An experiment I conducted today...
Boil some pasta, I used spaghetti this time, but that's because I ran out of penne... that would work better I reckon cause that way you'll only need to use a spoon to eat it. Makes life easier.
In a small bowl, mix a vinaigrette of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and freshly chopped garlic. Go light on the olive oil, you merely need it for a lil' lubrication... any chef in the world will tell you that it is good have some lubrication. Put as much or as little balsamic vinegar as you like, and if you're me, shitloads of chopped garlic. Add a pinch of freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste.
Dice an entire onion and slice some button mushrooms. Stir fry them in a wok and add some "Madam Loo's Damn Fine Rice Wine" into the whole thingamajigga. If you don't have rice wine, some regular white wine will do... Or if you're feeling super rich, you can use some Dom Perignon, but I reckon that will taste like crap (but hey, if you can affrod to use champagne for your cooking, by all means help yourself to it). Add enough for it to reduce and still have like a lil' sauce at the end of it. Of course, add salt and black pepper to taste.
Drain cooked pasta and pour vinaigrette into the pasta... mix well and make sure the vinaigrette coats everything. Then add the stir-fried mushrooms on top of it.
Bon apetit!
I call it the Mushroom Pasta with Balsamico Surprise because prior to cooking it, I reckon that the outcome will be a complete surprise. Somehow it seems highly unorthodox to use a vinaigrette for pasta... fortunately the outcome came out the way it should come out. However I do suggest that you don't put too much balsamic vinegar... put just enough to get that subtle balsamic flavour as you bite into the pasta. This is a light pasta and it should stay that way... Enjoy.
ps: maybe the infamous food blogger, Honeystar can cook a batch for herself and write a review on it.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
A Prayer
It's been quite some time since I last prayed. For some reason beyond the comprehension of my puny medula oblogata, I did just now. It went like this...
"Dear Lord, may your love and grace manifest in every person, being, and creation. Amen"
"Dear Lord, may your love and grace manifest in every person, being, and creation. Amen"
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Let's Be Sloths
I am a walrus, and Kyoko was a sloth.
The above statement may not make sense at all to you. Let's keep it that way. What's really interesting is the website Kyoko pointed me to... "The Sloth Club".
This website is approved by the yet to be registered 'In Pursuit of Laziness' (POLIS) club which is founded by yours truly. Of course, whether it get registered or not depends on how committed i am at pursuing laziness.
And since I am committed to the cause of laziness, I will copy and paste an article from the sloth club's website. Read on, there are precious gems that we can learn from.
Enjoy.
Life of Sloth (stolen without permission from www.slothclub.org)
The sloth is a mammal living in the rainforests of Central and South America, spending most of its time in branches 10 to 30 meters above the ground. There are actually two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths but it is the latter that typifies the classic sloth-like behavior. They have been the objects of scorn for many years - even by the supposedly objective scientific world. They have been called 'lazy', 'stupid', 'filthy' and a 'failure' in evolutionary terms because of their incapacity to struggle with speed and strength. This kind of discrimination has continued for centuries - especially in western countries.
Recent biology reports reveal surprising facts about three-toed sloths. They live with half the muscle weight of other animals. Three-toed sloths weigh only about four or five kilograms but their muscle constitutes no more than a quarter of this. This slows them down but it also makes them light enough to be able to climb thin brancheswith great efficiency and thus have less chance of attacked by predators.
Eating and sleeping while hanging from the trees is one feature of their low energy life style. At night, when their body temperature decreases they stop moving altogether and wait for morning. When the sun rises they climb to the top of the tree and soak in the rays of light - recharging by solar energy.
Once a week, the three toed sloth slowly climbs to the base of a tree to defecate and pass urine. At first glance, this seems a rather dangerous and stupid habit that unnecessarily exposes them to predators but recent research has brought the reason for this behaviour to light.
By digging a shallow hole, emptying their bowels and covering it with dead leaves they are feeding the tree half the nutrition they took from it by eating its leaves. If they defecated from the top of the tree the nutrients would be scattered and easily washed away by tropical rains. Through this behaviour they are being responsible gardeners in the tropical forests famous for their extremely poor soils. Thus, the sloth feeds and raises the trees that keep it alive. Could that be a lesson in reciprocity for us all?
Another discriminatory myth against the sloth was that they were extremely selective about the type of leaves they ate - only eating from the Secropia species. Now researchers have found that they eat at least 90 different leaf species. Each individual sloth has its own preference - usually one has about eight favorites and lives among those trees. They avoid conflict and competition with others through this diversity and lessen their impact on any particular tree species.
It serves to remind us of one of the greatest minds of the human race, Albert Einstein, (who may well have joined the Sloth Club if he had the chance!). He shared the low impact vegetarian habit of the Sloth, and had this to say about vegetarianism:
'Nothing will benefit Human Health and increase the chances for survival
of Life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.'
It is unlikely that any other animal typifies symbiosis aswell as sloth. They live through cooperation. Two or three kinds of algae grow among their gray green hair and the color changes to light green when the rainy season arrives to protect them by camoflage. Their thick fur is a paradise for an arthropod. According to one report, nine kinds of moths, four kinds of beetles and six kinds of ticks can be found on a three-toed sloth. The sloth, which weighs less than five kilograms, gives refuge to approximately 100 moths, 1,000 beetles and thousands of ticks.
So the Sloth is not a failure in the history of biological evolution, but rather a very good example of an extremely well adapted creature - it just adapted in a different way. The Sloth has succeeded in living a non-competitive, peaceful coexistence with minimal negative impact on the environment. They typify a renewable, recyclable lifestyle under the canopy while other mammals came down to the ground to compete in a struggle for existence according to the slogan 'faster, bigger, stronger'. Compared to the greedy, destructive, violent ways of humans - they are true saints.
The lifestyle of the Sloth has so many lessons for human survival in the 21st century. If we continue to promote the dominant paradigm of infinite growth with our 'faster, bigger, stronger' behavior; the economic system pushing mass-production, mass-consumption and a scientific, reductionist view of nature it is clear that we will not survive in the next millennium.
Slow is beautiful...
Monday, July 10, 2006
Irony is...
... when a letter to the editor regarding censorship is heavily censored.
My letter to the NST was actually publised, albeit being heavily edited by the editor (my sister claims that that's what they are paid for... to edit). Well, in my true dramatic self, I would say that it got censored rather than edited. Somehow being censored makes what I have to say to appear to be more important, so much so that it is tantamount to censorship. As opposed to say, being edited, which simply means there's too much rubbish in what you have to say therefore they'll have to edit it.
