If mum knew what I was up to last night...

she'd throw her Japanese slippers at me.

Heh. No, this is not a juicy post, but rather a chance to vent my frustrations (along with many Malaysians) of the current political scenario.

I accompanied a freelance radio journalist friend to Jalan Hang Tuah where the said opposition bigwig was detained (freed at current point in time).
Being naturally nosy and itching for excitement, I got a chance to take these amateur photos at the scene.
A shot from the divider(standing underneath the shaky monorail), the police's Federal Reserve Unit stand guard.










While the group of supporters crowd around, amidst the hundreds of press photographers, camera personnel and journalists who jostled to get the best angles.









So I chose to stand next to the FRU line, should jeers or taunts turn into an ugly clash. At least, I thought, I would be facing in the opposite direction should the teargas guns fire away.
Plus, running towards the police station (located behind the FRU line), was the best escape route in my torn sandals.
I guess, more importantly, as I chatted with my weary-eyed friends tasked to cover this long night, the bigger question remains.

Why are Malaysians being dragged into this time consuming and time wasting tussle for power. As cliche-d as it will sound, priorities are misplaced and we forget why we push for transparency and accountability in the first place.

Were we misguided as Malaysians on March 8? Were we misled to believe that there could be hope for at least a better life as a Malaysian?
Idealistic, yes. I believe I am entitled to that, like the rest that voiced their rights that fateful day. And as a person who hates to rant and whine, could we not be pro-active then since the hope that March 8 brought seems to be fading..

I turn 31 this year. I want to be able to tell my friends from other countries that while Malaysia is not perfect, it is home. It is colourful, exciting, slow at times, but it has soul.

But the current spare of events in the past month is embarassing, and disappointing. What can we do as Malaysians. Close one eye? Or both. Do we make plans to pack our lives into boxes (again) and live in places not called home? Or do we carry a placard and holler for our "voices" to be heard (again)? I'll ask Oracle when he distributes flyers in the Ss2 coffeeshops.

What do we do?

Renewing, reflecting and recharging.

That was the central theme of our last meeting in Manila. Renew we did our ties with journalism concepts, values, issues and common challenges. Reflect on the progress made and unmade in the last years of this pursuit of a wider goal and shared vision. And recharge we did.

It did not occur to me that the alumni conference this time was a rather academic one, more importantly, it did not occur to me how strongly I felt for the profession and the values it represent, and the (growing) network that has been built over the years, thanks to the kind donors that gave all of us this opportunity.

You can't help but feel the nostalgia when you go through the class photos, the sleepless nights and the exhausting debates about ethics when deciding material for print and broadcast. You also find yourself laughing contagiously when you remember the jokes, antics and little escapisms you took in this pursuit of excellence.

Keywords that still make me smile or laugh out loud in fond memory - pandesals, Father Bu, UP and that FHM magazine we bought for our Burmese friend.

My eyes have opened much in the last few years, compounded by my brief stint across the Causeway. I do want to capitalise on the opportunities that lie ahead - maybe even make a(nother) brave exit, this time out of the profession. Till then. I will still keep giggling fondly of the best times I have had in Manila.

Posing pretentiously at the fountain on the Ateneo de Manila University campus









And seen here, mucking around
after only one.. one bottle of San Mig Light..










But photojournalist Jimmy Domingo's take of the moment says it all...I absolutely relish it.

Bernoulli's Principle

This theory, which originally was applied to his research in fluids & medicine (particularly blood pressure), helps explain how planes fly.
He discovered that the principle that the pressure of a fluid decreases when its speed or velocity increase.
This helps to explain that when a plane is speeding up for take off, the faster it goes the less air pressure is exerted on it and therefore the plane is able to 'lift-off' the ground and fly. A plane that does not obtain sufficient speed on the ground, for its size & weight, may not be able to take off successfully

*Source: Wiki.answers.com

Ed's note: I am trying to find the co-relation between flying and perspiration

The monkey on your back is the latest trend...

