Throttled

OK. The gist is this. Ever since the undersea earthquake that disrupted Internet traffic to other parts of the world, we Malaysians have been having problems with downloading and file-sharing. While the former has been rectified, the latter is still a problem. Personally I haven't been having much problems until last week: I could only download my torrents on Thursday, and even then for 12 hours...thank God I managed to download four series and two movies...not bad for 12 hours eh? Then zip...until last night, but downloads were really slow.

Main Entry: ¹throt·tle
Pronunciation: 'thrä-t^&l
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): throt·tled; throt·tling /'thrät-li[ng], 'thrä-t^&l-i[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English throtelen, from throte throat
transitive verb
1 a (1) : to compress the throat of : CHOKE (2) : to kill by such action b : to prevent or check expression or activity of : SUPPRESS throttle creativity>
2 a : to decrease the flow of (as steam or fuel to an engine) by a valve b : to regulate and especially to reduce the speed of (as an engine) by such means c : to vary the thrust of (a rocket engine) during flight
intransitive verb : to throttle something (as an engine) -- usually used with back or down throttled back>

From The Merriam-Webster Dictionary

So, this is the new word I learned from an Internet forum site. With regards to how our broadband service provider treats us on p2p downloads. With p2p downloads I mean Bittorrent and other movie/music downloads. I guess there are frustrated people out there...voicing out opinions which they can really do on mainstream media.

For one it's illegal. Well I admit to that, but the alternative is to wait for it on terrestrial television, or pay inflated prices on the Internet or original CD/DVDs. Or as they say here in bolehland go to the nearest pasar malam and make your pick (err, pirated vcds etc). So much for throttling the Internet download activities...it's just shifting one illegal activity to another. But I guess the authorities don't get greased so much by illegal Internet downloads than by money-making pirate distributors or peddlers. Well it's just a matter of time they find a way to make money that way in bolehland.

So what are we paying our broadband for anyway? Most people do not need broadband unless they need to download huge files or need to be online 24 7...and we are paying RM 88 (myself anyway) for shared bandwidth space (btw it means that we don't really get 1Mbps as advertised...should I sue our broadband service provider for false advertising?) It is frustrating for most people, although I use boadband for other stuff apart from movie downloads. But of course all this whining is not going to stop the monopolistic company to do anything about it...because it's all monopoly, and there's no way the people on the street is going to make a difference.

And to another point: why are new customers being offered RM 77 (promotional) while existing customers (read me!) still have to fork out RM 11 more? I think this happens only in bolehland...again because of the monopoly. That a few steps backwards for business in this country.

But I think I must stop here...just in case they find grounds to sue a poor blogger like myself...uhm, then maybe I'll be famous for a change, who knows?

I quit!

I've finally had enough!! Just submitted my 24-hour notice of resignation. Calling me back to work during my leave when there are others available really was the final straw. And to think that I was contemplating withdrawing my resignation letter. Hmmph... But at least they made the decision for me!!

So I'm officially done with Government service. But I guess no one will miss me...life will just go on as usual. And what am I to do for now? Hmm...I have no plans to work yet - I can concentrate on the stock market for now and cross the bridge when I come to it. I have little expenditure, and I think my finances can withstand the strain for a few months; after all, it's not like I have nil income - the stock market holds opportunities, although a salary would be nice. I'll see how it goes.

The year is still young after all...

Resolutions

Ahh...it's that time of year again, to look back on the year gone by and to look forward on the year to come. I guess I have been pulled into that same whirlpool of self-reflection and resolution making that characterizes the end-of-year behaviour of most of humanity.

Well I'm not the kind of person who makes many notes, so I'll try to make a brief one here, for posterity's sake:

1. Huff and puff, I'll blow the house down
I guess I have to start being less of a couch/mouse potato and more physical-activity friendly. To me that's the euphemism for: exercise!! Well, being a doctor I know the benefits of exercising. To the death believe me. But working in the Emergency Department is exercise enough! And also stressful. And I suppose the need to breathe in fresh air now and then. And hope I don't get bitten by the Aedes mosquito during the evenings (but wait! there's no fresh air then - danged it...it means I have to get up early!). Which bring's me to...

