RandomThots

Sad Ending Siege

2010-08-24T14:15:00.005+10:00

Seriously, one has to wonder at the thought process.

To prove my innocence in alleged crimes of extortion, I shall kidnap a bus-load of tourists.

Nope. Can't follow it. And rightly so. I wouldn't like to think like a hostage-taker.

For context: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/world/asia/24phils.html?src=me

Found while browsing the supermarket aisles...

2010-08-08T04:36:00.000+10:00

The biscuit formerly known as golliwog? Relics of a time gone by, I
think this is what happens to politically incorrect snacks in a PC
world.

What would Enid Blyton say?

Hear Ye Hear Ye

2010-05-20T16:42:00.004+10:00

I would just like to let it be known that Yeo's Chicken Rendang (with Chef Wan's face on the tin) is NOT good.

Actually it IS good. As an argument against eating canned meat.

Yes I suppose it is quite gross to be eating something seeping in juices that has been dead for an unknown number of months (or years).

Well, now I know for sure.

Yeo's Chicken Rendang (with Chef Wan's face on the tin) is NOT good.

Dental work is just highly skilled plumbing

2010-05-18T17:56:00.004+10:00

After a gap of at least a year, I went to the dentist today and found a disgraceful amount of cavities.

Some filling was necessary.

But as the high-pitched drilling sound was resonating in my head, this scary thought struck me:

Dentists are basically putting mini power tools in your mouth and doing plumbing work.

How is that not scary?

I wanted to paste some picture of dental work being done with power tools.

But googling led me to find that horses' teeth are actually worked on by power tools.

Man.... sucks to be a horse.

Oh, and it just struck me it is my second horsey post in a row. Gee...

I have to share the odd coincidence that after yesterday's post, i drove by 3 trucks of polo horses on the way home.

It was funny because the horses were travelling by car.

Am I a Neighsayer of Cars? Hur hur hur I did not just make that pun...

2010-05-17T14:40:00.025+10:00

As I drove to work today, I passed by what looked suspiciously like horse droppings on the road. This is unusual as I live in Kuala Lumpur.

There are no horses in Kuala Lumpur (save perhaps in the zoo, in horse riding centres and at the sultan's palace).

Anyway, I then started fantasizing, as I was stuck in my little metal box, about a time when equine travel was again possible. I mean, the more I thought about it, the more I could frame:

Arguments for Horsey Travel

1) Horses are environmentally-friendlier! They do not give out noxious carbon fumes, only noxious methane gases. Here I shall attempt to get sciencey, so pardon me or skip to next point if bored.

Of course someone else did the math and I just plagiarised it... but credit given where credit's due:http://ezinearticles.com/?Cows-Vs-Cars---The-Methane-Versus-Carbon-Dioxide-Battle&id=2877531

From another page, I found out that a dairy cow produces twice as much as waste as a pony and about 1/6th more than a medium horse. Taking that into account, here's how a horse squares up against your car.

A car on average produces 4100 pounds of CO2 a year

A cow on average produces 220 pounds of methane a year so a horse is at around 183 pounds

However, as a greenhouse gas, methane is 20 times as harmful as CO2! Therefore, in terms of greenhouse harm, a car = 4100 while a cow=4400 and a horse = 3660

Ha! I am still at a win for the horse! But you might want to rethink your consumption of steak for the planet's sake. (also seeing as how there are vastly more cows in the world than there are cars)

2) Fuel economy. Again, more information appropriated from this site:http://fatknowledge.blogspot.com/2005/05/horses-vs-cars.html

Math math math and what you get is that a pony can travel approximately 1.25 miles/pound of feedwhereas a car working on switchgrass fuel (sorry that dude's post was based on one where he discussed this new biofuel made from a grass so that's what he bases his calculations on) will travel 0.83 miles/pound of switchgrass.

3) It's a pony! WHICH LITTLE GIRL DOESN'T WANT A PONY!?!?

4) Horses can be your friends. Or at least that's what i learned from My Little Pony.

5) Horses produce their own substitutes. Never have to pay for a car again... EVER! You will have to have about a year of just feeding and no travel benefits though, i suppose.

6) Used horseshoes can become a fun game of horseshoe toss

7) Horses that turn out exceptionally fast can be invested into horse racing - i hear tell it is lucrative. Then they can be studs when they are older. Can your car get you money for producing fast little heirs?

8) Old horses can become satay or glue. (i did NOT say that *gasp*)

9) Horses can jump fences

10) Horses can keep the grass on your lawn short

11) Horses can snort at your enemies

12) They are just cool and you can give them names like Binky

Horse wins!

However, it would be unfair if i didn't point out that

A horse cannot carry a family of four
Plus luggage
A horse can't travel for much more than 40 km a day (that's just about enough to make it to Klang from KL, for those of us numerically disadvantaged folks)
Horses need to eat a lot. All day.
Horses poo. And you need to clean that up.
Horses are moody. Will your boss let you skip work cos your house was throwing a tantrum?
Horses smell horsey. As will your clothes. And your hair. And y0u.

Ah well, perhaps someday my dream will see fruition. We will hark back to the days when men were white knights on big horses and women were swooning over their machodom. But we will be doing it while sipping espressos and talking on our iPhones of course.

Because this has already been full of horses, let me take the opportunity to throw in a fat pony.

This be my fat pony sent to me by Aaron. (he being an awesome boyfriend *mush mush*)

And this be the comic.

*the picture refuses to scale down for me so if you would be so kind to click 'open in a new page' then you will see it in all its full glory*

It was an appropriate comic, thinks I.

More wonderful fat pony goodness (as well as other great historical stuff) can be found at Kate Beaton's comic site.

You must love her, because I do.

Okay, less ponies and more work! *neigh*!

Sukan adalah Muhibah

2010-05-13T17:22:00.002+10:00

Quickly, while Malaysia is still in the Thomas Cup, I have to share my experience of my first live badminton match. Knowing that in most of the football matches I have watched live, I've always wished there was running commentary and instant replays, I was a little unsure what a live badminton match would be like. The crowd always seems a little crazy on TV and the court might be really far away, will i lose interest halfway?

Well, mum and I thought since the Thomas Cup is in town let's go watch it. Fate would have it that I've got stuff on during the Finals and the Quarters (kiasu watch the best mah, right?) and that may have been a fortunate turn of fate because our Malaysian team looks shaky on their feet at the moment, having lost just the day before our match to Japan. (Japan? Not quite the powerhouse, you would think).

Arriving at the stadium, we passed by the stalls selling food and badminton gear and ambled our way to our seats. Oh, and they gave us a free little Malaysian flag to wave too. Yay Malaysia! Of courseon the way we stocked up on snack food! Pizza, and a hot dog and some really really tasty chips! If you spot Ireland Potatoes anymore, do try their chips with wasabi mayonnaise! Good fat chips are hard to find. It's a bonus that you have seats and are able to enjoy your meal slowly.

The match started pretty on time with Germany and Japan squaring off directly in front of me and Malaysia vs. Denmark in the court next door (which was still relatively near - arguably better to have a bit of a side view). I really pity Germany and Japan because naturally most of the stadium was shouting for Malaysia and even when Chong Wei made his entrance to "Eye of the Tiger" (hahaha we will never tire of that song), the crowd was going crazy with screams of Malaysia Boleh and the whole time the German and Japanese players had to just suck it up, deal with it and continue playing. I suppose that is home country privilege. :P

Have to say that Chong Wei and the pairing of KKK-Tan pretty much breezed through their matches. But it was when it came to our 3rd game that stuff got pretty... haha.. what shall i say, worked up?

In particular i thought this instance was damned funny and particularly 1Malaysia. Our 2nd doubles team (Abdul Malik - Hoon) was playing fairly terribly at one point and they kept dropping really easy points. I mean, against tall Danish players what does one do... feed the shuttlecock really high up, right? (-_-")
I love that the guy sitting behind me shouted 'Ah macam tu la! Mereka pendek aje! Bagi tinggi tinggi mereka tak boleh dapat lah!" hehehe... the crowd was SO agitated by how we were losing easy points!
Then at one stage, a dude sitting quite a few rows behind started shouting "Malaysia! Main la! Bodoh! OOoOoiiII!!!Kick their f*cking ass!!" I glanced behind and saw a superly red-faced Chinese man at the edge of his seat and I think if i had looked closer, I could probably have spotted some veins popping out at his temple. Lo and behold though, after that scolding they actually scored! He kept quiet for the next service and our team lost points again.

Then the guy seated behind me stood up and turned to the angry man and shouted "Bos! Marah lagi bos! Marah lagi!"hahaha.. the whole crowd laughed along and seriously, i kid you not. He shouted again and they won the next few points.

That's teamwork for you! hahaha... There were also lots of heartening Malaysia Boleh chants and I really did feel some sense of camaraderie with all the people I was sitting with. Chatting with the makcik next to me the whole way and we even jaga each other's bags when going out to toilet, etc.

I have to say I have never felt more muhibah in Malaysia than while cheering on our team. The two chubby boys in front of us were soooo involved in the match you could one of the boys' frustration when we dropped shots. He'd flick his wrist and make a loud Tsk noise. And it was quite entertaining to see him praying when our chances of staying in the cup rested on the last few shots by our third singles player Hafiz.

Kudos to him by the way, he played excellently last night and I don't blame him. I think if he had lost there would have been chances of a crowd lynching!

There was also the kompang man decked out in his Malaysia flag outfit. From the stripey pants to the knitted jalur gemilang on his hat, he was really great at encouraging the crowd and players, and i appreciated that he knew when to keep quiet as the game started again.

Anyway, this has been a long play by play, i just wanted to convey that i think sport is such a great nation-building exercise and really, that is worth so much more than all the 1Malaysia ads/songs you could ever put up.

If it worked for South Africa, it can work for us.

Oh, and although i think China will massacre us in the quarters tomorrow,

MALAYSIA BOLEH!!

A Lesson in Minding your Media

2010-03-26T19:18:00.005+11:00

I would like to express my deepest gratitude, first of all, to Weng Lum for sharing this article with me: TNB to Sue WWF Over Earth Hour, and then to the blogger at nose4news for entertaining me so well this Friday afternoon.

My initial reaction reading the article was 'OMG. The bastards. Are you sure?' And a bit of googling helped me find out that I was not the only one outraged. Upon closer scrutiny though, the top heading of 'Asia’s Biggest Loser loses rest of body weight, disappears into thin air' did seem a little bit suspect. Haha.. a fact I proceeded to share with Weng.

After which our gaze diverted to the banner. (this is the point when you do the same for that 'Oh.. i get it' moment)

Anyway, I totally love this website now. nose4news And yes I was tempted into browsing the archives whereby i was simultaneously impressed and disgusted by the Malaysian intellect.

Totally impressed that there's a satirist sophisticated enough to come up with these news articles. Reads really well and is so DARNED funny with the visuals (haha.. Keris Kebenaran is classy) but at the same time SO DEPRESSED that even with the glaring banner, the many comments indicating that it is all a fake, there are still SO MANY IDIOTS in Malaysia.

Post in point is this one: Sabah & Sarawak to be Relocated

Here are my fave bits of the article (including the marvelously photoshopped map)

Before: Malaysia as it is

After: Malaysia post-cosmetic surgery

“It’s a big project, costing well over RM850 trillion,” said Najib. “The project would take 10 years to complete, since we’d need to move all the soil, water sources, flora, fauna, man-made structures and of course, the people. But it’ll be worth it, since we’ll truly be 1Malaysia.”

“Of course, we might ‘improve’ some things when we rebuild the states. We’re thinking, maybe Mount Kinabalu could be higher than Everest. I mean, why not? It’s not every day that you get to change what nature has given us.
“And if we take the soil from inside Gua Niah and use it to add on Mount Kinabalu’s height, we’d get both a bigger cave and taller mountain, effectively rewriting two Guinness World Records. Now that’s what I call value for money!”

On protests by the Kelantan state government, citing the ‘loss of a coastline’ and ‘off-shore petroleum’, Najib said that this is of national interest, and the opposition-held state administration should not be so selfish.
“These people simply refuse to understand the importance of 1Malaysia. They keep on looking a the small things like the death of their fishing industry or the loss of billions of ringgit of income.
“Serves the Kelantanese people right for voting in such small-minded leaders.”

Okay, so the post, we agree, is superbly well-written so you would suspect it of being genuine. What more because our ministers HAVE said some questionable things before, i.e: "We are not saying that they cannot use Facebook or Twitter but when using such facilities they must upkeep the values taught by Islam, Buddhism or Christianity to maintain our culture," but you haven't seen anything til you've read the comments.

Idris
December 14, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Better use these trillions of RM to improve the institutions of learning, give our scholarships to the poor based on merit, build more technical colleges to develop skills of students who are not so academically-inclined ie for skills upgrading so these people can find a job, build better hospitals and look at ways to improve the public healthcare systems, improve the roads and upgrade the computer systems of public offices. Basically, use the money to stimulate the econony and build it, enhance it, grow it for the properity of the Rakyat.
This moronic PM comes up with idea to siphon off the Rakyat’s money. He should do a feasibility study first. To me, this is gonna be a useless project.
Bodoh punya orang.
Bertaubatlah Najib. Insyallah.
Idris.

Okaylah Idris. You posted as soon as the post came up. Forgive your stupidity. Noone told you yet.

Brokenheart
December 15, 2009 at 12:27 am
Our PM suddenly became God when he talks like this.If God said it I beleive because God can do all the IMPOSSIBLE which humanly think is impossible,for example an earthquake or tsunami can change landscape.So I do not know what God or gods our PM pray to that made him think and want to act like God.If this idea comes then those gods can be very dangerous and we have seen that with the ** incident.We better pray hard for the mind of our PM to stay in good shape.

One day later - still got excuse?

retard
December 15, 2009 at 1:16 am
this is simply not feasible because the maintenance just to keep the two new land masses from disappearing due to poor shoddy workmanship would cost 400 quadrillion a year.

This is a classy comment though.

FUTURE PM
January 2, 2010 at 2:35 pm
wtf is this ! 850 trillion my S !
Dont talk about the money, think of the citizens condition.. Dont you ever think they will get nightmare when sleeping, been torturing for 10yrs, it is like the earth is not safer anymore !
Can you ensure that no one will die !
Can you ensure that no building will collapse!
Can you ensure that ALL THE CITIZENS want this to be happened ?
Say this is democratic country, do the people have the right to say YES / NO for this project!
Why dont you run a survey to get permission first !
MONEY !!
Our hard earn money !! 10yrs squeezing people money into your ‘pocket’
We are your citizens not your toys !
PM ! cant your just think for us, switching your position as a citizen, dont always be on top! you miss out alot of things. Whatever you think is not the ppl need ! Cmon you have to be more mature !
WHat you spoken, doesnt ever convince the people! WE ARE LIKE LIVING IN HELL SOON ! ” Peepo cross-finger ! we will be tortured soon, enjoy the best for now !

But seriously, after a month?

Anyway, my point being that the government is sometimes really stupid but erm.. when you see how people lap up anything typed in a posh enough font - then you understand why we are where we are, huh?

I for one choose to revel in the few who question and then write hilarious articles. Thanks nose4news! Will be checking back often :)

And to everyone else, check your facts before you believe everything!

(and switch off your lights 8.30pm - 9.30 pm on Saturday the 27th March. Pretty sure TNB employees won't be losing their bonuses)

India Alive!

2010-03-08T23:21:00.003+11:00

Three months into the year and my last post was in November of last! *gasp*
Unforgiveable.
On the off chance people may still perceive this blog to be alive, i shall jot down my observations of India.
What is that? Yes.. i Did go to India (finally!) and i have to say to my former postmodernist tutor NO! I did NOT prepare myself spiritually for it and I think i came out FINE. *pooh pooh*
Anyway, the place is simultaneously frustrating, amazing, beautiful, dirty, friendly, full of con-artists and really infuriatingly a hodge podge of humanity. You get the best AND the worst, i reckon. However, i think the craziest thing of all is how in that huge mess that it is, the place just works.
How can a town full of cows and goats and shit all over, with nary a proper sewage system, zooming rickshaws everywhere and just a seething mass of people... how can it work? But it does! And that is Incredible India. Love it and hate it all at once.
Anyhoos, a little teaser to whet your appetite and hopefully I will get to uploading and blogging more in the near future :)

Yay Cookbook!

2009-11-11T19:04:00.002+11:00

Oh, I'm so sorry i abandoned you dearest Blog o' mine.
Turkey was way too awesome though and I will WILL WILL eventually get photos up, kay?
The shitty streamyx connection isn't helping (plus a ton of work and end-of-year syndrome!)

Anyway, let me kickstart you with a gloat.

Winning is fun =)

Jeannie wins cookbook through BookXcess blog competition!

And the winning delectably deliciously devoursome entry is as follows:

The best dessert I ever ate,
Was never served upon a plate;
Isn’t classified a cake,
Not even something you can bake.

But warm and rich, straight from the pot,
Slightly cooled and not too hot;
I’d lick off from mum’s wooden spoon,
The sweetness that would make me swoon.

Chocolate icing thick and oozy,
Chocolate high feels almost boozy;
Who wants icing on the cake?
The excess bits are what I’ll take!

For licking rights I’d fight my brother,
I love you, but go find another!
Thing to satisfy your craving,
Oh man… Now I’m left salivating.

I reckon poetry gives one brownie points. Especially when it's about chocolate!
And yes, true story. I did use to fight my brother for icing licking rights. He usually won the pot by virtue of being older (or was it 'cos I was fatter?) and I'd get to lick whatever i could scrape onto the big wooden spoon. (Still fine by me!)

ps: Winning is fun!

Tardy Thoughts and Turkey

2009-10-05T15:53:00.002+11:00

Zomg!
No updates since Tok Woot!
Well, lots has happened and also not so much.
I hang out a lot more on weekends. No big, exciting plans but enough to keep busy. And that makes me happy.
I have become a book fair hound. I think i average 3 new books a week. Such a monster. But seriously, if you also suffer cheap book fetishes, definitely go check out the Pearson/Penguin book sale at Pearson Publishing House (off Jalan Templer which is the left turn off the Federal Highway after the Naza showroom, assuming you are driving AWAY from midvalley... meh. Google it!)
I love the fact that eddie is back! He calls and I feel wanted =) and occasionally he is breakfast buddy!
I tried for, heard back from and then was ignored by Mix FM. *Big sigh* Radio deejay-dom needs more work.
I've been playing badminton semi-regularly. That's a MAJOR change for me! (And less aching now!)
Liverpool is in 'shambolic' form. *sigh* But Torres is still leng chai as ever. For a female football fan, that is of course a pretty big priority.
Oh, and biggest news of all... FAMILY HOLIDAY!
I am quite excited over the fact I don't have to slug it out in hostels and figure out where I am by myself. But coaches and zooming over sites is a bit of a sad thing. We are staying 3 extra days in Istanbul on our own so I have been reading up quite a bit for Turkey. I promise those pictures I will share, okay? (Have been lazy with Rembang but to be honest there isn't much to see there)
The itinery consists of Istanbul (Grand Bazaar! Haga Sofia! Blue Mosque! Topkapi Palace! Bosphorus River!), Troy (Eric Bana and Brad Pitt and a big wooden horse!), Cappadocia (potentially a hot air balloon ride and caves where the Catholics used to hide from the Romans i think), Ankara (the current capital of Turkey but i don't know much else) and of course, YUMMY FOOD!

Things i have learned since a week ago about Turkey:

There is OIL WRESTLING using extra virgin olive oil (less acidity so stings less) and has been source of homoerotic inspiration
Troy is in Turkey (=S) Honestly, had no idea.
The whirling dervishes perform a few times a week in the waiting room of a train station. When not totally touristy, they are actually quite mystical, as performers go into a trance-like state to do their spinning
Topkapi palace was main venue of a film called Topkapi that my parents watched about 40 years ago.
Topkapi palace is also the old palace of the sultans before administration moved from Istanbul (not Constantinople) to Ankara
Edirne is site of oil-wrestling festival and also closest to the Greek border
Turkey is actually pretty darn big... it looks like the size of Spain on the map.

I suppose I will learn more as I go along so, for Turkish enlightenment, do drop by in about 3 weeks. Yay Kebabs and Hummus!

