Ramblings..

read an article at http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/magazine/14DESIGN.html . Included are 2 pictures of a house designed by john pawson. the writer had a description of his *slothful treatment of history, biography and current affairs*...amusing...

stray thoughts:
-election fever's taking over the local newspapers, or more like *already taken over*.. We're currently being greeted with full page adverts in TheStar highlighting daily the previous *cooperation* between the DAP and PAS (in the '99 elections), plus contradicting statements of DAP's top leadership ppl in the past, wth each page reminding potential voters tht *A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS etc etc etc*..hmm i was kinda wondering why BN is seemingly focusing their media campaign (print media) on DAP instead of other opposition parties?..or maybe they're campaigning their way through the northern states using *ceramah* battles and banner/poster wars..? todays's Star had a few lines mentioning DAP lodging a complaint over it..but that article was TEENYtiny anyone could've missed it..

-i'm eligible to vote this year. Too bad its before my birthday..though i wouldn't have managed to register in time anyways cos they're using the 2003 electoral roll. I personally believe voting is crucial. (I just knew tht undergrads in Msia are not allowed to participate in politics of any kind)..Some ppl might say one vote will not make a difference, and others couldn't care less who's their representative in parliament etc.. However, voter apathy could result in some unwanted changes (which i shan't elaborate on).. someone mentioned - a few votes could turn a landslide defeat into a marginal victory.. well, thats something for us ppl in our twenties to think about...

-i read everywhere that PJ Utara incumbent MP Chew Mei Fun is very hardworking etc so she'll prob retain her seat. My impression is i see her in the newspapers often (helping out the *rakyat*, organising stuff etc) . So perhaps she really is very hardworking, serves the people etc.. But sometimes, I feel elected MPs' should let local councillors do what they are getting PAID to do (solving woes such as garbage collection, sewage problems etc) not saying chew mei fun does all that, just that some other MPs go around saying they're gonna settle these problems..else they end up getting alittle overburdened wth responsibilities which belong to others..

-poor poor girl..i'm talking about this poor 18 yr old girl who was found buried alive in banting last week. Due to the election fever right now, the local dailies devoted scant attention to the news that one of the prime suspects escaped from detention a few days ago. He escaped by climbing out through the ceiling of a toilet. Really reminded me of Cantonese dramas where the same things happen..wasn't even in the 1st 10 pages. Don't think the police have managed to track him down yet. Really, crime in the klang valley seems to get worse and worse by the day. When i was in Muar a coupla weeks ago, was very surprised to see armed cops everywhere patrolling the streets etc..how i wish it could be the same for us here in PJ/KL..currently, i can't seem to walk about without a heightened sense of paranoia..

would really recommend - George Orwell's *nineteen eighty-four*. Together with his *Animal Farm* (and no, its not an enid blyton kinda book abt farm life), both books are rather thought provoking. Though the books were published more than 50 years ago, its still worth a read..

NOW - I shall read somemore. A different category altogether..ahh the wonders of financial management..

END of ramblings.