Something wonderful to share...

Regina Brett is indeed very wise !!

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it..

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day.... Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,Ohio on May 28, 2006

USM fiasco - fair or unfair?

Lately, our first APEX university, USM made a big mistake in putting up a list of 8173 on their website as successful while it was supposed to be only 3599. What happens to the other 4574 who were mistakenly posted as successful?

Well, at first glance, everyone would point finger on USM for the blunder. Everyone would felt the future of these 4574 students would be in danger. Everyone are asking the government to do something and make sure all these 4574 students will be given places without jeopardising the eligible candidates. This is what should be done to be fair to the 4574 students.

I have a different opinion though. I'm trying to view this matter in a logical and fair perspective based on the limited knowledge of what really happened. I can only comment from my point of view as i didn't know 100% what exactly happened.

First, USM had rectify the mistake the next day. So, does that one day period really affected the 4574 students? Some claimed that they had rejected offers from overseas uni. I think that's bullshit. Based on my experience, after I checked online, I didn't decide immediately (this may not be the case for some people, i know). Just like last time, i had offers from Auckland U and UM. UM offer came later than Auckland U within few days. However, i decided to take up UM before the dateline for both offers. I didn't decide immediately after both offers came. It took me about a week to really decide which to choose.

My point is, these 4574 students, should have double confirmed the offer by calling, or wait for the official offer letter. Nothing is official until the letter arrives. This is also what overseas Uni are doing. They will send an official offer letter.

The next thing, when we apply to uni, usually we make application to all channels, and all avaiable uni. If our results fulfil minium requirement, we are only eligible (but not accepted yet!). So, dun tell me, if someone's results is at minimum, expects to get a place, with only one application to one Uni. Bullshit!. (If the results is damn good, then its exceptional la. But if results are good, ur already have high chance of getting a place dy). Chinese are very kiasu, so usually they will apply everywhere. But if ur not qualify, ur not qualify!. So this blunder case, its almost similar to u were rejected by that Uni. Just that u thought u got to USM. But UPU results also haven't come out yet. So what's the big fuss? Why not wait til the UPU results comes out, and then see what happens. If still doesnt get a place, there's still appeal.

Lets turn the case around. If the upload was correct, only 3599 were listed, then what happens? Conclusion, ur still not qualified. So, should these 4574 ppl be given special previlege and MUST be given a place in Uni? It sounds like other uni are forced to open up some place to accept these 4574 students for the sake of being fair to them. But does that fair to the 60 000++ students who apply to UPU but not USM? USM should be responsible for the mistake, yes. But that doesn't mean all these 4574 ppl would be ASSURED a place in other uni. Government, should then provide some counselling to these ppl instead.

Some ppl think everything must be fair. But in reality, nothing is 100% fair. If its 100% fair, you and I are equal in every aspect. God made us different from each other. So u wanna blame God for being unfair coz He made u and me different? I hope Malaysians really open up their mind and think logically. I worry the worse for Malaysia. If our mindset are so locked up, will our country develop further? Ask not what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country. We want everything thing to be given to us, claiming its' our right. But the question is, do u deserve the right at the first place? This is something we should ponder on. If you wanna complain so much, then why dun u step out and take charge. And let's see how good u r then...

1Malaysia: Dream or Reality?

1 Malaysia...that's the new goal of our nation, led by our Prime. Sometimes i find it weird. The more i read bout 1 Malaysia, the more i think. Can this be a reality? or will it remain as a dream that we'll never achieve?

Think positive. This is the first thing we had to change. Malaysian always think negative. But on the other side, i think this reality will remain half a dream. Why? Because malaysian leaders still wants to save their ownselves first. Most of the racial issues were brought up by the them. During ceramah with only one race, they will say "Kita harus bangkit!" and etc. But that is well known. So if 1 malaysia to be succesful, they hav to stop this shout.

To further prove that 1 malaysia is still just a dream, is that in all forms, still exists the word Race. If 1 Malaysia is to be achieved, then race should be erased from all forms, specially government forms. Why? Cause 1 malaysia means we all are from 1 type of ppl; Malaysian. I find it weird to call myself Chinese...cause that would mean i'm from China. If i were to say i'm malaysian chinese, then i'm a 50-50 person. So how can we achieve 1 malaysia? Another reason to erase the Race from forms is to promote meritocracy. Since we are heading to become 1 malaysia, then we should compete as equal and fair. No more special rights. No more quota. Just merit. Who is good, is good. No doubt about it. Look at Penanti's by-election. Every newspaper, would publish the statistics on how many percentage are what race. Is that really necessary? We vote for ppl who can lead us, not by race. So why statistics have to be by race? Why not based on working class? or maybe social status? so that the whole malaysia will know how's the economic situation in that area.

Younger generations like mine, have not much problem with racial issues now. We accept each other as we are. But of course, there are some still feels that their race is more important. For us, we only felt unfair when government pratices double standards on different colours. Like scholarships, SLAB and SLAI. why is there a SLAB only for bumiputera? N SLAI is open to all including bumiputera. This means that for non bumi hav to compete among themselves and among bumi as well. Either they abolish SLAB or combine both so as all will compete as equal.

Well, how many out there sees 1 malaysia as a reality that will happen, or a dream that will always be a dream? I dreamt of Malaysia as a non racial country (rather than multiracial country) because any one race is good enough to represent the whole malaysian community. But do other race have faith in the person who leads? Who says non bumis can't be prime minister? When Barack Obama became President, Muslims felt that is a new beginning. But will Muslims accepts non Muslims as their leader? Why i relate Muslims in this text, simply because Malaysia has practise wrong concept. Must all malays be Muslims? Not necessary. Malay is a race, Muslim is a religion. Two different things. Just like Chinese not necessary will be Buddhist. Nor all Indians are Hindus. Can all these man made concept and rules be relaxed and changed so that 1 malaysia really happens?