One who doesn't spend time with family is no man! (Don Corleone)

Breaking Bad (Mini-Series, Seasons 1-5; 2008 - 2013)

What do you do when you are stuck in a job where nobody gives two hoots to what you are saying? You are obviously overqualified when you see your contemporaries swift you by in their Bentleys and flaunt their wealth through their garden parties while you stand agape. These people were your partners and had started together. Look and them and where are you? To top it up, the students you teach do not bother what you are trying to impart. They think you are a fool. They believe their wealthy parents would see them through life. 

While they drive around in their spanking new SUVs, sponsored by their parents, you have to break your back trying to make ends meet with a second job!

Then, there is the co-brother-in-law working in the DEA (Drugs Enforcement Administration), who rattles on about these busts and the obscene amount of cash stashed by these law-breaking uneducated vermins of society.

Mr Walter White, chemistry teacher.

Then, you have a bout of paroxysmal coughing during one of the back-breaking sessions, which lays you unconscious. You are sent to the emergency ward. One thing leads to another. You, a 50-year-old non-smoker, are diagnosed with stage 3 inoperable lung cancer.

You are dazed. The only thing that comes to your mind is your family - your 7-month pregnant 40-year-old wife with the surprise unplanned baby, your spastic teenage son who was born with cerebral palsy and their long future without you and without savings. So you wear a perpetual frown on your face and walk through like a zombie with bouts of reflections on life.

You follow your co-brother-in-law in one of his hauls, and what do you see? Your former student making a back door escape from DEA. Then, something strikes you! You are a Chemistry graduate teaching a bunch of non-interested spoilt brats. Why not put your knowledge to good use for your family? It ain't rocket science. And that is when the main character of this mini-series, Mr Walter White, decided to cook high-quality methamphetamines for quick cash before his Maker takes him back. He does all this with the marketing effort of a junkie wayward rich kid and ex-student, Jesse Pinkman, simultaneously as Walt undergoes chemotherapy.

This hush-hush agenda is the background of an interestingly addictive saga with elements of crime drama, suspense, dark humour, the good musical score of a 50-year old Chemistry teacher who has to battle advanced lung cancer and ensure that his family is taken care of after his absence. In the process, he has to cover his track of illicit business and ill-gotten gains. But, more often than not, he only has to dodge the suspicions of his alert wife and the dog-eat-dog world of illegal drugs.

There are more moments of comic relief as the two characters of different generations and intelligence get things going off the ground! But, if you looking for cute characters with a flamboyant change of clothes and sleazy affairs, this one is not for you. After all, the main character is a 50-year-old bald man with a pregnant wife, a spastic son with slurred speech, an oversized cop who looks like 'The Thing' from Fantastic Four' and many drug addicts and baddies, set in the non-picturesque desert-like surrounding of Albuquerque, New Mexico,. And the poetic street lingo...yo!

Safeguard what you have!

Shatranj Ke Khilari  (The Chess Players, Urdu; 1977)
Direction, Screenplay, Music: Satyajit Ray

As the English were sharpening their steely knives to rape and rob India of their wealth, the Indian monarchs and noblemen are more interested in pleasures of the skin, the sheer enjoyment of the arts and of course Chess. The decadence of administration and those in power squarely brought the nation down.
This film boasts of high historical accuracy in its storyline and an array of a star-studded cast. Amitabh Bachchan narrates (Ray could not find a suitable role for him), Sanjeev Kumar, Shabana Azmi, Amjad Khan, Fareeda Jalal and Richard Attenborough star.

The time is pre-1857 before The Sepoy Mutiny when Lord Dalhousie and his generals are trying to hoodwink the Nawab of Oudh of his land.

The Nawab (Amjad Khan) is more interested in poetry and music than ruling over his subjects. Even when, critical history-altering decisions had to be made, he is humming tunes and composing poems in his mind. He unapologetically admits to his Prime Minister that he is incapable of ruling and he is a misfit. On a parallel story, two noblemen (Mirza -Sanjeev Kumar and Meer - Saeed Jeffrey) are obsessive chess players. Praising the great nation for inventing the excellent game for the world and ridiculing the British for changing the rules, they lose touch with reality. They are foolishly ignorant about their worldly duties and their wives. Mirza ignores his attention and companionship-seeking wife (Begum - Shabana Azmi), and it is a known fact, to everyone except Meer, that Meer's wife has a lover!

