Saya diskru atas

I came across this article in The Sun today. As much as we're confused whether to use Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Malaysia, we'll get more confused if we were to take spelling test in Bahasa Melayu.

After reading three paragraphs of the article, I just can't believe that the writer, a Malay, could only score 13 out of 30 words. That's just aweful siap kutuk, tak payah jadi rakyat Malaysia, lah. I almost stop reading the article but wanted to know what's so hard about Bahasa Malaysia spelling test?

Then I realized that I'll get screwed up (diskru atas) as well if I were the writer. Man! Just imagine this...

'The minced meat cooked in spices and wrapped in a thin dough skin' is MARTABAK, not murtabak as we thought.

'Minced meat' is daging CENCANG, not daging cincang...

It got worse as I continue reading the article when...
it is CELOPAR, not celupar when you spill out profanity

And only now I know the difference between baharu and baru. You gotta to read the article to know the difference.

I could never imagine myself taking Bahasa Malaysia SPM paper again. With all these variances and complexity of the language, I don't think I could score A1 like 14 years ago... probably credit could also be out of reach. :-(

Merdeka tag

I was tagged by Iced Nyior.

The questions:
1) Kenapa anda berbangga lahir di bumi Malaysia?
2) Kenapa anda sepatutnya cukup bersyukur berada di bumi Malaysia ini tatkala menyambut merdeka?

At first, I told Iced Nyior, I'd not answer the tag as I don't want to lie but after third thought I told Iced Nyior, I'll give a shot. Besides that, I never like this tagging things so, don't ever tag me again ok, whoever...

Or would this be enough?

Okay, my answer to the first question:
I'm able to be wherever I'm now and do whatever I do now. Best of all, the opportunities that were presented to me (whether I took it or not) especially since I scored straight As in UPSR. The opportunity to get into boarding school, study abroad, came back and work in large GLCs, they all made it possible for me to pursue my ambitions and at least repay some part of my parents' sacrifices.

My answer to the second question:
I'm being thankful to be able to be wherever I was and do whatever I did when the country was celebrating Merdeka. Although I didn't do much, I was still able to take LRT for a short trip to Dataran Merdeka to see what's happening there, then have dinner in KL Sentral, then back to office and drove home. Arrived home, turned on my computer and tv and sleep peacefully. All those wouldn't be achieved or wouldn't be made possible without kemerdekaan.

I hope that's enough to answer the tag.
And, thank me I'm not tagging anyone.

Oregon 48, Houston 27

The Oregon football team forced four turnovers, two fumbles and two interceptions, while committing none itself in defeating the Houston Cougars 48-27 Saturday in front of 57,662 at Autzen Stadium. The game featured several big plays and a flurry of scoring late in the third quarter which amounted to four touchdowns, three for Oregon, in less than two minutes.

The game was still very much in doubt and seemed about to swing firmly in Houston's favor were it not for Patrick Chung's interception of Houston quarterback Case Keenum midway through the third quarter. With the game tied 20-20, Houston drove from its own 34 to the Oregon five-yard line. On third-and-goal, Keenum fired a pass over the middle toward the back of the end zone and Chung dove to snatch the ball away from the intended receiver and save the Ducks from falling behind.The play seemed to ignite the Duck offense, which was stagnant through much of the second and third quarters.

University of Oregon's Jonathan Stewart, carries the ball against University of Houston during the fourth quarter of the football game. (Photo courtesy The Oregonian's OregonLive.com)

Oregon drove 80 yards over the next 3:16 and scored on a 24-yard pass from senior quarterback Dennis Dixon to senior wide receiver Brian Paysinger to make it 27-20. Chung made another big play on the next Houston possession when he blocked a Chase Turner punt which was recovered by freshman Malachi Lewis and returned eight yards to the Houston six-yard line. On the Ducks' first play of the possession, Dixon found junior wide receiver Jaison Williams for a touchdown.

Anthony Alridge struck back for the Cougars with an 86-yard touchdown reception, the longest by a visiting team at Autzen in almost three years, to close the gap to 34-27, but the Duck offense was rolling. Dixon took the first snap of Oregon's next possession a career-best 80 yards for a touchdown. Dixon ran for 141 yards, completed nine of 15 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns for the Ducks. Dixon's rushing yards were the most for an Oregon quarterback since Tony Graziani ran 108 yards against Oregon State in 1995.

Oregon's next opponent is the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Mich., next Saturday. The Wolverines were upset 34-32 by Division I-AA team, Appalachian State on Saturday.

News courtesy of Oregon Daily Emerald and Yahoo!

Negaraku... the anthem

Negaraku, the national anthem, had invited several controversies over the years. Those I could remember include the recent rap version of the song by Namewee, Hattan's rendition of Negaraku which prompted a heaty debate in Parliament and also the controversy surrounding the origin of the anthem.

I found this article in The Sunday Times dated 25th August 1957 which gives some light on the origin of the anthem.

Unity and progress are anthem themes

KUALA LUMPUR, Sat -- The Federation Government today published the six-line lyrics of the tune "Negara Ku" (My Country), independent Malaya's national anthem. The versed was composed by a national anthem committee led by the Chief Minister, Tengku Abdul Rahman, out of lines in several lyrics submitted by Government officials and members of the public.

The Director of the Information Services, Inche Ya'acob bin Abdul Latiff told the Sunday Times that none of the entries contained all that should be expressed in a national anthem. So the committee composed a new one based in them.

The lyrics have been submitted to the Rulers for their approval. They go like this:

Negara-ku tanah tumpah-nya darah-ku,

Ra'ayat hidup bersatu dan maju,

Rahmat Bahgia Tuhan Kurniakan,

Raja Kita Selamat Bertakhta,

Rahmat Bahgia Tuhan Kurniakan,

Raja Kita Selamat Bertakhta.

This is an English translation:

My country, my native land,

The people living united and progressive,

May God bestow blessing and happiness,

May our Ruler have a successful reign,

May God bestow blessing and happiness,

May our Ruler have a successful reign.

The national anthem is also the state anthem of Perak and the tune resembles the Malays romantic song "Terang Bulan"

Oregon vs Houston

It's here again, the college football season...

#29 Oregon Ducks vs #44 Houston Cougars

Saturday, 1st September, 3.30pm ET

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR

Oregon hosts Houston in the 2007 season opener, the third meeting between both schools. The Ducks and Cougars have matched up twice before, with Oregon prevailing on both occasions - once in Eugene in 1983 (15-14) and more recently at Houston in the 2005 season opener (38-24).

The Ducks stopped flying toward the end of last season and now try to get it back as they open the 2007 season. Losers of its last four games, including the Las Vegas Bowl, Mike Bellotti's team finished 7-6 and opens the new season with something to prove.

Dennis Dixon, whose season went down the tubes at the same rate as the rest of the '06 Ducks, is back at the starting quarterback spot, now working with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Dixon, always the starter in Bellotti's eyes, has been sharp both in the spring and preseason. He's done a great job," the coach says. "His decision-making has improved. I've been very, very impressed with his grasp of the offense." And, as Bellotti said, Dixon can be a dangerous weapon when things are going right, something that clearly didn't happen coming down the stretch in 2006.

Houston begins the 2007 season fresh on the heels of its first undisputed Conferences USA championship since 1978 and a berth in the Liberty Bowl against South Carolina. Once again, it is picked as favorites to repeat as league West Division winners in a pre-season vote of league coaches. The Cougars ended the year with a mark of 10-4 overall, dropping a 44-36 thriller to the Gamecocks in their season finale. Houston went 7-1 in the Conference USA West Division.

Go Ducks!