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BUT SO WHAT IF I SIMPLY SHOOT?
Thursday, March 31, 2005
What have I done, what have I done…
I’ve learnt the hard way about the foolishness of meaningless pursuits. I’ve chased after the wind. I’ve started a endeavour that turned out to be too great a cost.
Why did I let it drag on? Why did I let it continue, when I knew that it was already meaningless the day its first objective failed? Why was I so stubborn? Why did I not let it go? Why did I have to keep finding alternatives and means to squirm my way to a solution? Why am I so reluctant to give it up?
I am guilty. Guilty of falling into a trap. Guilty of failing to distinguish the line between wise perseverance and foolish stubbornness. Guilty of trying to carve a name for myself. Guilty of building my own tower of Babel.
I should’ve known better. How much more satisfying and fulfilling will it be if I had pursued things that really mattered. Of what benefit is all this to me? For all the time and effort invested in this endeavour, how much greater will the returns be if I had invested in eternity. I deeply regret for even conceiving this idea. I should’ve acted with eternity in mind.
I can deal with it if I am guilty on my own account. But I’ve led 8 people along to suffer with me. I’ve dragged 60 people to build Babel’s tower with me. God help me to clear my conscience.
What can I do now? I’ve led them to go too far, that there’s no turning back now. There is nothing left I can do, except to beseech the mercies of God. To plead His mercies, just to finish what was started.
I’ve learnt the hard way about the foolishness of meaningless pursuits. I’ve chased after the wind. I’ve started a endeavour that turned out to be too great a cost.
Why did I let it drag on? Why did I let it continue, when I knew that it was already meaningless the day its first objective failed? Why was I so stubborn? Why did I not let it go? Why did I have to keep finding alternatives and means to squirm my way to a solution? Why am I so reluctant to give it up?
I am guilty. Guilty of falling into a trap. Guilty of failing to distinguish the line between wise perseverance and foolish stubbornness. Guilty of trying to carve a name for myself. Guilty of building my own tower of Babel.
I should’ve known better. How much more satisfying and fulfilling will it be if I had pursued things that really mattered. Of what benefit is all this to me? For all the time and effort invested in this endeavour, how much greater will the returns be if I had invested in eternity. I deeply regret for even conceiving this idea. I should’ve acted with eternity in mind.
I can deal with it if I am guilty on my own account. But I’ve led 8 people along to suffer with me. I’ve dragged 60 people to build Babel’s tower with me. God help me to clear my conscience.
What can I do now? I’ve led them to go too far, that there’s no turning back now. There is nothing left I can do, except to beseech the mercies of God. To plead His mercies, just to finish what was started.
Monday, March 28, 2005
How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days
Because Christ lives
I don't know why this stanza was “omitted on purpose” in the songsheet today. Perhaps there is some theological mistake in this stanza. I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with it. But I can guess which part is the “unacceptable” part. It’s not really a big deal. Brethrens are always weird anyway.
Nevertheless, it’s true that life is filled with uncertainties.
I used to take part in art competitions. My mum was crazy about it once, and she got me into the craze too. She brought me places, even as far as Johor and Malacca to take part in national level competitions. I remember how it felt like to wait for the results to be announced. There was always an air of uncertainty. Would I win? Would the judges take notice of my piece? Wouldl it be good enough? Would I have fared better if I had done my piece a little differently?
The air of uncertainty was present in swimming competitions too. I remember how it felt like to wait for the results to be posted up officially on the board. Did I really break the record? Who touched the wall first? Did I win, or did I lose by a whisker? What was my time? Was the official time accurate?
I guess I was trained early to bear uncertainties. I grew more and more confident as the years rolled by. I also became less and less afraid of uncertainties. I became less anxious about things that are yet to come, and became more receptive to whatever comes my way.
In mathematics, the subject of probability is a science of uncertainties. You use a set of theorems, accumulate data, and try to predict the most plausible outcome in an uncertain circumstance. You can calculate the degree of certainty for a particular occurrence by punching in the numbers on a calculator. The knowledge of uncertainties can help you to make intelligent, calculated risks.
The worst kind of uncertainty one can feel is when it involves laying down your cards. The kind of uncertainty you feel when you show the cards on your hand..... Excruciating.
And feel the pride and joy he gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days
Because Christ lives
I don't know why this stanza was “omitted on purpose” in the songsheet today. Perhaps there is some theological mistake in this stanza. I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with it. But I can guess which part is the “unacceptable” part. It’s not really a big deal. Brethrens are always weird anyway.
Nevertheless, it’s true that life is filled with uncertainties.
I used to take part in art competitions. My mum was crazy about it once, and she got me into the craze too. She brought me places, even as far as Johor and Malacca to take part in national level competitions. I remember how it felt like to wait for the results to be announced. There was always an air of uncertainty. Would I win? Would the judges take notice of my piece? Wouldl it be good enough? Would I have fared better if I had done my piece a little differently?
The air of uncertainty was present in swimming competitions too. I remember how it felt like to wait for the results to be posted up officially on the board. Did I really break the record? Who touched the wall first? Did I win, or did I lose by a whisker? What was my time? Was the official time accurate?
I guess I was trained early to bear uncertainties. I grew more and more confident as the years rolled by. I also became less and less afraid of uncertainties. I became less anxious about things that are yet to come, and became more receptive to whatever comes my way.
In mathematics, the subject of probability is a science of uncertainties. You use a set of theorems, accumulate data, and try to predict the most plausible outcome in an uncertain circumstance. You can calculate the degree of certainty for a particular occurrence by punching in the numbers on a calculator. The knowledge of uncertainties can help you to make intelligent, calculated risks.
The worst kind of uncertainty one can feel is when it involves laying down your cards. The kind of uncertainty you feel when you show the cards on your hand..... Excruciating.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Abortion
What is your stand on abortion? I know what mine is.
Definition war: Don’t argue about the definition of life, or when does life really start. Taking that road will only lead you into a never ending argument. Don’t go technical and miss the point. Getting into the technical trap is one of the best ways to get confused, miss the point, and lose the case.
