How NOT to ABUSE work e-mail...

Many employees (government servants especially)  seem to use the free workmail provided to them  as a way to fight with each other or their bosses. They seem to forget the etiquette of formal e-mail writing and end up offending others. Work etiquettes are not taught in school, hence it is learned through weeks, months or even years of experience. But sometimes, as employees evolve to seniority, they tend to forget their manners in writing e-mails to bosses or colleagues and end up (intentionally or not) offending people.

Remember, everything linked to internet is permanent. Once you post that hate mail, there is no turning back.

Here are some rules to use workmail respectfully:

1. Re-look, re-read your e-mail again and again before pressing that SEND button. Correct typos and replace casual words with formals especially writing to higher ranking colleagues.

2. Check if you want to "REPLY TO ALL" or not. You don't want your desk neighbourhood clique gossip to reach everyone in the institute.

3. Keep e-mails short. You don't need a 300 word introduction to "...there's a meeting tomorrow."

4. Write CLEAR and PERFECT subject lines.

5. Don't forward hoaxes. Keep your political lies in Facebook or your personal blogs.

6. Let people know their e-mail has been received. Yes all you need to say is "thanks, i will take action ASAP." Don't leave em hanging and wondering if you read their mails. (Of course everyone loves the "oh sorry I didn't receive your e-mail" excuse).

7.  ONE subject per e-mail. Seriously!

8. Read your e-mail as the receiving end, see if they could be offended. Do NOT write an e-mail when you are stressed or angry. You will regret it.

9. DO NOT respond to provocations. People will bring up some hot offensive issues from time to time. Even if it bugs you, never respond.

10. Keep your class. Only use e-mail for work issues. Funny stuff belongs to facebook.

Those are the basics...! Have fun working and stuff...!

Poetry : To The One I Never Had

Writer's Block sucks... However, my brain managed to squeeze out some ideas.
A humorous approach to one sided crush. Nothing cheesy.

Remember you said I was too costly?
Well, of course you couldn't afford me
Second rate is your only target
I guess your taste is based on budget...

Goodbye now, and also good luck
From now on I do not give a F-
I'm off to be with he who loves me
Enjoy your Mrs Fat and Chubby...!!!

Read whole poem here.

A little inspiration... The Boy With a Temper...

A long time ago there was a boy. He was smart, talented and handsome. However, he was very selfish and his temper was so difficult, that nobody wanted to be friends with him. Often he got angry and said various hurtful things to people around him.

The boy‘s parents very concerned about his bad temper. They considered what they could do and one day the father had an idea. He called his son and gave him a hammer and a bag of nails. The father said: „Every time you get angry, take a nail and drive into that old fence as hard as you can.“



The fence was very tough and the hammer was heavy, nevertheless the boy was so furious that during the very first day he has driven 37 nails.

Day after day, week after week, the number of nails was gradually decreasing. After some time, the boy started to understand that holding his temper is easier that driving nails into the fence.

One day the boy didn‘t need hammer and nails anymore as he learned to hold his temper perfectly. So he came to his father and told about his achievement. „Now every time, when you hold your temper all day long, pull out one nail“.

Much time has passed. At last the boy could be proud of himself as all the nails were gone. When he came to his father and told about this, he offered to come and take a careful look at the fence. „You did a good job, my son, though pay your attention to the holes that left from the nails. The fence will never be the same. The same happens when your say hurtful things to people, as your words leave scars in their hearts like those holes in the fence. Remember, we need to treat everyone with love and respect, because it doesn‘t matter, that you say you are sorry, the scars will not dissapear.

Here it comes...

It's final exams week.. Here comes the last minute assignments, tests, quizes... etc...

Taking internet too seriously...

Internet has been a medium for hermits to express their feelings to the world, mostly feelings of anger and hatred. It is a way for youngsters (mostly) to seek attention from the public be it in a good way or bad. For a long time it has been more harmful than useful, causing friendships and relationships to fall apart. And sometimes, nations.

It was the MH370 tragedy that inspired me to write this blog entry.

When I was first introduced to the internet, it was still a dial-up. The one where you connect your phone to the computer and dial 1515 and listen to the screeching and screaming of whatever it was on the line. In that limited speed, all I could do was go on mirc or icq to have 5 minute conversations with my classmates about homework. Or leave a long ass love mail to long distance boyfriends.

