Category: Random Musings

Wow! This is an inspiring use of XKCD comics. I love it.

The last time the UK government wanted to raise their fees, I was still there in the UK. But this time around, things seem to have gotten more serious. It’s probably because the fees are being raised to the levels paid by foreign students in the past. If this goes through, foreign students can expect to have their fees raised as well.

However, what struck me was the kind of protests going on. If such a thing were to happen in Malaysia, I doubt that there would be any sort of organised resistance. Our students here are just too docile for the most part and there is always the UUCA hanging over their heads, as well as the Police Act on illegal gatherings.

These Cambridge students were obviously well organised, even if everything was quite last minute. Good thing that the building is right in the centre of Cambridge town – with Sains and M&S within a short walk away. They can also get supplies in through Kings’ if need be. So, the students can stay for the long haul, if they need to.

Another good thing is that, these students are still studying and doing their assignments. A good protest is not an excuse to slack off because none of their supervisors are going to consider that a valid excuse. So, turning the SCR into a mini library to work in is a really good idea. Students can even help each other out if needed.

Seems rather quaint and all.

I have been reading “The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown. I got it cheap and since I kinda liked the previous two Robert Langdon books, I thought to myself – wth. While reading it, I learned a new word – apotheosis.

According to Google, it is defined as “deification: the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god)”.

However, what interests me is that it has another definition: “ideal: model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal”. This is interesting as it can apply to the work that I do – in pursuit of the ideal design/architecture – and ideal is quantifiable with some physical measure or other.

So, while “engineering elegance” is my tagline, “aspiring apotheosis” will be the design goal!

I just read a blog entry on how a child should deal with bullies at school. It advocates the use of violence against violence – and I concur. This is the lesson that I was taught by my mom and I will pass it on dutifully. My mom’s rationale is simple – in this world, if you do not fight for your own survival, nobody else will.

If everyone goes pacifist except the bad people, eventually one bad person with no conscience winds up ruling. No. It doesn’t work. Teach your kids to fight back, fight smart, defend and assert themselves, and protect others in trouble. There’s legitimately bad people in the world, barely above animals, and strength is the only thing they respect. Assert yourself.

The blog brought back lots of memories of my childhood. I can still remember the first fight that I got into at school. I was 8 and was picked on by a guy 3 years older and at that age, there is a significant size difference between the two of us. All he had to do was hold my head at an arm’s length and I was not able to reach him. I don’t know any martial arts, nor am I very strong physically but I never let those details stop me. Our fight was very public as it happened in the school canteen during our break. Obviously, I lost that fight but he never bothered me anymore after that, neither did any other person I got into a fight with after that.

This entry is not all about violence. I also helped people who needed it in school. Since no bully wanted to mess with me, I gained a sort of shield that I extended to others. Someone whom I once helped, invited my mom for his wedding and told her that he still remembers me because I once helped him out when he was confronted by a gang in school. The incident is all fuzzy to me now but I am just glad that things turned out alright in the end.

I totally agree with what that blog says, and so does my mom.

If you do not fight for your own survival in this world, nobody else will.

Funny that they have ONE common fear!

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Will you come back to Malaysia?

That is the question asked of the survey and the answers were fairly interesting. It turns out that unlike what our parent’s generation think, most younger Malaysians would return to Malaysia. The full survey and findings are available on the original author’s site.

In fact, it is extremely important for Malaysians studying and living abroad, to return home to contribute. As one commenter pointed out, those who have been outside, have seen how things can be better and are in the right position to help steer the country towards a better tomorrow. Those who have never left the country, are in a classic katak bawah tempurung situation.

So, the imperative is for Malaysians abroad, to return home and make a difference. Be the change you want to see!