Suicide Doors

I feel really bad having a blog called "suicide doors and whitewalls" and having nothing whatsoever about suicide doors on it. Especially since a substantial number of hits from Google are people Googling "suicide doors" or "why they're called suicide doors" or things like that. So here's the lowdown.

What are suicide doors?

Suicide doors are doors on cars that opens away from the front-end of the car. See examples below:

Why are suicide doors called suicide doors?

Legend has it that suicide doors are so called because the doors make it much easier to fall out of the car if it accidentally opened while driving (Source: Wikipedia, Urban Dictionary, LA Times). Thankfully, car safety has come a long way since the name was coined, and these days there are such things as seat belts.

And now you know.

My CFA Schedule

This may be really wishful thinking (especially since my books are still sitting in their box and I've been watching Monk and Mad Men every night), but this is my CFA schedule:

It really does basically mean that I'm not going to see my friends for the next 3 years.

The Nine Types of Drinkers

The British government has decided to go ahead and give us the nine groups of heavy drinkers as part of their bid to reduce alcoholism. Heavy drinking is defined as 35 units a week for women and 50 units a week for men. Man, that really is a lot. Anyway, here's the nine groups. See if you fit into one of them.

(Source: BBC: Drinkers fall into 'nine groups')

Can't we all just get along?

So what exactly happened yesterday? I'll tell you:

1. Anwar claimed to have the names of the 30 MPs needed to vote a new PM, even saying that he would make the names public before the day was over. He said that he first wanted to meet with Pak Lah to discuss a peaceful transition (NST, Star, Reuters).
2. Pak Lah refuses to meet with him, doubting his claims to have the crossovers (BBC, NST, Star).
3. Anwar decides to delay the release of the names until he does meet Pak Lah (Star).
4. Raja Nazrin Shah asks politicians to stop bickering (Star).

I, for one, agree with Raja Nazrin. The drama is fun at first, but after a while, it's just time to stop. The news headlines have far more important things to report that are more pertinent to our lives. For example:

1. DPM launches a website as a platform for Malaysians to exchange opinions at http://www.1malaysia.com.my (NST). I like how the landing page is a video of him, there's a biography of him, and a space for comments for him. It looks like, gosh dare I say it? A personal website! *Gasp*
2. Minister of the PM's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's quitting escapades. The Bar Council gives him their full support, and rightfully so (NST). The ISA arrests was the straw that broke the camel's back, and he quit saying that he was unable to reform the judicial system and that he was being stonewalled.
3. The Immigration is being asked to apologise to the poor Indian lady Rajeshvari after she was detained for 11 months because she didn't have her MyKad (Star). They damned well should, if you ask me. That was an abuse of power for powermongers, just like the JAIS raids of nightclubs.

I told you it began!

Oh, this is priceless. I've always been the most willing to listen to both sides and doubt rumour above fact and publication. I mean, I've never been naive and I always knew the major newspapers were biased, but this just takes the cake. I couldn't help but laugh when I went to the NST today:

So much butt licking.

And so it begins

I just got word from a trusted source that the Chief of Army is mobilising the army and placing them at strategic positions. Word is that they may call a state of emergency, upon which a curfew will be imposed. I haven't had a curfew since I was 16.

The reason for all this is that Anwar has kept his word and is calling Pak Lah (Malaysia's current PM) to step down, saying he has the backing of a majority of the MPs. From Reuters: Malaysia's Anwar says has majority to rule:

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition alliance on Tuesday claimed it had enough support in parliament to oust the government and sought a meeting with the premier to discuss a handover as well as the king's consent.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told a press conference that he expected Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to meet him within the next few days to discuss a transition of power from the government, which has ruled for over 50 years.

"We have enough strength to form the government. Once we meet the prime minister, we will abide by the constitution and seek the consent of the king," Anwar told a news conference.

The government dismissed his claims of a parliamentary majority, with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak calling talk of the opposition winning power "the politics of deception".

Abdullah said he would not meet Anwar unless the opposition leader had something substantial to discuss.

We may be a developing country, but I never really thought that there would be a state of emergency called here. I'm a bit intimidated as to what might happen. Riots? Will they make me be a good Muslim and cover up? I hope not. I'm bonded to my company for at least another 1 year 1.5 months. I can't run away. I do predict that the share price for Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Berhad will fall, though. Drastically.

Happy Malaysia Day

Here's to:

• Another 45 years of being Malaysia.
• Taking baby steps towards a freer Malaysia.
• Being a country of diverse cultures.
• Good food.
• Mamaks.
• More Gong Xi Rayas / DeepaRayas.