Easter Bunny Tales

This is a post from Basketbawful

A while back, I spent a few years playing the Easter Bunny at an annual event for underprivileged children. Originally, I was responsible only for helping to plan and set up the event, but we ran into a hitch: Nobody wanted to be the Easter Bunny. Now, I learned a long time ago to always volunteer for the tasks everybody else avoids. That way, nobody can ever accuse you of trying to avoid the crappy jobs, and, more importantly, the people who do the crappy jobs usually get out of doing pretty much anything else. Dressing up as the Easter Bunny meant I didn't have to help in any other area of the event. No planning, so setting things up, no taking them down. I figured I would show up, be adored by one and all, and then leave. Easy enough, no?

The first problem was that I'm 6'3". As you would probably suspect if you ever thought about such things, they don't make a lot of six-foot, three-inch Easter Bunny costumes. So, the first year, we had to special order an extra-large costume at the last minute, and it barely made it on time. The first time I put the costume on, I immediately noticed two things. First, it was hot. Like, really hot. Imagine crawling fully-clothed into one of those thermal sleeping bags that are rated for -60 degree weather and then walking around in it for a few hours. Yeah. Second, I looked flat-out creepy. I mean, 6'3" is small to Shaq, but to an eight-year-old, I'm huge. And, now, dressed as a freaky grinning rabbit. I was actually afraid of scaring the kiddies.

The day came and, once the festivities were well under way, I was led into crowd. The kids started cheering and screamed "The Easter Bunny!" They weren't afraid of me at all, which I thought was a good thing. At first. But I soon wished that they were scared, at least a little, because these kids were mean. They immediately came over and started challenging me. "You aren't the Easter Bunny!" "He's a fake!" "Rip off his tail!" "I'm gonna tear your head off!" And they weren't kidding. I started getting grabbed, punched, pushed, and kicked. The parents in attendance and the other people running the event tried to get them under control, but the adults were outnumbered three-to-one. There was no way to police them all.

One little girl ran up and stared me down. (It's important to note, at this point, that in order to beat the heat I was wearing only a pair of boxer shorts under the costume.) She then reached between my legs and grabbed a tiny fistful of my junk, after which she turned around and announced to the other kids, "He's a man! I can feel him!" That was a low moment for me, no question about it. And my friends who where there tormented me with "I can feel him!" jokes for quite some time afterward.

After a struggle that lasted about a half an hour, the kids came down off of their sugar high or whatever it was, and we settled down to take pictures. Like this one. The little girls were great, but that little monster on the left was trying to tear out a tuft of fur. And yes, he managed to yank out some of my leg hair in the process. In case you don't know, that doesn't feel good.

There was one little boy who was like the gang leader or something. He kept putting together small raiding parties to try and knock me over or snatch the head off my costume. He probably got in more punches and kicks than all the rest of the kids combined. I swear, I almost picked him up and threw him out the window a few times. Then, the oddest thing happened. As the party was winding down, he came up to me entirely on his own, eyes filled with tears, and said, "Thanks, Easter Bunny!" And then he hugged me. Have you ever seen a look of "WTF?!" on a costumed bunny?

So I guess everything more or less turned out okay. I guess I should have sort of expected it. We live in an increasingly cynical society. I can assure you, based on this experience, that that cynicism isn't limited to adults. But at least with the kids, you can still get through to them. They hated and distrusted me at first, but by the end of the party they loved me.

Okay. That's the story.

Lemony Snicket and the Titanic

S&^t happens! Its unavoidable. But when it happens to you, it ain't so funny anymore. At least thats what they tell you.

Lemony Snicket wrote great books and humoured the entire affair of hurt and pain. I believe that most of the answers we look for is just that simple. Just in the span of this morning, I have seen my good friend (aka literally the girl next door) breakdown TWICE. All because of work. It ain't worth it and I'm glad I have made a decision on what I should be doing in life.

The picture shows a couple mimicking potentially the greatest love scene in cinematic history with dire consequences. Funny as it is, this is actually a common phenomenon. In a study carried out for carriers in the States, most adventurous couples/idiots have attempted similar acts although to less dire consequences.

Life is simply that simple. That it easy. At least the adventurous couple/idiots had their moment in the sun. For that brief moment, they were DiCaprio and Winslet and I believe that should be what matters instead of the report that shows how stupid their attempt was. Live life while laughing at your own failings and learn to wake up eager to try new stuff. If you can't then, somethings wrong and it might be time to make a change - for the better.

