Governments, Not Mushrooms

Good, qualified governments do not pop up like mushrooms after continued rainfall. This seems to be the apparent belief of some people who think toppling an authoritarian regime by protests for democracy will automagically result in the formation of a new democratic government. In any country larger than a city, such an outcome is highly unlikely.

However, it must also be understood that the capacity of human endurance is incredible. In the absence of agents of change, a move towards more humane conditions for the citizens of a country can take centuries or even longer. History will attest to the propensity to the ability of humans to tolerate authoritarian regimes for hundreds or even thousands of years as long as their lives are afforded some modicum of peace and stability.

Still, it should be made clear that no amount of generalizing will help what goes on in the real world. This is not a matter of democratic, asian, western, authoritarian or any number of value systems and ideologies out there. In just about any modern government, the authorities hold significant power by virtue of their office, and it is as likely to be an "asian" value as it is a personal value.

I believe it is a personal value, given that claiming to represent christian or democratic or asian values is a gross oversimplification and is likely to be no more than subverting a categorical group's credibility as your own. An immense number of atrocities have been committed under the banner of higher morals or ideals.

So, when a situation emerges that requires a government to step up atop an existing one that is making the people in general suffer? It becomes a matter of whether the people feel they are suffering, which is not something that can be viewed under the lens of ideology. And when those people feel that they need a new leadership, it matters little how much pain and suffering will result. This will be a move for the future generations. Good governance simply does not pop up like a mushroom, allowing the current generation to enjoy its heady shade.

Those Crazy Monks!

I am so amazed and extremely proud of these monks. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F649F281-F993-41BD-AF9F-11C1552CCACB.htm Myanmar is probably one of the worst countries on earth to have a march like this, especially since they are moving for a change in the political regime. I think this is perhaps one of the best calculated and beautifully orchestrated pro-democracy event I've seen in a long time.

Myanmar is a largely Buddhist country, resulting in great respect for the monks. This means the monks already have popular support. Monks also have a reputation for non-violence. Were people like myself to march on the streets, the government could easily put us down as violent or potentially violent protesters. Unarmed monks? That would cause not only a huge uproar locally, but would also create an internationally recognizable human and civil rights violation.

There is also the shock value to such a move. Monks are perhaps not expected to be politically motivated. I personally did not think they had it in them. At worst, the Burmese government may label them as radicals and not monks since they have given up their religious inclinations in favour of political motivations. I don't think many would buy such an excuse, tho. Overall, I think their rallying call is powerful and the people finally do have a precedent for a movement against the oppressive leadership. It is my hope that others living under similar regimes all over the world to do likewise, should they feel that their leadership does more harm than good.

Eating What You Kill

This just reminds me about how far humans have been removed from nature and their food sources. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070916/hl_nm/locavore_dc. It is one thing to say that meat is just meat. The separation between meat and killing has made many humans rather callous about just how the meat comes about. What? Kill animals for food? That's just cruel. But thank goodness I get my meat from a supermarket.

I think it's sad when people say to me that they're thankful that they have someone else to kill the animals so they can have the meat. It's a certain sort of disconnect whereby the guilt is transferred to the butchers and there is no longer any sense of responsibility for the life that was sacrificed to bring meat to the table.

Still, all of this isn't nearly as bad as humans who kill for sport. That is hardly sporting, and really rather wasteful. I'm not saying that pests can't be killed to protect one's crops. It's just that one really shouldn't go around filling random animals with lead just for the heck of it, or just 'coz someone wants another stuffed head in the cabin.

Loneliness In The City

I cannot help but conclude that loneliness in urban environments is self-inflicted. Modern big cities have an incredible population density per square mile, with enough people within a stone's throw to completely invalidate any argument of "loneliness". Yes, you can hit at least a hundred people within a stone's throw, even if you throw like a girl.

What is it about cities that makes people feel lonely? There are millions of people rushing about at any one time, with apparently nobody feeling the urge to stop and chat. Does this imply that the lack of small talk with random people is what causes loneliness? I think small talk is perhaps one of the biggest time wasters in the social context. Yet if one feels sufficiently inclined to crawl out of the self-inflicted morass of loneliness, one only has to grab the neighbour on the train or bus and irk the poor fella with small talk. Loneliness in a crowd of thousands? I hardly think so.

Urban Machismo

Some things really make me pity urban men and their machismo. One of them would be the “macho” field trip. First, they try to be rough and tough, climbing (and thus conquering) tall mountains. Of course, this would have been particularly heroic (and quite foolhardy) if they were to go it alone and carry their equipment while they were at it.