Tok Wook and her 22 Husbands - a Malaysian Tale

2009-09-14T15:44:00.003+10:00

Image sourced from this Star article

This sprightly 107-year-old lady is like the Hugh Hefner of women. I say Like because although she HAS had 22 husbands, i think they were all sequential, and so all legal. The article refrained from including particulars, but apparently she's thinking of getting her 23rd husband because she is lonely while her current 37-year-old hubby is checked into rehab.

It begs the questions:
- what is her secret?
- what happened to the other 21 men?
- does this centenarian still get jiggy with it?

Apparently, Tok Wook has x number of children who are already old and dependent on their own children. Gosh.
I'd be really confused if i was invited to my great grandma's wedding.

Anyway, i'm not too certain if i'm proud or unsettled that there's at least one lady with her conquest of all these men.
What say you?
Kudos to the (great?) grandma being able to woo younger men
or
It's kinda icky please just stick to 22 and be happy?

And if you could live to 107... maybe the 22 husbands makes sense after all?

It's a Beautiful World (Now We're All Here)

2009-09-04T13:14:00.003+10:00

I heard this song on the radio and I fell absolutely in love with it. Lyrics searches were becoming fruitless and then i thought, hey, it had a nice piano bit. Let's give this Jim Brickman video a shot. And it is amazing. With the full orchestra backing and Adam Crossley's lulling voice, this is just one of those feel-good songs that makes me feel like i'm floating in a happy sea =)

Jim Brickman feat Adam Crossley : Beautiful World (We're All Here)

I'm really grateful for BFM (89.9), making that drive home in the buka puasa jam that much better because there are great songs for me to discover. Business station? Definitely not what i'd think of as my type, but the music is awesome possum so if you're sick of the commercial mainstream crap, give it a shot.

Yay to good music! It's been a while...

Religious RandomThot - Clean or Unclean?

2009-08-11T12:14:00.002+10:00

I know i've often spoke of how the three main monotheistic faiths are essentially the same thing evolved in different cultures. All religion ultimately just wants you to be good and do good, and that's what should matter.
It just struck me last night though, (thinking about these things as you do), that there are some pretty peculiar contrasts in religion, and the one that floated through my mind was:

Isn't it funny how Islam and Judaism tell you to refrain from eating swine, because it is a dirty meat? I've never quite understood the repulsion to pigs myself because those childhood viewings of Babe obviously affected me deep down inside. Plus they are so cute!

On the other hand, in Hinduism, beef is not eaten because cows are revered as a symbol of the sanctity of life. Givers of milk and hide, toilers in the field, and naturally... pissers.
No, really. Cow urine has been said to have untold health properties, which is why a group of people thought it was a good idea to turn it into a soft drink. Cow-ca Cola "has immense potential to cure various diseases."
Funny - i would've thought it would have the opposite effect.
It remains to be seen if the director of said cow urine venture had accurately predicted the latest in health fads:

"It will be a revolution of sorts. The acceptance of cow urine as a potent medicine is increasing day by day and once it comes as a cold drink, its demand will definitely increase. It will prove and justify the high stature accorded to a cow in Indian culture."

Oh, it'll be a revolution alright.

I'm sure everyone was just WAITING for a cow piss soft drink before snapping it up.

Anyway, I digress. It's just funny that on the one hand you don't consume it because it's pure; and on the other you don't because it's unclean.
So i guess you should stay in the middle way... and only eat the sort-of-dirty-but-clean-enough foods in between.

I Wish I Could Be a ... TAXI DRIVER ... for a Day

2009-08-05T17:18:00.005+10:00

Have you ever wondered... yes you, sitting behind the computer, typing inanely... if you weren't a cubicle monkey, what other jobs you could have taken? I don't know if it's just me but i'm naive enough to think that non-desk jobs have the simple appeal of being AWAY from a desk.

True. People who aren't in desk jobs are probably cursing the cushiness of those of us who are.. but i often wonder if i would have the pluck for Another Job. So, onwards a new string of RandomThots filled with naive perceptions of what another occupation would be like. I dub thee:

'What I Might've Been If I'd Grown Up...' a.k.a 'I Wish I Could Be in These Shoes for a Day'

Today's occupation is none other than the street savvy, sharp-mouthed Taxi driver. Staple of all good sitcoms (particularly, i have in mind Ranjeet from HIMYM... gah aaron, you got me addicted), a key figure in action-packed movies (Driver, follow that car!), serendipitious tool in rom coms (the same taxi driver will help you realise, as you're talking to him, how perfect that girl really was for you) and often the guy who waves his fist in the air and curses as the hero runs recklessly across the street, chasing the girl of his dreams. (I watch too many movies, huh?)

So, why a taxi driver? Not so much that I see myself as the catalyst for all great movies, but for some pretty boring reasons actually.

Can you imagine the navigational skills you'd have after a week behind the wheel? Owh yeah, who needs a GPS when you have shortcuts tattooed in your brain?
I love talking. I love pretending i know how to psychoanalyse people. Imagine just sitting on your ass all day and ferrying people around while getting to pick their brains about what they are doing and why. Here's some insight from this news article:
"You deal with 50 to 60 people a night, from drunks to drug users to NASA people to lawyers to drunk doctors," he said. "If you drive long enough, you'll meet every kind of person there is. You get people in here who think you're lower than them because you're driving a cab. You have to get them out of here quick or put them in their place quick. You never know who you'll meet in a cab." He said though he does not plan to drive a cab for much longer, he enjoys it now because of all the people and the experience. "Cab drivers are basically counselors, mobile bartenders," he said. "If we could serve drinks in here, we'd be rich."
A lot of cabs smell foul and look fouler. I'd like to be the car-proud cabbie who will go the extra mile by offering a wet wipe on a hot day. Plus, i'll get to brainwash people into liking my music. Come on, you know you've heard crappy music in cabs before, right?
This would probably be a good way to find out where the best everything is. "Oh, you are going there to eat satay? It's good huh? Should try someday. What else do you recommend?" There... food makes the world go round.
I also like imagining things. So imagine how much fun i'd have making up the life stories of the fares that I pick up? Until the day i REALLY get a serial killer in the cab...
You get to be on a radio all the time! *static buzz* Guys, you wanna catch a movie after this shift? Yeah? Meet me at the cinema at 8 *static out* Okay.. probably not, but if you were in a really liberal taxi company?
There's something cool about being part of a gang that extends throughout the city streets and whom you can catch up with at taxi stands? Good to know they got my back, man.
Changing scenery. ALL THE TIME.

Yea yea... probably more than a week in traffic and i'll want to tear my hair out. But one has got to dream that there are other things to do in life. So, even if it doesn't make you want to quit and take a different career path, at least you might be a bit more considerate the next time you hop in that iconic yellow car (well, red and white in KL i guess) and remember to tip your driver! (if he uses the meter that is).

If you'd like more insight into the cabbie life, i stumbled upon this blog which is pretty much just cabbies ranting about their days. Interesting peek into the taxi world.

Glorious Gloria Gaynor

2009-07-30T14:15:00.002+10:00

The song 'I will Survive' has been stuck in my head for the last 3 hours.
This is fairly excruciating in a silent office where the clickety clack of the keyboard and the mini avalanche-like rumbling of the air-conditioner are all that keep me company.

Yes, Gloria Gaynor, in all her discotheque glory, is playing on repeat in my head. Especially this bit

- music roll-
go on now go
walk out the door
Just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore

Yeah, actually the part that bugs me is WHY. Why is it stuck in my head? I definitely didn't hear it on the radio this morning.
So... is my brain trying to send some not-very-subtle encouragement? Maybe it wants me to know i will survive

this stack of 4 reports that i have to write. All of them. At once. And i'm procrastinating on my blog.
the prospect of another 4 months of long distance. And who knows how long more after that?
the endless stream of workdays with no trips planned in the near future. Sitting, rotting, waiting for an excuse to bolt.
pretending i know what i'm doing at work. I still feel bad being the inexperienced 22 year old fresh grad grilling people who have worked all their lives in development. I'm sorry. It's my job. Please know you guys are infinitely more knowledgeable!
the rut. I think everyone past a year of working falls into it. I'm glad i'm in an out-of-the-mainstream job. Can you imagine seeing your whole life planned in front of you? Career-wife-kids-retirement-death. Gotta shake it up a bit.

Alternately, my brain could just have a penchant for cheesy disco music with faux-violins and eighties-style melodrama. Yeah. That's probably it.

But hey,

I will survive.

India - there and back again

2009-07-21T00:02:00.006+10:00

I'm Back! (Like, a week ago)
India was absolutely amazing. Maybe it's cos the reports left me quite anxious about what I would see. Maybe it's cos this is the first of MY PROJECT's that i've visited (the rest have sort of been carrying on stuff that's started before I joined, but this one I saw from the proposal stage so it's like my baby!) Anyway, i didn't get to fulfil my imaginings of bright spice pyramids and temples and elephants and old palaces but I'm not disappointed because Karaikal is nothing like the Mumbais and Delhis in my head. It was a lot like Aceh and Jogja in that there were small, poorer communities and they were tsunami-hit, so very much a work trip. So, India for tourism will definitely be on the cards in future.

Anyway, this was a great project to have seen. I didn't have much time to be a tourist but it was rewarding enough to keep me satisfied.

A brief summary: The project is run by a locally-based organisation that has been involved in this sort of work for 25 years. They set up child activity centres that offer supplementary education (think tuition class) for children from coastal area villages (the ones that were hit hardest by the tsunami) and also serves as a playing space and a place for them to learn about rights and for peer support.

It's amazing that in that simple building, where there is like one desk and 4 chairs (the children sit on the floor), there are these active, inquisitive, enthusiastic minds. They were asking questions, and really vocal, and just so hopeful about everything. I was really touched by some of the stories i heard. They face issues that we never had to deal with. Some kids pull out of school because they are going to get married, or they have to help their parents work, or they just feel demotivated because they were orphaned by the tsunami and don't have enough support.

The children really believed that education was important and they are all part of this children's club which is set up in the activity centre. So, when their friends cannot come to school (maybe they are made to join the work force or to get married) , they group together to approach the child's parents and tell them that their child is better off staying in school. They even collect money amongst themselves to buy school bags for those who can't afford them.

In one of the activity centres, the power kept cutting off so the children collect 2 rupees each a month to pay an electrician to make sure that the power supply stayed on.

I was just astounded to learn how progressive India is. And we like to think that we are developed and have it all figured out.

The Karaikal area was really badly hit by the tsunami five years ago as fishing villages lie all along the coastal area. Whole villages were demolished and we heard that there was one where only one concrete building remained of the 100s of houses in the village.
All the children we spoke to in the school had been hanging on for dear life or had scrambled up to higher ground.
The project also covers disaster preparedness training for 3 schools where the kids are taught basic first aid and what to do in case of disaster. Haha.. I MIGHT have learned that before in scouts, but those kids definitely would stand a better chance than i would of surviving a flood or an earthquake.

The third part of the project is a microcredit component where women are trained in alternate livelihoods and also how to manage their businesses. So, women who previously had no means of earning an income now can start their businesses on loans of 4,000 rupees (that's just under RM 300!) giving them an improved income of at least 500 Rupees. The women are taught accounting skills and cost/benefit analysis, etc... and are organised into little collectives for support and in the hopes of forming co-ops in future that are capable of taking loans from banks. From my limited experience, i really believe that microcredit is one of the best ways to get people out of poverty. In particular, microcredit targeting women.

Briefly, my other observations of India:
- food is good and cheap! I didn't get roadside stuff because Delhi belly is too notorious, but no tummy problems and lots of tasty food ala mamak.
- the driving is insane. Seriously. The car horn is a suggestion to get out of the way... But they really have a whole other type of instinct for traffic avoidance. Couldn't drive there, i think. And the honking goes on well into the night.
- Goats and cows are everywhere on the road.
- There's lots of temples everywhere too. Or maybe cos the area i was visiting is a pretty famous pilgrimage site for Christians and Hindus.
- All the ladies wear saris! They could be sitting in the dirt or straddled on motorbikes but they are wearing the most beautifully bright saris! *sigh* colourful after my own heart...

It was really a project-filled trip and no time for leisure so I am just so pumped with enthusiasm for this project.
So much so that i have a ton of reports to write up. *groan* This is the worst part of the trip. Catching up on work.
Will put up photos if and when i get to it, otherwise... they be here on my Facebook album.

Amazing India

Peruse and enjoy!

India for the Spiritually Unready

2009-07-13T12:51:00.003+10:00

Oops.

Way too long since i wrote something.

The weeks have been filled with report-reading and then hassling for better reports (try it. 5 submitted all at once) and the not-so-successful India trip planning (yeah, Visas just beg to be forgotten until the very last moment), the demanding house guests and lots of time with Aaron.

Highlight being very respectable homemade Bogan Parma, pictures of which i've been meaning to put up but thus far has evaded me.

So, just a short note. I'm alive and kicking. I have been OUT of my 1 week return from Melbourne quarantine. And, I am going to India TOMORROW.

It's great i get to go to India for work. But before you get jealous, i also have to grill them over their report and then write a report about what i found out on the trip.
And with a full schedule, i am hoping there is time for a bout of shopping (or temple hopping. i'd be a fan). Did i mention the 7.40 am flight time? (that means checking in 2 hours before which means leaving my house 4-ish IN THE MORNING)

Pictures of the trip to be up in time (of course, after i'm back and after i've taken them). Meanwhile, i shall grace these pages with a Holy Cow.

Well, you can't say you didn't expect that from me!

Hop, Skip and a Painful 8 Hour Flight to Melbourne

2009-06-29T22:12:00.004+10:00

I went to Melbourne and back and took not nearly enough photos.. And they're up on Facebook. But here are things that stood out for me:

Leaving a piece of luggage in the cab. Ah! Always check you have all your luggage before giving boyfriend a massive hug! If the nice cabby ever ever stumbles upon this, I am the girl who ran down Franklin St at midnight in my red coat and I would still like my bag back.
Seeing Tulloch, Suggy, Bec, Nikki, Liz, James, Dani, Marissa - learning more about tall Paul and seagulls, a certain infatuation for a musician and EATING TIBA's again!
Salt Pepper Chicken Ribs...
Giant dinner with the most random of crowds: Vong? Mark Hoo? Grace? May Lin? Tas? Stephen? Prateek? Jon? Allen? ... you got to admit it's a strange mix to be in Taco Bills
Yummy breakfast where i was told that i'm "lucky" to be allowed into the group. I MADE THE GROUP!!! (not over that yet)
Perusing the NGV... art galleries are the new in, yo.
An amazing double date day which involved lunch at my fave Pellegrini's, churches and the mesmerising Fitzroy Gardens
Dali exhibition where i found out that Dali is a sick, twisted, erotic man
Playing a few new games... It's lovely to not be pretentious and have to go out to be cool and have fun. What's wrong with good company and a gritty mental challenge?
The fellowship of the fitball and the Ladder theory - most definitely a highlight!
Watching all the goals in a Aus v Japan World Cup qualifier from near goalside. =D
Lunch at the pizza place. More cute guys and awesome canneloni. (Thanks Maybelle)
My favourite juice bar and the South American secret recipe juice...
Emasculating Aaron and Parkes at Madame Brussels followed by THE BEST SIEW YUK in Anada Tapas restaurant.
Cute Bartenders at Anada and Black n Pearl - skinny Robert Downey Jr.
Reliving IH bar with peppermint patties *yum*
Another AWESOME breakfast with the boys. Everyone must love English breakfasts!
Chatting with Pushpy, KK, Adrian, Evan... was good times being back in 301! and the antics never end, although you feel like an ah ma
Furious foursome Bang-ing after a nice home cooked meal in front of the tv at CC's place

Gosh, i miss melbourne already! Not least because there are no paranoid people screaming swine flu. A return is on the imaginary cards. Now to get over my fear of tiny uncomfortable Air Asia seats for long haul flights... Photos on FB

Chronicles of Aceh - Part Trois

2009-06-05T13:29:00.013+10:00

Yay! Not a one week delay between day 2 and 3!
Sorry to burst your bubble but those drying nets there? Yeah, that's how your ikan bilis is made. Hahaha.. Not exactly the most hygienic of ways but 100% pure natural goodness! Also, probably a good reason to remember to wash any salted fish you buy!

This little old lady has been drying fish since ever. She was really cute and spunky! I dunno if i could stare at those little fish all day every day. And Indon culture lesson, ikan bilis is known as ikan tri.

This is probably my favourite picture the whole trip. Love the blue blue sky.

You will not believe how many nets of dried ikan bilis there were...

The restaurant and lodge from yesterday? This is a view of the "cliff" that it was on. To the left of the picture, there's a tree that sort of stands alone? They say the wave nearly covered the top of that during the tsunami.

Now this is Really, REALLY fresh fish.

Left the project site at Lhok Kruet and on the journey back. This is a piece of the bridge foundation for what used to be the main road. That got destroyed during the tsunami. The current road is about 2 km in, but there are still bits of it that are treachorously close to the water's edge.

Haha.. really. Would you drive over that? It's held strong so far, though!

Here's a better view of the river 'ferry' service. 3 boats tied together with a platform on top. These engines were stronger than the earlier one as it was crossing the river mouth, nearer the sea. Inceidentally, rafts are called 'raket' in Indon (like 'rakit' in BM) but i was curious as to why they would name themselves a racket, which it really is. The 'raket' racket. Hur hur hur.. i am so funny with my puns (-_-")

Not just any lady using a parang (machete) to straighten a nail on a plank... She's actually sitting in one of a row of stalls that has popped up at either end of the 'raket' rackets. Whole communities actually exist on the traffic that uses the rafts! Hats off to them, i say. Anyway to earn a living.

So after a slightly scary journey on bad roads in a 4wd in the rain, we made it to our next project site called Krueng Tunoh. There's something about the air right after rain. So fresh, and makes for beautiful misty hills! And green somehow tends to look greener too.

The mangrove trees that we helped to fund. They're planted along the fringe of the ponds which are used to grow prawns. Beyond the pond, sort of where the hills converge? Just past that is the coastline, which is why the water came rushing in come tsunami.

You don't really get kampung food much more authentic than this. Note the lack of cutlery other than serving spoons. And the best kind of table mat - a floor mat!

Okay, looking back at this photo, i really wonder WHY i ate anything with sauce that looks like muddy water. But you know, all sense sort of escaped me. I have a STRONG suspicion that this is the dish that left me with debilitating food poisoning the next day.

The lady at the back is the kind host who cooked us that nice (- food poisoning crabs) meal. Her husband is on the right and the dude on the left works for our project partner. Anyway, story of being told off for not being pure enough. It was time for solat after the meal and when they asked if i wanted to, i said no. And i think being a predominantly Muslim country, this was pretty alien to them. The farmer (husband on right) said: "Oh, once upon a time in Aceh, EVERYONE had to pray. Now it's alright though. But they would have to cover their heads and make sure their clothes covered their wrists. Also, here, women who want to be married have to be able to read the Quran. *gulp* Back in the olden days, women had to have a white cloth lain under them on their wedding night." *double gulp* I couldn't help but feel that that was directed at sinful, immodest me.

Anyway, this is round the other side of earlier pictured ponds. At the base of the cliff you can spot a tiny bit of sea spray. Basically the sea formed a sort of pincer around a hill. And the village is right behind the hill. Water rushing in from all sides so that about 2 km of land got washed away

More mangroves...

Me posing in front of the pond. Hahaha... Look, i was already dressed decently okay? Just minus the headscarf. I don't think i deserved that lecture about the good wife!

This is Pak Wahab and, apart from being a bit too rigid Muslim for my liking, he is a real star. He lived in a small house next to the pond and was farming pre-tsunami. He had a wife and a few kids ranging from 5 months to 8 years. They were all at home when the tsunami came in and he remembers holding on to his 5 months old baby and trying to outrun the waves. Sadly, his whole family perished. In the following 3 months, he hand dug the ponds that you saw above. He's since remarried and has a daughter, and is a real champion for our project. It felt almost sadistic to hear his story, because he said you never forget about the family you lost. Especially on festive days, when there used to be so many people and they could share all the food together but now it's a lot quieter. We cannot even begin to imagine what some of the Aceh people have gone through.

On the way out of Krueng Tunoh, passed by this contraption which i found interesting. There's a fishing net underwater and at night, they switch on a light suspended in the middle to attract the fish. They then pull the net up and voila! Easy catch...

A visual for you to show the before, during and after tsunami photos. See the greenery that was lost? Not just that, but most of the soil is still salinated from the sea water and that means you can't grow anything on it til the salt's slowly gone out.