They spend hours and hours on the game smoking the hookah and chewing on paan (spiced betel leaves). Their antics during the game and their tricks trying to outdo are indeed comical. Even when Mirza's wife hides the chess pieces to garner attention, they visit a friend with the intention of using his chess piece. Unfortunately, the owner was dying and died during their visit. The noblemen were given a grand welcome as they were thought to be visiting the gravely ill!

Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey

While the English were moving in to take over the fort; these two jokers continued their games oblivious to the happenings of the day.

The Nawab on the other hand just hands over his throne to General Outram (Attenborough) on a platter without a fight, happy with the promised monthly allowance.
It just shows how wealth, if we do not have the courage and intelligence to safeguard it, it would be carved up and squandered by vultures and hyenas would are out to tear up their loot and defenceless owners!

Beware of those craftily conniving foxes who sing praises of your ability, intelligence, beauty or your singing ability just to hoodwink you of your hard-earned black-bean fritters (vadai, vada, Indian doughnut, வடை)!

Malaya 1941, 42

Photos from Mohd Faiz's post 

FB group Malaysian Heritage and History Club

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=pcb.583421528401298&type=3

Japanese Occupation of Malaya 1941 in Kuala Lumpur

Hurricane British fighter plane crashed in Malaya 1942 during World War II. This fighter plane arrived late in Malaya. This fighter plane standard was the same level like the Spitfire fighter plane. It was among the modern fighter plane and and can challenge the Zero Japanese fighter plane. However due late arrival in Malaya, most of the this planes were withdrawn to Sumatra and British lost the war. IF this plane arrived early in Malaya and being based in Kota Bahru and Alor Star airbase and escorted HMS Repulse & HMS Prince during their navigations in South China Sea, Japanese might lost the battle. This is because during that time, in winning the battle, Japanese has advantage in air superiority which made the British armies sitting like ducks!!

Better late than never?

So, there I was rushing through traffic trying not to embarrass myself by being late. Looking at my watch periodically, I just wanted to ensure that I do not walk into the hall with the bridal entourage instead of before them. Not that it had not happened before!
I remember, many years ago, in my hometown, where everything was a lazy affair, my family and I were invited to a friend's parents' wedding anniversary which was celebrated in a glitzy and pompous manner. In keeping with the high brow nature of the function with distinguished guests and all, the host decided to start  right on the dot.

Deer in headlights!

Talk about right timing, we just made our entry just when the spotlights went on and Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations and Celebrations' started playing. It very much took us by surprise. We were dumbfounded in a 'deer in headlights' moment.
So were the guests who were expecting to see the special stars for the evening!
Anyway, coming back to the present times, I finally made it to the wedding reception hall. This time, the surprise was on me again as the hall was practically empty! The invitation quoted that dinner was to start at 7pm and there I was at 7.30pm.
After a good half and an hour of looking around from top to bottom and from side to side of the hall and the decorations, guests started strolling in. My friend who was supposed to join me coolly sauntered in at about 8.30pm just when the function was starting. As a matter-of-factly, he sneered at me for coming so early for a Malay wedding. He said that it is an unwritten rule that things are to start at least one and a half hour late.
So far, I have only heard the Chinese complained about their wedding dinners not starting on time. Even the Indian wedding receptions are better, half to an hour late.
Anyway, when the function actually started, everything was forgotten. Everyone was merry-making and having fun rather than brooding about wasted time.
So, the next time, it would be still a one and half hour delay. I would be wiser. I would also go late. And the trend would continue. Nobody is going to start a function when nobody is in attendance. There would be the royal couple but without lowly peasants, the royal couple would just a couple without the lowly subjects to fete them up to high heavens!

What Man wants?

