Tudung-wearing women

Whenever I watch TV or movies, the tudung-wearing women are often portrayed as being goody two shoes, ladylike, sweet, demure, pious, and the list goes on.

Or if not, in the Malay Dramas, the tudung wearing women are also depicted as  those defenseless creatures who ended up being oppressed and abused by their husbands, then doing nothing but crying and lamenting their fates.

More often, these tudung-wearing women would be the ones who will talk about Islam, the ones who give advice to the other so-called not-so-pious women who do not wear tudung. 

It kinda gives the same stigma, the stereotype of women wearing tudung. They did nothing in the dramas/movies but to preach about religion, and of course, to display good moral conducts, being role models among their peers and colleagues.

Of course, those are the attributes that tudung-wearing women should have. But come on la, is that all? No other  images given to them?

I have yet to see a drama or a movie about a tudung-wearing woman:

1. Who won karate competition, competing with a woman from different religion, to show that Muslim women too, could enter and win martial art competition, completely blowing off the common misconception non Muslims have about tudung-wearing Muslim women.

2. Who becomes the advocate of Humans' Rights, and even entered jail for defending women's rights. This happened in real life of course but sadly, haven't been portrayed in dramas or TVs.

3. A strong minded woman who does not talk about religion 24/7 to show that she is pious. Being a Muslim woman doesn't mean that you have to become Perempuan Melayu Terakhir, acting all sweet and soft, up to the point that you're being labelled as LEMBIK.

4. Who entered sports and won! We can do sports as well!

5. Who is a scientist and managed to create a time travel machine using a DeLorean and flux capacitor (okay, this sounds ridiculous).

6. A journalist disguising as a student at school (now why does this sound familiar?)

The list of things that tudung-wearing women could do is endless(almost!). We are not defenseless like Bella Swan in Twilight saga. In fact,  we are independent! Tudung does not restrict us doing stuffs we like as long as it does not contradict the Islamic teachings. Islam is an easy religion. It's the followers who make things so difficult. 

Seriously, the TV producers nowadays need to change this stigma. It's always the same old storyline. Bad woman who doesn't wear tudung, good tudung-wearing woman, the hero who is attracted to the tudung-wearing woman, the bad woman devising strategies to sabotage the tudung-wearing woman. The tudung wearing woman knowing about the bad woman's intentions yet choosing to do nothing but to become patient and leave everything to God. (and cries) Purrr-leaseeee...

They should vary the roles of tudung-wearing women. Barulah best. 

No wonder cerita Melayu sekarang bosan. T__T

Major Mistake

Refer to the previous post.

TODAY IS TUESDAY!!! NOT WEDNESDAY!!!!

Rolling on the floor laughing out loud with a bit of Chewbacca-like ROAR! 

Wordless Wednesday

Star Wars Episode I-VI short reviews

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Ratings: :) :) 

To tell the truth, the middle part is quite boring. I don't like that Anakin kid (Jake Lloyd) as he seems 'mengada-ngada'. Love all the fighting-using-light-sabers scene, especially the climax , which depicts the battle between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul. ESPECIALLY the time when there's only Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Ratings : :) :) :) 

MUCH better than the previous prequel. Each moment makes your heart beats fast and faster! I love the love theme (Across the Stars). I love Natalie Portman, I hate Anakin Skywalker because of his arrogance (he reminds me of someone). I love Obi Wan Kenobi though I hate his hairstyle. I LOOOVVVEEEE C3PO and R2D2 duo. Not a boring moment in this movie, only the times when you got really annoyed with Anakin. 

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Ratings: :) :) :) :) half

The best movie out of those three. This time, I was feeling a bit emotional upon watching the Anakin+Obi Wan scenes. Plus, reminiscing about the old times when Obi Wan was still a Padawan, his role almost insignificant in the first movie (because Qui Gon Jinn was still alive, then evolving into a really vital character in the story, training Anakin since he was 9 till he's 20 something ( I guess), making Obi Wan an older man too. Their relationship is so profound, even empowering Anakin's own love relationship with Padme. 

Anakin falling into the dark side that he would even kill Obi Wan, the closest person he had as a father! 

