Posts Subscribe to Revolution ChurchComments

Isnin, 6 Mei 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

0 ulasan 3:39 PG Dicatat oleh blog2
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

‘Tsunami’ pengundi Cina punca BN gagal dapat semula Selangor, kata Noh Omar

Posted: 06 May 2013 03:12 AM PDT

May 06, 2013

SHAH ALAM, 6 Mei — Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor mengakui perubahan 'tsunami' pengundi Cina pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) semalam merupakan faktor utama yang menyebabkan gabungan itu gagal menawan semula Selangor daripada Pakatan Rakyat.

Timbalan Pengerusinya Datuk Seri Noh Omar (gambar) berkata kecenderungan kaum itu terhadap gabungan parti PAS-PKR-DAP di negeri itu telah menyebabkan BN kehilangan lebih banyak kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

Pada PRU 2008, BN memenangi enam daripada 22 kerusi Parlimen dan 20 daripada 56 kerusi DUN. Bagaimanapun, pada pilihan raya umum ini, BN Selangor hanya memperoleh lima kerusi Parlimen dan 12 kerusi DUN.

Noh berkata kajian mendalam akan dijalankan bagi mengenalpasti punca sokongan kaum itu beralih kepada pakatan rakyat serta kehendak sebenar pengundi Cina selepas BN banyak menyalurkan bantuan kepada mereka.

Misalnya, katanya walaupun beliau menang dengan majoriti 4,394 di kerusi Parlimen Tanjong Karang tetapi beliau kalah di kawasan pengundi majoriti Cina.

"Tidak ada peti undi yang boleh menang kalau ada majoriti pengundi Cina," katanya pada sidang media di Ibu Pejabat Umno Selangor di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata BN Selangor terkejut dan kecewa dengan kekalahan banyak kerusi di kawasan ramai pengundi Cina walaupun beberapa kerusi berkenaan dilihat berpeluang cerah untuk menang.

"Saya rasa tidak ada yang saya tidak tolong orang Cina. Mengapa mereka tidak undi kita sedangkan dalam aktiviti dan program kita buat mereka tampil memberi sokongan," katanya.

Noh, yang mempertahankan kerusinya buat penggal kelima, berkata keputusan PRU13 menunjukkan proses pilihan raya berjalan lancar dan adil mengikut lunas-lunas demokrasi dan semua pihak perlu menerima keputusan yang ditentukan rakyat.

Ditanya sama ada faktor pemilihan calon BN turut menyumbang kepada kegagalan BN menawan semula Selangor, Noh menjelaskan ada kawasan di mana calonnya tidak dibantah dan dipertikaikan tetapi tetap tewas kepada lawan masing-masing.

Beliau juga tidak menolak faktor geografi turut memainkan peranan di mana ramai calon BN menang di sebelah utara Selangor seperti di Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar, Tanjong Karang, Kuala Selangor dan Hulu Selangor.

Mengenai sokongan pengundi muda kepada BN, Noh berkata saluran anak muda bertambah dan kembali memberi sokongan kepada gabungan itu.

Ditanya mengenai penstrukturan semula kepimpinan BN di negeri itu dan pelantikan ketua pembangkang yang baharu, beliau berkata pihaknya akan menyerahkan kepada Pengerusi BN Selangor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak untuk memutuskannya. — Bernama

Dr Mah satu-satunya calon bukan Melayu menang kerusi DUN Perak

Posted: 06 May 2013 03:04 AM PDT

May 06, 2013

IPOH, 6 Mei — Bekas pakar jantung Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon merupakan satu-satunya calon daripada komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) selain Umno yang memenangi kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di Perak.

Walaupun menang di Chenderiang, Dr Mah berkata tiada perasaan yang begitu istimewa dalam dirinya.

"Saya berasa sedih dan terkilan apabila apa yang berlaku pada pilihan raya umum (PRU) 2008 berulang kembali dan menjadi satu-satunya wakil BN bukan Melayu dalam DUN. Saya sebenarnya menaruh harapan tinggi agar lebih ramai calon BN bukan Melayu diberi peluang oleh rakyat," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di kediaman rasmi Menteri Besar awal pagi tadi.

Pada PRU 2008, beliau merupakan satu-satu calon daripada BN selain Umno yang memenangi kerusi DUN di Perak.

Beliau kemudiannya dilantik sebagai anggota Exco kerajaan negeri sekaligus membuktikan BN mampu laksanakan perkongsian kuasa dalam kalangan komponennya.

Mengenai kemenangannya di kawasan itu, beliau berkata ia adalah sokongan semua kaum di Chenderiang.

Beliau yang merupakan Naib Ketua Pemuda MCA, menerima keputusan PRU ke-13 dengan hati yang terbuka apabila kesemua kerusi DUN yang diwakili calon BN daripada MCA tewas.

"Saya berpendapat keputusan itu membuatkan kita akan sentiasa memperbaiki dan memajukan diri sebagai wakil rakyat. Kita perlu membuat analisis supaya dapat memberi perkhidmatan yang lebih baik," katanya.

Pada PRU13, Dr Mah meraih 10,866 undi, menewaskan calon PKR Amani Williams-Hunt Abdullah yang mendapat 6,099 undi dengan majoriti 4,767 undi.

Jumlah undi majoriti yang diperoleh penyandang kerusi Chenderiang itu meningkat sebanyak 1,375 undi berbanding 3,392 undi pada PR12.

Dalam keputusan rasmi yang dikeluarkan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya, Umno memenangi 30 daripada 36 kerusi DUN yang ditandinginya manakala MCA menjadi satu-satu komponen BN yang menyumbang satu kerusi iaitu Chenderiang. — Bernama
Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

0 ulasan 3:22 PG Dicatat oleh blog2
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

Alas, I think too much about books

Posted: 05 May 2013 05:43 PM PDT

May 06, 2013

A geology graduate turned writer, Khairie Hisyam Aliman enjoys stating the obvious... occasionally in writing. He is still figuring out how to write a proper bio of himself.

