lost not found: mutual respect

Saw some photos of school kids eating in/near the toilet shower room last week. Why? It is fasting month, the canteen was not open and they were told that they shouldn't eat in front of their fasting classmates. So the school told them to eat next to the toilet. You can google for it if you want to know more. Since then, many versions and explanations were given and the matter seemed to have been 'resolved'. Sort of.

But what I would like to ask is: why the huge uproar when the news first broke? My own reaction when I first read about the new was WTF!! Then, it was "not surprised that it happened in MY".. finally, "MY, truly Asia my ass!".. I might have been over-reacted, but I do believe many share my sentiment. Don't get me wrong, the people of MY do live in harmony and we all get along very well but when the government and/or public service gets involved, things may not be what they seem.

The incident is sad, yet not unexpected. The government and the civil service often forgets that the country doesn't just belong to ONE single race. The tagline for Tourism MY(aka "MY, Truly Asia") is but a sham. The "we are all one big happy family" facade that the government is trying to sell to the world is not really genuine. We the people know better. Among the common folks, racial and religious differences are not issues of contention. Corruption is. Nepotism is. Discrimination is. Unfortunately, after decades of racial incitement and brain-washing by the government, there is no lack of Malay supremacists who think Chinese and Indians should all go back to "Tiong-shan" and India.

In order to show "who's the boss", the government encourages the civil service, including schools and institutes of higher learning, though not explicitly, to discriminate against non-Malays. They try to out-holy the (political) oppositions by showing how they are willing to push the envelope ever further when it comes to enforcing the Syariah laws, even onto the non-Muslims. These overzealous puppets clamber over each other to show who is a 'better' follower (or should I say spineless ass-kisser) by implementing half-baked, idiotic policies. Their emphasis on empty forms and charades does nothing to foster harmony and mutual respect. Personally, I have no issue with the insistent of all these 'wayang' because I know these are nothing more than elaborate pretenses. When there's no substance, there'll be lots of ostentatious rhetoric. 

I've always believed that what your religion commands you to do is your personal business. If and how you do it is between you and your GOD. The act of fasting is to remind oneself of the suffering of those less fortunate. It is also a test of one's fortitude against temptation and faith. Rather than asking people to bent over backwards for you just because you are fasting, you should go about your life normally and show HIM (your God) that you are able to be steadfast and unyielding in your faith while you fast. Won't you feel more virtuous and sanctified when you are able to resist temptation?

There is a huge difference between in making sure no temptation exist so that you will not be tested thus will not fail and facing such temptations head-on knowing so that you may test your resilience. Which is more venerated?? Facing and conquering/failing or avoiding and hiding from temptations? Why did you think that most beloved saints (like St Francis of Assisi, whose name the current Pope took) or holy men/women (like Mother Teresa) were those who lives among common people, 'bad' ones especially, and not just hide away in some caves/mountains so that they would not be tempted. Whether you are a 'good' Muslim/Buddhist/Christians/etc or not, that is between you and your God.

I don't want to talk too much about religion, especially this one. It makes no sense to me that lesser sins that disturb no one but himself/herself (like not fasting, not praying, etc.) are overemphasized while bigger ones that may affect the society/community (like corruption, misuse of power, etc) are overlooked/covered-up.

All I have to say is: If you believe there is a God, be prepared to be judged. God knows, even when (you think) others don't.

Sunday Serenade: hall of fame

This week a very positive and motivational song from The Script and wiil.i.am... Enjoy!



Have a great week ahead! Be strong and stay safe!!

Poetry Solace: Of my love

Another poem from Robert Creeley...



My love
It falleth like a stick.
   It lieth like air.
It is wonderment and bewilderment,
   to test true.

It is no thing, but of two,
   equal: as the mind turn to it,
it doubleth,
   as one alone.

Where it is, there is
   everywhere, separate,
yet few -- as dew
   to night is.



Have an exciting weekend! Be safe!

101%

We all know that 100% means everything. When we take a test/examination, getting 100% means we answered all questions correctly. To quote from Wikipedia, "a percentage is a number or ratio as a fraction of 100". Thus 100% refers to the complete whole of anything. 