That would also be a reminder for myself to stop taking things seriously all the time like its a matter of life and death. I'm glad I decided to move on after the series of stuff thats happen. I have come to discover that there are more important stuff in life and to prove yourself to others is meaningless when you can't even prove to yourself that you're happy.

Until happier postings from the rebellion, dezza!

Country Road

Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains, shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

John Denver

This song has always held a special place in my heart. And now at the current stage where I'm at, no other song seems more appropriate. The song didin't actually place him on the map but it did allow him to explode internationally and people could all hum to that song during the day he ruled (at least thats what my mom tells me).

Home is always where the heart is and at the dawn of a new opportunity for me, I feel that I really am at the crossroads. This blog began as a testing experience and a chance to pick up on basic html but it has opened a new door for me. To where I do not know. It could be my "country road" or it could be just a mirage. Either way, I'm happy with what you can find in small unexpected packages. Life is just that full of mysteries and paths you never knew you would end up treading. This is to the deciding week of another twist of my life. Wherever it takes me, I hope it leads me "home".

Until more rebellious postings, dezza!

the Road Runner rules

1. Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going "beep, beep".
2. No outside force can harm the Coyote -- only his own ineptitude or the failure of Acme products.
3. The Coyote could stop anytime -- IF he was not a fanatic. (Repeat: "A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim." -- George Santayana).
4. No dialogue ever, except "beep, beep".
5. Road Runner must stay on the road -- for no other reason than that he's a roadrunner.
6. All action must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters -- the southwest American desert.
7. All tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from the Acme Corporation.
8. Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy.
9. The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures.
10. The audience's sympathy must remain with the Coyote.

The Dysfunctional Warzone: The Workplace

Things You'd Love to Say Out Loud At Work

1. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce
2. How about never? Is never good for you?
3. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public
4. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter
5. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying
6. Ahhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again
7. I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid
8. You are validating my inherent trust of strangers
9. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist
10. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental
11. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
12. Oh, I get it...like humour...but different

The above list was something I found while surfing and it is supposedly an actual posting on a workspace bulletin. What this actually underlies though is a strong sentiment that the workplace is prime hunting ground for the weak will surely perish. E-mails sent across blaming people discreetly for work not done or for some to bask in their own glory and accomplishment. Now here are some pokopen tips in surviving the treacherous grounds and possibly win you fame and fortune:-

1. Bring sufficient ammo. Basic rule of thumb and works on any battlefield. Come prepared to work or risk your a$$ being grilled. Show initiative in knowing what you are actually doing.
2. Be heartless. Friends are there after work. Let it all go and do what is required (Note that Pokopen Rebellion does not claim responsibility should you choose to sabotage your neighbours work or if you poison your boss). Live with your conscience.
3. Get your job done. Don't meddle into office politicking and don't attempt to be a smart-a$$ all the time. Do what you're paid to do and do it well. That keeps marauders away. Don't give your opponents live ammunition
4. Patience is a virtue. Having said that...
5. Don't go down without a fight. Do the right thing for yourself. When trampled upon, stand up and whup the bananas out of the next attempt
6. Find stuff to do after work. Even retired soldiers go home to plough their fields or do what retired soldiers do. Engage in healthy stuff and form a community.
7. Remember to be polite to everyone. Respect others and due respect will be given to you. Also, just because your an executive, you still have to go get your own coffee and does not grant you executive rights to hang around and chat during office hours
8. Be open and transparent. Don't dwell on mind games and be open.
9. Be happy. Its just work afterall. Enjoy yourself. If its all about the money, suit yourself
10. Beware the hidden backstabber. Tips on spotting a backstabber include the evil look and overly friendly approach. Don't engage in gossip because word travels around pretty fast and it will come back and haunt you. Oh, yes, all that talk about your boss being a bitch or worse will echo back.

This and many more insights from the pokopen rebellion in the future...remember that pokopen survived this first..dezza!

tuna + acupuncture = great fish?

The president of Japan's Osakana Planning Co. told attendees of the Japanese Seafood Show in July that his tuna makes superior sushi because his company administers acupuncture to each fish prior to its death, in order to reduce stress.

The Times (London), 25 July 2008.

+



=




???????

Dictionary.Com defines the following as:-

tu·na /ˈtunə, ˈtyu-/ [too-nuh, tyoo-]
–noun, plural (especially collectively) -na, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) -nas.
1. any of several large food and game fishes of the family Scombridae, inhabiting temperate and tropical seas.
2. any of various related fishes.
3. also called tuna fish. the flesh of the tuna, used as food.

ac·u·punc·ture [n. ak-yoo-puhngk-cher; v. ak-yoo-puhngk-cher, ak-yoo-puhngk-] noun, verb, -tured, -tur·ing.
–noun
1. a Chinese medical practice or procedure that treats illness or provides local anesthesia by the insertion of needles at specified sites of the body.
–verb (used with object)
2. to perform acupuncture on

The Wreck's Dictionary defines the above statements as full of &*#@. How weird can we get?

