Razak Baginda, in the mire and tired of it.

I have been silent long enough and been good but allow me this moment of standing up verbally. I think we Malaysians are selective on who is innocent. Have you heard of Razak Baginda? He is my father. He has faced a trial. Correction, he is facing a trial. People call it a farce. Then I put it to you that his year in prison is also a farce. This counts for nothing apparently. No one realises this, we conveniently ignore this fact. I mean, who thinks prison is glamarous anyway? Me talking to my father through a glass is not so glamarous either. I am personally disappointed, not to mention angry at this selectiveness. I think we should be honest with ourselves. An innocent man can come in many forms. Be surprised that Razak Baginda is innocent.

Because he is.

Wake up.

Heath Ledger, ladies and gents

You can imagine my dismay at the news today. I did not expect this one at all. Poor guy.

A real lost to the fim industry. Not only a respectable and talented actor, but a brave one too. I'm going to miss seeing him on the silver screen, although I don't think his films will be as mortal. He's the new James Dean, the forever young soul. The senstive, quiet but extremely gifted actor. (Hey he made me cry during that last scene of Brokeback Mountain). I was really quite shocked and I hope that his family are allowed, to mourn what must be a devastating loss, in peace. Reach for the stars, Heath.

Bearers of the cross & the crescent: Travels to the Levant

Just taking a break from essays to write a little about how I feel about the Crusades. You know that whole Kingdom of Heaven thing. I've been submerged in it for the last week and I get how this can get so addictive! I just want to go to the Levant (Palestine & Syria) in my shorts, boots, linen short and climb rocks. And imagine what it was like to be a knight on his steed or a soldier of the crescent at his watchtower.

History heaven.

Say Milk, Not Cheese.

Leibovitz inspires me. The world will keep turning as long as there's art.

She is touching and her pictures are moving. I guess art goes beyond paint and canvas and photographs speak to us in a familiar language. We're all fluent in it. Her pictures are warm and for a moment, I feel as if I'm living in those moments. Like an archaeologist and a historian. I think her new book's wonderful too (thanks, Mum&Father!). I like getting lost in the frames.

To as long as she keeps taking pictures! I think it'd be lovely to be as fresh as a Leibovitz.

Bienvenue, 2008.

Today, it dawns with a new beginning, a not-so-false sense of hope and renewal. Besides my sorethroat, which has resulted in a very sexy voice (dare I say, sexier than before?). Needless to say, I shall be making more phonecalls and will be unnecessarily talking too much.

I'm not going to review 2007 - it would take several blogs and far too much typing. Just to get from January to June. After all, another year gone is nothing new. So instead (and because I don't really do New Year Resolutions, but it's perfectly alright if you do) I'm going to wish everyone around the world a very happy new year (2008) and may it be special for everyone, in every possible way. I think we all deserve it. Bless. Happy New Year? Let's make it so.

Oh and to Family and Trish, thanks for welcoming 2008 with me (even if we may have been a few minutes off - bad Josephine clock - although one never is quite off...).

I am no activist, but I am human enough

In a world that is contantly reminded of violence and war, we are forced to remember yet again. Benazir Bhutto has just been killed by an assassin's bullet. We live in turbulent times and for one who has seen such tenacity and tragedy with such bravado, as she has in her lifetime, I salute her. Nay, I bow from the waist down to her memory and the hope of a better future. Sincere condolences to her family, especially her children.

We're going to be waking up to a lot of uncertainty tomorrow. But I believe hope should and must prevail.

Ladies and gentlemen, Benazir Bhutto!

4 words, A Book-Film, Not Anna and the King

Hey there! Thank you for a great evening - to everyone. It was lovely in its simplicty and its excellent company. Here are some of you, trying to be Carrot Top with a very big... carrot.

















Again, thank you. Have a very merry christmas, everybody! And a big merry christmas to you Trish!

And about 2008? Let's hope it's a good one, as Lennon would say.

St George and the Dragon, revised.

Here we are at this year's anime/manga exhibition. Fairuz and I took the train there and I rather enjoyed myself, truly did!

And this is me playing the defeated dragon to Maz's fearless St. George. Mercy, Maz, Mercy!

Fostering and Hopping over the Lambs who may or may not be Silent

For the first time in my life, I watched Silence of the Lambs with my ever patient friend Trish. She knows as much as I do that the reason behind me watching the film was not concentrated on the thrilling storyline. Yes, it was for Antony Hopkins. He is such a talented actor and his general demeanour was parfait for the mad Dr. Lecter. Otherwise, I enjoyed his portrayal of the repressed butler in Remains of the Day. Anyway, back to Silence of the Lambs, I thought the poodle amazing and Ted Levine a brilliant actor. No one could portray the Drag Queen trapped inside a Hilly Billy role as best as him. Scott Glenn reminded me of a surgeon but still managed to capture the role of FBI Agent with extreme accuracy. Oh yeah and Ms. Foster was pretty good too.