To be a source of world news, weird news, insightful reviews and articles; and the wonders of literature which bring us the many wonderful stories and novels we so love to read, including (but not limiting to) views and comments by yours truly in My Newsvine.com Columns - warts and all.
Judge Roy Moore Like Candidate Trump Fell Victim To Women
Can President Trump Single-handedly Take On His
Enemies And Win>More here
Israel Can Stop Rocket Firings From Gaza (Once And For All)
>Read More...
By David Lang
The following
stories may fire your imagination, pique your interest.
Some say 1MDB is Malaysia's Sovereign Wealth fund; to others they asked what
wealth fund when its
total capitalization is just One million ringgit? But, then again, if you
think you can look down on the pet
idea of the Malaysian prime minister, think again. His idea has the potential
of turning the now
world famous - or shall we say, infamous - 1Malaysia Development Berhad into a
giant corporation
you can ever imagine - even bigger than Bill Gate's Microsoft! At least, it
could be, if the
original course is stayed. It was supposed to inspire Malaysians to think big
besides advance
growth, according to its slogans screaming out of giant bill boards throughout
the country.
'Backed' by the finance ministry who owns it - which means money will never be
the problem - it
can only succeed. But..it didn't. It failed! That's why it may have piqued
many people's curiosity. How
can a company flush with cash and can borrow any amount (billions) anytime
could fail? Well, this
may be in line with your thinking. People have seen since its inception - I
mean after its name
was changed in 1999 from Trengganu Investment Authority (TIA) to the present -
it hasn't done
any business! I have used present tense deliberately. It hasn't done any
business yet. I mean if
you are in business you need to make profit or find ways to make profit. Or
close shop. Oh, I had
heard about their filings of tax returns and hiring of a couple of
internationally known auditors
to sign off on their balance sheets; but these concerned only the company's
borrowings and
interests to be paid. Two massive bonds were issued to the tune of $7 billions.
To buy up power
plants. Again I want to say if you are in business to make money even investing
in independent
Power Plants, it should be done with the view to making a profit. The decision
may be long term or
short term, it doesn't matter, it has to make money, or no deal. May be they
have done the right
thing. Maybe luck was not on their side. Still, the amount is staggering. I
didn't know having or
managing so much money can be a problem! But many - especially the Malays -
have not given up
hope yet. Yes, may be the durians are just ripening; may be they need time and
may fall soon!
Malaysia is supposed to be on its way to becoming a developed nation, by the
year 2020. Will she make it (in less than five years -tick-tuck, tick-tuck)?
There is no doubt the year 2020 is
coming whether the country is ready or not, and if that will be the only
requirement then Malaysia will attain that developed nation status on schedule.
There is a question, though, Will Malaysia,
or Malaysians, for that matter, be ready for that status as far as their
affluence, quality of life's concern? Currently Malaysia's GNI per capita stood
at US$10060. According to the World Bank
high income economies are those with GNI per capita of US$12,745. And until
Malaysians earn much more to be there, the developed nation status may not be
achieved even by the year 2020. The
futility of declaring a country a high income country when it's not, achieves
nothing. May be even counter-productive; it lulls the country into false sense
of success and premature celebration.
Don't forget China reportedly overtook Japan as the world's second largest
economy, but in actual fact China's citizens' ca pita income is a fraction of
the incomes of the Japanese who earn $37,000.
Chinese incomes range from $13,000. China's gross domestic product, taken as a
whole, may beat Japan's, but in term of quality of life, and GNI per capita
income, the criteria for a developed
nation status, China still has a lot of catching up to do. That's why China
still qualifies as recipient of Japan's economic aid meant for developing
countries. Comparing with the Chinese per
capita domestic product, Malaysia is even worse off. Unless the government
bucks up and rushes to create more wealth for its citizens, the Vision 2020
dream may remain just that ..a dream.