Point 1: Sanctity of life.
Scientific definitions will only serve to be technical. Philosophical definitions are esoteric in nature. Whichever way you want to define “life”, the act of stopping the birth of an unborn living being is equivalent to desecrating the sanctity of life. I’m not talking about stopping the act that starts the existence of an unborn living being. To do that, I’ll have to stop the act of sex. But sex is not the issue here. I’m talking about the act of stopping the development of a fertilized ovum that will, in its natural course, lead to the existence of a living being.
Point 2: The teleological argument.
In a circumstance that involves cause and effect, the circumstance must be viewed along with the acknowledgement of the will of a sovereign God. If the baby was not meant to be born, the process of its conception could’ve been stopped in many ways.
Just to illustrate a point:
1. The couple is separated by time and space, so conception is impossible.
2. The couple is not separated by time, but they are separated by space, so conception is not possible.
3. The couple is not separated by time nor space, but the couple did not consent to sex. So conception is not possible.
4. The couple consented to sex, but did not consent to unprotected sex, so conception is not possible.
5. The couple consented to unprotected sex, but it occurred during the wrong timing of the woman’s menstrual cycle.
6. The couple consented to unprotected sex, but there’s something wrong with the man’s fertility.
7. Or maybe the couple is so plain stupid, they just can’t get it right.
There could’ve been many other ways where conception could not have happened. But when the cause has happened, the effect cannot be treated as though it never happened. The effect must have a reason for being.
Point 3: The ethical argument.
There are 2 views in the ethical argument.
The pro-science view: Science and ethical issues are two separate issues. Ethical issues arise only when science is applied into technology.
The pro-ethics view: Science and ethical issues cannot be separated. Scientists have a responsibility to fulfill to society, even if science is only in its theoretical stage.
The pro-science view is against abortion. A serious ethical issue is definitely raised when medical science is applied into making abortion possible. We will be using science to play the role of God.
The pro-ethics view is also against abortion. The idea of making abortion possible is, in itself, ethically questionable. Even in its theoretical stage, the potential of abortion already rings an alarm in the ethical faculty before it becomes applied in technology.
Point 3: The message to the public.
What message are we sending to the society if abortion can be an option? Sanctity of life will go down the drain. Sanctity of marriage will mean nothing. Teachings against premarital sex will lose its gravity. Selling the idea of abortion as an option will degrade the values of the society.
Rebuttals to the pro-abortionist view
Definition war: I’ve ended it before it even started.
Point 1: Protecting the welfare of parent. The woman does not have to throw her future away because of an unwanted pregnancy.
Rebuttal: Ethical argument. It is not ethically correct to throw away another person’s future away in order to protect your own future.
Point 2: Protecting the welfare of the family. It is for the best interest of the family to do an abortion than to have a child without being able to support the child.
Rebuttal: It is hard, but not impossible. Abortion is a convenient and unethical way to alleviate economical issues at the expense of another person’s life. It will be harder to support a family with many children, but it is not impossible.
Point 3: Protecting the welfare of society. Abortion is a policy to combat the population boom. Social ills arise when families becomes poor. Poverty will affect society.
Rebuttal: Question the message of such a government to the public. It is the responsibility of the social welfare department to come up with policies to protect unwanted babies and single parents. Doing away with unwanted babies is not an option. Neither should abortion be seen as a solution to lessen the department’s burden of single parents.
Point 4: Abortion helps society to cope with rape victims. It gives the victim an option to have a new lease in life.
Rebuttal: How does one define rape? If rape is an acceptable cause for abortion, there can be many other cases where abortion can be made permissable.
Just to illustrate a point:
1. A rapist rapes a woman. Abortion is permissible.
2. A boyfriend rapes his girlfriend. Abortion is permissible.
3. A husband rapes his wife. Abortion is permissible.
In other words, if rape is one of the permissible means to obtain an abortion, it opens a whole new world of possibilities to get a license for abortion.
A boyfriend can have sex with his girlfriend, and make her pregnant. The couple can say the sex was not conscientious, and claim the cause of “rape”. The couple can get away from shouldering the responsibility of raising the child. The couple can get away from the responsibility of marriage. Pre-martial sex will have no obligations on the couple.
The husband can commit marital rape as well. Does that mean abortion is also permissible under that circumstance? Who can really define rape?
The bottomline is, once the effect of conception has taken place, the cause of that conception is not as important as how we deal with the effect. The cause of conception may not happen in the best possible way. But that is not a reason enough to get rid of the effect. Regardless of the cause of conception, abortion is not an acceptable option. If we allow abortion for one "unfortunate case", we will have to open the abortion gate for many other "unfortunate cases".
I always saw abortion as a debate topic. It is a good acedemic exercise.
But I never knew it could strike so close to home. I could've had the brother I never had.
What is your stand on abortion? I know what mine is.
Definition war: Don’t argue about the definition of life, or when does life really start. Taking that road will only lead you into a never ending argument. Don’t go technical and miss the point. Getting into the technical trap is one of the best ways to get confused, miss the point, and lose the case.
Point 1: Sanctity of life.
Scientific definitions will only serve to be technical. Philosophical definitions are esoteric in nature. Whichever way you want to define “life”, the act of stopping the birth of an unborn living being is equivalent to desecrating the sanctity of life. I’m not talking about stopping the act that starts the existence of an unborn living being. To do that, I’ll have to stop the act of sex. But sex is not the issue here. I’m talking about the act of stopping the development of a fertilized ovum that will, in its natural course, lead to the existence of a living being.
Point 2: The teleological argument.
In a circumstance that involves cause and effect, the circumstance must be viewed along with the acknowledgement of the will of a sovereign God. If the baby was not meant to be born, the process of its conception could’ve been stopped in many ways.
