Categories
Personal Politics & government

[69] Of Mahathir’s announcement and Top of the Park

Malaysia … Don’t say it isn’t you … because you know, I do love you too! I am waiting for an answer..
– Cupcake, www.swirve.com

The World Cup is nearing its end with Brazil almost for certain will win this fight yet again. It’s a pity that the South Korean team failed to beat off Germany for if they did, being an Asia is cooler than I thought it would be.

People at Ann Arbor were excited and somebody even drew a huge South Korea flag at the Diag.

Well, the Asian teams lost but in the end, Asia managed to prove to the world that they’re worth more than being just a cheap labor market.

Another interesting development in Asia was a retirement announcement by Asia’s longest serving Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. What surprised me more was how that event received tons of attention by the Americans’ media. The Washington Post wrote an article about it. A few other major newspapers even printed the news at the front page! Imagine that. Malaysia has truly caught the eyes of the world. Or maybe it’s just Mahathir.

Nevertheless, Mahathir was irresponsible. Announcing his retirement at such an abrupt time will do nothing but hurt the country’s recovering economy. Mahathir shouldn’t have done that, whether he orchestrated it or not.

Seeing through my blurry eyes, I would say that Mahathir cannot leave the throne yet. He has no worthy successor. However, I’m not saying that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is not a good leader but Malaysia needs a leader with visions; a leader better than Mahathir, or at least on par. Before the economy crisis, Anwar Ibrahim promised Malaysia something but his fall was unfortunate. From that day on, Malaysia has only Mahathir to steer her helm.

Well, whatever it is, right now, Ann Arbor is as hot as hell. (Despite my words, no, I haven’t been to hell. Oh c’mon, it’s just an expression.) I can’t believe Michigan’s weather. Last month, it was cold regardless we called the season spring and then suddenly, the Sun is baking the Earth.

Yet, summer is fun. At the Fletcher Structure, Top of the Park Summer Fest is going on at full stream. Staying near AA’s cultural sites, I visited the Fair with a few friends, namely David, JJ and Batcha. Ronnie was there too but he seems to be more excited of being with his other friend. Truly, the Fair was amazing.

Last Sunday, there were this famous Blues ban from Detroit performing at the Fair. They were versatile; playing trombone, saxophone, you name it for 3 straight hours without even taking a breath. I had a good time. I’m going to the Fair again this week. Hell, make it everyday.

Well, spring has gone away with the wind and a few friends have gone home, back to Malaysia. I wish them safe journey.

Paeh, sorry aa. Nanti aku belikan ko sweat shirt bile aku balik nanti.

Tod, ko datang aa Michigan kalau ko nak baju tu.

Cherap, I’m so sorry because I won’t be able to send you off to the U.K.

Zeff, singgah aa US haram.

Adam, please accept my apology for not going home. I have more important thing to do. By the way, I think you would rather spend more time with that girl than me huh? :p

Apad, kenape ko tanye aku balik ke tak? Ko rindu kat aku ek? :)

Categories
Sci-fi

[68] Of I love you Tanya

He woke up and realized it was morning. The checked his alarm clock. It was still early, two more hours before the intended time he wished to wake up. He contemplated for awhile on whether he should just get up from bed or continue having his sweet dream. For minutes, he laid on his bed thinking about the bleak future, the future that promised nothing but darkness.

There is nothing more to dream, he said to himself. I want to get up and savor these last moments of mine, he said in his mind.

Wearing nothing, he felt the coldness of living in the Underground. So, he took his favorite blanket to provide the warmth that he needed.

“Cold”, he said. “I should check the internet for the latest news.”

So, he went to his desk and sat in front of his computer. A flat screen with a powerful processor, he had what a boy could only dream of.

“Computer – 2D mode.”

The computer switched on, initiating its operating system quietly. The screen flashed a red light and then suddenly the light that came out from the liquid crystal screen changed from red to something brighter. He covered his eyes, trying to help his retina to adjust accordingly to the lights.

