Ecrire

I've been a little busy...moving house!

But I thought I'd take some time to share this here. It's a poem I found, thanks to a friend who shared the phrase "Écrire, c'est hurler en silence" (To write is to scream silently) on her blog. I did a little search to find out more about the phrase...and I found this! (sorry, I'm not translating this right now...maybe one day when I'm free...or maybe not ever :P )

Écrire pour laisser une trace
Une tache d’encre sur un buvard
Écrire
Pour éviter le pire
Pour se souvenir
Se libérer de ce sombre passé
Pour oublier, pour se rappeler
Écrire
Quand on arrive pas à dire
Écrire
Pour s’enfuir
Écrire …
Pour le plaisir
Écrire
Pour calmer la douleur
Écrire
Pour avoir moins peur
Imaginer de nouvelles couleurs
Écrire
Pour coucher la souffrance
Écrire
Pour lever l’espérance
Pour la délivrance

It was posted here. And the phrase "Écrire, c'est hurler en silence" is the title of a book by Claire Josserand, a book of poems, if I'm not mistaken.

Edit: Added translation in next post!

Downgrading

Not too long ago, I got a new phone (because my old one broke down). One of the things I looked for in a new phone was a better camera. And I got one with a 3.2-megapixel camera...which is by far better than my old one which could only take 640×480 (that would make 0.3 megapixels). Unfortunately...the photo quality is so bad that it seems even worse than my old phone. Is someone able to tell me why??! :(

This isn't the only gripe I have about my new phone. I also don't like the fact that I have to take out the battery to remove the memory card. That means that if I want to transfer files to/from my phone, I will have to switch off my phone. And when I switch it back on, I need to reset the time. :s

There's more...

Just a few days ago I wanted to delete old sms-es. I usually keep any non-spam messages on my phone for some time...and then I delete a whole bunch of them in one go. One thing I really liked about my old phone is that I could mark messages (or files for that matter) to choose which I wanted to delete (or move/copy). I could even mark all of them and deselect a few. But on this new phone, there is no "marking" function...

(I did find an "archive message" function, which means that I can archive whatever message that I don't want to delete and then delete all the rest in that folder.)

Another problem...still about sms-es...I can't save messages as draft! :s I used to save "notes" for myself as drafts...little reminders that I can refer to later. But now I can't... Well, the message is kept in the editor as long as I don't delete it...but what if I want to type another sms? Then I'll have to remove my "note"...

Isn't saving drafts an important feature? Did I just miss it somehow??

Oh, and the alarm clock doesn't go off if the phone is switched off. Which means I can't switch off the phone if I want to use the alarm...unlike my old phone, on which the alarm would go off even if the phone was switched off, and when you disable the alarm, they would ask you whether you wanted to switch on the phone.

I wanted to find a Nokia phone, same as my previous one...because I liked all these features and I thought, hey, new models can only be an improvement! I guess I was wrong...

I was already rather disappointed that I couldn't find a flip phone...I guess that has gone out of fashion. This new phone is a sliding one.

What do I like on my new phone? Something that is better than my old one?

Nothing that I can think of right now. :(

I'm tempted to repair my old phone...I bought a new one because I was told that repairing it would cost RM100, which didn't sound worth it. Maybe I should have repaired it instead.

Next time I change my phone, I shall consider other companies...

(For the record, my old phone was a Nokia 6085, and the new one is a Nokia 7230.)

Great idea, huh?

Remember the patents I found during my internship two years ago? Hehe, I found some more today. Here's an interesting one: Method of stopping a stolen car without a high-speed chase.

In short, the method is to stop the engine or puncture the car tyres with something already installed in the vehicle.

But in that patent, a policeman has to first scan a bar code located in the car itself...so it would only work if the police found the car first. So I thought...why not just trigger the mechanism to stop the car engine once the car is stolen? Imagine the situation...

-Oh no! Where's my car?! It's been stolen!
-We have to report it to the police!
-Yeah, and get them to stop the car immediately (with the secret code bla-bla-bla registered when we bought the car)

Now that would be a way to deter car thieves. ;P

Oh, and a GPS device would make the tracking even easier...if everyone could afford it.

