The holidays have officially started for me, my husband is home and I have time to do everything I've been wanting to do.
Life looks good for now.
Life looks good for now.
8:17 am |
Category:
this and that
|
0
comments
For as long as I can remember, there is one thing I have ever wanted to do, and do well. And that is to write.
Someone simple-minded might say - "You can write." To which I will only reply - "If that is what you believe, then you have never read."
At one point in my life, I contemplated writing for a living. And I'm sure many friends in my circle of friends have thought the same at one point in their lives as well. However, my father being the practical man that he is questioned my dream then because no money would come out of it. How would I be able to maintain my life? He had a point. If I had stood my ground, I might have ended up in a job I might have begun to hate while earning pittance. That might not be so bad if I had never wanted anything in my life. But looking at my current lifestyle, I'm glad I never took up writing as a livelihood.
Having said all that, I still would like to write. I did once dream of writing a novel but my attention problem would never have let me finish the novel. I once started something in longhand (is there such a word?) but after I reached the end of the second exam pad, my attention waned and I moved on.
I've written many short stories and planned (and outlined) even more. Yet, they all remain in the library of my mind, doomed to collect dust there until such a time that I might pull them out again.
The problem I have is that, when I was a child, I read adult books. I finished the entire Hardy Boys collection (at that time) by the time I was 11. Then I jumped to books like Jane Eyre, Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights, anything by Edgar Allen Poe and such books. Of course, I also discovered Mills & Boons, from which I learnt many odd phrases and many weird things people do when they're in love and denying it. I also discovered Barbara Cartland and wanted to be like the ladies in her books. They were not as helpless as Nancy Drew, really.
The other part of the problem was that when I got to young adulthood, I began to read teen fiction. So I was doing things in reverse. People have wondered how I could read so fast. When you've gone from Gone With The WInd to some teen fiction, the reading gets way easier. That, and this speed reading session I took once. Also, the only thing that could hold my attention long enough was a book.
I read so much and so fast that it felt really wasteful to buy a book. Anything thin would be devoured within half a day and anything thick was completed within a few days. So, it was with great relief (on my parents' part) that I got a membership card to the British Council library. I borrowed three books each time and returned them well before the due date of two weeks.
I guess all this influenced my writing style. When I started to write short stories later, I got a lot of help from my English lecturer in college. She guided me through a lot of bumpiness. She was the first person to tell me about choppy storylines and cliche plots. She taught me to write draft after draft after draft after draft. She was also the one who told me to write a story then leave it until I'd almost forgotten then go back and read it like it was for the first time. And if I didn't understand or couldn't picture what I wrote then I had to rewrite or edit it. I once wrote a 2000-word paper for her without research and with only a few editing. The facts were already in my head and I had started writing the story in my head from the moment she gave us the assignment. It took me three days to write it. I'm not sure if it was good or bad that she never returned it to me. She gave me an A and tried to get me to go one level higher - script-writing. I did it for one term, wrote a script, took part in Drama classes and then discovered I'd rather direct and produce than act. That script was also submitted to her and never returned. That's when I also read Death of a Salesman inside and out, cover to cover. That book is a wonderful example of script writing.
But my love is still in story writing. I don't write like it's a movie or a TV show. If I wanted that, I'd write scripts. I write a little like Leslie Charteris - lots of descriptions, explanations and just some dialogue. Teen fiction and romance require lots of dialogue. Adult fiction have just enough to enhance the story. I would love to write like Leslie Charteris. His Simon Templar is so witty, charming and absolutely divine.
So I'm not saying my writing style is bad. I'm saying it's my style and influenced by what I read at an early age. Despite my love for romance books, I can't write romance. It's too tedious. I show romance by behaving it, not just writing it. It rather explains why I don't write love letters. My romance sound whiny to me. Imagine how it sounds to others.
While I can sometimes come up with the most appealing phrases, I get a little shaky at world-building. I can picture but I cannot seem to describe it. Yet, while I know I'm not the worst, I also know I have got a lot to learn. Some people get deflated when their stories require too much editing. I'm not that arrogant. However, too much editing allows my mind to wander. Before you know it, what started out as a murder mystery ends up being a fantasy with a pinch of romance and just a teeny dash of horror.
Maybe I should just stick to short stories. And I get a lot of my inspirations - amazingly - form my students. They say the oddest things which make the oddest connections in my mind. So if I get bizarre suddenly, you know why.
But I love reading Leslie Charteris books. Books by British authors surpasses those by American authors in leaps and bounds and vocabulary and wit.
I sigh and I wish and wish...
Someone simple-minded might say - "You can write." To which I will only reply - "If that is what you believe, then you have never read."
At one point in my life, I contemplated writing for a living. And I'm sure many friends in my circle of friends have thought the same at one point in their lives as well. However, my father being the practical man that he is questioned my dream then because no money would come out of it. How would I be able to maintain my life? He had a point. If I had stood my ground, I might have ended up in a job I might have begun to hate while earning pittance. That might not be so bad if I had never wanted anything in my life. But looking at my current lifestyle, I'm glad I never took up writing as a livelihood.
Having said all that, I still would like to write. I did once dream of writing a novel but my attention problem would never have let me finish the novel. I once started something in longhand (is there such a word?) but after I reached the end of the second exam pad, my attention waned and I moved on.
I've written many short stories and planned (and outlined) even more. Yet, they all remain in the library of my mind, doomed to collect dust there until such a time that I might pull them out again.
The problem I have is that, when I was a child, I read adult books. I finished the entire Hardy Boys collection (at that time) by the time I was 11. Then I jumped to books like Jane Eyre, Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights, anything by Edgar Allen Poe and such books. Of course, I also discovered Mills & Boons, from which I learnt many odd phrases and many weird things people do when they're in love and denying it. I also discovered Barbara Cartland and wanted to be like the ladies in her books. They were not as helpless as Nancy Drew, really.
The other part of the problem was that when I got to young adulthood, I began to read teen fiction. So I was doing things in reverse. People have wondered how I could read so fast. When you've gone from Gone With The WInd to some teen fiction, the reading gets way easier. That, and this speed reading session I took once. Also, the only thing that could hold my attention long enough was a book.
I read so much and so fast that it felt really wasteful to buy a book. Anything thin would be devoured within half a day and anything thick was completed within a few days. So, it was with great relief (on my parents' part) that I got a membership card to the British Council library. I borrowed three books each time and returned them well before the due date of two weeks.
I guess all this influenced my writing style. When I started to write short stories later, I got a lot of help from my English lecturer in college. She guided me through a lot of bumpiness. She was the first person to tell me about choppy storylines and cliche plots. She taught me to write draft after draft after draft after draft. She was also the one who told me to write a story then leave it until I'd almost forgotten then go back and read it like it was for the first time. And if I didn't understand or couldn't picture what I wrote then I had to rewrite or edit it. I once wrote a 2000-word paper for her without research and with only a few editing. The facts were already in my head and I had started writing the story in my head from the moment she gave us the assignment. It took me three days to write it. I'm not sure if it was good or bad that she never returned it to me. She gave me an A and tried to get me to go one level higher - script-writing. I did it for one term, wrote a script, took part in Drama classes and then discovered I'd rather direct and produce than act. That script was also submitted to her and never returned. That's when I also read Death of a Salesman inside and out, cover to cover. That book is a wonderful example of script writing.
