Here are some of the pictures I've taken during and after the wedding of my god-sis. Enjoy them. Also included is the much awaited Proton SRM pictures...due somewhere in the 2nd quarter of this year. *with fingers crossed*. I've loads of pictures. Next up will be shots of the nature. Hopefully by end of next week I'll be able to get myself the digital camera that I've been eyeing for a couple of months already. Then, more pictures will be uploaded to add colour and live to this usually dull blog. 

Proton SRM_rear view 

Proton SRM 

blur...understatement..ahhaha..smile Benny 

With the bride 

Made in heaven 

Andrew & Sarah...congratulations! 

There is still light in darkness... 

Waiting for Laksa...yummy 

Thoughts about Christian bumper stickers

Top Ten Things People Won't Say When They See the Christian Bumper Sticker or More Subtle Fish Symbol On Your Car:

10. "Look! Let's stop that car and ask those folks how we can become Christians."

9. "Don't worry, Billy, those people are Christians -- they must have a good reason for driving 90 miles an hour."

8. "What a joy to be sharing the highway with another car of Spirit- filled brothers and sisters."

7. "Isn't it wonderful how God blessed that Christian couple with a brand-new BMW?"

6. "Dad, how come people who drive like that don't get thrown in jail?" "Dad, can we get a bumper sticker like that, too?"

5. "Stay clear of those folks, Martha. If they get raptured, that car's gonna be all over the road!"

4. "Oh, look! That Christian woman is getting a chance to share Jesus with a police officer."

3. "No, that's not garbage coming out of their windows, Bert -- it's probably gospel tracts for the road workers."

2. "Oh, boy, we're in trouble now! We just rear-ended one of God's cars."

1. "Quick, Alice, honk the horn or they won't know that we love Jesus!"

(By Mike Higgs)

3volutiOn

"Put a man in a cage for weeks and you'll make a monkey out of him...a monkey kpet in a cage will not turn into a man" (Dr. Tan Eng Lee)

Double Standards & Non-performing Precedent

It is not going to be easy writing about this topic of press freedom. Even writing it now could lend me in trouble of being "indefinately suspended" from blogging about my dogs acting like they are Oh-sama or some mad man saying he is some prophet or just simply rambling. The very famous and precedent setter case of Sarawak Tribune (1945 - 2006) deceased certainly started the ball rolling. I have not done any proper research into this issue but by gathering information from other blogs, newspapers and tv, I dare to comment a little.

Just recently, Guangming Daily has been suspended for two weeks for publishing a picture-in-picture of the controversial caricature. Only two weeks? Alright, it seems less harsh from the "punishment" on Sarawak Tribune but that's because of how the caricature was published. On the other hand, TV3 did not get the deserved "punishment" although they did the same thing as did Guangming Daily. Is the government practising double standards here when they are "effortlessly trying to promote equality and transparency". There is no justice in this judgement. Or! there could be a possibility that TV3 is run by different people group. A stench of racism!

If precedents has been set by Sarawak Tribune and Guangming Daily (both based on the degree of severity), then TV3 should be more urgently suspended from airing. No Malaysian will die of TV3-deficiency-disease. Now with such precedence, the local printed and electronic media will be less juicy. Perhaps focusing more on the rakyats complains and so on and so forth. No matter what, the Internet is still regarded and I would say proven to be the more reliable source of information pertaining to current events world wide as one would know the story of both sides. It is good somehow to have a restraining power to stop printed and electronic medias from reporting irresponsibly.

I'm against any thing that offends people to be posted. Therefore, I am not in favour of this particular middle easten newspaper which is going to print a caricature related to the holocaust. This will only provoke anger and disappointment that would lead to a war. It begins always with war of words. I think it is best to just forget about this issue and move on. I recognise the job of the newspapers to report events and it is the readers' curiousity that most often fuel the publication of certain offensive reports. With this, do not only blame Sarawak Tribune or any other parties. After all the caricature was published last year around October and because of a certain party that had used it to stir up a protest by Muslims worldwide against the West it has been blown out of proportion. I cannot wait to see them grow up!

Wanna Convert? Think again...

