Janani Grace

SAREE IN SINGAPORE

2011-08-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

SECOND HAND sarees and suits in good condition for sale between $10 - $40. Cash and carry...

First come first serve!!! Please call 64480496!

See you there!

Back!

2011-06-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Once again I have abandoned this blog! But i wont let it die! I am back!

However, before I start posting again, let me just give you guys a couple of updates... Firstly, I am done with my first year LLB with UOL! Time has flown so fast! And now I am either moving on to do my year two, or i might look for an alternative course to suit the job market here...

Apart from this, i am mainly slacking. So this means there will be more posts to come.. So i'll catch up with you all soon! Bye for now!

Janani Grace

A man can be a woman's best friend as well as worst enemy!

2009-11-04T23:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Ladies,

Have you ever wondered why your boyfriend/brother/father/male relative/male friend just CANNOT think on the same line as you? Have you ever wondered why no matter how much you try to explain something to them, they just cannot seem to understand? And even though you love them so much that you could give your life for them, you sometimes feel like killing them yourselves? Well, that’s men for you.

Many a times, I have come across men who tell me “You women are difficult to understand.”. But no my dear friend, men are equally difficult to understand. Many men claim that they are not chauvinistic, but their deeds prove otherwise. One thing that I have learnt is that it is very difficult to find a man who not only says that he treats his partner as an equal, but also means it. When a man wants to play around and enjoy himself in his younger days, he really does not bother whom he dates. She could be the kind of person who is very physical with everyone, he doesn’t mind. She could be a frequent clubber, drinker, smoker, he doesn’t mind. She could be going out and coming back home late, he doesn’t mind. She could have already lost her virginity to someone else, he doesn’t mind. After all, this generation is all about being open minded and carefree. However, when it comes to choosing his life partner, a mother for his children, all these factors matter to him regardless of what he does himself! What happens when you get married, and the man of the house has the final say? Ask yourself, why? What happened to the “equality”?

Another thing that I have noticed is that men, are never satisfied. I am not saying that all men are like that, but generally, it happens. I am also not saying that all women are always satisfied, but like I said, I am talking about the majority here. I am sure many ladies here would agree with me that even if you give your man EVERYTHING you can possible give, it’s never enough? He just never seems to realize that what you have given him IS your EVERYTHING. He never seems to realize your sacrifices for him, or he just chooses to be oblivious to them. He does not realize how faithful you are to him, but instead puts his pleasure and happiness first while repeating the same old excuse, “Men have their needs”. Well my dear boys out there, we women have OUR needs as well, and sometimes they are much more difficult to meet than yours… but to us, YOU are more important. We put you in front of us before doing things. We consider your feelings and emotions before indulging in something… So please, at least try to appreciate that fact and reciprocate the commitment that we put in the relationship because if you don't, remember that there is a level to patience[WARNING: MEN, DO NOT BE INSENSITIVE]. And to the men I know of who have been blind to the love of your girlfriends/wives and who have gone astray seeking happiness from other women, shame on you! You do not deserve the love and respect of any woman!

One more thing that we women are tired of is your excuse of not doing something because you are unable to multi-task. The reason why I am using the word “excuse” here is because you know very well that it’s not easy for you to multi task, but you don’t even try. Multi tasking is about mental co-ordination and it can be trained up. While surfing the net a few days ago, I came across 2 interesting diagrams explaining how the minds of men and women work and I feel it is a very good illustration indeed.

The diagram of the mind of a man shows all the doors to his activities closed except for the activity he is currently engaged in. For example, when he is going to work from home, he steps out of home, shuts the door behind him, opens the door to work and once again shuts the door behind him.

The woman on the other hand, leaves the doors to all her activities open, therefore allowing herself to enter any one of them and move around freely. However, you will notice that a door to a room called “personal" is shut. This illustrates that she puts all other needs in front of her except for her personal needs and wants. This shows the reason why she is able to care for her family while sacrificing many other things. I am of the opinion that men too should be like that. They should learn how to use more of the white matter(a tissue) in their brain rather than the gray matter all the time.

There are many many more things that I can add to this post, but this post is not meant to criticize men or to pin point their mistakes. We women have our fair share of faults as well. However, this post is meant to encourage men to appreciate, respect, love and give their 100% commitment to their partners. Remember, “What you don’t want her to do unto you; you don’t do unto her” simply because, what goes around, comes around!

Is this really a Religious Obligation??

2009-10-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

Extract from Straits Times Interactive:

Home > Breaking News > SE Asia > Story
Oct 27, 2009
Trousers for women banned

BANDA ACEH (Indonesia) - MUSLIM women in Indonesia's West Aceh district will be banned from wearing 'tight' trousers or jeans under new regulations, an official said on Tuesday.
From the start of next year any woman wearing trousers or jeans deemed to be too tight will have to immediately change into a government-issue skirt and their offending garment will be chopped into pieces.

'If a woman flouts (the rule), her trousers will be cut up on the spot and replaced with a skirt that will be provided free of charge by the West Aceh government,' district chief Ramli Mansur told AFP. 'This rule applies not only to women but also to men, who are prohibited from wearing shorts.'

The regulations only applied to the majority Muslim population and was based on the recommendation of local clerics. 'We'll still respect the rights of non-Muslims so they shouldn't worry,' Mr Mansur said.He said loose-fitting trousers could be worn under a skirt, as long as no part of the ankle was visible.

'We're not stopping women from wearing trousers. What's prohibited are tight trousers and jeans. If they have to wear trousers, the trousers must cover their ankles and be worn under loose, long skirts,' he said. 'If there are parties who disagree, don't be angry with me. Be angry with God as I'm only carrying out a religious obligation.' -- AFP

Religion

2009-10-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hey guys I was just reading up on a certain things on religious misconceptions and I came across a few interesting sites. You could take a look at them if it interests you! Have fun!

Dress Code in Islam: http://www.submission.org/women/mis.html
Prayer of a Jew vs a Muslim: http://www.submission.org/jews.html
Islam and Dogs: http://submission.org/pets/dogs2.html
http://submission.org/pets/dogs.html
Jihad and terrorism: http://submission.org/jihad/
Misconceptions in Hinduism: http://www.geocities.com/lamberdar/misconceptions.html
http://www.howtodothings.com/religion-spirituality/how-to-remove-common-misconception-about-hinduism
The complete idiot's guide to World Religions: http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=ZPokHByS3N0C&pg=PA194&lpg=PA194&dq=misconception+about+hinduism&source=bl&ots=tzdJtD2T5M&sig=l56CkaeitCWQVJ4QL4wTLQJd9iI&hl=en&ei=TzrdSq6SMJDe6APCh_CcDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CB4Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=misconception%20about%20hinduism&f=false

Jesus/Isa in Islam and Christianity

2009-10-06T23:24:00.000-07:00

According to Islam, Isa(Jesus) is the messenger of God who was born to Maryam(Mary) as a result of virginal conception, a miraculous event that happened by the grace of Allah(God). It is believed that when Mary withdrew into a temple, Angel Jibreel (Angel Gabriel) visited her and told her of her conception of Jesus. Jesus, the messiah; the anointed one was believed not to be crucified but raised up to the heavens alive. It is also believed that he will return to Earth near the day of judgement to destroy Al-Masi Ad-Dajjal(the false messiah/Antichrist).

In Christianity, it is believed that Jesus is the son of God. According to the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, Jesus was believed to have been conceived by the Holy Spirits and born of the Virgin Mary. According to a common interpretation of the scriptures, God was turning away from Jesus during his crucifixion as Jesus was suffering in the place of sinners.

After looking at these two versions of the story of Jesus, it makes us wonder, what is the truth? How did Jesus live his life and die? How was Jesus conceived? I really wonder...

Parents.

2009-09-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

Whether we realise it or not, parents play a huge part in our lives. Not only do they give birth to us, but they also put in a lot of effort to bring us up. They feed us, shelter us, introduce the rest of the world to us, mold our character and provide the best of things for us. One thing that I have realised in life is that it is very important for a parent to bring up his/her own child. A child's perception of right and wrong, or of life for that matter, becomes very different when he/she is brought up by someone other than his/her own mother or father.

