A Discourse on Democratic Theory

2009-09-26T17:03:00.002+08:00

I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yet, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn't be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn't be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters - who your neighbor is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right, never mind what the people think. That's another problem-Lee Kuan Yew

2009-09-13T18:09:00.001+08:00

Barack Obama's face, with his cinched-together eyebrows and wide-open smile, is among the most recognizable in the world. His voice and manner of speech—those pregnant pauses between words, when you can almost see those giant gears grinding inside his head—are universally familiar.

2009-08-01T14:46:00.002+08:00

"Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping shared the same view of China’s ‘cultural exceptionalism’ and the country’s modern mission. According to the modern Chinese narrative, China’s achievements over the past five thousand years give it a ‘mandate’ to dominate Asia based on its perceived economic, cultural, and moral superiority. Up to the fifteenth century,Chinese technological know-how was the most advanced in the world. It had been the largest economy in the world for eighteen of the past twenty centuries. As recently as 1820,China could boast that it produced one third of global output , and it remained the world’s largest economy until around 1885. In many respects, China’s perception of itself shares something with America’s: they both feel strongly about their moral rectitude, both feel their respective cultures and values havesomething unique and invaluable to offer the world, and both believe that they are destined to become truly great powers in human history. "

From the New York Times: The End of Intervention by Madeleine Albright

2009-07-27T22:01:00.005+08:00

THE Burmese government’s criminally neglectful response to last month’s cyclone, and the world’s response to that response, illustrate three grim realities today: totalitarian governments are alive and well; their neighbors are reluctant to pressure them to change; and the notion of national sovereignty as sacred is gaining ground, helped in no small part by the disastrous results of the American invasion of Iraq. Indeed, many of the world’s necessary interventions in the decade before the invasion — in places like Haiti and the Balkans — would seem impossible in today’s climate.

The first and most obvious reality is the survival of totalitarian government in an age of global communications and democratic progress. Myanmar’s military junta employs the same set of tools used by the likes of Stalin to crush dissent and monitor the lives of citizens. The needs of the victims of Cyclone Nargis mean nothing to a regime focused solely on preserving its own authority.

Second is the unwillingness of Myanmar’s neighbors to use their collective leverage on behalf of change. A decade ago, when Myanmar was allowed to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, I was assured by leaders in the region that they would push the junta to open its economy and move in the direction of democracy. With a few honorable exceptions, this hasn’t happened.

A third reality is that the concept of national sovereignty as an inviolable and overriding principle of global law is once again gaining ground. Many diplomats and foreign policy experts had hoped that the fall of the Berlin Wall would lead to the creation of an integrated world system free from spheres of influence, in which the wounds created by colonial and cold war empires would heal.

In such a world, the international community would recognize a responsibility to override sovereignty in emergency situations — to prevent ethnic cleansing or genocide, arrest war criminals, restore democracy or provide disaster relief when national governments were either unable or unwilling to do so.

During the 1990s, certain precedents were created. The administration of George H. W. Bush intervened to prevent famine in Somalia and to aid Kurds in northern Iraq; the Clinton administration returned an elected leader to power in Haiti; NATO ended the war in Bosnia and stopped Slobodan Milosevic’s campaign of terror in Kosovo; the British halted a civil war in Sierra Leone; and the United Nations authorized life-saving missions in East Timor and elsewhere.

These actions were not steps toward a world government. They did reflect the view that the international system exists to advance certain core values, including development, justice and respect for human rights. In this view, sovereignty is still a central consideration, but cases may arise in which there is a responsibility to intervene — through sanctions or, in extreme cases, by force — to save lives.

The Bush administration’s decision to fight in Afghanistan after 9/11 did nothing to weaken this view because it was clearly motivated by self-defense. The invasion of Iraq, with the administration’s grandiose rhetoric about pre-emption, was another matter, however. It generated a negative reaction that has weakened support for cross-border interventions even for worthy purposes. Governments, especially in the developing world, are now determined to preserve the principle of sovereignty, even when the human costs of doing so are high.

Thus, Myanmar’s leaders have been shielded from the repercussions of their outrageous actions. Sudan has been able to dictate the terms of multinational operations inside Darfur. The government of Zimbabwe may yet succeed in stealing a presidential election.

Political leaders in Pakistan have told the Bush administration to back off, despite the growth of Al Qaeda and Taliban cells in the country’s wild northwest. African leaders (understandably perhaps) have said no to the creation of a regional American military command. And despite recent efforts to enshrine the doctrine of a “responsibility to protect” in international law, the concept of humanitarian intervention has lost momentum.

The global conscience is not asleep, but after the turbulence of recent years, it is profoundly confused. Some governments will oppose any exceptions to the principle of sovereignty because they fear criticism of their own policies. Others will defend the sanctity of sovereignty unless and until they again have confidence in the judgment of those proposing exceptions.

At the heart of the debate is the question of what the international system is. Is it just a collection of legal nuts and bolts cobbled together by governments to protect governments? Or is it a living framework of rules intended to make the world a more humane place?

We know how the government of Myanmar would answer that question, but what we need to listen to is the voice — and cry — of the Burmese people.

Madeleine K. Albright was the United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001.

2009-07-27T21:14:00.001+08:00

2009-07-27T18:53:00.000+08:00

http://www.likecool.com/Marcin_Sacha--Pic--Gear.html

2009-07-26T00:39:00.000+08:00

" Secular Israelis, for their part, live in perpetual dismay over the fact that their successes have never led them to where they expected to arrive. Their parents’ generation, and that of their parents, expected to be vindicated, that the value and truth of the ideology they embraced would be confirmed by the society they built. After Zionists produced the Good Society, they reasoned, no one could doubt that Zionism itself is a social good. And for some time, it seemed that this formula had proven itself to be Israel’s self-image, broadly, as the country passed through two phases.

In the first phase, Israel saw itself as a model of state-building, the only country in the world in which voluntarist socialist communities -- kibbutzim -- thrived, producing not only a plurality of the country’s food, but providing in extraordinary numbers charismatic leaders in government and the army. Even beyond the green lawns and gates of the kibbutzim (which accounted, after all, for only a bit over 3 percent of the country’s population), economists determined that Israel was the country with the smallest “socioeconomic gap” in the world; the difference in income between the richest and poorest 10 percent was smaller than anywhere else. Israel had undertaken and succeeded in massive development projects. The country had absorbed several times its population in immigrants, many poor, and many refugees arriving from dreadful circumstances. Israel reversed the regional trend towards desertification, reclaiming tens of thousands of acres of arid land for productive agriculture. Israelis became agricultural advisors through much of Africa, helping to spark a short-lived but significant increase in African agricultural production. And of course, Israel had assembled an army and airforce recognized for its effectiveness and creativity. Generals like Moshe Dayan and Yitzhak Rabin became international celebrities and found themselves dining at the tables of princes and starlets.

No one holds a heroic view of Israel anymore, not abroad and not here. Today’s kibbutzim are not a source of national pride. In the past decade, dozens of them have “privatized,” dividing up what was common property (it took a Supreme Court ruling to stop kibbutzim from selling to developers valuable government-owned lands that had been lent to them for agriculture). Israel’s social gap is now considered among the greatest in the developed world. The most recent wave of immigrants, from the former Soviet Union, are largely disgruntled, and surveys suggest that a large percentage of them are not even Jews. Several of Israel’s large development projects have caused great harm to the local environment. Israelis are unwelcome in African capitals. They are mostly unwelcome anywhere. And most important of all, Israel’s military excellence has been tested in a 20-year misadventure occupying southern Lebanon, and in laboriously maintaining the peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The disastrous last war in Lebanon, and the wrenching recent war in Gaza, won support by most Israelis, and censure by some, but together they have left little doubt that the country’s army is not heroic in the sense that it once was. " --Foreign Policy

2009-07-21T11:02:00.001+08:00

Now why, when you talk about the regulators, why not the financial news network? Isn't that the whole point of this? CNBC could be an incredibly powerful tool of illumination for people that believe that there are two markets: One that has been sold to us as long term. Put your money in 401ks. Put your money in pensions and just leave it there. Don’t worry about it. It’s all doing fine. Then, there’s this other market; this real market that is occurring in the back room. Where giant piles of money are going in and out and people are trading them and it’s transactional and it’s fast. But it’s dangerous, it’s ethically dubious and it hurts that long term market. So what it feels like to us—and I’m talking purely as a layman—it feels like we are capitalizing your adventure by our pension and our hard earned money. And that it is a game that you know... That you know is going on. But you go on television as a financial network and pretend isn’t happening.

2009-07-20T14:18:00.002+08:00

2009-07-19T21:47:00.000+08:00

On the Palestine-Israel wars and the fact God promised the land west of Jordan to both the Muslims and the Jeudo-Christian peoples : "A lightning bolt strike might be okay for your average god like Zeus or Thor or Ra, but this God prefers insinuation, cryptic gestures left wide open to the interpretative process also known as every war ever fought for the past two thousand years."

A slightly updated essay: WoW and the dream of a generational mission

2009-07-09T20:28:00.000+08:00

When I read Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, he wrote that "The climate crisis offers us a chance to experience what very few generations in history have had the privilege of knowing: a generational mission; the exhilaration of a compelling moral purpose; a shared and unifying cause; the thrill of being forced by circumstances to put aside the pettiness and conflict that so often stifle the restless human need for transcendence; the opportunity to rise"

From introspection, I feel that what World of Warcraft most appeals to me is that it offers a 'generational mission' to the masses of the middle class all over the world. WoW and it's elaborate story arcs create an artificial yet very compelling 'moral' purpose to our otherwise mundane lives. I myself am an army clerk in a boring reservist camp. Life is drab and one cannot help but feel entrapped by the mediocrity and dour atmosphere that permeates daily Singaporean life. Even going out with friends on weekends feels oddly 'hedonistic'.

I yearn for the green fields of freedom, to be part of a grand venture, a great adventure, which unfortunately cannot be found in the context of reality. As i have once mentioned. 'It's not possible to form a 40 men raid and attack Myanmar to liberate Aung San Suu Kyi'. 'We cannot cast 'lifebloom' to heal the masses in Africa dying of aids and disease and famine'. We cannot cast "Blessing of Protection" on the masses of refugees on the unarmed road of flight from tyranny and genocide. Sadly, we cannot do such noble acts in real life. It pains my heart to see human suffering, yet there is very little I can do to address the inequalities that prevail in the world, other than making donations to charitable organizations like the National Kidney Foundation or Buddhist temples in the hope that these funds can be channeled to help those who are suffering. But the dream, the dream of doing such noble acts, remains. In the World of Warcraft one can be part of a Grand Venture, to save the world from the forces of evil. To defeat the Burning Legion, to redeem the mortal races, to protect the weak and poor. It is sad that only in a virtual world can we commit such noble and altruistic gestures of humanity.