2. Early bird gets the worm
Oh I wake up early enough...but this means that instead of lying awake on the bed, I get off my behind and do something useful: like reading the newspaper, doing some housework etc. Yeah right...

3. Just Do It!
No, no, I'm not going to buy a Nike outfit (I'm not into designer labels anyway). There's a lot of things I wanna do but haven't have the time to do it: going on holidays, meeting old friends, striking up new ones, looking for another job etc. So I feel this is going to be the year to do so... Whoa! Looking for a new job you say??

4. Sunset and sunrise
Oh no, I'm not going up Mt. Kinabalu to watch the sunrise (hey I was there for six years and never did that...do you think I'm gonna do it now??). I feel that this is the year I'm gonna quit from the civil service, which is something I wanted to do for a long time, but never got around to doing it. What am I gonna do after that? That's the thousand ringgit question (err, I'm not worth any million anytime soon you know) but I fancy something totally different. Yeah, it may not be suited to my personality - trying something new - but there's a time for everything right?

Rats...only four? Well it's better than none. It is said it's better to make a few resolutions you can achieve than make tons that you can't. Perhaps...so I'll start off small and go along from there. Wish me luck!!

Happy 2007!!

Well a belated happy 2007 to everyone out there...belated being this posted 3 hours late. As usual I find myself working on a public holiday, despite all the best-laid plans; but I guess that's the life of a doctor. Fireworks and celebration? Hmm...the only fireworks and celebration tonight is the gunshot victim I handled just now (err, that's as close to fireworks as I can get!). Phew!

So who know's what's in store for 2007. But in any case I wish people all over the world peace and prosperity and good luck for this coming year.

Here we go!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone out there. It's the last holiday of the year and guess what, I'm on leave. A short break from the hectic daily schedule. Not that I'm planning to go to church or some Christmas party anyway...just to relax and enjoy the day.

Sometimes how I wish there was snow here...then we can really enjoy Christmas. Snowball fights, making snowpeople, things like that which is fun that you see on television. Sure we have different things here, but how I wish I can be somewhere different. Hmm, maybe I'll go somewhere next Christmas.

But till then I have to live with the cloudy and rainy time this Christmas. Sad, but different...

Water, water everywhere!

So what's the big deal about floods this time of year? Yeah it always happens in the East Coast...with the monsoon season and all...but it's not the East Coast which grabbed the headlines. Off all places it was Johor, on the southern part of the country!!!

Well it's not limited to the east coast either...it's all over the state, including parts of the state capital. Thousands were forced to flee their homes and stay at makeshift relief centres. Talk about disaster. And Johor is the target for the next big Malaysian plan: Iskandar Development Region...unless they find out what the problem is and take steps to correct it, the IDC will probably drown in it's own filth...literally.

But that does not take anything away from the efforts of the Government, Civil Defence, volunteer organisations out there tirelessly working to help the flood victims. Kudos to you guys and keep up the good work. As to all the generous people out there waiting to help the victims, kudos to all of you too. And let's hope that this time the money, food, clothing, etc really gets to the people who need them and not to some parasite waiting in the wings...

Hah, like that's gonna happen in this country...

Resignation

Have finally decided to resign from Government service. I am giving the required three-month notice. OK lar...since I've got almost a month and a half worth of leave to take.. Things are really not going down well with me. And with most of my colleagues as well.

My main grouse? Having to work the noon the following day after a night call is really too much. And to think that this is the only Emergency Department that I know with such requirements! I do not want to be a party to human error that will lead to death to a patient! Our Head-of-Department can't do much as this is the Hospital Directors prerogative. Combined with the fact that I have to be at home to help look after my father didn't leave me with much of an option. I guess this has been a long time coming...but the first step is always the hardest!

The coming year would be very interesting one for me indeed...

Up, up and away!