Previously, it is not uncommon to hear people saying, "I gave 101% to this project". They wanted to emphasize that they did more than expected, since everyone else 'only' gave 100%. And when 101% wasn't enough since everyone too started using it to (try to) distinguish from the rest, people move on to using 110% instead.. Then when 110% has been used too recklessly, we start to hear about 120%... and sometimes 200%.. soon, it will be 1000%..

Instead of using 101%, 110%, 120% or even 200%, why don't you just state EXACTLY what you did. People, especially your bosses, are no longer impressed by all the numbers that are being thrown around. Evidences are far more superior than declarations, don't you agree?

majority-minority

If you have been watching CNN these past few weeks, you would know about the controversial verdict, passed last weekend that is polarizing the US right now. As much as some would say that the case was NOT race related, some believe otherwise. Personally, I think both sides are right. Cognitively, we look at things and interpret them through our experience. As someone who had never been discriminated against, it is hard for him/her to understand how deeply and widely such prejudice, conscious or not, affect people's life. Even President Obama talked about his experience while commenting on this case.

It is easy to live in a society where you belong to a majority, whether it is a majority based on race/ethnicity, class/social status, age, sexual orientation or religion, where the "we" outnumbers the "they". In a democratic society where majority rules, 'they' were told to blend in with 'us'. And most of the time, the minorities in all forms of societies/countries did just that. Yet, there is a waiver clause. No matter how small a group, these minorities should not be denied their basic rights, the same basic rights that the majorities enjoy. They should not get MORE rights just because they are the minorities, although some legislative protection can/should be given to prevent them from being discriminated against or abused.

birds of a feather flock together.. but constitute 'a feather'??

I for one do not believe that we can ever escape from this "we-them" mentality. We all discriminate.. we all judge.. even when we stressed over and over again that we don't.. And yes, I must confess that I do discriminate and I am prejudiced against certain people.. That is something I can't change, but what I can do is to be mindful of these prejudice when they occur and constantly remind myself that I should give both of us a chance - a chance to know him/her as an individual and not as the stereotypical archetype of the group he/she belongs to. And I must say I've been able to keep up this mindfulness most of the time.

We are all shaped by our experience, good or bad, consciously or not. It provides a readily available context from which we draw to explain and understand the world. The world might not be what we perceived, yet it is hard not to be influenced by this 'internal reference system'. We have to be mindful enough to be able to catch it 'in action'. It is easy, or should I say naive, to assume people know and understand what we went through. Even if we can read mind, we won't know with absolute certainty why people do what they do. That's why we can't predict human behavior with surety. And that's what make human such interesting subjects to study.

When you are a member of the majority, it is very easy to take things for granted. You don't have to be sensitive of the feelings, customs, taboo and/or differences of the minority. And it is not too far fetched to say that you may even fail to notice the existence of 'them'. Your way is 'THE' way. You are the main-stream. You don't 'see' certain things - the bias, the slight and the inequality that the minority might have suffered. We all look at the world through different 'eyes'.

No one has a monopoly on the truth, as there are many interpretation of it.. That is diversity. And we need to embrace and understand it.

Sunday Serenade: blow me (one last kiss)

Here's one of the 'older' songs from P!nk.. I've always like her songs as her songs are empowering.. :) Case in point, parts of the lyrics in this song:

"I will do what I please
Anything that I want
I will breathe, I will breathe
I won't worry at all"

p/s: this is the official lyric video. So enjoy!




Have a great week ahead! Stay healthy and be safe!!

sorry no cure..

"Sorry no cure.." was one very commonly used/heard phrase in my younger days.. As kids, we would say it when we don't want to accept the apology given. Unlike adults, we were unafraid to be frank about how we feel when we are hurt. Because honestly apologies don't have to be accepted just because it was offered..

When "harm" is done, an apology doesn't alleviate the "damage" already inflicted. And though we are taught to be forgiving and benevolent, a simple 'sorry' just doesn't cut it, especially if great harm - be it physical, emotional or otherwise - has been done. Some things just could not be undone with a simple apology, regardless of the sincerity of the person saying it.

