Susan rendition of this song reminded me of my vacation in London few years ago where I had the chance to watch Les Miserables. She is the Fantine of Britian’s Got Talent.

Since April 11, Susan Boyle, a volunteer at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Scotland, has received so much media attention. She was interviewed by Larry King. Apparently, Oprah is keen to have Susan on her show.

Susan Boyle’s next song in Britian’s Got Talent is reportedly to be Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Whistle Down The Wind“.

In Youtube, she has more than 33 million views for this video and it’s counting. She must be one of the greatest in Youtube.

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he’ll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

Thanks to my friend who sent me the Youtube link.

Why did I buy this camera? I had a Nikon F50 before I used the tiny point-and-shoot digital camera. So, it became quite natural for me to go back to Nikon and get the latest model especially it comes with Digital movie feature.

I got the Nikon D90 kit set that comes with a AF-S DX 18-105MM/3.5-5.6 ED VR lens. As part of the deal, I got a 8GB Toshiba DS card, a tripod, camera bag and UV filter for the lens.

This is my fifth camera. First was a Minolta in the early 90’s. In the late 90’s, I got myself the Nikon F50. In 2003, I got myself my first digital point-and-shoot camera - Sony P100 - which got pick-pocketed in St Petersburg. This camera was only 6 months old. Then, I got myself the next Sony model P101 which is still with me until today. This is a bit of my camera history. Not too long ago and also not that skillful yet.

Amber Chia @ Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival

Model @ KLPF

Upon getting my camera, the next day I had the opportunity to do a model photo shoot during the Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival at Berjaya Times Square. The organizer had Amber Chia and three other models posing for the photographers. It was really fun trying to take pictures among the big crowd. Flashes were coming from all directions especially when Amber Chia came on stage. Suddenly, we find a head popping up in front of your camera. Or an elbow that came from nowhere to knock you off.

Amber Chia @ KLPF

When I started to learn to use this camera, I realized that it has so many buttons and combinations. For me, it seem flying an aeroplane is simpler than using a DSLR. Anyway, I will have to master my new toy.

Model @ KLPF

I flew into Coolangata Airport on Air Asia X and stayed at in Surfers Paradise for 3 days. Rented a car and drove around Surfers Paradise and Gold Coast area. Exploring the Mount Tambourine National Park which really surprised me on how people and natural beauty can blend together harmoniously

Then, I flew from Brisbane to Cairns and proceeded north to Daintree. From Daintree, it was driving all the way down south to Brisbane.

Boarding Air Asia X to Gold Coast

Teresa Kok is a three-term Member of Parliament and a senior exco member in the new Selangor State government in charge of investment, trade and industry. In the recent general election, she retained her Seputeh Parliamentary seat with 36,492 majority - the largest in the country.

Meanwhile, Tan Hoon Cheng, an award winning journalist from Sin Chew. She was released after 16 hours of detention.

Raja Petra needs no further introduction. He is the editor of the famous Malaysia Today website.

Both Raja Petra and Teresa Kok are still under detention at the moment.

A quick flashback to my days in USM. When I was a under-graduate, I used to have lengthy discussion with my friends from School of Mass Communication to understand what were they learning. The most memorable qoute that I learned from them is the definition of news. From news perspective, if a dog bites a man, its not a news. But, when a man bites a dog, its a big news. Many of them ended up as journalists. Tan Hoon Cheng is one of them. I am sure her lecturers like Zaharom Naim will be proud of her.

The following scene took place on a BA flight between Johannesburg and London . This is a true story.

A White woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a Black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess.

“Madam, what is the matter,” the Hostess asked.

“You obviously do not see it then?” she responded. “You placed me next to a Black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat.”

“Be calm please,” the Hostess replied. “Almost all the seats on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another seat is available.”

The Hostess went away and came back a few minutes later.

“Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in Economy class. I spoke to the Captain and he informed me that there are also no seats in the Business class. All the same, we still have one seat in First class.”

Before the woman could reply, the Hostess continued: “It is unusual for our company to permit someone from Economy class to sit in First class. However, given the circumstances, the Captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting.”

She turned to the Black man and said, “Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in First class.”

At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded

Perhaps, Michael Jackson’s ‘Black or White’ can remind us to live harmoniously
Click here to view the embedded video.

I Took My Baby
On A Saturday Bang
Boy Is That Girl With You
Yes We’re One And The Same

Now I Believe In Miracles
And A Miracle
Has Happened Tonight

But, If
You’re Thinkin’
About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

They Print My Message
In The Saturday Sun
I Had To Tell Them
I Ain’t Second To None

And I Told About Equality
An It’s True
Either You’re Wrong
Or You’re Right

But, If
You’re Thinkin’
About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

I Am Tired Of This Devil
I Am Tired Of This Stuff
I Am Tired Of This Business
Sew When The
Going Gets Rough
I Ain’t Scared Of
Your Brother
I Ain’t Scared Of No Sheets
I Ain’t Scare Of Nobody
Girl When The
Goin’ Gets Mean

Don’t Tell Me You Agree With Me
When I Saw You Kicking Dirt In My Eye

But, If
You’re Thinkin’ About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re Black Or White

I Said If
You’re Thinkin’ Of
Being My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re Black Or White

I Said If
You’re Thinkin’ Of
Being My Brother
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

Ooh, Ooh
Yea, Yea, Yea Now
Ooh, Ooh
Yea, Yea, Yea Now

It’s Black, It’s White
It’s Tough For You
To Get By
It’s Black , It’s White, Whoo

It’s Black, It’s White
It’s Tough For You
To Get By
It’s Black , It’s White, Whoo

Nothing seem to change with MATTA Fair. From the number of people, traffic jam and exhibitors, everything seem to predictable.