When I become a parent myself, I would really like either me or my partner to bring up our kids. If a couple want to be parents, they should have the responsibility for their own children. If they feel that they are not ready to face the challenge, then they should not have children in the first place. It is very important for parents to be greatly involved in the lives of their children especially during the childhood and adolescence stages.

If parents fail to realise this, they will deeply regret not being an important part of their children's lives as the consequences to that are more than just bad. So friends, please do not end up regretful, if you know what I mean!

Leo

2009-09-27T23:18:00.000-07:00

This is by far the most accurate horoscope I have read of Leos. So true!!!

The Lion is considered the king of the jungle, and likewise you Leos have an air of royalty about you. Some Leos even have hair resembling the thick mane of the Lion. But Lions are more than roar, for they are truly magnificent beasts. The Lioness proudly cares for the young, hunts and takes care of survival with relentless intent and ferocity, when needed. And proud are you Leo! Perhaps that's why Leo often chooses work that puts you in the center of stage or in the spotlight of appreciation.

Leo are warm of spirit, eager for action and are driven by a desire to be loved for what you bring to others. Leo are a magnanimous leader and a faithful servant. Once scorned in love, however, Leo will withdraw your affections and the light, once brilliant, can go cold.

Leo motto might be "What you see is what you get." You tend to live your live straightforwardly and with a flair for drama. In fact, many Leos are attracted to the theater, the performing arts and public relations, for you truly understand the importance of putting on a good presentation. As you blaze gloriously through your life, remember to take time to acknowledge the feelings of those around you. If you forget, you could unconsciously hurt someone you love. But, if you remain aware your impact, others can benefit from your presence.

Element: Fire. Fire signs are naturally warm. A fire gives light and heat, but it doesn't get depleted as others feed on its warmth. One candle can bring light to a room and it won't burn any faster if ten people read from its light than if there was only one. Fire doesn't plan it next move; it isn't logical. It simply is in the moment and will burn what fuel is available without judgment or forethought. For this reason fire signs can successfully rely on their intuition and survival instincts.

The fire of Leo is brilliant and intense. It's like the summer Sun that relentlessly shows up every day and whose heat continues to build over a period of time.

Fifth House: Children. The Fifth House is directly related to children, but it is also associated with any type of childlike activity. Even grown-ups need to play and this is a function of the Fifth House. In fact, all self-expression and creativity comes from this sector. Additionally, this is the House of Romantic Love. Truly, the Fifth House could be called the House of Enjoyment.

Key Planet: Sun. The Sun is the undisputed King of our little planetary system. He is always in the center. Without his light, there would be no life here on earth. Although the Sun is 93 million miles distant, its warmth is the basis for all energy on Earth. Astrologically, the Sun represents our will. It's like the fuel that fires each of our individual furnaces and gives us cause to live. As the key planet of Leo, the Sun is the symbol of the self and from it stems all individuality and creativity.

Leo Greatest Strength: Your playful and loving nature
Leo Possible Weakness: Need for approval can become too important

Be careful what you wish for...

2009-09-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wished the person beside you would just shut up? Or have you ever wished that you did not need to waste your time sitting in a boring lesson? Or have you ever wished you could walk out of the home in search of freedom? Well, think twice.

If you really get what you wish for, you may realise it is not what you actually wished for. Just like the story of the monkey's paw, your life may not really be that happy if you get what you wished for.

The Story of the Monkey's Paw, Wikipedia
"The story involves Mr. and Mrs. White and their grown-up son, Herbert. Sergeant-Major Morris, a friend of the Whites who has been part of the British force in India, leaves them with the monkey's paw, telling of its mysterious powers to grant three wishes, and of its journey from an old fakir to his comrade, who on his third and final wish, wishes for death.

Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds. Their son is killed by machinery at his company, and they get compensation of 200 pounds.

Ten days after they bury Herbert, Mrs. White, almost mad with grief, asks her husband to wish Herbert back to life with the paw. He is very reluctant, but does so. After a delay there are knocking sounds on their door. Mrs. White fumbles at the locks in an attempt to open the door. Mr. White knows however that he cannot allow the son in, as he was mutilated by the accident and had been dead for more than a week. He wishes his third wish. The knocking stops. Mrs. White opens the door to find no one there.

The moral of the story is contained in this description of the paw: "It had a spell put on it by an old fakir," said the sergeant-major, "a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow". "

In other words, appreciate what you have, or you might never have it again. be it pain, sorrow or disappointment, be happy that you are lucky enough to be alive to experience it.

Latest Update

2009-09-22T01:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends!

I am so so sorry I know I have been missing in action for a long long time. 4 months to be precise. To tell you the truth, I forgot that I own a blog! Hehe for those of you who know me, you would know I am not lying. And yes RM, my bloggie almost died too!!! I just revived it.. Haha

Anyways to keep you guys updated on my life, I am doing a thirteen week internship with Allen and Gledhill. Yes you read it right. THIRTEEN WEEKS. Well, I am now into my fourth week here and it's not really that bad after all. I have to admit, although the job is boring, the people here are really really nice to be around. They are really friendly and genuine people and I love the working environment, except that the air-con here freezes me to death. I am seated at the 26th floor of OMB, Raffles Place, and I have to say, the view is splendid! The lawyers here are very professional with the way they handle their clients and they assert positive pressure on their subordinates. Overall, I am pretty much enjoying my stay here even though I an be bored to death with the work assigned to me at times.

Apart from that, I have been reading up on the ''Ten Courts of Hell'' and now, I really feel like paying a visit to the Haw Par Villa (Reminds me of Haw Flakes hehe). Another thing that I am pretty interested in is the ''Garuda Puranam''. I intend to get a hard copy of the text from India. It really amazes me to see how our ancestors tried their best to ensure that people did not commit sins even though there was no such thing as a government and law and order. Well, then again its not surprising. We are enjoying the benefits of the findings of our ancestors anyway :)

Oooopsy! Looks like I've got to go! I'll catch up with you guys some other time! (And I will trryyy to make sure that this bloggie does not die). Hope to catch you guys with something interesting the next time round!

Lots of Love,
Jan :)

Things that I feel like doing

2009-05-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

Hi guys...

Basically, I am pretty bored at the moment. So i was just wondering, what are the things that i feel like doing right now... and the list goes as follows:

Go horse Riding
Cycle along the beach
Drive up to Malaysia
Go for a swim
Go para-sailing
Go jet skiing
Dance with Aneesh (Hmm Aneesh, we have not been able to do that in TWO years plus already)
Watch a movie
Visit a dog farm
Meet up with my cousins
Go to Canada or Egypt for a one month vacation
Take photos along the Singapore River
Get a nice body massage
Meet up with my old friends
Make new friends
Pilot a ship
Drive a truck
Play with a tiger/lion/bear cub

Hmmm there are so many other things that i feel like doing right now. But unfortunately, i can't do any. So, I'll just hit the bed! Seeya!

Batam Trip, 25/04/2009

2009-04-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends!

Two days ago, yes on Saturday, my family and I along with a few of my dad's friends spent the day at Batam. We had a really great time going shopping, consuming a wonderful seafood lunch and having an amazing massage session! =) (PS: Kyle don't be jealous)

However, the highlight of the trip was our visit to the orphanage. My dad's friends wanted to take a look at an orphanage in Batam to see how they could contribute to the well being of the children. My dad suggested one orphanage that he knew of that was around the area.

The moment we alighted from the minibus, the sight that greeted me was a panoramic view of the Batam Island. We were at a hilltop looking down at the houses, plantations, buildings and sea that were below us. But there was still no sight of the orphanage.

Then, we spotted a signboard that led us down a narrow pathway to a bright cheery yellow house with a colourful fence and we immediately knew, that just had to be the orphanage!

Upon reaching the orphanage, we came to know that the place was run by a middle aged couple. The husband was an Islamic teacher and the wife was a home maker. This big hearted couple who were not very well to do themselves, converted their home to suit the needs of the 25 children they were bringing up. This couple also provided these children with education. Upon being asked what help they could be offered, the husband's humble reply was that he would like the sleeping area of the children to be tiled as it was currently made of planks of wood and the termites are now eating into the wood.

