Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo backs marriage rights for gay couples


As soccer fans around the world get ready for the FIFA World Cup, which begins in South Africa on June 11th, the sports pages of newspapers worldwide are doing their usual job of ratcheting up expectation by profiling participating team rosters and team members.

Portugal's Púbilico is no different than other papers and yesterday they featured an interview with Portuguese-born Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured above), in which he made worldwide headlines by expressing discontent and frustration about his first six months as a player for Spain's Real Madrid.

In the same interview, Ronaldo was also asked whether he followed developments in Portugal including the recent approval of a law that allows same-sex couples to get married.  His response:
The Portuguese man that I am, I try to keep informed about what is happening in my country.  I know the law was passed and the comment it deserves is that we must respect the choices made by anyone, because, after all, all citizens should have the exact same rights and responsibilities.
This is a breath of fresh air coming from one of the top players in a sport not particularly known for its tolerance or respect towards gays.

Wasn't it just earlier in the month that I covered the latest homophobic flare-up in the soccer world?  In that instance, as it often does, media was only happy to fan the flames by gleefully questioning whether this image proved that two Barcelona CF teammates were gay.

An update: Back then, I described how one of the players in the image, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, had angrily reacted to questions about his sexuality by lashing out at a female reporter and asking her to come home with him so he could prove he wasn't a 'fag'.

Since then, the other player in the image has also addressed the controversy.  In an interview posted on May 24th, Gerard Piqué (pictured right) says that the image in question was actually taken in March after both players had left a press conference in which Piqué had presented his published auto-biography.  Piqué believes that the image was held for days and only released at a later date in order to shake the team's stability during the season's final games.

Piqué doesn't directly address Ibrahamovic's angry outburst but does say that, at least at the time the image was released, both players took it in stride. "We saw it on the television in the dressing room," he said, "and we were both cracking up in laughter."

Previously:

a day i will remember forever!

24th May 2010, my boys birthday and also something bad happen to me for the very first time, that's why i said this is a day i won't forget forever!

After my boys birthday party in school, we went back home and took a power afternoon nap, i am just so dead tired. Evening time still thinking what to eat, then hub said, why not go to SS2 the food court there had our dinner, then we can walk at night market. (SS2 night market is on Monday night). After having my boys, i hardly go to night market, i think i only went for 2-3 times in 4 years. The last, i went i cannot remember is when, i think that is last year, but we went early, at least not so crowded.

After dinner, we walk around pasar malam. We stopped at a CD stall, to get some CDs, after paying, we walked again, after walked passed few stalls, i stop by a stall selling those shorts, i thought getting some shorts for my boys, after choosing, i want to paid money, when i put my hand into the bag, i cannot find my wallet, i told the lady, wait, i come back shortly, i went to opposite stall, told my hub i cannot find my wallet, so i stand there open my bag, search and search, cannot see, hub said, no need to find, must be been stolen by someone already. I still wondering how can "the someone" stole my wallet in my bag and yet i don't realize it. Then i only saw a big cut on my bag!!!! That time i was too shock and don't know what to do. Hub went to the stall paid the money then told the lady my wallet been stolen, the lady give me a shock face then said, it happen always!!! :(

Then we continue walking and at the same time, i make calls to bank to block all my cards and went to the police station to make report (since nearby there, there is one police station). In fact, the road that we are standing just opposite police station!! The policewoman took all my detail and took a look at my bag and told her higher superior, there is case at the night market, immediate i saw some of them went out to the pasar malam and patrol.

I am very sad and shock, on the other hand, my boys are excited to be in police station, asking non stop questions, where i have to tell them, to stop talking a while when i need to think a lot. I told hub, i just hope those pick pocket who took my wallet, take my money and return the ic and driving license to me. You know how hassle have to go through all and do the documentation again! After spent about 45 mins at the police station, we went back home.

While i almost reach home, the lady who do my pedicure called me. I was wondering why she called me late a night, and she had already resign like one month ago! That time just within few second i think a lot, would it be she found my wallet, but she stay not near to SS2..bla bla bal..i answered the call. She ask me " you drop your wallet?" I said "no, someone stolen it!!!" She said someone called her, said found my wallet. I was so stunt, happy, and i don't know what to said, i can feel i am shivering!! She gave me the contact number ask me to call. I call the number immediately, a lady answer, she said someone found my wallet and the wallet is with that uncle now, ask me where am i . I told her, i am almost home, ask her to wait for me, while i sent my boys back home first then i go and meet her. She said she want to close stall and went home already, i told her, wait for me, i be there in 15 mins!!! She told me, your wallet got no more money, but card and ic all still got, i told her i already expect that.

Reach home, woke the maid up, ask her to settle my boys, and i rush out with my hub. You know when i need rushing, ask him to drive, it shall no problem, F1 driver!!! We reach there in a very short while ( can imagine the speed my hub drive?) I contact the lady again, then i went to pasar malam and look for her, and hub waiting in the car, because at that hour still hard to find parking @ 10.40pm!!! The lady brought me to a man who found my wallet, he said he saw my wallet in front of his car, he is also one of the vendor at pasar malam, then they told me, sorry they have to go through my wallet, they saw the name card that the lady do my pedicure, they give her a call and try luck, they said if still cannot get me, they want to pass the wallet to police station already.

That time, i don't know what to said beside than keep saying "thank you very very much"!!! I said money gone it's ok, at least all my document and cards still around! I give them some token, they refuse to take, i told them this is just little a token to said my thanks, they keep refuse to take and said this is part of their "responsible" to help the customer. We start a "little drama" there, passing the $$ around :( I told them, just settle it among themselves i have to go also, because my boys are waiting for me at home.

Phew! What a day, my son's birthday and also my first been pick pocketed!! I have to salute the pick pocket, so pro, when they slit my bag and took my wallet out, i cannot feel at all!!! In my bags i got two nintendo DS same size with my wallet, and yet they just took my wallet and not the two DS. I got house key, my handphone, tissue, wet tissue all, lucky all not dropped out. I have to thank god for his mercy, watching over me. I cannot think what if they just accidently slit me instead of the bag, what if they harm my boys.

A lesson to learn, and told myself to be more alert, no more a big bag for me to bring to pasar malam, or i will stop going for while or i will go early instead of later at night. :(



see how pro they slit my bag, if you don't see properly you won't know there is a big cut! They cut through three layer of the bag and without me realize!!

sweet summer



How To Take Rejection Like a Pro

In case you were wondering, yes, I am a pro at getting rejections. But I'm not talking about the "Ew, I'd never date a loser like you!" kind of rejection. I'm talking about the kind of rejection that comes when you are querying agents/editors with your work.

I entered the official world of rejections way back in 2007. (I know, that was just yesterday in publishing years, but bear with me...) I sent a short, sweet poem about the autumn harvest to a children's magazine. They sent a form rejection (my writing friends and I simply call it an R) that had a checklist for reasons why they were passing. The checklist was completely blank, but there was a short, handwritten note at the bottom that basically said the the poem was nice but they had already purchased something similar.

I do remember getting that rejection. It wasn't pretty. I frowned and furrowed my eyebrows for at least a good minute.

But the real rejections came about a year later when I started querying agents. My novel was finished and (nearly) polished, but I went through rejection after rejection as each agent sent that dreaded R.

Rejection is something every writer has to deal with at one point or another. I'm not going to list here all those bestselling authors who got rejected a million times before they became super famous. You've all heard the stories. But, if you're like me, hearing someone else's eventual success really doesn't help when you are wallowing in your own rejection self-pity. In fact, sometimes it makes you want to take their uber-successful book (which, of course, is on your bookcase because you stood in line for three hours with 40 million other fans so you could purchase it at midnight on the day it came out) and chuck it at the wall.

So, how do you deal with rejection? I'm sure it's different for everyone, since we all have different personalities and ways of coping. But here are a few thoughts I have on the subject:

1) It's nothing personal.

The fact is, the publishing industry takes something that is very personal--a writer's words (and, by extension, thoughts and feelings as well)--and brings it into the very non-personal business world. For a publishing house, the bottom line does matter. For an agent, selling a client's book is important. That doesn't mean they aren't passionate about their work, but it does mean that they can't sign every client or buy every manuscript they see. It's nothing personal, it's just business.

I know it's harsh to hear those words when you've worked on something so hard for so long, but it helps to remember that they aren't rejecting YOU. It truly is nothing personal. Remember that.

2) It'll only hurt for a little bit.

Rejections hurt. Some more than others. But someone wiser than most once said that time heals all wounds. Give yourself some time to grieve. Go ahead and cry or spit or hang a photo of the agent/editor on your oft-used dart board. And, soon enough, you'll get over it.

(NOTE: I would like to make it perfectly clear that it is not okay to throw darts at real agents/editors. And I wouldn't make it a well-known fact that you're throwing darts at photos of these people, either. The publishing biz is a small world, after all. The other agents/editors might not want to work with you if they knew their industry peers' mugs are hanging up all over your house. That borders on creepy, IMO.)

