Seoul-Boy

Things to do in Seoul!

2009-05-06T04:54:00.000+09:00

It's about time I made a list of things to do (and then perhaps do some of them). Perhaps.

Culture (all of these are at least half day events)

Palaces - at least 2 main palaces in Seoul that we should visit, Gyeongbuk-kung (the main palace in Gwanghamun. The changing of the guard is pretty cool, especially since they allow to wear the uniforms! Beware the 18th century lice) and Chanduk-kung (the summer palace - nice gardens and stuff).
Korean War memorial - an awesome tribute to the Korean war. Part collection of information and war related items (everything from guns to planes), part memorial (statues and a list of all the people from 30 or so countries who died). Also a pretty park (includes a wedding hall), so nice for picnics. Really close to my place. 3,000 won per person for the indoor exhibits (4 stories), the stuff outside (statues, planes, tanks, rockets) is free.
National Museum / Art Gallery - they sometimes have exhibitions that don't make KL - like the Picasso or Rene Margarite was pretty good.
DMZ - stare into the North, stay away from the light.

Fun

- Lotte World! - Theme park! Has a nice miniature ancient folk village you can walk around
- River cruise - along the Han. Big ass river
- Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain- like KL Tower - lookie out a Seoul, walk around mountain. Each pancakes and drink rice wine. Yum. Right behind my house
- Nightlife - student and yuppie flavours

Shopping

- Namdaemun - like petaling street. good for sovenirs and stuff
- Dongdaemun - wholesale market. Everything you need to build a house, car, child, marriage, and clothes
- Myundong - lots of stores, from high end to low end
- Gagnam and Apkujeong - the Louis Vitton store and all those places I don't go because it cost too much to look. But very pretty. Newer part of Seoul - the playground of the rich and famous

And then there is the food.

Going to Botswana...

2008-12-05T02:27:00.001+09:00

In two days I leave for the African Continent, for my second time in 5 years! Stellenbosch 2003 was one the best Worlds ever, perhaps number two on my Best Worlds List (yes, I have one), second only to MMU of course =]

I'm going to try and blog every inch of this journey. I hope this will help people understand how one gets to Botswana and get an idea of all the lovely attractions that await.

My flight route is Seoul - Hong Kong - Johannesburg - Gaborone . I depart at 7.45pm on the 5th of December and reach Johannesburg at 7.15am on the 6th. I then take a short flight at 9.20am and arrive in sunny Gaborone at 10.25am! It's a grand total of 18 hours of flying.

Well, that's all for now, but more stories and pictures to come!

I will be blogging about the trip at www.botswanaworlds.com/blog, so follow it there!

kekkie the kat - on YouTube

2008-12-02T22:20:00.000+09:00

kekkie the kat!!

2008-11-20T01:27:00.001+09:00

Freezing

2008-11-18T23:07:00.000+09:00

Quick post to highlight current situation - the weather at this point in time, measured at Gimpo airport (about 44 minutes away by Subway including one transfer at Gongdeok, from line 6 to 5) is -5 Degrees Celcius.

(pause) minus (pause) five (pause)

I was walking around Sunday with a hoody on - today after 3 minutes walking around my ears felt like it had been slammed repeatedly between car doors. Very cold car doors.

Apparently it'll be super cold tommorrow, and then warm after that. This is climate change at its most extreme. I don't understand this, I yearn for warm tropics, and consistency!

Coffee Plunger Adventure Update

2008-10-24T12:07:00.000+09:00

Since this is such an immense part of my life, it deserves an update!

And for those of you who are sardonically smirking in sonorous salaciousness : "buying a Coffee Plunger, an Adventure??? hrmph!" I will say 3 things:
a) you've obviously not been Coffee Plunger (or any other Plunger for that matter) shopping with me before
b) what have you done with your life lately? Rescued the Holy Grail from penguins protesters??
c) potato!

A simple trip to Lotte Mart, ended with

one 2-cup glass coffee plunger
two hardened plastic double-layer portable bodum plungers, for taking to the office
one large comforter (for AhYoung)
a pair of new shoes
one Westlife CD (for AhYoung, seriously)
one Large cooking pot (for making large batches of chicken curry..mmm)
one chicken (cut into bits, minus icky parts)
3 potatoes
garlic (150 grams, already peeled)
mushrooms (big round ones)

...for a grand total of 119,620 won!

Taking the shopping cart was a bad idea? =]

Fresh Coffee!

2008-10-21T23:07:00.000+09:00

Sharing an article (and saving for later!) on how to keep coffee fresh : http://www.wholelattelove.com/articles/keeping_coffee_fresh.cfm
Seems like a great site for Coffee Lovers!

Good coffee is one thing that I've been enjoying more. It's a mix between the higher purchasing power of Koreans, a coffee-drinking habit and, in some parts, a need to be chic. I can get a very good cup of coffee for (dollar-for-dollar) 3.50 - freshly roasted beans! mmmmm. Even the coffee shop in the school cafeteria has an expresso machine (Americano, 1.50)!

A student of mine gave me some coffee from Santa Domingo recently. Cafe Molido! It looks exactly like this!
Tomorrow : Shopping for coffee plunger! Or maybe, this baby..

Najib might not replace Badawi; Pigeons Celebrate

2008-10-01T20:28:00.000+09:00

I just read a very interesting piece on The Nut Graph. I won't pirate it here, but visit the site to read about Najib's Premiership Not Guaranteed. Jacqueline Ann Surin and N Shashi Kala interview constitutional lawyer Tommy Thomas (which just rolls off your tongue, doesn't it? Say 4 times fast, Tommythomas, tommythomas...) and he argues that when Prime Minister Badawi resigns, constitutionally, the decision on who to choose as the next Prime Minister lies with the Agong.

3 of the last 4 Prime Ministers resigned and 1 died in office (so Malaysians haven't really directed elected their Prime Minister, ever before) and the Agong chose the person who commanded the most leadership in the House of Representatives. That was an easier decision when BN held a 2/3rd majority, more contentious now.

He also argues that the choice should be the Agongs, how there is precedence for this in Commonwealth law and in the UK, and how the people will accept it because we respect the Agong and want an end to the political crisis.

