The Ghost in the Darkness

Pitch black is a scary thing.

I was at my computer last night, typing away when all the lights went off.
Suddenly I was plunged into a very unfamiliar darkness, a blackness unrestrained by streetlights, or bulbs or the piercing glare of computer screens. Frustrated screams and howls echoed down the hallway, and a few morons shouted with glee. I walked out to the hall and the rest of my apartment mates were outside on the balcony, surveying the scene. Apparently, the electricity to our entire hostel was cut off, plunging most of us in a darkness that would be very unfamiliar to city dwellers. We could hardly see our own hands if it wasn't for the pitiful light of small candles and handphones.

I spent some time on the balcony, watching and listening with a sense of bewilderment as university students who had been at their computers, or books, or playing games or watching movies just a few minutes before began to fill the hallways and pavements,screaming and howling; beating empty bottles together or banging on doors, acting for all the world like savages on the warpath.

I walked in to relieve myself. Not having any candles, I found my way to the toilet using the light from my handphone. Even the familiar spaces of my apartment looked alien in the blue light of my sony-ericsson. i admit, i felt a little disorientated, bumping into the most familiar things. And a feeling of uneasiness began to gnaw at my mind. When I was finished, I don't know why, but I had the sudden urge to test if my handphone was still working. I called Nadia, telling her what had happened. She was amused, giggling at the sound of plastic bottle drums. I found her voice reassuring, I was oddly worried that somehow the telephone lines were down too.

I walked out to the porch again and wondered if everyone else shared the same feeling. I noticed that people who had been minding their own business when the light were on, were now congregating in small groups. Even my housemates, who usually don't say a word to each other,were now on the porch, standing close to each other and talking. There was an unmistakable quiver of excitement and nervousness in their voices. There were more of these little ad hoc groups everywhere, as the people in each apartment stuck close to familiar faces. Still the beating of
the empty bottles continued, thudding rhythmically, like drums in the night, growing louder as more and more joined in to declare war against the silence. I started to feel a little amped too, actually. There was a sense of excitement and adventure, a welcome break from the routine. And the stars lit the night sky.

It was then that my blood froze.

Out of the night, a voice called out in malay.
"Find a woman to rape! Plenty in the girl's hostel!"

Laughter echoed the cry, as someone else called out in support. I stalked back to my room in disgust as more voices joined in, howling with laughter and amusement, urging their friends on. I hurriedly leaned out the window to see if the lights were on in the women's hostel. They were. I let out a sigh or relief. Out of habit, I locked my door - but I did not fail to note that had it not been a habit, I would still have locked my door that night.

I sat on my bed, absently strumming on my guitar. I wondered what would have happened if all the lights had gone out.

Would the handful of security men that the university employs be able to control the situation? Could they cover all the ground?

Could university students turn to criminals under the cover of darkness?
I would not be suprised.

What is it about the darkness that brings out the animal in the man?

If all the lights go out, I wonder what will happen.

Out Of Exile

The title song from Audioslave's Out Of Exile.
Chris' writing never fails to inspire (and somewhat humble) me.

When I first came to this island
that I called by my own name
I was happy in this fortress,
in my exile I remained

But the hours grew so empty
and the ocean sent her waves
In the figure of a woman
and she pulled me out to sea

[Chorus]
When you come down to take me home
send my soul away
When you come round you'll make me whole
send my soul away

On the altar of a sunrise
was a wedding in the waves
And inside her shone a young light
from her labor I was saved

Though I've traveled long in darkness
in her harvest I'm embraced

[Chorus]
When you come down to take me home
send my soul away
When you come round you'll make me whole
send my soul away

Now the spires and the gables
grow in orchards to the sky
And the blessings on my table
multiply and divide

[Chorus]
When you come down to take me home
send my soul away
Yeah when you come round you'll make me whole
send my soul away
Yeah when you come down to take me home
when you come round you'll make me whole
Yeah when you come down to take me home
Send my soul away
send my soul away
Send my soul away
send my soul away

Of Money, Mandates and Telecommunication Towers

Ok this is a paper i wrote for an assignment. The question is just down here and my answer. Why I decided to post this? Because I wanted to post something on the subject and was too lazy to type it twice.

