Sooo… opera.

Opera opera opera.

What do I know about opera? The singer Dame Nellie Melba not only had a peach based dessert named after her, but also swore blind that the secret to maintaining her famous voice was the performance of regular and enthusiastic fellatio.

Here endeth the lesson.

Having just glanced over the relevant Wikipedia page, I think I’ll save the next phase of my quest to Pygmalion myself in the world of opera for when I’m back in London, and when a copy of ‘Opera for Dummies’ (with accompanying CD) will be happily at my disposal.

I’m sure this is how Mozart started out.

Oh yes! I’ve seen Amadeus. That counts for something?

Hm, and then there’s the whole Freddie Mercury / Montserrat Caballe thing…

No matter; it’ll come (especially if Dame Nellie’s involved… nudge nudge wink wink).

My knowledge of opera really is shamefully shallow. Disgracefully so. My experience of opera singers on the other hand… well, of them I can tell you that:

a) they tend not to get very enthusiastic about fight choreography.

and

b) they make actors look stable, reliable and down to Earth by comparison. No mean feat.

They tend to be fairly easy on the eye too (that or morbidly obese).

Am I giving them a bad press? This is generalizing of course… there are absolutely wonderful opera singers out there, ones who aren’t flakey or damaged or ego driven, and I’m sure there are plain ones, and perhaps even dull ones – I just haven’t met many.

Intensity is the order of the day generally. Though is that not true of all in The Arts? At least to some degree. We all have our stereotypes to contend with, and generally there’s a sliver of truth somewhere in them (whether this be chicken or egg is another matter of course; do we perhaps gravitate intentionally towards a stereotype, turn ourselves into what we think is appropriate to help attain internal legitimacy? Well? Do we?).

Opera itself is defined by extremes; of emotion, of tension, of characters, of plot – it only makes sense that those who devote themselves to it, spend their life saturating in the scores and librettos, would come to reflect and to inhabit some of that intensity.

They’re a tad nuts too. That’s an element of it I think.

How much are we defined by what we do? More than a lot of people like to believe. The vast majority of our lives are spent working – if you seriously think the environment, pastime and discipline that you spend most of your life focusing on and indulging in does not significantly affect how you develop or who you are… well I think you’re being a tad naive.

Of course it isn’t just our jobs that define us – hobbies, interests, friends… all these play their part; the degree of each depends on how much thought, time and action gets devoted and where. This said, invariably most of the friends will be colleagues, most of the hobbies, most of the interests, they’ll play second fiddle to work – both in time spent and focus given.

I’m not sure why people don’t like this. I mean, if your focus and and attention is primarily based around something other than work, well then I guess that defines you more… but for how many is that true? Especially after the initial year or two. If you don’t like the idea of being defined by your job… well perhaps you should get a new job? Like it or lump it we ARE defined by our work. We get one life to life (debatable, but this isn’t the arena) and what’s the point in devoting most of it to something you don’t even like to be associated with?

But pah; my thoughts are muddled, my mind tired. I must rest. These topics I’ll gestate upon, and perhaps revisit.

Ciao for now.

-Brice out.

   I’m being reminded that taking things to extremes gets people in trouble.  There’s nothing wrong with the right or left, conservative or liberal, dark or light, black or white, up or down etc…  It’s the extreme that hurts us. 

  Practise- acceptance, tolerance, and balance for spiritually wise living, and for more freedom and opportunity to bloom!

It’s yet another step of the endless elections Sri Lankan people had to cope with lately. Previous ones were just a part of a disgusting political ball game. But without a doubt this one is the most important and critical one of them all. It is important because it will decide who is going to lead the country for next 6 years. But it is critical because of so many factors.

First of them is the nature of the battle for Presidency. In the Presidential election of 2005, the government declared it as a contest between ‘patriots’ and ‘traitors’. But this time around, it is a contest between ‘patriots’ and ‘patriots’. In other words, it is a contest to select the greatest ‘patriot’. But the government has already labeled the rival candidate as a ‘traitor’ since they own the Patent for the definition of the word ‘Patriot’. However, for the average voter who doesn’t go into that level of detail, this will be a ‘patriot’ versus ‘patriot’ contest.