Despite the song "sorry seems to be the hardest word", I don't quite believe it to be so. Nowadays, people say it all the time, whether they truly mean it or not. Politicians and statesmen, especially in TW and JP, love to hold public apology session in front of the media when (human) catastrophe/calamity/travesty happened during their watch. They would then offer their resignation from whatever post they were holding to take responsibility and to demonstrate their remorse. The media/public seemed happy to have had their pound of flesh and  life goes on. Yet, what about the original mess/issue? Nothing is done to ensure history won't repeat itself. And when it does, as it always will, this charade is played once again.

We are human. We make mistakes. We should acknowledge our mistakes (by saying sorry, no less). But what is more important, to me at least, is that we should never repeat the same mistake again and to do our very best to atone for the harm (already) done.

We may have (been) forgiven but we should not forget.

start cooking again.. kinda..

With my new place, I now have the option of cooking.. I may not be cooking all the time, but I want the option to do it whenever my mood hits me.. And since the new place does not come with a gas stove, I had to buy an electric one.. and I did..

Bought myself a Philips electric stove.. cost me NT$1680.. my first time using such stove, so I'm sure it will be a while before I'm totally comfortable cooking with it.. and to actually cook, I need a pan.. and I choose a Tefal frying pan..

Unfortunately, I didn't read the fine prints.. and like they say, the devil is in the detail... this Tefal pan can't be used on an electric stove.. it has something to do with the pan being made out of a metal that doesn't conduct heat from the stove.. so this NT$800 pan will have to follow me back to MY on my next trip home..

In the end, I bought a cheap(er) stainless steel pot (NT$130) and a non-stick pan (NT$490).. think both will serve their purpose as well as those branded ones.. and for one thing, I won't think twice replacing them when the time comes...

As my small fridge doesn't have a proper freezer compartment, I will have to cook whatever fresh produce I bought immediately.. also I can't really cook all the things I want, cos this is a studio (apartment) and my bed is less than a meter away from the stove (separated by a small walkway)! I don't want to sleep with my pillows all smelling like fried chicken or have lingering smell of my dinner, however delicious it may have been..

Anyway, for the past few weeks, I've been cooking, of sort.. mostly for dinner.. either simple fried noodle, (Japanese) curry noodle or pancakes.. I think I am (over)compensating for my not-cooking these past 2 years.. I will have to modify and improvise some of my favorite MY/SG dishes many times before getting them right again.. Looking forward to this challenge.. :)

Sunday Serenade: honestly

I like the chorus of this song... or more specifically one particular line, "Honestly I just don't care".. want to say it to most of my classmates, seniors and juniors about their petty bitching and gossiping... :p

Enjoy the song! p/s: it's a lyric MV again.. :)





Have a great week ahead! Be productive and stay safe!

Poetry Solace: Of immoral proposition

In the next few entries, I will be sharing some poems from Robert Creeley, an American poet..

The Immoral Proposition
If you never do anything for anyone else
you are spared the tragedy of human relation-

ships. If quietly and like another time
there is the passage of an unexpected thing:

to look at it is more
than it was. God knows

nothing is competent nothing is
all there is. The unsure

egoist is not 
good for himself.


Have a restful weekend! Be safe..

bracing for Soulik

Category-3 Typhoon Soulik is expected to 'slam' into Taiwan and Eastern China in the next 12 hours.. This will be the first typhoon of the season.. not something I look forward to but it is inevitable..

The satellite pictures tracking its path are kinda creepy, see for yourselves here.. The width of the typhoon is larger than the entire country! Just hope that the damage it will caused would not be devastating and no life will be lost..

Have bought some food to stock up for the next few days as heavy rain and strong winds is predicted to last till Sunday.. So glad that I've move out of my old room and into the new place.. at least I won't have to worry about the roof (leaking/blown away) or the air-con (falling off)..

Time to hunker down and brace for impact...

Update @ 21:52 :
Typhoon Soulik is 'late'. It won't hit until tomorrow evening..

Me Room in Taiwan (Part II)

After 2 years, it's time to move..

