This is quite a lousy day for me, suffering from a stomach flu that reduced me to running to the toilet every 1 to 2 hours. Horrid. Since I can't get in to work today, I thought that I would alternate between sleeping, eating (bread is all I can ingest without too much ado), and surfing the net. Currently at my friend's place, but will be going home soon to mull for the rest of the day.
Here are some interesting things that I had picked up from the NET. It started with me innocently going to other ppl's blog (I read blogs when I am feeling too mashed up to really concentrate on anything heavier). There is this ongoing debate about what is beauty, what is a beauty pageant and who has the right to represent. Thought that I should post it here for my readers to peruse.
http://n1kki.frens.net/archives/2004/06/02/miss_malaysiauniverse.html
http://www.nicsteronline.com/archives/000908.html
One thing that I do agree about, with regard to international competitions, regardless of the principles behind it (be it a showcase of true talent and hardwork or a cattle show of flesh), it has to go by standards. Being optimistic, brave and irrepressible does not make me a suitable candidate to represent my country at whatever it is that I wish to do. That has to be won through true skill and ability. That, my friends, differentiate a solid performer and a wanna-be. I would like to be a good poet someday, and I am brave enough to work towards it. But if I am talentless, all the hardwork and sheer gumption would only give me 15 minutes of fame, and I would most probably be pelted with rotten tomatoes, like Mcgonagall
I am still so not very well ):
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Friday, July 09, 2004
Money, money, money
Sometimes, I wonder whether I should work for money or for love. It would be good to combine both and become a millionaire one day. To know that you have all the money in the world to spend without worrying about creditors and debts can be quite exhilarating. It could also lead to one's downfall if one spend indiscreetly. But then, I would definitely like to give it a try in making as much money as I could, without crushing too many people. But then, it is hard to be filthy rich without crushing people in the process, right?
I must say that this is a funny article from express India.
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=32353#compstory
Talking about money, there has been much speculation about China's supposedly burgeoning economy. Naysayers think that it would burst. I am still trying to understand China's economics, so there is not much that I could add now, but I will provide the links that I feel is useful in the further understanding of China.
I must say that this is a funny article from express India.
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=32353#compstory
Talking about money, there has been much speculation about China's supposedly burgeoning economy. Naysayers think that it would burst. I am still trying to understand China's economics, so there is not much that I could add now, but I will provide the links that I feel is useful in the further understanding of China.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
postmodern science and some personal tidbits
I have recently finished reading Luce Irigaray's "The Sex Which is Not One", a book that compiles a collection of her writings and interviews that have been translated into English. I will discuss more on it later. Suffice for me to say for now that she refutes many of the attitudes that Freud took with regard to the question of feminity. I found some interesting quotes that I could use for an academic essay that I am working on, and will tell the rest of you once it is published (somewhere *wink*). I also googled for Sandra Harding, a feminist philosopher of science, and will be getting her book from the library later today, the title being, "Is Science Multicultural". Go google out the book yourself, you lazy uns :P. And in my search, I found an essay critiquing her work, which I have not properly read through as I was busy with Irigaray yesterday (stayed late at work just to finish her). Anyway, you can check it out yourself at http://www.uno.edu/~asoble/pages/HARDING.htm .
Also, thought that I should mention that this blog appeared here. Must be due to the fact that I have linking out of me blog to a few urls that you will see on the site. And a search for Clarissa's Blog does rank it quite high, though there are other Clarissas around. Indulge my ego for a bit :D
Anyway, that's all folks. Til later.
Also, thought that I should mention that this blog appeared here. Must be due to the fact that I have linking out of me blog to a few urls that you will see on the site. And a search for Clarissa's Blog does rank it quite high, though there are other Clarissas around. Indulge my ego for a bit :D
Anyway, that's all folks. Til later.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Requiem For A Dream
Just a few days ago, I was watching the film, Requiem For A Dream,about addiction (to everything, from tvs to drugs). The underlying motif that run through the entire film is the fact that the characters in them have no hope, felt crushed, unwanted, alone, lonely, bored, self-hatred. They were mostly ordinary people, though one was initially a rich kid who finally had to prostitute herself to feed her habit. It is as much a critique of the American culture (the kind of food that leads to obesity, the repetitive and trancelike television shows, the holier-than-thou attitude, poverty, materialism and self-centredness). This darkly hints on the direction that Malaysia is spiralling into, with rising crime and psychotic people, that not stemming from a lack of morals (after all, they have all these moral and religious education rammed down the kids throats from an early age), but from lack of direction, goals, self-hatred, boredom, complacency, selfishness and everything that we see as happening in many first world countries. Seeing how the world has evolved, be they war-torn countries like many of the countries in the African continents and some in the Middle East, dictatorships in Latin American countries and most parts of Asia, or supposed democracy in the US, my belief in social Darwinism grows stronger everyday. We want and we need values, yes, but why aren't as practising it? Moralising aout all these things, as many institutionalised religions are apt to do, will not solve the issues, especially when many of their own people are the perpetrator of some of the most heinous conducts. It merely skims over things and dissolves us from the responsibilities of thinking further and to look beyond our mini-Pinochio noses. However, while I do not believe totally in the cold objectivity of social Darwinism, I believe that society will become self-destructive deal to its lack of altruism. This brings me to an article I read about anthropology in this magazine called 21st Century Science and Technology , which accuses this discipline of empiricising and othering non-White cultures. While my piece here is not going to go into the epistemological arguments in the article, a particular paragraph caught my attention. Since I do not have the magazine with me now (I am at work after all), I will paraphrase it for my readers. It says that when anthropologists go to certain 'primitive' cultures to study them, they make the empirical and ethnographer assumption that such there is uneven evolution within the human species, hence there are the very developed Aryan race (as the neo-Nazis would be proud to say) and the undeveloped, almost simian-like, Aborigines. What the anthropologists failed to address, the article claimed, is that these so called 'primitive' cultures could have been leftovers, or marginal groups, of a lost civilization, or one that is destroyed. I find this fascinating, as the level of knowledge of the average person of the great civilizations of the past is almost nil. Many can't even name the civilizations, let alone know why they fell. It seems that our education has failed in this regard, when we have postdocs and even some academics who do not know or understand what could have destroyed a supposedly sophisticated society. Perhaps we have doomed ourselves to repeat the mistakes of the past. When people like Darren Arofnosky and other non-mainstream publications (the fact that they are non-mainstream already marginalised them and hamper their ability to reach to the average Joe or Jane) try to rub some form of awareness into us via their art or creation, we often choose to ignore them. The people I know who have watched this film, which is the title of this post, agrees that showing impressionable kids the stuff in all their gory bits (even if it could be traumatic, but that is where the parents and more mature adults-note the use of the word 'mature'-is there to explain things to them) rather than moralising to them, serve as a stronger deterrent. Don't you agree?
