End of MSN Chat

Chat rooms are the digital equivalent of your local mall’s food court – sometimes sketchy, always interesting and perpetually sticky with teenage drama. Recently, Microsoft has decided to play the role of overprotective parent and shut down MSN chat rooms worldwide. Their reason? Child safety. Though if we’re being honest, it feels a bit like trying to childproof the ocean by removing one beach.

Shutting down MSN chat rooms to protect kids is about as effective as my attempt to diet by removing just the sprinkles from my ice cream sundae. The internet is vast, wild and remarkably resourceful. Close one chat room and users will simply migrate to countless other platforms – from other chat services to bulletin boards that make MSN look like amateur hour.

Microsoft, being the tech giant it is, has a real opportunity here. Instead of the digital equivalent of taking their ball and going home, they could have turned MSN into the cool, responsible uncle of the internet – teaching kids about online safety while keeping the channels open. You know, actually solving the problem rather than just sweeping it under the virtual rug.

But let’s be real. There’s probably a spreadsheet somewhere showing how much money they’ll save by shutting this down. And while I understand this cost-cutting measure, this feels like choosing convenience over responsibility.

The real solution isn’t about closing doors; it’s about teaching our kids how to navigate them safely.

Apple’s New 15″ Aluminum PowerBook

Apple’s new 15” Aluminum PowerBook takes techno-lust to nearly uncontrollable levels.

The brand-new, stunningly sleek, and irresistibly sexy 15” Aluminum PowerBook from Apple is simply too much to handle! I’ve been using the older 15” Titanium PowerBook for about a year and a half now, and honestly, I have no major complaints—except for a couple of issues:

  1. The LCD screen had 3 to 4 dead pixels (though I did get a perfect replacement after the first display completely failed in the 11th month).
  2. The original 30GB hard drive failed (but I replaced it myself with a 40GB one since it was a standard component).

Aside from these two hardware hiccups, the PowerBook has been an absolute dream to use. Before Apple’s latest announcement, I had been anticipating something even bigger—perhaps a G5 notebook? But hey, something is better than nothing, right?

Our Prime Minister, an anti-semite?

There has been significant controversy, particularly in Malaysia and Israel, over recent statements made by our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, during the OIC meeting. The statement that drew the most ire—especially from Israelis and the broader international community—was his remark that “Jews rule the world.”

Frankly, I’m not sure what to make of it. But if someone were to say that the Chinese rule the world, I’d probably feel quite pleased—and smug. Maybe I’d even go out and test my newfound master-ruler attitude on the so-called peons who supposedly toil for my pleasure.

Or perhaps it wasn’t just that statement that caused the outrage. Maybe it was his assertion that “Jews get people to die for their causes.” Or the claim that “Jews rule the world by proxy.” I mean, the nerve of him—suggesting that a proxy is even necessary in the first place!

But on a more serious note, I think the whole “Jewish conspiracy” narrative has been around for far too long. And let’s be honest—if a conspiracy theory has endured this long, it’s probably because it contains some kernel of truth. Just like the “Who-Killed-JFK” conspiracy or the “U.S. Government-Covered-Up-UFOs” conspiracy.

To my Jewish friends who are offended, my advice: lighten up a little and consider the speech in context.

Mahathir’s address was delivered to an assembly of Islamic leaders, and in my view, it provocatively tackled key issues facing the global Muslim community. As is his usual style, he launched into a paternalistic tough-love lecture, criticizing certain Muslim behaviors—suicide bombings, tribal infighting, the rejection of technology and knowledge, and so on. Those familiar with his speeches at UMNO assemblies wouldn’t have found anything surprising. However, for some of the international delegates seated in the gleaming new convention center in Putrajaya, his words might have been jarring. The whole thing was a bit like watching Dr. Phil tear into Oprah’s guests—harsh, but arguably well-intentioned.

When viewed in context, the speech was actually berating Muslims for not following the example of Jewish success. Had a non-Muslim made the same argument, there would likely have been an uproar—perhaps even death threats—from extremist and fanatical groups. Ideally, though, Mahathir’s speech will prompt some leaders to rethink the long-standing Muslim-Jewish-Western conflicts and consider a new approach—one that seeks victory through peaceful means rather than confrontation.

From my perspective, peaceful protest is the way forward. History offers powerful lessons—particularly from India, a nation that has given the world two of its most renowned pacifists: Buddha and Gandhi. Not that I’m suggesting people convert to Buddhism—it’s not even strictly a religion—but they could certainly adopt the principle of using peace to overcome adversity. Now, if only India could apply the same philosophy to its relationship with Pakistan… but that, dear readers, is a discussion for another blog.

*Note: The quotes from Mahathir’s speech are not verbatim. They are recalled from memory, as the author did not have internet access while writing this blog.

The alpha

This is my very first entry in this weblog, created using iBlog—a fantastic product generously provided for free with every .Mac subscription!

I believe blogging is a meaningful way to preserve one’s thoughts and personality beyond the inevitable expiration of the physical self. The ancient Egyptians believed that mummifying a pharaoh ensured eternal life after death. In a way, they were right. The pyramids didn’t just preserve mummified remains; they safeguarded writings, jewelry, stories, and documents from the pharaoh’s life. By studying these artifacts, we experience the essence of the pharaoh through the richness of the written word.

My goal here is to capture my thoughts as much as possible. What prompts an entry? Any of the following reasons:

  1. I am bored.
  2. I am ecstatic.
  3. I am sad.
  4. I am happy.
  5. I have nothing to share.
  6. I have plenty to share.

Each pair is a contradiction—much like myself. Before this blog, I would store my writings privately on my PowerBook. Now, I’m putting them out into the world for others to read.