The Origin of Kites

Do you know that kite originated from China ? Kite was invented in China a few thousand years ago using bamboo to build the frame and silk to make the sail. According to the “Biography of Mr Hanfei", About 2300 years ago, Mo Di (468-376 BC), a philosopher residing in the Lo Mountain of Shandong province made the fisrt kite in the shape of a Eagle. Around the year 200BC, the Chinese military flown kites over the enemy's fort and use the length of the line as the estimated distant for them to dig tunnel underground into the enemy territory. The famous adventurer, Marco Polo, also documented how kites were built and flown in China.

So, it is undisputable that, China is the birthplace of all kites. As a matter of fact, the Chinese make the best and the most beautiful kites in the world. For your information, Weifang, located in east China's Shandong province, is currently the "international kite capital” of the world.

While we are enjoying flying our Wau in Malaysia, let us be reminded of its origin and be thankful to the Chinese for passing this little pleasurable amusements for some of us to fly kites.

From piles of stolen phones, opportunity rises....

It is encouraging to know that Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry are putting a joint initiative to put all stolen phones out of circulation. Techically speaking, the process involved the setting up of a common database for tracking the unque Electronic Identification Number (EIN) of all the handphones in the country. And in the event that a handphone is stolen, the EIN central database will broadcast alert to all telcos to blocked the stolen phone from being used with new or other existing SIM card. This will effectively discourage ard arrest the arising rate of mobile phone being stolen.

Setting up the framework for database is a simple process, but the acqusition of EIN into the central database remained an implementation consideration. Do we capture the EIN at point of import or at point of registration at the telcos ? Would the telcos be willing to provide the additional value added service of registering the EIN ? Would all telcos agreed to submit the EIN to a central database transparently and willingly ? In the event of notification of stolen phone being used in the individual telco's network, would the telco willingly block the stolen phone and provide details such as the mobile number and subscriber name to the central EIN database ?

The MCMC is the right coordinating body to implement legal compliance and technological infrastructure to ensure the means and mechanisms for all telcos to submit registered EIN, mobile phone number, user names, etc. to the central database. But, it has been reported that, a local company, Nuemera Malaysia, will be appointed to implement this central database. The question is, when the MCMC can perform this technical and legal exercise, why adding another administrative layer by appointing another company to do the job ? At the end of the day, how much will it cost for MCMC to appoint Nuemera Malaysia to do the Job, and how will end users of mobile phone service be affected by this arrangement ? I accept the fact that nothing is free in this world, at the end of the day, it is our own pockets that will eventual feel the pinches. I just don't fancy the idea of my pocket being pinched arrogantly and unneccessarily by irrelevant people.

The setting up of central EIN database as an enforcement tool will significantly reduce the theft of mobile phones. However, taking into consideration of current sentiments, it is inappropriate for MCMC or the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry to appoint third parties to implement and maintain this exercise. MCMC should and always be the sole regulatory and technical custodian of the central EIN database to ensure the interests of mobile phone users and telcos are protected fairly and transparently. The best solution is for the respective telco to implement and share their EIN databases as additional regulatory compliance to protect the cunsumer rights of mobile phone users. If it is unavoidable for MCMC to appoint third parties, then an open tender should be called to ensure the most cost effective solution are adopted.

No offense intended. I know cigarettes are not good for health. Likewise, unneccesary privatisations and private funding initiatives are also not good for our financial health. As it is, we are already bombarded with too many e-this and i-that. Already, there are too many people driving fancy cars on the road with empty pockets in the name of bolihism. Sooner or later, reality bites ! It is about time we all learn how to say “TAK NAK”.

Of dreams and realities....

Today is not really a good day mentally and physically. I woke up feeling a bit cloggy due to disturbed sleep caused by some minor gum infections. I had been having this problem over the previous few days. I decided to skip office, go to visit the dentist, and after that, work from home. No big issue, this is the internet age, with CDMA phone, mobile phone, broadband internet connection, PDA, and notebook, I can work from anywhere without any loss of productivity. But for today, I think it is advisable for me to do my work in a more relax manner,

The dentist gave me a prescription of antibiotic, anti-swelling, and pain killer medications. Another appointment was made to visit the dentist a week later for follow-up. After taking the medications, I felt sleepy and dozed off to sleep. Like Martin Luther King said, “I had a dream”, but I had a different type of dream.

In my dream, I saw the big fat Buddha sitting in meditation posture smiling at me, he points his finger to a tree beside the rivers against the backdrop of rising sun in the eastern skies. My vision was directed to the tree. It is a beautiful tree with beautiful flowers and fruits. I saw a bird happily chirping the nicest lullaby while pecking at the sweet fruits. It was a serene, scenic, and beautiful sight. I can even smell the fresh fragrance air ! This bird of paradise showing me how to be merry and enjoying the life as it is ? The eternal snapshot of dreamy illusion radiates such a wonderful feelings of peace and calmness within me – life is indeed full of beauty. How I wish this dream can go on a little bit longer........