The reality is quite different, though. Those macho, macho men will find themselves shrugging those incredibly heavy equipment off to sherpa "guides". I think perhaps those urban dwellers should realize that the guides are merely there to keep the men from hurting and/or embarrassing themselves. It's one thing to carry comparatively light equipment up a mountain while being decked out in all sorts of fancy mountaineering gear. It's quite something else to be able to trudge up the mountain in ordinary kit while carrying the tents and stuff of the urban dwellers. So...who's macho, again?

A Loss

I am slightly upset over losing a necklace today. Granted, it didn't cost me very much. However, I hate losing stuff and especially the only black cord accessory I have. Of course, this is also an excuse for me to go jewelery shopping. Still...if anything of mine decides to leave, I guess I'll have to respect its wishes. Even companions go away from time to time, I guess...

My Night Visitor

I managed to catch a glimpse of the night visitor as it decided to pose for me in midair. Those things are fast! Aaaanyway, the bat turned out to be a fruit bat, and not of the vampire variety. What a pity. I would've thought one of my friends decided to drop by. Still, this flying furball decided that the bananas we hung up near the window were yummy and good for her tummy, so we regularly had half-eaten bananas in our bunch.

I suppose I blinded the poor thing with my camera's flashes, seeing as how the bat was in a terrible panic, flying all over the apartment. Well...I can't help it if someone invades my sanctum, dear =p

Going Batty

It's especially interesting to have bats fluttering into your apartment...two nights in a row. I was watching TV this evening when the bat flew past me and then back out the kitchen window. Mom noticed, too, and told me that a bat did the exact same thing in the middle of last night, except it beat its wings against the window in an effort to get out. This would be odd, since my apartment also happens to be on the 12th floor, and bats aren't terribly inclined to get into my nice, dark, dank place. Oh wait...perhaps that's why...

Besides, that could've simply been one of my vampire friends, so I'm not about to complain. Perhaps they'd stop by for tea this time, or something.

As a side note, I felt something I didn't feel for some time: My animal side emerging some. It's just that time period where awareness is enhanced, every sense just seems to come alive, and suddenly being around humans becomes something alien. It's a bit like walking amongst potential threats, having to be on edge at all times. Interesting feel, that.

The Scope

Another piece of the puzzle: A scope for the E510. Its specs are nice enough. Actually, I was agonizing over whether to get this one, or the newer kit lens with the same focal length range. I settled on this after finding out that it had a full f-stop of aperture above and beyond that of the new kit. I later realized that it had a metal mount, weighed nearly twice as much and was Made In Japan. Now, I fully understand that products made in China can potentially be every bit as good as one made in Japan, but cost of production is higher there and overall I feel that I got better value for money with this item. I mean, it's new after all and what more can I want for my current budget (short of them risky second hand stuff).

I really needed a zoom because there are some things that I just can't reach with an 84mm lens. That's especially so if I'm trying to hit something that isn't right in front of me. There are just some things that are pretty necessary 'coz you'd lack the capabilities without them, and there are other things that are "nice to have". A macro lens would be nice-to-have, but hardly something a student with my pathetic skill level would really need. I feel that quality macro shots are really quite gimmicky, specialized and have requirements for equipment beyond what I have and would get on a student's budget. For near-essentials, the final thing I'd need is a proper flash unit. That is, when I exhaust the capabilities of the body flash. I suspect the body flash can be pushed beyond its current limits were I to fit it with a suitable diffuser or a reflector. Experimentation time.

Lost

Despite having a syllabus that looks positively kickass this semester, I feel strangely lost. Or perhaps it's a lack of drive. I'm not entirely sure. I think there's just so much I can do with my time, and no amount of work I do within the day can amount to what I expect of myself. I know this sounds silly, but the feeling was only reinforced when I missed a lecture today. It's like...I may not pay attention during the lecture, but I feel that I have achieved *something*. That something which I do not have when doing research for this and that. Time to buck up, strap myself in and be antisocial?

The Martian

I got myself a Martian...tripod, that is. The new tripod is a Velbon Ultra Luxi-F. I think it suits my purposes just fine. The tripod is light (1.38kg), folds down small enough to fit in my regular backpack, can extend to reach at least my eye level, highly flexible and is quite sturdy. Then again, my entire camera rig is only 500g and tripod is rated for 2kg so I presume it will hold up. Of course, it also cost me, and I've probably run out of cash for the month.

But of course, this is probably the only tripod I am willing to lug about. Frankly, I feel like a dumbass dragging a huge tripod around exclusively because I'm on a photo expedition. With a tripod that fits in my pack, I can basically go everywhere with it and deploy whenever I feel it's necessary to make a great shot.

