Another writer's block, so let's do some charity!

I'm annoyed.

I haven't been writing much. Be it blog posts, songs or my usual dose of post-apocalyptic fiction(yea, apparently I have a fascination with plot lines involving distopian futures). I'm really not satisfied with my recent posts. After rereading them I realized that I could have written something much better. Honestly though, they were written in a rush; I was more interested with publishing them rather than writing them "properly". Maybe I should have just left them alone to bake in the drafts section, until I'm able to do them justice.

So till I get back my mojo, I'd like to inform you guys about Ilham(ironic, since it's something I could really use right about now...for those who don't speak Malay, ilham means inspiration). Ilham is a non profit organization founded by a bunch of my old Taylors college mates. Every month they would dedicate themselves to one charitable activity(convenient for those who can't find time to help around on a weekly basis). This month they are collaborating with PERTIWI Soup Kitchen to feed the homeless around the KL area. If you guys are interested in volunteering or to even sign up full time with Ilham or PERTIWI, you can check out their details here;

Ilham -

http://ilham2010.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=245900562969

PERTIWI Soup Kitchen -

http://blog.tripletsplusone.com/2010/03/soup-kitchen/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=362167549160&v=wall&ref=ts

Random musings

I have a habit of "jotting down" random quotes/thoughts/ideas into my phone. Looking for pen and a piece of paper isn't the most convenient thing to do at times. Some of my more recent random musings;

- I don't believe in the concept of "religion". I am a muslim and I believe in god and the teachings of Islam. But I don't believe in "religion". I don't believe in structured organizations led by "middle men"/religious authorities/clergy telling people what to believe or how to think. Matters pertaining to faith is meant to be personal. It' supposed to be a direct commune between yourself and god. It's not something for someone else to interfere or meddle with. They ended up as "organized religion" because a bunch of people back in the day decided they wanted political and financial leverage through the means of being middle men; to "help negotiate" your spiritual transactions between yourself and god. You can see how such individuals are able to segregate communities and use their influence for personal gain. I believe in being muslim by choice, not by force. It beats the purpose altogether if you're forced to believe something you don't want to believe. Just because they are convinced certain things are black and white, it doesn't mean you have to take them as gospel. They have no right to condemn people for having a slight difference in opinion. They're just humans like you. They have just as much tendency to make mistakes as you would. They themselves will be judged by god anyway. And we've reached my main point; only god can judge us in the end. 

- We like to think ourselves as the solution. Unfortunately more often than not we end up being the problem.

- I have simple philosophies with life;

1)To each his own.


2)If you can afford it, then use your own money. Loans/financial aid are for people who NEED it. People who can't afford to do so with their own money. Making your life slightly more convenient at the expense of those who are genuinely less fortunate is just inconsiderate.


3)You're either the problem starter, the victim or the solution. The victim too can choose to either be a solution or remain shackled by the problem.

On keeping fit

Someone asked me why I never try working out at gyms instead of waiting for a clear day to go out for a walk or a swim. My answer; I find it depressing. It is! ESPECIALLY with a treadmill. Think about it, you're running on the same spot, not going anywhere. There's no change of scenery or surroundings. It's all the same; lights, juice bar, other sweaty people(some of who are in clothes you WOULDN'T want them to be in). I can't believe people pay for that "experience".

Makes me pity hamsters though, when I think about treadmills. The reason most of us don't know what they're like in the wild is probably because they've been kept as pets for centuries. I mean ALL animals came from the wild. There's no such thing as an "automatically domesticated animal". It just doesn't make sense. Hmm off topic here.

New goal is to try and achieve a Brandon Boyd-ish body(cue laughter from EVERY girl who knows me AND is familiar with the lead singer of Incubus...I know it's a tall order). So how would one get such a bod? 

Surfing?

But no uber waves in Malaysia(so I've been told)...nor am i living close enough to a beach.

Swimming? 