But nonetheless, WoW hints at our own underlying desire to transcend human suffering, to break free of this Mortal Coil. The dream of a generational mission to redeem all of humanity still remains...

2009-06-17T10:14:00.000+08:00

“Tragically, the international community largely ignores the cries for help, while the citizens of Gaza are treated more like animals than human beings” Jimmy Carter on the situation in Gaza, Palestine

The facade of religion

2009-06-11T15:47:00.000+08:00

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? "

On the rise of the smartphone

2009-06-10T16:37:00.000+08:00

"" The smartphone, said Mr. Meyer, a cognitive psychologist, can be seen as a digital “Skinner box,” a reference to the experiments of the behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner in which rats were conditioned to press a lever repeatedly to get food pellets.

With the smartphone, he said, the stimuli are information feeds. “It can be powerfully reinforcing behavior,” he said. “But the key is to make sure this technology helps you carry out the tasks of daily life instead of interfering with them. It’s about balance and managing things." ""

Stephen Colbert

2009-06-10T11:06:00.004+08:00

"We stopped seeing much coverage of the Iraq War back in September when the economy tanked, and I just figured the insurgents were wiped out because they were heavily invested in Lehman Brothers."

STEPHEN COLBERT: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Before I begin, I've been asked to make an announcement. Whoever parked 14 black bulletproof S.U.V.'s out front, could you please move them? They are blocking in 14 other black bulletproof S.U.V.'s and they need to get out.

Wow. Wow, what an honor. The White House correspondents' dinner. To actually sit here, at the same table with my hero, George W. Bush, to be this close to the man. I feel like I'm dreaming. Somebody pinch me. You know what? I'm a pretty sound sleeper -- that may not be enough. Somebody shoot me in the face. Is he really not here tonight? Dammit. The one guy who could have helped.

By the way, before I get started, if anybody needs anything else at their tables, just speak slowly and clearly into your table numbers. Somebody from the NSA will be right over with a cocktail. Mark Smith, ladies and gentlemen of the press corps, Madame First Lady, Mr. President, my name is Stephen Colbert and tonight it's my privilege to celebrate this president. We're not so different, he and I. We get it. We're not brainiacs on the nerd patrol. We're not members of the factinista. We go straight from the gut, right sir? That's where the truth lies, right down here in the gut. Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut than you have in your head? You can look it up. I know some of you are going to say "I did look it up, and that's not true." That's 'cause you looked it up in a book.

Next time, look it up in your gut. I did. My gut tells me that's how our nervous system works. Every night on my show, the Colbert Report, I speak straight from the gut, OK? I give people the truth, unfiltered by rational argument. I call it the "No Fact Zone." Fox News, I hold a copyright on that term.

I'm a simple man with a simple mind. I hold a simple set of beliefs that I live by. Number one, I believe in America. I believe it exists. My gut tells me I live there. I feel that it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and I strongly believe it has 50 states. And I cannot wait to see how the Washington Post spins that one tomorrow. I believe in democracy. I believe democracy is our greatest export. At least until China figures out a way to stamp it out of plastic for three cents a unit.

In fact, Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, welcome. Your great country makes our Happy Meals possible. I said it's a celebration. I believe the government that governs best is the government that governs least. And by these standards, we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.

I believe in pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps. I believe it is possible -- I saw this guy do it once in Cirque du Soleil. It was magical. And though I am a committed Christian, I believe that everyone has the right to their own religion, be you Hindu, Jewish or Muslim. I believe there are infinite paths to accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe it's yogurt. But I refuse to believe it's not butter. Most of all, I believe in this president.

Now, I know there are some polls out there saying this man has a 32% approval rating. But guys like us, we don't pay attention to the polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in "reality." And reality has a well-known liberal bias.

So, Mr. President, please, pay no attention to the people that say the glass is half full. 32% means the glass -- it's important to set up your jokes properly, sir. Sir, pay no attention to the people who say the glass is half empty, because 32% means it's 2/3 empty. There's still some liquid in that glass is my point, but I wouldn't drink it. The last third is usually backwash. Okay, look, folks, my point is that I don't believe this is a low point in this presidency. I believe it is just a lull before a comeback.

I mean, it's like the movie "Rocky." All right. The president in this case is Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed is -- everything else in the world. It's the tenth round. He's bloodied. His corner man, Mick, who in this case I guess would be the vice president, he's yelling, "Cut me, Dick, cut me!," and every time he falls everyone says, "Stay down! Stay down!" Does he stay down? No. Like Rocky, he gets back up, and in the end he -- actually, he loses in the first movie.

OK. Doesn't matter. The point is it is the heart-warming story of a man who was repeatedly punched in the face. So don't pay attention to the approval ratings that say 68% of Americans disapprove of the job this man is doing. I ask you this, does that not also logically mean that 68% approve of the job he's not doing? Think about it. I haven't.

I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message: that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound -- with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world.

Now, there may be an energy crisis. This president has a very forward-thinking energy policy. Why do you think he's down on the ranch cutting that brush all the time? He's trying to create an alternative energy source. By 2008 we will have a mesquite-powered car!

And I just like the guy. He's a good joe. Obviously loves his wife, calls her his better half. And polls show America agrees. She's a true lady and a wonderful woman. But I just have one beef, ma'am.

I'm sorry, but this reading initiative. I'm sorry, I've never been a fan of books. I don't trust them. They're all fact, no heart. I mean, they're elitist, telling us what is or isn't true, or what did or didn't happen. Who's Britannica to tell me the Panama Canal was built in 1914? If I want to say it was built in 1941, that's my right as an American! I'm with the president, let history decide what did or did not happen.

The greatest thing about this man is he's steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change; this man's beliefs never will. As excited as I am to be here with the president, I am appalled to be surrounded by the liberal media that is destroying America, with the exception of Fox News. Fox News gives you both sides of every story: the president's side, and the vice president's side.

But the rest of you, what are you thinking, reporting on NSA wiretapping or secret prisons in eastern Europe? Those things are secret for a very important reason: they're super-depressing. And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished. Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew.

But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know - fiction!

Because really, what incentive do these people have to answer your questions, after all? I mean, nothing satisfies you. Everybody asks for personnel changes. So the White House has personnel changes. Then you write, "Oh, they're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." First of all, that is a terrible metaphor. This administration is not sinking. This administration is soaring. If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg!

Now, it's not all bad guys out there. Some are heroes: Christopher Buckley, Jeff Sacks, Ken Burns, Bob Schieffer. They've all been on my show. By the way, Mr. President, thank you for agreeing to be on my show. I was just as shocked as everyone here is, I promise you. How's Tuesday for you? I've got Frank Rich, but we can bump him. And I mean bump him. I know a guy. Say the word.

See who we've got here tonight. General Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff. General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They still support Rumsfeld. Right, you guys aren't retired yet, right? Right, they still support Rumsfeld.

Look, by the way, I've got a theory about how to handle these retired generals causing all this trouble: don't let them retire! Come on, we've got a stop-loss program; let's use it on these guys. I've seen Zinni and that crowd on Wolf Blitzer. If you're strong enough to go on one of those pundit shows, you can stand on a bank of computers and order men into battle. Come on.

Jesse Jackson is here, the Reverend. Haven't heard from the Reverend in a little while. I had him on the show. Very interesting and challenging interview. You can ask him anything, but he's going to say what he wants, at the pace that he wants. It's like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor, by the way, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is.

Justice Scalia is here. Welcome, sir. May I be the first to say, you look fantastic. How are you? [After each sentence, Colbert makes a hand gesture, an allusion to Scalia's recent use of an obscene Sicilian hand gesture in speaking to a reporter about Scalia's critics. Scalia is seen laughing hysterically.] Just talking some Sicilian with my paisan.

John McCain is here. John McCain, John McCain, what a maverick! Somebody find out what fork he used on his salad, because I guarantee you it wasn't a salad fork. This guy could have used a spoon! There's no predicting him. By the way, Senator McCain, it's so wonderful to see you coming back into the Republican fold. I have a summer house in South Carolina; look me up when you go to speak at Bob Jones University. So glad you've seen the light, sir.

Mayor Nagin! Mayor Nagin is here from New Orleans, the chocolate city! Yeah, give it up. Mayor Nagin, I'd like to welcome you to Washington, D.C., the chocolate city with a marshmallow center. And a graham cracker crust of corruption. It's a Mallomar, I guess is what I'm describing, a seasonal cookie.

Joe Wilson is here, Joe Wilson right down here in front, the most famous husband since Desi Arnaz. And of course he brought along his lovely wife Valerie Plame. Oh, my god! Oh, what have I said? I -- Je -- minetti (sp?). [looks horrified] I am sorry, Mr. President, I meant to say he brought along his lovely wife Joe Wilson's wife. Patrick Fitzgerald is not here tonight? OK. Dodged a bullet.

And, of course, we can't forget the man of the hour, new press secretary, Tony Snow. Secret Service name, "Snow Job." Toughest job. What a hero! Took the second toughest job in government, next to, of course, the ambassador to Iraq.

Got some big shoes to fill, Tony. Big shoes to fill. Scott McClellan could say nothing like nobody else. McClellan, of course, eager to retire. Really felt like he needed to spend more time with Andrew Card's children. Mr. President, I wish you hadn't made the decision so quickly, sir.

I was vying for the job myself. I think I would have made a fabulous press secretary. I have nothing but contempt for these people. I know how to handle these clowns. In fact, sir, I brought along an audition tape and with your indulgence, I'd like to at least give it a shot. So, ladies and gentlemen, my press conference.

The most important speech of the year

2009-06-05T11:37:00.000+08:00

I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.

We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world – tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.

Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.

So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.

I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do – to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.

Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.

As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.

I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.

So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.

But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words – within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."

Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores – that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.

Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.

So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.

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

For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.

This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.

That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.

The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.

In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.

The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.

Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.

That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths – more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace.

We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.

Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."

Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.

And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.

So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.

The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.

America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.

Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.

On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.

For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers – for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.

That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them – and all of us – to live up to our responsibilities.

Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.

Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.

At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.

Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.

Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.

America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.

Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.

The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.

This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.

It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.

I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.

The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.

I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.

That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.

There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people.

This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.

The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.

Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.

Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.

Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.

Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.

Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action – whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.

The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.

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

Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.

Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.

Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.

I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations – including my own – this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities – those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.

But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.

This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.

On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.

On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.

All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.

The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek – a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.

I know there are many – Muslim and non-Muslim – who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort – that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.

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

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.

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

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

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

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

The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.