I'm enjoying the "political crisis" (I prefer revolution personally), because I'm tired of an ideology of stability, but also because it shakes up power structures. But I'm more against giving power to the Agong.

Hardy Hardy Heron Anyone?

2008-04-29T01:10:00.000+09:00

I'm going to make the leap. I know, so soon after it's out, people might think I'm a trend following person or something.

But it's Horny Heron! Can't say no to Horny Heron!

Plus it looks really cool.

I downloaded the ISO in 8 minutes. Yes, 8 minutes. On average 1.8MB per second. I got such a rush I deleted it and downloaded it again. Twice!

Now it's burned, and I've got it running live on my (well mom's) old Dell 5150. Gutsy worked fine on it, and I'm all set to upgrade! Firefox 3 is quick, and Horny Heron wallpaper is pretty!

Can't get the upgrade to run right from the CD though for some reason. Hmmm..will have to ponder....

.................................................

Nothing happening. Either I watch Judge Judy or go with the online upgrade. I just have that nagging worry that something will not work, and I won't be able to sleep until I fix it. And I have to teach tomorrow...

Screw you Judge Judy. Let's do it!

2008-04-18T01:00:00.000+09:00

"And yes, the weather in Seoul has been beautiful! It is cool but sunny, and everything is alive! Today has been the most delightful spring day yet. My last class ended at 4, so by 5 I was in a field at city hall enjoying the moment. Yet another benefit of working in academia that I never grow tired of appreciating!"

Living Costs in Seoul, Korea

2008-04-15T23:13:00.000+09:00

Hardly a day goes by without someone asking me something that makes me tell myself that I really should write about living costs in Seoul in case anyone wants to know. So here is it, my best approximation, as a fool-hardy, cost-uncaring Malaysian on how much it would cost you to do stuff for a few days here (note: this piece is best viewed through the eyes of a tourist intending for a short stay, for migration, e-migration, transit and other space/time altered visit, google more).

Rough Currency Conversion
1000 won = 1 USD (the won is slightly stronger, but not high enough to make too much of an impact)

Travel

Cabs start at 1900 won. A 15 minute ride with moderate traffic and the occasional corner cutting would put you back 6000 won. Cabs are relatively easy to get, although most cabbies won't speak English. If you have a map, address or name of the place you're going, it should be okay (trusty GPS finder will guide you there!)
Bus starts at 900 won with bus/subway card or 1000 won without. There are also small subway shuttle busses that start at 600 won. Busses are quick in Seoul (they bulldoze through special bus lanes). Understanding how they work might take a little time though. There are English announcements in most busses (of each bus stop), or at least of the name of the stop (which is often a subway station, so that's easily recognized). Easiest to use a bus to get to a subway station or central point, for example tons (quite literally) of busses go to Seoul Station from everywhere.
Subway is fast and easy. You can get maps in English and there are English announcements and signs. A ride starts at 900 won (with card, without card 1000). All intra city travelling is pretty much 900 won.
The best plan is to get a bus card which you can use for both subway and busses. If you transfer from one subway line to another and/or to the bus within the same zone, you don't have to pay extra. Get your home location written in Korean so you can show it to a cabby.
Summary, you can travel around quite easily for quite cheap.

Food

The cost of food varies greatly depending on where you eat (big/small, parts of the city) and what you eat (korean food cheap, foreign food not). Downside is usually the cheapest places (and often yummiest) have no Korean menus. So unless you can learn Korean on the flight over (hey, I did it!) then you might have to pay a little more, make local friends, or eat randomly from the menu.
A big bowl of Ramen noodles : 2500 to 3500 won
Kimchi fried rice : 2500 to 3500 won
Big Mac Meal : 4500 won (I think, usually inebriated when purchasing said item)
Beer (yes, it's food!) : 2500 to 3500 won a mug of local brews in local average pub. Don't know about expensive places because, well, they're expensive! You can also get beer in pitchers, 2000 cc about 7000 - 9000 won and 3000 cc 10000 - 140000 won.
Soju - 1500 won a bottle. A small price to pay for happiness.
Smokes - 2500 a pack
One Apple - 800 to 1000 won

okay, I'm getting hungry. Will complete this later.

Malaysia Votes

2008-03-07T23:02:00.000+09:00

In a few hours, Malaysians will wake up, have breakfast, do what they have to do, and then go to the polls. Many Malaysians will not vote, but that will be made up by the many who do not exist who cast a ballot on their behalf.

Since I am not a government sponsored student nor a staff member of a Malaysian embassy overseas (or related to one), I cannot vote from outside Malaysia. Thus I have to rely on my brothers and sisters back home to vote on my behalf, and in my interest.

There will not be a change of government, yet, but there will be a change in government. But what I hope for the most, is a change in the people.

This is a not a concession speech, but whatever happens tomorrow, whatever the numbers the Election Commission releases, this fight is only beginning. The good people who walked out to hear their potential representatives speak, or scoured the media for signs of change, or talked to their friends, called their representatives and searched their hearts for the courage to believe in change; and voted for change, must not be disheartened.

Malaysian politics did not become this diseased in one day, and it will take us longer to cure it.

Let this energy and hope be not just a flash in a pan, a momentary gamble, a risk you are willing to take once and then berate yourself when it does not succeed and forever look the other way. Do not resign yourself to inevitability, do not give up.

Support the candidates you believe in who won the honour, right and responsibility to represent you. Challenge and bring down those who abuse your name, who taint your future, who destroy your legacy. The vote is just one part of the political process; the process lives on in your voice, your pen, your hope.

I am not preparing myself, or you, to cushion a loss. I think Malaysians who dared to hope, dream and act, will win tomorrow. I think there will be change, change for the better.

But I know it is easy to get distracted, to start worrying about bills, work, traffic, relationships, weather. It's a mistake to think you've done your part; your role and right begins and ends with voting. Don't. This is just the beginning.

A new Malaysian government will be born tomorrow. You made it. Over the next few years it will grow and change. You can make that too.

It is both a great sadness and great joy to witness this election from afar. But I have hope, for the present and the future, and I am willing to act. I hope you are too.