Well, I guess it's been a long time coming. An increase in the road toll rates, effective 1st January. Just that the quantum of increase had not been announced yet. Reason being that the government cannot afford to compensate the toll operators further, and stipulated increases had been set into their existing contracts. But I guess that is life then isn't it? Increases in cost of living, which is unfortunately not offset by increase in salary. No wonder people have so many grouses...

My beef is this...an increase in the toll rates should be accompanied by efficiency of the toll operators. As it is a lot of the tolled roads are suffering from massive jams caused by a teeny weeny insignificant accident (most of the time anyway), as much as narrow roads (not fit to be called a highway...read Lebuhraya [that's highway in Malay], Damansara-Puchong, which is a two-lane road) leading to traffic congestion. Sure, in their defence they will mention the rise in consumer spending leading to increase in the number of cars on the roads, which exceeds their projections then. But I think they can manage other reasons better.

1. Like towing away accident-involved cars away as soon as possible
2. Managing the congestion at toll booths (read LDP, again!!) by directing traffic there properly (um,
those who use LDP during peak hours would understand this - drivers cutting in to the paying
lanes from the Touch N' Go lanes because of haphazard driving, possibly because of
poorly-placed lanes)
3. Increasing the width of roads (well, this is subject to land space)
4. Providing alternative exits to users (God-forbid, that is not an option!!)

Having said that, traffic jams are a common occurrence and will in the future, get worse. That is why the integrated transport system here, if done properly could relieve much of the congestion. The key word here is properly. Because private companies always think of profits...and previous attempts failed because of that. A transport system, in my opinion should not be privatised until it in in place...to ask a private company to come up with a proper transport system without solid financial backing is doomed to failure.

Until then we again have to stomach the increases and weather the pain...so it means less road-travelling for me and more on the Internet highway...and that is cheaper and free of jams (most of the time anyway!)

One more to go!

Hey it's nearly the end of the year now!! And you know what that means...the holidays are here! So this year is a bit different...there's Christmas as usual, and then the year end Hari Raya Haji and New Year holidays. So a lot of people get the chance to partayyy...

But unfortunately not for us poor doctors. Holiday or not, we still have to work. But I guess that's our line of work, and we are resigned to this fact. Well as for me I'll be working over the long year-end holidays, and I'll probably take leave after that. I guess it's in my nature to allow people to party and me to suffer...ha, ha...

Oh, well it won't be for long now...the suffering will end some time. Till then just have to stomach and endure the pain. Who knows, when the pain ends, it may be for the better?

Complaints, complaints

I think we Malaysians complain way too much. I guess it is part of our human nature, but it is something we can control. Unfortunately for Malaysians, we have lived the good life for way too long, and when the crunch comes now, we are unable to adjust to it...so we complain our hearts out.

Some complaints are valid: long lines at Government agencies, bureaucracy when dealing with the civil service, favouritism/cronyism among public servants (blatant in this country I tell you) etc. and should be taken into account or given further thought. I am glad that the Government has already started steps to manage such complaints at best they can. In the end, there will be certain aspects that we are still not happy with, but that is part of life: you win some, you lose some... So at least in those respects I can still live with.

Other complaints are not so valid...borders on the whiny, in my opinion. Let me give you an example. Lately there has been a lot of buzz on raising of the prices of essential services such as electricity, petrol and water. Come on...we all know that such price rises are inevitable. As long as these rises are associated with improved efficiency in services, we should all be happy and thankful. For my part, the area I live in has not had a power disruption for a year now (compared to once a month two years ago). The tap water hasn't been cleaner in years, and less frequent water cuts. We have to compromise on these facts, and not whine about them. But I truly hope that money saved from the reduction in petrol subsidies is put to good use and not wasted on lining the pockets of those in power (that IS something to complain about).

So today the issue of raising air fares by our national carrier takes center stage. As usual there is the chorus of complaints: fares are too high, putting profits ahead of national interest etc. But the fact is that Malaysia Airlines is a business...and businesses needs to make profits to survive. So what's the point of making losses...with the Government (and ultimately tax payers like you and me) bear the losses...all in the name of national service (and oh, this incidentally has been happening all this while). How does that put us in better light with investors overseas? And people here are scratching their heads why Indonesia draws more foreign direct investments than our country, sheesh...

