Labor Day Weekend and we've got packing to do...

Technorati tags: Labor Day, Weekend, Moving House

It's another long weekend with Labor Day falling on Monday. While most folks get to enjoy an extended weekend, my wife and I have this long weekend to pack our stuff for the "big move".

Yup, Walski and my better half are moving. And with that move comes the one thing that we dread the most - packing. Six year's worth of stuff... From the previous posts (if you've been following this blog), you would think that I'm fleeing the country, right?

Well not that drastic a move. Nope. Mr. & Mrs. Walski are moving a little bit further out of KL from where we are currently, that's all. But with this move comes a shitload of packing to do. Why? Because both of us are collectors of "stuff". "Stuff" from all our visits to various parts of the world, "stuff" we've accumulated over the years. And all this "stuff" needs to be packed.

That's the bad news...

The good news is that we'll be moving into somewhere bigger, nicer, and hopefully better. The better news is that we have great neighbors. Well, at least 2 out of the possible 3 neighbors in our block. The third one hasn't moved in yet, or even started showing up.

The new House of Walski has finally completed (well, 99% anyway) that painful Malaysian property-ownership phenomenon of renovations, and is finally ready to be inhabited. (More on the trials and tribulations this house has caused us in future posts)

Suffice it to say, rarely is any purchase of property in Malaysia to one's satisfaction - usually because the finishing totally sucks, regardless of how reputable the developer happens to be. And the developer of this property happens to be one of the more reputable ones.

And so, Labor Day itself will be laborious for us - more packing. More boxes every which where we turn in our current condo unit. Boxes, boxes everywhere...

More on the move as it gets closer. T-minus 6 days, and counting...

Click here for the full post......

In Memoriam: Veteran Journalist MGG Pillai (1939 - 2006) - The Passing of a Malaysian Icon

Technorati tags: Death, MGG Pillai, In Memorium

UPDATE (Friday April 28 - 1615 hrs): The Star Online has also carried the news of MGG Pillai's passing. They apparently are the first mainstream media body to carry the news (posted around 1443 hrs today).

Veteran journalist MGG Pillai dies

News update by The Star Newsdesk

PETALING JAYA: Veteran journalist MGG Pillai, died of a heart attack at the Universiti Hospital at 10.40am Friday. He was 67.

Pillai, whose reputation was built on his no-holds-barred manner of reports and commentaries, wrote for several publications during his long career. He was once expelled from Singapore over his reports and served a stint as a war correspondent in Vietnam.

He was also among the pioneers of the country's online journalism. His last posting on his website, MGGPillai.com, was "Globalisation for Malaysia means the foreigner will control what the locals always did in the past.

Pillai is survived by his wife and two sons.

Other blogs have also reported the sad demise, namely:

Jeff Ooi's Screenshots

Malaysia Today (you can leave condolence messages in the comments)

desiderata-ylchong

MyNews2u

Roti Kacang Merah Menulis

Just RS

Oon Yeoh

whiteflag99

kuchingfest

chenjie79

Putrajaya Blues

Original post (Friday, April 28 - 1328 hrs): Just saw this late-breaking report at Malaysiakini (unfortunately I don't have a subscription).

A sad day for independent journalism. Mr. Pillai, Malaysia's pioneer online journalist, passed away due to heart complications at the University Hospital this morning. He was 67. Pillai is one of the inspirations that prompted me to start myAsylum, due to what I felt was his daringness to say it like it is. His site has always been a "daily must check-out" for the past several years, and his presence will definitely be missed.

myAsylum would like to extend its deepest and heartfelt condolences to the MGG Pillai family on their loss. In fact, on the nation's loss...

More updates as they are available.

Click here for the full post......

Offbeat Travelogue: If a tree crosses the road, and the traffic lights are faulty, would it make a sound?

Technorati tags: Offbeat Travelogue, Malaysiana, Traffic Light

Hot on the heels of the Bridge To/From Nowhere... Unless the tree(s) on the left needs it, can anyone tell me what this traffic light is for? I asked the lampost and the blank billboard, but they declined to comment.

DBKL (when you're not too busy busting up houses of worship) should really fix this. This was found off the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) East-bound, at the Jalan Bunga Raya exit. Oh and by the way, the other traffic lights weren't working either.

Click here for the full post......

myAsylum's Call to Action...

Technorati tags: Human Rights, Malaysia, Religious Freedom, Police

A few things have prompted this post.

First is the disturbing news that several old Hindu temples are unceremoniously (and systematically) waybeing demolished, in a way most disrespectful to the devotees of these temples. . The most recent one being a couple of days ago - the 107-year old Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman temple in KL was demolished by DBKL, while the devotees were observing their religious service. Another one in Shah Alam has been scheduled for demolition today, this one also being over 100 years old.

The excuse reason given by DBKL and Shah Alam councils? To make way for development. But it's the heavy-handed nature in which these demolition exercises are carried out that makes them disturbing. And in the case of DBKL, the mere 24-hour notice given to vacate the temple.

Why is this happening? In Malaysia, no less, where we talk so proudly about religious freedom and inter-ethnic harmony. I guess it boils down to respect for others to practice their religious obligations, which as far as I know, is a fundemental right of every citizen, as far as the Federal Constitution is concerned. In this case, though, it's the utter lack of respect that I find distasteful. And that mutual lack of respect seems to be growing.

I won't delve into the gory details of the temple demolition exercises, but you can read all about them here. The site linked to is called Police Watch Malaysia.

Which brings me to the Second reason. Chronicled on this site are the various alleged misconducts of the Royal Malaysian Police Force of late. SquatGate, Deaths in Police Custody, mistreatment of the 4 China nationals in custody... just to name a few. The actual extent of the alleged misconduct is staggering. And scary.

What's been recommended (by two Royal commissions) is the setting up of the IPCMC - Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission. A body to police the Police force, if you would. Pak Lah has even agreed to it. And a deadline of May 31, 2006 has been set for it to be in place.

But here's the irony - not only is the Police Force is against the IPCMC (no surprise here), backing their refusal are some key Members of Parliament, among them several prominent UMNO MPs (a narrative can be found here), including Jerai MP Badruddin Amiruldin (yes, that same doofus with the rape theory) and Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof. Why the opposition (as in the real reason) is anybody's guess. The rhetoric for the opposition of setting up the IPCMC is, at best, lame.

The Third thing is a personal view: Malaysia is in the process of being hijacked by Islamists. Not just from PAS, but also those in the Civil Service, and in BN itself. I'm not talking about a conspiracy, per se. But in the battle between PAS and BN, each side is trying to portray itself as the Melayu's best protector and benefactor, and Islam is being used as the ammunition in this war. The casualty? Us. The common people - both Muslim and non-Muslim.

Standing in the way is the fast eroding Malaysian Constitution. Fast eroding because there seems to be a strong move to rewrite it, to make Malaysia an Islamic state. To make Malaysia an Islamic Institution.

I, for one, do not want to live in an institution.