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Wasted Education
My friend and I were reading through Jeff Ooi's archive and we found a story on LimKokWing. HAving only spent 3 months in a private college (the sum of my private education), I am not able to comment too much, though from what I hear from college students of private institutions, the Education Ministry has failed in regulating the setting up of colleges, accreditation of the institutions and even in checking on the quality of the teaching staff, facilities, internal examinations and course contents. I have attended an interview for a job as a lecturer with a private college. They put me through some role-playing, by having me present a short lecture to a 'class' that consists of my interviewers. They seem impressed enough and I was shortlisted for an interview with the MD. That was where I met my Waterloo. Firstly, he thought my asking price was too high (due to my youth and my lack of consistent full-time work experience. Apparently, my past part time teaching experience and other related work experiences do not count) and from the way the interview went, I had a feeling that he was more interested in how much he could milk out of me for minimal pay. I was pretty appalled that the lecturers who were more senior than me were paid less than my asking price, which I felt was it was in a fair range (=RM2500) based on my past experiences and the amount of responsibilities I have to take on if I was to be given the post.
While waiting for that interview with the college's MD, I chatted with a fellow interviewee, whose idea of teaching college was teaching a tuition class (I wonder if she got the job), but I guess they must be impressed enough (or desperate enough) to pass her on for the second interview.
Anyhow, throughout the final interview, the MD seemed less interested in my teaching capabilities and how I could contribute to the students' and college's educational achievements (as to whether it existed or was I faking it) than how much he could pay me and all the roles that I was to assume as a "team-player" in a "corporate"-like environment. Needless to say, I never got the job.
While I would never deny the fact that many of the lecturers who decided to take up lecturing despite of the bad pay (though if you are some acclaimed professor from a public university, you can go in for a good position and higher pay. It is all about publicity) do it for the love, there are many others who do this job because no one in the industry or anywhere else would hire them. It is the second breed that we should be most concerned with, as there are more of them in private colleges, than the first breed. And also with the money grasping directors of colleges. What can one do when share-holders are more interested in profit margins than quality of education? After all, they see such ventures as a business, regardless of whose lives such ventures would affect.
While waiting for that interview with the college's MD, I chatted with a fellow interviewee, whose idea of teaching college was teaching a tuition class (I wonder if she got the job), but I guess they must be impressed enough (or desperate enough) to pass her on for the second interview.
Anyhow, throughout the final interview, the MD seemed less interested in my teaching capabilities and how I could contribute to the students' and college's educational achievements (as to whether it existed or was I faking it) than how much he could pay me and all the roles that I was to assume as a "team-player" in a "corporate"-like environment. Needless to say, I never got the job.
While I would never deny the fact that many of the lecturers who decided to take up lecturing despite of the bad pay (though if you are some acclaimed professor from a public university, you can go in for a good position and higher pay. It is all about publicity) do it for the love, there are many others who do this job because no one in the industry or anywhere else would hire them. It is the second breed that we should be most concerned with, as there are more of them in private colleges, than the first breed. And also with the money grasping directors of colleges. What can one do when share-holders are more interested in profit margins than quality of education? After all, they see such ventures as a business, regardless of whose lives such ventures would affect.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Media
I am currently finishing up a paper that I would be giving at a conference, and my partner would be adding and revising it further. It is a paper on audience reception and new media and you can get the abstract here and then scroll down to page 37. You will find it. Of course, you are welcomed to look at all the other abstracts. (:
I am currently reading this book called Representing Women: Myths of Feminity in the Popular Media by Myra Macdonald and it has set me thinking as to how not only how the media portray women to be, but how the women like to portray themselves as. One of the easiest thermometer to use is to visit the various weblogs women (as in that we DO KNOW that they are women, and not men masquerading as one) have published, and read the kind of issues that focusses their attention. Or even how they present their more 'private' spheres for public consumption. I have also been surfing through various websites dedicated to women, both the commercial and semi-commercial sites, and it is interesting to note what they perceive as being matters of concern or import to their female audiences. This could be done by comparing with the sites specifically dedicated to men, or the cultural construction of the male persona. I am currently particularly interested in writing a paper, using feminist theories, to construct the media representation of beauty through the image they endorse with all its trappings (beauty paraphernalia or surgical reconstruction). This of course would require me to surf the net, look at women's magazines, watch ads, and look at ads everywhere (:. Since I am now working on a half finished paper, I might work on this later in August, or Sept.
Googolism, online networks (like Friendsters) and blogs provide a playground for the voyeur in us. It is so easy to stalk people nowadays, n'est-ce pas ?
I am currently reading this book called Representing Women: Myths of Feminity in the Popular Media by Myra Macdonald and it has set me thinking as to how not only how the media portray women to be, but how the women like to portray themselves as. One of the easiest thermometer to use is to visit the various weblogs women (as in that we DO KNOW that they are women, and not men masquerading as one) have published, and read the kind of issues that focusses their attention. Or even how they present their more 'private' spheres for public consumption. I have also been surfing through various websites dedicated to women, both the commercial and semi-commercial sites, and it is interesting to note what they perceive as being matters of concern or import to their female audiences. This could be done by comparing with the sites specifically dedicated to men, or the cultural construction of the male persona. I am currently particularly interested in writing a paper, using feminist theories, to construct the media representation of beauty through the image they endorse with all its trappings (beauty paraphernalia or surgical reconstruction). This of course would require me to surf the net, look at women's magazines, watch ads, and look at ads everywhere (:. Since I am now working on a half finished paper, I might work on this later in August, or Sept.