Just to illustrate a point:
1. The couple is separated by time and space, so conception is impossible.
2. The couple is not separated by time, but they are separated by space, so conception is not possible.
3. The couple is not separated by time nor space, but the couple did not consent to sex. So conception is not possible.
4. The couple consented to sex, but did not consent to unprotected sex, so conception is not possible.
5. The couple consented to unprotected sex, but it occurred during the wrong timing of the woman’s menstrual cycle.
6. The couple consented to unprotected sex, but there’s something wrong with the man’s fertility.
7. Or maybe the couple is so plain stupid, they just can’t get it right.
There could’ve been many other ways where conception could not have happened. But when the cause has happened, the effect cannot be treated as though it never happened. The effect must have a reason for being.
Point 3: The ethical argument.
There are 2 views in the ethical argument.
The pro-science view: Science and ethical issues are two separate issues. Ethical issues arise only when science is applied into technology.
The pro-ethics view: Science and ethical issues cannot be separated. Scientists have a responsibility to fulfill to society, even if science is only in its theoretical stage.
The pro-science view is against abortion. A serious ethical issue is definitely raised when medical science is applied into making abortion possible. We will be using science to play the role of God.
The pro-ethics view is also against abortion. The idea of making abortion possible is, in itself, ethically questionable. Even in its theoretical stage, the potential of abortion already rings an alarm in the ethical faculty before it becomes applied in technology.
Point 3: The message to the public.
What message are we sending to the society if abortion can be an option? Sanctity of life will go down the drain. Sanctity of marriage will mean nothing. Teachings against premarital sex will lose its gravity. Selling the idea of abortion as an option will degrade the values of the society.
Rebuttals to the pro-abortionist view
Definition war: I’ve ended it before it even started.
Point 1: Protecting the welfare of parent. The woman does not have to throw her future away because of an unwanted pregnancy.
Rebuttal: Ethical argument. It is not ethically correct to throw away another person’s future away in order to protect your own future.
Point 2: Protecting the welfare of the family. It is for the best interest of the family to do an abortion than to have a child without being able to support the child.
Rebuttal: It is hard, but not impossible. Abortion is a convenient and unethical way to alleviate economical issues at the expense of another person’s life. It will be harder to support a family with many children, but it is not impossible.
Point 3: Protecting the welfare of society. Abortion is a policy to combat the population boom. Social ills arise when families becomes poor. Poverty will affect society.
Rebuttal: Question the message of such a government to the public. It is the responsibility of the social welfare department to come up with policies to protect unwanted babies and single parents. Doing away with unwanted babies is not an option. Neither should abortion be seen as a solution to lessen the department’s burden of single parents.
Point 4: Abortion helps society to cope with rape victims. It gives the victim an option to have a new lease in life.
Rebuttal: How does one define rape? If rape is an acceptable cause for abortion, there can be many other cases where abortion can be made permissable.
Just to illustrate a point:
1. A rapist rapes a woman. Abortion is permissible.
2. A boyfriend rapes his girlfriend. Abortion is permissible.
3. A husband rapes his wife. Abortion is permissible.
In other words, if rape is one of the permissible means to obtain an abortion, it opens a whole new world of possibilities to get a license for abortion.
A boyfriend can have sex with his girlfriend, and make her pregnant. The couple can say the sex was not conscientious, and claim the cause of “rape”. The couple can get away from shouldering the responsibility of raising the child. The couple can get away from the responsibility of marriage. Pre-martial sex will have no obligations on the couple.
The husband can commit marital rape as well. Does that mean abortion is also permissible under that circumstance? Who can really define rape?
The bottomline is, once the effect of conception has taken place, the cause of that conception is not as important as how we deal with the effect. The cause of conception may not happen in the best possible way. But that is not a reason enough to get rid of the effect. Regardless of the cause of conception, abortion is not an acceptable option. If we allow abortion for one "unfortunate case", we will have to open the abortion gate for many other "unfortunate cases".
I always saw abortion as a debate topic. It is a good acedemic exercise.
But I never knew it could strike so close to home. I could've had the brother I never had.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The Disgruntled Prayer
Father in heaven
Halo, what's Your name?
Can I come? Will You be done?
My earth is not a heaven
Give me money... so I can go buy bread
Forgive me of my sins...
Because other people always sin against me!
Save me from times of trial...
Because all the judges are evil!
Don't let them in Your kingdom
Show Your power, take the glory
From that fella and that fella
Amen
Father in heaven
Halo, what's Your name?
Can I come? Will You be done?
My earth is not a heaven
Give me money... so I can go buy bread
Forgive me of my sins...
Because other people always sin against me!
Save me from times of trial...
Because all the judges are evil!
Don't let them in Your kingdom
Show Your power, take the glory
From that fella and that fella
Amen
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Read recently in the papers that a pair of twins scored similar results for STPM. 3As and 1B. Penangites, both of them. And both their names also start with J.
They often encourage each other. One of them likes to stay back in the library to study, while the other one prefers to revise at home. At night, they will discuss things they don’t understand. The smarter one will guide the other one.
They go jogging together in the evenings and play badminton on Fridays.
They are parting ways only at this juncture because they want to pursue different courses.
I wish I had a brother like that. To grow up together in the same school, take the same subjects, sit for the same exam, and all that stuff.
I’d probably be the one who would stay back in the library to study, and head to the field by 5pm. The other one would probably study at home, and help mum to do domestic chores. He’d probably be the quieter one, and possibly mum’s favourite. When I come back, mum would probably yell at me because of my stinky clothes. And I’d probably answer “what…you expect me to control the concentration of uric acid and salt that I secrete in my sweat?” And the other brother would probably snicker away.
After dinner, the other one would probably do the dishes to suck up more. Then we’d probably go over some math or chemistry problems together. He’d probably be the smarter one, since he spends more time with his books. And when we cannot study anymore, we’d chill out together by watching a football game or basketball match on TV.
In school, if I’m the exco for the Board Of Wardens, he’d probably be the exco for the Board Of Prefects. And we’d bring the two boards of student administrative bodies to better unity. The sports teacher would probably allow us to be in the same sports house. And we’d have a whale of a time fighting on the same side for every game we play.
We’d probably be swimmers. I would major in breaststroke, and he’d specialize in butterfly. We won’t clash in our events, and we won’t threaten each other’s records. We’d probably go on national meets together, and form a good combo with 2 other pals for the medley relay.
