Being chained...

It's like being chained with a metal chain to a ball, for fear of losing your website...

That's what I feel about those "post to host" forums out there on the internet. Not only they'd want 50 good posts before you get your website, they also want you to actively participate in the forums for the months after that. I'm already participating in one just because their package seemed the most tempting and 15 posts per month is just okay with me. The problem is that everyone seems insincere in posting. This is understandable however, and I'm beginning to feel like I'm following the herd. Merd mentality. I'm feeling bad about it though... The place isn't that exciting... I just can't see why posting to host is a good idea... =|

Anyways, signed up with 100webspace hosting already, if you're thinking on suggesting other hosts... I'm looking for those with domain hosting only...

Summary

Nothing much, just a summary of today (starting from last night), I think I've run out of things to write... Really? Naw...

Watched Survivor, The Amazing Race and Beautiful Connection (a Singapoream TV serial) last night that made me stay up until 2:30 am... Hm... Mom's also interested in watching the serial, it's been a long time since we watched a Singaporean one...

Woke up at 7:30 am, Computer Club at 8 am, learned a bit of Microsoft Visual Basic.

Breakfast at 10 am, Civil Defence Cadets at 10:30 am, marched for 1 and a half hours before Kelvin Ang teached a bit about the Civil Defence organisation and the group's plans for the cadets for 30 minutes. Glad that he's back teaching us now... =)

Archery Club at 12:30 pm, the guys there held a farewell party for the seniors and they ordered from McDonalds and Pizza Hut... Brought back 2 more small pizzas since there were extras... Seafood pizza... =9

Got back to find the 2 books that were part of a trade with Gianne arrive at my house... Thanks Gianne! =)

Rested, blah blah bladdy blah, got online, computer torturing me when it took 15 minutes to shut down, got frustrated and switched it off before it could shut down itself. Planned to snooze a bit at 8 pm, woke up at 12 am (darn alarm clock), typing this at 1:30 am...

Won't be going to bed that early tonight... ;)

AdSense - Terminated

To say that I was making a fortune with AdSense was a massive overstatement. You'd be surprised at the number of clicks I got throughout the whole time, which was only one. So, it wasn't a big deal when they found out that I was under-18 and closed my account.

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 10:07:48 -0700
From: "Google AdSense" <>
To: [deleted] @yahoo.com
Subject: [#14314633] Google AdSense - Program Policies

Hello,

Our Terms and Conditions require that publishers be at least 18 years of age in order to participate in the Google AdSense program. For this reason, your account has now been permanently closed. In order to comply with AdSense policy, an adult must be responsible for the site. Your parent or guardian may submit a new application at http://www.google.com/adsense. Please note that, should the new application be approved, all payments will be made to the adult responsible for the site.

For a complete list of AdSense criteria, please visit:
https://www.google.com/adsense/policies
https://www.google.com/adsense/terms

We will pay out your disabled account according to the payment schedule outlined in the AdSense Terms and Conditions (https://www.google.com/adsense/terms). Accounts with a final balance of US $100 or more will be paid during the next payment cycle, while accounts with a balance of less than US $100 will be paid within approximately
30 days of the end of the year.

Thank you for your understanding. Feel free to reply to this email if you have additional questions or concerns. For technical support, please email adsense-tech@google.com.

Sincerely,

Vickie
The Google Team

I'd be happier without ads on this blog anyway. =)

Tomorrow...

Datuk Father Arthur Julien
(1917-2004)

Since my parent's aren't letting me participate in Father Julien's funeral procession, I'll have to contend with paying him my last respects as the procession passes by the school tomorrow.

It's due to pass by at 11:45am, Hamilton Road will be closed to traffic from 11:30am to 12:30pm. All 3 schools are flying the school flag at half mast and there would be no classes for the primary school.

Today's edition of The Star had ran another article about Father Julien for the second day in a row. It was only today that the article appeared on The Star Online.

Belgian who gave his all to the poor
BY NG SU-ANN

PENANG: He sailed to Malaysia 52 years ago and dedicated a great part of his life to education and helping the poor.

By the time he passed away on Saturday, at the Little Sisters of the Poor home, Datuk Father Arthur Julien had touched many hearts – from students to labourers and fishermen.