So here it comes: myAsylum's Call to Action

There are a number of things you can do to make Malaysia more liveable - for all Malaysians. However, for a start here are three things you can do immediately, online:
(1) Sign the Bar Council's Petition on Movement Towards A Better Police Force.
(2) Sign this other petition: to restore the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.
(3) Know what rights you have legally when dealing with the police. Read the Bar Council's "Red Book: Police & Your Basic Rights" (which you can either view or download here). Don't worry about the book being subversive - it is not. In fact, it was launched by Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

The other things to do are more long-term. Like register to vote. Or take up a social cause with an organization for all Malaysians. And many other productive, socially-responsible things that one can do.

There is hope yet for this country we love. We just need to get off our behinds and do something real - other than whine, whine, whine.

Walski's signed both petitions, and read the publication - have you?

Click here for the full post......

Black Metal Aliens! - Harian Metro strikes again...

Technorati tags: Malaysia, Black Metal, Witchhunt, Malay Media

There is something seriously wrong - mentally - with the morons that run the Malay-language media. Really. We know all too well how Mastika is a classic basket case. But when Harian Metro ran this story:

it really got my knickers bundled up in a twist - and any guy will readily tell you how painful that can be. But all kidding aside. First of all, the Black Metal connection to this story is really creative - think "black t-shirt" with a cross-like design (see article below), and viola! Another case of the Black Metal menace.

I've posted parts of the first article, below (All 3, in their ludicrous entireties, can be found here, here and here), and included an English translation.

The first head-liner article reads (and the translation in this color, with emphasis by myAsylum):

Dalang Black Metal Jawa (Javanese Black Metal Kingpin)

Oleh (By) SAIPUL ADLI MOHAMAD

JOHOR BAHRU: Seorang lelaki dikenali sebagai Dhani, dipercayai menjadi orang kuat atau dalang penubuhan dan perhimpunan beberapa kumpulan ala ‘Black Metal’ yang dianggotai pekerja asing warga Indonesia di bandar raya ini, sejak beberapa bulan lalu.

A man, identified as "Dhani", is believed to be the focal point (or kingpin) in the organization, and convening, of several 'Black Metal' like groups, whose members are Indonesian foreign workers, here in this city, in the past few months.

Siasatan polis juga mendapati, selain Kadal, terdapat empat lagi kumpulan yang ditubuhkan berasaskan kampung asal mereka di Indonesia atau kecederungan terhadap muzik tertentu.

Police investigation has found that other than "Kadal", four other groups have been formed, centered around either their village of origin in Indonesia, or around a particular genre of music.

Empat kumpulan itu dikenali sebagai Gloos, Almojo, Slank serta Memden dan semua pengikutnya berkumpul di kawasan sekitar dan bawah jambatan di Batu 5, Tampoi, pada setiap hujung minggu.

The four groups have been identified as "Gloos", "Almojo", "Slank", and "Memden", and all their members congregate near or under the 5th Mile Tampoi bridge every weekend.

Dalam satu operasi di sekitar Tampoi minggu lalu, polis mengesan kewujudan kumpulan ala `Black Metal' digelar Kadal dengan menonjolkan imej ganas dan jalanan yang dipercayai wujud sejak beberapa bulan lalu.

In an operation around Tampoi last week, police detected the existence of a Black Metal styled group called "Kadal", portraying a violent and bohemian image, that is believed to have existed for the past few months.

Kumpulan itu yang dianggotai ahli di kalangan etnik Jawa saja menggunakan logo selipar berdarah yang ditusuk paku dan tulisan dalam bahasa Jawa ‘Teplek Ndeso’ (bermaksud selipar kampung).

The group, whose members consist of only ethnic Javanese, use a logo depicting a bloody nailed slipper (as in flip-flops), with a Javanese phrase "Teplek Ndeso" (which means village slipper/flip-flops).

Mereka mudah dikenali kerana memakai baju-T hitam lengkap dengan logo mereka serta tulisan ‘Indahnya Persaudaraan’. Bahagian hadapan baju mereka pula tertera lambang salib terbalik dan terselit di tengahnya gambar selipar.

They were identified because they wore black t-shirts, complete with their logo, plus the phrase "How Beautiful Brotherhood". The front of their shirts had inverted crosses, with a slipper in the middle.

Biarpun berselindung di sebalik hasrat berkongsi suka duka mencari rezeki di perantauan, imej ganas dan jalanan dengan berbaju hitam serta kegemaran berhibur sambil meminum arak di tempat awam, mula merimaskan masyarakat tempatan.

Despite hiding behind the intention of wanting to share their toils working in a foreign land, their violent and bohemian image, plus enjoying entertainment while drinking alcohol in a public place, has made the local populace uneasy.

Now, the only "crimes" I can see here are:
(a) they had black t's
(b) with what looks like an inverted cross for a logo,
(c) they were drinking alcohol and enjoying themselves, and
(d) they were Indonesian

Don't know about you, but doesn't this sound like a case of extremely contrived Xenophobia? And where exactly is the Black Metal connection? Black t-shirt with an "inverted cross", with a bloody slipper nailed to it, that's where. No mention of animal sacrifice. No mention of devil worship. But nevermind, because Black T-shirt = Black Metal.

Creative journalism? Or distortion of the truth? Now, let's take another, closer look at the offending so-called Black Metal t-shirt.

You either have to be blind, stupid, or really hell-bent on associating anything unsavory with Black Metal (or a Malay tabloid journalist, a strange breed who actually possess all 3 wonderful attributes) to see an inverted cross with a bloody slipper nailed to it. I wouldn't even suggest "a stretch of the imagination", for obvious reasons.

It looks more like a slipper (all of it looks pinkish, so I don't know how they see a "bloody" slipper) in the middle of a 4-way stylized roundabout, perhaps symbolizing the coming together of these migrant workers from the four corners of their daily toil to make a decent living. But then again, maybe it's because I have an I.Q.

But here's the thing - Harian Metro did not make the raid up. Like the ever obedient rabid lap-dog, they merely played along, and reported in their ever so sensationalist, pseudo-journalistic, bigoted style. A tool for the "greater good"...

It really did happen, carried out by 55 individuals comprising the police, Immigration, JB City Council, Johor Religious Department, and RELA (a.k.a. them gun-weilding citizen paramilitary bully squad, best known for their effectiveness in harassing immigrant workers). Talk about a well-coordinated, cross-departmental harassment squad.

And shouldn't they be concentrating on the real crime problem in Johor Baru? But, of course, this operation is a lot easier, especially with black t-shirts involved. Especially when the victims perpetrators are immigrant workers. RELA's area of specialty anyway.

The other two articles are essentially follow ups, and will not be translated (really not worth the effort). Go read them yourself... maybe the Black Metal Media Watch Blog will translate them.

So, the stupidity continues. The authorities going after the easy (but mostly harmless) targets, while the real violent criminal activity in JB continues unabated.