And speaking of subsidies: I gladly await the day when medical subsidies are to be lifted. Now healthcare, admittedly or not, is a big drain on the Government's finances. Imagine paying RM 1 and get medications, blood tests and x-rays...where else in the world does this happen? It's about time they lift this subsidy and put the money to better use. Sure there'll be the usual chorus of disapprovals, but I'm sure some compromise can come about it. It WILL not burden the poor if executed properly. It is all for the betterment of our society, in the end. Makes us less dependent on the Government and more on our two feet. At least I can say that, but not for the 60% so population of our country...

It's time people tighten up their belts and make do with what they have. They have to be more discerning with spending, and save more. Unfortunately this is not to be...I guess with all the advertisements on spending, sales, credit card promotions etc. Well spend today and there'll be less (if not none) for tomorrow. The good times have to stop some time...

Well I've more things to gripe about, but I'll leave that for another day.

Struck again!

Now who ever said lightning doesn't strike twice at the same place? Danged it, my computer is struck by lightning (err, more to the point: electrical surge) for the second time in two weeks. Sad thing is I wasn't even using it at the same time. So again I will be offline to the world for a few days. Thankfully I still have a distraction in my worldly affairs...namely work.

I wonder how much damage it'll be this time. It took out my monitor and modem too. Came back from work on Friday night and nothing works after a loud pop. Ddin't have the time to do anything yesterday...will try to get a new modem today. Sigh...and that means more money. Maybe I should sue Tenaga Nasional for my losses...

Well, I'm gonna go off shift soon. Had been a relatively quiet night, but a busy day...hopefully things will improve. Wish me luck!!

Where's the Aftershock?

As predicted, the drama of our Datuk Z has quietly faded into the mist, drowned out by other more interesting, juicy stories. How quickly the Malaysian public (and media for that matter) gets distracted by the stories around him. He has virtually disappeared from the scenes, and I guess, free to enjoy the fruits of his labour, in peace now...

Well, a run through of the exciting events that has managed to eclipse his sizzling story!!

Model Death
Wow, we have our own real mystery thriller here in this country, this time involving a beautiful foreign model, complete with body parts, high explosives and most of all, a corrupt politician looking to silence his lover. Is that true? Well, we'll leave it to the conspiracy theorists to write that one up...and I'm sure it'll be hot.

Money, money, money
Everyone's glued to the big screens nowadays...I mean the ones at the Stock Exchange. The market has been running up of late, and people are making money again. So everyone's rushing to invest, and I wouldn't want to be the fool caught with my pants down when the music finally stops. The million ringgit question is: when WILL the music stop?

Day In, Day Out

I never thought being a doctor could be so routine. Well, if you look at the big picture it is: you get up, go to hospital, see patients, treat them, leave, and go back home. But I guess any other job is routine.

But lately the routine-ness have been getting out of hand. Even when working in the Emergency Department. I guess it probably have to do with the large numbers of patient not needing emergency care...these are probably the most irritating and routine part of the job there. Imagine seeing innumerable cough and colds, sprains and backaches, headaches and sore throats...it can drive you crazy. At least it puts your brain to sleep: and work on a spinal reflex level. Trust me, I am working at this level.

Once in a while however the lightbulb up in my head shines brightly...the occasional case that needs a spark to put it all together, but these are far and few in between. It is these cases that makes me cherish and love being a doctor, not listening to grovelling 'sick' patients most people are...(sorry if I actually offend the truly sick). Compassion is certainly in short supply in the Emergency Department, especially if you work day in, day out.

Well I guess there are other ways to spice up one's life: change departments, move to the public health sector, or be a specialist and mix around with the big boys (?!). But i'm not into these things...too bad ain't it? Oh well, that's what you get for being a lowly-paid civil servant these days. Things will get better, but how we wish that it would happen faster than it's snail pace currently...

Anyway, it's back to the daily grind and run-of-the-mill stuff...at least my spinal reflexes work for these boring days...and let's hope for at least, an occasional fireworks...