Though my first room in Taiwan was very very close to the University, the things that I once thought was great aren't so as time goes by.. It was too bright with all the windows (those ancient curtains don't do much covering) and too noisy (from all the aunties and grandmas hollering at their kids/grandkids in the morning, especially); The walls were fairly thin so I can hear my neighbor talking to his (girl/boy)friend almost every night.. Then the air-con doesn't quite work and way too noisy when it was turned up as it was quite old.. I can't hear the television every time it rains even when the television is less than 2m away.. and not to mention that I'm kinda terrified whenever a storm comes by as the roof or windows felt like they may come down on me anytime..

By paying an additional NT$2000, I found a studio that is slightly further from the University but is very new (less than 5 years old). It is roughly 1.5 times larger than the old room and has its own little kitchen top/sink so I can do some light cooking which I missed greatly..

Here are some of the 'before' photos.. before I moved in, that is..

just a row of windows from waist up.. and 2 single beds.. :)

a kitchen top/sink near the door and opposite the bathroom.

One of the many things that I like about this studio is that there is a shower cubicle in the bathroom that keeps the dry part (aka the toilet) separate from the wet part (the shower). And there's lots of shelves for my stuff. Finally, I love the sofa and glass table where I can eat and/chill-out.. :)

With the help of my senior Joe, whom I stayed with when I first came over, and his fiancee, I managed to get all my stuff to the new place.. After some arranging (I can't say decorating cos nothing much to decorate with/for), here is my humble abode..

a t'shirt for the chair cos I sweat a lot and don't wanna dirty the chair

didn't have matching bedsheets but at least I have the same color tone.

My housing estate is located at the end of a road, meaning there is no through road. I can take a bus (cost NT$12) from the junction but I rather take the 10-minute walk to school. Though I have to climb a hill on my way to school, I'll just treat that as an exercise.

With this new place, I can now have friends over, for meals or stay-overs.. So anyone? :) :)

Sunday Serenade: lights

This is one catchy song.. very retro with that 80s disco feel.. Enjoy!

Lights
performed by Ellie Goulding
I had a way then losing it all on my own
I had a heart then but the queen has been overthrown
And I'm not sleeping now the dark is too hard to beat
And I'm not keeping up the strength I need to push me

[chorus]
You show the lights that stop me turn to stone
You shine them when I'm alone
And so I tell myself that I'll be strong
And dreaming when they're gone

'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home
Calling, calling, calling home
You show the lights that stop me turn to stone
You shine them when I'm alone
[end of chorus]
(Home)

Noises, I play within my head
Touch my own skin and hope they'll still be there
And I think back to when my brother and my sister slept
In another place the only time I feel safe

[chorus]
(Home)

(Light x14)
[chorus]

Home, home
(Light, lights, lights, lights
Light, lights, lights, lights)





Have a great week ahead! Stay healthy and be good!! :)

Tarot readings... XIII

Unbelievably, I lost count of the months and didn't do a reading since Dec last year! So 6 months have passed and it is definitely time for another reading..
Note that all pictures of tarot cards are from http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth/ and there is no intention of infringing any copyright.
所有的塔罗图片都采自竹猫星球塔罗馆 （http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth)，本部落并无意侵犯版权。



對 人際運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in: Human Relationships:

現狀 Current Situation: 調整 [Adjustment]

你的生活很規律，跟朋友的來往模式、聚會時間也很固定，來往的對象也就差不多是那些人，不挑剔的話，應該算是有個穩定的社交圈吧XD？
Your life is pretty structured, your social life and activities are kinda routine. So you tend to hang-out within the same circle of friends. If you are not choosy, this is kind of a stable social life.




問題 Problem: 宇宙 [The Universe]

你在友情方面比較慢熱，常常要觀察很久，才能慢慢變朋友，雖然一旦來往就很難中斷，但是有時新朋友不了解，會覺得你是拒人於千里之外。
You are slow to warm up to people and tends to observe your acquaintances for a long time before becoming friends. Yet once you treat them as your friends, it is hard to break the bond. Sometimes these new friends misunderstood you and thought that you are distance and unapproachable.