Another critical factor would be our international relationships. We all know what sort of friends we have on international stage. We have Libya, Iran, Vietnam, Myanmar, Venezuela and few other countries as our direct friends. Are we going to go ahead with them or are we going to win the rest of the ‘important’ countries and move on with all of them? It would be nice to see what kind of a plan the two candidates have towards winning back our ‘lost’ friends. It would be very interesting to see how those countries respond in a situation where our top ranked politicians are either denied or reluctant to enter certain countries, even for highly important international engagements.

As this contest for the Presidency intensifies, more and more war ’secrets’ might come out because both candidates are so keen to get the credit of the victory written against their names. We already hear top ranks in the military setup and its administration playing the blame game on certain incidents that happened during the war time. In such circumstances, it is more likely those ‘behind-the-scene’ information to come out to gain the upper hand in this tight contest. But it will end up doing more damage to the image of our country.

While the people who supported the war and believed in a military solution will be split between two major candidates, people who were against the war and violence will be stranded in this election. For them, these two candidates would be two sides of the same coin. Anyone who closely observed the conduct of this duo during the war and the aftermath would know it. This was very well explained in the article I suggested to read in my previous post. One might argue that they can vote for a third candidate. But in a two-horse race, what’s the meaning of betting on a pony?

The most critical factor is the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka. For the first time in the history of Presidential elections, they don’t have a candidate who can be trust upon. Even if they put aside all the killings, abductions, assaults, harassments and discriminations of the past, can they safely look for the future at the hands of these two candidates? The answer is quite obvious when you look at the extremist and fundamentalist groups who are baking the two major candidates.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if they feel like hard done and cornered by the Sinhala speaking majority Sri Lankans when deciding who should lead the country of all communities. They will either be forced to vote for a candidate that they cannot believe in or they will have to stay aside, just being spectators of the drama. I have already heard people sarcastically asking from a few Tamil speaking Sri Lankans who they are going to vote for. To me, it’s not a joke. It’s a very serious concern that they cannot play a decisive role in the election that matters.

Such ignorance and negligence in the past lead to a decade-long war and we all know how much it cost us. Will this be another twist in the history? Only time will tell. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope not.

Here’s something worth reading. You might need to install a specific Sinhala font, but I think the hassle is worth if you are interested and/or confused about the current political climate in Sri Lanka.

First one is from Gamini Wiyangoda, one of my favourite columnists. In this article, he has made a good assessment on the current political climate and the candidature of ex-army commander. He makes a very good point on people who once opposed the war and believed in non-violence now selling the military achievement to come out of the political agony they are in.

Read the article in full here.

Next one has been originally published in ‘Ravaya’, the Sinhala weekly and it gives us a point or two to think about the two major candidates running for the Presidency. K.W. Janaranjana, the author of the article, makes an indirect hint about the confusion people who genuinely opposed the war (including myself) are going to be in, when the decision time comes.

Another interesting point this article makes is exactly what I was trying to say in my previous post. It took no time for our famous Facebook Patriots to rename their former war hero “Fonseka” as “Ponseka“. What would happen if their beloved great patriot, the famous brother of the President, cross over to the opposition? Would they do the same for him in case he change his mind?

(If you think such a thing is not possible on this earth, who would have thought the ex-army commander would join hands with people who claimed he’s not eligible to lead even the Salvation Army? Mind you, this is Sri Lanka!)

Here’s the article for everyone to read.

Today was a significantly less healthy one than planned.

I woke a good 4 hours later than scheduled, had a fish and chip shop lunch (phenomenal; pollock in beef-dripping batter), then some kind of french potato, garlic and onion dish I saw on Delia’s Christmas programme for dinner, and a bar of chocolate for dessert. Really do need to get a handle on this.

I seem to find it far easier to exist in extremes; all or nothing; vast feasts or meagre fasts; ecumenical orgies or miserly hordings. Not especially healthy that. And actually who doesn’t? If we stuck to what came easily and instinctively we’d all be naked and living in caves; using a bit of discipline and pushing yourself outside of a comfort zone or two is not just beneficial, it’s necessary. Take charge!

I think I’m mellowing out a bit on the Extremes score, however; hoping that this (actually quite brief) patch of sedentary gluttony is just a blip. No, I’m not hoping, I’m making sure of it. Tomorrow I’m off to an Actor’s networking party on a boat on the Thames (which ought to be fun), and aside from the free wine and condoments that I’ll no doubt make the absolute most of, the rest of the week shall be one of Spartan restraint and healthy living.

I was talking to a friend about it earlier, about the necessity of taking charge of one’s lifestyle and of making choices for the long term not the short, and how this was a vital step on the road to maturity… though to be honest she seemed to be listening only out of politeness so I brought it all to a premature close (nothing worse than a conversation where each party is simply waiting for their turn to speak). She was far more interested in discussing her latest crisis.

The details are irrelevant; it could have been any one of a thousand such tales of woe and complication that she seems to delight in laying on me and whining about (it could be her odious ex-boyfriend dropping round at 3 in the morning unannounced and demanding to use her bedroom, it could be drunken ‘friends’ waking her up at midnight and expecting to be driven to the other side of London, it could be an employer asking for ridiculous commitments or it could be a professional rival asking to take credit for her work – it doesn’t matter. Though she may hum and haw and moan about it, she will eventually, undoubtedly, acquiesce). I don’t want to say she’s a Victim, but she’s one of those people who will always find an excuse for people, will always find–

Wow. Just saw an advert for ‘The Wright Stuff’ tomorrow where they’ll be answering and debating that hot political topic “Is it ever right to slap a woman on the bum?”. Brilliant.

–Anyway: one of those people who will always find a reason that the person screwing them over isn’t doing it on purpose, or doesn’t mean it, or deserves the benefit of the doubt (for the umpteenth time). Hardly the point, I said; “if someone shoots you in the face it doesn’t really matter whether it was intentional; you’re still dead”. She didn’t see it though, and just got upset that I was comparing her life to getting shot in the face.

I think an important part of growing up (or maturing,or whatever you want to call it) is coming to terms with the cliche that relationships need to be give and take. I don’t mean just nodding at the sentiment, or passing it on in conversation, I mean really accepting and acting on the idea that one must cut off some relationships and cultivate others.

I often tell such friends that there’s only so much Self anyone has to give; if you aren’t receiving anything in return from relationships (and I don’t just mean romantic) then all you’re doing is giving away, and when you need something for You you’ll find there’s nothing left in the pot. Some of us have a tendency to collect injured kittens, which is fine, as long as you don’t let the kittens run the house; you keep them in the front room that nobody really uses and that already smells of dead rat, so it’s not really a great loss. Anyway, that’s enough metaphor for now, you get the idea.

It’s a hard fact, but if you give enough people the opportunity then (whether they realise it or not) they’ll take advantage. This is bad for you, and this is bad for them (in the long run). If you want an excellent (if quite intense and disturbing) demonstration of this then just watch ‘Dogville’ by Lars Von Trier. Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Paul Bettany, the Swedish guy from ‘Mamma Mia!’… it’s an all-star cast.

You need to give it the time (it’s about 3 hours long), and it’s not something you can half watch while cooking or checking your emails, in fact I’d say ideally you should watch it alone in a darkened room. It takes it’s time getting to the point, but when it does it’s a sharp one.

Ahem; tangent.

Anyway, my thought for the day is regarding the necessity of taking charge of your lifestyle; of building the right kind of relationships, and either fixing or ending the wrong kind. Different friends suit different times in your life, and if you’re lucky they will grow as you do, and if you’re lucky the friendship will evolve. If not it will just become a parasitic dead-weight, and there’s nothing noble or strong-willed or right about getting leeched off of. Quite the opposite.

I really don’t want to overload your brain with all the latest trends and want to give you the opportunity and the time to try out some of them, that’s why I would like to present you today just a summary of pictures with trends I was blogging the last few weeks about.

Just lean back and find your way in my favourite pics collection.

