New blog

Please visit new blog.

How did they get my number?

Sent an email to Straits Times forum but they decided not to publish my letter so here it is. Leticia has to be heard!!

Within an hour today, I received two unsolicited phone calls. The
first was from an AIA agent who wanted to offer their "new exciting
promotions to young working adults" like myself. The second caller was
a volunteer from NKF, wanting to inform me of some donation program. I
brushed off both callers but gave the AIA agent more of my time to ask
him how he got my number. He said that he got my number from his
database. I told him that I don't remember signing up with AIA for
anything and he said that his database was compiled of names of people
who are not AIA clients. So how exactly did he get my number? His
reply was that he got the database from his admin department but he
has no idea how they got my number.

It was also the second time I got an unsolicited call from NKF. And
honestly, the so-called non-profit organization is starting to get on
my nerves with their fund raising activities. It is one thing to
invite donations with lucky draws, concerts and advertisements. It is
surely another matter altogether to tout for donations over the phone.
Have charities become so desperate for funds that they have to resort
to telemarketing? I am not against charitable organizations and fund
raising for worthy causes. I am, however, very annoyed by the way fund
raising is now being carried out.

Most importantly, I would like to know where did both organizations
get my name and number? How is this mysterious database consolidated?
Doesn't anyone else find it rather uneasy and almost frightening that
our names and contact numbers are swimming around in database limbo,
easily accessible to an unknown number of businesses?

shallow shallow shallow

Excerpt from Straits Times, 9th April 2005

"For many students like Miss Anna Lim, 19, SMU's city campus was a draw because of its closeness to shopping centres, cinemas and theatres."

Do you think God would rather we follow Him blindly with simple faith or question Him with a zest for understanding?

I was having my almost-nightly conversation with Steph on MSN and we steered, yet again, to the topic of religion and that of reconciling our beliefs with that of the Church, among many others. This spurred me to consider the above question, which led me to start smsing people for their views and I must say that I am very delighted with the response, despite the fact that it was past midnight. I even received a call from Tee and Youya flooded my Inbox with 7 straight messages. There was not a single reply which I did not like and could not relate to. And so I'd like to share them with you.. (some slight changes have been made to grammar but content was not edited.)

MJ: well, i think He would want us to follow Him with full faith. be it blindly or through questioning.. I feel like some Miss Universe contestant!!

YY: I dont think He wants us to follow Him blindly cuz when we do believe that He exists and He is in control, it's not blind. Our supposedly 'blind' faith is our complete trust in Him that He's sovereign and He knows what He's doing. He wants us to seek Him with zest, to know His word, to understand Him, but He wants us to know too that there are too many things that we will never understand but it doesn't mean that we don't question Him. We are humans.

We'll always have questions but He wants us to entrust all these questions to Him and know that he is God, not us. Just trust in Him and know that everything He does is good. Our knowledge is finite but His is infinite.

Tee (over the phone, not verbatim): it's about intention.. what is your intention for questioning or following blindly? Are you ignorant because you're unconcerned and apathetic and simply don't care or do you just truly believe? If you question, then do you question with a humble heart with the real intention of learning or do you question with cockiness and negative intent?

Haider: I would strike a balance because Islam encourages moderation. Islam is known as the middle path. So it's not wrong to question as long as it does not overstep the boundaries set by our religion.

Charlene: I don't think God has a preference. As long as we sincerely want to know and feel Him. But then again you can ask God next time.

Joseph: Hmm good question, guess it depends on your definition of questioning. If it is about His existence I think He really wants you to draw more near to Him... and sometimes you will, just have to jump without knowing what's gonna happen. Kind of like when you biked for the first time. :)

Fahmy: To question Him to understand Him better.

Ada: The latter. We learn when we ask questions. But God won't mind a blind follower who believes earnestly in everything He teaches. What's wrong, right? Also, when you start questioning, can you take no for an answer? Some can't and they turn against God. Both ways also better than turning a deaf ear to His teachings.

Audrey: I don't speak for God. If God has led you to Him, He has a plan for you. We can question, but the answers only He'll know. If we follow blindly, there's no heart. He knows everything.

Johan: the Bible did say 'faith like a child'.

temporarily partially deaf

Today marks the fifteenth and final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Last day to collect free money, everyone!!
In the span of three hours, I watched at least five lion dance and two dragon dance performances. . One of the dragons looked very listless.. not very professional. There was once when there were three lion dance performances going on concurrently on the same street. The performances weren't very spectacular but I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching with my mum and sisters. We even got 真字 from one of the lions. Here are some pictures I took with my sister's camera phone..

Brief the time together was
started from a silly crush
through late nights, sculptures, life stories and microfilm
a friendship bloomed
a romantic relationship meant to be doomed

She wishes friendship remains,
and closeness retains.

but. he. refrains.

and nothing's the same.

Another one from Thoreau's Walden

"However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is."