I've moved, like I said I would, to a site with a different address (because like I said, the name Paraphrase Everything is quite stupid, and was only there because I was lazy to think up a name).
But because I realise that the link of one of my posts have already been passed around the cybersphere, with a bit of Blogger-magic I've recreated everything written here. Hurrah Blogger-magic!
So smuzzie your way down to (Brown) Oxford Shoes for much of the same thing!
Saturday 18 June 2011
Friday 17 June 2011
UndiMalaysia.
Well, like I said a while back, I'm marginally involved in a new voters' education initiative, UndiMalaysia. It's so interesting that anyone slightly interested in local politics (being interested would include doing things like moaning periodically about the way our country is headed), should sit up and take notice.
Stolen from Zain HD's facebook page, this is one of UndiMalaysia's meetings, the only one I've been to so far.
Am I the only one who has stopped reading local newspapers? They seem to be either filled with things I don't really want to know about, or politicians making logically unsound arguments, and I don't like working up my sense of indignation with my morning tea.
Local politicians, whichever side of the spectrum, are getting increasingly tiring (or perhaps they always were), with bile and lots of rubbish from both sides given center stage, and policy issues taking the back stage, while people like me can only wring their hands and tweet/blog/moan about the sillies engulfing politics. Do you know what Barisan Nasional, or Pakatan Rakyat, really represent? The policies they advocate? Their manifesto? Even when typing this, I don't. Instead of the clear-cut Conservatives-versus-Liberal parties abroad, the urban perception seems to be that BN is the anachronistic party getting too complacent, that needs a firework lit beneath them to wake up, while PR is the 'good', 'clean' party that although imperfect, is a better choice for the country. Besides the fact that PR seems intent on increasing government subsidy and PAS wants an Islamic state, I don't know anything about what either party represents (come to think of it, I don't even know what an Islamic state is.)
UndiMalaysia is an initiative started by a bunch of hopeful people who want a change in the political dialogue in this country. Instead of focusing on personalities or perceptions of the parties themselves, they argue that maybe we should really be scrutinising, evaluating, and criticising political parties based on policy issues. Instead of fixating about the sex lives of our politicians, maybe we should evaluate them based on their political performance, and instead of relying on perceptions alone to favour any party, maybe we should choose them based on the policies that they advocate.
The group of volunteers (many familiar faces from the MyConstitution campaign or the LoyarBurok site) have already sketched out a range of issues UndiMalaysia will be focusing on: the right to housing, the right to water, the right to healthcare, the right to education, the right to food, and freedom of expression; but this range of issues is quite fluid and malleable.
UndiMalaysia is still in its early, conceptualisation stage, with possibly Youtube videos, designed pamphlets, and workshops, to come, but they've already kick-started several programmes like the Hulu Langat constituency project, and a Mock Election at Central Market (an interesting form of publicity for UndiMalaysia). I've spoken to people more central to this, and they both sound more than very interesting. And they're having a launch-party too, if I'm not mistaken!
Now, to the whole point of this blog post: I know UndiMalaysia would appreciate people who can help out any way they can. Like I said, it's still at the initial, conceptual stage of development, so any ideas would help (I'm about to suggest that they take the manifestos of both parties when election comes, and distill them down to a form that's anywhere interesting. And to find out what both parties think about the Islamic state issue once and for all). It is beneath me to mention that you'll be hob-nobbing with very cool people in the legal industry/very cool people from many industries, but I suppose a sniffly thing like contacts is a fringe benefit if you're still not convinced. Or if you're too shy to help out, you can make a mental note to look out for what they're doing next. UndiMalaysia would probably also appreciate some publicity, so spread the word if you found it interesting!
I see the appeal in politics of personality and perception - it's easy, and it's sensational. It's like watching a reality show. But it really shouldn't form the basis of how we vote. My understanding of democracy and elections tells me that it's about choosing policies that would affect your life, not choosing who you like most to represent you. Instead of a sense of futility about where this country is headed, this project gives you a chance to turn politics into a creature that's more desirable.
I support UndiMalaysia and its efforts in changing the tenor of our political dialogue!
