The Knee Problem

We can hop, run, hop, side hop and step because we have wonderfuljoints provided by the Allmighty. So, first, be extremely thankful. One of the most important areas of joints is the knee. It is somewhat ugly even with direct comparison to your own or someone else's bum, the knee would still, in beauty category, ranked extremely low.

However, I love as we all should, these knees of ours. I've had a running problem with my right knee for the good (or bad) part of a decade. 2 weeks before the fasting month however, the word 'problem' was combined strongly with the word 'bad'. My right knee could just stop whatever it is suppose to do even when I was sitting down. The faces that I saw in my mind (Bangau, Jabba and Bob) my rugby mates from my beloved Ex Angels Rugby Club, all pushed me to the brink of sheeding a tear or two. The thought of them missing me though I know they would be glad that I won't be around to impede anymore, was simply unbearable.

Then, as if God sent, while I was fasting in Melaka, some blokes asked me to play football with them. In the spirit of Kolo Toure who was fasting while playing in EPL, I bravely accepted the call of duty. Iplayed and I played well. Knee problem, well... What knee problem? The problem dissapeared. I felt strong and at least 4 weeks younger. Thus, I will not be retiring just yet. My right knee was cured, well or the pain was not as excruciating as before.

This great feeling was the one I presented to my wife who smiled and said,"You always feel good before you play rugby. It's after that I'm worried about".

Great feeling slightly deeming but the smirk is still there. I will take them all on, one knee at a time. The painkillers will help.

The day I thought I fell in Love

It was not just a particular day. In fact it was several days with several young women. The question burning in pople's mind would be, "How would you know?".

Well, you just sort of know. For starters, you cannot keep her face out of your mind. And, a very big wish of wanting to be near her all the time.

Falling in love is, after all these years, no big deal. If you have enough connections, activities, correct words and behaviours, love will come.

It is precisely the second part of falling in love that will make the love worthwhile and long lasting. If you do the second part right, you will get the issues in the second paragraph above all the time and marvellously, they get better.

If you want to know this second step and how to get it right, well... there's some cost to be negotiated.

Deebate

It is dee..bait. The bait, the hook, the spin, the whole nine yards.

The baits, as experience debaters would know almost all situations of debate contexts can be pre-prepared. Learn a few and teach them to your newbies. See how fast they can grow.

It's like knowing when to use 'threfore' or 'because' and when to use effective - causal argument or causal-efcetive arguments. Teach them these tricks. Maybe they will grow faster.

How life was then.

The thing about me and rugby was the simple truth that I was persistently mediocre, low mediocre in all actuality. Everytime there was a game for a period of two looong years, I was the perennial last 5 minute man or not needed player. I'd be lying if I say I was happy with the situation, I certainly was not.

However, I kept coming and rugby being rugby, someone's bound to be injured so I got to play sometimes the whole 40 minute half. Nobody in their right mind would have questioned my enthusiasm but nobody in the right mind would also pass me the ball even if I was the only one within range. Slightly frustrated but I kept coming and coming and coming till i got my macho break.

I was selected to start because the first three choices were unavailable through real injuries, girl friend induced injuries (oouch) and (someone must have whacked his head repeatedly with a blunt object) heart injury to the third stringer who thought that it was better for me to play. I gleefully accepted the challenge and was a picture of swagger and confidence until I saw the guy I was suppose to be marking. Not a guy, maybe an ogre, so no wonder the third stringer stepped down.

Nonetheless, I had a plan. I will just jump on him and hang on long enough till the cavalry arirrives. We've been playing for 4 or 5 minutes when he came at me after busting through two tackles and with made believed ferocity, I jumped on him and he ducked and I hit my friend instead who in turn whacked my forehead.

Was feeling stupid, stood up and tried to look cool. Wiped my forehead and all the coolness left me as blood was all over my forehead. Knees buckled, tried to stand but in vain. Still, i had enough in me not to be stretched out and was send to the clinic for my first set of stitiches, all eleven of them. That was it. I was a bonafide rugby player as I got stitches. Girls loved it and I was perplexed but rather suprisingly happy as the stitiches turned me from a never will be to the second stringer.

Not bad.

Things to plan ... vacation and stress busters

We should try to spend at least some romantic days enjoying the sunny and breezy weather north of Malaysia. We must go jungle trekking in the oldest rainforest in the world. It is pianfully difficult to see the proof of this 'oldest age' but who cares, we are debaters and we should claim something is, until someone else bombs us with better facts and rebuttals.

The state of Perlis and Kedah for example gleefully invite you to enjoy their hospitality and beautiful rice fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Their charming home stays will give you authentic Malay daily life experience, if not working is suppose to be the authentic way. Just spend lazy days watching the clouds drift by or spend active days hiking the glorious hills, talking to wonderful mak ciks, buying an old pak cik coffee. These activities do not cost much, but they are bonafide stress busters.

Or, you could watch G.I Joe. Your choice, your call and your money.

The Role of Leadership in Good Governance

I found it rather strange that this is the topic that people are now presenting in seminars and conference. It is not that I have anything against leadership and good governance but in the fact that these two highly interrelated issues are now discussed as if they can be separated from each other. Maybe there are simply too many areas of studies nowadays that in reality only complicate issues.


In is only in these days that we are supposed to define issues that that were very, very simple then. Good governance simply denotes leadership or rather good leadership. How then can we be expected to define the role of leadership other than it is needed essentially in order to have and ensure good governance.
As in many definition of leadership, all issues in any organization must be known and acted on by the designated leader of that organization. This in turn, denotes a high degree of responsibility as the leader must be aware of all issues in the organization and thus must plan for the effectiveness and betterment of every aspect.
He or she is responsible for the people, process and also the vision and policy that should drive the organization forward. He is the policy maker and he is also the ultimate HR man especially in the current world work climate where people usually work for the highest bidder. He must take care or the organization and also the people that work for it.


The leader must also have the right knowledge, skills and attitude to plan for challenges and overcome shortfalls. He must be in the know and thus must possess enough resources to be referred to by his or her subordinates when the crunch time comes knocking.
A responsible leader might and should delegate responsibilities but is ultimately responsible for the results achieved by the organization; good or bad.

If a leader is responsible the way the definition stated it, then the leader would be a good cog in any organization. The leader would be the pillar that the whole organization can depend on. He or she would the captain of the ship who would be the first to fend off danger and the last one out when the heat is on. If we have someone responsible at the helm, that is it not than logical to believe that good leadership will ensure good governance? If the leader is knowledgeable and with the right experience and attitude like Dato Idris Jala the CEO of MAS, would it not than lead to the creation of good governance as what we now can plainly see in MAS. Mind boggling at times, the issues people nowadays talk about. But when you allow ridiculous charges like the one against Karpal Singh to be brought to court, what more can we say. Just slide away sheepishly and hope that not a soul saw you there.

Life and the lefty feel

It is sometimes just the feel, the gut is ticking a wee bit to the left. You just do not feel you could hack it this time. You look at the odds , whoa staggering wold be an understatement. Funny, it was just slightly under yesterday but it didn't feel so BAD.

Well, that's life. The feel, the odds, the challenges, the whole mix really depends on the perception. Thus, my undying love towards Han Solo who would not ever want to hear the odds quoted to him.

Man, well woman too, should just hack it and be hopeful that it will be better tomorrow. Like there's no such thing as a truly fit top-grade professional footballer - they are all playing with bits that are breaking or falling off. What sets the best of them apart is an ability to play through the pain and discomfort. That is the main difference between a man and a kid. Play through the pain and take a few punches, who knows, maybe tomorrow you're the one throwing them bombs.