MAY 6 — I wrote previously that starting a new job is like reading a new chapter in a book. In fact, each of our lives is like a book. It might even be a series of books — hopefully with happy endings where we at least survive very long.

We open our eyes in the morning and the narrative begins in our heads. As the story begins (with us gaining full consciousness over coffee), the narrative reminds us of our back-story (memories) and our heroic mission (dreams, ambitions, getting to the toilet before losing bowel control). The narrative reminds us of our purpose in the story (to perform gloriously heroic deeds, of course).

So here we are as the hero of the story, about to embark on another adventurous (and hopefully survivable) day. What perils might lie in wait? We are off (leave the house) to find out!

On some days, maybe we find excitement, good or otherwise, aplenty.

Maybe you dropped your phone from the third floor of the Mid Valley Megamall and it miraculously (with the maximum suspension of disbelief possible) fell straight into a woman's handbag on the ground floor who does not realise it — can you race down the packed escalators in time to catch her before she disappears into the throng?

Or perhaps your boss texted you urgently that you need to be at a specific place (that you've never been to before) in an unfamiliar neighbourhood (that you've never driven to before) by a specific time — with just enough time left to get there without getting even slightly lost. You drive nervously, flooring the pedal, tension building — oops, did you just take a wrong turn?

Or maybe you discovered a plot to slip a super-strong fast-acting laxative into your boss's daily morning cup of Chatime Pearl Milk Tea by vengeful former employees, which would be bad for you as your boss was supposed to sign your pay cheque that day. Can you stop the culprits in a race against time (and month-long diet of instant noodles)?

Or maybe it (disappointingly) turns out to be another long, dreary day at work with no adventure or excitement in sight. Alas, not all books are well-written or interesting. Some may even bore you to sleep while standing on one leg.

But the odds are there will be days where we find issues to resolve or challenges to overcome or tight spaces to squeeze out of. Like in the books, we find tension building as we try to do this while navigating the hurdles that inconveniently just happen to pop up (plot twists).

Eventually we reach the turning point. The climax. The moment of truth, they say. Can we or can we not save the day? Or are we doomed to staining our pants in public because we didn't make it to the toilet in time?

Whatever the answer is, the point is there is an answer. Every book gets a resolution — either we make it, or we don't.

Either way, life goes on. The built-up tension begins dissipating after that and slowly we gather the remains of the plot, make the best of the situation and carry on as best we can.

So the next time you feel like it's the end of the world, remember that nothing lasts in life. Not even the most torturous, horrific and horrendous parts. Life moves on, constantly, and there's a resolution somewhere down the road if you keep moving and doing what you have to.

There's an ending to every story; the only question is what sort of ending. In a good book, finding that out is always worth persevering to the last page — especially if it's our own book.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Buktikan kuasa Rakyat

Posted: 05 May 2013 05:24 PM PDT

May 06, 2013

Uthaya Sankar SB berkarya dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Beliau adalah presiden Kumpulan Sasterawan Kavyan (Kavyan) dan pemilik tunggal Perunding Media, Motivasi dan Penerbitan Uthaya. Selain menulis, membaca dan bercakap, beliau juga suka menonton filem.

6 MEI — Makalah ini ditulis sebelum tarikh Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13) dan disiarkan selepas itu. Keputusan pilihan raya sepatutnya sudah diketahui semasa anda membaca makalah ini.

Sebenarnya, pada 30 April, saya nyatakan begini pada ruangan status di Facebook: "Alahai, sedihnya saya! Dalam masa beberapa hari lagi, politikus tertentu yang begitu rajin 'turun padang' bertemu Rakyat akan ghaib daripada pandangan — sebelum muncul kembali sekitar empat setengah tahun kemudian secara penuh mistik."

Tidak mustahil bahawa calon-calon PRU13 telah datang untuk bertemu, berbual-bual, bersalam-salaman dan bertanya khabar para pengundi di pasar malam, pasar borong, tandas awam, tepi jalan, tanah perkuburan, rumah atau di mana-mana tempat ada manusia. Tetapi semua itu hanyalah sehingga sehari sebelum tarikh mengundi.

Realiti yang tidak dapat dinafikan di negara bertuah ini adalah bahawa kebanyakan politikus akan ghaib entah ke mana selepas pilihan raya tetapi tiba-tiba muncul sekitar dua minggu sebelum pilihan raya seterusnya. 

Calon bebas biasanya dilihat hanya memecah undi.Maka, mulai hari ini, sama-sama kita lihat berapa ramai politikus yang masih akan terhegeh-hegeh pergi ke pasar dan kawasan kampung untuk bersalam-salaman dengan Rakyat (huruf besar sentiasa disengajakan).

Pada pendirian saya, pihak yang paling berkuasa dalam sistem pilihan raya demokrasi adalah Rakyat. Saya menamakan mereka "The Third Force". Malangnya, ramai Rakyat yang sekadar menjadi pengundi tetapi membiarkan sahaja diri mereka diperlakukan sesuka hati oleh politikus — termasuk Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) dan Ahli Parlimen yang mereka sendiri undi dahulu.

Usah kita lupa akan 8 Mac 2008 — tarikh yang mengubah sejarah dan masa depan negara tercinta, serta membuktikan bahawa kuasa sebenar terletak pada tangan Rakyat. Kita perlu memastikan bahawa semangat itu terus membara selepas PRU-13.

Sejak sebulan lalu, saya menggunakan ruangan foto profil dan foto kulit pada Facebook untuk "berkempen" agar Rakyat memiliki kesedaran asas berkaitan proses pilihan raya serta hak yang mereka miliki sebagai pengundi.