“Welcome Sir. Today is the-”

“Zero volume please”, he interrupted Gaia.

He saw a dark wallpaper on his LCD. It was one of his favorite backgrounds for his computer desktop. His desktop was highly customized but today’s wallpaper provides an ironic meaning. He sighed and touched the Netscape Version 21.1icon near the bottom of the LCD and the Reuters’ website came alive.

The latest reports were already in. Some of the latest headlines told him that the Moslems and the Israelis had finally learned to live peacefully side by side. He smiled at himself, realizing that Human did want peace but considering the current situation, all were nothing but too late. Another headlines read “Jesus Failed to Come to Expectation”.

Another false savior killed by the Book people, he said without pronouncing anything. He turned his head to the clock. It was 0630 hours. He opened up his diary and in it, written meet Tanya.

He stood up and went to washroom to take up his ablutions.

“A few more days if the calculation is correct.”

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

“Hi there!”

“Tanya, how are you today?” he asked.

“Well, with a few more hours to go, I don’t know exactly how I feel”.

He observed her. He could see in her eyes that she was scared. He was scared too but he tried to be brave. Everybody felt the same way too, whether one was a president of the greatest block or the bagger in the smelly sewer system. “I know what you mean. Where are you heading to?”

“I’m going upstairs to watch the stars. They say that with the current development, we could see Jupiter as brighter than ever”.

Yes, somehow, the Jupiter’s inept gases are being ionized, making it to produce a bit of light. Actually, I’m interested to see it too. May I join you?”

“I will be more than glad”, Tanya replied with a smile.

She is beautiful but why am I holding this feeling. Those words were audible in his head. Nevertheless, this feeling will matter not anymore. It’s too late but yet, what do I have to lose if I express it?

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

“I still remember the days when at night, the temperature was not as hot as right now. I wish those days will be will be a reality for those who chose to live on. I really do.”

“Why didn’t you choose to go with Hope? You were given the chance but yet, you refused it. Most people would kill for a place in that ship.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I am just tired living this life. And you, what is your reason?” she asked him back with a softer tone.

“I… I have nothing more to fight for. This Earth is my home and I want to stay with her. I will never abandon her. I fight for her all my life and now, the end is almost here. I can’t abandon her after years of work. If I must fall with her, I will”.

He scoured the night sky for Jupiter. Indeed, Jupiter had become the second brightest celestial object in the night sky. “Do you still remember Orion? They say that it was the most recognizable constellations throughout Human history”.

He checked his PDA, twenty more seconds.

“Yes. Things changed after million of years. But that part of the sky was called the Orionides. Betelgeuse was there, before it went-”

“I love you Tanya”, he cut Tanya short. Tanya was shocked but then all was too late. All ceased to exist, at least in the Solar system.

Categories
Gaming

[67] Of Soldiers of Fortune 2 and The Land of the Shadows (10:44)

The __earth Inc. is having a minor renovation. If time premits, __earth Inc. will be transfered to University of Michigan’s domain. Yahoo!’s Geocities’ current policies are making it hard for The __earth Inc. to improve its coding frequently; 5 MB of data per month transfer rate is simply insufficient.

Check out the latest games in the market. Check out Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast and Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix. CS is dead.

The screenshot above is from Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix’s Multiplayer mode on redcoat.net server. Redcoat.net is one of the few cracked servers available on GameSpy Arcade. The game is a fast paced first-person shooter game using a Quake engine. Many have compared this game to Counterstrike. Nevertheless, Counterstrike will always be a legend for all first-person shooter gamers.

The regular Redcoat.net players are __earth (me), Gummy Bear, MadDiesal, Manganese, Blackanese (was kicked due to public demand), Rustyarmor (usually plays under my nick (__earth) because his workstation is f**ked up), VeeDub, Shoot Me, Einsten’s Deviant Mind, the THR clan, LW clan (daBomb’s clan), cc clan and a few others. Interestingly, I have developed a sort of friendship with them; just like what happened while when I was playing Utopia. A tribute to Mark from San Jose State University, JP who lives just across the Ambassador’s Bridge (your departure saddened us all), Mike the King from somewhere in the US, Bekko from Sweden (I think but I am certain he is from the Scandavania), Rion from Brunei (you should had changed your nick to Shadow too, maybe Shadow of Power instead of Powerpuff), a few Australians and others which I haven’t had the chance to befriend with properly.

