My Own Happiness Project
because happiness begins inside and flows out...
20091204
20091203
arteo went to the opening of Metrojaya at SuriaSabah...
After much anticipation over the construction of the latest addition to the shopping heaven in KK, Suria Sabah finally opens its door to shoppers today, and not wanting to be left behind in the frenzy of being there on the first day.
Not many shops are open yet, only Metrojaya and some other labels like Hush Puppies, Obermain footwear and 3dots selling undergarments, and maybe the eateries like KFC, Pizza Hut and Kenny Rogers.



Can't help it but everytime I go pass the toys department, I'll be looking out for something to get Yiyi... but maybe she has too many toys already.
And finally, after going round and round in metrojaya, I got myself a Membership for RM10, a box of undies at 10% discount and some catalogues.
The actual situation on the lowe ground floor exit... you can hear you own echo here... perhaps if we come back in 3 months' time, there'll be more things to see. Till then, I'll stick to CPS and 1B.

tercipta untukku........
This is one of my favorite pet song for karaoke... It's been a while now... Bah siapa mau pi melalak, jom!!
Original Version
Second Version - Featuring Rossa, made for soundtrack of a movie
Ungu
Menatap indahnya senyuman diwajahmuMembuatku terdiam dan terpaku
Mengerti akan hadirnya cinta terindah
Bila kau peluk mesra tubuhku
Banyak kata yang tak mampu
Ku ungkapkan kepada dirimu...
Aku ingin engkau selalu
Hadir dan temani aku
Di setiap langkah yang menyakiniku
Kau tercipta untukku
Sepanjang hidupku
Aku ingin engkau selalu
Hadir dan temani aku
Di setiap langkah yang menyakiniku
Kau tercipta untukku
Pasti waktu akan mampu
Memanggil seluruh ragaku
Ku ingin kau tahu ku selalu milikmu
Yang mencintaimu
Sepanjang hidupku....
20091130
thanks very much.......
For your financial support (though it would have been so much more fun with you guys being around!!): Mizal, Elson, Ewann and Phyllis
For coming to visit us and making the whole thing a success: Ben, Effendy, Julia and Jaco, and not forgetting my dad, mom and uncle NK, and all of you who agreed to take a cake from us despite being super suspicious about our shrimp behind the rock in handing out free cupcakes.
Thanks very much
arteo
arteo
universal access and human rights........
The theme for World AIDS Day 2009 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. Global leaders have pledged to work towards universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care, recognising these as fundamental human rights. Valuable progress has been made in increasing access to HIV and AIDS services, yet greater commitment is needed around the world if the goal of universal access is to be achieved. Millions of people continue to be infected with HIV every year. In low- and middle-income countries, less than half of those in need of antiretroviral therapy are receiving it, and too many do not have access to adequate care services.The protection of human rights is fundamental to combating the global HIV and AIDS epidemic. Violations against human rights fuel the spread of HIV, putting marginalised groups, such as injecting drug users and sex workers, at a higher risk of HIV infection. By promoting individual human rights, new infections can be prevented and people who have HIV can live free from discrimination.
World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for all of us - individuals, communities and political leaders - to take action and ensure that human rights are protected and global targets for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care are met.
avent.org
having the cake... and eating it too...
It has been a while since the last time I remember how it felt to have a group of friends out, doing something for the community (flash back to the Chow Kit days.. or rather, nights... some 10 years ago!)... The last Sunday I had a chance to do that again, in conjuction with KASIH's yearly AIDS Awareness campaign. And it felt good!
Ookikuro woke up rather early for work (a four-wheeler's got to do what a four-wheeler's got to do!) carrying stuffs from KASIH centre to Gaya Street. Having no parking even as early as before 7am, I decided to make the most out of owning a truck -- driving up a curb and parking on the sidewalk, just next to the bank, as close as I could get to the booth-site. My justification, there are a lot of illegal parkers, double parking all over the place anyway, and at least I wasn't blocking the traffic. But I ended up with a ticket and all those other fishers blocking the traffic didn't! Bowdow betul!




