It's the heart that counts (updated)

(Note : Updates at the bottom of this page.)

Exactly 200 readers of this blog took part in the poll which I set up to find out the main reason why they read what I wrote.

Thanks guys for entertaining my rather frivolous request via the poll which closed just now.

The poll was meant only for those who genuinely like reading this blog.

That's why the choice of answers were all positive.

It's not for the haters.

Those who read this blog at its webpage may view the outcome at the top right corner column.

But since those who read it via the mobile version can't see it, here is the outcome :

 I read Annie's blog mainly because

she knows politics	28 (14%)
she writes from her heart	108 (54%)
she is cute and nice	15 (7%)
she is not smelly	49 (24%)

Votes so far: 200
Poll closed 

I'm glad that more than half (108 - 54 per cent) of those who took part in the poll said they like to read this blog because I write it based on what I see and feel...from my heart. It confirms my belief that Malaysians generally appreciate stories and analysis written honestly without any hidden agenda.

I'm equally glad that only 15 people or 7 per cent said they read the blog mainly just because I'm cute and nice. I would have been worried if more people choose this as the main reason for reading my blog because there have been accusations that I'm flaunting my sexuality to attract readers. Still, special thanks to the 15 who think I'm not ugly :)

I was slightly disappointed that only 28 people or 14 per cent said the main attraction of this blog is my knowledge of politics. But it's not so bad considering that my political knowledge is mostly centered in Johor and that in many other areas I'm quite blur. What ever it is, knowing politics would probably not good enough if we are without the heart to turn it to good effect for this country and its people.

Last but not least, I was actually puzzled that the second choice among the main reasons for reading this blog is because I'm not smelly.  A relatively high number of 49 people or 24 per cent who took part in the poll said they read what I wrote because I don't smell bad. Guys, when did you all ever got to smell me lah? I put that one just for fun, okay. But really, I'm not smelly. I shower at least twice a day, wash properly after doing business in the toilet and lead a relatively hygienic lifestyle.

Again, thanks guys.

UPDATES

Okay, I'm adding this video for those who "perasan" themselves to be smelly.

Farming better than politics

I believe I'm not the only one feeling jaded about politics these days.

My blogging captain Rocky wrote this today,

Post-CNY thoughts on Monkeys with Keyboards

I think he was also fed-up with people who simply can't take it that others hold a different point of view from theirs.

Not only they refused to consider others' opinion, they were also quick to condemn those who disagreed with them.

Ever since the Umno civil war started last year I have seen my friends, some who were very close buddies, drifted apart.

Some even became bitter enemies.

I have lost friends myself over this past one year.

That's one of the main reasons why I have significantly reduced my political intakes and output via this blog.

If not for the recent spate of attacks directed at me, I would have stopped altogether.

For now I just feel the need to defend myself.

Anyway, nowadays, I prefer reading non-political blogs.

My favourite at the moment is

Kebun Bahagia Bersama

It's very nice reading about the blogger's farming activities.

If you are in KL, you can even buy the blogger's fresh farm produce.

My aunts (my father's sisters) who introduced me to the blog are regular customers of the blogger.

They said the produce of the farm were of very high quality and reasonably priced.

Based on the latest posting, you can sample the farm produce by getting them at :

Self-Collect Schedule Minggu ini:

~ Sabtu/Ahad pagi 13/14hb Februari 2016 antara pukul 10:30AM~11:00AM di depan Sekolah Kebangsaan Merbau Sempak, Sungai Buloh (berdekatan exit Paya Jaras Guthrie Corridor Highway).

I wish I can be more like the Tukang Kebun who operates the blog..

Doing something really productive and helpful and writing about it.

My aunts said the Tukang Kebun can also speaks Japanese, which for me is very admirable.

Unfortunately, those were not my expertise and I don't have the resources to do farming like her.

I can only "hitch a ride" by reading her blog.

For me it's a nice break from the toxic world of politics.

By the way, I'm back in JB.

Got works to do.

Will rejoin the family in Kluang for the weekend.

Most of them are still on CNY holiday till then.

Annie the flirt...aiyo, really ka?

I think I know now the real reason why some people are very angry with me.

A friend of mine called and told me last night that the angry birds believe that I was flirting with male blog readers and drawing them away from reading the other blogs.

I know, it's ridiculous, but that's what my friend told me.

This is more or less the conversation that we had last night:

Sab: Do you know why there are people who are very angry with you?

Me : Errr...because I decided to be a neutral blogger?

Sab: Nope. It's because you are a flirt.

Me: Hah??? When did I ever flirt la? You know I don't do such things, right?

Sab: That's what you think, others said otherwise.

Me: Who are these others who said I'm a flirt?

Sab: Do you realise that there is this one blogger who spent the entire CNY day yesterday whacking you for being a flirt?

Me: No la,  I was busy having fun. I was not checking the other blogs. Only did a posting on a movie I watched. That's all.

Sab: Well, you should. The blogger went on and on and on about you intentionally attracting men to your blog by being sexy and flirty and other things.

Me: Are you serious??? Did I do that???

Sab: Yes. I think you did....once in a while in the past.

Me: When?

Sab: I can't remember exactly when...but you did once write suggesting that you are going swimming in a bikini.

Me: Did I??? Well, I do swim in bikini, what. Do they expect me to swim wearing burqa??? Anyway, I can't even really swim. I just fooled around in the water.