After we retire from swimming, we’d probably pick up other games too, like marathon running and badminton. We’d probably go jogging in the evenings. We’d be perfect jogging partners, and we’d push each other to go the extra mile. When we get bored of the routine, we can take our racquets and head to the badminton court for a sparring session.
Ah, and when we shop for running shoes, it would be really fun! We’d probably have the same foot size. We won’t have to decide on only one pair of shoes. We can buy two pairs, and we can swap with each other anytime we want.
We can also play ping pong together. If I’m a pen-holder, and he’d probably be a hand-shake holder. If I’m right handed, he’d probably be left handed. When we pair up for doubles, we can have our forehand at both sides of the table!
Also, I won’t have to shoot hoops alone. If I’m the shooter, he’d be the charger. I’d shoot from outside, and he’d go create trouble inside. Find one more guy, and we can play in the Adidas 3-on-3 and put on a good show.
When we go for British Parliamentary style debates, we’d probably form a inseparable pair. We won’t have to spend much time discussing our points or strategy, because we’d probably know what the other is thinking before he says it. If we get a topic that is within our ball-game, lagi syok! We’d hit a home run, tear other teams down, and have fun while doing it! When we get to kutuk other people, we can kutuk together. When other people kutuk us back, we can share the shame together.
We’d probably own the same kind of bible – Nelson’s NKJV study bible, with in-built commentary and concordance, along with the same bible cover. We’d spend time discussing issues and doctrines, and struggle with our understanding of Scriptures together. If I take the Calvinist view on soteriology, he’d probably take the Armenien view. If I take the progressive revelation view, he’d take the dispensational view. And we’d probably make fun of the same things when we feel naughty.
During Chinese New Year, we’d probably be the only two “xiang jiao ren” in family reunions. So we can always have our private conversations if we don’t understand a single word being said at the dinner table. When there’s an abundance of meat on the table, we’d probably start discussing on whether or not Jews can eat pork today, the significance of Peter’s vision of the sheet, the case with Messianic Jews, and drift to the “progressive revelation vs dispensational view” all over again while others are busy yakking in a foreign language.
One day, we’d possibly fight over the same girl. The “whoever sees her first” rule would probably not work out. We’d call a truce and divide the market evenly. I’d go for the Indians, and he’d go for the Malays. If I go for the older ones, he’d probably go for the younger ones. If I think it’s a bad idea to go after those 10 years younger, he’d probably think otherwise. As for Sikh and Eurasian chicks – free for all melee, age doesn’t matter.
Yeah. I wish I have the brother that I never had.
They often encourage each other. One of them likes to stay back in the library to study, while the other one prefers to revise at home. At night, they will discuss things they don’t understand. The smarter one will guide the other one.
They go jogging together in the evenings and play badminton on Fridays.
They are parting ways only at this juncture because they want to pursue different courses.
I wish I had a brother like that. To grow up together in the same school, take the same subjects, sit for the same exam, and all that stuff.
I’d probably be the one who would stay back in the library to study, and head to the field by 5pm. The other one would probably study at home, and help mum to do domestic chores. He’d probably be the quieter one, and possibly mum’s favourite. When I come back, mum would probably yell at me because of my stinky clothes. And I’d probably answer “what…you expect me to control the concentration of uric acid and salt that I secrete in my sweat?” And the other brother would probably snicker away.
After dinner, the other one would probably do the dishes to suck up more. Then we’d probably go over some math or chemistry problems together. He’d probably be the smarter one, since he spends more time with his books. And when we cannot study anymore, we’d chill out together by watching a football game or basketball match on TV.
In school, if I’m the exco for the Board Of Wardens, he’d probably be the exco for the Board Of Prefects. And we’d bring the two boards of student administrative bodies to better unity. The sports teacher would probably allow us to be in the same sports house. And we’d have a whale of a time fighting on the same side for every game we play.
We’d probably be swimmers. I would major in breaststroke, and he’d specialize in butterfly. We won’t clash in our events, and we won’t threaten each other’s records. We’d probably go on national meets together, and form a good combo with 2 other pals for the medley relay.
After we retire from swimming, we’d probably pick up other games too, like marathon running and badminton. We’d probably go jogging in the evenings. We’d be perfect jogging partners, and we’d push each other to go the extra mile. When we get bored of the routine, we can take our racquets and head to the badminton court for a sparring session.
Ah, and when we shop for running shoes, it would be really fun! We’d probably have the same foot size. We won’t have to decide on only one pair of shoes. We can buy two pairs, and we can swap with each other anytime we want.
We can also play ping pong together. If I’m a pen-holder, and he’d probably be a hand-shake holder. If I’m right handed, he’d probably be left handed. When we pair up for doubles, we can have our forehand at both sides of the table!
Also, I won’t have to shoot hoops alone. If I’m the shooter, he’d be the charger. I’d shoot from outside, and he’d go create trouble inside. Find one more guy, and we can play in the Adidas 3-on-3 and put on a good show.
When we go for British Parliamentary style debates, we’d probably form a inseparable pair. We won’t have to spend much time discussing our points or strategy, because we’d probably know what the other is thinking before he says it. If we get a topic that is within our ball-game, lagi syok! We’d hit a home run, tear other teams down, and have fun while doing it! When we get to kutuk other people, we can kutuk together. When other people kutuk us back, we can share the shame together.
We’d probably own the same kind of bible – Nelson’s NKJV study bible, with in-built commentary and concordance, along with the same bible cover. We’d spend time discussing issues and doctrines, and struggle with our understanding of Scriptures together. If I take the Calvinist view on soteriology, he’d probably take the Armenien view. If I take the progressive revelation view, he’d take the dispensational view. And we’d probably make fun of the same things when we feel naughty.
During Chinese New Year, we’d probably be the only two “xiang jiao ren” in family reunions. So we can always have our private conversations if we don’t understand a single word being said at the dinner table. When there’s an abundance of meat on the table, we’d probably start discussing on whether or not Jews can eat pork today, the significance of Peter’s vision of the sheet, the case with Messianic Jews, and drift to the “progressive revelation vs dispensational view” all over again while others are busy yakking in a foreign language.