Misalnya, soalan pertama yang saya kemukakan pada 4 April: "Sudahkah calon pilihan anda menguasai Bahasa Malaysia?" Soalan ini mungkin kedengaran lucu dan tidak penting. Walau bagaimanapun, apa gunanya seorang ADUN atau Ahli Parlimen — tanpa mengira kaum dan latar pendidikan — yang belum mampu menguasai bahasa kebangsaan dan bahasa rasmi negara?

Mampukah calon pilihan anda mewakili Bangsa Malaysia tanpa mengira etnik, kaum dan agama? Pertanyaan ini juga mungkin kurang diberikan perhatian oleh orang ramai. Tambahan pula, budaya yang sudah dibawakan oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) sejak lebih 55 tahun dahulu adalah keadaan di mana Umno mewakili orang Melayu, MCA mewakili kaum Cina, MIC mewakili orang India, dan sebagainya.

"Badut Paul Lathic"

Pada pemerhatian saya, Rakyat pada masa kini sudah menolak politik yang berasaskan kaum dan ini belum lagi mengambil kira soal "politik perkauman" yang masih menjadi budaya dalam kalangan politikus.

Dalam sistem demokrasi, Rakyat adalah "majikan" dan politikus adalah "pekerja". Jangan biarkan kedudukan itu terbalik! Walaupun PRU13 sudah selesai dan politikus akan mula "ghaib" tetapi Rakyat sebagai "The Third Force" usah membiarkan mereka menghilangkan diri begitu sahaja.

Walau apa pun keputusan PRU13 (Ingat: makalah ini ditulis pada 3 Mei), saya sentiasa percaya bahawa Rakyat tidak pernah "tersalah pilih" semasa mengundi. Politikus yang biasanya berubah dan menderkaha kepada pengundi. Lihat sahaja apa yang berlaku di Perak selepas PRU12. Semoga insiden seperti itu tidak berlaku lagi.

Rakyat adalah 'majikan' yang memberi gaji kepada 'pekerja'.Sepanjang kempen PRU13, kita telah dapat perhatikan sendiri bagaimana BN begitu bersemangat menggunakan Bahasa Tamil dan Mandarin dalam berkempen. Bayangkan jika "tsunami politik" tidak berlaku pada 2007 (menerusi gerakan Hindraf yang asal) dan 2008 (kebangkitan Pakatan Rakyat).

Namun begitu, apa yang amat mengecewakan adalah bahawa aspek tulisan/ejaan Bahasa Tamil yang betul sering tidak diberikan perhatian yang sewajarnya. Lebih malang apabila para pemimpin MIC selaku "pejuang bahasa dan budaya Tamil" tidak pula berani menegur parti-parti komponen BN dalam hal ini.

Sejak Parlimen dibubarkan (3 April) dan Human Rights Party (HRP) pimpinan P Uthayakumar mengumumkan akan bertanding sebagai calon bebas menggunakan "aura" Hindraf, saya mula menulis beberapa artikel mengkritik calon-calon HRP dan MIC.

Sesungguhnya undi adalah rahsia tetapi tindakan mengkritik calon dan parti-parti politik secara terbuka adalah hak kita sebagai Rakyat dan pengundi. Melalui kritikan — serta maklum balas yang diterima — dapatlah kita menilai kualiti dan kelayakan mereka sebagai pemimpin.

Berkali-kali juga saya mengingatkan rakan-rakan menerusi paparan pada Facebook supaya jangan menjadi penyokong fanatik mana-mana parti politik atau mana-mana politikus. Sebaliknya, mereka (politikus) yang sepatutnya menjadi penyokong kita (Rakyat). Kalau mereka menyokong kita, barulah kita akan mengundi mereka!

Suatu lagi realiti dalam politik tanah air adalah bahawa ada calon yang pandai berlakon di depan kamera dan media. Lakonan mereka paling mudah disaksikan menerusi pelbagai media arus perdana. Namun, usah kita lupa bahawa Rakyat memerlukan "pekerja" dan bukannya "pelakon".

Memang ada calon yang pandai menangis semasa berucap meraih undi. Hal ini mungkin telah anda saksikan sendiri sejak beberapa minggu lalu. Pada pandangan saya, biarkan sahaja mereka (politikus) menangis. Apa yang lebin penting adalah bahawa jangan sampai Rakyat terpaksa menangis selepas politikus seperti itu menang dalam pilihan raya.

Saya sering menggunakan frasa "Badut Paul Lathic" bagi merujuk kepada golongan politikus seperti itu; sempena sebuah cerpen saya yang berjudul "Drama Paul Lathic" (Mingguan Malaysia, 8 Oktober 1995). Saya bukan ahli mana-mana parti politik dan saya tidak menyokong mana-mana parti politik. Bagi saya, "Badut Paul Lathic" adalah sekadar sumber inspirasi bagi penulisan cerpen.

Pada 10 April lalu, saya mengingatkan rakan-rakan supaya berhati-hati dengan mana-mana "calon bebas". Pada penelitian saya sebagai pengamal media dan pemerhati politik, ada calon bebas tertentu yang mungkin menanti dibeli "Parti X" atau sudah dibeli "Parti Y" dan/atau sekadar bertanding untuk memecah undi.

Rakyat masih ada impian selepas PRU13.Dalam isu wakil HRP bertanding sebagai calon bebas selepas "tuntutan" mereka khabarnya ditolak PKR, ramai pihak bimbang kerana tindakan itu akan memecah undi di kawasan kubu kuat PR; sekali gus membuatkan BN menang mudah. Malah, Bendahari HRP, A. Sugumaran (Cikgu Suguz) membuat pengakuan pada 10 April: "We (HRP) should contest as independent candidates & kacau daun!" (Kita patut bertanding sebagai calon bebas dan kacau daun!)