As expected, traffic jam around PWTC was terrible. I always make it a point to be there early around 10AM when it opens or take the Putra LRT to PWTC station and walk over to MATTA Fair.

The camera fair and property fair are around whenever MATTA Fair is held in PWTC. Seems like both are targetting the same group of consumer. The camera fair is always packed but not the property fair.

There were three halls for the exhibitors. First hall was usually reserved for local travels and the other two halls for oversea travels. Thailand, Indonesia, Western Australia, Korea and Taiwan were as aggressive as ever in promoting their country. Genting, City of Entertainment, promoted aggressively as well.

Airasia and it’s sister company, Airasia-X, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly promoted aggressively with very attractive pricing for their tickets to various destinations. There were long queues at these counters.

With these airlines selling cheap tickets, more people are travelling on their own to their dream destinations. More travel agents are selling ground package for these travellers. Many oversea hotels are promoting their hotels and travellers can purchase their accommodation with these hoteliers on the spot.

I managed to see a few nice stage performances today. The Dreamz from Genting City of Entertainment was very entertaining with performers from China and Belarus. The Drifterz (B-Boy) from Korea gave a spectacular breakdance performance.

My usual objective to MATTA Fair is to look for new attractions for possible vacations and also collect nice travel brouchures. I refer to these nice travel brochures whenever I plan for my vacation. This MATTA Fair, I did not find any good deal. I returned from MATTA Fair with a big bag of travel brouchures. 

Looks like I will have to wait for the next MATTA Fair next year to hunt for a good deal for my dream vacation.

The Selangor State government under Pakatan Rakyat is subsidizing the cost of water for the first 20 cubic meter used in each household. This is very generous of the Selangor state government. In fact, this generous gesture has prompted the federal government under Barisan Nasional to announce subsidy for electricity consumption for the whole country during the recent Budget 2009 tabled in the Parliament.

However, it’s only meant for household which incurs monthly electricity bills of RM20 or below to be eligible. Please think about it. How many household actually uses less then RM20 for electricity? Perhaps, there are some but I doubt there are many.

For someone to enjoy this subsidy, it would mean they have to live without air-conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, television, hi-fi, coffee maker, blender, electric massage chair, computer, water heater, microwave oven and electric kettle. It’s going to be a tough challenge to qualify to this subsidy.

The first thing USM should do is to improve on its ranking in Times Higher Education Supplement (THES). Then USM can strive to be competitive against Asian universities like National University of Singapore (NUS), University of Tokyo, University of Hong Kong and Kyoto University.

Only then, USM can strive to compete with the likes of Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford and Yale universities. Cambridge University has produced 82 Nobel laureates, University of Chicago produced 81 Nobel laureates and Columbia University produced 76 Nobel laureates. When will USM produce the first Nobel laureate for Malaysia?

Congratulations to Universiti Sains Malaysia!!!

He was last seen at St. Mary Visitor  Center on the first day of his hike on August 11. His hike was supposed to finished on August 18. He was believed to be hiking on his own. Since he was reported lost, National Park Service and Border Patrol began searching for him following his itinerary. They used tracker dogs and helicopters to help in the search. Since then, there was not sign or clue at all.

I never knew him as he was many years my junior in school. But his news has brought so many of his schoolmates together in prayer for him. Many of my friends knew him. Some were his classmates.

Today, Tuesday, September 2, the search is called off since they couldn’t find any signs of him. Strangely with experience Park Rangers, tracker dogs and aerial searches, nothing is found of him. Not even his shoes, clothes, hiking equipments or even food is found after so many days. Did he really go off the track into some new trails?

Here is the official results
1.Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (KeADILan) 31,195 votes.
2.Hanafi Mamat (AKIM) 92 votes.
3.Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN)15,524 votes.

Total votes: 47,258
Percentage of voters: 81 %
Spoilt votes: 447 votes
Majority: 15,671 votes

Anwar Ibrahim has won with a bigger majority compared to his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who won with a majority of 13,388 votes during March 8 General Election which is now known as ‘Election Tsunami”. This victory is even more impressive as Anwar battled with the whole BN machinery in this Permatang Pauh by-election.

I guess the people have spoken through the ballot box. Truly impressive win by the people for the people.

Anwar Ibrahim will enter Malaysia Parliament and appointed as the Opposition Leader. Hopefully we can see him in action this Friday when the Prime Minister presents the budget for 2009.