Podium Of Infamy

After the fiasco that was the StanChart KL Marathon, runners in this country were once again slapped in the face by appalling race management. Read the comments on the recent Ipoh "International" Run here and here.

It's general knowledge now that the organizers of the KL Marathon bungled in the bib distribution, timing (a recent case surfaced on the 3rd Malaysian women finisher who looked deceptively dry and inappropriately dressed - perchance a local Rosie Ruiz?), and so on and so forth. Now we have another group of organizers to join Octagon on the Podium of Infamy.

I won't mince my words below but things have gotten so bad that it warrants a strong message.

Some race organizers have proven year after year that they have no intention of improving. We as operators of our blogs reserve the right to ascertain which event we want to feature. The event owners aren't paying us anyway. Previously we’re just doing the runners and organizers a favour by including their races in our blog calendars. But if their races suck we shouldn’t continue to “help” these organizers. Instead we should mark them down as black-listed races – call the category “Proven Disorganized Races”. If we continue to help provide free advertising for these scumbags, we’re just condoning bad events and putting our fellow runners and friends - or worst, inexperienced beginners - at risk. So we bloggers should act responsibly NOT to feature such races in future. We should also be aware of the possibility that unless we start boycotting these lousy events, organizers will continue to set up events as a way to suck up to the politicians who arrive late in their tracksuits. All at the runners’ expense. Are you still willing to be used as pawns?

I've time and again warned organizers who seek to put together races without much thought of the responsibility it comes with, that the success and failure of the race will be shouted across the blogs. And lately we've seen 2 classic examples of failures being lambasted by many.

Let this be a warning to future organizers. We runners have had enough of self-serving and irresponsible event management. And the voice of discontent will reach a crescendo if such feedback go unheeded.

Annual Med Check...And A Rant

I finally got around to getting my annual checkup done, something which should've been carried out in June! Thinking that 8:30am would be very early was the first mistake I did. A long queue had already formed. The examination package is quite comprehensive but not all-inclusive. Other than the blood works, ultrasound, X-ray, a treadmill stress test and other basic tests, there was no cancer marker check, no bone density nor hearing test. Certainly no testicular ultrasound as what this famous blogger went through!


Having said that, I can't be complaining since the RM1,000 package is fully borne by my employer. The reason I'm mentioning this is so that in the event you're looking for a clinic to perform an extensive array of tests, you can consider where Kenny went.


Since there are only a couple of weeks to the end of the year, there were many colleagues there to "redeem" their benefits and thus what was potentially a 3-hour visit turned into a 6-hour stay. I had my iPod Touch with me and was able to while my time away watching movies and surfing the web via the free wi-fi access. The waiting did many no good since we had to fast from midnight. I was starved. The matter was made worse since the Astro channel was locked on to the cooking channel! In the end I could wait no more and surrendered my lunch voucher at the cafeteria while waiting for the treadmill (I know, no running after food!). I opted for the tasty garlic and mushroom pasta.


The results of the test? The doc gave me a clean bill of health. No presence of H Pylori (this dang bacteria sounds like Helicopter Pirelli!), the good cholesterol is high and the bad is low, no infection of the kidney, prostate looks good. I'm tracking the cholesterol readings though - it's gone up even though it's still in the healthy zone. I attribute that to working late the past few months and not eating as well as last year. That has to change. My BMI is still good at 18, and I haven't yet shrunk - my height still the same. The X-ray showed a little non-permanent scarring of my lung (right lung upper quadrant) which the doc said could've been due to a lung infection. That's strange because I didn't know I had that. Despite that I was told not to worry as it wasn't something to be concerned about. With the good results in my hand, I treated myself to an ice-cream cone on my way back to the office.


Now comes the rant. Not about the med check but about an experience at the recently concluded PC Fair. A salesgirl approached me as I was checking out the Shure earbuds at the EpiCenter booth. She asked me if there was anything I was looking for. Nothing wrong. So I asked if the price stated on the item was any cheaper than sold at their store. Her answer floored me. Ready? OK, here you go. She replied, "Would it make a difference if it was cheaper outside?". Somehow I was able to remain standing and replied (in a rather incredulous tone) "Of course! That's what fairs are for. Why else would I brave the crowds for if not for a better price?". And I walked off. She may just be a part-timer for the store just for the event but EpiCenter had lost a customer.

Don't Con Us!

The Story About "Subsidy"

A man called Razak owns a farm which can produce 10 apples every day. He has 5 workers to operate the farm. Each of them eats 1 apple daily and it is enough to keep them operating the farm normally. The remaining 4 apples, the landlord sells them at RM10 each and he earns RM40. He uses the RM25 to improve the farm operation and facilities. He gives RM2.00 to each of his workers and he keeps the remaining RM5.00 as profit. Day by day, the farm is well developed and all of the 5 workers are happy with the money they can save.

