#Malaysian Book Blogger

[fazilareads]

BOOKISH PROMPTS WITH @WARHAWKESVAULT

BOOKISH PROMPTS WITH @WARHAWKESVAULT

Bookish Prompts is my version of a fun interview with fellow book obsessed people on the internet. Today’s episode of Bookish Prompts is with fellow blogger and bookstagrammer Azmira. Azmira’s blog is a fun place to read book reviews, bookish musings, author interviews and blogger interviews. Her blog really is a treasure trove for fellow bookish people as her tag line suggests. Here is my Q & A…

[tanda-soal]

@bibliophilicwitch​‘s Tomes and Tea

Today’s “tea” is some traditional dessert called pengat pisang (which is “banana in sweetened coconut milk”). My “tome” is The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui because no I am not over it yet. Happy Sunday!

[chiefcupcakelove4567]

Travel Singapore hassle-free with the Same Day Change Policy of United Airlines

Being a travel blogger, I often travel with different brands. Before my trip to Singapore, I had an urgent emergency that I had to change my travel dates. I was worried if I could cancel or change my flights last moment. My friend Lisa told me about the flexible same-day change policy of United Airlines Reservations. I was so relieved as I could not travel that day. I could make changes to my United Airlines flight and get the reservations done for the next day.

I called on the United Airlines Same Day Flight Changes Number to change my flight. I was able to make changes to my flight without any additional fee. I just had to pay the difference in fare that was applicable for my new booking. I am delighted by the policies of United Airlines and the service they provide through the website and the phone number.

I went to Singapore for a brand launch, and the hotel bookings were made by the brand for me. My stay was in the Carlton Hotel Singapore. The hospitality was terrific. I loved the property, food, location, everything.

Other properties worth a stay in Singapore are:-

Mandarin Orchard Singapore

Pan Pacific Singapore

Yotel Singapore Orchard Road

M Social Singapore

Dorsett Singapore

Marina Bay Sands

Singapore is an island city-state in the maritime of Southeast Asia. It is known for its tall buildings, clean streets, luxury shopping, and many more tourist attractions. Singapore is a safe and secure place to travel, especially for a solo female traveler. I stayed in Singapore for 5 days. It was a 2-day event in the mall Vivo City. I kept additional 3 days to explore Singapore. Food in Singapore is the best part.

I tried different cuisines Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Indian, Chinese. There were so many famous cafes and restaurants I went to have my meals in. Undoubtedly, Singapore is quite expensive. Traveling in Singapore by taxi is a little pricier. If you are a solo traveler like me for the group, it is okay.

Some of the best Restaurants in Singapore are:-

Elixir Boutique Roasters

Tolido’s Espresso Nook

My Awesome Café

Forty Hands

Crossroads

Tiong Bahru Bakery

Common Man Coffee Roasters

Merci Marcel

The Mind Café

Sunday Folks

Bee’s Knees at Garage

Lola’s Cafe

Singapore has some of the world’s remarkable tourist Spots where people visit from different parts of the world. They have been on my list too. Finally, I have ticked them off my bucket list, and I couldn’t be happier.

The top destinations to visit in Singapore are:-

Sentosa Island

Universal Studios

Singapore Flyer

Clarke Quay

Siloso Beach

Arab Street

Orchard Road

Night Safari

The time spent in Singapore is priceless. Made new links, met new people had great food, and shopped like crazy due to the sale. I am so thankful for the United Airlines flight change policy to make it to this trip. I almost felt it is canceled. The in-flight experience was great too, definitely choosing United for my future trips as well.

[gluestickcherrybum]

Ahoy there! I'm back with another study post °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

 So if you aren't aware already, me as well as various other study bloggers are notorious for writing aesthetically pleasing handwritten notes. Notes aren’t absolutely necessary if you prefer to do without.  A lot of my friends and acquaintances don’t bother with them and prefer to rely entirely on the lecture materials provided. I find that it helps me indefinitely in my studies and as a brief creative outlet which I rarely give myself the time for.

Why take Notes? 

Instead of printing the lecture materials given digitally, I've taken it to re-write the lecture notes a few days prior to the lecture. Some lecturers insist their students read the material to get a grasp of the topic before the lecture and this is taking it a few steps further.  They say writing something down is equivalent to reading it 7 times, meaning getting into memory this way is so much more efficient which is one of the biggest reasons I insisted myself handwrite my notes. Also writing your own notes is totally customisable to your needs, do you prefer mind maps or lists? Infographics or paragraphs? Minimalistic or colourful? It's all up to you.

Why I personally take notes

Different plants have different needs. Some need to be watered daily, some twice a day and some every other day. Some thrive in nutrient-rich soil and some prefer to sit in dry sand. Just like plants, each individual student has different needs and circumstances to thrive. For me, since I have a relatively low attention span and am a relatively slow learner, I needed the head start of reading topics beforehand to catch on with the rest. To me, with proper preparation for lectures, attending the lecture is like filling in the missing puzzle pieces. At least it should be. Also, I'm more of a visual learner, so if you're like me, then well structured, colourful and easy to read notes are not only more appealing but really help me in my studies and help me grasp topics a lot faster.

SUPPLIES

Probably the part where everyone is pumped for but I'll to simplify as well as be in-depth as possible.

Basically, you need paper and a pen. Need some colours? get some highlighters or coloured pens. Some people usually go one or the other but you can benefit from using both systematically. 

What I look for in my preferred paper:

Thicker paper (120gsm) because I use markers and pens that bleed through anything less and I like my paper sturdy because I heavily reference my notes and I don't want them to get worn out as quickly (i want to actually try to use thinner paper and be gentler but not sure how much I can commit to it  o(╥﹏╥)o).

Smoother paper is good if you use felt tips so they don't get damaged that quickly.

Line spacing. Its a waste of space and paper if you have small handwriting but largely spaced outlines. Not easy to find though.

Line colour. I prefer lighter lines such as light grey if possible, it just looks tidier that my writing contrasts more than with jet black lines.

Recycled or sustainably made paper. Because environment. Trees happy. Duh.

At the moment I'm a fan of loose-leaf paper because I'm not a fan of wasting notebook paper at the back (plus its even harder to get the paper features I want in notebooks unless I'm lucky) but if I were to succumb to using notebooks, I would definitely prefer thread-bound or hand-sewn over spring bound just because I think metal springs are annoying and if they're plastic, they aren't recyclable. You know me.