The rebellion will continue to hunt down weird news around this whacky world, until more crazy happenings, dezza!

Cookie Vikings

Legend speaks of the horror of the cookie vikings. I denied their existence for the many years of my life until the pangs of reality came to truth today. Gasp..the rumours were true. Legend exists.

Struggling to chronicle the horrors of the incident. I managed to recreate the image of the vicious marauders.



Although somewhat cartoonish, the real life marauders were vicious saliva dripping brats. Their fangs were the stuff of werewolves and their weapons were weird grins and hidden clubs. They left all kinds of damage and carnage in their wake. Barely able to conceal my own treasure trove of cookies, I was left at their immediate mercy as they plundered at will. Chuckling as they dumped wrappers of their spoils in my own bin, I could not bring myself to comprehend the monstrosity and primeval rage. Happily making their way onto the next village of smiles, I could only hug my fragile state while trembling at the recoil of the attack.

The horror of the raid will live in infamy and annals of "suckness" and retribution will be swift. Sitting in my "Stephen Hawking" likeness, plotting my revenge could not have been more fun. What I had with envisioned pitiless rage would even make Hannibal Lecter cringe in fright squealing like a little girl.

As I recuperate from the dreadful aftermath, the attack has severely crippled my resources for the upcoming difficult days ahead. I fear that the end may be near for the office realm. It didin't use to be like this. There used to be camaraderie and holding hands singing hippie songs and sharing of food. Slowly building my army from scratch despite the scarcity of resources, I vow to finally take over and steal what is mine back from the very bellies of the beasts.

I will have my revenge and gloat as I munch on their precious cookies myself. I can already envision my victorious stance over the crying and wailings of the to-be pathetic vikings.

Now, time to light the lamps of deviousness as I contemplate revenge! Until the next postings if I survive, dezza!

the egg

I used to remember my grandmother lecturing me in the old kitchen filled with rich fumes. Aromas of soup and other herbs which I could never differentiate form a root. She used to teach me how to determine if an egg is fresh or hard boiled. Solution - just spin the egg. If it wobbles, it's raw. If it spins easily, it's hard boiled.



Now the really interesting lesson was, a fresh egg will sink in water, a stale one will float. So how does one root out a stinker in life?

What happens when fresh ideas don't greet you in the morning? What happens when you find it hard to drag yourself out of bed?

How do you identify the staleness of life when everything does not float?

There comes a time in life when you are faced with questions, innate hurdles that keep you constantly wondering when will the pain end and you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Life is funny in the sense that some people think that life has a quirky way of working itself out. Others preach motivational outlooks at life. Think positive recite this mantra and you will succeed at your personal obstacles. Some declare that by letting it all go in drinks and karaoke once in a while is a healer. And even some who believe that a balanced life and healthy activities is the solution.

The answer does not lie in simple go to solutions. Rather in the short span of life, what I have come to discover is that people always look for conviction/s to believe in. Some higher order that determines the direction their boat heads to. There is a pillar that sustains their belief and that pillar keeps people going every single day. Fascinating at the complexity of the web that people spin. Some create too many tangles that they see psychiatrists. Some leave it one day at a time and are proclaimed loafers.

What I personally feel is that people are looking for a cause to live for. For a reason beyond the simple smiles and normal routines. They convince themselves that whatever they do is for the better tomorrow or even satisfaction an hour later. Working hard for a brand new car, a better life. Staying home to have more time for the family. There has been countless books of making the most of each day and even more about positive thinking.

What i say is that life is more than the Xs and Os. Life is not an equation that measures how strong your conviction is and how disciplines you are in achieving the end goal. For who knows what the actual end goal you desire is? Who would know that what you are doing is merely convincing yourself everything is fine and that the world is dandy.

Then, we look at the telly/tube and we see poor kids in Africa. We feel there is more to life. Suddenly that lack of materials and survival makes us reflect and be glad and want to make a difference. Then the vicious cycle repeats again and again.

That is the real stinker. Look for what you really want. Thats what really counts. Would you blast music at your cubicle right now because you felt like it? Would you jump up and dance after 30 minutes at work? So what is it that you really want?