En Passion (The Passion, Swedish; 1969)
Director: Ingmar Bergman

As the camera rolls in, the loneliness of the protagonist is made apparent. He is only greeted with the sounds of birds, winds and nature. There are no company of people for miles around, and the weather is not so refreshing. This is the backdrop of the start of this film which, one questions the very things that all individuals ask after they have achieved a certain level in life. They lay down specific guidelines for people around them to follow, and the boundary is breached; they cannot accept it, and pandemonium is the order of the day. People around them, affected by them, who long for their companion, who look at them for guidance and love, are the direct victims of their actions. If this explanation sounds confusing, watch it yourself and draw your conclusions. Answers in life are neither black nor white; they come in shades of grey.

Andreas Winkelman (Max von Sydow, a regular in Bergman's films) is a lonely divorcee leading his own lonely life himself where his only company is solitude and sounds of nature. He does his personal things at his own snail's pace. His occasional acquaintance is bronchitic cart pulling man, Sigge, with a prior stint at the mental asylum.
On one fateful day, a visitor from his friend's (Eva and Elis) home (Anna, Liv Ullman, another regular feature in Bergman's films) comes in using his phone as the friend's line was out of order. Andreas eavesdrops on the emotional conversation where she spills her emotion to her ex-husband about money issues.

Anna leaves the house in a hurry, leaving her handbag behind. Anna had allegedly been involved in a nasty accident 3 months previously where her husband and son had perished, and she needed multiple surgeries and was walking with crutches.

The curious Andreas took the liberty to look into the handbag to discover a letter from her husband about her dogmatic attitudes, their incompatibility and separation.
Andreas' friends Eva and Elis have problems of their own. Eva is a chronic insomniac who never got over her previous miscarriage, and her marital bed has been unkindled for a mighty long time. Elis is a keen photographer who is inspired by snapping emotions. Andreas becomes his model.

On the side, the village has a spate of cruel killings and snaring of animals. Bewildered on the perpetrator's identity, the accusing hands of the villagers pointed at Sigge because of his past mental condition. Constant threat and harassment pushed him to suicide, only for the mindless killing to continue even after his demise!

How do human emotions push us to do the unthinkable?

Andreas befriends Anna. After an initial good going, both expressed insecurity and resentment towards each other. Andreas felt freedom in his solitude. Anna's deception about her spouse was uncovered- they divorced! They finally went separate ways, just as the way before.

The take-home message that I draw from here is that one should not be so egoistic in only wanting to attain self-gratification to his own content. Perhaps he should look around at all the good things he has around him and make the best available - less pain, more to gain. Well, it worked well for generations before us! Or maybe being dogmatic, steadfast in our beliefs and set in doing things in a way and insisting on others to do it may just push us off our or others' minds? 

So you think you made it!

Perched high up on skyscraper, placed on a hill overlooking the lowlands of common people and the iconic bridge to mainland, amidst the clutter of cutlery in the continental restaurant, indulging in the high caloried diet with no guilt, sipping the freshly squeezed orange, brain immersed in endorphines, it sure feels good like a million dollars to know that you had conquered the challenges that life had to offer, albeit in our own small ways.

We made small baby steps to face the giant face of life and came out smelling not of stinking sweat but sweet smelling roses. We persevered, we fought the fight, endured the pain, ignored the heartbreaks and followed the path of least resistance. Like James Brown said, "It feels good, it feels nice". Even the unsweetened black coffee tastes sweet! And the bread as we know it has a funny foreign sounding name.

Rifle Range Flats

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/11/23/The-first-lowcost-highrise-flats-built-in-the-country-were-in-Penang.aspx

Community

Published: Saturday November 23, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Saturday November 23, 2013 MYT 12:01:14 PM

The first low-cost high-rise flats built in the country were in Penang

BY WONG CHUN WAI

Big complex: There are nine blocks spread over 16.7ha with 3,888 units

THE Rifle Range Flats is one of the most densely populated areas in Penang.
Penangites can tell you if you choose to park your car near the flats in the evening, the chances of your car being blocked by other cars is almost 100%.
The likelihood is that the unsuspecting motorist would never be able to get his stuck vehicle out.
The best way would be to return in the morning when the other cars have left.
That’s how sardine-packed the area is.
The almost non-existent parking bays at the flats is simply because the architects of the country’s first high-rise, low cost flats never imagined that the dwellers would be able to afford a car as low-wage earners.
They probably never believed that the living standards of Penangites living at the mostly single-room flats, would improve.

Close to the shops: There are a large number of hawkers, coffee shops and even a wet market on the ground floor of the flats.