Googolism, online networks (like Friendsters) and blogs provide a playground for the voyeur in us. It is so easy to stalk people nowadays, n'est-ce pas ?
Friday, June 25, 2004
Ugly Malaysian/Me
OK, need to rant here
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ugly Malaysians
1. Fraudulent
2. DIrty
3. Unethical behaviour in everything that they do
4. Parents who breed more ugly Malaysians
5. Getting themselves banned because they can't be trusted
What do Malaysians have to say about being the capital for fraud, illicit trafficking and endless stupidity? On the third count, I daren't say that I am any better, seeing that I am still around and not doing much about that,
The Naive Malaysians
1. Who think that life should be handed on a platter to them.
2. Who whinge and whine but basically refuse to do anything, even when given the opportunity to do so.
3. Who think that building the biggest roti canai or mooncake or penis (oops, I mean KL Tower) is equivalent to being world class.
3. Who think that Bangsar is the epitome of class and good food (this is targetted only at those who knows whom and who I mean).
4. Who think that the worst thing that can ever happen to them is to not get tickets to a big rave or a Britney Spears concert.
5. Who think that everyone is upper-middle class like themselves.
6. Who think everyone is as pedestrian as themselves.
7. Who think they are people to be reckoned with despite being citizens of a tiny country nobody gives two hoots about.
8. Who believe that Malaysia practises democracy.
9. Who wouldn't understand what am I going on about.
Peace
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ugly Malaysians
1. Fraudulent
2. DIrty
3. Unethical behaviour in everything that they do
4. Parents who breed more ugly Malaysians
5. Getting themselves banned because they can't be trusted
What do Malaysians have to say about being the capital for fraud, illicit trafficking and endless stupidity? On the third count, I daren't say that I am any better, seeing that I am still around and not doing much about that,
The Naive Malaysians
1. Who think that life should be handed on a platter to them.
2. Who whinge and whine but basically refuse to do anything, even when given the opportunity to do so.
3. Who think that building the biggest roti canai or mooncake or penis (oops, I mean KL Tower) is equivalent to being world class.
3. Who think that Bangsar is the epitome of class and good food (this is targetted only at those who knows whom and who I mean).
4. Who think that the worst thing that can ever happen to them is to not get tickets to a big rave or a Britney Spears concert.
5. Who think that everyone is upper-middle class like themselves.
6. Who think everyone is as pedestrian as themselves.
7. Who think they are people to be reckoned with despite being citizens of a tiny country nobody gives two hoots about.
8. Who believe that Malaysia practises democracy.
9. Who wouldn't understand what am I going on about.
Peace
Friday, June 18, 2004
Can a literary critic be an expert on air safety?
I was looking for some works on Beauty by Elaine Scarry and came across this rather interesting article on how the English don has expended herself and her literary skills to decoding Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and air crashes. Read on
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001119mag-scarry.html
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001119mag-scarry.html
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Intellectual Mumbo?
Some of you might be aware of this, but to those who are not. Check it out here at Alan Sokal's webpage
The reason why he managed to pull this stunt of so convincingly could be due to the fact that anything goes, as long as you can explain it well. Sort of like those so-called postmodern-dada art tht you see in the Modern Art Museums in the First World countries. One thing about third world countries like Malaysia, because of the fact that most people still value utilitarian concepts or have a strong desire to see something that need not require too much extrapolation (or 'quantum leap') of the mind, stuff like these wouldn't be popular here. Cept among the more pretentious lot, maybe?
The reason why he managed to pull this stunt of so convincingly could be due to the fact that anything goes, as long as you can explain it well. Sort of like those so-called postmodern-dada art tht you see in the Modern Art Museums in the First World countries. One thing about third world countries like Malaysia, because of the fact that most people still value utilitarian concepts or have a strong desire to see something that need not require too much extrapolation (or 'quantum leap') of the mind, stuff like these wouldn't be popular here. Cept among the more pretentious lot, maybe?
Monday, June 14, 2004
Writing and other things
I need to work very hard on my writing. How to write in a style that denotes brevity, clarity and wit. How to grab your attention from the moment you read the first paragraph, the headlines, the subtitles. How to write enticing prose minus the purple, velvet,and the obtuse (obscure, perhaps?). I am thereby embarking on this journey to learn how to read AND write better. Perhaps teaching young teens how to do the same might be the best lesson for myself.
From today onwards, I am going to dedicate myself to the life of honing and polishing the art of writing good prose and poems. Content, style and technique would be the three areas I will be keeping a sharp eye on. Hence, I am joining a writing workshop.
I was planning to go Brazil next month. I managed to get a bit of money to pay for my trip from the organisers but the management of the place I work in refuse to give me any kind of funding, even though I am representing them, not just as a participant, but as a speaker! Nevermind then, their lost. So, I am not going anymore for this round. Maybe the next time, when I am travelling the world. Decided to spend the next 5 months completing a paper, polishing another, write a few reviews,work on my dissertation and read as much poetry as I could.
I think I will be going to Australia instead. For the upcoming Melbourne Arts Festival.
I think I neeed to go to the gym again. Haven't been at it for a month.
I discovered a useful resource for writers-to-be at PlacesForWriters that I would like to share with all of you. This is also for the more experienced and jaded among you.
Btw, after October 17, I am going to be jobless. So if anyone would like to offer me a job that commensurates with my interest and experience, please email me. I prefer temporary positions, though full time ones are also accepted. I am however, only available for employment, in November.
From today onwards, I am going to dedicate myself to the life of honing and polishing the art of writing good prose and poems. Content, style and technique would be the three areas I will be keeping a sharp eye on. Hence, I am joining a writing workshop.
I was planning to go Brazil next month. I managed to get a bit of money to pay for my trip from the organisers but the management of the place I work in refuse to give me any kind of funding, even though I am representing them, not just as a participant, but as a speaker! Nevermind then, their lost. So, I am not going anymore for this round. Maybe the next time, when I am travelling the world. Decided to spend the next 5 months completing a paper, polishing another, write a few reviews,work on my dissertation and read as much poetry as I could.