Question:
Discuss the policies that are applied by SACOFA Sdn. Bhd. and provide your opinion on these policies

Introduction and General Opinion

Sacofa’s policies on provision of services (as pertains to mobile service providers) and mobile telecommunication tower maintenance and service are examined in this paper (albeit in a cursory manner, for brevity). Opinions are provided on Sacofa’s policy implementation and results. The opinions expressed are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other individual or entity (i.e. Dr Al-Khalid and UNIMAS).
Sacofa Sdn. Bhd. is the sole telecommunications infrastructure provider in Sarawak, a rather self-defeating model of service, which is mysteriously common in our general geographical area.
Sacofa was established in 2001 [www.sacofa.com.my] with the vision of being “the national model of a total telecommunication network facilitator and service provider for all communication services operators in Malaysia”. Their official website further explains that Sacofa aims to be a One-Stop centre for providing a suite of telecommunication technology services. Sacofa was one of the only business ventures in the world to immediately achieve their vision and aims upon conception, as Sacofa secured a mandate with the state government to be the sole provider for telecommunication infrastructure services in Sarawak for 20 years (and perhaps more), ensuring that no other ventures would compete with Sacofa and hence making it the “One-Stop Centre” for everything, seeing as there isn’t really any other choice.
Sacofa’s official website goes on further to explain that Sacofa provides equal access to all industry players, and aims to ensure that no service provider becomes dominant in the state.
The reason or rationale for direct interference in market dynamics is not explained.
It is the opinion of the author that allowing competition among service providers for market dominance (as naturally occurs in the business environment) will directly benefit the end users in terms of cost, quality and coverage. Perhaps in future, the state government will consider open competition.

A Towering Responsibility: Sacofa’s Tower Threesome Policy

Sacofa provides telecommunication infrastructure services (i.e. they build towers) for Celcom, Maxis and Digi in Sarawak.
Sacofa’s policy on telecommunication towers dictates that Sacofa is the only entity that has the right to erect towers for telecommunication use anywhere in Sarawak. Furthermore, all three mobile service providers can have a maximum of 1 antenna per tower. Hence, each tower will have a maximum of 3 antennas, one for each mobile service provider.
This policy is said to originate from allegations a few years ago of unsafe practice by telecommunication companies (telcos) in Sarawak, especially in terms of installing antennas on buildings. Therefore, this policy is lauded as a guarantee that such things will not occur again.
However, isn’t that what laws, regulations and enforcement are for?
The author feels that there is poor justification on why a corporate (and rather profitable) entity needs to be created on a monopoly basis to control the installation of antennas, when international laws and regulations on safety already explicitly outline safety procedures and practices. All that would be needed is to ensure enforcement on the ground.
Isn’t that what the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is for? Or is that a less profitable option?
Furthermore, this policy restrains the ability of telcos to configure their mobile networks for optimum efficiency, as they have to adhere to tower locations chosen by Sacofa.
Again, if there is concern that these mobile companies will erect antennas indiscriminately (in someone’s durian farm or outhouse, for example), existing laws and regulations already exist to ensure that there are legal restrictions to doing so. All that would be needed is the enforcement.

Maintaining and Servicing of Towers

Sacofa assumes responsibility for general maintenance of towers, including preventive, troubleshooting and corrective actions. General electrical and safety guidelines are followed (current grounding, etc.). Cost sharing measures are carried out with the mobile service providers for operating costs, generator fuel (for towers running on generators) and safety.
It is the author’s opinion that Sacofa’s policy on maintenance and servicing is an effective cost cutting tool for the company and can provide another source of revenue.
On a hypothetical basis, it can be argued that this arrangement benefits the mobile service operators as the cost of maintaining and servicing a telecommunications tower is shared with Sacofa. However, this needs to be balanced against the potential gains in terms of user volume, quality of service and income from complimentary services to voice traffic (e.g. 3G, internet services, etc.).
It is the opinion of the author that the maintenance and service costs would hardly make a dent in the potential gains a dedicated tower for the mobile service operator would offer. Therefore, the cost sharing agreement is mainly a cost cutting tool for Sacofa.