The 87-year-old Belgian missionary, who spoke fluent Mandarin and Hokkien, had founded three Chinese schools – the Heng Ee Primary School in 1952, its secondary school in 1967 and pre-school in 1969.

Father Julien was known to fork out money from his own pockets to give to the poor and was a familiar face to many low-income families in Air Itam and George Town whom he would visit regularly decades ago.

He had even donated his inheritance of RM60,000 from his father to construct the SM Heng Ee’s building at Hamilton Road.

SM Heng Ee acting principal Goh Boon Poh said:

“He would not spend donations from well wishers on himself.

“Instead, he used the money to give away to poor students who otherwise could not afford to buy school books and food,” he said.

The flags at all three schools were flown at half-mast.

On Saturday, upon learning of his death due to old age, droves of people, some from as far as Singapore, came to pay their last respects.

International Young Christian Students Movement (YCS) Asian region co-ordinator Teh Ah See said: “He was a friend to the poor as he would often visit poor residents in Rifle Range, Presgrave Street and Noordin Street Ghaut.

Research officer Loh Yen Siew, 25, was among six YCS members who flew in from Singapore.

“We wouldn’t be what we are if it had not been for him.

“He showed us courage and persistence through his sharing and deeds.”

A special mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Island Park at 10am tomorrow while the funeral procession will start from there at 11.45am and end at SM Heng Ee.

Later, his coffin will be laid to rest at the Catholic Cemetery at Jalan Kelawei.

Btw, nice to see my former classmate's face in The Star.



That's Zhong Yong on the left side of the pic, blowing his trumpet. =)

Behind him is a statue of Father Julien, which had been built last year in his honour. Flowers, wreaths and other stuff have been placed at or beside the statue today. Hope he's in somewhere better now.

EDIT: Posted my comment at Jeffooi.com

You'll always be in our hearts, Father Julien.

Caution

I should have a lable pasted somewhere on my body that says "caution, won't perform well under pressure!"

Haven't known what pressure is until it hit me.

Isn't performing well now.

Being pressured as I'm typing this post.

Exam results are slipping.

Homework is piling up.

Amazed at the number of reprieves I got, better not let it slip away.

A day should have more than 24 hours.

Need self-restraint.

Need self-imposed curfew.

Feeling bit frustrated.

Still doing well on the internet, just need to get offline now. =)

Heng Ee Founder Passed Away

Taken from The Star, page 8 (Nation section), September 12, 2004.

Heng Ee founder dies
By Ng Su-Ann

PENANG: He sailed to the then Malaya 52 years ago and dedicated a great part of his life to education and helping the poor.

When he passed away yesterday at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Datuk Father Arthur Julien had touched many hearts from students to labourers and fishermen.

The 87-year-old Belgium missionary, who spoke fluent Mandarin and Hokkien, had founded three Chinese schools - the Heng Ee Primary School in 1952, its secondary school in 1967, and preschool in 1969.

He was fondly likened to a "gardener" who had pruned and planted love in those who knew him.

Yesterday, upon learning of Father Julien's death due to old age, droves of people, some from as far as Singapore, came to pay their last respects.

International Young Christian Students Movement (YCS) Asian region coordinator Teh Ah See said: "In the old days, Catholic fishermen in Teluk Bahang found it difficult to attend church masses as transportation was a problem.

"So Father Julien, who headed the Church of Seven Sorrows, would instead journey to their village to hold masses.

"He was a friend to the poor as he would often visit poor residents in Rifle Range, Presgrave Street and Noordin Street Ghaut.

"He also loved taking photos of people and used them as slideshows for his sharing sessions with us," she said, adding that he had founded the YCS movement.

Research officer Loh Yen Siew, 25, was among six YCS members who flew in from Singapore.

"Even in his 60s, Father Julien would organise camping trips to foster leadership values in youths. We won't be what we are if it was not for him. He showed us courage and persistence through his sharing and deed."

The group then sang Father Julien's favourite hymn The Lord is Our Shepard. The priest had always voiced his wish that the song be sung upon his death.

"He had sung this song to a group of new converts in Gui Zhou Province before he left for Malaya in 1952. HE had wanted them to be strong although he had to leave them.

"The song is about the brave seagulls which fly in the sky even during stormy days," she said in tears.

A special mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Island Park at 9:30am on Monday while the funeral procession will start from there at 11:45am.