My observation was that the house was scarcely furnished, but clean. The children were also well clothed and they looked happy being where they were. However, one major problem that i noted was that there was a lack of ventilation. I felt so warm and suffocated being in there for just 10 minutes and i can really imagine what it feels like for the children living there.

Although i have been to many orphanages to visit and perform for many children, nothing touched my heart like how this one did. I really appreciate the fact that the couple have the heart to bring up abandoned children like their own when they themselves are struggling to make ends meet. This trip really made me reflect and realise how lucky we are as Singaporeans to have a clean and safe environment to live in.

Finally, I would like to tell the group of people who are involved in this project that i really look up to you and I would love to be a part of your team! I would love to contribute to projects like these where the long term welfare of the people are looked into rather than just donating canned food once a year. And Dear Readers, I really urge you to volunteer and contribute to the less fortunate as much as you can.

Always Remember, What goes around, Comes Around! =)

Panoramic view from the Hilltop

The first glimpse of the orphanage

Signboard leading the way to the orphanage

The well-mannered children greeting their visitors

The couple (husband in red polo tee and wife in orange top with white 'tudong') and the children

These computer tables would look nice with computers on them!

The children making, packing and selling 'keropok' in order to cover their expenses.

The Kitchen

Steep stairway leading to the basement

The sleeping area of the children

An interactive session with the children and their care-takers

Pieces of art work by the children

Each basket contains a particular child's study materials.
They can recognise which basket belongs to them as their passport size photo is pasted on it.

Neat stationery shelf

Common study Room

Living conditions of the children

Steep slope leading to the back of the house

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hi People! I am back with a post now... I know i have been away from my blog for a couple of months! But i am back once again... :)

You know people, one thing that i have learnt is that i should thank God for everything that I have... Easter is just a few hours away, and i would like to grab this opportunity to thank God for everything he has given me!

I thank God for:

Fulfilling my basic needs
Providing me with a wonderful Family and that includes my wonderful Lucky baby (this is something i am most grateful for)
Teaching me life's most important lessons
Giving me great friends
Giving me a healthy and mobile lifestyle
Helping me through my most difficult times
Giving me the privilege of enjoying luxurious items
Not allowing me to go through the pains of hunger and suffering
Allowing me to live in a wonderful country (Well every country has its ups and downs, and i feel that no matter what, Singapore is a great place to be!)
Giving me everything regardless of whether i deserve it or not.

Thank You God. With that, I would like to sign off by Wishing all of you a very Happy Easter! I will be back with my next post soon. Take care! Bye!

In the Computer Lab in TP

2009-01-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone... I know i have not updated this blog in like AGES.... like AGES....

I am in Tp's computer lab right now and vasugi is sitting beside me. Afza, a very sweet girl i met in TP is sitting on my other side and doing work. She is a very nice girl. In case you are wondering who Vasugi is, she is the mad girl whom i met in secondary school. She asked me to type that she is a sweet girl and that if you are dying and rich, you can give her a call =)... Ok, I am feeling rather tired now and i have to leave the lab. Will update my blog soon. SOON.

Take care, Bye!

My Blog

2008-11-26T01:04:00.000-08:00

Hello Darlings!
I have a school blog on "Rare Hobbies". Please let me know if you have any rare hobbies k??
This is the link: www.youdneverthinkofthis.blogspot.com
Love ya!
Ps: Bro you owe me some pictures and information! Hugs!

Presenting, Kyle Ravin!!!

2008-11-04T04:24:00.000-08:00

Baby Kyle (Hehehe i stole this pic!)
Kyle and Me

Yes i smeared Ice cream on him!

I blew that bubble for him!

Hey Bro!!! The entry you have been awaiting is like up, FINALLY:)

Well, Mr. Kyle Ravin has been asking me to blog about my life instead of turning this blog into an encyclopedia.... So here's how it goes....

Kharthik, ok well i know you prefer to be known as Kyle. So Kyle is my cousin brother (not a friend whom i call my brother!) who is ONLY 2 years older than me... :) And yes, he is a performer! Performing runs in our blood! :P This brother of mine is a really loving and fun person(excepts when he stuffs mutton into my mouth) to hang out with.... He is an extremely good magician and he has been performing since he was a very young cute kid, but very unfortunately, the cuteness is gone! haha OoPs! Can't wait for the next Maya bro!!!

Although we've known each other for almost our whole lives, we became close only recently... We've found a good friend in each other... Almost a year ago, we performed on the same day at the same venue but very unfortunately, i performed 15 minutes before him. And just like how he promised me that we would perform together on the same stage when he has a concept of ripping a girl apart, i promise you bro! We'll perform together when i am perfoming a murder scene or something :). Hehehhehehehhehe.... Just Kidding.... Kyle's favourite hobby is matchmaking me with weird people he sees on the road and in the bus! But no thanks bro! I'll find a suitable girl for you, if you know what i mean... But i have not come across anyone of that standard yet, so ya.. you got to wait!

Oh yes! And this brother of mine, calls himself the "cute guy next door".... Eh hem.... no comments about that bro... But anyways, you're a great bro! =) I'VE GOT A SMILEY THERE BRO!!!! Hehe...

Oki people thats all for now! Will catch up with you guys soon!

Ps: Sorry for the blurred pics bro! You can get the clearer ones from facebook... And i will send you the other pictures that i am banned from posting online! =) Huggies!

Love, and Mr.Perfect!

2008-10-24T07:57:00.001-07:00

People around the world are falling in and out of love all the time.... What exactly is love? How would you define love? How do you know when you are in love? Does the tingling feeling in your body tell you so? Or do the butterflies in your stomach tell you so? Thats not all love is about...

When you stare into your partner's eyes and you feel comforted, safe, secure, protected and protective... When you know that he is the one you want to have a family and grow old with, that's when you are in love. Love is when you are willing to make sacrifices for him and accept everything that he says or does. But true love is when you accept his faults and yet point them out to him and explain to him that he needs to do something to change himself for the better. You accept him him for who he is and how he is like, you give him honest opinions and yet, you do not impose your ideas and beliefs on him. At the same time, you accept your OWN FAULTS and try to change YOURSELF for the better. Do not allow him to impose his ideas on you, but do give a good amount of consideration to his opinions and perceptions. Do not have ego, and do not condone egoistic behavior. Love is basically about selflessness and MUTUAL respect. Support and encourage your partner, and give him truthful feedbacks when necessary. Share his troubles with him, not just his joy. DO NOT fear to voice out your dislikes but instead, sort out your differences! Bear in mind that he is not perfect, and NEITHER ARE YOU.

To be very honest, Mr. Perfect does not exist! NOBODY in this world is perfect (and do not tell me that you are Nobody). But all you have to do is, open your eyes and look around you. Find someone who has the same personality as you. Someone you know you can always count on. Someone you would be willing to be there for all your life, and someone who would be willing to be there for you all his life... And MAKE him your Mr.Perfect. In life, change has to be permanent. If he cannot change himself, then you have got to change yourself. If that is something you are not willing to do, then he is not the one for you!

Do not be materialistic when it comes to love. Money can buy many things, but it cannot buy love, happiness and life. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This shows us that many people can have many perceptions towards one item. It's just how you look at it. Likewise, your Mr. Perfect lies in how you look at him. :)

Like you all know, "Do not leave the one you love for the one you like, Because the one you like will leave you for the one he loves.". So people, please appreciate your Mr. Perfect!

Janani
Dedicated to a special friend who has made a BIG difference in my life! =)

9/11

2008-09-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

I was watching "Inside" on National Geographic today and the sight i saw moved me to tears.
The widows of brave men in the United Airlines Flight 93 narrated the stories of their husbands deeds.

The three men called their wives the moment they knew that the plane they were in were being hijacked. One man, Jeremy, had a newborn daughter and he told his wife to tell their daughter how much he loves her and her mother if he does not come out alive. The other two men also called their wives to reassure them and tell them that they would take on the terrorists and take the plane back. The three men wanted to break into the cockpit and land the plane on their own the moment they were flying above a rural area... As they tried to enter the cockpit, the terrorists tilted the plane upwards so as to throw off the men. One of the men's father in law was on the line with him and he said that he heard two series of screams like as if the people on board the plane were on a roller coaster. The moment the 3 men and a few other passengers tried to attack the terrorist pilots, the pilots shouted "Allaho Akbar", meaning God is Great, and they tilted the nose of the plane downwards and plunged into a field. The Air Traffic Controllers lost the plane on radar and did not even know that it crashed. The interview with the widows of these men was so heartbreaking as they described how they felt when they were talking to their husbands.

