for the troubled soul
what are the chains that bind us,
that make us stay the course
when all 'round us
resolves crumble
like the ash column of a cigar
when tears abound
like hot beads of glass
why do we suffer in silence
in the dark corners of our minds?
the sun, he sets
bringing forth another night
heralding the arrival of the angel of death
bringing peace and solace
to a troubled soul
that make us stay the course
when all 'round us
resolves crumble
like the ash column of a cigar
when tears abound
like hot beads of glass
why do we suffer in silence
in the dark corners of our minds?
the sun, he sets
bringing forth another night
heralding the arrival of the angel of death
bringing peace and solace
to a troubled soul
talk about a stoned black mofo..
whilst crawling through the web today, came across this article about a guy called fela kuti. here is an interesting excerpt.
"The fumes in the room were getting thick. I was trying not to look at his wives, nor seem that I was deliberately not looking at them. Also in 1978, to mark the anniversary of the pillage of Kalakuta, he married 27 of his dancers simultaneously. Fela claimed this was a traditional Yoruba ceremony, although some priests disputed this, pointing out that no bride prices were paid, and there is a suggestion that some sort of immigration scam was also involved. It was certainly a fabulous publicity stunt, although as DJ Rita Ray, who now runs a Fela-inspired club called Shrine in London, points out, 'Dancers weren't held in high esteem, so his argument was that he was making them respectable. He was wild, but very progressive.'
In our meeting, I asked him about the importance of sex. 'Sex is one of the most important things in life, man. It's Christianity and Islam that have made sex immoral. People should be proud to say, "I had a fantastic fuck last night." When a minister in Britain has an affair he loses his job. If a minister in Africa fucks 400 women no one will even notice him, you know.'
In songs such as 'Lady' and 'Mattress' the impression he gave was that women were inferior. 'I'm not saying that women should not be political leaders,' he said. 'Women can do what they want - but once she's married in Africa she can't do anything against her husband's will. If a woman doesn't like a man she should find another - that's why polygamy is so fantastic ... An African man should not do anything called housework or cooking ...' But, Fela, cooking can be fun, I persisted. 'I can cook, I had to as a student in London. But if I have a party and do cooking, people call me a 'Less Man'. I don't see why I should go against the cultural values of my people.'
So what is the gay scene like in Lagos? 'I've seen a few boys behave like sissies, you know. I found they had gone to England and been corrupted. If you are gay in Africa no one must know about it - they will stone you to death, man.'
Fela claimed Aids was a 'white man's disease', but he caught the virus and died from complications on 2 August, 1997, at the age of 58. At the time we met, 12 of his 27 wives remained - he told me he employed a rota system to keep them satisfied - but following a 27-month jail sentence that began later that year (on a trumped up charge of currency smuggling) he divorced them all. 'Marriage brings jealousy and selfishnessness,' he was quoted as saying. His manager, Rikki Stein, maintains 'sex was where his inspiration came from, and considering the number of great albums he made ... In the Eighties, on tour, I witnessed fur-wrapped beauties queuing up for their turn ...'
Fela's last song had been called 'C.S.A.S (Condom Scallywag and Scatter )', which described the use of condoms as 'un-African'. To the end, Fela refused to be tested to determine the cause of his weight loss and skin lesions. After much discussion among the family after his death, his brother, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, publicly disclosed the cause, paradoxically enabling, as one commentator put it, 'Aids awareness in Nigeria to leave the dark ages'. In that sense, Fela's death helped save a lot of lives, although it's impossible to know how many women he himself put in mortal danger by his wilful denial of his disease. Stein says 'one or two women in Fela's entourage became ill, though I don't know whether it had anything to do with Fela. All the rest are still going strong, as I understand it. They say it was Aids. I say that he died of one beating too many. He was a giant of a man, but a man nevertheless.' It might otherwise be observed that it was a wilful contrariness - the same impulse that always animated Fela - that ultimately killed him. "
"The fumes in the room were getting thick. I was trying not to look at his wives, nor seem that I was deliberately not looking at them. Also in 1978, to mark the anniversary of the pillage of Kalakuta, he married 27 of his dancers simultaneously. Fela claimed this was a traditional Yoruba ceremony, although some priests disputed this, pointing out that no bride prices were paid, and there is a suggestion that some sort of immigration scam was also involved. It was certainly a fabulous publicity stunt, although as DJ Rita Ray, who now runs a Fela-inspired club called Shrine in London, points out, 'Dancers weren't held in high esteem, so his argument was that he was making them respectable. He was wild, but very progressive.'
