Welcome Back, Giuk.Net aka The Worm

Welcome back, Giuk.Net aka The Worm. There was a delay of about two days. It was supposed to have been re-launched on 19th April 2009 but only hit the cyber space a couple of days later. But that was only a minor hitch. What's more important is that it's back. After all, we had waited for so long.So what's wrong with waiting for just two more days.

Yes, the Worm (Giuk means worm in the Malay language, the national language of Malaysia) is back; but albeit with a new tag line. It's no longer "From Sabah to the World". It's now "Crawling The Web For Sabah Blogs", which I think is a more appropriate title for it tells the visitor or potential visitor at once what the site is about.

I also noticed that there was also a change of 'management' (I would not say ownership,correct me if I'm wrong). However, the name or nick of the old 'Big Boss' (to borrow the site's own term) was still listed alongside with the new one. They are respectively mrBadak.com (the old) and WebGrrrl.net.

Thank you for mentioning Mr Badak (Rhino), Lorna aka WebGrrrl. That's the way, for after all without him there would not have been an aggregator for Sabah blogs in the first place. To be ungrateful would be tantamount to being 'Kacang Melupakan Kulit' (The Peanut Forgets Its Skin). Thanks for agreeing to save the Worm from being buried for good too, Lorna.

The only 'disappointment' was 'former' bloggers of Giuk.Net had to re-register to have their posts appear in the new list. But this is a minor problem. I'm sure most local bloggers don't mind. It's a good way to re-launch anyway. After all, some 'former' bloggers of the Worm may not even be still active or no longer interested since so much time had lapsed.

The other 'disappointment' was I couldn't get into Giuk.Net since its relaunch until today. There must have been a heavy traffic since so many people missed it for so many months. Good start for the WebGrrrl. Congratulations, Lorna and not forgetting the founder, the Rhino.

The other good news is that although it was re-launched only on April 21, I noticed that posts of days older were also included. Good thinking on the part of the WebGrrrl and good for the bloggers.

To conclude, I hope it wouldn't take too long for the new administrator to update the posts. It's now 24-hour and Lorna has promised to improve it to 12-hour before long. After which, she should strive for 6-hour. After all, Mr Badak's was 1-hour or the most 2-hour. Challenge for you there, WebGrrrl. Good luck.

Once again, Congratulations, Best Wishes and Good Luck.

Be Patient With The Worm

Two days ago, I wrote that the much-awaited re-launch of Giuk.Net (aka Worm) or 'From Sabah to the World' would be on Sunday 19th April 2009.

That day came and went, but there was no sign of the re-launch; unless they got a new address which I do not know.

Well, there must be a good reason. For example, technical hitches. Even launching of rockets or satellites get postponed.

We have waited for months, so what's there to wait for a few more days.

Let's just be patient with the web master or administrator, Mr Badak, and wish him luck.

I am sure the Worm will be back shortly and Sabah bloggers will be 'exported' to the world again.

April 19th - D Day for Sabah Bloggers

My regular visitors would notice that under my Sabah Bloggers column on the left, right down the bottom, there is a web site called From Sabah to the World. Actually, this is just the Tagline. The actual site name and address is Giuk.Net.

As the Tagline suggests, it is a site or rather community for Sabah bloggers and aimed at the world because Internet means borderless world=globalisation. Giuk.Net has at least 100 members, easily more.

However, as most of you especially non-Giuk members would have noticed, for the past few months all you see is a Giuk (Worm) literally when you click on From Sabah to the World. The reason was obvious, it was under attack by the real worm, this time.

That was why it was at the bottom of my Sabah Bloggers list because my list is automatically set according to the most recent items.

I cannot speak on behalf of other Giuk members, although I think most would share my views, but life without Giuk.Net was never the same. This was because I was so used to clicking on it after viewing my home page which is also my own blog. Charity begins at home.

Meaning From Sabah to the World is No.2 to me in terms of importance after my own blog. This is because to be a blogger is one thing (you're on your own), but to be a member of a local community like Giuk.Net gives you a sense of belonging; not to mention the traffic that it brings to your blog. There may be other home-grown communities around started by Sabahans but as far as I'm concerned, Giuk.Net is THE community. After all, it was the first local online community introduced to me when I started blogging almost two years ago.

A few hours ago, as usual I clicked on From Sabah to the World out of curiosity; expecting to see the by now familar worm which I am so used to seeing the past few months. But surprise, surprise, finally I saw something different and positive - a short announcement by the administrator that Giuk.Net will be relaunched "on a computer screen near you" on April 19.

The long wait is over by Sunday. All I can say is: Congratulations and thank you for not giving up to the founder and administrator, Mr Badak (mrbadak.com). Welcome back, Giuk.

Can't wait till Sunday. Before it was attacked by the real worm, I couldn't wait to see my post or article listed in From Sabah to the World each time after I wrote something new in my blog. I would wait patiently, refreshing the page until I see my post listed. And it was thrilling to see my post being among the most-viewed sometimes. So, not just sense of belonging, but also sense of satisfaction or achievement sometimes.

Carry on the good job Mr Badak. Well-done. Happy Easter and may God bless you.

In Memory of Jimmy Tee

It was only a few weeks ago, when I turned 55, that I wrote I knew how previous life is because I frequently go to the funeral parlour to pray for the dead.

Recently, I received another sad news. A childhood friend of mine from Tamparuli, though he was a few years my junior, passed away.

The late Jimmy Tee was close to me and my fellow bandboys in the 1970s because he liked singing. In the 1980s, when I had stopped being an active musician, he cut his first album; those days still in cassette form.

I'm not sure exactly in what year he recorded the album. The above picture is actually the cover sleeve of his cassette. To read the song titles better, click on the pic to enlarge it.

Between the late 1960s and early 1970s, his eldest brother Johnny used to sing with my band in parties or functions. We also went for recording in RTM, those days still known as Radio Sabah. People still listened to radio then as TV was just being introduced in Sabah.

The late Jimmy was also a younger brother of Datuk Dr Johnson Tee, secretary-general of PBRS party and a local expert on logistics especially maritime; thus his appointment as a Board Member of the Sabah Ports Authority. He is not a medical doctor but a Phd holder.

Jimmy was also a brother-in-law of Patrick Jilan, also a senior PBRS official and Deputy Chairman of the Sabah Parks Board of Trustees and owner of the Linangkit Cultural Village in Tuaran (http://www.linangkit.com).

Rest in peace, Jimmy. You will be missed, especially if I have a reunion with my former bandboys.

Happy & Blessed Easter

A very Happy and Blessed Easter to all my Christian visitors, wherever you are.

I hope it's not too late. After all, it's Easter Monday. In fact, in certain parts of the World, it's only Easter Sunday.

As all Christians know, Easter is to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ., just as Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the Son of God Hence the world-famous mantra - The Lord Is Risen, Alleluia!

But alas, again just like Christmas, Easter has in recent years become more and more 'commercialised'. Just as during Christmas you have Santa Claus, for Easter you have the Easter Bunny and so on.

The business establishments, including hotels, restaurants, and entertainment spots waste no time in capitalising on these festive ocassions too. Christmas Eve dinner & dance? Easter Egg-hunting contest? I thought we should be in Church praying!

Celebrate by all means, but NOT the way the business establishments expect us to do. Why make them richer at the expense of our spirituality? Perhaps a family meal would be better.