30 Nov 2009

Last day of the second-last month of the year, the year-end school holiday seems so short this time. I have to admit that I've wasted so much time! Time, valuable time which cannot be redeemed.
You can listen to me lamenting all day about how I've wasted time this year, but things will still not get better. Haha...

Hope I've learnt and grown in a particular area, words. At least a bit, please... Hehe!
I hope not many were offended or discouraged by my words, be it spoken or written. I hope I've blessed a few this year. Then maybe I wouldn't feel too useless.

Really want to brush up on my writing skills.

The pen is stronger!

Foto Friday

Similar to brassieres,

contact lenses,

wedding rings,

etc.

Buy one, get one free!

Caleb Low going green

Hung out with Caleb and a few others today, what you see is a short clip of our lunch.

He enjoyed his healthy meal whereby most of the food in the bowls were green in colour.

I don't mind eating what he ate but I can never drink what he drank the way he drinks it as recorded in the video. Hahaha!

Well, talk about going green...

Wouldn't it be hypocrisy if we combusted fossil fuel to the destination of the recording to have lunch, and yet say we want to go green? Wouldn't it be hypocrisy if I say I wanted to go green when the only way possible for you to read this blog is that I make use of electricity to power a computer?

So, if we really wanted to harm the environment no longer, wouldn't we be basically obsolete to society?

I am by no means implying that we do not need to be concerned about the environment, neither am I attempting to discourage anybody from being concerned.

Just want to remind everybody to conserve our environment! The Earth is for not only you and I, but for the generations to come. Not just a home for you and I, but for all other living creatures and their generations to come.

-use both sides of the paper-

-travel by foot or bicycle as much as possible-

-try to use the fan instead of air-conditioners-

-treat plastic as one of your worst enemies-

-quit smoking, it does no one and nothing any good-

-keep those chemicals out of the river(to factory owners)-

-keep the chainsaws to yourself(to illegal tree murderers)-

-stop burning rubbish-

-start recycling-

Above are just some basic practices that we all probably already know of and should be trying our best to practise.

Every individual must be individually convinced and convicted, or else he or she will never give a damn about keeping this planet in shape. Many things- attitudes, values, etc are adopted and reflected from the inside out, they can't be forced from the outside in.

Anyway, please go green...

Foto Friday

 

This sky with different lights

of which from the same Source came

The Moon

about to be

fully in charge

The Sun leaves

patiently

proudly in pink glory

What is Moon

without Strength

from Sun?

Forgo, Forget and Forgive

Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. Do not pay attention to every word people say or you may hear your servant cursing you-- for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Ecclesiates 7:19-22

To forgo my rights as a human, forget the wrongs that were done to me, and forgive the person who did all those wrongs to me.
Today I make that decision.

Hard decision to make, I must admit. There was so much anger and dissatisfaction.
I could pursue many matters, a lot had happened that were unspoken of and unrevealed because I chose(choose) to stay silent. But I could make things difficult for that man who does not deserve his position as a teacher, and I could make him very ugly. Personally, he is a total insult to the teaching profession.

Anyway I want to make it official that I shall let the matter rest.
The Bible never teaches us to fight for our own rights, so there goes my rights, but so goes my respect for the scumbag who doesn't deserve his occupation.

Some random words for the boy two doors away who owes me apologies:

Maturity and Respect
Given the way he takes comments,
Maturity so great possess;
Given the way he shows respect,
Pride and face do he protect.

Maturity in extravagance-
Like stripes on a hundred Dalmations,
...and so for the respect he deserves
Shall I love him nonetheless

© Joel Yap

Those who have eyes and wisdom shall see, 

those who have mouth but no wisdom shall gossip, 

those who have ears and wisdom shall discern....

Shall I Go

Shall I go bid no goodbye

for same was what happened to I

Shall I do against nature

sick of acting like people

Shall I lose give not a try

striving ends up in failing

Shall I die without a fight

give up knocking on Heaven's gate

Shall I hit the brakes or else

each day travel painful paths

Shall I take the wheel no more

kill the will so uncontrolled

Shall I throw this rose all thorns

causing Soul in pieces torn

Shall I cast these promises

draw back life in emptiness

© Joel Yap

Ungrateful Sleeping Boy

Two months had past
nothing she gives
Neither a word
nor a single hi
All was a dream
will to wake from I have not


Story too long to tell
emotions still run wild
Facing it all alone
standing pain hard to bear
Listeners grow faint
along with watchers who care


Hands to borrow there are
but not the one in desire
Learn to allow and receive
to unlearn self-defined best
Differentiate needs from wants
Integrate self to help

© Joel Yap

猜谜语

当我们同猜谜语 猜谜语 猜谜语

当我们同猜谜语 真快乐无比

你对着我问问题 我对着你给答案

当我们同猜谜语 真快乐无比

Leave a comment if you know or do not know the answer!
Thanks to Elween for the help by the way.

