My latest Discovery

Randomly Uttered

The scar on the left side of my forehead hurts.
Voldermort is back!

Present state

Wassup maite?

Whats the matter with Australians and their uncalled for racist remarks against Indian students?

Racism has been long present in Australia. However, from what I heard from friends it was the Chinese that were bullied. And now the targets are Indians. Indian or Chinese, Racism is one and the same and will not be tolerated. With globalization taking over most of us are Global citizens! Was I wrong in assuming that Australia was a developed country. Maybe I made a mistake in the development of the mentality.

An Indian politician at the Singapore Water Week Conference mentioned that he was subjected to racism as well. That too within his country, India. OK..That was news for me. I rarely read news about racism in India. Religious riots yes, but not racist remarks. The example he gave was that he was from East India and hence people often do not believe that he could be an Indian. Firstly, I don't see how related this is to the Water Conference. Secondly, that was not a racist remark. Yeah perhaps, some of the Indians he came into contact with were kinda ignorant about their own country mates. But come on, his nationality was questionable perhaps cos of his appearance. I personally don't think that was a racist remark. (If I'm wrong, please do enlighten me.)

There are so many who are criticised for belonging to the minority and for various other reasons. Australians, OK maybe not Australians as a whole but, Melbourne nites who have been recently making news, need to look beyond the race of their foreign guests. They ought to broaden their horizons and be accepting. Every remark made is gonna reflect their nation in a bad light. And some damage has already been done!

Study Mode: The end is Near

I stayed away from Lara. No music. No Internet. No music cos I thought since my housemates prefer studying in a quiet environment, I should try too. No Internet cos Liyana's exams had ended, she wouldn't bother me BUT I would take frequent breaks just to share news with her or to just ask random questions...hehe...I mean for God's sake, HER PAPERS HAVE ENDED!!!! That's definitely not a motivating factor! I'd be more than inclined to discuss something with her.

Anyways, I stayed away from Lara yesterday. No Music, Nothing got done :(

I slept instead. LOL...

Today, however, pretty obvious I am online and Lara is singing again...lol..I'm back on track with the end in mind...HOLIDAY!!

***Lara is my laptop.

PS: I wanna go to the beach!!!

Study Mode: Day ??? (lost count)

I have been at this desk since 8pm the previous day. Yes, that's how desperate my situation has become. Passing this freaking Organic Chemistry paper has evolved into a necessity.

My normal sleeping hours have been disrupted. Not that I had a fixed sleeping pattern to begin with, but now I feel like a nocturnal. I sleep during the day for most parts, and like today; stay awake for almost 12 hours.

Never before have I ever worked over time preparing for exams. Examinations have never been a huge thing about my life. Either I pass or I don't. Not very ambitious either(obvious yeah). I was satisfied as long as I got promoted to the next level. But this time, I gotta retake my modules if I fail to meet the required grade. Argh!!! No way am I prepared to pore over all this crap again. Hence, my unusual sleep patterns. I rather lose my sleep now then sacrifice my holidays. HOLIDAYS ARE ESSENTIAL!!!

I miss slacking.

The Art of slacking and more slacking. Don't underestimate slackers. Do not assume that they are individuals with no goal or aim in life. We have goals, we aim to slack till the end of time. The only time we deter from slacking that too on a temporary basis is when illogical. mind boggling, time consuming, solely memory based final examinations similar to the one I will be sitting for, comes our way.

Sighs!

I am drained out of energy and overwhelmed with information.

If this was not enough, I still have my Chinese to write.

我不喜欢考试！

Religion in Cheena Land

I was writing an essay on the Chinese Economy. Not a topic I would have tackled if not for the essay. Anyway, besides the negative aspects of China. I realized there are some things that I do admire China for.

For instance, No one asks the other for their religion. Religion is present, yes, but no one takes it as a serious issue to be introduced or discussed. The official forms do not ask for the religion. The professors are not interested in who you believe in or if you even hold a belief for that matter. Don't assume that there are no places of worship in this country. Of course there are. Buddhist Temples, Mosques, Churches,Taoist Temples and what not. The places of worship exist because the Chinese do practise religion but they do not see religion as something significant in their everyday interactions. It could be due to the Government's strict regulation that says along the lines of "no public display of worship". Personally, I think that was a great move by the Chinese government. No one is limited from praying, just don't create a scene and all is fine. No religious riots. And no one is defined by their God or the way they pray.

Was this not, how the world was, in the beginning?

Study Mode : Day 4/5

This sucks!

Writing an essay at 1237 am SUCKS BIG TIME!!!