Saya lebih suka jika kita meraikan kepelbagaian serta menolak politik perkauman. Dalam pada itu, pengundi tidak wajar membiarkan sekampit beras dan sebuku roti "membeli" undi, maruah dan masa depan diri dan generasi akan datang. Memang menyedihkan apabila masih ada politikus yang "memancing" pengundi dengan makanan.

Sejak beberapa bulan lalu, memang ada pihak yang cuba menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu dengan mengatakan bahawa orang Melayu-Islam dan Bumiputera akan kehilangan kedudukan istimewa yang dinikmati sekiranya pucuk pimpinan (kerajaan) berubah.

Betapa tidak bermaruah dan betapa jahat niat puak seperti itu! Mereka sengaja menyembunyikan hakikat bahawa segala kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu dan Bumiputera — serta hak kaum-kaum lain — sebenarnya dilindungi sepenuhnya menerusi Wasiat Raja-raja Melayu yang ditandatangani pada Ogos 1957. Perkara-perkara berkaitan hal-hal itu dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan tidak boleh diubah/dipinda tanpa persetujuan Majlis Raja-raja Melayu.

Seterusnya, kesabaran saya benar-benar teruji pada 16 April lalu, sebaik sahaja Pengerusi BN, Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengumumkan Zulkifli Noordin sebagai "calon rakan BN" untuk bertanding bagi kerusi Parlimen Shah Alam dalam PRU-13.

Kalau Najib berani meletakkan calon-calon etnosentrik, rasis, fanatik dan ultra kiasu di Selangor, saya pula berani menyeru para pengundi Selangor menolak BN 100 peratus pada PRU13. Semasa makalah ini ditulis pada 3 Mei, saya masih berbisik dalam hati: "Tuhan, lindungi kami!"

Harapan saya adalah agar PRU13 menyaksikan Rakyat menolak sepenuhnya politik perkauman; calon rasis dari mana-mana parti; calon yang hanya mahu memperjuangkan nasib kaumnya; serta calon yang menghina mana-mana kaum dan agama.

Tahniah kepada kesemua calon yang menang kerusi DUN dan Parlimen. Tahniah kepada pihak (BN/PR) yang berjaya mendapatkan mandat Rakyat untuk membentuk Kerajaan Negeri dan Kerajaan Pusat.

Kepada orang ramai pula, jangan "biarkan" politikus ghaib begitu sahaja! Rakyat adalah umpama majikan yang membayar gaji kepada politikus untuk membuat kerja. Jangan biarkan "pekerja" kita mencuri tulang atau menikmati gaji buta.

Sama-sama kita berpegang pada semangat "The Third Force" dan kita buktikan bahawa sesungguhnya Rakyat yang paling berkuasa dalam sistem pemerintahan demokrasi.

* Uthaya Sankar SB adalah pengundi di DUN Sri Muda dan Parlimen Kota Raja.

* Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.
Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Ahad, 5 Mei 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

0 ulasan 3:44 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Conte wants European glory for dominant Juventus

Posted: 05 May 2013 08:33 AM PDT

May 05, 2013

ROME, May 5 – Since Antonio Conte took charge of Juventus in mid-2011, the club have experienced a remarkable rebirth, winning two Serie titles in as many seasons after years in the doldrums andre-establishing themselves as the pre-eminent force in Italian football.

Juventus wrapped up their 29th championship today after a season which rarely looked anything other than a procession, with Napoli and Inter Milan taking turns to trail in their wake.

Now Conte (picture) wants to add European success to their domestic dominance and has made clear that he wants to see financial investment by the Turin club.

"If you have money, you buy players and you win," Conte said after Juve were eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern Munich last month.

"There are superpowers like Real, Bayern, Barcelona and PSG who have a turnover of €400 million. I think we need to change Italian football and when I say we I mean us, the other clubs, media, fans and institutions.

"Abroad they invest money in projects, here we talk about referees and what cars the players are driving."

According to a report in the Gazzetta Dello Sport, Conte wants an extension to his contract, which expires in 2015, and an increase in his reported salary of three million euros to five million.

He also wants the capability to buy the world's best players and even on the eve of sealing this season's title he dropped hints that he would consider leaving if they did not help him to achieve his ambitions.

"Conte the man definitely wants to stay at Juventus," he said in Saturday's pre-match conference. "However there is also Antonio Conte the professional, who needs to sit down with the club... I've left big jobs before when I didn't believe in the club's plans."

SIEGE MENTALITY

Conte, who played for Juve for 13 years and was captain for eight of them, winning five Serie A titles, the UEFA Cup and the Champions League, embodies a Juventus mentality that inspires devotion in the "Old Lady's" nationwide army of fans and loathing in almost everyone else.

His combative, often surly attitude has helped to reinforce a siege mentality created after they had two league titles taken from them as a result of the 2006 Calciopoli match-fixing scandal.

While Juventus are far from being the league's most flamboyant side, their levels of organisation and teamwork perfectly reflect Conte's own playing days.

However, his manner has also landed him in trouble with the football authorities and he received a two-match touchline ban in January for haranguing referee Marco Guida after he failed to award them a penalty for handball in stoppage time of their 1-1 draw with Genoa.

That came soon after he completed a four-month ban for failing to report a match-fixing attempt when he was coach of Siena, which dominated headlines during the first half of the season.

After the first appeal against his initial 10-month ban was rejected last August, Conte held a news conference in which he ranted about the Italian Football Federation, calling it a "disgrace".

On both occasions the club backed Conte, with president Andrea Agnelli saying the appeal ruling confirmed the club's "worst suspicions" about Italy's football justice system which "seems more and more like a witch-hunt". – Reuters

Pedrosa wins Spanish MotoGP, Marquez steals second

Posted: 05 May 2013 06:23 AM PDT

May 05, 2013

JEREZ, May 5 – Dani Pedrosa streaked away to win the Spanish MotoGP, triumphing in a three-way tussle with his Spanish compatriots Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo today.

