Sometimes I am inclined to believe…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7244579.stm

By Heba Saleh
BBC News
 
                        

Human Rights Watch has appealed to Saudi Arabia to halt the execution of a woman convicted of witchcraft.

In a letter to King Abdullah, the rights group described the trial and conviction of Fawza Falih as a miscarriage of justice.

The illiterate woman was detained by religious police in
2005 and allegedly beaten and forced to fingerprint a confession that
she could not read.

Among her accusers was a man who alleged she made him impotent.

Human Rights Watch said that Ms Falih had exhausted all
her chances of appealing against her death sentence and she could only
now be saved if King Abdullah intervened.

‘Undefined’ crime

The US-based group is asking the Saudi ruler to void Ms
Falih’s conviction and to bring charges against the religious police
who detained her and are alleged to have mistreated her.

Its letter to King Abdullah says the woman was tried for
the undefined crime of witchcraft and that her conviction was on the
basis of the written statements of witnesses who said that she had
bewitched them.

Human Rights Watch says the trial failed to meet the safeguards in the Saudi justice system.

The confession which the defendant was forced to fingerprint was not even read out to her, the group says.

Also Ms Falih and her representatives were not allowed to attend most of the hearings.

When an appeal court decided she should not be executed,
the law courts imposed the death sentence again, arguing that it would
be in the public interest.

From the BBC:

A pair of twins who were adopted by separate families
as babies got married without knowing they were brother and sister, a
peer told the House of Lords.

A court annulled the British couple’s union after they discovered their true relationship, Lord Alton said.

The peer - who was told of the case by a High Court judge involved - said the twins felt an "inevitable attraction".

He said the case showed how important it was for children to be able to find out about their biological parents.

Details of the identities of the twins involved
have been kept secret, but Lord Alton said the pair did not realise
they were related until after their marriage.

Well let’s just hope you did dude…

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/2/nation/19642144&sec=nation

By AUDREY EDWARDS

KUALA LUMPUR: Practise safe sex and be faithful to your partner.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek gave this advice in view of
the rising number of HIV infections in the country due to unsafe sexual
practices.

“Abstinence is still the best way. And be faithful
to your partner,” he told reporters after opening the First National
AIDS Conference and launching the national-level World AIDS Day here
yesterday.

“It also boils down to both partners being
responsible. Do not blame anybody,” added Dr Chua, who was representing
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Symbol of
awareness: Dr Chua launching the First National AIDS Conference in
Kuala Lumpur yesterday. With him are Health Ministry directorgeneral
Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican (left) and Disease Control Division
director Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman.

He said recent
statistics showed that the number of infections due to sexual
intercourse had increased from 18.2% in 2002 to 31.9% last year,
although the number of daily infections had been reduced from 19 five
years ago to 13 currently.

“Anyone can be a source. We still
need to be careful,” he warned, adding that the increasing number of
women being infected with the virus was worrying, saying it had
increased from 4% to 15% in the last 10 years and normally affecting
those aged between 20 and 35.

Dr Chua said among the reasons for the increase was the lack of understanding Malaysians had about HIV.   

“They may not understand that you can get infected because of a one-night stand,” he said.   

There were 78,784 infections reported from 1986 to June this year and 10,909 have died.   

Asked
about a recent study that showed 36% of respondents supported a
“quarantine” policy for people living with HIV, Dr Chua said the
Government would not institute such a programme.

In his
speech read out by the Health Minister, Najib said new approaches were
needed to increase the effectiveness of control and prevention so it
would reach the target groups.

“Through good surveillance, the high-risk groups and relevant factors can be identified,” he said.   

“Besides
this, it is important for everyone who is at risk to know their HIV
status or the individual to know that they are at risk.”

Taken from www.bmes.org

• Biomedical engineers play a significant role in mapping the human genome, robotics, tissue engineering, and in nanotechnology.

• Biomedical engineering has the highest percentage of female students in all of the engineering specialties.

• 30% of biomedical engineering graduates are employed in manufacturing.

• Many biomedical engineering graduates go on to medical school. The percentage of students applying to medical school is as high as 50% in some programs.

• There are 15 chapters of the national biomedical engineering honor society, Alpha Eta Mu Beta, located on college campuses throughout the United States.

• Judith A. Resnick, PhD, a U.S. astronaut who died when Challenger exploded in 1986, was a biomedical engineer working at NIH from 1974 to 1977.

