A Period Of War

CAMP DAVID, Md. - President Bush warned Congress on Friday that he will continue vetoing war spending bills as long as they contain a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

There is alot of war and fighting going on in the world today. And as a result of these wars, people, especially those who live in the lands of belligerent nations are enduring unspeakable horrors and suffering. As the battles rage on, heavier than ever before, bloodier than ever before, as the refugee camps become inundated with the ever growing amount of refugees, and as the hospitals and medical facilities continue to swell with casualties of the war, the lives of these these people will indeed prove to be an even more challenging task as compared to the day before today. The lives of these people will indeed prove to become more difficult as the battle to survive the war becomes even more bloodier. Life, once blessed as a gift to all humanity now becomes a struggle, a skill developed by the fittest and the smartest. The weak will die.

Alot is indeed being done to stop these wars. Especially the wars in the Middle East and in Asia. But unfortunately, as much as there are those who try to stop the war, there are those who intend to keep the war going long enough for the sake of their own personal benefit. Yes, I agree, it sounds inhumane and completely uncivilized by any measure. But the fact still stands as it is. There are people as well as organizations who are indeed using the war as a platform to expand their personal interests. This fact is very unfortunate indeed. But I shall get back to this later.

Most of you might say that stopping the war is easy. Just pull the US troops out of Iraq and everything else would be fine again. From a shallow standpoint, this may be the ideal move. But as we have seen in retrospect, this move often doesn't end in a better future. For example, during the First Gulf War, many hoped that President George HW Bush, Bush's father would take the war right from Kuwait to Baghdad. Thus probably ending Saddam Hussien's regime in 1991. But this never happened. And due to this, the world has had to contend with the Second Iraqi War and a mass terrorism problem. Back in Korean War, General Douglas MacArthur suggested that the USA advance their army right into north Korea. His reason to suggest so was so that the communists would be destroyed then and there. But as history has told us, this advance never did happen. And as a result, the Korean peninsula is divided into two. The communist North and the democratic South. The people in the Nort are suffering trying to even have one meal a day while their leaders are swimming in fine wine!During the periods after World War 1, a revolution took place in Russia. The communists under Vladimir Lenin staged a revolution to oust the Czar regime of Russia. This of course led to the formation of the USSR. a country which has indeed threatened the world into a nuclear war during the Cold War. Had the USA intervened during the revolution, this would not have happened.

Returning to Iraq, should or should not the USA pull its troops out of Iraq? The answer is simple. No, they should not. Here's why. As it is, Iraq has been launched into a state of secretarian violence by the insurgents. And the US troops together with the Iraqi security forces are indeed doing everything they can in order cease the violence that has gripped Iraq for the past five years. If, the US troops were to be pulled out of Iraq, don't you think that the secretarian violence would become even bloodier than it is now? Now you might argue, well who asked the USA to launch an attack against Iraq in the first place? Let me ask you this, what if someone said that your neighbour had a bomb and intended to use it against you? First you might say that you will investigate before taking any course of actions. Yes I agree with your choice of actions. But, what if upon investigation, you find out that it is indeed true that you neighbour has a bomb ad does not only intend to use it against you, but to all those around you? What would you do know? My guess is that you might either face your neighbour head on, or simply report him to the police. Well, that is what the USA did. It was merely trying to protect the interests of the free world against terrorists who have demonstrated in the past that they are indeed willing to employ any method necessary to kill off America and its allies. In the years before 9/11 or before President Bush's administration had begun, terrorists had bombed civilian targets all over the world, hijacked civilian aircrafts and blew them up in the middle of the desert. But yet, the terrorists are never blamed for their misdeeds. But appallingly, they often receive praise and sympathy! On the other hand an innocent President is ridiculed just because he is trying to protect his and the countries of those of his allies from these ruthless terrorists. How is that fair?

And to make matters worse, the Democrats who are in the middle of the Presidential Election are taking advantage of this situation. They come up with a bill and voted for the bill based on partisan lines to cut the funding to the US forces in Iraq and to have a deadline to pull the US troops out of Iraq. All this done so that their candidate would win next years Presidential Election. But what they don't realise is cutting funds to the US troops would only make matters worse as the troops would be ill prepared to fight the war against the terrorists and subsequently lead to higher casualty rates amongst the troops and civilians alike. Pulling the troops out would make the violence in Iraq even worse. Furthermore, by pulling the US troops out of Iraq would give a psychological advantage to the terrorists. They would believe that their tactics of mass violence and suicide bombings will bring them victory and will force the allies into submission. Would this be safer for the world? What if they were to bring it to countries outside of Iraq. Say the USA or the UK?

Humans often want peace. But very few are willing to pay the price to acquire this peace.