Meanwhile, the World Trade Centre was hit! The South Tower was the first to collapse followed by the North. Despite the fear of death, there were many heroes as well. A Muslim man named Usman was trying to escape when the tower collapsed but very unfortunately, he fell and was lying on the floor suffocating. He said that there was this man with a long beard, someone he would speak to last, who picked him up and said "Come on brother take my hand. Lets get out of this together.". And the best part of it was that his rescuer was a Jew.

There was a Battalion Chief named Richard who was trying to make sure that everyone was evacuated from the North Tower before it collapsed by racing from floor to floor to tell people that the building might collapse just like the South Tower. He managed to gather 50 people and were rushing them down the staircase, the building collapsed above them. Their fellow rescuers thought that they would have been dead. But the surprising thing was, that particular staircase in the building remained almost intact and all 50 men managed to scramble out of it alive.

The 9/11 attack caused a great deal of misery to the World's most powerful country. Commercial air travel was disrupted for 4 days, the stock market was disrupted for 6 days (the longest ever since the great depression), lives were lost, many people suffered heartbreaks... The engineer of the 9/11 attack, the mastermind Sheikh Mohammed was arrested in Islamabad and he gave details on how he planned the attack. It is really upsetting to know that educated and civilised people can do such stupid things. Reason being, the Qur'an is misinterpreted. Jihad is misinterpreted. After the 9/11 attack, 4 days before Presidential Election, Osama bin Laden sent a rather defensive video of himself saying that he had no choice but to destroy the WTC. He said that America kills his people, he will kill Americans. Little did he realise that he killed his own people who were among the 2973 who were confirmed dead. Is that not against Islam?

Following the 9/11 attack, President Bush signed the Patriot Act, giving the Federal Government new power to combat terrorism. He said that not just the terrorists, but the ones who harbour the terrorists deserve to be punished as well.

Upon being interviewed by a Pakistani journalist, Osama said "This place may be bombed and we may be killed. We love death. The U.S love life. That is the big difference between us.". Well, that may be true my dear friend, but God did not give YOU the right to take away lives. Islam does not teach anyone to kill. Understand that before applying the concepts of Islam wrongly.

Superstitions

2008-09-17T01:36:00.000-07:00

Hi friends! I know it's been a long time since I have updated my blog (thanks to my terrible network and laziness :p). Today, i decided that nothing was going to stop me from blogging. Today's entry is going to be rather short. The purpose of this entry is just to spark some discussion and to gather your opinions.

Superstitions. Ever since i was a young child, i have been told of many superstitions. But when i asked for an explanation as to why i had to follow that superstition, i was never given an answer! After a couple of years, i realised that my elders were following these superstitions without knowing why they had to be followed. It never dawned upon them to question their parents or grandparents. Upon a lot of discussions and research, I have come to the conclusion that our forefathers had reasons for implementing and imposing their beliefs. These reasons however, are not applicable to our current society in this 21st century, or at least not in Singapore.

These are some of the superstitions that i have heard of and the text in blue are the reasons as to why i think these superstitions have been imposed upon later generations:

1. Cutting your nails at night will shorten your lifespan (Indian): In the olden days, lighting was a problem. If you cut your nails in the dim light, you might hurt yourself causing a fatal injury? Maybe.
2. For as long as the food continues to boil or simmer on the table, the cook's husband will beat her (German): In the olden days, food used to take long to cook. The impatient and chauvinistic husbands of these cooks beat them up due to that.
3. Women may never be left alone during the first six weeks following childbirth as the devil has more power over them (German): Women tend to be weak after childbirth and they need all the help they can get.
4. A woman in labour should put on her husband's slippers (German): It is more comfortable for a pregnant women to wear larger slippers as her feet may tend to be swollen.
5. It is not good to sew or patch something while you are still wearing it (German): You might prick yourself
6. If it rains in sunshine, poison will fall from the sky (German): Science had not yet advanced and the people were not used to such a phenomenon.
7. If it rains in sunshine, someone will die in bloodshed (Malay): Science had not yet advanced and the people were not used to such a phenomenon.
8. If you drop a comb it means a visitor is coming to your house (Indian): Or maybe, you are combing your hair to look nice because your gut feeling tells you that you will have a visitor but very unfortunately, you had butter fingers and you dropped your comb.
9. After returning from a funeral, one must wash him/herself with holy water to “clean” the body (Chinese) : You have to bathe to remove the germs you carried along with you from the funeral home.
10. Do not wake up in the afternoon or you will find it hard to make a living (Malay) : Waking up in the afternoon is an indication of laziness.

There are many other superstitious believes that exist but i just do not have the patience to state it all in here. Another thing that i have noticed is that if someone BELIEVES in superstitions, it comes true. If they do not believe or if they do not know that such a superstition exists, it does not affect them in anyway. So the question is, are superstitions real or are they just games played by our minds? Please share your opinions! :)

I would like to end this entry by quoting the lyrics of Taufik Batisah's "Superstitious" :
Very superstitious, writing's on the wall,Very superstitious, ladder's bout' to fall,
Now thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Now you don't wanna save me, the good things in your past.

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way

Now listen
Now very superstitious, wash your face and hands,
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can,Now keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong,
Now you don't wanna save me, sad is my song.

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way

Now very super
Very superstitious

Ok then people! Have a great week ahead!

Lots of Love,
Jan

Sex Sells

2008-08-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody how do you do?? You must be wondering why my topic is titled “Sex Sells” right? Well, I just wanted to share my opinion with you that sex sells. But should it be sold?

I was recently doing a report on the lives of prostitutes for my sociology when I started to think about the effects of pornography and prostitution on the society. The following extract regarding prostitution is from my sociology report and the analysis regarding pornography is my personal opinion.

Extract from sociology report regarding prostitution:
“In a book, written by a Canadian author, titled “Core Concepts in Sociology”; stated that children, especially young girls are abducted and forced into prostitution or are sold off to pimps by impoverished parents. The reason behind the demand for child prostitutes is because there is a false notion that minors are less likely to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases.

Some argue that prostitution exists due to male demand and that women choose to become prostitutes out of their own free will and therefore it would not be right to illegalize prostitution and deny these women of their jobs. Some others say that women are forced into prostitution due to economic needs, lack of choice, lack of education or simply because they are cheated into it and therefore sex traffickers and buyers should be criminalized, therefore eliminating prostitution. So what is the real reason behind why women resort to prostitution as a source of income?

Sometime in March this year, I was watching an interview that was conducted with a 50 year old Kerala born prostitute named Nalini Jameela. Jameela has written an autobiography (Oru Lyngithathozhilaliyude Athmakatha) in Malayalam, which has now been translated to English. Jameela says “The socio-cultural establishment in Kerala forbids a man from seeking an outlet for his sexuality so the average Malayalee male is sexually frustrated. This is why he gets involved in sex rackets. The men that the media and society accuse as sex offenders, including former minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, are the real victims. Women and girls are the secondary victims.”

Jameela does not agree with the view that women are the victims of sexual crimes and she argues that prostitution is just like any other commercial job and that the job of prostitutes is to provide men with the pleasure that they are unable to get from other people (including their wives). Upon being asked why she turned to prostitution, Jameela said that she was a young widow and she had to feed her two young children. Although Jameela says that she was not forced to become a prostitute, the fact that she said that she turned to prostitution to feed her two young children shows that circumstances had forced her into this job.