I would like to believe that the former is the case, but for those of you who have read my original article... the latter is more likely the case.
All in all, I have no objections to the editing, I think they are justified and expected. My only grouse is that they replaced 'socio-economic discrepency' with 'socio-economic problsm', which I believe is an intentional attempt to downplay the realities of the Indian community as a whole.
Root of problem
10 Jul 2006
CHI TOO, Kuala Lumpur
I REFER to the statement by Palanivel calling for the censorship of suicide scenes in Tamil movies "Call to cut suicide scenes" (NST, July 6).
It is amazing that after having visited Jason Johnson, one of the survivors in the Sangeetha rail tragedy in hospital, all he could say is that suicide scenes in Tamil movies are causing people to kill themselves.
Will censoring suicide scenes minimise suicides among the Indian community? I doubt it.
One can obviously deduce that the root of this problem lies in the troubles the Johnsons are facing — that of a financial nature.
I believe Palanivel has to do better than offer such simplistic solutions.
He should look at the crux of the matter — the socio-economic problems of the Indian community in Malaysia. Maybe this is a contributing factor for people to commit suicide, as opposed to say, watching Tamil movies.
I enjoy watching movie scenes of murder, suicide, sex and violence, but that doesn’t make me want to commit suicide or kill someone else.
I think our leaders need to resolve these underlying problems instead of taking the easy way out with knee-jerk reactions like censoring movie scenes.
My letter to the NST was actually publised, albeit being heavily edited by the editor (my sister claims that that's what they are paid for... to edit). Well, in my true dramatic self, I would say that it got censored rather than edited. Somehow being censored makes what I have to say to appear to be more important, so much so that it is tantamount to censorship. As opposed to say, being edited, which simply means there's too much rubbish in what you have to say therefore they'll have to edit it.
I would like to believe that the former is the case, but for those of you who have read my original article... the latter is more likely the case.
All in all, I have no objections to the editing, I think they are justified and expected. My only grouse is that they replaced 'socio-economic discrepency' with 'socio-economic problsm', which I believe is an intentional attempt to downplay the realities of the Indian community as a whole.
Root of problem
10 Jul 2006
CHI TOO, Kuala Lumpur
I REFER to the statement by Palanivel calling for the censorship of suicide scenes in Tamil movies "Call to cut suicide scenes" (NST, July 6).
It is amazing that after having visited Jason Johnson, one of the survivors in the Sangeetha rail tragedy in hospital, all he could say is that suicide scenes in Tamil movies are causing people to kill themselves.
Will censoring suicide scenes minimise suicides among the Indian community? I doubt it.
One can obviously deduce that the root of this problem lies in the troubles the Johnsons are facing — that of a financial nature.
I believe Palanivel has to do better than offer such simplistic solutions.
He should look at the crux of the matter — the socio-economic problems of the Indian community in Malaysia. Maybe this is a contributing factor for people to commit suicide, as opposed to say, watching Tamil movies.
I enjoy watching movie scenes of murder, suicide, sex and violence, but that doesn’t make me want to commit suicide or kill someone else.
I think our leaders need to resolve these underlying problems instead of taking the easy way out with knee-jerk reactions like censoring movie scenes.
Friday, July 07, 2006
This Is So Fucking Absurd
I usually make it a point to not make my entries in this blog too personal by dealing with my feelings and emotions. I don't see why I should make an exception today. All I have to say is that this is so fucking absurd, I don't know what to make of it. I'm going to go to sleep.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Stop Demonizing Television; a letter to the editor
A couple of days back, an Indian woman topped herself by throwing herself in the path of an oncoming train with her 4 children. Tragically, she and her 2 kids died on the spot; while another 2 managed to free themselves of their mothers deadly embrace, one unhurt and another in serious condition...
Newly elected Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC, the main Indian political party in Malaysia) deputy president, G. Palanivel visited the grieving family and suggested that suicide scenes in Tamil movies be censored to prevent more incidences of suicides among Indians.
Here are my 2 cents writen to the New Strait Times, whether they publish it or not... I don't know. Enjoy.
Dear editor,
I would like to congratulate Datuk G. Palinavel on his recent political victory and his audacious statement in the NST today calling for the censorship of suicide scenes in tamil movies.
It is atrocious that after having visited Jason Johnson in the hospital, all he can is that suicide scenes in tamil movies are causing people to kill themselves. Will censoring suicide scenes minimize suicides among the Indian community? I doubt it, but one can obviously deduce that the root of this problem lies in the troubles that the Johnsons are facing... one that is of a financial nature.
I believe that after being given the mandate by the Indian community as the party's deputy president, he has to do better than offering such simplistic solutions. May I suggest to the Datuk to look at the crux of the matter, that being the social-economy descrepency among the Indian community of Malaysia. Maybe this descrepency is the reason why people are commiting suicide, as opposed to say... watching tamil movies.
Even if 'watching tamil movies' is a problem among the Indian community, I take it that the Datuk doesn't think very highly of the Indian community. Is the Indian community so easily influenced? I doubt it. I would like to believe that Malaysians are capable of making their own decisions on what's good for themselves.
I myself really enjoy murder, suicide, sex, and violence in my entertainment, but strangely that doesn't make me want to commit suicide, kill, or rape someone else. I think maybe because I am an individual capable of rational thought, or maybe because I am not burdened with the problems of those who are driven to commit such acts. I think the leaders of our country need to address and solve these underlying problems instead of taking the easy way out of banning, legislating, and more religious classes.
Sincerely,
chi too
Newly elected Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC, the main Indian political party in Malaysia) deputy president, G. Palanivel visited the grieving family and suggested that suicide scenes in Tamil movies be censored to prevent more incidences of suicides among Indians.
Here are my 2 cents writen to the New Strait Times, whether they publish it or not... I don't know. Enjoy.
Dear editor,
I would like to congratulate Datuk G. Palinavel on his recent political victory and his audacious statement in the NST today calling for the censorship of suicide scenes in tamil movies.
It is atrocious that after having visited Jason Johnson in the hospital, all he can is that suicide scenes in tamil movies are causing people to kill themselves. Will censoring suicide scenes minimize suicides among the Indian community? I doubt it, but one can obviously deduce that the root of this problem lies in the troubles that the Johnsons are facing... one that is of a financial nature.