Vote for Change: A Personal Plea

2008-02-20T13:54:00.000+09:00

"The choice is becoming increasing simple. Choose Barisan and you will see things spiral for the next four years. Or make the choice Malaysia has never made. We cannot use the fear of the unknown forever while the bed you sleep on slips into murky waters" from here.

Sitting in a foreign country only seems to make the need for change in my country seem more urgent. It pains me to feel that this is the legacy I create for my friends, my cousins, my family and makes me afraid for my future. Will I tell my children their lives suck because I thought I cannot do anything, and did not do anything? Is it really true? Am I so useless that I cannot even make my home safer or my life fairer?

There needs to be change, and there CAN be change

This is my personal call for change, to urge you to vote, and urge you to vote for change.

Your one vote makes a difference
There are thousands of us that think our one vote does not matter and sit at home today, and grumble about it tomorrow. If we all invested 10 minutes in our future and voted for change, your vote will make a difference.

You also have a voice, as I have realized. Urge your friends, your family, your neighbours to vote for change. If you can change just 3 people, then I would've changed a hundred people through you, and someone else changed ten thousand through us.

You are not alone. There are more people gearing for change this election than any election before, except perhaps the very first one. Elections are won and lost not by ten thousand votes but by a mere hundred sometimes, and ensure that those close wins give you pride for being part change and not shame for perpetuating oppression, corruption and inefficiency.

But the opposition sucks?
No they don't. If all they wanted was to make money from politics, they would join Barisan. They really want to make a change, have faith in their intentions.

It is a myth that great experience in politics is required to run our nation. But has your experience of politics in our nation been great? Maybe what we need is No experience of corruption, No experience of cronyism, No experience of lazy ineffective race-based abusive oppressive politics.

The current system is broken. A 91% majority has made the BN arrogant, corrupt and kings leading servants. It has allowed them to run a nation by threats and fear, that all will crumble if we do not have them. The truth is that they will crumble if we do not have them. All our current leaders have is from politics and power, and we must take our power back.

A New Government
The role of government is not to provide welfare, but remove the need for welfare. It is not to protect us from ourselves, but remove the causes of fear. It is not to make decisions for us in secret, but to give us the knowledge and ability to decide for ourselves.

What we have today is a poor imitation of a government. But it is our government. It is the government we have made, the house we have built.

Build a new government tomorrow. A new government that represents various interests, that is young and diverse. A new government that is free of old promises, old scandals, old notions of power and class. Build a government that you can be proud of.

This might not happen immediately after this elections, but it starts at this election. Governments are not born, they are made through your votes. Vote for change.

Most Sincerely and In Hope,
Logan

Please feel free to ask me anything, especially why I feel so strongly for change.
Read more : http://balairakyat.org/

On Illegal Protests,

2008-02-18T00:29:00.001+09:00

a reaction by a law-abiding Malaysia

It is impossible to complain about the rules of the game against the person who made the game, umpires the game and controls most of the players in the game, without breaking some of the rules.

It is easy for Abdullah Badawi, and everyone else in BN to accuse others of breaking the law, because they define and decide who breaks this law. It is his government that decides what is a peaceful protest and what is not. They do this both technically (because the Home Ministry gives the permission) and practically (because they send troops and spray chemical water that make people run because their eyes are on fire). If they gave the permit, or didn't send troops, all that would happen would be a large assembly of people, sending a memorandum and roses. They'll come, speak their voice and go home.

So to accuses a rally of being illegal, without telling us why specifically this rally was disallowed, is hypocritical and self serving. Quite simply, why is okay for UMNO Youth to rally, shout and scream outside the US Embassy, but not for common Malaysians to walk the streets with roses and a memorandum?

Thus there are two points to be made here
a) the government's specific behavior in permitting protests are self-serving and hypocritical. It is designed to support themselves and force the Malaysian society to believe only what they want them to.
b) it is a logical fallacy to accuse and abuse protesters of illegal behaviour solely for the illegality of that behavior, when you are the person who created the illegal behaviour to begin with. It is like an abusive parent punishing you for drinking juice, without telling you why only you cannot drink juice and other people can.

To fully obey the letter of the law in Malaysia means to only criticize the government when they allow you, and only in a way in which they allow you to. Malaysia wants to be the center of the World, a World leader in technology, business, education, sport; but if in this age 5 people cannot have a meeting without a permit, then the only truth is the Government speaks in the language of today but thinks in the dark ages. It is a brutal insecure Government, a bully who feels strong because they have guns and troops, but are unwilling to trust and teach people. Unwilling and maybe even unable to convince and persuade people to do the right thing.

So the question us Malaysians must ask ourselves is, are the rules fair? Are they equally applied to us? You may not have been the unarmed man on the street, being beaten by a policemen wearing a helmet, shield and baton, sadly all paid from his (and our) tax money. But you live by the same laws he does, your children educated by the same system, your company controlled by the same laws, your religion observed by the same officials, your IC and passports issued by the same ministry. When your goverment does something that you feel unfair, will they let you speak out at them or will they beat you in the street like a dog?

Act now before you are left with no choice. Vote for change.

Vote For Change

2008-02-14T03:16:00.000+09:00

There may be many things we do not know about the candidates from parties in opposition, but know this

- Corruption is endemic, only change will clean it up
Every election the party in power has promised to clean up corruption, and failed. They can't because they are part of it. They are part of the backroom dealings, the judge appointments, the big money deals, the long friendships with tycoons, the children, friends, spouses, cousins they have put into places of power.
The only way they can clean up corruption, is to sack their friends, their bosses, their partners and themselves. If politics is corrupt, it is because the current party in power is corrupt. I'd rather give a child a chance rather than someone who I have given my vote to before but has broken my trust. The only way to clean up this nation, is to vote for change.

- Opposition party candidates have been more open and engaging with the public
How many BN candidates you know have blogs? Most of them decry them and say they are bad, but blogs allow you to hear directly from your candidate. It allows you to send them an email, post a comment and directly interact with them. Opposition party candidates have different views on the position of the people, and are more willing to listen.

