I hate prejudice of any kind. Prejudice is like, the single most destructive element of everything negative. If one were to sum up all the bad things that's happening n has been happening in d world, it all boils down to the ominous 3-syllabled word: prejudice. Prejudice is the origin of all wars, starting from prehistoric times to the civilised era we live in today. Prejudice is the common utterance in racial disputes of all nature. Prejudice is what laws are intended to overcome. Yet, prejudice is all around us like the air we breathe in. Every action done, every word spoken, every thought which ever occured in our minds, is laced with prejudice. Think about it. When the issue of the mistreatment of transexuals n transvestities crop up in the media, those of us who call ourselves open-minded brashly defended the rights of these people, lines of moral platitudes in tow. But preceding this conscience of ours, a prejudicious thought always occurs. The thought might cross our minds in a fraction of a picosecond, but it is, undeniably there. Our minds are just not engineered to categorise those who are different from us in whatever aspect whether it be creed, colour, opinion, nationality, sexual orientation, etc. in the same way as we categorise those of similar predisposition with us. Nevertheless, the inherent quality of prejudice is something that we, as thinking human beings can overcome by adopting a positive mindset of all issues. Attempting to equalise everything in this factually grossly unjust world is the key to a world not free of prejudice, but a world where prejudice exists as a negligible particle in daily dealings. In other words, do not allow prejudice to be the fly in the ointment, rather forcefully create positive and conscientious thoughts that will predominate the minuscule fly. That way, wars of continental magnitude would be reduced to petty squabbles, racial disputes that result in bloodshed could be toned down to amiable discussions about the rights of each race, and laws could be the final solution to uncomfortable itches amongst people of different predilections. A practical approach should be employed in the war against prejudice. Fcae it, idealistic views will never get us out from this mess.

I went for the Penang Bridge Marathon yesterday. It was an ok experience i guess. I'm, however, suffering the consequences right now. Can u believe it? I still haven't regain full function of my legs till now. Gosh. But I shouldn't be complaining too much really. It keeps me off my responsibilities. Muahaha. Eg.. I dun hv to fetch my sis from scl, well, cuz I might not be able to control the vehicle with caution due to pain in my legs. Hehe. There's more to it.. I dun hv wash the dishes cuz 'I can't stand long enough to complete the dish-cleansing ritual'. I dun even hv 2 heat up the food at night for the same exact reason why I can't wash the dishes. I guess the cliche of blessing in disguise holds true for me.

Back to the marathon anyway, I'm actually proud that I finished the 22.3km. I've never dwelled on the possibility that running to n fro the Penang Bridge is, in my books, possible. I clocked in at 2hrs 49min. Hehe.. not exactly a record-breaker, but good enough for me. I was aiming for 3hrs; 10 minutes earlier is juz... unexpected. I've even contemplated jumping off the Penang Bridge more than once. Agony of marathoning. My heart felt like giving out, my body heated up like an oven - biological thermostat busted during the 1st half hour, my legs felt like flobberworms on drugs - programmed to keep running on the expense of the system. Sigh. I'm glad that the ordeal is over. To be frank though, it IS kinda fun.. if I take the 'physical torture' out of the equation. It really gives one a perspective of life itself. In life, one juz gotta keep on running, be on the go at all times. And one must always stop for breathers and recharge - much like sloshing down beverages at the drinking stations and getting the much needed refreshing boost to continue the run. And after all the trials and tribulations in the form of stinky shirts, sticky shoes and cramped-up legs, one reaches the finishing line - the finale. As in one's life, the goal, when reached, is so damn rewarding. One realises that the whole ordeal is worth it, for the moment of culmination is just downright beautiful. The zenith where one can peek down and see the world smiling up at him/her. One realises, in that instant, that if he/she were given the chance to start all over, he/she would pave through the road of toil again. ok.. I must really stop philosophising. Sounding more like a whoozy hag each day. Back to the topic..er..again, I got a cert and a medal out of it. Really cool. I've never gotten a medal for a marathon (ok, it's HALF-marathon) b4. Can't help the feeling of pride washing through my system now. Hehe. I should, however, keep this narcissism at bay.

You know, I overheard this guy talking to his friend via handphone. He was asking his contact at the finishing line whether there were any medals left. He even admitted that he would stop running there and then if there were no medals left to be won. Somehow, I felt the whole matter really hilarious. Just the depiction of shallow-minded Malaysians I need to make my day. Medals, however gratifying should never be a cause.. they should, instead be a reward. Hehe.. damn.. the philosophical side of me is surfacing once again. Serious matters aside, I've also realised that the bridge marathon does not only serve the purpose of providing a setting for health-conscious runners but also a comfortable spot for: 1) sea polluters (can you imagine how many cases of sea-littering I witnessed? those hooligans were just hurling their plastic bottles into the sea! I can't even bring myself to think of the number of sea turtles and other marine inhabitants that's gonna suffer from suffocation, indigestion and chemical poisoning, thanks to their environmental crimes...) 2) romantic couples (sigh, Cupid's arrows hv even found their way into runners' lair.. what started out as a run for some turned into some serious amorous moves for some.. welcome to cupid's chokehold, fellas - the idea of romance nowadays is however terribly baffling.. wht happened 2 d traditional movie date, or dinner date? marathon date is a new concept to me.. new but not exactly thrilling.. I would personally prefer a camping date, or a diving date, or a wall-climbing date.. I'm however still out for tradition - movies and dinners work just fine - at least both parties would not be suffering from sweat-induced odour discomfort.. hehe) 3) photography buffs (seriously, I caught this guy carrying a really huge camera - minus the stand of course -, snapping away like a photo freak he is.. I even saw another guy climbing onto the railings of the Penang Bridge to capture a still shot of the sky at dawn.. I get the idea of the beauty of photography and the way the camera catches the light and yada yada yada, but risking one's life for photography is absolutely irrational.. since if one is to fall off the bridge, my bet is that the camera dives into the aquatic depths too.. no gain, only loss). Here's a pic of me, cert, n medal, at home unfortunately.. 4got to bring the camera :(

btw, isit true that I'm looking more like coal everyday? The first thing my uncle said when he saw me was, " Wah, as black as me ade har!" I never felt so offended in my whole life. My uncle is really, er, what I would describe as 'heavily pigmented'. Then, my dad, being the non-sensitive twerp he is (owch, how many points are subtracted from my karma for calling my father a twerp?), remarked "Eh, so dark ade ar u?" Then, came my mum "Wei, stay out of the sun la! Dun even look chinese anymore! Why can't u juz stay at home like me 'n' b nice n fair? No guys will ever look at u again d lar!" That's the final blow! I don't think I can give up activities I like just to maintain that peachy complexion girls supposedly should have. And I don't think I would give a damn about any guy who well, gives a damn whether I'm a shade (ok, a few shades) darker or lighter. The worst part is, I'm not even a tomboy. I like girly stuff just fine. I just dun think the shade of one's skin should be a gender-based priority. Nobody gives a damn if guys are dark. Personally, I like dark guys.. totally sexy. Why can't d same be said 4 gurls, esp. chinese gurls? Sigh.. can't believe I'm whining about complexion disparity here.

I've written a lot, I think. I juz get hooked up on writing so easily. I know I'm not the best writer around, particularly if content is taken into account.. hehe.. 1 thing about my compositions is that they all contain a certain amount of complaining or crtiticizing or self-praising. Man, I've really got ethical issues going on!

-jamz-