I especially like the pan head, even though it is frowned upon by some photographers. I feel it is nice to be able to selectively swivel the camera while locking the tilt. Of course, since everything's so light, I can just lift the whole thing and sprint to the next location if I spot a good shot nearby. That's something I wouldn't do with a heavier, more cumbersome tripod.

Finally, I wound up forking out twice as much as I would for the Manfrotto 485. But then the deal-breakers for the 485 were that I heard the lever locks broke easily, flimsy-feel, not having the ability to work at low angles and the low height of the overall tripod. Moreover, it was rated for less weight than the Luxi. It was a pity, since I really loved the pistol grip adjustment ball head on the 485. Then again, that was a fixed head and I couldn't change it even if I wanted to. Basically, I was getting what I paid for. So here's hoping that it all works out =p

A New Accessory?

Ok, now that I have my E510, the first accessory I'd really need would be a tripod. I sorta have my eye on the Manfrotto 785 SHB. I know it's hardly the pro's choice and probably not the most durable of tripods, but I'm on a budget and intend to lug it along when I'm moving about. So yeah. Here's to a backpack tripod. heh. I should probably get a heavier pod for more serious work. But that's another concern for another day. I hardly have the lenses to justify the purchase, and I can hardly work with a tripod I'm not feeling willing to carry around.

A New Toy

Right. I settled on the Olympus E510 for my personal cam, that doubles up as a project making tool in school. So far, I think it's a pretty nifty device. I'm still getting used to the functions and settings on a dSLR, of course. But since I migrated from digi point-n-shoot cameras, it isn't that hard to figure out the non-manual controls. It's just a matter of adjusting the settings so that practically every shot turns out exactly as good as I intend it to look. This is essential, since the preview screen is hardly the best way to assess how a shot really looks.

Anyway, the features that sealed the deal included the image stabilizer, effective dust removal and the live view. Actually, I don't use the live view much, but it's nice to have grid lines for reference and leveling shots when hand-holding the camera. Not to mention stabilization helps with hand-holding, too. Well, the pics so far seem decent enough. I like the colors on the daylight shots. Now it's all up to me to learn the ins and outs of shooting in low light, overcast and indoor conditions.

On Guilt

I guess it’s a thing that many females get caught up in. Yanou, the weird guilt thing. As if everything’s somehow your fault, even when that does not make logical sense. Hell, it may not even be a real situation. I don’t know why people feel that way, and I’d probably brush such sentiments off were someone else to say the exact same thing to me. Anyway, the thing is that I just feel bad about spending my mother’s money. I suppose the feelings are a result of just wanting to avoid hurting mom in any way. I don’t know why I feel so protective of mom, but I do. For some reason, I subconsciously believe spending that money is also a way of hurting her. This is strange, since we’re not actually running short of money as a result of my actions. Moreover, I hardly think I’m splurging by purchasing things at inflated prices. Perhaps this is because of the absolute value of the expenditures? So much to learn, so little time.

The Myth Of The Impartial Journalist

It is common enough in handbooks on proper journalism that the ideal journalist must be neutral in her approach. Facts are facts, and should be presented in an objective manner. However, it is also impossible for a human raised in a human society to be perfectly objective. In fact, any sort of objectivity is quite impossible. After all, the facts are there for the journalist to analyze in any way she sees fit. There are also factors to consider, like the financial interests of the publication,
political pressures and even the personal biases of the journalists and her editors. Thus, the idea of a real impartial journalist can be far fetched indeed.

The Hijab And Freedom

In the Western media, it is common to see the Hijab, or Arabic dress that women wear, is portrayed as a symbol of female oppression. I used to have the same opinion, as forcing women to dress in a certain manner and thus conceal their bodies seems terribly patriarchal. It basically says that women cause men to sin, and thus women have to conceal their desirability to avoid leading men into sin. I really hate the way such an interpretation makes it seem that women are at fault for being desirable and thus lead men to do stupid things. It fails to take into account the weakness in men that only men can overcome, instead of semi-metaphorically sweeping the problem under a carpet.


After some time observing how other women lead their lives, I am beginning to wonder if there is some merit to the Hijab. In many non-Muslim countries, women are portrayed as free and pretty. They are liberated in acknowledging their sexuality and expressing it. This is the rosy interpretation of contemporary female fashion. It seems to be an improvement on how women had to wear skirts and dresses and keep their hair long back in the Victorian days. Women's rights and norms of behaviour are a separate issue here.