Juno MacGuff: I think I'm in love with you.
Paulie Bleeker: You mean as friends?
Juno MacGuff: No... I mean for real. 'Cause you're, like, the coolest person I've ever met, and you don't even have to try, you know...
Paulie Bleeker: I try really hard, actually


*Source: IMDB.com

Gone fishing

That is a shot of a fishing pond in Ulu Yam.
Very serene, picturesque and peaceful.
No fish caught though.
Even beer didn't make the bait more enticing.
But never mind, more for us then.

It was a nice weekend out of the city.
A chance to get away from distractions for a while.
Although there were many who asked if I could sit still, an important point during the course of this activity.
I did.
For about half an hour before I started pacing and walking around the pond, making friends with other "fishermen" at this particular pond.
Even the owner who stopped by to ask if we had any luck mentioned that sitting still and waiting is crucial.

A more important lesson then.
All good things come for people who waited.
After six beers, four cigars and countless cigarettes......
Well, at least the beautiful drive home made up for the lack of catch..

Quick fixes

1. No, I do not feel pressured to get married.
2. Yes, I enjoy my books on religion and Obama's Audacity of Hope
3. No, I can't buy a house because I do not want to live in fear
4. Yes, I only spent four months in Singapore.
5. Yes, I can lunch alone.
6. Yes, I am human underneath it all.
7. No, I do not enjoy mall-ing.
8. Yes I like children but I can't afford them in my life now.
9. Yes, I am looking at my options.
10. Yes, I miss debates about the US elections, China's PR crisis and the narrow minded West sentiments.

Just

*Source: a beautiful revolution

Doppelganger lurks..

a ghostly double of a living person that haunts its living counterpart..



*source: various

*reaction: eh?

Words from a true genius....

"korupsi, opresi, obsesi, diri... polusi..dipresi... di bumi kini..."
"tokleh tehe... nak minum anchor"

Sometimes..

just sometimes, I don't know what to do with myself..

Any suggestions?

s.t.o.p.

Read a good book.

Smell the flowers.

Take time off (from) myself.

Time to listen, Sus.

Talking about everything and nothing

It does not have to be Confucius' Golden Mean's rule.

It can just be singing a tune out of the Marines' song, the one with Tripoli in it.

It does not have to be about heavy questions on the discrepancies in China and Burma's regimes.

It can be just about laughing about Rick Astley's silly jig in his one hit wonder music video. No I am not repeating it here.

I miss it. That.

I am NOT going to write you a love song..

*bounces about in rhythm..*

Head under water
And they tell me to breathe easy for a while, the breathing gets harder, even I know that
You made room for me but it’s too soon to see, If I’m happy in your hands

I’m unusually hard to hold on to
Blank stares at blank pages
No easy way to say this
You mean well, but you make this hard on me
I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you asked for it
’cause you need one, you see

I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you tell me it’s
Make or breaking this
If you’re on your way
I’m not gonna write you to stay
If all you have is leaving I’m gonna need a better
Reason to write you a love song today

I learned the hard way
That they all say things you want to hear
And my heavy heart sinks deep down under you and
Your twisted words,
Your help just hurts
You are not what I thought you were
Hello to high and dry
Convinced me to please you
Made me think that I need this too
I’m trying to let you hear me as I am

I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you asked for it
’cause you need one, you see
I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you tell me it’s
Make or breaking this
If you’re on your way
I’m not gonna write you to stay
If all you have is leaving I’m gonna need a better
Reason to write you a love song today

Promise me that you’ll leave the light on
To help me see with daylight, my guide, gone
’cause I believe there’s a way you can love me
Because I say
I won’t write you a love song
’cause you asked for it
’cause you need one, you see

I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you tell me it’s make or breaking this
Is that why you wanted a love song
’cause you asked for it
’cause you need one, you see
I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you tell me it’s make or breaking this
If you’re on your way
I’m not gonna write you to stay
If your heart is nowhere in it
I don’t want it for a minute
Babe, I’ll walk the seven seas when I believe that
There’s a reason to
Write you a love song today

*Thank you Sarah Bareilles, for putting a smile on my days.

FEAR

Break out of it..

"This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime..."

from Bridges of Madison County...

I was reminded of this sad love story, of conflicted love and restrained romance.

