Thursday, October 11, 2007
The way we were
In this darkened times, I cannot but help bask in past glories like many Kopites are wont to do. It is no wonder opposing fans say we enamoured with history. Yet, I make absolutely no fooking apologies fer being a nostalgist & fer revelling in the rich history & traditions of me beloved Liverpool Football Club.
Whether you are a Kopite or not, I strongly urge you to watch these two videos. The vid on our '73 celebrations show the camaraderie & mutual adoration between the Anfield crowd & the late, great Bill Shankly. Even the commentator's voice was quivering with raw emotion.
Where is that connection today? Also note the commentator saying Liverpool played 66 games that season bringing home the league & Uefa cup. And there was no FOOKING ROTATION with that team!
The panaroma segment is a close examination of the living, breathing entity that is the Kop end at Anfield. Contrast this with the deafening silence that it was fer the most part during the Spurs game last weekend. How sad & tragic . . .
If these two videos doesn't bring tears to yer eyes or at least raise a goosebump or two, you are most definitely devoid of a pulse. As usual, feel free to post a comment regarding our beloved Reds & the ongoing debate as to our sudden loss of form.
Whether you are a Kopite or not, I strongly urge you to watch these two videos. The vid on our '73 celebrations show the camaraderie & mutual adoration between the Anfield crowd & the late, great Bill Shankly. Even the commentator's voice was quivering with raw emotion.
Where is that connection today? Also note the commentator saying Liverpool played 66 games that season bringing home the league & Uefa cup. And there was no FOOKING ROTATION with that team!
The panaroma segment is a close examination of the living, breathing entity that is the Kop end at Anfield. Contrast this with the deafening silence that it was fer the most part during the Spurs game last weekend. How sad & tragic . . .
If these two videos doesn't bring tears to yer eyes or at least raise a goosebump or two, you are most definitely devoid of a pulse. As usual, feel free to post a comment regarding our beloved Reds & the ongoing debate as to our sudden loss of form.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Useful history lesson
One of the most favoured expressions of all time is "Fook you!" That coupled with the appropriate gesture (see pix of the little hooligan above) is instantly recognisable the world over & whose meaning are never in doubt.
Well, here's the meaning behind the raised finger & the history behind that oft used & abused phrase that has entered our modern lexicon. I received this history lesson from me friend Kevo (TQ mate!) & thought I'd share it with you. I have reproduced said email verbatim.
Reminds me of that old adage, you learn something new everyday. Indeed . . .
Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous English longbow was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as "plucking the yew" or "pluck yew".
Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, "See, we can still pluck yew!".
Since'"pluck yew" is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodentals fricative "F", and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute!
It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as "giving the bird.
And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing!
PS: If any of you have any interesting stories bout the origins of local swear words/gestures, please feel free to share them with us here.
Dream Cars
I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to be able to afford some of me very own dream machines (though not of the super-expensive luxury variety). Always wanted a Beetle, and me very first car when I started working was a Bug. Me & me mates had plenty of drunken, rowdy adventures in that bright red Buggy, that is, until I fooking wrecked it.
Also been a fan of the Mini ever since I was captivated by the very chic & urban looking Clubman when I was a wee lad. Kept bugging me dad to buy one as a family car but me dad thought they were rubbish cars ("too low, too small & too unconfortable"). So he told me that I had to fooking wait till I was old enough to buy me own wheels. And that's exactly what I did. I now own two models - the Austin MkIII (1973) version was originally bought with a 1275 GT engine but is now in the care of my sibling who has put in quite a few nice touches to it; and me pride & joy the Austin MkI (1965) which is almost 99% original. (Sorry, don't have a digital camera or a scanner to download some pix here - will do so in future).
So it fills with great pride that this humble small car had managed to make it onto Jeremy Clarkson's top 10 of the all time greats. Whatever you may say bout JC, he & his chums make Top Gear the absolute BEST motoring programme on the telly (NTV7, Sun 3pm). Funny, irreverent & downright rude at times, Top Gear manages to capture the very zeitgeist of the infantile male psyche - fast cars & a penchant fer fooking destroying stuff! (see what happens to the Kelisa below & you'll see what I mean. Ha ha!)
So fer you viewing pleasure, here are the videos (above, in two parts) of Jeremy Clarkson top 10 greatest road machines. (note Brit-ccentric bias with complete shut out of Jap cars!)