Of pride and shame

Whoo! Chong Wei beat Lin Dan to win the All-England!

Not that I am a great fan of Chong Wei's...but in the patriotic spirit, I'm still happy about it. (not that I would be particularly sad if he lost...I think I'd gotten used to it. :P Oops, sorry, Chong Wei)

I didn't catch the match live...I only found out that the All-England was going on when I saw the newspaper on Sunday morning. And as the match wasn't showing on TV...

So I got the news of Chong Wei's win today at work (people chatting about it) And on Facebook someone shared Youtube videos of the game, so I watched a few snippets.

On one video someone left a comment saying "I'm proud to be Malaysian". Which led me to thinking. (I seem to be always thinking...) Why must something like this happen to make you proud to be Malaysian?

Someone else shared a link (which I didn't look at) about a Malaysian public figure saying something "wrong". And as a comment, that person wrote "Ashamed to be Malaysian".

Why should we be proud to be Malaysian when another Malaysian does something good, and ashamed when they do something bad? We might be a nation as a whole, but we are still individuals, and there are good and bad individuals anywhere. Or if you prefer, as I do, individuals do right or wrong things (to not classify individuals as good or bad). Everyone does. Just because we are fellow Malaysians does not mean that we are responsible for another Malaysian's faults.

So do not apologize for another's actions that you are not responsible for, instead hold your head up high and state your own view on the matter. After all, you are entitled to your own opinions.

And when a fellow Malaysian does something good? Be proud of him/her by all means, for making our country known to the world...but be proud of yourself for what you can do, not what someone else can.

Why?!?!

Warning: Rant mode

Why are people afraid that I won't eat? Or that I won't be able to find food? Hey, I spent seven years in France looking after myself, and I didn't starve to death, did I?

And why does everyone keep telling me to drive slowly? Do I look like someone who would drive like a madman? I keep under the speed limit, but I won't drive 40km/h on an empty road where the speed limit is 70km/h!

But maybe that's just what everyone says to younger people who drive. But isn't "drive safely" more appropriate than "drive slowly"? If I drive slowly but don't look where I'm going, it's worse than driving quickly to get to my destination, isn't it?

Target: Penang's public libraries

Status: Attack launched!

Had to pay RM2 for langganan tahunan (annual fee). But besides that, they registered my IC number and I'm good to go! It's free for senior citizens (above 55 years old)...I wonder, could I just bring a photocopy of my father's IC? :P

I went to the (small) library in Bayan Baru...Mayang Mall to be more precise. I'm really kinda dumb...I was at the post office there once (just opposite the library) and we even stepped into the library for a while. But I had totally forgotten about it. Then I asked my colleagues where I could find the public library (I'm used to Kuantan...where there is only one :P (or was it just that I went to the main one? lol) ), and they said Green Lane. They weren't more precise than that though...

And then I asked my landlord, because I saw that he has a few library books in the house. And he told me about the Bayan Baru one. Ooh...haha. It actually took me a few minutes before remembering that I had seen it before.

Last night I asked my relatives about the library on Green Lane (even though I already knew about the Bayan Baru one, why not find out about the other?) and they knew about it... But, for some reason they didn't want to tell me how to go there. My cousin said that he could take me there one day...but I'm thinking, hey, that doesn't mean you can't tell me how to get there, you know.

While we're on the subject of getting directions, it is pretty strange that people don't seem to want to tell me how to get somewhere. Even when I wanted to go to a primary school to play badminton, and I said I knew the place, just not which way I should get in. For some reason they didn't want to tell me how to get in. Instead someone offered to show me the way. Er...do you think I can't follow directions or something? (Actually I think I follow directions better than I follow cars. :P )

So this morning I went to the library...and registered. There aren't that many books there...I'll probably go through all that I want to read in less than a year. (sooner, if I do nothing other than read...but I don't think I will) Which is probably why I didn't "bookmark" the library in my brain when I went there the first time. It just doesn't seem...like a real library. lol

But I guess it'll do for now. :)