This is a document issued by the Malaysian Bishops advising the faithful about the implication of converting to Islam.
(Published on 14th August 2005 in the local Catholic newspaper)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord,
If you convert to Islam, there are important changes in your legal status and what you can and cannot do. Your conversion to Islam will be registered with the Religious Department and the National Registration Department, both of which are computerised so access to this information is available throughout the country.
Under Syariah enactments of most of the 13 States of Malaysia;
1) Conversion back to your former religion is either (a) not allowed under the law, or (b) a criminal offence which means that you may be fined, detained or imprisoned under most State Islamic laws.
2) If you are under 18 years of age, you require your parents' permission to convert to Islam.
3) Your identity card will record your conversion to Islam. Therefore, even if you are no longer practising Islam, you may be fined, whipped, detained or imprisoned for violation of Syariah laws, such as praying in Church, eating in public during fasting month, khalwat, etc.
4) You cannot marry a non-Muslim. If you decide to divorce and attempt to convert out of Islam, you will lose custody of your children because they are Muslims.
5) Upon death, your non-Muslim relatives will lose their rights to your property, money, etc, that you want to leave to them. The corpse of a convert to Islam will be taken away from his or her non-Muslim family for Islamic rites and burial even if you have not been a practising Muslim for many years.
6) In the event that your spouse converts to Islam, you may have no right to either children or your spouse's property.
We know that certain Christians who convert to Islam for whatever reasons, are not aware of or do not consider seriously the implications of such conversion. Hence, the need to inform you. By this, we are neither against Islam nor the freedom of religion, which is guaranteed for all Malaysians in Article 11 of our Constitution which gives right to an individual to choose freely his or her religion. But to choose correctly, you need to know clearly what you choose and the consequences of your choice.
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam, Bishop of Penang Bishop Paul Tan, Bishop of Malacca-Johor
**********************************
Question 1.
Article 11 of the Constitution states an individual has the right to choose freely his or her religion. How is it the spirit this article is not extended to Muslims?
Question 2.
How come man has to use man-made laws to enforce G/god's laws to punish the so-called deviants or apostates. If G/god's laws are so omnipotent then let them take their G/godly course, without human interference. Let those deviants or apostates answerable to G/god directly.
**********************************
All are welcome. Open to the public...
UNDERSTANDING THE RELIGIONS IN MALAYSIA
Organised by Fostering Inter-Religious Encounters (FIRE), St Francis Xavier Church, jointly with Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society and Buddhist Missionary Society of Malaysia An 8-Session Course, every Saturday 3.30pm-6.00pm, from 18 Feb to 8 April
2006
Full details, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InHarmony

Chopsticks

Chopsticks? Ever heard of this term? I haven't until I read an article printed on the church buletin last week. The story was about a little boy who, despite his aged and lack of experience and skill played chopsticks on a stage set for a famous pianist. He would have given up playing the piano if he had listened to the audience's shout for him to be removed from the stage. Should we bow to norms in the society?

The famous composer-painist Ignace Jan Paderewski heard the shout of the crowd and went on to the stage and encouraged the boy by playing along. Filling in the gaps where the notes were supposed to be, Ignace actually motivated the boy to continue playing. This incident does not only affect the boy at that very moment. It would have saved him from much embarrasment. The feeling of being embarrased would have left a life long effect that could not be reversed. Blushing over some events would be less damaging but not when the circumstances are unforgiving.

In the same way as Ignace had filled in for the boy when he missed some notes, God did the same but to a greater degree. Paul would not have urged us to press on for the goal set ahead if it was not for God who had changed his heart. Our toil will never be in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). I shall take this as an encouragement to continue growing and toiling in the Lord. My faith is like the sun, but sometimes there are clouds in the way. However, the rainbow that represents God's promise is always reflecting the rays of light after a storm. This is God's promise to all of us who belief. May our faith be like the sun that never fades or set. It is only the earth's movement that blinds us from viewing the sun. Our faith is also such that it is sometimes difficult for others to judge. It is not fair to judge ones faith by the outward appearance.

Speed Demon

You Should Drive a Ford Shelby Mustang Cobra

You have an extreme need for speed, even when you're not in a hurry. And while your flying by, you don't want to look like every other car on the road!

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

I'm "officially" old...

Your Scholastic Strength Is Deep Thinking

You aren't afraid to delve head first into a difficult subject, with mastery as your goal. You are talented at adapting, motivating others, managing resources, and analyzing risk. You should major in: Philosophy Music Theology Art History Foreign language

What Should You Major In?