Monday, August 31, 2009

Hunny Bunny Is 63 Today - September 1st




Happy 63rd Birthday Tony

We're Still Having Fun

You're Still The One!!

I Love You!





Chocolate cake just for you my darling!









Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Dear Tony!
Happy Birthday to You!

~~~~~~~~~~


Here are a few of the memories as to why I love you:




For being a wonderful PaPa!





For Being the BEST Dad Ever!!




For Spending a Puzzling Moment with TJ!





For Serenading your Grand Daughter on Her Birthday!





For Spending A Fun Moment With Phillip!



~~~~~~~~~~



Sometimes we sit quietly,

Together side by side.

Conversation not necessary,

Our minds so intertwined.

~~~~~~~~~~

I say to you my love,

As you sit quietly by my side.

Our souls are bound together,

By so many strong ties.

~~~~~~~~~~

My life with you is always,

In wonderful anticipation.

Words not a necessity,

In every situation.
Happy Birthday My Love.

Your Loving Wife, Sherry
~~~~~~~~~~



As always thank you for stopping by my little piece of heaven here in the desert that I so love to call home. Please wish my precious DH a Happy Birthday. Country hugs and love, Sherry

PhD from Stanford, he's a cab driver in Singapore

A hot news item in Singapore is Dr Cai Mingje.
He is educated in a U.S. Ivy League university of Stanford.
Born in China, Mr Cai became a Singaporean.

He worked for 16 years as a researcher at the prestigious government-backed Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB). In simple terms, he was a scientist.
But he lost his job and is now a cab driver.
Wow.
He applied for many other jobs. Overqualified.

The story is here.
His blog, taxidiary, is now rising in popularity, though not as wildly popular perhaps as dawnyang.com and xiaxue.blogspot.com (and don't ask me why Singaporeans bother about the petty lives of young girls doing shopping, eating at restaurants and buying clothes! Gila punya kerja).

The lesson for those working in Singapore (including Pak-chic me) is this, I guess: You may be well qualified but if you get too old or too experienced.... there are always many young ones who are willing to take the same job at a much cheaper rate.
And employers prefer them cos they are seen to be more energetic and less ossified in their thinking.
With the influx of young qualified workers from all over the world into Singapore....
Sigh.

Look What Came to Me From Oklahoma

Gifts from "Home" for Sherry
I wanted to do a quick post tonight and
show you what came home with Heidi
and my DH from Oklahoma on Sunday.
I was so excited. Several gifts actually!










First I wanted to show you this lamp.
My Brother Teddy, made all of us ladies
in his life,
lamps at Christmas. As I
wasn't there, mine was being held.
As you can see it is way to delicate to
be mailed. He knew I love blue, and that
I am doing my bedroom in blue,
so he made mine blue. Oh Teddy, I just
Love, love, love it. Thank you honey!









Here is a close up of the bottle.
He put shades of blue glass beads in the bottle
to give it the blue color that I so wanted.
He painstakenly drills a hole into the bottle to
push the lighting cord through. There is a lot of
time involved in this very tidious process.
I am so thrilled Teddy.




This is a close up of the trim on the lampshade.
It is so beautiful. A delicate crocheted trim,
that is shades of blues. So beautiful,
and he glued it around the top and bottom
of the lampshade, and then the very top of the
bottle where he siliconed the
lamp fixture into the bottle.







Ladies isn't this the most beautiful craft you have ever seen? He also made one for Moma, Debbie and Amy. All different colors, and all different looks. He goes to the thrift stores looking for all liquor bottles, antique trims, and beads and then slowly pieces the lamps together. I think he should sell them. He does a phenominal job. I am clapping for you Teddy. Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!




Here's my next big surprise. Last year Moma bought all of us kids one of these Teddy Bears for Christmas, and unfortunately I flew home last year for vacation, so was unable to transport this home with me. When Heidi and DH went home last week, Moma saw her chance to ship this home
for free. I just love, love, love him. Daddy's name is Ted (as in Ted E Bear) thus the bear, and he fishes, so Moma knew this was the perfect gift for Debbie, Teddie & me. Isn't he just the cutest thing you've ever seen?

See the little pumpkin in the photo? It is real, and it came straight from Daddy's garden. Moma wanted him to send me one, before someone came through and smashed them all to bits. (They did that last year.)Thanks Moma and Daddy I so love these gifts. What a wonderful surprise. Tony and Heidi come home for a visit, and I get a present. I need to send them home more often.

Now the little fence box container I found at Ross, ofcourse, and the fall assortment came from Michaels. I had the little scarecrow from last year. I love it on the frontporch. I keep thinking if I start decorating early maybe it will cool off here?? Not!!


As always thank you so much for stopping by to visit me in my little piece of heaven here in the desert that I so love to call home.
Country hugs and love, Sherry

What is this?! Congestion planning for Penang....?


Like almost everyone else, I like to go to Penang's Batu Ferringhi beach area.
Not to swim or get a sun tan (I am tanned enough), but just to hang around the beach - jalan-jalan makan ice cream while looking at people fly around above the waters using parachutes (para-sailing).

But in the last few years, we have all seen how both sides of the tiny road going into the area have been opened up to build high-rise condos.
Many of these condos, too many of them.

And now, guess what?
The government of Penang, it seems, have now nearly tripled the density requirements for building projects. For the whole state.

So, for the same area of land, you could technically build more units in, and stuff more people. More people mean more cars.
For the jalan Batu Ferringhi, already choked on weekends and peak hours on weekdays, things will get much worse.
A Pakatan government approval, or by the previous government?
And why was this not explained properly to people first.
It came out during a media interview with the boss of Hunza, a property developer.
Penangite Anil Netto has some comments too.

Or maybe this is just for NON-Ferringgi areas?

PICTURE: The four towers of The Cove, beautiful with 6,000 sq ft units.

Mixed Media Jewelry Project Idea Earth Metal

Copyright 2009 Margot Potter for Walnut Hollow

I created this mixed media design for the fab folks from Walnut Hollow a while back. It features their Creative Metal sheets combined with inks, CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements and polymer clay. I actually painted the clay this color and used the Sculpey Ultra light. I like that it's so incredibly light weight and easy to shape and mold. I embedded slivers of metal into the clay and created metal cones which I inked, rolled and threaded on wire. I made my own findings using 20 gauge copper wire. I love this combination of colors and it feels so right for fall. I'll share instructions when this project goes live.

I'll be back tomorrow with a new Teen craft for
I Love to Create. Until then...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo,
Madge

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Japan changes govt, Malaysia frets on birthday

