TAKING STOCK OF PAK LAH'S CONTRIBUTIONS...

In all the anger and disappointment that Malaysians supposedly feel towards Pak Lah, people have to realize that the main point of their extremely unhappy contention is that the anger has been brought about by his bad choice of cronies -- many of whom were entrusted with positions of power but instead got carried away by delusions of self-grandeur and invincibility and made enemies (or, to put it mildly, became EXTREMELY unlikeable piles of crap!) with people they were entrusted to lead.

That is the main reason Pak Lah seems to have lost the support of people. Of course, the other part of the reason was his tolerance of politicians who were so useless that the rakyat were so fed up and gave them a flat "get lost" vote of no confidence during the March 8 general election. Look at the list of losers and you will know who they are.

Pak Lah, from the perspective of Malaysia's progress as a country in the 21st century, has been crucial in liberating the minds of the people and granting people the freedom to express themselves (imagine trying to do that during Mahathir's time, if you dare!). He has somewhat strengthened the judiciary to a certain degree and I am sure all of us want to see the law take firmer root before someone else takes over the nation's leadership. Once the law is healthy, then the next person who takes over the leadership of this country -- if he misbehaves, can be systematically removed from power.

But liberal and progressive Malaysians have to mindful that whoever takes over the country in an untimely manner, will in very high probability revert back to draconian laws and rules of Mahathir's era on the pretext of safeguarding national interest (i.e. peace and racial harmony) and these bums will kill the freedom o expression that we Malaysians are now enjoying.

Remember -- many bastards are trying to helm power in Malaysia because there is so much money to be made by entering politics. Malaysian politics is the gateway to instant millionaire-dom. And money is an irresistible thing and will make greedy men do foolish things for short term gain. (We must blame the useless business community for this -- always bribing their way to glory at the expense of the average Malaysian's quality of life!)

And men who instigate others to engage in ugly racial tactics to undermine Pak Lah must be given a tight slap on the face and sent packing.

Lately, however, Pak Lah has misfired greatly in many of his moves he has made (politically and economically), possibly from the bad advice he has been given but ill-qualified people. This is why people seem impatient to move on from Pak Lah.

Photo from http://www.cnbc.com/id/25051200

PAUL NEWMAN -- THE DEATH OF AN ICON

Paul Newman, the beloved and highly respected Hollywood actor, has passed away, age 83, from cancer. The actor-director-producer-humanitarian/philanthropist has starred and appeared in more than 80 films since 1952.

For me, Newman -- who embodies masculine elegance -- is most famous for his star turn in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (with Robert Redford) in 1969.

He is an inspirational man whose presence will be greatly missed. A class act till the end!

Paul Newman photos from: E Online (in red - by Darron Cummings for AP on E-Online), Foxnews (portrait shot) and a 1960 B&W shot from http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/popup?id=3206457&contentIndex=1&page=2&start=false (in the B&W shot, Newman, left, is with Austrian director Otto Premindger in the film Exodus). The other B&W portrait is from 1958's "The Long Hot Summer" (also from website http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/popup?id=3206457&contentIndex=1&start=false&page=1)

CANDIDATES' PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: MCCAIN IS AN UTTER DISGRACE

Republicans who caught the debate between Presidential hopefuls Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain must have been shocked by his appearance.

McCain never looked at Obama when McCain spoke. And when Obama rebutted McCain's points, McCain still never looked at Obama.

McCain came across as a nervous little white man, uncomfortable in the presence of a colored man.

It is bad enough that McCain always speaks in a way that seems like he is forcing himself to sound young, he is so insular in his view. His so-called experiences as a veteran mean nothing if he has not grown as a person.

(We expect an old man to sound his age -- like CNN's Larry King or even the late Republican President Ronald Reagan! Not sound like a 30-year old trapped in the body of 72-year old.)

Americans should wake up and know for sure that John McCain is not fit to enter the White House as the next President.

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA!



PHOTO: From the excellent New York Times.

KUDOS TO CNN

Credit must always be given where it is deserved and -- ALTHOUGH THIS IS VERY BELATED -- CNN deserves praise for its coverage of the onslaught of Hurricane Ike. The coverage showed the bravery of its staff and it showed a care and concern and intelligent analyses of events that reflect on the height that good journalism can reach.

CONGRATS CNN!

Coincidentally, these past few days, there is the aftermath coverage of people going back home after Hurricane Ike.

