"For Chinese Only" 7:39 AM

Some people are unbelievably racist, and that's not okay.

Anne, Fate and I happened to be at Limkowing's Mooncake Festival today, organised by the China Club.  We were tired from filming all day, and decided to rest awhile in the plaza while we packed our stuff.  As we sat down, a burly Chinese guy, one of the organizers, told us the section was reserved "for China Club members only".  Anne and I could have passed off as members, but Fate and Norman, Malay and Kenyan respectively, obviously could not.  He was quite polite, so we decided not to stir up a fuss and moved to the other side of the plaza.

There was a buffet table and the food was free, but alas, it was 'reserved' also.  Anne and I had no trouble getting food, but a black guy was told that it was "for Chinese only".  He was allowed to get drinks though.  Go figure.  To top it off, Fate overheard someone saying "I thought I sent the email that only Chinese people were allowed?"  She must have assumed that non-Chinese people didn't speak English.

Its completely ironic, and quite distasteful, that Limkokwing "The Global University" would have allowed such a thing to happen.  "For Chinese only".  Imagine if we were at the Botswana Independence Day celebration, which takes place next week, and tried to sample their food, only to be told that it was for "Africans only".  What's the point of organizing a Chinese cultural event for Chinese people?  We're in Limkokwing for pete's sake, we should be sharing our culture with the supposedly 'diverse' student community.

I really do wonder what the guy who was chased off might have thought about Chinese people, and I am ashamed of my race.  There was a fight in the plaza today among a group of male black students.  I shudder to imagine that that sort of discrimination might lead to similar strife between the Chinese and the Africans.

I pray it does not.

People Get My Goat 10:20 AM

You know what my problem is?  I can't stand people.

I have a very low tolerance rate of people in general, somehow they end up irritating me even when they don't try.  And I just sit there seething in anger and annoyance, I want to leave but I can't cuz its rude, impolite, against the Good Manners I was brought up to stringently observe.

That must be why I'm so anti-social, it just seems much easier to be by myself.  On the other hand, avoiding people probably isn't too good for my mental health.

Bring Tissues Next Time 9:18 AM

Had an FML moment today.

After dropping the grandparents back home, I was about to drive off when I was overcome by the sudden urge to sneeze.  My nose had been spoiling for a sneeze all day (because I slept with the air-con on!).  I reached out for the tissuebox, but to my great horror, it wasn't there.

It couldn't wait, there was only one thing left: my shirt!  So I sneezed heartily into it, and my grandmother who was opening the gate turned around and made a face.  And I was too proud to ask for a tissue.  Next time replace the tissueboxlah!!

Tolong prevent the spread of Influenza A(H1N1), today.  Brought to you by the Health Ministry of John.

Blogging about Blogging 11:29 AM

How erchui is that?

It is now 2.05am, and I'm blogging about blogging.  Please observe the following tips if you wish to be a celebrity blogger (or at least get more followers than your pathetic circle of college/high school friends):

1. Leave a "digital trail" i.e. go visit other's people's blogs (preferably famous ones like Perez Hilton or Kenny Sia) and make comments under their top-rated posts.
2. Make sure those posts are super-duper controversial (e.g. "Kanye West used to be a woman") so people will be curious enough to want to see your blog.
3. Have a proactive digital presence i.e. link your twitter, tumlr, facebook, linkd, flickr, friendster, myspace, plurk, wordpress, youtube, and whatever else you have to your blog so people may stalk you at all times of the day.
4. Update frequently, it is the golden rule of successful celebrity blogging.  People just can't get enough of your hourly updates even if its: "Constipated.  Must have been that rotten sambal from the cat's drinking bowl".
5. Make sure to constantly check for and reply your reader's comments, otherwise they get pissed and you lose street cred (or blog cred in this case).

So that's it folks, John's Five Steps to A Successful Career in Blogging.  May the Blog of Fortune smile upon you.  Peace!

"1Daging, 1Malaysia" 10:19 AM

This is one of my all-time favourites from 15Malaysia. Support your local film industry!

Peace.

A Strange Dream 4:03 PM

I woke up from a strange dream about death, and I could't go back to sleep.

In it, someone close had passed away. But it was not the death that was most discomforting - even though I saw the person lifeless on the dining table - but the aftermath of it. My first reaction was: I should call his company and ask if they can give us the rest of his salary.

After that, I started to notice the little things that were missing. I saw myself in a relative's kitchen, and someone remarked that it was so sad that he passed away, now his favourite jar of nuts is missing from the fridge. I also thought about how I would no longer have his number in my cellphone, or speedial. His voice would certainly be missed, as would his jokes, smile and everything else. I wondered if it would be convenient if I could have his car, but then I'd have to drive it myself - that wouldn't be too convenient now. I also dreamt about how his wife tried to break the news to the rest of the family, and how difficult it was for her to do it.

I had to write this down as a self-reminder that the ones we love don't last forever. God put them on Earth to give us care, show us love, teach us lessons and then He takes them back. I want to remember to always cherish those dear to my heart, and not take them for granted.

Yours sincerely.

Dear Yasmin, 9:04 PM

I've wanted to post this for a long time, but due to my procrastination habits, I'm only doing this now.

In the video below, Yasmin Ahmad came to speak about film making, but she revealed so much more about life and the simple way we can make the world a better place. I might not have enjoyed ALL her films, but she is nevertheless one of those talented individuals who opened our eyes to what Malaysia COULD be, rather than how it should be.

We will miss her optimism, and neverending faith in Malaysia.