In our meeting, I asked him about the importance of sex. 'Sex is one of the most important things in life, man. It's Christianity and Islam that have made sex immoral. People should be proud to say, "I had a fantastic fuck last night." When a minister in Britain has an affair he loses his job. If a minister in Africa fucks 400 women no one will even notice him, you know.'
In songs such as 'Lady' and 'Mattress' the impression he gave was that women were inferior. 'I'm not saying that women should not be political leaders,' he said. 'Women can do what they want - but once she's married in Africa she can't do anything against her husband's will. If a woman doesn't like a man she should find another - that's why polygamy is so fantastic ... An African man should not do anything called housework or cooking ...' But, Fela, cooking can be fun, I persisted. 'I can cook, I had to as a student in London. But if I have a party and do cooking, people call me a 'Less Man'. I don't see why I should go against the cultural values of my people.'
So what is the gay scene like in Lagos? 'I've seen a few boys behave like sissies, you know. I found they had gone to England and been corrupted. If you are gay in Africa no one must know about it - they will stone you to death, man.'
Fela claimed Aids was a 'white man's disease', but he caught the virus and died from complications on 2 August, 1997, at the age of 58. At the time we met, 12 of his 27 wives remained - he told me he employed a rota system to keep them satisfied - but following a 27-month jail sentence that began later that year (on a trumped up charge of currency smuggling) he divorced them all. 'Marriage brings jealousy and selfishnessness,' he was quoted as saying. His manager, Rikki Stein, maintains 'sex was where his inspiration came from, and considering the number of great albums he made ... In the Eighties, on tour, I witnessed fur-wrapped beauties queuing up for their turn ...'
Fela's last song had been called 'C.S.A.S (Condom Scallywag and Scatter )', which described the use of condoms as 'un-African'. To the end, Fela refused to be tested to determine the cause of his weight loss and skin lesions. After much discussion among the family after his death, his brother, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, publicly disclosed the cause, paradoxically enabling, as one commentator put it, 'Aids awareness in Nigeria to leave the dark ages'. In that sense, Fela's death helped save a lot of lives, although it's impossible to know how many women he himself put in mortal danger by his wilful denial of his disease. Stein says 'one or two women in Fela's entourage became ill, though I don't know whether it had anything to do with Fela. All the rest are still going strong, as I understand it. They say it was Aids. I say that he died of one beating too many. He was a giant of a man, but a man nevertheless.' It might otherwise be observed that it was a wilful contrariness - the same impulse that always animated Fela - that ultimately killed him. "
things to do
things to be done, and when they are to be done...
- country report on uk for industrial relations - by midnight today (hmm... better get started on that ASAP)
- world politics essay on power with focus on the "power" taiwan has over china - by wed morning, 1st sep (not to self: do NOT leave till tue night)
- wrap up mid east politics tute this coming week - by sun, 5th sep
- do all required readings for mid east politics test - by wed, 15th sep
- comparative industrial relations essay on work and the family - by wed, 22nd sep
senses of love
the lovebirds stroll hand in hand down by the river
their tender caresses remind you of the one you once loved
they gaze into each other's eyes, trying to reach into the depths of their souls
a whiff of her perfume brings you back to the days long passed
the sound of their laughter rings in your ears as the sound of your lover's once did
they kiss... tasting each other... like you once did...
their tender caresses remind you of the one you once loved
they gaze into each other's eyes, trying to reach into the depths of their souls
a whiff of her perfume brings you back to the days long passed
the sound of their laughter rings in your ears as the sound of your lover's once did
they kiss... tasting each other... like you once did...
it's a dog's life..
if there was such a thing as dog heaven on earth, australia would be it. when people use the phrase "it's a dog's life" it's supposed to mean a shitty existence. not so for our canine friends over here. they get treated like princelings. i know a person who grills filet mignon for their pooch. sheesh!!! i know another person whose "brother" must have his room airconditioned and his mattress nicely fluffed up and just before going to bed, he needs the fan directed at him.. bah!!
anyways, here is a day in the life of an aussie dog...
