Dear Mak

It's mother's day and unlike every other year you might think this year's celebration sucks because instead of our customary ice-cream cake from BR, I only bought you a tub of Wall's Vanilla ice-cream. Instead of me making breakfast for you, I woke up late and you had to make them for me. Instead of a special, well thought of, nicely wrapped present presented with my usual gravitas and aplomb, I told you the 3kg of mangos I bought at the pasar malam yesterday and dumped on your lap in their shiny plastic bag is my mother's gift to you this year.

And yet, you're okay with it.

And yet, you laughed through the day and reminded me to wish my aunties happy mother's day too.

And yet, you were the one who said it's alright for me to give you this crappy mother's day celebration and you understand the situation (that being me deprived of 3 months salary)

So Happy Mother's Day, Mak. I love you more than you know and I wish you know that I think you're cooler than any other moms I know. I'm sorry I'm such a deplorable daughter but I hope you know that I'm trying to be better for you. And I hope you enjoy the surprise bouquets of 1 dozen roses, 1 dozen lilies and 1 dozen carnations I arranged to have sent to your school tomorrow.

Have a good one and may Allah bless you.

Kissis and Hugsus,

Ila
-yor adorable dotter-

TIME's 100 Most Influential

Have you heard?

Our very own Anwar Ibrahim made the Time's 100 World's Most Influential People list. And he's ranked ninth! How about that. Not too shabby, eh? While being Malaysian and the first to admit his sheer influence over our country's recent political structure renovation *cough*PAS*cough*PKR*cough*; it's strangely more exhilarating to know that the rest of the world thinks the same. Deservedly so. He was the Leonidas, showing the ever haughty `B&N (Xerxes) that they're not invisible, they are not infallible, they are accountable, they too can bleed. The Immortals, we put their name to the test.. (300 binge last night, sorry). Finding out he made the list (have I said he's ranked number 9?!), I felt the real pride of national achievement. Which I didn't feel even when we sent our first space tourist* for a vacation to space. Or any of the numerous previous, highly celebrated, so-called pencapaian negara (read: useless expeditions to the North/South Pole, swimming the Eng-fricking-lish Channel, Everest, etc etc). Yet, finding out Anwar Ibrahim made number 9 on this list, I felt real national pride. Last I felt this way was when the Malaysia team won Amazing Race Asia I. Heh.
And he ranked 9th, you know. Way ahead Oprah (22). After Barrack, Hilary and The Dalai Lama(okay, I'll give). After George Dubya too (well, idiots needs influential leaders too, I guess). Ninth! Even omnipotent Brad and Angelina is way back on number 21 (it is the Time's List).

For the rest of your ignoramus, here's some links on the Number 9 on Time's List the World Most Influential People. Anwar Ibrahim on Wiki and the Time's Article.

* for the last 2 days the news have been showing places in Malaysia namely Pahang and Sepang that are without the basic amenities of electricity and running water. They don't have electricity and clean tap water (yeah, sounds ridiculous the second time around too). Let's send some other useless schmuck to space, why don't we. Spend another million or so on that.

Happy Earth Day!

It's Earth Day, and being the tree hugger that I am, I am proud to say that I played my part and chipped in some extra help to conserve the environment today. Today, I went online shopping. Hurrah. How could that remotely helped anyone, you asked? Well, I online. shopped. ..I see I probably need to draw this out for you, eh?
You see, when I spend too much money online instead of the normal physical transaction, I use less paper. Less paper for printing money on since I only pay electronically and less paper for the non existent receipt also less paper for the paperbag I don't use. (Yes, they'll still have to use paper to wrap the stuff they'll post to me later but I did say I'm helping the environment today, didn't I? And they promised to used recycled paper. Earth still wins) Less paper, less trees cut down, greener earth, happy earth. Ta dah.
You're welcome, earth.

But seriously though, little things you could do to help around;

• refuse plastic/paper bags when purchasing things. If it's small enough to carry or to put in your handbag, you don't need the bags anyway right?
• try to practice using shopping bags (the reusable cloth/canvas/sturdy plastic ones)when buying groceries. I have heaps. I could give you one if you want. Avoid using the thin bags that you can only use once. Do you have any idea how long it takes to degrade that stuff. Bring your own bag to the market. Make sure you have some old newspapers to wrap the wet, gooey, icky stuff.
  
• print both sides of paper (sounds easy but harder to put into practice)
• register for online accounts for credit cards, banks, etc. This means less paper are used to print for statements/bills every months.
• care more about your purchase. Do not support companies/product that aren't environment friendly or in non degradable packaging.
• just fucking recycle. I think the ozone hole is a good size now for you to start, no?
• reuse, don't refuse. Donate things before chucking them out. Waste management is a serious problem.

Happy Earth Day, Y'All!

Missed out on some hilarious Rudy and JJ Earth Day Special show this morning. Bummer. Hope they'll re-air.