WARNING: Please have kleenex on stand by to wipe drool, especially with regards to numero uno.
PS: Bernard & wifey - make sure you check out no9; you'll love this bit.
Also been a fan of the Mini ever since I was captivated by the very chic & urban looking Clubman when I was a wee lad. Kept bugging me dad to buy one as a family car but me dad thought they were rubbish cars ("too low, too small & too unconfortable"). So he told me that I had to fooking wait till I was old enough to buy me own wheels. And that's exactly what I did. I now own two models - the Austin MkIII (1973) version was originally bought with a 1275 GT engine but is now in the care of my sibling who has put in quite a few nice touches to it; and me pride & joy the Austin MkI (1965) which is almost 99% original. (Sorry, don't have a digital camera or a scanner to download some pix here - will do so in future).
So it fills with great pride that this humble small car had managed to make it onto Jeremy Clarkson's top 10 of the all time greats. Whatever you may say bout JC, he & his chums make Top Gear the absolute BEST motoring programme on the telly (NTV7, Sun 3pm). Funny, irreverent & downright rude at times, Top Gear manages to capture the very zeitgeist of the infantile male psyche - fast cars & a penchant fer fooking destroying stuff! (see what happens to the Kelisa below & you'll see what I mean. Ha ha!)
So fer you viewing pleasure, here are the videos (above, in two parts) of Jeremy Clarkson top 10 greatest road machines. (note Brit-ccentric bias with complete shut out of Jap cars!)
WARNING: Please have kleenex on stand by to wipe drool, especially with regards to numero uno.
PS: Bernard & wifey - make sure you check out no9; you'll love this bit.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Fizzling out
RE: LFC v Spurs
Two managers with points to prove & a battle of opposite ends of the table. What can I say? It was an open, entertaining game with the end result benefitting nobody in particular. This 2-2 draw sums up how both sides have spectacularly failed to live up to early season promise - LFC to be among the premiership contenders & spurs to finally make it into the top four. Both are fooking way off the mark.
Once again, it appears that our push fer the long awaited no 19 has fooking fizzled out before Nov. The optimists will point that it was a much improved display but fact remains, the usual suspects such as Arsenal & the Mancs have fooking put daylight between us & themselves.
Ok, we tried & should have buried Spurs by half-time. But who's fooking fault is that?
Sunday, October 7, 2007
What's the point?
"We do not want to pretend and say that everything is okay. We do not want to be in a state of denial. Tell the truth, even if it is painful." - PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on sugar-coating the facts pertaining to racial ties in the country. (front page of Sunday NST)
This posting is not a radical examination of race relations but Fer Fook's Sake would like to take up the PM's invitation to openly discuss things without a diabetes-inducing mountain of the sweet stuff.
As a non-Muslim, I'd like to share some observations with me fellow Malaysians. But please note that this post is in NO way intended to insult Islam or to provoke any sort of racial sensitivity (this is quite clear but morons will always somehow misinterpret things); instead it is hoped that it will instill a better understanding among us with an open & honest discussion of our Malaysian traits & idiosyncrasies. Ti's just me making some observations, so please feel free to discuss & comment.
RE: Common courtesy
On me commute home from work I have to pass the Sri Kembangan flyover exit on the highway & traffic on this stretch of the road is usually quite fooked up due to the number of vehicles making the turn off into the area.
A couple of days ago, the fooking queue was anaconda length as many people were obviously rushing home to break fast with family & relatives. Most people patiently waited in line but I spotted this tudung-wearing lady just zoom straight to the front & muscle her way into the queue. She's probably in a rush to get home but does she not realise that many of her Muslim brethren behind her are similarly pressed fer time? Is she aware that her anti-social behaviour negates the whole purpose of fasting?
Please note I am fully aware that bad road manners is problem among ALL Malaysians but I would have thought this special & holy month fer Muslims would at least curb such behaviour fer the time being among the faithful.
RE: The Buka Puasa Buffet
I was told by me learned Muslim friends that one of the main purposes of fasting is so you are able to appreciate being in the shoes of someone less fortunate ie making do with just one meal a day & so forth. Thus when a Muslim breaks fast, s/he is supposed to have a modest meal as befitting a person with limited means; NOT indulge in the all-out gluttony that is so prevalent during this time by gorging oneself silly at the many buffet treats at swanky hotels/restaurants.
