picture in my mind: 07/01/2014

Sunday, July 20, 2014

What's new about this current Israel-Palestinian conflict, I ask you.

Nothing.

It's been happening consistently, and has been repeated every year.

The only difference it seems is that, thanks to the wonderful double-edged sword that is the internet, information is becoming increasingly, freely available. People, if they so choose, can work around propaganda and dig up the truth for themselves -- and then they can decide where their hearts should lie.

All that has happened recently only confirms and reinforces some things to me (as it should to you):

-- that mainstream media is mostly lying (duh, I have long learnt this)

-- that the big world leaders regardless of who or where are almost always corrupted and devoid of real honour; there are some politicians who speak out for truth e.g. Chile, George Galloway -- but the shakers and movers, the ones who can actually maybe make things happen? none. Singapore? hopeless; more apparent than any other nation, money is priority, so let's take care of our backs first. United States of America? Completely and utterly in consort with evil. Saudi? so knee deep in evil that they decide to be evil too; it's too late to turn back. Egypt? all self-centred political agenda and not enough sincerity and iman to bring any real efforts for peace to fruition. United Kingdom? pretend to be a better player than big bully US, but actually was the original consort of evil. Israel? an evil institution whose creation if you ever bothered to learn has no basis whatsoever in rationality or humanity.

-- that it is indeed the end of times ):

-- that all I can seem to do is pray, and even that I do inconsistently ):

-- okay, you can do some things to campaign against the Palestinian siege, like boycotting Israeli products; there's an app called Buycott that helps you identify which products to avoid just by scanning its barcode! very cool. and you can offer monetary aid to the victims. Because even if none of this achieves much (and when the violence dies down we start to forget), at least we try to do what Nabi s.a.w. told us -- that if we see evil or wrongdoing, we attempt to oppose it with our hands, and if we aren't able to do that, to do it with our tongues; and if even that is not possible, to condemn it within our hearts

-- that we all need to increase in faith even more to counter the scary world we live in today, full of fitnah and challenges.

I really hope that the Eid prayers this year has a good doa for all the suffering that's been happening.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

I had an inpatient child for therapy today -- one of those social cases; kids that have been abandoned and now have become semi-villagers in the hospital (i.e. staying in the wards for extended periods). Kids like this make my heart ache, and make me feel like maybe I should stay in the hospital indefinitely, instead of having grand plans for exiting the public system some day.

I played with her some; and her communication is fine, if slightly delayed. Near the end, she was desperately trying to tell us what she wanted but started bursting into tears, when nobody could understand her. Then she rushed to me and laid her face in my lap and started sobbing away -- until I figured out, oh my goodness, she wanted a handphone. At which, I still had to tell her, no, of course. Which set her off again -- until the play therapist and I managed to get her to calm down with star stickers. Then the awesome play therapist took her for a little walk all around the ward. And when I waved goodbye to her, all she did was stare.

I then realised why my colleagues always jokingly talk about adopting our hospital villagers.

So many kids around the world, who actually deserve so much more -- don't get me started on those horrifying pictures of Palestinian children all over our screens.

I'm sorry that I have nothing to offer, but my prayers. But kids, stay happy, and play hard. Indeed, God is Your Protector.

---

On a lighter note, I did this hilarious and fun activity with my sister last night:

OTP challenge!

(Source from hawkghei.tumblr)

Pick your 10 top OTPs without reading the questions

1. Lymond and Philippa (The Lymond Chronicles)

2. Yamapi and Maki

3. Draco and Ginny (Draco Trilogy)

4. Kang Gary and Song Ji Hyo (Running Man)

5. Richard and Kahlan (The Legend of the Seeker)

6. Domyouji and Makino (Hana Yori Dango) / Jun and Mao

7. Logan and Veronica (Veronica Mars)

8. Peter Parker and Mary Jane

9. Michael and Maria (Roswell)

10. Michael and Sara (Prison Break)

Questions

1. Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6?

