Innocence maintained* - Jewel

Foreign Affairs Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Shabery Cheek said unlike the detention laws in Guantanamo Bay, the ISA did not infringe upon human rights.

(Reported in The Star today. Read the whole report here)

And what was the basis of such a brainless allegation?

"There are pressures from the United Nations and (former US president) Bill Clinton to close Guantanamo Bay but we have never heard of our former Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister calling for the ISA to be abolished".

Oh, so we are safe! As long as no former PM or DPM calls for ISA to be abolished, it is not infringing human rights.

What a load of bollocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since when does detaining a person who is innocent (we still believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, rite? Rite?????) indefinitely without charging him/her in Court or allowing him/her to defend their innocence not an infringement of human rights? You dun need an LL.M in Internatinal Human Rights Law to figure that out!

But since i do hv such an LL.M, here is a short list of the rights infringed by the ISA:-

• Right to be informed of grounds of arrest;
• Right to take proceedings before a Court of law;
• Rights of a detained person to have access to the outside world;
• Rights of a detained person to be treated with dignity and respect;
• Rights of a detained person not to be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
• Right to compensation for unlawful detention

The list is in no way exhaustive. And if you think i'm just plucking it all from the air, you can read about it in greater detail here.

*The 6th song from her 2nd album, Spirit, which happens to be my fav Jewel album so far!

I miss you* - Haddaway

I just chatted wif Michael over MSN - and tho it was great, it just left me feeling so down. I miss me mates so so much. I miss the life there...

Michael had an amazing eventful weekend when his girlfriend almost got kicked out of the country by the Immigration!!!! Thanks to the help of the Uni people, the local MP and plenty of frens, things just got resolved.

Sachin returned from an equally eventful trip back home and his girlfren will be coming over from Spain this week to join him.

Song Ke is still the same - and bringing joy into our lives! ;-)

Chiaki just left for home for good.

Yuki is settling in at Manchester.

And me? I miss them all.

This was our last nite together - on the 30th November 2006. You can tell we had a blast! :-)

*This song hit the UK charts way back in the fall of 1993 (went all the way to no. 9) - it din help when we listened to it at the time when we missed home the most!

Tell her about it* - Billy Joel

Here's an updated version of this song (made together wif Babyface) which was Olivia's first no. 1 hit in the US and in Canada when it topped the charts way back in 1974. I was thinking that maybe a more modern version might win over the present generation - yes? So anyone wanna watch her at Genting Highlands next month???? Lemme know!

*From his album, An Innocent Man, this was his second Billboard no. 1 hit.

Kung fu fighting* - Carl Douglas

Tony Anthony learned kung fu since he was 4 years old. he grew up and became the World Champion "master" in martial arts, in 1987, 1988 and 1989 (read more about him from Wikipedia here).

In recent times, he has become an evangelist, the founding director of a Christian organisation called "Avanti" and has written a book entitled "Taming the Tiger".

Here's a brief snippet about the book from Avanti's website:-

Authentic Media are pleased to announce the release of Taming The Tiger by Tony Anthony, a true story with more thrills, spills, twists and turns than a Hollywood blockbuster.

Taming The Tiger relates Tony’s astounding life story, beginning when he is sent to China as a four year old to become a Kung Fu disciple, where he spends eight hours a day following a cruel and brutal training regime, overseen by the Grand Master, his grandfather.

Quickly developing into a Kung Fu expert, Tony becomes an elite bodyguard, protecting some of the world’s most powerful people whilst also winning the world Kung Fu championships three times. Personal tragedy, however, alters Tony’s sense of extreme discipline and he begins to use his skills for illegal means, becoming embroiled in a world of violence, destruction and death.

Eventually incarcerated in the notorious Nicosia Central Prison in Cyprus, Tony hits rock bottom. Through the visits of a stranger, he is introduced to the reality and life-changing power of Jesus Christ and he finds himself freed from the hate which had so consumed him.

Anyways, the main purpose of this post is to announce that Tony Anthony will be in The Life Chapel this Sunday to share about his life story. The meeting will start at 11:30 am (for map details, go here). It promises to be a real interesting meeting - but unfortunately, Mr. Anthony will not be giving any kung fu demonstration!!!! But if you really want to, you can try to provoke him.... ;-P

Do try to come and bring yr frens along. Feel free to contact me for further details. If you would like to listen to him but can't make it this Sunday, he'll be speaking at other venues too - contact me for the details.

p/s - pic obtained from Amazon.co.uk

*Apparently, this song was recorded as a "B" side of a single and was never really taken seriously until the record company chief heard it and said that it was good enuf to be released as an "A" side. The rest as they say is history - and it became Carl's biggest hit - some say, his only hit - hitting no. 1 in both the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and the UK singles Chart!

Immortality* - Celine Dion

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7v2 (NIV)

I almost din go for the service this morning. After all, i really din know him that well. I mean, everyone (in my church circle) knew who Eric Kirton was. I've spoken to him a couple of times - usually during church retreats or after meetings which he spoke at. But tt's about it.