Obi Wan saying 'You were the chosen one! You were my brother! I loved you!' almost choke me to tears. Then Padme died after giving birth to Luke and Leia Skywalker. Obi Wan giving Luke to Owen Lars (Anakin's stepbrother) and walked away.

It's EPIC I TELL YOU!!!!

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Ratings: :) :) :)

Princess Leia looks old. That was my first impression. Moving on to C3PO and R2D2's adventures where they met Luke Skywalker. Then Obi Wan Kenobi appeared! My favourite Jedi! Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford and Chewbacca added the flavours.I love Chewbacca! I even attempted to roar like him(?) it. 

Not much thing going on. Personally, I think this episode is overrated. Most of the scenes were filmed at space (duh!) But definitely better than Episode I of course. But less light-saber fighting scenes! :((

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Ratings: :) :) :) :)

Claimed as the best Star Wars movie of the original trilogy. Well, I don't think so. After watching CGI Yoda from Episode I-III, Puppet Yoda seems odd. Yoda in this episode looks and behaves like a mad man (not a man, he is of course). I don't really like Yoda's voice in this movie (although he is voiced by Frank Oz in ALL the movies). But definitely better than A New Hope.

Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)

Ratings: :) :) :) :) half

Now, this is the best movie of the original trilogy. Right from the start, every scene gives me a jaw dropping moment. I love Chewbacca (again, LOL) and this is where Luke told Leia that he is in fact, her twin brother. Then there's the EFFIN CUTE EWOKS!!!! They are so cuddly like teddy bears! This episode is a bit emotional because Darth Vader dies after taking off his mask (and throwing off Darth Sidious down to space-well, something like that). The final scene is supposed to be memorable but it turns out funny as HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN is in it, which later makes me realized that I'm watching the edited version of the episode, LOL.

Upper side: Original Lower: Edited 

So, in a conclusion. I really enjoy watching Star Wars. I know it's kind of late already but heyy, better late than never! :P I must admit that the characters of 'How I Met Your Mother' pretty much influenced me into watching Star Wars, hehe.

This..

I've been wanting to get myself a light saber. So last week I went to the Toys R'Us in Singapore (Malaysia also have, but not at my place) and is flummoxed to find that it is EXPENSIVE!!!! Freaking S$ 35+ of which when we converted it to Malaysia ringgit, it's like  RM 80+!!! And that's just an ordinary light saber. As for the Light Saber FX, it costs RM100+!!! My mom would kill me (with her words) if I were to buy it. 

So, I bid goodbye to the light saber. *sob*. Bila kerja nanti baru nak beli.

Geek. 

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

In my own definition, a tiger mother is someone like what my mom used to be, only awfully extreme. HAHA.

This book is some sort of mother-daughters memoir written by Amy Chua, a John M.Duff Professor of Law at Yale University, about how she raised her daughters (who are by the way, Chinese Jewish American-she married a Caucasian) according to the Chinese parenting. There are several rules in Chinese Parenting, some of them are: 

The children are not allowed to:

1) Get any grade less than an A (Even A minuses are not acceptable! I'd be dead by now if Amy's my mom)

2) Play instrument other than piano and violin

3) Not play the piano and violin (it's compulsory!)

4) Not watch TV or play computer games (horror!)

By reading the book, I can relate her to someone who share the same fiery passion and enthusiasm. Who? Becky Bloomwood the Shopaholic. SERIOUSLY!

The children MUST practice Piano and violin EVERYDAY, on vacations and birthdays, after dental surgery, no mercy! The funny thing is that before the whole family went to any places, Amy would phone the hotel and asked for them to reserve her a PIANO! Everyday without fail, the children were required to practice for 3 hours! Or 2 hours at least!

Of course, everything paid off when Sophia (her eldest daughter) won a prestigious competition and got to perform at the Carnegie Hall.

Sophia at Carnegie Hall

If you read the Shopaholic series, or even at least watched the movie and if you read this book, you'd find some striking similarities in their behaviours. It's just that Amy Chua is not a shopaholic. She's more towards the kiasu-type of woman. KIASUHOLIC or Achievement-holic.

