thin king

May you enjoy the four greatest blessings:

Honest work to occupy you.

A hearty appetite to sustain you.

A good woman to love you.

And a wink from the God above.

Good morning,

The longer the sooner

Little AhChye was very excited over what his mother was going to cook for him for his third birthday. He kept going into the kitchen and bothering her. So much so that his mother said, "Now be good, sit quietly or go out. The longer you wait the sooner you'll get it."

This is very true no matter how ironical it is. All of us experienced this. Impatience very often gets nowhere.

Remember how we used to rush into answering the examination questions without reading all the questions and ended up unable to cope with the whole paper.

A friend once told me this, something he loved to do with impatient people. He handed the fellow a paper with 20 questions to answer within a period of time. He gave the START and the fellow frantically began writing the answers which included poking the paper at certain places, tearing a corner of it, folding it and unfolding it, put an X somewhere, scratching out some words, and doing a lot of other funny actions. He enjoyed the scene while the fellow completed the answers, well within the time given. Well, how did he score ?

He failed completely. At the top of the question paper, before question No. 1 there was an instruction in capital letters "DO NOT ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS ON THIS PAGE, ANSWER ONLY THOSE QUESTIONS ON THE BACK OF THIS PAPER"

Once while we were talking about the driving habits of drivers in Singapore I said, "This driver overtook me four times from Bedok to Toa Payoh." Some looked puzzled, others laughed. How can this be so ? Well, it was not a joke and it was the truth. This fellow kept tailgating and changing lanes, all the time looking for an opening; that was his own way of skillful driving. What happened was that each time there was a gap he would cut into it and went ahead by a few car lengths. But then he got slowed down, and he had to cut back into another gap, behind me. He would pass me by cutting out again, but as usual I would pass him again while maintaining normal traffic flow. Poor driver, all this reckless hectic blood pressure raising manoeuvres and not getting anyway sooner. Not many people can imagine how a driver can be overtaken by another driver from one place to another without being in a race. This happened only in a circuit race.

I loved to tell my wife to observe while all this happened, and very often indeed.

Someone said, "All good things come to one who waits."
An angler always waits; he goes home with fish doesn't he, ha ha !

Have a nice day.
Ronald

Hello to all,


What does time offer ?


Today will be yesterday tomorrow
These three are the trinity of time
It is just one day each all the same
Simply a matter of present past and future

Without yesterday where is glory
Without tomorrow what is dream
Without today what is to achieve
Yesterday teaches us to plan for tomorrow

Yesterday is a storehouse of memories
It is full of experiences and knowledge
Tomorrow is the path to opportunities
The open target for our desires and visions

Today is the crossroad of glory and dream
The time to engage energy into action
All past glories and all future dreams
Add up to little without the present's realization

Remember the experiences of yesterday
Plan and prepare for what will come tomorrow
But live today and enjoy its abundant gifts
Only today can one do something about anything


Have a nice day.
Ronald

An Irish Blessing


May your neighbors respect you,
trouble neglect you,
the angels protect you,
and heaven accept you.

An Irish Toast

He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses more;
He who loses faith, loses all.

Good morning,

The Story of Job
(From riches to rags to double riches)

A man named Job lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless and upright; one who feared God and turned away from evil. He had seven sons, three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants. He was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons and daughters feasted every day. Habitually daily, Job offered a burnt offering to God for each of his sons, and he sanctified them.

When Satan appeared before God, God told him about Job's faithfulness and virtues. Satan replied that it was because God had given Job aplenty, and that Job would turn against God without all these. God gave Satan a free hand except to harm Job.

So, the Sabe'ans, fire from heaven, the Chalde'ans, and a great wind from the wilderness, came and plundered and destroyed all Job's possessions. Job rent his robe, shaved his head, fell upon the ground, and worshipped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return; the LORD gave and the LORD took away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Again, when Satan appeared before God, God told him that Job had remained faithful despite what Satan had wrought against him. Satan answered that Skin for skin a man would save himself with all he had, but if his flesh and bone was afflicted, he would curse God. Again, God gave Satan a free hand, except to kill Job.

Then Job was afflicted with loathsome sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Job took a potsherd to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. When his wife questioned his continual faithfulness to God he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and not also receive evil?"

Job's three friends came, each from his own place, Eli'phaz the Te'manite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Na'amathite to condole and comfort him. They wept and sat with him on the ground for seven days and nights, saying nothing, for his suffering was very great.

When Job opened his mouth he cursed the day of his birth.

Then Job went into a very long discourse with these three friends. What they talked about is very wide, deep and diverse, too lengthy to summarise. What they said to each other is as follows.

