It's Fate!

Few days (or almost a week) after I bought the iMac, my Toshiba laptop died.

The laptop had been with me since my 1st year in England. I just didn't know why the screen of the laptop blacked out. I sent it the Toshiba authorised repairer and the technician told me that it'd cost me RM2000+ to get it fixed. "Forget about it!" I thought.

I think it's fate that I bought the new iMac. "What a right timing!" I sighed sadly.

Well, I guess that it's just not my destiny to own both iMac & Toshiba at the same time.

Men's Rhythmic Gymnastics

I'm sure you have watched Rhythmic Gymnastics, probably from the TVs (just like me).

Yes, those girls with thick make-up and wearing 'catchy' swim suits alike attires, dancing around on the floor while showing off their skills in manipulating the balls or clubs or hoops or ribbons or ropes. It's one of those 'must-watch' events during the multi-sports events, like Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games or SEA Games, at least for me.

The question: What do u think of guys taking part in Rhythmic Gymnastics?

I'm sure most of you will show me the 'disgusted' face. Sissy, feminine, not macho ....... are most likely to be some of the words cross your mind or even rush out from your mouth. Right? (corz these are my reaction, :p)

However, something has changed my thought. Just watch the youtube clip below. The only word I can think of to express the surprised discovery - COOL!

What a Mac!

I'm using it to blog!

My newly owned gadget - Apple iMac. I have been wanting to own this for a about a year; Googling the Net all the time to find out how other users comment about it. Of course, saving (financially) enough to get one was something to be planned.

I was supposed to buy one in August during the PC fair. Not because of the cheaper price, but for the extra freebies. Hehe..... :p However, rumours from the Net said that Apple was going to upgrade the existing model. So I decided to wait and see. Few days later, the rumour turned out to be truth.

Since there's not any stores in Ipoh selling Macs, I had to either moving North to Penang to buy one, or getting down to KL. I was once in Penang, but because of the tight schedule, I didn't have time to visit one of the stores.

So, when I had the time to get down to KL to look for one, sadly, the cheapest model that I was looking was out-of-stock everywhere. I did actually call a few stores to check. Guessed it's just to popular and people just couldn't wait to own one.

Until one week ago, a guy put up a post in cari.com forum, wanting to sell his iMac, exactly the same model I wanted. I contacted him and found out that he's just bought it for 5 days. 5 DAYS. No joke. His reason: would like to own an Apple Macbook Pro instead.

RM4200, come with extra 1Gb Ram and Windows XP Pro (legal). What a good deal; since the list price for that particular model was RM4799. I made the decision and dealt.

I went down to KL just to meet that guy, pay him and get this iMac back to Ipoh. If you happened to be in Mid Valley Megamall last Sunday, seeing someone carrying a bulky box, it's probably be me. :-)

A+ for the display, speakers, built-in cam, Wi-fi, ...... It's just so much user friendlier than PCs. Everything is ready and nothing much I should worry about. I'm getting the hang of it. Now, I don't have to see the Windows for the whole day anymore. Windows for works; Mac at home. Nice.

P/s: I'm RM4200 poorer now. I couldn't pay by Credit Card installment.... :(

你知道吗？你是最好的！

Stop envying others. Somewhere there is someone admiring you too.
Just remember: You are the Best!

你是否知道，在你贬低自己、羡慕着别人的时候，也许有另一个人，站在另一个你看不到的角落，欣赏着你的长处。每个人都有与众不同的地方。在你常常懊恼自己缺点的同时，你有没有看到自己的才华呢？

别在痴痴地羡慕他人。你得找到自己的魅力在哪里。从今天起，你要重新认识自己。每天早上，告诉在镜子中的你：“我是最好的！”晚上入睡前，检讨自己过失的当儿，不要忘记称赞自己。在这世上，有什么比自信心更有价值的？

MY FM, 我的稿费在哪里?

2006年，庆祝天公诞的前一晚，在驱车前往祖屋的路途中，我在车里习惯性地收听着马来西亚最红的中文电台——MY Fm。突然，听到一把男声：“人生就像是一场保龄球赛……再次失败，或球洗沟?没关系，输送带会把保龄球再次送到你的身旁，让你从 新来过……技术球就像人生挑战，须靠经验去应付。大家好，我是吴克群。”

咦，咁熟嘅？

这不是我在blog（还有这里）里发表过的几段字吗？为什么会出现在MY Fm的广告时段，并由时下偶像念出来？

保龄球

人生就像一场保龄球赛；每个人都全力以赴，以求一球全中。如果不能，也就尝试补中。再次失败，或球洗沟?没关系，输送带会把保龄球再次送到你的身旁，让你从新来过。这也意味着人生当中，机会是陆续有来的。只要你不气馁，抓住时机，总有成功的一次！切记：技术球就像人生挑战，须靠经验去应付。

我从没想过会有很多人浏览我的部落格；也没想过会有人欣赏我的文采。

当我从车里的收音机听见这一段，兴奋之余，有一点点小愤怒。觉得自己的创作好像被侵犯了。不会觉得这是抄袭，反正写在部落格里就是公开地给人阅读啊！

但是，电台这样做会给听众错觉，以为这一段话是出自该歌星或明星。而事实上，是他们引用了我部落格里的几句。很多时候，这一类的电台词都会有这样的开端：“著名诗人xxx说过……”等等。我不是什么大众人物，不用把我的名字说出来，也不必为我的部落格打广告，只需要加上一句“取自某部落格”，不就可以了吗？

----- 20个月过后 -----

2007年9月旬的某一个星期六，我如往常的驱车去用午餐。也像平时一样，收听着“马来西亚最高收听率的中文电台——MY Fm”的广播。朦胧地听到：“……在过程中所付出的，比最终的成果更为重要……不能太苛求，认为只有实现愿望才算是成功。我们最后所得到的，往往比原本的目标，更有价值……但任何一扇门都会带领我们到出路……大家好，我是蔡旻佑。”

咦，咁熟嘅？

不是吧！我部落格里的同一个entry又在我不被告知的情况下被引用了。又是MY Fm。

目标

人，真的需要目 标以求进步吗？若经历艰辛的过程后，目标还是未能达成，是否意味着只有失败与自己共舞？我想，在过程中所付出的，比最终的成果更为重要。有目标，才会使自己有动力，不得过且过。但是，自己并不能太苛求，认为只有实现愿望才算是成功。我们最后所得到的，往往比原本的目标，更有价值。虽然，在这过程的开始，往 往有异于自己的想象，但任何一扇门都会带领我们到出路。只要不怀失望、不灰心，按部就班地，一切都能迎刃而解！

试问：我要求拿回一点稿费，可以吗？

我不是在追什么版权费。毕竟，我是无名小卒。如果，我把这篇没有怎样的文章，投稿于某某报馆或杂志社，然后被选中刊登在保障或杂志上，我理应可以拿到稿费。

那现在我就当着某某人把我的文章‘投稿’到MY Fm。很幸运的，被选中了，可以on-air了！咦，稿费呢？