Dubai FUBAR

Dubai had gone hog wild with unimaginably expensive and downright silly investments in dream city real estate projects which are now turning out to be the mirage one could see shimmering over the sand dunes all along.
...
I suppose that building a gigantic indoor snow skiing facility in a desert sheikdom as the outdoors bake away at 120 degrees Fahrenheit (And that is in the shade if you can find any) has got to be a fabulously profitable idea. Wonder what the lift ticket costs. One has to wonder if the motive for building the world's tallest building in such an inhospitable environment (Just think of the cooling costs) was profitability or plain megalomania. Did the investors realize that as "partners" with investments that pay no interest they may also be responsible for the losses?
...
Well, the way it works (even for the peanut issues) is that under Sharia laws you can still issue a note of indebtedness, sovereign bonds and take up loans, but instead of the usual formula of getting a percentage of interest payments and installments of principal plus interest over a set period of time, you get instead, a "participatory interest" in a specific project for which the loan is to be granted. A bit convoluted. Does it work? Not really.
...
Roughly speaking, under islamic law, lenders and borrowers are quasi partners. Very roughly speaking of course, because there are some further devilish details.
...
It is simply money loaned on faith.
No big deal. I know lots of people that loaned out their money on just faith and belief and got hosed right here close at home. No need to go to Dubai for that.
...
Actually there is no legal recourse to collect by investors. The islamic underlying rule for a Sukuk bond is that investors are partners and therefore must accept the losses since there is no guarantee of profit. Unbelievable as it may sound to western ears, a promise to pay back capital is against islamic rules. Yup, the unbelievers have been left in utter disbelief.
...
Although islamic law considers non payment of a debt a crime and Dubai does not have a bankruptcy procedure, a scapegoat has been set up. His name is Aidan Birkett, a partner in Deloitte.
...
Frankly I can't see how he will manage to put lipstick on a swinish bond that has neither interest nor any credit rating whatsoever.

Puisi Anak Teknika

Managed to finished the final draft 'poem' of our high school 25th year reunion.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make time to attend due to another close collegue's marriage reception the very same night.
My contribution...
(Actually I was rather divided between writing in english or malay, but upon a moment of brilliance and sudden gush of nostalgic feelings the other day, the words seemed to fly....)
-----

Sehening February 1983
titis titis keramat embun dinihari, mula dijamah kilauan suria pagi
Tatkala pinggir-pinggir kotaraya,
Tenteram menyambut kita tiba,

Anak-anak bangsa
wajah-wajah segar penuh azam nan membara
bakal wirawan dan wirawati negara
bakal meredah ruang maya, ilmu dan cipta
tekad merebut cebis-cebis riwayat masa
mengisi fakta pada ruang-ruang di jemala
diiring berkat doa keluarga tercinta

TIKL menghampar diri,
terbuka dengan rela dan redha menatang dada
menongkat tatih-tatih berani kita
anak-anak jati,
pada erti ilmu kepalang ajar
pada erti setia hidup dan cinta
Seiringan dihidang gelak tawa
menjamah zaman remaja
menghirup nafas-nafas budaya
gagah gemalai membuka mata

Guru-guru, pengetua, warden asrama
bengis manja meminta setia kita
pada runut-runut ilmu yang dijaja
menjengah ruang cebisan riwayat kini berirama
sedia mengharung alam dewasa

namun,
kalungan doa rakan-rakan yang gugur
ibarat bunga-bunga yang belum kembang
kembali pada Illahi menyerah fana

kini
lihat anak-anak Teknika itu,
di sini, waktu dan ketika ini
kamu semua
bergenang mengimbau kenangan sepintas drama
keinsafan pada masa-masa berlalu
pegun sejenak

bangun anak-anak Teknika dewasa
lihatlah dunia

Closing in

The wide spaces
that used to allow me to dance
now is filled with wary distrust
Its no longer a place to be.
The cool wind,
that swipes across my face
now a stale unbearable heat.
Its no longer a breeze.
The lovely voices
that used to greet my Fridays,
now is a muted echo
Its no longer heard, just silent.
The chukling laughter
that lights up my moments of madness
now just a distant smirk
Its just a sorrowful grief.

