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I remember the entry I wrote about book Forbidden Love by Norma Khouri (sold under title Honor Lost in US) that was a non-fiction written based on true story, only to be discovered later that it wasn't.

I tried googling for the author but only outdated news came up. Whatever happened to that woman?? And what of the books? Last year I heard they were to be withdrawn from sale.

I read the book (thanks to the wonderful bookcrossers, again) just before I got to know about the news. Even then I felt angry at the way Ms. Khouri described Islam. It was like hatred and revenge were all over the pages. Being a muslim, nobody can blame me. Everyone would react the same way if their faith and religion is being seriously offended. What made me furious was that the facts were not even correct. And the book was a bestseller.

Norma Khouri: Tragic Lies

I wonder what's happened to her since then?

God Forgive Me When I Whine

By Og Mandino

Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair.
I envied her, she seemed so gay,
And I wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch.
But as she passed, she gave a smile.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He seemed not to know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew he couldn't hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine
I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

p/s: with much thanks to Kacap for the "inspirations".... huh!

Bookrelay.com

I think everyone who already a bookcrosser knows the existence of BookRelay.com or at least knows the concept. I've been participating since early last year so I'm spreading the news here.

You browse any theme of relay index and you get to see the latest book offer for that particular theme. Accept the book offer (the book will be mailed to you by the person who offers the book), and in return you have to offer a book (in line with the theme) and do the same to whoever accepts it. Can you not see why I love this community already? It's like browsing a bookstore and regardless the type of book you pick, hardcover or paperback, thick or thin, the price to pay is the shipping cost of the book you offer.

But let's not be such a bad ass here. If you receive, you have to give too. Play nice.

I've finished reading this book!!! Finally. It's difficult to find time to read these days. I'm currently on Shipping News, but I find it difficult to read. I've reread the few first pages countless times already but I couldn't register the story in my head. Probably Pulitzer winning books are all like that except for Angela's Ashes - my favourite book that has been released forever to the wild. Or probably because it's fiction I put in less effort. That's the last time I join rings/rays for Pulitzer fictions just for the sake of trying out. Urrghhh!

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My boss's father-in-law passed away last night (al-fatihah). I heard he went out for only 10 minutes after taking care of arwah for the whole day, when he came back, arwah was already gone. And now my boss is probably in Terengganu for the funeral. It must've been hard for him since arwah had been living with him for quite a long time. Arwah was like his own father. We were all feeling very sorry for him in the office when we got the news. We know how close they were.

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Happy Birthday Boss!

Just when we're ready to celebrate his birthday, the cake is ready (sponsored) and all the "supprise" activities have been planned (or have been "ad-hoc"ly planned), HE WENT MC. Aiyak! What la... this is all the air-cond's fault. Yesterday he was a panel in interview process upstairs in a meeting room. He sat right under the vent and the room is well known for it's out of this world harsh temperature.

So everybody went with sms'es and received replies from him instantly, with instructions to have fun with the cake. Poor fella lah. Demam tak pasal-pasal. The picure of him blowing the candles would've been priceless. Anyway, now that we have the cake to ourselves...

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Get this: Would you prefer being a law-abiding goody-two-shoes driver on road or hell-unleashed I-am-the-king-of-road one? Be advised that most people would prefer the later. Yeah I can see the wannabe lights are beaming already on radar. Do you have the guts to be one?

I wish I could be one but then I got a very motherly tutor since earlier in my age who's very strict herself... *sigh* So no luck there... eheh... I guess I don't live up to the reputation, having a car with a Penang plat number. All Penangites out there!! I give you my full support. Be proud of what you are! You certainly can't find anywhere else for reckless drivers as reckless and impudent as Penangites. So keep it up as long as doesn't help the accident statistics go sky high.

~*cough cough*~

I have to thank these brilliant brilliant Italian authors to have come out with this brilliant brialliant Power Point presentation. They surely represent the 90% of drivers population in the world. Go see! Ahahahahahahahahaahhh... made my day that one.

Off to play hide and seek.

I took a day off yesterday. Woohoo!!

It was such a good day I tell you lah. I went to bed last Tuesday talking to myself how on earth I was going to work given my emotional state. Talking to yourself is never a good sign so I decided I wouldn't go to work, even if I got fired.