- BN Have No POLICIES
BN have money, time, resources, media agents - they should be making detailed policies on how to improve social rights, reduce crime, tackle inflation, and making the election about these bright ideas. Instead all they do is make simple promises about how they will spend your tax money (without giving you the exact details on the companies who earn from it, because those are of course state secrets), make vague promises about corruption and shamefully, disgracefully, promise to ensure national unity.
Promising national unity is the same as threating Malaysians with racial disunity. It's also hypocritical (how does Keris waving urging blood to be spilt help racial unity?), divides us and makes us distrust each other. It reduces politics to race and race only. But that's the only thing BN stands for; divide and conquer.
So before you ask what parties in opposition stand for, as yourself what the BN stand for. After winning 11 consecutive general elections and 50 years in power shouldn't they be giving us more?

Now is the time for change, but we must be brave. The party in power have lied, cheated and threatened you. They play a politics of fear and racial disunity, while the truth is there is only a disunity between a ruling political class and an abused, cheated and exploited Malaysian society.

We need new people, new values, new principles. Breaking up the current corrupt political system is a value in itself. The politics of BN have had too many chances, give it to someone new. You can do this, vote for change.

the year of the RAT

2008-02-08T22:45:00.000+09:00

It's been almost a year since I've been in Korea, so I suppose that's long enough to settle down and start writing. It's a trade off - the exciting confusing exclamations of someone just arrived, for the more calm, measured perceptions of a settled traveler, musing from his favorite time of day.

Oh I bought a new computer! If I remember correctly, this is the first I've paid with my own money (thanks mom!). It's a HP TC4400 - a tablet notebook! So I can flip it over and write stuff on the screen, like yeah! (from official HP website, )

Got it on Friday, and haven't really played around with it (for example this post is the first contribution to the outside world. But by end of March it should've cured cancer in limpets or something).

But today I installed Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon on it, and it rocks. No, it ROCKS! So much better, so so much better. And this baby is fast enough to support all the fancy window effects and what not, which makes it even more super amazingly awesome. Awesome!

Things left to do
- on-screen keyboard and handwriting recognition
- screen rotate
- softbuttons

Things haven't tested (and might not bother)
- microphone
- fingerprint reader
- quicklaunch buttons
- microwave

The great part is I finally have a wireless laptop that is small enough to carry around, with enough power to do everything I want! Need to find more things to do =]

Home to Lose

2007-10-11T01:14:00.000+09:00

To have nothing to lose, but a country to gain,
Not losing a roof or a bowl,
But gaining an arm or a shoulder,

Strangers become friends,
Friends becomes brothers,
Brothers cry, because they are home,

Oh if we could share a war!
This blood is easier together spilled than shared!
In my rage I tell will tell you how much I love you....

Don't be afraid,
You will find that you have gained,
What you are is what you give you your children's children,
What you are is whether you love what you tolerate,
What you are is the air you share, the hands your hand's hands hold,

This new race is better than the old,
You who have not felt the cold of un-belonging,
You who have not felt the shame of not-belonging,
You who refuses to feel the self-justification that hides disowning your brother,

I speak this to the earth that first held me,
And still holds me...
This,
Night seems like mine because of where I withhold her,
Bed feels warm because of where I sleep,
Word hurts me, because I cannot ignore it.

I have nothing to lose, but a nation to gain,
Not losing name or shame,
But gaining a reason to love them.

Annie's Bali Pics!

2007-09-25T20:27:00.001+09:00

Each Party is connected to another, like all good times and all bad times. Time means nothing without something to compare it to. Check out Annie's good times, in Baliiiii!!!!

Party still on on!!

2007-09-25T20:20:00.000+09:00

Went for dinner at Thunder Burger! Big patties, fresh meat, free range vegetables the whole deal.

Back to drinking and making pancakes. With cement. Get it?

DP in the HOUSE!

2007-09-25T17:04:00.000+09:00

Next guest! DP all the way from kalifornia! Scotch shots!!

Drink 3 : Strawberry Soju Smmmoooothiesss

2007-09-25T16:09:00.001+09:00

mmmmmmm, that's Kylie holding a Strawberry Soju Smmooothieee (tilt and head and look again. yup). Goodness, gooodness!

More guests on the way, and DrinkaPlooza Game almost complete!

More updates as the crow flies.

First Arrival!

2007-09-25T15:14:00.001+09:00

Kylie is here! Woo Hoo! Working on the game. Second drink now.... thinking...scotch.....

Help me Make this game!

2007-09-25T14:47:00.000+09:00

The Anti-Holiday Get Wasted Game (the name has to change a little each time the game is mentioned, that's one of the rules) has lots of penalties and what not. And I can't think of them all!! (actually I can, but it'll be more fun with more interaction).

So here's how it works. Each square has a colour. Landing on a square means you need to take a card, that will make you do something!
- Black (just an empty space, sometimes we need space)
- Red (Dare!)
- Green (Never Ever Question)
- Blue (Truth!)
- Brown (Chance - anything can happen!)
- Purple (Shot! Basically, just drink. No, shut up. Drink. Yeap. Shut Up. Drink)

If you have any suggestions of things to go on the cards, just post them on the comments or email them to me!

Some other features of the game
- A Prison Party Square! You have to roll a 6 to get out. Else you spend three turns there taking a shot each turn
- If you land on someone else, you kick them back home AND they take a shot

First Drink

2007-09-25T14:30:00.001+09:00

First drink of the day! Mango-Soju-Smoothie! With Real Fermented Soju Mango bits! (guaranteed a minimum 3 month fermention regime).

In the background is the embryo of the Anti-Holiday Get Drunk Quick Game. A board game that combines Truth or Dare, I Have Never, Monopoly, Lacrosse and deeeerrrrinkkkinngggggg..

More soon!

Chusok Party, about to launch!

2007-09-25T14:09:00.000+09:00

Just about to head out to buy ice. Thinking of having hour-by-hour updates! All huge sports have it now! And since this is only sport I take seriously.....

Coming soon!
Who will be the first to fall? What drink will finally take me down?? Will the big protein breakfast (and 4 baby tomatoes) help delay the inevitable? Will the guests notice the mold hidden by the casually tossed newspaper? will they care by then?

Stay tuned!!

Day 207 in Korea!

2007-09-24T20:24:00.000+09:00

It's been over 200 days (207) !

The weather is easing into fall right now. Well, not really easing, since it rained for about two days straight three days ago. Apparently it tends to rain between season changes. And then it got blistering hot for a day (it was an "Indian summer" apparently). And then it the weather settled into a beautiful spring like sunny coolness!

This Tuesday is Chusok, the Korean Thanksgiving day. That means Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday off!! It's a rare long weekend (on of the things I miss the most about Malaysia), so it will be used in the most pleasure giving way possible (nevermind that I have procrastinated bushels of work from previous week in anticipation of long free hours during the long holidays), hosting a Drinking Party!

Loganland2 will be hosting its first official drinking party this Tuesday. In true loganland fashion, we will be celebrating Anti-Chusok! =]

Pictures of that to come, but for now, some pictures from my trip to the zoo yesterday.

Decided to check out the Children's Grand Park, about 30 mins from where I live. Lots of low hanging trees, ponds, fountains and swarms of children.

The life. Lounging around, taking long naps, watching the people.
After awhile, the male lion started snoring and snore-grunt-roars were reverberating around the zoo. Making people care about your snores, now THAT is status.

Check it out! PIGS! None of them in Malaysian zoos. And this was in the petting section too =]

Camel rides, complete with your terrorist guide!

The low-handing trees I was talking about. The colour hasn't changed yet, it's supposed to start in a few weeks.

Well, that's all for now mateys, more later!

Korea Day 101

2007-06-10T23:27:00.001+09:00

Today is my one-hundredth-and-first day in Korea!

To be honest, I'm not sure if that long and I don't feel it, or that's short and I'm making a big deal about not feeling the longness.

Also not sure if 100th Day in Korea sounds cooler than 101st Day in Korea.

(Though technically, it isn't really 101 days, because I spent 10 days in Japan in March. Though, if counted cumulatively, then I should also include the other times I've visited Seoul, in 2004, 2005, 2006. 101 days consecutively away from Home then - but that sounds much sadder)

Anyways,..

Things I've done in the 101 days (a Random Sample),

Bought my first ever printer
Survived winter,
Ate tiny pickled crabs
Expanded my abs,
Visiting Seoul tower,
Had 200 Hangovers,
Didn't miss a single class!
Drank a lot of Cass!

more to come, i'm sure I did more than that... =]

the last class

2007-06-08T00:22:00.000+09:00

today was my last class,
of my first semester,
the 15 weeks were a total blast,
though, to be honest, I'm glad they're over,

it's not that I didn't enjoy them,
it was my best gig yet!
i taught what I loved,
and they were so enviably motivated,

i guess, i got tired,
tired of waking up early,
tired of repeating the lessons,
tired of being formal and cheery,

when I walked in,
they looked up and cheered,
and when I walked out,
they cared to pretend to be hurt,

today was my last class,
and i miss them already,
they made me feel like a Hercules H4,
though they are silently stronger than me,

I've seen hidden motivation,
I've seen the sparkle of intellectual rebellion,

this week I saw a hundred eyes,
struggling to speak a mind caught with pants down,

today was my last class,
and i remember the first time,
i opened a door for children born older,
and they opened the door to mine,

i came for many things,
i came from many things,
nothing really changes everything,
it's the way you feel what you see,

I've seen motivation hidden,
I've seen the blurring of intellectual retardation,

this week a hundred eyes looked at me,
speaking my mind, struggling, with pants caught down,

today was my last class,
and to be honest, I've glad they're over,
but this was the first last class,
I'll miss till next semester.

Freedom Isn't Free

2007-06-06T03:41:00.000+09:00

If you love something let it go. In the Land of Sloppy Spleling, that's how much they love freedom.

It's overrated anyway. It makes you choose. CHOOSE!

And hard decisions at that too! Decisions that may upset people. Even yourself sometimes. So best stay away. Be free. Be Decision Free.

Someone else should decide. Like god. Or the dude who sat down and scribbled while god's messenger (son, chosen one, cordless toaster) spoke on behalf of god and then passed on it verbally to 12.6 different people and one goat and then was recompiled with the help of drugs and a strong, firm, wet, grip.

And then other's can decide based on what other's have decided based on god! It's perfect!

Decide not to decide. Or decide less. Decide simple things, like how much mustard you should put on your hotdog and what angle to hold the dog while you squeeze his mustard out.

Life becomes so much simpler. So much more, liveable. Live my little deciderlessers, live!

New Site!!

2007-03-03T00:27:00.000+09:00

New Site at www.loganimal.com. Owned the domain for a long time, finally got of my ass and put a site up.

Hopefully more regular posts =]

Shame on you

2007-01-22T12:15:00.000+09:00

The issue is not whether NSTP can sue anyone (anyone can sue anyone, unless they have some form of diplomatic or constitutional immunity, the courts decide if the case is valid). The issue is if they SHOULD.

As a paper that has courted bloggers and has seemed (to me at least) to print news more relevant to progressive change in Malaysian governance, this move baffled and saddened me.

If anything, it will perpetuate the cycle of fear that surrounds the notion of public criticism. It will discourage people from voicing out their frustrations. It will give credence to the phobia that freedom of speech is a myth that no one, not even the fourth estate, is willing to stand up for.

Upset at RockyBru and Screenshots? Take them on as individuals. Discredit their claims on this website, their website, in your Newspaper. Address the issue of irresponsible speech, by responsible speech. Not try throw them in jail because they made you upset.

I’m not spending my money on Malaysian newspapers anymore, as non of them or the people who work with or for them seem to care.

National Education Blueprint - LOGANIMAL RANT

2006-12-24T15:36:00.000+09:00

This is an article from the NST today. I read this with the view of this same smiling man, except wielding a knife in front of of his face screaming for Chinese and Indian blood. Oh, did I read that differently? Then maybe I read this differently too...

(my comments in italics)

Original Article: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/Frontpage/20061224072617/Article/index_html

Spelling out the nation's future educational needs

24 Dec 2006

The 'National Education Blueprint 2006-2010' will ensure the Education Ministry’s goals are reflected and planned in a transparent and deliverable manner. Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein shares his visions with KOH LAY CHIN.

