“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”
Martha Washington (1731-1802), wife of George Washington, first US President, 1789–1797
Monday, November 16, 2009
Quote
There are some things in life that we do not because they are popular but because we believe it is right so to do regardless.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Réflexions à haute voix
How could one believe in an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent benevolent God,
...if one were a victim of a brutal raped?
...if one were a parent of a child who was brutally raped?
...if one were one of the 800 million people on earth suffering from chronic malnutrition?
...if one were to be executed in Auschwitz during WWII or the Holocaust?
...if one were a parent/child/sufferer of a rare incurable debilitating or life-threatening disorder?
...if one were a victim of genocide, ethnic cleansing, human trafficking, poverty, or apartheid, or orphan of HIV/AIDS parents?
...if one were a domestic helper or a child unwarrantedly abused?
...if one were a victim of natural a disaster?
And even if one were not any of these...?
“When beggars die there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
William Shakespeare (English Dramatist, Playwright and Poet, 1564-1616)
...if one were a victim of a brutal raped?
...if one were a parent of a child who was brutally raped?
...if one were one of the 800 million people on earth suffering from chronic malnutrition?
...if one were to be executed in Auschwitz during WWII or the Holocaust?
...if one were a parent/child/sufferer of a rare incurable debilitating or life-threatening disorder?
...if one were a victim of genocide, ethnic cleansing, human trafficking, poverty, or apartheid, or orphan of HIV/AIDS parents?
...if one were a domestic helper or a child unwarrantedly abused?
...if one were a victim of natural a disaster?
And even if one were not any of these...?
“When beggars die there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
William Shakespeare (English Dramatist, Playwright and Poet, 1564-1616)
Quote
"Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth."
Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, physicist & theologian (1623 - 1662)
Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, physicist & theologian (1623 - 1662)
Quote
"If you want to offer, don't ask; if you want to ask, don't offer."
Tan Poh Sian (1934-2002), my mother.
One of her epigrammatic responses, when asked if she needed a drink of water whenever I noticed that she was tired. Used to rankle me. Then as a young child, I did not understand it. I think I do now.
Tan Poh Sian (1934-2002), my mother.
One of her epigrammatic responses, when asked if she needed a drink of water whenever I noticed that she was tired. Used to rankle me. Then as a young child, I did not understand it. I think I do now.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Réflexions à haute voix
There was a period of my life (as a Christian) through faith in the Bible & Christianity that I thought I understood almost everything. Today (& for some time now) all I am certain of is I understand nothing & require proof of everything.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Please Beware! Caveat Emptor!
Recently I received a call inviting my wife and I to attend a soft launch of Worldex Asia. The caller claimed that because we were handpicked we will be given a 4-day/3-night luxury accommodation including 2 return flight tickets to any of these destinations - Hong Kong, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Phuket and Pattaya completely free. This was despite the fact that I candidly revealed that I categorically do not intend to purchase anything whatsoever they may be promoting. The caller claimed that the company is simply happy to give it to us with no obligations so long as we agree to attend a 90-minute presentation at Tong “Rolex” Building. I know my greed for the too-good-to-true free gift has dulled my intelligence :(
To cut to the chase, I did turn up at the soft launch and not surprisingly, my niggling suspicions that the entire exercise is dubious began to unravel. My initial conversation with a young personnel revealed that we needed to pay a $50 booking fee per pax not including airport/airline taxes. Despite our decision to discontinue the session, they generously decided to offer the free gift in the form of a “voucher” and booking form which exacerbated by suspicions. The terms and conditions printed on the vouchers, the booking form and another terms and conditions document (attached in their email to me) included many “hidden”, “non-refundable” costs/fees and contain contradicting terms. The redemption of the free gift is via another party called Dynamikz Netwerkz who is not a travel agent. Only their address and email are given without any telephone number. The Hong Kong option is “out-of-stock” and appeared to be part of the original print production. Upon further reading, the terms and conditions revealed “compulsory” commitment to additional presentations by the hotel. My request to speak to their manager-in-charge further fuelled my doubts. A well-dressed articulate British personnel claiming to be the “Chief Executive Shareholder”* tried to smooth-talk me but contradicted himself in many occasions. At this point, I was certain I was being duped by an experience and confident trickster. I ended my enquiries and left. The results of further attempts to find out more about “Global Securities”, “Worldex Asia”, “Dynamikz Netwerkz” and the name of the “Chief Executive Shareholder” via the internet became obvious. I have not made any attempt to secure any travel bookings. I did not make any purchase of any kind.
Please beware! Caveat emptor!
To cut to the chase, I did turn up at the soft launch and not surprisingly, my niggling suspicions that the entire exercise is dubious began to unravel. My initial conversation with a young personnel revealed that we needed to pay a $50 booking fee per pax not including airport/airline taxes. Despite our decision to discontinue the session, they generously decided to offer the free gift in the form of a “voucher” and booking form which exacerbated by suspicions. The terms and conditions printed on the vouchers, the booking form and another terms and conditions document (attached in their email to me) included many “hidden”, “non-refundable” costs/fees and contain contradicting terms. The redemption of the free gift is via another party called Dynamikz Netwerkz who is not a travel agent. Only their address and email are given without any telephone number. The Hong Kong option is “out-of-stock” and appeared to be part of the original print production. Upon further reading, the terms and conditions revealed “compulsory” commitment to additional presentations by the hotel. My request to speak to their manager-in-charge further fuelled my doubts. A well-dressed articulate British personnel claiming to be the “Chief Executive Shareholder”* tried to smooth-talk me but contradicted himself in many occasions. At this point, I was certain I was being duped by an experience and confident trickster. I ended my enquiries and left. The results of further attempts to find out more about “Global Securities”, “Worldex Asia”, “Dynamikz Netwerkz” and the name of the “Chief Executive Shareholder” via the internet became obvious. I have not made any attempt to secure any travel bookings. I did not make any purchase of any kind.
Please beware! Caveat emptor!
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