Knife

Parable

This mark welded with my skin
Speaks of the night I burnt myself
In the past, I’d be scalded:
Hot soups, frying oil, steam
From kettle spouts; and blistered
By iron and ovens. Stainless
Steel on gas; in second heat
Invaded skin when my arm,
Forgetting grazed wok’s rim
Tho wound stretched, red-brown like beef
Slivers sizzling in oyster sance

I’d rubbed ice to cool it down
To stop blister forming,
Healed to elliptic scar, a gem
Without encircling bracelet sits,
Dead centre, 5 cm. above right wrist,
An amulet to wear, topaz
To seal forgotten heat
Some lesson ought to be drawn from this
Yet other scar succeed, from slips
And falls that trip and spurn – always
I forget the searing burns

scar

WHY WORRY

Baby I see this world has made you sad
Some people can be bad
The things they do, the things they say
But baby I'll wipe away those bitter tears
I'll chase away those restless fears
That turn your blue skies into grey

Why worry, there should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now

Baby when I get down I turn to you
And you make sense of what I do
I know it isn't hard to say
But baby just when this world seems mean and cold
Our love comes shining red and gold
And all the rest is by the way

Why worry, there should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now

Perspective on life according to George Costanza

"The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A death. What's that, a bonus?!?
I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you go live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, go collect all your super, then, when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You drink alcohol, you party, and you get ready for High School. You go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back into the womb, you spend your last 9 months floating with luxuries like central heating, spa, room service on tap, then you finish off as an orgasm! Amen."

Just for a moment

Just for a moment
the familiar feelings deep inside
seemed to have vanished
lost in the clutter of silence
muted at the demand of carelessness
shunned by the presence of new charms

Just for a moment
As the feelings subsides
never to have recovered
distant dreams and hopes
for once
for the longest time
reaching
within the calamity of despair
to the tune of a quite song
leads the balmy path
into a certain never never promises
a lie that sets it free

Just for a moment
smile
pray for happiness

When You Say Nothing At All

to my wife...

Donkey's Ass

The story of the donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well... The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he
quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less

NOW .......

The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

How many ways can you love someone... or not love someone...?

Things you only know if you're single…

...that “I love you” may mean: I want to love you; I love this; do that again; don’t leave; I feel I should love you; I love ****ing you; my previous boyfriend/girlfriend would never have done that; I’m sorry; I appear to like you more than all the others; shush; do what I want; you are infuriating; this silence embarrasses me; I have to go; I feel old; I feel responsible; I feel obliged to love you back; help me; I’m ending this; life without you may be preferable, but would be terrifying, rudderless, unknown; everyone else seems to love you; I love the look of you; stop shouting; I’m punching above my weight; I would appear to be in some way addicted to you; seeing you with someone else makes my chest hurt; there must be a reason why I have never felt more awful; I think about you as a way of not thinking about something else; I hate you; that song is playing; you cause me more pain than other people; I’m tired of being on my own; it’s comfortable having you around; I am sick of everyone else coming in two by two; you fit the definition of someone I might be expected to love; you appear to love me; I’m exhausted so this will suffice; loving someone makes me look like a functional human being; you make things easier while not yet having become an albatross about my neck; I’m tired of myself; Christmas/Chanukkah/Kwanzaa is coming up; I love myself in your company; you pay me the requisite attention; I relish our sense of conspiracy; you are a(nother) glorious and necessary distraction from my inglorious and unnecessary existence; you unnerve me; you raise my game; say that you love me.

Hannah Betts

Love Always Finds a Reason

Glenn Mederios vs Peabo Bryson

Reminiscing School Years

Received a call this morning. The highschool reunion committee member wants me to do a writeup for the reunion presentation. Time to put up my thinking cap and start reminiscing. Maybe I could go back to few of my earlier entries here. The 2 teenage growing up years spent in a troublesome urban boarding school. Memories come flooding and I am letting my writings flows.