Basically, 70% of the book's content is about piano piano piano, violin, violin, violin. Sometimes I couldn't help but to agree with Amy's way of parenting yet somehow, I think she's being too harsh on her children. Anyway, Motherrrrrr knowssss BEST! (sing).

Scary face! Muahahaha

Then there were some rebellions shown by her youngest daughter, Lulu. There was a lot of shouting between mother and daughters, of which I think is highly inappropriate.

Sure, according to Amy (indirectly), her daughters could shout to her, could talk back but their achievements come first!

Well, according to me, achievements are indeed, important of course. But there's no way I'd let my children talked to me that way! I wouldn't blame her children, they were feeling extremely tensed and stressed out. But again, Amy knows best, of course.

Sophia, Amy, Lulu

There are some funny parts in this book. The family bought a Samoyed (a dog) and Amy began to show her achievement-holic side when she actually made some research about the capabilities of a Samoyed and that she decided to impose the strict Chinese parenting (by training, etc) on her dog too! Of which later on she came into a realization that the dog is just a dog. Not a human. I laughed out loud (literally) when I read that part.

This book is kind of a guide book (at least I think so, though Amy denies it) to the Western parents on how to discipline their children. If  you watched the Disney movies, there will be this one part where the teenage children organized a late night party when their parents were not at home. And when the parents found out, guess what's the SEVEREST punishment they'd execute on their children?

"YOU'RE GROUNDED!!!"

Pftttt..

It's no wonder that the children turned up to be like this (okay, not Luan, but the kid at the beginning of this video, LOL)

The Western parents are too soft with their children! They found physical and verbal punishments as highly uncivilized. I'm not saying ALL Western parents. At least, those who are depicted in the movies. Bear in mind that movies usually illustrate the norms of the society, which includes 'grounding your children' if they made mistakes.

Although,

Nowadays; you can witness the transformation of the once strict Malay parents (in the days of our grandparents) into those Western parents. Mat Rempits, rapists, delinquents, all sorts of crimes in Malaysia are mostly committed by the *smack head* MALAYS!

I'm going to say no more about this. Just think. Reflect.

Oh yes, take a look at Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld's blog. http://tigersophia.blogspot.com. 
Thanks to her mother, she's now an undergraduate student of Harvard University. And she's really pretty!!! :D

AND THIS BOOK IS A MUST-READ!

With that, thank you and may peace be upon you!

Images are Googled. 

Across the Stars

...is the love theme song for Star Wars: The Prequels. Eh, Star Wars also got love story eh? Ahem, yeah. Though it is not as profound as Twilight (gag).

I'm gonna practise and play this song! Woohoo! 

Have an awesome vacation, y'all! ;D

Y-O-U

Yes, you. YOU. 

I would really appreciate it if you would investigate the matter deeply before arriving to a self-made conclusion derived from the oh-so-analytical mind of yours.

For if the matter you claimed to be right when it is actually wrong, then it is a fitnah!

You, don't believe every word you read from those political blogs

Political blogs are biased. All of them. But oh yeah, you could read any of it, as long as you have the power of comparing and analyzing, the power that you claimed you have. 

(Political blogs are blogs that directly stated that they are the supporters of this and that party. (often with the respective party's flag as the banner) The respective bloggers of these blogs tend to be irrational, immature people who don't really know how to convey their messages effectively due to their inability to choose the appropriate words and stringing them together into sentences; thus resulted in them using profanities instead)

You. Don't entirely believe the rumours you've heard. Especially it they are passed through the grapevine.

If you do want to try to analyze the political situations in Malaysia. Then I suggest you to at least, be like this guy.

This guy:

-Loves reading all sorts of articles from different sources just for the sake of wanting to know more. Not for the sake of finding points to bash out other people's points.

- Instead of being a person who reads only the title of an article from an opposed party's newspaper and immediately rejected it-though claiming he reads all news from all sources, this guy actually read and analyzed the matters he read from different sources critically.