One day, we’d possibly fight over the same girl. The “whoever sees her first” rule would probably not work out. We’d call a truce and divide the market evenly. I’d go for the Indians, and he’d go for the Malays. If I go for the older ones, he’d probably go for the younger ones. If I think it’s a bad idea to go after those 10 years younger, he’d probably think otherwise. As for Sikh and Eurasian chicks – free for all melee, age doesn’t matter.
Yeah. I wish I have the brother that I never had.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Heard this song before? It's a duet by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. A story about 2 guys, 1 girl, and a silly song :) My comments in *.
Michael Jackson - The Girl Is Mine Lyrics
[1st Verse (Michael)]
Every night she walks right in my dreams
Since I met her from the start
I'm so proud I am the only one
Who is special in her heart
[Chorus]
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
I know she's mine
Because the doggone girl is mine
*Dunno what's doggone. I guessed the word was doggone. I was right! I came across this word before in an Archie comic. Archie said "doggone it!" Dunno what it means.*
[2nd Verse (Paul)]
I don't understand the way you think
Saying that she's yours not mine
Sending roses and your silly dreams
Really just a waste of time
*Haha... Roses and silly dreams. Haha...*
[Chorus]
Because she's mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
[Bridge (Paul)]
I love you more than he
(Take you anywhere)
*Maybe Paul's got a nice car. Probably a Beetle. Hehe. Action la...*
[Michael]
But I love you endlessly
(Loving we will share)
*Michael very kesian, he got no car, so he can only offer his endless love... Hahahaha!*
[Michael & Paul]
So come and go with me
To one town
*Wah, Michael and Paul actually tried to work it out to share the girl...but Michael was the smarter one, because he was the first to realize...*
[Michael]
But we both cannot have her
So it's one or the other
And one day you'll discover
That she's my girl forever and ever
*Ah, too bad. Truce did't work*
[3rd verse (Paul)]
I don't build your hopes to be let down
'Cause I really feel it's time
[Michael]
I know she'll tell you I'm the one for her
'Cause she said I blow her mind
*Wahlau. Blow her mind! Whoa....*
Chorus (Michael)
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
[Michael & Paul]
She's mine, she's mine
No, no, no, she's mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
*The last line, Paul tarik very long and very high wan... the girl is miiiiiine!*
[Paul]
The girl is mine, (Yep) She's mine
The girl is mine, (Yep) She's mine
*This time, at the last line, Paul goes down very low. Super bass*
[Michael]
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
*My favourite part below. Got dialogue wan...*
[Paul]
Michael, we're not going to fight about this, okay
[Michael]
Paul, I think I told you, I'm a lover not a fighter
*YUCK! BLEEEECH! And I'll say it again. YUCK!!*
[Paul]
I've heard it all before, Michael
She told me that I'm her forever lover, you know,
Don't you remember
[Michael]
Well, after loving me, she said she couldn't love
another
[Paul]
Is that what she said
[Michael]
Yes, she said it, you keep dreaming
*Wah, Michael Won!*
[Paul]
I don't believe it
*Haha...Paul cannot accept defeat, so denial mode*
[Michael & Paul]
The girl is mine (mine, mine, mine)
*In the end, both still fighting*
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion: This drama between Michael and Paul reminds me of one exceptional Mathematician. His name is Galois. He came up with a
lot of brilliant formulas. He was only 22 or 23 years old when he died. You know why? Because he died in a duel over a woman's love. Foolish smart man.
My coursemate said "Good thing he died. Or else we'll
have so many more formulas to remember" :)
Michael Jackson - The Girl Is Mine Lyrics
[1st Verse (Michael)]
Every night she walks right in my dreams
Since I met her from the start
I'm so proud I am the only one
Who is special in her heart
[Chorus]
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
I know she's mine
Because the doggone girl is mine
*Dunno what's doggone. I guessed the word was doggone. I was right! I came across this word before in an Archie comic. Archie said "doggone it!" Dunno what it means.*
[2nd Verse (Paul)]
I don't understand the way you think
Saying that she's yours not mine
Sending roses and your silly dreams
Really just a waste of time
*Haha... Roses and silly dreams. Haha...*
[Chorus]
Because she's mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
[Bridge (Paul)]
I love you more than he
(Take you anywhere)
*Maybe Paul's got a nice car. Probably a Beetle. Hehe. Action la...*
[Michael]
But I love you endlessly
(Loving we will share)
*Michael very kesian, he got no car, so he can only offer his endless love... Hahahaha!*
[Michael & Paul]
So come and go with me
To one town
*Wah, Michael and Paul actually tried to work it out to share the girl...but Michael was the smarter one, because he was the first to realize...*
[Michael]
But we both cannot have her
So it's one or the other
And one day you'll discover
That she's my girl forever and ever
*Ah, too bad. Truce did't work*
[3rd verse (Paul)]
I don't build your hopes to be let down
'Cause I really feel it's time
[Michael]
I know she'll tell you I'm the one for her
'Cause she said I blow her mind
*Wahlau. Blow her mind! Whoa....*
Chorus (Michael)
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
[Michael & Paul]
She's mine, she's mine
No, no, no, she's mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
*The last line, Paul tarik very long and very high wan... the girl is miiiiiine!*
[Paul]
The girl is mine, (Yep) She's mine
The girl is mine, (Yep) She's mine
*This time, at the last line, Paul goes down very low. Super bass*
[Michael]
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
*My favourite part below. Got dialogue wan...*
[Paul]
Michael, we're not going to fight about this, okay
[Michael]
Paul, I think I told you, I'm a lover not a fighter
*YUCK! BLEEEECH! And I'll say it again. YUCK!!*
[Paul]
I've heard it all before, Michael
She told me that I'm her forever lover, you know,
Don't you remember
[Michael]
Well, after loving me, she said she couldn't love
another
[Paul]
Is that what she said
[Michael]
Yes, she said it, you keep dreaming
*Wah, Michael Won!*
[Paul]
I don't believe it
*Haha...Paul cannot accept defeat, so denial mode*
[Michael & Paul]
The girl is mine (mine, mine, mine)
*In the end, both still fighting*
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion: This drama between Michael and Paul reminds me of one exceptional Mathematician. His name is Galois. He came up with a
lot of brilliant formulas. He was only 22 or 23 years old when he died. You know why? Because he died in a duel over a woman's love. Foolish smart man.