Double Standards

Abuse of power. Disregard for the written law. Serving their own ends than constituents. I guess that sums up the political drama in Selangor. Guess most of you know what I'm talking about.






For those who don't it all started like this:

A few weeks ago it was reported that the Klang Municipal council elected three members of the same family to the council (obviously something is very wrong here, although the council denied any wrongdoing). Soon after there was a 'witchhunt' against one of the council members Datuk Z, from which it was splashed all over the available media:

1. He erected an illegal house (err maybe mansion) without submitting the proper building plans to the very council he was sitting on (sic),

2. His satay restaurant being built illegally on state land (apparently, he had a compettitor's restaurant torn down for the very same reason)

3. And the fact that his new house sits on a land in his wife's name which was purchased at a great discount to the maket price.


Enter the Sultan of Selangor which summoned this Datuk to his palace and gave him a good talking to...followed by the Prime Minister's astute advice for him to relinquish his post as not to tarnish the good name of the country. Well it did not end there as he gave a teary-eyed press conference to explain his actions; this was followed by the Selangor Menteri Besar's explanation that his illegal house would not be torn down (for the strange reason that it would also lead to the tearing down all other illegal houses, factories etc. and cause great distress to the people and the economy). And oh by the way, it was also reported that he had not paid his assessment as well as his tzaxes (how true is that?) for a few years now. And this from a councillor - and obvious abuse of power in front of our eyes. But of course things like this have been happening - open secret as I would call them - but this is something that is bound to happen in this country, with its lax enforcement and unwillingness to punish.

Then again the Selangor Menteri Besar has had previous gaffes with the media, but that's another story. It leads the common folk to believe that people in power are immune to such trangressions, and need not be punished fully for it; sure Datuk Z has had to resign from his post, now he has to have his satay restaurant torn down, but not his newly-built house. Oh well I guess we can't have everything. How about the other two councillors who had similar illegally built houses (hah, you think he was the only one??!!)? Sure as hell they won't be torn down...but I wonder what action would be taken against them, apart from fining them a measly RM 25,000 (for house that costs millions to build - which begs another question: where do they get the money to do so!!??? Another open secret...)

In his defence I'm sure he'll say that someone is out to get him, or like in his press conference: he needs a bigger house for his extended family (yeah right, as if all his sons and daughters and respective families would stay with him!!), or he's a scapegoat of sorts...but that does not detract from the fact of the matter.

So what are we going to do about this apparent double standards at work? Well, we'll leave that to the government...I'm sure there will be some more drama to be played out in the near future...and then it will all quietly go away.

Until the next time that is...

A Week Away

Wow, what a week...by away I mean being away from the Internet!! Well I guess I learn not to use the computer during a thunderstorm. The power surges here are mean!!!! Fried my power supple as well as my ADSL modem. Imagine the feeling of not being wired to the outside world: I had withdrawal symtpoms just by not being able to follow my regular series online, not to mention the tons of email that was left unread.

Anyway got a new ADSL modem over the weekend...and then down to the grind of setting up the system all over again. Not to mention the problem I had with my LAN connection: probably screwed but still able to function respectably. Hmm...maybe when I have the time I'd need to get a PCI Ethernet card and install it, to be on the safe side.

Well at least I'm back online...slow as the connection is, it sure beats being totally disconnected. Hope to write more as my wired life gets back on track.

Till then....

Selamat DeepaRaya

It's that time of the year again: Deepavali and Hari Raya Puasa occurring within a span of one week!! Means rest and relaxation for most people, but not me.

Of course the Emergency Department cannot be closed, but there is a noticeable drop in the number of patients. Well at least the non-urgent ones mainly. Thank God for that, because this group of people are the ones distracting us from providing proper care for emergency cases: with all their whining and complaints. Sheesh...go to a private hospital then!!!

Sorry, I've gone off course...anyway good wishes to all celebrating this double celebration!!!
Happy holidays too!!