This is pretty much the same view as above. All those patches of sand were once covered in vegetation, if i'm not mistaken.

And here's a shot of that large USAID- funded American highway that runs through the Aceh towns. What a disconnect! I mean, they're blowing up hills and tearing down mangrove forests that were JUST PLANTED post-tsunami just to fit this monstrosity in! Plus, the project started 2 years ago, and with the state of portions of its road, I won't be surprised if it's not done 2 years down the line. Ggrrr... the amount of misused funds and abandoned projects!! So disheartening.

Anyway, another mandatory sunset snap. In my defence, most of these pictures were taken from the car so they're not perfect.

Another snap of those lovely dried fish. Not very good but you can see they hang the fish/sotong from the roof to dry. This lady's just collecting them as the sun sets. But it's really quaint - they're flattened out so they all look like pomphrets! (incidentally my fave sort of fried fish)

You can just about see the tiny fishing vessel here. It's called a 'bagan' and is a large net in the middle with a small boat attached so that you can leave the bagan out while ferrying yourself and hired help back and forth from land. (Plus the catch too)

And there, the sun set on day 3. This is probably the last photo-heavy day and I would have loved to have some more free time the next day, but the muddy-water sauced crabs decided to strike. And it was food poisoning of the throwing up sort. Ew.

Chronicles of Aceh - Part Deux

2009-06-04T13:52:00.008+10:00

Righty-o. A week later and continuing where i left off. It may take me a while to complete these chronicles of Aceh.
This is the view from inside the car on top of a raft crossing the river. Those planks on the riverbank then get attached to the raft for the car to drive onto land. It costs about 20,000 Rupiah to cross (USD 2) and whole economies of the raft sort have popped up since the tsunami washed out bridges (and they either haven't been rebuilt or makeshift bridges get washed away with the next big flood). Anyway, raft ferries - definitely an experience!

The headless survivors of the tsunami. You can see the waves went way over the treetops. And that stretch of water between the rocks and the trees? That used to be beach. But the water never quite subsided so a lot of the coastline has been lost to the waves.

Parts of a bridge that was destroyed in the tsunami. 4 years on and left to rust. (That wouldn't happen in Malaysia - they'd have taken the metal for scrap! But this is about 3 hours drive from the city...)

Just one of the temporary houses that were given in the immediate post-tsunami. Apparently they pack neatly into a box - sorta like an Ikea house. Some people are STILL living in these houses. Others have sold them to be used as shops while some have just connected them to their new permanent houses for an extra wing in the house!

This is what remains of a restaurant and lodge situated on a cliff. It got hit pretty hard as this was the furthermost point of the coast so it took a pretty bad beating. The cliff isn't too short, either.

View from the cliff. Even now the waters look scary. This is meant to be the calm period in between monsoons!

Fish cages that we helped to fund. Each little hut connects to cages that can house about 1,000 fish! See the planks? We were told upon arrival to walk along the sides as the middle bits were old and crumbly. Now imagine bow-legged walking in fear of dropping down. Quite funny.

This is an improvised fish hatchery. One of the fish cage culture people decided he didn't have to wait for fish hatchlings from outside and took it upon himself to breed his own little fish hatchlings. I wish i was full of the same initiative.

Just so you know i'm not talking about empty pools of water. See? Fish hatchlings!

Pak Abu - he of the indomitable spirit. He is such a champion. One of the driving forces of the fish culture project, he was there when the tsunami hit. He lost all 8 of his family members and was only saved because he had been up in the forest collecting wood. Of the 8, he only found the body of his younger brother. But now he's married, has kids and has learned to move on.

The mandatory sunset shot.

The more unusual cows on the beach at sunset shot.

Shoo shoo! Home with you cows. But apparently they sleep by the beach. What a life!

Some of the kids in the tiny village. How sinful did I feel when even the little children said 'I have to go home now. It's time for Solat!' Not being Muslim in Aceh is a little discriminatory. I felt like a harlot for not covering my head and saying my prayers. (i was told off - but more on that in the next set of photos)

And this i was very amused by. Aren't these the most gorgeous dried sotong you've ever seen? Hahaha.. a row of them could work as beaded curtains almost!

Here are some of the crabs from our project. Very much alive in the morning.

But not so much later on that night. Now this is kampung cooking at its best. Kuali over a wood fire outside the house.

Largest crab i had ever eaten. I could only manage 1 half (the one with the giant claw, of course!) hahaha. The masak lemak sauce was TOOO tasty! If we were at a restaurant, i'd definitely tapau.

And that's the end of day 2. No nightlife in the kampung so nothing to it but to retire to my pretty pink mosquito-netted mattress. Fit for a kampung princess! I am definitely not suited to the life. No a/c is alright, but no fan either! Just the noises of the cicadas, people chatting outside and goats. Yeah. Goats.

Aceh Part Uno - The touristy day

2009-05-29T14:59:00.011+10:00

So I didn't put up my Aceh photos right away. I did NOT catch swine flu despite my stubbornness with the mask. I DID get food poisoning following carefree kampung food consumption. And this was followed by a flu which DID get me worried enough to go to the doctor but, Clean bill of health!! I suspect someone may have cursed me following my last post though. Anyhoo, this will be more like a photo blog so soak it in!

Taken from the plane cos i was struck by how picturesque the greenery was. The mountains kept making me think Lord of the Rings! More like the map that precludes every good fantasy novel rather than the movie, though.
This is the entrance (well, actually the exit) from the Great Mosque a.k.a Masjid Baiturrahman. Had some tourist time before the work so stopped by here. Wanted to point out the 'Muslimin and Muslimat' dress code sign above

And this is the mosque itself. I thought it was peculiar that it had a black dome. But saw quite a few black-domed mosques throughout Aceh. When asked, they didn't think it was for any particular reason.

Right, Muslimin-muslimat time. This is obviously me in all my ah ma glory. Mak Cik Fatimah (i mean me) was smart enough to bring a scarf along for just such an occassion.

Islamic architecture - i am a fan. But these lamps make me think more of old railway stations. I reckon this is the Dutch colonial history sneaking in.

Just wanted to note that the sign says 'Don't lie on the floor' somewhere, but erm... peek in the background. (i don't blame him though. The mosque is really cool and airy despite no fans on)

More architecture shots. Apparently a lot of people took shelter in this mosque during the tsunami and miraculously, while there was fence-high water around it, inside there was only knee high water. I put that down to the steps leading up to the mosque, but there's a story that a Chinese lontong seller ran in during the tsunami and he swears he saw whitish hands holding the water back. The man is now a Muslim convert.

This is a view of the centre of the mosque from the 'Women's Only' section. (I felt bad violating the privacy of these women but my Muslim colleague said it was fine to take photos) Directly ahead and to the right a bit is the pulpit (i can't think of a better word) bit where sermons are delivered on Fridays.

After that, we went to see this part of town called Punge where there is a memorial to mark the tsunami. It sort of built itself, as you can see from the photos below.
This electric company tanker ship got carried inland by the tsunami. Can you imagine how huge the wave must have been? For one thing, a ship this huge got carried. For another, this is 4 km from the coastline. There are about 3 houses underneath the ship and they couldn't remove anything from underneath it.

This is the ship in its entirety. It wasn't dragged to its final spot, but carried and them promptly dropped when the wave subsided. So the drag back to sea must have been MASSIVE which is why so many people had the clothes ripped off their backs.

This is the view from the ship. Where the tiny towers are, just before the mountains - yeah, that's kind of where the coastline is. Most, if not all the houses are new. NGOs did lots of reconstruction work and they tend to have different coloured roofs to signify who built them. (e.g. red is for Red Cross and blue is for UNDP... but i don't actually know which NGO is what colour)

Touristy shot with my colleague. I'm so shamelessly without my headscarf. *gasp* (and this is end of photos of day 1)

This is just the view from a stop on the 5-hour 4wd journey to our project site. Yes, it was a bum massage cos the roads aren't really that great. But you could be fooled into thinking that picture was taken in Cairns or Tasmania, no? It's a gorgeous place...

This photo actually cost me 16 mosquito bites. Along the same stop as previous photo (we were out of the car for maybe 15 minutes?) Definitely the record for most bites in shortest period of time.

Fruit sellers in Lamno market. I love fruit stalls! They look so gorgeous. Kuinis were in season and that was when i learned that kuini is different from mango. Although it looks the same, you can't mistake the smell.
A goat. Rummaging in the rubbish bin. He's a really healthy goat though. That's the bin outside the fruit stall so it's got lovely organic goodies inside him. But still. It really tickled me. A goat. In a bin. At the market. *snigger*

I'm gonna hold off for a bit 'cos this is a long post already. Still to come - Aceh part deux!

UnMasked. Gah.

2009-05-17T20:17:00.003+10:00

Ha.
In latest news, following the outbreak of H1N1 in Malaysia, my parents promptly went to the pharmacy to buy me (and my colleague) masks.
(-_-")

But i still refuse to wear them.

And,apparently, my claim for swine flu to be less deadly than the common cold has apparently been refuted. But i can't find the article online. Hhhmm...

Be safe and healthy, everyone! (myself included)

Harken back to CPU Biology and World Issues...

2009-05-15T13:19:00.004+10:00

I had meant to write about this when I read it... but i only just remembered.

McDonald's does McPHDs

David Fairhurst, the chain’s chief people officer, said that the company’s new power to award qualifications made it “a university in its own right”.
“One day I’d love to see us doing a PhD. I definitely think we can go as far as we can,” the Telegraph quoted him as telling the Financial Times.

Somehow, deep down inside this arts-embedded self of mine, I felt a twang of -- what was it, panic? despair? fear? -- as I realised my worth had just dropped once again.

People will no longer make arts students jibes about how we're gearing for a life serving greasy fast food.
With qualified McDonald's degrees,

WE WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO GET THOSE JOBS...

Especially if we're concerned over artsy issues like GE food...

Oh, look. A convenient segue into the issue of genetically modified food!

Well, you get my take on it, anyway, I personally don't have a big issue with GM food. I see it like, instead of taking years to breed certain traits into things, you just use scientific surgery to cut out the desired gene and plop it right in there. Of course some of them are just pointless and self-serving (think glow in the dark pigs)

As if little Mr. Piggy didn't have enough trouble trying to get laid. Now she thinks he's Asian.

But most of our food is relatively cheap thanks to genetic engineering. Did you know that strawberries are made frost-resistant through a fish gene? Yup. Apparently it helps them resist the cold so your strawberries can last through the winter.
I guess my only issue would be that you never know which one of the genes taken will carry on allergies too. Wikipedia told me that some workers in cotton plantations started getting reactions to the GM cotton because there was a brazil nut gene inside. Turns out allergies are transferrable. So if you go into sneezing and rashes after buying a relatively safe t-shirt, it might be your peanut allergies kicking up.

Or swine flu. Oh look, another convenient segue into new diseases!

Last scientific nugget for the day. I was highly suspicious of this fact for the longest time, thinking that all this swine flu (oh sorry, H1N1) stuff is highly overrated and really due to hype. [Don't you find society at large has a morbid fascination with anything new? New iPod! Crazy hype around it. New Idol! Crazy hype... New disease! It's the latest thing on the block...]
Anyway, I finally found something that backs me up:

Most swine flu cases so far have been pretty much like normal, seasonal flu. Swine flu and seasonal flu share symptoms, and spread the same way.
In a typical U.S. flu season, an average of 36,000 people die of flu or flu complications, and about 200,000 people are hospitalized. Swine flu hasn't come anywhere close to that.

My point being, new disease: we don't know how it could mutate and how best to fight it - fair enough. But if you're going to worry, there's a higher chance of you dying from the common cold than from swine flu (oops.. H1N1). And while we're at it, a higher chance of me dying while driving on my way to work than dying on an airplane.

In conclusion, mum and dad (not that you read this), I REFUSE to wear a face mask at the airport!

Oh look, final convenient segue into flights!

I'm flying to Aceh for work in about 2 days. This will be good because:
- a travelling job, what's not to love?
- out of the office, what's not to love?
- it will be really great to see what i would call ground zero of the tsunami, 5 years on
- we're supporting a project that cultivates seafood. Read: Free crabs, lobsters and fish.
- you are now deadly jealous of me and will curse the diseases of the world on me.

Anyway, expect not more than the usual silence, failing which, those be some mighty curses.

Onan the Barbarian (teehee.. couldn't resist typing that)

2009-05-08T16:26:00.003+10:00

Ah! Silence for too long!
Well, nothing that great is happening in my life... I'm waiting for travels to come (May, June, July all look promising at the moment!)

However, I did just read a highly enlightening book entitled 'The Year of Living Biblically' by A.J. Jacobs (i've liked his writing since i read the Know-It-All: his quest to read the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica), which is about this dude who decides, 'Hey, i'm going to live the Bible as literally as I can for a year'. It's kind of sweet really, he's doing it so that he can have a good moral pillar to raise his son by.
Anyway, it's taught me a whole bunch of obscure rules in the Bible (mostly Old Testament), that are, well, worth reproducing here:

You shall attach tassles to the corners of your clothes.
You shall bind money to your wrist and the Bible between your eyes (well, more like a small piece of scripture on your forehead)
You shall not trim your beard and sideburns.
You shall not touch any woman who is unclean (time of the month) or come into contact with anything that she has touched [i thought this was kind of sexist]
You shall not touch any man who is unclean (has released seed in the past day) or come into contact with anything that he has touched [but the Bible is fair]
You shall not wear mixed fibers (in particular wool + linen. This is called shatnez And there are shatnez-checkers whom you can hire to check your wardrobe and make sure you are not unwittingly sinning)
You must shower after sex

Well, i'm of the belief that these are all sort of rituals that made sense back in their day. There's a theory that pork is not eaten in Jewish and Muslim cultures because at one point in history, something which is the equivalent of modern day Avian flu must have hit and pork was a 'dirty' meat so it was easier to say 'it is forbidden' rather than explain disinfection to a mostly illiterate society.

Then again, there was that Islamic book i read, '20 most common misunderstandings of Islam' that said there was evidence that eating pork and carnivorous animals in general affected your behaviour and made you more aggressive. I'd go for the former theory.

Anyway, strange as they are, i think there is method to the madness. For example, the whole unclean thing. When it's just women and periods it feels sexist. But when men are included in the equation, i feel a bit more sated. But then the explanation was that it's actually in reverence of life, because everytime a woman menstruates, it's like the loss of a potential life. (And this is millions of potential lives for everytime a man, erm... you know.)

An aside: There is the story of Onan, who was punished by God because he 'let his seed spill on the ground'. Apparently this has been misconceived to mean he was a dirty self-loving man. The story is, he married his brother's widow (as was customary then) and while love-making, he didn't go all the way and instead 'let his seed spill on the ground' - coitus interruptus or the old pull-out-before-you-spill-out tactic. [He had a reason, any child from the union would have been counted as his dead brother's. Complicated old customs...] God was angry because this was disrespectful to the life that had been wasted and to his wife too (wasting her baby-making abilities, i guess). And thence the term onanism was born.

Back to my point. In some strange way, i do have a greater respect for life now. I know this is a disgusting thought, but menstruating just isn't the same anymore. It sort of feels like a little foetus is bleeding out of me for a week. Highly disgusting but also makes you think "Gee... them eggs should be made into babies, not just expiring each month." And how does that make you boys feel when you spank the monkey?

So, the Bible.

I can't agree with everything in it. I mean, a lot of things are open to interpretation and people have been as liberal or as literal as they see fit. (i.e. animal sacrifice. Not practiced anymore because the Bible, or rather the Torah, stipulates that this can only be done in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Which was destroyed way back when. So can't sacrifice. Oh, convenient!) But there are definitely good points to be taken out of it, as with most if not all religious text, so I say choose that!

And i have also discovered that I am not an atheist, as previously suspected, but more aptly, an Agnostic. (definition from Wiki)

Agnosticism (Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge; after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims — particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of deities, ghosts, or even ultimate reality — is unknown or, depending on the form of agnosticism, inherently impossible to prove or disprove.

In short, i dunno whether there is a God/Gods and we may or may not find out so what the heck. Fits in with my indecisive nature perfectly =)

Disclaimer: Info here is patched up bits I remember from the book. Hope i got the facts right!

The Big Read

2009-04-23T16:57:00.002+10:00

Spotted this in the news...
Following on from the last post, do something!
The Big Read is a campaign to try to get free public education for all.

Education campaigners have compiled their stories into a book, which you can read online here, with the aim of getting governments to make education a constitutional right.

Sign the petition HERE.

And watch this video, because it's pretty great :)

Pages are the Food of Sages

2009-04-23T14:09:00.005+10:00

Happy World Book Day!!

Collecting receipts for tax purposes tells me that I've spent at least RM 600 on books and it's only been 4 months into the year. YAY! (Bear in mind, I am a cheap book trundler and my favourite shop of the moment is BookExcess that sells brand new but cheap because they take in over-runs, slight misprints, etc etc.)

Books are pretty much my biggest indulgence at the moment. I've forsaken my ever-stylish fashion (*cough cough*), my extravagant jet-setting lifestyle (*cough cough cough*) and my energetic clubbing routine (*cough cough hack*) for a homelier sit-on-a-couch-and-curl-up-with-a-good-book lifestyle. Which is SOOOO not what you'd imagine i'd do. *roll eyes*

Anyhoos, i am truly happy about world book day because book stores are totally into it offering great discounts. Cheaper books makes Jeannie a happy bunny. =)

I read the other day that while Malaysia's literacy rate is really pretty darn high (approaching the 90th percentile if i'm not mistaken), we have a very poor reading culture. The stats on the 85% of Malaysians that read regularly, 77% read newspapers, 3% preferred magazines, 3% read books and only 1.6% read comics.

No, really. 3% read books?

If you are Malaysian and have attended ANY book warehouse sale, you will definitely dispute that statement. Who the heck did they survey anyway? Have you SEEN the aunties grabbing books off the shelves? Heck, they're strewn in random stacks by the time you can get to any books! (Look, this lady blogged about it. Check it out and scroll down so you can see the madness)

We're probably the only country that has Happy Hours on their books. Picture stolen off this blog.

The only rational explanations I can think of are:

1) The survey was carried out with a very limited pool of respondents. Probably busy government office type people who have to trundle through newspapers to see who to arrest next.
2) The crazy people at book fairs are really only crazy over their kiasu nature. They buy the books to use as kindling for fires, as roof tiles, toilet paper, tables, chairs, wall deco... I mean, i have bought my share of books where the pictures already make their RM 10's worth. (I feel really sad for these books because i'm probably paying less than what it costs to print the book. What about the author's royalties?) Why you buy books? CHEAP WHAT! How to miss such a bargain!??! Not to mention reading materials are TAX EXEMPT up to RM 1000. Cheaper than buying furniture...
3) The large majority of people living OUTSIDE this crazy cosmopolitan world of KL cannot actually access books.

You know, I'm gonna actually opt for number 1 and 3. Living in the city, it's easy to forget that the world doesn't revolve around you and that you know, people are living vastly different lives just across the border.

Currently, 45% of bookstores are in the Klang Valley, 20% in Penang and Perak,
while Johor has 10%.

In some rural areas, books arrive by boat! While we are choked with glitzy bookstores, some kids don't even have a place to find things to read.

No credit to our National Library, which, when last I went (about 8 years ago), was dark, gloomy, depressing, full of antiquated books that catered to... well, noone. Even as I surf the website now, they show their latest reference books - Baby and Toddler Sleep Solutions for Dummies, The Macmillan English Dictionary, The Embedded Internet, Total Supply Chain Management, Stabilising an Unstable Economy... How, intellectual.

Anyway, my bone to pick is this. While other libraries are under-stocked, the National Library's idea of celebrating World Book Day is this (and I quote):

Various activities based on reading will be held from today, with the Jom Membaca event as the main highlight, where 200 guests will be reading together for five minutes.
The main objective of the programme is to cultivate an interest in reading and generate a positive mindset towards reading as a lifestyle.

So your HIGHLIGHT of World Book Day is to gather 200 people into a room. Say, 'Alright people, this is our main event!' [crazy crowd cheering!] 'Let's countdown now!' 'THREE! [Crowd chants in unison], TWO! [roars of excitement] READ! [five minutes of silence]

No, really. 200 people read in a room. BIG WHOOP. I'm sure that will impact those people so greatly that they will pick up the habit for life. In fact, who are these 200 people anyway? Government officials and library staff? Way to reach out to the public.

