Light a Million Candles

I have not been posting regularly on this blog for some time now, but that is because I am pretty busy of late. I shall make a proper update later, but for now, I feel compelled to post this. Please visit the website. Thank you.

The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.

But you can.

With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade.

We do not need your money.

We need you to light a candle of support http://www.lightamillioncandles.com.

The more candles we light, the more powerful our voice becomes.

This petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.

They have the power to work together. You have the power to get them to take action.

Please light your candle at lightamillioncandles.com http://www.lightamillioncandles.com or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.

Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children.

Kindly forward this email to your friends, relatives and work colleagues so that they can light a candle too.

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The White Countess

Nobody told me that Ralph Fiennes starred in a movie called The White Countess with Natasha Richardson and the Redgrave sisters and that this movie was shown last year. My dad bought the DVD last week, and I got coerced to watch it last night. It just goes to show that the hole I have burrowed for myself is really deep and that I need to get out.

Anyway... The White Countess was set in Shanghai in the 1930s, just at the eve of World War II. The title refers to the name of the bar set up by Todd Jackson (Ralph Fiennes), an ex-diplomat who lost his family and his sight in a series of tragedies. The title also refers to Sofia Belinskaya (Natasha Richardson), a Russian countess who was displaced by the Russian revolution along with the rest of the aristocracy, and who was forced to work as a taxi dancer (and probably a prostitute) to support her daughter and the rest of her family.

To me, the movie is full of contrasts. A blind man who sees perfection in a woman supposedly tarnished by the work she does. A woman who faces hard reality squarely to keep a family whose members cling stubbornly to memories of wealth and indulgence, which shall never come again into their lives, from starving. A bar that stood by itself, the realization of a dream of all that is balanced and beautiful, amidst chaos.

The White Countess is told simply, understated and yet poignant. The cinematography is marvelous, sometimes whimsical, sometimes sensual, but never harsh even in the portrayal of hardship. It is a beautiful movie, and I yearn to watch it again.

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Shut Up, Raul Gonzales

I have read this article before, but it is only now that it sinked in: Gonzales: UP breeds destabilizers, naked runners.

You know, Secretary Gonzales, our mothers often teach us that if we do not have anything good to say about someone, it is much, much better to just shut up. You've only just made yourself look stupid, IMHO.

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Horizontal Growth

Ten years ago, I had a 24-inch waistline and 35-inch hips. I could wear skinny jeans without any trouble. But since I was such a nerd at 18, I never gave it a single thought.

You only miss the things you take for granted once they are gone. I would give anything to have a 24-inch waistline again.

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One Million Love Messages

I got a comment from 1 Million Love Messages last month, but only got to visit the site today. Almost unforgiveable, but hey, I've been very, very busy these past couple of weeks or so.

The idea is cool, nonetheless, and hey -- we do need a lot of love in the world right now.

Fill the world with love.

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