Snippets: July 2003 Archives

proud of the homeland

By Stairs on July 31, 2003 10:35 AM | | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

Divorce by text message has recently featured prominently in the Malaysian headlines; I've always been proud of how dedicated my erstwhile countrymen are to the tight integration of all technologies into daily life - Malaysia may still be classed as a third world nation, but most people I know there have more gadgets than any similarly classed Westerner - though, as this case shows, things are sometimes taken a little too far and too seriously.

A man texts his wife to say he divorces her; it is validated in court. Fortunately, the government recognises the farcical precedent set in this instance, and imposes a fine, but not a ban, on people who divorce in this way. While being allowed to divorce by text is utterly ridiculous for obvious reasons, it is pretty efficient, and far cheaper than going to court. It also saves on petrol and energy expenditure, making the process more eco-friendly. I'm torn.

forgotten or ignored

By Stairs on July 5, 2003 8:18 PM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. -Theodore Roosevelt, 26th US President (1858-1919)

Taken from a list of best-ever quotes (read 'best-ever American-only quotes'), the words of Teddy Roosevelt. I hold that the message he sent is absolutely valid; it's a simple, ineluctable truth. I lament that so many people are blind to it.

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