But my love is still in story writing. I don't write like it's a movie or a TV show. If I wanted that, I'd write scripts. I write a little like Leslie Charteris - lots of descriptions, explanations and just some dialogue. Teen fiction and romance require lots of dialogue. Adult fiction have just enough to enhance the story. I would love to write like Leslie Charteris. His Simon Templar is so witty, charming and absolutely divine.
So I'm not saying my writing style is bad. I'm saying it's my style and influenced by what I read at an early age. Despite my love for romance books, I can't write romance. It's too tedious. I show romance by behaving it, not just writing it. It rather explains why I don't write love letters. My romance sound whiny to me. Imagine how it sounds to others.
While I can sometimes come up with the most appealing phrases, I get a little shaky at world-building. I can picture but I cannot seem to describe it. Yet, while I know I'm not the worst, I also know I have got a lot to learn. Some people get deflated when their stories require too much editing. I'm not that arrogant. However, too much editing allows my mind to wander. Before you know it, what started out as a murder mystery ends up being a fantasy with a pinch of romance and just a teeny dash of horror.
Maybe I should just stick to short stories. And I get a lot of my inspirations - amazingly - form my students. They say the oddest things which make the oddest connections in my mind. So if I get bizarre suddenly, you know why.
But I love reading Leslie Charteris books. Books by British authors surpasses those by American authors in leaps and bounds and vocabulary and wit.
I sigh and I wish and wish...
Listening to: Depends On The Mood I'm In - Jem and the Holograms - Jem
Today, we lost a person who cared for our environment, who fought for our trees as best she could, who lived facing a lot of odds and who was loved by all who were close to her.
Inna lillah wa inna 'ilayhi raji'un
Inna lillah wa inna 'ilayhi raji'un
5:56 pm |
Category: |
0
comments
I finally got round to watching Twilight. Actually, I just started but I've been distracted so far by 1) a tummy ache, 2) Athena and 3) Athena's bath time. I will finish watching it eventually.
I uploaded all 2300+ photos from my camera into my computer which I will then back-up to the external hard disc. And then I will make copies on DVD. Of course I have to be careful because about 2000 photos are those of Athena. Is anyone surprised she reacts to a camera with a smile nowadays?
I'll be going to Bintulu this Monday and I'll be back on Tuesday. Can't stay long because I don't get leave from work unless for a good reason, Athena is coming with me and I think Shook has exams or is flying the rest of the week. And yes, I do so want to distract Shook further so he has to stay longer in that idiotically-run place. (And if you were not sure, that last sentence was dripping in acid)
I am seriously considering a slight change in my career options. I think I'll go for it, just to see if I can. If it works out, it's a new challenge to keep me occupied for another decade. If it doesn't, well I always have other plans in place.
I really need to get round to finish typing out my story. Seems like such a waste to plan something so well then drop it into oblivion. I always say I don't have time but the truth is, I spend so much time playing with Athena and catching up on things I've missed out with her while at work that I don't feel like doing much else.
I went and had my hair cut. It was a decision forced upon me by the combination of heat, the frustration of looking around for my hairband in the middle of the night and feeling bored of either tying my hair or clipping it up.
I accompanied my students to Swinburne for a debate recently. It was rather interesting. I'm not saying that just to be polite. Although I complained a lot about their time management earlier in the event, the experience it gave my students and the wonderful time they had as well as the new friends they made sort of made me forgive the organisers. They were also very helpful to my students. So despite everything, I don't mind bringing them back there next year.
And to finish off this post, my daughter is 7 months today and my best friend has been married a week today. Ain't life grand?
I uploaded all 2300+ photos from my camera into my computer which I will then back-up to the external hard disc. And then I will make copies on DVD. Of course I have to be careful because about 2000 photos are those of Athena. Is anyone surprised she reacts to a camera with a smile nowadays?
I'll be going to Bintulu this Monday and I'll be back on Tuesday. Can't stay long because I don't get leave from work unless for a good reason, Athena is coming with me and I think Shook has exams or is flying the rest of the week. And yes, I do so want to distract Shook further so he has to stay longer in that idiotically-run place. (And if you were not sure, that last sentence was dripping in acid)
I am seriously considering a slight change in my career options. I think I'll go for it, just to see if I can. If it works out, it's a new challenge to keep me occupied for another decade. If it doesn't, well I always have other plans in place.
I really need to get round to finish typing out my story. Seems like such a waste to plan something so well then drop it into oblivion. I always say I don't have time but the truth is, I spend so much time playing with Athena and catching up on things I've missed out with her while at work that I don't feel like doing much else.
I went and had my hair cut. It was a decision forced upon me by the combination of heat, the frustration of looking around for my hairband in the middle of the night and feeling bored of either tying my hair or clipping it up.
I accompanied my students to Swinburne for a debate recently. It was rather interesting. I'm not saying that just to be polite. Although I complained a lot about their time management earlier in the event, the experience it gave my students and the wonderful time they had as well as the new friends they made sort of made me forgive the organisers. They were also very helpful to my students. So despite everything, I don't mind bringing them back there next year.
And to finish off this post, my daughter is 7 months today and my best friend has been married a week today. Ain't life grand?
4:32 pm |
Category:
this and that
|
2
comments
I am an odd person. (And before some smarty pants decides to crack a joke about it, hear me out first!)
I have had my eye on Amazon's Kindle 2 for awhile now. Over the weekend, I decided to seriosuly look into it and discovered that they are not available outside the US. So I began to look at other alternatives. I then remembered I have a PDA sitting around doing nothing so I decided to use it as my ebook reader. I'm looking into Mobipocket and it's very appealing.
However, I have discovered a reluctance within myself to purchase anything. It's not even expensive. The books I want range between $5.99 - $14.99. The cheapest is $2.99. All these are way, way cheaper than any book I can find here or online. Yet, I hesitate.
I know I love the feel of a physical book in my hands. And everyone looks more intellectual reading a book than reading a PDA. After all, I could be playing games on a PDA! And even an idiot looks smart reading a book.
Yet the upside of an ebook is that no matter how thick the book is, the PDA will never vary in weight and size. It's cheaper to purchase. And I only need to store it on my PC or the PDA. I don't need shelves anymore.
I did consider getting audiobooks. I tried it with Richard Marcinko once a long, long time ago. He writes about the Navy Seals. He created the Seal teams. Trust me, when he speaks, it's monotonous. I love his books but his reading could put me to sleep. And he did, halfway through my favourite of his books.
Then I recently tried Paul of Dune. I love the Dune series. I read an excerpt of Paul and I liked it despite it not being written by Frank Herbert himself but by his son. So I figured if I liked what was written surely I can tolerate when it's being read. And surely not everyone sounds like Richard Marcinko.
I was right on account of the reader not sounding like Marcinko. But I forgot my ADD tendencies. Audiobooks officially make me restless. I not only space out but I also fall asleep. I even tried listening to samples on Audible. Didn't work. I got bored within 10 seconds.