Source: Google images:Stylefizz

Source: Google images: Photobucket

Source: Google images: Girldir

Source: Google images: Shopping Liga

Source: Google images: Yatego

Source: Google images: Spiegel

Source: Google images: Bestweekever

Source: Google images: Modern Hairstyle

Source: Google images: AAA fashion

Source: Google images: Romance fire

Source: Google images: Stylenews

Source: Google images: Sistyle

Source: Google images: Daz

Source: Google images: Friis company

Source: Google images: Trendmill

Source: Google images: Gossipteen

Source: Google images: Girldir

Source: Google images: Girldir

]]> http://windowshuttersguide.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/wood-shutters-help-with-weather-extremes/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:43:14 +0000 woodshutterseng http://windowshuttersguide.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/wood-shutters-help-with-weather-extremes/

Wood shutters made from Western Red Cedar, Southern Yellow Pine, Cypress, or composite wood are beautiful additions to the décor and style of a house. Shutters may be finished with clear weather-resistant polyurethane so that the beauty of the wood is seen, or be painted as an accent to the house’s basic color scheme. Either way, the style impact on a house’s exterior makes the house stand out from the rest of the neighborhood.

Another very good reason for having real wood shutters, rather than vinyl, is because wood is a natural insulator. If the wood shutters are installed to be functional, hinges and tie-backs are needed. During storms where there may be flying debris, shutters will protect windows from damage.

Although not hurricane rated, the shutters at Sunbelt Shutters are heavy enough to withstand strong winds without damaging. In climates where heat is a factor, good wood shutters will block sun and heat from the house, saving in air conditioning costs and fading of carpets and furniture. A special wood shutter style, the bahama or bermuda, is designed with openings between the louvered slats. This allows for air movement from outside to enter, yet still provides light screening.

The shutters are hinged at the top and swing out at the bottom, allowing more air flow, yet they will deflect rain showers. Far superior to vinyl shutters, real wood shutters are heavy-duty and functional. Each order of shutters is custom made to the customer’s specifications, so odd-sized windows are easily accommodated.

Complete hanging instructions are included for those do-it-yourselfers, as well as instructions on how to measure windows for a custom fit. Whether choosing wood shutters for making the exterior of your house look unique, or for needing weather protection, you will find the choices and customer support at Sunbelt Shutters are superior.

when the black meets white
the eye dissolves
in the wetness
that wells
run deep
even if
there is no water.

The famous retirement (or resignation as you may call it) made headlines last week and made me write after a long pause. I’m not a fan of this bloke nor do I have any interest in possible political involvements of him. But his retirement and the reaction of the general public towards it made two things quite clear. First of them is the appalling status of our so called ‘patriots‘ and second is the stupidity in decision making of our general public.

Let’s not worry about the reactions of people with fake doctorates and their henchmen. But the way certain dignitaries, intellectuals, religious leaders and professionals reacted towards it was shocking to me. Not so long ago, he was the hero and the biggest patriot for most of these people. But even before his request for retirement was accepted, they hurried to bring him down from hero to zero. Apart from wide spreading rumors, there was no official announcement about a political involvement, but those ‘patriots‘, who are so good at anticipating things, were quickly out to attack him.

The question is, how can someone who was treated as the greatest patriot become the worst traitor overnight? Another good example for this was when the deputy leader of the main opposition party crossed back over from government ranks. Until that very moment he was a patriot and the moment after, he is a traitor. This clearly shows how disgusting these ‘patriots‘ are and how primary their thinking is.

Even appalling are the people who, in no time, came forward to propose and support him for the next presidency. Do they have any idea what went around when ex-military personnel took over the leadership of a country? Do they have any idea what democracy means and what kind of a democracy exist within military outfits? How do you relate the ability to lead a country with the fact having led an army to victory against a ferocious guerilla organization?

The only way of problem solving these war heroes know is to use the force. Are these people expecting to establish law, order and discipline in this country the same way? Is that how we want to eliminate corruption, waste, bribery and thuggery in our country? How long can you hold a rubber ball under the water? After these latest developments someone very correctly pointed out that he would live under the rule of the most corrupted politician rather than under the rule of the bravest soldier. I think it has a valid point.

As I’ve mentioned many times before, we’ve been so wrong in our decision making. In fact we’ve been so stupid when we decide who should lead this country. Going by our ‘impressive’ track record, I can sense another fatal mistake when it comes to the next decision time.