Okay that's way overboard - I love my job. But I was determined on not going. I woke up as early as 5.30am yesterday reevaluating what was I doing, to give myself enough time if I ever changed my mind. I was worried about a major meeting that was going to take place in the morning and it was important for me to be there. But then the last time I took an EL was last year when my uncle passed away. I was worried but too much on my head wasn't going to help the meeting anyway. After sms'ing the secretary, I went back to sleep.

I wasn't planning sleeping all of it off it would only lead to more sulkiness. So in the morning I read a book, before I watched Star Wars Episode V & VI, Daredevil and Kingdom of Heaven. Prepared lunch and then back to book. For tea time, I made some karipap - been long since I indulged myself in the making of kuih realm (hey I got no complaint and they disappeared fast)... The night was spent watching tv and went to bed around 11pm. Had last read of the day before I fell asleep to the most satisfactory night! It's rare to find me not regaining the conciousness to take off my glasses before shut eye. That must've meant good sleep no?

It was good because I woke up today so refreshed, content and feeling much much less miserable. It's a wonder how a spontaneous decision can lift you up. I drove home on Tuesday singing along out loud, further enhanced with my silly voice, over the songs on radio. That's a cue already for a good spank - how tense and depressed I was. Good decision I made huh. So there's one little life lesson - trust your instinct!

I see my cbox is working again. That made me feel better already.

Learned that a collegue is going to start a new life as a lecturer. I'm getting greener every second!!! Life as a researcher/scientist, what could be more rewarding?

Ok I'm off to bed.

Don't read this - it's depressing II

You have no idea how down I feel today. Although I know it's temporary but with yesterday's issue is already definitely not helping, mapping dept is taking over the project that I'm coordinating. It feels kind of sad to let go my baby even if it's incomplete. Sudden parting is not something that I handle well.

And whatever happened to my cbox?!

Oh yeah, we definitely has to move out of the house and they say immediately. I don't know how to tell my family the news.

Joyless.
Disoriented.
Crushed.
Devastated.

I have nothing to say anymore.

Don't read this - it's depressing

Bad morning to start with today. Had a chat with a concern HR exec just now. Abah might lose his job. And we might have to move out of the house. Shit!

Why la KDN have you asked of us this much? It all started from you you sick heartless sickening bunch of people. You've done enough damage that you've taken away an innocent man from his family. Now the family has to pay too? Like we hasn't all this while. And we're not even supposed to. We've been unbelievably patient and had come to understand, although under very unbelievebly difficult condition, that abah is doing his service to help uphold the country's honor in some way. Now what he gets in return? Apart from his hanging by a thread family condition, what else do you want lah KDN? Squash him flat? Who the hell are you?? By right he should've been out a year ago and probably we wouldn't have to face this. But noooo... everything must go your way. You suddenly said 2 years were not going to be enough and then you raised the bar to another 2 years? What the hell are you doing? You can't find anything to chuckle about under your nose so you keep detaining him there for WHAT??! A glorious moment of victory?? Oh God save it! I don't want to know. I want my abah back you piece of *&#^#*&@!!

!!!!!

My family keeps detoriating but we try to keep it strong for each other everyday. Luckily even when he's far abah always manage to calm us down with his wise words. He truly sheds light to what it means to be a muslim. Truth be told, violence is not our way of doing things. Or rebellious acts for that matter (seriously what good does it bring?). It's a blessing to be part of his life. I can't talk about abah without felling welled up inside. It's a pity how a respected professional is taken down with such disgraceful way. There goes his reputation and his recognized services with the government, all to the drain. Would you return that to abah, KDN? You have no heart and I'm sorry for that.

In times like this, I always remember what abah wrote to me 2 years ago when I was studying: Innallaha ma'asabirin. It brings some kind of assurance to my heart.

Bookcrossing anyone?

Finally I've finished Dahl's book (Boy & Going Solo)! And it has become one of my favorites. I love well written biographies. I don't understand why people read fictions. Movies make more sense. How people can be so inclined towards it is beyond me. It's not real and it's full of good sentences. It's probably because I'm not a good writer. I don't know how to appreciate beautiful sentences. Yea that's probably it. With that said, I love children books! Hmm... how did that happen?

