Lima Puluh
Hmm I wonder.
posted by Zed Peace
on 27 June 2009
0 Comments
Empat puluh sembilan
Ucapan Obama di Cairo, Egypt
Pada June 4, US Presiden Obama telah mengadakan sebuah ucapan besejarah di University Kaherah, Cairo dimana dia menghadapi dunia Islam. Ia hendak membaharui hubungan US dengan negeri2 Islam, dan dalam ucapannya membangkitkan beberapa isu penting yang dunia zaman ini menghadapi yang mengancam keselamatan semua, seperti masalah extremis, senjata nuclear, konflik Palestin-Israel dan lain2 lagi. Selain itu, Obama memberi beberapa solusi kepada masalah2 global tersebut, tetapi bagiku yang paling menarik adalah apa ia hendak berlaku kepada Palestin, iaitu membantu mereka untuk mencapai autonomi dari Israel (sambil mengatakan dunia Islam patut juga membuka hubungan dengan Israel). Ini rasaku, jika tercapailah sekiranya dalam presidensi Obama, akan menjadikannya presiden US yang lain daripada lain: seorang pemimpin dunia yang mengambil initiativ untuk memajukan interes semua pihak, dan bukan saja untuk negeri sendiri.Tetapi, adakah Obama mungkin terlalu idealis dengan janji2nya? Rasaku, patutlah ada elemen optimistik apalagi dalam masa yang penuh khuwatir ini. Dan siapa lebih baik daripada presiden US pertama berkulit hitam sebagai simbol perubahan dan kemajuan manusia? Dalam tahun pertamanya sudah dia dapat memperbaiki imej US yang semua sekali tidak popular, bukan saja kepada dunia Islam, tetapi dunia Latin America, EU dan dunia East Asia. Imej US sebagai pembully dunia akan dapat dilupakan, dan sama2 negeri dapat bergotong-royong untuk mencapai interes kolektiv semua. Ambassor US ke Brunei William E. Todd telah menulis artikel yang menghighlight kepentingan ucapan Obama itu, dan apa ia bermakna kepada dunia Islam yang termasuk Brunei. Artikelnya buleh dibaca sini.
posted by Zed Peace
on 06 June 2009
0 Comments
Empat puluh lapan
Where I stand?
I'm fortunate enough to come from a family that doesn't try to restrict our thoughts or the things we talk about. On the contrary, my childhood has been a fairly fulfilling one and my parents often encourage us to read books which open up our minds to critical thinking, or at least, different attitudes. If they came back from overseas, there would be one or two new books about anything really; Huntington's The Clash of Civilizations, a Dan Brown or John Grisham novel, Fifa 192 and anything else they happen to pick up. We were always brought up to think for ourselves, and as a result, dinner or car trips usually involved discussing government, education, religion and aspirations.
These are 4 intellects who I've come to admire as of late:
1) Tariq Ali
A British-Pakistani historian and political thinker, his criticisms of the contemporary world and of modern tragedies offer the casual reader a better understanding of why regional problems are so problematic. Since I'm doing a module this year on Latin America, I bought one of his books, 'The Pirates of the Carribean', where he sheds light on modern-day revolutionaries of Central and South America: Chavez, Castro, Morales. One critic cited Ali as the Johnny Depp of international comment.
2) Christopher Hitchens
I came across Hitchens after I read Christopher Dawkin's The God Delusion, which I didn't really find stimulating, despite its hype in the UK (Dawkins' documentaries however are excellent). Hitchens, like Tariq Ali, is a hardlined political commentator and is an advocate of democracy and open and accountable governments. He is very much opposed to Islam and all religions for that matter since he sees them as as harmful delusions. His collection of journals and writings in Love, Poverty and War was certainly a good read personally. There he exposes all that is wrong with Afghanistan, Bill Clinton, Mother Teressa, Milosevic and a great deal of other topics.
3) Tariq Ramadan
I've never read anything from him yet, but his talks and debates on youtube are pretty good. His debates on secularist Islam, adopting a "post-modern" or updated stance to separate state and the mosque, as it were, without necessarily losing all spirituality. There is in Europe (he's Swiss) a tendency to see a Europianization of Islam (where Islam is no longer trapped in terms of nationalist or anti-West thinking). In any case, his strong views on Islam is refreshing. He's actually coming to Birmingham soon for a talk which I'm planning to go to.