'MCA go home' vs 'Where was DAP 13 years ago?' at Jonker Walk
What?! Gan qualified his being there as a survey, not to protest? Let alone to lead the protest? Did Mr. Gan Tian Loo realize that the MCA protest carries more weight than DAP protest many times
over. The state government, being UMNO-led government, considers the DAP as the opposition working hand-in-hand with PAS and PKR to oust UMNO from power, rescinding the directive on the request
from DAP leaders will make the party even more popular. I thought, at first, here come the MCA, finally to do what it's supposed to do. Then the expected happened. He got cold feet. The
reporter who covered the protest reported Gan was suddenly cautious . He was like ..."I'm here to lend my support to..the .. no, wait! I am not here to support the traders - but just to do a quick
survey! But I am glad to be standing here with the protesters but reporters, please put it down in black and white I am not, I repeat, am not here as part of the protest. This is the reason the MCA
was shunned, I mean has been shunned by the Chinese. They do not represent the Chinese anymore. They cannot get things done anymore unlike in the old days. Gan admitted his meeting with the chief
minister was fruitless, but would keep trying. Keep trying for what? He should stop embarrassing the MCA and reducing its credibility further by continuing to beg despite being rebuffed earlier.
Again, this proved that the Malaysian Chinese Association has really completely lost its usefulness. If a small matter like Jonker Walk closure was beyond its power then, that 's it.
when I received a call the other day (night) from a Miss Lee complaining about her fridge not working (she
noticed the temperature inside the fridge was warm comparable to room temperature), I asked her to check if the
fridge's power switch was at on or off?
The EU may have unwittingly overplayed their role and may have to regret if the UK crashes out on 29 March
2019!
By David Lang
December 29, 2018Updated
Today:June 3, 2019
The European commission president rejected claims of a plot to keep the UK in the EU
Finally, the cat is out of the bag. The EU is suspected of doing everything possible to prevent the UK leaving
the union. This was denied by the European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker but instead actually it
confirmed that there was such a possibility. Surely he doesn't enjoy promoting fake news if there's no
substance to it. We don't forget how the EU as represented by its chief negotiator Michel Barnier wouldn't
concede an inch over the Irish backstop, thereby leaving the UK with no choice but to leaving on WTO terms or no-deal which the Remainers vowed to prevent at all cost. And Juncker and Ireland's
taoiseach Leo Varadkar in quick succession also threatened to hold Theresa May accountable over her agreement that
there would be no return of the hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland which they managed to trick or
coax her to agree to in December; although Juncker did not elaborate further, it's widely believed the
Remainers in the Labour party and in the Conservatives party could be working together with Brussels to keep
the UK in the EU; the EU perforce underwrites all the costs incurred in the exercise; as the benefit of UK
membership is worth billions per year, a billion or two or even 10-billion bribes to the Remainers - whether
the cross-party MPs, civil service heads, business association heads, or other government institutional chiefs,
will be money well spent indeed.
So the fight for people's vote, new referendum, vow to do everything to stop no-deal Brexit, were not done in
UK's interests but their own. If these Remainder traitors managed to pull it off and the UK is stuck in the EU,
the EU will be entitled to receive, and continue to receive billions after billions in member contributions
from Britain which is the world's fifth largest economy; or if they managed to ensure the UK leaves with a deal and by extension,
the Eu gets paid 39bn sterling, it could be expected to gladly share 10bn or more of that with
the Remainers inside the UK. This may sound far-fetched; it's not. If they have not been promised this
lucrative reward, it's doubtful these mutinous Tory MPs in the backbench, including those in the Labour party,
the civil service chiefs, the police chiefs, bank chiefs, business association chiefs, chamber of commerce
chiefs, the army and air force chiefs, would work so hard to try to stop Brexit--as if their very lives depend
on it..except they have other unknown reasons. But don't forget that if they and the Eu succeeded, Britain would end up
like a colony or a vassal state or rule takers sans any rights to be part of the process to formulate rules or laws, so
their actions were not for the good of Britain. Period.
