Quote of the Post: "The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Random Playlist Song: Taizé - Jacques Berthier - Per crucem (Canon)
Per crucem et passionem tuam
Libera nos Domine, libera nos Domine, libera nos Domine, Domine.
Per sanctam resurrectionem tuam.
***
Up for grabs! A Doctor of Theological Studies degree from the International University of Nescience if you:
"Satisfactorily and logically explain how both these genealogies [Matthew Ch 1 and Luke Ch 3] can both be the literal truth.
For a "cum laude" on your degree, provide in addition:
A satisfactory and logical explanation of why Matthew and Mark both found it necessary to prove that Joseph was descended from David and Abraham, given that, according to both writers, he was not the actual father of Jesus."
***
"In the end, abortion seems to be in a similar situation to drug traffic and consumption: If it's going to happen no matter what, it may be best to have some degree of control, that is, have it regulated rather than prohibited. It's not that abortion is ever a great idea, but anything else seems to me ethically worse.
... Doing harm to one's own body seems to be a private decision, from society's point of view, except when that harm is lethal; then, everybody judges and interferes with the late suicide's free will. Perhaps a way to describe it would be by means of property. In most circumstances, the only one entitled to make decisions about something is the owner. So who owns one's life if not exclusively oneself? Can someone claim ownership over my life or a part of it? Sometimes the objections address the consequences for other people surrounding the suicide's person's life. A suicide affects other people too, it's undeniable, but so does changing jobs, a marriage or moving abroad or buying a big bad motorcycle. Suicide is like saying "I play no more" so the rules of the game no longer apply, it's a complete severance of ties with everyone and everything, the end of existence. Nonexistence means no rights and no obligations. Nothing of ethical substance can be said about suicide because, once it happens, the perpetrator has been punished." (The Philosophy of Killing)
Indeed.
***
"I don't understand the rationale behind why some guys love to dye their hair the moment they stepped out of NS and enter the uni. Worse, I think they love to dye them in the brightest colour that can be found on the shelves where all the hair dying products are found. I think most of them actually look so much better with decently cut black hair... Seriously, they look like some chinese ah-bengs whom you meet on the streets, with loud, "fashionable" hairstyles that scream attention-seeking.
Somehow arts faculty seems to be the faculty where most guys gravitate towards, despite the fact that none of them are from arts. I don't meet so many girls around arts. In fact I only meet girls around school when I go to other faculties." (The Hairy Issue)
Hahahahaha.
***
On Sunday, Ban Xiong SMSed me and asked me to tune to Central immediately. On turning on the TV, what did I see but a very strangely shaped tank chasing 2 people, one limping on with the aid of a stick, down a road.
Then I heard it - Bollywood Music.
How they manage to come up with so many wacky ideas is beyond me. In this movie (or song sequence, at least), 2 idiots had somehow gotten into the suspiciously spacious interior of a tank, and were somehow driving it while singing and touching each other's hands while smiling inside. As they chased the aforementioned 2 people, the tank fired shells here and there, blowing up watchtowers from which guards were flung by the force of the blast. Meanwhile it never occured to the two people to escape from the tank by going off the path.
At the end of the song sequence, the tank stopped and the 2 idiots popped their heads out of the tank's hatch. They then fumbled with a pistol, which went off and hit the limping man in his leg, who then complained about his always being hit (so presumably he was limping due to a prior shot the 2 idiots).
There was then some weird martial arts sequence more remiscent of Chinese kungfu movies (or dare I say, Power Rangers), where another guy leapt down from a height, grabbed someone by the collar and flung him a far distance.
Interestingly, it was the first time I heard English being spoken in a Bollywood movie. I guess the tides of Cultural Imperialism (TM) are irresistible. Next we know, we'll see them eating at a McDonalds (before tearing it down to a catchy tune).
***
I saw a Chinese trishaw rider with a mullet. Funky.
For those who do not know what a mullet is, I offer the following explanation from Wo-hen:
People are always complimenting my hair. They say to me, "Nice mullet!" or "I really like your mullet, who's your barber?" At first, I was confused at this statement. I didn't know what a mullet was. I found out after asking my girlfriend at that time. Here's the story of how I got my hairstyle. When I first came to America, I lived in the South for five months. I lived in Alabama. All of the caucasian men had this hair style that was short on the top, and then long at the back. Trying to fit in, I decided to copy this style. Having this hair style is both practical and stylish. It is practical because it protects the back of my neck from the sun. It is stylish because people are always complimenting it.
A more technical explanation: "Physically it is characterized by short hair on the top, front, and sides of the head, followed by a long drape of hair on the back, reaching at least to the middle of the spine."
***
I've been especially sian since Saturday. Meanwhile it seems everyone around me is very stressed while I remain relaxed. So either I'm a genius or I'm going to faint when I realise what's really going on.