Nowhere in the 3 news articles was there any mention of locals being harassed or attacked by these migrant Black Metallers. But hey, who am I to act surprised. This is the same country where holding hands and kissing are considered grave and immoral crimes. So, of course it's wrong to have fun, especially when it's on the rowdy side. No-brainer there, right?

Malaysia, truly insane... and be extra careful that the next black t-shirt you wear doesn't have anything remotely looking like a cross... no matter how innocuous it may seem.

Click here for the full post......

Malaysia PowerPlay Cup: JAKIM 1 - Cabinet 0

Technorati tags: Malaysia, Islam, Society, Zealots

This man weilds more power than the Cabinet, the Executive arm of the Malaysian Government. His name? Datuk Mustapa Abdul Rahman. And he is the Director-General of JAKIM - the Islamic Affairs Department of Malaysia. And why does myAsylum think he's more powerful than the Cabinet?

Last Monday, April 17, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting made it crystal clear that the Cabinet would decide on what constituted "public immorality". He also stated that local authorities should refrain from drafting their own laws in the meantime.

Then, a few days later, JAKIM decides otherwise (excerpted from the NST, emphasis by myAsylum):

Jakim won't wait for decency guidelines

19 Apr 2006 By Hamidah Atan (New Straits Times)

PUTRAJAYA: Muslim couples caught kissing or committing other indecent acts in public will be dealt with by the Islamic Affairs Department (Jakim) regardless of any advice from the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Department director-general Datuk Mustapa Abdul Rahman yesterday said non-Muslims found committing indecent acts with Muslims would be handed over to the police while their Muslim partners would be dealt with under the Syariah.

There was no need for its enforcement officers to wait for the formulation of guidelines by the Housing and Local Government Ministry on what constituted indecent acts.

"As the authority directly in charge of taking care of the moral standard and behaviour of the masses, particularly Muslims, we will follow the law in taking action against such couples, including the non-Muslims. After all, this is our moral duty and responsibility," he said.

"What will happen to society, the religions and the country if such values are ignored and our people, especially the Muslims, choose to live a lifestyle similar to that of Westerners? This will lead to disintegration and other social problems. Such acts are forbidden by Islam."

Mustapa warned that Muslim couples with no binding relationship "spotted" by enforcement officers at quiet, isolated places would be detained. "Do not expect my men to do nothing when they see unmarried couples or those without any relationship kissing and hugging in public. We will act according to the law."

Mustapa said it was the responsibility of the public to inform the department of any such acts.

(read the full news report here)

In other words, screw the cabinet. Not surprisingly (implications on our tourism industry, no doubt), the next day, Mustapa back-pedalled on the original statement, when this was reported by Islam On Line and the AFP:

Malaysia's Morality Laws Won't Apply to Non-Muslims

Fri., Apr. 21, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Non-Muslims caught kissing and hugging in public will not be punished under the morality laws, a senior Malaysian government official said on Thursday, April 20.

"We will take the Muslim only," Mustafa Bin Abdul Rahman, the director-general of the influential Islamic Development Department of Malaysia, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

He said non-Muslims, even those caught with Muslim partners, would not face action over their indecent behavior.

(the full news report, while it lasts, can be found here)

Of course, in a situation where if one of the couple were Malay/Muslim, he/she would be dragged to the Syariah Court anyway.

You know, it's not like these holier-than-thous can be voted out of office the next time we have an election.

What really disturbs me in the NST article is what Mustapa urges the public:

Mustapa said it was the responsibility of the public to inform the department of any such acts.

Great. Now not only do we have to contend with enforcement officers, each of whom will have their own interpretation of what constitutes immoral behavior, but also every "concerned" citizen with even wider interpretations.

But I suppose married couples who hold hands shouldn't be worried, right? WRONG. It will be your burden of proof to convince the Talibanistas enforcement officers that you are married. I can just imagine the departure or arrival halls at KLIA - enforcement officers lurking around so as to nab anyone hugging or kissing their loved ones returning or leaving. Good place for them to hang out, especially if some dimwit decides that in addition, there should also be an arrest quota (in Malaysia, anything is possible).

Of course, this scene below, would be acceptable. Probably even encouraged by these holier-than-thou nitwits.

Kissing and hugging leads to sex, as many of these morons, so against public display of mixed-gender affection, will claim. They will also as quickly dismiss the notion that same-sex hugging, hand-holding and kissing will lead to homosexuality. Why? Because homosexuality is abhorred in Islam. Right?

Well, guess what? (see full post below)

A post at Akram's Razor talks about a 2002 LA Times article entitled "Kandahar's Lightly Veiled Homosexual Habits", detailing the prevalence of male homosexuality during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Yup, that very same repressive regime the world has come to know as an extreme face of Islam.

An anomaly, you say? How about this book then?

Yes, homosexuality is alive and well in the Middle-East - it's just that this is one of those things everyone simply chooses not to talk about.

And what's not talked about, doesn't exist. Isn't that how it works, usually?

Well, it does exist, and it exists probably because the Taliban (or even current) Afghanistan and most of the Middle-East (even the very Islamic parts of it) are pretty repressed societies. In fact, make that extremely repressed.

But then, these local Taliban-wannabes that inhabit the Islamic departments never really look at problems and isssues objectively or critically. Instead, their favorite bogeyman, the West, is always invoked to become the fall-guy whenever blame needs to be assigned.

Imorality spreading through our society - blame the West. Crime on the rise - blame the West. Incest on the rise (particularly within the Malay/Muslim community) - blame the West. The remedy? More religion.

As myAsylum has stated before, the only thing worse than a police state is a religious police state. And way at the top of this post is the portrait of a man who probably wishes he were its Inspector-General...

Click here for the full post......

So you need a Malaysian band name?

Technorati tags: Malaysiana, Music, Band Names

Is the Malaysian music scene not "Malaysian" enough? Are the band names way too westernized? Will Rais Yatim wear a sarong for the rest of his political career?

Well, I don't know about the last question, but to help future musicians select appropriate and more Malaysian-sounding band names, the music editors at myAsylum has painstakingly put together a list of 60 band names! Not 10, not 37, but 60!! Most of these reflect current or past events that have colored the Malaysian landscape, and where there are specific incidences associated with the name(s), we've provided links for you to check out. They're ordered alphabetically, and in no particular order of favoritism.