So, now that audiobooks are not an option, I'm looking into ebooks.
I need to think about this some more.
I have had my eye on Amazon's Kindle 2 for awhile now. Over the weekend, I decided to seriosuly look into it and discovered that they are not available outside the US. So I began to look at other alternatives. I then remembered I have a PDA sitting around doing nothing so I decided to use it as my ebook reader. I'm looking into Mobipocket and it's very appealing.
However, I have discovered a reluctance within myself to purchase anything. It's not even expensive. The books I want range between $5.99 - $14.99. The cheapest is $2.99. All these are way, way cheaper than any book I can find here or online. Yet, I hesitate.
I know I love the feel of a physical book in my hands. And everyone looks more intellectual reading a book than reading a PDA. After all, I could be playing games on a PDA! And even an idiot looks smart reading a book.
Yet the upside of an ebook is that no matter how thick the book is, the PDA will never vary in weight and size. It's cheaper to purchase. And I only need to store it on my PC or the PDA. I don't need shelves anymore.
I did consider getting audiobooks. I tried it with Richard Marcinko once a long, long time ago. He writes about the Navy Seals. He created the Seal teams. Trust me, when he speaks, it's monotonous. I love his books but his reading could put me to sleep. And he did, halfway through my favourite of his books.
Then I recently tried Paul of Dune. I love the Dune series. I read an excerpt of Paul and I liked it despite it not being written by Frank Herbert himself but by his son. So I figured if I liked what was written surely I can tolerate when it's being read. And surely not everyone sounds like Richard Marcinko.
I was right on account of the reader not sounding like Marcinko. But I forgot my ADD tendencies. Audiobooks officially make me restless. I not only space out but I also fall asleep. I even tried listening to samples on Audible. Didn't work. I got bored within 10 seconds.
So, now that audiobooks are not an option, I'm looking into ebooks.
I need to think about this some more.
1:51 pm |
Category:
books
|
1 comments
Could someone tell me if there are any copyright issues or even issues of any kind in regards to a story that has been published online e.g. on a blog?
I thought I once read somewhere that it can be difficult to get a story published once it has been posted online. I might be wrong but I really would like some clarification.
This question is the reason I stopped posting any stories I wrote. I am actually elbow-deep in two stories of different genres. I posted part of one online but I stopped after reading something about copyright issues somewhere. I just can't remember where now.
So I'm afraid to post anything. I'm worried that I might one day take up my father's offer to publish my stories and discover that I can't do so.
I thought I once read somewhere that it can be difficult to get a story published once it has been posted online. I might be wrong but I really would like some clarification.
This question is the reason I stopped posting any stories I wrote. I am actually elbow-deep in two stories of different genres. I posted part of one online but I stopped after reading something about copyright issues somewhere. I just can't remember where now.
So I'm afraid to post anything. I'm worried that I might one day take up my father's offer to publish my stories and discover that I can't do so.
3:06 pm |
Category:
story
|
3
comments
I admit to being a wee bit bitchy over the weekend. Hey, cut me some slack. If you have a 6 month-old baby who gets feverish when she's angry or at intervals during the day or night and she is starting to pick and choose who she likes or does not like based on how often she sees the people around her or if you've had a total of maybe 8 hours sleep within 60 hours, maybe you'd be bitchy too. Not to mention lack of sleep causes me to bloat, which some people have described as fat! Shows how much they don't know me. And not to mention how some people have decided that I lack energy and stamina. You try being on your feet all day while handling teenagers and colleagues as well as planning at least one month ahead and then going home to a baby who just can't understand yet why her mother disappears all day and leaves her at home. Trust me, I have the energy. I just wish people would stop thinking I do nothing but sit at my desk all day.
Anyway, I digress.
Have any of you seen those stickers on cars that say "Looking for your cat? Try under my tyres." or something to that effect. Yesterday, I was all bitchy so my reply was "Looking for your wife/girlfriend? Try your best friend's bed!"
And then there was one idiot who was trying to sell health thingies to my dad. He was an idiot because he started making comments to my dad when he saw my dad ordering one small bowl of laksa and one bowl of noodles. Then he started commenting on how we girls could use his products. I didn't hear what he said. If I had heard, I would have told him to "Please, please service your sour-faced wife because she looks like Satan just twisted her face before you talk about my father and his family." I would also have told him "If your product is making your wife look like the airport runway and your child look like a walking dead, then no thank you. I'd rather be smiling, happy and alive." I would have also told him "I've tried your product. It gives me gas and it is essentially a water diet. No nutrients at all. No wonder you have what looks like an undead family. As for yourself, she must have married you before she realised you were poor because you ain't nothing in the looks or behaviour department."
But my dad's comment was the best. "Come back and tell me what to do only after you've got a Mercedes like mine and 4 other cars as well."
Yes, I had a catty weekend. And I don't think it's over yet.
Anyway, I digress.
Have any of you seen those stickers on cars that say "Looking for your cat? Try under my tyres." or something to that effect. Yesterday, I was all bitchy so my reply was "Looking for your wife/girlfriend? Try your best friend's bed!"
And then there was one idiot who was trying to sell health thingies to my dad. He was an idiot because he started making comments to my dad when he saw my dad ordering one small bowl of laksa and one bowl of noodles. Then he started commenting on how we girls could use his products. I didn't hear what he said. If I had heard, I would have told him to "Please, please service your sour-faced wife because she looks like Satan just twisted her face before you talk about my father and his family." I would also have told him "If your product is making your wife look like the airport runway and your child look like a walking dead, then no thank you. I'd rather be smiling, happy and alive." I would have also told him "I've tried your product. It gives me gas and it is essentially a water diet. No nutrients at all. No wonder you have what looks like an undead family. As for yourself, she must have married you before she realised you were poor because you ain't nothing in the looks or behaviour department."
But my dad's comment was the best. "Come back and tell me what to do only after you've got a Mercedes like mine and 4 other cars as well."
Yes, I had a catty weekend. And I don't think it's over yet.
After years of looking at the same blog layout, today I decided to change it. I'm not sure what brought along the need for change but once I got started on it, I couldn't stop until I was done.
Yet, even now, I'm not completely satisfied with it. More changes to come, I suppose.
Yet, even now, I'm not completely satisfied with it. More changes to come, I suppose.
Listening to: Runaway - The Corrs - Unplugged
8:11 pm |
Category:
this and that
|
5
comments
I have a few stories to tell. But the one that sticks most in my mind is of a girl. Technically, she is old enough to be called a woman but she seriously lacks the maturity usually associated with women. In fact, if I wanted to be more accurate, I would call her a spoilt brat. I just can't believe someone like her exists. But then, it takes many types to make this world go round and she is just another one of them.
This girl is in her mid-twenties. From what I know of her, she is an attention whore. Which explains the occupation she eventually picked for herself. Along that same vein, maybe she'll eventually get rid of the attention part and be more whore than anything else.