A Failed Plan

Just when you thought that you had planned out your journey, something way beyond your control comes and destroys all of your plans. Exasperating indeed. First it was that stupid sound emitting device, then it was that banner trip, now it is the bloody brain for heavens sake! I wonder what tomorrow? Oh yeah, I forgot. Mr. Liao!!
I should have just requested to be put into Wang Jing's class. I guess I'll have to do that tomorrow.

Painting?

Would it surprise you if told you that I am artistically challenged especially when it comes to optimizing the usage of a carbon tipped instrument or an instrument with fine hairs at its edge to create visual effects? Yes? I thought so too. So with that in mind, would you ever expect or put me in a position where it would be imperative for me to optimize the usage of an instrument with thin hairs at its edge to beautifully create a visual effect that is o be used as a mode of public announcement
No? I thought so too.
But much to my amusement, and to your horror? This is what I have been up to for the past two days. Yes dear readers, for the past two days, I have indeed engaged myself in the art of painting banners. "A banner? Now who in their right mind would ever ask you to paint a banner? You can't even draw a stick human properly, even if your life depended upon it." This I am sure is what you may be thinking. But not to worry. Everything turned out not as bad as I had expected it to be. I think I managed to do a good job actually. Next time you drive past INTI, check out the Talent Nite banner. Then tell me what you think. I only committed a few mistakes. Mistakes such as spilling a blotch of orange paint on the banner, converting the word 'is' into a a letter 'R', kneeling on wet paint while wearing long jeans, painting away from the lines, and stuff like that.
The banner in question was to advertise ur upcoming Talent Nite which will be taking place n th 14th Of July. Now wheres my band? Anyways, we might just bring in Jason Lo or Dragon Red or maybe even One Buck Short as guest artists. Tickets are priced at Rm 8.00. Its at night of course and yeah, thats about all the information I can give right now.

Another Lingering Thought

I think I shall write a blog with a universally understandable content for today. And I promise not to include words with big bottoms today. Because I believe that there is indeed beauty in simplicity, and I shall indeed follow this particular adage. I know, you must already be asking me to shut up and get on with it. Oh well. To tell you the truth, I really have nothing much to say. No wait, I have something to say. It just hit me. Here goes.
Ever asked someone a question in which you were hoping for the perfect answer? Yes? Okay, now that you have answered yes, you go ahead and ask them and then get your reply. But wait, the reply wasn't exactly what you were hoping it to be. You start to go a little haywire. Your school of thoughts and words are now hanging in the balance, disrupted by that unexpected reply. You must be thinking "Crap, so what do I say now?" Then suddenly, out of the blue you reply the persons statement with another mediocre statement or a question. This of course, lands you in to an even more awkward position. Now my dear, you have enveloped yourself in an even bigger mess. So instinctively you go about trying to fix the problem. Then finally, after some attempts, you finally solve the problem. Whew! Now aren't you glad that, that was over?
But wait, you try again tomorrow, and yet again you gt an unexpected answer. An unpleasant one to say the least. Oh boy, now you've really done it again. And like before you try your level best to solve the problem. And after some nerve wreaking moments, you solve it. Phew! But then. after this you start to think to yourself, "Is it really worth my time and sanity actually trying to engage in a conversation with this person?" This thought baffles you, day and night.
At first you might reason that the person may be having a bad day, or in this case two bad days. But then you try again tomorrow, the day after and in the following weeks. And just like before, you go through the same old scenario. Now, you must be fuming! You'd have already probably started cursing and swearing at the person. I don't blame you. The bad day excuse just doesn't describe this person's problems anymore. This person is either too damn rude or this person just, I hope you don't mind my language, just doesn't want to talk to you. I mean, what other way is there to explain this? You give me a good answer, and I might just consider changing the words in this entry.
But anyways, after all those unpleasant experiences, you choose not to attempt to engage in any sort of conversation with this person. Therefore severing your already bad relationship.
This is of course from the eye of the receiver. The moral of this entry is, never be rude or callous towards anybody. No matter how bad your day is or how many cars you crashed into today. It may cause the person on the receiving end to become baffled by your insolent or rather unpredictable behaviour. Subsequently causing the person to rationalize your behaviour in the least pleasant of ways and soon not want to bother speaking to you anymore.
I hope that, with this post, I have managed cleared a major part of the shroud that has engulfed my blog since its very conception. If it didn't I have nothing more to say but to tell you to go and figure it out for yourself.
This is just one of the millions of lingering thoughts in my head.