The STARBUCKS Angels from coffee-heaven, helping out to create awareness as part of their community project!
Anyway the purpose of the outing was to create public awareness on HIV/AIDS related issues, and get people to at least talk about it... Usually KASIH will be handing out red ribbons for people to wear, but noticing that they usually end up on the floor year after year, we decided to do something different this year - handing out cupcakes with red ribbons on it.
The initial fantasy was to have cupcakes with cream and red marzepan ribbon on them, but I guess limited by availability of marzepan and money to do it, the fantasy was reduced to a reality of bread-van type of cupcakes in plastic wrapping with a red ribbon taped on its top. Oh well, cupcakes schmupcakes, kalau boleh makan, kasi on ja lah...
One obeservation that we did on that day, was that people has taken to the impossibility of free lunchs in the real world. Sabahans actually find it difficult to grasp the fact that there could be some buggers on the street handing out free cupcakes, just because..! Think that it's difficult to do direct selling on the road? Try giving out free stuffs, lagi susah!
Despite the initial low momentum, we managed to dish out 500 pieces of cupcakes and 2000 pieces of good quality condoms by mid-morning!! How about that?! Heh..
During the interview by Insight Sabah. Read the interview here, the last time I checked it's not published yet, so come back soon!
In creating AIDS awareness, condoms are obvious, but why cupcakes? What has it got to do with HIV or AIDS? Well, I've got this question a lot, but my point is, that it isn't really about the cupcakes, as much as getting people to talk about the red ribbon on them. We need to start talking about it, discussing it in our homes and schools and social circles. Awareness only comes via talking about it!






World AIDS Day is celebrated around the globe annually on the 1st of December, to remind us that we all have a part to play to control and prevent the spread of the HIV pandemic.
Ookikuro woke up rather early for work (a four-wheeler's got to do what a four-wheeler's got to do!) carrying stuffs from KASIH centre to Gaya Street. Having no parking even as early as before 7am, I decided to make the most out of owning a truck -- driving up a curb and parking on the sidewalk, just next to the bank, as close as I could get to the booth-site. My justification, there are a lot of illegal parkers, double parking all over the place anyway, and at least I wasn't blocking the traffic. But I ended up with a ticket and all those other fishers blocking the traffic didn't! Bowdow betul!


Anyway the purpose of the outing was to create public awareness on HIV/AIDS related issues, and get people to at least talk about it... Usually KASIH will be handing out red ribbons for people to wear, but noticing that they usually end up on the floor year after year, we decided to do something different this year - handing out cupcakes with red ribbons on it.The initial fantasy was to have cupcakes with cream and red marzepan ribbon on them, but I guess limited by availability of marzepan and money to do it, the fantasy was reduced to a reality of bread-van type of cupcakes in plastic wrapping with a red ribbon taped on its top. Oh well, cupcakes schmupcakes, kalau boleh makan, kasi on ja lah...
Despite the initial low momentum, we managed to dish out 500 pieces of cupcakes and 2000 pieces of good quality condoms by mid-morning!! How about that?! Heh..
20091126
cupcakes for hiv/aids awareness campaign........
I'd like to extend a heartiest gratitude to all friends and families who has agreed to join in the fun, distributing cupcakes, creating awareness on HIV/AIDS issues and giving for charity at the same time! As promised, your RM50 contribution will be accompanied by a branded red t-shirt (I know how some of you feel about round-neck Ts, but this is the best bargain I could get for now) and delivered to you preferably before Saturday or on Sunday morning itself ;-)
Those who are coming, please sms/text me your preferred size (gauge: I wear XL, John wears L and Sandra wears M..) If in doubt, gimme a call, I'll size you up, hehe...
Those who are coming, please sms/text me your preferred size (gauge: I wear XL, John wears L and Sandra wears M..) If in doubt, gimme a call, I'll size you up, hehe...