Photo of Hurricane Ike by Getty Images on BBC website.

SARA BAREILLES + JASON M'RAZ = HIT MAKERS!

There are two very important singers in the music industry today who write poignant and heartfelt AND MEANINGFUL pop songs: Sara Bareilles and Jason M'Raz.

Sara, of course, has that beautiful song called "Love Song" while Jason's song is that catchiest of wholesome ditties called "I'm Yours"

Do a search on these talented duo on youtube.com to check out their rather fab songs.

Photo of Sara Bareilles from the website http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_3012689.html

Photo of Jason M'Raz from the website http://www.popit.no/Smilefjes/Musikk/Tekster/Jeg-er-din41.aspx

GARDENING: BITTER GOURD

Momordica charantia. With a name like that, you'd half expect to see an exotic Italian chanteuse. But what you are faced with is bitter gourd, or as we say it in Bahasa Malaysia, peria. The Chinese call it foo-kwa.
Although the fruit (vegetable?) itself is warty in appearance, bitter gourd is a gorgeous tropical vine that can be grown easily from seed. The plant needs plenty of sun but, however, it is highly adaptable and can survive in partially shady environments as well, especially if your options of where you want to plant it is limited, i.e. near a porch or under the shade of a tree etc). The plant needs to be well watered (err, water it well, I did not mean water it with well-water) and a combination of loam-compost is ideal from healthy growth.
Bitter gourd's very bitter and crunchy flesh is edible. The fruit's core has seeds which are white when the fruit is still green but the pith will turn blood-red when the fruit has ripened to a golden-orange colour.
The sight of a ripe miniature gourd hanging on the vine is one of the prettiest sights that a gardener can hope to behold. If you leave the golden fruit on the vine long enough, it will burst by itself and the red seeds will be exposed. The gorgeous combination of red and gold is quite a sight, I must confess.
What fascinates me most about the bitter gourd plant is the fact that its many tendrils can literally reach out and grasp another plant or object for support -- across vast space sometimes! It's as if the plant has in-built sensors that know which direction the shoots should head in and this most subtle "movement" is reinforced by the tendrils that grab hold of things and twirl themselves around objects seemingly overnight, like a rhythmic gymnast whose ribbon-props have gone mad.
These magical acrobatic "leaps" that the bitter gourd plant makes as it grows is one reason why I call it the Michelle Yeoh of the plant world -- if you place a time-lapse motion-capture camera focused on it, I'd bet a million ringgit that it would be like you can see the botanical version of Crouching tiger hidden dragon!
The miniature bitter gourd makes an excellent ornamental plant for any garden, with the fruits growing to only 6cm-10cm long. The pretty dark green leaves and equally pretty yellow flowers do emit a strong herbal smell around the plant and this is all the more obvious when you trim or prune the plant. But it is a smell that is not noxious and bearable.
Despite the plant flowering easily and the fruits forming quite easily, having the bitter gourd ripen or grow into an edible size is a it of a challenge. Fertilise the plant well and good plant nutrition will ensure that the plant provides a bountiful harvest on a regular basis. A dose of potassium fertiliser should do the trick.
Nutrition-wise, bitter gourd contains vitamins A and C
Widely used in Asian cooking, bitter gourd is believed to be good for the health.
Be warned though that for diabetics, it can have the dangerous hypoglycemic effect (i.e. can lower blood-sugar level) when consumed in combination with diabetes medication. So, please do not mix it with diabetes medicine: talk to your doctor if you want to include bitter gourd in your diet.
For the rest of us, bitter gourd is a healthy inclusion in cooking.
Some even say that bitter gourd can also lower cholesterol levels, although this claim is not supported by extensive scientific research. Going even further, some people go as far as saying that it has anti-malarial properties. Again, no extensive tests have validated this claim.
What is a valid claim, though, is that all three main races in Malaysia are united in using it in their cooking and believe that the fruit lowers blood-sugar levels as well cholesterol-busting properties.

PHOTO: The ripe miniature bitter gourd is a pretty sight to behold indeed. Picture by FRANCIS DASS, Please credit FRANCIS DASS is you want to use this photo. Thanks.