Now And Forever

Whenever I'm weary
From the battles that rage in my head
You make sense of madness
When my sanity hangs by a thread
I lose my way but still you seem to understand
Now and forever I will be your man

Sometimes I just hold you
Too caught up in me to see
I'm holding a fortune
That heaven has given to me
I'll try to show you each and every way I can
Now and forever I will be your man

Now I can rest my worries and always be sure
That I won't be alone anymore
And if I'd only known you were there all the time
All this time

Until the day the ocean doesn't touch the sand
Now and forever I will be your man

Is It Okay If I Call You Mine - Paul McCrane

Is it ok if I call you mine just for a time?
And I will be just fine
If I know that you know that I'm wanting, needing your love

If I ask of you is it alright
If I ask you to hold me tight
through a cold dark night
'cause there may be a cloudy day inside
and I need to let you know that I might be needing your love ooohh

And what I'm trying to say isn't really new
It's just the things that happen to me when I'm reminded of you

Like when I hear your name
or see a place that you've been
or see a picture of your grin
or pass a house that you've been in one time or another
it sets off something in me I can't explain
and I can't wait to see you again
Oh babe I love your love ooohh

And what I'm trying to say isn't really new
It's just the things that happen to me when I'm reminded of you

We've Got Tonight

I know it's late
I know you're weary
I know your plans don't include me
Still here we are
Both of us lonely

Longing for shelter from all that we see
Why should we worry?
No one will care, girl
Look at the stars now, so far away

We've got tonight
Who needs tomorrow?
We've got tonight, babe, why don't you stay?

Deep in my soul
I've been so lonely
All of my hopes now so fading away
I've longed for love
Like everyone else does
I know I'll keep searching after today

So there it is, girl
We've got it all now
And here we are, babe
What do you say?

We've got tonight
Who needs tomorrow?
We've got tonight, babe, why don't we stay?

I know it's late and I know you're weary
I know your plans don't include me
Still here we are
Both of us lonely , both of us lonely

We've got tonight
Who needs tomorrow?
Let's make it last
Let's find a way
Turn out the light, come take my hand now
We've got tonight, babe, why don't we stay?
We've got tonight, babe, why don't we stay?

I Knew I Loved You

Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
And there it goes
I think I've found my best friend

I know that it might sound more than a little crazy
But I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

There's just no rhyme or reason
Only the sense of completion
And in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I've found my way home

I know that it might sound more than a little crazy
But I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I've found you

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

I'll Never Love this Way Again

You look inside my fantasies
And make each one come true
Something no one else had ever found a way to do
I've kept the memories one by one
Since you took me in
I know I'll never love this way again

I know I'll never love this way again
So I keep holding on before the good is gone
I know I'll never love this way again
Hold on, hold on, hold on

A fool will lose tomorrow
Reaching out for yesterday
I won't turn my head in sorrow
If you should go away

I'll stand here and remember
Just how good it's been
And I know I'll never love this way again

I know I'll never love this way again
So I keep holding on before the good is gone
I know I'll never love this way again
Hold on, hold on, hold on

Should Have Known Better

And I shoulda known better
To lie to one as beautiful as you
Yeah, I should have known better
To take a chance on ever losing you
But I thought you'd understand
Can you forgive me

I saw you walking by the other day
I know that you saw me, you turned away
And I was lost
You see, I've never loved no one as much as you
I've fooled around but tell me now just who is hurtin' who

And I should have known better
To lie to one as beautiful as you
Yeah, I should have known better
To take a chance on ever losin' you
But I thought you'd understand
Can you forgive me

I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
Shoulda known better
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
Shoulda known better

It's true, I took our love for granted all along
And trying to explain where I went wrong
I just don't know
I cry but tears don't seem to help me carry on
Now there is no chance you'll come back home, got too much pride

And I should have known better
To lie to one as beautiful as you
Yeah, I should have known better
To take a chance on ever losing you
But I thought you'd understand
Can you forgive me
Ughh
I love you
I love you

No I love you
No, yeah
And I should have known better
To lie to one as beautiful as you

Always - Jon Bon Jovi

This Romeo is bleeding, But you can't see his blood
It's nothing but some feelings, That this old dog kicked up.