- Emmelia (M)
- Sandra (M)
- Angeline (M)
- Jeremy (S)
- John (L)
- Fawzul
- Phyllis
- Julia (please confirm)
- Jaco (please confirm)
- Junior
- Elson
I would also like to thank those who could make it for that day, but have supported and contributed to this cause: Mizal and Ewann
See you guys soon, please remember to text me your Ts size okay!
arteo
20091124
charity is back in fashion.....
while spotting red as the new black.......
Update on Project Cupcake
Buzz me!
Update on Project Cupcake
We need a donation of RM50 to cover the cost of the 500 cupcakes, and while at it, we'll throw in a branded red t-shirt so we can wear the same colour on distribution day. Come join us to promote awareness on HIV/AIDS, get filled with cakes and look fashionable while at it!
Buzz me!
arteo
hiv/aids awareness is a piece of cake.......
Cupcake, to be exact!
This year, KASIH will be doing its World AIDS Day awareness campaign early. We will be putting up a booth in Gaya Street on Sunday, 29th Nov, somewhere near the water fountain, from morning till noon.
The usual itinerary of the event: pamphlets and condom handouts, and perhaps on the spot HIV screening test (free of charge). Usually we'll be handing out red cloth ribbons with pins or sticky tapes to stick on, but this year, we'll do something different - we'll be handing out cupcakes with red ribbons icing! 500 cupcakes to be handed out, how about that!!
Here, I am calling for friends who'd like to contribute to the campaign, particularly to get the cakes - we'll split the cost evenly, so the more people gets in, the less we need to chip in -- good idea? Drop me a line here or in FB to let me know if you're keen to help distribute the cakes on Sunday too!
Look out for us this coming Sunday at Gaya Street, we'll be wearing RED, and spotting a red ribbon, of course.
This year, KASIH will be doing its World AIDS Day awareness campaign early. We will be putting up a booth in Gaya Street on Sunday, 29th Nov, somewhere near the water fountain, from morning till noon.
The usual itinerary of the event: pamphlets and condom handouts, and perhaps on the spot HIV screening test (free of charge). Usually we'll be handing out red cloth ribbons with pins or sticky tapes to stick on, but this year, we'll do something different - we'll be handing out cupcakes with red ribbons icing! 500 cupcakes to be handed out, how about that!!
Here, I am calling for friends who'd like to contribute to the campaign, particularly to get the cakes - we'll split the cost evenly, so the more people gets in, the less we need to chip in -- good idea? Drop me a line here or in FB to let me know if you're keen to help distribute the cakes on Sunday too!Look out for us this coming Sunday at Gaya Street, we'll be wearing RED, and spotting a red ribbon, of course.
arteo
20091110
you raise me up......
Rolf Lovland, Brenden Graham
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
20091109
new band of army........
Recently there has been a promotion and relocation activity in the State Health Department, and somehow it greatly affected Beluran District Health Office, so much so that by end of this year or early next year, the management team would be lead by a totally new crews.
For a start, I might get a transfer back to the HQ since another more qualified personal is coming over, I don't think I want to be stranded in Beluran and be the second officer in command... haha. Now Sister Rosliah has been promoted as a Matron, and has to work in Sandakan, Sister Malin gets a transfer back to Tawau after 2 rounds of application, Sister Saibi is back in Ranau. PPKP in chief Nosliu might get a lateral transfer to Sandakan Health Office, and PPP in chief Sius is already applying for Keningau. Management side Executive Officer Cham Pa's husband has got a transfer back to West Malaysia and that means she will follow suit pretty soon.
Talking about a total overhaul!
For a start, I might get a transfer back to the HQ since another more qualified personal is coming over, I don't think I want to be stranded in Beluran and be the second officer in command... haha. Now Sister Rosliah has been promoted as a Matron, and has to work in Sandakan, Sister Malin gets a transfer back to Tawau after 2 rounds of application, Sister Saibi is back in Ranau. PPKP in chief Nosliu might get a lateral transfer to Sandakan Health Office, and PPP in chief Sius is already applying for Keningau. Management side Executive Officer Cham Pa's husband has got a transfer back to West Malaysia and that means she will follow suit pretty soon.