GARDENING: A PLANT THAT GROWS ON YOU -- THE CAMPHOR PLANT

Indians have always had an excellent sense of oneness with existence and nature and, because of this, as one of the extensions, have developed a collective keen eye, a keen nose and a keen taste for the uses of herbs in the natural environment to improve health.
Go to any Indian household in Malaysia and you are sure to find herbs and medicinal plants being grown. These plants are revered, if not respected.
Besides Indian basil (tulasi), one plant you are sure to come by often will be karpuravalli. The latin name for it is supposed to be ‘coleus amboinicus’. Varyingly, it is also often spelt ‘ambonicus’.
This succulent plant with a pleasant herbal smell, grows very easily from cuttings.
And what's more, once it takes root, karpuravalli thrives, as if to beg you to give cuttings of itself to your friends who might be in need of it, in true Indian fashion of selflessness!
Once you do get cuttings of this brilliant green plant, it is best to leave it in a container of water. After a few days, roots will start sprouting and the shrubby plant is ready for a transplant into a pot.
As for soil, the black fertile soil sold in nurseries is perfect for a pot setting.
(A truly humble and undemanding plant, karpuravalli also grows easily on the ground with the minimum of care.)
If planted in a pot, it needs regular watering and a well-draining container. Water-logged pots will result in root-rot.
Since karpuravalli grows abundantly with ease, it is a good idea to trim and prune it regularly. I have found that this herbaceous wonder thrives is a semi-shaded area (i.e. exposure to direct sunlight for only a few hours a day, preferably the early morning sun, which Indians prefer).
Like the thick leaves, which are heart-shaped, the plant's stem is also soft and succulent.
Indians always turn to the karpuravalli leaves for respiratorial relief.
The leaves are either eaten raw, or placed in a cup of warm water (some even boil the leaves) which is then drunk. Alternately, the juice is hand-squeezed out of the thick leaves onto a spoon -- people use any of these ways to ingest the juice from the leaves -- to alleviate coughs as it has expectorant properties.
Although I love munching on the karpuravalli leaves in the mornings or evenings, I am afraid I am at a loss as to how to describe the taste.
If you search the Internet, in this respect, you might come across descriptions that say it is ‘camphor-like’ in smell and taste or a teensy-weensy ‘warm’ tasting. There’s definitely a hint of bitterness and sharpness to its taste. Now, what I'd like to see is an oenophile having a go at trying to wax lyrical about the complex taste of karpuravalli!
The leaves are also taken for indigestion and old school thought has it that if you place the squeezed leaves (paste) on your forehead (while lying down, and not wandering about, I am sure!), it also helps one to deal with headaches. Ditto for insect bites, apparently.
In Klang Valley and in Penang, karpuravalli is easily found in most Indian households. If you don't see it in someone's house, just ask around and you're sure to come across the plant before your six-degrees-of-separation options run out!
Personally, I have found that if you place the luxuriant and luscious green plants at the porch area or around the back of the house, the pleasant herbal smell is quite exhilarating to inhale when your open the doors in the morning, afternoon or night!

Photo: Karpuravalli (centre) is a plant that is as useful just as it is pleasant and soothing. Photo by Francis Dass (please credit Francis Dass if you want to use this photo. Thanks.)

REAPER ROCKS!

REAPER...

Eight TV (8TV) has consistently provided viewers with solid programming, always bringing in edgy new shows that raise the entertainment bar. A big thank you for bringing in the most excellent Reaper, 8TV!!!

Reaper, a comedy-drama, stars Bret Harrison (as Sam Oliver), Ray Wise (as Satan), the most excellent Tyler Labine (as Bert 'Sock' Wysocki), Rick Gonzalez (as Ben Gonzalez), Missy Peregrym (as Andi Prendergast), Donavon Stinson (as Ted) Valerie Rae Miller (as Josie) and Christine Willes (as Satan's not-so-little-helper Gladys)

In this show, Satan is a smart-suited middle-aged guy who is quite the charmer, albeit with a menacing streak (which Ray Wise holds back just enough, and just rightly so), to spare his little hapless agent Sam.

In this show which turns conventions on its head and, which is quite frankly, deliciously irreverent to the max, Sam confides in his two best buddies how his parents sold his soul to the devil and like the three musketeers (and sometimes, like the three stooges!) they go about capturing escaped evil souls for the devil. The trick is that they must capture each soul with a vessel -- that can range from a toaster to a remote-controlled car etc etc and deliver the thing to the lovable Gladys.

Sam is nicely played by Bret Harrison and Sam wise is an excellent choice for the Devil/Satan. But the first prize for the best casting on TV has to go to Tyler Labine. The comedy maestro Tyler's performance is, to repeat the words again, MOST EXCELLENT!