As widely predicted by everyone, Japan has voted in a new government after 50 years of LDP.
Japanese wake up today to see the DPJ in charge.
Out with the LDP, which people are tired of.

The Democratic Party of Japan won 308 of 480 seats in the lower house elections.
Malaysia also has its lower house (Parliament) and upper house (Senate).

This guy - see picture here - will be the new Japanese Prime Minister. Let's get to know his name first - Yukio Hatoyama.
Nampak orang muda berbanding dengan yang tua-tua PM lama. Baguslah tu. Lebih semangat.
TETAPI sebenarnya berumur 62 tahun! - Umur bersara di Singapore!
Bapanya ialah orang yang memulakan syarikat gergasi tayar, Bridgestone. Adoi, anak orang kaya. Profil Hatoyama-san di sini.


Unlike the Liberal Democratic Party which is full of factions and kept changing PMs (it changed four PMs in the last four years! That was part of the reason also why people got fed up), DPJ is so strong he could last quite long, it is said.
My big hope for all of us in Southeast Asia - is that Japan will become more confident and its economy, still the second biggest in the world after the Americans', will grow strongly again after like 15 years of being half-asleep.

Jika depa ni masa musim dia tidur boleh bawa kepada dunia Sony dan Toyota, Nintendo dan Toshiba, Canon dan sushi, Doraemon dan Pokemon, bayangkan jika ekonomi dia kuat!


And in Malaysia, Happy 52nd Birthday.
Although, as we all know, there is a big sense of disquiet on the ground. Nothing much, really, to celebrate about.

Not just among the Chinese and Indians who are pushing for their rights (as they should) after being denied for so long, but as I wrote here, among the Malays.
There is big unease in Melayudom that the other races are pushing too strongly at the gates for their rights in Tanah Melayu. As reflected also by the much-loved sakmongkol AK47 .

The problem is how to manage this without the "bridges", as PM Najib Razak said last night, being broken.
Everyone knows that they should continue to share the country, because the alternative is very bad. Very ugly.
Najib said in his speech that issues are now exploited for political gains - you can see that clearly whether in Kampung Buah Pala (where it became a racial issue, no thanks to Hindraf) and the cow-head parade in Seksyen 23 Shah Alam).

Worries about the country being torn apart, and that both the opposition and the government should work together was one key reason why PM Najib met with Parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar in July, I was told.
There is such a thing as bi-partisanship, ie there should be issues where whether you are Government or Opposition, you should step back from playing politics and work for the good of the country.
Like no more huge street demos that disrupt the flow of goods (I wrote about Malaysia's weak economy and how exports could be disrupted here). Nak demo masuk stadium lah, bukan tak boleh. For the sake of the country.
And of course, the government agencies have also to show evenhandedness to control emotions. The police's excuse on why it didn't stop the cow-head parade was disgraceful.

Dah 52 tahun Abang dan Datin, bila nak taubat?
Nak kasi hancur negeri ke?
Seriously, I don't think there is a sense of realisation among politicians of both stripes that they should play less politics and see the big-picture of trying to heal the wounds from the fight since general elections in March 2008.
Umno-BN want to fight to stay in power at all costs, Anwar and Pakatan want to come to power at all costs. Hancur.
I weep for my adopted country.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Abdullah Badawi kini pengerusi IKIM

Dah saya tulis bulan April lagi, dan diulang pada Mei, bekas-PM Abdullah Badawi akan dilantik menjadi ketua IKIM.

Dah jadi kenyataan empat bulan kemudian - lihat di bawah.

Cuma belum lagi nama badan itu ditukar jadi IKIA. Bukan saya nak persendakan atau mengutuk beliau seperti yang disangka orang yang komen di bawah posting itu.


---------------------------------------------------------

Abdullah Appointed IKIM Chairman

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been appointed chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) effective Sept 1.

Abdullah, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Studies from Universiti Malaya, will replace Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid who has decided to step down.

Abdullah's appointment would boost IKIM's effort to enhance true understanding of Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims, the Prime Minister's office said in a statement e-mailed to Bernama on Friday.

-- BERNAMA

Esok, setelah 50 tahun, kerajaan Jepun tumbang


Seperti yang pernah saya tulis baru-baru ini, Jepun di ambang pertukaran kerajaan yang besar.
Selepas kira-kira 50 tahun berkuasa, Liberal Democratic Party akan tumbang kerana rakyat dah jemu. Ekonomi lembek dan kerajaan gagal nak atasi masalah rakyat yang semakin tua, dan skandal corruption kerap juga (Jepun, macam Singapore, rakyatnya dalam 20-30 tahun lagi, lebih ramai yang tua dari yang muda, ageing society).

Jepun mengundi Ahad/esok, dan pada malam esok kita dapat bayangan teruk mana LDP kena bantai oleh pembangkang Democratic Party of Japan, parti berusia 11 tahun.
Tetapi rakyat khuatir juga sama ada DPJ boleh 'bawa' Jepun naik kembali atau terus tinggal dalam negara yang dipandang lemah kini.

Ada pengajarannya untuk Umno, Pakatan dan rakyat Malaysia.


GAMBAR: Tak tahu kenapa telor Jepun dua biji ni warna merah. Besau pulak :-)

TastyLinks Saturday!



Stay Tuned for More Info!

We're heading into the city of brotherly love today to explore some cool products with the folks from Viva Decor. I'm super excited because they're odor free (great for a gal with asthma), incredibly innovative and the colors are to die for fabulous. I love vibrant, saturated, technicolor tones. As much as I dig old rusty things, I dig pop art and mid century modern...and art nouveau...and art deco...and impressionism... I'm a woman of many moods, how about you?

Give me the entire spectrum so I can play freely and break the rules, please and thank you.

My studio looks even worse today than yesterday. Why can't I be as good at cleaning and organizing as I am at making messes? It's such fun when you're in the creative mode and the glitter is flying and you're pulling every last paint color and brush out of your closets...then you wake up the next morning and it feels like a crafty hangover.

How did this happen?

Where are the magical helpers to clean it all up for me when I'm finished?

Here are this week's links from the Crafty Blogger gang and I'll see you Monday. Until then...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Get a signed bookplate for your copy of Vickie's book, Pop Goes Crochet!

The Crochet Dude Drew talks about the crochet conference he just returned from and you can listen to a podcast interview with him and Zontee from Lion Brand Yarns!

The Artful Crafter Eileen just took her new Zutter Bind-it-All out of the box. Woohoo! Look at what a bona fide binding newbie can create with the Bind-it-All.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Yoga ball never "looked" so fun, How to paint a yoga ball to look like an eye for a lawn Halloween Decoration

Naughty Secretary Club Jen shows how to transform old lace curtains and a cheap wooden embroidery hoop into a one of a kind earring holder.

Mixed Media Artist Have you ever used an online publisher to create your own artist book?

