boulevard-ijab (IJA & ME) - one half completing the other half....

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me? (updated)

Here's an excerpt of a newspaper article which appeared some time last week:

"A line in the new Year Five science textbook that says, 'all living things are created by God',
has irked some parents who are against infusing religious doctrine into the teaching of science.
The book in English, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, will be introduced next year as part of the government's efforts to implement the teaching of mathematics and science in English.

The parent said the Creation Theory cannot be lumped with science, which is about logic and fact. Worried that children might become confused, he urged the authority concerned to remove the controversial line.

Creation Theory or other religious philosophies should not appear in science textbooks. However, Darwin's Theory of evolution can be taught in their respective context but to tell God created all living things instead of evolution during science lessons may confuse them. The Education Ministry should differentiate between science and religion.

A politician said religious concepts have no place in science textbooks."

Now, here's the conversation that unfolds as I pass on the newspaper clip to my animal friends, 'whose' unique characters have inspired people to create memorable and unforgettable cartoon/movie characters. They are Mumble the Penguin, Puss-in-Boots the Cutie Kitty, Donkey the Funny Donkey, Scrat the prehistoric squirrel/rat, Nemo the Clown Fish, Rex the T-Rex, Kong the Giant Ape and errr..... Spider-man the Spidey.

Mumble (while tapping his feet): Hmmmmmm... WHATTTTT ???????? I can't believe the level of absurdity of this news article. It did say some parents are against the line in the Science textbook, but only SOME, and NOT most parents, or many parents, or ALLLLL parents. Don't get me wrong, coz I'm just living in the real world here ok! But since when does a minority have a say to decide what's in and what's out, what's accepted and what's not?

Puss (hissing at Mumble): Hey Mumble, while you are reading, could you control your instinct of tapping your feet? It was so annoying. You do know that my sword can cause your feet a lot of pain now, do you?

Kong: ROOOAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Don't start a fight over something trivial. You can leave that to humans. Errr, sorry there Abdun...

Me (looking rather intimidated upon hearing Kong's roar): Ha ha.... it's alright Kong, and you are definitely right about humans who like to fight and fight!

Donkey: Yeah Abdun, what's up with humans these days anyway? Oh by the way, I read the quote that you gave me last week, about how the greatness of a nation and its moral progress is judged by the way its animals are treated. Hmmmm.... come to think of it, nowadays, nations which are seemingly great, their moral values are actually progressing downwards, despite them treating their animals so lovingly and passionately. In fact, it seems to me that they care and protect animals more than they care and protect their own kind....... humans!

Spider-man: That is so true, Donkey. I guess the quote no longer applies today.

Scrat: And now this??? (squeaking loudly).... Why can't they just leave God alone? Why do they have to complicate matters when it comes to God?

Spider-man: I think if they want to bicker about a neutral and harmless line that appears in a book, they should do so in blogs, and not raise it up to the newspapers or the cabinet.

Abdun: Ha, ha... I second to that Spidey. That's what I do, and most other bloggers too...

Nemo: It's hard to believe that news like this can actually earn a space in a newspaper, when there are much bigger issues out there that deserve attention and action from many... like those who had been evicted from their homes unfairly without much due consideration from the state government, or a boy who had lost an eye due to eye cancer, or ethnic clashes that have spread uncontrollably and claimed so many innocent lives, or a natural disaster that had unleashed its fury over many regions....

Mumble: Speaking of nature, how about the fact that by 2040, the shrinkage of Arctic sea ice could accelerate dramatically, from about 5.9 million sq km to 1.9 million sq km within a decade.

Abdun: Come to think of it, it's like they are saying, God created Science, but in Science, God has no place in it. And yet, ridiculous theory like Darwin's Ape theory is considered acceptable. Well, some people may be happy that their ancestors are a bunch of apes. But I, on the other hand know that it was the prophet Adam (peace be upon him) who was the first man on Earth, and with the presence of Hawa, humans populate the Earth ever since. If in religion, God discussed other aspects of life like relationships, families, economy AND science, so why in heaven, the name God is forbidden from a Science textbook? Do they think that human brains can come out with those Science theories, make those new discoveries and the Science field itself can grow if God doesn't allow those things to happen in the first place?

Mumble: ..or me tapping my feet here, causing the awe of many, if God doesn't grant me the ability?

Scrat: ..or me having trapped frozen in ice, only to be discovered by humans after a few thousand years, if God doesn't allow me to live?

Donkey: ..or me knowing how to crack some jokes, if God doesn't allow those humourous ideas to flow?

Kong: ..or me having fallen in love with a human girl, if God doesn't allow those feelings to blossom?