In dry, sunny conditions, Honda rider Pedrosa (picture) cut inside pole holder Lorenzo with 22 laps to go and steadily pulled clear to win his first race of the season.

Rookie Marquez fought an enthralling battle with Lorenzo for second place, barging past on the final curve to take second, having snapped at the champion's rear wheel for much of the race.

Italy's Valentino Rossi was fourth, ahead of Britain's Cal Crutchlow and another Spaniard, Alvaro Bautista. – Reuters
Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Features

0 ulasan 1:43 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Features

Retired racehorse finds calling as abstract painter

Posted: 04 May 2013 07:21 PM PDT

May 05, 2013

Metro, with owners Ron and Wendy Krajewski and one of his paintings, at Motter's Station Stables. — Reuters picROCKY RIDGE, Maryland, May 5 — The horse is an American icon. It races gracefully, performs heavy farm tasks, can do tricks and, if television is to be believed, may even talk. But only one is an accomplished painter.

Metro Meteor, a 10-year-old thoroughbred bay in rural Maryland, is enjoying singular success. Within months of applying his first brush stroke to paper, he is juggling requests for public appearances, weighing endorsement offers and earning thousands of dollars for his work.

Slowed by bad knees, the racehorse was retired in 2009 and adopted by Ron and Wendy Krajewski. Unable to ride the crippled horse, Ron, a local artist, decided to teach the horse to paint in order to spend more time with him.

Elephants are known to paint with their trunks, he reasoned, and Metro did tend to bob his head a lot while in his stall.

The paintings caught on, and success ensued. Metro is now the best-selling artist at Gallery 30, a small shop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which started selling his work four months ago.

Metro's paintings feature colourful, sweeping brushstrokes, complete with specks of sawdust — not surprising as the horse paints by swinging his head, a paintbrush clenched in his teeth.

"For his large paintings, there is a waiting list of 120," said Ron Krajewski in an interview this week.

The larger acrylics, 20 inches by 20 inches (51 x 51 cm), sold for US$850 (RM2,580) at the gallery, he said, and smaller cut-down versions, 5 inches by 7 inches (12.7 x 17.8 cm), were US$80.

One of Metro's large paintings sold on eBay for more than US$2,000, and bidding for another one on Friday was hovering at US$800 with only a few hours to go.

About 40 large and 150 small works had sold, adding up to more than US$20,000, Krajewski said.

As the owners say on Metro's website: "Art scholars are not going to have long lengthy discussions trying to decipher the hidden meaning to Metro's paintings. He is a horse.

"It is what it is. A painting you can hang on your wall and tell all your friends it was painted by a horse," they said.

Typically, horse and owner paint for an hour or two, maybe four times a week, Ron Krajewski says, adding that Metro never seems to get bored with the task.

Metro lives at Motter's Station Stables, near Rocky Ridge, a small town in the rolling hills of northern Maryland. An indoor arena doubles as his studio.

One morning this week, the horse demonstrated his technique — interpreted by Wendy Krajewski — to a visitor.

"He'll roll ... he likes to roll," she said, and within minutes, the horse knelt, lay on his side and began to roll on his back.

Then he got to his feet, walked over to his easel and array of paints and wrapped his muzzle around a paintbrush. Friendly and laid-back, he scarcely fit the stereotype of a high-strung thoroughbred.

A former turf sprinter, considered among the fastest at Saratoga and Belmont Park, Metro won about US$300,000 during his racing career, his owners said.

When his knees deteriorated, forcing him off the track, the Krajewskis, who owned a percentage of the horse, adopted Metro with plans to use him for casual trail riding. They also own a quarterhorse and another adopted thoroughbred.

The horse was able to take short trail rides, but eventually his weak knees left him unable to support the weight of a rider, they said.

The Krajewskis donate half of Metro's earnings to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, a charity that seeks homes and rehabilitation for retired racehorses. The owner of Gallery 30 donates a portion of Metro's profits to a local animal shelter.

"We use the rest to pay for his medical bills," Ron Krajewski said. "The special treatment for his knees is very expensive."

Metro suffers from arthritis, cartilitis or frozen joints, and rapid bone growth, among other health issues.

At first, his prognosis was bleak and if he continued to deteriorate, he could die within two or three years, his owners said.

But recent X-rays showed that an experimental bone remodelling treatment had improved one knee, they said, and treatment on another knee would begin this month.

Metro's popularity has gone national. He has appeared on network television and has received endorsement offers, his owners say.

The volume of business offers prompted the Krajewskis to retain an intellectual property attorney.

Their horse, they noted, was oblivious to earnings and acclaim. As long as he has fresh water and hay, some treats and a pasture where he can nibble grass, run and roll in the dirt, Metro is happy, they say. — Reuters

Solar-powered plane wraps first leg of flight across US

Posted: 04 May 2013 06:15 PM PDT

May 05, 2013

The Solar Impulse on its way, in this May 3, 2013, handout photo. — Reuters picsPHOENIX, Arizona, May 5 — The flight from San Fransisco to Phoenix took 18 hours and 18 minutes yesterday — and didn't use a drop of fuel.

A solar-powered airplane that developers hope eventually to pilot around the world landed safely in Phoenix on the first leg of an attempt to fly across the United States using only the sun's energy, project organisers said.

The plane, dubbed the Solar Impulse, completed the first of its five slow-speed legs with further planned stops in Dallas, St. Louis and Washington on the way to a final stop in New York.

The spindly-looking plane barely hummed as it took off on Friday morning from Moffett Field, a joint civil-military airport near San Francisco.

It landed in predawn darkness at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, according to a statement on the Solar Impulse's website.

The flight crew plans pauses at each stop to wait for favourable weather. It hopes to reach John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in about two months.

Swiss pilots and co-founders of the project, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, will take turns flying the plane, built with a single-seat cockpit. Piccard was at the controls for the first flight to Arizona.