In conclusion, it's hard to find test pad with all of these features, you can consider printing your own notepaper if you're as picky as I am but you do you. If you can only afford flimsy see-through paper, that's alright. But make sure your supplies are appropriate for them as most of the supplies I use will bleed even on regular paper

Pens

Don't bother going all out and using fine liners or drawing pens to write notes. Get practical. Pick your poison. Smooth gel pens or dry ballpoint? Ergonomic or Budget-friendly? Disposable or refillable? My only guideline is to make sure they have waterproof ink because in any case, you need to send in an assignment last minute and have to rush through the rain without a folder you definitely want your writing to be at least legible if anything. (yes I learned this the hard way, yes illegible work will cost you a lot of marks. don't make my mistake ｡：ﾟ(｡ﾉω＼｡)ﾟ･｡

 Also. Black or Blue? Studies show that writing in blue improves memory collection but black is the more neutral aesthetic. What do I do? I use black as my main colour and write keywords and important facts in blue to take advantage of its memory-enhancing properties.

My current preference: Zebra Sarasa Clip (because its made of 75% recycled plastic and is a good quality pen) with Pentel Energel refill (gel ink that dries quickly. that's all I need)

Budget-Friendly: There are good quality pen sets at the ECO shop (Malaysian dollar store) or buy disposable pens in bulk at any book store. Trust me, it saves a lot more than buying a brand new 80 cent pen every now and again. (Also including the cost of transportation to the store because when you live independently, every cent matters) It's not exactly environmentally friendly but hey, anything to cut the cost right?

Zero Waste option: Fountain Pen with a converter (not the cartridges) and glass bottles of ink refill. Yes, it sounds daunting but its zero waste if that's your cup of tea. You don't have to go all out and buy an expensive luxury fountain pen made of stainless steel, or go fancy and get a flexible nib. If you ask me, I have my eyes set on the pilot kakuno fountain pen, its simple, aesthetic and highly recommended for beginners (although not plastic-free its made out of 85% recycled plastic which is cool since I'm hoping to make a one time purchase, I won't mind it being made from plastic but that just my taste)

Coloured Pens

So I haven't been a fan of using coloured pens for a while but ill tell you I'm currently using a cheap set of coloured gel pens from Kaison just because they have cute patterns but the ink flow isn't that smooth so I should've bought something more practical. The ultimate budget-friendly option which is not only cheap but long-lasting and good quality, and ones that I’d recommend for anyone is the Papermate Kilometrico ballpoint coloured pens. So far I only know they come in five colours but they've been my favourite for years. Most people I know that disagree with me usually don't like the colour range or arent a fan of dry ink but if you aren't that picky and looking for a reliable option they're a good option, plus if you're using cheap paper, they won't bleed or anything so that's cool.

Highlighters

I love pastel highlighters. Its soft, cute, aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and some colours are better at actually highlighting words rather than their neon counterparts like green and purple. Although not the cheapest option, I doubt ill ever go back to neon highlighters ever and ill only be recommending pastel highlighters thanks.

My current preference: I'm currently using Monami Pastel Highlighters just because they were on sale with comparable prices to unbranded cheap pastel highlighters. I will never recommend commonly branded highlighters like Stabilo Boss or Zebra Mildliners because the extra pennies just aren't worth it since the unbranded kind has lived up to my standards. (also I haven't tried those branded highlighters mind you but I doubt I'm missing out on anything)

Budget-Friendly option: While Zebra Mildliners are being sold at RM5 for one and RM25 for a set, Mr DIY sells knockoff brand "BEIFA" for RM7 for a set of six which is a pretty good deal if you ask me (also there are double-sided ones with a bullet and chisel tips if you thought mildliners were the only option with those features). I've also found some rare gems, unbranded pastel highlighters hidden in common bookstores for an even cheaper price, but they're really hard to find unless the pastel highlighter trend decides to catch on. I digress.

Zero Waste option: I heard about highlighter pencils, just wooden pencils with neon colour pigments, but why get trendy when you can use any old wooden colouring pencils lying around? I don't think ill give up plastic highlighters for wooden pencils despite being a strong environmentalism advocate but there are a few options for highlighters made from recycled plastic but they either don't come in pastel colours or too pricey for my taste (yes I'm a cheapskate for crud sake)

Extras

These other things aren't exactly necessary but they add little flourishes and/or aid you in your note-taking. Not exactly an extra investment but its completely up to you

Sticky notes (or coloured memo pads) for extra notes, diagrams or equations which I like for them to stand out a bit. (Pastel over neon of course)

Washi tape to divide subchapters (but a highlighter streak does the job)

Correction tape because never will I ever use correction fluid mind you

Brush pens for headers (completely unnecessary but I don't have any other outlet to practice brush lettering so.) Recommendations: Artline Stix (chunky but super cheap, marker type not for thin paper), Pentel Fude Touch (great for beginners, small and practical, 83% recycled plastic, but will bleed on regular paper)

Alternatively, a regular black felt tip marker just to make the title stand out is good enough.

NOTE TAKING TECHNIQUES

An underrated note-taking method is the Cornell method which is frankly a systematic way to write notes in which you divide the paper into 4 sections, a place for title and date and stuff, the main body for notes, extended side margin for extra info/lecture comments/questions/subtitles and bottom quarter reserved for a summary of the notes. Some people modify this technique by omitting the summary section, depending on your needs.

Bullet points and indents. This is pretty self-explanatory, but it's pretty much notes that aren't chunky paragraphs. Easier to read, easier to register information, easier to skim through. You get the gist of it.

Highlighting system. Some people go all out with their highlighting system and designate colours to certain things such as green for vocab, orange for equations, blue for subtopics. etc. You can try this out if you want, but for me, the plethora of colour is quite distracting and not that aesthetically pleasing, but you do you.

BREAKING DOWN MY METHOD OF NOTE TAKING

My priorities to note-taking are: Easy to read, simple, decluttered and visually pleasing. For colours, I mainly use up to 4. Black pen for the main information, blue pen for keywords (or any coloured pen that matches the highlighter), one or two highlighters as a colour theme and matching sticky notes for extra info, diagrams or equations.

I assign a whole chapter to a specific colour theme, first assigning a certain highlighter colour to the first six chapters, if there are more than six chapters, I use 2 accent colours just to shake it up a bit. This makes it easier to differentiate the chapters when flipping through your notes.

So its, hand-lettered title (i do my lettering quite quickly, mind you) or all caps title in black marker. Mini banner doodle for subtitles (a simple box with a drop shadow works just fine), contrasting coloured keywords (or underlined) and highlighters just for accents like dividing subtitles or drawing boxes for extra info (that or sticky notes). I don't simplify my lecture notes, rather rewriting them in a more orderly manner and leaving a good amount of extra space here and there (or an extended margin if I use Cornell) for extra lecture notes. Also, I highlight whatever notes that my lecturer would point out as important or worth remembering. And that's pretty much it. After the lecture, I then know which parts of the notes were more vital and can then simplify those key points into flashcards which ill discuss in a different post.

Thanks for reading, I know my posts are pretty long but that's the way I like them, long but in depth. As usual, if you would like me to cover any specific topics, feel free to message me or give feedback. I hope to be able to write 2 or 3 articles a month if I can but until then, have a nice day. Study smart peeps. 

