Eat heartily, enjoy life

THE Chinese have a saying: he who eats with great gusto normally enjoys living. That is not far from the truth. From my personal experience, I can safely come to the conclusion that those who love to eat, usually display a zest for life that is uncommon in others.
Have you seen some people who eat as if they are picking a fight with their food? Some of these friends or relatives give one the impression that it is almost a chore to eat. Eating three meals a day for these people can be an exercise in nuisance-living.
I do not share in these people's surprising habit. Eating is one of the few pleasures in life that really doesn't cost us much. One can eat most joyfully even an ear of corn.
Have you taken a look at a hungry child who tears away at a piece of roast chicken? Children have no inhibitions. They wear all their emotions on their sleeves. So you can actually tell whether they are happy or sad.
When it comes to food and eating, we adults are beaten silly by little children. We, some of us anyway, have lost the ability to enjoy food. Food consumed must be enjoyed to its fullest extent. Otherwise why bother?
Human beings have the unique ability to relish their food. Animals, I am not sure. I have not talked to any animal with regard to their opinions on food.
People all over the world eat different kinds of food. Some of us eat more meat than others. Others eat more vegetables than half of the world. Whatever their choice, I am sure a number of them really tuck in during chow time!
Some people say they feel hungry when they see me eat. I take that as a compliment. Why look sad when you are eating? There are millions starving to death for want of food in Sudan, North Korea, Biafra and other remote parts of the world. And we are so lucky, and yet we do not recognise that fact that we are born into a society that frowns on hunger and lawlessness.
People in Asia are always eating, and at all hours too. I think they realise the value of a good meal. A great culinary session also means great conversations, quality time with family or friends and a chance to try new stuff on the menu.
Not many are that lucky. For the unlucky ones, they eat only when providence allows them that privilege. For the rest of us, sometimes we take things for granted.
I say, eat and be merry, for tomorrow you may not be here anymore!!

From Quiet Desperation to Joyous Inspiration

YOU probably have heard the phrase a million times: Living a life of quiet desperation. Before you embark on your second thought, be aware that there are millions of people, mostly living in the city, who are living lives of quiet desperation.
The definition of "quiet desperation" in the urban context means you go to work, you slog almostly mindlessly, then you go home but not before you get caught in the traffic jam. Once home, you take out your TV dinner, sit in front of the TV naturally and watch the shows until you think it's time to go to sleep. And you do this for months and years.
There's a chance, you may be single, very ordinary-looking, nothing spectacular in the skills department and you are normally not included in the "hottest-party-of-year" list.
Your parents are staying too far away from your work place. You go home once a year or you may never go home because that's why you flee to the city anyway. If you are all these or more, then you qualify to be "living a life of quiet desperation".
Here are a few tips of breaking out of this vicious and desperate cycle or circle, you prefer.
First, join a society of good intentions, meaning helping others. It could be the Befrienders, Soup Kitchen of some sort, Meals-on-Wheels Society, St Vincent de Paul Society, anything, so long as you get to help others more unfortunate than you.
The idea is not to feel so sorry for yourself until you are sucked into this great vortex of self-pity and become paralysed by your own inertia.
Second, indulge in some healthy hobby. It could be salsa dancing, taking Spanish or Mandarin classes. When you seek to improve your mind, you will inadvertently find like-minded people who also happen to be interesting people. Socialise, be a bit of a gossiper with good intentions.
When you crawl out of your own little cave, you will be surprised to find there are lots of interesting people and things which will take up at least three lifetimes to complete and enjoy.
Third, volunteer to do things for people free of charge. At first, they may think you are a bit of a looney. Whoever heard of a selfless human being living in a dog-eat-dog world?
Pay no heed to doubters of your good-self and people who are constantly plagued by other's good intentions. Do this act for fun. Do it to bewilder others. Do it for yourself.
Fourth, set a target or project which is achievable for yourself. Perhaps you want to visit Paris or Salsburg next year. Well, plan that holiday, 12 months ahead. Read up about your destination. Hook up with some travel agency. Some of life's best memories come from meeting fellow holiday makers who are also "struggling in life" like you. Not everybody is Bill Gates or Donald Trump. Most travellers save for years to go on holidays.
Fifth, go to church now and then. Nobody, especially yourself, wants to be called a religious fanatic. Pray a little at times. Tell God you want to get in touch with your soul or him. Don't blackmail or threaten God. Many have tried, none has succeeded. If you pray sincerely, ask the right things with only kindness in your heart, watch the heavens open. Don't put a time-table to your spiritual requests. When God is ready, you will know. Good things will happen. And don't laugh about it. Just accept it. All prayers are answered in one form or another.
Sixth, learn to inspire others. It is not difficult. There are lots of people who are always cursing their own fate. They think they deserve everything that those "lucky people next door" have got.
Say kind words to people. Mean it. Give encouragement to others who may be feeling a bit low on a particular day. Give moral support to those who feel they are all alone in this big, cruel world. They have you, and sometimes it is more than enough.
Seventh, perform random acts of kindness. There was once a book written on this subject. The author mentions various episodes of random acts of kindness and how the world suddenly became brighter and more joyful to the do-gooders.
Eighth, expect nothing from friends, colleagues, family and strangers but do much for those you love and those you hardly know. The trick here is to really EXPECT NOTHING. If you always harbour a secret intention of being rewarded or receive recogntion, then your deed will be ruined by the ulterior motive.
Good things spring from "nothing".
Ninth, learn to be humble about your achievements but don't belittle yourself. In other words, don't sell yourself short. If you have achieved something, nothing magnificent, mind you, just an ordinary act of normal proportions,accept that singular act of achievement as triggering an inner joy which only you experience.
Once you have gained some measure of respect for yourself and at the same time, sparking a love for yourself, you can begin to share that love in your heart with others. If you don't have love in you, you don't have it to give to others. With love, it is intangible and inexhaustible. The idea is to create it and watch it grow. Love comes from an eternal source. Its reservoir is not found on earth but its contents can be tapped by all mankind. It is your duty and mission on earth to find it and share it. That's the only way, you will enjoy its benefits.
Tenth, be everlastingly optimistic. Find hope in every act or deed of despair. Don't be incorrigible agent of confidence and joy. Others may find such behaviour irritating, but don't be deterred. Don't be discouraged. In fact, infect others with low spirits with your high spirits.
See hope and love in others more lowly than you. Share your enthusiasm with those who least deserve it. You are the walking fountain of hope and joy. Let the confidence shine through your eyes and you see forevermore.

You cannot be ignored, You cannot be denied

HAVE you not heard those words "I have been rejected and ignored so many times, I no longer want to be humiliated anymore!" Well, let me give you some unsolicited advice: you as an individual cannot be denied, ignored or rejected.
That's because you are as unique as a fingerprint, your teeth-marks and your DNA. If you want to be heard, then you must find the best possible avenue in communicating your needs or wants.
Many have been ignored and rejected because they do not adopt the right approach. For example, if you feel strongly that an employee of a supermarket has been rude to you and should be reported to her/his superior, then what you need to do is to lodge a written or vocal complaint to the relevant people.
In cases of seeking justice, the recourse must be detailed and complete. Higher-ups normally don't entertain complaints if it comes from people who refuse to identify themselves, leave no permanent address and let out all the important details of the alleged incident.
If you want to tell someone something important then you will have to supply ample information on the incident. If you feel that some official at some government department has been found grossly negligent in his official duties, you can exercise your right as a tax-paying citizen by complaining to the higher authorities, probably a carbon-copy to several consumer associations, detailing the incident, name of officer, the place where it took place and if there were any other witnesses or maybe you have kept some tangible evidence linking that incident and your complaint.
This "can't be ignored" personal philosophy also works the other way. If you find someone worthy of receiving compliments from a satisfied customer or as a citizen, feel free to put it in writing and pass it on to his superior. Again, detailing the incident and the identity of that hardworking and honest person.
You really have nothing to gain from this but that person whom you have just praised may include you in her prayers that very night itself before she retires for the night.
This is how our world evolves. A good deed goes around, comes around. A bad deed if allowed to fester, continues to affect others, especially the innocent.
On the other end of the spectrum, say you are a struggling writer and you think you have written some fantastic stuff and somewhere in this wide world, some publisher should give you due recognition, then you mustn't lose faith in yourself.
This is this English writer called John Creasey. Before he become famous and successful, he received about 743 rejection slips. Now if you even received half of that number of rejection slips, don't make a fuss over it. Keep on trying. In the end, you cannot be denied, you cannot be rejected and you simply don't want to be rejected.
Never, never, never ever give up.

