Astro, Making My Life Richer,....... Yeah Right!!

Since the 15th November, Astro, as they advertised 'moved their channels into better neighborhood'. Ya, definitely high class neighborhood. Must be staying in mansions like Zakaria Derus's or something similar. And the company's motto is 'making my life richer'!!. My foot.

Now, I am paying almost RM108 every month to Astro. That is for taking the Movie package, Dynasty, Learning, Cartoons and Sports. After the 15th, when auntie no longer has access to the Hokkien period dramas at channel 333, and most importantly her access to Bloomsberg TV for her daily share price feed, we decided to change our subscription package.

Called up the hot-line, and change my subscription to only Dynasty, News, Sports and Gold..... the price 107.90, a bloody saving of RM0.10 AND I still need to pay a RM10.00 package downgrade fee. But worst still, I am getting less channel than I used to get.

What really makes me tulan is why I am paying for what I will never see. The basic family package cost a compulsory RM37.95, and out of 26 channels there, I have only frequently see 8 of them. I have never even spend more than 5 seconds on most of the other channels from this package.

For the sports package, I really don't need channel 814 and 815 ( Eurosport and Golf Channel).

The main reason why I installed Astro in the first place is the reception of all free TV channels has deteriorate to the point that we cant get any reception at all. Mmm, come to think of it, the reception becomes bad only after Astro came about, wonder any conspiracy theory there?

Last time already tulan, last time already pays to watch repeats, Not only movies but Astro's own advertisement. Those were repeated so frequently that the I can still hear the jingles. Then there's the disruptions caused by rain or thick clouds.

Now lagi tulan. Stupid Astro, stupid monopoly, and stupid me for not willing to buy pirated DVDs.
TULAN betul..............

BERSIH 10NOV2007

BERSIH 10 November 2007

2007 Bersih rally, Yellow Power

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/10/malaysia.protests/index.html

Hell, if I have never spent so much time on the Internet, reading Screenshot or Malaysia-Today, I believe I would not have even know about it.

There’s hardly any thing on the newspaper. If there are, it s not even considered front page material. Only the government politicians are interviewed and all of them condemn the march. The march had been blame for making life difficult, spoiling the name of the country, even as bands of criminal, irresponsible criminals who are willing to endangered the life of their children. The national medias suggest that the march is a total failure.

11, 12 and 13th November, the days when I do not have access to the WWW, I don’t really heard anybody talk about the walk. Life goes on as usual. As if nothing happened. As if only a tiny section of the country really supported the walk.

For this I must congratulate the government. Their control over the mass medias are total.

A Malaysiakini writer once told me, I am not the in the typical demografic of Malaysiakini’s reader, ie those interested in social politics.

This means the younger generations don’t actually care. The Malay youth are concerned about Akademi Fantasia and South American Soap Operas. The Chinese educated are only interested to maintain their Chinese lifestyle here in Malaysia. The Indians struggles just to seek recognition that they are an important member of this country. PAS members seeking for an Islamic Nation. And etc. Every body have their own agenda.

Do you then think the youth of the country, not the Belia, those age 15-20 will be aware about the idea behind the walk. Most probably they would not. Even though Kennysia did give some exposure on this March, although in a very indirect and subtle way.

If such a walk is held in Penang, would I be there? Most probably yes, even though I will fell uncomfortable walking with PAS members. I have already accepted that PAS’s vision of this country will never be the same as mine.

But why now, are we running to the king? Remember when we deserted them during Dr. M’s time. Not that all the rulers really deserve our respect in the first place.

It is not that I do not support a clean and fair election. I am all for it. But changes can only be made when the masses cares. The masses don’t only mean those who had access to the WWW and have interest in the social politic issues of the country. The masses mean all the pak cik, makcik, and the younger generations as well.

And the question is, how do we reach them?

My Trip to Subang to catch Firefly (the airline)

It started to drizzle as soon as I am leaving my Head Office. That’s around 4.30pm, so early, must be able to catch my 8.00 pm flight on Firefly from Subang la. Go to the Taxi stand in front of my office. Starting to rain heavily now. Bloody hell, no taxi is willing to stop. I ve stand there for about one hour, getting drench, waiving my hand like I am trying to fly.

Shit, if no taxi wants to stop here, why you put a taxi stand in the first place. Decided maybe better to go to somewhere where there will be lots of taxi. Only KL Sentral comes to mind. By now, its already raining cats and dogs. But no choice, have to walk to the nearest LRT station. Getting really wet, carrying my luggage, and with a bad ankle (I sprained it badly the night before), walked almost 1 km to the nearest STAR.

When reach Masjid Jamek, and it is still raining, wanted to make a frantic dash to the Putra station. Shit, they moved the entrance. Resulting in me have to go all the way to the opposite direction. Its already 6 pm by then. Going down into the underground station, have to walk some more. Pity me la, my ankle hurt like hell already. But at least I am now out from the rain. As usual, during rush hour time, LRT is packed. Squeezed into the train. Don’t care already, late liau loh.

Reach KL Sentral, try to find the Taxi Terminal. Have to walk somemore. Saw a long queue outside already. In KL Sentral have to buy taxi coupon one, so go to the counter. Two notices had been put up “No Taxi Availabe, Have to wait for 15-45minutes”. The girl inside warned me that I might have to wait one hour. I ask her, if purchased, can I get refund if I don’t take taxi ah. Cannot. Now it is 6.15 already. Stupid Taxi, no wonder I never support their request for fare hike. If have to wait 1 hour, trip to Subang might take another 1 hour due to rush hour and rain somemore, I will miss my flight leh.