Probably a better representation from those more in-the-know than I am: http://www.loyarburok.com/selected-exhortations/change-your-life-change-malaysia/
UndiMalaysia's Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/UndiMalaysia
If this manages to convince you, drop the lovely Ka Ee an email at undimalaysia [at] loyarburok.com . She'll explain this better than I do, and add you to UndiMalaysia's egroup.
Stolen from Zain HD's facebook page, this is one of UndiMalaysia's meetings, the only one I've been to so far.Am I the only one who has stopped reading local newspapers? They seem to be either filled with things I don't really want to know about, or politicians making logically unsound arguments, and I don't like working up my sense of indignation with my morning tea.
Local politicians, whichever side of the spectrum, are getting increasingly tiring (or perhaps they always were), with bile and lots of rubbish from both sides given center stage, and policy issues taking the back stage, while people like me can only wring their hands and tweet/blog/moan about the sillies engulfing politics. Do you know what Barisan Nasional, or Pakatan Rakyat, really represent? The policies they advocate? Their manifesto? Even when typing this, I don't. Instead of the clear-cut Conservatives-versus-Liberal parties abroad, the urban perception seems to be that BN is the anachronistic party getting too complacent, that needs a firework lit beneath them to wake up, while PR is the 'good', 'clean' party that although imperfect, is a better choice for the country. Besides the fact that PR seems intent on increasing government subsidy and PAS wants an Islamic state, I don't know anything about what either party represents (come to think of it, I don't even know what an Islamic state is.)
UndiMalaysia is an initiative started by a bunch of hopeful people who want a change in the political dialogue in this country. Instead of focusing on personalities or perceptions of the parties themselves, they argue that maybe we should really be scrutinising, evaluating, and criticising political parties based on policy issues. Instead of fixating about the sex lives of our politicians, maybe we should evaluate them based on their political performance, and instead of relying on perceptions alone to favour any party, maybe we should choose them based on the policies that they advocate.
The group of volunteers (many familiar faces from the MyConstitution campaign or the LoyarBurok site) have already sketched out a range of issues UndiMalaysia will be focusing on: the right to housing, the right to water, the right to healthcare, the right to education, the right to food, and freedom of expression; but this range of issues is quite fluid and malleable.
UndiMalaysia is still in its early, conceptualisation stage, with possibly Youtube videos, designed pamphlets, and workshops, to come, but they've already kick-started several programmes like the Hulu Langat constituency project, and a Mock Election at Central Market (an interesting form of publicity for UndiMalaysia). I've spoken to people more central to this, and they both sound more than very interesting. And they're having a launch-party too, if I'm not mistaken!
Now, to the whole point of this blog post: I know UndiMalaysia would appreciate people who can help out any way they can. Like I said, it's still at the initial, conceptual stage of development, so any ideas would help (I'm about to suggest that they take the manifestos of both parties when election comes, and distill them down to a form that's anywhere interesting. And to find out what both parties think about the Islamic state issue once and for all). It is beneath me to mention that you'll be hob-nobbing with very cool people in the legal industry/very cool people from many industries, but I suppose a sniffly thing like contacts is a fringe benefit if you're still not convinced. Or if you're too shy to help out, you can make a mental note to look out for what they're doing next. UndiMalaysia would probably also appreciate some publicity, so spread the word if you found it interesting!
I see the appeal in politics of personality and perception - it's easy, and it's sensational. It's like watching a reality show. But it really shouldn't form the basis of how we vote. My understanding of democracy and elections tells me that it's about choosing policies that would affect your life, not choosing who you like most to represent you. Instead of a sense of futility about where this country is headed, this project gives you a chance to turn politics into a creature that's more desirable.
I support UndiMalaysia and its efforts in changing the tenor of our political dialogue!
.
Probably a better representation from those more in-the-know than I am: http://www.loyarburok.com/selected-exhortations/change-your-life-change-malaysia/
UndiMalaysia's Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/UndiMalaysia
If this manages to convince you, drop the lovely Ka Ee an email at undimalaysia [at] loyarburok.com . She'll explain this better than I do, and add you to UndiMalaysia's egroup.
Farce.