The website of the Association of Albanian Girls and Women, an association created by and for the victims of human trafficking, contains many stories of how these women and girls were forced into prostitution. These girls were either sold to prostitution rings by their parents, cheated into prostitution (majority of the girls were tricked into prostitution and this phenomenon happens in Singapore as well) or forced into prostitution due to poverty. There were also instances where many girls who met with the wrong company were blacked mailed into doing “favours”, which led them to prostitution. Many others became prostitutes as they were abusers of narcotics or alcohol, and therefore they needed quick money to sustain their addiction. One similarity that I noticed among these prostitutes was that they had low education and income levels and thus, were unaware of the other paths that they could have taken to earn the money. Even heterosexual male prostitutes normally provide their services for rich women who are willing to pay a high price for company. Once again, I can conclude that circumstances have forced them into this job.

Another phenomenon that I would like to mention is the existence of gay prostitutes in Singapore. Upon watching a You Tube video clip on gay prostitution in Little India, I came to realize that these gay prostitutes were mainly foreign workers who were in the construction line. They resorted to prostitution as they were either in need of money, or company.
After reading these cases, I have formulated a hypothesis that shows that the level of education and income are independent variables and the likelihood of becoming a prostitute is a dependant variable. The lower the education level or the income level of a person, the likelihood of that person becoming a prostitute is higher.

So how does prostitution affect the society in Singapore?
Due to the fact that prostitution is not illegal in Singapore, many young males, especially National Servicemen visit brothels. These National Servicemen are approximately between 18 to 22 years of age. At this age, they would not necessarily have reached the level of maturity to stop and think of the consequences of going to a brothel. Therefore they get into unnecessary trouble such as developing sexually transmitted diseases and some of them even regret losing their virginity out of lust instead of love. Many female residents who live near red light districts also suffer as they are mistaken to be prostitutes. The land value near the red light districts have also dropped drastically therefore causing residents who sell their houses to suffer from financial losses. With relation to gay prostitution in Little India, one shop owner mentioned that he was afraid that he might lose business as customers would avoid his shop due to the fact that these gay prostitutes hang around nearby.

I think prostitution can be minimized in Singapore. I feel that traffickers and buyers of prostitution should be criminalized and prostitutes should be educated on the various paths that they can take in life. Large scale companies could even come up with schemes to employ ex-prostitutes so as to make sure that they have a secure job and a respectable part to play in the society. I know that prostitution definitely cannot be 100% eliminated but an attempt to eliminate prostitution would cause a great deal of improvement in the society.”

My views on Pornography:

Now, moving on to pornography…. From FHM to Playboy to Hustler to Penthouse, their target audiences are all males. Why is this so? A female has an equal amount of sexual desire as a male does so in what way is his excuse about needing to satisfy his sexual desire acceptable? I personally feel that pornography (from softcore to hardcore) has a negative impact on the society and that it should be made illegal! You may ask me, what is so bad about it if it is watched just for entertainment? Well, I have a lot to say for this. These are the positive and negative impacts of pornography for comparison:

Positive Impacts
- A form of sex education.
- It is just meant for entertainment.
- It provides jobs for the porn stars.
- It reduces the urge for males to commit sexual crimes.
- It teaches human beings to appreciate their anatomy.
- It is a form of art.

Negative Impacts
- It corrupts the minds of many.
- Males lose the ability to be sensitive, intimate and sensual.
- It could lead to addiction causing some to suffer from intimacy disorder.
- Violence against women in porn films cause males to feel ‘superior’ therefore indirectly causing them to be violent and oppressing.
- Sexual crimes occur when males try to depict what they see in pornographic films.
Porn is watched with feelings of lust. The beauty of the human body cannot be appreciated that way. Appreciating the human body is when you admire your spouse’s body no matter how sexually unappealing he or she might be.
- Child pornography is abnormal and it stimulates the mind to commit sexual crimes on children. A person who watches child pornography will not be able to be a good parent as he/she is bound to look at his/her own child in a different manner.
- It panders to the patriarchal propaganda where women are the primary objects seen as serving no further purpose than to satisfy the male "right" to sexual fulfillment. This effectively denies women the right to be held as individual, autonomous human beings, even at the most intimate levels of human experience. The fact that images of women being violated, raped, bound, beaten and chained are seen as sexually stimulating is greatly disturbing. There have also been studies which show that convicted rapists (some of them being youths and children), marital sexual assaulters and pedophiles have been influenced by pornographic materials.

From what I see, the negative effects of pornography outweigh the positive effects of it. If you are going to be going with the argument that pornography is a form of art and education, then like what the films of Candida Royalle (her productions are aimed more to women and couples) say, porn should be made available in every school library and perhaps, we will have found a means of addressing the dropout rate.

Take for example, virtual games that feature rape. Where does the respect for females go to? Many victims of sexual assault were very much taken aback as to the existence of such a game. The assaults they have experienced have left an emotional scar on them, if not physical. With that being the case, they obviously felt very hurt and upset that some people could create such an insensitive game and that others actually patronized the game! This is yet another effect of adult ‘entertainment’.

I can accept that the human body is seen as art. Art is own its own. Its beauty is admired and no matter how erotic the art piece is, it is still art. Not pornography.

I am aware that many medical films feature nude people and this, is for the sake of medical education. In this aspect, I feel that such films and clips should only be screened at hospitals.

If you are going to argue with me that by making pornography illegal many porn stars will lose their jobs, then my dear friends, I can challenge your opinion by saying that by making drug trafficking illegal, many drug dealers lose their jobs. In this case, the issue is legality versus morality and I feel that morality should prevail, especially in a conservative Asian society.

Any differing views people?? Drop me a mail if you would like to share your opinions. Got to go now guys! Take care!

Dance, My passion

2008-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

I like Uniforms, and guys in uniforms :p

"Where are you my love?"

Dancing has been my passion since the age of 3. I would dance to any song and there used to be a song that goes like this "நட்சத்திர ஜன்னலில், வானம் எட்டி பார்குது" which means, 'the sky is peeping through the star-shaped window' if i am not wrong.... haha.... When i used to listen to that song, i used to take my mum's shawl that had a hole in it, peep through the hole and dance....And that was how i started dancing... In my early stages, i used to be very clumsy and distractive in class... I was one of the youngest, apart from Vithiya and i used to run around the place playing with the older girls.

I used to love my classmates Padmini and Kokila and i used to piggy back on Padmini all the time! I really miss those days... That was when i was in Apsaras Arts. When i turned 6, i joined Nritalaya Aesthetics Society. It was a whole new learning journey for me and i am really enjoying it.

It has been 15 years since i have started learning dance and i do not intend to give it up even after i get married and have kids. As far as my health permits me, i will dance and do service to God and people by performing the art. I really thank my mother for supporting me and encouraging me in every way possible, something that i really thank God for, and mummy dearest, i will do you proud and make your dedication to this art meaningful. And also, if my children fall in love with a certain art, i will go all out to support and encourage them just the way you did. Love you so much!

I also have to mention about a certain people in my dance school. Chee Meng anney is like brother to me and he is also a role model to me. Being a Chinese guy, he learns Bharathanatyam and many other forms of Indian art. He has taught me to appreciate the Indian culture better. Another person i would like to mention is Aneesh. He is another male dancer who is really a source of motivation to me. He never gives up and he has really good stamina. He is one male dancer who actually dances like a male. Chee Meng and Aneesh have been really good friends to me and i really treasure them alot.

My other dance classmates such as Revathi, Vani, Mathi, Komz have all been really good friends to me.. They are all wonderful dancers and i love them loads :) We should really stay bonded as a class and work hard together to achieve our goals... Rights gals??
Ok then people.. i got to get going! Hope you liked the pictures... Bye for now!

Janz

08. 08. 08

2008-08-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

The picture on the top right hand corner shows Sandy and i trying to open a bottle of water. Which we never managed to do :p

Evan and RM are taking a picture of the cake, Sandy and Lucky are looking at the cake.

Heellooo Everybody! Today was a wonderful day for me, thanks to SHSS buddies who gave me a surprise birthday celebration!!!! I love them loads... This is how it all happened.

My darling Rose Mary left for Melbourne about 3 weeks ago. Last week, she randomly asked me on MSN "What's your mum's name?" and i was pretty surprised but i answered her anyway. The next day, i received a call from her number and the caller who sounded very much like Rose Mary was on the line. This was what happened:
"Rose Mary" : Hello could i speak to Rooba please?
Janani : I'm sorry she's not in.
"Rose Mary" : It's alright thanks.