Cross Stitch at About.com One of Connie's friends is really big into Egyptian history and culture, so she has some pattern ideas for gifts. If you like Egyptian-themed decor, you will love these charts!

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy talks about booth set ups for art shows as well as trade shows.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside has tutorials on how to make two punk rock scarves one with yarn and one with fabric, info on participating in the Good Mail Day Challenge, One Person's Oddity and a Polaroid Postcard design, a bunch of mixed element jewelry and tips on laying a pattern out on plaid fabric.

Cathie Filian Cathie is holding a charity dog costume & book auction. All the costumes were handmade by Cathie and featured in her book Bow Wow WOW! The proceeds benifit the Humane Society.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa visits the San Francisco Zine Fest and gives a recap of what she saw!

About Family Crafts Who are your favorite popular characters? Are they included in this collection of free coloring book pages?

The Impatient Crafter Check out this Haute Couture inspired felt, ribbon and glass bib necklace Madge made for I Love to Create teens!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Orang Umno Selangor, PM Najib & Khalid Ibrahim

SOALAN 1

Selepas insiden seperti yang terjadi di Shah Alam, di mana kepala lembu telah dipolitikkan, semua orang tentu bertanya sama ada ini kerja (maaf kata) Umno Selangor.
Sama ada Khir Toyo sedang khusyuk berpuasa dan bertasbih di masjid atau di istananya, orang tak kisah. Desas-desus bahawa ini kerja Umno dah keluar pun dari semalam lagi.
Kasihan juga parti terbesar di Malaysia ni. Depa duduk diam-diam pun orang tak percaya.

Tapi tak apa jika orang tuduh melulu. Depa dari pembangkang ni memang kurang ajar.
Baiklah ianya ditepis dengan cara gentleman.
Jadi kita nak dengar apa kata Khir Toyo sebagai supremo Selangor Darul Terkejut.
Adakah beliau akan mengutuk tunjuk perasaan yang mengguris masyarakat Hindu India - seperti musuh politiknya Khairy Jamaluddin telah mengutuk tindakan itu?
Atau cuma kata beliau tidak terlibat, tetapi tidak mengutuk?

Adakah beliau setuju, demi membantu masyarakat Melayu-Islam Seksyen 19 (di depan rumah orang), bahawa kuil itu dipindahkan ke Seksyen 23 di mana ianya akan dibina 200m dari rumah terdekat?
Atau beliau akan berkata ianya harus dipindah saja ke Seksyen 22 sepertimana rancangan kerajaan Umno-BN dulu?
Beliau tentu fasih tentang isu ini kerana pernah jadi Menteri sangat Besar.

Dan saya rasa Umno sebagai sebuah parti (menerusi Majlis Tertinggi) harus kondem cara demonstrasi jalanan seperti ini. Bahaya beb. PKR dah kutuk pun.



SOALAN 2

PM Najib Razak telahpun menunjukkan bahawa beliau marah dengan isu mempermainkan agama orang lain.
Sekarang kita hendak dengar pula suara Timbalan PM Muhyiddin Yassin.
Tan Sri, tolong kutuk juga.
Atau beliau akan kutuk saja kerajaan Pakatan Selangor kerana kurang sensitif kepada masyarakat Islam Seksyen 23, tetapi tidak mengutuk tindakan penunjuk perasaan?

PM Najib dan TPM Muhyiddin pun belum komen tentang pertemuan dengan Anwar Ibrahim. Saya PASTI (confirmed) perjumpaan itu memang telah berlaku.
Blogger Aisehman kata di sini bahawa sejak perjumpaan itu Najib tak banyak serang pembangkang, sedangkan Muhyiddin menyelar Anwar sebagai pembelot kepada orang Melayu.



SOALAN 3

Apa pula kata Abang Polis?
Saya memang selalu belas dengan puak ini kerana seperti kepala lembu, institusi polis telah lama dipolitikkan.
Mereka tangkap penunjuk perasaan, dituduh anti-pembangkang.
Tak tangkap dituduh takut dengan Umno.

Katanya ramai polis semalam di Shah Alam mengelilingi lembu-lembu yang menunjuk perasaan dengan kepala lembu tu. Tetapi tak ada yang ditangkap.
Tak sembur water cannon. Tak tembak gas pemedih mata.
Tak asak pun.
Lor, apa dah jadi?
Lepas tu ketua polis Selangor Khalid Abu Bakar membuat satu statement yang mengejutkan.
Malaysiakini:
As of now, Khalid said no police report has been lodged over the incident.
"If a report is lodged, we will definitely take the necessary action," he stressed.

Huh? Nak tunggu laporan polis sebelum bertindak?
Tapi tak apa, seperti saya kata kasihan Abang Polis ni.
Maka itu kita transfer cerita ini kepada menteri yang jaga polis, Hishammuddin Hussein Onn.
Apa kata beliau?
Kutuk atau hanya bertutur: 'Polis AKAN ambil tindakan keras'.


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Seperti isu Kartika nak dirotan, isu ini dah jadi bahan berita antarabangsa. Adakah sekali lagi kerajaan akan rilek dan terus dibantai di persada dunia sebelum nak membuat reaksi yang menyejukkan hati pemerhati luar.
Takut jika lambat reaksi yang jitu, pelabur, pelancong dan orang yang simpati dan sayang dengan Malaysia (seperti saya) rasa gusar lagi.
Minggu lalu, Malaysia nak rotan perempuan. Lepas tu diharamkan konsert Black Eyed Peas dan Michael Learns To Rock (ini Pemuda PAS). Terbaru, dijadikan pegawai masjid Selangor boleh tangkap orang minum arak. Lepas tu parti besar Cina berpecah dua, apa lagi nak jadi?

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SOALAN 4

Khalid Ibrahim, Menteri Besar Selangor, dan PKR serta Pakatan pun sebenarnya tak dapat lepas lari dari isu ini.
Memang senang nak menuduh melulu ini kerja Umno.

Tetapi biar saya kata terang-terangan: Sejak 17 bulan Pakatan mempunyai kuasa lebih besar di Malaysia, ramai orang Melayu-Islam yang saya jumpa - bila berehat di KL dan merayap satu Malaysia buat laporan, dan juga di blog-blog - tak puas hati.
Mereka kata sejak Pakatan ni jadi kuat, bangsa Cina dan India terus mengasak kedudukan Melayu dan hendak melemahkan kedudukan Melayu dan Islam.
Memang betul ada privilege Melayu yang berlebihan dan tak adil (seperti AP kereta), tetapi kenapa semua nampaknya nak dibuang dalam sekelip mata?

Orang Pakatan jika ditanya menjawab: ini 'kerja Umno' atau itu hanya perasaan segelintir.
Atau, tak 'yah lah main isu bangsa lagi kerana rakyat kini dah matang.
Saya tak rasa begitu.

Maksudnya, memang Umno ada cucuk jarum, tetapi telah sekian lama orang Melayu (melalui Umno-BN) berkuasa penuh. Jadi jika kedudukan mereka dihikis dengan cepat begini, mereka tentu marah.
Saya rasa lebih baik berjalan dengan perlahan sedikit dalam isu ini.


---------------------------------------------------------
Untuk Umno-BN

Memang betul takut undi Cina dan India tak kembali ke Umno-BN. Tetapi jika mereka kembali ke pangkuan sedangkan orang Melayu rasa disepikan, masalah lain timbul.

Di sini, maaf kata, orang Umno boleh lihat cara Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng membuat kerja.
Dia cuba memujuk orang Melayu - memberi bantuan kewangan kepada yang miskin, dan memberi wang saguhati kepada hufaz (penghafal Quran), misalnya. Pengundi yang tak mahu dengan beliau.
Tetapi beliau tidak pula dilihat mengabaikan pengundi Cina.

Begitu juga dengan apa yang dibuat oleh PM Najib menarik balik atau mengurangkan isu-isu yang mengaitkan bumiputera dalam business dan investment sejak kebelakangan ini.
Slow sikit, To' Sri.
Biar orang Melayu dapat bernafas sikit.

(Saya debat begini bukan nak halalkan tunjuk perasaan kepala lembu, tetapi khuatir ia dipolitikkan oleh yang merasakan Melayu kian tersepit di 'Tanah Melayu'.)

Happy Pink Saturday - From Us Mannequins





Welcome to Pink Saturday Darlings.
Today I want to introduce you to several of my friends. We are all "Pinkies" at heart, so Ms.Sherry said that we could participate today in the Pink Saturday celebration.






Thank you Ms. Beverly for allowing us
to participate in your Pink Saturday!