Talking about a total overhaul!
20091030
kkJazzFestival -- call for talent search...
Hey peeps!
www.kkjazzfest.com
KK Jazz Festival 2010 is inviting all talented and passionate jazz bands to participate in the talent search!
The shortlisted band will be awarded a performing slot during the KK Jazz Festival 2010 which will be held next year on the 18th and 19th June 2010!
To Participate, please send in the following:
- Your audio demo in .mp3 format or a YouTube link
- Photo of Band Members
- Name & Contact details of band members
Please log on to www.kkjazzfest.com for submission instruction.
Submission deadline is 30th November 2009.
Let your talent be discovered!
www.kkjazzfest.com
taken from the message sent by KKJF admin on Facebook
20091022
learning to let go........
Two monks on a pilgrimage came to the ford of a river. There they saw a girl dressed in all her finery, obviously not knowing what to do since the river was high and she did not want to spoil her clothes. Without more ado, one of the monks took her on his back, carried her across and put her down on dry ground on the other side.
Then the monks continued on their way. But the other monk after an hour started complaining, "Surely it is not right to touch a woman. How could you go against the rules of monks?"
The monk who had carried the girl walked along silently, but finally he remarked, "I set her down by the river an hour ago, why are you still carrying her?"
Then the monks continued on their way. But the other monk after an hour started complaining, "Surely it is not right to touch a woman. How could you go against the rules of monks?"
The monk who had carried the girl walked along silently, but finally he remarked, "I set her down by the river an hour ago, why are you still carrying her?"
a story I happened to read while blog-hopping a while ago
20091016
arteo's last rites........
Last Rites, Questionnaire taken from JUICE magazine
When was the last time you bought a CD?
Just now. I got myself a pirated copy of compilation of original soundtracks from the movie Talentime and some other movies I've not seen before. The last original CD or rather DVD that I got was a Malaysian original Indie movie called KAMI, 2 weeks ago.
When was the last time you performed in front of an attentive audience?
Hmm... I did My Way and Bukan Diriku during the last karaoke, and nobody made noise... Either I mesmerised my friends with my singing, or that I have very tolerating, considerate and courteous friends. Somehow I suspect the latter.
When was the last time you made a paper airplane?
Out of tray liner at a fast food restaurant in KL last week, and gave it to the kid from the next table.
When was the last time someone recognised you on the street?
That happens more often that I like, basically because I have poorly developed facial recognition module in my brain which makes it difficult for me to remember people's faces even though I've just met them few hours back or so. Probably I was dropped when I was a baby, before the synapses that form connection in the facial recognition module was not properly developed, and instead got rewired in the talk-crap section. I have to say that's a logical explanation.
What was the last disgusting thing you witnessed?
About 2 years ago, while I was cramped up in a Fokker, I happened to be seated next to an old man. Really old, the type that smells like tiger balm and all. I think he was reminiscing his better days working for the tin-mine in Malaya when he subconsciously (or purposefully) dug out a big catch himself, and I saw all that process and all that booger stuck under his left index fingernail. after a short inspection of his excavated prize, he tried to share some of his goodness by flicking it frantically with his thumb, and I saw all that too. The next thing that happened was the most horrible of claustrophobic catastrophe I could happen to be in -- I saw clearly the trajectory path of his handheld missile, and it landed quite softly with a soft thud on my right forearm. It was a warm, moist and sticky assault. The moments that followed was quite blur in my memory as all judgement was geared towards one mission and one mission only - to get rid of the invading substance, why trying to hold in my puke. I remember faintly scrapping with the emergency evacuation guide card, then rubbing my arm raw on the cushion cover. I have since come to term with the trauma, but I still get tachycardia, palpitation and cold sweat on my palms when I think about the incident.
When was the last time you thought about death?
I have morbid thoughts on and off, but that one time that I really thought I was gonna die, at age 12 when I choked on a huge mangosteen seed.
When was the last time you made someone laugh?