Confused by the announcements of the many rallies, all happening simultaneously on July 9th? Don't be. I'm here to explain and satirise things for you!
First, BERSIH, an election watchdog group campaigning for electoral reforms, announces that it is going to organise a (peaceful) street rally to bring to the attention of the general public a list of demands for a fairer election. They have the support of Pakatan Rakyat parties and activists. Since it claims to be a civil society group, this taints its non-partisan angle a bit.
Fairly comprehensible, for now. But this is followed by an announcement by Perkasa and several other NGOs that they will organise a counter-Bersih rally to protest against rallies and the negative effect they have on our country's economy and stability. Though it really beats me why they're organising a rally in protest of rallies - this seems awfully like an oxymoron, like fucking for virginity is. But Perkasa isn't a group generally known for reaching decisions after thinking it through logically, so this isn't an extraordinary turn of events.
Two rallies isn't very confusing what, you say. No, but today the powers that be decided to turn the notch up a bit and news floating in the cybersphere tells me that UMNO Youth is also organising a rally to counter/rival the Bersih 2.0 rally. Are they against rallies, like those who are getting together people for the anti-rally rally? No, it's organised to 'strengthen the democratic system'. Now, some news article that doesn't specify that it's having its own rally will lead you to conclude that UMNO Youth is just joining Bersih and are asking for electoral reform. Not so. If you pay closer attention, they're not asking for electoral reform precisely, but their rally is organised to 'strengthen the democratic system'. Positive electoral reform would strengthen the democratic system, sure, but electoral reform may or may not be one of their demands to strengthen the democratic system. This is also supposed to 'rival' the electoral reform group rallying on the same day. Khairy Jammaluddin said that they're not joining BERSIH because it has opposition agenda. So no, this is another, different rally. In other words, UMNO Youth also wants a piece of the pie.
Which makes three rallies, in toto, for now. But would more groups mushroom up and announce that they are organising rallies for something silly like protesting against the anti-rally rally? In fact, Kam Raslan was talking (not quite seriously) about organising a rally gathering music-lovers to demand for the deposition of Max Martin. By golly, maybe we should jump into the fray and have it on the 9th of July, since that's what everyone is doing! Or, you know what? The government should give up and consecrate July the 9th as Rally Day, where, for one day in a year, everyone can come together to protest whatever they're against. Just imagine, a day with a protest against Justin Bieber, a protest against people who are against Justin Bieber, a protest against Apple products, a protest about everything in general, and a protests about protests, even. A day where people with similar dislikes can unite and unleash the fury pent-up for the rest of the year.
In short, these rallies are quickly turning farcical. I support democracy, fair elections, and demonstrations in general (the latter two seems to me to be a necessary component of democracies anyway), but by God can't we have all three without sinking to the ridiculous?
First, BERSIH, an election watchdog group campaigning for electoral reforms, announces that it is going to organise a (peaceful) street rally to bring to the attention of the general public a list of demands for a fairer election. They have the support of Pakatan Rakyat parties and activists. Since it claims to be a civil society group, this taints its non-partisan angle a bit.
Fairly comprehensible, for now. But this is followed by an announcement by Perkasa and several other NGOs that they will organise a counter-Bersih rally to protest against rallies and the negative effect they have on our country's economy and stability. Though it really beats me why they're organising a rally in protest of rallies - this seems awfully like an oxymoron, like fucking for virginity is. But Perkasa isn't a group generally known for reaching decisions after thinking it through logically, so this isn't an extraordinary turn of events.
Two rallies isn't very confusing what, you say. No, but today the powers that be decided to turn the notch up a bit and news floating in the cybersphere tells me that UMNO Youth is also organising a rally to counter/rival the Bersih 2.0 rally. Are they against rallies, like those who are getting together people for the anti-rally rally? No, it's organised to 'strengthen the democratic system'. Now, some news article that doesn't specify that it's having its own rally will lead you to conclude that UMNO Youth is just joining Bersih and are asking for electoral reform. Not so. If you pay closer attention, they're not asking for electoral reform precisely, but their rally is organised to 'strengthen the democratic system'. Positive electoral reform would strengthen the democratic system, sure, but electoral reform may or may not be one of their demands to strengthen the democratic system. This is also supposed to 'rival' the electoral reform group rallying on the same day. Khairy Jammaluddin said that they're not joining BERSIH because it has opposition agenda. So no, this is another, different rally. In other words, UMNO Youth also wants a piece of the pie.