i woke up today and saw my Leader doing her exercise. so i decided to exercise too. i rolled over and stretched and tried chasing my tail. why can't i ever catch it?? then we went hunting. we went in the magic machine that carries everything. i love sticking my head out of it. the feeling of the wind blowing through my beautiful blond hair and over my tongue is is like WOW!! when we got to the hunting ground, i guarded the magic machine that carries everything whilst Leader went hunting. i dozed a while. by the time i finished my nap, Leader had returned with a good haul today. i smelled different types of meat. wow!! Leader caught a lot of animals today. we went back home where i chased away all the butterflies and flies so that they wouldn't disturb Leader. i don't know what Leader does during this time, but i smelled lotsa good stuff. Leader threw me a BIG bone with bits of juicy meat on it. YUMMY!!! after chewing on it a bit, i decide to keep it for later.... i hid it ounder the flower patch because it looked easy to remember. anyways after that tiring morning i needed an afternoon siesta... when i woke up, the Leader's pups were back. i watched them whilst Leader did IMPORTANT BUSINESS. when Leader returned, i got my lovely bloody piece of meat.. AHH!!! the taste of blood. nothing like that to make me feel like the bitch i am. when the sun went down, we watched the magic box in which you can see people moving and u can hear them, but the funny thing is, you can't smell them. i find that boring so i decided to retire for the night. Leader made my bed by the fireplace, and once i got into it, she covered me with a nice furry cover. reminded me of the days when i was young and use to nuzzle against mama's belly. i think i shall sleep now. good night...
anyways, here is a day in the life of an aussie dog...
i woke up today and saw my Leader doing her exercise. so i decided to exercise too. i rolled over and stretched and tried chasing my tail. why can't i ever catch it?? then we went hunting. we went in the magic machine that carries everything. i love sticking my head out of it. the feeling of the wind blowing through my beautiful blond hair and over my tongue is is like WOW!! when we got to the hunting ground, i guarded the magic machine that carries everything whilst Leader went hunting. i dozed a while. by the time i finished my nap, Leader had returned with a good haul today. i smelled different types of meat. wow!! Leader caught a lot of animals today. we went back home where i chased away all the butterflies and flies so that they wouldn't disturb Leader. i don't know what Leader does during this time, but i smelled lotsa good stuff. Leader threw me a BIG bone with bits of juicy meat on it. YUMMY!!! after chewing on it a bit, i decide to keep it for later.... i hid it ounder the flower patch because it looked easy to remember. anyways after that tiring morning i needed an afternoon siesta... when i woke up, the Leader's pups were back. i watched them whilst Leader did IMPORTANT BUSINESS. when Leader returned, i got my lovely bloody piece of meat.. AHH!!! the taste of blood. nothing like that to make me feel like the bitch i am. when the sun went down, we watched the magic box in which you can see people moving and u can hear them, but the funny thing is, you can't smell them. i find that boring so i decided to retire for the night. Leader made my bed by the fireplace, and once i got into it, she covered me with a nice furry cover. reminded me of the days when i was young and use to nuzzle against mama's belly. i think i shall sleep now. good night...
and maybe...you're gonna be the one that saves me...
i'm feeling much like the song previously posted.
sometimes, you need to plummit into the abyss in order to find that one TRUTH which will save you. that ONE thing that will make the difference between life and death, when it seems like you're all alone with nary a hope in sight.
we all encounter rough patches during the course of our lives. feel like we can either get friggin bogged down by them, or use them as learning experiences... i know... it's easy to talk about seeing bad patches as learning experiences but hard when you're actually going through them.
on a bright note, i got some nice veg food today. visited family friends, who knowing that i'm a struggling student with minimal cooking facilities, invite me over on a regular basis to have dinner with them. i don't know why people knock veg food. frankly, if i got good veg food everyday, i would be veg full time. it's especially easy being veg back home in sg where i've got amma and naina cooking for me. eating their food, i don't miss meat at all. *BURP*
ok... now i shall go and lie like my namesake and await my wake up call at 2.30 am in tirupati, which translates to my actual waking time over here at 7 :)
sometimes, you need to plummit into the abyss in order to find that one TRUTH which will save you. that ONE thing that will make the difference between life and death, when it seems like you're all alone with nary a hope in sight.
we all encounter rough patches during the course of our lives. feel like we can either get friggin bogged down by them, or use them as learning experiences... i know... it's easy to talk about seeing bad patches as learning experiences but hard when you're actually going through them.
on a bright note, i got some nice veg food today. visited family friends, who knowing that i'm a struggling student with minimal cooking facilities, invite me over on a regular basis to have dinner with them. i don't know why people knock veg food. frankly, if i got good veg food everyday, i would be veg full time. it's especially easy being veg back home in sg where i've got amma and naina cooking for me. eating their food, i don't miss meat at all. *BURP*
ok... now i shall go and lie like my namesake and await my wake up call at 2.30 am in tirupati, which translates to my actual waking time over here at 7 :)
Brand New Day
How many of you people out there
Been hurt in some kind of love affair?