I believe that after being given the mandate by the Indian community as the party's deputy president, he has to do better than offering such simplistic solutions. May I suggest to the Datuk to look at the crux of the matter, that being the social-economy descrepency among the Indian community of Malaysia. Maybe this descrepency is the reason why people are commiting suicide, as opposed to say... watching tamil movies.
Even if 'watching tamil movies' is a problem among the Indian community, I take it that the Datuk doesn't think very highly of the Indian community. Is the Indian community so easily influenced? I doubt it. I would like to believe that Malaysians are capable of making their own decisions on what's good for themselves.
I myself really enjoy murder, suicide, sex, and violence in my entertainment, but strangely that doesn't make me want to commit suicide, kill, or rape someone else. I think maybe because I am an individual capable of rational thought, or maybe because I am not burdened with the problems of those who are driven to commit such acts. I think the leaders of our country need to address and solve these underlying problems instead of taking the easy way out of banning, legislating, and more religious classes.
Sincerely,
chi too
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Meet Spanky!
Random Hyperbolical Objects have finally been updated.
Among the new entries are Spanky!; some paintings, drawings, and installatons. Take a look see. This is a shameless plug brought to you by chi too.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
A Long Way Down
I just finished reading a book... Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down.
Well... one may expect that I'll do a review of the book.Unfortunately, I can't. I've got blogging principles and my principles are to not have useful content in my blog. I've devoted this page for talking cock. All I'm gonna say is that this book is really funny, you should read it.
I will however offer you an excerpt from the book...
"How do people, like, not curse? How is it possible? There are all these gaps in speech where you just have to put a 'fuck'. I'll tell you who the most admirable person in the world are: newscasters. If that was me, I'd be like, 'And the motherfuckers flew the fucking plane right into the twin towers.' How could you not, if you're a human being? Maybe they're not so admirable. Maybe they're robot zombies."
Thursday, June 29, 2006
The Origins Of Rain
After a few days of working really hard (though the term 'working really hard' is a very questionalbe and objective term. I will still stand my ground to use it anyway), I decided that today will be a day which I shall entitle 'In Pursuit of Laziness: How To Enjoy Life To It's Most Minimum'. Up to now, you must be wondering what the fuck am I talking about. Well... frankly if I can give my days such titles, I don't really need to care about such things isn't it.
Anyway, if that was the title of a book, I reckon it would be a really thin book with lots of illustrations. A person who is lazy enough to want to read a book like that would probably be too lazy to read isn't it... so illustrations would work much better.
I shall call Chapter One of 'In Pursuit of Laziness' (hereon shall be refered to as 'POLIS'), 'How To Do Nothing While Watching TV'...
"If you're gonna be a POLIS, I strongly sugest that you learn to watch as much TV as you can . Watching TV in essence is probably the only beneficial activity you can participate in while remaining in a state of inactivity. While you're at it you can pick up random nuggets of information that, as a POLIS it will cause you appear to be much more intelligent that you actually deserve to be. I cannot further stress the importance of this activity. This will be the only activity that will stir your mind to work and absorb knowledge while at the comforts of your couch, as opposed to say eating, sleeping, or holding down a real job (Yes, in future chapters, you will learn that you can actually be a POLIS while actually holding down a real job... in fact a lot of people already do. But being the idealistic bastard that I am, I refuse to compromise on the true principles of POLIS and not have a real job).
"I will now give you an example of things you can learn from merely watching the telly. It happened this morning as I stumbled upon 'The World Of Suzie Wong', a classic 1970s film about an American artist, Robert, who falls in love with a prostitute, Suzie, while in Hong Kong.
"While painting Suzie... she sang a song to Robert which says...
" 'One day... a male cloud fell in love with a female cloud... but female cloud says to male cloud "I no like you, you heart no good". The male cloud was devastated, he went away and began to cry... that's how rain was created. When he cried, the rain nourished the soil, provided water, and help the crops grow for the people down on earth. Then when female cloud sees what is going on, she became impressed. She went to the male cloud and said 'You help people down there, you heart good. Me like you now'... And they rained happily ever after.' And that way the origin of rain'
"Pretty cool eh... though the knowledge gained has no real practical purpose, but I assure you that it would be a piece of information that many will find amusing, in case if you have the rare burden of attending an event that forces you to move your ass off your couch.
"There you go, don't just be a POLIS, be a slightly intelligent POLIS... it'll go a long way."
That's chapter one of the ultimate bumming guide... stay tuned for more chapters of POLIS.
ps: Given that this blog has some Hong Kongese content in it... I would like to dedicate this blog to my favourite Hong Kongese (even though I only know one), the madly irrerevent Cathy Chan.
pss: There is a built in webcam on my new MacBook. Along with that is this software called the "Photo Booth", which has to be one of the most narcissistic tools ever. Being the narc that I am, I took a photo of myself... enjoy.
Anyway, if that was the title of a book, I reckon it would be a really thin book with lots of illustrations. A person who is lazy enough to want to read a book like that would probably be too lazy to read isn't it... so illustrations would work much better.
I shall call Chapter One of 'In Pursuit of Laziness' (hereon shall be refered to as 'POLIS'), 'How To Do Nothing While Watching TV'...
"If you're gonna be a POLIS, I strongly sugest that you learn to watch as much TV as you can . Watching TV in essence is probably the only beneficial activity you can participate in while remaining in a state of inactivity. While you're at it you can pick up random nuggets of information that, as a POLIS it will cause you appear to be much more intelligent that you actually deserve to be. I cannot further stress the importance of this activity. This will be the only activity that will stir your mind to work and absorb knowledge while at the comforts of your couch, as opposed to say eating, sleeping, or holding down a real job (Yes, in future chapters, you will learn that you can actually be a POLIS while actually holding down a real job... in fact a lot of people already do. But being the idealistic bastard that I am, I refuse to compromise on the true principles of POLIS and not have a real job).
"I will now give you an example of things you can learn from merely watching the telly. It happened this morning as I stumbled upon 'The World Of Suzie Wong', a classic 1970s film about an American artist, Robert, who falls in love with a prostitute, Suzie, while in Hong Kong.
"While painting Suzie... she sang a song to Robert which says...
" 'One day... a male cloud fell in love with a female cloud... but female cloud says to male cloud "I no like you, you heart no good". The male cloud was devastated, he went away and began to cry... that's how rain was created. When he cried, the rain nourished the soil, provided water, and help the crops grow for the people down on earth. Then when female cloud sees what is going on, she became impressed. She went to the male cloud and said 'You help people down there, you heart good. Me like you now'... And they rained happily ever after.' And that way the origin of rain'
"Pretty cool eh... though the knowledge gained has no real practical purpose, but I assure you that it would be a piece of information that many will find amusing, in case if you have the rare burden of attending an event that forces you to move your ass off your couch.