Andre Borschberg (left) celebrates with Bertrand Piccard on his completion of the first leg in this May 4 handout photo. The lightweight carbon fibre Solar Impulse has a wingspan of a jumbo jet and the weight of a small car and from a distance resembles a giant floating insect.

The plane was designed for flights of up to 24 hours at a time and is a test model for a more advanced aircraft the team plans to build to circumnavigate the globe in 2015. It made its first intercontinental flight, from Spain to Morocco, last June.

The aircraft is propelled by energy collected from 12,000 solar cells built into the wings that simultaneously recharge four large batteries with a storage capacity equivalent to a Tesla electric car that allow it to fly after dark.

The lightweight design and wingspan allow the plane to conserve energy, but make it vulnerable. It cannot fly in strong wind, fog, rain or clouds.

The plane can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 metres) and flies at an average of 43 miles per hour (69 km/h).

The project began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of €90 million (RM357.9 million) and has involved engineers from Swiss escalator maker Schindler and research aid from Belgian chemicals group Solvay. — Reuters
Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

0 ulasan 1:15 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

Aerosmith cancels Jakarta concert

Posted: 05 May 2013 08:53 AM PDT

May 05, 2013

Internationally renowned rock band 'Aerosmith' has cancelled its Jakarta concert citing safety concerns. – AFP picJAKARTA, May 5 – US rock band Aerosmith has cancelled a concert scheduled this week in Jakarta on safety concerns, a concert promoter said today, following threats to bomb the Myanmar embassy in the Indonesian capital.

"We received the official confirmation yesterday from the Aerosmith management cancelling the May 11 concert in Jakarta over safety concerns," said Sarah Deshita, spokeswoman for co-promoter Ismaya Live.

"They gave no specific reasons for the cancellation. We are sad and disappointed over the decision. We did all we could to ensure security was tight and even engaged the marines but it's not enough," she said.

She said 85 per cent of the 15,000 tickets to the concert had been sold.

The band had apologised in the letter of cancellation, which was posted on the promoter's website.

"Aersomith have been forced to cancel concert... due to safety concerns," the statement said.

"We want to apologise to all our fans who were expecting to see us and hope that one day we can make it up to them," it added.

Officials on Friday said two Indonesians have been detained over a plot to bomb the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta as radicals rallying in the city called for "jihad in Myanmar" to avenge the death of Muslims in clashes with Buddhists. – AFP/Relaxnews

France to honour film director Wong in Hong Kong

Posted: 05 May 2013 02:34 AM PDT

May 05, 2013

PARIS, May 5 – Chinese film director Wong Kar Wai will join one of the art world's most exclusive clubs today when he is appointed a Commander of France's Order of Arts and Letters.

The renowned filmmaker (picture) is to be presented with the medallion awarded to recipients of France's highest cultural honour by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius at the opening of the French May arts festival in Hong Kong.

Wong's work has long been acclaimed in France. He won the Best Director award at the 1997 Cannes film festival for "Happy Together" and picked up a Cesar, the French equivalent of an Oscar, in 2001 for "In the Mood for Love."

His induction into the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres sees him follow in the footsteps of fellow stars from the film world Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery and Michael Caine, as well as other illustrious artists including the poet TS Eliot and singer David Bowie.

As well as honouring Wong, Fabius is due to sign a visa accord with the Hong Kong authorities intended to facilitate travel and business links between France and the territory, which is home to up to 20,000 French expatriates.

The foreign minister is also hoping to stimulate investment in France by Hong Kong business figures and will deliver a speech on Europe-China relations at a lunch hosted by the Asia Society tomorrow. – AFP/Relaxnews
Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

0 ulasan 3:27 PG Dicatat oleh blog2
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

A necessary conversation

Posted: 04 May 2013 05:13 PM PDT

May 05, 2013

Dina Zaman writes to find answers. Sometimes she doesn't. If she's not spending too much money on books, it's household items. She would like everyone to be happy.

MAY 5 — Being out of KL even for a few days provides for greater clarity. May 5 was just less than 48 hours away, and thanks to budget airlines, one can come back home for a few days to vote.

It was a conversation with my nephew and niece when I was back that made me realise that things have gone worse for schoolchildren. We chat a lot about a lot of things but this conversation was very unsettling.

I had been advising my nephew to read, study harder, the normal advice aunts give their nieces and nephews, so he'd have a great future.

"And what, Nana. Be like the Chinese?"

I blew my top. I shouldn't have because he's young, and I love that boy. But to hear such words from someone so young?

What's wrong with being hardworking, I said. Even the Prophet Mohammad said Muslims had to be hardworking! There were also very hardworking and talented Malays! Who's been telling him all this nonsense?

He squirmed in his seat.

"You tell me which teacher or friend said this to you and I will come to your school and scold them."

"Oh Nana please no! Already Achik (my youngest sister) comes to pick me up in sexy clothes. I don't want you to come to my school to scold people!"

My niece chirped. "Are you Chinese, Nana?"

What the hell was this, Racism Day in KL?

"I'm a monkey, my dear. What about you?"

She giggled. "I'm Spanish, Nana."

Facebook and the upcoming polls have revealed the racist in many. Let's not even talk about the Malay-Chinese-Indian "divide."

I see many postings denouncing Malaysians who are of Arab descent: who are they to talk about politics, they're bloody Arabs, who are they to talk about rights, they're not Malay, they're Arabs.

I have always felt and said that the next debate and divide in this country will be about religion. And it will not be about Muslims vs non-Muslims, but among Muslims. 

It will be a battle among the Sunnis, Shiites and there is a significant uprising among the young, quiet though it may be, that is anti-Wahabi/Salafi. This "argument" will not be pretty, but it is needed.

When I brought this up among one or two people who do a lot of work in activism, they brushed me off. Well, race is inter-related to religion so when all the racist policies are gone, we won't have problems any more yadda yadda yadda.