247-MAKN
2Lan 2Pie 2Late

Accidental Bonsai Sodomy
Aliens Pimp’d My Proton
Amp Punk Giants

B for Bigfoot
Bangsar Rat-pack
Bent on Bridging
Black Metal Turbanistas
Bubba & the Nyonyas
BUMNO

Cheechung Guy
Chibuywan Frewan
Chunky Finaman
CTcidal Tendencies

Daa rul Toyol
Desecrating Bastards of KL

Eat Keris!
Eye-Pee EmCee

Festive Traffic Jams

G Hard-Ons
Goatfuckers of the Apocalypso
God’s Favorite Dickheads

Haircut Heli
Haji No Motor
Hell in the Heavenly Portal

Kapchai Death Squad
Knee-jerk Rubber Stampers

Limpeh Bugger

Mallrat Generation
Matta Hari-Hari Mau
Mawicide
Methanol Gangbang
Missing Penchala Link
Moorthified
Mullahvision
My Beautiful Sewage Pond
My Secret Dumpsite

Noodle Squat

Oil Barrel Headbutt

Poo in the key of Mark

RATSO
REMpit
Rogue Developers

Sarong Party Ministers
Satay Barbie
Skodeng Park
Smashing Hindu Love Gods
Stir-fried Vegetarians
Straight-A Automatons
Syabastards

Ta-Pow!!
The Ghazally Effect
Thieving Condo-dwellers
Tolled To Death
TrainSmack
Twin Peak Oilgasm

Uncle Sam & the Hari Weevils

Water-Cannon Fodder
Wheezma

So there you have it. 60 Malaysianified band names. If ever you actually come across a real band with any of these names, you know where they appeared first!

Click here for the full post......

Offbeat Travelogue: Sunday Road Trip to the East Coast

Technorati tags: Offbeat Travelogue, Malaysiana, Road Trip

Last Sunday, I had to do a day-trip, by road to Kerteh, Terengganu, for a meeting. This is probably one of the reasons for getting sick the last few days, the strain and all. That, and catching a bad flu bug.

The day started early, leaving the homestead at 4:30am. It's nice driving at that time, 'cause you avoid the morons that usually inhabit the motorways during normal waking hours. My route to Kerteh took me across KL, along the Karak Highway, and from there thru the East Coast Highway, which currently is open between Karak and Kuantan.

There's nothing more surreal than having The Cocteau Twins on your CD player, and witnessing this through your windscreen. Goosebumps, I tell ya.

The East Coast Highway has to be Malaysia's best designed highway. Good gradient management, great visibility (except when it pours heavily, at night). It's also one of the bounciest rides I know of, particularly East-bound towards Kuantan... (more in the full post). Great design, less than great, so-so execution.

A little bit later I came across this. Kevin Costner's movie "Field Of Dreams" came to mind, for obvious reasons.

If you build it, they will come... or in this case, "if you build it, then hope the surrounding NOTHING gets developed soon, then they will come... maybe".

Malaysia? Boleh.... This is taking contingency and fore-planning a little tad far, methinks.

And, is it just me, or has JKR (Public Works Department) totally lost the skill of building roads properly?

Yes, our roads are bumpy/bouncy, and boy, are we proud of it! We can't build the damn thing right, but at least we put up signs to warn ya! A side-effect of road privatization in Malaysia, perhaps? I guess putting up signs is easier than actually making the road even. But hey, who am I to criticize? (insert your own cynical snicker here)

Just a little further north from the Bridge to/from Fucking Nowhere, as you approach the Terengganu state line, things just get a little more bizarre. For instance: it's common knowledge that the national trunk road speed limit is 90 km/hour (just over 55 mph). So here I am, merrily cruising at 90, when without warning...

Burn them brake-shoes, baby! Burn, baby, burn! Actually, truth be told, I just ignored it. Just like every other motorist does when they pass thru this stretch...

As you cross into Terengganu, the first district you pass through is Kemaman, whose administrative center is a town called Chukai (or Cukai, as the new Malay spelling probably calls for). The locals, however, call Chukai Kemaman. So, if one says they are going to Kemaman, they probably mean Chukai. Or it could be somewhere in Kemaman. Which includes Chukai. Confused? So are the locals, apparently, when they came up with this monstrosity, currently under construction.

WTF is this thing supposed to be? A cow-abducting alien rest stop? Modern art? A clue to unravel the da Vinci Code? A sheer waste of money?

No? I guess I'll find out the next time I'm up there. Or, better yet, if anyone from Kemaman, I mean Chukai... no, wait, Kema... anyone from the area knows what this is, please feel free to leave a comment and enlighten me.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Chukai, or Terengganu. After all, Chukai is the home to the famous Hai Peng Coffee.

It's one of the few places I've been to where workday-morning rush-hour traffic looks like this. Don't you wish KL were like this?

And, it's one of the few places I know of with the opportunity to witness this bit of natural coolness... scary, but cool-looking nonetheless.

Almost like a Tsunami wave-cloud leading-front of torrential rain blowing in from the South China Sea. Actually, it was a Tsunami-like wave-cloud leading-front of torrential rain. Minutes after I took that snapshot, it actually started to pour.

About 20 minutes later, I arrived at my destination, a rather wet Kerteh. And since it was early, and I still had to wait for my colleague to arrive from KL, I decided to have breakfast here

the first, and probably only, McD's in Terengganu, where I made a new friend

and where the concept of drive-thru take-away is still pretty novel.

And just what exactly would a "drive-thru challenge" be anyway? Hey, why don't we ask the guy responsible for the Kemaman Chukai whatchamacalit? Or maybe not.

But hey! Don't let this post stop you from visiting Terengganu! No-siree bob! 2007 is the Visit Terengganu Year. Or is it 2006? Or 2008?

More confusion? But I guess any year's a good year to visit Terengganu. Arguably, PAS did didley-squat for the state during its 4-year rule over Terengganu, and now the state government is aggressively promoting it as a premier tourist destination.

And Terengganu truly is a wonderful state - beautiful beaches, numerous island resorts (Redang, Kapas, Lang Tengah & Perhentian, to name a few), the Kenyir Lake - just a few of the natural gifts that God's bestowed upon the state. And like the rest of Malaysia, this asylum we lovingly call home, don't let the little oddity here and there deter you...

Until the next Offbeat Travelogue post, just remember that Walski is an equal opportunity nit-picker... no state or oddity unturned!!

Click here for the full post......

Offbeat Travelogue: Call Ah Seng for a good time

Technorati tags: Offbeat Travelogue, Malaysiana, Good Time

This is the first posting in a new series called Offbeat Travelogue. It will document the odd or offbeat things found as Walski travels across the asylum we call Malaysia. If you haven't figured out by now, the "my" in myAsylum does NOT refer to a personal possession thing...

Came across this flyer pasted on a construction site protective wall along Jalan Imbi in Kuala Lumpur the other day.

Free food, gym, sex... Ah Seng has it all!

Click here for the full post......

Homecare Minor-Ailment Arsenal

Technorati tags: Health, Home Remedies, Flu

Feeling a little under the weather the past few days. Probably caught my wife's brother-in-laws flu/bronchitis over the last weeked, compounded with the fact that I had to do a day-trip drive to Kerteh, Terengganu, for a meeting on Sunday (yeah... they work on Sundays), further compounded by the wet weather we've been getting of late.

Whatever the cause(s), Walski is not a well puppy these past couple or three days...

Whenever I feel a little under the weather, rather than running to the nearest 24-hour clinic, I prefer to self-medicate, using mostly natural stuff. My homecare arsenal consists of what you see below.

Honey, table salt, and Berocca (more on this later). For this particular bout of flu, the symptoms started with a really sore throat, which later developed into post-nasal drip, and mild fever.