The Innocent Child

The innocence of a child, taken advantage of by men and women who believe in the unproven. The innocence if a child, robbed mercilessly by the irresponsible who only wish to spread words which they themselves can't quite verify its origins nor its authors. The innocence of a child manipulated and converted into a monstrosity. Since when did we allow a child of only eleven to behead another man just because he was deemed an infidel? Since when did we teach a child to isolate another child just because he does not share the same book as he is? Since when was a child told to kill and die in the honor of his father?
As we walk down this increasingly darkening path, we often fall prey to Samaritans who say that they can offer us hope and rid us of this darkness. But instead of doing as thy promised. They renege on their words. Instead, they lead us children into more darkness. Some of us make it out, but not all of us are fortunate enough.
As this goes on, it makes me wonder, what period in time are we living in? Do we still live in medieval times in which the cauldron brimmed with molten oil is used to differentiate the innocent from the guilty? Do we still live in times in which folklore is taken more seriously than concrete proof? Do we still live in times where those that are different from us are isolated and eventually burned on the stake in the middle of a public square? If you have answered no to all of these questions, why then do you still follow the blind who themselves don't know the truth? Why then do you condone the rape of an innocent child's life?

The Adventure

In this journey of a million steps, I see no conceivable end. In this river flow of gushing water, I see blood spilling from its banks. What I started has been given an ending. An ending of sorrowful proportions. An ending written in anything but my own hand. My work, plagiarised. My fruits, harvested by my neighbour. My efforts, stolen and stripped of appreciation by my beneficiary. In this journey of a million steps, I have planted hundreds of steps, climbed countless ladders, but only to in the end hit the head of an extremely long a snake and journey throughout the lengths of it scales back to where I began. Back to where I started. But I shall not fall back and raise the white flag high above my head. Neither shall I wave the chequered flag. It isn't over. It never has and it never will be. At least not until the bells have been rung, the knots have been tied and the proclamation solemnised by the pious elder. To some, this may seem like a pointless scrimmage against odds that are superhuman in magnitude. But I can assure you that this isn't merely a confused struggle. This my friend, is an all out war against those with the disposition to renege on their words. This my friend, is an all out war with those who deem fraudulence to be the way of the saint. This is indeed an all out war against those with behaviour that is raffish at best. This is a clamor aimed those who commit subterfuge towards the innocent and the gullible and the trusting. But most importantly, this is a battle to reclaim lost land. This my friend is my adventure.

A Useless Feeling

I feel like a whole load of dung right now. Useless, until I am decomposed by bacteria. Bacteria which then feed me to the soil. Soil which then feeds the growth of new plants. But until that happens, I just feel like dung.
I know this feeling. I felt it a million times before. But yet, I don't understand why I feel this way. Often when obscure and missing form the numbers 9*-9*8*-*, I feel cheated. I feel like I have been played for a fool. Whats more interesting is that I have been robbed by my own friend. A friend who said that he would help me along the line. But instead, that bastard robbed me from right under my god damned nose. The things I did, the words I said, only quickened this insidious process. God damn it, if only I had seen through those eyes. If only I had seen through those words. If only I had been more careful.

I feel like putting my foot down and stamping my authority with a thunderous boom. But I know that this won't solve the problem. The only way I can do it is through diplomacy. But screw diplomacy, I have had enough of diplomacy! How much longer must I tolerate being robbed by the ones I trust over and over again? How much longer must I live in the shadows of obscurity all in the name of playing it slow? I am angry and extremely annoyed, but I just don't know how to react to this without doing more damage than the damage that has already occurred anymore. I've tried keeping my cool for quite a long time now. But this, this is the last straw for me.

But the question is how? How should I go about solving this problem without doing much damage? Hopefully I won't end up with more sleepless nights. I just don't need it. But how can I not have any after what has happened?

I felt this way before. I've felt it a million times before. But like always, it was useless.

Bridge of Trust: How

How on earth can trust be built when all you ever do is destroy it? How can I ever leave you alone with my darkest of hours when all you ever do is expose them to the world. Reducing my integrity to nothing more than a wasted rubble? How can I ever trust you to hold me high when all you ever do is to give me hope then take it away from me while still pretending to uphold it. How can I ever trust you? I read about what you did from your very own hand. How could you be so brazen enough to mess with the namesake of my question? Yes, you know who you are and you know what I am talking about. Don't hide behind those dressed up crocodile tears anymore. I wish to have no more of it. If you wanted it, tell me face on. My circle doesn't include cowards and traitors. But now I know what you're made of. Have a nice day.

My Third Leaves Me Halfway There

So ends the third semester of my college life. Its been one year since I enrolled into college. So that leaves me with another year until I fly to the United States to chase my dreams. And with the end of the semester comes a well earned two week break. Of course, throughout the two week break, I can already predict how much I am going to miss alot of things. I'm going to miss my friends, my lecturer, the atmosphere at college and so many other things. But what I think that I will miss the most is studying. Studying with friends that is. And also studying to pick up new knowledge, skills as well as a broader outlook on life, perhaps from more perspectives also. I don't know about you, but I am a person who just likes to keep on learning. I find it very challenging and refreshing. Also, I find studying to be a very bonding experience. The reason I say so is because, studying, especially with friends is indeed an amazing experience. While studying, especially in the dying minutes we will be able to know just how far a friend is willing to go just so that the entire group will make it through the test. And I am thankful to say the least that I have made and understood many good friends through studying.

