Category: Politics & government

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Politics & government Sports

[263] Of losing to Club Brugge in Belgium

Ajax lost to Club Brugge in Belgium. It hurts to admit that Ajax didn’t qualify even for the UEFA Cup competition but nothing could be said or done now. Frustration could be seen in various Ajax forums. Even Escude couldn’t seem to cope with the fact that Ajax finished at the bottom below Celta and Club Brugge. Yet, among all the gloomy posts in the forum, one post by Vak425 says:

You are letting your heart rule your head on this one Jakobg – a team that loses 4 out of the 6 games plus doesnt manage a point in the last 3 games doesnt deserve to go through to the next round. Also remember the trouble we had getting past a small Austrian side in the preliminary round.

If we are looking for result that dumped us on our backsides, look no further than that Brugge win in Milan.

What was missing out there tonight was a leader and some experience of how to deal with the situation.

This team has not been firing on all cylinders this season – cannot understand why as it has such wonderful skillfull players throughout the team.

So the Class of 2003/04 was not up to the challenge – role on 2004/05 and Hup Ajax we love you.

What’s done is done and looking at the bright side, Ajax at least could concentrate on stretching their lead over PSV, Feyenoord and a whole lot of other Dutch clubs in the Eredivisie. Sigh…

At least there’s still the Rose Bowl for the Wolverines.

p/s – The Green Party almost won the mayor post in San Francisco.

Categories
Politics & government Sports

[254] Of despite everything, OSU still sucks

Currently, I’m having a post-game blues due to over-hyping and pre-holiday laziness. So, I’m too lazy do anything even though I need to write a paper on the Kyoto Protocol.
I thought that in order for me to warm up, it’s good for me read all the whole news and wrap it up. Here goes.

Georgia – political instability. The opposition seized the Georgian Parliament and the President threatens to declare a state of emergency and let the military takes over. Thousands camp out of the Parliament’s compound and effectively helping out the almost coup de tat. Unfortunately for the President, despite the threat made, the military went out to the Parliament’s compound and guess what? The military hugged and kissed the campers. LOL!

Lithuania – rally against the President as corruption allegation gains momentum. The President is screwed.

Croatia – elections. The opposition is currently strong enough to wrestle the governmental seat from the incumbent.

Iraq – The US military is taking on the offensive for the first time in months after dozens of US personals were lost to guerilla (not terrorism. I shall not cave in to newspeak) attack. The latest news, three more US troops were killed – two of them got their throat silted.

Afghanistan – more attacks and Al-Qaeda is encouraging more attack. Not really a development.

Turkey – post-bombing trauma.

Saudi Arabia – post-bombing trauma though the magnitude has reduced.

US – another Enron styled case is developing up. Watch out for Freddie Mac though not as serious. The NYSE might suffer another dip before the Thanksgiving break.

EU – textile trade war with the US officially starts.

China – textile trade war with the US starts as the US imposed tariff earlier this week on Chinese textile export to the US. Talk about the hypocrisy of free market. China and EU will probably team up and bash the US.

Japan – threatens to impose steel tariff on the US if the US refuses to remove the tariff imposed on Japanese steel. Another trade war.

Asia Pacific – the stock exchange in various prominent Asian Pacific nations took dip as the NYSE went down three percent.

Malaysia – NSTP’s chief editor, the prominent Abdullah Ahmad was sacked by the government despite NSTP being a private press. He was sacked due to his criticism of Saudi Arabia. The pressure most probably came from the Royal House of Saud.

Vietnam – first US warship visit to Ho Chi Minh City after the Vietman War. Its nice to see at least, some parts of the world are heading for flowers and pleasantries instead of AK-47 and M-16A.

Israel – Sharon offers more plans to dismantle Palestinians’ home.

Uganda – the local Church severs their relation with the US Episcopal due to the Crunch tolerance of gays. Gays…

and of course, Michigan – ROSE BOWL BABY. LOL!!! OHIO STILL SUCKS.

