Do you know?
Most likely an honest typo and it deserves a blind eye. There’s really no reason to announce to the world that BBC committed a typo. Hell, if I had aspired to become a grammar police, I’d have to give myself a good spanking.Yet, when I first saw the mistake on TV yesterday, I actually ran to my room, rummaged my desk for my cam, ran back to the TV and took a snapshot.
Another proud moment brought to you by the __earthinc.
p/s – it’s time to sulk at a corner.
Should Turkey be allowed to join the European Union?
Tony Blair believes Turkey EU’s answer for the future. Austria and a few others on the other hand don’t quite relish the prospect of Turkey as Euroland’s 26th member. I wish Turkey the best but halfway around the world, how would ASEAN member states react to East Timor as the grouping’s 11th member?
Currently, ASEAN has ten members with Papua New Guinea as an observer. In 2002, East Timor expressed its intention of gaining an observer status in ASEAN. The country proves its seriousness by informing ASEAN of its willingness to sign a non-aggression pact with the grouping.
In my opinion, the country’s greatest obstacle of gaining membership is Indonesia. Indonesia is like father of the bride. If the father hates you, you’re practically screwed. Maybe not father. Maybe just the older brother.
Reason is, the more influential ASEAN members – namely Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines – have traditionally stood by the Indonesian side whenever East Timor hit the headlines in the recent past. Though Indonesian atrocity was deplorable, the four nations had to refrain themselves from criticizing Indonesia in the name of solidarity.
Fortunately for East Timor, Indonesia doesn’t seem to hold any grunge against the tiny state despite the two countries’ turbulent past. Indonesia had previously annexed East Timor in 1975. East Timor later gained independence in 2002 via an United Nations-administered referendum in 1999. With Indonesia out of the way, East Timor can rest assured that the four members and the rest of ASEAN will not object save, maybe, Myanmar.
Myanmar currently disapproves the notion of East Timor as an observer – much less a membership – due to East Timor’s support for Aung San Suu Kyi. I do think however that if East Timor could somewhat water down its explicit support of Aung San Suu Kyi, then Myanmar might retract its objection.
Regardless, East Timor has a lot of catching up to do. With respect to that, I believe ASEAN has unique role to play in East Timor’s effort to build up itself. Yet, ASEAN has done little to aid East Timor. Instead, Australia is East Timor’s most active partner. ASEAN must play a greater role in East Timor if the 10-member group wishes to see a stronger ASEAN.
p/s – I saw this on BBC’s ticker last night. I thought it’s old news but heh, all hail to the greatest theocracy the world has ever known. LOL!
pp/s – cold feet?
Minnesota last defeated the Wolverines in 1986.
“You look at that whole series and it’s kind of lopsided,” Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. “If I had it my way, I wouldn’t play them anymore. Michigan has those types of series with a lot of teams.”
Let’s hope Michigan won’t do anything too interesting. Minnesota in the past few years is that kind of team which you think they gonna lose but somehow, due to final minutes miracles, we are the winner instead.
I hope Michigan will stop that trend and win outright. The best thing is, Michigan has the psychological advantage to do that.
Well, may the best team win. (BTW, the Little Brown Jug is ours).
Earlier today, according to AFP, at least 11 embassies in Malaysia received suspicious packages.
The packages — which also contained compact discs and an unidentified liquid — were aimed at taking advantage of the security situation after the bomb attacks on the Indonesian island of Bali, police said.
Five missions — the United States, Russia, Britain, France and Australia — received packages on Wednesday bringing the number of missions hit by the scare to at least 11, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mustafa Abdullah told AFP.
“You have been infected with a biochemical weapon. Curse you for what you have done to the Muslim ummah,” the note in each letter said, according to the police chief.
The Star of Malaysia has a local version of it.
Usually during April Fool’s Day, some of my overzealous colleagues would remind me that April Fool’s is a western, more precisely Christian’s invention and the act of celebrating it could be considered as a sin. Well, it seems that our overzealous friends have found how to celebrate April Fool’s without collecting sins!
Wait, yesterday was not Ramadan. It was in fact Sha’aban. Maybe, it should be known as Sha’aban Fool’s Day.
Whatever.
I’m mildly unhappy at the moment. So I thought, a picture would probably lighten me up.
This is part of Singapore City’s waterfront at night. I’m delighted to see finally see it with my own eyes. However, I was surprised to find out that this section of the city is so far inland. What was more surprising is the extent of Singapore’s land reclamation projects. No wonder the Malaysian government was nervous when Singapore started to reclaim land near the Malaysian Johor – Singaporean line. If it had continued unchecked, there would probably be nothing selat about Tebrau Straits anymore.
This is an edited version since the original was too dark to be appreciated. This one is the original.
I added some contrast and a little bit of adaptive light. Not sure how adaptive light works but it sure makes the picture presentable. To me, presenting an edited photo is almost surmountable to cheating. Alas, most of my Singapore photos suck badly; I have no choice. I have to commit a sin!
Talking about sin, let’s see if this Ramadan witnesses a decrease in terrorism perpetrated by Muslims. I skeptical though. I’ve always held that Ramadan is the month with the most hypocrites around.
p/s – ah, no wonder there is still no update on PPS. It’s down. Looks like DoS attack.
The match will start in a few minutes. I expect drama.
I also watched Arsenal – Birmingham match earlier and I must say, I am disappointed with the result; Arsenal won 1 – 0 and it was due to an unfortunate own goal. Birmingham deserved a point based on Taylor’s performance and the fact that they were down to ten men but still managed to keep Arsenal struggled.
God curses van Persie, Arsenal and Feyenoord.
Anyway, yeah, opera in Anfield!
p/s – halftime! 2 – 1 in Chelsea’s favor. Didier Drogba’s assist that led the Damien Duff’s goal is so cool that it’s hot.
pp/s – full time. 4 – 1. Liverpool players are going to get an earful of Benitez. And hands down. Didier Drogba is my man of the match. The first three goals were made possible by him. Also, Chelsea is fast becoming Rangers of England – they are dominating the English Premier League. Full point from eight matches while the nearest competitor, Charlton nine points behind with a game in hand.
ppp/s – should have mentioned this earlier but better late than never.
Imagine there’s no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace…– John Lennon (1940 – 1980)
Dedicated to people of Bali and everyone else that was there when it happened.