I'd rather you unveiled a prize for the best upcoming authors, opened a new library for a rural community, distributed excerpts of the best books of all time... Anything that would spark off an interest in people. Needless to say I don't believe 5 minutes reading time will work.
Not to mention if it's our government officials, at least 3 of those 5 minutes will be spent dozing off.

I have a not-so-subtle disdain for the national education system, as you can tell, and reading, or the lack of, is just a minor peeve. But let's leave that for now. Reading really is wonderful, and i'm saying this after 3 years of trudging through sociological journals and political ideologies (not my favourite reading material). Let's end this on a more positive note.

Jeannie's picks from not-so-recent to recent reading:

Time Traveler's Wife (but you already knew that) by Audrey Niffeneger (sth like that)
Cautionary Tales for Grown-Ups by Chris Addison (very light reading)
Marley and Me by John Grogan (cos it made me cry)
Anything Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (because it's dated but very fun reading a literary CSI)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (because it's amazing the perspective he gives you)
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne-Jones (because it's nothing like the anime which is fun in its own right)
One Big Damn Puzzler by John Harding (because the story line is amazingly unique. And you can pick up vocab like pwili)
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (because their wit combined is amazing)
Anonymous Lawyer by Jeremy Blachman (his take on the corporate law world is really funny! Sharp biting cynicism- love it!)
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (was written about 50 years ago but is a great piece of science fiction. People's reactions are totally spot on)

Now Go Forth and... Read! (stop trolling the internet, it doesn't count)

Friends, friends, friends, friends....

2009-04-22T13:17:00.003+10:00

I just read an article in the New York Times that says that friendships have a bigger impact on a person than their familial and spousal relationships.

People with a group of 10 close friends or more have been shown to be 22% more likely to live longer, to have better brain health and to overcome crises.

That's a pretty big deal.

In fact, friends can change your outlook so much that you are 60% more likely to be obese if your friends start gaining weight. (Well, you jump i jump; you eat i eat too?)

Last year, researchers studied 34 students at the University of Virginia, taking them to the base of a steep hill and fitting them with a weighted backpack. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill.
Some participants stood next to friends during the exercise, while others were alone.
The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill. And the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared.
“People with stronger friendship networks feel like there is someone they can turn to,” said Karen A. Roberto, director of the center for gerontology at Virginia Tech. “Friendship is an undervalued resource. The consistent message of these studies is that friends make your life better.”

Aaawww.. heart-warming? The clear indication being, if you're going to put yourself through some harrowing trials and tribulations, best to grab a good friend and set out to do it. (Climb Mount Kinabalu guys??)

But enough quoting an article, the point being last week at a high school semi-reunion, it was nice to know that despite 10 years of knowing each other, a significant number of us still keep in touch and don't hate each others' guts enough to go into avoidance mode.
There are too many people I don't meet up with enough, catch up with, learn more about, have good conversations with... and despite the distance, sometimes it's just because we don't make the effort.
It's a lot harder to find out what someone thinks of the world as opposed to 'what did you think about that guy who sang on American Idol last night'. One takes an hour of your life watching a show, the other needs you to take time building a relationship and breaking down walls.
But it's always really rewarding to be able to count yourself as a friend for the unlikeliest candidates. And more often than not, I gain philosophical sparring partners too. (What's the fun in everyone agreeing all the time?)

So, to all my friends from every walk of life from every corner of the world. Thank you and let's reconnect! This one's for you....

Singapore, 3 am matches and absurd hope

2009-04-16T13:38:00.004+10:00

Silence can be blamed on a weekend trip across the Causeway to our neater, smaller, slightly more kiasu neighbours down under. I've said it too many times but I cannot stress how much fun I had this time around, travelling somewhat by myself, meeting my friends who took such good care of me and just being able to hang out with some cool people.
Highlights:

discovering Singapore has a red light district. You sure that backpackers came recommended in Lonely Planet, Tiki?
eating eating and eating. Taka food court is a fascination!
Rockstar cat in CATS the Musical. It was like he was the Johnny Depp of the show! Meeeeeeeeowwww... Definitely my fave cat. The characterisations were excellent though. Subtle little movements like the twitch of the head or slinky arching of the body that really did bring the cats to life.
Them big melons that Allen Melon and I spotted. Juicy and giant.
Salmon teriyaki at Yingyi's house! Plus fruit tarts. Such a gracious hostess.
'Cha Choking' around at Brewerkz in Clarke Quay. I never knew I was such a gossip. But i am.
The excellent food at GRAZE. Lordy, haven't had such a scrumptious English breakfast for forever! I <3>

Again, thanks for a great trip. Definitely going back soon!

Anyway, for the last time this season, I woke up at 3 am my time to watch the Champions League quarter-final match between Chelsea and Liverpool.

[WARNING: The following is potentially mind-numbing football talk]

You may have known that Liverpool lost. Boo. But what a match!
It struck me while watching the game that Hope truly does Spring Eternal. And even under the most absurd conditions.
Any football fan, particularly Liverpool supporters (because we are always angsty til the last few minutes), will know what it feels like to shout profanities at your team, at the other team, to tear your hair out for wasted opportunities and scream at the referee for falling for such a blatant act.

Well, as I was in just that predicament, watching my beloved Liverpool having to score 3 goals away at Stamford Bridge, at half time, the score was 2-0 to us. How brilliant, i thought. We just need 1 more and we're in. Then lo and behold some defensive blunders meant we were drawn at 2-2. Oh bloody hell. We need another 2 goals to win on aggregate, and for the many goalless minutes it did truly feel like it would never come. And then Lampard whips in another to make it 3-2 to the other team. Despair was starting to flood in.

Suddenly, we score 2 goals in quick succession and this was the point where i realised

Hope has no logic. I was very much convinced that in those last 15 minutes of the match, we could whip in the necessary goal to make it through to the semi-finals. If we could score 4 goals away, which i thought impossible, then why not, right?

And even when Lampard drove another nail of a goal into our coffin, i believed, in those dying minutes, that Liverpool could turn around and score 2 more goals.

I find it absurd that while in other games, a goal seems to be the hardest thing to get. That i don't have this expectation of Liverpool to score even in 90 minutes. Yet, when there have already been 4 goals, AWAY (what are the odds of that?), the impossiblity of everything just drives my hope even higher.

Does that mean that hopes are never to be satisfied? That pushed to the limit, you will just keep pushing?
Maybe it was just the visible drive of the team. The never give up. Never say die attitude. We didn't win but I sure am proud of them.

Then again, those are typical words of a fan on the losing side, right?

sexay misconduct

2009-04-06T14:47:00.002+10:00

Real Life HappoSai!!

Okay, both snigger and eeewww at the news that in Sabah (shame shame.. hometown) , a PANTY-THIEF was arrested!

He took about 70 pairs and particularly took a shine to those of nursing students in an apartment.

Which reminds me of Ranma 1/2 (which i did use to watch) and the underwear stealing dirty old grandpa in the series. Hehehe...

Well, it could be love...

In other sexy news, I totally love this article in the BBC. It starts off with disgraced UK Home Secretary's husband and his 'charge-my-porn-expenses-on-taxpayers'-money' ways. Which most people are unhappy about, by the way. (Think of the endless possibilities if it was okayed! - work related expenses = strip clubs for emotional stability, porno for visual stimulation to kickstart idea generation...)

Anyway, writer then goes on to say that FOR THE SAKE OF RESEARCH, he has checked out porn at most hotels he's stayed at and concluded that, *drumroll please*

Porn is to keep one's mind off sex when one's partner is absent

Hehe.. He makes pretty good arguments though:

1) Porno actors have zilch personality therefore not erotic

2) Well groomed areas and harsh lighting = clinical therefore not erotic

3) Brainless storyline = not erotic (apparently)

OKay, then he goes all mushy like:

Because there is only one secret about sex, and that is that it's a feeling, and you can't see feeling.

But you can see porno for entertainment pleasure! Personally, i don't think erotic movies are a bad thing. I KNOW noone will believe me when i say i don't watch any, but you know, whatever floats your boat, right?

Some people like watching other people doing it (and yeah, you do get that little bit gigglier when Animal Planet shows something naughty.. i do at least!) and it's probably a good education medium. (Think of the ALTERNATE physical education).

But be smart in your visual stimulation ways and, given the chance, Don't charge your porn-related expenses to the public. People aren't happy about it unless they get off too.

I Used to Roll the Dice, Feel the Fear in my Enemies' Eyes

2009-04-02T18:01:00.002+11:00

In recent days, I've been listening to Coldplay's Viva La Vida. A lot. Like in the morning when I wake up (before i put on my make up... I say a little.. Gah! wait a minute!) Despite frequent radio airplay (would you consider it overplay? I don't hear it enough in the car) and all this grammy music awards hype, VIVA LA VIDA IS STILL A GREAT SONG!

I was curious and googled what the lyrics meant and people came up with all sorts of theories!Someone said it resembled Jesus and how his influence seems to be waning now, someone said it was about Hitler and WWII (and said theory-maker didn't remember who won the war!!) <-- [btw, i think this theory is a bit far-fetched bollocks but he's entitled to his opinion!], some people said it's any government/dictator/monarchy and their downfall and the most quoted one is Napoleon of the French Revolution (which i think is closest to the truth seeing as the album sleeve shows the French Revolution).

And look! From the horse's mouth (i guess that's horses' mouths seeing as there's 2 of them):

Bassist Guy Berryman explained to Q magazine July 2008 about this song that features lyrics about cavalries, missionaries and kings: "It's a story about a king who's lost his kingdom, and all the album's artwork is based on the idea of revolutionaries and guerrillas. There's this slightly anti-authoritarian viewpoint that's crept into some of the lyrics and it's some of the payoff between being surrounded by governments on one side, but also we're human beings with emotions and we're all going to die and the stupidity of what we have to put up with every day. Hence the album title."

Q magazine asked Chris Martin about the lyric on this song "I know Saint Peter won't call my name." The Coldplay lead singer replied: "It's about… You're not on the list. I was a naughty boy. It's always fascinated me that idea of finishing your life and then being analyzed on it. And it's that runs through most religions. That's why people blow up buildings. Because they think they're going to get lots of virgins. I always feel like saying, Just join a band (cackles head off). That is the most frightening thing you could possibly say to somebody. Eternal damnation. I know about this stuff
because I studied it. I was into it all. I know it. It's still mildly terrifying to me. And this is serious."

Anyway, my point is this is a great song because it almost feels like an epic poem. And not just some bubblegum 'Oh baby, i miss you, look at me, we were meant to be' kind of cheesy pop lyric.

I can't help thinking of a Lord of the Rings-esque Aragorn, stalking the streets, hiding his kingliness. And then in the phrase 'It was a wicked and wild wind, blew down the doors to let me in', can't you just imagine straggle-haired Aragorn pushing down the doors as all eyes lay on him? Mmmm.. maybe i just want to think of Viggo Mortensen (who only really looks good as Aragorn).

Mmm... King me, Aragorn! King ME!!

But back to the song, i think Chris Martin's song writing has just hit another level. Goodness knows there aren't enough songs that tell stories! I think is beautiful how you can almost live the experience of a fallen leader - from the point seas would rise when i gave the word until he sweeps the streets i used to own.
And then the return. I haven't figured if this is as a dead ghost, reentering hallowed halls or as a King, returning to assume his throne. (Which before he had the chance to, with the benefit of looking in, he thought he was better off without? Oh, who would ever want to be King?)

Anyway, English Literature was a while back so no more song analysis. It's just, everything about it - the instrumental arrangement, that steady drumbeat, the lyrics, it's so motivating and you can't help but feel some surge of emotion for the song. At least, that's what i think. If you could take all the grandness of an empire, distil it into a contemporary song, this would be it for me. =)

Now, has all that hyping up made you crave a listen? Happy to oblige...

Oh, i think they could've done better on the video. He gyrates weirdly like U2 videos of yore, no? Cool effects but Mmm... you think it would've been better with something related to the song?

RandomThots tries a Book Review - The Time Traveller's Wife

2009-03-28T19:47:00.003+11:00

My eyes are red and raw and I've just finished The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Prompted by watching Benjamin Button, it was a book that Aaron said i JUST HAD TO READ and i'm so so very glad that i did.

It is possibly the most touching love story i have read. EVER. (well, i guess that's not saying much since my literary repertoire of late has included life in war-torn Sudan: What is the What by Dave Eggers, a fantasy world of a boy who lives among ghosts The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, the twisted and irony-clad life of a bomber Catch-22 by Joseph Heller and, i suppose, the closest thing to romance Marley and Me)

You may have gathered from the title that the Time Traveller's Wife is the story of a time traveller and his wife. (No duh) The catch is that he cannot control when and where he time travels and thus you can guess the backbone for a love story that really does transcend time and physicality (because i think that sounds more apt than space).

I stayed up too late too many nights not wanting to put the book down and grew extremely attached to the characters. I'm unashamed to admit that I was bawling at the end, wishing for some twist in the plot that would keep them safe forever. But i think that is the mark of a good book, no?

In any case, I think Audrey has really done an excellent job - weaving what is already a touching love story in with the rather foreign concept of time travel and balancing it with a touch of the everyday. So while the notion of a time travelling man is utterly fantastic, i think every reader can relate to it somehow.

I really do urge you to find the book and read it because I've come out of it with a new appreciation for mortality and the biting reality that time passed is not retrievable. You can't do it over again but you can do it good the one chance you have. (And don't worry, it doesn't get you all confused about how time travel works and all those abstract theories. You just have to read it and enjoy )

For the lazy, i've just found out that a movie version is due to be released this year. And it's starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. As with all movies though, i do urge you to read the book first.

Eric Bana does look quite delectable, though.

If i did stars, i'd probably give this book all of them for sheer emotive power. But i'm quite generous. So here's a generous heaping of thanks to Aaron for sharing the book with me. I promise that's not the reason why i love the book so! (well, maybe a teensy bit)

Acapella Mania!

2009-03-27T17:20:00.004+11:00

Uh oh!
Motown Invasion! I'm going on an acapella binge!
Man, musicians last time were UBER TALENTED. I wish i could sing barbershop style too!

Absolutely love this song! Reminds me of impromptu sing-alongs. How sweet it is. Truly!

Ooo... check out the SUPER DEEP bass. And the fros in the picture! Maybe i'll try grow a fro one day...

Kid Michael Jackson has such a sweet voice. And the 'tude from way back when!

Here's one thrown in just so you can learn how 'the BOYBAND' moves evolved. (You'd recognise some of them, Eddie). 80s bands sing-off!

Dammit i think i was born a generation (or 2) too late. Oh well, there's always Boyz II Men (in Korea?)

And Naturally 7

UhMareYeeKen Eye-Derl

2009-03-27T15:23:00.005+11:00

Okay, i admit it.

I follow American Idol.

I would make the excuse that my parents hog our one TV and i don't have a choice, but honestly I come home knowing 6 to 8 is Idol time and I do sit there shouting criticisms at the tv. *blush*

So i watched last night's Motown episode and i am totally in Motown Mode at the moment. Gosh, how could i not have known this song before last night?

Smokey Robinson is pretty awesome. But i have to say Adam Lambert (currently my bet for Idol winner) did it... too well. Like goosebumps on my skin well. Granted i'm a sucker for the acoustic set up (guitar, percussion on what looked like a box and cello). But considering he's usually some goth looking punk, i think he tidied up really really well! Oooo...

Okay, check it out (video not available cos of copyright, but the song is awesome enough)

And i also needed to check out the original - which is awesome in its own right.

*swooon*

p.s: i've heard them over a few times and i can't decide which one i like more

'cos i can't get enough of this song. It sounds great on the piano and on Gavin deGraw. *melting melting*

Thinking with the WRONG head can get you killed!

2009-03-26T13:51:00.004+11:00

There are some times when my keyboard falls silent (not least because I spilled iced tea on it. But Lo! It has not electrocuted me yet!)
But there are some times when gems like this appear in the newspaper, and they are either too hilarious, or in this case too disgusting, tragic AND hilarious, not to share with the world.

Old Man's Bottle Mishap Leads to his Death

A 77-year old man died when he used a BOTTLE to masturbate.
Fact check? YES 77-year old. YES he died. YES a Bottle. To masturbate.

Said old man got his member stuck in the bottle and only called for help after using soapy water and, supposedly, other lubricants to try to dislodge it.
Surgeons cut the bottle below the neck to try to ease his pain, but by that time the skin around his tool had become inflamed, and the poor man could not tinkle.
Other medical complications resulted and he finally died of heart failure.

I'm not really sure if i should laugh because it's disrespectful. But i imagine to be trying that at 77, he's got to be one of those people you'd laugh at if he was 20, or someone really really lonely.

My my, Colin Farrell, what a compromising pose you have found yourself in. With a bottle no less. *snigger*

Let that be a lesson to us all, sexual experimentation past the age of 70 should be with something safe, like another human being. Or melons (but watch for scalding when you microwave them). Or pie, i guess.

Oh right, and can i also highlight that he was SINGAPOREAN? What did NS do to all their men?

6-worded Recaps

2009-03-23T18:57:00.005+11:00

It's a ridiculously hot Monday on what is sure to be the beginning of a ridiculously long week.

Despite the lack of update, my weekend has been very busy indeed. As i did not carry a camera, this will be a brief recap, 'cos things sound so much more boring without photos.

Let's make this more fun. Seeing as I've been reading 6-word memoirs, i'll recap in six words.

Friday - Live Monty Python in Japanese guise

Went to watch Conquest of the Galaxy: Mars by Condors, which is this Japanese dance troupe that does random skits and is absurd but very entertaining humour.

Saturday - Dough slapped, bread baked, buns heavy.

My buns didn't come out as nice as the ones in the class. Bread-making attempts continue...

Sunburst Music fest: Drink, dance, Korn-in-skirt.

The lineup definitely not as awesome as John Legend and Incubus the year before, but a music fest is usually fun atmosphere. I particularly liked Naturally 7 even though I had no idea who they were. Well worth checking out!

Sunday - Rolling round in large plastic ball also known as Zorbing: Land, Sky, Land, Sky... Headache

A bunch of 18 - my bro and his friends and I jumped into a giant plastic ball (2 at a time) and rolled down a slope in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. It gives you a bit of a headache after, but is such a cool experience! Definitely try it with water - you will appreciate what your clothes go through in the washing machine.

In other news, here's a great 6-worder that I am compelled to share:

'Lucky sperm club entrant wins life.'

~Steve Conlin

And since I am feeling some heat-induced lethargy, I thought i'd check out what movies are showing in the cinema. And then the Coming Soon listings, when i found

Bohsia: Jangan Masuk Jalan Hitam

Really? Not high on my viewing list. What will Malaysia come up with next?

And can I just gloat? Since my headache is partly caused by staying up to watch,

Liverpool has my vote to go on to win the BPL. 5-0 against Aston Villa. Watch your backs, Man U =) [Gerrard, you are a legend]

The best job in the world... is not deserved by me

2009-03-13T17:14:00.002+11:00

So in the last week Aaron's actually updated his blog more than i have. That's pretty disgraceful seeing as he posted like 3 times last year. (-_-")

Guess i just don't have much to report. But thanks Weng Lum for bringing this to my attention!

I think he's awesome and i have no shame in saying i VOTED.
http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/Mitchell

Come on, he's cute, he's a nice guy, he can write songs, he has lots of friends who will do silly things for him and he has a nice voice. =) Although i personally want the job for myself, except i recently discovered i am scared of fish, i would definitely kowtow to him. Wouldn't be able to pull off anything the like. Check it out!

There's always a silver lining...

2009-03-05T19:27:00.002+11:00

Well what do you know.
I think this is just an interesting article to pass by my radar.
And yes, there has been lots of rubbish in the Malaysian papers lately what with the whole comedy that is the Perak state government. But that's not my issue.

Wildlife in Chernobyl

Just a brief article about how wildlife are roaming freely in the evacuated villages surrounding Chernobyl (the world's worst nuclear plan fallout) and that in a cruel twist of irony, our misfortune may have just been the saving grace for such creatures as the lynx, some species of eagle and even wolves.

Can you imagine if and when we finally kill ourselves with our stupid war games and power struggles, that at least the animals will be free? Creepy and yet probably a deserved fate.

Now i am just thinking i hope those animals don't develop cancer.