SHORT STORY... STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS... YOU KNOW LIKE, IN, URINATING...

SHORT STORY... STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS... YOU KNOW LIKE, IN, URINATING...

What kind of workplace leadership is this? It stinks worse than a pile of crap. Reduce the workforce -- mainly by sacking some seniors and making life difficult for other seniors. Then, when the headcount has been reduced, to mercilessly squeeze those who are left behind to pick up the slack.

You see, if this was a production/manufacturing plant or if this was related to clerical work, then it might seem like a good idea. Cost-wise, anyway. The fools are actually thumping their chests thinking what magnificent leaders they are! But businessmen, they are not!

In a creative industry like this, when you work the staff like slaves and tighten the screws, the inevitable that WILL happen is that the standards WILL drop. And standards have dropped indeed. Especially amongts those who have no passion for their work and have no love whatsoever for language. Most are duffers have no desire to master the language they write in! Or build up their social skills. What more can one say of EQ?

How can these un-leaders who have done so much damage be allowed to get away with this despicably short sighted corporate maneuvers? All this reflects on the country's leadership, as these leaders are the cronies of the politicians, you know.

I sit and look at the going ons and I do try to make my voice heard amongst. But there is only so much that a small fry can do. And if they want to be malicious, they can make my life miserable. I feel miserable to the utmost already.

The fourth estate is not something you mess around with. It is a sacred estate and its warriors must be protected and nurtured so that the nation will grow in its collective intellectual prowess and the average people's sphere of power and influence expands.

When will the light bulb of foresight light up? I still sit and wait and hope, even though I get no recognition for the noble aspirations that I hold so dear and embrace so close to my heart for my country. In my actions and in my work, I do my best. If you are the wrong shade of brown, things tend to go by, ignoring you.

A WAVE OF CHANGE AROUND THE WORLD...

There's an unstoppable wave of change that is sweeping over global politics -- politicians in power are being replaced, thanks to either strong judicial arms or people power.

All around the world, East and West -- be it Thailand, South Africa, Japan, Zimbabwe (even the weak British Prime Minister is being shown the exit door!) -- people are showing their displeasure at politicians who are ineffective or are more interested in protecting vested interests rather than working in the people's interests.

But, having said that, I must say that I have great misgivings about the name of the Japanese Prime Minister-to-be Taro Aso.
He is surely going to be the butt of jokes should either or both the Japanese economy or politics misfire!

And, politically, Thailand is simply tragic: from Shinawatra Thaksin's crony Samak to Somchai Wongsawat (latter who is Thaksin's brother -in-law) -- Thailand's politics is an epic tragedy in the making. Expect the tanks to roll out again soon, folks. Buy flowers next time you plan a visit to Thailand -- to give as offerings to soldiers and also for decorating tanks that roll around Bangkok.


Photos of:

1. Taro Aso from http://www.topnews.in/japans-governing-ldp-elects-taro-aso-new-leader-269698

2. Robert Mugabe photo from http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1988/gallery/mugabe.shtml

3. Gordon Brown photo from http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/columnists/carolemalone/article26031.ece

4. Samak Sundaravej photo from http://www.thainewsland.com/?l=en&a=280968

5. Somchai Wongsawat photo from http://voanews.com/english/2008-09-16-voa16.cfm

A SWEET SEPTEMBER...

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his lovely wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail have made many Malaysians happy with their presence in Malaysian politics. They are a power couple who hold so much promise for a better and happier Malaysia.

Photo by Vincent Thian for AP

A VERY SHORT STORY... kind of X-rated

Impalin' the Palins

"Hey sweetiebun! You know what we are gonna do when we go live in the Whitehouse?", Todd whispered breathlessly, looking up intently at Sarah's chin.

Sarah put her book down and looked down and glared at Todd in his favourite school-marmish way and she said (just as he winked at her and flashed her a horny smile and grunted -- in case you wondered that's how small town folks are, always behaving as if they are a load of walking cliches).

Anyway, Sarah said: "Look here honey, McCain will be living in the Whitehouse. I am just a VP! Get that through your thick skull,", then she gently touched his head and said, "I mean, your beautiful thick skull," and she grunted at him too. They were like Marge and Homer Simpson all throaty giggles and horny laughter. Or, like turkeys gobbling in a farmyard. Take your pick.

