Oh Mama!

As the saying goes, a mother's love for her children knows no boundaries. But when a mother posts a disturbing account of her 19-year-old son's penis problem in a public forum, one has to wonder whether she has taken this whole 'no boundaries' issue a wee bit too far.

Check out an excerpt of her opening post:

My son is 19 and though I have not seen him nude since he was a boy, I had seen him by accident about 6 months ago, when he had somehow ended up falling asleep naked in his room after a shower with his door wide open. He was on his back and erect in his sleep. I noticed his hard-on had a severe curve upward. It was bent very sharply like curling up backwards. I had never seen anything like that on any man. It is about 7″ long approximately and is bent more toward the tip in a definite shape of a letter “j”, or a hook, to attempt to describe it to you.

I was so shocked that I panicked, and woke him up right then and there. Thinking back, it was not very tactful, but I could not wait to try to get at what appeared to be a real problem. It all made sense, how he would not shower at gym class, and didn’t date, despite being a very well built and handsome boy into sports always. I had always wondered if might be gay, though he denied it always. He awoke surprised and shy that he was naked, but I moved his hands from his erect penis, and asked him what was the matter.

We sat and talked after locking his bedroom door. He told me it had started when he was like 12 and got worse, and as I examined it more closely and attempted to straighten it out, it would straighten only very slightly before it would hurt him to force it any further. It being erect, it was very hard and stiff. We allowed it to subside by him putting on his robe a while, and was considerably more normal in the soft state, yet still tending to be curved upwards slightly.

I could straighten it easily while soft, but it would bend back up like rubber. As he became erect again it curled up before my eyes into the “j” hook shape. For more, click here.

Right to choose?

Is abortion murder? Or is it a choice?

Now consider this: is abortion murder when a 9-year old girl, carrying twins after being raped by her stepfather, had an abortion because "(S)he is very small. Her uterus doesn't have the ability to hold one, let alone two children,"? Should age (or the size of one's uterus) matter? Does it matter that her pregnancy was caused by her own family member? Where does religion fit into all this?

So many questions, yet there is never a right (nor wrong) answer. The debate will certainly go on but for this girl, nothing would have been more horrific than the ordeal she went through.

The choices we make

Do our young ones have the right to say "NO" when it comes to making grave decisions about their health and ultimately their life? While the general presumption is the capacity of children and young people to make such decisions is limited by their ability to fully understand the consequences of their decision, nevertheless cases like Re M illustrates otherwise, although it must also be borne in mind that such decisions will also take into account the best interests of the patient.

13-year old Hannah Jones' decision to refuse a potentially life-saving transplant might not be welcomed by all but it goes to show that perhaps our young ones deserve to be heard and respected for their choices they make.

Crunch time

First and foremost, my sincerest apologies for the lack in blog activity. With Raya (I lost count over the number of open houses I'd visited this year!!), work commitments as well as a recent family loss all happening within the space of my last post, I must admit that blogging was the least of my priority although some of you might argue "if I can go on Facebook on a daily basis, then what's so different about blogging?" But let's not debate much on that for I am back peeps!

And what better way to get back into the swing of things by imparting my thoughts on the US presidential election. Yes, in less than 48 hours' time, the new leader of the world will be revealed. For now we will hold our breaths while the Americans put down their votes. Will history beckon for Obama as the first black American President? Or will there be an upset? Has McCain done enough to convince the population that he is nothing like the soon-to-be former prez?

The odds are stacked in favour of Obama. That is if we are to believe what the press have been feeding us. And let's not forget the high octane celebrity endorsements that have been shoved down our faces from day one (Oprah..Scarlett...JT..Madonna..Gwyneth..just to name a few) Heck, even the rest of the world are hoping for Obama to hit the jackpot! That, my friends, is saying a lot about what the rest of the world thinks of the Yanks.

I, for one however, can't seem to understand nor find any solace in Mr O's appeal. Is he really all that? Or just some? Perhaps I'm still reeling from my disappointment over Hilary Clinton's loss *sigh*

Whatever the outcome may be, at least I can be comforted in the fact that the reign of ho**or aka Dubya will be gone...gone baby gone!

Think before you swat..?

A pesky fly buzzing about...find a newspaper, roll it up..SWAT! No sign of the dead fly..infact it's still happily buzzing about..another attempt on its life is taken...SWAT!! Buzz..buzz..buzz...missed again. After a couple more missed tries, the frustration finally ends with a quick spray from Ridsect/Shelltox etc. We've all been there before..

But wait..there just might be a way to beat these flies to their own game, courtesy of scientists at the California Institute of Technology who have apparently identified why these insects are so evading rolled-up newspapers - and how they might be outwitted.