Old fashioned way of writing letters

I AM sure there are still lots of people writing letters the old fashioned way, meaning using pen and paper. Even though the Internet is having a massive intrusive effect on our present line of communication, the "old way" of pen and paper has its own charm.
I miss that old world style of communication. There used to be a time when "talking" to relatives staying far away means taking out a clean sheet of paper and using your most legible writing to pen one's thoughts.
I used to write to friends in faraway regions in the early part of my life. Not so long ago, my wife showed me several boxes of letters which I once had written to her before we were married. It was most complimentary of her.
If you were to ask any 60-year-old whether they treasure those written letters eons ago, I am sure you will know the answer before it is said.
Writing letters is an art. It tends to make us feel on guard. Sometimes, it is like a river of torrential words. Occasionally, it is a like thunderstorm -- words hitting ground with great force. In whatever manner they are delivered, the message is permanent. That is why your lawyer is always you NOT to put in writing what you may regret in future.
Some of the letters of finest thoughts are treated like national treasures these days. Letters written by Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, etc. Can you imagine in modern times, any of the great letters being cherished or treasured. If they are communicated through the Internet, the recipient will be hard put to prove its authenticity.
If the message or letter is written, a graphologists can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt, the person who had written it. On computers over the Internet, proof will be hard to come by.
That is why, I strong recommend that if you want to communicate your most precious thoughts to someone whom you hold most dear, then do it in writing so that in decades past, she or he may have the presence of mind to keep the letters you have written as reminders of the feelings that cannot be destroyed.
I still do write the old fashioned way sometimes and when I do, I take out one of my better fountain pens to add that dash of flamboyance to dutifully impress the other side. I realise this borders on the weaker side of vanity but what do I care, I just love to write and would be immensely happy if the other side understands the length I have gone through to pen my thoughts of that moment and imprinted them for posterity.
So write with pen and paper whenever you feel like it, especially if you are far away from home. Writing to your parents is like telling them in your presence how much you miss them. Even if you don't really say those words, they can always take out your letter and re-read them time and again.
Can you imagine the trouble your old folks will have to go through to boot up the computer, look into the files and retrieve your email? There's nothing like a simple handwritten letter, kept in a box in the drawer of a dressing table. It has the charm whose fragrance lingers long after the message has been digested.
It is something that people who care about others, and are sensitive to their needs know about.

Brothers and sisters

THERE'S something to be said about being part of a family that has five siblings or more. When I was in my pre-teens, there were occasions when I used to have rows with my only brother or one or more of my other three sisters.
One day my mum caught us engaging in one of our infamous bouts and she uttered those famous words: "Listen up, you two. It's not nice to fight. There are a limited number of children in this household. You are all you have got. Even if you want more, you can't have. When you grow up, you will understand what I have told you."
With that, my mother ended her sermon. Four decades slipped by. Now all of us siblings are middle-aged and my late mum's words of wisdom come back to haunt me. She was right after all. Brothers and sisters are precious. As they grow older, so do you, you suddenly realise how time has slipped by and mortality is constantly peeking over our shoulders.
Now who do you think you would call when you need help or someone to look after your house or even children when you have to go somewhere at short time?
Sometimes, I feel sorry for those one-child families. They really don't know what they are missing. Yes, when you were younger, more children sometimes mean more troubles but as you grow older, you will find out that big family usually means big celebration or happiness.
There is a reason why some people come from big families. It is a lesson reminding us all that every single one in our family is as precious as gold. We may call each other names or may even not talk to one another for years but ultimately and undeniably, we are still flesh and blood. Very often, we learn to forgive each other in the twilight of one's years.
Better late than never. Recently, I spoke to my eldest sister whom I have not met for many years. She has been staying in England for a better part of four decades. We have met several times over the years but the sister I knew had grown up during those missing years.
I used to have memorable bouts of disagreements with this sister before she left home for greener pastures in a land far, far away. That night when she called me over the phone was on the eve of my birthday.
I guess in a way she misses me, and I her. It was a very warm moment for the both of us. Afterall, it has been years and 40 years of separation is a mighty long time. That phone conversation triggered memories of distant past that pulled me back to my childhood when both our parents were still alive.
How time has past. Sometimes in the busy moments of our lives, and there are many, we tend to forget the precious joys that come from childhood. If we are lucky, we get to share and cherish some of these wonderful moments - moments like when a sister calls from 10,000 miles away just to hear a familiar voice.
When people say "life has its moments", I know what they mean.

Why I love flea markets

In a couple of minutes' time, I will be visiting one of my favourites flea markets near my neighbourhood. I simply love flea markets, not because I love collecting old, valueless items but I love the people and the stories they have to tell behind every item they put on sale.
I have been to quite a number of flea markets in my lifetime. In my countless visits, I have made a number of friends. These guys are jovial chaps. They love some of the stuff they sell. Yes, they are trying to make a few bucks in the process but that's their joy and probably their hobby, too.
I have found a few "treasures" in the flea market. For example, several weeks ago, I came across a young man who was selling his massive collection of stitched and sewn badges. At a dollar each, they were certainly a bargain.
I bought about 20 from him. I believe he was probably a scout in his younger days because I spotted a number of Scout-related badges in his collection. I guess he studied in the United States too because he had all these "Wyoming, Arkansas, Yellow Stone Park and Anchorage" badges that were really colourful.
I love buying books from flea market vendors. They are usually dirt cheap and sometimes I come across some collector's items. Not so long ago, I came across two England's Folio Society books. These are not sold outside the society and only to Folio Society members. They come in a hardcase and are usually printed in acid-free page.
I got them for almost a song. What a thrill it was for me. Some of the best and most well organised flea markets are found in London. I was there many years ago and the flea markets there were absolutely mind-boggling. The people selling their family "heirlooms" and other stuff were very nice people.
Being a foreigner in England and browsing through the flea market stalls can be an educational experience. It taught me a lot about people and the lives they led. It sort of open my eyes to things I have not experienced before.
So here I go again. Wish me luck. I have yet to hit the Mother Lode, so to speak. That means finding an item which is especially special to me. It doesn't have to be of great value, just special.
Have a great Sunday yourself.

Talking about Rita on Sunday

WHEN was the last time you heard that things are usually not as bad as they seem. Well, it's Sunday morning on my side of the world. I have just heard the news over the TV that Hurricane Rita has been downgraded to tropical storm status.
Now, that's as good a news as the one being delivered by the priest at the Sunday pulpit. The damage left behind by Hurricane Rita wasn't as extensive as Katrina but some places like Lake Charles and parts of New Orleans have got pummelled. So far no deaths from Rita.
It could have been worse but it wasn't. Sometimes in life we have to count our blessings. Damaged homes can be replaced. Roads can be repaired and electrical poles can be re-installed but lives cannot be replaced. Since there has been no reports of death, that is a bonus.
We absolutely cannot rule out the possibility of another hurricane, so letting your guard down can be a big mistake. But from every natural disaster, there are valuable lessons. Each time, this type of phenomenon takes place, the authorities get a little smarter and wiser.
Let's be thankful, it wasn't a calamity of irreparable proportions. At its peak, about 2.7 million people were evacuated. It was a traffic nightmare on the highways in daytime. Despite the great physical inconvenience, it was for the good of people staying in the affected areas.
Stay strong, Texans and those in Louisiana, New Orleans and elsewhere that I have not heard of. We are all praying for your well-being.