KUALA LUMPUR: An A-to-Z guide on the country’s education system, including its weaknesses, future strategies and how funds are disbursed, will be launched soon.

(there should be a guideline on funds disimbursement already, being a parliamentary measure. It's the people's money, if there hasn't been open guidelines for the past 49 years then you've been cheating the public (future note: Party In Government clarification: information was always available to public, we're just making it easier now by, like, putting it in a special book that costs more and my brother in laws third cousin prints). And we're tired of new future strategies, without telling us why the old ones failed!! It's the same strategy!! Different name, different guy, same rubbidh)

In a first effort of its kind, the Education Ministry will lay bare its plans in the "National Education Blueprint 2006-2010".

The document will spell out the ministry’s approaches for the next five years, including timelines on its delivery of goals.

(come on Hish, kiss it and tell us how blood will be spilt on that cardboard sign! Come on, stop restraining yourself mate, we can see it in your face! It's the same end result!! You were SO much happier with a dagger! A true musketeer with jolly sleeves and tight pants eh..)

It will also show how the mammoth RM23 billion allocation for education will be distributed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Mindful that "everyone has an opinion on education", the ministry will also explain its direction for key areas such as the strengthening of national schools, its "clusters of excellent schools", access to education, and empowering teachers.

Admitting that the Malaysian education system was at the crossroads, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the blueprint would ensure the ministry’s goals were reflected and planned in a transparent and deliverable manner. (italics by ed)

(Nice, that's a term that can be used for education right up to agriculture to sanitation and underwater camel strangling. Give us details that we can hold you to mate, or would that be too accountable? same with the theme in the next paragraph, I'm sure it's been used for a national diaper changing record challenge before)

Themed, "Pioneering Change — A National Mission", the blueprint would allow all those involved and interested in education to be clear on where the ministry is heading and how it wants to get there, he said.

"Education policies have far-reaching implications and we need to understand where we are before we can figure out how to get to where we need and want to be as a nation," he said in an interview with the New Sunday Times.

"For example, not many realise that children, who entered their first year of education at primary level in 2005, will only graduate to the marketplace in year 2020."

(okay, all the people who do not realise that either cannot count, are medically incapable of cognitive thought, inbred for 7 generations, named H.Bozo, or are smart enough to realise that what our kids go through is not education)

It is, therefore, crucial to have a blueprint and implementation plan, and to instil a sense of urgency in Malaysians, he added.

"We need to face up to the fact that Malaysians have to compete with billions of our fellow Asians who are hungry for the kind of prosperity and stability we have achieved over the past 20 years.

"They will work harder and smarter because they are hungrier.

(yes, that's what we tell the North Koreans, Somalis., people in Darfur and URBAN POOR IN KAMPUNG BEREMBANG. Oh you're talking about hungry competitors. Just thought I'd misdirect you as you so often misdrect others.)

"All Malaysians, especially the Malay community, have to come to terms with this fact.

(Why especially the Malay community? why not the illiterate community? Why not the poor community? Think the Malays in Bangsar and Kenny Hill need to be aware that 2005 + 15 is 2020? You're the education minister right now Hish, that means No Keris, okay. Minister for all Malaysians okay. Be a good boy, put down the keris and no kissing)

"If we don’t rise to the ever-increasing critical challenges, we will return to being losers in the global race.

"I also feel the blueprint has approached most of the issues from a purely market perspective, whereby we have looked at satisfying the needs and demands of the market."

(this sentence makes no sense in English. Maybe in Klingon eh? They like to threaten war and chaos too, though they themselves don't really want it either)

The blueprint would be targeted at education officers at the federal, state and district levels, Members of Parliament, state assemblymen, teachers, parents (through parent-teacher associations) and non-governmental organisations.

It will be for all to see when it is posted on the ministry’s website after its launch on Jan 12.

Hishammuddin had announced various new policies and changes this year and in 2005, such as the re-assessing of academic and non-academic achievement and the teaching profession, but he feels the public needs a better understanding of why he is taking such steps and not a "total reform" as often demanded by educationists.

"People out there usually take only bits and pieces of education, and read what interests them... they don’t look at it in a holistic manner.

"Being transparent is important because the amount allotted for education is so big and I do not want allegations that it did not reach target groups or our objectives because this blueprint will show exactly where the money is all going to."

Hishammuddin made it clear that the various streams of schools were here to stay.

"For too long, people have perceived the various streams and types of schools as something destructive or to quote economists, a zero-sum game."

Hishammuddin said he had to get the message across that the different streams were beneficial and were not going anywhere so that people would get past the "phobia or fear of the unknown" and move on to producing the very best students out of these schools.

(All in all, I will concede there might be improvements in the this new blueprint, but I believe that's not because the Party In Goverment want to create empowered and creative invdiuvoduals, but because they're losing too much. Losing too much in the sense that local graduates are harming the civil service and malaysian parents who can spell are selling blood to send their kids overseas.

There is not enough responsible change, not people willing to take responsibility. Why were the targets not met before, what are his targets, what happens if he doesn't meet them??

I'm a local graduate, never studied overseas (blame all the spelling mistakes on that and anger) and I was educated not because of the system I was in, but despite of the system I was in.

WE pay people are paid to ensure our future is educated, make them work.)

)

Where are you Moderate Malaysia?

2006-12-06T16:17:00.000+09:00

From LoganGives.blogspot.com It's a bit of rant actually, but sometimes it's either that and therapy, and blogging is free.

"Where are you moderate Malaysia?"

There is a dangerous belief among Malaysians, that the principle value of moderation, is tolerance. That the path of moderation, is that of acceptance, generosity, understanding and tolerance.

No, that's being suckered, used and exploited. Being moderate is being fair and balanced.

What frustrates me more than bigots proclaiming racial superiority, or cheats holding on to positions of power or hypocrites being righteous about corruption, is that Malaysians accept it. Millions of Malaysians, everyday, read or hear or see something that annoys and frustrates them, and they accept it.

to read the entire piece..

