US$50. That's the number today.

Before you feel the urge to label me another money-sucking capitalists, the US$50 refers to the plea from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, which will be put to use in its efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest.

Why?

Because the cold fingers of mild guilt are brushing the inner linings of my stomach, causing mild discomfort, which could build up into nausea.

Basically, I don't have US$50.

But many of you do, and if you wish to save your home (literally), please find a place for the people, creatures, plants, and other denizens of the Amazons between that must-have Goblet of Fire poster and cowboy-boot-shaped potato chip.

On a cynically ironic note, tiger flu might not be so far fetched after all.

An article in North Malaysia's premier newspaper, The Star, caught my eye, in which people who normally handle chickens, e.g., the local chicken farmer who slaughters the meat for the market, don't get the (bird) flu.

This could mean 2 things:
1. These people's immune systems are significantly different than ours as a result of daily contact with birds.

or

2. Chickens aren't spreading the flu, but are totally innocent. Stray cats and dogs might have somehow contracted the bird flu and are spreading the disease in populated areas.

No matter what the conclusion will be, one thing is for sure:
Mess with nature long enough, and EVERYONE gets burned.

This week's Daily Show with Jon Stewart was pretty, for lack of a better word, fascinating. Let's just say if the Bush administration was trying to raise the American public's morale regarding the Iraq war, they failed spectacularly.

Americans, if you watched that episode, I hoped you realise you've just re-elected a moron to arguably the most powerful empire in the world.

On a lighter note, I realise writing this stuff down and knowing no politician in my country is reading it is quite a relief. This is due to the fact that I can be arrested under the Internal Security Act if I become too reckless with my choice of words.

More on my country's troubles later. But at least we haven't had any outbreaks of H5N1, yet. Oh, wait... That's because we actually export endangered species of birds instead of importing them for consumption like Vietnam & China. Well, at least that will stem the demand for exotic birds for a while.

I hope there's an outbreak of tiger flu next.

Hmm... I thought my year-and-a-half absence would automatically qualify my blog for the Grand Archive of Forgotten Stuff (aka Garbage Bin) of cyberspace. It seems Blogger doesn't have a limit on the amount of time that elapses before you next login. Very comforting...

A lot has changed and I too have changed, so I will first start by substituting my first drab template with a more colourful and eye-pleasing creation.

Hopefully, my next update won't take too long.

Until then,
Live Long & Prosper,
May The Force Be With You,
Be At Peace With Death.