(I actually spent few good minutes thinking of an answer for this, which brought to a realisation, that I can't remember!!) Well, I do crack some quirky comebacks and sarcasms often, and mostly doing it subconsciously, which I will consider as funny, but people don't always get it. Does a 'LOL' reply at YM count as making someone laugh?
When was the last time you said you were Malaysian?
In Bali, when the street vendor assured me that I can pay in Yen if I don't have enough Rupiah.
When was the last time you had to queue up?
While checking-in at LCCT on my way back from KL. No, wait, I had to queue in front of gate P3 to board the plane because I was too cheapo to buy Priority Boarding from AirAsia.
When was the last time you asked for an autograph?
Last Monday, after Double Take's performance at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
What is the last thing you think about at night?
"Now, where did I put my bookmark again..."
When was the last time you wore black?
Last weekend, my favorite PILOSOPO t-shirt. Actually just now, a black dress shirt to attend a meeting with KASIH.
When was the last time you bought a CD?
Just now. I got myself a pirated copy of compilation of original soundtracks from the movie Talentime and some other movies I've not seen before. The last original CD or rather DVD that I got was a Malaysian original Indie movie called KAMI, 2 weeks ago.
When was the last time you performed in front of an attentive audience?
Hmm... I did My Way and Bukan Diriku during the last karaoke, and nobody made noise... Either I mesmerised my friends with my singing, or that I have very tolerating, considerate and courteous friends. Somehow I suspect the latter.
When was the last time you made a paper airplane?
Out of tray liner at a fast food restaurant in KL last week, and gave it to the kid from the next table.
When was the last time someone recognised you on the street?
That happens more often that I like, basically because I have poorly developed facial recognition module in my brain which makes it difficult for me to remember people's faces even though I've just met them few hours back or so. Probably I was dropped when I was a baby, before the synapses that form connection in the facial recognition module was not properly developed, and instead got rewired in the talk-crap section. I have to say that's a logical explanation.
What was the last disgusting thing you witnessed?
About 2 years ago, while I was cramped up in a Fokker, I happened to be seated next to an old man. Really old, the type that smells like tiger balm and all. I think he was reminiscing his better days working for the tin-mine in Malaya when he subconsciously (or purposefully) dug out a big catch himself, and I saw all that process and all that booger stuck under his left index fingernail. after a short inspection of his excavated prize, he tried to share some of his goodness by flicking it frantically with his thumb, and I saw all that too. The next thing that happened was the most horrible of claustrophobic catastrophe I could happen to be in -- I saw clearly the trajectory path of his handheld missile, and it landed quite softly with a soft thud on my right forearm. It was a warm, moist and sticky assault. The moments that followed was quite blur in my memory as all judgement was geared towards one mission and one mission only - to get rid of the invading substance, why trying to hold in my puke. I remember faintly scrapping with the emergency evacuation guide card, then rubbing my arm raw on the cushion cover. I have since come to term with the trauma, but I still get tachycardia, palpitation and cold sweat on my palms when I think about the incident.
When was the last time you thought about death?
I have morbid thoughts on and off, but that one time that I really thought I was gonna die, at age 12 when I choked on a huge mangosteen seed.
When was the last time you made someone laugh?
(I actually spent few good minutes thinking of an answer for this, which brought to a realisation, that I can't remember!!) Well, I do crack some quirky comebacks and sarcasms often, and mostly doing it subconsciously, which I will consider as funny, but people don't always get it. Does a 'LOL' reply at YM count as making someone laugh?
When was the last time you said you were Malaysian?
In Bali, when the street vendor assured me that I can pay in Yen if I don't have enough Rupiah.
When was the last time you had to queue up?
While checking-in at LCCT on my way back from KL. No, wait, I had to queue in front of gate P3 to board the plane because I was too cheapo to buy Priority Boarding from AirAsia.
When was the last time you asked for an autograph?
Last Monday, after Double Take's performance at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
What is the last thing you think about at night?
"Now, where did I put my bookmark again..."
When was the last time you wore black?