However, the same does not apply to just any woman. Not every woman feels the ability or compulsion to dress in a manner that enhances their appearance in a way that is similar to stereotypical models in a Hollywood ad. Some have bodies that hardly resemble that of any model. Others perhaps have no fashion sense whatsoever and are derided for dressing in an inappropriate manner. Simply put, these women are being oppressed by the contemporary norms of fashion in very much the same way the Hijab supposedly oppresses Arabic women.

In fact, the application of Hijab-style fashion is a powerful leveling instrument. It frees women to worry less about their appearances and dress sense, and more towards cultivating themselves as females. Self-actualization becomes possible without reference to the context of fashion or beauty as popular culture portrays it. There will be fewer concerns about whether my butt looks fat today, or whether that dress fits me well.

Of course, such an ideal situation would only be possible through universal acceptance of the Hijab itself and what it represents. Surely some shapelier women will bemoan the plainness of the Hijab preventing them from using their inborn feminine beauty to help personal relations. Seduction is, after all, a natural advantage that some women have raised to an art form. There will also be those who scream about men oppressing women all over again. Or perhaps the apparent uniformity of the dress.

I think the issue here is not so much about freedom, as there are many ways to freedom. I would not feel free in a prison, though an impoverished citizen unable to secure regular meals and in constant danger on the streets may actually feel liberated through incarceration. The issue is the startling imbalance in the application of the Hijab, with men blaming women for being seductresses and imposing the restrictions on them, yet not imposing the same on themselves. After all, are not particularly beautiful men in danger of seducing women, leading them to sin?

Letraset Vs Schmincke

Right. This is more of a reminder to myself than anything else. I'm currently using two types of fixatives on my inkjet prints. (Un?)fortunately, I'm using gloss paper. Anyway, Letraset killed my gloss. I'm not sure exactly what solvent it is that did the trick (there's no ingredients list on the can), but now I have a nice matt finish on my piece. Schmincke's is alcohol-based, but preserved most of the glossy look after a light coat. And that's even though Schmincke's doesn't claim to be a gloss spray (most are matt by default). Hence...Schmincke. Remember that, Fenris.

On Rings And Faith

The sequence of encountering things can make a huge impact on how you perceive them. I, for one, have played the game Dreamfall before I watched the movie The Ring. (Yes, Ragnar, I think I know where Faith came from... =p) The incredible resemblance between Faith and Samara made me half-expect Samara to turn to the screen and ask me to find and save April Ryan. In fact, the feelings (pity, sadness) I had for Faith colored my expectations so much so that I did not feel any fear when Samara showed up. Of course, the ending to The Ring was significantly different from the ending to Dreamfall, and that's where the similarities fell apart.

Still, I cannot help but see the parallels between these two characters. Both are young girls, abused and ostracized in some way, subjected to experiments/scrutiny and ultimately died. It's a sad, lonely sort of death. Most interestingly, both girls caused some sort of chaos, death and destruction after they supposedly died, yet maintained a presence in the living world. Yes, lingering dead things aren't really that funny =p

You're Not My Hero

I do not have heroes, apart from myself. Yeah, I know that sounds egotistical. Still, heroes are typically not-me people. I do not see why people would want to grow up to be exactly like not-them people. Sure, one can admire a particular attribute of someone else, such as courage under fire, grace in anger or maybe even simple politeness. I hardly think one has to shape oneself into a virtual clone of someone else just to attain those attributes. I'm sure it isn't a healthy prospect as the probability of success would be low in this case. The failure to attain clone-status would also be potentially devastating on one's self-esteem. Anyway, so there. You're NOT my hero. I am, because I live my own life.

Pandas And The Human Breeding Program

Even pandas are being victimized by the humans' psychologically-inbred ideas of how sexes should go. It never ceases to amaze me how humans can rigidly attempt to force even their own intersexed young into the two sexual categories that they came up with. In the case of pandas, it seems radical, but perhaps is important for the survival of the pandas since they are an endangered species. Already, this was done (presumably =p) without the consent of the panda concerned.

This reminds me of what's being done to children who are born intersexed. While it may not be socially necessary for pandas to have sexually-congruent bits, this is a major issue for the children. Well-meaning parents and medical professionals may want to "correct" something to allow the children to lead "normal" lives. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem if the child is accepting of her/his lot.

However, there are also the issues of ethics and the child's opinion. For one, it is the decision of parents regarding their children's lives, with complete and total disregard for their opinions. In fact, it has traditionally been accepted that parents can make decisions for their children until such time that the children have reached the age of reason. I'm not so sure that it is acceptable to make such irreversible decisions on the behalf of the children, though. Being raised cross-gendered is one thing. Being surgically altered to be cross-gendered is something else.