I think I will be going to Australia instead. For the upcoming Melbourne Arts Festival.
I think I neeed to go to the gym again. Haven't been at it for a month.
I discovered a useful resource for writers-to-be at PlacesForWriters that I would like to share with all of you. This is also for the more experienced and jaded among you.
Btw, after October 17, I am going to be jobless. So if anyone would like to offer me a job that commensurates with my interest and experience, please email me. I prefer temporary positions, though full time ones are also accepted. I am however, only available for employment, in November.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Weblogs and poetry
Today, while discussing a project with my partner, we spoke of a world that is not created by imaginings, but by solid, tangible bric-a-brac and realism. In that, we branched off our discussion into weblogs (Sparked by a glance at a newspaper with a feature on blogs) and the voyeuer's playground. From my own surfing of blogs, I noticed that blogs with photos, artworks and even personal, pedestrian details of the writer's life generate a huge following from friends and strangers alike. One could of course argue that the blog circles are inbred and revolve around a community of people who specialise in patting each other on the back, or taking turns in writing comments on each other's blog, which is true with at least 70% of the blogs you see around, there are many worthy ones started out by individuals that have attracted the attention of new readers and popular following for their content and aesthetics, as opposed to rantings by kids (and adults) about their life, their activities (which are often repetitiously similar) with friends, their incessant partying, getting laid, shopping, bingeing (on food and alcohol) etc etc. Weblogs have been touted as the latest lifestyle gateway, with thousands of them popping all over cyberspace, started by individuals who often have little idea as to what they want to blog, and thus left blank or abandoned after a few inane postings. The question is, should one blog even when one has nothing new to add other than attracting the attention of would-be-stalkers and voyeurs or bored inviduals who surf through easy-to-read blogs out of lack of things to do (or imagination), or should it be limited to individuals who are empowered and who have something actually worth sharing. But then, who is to determine such lines anyway? Arguably, reading weblogs of these many varied individuals sometimes offer a disturbing insight into the cultural, political and ethical precepts of the global, affluent community (they are the ones with the luxury to blog).
On a different note, I read a rather insightful article (interview actually) on an artistic development of a poet which I would like to share with you. While it might not hit you the same way as it did me, it would still make insightful reads to those wanna-be poets out there like myself.
Interview with James Reidel
I was just looking through two Malaysian books (in between reading up on cognitive science, something which I will discuss in later blogs). One is a bibliography of Malaysian Literature in English compiled by Malachi Edwin Vethamani. Unfortunately, this book merely documents a bibliography of works produced by Malaysians in the last century and hence did not add in new works by younger and newer writers. It is also a sad tribute to the state of publishing in Malaysia, especially of English Language publishing, with very few quality works, and most of which have never reached an international audience, with the exception of a notable few like Shirley Lim. Even then, she was never quite a household name. The other book is Petals of Hibiscus, edited by Mohammad A. Quayam, Rosli Talif, and Noritah Omar. While it considers itself to provide a representative anthology of Malaysian Literature in English, which it did succeed in doing to the fair degree, it suffers almost similar fate as the previous bibliographic compilation, which is a lack of quality writings. Despite a stable of talented writers, something is keeping the Malaysian writers from moving into greater limelight and even maturity in their works. Even the few gems here and there speak of a potential that has never quite been reached.
If anyone (especially Malaysian writers) have any thoughts on these, do post your comments. We could perhaps even start a new thread of discussion.
On a different note, I read a rather insightful article (interview actually) on an artistic development of a poet which I would like to share with you. While it might not hit you the same way as it did me, it would still make insightful reads to those wanna-be poets out there like myself.
Interview with James Reidel
I was just looking through two Malaysian books (in between reading up on cognitive science, something which I will discuss in later blogs). One is a bibliography of Malaysian Literature in English compiled by Malachi Edwin Vethamani. Unfortunately, this book merely documents a bibliography of works produced by Malaysians in the last century and hence did not add in new works by younger and newer writers. It is also a sad tribute to the state of publishing in Malaysia, especially of English Language publishing, with very few quality works, and most of which have never reached an international audience, with the exception of a notable few like Shirley Lim. Even then, she was never quite a household name. The other book is Petals of Hibiscus, edited by Mohammad A. Quayam, Rosli Talif, and Noritah Omar. While it considers itself to provide a representative anthology of Malaysian Literature in English, which it did succeed in doing to the fair degree, it suffers almost similar fate as the previous bibliographic compilation, which is a lack of quality writings. Despite a stable of talented writers, something is keeping the Malaysian writers from moving into greater limelight and even maturity in their works. Even the few gems here and there speak of a potential that has never quite been reached.
If anyone (especially Malaysian writers) have any thoughts on these, do post your comments. We could perhaps even start a new thread of discussion.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Am I wasting my time?
Since I don't get much comments of late, either nobody reads this blog, or nobody has any comments to add. Hopefully it is the latter. What if nobody reads the blog? Should I just write for myself? OR should I write for an audience
Was going through some blogs today (was a bit bored) and came across numerous personal blogs of people with photographs of their friends, their shindigs, their active social lives and everything there is to say about their lives. Would people prefer to read things like that? Do they find my jottings so pedantically boring that they aren't worth reading at all?
Only they know...
Was going through some blogs today (was a bit bored) and came across numerous personal blogs of people with photographs of their friends, their shindigs, their active social lives and everything there is to say about their lives. Would people prefer to read things like that? Do they find my jottings so pedantically boring that they aren't worth reading at all?
Only they know...
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
What intellectual?
I went to a talk on how intellectuals can contribute to the politics in Malaysia last Monday. Was so tired that I took a nap and managed to wake up before the thing ended. While there are interesting aspects of the talk, one of the speakers ramble a bit too much. Nothing particularly new, and I am particularly disappointed with the level of Q&A session. It seems that there are people who can't differentiate between activism and intellectual activities, and how each can feed into the other, instead of trying to make one the other. While it is easy to just attack the system, a system remains a dead thing as long as there are no people to run it. People need to be mobilised and need to achive a sort of maturity for any democratic machine to be mature. As long as constituencies themselves are immature, I doubt any amount of activism will help. People are intellectually lazy by nature. The question is, how do you motivate them to be interested? And how do you keep the level of debate from falling down the pits and remaining at such a low level as to never ever effect change?
