Yvonne Foong

I seriously don’t understand our politicians. The government-controlled, BN-centric newspaper is talking down on us.

PM: People back Barisan

ALOR STAR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the majority of the people would back the Barisan Nasional despite the Opposition’s smear campaign. LINK

Y: Politics is no child’s game. Oppositions cannot, would not, and do not SMEAR anyone without basis. Calling them names paint an even uglier picture for BN.

Abdullah credits GDP growth to political stability

ALOR STAR: A stable environment, prudent economic management and strong investor confidence led to the overall 6.3% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth last year, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“Our increasing trade and reserves has also helped boost investor confidence. I believe this (the favourable economic environment) will boost further public expenditure and consumption,� he said when asked to comment on the fourth quarter GDP growth rate of 7.3% for 2007 released by Bank Negara yesterday. LINK

Y: My knowledge in economics is limited. But GDP growth does not amount to a surplus, does it? A growth in GDP but a decline in public health, security, and welfare is as good as nothing.

Don’t let opposition split the Chinese

KUALA LUMPUR: The power base of the Chinese cannot afford to be split especially with the declining population of the community, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said.

“The Chinese can’t afford a split in political power by supporting the opposition which has not achieved anything.

Y: Parliamentary and state elections have nothing to do with race. Opposition is a NECESSITY for the balance of power, to prevent TYRANNY. What else could democracy mean? If the Chinese breal-up, they do so for many other reasons.

Yen Yen: MCA way ahead on matchmaking

RAUB: Wanita MCA started the Cupid Club for matchmaking women since 2000 so PAS’ proposal to do the same is nothing new, said Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

“We’ve had women as village heads for a long time under the Barisan Nasional government. LINK

Y: I think she needs to keep herself abreast with foreign issues. Such Feministic views and actions have been criticized to be the cause for family institutional and social breakdown. Matchmaking services blamed for promiscuous lifestyles. Yen Yen’s argument is way outdated.

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Dan lain-lain, and many more. I really don’t understand. Laughable trickeries on national news! So funny la. I can’t even mention all and avoid sounding looney.

A friend forwarded me an e-mail calling the Christian community to support DAP Hannah Yeow who is contesting for the Subang Jaya state seat. Another friend pointed out that as a public figure myself, I should have done a background check, state why we should support Hannah, instead of using religion the main propaganda, as initiated by the initial sender.

Hannah Yeoh is from my church. Curiously, I surfed her blog, her campaign-manager’s blog, and the DAP website. I did not find any info that would compel me to vote as a well-informed constituent. Makes me think the opposition expects people to vote by the sole fact that they are opposition parties. Perhaps the public lectures are better equipped, oh, I sure hope so. Because those thousands of street-hung banners do nothing good to advance the candidate’s agenda. How are we ever going to vote if you give us nothing to vote for? No wonder BN gets most votes. Our oppositions are very very bad at campaigns! Ar leasr BN know to manipulate public opinion.

Nevertheless, I would like to see more opposition members in the state legislature. So I am rooting for Hannah Yeoh.

I grew up in Subang Jaya and now live in USJ with my husband. This neighbourhood is my ‘home’-town. Even my wedding banquet was held in SJ.

I have recently been given an opportunity to contest in the coming election. Recent developments in our country have caused me to reconsider my responsibility as a citizen in M’sia. Time to walk the talk. READ MORE AT HANNAH’S BLOG

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HANNAH’S INTRO IN PDF” The one her campaign manager has on his website is hosted on a free, time-limited troublesome file hosting server. Alamak!

Penangites remember to vote for Jeff Ooi, yo! That’s one who plays an active step towards improving the country

While revising the story of Carl Rogers, this story leaped out at me.Full text here by Charles Boeree.

One of the phrases that Rogers used to describe his therapy is “supportive, not reconstructive,” and he uses the analogy of learning to ride a bicycle to explain: When you help a child to learn to ride a bike, you can’t just tell them how. They have to try it for themselves. And you can’t hold them up the whole time either. There comes a point when you have to let them go. If they fall, they fall, but if you hang on, they never learn.

It was past midnight. I had a quick shower and returned to my room. First thing I saw was the sliding window pushed to an odd position. “Mom must have been here,� I thought.

On the table at the window, a basket was brushed to the side, almost falling off. “The cat messed this up?� But cats don’t come in these days. I looked over, expecting to spot the cat, but I saw something yellowish. “Someone left things on the roof?� I focused, and focused through the darkness.

Oh…my…god… it’s a LEG!

My throat tightened. “I might get hurt!“ My heart raced. I walked casually, but quickly out of the room, closed the door, and went to my parents‘.

“Mom! Someone‘s outside my window…� I told her everything. “He leaned flat against the tinted glass, so I couldn‘t see him, but I saw his folded leg!�. There were two glass slid together that made the surface pitch black

I followed mom back to my room. She looked outside but the man was gone.