Oh, and at the library they told me about Cawangan Georgetown (Georgetown branch), which is on Scotland Road. (Penang's public library has lots of branches...seems that this is the main one) I wonder...could it be the one they were referring to as being on Green Lane? After all, Green Lane is Jalan Masjid Negeri, and Jalan Scotland is just an extension of it... (this I found out from Google Maps...I love you, GM! Except how you need an internet connection :P )

If I were dirt rich

Remember those essays we used to write in primary school? Those entitled "If I were a millionaire" or "Jika saya seorang jutawan". In those days I never knew what I would do if I had that much money. I guess all the possibilities just hadn't dawned on me. After all, what would an eight-year-old (or around that age) know about what she wanted? Only what children want...toys, candy? I don't even think I knew what I wanted to do with a million bucks. Besides putting it in the bank (yeah, my parents brought me up that way).

But through the years, I sort of had thoughts on what I would do if I were rich. If I were really, really rich...so rich that spending money wouldn't hurt my wallet.

I think my first thought on that was that I would live normally, as in like now. Just live like I have always lived...and splurge on the things I really like but could never afford. Like soft toys (haha). I think that was what made me want to be a millionaire, by the way. :P

So here goes. My "If I were a Millionaire" at 25 years old. A compilation of thoughts.


I would buy any book that catches my fancy. I would have a room just to keep my books in, with plenty of shelves to arrange them on. I could even open up a book-rental service, to cater to all those who want to read (like the poor me now :P ). I could of course just lend them out for free, but payment will make people take good care of those books. ;) (and return them!)

I would buy a great big soft toy, literally possible to sleep on. (No need for a bed, huh? Nah...I'd still want a bed. Haha) And all the little ones I fall in love with...no more letting them get away!

I think I would still keep a job. So I wouldn't get bored. Maybe not a day job (who would want to employ a person who could leave on a whim?), maybe something more like freelancing. That way I never get bored and I can pick what to do.

And oh, I would travel. In luxury, of course...why not when it barely makes a dent in your savings? No need to buy the tickets way in advance, just check the availability when I want to leave, and hey! Let's go!

But then again, I don't think I would want too much luxury. You know...not going around with a guide or anything. Just trudge along the streets like I've always done...but with the possibility of hailing a taxi anytime I want to, or to slip into any coffee shop (even an upscale one) when I'm tired and just want a break.

But no more dorms. If I were rich, I'd get a proper hotel room, with privacy.

I don't want a maid. (I'm just not used to it) Cleaning sometimes is just fine, and if ever there is something too difficult to clean, I could just hire someone to do it!

And what about charity? I admit that it isn't the first thing on my mind to be philanthropic (hey, it's not like I have a lot to give away, since I am not a millionaire) But hey, if I were dirt rich, why not give some wealth away? Though I probably wouldn't give away money just like that...I'd probably invest in something and give the profits away. That way my capital won't dwindle and I'd stay a millionaire. lol

So I guess that's the gist of it...getting a lot of money all of a sudden wouldn't change my life very much.


Why am I writing this now? Because I think, in a few decades' time, it would be interesting to look back and see what my younger self was thinking of doing with a truckload of cash. Who knows how my ideas would have changed by then?

What about you? Any ideas of what you would do if you were really really rich?

Funny bone

Why is it that a lot of people (in general) like to laugh over the misfortunes of others? Is it really that funny to see someone crash a bicycle, slip on a banana skin, or fall into a swimming pool? When I was small I watched America's Funniest Home Videos on TV, and I admit that I found it amusing. But somehow, as I see some videos on the Internet these days (or maybe since the past few years) depicting the same sort of scenes, it just doesn't seem so funny any more...

Was it the added comments on America's Funniest Home Videos that made it funnier? I don't think so, because I believe I have seen it more recently and I wasn't as entertained as I was before. Or maybe I have just seen so many videos, seen so many "accidents", the novelty has just worn off. Everything is a have-seen, making it simply boring and not "Oh wow, I've never seen anything like that!"

