Countdown timers

Alvin and the Chipmunks. "Bad day"

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Thailand crisis and mobile phone calls

A crisis is brewing in Thailand. For those who are news idiots, a coup had happened in Thailand.

What is a coup?

From the ever-popular webby, www.dictionary.com, a Coup has several meanings.

1. a highly successful, unexpected stroke, act, or move; a clever action or accomplishment.

2. (among the Plains Indians of North America) a brave or reckless deed performed in battle by a single warrior, as touching or striking an enemy warrior without sustaining injury oneself.

3. –verb (used with object), verb (used without object) Scot. "overturn; upset."

4. n. a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force [syn: coup d'etat, putsch, takeover] 2: a brilliant and notable success.


IN this case, this coup belongs to the no 4. group. Thai military has taken control of Bangkok, and they had sealed the goverment house, while the Thai Prime Minister was in New York.

Its complicated. Very complicated affair, which ordinary ppl like you and me will not and never comprehend. The last coup was in 1991, 15 years ago.

This happened so close to Singapore, and i wonder in a way if Singapore will be affected by the coup, besides the stock, share and foreign exchange prices.

I remember my mum telling me once, that military power is actually very important. You have access to arms and ammo, you have well trained and disciplined soldiers under your command, you have control over land, sea and air. And that's where the real power is. I did not really took noticed of coups in the past, till now.

Maybe it is happening to our neighbouring country, a member of the ASEAN.

May the situation return back to normal soon, bloodlessly.

Why do i say that?

Wah piangz leh... i still wanna to Bangkok for tour and for shopping leh!!! If carry on like this, how to go???


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=====================================================
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Eariler, while i was working, my mobile rang.

"Hello!" i answered.

"Hello" pause.... "Can i speak to the father of Joseph Lim?" the voice on the other end asked.

Pause.... Pause.... And yet more pause.... ( i was quiet, thinking about that request...)

Hey, when was i ever a father? How come i don't know? And who the hell is Joseph Lim anyway? I got a kid by the same name staying in my house, but hell, i ain't his father leh...

So i replied back.

"Father of Joseph Lim? I have not even married yet!!!" I exclaimed.

"Oh sorry... i think i got the wrong number." The other voice muttered... and hang up...

Woah!!! i almost become a father in that instant!! And the best thing is that i know nothing about it!! How unexpected life can get... and how interesting...

Thinking about it, i am guessing what the heck happened. A couple of scenarios propped up in my mind, assuming that the Joseph Lim in this case is not the kid in my house.

1) Joseph Lim is a student and had been very naughty in school.

2) Something bad had happened (i am talking about injuries here) to Joseph Lim.

3) Joseph Lim did not turn up for CCA activities or classes.

Then it struck me... How come what i am thinking seems all to be negatively thoughts? But then, imagine that you have a kid, and you receive a call asking for the parents of your kid. What is your first thought?

"what has that naughty boy done again?"

Am i correct?

But then, does all this kinds of call means negative happenings? Can something positive turn out? like some good news... like....

"Your kid is the first in class..." or...

"Your kid has saved a life..."

Or perhaps.......

"Your son is now in the Singapore pools, holding on to the solo winning ticket to last TOTO draw of 2.5 million dollars. However, he is too young to claim the prize. Can you come down and claim the prize instead?"

No comments: