Friday, June 26, 2009

Life is but 50 years.

Michael Jackson is gone. In just 50 years.

The Supreme King of Pop. The Superman of Entertainment. The Universal Icon that transcends race, nationality, culture, politics and whatever belief and idiosyncrasy.

Is there an elusive curse lurking in the entertainment world?

Let's see what I can recall of tragic/sudden deaths of well-known entertainers both East and West.

The legendary Zhou Xuan; the Movie Queen of Asia, Lin Dai; Bruce Lee; Teressa Teng; James Dean; Marilyn Monroe; Elvis Presley; John Lennon; John Denver; Karen Carpenter; Jim Reeves; David Carradine; and our local entertainer Sudirman.


A Tribute To The Supreme King Of Pop:

Michael Jackson : Beat It!


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Pua : Inventor of Pendrive.


Pua's mighty 'Pen'


S. INDRAMALAR speaks to the creator of the now indispensable Pen Drive


Fact file


Name:
Pua Khein Seng
Age:
31
Hometown:
Sekinchan, Selangor
Education:
SJKC Yeok Kuan, Sekinchan; Pin Hwa Independent school, Klang; Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Occupation:
Engineer/ president of Phison Electonics Corp
Current base:
Taipei , Taiwan
Years abroad:
12


WHEN he set off for Taiwan in 1993, Pua Khein Seng's only aim was to complete his degree in Electrical Control Engineering at the renowned Chiao Tung University and return home to work in Malaysia .

Never did he envision himself heading a multi-million dollar Taiwanese company that developed the world's first USB flash removable disk, which they called Pen Drive .


Pua Khein Seng went to Taiwan to get his engineering degree but ended up staying on, starting his own company and inventing the pen drive.

"I went to Taiwan to pursue my undergraduate degree. I chose Taiwan only because it was too expensive to study either in the United States or Singapore .

"However, I did well in my undergraduate programme and was offered a place to do my masters," explained Pua, who was back in Kuala Lumpur recently for a holiday.

After completing his Masters in July 1999, Pua worked for about six months in a local company before deciding to set up his own venture company with four fellow engineers who had studied with him at Chiao Tung.

"We were confident that we had the know-how and ability to start our own business, which is focused on USB technology. The company is called Phison because there are five of us - two Malaysians and three Taiwanese engineers," said Pua, 31, who hails from Sekinchan, Selangor.

Phison Electronics Corporation was set up in November 2000 and within six months the young entrepreneurs came up with their first invention - a USB storage device called Pen Drive .

"We were the first company in the world to develop the USB Drive SoC (System On Chip) and we were very confident that the market for USB will be huge. At the time, no one believed in us so we had to do everything ourselves - from developing the technology, the chips to the product itself.

"We were only 27 at the time and inexperienced. But we were confident that we could design good systems and chips but we didn't know anything about selling. So, we sought partners or traders who could help sell our products for us," Pua added.

Through smart partnerships and shrewd strategies, Phison soon made its way into European, American and Japanese markets. One quick move was securing Japanese tech giant Toshiba as Phison's largest shareholder and customer.

"We launched Pen Drive in June 2001 and by August the same year, we broke even! From September 2001, we were reaping monthly profits from our invention and there has been no turning back since."


Having established himself in Taiwan , Pua is in the midst of setting up Phison's branch in Malaysia , due to begin operations this
February.

"I am starting a branch in Malaysia because this is my country. I would like to do contribute to its development.

"We have about 100 engineers at Phison in Taiwan , 20 of whom are Malaysians. Though they studied in Taiwan , I had to re-train all the engineers I hire because, like most fresh graduates (in this field), they are not industry-ready upon graduation.

"Unfortunately, some of the Malaysian engineers want to return home after a couple of years because they are homesick, about to start a family and so on. Some prefer to work in Singapore , as it is closer to home. Instead of losing them to competitors, I decided to set up an office in Malaysia where they can still work for me," said Pua.

Another problem faced by returning computer engineers from Taiwan , Pua added, was the lack of job opportunities for hardware engineers in Malaysia .

"There is no environment or support for design engineers here in Malaysia . One of my Malaysian engineers from Phison returned home and ended up as a teacher in a Chinese school! I was shocked and thought, 'After all that training and re-training, he is going to just teach?' I told him to hold on till I open up the Phison branch in Malaysia ."

Though he has been in Taiwan for the past 12 years and married to a Taiwanese, Pua is not sure how much longer he will remain there.

"I have really no idea where I will be in 20 years. Maybe Taiwan , maybe Malaysia , maybe somewhere else ... it all depends on my business. The industry is moving so fast that I cannot predict what or where I will be," he said.

For the moment though, Taiwan is home for Pua, his wife and two children even though he misses the Malaysian way of life.

"I come home once a year for Chinese New Year and will usually stay for about two weeks. There are several things I really miss about Malaysia . One is the food! For the past 12 years I have been craving for Malaysian food ... I miss laksa, curry noodles, chee cheong fun and all the other delicious dishes we have here.

