This is a question a blogger usually ask herself or himself before committing their thoughts down in cyberspace. A simple basic question that sometimes operates at the back of our minds. Some might say that a lot of bloggers do not do this self-editing and willyninnily put their soulful, chaotic, antsy, narcissistic views in their private personal online space, their blog. But then isn’t the term "private personal online space" an oxymoron? This of course begs the question: Is the World Wide Web private? For me, the answer would have to be: No. Nothing committed online is private, for there will be always someone out there, other than your circle of influence, who will have permissible or otherwise, access to your cyber musings. A blog is not a personal possession like a real 100-page diary. A web log is, by all definitions, a public space.
I read a column in the papers today about the perils of blogging, or revealing yourself too much to strangers. This is true as much information about a person can be gleaned from a blog. For example: what car you drive, your daily activities, your hobbies, your circle of influence, what kind of products you use, what banks you partronise, which coffee you hang out to surf and so much more. All these information can be used to detail a person's life and with enough information, identity theft can occur.
Back in Uni, I wrote a thesis on the false security of the Internet. I can't believe I forgot about the perils of putting too much information about ourselves online. I look back at the early stages of my blog and thought to myself, "Holy fraking shit, woman."
Well, that's just one thing. The other issue is of course, self-governance of your personal space. I believe that we should all be mindful of what we write online. Not because of national unity and the threat from the government, but because of self-preservation. We are held responsible for what we say and do in our real life and it's no difference with our online-self. What's more, committing your thoughts online is an even bigger threat than saying something verbally in real life, unless of course what you say happened to be taped then that's permissible evidence that can condemn you.
But to bring it closer to home, a blog can define who you are, to others. To your circle of influence, you are just little ol' lovable you. To others who read with detachment, you're nothing but a spoiled 30-year-old brat with the emotional governance of a monkey. Who knows what strangers are thinking? Should we care what others think of us? I believe we should, because we write now with a passion and we fear nothing. But later in life, with a paperless but evidential trail spanning the globe thrice over, we can be measured, weighted and we might be found wanting.
This is the part of the reason I've reduced my blogging time. I'm more mindful of what I blog these days. Of course the other big reason is that I no longer feel the need to let strangers know when and how I burnt my barley water.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Thank you for your prayers
My mom went for her 1st check up after her surgery today and according to the doctor, she's doing well. She's even walking better now and without the aid of a walking stick. But it will take another 6 months for the damaged veins to heal and grow back. Her veins were inevitably damaged when the surgeons had to scrape the tumour off them (her tumour had grown/wrapped itself around some of her veins), and since veins are tiny, some were cut and damaged. But according to the doctor, the veins should grow back in 6 months time and she'll regain the feeling in her foot.
The doctor also got the test results back on the tumour and it's benign. So thank you all for your support and your prayers.
The doctor also got the test results back on the tumour and it's benign. So thank you all for your support and your prayers.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
A tableau of an accident and hospitals
Was involved in a car accident yesterday morning on my way to work. Actually, I was already just outside my place of work when it happened. A motorcyclist was winding his way in between cars and in that split second, he somehow navigated wrongly or misjudged his speed and knocked into the back of my car and went flying off his bike. I was horrified that of all cars there, he had to knock into mine.
I called the ambulance as he was bleeding from scrapes on the face and he couldn't get up. I even gathered his belongings and documents and followed the ambulance to the hospital and passed his belogings to the nurse. The guy broke his hand, leg and some ribs. After that, I went to the police station to make a report. It was a horrid experience.
Yesterday was a horrible day. Damn suay I tell you.
*sigh* I'll blog more about it later. I'm tired.
I'm going to the hospital now to see my mom. She was in surgery yesterday to remove her tumour and she's in ICU now.
What a horrible day.
I called the ambulance as he was bleeding from scrapes on the face and he couldn't get up. I even gathered his belongings and documents and followed the ambulance to the hospital and passed his belogings to the nurse. The guy broke his hand, leg and some ribs. After that, I went to the police station to make a report. It was a horrid experience.
Yesterday was a horrible day. Damn suay I tell you.
*sigh* I'll blog more about it later. I'm tired.
I'm going to the hospital now to see my mom. She was in surgery yesterday to remove her tumour and she's in ICU now.
What a horrible day.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Hong Kong: Land of the Dripping Air-Conditioners
Hong Kong is a city that is teeming with life and chaos; with masses of stinky human bodies moving like lemmings in search of the best bargains in this overpriced shopping mecca. Yeah, Hong Kong is a very crowded place, but it is to be expected as space is a commodity and not many people have the luxury of owning their own landed house. Even our hotel rooms are smaller than standard size.
