Freedom

I have this humour book that I borrowed from a friend and haven't returned it after over a year, and there's one joke of the many occupational jokes I would like to share here:

"A diplomat/politician is a person who tells you to go to hell in a way that somehow you're looking forward to that trip."

Something like that. I can't remember the exact words but yeah, something like that. How's that relevant for my entry today? Because it is Malaysia's 52nd Independence Day! And sadly politics is the first thing came into my head.

Yes, sadly.

In previous years, my first few thoughts on Independence Day are usually something about how am I proud to be in a country that is free from external (assuming bad) powers (which is quite naive come to think of it) or thinking have I done enough as a citizen to contribute to a country that has spent so much on my education and welfare? Somewhere along those lines, I think.

Patriotism initiates different thoughts at different times. And today, Independence Day does not make me feel that celebrative. Don't get me wrong. Despite my immigrant's blood, I still love the country and the system that has provide a moderate living for me and my family. I'm just not in that kind of mood to celebrate any achievement either made by myself as a citizen or even the country itself this year.

It's almost the same feeling when I had my birthday this year. Nothing worthy of celebration. That's maybe how I feel about this year's Independence Day. The country and I need to grow up. And perhaps, real soon, we could do a distance worth celebrating in coming years.

Maybe that is exactly my patriotism thought of the year.

Nonetheless.

Happy 52nd Independence Day Malaysia.

Even Van Gogh Can't Do Better

My dad scanned me this drawing and e-mailed it to the whole family. My 7 years old sister drew a family portrait. I thought it's just incredibly adorable.

I miss home.

Since 1000 Days Ago

I was supposed to continue from my previous article - something about philosophy and politics. Well, I'm still tired (not from previous entry but just for today) and not in the mood to write anything today.

Today.

Today is a special day for me, and especially this blog.

Blog.

This blog has finally reaches its 1000th day.

Thank you.

I'm just really tired. I'll write more about it later.

Later.

Procrastination rules.

I'd Fly for a Roti Canai Mamak

I may not be a student of philosophy or even an avid fan of political studies. Nonetheless, the topic for today may fall under these categories and accordingly, cautious readers may adjudicate the credibility of the writer of this story which I wish to tell.

Anyhow.

Let me start with something that I’m more familiar with – sustainability.

Well, allow me to quote the most widely use definition:

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

-Brundtland Report in 1987-

Anyway, keep this inside your head while you keep on reading this entry. Do also remember that this is not an academic writing. Hence, I may not refer to any external knowledge anymore and thus, again, you may critic the credibility of this entry, take the knowledge you may get from it and shove it up your a**.

One particular thing that is most commonly relates to sustainability is energy efficiency. This includes electricity, petrol, and all types of fuel – perhaps even your own, energy I mean. There are numerous perceptions on what efficiency really is. For the purpose of this entry, I will use one of them, which reference is ignored due to limitation of memory:

“Efficiency is when you can do more things with the same resource,”

-Somewhere from someone-

In other words, instead of flying to Istanbul to grab a kebab, now with the same amount of fuel with an efficient personal jet (assuming you own one), you can continue flying to Paris to grab an Escargot Bourguignon, then off to Madrid for a delicious Seafood Paella and a quick stop at Zurich for a warm Chocolate with Cheese Fondue (I think that’s the right name for it, not too sure).

To put simply, with efficiency, you can do more things with the same amount of resource you have, which goes back to the earlier stated simpler definition (which instead I chose to elaborate on with such a long and unnecessary description of famous international cuisines).

This concept tracks back to the time when steam engine was invented by James Watt around early 18th century. This perhaps may be the key point of human civilization when this particular innovation initiated the Industrial Revolution in UK during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and many industries started to grow at a significant rate and remarkably changed the social economic in Europe, America and subsequently the rest of the world.

In simpler term, human activities grew rapidly. Consequently, human population increased at a much different rate than before. Thus, with more activities, and greater population growth, more resources are necessary. The initial idea of an efficient transportation envisioned by the genius invention of the steam engine created more potential human activities and consequently created more demand for more resources. Instead of one kebab made with bread, meat, vegetables produced with electricity, gas, water, and so on, now with the idea of efficiency, we can also have an escargot, paella and a fondue made of more resources, i.e. more electricity, gas, water, etc.

Oh, which part of this entry actually relates to philosophy and politics?

Well, I’m tired. Maybe next time I’ll continue to finish this entry.

In the mean time, to wrap up this entry, think about this: at this time of human civilization, it doesn’t make that much difference if you buy a petrol efficient car, energy efficient buildings, or turn off your lights for one hour in a year. When you see a sale by the retail store, $10 for 3 pairs of Ted Baker’s jeans, if you believe that human, in general, will buy only one jean for a less than $4 instead of grabbing all 3 pairs of them, let’s start talking about saving the planet.

Still, chill fellas.