Puss: ..or me being able to fight like a swordsman, if God doesn't give me health and time for me to learn the skill?

Spider-man: ..or me crawling on walls like a spider, if God doesn't allow the spider's genes to evolve within my veins?

Nemo: ..or me, finally reunited with my Dad, if God doesn't allow him to get any help while he was searching for me?

Our conversation is suddenly interrupted when Rex appears all of a sudden.

Rex: ..or me, enjoying my meals today, if God doesn't allow my tummy to churn due to hunger and let me to cross path with you delicious people and animals.....SLRRRPPPPPP..... ROOAARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the exception of Kong, me and the rest 'run' for our lives, to avoid being eaten by T-Rex. Through the miracle of Science, granted by God, we witness a fight that one can never imagine would take place in the modern world. A fight between two giant creatures that once roamed the Earth a zillion years ago. A fight between Kong and T-Rex! Well, luckily one of them is on our side....:)

© Copyright Abdun N.A. - Malaysia 2006; No part of this short story can be reproduced in whatever forms. Thank you.

posted by The Pisces Man @ 1:39 am 8 people talked at The Boulevard

I Wonder...

I wonder...

1) if it's really true that not everything is for everybody, then how come there are those out there who persuade, force and even throw sarcastic words at you (directly or indirectly), when you do not listen to them or follow what they say? I mean, really, if everything IS for everybody, then we might as well change our jobs (or careers, whichever you name it) every other month; from a construction worker this month, to a lawyer next month, then a music composer the following month.

2) if someone already judges you in a bad way or being cynical towards you, despite they hardly know you or your current situation, then is this the kind of person you would like to work with in the long run?

3) is it really true that there's only one way of getting ahead in this life, especially financially? If so, we would have never heard of million/billionaires in other fields then. After all, doesn't it matter to follow what our hearts say, or to follow our passion, and recognise our own strengths and weaknesses, instead of trying so hard to overcome the latter?

4) if they say that one of the definitions of insanity is repeating the same mistakes, or never learn from past mistakes, then isn't that a good enough reason to back off or move away before falling into the same trap? Or is it really possible to repeat the same 'mistake', hoping that this time, it would produce different results (better, I mean)?

5) if you have a number of options on the table to choose from and a decision has to be made soon, how would you prioritise or perhaps, would you totally discard some of them away, especially since your istikharah prayers have yet to give you any clue, or hint or even a gut feeling?

..............

..............

6) if I stop shaving for a month just for the heck of it, how long or thick (or curly?) my beard would be? Would my wife ask for her clean shaven hubby back? Hehe...

7) if I continue to freeze myself throughout the day (like how I did in the above photo), how much money would I make? You know, like one of those sreet performers who act like clowns or robots. But wait, before I do that, I need to find a strategic spot first. Otherwise, there goes my money given by those who appreciate my talent, floating away in the nearby stream and at the same time, there goes my act too, since I would have to move around, chasing after the money.. :)

Ops, the last 2 'wonderings' are a bit off track haha, I might just pen off here... So, have you ever been at a secluded place by yourself before (yes, this includes the toilet), wondering about stuffs? If yes, what kind of stuffs?

posted by The Pisces Man @ 1:13 am 4 people talked at The Boulevard

I Hear You Ayah/Abah/Papa/Abi.... (haven't really decided what they should call me, hehe)

Bismillaahirrahmaanirrahiim.....

Surah Al Mukminoon (verses 12-16)

Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay);

Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed;

Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!

After that, at length ye will die.

Again, on the Day of Judgment, will ye be raised up.

Here's the fetal development according to http://www.babycentre.co.uk/ during weeks 21 and 22:

The eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed and the fingernails cover the fingertips.

There's a saying: 'Little pitchers have big ears'. Your baby can now hear your conversations. If you talk, read, or sing to your baby, expect her to hear you. Some studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero. If you want to try, pick a book now and read it out loud. Make sure you won't mind reading it over and over once the baby is here.

Even this early, the first signs of teeth appear in the form of tooth buds beneath the gum line. Before you know it, your baby will be born, and soon after, his/her first teeth will come through.

P/S: I am SOOOO getting my baby his/her first book(s) this week, in addition to reading the Al Qur'an more regularly from now on, Insha' Allah..... Can't wait to start reading to the tummy, hehe ....

Labels: My Children, My Families

posted by The Pisces Man @ 6:12 am 9 people talked at The Boulevard

Note the Quote

posted by The Pisces Man @ 6:11 am 2 people talked at The Boulevard

Before and After

Labels: My House, Toys

posted by The Pisces Man @ 12:43 pm 12 people talked at The Boulevard