Fashion means also how you wear your hair…

But first of all, I have to say, please contact you hair stylist first, before you do something just to be IN!!!

As you already might know, there are also people, who try to find out which haircuts tend to be the next trends.

Here come some of them…

The obvious motto of the coming hair trend is definitely: Varying between the extremes.

– Extremely short -

Source: Google images: Hairdressers Journal

- Extremely long –

Source: Google images: Hair Cut Styles

- Extremely curly -

or

- Extremely blond -

Source: Google images: Gutefrage

But don’t forget that there are rules how to choose your own hairstyle:

- you have to find out your face shape first

- for the longer face – try a fringe

- for more plump face – choose a cut longer in the front (long front bob)

- for big face or chin – avoid too much volume

for long nose – not too much hair in your face, try side parting

There are also trendy cuts for men:

The season autumn/winter 2009/2010 brings two main haircut categories for men

- Sweet school boy look -

Source: Google images: Blah

and

- Wild rocker look –

Source: Google images: About.com

I, personally, like both of the looks, as I think with the longer hair you have both possibilities to wear it.

For visiting your girlfriend’s parents, just backcomb you hair and you look sweet…

…when leaving, take enough hair gel and let your hair explode…The new rocker is born…

4 octobre 2007

So…what’s new ?

Well, after a couple days where we had more work, we have “one of those days” where the system’s down and we have no requests.

You don’t seem too depressed over it ?

Nope ! I go on Facebook and I go on Dandelife and write my life away !

I saw that you write in French and English ? How come ?

Well, I was raised in a bilingual family. Dad would speak to me in English and I would answer in French. My Dandelife is bilingual because I have some written journals that are in French that I copy but my everyday life is written in English.

But why English ? Don’t you work and live in French ?

Yes. But sometimes it just comes that way and at other times it’s better in English, I know people I know don’t understand it so…

You don’t want people you know to understand what you write ? Why ?

No I don’t. Because sometimes it doesn’t concern them, sometimes I prefer to have my private garden. That’s why some of my stories are private.

If you want to have a private garden, why do you write on the net ? It’s a bit contradictory !

Not really. It’s easier to share with strangers. Plus, I do want to have privacy from people I know but I still want to share with others. Just not everyone I know.

But why ?

Because !! A lot of people around me are better that way, not knowing who I really am. They prefer it this way, they don’t want to know. And I don’t want some people I know to “know” everything about me. I know it’s confusing.

You have family on Facebook who could read you on Dandelife, right ?

Yes. It would be alright. I think that in most cases family members are the ones that are the most close-minded about who we are. They still see us the way they did when we were all very young. My mom is still astounded that I eat vegetables. She still sees me as a little girl who pouts when she puts a plate in front of me. I hated meal time. So I think that reading some things we write is a good way for family to get to know who we are !

You really are kind of bipolar ! This and that, this pole but this pole too.

I hate it when you remind me of it ! My therapist always brings it back. Why do you do this ?

Don’t you think that the way you like both extremes of things is a way of being bipolar ?

Ungh. Yeah. Why not.

You are so reluctant to admit that even if you are not ashamed of being bipolar, your personality is bipolar.

Yes. I. Am. I am not only bipolar, you know ! It’s true I have a tendency to like both extremes of things but it doesn’t mean I am and will only be a bipolar person. I’m not the only one like this.

Of course not.

And I am trying to focus so I come to a certain milieu, a middle.

Hum. Hum.

You drive me nuts !

Well isn’t  true that you will be volunteering with kids ?

Yes ?

But while you are in councelling in orientation to begin new studies, you are considering thanatology ? Virology or immunology ?

Yes…

Well…they are two different poles. Kids are life, freshness, new beginning. But what you are looking at to study and maybe have a new career is death and sickness.

So what ? Maybe I don’t want to do the same thing all over my life. Maybe I like having contraries and contradictions. Big elephant, small mouse. I like challenges, I like movement.

Okay then !

Fly on the wall

Zafar Khalid Farooq

Whilst here in Pakistan, as the army wages war against militants in its backyard, the British establishment is rolling out the red carpet for extremist and xenophobes of its own kind. Tonight, on BBC television, the British National Party (BNP) leader, Nick Griffin, will take his place alongside members of the UK political establishment, including Justice Secretary and former Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, as a guest on the most revered political platform in British television – BBC 1’s ‘Question Time’.

