Conversations like this make my night:
what if I, I dont know, combust? haha
U WONT COMBUST
---
mostly, I keep wishing I was normal.
u r normal, pls be assured
---
!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel like I need to deflate now.
TOO TIRED.
*inserts needle*
*balloon-deflating-sounds*
*pop*
---
what if I have a heart attack before that?
we can go and do soothing activities
or go karaoke
or go on a food trail
you are making me laugh so hard
gosh.
I <3 you.
---
Disclaimer: Duck wants to assert that she is not my boyfriend. >:\
But I love her anyways.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
I think this is awesome:
The Right to Reply: The Real Hard Truths -- An Open Letter to MM Lee Kuan Yew
Because fundamentally, the underlying implications of what MM Lee said had not been addressed (i.e. Islam is bad for integration; the more a pious Muslim you are, the less integrated. PFFT!); and finally someone did! It's super long and I haven't read every word, because it's also like a manual on how to be a good Muslim and therefore a good Singaporean. But the point was ultimately brought across -- that actually, if only Muslims were more strict about their Islam, they would be better Singaporeans. Hoho. True Islam is just compatible with humanity.
"O people! Remember that your Lord is One. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a black person has no superiority over a white, nor a white person has any superiority over a black, except by piety and righteousness. Indeed the best among you is the one with piety and righteousness." (Hadith - Excerpt from the Prophet's Last Sermon as narrated by Imam Baihaqi).
"Allah does not forbid you, with regard to those who do not fight against you for your faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just.” (The Quran 60: 8).
"There is no wisdom better than prudence, nor any piety better than refraining from the unlawful, nor any nobility better than polite manners." (Hadith - narrated by Ibn Hibban)
"There is no compulsion in religion. Truth is clear from error." (The Quran 2:256)
While Islam preaches that it is the only Truth, Islam also equally preaches the freedom of conscience because Islam sees no value in either blind faith or spiritual hypocrisy. Muslims therefore are principled in how we view Islam but we are also tolerant in how we view other religions. In other words, Muslims compromise without compromising because we are principled but at the same time we are supposed to be tolerant.
Muslim Singaporeans must do more of such things and stand up for truth and prevent the stupidity i.e. KEBODOHAN that is happening in the US, like this: Fear of sharia in Tennessee.
Don't let them spread the hate here too!
Friday, March 25, 2011
I found the two Zeitgeist movie sequels on youtube. And finally understand a little how the monetary system works. O.O Mind-boggling.
---
Also, a radiation chart from xkcd! that tells all about how much radiation we are exposed to everyday and how much before radiation kills you. HERE.
And:
---
Also, a radiation chart from xkcd! that tells all about how much radiation we are exposed to everyday and how much before radiation kills you. HERE.
And:
We all do, huh. :P
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Typing on my MacBook Air! :D I haven't named it; I should. I realise that if you name things you tend to lose them less. And Nabi s.a.w. named his stuff too (it's a sunnah!) because naming things engenders care for the item/thing/treasure.
And so, I have been pretty much distracted by my new toy and not getting on with another essay due. All in good time, ahah.
Yesterday, had a nice, mini, family meet-up in Johor and there was much sharing and caring and pouring-out-our-hearts business. (I also brought my MacBook thinking I could squeeze some work in in-between -- but that plan worked for a total of 15 minutes, before I succumbed.) With the chit-chat, I learnt that practice makes perfect. And that we're all works in progress. And that maybe, the whole point is to learn to care for each other on our journey together.
Ja! I'm thinking less blogging, more action.
And so, I have been pretty much distracted by my new toy and not getting on with another essay due. All in good time, ahah.
Yesterday, had a nice, mini, family meet-up in Johor and there was much sharing and caring and pouring-out-our-hearts business. (I also brought my MacBook thinking I could squeeze some work in in-between -- but that plan worked for a total of 15 minutes, before I succumbed.) With the chit-chat, I learnt that practice makes perfect. And that we're all works in progress. And that maybe, the whole point is to learn to care for each other on our journey together.
Ja! I'm thinking less blogging, more action.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Today I felt like a 10-year-old kid again because my classmates and I played 'open-number' to decide who had to present for our group work. I kept going, Are we seriously doing this? Hahaha. And we kept laughing hysterically while doing it that our lecturer actually came into the speech analysis lab (which is in actuality a tiny store room area) to see what was going on. Of course, we sobered up and pretended we were just busy discussing important and pertinent points. I am so glad the people in this course are such great company.