The Joy of Praying for Others

JUST when you thought that "holy" means praying constantly for your personal well-being, you have been misinformed. Praying generally means requesting diving intervention on behalf of others, who usually need the prayers more than they realise.
I am no expert on prayers but I feel rather strongly that when one prays, it is most beneficial when the prayers are for others. The saying that goes "what goes around comes around" is most appropriate for prayers and those who pray.
When a person prays, good thoughts and intentions flow unilaterally. Since the source of prayers generates positive thoughts, it is only logical and reasonable that the crucible of generosity thoughts should also be affected by the goodness from which it springs.
Of course, it is not unreasonable to pray for oneself, too. Most of time, that's what happens. People pray all the time for various reasons and for different needs. For example, you think you are stuck in a dead-end job and you get down on your knees and plead to the Big Man upstairs: "Lord, find me a great job with a higher pay. I think I have served enough time in purgatory." Well, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but who are we to question God.
Some of the prayer requests range from praying for a great husband/wife, praying for wealth (this one is very common), asking for a big, nice house overlooking the sea, praying to win some contest, praying for safety on the road and praying for that pay rise which you think is long overdue.
I believe the most satisfying form of prayer in God's eyes is when you pray for others without any forethought of receiving any reward for yourself. Such prayers are reward by itself.
The laws of heaven are inverse compared to our laws on earth. When we want somethign, we tend to keep it to ourselves. Take for example, money. Few people ever share their wealth. In fact, they want to hide that fact from others.
The law of heaven states that to receive, one must give away first. To learn, one must teach. To receive love, one must give love. It may sound strange to us earthlings but it's time we learn the Truth.
The joy of praying for others is in selfless giving. We give others the power of our sincere prayers. This humble act of praying in silence and preferably in seclusion will be more meaningful if there's no audience watching us. Humility has its merits.
When we enter the realm of silence and shut out all but our honesty and humility, God sits right next to us. Every thought is like a shout to him. The dialogue becomes one with Him. Every good thought is received instantly and replied. The communication is complete and it forms what is called an unbroken circle.
From prayers comes joy everlasting. The aura of spirituality and sustained holiness expands and if we don't allow selfish and meaningless thoughts to disturb us, we will move a few steps closer to the garden of heaven.
The esctasy that comes from such holiness is indescribable. It empowers the person who prays and gives comfort to the one who is being prayed for. Thus, such holy prayers are twice blessed. And it is never strained even when it is sustained over long periods.
Our souls thrive on good, sincere, selfless prayers. It is like fertiliser for our soul. Each time, we pray for others, our souls leap with gladness. It is like a thirsty plant drinking raindrops during a beautiful shower from the sky.
Joy is an intrinsic part of any prayer. This joy is unlike the joy you feel when you are driving a Ferrari. This spiritual joy is neither fleeting nor it is temporary. This joy knows no end and it does not obey time. It gladdens the heart and sustains the soul.
Hence, if you want to feel the mysterious joy that is experienced by saints and people of great characters, pray continuously and pray all the time. Most important of all, pray frequently and constantly for others. Think of yourself last. And "the last shall be first" - this was uttered 2,000 years ago and its wisdom applies even today.
Amen.

Life's like an elevator

IF you are not a jungle dweller then you would probably know what it's like to ride on an elevator. For the majority of us, our lives evolve around going in and out of elevators the whole day, maybe even part of the night.
When you are in an elevator, you just press the number you want. It denotes the floor on which your office is or your penthouse is located, depending on your personal fortune and destiny.
Life's like that. In your adult life, you have pretty much figured out what kind of work you like or are doing, so you just keep at it. Thus, you press the elevator button you want every morning.
Then there are those who change careers, while riding on the elevator of life. Hence, the numbers change. For example, you normally press button 64 on the speed express elevator which covers 150 floors. Since you have switched profession, you now press button 89. The "ride" takes on a different speed. The time taken is longer and you meet more people and different characters sharing the lift with you.
So it is the same with life. Once you decided to move to a different field, you find yourself associating with characters from different backgrounds. If you like these new colleagues of yours, you will stay for the duration.Or, you may decide to stay for life. Whatever your decision, you don't want to leave.
Some people take different lifts. In life's terms, it means going to another country to work. The environment is different, so are the climate and the food. Different locales means adapting to survive or thrive, depending on the individual.
There are some people, like children, pressing as many elevator buttons as possible at one go, just for the fun of it. This happens mostly in your early life when you are in your childhood or teens.
At that age, you want to try everything because to your inexperienced mind and young eyes, everything is colourful and wonderful. "I want to try everything!" is usually the remark from kids. So that explains for pushing of all the elevator buttons.
As you grow older, you begin to dislike elevators. Getting into one sometimes makes you claustrophobic. Elderly people are like that. They prefer to stay at home, in the comfort of their easy chair and not join in the rat race. They have seen most of it already, so why the big fuss.
As you enter the twilight of your earthly existence, the buttons begin to feel like getting up from bed. You tend to be lazy or get addicted to a relaxed existence. Not all elderly people are like that, of course. Some of them just can't wait to jump back into an elevator and ride it all over again.
Elevators go up and down the whole day - just like life. Life has its ups and downs. One stage in your life, you may be scraping the bottom of the barrel. At another stage, you are well off and money is not an issue. This situation is called the vicissitudes of life.
The good thing about looking at life as an elevator is that you always have a chance to go up, if that's what you want, or go down to another floor, if it's your desire.
Up and down has nothing to do with good or bad - viewing from another perspective. It just means you are accumulating experiences. Hopefully, it makes you a better person.
Sometimes when you are in an elevator, you meet the same people so often that after a while, you become friends. Because of the relationship in the elevator every morning or afternoon, one of us or both will become richer as a person. That's life. Every encounter has its benefits. All you need is to look for it.
I haven't even started on escalators yet. I am saving it for another day.
Meanwhile, please press 150 for me. I am going all the way up!!

Love what you do and do what you love

IT HAS taken me a long time to learn what I just said in the title of this post but eventually like a tortoise in a race with the hare, I did. Better late than never as I always say.
I love my job. It gives me great satisfaction and I share my views about my profession with colleagues who share my views. Together we found that we love coming to work. It helps the day to move that much faster.
When a person does something he loves, time seems to stand still. Do something that one loves doesn't necessarily mean a job, it could be anything from a hobby to just exercising.
When passion is involved, the whole body, mind and soul get together and do the job. Many years ago, I had several pen-pals spread across the world. It was one of those things that seemed to be rather popular among youths my age.
I recall I had one pen-pal from South Vietnam, one from Canada, two from Singapore and several in my own country. I was corresponding with all of them at the same time. During those days, Internet did not exist. So it was plain pen and paper. Even typewriters were rare. I had to pay extra attention to my handwriting.
Illegible handwriting can lose a person valuable pen-pals. So I made sure my handwriting was legible, even if it wasn't beautiful.
At that time, one of my hobbies was collecting First Day Covers. After a while, my pen-pals started to send me First Day Covers from their own countries. Today, I have a fair collection of foreign First Day Covers. It was one of those things which gave me great joy.
Even posting those written letters gave my spirit a lift. There was also a time when I was still in school, I love to cycle. I had this old trusty bicycle and it served me rather well. No need to fill in with petrol. It was just pedal power and I cycled for miles and miles and I didn't get tired.
Years later, I found out that doctors say cycling is good for the heart. Well, what do you know I told myself. I had been making my heart strong all the time, and I didn't know that.
I have office colleagues who come to office everyday as if they are attend a funeral. It's so sad to see them dragging themselves to work. When I asked them why did they continue doing it when they feel so miserable, they replied that it was to feed their family and they just can't wait to retire.
Those were some of the saddest words I have ever heard, simply because they were still a long way to go before retirement.
I actually saw this sign "love your job and everyday is a holiday to you." How true it is. Everybody should learn to love what they do, regardless of the profession.
At first, if you don't love your job, then find good things about your job and gradually you will develop a love for it. If you fail to be amused by your job, then it's time to switch profession. Really do something you love.
When you are passionate about your job, your boss will realise it after a while because of the quality of your work. People who take pride in what they do often produce great work. That is the truth.
There are high-powered executives who give up their office jobs in exchange for hobbies which they secretly love. Of course, the income from their new job is much lower than the previous one but they don't care because the joy they get out of their chosen profession repays them in more ways than one.
Individuals who love their jobs bounce out of their bed every morning, looking forward to another day "in the office". In their case, their office could very well be their home.
So if you have always wanted to be a gardener, then be a professional gardener of outstanding ability. Soon, everybody will know you as a "landscape engineer." I think that's the term that is given to people who are experts in gardening. These are also the people who charge rather high fees for consultation and a bit of manual work.
Love what you do and do what you love - I can't say it often enough. If you don't believe me, try it yourself. It's time to give yourself a break. Your family may even welcome the change because you won't be sulking around the house anymore.

