When I read this piece of news I was stunned by the intolerant stance taken by Beijing. Apparently "security reasons" is the cause of this ban. To me this is absolutely unacceptable as it borders on the ridiculous and shows how extreme the officially God forsaken country is. Athletes are also prohibited from bearing any kind of religious symbol at Olympic facilities.
Well if Bibles are banned, are Korans banned too? Well I would think Muslim athletes will surely be denied their sacred book too. As far as I know devout Muslims will not accept such nonsense. This seems like an insult on Islam itself. To take it further are Muslim headscarves banned to? They certainly are a religious symbols and they will be banned unless Chinese are hypocrites.
Furthermore, what will happen to Jews and their skullcaps? How about the Sikhs and their turbans? Well it can go on forever but the whole message Beijing is giving that they are bigoted Mao Tse Tung butt kissers money worshipers. Good job Hu Jintao your men have insulted the whole wide world.
Of course this can only culminate in one thing - the mass boycott of the Beijing Olympics. To me this would surely make my day as I have already decided that the Chinese government has absolutely no ethics and is one hundred percent morally bankrupt. All because of oil and money China ganged up with Russia to support the rape of Darfur. Genocide takes place there because they block all international efforts to stop the Sudanese. Remember the Burmese who died in their struggle for freedom! China and the Asean especially despicable Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore gave the finger to the democracy movement.
May you burn evil China!
~multum in parvo~
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I suppose this post has been a long time coming. It's like a letter you wrote one hot dusty afternoon, only to stop at the postbox, then dump it into the trash can beside it. Somehow, no matter how long you think about what to say and how to say it, the words never come out right. But they say if flowers waited till everything was just perfect before they blossomed after the long winter, then we'd never see spring at all.
It's been a long time since we started RANDTS. A lot of things have happened since then. We've seen members come and go as well as visitors drop by and leave. We've even had controversy drop by once in awhile for the occasional cup of tea. And still we weathered it all.
By this time, you might be wondering, "What's this guy comin' back all of a sudden? It's not like he cares about the blog anyways..."
That's true. If I'd cared I'd have been posting frequently. Trying to fan the flame even as our heads were repeatedly dunked into buckets of cold water. I'd have been there in RANDTS' darkest hour trying alongside you guys to keep the passion going, keep the momentum up.
But the hard fact is I didn't, did I?
It's like waking up from a bad dream only to see the mask of a killer you thought you'd never see again. The glint of the jagged blade in the darkness, your scarlet blood upon the sheets and the knife. You clutch your belly to find your guts were ripped out while you were in the nightmare. As your life force ebbs away and you fade painfully into oblivion, the killer - mockingly, haughtily, dishearteningly - removes his mask. Then you realize all this while you've been afraid of your own reflection in the mirror. Was I the person who stabbed myself in the back, unknowingly?
What prompted me to write this post? Perhaps the amount of resentment, sadness - disappointment? - that is now plain for all to see on the blog. Even the message on the bulletin board below the ever-changing banner seems like a mockery of the shadow RANDTS has become. But no, that still wasn't what hurt me the most.
It was a friend that I know. Or knew, depending on who you asked. A close friend. A good friend. Many months ago he inspired me, and many others, with a heart-warming tale of triumph in adversity of the worst kind. He shared with us a cheerful optimism that many others in his situation would be hard-pressed to display. He reminded us of the brittle fragility of life, and how each moment we take a breath is a moment to be savored as if it was our last. He told us the tough get going when the going gets tough. He shared with us the power of faith and love and family, and how these continue to be his pillars in life, providing him with the strength to pull through a life most others wouldn't consider worth living.
I saw him as a God, a hero, a true man among men. He inspired me, as he has undoubtedly inspired many others. I was touched by his sheer willpower and spirit, and looked to him as a guiding light when the world is descending into darkness.
It was only recently that I saw my hero give up hope. Not because he was at death's doorstep. Not because he suffered the loss of a family member. But because I failed to commit to the vision that I and two others had created. He gave up because I did too.