Conclusion

From the author’s point of view, Sacofa’s policies as briefly investigated here, seem to be ultimately self serving. Although further, in depth studies may prove otherwise, the author believes at this time that an open market and healthy competition by mobile service providers for market dominance would benefit the end users in terms of cost, quality and coverage. Of course, this competition needs to be regulated through enforcement of existing safety laws and regulations.

Nokia Morph

Nokia just (well just in relative terms) released a promo video on their Morph concept.

The Morph concept is Nokia's vision on how nanotechnology will change the nature and functions of our communication devices (i.e handphone lar). I'm not sure if the embed video will work so I'm providing the link on youtube as well.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Zto6aTZM9t0&hl

yea the embed doesnt work.

Movie Review: We are the Strange

Yes, I've turned critic.
Someone once said, that critics are the shadows of failed poets, artists and writers, who take unholy pleasure in belittling the deserving works of those they secretly envy.

Ok maybe I said that. But its based on something some smart dude said.

Anyways I just watched a stop motion/ 3D action feature called We are the Strange.

This one’s a lil’ slippery so bear with me.

We are the Strange is created and produced by an independent studio called M.Strange.
The story is set inside some kind of techno city, indeed the entire story is told like a retro anime game using a combination of 3D and computer generated environments with stop-motion characters.

It revolves around Blue, a stripper who just got thrown out of her strip joint for a rather odd medical condition.
Anytime she speaks, smiles, or shows any kind of emotion, her skin turns scaly and pixilated.

With nowhere to go she wanders into the Forbidden Forest, where she meets eMMM, a battered poorly stitched and completely mismatched plastic doll (no, not THAT kind of plastic doll).

eMMM just wants ice-cream.

Together, they embark on a quest for ice-cream which takes them into the heart of the city.

But dark things stalk the city, and before long Blue and eMMM find themselves at the mercy of monsters straight out of a Standard 3 kids Play-Doh set.
The rest of the story revolves around eMMM finding a lil more than ice-cream, Blue discovering her inner popsicle (you gotta watch it to find out), and of course, the unveiling of the super-villain (package includes Hero-Villain showdown).

The story itself is formulaic, suffers from severe pacing problems (minutes long slow motion running scenes are the least of its problems), and the character development is almost juvenile.

This show does, however, have fantastic, surreal and mind-bending gothic visuals. In fact, they probably stitched the pretty visuals together to make a story.

The stop-motion direction is nothing to shout about. The CD cover boasts that the show is Monsters Inc. meets A Nightmare before Christmas in a retro Japanese videogame, but the stop motion comes nowhere close to Nightmare. Some of the motion is intentionally kept simple and even ridiculous to keep with the retro anime feel, but this simply hampers the telling of the story. And it can get annoying. A light touch would have made a world of difference.

The music will only appeal to hardcore electronica and techno fans. Or if you just popped some E’s and have nothin’ else to headbang to.

All in all this show’s a novelty. But the novelty wears out pretty fast. There isn’t enough to keep the viewer interested in the story.

1 out of 5.

Of Maulidur Rasul and Perarakan WAJIB

Well Maulidur Rasul is around the corner, next thursday apparently. Which is quite interesting as Good Friday also falls next week (on a friday i think :P). I've just had an interesting planning session with my coursemates. We're planning to visit each other on the 2 days of celebration. I was in a great mood frankly, walkin back from class. It seems like all the hate-mongering and fear spreading on the inherent intolerance that multicultural societies MUST have (and therefore needs to be dealt with using patronizing, unfair and ultimately self-serving national policies) is just hate-mongering and fear spreading after all.