" The right approach is to aim not at the insects themselves because they are extraordinarily good at anticipating where exactly your blow will land. “It is best to aim a bit forward of the fly's starting position, to anticipate where it is going to jump when it first sees your swatter,” said Michael Dickinson, of the California Institute of Technology, who led the study " For more.

Now either these scientists have run of original ideas to work on...boredom maybe..or perhaps their workplace is badly infested with houseflies, that they've decided to find a way of outwitting them annoying, pesky flies!

Overheard

"I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes"
The now former President Pervez Musharraf in a televised address largely devoted to defending his record following his announcement of resignation as president.

R.I.P

Bosley a.k.a Bernie Mac has left the building...

Stuck?

"Stuck in Wrong Career"

A published survey in Singapore reports that more than half of the workers in Singapore have regrets about what they chose to study during their stints in school, polytechnics or universities, with one in three respondents also (being) uncertain about their ultimate career choices and about 10 per cent saying they definitely selected the wrong career.

Without dissecting the credibility of this survey (and plenty others similar to this too), I can't help but agree with the above headline.

Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted to be what-I'm-currently-doing (though it's pretty hazy as to when that ambition came to fruition). It's just that lately I've been questioning my enthusiasm and motivation, often wondering whether I'm in the wrong career, whether I'll get out of this rut and whether I'm brave enough to venture out into other fields (bearing in mind the responsibilities that I have taken up since I started work almost 8 years ago).

As much as I'd like to be able to look into my future via a crystal ball, at the end of the day it all boils down to me and whether I'm willing to take the risk or continue being miserable or demotivated for the next couple of years..

Six Degrees of T.I.C

Is the world such a small place that we are all linked by chains of acquaintance meaning that you are just six introductions away from any other person on the planet? Apparently Microsoft has proof that the theory of six degrees of separation rings true - well, almost.

"(But) yesterday researchers announced the theory was right - nearly. By studying billions of electronic messages, they worked out that any two strangers are, on average, distanced by precisely 6.6 degrees of separation. In other words, putting fractions to one side, you are linked by a string of seven or fewer acquaintances to Madonna, the Dalai Lama and the Queen. The news will come as no surprise to film buffs who for years have been playing the parlour game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, in which they link other actors to Bacon in six films or fewer.

Researchers at Microsoft studied records of 30 billion electronic conversations among 180 million people in various countries, according to the Washington Post. This was 'the first time a planetary-scale social network has been available,' they observed. The database covered all the Microsoft Messenger instant-messaging network in June 2006, equivalent to roughly half the world's instant-messaging traffic at that time.

Eric Horvitz and fellow researcher Jure Leskovec considered two people to be acquaintances if they had sent one another a message. They looked at the minimum chain lengths it would take to connect 180 billion different pairs of users in the database. They found that the average length was 6.6 hops, and that 78 per cent of the pairs could be connected in seven steps or fewer. But some were separated by as many as 29 steps.

The researchers wrote: 'Via the lens provided on the world by Messenger, we find that there are about "seven degrees of separation" among people.'"

Call it what they want, I still say it's a small world out there..

Something to think about

Last weekend, an unfortunate and sad tragedy occurred whereby precious lives were lost. Having heard stories pre and post incident and the devastating impact it had on their loved ones, imagine my horror when I heard a video recording has been circling around where strangers were shown stealing from the victims in plain sight! And on top of the video, there's also an email containing pictures of the aftermath going round the internet as we speak. Although I have seen those horrifying pictures (unfortunate on my part and certainly not for the faint-hearted), I have not seen the video nor do I intend to see it...and people, so should you!!

Shame on the idiot who thought forwarding the video would show the rest of the world first-hand pictures/information of the incident.

Shame on the other idiots who had the audacity to steal whilst people were injured, lying in pain, confused, in shock and in dire need for help - is there no humanity left in this world?

Shame on you too for watching that video (and e-mail I might add). It's one thing to be curious but how would you feel if those pictures or recordings involved your loved ones?

Not a nice feeling innit?

A question of morality

A woman slept with her sibling for years and has good memories. Not many people understand their relationship, she says

As offensive as this appears to be, more so a taboo in our society, there's no denying that these things do happen. Click here for more but proceed with an open mind.

Equality

Whatever happened to Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité?

Does a woman who submits herself to her husband goes against the principle of equality among sexes? Does it matter that the woman in question is a Muslim and wears a burqa? Is wearing a burqa incompatible with the essential values of French community particularly equality of the sexes that an application for citizenship was rejected on such basis? Would the same courts come to the same conclusion if, say the applicant was wearing a Jewish cap? Or women whose partners beat them up?

Or is this notion of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity", whilst in theory serves as a reminder of our (human) rights, realistically blurring the boundaries as to the extent one can or must ascribe to (a set of values)..

Have a good weekend!