An excellent photo essay

2009-06-01T12:06:00.001+08:00

http://www.richardmosse.com/photography.php?pid=1

"The most interesting thing about the whole endeavor for me was the very fact that the U.S. had chosen to occupy Saddam's palaces in the first place. If you're trying to convince a population that you have liberated them from a terrible dictator, why would you then sit in his throne? A savvier place to station the garrison would have been a place free from associations with Saddam, and the terror and injustices that the occupying forces were convinced they'd done away with. Instead, they made the mistake of repeating history. This is why I've titled this body of work Breach. "Breach" is a military maneuver in which the walls of a fortification (or palace) are broken through. But breach also carries the sense of replacement—as in, stepping into the breach. The U.S. stepped into the breach that it had created, replacing the very thing that it sought to destroy."

A letter from Galvyn

2009-05-29T19:28:00.001+08:00

"Recently there has been some discussion between guild members regarding where this guild is heading. Some want SG to focus more on progression and heroic raids, while others want to maintain SG as a casual guild where everyone can hang out and help one another.

In my opinion, Supreme Guardian should remain a casual guild where everyone can just have fun.

Firstly, we all have our individual friends that we hang out with. I myself like to hang out with some good friends and play casual basketball in real life weekly. But sometimes it's also nice to hang out with friends who enjoy WoW. That's why our guild outings are so enjoyable and meaningful. It's where WoW gamers can get together in real life and have fun while chatting about WoW. It's where you realize that there are really nice people behind the pixelised characters in Azeroth.

Secondly progression guilds aren't as happy and cheerful as casual guilds. Due to the fact that everyone in a progression guild is judged by their performance, everyone maintains a noticeable emotional distance from everyone else. In other words, if you do not perform or attend regular raids, you may very well be out other guild. Progression guilds can be very cold and ruthless. On the other hand, in a casual guild like SG we can just do the occasional 10 men raids and have fun, to enjoy the warmth of other nice people that also enjoy gaming.

Ultimately I recommend that if you want to focus on raiding full time, join a progression guild. Or you can be like me, with one character in a progression guild and another in this casual guild and have the best of both worlds. Supreme Guardian was created as a casual guild, and should remain so .

World of Warcraft can sometimes make people cynical, since the whole game is geared towards engineered altruism. Quests and raids force people to help one another, but only for the sake of progressing further down the game. All the kindness, and the assistance you receive from others in the game is ultimately artificial. It's all pixels. None of it is real.

However, here at Supreme Guardian we have created a little bit of paradise, where gamers can come together in real life and in World of Warcraft to chill out and be happy. And that's what our guild should always continue to be.

Thank you. " ---from my post on the Supreme Guardian forums

Word of the Day

2009-05-29T10:53:00.001+08:00

truthiness : the quality by which one purports to know something emotionally or instinctively, without regard to evidence or intellectual examination

Quote of the Day

2009-05-29T10:28:00.002+08:00

"if Obama allows the Israeli agenda on Iran to become America’s, his outreach is dead. I don’t know if Israel is bluffing about bombing Iran — nobody does — but one thing is clear: Netanyahu’s bellicosity is as unrelenting as his desire to distract attention from stillborn Palestine."
-Roger Cohen, New York Times

2009-05-29T09:13:00.001+08:00

http://googleblog.blogspot.com

This is an excellent corporate blog. Do read it.

2009-05-28T16:13:00.000+08:00

"In retrospect, the defining moment of the 2006 campaign may well have been back in April, when Mr. Colbert appeared at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Call it a cultural primary. His performance was judged a bomb by the Washington press corps, which yukked it up instead for a Bush impersonator who joined the president in a benign sketch commissioned by the White House. But millions of Americans watching C-Span and the Web did get Mr. Colbert’s routine. They recognized that the Beltway establishment sitting stone-faced in his audience was the butt of his jokes, especially the very news media that had parroted Bush administration fictions leading America into the quagmire of Iraq." From the New York Times

2009-05-28T15:50:00.001+08:00

From the WoW Forums:

North Korea: "We maek bomb nao"
UN: "Stop that or I'm going to spank you!"
North Korea: "We test bomb nao, k?"
UN: "Stop it! I'm not playing. I mean it!"
North Korea: "We test missiles nao, brb"
Japan: "Oh *@**, was that a Terradactyl?"
North Korea: "We will kill joo allz if you try to stop us"
UN: "Come on, guys! We mean it :( Stop. *sniffle* Please?"
North Korea: Lolz, pwnt

What is happiness?

2009-05-28T15:48:00.000+08:00

"If there is a state where the soul can find a resting-place secure enough to establish itself and concentrate its entire being there, with no need to remember the past or reach into the future, where time is nothing to it, where the present runs on indefinitely but this duration goes unnoticed, with no sign of the passing of time, and no other feeling of deprivation or enjoyment, pleasure or pain, desire or fear than the simple feeling of existence, a feeling that fills our soul entirely, as long as this state lasts, we can call ourselves happy, not with a poor, incomplete and relative happiness such as we find in the pleasures of life, but with a sufficient, complete and perfect happiness which leaves no emptiness to be filled in the soul."

Stephen Colbert at Knox College in 2006

2009-05-16T19:47:00.001+08:00

Well, you are about to start the greatest improvisation of all. With no script. No idea what's going to happen, often with people and places you have never seen before. And you are not in control. So say "yes." And if you're lucky, you'll find people who will say "yes" back.

Now will saying "yes" get you in trouble at times? Will saying "yes" lead you to doing some foolish things? Yes it will. But don't be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don't learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying "yes" begins things. Saying "yes" is how things grow. Saying "yes" leads to knowledge. "Yes" is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say "yes."

2009-05-15T06:42:00.002+08:00

Next week Supreme Guardian is holding our 3rd guild outing :) either on Friday or Saturday!

I also bought new Apple in-ear earphones and Airport Extreme Base Station

2009-05-02T22:54:00.001+08:00

"What is the nature of the guilt that your teachers and pastors call his Original Sin? What are the evils man acquired when he fell from a state they considered perfection?

Their myth declares that he ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge--he acquired a mind and became a rational being. It was the knowledge of good and evil-- he became a moral being. He was sentenced to earn his bread by his labour--he became a productive being. He was sentenced to experience desire--he acquired the capacity of sexual enjoyment.

The evils for which they damn him are reason, morality, creativeness, joy--all the cardinal values of his existence.It was not his vices that their myth of man's fall is designed to explain and condemn, it is not his errors that they hold as his guilt, but the essence of his nature as man.

Whatever he was--that robot in the Garden of Eden, who existed without mind, without values, without labour, without love ---he was not man"

Quote from Arstechnica.com

2009-04-27T10:56:00.000+08:00

Steven Colbert is the Rorschach test of modern politics: Apparently, if Ohio State students are any indication, everyone finds Colbert funny. But is he making fun of conservatives, or simply being goofy while presenting opinions he honestly shares? Apparently, how you answer that question depends on your own political leanings.

"conservatives were more likely to report that Colbert only pretends to be joking and genuinely meant what he said while liberals were more likely to report that Colbert used satire and was not serious when offering political statements."

2009-04-26T13:53:00.000+08:00

The children of Adam are the limbs of one body
That share an origin in their creation
When one limb passes its days in pain
The other limbs cannot remain easy
You who feel no pain at the suffering of others
It is not fitting for you to be called human

Alongside our famous individualism, there’s another ingredient in the American saga: a belief that we’re all connected as one people. If there is a child on the south side of Chicago who can’t read, that matters to me, even if it’s not my child. If there is a senior citizen somewhere who can’t pay for their prescription drugs, and having to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it’s not my grandparent. If there’s an Arab-American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties.
It is that fundamental belief: I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper, that makes this country work.

2009-04-26T13:24:00.000+08:00

"The history of soccer is a sad voyage from beauty to duty. When the sport became an industry, the beauty that blossoms from the joy of play got torn out by its very roots. In this fin-de-siecle world, professional soccer condemns all that is useless, and useless means not profitable. Nobody earns a thing from that crazy feeling that for a moment turns a man into a child playing with a balloon, like a cat with a ball of yarn, a ballet dancer who romps with a ball as light as a balloon or a ball of yarn, playing without even knowing he’s playing, with no purpose or clock or referee.

Play has become spectacle, with few protagonists and many spectators, soccer for watching. And that spectacle has become one of the most profitable businesses in the world, organized not for play but rather to impede it. The technocracy of professional sport has managed to impose a soccer of lightning speed and brute strength, a soccer that negates joy, kills fantasy and outlaws daring.

Luckily, on the field you can still see, even if only once in a long while, some insolent rascal who sets aside the script and commits the blunder of dribbling past the entire opposing side, the referee and the crowd in the stands, all for the carnal delight of embracing the forbidden adventure of freedom. "

News Update

2009-04-24T08:53:00.002+08:00

Ok the good news is apparently I'm not depressed :'D :'D :'D

Anyway Supreme Guardian may be holding another guild outing next week or so to watch Wolverine :'p

My macbook pro cannot seem to play WMV videos for some reason :'(

Excellent North Korean photoessay

2009-04-22T09:14:00.000+08:00

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4878

Am I depressed?

2009-04-21T14:26:00.002+08:00

	A. Loss of appetite
	B. Weight loss
	C. Early morning awakenings
	D. Lack of energy
	E. Too much sleeping
	F. Sadness
	G. Crying, especially without knowing why
	H. Suicidal thoughts
	I. Feelings of hopelessness
	J. Feelings of helplessness
	K. Lack of interest in things which were formerly interesting
	L. Lack of enjoyment of life

I do not know if I have depression. I was reading up on it and apparently I have 8 of the 12 common symptoms (coloured in red).

http://www.tweenbots.com/

2009-04-20T15:59:00.001+08:00

I found this website via gizmodo.com. Really sweet project :'D Makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.

Quote from the website:

"In New York, we are very occupied with getting from one place to another. I wondered: could a human-like object traverse sidewalks and streets along with us, and in so doing, create a narrative about our relationship to space and our willingness to interact with what we find in it? More importantly, how could our actions be seen within a larger context of human connection that emerges from the complexity of the city itself? To answer these questions, I built robots."

2009-04-10T21:11:00.002+08:00

Today I'm pouting at home because I'm supposed to be in Bali! >:(

Anyway I spent the day watching Obama's speeches in Turkey on msnbc.com. Fantastic speeches :'D

I also watched 2 episodes of an anime called K-ON. Awesome anime :'p !

I also watched Lost episodes. Damn Lost makes me paranoid :'O

More analysis of Obama's speeches in Turkey soon :)

Very emo right now :'(

2009-04-09T12:12:00.005+08:00

Ok last saturday's guild outing at Grand Cathay was fun! Turnout was good 8 guys and 1 girl (the girl is cute too) :O ! Watched Shinjiku Incident and ate at Billy Bombers.