There is so much rhetoric in our debates about everything political and religious in this country, but there is little reality.

I'm a pragmatist. And maybe I see things that I shouldn't, so yeah, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. I also think that the conversation we have is rather middle class, and hey I'm one of them too. 

We need to bring the conversation back to real people, people who live outside of the cities in Malaysia. But hey, what do I know? I'm not an activist or intellectual, I just write what I see and what people tell me.

At this moment, I can only sigh and hope for better things to come for all of us, and my niece and nephew's generation. I can't wait for May 5 to vote for that, and then leave the country again, where I can think, and go off on my adventures.

* The writer is now blogging at presenttensemedia.wordpress.com.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Nilai intelektual dalam karya-karya Doel Sumbang

Posted: 04 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

May 05, 2013

Meor Yusof Aziddin adalah Malaysian folk singer/songwritter yang telah menghasilkan 10 album indipenden sejak tahun 2000 sehingga 2011. Juga penulis untuk buku tentang kehidupan, "Sembang Tepi Jalan" dan "Syurga Yang Hilang." Memblog di www.pestajiwa.net. Berkerjaya sebagai "professional busker" di KL Sentral di bawah pengurusan KTMB sejak tahun 2010 sehingga ke hari ini.

5 MEI — Saya mula mendengar lagu-lagu Doel Sumbang, penyanyi folk, pop, jaipang juga pop Sunda kelahiran Bandung, Indonesia sejak tahun 1986. Waktu itu selalu melepak dengan rakan-rakan sealiran di Pasar Seni. Sebelumnya saya sudah terdedah dengan muzik Ebiet, Gombloh, Fals dan Godbless.

Zaman tidak ada kepentingan adalah yang terbaik dan asli. Waktu itu kalau berkarya ilham yang datang adalah yang lahir dari hati. Kebanyakan singer-songwriter yang berkarya di awal karier mereka berjaya menghasilkan produk yang berkualiti berbanding zaman keberadaan mereka.

Doel Sumbang salah satu singer-songwriter yang pernah melalui zaman payah sehinggalah zaman senang seperti yang sedang beliau kecapi hari ini.

Saya adalah pendengar lagu-lagu beliau. Pun saya lebih suka lagu-lagunya dalam versi akustik (berbanding muzik jaipang dangdutnya) yang menghasilkan banyak lagu-lagu folk yang hit seperti "Aku", "Hasyim Munaif", "Astagfirullahalazim", "Cheu Romlah", "Affandi Affin" dan banyak lagi tajuk-tajuk lagunya yang saya sudah lupa judulnya.

Dari segi konsep humor dan jenaka, ada persamaan antara Doel Sumbang dan penyanyi dan pelakon legenda kelahiran Betawi Indonesia, Benjamin S. Pun bezanya lagu-lagu humor Benjamin tidaklah punya isi melainkan humor dan jenaka kosong, sedang lagu humor Doel pula penuh dengan mesej, kritik dan kejujuran.

Doel atau nama sebenarnya Abdul Wahyu Affandi lahir di Bandung pada tahun 1963. Tidak banyak cerita atau info tentang beliau di internet. Penyanyi dan penulis lagu berbakat ini agak terpinggir dari arus populariti pada awal kariernya di pertengahan tahun 80an dulu sehinggalah lagu "Kalau Bulan Bisa Ngomong" pada lewat tahun 90an, duet beliau dengan penyanyi Nini Carlina berjaya menembus pasaran mainstream Indonesia.

Era "Kalau Bulan Bisa Ngomong" adalah era kejayaan beliau sebagai seorang penyanyi yang sukses, pun itu tidak punya apa-apa makna pada saya melainkan bagusnya yang kalau ada cuma dari segi kualiti bunyi dan rakaman yang agak tersusun berbanding album-album di awal kariernya.

Mengkaji dan mendengar cerita dalam lagu-lagu Doel Sumbang di awal kariernya dulu, bolehlah saya ibaratkan beliau secara tidak langsungnya adalah mat punk yang tidak tahu apa itu punk. Tidak ada penyanyi yang menceritakan tentang kelemahan dan kehodohan wajahnya yang umpama presiden Diktator Uganda Idi Amin itu kecuali Doel atau tentang cerita nakalnya tentang warga marhen yang lucu tetapi sinis.

Watak-watak dalam lagunya memang berserabut dan senget-senget belaka. Masalah yang diceritakan memang nyata masalah yang penuh dengan masalah. Bila kita mendengar cerita dan watak dalam lagu-lagunya seperti Hashim Munaif, Martini, Tukino, Masitoh dan Aku Tidak Sinting antaranya kita boleh bayangkan watak-watak itu hidup dalam lagunya walau itu hanya atau mungkin imaginasinya sahaja.

Cerita dalam lagu-lagunya berkisar tentang keluh-kesah warga marhen yang realistik dan jujur. Digarap lirik-liriknya dalam bahasa yang mantap dan berkesan disamping penuh dengan nilai humor yang mampu membuat kita berfikir. Itulah kelebihan Doel Sumbang.

Pun tidaklah menghairankan kerana Doel pada awal kariernya memang bermula dari teater.

Kritik sosial dan sindirannya pada warga kelas atas yang sering menindas yang bawah sangat berkesan dan pedas. Cuba hayati lirik lagunya yang berjudul "Doktor dan Paisen" ini:

"Doktor anak saya sakit keras, sekarang hampir mati

Maafkanlah kerana wang terlambat bayar

Mohon entri dulu pak, semua perlu tertib pak

Siapkan wang itu yang penting buat saya

Sekolah doktor mahal pak, makan biasa besar..

Sampai sekarang hasil saya belum kembali.."

Apabila Doel bercerita tentang ketidakadilan dan perbezaan kasta dalam masyarakat, kritikannya umpama pisau yang menusuk hati bagi mereka yang berkenaan. Betullah kata pujangga "mata pena itu lebih tajam dari mata pedang".

