Happy New Year to you and you and you

KEEP YOUR OLD VINYLS. THEY ARE WORTH A FORTUNE.

About 2 or 3 years ago, I came across an article in a British music magazine highlighting the worth of old records sold world wide. One of the records was the 7" SP "Living Doll" by Cliff Richard, recorded in 1959. It was valued at almost RM200!!!! I quickly made a check with one of my boxes containing these 7" vinyls and what do you know, I still have the copy.

I do not know how many of you still keep old vinyls because these items certainly worth a lot, and you will never know you will be sitting on a gold mine in time to come. It is indeed a good investment for our kids and grandkids. To think that I bought it for only RM2.50 in the early sixties.

This "Living Doll" release was the only one listed by the magazine. Strange they didn't mention Cliff's other releases.

A close-up shot of the vinyl

The blogger and his RM200 Living Doll

 

 

As I end my posting for the year, may I take this opportunity to wish all my friends out there a very Happy New Year and may 2014 bring renewed hopes to you.

A warm season's greeting ....

 

And may 2014 brings renewed hopes to you too.

The Cobbold Commission

Ever since the ruling on the 'Allah' issue by the Court of Appeal in October, the 18 and the 20-point agreements with Sarawak and Sabah have once again been brought to the fore front in our national discussions.

But what was the role of the Cobbold Commission insofar as the two agreements are concerned.

The Cobbold Commission, was a Commission of Enquiry set up to determine whether the people of North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak supported the proposal to create the Malaysia consisting of Malaya, Brunei, Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak. It was also responsible for the subsequent drafting of the Constitution of Malaysia prior to the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. The Commission was headed by former Bank of England governor, Lord Cobbold.

The above photo shows the signing of the Cobbold Report of the Commission of Enquiry, North Borneo and Sarawak, at Knebworth House, London on 21 June 1962. The Commission comprises of five members, chaired by Lord Cobbold, a former governor of the Bank of England, its members comprises of Dato' Wong Pow Nee (second from right) and Encik Mohd Ghazali bin Shafie (first from right), representing the government of Malaya, while Sir Anthony Abell and Sir David Watherston, the representative of the British government. Mr. H. Harris acted as the Secretary.

The Sabahans and the Sarawakians want a review of the agreements but why is UMNO Baru shying away from it?

The Queen's Christmas Broadcast, 1957

The first televised Christmas Broadcast or 'Queen's Speech', filmed at Sandringham House in Norfolk

My, what do you know. This guy is also a 'pendatang'.

Nelson Mandela dies

Mandela, shown in 2010, married Winnie Madikileza in 1958. (Alexander Joe/Reuters)

Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest leaders of modern times, passed away Thursday at his home in Johannesburg after a prolonged lung infection. He was 95.

South African President Jacob Zuma announced that Mandela, "the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed," adding that he "passed on peacefully."

"Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," Zuma said.

"Our thoughts are with the millions of people who embraced Mandela as their own and who saw his cause as their cause.… This is the moment of our deepest sorrow.”

Mandela will be accorded a state funeral, Zuma said, and national flags will be lowered to half-mast.
"We saw in him what we seek in ourselves. And in him we saw so much of ourselves," he said. "Nelson Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell."

Mandela's respiratory problems in recent years may be connected to his imprisonment, when he contracted tuberculosis after working in a prison quarry. He had been in hospital in recent months.

His hospitalization on June 8, 2013, marked his fifth visit to hospital in two years. In April 2013, he spent 10 days in hospital after being treated for pneumonia.

Mandela was a prominent international figure for more than half a century, first as a leading human
rights campaigner in South Africa and then as the world's best-known political prisoner.

Following his release, he again became the leader of the anti-apartheid struggle, and in 1994 became the first president of a democratic South Africa.

On July 18, 2009, the first Mandela Day declared by the United Nations, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke about how "Nelson Mandela has made a lasting imprint on our lives."