My coursemate said "Good thing he died. Or else we'll
have so many more formulas to remember" :)
Monday, March 14, 2005
If you get to change two laws in science, which will they be? Get it right, and you won’t have to study anymore for an entire lifetime.
Before we get to that, the context must come first. Ask yourself these questions:
Why do you study? You study so you can get good grades. Why do you need good grades? So you can get a good job. Why do you need a good job? So you can make money. Why do you need money? So you can buy food.
Change the Law Of Energy Conservation. The law states that energy cannot be created, and it cannot be destroyed. It also states that energy can change its form. But what if energy cannot change its form? Then the chemical energy in your body will remain eternally without the need for replenishment. That means you won’t need food. So you won’t need money to buy food. So you won’t need a job to get money. So you won’t need good grades to get a job. And so you won’t have to study to get good grades. Brilliant?
Not quite yet. There is still a matter of material necessities, such as clothing and shelter. Here is where the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics come in. The law states that when any object is left alone, it will convert into a more chaotic form of energy by itself. Over a long period of time, all of it will soon be converted into the most chaotic form of energy – heat. That is why things wear out. Try putting anything, say a car or t-shirt out in the sun. Just leave it alone. It will slowly wear itself out and “disintegrate” over a period of time.
Imagine if the 2nd law of thermodynamics isn’t true. And things just remain as they are without changing into a more chaotic form of energy. That means all your material necessities will never spoil. Your clothes, your shoes, your vehicles, your house, everything. They will remain in the same functional state eternally. So you won’t need the money to buy your material needs. Follow the argument flow used in the Law of Energy Conservation. No need material neccessities = no need money = no need job = no need grades = no need to study.
If those 2 laws are changed, what are the implications on the world? The rich will no longer monopolize everything. Money will lose its power. The world will live in an atmosphere of “sharing”, because hoarding commodities will have no meaning. People will see no loss in working for the poor, the orphan, and the homeless. Because they no longer need to work for themselves. Instead, people will start to see purpose in volunteerism, because they will have nothing better to do to cope with restlessness. This may in turn, lead to world peace.
Or at worse, because of complacency, people may adopt a global, laid-back hippie culture. But what’s the harm of that? Bring ‘em back – flower power!
No you know what to do if a fairy gives you 3 wishes. Wish for those two laws to be changed, and you’ll still have one wish for yourself.
Don’t tell me. I already know I’m good. I'm a geeeeenius!
Before we get to that, the context must come first. Ask yourself these questions:
Why do you study? You study so you can get good grades. Why do you need good grades? So you can get a good job. Why do you need a good job? So you can make money. Why do you need money? So you can buy food.
Change the Law Of Energy Conservation. The law states that energy cannot be created, and it cannot be destroyed. It also states that energy can change its form. But what if energy cannot change its form? Then the chemical energy in your body will remain eternally without the need for replenishment. That means you won’t need food. So you won’t need money to buy food. So you won’t need a job to get money. So you won’t need good grades to get a job. And so you won’t have to study to get good grades. Brilliant?
Not quite yet. There is still a matter of material necessities, such as clothing and shelter. Here is where the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics come in. The law states that when any object is left alone, it will convert into a more chaotic form of energy by itself. Over a long period of time, all of it will soon be converted into the most chaotic form of energy – heat. That is why things wear out. Try putting anything, say a car or t-shirt out in the sun. Just leave it alone. It will slowly wear itself out and “disintegrate” over a period of time.
Imagine if the 2nd law of thermodynamics isn’t true. And things just remain as they are without changing into a more chaotic form of energy. That means all your material necessities will never spoil. Your clothes, your shoes, your vehicles, your house, everything. They will remain in the same functional state eternally. So you won’t need the money to buy your material needs. Follow the argument flow used in the Law of Energy Conservation. No need material neccessities = no need money = no need job = no need grades = no need to study.
If those 2 laws are changed, what are the implications on the world? The rich will no longer monopolize everything. Money will lose its power. The world will live in an atmosphere of “sharing”, because hoarding commodities will have no meaning. People will see no loss in working for the poor, the orphan, and the homeless. Because they no longer need to work for themselves. Instead, people will start to see purpose in volunteerism, because they will have nothing better to do to cope with restlessness. This may in turn, lead to world peace.
Or at worse, because of complacency, people may adopt a global, laid-back hippie culture. But what’s the harm of that? Bring ‘em back – flower power!
No you know what to do if a fairy gives you 3 wishes. Wish for those two laws to be changed, and you’ll still have one wish for yourself.
Don’t tell me. I already know I’m good. I'm a geeeeenius!
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Heard this song before? It is called "Suci Dalam Debu". A very old Malay Song. I think you can find the song listed in any Malay Karaoke lounge.
Look down on it, ye shall not! This song, sung by a rock group "Iklim", shot its lead vocalist to fame in 1990 and won an award for Best Vocal (Group) at the inaugural Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) in 1993. Introducing the man, the legend - A.M. Salim Abdul Majeed, nicknamed Saleem.
Why did it take AIM 3 years to give him the award? Probably because 1993 was the year when the 1st AIM was held. So they had to dig back a few years of Malaysian music history to unearth its award winners. 3 long years for recognition. Hmmm... It's true what they say. Success comes in a long, hard road.
