Envision

This happened quite a long time ago, back when I was in primary school, naïve and innocent. So I had a large gash across my right thumb, but right now looking back I'm not sure why and how I got it. It was quite a deep wound, splitting apart the epidermis like a crevasse cutting across a cliff. Blood oozed out constantly, and I needed some heavy bandaging. It wasn't at any rate more painful than a muscle cramp, but I began to worry about something else rather.

I was going overseas soon, and being the naïve and innocent boy I was, I worried about going through the passport immigration thumb-print scans. I was worried that my fingerprint would be in a mess and the system would not recognise it. So when the day came, my wound was fully healed, but yet there was a scar there. The scar could potentially jeopardise everything, including my identity! So I went through the scans with my heart thumping fast - and oh! I managed to go through. The computer read my fingerprint as if nothing happened - it couldn't read the scar.

I stared in wonder at my scarred thumb. There was indeed a scar - but more to it. Beneath the scar, the impressions of friction ridges actually grew back to what it used to be, and indirectly identifying me as myself. I eked out a smirk and marched on.

Human biology works wonders. No matter what, our cells are so adaptable to changes. It is a part of human evolution that keeps us alive. Certain diseases we can grow immune to, certain defects to our biology we can outgrow, certain sicknesses we can cure ourselves without the help of drugs and medicine. Homeostasis and immunity are examples of the gifts from God that keep us alive and thriving in this world.

Like my case, even though I temporarily lost my fingerprint - and my identity - the cells grew back to their original alignment. They formed the friction ridges (raised portions of the epidermis) based on the DNA code message in my body, which in turn, replicated my fingerprint.

It is a beautiful part of human science we must appreciate. Protect your health. Love your body!

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I was reading the newspapers not long ago and I came across this: Richest People in Malaysia. Yes, finally something financially interesting to read. So, the report began, amidst this economic turmoil, Malaysia's richest men and women just got richer in 2009. And it went blablabla about how much money these people made in 2009, millions and billions worth of ringgit. Of how they will spur the economy of the nation. But I overlooked the report, perhaps too much.

Here's the list of richest Malaysians...
1    Robert Kuok
2    Ananda Krishnan
3    Lee Shin Cheng
4    Lee Kim Hua
5    Teh Hong Piow
6    Quek Leng Chan
7    Yeoh Tiong Lay
8    Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary
9    Tiong Hiew King
10  Vincent Tan

Okay, here's the thing. I always notice things people don't. And I'm not having any preference or prejudice in my statement here. It is just too obvious. I mean, look at the list! Besides Ananda Krishnan and Syed Mokhtar, the rest of them. They are all Chinese. Why, when in Malaysia, Chinese are considered a minority community and have a declining percentage count in population, do Chinese still monopolise the financial economy of the country? After so many years of Malaysian Independence, are the Chinese still the dominant driving force in terms of making money?

Malaysian Chinese have always been considered the Jews of the East. They were never considered as natives of the homeland, and therefore no such thing as bumiputera privileges for them. Malaysian Chinese are considered foreign no matter where they go, even back to the motherland China. Yet, they are able to adapt to new environments with relative ease, and strive from there.

Chinese have always been considered to be the most enterprising people in the world. And so it is proved: The Chinese, with their strong businessman sixth sense, are great entrepreneurs no matter where they are. Perhaps the best evidence is this: even before the British came to back-then Malaya, the Chinese were already trading and establishing diplomatic ties with Malaya. Most Chinese settled here as a result of the torrential monsoon jeopardising their journeys. This happened way way before the Industrial Revolution, as the Chinese were already exploiting the Malaya's rich resources with tin ore mining. Using the traditional methods, they excavated the land considered to be Tanah Melayu.

And so the British came, bringing in Chinese immigrants en masse to mine tin ore in order to cope with the demands of the Industrial Revolution back in Europe. It was like handing a pillow to a yawning man - the Chinese pounced on the opportunity to unearth Malaya's rich tin ore resource. Immediately after the Second World War, the price of tin plunged, and yet the Chinese were not left jobless - they started small businesses and were the pioneers of the country's economic growth. The Chinese community soon grew to be Malaysia's greatest assets in terms of money-making and cultural diversity.

And so with the country's independence and British leaving us out in the cold, the major races of Malaysia joined forces - with a sense of respect towards each other - to form a better country. We all had our advantages, the Malays being the backbone of the nation; the Chinese being masters of business, finance and economy; and the Indians being as versatile and adaptable as the way they are.

But deep inside, we all know that it was the Chinese who brought this nation to life, being the very first Malaysian entrepreneurs back when the British Empire ruled with an iron fist. Even though the Chinese are not natives or bumiputera of any kind, the Chinese still flourish and prosper in this potentially prosperous land - Malaysia.

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Sweat was dribbling down my face, and I cursed myself for not switching on that damn fan. Immediately after picking up my instrument I was reluctant to get off it just to switch on the bloody fan. So there I was, my fingers dancing across the fingerboard with adequate strength and gusto to amplify the raw emotions of the song.

It was a sad, slow and tender song known as Schindler's List Theme (for solo violins). Images of the horrors of war brought to the Jews in Europe back during World War II flashed across my mind, just as a phrase of the song ended with a long note. With all my might, I conjured the best vibrato I've ever done before, projecting a concrete melancholic effect. And then I paused. The next part of the song was simply too difficult.

But I noticed something else. There was an eerie silence around me. It was quiet. Too quiet.

More images of the blood and gore of World War II flashed across my mind instantaneously. The sadness of the song injected that sense of insecurity inside me, made me timid and afraid. What the heck? The piece was supposed to picture the utter obliteration of an entire human population, the sorrow of losing everyone alongside you, the wretched sense of hopelessness. Why was I playing this song? It's not as if I'm attending a funeral of some sort.

