Mean* - Taylor Swift

Not too long ago, someone posted on social media about this poor car washer who works hard to support his family and is trying to make sure his daughter goes to school and get an education. His post garnered a lot of attention for this man and the public chipped in to help this honest hardworking man.

But after that, another post emerged citing 'reliable sources' that this man was a drug addict who uses his daughter to get money to buy drugs.

But after some investigation (see here), it was revealed that the drug addict story was not true.

I don't know why some people like to say bad things about others on the net without any proof. Totally irresponsible. Maybe they are jealous of the good publicity that others get? But why bad mouth and defame a poor man who tries by honest means to provide for his family? Sure, we have to be careful about what we read online but we should not spread lies and negativity.

Some people are so mean. Especially on social media. So sad.

*A song written for her 3rd studio album.

Gold* Spandau Ballet

Wow. So it has been 9 years already since we first were blown away by Susan Boyle? She's still brilliant - so effortlessly belting out such a difficult song!

 

*One of their hit songs and more popular one.

Drive my car* - The Beatles

This is one nice ad!!!! Really cool.

 

*One of their classics, released way back in 1965

Stronger* - Britney Spears

The summary from today's Bible reading with my daughter. A timely reminder.

*A hit from her second studio album

The best* - Bonnie Tyler

Well done! Truly deserving!!!

*Most people will know this song from Tina Turner's version. It was a remake of Bonnie Tyler's.

The air that i breathe* - The Hollies

With the kids at school, we managed to enjoy our smoke-free breakfast at a local coffeeshop.

Yes, the new law is in place. No smoking in public places!!! I can breathe smoke-free air!!! Well done, PH.

But it is sad to see some smokers complain about this - some comparing it with car exhaust! The simple difference is that you are wanting to smoke for your own selfish pleasure and it is proven to be dangerous to people around you. If you want to smoke, go live in your own island away from people.

*One of my fav songs by this old group.

Tapestry* - Carole King

"God's plan is like a beautiful tapestry. And the tragedy of being human is that we only get to see it from the back. With all the rugged threads and the muddy colours. And we only get the hint at the true beauty that would be revealed if we could see the whole pattern on the other side as God does".

Matt Murdock quoting Father Lantom (Daredevil s03e13)

*The title song of the brilliant album of the same name.

Don't give up on us* - David Soul

We were sharing this morning on what was the highest point we experienced in the past month. Both my wife and i shared the thing. It was the elections - when we found out that the opposition (now the government) has won.

There were so many other possible 'high points' in the past month - but this takes the number 1 spot for me.

To be honest, I have given up hope of Malaysians ever making the decision to change the government of the day. It has been the same party since independence in 1957 - 60 plus years!!!! All my life literally, it has been the same. And it wasn't all bad.

But things started going downhill. And it has come to a point when the racism, the corruption, the arrogance, the injustice, the abuse of power is no longer tolerable.

We thought that the last elections was the time! Ini kalilah. But the government then pulled up all the tricks under sleeves and our hopes were dashed again.

I wondered why God did not answer my prayers. I wondered why God could still tolerate the kind of things that are going on in our country when even we sinful creatures could not.

Of course it must have angered and upset him. And he did answer my prayers - he said, wait. Something that is very difficult for us.

But when it finally happened, it all made sense why this time is the time and this time was a better time.

Being hurt so many times in the past, my defensive mechanism did not allow me to harbour realistic hopes. Seeing comments of apparently educated people who did not see a need to change the government didn't help. Seeing all the dirty tactics being used - re-delineation, the mal-apportionment, the money thrown to win (read: buy) votes, the clearly biased Elections Commission - it was clearly a David vs Goliath battle. But how can i forget that David did overcome Goliath in the end?

The day (middle of the working week!) came and Malaysians went out to vote. I remember taking care of the girls while my wife went to vote first. I carried the little until she fell asleep on my shoulders. And as i thought of what was happening in the land, and of what the future holds for my children, i cried in fear.

This board is used to teach my daughter new English words and new Bahasa Malaysia (BM) words. She is better at BM as phonetically, BM is easier to read. For today, I added in a new BM phrase which she could read easily.

Then it was my turn - i went.

It was heartening to see so many proudly showing off their fingers on social media because it shows that so many actually do care and recognised the importance of voting. So many are actually happy to be in a long queue because that means many care for the country and recognize the importance of their right to vote.

Still, i didn't want to believe until it was confirmed. The opposition were claiming victory but the Elections Commission refused to acknowledge it.

So stressed. What did I do? Baked a cake! So that my wife and I will have a cake to celebrate or to drown our sorrows with!!!

Then I went to sleep not wanting to care. I did my part. If Malaysians did not want a change, then we get what we deserved.

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and checked the results - yes, it really is true. The opposition has won - the fact that EC refused to confirm it also meant that they could not deny it! I heard my wife come out of her room and i went downstairs to look for her. We saw each other and we did not need to say anything - we went to each other and hugged each other tightly, my wife crying in joy. What a moment!