The salt is for gargling with. Make a saturated salt+water mix (stir in salt until the water can't desolve it anymore). This does the same thing, topically, as anti-biotics do, without the nastiness of anti-biotics. I've avoided anti-biotics, unless absolutely necessary, for the past 10 years or so. I believe that for flu, anti-biotics don't do squat - as they're designed for microbes, not viruses.

I also believe that our General Practioners (GPs) at the ever-abundant 24-hour clinics really abuse the prescription of anti-biotics. It's what they prescribe for almost any ailment you go see them for (apart from the Medical Cert thingy that gets you off work). Fortunately, I'm allowed to work from home, so although I'm sick as a dog, I'm still working and earning my keep. Taking 10 - 15 minutes off to blog this is just like taking a coffee break in the office...

Honey acts as a salve for the throat, and does help keeping the soreness in check. Plus, it gives you energy, just in case you feel so sucky that you don't have an apetite for food. AND it is an anti-microbial, and so it retards the growth of any secondary microbes, like in your throat. Honey is truly one of nature's wonder food!

So, what's this Berocca thingy? It's actually effervescent tablets containing Vitamin C, B-Complex, and various other minerals. It's produced by Roche Consumer Health, which is now part of Bayer Healthcare which also produces Vitamin C only bubbly tabs (Redoxon), that you can find at your local pharmacy. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find Berocca in Malaysia. If anyone knows otherwise, please, please, please let me know ASAP.

The closest place I know of that you can buy this is in Singapore. I was first introduced to it in the UK some years back. Now, what makes Berocca better than just plain old Vit C is that for your body to absorb Vitamin C effectively, you also need a certain amount of B-Complex. The Vit C / B-Complex combo essentially strengthens your body's resistance, enabling you to fight off those nasty viruses better.

I've been self-medicating myself for almost a decade now, and try to avoid synthetic meds (particularly anti-biotics), unless it's to tackle the symptomatic stuff that makes life a little miserable (like fever, or runny nose). Your body heals itself, not the meds - this is what I believe. Some doctors will agree with you, some don't. Somehow, I think there's a conspiracy between the medical world and the pharmaceutical comapanies, especially when the Health Ministry talks about adopting bans on certain high-potency vitamins.

A little bit of education, like knowing which vitamins are water-soluble and which ones are fat-soluble, and knowing which vitamin helps with what, goes a long way towards leading a healthier lifestyle, without having to live with the crutch of pharmaceuticals to regulate your health. I especially do not like anti-biotics because in most cases, they don't help (like against viruses), but more importantly, prolonged use actually weakens your natural ability to fight infections.

For example, Vitamin C and B-Vitamins are water-soluble, so there's no danger of overdosing, other than having a tad bit of diarrhoea once your body is saturated (in the case of Vit C). Your body just gets rid of the excess. On the other hand, A, D and E are fat-soluble, and therefore retained by your body, and could become toxic if too much is taken.

The move of totally banning high-potency vitamins is really stupid. The UK and Europe, I believe, are trying to do this. Not sure about Malaysia.

I should be back to 105% in a day or so. However, if it does get worse despite the home remedies, then I might go see a doctor, just to make sure it isn't something really nasty like H15N. I may believe in home remedies, but I'm also not stupid...

Click here for the full post......

Forty Two: Walski chalks up another one...

Technorati tags: Birthday, Reflection, Forty Two

42 - the ultimate answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything... at least according to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Today, I cross another milestone in my life. I turn 42. Never gave it much thought before, though. And, as human experience would have it, I have not found the ultimate answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything else worth thinking about. In fact, I now have more questions than I've ever had.

Incidentally, this year, my birthday falls surrounding many significant days, give or take a week. Prophet Muhammad's birthday last Monday, Vaisakhi a couple of days ago, and Easter on Sunday. Not to mention my favorite uncle's birthday, with whom I share this day with.

But guess whom else I share my birthday with? (see full post)

Leonardo da Vinci. Yup. That Leonardo da Vinci. And now, with the lawsuit settled once and for all, the movie will be released in about a month's time. The da Vinci Code is one of those movies not to be missed. Now, we wait and see if the Malaysian Censorship Board (a) passes the movie uncut, (b) pass the movie with some cuts, or (c) not allow its screening altogether. I just hope that this will not be a case of "Who Dis, Who Dat" where the answer is always (c).

Regardless of what the board decides to do, The da Vinci Code is a movie that I am looking forward to.

And what significance does all this have? Probably none. But maybe 42 will be a new beginning of sorts. Maybe Walski will resurrect the music he's left behind for close to a decade. Me & Mrs. Walski will be moving to our new house in a couple of weeks - so that's a new beginning in itself.

Who knows? It could be synchronicity, or just mere coincidence. As we grow older though, we start to become more introspective about life. I guess that's just a natural mental progression.

Living in Malaysia though, with all the goings on the political and social fronts at the moment, all I can say is that things will be interesting in the days to come. And maybe that explains the sometimes foreboding feeling I get of late. Or is it just indigestion?

In any case, to all you other April 15 folk - a very, very happy birthday. If the days since January 1st are any indication, 42 is gonna be one hell of a year...

Click here for the full post......

A Birthday Wish, and lots of reflection...

Technorati tags: Religion, Islam, Epiphany

In the name of God, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.

Today is the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, whom as every Muslim believes, was the last prophet of God, through whom the living miracle, the Quran, was revealed. It is in his memory that this post is written on this day. 12th Rabi al awal, according to the Hijri calendar.

If you're expecting a post about the virtues of Muhammad, of how he represents the perfect character every believer should emulate, etc., then read no further. Many other more articulate posts have or, by the end of the day, would have been written on that angle. Like this one, by a blogger I hold in high esteem - Dr. M. Bakri Musa, a Malaysian living in the U.S. By all means, read his post. It's reflective and in the true spirit of how (I believe, anyway) Muhammad should be regarded and remembered.

But before I delve into my actual post, a quick and dirty Cliff-notes style backgrounder on Islam today:
Fact: The current Muslim population worldwide is today estimated at 1.79 billion persons (source: Muslim Population Worldwide), or roughly 27.5% of the Earth's population.
Fact: Muslims are divided into two general denominations (or sects, if you must) - Sunni and Shia. While both agree on the Quran, the division is based on the prophetic sayings (Hadith) and traditions (Sunnah) - held by the Sunni's of equal importance to the Quran, and of the importance of Prophet Muhammad's family - or the Ahlul Bayt, as prescribed by the Shia doctrine.
Fact: The split between Sunni and Shia transcends philosophical and theological differences, and has been the source of much violence throughout history, the most recent being the sectarian violence in Iraq today. To put it bluntly, they hate each others' guts. The historical source of this is long and sordid, but if you're interested, more information can be found here.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way...

When I came across this image, sometime around the worldwide uproar over the Danish cartoons, two emotions came over me.

Anger and disgust.

The main question I pose: Hypothetically, if Muhammad were to suddenly appear today, whom would he identify as being the true followers of the religion revealed to him, Islam?