Someone please tell me why am I doing this? :s

Study Mode: Day 4

Yes, I woke up early. With the determined thought of attending the morning class. I had my coffee, was reading the news, and soon enough the determination wore off and here I am blogging about the day that has barely started beyond the Nescafe that is sitting on my desk.

In 2 hrs time I have my exam, how exciting! I still have 2 papers to go and an essay to finish which accounts for the final grade as well.

I am dead sleepy. Slept at 2am last night. Man, I'm hardworking BUT no I was reading my book..hehe..I read about 20 pages until my eyes kinda got heavy and began to droop. (Yes Liyana, if you do happen to read this post, be prepared to answer questions when I return from school. I finished 2 chapters on 2 different things.)

Emo-ing to Josh Groban really gets me to absorb stuff from the most boring-est of texts.

RandomK(e)

I have no idea how they would prefer to be called but for some reason RandomK(e) is the name of the punk rock band functioning in Beijing. Unlike typical Chinese bands (can I even compare to them to Chinese bands..hmm) the band is made up of whites who met in Beijing. Maybe you can call them a western band, but their audience are largely the Chinese community.

They are described as everything and often their music cannot be restricted to any particular genre.

I haven't exactly researched on their fan base here in China but should be pretty large I guess. Asians are open to all kinda music even if we fail to grasp the meaning of the song. (Me, myself listens to Hindi, French songs and I don't comprehend a single thing).

Anyways, this RandomK(e) English Band are touring China, it took them 4 years to move outta Beijing and reach out to a wider mass. Kudos to that effort. Their current stop is Shanghai. YAY!
But no, I'm not attending the show. Obvious Reasons. Sighs. Professors and Academic Institutions limit my ability to reach out to budding talents to encourage them. In other words, I have exams.

I read the interview that these guys gave for Shanghaiist. There was one thing (actually two things) that one of the fellas mentioned and it made alot of sense to me. ALOT I SAY!

"The reality is - and I know this because I find myself doing it all the time - people, whether Chinese or foreign, who go to rock shows and see that there are foreigners on stage will likely think: ‘These guys couldn’t do this back home because they weren’t good enough, but here, they think they are’ (unless they think: ‘hey, they’re foreign, they must be good’).

While there are certainly crappy bands of foreigners, there are a ton of not crappy bands with foreigners. And hey: Aren’t there tons of crappy bands with Chinese, too? We’ve found that it’s hard to be taken seriously as a band as non-Chinese, but that’s changing with more people who come to see our shows, because live, it’s so obvious that it doesn’t matter where we’re from. It’s useful as biographical material, but not as a descriptor."

Ain't it true?

I see myself saying that too when we see foreign bands in Singapore. Sadly, I failed to realize that maybe they were trying to be different. They are trying to play for a different audience. One doesn't have to be terrible at something to move base. (though there is a possibility ..hehe.. at this point we are overlooking that fact..alright?)

Then again, I hardly ever listen to local numbers. (Unless, national songs are taken into account) As mentioned before, I did give reasons like "they probably couldn't make it in their homeland hence they are trying their luck here" when foreigners do ever perform in Singapore :s

(When I refer to foreigners in Singapore, I am not talking about the large scale productions that tour the world. MAN, THEY ROCK! But, I'm referring to mini bands that function within Singapore and Southeast Asia. You might wanna call them Asian bands maybe..)

My sincere apologies to talents in Singapore (both for local and foreign performers). Your talents will be greatly appreciated the next time I visit ;)

Study Mode: Day 3

Compared to the previous days, today is a little better. I am actually getting stuff done. Things are settling in my long term memory.

Bio paper might turn out to be good after all :D

Study Mode: Day 2

I am seated far away from my texts.

I am emo-ing to Josh Groban.

Spent an hour on Flickr. I can be there for hour(s) but couldn't afford to today..sacrifices they call it...

Had a chat with Binz who just returned from the Cameron Highlands. Is Cameron Highlands really that boring? Maybe its just her trip there...She didn't go to the casinos, maybe thats why...

Random thoughts and statements are flooding my mind.

I'm getting ideas to continue my story that has been on pause for weeks already.

Sighs, I'm procrastinating. Obviously!

Interleukin, Myelin sheath, T cell, B cell, ....*BLANK*

Cheena's priorites are screwed up!

Following up on Cheena-land's latest idea on a pre-installed tracking software in the computers that will be on sale from July 30 onwards.

Please read here:

If you had read the post in the above link you probably got the idea of what Cheena is trying to do. Latest news is that Cheena's capital claims one can uninstall the programma after purchasing the computer -_-

Do they really expect us to buy that? That upon uninstalling the new desktops are safe or that our privacy is completely protected?

I am not too good with the nitty gritty stuff of computer mechanics, however, a software that is being designed by an independent company that is closely related to the government and a simple uninstall does the work? Too easy, ain't it?