Judul album-albumnya pun main ikut sedap saja walau ada mood humor /sinis yang kuat. Album pertamanya yang saya miliki judulnya "Aku Gembrot & Hashim Munaif". Antara judul-judul albumnya yang lain seperti "Aku Masitoh dan Ronda", "Aku Lelaki", "Wah", "Kurun Jungkir Balik", "Satimah", "Aku, Tikus dan Kucing" dan banyak lagi...

Keistimewaan Doel yang paling nyata adalah suaranya yang jelas dan susunan kata-kata dalam lirik lagunya. Berbanding Fals, Franky, Gombloh dan Ebiet, kualiti rakaman album-album awal Doel agak kurang dari segi kualiti dan susunan Muziknya.

Kebanyakan lagu-lagunya mungkin dirakam secara tangkap muat terutamanya lagu-lagu pop dangdutnya. Saya cukup risau sewaktu membeli album-albumnya dulu, sebab kalau boleh saya mahu beliau cuma bermain gitar akustik dan vokal sahaja, tanpa muzik iringan lain, kerana mesej dalam lagunya sudah cukup kuat.

Pun lagu-lagu beliau tetap punya nilai inteleknya yang tersendiri. Doel dalam lagu-lagunya nyata peka dengan alam dan sekeliling. Ada lagunya bercerita tentang Hasyim Munaif, gangster kelas tiga yang hanya punya seekor anjing yang hanya pandai menggonggong tanpa berani gigit.

Seperti dalam lagunya "Selamat Pagi Desaku" yang terdapat dalam salah satu albumnya yang pernah saya miliki, beliau bercerita tentag resahnya jiwa mengenang desanya yang sudah berubah menjadi kota.

Apabila kita mendengar lagu-lagu Doel Sumbang, secara tidak langsungnya kita akan tahu dan faham tentang cerita sosial masyarakat sekelilingnya yang biasa-biasa saja. Mungkin hari ini Doel Sumbang tidaklah se sumbang dulu, pun saya masih mendengar lagu-lagunya yang dulu sehingga hari ini, kerana Doel Sumbang itu hanya satu saja. Dalam lagunya tidak ada watak-watak yang kacak dan lawa, yang mewah dan glamour, melainkan yang biasa-biasa saja, itu yang saya suka.

Berceritalah tentang kebenaran walau ianya pahit se pahit hempedu.

* Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.
Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

0 ulasan 3:22 PG Dicatat oleh blog2
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

Najib tinjau Bilik Gerakan BN di Shah Alam selepas mengundi

Posted: 05 May 2013 02:31 AM PDT

May 05, 2013

Di kedua-dua tempat itu, Najib beramah mesra dengan calon-calon BN dan jentera parti sambil memberi kata-kata semangat kepada mereka. - Gambar Reuters

SHAH ALAM, 5 Mei — Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, yang juga Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor meninjau Bilik Gerakan BN Shah Alam di Seksyen 19 dan Seksyen 6 di sini, selepas mengundi di Pekan, Pahang pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13) hari ini. 

Di kedua-dua tempat itu, beliau beramah mesra dengan calon-calon BN dan jentera parti sambil memberi kata-kata semangat kepada mereka.

Tinjauan itu dimulakan pada pukul 1 tengah hari di Bilik Gerakan BN di Seksyen 19, berhampiran pusat mengundi di Sek Men Keb Seksyen 19.

Beliau diiringi calon BN bagi kerusi parlimen Shah Alam Datuk Zulkifli Noordin dan calon bagi kerusi dewan undangan negeri (DUN) Batu Tiga, Datuk Ahmad Nawawi M.Zin.

Najib kemudian beredar ke Bilik Gerakan BN di Seksyen 6, berhampiran pusat mengundi di Sek Keb Seksyen 6, di sini.

Di situ perdana menteri meluangkan masa kira-kira 10 minit bersama anggota jentera parti dan Zulkifli serta calon BN bagi kerusi DUN Kota Anggerik Mohd Yusof Din.

Turut berada di situ ketika Najib membuat tinjauan ialah para anggota Pergerakan Wanita Umno dan penyampai radio dan pengacara TV Raja Azura.

Pemilik rumah di Jalan Bangau 6/5B, Nasir Mohd Dali, 59, yang dijadikan Bilik Gerakan BN untuk DUN Kota Anggerik, berkata beliau berasa amat gembira dengan kunjungan Najib ke situ.

Nasir yang menjadi anggota Umno sejak 1974 berkata beliau secara sukarela menawarkan kepada BN supaya rumahnya dijadikan bilik gerakan. — Bernama

Helikopter terbalik, Hishammuddin dan keluarga selamat

Posted: 05 May 2013 02:28 AM PDT

May 05, 2013

Hishammuddin bertanding mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Sembrong, Johor, pada pilihan raya umum ke-13. — Gambar fail

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Mei — Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein bersama keluarga terselamat selepas helikopter yang mereka naiki terbalik akibat angin kencang di Pangkalan Udara Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, Sungai Besi hari ini.

Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Ismail Omar yang mengesahkan kejadian itu dalam sidang media di Bukit Aman di sini, berkata kesemua mereka iaitu isteri, anak dan menantu Hishammuddin selamat tanpa mengalami sebarang kecederaan dalam kejadian tengah hari ini.

Beliau berkata helikopter sewa milik syarikat swasta itu terbalik selepas mendarat berikutan angin kencang melanda kawasan itu.

"Hishammuddin menaiki pesawat itu untuk datang ke Kuala Lumpur setelah pulang mengundi di Johor," katanya yang enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai kejadian itu.

Hishammuddin bertanding mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Sembrong, Johor, pada pilihan raya umum ke-13. — Bernama
Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com
Langgan: Catatan (Atom)
 

Malaysia Insider Online

Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved