Biographies: why spend time reading or watching programmes about other people's lives when you should be out there shaping your own?

I had been waiting for this movie trailer to come out for eons. Can't wait for the actual movie to come out now. :D It won't be as good as the book...most movies never are, but I guess we'll wait and see.

I think this picture is truly amazing. In a horribly shocking kind of way.

Yesterday I finished watching Milk...and what a truly remarkable film that is. The determination to fight for what you believe in, regardless of how many times you fall, how many people are against you, how much oppression you face.

And it kinda got me thinking.

My course, the law course, has got to be one of the most prejudiced courses out there. You go out there and ask people why they would or would not want to be a lawyer. Among the woulds you'd undoubtedly find: the pay is good, which is in my opinion, a very shallow reason indeed. Among the wouldn'ts you'd come across something like: "Ma tarax se niddefendi qattiel!" (I would never defend a murderer!) And it's funny because in many people's minds the first connotations to anything law is criminal law which is in essence only a fraction of what the general concept encompasses.

But let's say you have to defend a murderer. To begin with: is he a murderer? Who are you to judge him to be so without having seen the facts? Without having even so much as heard any testimonies or seen any evidence? What if the man/woman were actually suffering from some mental disease, acting in self defence, what if it were an accident? What if?

It's funny how so many people are willing to condemn any individual in the wrong without having so much as sniffed at any facts. We live in a society which is far too easy on the judging and condemning and less so on the willingness to hear (unless it's gossip).

And besides, for all the people out there who would not be willing to defend a person accused of murder; what of the rapist, the robber, the fraud, the human trafficker, the parent who has abandoned their child, the person charged with infringing those fundamental human rights we are all entitled to? Bad does not only equate to murder. But above all, we are no supreme beings to judge the actions of others without having given them adequate space and time to defend themselves.

The right to prove an allegation wrong is a fundamental human right - did you know that? Perhaps we're too busy putting our noses in other people's businesses and condemning the actions of others to realise that our own actions are far from exemplary. 

Go Watch Slumdog Millionaire NOW!!!! I had thought this film was overrated...it's not =D

It's funny how within 2 days the newly-elected President of the United States of America saw it fit to seek approval of a bill to lift a ban on abortion funds. Before anyone should judge based on nonsensical stereotypes, this is not the opinion of a fervent Catholic whose mission in life is to fight liberalism with all the apparent close-mindedness that God has bestowed upon me. This is the opinion of a person who upholds certain principles, as others uphold theirs.

Pro-abortionists will tell you...but it's not a human being yet! It's the mother's body! It's her life! She should do as she pleases! Of course she can. Surely anti-abortionists never denied that! But as an anti-abortionist myself, whilst I believe in everyone's freedom, I also hence believe in the child's right to live; a right which he/she can't of course declare out loud. I also believe in responsibility and in accepting that responsibility. If I killed, I go to prison. If I decided to start up a family I should do all I can to care for such family. If I accepted a job, I should do that job. Life is all about responsibilities and if we can't accept those responsibilities we'll all end up a laissez-faire society. What would stop me in this laissez-faire society from killing a man? You'd tell me: the law! You'd go to prison. But as clearly exemplified by the murderer from yesterday's finished trial: "Jien ghadni haj" (I'm still alive). The truth remains that whether he's going to end up in prison for the rest of his life or not, someone is now locked up in a coffin underground. This growing laissez-faire society is one which clearly does not give a hoot and a whistle as to what happens to the innocent victim getting along with their lives.

Surely we can all get along with our lives without getting in the way of others who depend on us. Why is it that we always seek the easy way out? Why is it that unless (and at times even if) the law expressly tells us not to do something, we will do all we can to do things as we please because heavens forbid we should feel in any way uncomfortable even if such circumstances were brought upon us as a result of our actions.