"There you go, don't just be a POLIS, be a slightly intelligent POLIS... it'll go a long way."
That's chapter one of the ultimate bumming guide... stay tuned for more chapters of POLIS.
ps: Given that this blog has some Hong Kongese content in it... I would like to dedicate this blog to my favourite Hong Kongese (even though I only know one), the madly irrerevent Cathy Chan.
pss: There is a built in webcam on my new MacBook. Along with that is this software called the "Photo Booth", which has to be one of the most narcissistic tools ever. Being the narc that I am, I took a photo of myself... enjoy.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
A Super Groovy Fantastic Euphoric, Almost Cosmic Orgasmic Day
"Perplexed", that's my new favourite word. My trusty Little Oxford Dictionary defines it as...
perplex /insert romanised pronounciaton guide here/ v.t. bewilder, puzzle; complicate, tangle. perplexity n.
There's a definition. Heres how I will put this word into use...
After picking up my brand new Macbook (I feel like such a geek now that I have a laptop) at Midvalley Megamall, me and my dear sister decided to get some yummy cream puffs to go at this little kiosk that goes by the name "Papa Beard".
Papa Beard sells nothing but cream puffs, and according to my sister, they're killer cream puffs. Well, they look killer to me. They've got this machine that basically penetrates a puff pastry with a shiny silver proboscis and injects it with a white creamy substance. They look super yummy (And I found out later that they are super yummy. But I'm not here to tell you about how yummy it is. This is not a food blog. If you want a food blog, visit Honeystar's blog... a dear friend of mine. PS: PY, maybe you can write about it) and since I was so hungry, They packed one separate for me. The other 5 were placed in a nice cardboard box that you can carry around.
As I dug into my first bite, horror struck when I saw how the cashier placed that box in a plastic bag. I became perplexed. Why would someone put a cardboard box packaging that was designed to be carried with ease, in a plastic bag... Worse, the plastic bag looks horrible (don't they all). Why would anyone want to compromise on style. I became even more perplexed.
Allow me to explain why I was 'perplexed', when I would usually be 'pissed off' when I see such atrocities.
That morning, while I was online, my most favouritest New Zealander in the world (though I only know 2 NZers), Tia, asked me a very rare question... "Are you happy today?", to which I answered "I'm esctatic", though I'm not exactly... I further added.
"Almost euphroric
Why....
Simply because you asked me"
which she replied
"Wow it sounds orgasmic."
"It is very rare to have someone ask 'are you happy today?'
Now that you have, I will make it a point to make today a super groovy fantastic euphoric, almost cosmic orgasmic day.
How about you...are you happy today?"
There you go, that explains why I'm 'perplexed' instead of 'pissed off'. Besides one can't break his/her word with a New Zelander... especially not with Maoris.
I then told the cashier to please remove the box from that horrid bag... A string of questions follow my perplexity...
me: why do you still put the box in a plastic bag? This box has a nice handle that you can carry (I gesture at the box)
cashier: (looks at me blankly)
me: why?
cashier: our manager told us to.
sister: Its just their standard operating procedure...
me: but it's pointless to have a box like this if they're still gonna put it in a bag.
cashier: have a nice day (hands me box).
sister: Excuse my brother, he's an "environmentalist".
I can almost see her wiggle her fingers 'quote, unquote' when she said 'environmentalist', but she didn't.
me: i think you should tell your manager that a customer thought that it is really stupid to still put the box in a plastic bag.
cashier: OK
me: have a fantastic day ahead.
I could have said "have a super groovy fantastic euphoric, almost cosmic orgasmic day" to her... but it would have sounded wrong. Instead, I went ahead and had one myself... and my day was exactly like that....
here's to a super groovy fantastic euphoric, almost cosmic orgasmic day.
perplex /insert romanised pronounciaton guide here/ v.t. bewilder, puzzle; complicate, tangle. perplexity n.
There's a definition. Heres how I will put this word into use...
After picking up my brand new Macbook (I feel like such a geek now that I have a laptop) at Midvalley Megamall, me and my dear sister decided to get some yummy cream puffs to go at this little kiosk that goes by the name "Papa Beard".
Papa Beard sells nothing but cream puffs, and according to my sister, they're killer cream puffs. Well, they look killer to me. They've got this machine that basically penetrates a puff pastry with a shiny silver proboscis and injects it with a white creamy substance. They look super yummy (And I found out later that they are super yummy. But I'm not here to tell you about how yummy it is. This is not a food blog. If you want a food blog, visit Honeystar's blog... a dear friend of mine. PS: PY, maybe you can write about it) and since I was so hungry, They packed one separate for me. The other 5 were placed in a nice cardboard box that you can carry around.
As I dug into my first bite, horror struck when I saw how the cashier placed that box in a plastic bag. I became perplexed. Why would someone put a cardboard box packaging that was designed to be carried with ease, in a plastic bag... Worse, the plastic bag looks horrible (don't they all). Why would anyone want to compromise on style. I became even more perplexed.
Allow me to explain why I was 'perplexed', when I would usually be 'pissed off' when I see such atrocities.
That morning, while I was online, my most favouritest New Zealander in the world (though I only know 2 NZers), Tia, asked me a very rare question... "Are you happy today?", to which I answered "I'm esctatic", though I'm not exactly... I further added.
"Almost euphroric
Why....
Simply because you asked me"
which she replied
"Wow it sounds orgasmic."
"It is very rare to have someone ask 'are you happy today?'
Now that you have, I will make it a point to make today a super groovy fantastic euphoric, almost cosmic orgasmic day.
How about you...are you happy today?"
There you go, that explains why I'm 'perplexed' instead of 'pissed off'. Besides one can't break his/her word with a New Zelander... especially not with Maoris.
I then told the cashier to please remove the box from that horrid bag... A string of questions follow my perplexity...
me: why do you still put the box in a plastic bag? This box has a nice handle that you can carry (I gesture at the box)
cashier: (looks at me blankly)
me: why?
cashier: our manager told us to.
sister: Its just their standard operating procedure...
me: but it's pointless to have a box like this if they're still gonna put it in a bag.
cashier: have a nice day (hands me box).
sister: Excuse my brother, he's an "environmentalist".
I can almost see her wiggle her fingers 'quote, unquote' when she said 'environmentalist', but she didn't.
me: i think you should tell your manager that a customer thought that it is really stupid to still put the box in a plastic bag.
cashier: OK
me: have a fantastic day ahead.
