Category Archives: Culture

Culture, Technology, Travel

Generational vs cultural differences for the Internet in Malaysia

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Malaysia is the 5th “most connected” country in Asia (data 3 years old but should still hold mostly true). So it’s with some surprise when I come visit home that there are vast differences in the way we do things. We don’t check online for local garages – we drive around and find ones that look good or word off traditional word of mouth recommendations. On the other hand, Dominos Pizza in Malaysia accepts online payments, in a country that has traditionally shied away from e-commerce due to high levels of fraud, and we managed to pre-emptively order a lot of Emily’s baby kit from an online store before we arrived.

Hard for me to always establish which differences are due to culture – it’s a hard-bargaining, fraud-averse environment here – and how many are due to generational differences. Most of our visits here are spent with my parents and aunts and uncles – who are of a different age, shall we say.

Regardless of what the cause is, I’ve taken some delight in spreading a few bits of my digital-era practices here. A couple of aunts have been introduced to Apps, I’ve been evangelising true Smartphones whilst battling against aging Nokias and so on. The motivation is more than slightly self-interested – it’s lovely to have my family more connected to our lives as we share them digitally – including the ongoing development of young Emily and our other adventures…

Cousins – what do you think?? Digital Guru Shayna?

Culture, Film

Lessons from Alan Bennett

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Went to see The History Boys tonight, the movie. Saw the play some time back and was very moved by it, and so when I got the times wrong for Children of Men, I was not unhappy. I’ll make no comment on whether it was a faithful, or necessary adaptation of the play we saw at the National Theatre. I will say that it was entertaining, is an exceptional piece of writing, I’m glad its available for all to see, and that I’d like to share five things I took from it. They may not make a great deal of sense in isolation, but please, please go see the film. Then you’ll understand.

(1) The whole Words/Language/Literature thing. When I was younger I thought I loved these things, and said so. Hector’s frustrations at the boys for thinking that they did – and Felix’s complete misunderstanding of who and what Hector was – struck a chord. I realised a while ago — it’s not that I love words, language, literature, writing… I love stories. It’s not the point Hector was making, Hector was talking about knowledge, I think, about acquiring knowledge, having natural curiosity, trusting that understanding would come (“Most of the things they write about haven’t happened to us yet, sir!” … “but they will, and then you’ll have the antidote… poetry!”)… but still.

(2) They call Felix the advance warning. The need for substance beyond… well, sheen. Felix was fairly one-dimensional. But a warning for those whose ambitions exceed their character.

(3) Love. The whole inoculation speech. Utterly brilliant. Really made sense. The idea that a few broken hearts provide a defense against “half a lifetime” of loneliness. Cynical, perhaps. But spoken by Hector, it was the tragedy of the moment that gave it poignancy.

(4) History is just one f****** thing after another. Rudge is a genius.

(5) “The best thing about reading,” says Hector (and here I start to paraphrase) “is when you read something, find a thought, an idea, that was special to you… and its from a complete stranger. It’s like they are shaking your hand.”

Culture

Spurs 2: Sheffield Utd 0

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OK ok, probably just n00b excitedment, but got well into last night’s match. Never mind that Spurs 2nd half performance (until Dafoe came on) was mediocre at best, or that it was against a promoted side… it was just plain fun. I need to watch more of these matches…

Planning on watching every Spurs game I can this season. I even know the names of some of the players! Although spelling will take a while to follow…

Culture, Current affairs

Emotional hit

Spurs took a hit losing to Bolton this weekend. Read about it here. I didn’t watch the match and am not following the season that closely, but the decision to support Spurs a little more actively this season has been enough; I felt/feel duly sad. And then I felt appropriately amused by reading Martin Jol’s comments about the game:

“The only positive for us is the new players now know the Premiership is different.”

There was doubt?

Still, I’ll be watching with interest. I understand that we’ve lost the last 5 matches against Bolton away and that it was more or less a foregone conclusion, so hopefully we’ll have more luck in the next game.

Culture, Miscellany, Observational

Ladbroke’s

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A new Ladbroke’s has opened near me, and a couple of people have already moved into permanent seating positions. I don’t know what it is about betting shops that they need to generate such depressing environments for themselves; the windows have all been blocked (in what was quite an attractive, well lit storefront) and white mountingboard seals every wall. It looks like it must feel like being on the inside of a coffin.