Sign O' The Times

As the global economy faces a rather unsettling future, you'd think everyone would be tightening their belts by now. The price of oil continues to rise much to our dismay which means the rich are only getting more richer while the rest of us have to put up with dishing more for rice, fuel and flour just to name a few.

Just to add to the gloomy outlook, Starbucks recently announced it was going to close 600 stores in the US. For a country as big as the US, 600 seems small considering how there's practically a Starbucks store within a couple of hundred yards within each other! Just take New York City as an example. I recall seeing one Starbucks store after another or within a block of each other, either as a stand-alone store or a store inside, say Barnes and Noble. Basically if there's a long queue in one store or fully-packed, don't fret 'cos all one has to do is walk a hundred yards and voila! another Starbucks store. However for a well-known company, closure shouldn't be an option unless the company is in serious trouble or a takeover has been proposed. What's that saying...too much of a good thing is never a good thing? Having said that, we shouldn't really be bothered too much with this - Starbucks or no Starbucks, our locals will still pick the C.A Mohammads, Happy Deans and Coffeezones that have grown to be a staple in our lives.

On the other hand, if you're wondering what the rich are getting up to with all the money piling up, the latest craze to hit the Middle East is prestigious license plate numbers. How 'nice' it must feel to be able to throw away $millions for a license tag simply sporting "1" ..while the rest of us simple folk are slogging away just to earn and save for the future, or worst case scenario, simply trying to get by..

$14 million for this!?!

*SIGH*

Frock shock

The dress

You know something isn't right with the world when wearing the same dress in three separate occasions makes the headline news. And this is no ordinary person, no sirree. The culprit being none other than the infamous ice queen of the fashion world herself, Anna Wintour. I won't even attempt to make any guesses, let alone analyse the reasons behind this farce but if she's trying to start a new trend which the rest of us have been doing all along a.k.a recycling, she's definitely in for a surprise!

Oh, the shock and horror of it all!

What is it about.....

.....Celine Dion that always triggers all sorts of criticisms/jokes? When Titanic ruled the box office and ultimately the Oscars, people couldn't get enough of THAT infamous song, yours truly included such that I'd break into a couple of sniffles each time I watch that other infamous "I won't let go, I won't let go" scene. Come on, admit it, the last hour of the movie was pretty heartbreaking wasn't it?

So when Celine recently topped some silly slash useless poll (which no one probably gives a d**n anyway) about her cover of an AC/DC song as being the worst cover ever, I thought that if someone like Amy Winehouse or RIhanna covered the song, everyone would be singing their praises. I can think of other worst cover songs...Fall Out Boy's rendition of "Beat It" (been there so many times, done that so many times too)...Jessica Simpson's "These Boots Are Made For Walking" (oh how I cringe each time I see her cavorting senseless in that bikini). Besides I doubt Celine will lose much sleep over this. Nor will this stop people from checking out her concert shows. I know. I've seen her perform live and she definitely ranks amongst the likes of Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Bette Midler et al.

Viva Celine Dion!

What have I gotten myself into...this time?

Less than three days to go peeps..my panic slash stress level is gaining momentum though some might attest to seeing how 'cool, calm and collected' I still look....I work a pretty darned good facade don't I?

In the meantime, ever wonder what a snoring duck sounds like?

Why do we do the things we do?

Ever since news broke out concerning the Austrian father who'd kept his daughter hidden in a basement cellar (of his own home nonetheless) for 24 years and abused her by fathering 7 children, it dawned on me how cruel man can be. Whilst I have a pessimistic view of life, there's a little part of me that thinks that there's a ray of light hidden amongst the doom and gloom. We will probably never know the actual truth behind this sad incident except to rely on what the media tells us..how did Josef F manage to hide his crime for 24 years? what was his wife's role? did she even have any suspicions? what about the neighbours? or tenants living in Josef's house? how were the children cared for (medically) after birth? how was his daugther cared for when she got sick or even after giving birth to the kids?..these are just some of the burning questions which we'd probably like to ask.

At the end of the day, I hope justice will prevail. Perpetrators like Josef F and Wolfgang Priklopil (Natascha Kampusch's abductor) deserve to get their asses kicked BIG time or locked up at some obscure place far, far away where they can't do further harm. Having said that, there are probably more Josef Fs out there carrying out God-only-knows what they are/have been doing, while the rest of the world simply looks on from a bird's eye view feeling somewhat helpless and confused as to why nightmares of these kind happen..

Art versus exploitation

I've never understood the whole Miley Cyrus fever. Unfortunately..or fortunately..whichever way you look at it...my knowledge of her only extends to her role as Hannah Montana and that her dad was the villain behind that godawful song "Achy Breaky Heart"!?! So when the recent uproar of THAT infamous Vanity Fair photo hit the headlines, the first thought that came to mind was "About time!"