4) Reza Aslan
Like Ramadan, Reza Aslan is also in the bracket of updating how we intepret Islam and the Quran to fit a 21st century context - human rights, democracy, liberal values etc. His book 'There is no god, but God' is a good introduction on how people need to stop treating Islam as an ideology and instead embrace it simply as one's spiritual foundation.
These are just some of the people I'm starting to catch up on. The trick is to not be easily swayed and take whatever these critics say with a pinch of salt. Their views are not solid and are open to many criticisms as well, but I enjoy reading their writings and watching their debates. I'm aiming to have a strong view on democracy and the secular state, and I hope to come across more prominent commentators of our time.
I'm fortunate enough to come from a family that doesn't try to restrict our thoughts or the things we talk about. On the contrary, my childhood has been a fairly fulfilling one and my parents often encourage us to read books which open up our minds to critical thinking, or at least, different attitudes. If they came back from overseas, there would be one or two new books about anything really; Huntington's The Clash of Civilizations, a Dan Brown or John Grisham novel, Fifa 192 and anything else they happen to pick up. We were always brought up to think for ourselves, and as a result, dinner or car trips usually involved discussing government, education, religion and aspirations.
These are 4 intellects who I've come to admire as of late:
1) Tariq Ali
A British-Pakistani historian and political thinker, his criticisms of the contemporary world and of modern tragedies offer the casual reader a better understanding of why regional problems are so problematic. Since I'm doing a module this year on Latin America, I bought one of his books, 'The Pirates of the Carribean', where he sheds light on modern-day revolutionaries of Central and South America: Chavez, Castro, Morales. One critic cited Ali as the Johnny Depp of international comment.
2) Christopher Hitchens
I came across Hitchens after I read Christopher Dawkin's The God Delusion, which I didn't really find stimulating, despite its hype in the UK (Dawkins' documentaries however are excellent). Hitchens, like Tariq Ali, is a hardlined political commentator and is an advocate of democracy and open and accountable governments. He is very much opposed to Islam and all religions for that matter since he sees them as as harmful delusions. His collection of journals and writings in Love, Poverty and War was certainly a good read personally. There he exposes all that is wrong with Afghanistan, Bill Clinton, Mother Teressa, Milosevic and a great deal of other topics.
3) Tariq Ramadan
I've never read anything from him yet, but his talks and debates on youtube are pretty good. His debates on secularist Islam, adopting a "post-modern" or updated stance to separate state and the mosque, as it were, without necessarily losing all spirituality. There is in Europe (he's Swiss) a tendency to see a Europianization of Islam (where Islam is no longer trapped in terms of nationalist or anti-West thinking). In any case, his strong views on Islam is refreshing. He's actually coming to Birmingham soon for a talk which I'm planning to go to.
4) Reza Aslan
Like Ramadan, Reza Aslan is also in the bracket of updating how we intepret Islam and the Quran to fit a 21st century context - human rights, democracy, liberal values etc. His book 'There is no god, but God' is a good introduction on how people need to stop treating Islam as an ideology and instead embrace it simply as one's spiritual foundation.
These are just some of the people I'm starting to catch up on. The trick is to not be easily swayed and take whatever these critics say with a pinch of salt. Their views are not solid and are open to many criticisms as well, but I enjoy reading their writings and watching their debates. I'm aiming to have a strong view on democracy and the secular state, and I hope to come across more prominent commentators of our time.
posted by Zed Peace
on 04 June 2009
2 Comments
Empat puluh tujuh
Education/Society
Brunei enjoys one of the highest literacy rates in the region and our government spends a fortune to make sure its people have access to quality education up to the highest levels. So we would like to think we have a pretty educated population, but an educated individual is still susceptible to many shortcomings and social illnesses i.e. unemployment, drug-addiction, violence, crime etc. There is no possible way governments can shield its societies against these mishaps, but they can and should be prepared to deal with social problems that will arise efficiently. With that said, there should not be any instance when authorities become dumbfounded and are unable to solve a given problem. In democratic theory, if this were to happen then it would be time for others with better capabilities and resources to be allowed to take charge.