ヾ(@°▽°@)ノ 

[mohdadibnoh]

On Blogging

More than 20 years ago,I started to write weekly short notes as Cerita Kedai Kopi at geocities.com.At that time,the term blogging was not invented yet.My nickname was Berisman then.Later on,I joined blogger.com but it has limited features to include photos,links etc.I was very serious about blogging and wanted my blogs to look cool and professional.So,I subscribed for a fee based typepad.com in 2004 for nine years but I stopped in August ,2013 when I was badly bitten by Facebook bugs.I left blogging because my usual regular readers had reduced from 200 hits to 100 hit daily.That was one of the reasons.However,I still do update my sister blogs at blogger.com for my cycling and photography hobbies.Sadly,my reading hobby has taken a back seat.Facebook has an apps called Notes,which I use to write my photography notes and in a way,it is a blog inside Facebook.What is missing is the " blogging community and culture" in Facebook context and Facebook friends.And this missing dimension is a void that is waiting for something to happen. Did I miss blogging in the last two years?The answer is not really.I was then busy with photo blogging at Flickr,500px,EyeEm.It is just about uploading photos and very little to write. One important event that inspired me to get serious with my photography was when Putrajaya Holding S/B used my photo to advertise the sale of their propoerties in Putrajaya and I got paid for it.The second event is when more than a dozen of my photos were selected to be on sale at Getty Images.These events boasted my interest in photography.My  Facebook and Photoblogs are updated almost every week with my best shots of that period.By becoming an avid and serious photographer,it taught me to be more observant and patient. Now,I appreciate more the beauty and the power of Allah's creations.As a consultant and teacher in project management,I am using photos as my visual communications methodology to enhance my consultancy work for my clients and better understanding for my students. Fast forward  to five  ago,I read a note from Kakteh@Puan Zaharah about going back to blogging.She invited us to kickstart blogging again and in the event we cannot walk or run due to us getting older,at least we can bloghop!Her note reminds me of my blogging days and I felt nostalgic about it.Many of  my bloggermates of the last decade had stopped blogging and a few had passed away.Anyway,I said yes that I will go back to blogging and the D-Day of our blogger reunion is on 6th of May,2015.Two of my regular blog readers sent me email asking why I stopped blogging for more than a year.I replied to their questions but there was no intention to go back to blogging.I was happy with my Facebooking.Facebook is just like a Swiss knife with many blades and gadgets attached and I still love it to communicate and to collaborate my reading,cycling and photography hobbies with my friends. After saying yes to blogging again,I sat down on my lazy chair and started wondering what made me want to do it again.Surely,it is not just about writing and who read my blog.It has to do with the COMMUNITY OF BLOGGERS..In the last five years,we don't have Facebook meeting or Teh Tarik (TT) session but we did have  our BLOGGERS TT sessions during my blogging days.It is more personal and some have become real friends-unlike Facebook friends. A few times,I attended political forum initiated and managed by bloggers.Some bloggers were political activists and also act as voice of dissent-especially during the height of REFORMASI.A few bloggers were labelled as the enemies of the ruling elite.In fact,blogging and bloggers were given bad names by a few Malaysian government ministers.Now,even our Prime Minister has his own blog,not to mention our ex-PM TDM.Blogs have the depth and the width,unlike Facebook that feels like Touch N Go. Looking back,I have been a serious and regular blogger for about a decade from 2003 to 2013.There are more than 3000 postings-short and long!You can read my postings at my old blog The Reader.Last year,I plan to do a few eBooks on managemen/tazkiraH/ cycling based  from my previous postings.Some how,my plan did not take off.Hopefully,I could get some fund to kick off the eBook projects this year or next. One of the reasons why I blog was to share my little knowledge and experience with the younger generations.A few of them have benefitted and some of them have become my personal friends.As I grow older ,I am losing more old friends,but at the same time,I am getting new friends from younger generations.Likewise,I also benefited a lot from  blogging.The most obvious one is it keeps on improving my writing and expanded my social and business networking. Reading is my first hobby before I get bitten by cycling and camera bugs.Blogs may not be like real books,however reading blog is just like reading a few paragraphs from books yet to be completed/published  by my fellow bloggers.One of my friends,Awang Goneng ,has turned his blog into a book-Growing Up in Terengganu. A question comes to my mind:What shall I write in the coming weeks or months?Well,I am not going to be living in the future.At my age,my planning horizon is short.I am living a day at a time and I shall write whenever I have something to write-even twice a day or none at all. Last but not least,my thank to Kakteh@Zaharah for inspiring me to blog again.Blogging is cool;old blogger is cooler! Please read The Reader at blogger.com. Next I am writing a book on my hobby -cycling.The e-Book version should be completed in April,2021

[misswitsandsarcasm]

I got tagged by @brokenrobe! Thank you! 

Rules: Answer 20 Questions, then tag 20 bloggers you'd like to get to know better.

Name: Namita

Nickname: Nams, Nami, Nam Nam, Asshole

Height: 5'2" 

Languages: English, Malay, most basic Spanish and really bad Punjabi

Nationality: Malaysian

Favorite Season: Winter

Favorite Flower: Blue roses 

Favorite Scent: Lavendar, teakwood

Favorite Color: Midnight blue, magenta

Favorite Animal: Dogs and penguins were my first but now I love all animals

Favorite Fictional Characters: oh boy...D’Artagnan, Dean Winchester, Bellamy Blake, Clarke Griffin, Aragron, Inej Ghafa, Kaz Brekker, Anthony Lockwood, Lucy Carlyle, Helen Wrexhall, Richard Gansey III, Blue Sargent, Shawn Spencer, Emma Swan, Shane Madej, Ryan Bergara (I know they are real but I love them to bits)

Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate: None of these

Average Sleep Hours: Anywhere between 5-9

Dog or Cat Person: Dogs but I like cats too

Number of Blankets You Sleep With: 1 (I’m from a hot country) but 2 sometimes once I’m back in uni

Dream Trip: Anywhere really. There are so many places to see.

Blog Established: March 2013

Random Fact: I wrote a book on poetry and god knows if I’ll ever publish it. I’ve posted them on my side blog so I suppose that’s something. Once again, thank you Dayna @brokenrobe! <3

I tag @em-ori @ghostsurgeon @bigtimespnlovato @teammalek @herecomestheimpala @to-steal-the-sky @jfreak1334 @charmainediyoza @commander-anya @bbboken-fallen-angel @captain-america-on-the-normandy @winchester101 @commandermadi @the-secondstartothe-right @marrieddorks @mycaptainbellarke @daistarri @avengerdaisy @lovemesomespn @addiecbl None of you are oblige to do this :) I have been so off Tumblr but now I’m back (let’s see how long this lasts). Pretty much the most of you that I have tagged I have been following since my blog has been established and I always see you on my dash :) once again no pressure on doing it! I’m such some rando that loves your blog! Hope you’re all well! 

[yileyang]

Older Media VS New Media

Newspaper VS Online Journalism

History of Newspaper

Johannes Gutenberg's printing press has lowered the price of printed materials and paved the way for the Newspaper. The first weekly Newspaper emerged in 1609. This Newspaper has achieved success and spread through central Europe. In 1621, England printed the first Newspaper called Corante, and in 1641, the Newspaper spread into every country in Europe (4.2 History of Newspapers, 2016).

At the beginning of the 19th century, the circulation of Newspapers is deficient. With the development of technology and the rise of literacy, the circulations have increased, and the Newspaper's price decreased. For instance, "The Times, for example, increased circulation from 5,000 in 1815 (price seven pence) to 50,000 by the mid-19th century (five pence) (Newspaper, 2020)." In the United States, Benjamin Day has created the first successful penny paper, "the Sun in New York City," in 1833. Later, the Newspaper was shaped into many modern journalism directions, including entertainment, political, and economic (Newspaper, 2020). 

Why Newspaper is important

Newspaper is using to expose scandals, discover the government's issues, and identify the health danger. Newspapers have transmitted the information to particular audiences. For instance, general readers will be interested in politics, crime, wars, and economics. However, a farm newspaper will make some developments in farming technologies and the price of the crop. Before, people used to know the latest events from the Newspaper. For example, in the recent international event- COVID 19, people always get information about the situation from the news. Since the limitation of technology, Newspaper is the best way to transmit data. Newspaper can provide knowledge and improve readers' levels of literacy. Also, Newspapers can deliver job opportunities for people. Before, there is various job information posted in the Newspaper. With the development of technology, online news has started replacing the Newspaper.

The transformation from Newspaper to the online journalism

With the development of the new communication technologies, the media has transformed from Gutenberg's printing press to online journalism. Since the appearance of the age of the internet and Web 2.0, the media has changed to a digital way, which made information dissemination faster and more efficient. For news, it has been changed from a one-way information flow to serval spreading flows. People can now share their comments on the internet, and they can get the news more quickly with their cell phones.

Social Impacts

News media expresses the political consciousness, spread the ideas and culture of the society. The article "Newsprint media representations of the introduction of the HPV vaccination programme for cervical cancer prevention in the UK (2005–2008)" shows that Newspaper is a tool to diffuse information. This article argues that Newspaper is beneficial for the introduction and promotion of HPV vaccination. According to the report, "positive media campaigns to promote immunization have been shown to improve uptake rates by increasing public knowledge of the dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases (Wallace, Corben, Turahui, & Gilmour, 2008)." This quotation shows that news media can enhance people's understanding of HPV and the importance of vaccination. The article demonstrates that news media should introduce positive reports about HPV, which contributes to influencing the public's acceptance and necessity of HPV. When people perceive the disease's risk and perceive the vaccination's safety, the incentive to vaccinate will increase (Smailbegovic, Laing, & Bedford, 2003). This article indicates that Newspaper is an essential tool to transmit knowledge, and the news may influence the public's ideas and improve people's health. 

Cultural Impacts

The news media make people accept and understand things more quickly. Syamsul Zahri Subir's article argues that homosexuality issues in Malaysia were discussed widely in news media. The author contends that Anwar Ibrahim sodomy started the debate about homosexuality in Malaysia. The news media played a crucial role in homosexuality issues and tackled homosexuality's sensitive issues about homosexuality (Subir 15). Moreover, Newspaper impacts the culture of the countries.  The article "Gender Stereotyping in Newspaper Advertisements: A Cross-Cultural Study" demonstrates that Italy and the Netherlands use stereotypes in newspaper advertisements.  The Netherlands is one of the most feminine European countries and the sixth more equalitarian nation globally. However, Italy is the second most masculine European country and one of the less equalitarian European countries. Therefore, compared with Netherlands' media, Italy's media always portrays women as sexual objects instead of working roles (Tartaglia & Rollero 1104). Thus, media representation from different countries will constitute the cultural differences, especially on gender roles. For the appearance of online journalism, we can see comments from everywhere, which helps people get ideas from different cultures.

Political Impacts

The government controls newspapers, and news information only shows what the government wants people to know. Syamsul Zahri Subir's article about Malaysia's homosexualities shows how the government influenced news media. According to the reading, "The media's content and its nature of message are usually decided by the media's organization or its affiliation. This includes the setting of the agendas, deciding on what is deemed important and whom to include and exclude (Carter & Steiner, 2004)." It argues that the organization controlled the media content, deciding what should include or exclude. Although Malaysia's homosexuality problem has existed for a long time, the story about this issue did not get attention from the local news outlet due to the illegal of same-sex unions (Subir 14). Therefore, this reading shows that the harmony of Malaysia influences the news media. News media are unable to post the information that the country does not allow to post. However, online journalism is hard to control by the government. Since everyone can post on the internet, these posts are hard to control, and those posts' truth is hard to define.

Economic Impacts 

Printing news spends a lot of money on printing and distribution, but online journalism only needs the internet, and the news producers just post the information online. Besides, online journalism can quickly define target audiences. For instance, we can choose the news category online. If I want to read social news, I can find them as soon as possible. However, newspapers are printed, and it is hard to find specific information in a short time.

Conclusion

New media is a term that defines everything to do with the internet and the interaction between technology, images and sound. By Contrast, old media is any form of communication that preceded digital technology, including radio, television and printed matter such as books and magazines. Although new media has many benefits for both readers and producers, people should not forget the old media.

References

Blogger, G., & Chow, J. (2012, April 12). John Chow dot Com. Retrieved November 30, 2020, from https://www.johnchow.com/how-new-media-has-transformed-traditional-journalism/

Newspaper. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/newspaper

Subir, S. Z. (2019). BEYOND THE CLOSET? THE TRENDS AND VISIBILITY OF HOMOSEXUALITY COVERAGE IN MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPERS, 1998 – 2012. E-bangi, 16(9), 13-30. Retrieved from http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F2396319866%3Faccountid%3D14771

Tartaglia, S., & Rollero, C. (2015). Gender Stereotyping in Newspaper Advertisements: A Cross-Cultural Study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46(8), 1103–1109. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022115597068

What is New Media? (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2020, from https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/2020/02/what-is-new-media

4.2 History of Newspapers. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://open.lib.umn.edu/mediaandculture/chapter/4-2-history-of-newspapers/

[uncutvenus]