The immediate silence made the hair behind my neck literally stand up. Goosebumps popped all over me. My heart fell like it was suspended in a void by threads yet weighed down by fear. It was in an insecure position, ready to collapse anytime soon.

I was alone.

I realised, I was sweating even more. My hands shivering, I put down my violin and spun back the computer to check my e-mail. Yet again, gruesome pictures of the genocide of the Jewish population in Europe flashed before my eyes. It was etched in my mind - that experience just now.

To conclude, I'm impressed by this piece of music. After that shock and awe experience, I realised how a splendid piece of artistry can emotionally affect someone. It's not just the notes, the clefs, the rests written on a paper. It's all about the passion within the musician.

Perhaps for that moment I did have some passion. It all happened mainly because I was alone. Here I quote Mr Lam (a music maestro I personally know) - "We play our best music when we are alone." We play it best because we're not trying to showcase our skills, but we play to please ourselves. Also when we're alone, we do not feel nervous. We just... play.

So, playing violin alone at night is spooky and not for the faint-hearted. (Only applies to sad, dark songs)

P.S. Schindler's List is a movie based on World War II set in Poland. It is very much related to the Holocaust (massacre of Jewish people) and is a very depressing show. The music - the main theme song - is beautiful. John Williams did an awesome job in composing this masterpiece.

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Lately, I've been reading plenty of newspapers. And as I always do, I look for the interesting articles to read. Hmm... nothing much interesting really at the moment: Anwar's sodomy trial postponed, Tiger Woods no longer has any girls hanging off his golf stick. Well you might think I'm off my mind reading all these obscene/personal stuff, but I insist it is only human for me to do it and I am being very honest here - I like reading them!

So, out of nowhere the sports section came up with a sex scandal relating to England and Chelsea footballer John Terry. His news poured all over the headlines of the sports sections on newspapers. I loved the way the editors make use of his name to write the headlines. They came up with titles like "A TERRYBLE STATE OF AFFAIRS", "WHAT A TERRYBLE MESS", "IT'S TERRYFYING!"

It is indeed rather terrifying for such a respected sportsman. Generally speaking, John Terry has a prominent sense of leadership no one else, except Beckham, in the England team has got. To see him spectacularly fall from grace is such a disgrace. Terryble, really. Cheated on his wife, his family, hanging out with some (insert 18PL word). Stripped off his captain armband and booed on the pitch of a football match, things went gloomy.

So, almost immediately after that, there was a little bit of silver lining. John Terry led his Chelsea team to a win in the Premier League. He played very well and showed good leadership qualities. Headlines came out, "TERRYFIC!"

Immediately, something came to my mind. Why on Earth does the English language use such close-sounding words to describe overly contrasting definitions? Terrific is a positive term, while terrible is a negative term. TERRIFIC basically means GOOD, while TERRIBLE technically means BAD.  Both seem to have relation to the terry, although the English language does not prove that right.

Terrific and terrible are like brothers of the similar origin, but grew to become foes. Like a divorced couple, they make the bitterest of each other after divorce. Very metaphorical my words, I know. But it's something that doesn't quite make sense.

I know I'm not getting anywhere by writing this out, but it's just some inner workings of my head I need to blurt out. Some food for thought lah.

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Only a couple of years ago, we were watching classic alien movies like Independence Day and War of the Worlds. We enjoyed every bit of them, of how man depict extraterrestrials. The whole thing was entirely imagination-based, and drilled into everyone's mindset how ugly and terrible aliens would actually appear. Classic alien movies always feature aliens as strong, intelligent, powerful, advanced, monstrous, ugly, destructive, cruel and most of all, superior. In truth, movie producers may seem quite biased about alien supremacy over mankind, crushing planet Earth with a familiar iron fist.

Turning the tables are two 2009 films, District 9 and Avatar. These two films were outstanding contrasts to each other, set in different aspects, with totally different themes and moral values to be learned. What do they both share in common then? They strayed from the usual alien-movie-plot-formula, and forming one by their own. Both films depict man as, sort of, the superior species. And oh, they're not just action-packed alien vs human sorta show, they both symbolise moral values laid out indirectly.

Basically, District 9 is a low-budget film trying to make a film that will have a great impact on us. Everything in this fockin' film has got a fockin' awesome meaning to it. It's not just about the fockin' prawns strolling about our fockin' planet. Alright, I gotta stop it. So District 9 has got some issues on bad language but you must read between the lines, watch between the pixels. It's about how mankind alienate a person who is different. It's also about how bloodthirsty mankind are, exploiting advanced weapon technology from another species. District 9 depicts how, when a man is in a position of power, he can do inhuman things.

Blockbuster film Avatar also delivers a message to most of mankind. It isn't just about biolumiscent trees and animals with parasitic problems. The film puts man in a position of power too, this time invading another planet trying to exploit the land filled with a mineral they want. Consequently, this would involve deforestation and destruction of natural habitats. This movie has a very eco-friendly theme, warning humanity not to develop too much as nature will strike back ultimately. Avatar portrays how greedy mankind are, ignoring all circumstances to achieve economic and financial growth, albeit destroying the environment and indigenous species.

Finally, we get a chance to see humans depicted as baddies. For once, we tend to cheer for the aliens instead of human heroics. Boring old "man vs alien" films have changed.

Henceforth, both Avatar and District 9 are awesome shows of their own category. This new movie formula is a breath of fresh air needed. They remind us humans of what we're capable of, not just getting invaded by aliens. They remind us not to be too greedy or power hungry. We know not even aliens can destroy us, but our behavior and mentality can ultimately do so.

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