Now this is what you call a cover.
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Season's Greetings
Wow, I have not written here since Hari Raya. So much for the "will write more" resolution. Well, what are promises if not temporary truths.
This holiday season, I wish all 3.5 of my readers a Happy Christmas and New Year!
I leave you with these two annedotes: unrelated, save for the exasperation I felt in both situations.
Also, if your holiday cheer is the type that runs thin, perhaps you might not want to read further.
This holiday season, I wish all 3.5 of my readers a Happy Christmas and New Year!
I leave you with these two annedotes: unrelated, save for the exasperation I felt in both situations.
Also, if your holiday cheer is the type that runs thin, perhaps you might not want to read further.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Selamat Hari Raya/Happy Eid
To all those who still happen to wander here.
I hope to write more regularly soon.
In the meantime, enjoy this Kermit and Bret duet:
I hope to write more regularly soon.
In the meantime, enjoy this Kermit and Bret duet:
Friday, 13 July 2012
Sharing Is...
An amazing song:
(She's really crying during filming, but of course the sound is a studio recording)
An amazing play I had a chance to watch: Usikan Rebab, playing till Sunday. Catch it if you can.
And two amazing articles from the Guardian UK on what differentiates expats and immigratns and how Civilizations II predicts an Orwellian future on the Guardian's excellent book blog.
As an important side note, I am very happy at my new job.
(She's really crying during filming, but of course the sound is a studio recording)
An amazing play I had a chance to watch: Usikan Rebab, playing till Sunday. Catch it if you can.
And two amazing articles from the Guardian UK on what differentiates expats and immigratns and how Civilizations II predicts an Orwellian future on the Guardian's excellent book blog.
As an important side note, I am very happy at my new job.
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Happy World Refugee Day and Goodbye Emergency Legislation!
As I read the regular influx of auto-delivered emails from the Malaysian Bar and KL Bar Committee's various sub-committees and notification mailers, I read two of the Bar Council's press releases released yesterday and today which led me to writing this post.
The first was a welcome to the end emergency-related legislation. Due to Parliament's ending of Malaysia's emergency statuses year, all emergency-related regulations and laws cease effect within 6 months of the status' by virtue of a Constitutional provision, and that 6 months ended yesterday. As a citizen, I welcome today as an important milestone in our country's move towards a more progressive liberal democracy.
Today also marks World Refugee Day, and the Bar Council's second press statement was an appeal for the recognition of refugees' dignity, to provide them access to and recognition of their lawful work, and to move towards local ratification of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.
I may not agree with everything the Bar Council does, nor am I always proud of my legal fraternity, but today I stand strongly and completely behind these press releases as a proud member of the Bar.
You may say press releases are dime a dozen, but I recall what my boss just told me yesterday when we were considering the testimony of two witnesses. I said "I don't see how Witness B can justify his position." My boss replied "At least he takes a stand! Witness A is completely unhelpful".
Taking a stand is a small but definite step despite its lack of immediate effect. The rate and breadth of legal reform in this country is not up to par, and to mark the end of emergency legislation by reminding the government of its commitment to reform is proper. As to the second press release, I know that too few Malaysians are even aware of the issues surrounding refugees here, and many simply do not care. I hope in time this will change and am glad the Bar Council is assisting in the right direction.
The first was a welcome to the end emergency-related legislation. Due to Parliament's ending of Malaysia's emergency statuses year, all emergency-related regulations and laws cease effect within 6 months of the status' by virtue of a Constitutional provision, and that 6 months ended yesterday. As a citizen, I welcome today as an important milestone in our country's move towards a more progressive liberal democracy.
Today also marks World Refugee Day, and the Bar Council's second press statement was an appeal for the recognition of refugees' dignity, to provide them access to and recognition of their lawful work, and to move towards local ratification of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.
I may not agree with everything the Bar Council does, nor am I always proud of my legal fraternity, but today I stand strongly and completely behind these press releases as a proud member of the Bar.
You may say press releases are dime a dozen, but I recall what my boss just told me yesterday when we were considering the testimony of two witnesses. I said "I don't see how Witness B can justify his position." My boss replied "At least he takes a stand! Witness A is completely unhelpful".
Taking a stand is a small but definite step despite its lack of immediate effect. The rate and breadth of legal reform in this country is not up to par, and to mark the end of emergency legislation by reminding the government of its commitment to reform is proper. As to the second press release, I know that too few Malaysians are even aware of the issues surrounding refugees here, and many simply do not care. I hope in time this will change and am glad the Bar Council is assisting in the right direction.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
The Power of Demilitarization
I heard this speech this morning on BFM89.9 and thought it was brilliant, and worth listening to as the 13th Defence Services Asia 2012 Exhibition is on-going at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur (the exhibition's proximity to Wisma Putra is too easy to make fun of).
It's such a short and simple speech, but so powerful.
Nobel Laureate Óscar Arias has twice been the President of Costa Rica, a country which voluntarily dismantled its army.
It's such a short and simple speech, but so powerful.
Nobel Laureate Óscar Arias has twice been the President of Costa Rica, a country which voluntarily dismantled its army.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Quote of the Week
“The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn”David Russell (Scottish classical Guitarist, b.1942)
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Subtext and Metaphor
I had a discussion with a friend some time back on the topic of subtext and metaphor, particularly in dramatic writing.
At the time I thought the two were separate and more or less mutually exclusive, but I wasn’t completely sure and so I did some reading.
I replied to my friend what I discovered, and am posting it here with his permission after some amendments.
I am obviously no expert on the matter, but I do hope anyone reading this will find it informative or at least mildly interesting.
At the time I thought the two were separate and more or less mutually exclusive, but I wasn’t completely sure and so I did some reading.
I replied to my friend what I discovered, and am posting it here with his permission after some amendments.
I am obviously no expert on the matter, but I do hope anyone reading this will find it informative or at least mildly interesting.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Monday morning: if you feel happy, you're still dreaming.
I entered the office almost skipping. I was looking forward to the day, filled with a calm yet palpable sense of joie de vivre. This is highly unusual for a Monday morning.
I thought, today is going to be the start of an awesomely productive week. I'll blaze through work like a focused laser beam, cutting through problems and ignoring distractions. This is what practice is, this is what being a lawyer ought to be and, and, and...
And then I read an something about the work I had to do, I thought, forget it, just forget it, I'm actually going to look for a distraction.
I thought, today is going to be the start of an awesomely productive week. I'll blaze through work like a focused laser beam, cutting through problems and ignoring distractions. This is what practice is, this is what being a lawyer ought to be and, and, and...
And then I read an something about the work I had to do, I thought, forget it, just forget it, I'm actually going to look for a distraction.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Friday, 13 January 2012
Go! Gogogo! Gogogo!
I think the direction for this video is tasteful and polished.
BTW, can you spot Elvira Arul?
BTW, can you spot Elvira Arul?
Good Morning World
Heard this on BFM89.9 just now and thought it was an interesting take on the famous Bond song. Apparently Sir Paul himself chose Duffy to cover it.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
The point of the long and winding sentence
A wonderful piece to remind me, that yes, there is still room for and purpose to the long sentence. Found via Shaqyl. Click on post title to visit original L.A. Times page.
Pico Iyer says writing longer phrases is a way to protest the speed of information bites people are subjected to each day. Special to the Los Angeles Times, January 8, 2012.
"Your sentences are so long," said a friend who teaches English at a local college, and I could tell she didn't quite mean it as a compliment. The copy editor who painstakingly went through my most recent book often put yellow dashes on-screen around my multiplying clauses, to ask if I didn't want to break up my sentences or put less material in every one. Both responses couldn't have been kinder or more considered, but what my friend and my colleague may not have sensed was this: I'm using longer and longer sentences as a small protest against — and attempt to rescue any readers I might have from — the bombardment of the moment.
Pico Iyer says writing longer phrases is a way to protest the speed of information bites people are subjected to each day. Special to the Los Angeles Times, January 8, 2012.
"Your sentences are so long," said a friend who teaches English at a local college, and I could tell she didn't quite mean it as a compliment. The copy editor who painstakingly went through my most recent book often put yellow dashes on-screen around my multiplying clauses, to ask if I didn't want to break up my sentences or put less material in every one. Both responses couldn't have been kinder or more considered, but what my friend and my colleague may not have sensed was this: I'm using longer and longer sentences as a small protest against — and attempt to rescue any readers I might have from — the bombardment of the moment.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Writing for WAMM
I've just written two posts at WAMM.
One is about Khai's new movie Relationship Status which you can read here.
The other is about the upcoming re-staging of two awesomesauce plays: Parah and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, which you can read here.
I wrote about these movies and plays because I sincerely believe them to be worth my time and the time of my friends.
If you can spend 4 hours watching Korean dramas / American sitcoms, you can spare 2 hours to watch a local production. If you can spend RM11 on a Hollywood rom-com, you can spare the same for a local movie. If you can spend RM400 on a West End/Broadway musical (transferred from Melbourne) and go to Singapore to watch it, you can spend RM40 on a play at a local theater. Put your prejudice and skepticism aside and support our local arts.
One is about Khai's new movie Relationship Status which you can read here.
The other is about the upcoming re-staging of two awesomesauce plays: Parah and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, which you can read here.
I wrote about these movies and plays because I sincerely believe them to be worth my time and the time of my friends.
If you can spend 4 hours watching Korean dramas / American sitcoms, you can spare 2 hours to watch a local production. If you can spend RM11 on a Hollywood rom-com, you can spare the same for a local movie. If you can spend RM400 on a West End/Broadway musical (transferred from Melbourne) and go to Singapore to watch it, you can spend RM40 on a play at a local theater. Put your prejudice and skepticism aside and support our local arts.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Khairil M. Bahar's Relationship Status
I think the little star on the poster above (added by Michael Chen) is pretty self-explanatory.
So I managed to catch the premier of Khai's movie last Thursday and I really liked it.
I guess you could call me biased, but I found it to showcase a sharp writing and admirably understated performances. The script had depth and subtlety (few local films do) and the stories were really told on such a human level, which made it very relatable.
Go watch it guys. Playing at TGV Sunway Pyramid and KLCC, as well as JB and Penang.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Blog & Roll: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
A hilarious collection of fictional words. Example:
ambedo
n. a kind of melacholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee—which leads to a dawning awareness of the haunting fragility of life, a mood whose only known cure is the vuvuzela.
Found via Dee.
Click on post title to visit site.
ambedo
n. a kind of melacholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee—which leads to a dawning awareness of the haunting fragility of life, a mood whose only known cure is the vuvuzela.
Found via Dee.
Click on post title to visit site.
Happy New Year 2012!
Dear World,
So another year has passed. You've made it this far, so far. That's enough reason to celebrate.
Here's to another year, and many more after that.
Have an awesome 2012! Cheers!
So another year has passed. You've made it this far, so far. That's enough reason to celebrate.
Here's to another year, and many more after that.
Have an awesome 2012! Cheers!
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