3) It's a subjective world out there.

I once took an art appreciation/art history class in college. I found that I gravitated toward the landscape painters such as Thomas Cole, because it amazed me that they could paint something as magnificent as an entire mountain, for example, but in such minute detail that it looked nearly like a photograph. And I was surprised when others in the class said how much they hated those same paintings, because they did look like photographs and, therefore, weren't imaginative enough. They liked the Cubism paintings by Picasso instead.

I've found that manuscripts are exactly the same. Some people love one style and hate another. So don't despair when those rejections come in. That agent/editor may be looking for a Picasso when you might be a Thomas Cole. It doesn't mean you can't paint--um, I mean write--it just means you haven't found the right audience yet.

4) Learn to keep it all in perspective.

Why are you writing, anyway? I suspect most of you write because you have to. You can't imagine not writing. It's a part of who you are. You couldn't stop writing even if you wanted to, which you don't.

Does a rejection from an agent/editor change that? Certainly not, I say. You will always keep writing because you are a writer, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Besides, you need some great rejection stories for later, when you are a super-successful author. So be grateful. No one likes to hear those "Oh, I've never been rejected!" stories. They are soooo boring. You are so lucky you aren't one of those people. Trust me on this.

Robin Hood (2010)



Robin Hood (Ridley Scott, 2010)

What is it with history that implores us to treat it with reckless reverence? It seems that humanity has devolved into needy orphans, unable to cope up with the problems of the present and always looking at the past for answers and reasons, or a semblance of a former glory that the messy world we currently live in can never provide. Filmmakers, those modern storytellers who more often than not are no longer motivated by the actual pleasure of the arts but by the promise of earning a shiny buck for themselves and for the corporations they make films for, have presented themselves to bridge the already bridged gap, telling new and old stories with perceived historical accuracy. What for? Surely, it is no longer for sheer spectacle or plain pageantry. When the likes of D. W. Griffith, whose The Birth of the Nation (1915) remains to be one of the most historically offensive yet grandiosely spectacular films of all time, or Cecile B. DeMille, who has made a career turning the silver screen into a time capsule that showcases the opulence of the past, are a rare if not extinct species in today's crop of filmmakers, historical accuracy has turned into a cosmetic cliché that begs and pleads for relevance and importance, rather than a spark for discourse.

Take Ridley Scott's appallingly unimaginative Robin Hood as an example. The character of Robin Hood persists in common knowledge as close to mythical, a conveniently moral bandit who is donned in the stereotypical archer’s outfit and goes about the business of stealing from the rich so that he can redistribute the wealth to the poor and is reinforced by the many cinematic reincarnations from Errol Flynn’s dashing and charming hero in Michael Curtiz’s The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938); to the witty fox garbed in green in Walt Disney Studios’ animated re-telling Robin Hood (1973); to Kevin Costner’s overly serious champion in Kevin Reynolds’ Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). In an attempt to inject relevance to the overly familiar tale in the most unlikely way, Mel Brooks came up with a deliciously vicious satire, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), explicating how the hero, with his and his friends’ dated fashion sense and claim to fame, is actually a wellspring of gags and jokes.

In Scott’s Robin Hood, Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) is an archer in the army of King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston), whose return to England to reclaim the throne is impeded by his death in battle. Disguised as Sir Robert Loxley who died in an ambush, Robin and his men return to England to relay the news of the king’s untimely death, which leads to the coronation of John (Oscar Isaac) as the new king of England, and start to lead the lives of their assumed identities, as son of the Sir Walter Loxley (Max von Sydow) of Nottingham and wife of Marion (Cate Blanchett). Burdened by contributions to Richard’s crusades and John’s abominable taxes which are being collected by Godfrey (Mark Strong), one of John’s trusted men, who turns out to be a double agent for the invading French, the people have gone poorer and poorer, making them more restless and resistant to the king’s abusive demands.

Placing the character in an exact place in history seems to be a good idea since it opens the character to further interpolation, placing his legendary motive of wealth distribution within a context of actual events instead of fictional scenarios. Although claimed to be based on researches and investigations on the very identity of the character, Scott’s Robin Hood feels more hokey than convincing. In fact, this undue insistence on historical accuracy, boxing him within the possibilities and probabilities of the time period, has turned the character into a fatal bore. As far as this film goes, the allure of Robin Hood --- the cunning and mischief mixed with chivalry, the adventurousness, the mystery --- is completely obliterated, turning the famous thief, at least in the eyes of the film’s viewers, into just another artifact of the past, excretable and forgettable. Not even the several astoundingly meticulously recreated set pieces can save a Robin Hood film whose Robin Hood is as ordinary as the next summer blockbuster action hero from obscurity.

