Kindly Yours

 

 The parade of comical obsessions continues. First it was with hotel quarantines. Then they moved on to no singing and no dancing. Next was a fixation with toilet paper purchases. Ah, they then were addicted to QR code scanning. Contact tracing became a competitive sport, with boasts of even a gold standard  Lockdown fever was not imagined...... Not satisfied, they penalised those who were detected 5km lingering away from home. Soon disclosure of exposure spots was deemphasised and then disappeared. Soon, it was to have proof of being "fully vaccinated" and the drive for individuals to have booster shots as soon as possible. Then the fad came to let go and be totally free. They emphasised case numbers are not important as dehumanisation continued.  Hospitals, medical staff, small businesses and frontliners were left to deal with the reality and the mess.  With opening up, it is the opera with testing proofs, validity of test results and how timely we receive them. No...

  For two years, we have complied. We took it on the chin, limiting ourselves to the kilometre distance pronounced by authorities.  We got used to face mask, even when we instinctively knew we did not breathe normally when wearing them. We made our hands dehydrated so often when we were asked to daily use hand sanitiser. People who went on the ship cruise of their life time came home to die of infections caught aboard the high seas.  Elderly people in commercially run aged care facilities -  and crowded economically challenged households - were sitting ducks as well. So many lost their livelihoods and incomes, while those who imposed public policy on the masses continued to have their pay packages protected. Small businesses and retail had to close, earning pittance in suburbs all over, like through takeaways.  The big commercial players in town prospered as discretionary monies were over spent on groceries, homewares and online purchases, to name a few. T...

 Wild boars are seen more on the streets of Hong Kong, so long dominated by densely populated humans.  We are asked to share the road, but it reminds me of we also being required to share the environment with fauna. It is also their space. The Earth moves on.  The smallest island nations are crying out for help as sea levels rise, truly threatening their essentially flat and coastal community existence.   Others find their primary assets, the bounty of the oceans, have been depleted not from their fishing activities, but by the swooping harvests of large efficient trawlers coming  from beyond their shores.  The Earth rotates on.  For public health reasons, more  disposable face masks and plastic containers have significantly risen in use since 2019.  The problem may not be in their manufacture and usage, but more in how they are disposed, choking our waterways and sealife.  The Oceans continue to move.  Disposability can be the...

Letting ourselves choose to be happy..... I can hear the pitter patter of an increasingly heavy rain downpour. Now, in the hour after sunset, nestled between the hills to the west and the ocean to the east. I choose to smell the refreshing moisture in the air. I choose to slowly unfurl at this hour to close the day. Soaking in water reinvigorates the body. I choose to anticipate the toast I am having for breakfast, uhm, tomorrow. I choose what uplifts me. I relish in getting my body break in sweat running up that hill - or soaking in the salty winds along the beach. I put my fingers to run over the bark of stately trees that stand like a sentinel of a friend looking over me - or breathe in the oxygen exuded by leaves as they make their chlorophyll. Tucked in bed, in a totally darkened space, my eyes look at the emerging stars across our Great Southern Sky. There is a lack of reflected artificial light, so the Universe up there becomes so much easier to discern and enjoy a view ...

With the arrival of another C19 mutation, Omicron, it looks like an increasing case of deja vu. Flight arrivals from the first hotspot nations are banned. There is a dearth of knowledge amongst experts, bureaucrats and politicians on how a new mutation will play out. Infections are confirmed amongst individuals who arrived from hotspot nations, but they arrived before any arrival bans. Such individuals had total freedom of movement when they visited what are now called exposure spots in the local community, before feeling unwell and testing positive. Will there be breaches at the control points of disembarkation and quarantine accommodation? Citizens and PRs of destination countries, coming from hotspot nations, are isolated for 14 days after arrival, but we are no longer told where exactly they are quarantined. The word "hotels" is no longer mentioned. The playbook in response by authorities looks amazingly familiar. After two years, there are seemingly no new ideas, ex...

  In transition between different and significant approaches in managing Covid, Singapore is at the cross roads. The journey so far for Europe is swinging from lockdowns to freedom and now back to lockdowns. No economy can endure lockdowns on and off, especially for one like Singapore, but the question is "at what price?". Here are key quotes from a televised address by the Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien-loong, to his nation on 3 October 2021. "Singapore cannot stay locked down indefinitely." "We are shifting to home recovery" "No more complicated flow charts." "Knowing what to do makes Covid not a scary disease." "Sooner or later, everyone of us will meet the virus." "Keeping connected to supply chains will help ensure Singapore's hub status." "We must ensure for Singapore's health systen and health workers, which is our last line of defence." "We must be our nation's first...

