Paradox of plenty

In her book, The Paradox of Plenty Terry Lynn Karl explains why, in the midst of two massive oil booms in the 1970s, oil-exporting governments as different as Venezuela, Iran, Nigeria, Algeria, and Indonesia chose common development paths and suffered similarly disappointing outcomes. She contends that oil countries, while seemingly disparate, are characterized by similar social classes and patterns of collective action. In these countries, dependence on petroleum leads to disproportionate fiscal reliance on petrodollars and public spending, at the expense of statecraft. Oil booms, which create the illusion of prosperity and development, actually destabilize regimes by reinforcing oil-based interests and further weakening state capacity.

Karl's incisive investigation unites structural and choice-based approaches by illuminating how decisions of policymakers are embedded in institutions interacting with domestic and international markets. This approach—which Karl dubs "structured contingency"—uses a state's leading sector as the starting point for identifying a range of decision-making choices, and ends by examining the dynamics of the state itself.

isnt this a wake up call for us?

I lost another uncle

I just heard the sad news my uncle on my mother's side had just passed away this morning. He had been suffering from prostate cancer for awhile. I knew his time would come as the doctor attending him said that it was already in advanced stage and gave him a few months to live. When I visited him, my amit (his wife and my mum's very close older sister) was full of hope. She was angry to the doctor for telling her that his ailment couldn't be cured. She said that Doctors should be more positive. I was just nodding my head to show my agreement though I knew in my heart that doctors cannot give false hope to us. That is why when my mum fell into a coma and lost her pulse, I was never angry to the doctors at A&E for informing us to brace for the worst. I could see that they were trying their very best. What is important for us I think is never to give up hope and continue to pray to Al-mighty. To my uncle may you rest in peace. Amin. Al-fatiha.

Call me an idealist but I know you and I can make a difference

If each grain of sand were to say: One grain does not make a mountain, There would be no land. If each drop of water were to say: One drop does not make an ocean, There would be no sea. If each note of music were to say: Each note does not make a symphony, There would be no melody. If each word were to say: One word does not make a library, There would be no book. If each brick were to say: One brick does not make a wall, There would be no house. If each seed were to say: One seed does not make a field, There would be no harvest. If each of us were to say: One person does not make the difference, There would never be love and peace on earth. You and I do make the difference, Begin today and make the difference. by anonymous

Back to school

I cant believe that after more than 19 years, I am actually back to campus. First day of school was more of an ice breaker. we got to introduce our selves. There is a vice president of an organisation from China, directors from various law enforcement agencies in Spore and from Hong Kong and 1 from Botswana who is yet to appear. The NUS campus for this program is actually the old NUS campus at Bukit Timah and not far away from my old college NJC. The building looks colonial but the facilities are fantastic. First day lesson was more of an interactive lesson on globalisation and the financial crisis.  At night as part of the team bonding session, we were brought to a restaurant called Coriander Leaf where we actually had to cook our own food and we would be given prizes for the best prepared food. We were divided into teams and I was in Team 5.  Our team was asked to prepare a fusion peking duck. I had to prepare the sweet and sour onion chutney as the sauce. Kiasu as I was, we actually won 1st prize and we took away the grand prize, a food grater and a set of measuring cups for each of the team member.  I have to say, the restaurant has a fantastic concept. We got to cook and eat our own food. The owner, Sania Ahad is beautiful and hilarious. She and her staff made cooking so fun and enjoyable. At the end the various array of gourmet that we prepared didn't come to waste as we were very hungry.  For one night I became a culinary expert...

The unsung heroes

Tonite's entry on my blog is dedicated to all the unsung heroes at our Intensive Care Unit especially for my school friend of the yesteryears saiful 'karau'. Well, Saiful or si karau as we fondly called him likes to don a short spikey hair and that's where he got his nickname from. You wont actually miss him as he looks exactly like a GI Joe who just got out of a military boot camp. I have known him since we were kids in Singapore. He was actually a year my senior at boarding for Brunei students in Singapore which we called AKBS (Asrama Kerajaan Brunei di Singapura). This was the hostel where at the tender age of 11 I first started to get my first taste of a foreign land. Si karau like many of us had always been good at sports. He took up football, sepak takraw and badminton. He excelled in all of them. I on the other hand was the reluctant sportman. I wouldnt say I was good in sports. But I actually owed it to him. He with the other seniors would drag us juniors to play the games or sports they got us to play. Si Karau was never a bully but because he was so damned good in the sports, we became so determined to outdo him. So he became our iconic mentor of sort.
When mum was admitted at the ICU, he was one of the first person I saw. I had not seen him in ages but I immidiately recognised him by his short spikey hair. Saiful like many male and female nurses there are the frontline staff at the ICU. In fact he is more than just a nurse. He is a qualified APN (I think it means Assistant Practitioner Nurse). If the doctor were a captain of an airplane, he would be like his first officer. Thats how important he is. These are the real heroes as they work tirelessly to keep everyone's hopes for their loved ones like ours alive. Today, si karau called to inform me that my mum was taken off the artificial respiratory.she could now breathe on her own and she was so 'nyanyah' so I was told. That is my mum alright! And now whilst I am waiting to see my mum, I can see these unsung heroes at work. There are oblivious of the countless hopes that have been kept alive by their true dedication and love in their everyday work. Tonite I celebrate you my friend. Thank you karau and the rest of your crew. May Allah bless all of you for all of your good deeds. Amin

Via nokia e90

I am still at ICU. I managed to see babu and she is conscious. The nurse told me that she is now able to breathe on her own. This is really good news. But she is visibly in pain. I told her not to get excited as she is still weak. I could see tears falling down her weak eyes and she was wailing in pain. She asked me for a peice of paper and she wrote this 'bapa, ampun dosa ku'. I know she wanted to see my dad. I told her, dad is now on dialysis in rimba. I know she misses my dad.

Supermum part 2

Our super mum is responding well to medications. She is still on artifical respiratory but the good news is her bp is way better than before. She passed out her urine today so that means her kidneys are still functioning. Alhamdullilah.
This is just a pic I took with my Nokia E90 outside the ICU.