Then, when he started gently grabbing her, she sternly said in a mock-threatening way, "Don't make me grab my shotgun!"

"You mean this," he put his hand on his crotch.

The two were in bed, and Todd had his head on her lap with their little baby sleeping beside him. Their conversation was at whisper level, so as not to awaken the baby.

Looking slightly serious, Todd then said, "C'mon, you know that McCain feller ain't got that much time and the Whitehouse is as good as yours! The first thing we are going to do when we take over the Whitehouse is we're gonna make a new Whitehouse baby! You'd like that, right!"

She didn't say anything. Sarah, smiled benignly at him, thinking to herself, "Great, Todd! Always thinking with your dick! The world will think the Whitehouse is really full of Republican fuckers! Gawd, I'd left him ages ago if the sex wasn't so good!"

THE END


Photo: Sarah and Todd Palin in photo by Al Grillo for Associated Press in NYT

NEW YORK TIMES' EDITORIAL ON SARAH PALIN

This editorial by New York Times, discussing Republican Sarah Palin as a very poor choice of vice-president candidate by Republican presidential candidate John McCain is a profound piece of writing. This is the kind of writing that sets NYT worlds apart from the others. Read it...

September 13, 2008
EDITORIAL
Gov. Palin’s Worldview

As we watched Sarah Palin on TV the last couple of days, we kept wondering what on earth John McCain was thinking.

If he seriously thought this first-term governor — with less than two years in office — was qualified to be president, if necessary, at such a dangerous time, it raises profound questions about his judgment. If the choice was, as we suspect, a tactical move, then it was shockingly irresponsible.

It was bad enough that Ms. Palin’s performance in the first televised interviews she has done since she joined the Republican ticket was so visibly scripted and lacking in awareness.

What made it so much worse is the strategy for which the Republicans have made Ms. Palin the frontwoman: win the White House not on ideas, but by denigrating experience, judgment and qualifications.

The idea that Americans want leaders who have none of those things — who are so blindly certain of what Ms. Palin calls “the mission” that they won’t even pause for reflection — shows a contempt for voters and raises frightening questions about how Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin plan to run this country.

One of the many bizarre moments in the questioning by ABC News’s Charles Gibson was when Ms. Palin, the governor of Alaska, excused her lack of international experience by sneering that Americans don’t want “somebody’s big fat résumé maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment where, yes, they’ve had opportunities to meet heads of state.”

We know we were all supposed to think of Joe Biden. But it sure sounded like a good description of Mr. McCain. Those decades of experience earned the Arizona senator the admiration of people in both parties. They are why he was our preferred candidate in the Republican primaries.

The interviews made clear why Americans should worry about Ms. Palin’s thin résumé and lack of experience. Consider her befuddlement when Mr. Gibson referred to President Bush’s “doctrine” and her remark about having insight into Russia because she can see it from her state.

But that is not what troubled us most about her remarks — and, remember, if they were scripted, that just means that they reflect Mr. McCain’s views all the more closely. Rather, it was the sense that thoughtfulness, knowledge and experience are handicaps for a president in a world populated by Al Qaeda terrorists, a rising China, epidemics of AIDS, poverty and fratricidal war in the developing world and deep economic distress at home.

Ms. Palin talked repeatedly about never blinking. When Mr. McCain asked her to run for vice president? “You have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission,” she said, that “you can’t blink.”

Fighting terrorism? “We must do whatever it takes, and we must not blink, Charlie, in making those tough decisions of where we go and even who we target.”

Her answers about why she had told her church that President Bush’s failed policy in Iraq was “God’s plan” did nothing to dispel our concerns about her confusion between faith and policy. Her claim that she was quoting a completely unrelated comment by Lincoln was absurd.

This nation has suffered through eight years of an ill-prepared and unblinkingly obstinate president. One who didn’t pause to think before he started a disastrous war of choice in Iraq. One who blithely looked the other way as the Taliban and Al Qaeda regrouped in Afghanistan. One who obstinately cut taxes and undercut all efforts at regulation, unleashing today’s profound economic crisis.

In a dangerous world, Americans need a president who knows that real strength requires serious thought and preparation.

Photo from New York Times

DELAYED REACTION -- TO LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS

Ok, I know this is kinda late, but I have to say this. The closing of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was fantastic. The London segment that was inserted into the closing ceremony, to indicate that the next Olympic Games will be held in London in 2012, was an utter disappointment. The London production was dismal and the personalities who represented the London Games were very unimpressive.