Some things look better in 2-D

2009-02-25T19:35:00.006+11:00

So i found this website, Pixeloo and the author does really great illustrations and Photoshop manipulation! She decided to bring some of our fave characters to (real) life and honestly, the results are a bit disconcerting. Check it out:

Real Mario - really looks like an Italian plumber

Jessica Rabbit - *wolf whistles!*
Real Stewie - is creepy! Plus imagine giving birth to that child. Ouch!

Real Homer - i think he's staring... Do'h!

Malaysian Masculinity Moderately Mighty

2009-02-25T13:59:00.005+11:00

Okay, i read this and thought, SO GOING ON THE BLOG.

The article in it's entirety: Malaysians Not So Hot in Bedroom

The highlights:

Two out of three Malaysian men and three out of four women are not satisfied with their sex lives
Malaysians are ranked sixth among 13 countries but, if it’s any consolation, Singaporeans fared worse. They are in eighth spot.
India topped the list with 70% of the respondents saying they were satisfied with their sex lives while Japan reported the lowest sexual satisfaction rate at 10%

“The survey links the level of erection hardness to sexual satisfaction for men.” said Dr King during a roundtable discussion at a hotel here yesterday.
The level of erection hardness is measured in a scale of one to four using the Erection Hardness Score (EHS) developed by the European Association of Urology.
“Level one is like tofu where the male organ is large but not hard, level two is similar to a peeled banana where it’s not hard enough for penetration, level three is like an unpeeled banana where it’s hard enough for penetration but not completely, and level four is similar to a cucumber where it’s completely hard and fully rigid,” explained Dr King.

40% of Malaysian men reported that they experienced erection below grade four
“We found that greater sexual satisfaction is strongly associated with greater satisfaction with life overall. Generally, men and women who are highly satisfied with their sex life have a more positive outlook on their relationships and life.

Points to Ponder:

What? India has better sex than we do? Well, Aaron's justification was that there are more people and less things to do. So, do the people? The great sex and crap sex will eventually average out.

Japan seems a sexually dissatisfied bunch. Maybe they set their standards too high. All that kinky hentai gotta leave you wanting...

Ha ha. Take that, Singapore!

There is an ERECTION HARDNESS SCORE!?!?! Okay, i find that hilarious. Especially in the use of foodstuff for descriptions. "Oh, darn. Today's a tofu day... Worse than yesterday's Peeled Banana. When can i get a CUCUMBER? I guess i should work past Unpeeled Banana first."

Also, why is there no Lubrication Score? Discriminatory!! Sexist!!

40% of Malaysian men are below grade 4. Malaysian male readers, take comfort in knowing you're not alone.

And finally, happy person = great sex! So be happy and you shall reap your reward.

But what if good sex makes you happy, and you can't have good sex til you're happy.. and you can't be happy until you have good sex.. and... Argh! Chicken and egg!!

Gah! Not the Museum Too!!!!

2009-02-24T19:14:00.002+11:00

Oh wow..
So it's not just the National Planetarium that has a problem..
Curious to see what the National Museum is like (about 10 years after i last visited), i thought i'd check out their website first. The place as i remember it was dark, dank and pretty lousy and, giving them the benefit of the doubt, i thought they might have improved!
Well, their website is currently being upgraded but the Department of Museums website has the following entry:

Pending (I think this refers to a Malay word)

Pending is belt head which weared by Malay society together with official cloth in a official council. Man category wearing together with sarung or sampin. It also weared by women category in a official council.

Cik Siti Wan Kembang is Malay women which wearing Pending around 15th century. Collection most Pending around 15th century. Collection most pending gold which have found from Malay royal family. Art results which delicate on Pending gold which enough impress is results from gold craftsman hand job on that time. Have also belt head which closely same function had be made by Chinese gold craftsman for Society
Peranakan Chinese at Melaka, Penang Island and Singapore.

Oh dear lord it's atrocious!

By the way, can you see the school teacher in me coming out? I'd shatter the government's self-esteem if they were in my class...

Befuddlement

2009-02-18T17:03:00.002+11:00

I couldn't help but bring attention to this news article in which the culprit seems to be affected by split personality disorder.

The founder and CEO of a Muslim TV station based in New York, one with the mission to 'show Muslims in a more positive light' was arrested and charged for beheading his wife.

Apparently she had filed for divorce and was forcing him out of their home, which in some part of his brain he took to mean BEHEAD HER.

I think there's probably more to the story, but i think it's a sad kind of irony that a man trying to cure people of their misconceptions goes and commits such a heinous crime. Beheading somehow sounds so much more vindictive and violent than murder.

But let that be a lesson to you, noone's a saint.

I'll pause this game so our love never ends... <3

2009-02-16T15:43:00.003+11:00

As a belated tribute to Valentine's Day, I think this is a really really sweet song!

For those many 401 nights stuck to the controllers and for those of us who can't really express ourselves outside of video games...

The Mario Kart Love Song

His voice is actually really good! So Sweeeet....

Alternate Dating Ideas - The National Planetarium

2009-02-12T15:37:00.009+11:00

Following on from the previous post, you may have guessed I was researching the Planetarium because i actually intended to go there. So i did, and without further ado, i present to you the Planetarium Report.

The Planetarium would have been disappointing if i had any expectations of it (fortunately no) but it was particularly disappointing because:

a) the English was actually WORSE than the website

Hi, this the awful translation to keep Malaysia look crap

On Earth, we goes school to get knowledge to keep us in job

b) it took 20 minutes to slowly walk around as most of the place was under renovation

Well, i should at least get some photos out of it...

There's a cool anti-grav machine! Too bad noone was manning it so i don't know if it's still working

c) our astronomical pride *shakes head* Malaysia's contribution to the space age:

A batik shirt with Saturn on it! *gasp*
Freezer packed rendang tok and chicken satay! Incredible!

Vacuum sealed Malaysian made cookies, preserved ginger sweets, dehydrated mango and fried tempeh! Amazing!

By the way, can you note the disdain I feel about what i think is a really costly waste of resources? We spent billions of ringgit and committed goodness knows how much more in defence deals just so we could send a space tourist up. Fortunately, he shared his food with his fellow astronauts, just so they could sample our fare and realise what generous people we are.

Well, the upside being the Planetarium has free admission so I guess if nothing more, at least it was cold and indoors, away from the scorching hot sun. With that, we went outside to look for the 'Ancient Astrology garden'

The stairway leading to the main entrance is actually quite pretty... Note the Islamic architecture

Okay, i'm allowed one mushy pic, right? And yes, i realise this is the baju that makes me look naked

I think this was in the aforementioned garden. Regardless, it is a beautiful scuplture of space and time (with Arabic numerals) A pity noone really knows it's here!

This freaky little creature was around the fountain probably as an example of what alien life could look like. Personally, I was scared. And i can only imagine what nightmares children will get from it

Do i want to be an angkasawan? Lots of government money that could be spent on welfare and education poured on me under the pretense that I will help science and technology in Malaysia? Hell yeah!

That's the Dilly-o, yo. At least you feel me, Galileo (i think). Yeah.

Grammar Nazi - Yaaaaaah!!

2009-02-04T18:57:00.006+11:00

This is on the NATIONAL PLANETARIUM MALAYSIA website.
Under Fun Learning.
Because at some point in time, all of us have asked:

Mummy, why does the sky blue?

And you still wonder why I am frustrated with the education system of this country?

p.s: i could've written a better answer than that in secondary school. It is easier to be scattered?!?!

What to do when you meet a Faulty Traffic Light

2009-02-04T14:01:00.004+11:00

Isn't it appalling that you can trawl the internet and not find a single thing that tells you where to complain when you have a faulty traffic light?
When you aren't looking, you will notice some lights with little signs beneath them giving you a toll-free number to call in case 'traffic light rosak'.

Well, you can't find it online.

Obviously I plagiarised this from This is Broken who stole it off some guy's Flickr. But it's of a traffic light sculpture somewhere in Canary Wharf. Confusingawesomeness!

Normally, I don't think i'm such a concerned and conscientious citizen but the faulty traffic light in question was right outside my house which is right next to a school, and while flashing yellow lights would be alright, lights that were permanently stuck at either green or red posed quite a hazard when crossing a particular road would always entail running red lights.

In any case, WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU MEET A FAULTY TRAFFIC LIGHT IN KL:

You could, like me, trudge the internet to find that it is neither under the jurisdiction of the PDRM (Polis Diraja Malaysia/Police) or JKR (Jabatan Kerja Raya/Public Works)... and to have a complaint lodged with JKR passed on to DBKL (Dewan Bandaraya/City Hall). Or you could call the Mix.fm traffic people (which was, by the way, answered by a very polite and kinda sexy-voiced guy) and ask them WHAT DO I DO?

Or you could read this blog post and I can give you the number that I got off the helpful Mix.fm dude, which is for:

ITIS (Integrated Transport Information System) although I have no idea why, seeing as they seem to be a traffic report type of setup

Main number: 03-8947 4002 (didn't pick up)
Second number: 03-8947 4342 (picked up this one)

So I don't know whether it was my call that did the trick and I don't know if it was because I wrote to DBKL or I called into ITIS (which is part of DBKL) but lo and behold, the lights were fixed by the time I got home. Joy!

The only problem was, it was raining so heavily that part of my neighbourhood was flooded and cars were stalled on the road. Boo!

Rain 1 - KL Urban Planners 0

Now be good and report any faulty traffic lights you see! You could be preventing a nasty accident! (or at least reducing the number of irritated drivers who are angry you aren't running red lights)

Quick Causes for Finger Crossing

2009-01-20T18:15:00.001+11:00

Ceasefire. Yay!
Obama's Inauguration. Double Yay!

Now to hope that our hopes for both aren't dashed...

*fingers crossed*

Blinded by Self-proclaimed Righteousness

2009-01-16T18:51:00.002+11:00

I have to confess I'm not brave enough to take a firm stand on the Palestine-Israel matter because there are always two sides to a story. However, in this recent war, I have to say that while Hamas is not totally blameless for firing rockets into Israel, it is similarly unjustifiable that Israel, in self-defence, can continue firing far more advanced weaponry into a largely innocent population.

To me, it seems the equivalent of a secondary school kid beating up a primary school child who was throwing rather painful stones at him. Sure the child needs to learn to stop, but so does the older kid.

Anyway, while I am still afraid to pledge my allegiance, I am leaning ever so slightly to the Palestinian side and I find this posting from Fawaz on Facebook a pretty good justification why:

Rule #1: In the Middle East, it is always the Palestinians that attack first, and it's always Israel who defends itself. This is called "retaliation".
Rule #2: The Palestinians are not allowed to kill Israelis. This is called "terrorism".
Rule #3: Israel has the right to kill Palestinian civilians; this is called "self-defense", or "collateral damage".
Rule #4: When Israel kills too many Palestinian civilians, the Western world calls for restraint. This is called the "reaction of the international community".
Rule #5: Palestinians do not have the right to capture Israeli military, not even 1 or 2.
Rule #6 : Israel has the right to capture as many Palestinians as they want (around 10,000 to date being held without trial). There is no limit; there is no need for proof of guilt or trial. All that is needed is the magic word: "terrorism".
Rule #7: When you say "Hamas", always be sure to add "supported by Hezbo-Allah, Syria and Iran".
Rule #8: When you say " Israel", never say "supported by the USA, the UK, European countries and even some Arab regimes", for people (God forbid) might believe this is not an equal conflict.
Rule #9: When it comes to Israel, don't mention the words "occupied territories", "UN resolutions", "Geneva conventions". T his could distress the audience of Fox, CNN, etc.
Rule #10: Israelis speak better English than Arabs. This is why we let them speak out as much as possible, so that they can explain rules 1 through 9. This is called "neutral journalism".
Rule #11: If you don't agree with these rules or if you favor the Palestinian side over the Israeli side, you must be a very dangerous anti-Semite. You may even have to make a public apology if you express your honest opinion.THIS IS CALLED: DEMOCRACY!!

And also, because I was shocked to find that sites exist where people are so blinded by the need to CRUSH THE INFIDEL HAMAS that they would make comments like this:

At 9:03 AM, Daniel434 said...
If Israel knows for sure that they are there (very high ranking Hamas leaders), then Israel must take the step neccessary to protect itself from a violent agressor that threatens the Apple of God's eye every day -- meaning, drop a ten ton bomb on the hospital or whatever it takes.The problem is, what if Israel leaflets the hospital and Hamas leadership flees? Hamas has seen what Israel did to another high ranking officer, leaflets and then boom. This time they might flee. While I would prefer them to leaflet and have the innocent wounded leave, I wonder if it is too risky. Like NormanF said, it is time to decapitate Hamas.Oh, and screw public/world opinion.

The same guy continued on:

At 10:11 AM, Daniel434 said...
I know Carl has made these clear many times with meticulous research and evidence but I also want to share what one of my favorite seminary and pastor teacher (Kenny Rhodes-SermonAudiodotcom) said:"The 'Palestinian' people are not an ethnic group, they are not a people, they are not an indigenous people. They are descendants from other arabs in that area with absolutely no history of being in that land and they have no claim to the land of Israel. It has always been Israel's land since God gave it to Israel and ordered Yaakov to conquer the Canaanites. There is no such thing as a 'Palestinian' people."So, there you have it from a very good Christian man, too bad not all my brethren think the same, but we are getting there. I hope that statement shuts up the mouth of any who would disparaging comments here in favor of the carpetbaggers.

Gosh that last comment just pisses me off for too many reasons! I have highlighted in red what i think to be nonsense statements. Now i know i will be criticised for my non God-fearing ways but I have a real problem with 'God gave it to Israel'.

First of all, Christianity, Islam and Judaism are practically one and the same. They share the same characters, much of the same teachings and arguably the same holy book just in different cultural context. So, my take is, God gave it to one of the faiths, he inadvertently gave it to the others that sprung from it.
He gave it to the the Jews... whose faith formed the basis of Christianity (modified Judaism for the Roman context) ... who shares too many similarities with Islam to not have had a hand in its creation too.
Religion and God-given rights aside, the only thing that has ever been able to decide the matter of territory is how much gunpower you have.

My second gripe. To say that there is no such thing as a Palestinian people is like saying there is no such thing as an American people. Or to hit closer to home, a Malaysian people. "Oh, they've only lived there for centuries. That doesn't make them Palestinian."
Okay, even in the bible, the people of Israel were from somewhere else. And then the UN created Israel AGAIN, 50 years ago. Israel has no greater claim to existence than Palestine or any other country for that matter!

I guess one of my biggest problems with religion is that all too often instead of being a promoter of good, it becomes a justification for misguided actions.

I welcome opinions and insights. After all, who am i to decide a decades-old problem?

Love (Nearly) Triumphs in Prepubescent Elopement

2009-01-09T17:17:00.004+11:00

Gah! This is just the CUTEST thing!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/05/german-children-elope-mika-annabel

German lovers, Anna-Bell and Mika (5 and 6 years old respectively) were picked up on the way to the airport where they wanted to catch a flight to Africe to get married!
So enthusiastic were they that on top of their summer clothes and swimming outfits, they even brought along Mika's sister to be a witness at the wedding.

*sigh* What a wonderful thing young love is!

And thank goodness nothing bad happened to them on the way.

I can't help but feel so happy for their innocence. And slightly skeptical at the back of my mind - you kids don't know what it's like having in-laws, being tainted by class, behaviour, religion, belief, money, aspirations...

But throw that all away, why can't we all just be in love again?

The Wheels on the Atheist Bus go Round and Round...

2009-01-07T19:17:00.004+11:00

You gotta love London because they can get away with things like the Atheist bus....

If that's their motto then I am beginning to suspect I am atheist... (although i like to think not in such a 'Terminator' vehemently anti-religion sort of way)

This article will tell you a bit more about why the Atheist bus exists, and why Londoners could raise a whopping 140,000 pounds to fund this campaign as response to religious slogans on buses that condemn non-believers to damnation. I suspect that the first ad that triggered it all off was this one:

Because i did like the founder of the Atheist Bus campaign, and i clicked onto the Jesussaid website, and i found out what will happen to the heathen non-believer (Kaafir!) such as myself:

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16b-18).
What are the consequences if you reject the answer?
God’s wrath includes the prospect of eternal punishment – it is appointed to men to die once and then comes the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). You will rise from the dead and will face the Judge and know that you rejected His kind and merciful answer. You will be condemned to everlasting separation from God and then you spend all eternity in torment in hell.(!!!) Jesus spoke about this as a lake of fire which was prepared for the devil and all his angels (demonic spirits) (Matthew 25: 41).

Gah! It all sounds like biased treatment at the moment. If you believe in me, I won't judge you (therefore it doesn't matter what you do?) and if you don't believe in me, you're doomed (therefore it doesn't matter what you do?)... What happened to kind and merciful?

Maybe that explains why there have been so many religious crusades and wars for God and what not. 'Cos the final accountant closes one eye when it comes to people who know him? Pardon me, but i still have issues with religions that invoke fear rather than cultivate good.

*sigh*

Anyway, I hope this isn't seen as a giant stab in the side of monotheistic religion. See it like this (following paragraph from aforelinked article):

The theology thinktank Theos welcomed the campaign, saying it was a "great way" to get people thinking about God. "The posters will encourage people to consider the most important question we will ever face in our lives. The slogan itself is a great discussion starter. Telling someone 'there's probably no God' is a bit like telling them they've probably remembered to lock their door. It creates the doubt that they might not have."

And, to cap it all off, a slogan taken up by The American Humanist Association on their bus advertising campaign that speaks to my heart:

Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake!

