"I had many plans for the future.
As well as the weathers I know I will have to brave.
Many seasons have come and gone.
They had made me strong. But they had taught me fear as well.
I am not afraid for myself. I am only afraid for you.
For you are still young. And you have much more to learn.
You have the world before you and all the happiness that are within reach once you have learnt how to extend your hand and your heart to reach them. But you will first have to learn to master yourself.

I wish I could prepare better things for you.
Yet I fear what many a rich man's son does not know.
I dare not wish for riches nor fame nor power; those precious dreams that their hearts yearn for.
And I wish you would not change even if you should have to labour at the feet of those who have them."

When sickness comes

When an epidermic comes, the poor will be stricken hardest. The villages, the province, then the cities.....
Nowadays, epidermic can potential spread faster and further - from modern cities to cities.

Inflation comes... those who can afford, they will buy medicines, things which they would normally let the pharmacies stock up otherwise. Those who cannot afford medicine, they may also lose their means to feed themselves, becos even though they are sick, they will still need to feed ...

Economics..... the study of how humans make choices... limited resources and unlimited wants.

Reading lesson today: The Emperor's New Clothes.

hubris -

Read somewhere about Saddam Hussein and Mr Durai. When you think you have the absolute power (authority) to do as you deem fit and when you think that whatever you think, you can' be wrong.... and when you honestly do not feel that there is any need for accountability to anyone, even to the least member in your team ...... (maybe even your wife and children listen to you).

This arrogance may work its way into your character just like a little leak in a pipe in the wall, slowly seeping through the cracks and grooves. It feeds on your self-confidence, and ego. Ultimately, you may feel a growing resentment for people who dare to disagree with your views ... You lose patience. You lose your human touch.... and there can only be one way, and that is your way. I think this is Hubris.

Corporate Paganism / religion-

Where there is a deep faith placed in the system. "It's the way it is," so you speak. The system should be able to "take care" of itself. Those with a stronger sense of patriotism in the "cause" might possibly seek to condition the behaviour/beliefs of the others through "bureaucratic" measures (i.e. "dos and don'ts"). This corporate belief system may not be that bad depending on the character of those who propagate it.

Happiness In A Bad Place

Watched CNN about life in war-torn Afghanistan.
There is such a thing as "Happiness in a bad place".

The Golden Calf

Read a few short articles recently. One of them was about the 6 habits. Six.
I realised that life could have been so much sweeter if only people could grow both in stature and in wisdom proportionately. Ironical but it is true, I have seen an inverse relationship between one's status and one's ability to be cool (which, in my opinion, is in some way related to wisdom). Maybe there is no actual means of measuring one's level of wisdom except by one's own ability to respond rationally to external stimulus. Anyway ... life must move on. There is really very little time left for happiness.

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I remember that as soon as the self-exiled Israelites reached the safety on the other side of the Red Sea, they very quickly erected this huge Golden Calf. Maybe they could not hear God speaking. Maybe they did not happened to be at the front-line watching how God parted the sea. Or maybe as soon as the miracle was over, they were no longer sure whether it was God or Moses. After all, they could not recognise God's Hand at work, except for Mose having lifted up the staff and the sea parted.

As soon as their leader left them temporarily and went up Mt Sinai, there sprouted forth many who claimed to "know what's next". Not surprisingly, this seemed to have endowed them with so much power in return in forms of loyal followers. Humans craved for directions, you see. They had always been looking around for a leader who could lead them. Someone strong. Someone highly visible. Maybe someone who seemed to know a lot more. It could have been easy for the one who could speak louder than anybody else. But Moses was not good at public speaking. They would have easily fallen for anyone who was better a bragging.

In our human lives today, there's this human-installed "golden calf" again.. This symbol of power and control. Wonder why one would crave so much for it. There's his particular deep-seated need to dominate, and to subdue everyone else. or build for himself a sort of a pseudo-empire (or pseudo-harlem, if mostly filled by female followers).

EPIP - Early Psychosis Intervention Program

A friend mentioned this to me recently and I thought I could publish this for a friend who may read this.

"Psychosis is a medical condition which affects the mind. Like any other
illness, psychosis can be treated.

Some of the symptoms of psychosis:

Thinking people are against you or talking about you.

Thinking you have special powers

Seeing things that others cannot see

Feeling sad, irritable, confused and isolated

Feeling like you are being watched

Difficulty sleeping

Difficulty coping with work or study

Talking or smiling to yourself

Neglecting your appearance

Avoiding people

Hearing voices that others cannot hear

The earlier psychosis is treated, the better the recovery.

tel: 63892972 or 9017 8212 (Mon to Fri : 8am - 5pm)"

PS: If you had actually thought I was referring to you, well, just maybe you should consider still .. :P

Notes to Pete:

Hesitation, Indecision leads to Procrastination.

"Do not think in circles."