Then i just had to read a notice on the hostel notice board.

I could have gone the rest of the day in complete blissful ignorance.

But instead I JUST HAD to read that notice.

It read:
"Sempena Maulidur Rasul 2008, pihak kolej dan universiti akan mengadakan perarakan Maulidur Rasul. Semua warga kolej WAJIB hadir."
The notice then goes on to remind students that measures will be taken to check the attendance and further stresses that diciplinary action will be taken against students who do not attend i.e. may be sick, dying, busy, uninterested, feel that it is against their sensibilities to attend, or plain just have a life.

I have nothing against a perarakan for Maulidur Rasul. Thats your democratic right baby. Just make it orderly, peaceful, inclusive and respectful.

Heck if the notice had read:
"Sempena Maulidur Rasul 2008, pihak kolej dan universiti akan mengadakan perarakan Maulidur Rasul. Semua warga kolej DIJEMPUT hadir."
I'd go. Its not like I have a life.
If there was free food, I'd be the first one there.

So why is this such a big deal?
Because the university and kolej admin are not even considering that there may be some students who feel that it is against their sensibilities to attend a Muslim event. And that is their democratic right. They have the right to CHOOSE not to attend.
Its blatant steamrolling over other peoples opinions, beliefs and sensibilities. Enforced, no less, by threats of diciplinary action. Not very democratic izzit? And not the best way to encourage tolerance and acceptance. Great way to breed resentment.

I'm not goin to this charade. How can I? I'd just be there hating everybodys guts for forcing me to come. And thats not fair to my Muslim friends who may be there to just celebrate a good day in the Muslim calendar.
Besides, fuck you UNIMAS.

You know, if it had been an open invitation, i would definitely had gone. Just to mingle with my Muslim friends, find out what the celebration is about and why its so important. I would have loved to have learned something, made new friends, hell it could even have been a cultural experience.
More importantly it could have been a step to bring the students, regardless of race or religion, together as a Bangsa Malaysia.

Congratulations UNIMAS. Once again you have gone above and beyond to create a Bangsat Malaysia.

Contemporary and Forward Looking eh? Fuck you.

The Davos Question

"What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?"

still working on this one :) let me noe ur ideas.

Oh my.
It's been one of those days.
Rainy, muddy, gloomy and utterly depressing.
And to make things worse, my internet connection is bein such a bitch.
But hey thats life aite.
Neways i jz got a number of frantic text messages that the dreaded orang minyak has been sighted in USM.
Now frankly, this is a serious issue. I'm not sure if you're familiar with orang minyak lore. The orang minyak (literally oil man) is a serial rapist that thru some mojo or black magic cannot be caught (thought to be due to a magic spell that makes his body oily, and hence impossible to hold on to).
Frankly, i think the orang minyak is one of the poorer products of malay kampung literature, but the threat that he symbolizes is very real. I'm not sure what steps USM is taking to deal with the threat of a rapist on campus grounds, but I have been informed that basic safety announcements have been made (which means that if something happens to you, it's your own bloody fault because the university already WARNED you). I sincerely hope the USM and student hostel administration have the good sense and responsibility to increase security and ensure the safety of their students.
Rubi and Nadia, no late night walks please.

After bein away from the blogging scene for about a year, I was hoping that my first few posts would be something worthwhile if not spectacular. Something to symbolize how much i've learned over the year or something that shows a newfound insight.
Alas, i seem to be thinking of nothing but chocolate waffles.
Well, not really. but mostly.
In the meantime, Kit Siang's blog is turning out to be an interesting read. just goin thru his rants bout the PKFZ. Is it just me, or is embezzlement and dishonest practice turning into a national pastime?
But lets not get into that really. The real reason am online is that I'm suppose to be doing research on good governance principles and the economic impact of AIDS. I would be, except the connection is crawling by on its last legs and I cant have more than 2 windows open. I'm familiar with the basic tenets of good governance, but I had no idea that our government's steamrolled on so many of them. Its an eye-opener really. But then again which government doesnt? Its just that they have the good manners not to make it too blatantly in your face. At least not to the majority voters.
And since when is Malaysia a democratic Islamic state? (Yes, you Mr. Malaysian Ambassador to Spain).
Last I checked the constitution states that we're secular.
But who gives a damn bout that piece of paper neways, no?
Is it the same election story comin up again? Everytime its election time, suddenly everybody loves indians, Malaysia is an islamic state but still very much secular and thaipusam is now a holiday (in some states, especially since there were some *ahem* disruptions there earlier).
Fuck you.

