Kindly Yours

  Which coast of the continental island of Australia is most vulnerable? It all depends what the Canberra government places its emphasis in the risk matrix.  Is vulnerability translated in terms of population over run, biosecurity invasion, foreign ownership, trading shifts, geopolitical exposure or wartime attacks? The geographical location of Australia initially denotes remoteness, long distances and a colony-like existence between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.   Unfettered skies offer striking oppprtunities to watch the night maps overhead, conduct nuclear weapon experiments and execution of joint nation military excercises. Populations cling mainly to the Aussie coast in pockets of suburbia, leaving Indigenous Country mainly seemingly empty but full of mineral resources. The capital of the Commonwealth of Australia is conveniently shucked like a oyster in the south east, between skiing slopes, agricultural farms, surfing beaches and her economic hubs.  Is the rest of the land o

 The Quieter you become, the better you can Hear.  Be Open to consider everything - but become less Attached to anything.  There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the Path.  You only lose what you Cling to.  Pain is certain, suffering is Optional.  If you shine a Lamp for Someone, it will also brighten up your path.  If you want to Fly, give up everything that Weighs you down.  Love does not need to be Perfect, just True.  The Behaviour of Others is their Own Karma. Not giving a Reaction to Negative People keeps our Distance from them.  Take care of your Thoughts when you are by yourself.  You Are what your think.  Take care of your Words when you are with company.   Right Speech, Right Action.  The only constant thing in Life is Change.  Life is an Echo.  My fav quotes from the Buddha. #yongkevthoughts

  So I am told by the elderly, that volunteering to enlist for World War 2 in the mid 20th century was seen as obligatory by most to do their duty to nation and society - but in those times it was also an exciting adventure like opportunity to see the World.  Millennials, Gen Z and those following behind the Baby Boomers have had peacetime opportunity to explore overseas without the accompanying dangers of battle. We have been given authority like advice on the health risks of eating eggs, desired blood pressure points and the benefits of health supplements.  Dissenting voices now appear in cyberspace to counter or modify such advice.  Every one has an individual uniqueness health wise - and to be subject to population averages can be missing the mark. Many of us must have reflected on the serious loyalty and passion of sitting down to watch and hear the news telecast.   As the internet liberated the expression of and accessibility to information, it has become so clear and evident o

Binary numbers led to the way of automated and intelligent software. The media quotes numbers to affect our senses - how much our investments have grown or been reduced, the amount of ingredients in our nutrition, knowledge of parameters measuring our society and how we can visualise and realise our personal dreams.  Numbers can be the true universal language.  We have hand wearables that spew out numbers on how our physical bodies are performing.  The calendar has facilitated time management, appointments and project planning.  We reflect on anniversaries and the march of numbers has been the ever reliable quiet partner of progress.  Truly each of us are identifiable by numbers, whether in cyberspace, the devices we register with like mobile phones, government management of its citizens and other residents, our title deeds, financial assets or liabilities or more.  Banking is indeed a trove, game and use of numbers.  Whether it is based on blockchain, cash or digitised systems, number

 I am not sure if public service hygiene inspectors anywhere cover dietary and nutrition aspects. I do home cooking most of the time.  When eating out across greater Sydney,  I do find I get more thirsty an hour or two after eating out. Aussie society is caught up with the American obsession for fast food. Unhealthy food in Aus is generally accessible, cheaper and made addictive. Creative ways of making salads using fresh produce are available in my side of the woods at home and when eating out. It was reported recently that the intake of fruits and veg has fallen amongst kids in Australia, despite the blessings in this continental island for produce from tropical to temperate climes. Aus styled barista made coffee tastes better than coffee in other western societies.  As such, coffee drinking obsession is evident in the mornings anywhere across Australia.   How healthy is drinking too much barista made coffee?  The jury is still out.   What is definitely unhealthy is the Aussie pencha

  A 16 year old  Boeing 777 ER on flight at 37000 feet on 21 May 2024 over the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar experienced a sudden encounter with a clear air turbulence.  The aircraft tilted up and then fell dramatically for a very short time, causing spinal and head injuries to 53 passengers and one crew member who were not belted up.  A British subject unfortunately had a heart attack and died. The injured were thrown up in dramatic fashion against overhead lockers or projected upwards while walking in the aisle or using the toilets. The plane made an emergency landing in Bangkok.  SQ231 was flying from London enroute to Changi.   Breakfast was served on board when the plane encountered the severe turbulence on a route used by several airlines. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport rose to the occasion by offering interim triage to injured passengers on the tarmac once the affected plane landed. All eyes are on SQ now as to how they handle the aftermath for passengers, crew, airline rep

  Looks like everyone has to be more mindful and cautious again.  Singapore is reportedly facing a spike in another variation of Covid infections Face masking in close public crowds can reduce the risks, but brings into play cultural, political and emotional attitudes in many individuals I know Many people I know have had varying concerns about significant and other lingering side effects of mRna Covid vaccinations. We as lay persons have been subject to varying confusion and uncertainty about Pfizer. I tried to get Novavax and non mRna vaccinations in 2021 and 2022 but they were not available in my side of the world. Elderly people are always reminded of the higher chances of infection but usually they do not expose themselves to Covid risks everyday as much as the younger generations. The cynic in me suggests that Big Pharma and its possible conspirators can be hyping up Covid risks with other less honourable aims in mind.  At the same time, governments and medical authoritie

  This possibly remaining vestige of colonialism is hardly brought up by the mainstream media. The recent riots in Noumea, blamed on the Melanesian Kanak independence movement, is part of a brewing dissatisfaction evident in New Caledonia in as many years. The bright side - Even if the French territories in the South Pacific are so far away from Europe, their residents of whatever background amazingly are given full rights to vote in French  elections - something the British, Germans, Portuguese and Dutch never did in Africa or Asia. Noumea is pretty scenic and is part of the romanticised chain of still French controlled part of South Pacific locations that include Tahiti and Bora Bora. It is nearer for Aussies from the east coast to fly to New Caledonia than to fly to Singapore or Bangkok. There is a direct flight from Changi Singapore to Noumea on AirCalin. The Down side - it can be very expensive to maintain political, military and supply logistic control  over a few isles on t

 Just like inside the proverbial witches pot, let us reflect on the contemporary world to muse on what has been brewing for some time now -  and can potentially cook more in this third decade of the 21st century.  The past is not a sure guide for the future, but currently reading the key leaves hanging from the prediction tree is not a wasted exercise. Why wait until the typical and reactive hue and cry when the pot does boil over?  In geopolitics, we have witnesed how endless banter and chat in halls of distinguished looking human beings do not do much in resolving matters of any severity.  Where there is no empathy in wilfulness - and where controlling mindsets are embedded in selfishness and divisiveness - problems get multiplied.  Increasing control in the background by truly powerful interests around the world - whether in finance, politics, arnaments, technology or emotional articulation of self entitled beliefs - will impact on a world run on short termism, less supporting resou