Don't forget 39bn is more than enough for the EU to keep their promise to pay all Remainers inside the UK if
they can prove they did contribute in some way to the success of stopping the no-deal Brexit. As this is a one-time
spending--the EU can be expected to spend even in excess of the 39bn. If the UK is successfully stopped from
leaving as a member it needs to pay billions in annual contribution to the EU budget. So, the 39b spent on the
traitorous Remainers would be worth every penny!
You can be sure this statement by Jean-Claude Juncker is not issued for fun but to nip the assertion in the bud.
They are worried if allowed to go viral it may anger even the die-hard Remainers and transform them into
leavers! Offers of millions may be tempting, but not all who support remain did it for money.
Already, a lot of people are not satisfied that what Mrs May brought back from Brussels was a fairly-negotiated
deal, after it was revealed "one of Michel Barnier's goals was to let the remaining 27 EU members realize that
"leaving the EU is not a good idea!"
According to Sir Simon Fraser, quote: "the UK would have to accept that the EU will impose an economic and
political price tag for Brexit, partly to make it clear to other EU member states that 'it's not a good idea to
leave.'"
In conclusion, according to the fine prints in the Mrs May's so-called Brexit deal, if carried out, will leave
Britain vastly diminished and may never rise again.
If true, everyone should confront Mrs May and demand an explanation. Why she's prepared to do in her beloved
motherland. How much is it worth to sell out her own country? She's far from being a benighted peasant so she
should know what will happen to the prestige and honor of Her Majesty The Queen as the head of the commonwealth
when England or the Great Britain was reduced to a dependency state of the EU with having to follow all EU
rules but have no say in the making of those rules!
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EU recently, and which all publishers must comply. If you continue to use our website and Google products and
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European Union's regulation, click here.
News > Theresa May Still Has A way Out.
>Even If Her Deal Is Voted Down She Could Still Escape Blame Because That's The Best Terms That The EU Were
Prepared to Agree To.
Theresa May Should Return To Her Original Position That NO-deal Is Better Than Bad Deal!
By David Lang
December 22, 2018Updated
Today:December22, 2018
Theresa May Still Has A way Out
If I were the prime minister Theresa May, I would utilize the limited time that she has before the January
14..and take a relook at the agreement she had reached with the EU --to see if the deal could be better. Or was it what
it says on the tin or what she's fond to claim..that this deal is the best; it stops the free movement and
gives back control of our borders and destiny. If it does, fine. Go ahead submit to the Commons on 14th
January. If it does not, go ahead to have the vote anyway but don't push too hard for it to be passed - just
relax and let the MPs do their duties. Leave it to fate -- if the the deal is voted down, good, count yourself
lucky; for if the withdrawal agreement is approved, you and England are both done for. You will be blamed for
selling out your own country, though unknowingly (she would not be hanged but given life sentence for lesser
charge of incompetence). Britain will be a dependency of the EU forever without freedom to strike any deals with
the world unless permitted by the EU masters.
Judging by the behaviors and statements exhibited by the EU almost 24/7 daily, it's safe to assume that the EU
could only countenance an agreement that adequately insulates the EU from the harms posed by Brexit and also
ensures Britain don't outshine the EU in all sectors. According to Sir Simon Fraser, quote: “I am not a
catastrophist, but let us be clear: this is going to be an incredibly difficult, tough and complex negotiation.
One of the objectives of the EU side is to make it absolutely clear to anyone else thinking of leaving the EU
that this is not a good idea."
It can be assumed that the EU forced May's hand to take the only deal on the table or leave it. Apparently May
took it as she had no choice -- the clock is ticking. She took the deal. This deal which was described by two
Bloomberg columnists was too good for the EU and therefore too bad for the UK, making it rather pointless for
the UK to trigger Article 50 and negotiate hard to exit the EU for even less benefit than staying put. The
Bloomberg columnist describes the deal that Michel Barnier granted Theresa May, or Theresa May got from the EU
was designed to pour cold water on similar idea by any EU 27 members!
