Of Supermen (aunties too)

I meet Supermen (aunties too) when I drive out from my carpark, navigate the minor routes that round the market and via the main entrance and finally to the main road.

These people cross the roads with nary a hoot to whether cars are approaching. Some walk with noses in the air daring the drivers. Of course, I dare not bump into them so when I see these Supermen, I politely slow down the car.

Reading the ST yesterday, there was an article of a driver (with an alledged embassy plate) who beat two traffic lights and knocked down 3 people and seriously injuring two of them.

So I am feeling worried for these Supermen. They become used to cars giving way that they lose sensitivity of approaching cars. If they should encounter the hit-and-run driver mentioned in the earlier paragraph, I hope they will be able to realise early to "siam".

Seeking the future - cause and effect

There is gradual increasing interest in futures. Not the stockmarket type. But thinking and analysis about what the future might be, what it might bring, especially negative effects so one can take the necessary actions to prevent or to soften the inevitable impact.

Initially, I was very puzzled and perturbed. How does one think and discuss what has not come, especially for longer term strategic issues?

I thought about this and rationalised my understanding this way. It is like weather forecasting. There is randomness in cloud movements but within the randomness, there is a pattern and it conforms to a cause and effect principle.

An action here and there today will lead to a consequence days later or years later, and some actions or people have more impact than others.

The consequence of climate change we experience today is also no accident. It is the very culmination of all of human kind, from governments to individuals, from years back to the global warming we see today.

So it is possible to spot trends, possibilities and what-ifs because the future is happening right now.

Story of Long Ke-duo

I shared this story from the excellent chinese serial 《雍正皇朝》 with my lunch khakis two days ago. The message of the story is akin to my earlier blog post on Deng Xiaoping.

The protagonist is a soldier called Long Ke-duo who had fought gallantly in battle with Emperor Kangxi who later personally honoured Long Ke-duo with a sword adorned with precious stones and jewels.

However, after the battle, he was not needed anymore nor was he asked to serve in any official post. This left him despondent and poor. At one stage, he had to pawn, albeit reluctantly, the sword from the Emperor.

After many decades, after Kangxi, for the second time, abolished the CrownPrince, Long Ke-duo was appointed the Chief Security Officer for theImperior Palace. At the Emperor's death bed, Long Ke-duo was given an even higher appointment to be in charge of the entire capital's security and also became something like a modern day Cabinet minister.

The Emperor called Long Ke-duo to his side and said that he understoodLong's frustration all these years but it was the emperor himself who obstructed Long's progress as he wanted test and train Long.

I hope my friend got the message.