Rita rushing in at Category Five

I watched with great alarm this morning (Sept 22) on CNN that Hurricane Rita is barrelling up from the Gulf of Mexico and heading towards Texas and Louisana.
US President Bush has declared a state of emergency in these two States. With 280kph winds and gust strength of 324kph, Hurricane Rita is reckoned to be very much stronger than Hurricane Katrina.
Galveston is right in Rita's path. In a way, Katrina was a valuable lesson. If Rita keeps up its Category Five force when it reaches landfall in 48 hours, there will be hell to pay.
It is already a bit late in the day to initiate emergency measures but all must be done and done quickly. This one, as they say, is a killer.
The elderly, women and children and the sick must be ferried out NOW! The idea is not to take chances. This time it is not a drill. All emergency measures and supplies must be discussed and put on standby mode.
From Washington to Galveston, the communications lines must be maintained. In case, some forms of communication are cut, and they will be cut, alternative forms of communication must hit the ground running.
News reports have filtered in that leeves are expected to be breeched, so flooding will be one of the consequences of Rita's wrath.
As quickly as possible, as many people as possible must be evacuated. The last time a hurricane of this lethal strength hit Galveston was in 1900. The death toll was numbered at about 7,000.
That was 105 years today. Today, America has better equipment and space-age technology to ride this one out, as she will the next one if it appears.
We are right in the midst of the hurricane season and it has been several decades since the world experienced hurricanes of such ferocity. Nevertheless, it pays immense dividends to take all precautionary steps to lessen the pain and suffering that will surely follow in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita.
Big, solid structures may not be good enough to withstand the kind of blows that Rita will deliver. Early reports of Hurricane Rita put it barometric pressure near the eye of the Rita at 897 millibars. In layman's terms, it means Rita will pack a punch that is deadlier and more powerful than Katrina.
Statistically, Hurricane Rita is 370 miles wide. So when it sweeps in, it is a very wide arc. Its winds will swirl in like a giant curved blade. It will slash down everything in its path.
The best thing anyone can do is to stay away from its path. It's like watching 50 large trucks coming down at you at full speed. Unless you are from planet Krypton, you are not advised to stand in their way.
America must now alert its friends around the world to stand by with their medical teams and supplies, food and other forms of aid. Within 24 hours after Hurricane Rita has blown past, logistics must be established and rescue aircraft must in the air and coming in.
Of course the National Guard and all the relevant uniformed corps must be on full alert. Rita is not a runaway monkey. It is a maddened Godzilla.
Since Texas is considered to be Rita's primary target, it must move the situation to Code Red, as they say. But with Texas' historical record of staying strong in times of trouble, there is a high probability of the Lone Star State making it through with relatively less damage. We all hope so anyway.
Meanwhile, the whole world, and our side of the Pacific, we are praying for our American brothers and sisters who are in the path of Rita> May God be with them in their hour of need. Stay strong and stay safe, you guys. We are with you all the way.

Tribute to excellent aviation procedures - Flight 292

THIS morning before I went to work, I was watching Jetblue airline Flight 292 coming in at Los Angeles International Airport for an emergency landing.
The landing was perfect except for one flaw, the front wheel was locked sideways. As the plane landed on its side wheels, it gradually nosed towards the tarmac. White smoke immediately was seen. Within seconds, flames shot up and it left a long trail of fire.
I found myself unconsciously praying for everyone of the 139 people on board. Thankfully, the fire which was probably caused by metal scrapping the tarmac and setting the nose wheels on fire, died soon afterwards.
Other than that, it was a textbook example of great skills on the part of the pilot and the coordination on the ground. Emergency vehicles and other machinery were on red alert for any eventuality.
It was a good day for the staff at LAX and everybody on board Flight 292 including the air crew.
Even though, the live footage made for great viewing, I think we could do without such excitement because lives are at risk in such a situation.
I am very happy this episode ended well. In future, perhaps in other countries, other airlines may not be so lucky as recent news reports have revealed. But technology and safety procedures can never be taken for granted.
Today is one day when LAX and good pilots worked hand in hand to bring joy to TV viewers around the world. We all hope and pray for good days like this.

When "bad" things happen ..................

I HAVE learnt an important thing about "bad" situations. It is that when such a thing happens, it is the gateway to something good.
About 10 years ago, my family and I were staying in a rented house. One day, the landlord served notice that the tenancy agreement will come to an end within a stipulated time. Apparently, he wanted back his house.
I found out that he wanted to break the agreement because the rental in my area had shot through the roof and he wasn't making much money with me because he had signed a three-year contract with me.
Anyway, for some strange reason, I wasn't upset. I merely told my wife that we must moved on. My only request to the landlord was that I wanted time to find another house. To that, the landlord readily agreed. He was feeling very guilty at that time.
I scoured the district quite thoroughly for months for suitable alternative accommodation. Eventually, I found one but it was way above my limited budget. I consulted my sister about making such an investment because I was already financially committed elsewhere.
My sister's reply at that time was: "If you have faith, you will just go ahead and buy the house. Don't worry about the money, it will come but do you have the faith?"
After much thought and some mental agony, I decided to take the plunge. Once, I had made up my mind, the rest was easy.
In the beginning, I had some trouble keeping within the family budget, but after a while, things begin to ease a little. Today, the house which I bought out of desperation is worth more than twice its original price.
The landlord who kicked me out of his house was actually instrumental in creating a rather rosy future for me as far as housing was concerned. That was when I learnt: sometimes bad things had to happen, for good things to take place.
There was another incident that happened in my professional career. In my section, there were two other executives who shared the same professional title and status with me. When there was an office reshuffle, both of them got promoted whereas I got stuck in the usual position.
I asked to be moved to another section. Several months down the road, I found out that my new position in the company had far greater rewards than I had imagined. I was actually beginning to be happy at this relatively new section. Today, I can safely say I have never been happier in all my 25 years with the company.
Earlier than that was a time when I was "relegated" for the night shift. Others call it the "graveyard" shift. I was working from 6pm to 2am. This went on for about one and a half years. My immediate supervisor kept me in "cold storage."
But as it turned out I had the time of my life. During the night shift, the office was quieter and more peaceful. It was certainly less hectic. I had more free time than usual. As a result, I was surfing the Internet quite often. On top of that, I was adopting some good habits and had the opportunity to re-organise my life.
Today, I have more meaningful and interesting friends overseas than actual ones in my own country.
People are understandably sad when their parents die. After all, parents are always the ones who love us regardless of circumstances. Mine did, anyway. So when my mother died, followed by my dad a year later, I thought it was one of those trying moments in my life.
Later as I reflected upon it, I learnt that life is an ongoing continuous process. As a result of my parents' passing, I had to take on certain responsibilities that strengthened my character. People do grow old and die. It is a natural process. God wants it that way too, so that the younger ones can live on without having to worry about other things.
Life is ongoing, even after death. I have learnt that there is no such thing as a "bad" thing. Things happen for a good reason. And if they take place for a good reason then they can't be bad. In the beginning, the reason may not be there but after a while, and it may take years, the reason will become clear. That is why some people say, wisdom comes with the passing of years. Wiser on the hindsight is the general saying.
The lesson here is: when you feel or think that something "bad" has happened to you or someone close to you, pause and think about the possibility of good things coming around the corner. Ninety-nine per cent of the time, there will actually be something good about to take place.
Things don't happen to make us miserable, things happen so that we can improve on our situation or the situation for others. All it takes is looking it from the right perspective.
It's your life. Live it well and always look at it from the right perspective no matter what happens.

Enjoy the journey, pay no heed to the destination

SOMETIMES you are told by people with good intentions to focus on your destination or where you are going so that you won't lose your focus.
My advice is go ahead and just enjoy the journey. For example, if you are making a 2,000km journey across country by car, would you enjoy the sights and sounds that you will encounter along the journey, or would you just think about the destination for days and days?
It doesn't make sense, right? Well, it's the same with life. If you are 25 going on to 26, life is a journey, and you are just beginning your journey. Don't worry too much about things that haven't happen.
If you are still single, don't pay too much heed to the mental concept of your future spouse. Yes, you would probably want to settle down one of these days but there are some things that can't be forced. Just take one day at a time.
If you are a housewife saddled with three kids who are constantly on hyperdrive, don't fret. If you are calm, soon they will be too. Children have an inclination to follow their elders. In fact, they tend to imitate their parents.
Before you resort to corporal punishment to restore order in the house, remember you were a kid before. Let them enjoy their childhood. That doesn't mean they can throw shoes at the dog or stones at the neighbour's glass window, of course.
People forget that ordinary existence can be considered a journey of some kind. Even if you are an ordinary office worker, or just a very ordinary janitor in some inner city school, the work you do, the trips you make every day to your workplace can be a journey of discovery.
Along the way, you meet people. Try to talk to them but don't scare them away by occupying their time for two hours. Just a simple "hello" or "good day to you" will do. The conversation can be a bit longer during your future trips.
Ordinary folks have their own stories to tell. After a while, when you really get to know people, you find that their lives, like yours, can be quite fascinating. You will never know, one day, they may be of great help to you. Or, you may be their saviour in some form or another.
The point here is meeting another fellow traveller on earth. Life is a journey that offers countless opportunities of learning about yourself or about others. When you meet an interesting character, some of that person's personality will eventually rub off on you, just as you will have an effect on that person.
Don't feel or even think that you are the most boring person on earth or you truly lead a very unexciting life. That's not true. I have found out from a lifetime of experience that strangers share many experiences with me. In the end, we are not really that different.
But it's always nice to learn how people handled their issues. If you perk up your ears, you will be surprised that you can actually learn a lot.
Hence, from tomorrow, make that journey of yours memorable. Treat every flower and passing person an opportunity to learn something or discover something important. It is very often that from the ordinary that we learn about the extraordinary.

Good luck to you.