And how many times did you swear
That you’d never love again?
How many lonely, sleepless nights?
How many lies, how many fights?
And why would you want to
Put yourself through all of that again?
Love is pain I hear you say
Love is a cruel and bitter way of
Paying you back for all the faith you ever had in your brain
How could it be that what you need the most
Can leave you feeling just like a ghost?
You never want to feel so sad and lost again
One day you could be looking
Through an old book in rainy weather
You see a picture of her smiling at you
When you were still together
You could be walking down the street
And who should you chance to meet?
But that same old smile you’ve been thinking of all day?
Why don't we turn the clock to zero honey?
I’ll sell the stock we’ll spend all the money
We're starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock all the way back
I wonder if she’ll take me back
I’m thinking in a brand new way
Turn the clock to zero sister
You’ll never know how much I missed her
Starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero boss
The rivers wide we’ll swim across
We're starting up a brand new day
It could happen to you
Just like it happened to me
There is simply no immunity
There's no guarantee
I say love is such a force if you find yourself in it
You need some time for reflection
You say, baby wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Turn the clock to zero honey
I’ll sell the stock we’ll spend all the money
We're starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero Mac
I'm begging her to take me back
I’m thinking in a brand new way
Turn the clock to zero boss
The rivers wide we'll swim across
Starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero buddy
Don’t wanna be no fuddy duddy
We're Starting up a brand new day
I’m the rhythm in your tune
I’m the sun and you’re the moon
I’m the bat and you’re the cave
You’re the beach and I’m the wave
I’m the plough and you're the land
You’re the glove and I’m the hand
I’m the train and you’re the station
I’m the flagpole to your nation
I'm the present to your future
You're the wound and I'm the suture
You're the magnet to my pole
I'm the devil in your soul
You're the pupil I'm the teacher
You're the church and I'm the preacher
You're the flower I'm the rain
You're the tunnel I'm the train
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted, every boy and every girl
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
We're starting up a brand new day
You're the crop to my rotation
You're the sum of my equation
I'm the answer to your question
If you follow my suggestion
We could turn this ship around
And go up instead of down
You're the pan and I'm the handle
You're the flame and I'm the candle
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted, every boy and every girl
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
Starting up a brand new day
- Sting
Been hurt in some kind of love affair?
And how many times did you swear
That you’d never love again?
How many lonely, sleepless nights?
How many lies, how many fights?
And why would you want to
Put yourself through all of that again?
Love is pain I hear you say
Love is a cruel and bitter way of
Paying you back for all the faith you ever had in your brain
How could it be that what you need the most
Can leave you feeling just like a ghost?
You never want to feel so sad and lost again
One day you could be looking
Through an old book in rainy weather
You see a picture of her smiling at you
When you were still together
You could be walking down the street
And who should you chance to meet?
But that same old smile you’ve been thinking of all day?
Why don't we turn the clock to zero honey?
I’ll sell the stock we’ll spend all the money
We're starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock all the way back
I wonder if she’ll take me back
I’m thinking in a brand new way
Turn the clock to zero sister
You’ll never know how much I missed her
Starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero boss
The rivers wide we’ll swim across
We're starting up a brand new day
It could happen to you
Just like it happened to me
There is simply no immunity
There's no guarantee
I say love is such a force if you find yourself in it
You need some time for reflection
You say, baby wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Turn the clock to zero honey
I’ll sell the stock we’ll spend all the money
We're starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero Mac
I'm begging her to take me back
I’m thinking in a brand new way
Turn the clock to zero boss
The rivers wide we'll swim across
Starting up a brand new day
Turn the clock to zero buddy
Don’t wanna be no fuddy duddy
We're Starting up a brand new day
I’m the rhythm in your tune
I’m the sun and you’re the moon
I’m the bat and you’re the cave
You’re the beach and I’m the wave
I’m the plough and you're the land
You’re the glove and I’m the hand
I’m the train and you’re the station
I’m the flagpole to your nation
I'm the present to your future
You're the wound and I'm the suture
You're the magnet to my pole
I'm the devil in your soul
You're the pupil I'm the teacher
You're the church and I'm the preacher
You're the flower I'm the rain
You're the tunnel I'm the train
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted, every boy and every girl
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
We're starting up a brand new day
You're the crop to my rotation
You're the sum of my equation
I'm the answer to your question
If you follow my suggestion
We could turn this ship around
And go up instead of down
You're the pan and I'm the handle
You're the flame and I'm the candle
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted, every boy and every girl
Stand up, all you lovers in the world
Starting up a brand new day
- Sting
that's cojones
found this article in sports illustrated to be quite interesting. i guess if bush wants to use the accomplishments of iraqi soccer team for his campaign, he'd better be prepared for the shit to hit the fan. hmmm... wonder what bush would have to say about the iraqi soccer team's performance if they'd done as well without america going in....