I could have said "have a super groovy fantastic euphoric, almost cosmic orgasmic day" to her... but it would have sounded wrong. Instead, I went ahead and had one myself... and my day was exactly like that....
here's to a super groovy fantastic euphoric, almost cosmic orgasmic day.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Just For The Sake Of Having A Blog Entry
This entry is purely for the sake of having a blog entry... that's it.
I don't have anything important to say.
I don't have anything interesting to tell you.
So for today...
Something else that rhymes with 'you'.
I don't have anything important to say.
I don't have anything interesting to tell you.
So for today...
Something else that rhymes with 'you'.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Happy Birthday Aung San Suu Kyi. Thank You For All The Gifts.
Today, the revered Daw Aung San Suu Kyi celebrates her 61st birthday (though I'm not too sure if 'celebrate' is a correct term... given the circumstances)... Unfortunately, she won't be blowing any candles... unless if the Junta decides to buy her a cake. I highly doubt that would happen.
Who the hell is Aung San Suu Kyi... well, I'll skip the facts (you can wikipedia it yourself) and go straight to what she means to me. When I knew about ASSK... I reckon I was about 14. It was through her that I learn that not everyone who is in prison are 'bad people'... If there's anything else that I learnt was that sometimes the people who put the so called 'bad people' in prison are the real bad people themselves.
Despite it being ASSK's birthday, I find myself showered with gifts these past 3 days. Not really gifts actually... more like random acts of kindness; which when received unexpectedly are the kind of things that you'll cherish for as long as you can remember (sounds redundant, but I forget easily). Little gems that help keep the world in perspective... that the world is not as fucked up as I would think it is.
Here are exact accounts of these random acts of kindness...
Saturday, 17 June 2006
I was in Central Market hoping to catch a free dance performance by friends of friends. Unfortunately, the traffic was horrible that day and I missed the performance completely. On top of that, being in a bus for an hour straight calls for some serious bladder emptying. I rushed to the toilet when I arrived. Alas! No coins, all I had was a RM 10 note and the entrance fee for the toilet was 30 cents (I think I need to review the phrase 'the entrance fee for the toilet'. I made it sound like some theme park. But then again, in Malaysia, toilets can be just as amusing as theme parks). The attendant had no change and stared blankly at me... I stared back at him with an agony in my eyes. We could go on forever, staring back and forth... fortunately a nice samaritan behind me tapped my back and told me that he'll pay for me. I thanked him and zoomed straight into the toilet. I know I should have said more than just 'thank you', but unfortunately it was either that or me wetting my pants. So, between bad manners and embarassing myself, I unfortunately chose the former.
Sunday, 18 June 2006
I was supposed to go to the Chinese Assembly Hall with Mien today to celebrate Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday. Unfortunately, I was struck by the bug and wasn't in the mood to spread my lovely disease. Later that night when I went to see Mien for our location recce (Mien's producing my next film 'While You Were Eating') , she gave me an Aung San Suu Kyi t-shirt. It was really sweet of her, considering the fact that I am not paying her for producing my film... heheh. Can't help it, no budget... no financiers... So anyone who's reading this post right now is welcomed to finance my next film. I don't need a lot, it's just a 3 minute film.
Monday, 19th June 2006
I wore the AASK t-shirt today in conjunction with her 61st birthday, even though I was stuck in my studio all day long by myself. After spending almost 12 hours cutting a music video, I am stressed as hell and my head was standing by to spontaneously combust. A remedy was to go to my once regular Starbucks (I think I've not been to this outlet for about 3 months now) for a much needed iced hazelnut latte. I walked in and everyone was so surprised. "Where the hell were you? We were thinking if we should dispose your tumbler already" (yes, I have my own reusable tumbler there because they prepare iced drinks in horrible disposable plastic cups), one of the barista says. Glad to see me again (I am trying to not spoil the moment with my cynicism), she prepared a cup of iced hazelnut latte for me... on the house. That was really nice of her. I wanted to dwell on musing "Do I deserve so much kindness", but I thought "what the hell', and just sat down, enjoy my coffee, and read my book (A Long Way Down, by Nick Hornby... funny as hell). A night well spent and not a dollar spent.
That's about it... that's as much kindness as I can deal with... anymore and I think I'll morph into a carebear (which is not too bad actually). Given all the random acts of kindness, I reckon maybe I should go buy lottery tomorrow... but then again, maybe I should just simply be a nicer person tomorrow. Or maybe I can do both... well, whatever. Happy Birthday Aung San Suu Kyi, thanks for everything.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Are Lizards Religious?
It's a friday and I am bored as hell... It's absurd that I should be blogging at this time of the week. But then again, It's not like I usually have a life anyway. It's just that being the World Cup season, I've become a football widow, and worse of all... I've lost telly priveleges since football reigns supreme for the inhabitants in my house.
And to make matters worse, I am about to impose on you a completely irrerevent question... Do lizards pray?
A couple of nights ago, in the midst of my intelligent conversations with my sister (which topics range from the absurd to the ethereal); She suggested that I wake up at 6 AM in the morning to witness a extraordinary event...
The day before, her domestic helper, Anna (who takes care of baby Chloe) pointed out to her that at exactly 6 AM in the morning, lizards come to the ground. Even the ones that are on the ceiling would just drop themselves to the ground when the little hand strikes six. Why would they come down to the ground? According to Anna, in Philipines it is believed that lizards come to kiss the ground and pray.
She wanted me to wake up at 6 AM the next day to see if it's true. I love my sister very much, but sometimes I like to draw the line of that love between the platonic and the incestous (though a lot of my friends claim that between me and my sister, this line is very fine... and sometimes, perforated), so I really couldn't be bothered with waking up at such an absurd hour to have lizards fall on my head.
You may asks 'why don't she just do it herself then?'. Good question. For those of you who do not know, my sister has got an extremely chronic (almost clinical) fear of reptiles and amphibians. When i say a chronic fear, I don't only mean that she screams hysterically at the sight of a lizard or frog, but also at the image of a lizard, frog, or snake in print or on the telly. It is so chronic that she actually gets freaked out by 'kermit the frog'. No, that last sentence was not a joke.
So, since I am not going to wake up at 6 AM in the morning. I would like you. Yes... you... my felllow readers to wake up at 6 AM in the morning to see if lizards actually come down to kiss the ground and pray. And if you do, please do not hesitate to email me your findigs at 19sempilai@gmail.com. I will then forward the emails to my sister.