Then I was home on the train chatting to one of my classmates. And I had one of those wonderful, rare conversations where light bulbs began flashing in my head and my perspective of the world shifted a little, and I began to see clearer. Those epiphany-like moments, you know. And I think, thank you for letting me see things like this. So, you know, I don't start deviating too much in any direction. A healthy perspective is a rare commodity.
---
Keep dreaming and hoping, no? What is life if we don't have that.
Then I was home on the train chatting to one of my classmates. And I had one of those wonderful, rare conversations where light bulbs began flashing in my head and my perspective of the world shifted a little, and I began to see clearer. Those epiphany-like moments, you know. And I think, thank you for letting me see things like this. So, you know, I don't start deviating too much in any direction. A healthy perspective is a rare commodity.
---
Keep dreaming and hoping, no? What is life if we don't have that.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Japan! :((( I worry. Plus scary radiation waves spreading, or not.
Tonight, note to self: learn to stop being melodramatic. must stop drawing rigid boundaries, must stop unconscious tendencies to colour in black and white. Also, despite scary things happening, and Islam being demonized scarily in the west, and crazy Ghaddafi situation, and numerous earthquakes still to be anticipated, ALL IS WELL.
Because this is dunya only what, right. Keep calm, selawat, and breeeaaatthhhe.
And am reminded of this song, from this AWESOME bollywood movie i.e. 3 Idiots, which if you haven't watched, just please do yourself a favour and go watch.
(be sure to switch on the english subtitles!)
Tonight, note to self: learn to stop being melodramatic. must stop drawing rigid boundaries, must stop unconscious tendencies to colour in black and white. Also, despite scary things happening, and Islam being demonized scarily in the west, and crazy Ghaddafi situation, and numerous earthquakes still to be anticipated, ALL IS WELL.
Because this is dunya only what, right. Keep calm, selawat, and breeeaaatthhhe.
And am reminded of this song, from this AWESOME bollywood movie i.e. 3 Idiots, which if you haven't watched, just please do yourself a favour and go watch.
(be sure to switch on the english subtitles!)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
I know I should sleep soon, and I will, because I am going to improve on my sleeping habits (also my eating habits! this course has made me eat more. not good!). Friends, and to date, at least one member of the faculty, have commented on my looking sleepy/exhausted. So must stop the unnecessary, embarrassing attention. And damn my eye bags lah; so clearly visible with the littlest shortage of sleep.
But! I just read someone's sweet post about how comfort from God comes from the most unlooked for places, and I had to come here and... say how true it is, I think. And that you would never have realised, or noticed, God's little gifts, had you not been at the lowest of the low. And then it makes me realise, how strangely, the worst times in your life can turn upside down completely and become the best times of your life, because it made you realise God's truly around and listening. What could be better than that, honestly.
---
Also, last night, while cleaning up, and doing my normal mulling around, I thought over again about the polygamy issue I was discussing with some friends the other night. The first time the idea of polygamy settled in my brain as a truly understandable concept was when I was probably 14 or 15 and we had come back from religious classes from Masjid Maidin on Sundays. I was so upset and angry, that I cried in the car, and my granny and mum were like trying to comfort me with unsatisfactory explanations, and my brother was like, "What's the matter with you, can't you chill! Relax lah!" Well, easy for him, he's a boy, isn't he!
Clearly, my feminist tendencies were showing way early, ohohoh. But seriously speaking, I felt crushed that God Who I know to be unfailingly fair and just would do that to women. Mostly, I felt irritated that nobody could give a satisfactory explanation why God would let such a thing happen! And as I grew up and learnt more, the very realistic aspects for the implementation of polygamy made itself manifest to me. And at a very... realistic, detached level, I could completely understand why polygamy was okay, or even necessary in some cases. And I accepted it. But, on a personal and deeper level, I could never reconcile the idea of it with a God Who was to me the True Protector of the dignity and worth of women. There were other times I had cried over it again because I just couldn't understand it. Because I believe that one's true nature is supposed to incline to everything in the religion, because it's true. But how could a woman be made to feel okay about sharing the person she loves? It felt to me, in the scheme of things, that women were somewhat belittled.