You are lucky and you don't know it

BAD luck, hard luck, no luck - these are some of the descriptions attributed to a sorry situation involving human beings.
However, 99 out of 100 of us are actually darn lucky. Yes, many of us are not born rich. We don't have bodies that others will kill for. Our wives or husbands look like leftovers from the prison camp and we wish we have obedient children and staying in a mansion.
Look, you can have all that tonight when you close your eyes and go to sleep. But for now, look at the checklist. You are alive, that's a bonus. Go and visit the nearest cemetery. See the number of graves there. All dead people, right?
You are alive. That surely counts for something.
You may complain you are always in pain, suffering from one ailment or another. Good, I say. You feel pain. Do you know how many people are paralysed, not feeling anything at all? All these people want to feel something, anything. For a paralysed person to feel pain, it's joyful and will definitely bring tears to his eyes and family members.
Sometimes when I am a bit mean, I tell my friends who are constantly complaining about aches and pains, "well, painful? Good, feel it and be glad. Thou art alive. When you are dead, this will all be gone."
Sometimes, people make a big fuss about having not enough money, or none of it. Yes, it can be irritating not to be able to buy the things you want or to feed your family the right way.
Look at the whole situation from a different perspective. The bad financial situation may turn you into a man who will try anything (within the law, of course) to be financially secure. One reason is because you have nothing to lose.
When you have nothing or little to lose, you tend to be braver or do things which you normally won't do if you are financially sound. Your new found courage may just make you rich or it may make you slightly poorer than before but you have taken some risks. This means it is a small step in character building.
I don't mean to be a sour grape but rich people (some) can be quite insecure. Because they have a lot more to lose, they tend to mix with their own kind. They are sometimes afraid that poorer members of society will take advantage of them, or worse, borrow money from them.
What they are missing is that there are so many wonderful people out there from different social stations and different backgrounds. Mixing with these people can teach a person so much.
Then there is that universal fear among the very rich that their children will be kidnap victims, thus the children are constantly guarded or allowed only to visit "safe" places. Suddenly, you have become prisoners of your own wealth. How sad that is.
A lot of people also complain that they have no talents of any kind, like being a great athlete, a marvellous talk show host like Oprah Winfrey or a great actress like Meryl Streep.
Being ordinary is great. You don't get mobbed by the paparazzi. You can eat in any restaurant you want and not be bothered. You don't have to dress up like a princess whenever you go out and you don't have to get facelifts because others like you just the way you are.
Look at Mother Teresa. Do you think she's pretty? Mother Teresa is not known for her beauty. She's known for the great work she had done and the splendid legacy she left behind. If you read her biography, you will know that she came from a very ordinary family and led a very ordinary life.
Mother Teresa said: "Not all of us are born to do great things but all of us can do ordinary things with great love." What great words of wisdom.
If you own a motorcycle or a bicycle, don't complain. Just look at the traffic jams the next time you hit the streets. Do you think you can move any faster in a Rolls Royce or a stretch limousine?
Life is wonderful for everybody. All it takes is to look at your own life from the right perspective.

Have a Good Laugh at Life

PEOPLE who make others laugh are always welcome at any household or party. Laughing is one of the most natural human reactions. It is spontaneous, contagious and beneficial to one physiological system.
Professional comedians who are amazingly good earn millions a year. Some of them have teams of writers and researchers working for them, doing nothing but come up with jokes. The subjects for laughter can be anything but sometimes they tend to go overboard with presidents and entertainters. That's when it's no longer funny because it comes rude and impolite.
Doctors have discovered, in recent decades, that laughter is nature's built-in medicine. Those who can laugh sincerely, laugh well can also keep bacteria and illnesses at bay.
My whole family laughs all the time. Once, a neighbour from another ethnic community invited me over to his house for his daughter's wedding. On that appointed day, my family and I went.
I went up to the proud dad and congratulated him. He looked at me and didn't recognise me (maybe it was because he came over to my house at night and I sometimes looked different at nightfall).
When I pointed that I lived opposite his house, he uttered: "Oh, that house which is constantly filled with laughter." I took that as a great compliment.
People who do not take life that seriously are seldom sick. I am not basing this remark on any iron-clad scientific studies but on a very strong hunch that laughter triggers a feel-good hormone (backed by science) that acts like a balm for the entire body.
I really don't know why some people walk around as if a truck is going to hit them any minute. They sulk all the time. I had a friend who is also an office colleague who worked hard to earn the nickname "the Incredible Sulk". Some of us thought that title was pretty funny but I don't think the intended victim of that remark found it so amusing.
When I was in school, I had a nickname. My classmates called me "the jester." It wasn't a grand title when you say it out loud in my own ethnic dialect, because it simply means "the fool". However, I was too young and innocent to take offence so I merrily carried out.
After a while, my school friends took a liking to me because they always ended up laughing in my company. I guess part of the reason why they liked my company was also because I was beating them at exams - not so funny, eh!!?
The thing I remember most about my school days were the long incessant sessions of laughter with my friends. We were always pulling pranks, either on each other or on the teachers. We were labelled as playful, of course but that's what life was and still is all about.
When I grew up and became an adult who still laughs at every opportunity, I wondered if God is a funny man, too. I was always burdened by the thought that God is an old man with a long while beard and doesn't stand nonsense or is able to crack jokes.
One day I read a book on God and spirituality. One of the passages which struck me was that God is really a funny guy. Apparently, the writer says he asked God about laughter and jokes, and God answered: "Who do you think created all those jokes in TV shows, in songs, in movies and everywhere else?"
I was so happy that I nearly fell off my chair. It is wonderful news that God is a divine prankster himself. Of course, all his jokes were clean and not designed to put others down, unlike those earthly jokes created by mortal beings.
Anyway, I would like to tell the whole world that it's all right to laugh all the time. I rather have an enemy who laughs at himself or at me than a friend who's constantly sad and look sick to the stomach. Who wants to be around such a sourpuss all the time?
Everytime I spot a person who is given to easy laughter, I know I am in good company. People who laugh at the slightest opportunity are like gems. You just love being in their company.
Is it any wonder that the ability to make people laugh is a prerequisite with most women? Women, and that include beautiful and drop-dead gorgeous women, just love men who can make them laugh. They may not fall in love with you but they certainly won't shoo you away and you are always welcome in their company. Isn't that great? What man would like to be in company of other males who looked like they are in the FBI Ten Most Wanted list?
Laugh all the time. Laugh at silly things. Laugh at serious things. It's your natural right.

Thank God for the good people

I AM a great follower of world news whether on CNN, NBC, BBC or CCTV. Now and again, I witness amazing feats of kindness and selflessness that make me feel that I have done enough in my own little way.
I see members of the Medicin sans frontieres in foreign lands administering medicine and aid in whatever possible. I catch video clips of members of the International Red Cross feeding the farmished in Sudan, and other famine-stricken regions. I witness American marines disembarked from their choppers from USS Abraham Lincoln, giving food parcels to people in Aceh.
All these and more are a humbling experience. It gives me great joy to know that there are in abundance good people from all over the world. Recently, I saw clips of South Koreans collecting money in their own cities for the victims of the New Orleans disaster.
Good people come in all colours, creeds and religion. No race has a monopoly on compassion and generosity. Everytime, a catastrophe takes place in some faraway part in the globe, strangers from other lands assemble to organise events to collect either cash aid or assistance in other forms for victims whom they do not know.
The world is full of such people. For me, every single one of these people who help are living lessons that I too can do something, no matter how small. The people who do such acts, do so without any forethought of reward, or publicity. They do so because it is the right thing to do.
I believe kindness and love are intangible gifts that can't be given away because a long time ago, someone told me that these gifts will always be returned. How true it is, too.
The world bears witness in recent years as to the ferocity and unpredictability of the climactic conditions. Many nations are beginning to bear the brunt of what were considered an impossibility in the distant past. But now, the weather is changing for the worse; the polar caps are melting at an alarming rate and the ocean levels are rising rapidly. Soon, the results of such unnatural phenomenon will be felt in no small way across the globe.
But what will stand against all these forthcoming challenges will be the human spirit. The good people of the world, from America to China, will stand together, link their hearts and hands together and prop Mother Earth back on her feet.
In the coming times, nations will be in dire need of help. But I am confident there are masses of good people waiting to come to the rescue. I see America in the forefront of such goodness, and in turn America will get aid from the rest of the world.
Only together we can overcome. History has got many lessons but mankind has not taken cognizance of many of its chapters. The future however will be a level playing field for all of us. I think we know what to do. I have seen the goodness that prevail over desperation.
The armies of good people come from all lands, from all communities and from all colours and ages. With this in mind, there is hope for all of us.