Ok, I am rambling too much here
Recently, I have been engaged in some debate on academic publishing online, especially that pertaining to third world nations. Many debates that go on in first world nations often ignore the lack of options of poverty-stricken nations. Albeit, you could argue that poor nations should find means to fend for themselves before engaging in any academic mongering. Well, you aren't too wrong. But this divide will never go away and the playing field levelled as long as we selfishly believe that only we the 'haves' should have the right to engage in cultural or intellectual activities, while poor people shouldn't and just be satisfied with living from day to day.
Here are the two opinions I have posted and you can read others' responses and opinions on the site
http://www.comm.umn.edu/mailman/private/cultstud-l/2004-May/007825.html
http://www.comm.umn.edu/mailman/private/cultstud-l/2004-May/007838.html
I haven't been doing as much work this week as I should. I seem to feel rather restless. Less tired today, which is why I can blog. (:
Going to sound more frivolous now and ask
"How many of you think that manicures and pedicures are a necessity? How often would you do that? Would you do it yourself or pay others to do it?"
"How often do you give your hair a nice and replenishing treatment?"
A word of advice to myself :have more compassion and be nicer
Ok, I am rambling too much here
Recently, I have been engaged in some debate on academic publishing online, especially that pertaining to third world nations. Many debates that go on in first world nations often ignore the lack of options of poverty-stricken nations. Albeit, you could argue that poor nations should find means to fend for themselves before engaging in any academic mongering. Well, you aren't too wrong. But this divide will never go away and the playing field levelled as long as we selfishly believe that only we the 'haves' should have the right to engage in cultural or intellectual activities, while poor people shouldn't and just be satisfied with living from day to day.
Here are the two opinions I have posted and you can read others' responses and opinions on the site
http://www.comm.umn.edu/mailman/private/cultstud-l/2004-May/007825.html
http://www.comm.umn.edu/mailman/private/cultstud-l/2004-May/007838.html
I haven't been doing as much work this week as I should. I seem to feel rather restless. Less tired today, which is why I can blog. (:
Going to sound more frivolous now and ask
"How many of you think that manicures and pedicures are a necessity? How often would you do that? Would you do it yourself or pay others to do it?"
"How often do you give your hair a nice and replenishing treatment?"
A word of advice to myself :have more compassion and be nicer
Friday, May 21, 2004
Another day in the life of..
Another review came out while I was away, Voices of Injustice You are allowed to like or hate it. However, do give this book of chance, inspite or despite of my review.
I have been reading various poetic works online. I am excited by the fact that one day, we will actually be reading hypertext of literary works, instead of buying them in paper. Though part of me is of the old fashion school that loves the feel of paper, we have to face the fact the publishing on paper is not viable, unless we are willing to use recycled paper, which technology of today has yet been able to produce a high-quality version. However, more for principles than taste, I would support publications that uses recycled paper. It can be cheaper as well.
Tonight, I am going to meet some young women for a tete-a-tete. Last Wed, I met some young women for a workshop on writing. Being a rather young and raw writer, I definitely need more exposure to polish up my style.
While reading through news of the turmoil surrounding Sonia Gandhi's refusal to take office as prime minister (I am sure all of you are reading that all over), I came across a clipping on the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark to the Australian Mary Donaldson. Despite of the Prince Charles-Princess Diana saga, I supposed we who love fairy-tales can't get enough of that. I suppose now that hoards of commoner girls/women are vying for the hand of a few eligible princes left on this planet. I mean human princes. Wonder what is it like dating a prince. Can't be too different, sans bodyguards and high security. I would definitely like to keep my life under wraps. But then, never dated a prince.
Cheers all
I have been reading various poetic works online. I am excited by the fact that one day, we will actually be reading hypertext of literary works, instead of buying them in paper. Though part of me is of the old fashion school that loves the feel of paper, we have to face the fact the publishing on paper is not viable, unless we are willing to use recycled paper, which technology of today has yet been able to produce a high-quality version. However, more for principles than taste, I would support publications that uses recycled paper. It can be cheaper as well.
Tonight, I am going to meet some young women for a tete-a-tete. Last Wed, I met some young women for a workshop on writing. Being a rather young and raw writer, I definitely need more exposure to polish up my style.
While reading through news of the turmoil surrounding Sonia Gandhi's refusal to take office as prime minister (I am sure all of you are reading that all over), I came across a clipping on the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark to the Australian Mary Donaldson. Despite of the Prince Charles-Princess Diana saga, I supposed we who love fairy-tales can't get enough of that. I suppose now that hoards of commoner girls/women are vying for the hand of a few eligible princes left on this planet. I mean human princes. Wonder what is it like dating a prince. Can't be too different, sans bodyguards and high security. I would definitely like to keep my life under wraps. But then, never dated a prince.
Cheers all
Monday, May 17, 2004
Back from Indonesia
The trip to Indonesia was one great breather and a change of scene for me. I learn now to appreciate what I have, after seeing the kind of poverty prevalent around Jakarta and Jogjakarta. However, these provinces have their charms (Jogja is a special province of Indonesia) and the food was good. I managed to visit the various tourist traps (cottage industry crafts) and got myself a really nice set of kebaya, complete with a painstakingly painted silk scarf), a set of Rama and Sita wayang golek dolls and some silverware. Poverty make many of the craftmans and traders occasional mendacious merchants(though not done in a way that actually hurt the victim other than being a few dollars/ringgits poorer). It is easy for us to dismiss these as pure greed when taken out of context. While others grow portlier by ripping people off million of US dollars, these small-time "crooks" only do so to ensure their survival for another day in a society that is cold and cruel to them. While I do not endorse any form of dishonesty, it is better to recognise the root of the problem than to ignore it as just another irritant.