Anyway, before I get reduced to name-calling, the short version of the story is this. Her sister gave birth to a baby girl at about the same time I gave birth to Athena. So the baby is about 4 or 5 months right now. This girl who is in her mid-twenties (!!!) actually had a hissy fit at home because everyone was paying attention to the baby and not to her. She actually started behaving like a childish prat when her father came home and greeted the baby first because greeting her. After that, she refused to have anything to do with the baby because of all the attention everyone was giving the baby.
What kind of person gets jealous of a BABY?! Maybe she should have her head checked. And she's in her mid-twenties! A bit too old to be having a childish fit like that, don't you think? I can understand if a one year old child or even if a five year old got jealous of a baby sibling. But when a twenty-something year old aunt does it, I seriously need to wonder where her brain went to.
Anyway, last I heard of her, this girl became a stewardess. And you remember what people used to call stewardesses? Yep, high-flying whores. I won't even call them high-class because classy they are not. I used to room with an ex-stewardess. Believe me, she'd spread her legs for anyone who can afford to pay for her living style. And she used to get upset when a guy (any guy) shows no interest in having sex with her. Very egotistic them stewardesses.
But yeah, that girl boggles my mind. So her mother keeps asking my mom if my 15 year-old sister is jealous of Athena. I thought it was a very stupid question until I heard the story of that girl. She better practise safe sex because I would really hate to see how her kids turn out. Probably mentally unstable because she seems very mentally wrong.
This girl is in her mid-twenties. From what I know of her, she is an attention whore. Which explains the occupation she eventually picked for herself. Along that same vein, maybe she'll eventually get rid of the attention part and be more whore than anything else.
Anyway, before I get reduced to name-calling, the short version of the story is this. Her sister gave birth to a baby girl at about the same time I gave birth to Athena. So the baby is about 4 or 5 months right now. This girl who is in her mid-twenties (!!!) actually had a hissy fit at home because everyone was paying attention to the baby and not to her. She actually started behaving like a childish prat when her father came home and greeted the baby first because greeting her. After that, she refused to have anything to do with the baby because of all the attention everyone was giving the baby.
What kind of person gets jealous of a BABY?! Maybe she should have her head checked. And she's in her mid-twenties! A bit too old to be having a childish fit like that, don't you think? I can understand if a one year old child or even if a five year old got jealous of a baby sibling. But when a twenty-something year old aunt does it, I seriously need to wonder where her brain went to.
Anyway, last I heard of her, this girl became a stewardess. And you remember what people used to call stewardesses? Yep, high-flying whores. I won't even call them high-class because classy they are not. I used to room with an ex-stewardess. Believe me, she'd spread her legs for anyone who can afford to pay for her living style. And she used to get upset when a guy (any guy) shows no interest in having sex with her. Very egotistic them stewardesses.
But yeah, that girl boggles my mind. So her mother keeps asking my mom if my 15 year-old sister is jealous of Athena. I thought it was a very stupid question until I heard the story of that girl. She better practise safe sex because I would really hate to see how her kids turn out. Probably mentally unstable because she seems very mentally wrong.
Listening to: Believe - Christine Andreas, Douglas Sills - The Scarlet Pimpernel: The New Musical Adventure (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
3:02 pm |
Category:
this and that
|
0
comments
I was so deliriously happy to see this piece of news. And to make things more whee worthy, I went and read this at the creator's own blog. American McGee's sequel to Alice, at last!!
A person I used to call my friend got me hooked on American McGee's Alice the first time. Since then, I've played it and uninstalled it and then re-installed it to play it again. Some parts give me a horrible headache because of the things we have to do to get from one point to the other. It's a little frustrating at parts but definitely not a game to play to relax. It's kinda like playing the Harry Potter games but less whiney.
I am so bloody glad the sequel is in the works. A game to look forward to!
And if you have never played Alice, do go try it. It is whacked and I think it is an excellent game.
A person I used to call my friend got me hooked on American McGee's Alice the first time. Since then, I've played it and uninstalled it and then re-installed it to play it again. Some parts give me a horrible headache because of the things we have to do to get from one point to the other. It's a little frustrating at parts but definitely not a game to play to relax. It's kinda like playing the Harry Potter games but less whiney.
I am so bloody glad the sequel is in the works. A game to look forward to!
And if you have never played Alice, do go try it. It is whacked and I think it is an excellent game.
6:12 pm |
Category:
Games
|
0
comments
I suddenly feel like starting a photo blog. I was thinking of using WordPress.
Something to ponder on today.
9:52 am |
Category:
this and that
|
0
comments
I have been too tired or busy to produce a single coherent sentence that does not have to do with work. Hence my inability to blog. It's not as if I have created a quota for myself or anything. It's just that I look at my blog and I WANT to blog. I just don't know what to say.
Everything is a jumble in my mind. It's as if there is a traffic jam in my brain somewhere and everything wants to come out but the coherence highway narrows into a bottleneck just before it reaches my fingers. So I know I'll be babbling like a raving lunatic if I tried to force it.
Today, I decided that I am going to attempt something before I burst from all the words dying to get out of my brain. Oh, I just read about the Sarawak Cancer Society campaign. The Go Bald one. I wish there was some way I could help. Maybe I'll just give some money. I could shave but it actually is against my religion to do so and besides, my parents will have a fit. So, for the sake of peace, I'll abstain. Ten years ago, I would have done it. I almost did while in the US. But Michigan is cold. Can you imagine being bald in Michigan in winter?!
Anyway, if anyone who wanders this way would like to contribute some money, send it to Gette. Or if you'd rather send it to me, let me know and I'll pass it along to her. Hey, I'm all for a good cause. I was in a service fraternity once so the feeling has to come from somewhere.
Well, that's my bit for today. Really! Do donate some money. I can't shave so I'll share my wealth. Don't just try to look good. It's better to BE good.
Everything is a jumble in my mind. It's as if there is a traffic jam in my brain somewhere and everything wants to come out but the coherence highway narrows into a bottleneck just before it reaches my fingers. So I know I'll be babbling like a raving lunatic if I tried to force it.
Today, I decided that I am going to attempt something before I burst from all the words dying to get out of my brain. Oh, I just read about the Sarawak Cancer Society campaign. The Go Bald one. I wish there was some way I could help. Maybe I'll just give some money. I could shave but it actually is against my religion to do so and besides, my parents will have a fit. So, for the sake of peace, I'll abstain. Ten years ago, I would have done it. I almost did while in the US. But Michigan is cold. Can you imagine being bald in Michigan in winter?!
Anyway, if anyone who wanders this way would like to contribute some money, send it to Gette. Or if you'd rather send it to me, let me know and I'll pass it along to her. Hey, I'm all for a good cause. I was in a service fraternity once so the feeling has to come from somewhere.
Well, that's my bit for today. Really! Do donate some money. I can't shave so I'll share my wealth. Don't just try to look good. It's better to BE good.
1:53 pm |
Category:
this and that
|
0
comments
No, I'm not pregnant again. Haha! Just thought I'd clarify that.
Anyway, a few days ago, my father suddenly messaged me from China asking what I would want if I could have anything. If there is one question I don't like, that would be it. I have always hated being disappointed. So when I get a question like this, it just opens up that disappointment jar because the question has such a wide range of possibilities. When Ia sked him to clarify, he said to just name it.
So I began thinking of all that I do have. I already have a car, a laptop, a handphone, a house. I couldn't think of anything else I would want. And I knew I had to be reasonable about it.
Then I thought about Athena and I realised that I've been taking photos of her and they've turned out to be grainy. So I asked him if I could have a camera. When he replied 'OK' I panicked. I'm not used to getting what I want. I may be spoilt in terms of affections and love and attention but I always think nobody will get me what I want. So I wasn't really expectingmuch from all this.
Then yesterday, I began to wonder if my father might have bought me a Sony camera and I was hoping they get me one with a pretty colour. My parents love buying Sony products because the Sony shop they always go to gives them amazing customer service.
However, when I unwrapped the present they passed to me, my sister, who was curious as well, started to squeak and then she squealed. I almost dropped the box but she grabbed it and hugged the thing. I had to wrestle it away from her just so I could take a look at what I got. And my jaw hit the floor when I saw it.
Anyway, a few days ago, my father suddenly messaged me from China asking what I would want if I could have anything. If there is one question I don't like, that would be it. I have always hated being disappointed. So when I get a question like this, it just opens up that disappointment jar because the question has such a wide range of possibilities. When Ia sked him to clarify, he said to just name it.
So I began thinking of all that I do have. I already have a car, a laptop, a handphone, a house. I couldn't think of anything else I would want. And I knew I had to be reasonable about it.
Then I thought about Athena and I realised that I've been taking photos of her and they've turned out to be grainy. So I asked him if I could have a camera. When he replied 'OK' I panicked. I'm not used to getting what I want. I may be spoilt in terms of affections and love and attention but I always think nobody will get me what I want. So I wasn't really expectingmuch from all this.
Then yesterday, I began to wonder if my father might have bought me a Sony camera and I was hoping they get me one with a pretty colour. My parents love buying Sony products because the Sony shop they always go to gives them amazing customer service.
However, when I unwrapped the present they passed to me, my sister, who was curious as well, started to squeak and then she squealed. I almost dropped the box but she grabbed it and hugged the thing. I had to wrestle it away from her just so I could take a look at what I got. And my jaw hit the floor when I saw it.
Out of all the cameras I expected my parents to get me, this was definitely not what I envisioned. But I love it and I am now looking forward to playing around with it. I did always want to try my hand at photography. It has been a quiet interest of mine since I got back from the US. But I always knew cameras like these are expensive and the only one I ever did play around with is the school camera. But now that I have one of my own, I'm eager to try. And since I've been watching Gette a lot and I've been reading up on the Net on photography and I've always admired the photos taken by National Geographic photojournalists, I think I might take this interest a little more seriously.
So I'm glad the holidays are coming up. So I can take photos of my favourite subject - Athena .
1:03 pm |
Category: |
0
comments
Last night, my muse showed up and bit me in my big, fat behind.
So I withstood her pain until I had time at 2.00 p.m. today. Then within half an hour, I added 1,500 words to my story.
And my fear now is that my muse still refuses to be silenced.
So I guess I will hit the keyboard again when I can. Tonight.
So I withstood her pain until I had time at 2.00 p.m. today. Then within half an hour, I added 1,500 words to my story.
And my fear now is that my muse still refuses to be silenced.
So I guess I will hit the keyboard again when I can. Tonight.
Listening to: SOS - Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia! - Soundtrack USA
6:07 pm |
Category:
story
|
0
comments
I've been wanting to write about this for ages but I just never had the time to put my thoughts together.
After Christmas last year, my entire family (which of course includes Shook and Athena now) went to KL. For everyone else, it was a holiday. My sisters and I went to watch Mamma Mia!
If there is ever one musical anyone has to watch at least once in their lifetime, I believe that Mamma Mia should be it. Unless of course, you hate musicals and detest the existence of ABBA. But if you happen to like both or either one, Mamma Mia is the musical to watch.
It is phenomenal. After watching it, I was more than willing to walk back in and watch it again. And I would ahve if the tickets weren't already sold out or only the RM400 ones were left.
The absolutely best part of the musical was not just the half-naked hot bods running around stage at one point but also the finale. The cast sang three extra songs during which time everyone was allowed to jump up and dance. I was already itching to dance throughout the musical itself so when the chance presented itself, I jumped.
There were some sourpusses around us though. One guy I saw even had his earphones plugged in the entire time. Why be there if you didn't want to watch the show?! My mom said maybe he won the tickets. My reply was why sign up for the contest if you didn't want to watch the show? Or heck, give it to someone else who would appreciate it far better! And then there was this family in the row in front of us who clearly didn't enjoy themselves at all. How could you not enjoy ABBA songs? How?!
The musical left me wanting more so I came home and watch the movie version a few times. And I'm still not bored of it. In my car now? Mamma Mia songs still blasting through the speakers. Why blasting? So that I can sing right along with the cast.
So will I go watch it again? Any day, anytime.
12:21 pm |
Category:
musicals
|
0
comments
Took from Gette.
Supposedly if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. There are 270 films on this list. Copy it, paste it into a new post and then put x's next to the films you've seen. Add them up and post at the bottom. Have fun!