But i do know Colin well. And i know that if the roles were reversed, i'd be really touched if he came.

Funny how God works - you try to do something for someone else and you end up being blessed. Well, it's funny that i shud still find it funny after all that i've experienced!!!

The above Bible verse was a quote made by King Solomon - and no one can doubt the wisdom in his words even til today. There's something very sobering about attending a funeral service. It's a reminder of our mortality - that one day, all of us will die and be fertilisers for daffodils. It's a wake-up call to start living our life to its fullest, to seize the day and every opportunity that comes our way. It's also a time when we recall God's grace and goodness.

Yet, at the same time, it reminds us of our immortality. Our physical life may end one day, but our spirits will live on forever - and we can be clothed wif new bodies too!

I've never dreaded attending Christian funeral services - it's always so filled wif hope, wif joy. Sure, we mourn for the loss of the physical presence of our brother or sister. It kills us (pun not intended) that he or she will no longer be wif us, that we can hear their voice no longer, feel their touch no more, to not be able to laugh together wif them... not in this lifetime. Tears will be shed - but it's the kinda tears shed at airports and farewells, altho multiplied a few times.

But we take time to recall wonderful memories - and thank God for them.

It also fills us wif comfort and joy as we know that the departed person has gone to a better place - and its only a matter of time before that one sweet day when we will be reunited again, in the presence of God, and be together, forever.

Tombstone in Glasgow

* This song was composed by the Gibb brothers specifically for Ms Dion - and they can be heard singing bck-up vocals. It hit no. 5 in the UK but was never released as a single in the States.

Amazing grace* - LeAnn Rimes

"Why dun i drive back in the nite?", i thot to meself!

Excellent idea! i save money by not having to pay for the hostel that nite, and on top of that, it would be a most pleasant drive back!!! Nice cool nite, the highway to meself, stress-free! Brilliant!

How wrong could i have been!!!!!!

It poured like mad that nite. It was a storm - cats and dogs and rats and whatever else!!!!! At certain parts of the highway, the rain was falling at such an angle towards my direction that i could not see the road at all! Visibility down to zero! I had to strain real hard to see thru the wet windscreen which made which was made so much harder due to the fact i had astigmatism - those who have that would understand.

And the highway was packed wif vehicles!!!!! What's goin on???? Maybe it was common to have that many vehicles on the road after dark in M'sia. Maybe it was cuz of the rain and cars were travelling slower. But it was so stressful! Large lorries on the slow lane crawling at a tortoise's pace while vehicles travelling on the fast lane (this includes a few huge express busses) think they are Michael Schumacher!!!!

All that just made me even more tired - i was oredi exhausted from traipsing around the island the whole day, most of the time, under the blazing sun. Thinking back, it was really scary - it felt so unreal, like i was half asleep most of the time. I prolly went to sleep wif me eyes opened a couple of times.

When me mate heard about that, he reprimanded me for being crazy. He said that driving in heavy rain at night is really dangerous - he has done it a few times in the past and it was only by God's grace that he went thru those incidents unhurt.

I could only nod quietly in agreement and offer a silent prayer of thanksgiving...

*This well-loved Christian hymn by John Newton was done in an acapella version by Ms Rimes in her You light up my life: Inspirational Songs album

Let me be there* - Olivia Newton-John

Alrite - i'm old! Dun be deceived by me youthful looks! ;-P

Just to prove how old i am, i am declaring to the whole world (wide web) that i'm a big fan of Olivia Newton-John! Prolly almost a huge a fan as i am of Jewel!

And i've been getting all excited cuz she is scheduled to perform in M'sia next month! Woohoo!!!!!

Ok, ok - most if not all you reading me blog will be wondering, who the h*ck is Olivia Newton-John???? If you are asking that question, i dun know how to answer. Prolly, the easiest would be to refer you to the classic movie-musical, Grease. Yup, she's the one who played Sandy.

"Wow, she must be a million years old then!!!!" you must be thinking.

Well, she shud be... but she still looks as young as ever!

I grew up listening to her!!!! Yeah, i am that old! I still remember how she looks on the cover of her cassette which i'd listen on the old player we had back then!!!

Truth be told, i wasn't such a big fan of Grease back then. Sure, I liked it. But the movie-musical which really made a difference in me life was the lessor known one by ONJ, Xanadu. If i watch it again now, i'll have to admit that it's such a corny show wif pretty lame effects. But i'll still love it. A movie about having yr dreams come true, a movie with good old singing and dancing (tap-dancing too), a movie wif the legendary Gene Kelly (altho some say it was his lowest point in show business), a movie wif such unforgettable songs. I loved all the songs. Still do. Brilliant!

As i grew older, i had a very close fren who also happened to be a huge fan of ONJ. We'd actually spend time listening to ONJ over the phone and singing along together. And we had this magical moment once when we bought for each other the Xanadu soundtrack CD and passed it to each other at the same time!!!! Really! I handed it over to her, still in the plastic bag, so she couldn't tell what CD it was but she knew it was a CD. Instead of reaching out to take it, she handed to me something in a brown envelope - obviously a CD too. We stood there, offering each other a CD when we suddenly realised that it had to be the same CD. It was. :-)

Anyways, its a pity she isn't in M'sia anymore or she'll be the first i'd ask to watch the concert (altho i dun think her hubby would be too crazy bout it!!!).