Anyway tomorrow I was supposed to be going to Bali with Xiangming and Co , we've been planning it for 1 month. However today i realised my f*cking passport is expired so I can't go. I am so f*cking emo right now. Really f*cking pissed, feel like taking rifle and shooting people. Now I have nothing to do for the whole f*cking weekend >8<

Supreme Guardian

2009-03-31T13:55:00.001+08:00

i recently joined a casual WoW guild called Supreme Guardian and they decided to hold an outing at Grand Cathay this Saturday. Guild leaders says we're gonna have dinner and watch a movie.

=o sounds interesting!

2009-03-31T13:52:00.001+08:00

from theAtlantic.com

"We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge and sees thereby a feather magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."

2009-03-30T12:10:00.000+08:00

Andrew Sullivan describing Dick Cheney "he knows he will go down in history as a war criminal, defined for all time as the man who took America and the West to the dark side with no easy way back."

Hillary Clinton at her best

2009-03-28T11:48:00.001+08:00

"Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade...Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border . . . causes the deaths of police, of soldiers and civilians"-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at TecMilenio University in Monterrey, Mexico

Joke of the Day

2009-03-27T09:28:00.001+08:00

This is a funny joke not written by me:

Heh, this is a great joke.

For clarification, the KGB is the spy network of the USSR, the GIGN is the spy network of France, and the CIA is the spy network of the USA.

Enjoy.

The KGB, the GIGN and the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the best at catching criminals.

The Secretary General of the UN decides to give them a test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and each of them has to catch it.

The CIA goes in. They place animal informants throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist.

The GIGN goes in. After two weeks with no leads they burn the forest, killing everything in it, including the rabbit, and make no apologies: the rabbit had it coming.

The KGB goes in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten bear. The bear is yelling: "Okay! Okay! I'm a rabbit! I'm a rabbit!"

The Undying

2009-03-23T23:12:00.004+08:00

I finally earned 'the Undying' tonight! This title is incredibly hard to get as not a single person must die throughout Naxxramas. Requires incredible teamwork and coordination!

This is how you mix civil rights with humor ^^

2009-03-21T18:27:00.001+08:00

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/148029/january-22-2008/it-s-all-about-stephen

Reins of the Twilight Drake

2009-03-12T21:46:00.003+08:00

after nearly a hundred attempts Encore downed H OS 3D, and i rolled a 98 and won the Twilight Drake :D

2009-03-09T08:37:00.001+08:00

From the Atlantic

"

Atlas raised his eyebrows

Perhaps predictibly, Ayn Rand is making a comeback on the right, with Congressmen handing out her books, and loose talk of rich people "Going Galt".

I don't think that we will see a mass exodus of productive people to secret hideouts. I look to Atlas Shrugged more for conveniently totable beach reading than an economic blueprint. What's interesting to me, though, is how many details Rand did get right--like the markets in "unfreezing" Ukrainian bank deposits, so similar to the frozen railroad bonds of Atlas Shrugged. Or the cascading and unanticipated failures, with government officials racing to slap another fix on to fix the last failing solution. If only the people in her novels had acted remotely like actual people, rather than comic book characters, I, too, would be rereading the thing now.

She was able to describe these things so well, of course, because she'd seen what an economy looked like while it was being wrecked. All of Rand's writing is dominated by the fact that she lived through the birth pangs of Soviet Russia, and saw her family's business destroyed by Lenin's ideology, and extraordinarily incompetent economic management. Her philosophy does not work, at least if by work we mean generate a framework by which a person or society can order itself. But she was actually a really very gifted observer, and she had a quite subtle understanding of how all the interconnected elements of an industrial economy fit together. It's a pity she didn't quite get how human beings worked, especially herself. "

The Generator

2009-03-08T12:56:00.007+08:00

"it seems to suggest that opinion polls don't matter, the stock market is the only rational objective indicator of a commander-in-chief's performance, but isn't the DOW Jones Industrial average just a short twitch in numerical representation of a bunch of guesses about other people's assumptions about the financial well-being of an arbitrarily chosen group of 30 out of tens of thousands of possible companies? "--the Daily Show, criticizing cable news networks for using the DOW Jones as a real time cause-and-effect precision barometer for the President's approval ratings

2009-03-05T17:49:00.003+08:00

Yes We Can

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.

"From Time.com

No Election 2008 video better distilled the reasons to love, and hate, the candidate it espoused. Meet Barack Obama: the eloquent, passionate voice of hope, tolerance and generational change. Meet Barack Obama: the slicked-up choice of a bunch of smug hipster celebrities in love with how they and their candidate look on camera. Either way, the video was effective not just for its images but for how it literally captured the musicality of Obama's call-and-response — and, released just before Super Tuesday, it was a brilliantly timed motivational spot. "

The Non-Commercial

2009-03-03T14:32:00.003+08:00

Been reading the Nov. 5 coverage of the Nov 4 elections. Re-read Obama's speech.
Simply awesome.

"It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."

"to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can."

Yesterday I re-watched Obama's 2004 DNC speech for the 50th time or so. "The Audacity of Hope" is arguably the greatest and most electrifying speech of all time.

Obama's not God, he's not perfect, but he's definitely brought back calm, prudence and intelligence back to the White House.

2009-03-03T09:35:00.007+08:00

from ForeignPolicy.com

"Faced with options, both Israelis and Palestinians have a habit of selecting "all of the above." Israel has raced to build settlements while talking of a two-state solution; Hamas has pursued diplomacy and governing while also continuing its bloody version of "resistance." Over the short term, it often makes sense for politicians to preserve options. But over the long run, the result has been fatal to any diplomatic process."

From NYtimes.com

"One Iranian exile, no lover of the Islamic Republic, wrote to me saying that my account of Iran’s Jews had brought “tears to my eyes” because “you are saying what many of us would like to hear.”Far from the cradle of Middle Eastern Islamist zealotry, she suggested, “Iran — the supposed enemy — is the one society that has gone through its extremist fervor and is coming out the other end. It is relatively stable and socially dynamic. As my father, who continues to live there, says, ‘It is the least undemocratic country in the region outside Israel.’ ”

paraphrased : "Far from the cradle of Middle Eastern Islamist zealotry, Iran — the supposed enemy — is the one society that has gone through its extremist fervor and is coming out the other end. It is relatively stable and socially dynamic.It is the least undemocratic country in the region outside Israel. "

From Roger Cohen (himself Jewish)

"Perhaps I have a bias toward facts over words, but I say the reality of Iranian civility toward Jews tells us more about Iran — its sophistication and culture — than all the inflammatory rhetoric.That may be because I’m a Jew and have seldom been treated with such consistent warmth as in Iran. Or perhaps I was impressed that the fury over Gaza, trumpeted on posters and Iranian TV, never spilled over into insults or violence toward Jews. Or perhaps it’s because I’m convinced the “Mad Mullah” caricature of Iran and likening of any compromise with it to Munich 1938 — a position popular in some American Jewish circles — is misleading and dangerous."

From the WashingtonPost.com

"ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI

National security adviser to President Jimmy Carter

There's no way of knowing what will happen in Iraq after the United States disengages militarily. The presence of American forces there contains the internal pressures for conflict over unresolved issues (e.g., the future of Kirkuk). It is almost certain that there will be some political violence in the wake of American withdrawal as the Iraqis sort out their political arrangements.

That high probability dictates an important policy conclusion: American disengagement should be undertaken in parallel with an ongoing conference of all of Iraq's neighbors (Iran and Syria in particular) regarding political stability in Iraq. All share a common interest: that conflicts within Iraq should not affect their interests.

A conference on regional security might also help to facilitate a needed U.S.-Iranian dialogue by reducing the Iranian stake in having nuclear weapons. Much the same logic applies to the desirability of simultaneous but tangible progress on the Israeli-Palestinian peace issue. The more rapidly that issue moves toward a resolution, the greater the prospects for stability in the region. In brief, the withdrawal from Iraq has to be undertaken with a wider strategic design in mind. "

This is John Galt speaking

2009-02-27T08:06:00.004+08:00

Here's the list of websites i surf on a daily basis:

arstechnica.com

foreignpolicy.com

nytimes.com

washingtonpost.com

deviantart.com

digg.com

macworld.com

macrumors.com

appleinsider.com

wowinsider.com

engadget.com

gizmodo.com

kotaku.com

time.com

news.google.com

winsupersite.com

forums.worldofwarcraft.com

sanctum.wowstead.com

geekculture.com

slate.com

thedailyshow.com

colbertnation.com

icanhascheezburger.com

Atlantis

2009-02-26T14:16:00.002+08:00

Sunday was a pretty awesome day. After basketball I attended the class outing. Funny how each time we hold a class outing everyone seems a bit more mature each time, and the girls get prettier and prettier.

Anyway I have yet to finish Atlas Shrugged. The book is too deep and too profound even for me.

Here's my list of books i have read over the years that have influenced me greatly.

#1 Most Influential Book : Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (read it in 2009)

#2: On Intelligence By Jeff Hawkins (read it in 2005)

#3: 1984 by George Orwell (read it in 2004)

#4: From Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yew ( read it in 1999)

#5: Redwall series of books by Brian Jacques (read in 1998)

#6: Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling (started reading around 1999)

2009-02-22T08:09:00.000+08:00

From the New York Times :

SUCCESSION — the handover of power from one leader to another — is the moment of truth for a political system. The American presidential election, for all its magnificent hucksterism, was once again a confirmation of the messy but noble dynamism of democracy — America does its handover of power with dignity (barring a few dubious presidential pardons)

Yet in the 21st century there are three Great Powers, and two — Russia and China — boast authoritarian systems ruled by tiny cabals that decide the succession of political power through mysterious, invisible and almost magical rites. The succession in China is shamelessly undemocratic and secretive — but firm and orderly. Moscow is different, if only because the absence of working mechanisms for succession are a real threat to the international order

2009-02-21T20:16:00.006+08:00

Great literature can distill our muddled feelings into clear ideas about the world, it is the honest portrait as the world as it is, in all it's ugliness. But it is in the ugliness that we affirm life, and in doing so reveal the beauty and hope that emerges from our own entrapment

From Atlas Shrugged:

"From then on, people had helped Wesley Mouch to advance, for the same reason as that which had prompted Uncle Julius: they were people who believed that mediocrity was safe. The men who now sat in front of his desk had taught that the law of causality was a superstition and that one had to deal with the stuation of the moment without considering its cause. By the situation of the moment, they had concluded that Wesley Mouch was a man of superlative skill and cunning, since millions aspired to power, but he was the one who had achieved it. It was not within their method of thinking to know that Wesley Mouch was the zero at the meeting point of forces unleashed in destruction against one another"

"to place some human bodies between herself and the sight of the great vacuum--the plain stretching off and dissolving into moonlight, the dead phosphorescence of impotent, borrowed energy. "

New girlfriend XD

2009-02-13T17:56:00.004+08:00

just got a new MBP 15.4 inch XD named her Dagny, after Dagny from Atlas Shrugged.