So, granted then the withdrawal agreement that Theresa May brought back from the EU was worthless. It didn't
deliver like what it says on the tin. So where it leaves Theresa May then? She should keep her word to submit
the deal to the Commons on the January 14 but to refrain from fighting hard for the yes vote. The best scenario
for her is the deal is rejected; so that she can start working for no deal (which will whitewash her failure to
obtain a better deal for the UK. Any fallout on her from her now confirmed not best deal but in fact worse
deal, can be minimized by supporting the no-deal Brexit which she never abandoned but supported it earlier when she
declared "No-deal is better than bad deal."
I say probably. There's still a chance to get out of your quandary, and even be praised for your loyalty to
your country. Firmly reiterate your stand there will be no 2nd referendum --if any of your cabinet members try
to promote it, nip the proposal in the bud. Firmly give orders to prepare for no-deal Brexit. If asked why she
seemed less and less enthusiastic about her own "best" deal, just say after taking into consideration what
others including your own party MPs have said about the deal including what the EU and Leo Varadkar have
insisted that there will be no deal without the backstop, and no 12-month backstop, you explain your position
haven't changed, that a no-deal is better than a bad deal.
With no deal Brexit you would have fulfilled your promise to deliver the Brexit that people wanted - what it
says on the tin, if you will. You will not be consigned to the dustbin of history for betraying your own office
and Great Britain. You would have saved 39b which could be used to defray costs to sustain Britain for a
while.
Your cabinet members could argue for the money to be paid anyhow, for their own private reasons. But stand firm
and argue we are going to need every penny we can get to help minimize the effects from leaving the EU without
a deal. Refer to your Tory colleagues's stand that the 39b will be paid only when we get the agreement to leave
the EU. Stop being swayed by threats from the EU and the Irish Republic who have themselves to blame for making
the deal look so bad (in order) to deter copycats among the EU's 27 members, but at the same time also unknowingly make it
unpalatable for the Tory MPs. Checked. Never entertain any request to reopen the negotiation which they earlier
ruled out, even though tempting. Stick to your statement: "No deal is better than bad deal." Checked.
This site complies with the new EU policy on cookies and privacy policy. Or GDPR which was implimented by the
EU recently, and which all publishers must comply. If you continue to use our website and Google products and
technologies, it means you are ok with the EU requirement. If you are ok or just want to learn more about this
European Union's regulation, click here.
This could be it! The solution to the cross-border rocket firings.
Just make a statement that Israel is to consider moving the
Palestinians away from its border - for security reason - and watch
Hamas recoil in fear. Checked.
Even the Palestinian
president can be 'forced' to go along with the plan, to which he would
have no problem agreeing as it will diminish Hamas and its influence
(hold) over the Gaza populace. Checked.
Even Europe will
fall in line as they too, despite being pro-Hamas in their veiled
actions, would want to avoid bloodshed and harm to innocent children.
Israel has the means to do it. If they could attempt to bomb Iran
which is so far away, mass moving the Palestinians will be a piece of
cake. Checked.
Maybe, who knows, just say they toy with the idea,
will be enough to stop the rockets that the Israeli army, navy and its
fabled air force have struggled to accomplish.
Checked.
Don't forget once Hamas realized they are doomed
they will do the right thing! Checked.
Yuri Boyka vs Tony Jaa UFC fight was billed as Intense and Incredible.
What an appropriate title. From start to finish, brutal punches and
kinckings were delivered non-stop, not a second was wasted to inflict
maximum damage to one another between these two. Although at first it
looked like Yuri Boyka was going to KO his opponent, but Tony Jaa it
seemed never planned to be knocked out so easily, and planned to slug it
out with his opponent till the end of five rounds if need be, to wrest the
title from him. That was the obvious intent - it doesn't matter if he
fails or succeeds. But of course, if he doesn't believe that he he has
what it takes he wouldn't be in this fight. Hence the incredible staying
power no matter what his opponent threw at him - kicks or punches, elbows
to the chin or back kicks to the stomach, front kicks to the face - which
repeatedly sent him to the canvas but he kept getting up as if immune to the
damage inflicted, to stay in the fight.