Religious Revelations - Taoism

2009-01-06T17:46:00.003+11:00

Now our brush with Taoism in Penang was much briefer owing to the packed crowds of tourists that not only filled 7 hours worth of cable cars by 11 am but also seemed to be at every turn of the tiny tiny streets in Penang.

~~~~An aside from my story as I expound my thoughts on Taoism. Now this whole Goddess of Mercy thing... Curiously, I've always had a statue in my house since I can remember. But what do i know about her? Nothing! People who pray to her claim to be Buddhists. While the traditional rites associated with offerings, altars, observing vegetarian days, etc etc are very much Taoist. So Buddhist? Taoist? I think particularly in Malaysia we've developed a hybrid of them both. Where you just 'follow what your parents did' and the lines between Taoist tradition and Buddhist religion became very much blurred indeed. Buddhism for me, though, is a belief in yourself and not in a higher power, so to me (if i understand correctly), Goddess of Mercy = Taoist; Belief in self = Buddhist. Okay, carry on now~~~

So, no cable car ride up Penang hill but we did stop by the foothills where there was *cue cheesy Batman music here* the Bat Cave Temple!!

Right, there were maybe 40 bats in this low 'cave' (dark room that may have once been a cave) behind a temple that had the mandatory altar and little pools by the side with STATUES of tortoises. The patrons of the temple were pouring water on the tortoise statues' backs, either bemused young children fascinated by tortoises or worn-looking adults, praying for luck, fortune or health. [Is it just me or is it really sad that not only is there an artificial bat cave there but they don't even have real tortoises anymore. *sigh* All the old-worldly charm sort of dissipated...]

The other temple we visited was the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) temple and merciful as the goddess may be, her embodiment on earth was much more lavish and capitalistic than she may have desired.

As we stepped into the temple hall itself, a quarter of the space was taken up by a makeshift shop selling paper money, incense, candles, CDs with recorded chants and goodness knows what other matter of tacky 'religious articles'.
Right outside the hall, one could pay a fee to donate a roof tile to the construction of a new wing of the temple. Your name of course inscribed on the tile so your kind donation would be forever remembered.
The statues of Chinese zodiac animals that lined the path into the temple looked innocent enough - little children clambering on them and posing for photos. And then the realisation that each animal had a coinbank-like slot. Of course the animals would only favour those that provided for them in some manner.
And I haven't even come to the matter of the gift shop right next to the parking lot. A gift shop? With mugs, fans, tacky handmade items from Thailand and Indonesia, animals made of coconut husks, childrens' toys from some rundown factory in China, cutlery, table mats, jewellery, keychains... The array of mind-bogglingly unreligious items was enough to drive you crazy!
So off we ran into the car, glad to escape this hub of commercialism when a sign greeted us at the exit:
We are currently building the largest bronze statue of the Goddess of
Mercy. One of its kind and of unique architecture. Support our efforts by
donating generously to the temple.

A quick dash down the slope as it dawned upon me that Chinese may be Buddhist, Taoist, Christian or even Muslim... But as far as I have been able to observe, To be Chinese is to be Capitalistic. To be Capitalistic, is to squeeeeeze money out of ANYONE at ANY CHANCE POSSIBLE (be it under the guise of religion or community)

*sigh* and still the search for an acceptable devotion continues....

Religious Revelations - Islam

2009-01-05T18:44:00.004+11:00

On this very unproductive of first days back from the holidays, I shall attempt to write about something actually quite serious and close to my heart in more ways than one.

The holiday, as full of drinks and games and reunions as it was had its own tiny glimpses of enlightenment. What started off as a bid to cover at least some of the tourist attractions in Penang led us to walk into the Keling Kapitan mosque - admittedly the first mosque i have stepped foot in in our own Muslim nation of Malaysia. Did anyone else, like me for the longest time, think that non-Muslims weren't allowed in mosques?

Yes we put on the hijab to cover our modesty. Yes, fatimah looked more like fatimah. (What a wasted photo op!) Yes, Aaron had to wear one too because he was baring his sexay knees...

While the tour itself was not very informative - we saw how to wash before prayers, where to wash before prayers (but weren't allowed in the main hall itself - a shame since the ceiling art looked v beautiful in the pictures) i was very taken by the guides at the mosque. Right next to it is an information centre where they sit and talk to you (my dearest veron playing interviewer at that point) and also provide lots of interesting reading material.

Parts that Impressed Me:

The fact that the guide stressed that Islam and Christianity need not be mutually exclusive. They acknowledge that Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus, etc. DID exist and that they have special significance in religious history. After all, the major religions merely preach that there is one God. Noone ever said he isn't the same God - just with different names.

The welcoming attitude of the guides. They were open to questions, acknowledging the fact that Islam has a bad rep and that the world thinks they are all terrorists.

Parts that Weren't so Impressive:

I picked up a book called '20 Most Common Questions About Islam' and I think it's books like that help perpetuate Islam's bad rep. Question 1: Why are men allowed to have many wives but women not allowed many husbands?

a) Because if 1 man sleeps with many women you will know that their babies are his. But if 1 woman sleeps with many men, you will not know who the father of her baby is (but now technology makes this possible). Logical, but still kind of weak to me.

b) Because there are more women in the world than men except in China and India where female infanticide is practised. By that justification, shouldn't the women in China and India be able to have many husbands?

Mmm... no big moral revelation.

Question 20: Why do Muslims abuse non-Muslims by calling them Kafirs?

Kafirs refer to non-believers therefore Muslims call the non-Muslims Kafirs. If non-Muslims do not want to be called Kafirs, then they should convert to Islam and they will not be called Kafirs.

What? I thought that was a funny statement. If you don't want me to call you stupid, you should just become smart. (something like that) Cos it's so easy, right?

Okay, books aside though. I did feel that amongst all the stories we hear about Islamic fundamentalists and pushing their religion and being uncompromising, the people we spoke to at the mosque were very open and patient in their explanations.
I guess most importantly i didn't feel like there was any agenda behind their interaction with us. Just so that we would understand and appreciate their beliefs.

WAH December lai liao!

2008-12-16T13:36:00.004+11:00

What? It's the end of the year already?!

Goodness that makes me feel slack.

It feels like work has taken great strides since then.

I am a confirmed member of the workforce (Yay!) I have a chunk of stuff on my desk and am not twiddling my fingers anymore!
My colleagues are like family, and I appreciate that it's rare so i'm not bothered that i earn less than my commerce counterparts. (that, and I get to travel and have flexible hours and my boss tends to give us days off without eating into our leave! oh, and he takes us for makan and drinks too)
We may be involved in quite a few events next year (Rihanna concert in January!) and that probably means free tickets! (for me la)
Plus i really do love what i do. Except the ocassional writing and reading in Malay. Icky.

The world hasn't been much nicer though

Mumbai had a horrible terrorist attack which left nearly 200 people dead
The economy is still in turmoil and job cuts are rife
Pakistan was struck by earthquakes and their infrastructure is terribly unprepared for it
There have been a number of horrible accidents involving landslides, building collapses and vehicle collisions and they've all taken away many people

Then again, that's just the news from every month of the year, isn't it?

If nothing else, we can at least be grateful to be alive!

Arts-wise, I've been fortunate enough to catch

The Glen Miller Orchestra - swing music as it was in the 50's
Atomic Jaya - funniest local play i've ever watched!
Avenue Q - who knew the muppets could be so horny? [Everyone should take a cue: In volatile markets, only stable investment is PORN!]
Sting - and he sings medieval music! with a lute! So very much like being entertained at court in a castle. Oh haw haw pish posh.

On the house front, as I said in May (and June, and July, and August...), we're moving NEXT MONTH!

On the EPL front, LIVERPOOL IS ON THE TOP!!! Ynwa ;)

But enough of recap, contrary to my regular custom of harping on and on about 1 point, i shall leave a number of thought-stimulating (or at least Haih, Jeannie, Jeannie head-shake inducing) ponderings:

Isn't it funny that the only reason antiques are worth collecting is because of antique-collectors?
How come blobs of paint on paper is mess when it's done by happy children but art when it's done by manic-depressive adults?
Why does a social life, as with work, come in lulls and peaks? Can't they spread themselves out?
Why does time pass slower when you are waiting for something?
Why does a noisy room suddenly go quiet when you are saying something not kosher like 'penis' or 'boobies' or 'don't you ever feel like pushing chubby round kids down a hill?'
Why are the movies you want to watch always 'Coming Soon' and none of them actually in the cinema when you are?
Why is it uncool to wear your old clothes that you already own but So Retro to wear other people's old clothes that you have to pay for?

Anyway, i doubt anyone's reached this far. Partly this post is to avoid being accussed of blogging death.

I am actually really excited for Christmas!!

Randomly,

*sigh* Love is so drama, right?

Revelling in the aftermath...

2008-11-11T19:37:00.002+11:00

I just enjoyed this artical from the NY Times and decided to cut and paste the end bit of it here:

It Still Felt Good the Morning After

The post-Bush-Rove Republican Party is in the minority because it has driven away women, the young, suburbanites, black Americans, Latino-Americans, Asian-Americans, educated Americans, gay Americans and, increasingly, working-class Americans. Who’s left? The only states where the G.O.P. increased its percentage of the presidential vote relative to the Democrats were West Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas. Even the North Carolina county where Palin expressed her delight at being in the “real America” went for Obama by more than 18 percentage points.

The actual real America is everywhere. It is the America that has been in shell shock since the aftermath of 9/11, when our government wielded a brutal attack by terrorists as a club to ratchet up our fears, betray our deepest constitutional values and turn Americans against one another in the name of “patriotism.” What we started to remember the morning after Election Day was what we had forgotten over the past eight years, as our abusive relationship with the Bush administration and its press enablers dragged on: That’s not who we are.

So even as we celebrated our first black president, we looked around and rediscovered the nation that had elected him. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for,” Obama said in February, and indeed millions of such Americans were here all along, waiting for a leader. This was the week that they reclaimed their country.

So it sounds a little bit like propaganda but it's refreshing to be reminded that yes, America isn't just gun-loving, aborting-hating, church-going White people. There's diversity and it knows how to use its vote.

America- slowly edging its way up my good books.

Hope is a Wonderful Thing

2008-11-05T18:24:00.003+11:00

RandomThots would just like to wish everyone

Happy Obama is President-Elect Day!!

I have to admit i had my doubts, but thanks for not letting the rest of the world down, America!

I have no scary party to attend. Boo...

2008-10-31T14:08:00.008+11:00

Happy Halloweeen!!

In celebration of our favourite costume-donning, black cat avoiding, hooked-nosed witching day, i felt like throwing up a list and what better list than:

The Top 20 Most Annoying Horror Movie Cliches!

(courtesy of Listaholic.com)

1. Instead of rushing out the door, victims run upstairs and effectively trap themselves inside the house with the killer.

2. The victims could all be track stars, and the killer will somehow still catch up with them without so much as a brisk walk.

3. Strange noises/glow/movements outside the house? Trust the victim to investigate all by herself the source of the commotion in her nighties or underwear.

4. The door is always stuck when a protagonist is fleeing the killer. And then, just when the killer is a foot away and has raised his hatchet/machete to strike, the door opens and the supposed victim narrowly escapes.

5. Women who are being chased almost always fall down, then wait until the killer is almost on top of them before getting up and running again.

6. The hot girl, especially one who has displayed big breasts in an earlier sex scene, always gets killed first

7. “Stay here”, so the hero wannabe tells his girl as he tries to look for and take down the killer by his lonesome. Then it’s either he or the girl he left behind gets chopped to pieces.

8. Since when did the sound of children singing become scary?

9. Cars always break down, no matter how brand new or well-oiled it is. And similar to no. 4, the engine comes to life at the last second and the protagonists make their escape.

10. No grown-up ever believes the frightened kids, until it’s too late.

11. Ominous sound and music, character gets really spooked and a cat suddenly jumps into the frame.

12. Usually, a female character is alone in a certain place, scared shitless knowing there’s a killer on the loose, then somebody, who turns out to be a friend or a boyfriend, just grabs her shoulder from out of nowhere and almost gives her a heart attack.

13. One minute only the victim is reflected in a mirror, usually one on a medicine cabinet, and the killer’s reflection is suddenly there when the victim closes the cabinet.

14. The victims almost always split up purportedly to “cover more ground”, and end up being taken out by the killer one by one. It’s safe to assume they’ve never heard of the saying “there’s strength in numbers”.

15. Real people run like hell when some killer is chasing after them. Characters in horror movies tend to keep looking behind them while running at full speed and end up stumbling and falling, then eventually getting murdered in the process.

16. The killer lies prone after being shot by the protagonists, who then check out the killer's body, only to have the killer come back to life and jump on them. What's wrong with a few well-placed rounds in the head before approaching the body?

17. Scary messages scrawled in red on a mirror.

appropriated from this website

18. Minorities almost always never survive the movie

19. The corpse, or part of a corpse of a friend or a colleague always falls on the other surviving characters and scares them out of their wits.

20. The killer always lives again, or at least shows some sign of life, at the end of the movie in preparation for yet another sequel.

Come on, you know you were moaning 'oh gawd, that's so true' while reading that. Hope you have a spooky halloween! And guys, do remember to:

Much credit for this post is due to Someecards.com, Listaholic.com and the random picture from Scootutopia

Flippin 'Eck, it's Dolphins!

2008-10-30T13:20:00.003+11:00

I'm quite chuffed at myself for being able to catch the jumping one on camera. =)

School of dolphins in the Maldives from a speedboat!

A Photo Journal of the Maldives - The Amazing Blue

2008-10-25T04:00:00.015+11:00

And so the adventure begins, armed with my trusty devillish ipod as we boarded the KLIA Express together. Saturday the 18th October - 5 pm.
I skipped the bits about my flight being delayed 4 hours and changing planes and arriving in Male at 1 am and then taking the ferry from the airport to the capital (the airport is on a separate island!) and going to bed at 3 am and waking up at 6 am for a 4 hour speedboat ride. Instead, let us be amazed at how gorgeously blue the water is. Sunday the 19th October. Around 9 am. Stopped by an island to pick up some documents. I couldn't resist snapping this boy on his bike.And a fishing boat. Naturally.
I also skipped the bits about the island chief and co coming to welcome us at the jetty. And then sit around under the shade of a tree on foldout deck chairs to sip on tiny coconuts. (it was the thought really, seeing as we had a bit of a language problem)
After lunch we ventured out on speedboat headed towards an island when lo and behold (it's not very clear here) but we came across a school of dolphins! Like.. a SCHOOL. There must've been at least 30 swimming around us. Darn those critters are hard to photograph. But totally AMAZING.
I understand this is a terrible photo of me and it's impossible to look good when wind is slapping in your face. But as one of maybe 2 with me in it, i shall take it as proof that I WAS THERE.I simply cannot stress how gorgeously blue the water is. Cannot be captured by my humble Canon.Sorry. You have to put up with my so-called artistic shots.
This island was a shell-collecters haven! Although a once-in-a-lifetime chance, i kind of felt i rather leave the shells alone. Which i regret, mildly.
But i tried pestering some crabs instead (can you spot them?) They kept scuttling away the nearer i tried to get.
People. Blue seas. Shell collecting.
More artistic shots. The sky and the sea. Amazing! (this word may be repeated often)
Macro plant shot. But really, it sort of looks like a cabbage!
There was an abandoned house there which suggests someone once lived here. Or maybe it's a summer home?
Oooo... Tea time! From L-R top row: coconut kueh thing, tuna puff, bananas, tuna balls, more coconut kueh stuff (then it repeats)
From L-R bottom row: tuna patties, bananas, french toast thing, coconut kueh thing, more tuna balls! [do you see a trend? their food tends to revolve around tuna and coconuts]
And to defend the point that this was a work trip, here's a community meeting.And the point of the trip is the greenhouse project that we are funding. I work for the orange hand....Sweet melons which are grown in the greenhouses via a hydroponics system.
It's really interesting - the melons have the texture of apples but taste like honeydew. A definite winner in my books.I was very taken by the leaves of this tree. ALL of them are heart-shaped!
[excuse the mushiness... for you, aaron!]
The farmers off to do their thang.
I was also very taken by these goalpost like seats. They are UBER comfortable. And so simple! So there, ikea!

Breakfast in the ONLY RESTAURANT on the island. It opens if and when you call in advance. So the blue bowl on the right is tuna curry, the top plate has chapatti, the closer plate has some sort of coconut bread, right behind it is flaked tuna and coconut and the yellow quarter on the saucer is egg! You didn't think i was serious about the tuna and coconut, right? This is Monday, the 20th October, by the way.
We did spend some time sitting outside our guesthouse (that's it, btw), 'cos it's cooler on the deck chairs outside than in. And were contemplating a quiet day in seeing as it was drizzling all morning.. but there were so damn many mosquitoes
And so we took to the seas once again. Motion sickness over annoying, hot, humid mozzies. (But actually the motion sickness pills worked a charm. I will swear by Novomin)
This is one of my favourite shots. And to me, the best island we stopped at in the Maldives. I fully appreciated how lucky I am to be able to be on an island practically all to myself. And nothing but blue seas and blue skies all around. Gosh, completely understand why rich people have private islands now.
Seriously. where in the world can you find a beach this gorgeous. Empty! There'd be at least an obnoxious surfer or sunbather spoiling the view. I failed to mention, the Maldivian government only allows tourists to go to the capital, Male, and to the resorts. So i am seeing something really precious!
Artsy shot. Sorry.
I think the children are adorable. And their mothers tend to walk them to their school. Even though it's just down the road. (literally)
Another community meeting. (i was working, honest!)
So this is right after night fishing which was the most... mm... nauseating experience. I did want to try my hand at it but was having a hard time doing anything other than stopping from puking. The rolling waves were not very kind. (but to my credit i DID keep all my lunch in) Sitting on the deck of the boat was an awesome experience though. The best (and neverending) roller coaster ride I'd ever sat on!
I can only describe to you the most amazing thing owing to a lack of camera at the time. There were green specks of light as the waves broke and they were the prettiest thing. Like stars in the sea! Upon further research (googling) it turns out they are tiny lifeforms that have some sort of chemical in them that makes them glow. So beautiful though.
Oh, there was scarcely space above to mention the fire is fuelled by coconut husks! (waste not, want not) They burnt it down into embers (like the purple glow above) and smoked our fish. It released this beautiful burnt coconut scent...
That is REALLY fresh fish. (And they also served it to us with a bit of coconut to enhance the chilli that they put on the fish)
I just loved this scene in the morning. Felt a bit of a voyeuristic paedophile but isn't it lovely how they ride to school in their full school uniforms? I just HAD to take this picture. On Tuesday, the 21st of October.
Which incidentally, was also the day we bid Kendikulhudhu goodbye.
And again, the lovely people sent us off and gave us presents! I got a little handmade boat (they local boat is called a dhoani) and a bag of sea almonds. They taste sort of like kuaci and are produced in the village itself. I was touched. Talk about souvenirs money can't buy!
Them at the jetty. Toodleoo Kendikulhudhu!
One stop on our bumpy 4 hour ride back. (Btw, really bumpy speedboats hurt your bum) This bay in Naifaru had the most ridiculously blue waters! It looks like a plastic boat in a bathtub!
Okay okay. This is where I have to admit to a degree of indulgence. Turns out our guy on the ground has an uncle that owns this resort. I would SO love to be able to enjoy the resort side of the Maldives. There are water bungalows and if you rent one of them you can pretty much do what you want in the little lagoon area that they form. The Maldives also has really great water sports - para sailing, sea kayaking/canoeing, brilliant scuba diving, night fishing, snorkelling, jet skiing, sailing (from what i can remember). And very yummy melons, of course.
I was just glad to be able to spend about half a day lying by the sea and realising that I'M IN THE MALDIVES.

And that leads us to the 22nd of October when we went to the UN office in Male and I got to brag about being there for a little bit. Followed by a walk around the capital (of which i took no pictures because it was obvious enough I was a tourist)
What i can remark on is that the streets are very narrow that they almost all feel like back alleys. And what struck me the most was that the street corners (which in effect means the building corners) are ROUNDED. What a very brilliant idea. Once you see how much space it saves and how the cars are able to make much tighter turns, you wonder why all street corners aren't rounded!
That, a seafood buffet dinner and the ride back to the airport where our plane took off just over the seas.

And this is where my adventure ends. There were other bits but either i failed to catch them on film, or you know, you can just ask me yourself. I would recommend the resort bit of Maldives for honeymooning couples and water sport buffs. But the price is also very nice.
Am i lucky to have been there?
Absolutely.

I don't mind all the mosquito bites, sea sickness, flight delays, and sore bums from bumpy speedboats because the trade off of private islands, a truly village existence, island hospitality, dolphin spotting and so so many great experiences are just something money can't buy.

And i do hope you can put aside your envy and still be my friend. =)

Hello from Male!

2008-10-22T16:52:00.002+11:00

i just wanted to get a kick out of international blogging.
So here i am saying Hello! from the UN office in the Maldives.
1) I'm in a UN office(?!?!)
2) I've been in the Maldives for 5 days now!
3) I saw dolphins!
4) I went on a Lost- resembling remote island
5) I am very very lucky indeed!!

Many many photos to be up soon. (Unfortunately I am in close to none of them. Pitfalls of being the photographer)

Maldives Ho!

2008-10-15T21:03:00.003+11:00

Okay, you will say i am a complete bitch when i tell you that I am going to the Maldives and that the picture above was taken there.

Then again, i live in Malaysia and the resorts here look like this

but i hardly see them now, do i?

So, before you all cry that I am SOOOO Lucky (which i am, really) and i'm just there for a holiday, let me stress.

THAT, up there, is what a RESORT looks like. I am NOT going to a resort. I will be going to a tiny island called Kendhikolhudhoo that is 6.5 km wide and 4.8 km long (according to Wikipedia).

[Think about that. The highway between Ipoh and KL is 50 times longer.]