I also wondered what our great prophet would have thought of the violence perpetrated supposedly to uphold his honor and good name. And of the fact that many so-called Muslims today preach hatred. Pure, unadulterated, hatred.

In my personal quest and journey towards God, I am trying to read more of the Quran - not simply reciting it in the proper pronunciation, timbre, elocution, and all the physical trappings celebrated of world-class Quran reciters - but reading and understanding what's contained in this miraculous book.

The more I read, and the more I understand, a strange epiphany comes over me - it's the realization that the Islam being propogated today in the mainstream Muslim worlds (Sunni, Shia, and the numerous sub-sects therein) would for the most part be unrecognizable to our own great prophet, if he should materialize today, hypothetically.

Many would call this realization blasphemous, murtad-ous, or whatever mud-slinging phrase that comes to mind to describe apostacy. But I have valid reasons for the epiphany.

The Quran itself proclaims that it alone is the word of God and it alone is complete, and it alone should be followed - "the best hadith" (see surah 39, verse 23). Prophet Muhammad himself forbade the transcription of anything other than what was revealed as the Quran.

And this prohibition was upheld througout the rule of the four guided Caliphs. And it was only some 200 years after the death of Muhammad that his sayings and traditions were first compiled - mostly through oral renditions 2 or 3 generations old.

And it is these very hadiths and sunnahs, compiled against Muhammad's very wishes, that is the source of the split within the Islamic world.

God gave human beings intellect - it is what makes us different from the other mammals that roam the earh. This same intellect, however, is exactly what some of our Islamic religious icons exalt us to relinquish, because, they say, faith is unquestioned acceptance. Acceptance without question. In other words, blind faith. And it is this blind faith, in many cases, that has guided the actions of some Muslims to do the unthinkable and the unimaginable, and the unspeakable. 9/11 is perhaps the most painful reminder of this.

Personally, I don't think that's what God gave us intellect for. And on this day, in rememberance of Muhammad, the last prophet of God, I ask that everyone reflect on what exactly it is that they believe in. A renewal of faith, so to speak - not based on emotion, but based on the special gift that God has given us - the ability to rationalize and intellectualize.

Go back to the one and only source of what should be our guidance in life. Learn it, understand it, and God-willing, we can one day really realize the very salutation we utter everytime we meet another Muslim - peace.

Peace be upon each and every one of you, regardless of which path to God you have chosen. In the end, God knows best, and I seek HIS forgiveness for my transgressions...

Oh, and Happy Birthday, Peace Be Upon Him.

Click here for the full post......

What caused Kitty's rampage...

Technorati tags: Humor, Video, Raging Kitty

Kitty's mighty pissed off. Yup, Kitty somehow got itself an automatic and shot up the place real, real good. Eat lead, Rambo!

Don't worry - we've put Kitty into rehab - should be back to normal in a week or so. Thanks to the kitty drugs that the kitty shrink will put Kitty on. But you have to wonder what got Kitty so, so riled up in the first place. Now, I've known Kitty for many years, and for the most part, it's a pretty easy-going lil' feline - apart from the rodent massacre every now and again - but putty-tats do that normally anyway.

No, Kitty's a big Star Wars fan. And initially, I thought that this video got on Kitty's nerves. (Click on the play button to start)

FreeVideoCoding.com

But Yoda never looked so good... So, it couldn't have been. Or was it this stop-motion gem that fried her little feline synapses (after watching it half a gazillion times)? (Click on the play button to start)

FreeVideoCoding.com

No, no. The psycho-pussy-malogist said it was neither. What really got to Kitty was this really, really bad - and I mean attrocious - music video (click on the full post). I have no clue how Kitty got its furry little mits on it, but poor old feline's in therapy because of it.

Warning: This video is really painful to watch. And it may take a while to load (especially if you're not well enough endowed, bandwidth-wise). The song is extremely cheesy, but the real howler is the backup dancers... ouch!! (Click on the play button to start)

FreeVideoCoding.com

But if you dare endure the pain of watching it - the payback is, well, worth it. Kitty did. It's the absolute worst music video I've had the displeasure to watch. Worse than RTM of the 70's (actually RTM is still pretty crappy today).

So there you have it. The video that got Kitty in Rambo mode. And if you liked what you saw, get more of 'em at the Funmansion site.

Well, gotta go check on how Kitty's doing...

Click here for the full post......

SMART River Debris and the bigger picture

Technorati tags: Environment, Rivers, Malaysia, Flash Floods

From where I live, I get a clear view of Sungai Kerayong. Sungai what? (this is what Walski anticipates as the first thought to go thru yo' head). In case you're not familiar with KL geography, Sungai Kerayong is one of the feeder waterways that eventually makes its way to the great Klang River.

Last week, on Thursday, the residents of 4th Mile Jalan Old Klang Lama Road relived the dreaded flash flooding the area is well-known for.

These days, flooding here doesn't occur as regularly as is used to - I believe the last time it happend this bad was about a year ago. But the question remains: Why should it be happening at all?

As mentioned, my balcony provides a very clear view of Sungai Kerayong, just before it passes by the 4th mile area of Jalan Klang Lama, and before it dumps its contents into the Klang River. One thing that's immediately noticable - the amount of debris that strewn along the grassy banks. Yesterday, it rained rather heavily all around the Klang Valley, and as usual when this occurs, Sungai Kerayong swells to above its normal level. The following picture was taken around 4 - 5pm.

In particular, this caught my attention (in the full post).

Now, from where, would a traffic barricade come from, that it would land up being swept away on Sungai Kerayong? And is river debris a factor causing our waterways to be clogged up to begin with? Not to mention unsightly.

As a matter of fact, it probably came from the SMART Tunnel project, of which Sungai Kerayong features prominently, since it will be where flood waters from the Taman Desa mining pool would be channelled out, in a "controlled" manner.

But in this case, Sungai Kerayong, which runs parallel to the stretch of the Sungai Besi Highway next to the TUDM base, obviously spilled its banks and flooded the construction area near the base, washing off the barricade - not necessarily on Saturday when the picture was taken, but likely on Thursday, when flooding along the Sungai Besi and Besraya Highways were also reported. Then, as all self-respecting river debris would, it broke its journey, stuck on the bank somewhere, just waiting for the next ride downstream - which happened to be on Saturday.

I have no problems with the SMART Tunnel Project, per se - HOWEVER, I'm just wondering if anyone has actually thought of using the Taman Desa storage reservoir outlet to Sungai Kerayong as an inlet instead, during heavy rains upstream and when the river swells badly. According to the SMART website FAQ section:

Wouldn’t discharging water from the storage reservoir at Taman Desa into Sg Kerayong causes flooding down stream?
The system works on principle of efficient monitoring. River monitoring instruments will be installed at the upstream of Sg Ampang and Sg Klang and Sg Kerayong at the downstream. As this system has a storage capacity of 3 million cubic meters, the diversion and release will be regulated according to the river capacity downstream. The capacity constraint at Sg Kerayong is incorporated into the system. Flooding downstream is thus not possible.