I'm not advocating for people like Miley to parade in their bras, appear half-naked or exploited as some sex object for the public though if you've seen our young ones these days, you'd be hard-pressed not to go up to them and give them a good telling off! I don't remember owning any sleeveless shirts/tank tops til I was probably 18..and even so, there were mostly worn as undergarments. As a celebrity and a role model for the tweens, Miley (as well as Disney) has a reputation to protect..one of innocence, strong family ties and most importantly, strict parental guidance (Jamie Lyn Spears anyone?) ...until THAT photo came along...and all hell broke loose..and somewhere along the chaos and outrage, I fail to find the logic behind the apology and excuse given.

As commented by Zoe Williams:

"It's the insincerity of everyone concerned that really chokes me," she writes. "Not one person involved can seriously think Miley Cyrus had any kind of influence over this, or any other, image-building decision."

Meanwhile, Germaine Greer in the Guardian deconstructs the image in question:
"In western art most of the women portrayed semi-clad or totally nude are children ... When Lucian Freud paints girl children nobody cares ... Botticelli paints the yet-to-be-enjoyed goddess of love emerging from the sea, people come from all over the world to gape at her. The Greeks and Romans liked their goddesses meaty; our preferred Venuses are children. Hardy perennials such as Diane de Poitiers held their sway as long as they did because their bodies never matured. Kate Moss has been able to earn millions only as long as she could continue to project the body image of a 13-year-old."

In other words, sexing up little girls is nothing new. Anyone old enough to remember a certain Brooke Shields back in the 80s when she appeared in the films Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon as well as in adverts for Calvin Klein Jeans? I recall seeing Brooke wearing almost next to nothing except her long hair covering her boobs and a loincloth for the bottom part in The Blue Lagoon and making out with her, correct me if I'm wrong, brother. As with Miley's case, Brooke's career was at that time managed by her mum, Teri who, many claimed, was behind the sexing up of Brooke's image and career.

As Michelle Renee wrote in her blog, "But Shields, and I am hoping Cyrus, had more to offer than the persona or brand crafted by the adults around her. Brooke went on to graduate from Princeton in 1987 and headlined her own critically applauded NBC sitcom, Suddenly Susan. She has two beautiful children, appeared on Entourage and Nip/Tuck, and is now on a hit show that I watch on NBC -- Candace Bushnell's (author of Sex and the City) Lipstick Jungle. The optimist in me wants to believe that Miley can take the bull by the horns, find her voice and turn this into a very positive learning experience and share that with others, particularly young girls who have no idea what a PR Machine (no, it isn't a new gaming device like Wii) is."

So the question is, what should Miley, and to a certain extent her folks, do to "repair the damage" that has been done?

"Miley is faced with another choice right now and is at one of those very definitive forks in the road. She can go one way in the direction of Lindsay-type disaster or, like Brooke Shields, choose the direction that will stop the speeding train before it jumps completely off the track. If she truly was uncomfortable at the photo shoot she can become a spokesperson and share with young girls the importance of self-esteem and how to use your voice when you are asked to do anything, even by your parents, that makes you uncomfortable about yourself, your body and the message you are sending out into the world. And if the pictures she took of herself were her expressing normal teen curiosity about her body and never meant to be shared, she can attest to the dangers of taking such pictures and posting inappropriate content online or in text messages. Bottom line: She, and her parents, have to cop to the mistakes, be honest and grow in a more positive direction in order to stop the train from derailing." Michelle Renee

I couldn't agree more!

Photo courtesy of Annie Leibovitz

Just giving my two cents (part two)

What's going on here? First there was that Chinese fella with the bridge (which I was oblivious to despite the incident occuring less than 1km away from where I live), now it's an Indian fella from a three-storey building. Let's hope it's not going to be the start of a trend here...

At 12.56 am...

Can't remember the exact time when Miss J buzzed me this morning (though I remember it being after my coffee break i.e 10ish) telling me about the sudden earthquake that had hit Great Britain sometime past midnight..but hearing that the quake measured at 5.3 on the Richter scale as well as Miss J's experience sent a cold chill down my spine. After all, just a few days ago Jakarta was also hit by an earthquake measuring at 7 on the Richter scale...so despite the difference in measurements, 5.3 is still strong. An earthquake is still an earthquake.

So what does this tell us besides being an experience never to be forgotten? Anything can happen. It is God's will that Britain is hit by one of the biggest tremors ever since 1984. It should also serve as a reminder to all of us that we should stop being consumed by wealth, greed, politics, Britney Spears, donuts etc etc and renew our faith in Allah swt.

To Miss J and the rest of our family, friends and loved ones who are currently in Britain, y'all are in our thoughts..