remind them to be good for the rest of the day.

Postings here will be very very irregular henceforth. There just isnt time to sit and type. Work takes priority followed by monitoring of the renovation works. The daily rain just isnt being helpful.

Hope that 2006 will be a good year.

Too many things to be done. Time to stop and continue with work.