Lately, I am really sickened to the core of my being when I read the news of what's been happening in Malaysia. The MSM mention unmentionable items of clothing shown in court and these are even making headlines! Then there are reports of men in towels, burning of an effigy of Penang CM, teenagers trying to burn a surau, name calling (and apologies that would not have to made if there was no name-calling in the first place) and PKR MPs blasting other leaders from PR. Gosh! What IS happening to Malaysia?
Then there is also the report of the transfer of three judges as mentioned AT THIS LINK. I have not found any official report of their transfer in the net. Perhaps a reader might share the information if you have it.
It seems that such ridiculous and ludicrous reports smack of a certain type of “National Alzheimer’s Disease” whereby some seem to have forgotten our nation's history because not only are they repeating mistakes from the past, worse still, they appear to be regressing back to the childhood stages, losing all the benefits of Malaysia's amazing “growth”, both as a society and as a government. Are we regressing as a nation as many seem to be succumbing to this malaise of losing their marbles as seen in what they say, do and try to undo publicly?
Serious steps have to be taken by all concerned to fight back against this new malaise where dignity and national identity seems to have been shoved to the background while others kung-fu their way through the scandals, conflicts, disputes and whatever disagreements.
Honestly, I do not know where to hide my face when I read the news. Our national repute is probably at rock bottom now for news agencies have been having a gala time reporting the many shameful events that have been happening in our nation one after another. There are some writers who have listed these chronologically and I am not going to do that because it is far too painful indeed.
I am completely befuddled as to how some people and leaders display a complete lack of responsibility of speech, thought and action. I worry for the next generation of leaders and citizens. What will happen to them for it appears that this Malaysian malaise is at an endemic level?
Do share your thoughts about this....I would love to hear your views. Thanks and have a lovely evening.
For the past few days, I have been cracking my head, experimenting with various writing styles and reading up lots to explore how I can do more to effect change in Malaysia, especially in Penang. I want to thank those readers who have been making suggestions as to what can be done, and ways in which I can improve my blogging and efforts.
Along the way, I came across this wonderful concept of Complaints Choir conceptualized and started by Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen. Excerpt from the official website:
It all got started during a winter day walk of Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen in Helsinki. Perhaps it was due to the coldness of the day that they ended up discussing the possibility of transforming the huge energy people put into complaining into something else. Perhaps not directly into heat – but into something powerful anyway.From 1976 till 1998, 2000-2002, I was very active in the arts and music scene, even to the extent of giving guitar and keyboard lessons at one stage. Since then, I have buried my musical side, especially when my two boys started to excel musically. After watching some of the complaints choirs from various countries, I am seriously thinking of doing one in Penang - where there is a wealth of musical talent. Surely there are other ways of reaching out to the rakyat apart from the usual dose of blog posts, forums, literature etc.
In the Finnish vocabulary there is an expression "Valituskuoro". It means "Complaints Choir" and it is used to describe situations where a lot of people are complaining simultaneously. Kalleinen and Kochta-Kalleinen thought: "Wouldn´t it be fantastic to take this expression literally and organise a real Complaints Choir!"
As complaining is a universal phenomenon the project could be organised in any city around the world. Kalleinen and Kochta-Kalleinen offered the concept to different events where they were invited as artists – but it was only after Springhill Institute in Birmingham got excited about the idea that the First Complaints Choir became a reality. Click HERE to read more.
So if you reside in Penang and wish to be part of this dream of musical activism either as a singer, creative artiste, musician, choreographer or artistic contributor
OR
If you wish to contribute resources or a venue for rehearsals at a later stage...
OR
If you are dissatisfied about many things and wish to put it in writing so that we can use it in the lyrics of musical presentations, do send these to me at mwsunplugged@gmail.com by 19th February, 2010.
Based on the response received, I will then write to the organizers to take it to the next level.
In the mean time, please enjoy what the Singaporean Complaints Choir have done in the next video clip. I am sure many Singaporeans, even Malaysians, can identify with the complaints sung in a musically harmonious and creative style.
Do leave a comment if you wish. Thanks and have a lovely evening. If you are in Penang, don't forget to swing by Kompleks Penyayang later for the Forum @ 8.30p.m. Thanks!
Having worked with teenagers and young adults for over two decades, I have come to the conclusion that falling in love is one of the hottest topics for discussions when they meet. There is distinct difference in the focus of the topic for men and women which even varies according to age. The older one gets, the more disillusioned people seem to be - such a saddening trend indeed as it implies that not many are that lucky in love.
Falling in love and being in love are two quite different feelings. Falling in love can be either a flash of emotions or a first step towards love. It can be a strong instinctive attraction to another or a crazy and very physical feeling where knees become weaker, face gets flushed while for others, love is a calm, comfortable and warm-hearted emotional experience.
Often times, falling in love demonstrates the power of love on mortals, especially if it goes against our senses when we understand that we can’t expect nothing good from these relationships, especially if it’s the wrong person but yet, can do nothing about ourselves.
The more two persons get to know each other, the more comfortable they get with each other but through time, feelings may become less sharp and not as bright and exciting when other factors such as career, kids or health issues come into the picture. No wonder some middle-aged couples become subdued in their marital relationship where communication is reduced and meals become quiet affairs. With predicable patterns, boredom sets in which can undermine the stability of the marital relationship - all the more both parties have to work harder to light that spark of love, romance and passion again if these were somehow lost along the way!
To me, falling in love involves emotional, cognitive, behavioral and erotic components. The functions of romantic love is not just for marriage or procreation but also for a stable emotional, physical and social environment.
I can still remember the first time I fell in love - it was on a blind date. Then, my best friend wanted to go for a movie with her boyfriend but needed a chaperon so I was roped in to be her alibi. I protested quite vehemently as I was appalled at the thought of being a lamp-post so her boyfriend arranged for his best friend to come along. I was not keen at all but loyalty and love for my friend weakened my resistance and I went along most grudgingly, believing that I would be bored to death by whoever it was that had the misfortune of being my blind date!
I know you will shake your head and say there's no hope for this sentimental lady but more than thirty years down the road, I can still remember how I fell in love with him at that moment when I saw him standing there, head cocked to the side, wavy locks of hair cascading from his head. As he turned his head in my direction and our eyes met, all was lost.
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Mark and Michael were identical twins, who would confuse many people who did not know them. Mark owned a dilapidated old boat, which sank the same day Michael's wife died.
A few days later, a kind old woman saw Mark and mistaking him for Michael, said, "I'm sorry to hear about your loss. You must just feel so terrible."
Mark, thinking that she was talking about his boat, replied; "Heck no. In fact, I'm sort of glad to be rid of her. She was a rotten old thing right from the beginning. Her bottom was all shrivelled up and she smelled like old dead fish. She was always losing her water, and a bad crack in the back and a pretty big hole in the front too. Every time I used her, her hole got bigger and she leaked like crazy. I guess what finally finished her off was when I rented her to these four guys looking for a good time. I warned them that she wasn't very good, but they wanted to use her anyhow. The fools tried to get in her all at once and she split right up the middle."
The old lady fainted.
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