When Razak passed away and there is a new landlord, PokLeh comes to continue the farm operation. He says to the workers: "We need to improve the farm quality and redefine our way of thinking. From now on all of you only need to pay RM1.00 for each apple you eat. It is very cheap as the price is RM10 each outside the farm."

The workers have no choice but to pay RM1.00 for the apple they eat daily. Their earning decrease from RM2.00 to RM1.00 per person. As usual, PokLeh sells the 4 apples and he gets RM40. He uses RM25 for farm improvement and pays RM10 to his 5 workers. He gets RM5.00 as profit. On top of that, he gets another RM5.00 from the apples that he sells to his workers. In total, he gets RM10 as profit every day.

Soon, the apple price increases to RM20 each. The new landlord gets a higher profit as he gets RM80 for the 4 apples he sells daily. Then, he decides to give the farming improvement contract to one of his close friend, Samy.. Samy says:"Apple cost naik, improvement cost also misti naik." So, the farm improvement cost increases from RM25 to RM50. In actual, the improvement only cost RM30. The remaining RM20, PokLeh and Samy share evenly among themselves.

Let's calculate how much PokLeh gets daily:

RM10 (from farm improvement cost)
RM20 (Net profit by selling 4 apples: [Gross profit, RM80] ?
[Improvement cost, RM50] ? [Wages RM10] = RM20)
RM5 (from selling apples to his workers)

In total, PokLeh gets RM35 daily compare to RM10 initially when he takes over the farm from Razak. His profit increases RM25 and the workers are still getting RM1.00 daily per person.

The greedy PokLeh does not want to stop there. One day, he says to his fellow workers:" You see ah, the current market price for one apple is RM20 and you are only paying RM1. See how lucky you are! I have to SUBSIDY RM19.00 for each of the apple you buy and total I need to SUBSIDY RM95.00. This will greatly burden the farm and we might get bankrupt if we continue like this. In order to avoid bankruptcy, I need to increase the apple price that you buy from RM1.00 to RM1.50 and I will bare the remaining RM18.50 per apple as my subsidy to you all. "

So, greedy PokLeh adds RM2.50 to his current profit and the number becomes RM37.50.

After you have read the story, I am sure you have already understood the meaning of a 'SUBSIDY' given by the BN government. The RM95 subsidy never existed in the first place and so was the RM52 billion fuel subsidy generously 'given' by the BN government..

Cutting fuel subsidy is actually just a reason to steal money from your pocket. Are you gonna stand there and let them rob you???

Of Today's Youngsters And Sleep Conditioning

Now that my youngest brother is down in KL and spends his weekends at my place, I get the opportunity to observe close-up the typical behaviour of a mid-20s male. The result of my observation?

• Sleeps too late - past midnight
• And as a result, wakes up too late - past 10am. Hits noon if not prompted to get his butt off the bed
• Spends too much time online. Much info can be obtained on the Internet (case in question, his search for rooms for rent) but he gets too easily sidetracked with online chat and other frivolous distractions
• Takes too much things for granted. Not much self initiative and independence on display. Despite my advice, my Mom still irons his clothes for him.

Maybe I'm just generalizing the youths of today or me being old-fashioned. I just can't buy that kind of lifestyle. Too much time is wasted sleeping, rendering the person unproductive the next day. If sleeping late is due to the nature of work or an occasional "decadence", then I've no arguments but not because of online escapades. Sleep when it matters, get up early and get the day going. Be a productive person.

Many of us who start our weekend long runs at 5am get home by 9:30am having covered 30K, and upon reaching home vacuum and mop the home and showered, ready for the day - be it taking the kids out, etc... By 11am, the sleepy head is just stirring. All that talk about strengthening his body via exercise following his back surgery last year is plain crap. Excuses upon excuses of not going out there for his walks, eating more than he should, not showing enough independence and gall, and generally displaying too much lazing around.

 

I'm sorry to blog about this but when I take my rant offline to my brother and Mom, they don't see my point. So you readers now have to bear with me. My Mom overdotes on this fella. I say put him through the fire. Youth today have gone too sappy (as a result of too much spoon-feeding) and when they're not, they use their energies on unproductive activities. When I came down 15 years ago, I was a typical wide-eyed boy from a small town. To familiarize myself with the city, I'd get out of the rented room (the first few months were spent at my relatives') every weekend by 8:30am, take the mini bus no.14 and later 35 down to Central Market and started walking the roads right up to where The Mall is. Once I covered that direction and taking note of the buses that ply that route, I'd set off in another - towards the commercial areas around the Sultan Ismail-Bukit Bintang district. That was how I learned the streets. I was lucky in that I was only mugged twice but that was in my late 20s after getting off work late. Of course I became quite streetwise and alert following the incidences! Situational awareness is definitely helpful in today's world.

 

That part of my story pales in comparison with the experiences and hardships of other youths of my age at that time. I'm not saying that everyone should have to go through what other more hardened youths did, but if a person wants to be productive, it has to start right - by inculcating certain habits and getting the priorities right. I'm very sure that the "good animal" that Dr George Sheehan mentioned does not refer to a sleeping one. Read a good take on that philosophy here.