So in the end, it all comes down to "Is that situation funny?" I guess my funny bone has been tweaked as I grew older. (way to say I'm old! lol) Now my "motto" is: The best jokes are those without malice. Those where you laugh along with the whole world. Those that don't depend on anyone's unhappiness.

Of friends, ex-friends and who's that?

I was just looking at the Facebook friend page, the one where we search for friends. And there are all these recommendations of people who know some of your friends. (For some reason Facebook wants us to add a whole lot of friends...I wonder why, what do they get from it?) In this (very long) list there were people I knew, more or less (and of course, people I didn't know at all). And in a way it got me thinking.

What kind of friends do you have on Facebook? Do you have only your close friends, do you have friends of friends that you have only met a couple of times, do you add just about anyone you have crossed paths with?

When I started out using Facebook, I added just about anyone I had come into contact with. Anyone I noticed that I recognised and knew from somewhere, I added. And most people accept. (so do I, if I know who the person is)

Then I found some old friends from primary school. I was all excited about catching up with them again, and added a whole bunch. And then I stopped. Why? Because the world just isn't that ideal. Adding a friend on Facebook takes a click. Updating your information, interacting with your friends (still on Facebook)? It takes more time. And most people already don't do that. So to actually take the time to meet up with old friends...it just ain't easy. So far I have met a grand total of FOUR primary school friends, on two separate occasions (I'm talking about those I had lost contact with right after primary school).

And along the way there were so many types of friends... People might say that friendship is forever, but unfortunately things don't always work that way. Sayings are pretty, but the world isn't always pretty.

There are the friends who last. Always there, Facebook or not.

There are the friends who were there, but have now drifted away. Some are still within reach; a phone call or an e-mail and we catch up again. But some are so far gone that there is no recontacting them. And that is reality.

There are the friends who had never really been (sorry if you happen to read this, but you probably won't anyway). I added a lot of people who were either people I barely knew in primary school (these sent me friend requests), or my seniors/juniors in France (these I sometimes added, because it was a way of staying in touch after one gathering, not knowing whether we would meet again). But before you say that it is useless to add these kind of people...

There are the friends who might never have been. There are people I have gotten to know better thanks to Facebook, because, not living in the same town, it is hard to socialize. Facebook gets over that problem...when they're rather active on it (think geeks? lol).

Now a couple of (France) juniors have sent me friend requests (after I came back for good, I mean). The first one I sent a message to, asking who he was, and then explaining to him why I was rejecting his friend request. The second one I just rejected. People who add you without knowing who you are, without telling you why they're adding you...they won't notice that you've rejected their request anyway. If he adds me again, then I'll contact him.

So what stand should I take on friend-accepting? As of now I am still accepting requests from people I know, though I am highly hesitant on adding someone myself. I am sorely tempted to remove a lot of friends with whom I no longer interact, and with whom I would no longer be able to interact, were I to meet them again. But the "friendship forever" phrase still niggles (imperfect as it may be). You just don't delete friends.

Psst. And I'm a pack rat. And pack rats don't throw away anything, least of all friends.

Understanding surnames

I read an article in The Star today about keeping one's surname after marriage. It made me think of something I've been wanting to blog about for a while...but never got around to it (sounds familiar, doesn't it? :P )

When I was in Lyon, my parents came over to see me. And to use the public transport system, there was a special "family ticket" for Wednesdays and weekends, where family members can ride really cheaply. (4.20€, I think, for the whole day, and all of us!) But to be able to use that ticket, we have to get a special card made, so that they can verify that we are really related.

So I went to the TCL (public transport company) office with our IDs (I can't remember what I brought...was it passports?) and my (translated) birth cert. The birth cert was to show that, well, they're really my parents! ('Cos the French have something called livret de famille, which I guess lists a couple and their children's names. And I don't have one, of course.)

The lady there put my father and me on the card without any problem...and arriving at my mother's name, she said "But she doesn't have the same surname!" That was where I showed her the name on my birth cert. But come to think of it, she probably thought I was born out of wedlock. -_-

So that's that... and another thing I thought of was, so if I find someone with the same surname and go and make the card, we wouldn't even need proof that we're related? Hmm....