From round #2, though, he started to hit back for blows he received, and
Boyka was stunned. But Boyka kept up the pressure because he was bigger
(Boyka could fight in light heavy weight and heavy weight divisions
because of his size). When matched up with Tony Jaa, of course, he was
more daring as he was more confident of victory or trashing his opponent.
He kept delivering deadly blows and sending Tony Jaa to the canvas, and
he looked more and more likely to retain his title but..Tony Jaa kept
rising and also knocking down Boyka too himself, the fight started to
become intense. The slug-fest was no-holds-barred, every imaginable blows
were exchanged, by now both Tony Jaa and Yuri Boyka were bloodied and
clearly exhausted, and who would best who was anybody's guess.
Somestimes it looked like Boyka was going to go down, and sometimes Tony
Jaa but to their credit, both still stood their grounds. And both,
despite receiving repeated blows to their bodies and heads and it looked
like the fight would be over, showed no sign of going down and staying
down. Sheer desire to win kept them going, and both almost ended up dead
or crippled.
Before the fight ended, Boyka knocked Tony Jaa down and followed up with
multiple blows to the face but incredible, he managed to push Boyka away
and stood up to send Boyka crashing down to the canvas with swinging kick
from the ground (this type of kicking is double the normal kicks' damage
is the trademark of Bruce Lee which he used to disastrous end for his
opponents). But Boyka was no pushover himself, he also recovered fast to
stave off Tony Jaa from finishing him off by throwing some punches that
bought him time to get his giddiness under control and continue the
fight. Then he kept getting knocked down by Tonny Jaa (who by now felt
that victory was within reach (he was so confident that he even
demonstrated what he could do to his opponent with his elbows, which was
viewed rather unnecessary and wasteful of precious seconds which he could
use to follow up and finish off his opponent), but each time though the
bells saved Boyka.
When the fight resumed, Boyka was no more almost knocked out a few minute
rest had somewhat restored him and he went all out to dispose of his
opponent. He (who is called the invincible or the most complete fighter
of all time) gave no chance to Tony Jaa by knocking him down again and
again; and when it looked like it's all over, he was momentarily
motionless, the incredible Tony Jaa stirred and got up to continue. From
then onward the slug-fest became more intense and incredible. Both just
stood there face to face and threw everything they got at each
other. Boyka was still dominating - kept sending Tony Jaa to the canvas -
hen Tony Jaa caught him with an uppercut to his chin and he went down for
the last time. Overcame by feeling of triumph, Tony Jaa ran around the
Octagon screaming his delight as the new champion. And
that was just that - the end of an intense and incredible fight which
will be remembered for a long time. Checked. Click this link to watch the video.
Recommended! By the way this video belongs to xcH10x1 or Octagon
Ring owner. Do you wish to know more?
I recently stumbled upon UFC mixed martial arts fights - both championship and game play - and have been unable to turn away from since.
Most fights feature exponents -surprise
surprise - who I believed were only good in the make-believe realm of movies. Although these martial movie actors - such as John Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Jet li or Donny Yen, Tony Jaa, and so on, to name a few are supposed to be able to and did in their movies..take on much bigger-sized villains or multiple villains and still come out tops, convincingly, I believe they burst on the UFC vanue at Madison Square Garden to take on the best in the mixed martial arts world to earn their stripes (legitimacy) as martial arts exponents to show to their fans that their triumph over their opponents in the movies are no flukes they can fight or land those killer punches or flying kicks even in real life. So I decided to watch and have been doing so everyday since fascinated to no end.
As I expected, most if not all of these movie star martial artists were clobbered right and proper. All defeated by mostly knockouts.
However, lest I forget to mention: there were three or four martial arts movie actors who did prove heir martial arts skills. The most notable among them was Chuck Norris (who claimed to be six times world martial arts champion); Bruce Lee (of 'Big Boss fame'; Tony Jaa the star of 'Ong Bak'; Jet Li (Wong Fei Hoong) Donny Yen (of Grand Master fame), and of course, John Van Damme (who 'destroyed' Tong Poe in 'Kick Boxer'), and Tong Po who ironically was used by all martial arts movie actors as the man to defeat to earn legitimacy to their claims as martial arts champions.