 

Still on sleeping matters, I plan to sleep earlier these few days leading to the race. I figured that I'd need to wake up at 2am on race morning to wash up, fuel, gear up and so on. To get the body clock right, I'm planning to sleep early from tonight onwards. Whether or not I'll be able to sleep right off, I'll still get on the bed before 9:30pm. Then I'll set the alarm for 4:45am for easy runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. No running planned for Friday and Saturday. I've been doing a bit of core strengthening the last few days and should be able to continue for another few days.

WTF???!!!

"What matters is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog"
Dwight D. Eisenhower

I love this quote! Especially after reading all the cooked up rubbish about the compromised indelible ink which will be used during this weekend's elections. I was so upset I wanted to scream "WTF?!" These idiots think we're fools. If I'm the saboteur, my aim would either be to wreck the votes by registering phantom voters, gerrymandering, stopping the oppositions' buses from travelling to the voting stations, buying votes - all low-down dirty tactics already employed. Why would I get these ink and go the difficult way? This tactic is pre-meditated. No such ink had been ordered from India. Probably the reported costs from the "purchased" ink had been used for other elections "activities".

The incumbent candidates (regardless of which parties they're from) who have performed well, worked honestly hard in their constituencies should not associate themselves with these plain rigging. They should defect to the Opposition or stand as an Independent. If they've been a performer, what have they to fear as the public will still support them? They should continue serving the people.

I take comfort in the Thomas Jefferson's wisdom. I've not read his biography but just see how powerful and relevant his words are. May they be a call to action for all of us to do the right thing.

 

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

 

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."

 

"If God is just, I tremble for my country."

 

"Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state. "

"Every generation needs a new revolution."

"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories."

 

And to all those who don't give two hoots about the events in this country, let me bluntly tell you not to complain and don't blame others if you choose to continue being apathetic and fearful. Your kids and love ones will suffer for your fallacies if you keep accepting things as they are and not fight the good fight.

 

Somehow I think the ruling party is pushing their luck by insulting the intelligence of the common folk and by getting more blatant in their actions. All signs of desperation by those clinging to power no doubt. Will it come down to the title of Daniel Day Lewis's award winning film?

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Thomas Jefferson

Choose Wisely

"Don't tell me I am voting for Obama because he's Black........don't play me small.....I am voting for Obama because he's brilliant".

Oprah Winfrey

Received this snippet from a friend and thought I'd post it in light of the upcoming GE. I hope that an upright character and a person with high and unshakeable morals will get the most votes. Like what Oprah said above, it goes beyond skin colour.

While walking down the street one day a Malaysian Boleh Minister is tragically hit by a truck and dies.



His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.



"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."



"No problem, just let me in," says the man.



"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."



"Really, I have made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Yang Berhormat.



"I'm sorry, but we have our rules," says St. Peter.



And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.



Everyone is very happy and dressed in the finest batik there is. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then indulge themselves on lobsters, caviar and the most expensive food there is.



Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.



Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.



The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.
Peter is waiting for him.



"Now it' s time to visit heaven."



So, 24 hours pass with the Yang Berhormat joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.



"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."



The Yang Berhormat reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I'm better off in hell."



So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.



He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.



The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.



"I don't understand," stammers the Yang Berhormat. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"



The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning just like you during an election...... Today you voted."

Are Human Beings Beyond Redemption?

This isn't a theological posting. I'm not going to pretend that I'm a pious person nor claim to be lofty enough nor understand the issues of the world. There are going to be lots more questions asked and there won't be any answers. I was reading the newspaper over breakfast and was "assaulted" with so many sad and disturbing news.

It's either some unethical politicians, some "oversight" by some authorities, some knee-jerk reaction towards current issues plaguing the country, natural disasters (like the coal mine cave-ins in the US and China, and the fires that are consuming Greece), villagers in Papua New Guinea who buried AIDS sufferers alive, global warming, the death of an abused toddler, the continuing ravage of Africa, murders, assassinations...

The world we're living in today is pretty messed up. What kind of world will my kids grow up in? Will they be resourceful and tough enough to survive? Will they get opportunities to be the best they can be? Will they be safe? Will there be greater responsibility practiced towards fellow human beings and the environment we live in? We're not going to be around for long in this world but our children's lives have just started. Whatever we plan on doing to rectify the situation, we had better start doing now. Be it be more environmentally conscious, educating our children to be forthright, honest, unswayed, or simply be kinder and patient towards fellow human beings.

At that point I suddenly felt like going home and hug my kids.

I think it was Thoreau who said something like (can't remember the exact phrase) "Stubborn people don't want to be told to change because they want to see. Let them see!"

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

- Mahatma Gandhi

I'm not a smart person but the message seems to be, it's up to us to turn things around. We have to be Agents of Change. And I'm assuming that's the message, as I've said I don't have answers.