What fun, I mean who doesn't like Pink?
PLEASE VISIT OUR LOVELY HOSTESS,
MS BEVERLY, and all of the other Pink
Saturday participants. Just click below on
our Pink Saturday box.














First, I want to introduce Ms. Emmy. Emmy qualifies for Pink as you can see,
not by clothing, but her beautiful hair. She is one of the new and upcoming mannequins. You may have seen her around one of your stores. Ms. Emmy, love the pincurls, honey you look marvelous. Just marvelous!









Now, Ms. Josephine has pink cheeks so she said Ms. Sherry said that qualifies her. She was just so excited to show off her lips, her nails, her earrings and her dress. Now they are red, and pink is a lightened shade of red, right? Anyway isn't she just devine?










Next meet Ms. Queenie. She always wears a most unusual crown. You never know what it will look like, but you can always bet her hair will be pink. She could be called Ms. Queen of Pink? Ooh the others will be so jealous!!!









I'd like for you all to meet Ms. Baby. She's all fluffed up and ready to show off her pink today. Even put on one of her geometric printed dresses with pink. Love the purse Ms. Baby. Great showing for Pink Saturday. Girls isn't she lovely?








"Oh Girls! I said Pink!" Sorry Ms. Beverly, I clearly stated "Pinks Only." You have to watch these Fall Mannequins. "Yes, we know you do look lovely, now let's not stick our noses up in the air like that. No need to be snooty."








Oh Ms. June, we'll have none of the laughing at the "Fall girls". Yes, I know
you made it, by wearing your pink hair today. Okay let's not rub it in. What? Oh and yes Ms. June wants you to see, she even had pink beads put up behind her. She is in the pink today. Thank you Ms. June!









Ms. Autumn is wearing her hat with
a light pink ribbon on it. She also has her pink lipstick on for this special occasion. She even brought out her pink bucket filled with flowers.







Lastly we have Little Master Toby. Toby is wearing his straw hat with a soft red ribbon, and his little faded pink sailor suit. He has been in the back of the store for a very long time. He was put there years ago, and nobody ever came back for him. We have been watching over him for years, and we hoped if we put him in the Pink Saturday Post maybe someone would remember leaving him here, and return for him. Toby said he thought he belonged to a Mr. Macy. Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?

Well ladies, we have come to that part of our show where we have to say good-bye. I hope you have enjoyed yourselves. Our mannequins have had a marvelous time. They love sharing with others. When you walk by them in your local stores, please smile and give them a silent hello. They so love to be appreciated. As for me, thank you for stopping by my little piece of heaven, here in the desert that I so love to call home. It has been a wonderful visit today. Happy Pink Saturday. Country hugs, Sherry



Rest - My Precious Amy - Rest





I WILL LAY ME DOWN IN PEACE, AND SLEEP,
FOR THOU, LORD, ONLY MAKEST ME DWELL
IN SAFETY.~PSALM 4:8





Dear Lord, You know Amy has not been able to rest due to pain for some time now. Please I beg of you, help her find rest for her body, and for the pain to ease. Father please allow her to close her eyes and find peace. Her earthly stay has not been a very pleasant one, she's known mostly pain, cancer, chemo, radiation, drugs, shots, IVs, oxygen levels, potassium levels (everything chemical). Lord show her love, peace, happiness, caring, beauty, pain free, and joy.

Lord I just thank you for our wonderful blogger sisters who have helped ease the pain for Amy,Debbie and the family. They are a true world of which I am so proud to be considered one of the flock. I thank you for these wonderful friends, and the gifts that they each possess.

Thank you heavenly Father for this beautiful day today and please remind each of my blogger sisters in prayer, what a joy they are to this world. Help guide each of us in the direction you know we are best suited. We love you dear Father. In your precious name we pray, Amen.

Melayu & Islam, kepala lembu & kepala babi

BABAK 1

Kita semua faham apa rasanya apabila secara tiba-tiba, ada rumah ibadat atau bangunan pejabat atau kondominium, akan dibina dekat rumah kita.
Atau jika tanah kosong atau kawasan belukar dekat rumah tiba-tiba akan ditukar kepada hypermarket atau sebuah lagi projek perumahan.

Tentu kita bantah.
Jika perlu dengan berdemo di jalan raya.

Itulah yang jadi dengan penduduk di Seksyen 23 Shah Alam.
Tetapi kenapa menghina agama lain sampai begitu?

Apa perasaan kita jika esok orang bawa kepala babi macam gitu kerana bantah pembinaan masjid dekat rumah kita?
Lepas tu mereka berkata hati mereka tak aman jika ada masjid di situ sebab bunyi azan dan kuliah subuh yang bising?
Dan mereka kata kepala babi ni untuk Ketua Umno Mr X dan Mr Y.
Tak meletup Umno dan orang Melayu....


BABAK 2

Lagi satu saya tak faham. Dulu orang Seksyen 19 minta kuil dipindah sebab dekat sangat dengan rumah mereka.
Mereka merasakan ditipu oleh PKNS, badan kerajaan Selangor yang selama ini dicontrol oleh Umno - baik Mat Taib, Abu Hassan Omar atau Khir Toyo.
Orang Melayu di situ beli rumah teres, rupa-rupanya di depan rumah dah ada kuil Hindu lama.
Hanya 6m/20 kaki saja dari pintu rumah!
Umno Selangor buat tak tahu selama 26 tahun!

Sekarang kerajaan Pakatan nak tolong orang Melayu Seksyen 19.
Mereka pindahkan kuil ke Seksyen 23 di KAWASAN PERINDUSTRIAN!
Orang Hindu kata semuanya okay.

Rumah terdekat ialah 200m dari kuil ini jika dipindah.
Surau pun 200m.
Kalau orang yang bersembahyang di kuil itu park kereta mereka di kiri kanan jalan sebanyak 100 buah kereta pun, saya rasa tak sampai di depan rumah pertama, yang jaraknya 200m jauh.
Untuk orang KL, jarak anda berjalan dari Suria KLCC ke Masjid KLCC tu baru kira-kira 120m. Ini lebih jauh lagi.
Jadi apa hebohnya, saya tak faham.

Di tempat saya tinggal di Singapore ni, ada sebuah masjid dan DUA buah gereja kira-kira 200m dari flat saya.
Tak adalah bising atau sesak orang gereja tu hingga iman saja jatuh dan tak dapat tenteram nak sembahyang konon.
Orang Cina di tempat saya pun (orang Melayu dan India hanya kira-kira 10 peratus saja di apartmen ini!) tak ada buat hal sebab orang masjid bising.
Bila sembahyang Jumaat, sesak kereta park di kiri kanan jalan raya depan masjid, tak sampai ke apartmen saya pun.


Penjelasan isu ini dibuat oleh orang kuat PAS Selangor, Khalid Samad di blognya, di sini dan di sini. Ada layout helikopter kawasan Seksyen 23 lagi.

Jika beliau bohong atau tersalah, baik anda betulkan demi masa depan negara Malaysia ni.
Saya jarang baca blog beliau, tetapi nampakya beliau menjawab jika ada ditanya orang (macam saya di blog saya).
Sebab kalau asyik gaduh secara ini, dengan menghina bangsa dan agama lain, hancur brader. Hancur.

A Window into Madge's World

Madge waits, demurely, for her next adventure. Photo copyright Avalon Potter
Madge says, "Bring it on, baby." Photo Copyright Avalon Potter


Today, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to write. I'm running out of free projects to share...so I'm going to share some of what I do every day. I think there's immense value to folks who think they'd like to do what I do to see that...it's a lot harder than it looks...and it's much like being on a tightrope without a net...including the circus costumes if you're me.