So I was thinking that I would ask God after I died, that very question. And in restrospect, I could say I was a bit haughty about it, and like all, "How could You, God." :( Astaghfirllah. And then a while later, when my thoughts had drifted away a little, the answer hit me with almost the force of a ton of bricks, that I started crying almost immediately.
I realise that women had been looking at this the wrong way the whole time. Men too, but it matters less from their perspective. But for a woman -- the answer came to me in one word, compassion. I realised that God had gifted at least one thing to woman more than man, and that is compassion. And that God allowed polygamy because he had placed enough compassion in women to actually let it work. It would never work the other way round! If you think about it, only women would eventually, after being insanely upset and throwing pots and pans at said despicable husband (haha), concede that okaylah, I won't kill the second wife (although exceptions exist) because what would happen to the poor children and the poor second wife? In general, women have the greater compassion to forgive and be self-sacrificial. And put the importance of others into consideration. Men, driven by large egos, are more known to break the relationship once the wife's infidelity is discovered, whereas women are more known to forgive and try to make things work. (I remember reading this in the Straits Times when all that fiasco about straying husbands was the talk of the nation, with the Jack Neo and Tiger Woods scandals.) And I'm sure there are many more examples. It all started clicking in place for me, and it made sense, finally.
Not saying that I am actually okay with any of this happening to me, God forbid! It would be a trial I would fear to bear. But that fundamentally, I finally understood and accepted that this whole polygamy thing exists, perhaps because women are so great. And that God never had it because oh, He lets the men do whatever they want, doesn't matter the poor heartbreaks women throughout history had had to endure. But that He had put such a powerful responsibility on women; that men may suck, but love them anyway. For that makes you greater in the eyes of God? I couldn't believe I thought so little of God before.
This theory gives me comfort, it does. Oyasumi, I shall let my thoughts simmer in my dreams.
But! I just read someone's sweet post about how comfort from God comes from the most unlooked for places, and I had to come here and... say how true it is, I think. And that you would never have realised, or noticed, God's little gifts, had you not been at the lowest of the low. And then it makes me realise, how strangely, the worst times in your life can turn upside down completely and become the best times of your life, because it made you realise God's truly around and listening. What could be better than that, honestly.
---
Also, last night, while cleaning up, and doing my normal mulling around, I thought over again about the polygamy issue I was discussing with some friends the other night. The first time the idea of polygamy settled in my brain as a truly understandable concept was when I was probably 14 or 15 and we had come back from religious classes from Masjid Maidin on Sundays. I was so upset and angry, that I cried in the car, and my granny and mum were like trying to comfort me with unsatisfactory explanations, and my brother was like, "What's the matter with you, can't you chill! Relax lah!" Well, easy for him, he's a boy, isn't he!
Clearly, my feminist tendencies were showing way early, ohohoh. But seriously speaking, I felt crushed that God Who I know to be unfailingly fair and just would do that to women. Mostly, I felt irritated that nobody could give a satisfactory explanation why God would let such a thing happen! And as I grew up and learnt more, the very realistic aspects for the implementation of polygamy made itself manifest to me. And at a very... realistic, detached level, I could completely understand why polygamy was okay, or even necessary in some cases. And I accepted it. But, on a personal and deeper level, I could never reconcile the idea of it with a God Who was to me the True Protector of the dignity and worth of women. There were other times I had cried over it again because I just couldn't understand it. Because I believe that one's true nature is supposed to incline to everything in the religion, because it's true. But how could a woman be made to feel okay about sharing the person she loves? It felt to me, in the scheme of things, that women were somewhat belittled.
So I was thinking that I would ask God after I died, that very question. And in restrospect, I could say I was a bit haughty about it, and like all, "How could You, God." :( Astaghfirllah. And then a while later, when my thoughts had drifted away a little, the answer hit me with almost the force of a ton of bricks, that I started crying almost immediately.
I realise that women had been looking at this the wrong way the whole time. Men too, but it matters less from their perspective. But for a woman -- the answer came to me in one word, compassion. I realised that God had gifted at least one thing to woman more than man, and that is compassion. And that God allowed polygamy because he had placed enough compassion in women to actually let it work. It would never work the other way round! If you think about it, only women would eventually, after being insanely upset and throwing pots and pans at said despicable husband (haha), concede that okaylah, I won't kill the second wife (although exceptions exist) because what would happen to the poor children and the poor second wife? In general, women have the greater compassion to forgive and be self-sacrificial. And put the importance of others into consideration. Men, driven by large egos, are more known to break the relationship once the wife's infidelity is discovered, whereas women are more known to forgive and try to make things work. (I remember reading this in the Straits Times when all that fiasco about straying husbands was the talk of the nation, with the Jack Neo and Tiger Woods scandals.) And I'm sure there are many more examples. It all started clicking in place for me, and it made sense, finally.