Last weekend, my favorite PILOSOPO t-shirt. Actually just now, a black dress shirt to attend a meeting with KASIH.
20091015
sweating it out....
Actually it takes just a little determination and we'll see that all the excuses about not having time to exercise won't carry water -- a description that will only look good on my dri-fit t-shirt. Took me only an hour of brisk walking, and now I'm swimming in serotonin -- the much sought after by-product of physical activities.
Tomorrow, the gym. Anyone?
20091013
20091005
20090914
arteo going to double take's mpo, kl performance..
Roger mentioned in his e-mail, that there are 5 main reasons why we should make our way to the Double Take's show in Petronas Philharmonic Hall this coming 12th of October:- This is Double Take's FIRST and ONLY public performance in KL this year.
- In case you haven't heard, Mia will be moving to Australia by the end of the year. So this would be a good opportunity for you to say goodbye to her. It could be a long time till Double Take's next performance.
- The venue.
- The venue.
- The venue!!.... Okay... Like Roger said, this is the ultimate venue for Malaysian music scene. It's beautiful both visually and acoustically. He can't wait to hear how they sound in this hall.
20090910
catcher in the rye........

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be."Holden Caulfield~J.D. Salinger, an excerpt from The Catcher in the Rye
why do children have to grow up someday........?
A very easy to please Yiyi, enjoying her bread with chocolate spread....When Children Lose Their Innocenceby Francis Duggan
The innocence of childhood it is a marvellous thing
And all children are untainted in their life's early Spring
But by the time they've reached their teens their innocence they've lost
And the experience that we gain from age always comes at a cost.
When children lose their innocence they lose their gift of joy
The joy that comes from innocence in every young girl and boy
Compared to us young children see life quite differently
Of the guilt of corruption they are completely free.
I have such happy memories of when I was a boy
My childhood years were happy years but time just seemed to fly
And the experience that I've gained from life it came at a great cost
For I lost something beautiful when innocence I lost.
20090909
nine nine nine........
By Heather Whipps, Special to LiveScience. Posted: 08 September 2009 09:18 am ET
Have special plans this 09/09/09?
Everyone from brides and grooms to movie studio execs are celebrating the upcoming calendrical anomaly in their own way.
In Florida, at least one county clerk's office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99. The rarity of this Sept. 9 hasn't been lost on the creators of the iPod, who have moved their traditional Tuesday release day to Wednesday to take advantage of the special date. Focus Features is releasing their new film "9," an animated tale about the apocalypse, on the 9th.
Not only does the date look good in marketing promotions, but it also represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.
Though technically there's nothing special about the symmetrical date, some concerned with the history and meaning of numbers ascribe powerful significance to 09/09/09.
For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated – while others might see the date as an ominous warning.
Math magic
Modern numerologists — who operate outside the realm of real science — believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.
As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.
Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.
"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," wrote Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century B.C.
As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties.
Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.
Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.
Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...
Loving 9
Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.
The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8 p.m. on 08/08/08. What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).
Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.
Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.
In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky – second only to four, which sounds like death.
Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.
Have special plans this 09/09/09?
Everyone from brides and grooms to movie studio execs are celebrating the upcoming calendrical anomaly in their own way.
In Florida, at least one county clerk's office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99. The rarity of this Sept. 9 hasn't been lost on the creators of the iPod, who have moved their traditional Tuesday release day to Wednesday to take advantage of the special date. Focus Features is releasing their new film "9," an animated tale about the apocalypse, on the 9th.
Not only does the date look good in marketing promotions, but it also represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.
Though technically there's nothing special about the symmetrical date, some concerned with the history and meaning of numbers ascribe powerful significance to 09/09/09.
For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated – while others might see the date as an ominous warning.
Math magic
Modern numerologists — who operate outside the realm of real science — believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.
As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.
Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.
"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," wrote Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century B.C.
As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties.
Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.
Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.
Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...
Loving 9
Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.
The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8 p.m. on 08/08/08. What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).
Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.
Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.
In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky – second only to four, which sounds like death.
Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.
20090905
arteo vs. the cicada...