When asked a few weeks ago, I said that while I hoped for a change, i didn't think a change will happen this time round. I was wrong. I gave up on Malaysians, i gave up on there ever being a change - but thankfully, God did not give up on us.

I can't remember being so happy at being wrong!!!! Thank you God!

Well done to all those who voted. We all made the difference. Be proud of ourselves as Malaysians. Betul-betul ini kalilah!

*The challenge for this post was to choose which song best describes my feelings and thoughts - Anything is Possible, Against All Odds, Winds of Change, Can You Hear The People Sing, Finally, etc. I decided to choose this old song by David Soul, a song that always reminds me of my childhood when i first heard it.

I swear* - All-4-One

Would anyone swear on his own daughter's life? Well, he might, if he was truly desperate! Of course, the other view is that he would do that because he is really convinced about what he is swearing about. But still, to bring in your daughter's life?

That's how much Harry Kane values getting credited for a goal that was given to his team-mate. Instead of being contended that his team won because of that goal, or taht his team-mate did all the work to strike the ball so well, he really wanted to be credited for that goal because it apparently grazed his shoulder(?) or some part of his body as it was going into the goal. It clearly was not a significant contribution as the ball was clearly going into the goal.

But no. He went all the way to lodge a claim to be credited with that goal. Swearing on the life of his daughter. Man, he really is desperate to win the golden boot award!!!!

The result? Well, he got it! And perhaps it may help him to win the golden boot award. But at what cost? He was instantly ridiculed by not just fans but fellow players and former football greats! Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker made jokes about it. Other players joined it. What a desperate person he is.

And it didn't stop there. After his poor performance in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend, even the FA made fun of him, where Chris Smalling was apparently asked what he had in his pocket and the reply was 'Harry Kane'!

This is so different from other players who truly celebrate their team-mates goals. Firmino, Liverpool number was remembered when he shielded his team-mate's Mane's goal bound shot into goal. he could have physically pushed it in and claimed it for himself - and apparently got a goal bonus (45,000 pounds, i think) but he didn't. The Liverpool trio are well known of being so unselfish and really playing for the team, no for individual glory.

*A hit song back in the early 90s, when you can hear it being played daily on the local radios in London.

All you need is love* - The Beatles

My wife and I finally had a chance to watch a movie at home - and i suggested that we watch Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

I suppose this is a good time to give the spoiler warning!!!! I'll be giving away big parts of the plot in this post so be warned!

We thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was really brilliant! It really was the worthy winner of the BAFTA Best Movie Award. The Academy Award winning performances from Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell were pretty good (not as good as some other Oscar winning performances, though, IMHO).

But not just them - the entire cast played their parts brilliantly. Woody Harrelson was better than his usual dependable performance and deserved all the nominations for best supporting actor.

The cast also won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Samara Weaving stole the show at times with her portrayal of a dumb blonde that was utterly hilarious.

The writing was so good - drama and comedy. I really liked how the story went. It was not predictable and it did not have a conventional ending. My wife said that at the end of the day, the movie belonged to Sam Rockwell's character.

I really liked how his character developed - i really hated him, and then i really felt for him.

To me, this was a story of giving people second chances, of not judging too quickly.

Sam Rockwell's character, Jason Dixon, was totally unlikable. To me, anyway. I was cheering away inside when he appeared to get what he deserved and was sacked from the police force. But the movie showed that he can change.

The turning point was when Woody Harrelson's character wrote him a letter. Here is the contents:-

Jason, Willoughby here. I'm dead now, sorry about that. There's something I wanted to say to you that I never really said when I was alive. I think you've got the makings of being a really good cop, Jason, and you know why? Because, deep down, you're a decent man. I know you don't think I think that, but I do, dipshit. I do think you're too angry though, and I know it's all since your dad died and you had to go look after your mom and all, but as long as you hold on to so much hate, then I don't think you're ever going to become, what I know you want to become - a detective. 'Cause you know what you need to become a detective? And I know you're gonna wince when I say this, but what you need to become a detective is love.
Because through love comes calm, and through calm comes thought. And you need thought to detect stuff sometimes, Jason. It's kinda all you need. You don't even need a gun. And you definitely don't need hate. Hate never solved nothing, but calm did. And thought did. Try it. Try it just for a change. No one'll think you're gay. And if they do, arrest 'em for homophobia! Won't they be surprised! Good luck to you, Jason. You're a decent man, and yeah you've had a run of bad luck, but things are gonna change for you. I can feel it.

If this was a true story, Dixon was really fortunate to have someone like Willoughby to look over him, to see through the hate, to understand and realise the potential and to make the effort to help him change.

Many people are like him - decent but have had a 'run of bad luck'. They need love to be able to show love.

And he did change. And he did forgive. And he did ask for forgiveness.

So although we never get to find out who the murderer(s) is, that was not the point of the show, i guess. It was great to see Dixon and Hayes ride off together as friends despite all that had happened.

Yeah, all we need is love!

(Pics obtained from various places online)

*Their classic brilliant song. Love it!!!