Pornography Helps prevent sex crimes ?

A research conducted by Antony D’Amato concluded that sharp rise in access to pornography accounts for decline in rape in USA. His published research titled ‘Porn Up, Rape down’ revealed that incidence of rape in the United States has declined 85% in the past 25 years due to easy availability of pornographic materials to teenagers and adults. His research revealed that incidence of rape has declined from 2.7 rapes for every 1,000 people in 1980; by 2004 to ,0.4 per 1000 people, a decline of 85%.

Antony D’Amato is a lawyer and a professor of law at the Northwestern Law School in Chicago, USA,

Further research by Anthony D'Amato also revealed that in places with there are lowest Internet access (to porn sites) were also those with the highest incidence of crime against women. Antony D'Amato reasoned that the substantial decrease in sexual crimes against women in areas where pornography are easily accessible are due to (1) watching pornography eliminate sexual desires. And, (2) Sex has been de-mystified by pornographic films and by the Internet.

Hmm,,,, foods for thoughts. Back to Malaysia, we pride ourselves with highest level of moral and religious values. Holding hands is a crime. Dressing too sexily is also crime. We even raided tourists in the hotel room and demanded to see their married certificate, otherwise, it is a case of "close proximity" crime ! Despite all these holier than thou morality, I wonder why there are so many incest and sexual crimes in Malaysia ? Could it be due to our Censorship Board's over jealous snipping of movies and reading materials to the extend that we are breeding a new generation of sexually ignorance perverts ? Could it be too much faked religiosity being preached ? Or, could it a case of ignorant denials and deprivations of sexuality....... Well, it simply just doesn't make sense anymore... Too many Jackals and Hydes running, walking, and snooping around the corners.....

Put a BIRD and a BEE together, what will you get ? A BABI ?

Please, Please drop the petrol price !!!

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, announced on January 13th 2007 that it would cut the wholesale price of gasoline (petrol) by 220 yuan (28.21 U.S. dollars) per ton and the price of kerosene by 90 yuan (11.54 U.S. dollars) per ton. "The local price cut that took effect (on Sunday) was necessary and well-founded because crude prices have declined......" NDRC told China Daily yesterday.

World crude oil prices has been steadily on a downward trend from the height of USD 75 a barrel in June 2006 to USD 50+ per barrel. The current oil price is the lowest since the previous 19 months. I am not an economist, but looking at the trends and moving averages, most likely, in the longer run of next 2 - 3 years, the world oil price will continue to slide to mid - USD 40s. In the mean time, our Malaysian Ringgit has also strengthened against the USD. Since the world oil price is pegged using UD dollars, the petrol price should now be even cheaper for Malaysians.

Since the retail prices of petroleum based products are controlled, when are average Malaysians going to enjoy the decency of lower petrol and derivatives' prices. I hope, since Malaysia is a net exporter of oil, the government would not resort to the reason of declining income as a result of declining oil prices to justify for the stay of current prices.

Head you win, tail I lose ? What's yours is yours, what's mine is up for grabs ? Arroganomics 101 ?

The Chinese Bowl

I was having a small gatherings at a friend's place yesterday evening. This friend of mine came from the same home town as me. She does have certain degree of artistic inclinations. At her house, there is a collections of mixed old and new items that caught my attention. At the dinner table, a small Chinese bowl caught my attention.

Maybe age is catching up with me. Nowadays, I tend to be easily lapsed into sentimental recollection of past memories. The Chinese bowl at my friend's place reminded me of some past events associated with my mother. In my late parents' home in Taiping, we used to have many such type small Chinese bowls which we kept neatly in the old wooden cabinet which also being used as a storage area for foods and dried food stuffs. My mother used to serve the family porridge using the small Chinese bowls. Occasionally, my mother also used the Chinese bowl to offer foods to beggars who came knocking at the doors.

When we are sick, my mother also used the Chinese bowl to serve as hot and bitter Chinese herbal soup. I can vividly visualized how my mother took the pains and troubles to boil the the Chinese medicinal soup over charcoal stove, squatting and fanning the stove, checking the concoction at regular intervals over many hours. For a moment, my mind was brought back to my childhood years in my old house in Taiping......

I must admit, in addition to this sudden involuntary recollections of memories, there are not many days I have not thought of my mother. In her unassuming way, she lead life with dedication, humble, patient, and yet generous toward others. My mother, in her "uneducated" way, used to remind me, that life is like an empty bowl. A bowl is only useful if it is filled with appropriate foods to serve others. In life, we are all born equal in terms of material possessions - like an empty bowl. It is up to us to fill our life with generosity, dedications, and humility to achieve meaningful purpose. She also said , the bowl is like our body, a defective and dirty bow will not be able to serve its functions. Likewise, we need to have healthy body and mind to lead life of purpose.

Mother, thank you very much for giving me life, and teaching me how to lead my life. I know, your life has ended long time ago, but you still live in me, and mine is still not over yet. And, in memory of you, I shall live a purposeful and responsible life.

May the Almighty bless your soul. Namo amithaba Buddha....

Private Security Services anyone ?