So, I guess, the answer would probably be... maybe since there's no mention of diverting Sungai Kerayong itself into the holding pond at Taman Desa, if need to. The project is scheduled for completion December of this year. For the sake of the folks around the 4th Mile Jalan Old Klang Lama Road, let's hope some forethought has been given. I guess we'll only know next April.

And let's hope that a chunk of the RM 500M allocated in the 9th Malaysia Plan for river rehabilitation won't need to be spent to implement an "afterthought" rectification. Wouldn't be very SMART if that were the case.

Click here for the full post......

No kissing/hugging, please - we're uptight Malaysians

Technorati tags: Malaysia, Society, Politics, Religion

It's official - in Kuala Lumpur, at least, kissing and hugging in public can land you up to a year in jail, fined RM 2,000 - or both. Unless, of course, your significant other is a snake - king cobra, to be exact. Then, you get yourself immortalized into the Malaysian Book of Records - provided the cobra doesn't mortalize you first.

Normal/healthy male/female displays of affection - tak boleh - even if you are a legally, certificate-holding, married couple (by then, it's only about breeding anyway, so why bother, right?). I guess that means public displays of stupidity affection with dangerous reptiles is okay. In more civilized places, I believe that's akin to bestiality?

And as for naughty words like b**s*a*d, a**, or cel*k* - a definite no-no. Especially not on Astro. Unless, of course, you're a certain minister's press secretary (in parliament, no less), then calling out "Fuck that reporter" is A-OK!

Double standards? In Malaysia - of course not. NEVER! Don't even dream of making a cruel accusation such as that. Unless you wanna get yourself verbally abused by a minister's P.R. (for the record, he did later apologize, in private, over the phone - so much for public relations). Oh, you masochistic slut, you..

But I digress... sorry folks. Sanctioned idiotic behavior always irks me that way.

What, oh what, has become of Malaysia? And how long before even holding hands will land you in prison?

Anyone remember what happened in June 1997? (see full post)

It was the arrest and subsequent prosecution of 3 Malay beauty pageant contestants in Selangor, after which a unilateral ban on Malays/Muslims participating in beauty contests Malaysia wide was imposed. Which means, any acknowledged beautiful Malaysian female cannot - must not - be Malay/Muslim.

Suddenly, I'm feeling a little deja vu-ish...

Is this country slowly evolving into... Melayunistan? It would seem that with this decree by the secular courts, we're inching our way there. It wouldn't surprise me if we'll probably next see the attempted re-introduction of the "skodeng" police force.

I sincerely hope I don't live to see the day when I have to pledge allegiance to this flag.

Is it just paranoia, or is it something to really worry about?

As it is, mention the words "liberal" and "Islam" in the same sentence, and you're two steps away from being labelled an Islam hater. Even worse, if one is a liberal muslim, as I am, the favorite label of murtad (apostate) starts getting flung. As far as I know, though, it was that same liberalism and culture of intelligent questioning that brought Islamic civilization to its zenith.

As such, I'm reminded of an article I came across, from which I excerpt the following. It is written by Mesbah Uddin, a researcher and freelance writer, based in the U.K.

In the beginning, Islam flourished because of its emphasis on "good in this world" (Koran-2:201). But the Mullah's came up with the sermon that no worldly improvement has God's blessings. This world is merely a temporary shelter for us for our onward journey to hereafter. All Muslims were encouraged to devote most of their times in madrasahs and mosques for continuous prayer for pleasing God. Within a few generations, these self-defeating teachings in the name of Islam got deeply rooted in the Muslims' minds. While the Koranic verses describe God as "beneficent and merciful", the Mullahs perceived and portrayed God as an intolerant ruler even for slightest deviation in praising Him. A deep belief engulfed them that nothing could be achieved without the blessings of God. They overemphasised the need for God's blessings in accomplishing things and de-emphasised the need for doing the things themselves. Gradually, a lethargic community grew up. The virgin 'hooris' were perceived as the thrill in the Heaven than the thrill in invention for the good of all people.
(read the full article here)

Another portion of the article has this to say:

Regrettably, the decline of Islamic glory crept in when the Ulemas declared that none but they were the ones to give its (the Quran) true interpretations.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? And this has persisted until today. How many times, as a Muslim growing up, has one heard to 'never question the ulamas'? Or those in authority? Countless, I tell ya - at least that's what I recall.

So, is Islam a religion of tolerance, of knowledge-seeking, and of unilateral love for mankind, in one's journey towards the Almighty - or is it one of don'ts, don'ts and on top of that, more don'ts? If if the don'ts don't work - fucking kill 'em all.

It would seem that these days, right here in good 'ol Malaysia, it's becoming more the latter - and dare you not question the wisdom of those who insist that it's their way, or the highway...

Click here for the full post......

Karaoke stylings of Mr. Spock (Star Trek 2.0)

Technorati tags: Star Trek, Karaoke, G4TV

Yes, the United Federation of Planets has not been spared by the scourge of karaoke. Live long, and karaoke prosperously...

My initial reaction was that some people just got waaay too much time on their hands. Actually, the clip above is a promo for an upcoming series called Star Trek 2.0, on G4TV.com (a gamer site), which is slated to launch on April 10. (more in the full post)

G4TV.com as it turns out, is available on cable tv in the United States. The online site requires registration (which I haven't gotten around to doing yet), so I don't know offhand if one gets to watch re-runs of the programs already broadcast. I'm sure I'll get around to it sometime soon, and will update this post, once I find out more about the site.

The programs featured on the site, however, do look kinda zany and fun, right up Walski's alley. Stay tuned to this space for more, in the near future. Not the far Star Trek future. Live long, prosper, and karaoke Spock-style!!

Click here for the full post......

Cowspiracy 2: got milk?

Technorati tags: Conspiracy, Cows

Within 24 hours of the original Cowspiracy post, myAsylum was alerted by this cryptic comment from a reader:

"planetinneed.com explains everything. seriously - the cow mystery is solved."

'Hmmm... interesting...' was the thought that ran through Walski's mind. So Walski did what any reasonable cynic/skeptic would do, and duly checked out the site in question (see screenshot below), planetinneed.com. And what myAsylum discovered did more than just uncover the Cowspiracy mystery - it also uncovered the prepetrators.

This site, planetinneed.com, tells about the plight of a far-off planet called Brittlelactica, whose population suffers from various ailments. The planet has four territories: Insomniastan, PMStonia, Papau Hairthinny, and Cavitopia. Each territory suffers from a particular health-trait defect, but the entire planet suffers from brittle bones (hence, the name Brittlelactica). And this is where the mystery starts to unravel itself.

But first the bad news. What myAsylum uncovered does not involve

Chemical structure of Methane

More disappointingly, this heinous being is NOT responsible for the cowspiracy

Nope. The conspiracy is a lot more cleverly orchestrated than an airhead like Barney could ever manage. And at the center of it all is what the lactose intollerant fear most:

The mystery (some of it anyway) is revealed in the full post; something I think Mack Zulkifli would really appreciate...