Waffles Syndrome

I have waffles syndrome.
Its takin me a long time to come out of the closet bout it. But i think its about time I do.
I know things will never be the same again after this.
I can just imagine the stares, the hushed whispers.
But I am addicted to waffles.
Chocolate waffles.
Dark, delicious, creamy chocolate waffles.
I think I'm going to go get some waffles.

Redux

Wow it's been almost exactly a year.
Haha it's not that i don't have anything to write right now. Quite the opposite. Feels like i have to give a reason for not being here for so long.
And for suddenly being back.
But you know what, I don't think I'm going to say anything bout those two things.
I'm here. That's all.

I've learned one very important thing in the past year.
Live here, now.

I've lived too much of my life in the past, or worrying bout the future, or drowning myself in a story.
No more.

Live here, now.

While Malaysia fiddles, It's opportunities are running dry by Michael Backman

MALAYSIA'S been at it again, arguing about what proportion of the economy each of its two main races — the Malays and the Chinese — owns. It's an argument that's been running for 40 years. That wealth and race are not synonymous is important for national cohesion, but really it's time Malaysia grew up.
It's a tough world out there and there can be little sympathy for a country that prefers to argue about how to divide wealth rather than get on with the job of creating it.
The long-held aim is for 30 per cent of corporate equity to be in Malay hands, but the figure that the Government uses to justify handing over huge swathes of public companies to Malays but not to other races is absurd. It bases its figure on equity valued, not at market value, but at par value.
Many shares have a par value of say $1 but a market value of $12. And so the Government figure (18.9 per cent is the most recent figure) is a gross underestimate. Last month a paper by a researcher at a local think-tank came up with a figure of 45 per cent based on actual stock prices. All hell broke loose. The paper was withdrawn and the researcher resigned in protest. Part of the problem is that he is Chinese.
"Malaysia boleh!" is Malaysia's national catch cry. It translates to "Malaysia can!" and Malaysia certainly can. Few countries are as good at wasting money. It is richly endowed with natural resources and the national obsession seems to be to extract these, sell them off and then collectively spray the proceeds up against the wall.
This all happens in the context of Malaysia's grossly inflated sense of its place in the world.
Most Malaysians are convinced that the eyes of the world are on their country and that their leaders are world figures. This is thanks to Malaysia's tame media and the bravado of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The truth is, few people on the streets of London or New York could point to Malaysia on a map much less name its prime minister or capital city.
As if to make this point, a recent episode of The Simpsons features a newsreader trying to announce that a tidal wave had hit some place called Kuala Lumpur. He couldn't pronounce the city's name and so made up one, as if no-one cared anyway. But the joke was on the script writers — Kuala Lumpur is inland.
Petronas, the national oil company is well run, particularly when compared to the disaster that passes for a national oil company in neighbouring Indonesia. But in some respects, this is Malaysia's problem. The very success of Petronas means that it is used to underwrite all manner of excess.