I know that this semester by far is not my best semester. During the start of the semester I endured a meteoric rise to the sharp end of the list. But as the semester went on, I began slipping down the order like how water does on a waxed leaf. Of course, those times were very difficult indeed. I remember spending hours on end buried in books, assignments and practice exercises just to make the grade. But all those efforts ended in vain as I barely made the grade in calculus lectures. I couldn't even sleep a wink without having to worry about my calculus results. And matters became worse when I decided to withdraw from calculus. It was so bad that I even considered, at one point in the semester, to change majors. But fortunately, I gave myself a good kick in the arse and decided to finish off what I started. Physics on the other hand was a completely different story . I just eased through every test and quiz. I even ended up with a 52/60 coursework result. This and perhaps American History were my strongest subjects.

But apart from subjects, I also managed to build many bridges with quite a few people that I have never really spoken to or bothered to take much interest in during my previous semesters. I now frequent the AUP office and am more friendlier with the staff. Mr. Sam is no longer my sworn enemy. He is quite friendly actually. Of course now I that I have built relationships with them, going through college has become a whole lot more easier. But don't get me wrong here, college is indeed a fun place. But if you fail to have contacts with those who have been there and done it, it can be pretty scary.

But now we shall come to the interesting part. I know some of you might be asking, "What about the girls. Its been ages since you last entered a relationship. Now that you are in college where many pretty girls are, did you manage to get into one now?" Well, this question is quite difficult to answer actually. Of course, there are many amazing women in my college. But as always, my answer would be, I really have no time to get into a relationship. With the pressure to score a 3.8 pinning me down on one side and my conscience telling me to stay clean, I doubt I will ever get into one. Furthermore, not having time for your partner can really bring upon disastrous results. It may start well, but after some time, we will get bored of each others excuse of not having the time to go out or speak to each other or to do things that people in relationships normally do. And I for one, don't enjoy breaking peoples heart. I just hate breaking up. I think its completely unethical to say I love you to a person for one day, and then break up with the person on the next day. That's why when I get hooked, I will make sure that she really fits the profile.

But apart from all these, there really is nothing much to say about my semester. All I can hope for is that the coming semesters will be much better. And hopefully I will be able to successfully transfer to Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University next fall.

Physics

Physics, thou art my friend. Thou art my passion. Though I know we have had many bad times especially during our early stages of friendship, we have now become good friends. We have now bloomed under each others guidance. I can now count velocities, impulses, heat radiation, heat capacity and so many more with a stroke of pure genius. Tomorrow, we shall do battle in the examination hall. Tomorrow we shall decide which one of us is better. Tomorrow, you are my final for the semester.

Ignore me. I have become insane due to an overdose of physics

Traffic Laws

This is what I managed to do today. Take this movie, minus the cop car, and divide it by one hundred thousand. Now you'd get the magnitude of what I did today!!

Time, Unprecious

Hmm, the day is almost at its end. Only 45 minutes to go till the dawn of a new day, the 19th of April 2007. Which brings me to wonder, are dates a significant event or are they just numbers to mark our progress through the years that we have walked this planet? If it is indeed significant, how significant? If indeed we have made progress, what are they? How many of us can actually have the pleasure of knowing that we took a step closer to reaching our goal, moments before we close our eyes to retire for the day? How many of us can actually go to sleep knowing that we tried our best to do whatever we set out to accomplish? Get my point?

Most of us live this world on a day by day basis. We keep taking it for granted that we shall see the light of day when we open our eyes to usher in the new day. Most of us take for granted that we would see a loved one everyday. Most of us take for granted the possessions that we have. So much so that we forget to appreciate it and give thanks to those whom we received it from. We do this on a daily basis to the point where the true value of something is never grasped until it is gone. Never to return.

So, like I said, the day is almost over. Another 20 minutes to go, and the time will come for me to bid the 18th of April 2007 goodbye. But will I miss it? Well, the answer is, I don't know. Perhaps I will know the answer to this question tomorrow. When I can look back and say, "Hey, I should have done this instead." Or, " I should have said that instead."

Back To Gaming

It really feels good to be back playing computer games again. After almost 3 years of not playing any computer games, I finally was able to do so today. I played medal of Honor Allied Assault toady. Yes I know its a very old game, but I'm addicted to it. I just love World War Two themed games. Afterall, it was the war that changed tohe course of human kind all around the world. Try imagineing what would we all become if Hitler won the war? But anyway, Medal of Hom\nor is coming out with a new franchise. Its called Medal Of Honor Airborne. I managed to watch the trailers and I wa more then impressed.

The White Pigeon

This is a story of a white pigeon. A white pigeon who had it wings clipped by unscrupulous predators who pretended to feed it. A white pigeon who had its future robbed away from it in a blink of an eye. He didn't even knew what hit him. He just fell. And when he fell, he fell hard. Or at least, that's what he thinks. But then again, how do you refute his thoughts when evidence of his argument has been clearly presented before the judge?
All he can do now is to try and pick up where he left of. He may not do it alone, but with the help of many saints and angels that he surrounds himself with. The veterinarian, his flock, his friends, and not to forget the angel that he loves so dearly. He really wants to shout her name out for she deserves it, but reasoning or rather cowardice tells him to stop. But, she knows who she is. He already mentioned it in the most discreet of manner.
This white pigeon may never fly straight again, but he is offered hope. Hope that someday, somehow, his wings would be fixed again. Fixed so he will be able to fly up above where he belongs. Among the beautiful angels and handsome saints. A place he always dreamed of being. But most importantly in the wings of his angel.
But right now, this white pigeon can only look on at the world with the feeling of pain and hopelessness running through his soul. Wondering what were the mistakes, if any, which he made to deserve such a fate.

The Spanish American War

The Spanish American War was fought between the Americans and Spanish on two fronts. It was after congress agreed on the sovereignty of Cuba that President William Mckinley decided to declare war on the Spanish who were occupying Cuba. That was on the 20th of August 1898. Four days later the Spanish declared war on the USA.
Though the war was primarily fought to liberate Cuba of its Spanish invaders, the first action actually took place in Phillipines.
Weeks before the decllaration of war, Theodore Roosevelt told Commodore George Dewey that if indeed the USA were to declare war on the Spaniards, he was to assemble his task force which was situated at Hong Kong at that time to sail to Manila Bay. Dewey accepted the job. He then trained his army and gave his battleships and cruisers a coat of grey paint. He then established secret contacts with Emilio Aguinaldo, the Phillipine nationalist. When war was declared, Dewey sailed to the Phillipines. Then on the 30th of April, he attacked Manila Bay. He mmanaged to destroy Admiral Montejo's fleet without suffering a single casualty to his men or fleet. On August the 13th, Dewey's forces, under the guidance of Emilio Aguinaldo and his irregulars, took control of Manila.

Meanwhile, in Cuba, the USA managed to win a swift victory over the Spanish. Though the Spanish were weak, but the the Army of The United States were grossly mismanaged.
In May, an army of 28,000 well trained recruits assembled in Tampa, Florida. Then another 200,000 hastily recruited soldiers were gathered along with the regulars. The place had become a mess. Soldiers were sitting around with minimal or no equipment. Soldiers had to wrestle for space. The angry Theodore Roosevelt quoted " No words could describe the lack of system and general mismanagement of affairs here."
Since Admiral Pascal Cervera's fleet was known to be in the Carribean waters, no invading army could safely make the trip into Cuba. Then on the 29th of May, American ships spotted Cervera's fleet at Santiago Harbor. They established a naval blockade.
Then in June, a 17,000 strong force unde the command of General William Shafter landed at nearby Daiquiri. From there they pressed on towards the city. Destroying the ill armed Spanish army. On the 1st of July they managed to smash through Spanish defenses and stormed San Juan hill. They were now within striking range of Santiago Harbor.
Upon recieving wind of this, Cervera decided to run the blockade and get out of Santiago Harbor. But the 5 battlecruisers and 2 destroyers under the command of Admiral William T Sampson and Commodore Winfield, managed to hound Admiral Cervera's fleet down and destroyed it. Only one American was lost in the battle.
With that, Santiago surrendered on the 17th of July. Then on August the 12th, Spain agreed to get out of Cuba and to cede the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. The next day, on the 13th of August, Manila fell. The futur of the Phillipines was to be separately decided in a peace conference on the 1st of October.

Forced Into Submission

As humans, we are often forced into doing things that we never really liked or enjoyed. Some of us rebel, some of us submit to this force, while some of us just can't tell the difference between being wilful or being forced. I can safely say that I enjoy the best of all the worlds that I speak of. What about you?

I Have A Dream

In Loving Memory Of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Delivered The Coup De Grace

During these times of great difficulty, I am trying my level best to stay strong. But though I walk around pretending as if nothing as happened or as if everything is going to be okay, deep inside, there still lay a very beaten young man. There lay a young man, who can only watch in despair as his life flashes past. All his hopes, all his dreams, flushed down the drain, never to be perfect anymore,like crumpled sheets of paper. He is helpless to stop it. Right now, he just feels like giving up. Though he is told that it is only minor, but he knows how to read in between the lines. And what he sees,doesn't please him. He may be alright now. But no one can say for sure what is going to happen ten, twenty, maybe thirty years from now. All he can do is to find a religion and a god, and pray for a better ending. For he did nothing to suffer what he suffers.All he tried to do, was to improve himself so that he live his dreams like how everybody else did. He did what he did, innocently, for someone that he loved very much. But all that crumbled right in front of his very eyes when the man in white overalls delivered to him, the coup de grace. He does not wish to blame anybody, especially the one that he loves so much. But circumstances are such,, that he feels like venting his frustration out. But there is no one to be found. No one to be blamed. Except his own enthusiasm to improve himself.

He is told that there is no cure to what he suffers. He feels devastated. But he is not satisfied by what he is told. He wishes to have a second opinion. But that opinion can only be found far away from the shores where he was born. He may take that journey much soooner that he thinks. At the same time, taking that journey makes him feel guilty. He is determined to beat the odds so that he can have a normal life. But he can only dream. Only time can tell wether or not his dreams will come true.

Nuclear Trial

As I write this post, I feel a rush of things going through me. First of all, I feel tired, I feel extremely happy and annoyed at the same time, and I feel satisfied. Well, we won the trials today. But barely. The juries gave us the guilty verdict, but that verdict was overturned by Professor Borges with the reason that the prosecutors did not compelling evidence against us. The reason that I'm annoyed is not because of the juries, but because of what happened when I took to the witness stand. I was in a heated arguement with Ignatius, the lawyer for the other team. He was questioning me about the bombings of the Japanese cities and I gave him my answers. And during the heated exchange of words, he accidentaly used a profanity. And on the spot, Professor Borges screwed him and asked him to be replaced as an attorney. At first, I was schocked. I though he was joking. But he proved that he was serious.

As for the other parts of the trial, they were pretty uneventful. NOthing major happened. But I really felt sorry for Ignatius. If it wasn't for my persistence, he might not have gotten replaced.

Trial Of Frustration

Enter the realm of frustration. Today was the first day I showed signs of cracking. I was almost reduced to shouting when a main witness on my team did so little to coorporate with us. While all of us poured our hearts and souls for this trial, he hardly put in any. The frustration was immense. We asked him questions and he gave one worded answers. The trial is tomorrow and this is what he is doing. Doesn't he reaise that if he screws up, we loose? He is supposed to play Harry S Truman, the main witness in the dropping of the Nuclear Bomb over Japan. Now do you understand the gravity? If he screws up on his facts, we would have a hard time recovering. Because the rest of us will be supporting his claims about the cold war and the war in Japan.

A Dedication To A Team Of Brave Souls

"With a bleeding hunger in my eyes, I stalk for prey. With an ear keen to a rustle, my prey watch out for me. One moment of disturbed silence, and they all hold guard. The sound of confirmation send them either scampering away like Gazelles from a Lion, or into a defense mode, like Triceratops towards a Velociraptor, or to a position of outright attack."

Like all souls, we have those that we re terrified of, and those that are terrified of us. The question is how many? How many actually believe that we can walk on fire without burning our feet? How many actually believe that we can turn the air that we breathe into flaming fireballs?

This post is dedicated to Fazlan and his team. They did an outstanding job in toppling the team led by Chris Ee in today's trials. Where nobody expected Fazlan to overcome Chris, he defeated the odds. Always remaining sharp as a steel knife. And always as focused as a guided laser. Congratulations. It was a proud moment for me and all of us on the Board of Juries to serve for this trial.

Wise Men

Wise men say,

If you don't have anything wise to say, don't say a thing. Because, if you do, your very words would only serve to paint you as an ignorant wind bag.

If you cannot commit to a responsibility, don't undertake it. It will only serve to make you and those around you suffer.

Winds, though invisible, and often calm can push buildings. But how much damage can air in an empty can do?

Questions

Why do humans lie? Why do humans act as if they are interested when they are not? Its a question I don't really know how to answer. But I guess that saying what I just said would be a lie because I have been guilty of doing all those things. And I'm not ashamed of admitting it. Because I know, I lie or act interested because I really have to. But then again, there were lies that are totally unnecessary. So why do we lie? Why do we behave the way we do? Why do we prefer one over the other? Why is it when we say that everyone is equal in our eyes do we still have a certain sense of prejudice towards a person who's only flaw is being born the way he or she is? Perhaps its human nature. Perhaps its who we are. But then again, aren't these the very traits that lead to our downfall?

The Americans, back in world war 2 always thought of the Japanese as corked-eyed people who couldn't fly straight. That was until the Japanese bombed the hell out of the Americans at Pearl Harbour and scored high casualty rates due to their Kamikaze attacks.

In a relationship, its often our lying that ruins the relationship for us. Its often the way we behave or react towards an issue that determines the outcome of the relationship. I always liked this girl, but I never was honest to her about the way I felt. I did give hints. But the reason I failed was because I lied to her about the way I really felt about her.

There are so many instances to this question, but yet, we rarely succeed in analyzing them. Why? Maybe it's because of our ego that tells us that everyone else but ourselves are in the wrong. Only when men and women learn the properties of humility would we advance as one. But until then, we shall rise, but in pieces. And when we fall, we fall hard.

My Pit Park Experience

I have many stories to tell, many thoughts to share and many conclusions to make. But somehow, every time I touch the keyboard to tell you these stories, my ideas simply run off, away from me. Of course, I will try to chase and recapture as many of those ideas as I possibly can. But as always, I fail to piece them together as smoothly as I could when those thoughts were in my head. And the result is a very bad post or something that just does not flow as smooth as the waters of the Niagara Falls. But this does not always happen. It sometimes does play out the way I want it, but most often, to the contrary of what I want it to be. So here it is, my further attempts to narrate to you my day.

As usual, the day started with me going to college. Meeting up with friends, attending lectures, meet up with more friends and then going back home. As you all may already know, BMW is having its Pit Park at Jalan Binjai, Kuala Lumpur. Its an event organized by the BMW Sauber F1 Team. It is to be held in only 5 countries. And Malaysia was one of its stop. No prizes for getting that one right. So, I desperately wanted to go, but I really could not find the time. My finals are coming up in a little over a week, and I really did not want to loose precious time. So I hogged over the idea, I circled it, watched from afar, but did not attack the wagons. This was until, this morning. I was reading the STAR and chanced upon an article an advertistment promoting the event. I read it, as usual, and started to get ideas about going to the Pit Park. But I guess the odds of going there were really against me as I had no one to go with and calling anybody now would simply be too late. So, I abandoned the idea, for now.

As I was walking to room 304 to attend Economics lecture, I saw Chris Lam standing at the corridor while reading a newspaper. When I met him, I almost immediately asked him if he wanted to go to the BMW Pit Park. He said that he would think about it and let me know as soon as possible. The very sound of that news made me jump for joy. Of course, it wasn't decisive news, but news enough to give me a glimmer of hope that I might be going afterall. I tried to call a few others, but like always, they couldn't make it.

So, after college, I got home and got ready to go. I called Chris Lam to double check if he was coming. He said yes, and continued to say that he would meet me t my house at around 1.45. Perfect? Of course. How could it be flawed? That it of course, until you consider that I forgotten to tell my mom that I was going.

So, Chris came, and his mother sent us to the KTM station. Along the way, she gave us some useful tips about pickpockets and some useful contacts just incase we get mugged or something. And also, along the way, my mom called! She asked me where I was. A few moments ago, she called the house and found out that I was not there. When I answered the phone, I tried to sound as calm as possible so that I would not rouse any suspicions from Chris's mom. She, my mom, kept grilling me on who gave me permission to go and stuff like that. I played dumb. Oh boy, I was in deep trouble now. I wanted to back down and just go home, but the lure of F1 cars was once again too tempting to be resisted.

After we alighted the car, we made our way to the train and proceeded to travel to KLCC. When we reached there, we asked a few guards for directions and somehow made our way to the Pit Park without any fuss. Once we got there, we were greeted by the sight of a long queue to enter the Park. But surprisingly, the queue moved rather quicky. So I guess we did not have to roast under the Malaysian sun after all.

But once we got in, we had the time of our lives. We did so many things that we had dreamed of doing all our lives. We attempted to changed the wheels of an F1 car. Changing the wheels of an F1 car sure is fun and difficult at the same time. We managed to do change the wheel in 10 seconds. Pit crews do that in under 4 seconds. I seriously marvel at their ability to do so. Apart from that, we simulated refuelling a Formula 1 car. We learnt that an F1 refuellig rig takes only 10 seconds to ill the car with 120 liters of fuel. A task that would take minutes at our local petrol stations. We even managed to try out a fitness test designed for Formula 1 drivers. That was a whole lot of fun. We touched parts of F1 cars that we never dreamed that we would ever touch.

Apart from all that, we managed to hear the scream of an F1 V8 engine. Upclose and personal. We also met Timo Glock, BMW's test driver. We took a picture with him and an autograph too. That's the first F1 driver that I ever met. We took alot of pictures and video's too. I'll try to post them if I can.

On our way home, we managed to experience the Malaysian efficiency in all its glory. Our KTM train broke down on the track. So much for VMY 2007. As a result of the breakdown, we had to wait for almost half an hour before we could get a replacement train. But after we got it, all was well and worth it. But the most worrying moment was when I got home. My mom started to lecture me. I simply said that It was my fault and I was in the wrong. Almost immediately, much to my surprise, she let me off the hook. Whacky eh? Puzzles me. But anyways, I guess that this is enough writing for today. I really need to go and sleep.

My Thoughts on Following The Blind

The best solutions are often drawn up when both parties amicably agree to its terms and conditions. But what happens when they don't?

The answer is often displayed in a razzmatazz of carnage and destruction. We have seen this over and over again, throughout the course of the history of mankind to lay proof to my earlier statement. And to this day, what has been decided by both parties centuries ago can still be felt now. Take the instance of religious battles which occurred centuries ago. Are they not being fought now because some idiot decided long ago that one god was more powerful than the other? And because non believers of the 'true' faith should be exterminated if they are unable to be converted? Of course, this does sound bizarre. How can medieval mentality flourish to this very day? It is incomprehensible by any measure of the modern civilization, even the most lenient of standards. But somehow, this is what is happening. If you had watched Christian Amanpour's latest report on fundamentalism which was aired over CNN, you would be shocked to hear the words that are uttered by these people.
And because of rhetoric like these that wars are needlessly being fought all around the world. Lives are needlessly being put on the line by men and women who have completely no idea as to what they are talking about. Young children, teenagers and adults are blindly and irresponsibly led to believe that they are worthless by individuals who themselves don't know the truth. And therefore led to perform inconcievable actions.

So how do you reconcile parties that have been squabbling for centuries? How do you accomplish this feat without compromising the lives of many? Best of all, how do you cure this mental illness that has consumed the world? Eating it more and more and the days go by. I haven't yet found the answers too all of these questions. But I do have a backed opinion as to what the leaders of the world should do to eliminate this problem. But of course, it is only an opinion. What do you think?

Though everyone, everywhere advocates peace, but somehow, no one is willing to pay the price to secure that peace. I for one, am fortunate that I have not fallen victim to these people. I know of many who have. And from what I see, the more they follow the blind, the more they start to hate themselves and those around them who are different from them. Should we, or should we not ban these blind people from leading us?

History Trials

Today was a great day. We had our trials today. My team and I plus the other team played the role of the jury. Our real trial is next week. Today was the trial for God Vs Evolution. The case was about a high school teacher who got fired for not teaching intelligent design in her biology class. This was perpendicular to school board policy. So she wanted to sue the school. It was super cool. Adam, the first male to be created was brought to the stands. So was the pope and a few other scientists. Charles Darwin was even made to testify. The defense put out all kinds of evidence to prove that the Theory of Evolution was indeed the solid theory about the existence of mankind. They were impressive. But, they failed to defend why Mellisa Meyers, the high school teacher went against the school boards policy. Thats why us, the jury decided that she should not get reinstated to her job. But as a consolation, we did come to a verdict that religion should not be taught in a biology class and the school should change their policy to the fact that The Thory of Evolution be taught as the most probabl theory to the existence of mankind.

I'll try to get some pictures of the trial and post them here.

Again

Quite a few people have started to take an interest in my back ailment. I wouldn't say that I have been inundated with well wishes, but those close to me have certainly given me alot of support. I really appreciate all of those. Imagine that a doctor were to walk up to you and tell you that you might never be able to do the things that you love. Probably for life. I was surprised how calm I was when the doctor told me those words. Though I realised the gravity of the issue, somehow, I just did not feel as devastated as I expected to be. In fact, my mother and trainer were more worried than I was. Funny eh? Anyway its enough for today.

My Back

I just came back from the doctors clinic about an our ago. This is the third time that I have been in and out of the clinic in under 3 weeks. The first time, because I was ill. The second for a certain rash, the third being the most difficult of all. A visit to the sports doctor. As you know, from my previous post, I have been having excruciating pain in my lower left back. It has been that way for the past three weeks, only this time the pain has been very intense for the past two days. I almost couldn't walk this morning, but somehow, I managed to walk to college.

After college, I visited the doctor. He specializes in sport related injuries. I went in and consulted him. He then asked me some questions and performed some tests on me. After doing them, he diagnosed me with a nerve problem, which could have resulted from a dysfunctional disc in my spinal column. He instructed me to take an MRI scan as soon as possible. I might do it over the weekend. He also instructed me to go for a physiotherapy, which I did, just now. He also said that I might not be able to go the gym for about a month. Varoon was schocked when he heard o this. He advised me to stay away from working out for as long as it needs.

I just hope that the pain will go away. Its torturing me at rates that I can't even handle.

My Sored Back

My back is sore and finals are in two weeks time. No, wait, I have a quiz tomorrow, and a test on Tuesday. I seriously feel like an elephant who lost its trunk. I can't stand, I can't sit, I can't even toss when I sleep. Getting out of bed takes me a good five minutes. So guess what? Varoon asked me to go the the steam room, the sauna, take a bath, which I took for more than half an hour, and then go back and sleep with a hot pack on my back. I just hope that my back gets well soon enough for me to study and have fun. But of course, I remain dubious that it will cure in time. Its been there for three weeks now.