The culture there is like New York, everyone is always on the go and time is money. They don't linger at restaurants like we do. They sit, eat and leave. There is no such thing as savouring a cup of coffee or just resting your legs at Chinese eating places during peak hours; you'd likely to get shooed off once you've cleaned your bowl. If you want that pleasure, the best places are western cafes and Starbucks. But you have to pay for that privilege.
Although, Starbucks prices are pretty standard - it's about HK$25 - 35 for a cup of ice-blended coffee. But juice bars are way more expensive. I paid HK$37 for a medium size cup of banana and strawberry smoothie and HK$15 for a small packet of Maltese. But then it's to be expected as living standards are pretty high in Hong Kong. Apparently, a Giordano sales girl earns HK$7k - 10k a month. I shudder to think of the rent.
The people here, sans salespeople aggresively tries to convinve you to buy their wares, and sans hotel staff, aren't very friendly or receptive to strangers. They are not affected by a stranger's presence in any way. It's like you're a piece of pavement decor. I can imagine that New York would be like that too, as people are too involved and busy with their own lives to look up once in a while to see what and who else is there.
Hong Kong is not a place that I would willingly go on my own. I'm more of a beach bum and water-loving fool than a Metropolitan girl. Getting around alone in Hong Kong wasn't much of a problem though, as I do speak a smattering of primary school Mandarin. (Did I just admit that out loud?) But it's good that I was with my Cantonese-speaking colleagues, as the times when I was with them, I just followed wherever they went lah... So for this trip, it is definitely the company (friends) that maketh the trip and not the place. Goes to show that no matter how sucky the venue, if you have friends, it can be fun. Well, the booze helped a little of course. Haha.
Alcohol is pretty expensive in HK. In one of the night clubs we discovered to our horror that they were charging HK$1500 per bottle of Chivas! This is in one of the clubs at Lan Kwai Fong, an expat clubbing area. Can you imagine how much expats are earning in HK to be able to afford X bottles of Chivas in one night as seen that night at several tables? Most of us stuck to our favourite beers (they were cheaper than our KL prices) and left it up to our kind and good bosses to pick up the tab on the Chivas. *grin* Speaking of beer, I love their home-brewed Lan Kwai Fong beer! It was good! It had a flowery aroma to it and drinking it was a pleasure. Price? Only HK$23 per bottle.
Another thing I don't like about Hong Kong is that there are always dripping water from air-cons every 5 steps or so. Since humidity is around 81%, Hong Kong is a very hot and sticky country, hence the perpetual air-conditioning. So, if you're pounding the pavement in Hong Kong looking for bargains, be sure to be aware of dripping water from above at all times, else you'll end up sticky and wet by the time you walk a couple of blocks. Just look out for wet patches on the pavements and circumvent them, and you'll be fine.
Speaking of walking, I love my Mary Jane Crocs. I had no problem walking around Hong Kong island and Kowloon for 12 hours each day. By the time the sun went down, I'm the only one bounding up stairs... the rest were lagging cause their "walking" shoes were pinching their feet. Haha. Go Crocs!
Despite the walking around the city, I didn't shop much, but I made it up the last day when I bought 3 hand bags in one swoop and a pair of Adidas sneakers at Lui Yang Kai (Ladies Market) and Fa Yuen Street. That's all. I didn't even get any souvenirs or jewelry stuff as all of them were plastic-y and I know I make better ones. It was not worth the money to buy those things... everything was made in China. I went with one luggage, I returned with the same luggage. Good for me and my credit cards. *grin*
Below are some of the pictures from my Company Trip to Hong Kong.
Waiting at the KLIA Departure lounge
Arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport
HK's street at night
Dim Sum brekkie
Any space is good poster space
Repulse Bay
It's called that coz some soldiers managed to repulse invaders there lah... The guide wasn't too sure on this... *shrug*
Taking a boat ride on a Junk
Jumbo floating restaurant
Boatride with colleagues
Top of Victoria's Peak
Mong Kok MRT Station
Soaking our tired feet at the end of the day
#end#
The culture there is like New York, everyone is always on the go and time is money. They don't linger at restaurants like we do. They sit, eat and leave. There is no such thing as savouring a cup of coffee or just resting your legs at Chinese eating places during peak hours; you'd likely to get shooed off once you've cleaned your bowl. If you want that pleasure, the best places are western cafes and Starbucks. But you have to pay for that privilege.