"I also miss the lifestyle and quality of life here. When I come back, I am always amazed to see people hanging out and relaxing at mamak shops at night. In Taiwan , most people would still be at work at that time of the night!

"Before I got married, I used to work for 15 to 17 hours a day, everyday. Now that I have children, my wife has forbidden me to stay so late. Now, I go to work at 9am and come home by 11pm . These hours are quite normal for the Taiwanese."


The man who invented USB pen-drive is a young modest Malaysian
who can't even get into a local University but invented the most versatile, indispensable computer peripheral today. And helped his adopted country, Taiwan made $31bil in the process. The rest is history....

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Brother Paul, I Salute You!



The retirement of Brother Paul Ho brought to a close the 157-year presence of the La Salle Brothers in Malaysia.

I salute you, Brother Paul!



Brother Paul has done much especially to help the “academically challenged” students, by setting up the Bakery Section, teaching these special students some living skills. My son was specially transferred from MBS to SXI solely to enroll him in the Bakery class. He is now a very happy chef earning an honest living with his skilful hands.

It is with tears in my eyes to see the last of such dedicated educationist. SXI will face the same problem as what its sister Convent Light Street (CLS) is facing now, following the retirement of its previous principal. If you listen carefully in the You Tube, Brother Paul appeared very apprehensive for the future of SXI.

For those who are not aware of CLS problem, the Department that is supposed to handle education policies is the culprit. It is this sickening attitude that we are served with mediocre replacements, mostly done on purpose to stifle the progress of the school(s). I just cannot understand the mindset of these people with little minds. What have they to gain by creating problems to the “Christian Missionary” schools?

Monday, June 22, 2009

Guan Eng in HK TVB Special Programme.



Hong Kong TVB Special Programme on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng 香港无线电视节目- [檳城在望] Please help to share this with as many people as possible, especially those who don't understand Chinese.

It's a series of 3 parts. You can follow up the other two parts over You Tube after viewing the first part here.

If you can't find parts 2 and 3, then click HERE and HERE.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Don't celebrate on Father's Day !


Mommy and the baby, the day of joy;
or was it the day "pay-back" time began?
(Picture taken on 17 Nov 1982)


Today is supposed to be Father's Day. The title of this post is for you to ponder and to share your views. Why celebrate only on Father's Day? This day, today, if you bring your father to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, you'll give your father a headache. First you'll complain when you arrive finding no place to park your car. Then when you get to the restaurant, it's full and you didn't make any prior reservation. But don't despair, since they are in the business of making money, they'll squeeze you in one corner of the corridor or walkway! That doesn't make Dad happy. Then the long wait for the food, and the hefty bill for the lousy food. AAAh...now can take Dad home. He should feel happy!!

If you want to make your father happy, celebrate the day or the week before the actual day, and tell your father that the actual day is not worth "celebrating", but will call in to have quality time with him in the park. Then tell him the day or the week after the actual Father's Day, you'll give him another lunch/dinner.

How's that??

Incidentally, I received a comment from my daughter in one of my posting about my Mother. This was what she wrote:

Joyce Chu said...

There are many things that most people fail to share with the people they love. We take them forgranted at times and tend to think that they will always be there.

Sometimes we don't say the things we could have, should have and would have and by the time we realize it, it's far too late.

A simple act of telling your father and mother that you love them is sometimes almost impossible, because you just cannot find the right words that sum up or even compare to the immeasurable love that they have for you.

So for this "Father's Day" I would like to say to both of my parents that they do indeed mean the world to me. For the innumerable times I have disappointed them, hurt them and failed to say "I love you" when it mattered most, their love has never faltered.

At times, we say things that hurt each other, but we only do it because we care and we hurt inside to see that the person we love is not doing things right or hurting others around them.

So, dad, this Father's Day I just wanted to remind you that I do love you and mom very much and that you are always the "man of the hour" to me. :)

Your daughter, Joyce.


For those who know me, this daughter has been a big problem. My wife and I are now taking care of her daughter full time. Each day when I give my granddaughter the shower, my heart aches. This is Father's Day for me.


Happy Father's Day!!

Friday, June 19, 2009

A brief break to learn new tricks!

For those of you who are my regulars, you would notice a slight slack in my postings in terms of content and regularity. I am not running out of steam, but has been very busy learning new tricks in the internet world. My good blogger friend, "A true Malaysian", knows what I'm into nowadays.

Please give me some time and I hope I shall catch up with my postings again in due course.

In the meantime , please enjoy this interlude from You Tube:



Monday, June 15, 2009

Birds have feelings too.

Tragedy of a pair of loving swallows:


The female bird was injured and the condition was fatal.
She was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road.





The male partner brought her food and attended to her
with love and compassion.





He brought her food again but was shocked to find her dead.
He tried to move her....a rarely-seen effort for swallows!






Realizing that his sweetheart was dead and would never
come back to him again, he shrieked with adoring love.






He stood beside her, saddened by her death.
Still calling for her.




Finally regaining his composure, he stood helplessly
beside her body with sadness and sorrow.