[x] 13 Going on 30
[ ] 21 Grams
[x] 28 days later
[ ] 28 weeks later
[x] 50 First Dates
[x] A Beautiful Mind
[] A Bronx Tale
[x] A Cinderella Story
[x] A Walk to Remember
[x] Airplane
Total so far: 7
[ ] Along Came Polly
[] American Beauty
[ ] American History X
[x] American Pie
[x] American Pie 2
[ ] American Wedding
[ ] American Pie Band Camp
[ ] AnchorMan
[ ] Anger Management
[x] Animatrix
Total so far: 10
[x] Army of Darkness
[x] Bad Boys
[x] Bad Boys 2
[x] BASEketball
[x] Bedazzled
[ ] Best Bet
[x] Big Trouble in Little China
[x] Blazing Saddles
[x] Blood Diamond
[ ] Boogeyman
Total so far: 18
[ ] Boondock Saints
[x] Bourne Identity
[x] Bourne Supremacy
[x] Bourne Ultimatum
[ ] Bride of Chucky
[ ] Brokeback Mountain
[x] Butterfly Effect
[ ] Calendar Girls
[x] Catch Me If You Can
[x] Chicago
Total so far: 24
[x] Children of the Corn
[x] Child's Play
[x] Christine
[x] Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
[x] The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
[ ] Club Dread
[x] Coach Carter
[ ] Crash
[x] Cruel Intentions
[ ] Cruel Intentions 2
Total so far: 31
[ ] Cujo
[x] Curious George
[x] Darkness Falls
[x] Dawn Of the Dead
[x] Deep Impact
[ ] Devils Rejects
[x] Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
[x] Dumb & Dumber
[ ] Dumber & Dumberer
[ ] Eight Crazy Nights
Total so far: 37
[ ] Elf
[x] ET
[x] Event Horizon
[x] Ever After
[ ] Evil Dead
[ ] Evil Dead 2
[ ] Fight Club
[x] Final Destination
[x] Final Destination 2
[x] Final Destination 3
Total so far: 43
[x] Finding Nemo
[x] Finding Neverland
[x] Flubber
[x] Forrest Gump
[x] Freaky Friday
[x] Ghost Ship
[x] Gladiator
[x] Gothika
[x] Grease
[x] Grease 2
Total so far: 53
[x] Hannibal
[x] Harry Potter 1
[x] Harry Potter 2
[x] Harry Potter 3
[x] Harry Potter 4
[x] Hellboy
[ ] High Tension
[x] Highlander
[x] Highlander II
[x] Highlander III
Total so far: 62
[x] Hook
[x] Hostel
[ ] House of 1000 Corpses
[x] How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
[x] Hulk
[ ] I Am Sam
[ ] I Spit on Your Grave aka The Day of the Woman
[x] I, Robot
[x] Ice Age
[x] Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
Total so far: 69
[x] Ice Castles
[x] Independence Day
[x] Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
[x] Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
[x] Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
[x] Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
[ ] Indochine
[x] Jeepers Creepers
[x] Jeepers Creepers 2
[x] Joe Dirt
Total so far: 78
[ ] Joy Ride
[ ] Just Married
[x] Kill Bill vol 1
[x] Kill Bill vol 2
[x] King Kong - The original
[x] Kingdom of Heaven
[x] KingPin
[x] K-PAX
[x] Krippendorf's Tribe
[x] Kung Fu Hustle
Total so far: 86
[ ] Layer Cake
[x] Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
[x] Lilo & Stitch
[x] Little Black Book
[ ] Lone Star
[x] Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
[x] Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
[x] Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
[x] Lucky Number Slevin
[ ] Magnolia
Total so far: 93
[x] Maid in Manhattan
[x] Mars Attacks
[x] Meet The Parents
[x] Meet the Fockers
[ ] Million Dollar Hotel
[ ] Miracle on 34th street - The original
[x] Monsters Inc.
[x] Monty Python and the Holy Grail
[x] Mortal Kombat
[x] Mothman Prophecies
Total so far: 101
[ ] My Bosses Daughter
[ ] Mystic River
[ ] Napoleon Dynamite
[x] Never Been Kissed
[x] Neverending Story
[x] Night Watch
[x] Nightmare on Elm Street
[x] Ocean's Eleven
[x] Ocean's Twelve
[x] Ocean's Thirteen
Total so far: 108
[ ] Old School
[ ] Orgazmo
[ ] Passport to Paris
[x] Pay it forward
[ ] Phantasm
[x] Pirates of the Caribbean
[x] Pirates of the Caribbean 2
[x] Pirates of the Caribbean 3
[x] Practical Magic
Total so far: 113
[x] Predator I
[x] Predator II
[ ] Re-Animator
[ ] Red Dragon
[x] Reign of Fire
[x] Remember the Titans
[x] Resident Evil 1
[x] Resident Evil 2
[ ] Robots
[x] Rocky Horror Picture Show
Total so far: 120
[x] Rush Hour
[x] Rush Hour 2
[x] Saw
[ ] Saw II
[ ] Saw III
[ ] Saw IV
[x] Scary Movie
[x] Scary Movie 2
[x] Scary Movie 3
[ ] Scary Movie 4
Total so far: 126
[x] Scream
[x] Scream 2
[ ] Scream 3
[x] Secret Window
[ ] Seed of Chucky
[ ] Shaolin Soccer
[ ] Shaun Of the Dead
[ ] She's All That
[x] Shrek
[x] Shrek 2
[x] Shrek 3
Total so far: 132
[ ] Sideways
[x] Signs
[x] Silence of the Lambs
[x] Sixteen Candles
[x] Sky High
[x] Spider-Man
[ ] Spider-Man 2
[ ] Spider-Man 3
Total so far: 137
[x] Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
[x] Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
[x] Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
[x] Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
[x] Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
[x] Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
[x] Starsky and Hutch
[ ] Surviving X-MAS
[ ] Swimfan
[ ] Taxi Driver
Total so far: 144
[x] Team America: World Police
[ ] The 40-year-old Virgin
[ ] The Cider House Rules
[x] The Day After Tomorrow
[ ] The Deer Hunter
[ ] The Departed
[x] The Fog
[x] The Godfather
[x] The Godfather II
[x] The Godfather III
Total so far: 150
[x] The Grinch
[x] The Grudge
[ ] The Grudge 2
[ ] The Hills Have Eyes
[ ] The Hot Chick
[x] The Insider
[ ] The Jacket
[ ] The Last House on the Left
[ ] The Last King of Scotland
[ ] The Life of David Gale
Total so far: 153
[x] The Lizzie McGuire Movie
[x] The Mask
[ ] Son Of The Mask
[x] The Matrix
[x] The Matrix Reloaded
[x] The Matrix Revolutions
[ ] The Notebook
[x] The Passion of the Christ
[ ] The Piano
[x] The Princess Bride
Total so far: 160
[x] The Princess Diaries
[x] The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
[ ] The Ring
[ ] The Ring 2
[x] The Shawshank Redemption
[ ] The Skulls
[x] The Terminal
[x] The Terminator
[x] Terminator 2
[x] Terminator 3
Total so far: 167
[x] The Usual Suspects
[x] The Village
[x] The Wedding Singer
[x] The Whole Nine Yards
[x] The Whole Ten Yards
[ ] There Will Be Blood
[x] Titanic
[x] Top Gun
[x] Universal Soldier
[ ] Waiting for Guffman
Total so far: 175
[x] Walk The Line
[x] War of the Worlds
[x] Waterworld
[ ] White Chicks
[ ] White Noise
[x] White Oleander
[ ] Willard
[x] Wizard of Oz
[ ] Wolf Creek
[x] X-Men
[x] X-Men 2
[x] X-Men 3
Big total: 183
Supposedly if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. There are 270 films on this list. Copy it, paste it into a new post and then put x's next to the films you've seen. Add them up and post at the bottom. Have fun!