Matt seemed to think that they shut out external sources of light so betters in residence wouldn’t notice the passage of time in the outside world, which seems rational enough in that respect… but if these guys are watching races/football matches, etc, they’ll know exactly what time it is…

Ah, ’tis a wonderful and variegated world we live in. The best I can hope for is that the Ladbroke’s faces the same end that the three preceding coffee shops that inhabited that space did: lack of custom.

Culture

The intimacy of blog interaction

I’ve found lately that I pay more attention to comments, technorati leads or trackbacks than I do to normal email. I guess the implication of a comment or trackback etc. is that someone has actually read what I’ve written about something and chosen to give an opinion. As such, it’s therefore about me and in a typically egocentric way I care more.

It’s a pretty intimate interaction; I like it a lot.

So those of you have been reading and giving your views – I thank you. And if you think I’ve not been commenting on your blog enough, tell me and I’ll get involved. I’m quite good about reading my RSS feeds, so you’re not going unread, don’t worry. Unlike these guys…

Culture

Neapolitan drinking songs

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Was out tonight celebrating Sheila’s birthday, at a lovely Italian restaraunt in Ladbroke Grove. Was brave and had some slightly flattened relative of spaghetti (sciatelli?) with king prawns – utterly delicious and the experience of having an entire clan of Neapolitans serve us the delicious food really put the raspberry on the panacotta (also delicious). It was a general smorgasboard of deliciousness.

Sister seemed to have a good time, which was generally pleasing. My abuse of my ‘presence’ information today on Google Talk and MSN Messenger resulted in a number of random birthday greetings for Sheila directed at me. Though oddly, none came in via this blog – are you people really paying attention? ;)

Tonight, I talked to Wu-Tang, amongst others of Sheila’s friends. Wu-tang has an awesome blog title, and a number of good anecdotes, many of which are Italian in nature.

The one thing I learned, however, was the lyrics to a particularly charming Neapolitan drinking song. Well, apparently it can be sung without drinking, but anyway, the lyrics go (please excuse spelling):

Funiculee, funicular, funiculee, funiculaaaaaaar…….
Yamba yamba yamba ya funiculee funicular

I think it’s about a funicular railway. Geor-.. I mean, Wu-Tang will no doubt drop by and correct me if I’m wrong.

Culture, Current affairs

The bluffer’s guide to football…

I am, to the shock, horror, bemusement and outright disbelief of everyone who knows me, trying to understand a bit more about football this season. I’m not sure why – I guess I did enjoy the world cup (despite England’s mediocre performance) – and to a certain extent have had enough of looking and feeling completely clueless everytime a conversation about the latest premiership transfers kicks off.

So I’m supporting Spurs, am subscribed the the right RSS feeds (as provided by the BBC), and even signed up to the Metro’s fantasy football game, playing in a private league organised by Tom. If you’re up for getting involved, let one of us know and we’ll send you the pin. For those curious, my winning striker combination is Berbatov (who I have high hopes for) and Crouch (the funniest man in football). I’m playing a 4:4:2 and have Paul Robinson in goal.

Why Spurs? Well, I’m not sure who my local club would be by geography, but have taken a policy that I’ll support the team supported by the first person who explained a sport to me. For football, this was Bozza back in my school days and Damo more recently (both Spurs fans, obviously) and Daf explained Rugby to me – so I support Wales in the six nations – and everywhere else. It’s one of the advantages of having no ‘origin’ location to speak of – Malaysia only really figures in international badminton and squash (and sepak takraw, but who’s counting…).

I am enjoying freaking out people who expect me to know nothing, though. I just keep saying “Berbatov’s having a great run,” or “I think Berbatov is going to make his 25 goals this season,” or “We’re doing well in the pre-season friendlies,” and people just stare at me blankly.

The joys of RSS ;).

Culture, Miscellany

The Visa Diaries

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I’m not big on shopping myself, but if you are… check out the Visa Diaries. Kate Howe is examining how your shopping reflects your personality, in some sense — as she tells “tales of life and love” through Visa receipts ;).

Me? I hate shopping. Buy everything online that I can. Not sure what that says about me :P

Culture, Current affairs, Media & Marketing, Writing

Joss Whedon rules

Sorry, still in full geek mode. This comes via Arvind via SFGate – Joss Whedon being recognised for his work in writing strong, female characters and therefore doing his bit for ‘Equality Now.’

Its an absolutely amazing speech. Unbelievably moving without being trite; unbelievably articulate without seeming scripted. Incredibly humble, but simply… incredible.

Some bits that moved me in particular…

Recognising somebody else’s power does not diminish your own

And

Equality is not a concept. It’s not something we should be striving for. It’s a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this Earth as men and women.

Legend.