Live life today sounds fine but if you continue to deceive yourself, it ain't worth it. Not that I'm saying you should quit your job now and start doing whatever you wish. I'm just saying that life is more than all the motivational talk and you should probably stop for a moment and think what the stinker in your life is. Me, I just figured mine out.

Dezza with the rebellion!

By the way, I've just been given a cool nick of "the wreck" by economic buddy "bola". All for the rebellion!

fakawi and phakar

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

What defines a great act is an even greater heart. At his point in time, I have in fact transcended rage to succumb to resignation that lives a bitch and if it were easy, there would be hell. Been thinking about what defines an action and beyond the personality that shapes that action. I look into that face in the mirror and what gazes back is the reflection of both defeat and fatigue. Tiredness over the crap that lives keep tossing at you. While mocking you, life also decides to trample you to the ground. What do you do when life spits back into your eyes while you holler before being pushed into a volcanic edge only to have your shoestrings stuck on rocks to be burned by boiling magma?

Every minute is insane. Which brings us to todays topic of fakawi and phakar. Both distinct. Yet similar. Fakawitribe is a group of fanatical bicycle riders that get lost in forests and hence the moniker, "Where the f@#k are we?" (This kinda reminds me of where Shaquille O'Neal, the MDE (most Dominant Ever) once described the term as adding a star before drawing the tic tac toes bit). For all sanity checks, kindly check out the truth here.

Phakar is a Maori term which was poked fun of on Aussie tv in 2005 which drew absolute hilarity for all viewers at home. I still recall the chaotic fun they were trying to poke at the Maori which was never taken kindly. Bad blood Kiwi and Aussies I was told upon reaching Auckland.

What both have in common? Just the tic tac toes and stars salute I have for my dear bimbo.

Till more absurd connections, dezza!

sports and what it actually means

Was involved in some teamwork in the office and started wondering, now, don't know about you but how many have actually seen the film, "Cool Runnings" which came out way back in 1993 about the fictional Jamaican bobsled team which rode to glory in the winter Olympics? Meant to be a comedy about the power believing in one another and the lessons of sacrifice, finding myself giggling throughout the entire show which was a wonder for a hyper 10 year old kid, I found myself really in awe of what it means to win as a team. Growing up idolising great super athletes such as Michael Jordan to the greatness of Tiger Woods, you really do wonder what and how is victory achieved. More than ever, "Cool Runnings" is the epitome of growing up pains and the cherish of friendship over that leads to victory. Funny how a comedy means so much more than the sports pages by the newspapers and mainstream media that what it takes to be a champion is to have supernatural talent and the ability to look good.


The 1989 martial arts film, "Best of the Best", comes to mind when it deals with respect of the opponents. Winning doesnt equal humiliation of those who fall. Defeat does not serve to fuel personal egos. Competition is the platform, the end goal of a challenge, a personal challenge to perform. It does not constitute a stage of adulation or of proving manhood. It is about respect for others and more importantly, yourself. At the aftermath of a bloody loss for the Americans, the crucial take-away point of the movie rests in the fact that they bowed before each other while muttering, "I know you". All those hours of tapes and reviews of each others, right down to family members left them not only with the primary aim of scanning for visible weaknesses but also a deep sense of respect for one another and the sport.

Recently, absurdity of news of Christiano Ronaldo, the star player of Manchester United, recently crowned European champions and on the verge of equalling the record of almighty Liverpool in the UK league and of Gilbert Arenas, the latest NBA superstar who sat out most of the 07/08 NBA season, rewarded as another Franchise cornerstone (at least Agent Zero had the manlihood to reduce the amount from 127m). Spoilt stars in a commercial inducing sporting world. Both stars in their own right leaving a sour taste in the pages of past heroes of sporting history when compared to Michale Jordan and Pele.

Sports shackled under the intense glare of media owners, sporting team owners, world federations and league authorities all with a share of the big pie is indeed still entertaining but it does make you wonder what happens when humans evolve. Catch up with physical capabilities and then what remains of competition? What happens to discipline and of what it takes to win? Blood, sweat and tears to be replaced with cronies and posses each with their own agenda trying to eclipse the very sport that catalyst their growth. The days of 60s and 70s where it was for the glory and perfection of the sport have bade us by but what remains is that intact legacy that will still live on.

Ramblings will continue to be ramblings but it does take you back in your couch and wonder what sports truly could have meant today.

Until more rebellion mumblings, dezza!

of aliens and the bizarre

Former NASA astronaut and moon-walker Dr Edgar Mitchell - a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission - has stunningly claimed aliens exist.