But i really hope i'll be able to catch it - even if the tickets are kinda pricey. All i ask is to let me be there when she is singing live!!!!

For those who are still wondering wat the fuss is all about, let me leave you wif my favourite song of hers, which ironically is not from the Xanadu soundtrack!!!!

*Her first Top 10 single in the US, this song won her a Grammy for Best Female Vocalist. Just to give you an idea of how old she is, this song was covered by Elvis Presley 4 years later!!!!!

Something kinda funny* - Spice Girls

Forwarded to me by me bro:-

UK Immigration Officer: Purpose of visit?

Visitor: I'm here to study law, sir.

Officer: You know, you must have a lot of lawyers in Malaysia.

Visitor: Why do you say that?

Officer: Well, i've been here for a good twenty years, and I'd say 80% of Malaysians I see here say they're here to read law.

Visitor: Oh, really? That's really something i never knew. Hard to believe in fact.

Officer: Just you watch, then. You just stand here until the next Malaysian comes along, and I'll bet he's here to read law.

*Visitor waits for 5 mins, Ah Chong from Malaysia comes to immigration counter*

Officer: Mr. Ah Chong, purpose of visit?

Ah Chong: Study lorr...

Well, if you aren't M'sian (or S'porean), you may have difficulty understanding the joke...!

*The 8th track from their debut album. Apparently, it was one of the first few songs that producer Simon Fuller heard which made him decide to manage them.

Time of your life* - Green Day

It was late in the nite and we were having dong sui (which was too sweet) by the roadside, while mozzies feasted on me legs. I had to literally brave thru a storm just to get there - but it was worth it. We haven't seen each other since spring 2 years ago, when i popped by her apartment the day before she flew off to the UK. We said we'd meet up in London once i'm over there.

We never did.

A series of unforeseen events and loads of procrastinating meant that we would only meet up face to face - when we were both back here in M'sia. But that din mean we weren't in contact when in the UK. Thanks to the free-calls deals over there, we kept each other updated regularly.

Still, it was good to see her again. Somehow, she is part of the memories of the life i had back in England. As we chatted the nite away, we both sighed wistfully at how enjoyable and wonderful life was when we were there.

I had always expected life back here not to be as good as it was then - and being right doesn't make it any easier! I guess maybe i need a little more time.

Last nite reminded me of one of the reasons why life back there was so wonderful - when we talk, we really talked! Back here, when we go for a drink or chat after a meal or hang out at someone's place, the conversation will be about when is so and so's next holiday trip, which expensive Japanese joint to eat at next, who is having renovations done to their expensive houses, or computer stuffs. People will be comparing - and admiring - handphones, showing off their new digital SLRs, talk about expensive cars, !!!! Mind you, i'm refering to Christians who are allegedly not supposed to be materialistic. Yeah, rite!

It just seem all too superficial, at times.

Back in Essex, we would talk about our lives (borrowing this description from another mate's blog). We would share deep emotions and feelings. We'd talk about our families and our frens. We'd chat about things which matters to us, insecurities, fears, hurts, joy.

But hey, i can do that wif me mtes back here too, can't i?

I can't. I dun know why. It's not like i havent tried. the times i do, you can just feel the energy level dropping and an uneasy silence falls... until someone makes a stupid joke to break the tension and then we'd all resume the frivolous stuffs.

Maybe it's cuz of the fear of being judged - which is again ironic as the Bible teaches Christians not to judge. Among me mates in the UK, there is no such fear. Sure, we'd ridicule each other for some stupid decisions, laugh at our mistakes, tell each other to the face how we can be wrong. But that was all good - we were all being honest, and being who we are. There was this freedom in being ourselves - and it was liberating.

Big meals, snacks or just drinks - it din matter cuz the people and the conversations were what was important

Ah well... maybe it's still too soon since i've been back. The engines need to be warmed-up more. In any event, there are frens here wif whom i can share me life wif - not that many, but there are. And i'm truly thankful for them.

Eve: It's what life is. It's a series of rooms and who we get stuck in those rooms with adds up to what our lives are.

(House M.D. Season 3 Episode 12)

p/s - after much contemplation, i've decided to post this up wif a footnote that it is not the intention of this post to take a swipe at anyone but a way of expressing how much i miss me mates

*This song was actually meant as a "break-up" song and originally titled, Good Riddance! And apparently, Billy Joe made the same mistake - twice - during the intro of the song, which you can still hear in the released version.

When will I see you again?* - The Three Degrees

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
James Taylor

It sure feels like i thought wrong...

*One of the most successful recordings in the "Philly Soul" sound. Me mates and i were crazy about this song when we were doing our Form 6 - and hearing it always brings back memories of those days.