It's midnight and I just came out of the shower again, 3rd time tonight... Damn cicada had to come into my room, earlier on it was okay but suddenly it had to flap around on the floor and making its shrieking sounds.
Damn cicada, I don't care if you're horny, but I'm trying to sleep, there's an early flight to catch tomorrow!
So after half an hour of trying to tolerate the mating call that only another cicada could admire, grudgingly I got out of bed and looked for my mosquito spray. Half a can of that and the cicada was still teasing me with its tenor concerto. I reached for my cockroach spray this time and downed another good dose of that on the suicidal performer at the corner of my table. The familiar sound that cicadas make turn to something like a baby raccoon would make when you tied it up, shut its mouth and blow gas up its arse... not that I've heard what t sounds like before, but it was horrible, the dramatic sounds that a dying cicada makes. And not before I almost emptied a whole can of insecticide on it. I didn't want to squash it because I don't want to do the cleaning up.
When it finally died, the whole room smelled like pesticide factory so I had to go for another shower. I am bloody irritated for being pulled out of bed by a stupid cicada in heat, but now I have something to write on that has nothing to do with H1N1. Yay!
Oh but tomorrow's meeting is on H1N1 updates by the HQ... sleep! Sleep!
Damn cicada, I don't care if you're horny, but I'm trying to sleep, there's an early flight to catch tomorrow!
So after half an hour of trying to tolerate the mating call that only another cicada could admire, grudgingly I got out of bed and looked for my mosquito spray. Half a can of that and the cicada was still teasing me with its tenor concerto. I reached for my cockroach spray this time and downed another good dose of that on the suicidal performer at the corner of my table. The familiar sound that cicadas make turn to something like a baby raccoon would make when you tied it up, shut its mouth and blow gas up its arse... not that I've heard what t sounds like before, but it was horrible, the dramatic sounds that a dying cicada makes. And not before I almost emptied a whole can of insecticide on it. I didn't want to squash it because I don't want to do the cleaning up.
When it finally died, the whole room smelled like pesticide factory so I had to go for another shower. I am bloody irritated for being pulled out of bed by a stupid cicada in heat, but now I have something to write on that has nothing to do with H1N1. Yay!
Oh but tomorrow's meeting is on H1N1 updates by the HQ... sleep! Sleep!
20090828
arteo tries to come back to blogging, but can't stop talking about h1n1.....
It's been a while since I've written anything here, and this blog has notoriously picked up the nick-name "H1N1 blog"... well, if being a Public Health officer means I will have to do a lot of public health education, why not via Patch, right? Ah, then again, that's only a lame excuse for not blogging for long, and subjecting this blog to the longest series of cut-and-paste entries.
The past few weeks have been crazy, with instant specialising in infectious disease control - thanks to the seemingly unstopable H1N1 going into Beluran. What made it more tricky was that it started from the further end of the district, of which we would think of last as a place to have an outbreak, while the busiest part of Beluran still remain silent about any clusters of infection forming in its community.
We have been fed with news and bit and pieces of information regarding the pandemic, but that seemed like something we'd see on the TV or hear on the radio. We were all afraid of it, thinking that the infection would bring much suffering, much different from the usual colds that we've had before. I suppose this could be the reason why the infection came in silent in the town, because many people who has the infection did not suffer anything more than just a sniffle of runny nose, a fever that is promptly suppressed by over the counter paracetamol and malaise... well, who would think that malaise isn't what we normally feel after a good heavy lunch anyway. So most of the people endured the H1N1 unknowingly, while waiting for something that they suppose would send people collapsing dead on the floor as it attacks.
We're still maintaining the Bilik Gerakan Wabak at the district level, and monitoring the occurence of clusters of suspected H1N1 infection by analysing the Influenza-Like Illness surveillance, and hopefully we're looking at the tail end of the outbreak... I guess there should be a treshold whereby a certain percentage of population in a community would survive the infection, build up their own immunity and collectively, the herd immunity would somehow prevent the rest of the remaining population from getting the infetcion.