mother
you were there, from the moment i was born
you were there, when i took my first step (which was preceded by many falls)
you were there, to hold my hand when i stepped into class on the first day of school (i wonder who was more scared then... you or me?)
you were there, when i was ridiculed for being different (kids in primary school are so ignorant and cruel)
you were there, to embark upon that quest for THE cure
you were there, to be my friend when no one would
you were there, to show me what it means to be a good person
you were there, to teach me that hate would sooner kill me than the one i hated
you were there, to wipe away my tears and give me many a hug when i felt like there was no love left in the world
you were there, never asking for more than i am capable of
you were there, to spank me when i did wrong (did your heart hurt more than my palm?)
you were there, to show me what it means to be in a relationship that both gives and takes
you were there, to teach me that love hurts
you are there, always giving me advice (whether requested or unrequested)
you are there, questioning my motives when you felt that i wasn't thinking clearly
you are there, to impart your perceptive insights into the souls and nature of people
you are there, to love and be loved...
you were there, when i took my first step (which was preceded by many falls)
you were there, to hold my hand when i stepped into class on the first day of school (i wonder who was more scared then... you or me?)
you were there, when i was ridiculed for being different (kids in primary school are so ignorant and cruel)
you were there, to embark upon that quest for THE cure
you were there, to be my friend when no one would
you were there, to show me what it means to be a good person
you were there, to teach me that hate would sooner kill me than the one i hated
you were there, to wipe away my tears and give me many a hug when i felt like there was no love left in the world
you were there, never asking for more than i am capable of
you were there, to spank me when i did wrong (did your heart hurt more than my palm?)
you were there, to show me what it means to be in a relationship that both gives and takes
you were there, to teach me that love hurts
you are there, always giving me advice (whether requested or unrequested)
you are there, questioning my motives when you felt that i wasn't thinking clearly
you are there, to impart your perceptive insights into the souls and nature of people
you are there, to love and be loved...
Hurt
I hurt myself today
to see if i still feel.
I focus on the pain,
the only thing thats real.
The needle tears a hole;
the old familiar sting,
try to kill it all away,
but I remember everything.
what have I become,
my sweetest friend?
Everyone i know,
goes away in the end,
and you could have it all;
my empire of dirt,
I will let you down,
I will make you hurt.
I wear this crown of thorns
upon my liars chair;
full of broken thoughts,
I cannot repair.
Beneath the stains of time,
the feelings dissapear.
You are someone else,
I am still right here.
What have I become,
my sweetest friend?
Everyone I know,
goes away in the end,
and you could have it all;
my empire of dirt.
I will let you down,
I will make you hurt.
If I could start again,
a million miles away,
I will keep myself,
I would find a way...
- Johnny Cash
to see if i still feel.
I focus on the pain,
the only thing thats real.
The needle tears a hole;
the old familiar sting,
try to kill it all away,
but I remember everything.
what have I become,
my sweetest friend?
Everyone i know,
goes away in the end,
and you could have it all;
my empire of dirt,
I will let you down,
I will make you hurt.
I wear this crown of thorns
upon my liars chair;
full of broken thoughts,
I cannot repair.
Beneath the stains of time,
the feelings dissapear.
You are someone else,
I am still right here.
What have I become,
my sweetest friend?
Everyone I know,
goes away in the end,
and you could have it all;
my empire of dirt.
I will let you down,
I will make you hurt.
If I could start again,
a million miles away,
I will keep myself,
I would find a way...
- Johnny Cash
my voice
to be seen and not be heard
to hear and not speak
to be touched and not whimper
to taste and not scream
to smell and not howl
to hear and not speak
to be touched and not whimper
to taste and not scream
to smell and not howl