I lost the part time job that pays a fair share of our bills recently and it's put immense amounts of pressure on me. I'm still 'employed', but I have to wait until a new position opens up. Since there are only a smattering of these positions, it could be a long wait. I'm not sure how long we can afford for me to wait...so in the interim I'm ramping up my efforts here at Studio Madge. If you're one of the many companies that reads my blog...please feel free to contact me to discuss possibilities. (She says without an ounce of shame.)

I've had a concept for a book series in mind for a while now and I've finally forged ahead with the proposal for the first title. I'm very excited to report that so far it's being met with excitement from the publisher. This would be a departure for me. Actually it would be less of a departure and more of an expansion or maybe it would be more aptly described as a tangential pathway. I can't clue you into what it's all about because I have to sell it first and then write it and then wait for the publishing date to approach so that I can finally spill the beans. I can say that it's bigger than a bread box and it's also bigger than my current focus. It's kinda like taking everything I've done in my lifetime and mixing it all up in a pot and saying...Stew's ready!

Yeah, it's like that. I think it's a mighty tasty stew, too.

I've also been working on scoring a TV show. I have some good folks working with me, so I'm confident it will happen eventually. It's tough right now because no one wants craft shows. The old model is broken, but we knew that already. No one wants to see the same host/guest/project format. It needs to be mixed up and given a new life. I don't really want to do just crafting...I want to be more of a Lifestyle Expert...but with a big twist. I'd like to think of myself as Julia Child with a glue gun or a slightly irregular Martha. I'm not afraid of showing the seams, making messes, being bold...and I want to inspire women to break out of their normal routine and try something outrageous. So...that's the plan. I'm getting closer. I know with absolute certainty that it's my destiny. It's what I do best and no one else is doing it like I would.

Speaking of Martha, I applied to be a guest on her show yesterday again. I don't have any formal 'in' so I just go to the website periodically and fill out the form. It's a total shot in the dark. What the hell. I think Martha and I would be funny together. We're totally different yet similar enough that I think we could find common ground. I really want to show Martha how to make jewelry properly. I keep seeing jewelry projects in her magazine and the instructions are...well...how do I put this delicately...incorrect. I know how much she likes doing things excellently and I'd love to show her how. So if you're connected to Martha and you read this blog, please don't hesitate to sing my praises. (She says without an ounce of shame.)

We are forging ahead with Beads and the City! Madge is taking you to NYC and we're going to bead shop until we drop! May 13-16th 2010. I will have info for signing up very soon. We can only bring 30 people, so the spaces will be limited. Also if you're interested in our Crafty Cabaret Cruise, please consider signing up. It's a small deposit and small monthly payments and you can elect to cancel up until three months before the ship sails and get a full refund. If you wait too long, we won't know how many people to plan for...

So my little Smurflings...along with the multitudes of other projects and deadlines I've got on my roster...you can see my work is cut out for me. My studio currently looks as if it's been attacked by a Tasmanian devil and I simply don't have time to stop and tidy it up. I've got largish rabbits to pull out of smallish hats and no time to stop and clean. Messes be damned...my muse is in the house!

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Five different ways to pay zakat in Singapore

Muslim household heads have to pay zakat (tithe/alms giving) every year during the fasting month, right up to before the Hari Raya prayers at the end of bulan puasa.
The zakat is, of course, one of the five pillars of Islam.
The money is used to help the poor, etc.

Like every year in Singapore, the Mufti of Singapore, Syed Isa Semait - yes, Darul Dollar also has a person called a mufti - will send me a letter to remind me to pay zakat. Even when I was renting out my flat all those years, the Mufti sent me a letter because my address is computerised into the Muis system.
The colourful letter is in Malay and English.
Syed Isa presides over Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura or Muis. See its website - all in English to reflect the main language of all Temasekians, including the fabled 'oppressed Malays'.

Over the years, I have paid my zakat at mosques and suraus in Malaysia and Singapore, and in shopping malls in Malaysia. Face to face through an amil - an official appointed by the religious authorities to accept the zakat.

This year, after receiving the Mufti's letter, I actually read through the details of what's inside (jangan marah ah Pak Mufti, lama saya tak jumpa beliau ni).

The zakat rate in Singapore this year is:
a) S$4.50 (RM10.35) per person based on the price of 2.3kg of rice of normal grade - the type consumed by most people. So if I have 5 people in my family, I pay S$4.50 x 5.
OR
b) S$6.50 (RM14.95) per person based on the price of 2.3kg of rice of a HIGHER GRADE - the type consumed by those with the means to eat better-quality rice.

In Malaysia, I am quite sure, there is only one grade of zakat.
In Singapore, YOU decide whether you want to pay more (if you are earning a higher salary and eat better grade rice), or not.

Additionally, the letter lists the MANY ways to pay zakat in Singapore.

(1) The traditional method of going to a mosque or surau to pay through an official.

(2) Using cheque and mailing it to Muis, ensuring it arrives before Raya. Or pass it to a mosque official at a mosque or surau.

(3) Using the thousands of AXS Stations found all over Singapore. What are these? These 'access'/AXS (get it?) machines look like ATM machines except you can pay all types of bills using it.
Bring, say, your electricity bill, or cable-TV bill, stand in front of these machines, punch numbers, shove the bill into the machine, and then it asks for money!
Either use your Cashcard, or ATM card, or Nets card, or cash, or cheque, and pay.

4) Pay online using eNets Debit - ie you must have an Internet banking account.

5) Using what it calls Fitrah Telepoll, calling in to pay zakat.
Each call you make will debit S$4.50 or S$6.50 per call - there are two different 1900- numbers given for the different rates.
Ie if you have 5 family members, you call five times and the money will be sucked out from your phone credit! Amazing (to a boy who lived in kampung Keramat-Setiawangsa-WangsaMaju like me, anyways).

The Mufti, bless his beard, reminds people to 'pasang niat' (stating your intention in your heart that the funds are for paying zakat) before paying, or making the call, or signing onto the internet banking account!

I have tried (1) of course, I hated using cheques in (2), and I get intimidated by AXS machines (3).
So I tried paying using my internet account (4), since that is how I pay my phone, bill for water-electricity, cable-TV and credit-card bills.
Finished in 10min without leaving my desk.
Though of course not as syiok as going to the mosque, queueing up and paying. Perhaps.

Maybe next year I will try (5).

The letter also teaches us how to calculate paying zakat for our other assets - like savings in the bank, pension funds or gold bars and stocks.