Take a cue from Bollywood

EVERYONE in most parts of Asia knows that when you see an Indian movie, meaning Tamil, Telugu, or Hindi film, you will probably get your money's worth of entertainment. That means about three hours of unadulterated of pure escapism.
The lead actor is always handsome and the main actress is not only beautiful but she has a body which includes a flat tummy that makes every housewife cring with envy.
For more than half a century, Bollywood (make that India) has been manufacturing movies by the hundreds per year (that's what I heard anyway). Indian movies have one thing in common, they are all lengthy.
The general populace of India are mostly poor folks. Three quarters of the people in India are living in squalor and they just can't wait to have a share of the good life. Since that might take some time in coming, the cinema provides what they government can't.
Indian moviegoers like to spend a bit of their hard-earned income on forgetting about their daily sorrows. Thus, they troop to the cinema at every given opportunity and forget that they are living in slavish conditions for at least three hours.
Bollywood producers and directors pander to the people's whims and fancies. They give them as much as they can take, and they can really take a lot. So, it is of no surprise that India is one of the world's greatest producers of movies. With a population of 1.1 billion, manpower, meaning the storehouse of potential acting talents is enormous.
These aspiring actors and actresses will act for pittance, and many of them have god-like features. As you and I know, common folks like to see beautiful people. They would like to look or gawk at beautiful people. It is not a sin to admire good looks. It is very much a human thing.
In India, Bollywood is like a gigantic magnet that draws all the talented beautiful people to the studios.
Props are cheap because the producers will use the landscape to the hilt. Dancing scenes can be done on top of trains, on streets, but generally on deserted hill slopes.
Music is as essential as rain for the rice fields, and they are lengthy. Musical talents abound in Mother India. Some of the songs and music composed are first class. I can manage a line or two of my favourite Hindi songs.
Music is what drives the movie. If you got a great song, it will help propel the movie to the top of the charts. And if the song is sung with great gusto, if not passion, it will stay lodged in the minds of moviegoers for at least three generations.
Bollywood is currently enjoying its golden era. Hollywood on the other hand is languishing in the afterglow of its golden years.
One of India's greatest advantages is the low salaries it pays aspiring actors. These people will take anything initially just to see their names in lights. If they have the luck as well, soon enough the money will come in the right amounts.
The axiom is DON'T BE GREEDY. I think Hollywood should remember that. Afterall, Bollywood had that phrase engraved on its office wall.
The theme for most Bollywood is about the same. It is loosely based on love, greed, comedy and courage inspite of the odds. They have thousands of variations of these themes. Moviegoers are almost never tired of these themes.
They will watch the movies over and over again, except with different people in them. There's a heavy dose of songs in Indian films. There's generally a lot of crying. The men cry copiously, too. It is the Asian thing.
It puzzles me why Western men are so afraid that they too can cry. They suppress their heartaches and tears to the point of getting a heart attack, and then they burst into tears in the privacy of their bedrooms. Strange people. If you want to cry, go ahead and cry.
In Asia, everybody cries. They soon get over it and get on with their daily lives. That's normal. Nobody is going to condemn you for shedding a few tears. It's good to cry. In fact, doctors say it is quite therapeutic.
Bollywood likes to remind people in general that there's hope amid sorrow, wealth lurks in every poverty-stricken area, and love is always within grasp. Now, that's the magic formula.
If Hollywood can just adopt and adapt the formula used by Bollywood, then the cash registers will ring non-stop.

P.S. Of course, I say all this with tongue-in-cheek. It is not meant to offend the real Hollywood gurus who are serious about their art. Anyway, what works in Asia may not be applicable in the West but read it for fun and not look for hidden motives because there is really none.

Hollywood, what were you thinking?

OCCASIONALLY, I read in Time Magazine or Newsweek that it had been a bummer of a summer for Tinseltown. Simply put, there is none of those blockbuster hits that have made Hollywood lights go up simmultaneously.
Yes, we have all heard or seen Fantastic Four, Batman, Sin City, Daredevil, Elektra, Hulk and Spiderman. I admit those computer graphics scenes are mind-boggling and extremely entertaining but one can only consume so much of the same dish for so long.
Imagine yourself eating caviar for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now as a connoisseur of movies, what would you like? Surely, a variety of dishes, generally well cooked or beautifully packaged, right?
Same with movies, my friend. Recently, I saw a documentary where a company was vetting movie scripts from members of the public. I couldn't believe what these people came up with. A lot of them were so ridiculous that I thought these aspiring scriptwrites must be taking the public's intellingence for granted.
No wonder the crowds are conspicuously absent from the ticket booths. Generally, moviegoers are not stupid. They will know a movie is a hit when they see one. And what are the factors that determined a box office hit.

One, it depends on what category it falls into. If it is a romantic comedy then it must have the right cast. That means the couple must have chemistry on screen. I don't care if they want to kill each other on sight in real life but in reel life, they must look as if they are deeply in love with each other and they must convince moviegoers that it is for REAL!
This means the casting person must have a feel for the personalities of the main players in the movie. Take for example, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr & Mrs Smith. Now everybody knows this couple has got chemistry, even Jennifer Aniston knew that. That's beside the point.
If you are producing a romantic comedy, you have got to make sure you don't team up someone like Meg Ryan with a gorilla. I mean nobody is going to be convinced that love is going on!
Two, action movies have be nail-biting, fast-paced, no-time-to-breathe stuff. For example, Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark. Now, that's one movie that leaves you panting at the end. After that, you would just leave over to your friend seated next to you and say, "let's watch it again."
Steven Spielberg is one of those Hollywood Joes who has his fingers on the pulse of moviegoers. I think basically he's like anyone of them. Probably, for a long while during his growing years, he told himself "I want to see the movie go this way, or that way." Now that he's all grown up and he's the man in charge, he can do it the way he feels it should have been done.
Hence, we have those Indiana Jones hit series, ET, Schindler's List and other super-mega hit movies - all by Spielberg himself.
Three, put yourself in the shoes of the moviegoer. In other words, be the moviegoer. Think like them, feel like them and cry if necessary like them. Unless you can be just like another moviegoer yourself, you will never know what the audience wants.
Four, human drama films must have those ingredients that compell viewers to get involved personally with the story.
Take for example, Field of Dreams (Kevin Costner), Miracle (Kurt Russell) and Rocky (Sylvester Stallone). These are but three of the hundreds of human drama movies that have made insane and sinful profits for those responsible. Why are they so successful?
It's obvious. Each other has a hardluck story that has a plausible happy ending. Hey, not every movie must have an open-ended last scene or one of those seemingly irritating endings that tend to show how clever the director is.
Ordinary people who go to cinemas like to have their hopes uplifted, their confidence in mankind reaffirmed and be encouraged to go ahead and improve themselves.
In other words, have a good moral to the story. Don't be obnoxious and test the patience of the moviegoer by giving him or her an ending that makes him shake his head in frustration.
Five, don't worry too much about critics. They are not the ones who put money in your pockets. I have read of critics' reviews that seem intelligent enough when they give a particular movie two-star rating but the movies which they have panned, had gone ahead and earned millions for the producer and director and the actors involved. Now, who has the last laugh?
Movie critics are sometimes too cynical for their own good. Some of them have become too unfeeling in their profession that they are no longer classified as normal human beings. Instead of just enjoying the movie and harbouring no expectations, they begin to probe every nook and corner of cinematic techniques and nuances that are probably not there.
I have a friend who used to be a movie reviewer. Initially, he was readable but after a while, he became so obnoxious that nobody believes him anymore. The next thing you know, he was booted right out of the entertainment pages. A man who became too good for the cinema and for Hollywood.
Sixth, when a film producer does his job, he must get joy out of it. He must feel a deep passion for the subject, otherwise his pessimism will show in the film. Worse, his director feels it too. This kind of feeling must not be allowed to pervade the film set.
Again, take for example, Mel Gibson's Passion of Christ. Nobody in Hollywood wanted to have anything to do with a movie that has the name Jesus Christ in it. I am not saying that the bunch of money-grabbing guys who finance big-budget movies are irreligious or just plain paganistic. That's not the point.
Mel Gibson was so committed to making Passion of Christ that he was willing to risk US$30 million of his own money. And so by the grace of God, he went ahead despite all the doom and gloom projected by his all-knowing colleagues.
And what do you know, the good Lord made sure that good old Mel make ten times the profit inclusive of his investment. Those who saw Passion of Christ know that the passion of Mel Gibson was as strong as the passion of Christ in that movie. See, what happens when you put your passion into a project?
Now, Hollywood, sit down, shut and listen to these little nuggest of wisdom. Then, perhaps you may be able to reap a little profit from your movie projects. You are into making money, aren't you?

I love those old movie classics

ONCE upon a time when the TV stations in my country were too budget-conscious, they resorted to showing old movie classics from Hollywood. A lot of these were in black and white. I was very young then, I just want to look at moving pictures.
Later, the old movies came in technicolor. What a beautiful world, I thought. But it's the stories that always get to me. One of my favourites is It's A Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
That movie came out around 1946 but it left such a deep impression on me that it changed my life. I no longer frowned on my humble background nor do I take my simple, only-coins-in-the-pocket friends from various backgrounds.
It was such an uplifting story that I remember all its simple lessons.
Then there were the classics like Ben Hur, Ten Commandments, all those Fred Astaire dance movies, Western movies and comedies. I love them all.
Sometimes I wonder why don't Hollywood make movies like that anymore. I guess it's because society has "matured" and expectations are high. I mean when you get movies with titles like Gremlins, Tremors, Swarm, Child's Play, etc, you know that society has gone on ahead and left you as an individual way behind.
Personally, I prefer movies with a moral theme or a sense of mission. Those Spenser Tracy-Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Orson Welles, Victor Mature, Alan Ladd and William Holden movies really reach into my heart and mind. When the show is over, I tend to reflect on my own life. Some of the similarities are there, even some of the answers are there. It is comforting to know that even from Hollywood, one can sometimes find some suitable answers to personal problems.
I believe it is the social responsibility of directors and producers to disseminate valuable moral lessons through their movies. Some of the greatest stories ever told on the cinema screen have moral themes that are ageless. Take for example, Ben Hur.
This Roman epic is about friendship, family relationships, courage, endurance, forgiveness and spiritual quest. It has all the right ingredients for great entertainment. At the same time, movies like Ben Hur is a sheer joy to watch, over and over again.
I am never tired of Ben Hur. I must have watched it at least five times in my entire life. Each time, it is still as good as the last. I cried when the scene of how Ben Hur suffered on seeing his sister and mother suffering among the lepers. I shared his pain when his childhood friend Massala turned against him. Those were memorable moments in Ben Hur. Some of which I could relate to, in my personal life.
Then there are the great Hollywood love stories like An Affair To Remember. This movie touched the hearts of many women across the world. I believe it also squeezed the hearts of many men as well but they won't admit it.
Love is an everlasting theme that is as perennial as the sun at the break of dawn. To view love in many of its sweet and gentle forms tends to remind us, me in particular, that when the chips are down, love always finds a way.
A person who has love will always find life worth living. When you love something intensely, you live for them and you will make life worthwhile for them as well. An Affair To Remember is one of those movies. It teaches me not to prejudge any one or situation. Very often in life, things are not what we think they are. Often, these situations or people are much kinder than we give them credit for.
Some of my other old favourite stars are Greer Garson, Bing Crosby, Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Cyd Charisse, Elizabeth Taylor, Jean Simmons, Errol Flynn, Deborah Kerr, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda and William Holden.
I suspect back in "those old days", circumstances shaped the thinking of script writers. In 1932, there was the Great Depression. Almost everyone was hungry and out of job. Families were crushed by bleak economic times and Hollywood churned out movies to give families hope and encouragement.
During World War II, millions died and countless lost loved ones, Hollywood produced movies that told of courage, fortitude, love and hope. These were the moments in Hollywood history when the right movies were produced.
Such bad times in man's history tend to bring out the best in others, and I am glad that in Hollywood, some of the best movies were produced during some of the worst times.
Today, on some evenings, I get the chance to see some of these marvellous old movie classics, and I am reminded that there are always good people in the world. These movies serve to remind us, to teach us and to encourage us to continue to do the right thing. We are all one family on earth.
Great Hollywood movies will never die. They may lose a bit of their colour but they will never get out of fashion.
Okay, let's go to the movies!!!

Here's what you can do the next time, America

BEFORE anyone wants to thump me on the head with a walking stick, let me admit on the outset that I am just an armchair critic. But since I am one of those who has free time to think of such things, it would not be rude to make a few suggestions.
Hurricane Katrina has come and gone. Those who happened to stray onto its path have also come and gone. Those who were foolish enough to test its limits have also come and gone. All that have remained are lessons and experiences that will benefit those who will probably face catastrophes of other forms, be they natural or man-made.
Here are some things worth pondering over for the sake of America's future:

1. The chain of command must be clear. If powers are centralised in Washington, it will definitely take time to put things in order. From Washington to New Orleans is a pretty long distance. So it's only natural that for a gigantic machinery to move, it will take time and along the way, you will have to kick some butts.
2. If a city is devastated, the first 24 hours are crucial. There must be in place an emergency committee that knows what measures to take and what have already been put in place.
3. All the people involved in rescuing people and saving a city must be constantly operating on survival mode. You do not sit around and smoke Cuban cigars or get down on your knees to ask God for deliverance. You have all the resources in your head to take matters in your own hands to do a great job.
4. The cardinal rule is to save as many people as possible and all those who want to be saved. Of course, there will always be a minority who want to take their chances. Leave them be. You can't save everybody. Take a lesson from the ancient city of Soddom and Gomorrah.
5. Mark out all escape routes and make sure there are more than a couple. Another well known escape route is by air. Consider military aircraft (vertical take-off type) like choppers and other smaller planes like the Cessna. Aircraft that need only a short runway would be of great help.
6. Emergency rations that can sustain life for 50,000 to 100,000 for at least a week should be considered.
7. When you think of emergencies, you must think of the nature of these scenarios. Are they man-made? Are they natural disasters, for example, hurricanes, tornadoes, quakes, meteorites, or massive fires? What are the counter-measures against such phenomena?
8. If the disasters are man-made, you have to adjust, adapt and overcome these scenarios in the shortest possible time. The moment after it happens, teams must move in to control the situation before it gets out of control.
9. The aftermath of any dire situation is the most crucial in terms of social consequences. Take for example, New Orleans. Because there was a total breakdown in law enforcement, the criminal elements quickly took advantage of the situation and emerged with all its evil intentions. So the law & order system must always be in place whatever the situation. Human beings of the undesirable kind tend to exploit lawlessness to their advantage in any part of the world. Looting is one classic example. Theft and murder are the spinoff effects of such times of uncertainty.
10. In most cases of national scale emergency, the military must work closely with public bodies. The Governor, city mayor, the president and his men must put aside their normal duties and attend to these matters with some urgency.
11. One of the most vital lessons to learn from the aftermath of Katrina is the amazingly slow response on the part of the government. I suspect the authorities did not expect the scale of the disaster to be so huge, almost biblical in proportions.
12. Since America already had a taste of a massive natural disaster like Katrina, it should now draw up a blueprint for disasters whether natural or otherwise. It would be foolish to think that this kind of thing won't happen for the next 150 years. Don't forget, the Asian tsunami only took place about three years ago.
13 The chances of another "big one" happening must always be considered as a possibility. This is where Scouts' motto comes in handy: Be Prepared. America is clearly unprepared despite the size of its army and the scale of its technology. Few countries are ever ready for disasters of such magnitude.
14. Look on the bright side. USA has now got the experience of the massive problems that come from a heavy blow from nature. Imagine what it would be like if a disaster is engineered by some psychos. It's the totally unexpected that a good government should prepare for. You can't really prepare for such and such a disaster per se but you can clearly get ready to handle an emergency of a high order.
15 International help must always be welcomed and you must have in place the infrastructure and logistics to handle such an in-pouring of aid from overseas. Don't be too proud to accept help. America may be the most powerful nation in the world right now but it is still vulnerable to many things beyond its control.
16. Organise teams across the wide continent of America to think about, draw up plans and train constantly to tackle emergency situations. A nation that is organised can handle better all the unexpected nasty happenings that fall unto its laps.
17. Think of energy resources that may suddenly escalate in prices or may become short in supply due to the emergency situation. Think of another fuel sources. Store up your fuel supplies. Expand your medical resources.
18. Pray hard. It's not foolhardy to think of God now and then. Who do you think put in place all those things that are of great challenge to the existence of mankind?
19. Think positive. Encourage your people with kind words and generous acts. People follow great leaders who do all for the country. Love clears the path of destruction anywhere in the world. Remember that always, even in your darkest hour.
20. America must not shy away from learning from other nations that have experienced similar if not worse disasters. For example, Japan has laid down a number of effective counter measures against earthquakes and tsunamis. When the tsunami waves hit the shores of more than 11 countries in Asia, Penang in Malaysia was among them. A Japanese tourist who was familiar with tsumai waves spotted the sign of this phenonmenon when the waves were several miles from the shore. She quickly alerted the hotel staff and a quick evacuation saved the lives of all concerned sunbathing in the beach. China is no stranger to earthquakes, neither is Indonesia. It would be good for US to compare notes with these countries and others about natural disasters and all the counter-measures that should be taken to minimise structural damage and death toll.