Hail to the Shadows. We shall cast our Shadows over the world.

Members of The Land of Shadows (10:44), previously The Kingdom of Legend (45: 24)

Apocacy
Corealis Cappa
Crazy Marine
Elven Archer
Entrophy
Grendoc
I Retail
ICES HELL AGE
Land of the Hill
Minonokuni
Miwwiw Ville
PowerPuff
Shadow Bungalo
Shadow Chaser
Shadow Drainer
Shadow forest
Shadow King
Shadow of Fanatic
Shadow of Heaven
Shadow Onyx
Shadow Stalker
Shadow Void
Shadow Zone
The Honorable
Ultimate Force

Other respected members – Shadow Lord (Shadowpass, he had inspired us to become one with the Shadows), Shadow Minds (your opinion are not to be taken lightly), Shadow Cloud (sorry, we had to eliminate you. It’s nothing personal) and Shadow of Death (although we had our differences, we were the conspirators that overthrown the first King).

May our friendship last long, although its a web based friendship.

p/s – JP, thanks for helping me solved a Physics problem back in 2001.

Categories
Sci-fi

[66] Of I’m the chosen one

:: how jedi are you? ::

One day, I will rule the Earth and more…

Categories
Politics & government

[65] Of deteriorating Indian-Pakistani relationship

That’s me; drawn by Azwan. Sigh…

It seems that Human has never quenched his thirst for blood.

In the recent weeks, the relationship between India and Pakistan is deteriorating with both countries starting to test their nuclear weapons as an act of intimidation. This latest development has prompted the world to stand on its toes for a war between those two countries could be the first nuclear war in Human’s history.

The South Asia subcontinent does not need another event to destabilize the region. If war is going to be conceived as an option, it is only fair to say that the whole subcontinent will be having its own World War. This notion is not too absurd as South Asia is mainly consisted of Pakistan and India while Sri Lanka itself is having its own internal conflict from time to time. On the western horizon, Afghanistan is already in chaos.

The flashpoint of this crisis is Kashmir, a Moslem state under the Indian rule. The Kashmiri separatists want an end to Indian superiority and they are receiving aids from Pakistan. Pakistan act is understandable as India did the same when East Pakistan wanted to form Bangladesh.

Never in the world has a nuclear war is seen as a possibility except during the Cuba Crisis where the USSR was caught red-handed by the United States transporting nuclear warhead to Cuba’s shore.

Fortunately for the world community, both sides have agreed to not use their nuclear capabilities on each other. The informal agreement is a “thank God” phrase for the United Nations because a nuclear war will bring a catastrophic result to the world. Worse, the environment will be at stake. Kashmir, which is a paradise will be turned into a wasteland and the Ganges River will be polluted, no more a sacred place for the Hindus. Human should be thankful if a conventional war will be fought between those two foes. The Ganges will only be turned red instead of being polluted.

A nuclear war, once a science fiction, today’s possibility.

Nevertheless, I personally think that a war will not be fought between India and Pakistan. Their words are merely words although they do have the vertebra to back their words. They had tested their Agnis and Ghauris for years but it ended with nothing but war of words and a few exchange of bullets up in the mountainous area of Kashmir. If you don’t trust me, that’s because we are humans and humans tend to disagree with each other. The Tower of Babel was never completed due to the same reason.

Even so, let’s just hope that I am right. I believe none of us would be glad to see another Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To be more accurate, most of us would want to see New Delhi and Islamabad still standing after this crisis ends.

Read this for a related post.

Aaa… it’s raining in Ann Arbor. A refreshing spring rain…