As far as historical accuracy is concerned, Scott makes his audience believe that he has solved the riddle to the identity of the much-beloved Robin Hood. More than that, Scott has oversimplified Robin Hood, turning him into a palatable modern hero and a defender of democracy with the several back-stories on the trauma of the crusades, his father’s goal of uniting England with a declaration of rights, and his fate of mustering all the warriors of England to thwart the French invasion, instead of the moral conundrum that he really is, the prime example of the debate on whether or not the ends can justify the means. I personally prefer the latter; Robin Hood is simply bigger than the history or the culture that gave birth to him. By reinventing him by portraying him from a definite historical perspective in the mistaken belief that with history, comes newfound relevance, it can only lessen the character’s mystique. Of course, other than what I think is a bastardization of the enigma that is Robin Hood, the film, is, to put it plainly, just lousy, and probably the lousiest film ever done by Scott.

5th Birthday Celebration @ School

This year i did not do anything special for school like last year. Last year 50 bentos for the school kids really a challenge. When i told the school teacher i will do a small party for the boys in school, ie: i will cook some food for the kids and teachers and have cake cutting session. Teachers asked me, " are you going to do something like last year again? hahahha, i told her, no no, i will cook some food and they will take their share"

My boys actual birthday is on Monday 24/5. I took a day off, after sending them to school, i am back home had some breakfast then start my cooking. Lucky i got maid to help me to fried those drummets and i fried "maggie mee". By the time we finish, it's almost 11.15am, get everything pack, get ready and off to school. Kids had early lunch at 11.30am, because some of the kids will go off by 12 noon so we do it early.

Beside than the food below, i bring some vitagen, tidbits for the kids, jellies and mini fruit tarts.


fried drummets..


fried fish ball.....



some combo..nuggets, fish ball and fish fillet


fried maggie mee ...


when we are there, the kids still having their class, my boys spot my hub.


must pass up the work first before start the party


when i took the cupcakes out, the kids can't wait, all round the table and said "wow, nice!" hahahhaha...then my boys said "move back move back, sit down first" sound like big kor kor. :S






putting on the candles.....




took a picture first, before the older kids come and join.





when all the kids sing "happy birthday" song, see Cruz reaction, he is so happy and with big movement, and yet Fearles smile shy shy at the side. Compare to last year, they are still so shy!!













after singing the birthday song, teacher ask them to pray....before enjoy the cupcakes. :)


hub took a picture of the boys and their teacher and their friends. 5 of them are in class age of 5, except the small boy on the left side.


having their lunch.......i think they sit on the place the teacher station them. Last year, my boys sat on the same place too!





first table is 6 years old kids, and the second at the back are kids @ 4 years old...

after lunch every kids have some fun before going home. :)

This is my boys 5th years old birthday celebration. Here, Fearles and Cruz would like to said a big "THANK YOU" to all the jie jie, kor kor, mei mei, di di, aunties and uncles for the birthday wishes and birthday pressie!!

i like this headscarf, i should get my boys wear this on the party day, i only saw this when they open the gift. It's one of their pressie. :)

Pirate Theme Birthday Party!

Phew!! Finally all over, i mean my boys birthday celebration. When i thought i can take a good rest yesterday, after my boys birthday celebration at kindy, night time something "bad" happen to me. :(, another stress and headache moment (those friends in FB know what is happening, i will blog it in detail in another post).

Two months before my boys birthday, i already think what to plan for them. I don't like to rush and do last minute things, but nothing come to my mind, whether to do a small party or don't do any party or do it at fast food outlet or.........my boys had been asking me when is their birthday, whenever they attend any of their friend's birthday party. Always ask me "why take so long still not their birthday yet!"

It all till one week before we depart for our Hong Kong trip, suddenly my boys told me, they want a pirate theme birthday party, i thought it's a good idea and at least now i know what i need to get and prepare. I start hunt for birthday cake, what for party packs, where to do the party, what to serve. Oh no! I tell you, it is so stress!! I manage to settle the cake and get some idea on what small things i can put it in the party packs. Then i went for my Hong Kong Trip, after came back, i only got almost two weeks to plan everything!! You can imagine the stress!! From there, we decide to do it at home again, and we will have home cook food!! Mother in law, me, two maids and younger sister in law will be in charge of the food!! Nearer to the date, i got so many things to do, prepare party packs, and start daily to get some things ready, go through the list, what did i left out, guests i am going to invite and etc. That's why i am very slow in blog hopping, hope those who always come by my blog and comment, i promise i will drop by your blog very soon!!!