Bloggers Running the Country

2006-11-27T12:31:00.000+09:00

The Star: Cyberspace Talent Search

I got the above link from Sharizal, and it raised some interesting thoughts. I think it's an interesting strategy, because

a) Bloggers already have a following, a fan base of sorts. These are not centered in any one constituency, some of them are overseas and some of them are not even old enough to vote. But they are dedicated and have an established pattern of reading and propagating their message.
b) There is already an established platform to air their views, to get their message out. The corporate media is getting into the blog game either through blogs of their own or by reporting news on or about blogs. Information on the internet is gaining reach and credibility.
c) People can identify with their personality. You can trust a blogger. You don't have to like him or her, but you know what he or she thinks about everything. You know them as a person, their likes and dislikes and what they think about almost everything. I cannot say the same of everyone in cabinet right now.
d) You can tell if they can write or not, and how good their spelling is. Most of the people in government now don't write their own speeches, or shape their own messages. Which is one of the reasons why they are so inconsistent at press conferences, or choose to say nothing (nothing that makes sense anyway).
e) They have a culture of interaction. Bloggers have to deal with comments, and whether they accept or reject them, they have to deal with them. How easy is it to talk to your local MP?

What political parties (those in opposition especially) can do is help educate willing and politically ambitious Malaysians on the ways of Malaysian politics and public policy management. These are the only people with a foot, however small, in the Malaysian parliament.

a) Tell us what happens in parliament and public office, on a day-to-day basis, in an unbiased way. It may not be in the interested of the corporate media to report on the performance of all elected representatives, but I want to know what the person I voted for said today, and I want to know who opposed this bill and why and I want to know who is going on holiday to Spain.
b) Tell parliament what people want, what policies they are arguing through the internet. That way you create a tangible link between speaking online and those words reaching parliament. If those arguments don't stick in parliament, then they aren't made well enough or parliament is failing us. Thus if we can create solid policies, then the onus is on the powers that be to earn their wages.
c) Give us a chance to experience Malaysian public policy creation and management. Either by bringing us into your office, or involving us in policy creation, or having small scale referendums, or by organizing parliament visitations. Take us behind the doors.

Change is not coming, it is here. But we have to shape it and encourage it. It's time for the glacier to pick up a little speed.

Watch the Opera!

2006-11-22T19:33:00.000+09:00

Last night, myself and me droogs caught Don-Giovanni, written by Mozart, performed by Co-Opera at the Dewan DBKL at Raja Laut, and man was it an experience!

It's an Opera about a philandering, lecherous lecher of a casanova who gets his due in the end by being sucked into hell (which I thought a little harsh personally). It's a good one to watch for an introduction to opera, being mostly in English, with narration to smooth along the storytelling and a good dose of humour.

The singing and music was also a joy to the ears and eyes. A supple bow that gently stroked the veins of the soul.

We also hung out with the cast and crew after the show at the renowned Reggae Bar (they were staying at Hotel Malaya) and discovered that they had paid for most of this event and trip out of their own pockets. Far from pretentious upper class snobbity people, they were regular folk with day job (or who had just given up day jobs) following their passions and their art.

It was quite inspiring.

They'll be in KL until Sunday, then Kota Kinabalu, then Singapore. Student tickets are a steal at RM 20. Catch it, while you can! Muahahahhaha.

The Co-opera Website

Details of the show while they're in KL

SIX-WORD MEMOIR CHALLENGE

2006-11-22T14:13:00.000+09:00

From my Twitter update! Interesting concept of less is more, or could just be that our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter.

Come on, tell a story, I dare you!

ABOUT THE SIX-WORD MEMOIR CHALLENGE

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a
story in six words. The result was "For sale: baby shoes, never
used." More recently, Wired Magazine revived the challenge and
author Margaret Atwood came up with this short but funny beauty:
"Longed for him. Got him. Shit."

We realize November is National Novel Writing Month but 50,000
words in 30 days? That seems heavy considering genius may surface
in just six words. The folks over at Smith Magazine think everyone
has a story and they want to reward you for yours.
For more information visit: http://smithmag.net/sixwords/

My memoirs, in 6 Words..

"learned to read, nothing to write"

"100% Natural Preservatives, colors without taste"

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Speaker Sir"

"Money for nothing, chicks for free"

added at 6.04 pm

"In the corner of the circle"

"Found out, sold out, hide out"

"Behind a mask, of true colours"

Malaysia Boleh, Malaysia Bodoh

2006-11-21T13:02:00.000+09:00

While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry

This Australian journalist sounds more frustrated about Malaysian politics (or shenanigans, politics may insinuate that there is an actual process) than most Malaysians I speak to.

Perhaps being Malaysians, it in in our consciousness to accept and to tolerate (maybe our own version of Han ), to instinctively complain, then find an excuse for inaction, then console ourselves against even worse situations elsewhere.

Topic for another post: Deciding Like A Malaysian; The 7 Steps to Ignoring Any Problem

But read the article above, and share it with your friends.

Then what?

Then write a letter to your parliamentary representative, asking them if that is true. Ask them why we'd rather send spacemen to make teh-tarik in space, rather than ensure thousands of children get better education. Ask them why kids don't have enough fields to play on, but we're spending millions in the UK.

Will your letter make a difference? Probably not.

But you get others to write, and others get others to speak, and other get others to move, then maybe, your children will get better education, streets might get a little safer and we won't have to read about Australians calling Malaysians "bodoh", and have to agree with them.

No God of the Month

2006-11-03T04:06:00.000+09:00

"It's a semi-charmed life Momo"

"Well, it means that it's special, but also real and hard. It's a wonderful crystal chandelier that could come crashing down and shatter. It's a sunset that becomes nightime, a beautiful flower that smells like rotting flesh"

"Well it's not sad. Okay maybe a little. But it's real. It's sad only because you were irrationally happy to see it in the first place. Then the happiness went away. So you're not sad, you're just missing the happiness Momo"

Okay, this is the stuff that's supposed to go on AnimalTakes, but I'm lazy to shift over. No, I refuse to (rebelling even against the structures I set for myself, how vain to pretend =] )

Momo said I should share the conversation with people.