Which makes three rallies, in toto, for now. But would more groups mushroom up and announce that they are organising rallies for something silly like protesting against the anti-rally rally? In fact, Kam Raslan was talking (not quite seriously) about organising a rally gathering music-lovers to demand for the deposition of Max Martin. By golly, maybe we should jump into the fray and have it on the 9th of July, since that's what everyone is doing! Or, you know what? The government should give up and consecrate July the 9th as Rally Day, where, for one day in a year, everyone can come together to protest whatever they're against. Just imagine, a day with a protest against Justin Bieber, a protest against people who are against Justin Bieber, a protest against Apple products, a protest about everything in general, and a protests about protests, even. A day where people with similar dislikes can unite and unleash the fury pent-up for the rest of the year.
In short, these rallies are quickly turning farcical. I support democracy, fair elections, and demonstrations in general (the latter two seems to me to be a necessary component of democracies anyway), but by God can't we have all three without sinking to the ridiculous?
Thursday 16 June 2011
Oxford Shoes: Because owner of blog is a twat, a specific form of twat even - to be precise the Urban Outfitters sort of twat. This name would automatically transmit to readers the sort of twat the person behind the blog, is.
And besides, blog owner also owns a rather lovely pair of oxford shoes.
(no, blog owner will no longer write in third-person form.)
And besides, blog owner also owns a rather lovely pair of oxford shoes.
(no, blog owner will no longer write in third-person form.)
Holiday doings.
Back from being incognito! So I suppose it's only polite to tell you what I've been up to.
1. Reading, quite a lot.
Especially since it's the holidays, and because I found a tip-top library that's (surprise) actually convenient and pretty cozy.
Fiction:
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath.
Finally. Great, as expected.
Howard's End, EM Forester [project guttenberg]
Also quite lovely (and the parent of this quote that is now an occasional reminder for myself).
If you want to read this, you can actually get it, quite legally, online.
Freedom, Jonathan Franzen.
Borrowed this from the library. Gave up after 3 pages because his writing style is so frustrating.
The Jeeves and Wooster stuff. [Project Guttenberg]
Absolutely spiffy, this! PG Wodehouse uses English so playfully, so beautifully. It flows effortlessly, and they're just joyful pieces of work.
Salmon of Doubt, Douglas Adams.
Yes, he of the brilliant quote about deadlines. I suspected he was brilliant (from my dalliance with Stephen Fry's stuff) but didn't know the what I was getting myself into until I started reading anything written by him.
And by God, was it a religious experience. Douglas Adams is incredibly funny, while managing at the same time to be incredibly original, incredibly intelligent, and incredibly brilliant (quite a feat, don't you think?). Even after about a month, the book is still with me (it's a library book whose borrowing period I keep extending). I'm being exceedingly selfish by depriving another of a Douglasian balm in their (possible) time of need, but this book is so comforting in any time of self-doubt/self-loathing.
(by the way, he's the author of the Hitchhikers' Guide series. Don't dismiss them as being silly science fiction nonsense, you wouldn't even notice they're science fiction, because they're quite, quite brilliant. Here's a taste of his writings.)
Non-fiction:
Representations of the Intellectual, Edward Said.
Probably not up your alley, but it was inspiring, for me.
A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson.
Another booty from Mecca (the library, in laymen-speak). Tired of knowing nothing about the sciences? This is the book for you. Bill Bryson, he of the many books on different topics, condensed it for beginners, and it manages to be quite interesting, and occasionally funny. It's nowhere near satisfying if you wish to delve deeper into, say, the Big Bang theory that's explained there, but it's a good introduction that gets you acquainted with the sciences. I spent many hours on this, figuring out the Big Bang theory and things like the theory of relativity.
Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations, Adam Smith. [Project Guttenberg]
The book that probably started the study of Economics. Similarly fun as above, if you idea of fun is many hours spent figuring out theories by yourself, which mine happens to be.