And he says extra-terrestrials have visited Earth on several occasions - but the alien contact has been repeatedly covered up by governments for six decades.

Dr Mitchell, 77, said during a radio interview that sources at the space agency who had had contact with aliens described the beings as 'little people who look strange to us.'

He said supposedly real-life ET's were similar to the traditional image of a small frame, large eyes and head.

Chillingly, he claimed our technology is "not nearly as sophisticated" as theirs and "had they been hostile", he warned "we would be been gone by now".

As bizarre as the whole fact may seem, we have more serious threats than the possibility of alien abduction or extraterrestrial threats (at least for me that is). Yesterday while dragging my way back to my condo and awaiting the ever tardy lift to descend, I encountered the most bizarre (don't think this exactly tops the alien claims though) experience in all 24 years of my breathing space on planet earth. Stumbling into the lift after another grueling day at the slave centre, I celebrated my triumphant escape from Alcatraz only to be led on into a trap - more of a box that moves. To my surprise, I encountered a group of "aquas" or ladymen to the uninitiated. My good friend "Gnei" and "Van Halen" mocking and taunting me appeared in flashbacks as I gripped onto myself in anticipation of horror ahead.

All was fine until floor 2 and when the first remark started from Mr. I-am-not-sexy-but-want-to-flaunt-it on my skin (to those who have met me in the flesh would get the drift) and questions on whether I was a Chinese mainlander. Then the horde descended as one as my fragile mind fled in terror. Hallucinations of them gang-banging me and the craziness of youth crept at such a horrifying pace. The panic button started going manic when the whole she-bang got off at the same floor. How come we shared a same floor and only now this had to happen??? Slowly I crept in a rendition of Stephen Hawkings hoping to turn the whole party of marauding suspicious group off.

Another she-male made a few remarks of how they would love to have my skin that kinda set the trigger off on the whole affair as I could feel the temptation of my knees buckling under it all. The constant smirks and smiles were getting to me a bit.

Before all hell broke loose and more scenes from Shawshank Redemption became reality, they politely bade me goodbye although my fingers were literally shaking from protecting the family jewels and my crack. Yes, it was a sudden letdown and blow of steam after all the highlights. All in all it was a bizarre yet pleasant conversation with people and this goes yet again to prove that not all flicks are bound in reality and that you too can strike a pleasant conversation with anything or the bizarre.

Heres to the next rebellion, dezza!

a champion made of heart

On July 4th Chestnut successfully defended his hot-dog eating championship by defeating the legendary Kobayashi in a sudden death dog-off.

Afterwards, Chestnut described the deciding factor in his victory.

"He wanted it," Chestnut said, "but I needed it."

Just what determines a champion? Been pondering this as i am an unabashed admitting sports fan and the very lure of greatness of the figures of sports remains that champions are recognised and runners up fade into the dusk unlike the glorious exits of the lone ranger and Tonto into the sunset. The really fascinating aspect of sports is that thin line that makes a champion. That willingness to sacrifice what is needed and more in order to cross that finite line that seperates mortals from those that go down in the history books, forever echoed and called upon as a definition of greatness.

Now I may be dragged out by an angry mob and stoned for this but I believe and proclaim that Malaysians have not a single ounce of greatness nor the qualities needed to be a champion. Except for the few squash (still thriving), lawn bowl (yawn!), badminton (staggering and losing guts on the big stage, besides huge drama queens), and football (a shame on all living and breathing involved in the local arena and probably they deserve stoning as well).

What seperates us from the very fine line of sporting ethics worth celebrating is that very notion and innate belief that we are losers and that we stand zero..absolute ZERO chance at winning in the popular games where the money is. Besides vouching for obscure and non rewardable sports, we have been busy building white elephants and at the turn of the Olympics in China, odds are we are coming back without another medal to cheer for. One must wonder where all the heroes have disappeared to.

There is absolutely no resolve both to be a champion both in sports and in wider aspects, a champion in what we should be go at.

While the Malaysian arena continues to publicly mortify us all with lewd remarks and during a time when we have difficulty explaining to our 5 year cousins what sodomy is all about, heres a toast to the great Games ahead!

Until the next channelings of the rebellion, dezza!

lifes a bitch, build a bridge and get over it

Today rushing along the way to work in the usual scramble out of Cheras, of the most peculiar sights to ever occur on the already bizarre streets of Taman Cuepacs was a man half naked at 7am chasing his mutt all over the streets. Talk about 7 and chasing a dog half naked!!!