““ “ MACC questioned Syed Saddiq, 2 others over missing RM250,000 KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has interviewed Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and two others over some RM250,000 in cash missing from the former minister’s house. It is learnt that the anti-graft agency is investigating the case under Section 17 (a) related to gratification and bribery. Syed Saddiq needs to be clear about where the RM250,000 lost in his house came from and why he and his family have to hold hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash without following his party’s financial procedure. Such a large sum of money is not from petty cash, so to withdraw such cash, justification and official approval and in due process must be obtained before the money is released and not after it is withdrawn or lost. If no approval is obtained, it is a misuse of power and embezzlement where authorities such as the MACC and the police are entitled to investigate. Syed Saddiq had previously called on UMNO leaders to be kleptocrats when they were accused of abusing power by the MACC and in court, although they have not been proven guilty. Syed Saddiq also needs to be open to investigation and speak in court to clear his name like other leaders and not hide behind political rhetoric by blaming the authorities for his investigation. He should also be aware that, the greatest kleptocrat in Malaysian history, is Mahathir. // According to the Malaysian Maverick book by leading journalist Barry Wain, Mahathir has embezzled RM100 billion in four financial scandals during his 22 years as Prime Minister. Barry Wain challenged Mahathir to sue him, but until the author’s death in 2013, Mahathir did not dare to sue him or deny the facts in the book. Syed Saddiq needs to learn more from his mentor, Mahathir. In 22 years, Mahathir has lost RM100 billion, while in 22 months Syed Saddiq has “successfully” lost RM250 thousand. If he follows Mahathir’s footsteps, he’s on track to be a bandit. via GIPHY THREE REASONS WHY UMNO DOES NOT NEED MAHATHIR - Part 1 : MAHATHIR, PPBM, PKR AND DAP THREE REASONS WHY UMNO DOES NOT NEED MAHATHIR - Part 2 : MAHATHIR AND PAS THREE REASONS WHY UMNO DOES NOT NEED MAHATHIR - Part 3 : MAHATHIR AND UMNO Short article on the direction and survival of Malay politics after GE-14 and ahead of GE 15. Cronyism and Kleptocracy in the Gambling License and Toll Concession Agreement: Mahathir Did Not Inform the Cabinet #cronyism #kleptocracy #mahathir #harapanpalsu Dog: Welcome to #MalaysiaBaru. Cat: What’s new with Malaysia? Dog: Nothing new, bro. Same old, same old world. What is sad, a bunch of donkeys running the government. Cat: C'mon, bro. What’s new? Dog: Okay. It is about Cronyism and Kleptocracy in the Gambling License and Toll Concession Agreement by the 4th premier. Tun M: My Predecessor Stole Money, I Haven’t Stole A Cent Yet. #Bullshit #Cronyism #Nepotism #Kleptocrat Welcome to #MalaysiaBaru. Same old, same old Malaysia. Is a thief going to save stolen money into his personal bank account? PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has furnished evidence to back his claims that the RM2.6 billion donation he received in his personal account was returned to King Abdullah four months after receiving it. from Blogger http://thetheoritical.blogspot.com/2020/06/mahathir-is-monstrous-and-biggest.html source https://hitz-bettina6pwr9.tumblr.com/post/621218347543052288” - http://beritahotdanterpanas.blogspot.com/2020/06/mahathir-is-monstrous-and-biggest_0.html from Tumblr https://uncutvenus.tumblr.com/post/621252331127832576” - http://beritahotdanterpanas.blogspot.com/2020/06/macc-questioned-syed-saddiq-2-others_18.html from Tumblr https://uncutvenus.tumblr.com/post/621263655944765440” - http://beritahotdanterpanas.blogspot.com/2020/06/macc-questioned-syed-saddiq-2-others_23.html from Tumblr https://uncutvenus.tumblr.com/post/621274983571898368

http://beritahotdanterpanas.blogspot.com/2020/06/macc-questioned-syed-saddiq-2-others_43.html

[checkerboardom]

Mahathir Is The Monstrous And Biggest Kleptocrat In Malaysian History

MACC questioned Syed Saddiq, 2 others over missing RM250,000

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has interviewed Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and two others over some RM250,000 in cash missing from the former minister’s house. It is learnt that the anti-graft agency is investigating the case under Section 17 (a) related to gratification and bribery.

Syed Saddiq needs to be clear about where the RM250,000 lost in his house came from and why he and his family have to hold hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash without following his party’s financial procedure.

Such a large sum of money is not from petty cash, so to withdraw such cash, justification and official approval and in due process must be obtained before the money is released and not after it is withdrawn or lost.

If no approval is obtained, it is a misuse of power and embezzlement where authorities such as the MACC and the police are entitled to investigate.

Syed Saddiq had previously called on UMNO leaders to be kleptocrats when they were accused of abusing power by the MACC and in court, although they have not been proven guilty.

Syed Saddiq also needs to be open to investigation and speak in court to clear his name like other leaders and not hide behind political rhetoric by blaming the authorities for his investigation.

He should also be aware that, the greatest kleptocrat in Malaysian history, is Mahathir.

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According to the Malaysian Maverick book by leading journalist Barry Wain, Mahathir has embezzled RM100 billion in four financial scandals during his 22 years as Prime Minister.

Barry Wain challenged Mahathir to sue him, but until the author’s death in 2013, Mahathir did not dare to sue him or deny the facts in the book.

Syed Saddiq needs to learn more from his mentor, Mahathir.

In 22 years, Mahathir has lost RM100 billion, while in 22 months Syed Saddiq has “successfully” lost RM250 thousand.

If he follows Mahathir’s footsteps, he’s on track to be a bandit.

via GIPHY

THREE REASONS WHY UMNO DOES NOT NEED MAHATHIR - Part 1 : MAHATHIR, PPBM, PKR AND DAP

THREE REASONS WHY UMNO DOES NOT NEED MAHATHIR - Part 2 : MAHATHIR AND PAS THREE REASONS WHY UMNO DOES NOT NEED MAHATHIR - Part 3 : MAHATHIR AND UMNO Short article on the direction and survival of Malay politics after GE-14 and ahead of GE 15.

Cronyism and Kleptocracy in the Gambling License and Toll Concession Agreement: Mahathir Did Not Inform the Cabinet #cronyism #kleptocracy #mahathir #harapanpalsu

Dog: Welcome to #MalaysiaBaru. Cat: What’s new with Malaysia? Dog: Nothing new, bro. Same old, same old world. What is sad, a bunch of donkeys running the government. Cat: C'mon, bro. What’s new? Dog: Okay. It is about Cronyism and Kleptocracy in the Gambling License and Toll Concession Agreement by the 4th premier.