2. Epic journey from Penang to Taiping and back.
And of course, a journey like that involves lots of food, mostly heavenly.
Top class fried kuey tiao - Gurney Drive, the stall with the noticeable queue. The one at Penang Road where they sell their famous cendol, scrubs up pretty well too.
Heong Peng (Tambun biscuits) - defo Him Heang. Him Heang is better than Ghee Heang, says my palate. And I have a rather discerning palate.
Assam Laksa - We had the Ayer Itam one, reportedly the best in Penang. I didn't like it much - too bitter, somehow.
Seafood numerous times. Teluk Kumbar (Penang), the salted egg crabs are heavenly. And I had the best grilled stingray ever in an unsuspecting nook in Taiping!
3. Lastly (I'm running out of steam here) Jeeves and Wooster, the series.
Have you known Stephen Fry/Hugh Laurie to star in anything mediocre on screen? I haven't (though I heard their Alfresco was embarrassingly awful), and they do not disappoint in this 20-year old tv screen incarnation of Jeeves and Wooster. Stephen Fry is spot-on in his interpretation of Jeeves. If you only know Hugh Laurie from House, try watching a clip of these back-to-back with an episode of House. It's quite disorienting - same man, 20 year age gap, different accents, and playing quite different characters. In Jeeves and Wooster he's a loveable, yet feeble-minded aristocrat.
Both characters are transmuted perfectly on screen, with impeccable acting. The script manages to convey Wodehouse perfectly onto screen, too.
Of course, it is also very funny.
Here's the first episode. Stick on at least till the second one if you don't like the first, it gets better:
4. I'm also slightly involved in a voters' education programme, too. But more on that in another post, because it's much too interesting to be meshed up and forgotten amidst all these messy narrations about things that I've been doing; and this post is getting far too long, even for me.
(pls post strongly-worded comments about the food bit, if you have any. Thanks.)
(food recommendations would be welcomed with an online hug, too.)
Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations, Adam Smith. [Project Guttenberg]
The book that probably started the study of Economics. Similarly fun as above, if you idea of fun is many hours spent figuring out theories by yourself, which mine happens to be.
2. Epic journey from Penang to Taiping and back.
And of course, a journey like that involves lots of food, mostly heavenly.
Top class fried kuey tiao - Gurney Drive, the stall with the noticeable queue. The one at Penang Road where they sell their famous cendol, scrubs up pretty well too.
Heong Peng (Tambun biscuits) - defo Him Heang. Him Heang is better than Ghee Heang, says my palate. And I have a rather discerning palate.
Assam Laksa - We had the Ayer Itam one, reportedly the best in Penang. I didn't like it much - too bitter, somehow.
Seafood numerous times. Teluk Kumbar (Penang), the salted egg crabs are heavenly. And I had the best grilled stingray ever in an unsuspecting nook in Taiping!
3. Lastly (I'm running out of steam here) Jeeves and Wooster, the series.
Have you known Stephen Fry/Hugh Laurie to star in anything mediocre on screen? I haven't (though I heard their Alfresco was embarrassingly awful), and they do not disappoint in this 20-year old tv screen incarnation of Jeeves and Wooster. Stephen Fry is spot-on in his interpretation of Jeeves. If you only know Hugh Laurie from House, try watching a clip of these back-to-back with an episode of House. It's quite disorienting - same man, 20 year age gap, different accents, and playing quite different characters. In Jeeves and Wooster he's a loveable, yet feeble-minded aristocrat.
Both characters are transmuted perfectly on screen, with impeccable acting. The script manages to convey Wodehouse perfectly onto screen, too.
Of course, it is also very funny.
Here's the first episode. Stick on at least till the second one if you don't like the first, it gets better:
4. I'm also slightly involved in a voters' education programme, too. But more on that in another post, because it's much too interesting to be meshed up and forgotten amidst all these messy narrations about things that I've been doing; and this post is getting far too long, even for me.
(pls post strongly-worded comments about the food bit, if you have any. Thanks.)
(food recommendations would be welcomed with an online hug, too.)
Monday 13 June 2011
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