- He reads books. Not just fictions. GOOD books. I stumbled upon his blog when googling about 'My Name is Red', which is a novel by Orhan Pamuk. Yes, from this, we know that he is a voracious reader.

-He's very matured and rational in arguing over matters and in presenting his ideas. Not at all emotional. 

-You could know more about him  from his blog. http://thechukaiinsider.blogspot.com

I wish I could be as matured,  analytical and observant as him but politics is not really my cup of tea.

THE END.......

Whoa, why so serious? Check out this video! Very entertaining, this video is.Yoda approves!

May peace be upon you!

The 'Beautiful People' List

The time when I truly comprehend the meaning behind the phrase ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’.

“I don’t think she’s pretty,” my roommate, Dieb commented as she watched ‘Mean Girls’; referring to Amanda Seyfried.

“Hey, why not?!” I totally disagree with her. To me, Amanda Seyfried is one of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen.

“Maybe it’s because she’s blonde. That’s what made people think she’s pretty. There’s something about her eyes that makes her look less appealing,”

Her eyes is the feature that makes her pretty! Why do people find her large eyes unattractive? Why did my roommate find her eyes unattractive?

I could tolerate it if we were arguing whether Lindsay Lohan is pretty or not (not really, in my opinion). Or even Oprah Winfrey (people don’t really perceive her as being pretty but rather, attractive).

Yes, that’s it! Pretty and attractiveness, both are almost similar yet different.  A pretty lady might not necessarily be attractive. Another not-so-pretty lady might have the higher degree of attractiveness that emanates  out from within her mediocre looks. But we shall get to that later (Part 2, maybe?)

Now, let’s discuss about the phrase ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’. What’s a beholder?  The seer.

That's what Mr. Rochester said to the plain Jane Eyre, whom, in his opinion, is far more attractive than the snobbish oh-so-beautiful Blanche Ingram. 

Let’s face it, each and every one of us has our own criteria that define whether that person is beautiful or not. If she lacks any of those qualities, or if she doesn’t possess any of it, that’s it, she is not eligible to be labeled as a pretty person. This whole statement is harsh all right, but let’s be honest, shall we? Don’t tell me you don’t have those criteria in your mind.

Bear in mind that everyone’s criteria of ‘to determine whether that person is beautiful or not’ is different.

Most often that the criteria is based on their own interpretation of beauty, or are influenced by the one figure that they feel is pretty. That person could be a world famous actress, their own mother, sister, teacher or friend.

For example, Person A who had always feel that Song Hye Gyo being the person who has all the qualities of ‘being beautiful’ might look at others who possess oriental, Korean/Chinese/Japanese-like looks, albeit the nose is flat or prominent, albeit the teeth is crooked or not, as pretty. And thus, yes, the person who doesn’t realize she is being scrutinized and judged by Person A made it into the ‘Beauty list!’

On the other hand, if Person A sees someone with a bit of Aishwarya Rai-like look; no matter how delicately structured her nose is, no matter how big and attractive her eyes are, no matter how thick her lashes are, would say ‘She’s not that pretty to me!’ .

Quite contrarily, Person B who had always watched a lot of Hindustan dramas would perceive those who has the slightest Aishwarya Rai feature as very pretty and seeing others with Oriental looks as ‘Okay la, not that pretty to me,’.

In short, our judgment on whether that person is pretty or not is clouded by our own definition and interpretation of beauty. Thank God for that. Imagine if the criteria of being beautiful is firmly defined with no changes made, I repeat, absolutely no changes made just like Stoke’s Law of Diffusion. It is getting worse if every person has a firm, unchanging belief towards that ‘Law of Beauty’.

The world would be in chaos and those who do not possess any of those qualities would remain alone and single until their old age, with 20 cats as companions. Everyone would want that person with thick lashes, white skin, above 160 cm of height, dimpled cheeks as their lifetime companion. How on earth is each of us going to find that particular person who meets all (at least, any of) the defined criteria?

Have mercy to those with dark but healthy skin, slanted eyes, chubby figures and flat noses!

That is why, Alhamdulillah, God has made each of us different, made us have our own definition of beauty. 