Saw a Airasia sales office there just now when on my way to the Taxi terminal. Ask whether still got flight to Penang or not later. Fully booked! Why so many people want to come Penang. No choice already, has to risk to Subang. Buy a taxi coupon. Queue there is around 10 people ahead of me. But rain is stopping. Time on my taxi coupon is 6.28pm. Luckily 5 minutes later my taxi arrived. One and half hour, got confident can make it.

Initially ride is smooth. Then when going into Federal Highway, bumper to bumper. I can only sit there looking at the Taxi’s clock as minutes passed by. By 7.30pm still trap in jam. Desperate already, still haven’t seen any signboard pointing to Subang Airport. Passed a toll. Worst still. Traffic langsung not moving. The taxi driver cursed Government for stupid planning. I also curse together in my heart. Pay toll to get stuck in traffic!! Marvelous.

7.40pm Take out my Firefly confirmation printout, want to see got phone number or not, want to try ask them to delay the flight. Try mah, nothing to loss. Suddenly realize my flight 8.50 who! At last, luck is on my side. After being in the jam till 7.55 traffic start to move.

Reach Subang Airport around 8.10. Cant recall whether I have been to Terminal 3 Subang. The place is practically deserted. But still got a row of taxis waiting. All shops inside are closed. Only saw three of four people hanging around. But have to walk somemore. My ankle still hurts. Go to check in counter, they issue me boarding pass. HAND WRITTEN one somemore. Only those boarding my flight are there. Around 20 of us. The plane is already there. Those on earlier flight is disembarking. The place is deserted. Toilet also cannot run down. I knowlah unfair to compare to KLIA but I saw cockroach leh!! (Most beautiful airport toilet still at Senai). Some lighthing also missing already. Saw another light aircraft and a private jet only.

Board the plane. Sitting near middle of the Fokker. When the place takes corner, the airplane’s body move. Stewardess definitely more cheerful than Airasia’s. Furthermore now the Firefly stewardess get to wear glamorous uniform, compared to only T-shirt and jeans when I flew with them for the first time. The old uniform makes them look like Indon maid only. Now got class a bit. Still the menu they have is still the photostat black and white one. Just like last time. But now the spelling correct for Teh already, last time it’s ‘THE’. The flight is ok, no complain.

Reach Penang 20 minutes earlier, but the long taxiing to the terminal resulted in we reaching inside terminal at 9.40pm

The things I do to save for my company. If I bought MAS, then no need to worry, no need to get wet, and can shopping for chocolate somemore. Next time I will think really hard to fly from Subang especially if I have to beat the rushhour.

Updates 16Nov07, somebody told me that its not the Federal Highway I am using. Federal Highway no need to pay toll. I thought Federal Highway because I saw a number of roadsigns stating Federal Highway. So the cab must used the other route which passes Eastin Hotel and Damansara Utama.

Whats In A Name?

Cashing on the glamour of our space flight participants..oops cosmonauts (or is it Angkasawans?), Mr Son-in Law announce that his boss, Mr Krismuddin, the Education Minister was inspired to set up 'Rocket Club' in schools following the successful mission of the first Malaysian Angkasawan.

Rocket Club, cooooooooooooooooooooooool. Just like this ah?


Btw, what the hell are the two Angkasawan doing at the UMNO General Assembly? They should be promoting the Rocket mah.

Ps: An attempt by KJ to embarass Kris maybe?

Liverpool... 11 Games Later.

I ve said it isn’t it. Liverpool FC‘s season seems to be going down the drain. We might not even moved on to the next group stage of the Champions League. From top to seven within 2 months.

The draw againsts Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers highlighted that we can’t pass the ball forward.Nobody want to take responsibility of the ball. If the ball is passes to a Liverpool players leg, they will kick it off quickly and sometimes blindly to a teammate. Keep the ball moving should be good ma. But very bad when sideways and backwards passes are completed. When passed forward, the passing will be horrendous. It will either be kicked too hard, too weak, or straight to a opponent’s leg. One touch football is only good when the player you passed the ball to is able to control it or he is not from the opposing team.

And they are still not willing to declare crisis at Anfield. Tolonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.

He Messed It Up

The dismal state of judiciary of Malaysia is a hot topic lately. It started to heat up with the exposure of a video clip of some lawyer brokering appointments and promotions of high-ranking judges. Although the BN government, via Mr Zam and Pak Lah, among othres, denied any problem with the state of judiciary, it is apparent enough to some of us that something is wrong, very wrong with it.

The 26 September 2007 'Walk for Justice' march at Putrajaya reflected how troublesome the Judiciary system is. Even Sultan Azlan Shah is not happy with the state of the institution he had once headed. With the Executive and Legislation arms of our country closely linked, the only way for a check and balance for our democracy is an independent Judiciary.

And to revive the glory and most importantly its independence, one man must admit his mistake and apologizes for turning our country’s judiciary to its current condition now.

That man is the man who had instigated the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis by sacking the then Lord President of the Supreme Court, Tun Salleh Abas for not willing to bow to his command. That man is the man who had liken the Judiciary as a arm of the government, just like the police and civil servants.

That man is Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad.

If the previous administration will not admit the fault in its policy, I forsee the current administration for using it as an excuse to continue that faulty policy. The current administration might even use the excuse of not willing to embaras, ie continue respecting the legacy of the previous administration.

I know he had retired and just had a heart surgery. But that does not absolve his responsibility for the key part he had played in this matter. I really don’t understand why his name was never drag into this latest outcry for Judiciary independence.