Photos:
1. The Bird's Nest photo is from Time -- Getty
2. Beijing logo from the Olympics website

USAIN BOLT -- COULD HAVE BEEN FASTER IN BEIJING 100M

A Norwegian physicist has answered the question running through the minds of more than a billion people who were watching the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and wondered what time Jamaica's Usain Bolt would have clocked in if he had not slowed down towards the end of the 100m sprint where he clocked 9.69 seconds.

The time that the Jamaican thunderBOLT would have clocked in was a staggering 9.55 seconds. Usain Bolt is now in the realm of true athletic legends -- places that athletic heroes go to when they send people's imagination into an uncontrollable tailspin with their astounding feats.

Photos from the incomparable New York Times

AEROSMITH'S PINK... STILL RED HOT

REDISCOVERING CLASSICS...

One of the best things about youtube.com is its power to let you rediscover great things, like the song Pink by Aerosmith. The song is catchy, with nice lyrics that tends towards the quirky and clever. The video is also very classy and arty. Right click on the main title to this entry to catch the video.

Photo of the inimitable Steven Tyler from the sun.co.uk

LIPSTICK ON A PIG... LIPSTICK ON MY COLLAR...

Barack Obama did something he should not have done: stoop to the low levels of the Republicans.

He sure did when he said, "...You can put Lipstick on a pig -- it is still a pig!"

The jibe is squarely directed at Republican Sarah Palin, the woman from probably the most corrupt state in the U.S. and the-now-an-interesting-choice-of-candidate-for-vice-president but-soon-to-be-a-costly-mistake-for-McCain gal.

Obama should have left her to her own downfall -- she is a failed mother (how she is going to govern the most powerful nation in the world when she can't even be a good parent, is anyone's guess), a creationist who is going to screw things up is a big way in this modern and increasingly free-thinking world (my bet is that she will be so out of whack with the rest of the world, that Europe is going to laugh all the way to the top position as the dominant world-influence peddler -- and let's face it, Europe is all about what people around teh world want: modernizing society; equality of the people and empowerment of the masses; and the U.S. is soon going to be non-invincible should Palin take a mistep)

Anyway, we managed to sit down with Miss Piggy, of The Muppets fame, and she had a thing or two to say about the Presidential election in the United States.

FD: Yo pig, what's up!?

Miss Piggy: Snort! Snort! Hey you lambchop! How ya doin?

FD: Doin good. WHat do you thin of Obama's crack about pigs and lipstick?

Miss Piggy: It was an utter insult! I am no Republican, in case you didn't know. I am a Democrat pig, like all them other pigs!

FD: Yikes! That didn't sound quite right! Anyway, do you actually wear lipstick?

Miss Piggy: I sure do. My favorite shade is pork-chop red!

FD: Pork-chop? Hmmm, I feel hungry suddenly. C'here my little bacon!

Miss Piggy: Err, ciao kids!

FD: Wow... that pig sure can fly!

And Miss Piggy ran like hell and disappeared into the horizon.



Photo of Miss Piggy from New York Times website.

Photo of Sarah "Lipstick on a pig" Palin from BBC MUNDO website.

HOT NEWS ANCHORS ON CNN

ANJALI RAO HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPRESSIVE NEWS ANCHOR ON CNN FOR A LONG TIME. SHE HAS GROWN FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH OVER THE YEARS. SHE IS STILL RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP. SHE HANDLES SERIOUS NEWS AND MAGAZINE PROGRAMS WITH EQUAL EASE ND HER CHEMISTRY WITH THE REST OF HER COLLEAGUES ON CNN IS SECOND TO NONE.

NOW, CNN HAS A NEW ADDITION, THE TREMENDOUSLY CLASSY KAUSHAL PATEL, POSSIBLY THE MOST GLAMOROUS NEWS ANCHOR ON THE PLANET TODAY. WOW! EVERY TIME KAUSHAL PATEL COMES ON AIR, SHE JUST ADDS SO MUCH OF THE GLAMOUR FACTOR TO THE TELEVISION THAT IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL! SIZZLING KAUSHAL PATEL IS BOLLYWOOD ROYALTY PERSONIFIED!
PHOTOS:
1. ANJALI RAO -- PICTURE FROM CNN WEBSITE
2. KAUSHAL PATEL PHOTO FROM: http://www.unclebarky.com/abovethefold_files/page0_blog_entry841_2.jpg

REPUBLICANS CONSOLIDATE...

