So, the Americans have themselves admitted there were no weapons of mass destruction. We have not exactly been waiting with bated breath for this piece of news. To Malaysians however, the juicy bits involve one “Abdullah Badawi” who illegally benefitted from Saddam’s manipulation of the UN’s oil-for-food programme. The gain was less than USD2m. This better not be the Abdullah Badawi all Malaysians know. Boy, think of all the credibility issues and all that the PM is preaching to us…

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

That incorrigible, bearded scribe used this word in a piece today (MGG Pillai in a MKini article). I remember looking up the meaning some years ago and thence, used it repeatedly for a bit. Then it all stopped, just as quickly as it started. What a man, this fellow. How does one store a word like that – hardly if ever used word – in some corner of his head and retrieve it for use so appropriately? When I read Pillai’s sentence, I kept saying, “Sh*t, I know that word. WHAT does it mean?”. The context very quickly restored my lost vocabulary and boy was I impressed. With MGG, not with me. For his language skills in this case. He da man!

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

My employers have a reputation in the market for being aggresive. They promise clients the sky. They go in where polite Malaysians are hesitant to thread. Associates are told to “bang tables” to make sure the firm is heard and is ahead. Aggression isnt wrong, they are told. In off site training events, night drinks are peppered with singing, where songs like the Hokkien number “Ai Piah Chia Eh Yah” (Need to fight hard to win) becomes a theme, together with war cries directed at competitors. Aggression isnt wrong, they are told. Aggresion is good. So is greed, isnt it? There must be a reason why the protagonist who uttered that famous line on the silver screen was called Gekko. The mantra is better placed for slimy reptiles, IMHO…

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)

I was born in the year of the snake. Someone told me, early this year, that this would be a good year for those born in the year of the snake. Thank God I place very little faith in these things anyway, as things have not turned out quite that way. Feb – left a very good law firm, as a promising partner who is well liked by both fellow partners and associates. Joined an ageing PLC. May – left that PLC despite being well liked by the Chairman and CEO. Joined an infant PLC. Oct – leaving that infant PLC to move out of the country altogether. Yes, it has been that kind of a year. Changing lanes every few months, and actually getting off the road and onto the tarmac to take off far far away. TO be fair, I have been thinking of this move to the antipodes, for a few years now. Subconciously, I have always thought I would be there sonner or later. Gotta go now…

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)