According to blogger Lim Thian Leong, there are nine blocks of 17-storey buildings within an area of 16.7ha, with every floor consisting of 20 units of single bedrooms and four two bedroom units.
With a total of 3,888 units within the flats, the average size of a unit is merely 340 sq ft!
It is not unusual for the rest of the family members to sleep in the living room while the parents take up the only room in the flat.
Because of its high density, the flats remain a politician’s delight, or nightmare, depending on the crowds you can command come election time.
Almost all the big guns (pun intended) show up at Rifle Range during the last leg of the campaign.
Rifle Range Road or Jalan Padang Tembak is one of the main roads connecting Air Itam and George Town.
Popularly known as pak cheng poh, in Hokkein, is so named because the area used to be a shooting range, according to writer-photographer Timothy Lye.
“It was once an open space used as a shooting range by the police and the military.
“The namesake shooting range located next to the Batu Gantong Cemetery made way for the low-cost flats,” he wrote.
The flats were built by the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu when the then opposition Gerakan party swept into power in 1969.
Through the Penang Development Corporation, the Rifle Range flats, designed by a German firm, was built.
Faced with the problems of housing needs for the poor, more flats were then constructed in other areas.
When he took over Penang, unemployment was running at 16% but he created plenty of jobs through the setting up of the Penang Free Trade Zone in Bayan Lepas.

Taking a breather: A motorcyclist resting on his motorcycle on the ground floor of the flats.

But according to Farouk Gulsara, in his blog posting, in 1964, the national Ministry of Housing and Local Government had already identified two pilot projects in order to try out the industrialised building or prefabrication system (known as IBS).
The first of these projects was in Kuala Lumpur along Jalan Tun Razak (Jalan Pekeliling).
The second pilot project was set in Penang, consisting the construction of six blocks of 17-storey flats and three blocks of 18-storey flats comprising 3,699 units and 66 shop lots along Rifle Range Road.
“The project in Penang was awarded to Hochtief/Chee Seng using the French Estiot System and took 27 months to complete, inclusive of the time taken in setting up the precast factories.
“When Rifle Range Flats were completed in the early 1970s, they were the tallest buildings in Penang.
“None of the units were big ‑ on average they were approximately 36 sq m for intermediate one bedroom units and 38.7 sq m. for two bedroom end units.
“Nonetheless, they provided housing for many hardcore poor. “
The Rifle Range Flats area where Dr Lim chose as a site for the construction of the buildings was not the more preferred choice for residence.
Located next to the Batu Gantong cemetery, it is said that the ground where the flats now stands used to be the burial plot for the mass burying of those massacred by the Japanese during the Occupation.
As a child growing up in nearby Jalan Kampung Melayu, I used to cycle to the flats to meet up with friends.

Spot of colour: A resident walking by a unit where the owner decided to add some colour to the home.

Even in the late 1970s, there were still cow herds along Boundary Road, which I had to cycle past to reach Rifle Range.
News reports of residents jumping to their death, or more precisely, committing suicide, were regular and when I finally joined The Star as a reporter in the 1980s, the suicides still did not stop, with residents often bringing up stories of those who were buried underneath!
The suicides there were the subject of a book by anthropologist Jean Elizabeth De Bernardi The Way That Lives in the Hearts: Chinese Popular Spirits and Mediumswhere a medium purportedly claimed that the spirits had to take away 16 lives although at the time of research, there were already 20 victims.
Her cynical research assistant concluded that it was more likely that the victims had taken their lives because they had no work or money.
But less talked about is actually the large number of hawkers and coffeeshops, located at the ground floors of the flats.
There is also a wet market nearby.
As a child, my brother Wong Chun Fong, and I would to go the market every Saturday morning to buy the economy fried bee hoon and the Penang style pan cake, ban chang kuih, made from flour and sprinkled with sugar and groundnuts.
Nothing much has really changed in Rifle Range Flats today.
There would likely be new occupants, as those who have fared better in their lives moved out.
It has remained crowded with a host of social problems from drugs, thefts to gangsterism but the majority of the people are law-abiding, helpful and friendly people.
Despite the density of the area, Rifle Range has remained home to thousands and thousands of Penangites.