You see, this cowspiracy revolves around the cryptic question got milk? and the culprit - the California Milk Processor Board - and the reason? One of the most brilliant marketing campaigns I've seen in a long time!

Those of you that have visited the cowabduction.com site (posted here initially - and continues to be updated), may have noticed that the California Milk Procesor Board is the copyright owner of the site. They devised an ad campaign that would tie-in the all too real phenomena of cow mutilation, associating it with purported cow abductions, then spin a story of how a planet far away is in need of a magic white elixir only found on Earth. Milk.

All hail Da iry!

This is just the first of a series of short ad spots chronicaling the quest for the great elixir. The rest can be found both at the planetinneed.com and California Milk Processor Board sites. Check 'em out... they are really brilliant.

myAsylum still believes, somehow, that the methane and Barney connection to the Cowspiracy may still exist, and the quest for the truth must continue.

But, for now, kick back, and enjoy the planetinneed.com site - and oh, by the way, got milk?

Click here for the full post......

Presenting: Amir Bonafonte - Photo-artist

Technorati tags: Photography, Art, Family

I've just discovered a budding artist in my family. Actually, I've known for a long time. I had a gut feel about this kid. Presenting Amir Bonafonte - keen photo-artist, and Walski's cousin. I've wanted to post about him for a long time, but just got his permission to do so today. Here's a sampling of his work.

Perhaps one day, when Walski of Sound comes out of retirement, I'll hire my cousin to help me with the cover artwork. I particularly like his goth and somewhat dark imagery of life. But don't worry, though. He's a well-adjusted happy camper of a kid.

I have, in the past, suggested to my cousin that he should do some work professionally. He's been hesitant, because he feels he's not good enough. But my dear cousin - you have my full endorsement! And a talent such as yours should not go to waste.

Should anyone wish to use Amir Bonafonte's artistic talent for any media project they may have, he may be contact through myAsylum or e-mail him directly at theripper007@yahoo.com.
(More images in the full post)

I particularly like this one:

It's almost reminds me of a long lost Peter Murphy or Siouxsie & The Banshees album cover or publicity still.

In time to come, as his portfolio grows, you'll see more of Amir Bonafonte's stuff on myAsylum. Good artistic talent, especially budding ones, deserves the exposure, and we here at myAsylum are happy to do our part - especially when it's Walski's cousin!

Click here for the full post......

Cowspiracy: A Disturbing Revelation of COsMIC Proportions

Technorati tags: Conspiracy, Cows

They are watching us.

Don't let their innocent eyes and friendly demeanor fool you. These are ingenius detractors preventing us from discovering their true nature. They wait patiently for a time when human kind will no longer be the owners of their own destiny. A time when bovinedom shall reign supreme.

Never drop your guard. As a public service to the survival of mankind, myAsylum is here to warn of an incidious conspiracy; a cowspiracy of galactic proportions.

In a previous post, myAsylum revealed the phenomenon of cowabduction, and not long before that, due to pressures from global crude oil prices, Malaysians protested against the 30 sen increase in fuel prices (several posts on this topic). Strangely enough, myAsylum also highlighted that maybe cows ran on gasoline, due to the rise in the price of fresh milk, in tandem with the fuel price hike.

Little did myAsylum realize that there is more of a connection to all of these events than meets the eye. A lot more. But first, a quick backgrounder on these entities we call "cows".

Cows are ubiquitous. Cows exist in the vocabulary of at least 539 different languages on planet Earth. They exists in almost every known culture. Man and cow have had a seemingly symbiotic relationship since the dawn of history, as evidenced by this ancient cave painting.

At times, however, the two species have known to be at odds with one another. Take this historic battle between man and bovine (in the full post).

In this case, fortunately, Man 1 - Cow 0. But do not for one minute think that our species is superior. Take this very disturbing historical annecdote, for example. (If you can't wait for it to load, click here to open it in a new window)

But what is the connection that makes all this a conspiracy? Consider the following facts, then ask yourself - Coincidence? Or conspiracy?

FACT #1: Cows are living methane gas generators, a by-product of their digestive system. I've never actually seen someone light a cow fart up, but the methane-bovine connection is an established and well-known scientific fact.

FACT #2: As we now get closer to the Summer months in the northern hemisphere, occassionally hot-spots will start appearing in various parts of Indonesia, usually attributed to large terrain fires. These fires manifest themselves as the dreaded haze phenomenon here in Malaysia. We've been putting the blame on unscrupulous slash-and-burn practices of our neighbors. But wait - this just in: could the following image be just a simple coincidence? myAsylum's global spy-cam network caught this action somewhere in Sumatera, not too long ago. And no - it was not Photoshop'd.

The evil look in their eyes say it all.

Open burning on a large scale causes haze. Haze in turn clogs up the environment, making us flee into enclosed air-conditioned spaces. Air-conditioning uses electricity, which is primarily generated by hydrocarbon-based fuel... The connection is frightening. Cows are making us consume more fuel!

Fact#3: The world's fuel demand is on the rise, and this is further compounded with Dubya making sure the prices stay high for as long as they can (Iraq, and maybe Iran to come?). Cows causing global warming through arson or fugitive methane emissions don't help - warmer climate, more air-conditioning, more... you get the picture. And so, indirectly, cows are also contributing to more wars-for-oil. Another disturbing nexus. And consider another, more disturbing, connection: Dubya's daddy - Bush senior - was born in the Chinese year of the Rat. And who's the Rat's best friend? The Ox Cow. Coincidence? We don't think so. And the Bushes hail from Texas, home of the COWboys. Another coincidence? Again, we don't think so.

Fact#4: Cows are now believed to be responsible for the destruction of another planet in our solar system - Mars. Once their work on the Red Planet was done, they then came to this planet, the 3rd Rock from the Sun, to continue with their Methane mission.

AND NOW THE CHILLING CONNECTION REVEALED: Cows were put on this planet by Methane-breathing alien beings millions of years ago, at the end of the dinosaur era, and in fact, contributed to the sudden, cataclysmic disappearance of them thunder lizards. These aliens milk the methane from the cows through the frequent, so-called cow abductions that we now know are so rampant, to supplement the methane in the atmosphere of Mars. A virtual Methane pipeline, so to speak, since cows don't exactly like a Methane-rich atmosphere on the Red Planet (not to mention they ate up all the grass there previously).

The aliens did keep one dinosaur alive, to act as their agent on Earth. His role: to control the minds of the citizens of Earth, to blind us from discovering this wretched conspiracy that will one day obliterate the planet. Behold the face of evil, the face behind this cowspiracy.

myAsylum may be in danger of being shut down for this expose. Many sites have tried to expose the evils of Barney, and what he truly represents. Some of the cowspiracy exposers were never heard from again.

Until the day comes that Barney and his agents provocateur, the cows, finally catch up with me, myAsylum will continue with the struggle of exposing these creatures for what they really are: planet destroyers on the Barney payroll.

Have a great April 1st, 2006.

Click here for the full post......