After i put the phone down, i was pretty confused. That was Rose Mary's number and it sounded just like her. I called her Singapore handphone line and someone who sounded like her picked up the phone. I assumed it was her sister and asked "Is this Rose Mary's sister?" and the person on the other end of the line said "Yes.". I then asked her if someone from her home called my home and she said no, and that the number i mentioned is no longer their residential number. Something seemed suspicious and i started to wonder if RM was actually in Singapore. But since she just left two weeks ago, i thought that it would be ridiculous for her to be back so fast.

The next day, i was in the lift with my mum and she got a call on her handphone and she said "uh-oh".. I was wondering why she reacted in such a way but she just picked up the phone and told the person on the line "I will check my schedule and get back to you.". Then she said the call was from an officer working in SINDA.

A few days after that, my mum told me that some relatives from India would be coming over for lunch on the 8th of August. I tried telling her that i would not be at home but she insisted that i should be home. Yesterday on the 7th of August, my mum's uncle passed away so she had to attend the funeral today and she asked me to stay home to entertain the visitors. They were supposed to come at 1 but it was already 1.45pm and they still had not turned up. I was so irritated that they were so late as i had to leave the house by 3pm to go to school. My mum called me to ask if they had arrived and i was grumbling to her saying that they were so late and that they do not know how to keep their timing.

At 1. 50pm, the doorbell rang, and there stood Sandy. I opened the door and said "You ah.. Hey you know some India people are coming over for lunch. I thought they were the ones who rang the doorbell.". And then, out popped Rose Mary! I was so shocked that she appeared out of nowhere.... In fact, i was so shocked that i dropped my keys while trying to open the lock on the gate!

When they entered the house, i gave them a really BIG hug each and then Rose Mary told me that my mum knew all about this and that she conspired with them and then i realised, there were no Indian people coming! Then Rose Mary brought out the delicious cake which she baked all by herself! I was so touched(you guys should know how to pronounce this)! And Rose Mary, i just ate your cake! Love it so much whhheeeeeeeeeeeee........ Sandy bought me a book and Kinder Bueno, and yes Boo, i will definitely read the book! And Rose Mary gave me a bag which she made all by herself again! I will bring it out with me FOR SURE girl! Rose Mary also explained to me how she got back to Singapore within 2 weeks and said that she would be staying here till the end of the year. I really look forward to all the fun we are going to be having girl! And then, she received a phone call and she suddenly ran out of the house saying that she had to collect something and she arrived within 2 minutes with Evangeline by her side(Evan she called you a "something" :P)! I was so overjoyed to see her as well! Evan got me MAGIC CANDLES, thank you so much Evan i almost burnt my hair and it took me 5 minutes before i could actually cut the cake! Hehehehe.....

We had so much fun from trying to light the candles to trying to put a lit candle on the centre of the cake with other candles on the circumference (which i very innovatively placed using a pair of tongs... Although i accidentally dropped the candle on the cake, it landed just the way we wanted it to right??). And then after the cutting of the cake, Evan and Rosey were having fun with Lucky Ducky. It was a really nice day guys and i really love you guys loads!

And oh ya, not forgetting a few points that Rose Mary wrote on the inside of the wrapping paper:

HAPPU BIRTHDAY [Note: Spelling error on purpose].
Janani Rocks
Janani is a wonderful person.... because she likes chocolate
Lonely... i'm mister lonely... i need my jananeee... for my own... oowwwn....
Janani is SO good at sports. She gets 40 sit-ups done in a minute. And jumps 182cm for her standing broad jump! ...OH YEAH And beat Tim Teh in 2.4kn run. Best timing in the WHOLE SCHOOL. [5 minutes 27 seconds].
Janani is so wonderful
And guys and gals love JANANI GRACE RAJAKUMAR
Hey now! You're an ALL STAR!
She has a great smile! (Nicer than Joker's... and sweeter, too).
Has all this bolstered your ego yet? It should have... Hee hee hee.....

Hahahhahahahhahah....... And yes RM, is has bolstered my ego indeed... I am the best in the world! Ok i think thats a bit too much... Hahaha.... So well, yep! That was how my day was! Happening! And once again, Thank you to all of you who put in your effort in some way or another! I love you Rose Mary, I love you Sandy and i love you Evan and thank you so much for your wishes too Pin aka Kuthuhead!!! I was really so touch-ed! Love ya guys!

And not forgetting Rishi! Thank you so much for your many many presents all the way from Melbourne! Love ya :) !

Ok then people, i had a really happening day... Time to stop blogging now! Take care and have fun! I'll catch up with you soon! Bye bye!

ജനനി

2008-08-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

ഇതുവും ടെസ്റ്റു.

ஜனனியின் ப்லோக் - தமிழ்

2008-08-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

இது எப்படி இருக்கு? சும்மா.... டெஸ்டு :)

Hindu Customs (And mythology)

2008-08-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

Today i visited the Ramar Temple near Changi Village as it is "Adi Peruku". On this particular day every year in the month of Adi (August), the water level of the sea rises to its peak. The belief is that Goddess Mahaletchumi comes out from the sea (I do not know why she does this only on this particular day). Goddess Mahaletchumi is Vishnu's wife and therefore, she lives on the sea bed with him.

Anyway, on this particular day every year, married women will go to the beach for prayers, take out their 'thaali' (nuptial string), take a dip in the sea 3 times (a form of cleansing), put on their thaali back again and tie a yellow holy thread given by the priest onto the thaali. My question is, if the purpose of doing this ritual is to seek blessings from the Goddess to have a fulfilling married life or long life for the ladies husbands, then why do they particularly seek blessings from Goddess Mahaletchumi, who is the wife of the provider(Vishnu)? Why not Goddess Parvathi who is the wife of the destroyer (Shivan)?

Someone suggested that Goddess Mahaletchumi could be an avatharam(form) of Goddess Parvathi. I do not agree with this explanation. If they were both the same person in two different forms, then how is it possible that she married two different people? Does Hindu mythology encourage polygamy? I have also received the explanation that avatharams are NOT God but are supposed to be totally different characters.

Take a look at the Dasavatharam(ten avatharams) of Vishnu:

1. Matsya (fish)- Satya Yuga
2. Kurma (tortise)- Satya Yuga
3. Varaha (boar)- Satya Yuga
4. Narashima (half man- half lion)- Satya Yuga
5. Vamana (dwarf)- Treta Yuga
6. Parashurama (Rama with the axe)- Treta Yuga
7. Rama (Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya)- Treta Yuga
8. Krishna ((meaning 'dark coloured' or 'all attractive') appeared in the Dwapara Yuga along with his brother Balarama. According to the Bhagavata Purana Balarama is said to have appeared in the Dwapara Yuga (along with Krishna) as an incarnation of Ananta Shesha. He is also counted as an avatharam of Vishnu by the majority of Vaishnava movements and is included as the ninth Dasavataram in some versions of the list which contain no reference to Buddha.
9. Gautama Buddha(meaning 'the enlightened one')- Kali Yuga

OR

9. Balarama (elder brother of Krishna)
10. Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness")- Expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga

Don't you think that the 10 forms of Vishnu are so contradictory? There are reasons as to why Lord Vishnu took this form, however, if you do some research, you will realise that some of these reasons are just ridiculous!

Now moving on to the Hindu customs and beliefs, It is said that Hindu's cannot eat pork as Varaha was an avatharam of Vishnu. It is also said that Hindus cannot keep a tortise at home as it was also an avatharam of Vishnu. But has anybody realised that Vishnu himself is the provider(Lord Bhrama being the creator and Lord Shiva being the destroyer) and that even fish is an avatharam of Vishnu?

So why did Vishnu take the avatharam of Kurma?
The Devas feared that the Asuras would take over the whole world. Therefore, they prayed to Lord Brahma, who suggested a solution: churn the Ocean of Milk in order to obtain the Nectar of Immortality. However, the Devas could not churn the Ocean themselves. They struck a temporary truce with their enemies so that all could participate in the churning.
The Ocean was churned by using the mountain Mandara and the snake Vasuki wrapped around it. Each side would hold an end of the snake and pull on it alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn would cause the Ocean to be churned. However, once the mountain was put on the Ocean, it began to sink. Then, Vishnu incarnated in the form of Kurma (tortise) to support the mountain.