Heng Ee's board of directors vice-president Seow Teng Heang said nearly 2,000 students from SM Heng Ee's uniformed societies would represent the schools at the funeral, adding that the school band would also perform then.

"An advocate of Chinese education, the priest told people to consider him as Chinese. He was the country's only missionary priest to start a Chinese school from preschool to secondary level," he said.

Rest in peace, Father Julien.

Flyers

(GC, you said you wanted an interesting post, eh? You got it! XD)

I am so not going to take a flyer from a distributor again. Ever. Bad experiences.

As the escalator slowly went up during a trip to Prangin Mall, I noticed that someone was distributing them flyers at the top of the escalator. When I got to the top, I naturally stuck out my hand, expecting for a piece of paper to be stuffed in my palm. They're promoting their business, I know that. Perhaps I might stop by their shop and buy something. I don't mind having one. What I hadn't expected was to be greeted with a snub and a faraway gaze towards another direction. What the heck?

One time incident, nothing big.

When the terror twins came to visit recently, the whole family went to Gurney Plaza for shopping. Naturally, I didn't want to stick around with them but before I could make my way towards the MPH bookstore, the boy said he wanted to pee. I led him to the toilet reluctantly.

On the way there, there was a group of older teenagers comprising of mostly boys and a girl or two walking towards me from the opposite direction. I noticed that he had a flyer in his hand and it was sticking out, intending to give me one. Like you guessed, I naturally took it and continued walking. Sensing that there was something wrong with the situation, as who would distribute in a group and have only one flyer in his hand, I turned around to see them laughing hilariously. Got tricked. =/

Another lesson learned from life. Flyers aren't worth taking. Snub them before they snub or trick you.

Anwar Free, Hm...

Well, the Malaysian blogosphere has been a hive of discussion after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's conviction was overturned by the Federal Court, resulting in him now being a free man. With all of the praises and cheers being showered on the former deputy Prime Minister, I however echo Cstan7 and Lucia's views towards this. He's free, so what?

[Added on Sept. 7]: Not "so what?" as in a "I don't know and I don't care" sense, but in a sense that things are still quite early to cheer about. If he decides to quit politics and be a family man, I'll be happy for him. If he however plans to continue planning his Reformasi, I won't be supporting him. Lets just be glad that he's free. Period.

To quote Cstan7:

"Come to think of it, what did Anwar do to make him a hero? Did he somehow improve the nation's economy? Did he make any Malaysian individual's life better? Or at least create a better education system while he was the minister of education? Not really. Then everyone was like saying how Mahathir controlled the nation with his iron fist for like about 20 years, but throughout these 20 years, things did get better for Malaysians. We all know the sodomy case is a scam, we are not stupid, but between one who mixed up religion and politics, and the other who is corrupted (is he?) but had proven the ability to bring improvements to the country, I would gladly cast my vote for the latter."

Although in my opinion he did deserve the term for corruption, he was framed for sodomy. Whether he actually did commit the offence or not, only he himself and God knows. I do not wish to ponder over it now. Since he's now a free man I'll also be heaving a sigh of relief because imho I believe it's better to let ten guilty men go free than to send an innocent man to prison. He had suffered enough from the corruption charge.

I also believe it was fate that led to his imprisonment and also the same fate that led to his release. I'm not entirely sure but I think he will be a different person once he gets back on his feet. He's now at the crossroads. It's now his turn to decide which road to take.

Free .info domains!

According to this press release on September 2, DomainSite is offering 25 free .info domains for a year per person with no strings attatched...

Why is Today the Best Day Ever to Get a Free Domain Name? .Info Domain Names are Free Through Sept. 9


Domainsite.com announces free domain name registration for .info domain names

Denver, CO (PRWEB) September 2, 2004 -- Domainsite.com, a leading ICANN accredited registrar, announced today that it will offer free domain name registration for .info domain names. This promotion is good from September 2nd through the 9th. “We believe this promotion is just a fantastic opportunity to show our customers how much we appreciate them,” Said Bill Mushkin, CEO of the web address company. Each registrant can register up to 25 domain names for free during this promotion. There are no strings attached. Clients desiring to register more than 25 .info names will be charged $3.99 per year per domain above the 25 name limit.

Some other sites are following suit with DomainSite's promotion. These includes NameSecure and Afilias. With this promotion, the value of .info domains are expected hit rock bottom soon.