Kindly Yours

  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 ...

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,...

 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 ...

  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...

  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 medi...

  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 ...

 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 t...

 When I got to vote,  l asked my Missee,  Will I now kick off the rogue who's been fooling me?  Will I be truly free, will I feel neat? Here's what she said to me.  Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, Will be. Politics is just not for thee, Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, Will be.  When I paid my dues and joined the Melee, I asked my Party what lies ahead? Will we have rainbows day after day? Here's what my Party said to me.  Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, Will be. Politics is just not for thee, Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, Will be.  Now I have a Branch of my own Members ask their Mentor what will they be, Will they have power? Will they be rich? I tell them tenderly,  Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, Will be. Politics is just not for thee, Que Sera, Sera, Wharever will be, Will be.  - Lyric variation by KY Que Sera Sera was a hit song by Doris Day, featured in the Alfred Hitchcock movie, "The Man Who Knew Too Much."

 In an age of information overload, what is most significant?  It is what they do not tell us. It is what they make it so difficult to access. It is "nothing to see here". It is what they dress up in  mighty terms - commercial-in-confidence,  Parliamentary privilege, national security, military secret, for the public's own good. It is what Freedom of Information requests gets the silent treatment. It is when shareholder microphones get shut down by the Chairperson of the Board. It is when obvious topics of urgency, news or discussion of them do not appear as headlines. It is when authorities underestimate the intelligence of the public. It is when weblinks are blocked without any explanation given. It is when the public are fed addiction on rather useless distractions. It is when censorship occurs covertly with those in power shouting they represent democratic values. It is when the public gets strongly aroused to find out for themselves. #yongkevthoughts

 An Ode to Victoria - By The Time I Get To Ballarat  "By the time I get to Tullamarine, She'll be rising, She'll find the note I posted on Signal, She'll laugh, when she reads the part that says I'm coming Cause I've wanted to, so many times before.  By the time I make Southern Cross, She'll be working, She'll probably stop at lunch, And give me a call, But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringing, Out of coverage, that's all  By the time I make Ballarat, She'll be sleeping, She'll turn softly and call my name out low, And she'll cry, just to think, I may not really be here, Though time and time I've tried to tell her so She just didn't know, I would really love her so." Most of the above Lyrics are credited to Jimmy Webb. The greatest version, to me, of this hit song was rendered by Glen Campbell.

 So it is that time of year to clear the rafters.  Calenders are human devices, but they sort of sync with the movements of Earth, the change of seasons and the connections of the human pysche with the Universe.  Significant social, cultural and sentimental triggers are also kicked off before closure of the year. What have we achieved, what we have not, what close shaves did we have and how grateful we can be.  Moving away from all the commercialised distractions of year end, what really matters?  I reckon it is people and how they have made you feel, inspired, discouraged or anything in between.  It is also how you have treated others you come across - given a free smile, learnt something, enjoyed discussing something or made a stand in differences of opinion.  True and lasting friendships go through the hard yards with a deeper appreciation and understanding. What is not worth it can be let go thankfully with hindsight and relief.  No matter whe...

 Very rare and perceptive is the one .who can see the reason behind your silence. .who can feel the pain behind your smile. .who can understand behind the depth of your eyes. .who can lift your inner self up without you having to ask. .who sends you the vibes you need, even from afar. .who stands with you in both good and not so good times. .who listens more than unnecessarily judge. .who encourages you and inspires you, even if you may not deserve it. .who gets into touch when you need it most without you having to ask. .who sparks you to better take care of yourself. .who makes you helpfully see the big picture and not drain you of your personal energy. .who makes you to want to get off your personal comfort zone. .who makes you better discern what is priority in a world of distractions. .who shares what cannot be reimbursed by commerce or money. .who abandons you once they no longer find you useful to their selfish needs. .who can appreciate the love behind your concern. #yongke...

 The late founder of contemporary Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, insisted on 300 per cent safety and not just 100 per cent in his mindset.  mRna tech is said to be used in early stage developing other things apart from in Covid vaccines, but the vehement  unusual support and emphasis by various powers that are around the world to utilise it and support Pfizer has not gone unnoticed.  Inactivated vaccines like Novavax were difficult to access in Australia at the height of the Covid years from 2021 to 2022 - and still are.  Even if one still believes in Covid vaccinations, it is so obvious how mRna types are made more accessible and continually emphasised by the Canberra Federal Government from 2021 onwards.  Scott Morrison ex PM in Camberra also showed gusty support for Pfizer vaccine production in Melbourne.  Pfizer has hardly been evaluated comprehensively for its performance in Covid vaccines around the world.  Before the onslaught of Covid, the track...

  Sri Lanka March 2024 The island nation has lots of walking at natural sites and religious places, a variety of food familiar to Malaysia's multi-racial demographics, interesting town walks, varying climate zones from mountains to coasts, Dutch historical influences and several options for adventure experiences. Travel distances are user friendly, with destinations usually reachable one way between one hour and 90 minutes by road.  The way Sri Lankans drive can be so precise and shockingly close to one another on its mostly narrow roads. Somehow I found the meats used in curries were pretty dry or hard.  Exception was in pork black curry.  Fish is generally more palatable, as in grilled or in curry dishes. Escalators are rare outside Colombo and walking up two steps of flights to go to a meal floor is common.  King Coconut water, dhall curry, mudcrab and bananas are tops in my choice, but not durian types grown here. Tea quality as you know is outstanding, ...

  What makes an all round reliable airline that reassures? Customer service with a balanced empathy and focus. Engineering standards that are monitored and maintained. Smooth transitions enabled at connecting airports. User friendly bookings with resolution of any matters arising. Boarding and disembarkation spring in the step. Airline staff who are well trained and valued by the employer. Seemingly little extras on flight like free wifi, that dessert and responsiveness to the uniqueness of each passenger. Airline Board and top management who value human beings as vital to the business - and not just sheer profits. Airlines that strive to provide the leading edge without haughtiness. Airlines who emphasise on the holistic experience and not blame others on outsourced parts of the business. #imagekev

  In this age of increasing disinformation, hidden propaganda, manipulative commercialism and social media hype, are we helped when we check an internet review of an eatery? Are the scorings reliable?  One person's sense of taste can be another's disdain.  Can an eatery take litigation when its operators opine they have been unfairly assessed? When goggling began, most reviews of foodie venues were dominated by text.  Then came the barrage of still images, many micro focused with blurred backgrounds, some echoing the ambiance of the place and all illustrating and supplementing what is written. Eventually images in all forms took over with a crescendo.   Video clips, tantalising angles and added music made viewers really feel we are there with the influencers.  You Tube and Tik Tok fast tracked this waterfall of visual feasts.  Decisions and sensations were more made visually rather than upon listening to the audio.  Next, how do we bring i...

  The duopoly of supermarkets continues across Australia, as corporate muscles are flexed against suppliers, staff and customers in a relentless obsession of growth in profits, dominance and control. I support more of stand alone independent grocers and direct producers, they have more variety on their shelves.  As prices in Coles and Woolies have gone up, they cannot compete price wise with some independent grocers, especially ethnic ones like Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, etc. My strategy now is to be mindful of selected items of grocery to buy - and suppport small business in my locality as far as I can. A more focused approach helps to avoid wasting expenses on addictive food, zoom for more quality in edibles and exercise our minds and hearts in better choices with discretion. Fresh eggs are not bad at Aldi, they do not shelf them in fridges like Coles and Woolies. Fresh milk at Aldis is a good buy, but at the same time there can be a lot of distracting...