My advice to all would be, don't purchase your computers in Cheena-land. It's better that way. Since, some of the issues here don't even carry a trial!! >.<

Another piece of information...

In Singapore ambulances have the right of way and one is required to give way to them actually. And I believe this is the case in most nations. Here in Cheena-land however, things are slightly different.

Ambulances here don't have the right of way on the roads. Partly cos no one will give way. Secondly, the rule of ambulances going ahead despite red lights is not a custom here. So, if one has a dying patient in there and its red light; he's probably a dead man before he reaches the hospital.

This having said, they install mini tv screens in toilets and bathrooms so that while you do your business, you are shown a mini video -_-

Priorities are pretty screwed up man! School structures are poorly built, Ambulances have no right of way and we are adding mini tvs to restrooms!

Structures that were built for the Olympics, (thanx to the great minds who didn't come up with a Plan B) are left empty with millions being spent just to maintain them. Yes, its a tourist spot but the numbers have been on a decline lately. We'll see, what happens to these infrastructures.

Cheena-land needs some serious help. Of course we cannot deny the fact that it's performing immensely well in other areas. Its cities are developing at a rapid rate. The Universities are going International. English Language is being integrated into the culture, if not greatly, least to some extent.

Study Mode: Day 1

The Slacker and the Mugger(well in this case I am referring to the personality that mugs before exams :p); the two contradicting personalities decided to sort out their differences as the time to compromise and cooperate had arrived.

Slacker: Man, did you really have to be up this early? I mean the paper is only in the afternoon! *shrugs*

Mugger: The papers can be pretty screwed up.

Slacker: Unnecessary Tension they call it.

Mugger: Oh yeah, lets refresh our memory of the mid term grades.

Slacker: Well, I figured one way as to how one shouldn't attempt their paper.

Mugger: Lack of self awareness!

Slacker: Optimistic! Not only is the glass half full, it is half full with orange juice! :D

Mugger: *Sighs*

Mugger gave up and Slacker prevailed, BUT, Miss. Stomach was growling so very loudly at 3.30am that Usha had to give up slacking to shower and grab breakfast instead.

After Breakfast, there were potential hours of slacking that smiled back at Usha, together with Mugger's glares. The tiny, but sneaky Miss. Guilt made her presence felt; so yeah had to forgo slacking. *sighs*

Procrastination is at its final stage, actually no, there is no final stage. The act of procrastinating continues....after the exams...Yes, the cycle continues and Yes, Usha never learns. :(

Are you nuts?! No,Really, I'm not too sure!

I don't know where to begin and if the following is really the case...man...I'm really lost for words.

Beijing has come with a new requirement. Personal Computers sold after June 30 will contain special software that will limit the Internet usage of the consumers in terms of sites. Sites deemed vulgar or not suitable for children (under the Chinese law) will be blocked. I don't have the slightest idea how the software works on Internet access. The government claims its acting in the best interests of parents. -_-

Anyway...

This 'special' software will be created by the company that works closely with the Chinese military and security services.

Some are worried that this software might instead be used to collect personal data of the Chinese citizens. Others are wondering if this software would even work!

IF BEIJING DECIDES NOT TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION, COMPUTERS THAT ENTER THE MARKET FROM 1ST JULY ONWARDS WILL HAVE THE SOFTWARE PRE-INSTALLED!

So much for opening up to the world and embracing freedom of speech. SIGHS!

The Rose that never Wilted

A true story to be shared...

The first day of school, our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her whole being.

"Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty seven years old. Can I give you a hug?", she said.

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously" I asked. I was curious as to what might have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed on a college education and now I'm getting one", she replied.

After class we walked to the Student Union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends.

Everyday for the next three months we would leave class together and talk non-stop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time-machine' as she shared her words of wisdom and years of experience.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a college icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and reveled in the attention bestowed upon her by the other students. She was really living it up.

At the end of the semester, we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards to the floor.

A little embarrassed, she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know".

As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began...

We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor everyday. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people who are walking around who are dead but don't even know it.

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are 19 years old and lie in bed one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. If I'm 87 years old and stay in bed for a year not doing anything, I'll turn 88.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take and talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually have no regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.

She concluded her speech by the singing 'The Rose'.

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years.

One week after graduation, Rose passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Over 2000 college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

***The narrator is unknown. These words have been passed along as a loving memory of Rose.

Well I have never heard of the song 'The Rose' so went to look up for the lyrics ;)

The Rose - Bette Midler

Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
and you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
who cannot seem to give,
and the soul afraid of dyin'
that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been to long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong,
just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed that with the sun's love
in the spring becomes the rose.