For those unfamiliar with this breed of repugnant racists, the BNP are a far right-wing fringe party who, until recently, had thankfully always remained on the periphery of British politics. The BNP, with policies that advocate voluntary resettlement to those ‘immigrants’ (that is, non-whites) who are legally in the UK, and who, only this month agreed to change its constitution to allow non-white members for fear of legal proceedings, have rarely attracted much popular support in the past. At the last general election, in 2005, they managed to win a paltry 0.7 per cent of the electoral vote.

So why the sudden high-profile invitation from the BBC’s flagship political programme? Because since 2005, the party’s electoral fortunes have improved. Earlier this year they won six per cent in the European elections, resulting in two seats for the party in the European Parliament, including one for Griffin. BBC editorial guidelines state that “significant minor parties should also receive some network coverage” and under the terms of its charter, the BBC is also legally obligated to ensure ‘due impartiality’. Hence, the presence of Mr Griffin under the studio arc lights tonight.

But what has prompted this upswing in popularity of this most odious of political parties? The economic downturn has certainly played a part. The last time far right politics enjoyed anything close to popular appeal was during the economically stagnating 70s. Then, it was the BNP’s predecessor, the National Front, who enjoyed some electoral support whilst the country succumbed to a three-day week and industrial unrest. It took the Thatcher government’s tough line on immigration and the economic boom of the mid-80s to crush the extreme right’s electoral ambitions.

Another reason for the BNP’s success this year may have been due to voter disaffection with the mainstream political parties. The expenses scandal, which saw British politicians from across the political spectrum fraudulently claiming expenses for personal gain, blew up weeks before the European election in June. Voter anger at the corruption of MPs, compounded by the fact that the country was in the midst of a recession, drew voters to the political fringes.

However, another explanation for their renewed popularity — and one that few mainstream politicians are reluctant to admit or even acknowledge in the UK for fear of being deemed insensitive to ethnic minorities, especially the Muslim community — is the rise of militant Islamism in the UK.

Ironically, radical Islamism, of which there are a number of groups, and the BNP share a similar political wardrobe. Both are avowedly anti-Semitic (although the BNP stance towards Jews has softened now that they view Muslims as the greater threat), both enjoy a good conspiracy theory and revel in grievance narratives and victim politics, oh, and both spawn a reactionary, illiberal, intolerant ideology. The BNP want a return to a pristine white homeland and the Islamists want shariah law and a pan-Islamic theocracy, or, as it’s better known — a caliphate. The BNP snarl at multiculturalism and blame it for white alienation and exclusion. The Islamists divide the world into two spheres: Muslims, and ‘the rest’.

The British Government has failed woefully at curbing Islamist radicalisation. Muslim alienation, especially amongst the youth is on the rise in the UK. A recent paper by the UK think tank, Policy Exchange, highlighted the growing divide. Of all the categories, the 16-24 year-old Muslims were the most estranged from mainstream Britain, especially compared with their parents’ generation. Thirty eight per cent of them felt they have more in common with Muslims than with non-Muslims. Thirty five per cent would prefer to send their child to an Islamic school, 37 per cent would prefer shariah law and 13 per cent “admired organisations like Al Qaeda”. This is worrying for Britain’s liberal democracy.

Even more worryingly, a new generation is being radicalised, often with the very government funds that are supposed to be countering radicalisation. The British Government’s counter-terrorism strategy is called Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE). In the past three years, 90 million pounds have been spent on PVE. However, by focusing on ‘violent extremism’, as opposed to all extremism, the government has allowed itself to hop into bed with organisations and groups deeply opposed to liberal, democratic values. These groups have ties with the Muslim brotherhood, and our very own Jaamat-e-Islami. Perhaps by joining hands with non-violent extremist groups, the government hopes to provide a defence, a pressure valve if you like, against violent extremism among the angry Muslim youth. But by collaborating with these groups, the government is effectively supporting and funding the Islamist ideology that spawns an illiberal, intolerant and anti-western view.