Your participation in this research will be gratefully appreciated.
Since putting up a photo of a lizard would completely freak my sister out, I decided against putting up a photo of Kermit the Frog. And since it is always nice to include a photo with a blog entry, here's a photo of my sister with baby Chloe.
And to make matters worse, I am about to impose on you a completely irrerevent question... Do lizards pray?
A couple of nights ago, in the midst of my intelligent conversations with my sister (which topics range from the absurd to the ethereal); She suggested that I wake up at 6 AM in the morning to witness a extraordinary event...
The day before, her domestic helper, Anna (who takes care of baby Chloe) pointed out to her that at exactly 6 AM in the morning, lizards come to the ground. Even the ones that are on the ceiling would just drop themselves to the ground when the little hand strikes six. Why would they come down to the ground? According to Anna, in Philipines it is believed that lizards come to kiss the ground and pray.
She wanted me to wake up at 6 AM the next day to see if it's true. I love my sister very much, but sometimes I like to draw the line of that love between the platonic and the incestous (though a lot of my friends claim that between me and my sister, this line is very fine... and sometimes, perforated), so I really couldn't be bothered with waking up at such an absurd hour to have lizards fall on my head.
You may asks 'why don't she just do it herself then?'. Good question. For those of you who do not know, my sister has got an extremely chronic (almost clinical) fear of reptiles and amphibians. When i say a chronic fear, I don't only mean that she screams hysterically at the sight of a lizard or frog, but also at the image of a lizard, frog, or snake in print or on the telly. It is so chronic that she actually gets freaked out by 'kermit the frog'. No, that last sentence was not a joke.
So, since I am not going to wake up at 6 AM in the morning. I would like you. Yes... you... my felllow readers to wake up at 6 AM in the morning to see if lizards actually come down to kiss the ground and pray. And if you do, please do not hesitate to email me your findigs at 19sempilai@gmail.com. I will then forward the emails to my sister.
Your participation in this research will be gratefully appreciated.
Since putting up a photo of a lizard would completely freak my sister out, I decided against putting up a photo of Kermit the Frog. And since it is always nice to include a photo with a blog entry, here's a photo of my sister with baby Chloe.
"Bring Your Own Bag" by Quinn
A few weeks ago, Quinn and I chatted online about her writing assignment for her magazine's website in conjunction with World Environment Day. We chatted and lazy as she is (with a sheer stroke of genius), she cut and pasted the chat window (albeit some editing... i reckon you can't swear on magazines like this) for the article...
enjoy.
ps: article republished on this blog with prior permission from the author, P. Quinn.
B.Y.O.B. by P. Quinn
Let's mark World Environment Day by BYOB - that's Bringing Your Own Bag! Greetings, doctorjobbers, I work as a designer at GTI Specialist Publishers, the company behind this great newsletter.
I was assigned to design new carrier bags for our company recently. You see, we participate in a lot of events and need bags for people to put our magazines in.
On top of that, I had to whip something up real quick in conjunction with the World Environmental Day Special for June's RECESS. I desperately needed something to write about...so I consulted a friend of mine, the plastik fantastik, who is truly fantastiko! This is how our conversation went...
enjoy.
ps: article republished on this blog with prior permission from the author, P. Quinn.
B.Y.O.B. by P. Quinn
Let's mark World Environment Day by BYOB - that's Bringing Your Own Bag! Greetings, doctorjobbers, I work as a designer at GTI Specialist Publishers, the company behind this great newsletter.
I was assigned to design new carrier bags for our company recently. You see, we participate in a lot of events and need bags for people to put our magazines in.
On top of that, I had to whip something up real quick in conjunction with the World Environmental Day Special for June's RECESS. I desperately needed something to write about...so I consulted a friend of mine, the plastik fantastik, who is truly fantastiko! This is how our conversation went...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Revisiting Pulp Fiction!
I revisited Pulp Fiction today... what lead me to do such a thing? Well, allow me to retrace exactly how I got to this moment.
Late mid April, I was stuck in the Greenpeace office in Papua New Guinea (which drove me mad) and among the Audio CDs available for my listening pleasure (which was indeed pleasurable) was the Pulp Fiction OST that belongs to Simon. I popped it in for the first time, and like they say 'once you pop, you can't stop'. I listed the CD in my notebook under the page that says 'Music To Look Out For'.
Mid May, I return home to Kuala Lumpur on the lookout for the Pulp Fiction OST CD. Went to my favourite pirates... not available. Went to my favourite CD stores... still not available. I resorted to downloading the songs off Limewire... I quit after a few songs given the high quality internet broadband connection provided by the country's telco monopoly.
Early June... Nichole gave me a private lesson on how to use BitTorrent (and I'm not adding 'if you know what I mean', It is exactly what I said it is). Not only was I able to download one song at a time... I managed to download the entire album...at one go (that's what I call technology), though it took quite some time. I began listening to it on my iTunes incessantly.
Today... I decided to watch the film again. I looked through my old VCD collection and it was sitting there. Along with that there was also Ken's AliG stuff, Ritchie's Chicago, Cath's Kill Bill, and some VCDs which I believe belongs to Quinn. Well, I really do mean to return them... but then again, there's always tomorrow. I watched the film and I laughed my ass off. Or rather (in true Pulp Fiction style), I fucking laughed my bloody ass off. Well, I don't think Tarantino would have written 'bloody', but I reckon if it was shot in the UK, the characters would say 'bloody'... a lot.
It had one of the best openings a movie can ever have....
Honey Bunny : I love you...
Pumpkin : I love you Honey Bunny.
(kisses each other and stands on top of the table)
Pumpkin : Everybody be cool, this is a robbery.
Honey Bunny : Any of you fucking pricks move, and I'll execute every motherfucking last one of you.
Tada da da daa daa daa da daaa (sang to the tune of 'Misirlou')
Late mid April, I was stuck in the Greenpeace office in Papua New Guinea (which drove me mad) and among the Audio CDs available for my listening pleasure (which was indeed pleasurable) was the Pulp Fiction OST that belongs to Simon. I popped it in for the first time, and like they say 'once you pop, you can't stop'. I listed the CD in my notebook under the page that says 'Music To Look Out For'.
Mid May, I return home to Kuala Lumpur on the lookout for the Pulp Fiction OST CD. Went to my favourite pirates... not available. Went to my favourite CD stores... still not available. I resorted to downloading the songs off Limewire... I quit after a few songs given the high quality internet broadband connection provided by the country's telco monopoly.