I believe in life because I'm living it and I'm loving it! =)


Comments are welcome. I don't bite. And I shan't wish for your soul to rott in hell either. :P

 

( Prompt police action stops sexual assault )</div>

Honestly, with racism levels being high (not truly sure of statistics, but general perception tends to point that way) could we actually go any higher? I do remember when in Strasbourg this summer we had a talk with Dr. Joseph Licari Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and the Chairman of the UNESCO Commission in Malta; in the talk we discussed the whole illegal immigration problem ever-on-the-rise here in Malta - following that we were meant to have a talk with some French woman working in human rights and before he left (whether he was joking or not remains an obscure mystery, and in her presence, speaking Maltese of course) he told us not to listen to anything she would be telling us; that she would tell us how horrible we are to these poor immigrants who have risked all to come here and that we treat them like scum. And you betcha that's exactly what she said.

And looking back I can't help but rethink of those words Dr. Licari spoke, telling us that we should not heed those words for she can never imagine all we're going through. Of course, speaking such coarse language would be particularly racist and inconsiderate but the truth of the matter is that this is truly the general perception. And looking on on such incidents really doesn't help, for in all matters where tensions are high, any action is sure to be generalised. The truth is that such incidents could have happened with just any two men as despicable as it may be.

So what are we to do? Will illegal immigration continue haunting us as we enter into 2009? Does this problem have an end? Will MEP Simon Busuttil's certain re-election, and in light of his stance on the topic, save us all? Who knows...in the meantime I shall keep on catching the bus in the dark wondering if the next one coming on the bus will try to harass me...wouldn't be the first...

Me thinks I need a life. Snagged from

clairecommando

 

On my way home from work just a couple of days ago I overheard the guy in front of me speaking to the friend right next to him, discussing most specifically their future. One of the two was my age, already attending university. The other must be a year younger, coming home from his waiter's job.

Older guy: "So you're going to remain a waiter all your life??"
Younger guy: "What will I get if I obtain a university degree?"

I must say I was left pretty baffled by that reply...how could one actually say "what will I obtain with a university degree?" Being in a better situation than a waiter that's for sure. Don't get me wrong here, I have nothing against waiters and their job, having worked in a restaurant myself for a while (what mark the experience left on me is another matter).

What truly bothered me by his remark was his clear lack of ambition. There's a difference between not knowing what to do, what to choose and what one wants to become, and not wanting to do anything at all. One of my friends would be such person; he has only worked for a month or so in the past 3 years - maybe I'm a tad over-ambitious in everything I do, and maybe it's because I hate laziness beyond anything else (although lie-ins are <3), but I think letting life go past you without doing anything at all with it is more than missing out...it's existing not living.

What's more, with all due respect to all the waiters out there, but it has been shown that a waiter's job is one of the most depressing jobs out there. So bearing all that in mind, how could one lock himself to an eternity of never-ending mundane-ness? Granted, the kid is 18, and may possibly/hopefully change his mind when it dawns on him, but there are many out there...I attended a state school and the amount of students who would always seek the scapegoat, the easy way out, was truly remarkable. Last time upon reflection I realised that from my year, which on average comprised about 230 students, only I entered the law course (which has 175 students attending, and had over 200 at the beginning of the year). 3/4 of the students in my year never even got into college, and hence not university either. Around 50 from the same year attend university right now. 50 from 230 - remarkable isn't it? Of course the majority of the remainder are probably attending some other educational institution right now, which is a good thing really because when you can't get option A at least option B is bound to save you.

But I think more needs to be done to encourage youth ingeneral to keep on studying...with an ever-changing ever-improving world, competition is harsh and you can never know enough. Knowing me I'll probably be old and crippled and still want to go back to study at university. >.<


There's a group on facebook called: "I make the most of my student life...do you??" Hell yeah! Student life is amazing! Ambition is amazing! And I wouldn't trade it with any other! =D

Snaggled from clairecommando


If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want, either good or bad. I promise not to come after you with a spatula, either way.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you.

=)

It's a tremor, it's WWIII, it's the end of the world...nope...UMASA & MUT have gone on strike.

A semi-strike at that because all Uni and JC lecturers have been advised to keep on correcting the papers, just not to submit the examination marks, which generally won't have started to be handed in anyway, not unless one's exam was on 24th May and it was a credit with only 5 people max.

But I digress; what is truly appalling is the students' reaction. I admit I was one of the first who upon reading the article regarding this situation was far from amused if not rather irate at how convenient it must be to have started this during this time of year when temperatures are high and stress levels compete on whose is the highest. For once in their lives many students have got to their feet, no more cicci beqqi. This is something which is to affect our academic career and we must revolt to such an atrocious situation, I hear. Student organisations have all aired their view on this matter...and students hogging Facebook and Hi5 groups scream: "Daqshekk biss??? (that's all???)" Many wonder why they merely condemn the situation without proposing anything concrete to be done to correct this situation. So all this leads to ideas and many a fairytale of adventures of calling UMASA and MUT people, clogging their email inboxes with emails bursting with profanity, insults and demands for results. Someone so much as suggested not going to exams.

How reminiscent of a petulant child indeed. Many ask why students never get down to doing anything to stick up for their rights, how they're always just sitting there and letting the world go by night and day, day and night. And yet while I am a student myself (and believe myself not to be a superior being who knows what is best because I do not, nor claim to do so) I cannot help but feel that such ideas are nothing but illusory and a one in a million dream some live when they wake up to reality.

The truth is this: what will one achieve by calling UMASA and MUT? What will you achieve by clogging all these representatives' email inboxes? What will you moreso achieve if you decide not to sit for examinations in protest? It's a simple word really: NOTHING, or a guaranteed ticket to resit-land in the case of the latter (there is no way ALL the students would ever agree to such a course of action. Ever. Added to the fact that students don't have the right to strike). It should be all too clear for everyone to see why UMASA and MUT decided to institute such action now of all times because they knew all too well that this would leave the biggest impact now. So what should make one think that pressure from students will make them stop? The students whom they were prepared to ignore in the first place?

On the other hand, one could exert pressure on the main University administration and in turn the Government regarding this matter, but it all depends on how obstinate either side is.


So should one just sit there, cicci beqqi as always? Of course not; but exercising shiny ideas because they sound appealing and a sensation isn't really going to get anyone anywhere apart from seeming like a proper idiot. What one should primarily do is brush up on the topic - WHY is this happening? Speaking without knowing the right facts of the story is nothing short of going to an exam without knowing a thing and bullshitting your way through hoping against hope the lecturer won't notice. That should get us over the "Mhux sew!" (not fair!) stage - we know it's not fair, no use repeating.

Once that's done take a look at what KSU is doing - KSU is the university students' council for all those who may not know of its existence (it is amazing how numerous students don't even know where the KSU office is despite having attended university for more than a year). Taking a look at the KSU statute one reads:-

"Li jirrappreżenta lill-istudenti f’dak li jikkonċernahom, kemm fuq livell nazzjonali kif ukoll fuq livell internazzjonali;"
"Li jservi ta’ mezz uffiċjali ta’ komunikazzjoni bejn l-istudenti u l-awtoritajiet rilevanti;"
"Li jagħmel pressjoni fuq l-awtoritajiet konċernati sabiex jiżguraw li l-kwalità u l-livell ta’ l-edukazzjoni ogħla jkunu l-aħjar possibbli."

These are just 3 functions KSU must handle, all clearly relevant to the current situation. Indeed KSU President Roberta Avellino has said that they are working on it and are in contact with both parties to try and wrap this up as soon as possible. Rather than moan and groan and pity all us students who have to suffer the faith of the meany trade unions who are at the end of the day doing their job, why not help KSU? Why not get involved in the whole process in the first place? The lethargy on campus is truly amazing...but I digress.

Apart from that there is not much one can do, AT THIS POINT. No use sending death threats, letters with talcum powder claiming it's anthrax...tomorrow UMASA is holding a rally on campus to explain how negotiations are faring - why not go on campus if you're done with exams and hear what they have to say? No? Aaaah, then no use grumbling is there?


By all this I do not in any way wish to infer that I agree with the fact that our marks are being "trifled with" because I, and I'm sure all students are already dying to see how they fared. But I believe it is time to move from mere words to facts, facts of course which are within reasonable sense, sans illusions, and conducted when appropriate.


Amen.

Sorry but I DO have to rant about this...and before you ask what the hell I was doing there...I was procrastinating...I'd have done better use of my time watching Heroes or something (bearing in mind of course I have an assignment and A MOUNTAIN of notes to study...go go me!)

Anyways...this is the most PATHETIC forum in the universe:- http://www.hi5.com/friend/group/253836--Junior%2BCollege%2BMalta--front-html


Sorry it's in Maltese...thank heavens for that, friend list of mine. I've spared you some real and proper idiocy.

The election is OVER, DONE WITH, FINITO...but do they accept it? Nooooooo...they keep on firing retorts at each other and they're ones which not even the most racist, evil, genocide-bringing person would have breathed for God's sake...and this might I add is the YOUNG generation, the one you hope is not as blinded, not as foolish, not as hypocritical and not as easily talked into things. And what do you find? That it's the same old ideas going down from one generation to the other and you think...is there hope for the Maltese populace? Will there EVER be a time when eyes will finally open, washing machines for brains will run out of use, when we are for once in our history as from the time of the Great Siege (yes that long) realise we are actually supposed to be a united population?

Nope.


Granted, that indeed is a very minor part of the voting population in the 2013 elections (thank heavens they're that far away :P) but evil breed bears more evil breed, and the exterminators don't seem to be working...call the Ghostbusters...eliminate the ghosts of the past, start a-fresh, more open-mindedness, and knock some sense in them brains...when you comment, be informed, be tolerant and remember that just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't mean they are the enemy. Because there's only one enemy out there and that's close-mindedness.


End rant...

This is what you shouldn't do to your keyboard, although I've seen higher rankings


71 words

Learn Touch Typing

Bored out of my brains, even though I have stuff to do...so yeah you can call it procrastination...but then again, you knew that was synonymous to my name ne? ;)

How to make a Cherise

Ingredients: 3 parts intelligence 1 part courage 3 parts

Method: Blend at a low speed for 30 seconds. Add caring to taste! Do not overindulge!

Well well well, if it hasn't been ages indeed indeedo...well I'm back to the iconing wordly, partly at least. Some of these have been waiting to be put in this post for ages poor iconses but here they are:

[9] HP Movies
[4] HP Actors
[1] House
[2] Garfield
[4] Little Mermaid


As always I simply ask you to follow these minor general rules:

- Comment and Credit if you're taking any, although other comments and concrit are always welcome! :D
- DO NOT HOTLINK!
- Textless Icons are NOT bases. Please don't edit any of my icons. Me no likes.
- If you have any question whatsoever regarding my icons, please, do not hesitate to ask. Fire as many as you wish! I'll try and hit. ;)

In case you guys ever feel like dropping by...



I loved the video (hah we have our bad side too but I'll be a wee bit patriotic and I'll say yes we do have some good stuff to offer) and the song is le awesome! :D

I'm sick, at home and bored...can ya blame me? :P I usually don't do meme's but some actually ain't bad. That's supposed to be a nudge for you to fill it in for me by the way. ;)

Snagged this from ilovesherm.

So in the attempt to detach myself from the boredom of studying (although Wilfred Owen ain't that bad) I came upon this article and I'm like :O. Like seriously this kid is taking away our limelight... :P

So it indeed has been a while since I've written any rants. And yes I'm afraid this one will yet again involve religion. Why? I know not...maybe because of the fact that I've started believing I'm nearing agnosticism. Also because I noticed something which caught my attention yesterday.