Jakarta has a thriving arts community that publishes books and high to middle brow journals. While they might not be doing anything particularly cutting edge, they are trying to move themselves forward by emulating as much as they could from the far richer West. It is hope that they would do a good and thorough soul-searching to ensure that they are not merely imitating without resolving to develop their own, original brand of products.
First day at work today. Attended a seminar organised in my absence "Religion's Challenge to Secularism in the Contemporary Age". What do you make of this headline? Ng Kam Weng, Khalid Jaafar, Christopher Merrill and Rustom Barucha were the panellists.
Really sleepy today...
Jakarta has a thriving arts community that publishes books and high to middle brow journals. While they might not be doing anything particularly cutting edge, they are trying to move themselves forward by emulating as much as they could from the far richer West. It is hope that they would do a good and thorough soul-searching to ensure that they are not merely imitating without resolving to develop their own, original brand of products.
First day at work today. Attended a seminar organised in my absence "Religion's Challenge to Secularism in the Contemporary Age". What do you make of this headline? Ng Kam Weng, Khalid Jaafar, Christopher Merrill and Rustom Barucha were the panellists.
Really sleepy today...
Monday, May 10, 2004
Blogging from Jakarta
This is my third day in Jakarta. So far, so good. On the first day, 8th May, I spent most of the day sleeping, having not slept much the day before coming over. The flight was uneventful, and being used to longer flights, I didn't realise when we arrived. The airport is small but cozy looking, and as there were not too many travellers, we managed to get past the immigration in a relatively short time. Within minutes of arriving, I began to feel the humidity in the air striking me full force, and this despite having come from Kuala Lumpur. On the night of the first day, we spent our time eating and exploring the nightlife within Jakarta. On our way back, we passed a pathway that is a popular hangoug for the transvetite prostitutes in Jakarta. One of them actually got in front of our vehicle and attempted to bargain for some sort of work with the driver. Another one was showing off her wares, and she is pre-oped so one can imagine what could be seen. After facing some abuse for our reticence, we managed to drive away. This night, we watched some bits of the documentary "Women Film Desire". And then fell asleep.
Second Day
In the afternoon, we visited the National Museum of Jakarta in Batavia. It has a nice collection of artifacts from the various parts of the Indonesian islands, as well as bilingual write-ups in Bahasa Indonesia and English. There is a model mimbar (where the Bilal calling for prayers in Mosques would stand), a model temple and a model Dutch kerk. There were also beautiful antiques designed mostly in Batavia, made of hardwood. Unfortunately, the museum is not in as great a state it could have been, due to funding problems. For lunch, we went to a a rather high-end cafe with mosstly foreign clientele. However, the food was really good and I had a Flemish tarte with bacon for the first time in my life. THe Batavia punch that I had was actually pineapple punch and was rather refreshing after a very hot day. After lunch, we took a long bus ride to a big bookshop in Jalan Sunda. They have a wide selection of books, though more overpriced than in Malaysia due to the low turnover rate. However, they have some rather interesting selections, especially of Indonesian writers. I bought 3 books (including on on Islam) and the Poets&Writers Magazine which is published in the US but not available in Malaysian bookstores. After that, we went to another branch of the same bookshop in Pondok Indah to catch the rather interesting film on Frida Kahlo, the Mexican woman painter who became famous for her poignant and soul-ripping self-portraits. After that, we had a quick dinner at a small foodcourt in an adjacent mall and went home. After showering, I spend most of my time checking my email as well as reading up a bit more on Kahlo. Before going to bed, I watched the very 1984 type movie "Equilibrium"
For today, we haven't really done too much beyond lazing about at home. Will say more later.
Anyway, staying with a friend now so it is definitely a rather homely atmosphere. Good food and good company. Getting Indonesian home-cooked food everyday. (:
I think I should read my Sylvia Plath today. Haven't made much headway with it.
Second Day
In the afternoon, we visited the National Museum of Jakarta in Batavia. It has a nice collection of artifacts from the various parts of the Indonesian islands, as well as bilingual write-ups in Bahasa Indonesia and English. There is a model mimbar (where the Bilal calling for prayers in Mosques would stand), a model temple and a model Dutch kerk. There were also beautiful antiques designed mostly in Batavia, made of hardwood. Unfortunately, the museum is not in as great a state it could have been, due to funding problems. For lunch, we went to a a rather high-end cafe with mosstly foreign clientele. However, the food was really good and I had a Flemish tarte with bacon for the first time in my life. THe Batavia punch that I had was actually pineapple punch and was rather refreshing after a very hot day. After lunch, we took a long bus ride to a big bookshop in Jalan Sunda. They have a wide selection of books, though more overpriced than in Malaysia due to the low turnover rate. However, they have some rather interesting selections, especially of Indonesian writers. I bought 3 books (including on on Islam) and the Poets&Writers Magazine which is published in the US but not available in Malaysian bookstores. After that, we went to another branch of the same bookshop in Pondok Indah to catch the rather interesting film on Frida Kahlo, the Mexican woman painter who became famous for her poignant and soul-ripping self-portraits. After that, we had a quick dinner at a small foodcourt in an adjacent mall and went home. After showering, I spend most of my time checking my email as well as reading up a bit more on Kahlo. Before going to bed, I watched the very 1984 type movie "Equilibrium"
For today, we haven't really done too much beyond lazing about at home. Will say more later.
Anyway, staying with a friend now so it is definitely a rather homely atmosphere. Good food and good company. Getting Indonesian home-cooked food everyday. (:
I think I should read my Sylvia Plath today. Haven't made much headway with it.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Latest news on meself
After having disappeared since last Fri, I am back again this Fri. I was and still am in Malaysia, though I am flying off to another land tomorrow morning. Don't worry, you will still be hearing from me, the erstwhile Malaysian.
