Christ: "King of the World!"

According to James Cameron, director of such classic theological treatises as Terminator, Aliens and especially Terminator 2, Jesus Christ died on the cross at Golgotha. On this, both he and the Pope agree. But instead of rising from the grave three days later, pouring himself a cup of coffee and then wandering the countryside inviting disbelievers to jam their index fingers into his crucifixion wounds, Jesus stayed dead and spent the next two millennia rotting in the grave. And bad news, Christians! James Cameron claims to have DNA evidence to prove it.

From Table of Malcontents

I'm not a big believer in Christ being reborn myself, but.. Titanic director James Cameron? Like, "King of the World", makes him qualified to certify the King of Peace?

The tombs have been around for awhile, but James Cameron has a documentary coming out on the subject, directed by Jewish director Simcha Jacobovici, which may explain the press conference.

Reactions - the theologians think he's misinformed, the archeaolgists think he's press hungry, and the local Jews who live around the area the tomb was found?

They're quite happy.

Local residents told the BBC News website they were pleased with the attention the tomb has drawn.

"It will mean our house prices will go up because Christians will want to live here," one woman said.

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En memoriam

I've always had a reluctant crush on MP Ms Indranee Rajah, ever since her great boobs and fantastic poise caught my attention. I don't know her personally, and I think she's mildly condescending, but I've never had the urge to diss her competence. She's ok, and I think she mostly knows what she's doing.

So the news of her brother's death was - well, I wouldn't say upsetting, since it's not as if I was friendly with either of them - so let's just say that it caught my attention in a "oh shit, that sucks" kind of way.

Of course, the fact that it took place two floors below me was a factor as well.



I heard that Dr Rajah had a heart attack while a student was consulting him in his room. Much as I live for the drama, I'll skip this starring role in ER: Singapore edition.

Poor guy. Heart attacks are just awful - it's out of the blue, and that little chunk of muscle that we never pay attention to as it blip-blops along suddenly goes blip-blop-bzzzzt.

You never get to say goodbye - so other people have to do it for you. I don't know the man, so the notice that was sent out on the mailing list will have to do:

Death Notice - Dr Ananda Rajah

It is with great sadness that I write to say that my friend and
colleague Ananda Rajah died on the afternoon of Tuesday, 9 January
2007, of an apparent heart attack at the age of 54. Ananda is probably
best known for his research on the Karen and on ethnic relations,
particularly relating to Myanmar, but anyone who had the pleasure of
knowing him will also remember his fine sense of humor and the great
pleasure he took from relating to friends, colleagues and students.

Paul Kratoska
Editor, H-SEASIA

He was one of the first generation of NUS academics, back when it was the University of Malaya. He would have remembered a time when the university believed itself an insitution of learning, not the Human Resource centre of Singapore, when they accepted government grants as homage, not as payment.

And now he steps into the past, carrying his memory with him. I think the older professors look at him, and see their own future - the last of a greater generation, marginalised by a government that sees them as inconvenient reminders of another time.

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A rant in the museum

Rant mode: Am I the only person on the planet who actually likes the National Museum? Or am I simply one of the few people who've actually spent more than 20 minutes in it? Seriously, half the criticsms I've read are by people who don't seem to know what was going in there.

I don't think the exhibits were perfect. I think there's area for improvement. I can name one, actually. But some of the criticisms that the NMS has received simply aren't justified. And for that matter, I've seen perfectly blah exhibits in some of the "world class museums".

I'm quite tense this today, so I'm definitely overreacting. But I can't help feeling that the NMS is going to have to face the problem of having to be all things to everyone.

Screw them. Heh. I need to put my head down and get some perspective. I suppose if people perceive it to be a problem, then there is a problem, whether I think it's there or not.

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Malaysian "Communists" | honesty

ABRAHAM'S "THE FINEST HOUR" GIVES MORE INSIGHT ABOUT MALAYSIAN HISTORY
322 words
4 November 2006Bernama Daily Malaysian News
English
(c)
2006 Bernama - Malaysian National News Agency
The newly published book "The Finest Hour": The Malaysian-MCP Peace Accord In Perspective" will enable Malaysians to gain a greater insight into Malaysia's history, including the communist party's influence during the post-war period.

In the 245-page book, the author, renowned Malaysian sociologist Dr Collin Abraham, takes a balanced approach in explaining Malaysia's pre- and post independence history, covering its road to nationhood to the Haadyai Agreement of 1989 with the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), which finally ended the protracted armed struggle between it and the Malaysian government.

"My research orginated from scratch and it took me 15 months to this book, my third (book)," he told Bernama after the soft launch of the book at the Royal Selangor Club here today.

The book touches on a gamut of exciting as well as polemic subjects ranging from the Malay Left, the Kelantan Resistance of 1915, the Baling Talks and the Haadyai peace agreement between the government and MCP leader Chin Peng.

"The foundation for a Malaysian Malaysia was laid during the country's struggle for independence and peace. Now we need to move on towards (Vision) 2020," said Abraham, 75, who had spent more than 30 years in academia.

Former Malaysian prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who wrote one of the four forwards in the book, described it as "a bold and extraordinary" piece. He is expected to offically launch the book on Dec 2 at the Royal Selangor Club.

Dr Mahathir in his forward said: "More Malaysians should do research on the MCP and the Emergency because so far most of the books written about it are by the British. Quite naturally their writings have been biased."

The book costing RM40 and published by the Strategic Information and Research Development Centre will be available in local book stores next week

Malaysia is notorious for producing extremely slanted histories. It's not uncommon for a historian to include an endorsement by a leading political figure in his book, which should tell you something about the book. And Malaysia censors are alive and well - Gabra, Prince of Egypt, Zoolander The Last Communist being examples of religious and state censorship. Plus of course, they have a very different version of Seperation - Mohammad Sopiee's account, while biased and inaccurate in parts, makes the point that Singaporean accounts don't make - that the UMNO politicans frankly found LKY downright kurang ajar.

However, I'm interested to see what they do with this book. If it's all that it promises, it means that Malaysia is prepared to take a long hard honest look at the Emergency. And the "mistakes" that were made in the heat of battle, where opponents were labelled communist, for convenient internal security disposal.

And if Malaysia is willing to take the step - what's Singapore waiting for?

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