Another Muslim colleague also says she has stopped going fer these buffets as they have become ridiculously expensive which again defeats the purpose of leading a rudimentary lifestyle during Ramadan. She says she is also disgusted by the typical Malaysian trait of hoarding as much food as the plate can hold simply because it is a buffet (& its usually the most expensive items). The wastage on every table is a sin any time of the year, nevermind Ramadan.
An elderly pakcik in the company also voiced his discomfort at having to attend a company sponsored buffet at a club house as he says this was a time fer spiritual reflection rather than focusing on one's own constant hungers & desires.
Fer Fook's Sake is also of the opinion that these Buka Puasa buffets have become de rigeour with mega corporations here. Many of the large organisations fall over themselves to treat their clients, vendors & media contacts to lavish & increasingly expensive affairs as a means to show off their status & credentials.
If these corporations want to belanja makan, wouldn't it be better & altogether more appropriate to supply food to the many orphanages, retirement homes or charity organisations throughout Ramadan to reflect the good will this holy period is supposed to instill in people.
These observations are just some of the examples of how ALL Malaysians are beginning to lose perspective of the truly important things in life & what should mark us out as a caring, sensitive & thoughtful human beings. We have come a long way since the 70s & not all of it is pretty or welcome additions to our culture . . .
This posting is not a radical examination of race relations but Fer Fook's Sake would like to take up the PM's invitation to openly discuss things without a diabetes-inducing mountain of the sweet stuff.
As a non-Muslim, I'd like to share some observations with me fellow Malaysians. But please note that this post is in NO way intended to insult Islam or to provoke any sort of racial sensitivity (this is quite clear but morons will always somehow misinterpret things); instead it is hoped that it will instill a better understanding among us with an open & honest discussion of our Malaysian traits & idiosyncrasies. Ti's just me making some observations, so please feel free to discuss & comment.
RE: Common courtesy
On me commute home from work I have to pass the Sri Kembangan flyover exit on the highway & traffic on this stretch of the road is usually quite fooked up due to the number of vehicles making the turn off into the area.
A couple of days ago, the fooking queue was anaconda length as many people were obviously rushing home to break fast with family & relatives. Most people patiently waited in line but I spotted this tudung-wearing lady just zoom straight to the front & muscle her way into the queue. She's probably in a rush to get home but does she not realise that many of her Muslim brethren behind her are similarly pressed fer time? Is she aware that her anti-social behaviour negates the whole purpose of fasting?
Please note I am fully aware that bad road manners is problem among ALL Malaysians but I would have thought this special & holy month fer Muslims would at least curb such behaviour fer the time being among the faithful.
RE: The Buka Puasa Buffet
I was told by me learned Muslim friends that one of the main purposes of fasting is so you are able to appreciate being in the shoes of someone less fortunate ie making do with just one meal a day & so forth. Thus when a Muslim breaks fast, s/he is supposed to have a modest meal as befitting a person with limited means; NOT indulge in the all-out gluttony that is so prevalent during this time by gorging oneself silly at the many buffet treats at swanky hotels/restaurants.
Another Muslim colleague also says she has stopped going fer these buffets as they have become ridiculously expensive which again defeats the purpose of leading a rudimentary lifestyle during Ramadan. She says she is also disgusted by the typical Malaysian trait of hoarding as much food as the plate can hold simply because it is a buffet (& its usually the most expensive items). The wastage on every table is a sin any time of the year, nevermind Ramadan.
An elderly pakcik in the company also voiced his discomfort at having to attend a company sponsored buffet at a club house as he says this was a time fer spiritual reflection rather than focusing on one's own constant hungers & desires.
Fer Fook's Sake is also of the opinion that these Buka Puasa buffets have become de rigeour with mega corporations here. Many of the large organisations fall over themselves to treat their clients, vendors & media contacts to lavish & increasingly expensive affairs as a means to show off their status & credentials.
If these corporations want to belanja makan, wouldn't it be better & altogether more appropriate to supply food to the many orphanages, retirement homes or charity organisations throughout Ramadan to reflect the good will this holy period is supposed to instill in people.
These observations are just some of the examples of how ALL Malaysians are beginning to lose perspective of the truly important things in life & what should mark us out as a caring, sensitive & thoughtful human beings. We have come a long way since the 70s & not all of it is pretty or welcome additions to our culture . . .
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