I have pictures to put up, the whole experience going into an infected community, closing schools and reopening them... but patience, I'm still editing them.
By the way, below is the excerpt from the press release by our Director-General of Health on 27.08.09:
Dimaklumkan sehingga 27 Ogos 2009 jam 9.00 pagi, sejumlah 260 pesakit baru dengan gejala influenza-like illness (ILI) telah dimasukkan ke hospital untuk rawatan, manakala 312 kes telah didiscaj keluar. Ini menjadikan baki seramai 1,394 pesakit ILI sedang dirawat di 94 buah hospital termasuk 5 hospital swasta di seluruh negara. Dari jumlah ini, hanya 259 pesakit (19%) yang disahkan positif H1N1.
Daripada 259 kes yang disahkan H1N1, 53 kes berada di ICU dimana 8 kes merupakan kemasukan baru, sementara 4 lagi kes dipindah keluar dari ICU. Daripada 53 kes yang sedang dirawat di ICU, 41 (77%) mempunyai faktor risiko. Pecahan kes mengikut faktor risiko adalah seperti berikut: penyakit kronik (17), obesiti (14), kanak-kanak/bayi (7), post-natal/hamil (2) dan Sindrom Down (1).
Untuk makluman, tiada kematian baru yang disahkan akibat jangkitan influenza A(H1N1) didaftarkan pada hari ini.
The past few weeks have been crazy, with instant specialising in infectious disease control - thanks to the seemingly unstopable H1N1 going into Beluran. What made it more tricky was that it started from the further end of the district, of which we would think of last as a place to have an outbreak, while the busiest part of Beluran still remain silent about any clusters of infection forming in its community.
We have been fed with news and bit and pieces of information regarding the pandemic, but that seemed like something we'd see on the TV or hear on the radio. We were all afraid of it, thinking that the infection would bring much suffering, much different from the usual colds that we've had before. I suppose this could be the reason why the infection came in silent in the town, because many people who has the infection did not suffer anything more than just a sniffle of runny nose, a fever that is promptly suppressed by over the counter paracetamol and malaise... well, who would think that malaise isn't what we normally feel after a good heavy lunch anyway. So most of the people endured the H1N1 unknowingly, while waiting for something that they suppose would send people collapsing dead on the floor as it attacks.
We're still maintaining the Bilik Gerakan Wabak at the district level, and monitoring the occurence of clusters of suspected H1N1 infection by analysing the Influenza-Like Illness surveillance, and hopefully we're looking at the tail end of the outbreak... I guess there should be a treshold whereby a certain percentage of population in a community would survive the infection, build up their own immunity and collectively, the herd immunity would somehow prevent the rest of the remaining population from getting the infetcion.
I have pictures to put up, the whole experience going into an infected community, closing schools and reopening them... but patience, I'm still editing them.
By the way, below is the excerpt from the press release by our Director-General of Health on 27.08.09:
Dimaklumkan sehingga 27 Ogos 2009 jam 9.00 pagi, sejumlah 260 pesakit baru dengan gejala influenza-like illness (ILI) telah dimasukkan ke hospital untuk rawatan, manakala 312 kes telah didiscaj keluar. Ini menjadikan baki seramai 1,394 pesakit ILI sedang dirawat di 94 buah hospital termasuk 5 hospital swasta di seluruh negara. Dari jumlah ini, hanya 259 pesakit (19%) yang disahkan positif H1N1.
Daripada 259 kes yang disahkan H1N1, 53 kes berada di ICU dimana 8 kes merupakan kemasukan baru, sementara 4 lagi kes dipindah keluar dari ICU. Daripada 53 kes yang sedang dirawat di ICU, 41 (77%) mempunyai faktor risiko. Pecahan kes mengikut faktor risiko adalah seperti berikut: penyakit kronik (17), obesiti (14), kanak-kanak/bayi (7), post-natal/hamil (2) dan Sindrom Down (1).
Untuk makluman, tiada kematian baru yang disahkan akibat jangkitan influenza A(H1N1) didaftarkan pada hari ini.
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