建議 Suggestion: 慾 [Lust]

有時沒有誰對誰錯的問題，只是兩個人的立場跟角度不同，只要去了解這一點，很多不重要的爭執就不會發生了。
Sometimes there's no right or wrong, just different perspectives and/or stands. As long as this is understood, many unimportant arguments will not happened.



對 健康運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Health

現狀 Current Situation: 死亡 [Death]

這張牌表示你可能剛從一場疾病或受傷中痊癒，但整體的健康指數都在很低落的狀況，需要重頭慢慢調養，在這種最脆弱的時候，很容易被病痛找上，並變成長期病。
This card shows that you might have just recovered from sickness or injury. Your overall health is pretty low and you need to recuperate slowly. It is very easy to fall ill again at this vulnerable time and it might turn into something chronic.



問題 Problem: 調整 [Adjustment]

你的生活偏向公式化，吃的用的跟做的事情都是重複性的，這樣容易造成營養或是運動方式不均衡，而且會造成的問題，都是短期之內沒辦法看出來的。
Your lifestyle is monotonous and habitual, eating and doing the same things all the time. These unbalanced diet or exercise may cause problems in the long-run which may not be obvious right now.



建議 Suggestion: 女教皇 [The Priestess]

這是比較代表心靈平靜的牌，所以建議你凡事要保持心情平和、往好處想，也不要太過容易激動，保持低調的生活態度，可以讓健康狀況保持穩定；也可以找心理或靈性諮商師聊聊。
This card represents inner peace, thus you are advised to maintain your calm and always be positive. Don't be too impulsive, maintain a low profile can help you stabilize your health. You may even consult psychiatrist or spiritual counselor.




對 財　　運 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in: Wealth:

現狀 Current Situation: 女教皇 [High Priestess]

談到錢，你不是那種狂熱的投機份子，對錢的態度非常謹慎，就算想要多賺錢，也會從專業的金融投資工具考慮起，並且還沒研究到專精絕不輕易出手。
With regards to money, you are not a crazy risk taker. You are very careful with your money. Even when you want to make more money, you will start from financial tools and will not get involved unless you've understood the risks involved.




問題 Problem : 宇宙 [The Universe]

你的財務來源一直很安穩，不管是工作或是做生意，一向都不需要太多變化，造成你失去對錢的敏感度，雖然不缺錢，但也永遠不會有多餘的錢。
You have always have a stable stream of income. Whether it is business or work, you don't need much variety and that has caused you to be numb when it comes to money issues. Even though you are not in need of money, you never have extras.




建議 Suggestion: 惡魔 [The Devil]

雖然你覺得理想跟專業性，都比錢重要，但如果不向環境暫時妥協的話，不只自己的收入無法增加，還會影響到身邊的人，先拋下自尊，學著世俗一點吧！
Although you think that dreams and professionalism are more important than money, yet if you do not compromise, not only will you fail to increase your income, you may even affect people around you. So rein in your ego and be more realistic!






對 學　　業 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Education

現狀 Current Situation: 命運之輪 [Fortune]

你不但對功課應付自如，對於其他才藝類、實驗類的科目也很拿手，而且是常常參加比賽或是甄選的人，在校內評價很高。
You are handling your studies well, and you are good in other talent-related and experimental subjects too. Thus you are one who is always involved in competitions. In school, you are highly regarded and has a good reputation.



問題 Problem: 倒吊人 [The Hanged Man]

你沒有辦法承受壓力，也或許是因為事情太多太累，以致現在彈性疲乏了，這張牌呈現一種心有餘而力不足的狀態，正在讀書的低潮期。
You are unable to handle the pressure. Maybe there's too much to do or you are too tired. This card shows that your mind is willing but the flesh isn't. You are at your low point in your studies.



建議 Suggestion: 慾 [Lust]

要你一下子就突飛猛進，或者勤奮起來，是不太可能的事，你必須用意志力一點一滴的糾正以往的毛病，才能讓功課有往上增進的空間。
It is unrealistic to expect you to improve leaps and bounds or for you to be suddenly very hardworking. You need to fully utilize your willpower to enable you to change your bad habits. And only then will there be room for improvement.







Much of what is said is kinda accurate..