Early June... Nichole gave me a private lesson on how to use BitTorrent (and I'm not adding 'if you know what I mean', It is exactly what I said it is). Not only was I able to download one song at a time... I managed to download the entire album...at one go (that's what I call technology), though it took quite some time. I began listening to it on my iTunes incessantly.
Today... I decided to watch the film again. I looked through my old VCD collection and it was sitting there. Along with that there was also Ken's AliG stuff, Ritchie's Chicago, Cath's Kill Bill, and some VCDs which I believe belongs to Quinn. Well, I really do mean to return them... but then again, there's always tomorrow. I watched the film and I laughed my ass off. Or rather (in true Pulp Fiction style), I fucking laughed my bloody ass off. Well, I don't think Tarantino would have written 'bloody', but I reckon if it was shot in the UK, the characters would say 'bloody'... a lot.
It had one of the best openings a movie can ever have....
Honey Bunny : I love you...
Pumpkin : I love you Honey Bunny.
(kisses each other and stands on top of the table)
Pumpkin : Everybody be cool, this is a robbery.
Honey Bunny : Any of you fucking pricks move, and I'll execute every motherfucking last one of you.
Tada da da daa daa daa da daaa (sang to the tune of 'Misirlou')
Sunday, June 11, 2006
A Letter To The Good Doctor
Dear Dr. Reza (aka the good doctor),
How are you doing... hope this email finds you well and happy. It is
to my dismay that I should send you this email. After keeping it to
myself for so long, I must at last confess to you an atrocity that
have taken place in Lake Murray after your departure.
I have photographic evidence that a patient of yours, A Mr. Luke
Strandquist, have failed to keep to his promise of keeping his severed
toe clean and dry at all times. On more than one occasion, Mr.
Strandquist have deliberately endangered his toe by swimming in the
lake. Attached is a photo of Mr. Strandquist getting his feet wet in
the waters of Camp Awekaim (aka. Camp Death); one of the many
occasions where this atrocity have taken place.
I hope that you can take stren disciplinary action against this
unbecoming behaviour displayed by Mr. Strandquist. In the mean time,
see you later alligator.
regards,
chi too.
Mr. Luke Strandquist caught red handed swimming in the waters off Camp Awekaim, Lake Murray, Papua New Guinea.
Mr. Xiao Wei, a fellow accomplice jumping into Lake Murray. It is believed that Mr. Strandquist believed he could get away with the crime if it is commited with a Chinese rock star.
How are you doing... hope this email finds you well and happy. It is
to my dismay that I should send you this email. After keeping it to
myself for so long, I must at last confess to you an atrocity that
have taken place in Lake Murray after your departure.
I have photographic evidence that a patient of yours, A Mr. Luke
Strandquist, have failed to keep to his promise of keeping his severed
toe clean and dry at all times. On more than one occasion, Mr.
Strandquist have deliberately endangered his toe by swimming in the
lake. Attached is a photo of Mr. Strandquist getting his feet wet in
the waters of Camp Awekaim (aka. Camp Death); one of the many
occasions where this atrocity have taken place.
I hope that you can take stren disciplinary action against this
unbecoming behaviour displayed by Mr. Strandquist. In the mean time,
see you later alligator.
regards,
chi too.
Mr. Luke Strandquist caught red handed swimming in the waters off Camp Awekaim, Lake Murray, Papua New Guinea.
Mr. Xiao Wei, a fellow accomplice jumping into Lake Murray. It is believed that Mr. Strandquist believed he could get away with the crime if it is commited with a Chinese rock star.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
The Infinite Porky Delight...
I was at the market today...
The lady at the stall gave me 'that look' as I presented her with a small carrot and a little bit of coriander.
We go through this routine over and over again everytime i buy from her stall. "Why do you bother cooking for yourself... just go to the restaurant and take away." she'll advise me.
I'll say 'maybe you're right...' and changes the subject.
I paid 40 cents (about usd 10cents) for my carrot and coriander and left. It's absurd, but having the luxury of cooking my own lunches makes me feel good.
Here's the recipe for...
PORKY PASTA DELIGHT!
(serves yourself and a friend)
What?
200 gms pasta (any kind... linguine's my favourite)
100 gms minced pork
4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 whole onion (diced)
1 tomato (diced)
1 small carrot (diced)
1 small potato (diced)
1 stalk coriander (finely chopped)
100 gms tomato puree
oil, salt, & black pepper
How?
1) Rub some salt and pepper into minced meat and let it sit for 10 minutes
2) Boil carrots and potatoes in a pot until soft (but not too soft... unless if you plan to feed this to a baby)
3) Cook pasta (Do I need to teach you how to do this?)
4) In another hot wok/pan/pot (depends on where you're from), add oil and saute garlic until before it changes colour.
5) Chuck in minced pork... Toss until pork is completely cooked.
6) Chuck in onions and tomatoes, toss it for a bit (say 5 seconds).
7) Add tomato puree and some water.
8) Keep stiring until it comes to a boil..
8) then chuck in the coriander. Add some salt and pepper to season.
9) Let it cook for a bit more...
10) Pour it on cooked pasta and put on some fine music in the CD player.
Bon apetit!
ps: if for some reason your religion/beliefs/bowels/ideology doesn't permit the consumption of PORK (the best meat in the entire universe), then it is alright to use minced beef instead. Or, if you're vegetarian... the pork can be replaced with smashed tofu (with a bit of flour to hold it together).
pps: PORK rules!
The lady at the stall gave me 'that look' as I presented her with a small carrot and a little bit of coriander.
We go through this routine over and over again everytime i buy from her stall. "Why do you bother cooking for yourself... just go to the restaurant and take away." she'll advise me.
I'll say 'maybe you're right...' and changes the subject.
I paid 40 cents (about usd 10cents) for my carrot and coriander and left. It's absurd, but having the luxury of cooking my own lunches makes me feel good.
Here's the recipe for...
PORKY PASTA DELIGHT!
(serves yourself and a friend)
What?
200 gms pasta (any kind... linguine's my favourite)
100 gms minced pork
4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 whole onion (diced)
1 tomato (diced)
1 small carrot (diced)
1 small potato (diced)
1 stalk coriander (finely chopped)
100 gms tomato puree
oil, salt, & black pepper
How?
1) Rub some salt and pepper into minced meat and let it sit for 10 minutes
2) Boil carrots and potatoes in a pot until soft (but not too soft... unless if you plan to feed this to a baby)
3) Cook pasta (Do I need to teach you how to do this?)