[x] 13 Going on 30
[ ] 21 Grams
[x] 28 days later
[ ] 28 weeks later
[x] 50 First Dates
[x] A Beautiful Mind
[] A Bronx Tale
[x] A Cinderella Story
[x] A Walk to Remember
[x] Airplane
Total so far: 7
[ ] Along Came Polly
[] American Beauty
[ ] American History X
[x] American Pie
[x] American Pie 2
[ ] American Wedding
[ ] American Pie Band Camp
[ ] AnchorMan
[ ] Anger Management
[x] Animatrix
Total so far: 10
[x] Army of Darkness
[x] Bad Boys
[x] Bad Boys 2
[x] BASEketball
[x] Bedazzled
[ ] Best Bet
[x] Big Trouble in Little China
[x] Blazing Saddles
[x] Blood Diamond
[ ] Boogeyman
Total so far: 18
[ ] Boondock Saints
[x] Bourne Identity
[x] Bourne Supremacy
[x] Bourne Ultimatum
[ ] Bride of Chucky
[ ] Brokeback Mountain
[x] Butterfly Effect
[ ] Calendar Girls
[x] Catch Me If You Can
[x] Chicago
Total so far: 24
[x] Children of the Corn
[x] Child's Play
[x] Christine
[x] Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
[x] The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
[ ] Club Dread
[x] Coach Carter
[ ] Crash
[x] Cruel Intentions
[ ] Cruel Intentions 2
Total so far: 31
[ ] Cujo
[x] Curious George
[x] Darkness Falls
[x] Dawn Of the Dead
[x] Deep Impact
[ ] Devils Rejects
[x] Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
[x] Dumb & Dumber
[ ] Dumber & Dumberer
[ ] Eight Crazy Nights
Total so far: 37
[ ] Elf
[x] ET
[x] Event Horizon
[x] Ever After
[ ] Evil Dead
[ ] Evil Dead 2
[ ] Fight Club
[x] Final Destination
[x] Final Destination 2
[x] Final Destination 3
Total so far: 43
[x] Finding Nemo
[x] Finding Neverland
[x] Flubber
[x] Forrest Gump
[x] Freaky Friday
[x] Ghost Ship
[x] Gladiator
[x] Gothika
[x] Grease
[x] Grease 2
Total so far: 53
[x] Hannibal
[x] Harry Potter 1
[x] Harry Potter 2
[x] Harry Potter 3
[x] Harry Potter 4
[x] Hellboy
[ ] High Tension
[x] Highlander
[x] Highlander II
[x] Highlander III
Total so far: 62
[x] Hook
[x] Hostel
[ ] House of 1000 Corpses
[x] How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
[x] Hulk
[ ] I Am Sam
[ ] I Spit on Your Grave aka The Day of the Woman
[x] I, Robot
[x] Ice Age
[x] Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
Total so far: 69
[x] Ice Castles
[x] Independence Day
[x] Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
[x] Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
[x] Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
[x] Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
[ ] Indochine
[x] Jeepers Creepers
[x] Jeepers Creepers 2
[x] Joe Dirt
Total so far: 78
[ ] Joy Ride
[ ] Just Married
[x] Kill Bill vol 1
[x] Kill Bill vol 2
[x] King Kong - The original
[x] Kingdom of Heaven
[x] KingPin
[x] K-PAX
[x] Krippendorf's Tribe
[x] Kung Fu Hustle
Total so far: 86
[ ] Layer Cake
[x] Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
[x] Lilo & Stitch
[x] Little Black Book
[ ] Lone Star
[x] Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
[x] Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
[x] Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
[x] Lucky Number Slevin
[ ] Magnolia
Total so far: 93
[x] Maid in Manhattan
[x] Mars Attacks
[x] Meet The Parents
[x] Meet the Fockers
[ ] Million Dollar Hotel
[ ] Miracle on 34th street - The original
[x] Monsters Inc.
[x] Monty Python and the Holy Grail
[x] Mortal Kombat
[x] Mothman Prophecies
Total so far: 101
[ ] My Bosses Daughter
[ ] Mystic River
[ ] Napoleon Dynamite
[x] Never Been Kissed
[x] Neverending Story
[x] Night Watch
[x] Nightmare on Elm Street
[x] Ocean's Eleven
[x] Ocean's Twelve
[x] Ocean's Thirteen
Total so far: 108
[ ] Old School
[ ] Orgazmo
[ ] Passport to Paris
[x] Pay it forward
[ ] Phantasm
[x] Pirates of the Caribbean
[x] Pirates of the Caribbean 2
[x] Pirates of the Caribbean 3
[x] Practical Magic
Total so far: 113
[x] Predator I
[x] Predator II
[ ] Re-Animator
[ ] Red Dragon
[x] Reign of Fire
[x] Remember the Titans
[x] Resident Evil 1
[x] Resident Evil 2
[ ] Robots
[x] Rocky Horror Picture Show
Total so far: 120
[x] Rush Hour
[x] Rush Hour 2
[x] Saw
[ ] Saw II
[ ] Saw III
[ ] Saw IV
[x] Scary Movie
[x] Scary Movie 2
[x] Scary Movie 3
[ ] Scary Movie 4
Total so far: 126
[x] Scream
[x] Scream 2
[ ] Scream 3
[x] Secret Window
[ ] Seed of Chucky
[ ] Shaolin Soccer
[ ] Shaun Of the Dead
[ ] She's All That
[x] Shrek
[x] Shrek 2
[x] Shrek 3
Total so far: 132
[ ] Sideways
[x] Signs
[x] Silence of the Lambs
[x] Sixteen Candles
[x] Sky High
[x] Spider-Man
[ ] Spider-Man 2
[ ] Spider-Man 3
Total so far: 137
[x] Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
[x] Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
[x] Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
[x] Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
[x] Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
[x] Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
[x] Starsky and Hutch
[ ] Surviving X-MAS
[ ] Swimfan
[ ] Taxi Driver
Total so far: 144
[x] Team America: World Police
[ ] The 40-year-old Virgin
[ ] The Cider House Rules
[x] The Day After Tomorrow
[ ] The Deer Hunter
[ ] The Departed
[x] The Fog
[x] The Godfather
[x] The Godfather II
[x] The Godfather III
Total so far: 150
[x] The Grinch
[x] The Grudge
[ ] The Grudge 2
[ ] The Hills Have Eyes
[ ] The Hot Chick
[x] The Insider
[ ] The Jacket
[ ] The Last House on the Left
[ ] The Last King of Scotland
[ ] The Life of David Gale
Total so far: 153
[x] The Lizzie McGuire Movie
[x] The Mask
[ ] Son Of The Mask
[x] The Matrix
[x] The Matrix Reloaded
[x] The Matrix Revolutions
[ ] The Notebook
[x] The Passion of the Christ
[ ] The Piano
[x] The Princess Bride
Total so far: 160
[x] The Princess Diaries
[x] The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
[ ] The Ring
[ ] The Ring 2
[x] The Shawshank Redemption
[ ] The Skulls
[x] The Terminal
[x] The Terminator
[x] Terminator 2
[x] Terminator 3
Total so far: 167
[x] The Usual Suspects
[x] The Village
[x] The Wedding Singer
[x] The Whole Nine Yards
[x] The Whole Ten Yards
[ ] There Will Be Blood
[x] Titanic
[x] Top Gun
[x] Universal Soldier
[ ] Waiting for Guffman
Total so far: 175
[x] Walk The Line
[x] War of the Worlds
[x] Waterworld
[ ] White Chicks
[ ] White Noise
[x] White Oleander
[ ] Willard
[x] Wizard of Oz
[ ] Wolf Creek
[x] X-Men
[x] X-Men 2
[x] X-Men 3
Big total: 183
In my defence, I will say that I'm a movie buff, having accompanied my dad to watch movies when I was really young, especially when it came to movies my mom didn't want to watch. I also played chaperone when my mom's sister went on her movie dates. I just enjoy watching movies in general. Some movies, which I neevr planned to watch, I did because they were on TV and I had nothing else to watch. Or I just needed some background noise.
Please correct me if I am wrong in my perception.
Also, please don't think I am not sympathetic. I am always saddened by the loss of lives and even more saddened by the fact that greed overcame caution.