He was trying to grab something, likely my laptop, but the grills blocked him.

A student once occupied the room next to mine. She lost her handphone placed similarly. We didn’t guess. I met the burglar last night.

I was in shock, so mom slept with me. She was on the floor and twice kicked the bed. “Don’t you do that! I’ll die of heart attack!� .

Groggy and Dopey-like, dad shouted at us for waking him up. He couldn’t understand the seriousness of what happened.. Or did he understand at all? I always wished I had a brother.

But it’s just mom and I, together surviving against social ills in Malaysia.

I am considering a German Sheppard, preferably a service dog for the Deaf.

Mom says she’ll go bankrupt. They eat a lot.

Help Blogger Jeff Ooi secure a seat in Parliament. Click here.

Jeff has been nominated DAP candidate for the District of Jelutong, Penang. Go to his main blog at www.jeffooi.com for current updates.

Remember. Sacrifice a little today for the future of many lives. Be far-sighted.

I have this very strange experience. When I start reading politics and get absorbed by it, I often wake up unsettled and disturbed by my own insecurities. But when I achieve a ‘peak’ experience, either from a deep prayer or meaningful conversation with a friend, I want to read Psychology and be inspired to change the world.

This is not to say political science is evil. I think it’s necessary to understand the mechanics of existing national government and international relations. Realism and idealism have so far been most practical. I enjoy political debates. But politics seem to trap my subconscious in a shell, unfit and uneasy, it struggles in my sleep. It could be other things, but these two subjects constitute my four courses this semester. They are all that I read. The rest are only for leisure.

I asked Reuben if he believe our names were pre-ordained by God. Did God really named me Ming Niang (bright mother)? My dad is a Taoist, and to name me, he consulted the gods. My last name “Niang” refers to Goddess of Mercy. When I became Christian and for awhile doubted other religions, I thought perhaps my name was just random. But as I grew towards achieving deficit needs and self-actualization, my personality gradually molds itself bearing the characteristics of my name. I am not saying that I will be a bright mother, or a smart person. I might even be seen a misfit!

My wish to understand the implication of this in our lives is so that I can achieve my fullest potential, and realize my role in making this world a better place. Personality Theory midterm exam is scheduled the following Monday. I revised the story of Abraham Maslow over here followed by an interview between Dr. Hoffman and Maslow over here.

The words of Abraham Maslow regarding his life calling touched me. I have wanted to do the same since time immemorial. The earliest memory had me watching a Hong Kong drama series of a Psychologist in action. It was then I decided I want to become a Psychologist. Later when that seemed unreachable, I toyed with volunteerism and social work. Later in December 2004 - February 2005, I taught pre-school and the experience of that taught me a great deal about childhood development and childcare. Now when I study human motivation and Psychopathologies, I often find myself drawing on my past experiences with children.

It’s amazing that somehow by the trick of fate, I met Reuben, who is turning 20 tomorrow, in Segi College. Although unlike me, healthy, lacking in professional experience, but more involved in the community, Reuben firmly believes in human potential and the importance of childhood. This evening, Reuben again shared with me his desire to establish schools that promote growth, contrary to the present system based on formalities and credits.

You would be aware by now that I simply cannot learn in classes where the lecturer him/herself isn’t committed to imparting real knowledge to students. Maslow makes it clear of his opinion that we should learn from real people. But when you look at a college prospectus and it says, PSY420, nothing about the teacher. Maslow himself went to Wisconsin upon discovering the works of John B. Watson. Every stage in his life he considers it a time of renewed learning, which supports the theories of Eric Erikson. He also believes proper education that allow us to achieve basic needs and reach our potentials would solve wars and aggressions of today. Do click the links provided above to read and understand Maslow yourselves. I shall refrain from writing more. I do not want to misrepresent a great Psychologist.

UMMC called this morning, reminding dad to get admitted today for tomorrow’s surgery. I said he saw the Cardiologist who wants to check his irregular hear rate before surgery can be done. I also told the lady to keep dad’s lense which I already paid for. So she said we need to schedule another date for surgery now, or there will be a very long wait.

Was about heading over to UMMC to schedule a new date. But mom said it is better to wait until Dad has done the Echocardiogram. Saves one trip.

My concern is the lense. Pray they won’t mess it up or RM740 goes down the drain.

In U.S. Government class one day, Leighton explained the 10-year population census.. We then talked about political parties gerrymandering districts so that more of their members get seats in Congress.

“Manipulation!� I exclaimed at the new knowledge.

“He said Malaysia does it too,� Siti typed on my laptop.

Cheh. There’s so much I still don’t know about my own country. I need a Canadian to tell me that?