Not saying that I am actually okay with any of this happening to me, God forbid! It would be a trial I would fear to bear. But that fundamentally, I finally understood and accepted that this whole polygamy thing exists, perhaps because women are so great. And that God never had it because oh, He lets the men do whatever they want, doesn't matter the poor heartbreaks women throughout history had had to endure. But that He had put such a powerful responsibility on women; that men may suck, but love them anyway. For that makes you greater in the eyes of God? I couldn't believe I thought so little of God before.
This theory gives me comfort, it does. Oyasumi, I shall let my thoughts simmer in my dreams.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Coffee = magical. At some point over the past year, I had decided not to drink coffee so much because I think it messes around with my rather fragile metabolic system, but today, I was thinking I might be persuaded against this attempt at coffee-abstinence.
Because I was having such a hard time staying awake in class and I had to be supplied with sweets and other sugar options for some energy source; It felt like I needed pliers to keep my lids apart. All this is of course a result of bad sleeping habits and having rice for lunch, which then results in intense sleepiness in the late afternoon. But then!!! I went to Coffee Bean for a friend-meet-up, ordered a nice hot cup of cafe vanilla, and was consequently and immediately so awake and alert, that I read my journal articles and was happily productive and genki. Magical, this caffeine drug.
I have been thinking, I shouldn't be so intense and philosophical and moody all the time here. Because it probably gives a very skewed view of who I am, and I bore myself too, sometimes, heeeeheh. Although it's not my fault that the times I feel like writing are the times when I tend to think in a certain way! (And tonight I'm probably like this because of THIS MAGICAL COFFEE THING OMG.) Anywayz --
Things I am excited about:
* Yamapi's Ashita no Joe airing in Singapore soon. OMGZ. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How do I convey my fangirling excitement over this. You imagine lah, hor.
Actually. Eh. That's kinda all of it. XD
Maki's appearing in a spring drama, but she isn't exactly the lead and I feel lukewarm about the plot, so hmmm. Hokkaido holiday still not happening -- also, hm.
Oh!
* Future friend meet-ups with people e.g. Shweta, Jean, more?
* Getting a MacBook Air when I've finally saved enough -- I can't wait for this because >7 years with the same bulky laptop validates a change. I want to actually be able to carry my laptop around, and sit in cafes to do work.
---
Tonight, I was discussing polygamy with a couple of friends while sitting in the car (go figure our merepekness), and my friends amuse me.
It's not fair! Why can't women marry more than one man too.
Well, I know that part of it is to preserve lineage... so polygamy works, but polyandry doesn't.
I don't understand! Why can't a woman have more than one husband!
Because you have to protect lineage lah... You can't tell whose child is whose what, right!
Huh, why! I don't understand!
You don't understand?!?!?!?
I don't understand!
What do you mean you don't understand?!?!?!?!?!
*insert hysterical laughter here*
Because! In polyandry, the fertilization mechanisms are all contained in one... vessel! How to tell! In polygamy, you have separate vessels.
Oh...
But today we have DNA testing what, right!
Because I was having such a hard time staying awake in class and I had to be supplied with sweets and other sugar options for some energy source; It felt like I needed pliers to keep my lids apart. All this is of course a result of bad sleeping habits and having rice for lunch, which then results in intense sleepiness in the late afternoon. But then!!! I went to Coffee Bean for a friend-meet-up, ordered a nice hot cup of cafe vanilla, and was consequently and immediately so awake and alert, that I read my journal articles and was happily productive and genki. Magical, this caffeine drug.
I have been thinking, I shouldn't be so intense and philosophical and moody all the time here. Because it probably gives a very skewed view of who I am, and I bore myself too, sometimes, heeeeheh. Although it's not my fault that the times I feel like writing are the times when I tend to think in a certain way! (And tonight I'm probably like this because of THIS MAGICAL COFFEE THING OMG.) Anywayz --
Things I am excited about:
* Yamapi's Ashita no Joe airing in Singapore soon. OMGZ. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How do I convey my fangirling excitement over this. You imagine lah, hor.