On the actual day, morning i do some deco at the compound and start prepare the food for the night. Afternoon, we all spent our time in the kitchen and do the cooking. My close friend cum my online biz partner come and give me a helping hand in the afternoon. Thanks so much Vivian!! Time just pass so fast, blink blink it's already party time, i get a quick shower, then guests start to come.

We had a great time, i told the clown we are having pirate party, so he also dress up in a pirate costume instead of the usual clown costume! I get the kids had some food first before the clown come. I told them if they didn't finish the food, the clown won't come. Kids having fun, adults enjoy the food (i hope they do) and enjoy yakking. Me busy entertain and running here and there. Those who come for the party, i didn't chat with you much, very sorry about it. Now, i will let the pictures do the talking!


party packs. I manage to get those brown paper bag, i find it unique. Due to the plain look, i decide to deco the white label sticker with some colorful stickers and with their name on it.


some "junk food" for the kids!!! Since it is kid's party! LOL!!


roti jala, i order it from my colleague, she do very nice roti jala!!


curry spare rib, everyone give a thumbs up on this, mother in law cook it. Roti Jala to go with this curry sauce. YUM!!!!


i cook this spaghetti, i know it look plain, i should add some parsley, but.........


fried chicken, everyone said good!! Secret recipe is the frying flour that we use do the magic. Crunchy, simple and yummy!!!! This is hot and spicy version.


Pork Chop!!


this is non spicy fried chicken for the kids and those who can't take spicy food. :)


this is another signature dish from our kitchen, every festival my mother in law will cook this. I think the photographer (my hub) missed out some food, the fried mee hoon, jellies, cucumber pickles, vegetables with mix mushroom and ROAST PORK!!!! Ok, don't blame me, photographer didn't do a good job and i am too busy to take pictures!!!



my two princes with their pirate look. Pirate Fearles and Pirate Cruz. I got their tee from Hong Kong, when i saw it, immediate i bought it.





pirate Fearles


pirate Cruz


i deco the area with lots of balloons at least look better?





pirates theme cupcakes for them. The same lady i order from last year, Daalia.






some mini tarlets as dessert, order from Daalia.


guests are "attacking" the food!!


pirates with their two friends. Ashley and Tess, two pretty young lady.


the "buffet counter" , look ok?? One of my friends thought we are ordering catering food!! LOL!





Captain G (the clown) was entertaining the kids!! Doing some magic, this is the same guy that i get last year too!! LOL!! Last year, he came as a clown, and some kids actually afraid of clown.



actually the Captain G doing the same magic as last year and even the game too!!! I still remember!! hahahhahah Should ask him to get more idea. Since last year i was participate in some game, this year i become more "pro" in wrapping the kids as in "mummy", my "mummy" chosen the best one. hahhahahahhahaha


nice? I wrap Cruz!


another magic show...Fearles with the red hair on.






tada!! They pull Fearles's underwear out! hahhaha


this is another game, mummy and kids to participate, i opt this out, last year i had it already, so this year i leave it to my guests to play. This two mummies...Patsy and Tess, Elaine and Amber!


laundry-amah and Kylie


laundry-apah and Kieran also join the fun!!


time for cake cutting...candles also in pirates!


my boy and Kylie on the right, Kylie also a May baby, her birthday just 4 days earlier!


4 kids born in May blowing the candles. Ashley is sharing the same birth date as my boys. Same year, same date, only time is different!!


blowing the candles!





they love the cupcakes, less messy and no need to cut. Just help themselves.




see the dirty pirate!


yummy and good!


me and my two friends since college time!! Jackie and Irene and her lovely girl girl - Esther!


picture from Elaine's camera - Barb, Me, Patsy, Peggy and Elaine! This is the only group pictures.

Party over around 9pm, i know kids have to go to school the next morning, so i start the party @ 6pm. After i put my boys to sleep, i went and help the maid to do the cleaning and clearing. When i back to my room around 11.30pm, this is what i saw.......they are happy and tired, and can you spot the Elmo sleeping on the bed too?? Fearles's hand round Cruz's neck, two of them just love to stick to each other and sleep together.




Thank you everyone who "sacrifice" your Sunday family time and come for the party, hope you all did enjoy the fun and the food and thanks for all the lovely pressies and "ang pow"!!! Thanks once again!!
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