My old mbp and 4 yr old imac were suffering from hardware graphics problems so it was about time I got a replacement :'p

First impressions:

Gorgeous LED display. makes me kinda regret not getting the 17 inch version :'p

Solid construction

multi-touch glass track pad is awesome

Keyboard is very comfortable to type on and is backlit so it is very visible in the dark

Mac OS X Leopard is the best consumer Operating System , Vista and Windows 7 sucks

Aluminium body means it is just as hot as my old MBP

2009-02-11T13:13:00.001+08:00

from ForeignPolicy.com

"national security advisor Condoleezza Rice dismissed then President Khatami as a potential diplomatic partner for the United States. Indeed, the erstwhile Sovietologist compared Khatami to Mikhail Gorbachev, arguing that by engaging Khatami, the United States would risk missing the opportunity to find the Islamic Republic's Boris Yeltsin."

From Slate.com, describing Former President Bush and his failed policies

And we are very far from the foreign policy envisioned by Condoleezza Rice in her 2000 Foreign Affairs manifesto for candidate Bush's foreign policy, which promised a new focus on "comprehensive relationships with the big powers, particularly Russia and China, that can and will mold the character of the international political system." As Rice wrote then but quickly seems to have forgotten, "These states are capable of disruption on a grand scale, and their fits of anger or acts of beneficence affect hundreds of millions of people."

2009-02-11T12:29:00.004+08:00

I refer to the op-ed "One Region, Two States" by Shimon Peres in the Washington Post.

"While cynics might question the size of the West Bank and Gaza, optimists should look no further than Singapore for reassurance.

The area of the West Bank and Gaza is nine times as large as Singapore's, yet the combined population of Palestinians in both regions is smaller than that of Singapore. This Southeast Asian country enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world. We have faith that the Palestinians are capable of achieving similar success, and we will continue to work tirelessly with our partners across the negotiating table to establish an autonomous Palestinian state where the people will institute a modern economy based on science, technology and the benefits of peace."

Does the comparison hold? Only superficially so. I'm to lazy to type out a full rebuttal though. :'p

2009-02-10T00:11:00.003+08:00

Excerpts from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand :

She had never objected; she had never refused him anything; she submitted whenever he wished. She submitted in the matter of complying with the rule that it was, at times, her duty to become an inanimate object turned over to her husband's use.

She did not censure him. She made it clear that she took it for granted that men had degrading instincts which constituted the secret, ugly part of marriage. She was condescendingly tolerant. She smiled, in amused distaste, at the intensity of what he experienced. "It's the most undignified pastime I know of, " she said to him once, "but I have never entertained the illusion that men are superior to animals. "

2009-02-09T23:28:00.006+08:00

" that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can."

Something shocking happened over the past month. About a month ago an army colleague went for open heart surgery.

From the start the news was bad. He had kidney complications and had to be in the ICU. I heard about this from other clerks and also read the Duty Officer's report in the Ops room.

More bad news followed. He was warded in the ICU ever since. People who visited him said he looked like he had aged 20 years to become a 40 year old man.

And last Saturday, I received the SMS. He passed away. He died of multiple organ failure, leaving behind a girlfriend and a family with financial problems (the heart surgery and ICU stay were paid for by the army)

I didn't know him well. I only remembered on the last day he was in camp all the clerks (including me) were sitting around the mess having tea break. His last words to me were "Why haven't you got your uniform?".

Funny how death comes so suddenly, so swiftly.

On Sunday morning when i read Asile's SMS with the words "He passed away last night" , and re-read it, and re-read it, and re-read it, and so on, I kept whispering to myself "that while we breathe, we hope ", "that while we breathe, we hope " , "that while we breathe, we hope ".

Brief moments of warmth and kindness

2009-01-30T10:42:00.002+08:00

You know, back in secondary school and JC, I was often one of those people who sat alone during recess and lunch. Not all the time, but quite often that was the case.

This is why in 2008 after flunking the A levels I became so depressed and neurotic. In my heart I felt a sense of finality, a deafening silence that hemmed in on me. Lonely, isolated, fading away...

Going to the army as a clerk made things worse. I am the registry clerk and although my office is in a different building, I am unfortunately part of the G1 branch. The G1 branch is full of asshats , and there's few people there you can talk too.

But the funny thing is that in the army there are actually cheery people who really make you feel you're not alone.

The people at Engineers (Tong Lai, Yong Feng and Lt Shawn) and the DSM PA Haikal are a fun chatty bunch to hang around with.

I always have lunch with them and we yak about Atlas Shrugged, cute girls and so on.

I never realised how much I enjoyed their company until Wednesday. On Wednesday practically everyone was on leave or off, so I went to the cookhouse alone for lunch. Sitting there in the cookhouse brought back the memories of being alone in school, the feeling was nauseating, hauntingly cold, hauntingly lonely.

Today I'm typing away in my office and Asile bumps by to say hello. We yak about macbooks and iphones. Again a moment of warmth wafts by.

I think this is why during Chinese New Year when my relatives come for reunion everyone is so enthusiastic and cheerful. You can sense a genuine happiness in them. As we grow older we realise the world outside is an ugly, cold place. As we proceed along the rat race of life, it becomes harder and harder to make genuine friends. That's why family is important, we should always cherise them.

2009-01-20T20:58:00.001+08:00

The Group of Two that could change the world
By Zbigniew Brzezinski

The master geostrategist discusses how the US should engage China

"It precipitated almost from the start security co-operation that has been of genuine benefit both to the US and China. The effect was to change the cold war’s global chessboard – to the disadvantage of the Soviet Union. Indirectly, the normalisation facilitated Chairman Deng Xiaoping’s decision to undertake a comprehensive economic reform. China’s growth would have been much harder without the expansion in US-Chinese trade and financial relations that followed normalisation."

2009-01-20T20:32:00.002+08:00

"the war against Hamas is still a strategic failure. And to have inflicted such carnage on the Palestinians for no lasting strategic gain is especially reprehensible."---Foreignpolicy.com on Israel's bombing of Gaza.

http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/01/17/the_myth_of_israels_strategic_genius

The myth of Israel's strategic genius is an illuminating article about Israel's strategic blunders over the years, do read it.

On Barney the Presidential Dog

2009-01-20T09:03:00.006+08:00

"but what was once a cute distraction meant to humanise the president has increasingly become a metaphor of the disconnect between the insular White House world of the President and the ever more despairing world outside"

What if Iran goes nuclear?

2009-01-19T18:28:00.005+08:00

Consensus among analysts is that Iran is several years away from the Bomb.

With the United States bogged down in the Graveyard of Republican Neo-Conservatism(aka Iraq) and Afghanistan, and also hobbled by the financial crisis, it is pretty clear the United States will not be able to launch a full scale assault on Iran to halt it's nuclear weapons program.

How will the world live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Why should we money-minded Singaporeans be concerned about it?

1)Iran is not Pakistan. Pakistan may be a Muslim nuclear state but it's nuclear weapons are used primarily as a deterrant against India. On the other hand, Iran has stated it wants to destroy Israel. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza are it's proxies at the doorstep of Israel. A nuclear-armed Iran will plunge the world into a Judeo-Christian-Muslim global war.

2)The other Arab powers in the region such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia will not be comfortable with a nuclear-armed Iran next door. They will provide veiled support for an Israeli air strike on Iran. Israel lacks the full capabilities to destroy Iran that only the United States posesses, much of the Iranian army will survive the Israeli air strike and will most likely launch a counter attack, further destabilising the entire region and causing oil prices to skyrocket.

3)The Iranian people deserve better. The average Iranian on the street does not hate liberty. They are peaceful, moderate muslims. They do not deserve to be caught in a fight between the hawks in Israel and the hardline dictatorship that controls Iran.

Verdict: The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran in a couple of years time is very, very destabilizing to the entire world. This reminds me of a BBC documentary that featured the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia a few years ago, the documentary ominously predicted the recent Georgian-Russian war that broke out in 2008.

Now imagine an Iranian versus Israel/US war pitting Muslims (the majority of which are peace-loving) against the Jeudo-Christian peoples (again the majority of which are peace-loving). It would truly be a disaster of epic proportions.

2009-01-16T12:32:00.001+08:00

"More powerful than the march of mighty armies is an idea whose time has come."

2009-01-15T20:19:00.001+08:00

The view of de Custine about Russia in the mid-19th century could easily apply to the 21st: “I came here to see a country, but what I find is a theater ... In appearances, everything happens as it does everywhere else. There is no difference except in the very foundation of things.”--New York Times

Like every continent, Europe has its rituals. In the spring, the storks return to the Low Countries from their winter nests in Africa. In the autumn, the French return to Paris from their beaches in the south. And in the winter, the Russians threaten to cut off the natural gas supplies to Ukraine.--Slate.com

one bunch of mammoths humping a giant orb

2009-01-11T20:36:00.002+08:00

so Sanctum went to the Eye of Eternity the other day, before the epic battle started we took the liberty of humping the orb with our mammoth mounts, must to the disgust of our only real female member Moonflame.

2009-01-06T21:29:00.000+08:00

From the New York Times

"Mr. Jobs has long been known for his intense focus on product design and marketing, but since Apple introduced the iPod digital music player in October 2001, he has also come to exemplify what is hip across many American and international cultures, in areas from business to music. The iPod has successfully withstood competitors - from Asian consumer electronics giants to his longtime nemesis Microsoft - for almost six years, a rare achievement in a world of fancy and fad."

Why the legalization of gay marriage is so central to the Singaporean identity

2009-01-06T20:23:00.002+08:00

Marriage is the bedrock of society, and to put it in the simplest terms legalising gay marriage would enable more couples to buy into the stability that marriage brings about.

Singapore prides itself as a meritocratic society, so why does our government seek to marginalize an entire group of people? If you go back to the Bible, marriage back then was of a polygamous nature. It was until the courts intervened in modern times that marriage became defined as the union of 1 man and 1 woman. It was also until the courts intervened that blacks were given the rights to vote and women were granted equal rights. We are entering a post-ideological world, where people are judges by how much they contribute to society and not based on the race, religion or background. Gays,lesbians and transgender couples should not be discriminated based on the person they choose to love. In the words of Jon Stewart 'It is a travesty that people have forced someone who is gay to make their case'.

Every great nation has to serve an idea that tangibly relates to the needs of a politically awakened humanity. Singapore seeks to become cosmopolitan, a global hub where the best and brightest congregate. Even if we never achieve becoming a fully fledged democracy (I seriously doubt 1 party rule will go away anytime soon), we should strive to become a fully fledged meritocracy.And it is this context that gay marriage must be legalized.

