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Showing posts from February, 2022

The Achilles Heel of Nations

States are formed in the political scheme of power as envisaged by human beings.   Previously there were kingdoms, fiefdoms, empires and more.   Whatever the label, political entities are strong statements of unity and control under a declared culture, way of society, a dynamic personality of aruler or dynastic rulers, religion, trading hub or federation of smaller states. Singapore, now a modern city state of a Republic, was part of the British Empire for many years.  Eighty years ago, on 15 February, colonial troops surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army, which had quickly conquered the Malayan peninsular after the attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.  ( On 19 February that same year, 1942, the Japanese air force bombed Darwin).  The British had concentrated their defences in Singapore facing south towards the sea, instead of also providing for defences along the island's north.  This was a lesson of Achilles Heel that was learnt at much c...

A Reflection Along the Way

  Omicron infections are spiking in Malaysia and Singapore. The experience of Sydney since December 2021, where the state governmemt has fast let virtually all restrictions removed and the spread go rip throughout the community, suggests some salient matters. Each individual has his or her own unique risk circumstances and parameters. Although most Omicron infections seem to only cause milder symptoms than Delta, there is a risk of long Covid, whether one is vaccinated or not. The nsw state premier and Aus PM have pushed it to self responsibility for managing any covid infections, at most since December 2021. Public and political management of covid can have powerful hidden agendas. Self prevention of infection remains the most consistent weapon for individuals.  Omicron transmission is said to occur through both hangabout air and infected surfaces. Several side effects of Covid vaccines are not highlighted by mainstream media and governments. It can be the luck of the ...

Took Me So Long

  Lol, it took me so long.... to see through breakfast tv as an electronic interface of the junk in the postbox, ads with Apps and the clutter they send me with free things. to realise the same word script and playbook of "news" delivered in different modes from the same media owner. to realise how much artificial processing is in the nature of things on our supermarket shelves, fast food offers and addictive buys. to fall into the addictive throes of interacting on screen time is no different from gamers getting into endless nights of playing. to not be a loyal customer of any commercial service, but to keep churning our custom of different services. to value routine and regime as also adding to fulfilment. to realise that services and products not easily accessible during pandemic lockdowns can really after all be not essential. to support the local neighbourhood can be more meaningful than following hype all over the city. #yongkevthoughts