Chicken Soup For The Twisted Mind

One week ago (on 10th Sptember 2008), CERN’s billion dollars baby, the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) took off, banging two protons together to yield a miniature Big Bang. It is suppose to simulate the existence of our universe, but in a inny miny scale, for studying what kind of particles may arises from the arranged accident, particularly on the Higgs Bosson.

The Large Hadron Collider smashes particles together at nearly the speed of light

There were some concern that the collision may also created anti matter and black holes that could expand and swallow our beloved earth. The project took off despite all the protest and wah lah..  no end of the world as predicted. And I don’t even know about this CERN thing. (only know of this experiment on 11th September 2008). Could have ‘ham kah chan’ with you all that day. 

Our opposition leader, Datuk Anwar Ibrahim had claimed that he will take over the government on September 16th.

Although I know about this, but so many others, i just take it as normal as everyday news. There could be riots and declaration for state of emergency, but I don’t even give a damn to stock something in my home.  I could have died of hunger along with my family if something bad happen. What is wrong with me?

Read in the newspaper today that the hole in the ozone layer over the Antartica going to expand to the largest size in history, estimated as big as US and Canada combine together. The Ice in Antartica is going to melt almost immediately and the sea level shall rise. The one that was feared as posted in ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ finally happens.

Even though I know about this, i still not panic. Because you see, I’m already numb. Numb from work, numb from life. Perhaps the end of the world is not a bad thing anymore. 

p/s: if you are same as me, oblivious to whatever happens around you, well, what the fuck is wrong to you too…

As I was typing this entry, the mooncake festival is coming to an end. I have been getting some request to put up an article on how to make mooncake, but i have to put off that for now due to some personal reasons.

For those of you who don’t know, my family has been in the mooncakes business for more than 10 years. I was tempted to write about it this year, but heck, think will let it pass at the moment.

I’ll write about something else instead. Last month, my eldest aunt from SIngapore finally come over to pay us a visit. The last time she was here, it was like 10 to 15 years ago. At first she was intended to give us a surprise by appearing in front of our house without notice. Too bad the landscape around BM has changed so much that most of the landmark and buildings that she once remembered has eithered changed name or torn down.

So it’s rather comical when she called my mom early in the morning to tell us that she’s lost. And she brought along two of her sons and a friend. The last time I saw my aunt was when I’m in Singapore during my form five. Yes, ages ago. 

And when you meet somebody you haven’t met for a long time, you will have tonnes of things to talk. In my aunt case, she gave me a history lesson of my maternal great grandmother. I have heard my mom talked about my great grandmother before, on how tough and grumpy the lady is, and how she enjoy playing mah jong. She passed away while sitting after winning a mahjong game. Yeah, spooky if you ask me.

My grand mother pass away after involving in an accident, and my grandfather pass away after working too hard to raise my mom’s 5 siblings. That’s left my great grandmother to take care of the five grandson and daughter. She work as a hawker selling hokkien mee, and always drag my mom’s and eldest aunt to help out. Maybe because of going such hardship, my mom’s bonding with her brother and sister is very good.

And my aunt told me a little about my grandfather as well. He is a quiet man that cares a lot about his family. Like to watch chinese opera after work, and bringing my eldest aunt along. And because my aunt doesn’t like to watch the opera, she always nag my grandfather to bring her home. And my grandfather would bribe her with a pack of roasted nuts to stay at the opera longer.

As my aunt told me the story, I can feel that she is reliving back the memories on her own. I can only imagine all that, as my grandfather, grandmother and great grandmother has all long gone when I was born.

But I was thankful that she told me about my family history. Bits and bits of them is what that shaping me whole today.