The distance from the airport to Kendhikolhudhoo is over 100 km and i will be traversing that on SPEEDBOAT. Haha.. Last time i was seabound i puked for an hour each way out and back. So yes, motion sickness pills are definitely packed!

Anyway, I am still thrilled about getting to travel and I feel it is my solemn duty to impart some newly-gained knowledge about the Maldives. I present to you,

10 Fast Facts about the Maldives

1) The Maldives is just South of Sri Lanka. (haha.. will you think me blonde if i said i didn't know that before?)
2) The national currency is called the Rufiyaa, made out of 100 Laarees. Today it is roughly 13 Rufiyaa to a US dollar.
3) To become a citizen of the Maldives, you MUST be Muslim.
4) The country consists of 1,190 coral islands - 202 of which are inhabited, 87 of which are exclusive resorts. Its total of 300 square km puts it at #8 on the Smallest Countries in the World list!
5) Work days are from Sunday to Thursday and weekends are Friday and Saturday.
6) With 10.97 divorces per 1,000 of the population per year, Maldives is #1 on the Highest Divorce Rates in the World! (Note that 2nd is only 4.63/1000 of the popn and USA is the 3rd)
7) Back in the day when cowry shells were a form of currency, the Maldives literally had money washing up on their shores!
8) If we don't stop emitting greenhouse gases, rising sea levels may cause the whole of Maldives to be submerged!!!

So i couldn't find 2 other facts that were extremely interesting. Oops.
In any case, hope you learnt something new! I promise to take photos and I hope I get round to posting them up. And for those who do care, please cross your fingers for good weather while i'm there. =)

My Favourite Celebrity Takes on Sarah Palin

2008-10-14T18:04:00.004+11:00

"It's like a really bad Disney movie, 'The Hockey Mom.' Oh, I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska, and she's president," said Damon. "She's facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It's absurd."
~ Matt Damon

Bardot pounced on Ms Palin's depiction of herself as a pitbull wearing lipstick, saying she “implored” her not to compare herself to dogs.

“I know them well and I can assure you that no pitbull, no dog, nor any other animal for that matter is as dangerous as you are,”
~ Brigitte Bardot

“I find it quite interesting that a woman who now is running to be second in command of the United States, only 4 years ago had aspirations to be a television anchor. Which is probably all she is qualified to be… Also interesting that she got her passport in 2006.. And that she is not fond of environmental protection considering she’s FOR drilling for oil in some of our protected land…. Well hey, if she wants to drill for oil, she should DO IT IN HER OWN backyard. This really shows me her complete lack of real preparation to become the second most powerful person in this country…Is our country so divided that the Republicans best hope is a narrow minded, media obsessed homophobe?”
~Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson
"I also thought that this idea of America first coming from her was kind of strange because she was one of the people who wanted to secede from the United States. She was part of a campaign to secede Alaska from the United States of America. So I’m glad she’s back, putting America first. I also thought it was disingenuous for her to open with her record on the Bridge to Nowhere. When she was running for governor in 2006, she was all for the bridge and once she won she was against the bridge, this was also a woman who wanted books banned. I just find it extraordinary."
~Whoopi Goldberg

RandomThots isn't much of a Republican supporter and even less so a Sarah Palin fan. She does provide a whole treasure trove of female Bushisms though. Haha.. Who would've thought there'd be 2 presidential candidates like that? Oh America, you never disappoint...

Anyway, without further ado, I present, the top 10 dumb Sarah Palin Quotes!

1. "As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?" --Sarah Palin, interview with CNBC's "Kudlow & Co", July 2008 (Watch video clip)

2. "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." --Sarah Palin, explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008 (Watch video clip)

3. "Well, let's see. There's -- of course -- in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings." --Sarah Palin, unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs. Wade, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008 (Watch video clip)

4. "All of 'em, any of 'em that have been in front of me over all these years." --Sarah Palin, unable to name a single newspaper or magazine she reads, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008 (Watch video clip)

5. "They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." --Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco, Oct. 5, 2008

6. "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." –Sarah Pailn, on the Iraq war, speaking to students at the Wasilla Assembly of God, June 2008 (Watch video clip)

7. "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you." --Sarah Palin, asked by Katie Couric to cite specific examples of how John McCain has pushed for more regulation in his 26 years in the Senate, CBS interview, Sept. 24, 2008 (Watch video clip)

8. "That's exactly what we're going to do in a Palin and McCain administration." --Sarah Palin, elevating herself to the top of the ticket, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 18, 2008 (Watch video clip)

9. "I told the Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." –Sarah Palin, who was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it

10. "I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'" --Sarah Palin, as quoted by former City Council Member Nick Carney, after he raised objections about the $50,000 she spent renovating the mayor's office without approval of the city council

Taken from this website.

Alright, for any of the US readers that come across this. Please vote Democrats!

An Arts Attempt at the Credit Crisis

2008-10-09T15:29:00.009+11:00

Now all of you that know me will also know that I'm one who can't quite wrap my head around numbers, what more fathom what in the world is going on with the economic system.
So, for the financially-challenged such as myself, here is the first thing that has helped me understand the Subprime Housing Crisis, recently upgraded to the Credit Crisis. (it's a little bit long but engaging because it's a talk show transcript. There's an audio version here too)

For the lazy, and also because it's my habit, the problem in brief (i've colour coded the different actors, so to speak, 'cos it gets confusing):

There is a giant pool of all the world's investable money. [If you must know, somewhere in the league of 70 trillion dollars] There are investor vampires whose sole purpose in life is to make more money. Doesn't matter who it's for. Even if it's for the giant pool of money's sake.
There are only so many safe loans such as treasury bonds around and they're low-risk, low-return investments. (think around 1-2%)
The hungry investor vampires found out that mortgages have an interest rate of 5-7% and this is a faster way to make money. (Generally quite safe too. Banks need to check that you're credit-worthy and, if all else fails, you have the house to fall back on. This in a climate where housing prices only go Up Up Up. So, you either get steady returns of 5-7% a month or an asset that's worth more than when you first assessed it)
Hungry investor vampires start snapping up mortgages and brokers get in on the action by buying the mortgages off banks and bundling them into large balls of mortgage loans. The investor vampires then sell shares of these mortgage loan balls to investors like you and me (well, more like yours and my parents).
These sell like hotcakes and soon they run out of good mortgages to buy (all the nice credit-worthy people have already been roped in). So, make the pie bigger! The banks lower their criteria for loans that they'll accept from mortgage companies so 'Steady Income and Credible Assets' devolved into 'No income No Assets' and anyone can get a housing loan. (No really,you say how much you have in the bank, they take your word for it, they give you a loan)
Problem is, the loans become less reliable, right? But not to worry! If mortgage companies bundle awesome A++ loans (from the reliable payer-backers) with terrible E for Effort loans (from the people who needed cash but didn't need to be dangled a carrot they can't afford), then they'll even out into an A-okay loan. Which investor vampires will still sink their teeth into.
This is the crisis bit. Now a few months down the line, the investor vampires realise that lots of people are defaulting and property prices are really going Down Down Down (there's prolly more to this but my arts mind understands so much). They and the banks realise to save their skins they'll pull Out Out Out by tightening the terms on which they'll approve mortgages. (Yes Income, Yes Assets)
Which leaves the mortgage ball- bundling broker in a fix. 'Cos he's only the middle man that relies on the bank to snap up his mortgage ball quickly. Now he's stuck with a mortgage ball he can't afford and his own loan to buy that mortgage ball and noone to take either off his hands. Bring on the Death of the Mortgage Broker companies!
Recap: Mortgage broker companies go bust. Banks are now stingy. Investor vampires are back to hedging safe low-interest bets (and have to figure out where half of the giant pool of money went). Investors are stuck with either bad loans or a piece of property worth less than what they invested. The homeowners are still paying hefty interest rates and at risk of losing their homes. And that, my dear friends, is what I would call a dilly of a pickle.

I accredit every word of this summary to be the result of reading the abovementioned transcript.

I quite like not having known about all this before. So now my hippie brain goes into overdrive. It asks:

What if?

What if some of the people currently holding mortgages got together and gave up some of their houses but kept the biggest, most convenient house so that they could, at least until they improve their earnings, live and spend communally?

What if people moved back in with their families?

What if investors take the properties that they unwittingly acquired (and i didn't even get into the complicated mess of 'there are lots of investors who bought percentages of different properties in a bundle so it's hard to trace and noone really knows who owns what') and decided, we can't sell the house, so let's rent it out instead. Affordably, might i add.

What if people took more ownership over their investments? So instead of a supposed safe ball of mortgages (and why are they allowed to determine who/what is safe, anyway?) , you actually find out if it's a valid business, or someone's car, or a dairy farmer who says he'll sell x amounts of milk to make your interest payment.

What if we took the giant pool of money and invested it into the environment? Value-adding, so to speak, to industries and existing enterprises so that they reduce emissions and toxic footprint. It's slower returns, but we'll have quality products, quality environment, longer lifespans all around! I don't think this will be an idea that will appeal to the capitalistic, though.

What if people invested in microcredit? The most resilient form of credit there is! A credit crisis isn't quite going to kill the business of the mamak man down the road, is it? Quite the contrary... It's actually leading on from that thought of knowing what you invest in and I found a US site called MicroPlace that allows the layman like you and me to invest in microloans. Unfortunately only open to US residents but i do so love the idea...

Right, anyway, ideas of a naive mind. How many of you commerce financial people are writhing in your seats?

I shall wax lyrical another day though.

One reference:

The Money Meltdown

Children can see it, why can't we?

2008-10-09T13:10:00.004+11:00

We think that politics are biased and dirty and elections are free and fair in the loosest sense of the words. (Free from morals and Fairly Unsettling?)

In any case, I think it's time we took notice when those shining beacons of innocence that we call children start to notice too. This article struck me as both amusing and indicative of the times we live in.

Children Blame Discrimination for Lack of Minority, Female U.S. President

by Robin Chen Delos Oct 8, 2008, 09:27

A new study refutes the idea that children live in a color- and gender-blind world. The University of Texas at Austin study shows most elementary school-aged children know there has been no female, Black or Hispanic president of the United States. And the reason? Discrimination, according to the children studied, reports online magazine Science Daily.

Over a year before Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama entered the presidential race, researchers at UTA and the University of Kansas interviewed more than 200 children between the ages of five and 10 about their knowledge and beliefs about U.S. presidents. Researchers found the racially diverse group of children was aware women and minorities have been excluded from the U.S. presidency but thought people of both genders and races should be president, according to results published in the electronic journal Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy.

Researchers heard some surprising answers when children were asked why only White men have been president. One in four children said it is illegal for women and minorities to serve as president. And while a third of the
children said voters’ racial and gender bias explained the lack of female and minority presidents, a third of the children also said women and minorities lacked the skills to be president.

The outcome of the presidential election might significantly influence children’s attitudes. Dr. Rebecca Bigler, a researcher and professor of psychology at UTA, told Science Daily: “If Obama loses his bid for the presidency, there may be little change in children’s attitudes, but it could fuel their perception that American voters are racially prejudiced … In contrast, if Obama wins, children may believe that exclusionary laws and racial prejudice no longer shape the outcomes of the presidential elections.”

This also speaks about how advanced children under 10 are now! I remember being concerned over which of the Secret Seven was stuck in a cave at that age. In any case, children need to be given more credit than they're due.

(How funny that we used to have brilliant ideas when we were kids but were never listened to, and yet when we have grown up we belittle them just the same) Sometimes, it feels like the only person who gave kids enough credit was Roald Dahl.

So, for the children, if you can - vote Obama.

[Can you tell RandomThots supports the Democrats?]

Justice, Where Art Thou??

2008-09-23T15:43:00.004+10:00

Raja Petra has just been sent to 2 years imprisonment in Kamunting.

https://airkosong.com/_/2008/09/23/rpk-sent-to-kamunting-gross-travesty-of-justice-by-syed-hamid-albar/

Why retell something that has already been so eloquently written? (Thanks, Mr. Air Kosong blogger)

But, if you stubbornly refuse to click, here's the gist of it:

Raja Petra initially detained under Section 73 - detention pending judicial review.
He has now (Sept 23) been sent to Kamunting for 2 years under Section 8 - 2 years detention with NO chance of judicial review.
Home Minister i-had-nothing-to-do-with-it Syed Hamid Albar signed the papers last night.

My question being, if you were so sure he was inciting racial tension, why not prove it to the world at large in court? Flexing muscle without reason always makes you look the bully.

I think we've checked erm... all of them? Really scary thought. Picture taken from I Am Malaysian.

So let's try this again. RandomThots fully endorses the signing of yet another petition saying NO to the ISA.

There is an online list of detainees under the ISA here.
And also, some interesting facts:

10,662 people have been arrested under the ISA in the past 44 years, 4,139 were issued with formal detention orders and 2,066 were served with restriction orders governing their activities and where they live. In addition, 12 people were executed for offences under the ISA between 1984 and 1993.
Source: Figures were provided in a written answer by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Minister for Internal Security, to parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, whose statement was quoted by AFP in newsreports dated 3 Feb 2005

p.s: i'm sorry and thank you to all the blogs that i took material off. It was fun finding new blogs that dissed our silly leadership. For my own reference and i think Dan, you'll enjoy these:

p.p.s: I couldn't help noting that on one of the comments in reply to a blog kutuking Saiful, there was this: 'u r the most bustard' (heehee... i thought it snigger-worthy)

p.p.p.s: I think this is a good post that EVERY Malaysian boy and girl should read.

A follow up from the post on the Large Hadron Collider

2008-09-22T18:39:00.004+10:00

For those who bothered reading about the Large Hadron Collider a few posts ago.
What an anti-climax.

The LHC:

had to be shut down when temperatures rose by about 100C, causing a leak of a ton of liquid helium into the tunnel.

~this article in the NZ Herald

So, the mysteries of the universe dying to be unravelled will have to wait another 2 months then.
Sorry for the false alarm.

(It's sadder because a teenage girl in India committed suicide over the fear that the LHC would create a black hole that would cause the destruction of mankind)
Sometimes too much [mis]information can be dangerous.

Freedom (let's hope it lasts)

2008-09-19T17:11:00.004+10:00

Jubilation!
Teresa Kok is free!
Apparently they couldn't find anything to hold her for. And now she's turned around and sued the buggers who put her in that predicament in the first place. Vicious rumours, might i add?

You go, woman!
Do petitions help? Probably not. But damn, over 30,000 people agree that she shouldn't have been there.

Question of the day:
What would be the first thing you'd do if you had been in detention for an indefinite period?

For me? Probably a really long shower, a massage and mummy's cooking. But a comfy bed would be a close second.

Time to say, 'Away! You nasty ISA!'

2008-09-16T13:58:00.003+10:00

The dreaded September 16th date is here.
Apparently people have been stockpiling groceries in anticipation of another civil unrest reminiscent of the May 13 troubles.

It was smooth driving to work today.

So the government may or may not turn over. Anwar may or may not have enough ministers defect to give his party the majority. We may or may not be looking to a brighter (or at least different) future.

Malaysia is, however, still a country that adopts the outdated and, in my opinion, unwarranted, practise of detainment without trial.
As i mentioned earlier, the news reporter, caught supposedly 'because they feared for her safety' has been released. [The government flip flops on this story, though. One day it's for her own safety, the next it's for inciting racial unease and then suddenly because it is a matter of national security. The Prime Minister and Home Minister also alternate from not knowing and not acting]
However, Raja Petra (long time adversary of the government) and MP Teresa Kok still remain under ISA detention.

As far as the country understands it, Teresa Kok is in jail for supporting a petition to tell mosques to lower down the volume of their publicly aired azan prayers. However, the mosques have since come out to say that there is no truth in the claim. Religious councils have also said that there are laws to handle these issues (although they think she's not at fault too) and if there really has been an offense then it should be dealt with in a court of law.

Really, there's no reason for her to be taken away to an undisclosed location to be subjected to unknown actions. In fact, the very existence of an Internal Security Act is making a mockery of our judicial system. If you need an act that allows you to bypass the courts, then you must think the courts aren't doing their jobs very well.

So, RandomThots is all for you checking out this petition to free Teresa Kok.

(if i only harp on about Teresa Kok and not Raja Petra it's because i read more about her than him)

If she's wrong, then give her a fair trial. If she's not, then let her go!

For we are marching with a song....

2008-09-12T12:14:00.002+10:00

i don't know how many of my Stella Maris friends actually read this blog (or know of its existence) but for the few of you that do, if you're feeling reminiscent about the high school days...

http://caisproject.blogspot.com/

How come there was nothing like that when we were there?

The complete lack of familiar faces made me realise it's been 6 years since i last wore that uniform...

I take it as a good thing when you can look fondly back on the memories =)

For Glory of Malaysia - Harmonious and Peaceful but Also Censored due to racial sentiment

2008-09-11T18:03:00.006+10:00

A few blog posts ago i said that the Bar Council held a forum on the so called 'social contract' between the races.

I also said that there was hue and cry over the discussion of matters that could 'provoke racial tension'.

Apparently, when you are disgruntled, you should just shut up, bottle your feelings (and secretly plot the demise of the world around you).

Oh, of course the May 13th incident involved nothing of the sort.

Anyway, it turns out that Malaysian politicians will never fail to deliver. In the midst of challenges from the Opposition, a brilliant (now former) UMNO man decided to say that all Chinese in the country are immigrants. Yeah, the 30% of the country that are now around 3rd generation immigrants are being accused of invading the country by hhhmm... 6 or 7 generation immigrants?
[click here to read just how much of an ass he is. Here's a teaser: “If the division is smart enough to create a new post, like an adviser, I can become an adviser." Cos the country loves you, Ahmad.]

Fair enough he has been banned from office for the next 3 years, and also fair enough that the episode and its ensuing outcry has made the PM realise that Race Relations are not at a Healthy Level. [come on, that deserves at least a 'No Shit, Sherlock!']

Unfortunately, this is apparently why.

“Issues that are not normally raised are being brought up and turned into issues. Matters that have never been discussed before are being discussed now and this is bringing about all sorts of reactions."

~so i quote the Malaysian PM

So, racial tension in Malaysia. Correct!

It's because people are saying things that incite racism. Correct!

The answer is to stop people talking about the issues that plague our society. Uh....

It's like when you're doing a crossword with someone and they made you promise not to tell them the answers but they are sooooo excruciatingly close you just wanna scream 'IT'S SO OBVIOUS!! CAN'T YOU SEE 6-LETTER WORD DOWN FOR DUMB IS STUPID!?!'

I share sentiments with the Malaysians around the world.

UPDATE

In latest news (13 Sept), a news reporter has just been arrested under the ISA (Internal Security Act for the uninitiated - the one that lets you drag people away for no reason other than 'to preserve national security' for 60 days which can be extended indefinitely at the discretion of one person). What is so striking about this? A number of people have been dragged away by the ISA.

Well, she just seems to have been dragged away for reporting on what the aforementioned Ahmad had said at a political rally. Do i hear 'shooting the messenger', anyone?

RandomThots is all for the abolition of the ISA and the release of the reporter. If you can't justify an arrest then you probably shouldn't be arresting.

Unfortunately, as my friends in Jogjakarta did enlighten:

Person in Jogja: Are there big demonstrations in Malaysia (in reference to fuel hike)
Me: Nope, we'd get arrested! ISA.
Person in Jogja: Oh, Indonesia abolished the ISA years ago. We're very politically active.
Me: So how did you guys get rid of it?
Person in Jogja: We demonstrated.
Me: (-_-")

What a chicken and egg scenario...

ANOTHER UPDATE

The aforementioned reporter has been released because the government realised that when they are unpopular amongst the masses, turning all Malaysia's journalists against them is probably NOT the brightest idea.

CERN and the Mysteries of Subatomic Particle Collision!

2008-09-10T16:49:00.008+10:00

It's a sign of our times.
I know that Britney Spears opened the VMA and that she won 3 awards.
I know that Apple has just released a new range of iPods (thinner than ever before).
I know that if you are a minister who may pontentially be cajoled to join the 'dark side' (couldn't help myself), you can find yourself wooed into trips to the Great Agricultural Country* of Taiwan

But i think it's a shame that in our obsession with popular culture, we aren't more concerned about the Large Hadron Collider. [Wired has an excellent FAQ section on it. NY Times has a longer article on it too.]

Goodness, it even looks like it's from the future. From here

So we don't normally get much say in the day-to-day running of the world, but the U.K's Astronomer Royal putting the odds of total annihilation through sudden black hole creation (leading to the universe being sucked in and therefore everything going out like a light - except the lightbulb and air and everything around would cease to exist too) at 1 in 50 million makes me think 'Well, stranger things have happened!'

I just think that maybe we should've been aware of it considering existence of the universe is a little bit of my concern too. Then again, there'd probably be a lot of ignorant protests from people who are better off sitting harmlessly at home.

In any case, Einstein's Theory of Relativity tells us it's not possible to cause destruction of the earth. [heave collective sigh of relief here]

So maybe we won't be extinguished, but the Large Hadron Collider is (i quote)