Poor mutt spent half the time barking in chagrin at the presumptuous owner holding onto sarong for dear life darting in between cars before a bus chased it down the dumps. Seems with all the commotion that the dog was run over and the hysterics of the owner not only failed to amuse but brought traffic to a halt. Now that owner was definitely begging to be whacked and I sure hoped that the bus driver had a chainsaw under his steering wheel or the least he could have done was dial in his gay posse and beat the owner senseless.

The ceaseless banging on the bus door was ramifications of disaster ahead as the burly "i could break your bones and have your liver for breakfast" bus driver alighted and delivered an ass whooping so bad that the half naked owner cowered in shame. Although I wished that happened for all his misdemeanor, what actually happened was a fierce bickering that halted now both lanes and curious as usual Malaysian onlookers.



Be damned for the dog for all its trouble and all Malaysian drivers for causing me a 15 minute delay into the station and another 40 minutes enduring wait for the next pathetic Malaysian public transportation to pull into sight. And all this happened when I had the cheek to awake 10 minutes earlier than usual to get into office early to get work done. To the pathetic mutt who assumedly went straight to heaven, and to the absolutely ridiculous owner who had the nerve to slow down traffic after public embarrassment for the amusement of all folks on Jalan Koop Cuepacs 3, heres my middle finger salute!

Until the next ramblings from crazy Cheras, dezza!

the fisherman

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the hope of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working hard to make a living for himself and his family.

"You're not going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman, "You should be working harder rather than lying on the beach!"

The fisherman looked up, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?"

"Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer.

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.

The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.

The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.

"And then what will my reward be?"

The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let your employees catch fish for you!"

Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"

The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"

LIFE is simple. Do what you must but be sure you know what you're going for. We end up in circles everyday and get lost on most days. Let today be a reflection on what we're all here for and what we're working for. To all those who know kudos and to those who don't, start looking!



Until more rebellion news, dezza!

Love on Delivery

Customer Service Call

Customer: I'm not very technical, but I just received LOVE and think I am ready to install now. What do I do first?

CS Rep: The first step is to open your HEART. Have you located your HEART ma'am?

Customer: Yes, I have, but there are several programs running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running?

CS Rep: What programs are running ma'am?

Customer: Let me see... I have PASTHURT.EXE, LOWESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.

CS Rep: No problem. LOVE will automatically erase PAST HURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOWESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGHESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn of GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ma'am?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

CS Rep: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, I'm done. LOVE has started installing it's self automatically. Is that normal?

CS Rep: Yes it is. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your HEART. Do you see that message?

Customer: Yes I do. Is it completely installed?

CS Rep: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other HEART'S in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops... I have an error message already. What should I do?

CS Rep: What does the message say?

Customer: It says "ERROR 412 - PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS." What does that mean?

CS Rep: Don't worry ma'am, that's a common problem. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external HEARTS but has not yet been run on your HEART. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in non-technical terms it means you have to "LOVE" your own machine before it can "LOVE" others.

Customer: So what should I do?

CS Rep: Can you find the directory called SELF-ACCEPTANCE?

Customer: Yes, I have it.

CS Rep: Excellent, you are getting good at this.

Customer: Thank you.

CS Rep: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the MYHEART directory: FORGIVESELF.DOC, SELFESTEEM.TXT, REALIZEWORTH.TXT and GOODNESS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete SELFCRITIC.EXE from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it Hey! My HEART is filling up with really neat files. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that WARMTH.COM, PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are coping themselves all over my HEART!

CS Rep: Then LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go...

Customer: Yes?

CS Rep: LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some really neat modules back to you.

Hopefully we can all install a bit of LOVE today.

Until the next posting of the rebellion, dezza!

A theory and a parable

The Butterfly Effect, to the unenlightened, the phrase refers to how tiny flaps in a butterfly's wings could possibly change the wind patterns in an atmosphere and thereafter hasten, slowdown or even cause a tornado.

Popularised in the movie, The Butterfly Effect (2004), it really leaves you pondering and thinking about the what-ifs and the eventualities of one action you feel would have otherwise been significant in altering the reality of where you are today. Be it from a job choice to even the partner you have, life goes on. Its all about being contented with life that matters. And more so, to leave the pondering of what-if behind and to live life day by day. This reminds me of a story....

The Stone Cutter

There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.

One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever imagined, but envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. Soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. "How powerful that official is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a high official!"

Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around. It was a hot summer day, so the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. "How powerful the sun is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the sun!"

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. "How powerful that storm cloud is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a cloud!"

Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. "How powerful it is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the wind!"