Being so, why can't we keep turtles and tortises as pets?

Something else that i do not understand about the Hindu custom is the practices related to marriage. Why is it so that only women have to wear a thaali to indicate their marital status? What about the men? Don't they need to indicate their marital status as well? As a matter of fact, i personally feel that these thick thaalis attract robbers therefore increasing the crime rate. After the death of their husbands, these women are not supposed to adorn themselves with flowers and jewelery. Why so much, they are not even supposed to wear colourful clothes! In a certain places, the widows are expected to jump into the fire when her deceased husband is being cremated. What about the widowers? They just carry on with their lives as per normal. Why do they have this form of gender stratification?

Talk about honor killing. In some places, honor killing is still practiced. When a lady is raped or if she engages in sexual intercourse outside marriage, she is said to have brought shame to the family and is therefore killed by a male family member. Why is this so?

Why so much? Brides are being abused in the name of dowry. Why don't men have to give dowry? Women even used to be given away as war rewards! Do they think that women are merchandise?

I can go on and on and on rattling about what i dislike about a certain Hindu customs(some of which are generally Indian customs). But anyway my dear friends, i would love to hear your views/ arguments/ answers to this topic. Please feel free to drop me an email to share your opinions with me! Thank You guys! Love ya!

Stigmatics

2008-08-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

Warning: The contents of this post are not intended to be discriminatory.

St. Padre Pio's Stigmata

Yesterday, on 1st Aug 2008, between 6pm-7pm, i was watching a show titled "Is it real?" on National Geographic channel. Yesterday's topic was, stigmatics. As we all know, stigmata are marks resembling the wounds of the crucified body of Christ said to be supernaturally impressed on the bodies of certain persons (esp. nuns, tertiaries, and monastics).

Few of the most famous stigmatics are St.Padre Pio and St.Francis. St.Padre Pio bore the wounds of Jesus for 50 years of his life. The stigmata appeared on his palms and his feet. St. Pio would bleed a glass of blood everyday and his wounds would never heal and they would never become septic either. Miraculously, the moment he passed away, there was not even a single scar on his body! St. Francis bore the wounds of Jesus on his hands, feet and side just two years before his death. Medical examinations that were conducted on St. Francis have shown that he was not suffering from any kind of psychological disorder.

They also featured a few more stigmatics who were devotees of Christ. What was so different about these stigmatics were that their "crucifixion" wounds appeared not on their palms, sides and feet but on their wrists and forehead instead! So the question is, if these wounds were really a gift from God(to be able to experience the pain and sufferings he went through), then why do they not appear on the places where the nails were driven through on Jesus's body?

One scientist who had been researching the crucifixion of Jesus said that it was impossible for Jesus to have been nailed to the cross by his palms and instead, was nailed to the cross by the wrists. He supported his theory by amputating an arm from a dead body, nailing the palm to a wooden cross, hanging a weight to the arm and shaking it for a solid ten minutes. The palm then tore apart causing the arm to fall to the ground. His theorotical explanation to this was, the pull experienced by each arm would be greater than that of the weight of the body. Therefore, the only reasonable explanation was that Jesus was nailed to the cross by the wrists.

Another scientist rebutted his explanation by saying that it is highly possible that Jesus was nailed to the cross by his palms because his feet were also nailed to the cross. His explanation was that when there is support for the feet, the amount of pull experienced by the arms will be less than the weight of the body due to the fact that the whole body weight would be shifted to the thighs and the knees.

Upon hearing these two explanations, another scientist commented "It seems like as if Jesus has forgotten how he was crucified. He cannot be giving the wounds to some people on the palms and others on the wrists.".

So what exactly was their conclusion as to how and why stigmata occurs?

1. They create these wounds to attract attention or for commercial purposes.

2. They are so deeply involved in their prayer or meditation that they reach a state of religious ecstasy or hysteria. When this happens, unaware of what they are doing, they mutilate themselves and then they wonder how the wounds appear.

3. This is my conclusion: I totally agree with the above two reasons. But at the same time, i feel that some things just cannot be explained. The above two reasonings might apply to majority of "stigmatics". But there are a handful who could be experiencing REAL stigmata. Science has undergone a vast development. But it has not developed enough to prove that the existence of God is a myth.

Ok then people, thats all for now. I will be back shortly to post my next entry titled "Hindu Customs". Take care and have fun!

Additional information: In case you were wondering why the letters "INRI" were carved above Jesus when he was crucified, it is simply the abbreviation for "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum", which is the Latin form for "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews". :)

Sandy Boo aka DoDo

2008-07-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody... this useless person here wanted me to post an entry on him... Hmmm so what am i supposed to say?I'm sorry Boo, i am trying not to say anything negative about you... but very unfortunately, i can't think of anything nice!

Hahahha... well, this guy here is my secondary school buddy.. We became good friends during POA remedial... His birthday is on the 8th of April (And Boo, mine is on the 9th of August just in case you forgot)... He is 1 year older than me... He really cant wait to enter the army :P... He loves soccer.. He loves the Indian Cultural Society just as much... He loves to say "Manjal kotukku pinnal nillungal. ombothu ombothu ombothu" which translates to "Please stand behind the yellow line. 9 9 9". He does not mind making announcements for the MRT station the whole day.... And he just loves my cousin Rogini so much. Well, i guess thats about it. Right Boo??

Sandy and myself in TP library

Aw.... someone is holding a soft toy (i made him do that by the way)

Young Sandy Boo

Us in the library. He is the proud owner of the t-shirt that says "KISS MY AIRS"

My hand is just as big as his. Isn't it??

Us at the esplanade.

The really fun neoprints that we took 3 days before my brithday last year. And he destroyed my face by placing that snow flake on my eye!

OK Boo... i guess thats all i have to say... Take care and i will catch up with you soon (that is if you have time to spare). Seeya!

Life Lives on Life

2008-07-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody!! How do you do?? Haha... ok enough of playing around and let me get started!

I wanted today's entry to be a pet special! Earlier in the day, i was thinking about what to write and suddenly, a thought started running through my mind. I started to wonder about how important animals are to human beings. Then i realised that we human beings use animals for some of the most important reason in our life!

The reason why i titled this entry as "Life lives on life" is because i feel that human beings literally live on the lives of other living creatures. In fact, we are at times very cruel to these innocent creatures. Why is this so? Do we consider ourselves as The Elite?

Take medicine for example. The moment we start to have a slight headache or stomach ache, we would pop a few pills into our mouths. However, we fail to realise that many innocent creatures would have lost their lives during the testing of that medication. Rhesus monkeys are one of the greatest victims of science. They got their name from the rhesus antigens found in their blood, which has enabled doctors to determine different blood groups in humans. These monkeys have had their heads decapitated and their body parts amputated in the name of scientific research. They are used for research into drug addiction and HIV due to the fact that their DNA is 93% similar to that of human beings. Rhesus monkeys were also the first primitives to be sent into space. Research for immunisation against anthrax and rabies involved sheep, cattle, guinea pigs and rabbits.

The quote "We must learn to shoot microbes with magic bullets." was said by Paul Ehrlich. The magic bullets refers to the chemicals injected into the blood to fight the bacteria that causes diseases. So how did Ehrlich test these chemicals of his before bringing it forth to mankind? The answer is very simple. He tested his chemicals on mice.

According to the law, no medicine can be used for prevention or cure in human beings until and unless it is proved beyond doubt that it is safe for human consumption AFTER it has been tested on animals. Laws DO NOT allow scientists to experiment with human life even if the human being offers to be a guinea pig on a VOLUNTARY basis. Why is this so? There are so many people who commit suicide and there are many others who are sentenced to death. My personal opinion is that if experiments are conducted on these people, justice will be served and at the same time,it will be a benefit to mankind in the field of science.