Categories
Politics & government Society

[248] Of learn to fly

hook me up a new revolution,
cuz this one is a lie,
we sat around laughin and watched the last one die

p/s – an excerpt from The Star:

PAS and Parti Keadilan Nasional Youth handed over a 19-point memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urging him, among others, to reinstate government aid to the people’s religious school and to reserve admission only for bumiputras to bumiputra institutions like the Mara junior science colleges, Mara skills institute and Giatmara centres.

I take back my words about “Keadilan oddly enough fights for some of my ideal”.

Categories
Personal Politics & government

[247] Of moving on II

Life goes on. Everything seems to be as usual, at least for me despite the loss of two friends. The weather however doesn’t help a lot. It’s gloomy outside early in the morning. And right now, Ann Arbor is very foggy and visibility is estimated merely 100 meters. I could barely make out State St. from C-House.
I shouldn’t be affected by this tragedy but somehow, it’s depressing to acknowledge the fact that you’ve lost two persons that you know.

The Michigan students on the other hand are gearing up for the upcoming election. And it’s too early for me to make up my mind on which should receive my vote. The criteria meanwhile is set.

p/s – PAS has finally unveiled its plan for the establishment of an Islamic Federation of Malaysia after more than five years of saying it will do so. Strategically, PAS can say goodbye to the upcoming Malaysia’s general election though quite possibly they will retain Kelantan and Terengganu, at a reduced majority.

Categories
Kitchen sink Politics & government

[243] Of strive for ideals is the purpose of life

All of us need to have an ideal. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it is something because ideal is an objective for our life. Life is like a mission and a mission needs an objective. Without it, a mission is useless and so does life.

Irespect a person with ideal. I see an idealist as someone that believes in something rather than wandering pointlessly while doing nothing other than life’s mediocre chores. A person without an ideal is a person without a goal.

An ideal is something that pushes us towards a particular direction. May it for better or for worse, sooner or later and even if we fail to reach the goal, deep in our soul, we could, later in life rest comfortably knowing that at least we did something. Again, for those without one, I can only wonder what do they really care other than the typical and trivial matter of life.

To believe in an ideal is to try to bring the ideal to life. It is true that believing and practicing are two totally different stories but yet, we need to try as hard as we could to practice it. In practicing it, in few times, we will need to go against our ideal. This is acceptable because sometimes, an ideal is simply an ideal; parts of the ideal are impractical. This is one of the dilemmas the Greens are facing. The Greens prefer a world without pollution. In spite of this, they realize the fact that development cannot be stopped. In order to solve the dilemma, they made a compromise with their own ideal and took a middle path – sustainable growth.

An idealist should be broad-minded and willing to listen to others. The worst kind of idealist is a fanatic and this breed is no better than an idealess person. This species of extremists pulls the curtain and close their window to the world outside, refusing to see what others have in store. At the same time, they force the world to bow to their will. It is hopeless when someone tries to influence other while he or she is bigoted to a view. Worse than an idealess, a bigot is a selfish closed-minded rodent.

Stooping as low as a bigot, a rebel without a cause is another miserable being. There is nothing bad about being a rebel but in being one, ideal must closely follows behind. Without it, a rebel is simply a worthless but dangerous anarchist. This is the main reason why I hated the so-called reformasi movement back in Malaysia. Their goal was simply to free Anwar Ibrahim and no more; their reformation fell short of that, lacking substance and all. At the same time, many reformasi supporters called for a change but never giving out an alternative to the current system. For this, they deserve no attention.

Fortunately for the movement, somebody with a sane mind gave life to it and subsequently, after a period of maturity, the post-reformasi movement has changed their goal from merely freeing the former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister to creating a freer society. If it were not for the idealist, the reformasi movement would surely be dead by now.

p/s – It’s sad to see even Saudi Arabia can no longer be considered safe. A few hours ago, Riyadh suffered a second bombing in less than twelve months. I just wish somebody would nuke the whole Mideast. Half of the world problem would then be solved easily.