It's been raining since you left me, Now I'm drowning in the flood
You see I've always been a fighter, But without you I give up.

Now I can't sing a love song, Like the way it's ment to be
Well I guess I'm not that good anymore, But baby that's just me.

And I will love you baby always
And I'll be there forever and a day always
I'll be there till the stars don't shine
Till the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme
And I know when I die you'll be on my mind
And I'll love you always.

Now your pictures that you left behind, Are just memories of a different life
Some that made us laugh, Some that made us cry
One that made you have to say good bye.

What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair
To touch your lips to hold you near
When you say your prayers try to understand
I've made mistakes I'm just a man.

When he holds you close
When he pulls you near
When he says the words
You've been needing to hear
I'll wish I was him, that his words were mine
To say to you till the end of time.

That I will love you baby always
And I'll be there forever and a day always
If you told me to cry for you I could
If you told me to die for you I would
Take a look at my face
There's no price I won't pay
To say these words to you.

Well there ain't no luck in these loaded dice
But baby if you give me just one more try
We can pack up our old dreams and our old lives
We'll find a place where the sun still shines.

And I will love you baby always
And I'll be there forever and a day always
I'll be there till the stars don't shine
Till the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme
And I know when I die you'll be on my mind
And I'll love you always.

Hands to Heaven

As I watch you move, across the moonlit room
There's so much tenderness in your loving
Tomorrow I must leave, the dawn knows no reprieve
God give me strength when I am leaving...
So raise your hands to heaven and pray
That we'll be back together someday
Tonight, I need your sweet caress
Hold me in the darkness
Tonight, you calm my restlessness
You relieve my sadness
As we move to embrace, tears run down your face
I whisper words of love, so softly
I can't believe this pain, it's driving me insane
Without your touch, life will be lonely
So raise your hands to heaven and pray
That we'll be back together someday
Tonight, I need your sweet caress
Hold me in the darkness
Tonight, you calm my restlessness
You relieve my sadness
Morning has come, another day
I must pack my bags and say goodbye...

Overkill - Men at Work

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications

Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know will be alright
Perahaps its just my imagination

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat, shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

Alone between the sheets
Only brings exasperation
It's time to walk the streets
Smell the desperation

At least there's pretty lights
And though there's little variation
It nullifies the night
From overkill

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat, shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications

Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know will be alright
It's just overkill

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat, shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

Crush

I hung up the phone tonight
Something happened for the first time deep inside
It was a rush, what a rush

'Cause the possibility
That you would ever feel the same way about me
It's just too much, just too much

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I've just got to know

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Has it ever crossed your mind
When we're hanging, spending time girl, are we just friends?
Is there more, is there more?

See it's a chance we've gotta take
'Cause I believe that we can make this into something that will last
Last forever, forever

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I've just got to know

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
This crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
(Goin' away)
(Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy)
Do you ever think
When you're all alone
All that we can be
Where this thing can go
(Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy)
Do you catch a breath
When I look at you
Are you holding back
Like the way I do
(Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy)
Do you ever think
When you're all alone
All that we can be
Where this thing can go

Your Body Is Wonderland - John Mayers

We've got the afternoon
You got this room for two
One thing I've left to do
Discover me
Discovering you

One mile to every inch of
Your skin like porcelain
One pair of candy lips and
Your bubblegum tongue

And if you want love
We'll make it
Swimming in a deep sea
Of blankets
Take all your big plans
And break 'em
This is bound to be a while

Your body is a wonderland
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
Your body is a wonderland

There's something 'bout the way the hair falls in your face
I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase
You tell me where to go and
Though I might leave to find it
I'll never let your head hit the bed
Without my hand behind it

You want love?
We'll make it
Swimming in a deep sea
Of blankets
Take all your big plans
And break 'em
This is bound to be a while

Your body is a wonderland
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
Your body is a wonderland

Damn baby
You frustrate me
I know you're mine, all mine, all mine
But you look so good it hurts sometimes

Your body is a wonderland
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
Your body is a wonderland

Close To You

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