Wanna know more? go to http://www.muis.gov.sg/cms/services/zkt.aspx?id=2232
Brilliant. Takbir!

Free Recipes for Best. Salsa. Ever and Citrus Chicken Nachos!

If you make this meal...you'll feel just like these cats on this album cover. No, really.

Best. Salsa. Ever.
Madge’s Garden Fresh Cherry Tomato Salsa
Margot Potter


We love salsa around here and we wait all summer for the day we can finally make up a batch filled with fresh ingredients from our garden and our local farms. This past weekend my sister-in-law gave us a gallon bag of cherry tomatoes and that combined with the fresh haul from our garden made me wonder what might happen if I turned them into salsa? Well...I’ll tell you what...those sturdy and flavor packed little tomatoes make one heckuva flavorful salsa! Here’s my recipe! I’m not joking when I tell you this is without doubt the BEST salsa I’ve ever had. Yum.

Ingredients
1 gallon size bag of cherry tomatoes
Large bunch of fresh cilantro
Juice from 2 limes
1 large sweet onion
Three medium sized jalapenos (or any peppers you like in any amount you prefer)
Dash freshly ground pepper
Dash salt

1. Halve the cherry tomatoes and place in a large mixing bowl.
2. Dice the onions into large pieces. Place in bowl with tomatoes.
3. Use a large knife to dice up the top two thirds of a large bunch of cilantro. Add to tomatoes and onions.
4. Squeeze limes into mixture. (I like tart salsa. You can opt for only one lime or use white vinegar if you don’t love it tart and tangy!)
5. Dice jalapenos (remove the seeds first!) Add to mix.
6. Put entire mix into a food processor for about three pulses. You want to mix everything up but not turn it into soup!
7. Allow salsa to sit for several hours for full flavor.
8. Grab a bag of tortilla chips and get to dippin’!

I served this salsa with a South Beach friendly version of nachos topped with black beans, lo fat cheddar and shredded cilantro citrus chicken. We ate all of this up so quickly that I’m afraid I was remiss in taking photos. I think you know what nachos and salsa look like though!

Madge’s Cilantro Citrus Chicken Nachos
Margot Potter

Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts
Juice of 2 lemons
1/3 of a large bunch of cilantro
1/3 cup not from concentrate orange juice (or freshly squeeze orange juice)
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/3 cup water
8 oz. package of 75% fat free white cheddar cheese
1 large bag of fat free Tostitos or other lo fat tortilla chips
1 16 oz. can of black beans (rinsed)
Lo fat or fat free sour cream

1. Dice cilantro.
2. Combine with OJ, lemon juice, EVO, water.
3. Liquify marinade in food processor.
4. Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour.
5. Grill chicken.
6. Shred chicken with fork.
7. Rinse beans and drain.
8. Shred cheese.
9. Sprinkle chicken over fat free tortilla chips with black beans and cheese.

10. Bake in a 450 degree oven on a cookie tray until cheese melts.
11. Serve with lo fat or fat free sour cream and Madge’s Garden Fresh Cherry Tomato Salsa!

A NEST IS BEING BUILT


TO REST FOREVER..............

27th august,2009


6 p.m


Dear Friends,


good evening!these days it's raining daily.but the enchanting sight from my balcony is amazing.the raindrops are falling straight into the sea.the lights from the ships form rainbows in the water.the illumiated ships look like the palaces beautifully decorated!a real feast to the eyes!morning one of my friends sent me a wonderful mail of the nests of weaver birds.the pictures are simply marvellous.it took me back to my childhood spent in my achan's house.there in the courtyard we had a bilva tree.on the bilva tree,there was a beautiful long nest of weaver birds.the small birds attracted me so much that most of my free time was spent watching them.sitting on the nest,the cute birds were swaying in the breeze.still i can see the nest,the birds and the bilva tree. i used to wonder the way the birds collected the raw matreials,the fibres,the small waste materials,the small thin paper bits etc. what a struggle but so enthusaistic!

o,i just thought of writing a new post on a nest that is being built., for me.:)

Listen,my dear friends,

one pair of deep eyes,search for me always,

without my knowledge ,without my permission.

the love was deeply hidden,in the shining eyes.

why didn't i ever look into those eyes?

i lay in darkness thinking it a dream,

you came n i woke up from my deep sleep.

you looked straight into my eyes,

and your eyes did the magic my dear,

and by your soft touch you made me feel,

the whole body bloom in love.

night and day in my heart have i heard,

the soft melodies played by the flute.

the spring has woken from its dream,

the new buds are blooming in the garden,

the soul awakes,the waters stir;

the earth shudders n quakes,

but why should i fear?

when the nest is being built?

someone somewhere is weaving a beautiful nest

a nest is being built with love,care n trust.

it was being built since days n months,

and i was unaware of that tedious work.

when i was wandering here n there,

without knowing the destination,

struggling to reach the heights ,

brought only severe pain to the heart,

losing feathers in the plight,

i kept on flying till the wings are tired,

hoping to see a nest among the flowering trees,

then unexpectedly one fine day,

on a champak tree i found,

the most beautiful nest in my life!

i was tired,thirsty n hungry,

and i just needed the special feelings,

like a slender heart longed for!

and here when a warm welcome is awaiting,

with the blossoming flowers n nectar of love.

the smile is warm and the feelings are true,

just don't speak,lay on my lap,

i will hug you n smile at you.

and here,i stay as it's made for me!:)

a nest,to rest forever!

it's raining heavily and a good night's sleep will be really wonderful.


it's anu signing off........................

i'm so happy,my 99th post is published on this special day of 99th birth anniversary of the
Mother of the Poor,Mother Teresa.she is one of the greatest personalities who has inspired n
influenced me a lot.
anu loves all.still idols of Lord Ganesh are being taken for immersion.devotees are bursting crackers.the music is played loudly.

ONAM is getting nearer.it's celebration time,folks.HAPPY ONAM!many of my friends are leaving for onam to God's Own Country!

the dedication is to the wonderful heart,filled with love in its most beautiful way....................:)the distance doesn't matter.but the post is signed with the heartbeats that are faster now.........

wishing you good luck to find a nest of your own woven by love n trust,

sasneham,

anu


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

"Who? Me *colored?"

(*American spelling, because this is an American story)

A black dude says to the white guy:

When I born, I black.
When I grow up, I black.
When I go in sun, I black.
When I cold, I black.
When I scared, I black.
When I sick, I black.
And when I die, I still black.

You white folks....
When you born, you pink.
When you grow up, you white.
When you go in sun, you red.
When you cold, you blue.
When you scared, you yellow.
When you sick, you green.
When you bruised, you purple.
And when you die, you gray.

So who you calling colored?

Ekonomi M'sia recession pertama kali dlm 10thn


Dah penat mengutuk dan dikutuk isu politik dan isu Islam, saya ubah topik sikit malam ni.
Saya cakap tentang ekonomi, sebab benda ni kalau tak dijaga, boleh hancur negara yang tercinta, tak kira siapa yang memerintah.