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, feared and hated by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it - a huge, towering rock. "How powerful that rock is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a rock!"

Then he became the rock, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the hard surface, and felt himself being changed. "What could be more powerful than I, the rock?" he thought.

He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stone cutter.

Maybe its not the butterfly effect we are looking at, rather its a whole cycle only if we learn to be contented and smile for today.Until more annoying thoughts from the rebellion, dezza!

i am more than a dot on a bell graph..

sadly i have recently been informed that I will not be promoted eventhough I met the required criterias, eventhough I worked my butt off, eventhough I shed blood and tears for the organisation, eventhough I was recommended for promotion, all the organisation did was shove the middle finger between the pinkie and the index right back at me.

And all this because I did not stand out in a bell curve..it seems if you are not a deviation above the charts that indicates performing above the exceptional level expected of an executive then you will have to park your a$$ right where you are until some major miracles grants you a lifeline. Talk about double jeopardy when at the same time, you are expected to do everything else except roll dead in order to exist.

The Kubler-Ross model or rather more famously known as the five stages of grief was the mere epitome of a normal sane humans acceptance of death and sadness as my inner mind defied all reality and norm, my mind (in exact order) raced past denial, dwelled on anger, skipped bargaining, toggled with depression and totally ignored acceptance. All in 5 minutes. Talk about busting myths and solving crimes, my Sherlock Holmes cap flew by as Hannibal Lecter's mask was merely within grasp before I questioned the necessity of all these drama. Dropping my pick axe and calmly recollecting what was left of my sanity, I hid away in the depths of Mt. Doom (home) and contemplated the situation at hand (Nope, didin't run any situational analysis or theorems. Did decorate my cave/lair drawings of hatred and conceptualisation of voodoo dolls inthough)

When the tornado blew past, I knew I still at least could rationalise right and wrong and still shove a middle finger salute right back as gratitude. I could go on about how cruel and bleak the world is, but truth of the matter remains that I should always be contented about how things work out and comfort myself that God works in mysterious ways. True, true and true. (At least I still had a job when 80,000 just lost theirs in the US last week)

However, the one fact I could never overcome was the bizarre truth that I simply didin't make the grade all due to not being an anomaly in a mundane world of fools. And to cap it off, heres my salute to the appreciation of the organisation!

Till the next ramblings of the rebellion, dezza!

A book about telling a story

Just the other day, my good friend, "Hera", lent me this book, "Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins" by Annette Simmons. The book kept me captivated over the strength of not how do you tell a story with conviction which formed the underlying message of the title. However, the aspect which drove deep in my conscience was rather the power of perception that people derive from a "story"

A perfectly happy customer can all of a suddenly feel unhappy if that customer hears that another customer got a better product at half the price, then be satisfied again when the shopkeeper reassures the customer that this is all false and rumours circulated by a competitor. Here, nothing changed physically but the stories about the reality completely changed the perceptions of what is true, what is important, and thus, real.

Just the other day, politicians ripped apart the influence of bloggers that the perceptions they spun caused biased views and unrest amongst the population. Just how far fetching is this theorem when we compare this to the statement in the previous paragraph. Yes, this arguement does hold substance. However, this also renders justification and support that the local conventional mass media no longer holds credibility among the "thinkers" and the "truth-seekers". Both ways, it is a shot in the foot for the Malaysian media.

The definition of truth is based on how do we perceive the truth to be and the story that shapes and supports that truth. The book further dwells on the fact that the word "rational" was derived from the word, "ratio" which in all sense defines a logical approach. To think one level further, "ratios" are developed based on qualitative aspects. How do we justify a ratio?

If two traders were to trade one carrot for one donkey and both left satisfied with this ratio. Is this deal still rational? The same applies to the "stories" which we hear, feel and more importantly believe each day of our lives.

What is "rational"? What are the "ratios" that we should believe in? That lies deeper than mere stories as vehicles. That is your conviction and belief which you should trust most. Take today to actually rethink what and how you too could reach out with your convictions and make a difference.

Until more "stories" from the rebellion, dezza!

there is rain after the rainbow..

No better way to sum up a day than teardrops from the sky at the end of another grueling day at the office. It makes you wonder why the rainy days keep coming. Perhaps when you know it will rain, that when it does rain, you don't feel it that much. Brutal. Thats what it is.

Ending with teardrops outside still pouring.

Till the next rebellion post, dezza!

And Love is?

One day, Plato asked his teacher, "What is love? How can I find it?"

His teacher answered: "There is a vast wheat field in front. Walk
forward without turning back, and pick only one stalk. If you find the
most magnificent stalk, then you have found love."