Uh, since the start of the first episode. After I got over how nuts Domyouji was HAHAHA. And I love Makino to pieces, funny and adorable girl.

2. Have you ever read a FanFiction about 2?

Yes, it was my first foray into real-people fiction. Gave me the chills, initially, doing so. But Yamaki was thriving way back then, especially on heat-up-JE on livejournal.

3. Has a picture of 4 ever been your screen saver/profile picture/tumblr?

HAHA very recently I reblogged something about them on Tumblr, I think.

4. If 7 were to suddenly break-up today, what would your reaction be?

NO. They just got back together, damn it, in the movie.

5. Why is 1 so important?

BECAUSE THEY ARE EPIC. The suffering, the pain, the years of knowing each other and growing, the awesomeness of each of them trying to come together to make more awesomeness -- and all of that written in amazing prose. I'd like to see someone try and beat that.

6. Is 9 a funny ship or a serious ship?

Sorta both? Back when I loved Roswell, I thought Max/Liz was uber tedious but Michael/Maria was exciting as frak, and hilarious too. Although they did have their serious moments later in the seasons too, when the alien-human-forbidden-love thing came to a head.

7. Out of all of the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry?

Yamapi and Maki -- because have you seen them on screen properly back in the day? Ridiculous! Sparks left, right, and center! And because chemistry is mostly a physical thing, I can't say much on my number 1 (since it's all in text). I swear to you, we need to put Yamapi and Maki in the same drama again for the sparks to fly a second time; Japan TV, please get a clue.

8. Out of all of your ships listed, which ship has the strongest bond?

I guess this should be Lymond and Philippa -- like I mentioned, they knew each other, for about 10 years, in all kinds of crazy and dangerous hijinks. Sacrificed for each other, loved each other's families, almost died many times while in trouble together, defeated psycho enemies together...

9. How many times have you read/watched 10’s fandom?

Ah crap, not much at all, honestly. I was running out of ideas by number 10. But I did watch a few fanvids -- don't think I could find any good fics back then.

10. Which ship has lasted the longest?

Errr, Draco/Ginny, I suppose -- because I discovered that when I was ~15 years old, and still hold a fondness for them.

11. How many times, if ever, has 6 broken up?

Was it once? When Domyouji was in New York and then started ++ignoring Makino and then declares he can't be with her cause he's too important and busy (and his life will just be bad for her etc etc) -- psycho boy.

12. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 or 8?

HAHA obviously Number 8 because damn, the dude is Spiderman. Yamapi only has a what -- green belt in karate...?

13. Did 7 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason??

Uh yes, I think, especially in the beginning -- cause everyone thought they were supposed to hate each other; and the fact that they needed to figure out murder mysteries.

14. Is 4 still together?

UHHHHHH -- I hope they're together, haha (though in real life, no, cause Ji Hyo is apparently dating someone else). Monday couple still meets every Monday… and there's hope.

15. Is 10 canon?

Yes. I did not officially finish the whole drama, but I heard they had a kid together, though Michael died.

16. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?

Richard and Kahlan! Because both of them are powerful -- Richard has his sword of truth and Kahlan can enslave practically anyone with her touch.

17. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 5’s ship?

Yes -- themselves! HAHA. And Zed. Kahlan was afraid she would ruin Richard because of her powers blah blah blah and so wants to protect him from her blah blah… So they had to keep it platonic for a very long while.

18. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond?

1, Lymond/Philippa -- for clear reasons. EPIC. (Although Logan and Veronica come a close second). I almost considered Yamapi/Maki but the both of them are hopeless, I give up.

19. Do you spend hours a day going through 3’s tumblr page?

No. This was an OTP of my teenage days, mostly. I am still fond of them, but I don't stare at pictures, no. -.-

20. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all forever, which ship would you sink?

MIchael and Maria -- because actually I think it might not work because, er, inter-species? I think it spells ++possible problems in the future, haha. Plus, Michael got a bit irritating in later seasons and treated Maria atrociously, if I recall correctly.

And in light of this, further amusing OTP discussions abound! haha.