Not a bad idea to know the lyrics and live up to it after all :)

My love for Black and White

I love photography and I love them best when in Black and White. One of my recent favorites is the one above . Nancy Wexler, who discovered the gene that caused Huntington's Disease; in Venezuela.

Beauty of love best revealed :)

Summer of love

*An old pop song to lift the spirits* :)

This is the summer of love
Tonight the fiesta will come
It's the summer of love

Tonight we live la vida loca
Yes we'll have the time of our lives
A fiesta we'll always remember
Tonight we will taste paradise
Life is sweet and we treasure each moment
Moving closely with me as we sway
For tonight we forget our tomorrow
It's time for the music to play

The temperature's rising
You search the horizon
And there's not a cloud in the sky
So dance, it's the summer of love
Tonight the fiesta will come
One hundred degrees
In the shade of the trees
One more time
Tonight is the night of our lives
De fruta la vida that's right
One hundred degrees
And we turn up the heat
One more time for the summer of love

The night is when friends become lovers
And people are lost in their dreams
Tomorrow the spell may be broken
So celebrate love and be free
The rhythm of life beats within you
Dont' try to resist when it calls
Move closer to me feel the music
Now nothing else matters at all

The temperature's rising
You search the horizon
And there's not a cloud in the sky
So dance, it's the summer of love
Tonight the fiesta will come
One hundred degrees
In the shade of the trees
One more time
Tonight is the night of our lives
De fruta la vida that's right
One hundred degrees
And we turn up the heat
One more time for the summer of love

No we dance in the moonlight
And I see love in your eyes
Look to the stars, make a wish
Don't try to resist
It's the summer of love

Tonight is the night of our lives
De fruta la vida that's right
One hundred degrees
And we turn up the heat
One more time for the summer of love

-Steps-

A New Beginning

Excerpts of President Obama's Speech in Cairo....

On Women Rights:

I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well educated are far more likely to be prosperous.

I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons. Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity -- men and women -- to reach their full potential.

On harmony among nations and establishing peace:

Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.

We have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean.

When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.

All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort -- a sustained effort -- to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

It's easier to start wars than to end them. It's easier to blame others than to look inward. It's easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path.

There's one rule that lies at the heart of every religion -- that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples -- a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the hearts of billions around the world. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.

We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.

The Holy Koran tells us: "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."

The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."

The Holy Bible tells us: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Applause.)

Obama addressed the crowd with conviction for a change, quoting from literature they best understand and place their firm faith in. It proves the often overlooked fact that "talking helps; not violence!', when dealing with issues. Obama's take on issues and the solutions he proposed will take time to materialise. However, the opportunity to meet the Muslim community and put forth a list of actions that will improve the betterment of all humanity and in the best interests of people around the world yearning for peace, is a great start to a New Beginning.

The full speech can be read here :)

God Bless my Father

From the pages of Liyana's life...

We were having a mass prayer. We were in the sitting-kneeling position when an Arab kid ran and grabbed the bag of the woman praying next to my mother. I noticed the kid before we started praying. My mother's reflex kicked in and she screamed loudly. The kid who snatched the bag freaked out and he let go off the bag and dashed off. The guards started looking for this kid. While the adults and kids were standing talking to the guards, I saw the kid who snatched the bag. I tugged at my dad saying "Abah! that's the kid who snatched the bag!!" and the guard heard.

My father quickly said "no that's not the one, no no, I saw him on my side during the prayer"
I was puzzled as to why my father lied blatantly in front of me. It wasn't until much later on I realise why...

In Saudi, they are very very strict. people who are caught stealing will have their hands chopped off.....

I approached my father saying what I realised, and my dad said "the boy is still young, he needs his hands for work in the future.

***Liyana was the child whose Father's words saved an innocent kid's arms.

Well the idea of sharing the story was not exactly to promote lying or put Saudi Arabia in the bad light. But, sometimes circumstances have to be considered when certain actions are committed. What the Father did can be considered a sin in the name of lying or an act of humanity. The brutal punishment could have served as a lesson to the Arab boy or the act of forgiveness by the victiom could have also changed the young kid's perspective.

I am SO proud of the DAD!!!

Welcome to Cheena-land

Conned on the streets?
Half the websites are banned?
With Hotmail being the recent one?
Welcome to Cheena-Land.

Then again there is another side to it.

Yikes! Did someone just spit on the ground?
Oh Crap! He just cut the queue before me!
Hey! You are pushing me to rush for the seats!
Welcome to Cheena-Land.

The final side.

BARGAIN!!!!!!

DVDs are Freaking Cheap!
One can travel in cabs all their life and not be broke!
Welcome to Cheena-Land once again.

These fellas just amuse me :D