Millions o f people cried after seeing these pictures in America and Europe and even in India . It was said that the photographer sold these pictures for a nominal fee to the most famous newspaper in France . All copies of that newspaper were sold out on that day these pictures were published. And many people think animals don't have a brain or feelings?????

Blessings!







Saturday, June 13, 2009

Swollen Headache Syndrome.




You have big head, swollen head and egg head. What about swollen headache?

Some people simply cannot keep their heads in order. A little power in their heads will make them swell until it becomes a Swollen Headache Syndrome.

PAS, the moon party seems to be suffering from this syndrome. It is said some weirdos will go bonkers come full moon each month. They have forgotten who put them in the "popularity" category during the last GE. It is the Pakatan goodwill coorperation that PAS got to see the moonlight. Now they want the whole sun.

Stop talking nonsense and behave yourselves, otherwise we shall send you to Timbaktu come next GE!!

Monday, June 8, 2009

You never know!


(Brilliant picture by CK Hon)

In 1923, Who Was:


1. President of the largest steel company?
2. President of the largest gas company?
3. President of the New York Stock Exchange?
4. Greatest wheat speculator?
5. President of the Bank of International Settlement?
6. Great Bear of Wall Street?



These men were considered some of the worlds most successful of their days.

Now, 80 years later, the history book asks us if we know what ultimately became of them.




The Answers:


1. The president of the largest steel company.
Charles Schwab,

died a pauper.

2. The president of the largest gas company,
Edward Hopson,

went insane.

3. The president of the NYSE,
Richard Whitney,

was released from prison to die at home.

4. The greatest wheat speculator,
Arthur Cooger,

died abroad, penniless.

5... The president of
the Bank of International Settlement,

shot himself.

6 The Great Bear of Wall Street,
Cosabee Livermore,

also committed suicide



However,

in that same year, 1923, the PGA Champion
and the winner of the most important golf tournament,
the US Open,
was

Gene Sarazen.

What became of him?


He played golf until he was 92,
died in 1999 at the age of 95.
He was financially secure
at the time of his death.

The Moral:


Screw work.
Play golf.

The Extra Moral of the story:
BEWARE! CORRUPT AND UNSCRUPULOUS POLITICIANS!!!!!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Superbrain Yoga

Now you're not going to believe this.

During our schooling years, this superbrain yoga "exercise" was supposed to be a punishment. Never knew it has made me so smart.

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!



Saturday, June 6, 2009

No plastic bags on every Monday in Penang.



The Penang State Government is ordering supermarkets and hypermarkets not to use plastic bags on every Monday starting from next month.

You think this will work???

I think it is just typical Malaysian approach to solving problems..the knee jerk technique. You can't just force people not to use only on Monday. In no time the supermarkets/hypermarkets will declare Mondays as days off due to poor business. I will not go shopping there on Monday, not that I don't support "green environment". It just won't work in this manner.

Just like recycling, I have given up trying to dispose off in the recycling bins my bottles and batteries simply because I cannot find any bin! To add insult to injury, I once witnessed the workers (obviously sub-contracted) just dumped everything from the 3 separate bins into their truck!!

In no time, the Police might announce that there won't be anymore snatch theft as they would have 24-hr patrol on every street each Monday!!

Friday, June 5, 2009

"Kung Fu" Man David Carradine Found Hanged


Malaysian Insider reports that actor David Carradine, star of the 1970s US television show “Kung Fu”, was found naked and hanging dead from a rope in the closet of his luxury Bangkok hotel room on June 4.

No signs were found of other people in the room and the body of the 72-year-old actor was sent to a hospital for an autopsy, police said.

In life nothing is certain. If you are as old as me, this holds very true. Life is, with the ups and downs like the ocean waves. But unlike the ocean waves, you never know when the downs are coming, especially when you are high up enjoying life.

So beware, especially corrupt and opportunist politicians!!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Me too!!


This is a true story from the Japanese Embassy in US!!!



A few days ago, Prime Minister Mori was given some Basic English conversation training before he visits Washington and meets president Barack Obama...

The instructor told Mori Prime Minister, when you shake hand with President Obama, please say 'how r u'.
Then Mr. Obama should say, 'I am fine, and you?'

Now, you should say 'me too'.


Afterwards we, translators, will do the work for you.'
It looks quite simple, but the truth is...
When Mori met Obama , he mistakenly said 'who r u?' (Instead of 'How r u?'.)
Mr. Obama was a bit shocked but still managed to react with humor:
'Well, I'm Michelle's husband, ha-ha...'

Then Mori replied 'me too, ha-ha.. .'.

Then there was a long silence in the meeting room.

Monday, June 1, 2009

How thick can you be?



The Malaysian Insider reports:

{Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin believes the low voter turnout in Penanti proves that Barisan National (BN) is still popular despite not fielding a candidate in the recent by-election.

He told reporters that the low voter turnout at Penanti was a clear sign that voters are bored and not interested in Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) tactics. “They have indirectly given a protest sign.”}

How thick can you be?????


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails