Last week, I heard of this sad news from my colleague at work that her neighbor's son passed away the night before in a car accident.
It was really sad to hear of news like these, but the shocking part was yet to come.
It was a hit and run accident, and the young guy was only 20 years old!
The neighbor's son was only 20, and he was a bright and promising student who had a great and prospective future laid out in front of him and all that vanished in one night.
It seemed that he was riding his motorcyle along the road that fateful night; around 11+ at night when he was hit by a car which landed him on the side of the road, badly injured.
The car sped off and left him there, bleeding on his own.
God knows how long he had been lying there until a kind Samaritan on another motorcycle stopped by to lend him a hand and managed to contact his father through the speed dial numbers on his phone.
The man also called for an ambulance which arrived promptly and rushed him to the nearest hospital for immediate medical aid.
However, when he arrived at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.
According to his mother and as related by my colleague, there were not much physical injuries which can be seen on his body or his limbs but the fatality lies in the head which was bleeding very badly and the doctor had mentioned that he had a very bad concussion which led to the constant bleeding.
I think the boy probably bled himself to death.
It is really sad and shocking to hear of such news and to think of what could have happened had the person who knocked him in the first place took the time to stop, get down and send him to the hospital.
If the irresponsible driver had done that, he could probably be saved, but then again, if he had done that, he would not have been labeled irresponsible by me in the first place.
My first thought is that this driver was probably too scared when he first hit the motorcycle and he was afraid and he just took off.
Secondly, he was also afraid of facing the consequences of the accident or to be penalized if the boy was injured or dead and he took off.
Worse, the driver could be without a driving license and the second reason is valid if he is caught.
Maybe, he was drunk and could not see/feel (highly impossible) or he thought that it was a ghost since it was during the 7th month in the Chinese lunar calendar anyway.
However many reasons I can think of for his taking off, not one of them could justify for his actions and what could have happened had he just stopped and send this victim to the hospital for immediate medical attention instead of succumbing to his own anxieties and fears.
Now, with his dreadful actions and inhuman decision, he had cost and taken away a life; a young and deserving life who could have seen much more of what the world has to offer and not to be cruelly deprived of his opportunity.
No one has the right to take away the life of another; only our Creator has because HE created us.
He may not have intended to kill the boy that night when he drove but inevitably, he DID hit him and he could have saved him if he had wanted to.
Instead, he chose a wicked and irresponsible decision to walk away and leave the boy to die, which to me, is just equivalent to robbing another of their lives.
With this incident which clearly happened, much as the driver would like to erase it from his memory, it would remain there and would constantly return to haunt him.
It is a guilt and consequence he has to deal with for the rest of his lives and personally, I think that would be worse than any imperial punishment or imprisonment.
I hope he is feeling every inch of the guilt at this point now; that he had just killed someone (running away makes it first degree murder) and he had also brought misery and devastation to a mother and a father and ripped apart a perfect and happy family.
His life will definitely be filled with guilt and insomnia, and I think, even if he were to finally own up, it would have been too late, as the guilt will eat at his gut forever and ever.
I pray for the poor boy and his family and for the rest of us out there, please be careful when you are on the road.
May his soul rest in peace
Monday, August 23, 2010
GIVE WAY
Have you ever been driving from a junction to meet the main road and having to wait for a good few minutes before finally joining the other cars in line on the main road? (And that is also, if you dare to swerve your car out immediately to avoid the long waiting time for the road to be empty)
I guess most of us who have been driving on the road for some time now have gone through that same situation somewhat or another.
It is frustrating sometimes although we do understand that we came from the junction and that we do have to give way to those who were driving straight and as the highway code specifies, drivers have to always give way to those on the right.
I do that all the time, but reverse the situation, if you were the one driving on the main road and you spot a car coming out of the small junction/road, would you give way to them?
I DO, I always flicker or flash to show them that they can come out now and I don't mind them driving ahead of me.
Of course, that depends on whether the cars behind me are speeding or I could risk getting my own car hit from the back as well and getting labeled reckless driver.
My point is, it is never a bad thing to give way to cars; sometimes I even give way to drivers on the left lane who are trying to go to the right lane.
Sometimes they may have reasons;
1. They made a mistake by going left when they are supposed to be going right
2. They are tourists and not familiar with the road (by this I mean not only international tourists, even local Malaysians from other states, they are also tourists)
3. There was a last minute change in their initial decision and they changed their destination and the driver was informed tad a bit too late.
There are many reasons, but it will not harm to just give way to people and if you find it hard and really competitive to not be able to give way, just ask yourself, "What are you really competing for if you can't even find space in your mind/heart to give way to others?"
"Will it make you late to an event, and be severely punished if you were late to the event?"
Some people drive like they are on a racing track; as if they were participating in a car race or something; fast and furious and just so "Snappy".
"Snappy" means they tailgate the car in front of them so closely and move immediately the car moves, leaving no space for others or even breathing space for the cars. Some are just this close to 'kissing' the bumper of the car in front of them.
Heaven forbid that if you were to make a turn into their lane, they would maneuver their car with all their rage and might to make sure you do not get in; even to the point of seriously 'almost' hitting your car's headlights or the side of the car.
If you were the same raging driver trying to get into the lane yourself and forced your way in, be prepared for some serious and loud honking and flashing and vulgar profanities hurled at you behind your back.
Sometimes, these could lead to road bullies incidents as well whereby the two parties end up fighting and killing each other over the fact that he overtook him and ended knocking his car.
I mean, think about all this, is it not just plain ridiculous that we have to resort to solving a simple problem like that this way?
Did that really require violence?
Even if there was not a fight, there will be unseen or trapped anger raging inside the two drivers and if some of them were mean enough, they could take down the number plate and plot for revenge in the future.
It is eerie how driving can sound like some battlefield sometimes.
Think of it, what if the car which was just trying to get into others' lane was rushing for an emergency and he had to swerve in and out to get to this destination in the shortest possible time.
It might sound uncanny but it could be true too, right?
That brings me to another issue; ambulances, fire brigade and police cars, in short, any vehicle with a siren and serving the public and government are always in emergencies.
There are no question about that.
While it comforts me that our society is still educated and cultured enough to give way to ambulances with loud sirens, it also bothers me that that seems to be the only vehicle they give way to.
Please be mindful that besides ambulances and fire engines, police cars are also to be treated with respect, regardless of the general perspective there is on policemen.
These police cars could be rushing to nab a thief or a dangerous wanted and armed criminal; or they could also be rushing to the aid of a trapped young child who called 999 because his/her house had been broken into and waiting for help before the robbers discovered him/her.
You may think this is active imagination on my part, but can you be totally sure that is not the case?
There were a few times where I found some people blocking the way of an ambulance and a fire engine at a traffic light.
The ambulance was right behind this first car and the traffic lights have just turned red and even with much honking and flashing, the car was afraid to budge and just moved an inch at a time.
C'mon, for the love of God, just breach that traffic light rule for once, and let the ambulance through!
The other cars at the other junctions would definitely stop when they spot the ambulance!
Do they understand every second; or even microsecond counts when it comes to emergencies?
It is funny how people would rush against the traffic lights when it turns amber to red but yet would obediently abide the law when there's an emergency van behind them?
Oh, and while you are giving way to the ambulance, sometimes if you spot a car that seems to be rushing along behind the ambulance, do give way as these could be their family members and loved ones who wanted to rush to the hospital at the same time in case if it is that last time.
Of course, undeniably, there would also possibly be other drivers who just take advantage of the emergency situation and just form another line to beat the traffic, but then again, who could tell?
If we had given way, we could have done a good turn.
I think all these require just plain common sense, which I sometimes feel may have died in this world.
Imagine if you had a loved one lying inside the ambulance and the time is crucial to ensure that he/she gets to the hospital in time for immediate medical aid and you are stuck in a traffic jam.
Imagine if your loved one is inside the ambulance and you are following his car and while the ambulance got through, other cars would not give way to you and you could not get to the hospital in time to see them for the last time.
Imagine if you are trapped inside a building on fire, and you are waiting and praying (not to mention suffocating) for the arrival of the fire truck, and you are almost dying from the smoke
That's why, the easiest thing to do is to just give way, whatever it takes, and be mindful of others who are driving on the road.
If you give way to one another, you will find that the roads will be a better place to drive on and everyone would be happy like in Utopia.
Now, to those troublemaker drivers and queue jumpers, just remember, that what goes around comes around, it is all in the circle of life.
I hope we can truly carry this thought in our mind when we drive on the road and we will definitely be happier and safer on the roads than before =)
I guess most of us who have been driving on the road for some time now have gone through that same situation somewhat or another.
It is frustrating sometimes although we do understand that we came from the junction and that we do have to give way to those who were driving straight and as the highway code specifies, drivers have to always give way to those on the right.
I do that all the time, but reverse the situation, if you were the one driving on the main road and you spot a car coming out of the small junction/road, would you give way to them?
I DO, I always flicker or flash to show them that they can come out now and I don't mind them driving ahead of me.
Of course, that depends on whether the cars behind me are speeding or I could risk getting my own car hit from the back as well and getting labeled reckless driver.
My point is, it is never a bad thing to give way to cars; sometimes I even give way to drivers on the left lane who are trying to go to the right lane.
Sometimes they may have reasons;
1. They made a mistake by going left when they are supposed to be going right
2. They are tourists and not familiar with the road (by this I mean not only international tourists, even local Malaysians from other states, they are also tourists)
3. There was a last minute change in their initial decision and they changed their destination and the driver was informed tad a bit too late.
There are many reasons, but it will not harm to just give way to people and if you find it hard and really competitive to not be able to give way, just ask yourself, "What are you really competing for if you can't even find space in your mind/heart to give way to others?"
"Will it make you late to an event, and be severely punished if you were late to the event?"
Some people drive like they are on a racing track; as if they were participating in a car race or something; fast and furious and just so "Snappy".
"Snappy" means they tailgate the car in front of them so closely and move immediately the car moves, leaving no space for others or even breathing space for the cars. Some are just this close to 'kissing' the bumper of the car in front of them.
Heaven forbid that if you were to make a turn into their lane, they would maneuver their car with all their rage and might to make sure you do not get in; even to the point of seriously 'almost' hitting your car's headlights or the side of the car.
If you were the same raging driver trying to get into the lane yourself and forced your way in, be prepared for some serious and loud honking and flashing and vulgar profanities hurled at you behind your back.
Sometimes, these could lead to road bullies incidents as well whereby the two parties end up fighting and killing each other over the fact that he overtook him and ended knocking his car.
I mean, think about all this, is it not just plain ridiculous that we have to resort to solving a simple problem like that this way?
Did that really require violence?
Even if there was not a fight, there will be unseen or trapped anger raging inside the two drivers and if some of them were mean enough, they could take down the number plate and plot for revenge in the future.
It is eerie how driving can sound like some battlefield sometimes.
Think of it, what if the car which was just trying to get into others' lane was rushing for an emergency and he had to swerve in and out to get to this destination in the shortest possible time.
It might sound uncanny but it could be true too, right?
That brings me to another issue; ambulances, fire brigade and police cars, in short, any vehicle with a siren and serving the public and government are always in emergencies.
There are no question about that.
While it comforts me that our society is still educated and cultured enough to give way to ambulances with loud sirens, it also bothers me that that seems to be the only vehicle they give way to.
Please be mindful that besides ambulances and fire engines, police cars are also to be treated with respect, regardless of the general perspective there is on policemen.
These police cars could be rushing to nab a thief or a dangerous wanted and armed criminal; or they could also be rushing to the aid of a trapped young child who called 999 because his/her house had been broken into and waiting for help before the robbers discovered him/her.
You may think this is active imagination on my part, but can you be totally sure that is not the case?
There were a few times where I found some people blocking the way of an ambulance and a fire engine at a traffic light.
The ambulance was right behind this first car and the traffic lights have just turned red and even with much honking and flashing, the car was afraid to budge and just moved an inch at a time.
C'mon, for the love of God, just breach that traffic light rule for once, and let the ambulance through!
The other cars at the other junctions would definitely stop when they spot the ambulance!
Do they understand every second; or even microsecond counts when it comes to emergencies?
It is funny how people would rush against the traffic lights when it turns amber to red but yet would obediently abide the law when there's an emergency van behind them?
Oh, and while you are giving way to the ambulance, sometimes if you spot a car that seems to be rushing along behind the ambulance, do give way as these could be their family members and loved ones who wanted to rush to the hospital at the same time in case if it is that last time.
Of course, undeniably, there would also possibly be other drivers who just take advantage of the emergency situation and just form another line to beat the traffic, but then again, who could tell?
If we had given way, we could have done a good turn.
I think all these require just plain common sense, which I sometimes feel may have died in this world.
Imagine if you had a loved one lying inside the ambulance and the time is crucial to ensure that he/she gets to the hospital in time for immediate medical aid and you are stuck in a traffic jam.
Imagine if your loved one is inside the ambulance and you are following his car and while the ambulance got through, other cars would not give way to you and you could not get to the hospital in time to see them for the last time.
Imagine if you are trapped inside a building on fire, and you are waiting and praying (not to mention suffocating) for the arrival of the fire truck, and you are almost dying from the smoke
That's why, the easiest thing to do is to just give way, whatever it takes, and be mindful of others who are driving on the road.
If you give way to one another, you will find that the roads will be a better place to drive on and everyone would be happy like in Utopia.
Now, to those troublemaker drivers and queue jumpers, just remember, that what goes around comes around, it is all in the circle of life.
I hope we can truly carry this thought in our mind when we drive on the road and we will definitely be happier and safer on the roads than before =)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Price Hike affects everything!
I ordered one of my favorite sweet dessert soup; the sweet potato soup with sago from this stall I used to blog about in my food blog in the Cecil Road market a few weeks ago and I was surprised to be asked for an additional payment of 30 cents to the usual price I paid.
The bowl of 'tong sui' now costs RM1.50; where it used to cost RM1.20 (previously it was only RM0.90, then RM1 if you were to have it there. Only take-aways will be charged at an additional price of 10cents)
I have not even asked the question but the old auntie straightaway explained that the sugar price had increased and they had to increase the price of their desserts.
Yeah, that was definitely a reasonable and justificable explanation for the price increase; only this; the price of sugar increased by 25 cents per kg.
Hawkers or food providers truly take full advantage of the situation by increasing each plate/bowl/serving of their food by the same amount which the increase is applicable to kgs.
It is definitely outrageous and despicable; do you honestly think we are going to buy the story that you used the whole kg to make this one bowl of dessert soup?
I find it ridiculous how these vendors are justifying themselves on something which seemed so illogical; just to maximize their profits despite calls by the government warning vendors not to increase prices in their sector drastically.
It seemed that these calls fell on deaf ears.
Everyone is affected; of course, despite the assurance that there will be controls over unreasonable vendors like these.
The price of sugar was not the only one affected too; as we have been hit with yet another round of price hike in petrol.
I have even lost count of the number of times petrol has increased in this year; and this year alone.
What is going on here?
If everything is facing dire circumstances due to the revoking of subsidies, then how about the wages of us working people?
We have been stretched to work our butts off to earn a decent living to be able to afford some basic necessities and to place food on the table and by the time we earn enough, things are not the same anymore and we find that we need to work even harder.
Our wages do not seem to be taking after the same pattern; one hike after another.
There are some who were much worse, they have even lost their jobs.
Do we really want to force people to the extent of robbing or stealing from others in order to send their children to school, or to put food on the table?
Do we really want the next hike to be in the crime rates as well?
It has been a neverending story of the reason of all the price hikes; and fuel itself has already been ascending that ladder since, I can't even remember when.
The price hikes are not minimal nor negligible; as the price hike of 20 cents and above do make a great difference.
Just the other day, I was trying to replenish the supply of my products, and I was surprised to be told that the prices would increase soon too.
What, since when beauty products/cosmetics use sugar or fuel too?
For goodness sake, these are not even local products.
Then I went for dinner and parked the car in the carpark which usually charges RM1 flat rate for the parking and you guessed right, they told us that it is now RM1.50
Yeah, do you pave your car park floors with sugar and fuel?
Everything is on the rise, and I am telling you, poverty and crime rates will soon follow.
I am disappointed with all these constant hikes; and I pray for those who are struggling to get through their daily lives with a meager earning of less than a 1,000 and even those who are jobless.
Let's hope that there will be more consideration before the next hike and also that all those vendors would also be more rational in their pricing.
The bowl of 'tong sui' now costs RM1.50; where it used to cost RM1.20 (previously it was only RM0.90, then RM1 if you were to have it there. Only take-aways will be charged at an additional price of 10cents)
I have not even asked the question but the old auntie straightaway explained that the sugar price had increased and they had to increase the price of their desserts.
Yeah, that was definitely a reasonable and justificable explanation for the price increase; only this; the price of sugar increased by 25 cents per kg.
Hawkers or food providers truly take full advantage of the situation by increasing each plate/bowl/serving of their food by the same amount which the increase is applicable to kgs.
It is definitely outrageous and despicable; do you honestly think we are going to buy the story that you used the whole kg to make this one bowl of dessert soup?
I find it ridiculous how these vendors are justifying themselves on something which seemed so illogical; just to maximize their profits despite calls by the government warning vendors not to increase prices in their sector drastically.
It seemed that these calls fell on deaf ears.
Everyone is affected; of course, despite the assurance that there will be controls over unreasonable vendors like these.
The price of sugar was not the only one affected too; as we have been hit with yet another round of price hike in petrol.
I have even lost count of the number of times petrol has increased in this year; and this year alone.
What is going on here?
If everything is facing dire circumstances due to the revoking of subsidies, then how about the wages of us working people?
We have been stretched to work our butts off to earn a decent living to be able to afford some basic necessities and to place food on the table and by the time we earn enough, things are not the same anymore and we find that we need to work even harder.
Our wages do not seem to be taking after the same pattern; one hike after another.
There are some who were much worse, they have even lost their jobs.
Do we really want to force people to the extent of robbing or stealing from others in order to send their children to school, or to put food on the table?
Do we really want the next hike to be in the crime rates as well?
It has been a neverending story of the reason of all the price hikes; and fuel itself has already been ascending that ladder since, I can't even remember when.
The price hikes are not minimal nor negligible; as the price hike of 20 cents and above do make a great difference.
Just the other day, I was trying to replenish the supply of my products, and I was surprised to be told that the prices would increase soon too.
What, since when beauty products/cosmetics use sugar or fuel too?
For goodness sake, these are not even local products.
Then I went for dinner and parked the car in the carpark which usually charges RM1 flat rate for the parking and you guessed right, they told us that it is now RM1.50
Yeah, do you pave your car park floors with sugar and fuel?
Everything is on the rise, and I am telling you, poverty and crime rates will soon follow.
I am disappointed with all these constant hikes; and I pray for those who are struggling to get through their daily lives with a meager earning of less than a 1,000 and even those who are jobless.
Let's hope that there will be more consideration before the next hike and also that all those vendors would also be more rational in their pricing.
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