Category: Travels

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Activism Photography Travels

[533] Of MF2

I was in San Francisco about two weeks ago. There was a conference, or sort of, about Malaysia called the Malaysia Forum, organized by Malaysia Forum at Stanford. I know, it is hard to imagine why Malaysia Forum that was held at Stanford was organized by Malaysia Forum at Stanford. There is an actual challenge to figure out the connection. But then again, the obvious link is not really quite obvious, like in psychology where everything is about sex. Well, to be fair, wherever Freud is available.

The forum was not bad. I can’t say I was disappointed nor can I say I was impressed since I didn’t set anything in my mind beforehand. However, one thing that caught my mind in first hour on first day I was at the forum was the lack of Malay. If my memory serves me well, there were only five Malays – me, Syamsul the Recom.org founder, Omar with an interesting perspective on Islam and the Malay culture, one person that I didn’t quite get the face and Bakri Musa. If you count Hishamuddin Rais, that’s six but I don’t count socialist in. I do however, count MCP in. MCP is indispensable to the society. Totally dude.

Putting socialist cum MCP aside, it’s a perplexing scenario indeed. Out of more than 80 attendees, less than 10 were Malays. It might be entirely possible that the composition actually describes the Malaysian population in the Bay Area and its environs. Then again, I came all the way from Michigan. Who knows.

Too bad, the Alliance doesn’t out-zerg the Horde on Destromath anymore.

Nevertheless, I actually enjoyed Malaysia Forum. I got to meet new people and somehow got myself into a new project. The project looks interesting but only time will tell.

Till then, goddamn, I need to find a job near the Bay Area! The Malaysian community over there is so vibrant.

Also, sambil menyelam minum air!

Transamerica Building! w00t!p/s – via Laputan Logic. Google Sightseeing.

Categories
Environment Photography Politics & government Travels

[531] Of oui versus non

The European Union is in such a mess right now. One would believe that the main pillars of the Union would strongly support the roof. Apparently, that is not so.

Right now, the French are having a referendum to ratify a new EU Constitution that would bring EU members closer. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on which side one stands, according to the April 30th issue of The Economist, 20 polls revealed that France is set to reject the European Constitution. Add in the error, result could go either way. Wikipedia as usual provides a fine explanation of the drafted Constitution.

The final result will be as close as 2000 US presidential election. Whatever the result maybe, I do hope it will be an oui.

I do think the formation of the EU and the subsequent activities to strengthen a central government takes away the autonomy each member enjoys. I prefer a decentralized system while idea of a super state scares me. Somehow however, charms free-flow of capital and labor is too great to resist. Of course, in the EU, free-flow of labor does not quite exist yet given that the newcomers are currently being barred from the Schengen zone. Still, sooner or later, it will be a reality and hence reestablishing the great free trade era prior to the 1930s.

The reason why I support a stronger European Union is that I would like to see a counterweight to Pax Americana; I admire the US as much as I admire any other great civilizations in the past. Fact is however, a unipolar world will never be safe.

Another main reason why I support the EU is because of ASEAN. If Europe one day is united under one banner, perhaps ASEAN should pursue almost the same path as the EU is taking right now.

From purely economic point of view, the use of a single currency will lead to an explosion of trade between members of a single-monetary zone. Of course, setting a uniform interest rate will be hard but unification could be done stage by stage. For instance, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand could be the first to use a single currency. These three countries have about the same rate currently and they’re neighbors. And then, if situation improved in the Philippines and Indonesia, then they could be included in the zone. And when others progressed (which is going to take a very long time), they could be invited to use a single currency.

Later, with a population size similar to Europe, perhaps ASEAN would have a bigger role to play on the world stage. And then, we all could play World of Warcraft and kill Onyxia together, including all fractions of the horde too.

p/s – My favorite city is now San Francisco. New York falls to the second rung.

Captured the city skyline from Municipal Pier. The Transamerica Pyramid is clearly visible while the Russian Hill to the left. (or right-side of the photo. I’m still confused about which side is the right/left on a picture.)And I can’t believe that I walked all the way from a Caltrain station south of San Francisco to the Marina Boulevard up in north San Francisco.

pp/s – Star Wars, I love. Go to the cinema, you must! Watch all the episodes again, I will!

ppp/s – I learnt that the UN World Environment Day will be celebrated in San Francisco from the 1st till the 5th of June.

Banners seen in the photos are almost omnipresent in San Francisco. Too bad I didn’t have the time to hang around the city longer. Else, I would certainly want to check it out.

Categories
Photography Travels

[477] Of a month ago

I still remember the strong Atlantic breeze and the smell of the ocean.

It felt so good and how I’d wish that I had not the need to leave the beach. And now, I have to put up with the snow and the cold.

I really don’t mind a bit of snow here and there but too much snow really suck.The latter photo was taken almost two days after the whole Midwest and New England had a taste of boring snowstorm. That’s why in the photo, the sky is as blue as it can be. Two days later, and up until now, the sky is gray and you can bet it’s going to be gray tomorrow, the day afer tomorrow, the next day after the day after tomorrow and hey, the next thing you know, it’s Fimbulwinter.

p/s – well, okay. The sky is clear today. But I still bet it’s going to be gray tomorrow.

Categories
Environment Photography Travels

[468] Of Florida still

I’m still not over Florida and neither should you!

Sunset, needless to say. I was on an airboat on some lake. I can’t recall the name of the lake but I do know the lake is somewhere near Orlando.

Don’t you love the hue of the red sunset. Okay, admittedly, it can’t be seen well in the photo but it was admirable nonetheless. And might I add, much more admirable than Ann Arbor’s cursed sky.

This was the opposite horizon; bluish verses redish and azurish in the middlish. What gibberish!I’ll put some of the pictures I took at Florida (and Atlanta, Georgia) in the Gallery this upcoming weekend if Amazon.com fails to deliver my World of Warcraft on timely manner. Otherwise, prepare to meet your doom Orcs!

Categories
Books, essays and others Economics Gaming Photography Travels

[465] Of the charming Keys

For those that wasted their winter break, I hope you are jealous of me.

Somewhere near Key Largo, the largest key in Florida. The photo sucks since the real thing was far better. The ocean was true, clear turquoise, the clouds were cleanly white and the sky was magnificiently blue. To experience it is to be there. No word nor picture is able to describe atmosphere.However, one t-shirt tries to say it all:

Up close and personal:

It was so much different than Ann Arbor. Here currently, it’s all gloomy.p/s – lokitorrents.com is being sued. I wonder if SuprNova.org is facing the same issue.

pp/s – I’ve ordered my first book of the year through Amazon.org – In Praise of Slowness: How A Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed. I first found it while browsing a bookstore down in Miami.

Well, it is not actually my first book since I bought a set of accounting texts earlier but I’m content to say academic stuff doesn’t count. Also, along with the book, World of Warcraft. There goes another 70 bucks.