Check out the words of the award winning song:
SUCI DALAM DEBU
Engkau bagai air yang jernih
Di dalam bekas yang berdebu
Zahirnya kotoran itu terlihat
Kesucian terlindung jua
Cinta bukan hanya di mata
Cinta hadir di dalam jiwa
Biarlah salah di mata mereka
Biar perbezaan terlihat antara kita
Ku harapkan kau kan terima
Walau di pandang hina
Namun hakikat cinta kita
Kita yang rasa
Suatu hari nanti pastikan bercahaya
Pintu akan terbuka kita langkah bersama
Di situ kita lihat bersinarlah hakikat
Debu jadi permata hina jadi mulia
Bukan khayalan yang aku berikan
Tapi keyakinan yang nyata
Kerana cinta lautan berapi
Pasti akan ku renang jua
NEWSFLASH:
Check out today's Star paper, 12th March, page 26, Nation. Saleem is jailed for a year for drug possession! But only for 12 months, because he pleaded guilty. He was found having a plastic bag containing 0.06g of heroin and monoacetylmorphines. His lawyer pleased leniency because the amount of drugs involved was minimal, and used only for his own consumption.
From reading the report in the papers, I'm imagining a translation of Saleem's words from English to BM: "Tolonglah kasihankan ku. Aku ni hanya satu orang duk cari makan untuk bini dan anak. Lagipun, saya masih ada contact kat Warner Music untuk satu tahun lagi. Saya kena habiskan album pada bulan Jun. Kasi aku chance sikit la..."
Translating his lawyer: "Far kung tai yan...Tak ape la, bang. Dia ni sudah buat banyak servis kat masyarakat, kerana dia entertainer yang popular. Lagipun, dia kena tanggung ibu dia yang tua, bini dia, dan 6 anak kecik."
The words of Saleem's song really comes to live now! He go and keep his drugs in a "bekas yang berdebu". When he got caught, "zahirnya kotoran itu terlihat". "Biarlah salah di mata mereka!" Saleem pleads. "Biar perbezaan terlihat antara kita" he adds, saying that he is determined to turn over a new leaf, and he will prove it to his wife and kids.
To the court, Saleem pleads in the bridge leading to his chorus: "Ku harapkaaaan... kau kan terima...Walau di pandaaang hina...Namun hakikaaaat...Kita yang rasaaaa" He hopes the court will accept his pleas for leniency. He knows he will dipandang hina already. But the hakikat is, if he gets jailed, we Malaysians are the "kita yang rasa" because the country will have one less top entertainer.
Saleem is sober in contemplating his 12-month sentence. He says in his chorus: "Suatu hari nanti... pastikan bercahaya... Pintu akan terbuka... kita langkah bersama..." He is confident that he will walk out of jail on a bright sunny day. "Di situ kita lihat... bersinarlah hakikat...
Debu jadi permata... hina jadi mulia..." Saleem believes that pada hakikatnya, his shame is only temporal. He will redeem his kemuliaan when his new album shoots him back to stardom again.
To his shrink and fans, Saleem says: "Bukan khayalan yang aku berikan...Tapi keyakinan yang nyata...Kerana cinta lautan berapi...Pasti akan ku renang jua" He assures his therapist that he is not khayal-ing delusionally. He also asks his fans to not lose hope in him, but to have keyakinan that he will survive these times of testing in the lautan berapi.
You will find this really amusing if you knew the song. One day, I will surely go and sing that song in one of the cubicles at BJ, 5th floor. RM1 for 1 song. Ok what...
Look down on it, ye shall not! This song, sung by a rock group "Iklim", shot its lead vocalist to fame in 1990 and won an award for Best Vocal (Group) at the inaugural Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) in 1993. Introducing the man, the legend - A.M. Salim Abdul Majeed, nicknamed Saleem.
Why did it take AIM 3 years to give him the award? Probably because 1993 was the year when the 1st AIM was held. So they had to dig back a few years of Malaysian music history to unearth its award winners. 3 long years for recognition. Hmmm... It's true what they say. Success comes in a long, hard road.
Check out the words of the award winning song:
SUCI DALAM DEBU
Engkau bagai air yang jernih
Di dalam bekas yang berdebu
Zahirnya kotoran itu terlihat
Kesucian terlindung jua
Cinta bukan hanya di mata
Cinta hadir di dalam jiwa
Biarlah salah di mata mereka
Biar perbezaan terlihat antara kita
Ku harapkan kau kan terima
Walau di pandang hina
Namun hakikat cinta kita
Kita yang rasa
Suatu hari nanti pastikan bercahaya
Pintu akan terbuka kita langkah bersama
Di situ kita lihat bersinarlah hakikat
Debu jadi permata hina jadi mulia
Bukan khayalan yang aku berikan
Tapi keyakinan yang nyata
Kerana cinta lautan berapi
Pasti akan ku renang jua
NEWSFLASH:
Check out today's Star paper, 12th March, page 26, Nation. Saleem is jailed for a year for drug possession! But only for 12 months, because he pleaded guilty. He was found having a plastic bag containing 0.06g of heroin and monoacetylmorphines. His lawyer pleased leniency because the amount of drugs involved was minimal, and used only for his own consumption.
From reading the report in the papers, I'm imagining a translation of Saleem's words from English to BM: "Tolonglah kasihankan ku. Aku ni hanya satu orang duk cari makan untuk bini dan anak. Lagipun, saya masih ada contact kat Warner Music untuk satu tahun lagi. Saya kena habiskan album pada bulan Jun. Kasi aku chance sikit la..."
Translating his lawyer: "Far kung tai yan...Tak ape la, bang. Dia ni sudah buat banyak servis kat masyarakat, kerana dia entertainer yang popular. Lagipun, dia kena tanggung ibu dia yang tua, bini dia, dan 6 anak kecik."
The words of Saleem's song really comes to live now! He go and keep his drugs in a "bekas yang berdebu". When he got caught, "zahirnya kotoran itu terlihat". "Biarlah salah di mata mereka!" Saleem pleads. "Biar perbezaan terlihat antara kita" he adds, saying that he is determined to turn over a new leaf, and he will prove it to his wife and kids.