Although, Starbucks prices are pretty standard - it's about HK$25 - 35 for a cup of ice-blended coffee. But juice bars are way more expensive. I paid HK$37 for a medium size cup of banana and strawberry smoothie and HK$15 for a small packet of Maltese. But then it's to be expected as living standards are pretty high in Hong Kong. Apparently, a Giordano sales girl earns HK$7k - 10k a month. I shudder to think of the rent.
The people here, sans salespeople aggresively tries to convinve you to buy their wares, and sans hotel staff, aren't very friendly or receptive to strangers. They are not affected by a stranger's presence in any way. It's like you're a piece of pavement decor. I can imagine that New York would be like that too, as people are too involved and busy with their own lives to look up once in a while to see what and who else is there.
Hong Kong is not a place that I would willingly go on my own. I'm more of a beach bum and water-loving fool than a Metropolitan girl. Getting around alone in Hong Kong wasn't much of a problem though, as I do speak a smattering of primary school Mandarin. (Did I just admit that out loud?) But it's good that I was with my Cantonese-speaking colleagues, as the times when I was with them, I just followed wherever they went lah... So for this trip, it is definitely the company (friends) that maketh the trip and not the place. Goes to show that no matter how sucky the venue, if you have friends, it can be fun. Well, the booze helped a little of course. Haha.
Alcohol is pretty expensive in HK. In one of the night clubs we discovered to our horror that they were charging HK$1500 per bottle of Chivas! This is in one of the clubs at Lan Kwai Fong, an expat clubbing area. Can you imagine how much expats are earning in HK to be able to afford X bottles of Chivas in one night as seen that night at several tables? Most of us stuck to our favourite beers (they were cheaper than our KL prices) and left it up to our kind and good bosses to pick up the tab on the Chivas. *grin* Speaking of beer, I love their home-brewed Lan Kwai Fong beer! It was good! It had a flowery aroma to it and drinking it was a pleasure. Price? Only HK$23 per bottle.
Another thing I don't like about Hong Kong is that there are always dripping water from air-cons every 5 steps or so. Since humidity is around 81%, Hong Kong is a very hot and sticky country, hence the perpetual air-conditioning. So, if you're pounding the pavement in Hong Kong looking for bargains, be sure to be aware of dripping water from above at all times, else you'll end up sticky and wet by the time you walk a couple of blocks. Just look out for wet patches on the pavements and circumvent them, and you'll be fine.
Speaking of walking, I love my Mary Jane Crocs. I had no problem walking around Hong Kong island and Kowloon for 12 hours each day. By the time the sun went down, I'm the only one bounding up stairs... the rest were lagging cause their "walking" shoes were pinching their feet. Haha. Go Crocs!
Despite the walking around the city, I didn't shop much, but I made it up the last day when I bought 3 hand bags in one swoop and a pair of Adidas sneakers at Lui Yang Kai (Ladies Market) and Fa Yuen Street. That's all. I didn't even get any souvenirs or jewelry stuff as all of them were plastic-y and I know I make better ones. It was not worth the money to buy those things... everything was made in China. I went with one luggage, I returned with the same luggage. Good for me and my credit cards. *grin*
Below are some of the pictures from my Company Trip to Hong Kong.
It's called that coz some soldiers managed to repulse invaders there lah... The guide wasn't too sure on this... *shrug*
Thursday, June 14, 2007
My new Mary Janes Crocs!
I finally bought myself a Crocs! Got myself the black Mary Janes Crocs and they are sooo adorably ugly. I've been wanting to get Crocs for a long time now but never got round to it and I was kinda hesitating because of the price. The catalyst of my capitulation came when I unpacked my boots for my trip to Hong Kong tomorrow, and discovered red ants by the hundreds, living in my boots! And they had drilled countless holes in the leather! I was so furious I drowned the lot of them in soap, together with my boots.
Anyway, I was in KL yesterday for a meeting and I decided to stop by Isetan, KLCC to check out the Crocs. I initially wanted to get the Prima model, which looks like ballerina shoes without the ribbons, but the sales girl could not find one in my size. Yes, I have big feet. Bite me.
So, I settled on the Mary Janes and I do not regret my buy. They are SOOOOO comfortable! I even wore them to work today to give it a test run before I wear them in HK this weekend. My Mary Jane Croc is so fantastic that I refused to wear my heels, despite my GM's howls that Crocs are ugly and should not be worn at all. Yeah, he HOWLED. I have no idea why the sight of Crocs provoked such an antagonistic response in him. Go figure.
Wha-? Oh yeah, did I not say I was going to HK this weekend for a company trip? Yeah I'm going to HK, of all places. Anyway, THAT is another blog entry.
So see ya! Need to go back and pack now.