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Why was Tong Po fighting in UFC rings, I had wondered at first. Wasn't he a has-been as a professional boxer as we have heard of him for quite sometime already. He should be too old to take on anybody and survive by now. But when he matched up with Tony Jaa I knew the truth why he was still fighting. His age was not much older than Tony Jaa's.
Surprise! Surprise! The Real Maccoy of Thai boxing who was used as standard for martial arts competency, was no match for Tony Jaa! By the way, this video belongs xcH10x1 or UFC for which we say thank you. Click to watch the video
But this in no way meant to demean Tong Po, the top or greatest of MuayThai exponent once. Anybody can lose a match or get knocked out if got hit with a big kick to your head or neck or your rival's uppercut hit your jaw. But what I am saying here is Tony Jaa's win over Tong Po was no fluke. But in any contest there is only one winner...and loser. The fight was explosive and deadly, and both of them kept delivering deadly punches or kicks without relent at all throughout the match - not a single minute was wasted during the two rounds that lasted to try to knock out each other. Tong Po was bigger he towered over Tony Jaa, and you can't blame any spectators for feeling afraid for the smaller man although he stood toe to toe with a much bigger and a deadly boxer at that receiving repeated punishing hits which Tong Po rained on him nonstop. I almost couldn't believe that Tony Jaa could take so much punishment. Numerous times he was kicked down numerous times he got up and continued as if he was not human but a robot in human skin! However brutal Tong Po was in his hasty attempt to finish him off, he stayed and fought until finally he prevailed - he brought down Tong with a deadly kick to the neck with force that literally propelled Tong Po head first to the ground - and he was knocked out. The voice of narrator of the Octagon could be heard loud and clear: "IT'S ALL OVER!" And the fight ended in about 3 minutes of round two.
My God! What a brutal fight. I have never seen a fight like this; or a man who could take so much punishment to (in order to win.
Chuck Norris fight with Bruce Lee can cause your adrenaline to run riot, but this was the mother of brutal fights of all time. The slug-fest sight could even overwhelm a weak heart spectator to collapse and die.
Tony Jaa was depicted in his spectacularly successful movie Ong Bak as a killer martial arts exponent who could defeat multiple opponents who are much bigger than him, at the same time. Of course, it was a movie. Remember how after watching Tong Po kill John Van Damme's make-believe brother in a championship fight in Thailand, he sought help from an old martial arts expert in a jungle hideout where he trained hard to equip himself with a deadly skill fight Tong Po in the ring in Bangkok and to emphatically defeat him. John Van Damme was the producer and directer of the movie. So he has the power to tell the script writer to pen it in a way that John Van Damme ended up as the destroyer of Tong Po, as a matter of course. John Van Damme was lucky - he not only had talents he also had money (to fund the movie). And got the right to dictate who defeats whom! Tong Po was probably told to not fight to win but lose!
Now where were we? Oh Ya, Tony Jaa after bursting into professional fighting in UFC's Octagon ring not too long ago had proven again and again that his actions in the movie are no flukes. He could do it in real life - like he was invited to Japan and Korea to give live demonstrations to sold out audiences wherever he went. He's indeed a phenomenon as a mixed martial
The fight began with both sides launching fierce kicks and punching to the face of their opponents. There were five five-minute rounds to finish off each other. Unlike the international boxing where boxers fight for 15 rounds and still none the worst for their bodies and faces, mixed martial arts cannot have more than 5 rounds or someone is going to end up dead. Yes, unlike the international boxing martial arts or mixed martial fights are deadly - sometimes the fights could even end in first round when one boxer is knocked out.
Next, I will write about other great boxers such as
Bruce Lee and Ronda Rousey, especially, who won 10 fights in a row !
Do you wish to know more?