Appreciated #8

Visit entry Appreciated #9

The following are some items I really enjoy.

Pretty Guardian Sailormoon (Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon) opening theme video [Sailormoon concept by mangaka Naoko Takeuchi.Video: Toei Company, Ltd.. Song: Michiru Oshima. Video subtitled by fans: Takenoko ~ translation, Drax ~ typesetting & timing]

No, it is not specifically the photo (left) I enjoy, but the message I intend to have it advocate:

the belief in the intrinsic worth of every man, woman and child, and that, through the inculcation of skills and knowledge, people can do great and wonderful things!

[Photo: Margot on flickr.com/photos/margotpouw/]











There are 244 political entities (source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries) in the world. One of them -- China, has more than 50 different races/ethnicities; another example -- Malaysia, a much smaller country both by land area and human population, has 3 'main' races and at least 10 other different tribes. Now consider some of the other countries: pick one in central Africa, take an island in Oceania, and research the ethnic makeup of the former Yugoslavia.

That's DIVERSITY for you! And I love it!

The world is made up of so many different peoples -- with unique and hybrid cultures characterised by variety in language, script, music and art. Because nations and territories are well-defined today, we are now able to explore the riches of human multiplicity and appreciate the colours that define different cultures.

Historical immigration for purposes of trade, commerce and survival, and an exponential increase in international travel and migration in the past one century, have created ethnic mixes in many geographical regions. In such a mix, distinctives may be retained, but many a time there is a transmigration of ideas, beliefs and practices -- i.e. blending. This provides for some interesting tourism! And also a reminder that no one culture is exclusive unto itself.

Just as there are cliques in a class, companies in the business district, and teams on a football pitch, so there are countries (193 and counting) on the face of the earth. It is with nation-states that community interests are well taken care of and adeptly handled in the hands of those who can relate best to a certain group(s) of people. Besides, oceans and seas divide us up into continents, so we are not and may never be geographically united. The concept of a state also breaks down the world into manageable portions, each with their own governments -- this in contrast to the fraility of huge empires with the central/federal government too far and detached from far-flung provinces. Even within a country there are states, divisions and districts, with different degrees of autonomy -- this for easier management.

Still, there are regional alliances like ASEAN, NATO and the EU that bring various nation states together to meet common challenges. And there is also the United Nations Organisation (UN), which is a key in establishing more permanent global harmony.

Nations are individual entities, yet they are interdependent and must co-exist intelligently for betterment of the human race. We must appreciate our differences and will do well to stop believing that 'they' must 'become like us'. [Map: United Nations Cartographic Section: Dept. of Field Support]

TITANIC: TWO THE SURFACE mashup trailer, or in the words of the editor/creator Robert Blankenheim (real name) a.k.a. Derek Johnson, the "(f)ake trailer of the sequel to Titanic". Blankenheim took scenes from 23 different films and mashed them together to form a post-1912, 21st-century story of a Jack Dawson who is retrieved from some sort of cryogenic imprisonment (in a block of ice) by Brock Lovett's Atlantic diving team. Jack is resurrected and placed under military custody, but he escapes. Now the authorities are after him while he has to cope with the challenges of living in an unfamiliar world -- a world, among other things, in which Rose is already dead.

TITANIC: TWO THE SURFACE is a story with a lot of prospects.

[Video: Editor Blankenheim has yet to exercise the Principle of Attribution by identifying the authors/creators/studios who or which made/released the 23 films used in the making of this trailer. It is apparent that Titanic (1997), directed by James Cameron and distributed by 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures, is used. Also included are scenes from Catch Me if You Can (2002), directed by Steven Spielberg and distributed by Dreamworks SKG. Music occurring close to the end of the trailer is a remixed version of My Heart Will Go On, performed by Celine Dion, music composed by James Horner and lyrics by Will Jennings.] [It must be noted that some scenes have been modified from the originals, while there are several that appear entirely new, and may be thus attributed, though perhaps not solely, to Blankenheim.]

"Kita anak Malaysia" means "We are children of Malaysia", or "We are the offspring of Malaysia". Another take could be "We are citizens of Malaysia", though "citizens" departs from the true meaning of the word "anak", which means "child". Ultimately, the declarant of "Kita anak Malaysia" recognises Malaysia as his motherland/fatherland/parent country, which is the case with me. [Image: Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia]



I'm not as fearful about death as about the way I'm gonna die.

Voices of a Liberal Faith - Unitarian Universalists

A video that explains, in approx. 10 minutes, what UUism is about. [Video: Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Produced by Swardlick Marketing Group. In association with Airstream Pictures.]

Crew of the Soyuz TMA-11 flight. As of October 11, 2007, they are en route to the International Space Station. Click on image to enlarge.