Striking the balance between public and private

There are few of us who are not members of facebook. And of course, I am not one of those few. The earliest draw of facebook for me was the invitations from my old housemates in Sheffield. They weren't on Friendster, so I rejoiced at being able to get in touch with them again.

Facebook makes space seem a little less wider, and distance doesn't seem to be that big a barrier for friends, old and new alike, to stay in touch. With all the games, applications, and quizzes (which have become more noticeable since the last facebook revamp), you can form your own mental picture of what your friends are like, or revise what impressions you had of them before.

What I wonder about is just how much do we actually open up to public on facebook. Especially in our status updates, where quite a few (I wanted to say many, but I don't have stats) of us would express our feelings and emotions at any given time. Perhaps its just me that notices mostly the more chirpy and positive status updates. I do notice and remember some of the less sunny status updates, which elicits sympathetic responses (usually, and why not?).

The bright and cheery status updates are the ones that get me thinking. It seems so nice and good to know our friends are doing well and feeling happy. However, does it belie some kind of deeper crisis and conflict which they might be undergoing? Could it be that they are hiding some kind of sadness they do not wish to share with everyone else? Is the status update just a red herring, or some kind of mutual reassurance for themselves too?

I have no reason to second guess my friends - rather, I wish them all happiness and joy and hope all is well. I'm talking about this from my own standpoint - that beneath the jolly, bright and happy surface, lies a deep, raging pool of uncertainty I myself fail to understand usually, and often leave to resolve by itself (even if I feel that it will not happen). I am not given to airing my negative views publicly. And I loathe to share about what I loathe.

Its not that I am unhappy - just distinctly aware of what I do to conceal some and promote others. And I am intrigued by how many people out there do the same. Probably everyone. =p

"Those sweet memories, will always be dear to me..."

I was a big fan since moonwalker. And my love for you was great enough, that I ran out and use my pocket money to buy your double cassette tape of HIStory.

But I confess now to going with the crowd - when accusations on you surfaced. I believed in you, and I always have. But I thought it was better to follow the crowd in condemning you. Do I seek forgiveness or closure in this admission? No.

You are truly one of my heroes. I regret not standing by my beliefs then - but you are one of the many reasons I try and be a better person. I listened to you. I would like to think I heard you.

Maybe it was not in the way you envisioned - but you touched my heart.

I will always remember the time.

A big part of my love for music. I'll miss you much.

This sheds light on why I am strongly against underage smoking...

Agence France-Presse - 6/23/2009 6:03 PM GMT

Obama: Not smoking is constant struggle

US President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he was 95 percent cured from smoking and never lights up in front of his daughters, but called quitting a constant struggle and admitted: "There are times where I mess up."

"As a former smoker I constantly struggle with it. Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes. Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No. I don't do it in front of my kids. I don't do it in front of my family," he said.

"I would say that I am 95 percent cured. But there are times where I mess up," Obama said at a White House press conference one day after he signed sweeping legislation to impose stricter curbs on cigarettes in a bid to stamp out youth smoking.

"Once you've gone down this path, then, you know, it's something you continually struggle with, which is precisely why the legislation we signed was so important, because what we don't want is kids going down that path in the first place," he said.

But the president also lightly scolded the reporter for tying her question to the new law, declaring: "The new law that was put in place is not about me. It's about the next generation of kids coming up."

"Just say that you just think it's neat to ask me about my smoking as opposed to it being relevant to my new law. But that's fine. I understand. It's an interesting human interest story," he said.

Miumew

My weekend is pretty much ending here. Dubai One is showing The Two Towers right now, which we're watching.

Today was all about Miumew. You could say she was the climax of the weekend. Which began last Thursday evening as we had some friends over for dinner. It was a good meal which took time to prepare - but well worth it. Good post dinner fun too. Except that to my chagrin, I discovered the mics on our karaoke weren't working. So Wii Raving Rabbids it was.

Friday we had a good lunch at Papagallo's. Had the squid ink pasta this time, really wanted to try. It was good - but a little cloying towards the end. Went well with a couple of glasses of white. Then we went off to Dubai - specifically Mall of the Emirates. Kitty had a blast and christened the supp card at Massimo Dutti. I didn't find anything I wanted. But hopefully that won't reflect the state of things. The drive there and back was good too, with good music and company. That speed limiter gets on my nerves though. yeesh.

And then today - after much thinking and consideration, and most importantly, a touch of destiny and fate - our paths and Miumew's crossed. She was being allowed to roam free, a little grey bundle of energy packed with the vitality and recklessness only the very young ones are privy too. Kitty took an instant liking to her.

We would have left together there and then, but the proprietor told us of another who had her in mind. So we decided to mull over her a little longer and caught The Proposal. Not the best of service in Al Mariah today, but thats not a new thing for me. I only hope kitty was not forever traumatised.

By the time the movie ended, Miumew was still there, and the other had not been reached. Hence we decided that it was time to decide, and decide we did. I decided there and then that we might as well buy the other stuff Miumew would need if she were to be comfortable with us. It was a tidy sum in the end, but one I was willing to expend.

Welcome to the family Miumew!

It crept right up on me...

Simba - happy one year anniversary to u and Nala. I remember ur wedding fondly. including the part where i tried to help organise photo taking of tables in a semi inebriated state.

On a personal level, if its one year for Simba, it also means its one year now since I left home for work. I don't look back with too much satisfaction, but will look forward with hope in my heart and fire in my hands.

Onwards.

Prediction

Now, I don't always do this, but I kind of need a reminder for myself.

I predict that for the next one month, the number of H1N1 cases will continue rising by a rapid rate, and a rising mortality rate. Perhaps the worldwide total will be just below 200 (it was 112 as of last Wednesday according to WHO website) within this time.

Following this one month period, infections will not stop - but the rate of infection should come down. But not the mortality rate.

Please note that the above is just my own personal prediction and does not have any scientific basis. Nor is it meant to monger fear and panic or discredit the actions which have been taken by governments and organisations the world over to deal with H1N1. I wish them all the best! Let's all stay vigilant and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

living without electricity

Thanks to the bigass construction site next to my apartment block, the power was lost to all apartments in the building for much of friday. one hell of a way to wake up to a weekend first day.

Went out for lunch with H and G and then go walk walk in AD Mall. They have a new Sanrio shop, where I saw a rather disturbing kitty I must remember to show to my kitty when she's back.

By the time I got home - still no power. Was getting very frustrated. Napped on sofa while reading a book. Got up just before the sun set. Still no power. I was worried about my food. Did not want it going back in the non working freezer. All my calls to the security guys were fruitless and I was getting agitated. Did not want to be taking it out on them.

Just as I was about to resign myself and prepare to throw my food away, what should happen but the return of my power. One hell of a coincidence. Ah well. Quite a spoiler of a weekend that was.

In other news, I had great fun on Friday with Peter at the AD Golf Club. 18 holes was very tiring, and I really need to work on the putting and the chipping. And of course everything else could use improving. But the company was impressive and made the afternoon a whole lot more fun.

Peter leaves us this coming week. It was good having him around. Wish him all the best back in Singapore. 1st generation diplomat. It was my good fortune to have been able to work with him all this time.