Painful, heart wrenching, but beautiful just the same.

The idea then is to cherish, embrace and accept, that life's kinks makes it more meaningful.

Angry journalists..

Haha.

A simple, dressed down website where journalists/media practitioners gather to vent.

Nothing flamboyant about it, can't blame the host, since users spend hours decorating pages, web pages and prettying up television packages.

Check it out on the blogroll.

And, we wonder why we are so grumpy all the time?

Heh.

You know who you are...

Drew: - I thought you were in Hawaii.
- What's this?

Claire "When cremation is your preference."
I just got some brochures
I want you all to look at.

(And these are some choice of urns... available here
at the Cave Hill Cemetery.
You can take them home and...You can look at those brochures and...
Y'all can look at those, take those home with you.)

Whatever makes you happy.
We are shopping for an urn.
(And you can pick this up tomorrow immediately following the procedure.)

The Jim Morrison of Kentucky.

Drew: You're kind of great, Claire.
You do know that.

- Sort of amazing, even.

Claire: Oh, come on!
- I don't need an ice cream cone.

- It's not an ice cream cone.

Drew: What's an ice cream cone?


Claire: You know.
"Here's a little something to make you happy. "Something sweet that melts in five minutes."

I'm completely cool with anything you want to say or not say.

I don't need it.

Besides, Ben is coming in tomorrow.
- Do you want to hear my theory?

Drew:- Of course.

Claire:-You and I have a special talent, and I saw it immediately.

Drew:-Tell me.

Claire:-We're the substitute people.

The substitute people.

I've been the substitute person my whole life.

I'm not an Ellen.

I never wanted to be an Ellen.

And I'm not a Cindy, either.
Although Chucks love me.

I'm sure they do.

I like being alone too much.

I mean, I'm with a guy who's married to his academic career.

I rarely see him.
And I'm the substitute person there.

I like it that way. It's a lot less pressure.

Here.

Play this for the loudest kid in the world.

Drew:-I'm not used to girls like you.

Claire:-That's because I'm one of a kind.

Drew:-You don't have to make a joke.

I like you without the jokes.

Claire:-Get some sleep.

I have a personnel interview tomorrow morning...

and if I get transferred, Ben will die.
Didn't it just feel better...
that we just didn't
do something impulsive?

- I mean...
- Yes.

Now we actually have a shot at being friends...

for the rest of our lives.
The rest of our lives.


*Excerpt from Elizabethtown... thank you to patient fans who transcribed the entire movie script.

I was about to..

Give it up..

and give it up..

I will smile, I deserve better..

I love my life.... celebrating my daily anniversaries...:)

I've learnt.. and I'm still learning..

Gems are rare, but when found, are cherished..
Love crosses all boundaries with no discriminations...

Quiet time teaches calmness...
Sincerity exists, rare, once found, exists wholeheartedly...

And letting go is the hardest, once achieved, liberates the soul...

Short time I've been out of my comfort zone. And the neighbours have heard me talking to myself, from the times I've walked home, and the times I let off steam within the four walls.

I have grown (hopefully) a little wiser, a little older (gulp).. to love a little more..

Having lost someone dear before you lose the zone, I must say, makes you grow up.

I've found that the uncontrollable tears will stop once you learn to breathe, slower, and calmer..

I've also found that the idiosyncracies are similar, the whines no different and the colours of culture ever so beautiful.

My initial feelings of angst and distaste, fizzle (not completely), after I learn to stop, look and go..

I've learnt that bonds I share are ever so strong and the strength of new ones grow each day.

I thank the forces that be, the support, and the love around me, for teaching me and showing me.

Learn from the good. Leave the bad.

And, if I turned back the clock to do it again? I would say a resounding yes.

There is a sense of appreciation and love I have for the beings, things, smells and touches around me.

I love it.

The morning after...

Nomination Day of the Malaysian general elections.

Strange. Your body tells you to sleep. Your mind is too tired to.

My comrade is mixing red bull and carbonated drinks. I worry.

My other is suffering from heatstroke.

Day two.. Phew.

Democracy lives! (hopefully).