What each of us, and our society, business and mental health needs most of all, is more certainty - all across the world. The way public health and epidemic control, in the past 2 years or so, has been handled can be abrupt, heavy handed and with lack of adequate communication with all stakeholders. Authorities swing their power to impose measures, likely using fear as an unnecessary tool or having unrevealed agendas behind the methods or plans utilised. Delta is not to be underestimated, but at the same time, it must not be manipulated for other purposes. Politicians and "the science" may have to work in a kind of knowledge vacuum, but that does not mean always taking a stare down approach. The public deserves more sincerity from our elected officials, who cannot just issue cherry picked information, but should be more open on what challenges there are in unknowns. Beware, in whatever pathway is offered, it is prudent to have a back up plan. The jarring way in which th...

What if there is a viable test carried out to detect manipulation of truth and fact, as if it was a Covid detection test? In the past 2 years or so, so many swabs have been applied on so many of our fellow residents. The process, outcomes and the science of such swabs are not accurate all the time, as there can be resulting false positives or false negatives. In assessing whether What if there is a viable test carried out to detect manipulation of truth and fact, as if it was a Covid detection test? In the past 2 years or so, so many swabs have been applied on so many of our fellow residents. The process, outcomes and the science of such swabs are not accurate all the time, as there can be resulting false positives or false negatives. In assessing whether individuals in positions of public responsibility, across several societies, are sincere in telling us what they know, or do not know, or just unsure about, we do not require chemical analysis - only our previous experience in lo...

After around 2 years of Covid, there can be nothing like prevention at first level by face masking, minimising hanging out at places with poor ventilation and exercising more of our personal intelligence and mindfulness. Vaccinations are at best defensive measures after viral invasions get out of control. They are said to sustain a high level of antibodies in our physical make up to fight Covid. The world's populations have already worn face masks during the Spanish flu, SARs, plagues etc. Covid vaccinations can still be immature in their development - the rate at which authorities push such vaccinations, even if kosher, can be alarming. Successful vaccinations we take in the past are usually annually taken, not so often within a year. Emphasis on producing anti viral medicine for Covid seems to be at a lesser pace. There is also a lack of focus on the usefulness of our memory T cells in our own bodies to naturally fight Covid. Every excuse can be given by authorities across...

  Which person of prominence, in your observation or knowledge, can you attribute the following behaviour? 1. Never misses a photo opportunity to promote a certain political purpose or impression. 2. Cites higher powers for being chosen to lead to a bigger destiny. 3. Manipulates other sources of power or spins events to fast track a selfish agenda. 4. Has clear ideas on the kind of new social order he wants entrenched. 5. Utilises position to exploit nationalist sentiments in playing politics. 6. Downplays the past record to hide any deficiencies and divert attention for purposes of the present or future. 7. Changes previously strong alliances when convenient or when no longer required for purpose. 8. Utilises extreme marketing approaches to confuse between the nation, the nation's way and what is really his personal way. 9. Resorts to ruthlessness, aggression and trickery on rhe quiet to get to the top of the ladder. 10. Contr...

Three islands of varying sizes have found themselves geographically located next to influential next door neighbours. TASMANIA Tasmania, so near the Antarctic, compared to most other lands, stands out as the pristine ecological opportunity to still seriously take care of, despite the march of economic explotation, hydro water engineering, mining and cutting down of its quality forests. Its socio-political fate is significantly linked to mainland Australia across the Bass Straits. With a relatively less dense population compared to even New Zealand's North and South Islands, its First Peoples of Lutuwrita met head on big time with different civilisations four hundred years ago. It still relies on tourism monies, now cut off because of the borders closed as a keymeasure to manage a Coronavirus we seem to not fully understand and able to control. Tasmania's other virtues, however, cannot be over looked apart from use of the land and surrounding seas. The adv...