How else do you convey emotions in an email? Electrons cannot show you shed tears or distant laughter. Electrons moving at lightspeed don't know the meaning of a smile in a group photo, or the hidden jokes associated with the size of the blade you hold. Electrons shooting around the world and back can only do so much to send a message, but it is memories that do the rest of the work.
Mea culpa.
For awhile I held hands and rubbed shoulders with some of the most vibrant and unique people in the world. For awhile we traded inane stories, sexy pictures, lengthy essays, fiery rants, perfect pictures, informative articles, and so many more things. For awhile I was proud to call myself a RANDTSter...
...and honestly? I still am.
Perhaps it is time we gave this blog a little peace and quiet while we start looking in ourselves and seriously ask what it is we really want out of RANDTS.
Now, I think I know what I want. Maybe not a 100%, but even an inkling's good enough. I seriously have no idea what kind of response I can expect to this post. Regardless, the burden is mine to bear. It was my fault, and for that I apologize. I'm sorry I left in your hour of need. I'm sorry I shirked my responsibilities as founding father of RANDTS. I'm sorry I ignored the blog for so long.
But most of all, to all of you here who've been here with RANDTS and I from the start - especially Albert and Jaspreet - I'm sorry for hurting you, and for that I seek your forgiveness .
Lastly, I have this to say: call me idealistic, but even after the coldest darkest winter, flowers still break through the frost and blossom into majestic beauty, heralding the beginning of spring. I'm here hoping winter ends soon... and that spring will come with the dawn of the new sun. I'm ready to rebuild the ruins of RANDTS and start anew. After all, that's what spring is about, isn't it - nature getting a brand new start?
Thank you one and all.
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;;Decapitation has been burned into our minds as cruel and unusual punishment. It's gruesome nature will always be used as a tool to terrorise people. But here is a miracle linked with decapitation (internal) which is testament of the will to survive.
Shannon Malloy was involved in a car crash in Nebraska on Jan. 25 which threw her up against the vehicle's dashboard. In the process, her skull became separated from her spine. The clinical term for her condition is called internal decapitation.
Quotes from Malloy:
"I remember the impact and then I had no control over my head,"
"I wasn't focused so much on the pain. I just kept thinking, 'I have to stay alive.'"
"My skull slipped off my neck about five times. Every time they tried to screw this (the metal halo which still supports her skull) to my head, I would slip,"
"It only took about 8 minutes to take the whole thing off,"
"Oh my God, it's a miracle,"
Read about this miracle here. Anyway, her doctor stated that her will to survive was what saved her.
Miracles do happen you see. There are so many wonders that is made possible by God. Stop worrying too much for an instant, just take a deep breath and cherish your existence in this sometimes sad yet wonderful world. One day you may be granted a miracle to continue in the world. Show your gratitude to the world and God soon....
~multum in parvo~
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;;He just coldly said,"Gimme all your money."
Have you ever been mugged? Well three of my friends including arbiter (Jaspreet aka. Kwatra) my best friend and fellow RANDTSter have experienced an encounter with muggers. One was mugged, one was "saved" and another fought back and escaped. Here are their tales.
Let me first talk about Shum my fellow Law classmate from Ipoh who told me about almost being mugged or robbed yesterday.
On Tuesday afternoon he walked back to his rented home from KDU to drop of his laptop before heading to Ikea. His home is not really far from the college. He had his laptop with him. As he reached the gate of his residence there were two suspicious Indian guys standing in front of the gate across the road. Shum became suspicious and spooked so he quickly opened his gate and dashed in the house. After keeping his laptop he went for the door of his home. Upon opening it he saw the suspicious men again. This time was standing in front of his gate and the other was obscured by bushes. Fearing for his safety he called Melvin (big and tall Punjabi) and gang to "save" him. When Melvin and gang arrived, the Indian guys disappeared. Shum was saved for the day.
