New look for my blog
Oct 3, 2008 Announcements
Those of you who have dropped by before here before would notice that my blog has a new look.
Of course, my father - and my boss Ivy - told me that they can’t see the difference except that the masthead now has my name. And to think I stressed myself out for two days over Hari Raya to get my blog done.
But I am not disheartened … because I love it. It’s not the best design or best looking blog out there but I take pride in the fact that I actually made modifications to the original theme by Jai, all by myself! Yes, this is the first time I’ve actually done more than just use someone’s theme (well, there were some basic HTML changes when I was on MovableType a few years ago).
Most significantly, however, is that by spending all this time, I am committing myself to continue with my blogging. When I gave nicster^ rants life again in April, I wasn’t sure if I could sustain it. After all, I quite blogging in 2005 because I had taken a full-time job which required me to do a lot of writing (and therefore blogging started to feel like work.
Even Michael, a colleague, posted on my Facebook yesterday, in response to my status message about how I was done with my blog (done as in fixing it, not giving up):
what, no more blogging? Feeling too much like err.. work to you? haha.
I blog for others as much as I blog for myself. And I always have. I remember back while I was still in Australia studying, and I started my blog. My friends couldn’t understand why I would waste my time.I suppose as someone who has always embraced technology, been willing to try new things (plus, I was an Internet Studies major), I took to blogging early on. Recently I even got a Facebook message from Courtney, a really good friend of mine, which read:
I didn’t realize nicster’s rants were still going. I can remmebr in uni when you started your blog and I though…who would want to read about someone elses life! what a fool I am!
It’s been about six or seven years since, and I’m happy to still be here. And that you’re here reading this. Thanks.
2.42pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: blog
No privacy in China
Oct 2, 2008 Sounds Like Pop
Falun Gong
Taiwan Independence
Chinese Communist Party
Democracy
Earthquake
All those words above could get you in trouble if you live in China, according to Canadian human-rights activist. The New York Times has just reported that the activist have found a surveillance system which monitors and archives certain conversations of customers of communications software Tom-Skype.
The system, they say, identify and archive “politically-charged” conversations based on certain keywords, which of late includes “Milk”.
This is of course worrying, and not good for the future of the Internet. Sure, we can all talk about how everyone already know about China’s reputation for infringement of human rights and invasion of privacy. But who’s tho say that this can’t, or isn’t done in any other countries - especially, as the article states, corporations have worked with authorities previously by providing information on users.
Scary stuff.
9.15am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: china, SKype, Surveillance, Tom-Skype
Sarah Palin = Average Joe Six-Pack?
Oct 1, 2008 Rantings
A few weeks ago, I was going to post some sort of Palin-bashing (yes, I hate that she is pro-rifle and anti-abortion among many other things) but then everyone was already bashing her so I thought why waste space.
Well, after reading this article - which I was alerted by Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees twitter - I just had to post it. CNN released part of the transcript from an interview the Alaska Governer did with Hugh Hewitt:
Hugh Hewitt: Governor, your candidacy has ignited extreme hostility, even some hatred on the left and in some parts of the media. Are you surprised? And what do you attribute this reaction to?
Sarah Palin: Oh, I think they’re just not used to someone coming in from the outside saying you know what? It’s time that normal Joe six-pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency, and I think that that’s kind of taken some people off guard, and they’re out of sorts, and they’re ticked off about it….”
Joe six-pack? Normal?
Waitaminute, doesn’t the United States have the highest obesity rate in the world? (heh heh) Couldn’t resist.
11.58pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Anderson Cooper, Sarah Palin
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Oct 1, 2008 Announcements
Best wishes to all my Muslim family members, friends and visitors.
I hope you all have a blessed time during this festive season. And if anyone’s driving to balik kampung, escape kampung or cuti saja-saja, have a safe journey.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir batin.
12am Malaysian time (+8GMT)
Tags: Hari Raya Aidilfitri