Let us be pragmatic and not assume a religious bubble and force feeding the youth with Islam (or any other belief) will eliminate social deviancy. Secular education such as maths, language and science has afterall been able to cement children with intelligence, a desire to cooperate and creativity. A religious belief can add to that by giving him or her ideas of morality and conservatism. But it is the education which he or she learns through experience that perhaps is just as important. Through hobbies, sport, art, novels, these give them a sense of self-gratification and self-identification that really can't be taught. Further as they grow older, they are able to acquire more understanding of themselves through friendships and relationships built outside the household. As they reach the point of independence, they may choose to refine their ideas through exploration, travel and debate. I believe it is important that people should have access to all these forms as well.
Let us not teach our students that aiming for numbers 1, 2 and 3 in class is the only way there is and should carry this mindset throughout their lives. Let us not teach them to be afraid to raise their hands to ask a quetsion. Let us not teach that just because one is different, then they do not belong. Let us not teach Racism, or Inequality, or Bias, or Hate. Let us instead teach them about integrity and individualism and how both coincide with each other. Let us teach them that Brunei is heading into a new era of development and will need bright new minds. But let us first give them everything that is positive about this world. Before they start to forget, and become victims to the many cruel things that happen all around. Before they have to learn the hard way.
"Dedicated to the future, and those who fight for it".
-Micbandits
Brunei enjoys one of the highest literacy rates in the region and our government spends a fortune to make sure its people have access to quality education up to the highest levels. So we would like to think we have a pretty educated population, but an educated individual is still susceptible to many shortcomings and social illnesses i.e. unemployment, drug-addiction, violence, crime etc. There is no possible way governments can shield its societies against these mishaps, but they can and should be prepared to deal with social problems that will arise efficiently. With that said, there should not be any instance when authorities become dumbfounded and are unable to solve a given problem. In democratic theory, if this were to happen then it would be time for others with better capabilities and resources to be allowed to take charge.
Let us be pragmatic and not assume a religious bubble and force feeding the youth with Islam (or any other belief) will eliminate social deviancy. Secular education such as maths, language and science has afterall been able to cement children with intelligence, a desire to cooperate and creativity. A religious belief can add to that by giving him or her ideas of morality and conservatism. But it is the education which he or she learns through experience that perhaps is just as important. Through hobbies, sport, art, novels, these give them a sense of self-gratification and self-identification that really can't be taught. Further as they grow older, they are able to acquire more understanding of themselves through friendships and relationships built outside the household. As they reach the point of independence, they may choose to refine their ideas through exploration, travel and debate. I believe it is important that people should have access to all these forms as well.
Let us not teach our students that aiming for numbers 1, 2 and 3 in class is the only way there is and should carry this mindset throughout their lives. Let us not teach them to be afraid to raise their hands to ask a quetsion. Let us not teach that just because one is different, then they do not belong. Let us not teach Racism, or Inequality, or Bias, or Hate. Let us instead teach them about integrity and individualism and how both coincide with each other. Let us teach them that Brunei is heading into a new era of development and will need bright new minds. But let us first give them everything that is positive about this world. Before they start to forget, and become victims to the many cruel things that happen all around. Before they have to learn the hard way.
"Dedicated to the future, and those who fight for it".
-Micbandits
posted by Zed Peace
on 27 May 2009
0 Comments
Empat puluh enam
Here's another one of those books which mention Brunei.
Dogs of Truth is a collection of short stories by Kit Reed. Her stories in this collection are quick and quirky, and very easy to get into. The first story, called 'Grand Opening' is about a dilemma set in New York city in the future, when it comes under control of the Sultan of Brunei. Although it doesn't say when, its during a time after Brad Pitt and Madonna have died. The story is about an old Bruneian man's struggle to kill Salman Rushdie, who of course is the author in hiding today for his satirical work Satanic Verses. Theres lots of irony and humour and I was mildly entertained, so its not just because the main character is Bruneian, or at least suppose to be. The story focuses more on the absurdities of today's world, and she mocks the fatwah issuing the death of Rushdie, who in the story is already an old man and no one even remembers who he is. The Bruneian, named Ahmed Shah plans to murder him using a glass kris, and theres a funny show down at the end when both him and Rushdie meet in the Bruneian owned Yankee Stadium. How's that for fiction?
Other fictional stories about Brunei include Green Days in Brunei, which is also a short story, and is one of my favourite. Then theres also the novel Holy Fire by Bill Yenne, which wasn't as nice. But check them all out anyway, and if any of you guys know more books about Brunei, please share 'em!