I read a recent letter by a reader, "Living in Fear", to The Star voicing his concerns and fears of private security company conducting door to door collections of "security fees".( Dubious guards doing the rounds - The Star 10th January 2007). Subsequently, his concerns was refuted by "The chairman of the resident association" (Residents themselves wanted security patrols - The Star, 12th January 2007).

The housing estate involved in this case is Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

In his letter, "Living in Fear" claimed that he has been indirectly "intimidated" to pay subscription fees for the unauthorized security services. He also claimed that, his and his neighbour rubbish chute doors has been stolen. He take it as warning from the private security for his refusal to pay "protection money" to the private security company. His opinion is, the resident is more comfortable working with and extending cooperation to the local police to fight crimes and ensure safety of the community.

The Chairman of the Resident Association replied in his letter that, in his capacity as Chairman, he appointed the private security company because "majority of the residents wanted private security services". He also indicated that the private security scheme is voluntary. He "encouraged" the residents to enroll with the private security company so as to "keep the housing estate safe, clean, and green".

My frank opinion is, most resident associations in Malaysia are basically social clubs formed by a few active residents. These self appointed Resident Committee members are not representatives of the majority of the residents in the various housing estates. The question is, is the "Chairman of the Resident Association" mandated by the majority of the residents to appoint Private Security Company to conduct security patrolling in the housing estate ? Is it the charter of the resident association to provide security service ? I would like to believe that, most likely, the so called Resident Association acted in a haste and self righteous manner. The second question is, has the private security firm been vetted by the local police department and the Domestic Affairs Ministry ? When the Chairman of the Resident Association claimed that majority of the residents wanted the private security services, can he substantiate it transparently with a list of the residents who wanted the service ?

Personally speaking, when the Chairman of the particular resident association said that residents are "encouraged" to subscribe to the private security services, I have problem with the semantic of the word. moreover, I also find it illogical for the Chairman to claim that "Private Security Service" can help to keep the housing estate "clean and green". Aren't these assessment related services supposed to be provided by the local municipal council ?

The right thing to do is to let the professional police force handle peace and security of the housing estate. As a social club, the resident association should confined its role to only organizing the dialogs between the police department and the local resident on how to work hand-in-hand to promote peace and security.

Let me relate my own experiences with "Private Security Services" in my housing estate about a year ago. I was approached by a group of Indian youths wearing uniform and riding cubchai ( small motorcycles) to pay monthly security fee. They also claimed that they have been appointed by the Chairman of the resident association in my housing estate. In no uncertain term, they told me that, the only way to ensure the safety of my family members is to pay up the monthly subscription fees. They also told that they are licensed to carry weapons. When I refused to pay, for a few nights in a row, the Indian youths passed by my house and intentional create loud engine noises in the middle of the nights to indirectly harassed me. For the first time, all my shoes were also stolen. After I threatened to report them to the local Police, the "harassments" stopped. All these sounds like a bunch of gangster legitimizing themselves to collect protection money by wearing uniforms and using the name of local resident association.

I also like to highlight my personal awareness of "safety and security" in one small housing estate. There is a small segment of a housing estate in USJ where a few residents are very active. They formed the USJxx Resident Association, and start implementing private security services and as well as vigilante patrol. Sad to note that, the security is that area actually degrade. A friend of mine who live in that segment of the housing estate told me his personal horror story about security and safety in his neighbourhood. In his own word, "Every resident here have a tale to tell !"

The point here is, all Resident Associations, are by themselves not necessarily mandated by majority of the local residents. Most likely, each resident association consists of probably less than 50 members who gathered together to form a "club" for social and welfare activities. Therefore, the Chairman or Committee Members, should not take liberty to decide on the welfare of the majority of the residents. What is good for Ah Kow, may not be good for Ahmad, or Sammy ! The local resident association should confined its activities as a social club. In their extended roles, maybe they should also organize gathering or dialogue with the police department or professional security consultants. The peace and security of the housing estate should be left to the local police to manage.

To me, this sounds like a typical case of a group of moral minority imposing themselves to dictate how the silent majority should conformed to their misguided honest intentions. I called on the local police to take control of the street of housing estates and flush out all "dubious" private security companies. I also called on the Housing and Local Government Ministry to provide a standard charter and guideline in the constitution of all local resident associations to ensure their office bearers do not misbehave or over step their roles and responsibilities.

The Chairman of the local netizen association appointed me to conduct daily rantings and musings, however, it is a voluntary choice of yours to listen to my nonsense. But, to keep your peace of mind, the Chairman encouraged you to listen to my daily rants.

Self Cleaning underwears ?

Scientists working for the US Air Force have already produced T-shirts and underwear that can be worn for weeks at a time without washing, and the technology has now been licensed to a London company, Alexium, to develop for civilian applications. The "self-cleaning" process makes fabrics repel water, resist stains and even kill off the bacteria that grow in sweat and make clothes smell.....

I find this article which appeared on UK Telegraph interesting. For further information, please read HERE .

Hmmm.... not that I am a spermaphobia or fanatical about cleanliness, but would you make love to a woman who does not change underwears for weeks ? Would you let your daughter marry a man who are too lazy to change his underwears daily ? Amazing, in the name of science and technology, what will they think of next? Reuseable condom and edible panties ? Nope ! Whatever it is, I still prefer my underwears to be washed the old fashioned way - with soap and lots of water.