Tun M: My Predecessor Stole Money, I Haven’t Stole A Cent Yet. #Bullshit #Cronyism #Nepotism #Kleptocrat

Welcome to #MalaysiaBaru. Same old, same old Malaysia. Is a thief going to save stolen money into his personal bank account? PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has furnished evidence to back his claims that the RM2.6 billion donation he received in his personal account was returned to King Abdullah four months after receiving it.

from Blogger http://thetheoritical.blogspot.com/2020/06/mahathir-is-monstrous-and-biggest.html source https://hitz-bettina6pwr9.tumblr.com/post/621218347543052288

[holly-mckenzie]

I got tagged by @finnreyskywalker thank you

Rules: Answer 20 questions, then tag 20 bloggers you wanna know better

1. Name: erica

2. Nickname: none?

3. Zodiac sign: gemini

4. Height: 5′2″

5. Languages: english, a wee bit of tamil

6. Nationality: malaysian

7. Favourite season: summer/fall 

8. Favourite flower: sunflowers

9. Favourite scent: book smell, post-rain, clean laundry

10. Favourite colour: blue!

11. Favourite animals: all of ‘em

12. Favourite fictional character: so many

13. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate: oh hot chocolate 

14. Average hours of sleep: 8 hours

15. Dog or cat: dog!

16. Number of blankets you sleep with: one

17. Dream trip: So many... India, Scotland, Ireland, Scandanavia etc. 

18. Blog established: March 2015

19. Followers: 722

20. Random fact: I really like ironing clothes

I’m not tagging people, but if you want to do this... go forth!

[mybukz]

Review: Money Stories from Malaysians Volume 1

Title: Money Stories from Malaysians Volume 1 Author: Various Genre: Fiction, non-fiction Format: Paperback, ebook, 93 pages Publisher: Suraya Zainudin Communications Pricing: RM29.90 (book, postage), RM9.90 (ebook) Available at: https://ringgitohringgit.com/product-category/money-stories-from-malaysians/ Reviewer: Leon Wing

I wasn’t sure what to expect reviewing an anthology of short stories on the theme of money. Which is what Malaysian money blogger Suraya Zainudin put together: ten fiction and nonfiction stories. Don’t expect writings from money experts though. Some stories cover personal finance, but written with a twist—or rather, under a slew of genre, from the usual everyday stuff about how to manage your ringgit, to fantasy.

In “Look out for Naila, world!”, Jouhari Ali tells us how his daughter taught him about money. The story begins very early in her babyhood, when her mother called it a day with married life and left the father with the daughter and a low rent house. He bought an apartment later as she grew up a precocious little lady. They did father and daughter things together, like fishing. All well and good, but, again, what has all this got to do with money? Well, read further, instead of me revealing anything more.

“In Memoriam” by N. T. Cloever starts off with a doctor’s log in some distant future. By this, you know you’re in a fictional world. But a setting about money? You wouldn’t guess it if this piece appeared in some fantasy magazine, would you, when the log record tells us about some experiment involving growth hormones? We come upon an illustration of a girl holding an umbrella over a beggar. The patches on his frayed clothes don’t look very futuristic. The doctor is at Central Station, and the question on her mind is “What is wealth without memory? When in the distant future, memory is a commodity and a currency, what happens if you sell your memories for necessities like food? This piece reeks of Black Mirror, a scifi serial.

The longest piece, “Necessary Expense” by Sarah Anne, is another fantasy. It swills with a merman and some flying creature couple. Money is tight and they have to deal with monetary issues and expenditures, like water for the merman, fixing the tank, and broken furniture from flying indoors. Things are so dire that the flying female has to resort to selling some of her feathers, and then some.

I gather “Cigarettes” by Eu Leon is a true tale, about the expenses of smoking. The first instance rather makes one crinkle the nose, not because of the smoke. Though the writer doesn’t go all graphic on the act of “passing motion”, the mere narration is enough, even though it is tempered with a bit of humour about the smoke masking the even worse smells of durian and petai. Next, we read about other expenses concomitant with cigarettes: meals, traffic jams, tea drinking with friends, boredom, stress, break times, awkwardness, customers who smoke. Does the writer finally kick this bad habit at the end? Read the piece yourself to find out.

“An APP-xpensive Mistake” by Sumi S recounts an incident the writer doesn’t want to relive. It began the day her mother told her to withdraw the allowance her father banked into her account. She found it short by RM800—her brother had bought games for his iPad. The story goes on recounting how to get back the money, to keep calm, and to deal with customer service.

In “Condo” by Aina Izzah, we meet Farrah getting her hands dirty in a game show called “Condo”. The premise is she and other players compete for money, and rise up the condo for the final prize of RM1 million and a penthouse. The initial levels of the game seem simple enough, requiring her to eat, drink and fast. But one challenge has her digging into the bowels of a pig. She forwent a job interview for the chance to win big money. But was the sacrifice worth it? Besides, she has to make yet other sacrifices while playing the game—and also an “investment”.

“Managing Finances while Doing a PhD” by Juntaki is a puzzler. It begins sedately, elucidating the educational mysteries of doing a PhD. The sentences feel like they belong to a thesis, rather than a short story or a nonfiction. Take phrases like “processes involved in such a tremendous commitment may be content with …”, “affecting an individual’s ability to maintain stability financially…”. In this vein, the writer proceeds to “elaborate how I was able to effectively manage my finances during my phD.” I read on to see if all this seriousness is perpetuated with tongue in cheek. But, no, the writer is giving the reader a detailed rundown in all seriousness. If you’re interested in doing a PhD and want to know the costs involved, you’ll enjoy this piece.

The title “My Family’s Experience with Ponzi Scheme” leaves one without any doubt about the angle of the piece by Jonathan Kam. Like the previous story about going for a PhD, it also offers a lesson. The writer warns the reader about buying a membership and expecting to receive a share of other members’ money.

In “How Much is a Mother’s Job Worth?”, writer Chan Ai Sin counts the ways. Right from the start, she tells us being a mother “pays nothing, allocates no day off, and accepts no resignation no matter how tough the going gets”. She even includes a chart listing hourly rates of the various tasks a mother takes on. With humour, she tells us her experiences as milk producer, chef and nutritionist, staff nurse, and a couple of other positions.

“For the Greater Good” by Suraya tells a story of how a government scheme to give citizens a living wage became a bane to employers and a boon to employees. It destroyed companies like Rina’s when employees quit over the good news of this Universal Basic Income. No matter the direness of the story, I couldn’t help grinning, especially reading about how certain factions of people were against this UBI. Rina attended a talk and inadvertently got arrested for attempting to jeopardise government plans. I suspect the writer is hinting how the type of benefit schemes UK offers the unemployed could turn Malaysia into a totalitarian state.

These days when Malaysian writings in English hardly attract local readership, an anthology like this is not only off the beaten track of usual genres like literary, noir and horror, it is welcome simply for its monetary theme.

Suraya Zainudin is a freelance writer and an independent communications consultant specialising in online content creation and management. She is also the founder of Ringgit Oh Ringgit website, where she writes about her lifelong obsession with personal finance and how she invests, spends, earns and saves money.

[studylifeusa]

From Student Blogger, Jefferson: A quick trip to LA

One positive thing about the United States is that even though it’s all one single country, each state is different from the others. From the varied legislatures to the miscellaneous weather, the USA is a country full of diversity. Last semester my friends and I decided to escape from the Nevadan desert for a couple of days, so we planned a trip to Los Angeles.

Most of my friends in this country are part of the international community. Our group was composed by a Japanese, a Malaysian, one guy from Dubai, and me, a Costa Rican. Notice that I am the only one who is not originally from Asia.