However, I cannot understand why a massive fundraising was carried out to assist those who lost their homes in the Bukit Antarabangsa incident. I mean, even the spokesperson admitted that these were the elite living in an elite area. Why then are we, the common people, being asked to donate money to them? Am I supposed to believe that the loss of their homes means the loss of everything they have? That they don't have high-paying jobs and maybe offshore accounts or even another house somewhere?
It also rather annoys me that these fundraisers went to Parliament and managed to get thousands of ringgit from the MPs there. And yet, I still hear stories about how some MPs pretend not to be at home when their own constituents come calling for assistance. So, they only help their own kind then?
It just bugs me how those truly in need have to go begging for assistance while the elite only had to lose one home and maybe (heaven forbid!) one car or two and tens of thousands of ringgit come rolling in?
I understand that we want to help our fellow Man but why are we helping the rich while the poor suffer? And why such a massive fundraising for them yet nothing for those two children who earlier died in a similar landslide? Probably because they were not of the elite group? I really would like some help in understanding this.
Also, please don't think I am not sympathetic. I am always saddened by the loss of lives and even more saddened by the fact that greed overcame caution.
However, I cannot understand why a massive fundraising was carried out to assist those who lost their homes in the Bukit Antarabangsa incident. I mean, even the spokesperson admitted that these were the elite living in an elite area. Why then are we, the common people, being asked to donate money to them? Am I supposed to believe that the loss of their homes means the loss of everything they have? That they don't have high-paying jobs and maybe offshore accounts or even another house somewhere?
It also rather annoys me that these fundraisers went to Parliament and managed to get thousands of ringgit from the MPs there. And yet, I still hear stories about how some MPs pretend not to be at home when their own constituents come calling for assistance. So, they only help their own kind then?
It just bugs me how those truly in need have to go begging for assistance while the elite only had to lose one home and maybe (heaven forbid!) one car or two and tens of thousands of ringgit come rolling in?
I understand that we want to help our fellow Man but why are we helping the rich while the poor suffer? And why such a massive fundraising for them yet nothing for those two children who earlier died in a similar landslide? Probably because they were not of the elite group? I really would like some help in understanding this.
I was reading about the two little girls who were killed in a landslide and my knee-jerk reaction was to penalise those loggers and quarry operators. I might even blame the person who agreed to build that house.
You see, the landslide is said to could have been caused by the heavy rain. Yet, for as long as I've studied Science and Geography, I know that vegetation holds soil together to avoid such landslides. If these vegetation had been allowed to grow in that area, the landslide would neevr have happened, would it?
According to the news article, the authorities are not ruling out logging and quarry activities. If you know that these could have indirectly caused these deaths, shouldn't it be a sign of stricter laws? I know that money makes the world go round but we're getting a bit stupid about it, aren't we? I'm pretty sure if you ask any lawyer, negligence would be an issue here. Shouldn't these companies be made responsible for such incidents? If we continue to allow this to happen, aren't we saying human lives mean very little nowadays?
I am aware that in reality there are many things we cannot avoid. However, can't we take steps to minimise the damage? It's just not right that a parent outlive their children.
You see, the landslide is said to could have been caused by the heavy rain. Yet, for as long as I've studied Science and Geography, I know that vegetation holds soil together to avoid such landslides. If these vegetation had been allowed to grow in that area, the landslide would neevr have happened, would it?
According to the news article, the authorities are not ruling out logging and quarry activities. If you know that these could have indirectly caused these deaths, shouldn't it be a sign of stricter laws? I know that money makes the world go round but we're getting a bit stupid about it, aren't we? I'm pretty sure if you ask any lawyer, negligence would be an issue here. Shouldn't these companies be made responsible for such incidents? If we continue to allow this to happen, aren't we saying human lives mean very little nowadays?
I am aware that in reality there are many things we cannot avoid. However, can't we take steps to minimise the damage? It's just not right that a parent outlive their children.
4:16 pm |
Category:
news
|
0
comments
I was struck by a strong urge to go shopping today. So, after taking Nuril from her holiday programme classes, we went to The Spring. And, as per normal, we ended up at MPH. I decided that I might as well use my rebates while I was there. So, I ran around looking for any books which caught my eye.
After taking some and putting back others and then taking some more and putting back what were in my hands, I ended up with four books and one A6 size notebook. The notebook was a little pink floral thing by moof. Just last week, I bought a huge pink planner for next year. And before you wonder why, I'm going pink this time because I'm seeing pink all the time. Try looking through Athena's clothes and not be affected by the pinkiness of it all.
After taking some and putting back others and then taking some more and putting back what were in my hands, I ended up with four books and one A6 size notebook. The notebook was a little pink floral thing by moof. Just last week, I bought a huge pink planner for next year. And before you wonder why, I'm going pink this time because I'm seeing pink all the time. Try looking through Athena's clothes and not be affected by the pinkiness of it all.
Anyway, the books I bought were:
Someone I know has this book as well (I can't remember who) and I've always been interested to read it. But the one at MPH came at a 20% discount for members so I figured I had nothing to lose. Especially if the book turns out to be as good as it sounds.
The blurb says that "Starbook tells the tale of a prince and a maiden in a mythical land where a golden age is ending. Their fragile story considers the important questions we all face, exploring creativity, wisdom, suffering and transcendence in a time when imagination still ruled the world." Those two lines alone piqued my interest so I grabbed it. Before this, I actually had a Malay fantasy book in my hand. So I sacrificed the fantasy in Malay for the one in English. Maybe I'll go back for the Malay book another day.
This one was really interesting. It explores a 'what if?' situation. In this case, it's "What happens when a group of college kids wake to discover their ordinary lives have just taken an extraordinary turn?" Then it adds "A party in a college flat. A case of dodgy home-brewed beer. A violent storm. Next day: the mother of all hangovers. What would you do if the morning after the night before brought a banging head, a raging thirst... Oh, and your very own superpowers?"
This, I bought because it's Nora Roberts. I cannot resist Nora Roberts. In fact, I had one of her JD Robb books in my hand when I saw Superpowers. So I put that back and grabbed Superpowers instead. I hope I don'r regret it. Anyway, if you ever want to read a romance book that had more suspense and action than romance, Nora Roberts is the way to go. And I still might go back for the JD Robb book later.So, I am looking forward to reading all the books I bought. Right afetr I finish reading Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader and The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan. Both of which I had borrowed from Sarawak Club library.
In addition to the books I bought, I also paid for Revealers by Amanda Marrone which Nuril wanted. I only had to pay about RM65, thanks to my rebate. And, since I was expecting to pay a few hundred for my shopping, I was happy to still be able to buy something else. So I walked into FOS and bought a few cotton pants to wear at home and to sleep in and also three of their ECO bags.
And there ends my shopping. Something I only do once in a while due to financial constraints. Even then, when I do go shopping, I go to inexpensive places. The only things I'm willing to spend lots of money on are books. I'm a cheapskate when it comes to anything else. Or I go to eBay where I can get bags for less than RM50 each.
4:10 pm |
Category:
books
|
0
comments