Sab: That blogger has a point. You shouldn't be enticing men like that. It's not fair to the other lady bloggers as the men will go to your blog and not theirs.

Me: Is it? I really didn't mean it to be like that. This blog is just like a diary to me. I just write whatever that crosses my mind. Anyway, the other blogger can write about wearing bikini also what....if she feels that it can attract male readers....

Sab: It will not have the same effect, okay.

Me: Why not?

Sab: She is not very sexy.

Me: I'm not sexy too what....see, I'm flat chested.

Sab: Can you just cut it out...stop bullying the other lady? I really pity her, okay. Spending the entire CNY day writing about you flirting with men instead of enjoying the festivities.

Me: Eerrr...is that really my fault??

Sab: Yes.

Me: But, I stopped mentioning her name for more than a month already leh. Commenters at my blog were also barred from mentioning her name. You can check the archive if you don't believe me.

Sab: Okay, but she feels that you are still talking about her.

Me: Is that also my fault ka? Why she so perasan one?

Sab: That's besides the point. You simply have to stop flirting with men as what that blogger said.

Me: How am I to stop something which I never started in the first place?

Sab: You need to reduce the number of men visiting your blog. Discourage them from reading your blog.

Me: What??? But that's going to affect my page views numbers.

Sab: Does it really matter to you?

Me: Errr... I guess not. I blog mostly just for fun. I don't cari makan with it.

Sab: Okay, good. Now you must put up a notice telling men to go to the other blog instead of reading yours. Tell them that you are not sexy. Maybe that will appease the other blogger.

Me: Alright. But what if the men still read my blog...then how???

Sab: At least you can say you tried.

Me: Okay....

Sab: And remember, don't write about you wearing bikini or give other hints that you are sexy ever again.

Me: Okay.....Sab, where should I put the notice?

Sab: Somewhere at the top where everyone can see.

Me: Okay....but this is so troublesome laa.

A family story

Not doing much today except lazing around the house.

Everybody is having a bit of hangover from last night.

It was fun though.

I spent most of the morning watching an old movie recommended by my aunt.

It's the 1994 movie by  Zhang Yimou

To Live

My aunt gave me the DVD to watch.

It's actually available at YouTube too.

The movie is just nice for CNY viewing.

It's a story about the life of a family during the early days of communist rule in China.

The timeline spans through the Chinese civil war, "The Great Leap Forward" period and aftermath of "The Cultural Revolution".

It's a beautifully made movie - realistic, inspiring, tragic and funny, all moulded into one.

It reminds me of the early history of my mother's family coming to this country.

Those who are not very familiar with the Chinese should watch the movie.

If they are sincere, they will realise from the movie that Chinese individuals are the same as everyone else.

They want to survive, be happy, worry about their children, endure tragedies, overcome flaws, etc.

There's no real need to hate or fear them.

I wish we could have a movie like that to tell the honest story about the early days of Chinese in this country.

Then we can also have one about the Malays or Bumiputera too.

Not some propaganda stuff, but instead stories about the humanity of us all.

Maybe with better understanding from those movies, we could improve race relations in this country.

I think that's better than letting ignorance or someone else's personal agenda lead us into hating each other.

Anyway, here is the trailer of the movie,

Happy New Year of The Monkey

Getting ready for the reunion dinner.

So, this is just a fun video for you all to enjoy in conjunction with the New Year of the Monkey,

Hope you all like the little song :)

I will be off the grid for a while to enjoy myself.

Wishing all Chinese readers of this blog a happy new year.

Thanks to those who wished my family and me the same.

Take care everyone.

Annie, now a DAP cybertrooper...yea right...

This is really troublesome.

One of my friends who is a prominent blogger called just now.

"Have you seen the latest accusation against you?" he asked.

"What? Got new one ka? I have not been checking the other blogs. What is it?" I asked back.

"They are saying you are probably paid by DAP," my friend said.

"Hah...wtf is that? What's wrong with these people? Never mind, I check now. Thanks," I said to my friend.

So I checked the other blogs just now.

Turned out it's true.

A flip flopping former DAP operative has alluded that I'm likely being paid by DAP to blog for the party and to support the claim, highlighted a comment by another flip flopping DAP reject.

Well, what can I say....their track records speak for themselves.

Sorry ya, I'm not providing the link to the garbage here. In fact, I'm not even going to mention the name of the lowlifes.

Anyway, the allegation was based on myself being more Chinese than the Chinese.

That's probably because of my last few postings about celebrating CNY with my family.

Honestly what's wrong with that?

Why does it bothers them so much that I love the Chinese side of me?

My heart is half Chinese, does that hurts anyone?

I wrote about my grandpa's CNY pineapple....does that makes me a DAP cybertrooper?

This is exactly why I don't want to be part of Umno's cyberwar effort anymore.

I simply don't want to fight alongside shallow idiots, what more being led by them.

How can they hire such characters to fight for Umno is beyond me.

At least do la some background checks, okay.

Ish, spoiling my mood only.

Never mind.

That's all.

Dog versus Cat

My friend from Kuantan sent me this video clip just now.

Quite funny.

The cat didn't have to make much noise during the fight.

Very cool, isn't it?

The poor dog actually reminds me of someone.

All barks and not much else :)

Just adding to my CNY cheers.