Even though our roots and mother tongues are really different, we get along well. We spend a lot of time at college together, and we hang out constantly. They say that a part of me is Asian now. 

We spontaneously planned the trip to Los Angeles for the 2018 winter break. It was a quick decision, and the day right after, we were already buying the flight plane tickets and booking the hotel. Some would call us impulsive, but I prefer intrepid.

The week after the semester was over, we were taking our flight, heading to the LA Airport. Our hotel was near the Walk of Fame, so we left our baggage in the room and went out.  We walked around a lot! We got to know those streets as if they were our own hometowns.

At night, we also scootered around. (At Hollywood, there are a lot of public bikes and scooters available as well). To use them, oOne just needs to download a phone-app , and scan a code, and start using the vehicle. So at 2 a.m. (which is a normal hour to go out in Hollywood) we took a couple of electrical scooters and drove them around at speeds that some would consider dangerous. My friend almost fell down from the scooter about 3 times. I was not that lucky;, I did fall down a couple of times. I survived, though.

During the second day of this spontaneous trip, we went to Universal Studios. We had a lot of fun. I consider that we reached a high level of annoyingness. We were not annoyed, but the people that were around us might have been. We were too noisy and laughing at everything. Anyhow, that’s what an amusement park is made for, isn’t it?

Something interesting that happened is that later on when we were back in our neighborhood (the Walk of Fame), we were walking around and, suddenly, an individual dressed as Spiderman showed up and started talking to us. AI, as the antisocial individual I am, I walked away. However, mMy friends stayed and talked to him. In the end, they took one picture with him (with my phone), and then they convinced me to be part of it. Long story short: you can’t say that you have been in Los Angeles if you haven’t been charged 20 dollars for one picture in the middle of the street.

On our way back to the Nevadan desert, we went to the airport and, interestingly, we didn’t have assigned seats on our flight tickets, which took about 3 hours to get resolved, right before the plane took off.

Traveling is amazing, it opens one’s mind and it helps one to distress and forget about the tiring and demanding college routines, and this impromptu trip is just one example.

Jefferson Phillips from Costa Rica is studying computer science at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.

[brokenboy-bucky]

Tagged by @book-dragon-13 Thank you!!! :D

Rules: Answer the 20 questions below and then tag 20 bloggers that you want to get to know better.

Name: :)

Nicknames: I go by Jay/ Moon. whatever you want.

Height: 5′1 

Orientation: bi

Nationality: Malaysian

Favorite fruit: Banana!!!

Favorite season: We don’t have four seasons in Malaysia but I prefer fall. love the windy,chilly vibes. 

Favorite flower: Sunflower

Favorite scent: Vanilla 

Favorite color: Grey, Black

Favorite animal: Whale (I think about this awesome creature lately)

Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate: Iced coffee

Average hours of sleep: 4 or 5 

Cat or dog person: Cat but I love dogs

Favorite fictional character: Other than Bucky Barnes, it is Stevonnie 

Number of blankets you sleep with:1

Dream trip: All around Europe

Blog created: this blog is some time around May

Number of followers: 591 (and it is actually surprised me like I barely live here what are guys doing hagahhaa but thank you!)

Random fact: even though i am a southeast asian, i don’t eat durians. i can’t eat durians. i can’t even smell them. :’)) so i guess my percentage of being a southeast asian just dropped. hahahaa

tagging: @xxxmaterialistic @cravingmarvel @if-not-for-natasha @nyoombucky @eternitariant @a-splash-of-stucky @subtlevanillascent @dirtydaddysebby @winterstann @filthystark @the-lululemon @areelphony @sergeantbxrnxs

seriously im so curious about you guys cause i see your name quite often and you guys are freaking sweet. but don’t worry you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. 

Have a good day!!!

[callmemaeverick]

20 questions tag

I was on break at work the other day and was pleasantly surprised to find @bellarkes100 had tagged me in this. So thank you, you’ve made my day.

Rules: Answer the 20 questions below and then tag 20 bloggers that you want to get to know better.

Name - Manissa

Nicknames - Maniss, Sweety, Moonisa (only one person calls me this, and Bashir is not my bf, he was my boss)

Height - 5′3

Orientation - Straight.

Nationality - Malaysian

Favorite fruit - Mangoes, Apples, Bananna

Favorite season - Autumn

Favorite flower - Lilies

Favorite scent - Leather and Coffee

Favorite color - black and red mostly

Favorite animal -  HORSES and cats

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate - Hot tea sounds good rn, but iced coffee too.

Average hours of sleep - 5/9 Depends on whether I’m on the morning shift or if I have class that morning or not. #workingstudentlife

Cat or dog person - Cat. But I would love a dog, if I could have one.

Favorite fictional character - Too many. Of All Time? Bucky Barnes. Currently: Bellamy Blake. I’d write more but I’d really like my fingers attached to my hand, thanks.

Number of blankets you sleep with - One thick one that I can roll myself into a burrito when it gets cold.

Dream Trip - Italy, Rome, Greece, New York, Washington, New Orleans. Australia. New Zealand. Ireland. JUST GET ME OUT OF HERE!!! 

Blog created -  2013, peer pressure is a real thing!!!

Number of followers - My People are 370 strong!

Random fact - In high school, I took an elective course of Mechanical Engineering, which I have a knack for. Everyone thought I was going to pursue that in uni, but it became obvious that my niche was really English. They thought I was gonna go into TESL, but I went for script writing instead for my Diploma. However, in my degree, I deviated to Linguistics and Communication which was a whole other field. LOL. Ya never know what life is gonna throw at ya, I guess. C’est La Vie.

I always don’t know who to tag, but Ill try to get my mutuals to do this. Hey guys, if you get this, I just want you to know, I see you on my feed and I LOVE YOU AND I DONT KNOW WHY YOU LIKE WHAT I POST!

@newtscamander-s-fantasticbastard @arya-durin-51 @nicetrytopredictme@salw0109 @sleepingfancies @aredhel-of-thrawndolin @wakandan-engineer @teamfreeavocados @traaya @book-dragon-13 @fen-ha-fuck-you and whoever else. If I didn’t tag you, doesn’t mean I don’t love you, tau! I love you alls

[imaginarydragonling]

20 questions

After 1 million trillion years Here are my answers to 20 questions tagged by @mygeekcorner Thank you babe  😘

rules: answer 20 questions, then tag 20 bloggers that you want to get to know  better.