While they advised Job to have strength and wisdom in his own case, that God punished the wicked and rewarded the good accordingly, and told him that no man could be righteous before God, and not to be angry with God, Job complained that God had punished him after giving him everything and made him a laughing stock before everything, that God had forsaken him and let him be destroyed utterly, and that he wished to be dead. He said that he would face God if he could find God. He maintained that he had been righteous and would continued to be righteous as before, saying, "Wisdom knows the fear of the Lord and to depart from evil".

So the three men kept quiet because Job was righteous in his own eyes.

Then Eli'hu, the son of Bar'achel the Buzite, the youngest and who had held his silence, spoke his anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God, and at Job's three friends because they had no answer to rebut Job. Eli'hu said that God is almighty, He has his way of making man understand what is right. He said God is just, who judges man according to his deeds. He chided Job for claiming to be so righteous and sinned doubly. He told Job about what God can do, and asked Job what did he know about anything.

Then, out of the whirlwind, the LORD said to Job, "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer." Job answered, "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I have spoken once, I will not answer, twice."

Then the LORD said to Job, "Can Job do what God has done, as to want to contend with God." Job answered that he had spoken out of ignorance, because he only knew God through his ears. But now, by his eyes, he despised what he had said, and repented in dust and ashes.

Later, the LORD said to Eli'phaz, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Therefore take seven bulls and seven rams to Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly." So, Eli'phaz, Bildad and Zophar went and did what the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer for his friends.

Then the LORD restored the fortunes of Job. All his brothers and sisters, and all those who had known him before, came and sympathised with him and comforted him; and each gave him money and a ring of gold.

The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. God gave Job twice as much as he had before. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. He had again seven sons and three daughters, named in order of birth Jemi'mah, Kezi'ah, and Ker'en-hap'puch; and there were no women as fair as Job's daughters; and Job gave them inheritance among their brothers.

Job lived a hundred and forty years. He saw his sons, his grandsons, and great grandsons. And Job died an old man, full of days.

Have a nice day.
Ronald

Hello sausage lovers and all,

Something to add to rojak ?

An European operating a hawker stall in the heart of Chinatown.
Elrick Sollbook from Austria eating durian, the Asian king of fruits.
Helen Grace is a Chinese-looking charming Filipina selling roast
sausages somewhere in the Kreta Ayer area.

Which of these statements are (a) true, (b) false, (c) possible ?

A l l t h e a b o v e s t a t e m e n t s a r e t r u e.

Helen Grace is married to Elrick Sollbook from Austria. They are
about 40 years old and have a near teenage son named J J. They
have been living in Singapore for about eight years. They appear
more local than some Singapore residents.

They are exceptional people. Their lifestyle appears unrestrained,
uninhibited, free and well chosen. They do not look rich but they
enjoy life, live well and travel. Their occupation --- hawkers.

They operate a stall named Wuerstelstand at the end of Smith
Street, nearer to South Bridge Road. They sell a variety of delicious
European sausages, roasted on the spot, as well as hot dogs, in
the evenings. During business, Elrick dresses himself in his trademark
white outfit of a chef. And from a distance he looks like a puppeteer
in his stall, standing higher than the customers he serves. The stall
is colourful with lots of pin-ups.

They live like Singaporeans, speak a smattering of local dialects
and can share jokes with the local people. They blend easily with
Singaporeans, simply, friendly and no airs. They are a small bit of
Cosmopolitan Singapore.

An evening stroll down the old Chinatown area today is very pleasant.
One has to see for oneself !

Have a nice day.
Ronald

Good morning,

A Catalyst is a Great Help

We learned from Science,
in Chemistry, that a catalyst is a substance,
usually used in small amounts relative to the reactants,
that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction
without being consumed in the process.

This theory also applies to an activity in other areas.
When some event cannot initiate or gets stuck, introduce a catalyst.
It sounds easy, but it is true.
This has been illustrated in an old famous puzzle.

A rancher had 17 horses among other assets when he died.
In his will he stated that these horses should be distributed
to his three sons in the following proportions:
one-half, one-third and one-ninth respectively.
The three sons knew Arithmetic,
but still they could not apportion the horses as willed by their father.
So, they sent word to their uncle saying that they needed urgent help.
The uncle came in great haste riding an Appaloosa.
The brothers told their uncle about the problem,
took him to the corral and asked him to carry out their father's will.
The uncle did so, according to the will,
and everyone was happy
because there was no problem in the distribution.

The uncle had a meal with his nephews and went home.
When he reached home,
he wondered why his nephews had to ask for help.
He sat down and tried to figure it out.
And to his surprise, he found that there seemed to be a mistake,
as the Arithmetic did not work out.

