R v Dudley & Stephens

Criminal law has always been one of my more favourite subjects this semester, if I actually do have one. One of the most appealing cases I have come across thus far was a case that tried to use the defence of necessity in getting an acquital for ...

for what? Give a guess..

...

...

Cannibalism!!!

Of all things.

These four people were cast away on the high seas without food and water for a period of time. Admittedly, it can get very depressing to be isolated for so long without any food and water for such an unspecified period of time... but eating your own people? Like, SERIOUSLY?

Two of the men decided to kill the young boy that was cast along with them. The reason being that he was the youngest (and supposedly, therefore the weakest). They survived on his flesh for a few days before being actually rescued. Talk about coincidence.

When tried in court, they alleged that it was a necessity to kill the boy and eat his flesh so that they can save their own ass.

Obviously, the court could not let them rely on the defence of necessity! It's one thing to steal food to satisfy your hunger pangs, but killing another man??? Public policy, like duh!

Anyway, I was just wondering what the third man did while the other two feasted on the poor (deceased) boy on the boat. Wouldnt it be creepy to be staying on the same boat as someone who is willing to kill your fellow friend just so that they themselves survive? And isnt it gross to eat RAW human flesh? I'ld rather swim in the sea and risk myself being eaten my sharks, or maybe not. hmm..

Fascinating case, I mean the facts.

To everyone, wishing all of you a great year ahead. This will probably be my last post for the year 2011. Would end it with this quote. "The past is an illusion, the future a dream. All we really have is the present."

Early Resolutions 2012

And.. before you know it, 2011 has passed before your very eyes and 2012 awaits you.

Five days short of the entire year, I would like to say that this was a truly bumpy year. I had my fair share of tears, but just as much laughter as well. It is sad that so many things have changed since the beginning of the year, but I am grateful for the lessons that I have learned thus far.

Unlike the previous years before where I never considered how I have improved over the year, i can proudly say that I have changed for the better this year. Just like how you need to fall to learn how to skate, how you need to make mistakes before you learn, I guess this was what year 2011 had for me - a year of learning where I went wrong.

Wanted to write a lengthy post on what I learned throughout this year but then I realise that I could not possibly say enough. I guess learning is a life long process and it shall only end with our last breath on this earth.

I can predict that I shall begin my new year with a bang. First two months have already been confirmed to be hectic, with exams, camps, an international conference to organise, medical and dental appointments, maybe even setting a new club in university?, and the beginning of semester 2, year 2. It makes me realise that there is so much more to life than what meets the eye. And I shall look forward to all that, with much enthusiasm. As for my resolutions, I shall keep them simple for the year 2012.

1. Set up taekwondo gtf in UM

2. Continue to expand my horizons

3. Be kind and compassionate to everybody i meet along the way

Fingers crossed, 2012 will be more eventful than 2011. I dont believe the world will end next year!!!

Seriously Drained Out This Week

Lots of things going on in my life now. Exams coming up soon, and the past week has indeed been a busy one, giving me more responsibilities for the future.

Yes, I got the post of Secretary. Most people might have considered it as granted since it was uncontested right to the very end. But i beg to differ. Even when the post is uncontested, the tension and stress is still there having to impress your potential voters. Giving the speech before the voting session commenced, that is what partially affects your vote too. and i am aware, in the law faculty there are some very very particular people who are very concerned with the affairs in ALSA so you have to make sure you meet up to their standard. I was pleasantly surprised to have earned so many of the votes of the peopel present during the AGM. Only one person voted against, and there were two void votes. The rest all voted in favour. I am aware there are a handful of people who might not have gotten a good impression from the first day that I've stepped into the law faculty. So... perhaps I just have to continue giving my best 'till one day they will see. First impressions are important, but in the end, even impressions can change.

Yesterday was Ko-k day. Really proud to know that my Taekwon-do group won 3rd place out of so many other activity groups. This shall be the end of my ko-k days, going to class in the evening every friday.. But I feel like I dont want it to end. I enjoy the way the master conducts the class, love the company. And most importantly, taekwon-do does make me feel good about myself. Heard there will be a tournament next year. interested to join.. and master keeps pushing for us to form a club. I would love to do that! But once again, I will need to reconsider all my commitments. I already have so much at hand. No doubt taekwon-do is one of my refound passions.. so will have to think about this again after the exams are over.

Picture of the class.

Anyways hopefully no more activities will crop up till my exams are over. Really really need to start concentrating. Havent been able to for the past few days due to all that has been happening. Insomnia for 2 days seriously!

Mini Update for the Week

Didnt do much today. Thought of writing about something that has been on my mind the whole day but words dont come easy. Typing and backspacing the whole time. The coming week will be the final week of the semester before we will be released for study break (2 weeks) and then the exams shall begin. I always thought that first year went by so quickly until I got into my second year. Then i realised that it went even faster than first year. Wonder whether it just gets faster and faster.

The coming week will be a busy one. One filled with lots and lots of replacement classes and tutorials that on most times, I just get so confused with the times. Running for the (so far) uncontested post of Secretary of ALSA UM. If anyone is interested, please come for our AGM this Wednesday, 6pm. I dont mind having a little competition. Just that... I am not sure where this is heading to. I was kind of planning to leave all my commitments in the law faculty after this semester and try my hands at other things. Was contemplating getting a part-time job at a bakery or taking up taekwon-do all over again.. but if i really do continue being active in the faculty activities.. I will have to let my plan go. So... so, if you want to be secretary and contest for the post with me, please come! LOL

And I am really nervous for what's going to happen on Thursday. Wait for my updates then..