To the court, Saleem pleads in the bridge leading to his chorus: "Ku harapkaaaan... kau kan terima...Walau di pandaaang hina...Namun hakikaaaat...Kita yang rasaaaa" He hopes the court will accept his pleas for leniency. He knows he will dipandang hina already. But the hakikat is, if he gets jailed, we Malaysians are the "kita yang rasa" because the country will have one less top entertainer.
Saleem is sober in contemplating his 12-month sentence. He says in his chorus: "Suatu hari nanti... pastikan bercahaya... Pintu akan terbuka... kita langkah bersama..." He is confident that he will walk out of jail on a bright sunny day. "Di situ kita lihat... bersinarlah hakikat...
Debu jadi permata... hina jadi mulia..." Saleem believes that pada hakikatnya, his shame is only temporal. He will redeem his kemuliaan when his new album shoots him back to stardom again.
To his shrink and fans, Saleem says: "Bukan khayalan yang aku berikan...Tapi keyakinan yang nyata...Kerana cinta lautan berapi...Pasti akan ku renang jua" He assures his therapist that he is not khayal-ing delusionally. He also asks his fans to not lose hope in him, but to have keyakinan that he will survive these times of testing in the lautan berapi.
You will find this really amusing if you knew the song. One day, I will surely go and sing that song in one of the cubicles at BJ, 5th floor. RM1 for 1 song. Ok what...
Thursday, March 10, 2005
The circulation of the prior masterpiece, "10 reasons why you shouldn’t have boyfriends who are 10 years older than you" have had a rousing response. As the survey continued, I became more and more convinced of the flip-side argument. You may want to compare the prior article with the sequel, because they match point for point:
10 reasons why guys should go for girls who are 10 years their junior:
1. She is 10 years younger! That is one reason in itself.
2. During the wedding dinner, after the powerpoint presentations are over, he will get to say this in his speech: "FINALLY! After 10 years..."
3. He is a money-making wizard, genius physicist, and cutting-edge biologist. By this age, he probably has made his first million dollars, knows every law of physical attraction, and able to support a big food-chain. No match for the younger guys.
4. He is going to get old and sick 10 years faster than she does. Marrying a younger girl is a strategic move!
5. When the wife is still young, he gets to enjoy blissful married life. When she gets old and starts to get the inevitable "old woman's disease", he has probably hit the advanced stage of the "old man's disease". So he won't know the difference anyway.
6. She is looking for someone she can look up to. With his age and experience, he can take up the leadership role effortlessly. No need to try hard to be mature. No need to try hard to be wise. It's all in the "older man" package.
7. Forget about equality. He can just tell her that he is being very fair to her, and everything is done for the best of the relationship. And she will probably believe him. Arguments usually have its roots over injustice and imbalance. With the problem of inequality down the drain: No arguments = No domestic violence = Peace and harmony. Which man in his sane mind would not want that?
8. With his age and experience, he’s “eaten more salt that she has eaten rice”. Since he has been through a lot and knows a lot of things, she can have the privilege of expecting him to know all things including ESP. And he won't have to try hard live up to that. Because he has understood so many women in the past, he can read her like an open book.
9. Men are practical people. A guy's maturity is probably her number one requirement. If trying to be mature brinks on impossibility, he will logically take an alternative solution to achieve the same objective: Wait until he gets older, so his maturity will match any young chick.
10. Time-space argument. By his age, he would have already established his kingdom, built his castle, and own his own fleet of ships. All he needs now is a woman to complete it. Since he is already so established, he will have the TIME to do the hunting. He also will have all the SPACE he needs, both in his castle and in his private life. He can surely compartmentalize his life very easily and hide things from her if he wants to because he is 10 years wiser.
For this sequel, there is an 11th reason:
11. When God made Adam, He gave him the job of looking after Eden, naming the animals, plants, etc. When God saw that Adam had no companion, He made Eve. The creation of Eve probably took place 10 years later :)
10 reasons why guys should go for girls who are 10 years their junior:
1. She is 10 years younger! That is one reason in itself.
2. During the wedding dinner, after the powerpoint presentations are over, he will get to say this in his speech: "FINALLY! After 10 years..."
3. He is a money-making wizard, genius physicist, and cutting-edge biologist. By this age, he probably has made his first million dollars, knows every law of physical attraction, and able to support a big food-chain. No match for the younger guys.
4. He is going to get old and sick 10 years faster than she does. Marrying a younger girl is a strategic move!
5. When the wife is still young, he gets to enjoy blissful married life. When she gets old and starts to get the inevitable "old woman's disease", he has probably hit the advanced stage of the "old man's disease". So he won't know the difference anyway.
6. She is looking for someone she can look up to. With his age and experience, he can take up the leadership role effortlessly. No need to try hard to be mature. No need to try hard to be wise. It's all in the "older man" package.
7. Forget about equality. He can just tell her that he is being very fair to her, and everything is done for the best of the relationship. And she will probably believe him. Arguments usually have its roots over injustice and imbalance. With the problem of inequality down the drain: No arguments = No domestic violence = Peace and harmony. Which man in his sane mind would not want that?
8. With his age and experience, he’s “eaten more salt that she has eaten rice”. Since he has been through a lot and knows a lot of things, she can have the privilege of expecting him to know all things including ESP. And he won't have to try hard live up to that. Because he has understood so many women in the past, he can read her like an open book.
9. Men are practical people. A guy's maturity is probably her number one requirement. If trying to be mature brinks on impossibility, he will logically take an alternative solution to achieve the same objective: Wait until he gets older, so his maturity will match any young chick.
10. Time-space argument. By his age, he would have already established his kingdom, built his castle, and own his own fleet of ships. All he needs now is a woman to complete it. Since he is already so established, he will have the TIME to do the hunting. He also will have all the SPACE he needs, both in his castle and in his private life. He can surely compartmentalize his life very easily and hide things from her if he wants to because he is 10 years wiser.
For this sequel, there is an 11th reason:
11. When God made Adam, He gave him the job of looking after Eden, naming the animals, plants, etc. When God saw that Adam had no companion, He made Eve. The creation of Eve probably took place 10 years later :)