Person of the Year 2008 (the horribly shortened version)

2009-01-04T20:51:00.007+08:00

As many of you will know I've hinted that I've been working on a full length essay titled Top 10 People that Mattered in 2008, culminating in a specially written article called Person of the Year 2008. Unfortunately I realised that some of my writings are too personal, and too revealing. 2008 was not a good year for me , so I'll just be posting the original list without the full write-ups.

#10: the Writer's Guild of America

the strike by the WGA crippled television as we knew it, with many programs like Lost and the Daily Show grinding to a halt

#9:Jon Stewart of the Daily Show and Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report

Kudos to this duo for crafting political satire that sets a coherent agenda for the liberal Left and re-affirming everything I hate about the conservative religious Right.

#8: Apple App Store

#7:HCP of the Shattered Sun

"God was an exhausted convention, but the need for transcendence was not"

#6: Barack Obama

#5: Vincent Chin

A case example of how foreigners who come to Singapore are more hardworking and contribute more to society than the half-assed Singaporeans themselves

#4: Jon Wong

For being a pillar of support after the fallout of the A Levels

#3:Ching Wei

For organizing all these wonderful basketball games

#2: Jean Tan

"the flames,they burn with the futility of their own destruction,I too long to escape this banal existence like a plume of smoke"

#1) Person of the Year 2008: The Capitalists of Wall Street

(Full write-up of PoY 2008 coming soon, I have edited it a few times since the financial crisis keeps fluctuating)

2008-12-28T16:37:00.000+08:00

2008-12-22T06:36:00.001+08:00

2008-12-17T13:17:00.003+08:00

"If sectarian violence is the birth pangs of a new democracy, civil war is it's adolescence. The White House believes what we're witnessing in Gaza are the embarrassing classroom erections of a brighter tomorrow"--Aasif Mandvi of the Daily Show describing the Hamas-Fatah Civil War.

2008-12-17T11:59:00.002+08:00

Death Knight!

2008-12-16T19:35:00.001+08:00

I'm testing out the DK game mechanics! my DK looks exactly like HCP (my priest) :'p

Prelude to Person of the Year 2008

2008-12-14T17:58:00.002+08:00

In a run-up to PoY 2008, here's my original Person of the Year 2007 essay.

I'm sure everyone knows that Time magazine has named Vladimar Putin Person of the Year. It has also come up with a list of runner-ups like Al Gore and Hu Jintao and a list of People who mattered and one bunch of other lists.

Anyway I've decided to compile my own list of the Top 10 People who have impacted my life this 2007. In a tribute to a similar slogan Apple put up on it's website at the start of the year, I also put up a slogan on my msn nick declaring 'the past 17 years were just the beginning, Welcome to 2007'. And looking back at the year indeed there have been some fantastic people I've met along the way, truly proving that in life 'the Journey is the Reward'. It's the experiences that matter,the fights,the arguments,the hatred,the friendships formed,the laughter,the moments of camaraderie,the happiness,the insanity,the spontaneity, and lot's of other wacky stuff that makes life memorable.

My Top 10 list works like this, I'll rank each person in order of importance, with 10th place being the last and the person in 1st place being awarded 'Person of the Year'. The people on my list come from both people i interact with in my daily life and also people you may see in the newspapers or on TV. To my readers I hope you read the list carefully and enjoyably, and most importantly post your comments and compliments on my cbox.

My thought process when compiling this list is simple, I just asked myself :"How is my life? How does it feel? Are you happy?" And immediately as I answered my own questions several names keep popping up, especially some who have incredible influence over how I feel. And these are the people that made it to the list.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
('''\(OvO)/''')
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'you [blog] in the hope that if someone sees what you belief matters and is great to the world, he/she will see to your core and know who you are. [It's] a means of asserting identity, saying "I was here"---especially at the end of the year, when we reminisce about time past and think about how much time we have left. While we are still around, we want to be known and we want to be heard'

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Runner-up #10:Daniel Lyons a.k.a Fake Steve Jobs

"I love beautiful objects. I love creating them. Negative people upset me."

No blog this year has been as hilarious as fakesteve.blogspot.com,writter by Senior Forbes Editor Daniel Lyons. To quote Arstechnica.com(which quoted Aristotle):"It consists in some defect or ugliness which is not painful or destructive. To take an obvious example, the comic mask is ugly and distorted, but does not imply pain."

FakeSteve's whimsical satire of Silicon Valley is crude but also incredibly hilarious, and has popularized innovative names for some of this digital age most prominent tech leaders.

The Borg – Microsoft (the Borg is a fairly common nickname for Microsoft)
Beastmaster or Kermit – Bill Gates
Faceberg – Mark Zuckerberg (the founder of Facebook)
Goatberg – Walt Mossberg (technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal)
Mary Jo Creepy – Mary Jo Foley (a ZDNet blogger, who is a specialist in Microsoft)
Monkey Boy or Uncle Fester – Steve Ballmer
My Little Pony – Jonathan Schwartz
Squirrel Boy – Eric Schmidt

As Newsweek Magazine said, 'We have a new voice for our digital age'. His iconic greeting 'Namaste' and hilarious nicknames of iconic tech leaders have entered my daily lexicon. I especially love the way he describes Wall Street Journals' Walt Mossberg as 'Goatberg' and the Great Satan Microsoft as 'the Borg'. All in all reading Lyon's blog is like looking into the soul of the Digital Age, and to you FSJ i say 'Namaste'.

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Runner-up #9:Jon Stewart
"power,wonder-working power"
"illuminating"

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart shows why democracy matters and the positive benefits of Free speech. Watching the show will make you realise why the climate of self-censorship in Singapore is very bad in the long run. Seriously, just go watch Fox News,CNN,BBC and then the Daily Show, you'd realise that the only show with such raw truth and honesty and accuracy is this comedy show. Hail Jon Stewart and all the writers who work behind the scenes who come up with such wonderful iconic lines such as 'Clusterfuck to the White House'(a reference to the race to the 2008 White House), 'Mummy Mummy!Why is the lying man still in charge of the law'(a reference to Alberto Gonzales) and 'Wheh Wheh'(a reference to Dick Cheney).

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Runner-up #8:Steve Jobs

"Think Different"

When I watched Macworld 2007 in January, i couldn't do anything else for the next few days, My mind was focused on only one thing:'iPhone,iPhone,iPhone'!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Watching Steve Jobs introduce the iPhone was one of the most memorable experiences of my life and reinforced my faith in Macintosh. Truly the Messiah, he has steered us disenfranchised Windows users to the Holy Land. I remembered a long time ago when I was a Windows XP SP1 user, windoze was so buggy and virus-prone, lacking even a proper firewall and a browser with tabs, and then I bought my iMac G5 with Mac OS X Tiger, and it blew me away with it's fantastic Aqua UI and Quartz graphics and Spotlight search and Expose and iLife and....

and this year Mac OS X Leopard has again blew me away, a 64-bit OS that can run on both 32-bit and 64-bit machines without the need for additional drivers. Leopard truly fits the slogan 'Welcome to Tomorrow'.

I have memorized the line from your Stanford speech by heart: "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

I have also memorized the full version of the 'Think Different' poem and '1984' apple advertisements by heart.

Oh Steve Jobs, Avatar of the Computing Industry, you alone are truly worthy of Praise.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Runner-up #7: Danson Cheong Jin Fu

I remembered once when I was feeling very emo after Ester Lai gave our class an 'End of Days' speech, i decided i wouldn't go to school the next day, in fact I decided i wouldn't go to school at all for the next few days. Anyway Danson got Diana to call me and talk me out of my idiotic plan, and immediately the next day i was back in school.

Yeah i enjoyed our earlier trips to Ikea for philosophy sessions, I enjoyed working with Danson to get an 'A' for PW, I enjoyed going out after major papers to watch movies(although the choice of movies such as 'Next' and 'Pathfinder' are incredibly insanely questionable), I enjoyed that USP Writer's Workshop(which was so full of intellectual ferment) and so much other stuff.

Yeah it was incredibly fun watching Nanking and Michael Clayton, the only minor quibble is that we need to get more of the 305 peeps like Sunny and Geri to come along too.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Runner-up #6:Diana Kang Min Rui

I once mentioned to Sharaf that Diana 'is the person that brings out the best in Christianity". And even today that statement holds true. In an era where I know of Christian friends who go around saying stuff like 'you should convert or else you'd go to hell', Diana is one of the few that epitomizes the true teachings of Jesus.

To quote another website "Servant leadership is at the heart of Christian leadership. Servant Leadership is different from servanthood. All Christians, not just leaders, are called to be servants, serving each other, following Jesus' example in washing his disciples' feet, and loving our neighbours as ourselves. Along with that call to servanthood is the need we each have to allow ourselves to receive from Jesus, just as he washed his disciples feet. When Peter protested, Jesus told him, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' (John 13:8) "

I remembered how Diana lent me her Chem and Maths files for extended periods of time, when others wouldn't lend it to me. Or how she was a good listening ear when I was quite pissed at some peeps like Derrick Soh earlier this year. Or how she went to the library to borrow books for PW, even though we held on to the books yet didn't use them even after the due date.

Yeah, I've always held Diana in high regard, for she truly is a Servant Leader.

(PS: to Diana, i'm so sorry for that lousy pic of you in this post, it's just that you're so camera-shy i don't have a proper pic of you! and i chose this pic coz you seemed terrified by the camera and even more frightened by Benedict, hahas)

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
('''\(OvO)/''')
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Runner-up #5:Chun Chun

My cousin Chun has emerged as the solid support during this difficult year. In the face of the epic clusterfuck that was the A levels, he kept me company in so many ways. From accompanying me on lonely walks along the beach to cycling at ECP to playing basketball at Simei to listening to me as I memorized and recited out Biology notes, Chun has always been there for me.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Runner-up #4: Goh Zi Wei Glendon

"The Panther"

My brother represents eveything I could have been, if not for my hubris, arrogance, and all-around idiocy. We were once equals in nearly every aspect, yet as he rose socially,academically and career-wise(he's now an officer in NS), I've faced an unprecedented period of exile and decline. Glendon is the only person in our family I actually take advice from, for i never pay attention to any of the rubbish and delusional visions of grandeur(and poisoned Kool-Aid) that my parents give me.

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Runner-up #3: Sharafuddin B M K

Sharaf was my classmate for 2 years in VS yet we barely spoke. In MJC we had a lot of fun, going out to watch Spiderman 3,the Da Vinci Code, Mission Impossible 3, X-Men, Cars,L'enfante, the NJC Poetry Night thinggie, the Guitar Ensemble performance, working together for Soiree and mugging at Telok Kurau Mcdonalds,Airport and Parkway.

However I've presently I've deleted Sharaf from my msn and phone contacts.

What caused this abrupt turnaround?