1. Name: imaginarydragonling

2. Nicknames: dragonling, dragon, imaginary, or felix (yes they’re all pseuds)

3. Height: 165 cm and wishing it was more

4. Orientation: Straight? Asexual? i dont even know bro…

5. Nationality: Malaysian

6. Favorite fruit: Guava

7. Favorite season: Winter! Yes it’s cold but it’s so pretty!!!

8. Favorite plant: Cherry blossom trees. I just think they’re the prettiest things ever. Especially when they all flower and it’s just like… a pink cloud :D

9. Favorite scent: Books and paper

10. Favorite color: Pink :)

11. Favorite animal: Dragons (What do you mean they don’t count???)

12. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate: Tea

13. Average sleep hours: 7-8 hours

14. Dog or cat person: I used to be a Dog person, but I house sat for a couple with cats one year and I love them too now :D

15. Favorite fictional character: Ooh, tough one. There are so many… R. Daneel Olivaw, Lessa of Pern, Viktor Nikiforov, all the Haikyuu characters, Cho Hakkai (Saiyuki), Seta Soujiro (Rurouni Kenshin), …

16. Number of blankets you sleep with: Two currently

17. Dream trip: I’d love to see Alaska and the Northern lights!

18. Blog created: 2017

19. Number of followers: Just over 50

20. Random fact: My ideal vacation is a staycation with lots of tea

No pressure to carry on this tag game, only do it if you want to! @wintersblight @narcissuspseudonarcissus @sevargs @dameofnodelicacy @iguanastevens @nightofviolet @schion @seedling-lotus @alexwspark @wing–it @sarabelez @frilly-axolotl @frenchibi @quiet-or-die (Kagi, i dont know if you have another blog so feel free to ignore if no) @anyone else who wants to do this!

[threesquaresuns-blog]

China & How The Internet Can Bolster Civil Society

China is an interesting case. Google is so commonly used and relied upon, that “Google’s my best friend” has been uttered in jest more than once by my friends and I, when we encounter something we don’t know. However, Google, and other international Web 2.0 services, are blocked by China’s Great Firewall (TED 2012) , forming what  Xiao Qiang (TEDx Talks 2014) dubs, the “Chinternet”, a phenomenon whereby even with globalisation and economic advancements, freedom of the Chinese is still restricted, in terms of their political rights to have freedom of speech, association, beliefs, and assembly.

Although they’re different people from different occupations and circumstance, Qiang (TEDx Talks 2014), Michael Anti (TED 2012) , and  Victoria Mui (Dan Lok 2017), all agree that this phenomenon exists because by preventing its people from accessing the global internet, the Chinese government is able to supply them with alternatives, through which they can better monitor and control the people, while protecting itself.

The image below illustrates China’s social media and internet eco-system (Oniix 2018) :

The eco-system is far from barren, being just as vibrant as that of the rest of the world, although filled with similar, yet different, sites. With China being such a huge market, even foreign celebrities (Kary 2015) have opened Weibo accounts and sought to establish a digital presence in among Chinese netizens. However, these are not mere social media platforms. they were developed because, while the government wants to censor the people, it understands the people’s need for social networking (TED 2012). Thus, in monopolising the internet, the government gains a comparatively greater power and hold over the people, without antagonising them outright. The situation is such that every year, around early June, censorship is tightened to prevent discussion of the Tiananmen Massacre, seeking to effectively erase the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests from Chinese history books...and it has succeeded much too well, with only 15 out of 100 university students recognizing the Tank Man photograph for what it is (Ser 2016). This fact really surprised me, when I first heard of it.

However, despite these government efforts, a public sphere has been forming and growing over the years in China (TED 2012) - people are becoming Aware, and are using the internet to voice out dissent,  they’re forming communities online that have led to meetings in physical space, although those are still met with police action (TEDx Talk 2014).

Fart People (屁民) Voice Dissent

Qiang cites this incident as indicative of how the internet can help galvanize civil society in China. In 2008, Lin Jiaxing, a then official, had harassed a girl. When she escaped and her parents confronted him, he pulled rank and said that they were “worth less than a fart” to him, ending his tirade with a threat. The incident was caught on security camera (TEDx Talk 2014), and after being leaked on the internet, went viral, and sparked widespread criticism. Lin was eventually sacked. From here, netizens picked up on the term “Fart People”, noting the disparity between the government’s slogans that constantly put the people on a pedestal, and the actual treatment of the people by government officials. Netizens then reclaimed the term to voice their opinions about issues concerning government officials, such as when addressing the lack of democracy and corruption.They started calling themselves 屁民 with pride. Other incidents followed this. The 2011 train crash at Wenzhou sparked an unprecedented public outcry on the internet over 5 days, that led to the rail minister being sacked.

Other Creative Code Words to Subvert Censorship

Some examples are (Luo 2015):

 Eye-Field (目田), since  Freedom (自由) is censored,

Take a Walk (散步), since applications for official protests are usually denied, and could be dangerous, activists have opted to protest against state actions by “taking walks”, instead.

National Treasure (国宝, also symbolised by a Panda, a national treasure of China), homonym of the Domestic Security Department (DSD) ( 国保 ) that deals with “subversies” like human rights activists, religious groups and dissidents. Has more power than regular police and use violence to suppress “dangerous elements”

Your Country (你国), used by netizens to separate mention of Their Country, and the one run by the Chinese Communist Party, where in the past, the communist party and state were often viewed as one and the same.

Malaysia In Comparison

After the last election, Malaysia’s ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, lost to the Opposition for the first time in Malaysia’s 61 year history. It was a victory for the Opposition, but also for the people, against a corrupt government and prime minister, Najib. The rule of BN was rife with corruption, and although government censorship was not to the same extent as that of China, there were still instances like the blocking of Syed Akbar Ali’s blog (FMT Reporters 2016) which was critical of the Prime Minister.  Another blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin, fled the country after hearing he would be detained without trial for the 3rd time (Bland 2010), after publishing writings about Najib, his wife, and the mruder of Mongolian translator, Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa. There was no apparent transparency in the handling of scandals involving the government, or more specifically, the then-Prime Minister, and Najib’s responses to public outcry often did not make sense. One incident gave birth to the Kangkung meme, and the opposition adopted the vegetable as a symbol (Palatino 2014). Everything culminated in a Fake News law (Hutt 2018) being passed right before the elections, and the wording was so general and loose, that it would be up to the courts to define what constituted “fake news”....and that seemed to play heavily in the favour of Najib and the ruling party, with spokespersons citing mentions of Najib’s IMDB scandal as attempts to tarnish his good name. Fittingly, Malaysian lawyer and human rights activist R. Silvarasa once noted that while the Malaysian constitution guarantees free speech, it does not guarantee “freedom after speech” (Hutt 2018). After the election, hopefully, this will have changed for the better.

I think that while China’s netizens are still far from having that the level of freedom that we Do have here, the Chinternet, by still affording users with the ability to form networks and communities, will indeed continue to bolster the growth of Chinese netizens as a civil society, and allow them to eventually enact effective change in their country. Because as noted by Qiang, while the censorship in China has allowed it to perpetuate lies, no people can live in a lie indefinitely (TEDx Talk 2014), and the people will ultimately choose freedom and dignity, rise up and prevail.