• Willem Kolff, MD PhD, a biomedical engineer and physician, designed early artificial hearts and the first kidney dialysis machine. He supervised the first implanted artificial heart into Barney Clark, and his latest work is on a portable artificial lung.

• The National Institutes of Health has a new institute for biomedical engineering and imaging. The Institute (NIBIB) coordinates with the biomedical imaging and bioengineering programs of other agencies and NIH Institutes to support imaging and engineering research with potential medical applications and facilitates the transfer of such technologies to medical applications.

"…no one in his right senses like[s] the ISA. It is in fact a negation of all the principles of democracy." - Dr. Mahathir, 1966.

"If we want to save Malaysia and UMNO, Dr Mahathir must be removed. He uses draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act to silence his critics." - Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, 1988.

"…a necessary law…We have never misused the Internal
Security Act. All those detained under the Internal Security Act are
proven threats to society." - Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, 2003.

———————————————-

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

-Martin Niemöller-

…of shifting to a new place is always shitty. Everything’s messy, out of place, temporarily in some room (should it remain there?), where does this go (maybe in the trash?). For as long as my abode is messed up, then invariably I’ll feel my life running parallel to that situation. But after this weekend slog, hopefully everything will almost be in order.

Then the next task would be Streamyxing the place. All this cybercafe sit-ins next to Jinjang’s DOTA-ing…well that’s still okay, but acting out their DOTA stuff in reality is just not on. They think this is Matrix or something? Walau, syok sendiri kau-kau one. 

The apartment itself is very okay, can’t complain at all, especially when places like Jusco, Carrefour, Giant and Tesco are all within a 15-minute radius. Not to mention the variety of shops and restaurants nearby. But gym and swimming pool not yet try. Have to go soon…

Parking’s a…challenge. Going up 6 floors (that’s TWELVE slopes) takes some getting used to, but then the flip-side of coming down is almost roller-coaster like. Let’s just hope I don’t knock down the garbage bin while swerving my way up, although that would be kinda funny.

JB itself has changed a lot, but the old landmarks that I identify with are still there: the Tanjung Kupang Memorial (not many people know about this incident; the only time a MAS aircraft has been hijacked-allegedly), the ‘Ah Moi’ shop where I used to spend megabucks on junk food (I wonder if the aunty there still remembers me? Or more importantly, her all-grown up daughter and Wisma K K Kam (infamous for a suicide case), among others.

On the other hand, it seems there might be some truth in those racial riots in Pasir Gudang, as there was a case in a hospital here regarding a Malay guy who was slashed by some machas. Hopefully it’s not widespread.

Most probably I’ll have to get a housemate in, mainly due to cost reasons, but also because the nature of this profession means that I won’t be seeing the same people on a daily basis as you would do in an office/class environment. It’s good in a way I suppose, but the drawbacks are there as well. Have to start drawing up my list of requirements for potential housemate then. Kena scan thoroughly one, if not dapat some John or Jane yang selalu piss me off susah pulak..

Jinjang macha beside me is shouting like crazy edy. Have to belah now, if not takut he punching his friends on online game then suddenly he get a real punch from ’someone’…all for now.

Good and evil:
like two men
on pinnacles - right
and left
bound together by rope,
stood there
motionless
as time passed by.

Then at once
one started to tug;
the other, pulled forward
replied in kind.

Now that it has begun
never will it end,
for if one loses
the other wins -
for but a fraction,
as both plummet
to the abyss
below.

So now
both must tug:
not to win
but to survive,
for there can be no victor
in this futile battle
which will go on
beyond the realms

Of time.

And you better believe it was. Goodness me, the absolute
kings of the genre were in town (in another country, of course), and no way was
I going to miss this.

Was in the arena by 8, although the show itself started
around 5. But judging by the masses that preferred to loiter outside rather
than catch the action inside, my guess would be that the opening acts were not
very inspiring, to put it mildly. I do have some sympathy for these
up-and-coming local guys who perform to pathetic 50+ crowds. They must have
thought they hit the jackpot when they were asked to open for SOIA. Alas, the
only people who really “cared” about them were those who didn’t really care
about the music; those who just release pent-up frustrations in the pit,
slam-dancing their dirtbag sweaty bodies against each other. It’s okay mates - straight edge, hardcore, hip-hop, punk, rap, rock…this night was not one for tribalism.