Blurred Vision

Well the annual haze is back...although it's later in coming this year...guess we can't miss the choking burning sensation, teary eyes and pungent assault to our senses, now can we?

So goes the blame game again: as usual Indonesia is the culprit. But I really wonder whether they can help it...with the rural population depending on the slash-and-burn technique to clear land for farming, guess the government is helpless to prevent burning of large areas of jungle; however what they can prevent are large oil pam plantations doing the same to clear the forest for planting season - fine them, and fine them severely. However I doubt the government, or local government has the backbone to do this. And oh, it's the same here in the country. I can see at leat two open burning sites going on in the outskirts of the city, but no authorities around to put a stop to it...must be the fasting month, or the lack of a spinal vertebra...

Oh we Malaysians have gotten used to this...we'll complain and rant about this now, prepare ourselves for next year, and forget all about it once the haze disappears; and do this all over again next year. Hey it's so annual it's like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya or even Merdeka...maybe the goverment should make it into an annual holi-month...now wouldn't that put a lot of smiles on to the faces of Malaysians (I guess there's plenty of unhappy faces with the price rise and failure of a salary increase currently!!)

So much for the 20/20 vision. Anyway today the air quality appears to be better, and I guess we better take advantage of it...maybe go and jog later in the afternoon...as the saying goes, enjoy it while you can!!!

A Quiet September

Wow...I didn't realise that is was already the end of the month!! Guess that I didn't have very much to write this whole month.

I just watched Flight 93: a short movie to remember events of 9/11: well as expected it glorified the efforts of the passengers in preventing the suicide attempt of the fourth plane on White House/Capitol building, but a fairly good movie nonetheless. I remembered that day: I was getting ready to go to work when I switched on the news on CNN - they were already reporting the crashes into the World Trade Center. I remember thinking initially that a fire broke out, until I saw the footage of the planes crashing into the towers. I was glued to the TV set since I got back from work and stuck for a few days there after. I guess those events set in motion everything that happened till today: the war in Afghanistan, then Iraq, the oil price rise etc. and who knows what's next.

So the PM said that they would not raise the salaries of civil servants. Well I guess it could be because that the government is spending more on the constuction projects being rolled out. However it is inevitable that the salaries would have to go up sometime soon. It was 14 years since the last review; true that there are a lot of allowances, but most are based on the base salary - if the salary go up, then the allowances go up as well - so it's about time. Maybe next year...when the election draws near, and cost of living continues to increase. And the fact that next year would be the 50th anniversary of the independence. Not a bad time to increase the salary!!

Anyway, life goes on...for now.

A very sad, sad fact

The death of the House Officer who was killed two weeks after an accident which happened when she was escorting a patient to Hospital Selayang brought to light a very important fact: we doctors as well as other medical staff which performs transfers of patients everyday between the various health centers are not insured against accidents!!! Worse off if we have not been confirmed in service!! We are not 'eligble' for compensation. What in the world does the Health Ministry mean by this?? Are we serving the people without adequate coverage as to our safety as well as the future of our families? How sad this is...

This occurred in an urban area with good roads. We have heard of accidents involving medical staff in rural areas where roads are much worse, or even without proper roads. There are cases of flying doctor helicopter services which crash in Sarawak killing medical staff but hardly brought to light. In all these cases, the medical staff hardly got any compensation for their accidents. It is a very sad fact which had not changed all these years.

Somehow this makes me think twice about getting onto an ambulance and going out there to provide a service for the profession I love. Well, you may say that it is selfish of me, but if something happens, who is going to care for my family? Judging from the Health Ministry's response...no one but myself!!

So should I risk my life for it? Not yet...the ball is in your court Mr. Health Minister!!

Wishes are still wishes...

Oh well, it's good to dream and wish. But as expected the wishes did not come true.

But at least we got our yearly bonus: as expected one month only. Well, I really did not expect any increase in the salary or the increase in the bonus amount; on the flipside we should be thankful that we got a bonus. At least it would help to alleviate the increase in cost of living we are all experiencing: petrol price increase, vegetables, sugar etc.

We must look always look on the bright side!!!