Without feelings  Without care

Faithful to all  is She

Nothing to lose  Not in the game

Though travel in its locus  Not obvious in existence

Heartless She seems  Cruel She be

Anyhow She is always fair

Never changes  Never pause

Differences made can be so great

Her representation:

Of 13's absence on the face

Gadgets and gears to serve its purpose

Two hands in respective pace

Only meet twice in a 24

Her Self none can buy

What's wasted cannot return

Foto Friday

Meet my new friend

He never speaks

he never eats

When dinner is served

he disappears

probably because he's

vegetarian

Chinese

Many times I feel a bit left out among Chinese speaking friends as my mastery of the language is one of the worst. Besides, I do feel some guilt because I gave up the language as an exam subject in Form 3. That let a teacher down, she cared(s) and had done a lot of persuasion as well as encouragement for me to take on the challenge but I was not up to it. *Sorry.......*

Well, what's done is done. Dropping Chinese is a different matter from being ashamed of the language. Just like Bible Knowledge 9221 for SPM, many students have their own reasons(though usually excuses) for not taking it in the SPM examination.
I am not ashamed of being yellow, an Asian, neither am I ashamed of the language- Chinese.


From listening to stories of my grandfather from various sources, I want to share this- that he came from China to Malaysia decades ago. Although he was uneducated, upon receiving income for the first time here, the first item he spent his hard earned money on was ironically a dictionary! I believe he went through a lot and experienced many hard times, his pursuit of knowledge and literature amazes me. You may read more about my grandfather, Yap Tai Pit if you want to here. What i want to say is that he was skillful in the art of calligraphy and famous for it. (the characters on the arch of the cemetery in Kluang was his work)
However I never had any interest at all in Chinese calligraphy, Haha... But starting today I wish to brush up on my Chinese writing skills again!

Check out my latest work on Mirror: 万物之灵

Mirror is a space whereby I express my musings and daydreams into words.

Bahasa Cina boleh! Go, Go, Go!!!

Foto Friday

What you see is one of my very close friends, 

Vincent Che squatting in the so-called lecture hall of 

Sekolah Tinggi Kluang. 

I am guessing nature did not call him. 

Maybe he needed some light, hope he comes to it soon.

This was taken on Tuesday, 3 November.

Ridiculous: I Win

I have won because I defeated him, yes I defeated him.
Taking a quick peak at the following blog posts will give you a better understanding on what I am about to say.

Ridiculous - 29 August 2009
Ridiculous (part 2) - 31 August 2009
Ridiculous (part 3) - 2 September 2009

Blg Pengajian Am: Ridiculous? - 14 October 2009
Blg Pengajian Am: Ridiculous (part 2) - 31 October 2009
Blg Pengajian Am: Ridiculous (part 3) - 31 October 2009

Yes it is true, this guy by the name of Razali Samad copied my blog posts concerning his blog, and published them on his blog. To put in simpler term, it is my post in his post.

For what reason I do not know, but he even stole a photograph of me from another blog entry on the same blog where he copied the Ridiculous posts.
Notice I used the word "STOLE". Well, I was the one who uploaded the photo on an open blog, so it can neither be considered as stealing nor intruding of privacy? But I posted the picture with other intentions in mind, definitely not to make myself look bad. I was talking about a totally different matter in the blog post where the picture was up on.
Mr. Razali Samad blatantly took my photo out of context and posted it up on his blog where he copied Ridiculous. Furthermore, he went the second mile by printing it(content and photo) out on papers to be distributed to some teachers, including the principal. To me, that was a second mile travelled wrongly. Haha...
Taking my photo out of context to make me look bad. With neither permission nor apology, how ridiculous.

Nevertheless, after numerous comments have been made by multiple parties, Mr. Razali Samad finally gave in and miraculously did one right thing by removing my photo.
I could have made a big fuss and have parents, teachers, friends and others to join me, just for this- stealing my photo and taking it out of context. Defamation!
But I did not.

Forget about the photo, I am not as petty as he is. Willing to learn to let go- what he doesn't know to.

What about the content of my blog posts? Apparently what I said concerning his actions stands firm till now. If the things I said against him were false accusations made by a rebellious student, how come no one is able to prove it?
Something for everyone to think about.
Sorry about the harsh words used, I may have been a bit unfair towards him probably because emotions were in the way then. That I am sorry about and I apologize.
And if there is any inaccuracy about what I have written against him, please let me know. I am more than willing to listen and understand.