That’s where you see the skinny man married the plus-sized woman, the Caucasian American found his other soul in the form of an African woman and many others.

So if you feel that you’re not pretty, you’re wrong! God had created each one of us with the best of functions and appearances. We are the best of all creatures. It’s just that different people have different interpretation of beauty. Out of Person A, Person B, Person C, maybe only one of them will find you pretty. We can't please everyone, anyway. Even in terms of looks.

 Bear in mind that your one, true soulmate will find you beautiful, regardless of how chubby your figure is (he might find it cute and huggable! :D), how flat your nose is (he likes it as he feels prominent nose is too urmm…pointy?), and many others (I don’t know la how men’s minds work).Next time, I'm going to talk about inner beauty, which is the true, everlasting beauty. 

Be grateful with the way you are. I know I do, Alhamdulillah.

And remember!  Your Rabb caused to be declared (publicly): ‘If you are grateful, I will add more (favors) unto you; but if you show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed.’”   (Qur’an 14:7)

Yes, if you stop complaining about how you look and be grateful with the way you are now, then Allah will give more blessings to you in terms of  maybe 'less acne on your face', or 'less wrinkles' or even 'radiance that exudes out from your visage although you do not wear SKII, LOL'.

Besides, it's no use of wanting to have Naomi Watt's looks as naturally, we are from different parents and heritages, kan? Be proud of the way you look, for your physical appearance now is some sort of combination from your parents', grandparents', uncles, aunties', ancestors' looks! So you're unique!!! We are all unique! 

As for me, one important criteria that could change people’s looks from Ugly Betty (no, she is really cute to me. How could people says she’s UGLY??) okay, from grumpy Uncle Scrooge to Prince Eric from Little Mermaid (my favourite Disney prince) is….

THE SMILE!!!!

Smile is the cheapest way to improve your looks.

My Ustaz had once said “Orang takde gigi pun, kalau senyum nampak comel je,”

So, no matter how so breathtakingly beautiful people said about that particular woman, if she looks so arrogant, and couldn’t even offer a slight bit of smile to the people she met (and knows)- orang kata, ‘muka sombong’. Then sorry, she’s not in my ‘Beautiful People’ list.

That’s why I tend to smile a lot. To improve my looks. AHAKS…

Madam Jagdish was my Level 6 English Teacher for the 1^st semester 1^styear in CFS. So, after the semester was over, I hardly saw her anymore.

Until…. the 2^nd semester of the 2^nd year in CFS (one and a half year later), where I stumbled upon her in the café.

I greeted her and she was pleasantly surprised to see me and we chatted for quite a while. A few moments later, I asked her to make sure of something;

“Madam, do you still remember me?”

She smiled and said “Of course! I remember your smile,”

Wahhhh. That’s even better! She didn’t remember my name but she remembers my smile!!!

So people, smile a lot okay! (But be careful not to smile too much to the members of the opposite genders as this might create misunderstandings if you know what I mean).

P.S. Amanda Seyfried IS pretty, am I right????

What? She's not pretty to you? Fine, fine. We have different definitions of beauty then. She made it into my 'beautiful people' list though. :P

With that, may peace be upon you! 

I want to grow old gracefully. Amin. :) 

Star Wars Dream

I want to become a Jedi.

I want to have my own light saber.

I should get myself a light saber. Blue! OBI WAN KENOBI! That, and a cream kimono-like garment with a dark brown robe on the outside

To my siblings, I shall ask "Which one of you is worthy enough to become my Padawan?"

I shall force ask any of them to get a RED light saber and a black hooded cloak and to paint their face red with black stripes.

We shall fight till the end. With the Star Wars' theme playing in the background. 

Yes, I shall do just that.

But to become a Jedi, I must be cool; to be really calm in any situation. I get panic easily. Not a trait of jedi.  This is a trial I have to undergo. 

Thank you. May the force be with you. 

T___T

Two papers done, another FIVE to go. I really want to go home quickly!!!!

P.S. Phosphorescence masuk exam. Auxochrome pun. Alhamdulillah.

A cat just peed in my shoe. Hahaha.

Just when I'm about to throw the shoes out. >__<