Dogs of Truth is a collection of short stories by Kit Reed. Her stories in this collection are quick and quirky, and very easy to get into. The first story, called 'Grand Opening' is about a dilemma set in New York city in the future, when it comes under control of the Sultan of Brunei. Although it doesn't say when, its during a time after Brad Pitt and Madonna have died. The story is about an old Bruneian man's struggle to kill Salman Rushdie, who of course is the author in hiding today for his satirical work Satanic Verses. Theres lots of irony and humour and I was mildly entertained, so its not just because the main character is Bruneian, or at least suppose to be. The story focuses more on the absurdities of today's world, and she mocks the fatwah issuing the death of Rushdie, who in the story is already an old man and no one even remembers who he is. The Bruneian, named Ahmed Shah plans to murder him using a glass kris, and theres a funny show down at the end when both him and Rushdie meet in the Bruneian owned Yankee Stadium. How's that for fiction?
Other fictional stories about Brunei include Green Days in Brunei, which is also a short story, and is one of my favourite. Then theres also the novel Holy Fire by Bill Yenne, which wasn't as nice. But check them all out anyway, and if any of you guys know more books about Brunei, please share 'em!
posted by Zed Peace
on 23 May 2009
0 Comments
Empat puluh lima
Saudara Awang Tengah (1924 - 1995)
Family trees are usually interesting to explore. Some families are lucky enough to keep records of their lineage, to know where they come from and make sure the family history doesn't disappear. Unforunately, I don't even know a great deal about the lives of either of my parent's parents, but I hope to in the future. This post is about my grandad from my dad's side, whom we all call Papoh. His real name is Awang Tengah bin Awang Hasib. These are some pictures of him from old newspaper clippings my dad gave me.
Family trees are usually interesting to explore. Some families are lucky enough to keep records of their lineage, to know where they come from and make sure the family history doesn't disappear. Unforunately, I don't even know a great deal about the lives of either of my parent's parents, but I hope to in the future. This post is about my grandad from my dad's side, whom we all call Papoh. His real name is Awang Tengah bin Awang Hasib. These are some pictures of him from old newspaper clippings my dad gave me.
He had been the treasurer for Partai Rakyat Brunei. If the party had been allowed to come to power having won the 1962 legislative council, he was set to be the Minister of Agriculture and Corporation (Al-Sufri 2003, p. 108). Instead, the PRB staged a rebellion that was quickly suppressed by the Bruneian and British authorities. The PRB was banned and he was imprisoned for a short while along with some of his comrades, others fled the country. 
Besides being a political figure, he was a successful businessman who owned a timber company situated in Kampong Burung Pingai under his name, ATH. He passed the company down to one of his sons, Abu Bakar, who we call Uncle Gugok, and his wife. Uncle Gugok sadly passed away after a tragic car accident in 1997.
My memories of Papoh during my childhood aren't many. I remember being around him during family gatherings and he comes over to our house in the afternoon every once in a while. He wore a pair of thick glasses and was intimidating for some reason, well for me and my siblings at least.
And thats my knowledge of Awang Tengah. Papoh.
Reference:
Al-Sufri, J. (2003) "8 Disember: Dalangnya Siapa?" Brunei: Pusat Sejarah Brunei
----
posted by Zed Peace
on 22 May 2009
0 Comments
Empat puluh empat
Presonus Eureka Microphone Preamp (USD 320)
You know that feeling you have that things just weren't meant to be? Here is a story that all started in 2008 in a quiet town called Loughborough. It ended today as I type this post.
As you might know, I buy studio equipment. I go far and wide looking for the best deals around and do research on equipment constantly. As proof here is a pile of Sound on Sound magazines, which is a magazine all about music production and equipment. I won't be surprised if I'm one of the few bruneians who buy them.
Anyways last year, I found an online deal for a Presonus Eureka mic preamp. The only catch was its from the US and they don't do shipping to the UK, but I had a plan so I decided to spend what little money I had and get it. Just in case you're wondering, a mic preamp is simply something to warm up a condensor microphone, except the Eureka comes with other nifty bits where I can manipulate (eq and compression) the signal coming from the mic, something I could've only done on software. This is th Eureka:
I have a contact that time in New York, a good friend Murad from Malaysia, who I call M. He helped sell some Micbandits' RnP album in NY which was pretty cool. Anyways, I arranged for the preamp to be sent to M, and he would send it to Loughborough. After a couple of weeks, this letter came:
I had to pay 600+ pnds to collect it! To this day I still wonder why this was, and concluded that its because some companies are just plain evil. So having had an argument with the courier service, I told them to just send it back to sender, which was free of course. By this time I had already gone back to Brunei, and M on the other hand went back to KL for good, bringing the preamp along with him. This was summer 2008.