It happened when we went airport after econs lecture on Saturday. We went Popeye's to eat then we were supposed to mug, yet after that at 2pm he said he was tired and wanted to go home so we went home. I felt royally pangsired since I had skipped dragonboating elective to mug with him yet he went home instead.

the following Friday we were supposed to go jogging in the morning at 7am, yet at 6am he smsed saying he was tired. But we still met up at 9am in school to mug. however at 1pm he had to leave for prayers. I was perfectly ok with that , yet I was damn insulted when he told Geok Yan:"Are you staying till later, coz if you are I'll come back". What about me? I was there too yet you only said that to geok yan and not me? when i was the one who recommeded that you mug with Geok Yan if you needed help in maths?

this, among several other incidences, led to me having a falling out with him. We just stopped talking. He even stop sending me class relays, forcing me to relay on Kenneth Ang for relays.

There are several other times when he pangsired me by saying stuff like 'My sister fell down' 'My grandmother is sick' and yada yada yada. every time he let me down.

Nonetheless, even though we're no longer friends, I just want to say to Sharaf: "Thank you for the good times. I'll remember the fun we had, and forget the rest. For indeed we did have a lot of fun, and you were quite a good friend for the most part'.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
('''\(OvO)/''')
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Runner-up #2:Burmese Buddhist Monks

The Myanmar Junta's crackdown on the Burmese Buddhist Monks protests and ASEAN's failure to expel Myanmar has highlighted the hypocrisy of the ASEAN leaders. How can the organization create a human rights charter when it welcomes these murderous generals? Now i know why foreigners always say that ASEAN is fading into irrelevance.

Anyway the Burmese Buddhist Monks uprising may have been brutally crushed, nonetheless, they are a testament of the moral authority of Buddhism. In an Age where religious fanatics of so many other religions go around forcing people to convert or bombing non-believers, the Burmese monks have showed the world the best side of Buddhism. We Buddhists are peaceful, in the face of incredible evil, we will use peace to stand up to the great devils and satans.

"truth, justice and compassion... are often the only bulwarks against ruthless power." These are the teachings of Buddha.

And one day....one day.....the Myanmar Junta and it's generals and all those who stood silently by....will burn in Avici Hell(the deepest level of Hell in Buddhism).

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Person of the Year: Bou Tak Wai

"First among Equals"

Although I've known the rest of the Mugalo 5+2 much earlier(since Ben,Kenneth and Kang Kang are in 06s305 and I've yakked with Xiwen and Val before) and I had only met Taky in October, she quickly emerged to me as the First among Equals. Her unique mix of incredible violence(such as punching me in the stomach outside Kenneth's house for no reason and after that i could not eat my carrot cake properly),divine compassion,incredibly high EQ and the fun times we had together compels me to award her 'Galvyn's Person of the Year'.To read my full description of her read the next section of this post.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Writing this post was insanely difficult. I had just finished writing the descriptions of the other 9 runner-ups,and had spent the past week or more filtering through 30+ names to select my final top 10, so when i wanted to write this post I ran out of ideas.

Deciding to think different a bit, I flipped out my CrimsonLogic brown notebook and bingo! my muse had come back!

I'll start off with something i wrote in that notebook at work when i was trying to think of a gift to buy for her for Winter Veil.(four previous shopping trips with Diana,Chun,Jon Wong,Jon Wong and Samuel had yielded nothing other than the proposal to buy a yellow sundress or an 'Emily the Strange' Ripcurl shirt and skirt)

"To Taky,
the truth is that it is easy for a guy to buy a girl a gift when his feelings for her are based on infatuation. The decision on which gift to buy is based on hormones, lust and a bit of horny fantasizing. That's why it was so easy to buy that bikini for that girl I had a crush on.

However, it is very difficult for a guy to buy a gift for a girl when his feelings for her stem from the wellspring of friendship. It is infinitely more difficult since the gift has to fuse together several different requirements. The gift has to be the apotheosis of usefulness,thoughtfulness,whimsicalness and has to be a gift that says "Will we be friends forever?' "

Anyway at the end I just bought Swan Lake tickets since i did not manage to find that exact gift I wanted to buy and my fashion advisors Jon Wong,Chun and Samuel are guys who hate shopping for girl stuff.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Anyway choosing Taky as Person of the Year was an obvious choice. The first thing that has always struck me about her is that she actually takes what I say seriously. Like that time on 23rd november at 4am in the morning when I made some racist jokes and she starting arguing back at me. I got angry and left Mcdonald's and went home all emo. However, later at home I hit an epiphany, a sudden realization of great truth. I realized that she took me seriously enough that she bothered to debate back with me. This made me realize,"Of all the friends I've met most peeps always take what I say as a joke, they don't take me seriously. they always think I'm ranting so they just keep quiet and just smile politely." And it's so true, Taky was and is the person I can have intellectual conversations with, from discussing ASEAN to Wilfred Owen to Nanking to Singapore's future to Nietzsche and so much other stuff.

And she has always been the only Prophet of Truth, the Voice of Reason,the person who boldly states the obvious where others would have just merely said 'No comment'.

Taky's words capture the essence of how I myself feel, like that time she said 'VS peeps are assholes and are abnormal'. As a victorian I agree with her(mostly) on this point. Like how she suggested at the study benches where the 3 of us(Tak,K and I) were discussing about watching a movie marathon after the As and she said 'I think you need more fresh air'.

I also remembered how when both K and I were sick during the A levels yet she mugged with us at Kovan Mcdonalds.Despite Kenneth always coughing into her face and me sneezing mucus into tonneloads of Mcdonalds tissue paper, she stuck with us when others would have chosen to stay at home for fear of getting flu too.

I also remembered that time on 2nd day of chalet when we went to airport to send her off. I was sick(again) and when she wanted to hug me i said 'Dun hug me I am sick'. Yet she still hugged me. Or how she hugged me 4 or 5 times when I was emo because I was pissed off by what Kenneth posted on his blog.

Ultimately Taky helped me fulfil Dennis Zhu's prophecy.
Dennis last year said that 1)it's important to find a girl that's easy to talk to 2)it's important to have a 小妹 to hang out with.

I didn't really believe that this would really happen. yet finally in October i found the truth that i've been seeking all this while.

.*. (\,,,,/) .*.
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Prelude to Person of the Year 2008

2008-12-12T19:56:00.009+08:00

Videos of the Year 2008
(Not all these videos were created in 2008, but these are the videos I saw in 2008 that have changed my outlook of life)

1)Jon Stewart interviewing Mike Huckabee

Jon's argument for supporting homosexuality and gay marriage is sparkling and illuminating! His criticisms of fiscal conservatism are also very razor sharp.

Quotes: Jon Stewart"The fact that you (Republicans) would trust the government with tanks and nuclear weapons but not hand out cheese to poor people, you know, you've got to say to yourself :'I don't get it ?' "

Jon : " It's a travesty that people have forced someone who is gay to have to make their case."

"Religion is far more of a (personal) choice than religion" Jon Stewart, arguing that you can CHOOSE the religion you want to worship, but you can't choose where whether you want to be homosexual or heterosexual

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=213348&title=mike-huckabee-pt.-1

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=213349&title=mike-huckabee-pt.-2

2)Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama on MSNBC

3)Jon Stewart interviewing Zbigniew Brzezinski

4)The final 2 episodes of Code Geass R2.

5)The Katie Couric-Sarah Palin interviews and the Tina Fey parodies of it

"it played like Nixon-Frost, the sitcom' James Poniewozik, Time.com

"I can see Russia from my house!'-Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

from Time.com

2008-12-09T19:03:00.001+08:00

Sarah Palin deserves a top 10 election video list of her own: the "pitbull with lipstick" convention speech, the Matt Damon rant, the Tina Fey impressions, the numerous YouTube impersonations, her 1984 Miss Alaska pageant footage, and, of course, The Wink. But at the center of all these disparate impressions of the Governor of Alaska was this mini-series of interviews that played like Nixon-Frost, the Sitcom. After largely avoiding the media, Palin established the much-criticized Couric as the one mainstream journalist with any claim on affecting this election and gave Fey weeks of material.

Washington Post Article on Singapore factually wrong

2008-12-08T20:20:00.006+08:00

I refer to the article "A Public Enemy in Singapore" by Fred Hiatt that is posted prominently on the Washington Post Op-Ed page.

The crux of the article is to state that " there is much this government would rather not share with its public." and that the PAP government does it by filing defamation lawsuits against the opposition.

I personally am someone who is hugely critical of the government. But the truth is that our opposition leaders are effete and pander to the foreign media. Our opposition leaders lack both the intellectual vigour to lead Singapore and most strikingly fail to address the needs of the people they claim to be standing up for.

The Washington Post Editor Fred Hiatt clearly does not have a good understanding of Singapore. Notice how the Post misprints 'Singapore' as 'South Korea' on the op-ed page. Notice how in his essay he fails to explain any evidence of corruption in our government at all? The tone of Fred Hiatt in the essay is clearly patronising towards Singaporeans and Asians, as if we are colonial subjects being lectured by the wise and righteous Western Colonial Masters.

In my opinion the true failure of the Singaporean Government is not that it supresses dissent to the extent claimed by the Western media, but rather that the government has failed to imbue in Singaporeans the importance of democracy as a bulwark against the instability of religious tensions, racial strife and the tidal wave of globalization . We have become complacent and believe that the government will solve all our woes, and are not willing the take ownership of the democratic process and guide our own destiny.

Quotes and Thoughts about Al-Qaeda and Islamic extremists

2008-12-08T20:08:00.007+08:00

"Russia would never forget that it was Washington that created the Sunni jihadist Frankenstein in Afghanistan. That was an arrow pointed straight at the heart of Russia. With Muslims making up 10% to 15% of Russia's population, the Afghan-born jihad became an existential threat to Russia proper. Indeed, it would slosh across the continent into Chechnya." From the article The Russian Empire Strikes Back, Time.com

"When you're a bankrupt ideology pursuing a bankrupt strategy , the only move you've got is the dick one" John Oliver of the Daily Show, blasting the Mumbai terrorists.

"The divisions we split the world into during the cold war have at long last crumbled thanks to the Mumbai terrorist attacks. No longer will we view South Asia as a region distinct from the Middle East. Now there is only one long continuum stretching from the Mediterranean to the jungles of Burma, with every crisis from the Israeli-Palestinian dispute in the west to the Hindu-Muslim dispute in the east interlocked with the one next door." the New York Times

Around Sholazor Basin

2008-12-08T10:12:00.003+08:00

2008-11-24T22:05:00.004+08:00

"Once again, the world’s most populous Muslim country will demonstrate that there is nothing incompatible between practising Islam and being democratic." --The Economist, praising Indonesia for her democractic progress

"Both nations share a common love for nuclear weapons and field hockey" --The Daily Show, describing India and Pakistan

Introductions!

