Festival of Lights

Shine bright like the lights of Diwali – let happiness be your glow! Happy Deepavali to everyone who's celebrating! 

Celtic have been awful this season! And so, not surprisingly, Dundee beat them 2-0 at Dens Park yesterday for the first time since 1988. And the second strike was a Cameron Carter-Vickers own goal in the forty-sixth minute. 

Sure, Celtic's attacking threat was there, but it was blunt and lifeless. Kelechi Iheanacho passed up a number of opportunities, and he wasn't the only guilty party. Of those 22 shots, just three were on target. There were 48 touches in the opposition box and 118 entries into the final third. 

But there was no confidence that they could make the breakthrough, no belief that they could break down Dundee's low block.

Celtic remain five points behind league leaders Hearts after eight Scottish Premiership games.

And this isn't the only bad news I had to face up to. Yes, Liverpool lose again! Manchester United beat them 2-1 at Anfield yesterday! For the first time since 2016! 

The Reds' only goal came when Cody Gakpo scored from close range in the 78th minute, after earlier hitting the woodwork three times. The Dutchman also headed wide late on, when he looked certain to equalise for a second time. 

And Arne Slot (right) offered this excuse: "It is always difficult to play against a team that defends in a low block and mainly plays the long ball". 

I see his team selections befuddling. And his decisions on substitutions is getting dizzying. We’re seeing it week in and week out now, hinting that it’s either the battle plan to drastically and chaotically shake up a match at the hour mark or, worryingly still, it’s the panic button that Slot now has a habit of reaching for. 

Liverpool have lost four in a row in all competitions for the first time since November 2014.

Happy Diwali 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a Happy Deepavali! May those of you who are celebrating, have a joyous Festival of Lights!

 

I'm sure you know this, Diwali and Deepavali, although spelled differently, are both commemorated as the "Festival of Lights". The more precise term is actually Deepavali, which is derived from the Sanskrit word Dīpāvali. Taking it apart, the word “dipa” means “light” or “lamp” whereas the word “avali” means “a series” or “row”. Together, they signify a line of lamps, giving rise to the names Deepavali in south India and Diwali in north India for this vibrant celebration.

 

This year, two disparate celebrations from very contrasting cultural backgrounds converge on the same day. Diwali and Halloween are both observed on October 31. 

 

Diwali which is celebrated over five days holds deep spiritual significance for Hindus, representing reflection, renewal, family reunions, and spiritual growth.

 

Halloween, on the other hand, is a "fun" celebration embedded in popular culture focusing on costume parties, trick-or-treating, horror-themed decorations, and social gatherings.

 

TBH, I can't see any purpose and/or meaning for celebrating it. Methinks, Halloween should be discouraged. It is NOT our culture. Therefore, Malaysians should not observe this pointless US tradition, period.

Happy Diwali 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Selamat menyambut Hari Deepavali"! Happy Deepavali to all celebrating! May light always guide your way this Diwali and all year long!

 

Following a lot of hype – and a quarter century of work – “Now and Then”, presumably the last song to feature all four original Beatles, is here. It debuted in the charts at number 42 after its release on November 02, based on just 10 hours' worth of sales. 

 

Since then, it has jumped forty-one places up the charts and is the 18th number one single for Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the late John Lennon and George Harrison.

 

And "Now and Then" is this century's fastest-selling vinyl single, according to the Official Charts Company.

 

In case you don't know, the Beatles are the British act with the most number one singles in UK charts history – only US singer Elvis Presley has more, with 21 chart-topping singles.  

 

"Now and Then" is a psychedelic soft rock ballad that John Lennon (left) wrote and recorded in around 1977 as a five-minute solo piano home demo, but left unfinished. An apologetic love song, it is addressed to an old friend (or lover), to whom Lennon declares: "Now and then, I miss you/Now and then, I want you to return to me". 

 

It was shelved for nearly three decades, until it was completed by the surviving bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr (above photo), using overdubs and guitar tracks by George Harrison (who died in 2001) from the abandoned 1995 sessions. 

 

The final version features additional lyrics by McCartney and Lennon's voice extracted from the demo using the AI-backed audio restoration technology commissioned by Peter Jackson (right) for his 2021 documentary "The Beatles: Get Back".

 

Martin Talbot, head of the Official Charts Company, said: "The return of John, Paul, George and Ringo with the last ever Beatles single has cemented their legend by breaking a catalogue of records – and in doing so underlined the extraordinary scope of their enduring appeal, across all the generations, with huge numbers of streams, downloads and vinyl singles".

 

“Now and Then” signals, if anything, not just the “last Beatles song” (as it’s been advertised) – but the first in what could be a long stream of work that’s salvaged or saved using artificial intelligence.

Diwali 2022

Eniya deepavali nalvaalthukkal! Happy Deepavali!

My video choices this year – RHB’s “Hero” and Khazanah Nasional’s “The Light of Deepavali”:

Happy Diwali 2021

Happy Diwali (Deepavali)! 

The term "Deepavali" literally translates to a row of lights, with “deep” meaning light and “avali” meaning row, earning it the moniker, “the festival of lights”. The lighting of diyas (small oil lamps) signifies the triumph of good over evil and of light over darkness. 

And did you know that red, pure yellow, vivid magenta, and pure blue are the most prominent colors associated with Diwali? Now, I know! 

For this year's Festival of Lights, my video pick is from Tenaga Nasional:

Happy Diwali 2020

 

Happy Diwali to all those celebrating this special day! May your life be as colorful and shimmering as the lights of Diwali! 

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most iconic cars in automotive history. Sure, the classic Type 1 was considered a tad bit underpowered and technically unimpressive compared to its competition. However, what it lacked on the inside was vastly outweighed by its never-before-seen aesthetic – so much so that just by looking at it, you can’t help but smile. I don’t know about you but it’s a cute car! 

So, it should come as no surprise that people are paying tribute to the classic Beetle by revamping it into an even cooler version of itself, just like designer Danni Koldal did with his sleek black matte 1961 Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe Roadster that he designed and converted from a regular 1961 Beetle Deluxe.

Happy Deepavali and Soya Cincau

Deepavali is here – and among the many videos put out this year – this has got to be my favorite! 

Soya Cincau, a love story like no other. Only in Malaysia.

Spread the light of joy and happiness and always remember our unity is what makes us truly Malaysian! 

Happy Deepavali!

This week’s set of WSD posters revolves around the idea of building awareness of World Speech Day:

Happy Diwali 2018

Happy Diwali to those celebrating the festival of lights! 

Image credit: https://www.updatepedia.com/happy-diwali-status-in-english/ 

Last evening, I was at Level 7, Mercu UEM in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, KL where I had a speaking slot arranged for me by Rohijas Sharif since way back in September 29, 2018.

Anyway, I presented project #5 from the Storytelling manual Bringing History to Life – titled The Betrothal.

Two more speeches and I’m done with my ACG #5.

Happy Deepavali 2016



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Deepavali! Let the joy illuminate our lives! 

 

As we celebrate the festival of lights, let us pray for Malaysia. And hope that good will triumph over evil.

 

Especially the evil (read, MO1) who tightly cocoons this country like a death shroud.

Yesterday, I was in Jalan Tangsi in KL to attend the UniRazak Toastmasters meeting.

I love this view from the 7th Floor of UniRazak

I was the General Evaluator. And I was happy to have presided over a good meeting!