Foreigners can see a better picture than locals most of the time. This textbook we’re now using, MaGruder’s American Government, is supposedly a middle and high school textbook. To teach us, Leighton borrowed some from Dalat International School in Penang where he used to study. Fascinating! We were spoonfed with heavily censored versions of history at that age. Politics was uncle’s game.

The week after that, we discussed the structure of Congress and how laws are made. Sure, elected democracy means some guys lose out, but at least there’s hope. Sure, some bills disappear after the first reading, some filibustered, some vetoed after exhausting a whole congressional session. But at least there’s hope.

Leighton is confident that Supreme Court will eventually rule over Guatanamo Bay for being unconstitutional. Perhaps 10 years later, but at least there’s hope. There’s also debate whether the president should remain chief of executive branch, and the military under his lead.

One day, we discussed the role of interest groups in politics and the creation of U.S. public policies. For a bill to be passed and signed into law is a long and hard process. More than 10,000 bills have been introduced but less than 550 has been made law so far. But with the right system, the people are willing to fight and remain hopeful no matter how much it takes. If they don’t live long enough to see change, they fight for their children.

There was this chart illustrating the various U.S. Government bodies checking and balancing out each other so that no one body can act by it’s own. Even when the president veto a bill, it goes back to congress, and with a majority vote by the joint committee, may be signed into law without the president’s approval. So much the need for hope.

I feel so frustrated with myself. I can’t drive and I can’t get large carton boxes for Holly. Her hearing is getting worse everyday. The left of mom’s jaw is swollen and painful, so are her legs. I suspect her Thyroid Gland Tumor is acting up. Our family GP is off on Sundays. I told her to go to the hospital. But upon hearing the word, “hospital”, she quit whining and blamed it all on HEAT that she says would eventually subside. So you see, it’s not just toward me that mom plays down physical symptoms. She’s off to half day of work after failing to get her supervisor on the line. On Sunday! With a swollen and painful body! I am recovering from fever myself, and I already felt like collapsing in church. Imagine her pain! Gosh!

How I wish somewhere close to home sells those carton boxes I need. I can understand Holly’s urgency. I was there myself not too long ago. When mom comes home, I wouldn’t have the heart to make her drive in that condition. SIGH.

I brought a box of Heart4Hope t-shirts to Life College in 2006 and forgot to bring it back. The staffs recently found it neatly tucked at a corner. Eric Lee informed me and the librarian delivered it to my home this morning. Thank you very much!

Among them are 21 pieces of white baby-t SIZE S. This size came in limited quantities. My standard baby-t has been size M which are easier to sell. That said, I will not be printing anymore baby-t size S. This 21 pieces are the last.

Please consider buying a piece or two. The shoulder width of the S Baby-T is 15 inches across. And 19 inches across at the bust line.

Ideal for teenagers, young ladies, and children. Click the images below for a larger view of me modeling the t-shirt.

To order, please send an e-mail to yvonnefmn(at)gmail(dot)com with recipient name, address, and telephone number. Delivery either by Postlaju or we may meet up somewhere in Subang Jaya. rm25 per piece excluding postage.

Dad’s surgery has been postponed because of his heart problem. We went to see the Cardiologist this morning. The result of another ECG test necessitated an Echocardiogram, scheduled to be done on 19th March 2008 at UMMC.

I had to excuse myself from International Relations class this morning. Now I don’t have to skip the next U.S. Government class since surgery has been postponed.

Dad underwent an ECG on 6th February 2008 for surgery preparation. That report is in the hands of his Ophthalmologist in the same hospital. Unable to hear well enough to participate in conversations, the Cardiologist personally instructed dad for another ECG. I didn’t know the plan until later. If I did, I would have suggested we evaluate the previous report. Now we had to pay twice.

Then again, considering the amount of patients and the large size of UMMC, it would be inefficient to obtain the report from another department. I learned the lesson this time. I asked for the new report, photostated it, and kept the copy. Now I can just bring it along wherever dad goes.

I got a feeling the Cataracts is just God’s way of leading dad to medical attention. Heart problems are less detectable unless the patient self-reports. Now I am ruling with an iron fist when Dad refuse to visit the doctor. Given the choice, dad would just let things be. I won’t let things be. If I do, I will deeply regret when he’s gone.

It has been trying for me as well. Bringing dad to medical attention means facing my own inner demons. Dad’s poor cognition and mental capacity become worse in unfamiliar or crowded environment. He’d look at the slip over and over again each time a number is called, and keeps losing his way. He refers to me for just about anything. If he had been more assertive and maintained a purpose in life he would not have deteriorated so quickly.

But he is not in the wrong. It’s me and my lack of patience. Still trying very hard to forgive and forget. Thanks to dad’s poor cognition, he quickly forgets when I get short-tempered.