The KLCC development in central Kuala Lumpur is an example. It includes the Twin Towers, the tallest buildings in the world when they were built, which was their point.
It certainly wasn't that there was an office shortage in Kuala Lumpur — there wasn't.
Malaysians are very proud of these towers. Goodness knows why. They had little to do with them. The money for them came out of the ground and the engineering was contracted out to South Korean companies.
They don't even run the shopping centre that's beneath them. That's handled by Australia's Westfield.
Next year, a Malaysian astronaut will go into space aboard a Russian rocket — the first Malay in space. And the cost? $RM95 million ($A34.3 million), to be footed by Malaysian taxpayers. The Science and Technology Minister has said that a moon landing in 2020 is the next target, aboard a US flight. There's no indication of what the Americans will charge for this, assuming there's even a chance that they will consider it. But what is Malaysia getting by using the space programs of others as a taxi service? There are no obvious technical benefits, but no doubt Malaysians will be told once again, that they are "boleh". The trouble is, they're not. It's not their space program.
Back in July, the Government announced that it would spend $RM490 million on a sports complex near the London Olympics site so that Malaysian athletes can train there and "get used to cold weather".
But the summer Olympics are held in the summer.
So what is the complex's real purpose? The dozens of goodwill missions by ministers and bureaucrats to London to check on the centre's construction and then on the athletes while they train might provide a clue.
Bank bale outs, a formula one racing track, an entire new capital city — Petronas has paid for them all. It's been an orgy of nonsense that Malaysia can ill afford.
Why? Because Malaysia's oil will run out in about 19 years. As it is, Malaysia will become a net oil importer in 2011 — that's just five years
away.
So it's in this context that the latest debate about race and wealth is so sad.
It is time to move on, time to prepare the economy for life after oil. But, like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, the Malaysian Government is more interested in stunts like sending a Malaysian into space when Malaysia's inadequate schools could have done with the cash, and arguing about wealth distribution using transparently ridiculous statistics.
That's not Malaysia "boleh", that's Malaysia "bodoh" (stupid).
email: michaelbackman@yahoo.com
http://www.michaelbackman.com

Congratulations are in order.
Yes folks, after all the sweat, blood and tears, the Unimas team once again lifted the Yayasan Sarawak World-Style Challenge Trophy. The first institution ever to do so consequtively.
I would like to congratulate Gary and Goh (or G2 as they're almost affectionately called) for their success. But success isn't just about getting a trophy (some would say it's about the prize money). Success is about overcoming the odds, having the passion and the willpower to make an commitment and having the courage to not just challenge others, but to challenge yourselves and your own perceptions. Therefore, I have to congratulate each and every member of the Unimas debate team. You have all been successful in this endeavor. You have all won against the odds and come out better and stronger. Here's towards a continued success. I look forward to seeing you grow and growing with you. Royals, here we come. Cheers.

Came across this earlier. It's a school student in Indonesia describing how her team won a competition. I thought it was sweet.
http://flatstanley.enoreo.on.ca/indo/indonesia-borneodebate.htm

If you ask some of my best friends about me, they'll tell you that the thing they enjoy most about my company ( besides my devillih good looks ) is my near maniacal love for understatement. But there are times when i cant help but gloat.
This is one of those times.
Yes, we made it into the finals.
No, not the finals as in judgment day.
The finals as in The 4th Yayasan Sarawak World Style English Debate Competition finals.
We sent 2 teams, UNIMAS-a and UNIMAS-b. UNIMAS-a was comprised of Soosai ( no relation to that other Soosai ), Hartini and Esther. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts and great performance, UNIMAS-a did not make it into the finals. UNIMAS-b, comprised of Gary and Goh ( or G2 as their almost affectionately called ) did make it into the finals, which will be held on the 28th of August at Dewan Tun Ahmad Zaidi, IPBL ( thats Institut Perguruan Batu Lintang for non-Kuchingites ). The UNIMAS debate team has always considered itself as one big, happy family. And G2's foray into the finals is a victory for us all. The kids are calling me their coach, but I was just the matchstick (pun intended) that lit the fire. The fire, the passion and the effort was all theirs. Kudos kids! Daddy is proud of you.
I'd also like to welcome Rohene and Prasha into the family.
The 4th Yayasan was memorable in many ways personally as well. It was the first time that i adjudicated, and the experience has proved fruitful. But more than that, I got to work with one of the best debaters Sarawak has to offer, Michael Temiotope. Michael and his teammate Gordon won the 2nd Yayasan and working with him in the Master's Round was quite an experience. We had some stiff competition from the boys (and girl) from Swinburne, but we managed to pull it off and emerge Champions.
Ok thats all for the moment. Cheers.