Technology took the highway when internet evolved too rapidly into the homes of every human being. We now live in a time where Myspace and Friendster was just a blur memory.

But 15 year old girls will always be 15 year old girls. Only back then in my generation, we didn't have facebook to express how we crave for attention. All I had was a diary kept safe and hidden in my old bedroom, and 15 years later I thank God that was all i had. Even though teens are allowed to feel lost, insecure and troubled, they seem to carry on being 15 even as they apporach 30. The desperate need to make an impact to the world becomes a priority. They would do anything to become famous, even if it means hurting and offending others.



MH370 was a sad tragedy than affected the whole nation. It showed the whole world who Malaysians are. One entry after another revealed the true attitude and mindset we have. It was indeed a dark era.

While there were hundreds of self pro-claimed aviation "experts" sharing thoughts and theories about what might had happened, there were also hundreds of bloggers (who mostly know nothing) who shared ideas and speculations; some leading to obvious lies and fairy tales. There were many ways people tried to share a little bit of fame from the mystery by posting photos, hoaxes and mocking 'bomohs' and political leaders. Accusations were thrown everywhere, causing people to start yelling at each other. Rumours where spread, creating false hope. Conspiracy theories haunted the minds of even the educated. The nation divided into speculators and believers, supporters and haters.



Before internet, everyone kept ideas to themselves. They had time to think whether they should say or not what they intended to say and most would decide to just let things go. They read valid and published news and articles and analyze quietly in their own deep thoughts. No one was offended. Life was peaceful and people were smarter.

But I guess, this is the era we live in. And since there's no changing it, we have to accept it. My job as an educator is to remind my students to be careful on what they post on the internet. To think ahead the impact of what they put up. To read their facebook status again and again through all perspective before hitting that send button. To think wisely and maturely... And most important, to not take internet too seriously... I may sound like a grandma but Internet is usually a place where I read Wikipedia and laugh at 9gag (and not to forget my online shopping and workmails...) Venting is just internet on a day off which is usually followed by regret.

Happy blogging people :)

60+ Earth Hour 2014 @Penang

Didn't expect it to go the way it did...  Although WWF reported it was a "major" success, for me it was hardly a success. Why? Because noone cared.

Honestly I chose to join the walkathon because I was bored and it looked like an interesting social activity to be a part of. Of course, I am a WWF supporter coz I once had a weird fetish towards pandas and stuff. Plus, I needed something to brag about on my network besides complaining about my daily 8.00-5.00 routine.

The 60+ earth hour sucked but the trip to Penang was awesome. Not only did I get to spend the whole day with my buffy, I also got to shop books! The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale was held in Time Square, Penang and for sure I wouldn't miss it. After the booksale, we googled places to hang out while waiting for 6pm and Gurney Plaza was our choice. And I can conclude Gurney Plaza was the highlight of the day. Penang wasn't as fun as it used to be when I was 10!

Ok back to the Earth Hour event. The concerts were horrible. Honestly, for a high-profile international society like WWF, they could have done better. I could sing better than the singers who literally croaked the whole 3 songs. The only decent show was by the musicians. They rocked and saved the stage. The dancers define awkward. The emcee was cool. He managed to control the lameness of the event by his jokes and impromptu activities. But as the countdown to lights out ended, the event epicly failed.

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2...1..!!!! Yelled everyone in hopes of a miracle to save the day.

Nothing. All lights were still on as though it was just another day.

Then the walk began despite all awkwardness... All along the route, lights from shops were switched on brighter than ever. People stared at the walkers probably laughing at the effort and as though it didn't sucked enough, it rained. Yep. All 500 (yes, they lied saying there were 2000 participants) people were drenched wet as half of them ran to their cars and half ran for shelter. As we reached the finish line, we did what sane people would do. We drove home!

But like I said, even if the event defined what 'failed mission' means, the fact that I spent it with Mr Awesome made it worthy. I had a great time squished by Ironman and Panda. And, it was time and money well spent :)

HAPPY EARTH HOUR!!!