I almost forgot, why is the title Ridiculous: I Win?
I realised I have somewhat won this "little game with the teacher" because I defeated him. Why was he defeated? Because I defeated the purpose of his blog.
The purpose of pam900.blogspot.com was supposed to be educational. However it has become a space for gossip and who knows what other things.


Why do we see personal affairs being brought into the blog? Why do we see gossip in the chatbox on it? Why are messages at Mr. Razali's disadvantage being deleted while judgemental comments not against him remain in the chatbox? Why is there even a need for a chatbox in the first place?


The Pengajian Am blog was created for educational purposes? To serve students? Provide students with useful information and materials? All these are very noble intentions and I am truly impressed by the sacrifices Mr. Razali made for the running of the blog, if he is sincere.


However it has now become more like a personal blog where blogging is done for personal benefits of the blogger.
Attack me and defend himself at the same time by making certain people happy?
He can try to attack me for all I care. Pleasing the people on the blog like that just makes me laugh. I did not say it is wrong to do so, so don't get me wrong. You'll probably see this on his blog soon.
As far as I am concerned, I already defeated his blog because I defeated his purpose of blogging.

Of all the things I have mentioned against Mr. Razali in my blog posts, I wish to talk about one point: giving exam tips on the blog

During the first assessment or ujian, Mr. Razali Samad posted tips on his blog and went round to classrooms writing "pam900.blogspot.com" on each blackboard except for the "lecture hall"! Because it had a whiteboard. Hehe.. Ya, so, he wrote down the words "exam tips" followed by the blog address mentioned above, in the Lower 6 classrooms. What an awful way to advertise a blog...
Assuming giving exam tips is not wrong(he claims he only gave the theme), what bothers me is why must students visit the blog in order to get the tips? If he could write his blog address on blackboards? Why didn't he just write down the tips?

Everyone knew the topic of what was going to be asked in the test paper then instead of just the theme. but let's not go into that anymore.
My question is this, again: Why write a blog address when he could have written the tips?
A probable answer and the most reasonable explanation would be that he wanted to increase his blog traffic.
Why increase blog traffic? So he can write a good report on the progress of the blog to who-knows-who.
Manipulation of results, I would say. Unethical, it seems.
Again, please give it a thought. If giving students exam tips is nothing wrong, why do it only on a blog when he could have easily done so in school?


Can someone so adamantly incapable of admitting to a fault as well as making an apology, be qualified to teach?

Enough said, I have to admit I am however, rather amused to see some people making a fool out of themselves.

Those who have the ability to read insult their ability when they jump into conclusions before thinking about what they have read.
Those who are wise and put their wisdom into practice when reading will be able to discern and learn that both parties- Mr. Razali and myself, have our own faults. As for my wrongs, I apologize.

This has been another experience for me to realise how some adults who have long gone through puberty can still act childishly. Maybe they deserve a reward for such an achievement, they deserve to go through puberty again. Perhaps they can still stand a chance of growing up. Let's not give up on them, but more importantly, let's not be like them.

Growing old is not an option, growing up is.

Uncle Jordan

To end, I wish to say a lot of thanks and sorry's!

To those who gave advice, encouragement and support, thank you very much!
To those who rebuked me in love, I thank you even more.

To those who may have, in any way, been offended by anything that I have written(anything at all), I am so sorry.

Come on, leave a comment and tell me what you think.


With an open mind,
joel



Here's some random words I wrote for the boy two doors away who owes me apologies,
Maturity and Respect
Given the way he takes comments,
Maturity so great possess;
Given the way he shows respect,
Pride and face do he protect.

Maturity in extravagance-
Like stripes on a hundred Dalmations,
...and so for the respect he deserves
Shall I love him nonetheless

© Joel Yap

1 November

Time flies, yes it does.
When you want it to slow down it doesn't, what more when you want it to stop?
When you want it to quicken there's not enzyme for such a thing.

Yet time is fair, yes time is fair indeed.

It's been a while. Seems to be a long while, but short... All depends on perspective.
So fast, November already...

I remember writing this some time ago. Here's the original post: Expiry Date
Can it sound like a rock song? Hahaha....
Hope this really becomes a rock song one day!

Every object has a fixed amount of time
before it rots, after which there it goes
Every human too has a limited time
to live, to breathe, and to coexist
This is the blatant truth, a harsh reality:
Everybody needs to die, nothing is eternal
I know that the truth hurts, I don't like it either
But nothing lasts forever, everything expires

You don't know when's your deadline
The day you fade away
You don't know how much longer
Can you live to play and play
So stop dreaming like a child
Wake up and live your numbered days

Refrigerators, dry conditions
Salt and vinegar, reducing agents
Various methods to delay Expiration
But nothing lasts forever, everything expires

Time is running out, time is running out
Time is running out, everything expires

© Joel Yap