the biggest, most complex machine humans have ever built, and today they will finally get to turn it on.
~this article in The Age

Not to mention it cost $9.6 billion USD, involved 10,000 scientists and engineers and is the result of over 20 years of work. Hooray!

Some nerdy enlightenment:

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is an enormous long circular tunnel with lots of posh things attached that will send particles in laps around it.
They are trying to get 2 beams of particles to smash into each other.
This will recreate conditions immediately after the Big Bang - which could be enlightening.
Somehow this could potentially prove/disprove the Big Bang Theory, String Theory, Multiple-Universe Theory and the existence of Dark Matter.

What the heck? You're not peeing your pants in joy/anxiety/excitement/anticipation/trepidation?

Seriously, you could find out tomorrow (or realistically in the next 20 years) that there IS a parallel universe and somewhere out there a you but not you (or as many t-shirts put it: Same same but different) is living the alternate life you could never have imagined.

This could be the culmination of every sci-fi nerds' fantasies!

And if this could be taken as concrete proof that the Big Bang did happen, would we be able to stoke up as much furore in the Church as the heretical accussations surrounding Darwin's Theory of Evolution v Creation?

Well, whatever the result, i tip my metaphorical hat off to you, scientists and engineers. For daring to dream big and for not blowing up the universe. I like the enigma of science and physics but i wonder if i really would like to know the answers.

Mystery has its own appeal.

*may not be an actual country depending on whether being pro-China is in fashion.

I Love Discovery Channel

2008-09-05T14:07:00.003+10:00

This song has been stuck in my head and I just need to share it in case some people have missed out.

What a happy feel good song =)

Discovery Channel is awesome.
(and so is Stephen Hawking)

Rain rain go away. Or stay? I don't really know.

2008-09-04T15:45:00.006+10:00

The lovely art is courtesy of the Abominable Charles Christopher

It's been raining consistently for the past few weeks. (and it is still raining as i type this)

Rain...

Rain..

Rain

Don't get me wrong, i love the rain. i love watching as it patters down on buildings and plants, how it drips from roof gutters and causes ripples in puddles of water and the hushing sound that it makes, like the world is housed in a giant auditorium.

Rain has a soothing effect perfect for lie-ins and warm blankets.

Unfortunately, whilst at work, one is far away from warm blankets. And far from home - the long and arduous path of which is then jam-ridden due to over-cautious drivers, giant puddles and broken down cars.

You begin to doubt a place when it makes you dislike the things you love.

What's Your Colour?

2008-09-02T22:53:00.006+10:00

And yet another half a month has flown by.
Well, just a quick thought for today.

If you were a colour, what would you be?

I have to figure out a study table desktop colour because being me, the plain old whites, greys and browns don't really appeal.
So i was torn between purple and orange (naturally, right? :S)

And then i thought, well, what is a ME colour? And then i thought, well, what is anybody's colour?
I don't really know how to describe it but i guess how i'd imagine it is if you could ascribe colours to moods and you could ascribe general moods to people then I guess you get their colour?

*Gasp* Is this where we subconsciously got our notions of colour from?

I can imagine large office blocks that are in shades of muted blue and grey.
Batik shop owners would probably burst out in bold greens and bright reds.
And high school girls would fluctuate between studious yellows (why yellow? just a feeling) and cheerleader pinks.

And, just because it exists, i also decided to take this online colour test (put on by a paint company, naturally)

You boast incredible willpower and are capable of overcoming obstacles that would normally leave others shaking in their boots. You have a penchant for colorful environments and often impress others with your energetic bursts of energy. Your interests in many areas of life often leave you scattered, but when you focus you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

I agree with the penchant for colourful environments and scattered interests in life, but that willpower thing hasn't shone through in the gym. But you know, that's probably just a practice in stereotyping. People are definitely more multi-faceted than colour designation (or for that matter astrology) gives them credit for.

So i decided that i'm red when i'm having a night out, lavender when i feel like a quieter, contemplation sort of day, orange when i'm joking around, blue when it's raining outside and i get to snuggle up inside (also when at a jazz bar), grey when i'm reading the news (which is often bad), pink when i'm with my girlfriends, green when i feel active and an earthy brown when i'm being domestic and cooking.

But that's just the colours in my head. Alternately, you could just find out what other have to say about it here, here and here.

Haha... Take it with a pinch of salt though because some of these sites are about the colour of your aura. Which i can't see. (-_-")

I wonder how i'd respond if someone said i had a big aura...

p.s: Veron, you're somewhere on a purply-lavender for me. CC makes me think pink. Damien is a strong yellow/ochre. Kee Hong i think is red (matches his temper). Daniel is a safe brown or blue. Gigi - i haven't decided - either pink or blue.

p.p.s: i hope you all tak tersinggung with my random colour guessings. ;)

The [War]ld is an amazing place

2008-08-20T13:33:00.004+10:00

RandomThots was on a sabbatical.
What? No. I was just lazy.
Anyway, half a month is a disastrously long time to not have written.

How long? Enough for the most star-studded music fest of my life to have passed, (for me to become a webcomic addict), for the biggest games in the world to begin, the Premier League season to have kicked of, and, for WAR to start.
At first my reaction was - war? It's the 21st century, and one country declares war on another?
And then i realised - territorial war, war on terror.. Meh. mere differences in vocabulary.

I once wrote an essay where i said that the USA is like a terrorist organisation because of their [illegal?ill-approved?unwarranted?] war against Iraq. I didn't actually score very well on it so maybe all i'm saying is fluff.

See, a lot of problems in the world is just pedantics.
Merriam Webster says war is: (1): a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations.

Now the clincher is this - what defines 'armed hostile conflict between states or nations'? How and who are we to decide what the parameters are? If the prime minister approves that i whack Charmaine on the head with a rolling pin (merely because she's Singaporean), doesn't that fall under 'armed hostile conflict between nations?'
Alright, so maybe not, but the point is, who are we to decide whether you count as a representative of a state or nation and what scale conflict has to be on to qualify?

In any case, i maintain that i should've scored higher for that paper.

But anyway, first reaction to hearing about Russia vs. Georgia.
1) There's WAR in the 21st century. (unjustified. not the first one)
2) Russia is a gazillion times bigger! Gah! Big Bullies!

And i think a lot of people think #2 too. But you know, dug a little deeper. It seems Georgia tried to muscle in on the South Ossetian land and the people there were actually grateful for Russian protection.
So.. Georgians allegedly tried to take control over disputed territories
The Russians retaliated as they've sort of been giving these territories protection.
But now the Russians are in Georgia and they don't want to leave.

WHAT!?!?
If they were children and i was their mother, they'd both have to pull their ears and squat in the corner. And they probably wouldn't get dessert, either.

So, to sum up. Georgia wants more land. Russia wants Georgia. Noone really cares what the people on the disputed land think.
Yay! Same as nearly every other conflict in the world!

Indeed, The world is an amazing place.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In other news, if i was to start a Jeannie to Melbourne fund, only looking for, say, 400 AUD, would there be any kind contributors? There may be food, cocktails and all sorts of cajoling involved. Hur hur hur....

When I was your age, Pluto was a planet.

2008-07-30T13:47:00.003+10:00

You can bet i'll be telling my nephew that.

Meanwhile, i have found a new favourite webcomic about a geeky couple and their wacky friends. I think it's the parallels. I can understand them. =)

Acoustic Attack

2008-07-28T12:55:00.003+10:00

i Love Last.fm.

I know i've plugged it before but i can't NOT share free music by not-necessarily-well-known-artists (and the famous ones too) that are recommended by a system that recognises what sort of music taste you have? Do yourself a favour and check it out.

It's helping me fill the auditory absences at the office while discovering just how talented the world is.

Damn, i don't think i can be a big superstar singer anytime soon. Got to work on the other options for becoming famous now....

Priscilla Ahn - Lullaby (live version) i think it's amazing how it sounds gorgeous on poor recording quality and live! Check out the original for a more polished version. [the beautiful strings are killing me...]

Secret Heart by Feist. You may know her from 1234 fame (yes, the ipod nano song. Plus in this older blog post. Oops. Found another different but also great version - cos it has Mushaboom tagged on the end =D). Well, she's just awesome and this live version a bit rockier than normal but still yummy.

The beautiful thing about sharing good music is you get it back. Kenny recommended this by a Malaysian who records in her room. =) Just 'cos it's a beautiful song. Smile as sung by KokoKaina

Well, and why not round it up with a popular favourite? So i didn't find this on Last. fm, but Jason Mraz's I'm Yours is such a great song. And sounds better live! (wheee!! less than a week to SingFest '08! ^excited jumping^)

Yay for the internet!

Take me home country road.....

2008-07-23T19:07:00.002+10:00

A long time ago, our forefathers toiled in the fields.
'You eat what you grow', they said. And we had rice, fruits and vegetables, and we were content.

Much later, we had rice but we heard that there was more.
'There is bread and grains and fish and spice, and all from the lands afar.'
Why, that sounds enticing. And we were interested, and we tried them all.

Now everyday you walk around the covered streets.
'What to eat? Rice from Thailand? Burgers from America? Pastries from France? Fish from Japan?'
What's the difference? We're getting it ALL from somewhere else.
So much richer, but at what cost?

Well, story-time over, it seems the trend is reversing. People are realising that 'You eat what you grow' is the only way 'You know what you eat'. This article tells of how people are hiring others to work in their gardens so they get homegrown produce without the bother of growing.
You can even pool money to share parts of a cow (imagine the initial bidding - i want the right hind leg, please)

Somehow i can't help thinking that's just missing the point.
Regression or progression of the times?

All about the world's oldest profession

2008-07-17T12:56:00.004+10:00

So today i feel like addressing one of the big issues. The circus that is Malaysian politics can get you really caught up in what feels like a reality show or maybe something more akin to 'Meerkat Manor'.

Amidst talk of promiscuity propagated and in fact instigated by thin (not revealing in the conventional sense - just thin) school uniforms, [i still haven't let this one go. Refer to this blog entry if you want to read it] perhaps we are missing what is truly important.

Okay, this is just to lighten the mood a bit. Thanks to Seemikedraw. Found him on Google. i think i'm a fan now.

This headline grabbed my attention today.
Afghanistan: Food prices fuelling sex work in North?

While we can talk about school girls being corrupted into prostitution unworthy of our sympathy, does anybody question why (apart from that genius Malaysian who does it for the money and lifestyle), why do some people get involved in sex work?

What's your idea of prostitution? Google thinks its something like this.

Why do they let men (let's face it - the bulk of sex workers are women) invade their most intimate places and spaces?
How do they face complete strangers who have little if any respect for them and whom, you can almost guarantee, have only sex on their mind?
Why do they put themselves at risk of disease, pregnancy or - in the case of hardline Muslim countries such as Afghanistan - death?
How do they put up with the constant stigma that follows them and their families - they will truly be 'sons of bitches' and 'bastard childs'; 'whores', 'skanks' and 'harlots'?

No, sex isn't all about fun and games.

Quotes like this bring so much more insight into prostitution:

'I have no way of feeding my children other than by doing this disgusting job,’

'I am a widow and I have to feed my five children. I am illiterate and no one will give me a job. I hate to be a prostitute but if I stop doing this job my children will starve to death,’

~ both unnamed sex workers in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, most sex workers are illiterate widows who have nothing else to offer employers but themselves. The recent rise in food prices has meant that leaner times have fallen and, despite the self-loathing and the harm they potentially put themselves in the way of (who cares if a prositute is hurt, or beaten or even murdered? One less social ill in the world), there is no other way to support their families. However, in uber-conservative Afghanistan, this means that your neighbours shun you, women's affairs officers encourage security officers to arrest and punish you and that means the death penalty or imprisonment.

And at the end of the day, your children will still be hungry.

I wish this had a Hallmark card ending where social security, improved human rights' and adult education systems were in place to help these women out of their troubles.*

Unfortunately, Hallmark is only in cards and movies. Real life makes you wonder why some people were born with silver spoons in their mouths while others are forced into corners with only very narrow ways out.

Ye of the silver spoon, i hope you appreciate enough to make a difference.

*There's only a little consolation that the National HIV/AIDS council is going to educate women about the disease and hand out free condoms.

Endangered Species: MEN

2008-07-11T16:41:00.004+10:00

So this article states that men may become an extinct species in the future.

Recent studies have shown that men can be redundant in the reproductive process (did you know the penis is just an oversized clitoris?) and, if we really wanted to, we could do away with them once the technology to alter skin cells and other bodily cells into sperm (eeewww...) is perfected.

Picture kindly commandeered from the page containing the article. Thanks to The Age!

So if you're gonna have a kid, try and aim for a female. Why? Because boys may become obsolete! With our capacity to breastfeed and shoot whole humans out of our nether regions, women just seem to be better equipped for this going-it-out-on-our-own thing!

Well, that's all well and good. (a little like the movie Children of Men, which one must watch as a fan of the extremely hunky Clive Owen. Maybe i should start a Clive Owen for James Bond petition)

Personally though, i see more than a few incentives to keeping the men around. Gawd, who would change the lightbulbs and tune up the car motors?
Hahaha.. Oh. And sex. ;)

To the women, love your man but don't worry if he leaves you because biologically he's useless. (soon)

To the men, i hope you appreciate that we still love you although you're redundant. =)

And it's our God-forsaken right to be love, loved, love, loved, love.
~Jason Mraz, I'm Yours

Tea Talk

2008-07-09T13:55:00.002+10:00

Just thought it was worth mentioning after reading this article on reuters.
A Japanese woman who was threatened for money at knife-point managed to calm her assailant down by making him tea and having a 20-minute chat.
She gave him close to 100 USD and he ran away as she called the police, but she and her 6-month old daughter escaped unharmed.
Now isn't that a much more civil way to handle things?

Viva La Espanol!

2008-07-09T12:39:00.002+10:00

Okay, this is really quite late... but i don't know why i wasn't in the blogging mood earlier.

However, they definitely warrant praise and jubilation! (unless you're a Germany or Federer fan - in which case, sucks to be you!)

Yay Spain national team for Euro 2008! First win in 44 years!

Of course special mention to my golden boy, Torres. *smooches for you*

And poser Nadal. He's only 22? Gosh. Most of my friends are 22. They neither look that hot nor have that much money. *sigh* (except Kee Win.. he's good looking)

Okay, i couldn't help myself. 6-pack and a gorgeous tan!! I think he'd be great to make babies with.

But look, i think Federer's awesome too. And they're both friends in the end so it's all okay...

Hahaha. So, can i be called shallow because my sporting support was given on the basis of who was hotter? *dush* Sorry, Federer, Nadal's bum looked yummier and Torres + Villa? The Germans didn't stand a chance.

Viva La Espanol! I think it's cool that Spanish royalty goes to attend the games. Yay! Be proud of your country! If i was Spanish royalty and i got to sit in the royal box. Hell yeah i'd go! And make sure i got a private audience with the hunks... i mean, the winners too!

Yay for hotness and for making me watch sport!

New life plan: Travel to Spain and find hot, rich men. Yay for beautifying the gene pool!

That's what i go to school for....

2008-07-02T16:28:00.004+10:00

"I strongly suspect that there is a strong correlation between peace and happiness," said Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, who directed the study.

Mmmm... insightful.
I promise you not all political scientists say things like that. Anyway, he was just talking in relation to the World Values Survey that ranks the happiest countries in the world.

Overall, the world is getting happier, according to the U.S. government-funded World Values Survey, done regularly by a global network of social scientists.

In other news,

The number of children living in poverty has risen for a second year, a UK government report says.

By the way, the survey ranked Denmark as the happiest country in the world.
Whoopdee-friggin'-doo.

If you're in a mood like mine, perhaps you could use some cheering up, like from here.
*Be warned, clicking will lead to a possibly eye-searing picture. Its funny though*

Have a happy day.

What Irks Me... in a rare bout of patriotic questioning

2008-07-01T15:52:00.009+10:00

Alright,

Someday i was bound to blog about it. I suppose what better time than when there are allegations rife of the foremost opposition candidate engaging in sexual activities of a posterial nature.

The whole country is in furore! (again)

Did he? Didn't he?

Was his victim paid? Was he planted there?

Is this just a way to divert attention from the potential swinging of power into the opposition's hands?

Is this really a case of him just liking little boys? (Ah, but as we know, the fathers of democracy back in Grecian day were all into little boys)

Anyway, not for me to say, seeing as we will probably never hear the end of this debacle. (or find the truth in it)

What you may have missed amongst all this hype though, was a tiny column tucked in the papers about how a forum questioning the 'social contract' that exists in the Constitution is tantamount to a seditious act (so someone went far enough to say). But the discussion was held anyway.

A panellist on the Bar Council forum, Tommy Thomas, said:

“To me, it(the social contract) exists; it was the quid pro quo bargain reached by the three communities before independence.
“All that was required of the non-Malays was an undivided loyalty to the new nation. In effect, Malaysia would remain a plural society where racial differences were recognised and diversity encouraged.
“My understanding of it is a formula by which race relations are arranged, a charter for the minority and a bill of rights for the majority,” he said, adding that the key social arrangements were found in the Federal Constitution.

Closer to my heart though, are the views of Dr. Puthucheary:

“Calls simply to uphold the 'social contract' as binding, rather than making a serious effort to understand its evolving meaning and use in Malaysian history and politics, have impeded effective nation-building,”

An article on the panellists' views can be found here

Alright, first of all, as a layperson born into my country, I have always known that

1) I am of the middle classes (therefore not much exposure to race politics. when you're a kid noone cares how your dad got the money to build that nice house - as long as i can come over and play)

2) Since i can remember, Chinese adults say that the quota is unfair and Bumis get lots of privileges. In this country, you make what you can because the government doesn't help you much.

3) I don't personally experience this lack of benefits myself but i DO notice that the Sultans, Datuks and most ministers are Malay.

4) I have never fought with anyone because they are Indian or Malay but I will notice that they are Indian or Malay, not Malaysian.

5) People who say enough times that this country is dominated by only one race and it's really unfair eventually end up moving out of the country.

And that is my cake and i will eat it. Noone questions. There's racial tension yeah. It's not like exploding-in-your-face-i-will-bash-the-next-race-up tension but there's always been undercurrents of dissatisfaction.

“There is no need to discuss these issues because it gives rise to various reactions from the Malays, including creating animosity and racial tension.
“I do not understand where the loss is if these issues are not discussed. No need to discuss,”

so i quote our Prime Minister.

Now that is just irresponsible behaviour.

I cannot believe that living in this country all your life, one can still be completely ignorant to the dissatisfaction that exists. In fact, in the recent elections there were calls from all three races to abolish the racial privilige system to make way for one that was more focused on need rather than race. (but there were also ugly reprisals, so it works both ways)

Look. I am a third-generation Chinese immigrant. Try as you might, only orang Asli can claim to be truly Malaysian. We are all from somewhere else. Do we remember our sejarah lessons about Parameswara? He was from Jawa.

I have absolutely no claim to China. If you left me there alone I would be as lost as if i was in South America. And can my Indian friends truly lay claim to India?

We are Malaysian. There's no two ways about it. This is my home country and there's nowhere else to go. So what's the difference? I have as much right as anyone else born here. What social contract is this? I think the powers-that-be agreed at independence that the 'locals' are given more benefits because they were here first and we seem to have taken up their jobs

.... 50 years ago.

Fair enough, though. If there was a sudden influx of migrants, i'd want to protect local interest too.

But can i just say it's been a little while since then?

Somehow I can't help thinking that all this racialised politics is stopping us from progressing as a country. As Malaysians.

So i might be accused of being seditious but I think that if there are to be benefits for anyone, it should be to those who need it. So away with benefits based on colour or birthright and why not benefits for the poor? Equally?

It may be wishful thinking but my point is that I think 50 years down the line, when we are trying to propagate equality and fairness and one bangsa Malaysia, it is healthy to discuss about how things may or may not be evolving in the country.

To just avoid discussion of something that noone wants to address - are we obliged to accept ketuanan Melayu or is it something written in stone and indeed deserved? Why, it's like the old adage of sweeping things under the carpet.

Thanks to jonnybaker @ Flicker for catching this excellent piece by Bansky (if you've not heard of his street art, definitely worth checking out!)

I mean, not addressing things when we could is why we ended up getting the Middle Rocks after all, isn't it? But Isaac can tell you that story.

[ An aside, while googling stuff to include, it seems i'm not the only disgruntled one. ]

The point of it all is, i'm not really asking or expecting all out change. Malaysia is pretty sweet the way it is - minus some needless developments and scary crime rates - but i think not everyone can feel contented. And i'd be much more willing to defend my country if i knew it was much more willing to address its citizens.

And i shall conclude like the true arts student that i am - Talk it out, people. Bottling up your feelings never did anyone good.

Sometimes my hippie reputation is justified...

2008-06-30T16:39:00.003+10:00

I bought this book at a book fair yesterday and I haven't read it, but i thought i'd just post it up because I think a lot of my friends would approve.
Actually I think i bought it because i could imagine people telling me it's my kind of book.
Oh gosh, I am becoming what I think you think I am. (o_0)

In any case, love, peace and flowers.

Oh, and if you're into the whole living free out of a backpack thing and have time to kill, do check out Zhang Su Li's book, website or her blog. Some of the most inspirational writing to come out of Malaysia in a while (I may be biased. She's a backpacking copywriter!)

Gosh, i'm like an advertisement. But one should share what one loves.