Unlike some, I wasn't born bookworm. There are people who since small couldn't get their eyes/hands off of books and those are officially bookworms since birth to me. I remember started to love reading but then because of lack of books laying around the house so it gradually faded off. Books were never really my thing until 2003, when I discovered bookcrossing.com! Being a generous as I was *bows* (thank you thank you), I was quickly absorbed to the idea of leaving id'ed books to be found by someone else and later get to know where/who it ended up with. If you really think about it, what are the chances you're going to reread your books again?? Me? Zero. Nada. Exceptions only apply to a few books. But then I released 2 of my favorite books last year. Well I was not just going to keep it gathering dust on shelf, was I? And I was fascinated by plenty of hot new books at the time. So no time there and there they went, a trip abroad reaching Europe and the US, something that would not have been possible if it wasn't for bookcrossing.com. Heck even bookcrossing is added to Oxford dictionary due to its colossal growth.

What I really like about it is the community. You can never find any more generous community like it anywhere else online. I've received over 10 books last year just out of the kindness of bookcrossers and the beauty of it all. They traded books on trust basis and carry along integrity with them. You'll kind of grow some respect for them eventually for their unselfishness. Of course there are few bad asses in the crowd. And who can blame them.

But personally, it's not only about receiving. You have to give if not equally. It's about sharing, not abusing. Yeah well being in Asia and not so many active asian bookcrossers compared to those of in US/Europe, and I can't always afford sending books any more further than Australia,... lots of bookrays ended up with me. Now my shelf size is bigger than before which is only amusing temporarily. I have to pass it on. No good sitting duck when somebody else can enjoy reading them no? I don't profess myself a bookworm. I'm more of a casual reader.

I have always believed that people are generally nice. Bookcrossing.com has seriously proved me that. Being nice isn't that bad. So bookcrossing anyone?

OOooohh... warm night. When's it going to rain???

Wingnut

A guy blown his brain off. Quran dumped in the toilet and pissed on. Read it here.

Utter disrespect. Uncivilized behaviour. Serious selfish unforgivable act on display.

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Cilok dari Am.

You scored as Logical/Mathematical. You like to work with numbers and ask questions. You learn best by classifying information, engaging in abstract thinking and looking for common basic principles. People like you include mathematicians, biologists, medical technicians, geologists, engineers, physicists, researchers and other scientists.

The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences
created with QuizFarm.com

I'm helpless when it comes to numbers.

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At this stage of my life, I only wish for these during my next 10 years of my life.

• Pursue my master's degree


• Speak fluent french


• Secure a house of my own

I need to accomplish any two of those.

My other personal wishes. And I need them desperately. In no particular order:

• Lolita Lempicka EDP - my signature scent


• A pc/Mac with decent spec - I play with lots of graphics


• Charmbracelets


• A digital camera - optical zoom 4.0 megapix at least


• A black leather strap lady watch (square dial)


• White pair of shoes and matching handbag


• A jewelry bought using my hard-earned money

There you go, duniawi wishes. Being all meterialistic and practical at the same time. If I had extra cash then the list would expand of course... as anyone's list does. But ultimately, being the eldest, what I really want is to be able to back up my family financially, whenever that time comes.

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Il t'aime la nuit et moins le jour
Il pense à d'autres quand il te sourie, et te parle d'amour
(Ooh! Qu'est-ce que tu te fais?)
Il a les mots pour te faire rêver.
Il a le tour, il a ce qu'il faut.
Pour te faire rester.
Ooh! Qu'est-ce que tu te fais?

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!
Qu'est-ce que tu te fais?

Il ne te parle plus, après l'amour
T'es juste une autre, ni moins, ni plus
C'était juste ton tour.
Ooh! Qu'est-ce que tu te fais?
Quand rien ne va, il te revient
Tu le reprends et il repart
Dès que tout va bien
Ooh! Qu'est que tu te fais?

Quand tu le menaces,
il te dit : «je t'aime».
Tu sais qu'il le dit à ces autres filles et tu restes quand même.
Je sais très bien, que sans lui, t'as peur.
Mais sache, qu'une larme ça sèche,
et avec lui tu meurs - ooh!