My adventures in Sunway Lagoon

It's been a while (as usual) since I last updated my blog. Accept it. I'm lazy. And also I was recovering from a (almost) high fever, having a temperature of 39.4 celcius (103 F) so please God... NEVER AGAIN. It sucked. I don't know how people can post FB status about being sick. It's something I NEVER want to go through again and let people see me in that condition. EVER. Anyway, 3 weekends ago, I went on an awesome date to Sunway Lagoon, Selangor. It was AWESOME. Seriously, extremely awesome. Although I didnt get to Bungee jump or even get on the G-Force as planned, the day was one to remember.

Entrance was RM90.00 for Malaysians for ALL the parks except Extreme, Bungee and G-Force.

 SUNWAY LAGOON SCREAMPARK

I am famous for being a true scaredy cat. The last time I entered Sunway's Screampark I ended up crumpled at a corner while screaming hysterically. That time the theme was Prison Break. So yeah, I'm scared of prisoners, if not the prison itself. The theme park that day was zombies. Something about World War Z. Luckily, the girl in front of me kept screaming at everything. Including the poor old empty wall. So the ghost actors decided to pick on her all the time. And all i did was laugh and laugh and pretended to be cool. It was freaky. Especially the area where they put up statues and covered them with white sheets. (even in Insidious 2 that part freaked me out). And one statue ended up being alive. I hate pocongs.

Here's a picture of a fake supposed to be scary graveyard at the entrance guaranteed to quench your intestines to wish they try harder.

 SUNWAY's TOMAHAWK.

Two words. Barf Avenue. The one ride that managed to leave me speechless. It would prolly be awesome if i wasnt approaching 30, but at this age, sitting on swings to the extent of turning u upside down and your guts inside out, is really a bad idea. Good thing I managed to not throw up but it left me exhausted and dehydrated, hence I decided I couldn't bungee jump. Went halfway on the suspended bridge and decided I'm too old for this sh** and went to the tiny animal park instead for a break and recovery

SUNWAY's WILDLIFE PARK

First of all... "WILD"...??? Honestly I don't know where they got the idea to collectively label rabbits and tortoises and guinea pigs and parrots as wild animals. I.. just... don't get it... Though there were pythons and ostriches which okay, a little on the wildside, Sunway should just settle with "Sunway Animal sort-of interactive Zoo". But for animal lovers like me, this tiny part of the theme park was heaven sent (minus the smell). I played (litterally) with the fluffy rabbits and watched the tortoise struggles with their heavy shells and stared at some parrots. And most important of all, I recovered from the sickness Tomahawk gave me. The rabbits were friendly. I stayed away from the goats though it seemed like they were calling "Anne... anne....". Creepy as they really almost sounded human. 

As soon as I recovered, we decided to give up on dry entertainment since many were on maintenance (Pirate Ship and Gold Mine etc...) and proceeded to change into swimming attire and started with water parks.

SUNWAY's WATERPARK

Honestly I didnt expect this to be the highlight of the day. There were so many rides in the waterpark that we forgot about plain old wading. Every ride was awesome and worth the 20 minute line. 20 not more of course. Thank God it was the end of school holidays.

Sorry, no photo available. Didnt have time to carry my cam everywhere. This is googled.

We started with the 5D water cinema. Well, honestly, they could do better. The idea was great but there were bloopers such as workers walking everywhere in the auditorium and some water sprays not working. Basically it's an interactive cinema where they show you a video of a water coaster, and spray you with water in a super cold ACed hall.

The next ride was the African pyhton slide. There were 3 to choose from. Fully closed, partially closed and fully open air slide. We ( me and my bf) chose the partial one. It was all right but too short. The opposite of python ride was some straight slide that went awesomely fast. Forgot wat it was called but it's only fun if you went on with a partner coz riding it alone is... just... sad...

The most awesome ride which i went on TWICE was the Vuvuzuela. Now that is what you call a water ride. Just do not go on it after a meal coz u would end up well... you know. It gives 5 people a go so be prepared to share your moment with strangers. Just had to grab on tight so i don't end up on some strange guy's lap... in a tight speedo... Oh God...

Okay enough with the crazy imagination... The Vuvuzuela was ultimately the best ride of the day. And last.

We decided to end our Sunway Lagoon tour and head home. After all those rides ESPECIALLY the Tomahawk, I found myself seriously dehydrated and exhausted. We postponed the G-Force project to "someday" as I surely didn't want to end up throwing up my lunch. Also decided not to go the the Western theme park. (Cowboy towns and stuff) And that was the end of the day...

A free Promotion for Sunway Lagoon :)