This year I'm living with two malaysian students. I had this crazy idea that maybe M could just hand it one day to their family, who would be coming for their graduations. So I asked for M's address, who lived in Petaling Jaya, and it turns out was a few blocks away from one of my housemate's place. And by sheer luck, his girlfriend, who studies in London, was heading back to KL for a while. So I arranged for the preamp to be with my housemate's significant other and expect it to arrive in british soil safe and sound.
While in London, I picked up the preamp from her and brought it to Leeds to test it out with Kro. It didn't come with any cables or booklets so I had to find someway to make it work. Having a bit of experience with US equipment (another item from the states is my Stanton CD turntable), I knew I just had to buy the UK voltage adaptor. However being the impatient person I am, I used my friend's bass guitar amp cable, since it had the same connection, and used it to power the preamp. This was a mistake from the start. It lit for a split second and went kapoot.
Now I'm back in my place, having all the adaptors and cables for the preamp. And it doesn't work. It can't, not until I find someone to fix the fuse inside. And now I've decide to blog about it, just to recollect all the events that have happened. This is the story about the preamp that went across the world.
New York - Loughborough - New York - Kuala Lumpur - London - Leeds - Loughborough - and Brunei soon.
I waited a whole year just to break it with my own hands. Life, apparently, is full of ironies.
Salam.
You know that feeling you have that things just weren't meant to be? Here is a story that all started in 2008 in a quiet town called Loughborough. It ended today as I type this post.
As you might know, I buy studio equipment. I go far and wide looking for the best deals around and do research on equipment constantly. As proof here is a pile of Sound on Sound magazines, which is a magazine all about music production and equipment. I won't be surprised if I'm one of the few bruneians who buy them.
Anyways last year, I found an online deal for a Presonus Eureka mic preamp. The only catch was its from the US and they don't do shipping to the UK, but I had a plan so I decided to spend what little money I had and get it. Just in case you're wondering, a mic preamp is simply something to warm up a condensor microphone, except the Eureka comes with other nifty bits where I can manipulate (eq and compression) the signal coming from the mic, something I could've only done on software. This is th Eureka:
I have a contact that time in New York, a good friend Murad from Malaysia, who I call M. He helped sell some Micbandits' RnP album in NY which was pretty cool. Anyways, I arranged for the preamp to be sent to M, and he would send it to Loughborough. After a couple of weeks, this letter came:
I had to pay 600+ pnds to collect it! To this day I still wonder why this was, and concluded that its because some companies are just plain evil. So having had an argument with the courier service, I told them to just send it back to sender, which was free of course. By this time I had already gone back to Brunei, and M on the other hand went back to KL for good, bringing the preamp along with him. This was summer 2008.
This year I'm living with two malaysian students. I had this crazy idea that maybe M could just hand it one day to their family, who would be coming for their graduations. So I asked for M's address, who lived in Petaling Jaya, and it turns out was a few blocks away from one of my housemate's place. And by sheer luck, his girlfriend, who studies in London, was heading back to KL for a while. So I arranged for the preamp to be with my housemate's significant other and expect it to arrive in british soil safe and sound.
While in London, I picked up the preamp from her and brought it to Leeds to test it out with Kro. It didn't come with any cables or booklets so I had to find someway to make it work. Having a bit of experience with US equipment (another item from the states is my Stanton CD turntable), I knew I just had to buy the UK voltage adaptor. However being the impatient person I am, I used my friend's bass guitar amp cable, since it had the same connection, and used it to power the preamp. This was a mistake from the start. It lit for a split second and went kapoot.
Now I'm back in my place, having all the adaptors and cables for the preamp. And it doesn't work. It can't, not until I find someone to fix the fuse inside. And now I've decide to blog about it, just to recollect all the events that have happened. This is the story about the preamp that went across the world.
New York - Loughborough - New York - Kuala Lumpur - London - Leeds - Loughborough - and Brunei soon.
I waited a whole year just to break it with my own hands. Life, apparently, is full of ironies.
Salam.
posted by Zed Peace
on 21 May 2009
2 Comments