Making Money on the Internet

LONG before this subject ever got any attention here, there were already a couple of smart people scoring it big time on the Internet. Today, decades later, Internet continues to impress upon the enterprising and creative as the final frontier for making big bucks.
A few facts to remember: Internet has a conservative estimate of several hundred millioni surfers. It is probably the biggest customer database anywhere in the world.
Those who have already made it in the Internet, made it when they first offer unique services via Net subscribers. I remember a couple of lawyers with great foresight first jumped onto the Internet platform and saw their cash register piling up the numbers.
Today, the Net is filled to the brim with people who think they have the last word on making money. Frankly, if it's just about making money then most smart people would have made it and got out before you and I even began thinking about it.
Here are some tips on how you can become an Internet millionaire:

1. If you have an idea that can save a corporation millions or hundreds of thousands in operational costs, you may just have some CEOs sitting up and listening to you.
2. If you have a website that scores an extraordinary number of hits daily, some big names like Google or Microsoft may just want to do business with you.
3. If you are a genius at programming and you are willing to create programs that will or can earn companies high revenue when they incorporate your ideas in their business, you may just be a new Roll Royce owner.
4. A unique ability to perform a service that nobody else in the world can imitate or perform will gain you the attention you desperately need.
5. If you are a writer of enormous talents and are willing to impart a morsel of your writing skills for a reasonable or nominal sum, somebody somewhere out there in the Internet world may just be willing to part with some hard-earned money in exchange for your special skills.
6. If you can control Internet attention to some degree for a short span of time and channel it in a certain direction, many firms on both sides of the hemispheres will be knocking down your door.
7. If you can have fun with the Internet and churn out great ideas at no cost to yourself but of great benefit to others in another part of the globe, you may just hit the Mother Lode.
8. Remember, the 1st rule of making money on the Internet is to HELP OTHERS.
9. The 2nd law is to dispense services at affordable rates to lots and lots of people.
10. Making great financial strides on the Internet does not take the brains of a genius. All it takes is lots of imagination, a lifetime of courage and an unshakeable faith in one's own abilities to make it big.
11. Having a wide network of friends and business colleagues will go a long way in building the foundation of your Internet Empire. You need to network all the time. Don't forget to have fun while you are on this great adventure.
12. Be humble. Making money is not that difficult but keeping your humility when you are success IS.
13. Memorise the facts and figures that govern the world of Internet. There are probably more than half a billion Internet users around the world. This is an ever expanding market. Discount half of them as non-profitable ventures and you are down to 250 million. Cut by half this figure as not being on the same bandwith as you, and you got 125 million. Reduce by 50 per cent that figure as not being interested in your ideas, and you are left with 62.5 million. If only one tenth of this number shows some interest in your original proposal, then you have the luck of the draw, so to speak.
One tenth is about 6.2 million. If each one of them gives you one lousy dollar in exchange for an idea of yours that they can use for their own benefit, then you will be richer by 6.2 million dollars. Does that thought frighten you, or does it make you want to jump out of that chair you are sitting on right now and get right down to work?
14. There are no limits in the Internet world. There are only people with self-imposed limitations. For every one millionaire created over the next 24 hours, there are 10 times that number of people who gave up on making it big at the break of dawn. What a shame!!
15. The best time for developing money-making idea on the Net is when you are most relaxed and happy. Some of these hours precede your sleeping hours.
16. The most wonderful part of making big bucks on the Net is that sometimes you need zero capital. There are free sites, free valuable information, free photo-hosting sites, free email sites and free advice from all quarters. Make sure you return these favours when you have made it.
17. Work hard for the success of others, even if you have not made it. The success of others will reflect on your wisdom and your priorities. What's the point of becoming a millionaire and everybody hates you. There's not the lesson you need to learn.
18. Find out what's lacking in the most crucial areas in other countries and the problems they need to solve. Find out what people need and don't have. Find out what the big boys cannot do, that you can in a big way.
19. Always remember, anybody can make it. It begins with a mental commitment and is propelled by effort. If you are happy doing it, then it becomes effortless.
20. Learn all you can about opening up accounts overseas. It is a smart choice to have investments abroad once you have made it. That way, if your local investments are stalled, you have other "engines of growth."

It is most important to learn from others. Do not be sceptical about other people's good intentions. There are many nice and kind people who have become successful in Internet business and have gone on to help others.
That's how you learn to grow and become better people inspite of your millions. Two thousand years ago, a Nazarene carpenter said: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his own soul?" Today, the same statement applies. Remember this when you have made it.

Malaysia - She' s Mine!

MALAYSIA is one of those countries that about 30 years ago, very few people outside her shores knew little about. Geographically, it is that leaf-shaped peninsula that sort of adds an exclamation mark on the island of Singapore.
It can be quite disconcerting to hear foreigners say "Malaysia? Never heard of it." "Singapore,yes."
Luckily for us Malaysians, our country has gained a little stature over the decades and is now fairly well known. Several reasons have boosted our image and left our mark on the globe. One, Malaysia is one of the few Southeast Asian nations to ride the crest of the recession wave back in the late 90s. Second, Hollywood has included Malaysia in several movies, namely The Entrapment and Anna and the King.
The Formula 1 racing circuit has added a touch of glamour to our tropical land and the Petronas Twin Towers has pushed forth our image skywards.
But it is not in these things that tugs my heart-strings about Malaysia. It is the teh-tarik stalls which are open 24 hours, if you know where to find the right ones. It is the humungous-sized shopping complexs. It is the ability of the various communities to laugh at each other's expense.
Yes, we do crack racial jokes but we do so in the right spirit and without malice. This way, it helps to diffuse the racial tension, if any. We all learn from each other's culture. We all love food relished by the other communities and we are always making excuses to have food parties and open houses.
That's what makes up the description called Malaysian. We are into this "rojak" thing. Outsiders may think we do not have a system or we are just plain disorganised. But no, we are highly organised except that we are in a constant state of wanting everything in the same pot. Thus, the word "rojak."
So it is no surprise to have rojak as part of the Malaysian cuisine. Some of us have managed to speak a smattering of each other's language over the years. We first learn all the foul and swear words. Then, if we are really keen, we will make it a point to master the formal greetings.
Indians and Malays have been heard speaking Mandarin, and dialects like Cantonese and Hokkien. Chinese have been heard speaking Kelantanese dialect or possess Kedah accent.
It's a wonderful life in Malaysia. Sometimes we join in another's community's festivals and revel in it. We do not forbid anyone to partake in another race's cultural practices.
Malaysia is perpectually hot and humid. The sun is almost shining daily and rainfall can be a pain at times when it floods the roads in the city. However, there's nothing like a gentle shower from the sky that sweeps clean all the foul air that has accumulated through the day and from the mid-day traffic.
Malaysia is endowed with some great natural resources. We have oil palm, tin, rubber and lots of tropical food. Our beaches are lovely but many of us don't want to take advantage of them.
Our skies are constantly blue, our water clean and our women are beautiful generally. This country suffers few of the problems that are plaguing other nations in the region. Malaysians do not want to suffer unnecessarily. We are more into sharing what we have in the kitchen with the others.
Malaysians are always asking strangers who enter our houses if they had eaten. Why is eating so important? This can be traced back a couple a hundred years when the Chinese migrated mainly from southern China where famine and wars took place. The Indians came from various impoverished parts of India.
Thus, it was important to ask "have you eaten" of another person you meet on the street or along the way somewhere. In those bad, old days, hunger was a constant headache. To eat was a sign of being blessed. Hence, from then having eaten simply means your life is on the right track.
Five or six generations later, the descendants of Chinese and Indians are enjoying the good life that their forbears had helped ensured. We are all grateful. If not for our hardworking ancestors, we would still be wallowing in filth and purgatory back in our own native lands.
Malaysia is blessed with good weather, fine scenery and good food in abundance. Our population is around 24 million and we think we can take another 40 million without rocking the cradle, so to speak.
Our people are generous to a fault and we are constantly praying in our own temples, churches and mosques. This is a nation that built its foundations on holy ground.
We like to believe that God is on our side. For the spiritual ones, we know He has never left us, only that we have wandered off on our own accord from time to time.
Now where was I? Yes, this country has lots going for it. We sleep in peace on most nights. We are not in the path of any malicious hurricanes or typhoons. Tornadoes are strangers to our land and earthquake is something that we only feel if our neighbouring country gets the tremors. Other than that, we are more than okay. In fact, we are downright fortunate.
Truly, this land has been blessed by the Almighty in more ways than one.
Foreigners love our country. They think we are among some of the nicest people in the world. We are not braggarts, even though we like to blow our own trumpet now and then. That's only human of us, I guess.
We are not afraid of hardwork, nor are we averse to lending a hand to those in need. Our churches and temples are always filled with worshippers. It shows we have not forgotten the spiritual aspect of our existence.
Malaysia can be described as a little corner in God's vast hacienda. Luckily, we don't take all these wonderful and natural gifts for granted. For all these and more, we are truly grateful.
Yeah, Malaysia's a great place to live.