So, the next morning he went back to the ranch.
He told his nephews that he had made a mistake,
and he wanted to check.
But as he did it again, everything turned out right.
Thus, having reassured himself, he went home, happy but confused

On his way home he met the local teacher.
When he told the teacher about the problem the teacher laughed.
Then the teacher explained the cause of the problem.
When he was carrying out the will, his own horse,
the Appaloosa, was taken into consideration, totalling 18,
and the Arithmetic worked out exactly.
The horses were distributed as 9, 6 and 2 horses.

So, you see, the Appaloosa was the catalyst.

Have a nice day.
Ronald

Knowledge widens one's horizon,
and stirs the imagination

If one does not know what one can have,
how does one get it

Criticism may be resentful,
but it does awaken the ignorant

The wise welcomes criticism,
it is the proud ones who resents

Good morning.


Flotsam & Jetsam

Time and tide wait for no man
That is alright as we are not human

I flotsam and my twin jetsam
We will wait for the tide and its free ride

We drift and we float just as carefree
Our sojourn is up to the very sea

Night and day we bob far out and near
It matters not where we land on shore

Caressed by wind or scorched by sun
Often we stayed mired in the beach sand

Then we just laze and sooner or later
A bigger wave will sweep us back to sea

From sea to shore and shore to sea
Our journey goes on like eternity

Perhaps a beachcomber may spot us
And crafts us as objects of art and quality

Beauty is us but not everyone can see
Our true beauty lights upon close scrutiny

Give us a shine and bestow us a name
This is one good way to reclaim our esteem

Landscapes out of wood or root as may be
Insects embalmed in sap are not rarities

An amber with a creature within preserved
A treasure to own and true delight to display

We flotsam and jetsam from forsaken wastes
Upon discovery return to our rightful place


Have a nice day.
Ronald

Good morning,

A better deal is the result of a good choice.

Many years ago, at a talk on Finance, a participant asked.
"What is the difference between Budgeting and Forecasting ?"
The speaker hesitated a moment, then said,
"Well, for one thing the spelling is different."
Many of the participants laughed. But what a son-of-a-gun,
joking at the expense of a participant like that.

Well, what is the difference between Choice and Choose ?
Ha ha ha, for one thing, beside the spelling, there is a difference
in them in grammar !
When we make a choice nobody can see, but when we choose it is obvious.
And here lies the fun when people choose when they buy things.

A fishmonger taught me this, "Press the pomfret below the eye and observe
the liquid that exudes: its bloody colour indicates its freshness."
But people know better. They open and look at the gills and the eyes,
press the body for firmness, feel for its sliminess or smell it.
Alas, fish do not smell fishy or feel slimy anymore, firm fish is a quality
of only those just taken out of the ice-box, and fish pressed too often
are not worth buying.

How to choose okra or ladyfingers? Bend its little end. It it snaps,
it is tender; if not, it is good for exercising teeth.
Buying okra with bent ends is being ignorant.
What about a tied up bunch of spinach, chyesim or other vegetable.
They all look about the same. But people would turn every bunch over,
check and test its weight, and finally pick one that did not look
much different from the others.

Choosing apples is more fun than buying.
Pick one up, press it a bit and throw it back.
So, the smart thing here is to choose when the staff just opened a new box;
these have not been dented yet, with or without fingernail marks.

Ah. Observe people choosing water melons.
Pick one up, hold it with both hands and shake it.
Turn it on one hand and slap it with the other.
It seems that they can tell how juicy it is by slapping it.
My simple method is to feel how heavy it is;
by logic the heavier one should be more juicy.

And I always like to observe people choosing tomatoes.
Nowadays the tomatoes are so well kept when displayed.
Yet, what do people do ? Pick one up, press it, and throw it back.
I cannot figure out why, but my guess is that they enjoy feeling the tomatoes.
How does one explain that after handling so many, they chose only a few,
and the choice is not based on size, colour or texture. Poor tomatoes,
poor later choosers and poor shop owners with the remnants !

Perhaps people should choose things the way they did with bananas;
look at their shape, colour and texture and point, and the fruiterer
will take the bunch down and put it in the bag, no handling.

Once I was buying some Fuji apples at the Bedok branch of Giant.
A young girl passing by spoke to me, "Uncle, there are bigger ones upstairs !"
She was lugging two bags of them, one in each hand.
The apples were sold by number, usually in fives.
Naturally I put what I had selected back and went upstairs.
True to what she had said the ones upstairs were bigger and not handled yet.
There were two girls picking them there.
And they were not satisfied with those on display.
They opened up the boxes there beside and choose from therein.

Oh my, how can people compete with people in Singapore ?

Have a nice day.
Ronald

A great man is ...


What a person possesses
only makes him so heavy

It is the good things
big, small or trivial
that the man does
that makes him great


Have a nice day
Ronald