Jaspreet's experience was far scarier as it involved violence, strength, bravery and speed. I was told this true story last week about Jaspreet being grabbed from behind a couple of weeks ago by juggernaut himself.
He was walking on a road near KDU one morning. All of a sudden an African criminal-student one head taller than him grabbed our friend from behind. He just coldly said,"Gimme all your money." Not wanting to give up his stuff Jaspreet turned and quickly pushed the black menace to the ground. He then just quickly darted to the Petronas station nearby. After a while Jaspreet walked out of the petrol station and his assaulter was nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately, Jaspreet didn't see his attacker's face so there was no use reporting the incident. However, I suspect there's an African criminal studying in KDU.
Let's now shift our attention to Denish from Bahau, my new friend for a violent finale. He told me yesterday about being mugged not too long ago.
Denish was walking around his neighbourhood on one night. Out of nowhere two Indian criminals grabbed and dragged him into a dark back alley. One of them immediately gave our poor friend two punches. The other grabbed Denish's handphone. They claimed Denish was disturbing their sister which was obviously a lie. They then shouted a few profanities and warned him about disturbing their "imaginary" sister. He was then pushed to the ground and those thugs walked off with his handphone. Denish is a tall and slightly thin dude. Was he easy prey or numbers emboldened those human trash?
The stories of my friends prove that crime can really hit home!
Crime is now a serious issue in Malaysia. Do you fear the current crime rate? Please share your encounters with criminals as comments for this post too. I know that my language is as stiff as wood so maybe you all could elaborate your experiences in a more fluid way.
~multum in parvo~
P.S: Don't worry too much about crime instead try eating sliced papaya enhanced with a squeeze of lime just as I always do.
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;;Since Comrade is quite a fan of this series of short stories I wrote, I'm just announcing it here for him - and anyone else who's interested - that the third sequel is up! *grins*“In times like these, father,” the officer whispered as the pastor’s eyes bulged with rage, “I wonder where your Almighty God is.”
By the by, the pull-quote highlights a section from They Came: Part III.
What is the series all about? Well, here's the introduction:
What would a nation be without law and order? Lost, confused, anarchic - the words differ, but the general consensus is the same. There would be no escape for anyone from the carnage and chaos that would inevitably come to grip the country in which they live.
In this mini-series of inter-connected episodes, a tale of courage, honour, and strength is upheld. People fighting for the beliefs and things they hold dear; values that matter even more in the face of mounting adversity, when everything threatens to tear your lives apart.
Read the story of the people who were affected the most - on the day They Came.
For the first two parts:
Do comment on any of the three! I want to hear what you have to say! I'll work on the fourth one next time round when I've the time, alright?
Thanks, all!
~verus rara avis~
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;;Lawyers, doctors, accountants, businessmen, pharmacists, engineers, actors and so on have something in common. What is it?
They are all known as careers. The above-mentioned careers that I have mentioned are some of the most popular careers that are taken up by people. However, fair enough, a doctor is the most popular career in the country.
But why have I chosen to discuss about careers? Well, I have just read the newspaper in The Star Online and it was reported that once again most STPM students who scored a CGPA of 4.00 would apply for medicine in public universities. And out of about 1660 students who are eligible to apply for medicine, only 1000 seats are available for grab.
However, sometimes we must reflect about this: Choosing a career for my own is about my future life; if the career I chose does not suit my taste, should I continue pursuing the course for that particular career? If you were in such a situation, it can either be "Yes" or "No", depending whether or not you have any other problems.
There are, of course, other reasons to why some students choose certain careers, such as persuasion from parents, but this time, I would like to discuss about a situation where you have to choose a certain career that you may not like simply because it is a matter of "no other choices".
Well, not that we have no other choices, actually, but it's more like God telling us that we have to give up what we want for something that we don't really like. But let's discuss from the point of view of life.