You may argue that the aim of research is defeated if men who volunteer die in the process of the experiment but i feel that it is a greater sin to take away the life of a living thing without it's consent when it has every right to live as compared to taking away the life of someone who is either punished by law or who does not wish to live. Besides, some scientists say that research and tests on animals are not very accurate. Although tissue culture(fragments of tissue from an animal are transferred to an artificial environment in which they can continue to survive and function and experiments can be done on them) is an alternative method to vivisection, many scientist still use live animals for the purposes of experiments.

I have got to admit that scientific research using live animals has helped mankind in many ways, however, i am still of the view that men have no right to tamper with the lives of other creatures as their lives are no less valuable than that of ours.

Animals are also a source of food to human beings. Rearing animals and killing them for food has even become an international business and i really cannot accept the fact that those involved in this business are licensed to do so (air pork for example).

Some people even eat endangered animals such as the Bisons and a certain kinds of sharks. The fins of the sharks are chopped off ruthlessly and the sharks are then thrown back into the sea to suffer and die in pain. In the case of food, eating meat is almost unavoidable due to the fact that we have to go by the food chain in order to survive. But we also need to play our parts to preserve nature. Eat to live. Do not live to eat.

It is understandable that despite of the fact that technology has improved tremendously, at times,we would need the help of these beastly creatures to do a certain things. We in turn, should not be exploiting them. When i went to India, i noticed that horses and cows were used as a means of transportation. Not only were thay made to work all day under the scorching sun, but they were also whipped very frequently. The sight of this made me boil with rage. Chee Meng, a friend of mine, was watching a documentary on elephants recently. What he saw made him upset as well. The elephants were not only taken into captivity and made to work but they were also tortured. Dosen't this constitute to slavery? And isn't slavery supposed to be illegal(according to section 370 of the penal code-which then again only relates to PERSONS)?

In some countries, gaming is not illegal. In fact, it is a sport. In my view, a rather sadistic sport. Is this not an IT age? Many talk about the technological advancement in the 21st century. Why isn't this 'technological advancement' implemented in this issue? If some people find gaming challenging, why not use virtual methods of gaming? Why do people still want to hunt the traditional way? This is a clear example of cultural lag on our part. These people fail to realise that we are at a loss! Who knows? To the next generation, "Saiga Antelope" might sound like dinosaurs!

Many poach animals for their outer covering or body parts. As i mentioned, the Saiga Antelopes are hunted for their horns as they are believed to have medicinal values. Elephants are hunted for their ivory and leather, and crocodiles and stingrays and many other animals are ironically, bred to be killed and made into wallets, belts and bags. I really do not see the NEED to purchase leather products. If you think that leather products represent your financial status, then why not make a handbag out of platinum and stud it with the purest of diamonds?

If you allow me to, i would endlessly be ranting about how cruel human beings are to animals. Therefore, i would like to conclude by saying animals are our friends and they are very helpful to us in many ways. We should learn how to appreciate them in return. So the next time you buy home some live crabs and you decide to put them in the freezer to kill them, THINK TWICE!

Ok then guys! Before i make a move, i would love to share some animal pictures with you guys! Here they are :

That's me with Kyle's dove

Rishi and his puppie, Rasta

Rose Mary's doggy, Summer

My mum and her baby

Me and the baby

My cuzzie's Christy and Chelsea

That's me and Lucky Baby again! She just woke me up :)

Oki guys i got to go now! Hope you liked the pics! Seeya soon!

2008-07-17T00:29:00.000-07:00

Hey SHSS buddies, here are a few pictures for you!

July 2008, At Loyang Valley

Sam and Tim(Zeon aka ZZ Boy)! We miss you Sam! May your soul rest in peace!

Sisters 5, Right before our trip to Mc Ritchie

Mrs. Lum and Me! I miss POA lessons with you and J.Lo!

That's exactly where we used to sit in Sec 4H!
Missing: Evangeline(Behind me), Qarihah(In front of me)

Bringing back our SHSS memories...

I personally think that this shot is really nice! Credits to Kuthuhead! :)

Swimming away at Loyang :)

2006-Eva and Zinc!

2008-Eva and Zinc again!

Rose Mary, Evan, Jan in the cab with Amanda Bigmouth (said by Phillip Lee) sitting in the front seat and talking on her HOT PINK phone... Rushing down from Downtown to Century... HEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHHE

LOSERS!

Sisters 5 along with Evan's Boyfriend

A rather odd Family Potrait

Sec 3C Class Mission Statement

Sec 4H Racial Harmony Day [With the Lord: Samuel(second row extreme right) and Yuan Xiang(first row extreme left)]

Graduation Afternoon with our Darling Mr.K! RIP Yuan Xiang!

12th July 2008: The Sisters 5!

At the BBQ chicken!

I really miss all those times we've had together guys.. All the fun we had, all the tears we shared, all the foolish things we did (run away from super-bra, walk 2.4km, argue with our form teacher, AHEM!), all the nicknames we came up with(ZZ, Misty, Pork Ball, Marie, Barney) and all the stupid guys we used to admire.... OH MY! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! Like what Evan says, lets hope that our children will be friends and their children will be friends and our grand childrens children will be friends.... Not very practical huh?!? But it dosen't matter...anything to make Evan happy! Love you guys loads!!

Friday, Dec 28, 2007

2008-07-14T02:52:00.000-07:00

This day is a really memorable day for me. Dec 28 2007 is the day that i decided where and how i want to be in life. My dreams, my aspirations, my inspirations, everything lies in that day.

My perceptions on many issues changed on that day as well. A few months before the 28th of December 2007, i met Rishi at my father's friend's law firm in which Rishi's cousin was a partner. Rishi was working there temporarily and so was I. To be very honest, when i first met him, my first impression was that he was an extremely unfriendly and stuck up person. I really could not be bothered about him. Coincidentally, Rishi had the same opinion of me.

However, one thing totally changed our opinions of each other; the fact that i offered him my vegetarian fried rice.

Rishi is vegetarian every Monday. That particular Monday, i had vegetarian fried rice with me. When i heard that Rishi did not have a proper lunch, i offered him my fried rice. It was from that moment that we started talking to each other and we realised that we had many things in common. Our likes and dislikes, our character, our personality, our opinions and views on life, everything was very similar! Even without us realising it, we developed a really strong bond. Today, we are really good friends!

What i realised on that special day was that for the past few years of my life (2003-2006), i had been missing out on the good people in life. The people whom i thought were my close friends in life, walked away from me. Some of them moved away from me and they came in search of me only when they needed something. People who once said that we should remain friends forever suddenly vanished! And then it struck me! I started asking myself, "Why on Earth do i have to waste away even a second of my precious life on people who do not deserve my love when instead, i can give all my love to the souls who love me?".

I was never the kind of person who lived my life for others. But if i really care for someone with all my heart, i would do anything just for that person's happiness. That changed when the painful lessons of life taught me not to trust anyone, but my family. That was when i realised the true meaning of the quote, "Blood is thicker than water".

I started withdrawing from crowds and i became less friendly. This in a way, was a blessing in disguise. I managed to keep my circle of friends small and i also learnt how to tell apart a true friend from a pretentious friend. However, there was a negative aspect to the new me; i was starting to become anti-social. I started shying away even from the few good friends that i had, namely, Rose Mary and Jeremy(it was just a temporary phase though). I became very quiet in school and i started becoming very serious. And then, something happened! I started liking the new me! I started taking many things in life more seriously and i became very much interested in finding out what is happening around me. I started moving out of my comfort zone to learn new things(which was when i was working temporarily). Apart from academic knowledge, i gained a relatively good amount of experience by interacting with various kinds of people. One of the most interesting person i met is none other than, Rishi.

Rishi is a very matured person who has alot of self discipline. He knows what he wants in life and he is putting in his effort to achieve his goals. Apart from the fact that he is one of a kind, when i first met him, i thought that i would not be able to get along with him due to his serious nature. I even thought that our friendship might end up being a superficial one. But NO, Rishi proved me wrong. He taught me many things that even i did not know about myself! I am glad that i met him. And i know, he is someone i would keep with me for life!

Rishi, thank you so much for making a BIG difference in my life! Really, thank you pa!

Finally! My Blog!

2008-07-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

Hello People!!
I have like finally set up my blog! I think it would be easier to keep in touch with you guys this way... :) So yep, i will keep you guys updated with more postings later on! Take care guys!