Britain granted independence to Peninsular Malaya on this day 64 years ago - 31 August 2021. Malaya then became part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, joining Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, and Singapore. In 1965, Singapore became its own Republic on leaving this Federation. As a child having a charmed life on Penang Island, every anniversary of this occasion was anticipated with much fanfare. The lyrics of the National Anthem were reexamined in earnest. Specials were screened at theatres and on telly. No special cakes or delicacies were made though, even for a food obsessed society. Neighbours did however come out in compounds to chat with each other. English was still spoken with gusto - and everything Brit was still much held with respect, much akin to parents in contemporary Malaysia, having an embedded respect of university education in good reliable England. I never questioned then what we were celebrating independence from. Sure, the history books ...

27 July 2021. From what I discern as consistent patterns in the behaviour of leading governments around the world, 18 months after this c19 breakout, the following highlights my significant concerns. 1.  Increasing emphasis on vaccinations as the only way out, together with regular booster shots. 2.   No significant efforts to invest more in public health systems. 3.   Increasing movement restrictions on the masses, with the consistent message that we have to exchange being inoculated to have access to what are essentially our human rights. 4.  The relative silence of the Big Pharmas, which tend to have politicians speaking implicitly for them. 5.   The consistent mantra from governments that they follow the science and medical advice, when in many cases that does not sound so convincing anymore. 6.    The mixed messaging from authorities on many fronts in fighting this c19, but not for consistent support for vaccinations and a loud silence on the progress in developing d...

Many significant matters in our personal lives, and that of the world, seem and are at the same time put on hold, as if in a freeze-frame of photography - as media, politicians and commercial medical providers overcrowd our attention to a virus we cannot even see. And in the rising din, underlying panic and ever changing positions generated by various parties in this on going circus, of how to best manage this c19, it seems to me that things can just be plucked from the air and covert intentions not fully disclosed to the public. There can be too much talk and too little meaningful action which brings results. Politicians change their directions increasingly to serve their survival, rather than the health of their voters. Medical bureaucrats can be under unstated pressure by the powers that employ them. There are increased concerns in the militarisation of the public management of this Coronavirus. The connundrum between choosing lockdowns or vaccinations is the latest dilemn...

Sydney Lockdown 2.0 -  Day 32 Inspired by My Favourite Things, from The Sound of Music. "Raindrops on face masks, Saliva on my face shield, Getting taken to task, Having a gluey sanitising feel, Brown paper packages just left without a ring, These are a few of my not fav things! Luke warm coffee and sodgy apple strudels, And only takeaway for noodles, Looking at the moon and not flying on my wings, These are a few of my non-fav things! Keeping my distance with marked blue sashes, Aerosols that stay on my nose and eyelashes, Pointing over codes that melt into check-ins, These are a few of my non-fav things! When the Delta bites, When the bee stings, When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my really fav things, And then I don't feel so bad!" #yongkevthoughts

The screws tighten, Are we frightened? Our spirits are more than dampened, as confusion becomes more rampant. The hidden enemy jumps, seems to be doing a dump, after coming in, and then some, at us it fiddles more than its thump. Instead of being inspired, we are cajoled, with many things soon to expire. What is the truth between the changing flames of fire, This is what we most desire. Why was danger allowed to roam, before they wrecked us inside the home. Why only react and respond, when the ability to prevent was not gone? How were the lessons not learnt, as the same patterns of omit, breach and damage repeat? Hijacked agendas, lack of detail and hidden themes not discerned, False confidence turning out to be the harbinger of defeat. Winners write the books, A Blame Game tries to put players off the hook. Common folk get kicked in the foot, whilst the blessed few get to keep the loot. Under the pressure of restraint and constraint, we are asked to behave and do as we ...

6 July 2021 - 11am. The USA Government has not reached its planned c19 related vaccination targets set by President Biden. On the 245 th anniversary of its founding, Stateside had undergone a tumultous year of continued racial divisions, a widespread Coronavirus affliction, political drama and reaffirmed some values and approaches in how it interacts with the rest of the world. Australia as a Federation has reached its 120th year.  Most of its population resides in its south-eastern corner.  The continental island can be as wide as mainland USA, but only has 7.8 percent of the American population. Vaccination, rightly or wrongly, has been emphasised by both Governments to manage the never ending spread of c19.  Canberra is however way behind its vaccination targets and continues to offer an ever changing scenario in this space. Sydney still grapples with a resurgence in c19 local transmission infections.  Although relatively small in numbers, this new outbreak starting at Bondi i...