In any liberal democracy, there are constant tensions. How can one protect the rights of the few from the tyranny of the majority? How il-liberal should the state become in order to protect the liberal values it professes to uphold? These questions always need debate and vigilance. The BBC is right to invite the BNP leader on ‘Question Time’. However abhorrent and racist his views, the electorate has given him a mandate. If the Jaamat-e-Islami were to obtain a similar mandate, they too should be invited on the show. However, allowing freedom of speech is one thing — actively funding and supporting that speech is quite another. The British government must stop all public money to Islamist groups whose views are in conflict with liberal democracy — however non-violent or representative of the community they purport to be. If a liberal, democratic government continues to fund these groups it will become the political equivalent of turkeys voting for Christmas. Or should that be goats for Eid.

The writer is a lawyer and human rights activist who divides his time between Pakistan and the UK. Email: zkfarooq@gmail.com

Sunday, September 13, 2009

We are sitting in the Alor airport with the soft breeze of the air conditioning blowing on our faces.  I have hopes that soon my body will return to its normal temperature.  For the last few weeks, I believe it has been riding a bit high.  Maybe 37.3 degrees as a norm rather than 37 (I actually checked this once).

Although there is still a possibility that our flight will be cancelled, I have high hopes that we will make it off the island today.  When I asked if we still left at 2:00, we at least thought his response mentioned that the plane had already left Kupang and was on its way to Alor.  I can only hope that we will be enjoying a comfy bed, A/C, and maybe even some pizza and a cold drink by 6:00 tonight…

After this experience with heat, I am fairly certain I would never willingly lie in a tanning bed ever again for the rest of my life  (not that I have done so recently, but I believe this clinches it).  I will enjoy every breath of cool air and brisk (even stinging) wind that comes my way. 

I also promise to complain at least slightly less about those [few] miserable Minnesota summer days.  At least most places have air conditioning, so you still have a chance.

Also, I have already mentioned on various occasions that the weather in the Netherlands is wonderful.  But I will state, yet again, that a climate without extremes (hot or cold) is quite nice.

One of the things that I’ve learnt through coaching is how much we’ve come to rely on the ‘either/or’ (1/0, black/white, digital/analogue, individual/community, rational/emotional, left/right, highbrow/lowbrow, East/West, machines/humans) view of the world.

And how we’re often stumped into a false decision-making choice, when the true choice would be to integrate both views, and find a right point for us on the continuum. 

Another advantage of looking at the world in a continuum, rather than a binary (either/or) model, is that a continuum almost always has the possibility of being extended either end (or I should say: both ends), moving away from the often self-limiting possibilities. 

It also offers protection from the extremes of either way.  So I could for example settle for being 0.2 one day, and 0.8456 on another.

It strikes me that much of the political discourse – in many countries, though not all – is also moving away from extremes, and towards recognition of a middle ground: between capitalism and socialism, Left and Right, conservative and liberal, free market and social services, community support and individual freedom. 

And Obama – being literally both black and white – might be described as the first true leader of the new non-binary world!

Here’s a potential model question for next year’s fifth grade scholarship examination.

Background:
A and B are high profile characters in a certain country. They were good friends and considered as heroes in that country. However the duo were not in good terms lately since B was considered a threat to A’s position. But this was categorically denied by A. C is A’s ultimate henchman who holds a doctorate from an alien University. C launched an attack on B publically which made headlines in mass media.

Few days later, media reported that A has summoned C and blasted him for attacking B.

Questions:
(i). Who revealed the news of A blasting C for attacking B to the media?
(ii). Why he would have revealed it to the media?
(iii). What is your conclusion of this scenario?

Answers:
(i). The media reports do not indicate the presence of any other person at the time A blasted C for attacking B. C is unlikely to reveal it to the media since he is the embarrassed and ashamed party in the given situation. Therefore A has revealed it to the media.

(ii). Since C is A’s ultimate henchman, C wouldn’t have done anything without the backing of A. When C’s act made headlines in mass media, A wanted to get his hands off the situation. So A summoned C, had a fake go at him and leaked the news to the media to clear his name.

(iii). A and C are smarter than a fifth grader, but none of us are.