Berita Buruk: Malaysia masuk recession pertama kali dalam 10 tahun. Kali terakhir ialah di zaman Mahathir dan zaman Reformasi! Ouch.

Tetapi ada Berita Baik:
Keadaan ekonomi dunia dah nak pulih, jadi Malaysia pun steady pada tahun depan! Alhamdulillah/Pujian untuk Allah.


--------------------------------------------------------
CERITA YANG BURUK DULU:

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) mengumumkan hari ini bahawa ekonomi Malaysia telah MASUK ke dalam kemeleSETAN (atau recession).

Ekonomi sesebuah negara dikira sama ada ia berkembang atau menguncup dalam
sesuatu suku tahun/quarter year (tiga bulan).
Apabila gross domestic product (GDP), atau keluaran dalam negara kasar (KDNK), untuk suku tahun MENGUNCUP dalam DUA-SUKU BERTURUT-TURUT, maka ekonomi masuk ke dalam recession.
Tak faham KDNK?

Cakap mudah: semua data pengeluaran kilang besar dan kecil (mungkin tidak 100 peratus, tetapi kebanyakannya) dan perkhidmatan/services yang diberikan (seperti kerja memunggah di Port Klang, atau sektor penghotelan dan restoran, atau services perbankan) dikumpulkan Bank Negara.
Maknanya, pendapatan kasar kilang Intel dan kilang sos cili Lingham's, supermarket Carrefour dan Hotel Renaissance, serta Public Bank dan nasi kandar Pelita - semua yang bayar cukailah! jika tidak macam mana nak tahu pendapatan berapa - dikira.
Maklumat dirakam dalam Ringgit Malaysia menjadi KDNK.


Kata BNM, KDNK bagi suku tahun pertama (Jan hingga Mac) menguncup 6.2 peratus, berbanding dengan Jan-Mac tahun lalu.
Untuk suku kedua pula (Apr hingga Jun) ia menguncup lagi 3.9 peratus, berbanding Apr-Jun 2008.

Ini adalah kali pertama dalam 10 tahun ekonomi Malaysia menguncup selama dua suku berturut-turut, kata agensi berita Bloomberg.

Untuk setengah tahun pertama (Jan hingga Jun) ekonomi menguncup 5.1 peratus berbanding dengan tahun sebelumnya.
Laporan rasmi Bank Negara di sini.


Cakap mudah: Dalam enam bulan pertama tahun ini, eksport barangan Malaysia berkurangan, sebab ekonomi seantero dunia lembab.
Sebabnya:
- Kira-kira satu perlima (2o peratus) daripada eksport Malaysia (dikira dalam Ringgit) dijual di Amerika Syarikat. Jadi sebab ekonomi Yankee meleset teruk, mereka kurang membeli barangan Malaysia.
- Pembeli besar barangan Malaysia yang satu lagi ialah Singapura. Dulu kira-kira 12-15 peratus, tak tahu sekarang ini, saya tak ada maklumat. Barangan yang diimport Singapore ni ditambah-nilai lepas tu diesksport juga ke Amerika!
Tambah-nilai tu apa? Misalnya Malaysia eksport elektronic parts ke Temasek, ianya disiapkan jadi hard drive, lepas tu di hantar ke Amerika).


Masuk bab politik:
Jika Malaysia bergaduh dengan Amerika atau Singapore (zaman Mahathir dulu), kadang-kadang saya khuatir ia menjejas ekonomi.
Dan sebab itulah banyak syarikat antarabangsa yang berpusat di Temasek gemar sangat baca berita tentang Malaysia. Sebab ia terikat dengan perdagangan dan ekonomi.

Sebab itu mereka khuatir jika politik bergoncang atau kemungkinan pihak yang, katanya, pro-Taleban berkuasa di Malaysia.
Atau isu corruption, sebab perdagangan mereka terjejas sekiranya pegawai kerajaan minta duit bawah meja sebelum luluskan projek.
Dan jika mahkamah dilihat tidak adil, kerana mereka khuatir jika business mereka dibawa ke mahkamah, hakim boleh dibeli oleh sesuatu pihak lain - seperti yang dikatakan banyak terjadi di Indonesia.
Dan mereka khuatir isu yang mungkin merosakkan gerakan barangan eksport. Sebab itu mereka khuatir demonstrasi jalanan yang membuat traffic jam satu bandar (bukan semua salah yang nak menunjuk perasaan, sebab selalunya yang huru-harakan demonstrasi aman ialah Abang Polis).

-------------------------------------------------------

GAMBAR - Kompleks BNM di tengah bandar raya KL. Dah lama saya tak menghadiri sidang akhbar setiap tiga bulan untuk pengumumam kedudukan ekonomi negara. Saya pernah menghadiri sidang akhbar ini dari zaman Gabenor Ahmad Mohd Don, ke Gabenor Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman hingga ke Gabenor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

-------------------------------------------------------
BERITA BAIK

Tidak seperti dalam 1998-2000 dulu, kemeleSETAN kali ini dijangka pendek saja.
Macam kena injection kat bontot bila jumpa doktor. Kejap 'je.

Ini kerana:
1) ekonomi terbesar di dunia, Amerika, kian pulih.
Orang Amerika ni suka berhutang - lebih dari (maaf kata) orang Melayu. OKlah, orang Melayu Singapore kerana, maklumlah, tertindas; bukan orang Malaysia yang kaya raya.
Orang Amerika suka beli komputer terbaru, kereta terbaru, telefon terbaru, TV terbaru, dsbnya.
Nasib baik depa bodoh, kalau depa tak beli yang terbaru, hancur ekonomi Malaysia dan Singapore! Dan juga banyak lagi negara lain.

2) ekonomi ketiga terbesar di dunia, China, terus berkembang dalam setahun kebelakangan ini, walaupun banyak negara nak tenggelam.
Dan ekonomi besar dunia, India, pun terus mara dengan kencang.
(ekonomi kedua terbesar ialah Jepun, tetapi negara ni tetap lembek ekonominya).

Sebab ekonomi China berkembang 8 hingga 10 peratus sejak 10-15 tahun kebelakangan ini (macam ekonomi Malaysia dalam 1987-1998), maka barangan eksport negara sedunia banyak juga dihantar ke China. Dan ke India.
Whew, selamat kita semua.
Terima kaseyyyyy kepada orang China dan India (mereka yang di China dan di India, bukan yang di Malaysia yang selalu cari pasal! Hahaha)

Tak adil juga jika kita tidak memuji cara PM Najib Razak dan BNM mengendalikan kelembapan ekonomi di hujung tahun lalu lagi, dengan stimulus package - pakej perangsang economi. Kalau dah campak RM60 bilion ekonomi terus pingsan, maknanya negara mempunyai masalah besar.


AL MUTAKHIR

Maknanya, kerana ekonomi Malaysia dah nak pulih, kita semua boleh sambung bergaduh dan berdebat sampai negara nak rak, tentang isu remeh dan penting, seperti biasa.
Yahoo!

Get Creative Magazine Interview



A while ago I was contacted by the editor of Australia/New Zealand's Get Creative Magazine. We did an interview and it was just published in the August issue! I'm really thrilled with how it turned out. If you'd like to read the pdf, click on the image and it will take you to the page on my website. I'm so excited to have new fans from The Land Down Under...now how can I parlay that into a trip...hmm...

I've got a really yummy end of summer recipe for you tomorrow. Until then...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

Amy Update - Wednesday August 26th




This will be the last update I post for awhile. Our hearts are very heavy right now, and we just ask you to remember us in prayer. Yesterday Amy had an appointment in Enid with her oncologist. Dr. Dexius told Amy, Debbie and Richard yesterday that the tumor is now to large, and they can no longer do chemo. We have traveled the road as far as we can go. There is nothing more they can do for her. Daddy and Moma ordered a hospital bed for Amy, it will be delivered today. Debbie can do the trach care and the peg tube care much better with a hospital bed. The State insurance would not pay for one.


Several of you sent money to Debbie and Richard for Amy, I want you to know that the food that Amy eats to sustain her through her peg tube is not covered under the state assistant insurance, so they were able to buy a case of food with this money. Each case feeds her for (4) days. Thank you for your kindness and your prayers, they are so appreciated.

Several of you have also asked about Hospice coverage for Amy. Hospice will not be coming to the house as Amy has said if something happens to her, and her heart stops, she wants to be recessitated. Because of this Hospice will not get involved.