Back in those days when people pursue for their ambitions, now many students have this mentality that "they will go for anything that is open to them", meaning to say that they are willing to take up any course as long as the prospect of the career in the future is a good one. Some, even for the sake of scholarships and sponsorships, agree to study the subject which is not favoured in order to relief the burden of the family. A noble decision for the family, I must say, but caution is really needed.
Many of us would apply for scholarships and sponsorships upon receiving our SPM and STPM results, and the application is not just for a single type of course, meaning that you would just aim for one particular course (either medicine, engineering, etc). In the end, you will find one applying scholarships for engineering, medicine, actuarial science, business management and so on. And when there are options for them to choose, they can choose the one they prefer. However, when only one door is open, they will still walk into that door, knowing that it is the door that they wouldn't want to walk.
It is really a personal matter if you come to think about it. Some people are really desperate to take up whatever options they have simply because of one main reason: not everybody can afford higher education (especially in private institutions of higher learning) and if possible nobody would want to do STPM.
As for me, my main choice of career was not to be a civil engineer, but to be a geneticist (before that, a lawyer). However, there were two factors that told me that I should accept the Petronas sponsorship and pursue my civil engineering course. First of all, though I am interested in the subject of Biology, I didn't seem to be able to do well in it at all in my school tests and examinations (although I scored 1A for it in SPM). It dampened my decision on whether or not I should continue to persist for genetics.
Therefore, I looked forward to getting a sponsorship from Petronas. Actually, I was offered the ASEAN Pre-University Scholarship by Singapore but I declined the offer because it only covers my studies in Singapore for a duration of two years for A Levels. I took the gamble and prayed that I would still get the Petronas sponsorship. Thankfully, I got it.
But before my Petronas sponsorship was confirmed, I compared the tuition fees for civil engineering course in various universities, and they would cost at least RM300,000 altogether, excluding accommodation, books, food, etc. My family doesn't have that kind of money (although I would say that we are of an average family). When the offer from Petronas came, I jumped upon it. It is an offer which nobody could really refuse. They cover your studies, accommodation and everything else until you graduate with an honours degree.
In today's society, it is rather sad that people now cannot pursue their dreams because of certain sacrifices that they have to make. Sometimes this sacrifice is so great that they find it extremely hard to cope up with their studies. Such a challenge is great indeed, but to face this challenge with a bold heart is what we should marvel them. To face this challenge without regret isn't something that everyone can do.
Not that I'm facing any challenges mentioned above, because although civil engineering isn't my favourite career, it is nevertheless one of my ten most favoured careers. And to be given the course that I requested sure made me very thankful and appreciative.
I wouldn't have asked for anything more.
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;;I Cannot Be Cured!! Let's Celebrate!! Revisited
6 mad rant(s) » Add your own! RANDTed: Albert at 8:33:00 AM
This is an old post on Maelstrom that has to be shared on RANDTS.
Henry requested me to post about my disease. Well I won't be writing very specific details about my disease because I will copying it lock, stock and barrel if I do but I will give links to sites that explain my conditions. Furthermore, I'm not authority on my disease so it is better for you all to read links.
Well, I suffer from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) a muscle wasting disease that is caused by a genetic mutation. DMD is hereditary and has absolutely no cure. It affects 1 in 3000 boys and we have a life expectancy of around 21. Glory and death!
Well slowly DMD sufferers get weaker and weaker and will finally be only able to make practical their wrist, fingers, neck and head. Furthermore, our respiratory system and heart are also affected by muscle wasting. (Causing all sorts of problems that need to be treated.) Death is usually caused by suffocation or heart failure. Even brushing my teeth or eating an apple may prove fatal (isolated cases).
For a pictorial guide to my disease click here. For an encyclopedia article about DMD click here.
I hope nobody had their daylights scared out of them by this post. ^_^
All questions about me and DMD are welcomed in fact you all should ask about me. Don't worry about offending me because I'm willing to share my experiences. My skin is as thick as crocodile hide. Hahahaha. Bring in the questions as comments.
Cheers!!!!
~multum in parvo~
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