RIP Steve

RIP.I want to cry. I don’t know why. I think that we have all lost someone important in this world. I feel cheated by the loss of his reality bending superpowers.

Steve Jobs – RIP.

If I may be so bold, I would say that I aspire to be like him – to have a net positive impact on the world – to impact the world in such a way that when my time comes to leave this world, I can say that my time here was not wasted and that the world is a better place as a result of my passing through it.

While Steve has achieved a lot of greatness, his second act at Apple will not be surpassed by anyone else anytime soon. The world got the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad, iMac, iBook, etc. These were all revolutionary products in one way or another.

Let us also not forget Woody and Buzz Lightyear who lit up the lives of a whole other generation.

Steve Jobs signs off for the last time.

PS: Visiting Apple’s website actually made me cry.

Syariah Immunity

I totally disagree when someone says that the Islamic Laws in Malaysia only apply to the Muslim and therefore, as a non-Muslim, I am not affected and should not worry about the implementation of the Syariah (or in the recent days – the Hudud) laws.

Any non-Muslim who thinks that we are not affected by the Islamic legal system in Malaysia is an idiot. All we need to look at are the many cases involving custody tussles of children where one parent converted to Islam, inheritance when a parent converts to Islam, and infamous body snatchers when a person converts to Islam on their death beds.

One other thing that a lot of people miss out, and that I would like to highlight, is how it is impossible for a Muslim and non-Muslim to marry in Malaysia.

To me, this is plain ridiculous. If two people are in love and wish to be joined in holy matrimony, who is the government to stand in their way. In fact, I would say that it is bordering on sinful if the government chooses to separate two people whom are truly in love with one another and wish to be joined before God (or gods).

Unfortunately, in Malaysia, the government can stop the legal registration of a marriage if it involves a Muslim and a non-Muslim. Since apostasy is also illegal in Malaysia, this results in the non-Muslim partner having to convert to Islam in order to marry his/her loved one.

This is plain hypocrisy. But that’s a topic for several other blog entries.

So, any non-Muslim who thinks that we enjoy immunity from the Islamic laws and legal system in Malaysia is wrong. While we are able to ignore it in large parts of our lives, it is something that we ignore at our own peril.

The reach of the law is far and wide. Unless we live in separated societies and do not inter-mix between the religious groups, everyone is affected by the Islamic laws and legal system in Malaysia.

We are not immune.

Post-it Productivity

Spotted this the other day. Amazing tip.

http://pitchandpixel.com/2010/11/productivity-in-the-workplace-post-it-notes-on-the-monitor/

To Sir, with Lube

Counted twelve “Sir” in the speech given by the President of MCA when he addresses our dearest PM and leader of the BN. Lubricating the points across, maybe?

Love for Malaysia

Jalur gemilangGot asked a few times this past week – on the reason that I came back to Malaysia. Each time, I told them the truth – that I came back because I love Malaysia and that is the honest truth (emphasis added).

I don’t know why but it seems odd to me that others have to ask me this question because the implication is that, I should not be back here doing what I am doing and that most people probably think that I am making a mistake.

All is fair in love and war.

Personally, I don’t think that there is anything right nor wrong about coming back to Malaysia. It’s just a choice to be made by most Malaysians, particularly those whom were educated overseas. One just has to make a choice and live with it without regret.

In my case, I truly came back because of my love for the nation. It’s not because of family and certainly not because of friends. Food might have played a small role in tipping things in favour of coming home but it certainly wasn’t the determining factor. As my blog header says – I’m a romantic.

Home is where the heart is.

We cannot all leave. Some people have to come back to put things in order and fight the good fight. Otherwise, this country is going to the dogs and things will just get worse. I am glad that I am not the only Malaysian who feels this way and that there are many others who have returned home for various reasons to help put things in order.

I try my best to convince my friends on the virtues of coming home. Sometimes, I know that I am merely talking to the wall but I persist anyway because I know that it is important that someone highlight to them the importance of fighting for that which they believe in. Otherwise, they will die for nothing.

Life is unfair.

If we think that we are treated unfairly, fight to change the system and make it more fair, one step at a time. If we think that things are just too corrupt, work towards cleaning up the system, one sen at a time. We Malaysians must always do our best to improve the nation – one revision at a time.

Fight or flight.

When faced with a problem, one can either fight or fly. I have always been a fighter throughout my life, and I am too stupid to know when to give up. I know that most people will choose the path of least resistance but the rebel in me always liked a good challenge.

So, while I missed writing about this on Malaysia Day, I think that I should put this straight – I love Malaysia – not the country, but the nation.

PS: I must apologise for this slightly emo blog because it’s late and I’m chronically sleep deprived.

IEEE Copyright Troll

If what DJB says is true – IEEE is ass shat!

Offensive Undilah

Utter crock – that’s what I think about the lame excuse being given by Dr Rais, who said that, “The Undilah video clip is not suitable for broadcast because it contains material offensive to certain segments of society. The video clip also contains subliminal messages aimed at influencing the audience.”

Can I please say, what have you been smokin’ Rais my man?

It’s a Public Service Announcement. It is of course designed to influence the audience – to just take responsibility for the future of this country and vote. There’s nothing subliminal about it. It’s straight in your face. Only an idiot would not understand the meaning of the message.

It’s telling you to take the bull by its horns, take responsibility for your country, and to actually care about what happens to your country. Frakin’ vote!

Also, I think that it is probably one of the most well thought out videos – certainly much better than the super offensive and biased 8TV Aidil Fitri ads. The Undilah video involved many local artists, politicians from both sides of the fence, and even our most successful entrepreneur, also some random pakcik makcik.

If such a well done video, with the support of so many heavy weights (including Tengku Razaleigh, mind you), is banned from the airwaves, it just sends the message that proper videos are banned while offensive ones that do not promote a love for the country are aired.

Also, I’d really like to know who felt slighted by watching the video. I certainly know of a lot of people who are slighted by the banning of the video.

Watch if for yourself and tell me that it’s offensive.

PS: After watching it, if you have not registered to vote, download the forms from SPR, fill it, attach a copy of your IC and send them to me. Alternatively, just contact me and I’ll come pick up the forms from you at a convenient place.