Love it. But i dont know anyone well enough to just call up em up and go, "yo dude i'm stopping by to use your pool!"...I got trust/friendship issues remember? Plus it's too expensive to be a member of clubs or swim there on a regular basis.

And thus we come full circle. I DONT want to have to pay for frickin exercise! It's supposed to be one of the few things left that you can do for free. If anything, being healthy is supposed to help you spend LESS.

HIStory

I'm fascinated by history. The very word alone is intriguing; HIS STORY. Every facet of mankind till now were written by the hands of those who had the most influence; the winners of their day. They had the power to rewrite history as they see fit. It's basic survival of the fittest; "the strong shall survive, the weak shall perish". Haha yea, I just quoted Makoto Shishio from Rurouni Kenshin!

Which brings me to my next point; what is real then? How can we tell truth apart from fiction?

Well we can. And we can't.

By finding conclusive evidence which would either support or shatter the assumed truth, we can tell them apart. On the other hand, such evidence may have been planted there on purpose. Heck, even if it is a legit evidence, it might be open to misinterpretations or misreadings.

I guess in the end it all comes down to intuition.

Yes, EVERY human being that has lived, had lived on intuition. I'm not suggesting that they completely ignore all facts and logic. No, what I'm trying to say is that one's logic is built up side by side with their intuition.

To me that's on of the beauties of life; only you can choose what to believe.

What If

What if there is already a cure for cancer and aids...but the ones involved are just waiting for the right price?

What if the media you consume so whole heartedly is embedded with so much subliminal messaging to the point where they have pretty much influenced the way you've been thinking and acting?

What if you're moves and activities are being watched, every second?

What if all the wars and genocides could have been stopped all to easily, but are purposely being dragged on to profit particular parties?

What if we are already able to rely 100% on cleaner, alternative energy sources, but are being told otherwise by the oil companies in order for them to continue making money?

Naive thoughts of an optimist

Felt inspired after yesterday's Creative Thinking class.

One day I hope someone can help me draft out LEGIT methods to put these things to action.

1)Global disarmament plan

- Give it a time frame of say 15-20 years maybe? Well that's MY version of being realistic. At first I wanted it done in 5 years...but that would require a WIDE scale coup d'état. The idea is to NOT use force, but through persuasion.

- Within that time frame countries are to start phasing out nuclear energy as their main source of power, in place of safer and cleaner alternatives. That way you won't have insecure blokes in the UN going "I don't like the way he's looking at that reactor core" and then putting those countries on "Axis of Evil" lists.

- At the same time, the UN would probably set up a NON BIASED(good luck with that) committee to monitor the weapons disarmament process, making sure EVERY state melts down their arsenal, down to the last piece of bullet. The same team will also be responsible to flush out black market suppliers and eliminate their stockpile as well. That way, NO ONE has weapons. So how do we settle conflicts without pulverizing tanks you ask? THROUGH TALKING...which should have been done ages ago. If you REALLY need to settle things through competition, might I suggest a game of chess perhaps? Or battleship? Maybe a friendly match between football teams, in which the winner takes a piece of the loser's land. If you're so desperate for a brawl, why not a cage match between two emissaries?

2)Everyone's a winner, everyone's happy!

- Equal dispersion of opportunities(jobs, housing, education, retirement), facilities(schools, plumbing, transport, heating) and necessities(food, drinking water, clothes, healthcare) through out the entire world. Well-to-do countries are encouraged to help out their less fortunate third world counterparts. Thus everyone is on equal footing and ending(or at the very least GREATLY reducing) world hunger and poverty.

4)Now that we have saved ourselves somewhat, save the earth!

- Come up with more effective measures to cope global warming. Introduce alternative transportation technologies such as "the SAMPAN"(I'll get back to you on this in another post...besides it was a friend who came up with the idea, who shall be credited accordingly) to replace cars, buses and other land transport.

That's all I got for now. Till then!