I woke up later feeling much more relaxed and energized. Such a beautiful dream. But I do wonder, in my awaken state, whether I am Buddha dreaming of a man having a dream in his sleep watching the little bird pecking and enjoying the fruits, or am I the bird dreaming of Buddha practicing Vipassana meditation and a man having dream in his sleep. Or in reality, am I still in my dream or awaken in another dimension ?

Aiyayahhhhhh... the medication is playing tricks in my mind...... Namo Amithaba Buddha.

In the name of God....

Is there God ? or was it they mistaken satan for God ?

THE three convicted Indonesian murderers who detonated bombs in Bali expressed their delight of murdering innocent people. They said the more pain they caused, their GOD will give greater reward in heaven. The three criminals will be executed soon for their roles in the 2002 Bali Bombing where 202 people were killed.

Read news.com.au's 'We can't wait for our execution' Can't wait for their execution ? Well, so is the rest of the civilized world ! While waiting for their execution, do sincerely hope these three criminals can give a full list of their brothers who participate in the bombings, because the rest of the civilized world is waiting eagerly to also do them a favour by sending them to their "heaven".

No insensitivity intended to any group of religions, but I find it amusing that these criminals are so desperate to claim justification using the name of their God to live a life of barbarity. As a Buddhist, I do not believe in the existence of God, it is scientifically too far fetched and mathematically illogical. So the claimed of getting reward from God for murdering innocent people of other religions is a desperate attempt to come to terms with unrealized fantasies. Unless someone can prove to me conclusively with hard evidence on the existence of God, it is legally wrong and morally sinful to divert attention to the non existence God to commit criminal acts. These three perverted idiots committed a barbaric crime, they are convicted by the Indonesian courts, now they should be humanely put to death like similar to the treatment we rendered to strayed and diseased dogs to preserve peace and order. What heaven are these three sicked perverts talking about, as long as their crimes are not forgiven by the victims' family, they will enter a repeated cycle of burning hells and later reincarnated as pigs to be slaughtered as roast pork.

In the spiritual world, there is no God, but angels. There are good angels, and there are bad angels. The question is, which angel are these three criminals has been praying to ? So, for heaven sake ( if there is a heaven), they should stop stop using the name of God (if there is a God), to commit criminal acts. Behave and act like a real man, they committed a murder, they shall be put to death by the legally constituted man made law. There is no heaven for convicted criminals, so, to these murderers, rest assured that all three of you are inching your way to joined your dead gang of criminals in burning hells. Stop being so deluded to think that there is an after-life of paradize but burning hells.

May “God” bless and lift the souls of those 202 innocent victims. May “God” condemed those criminal involved in the bombings to hell.

Ramzi Yousef Converts to Christianity?

The mastermind of the 1993 terror attack on World Trade Centre is now a Christian.

This morning, while watching the CNN news, there was a brief news on a convicted terrorist, Yousef Ramsi. In an interview with C.B.S Television Network, Yousef Ramsi claims that he has converted to Christianity. The interview is scheduled to be aired on Sunday, October 2007. A convicted criminal who glorify death and violence in the name of his old religion, now glorify life and peace in the name of his new religion ? Does it really matter whether Yousef Ramsi is a Muslim or Christian ? He once adopt a life of barbarity, called others infidels, but now enlightened to embrace infidels' God. Sincerely, good for him, I do hope he see the lights and find peace in his new religion and at peace with himself. The world now has one less terrorist and hopefully more peace ?

Read “Did Ramzi Yousef Really Convert to Christianity?”

Everyday, we have all sort of people converted in and out of each other's religions. We have Muslim becoming Christians, Christians becoming Buddhist, Hindu becoming Christians, etc. etc. These sporadic conversions doesn't indicate whether a particular religion is better than another religion. What probably happen is, more and more people are getting disillusion with their own religions. Based on my observation, people usually switch religion during personal crisis or for certain economic and financial reasons.

Everybody claims that his or her religion is the fastest growing religion in the world. No big deal ! Since when spirituality became a contest of political popularity? It really doesn't matter what religion you professed. You are what you are. If there is a God, and if you claimed that he is all merciful and loving, then, does God care what religion you belonged to ? God is not a racist or a cultural moron. As far as he is concern, you can be an atheist, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or whatever, he will continue to love you as long as you are kind hearted, compassionate, reasonable, and mindful.

If somebody comes to you to say that his religion is the only true religion, his God is the only true God, and you must embrace his religion to enjoy the attention, blessing, and love from God, I can assured you that you are dealing with a liar. He may be very persistent with his misplaced religiousity, but repeatedly stating a lie is not going to make the lie a truth. You are probably dealing with a freaked up asshole from a farting religion. Perhaps, you should compassionately advise him to seek mental treatments and confine his closeness to God in a mental institution.

No wonder this world is in such a mess....