4) In another hot wok/pan/pot (depends on where you're from), add oil and saute garlic until before it changes colour.
5) Chuck in minced pork... Toss until pork is completely cooked.
6) Chuck in onions and tomatoes, toss it for a bit (say 5 seconds).
7) Add tomato puree and some water.
8) Keep stiring until it comes to a boil..
8) then chuck in the coriander. Add some salt and pepper to season.
9) Let it cook for a bit more...
10) Pour it on cooked pasta and put on some fine music in the CD player.
Bon apetit!
ps: if for some reason your religion/beliefs/bowels/ideology doesn't permit the consumption of PORK (the best meat in the entire universe), then it is alright to use minced beef instead. Or, if you're vegetarian... the pork can be replaced with smashed tofu (with a bit of flour to hold it together).
pps: PORK rules!
Leatherback Turtles 'not coming back'
Some time ago, I sent a critical letter to the press regarding Mr. Kamaruddin Ibrahim of the Turtle Marine Ecosystem Center (TUMEC) efforts to revive the leatherback turtle
population.
Our dear friend suggested that we buy leatherback eggs from neighbouring countries and incubate them on our shores... hopefully 20 years later, they'll come back and nest on our shores. Then what? start having tourists back on these beaches to harrass them poor turtles again... I mean, that if it is even remotely possible to bring back the population.
I was aghast that the agency responsible for our country's turtle conservation programme is led by such an uninformed person as Kamaruddin. This is the same person who wanted to build a massive RM 10m penal colony for turtles on an island lagoon 'to protect young hatchlings from predators and ensure their growth to adulthood'.
Mr. Kamarudin, I think you should just return to what you do best... fish farming.
However, the press didn't publish my letter. Hillary (of the Star) told me that critical letters usually don't get published, unless if the section is dry. Ahhh, Malaysia... How I love thee.
Fortunately, the papers did publish Prof. Chan Eng Heng's (a dedicated turtle conservationist & environmentalist) comment's on Kamaruddin's effort. They were pretty much the same as what I said in my unpublished letters... but I reckon, the press would rather have 'qualified professional' opinions. Read the article below. Anyway, I am glad that her comments were published... someone needs to give Kamaruddin a good knock on the head, and I will be glad to loan Prof. Chan 'spanky' for that purpose.
ps: visit Prof. Chan's SEATRU website to see exactly what she is up to with the turtles.
pps: in case you don't know yet... yes I am a turtlenik.
Leatherback turtles ‘not coming back’
08 Jun 2006
By Nisha Sabanayagam
KUALA LUMPUR: It is time to say goodbye to the leather-back turtle. It is on the point of extinction and is not going to make a comeback.
The head of the Marine Turtle Project at Kolej University Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia, Professor Chan Eng Heng, said: "It is sad but we have to face reality. We should not be in denial."
Yesterday, the New Straits Times reported that there was still hope for the leatherback turtle.
Director of the Turtle Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec), Kamaruddin Ibrahim, had said that of the half-a-million hatchlings released from 1961 to 2001, it was hoped that some would return to Rantau Abang, Terengganu, in the next few years.
After three to five years, leatherback turtles periodically return to their birthplace to lay their eggs.
Chan said the leatherbacks are not returning in the numbers expected and experts cannot really say why.
The population drop is compounded by the fact that most of the hatchlings released between the 1960s and the 1980s were female, a result of the "open air" hatchery practice at that time.
When incubated at high temperatures, leatherback eggs produce females.
Experts are also aware that since 2000, none of the eggs laid on Terengganu’s beaches were fertilised because there were so few males.
Chan said the time had come to consider sustaining the populations of other turtle species, such as the green turtle, and freshwater species like the river terrapin and the painted terrapin.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Jump
For some reason Naomi decides to end her life… she chooses to jump off a bridge
For some reason Akira decides to end her life… she chooses to jump off a bridge
For some strange reason they chose the same bridge.
…
Akira prepares to step up to the ledge.
Naomi sees Akira making his way up the ledge.
“Are you going to jump?”
“Yes.”
“I won’t bother you then. I’ll just stand here.”
“Are YOU going to jump?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to go first then? Ladies first?”
“No. You go ahead. I’ll watch”
…
Akira steps down…
“Are you sure? I can always go later”
“No… I insist.”
Akira steps up…
“It’s hard to jump with you watching.”
“Should I leave then?”
…
“No”
For some reason Akira decides to end her life… she chooses to jump off a bridge
For some strange reason they chose the same bridge.
…
Akira prepares to step up to the ledge.
Naomi sees Akira making his way up the ledge.
“Are you going to jump?”
“Yes.”
“I won’t bother you then. I’ll just stand here.”
“Are YOU going to jump?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to go first then? Ladies first?”
“No. You go ahead. I’ll watch”
…
Akira steps down…
“Are you sure? I can always go later”
“No… I insist.”
Akira steps up…
“It’s hard to jump with you watching.”
“Should I leave then?”
…
“No”
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's Wrong With Love?)
Press Statement for KATAGender's Action 01/06/2006
We are here because…
• we want to show our support to Siow Ai Wei and Ooi Kean Thong;
• we applaud their courageous stance and resolve in retaining their right to self-determination, especially on something as private as the demonstration of affection;
• we believe that holding hands, or even kissing, does not constitute “indecent behaviour”;
• we deem that excessive and intrusive control of individual behaviour by the State, particularly under the guise of ‘morality’, is unacceptable;
• we think that we, as civic-conscious individuals, have the capacity to judge for ourselves, whether or not our behaviour will offend others around us;
• we reject laws that validate and enable voyeuristic behaviour by officials in power, or the potential for private individuals to ‘spy’ and ‘tell’ on each other – such laws encourage an environment of mutual suspicion and mistrust, and is gravely damaging to social relations;
• we do not accept the broad, careless and simplistic strokes made by some Members of the Parliament and the judiciary on what constitutes ‘Asian’ or ‘Western’ cultural values – norms, culture and values are ‘living’ concepts that are constantly being developed, redefined and reinterpreted;
• we hold that openness, tolerance and acceptance of diversity and difference is fundamental to a peaceful and strong nation – particularly for Malaysia where there are multiple and fluid ethnicities, as well as cultural values, norms and practices;
• we call for a focus of government resources, energy and attention on more substantive issues that are faced by people in this country, such as poverty, sexism, identity- based discrimination and violence, displacement, quality education, environmental sustainability, good governance and corruption.
1 June 2006
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