ALSA Lecture Series

Just back from a day at UM for the ALSA Lecture Series. Must surely say that the event was quite the success.. everything went quite smoothly.. the speakers were engaging, the turn out was pretty good, people complimented the food, yea.. no hiccups. It is kind of sad that only when this year's ALSA committee is stepping down, only am i beginning to appreciate this team. The people are great - friendly, happy and kind people, they dont backstab, and we have a great time with each other. Wonder how the next committee will be like, and wonder whether i will be a part of it considering that so many of them are planning to leave after this round.

Well, putting that aside, life is returning back to normal. I got an offer to participate in a student exchange programme in South Chine University of Technology from June 15 2012 till 23 July 2012. Funny how i got that university the previous round but turned it down to make time for a special person then, and fast forward a year later, i still get the same uni offer. Maybe fate has something in store for me in that place? Being a little too superstitious here. haha. I will think about it, but i will probably go.

resentment only births more resentment

you cannot find love in anger

nor hurt

you tried so hard many years ago

i gave all i could in the recent months

hoping a second chance was what we needed

perhaps the chance came too soon

for us to not truly appreciate the other

conversations no longer flow easy

anger and hurt seethes through every word

my love alone will not be enough

to free us both from our pain

and that is why i resolve

to walk away

the future remains unknown

we will never know

Watch this, it is hilarious!

[Added] At leastI can seek comfort, that it is a universal thing that girls behave like that. Or at least, until they learn how to deal with guys.

Formosa (SSTwo Mall)

Okay, some trashing ahead. I normally dont blog bad things about the restaurants I visit because I am normally just too excited about trying new food but this restaurant is one that I am terribly disappointed with! Maybe it was just my family and I who didnt have the luck today!

We went to Formosa Restaurant at SSTwo Mall for lunch. SSTwo Mall is quite a new place in SS2. Lots of the shops were not open yet and the place was quite deserted. Anyways, we choose Formosa because my grandmother came along and we needed to make sure there was some chinese food that she could at least consume.

There were five sets offered but in the end, my mother, brother and grandmother ordered the same thing.. that is the oyster mee sua whereas my dad and I ordered the three cup sauce chicken set. We were supposed to pay for the food at the cashier to order so my mom went to pay first. And when the receipt came, i noticed that my dad and my three cup sauce chicken had somehow mysteriously been converted to sausage set! Went to correct her and when the food came, oh yea... it was chicken but it wasnt three cup sauce chicken. It was fried chicken! God bless that woman for taking down the order wrongly two times to the same customer!

We had Taiwan Milk tea, not too sweet, in fact it was a little bitter, if it wasnt for the pearls. And the three cup sauce chicken that eventually came was quite inedible for me. the taste of that peppermint leave thingy was way too strong that even in the car, i still felt like sick because of the smell. My brother and mother had to finish my chicken for me. So maybe it's a personal taste that I dont like it. The oyster mee sua was so-so. I didnt try it but again, my mom said it was okay. Presentation wise, the food looked nice. But I dont think the food is worth the price. I would rather go to any hawker stall and have my mee sua or chicken rice. The three cup sauce chicken costs RM7. Taiwan milk tea was RM3.80, RM4.30 with pearls.

But as much as I have to criticize this place, I must say that there are some people who went to the same place and found the food to be nice. So perhaps, it might really just be my bad food day.

Wouldnt be in a hurry to go back to SSTwo Mall though. Not much stuff to see there yet, and the food choices are quite limited.

On a different note, it's really time to hit the books.

Pasta Zanmai (Sunway Pyramid)

Birthday celebration lunch for my mother today. We initially wanted to go to Pasta de Gohan but strangely, the restaurant has disappeared from Sunway Pyramid. I swear it was where a new vegetarian restaurant is!

So we went to Pasta Zanmai instead. The thing about the Zanmais is that there are more expensive. A meal for two can easily rake up to RM50. And we had five heads.

Ice Fruit tea RM16 per jug. Average only but presentation wise, it was quite nice. Served in this really tall vase-like jug.

One plate of unagi..

Grandmother had a place of unagi rice with egg.

I particularly liked my brother's choice. Seafood Tomato Cream Sauce Pasta RM26. It had a creamy taste to the spaghetti with just the tinge of tangy-ness.

Salmon. didnt try this. Was too busy eating my rice.

I had Chicken Katsu with Curry Rice. RM22 without set. The curry was pretty mild for my taste. Reminded me very much of Indian dahl but I guess the ingredients put in is different. Cant remember what this is called (above pic) but it tasted quite nice. Probably because of the mayonaise on the top. And the cucumber inside gave it that extra crunch.
Oh this pizza was delicious. Well, to me it did. It's called Meat Sauce and Japanese Rice Cake Cheese Pizza. RM22. It had a very strong bolognaise meat scent and this complemented well with the cheese. But my dad didnt like it as much. So i dunno, maybe it's a personal taste.

After the meal.

And that is how my Friday is.

December 2011 has finally crept in. It's crazy how many things have happened in this one year. Who could have imagined? I remember how my December was like last year.. And more so, will I not forget my last Christmas. No, I dont celebrate Christmas but last 25 December is something I will never forget in my life. Well, at least I can be thankful for the memories.