Plato walked forward, and before long, he returned with empty hands,
having picked nothing.

His teacher asked: "Why did you not pick any stalk?"

Plato answered: "Because I could only pick once, and yet I could not
turn back. I did find the most magnificent stalk, but did not know if
there were any better ones ahead, so I did not pick it. As I walked
further, the stalks that I saw were not as good as the earlier one, so
I did not pick any in the end.

His teacher then said: "And that is love."


On another day, Plato asked his teacher, "What is marriage? How can I find it?"

His teacher answered: "There is a thriving forest in front. Walk
forward without turning back, and chop down only one tree. If you find
the tallest tree, then you have found marriage".

Plato walked forward, and before long, he returned with a tree. The
tree was not thriving, and it was not tall either. It was only an
ordinary tree.

His teacher asked: "Why did you chop down such an ordinary tree?"

Plato answered: "Because of my previous experience. I had walked
through the field, but returned with empty hands. This time, I saw
this tree, and I felt that it was not bad, so I chopped it down and
brought it back. I did not want to miss the opportunity."

His teacher then said: "And that is marriage. You see son, Love is the
most beautiful thing that can happen to a person, its an opportunity!
but you don't realize its worth when you have it but only when its
gone like the field of stalks. Marriage like the tree you chopped,
it's a compromise."

*Courtesy of fragrant of frangipani

Somehow reading over this story made me ponder for a while today. Was a bit lost over the entire day and have been lost for the past few weeks or so. Ever felt a moment when you never know which path you had to walk? Or if you were making the right choices all the way?

It kind of gets to your mind after a while of wandering on where do you fit and what does relationships mean to you. What does love mean in a relationship and the mentality we have towards love today. I would definitely blame the misconceptions of love on the serial dramas on local TVB Hong Kong influence among the ah bengs and ah lians and for the more sophisticated, on Sex and the City, Gossip Girls and other fanfare. Life is not a fairytale but the reality bites harder than you would want.

Every teenager to 30 year old dreams of a romantic everyday moment that they could just sail off too. Problem is we spend too much time looking instead of living. Too much time searching for what is special everyday in our lives. That constant belief that your romantic everyday story lies just beyond that rainbow is totally FAKE!!!

Think again. Go home to your partner if you have one. Look into his/her eyes and just tell him/her you love him/her today. See what happens in their eyes. Say it and mean it. Keep believing and you will see that love your looking for right in your lives.

Stir up the placid surface of your lives today if you're looking for love people and you will find the best treasures staring back so obivious that it mocks you for missing it in the first place. Live today!

Checking out the next rebellion, dezza!

Demystifying the logic of the male psyche

999 Pranksters

1^st Quarter 2008 figures for crank calls (mil)

Jan 1.85

Feb 1.51

Mar 1.47

Apr 1.34

Who are the crank callers? (April statistics)

Children below 12 years 39%

Male adults 44%

Female adult 2%

Teens (13-18 yrs) 15%

Type of calls and percentage

Nuisance calls 59%

Obscene calls 26%

Silent calls 12%

Calls from mentally disturbed 3%

98% of calls constitute prank calls

*Attributed to The Star Graphics 2008

For all who seek to de-mystify the way a male mind works and operates, look no further than the graph above published in the Star, dated 7 July 2008, Malaysia's leading newspaper publisher and carrier of much much more than political disputes and more degrading news of the Malaysian political arena.

Listed more devious than the tormenting children of age 12 and below, surely the male population of our nation has crafted a new edge to the "Malaysian Boleh!!" spirit with new insights into how low can we deplore at the social ladder of the world.

Already notorious for obscene adherence and a seemingly glaring weakness for the abuse of our "freedom", we just cannot seem to avoid proving a point with every act of notoriety and social mortification in the eyes of the world. As all eyes are focused on the blog atmosphere which has gone on strike against the continuing saga of Malaysian political humiliation, let us again contemplate as social activists continue to fight for more governmental "care" over hiking petrol prices and the political powers that be debate over whose"a**es" are to blame, that we as Malaysians should wear our hearts and more importantly our civic minds on our sleeves.

Perhaps the 999 dial call of one number for one nation should also exude its meaning amongst the masses that there is indeed a need for a call of emergency now that people have to stop pointing their fingers at others and perhaps just maybe think about the other Malaysian that could be on the other line awaiting for help, or your neighbour needing an empty seat in the lrt or even that car that waited patiently in line while you whiz your way along the emergency line to the front.

Until the next Pokopenian Rebellion post, deeza!