So proceeded straight for the t-shirts! The heavily-tattooed
“Merch Lady” had a somewhat limited selection, but this was the original shit.
And for $20, definitely bargain shit. Got 2 of ‘em. But I don’t really know how
to describe Mei (May?) Ling, other than she probably follows SOIA around the world, taking care of their merchandise. So I leave it for you to decide. (And no, I didn’t
ask about her ethnic background and somehow try to make sense of her
name…there was other stuff to be done).

The final opener was the most accomplished: Stompin Ground.
The fathers of Lion City Hard Core, according to the “emcee”. (Alvin Devadas
a.k.a. Alu, if you’re reading this, get a No. 2 haircut and you would be him –
no joke). But even they weren’t much fun; to be fair, probably because I didn’t
know any of their stuff, so it was just noise to me. The Tok Imam drummer was
cool though (konon nak pull-off opposing trends…but definitely wicked).

Then a 30-minute break, for the guys to prepare their stuff.
So relaxed; no restrictions and shit. We could just hang out with the guys
while the stage was being set. But look at the guy in the Punisher t-shirt at the back, complaining to Mike and security about his lost cap. Yo macha, this isn’t some lame-ass pit, it’s the real deal. I saw two dudes who fainted, a guy with a cut eye, and a chick who came out limping. And this guy’s worried about his cap.

Okay, showtime. Lou comes out and says a few words, about 15
seconds. And just like that, they kick off. Fuhhhhh Manchu, THIS WAS THE SHIT.
I really can’t explain what energy these 40-something year olds had, and how they
translated it to everyone of the 500 people there, but even if I could, I’d
rather save it for myself The best three were definitely Step Down,
Machete and Take The Night Off, especially the latter when it came to the
ironic chorus:

We’ll save the world tomorrow,
But in the meantime,
Let’s celebrate that we don’t give a f*ck,
With the middle finger high in the air.

But the ultimate bestest of allest was truly Uprising
Nation. Walao, the beginning of that track will crunch your nuts* man. There
were many others from the very early albums (done for the old school machas
there; and there were quite a few, even one guy who came from the Philippines). And after hearing those live, will definitely have to find those
stuff as well. Classic shit.

After two hours of crackerjackers, it was over. Adrenaline begins
to normalise, slowly. Hearing sense fluctuates. And this is the part where
absolutely nothing else can compare to hardcore; meeting the band members was
as easy as meeting your neighbour. Hardcore on stage; absolute nice guys off
it. Couldn’t get Pete though; Lou said he had some stuff to take care of with
his wife Maggie. And missed Armand by about 10 seconds because I was with Lou
at the time. Damn! So it was just Lou, Craig and the guys’ go-to-guy Mike,
who’s no lame duck on the performing side as well.

From the pics, I think I’ll need a haircut very soon. Oh and
one more, just for fun.

"As always, Sick of It All is an undeniable force that continues to
breathe life into an often oversaturated and stale hardcore scene. And
thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight." ~ Corey Apar, All
Music Guide, reviewing Death to Tyrants.

* I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the
inability of my feeble mind to come up with the female equivalent of the phrase
“crunch your nuts”. If there are any valid suggestions, please do inform me so
that I would not repeat the same slight again. I hope that my previous
postings, especially this would show that I am very much gender-unbiased. In
fact, I would go so far to say that I am an equal opportunity sexist, but maybe
I’ll save that for another time.

For Malaysian identity cards, the final digit determines if you’re male (odd) or female (even).

Speculation that hermaphrodites will have an alphabet in place of the final digit have yet to be confirmed.

Image from ricecooker.

Hopefully the new national symbol "tak bocor".

"Anytime you throw your weight behind a political party that controls
two-thirds* of the government, and that Party can’t keep the promise that it made
to you during election time, and you’re dumb enough to walk around continuing to
identify yourself with that Party, you’re not only a chump, but you’re a traitor
to your race**. …Now back during the days when you were blind,
deaf, and dumb, ignorant, politically immature, naturally you went along with
that. But today as your eyes come open, and you develop political maturity,
you’re able to see and think for yourself…" - Malcolm X, The Ballot or the Bullet

So maybe now you’d like to re-examine the election manifesto and see if the promises made during election time have been or are being fulfilled? Download here.

SO, ARE YOU STILL A CHUMP?

* in our case, 90.4%.
** your race the human race.