Human Rights Commission BS

Since I feel like I have got all the sleep in the world, I’ve begun to read. And finally, after a long time, read for FUN.

Loved this short piece from TVC. A reason why I think the UN (United Nations) and the HRC (Human Rights Commission) are a pile of BS (BullShit). This reminded me of an article I read in the Economist on the HRC’s investigation into war crimes of the Israeli army. Using your common sense and sensibly moving away from the academic fossilisation, one can see all too well, that sometimes many times, the UN is really a bundle of moral contradictions.

Also, my uncle just came back from Northern Ireland and brought back Cadbury chocolates. MY ALL TIME fav! In light of this, I was horrified that Kraft wants to merge with Cadbury! I am horrified not for the financial and M&A implications BUT for the gastronomical repurcussions. American snacks, pastry food is frankly atrocious! As much as I love you America, if you bring your mix into Cadbury’s from England, the end result would be a blinking blop of disappointing cocoa. Please don’t.

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

THANK GOD I PASSED.

Ruth is a certified lawyer. Like REALLY.

I have to thank God and so many people whom He has used to get me here.

Can i get some sleep first?

election day (US)

Once again elections in the US never fail to interest me. It is always dynamic, always for change. [WSJ]

Phrase of the day:

“When Republicans stand up for pro-growth policy, fiscal responsibility, and economic conservatism unapologetically, and reflect their district on social issues, they win.”

Chris Chocola, Club for Growth president.

On a more personal note, I am back in the lil red dot. Have started eating my heart out. Glad to be back though the heat gets to me having come from minus conditions in the US. Also to Carmen, Esther Yeoh and all who are reading welcome!!

♥

fajardo:NE Puerto Rico :)

when you are snorkeling/ scuba diving no bikinis allowed. the pros said so. but wearing all black is not the best idea either because sharks would think you are seals and come eat you. ruth said so.

I am winding down my Caribbean travels. I wish to come back sometime. But there are 2 things I need to do before coming back–learn to drive and learn Spanish. Seriously. These 2 things would help me roam this place better.

I went snorkeling in Fajardo, Puerto Rico last Saturday. Actually on Monday I went  kayaking in the Bioluminescent Lagoon. Apparently, around the world, there are 27 such places and Puerto Rico has 5 of them. It was amazing to see the effects the cells had. Like when the waters ran down my hands, it became neon green. And when the oars cut through the water, the oars became neon green. And when a fish jumped out of the water, the fish became neon green. It really amazed me. Of course, we had to go there in the night. And the kayaking was tiring as we weaved through mangroves and dangling branches.

So back to the snorkeling. It was another great experience. The fishes we saw were unique and curiously curious at us humans. Duh. They all looked like Nemo to me. Schools and schools of fishes. Well, they all looked like Nemo TILL the bigger ones started appearing–and then suddenly I started to become afraid that there may be sharks. The reefs were a tat disappointing because I always imagined reefs to be colorful but these were just moss green. Meh. We actually island-hopped our way through the islands–learn more about the Virgin islands.

I am now back and packing up. Also trying to finish the cases I have been working on with the ACLU. Of course, in the maze that is litigation there is no “finish” to it but at least I’m trying to do my part.

P.S. I am also quite proud of myself that I did not take so many pictures and have grown up and left the phototaking to silly others. hehe.

♥

Separation of church and sport?

http://theparkforum.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/separation-of-church-and-sport/

go comment!!

RE: The Park Forum

These are my older posts from there.

http://theparkforum.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/who-can-tell-if-god-will-turn-and-forgive/

http://theparkforum.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/he-does-not-slumber/

Follow it and make comments!!

We love free speech!! But remember, “comment is free but facts are sacred.”

♥

Zorro

One of my all time favorite movie.

And one of my all time fav scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9as3GwRpFk

R

Ruth was born in Singapore and travelled widely with her father (who is a pastor). She left Singapore for the United Kingdom for college. She studied law in King’s College London and received her LLB. She then did a double degree program with Columbia Law School and graduated in May 2009 with a J.D. She is currently waiting (anxiously) for her bar results. In the meantime, she is traveling. God willing she passes the Bar, she’ll start working in an NY firm in January 2009.

She met Bethany in CLS. Beth was the President of a club both of them were in. Apart from taking classes together, Beth never failed to inspire Ruth to live up to her Protestant faith. Ruth hopes that as much as this blog might be a blessing to others, it would help her view all things through the lens of the infallible Word of God and of faith!

Viejo (Old) San Juan

weekends of cobbled stones, sweet plantains and asopao–of course, the ocean’s in your backyard 24/7

The aftermath

the aftermath of the robbery that i faced  is as such:

i didn’t feel much the following hours but the next morning i was REALLY alert. i looked in front of me, behind me, to the left of me, to the right of me and even above, every 5 steps i took. i further took precautions not to bring my wallet, just essentials. i left my camera behind. and really kept everything simple and to the minimum. everyone says the key is not to get paranoid and i agree wholeheartedly. However, I hope it is understandable that for the next few days my eye would match up to the eye of an FBI agent or a SWAT teamster or at least the dramatic gigantic-eyed chipmunk.

Also, apparently, the incident I faced alerted the WHOLE neighborhood that I am staying in. everyone’s been calling me to come have lunch with them and talk to them. and everyone’s really apologetic. and everyone’s demanding more security. in that way, i like the culture of the people here–it’s warm and hospitable, and although sometimes it’s annoying that they make everything their business, but at times like these, when you are a total foreigner, you appreciate gestures like these. ♥

[i've also got addicted to using ♥ all over the place].

over the weekend, i went swimming in the Hilton Lagoon. It’s the most beautiful crystal clear sea ever.

Additionally, the part that I swam in was cordoned off for swimmers. The actual sea (the Atlantic) was roaring and its waves were ferocious. So we were really swimming next to waves that can swallow you up or at the best, waves for surfers.

Yup…

But, I had a great time.  Although now I’m really fried.

Other than that, I followed Eva for the protest in OSJ. The general strike is on the 15th of Oct but this is just leading up to it. Interesting times!

♥

the first time i got mugged

San Juan, Puerto Rico

S o today was the first time I got mugged. I went running at 6 p.m. was about to enter my apartment at 6.30 p.m. when two guys ran behind me. One covered my eyes and the other tried yanking my ipod away from me. I punched one of them in the stomach. And then I turned over and started struggling with the both of them. There can a point of time when I realized that it was not a good idea to fight because I might be hurt and there were 2 of them. So I stopped fighting and started screaming. My ipod was still with me and this time the other guy covered my mouth as I screamed. By this time, I let the ipod go. The guys ran away and I started chasing them. But then someone screamed for me not to.

Needless to say this will be with me for a long, long time.

Two kind girls took me to a guy who I guess was Security (he had the word “securidad” written on his shirt). He called the “Policia” but of course, the police didn’t turn up. Later people told me the police force here are inefficient. They don’t turn up when you need them and they turn up when you don’t need them. Thank God for the kindness of the people here, including the employees of the restaurant who came out to offer me water and any other drink/ food I would want. And thank God for the people who talked to me. I shouldn’t have walked alone. Added to that, I look different. Thank God that after that, the proctor at my place, Luz Marie and her roommate, Carol (and her boyfriend) brought me to their apartment and offered me food and talked to me, so that I would forget the incident.

Times like this you realize that you have taken for granted the daily mercies of God. Like your health, prosperity and safety. But Psalm 121 tells us, “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber not sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon Thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalm 121: 3-8) My first prayer every morning then should be, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness”. (Lamentations 3: 22-23). Thank God I can utter this prayer.