Actually. Eh. That's kinda all of it. XD
Maki's appearing in a spring drama, but she isn't exactly the lead and I feel lukewarm about the plot, so hmmm. Hokkaido holiday still not happening -- also, hm.
Oh!
* Future friend meet-ups with people e.g. Shweta, Jean, more?
* Getting a MacBook Air when I've finally saved enough -- I can't wait for this because >7 years with the same bulky laptop validates a change. I want to actually be able to carry my laptop around, and sit in cafes to do work.
---
Tonight, I was discussing polygamy with a couple of friends while sitting in the car (go figure our merepekness), and my friends amuse me.
It's not fair! Why can't women marry more than one man too.
Well, I know that part of it is to preserve lineage... so polygamy works, but polyandry doesn't.
I don't understand! Why can't a woman have more than one husband!
Because you have to protect lineage lah... You can't tell whose child is whose what, right!
Huh, why! I don't understand!
You don't understand?!?!?!?
I don't understand!
What do you mean you don't understand?!?!?!?!?!
*insert hysterical laughter here*
Because! In polyandry, the fertilization mechanisms are all contained in one... vessel! How to tell! In polygamy, you have separate vessels.
Oh...
But today we have DNA testing what, right!
Monday, March 07, 2011
Sex is cheap: Why young men have have the upper hand in bed, even when they're failing in life. ---> an article discussing a phenomenon already explained by T.J. Winters, in Boys will be boys.
-____- It makes me want to cry sometimes, my heart aches; poor women, thinking they're bettering their lives by becoming freer and more liberal, but all they're doing is digging a big hole of unhappiness for themselves in this supposedly better-than-ever-before, progressive, modern society. No, really; and you wonder why so many women (a ratio of 2:1, apparently) in the developed world are depressed. Stupid, stupid, stupid, I cannot tahan. Why do this to yourselves, women, wwwwhhhhyyyy.
I was discussing with my sis once, about something as simple as wearing skimpy clothes (let's not even touch premarital sexual relations yet) -- it's like, these girls! What are they thinking, seriously. (Ahah! Maybe they aren't thinking!) After you feel so admired and ogled for all the beauty that you are, and you find the time to have a moment's reflection, I ask you, don't you feel hollow? Like all you are is this outside, and what's inside gets more and more diminished, and you start to crave that high of being admired just so you don't feel hollow anymore, until all you care about is making sure your outside is perfect? It's hard to explain; but even I had an experience of that hollowness, and I have worn (more-than-)sensible clothes all my life. But it's just that idea of being sold too cheap. And falling into that trap into thinking being a bit cheaper is worth it in some way.
I tell you, without faith, I will become easily depressed. Because what are we doing to ourselves.
I actually had a great weekend I will try to mention about some other time, but hello, topics like this, when I realise of the existence of sad situations -- make my thoughts go cold and bleak.
-____- It makes me want to cry sometimes, my heart aches; poor women, thinking they're bettering their lives by becoming freer and more liberal, but all they're doing is digging a big hole of unhappiness for themselves in this supposedly better-than-ever-before, progressive, modern society. No, really; and you wonder why so many women (a ratio of 2:1, apparently) in the developed world are depressed. Stupid, stupid, stupid, I cannot tahan. Why do this to yourselves, women, wwwwhhhhyyyy.
I was discussing with my sis once, about something as simple as wearing skimpy clothes (let's not even touch premarital sexual relations yet) -- it's like, these girls! What are they thinking, seriously. (Ahah! Maybe they aren't thinking!) After you feel so admired and ogled for all the beauty that you are, and you find the time to have a moment's reflection, I ask you, don't you feel hollow? Like all you are is this outside, and what's inside gets more and more diminished, and you start to crave that high of being admired just so you don't feel hollow anymore, until all you care about is making sure your outside is perfect? It's hard to explain; but even I had an experience of that hollowness, and I have worn (more-than-)sensible clothes all my life. But it's just that idea of being sold too cheap. And falling into that trap into thinking being a bit cheaper is worth it in some way.
I tell you, without faith, I will become easily depressed. Because what are we doing to ourselves.
I actually had a great weekend I will try to mention about some other time, but hello, topics like this, when I realise of the existence of sad situations -- make my thoughts go cold and bleak.