It seemed like President George W. Bush was coming to his senses when it was announced that a portion of the U.S. troops were going to be pulled out of Iraq. In reality, what it means is he is making the stage less messy for -- and we are using a very big 'IF' here -- if his fellow Republican John McCain becomes the next U.S. President. The aim is to keep the political power base in Republican hands.

With this cosmetic pull out from Iraq, Bush is cleaning his house for McCain. It might seem like a noble gesture -- but underneath it, the U.S. still attacked a sovereign nation (Iraq) when it invaded that middle east country. (That's why America's noise over Russia attacking Georgie which the U.S. tagged as an attack on a sovereign nation rings hollow.)

PHOTO OF GEORGE W. BUSH LOOKING YOUNG AND HANDSOME, FROM http://www.command-post.org/2004/2_archives/george_bush_uniform.jpg

DEARLY BELOVED... WILL THE REAL KIM JONG-ILL, ERR, JONG-IL, PLEASE STAND UP...

One of the worst fashion disasters walking the Earth, North Korea's Beloved Leader Kim Jong-Il, is MIA.

He missed North Korea's 60th annniversary bash and parade -- you know, military marching (in their rather fashionable feet stomping style!), military leaders vogue-ing on podium, military vehicles and weapons paraded proudly etc etc -- and the evil tongues of the world's media are wagging and hissing insanely about the status of his health. Some say Beloved Leader (that's what the North Koreans call him) has suffered a stroke. Others say, he has diabetes and a host of heart ailments. The North Koreans say Beloved Leader Kim Jong-Il isn't ill -- in fact, there is "no problem," they said, adding "not true" to claims that the fashion terrorist is ill. Or should that be IL?

Of, course the most evil tongue wagging -- and it has been wagging for quite while -- is Waseda University's North Korean expert Professor Toshimitsu Shigemura. This Japanese academic claims Beloved Leader Kim Jong-Il died in 2003 and look-alikes have been filling Beloved Leader's shoes.

Whatever the case might be, we have Team America: World Police, a 2004 puppet-animation film directed by South Park co-creator Trey Parker (the other co-creator is the aptly named Matt Stone). The side-splittingly anarchic Team America film has truly immortalized our Beloved Leader Kim Jong-Il, if you ask us.

THE BELOVED PHOTOS OF KIM JONG-IL ARE STILLS (NO, WE DIDN'T SAY STIFFS!!!) FROM TEAM AMERICA

MALAYSIAN UPPER MANAGEMENT... THERE'S NOTHING UPPER ABOUT IT

One of the main reasons this country is not doing as well as it should be is simple -- the people who have slithered into managerial and upper management posts are simply worth nothing!

There is no foresight in their policies nor the implementation of it, Malaysian bosses are busy padding their pockets instead of ensuring the every wage earner takes home something decent AND IS PROVIDED A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

My own experience has been that if you point out that there are ample anecdotal evidence to warrant a thorough investigation and testing of, for example, air quality in the work place -- and everyone turns a deaf ear to it! If, five years down the road, when all the staff are stricken with cancer (and trust me -- the majority of the employees are, unfortunately, very dim and would not be able to associate high numbers of, let's say, cancer cases within one office to the building in which they worked in) -- it will all be a very sad thing.

Is it too much to ask to have bosses who have a bit of intelligence and compassion to the well being and health of employees? This sickens me in every sense of the word.

THE GATHERING OF HICKS TAKES PLACE...

Minneapolis was descended by a horde of Republican hicks recently where Republican John McCain was officially nominated by his fellow Republicans to be the next Presidental candidate. Unfortunately, for the rest of the world, anyway, as if the thought of McCain running the United States wasn't horrific enough -- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was nominated to the be McCain's vice-president.

Worst of all, the Republican National Convention, on the whole, looked like the National Convention of the Aged, with so many oldies in the audience. McCain himself, apparently, ran free with the dinosaurs!

This is about when the world will run and hide for cover in fear of irrational American foreign policy should the US fall into the hands of Republicans in the November elections.

As a result, all the liberals and progressives are now intently channeling all their positive thoughts towards Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden to take the top two posts in the US come the the November elections.

These photos from the venerable New York Times show the faces of Republicans (and their hats, too!) at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. Oh, the man facing the audience in the hatful picture is President George W. Bush, the numero uno Republican at the moment.

