Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Facebook status.

Actually, if I copy all my Facebook statuses in one day, I could already make one sufficiently long post for this blog, right? Haha.

I have ideas. I have tons of ideas. But they were simply "ideas". Not "grand ideas" that deserve much urgent need for me to ignore my assignments and write a long essay about the nature of society or those similarly boring topics. I know myself. I am just a mediocre university student studying TESOL. Not some kind of law or philosophy student.I'm friends with engineering and medic students , but can never become one of them. But hey, I don't feel inferior or anything. This is my destiny.

Anyways..........

My Facebook statuses are actually responses to things that I see, hear or what I read from the online news or discussion websites. Most of them are direct responses. I read them, then I simply write a response about it on Facebook. I know some people complain that I write too many statuses per day. Sorry. Do hide my status if you want. I can't help it. I know some people hate politics, but I think I need to share the news about politics of our country or the country I'm living in. I truly live to the idea of "sharing is caring"- only my sharing is mere links to websites. Oh, and whenever you see me putting links to songs or drama series that I like, they are purely for personal enjoyment. Oi, I'm still a 21-year-old lad , of all things.

This is the last academic week of this semester. Tests and assignments due! Haish. All the best to people who have tests and all. You know who you guys are. And you especially, I may not love you, but I deeply care for you. Stay strong for me, because I need you more than you need me, and it's the truth. 

I end my blog post today with a saying by a famous philosopher, Rousseau, and what he said actually mock all that I argue up above. Hey, forgive me for being critical of myself. Said Rosseau: 

Généralement, les gens qui savant peu parlent beaucoup, et les gens qui savant beaucoup parlent peu.
Generally speaking, the people who know little speak a lot and the people who know a lot speak little.



Good night, everyone.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Glee. Gaga. Google.

Roughly 3 more days before the season 2 finale of Glee. Big Bang Theory season finale is last week, so did How I Met Your Mother season 6. Thank the universe Doctor Who is still here.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Do What Your Heart Sings.

I.
Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

II.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember'd not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho!

As You Like It , Act II Scene VII

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

I was glad.




THE Procession of the Bride

I was glad when they said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord.
Our feet shall stand in thy gates: O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is builded as a city: that is at unity in itself.
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls: and plenteousness within thy palaces.

Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
Psalm 122: 1–3, 6–7

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Obsession.

I have this crazy obsession over being in the middle.

Some people do eventually realise that I'm not really as secular or as Islamic as I was thought to be or should be.

Yup, I have this grand obsession to bringing people alternative views on things that matter, things that happened, things that should be. When I am circled with friends who are religious, Islamic or politically conservative, I am the opposing force : I am the voice of liberalism, a campaigner of lesser grip by religion on governance, or an advocate for multiracial, multifaith society, When I am around very liberal people, I am the voice of tradition: I speak of the importance of Islamic tradition, the need for political ideology that incorporates Islamic ethos and freedom of expression hand by hand, and the need to respect the faith of the society, however ridiculous and outdated I think it is.

I don't know when I started having this kind of obsession, I suspect I might be really influenced by Ikem's lecture in the novel Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe,  but really, it starts to get wearisome.

Sure, I do have some topics that I am already decided on my stand is- but most of the time, I can't help myself telling some people that "Hey, stop a second. You see, how about we see it this way? How will that affect the legitimacy of your argument? Hey, that might be necessarily be the case . It might be explained this way , right? Hey, that's a brilliant argument, but how about we fill the loophole of your argument by an opinion that is truly paradoxical to yours? "

It's never about convincing people that you are right. For all I know, I might be wrong most of the time. I just want to spread the idea that things are not as easy-cut as some people think they are, or some things need to be analysed more critically.

But it starts to get boring,especially when I couldn't people who want to challenge me. I love to be proven wrong. But these days it is so easy for me to just agree to people- apparently I too am slowly being comfortable with my own stand. Urm, in a way it's a good idea. One could be a non-comformist for so long.

But I really love people who brings new ideas. New inspirations. New themes that speaks of harmony and flexibility and respect and acceptance and galore in the life that is short yet so awesome it ends in grandeur. Not debates. Most of the debates I watched are merely battle of wits and words, mostly emotions. I don't want that. I want ideas, I want perceptions.

Oh my, I do have an affinity to be a teacher/lecturer, somehow.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

The Lesson

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what
is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let love be genuine; hate what
is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another
in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be
patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality
to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those
who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty,
but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for
evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on
you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12: 1, 2, 9–18

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Artsy.


Tonight : Music by Andrew Llyod Webber at the Auckland Civic Theatre. Famous show tunes from Andrew Llyod's Webber famous musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Whistle in the Wind, Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Evita.

Tomorrow: Graduation Gala Concerto Competition 2011 at the Auckland Town Hall. 3 classical music performers will test their musical abilities accompanied by Auckland University's Symphony Orchestra and intermission by Auckland Mass choir. Featuring Flute Concerto by Carl Nielsen, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Serge Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No 3 in C by Sergey Prokofiev.

Next week's Wednesday : University of Auckland Chamber Choir at Auckland University's School of Music.


This year is the year of discovering arts and culture. Last year was traveling around. Yeah I do regret not being able to save much money due to traveling a lot last year and spending for theatre and music this year, but yeah, I won't have the same opportunity for all these when I'm stuck at some kind of rural MRSM, am I?