There are a few things I would like to update all my readers on
1. I went to a celtic dance performance called Dance of Desire last Sunday. It was a long trip up and down from Genting Highlands, one of the most pretentious and garish Las Vegas wannabe in Malaysia. Ok, Genting (the company, not the place itself) is the only company in Malaysia licensed to run a casino. So, now you know where the people, unsatiated by mahjongs, card games, lottery tickets and the share market, would play the Russian roulette. For the information of my international readers non used to Malay, Genting means "steep/urgent". The dance performance is alright, though I could see that the sensuous desire rousing bit would come from the costumes and sexy body movements (though very tame by any standards). Though I got a bit lost during the story-dance-narration, I enjoyed the fluid body movements and resolve to take up tap-dancing (since I doubt I can take up Irish step dancing here). There was also some jazzy modern influence, as the dancers also cakewalked, with a hint of modern ballet (less pointy toe and more contemporary movements beyond the arabesque, pirouettes and gallops). I thought cake-walking is one of the most sensuous bit, and the African American dancers were traditionally known for that.
2. I am now a published poet! Ok, not in such a big way as yet, but hey, I am trying to break into creative writing, instead of always writing measly book reviews, magazine features and interviews. Not that I didn't enjoy those. I did and it has honed my writing skills quite a lot. Not to mention the many press releases I used to have to prepare at work (a practise in nondescript stylistics, an oxymoron I know).
Ok, here is the link http://scholar.library.miami.edu/anthurium/volume_2/issue_1/lee-pointless.htm
You should read some of the other poems published. They are quite insightful and good.
3. I have spent most of my week reading and reading. I am still reading Luce Irigaray's The Sex which is not One I am reading academic papers (for my research purpose), reading online articles and various other stuff. Speaking of which, I think you should check out www.popmatters.com. Good stuff. They try to be as international as they can, though currently constrained and their outlook is still rather American. I suppose you know that I used to do book reviews for them.
I should and will update some of the other parts of the site soon. Maybe when I get back from my trip. Feeling rather lazy at the moment. Today's morning was rather busy for me, as I spent it on a focus group research. Now I need to transcribe tapes...errgh. And, I have got some books to review. Plus a short story and poem to review. And two, three or more unfinished tasks.
Have a nice weekend ya all
There are a few things I would like to update all my readers on
1. I went to a celtic dance performance called Dance of Desire last Sunday. It was a long trip up and down from Genting Highlands, one of the most pretentious and garish Las Vegas wannabe in Malaysia. Ok, Genting (the company, not the place itself) is the only company in Malaysia licensed to run a casino. So, now you know where the people, unsatiated by mahjongs, card games, lottery tickets and the share market, would play the Russian roulette. For the information of my international readers non used to Malay, Genting means "steep/urgent". The dance performance is alright, though I could see that the sensuous desire rousing bit would come from the costumes and sexy body movements (though very tame by any standards). Though I got a bit lost during the story-dance-narration, I enjoyed the fluid body movements and resolve to take up tap-dancing (since I doubt I can take up Irish step dancing here). There was also some jazzy modern influence, as the dancers also cakewalked, with a hint of modern ballet (less pointy toe and more contemporary movements beyond the arabesque, pirouettes and gallops). I thought cake-walking is one of the most sensuous bit, and the African American dancers were traditionally known for that.
2. I am now a published poet! Ok, not in such a big way as yet, but hey, I am trying to break into creative writing, instead of always writing measly book reviews, magazine features and interviews. Not that I didn't enjoy those. I did and it has honed my writing skills quite a lot. Not to mention the many press releases I used to have to prepare at work (a practise in nondescript stylistics, an oxymoron I know).
Ok, here is the link http://scholar.library.miami.edu/anthurium/volume_2/issue_1/lee-pointless.htm
You should read some of the other poems published. They are quite insightful and good.
3. I have spent most of my week reading and reading. I am still reading Luce Irigaray's The Sex which is not One I am reading academic papers (for my research purpose), reading online articles and various other stuff. Speaking of which, I think you should check out www.popmatters.com. Good stuff. They try to be as international as they can, though currently constrained and their outlook is still rather American. I suppose you know that I used to do book reviews for them.
I should and will update some of the other parts of the site soon. Maybe when I get back from my trip. Feeling rather lazy at the moment. Today's morning was rather busy for me, as I spent it on a focus group research. Now I need to transcribe tapes...errgh. And, I have got some books to review. Plus a short story and poem to review. And two, three or more unfinished tasks.
Have a nice weekend ya all
Friday, April 30, 2004
Good/Bad week
It has been a long week. Feeling physically tired and am glad for the coming longggggggg weekend.
I will be going to Malaysia's version of Las Vegas, Genting Highlands, (yes this is a highland as opposed to a desert) for a celtic dance performance this coming Sunday. As I grudgingly make my way there, I hope the show is good. Perhaps I will write a review of it here, if someone pays me :D
Anyway, Tues was a meeting with some NGOS talking about politicking within NGO bodies. The topic of discussion, based on Petras's paper, is about NGOS in service of imperialism. It is interesting to see the many reactions that paper elucidated. I hope that they would have another session to discuss the problems and strategies to overcome so that it would not turn into another mud-slinging match like that of the politicians. What can I say. As long as there are humans, politics will never die. Even the animals have their own version of politics.
Wed, went for a haircut (just trimmed my hair a little) and then for dinner and a gig of an Australian band that was having a preview concert. The performance was good, but the sound system was horrible. Not properly tuned and adjusted, I'll say. They are performing again today and the person is called Shane Simmon. Anyone has heard of him?
Thurs. Bloody flash flood everywhere. Took me 1 hour 15 minutes to get to a place that would usually take me 15 minutes. But, had a good meeting with some people. In the course of some discussion and conversation with some people, I realised that while we may accuse the right wing conservatives of many faults, they do have their own axe to grind bout various issues that I am sure even the left-wing people could empathise with. Don't we all want financial security...whatever our beliefs may be. Perhaps practises do not always go hand in hand with theory. It is easy for us to theorise about people's miseries, unfair laws and stuff like that. But when it comes to the crux, do we really believe in helping the weak, especially if it means taking our own hard earn cash from our own pockets. I am not talking about homes, refuges or charity. I am talking about implementing a very good Social Security System. As well as good health care (which could mean higher taxes). While in Malaysia, we say that we do not mind paying higher taxes if the government is more accountable, is this really true? How much is altruism and how much is self-centredness?
Ok, that's all I gotta say, for now at least. Looking forward to my coming hols. Will still need to work but at least in my own time.