It's too quiet.
I'm back in UNIMAS now, settling down into the teeth-grinding routine of getting up, goin to class, studying and going back to sleep. It doesn't sound so bad, but after weeks and weeks of doing the same things in the same order in the same way, I get a little edgy.
Yes, I can hear some of you going "Just wait til you get to working life..." We all need to feed our goldfish. But I can't help feeling confined, like I've been stuffed into a square box two sizes too small. What's worse, I'm bored. Now I know one of the reasons doomsday predictions are so popular. People want it to be the end of the world.
Not in the morbid sort of way. Nobody can actually picture themselves burnt to cinders or crushed by gigantic falling mountains. When someone says doomsday is coming, the believers can be divided into three types:
1) the "I'm gonna go to heaven and you suckers aren't" variety
2) the "I'm gonna be a hero like Bruce in Armageddon, except I'll find a way not to get blown to bits and find a hot chick" variety
and last but not least
3) the "i told you so" variety
Of course the lines aren't always so clearly divided. Most of the time, category 1 and 3 find themselves in one irritating package.
What do I think about doomsday? Well, all things end. Dinosaurs, Mammoths, Dodos, Seinfeld. There will be an end to the human race. Someday. Optimistically, maybe we'll just come to the end of our time, like all things do, and go out quietly. We'll leave behind marvels and knowledge that will puzzle some new younger civilization. On the other hand, we might blow ourselves up. Frankly, I hope we don't go out with a bang.

Words have meanings.
Same words have same meanings.
Different words have different meanings.
Same words have different meanings.
Different words have same meanings.
So at the end of the day,
do words really have meaning?

The greatest miracle on the planet is the washing machine.
You don't agree?
You think the greatest miracle is the Grand Canyon? Or the dolphin? Or your Uncle Bob croaking and leaving you that hefty inheritence?
Bah humbug!
I tell you, it's the washing machine.
You want to know why the washing machine rules?
First, enrol yourself in a local Uni miles and miles and (for dramatic effect) miles away from home ( and hence, your washing machine.) Then, proceed to procure ownership of garments that either a) stain easily or b) stain inexplicably all by themselves. Finally, spend two or three days a week squatting on the bathroom floor, furiously brushing away at your clothes and cursing.
Then we'll see you talk bout the Grand Canyon.

Came across this quote. Any comments?

The religious mind does not belong to any group, any sect, any belief, any church, any organized circus; therefore it is capable of looking at things directly and understanding things immediately. Such is the religious mind, because it is a light to itself. Its light is not lit by another…

- J.Krishnamurti, Beyond Violence-

Truth is a pathless land and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. Truth, being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. My only concern is to set humanity absolutely, unconditionally free. Man cannot come to it through any organization, through any creed, through any dogma, priest or ritual, not through any philosophic knowledge or psychological technique. He has to find it through the understanding of the contents of his own mind, through observation and not through intellectual analysis or introspective dissection.

- J.Krishnamurti-
For a better idea of what's going on in this guy's head, check out http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/

…when Laplace was asked by Napoleon, how God fitted into his system, he replied, 'Sire, I have not needed that hypothesis.' I don't think that Laplace was claiming that God didn't exist. It is just that He doesn't intervene, to break the laws of Science. That must be the position of every scientist. A scientific law, is not a scientific law, if it only holds when some supernatural being, decides to let things run, and not intervene.

- Stephen Hawking, in his lecture Does God Play Dice?

…I think computer viruses should count as life. Maybe it says something about human nature, that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. Talk about creating life in our own image.

- Stephen Hawking, Life in the Universe

www.hawking.org.uk