2008-11-24T19:14:00.004+08:00

my main toon in the Burning Crusade Expansion: Hordecantpvp of the Shattered Sun, Level 70 Night Elf Shadow Priest
An alt I've been lvling: Taky, Level 39 Draenei Enhancement Shaman
Another alt I'm lvling for WotLK: Lolirequiem, Level 45 Balance Druid
My original toon pre-BC: Blood Guard Doublehelixx, Level 60 Panzerkin

This wall must fall

2008-11-24T18:58:00.001+08:00

who will be Person of the Year?

2008-11-17T23:12:00.002+08:00

who will be Person of the Year?

Time.com has a special page where you can rate 25 possible candidates as Person of the Year.

I rated : Obama 10
Bush 8
Gordon Brown 5
Hu Jin Tao 6
Steve Jobs 8
Sarah Palin 1
Robert Mugabe 9

2008-11-16T20:37:00.012+08:00

Only by identifying itself with the idea of universal human dignity--with its basic requirement of respect for culturally diverse political, social, and religious emanations--can America overcome the risk that the global political awakening will turn against it. Human dignity encompasses freedom and democracy but goes beyond them. It involves social justice, gender equality, and above all, respect for the world's cultural and religious mosaic. That is yet another reason why impatient democratization, imposed from outside, is doomed to fail. Stable liberal democracy has to be nurtured by stages and fostered from within...America urgently needs to fashion a truly post-Cold War globalist foreign policy. It still can do so, provided the next president, aware that "the strength of a great power is diminished if it ceases to serve an idea," tangibly relates American power to the aspirations of politically awakened humanity--Zbigniew Brzezinski

If liberalism collapsed in the 1960s because its bid for cultural freedom became associated with cultural disorder, conservatism has collapsed today because its bid for economic freedom has become associated with economic disorder.--Time.com

2008-11-15T07:47:00.006+08:00

When I was feeling depressed quite a while ago, a friend told me 'why don't you start blogging again'?

And so A Discourse on Democratic Theory (Version 2.0) was born. And it works! Blogging and writing really clears my clouded mind.

And once again today morning I find myself sitting in front of Lain (my macbook pro) typing away.

The sickening part about my workplace (the G1 branch in Clementi Camp) is the soul-crushing internal politics and internecine infighting that occurs on a daily basis.

Morale is always low because of a certain white horse. He's the son of the Minister of LawL, and his warrant officer let's him sit at the desk the whole day and just read newspapers like the International Herald Tribune and doesn't touch him at all. Even when there's a lot of work, he is untouchable! His ma'am will not lay a finger on him nor order him to do any work. When others see someone getting special treatment, they can't be bothered to work too. This probably explains our 40% report sick rate in our branch. This probably explains why none of the NSFs respect the warrant officers in our branch.

Probably the only happy place in my camp is Engineers. Whenever I'm free I always hang out there. The Lieutenant there is an intelligent person who is good at Linux programming and reads Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged'. The other two clerks there are fun to talk to about anime and FHM and Maxim too! Engineers is the only place without the sickening politicking or cynical, narcissitic vortexes known as warrant officers that feed on the esoteric and elusive notion of power.

We humans do not exist for power, nor money, nor God (or Gods), we exist to bend the arc of history. I will bend the arc of history.

2008-11-09T12:37:00.002+08:00

and so Sanctum downed Lady Vashj, Coilfang Matron today again :D here's me standing next to Vashj after everyone else ported back to town

then after lunch we downed Kael'thas, Lord of the Blood Elves,

and in the evening the Betrayer, Illidan Stormrage!

2008-11-08T21:02:00.002+08:00

“the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice’’--MLK

“ put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.’’-Barack Obama

The Arc of History

2008-11-05T13:27:00.003+08:00

In a time where a rising China slaughters Buddhists in Tibet, where Russia rolls back the democratic gains made over the past decade, where Europe rejects the moderate Muslim nation of Turkey, where Japan denies it's war atrocities against the Asian peoples, the United States of America has proven that the true strength of any great power lies in the ideals it stands for and it's people.

Today, by electing Barack Obama as President, America has proven it is still the greatest nation on earth.

As an Asian I hope that this century will be the Asian Century, but to do so we must follow the ideals of democracy. Oppressing religious and racial groups, suppressing dissent, not daring to stand up to authority, this are still the yokes that hold Asia back, until this problems are addressed, I am glad that the sole superpower is the eternally hopeful, liberal, and free United States of America.

Obama wins!

2008-11-05T12:37:00.001+08:00

I was in the toilet when the news channels declared Obama the winner! So i missed the exact moment when he officially won!~

Nonetheless I have nothing to say but YES WE CAN!

Barack Obama For President

2008-11-04T20:49:00.002+08:00

I'll be on leave on Wednesday and Thursday to cover the US election and results. My bosses in Clementi Camp were laughing when i told them 'i'm taking leave due to the US elections'.

To quote Obama during the DNC 2004 keynote 'As we stand on the crossroads on history, we have a righteous wind at our backs'

OBAMA! CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!

Quotes of the day

2008-11-01T19:49:00.005+08:00

If we can re-distribute wealth to greedy bankers, why can't we re-distribute some of the money to needy Americans?--Jonathan Alter, explaining why Barack Obama wants to redraw the social contract the way FDR did.

As an adult, I’ve come to understand why I’m so blessed to have immigrated to an open society. Here, the individual — and the choices she makes — matter. The agent chose to practice the first lesson of human rights: just because a problem doesn’t affect you personally doesn’t mean it ceases to exist. ---Irshad Manji, NYtimes Op-ed contributer

They(billionaires) have this idea that it’s “their money” and they deserve to keep every penny of it. What they don’t factor in is all the public investment that lets us live the way we do. Take me as an example. I happen to have a talent for allocating capital. But my ability to use that talent is completely dependent on the society I was born into. If I’d been born into a tribe of hunters, this talent of mine would be pretty worthless. I can’t run very fast. I’m not particularly strong. I’d probably end up as some wild animal’s dinner. But I was lucky enough to be born into a time and place where society values my talent, and gave me a good education to develop that talent, and set up the laws and the financial system to let me do what I love doing—and make a lot of money doing it. The least I can do is help pay for all that. --Warren Buffet, read http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/georgepacker/2008/10/obama-and-luck.html for the full article on Obama, Buffet and luck

Dora Maar au Chat and some anime drawings

2008-10-31T20:46:00.003+08:00

tried to draw a bit today at work, just came back from 2 day mc was sick :'p (do note that all the pics look reversed D: )

Like putting lipstick on a pig

2008-10-29T10:11:00.003+08:00

Microsoft has previewed Windows 7, the (un)successor to the highly (un)successful Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, Downgrade to XP and Starter Editions!!!

2008-10-28T20:56:00.002+08:00

"I'm not an atheist, I find atheism to be a mirror of the certainty of religion" --Bill Maher, Director of Borat

Following Rothko

2008-10-28T20:18:00.000+08:00

She chose to walk alone.
Though others wondered why.
Refused to look before her,
Kept eyes cast upwards,
Towards the sky.

She didn't have companions.
No need for earthly things.
Only wanted freedom,
From what she felt were puppet strings.

She longed to be a bird.
That she might fly away.
She pitied every blade of grass
For planted they would stay.

She longed to be a flame.
That brightly danced alone.
Felt jealous of the steam
That made the air its only home.

Some say she wished too hard.
Some say she wished too long.
But we awoke one autumn day
To find that she was gone.

Some say she wished too hard.
Some say she wished too long.
But we awoke one autumn day
To find that she was gone.

The trees, they say, stood witness.
The sky refused to tell.
But someone who had seen it
Said the story played out well.

She spread her arms out wide.
Breathed in the break of dawn.
She just let go of all she held...

And then she was gone.

(from the cartoon As told by Ginger)

the Great Satan has a cloud OS!

2008-10-28T06:33:00.002+08:00

Microsoft has released the Windows Azure Cloud OS :'o another load of crap from Microshit!

from Washingtonpost.com

2008-10-27T11:06:00.000+08:00

Reaffirming my faith in Singapore

2008-10-25T20:19:00.003+08:00

The truth is that for many years I have been an incredibly harsh critic of the Singapore government and Singaporeans. I resent the government's patriarchal nature and the hands-off, callous and aloof attitude Singaporeans have towards democracy and safeguarding their own civil liberties.

I have been in the National Cadet Corps SEA for 4 years in secondary school and I can assure you my time in there has made me incredibly distrustful at our government's patriarchal methods and it's attempts at social engineering.

Hence after JC when I enlisted i was more than happy to get Pes E, I am pes E due to some problems with real life.

Anyway the ironic thing about the army is that it has re-instilled my faith in Singapore and Singaporeans, Sure 50% of the people I have met are slackers, 40% are incompetent but there are those remaining 10% who are truly inspiring.

Those who are inspiring can be split into two categories. The first group are those who spend their army time wisely, hardworking pursing the SATs exams , or learning Linux or pursuing night classes or language classes in their free time. Though they are lowly mundane clerks/storemen in the army, they rise above their 'caste' positions to further their education. As Che Guevara once said 'Our sacrifice is a conscious one, it is in payment for the future we are building'.

The second group are those who are passionate about serving the nation. They take the task of protecting SIngapore very seriously. There is one MP (Military Police) who I have met who is very driven and motivated. He made an eloquent speech which I happened to eavesdrop on. He was saying to his friend . "So what if XXX is rich and his dad owns a big company? It's heart that matters! Take away XXX's money and he is nothing! He has no skills, no motivation to succeed in life. Whereas looking at QQQ! QQQ may not be rich, but he spends his free time upgrading skills and trying to do business, QQQ has 'heart' and he can still make it in the world, because in life it is motivation and the drive to succeed that matters'. This MP also said . 'You know if i were rich I'd immediately sign onto the army, even though army pay is low I love the responsibility of being an army soldier, I love having the power of a military police to address the inequalities and right the wrongs I see'

It warms my heart to see such driven people in Singapore. I have become quite disillusionised with Singapore after my stint in NCC SEA and in JC. Too often people there pursue power or girls or clubbing or other hedonistic activities. They feel no social responsibility to address the inequalities that prevail in the world.

Ironically it is in the army that I have met individuals who have a macro view of the world, who are driven not by individual self-centred goals but rather a humility and understanding that their story is part of the larger Singaporean story, that they hold a debt to those who had come before them.

Yes, the government may be patriarchal, often touting that 'people do not necessarily make the best decisions for themselves, the best policies usually come from the government'. But I've just awakened to the fact that Singaporeans are capable of showing a totally refreshing side of themselves :'D .

from washingtonpost.com

2008-10-25T17:23:00.001+08:00