I will be going to Malaysia's version of Las Vegas, Genting Highlands, (yes this is a highland as opposed to a desert) for a celtic dance performance this coming Sunday. As I grudgingly make my way there, I hope the show is good. Perhaps I will write a review of it here, if someone pays me :D
Anyway, Tues was a meeting with some NGOS talking about politicking within NGO bodies. The topic of discussion, based on Petras's paper, is about NGOS in service of imperialism. It is interesting to see the many reactions that paper elucidated. I hope that they would have another session to discuss the problems and strategies to overcome so that it would not turn into another mud-slinging match like that of the politicians. What can I say. As long as there are humans, politics will never die. Even the animals have their own version of politics.
Wed, went for a haircut (just trimmed my hair a little) and then for dinner and a gig of an Australian band that was having a preview concert. The performance was good, but the sound system was horrible. Not properly tuned and adjusted, I'll say. They are performing again today and the person is called Shane Simmon. Anyone has heard of him?
Thurs. Bloody flash flood everywhere. Took me 1 hour 15 minutes to get to a place that would usually take me 15 minutes. But, had a good meeting with some people. In the course of some discussion and conversation with some people, I realised that while we may accuse the right wing conservatives of many faults, they do have their own axe to grind bout various issues that I am sure even the left-wing people could empathise with. Don't we all want financial security...whatever our beliefs may be. Perhaps practises do not always go hand in hand with theory. It is easy for us to theorise about people's miseries, unfair laws and stuff like that. But when it comes to the crux, do we really believe in helping the weak, especially if it means taking our own hard earn cash from our own pockets. I am not talking about homes, refuges or charity. I am talking about implementing a very good Social Security System. As well as good health care (which could mean higher taxes). While in Malaysia, we say that we do not mind paying higher taxes if the government is more accountable, is this really true? How much is altruism and how much is self-centredness?
Ok, that's all I gotta say, for now at least. Looking forward to my coming hols. Will still need to work but at least in my own time.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Literary (poetic?) Scam
This internet has work wonders and work evils. Scams have moved away from pure money making businesses to those preying on one's pride and vanity, or delusions, whichever way you would have it. Here are some scams that I have come my way, and I have actually tried them out and lo and behold, they are scams. Anyway I have since submitted my poetic aspirations elsewhere and have ignored their cajoling mailers. Yes, I was told that I won some medals (Can't remember what by now) though of course I have to PAY them money to publish or get prizes. I don't recall award winners of legitimate prizes ever paying to win . If I had been that vain and stupid, I might have fallen for it. What rot.
However, despite me not having paid a cent, they still retained the poem I submitted, hmmmm......they must have need to justify themselves.
5.1 million poets. I feel so.....pedestrian. Just type in the search Lee Clarissa
Check this out
International Society of Poets- this of course has morphed into various other names and denominations. I am sure some of your poetic aspirants are aware or www.poetry.com? Well, this is a scam.
Here are a few evidences
http://www.lincolntrudeau.homestead.com/poemconv.html
http://www.complaints.com/january2002/complaintoftheday.january9.12.htm
http://w3.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search%21&q5=Poetry.com+-+International+Society+Of+Poets&submit=Search
http://www.toad.net/~andrews/scam.html
and finally, an advice to you would-be-writers.
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/contests.html
Many of the poems in there aren't exactly poets. They write well yes (in terms of putting words to paper), but most of the verses are forgettable (which means like 99%) and does not transcend. Some would had been better as song lyrics. Most of my early verses are forgettable and not worth publishing except in my vanity pages (FOC). I have writen a doggerel which I don't see as a poem but as a skeleton for future works.
Aren't we suckers for 2 minutes of fame?
Next week: Scams aiming at models and actors wannabe
Really, someone should write a book on the culture of cyber-scamming (or has someone already done so?)
However, despite me not having paid a cent, they still retained the poem I submitted, hmmmm......they must have need to justify themselves.
5.1 million poets. I feel so.....pedestrian. Just type in the search Lee Clarissa
Check this out
International Society of Poets- this of course has morphed into various other names and denominations. I am sure some of your poetic aspirants are aware or www.poetry.com? Well, this is a scam.
Here are a few evidences
http://www.lincolntrudeau.homestead.com/poemconv.html
http://www.complaints.com/january2002/complaintoftheday.january9.12.htm
http://w3.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search%21&q5=Poetry.com+-+International+Society+Of+Poets&submit=Search
http://www.toad.net/~andrews/scam.html
and finally, an advice to you would-be-writers.
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/contests.html
Many of the poems in there aren't exactly poets. They write well yes (in terms of putting words to paper), but most of the verses are forgettable (which means like 99%) and does not transcend. Some would had been better as song lyrics. Most of my early verses are forgettable and not worth publishing except in my vanity pages (FOC). I have writen a doggerel which I don't see as a poem but as a skeleton for future works.
Aren't we suckers for 2 minutes of fame?
Next week: Scams aiming at models and actors wannabe
Really, someone should write a book on the culture of cyber-scamming (or has someone already done so?)
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
New links
Do check out my little shrine to the 10th Anniversary of Rwanda Genocide Memorial under News and Updates. On a more boastful side, I have actually been added to someone's list of weekly diversions. Be great if the people who find my site through that site would visit some of the other parts of Archive Of Learning, which seeks to morph and develop with its visitors and its author.
Btw, i have updated the Links and Consciousness pages.
I have removed a dead link and added a new link to something I found on MIT's site as well as a link to a scientist whose first novel on consciousness I am reading now. This is rather exciting in view of the research that I am conducting now, which I hope could link me to the idea of cognition and consciousness further down the road, though it is now marketed as "media research" for now. More on these as I read through and write up my preliminary report.
Btw, i have updated the Links and Consciousness pages.
I have removed a dead link and added a new link to something I found on MIT's site as well as a link to a scientist whose first novel on consciousness I am reading now. This is rather exciting in view of the research that I am conducting now, which I hope could link me to the idea of cognition and consciousness further down the road, though it is now marketed as "media research" for now. More on these as I read through and write up my preliminary report.
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