PINK COMES OUT SIZZLING WITH NEW SONG CALLED "SO WHAT"

Pop star and rock chick with attitude who we all know as the color Pink has released a new song called "So What" and it is quite a sizzler indeed.

Check it out at youtube.com

The song is catchy, and the lyrics are so simple and honest that it is easy to like instantly. Welcome back Pink.

(Also give Pink's "Who Knew" a listen. It is one of the most solid pieces of pop songs ever written. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!!!!)

Photo of Pink from this website: http://english.pravda.ru/img/idb/photo/pink-26.jpg

SARAH PALIN... A DANGER TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

The strange folks in the United States who call themselves Republicans may have forced themselves to like like the idea of having Sarah Palin as a vice-president of the United States (and a definite shoo-in for the US presidency seeing how ancient John McCain is!) but take it from me that the rest of the world finds her repugnant.

She is a poster girl for NRA and comes from a state known for corruption. She is a woman who is going to damage the US and its ties to the rest of the world.If anything should happen to McCain, will the world be ready to deal with a US president who will literally behaves as if she is having her p****d? Or, what happens when she becomes menopausal? God help us all!!!!!!!

Palin's stand on her her daughter's five-month old pregnancy is rather liberal, if you ask us. What is baffling is the conservative Christians amongst the Republicans are all out supporting Palin's daughter when we all know that the hypocrites are saying in their hearts, "Shit, Palin's shameless young daughter has no self-control. What a lusty beast she must be!"

And sex, let us not kid ourselves, is all about pleasure and orgasms for youngsters. Not some noble desire to create offsprings. That offspring, if there is one, is purely an accident.

Oh, and John McCain was so obviously ignorant of Palin's daughter's pregnancy. Otherwise, he would NOT have gone anywhere near Palin, must less nominate her as a vice-president. To try and make a positive spin of Palin's daughter's pregnancy is so not a conservative thing!

Photo of Sarah Palin from Seattle Times.

HILLARY WHO??? JUST KIDDING -- WE LUV YA OLD GIRL!

Hillary Clinton was my preferred choice for President of Unite States. Unfortunately, a few misteps by her -- not to mention the awesomeness of Barack Obama -- has made Obama the choice candidate for the US presidency.

Anyway, we love ya Hillary. Great speech at the Democratic National Convention.

As for Obama, he is making all the right moves. It will be interesting to see him become the president of the United States. Obama's choice of Joe Biden as vice president is positively and infinitely more inspired than Sarah Palin by Obama's rival for the US presidency, John McCain. (McCain, in case you have not read my earlier blog entry, is Paris Hilton's arch nemesis.)

Anyway, here are some nice photos:

1. Hillary Clinton picture from UK's most excellent Telegraph UK website
2. Barack Obama portrait shot by the incomparable Martin Schoeller

HURRICANE GUSTAV FIZZLES... AS DOES SARAH PALIN

Sometimes one never knows if the media are making things up for the sake of scoring big on the ratings games or they are just stupid. The way CNN was going on and on about Hurricane Gustav, with the visuals of menacing red swirls approaching New Orleans in its weather reports, I was on the edge of my seat, almost fainting from the coverage-fatigue. "Ooo, that red swirl of the storm that CNN keeps showing must mean Hollywood-special-effects-grade kind of destruction for New Orleans!" I'd thought.

No, I am not evil and do not wish such a thing on the inhabitants of New Orleans. And I was happiest when the leaders there instructed people to evacuate parts that were in the path of Hurricane Gustav. My grouse is the emotional fatigue everyone went through because the American media spinning the web and trying to outdo one another in the doom-and-gloom-weather-forecast stakes.

From Category 3 storm, Gustav was downgraded to Category 2. And the quality of news coverage fizzled as did the storm. Thankfully!!!!! Amen! Now we can also focus our undivided attention on Sarah Palin and how unsuitable she is as a candidate for VP. Boy, does McCain suck in his choice of VP as far as the world audience is concerned! And CNN's Jonathan Mann and that other old guy (as Paris Hilton would have put it!) who're covering the Republican convention are so very lame as Republican apologists as far as Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter is concerned.

Anyway, back to Hurricane Gustav, it was a serious enough storm -- as these pictures from New York Times show.

(The weather maps are from CNN -- the red-yellow-green swirly one -- as well as from the US National Hurricane Center at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml)