Hold me in your arms?* - Rick Astley

My daughter came up to me, clearly distressed. I asked her, "You want a hug or you want chocolate ice cream?" 

Without hesitation, she said "A hug". Looks like there are things in life that are better than chocolate ice cream!!! 

p/s - She also got the ice cream in the end!

It's over* - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

For the first time in our Law School, we had more than 100 students in a class - 104, to be precise. It was my PIL class. On top of that, I had 74 students in my Criminal Law class. So I was certainly dreading the marking that I had to do - never before had any lecturer here had to do so much marking after an examination.

On top of that, there were so many challenges along the way - I was tasked to do 4 sessions of invigilation during the exam period (so frustrating to just stand in a room for 3 hours plus thinking about how many answer scripts I could have marked during that time).

Then my daughter fell sick - had to take her to the specialist so many times, had to clean up after her vomit (including once in my car). Then I fell sick. But thankfully, recovered quickly. My wife then fell sick so a lot of the household chores fell on me. An old friend got married during this period so i had to spend one whole night attending his wedding dinner. Then another old friend from overseas came visiting and i had to take more time away from marking to meet up with him. Stranger Things 3 was released - but i made sure i resisted the temptation (and avoided all the spoilers online). Mt friend who was running the Alpha course at church could not make it one Sunday and I had to take over the session (after planning to do marking at the time). Oh - and my tooth suddenly started to ache badly.

So many things can happen in just 2 weeks - the very 2 weeks that i thought i could just mark, eat, sleep, repeat - but things never work out the way we plan, does it? Murphy's Law is proven in my life again. When it rains, it pours, doesn't it?

Thankfully, i managed to finish everything on time (including the 8 Human Rights scripts which was nothing compared to the rest). It's over!!!!!

Thank you Lord for helping me through this. It could have been worse but it wasn't. God is good.

Now, I just want to sleep - and binge watch Stranger Things 3 and The Boys. But I probably won't have the time to do that as my girls will want all my attention since i've been neglecting them somewhat. I guess the good thing about this experience is that marking will never be as challenging as it was this time round - or will i be proven wrong?

*First track from her brilliant album, Tails. One of the few albums where i love every single songs in it.

Number One* - John Legend

Avengers: Endgame is officially the no. 1 movie in terms of Box Office receipts, taking over from avatar which held on to the no. 1 position for so long.

"We did it, Mr. Stark!"

*His song released in 2005 featuring Kanye West.

Mercy* - Duffy

It was reported in the news today that a high court judge halved the 10 day prison sentence of a mother - and in effect, securing her release this evening itself.

She was reportedly charged for theft of diapers and milk powder which was for her 15 month old baby.

Thankfully, we have a judge who tempers justice with compassion and mercy. And common sense. Why punish the mother - which will result in punishing an innocent infant? Magistrate M Saravanan - i hope you will learn from the example of the High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan. At the very least, impose a fine on her - and many people including myself will queue up to pay for her.

As i thought about this, i wondered where this phrase 'temper justice with mercy' originated from. I thought it could be from the Bible but there is no such phrase. But having said that, the entire message of the Bible is about how a holy God tempers his justice with mercy.

Closer to earth, Shakespeare was the one who came close to penning down those words - in the classic speech of Portia in the Merchant of Venice:-

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

*Her song which was nominated for a Grammy in 2009.

Happy together* - The Turtles

Yesterday, eve of Raya, I was at the mall with my girls. I walked passed this mobile accessories stall, stopping to look at the Avengers (what else) themed stuffs. The stall was manned (or wo-manned?) by a Malay girl. Later, i would walk pass the stall again. This time, a man of Chinese ethnicity was giving that Malay girl a green packet (a gift money for Raya) and walked away. She took it happily while some of her friends from other stalls came around her to share her joy. She did not open it to see how much it contained. Instead - i busybodiedly looked at what she was doing - she was reading a message written on the green packet. She was obviously and clearly happy.

I do not want to emphasise the race of people (as we are all Malaysians - presumably. Unless she is a migrant worker?) but i wanted to do so in this post as this incident reminded me that for most part - especially for us in the Klang Valley - Malaysians of different races live and work together without any issues. In fact, we do so happily, respecting our differences in culture and religion and embracing our common ground - that we are Malaysians.

To all my friends who are celebrating Raya today, I sincerely hope and pray that you will have a wonderful and meaningful time with your family and friends - and that you will be safe.

*Their only song that reached no. 1 in the US - knocking off the Beatles' Penny Lane.

Black night* - Deep Purple

30 years ago, students were murdered in the streets of Beijing. The Chinese government would want us all to forget what happened that night but we never let that happen.

 

*Their highest charting UK single, it peaked at no. 2 in 1970.

Take a bow* - Madonna

So it's bow-tie day today cuz my daughter wanted me to wear it.

*Another one of her brilliants songs. This was released in 1994 and produced together with Babyface.

End of the road* - Boyz II Men

Looks like its the end of May in June!

*Their brilliant song first featured on the soundtrack of Boomerang.

Man in the mirror* - James Morrison

The importance for parents with young children to check the mirror before going out!

My youngest gave me a sticker earlier in the morning yesterday and I let her stick it on my cheek. I forgot all about it until I was getting ready to leave for lecture. I walked passed the mirror and saw it at the corner of my eye, thankfully. It would have been funny though if I didn't see it. Especially since we have recorded lecture these days!!!

*This is the acoustic cover of the more popular original version. But this one is pretty good. Found in the 2 disc deluxe edition of the Songs for You, Truth for Me album.

Keep the family close* - Drake

Last night, I brought my daughter to Mr. DIY and I bought something for her. We queued up behind this family - a father, mother and teenage son. After paying for our stuffs, we headed to the carpark as the mall was closing. As we walked out of the shop, I saw the father storming away alone. The mother and son soon followed him. From what I gathered, the son said something to his father which made him unhappy. His mother was nicely telling him that he should not have done that as his father would buy him what he wanted (Asians' way of showing love?).

I don't know why that incident affected me. Maybe it was seeing how angry the father was. Or how sad the boy looked. He's probably the only son and he was also probably born to them when they were quite old. Here is a family who went out on a Friday night to spend time together, shopping and being with each other. But it appears to be ending badly. The father may be thinking about how ungrateful his son is, and not appreciating all he has sacrificed for him. The son may be be thinking of why his dad has to be so sensitive, and not understanding him. It could be a long quiet and ackward drive back home and everyone will go to sleep feeling unhappy and regretting why they had to spend time together if it was ended like that.

I really hope the son would apologise to his father for making him angry. Or that the father would talk to his son telling him nicely why he was unhappy. I hope the son will know that despite all his flaws, his father probably love him with all his life.

But in all likelihood, they would keep their feelings and thoughts to themselves and not share them - resulting in a rift between father and son which can grow bigger and bigger.

I don't know why this incident affected me so much that I feel the need to share this here... Maybe I just want people to be happy. Happy with their family. The family is such an important thing in today's society. It's breakdown is usually the cause of many problems we see today.

*First track from his album, Views.

Never again* - Kelly Clarkson

I wasn't born yet when the racial riots of 1969 took place. But my elder sister was just almost 11 months old. As a parent today, I can imagine the fear and anxiousness my parents must have felt at that time. Although I remember my father jokingly tell me about how he had to 'throw' my sister under the bed as she couldn't stop crying, the terror that they went through that night must have been great. Thank God my family escaped physically unharmed.

Let's ensure such things NEVER happen again. It all starts with us.

*A song found on her 3rd studio album, My December.

Let's work together* - Canned Heat

As we celebrate 1 year of Pakatan Harapan's government, let's give credit where it is due and recognise the many positive changes made in this past year, but also to speak out against where they have failed and need to improve.

It all starts with us. If we want less corruption, we should not contribute to the problem. If we want less racism, we should be more inclusive and not discriminatory. If we want more Rule of Law, we should let the law rule over us. If we want more human rights, we should recognise it and then we should, respect, protect and fulfill these rights.

It's not the government that make our country better - it is us Malaysians who can and should - and hopefully do that.

Here are some quotes from Chef Wan - not a huge fan but i really agree with what he had to say as we celebrate one year of a new government in our country:-

"Yes, we might not have a perfect government to turn around our economy so quickly after what Umno rule has done... but indeed we are always better (off) than having a corrupt government..."

"Enough is enough! Now it's time for all of us to be united as one new Malaysia, (to) rebuild our nation dan redeem our dignity"

"...those who love the country should instead work hard to rebuild it."

*This was a remake of a blues song by Wilbert Harrison.

How low can you go?* - Chubby Checker

A view of St. Sebastian's Church damaged in blast in Negombo, north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April. More than hundred were killed and hundreds more hospitalised with injuries from eight blasts that rocked churches and hotels in and just outside of Sri Lanka's capital on Easter Sunday. PIX by CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE / AP

Angry. Outraged. Saddened. Humans are proving again and again that the depths of our depravity and evil knows no limits. To kill the innocents as they go and worship their God... I take comfort knowing that unrepentant wicked people will be made to pay for their sins one day.

*This 60s song was actually about the limbo dance.

Impossible* - Whitney Houston

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was IMPOSSIBLE for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:24

Blessed Easter!

*This song is from the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical, Cinderella.

This I promise you* - NSYNC

I was at a friend's father funeral today and was looking at the tombstones in the cemetery. I came across one of a girl who passed away when she was 9 years old and it had this written on it:-

Yohanes 14:1-4
"Janganlah gelisah hatimu; percayalah kepada Allah, percayalah juga kepada-Ku. Di rumah Bapa-Ku banyak tempat tinggal. Jika tidak demikian, tentu Aku mengatakannya kepadamu. Sebab Aku pergi ke situ untuk menyediakan tempat bagimu. Dan apabila Aku telah pergi ke situ dan telah menyediakan tempat bagimu, Aku akan datang kembali dan membawa kamu ke tempat-Ku, supaya di tempat di mana Aku berada, kamu pun berada. Dan ke mana Aku pergi, kamu tahu jalan ke situ."

What a wonderful hope this promise gives. Something that this little girl's parents can hold on to.

*This hit song of theirs was written by Richard Marx.

Something new* - Zendaya

So after almost a quarter of a century, I finally changed my old identity card (see pic) to one that displays a photo that looks more like me today. Surprisingly, I don't miss my long hair. Having short hair is so much more practical.

On another note, UTC services are the BEST!!!! One of the best things that the former PM introduced.

*This song samples TLC's Creep. It also features Chris Brown. It was supposed to be a duet with Babyface.

Goodnight and thank you* - Madonna and Antonio Banderas

Dear former students of Taylor's Law School, it is with sadness that I inform you all that one of our former colleagues and a great academic as well as a wonderful mentor and friend, Professor Norchaya Talib (or as we all fondly call her, Prof Nor) has passed away. Taylor's Law School wish to acknowledge her immense contribution to the school, to the students and to our lives.

*Taken from the soundtrack of the movie based on the musical, Evita.

Change the world* - Eric Clapton

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in ways little else does. It speaks to youths in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” Nelson Mandela

This quote was shared in this time as we deal with Malaysia's ban on some athletes from a certain country. Politics should not encroach into sports. But sports can be used to overcome the prejudices set by politics. Nelson Mendala not just spoke about it - he demonstrated it by using sports to unite his country.

*His wonderful song which was featured in the soundtrack of Phenomenon.

She's the one* - Robbie Williams

Work hard. No short cuts. Well done, world no. 1!!!!

I've not been excited over a female tennis player for a long time. She could be the one that rule the women's game now.

I'm so happy she won the AO too - as her victory in the US Open was clouded by other things. So sad for her then. So happy for her now.

*One of my fav songs of his. Really lovely song.

Monkey* - George Michael

Overheard one lecturer said this to another in the lift - "Well, this year I'm gonna be a monkey. If they're paying peanuts, then they'll get monkeys"!

Looks like some people are not too pleased with the increment they are getting this year ...

*One of the many hit songs of his to reach no. 1.