Our family is so devistated at this time, we just ask you to pray for comfort for Amy, Debbie and Richard. Give them the strength that they need to travel each winding road as they come to it, and allow them the strength to push forward each day. We love each and every one of you.

Amy has gotten so many heart felt wishes here on this blog, and she cannot see them. I would like to ask you to send her Get Well Cards, Thinking of You Cards, Love You Cards. Fill her mail box with love. Here is the home address prayer warriors. Lift her spirits and Debbie could use a few herself.
Amy and Debbie Ragan
1213 Hite Blvd.
Enid, Oklahoma 73701

I thought cards would be nice, Debbie could post them all over her room, and give her love to look at. I love you all for your prayers, your love and your concern for all of us. You truly are our prayer warriors. I don't need to tell you what to pray for now, you all know.

All my love, Country Hugs, Sherry

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project for I Love to Create


Mixed Media Melange Necklace for I Love to Create by Margot Potter

This felt, ribbon, glass and crystal necklace is an easy project for a teen to recreate in their own personal style and has a true Haute Couture appeal. All of the high fashion houses are showing these fabric mixed media style bib necklaces this season, so I thought I’d try my hand at one that would have teen appeal. You can switch this up to suit the materials you have at hand, try washers and nuts, small metal parts, sequins, bugle beads, beads...it’s endless. (You may need to glue and then sew on items to further secure them, I prefer a low sew approach!)

It’s easy to make fabulous projects when you use I Love to Create products!

Margot Potter for I Love to Create
Teen Craft Project
Mixed Media Melange
Felt, Crystal and Fabric Necklace

Materials

Black craft felt
Black ½” thick grosgrain ribbon
Large cabochon style beads
4mm Tulip Glam-It-Up!™ Crystals
5mm Tulip Glam-It-Up!™ Crystals
Black thread
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Aleene’s Stop Fraying

Aleene’s Stiffen Quick spray

Tools
Glam-It-Up!™ crystal applicator
Sewing needle
Scissors
Dress maker’s pencil

1. Mark and cut a symmetrical bib out of craft felt. Size to fit your wearer, I made mine in a shield shape. My felt shape is 6.5"x3.5".

2. Decide where to place your embellishments on the front of the felt.

3. Working around the crystals, use Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue to adhere the non-crystal embellishments. Allow to dry overnight.

4. While glue is drying, use crystal wand to heat and adhere Glam-It-Up™ crystals.

5. Cut two ribbon lengths that are long enough to be tied in a bow when worn. Mine are each approximately 2’.

6. Attach ribbon to top of felt on both sides using a needle and thread. I threaded the needle in between the ribbon and felt to conceal the knots. After you tie each ribbon off, use some Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky glue to secure the top of the sewn felt to the front of the ribbon. Allow to dry.

7. Dab a bit of Aleene’s Stop Fraying on the ends of the ribbon and allow to dry.

8. Trace and cut a second felt piece to back the first and add some structure to the design. Glue to the back of the first piece using Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky glue. Allow to dry.


9. Finish by generously spraying felt backing with Stiffen Quick and allow to dry. This will give your design structure when worn.

(Designer Tip: Felt is thick and porous, so you may need to check the glue on your embellishments several times to be sure there’s enough to secure them. Let them dry overnight so they have time to form a strong bond.)

Monday, August 24, 2009

Kartika lepas, Malaysia kena sebat teruk


Jika Kartika dah melanggar undang-undang dan hukumannya kena sebat, cepatlah jalankan.
Saya tak faham kenapa kerajaan khayal selama tiga minggu apabila cerita ini mula keluar.
(Jika itu hukuman, just do it!)

Sehingga sampai klimaks pada pertengahan minggu lalu, apabila wartawan akhbar saya di KL menjadi wartawan yang pertama dapat berbual dengan Kartika melalui telefon. Kartika duduk di Sungai Siput, Perak, rumah bapanya.
Dia kata nak sebat-sebatlah di khalayak ramai. Tunggu apa lagi.

Lepas ceritanya keluar di Straits Times Singapore, keesokan harinya wartawan kami di KL itu di telefon oleh AFP, Al Jazeera, BBC dan CNN. Semua nak tahu bagaimana hendak menghubungi wanita itu.
Lepas itu cerita meletup.

Itu pun kerajaan masih tidor.
Maka keluarlah cerita yang menggambarkan Malaysia ini negara kampung zaman batu, negara kuno, agama kejam dan sebagainya yang keluar di media antarabangsa.

Saya yang memantau di meja berita rasa malu.
Keluar di banyak sangat akhbar seluruh dunia!
Jika dulu orang Afrika, India, Eropah dan Amerika tak pernah dengar nama Malaysia Darul Islam ni, sekarang semua dah tahu dah.
Tak payah buat kempen pelancongan.

Itupun pemerintah terus rilek.
Sehingga sampai Isnin (semalam), Kartika disumbat dalam van di rumahnya di Sungai Siput - di depan kamera-kamera dan wartawan media asing - untuk dibawa ke penjara Kajang.
OKlah tu saya ingat. Biar lekas cerita ni habis.

Fulamak! Selepas 15 minit keluar, van patah balik. Setengah jam selepas masuk van, dia dihantar kembali ke rumah bapanya.
Eh! Apa dah jadi????

Rupa-rupanya selepas tiga minggu, nama Malaysia dah disebat bertubi-tubi, dihitamkan oleh media, dimomokkan orang bukan Islam, baru kerajaan sedar ini masalah besar.

Saya rasa Kartika dan bapanya harus diberi tugas baru oleh kerajaan Malaysia - jadi adviser macam mana nak maximise public relations. Mereka lebih pandai dari Fox Communications.
Pandai mereka spin cerita agar orang belas. Di Amerika, mereka ni main 'victimhood' - di mana orang yang bersalah main cerita agar dilihat sebagai victim/mangsa!

Benda ini dah meletup satu dunia, terpalit najis di muka Putrajaya.
Akhirnya:
Kartika 1, Malaysia 0.


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Sebenarnya Kartika bukan wanita Islam pertama yang dijatuh hukuman sebat atas nama agama di Tenggara Asia.
LIHAT GAMBAR.
Di Acheh, perempuan kena rotan di khalayak ramai di depan masjid sering berlaku di hujung Sumatra (di seberang laut dekat Penang).
Memang kontroversi.
Tetapi bila dah jatuhkan hukuman, cepatlah jalankan.

Lagi satu contoh - tak lama dulu Singapore nak gantung seorang rakyat Australia kerana kesalahan dadah. Memang Temasek tak kasi chan. Kau main dadah, kena gantung.
Tetapi ramai warga Australia sehingga perdana menterinya pun, meminta agar dimaafkan saja budak Australia yang keluarganya berasal dari Vietnam ni.
No deal.
Bising satu dunia. Undang-undang kejam, negeri kuno, hak manusia disepak.
Tetapi Singapore terus gantung dia pada 2005.
Lepas tu cerita habis. Media dah penat komen, buat cerita lain.


Tetapi kerana selama tiga minggu isu Kartika ni tak diselesaikan apabila dah keluar di media, dan hari ini baru nak ditangani, dah busuk nama negara.
Cara ia diatasi pun masih penuh kontroversi.
- PM Najib kata Kartika boleh mohon appeal. Lepas tu dia cakap boleh bertaubat dan dimaafkan.
- Shahrizat kata hukuman hanyalah disuspend - bukan dibuang kes.
- Hishammuddin pula kata pegawai penjara bodoh - sebab dia kata Kartika tak akan disebat sebab penjara tak pandai nak sebat cara syariah.

Saya nak syorkan: kalau minum beer yang mungkin memudharatkan diri sendiri disebat 6kali, apa kata kita sebat orang yang mencuri duit rakyat 100 kali.
Boleh?
Baru orang hormat sikit Malaysia ni agaknya.