----------------------------

Real Life Snippet:

It took 4 police stations to pay a RM50 summons for not having a valid road tax. One did not accept payments, one was the wrong building, the other tried to send to me back to near the first one, and the final one, finally, did it. From Puchong to Sri Kembangan to Putrajaya. I would pay the bribe AND a surchage to save me half a day, searching, parking, re-parking.

Bleh. Sleep before the morning regrets you.

And so the clock ticks

2006-10-20T00:29:00.000+09:00

Apparently not all that seemed to be, is.

As it so often is with life (and with Christmas presents I might add) that what you expect is not what you get. It's the fancy wrapper that does it. Or your ears and eyes and hands, telling you the sound you hear and shape you see and firmess you feel is real.

No man, it's just what you want to see. Spinoza might have been right after all, though I hate the idea of determinism, and yet cannot eradicate emotion.

SEED did not come through in all it's envisioned glory. Yet I stay the course. The car will run without air-conditioning, or a CD player, or even missing a wheel. I might take a road less travelled though, if just for the scenery.

Watch Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind. Then make your mind up on the present affecting the future, and the present becoming the past. This present, now past, since you read that before you read this.

So here I am, with the world before me. Tomorrow, I will get serious, and make a plan.

And so the next step is taking over heels

2006-10-19T02:06:00.000+09:00

I've left academia and moved to Student Affairs. As of the 15th, I am now part of SEED. I'm supposed to run it actually, but I'll find out tomorrow how much of what was promised will see daylight, and that would probably determine how long I stay there.

(Jameson really is my favourite whisky right now, no doubt about it)

Watch and wait, for more news. I know I will be.

The 3 Day Masters Countdown

2006-10-02T14:04:00.000+09:00

To get work ready for submission, or at least proof reading, in 3 days.

On the Stack
- finish the literature review, and hence narrow the problem statement
- shape the entire thesis in the image of the problem statement
- beef up the references
- re-work the results
- write a full conclusion

Ready, steady, GO!

Loving the Morning

2006-09-28T10:40:00.000+09:00

Entertainnment comes wherever you look for it, and sometimes you just can't help laughing.

(Sounds like a worldly statement, but what the hell does it mean?)

Just like this from the front page of today's NST Cabinet says case closed

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s final.

There will be no review of the sacking of three judges in 1988, the Cabinet decided yesterday.

They felt that there must be finality on this issue and said that the the sacking of Tun Salleh Abas, Datuk George Seah and Datuk Wan Sulaiman Pawanteh will only be revisited when there is “new and important’’ about the case emerge.

And what qualifies as “new and important’’ facts?

Datuk Seri Nazri said that he will call for a review if one of the judges who had sat on the tribunal came forward and said that they were instructed to find Salleh guilty.

“If any one of the five judges says he was instructed to act in a certain way, I will advice the Cabinet to allow the review as it would have been a miscarriage of justice.”

I think that's an excellent principle. Until the people accused of wrongdoing admit that they did something wrong, then there is no need for investigation and appeal.

I think that's how all regular appeals should work. If a case fails in a lower court, you cannot bring it to a higher court or the court of appeals, until and unless the judge who presided over your case says that, yeah, maybe he made a mistake, maybe it was a bad day, maybe his judgement was a little wookydoopAH! (just made it up, you like?)

Think about it,
a) we'd save time on appeals and re-appeals and appeals of re-appeals? The entire legal system would be more efficient. And who can say efficiency is bad?
b) it would encourage judges to be more honest and open. I mean, that works for members of government, so it must work for the judges. Why would they keep secrets from us? Why? I just don't understand! What was I talking about? Why?
c) we could make a catchy RTM theme song - "if you're guilty and you know it, just admit!, if you're guilty and you know it just admit!.."
d) we could save lives, hide traffic and reduce, if not eliminate, prophylactic failure!

It's brave, admirable and encouraging that Tun Salleh Abbas has come out and been persistent with the truth and his story, even if he took this long for it. We should give him more support.

It's also refreshing and motivating that the NST seems to be consistently this story (by comparison, theStar's major nationawide concern is that Loan Sharks are making less money and becoming more desperate. That's going to be the title of my next book, those who Feed on Desperation, End up Becoming It). We should also give them more support.

But most of all, most of all, I like the way you move.

Jumbo gets Hit

2006-09-27T15:53:00.001+09:00

For the second time in less than a year, Jumbo (my car) is mugged. The MO of both the attacks are similar; in the wee hours of the morning, they break the small rear window, wind down the rear window, enter the car through it and take what they want. The last time they took my CD player and a soccer ball, this time, since I hadn't replaced the CD player (yay for procrastination. And well, personal poverty) they took some coins I kept for toll.

The low-take rate was also party because my neighbour was up at 5am and heard the glass break. He spotted two men on a scooter (BJA 44) and shouted them off. Then woke me and my family. At 5.30. Which was bad enough in itself.

The frightening this was I had a video camera that did not belong to me in the car. When I saw the broken window, my first thought was - fuck, there goes two thousands bucks. Thankfully, the combination of my alert and vocal neighbour as well as the messy condition of my car, helped ensure the camera was neither found nor stolen.

As people in the shitters say to make themselves feel better, "In my bad luck, there is some good luck."

So the day today was spent making police reports and taking the car to be repaired.
I've got some pics, will be up soon.

Also, must think of ways to reduce crime.

I believe People are not evil, but have their moral compasses affected by their environments. I suppose it's plausible that some of these compasses are so badly broken that they don't work at all, but that has to be an absolute minority. The danger is if we treat this absolute minority not even as the majority, but as a critical number, then I believe we encourage more compasses to fuck up.

So that's my social theory adjusted to magnetic poles and direction finding.

Tune in next week to find out how to raise a child like a solenoid, in accordance with Ampere's Law.

The world is so small

2006-09-27T04:02:00.000+09:00

And time measured in how many bits of information it takes for something to change your life. I'm on a byte buzz, wishing I knew enough to create more quickly, but at the same time relishing my naive excitement.

Christmas comes early curiosity land, and pagan or not, I celebrate curiosity.