The one about news; the good and the bad...

Well, what's happening in the world today?

More Anti-US Afghan protests by the Insurgency (that word used to be a verb, its now a noun); more bomb strikes in Baghdad; protests by Islamic extremists has left 9 dead in Uzbekistan. Nothing new there - these despicable examples of the worst in human nature will continue for sometime.

Over in the US, the state of Connecticut executed its first prisoner on death row for 45 years. Michael Ross was a serial killer and he wanted to die. The 45-year-old killed 8 women and died with no last words. The debate over capital punishment lives on.

The US Pentagon is proposing shutting down over 180 military installations including 33 bases in a cost cutting exercise. Big deal.

On the brighter side (hey, news need not always be bad ones) - Malcolm Glazer has reportedly taken over Manchester United Football Club and the fans are pissed as hell. More things to worry about for the misguided folk...

The Miss Universe 2005 pageant is due to take place soon in Bangkok. Miss Indonesia is there in spite of some protests on her appearing in a bikini. The woman is pretty and she's a law grad too. Leave her alone.

And lastly... Pope Benedict XVI has put the late Pope John Paul II on the "fast track" to sainthood. That probably means it'll take ten years instead of thirty. Sheesh. What do they know? Remember, it was religious leaders who thought Jesus was a fraud. We do "chastise" poor old Pontius Pilate (the Politician) every Sunday for his part in the whole deal but really what was his sin? The guy was a coward, sure... if we are going to chastise political leaders for being cowards... oh where do I start?

On the local front, Malaysia will be hiring teachers from China and India. Very "muhibbah".

As for me, we will be celebrating our friend Jinny's fortieth tonight (Saturday). Dinner with good friends and a fun night out at Soho's. Bliss.

The one about limitating latitudes...

Well, I guess its probably time to enlight the cyberworld out there on what my blog's title means. Believe it or not, and I will tell you most of my friends all will painfully testify to this, the northern most city in the world which I have travelled to is Chiangmai, Thailand. Chiangmai sits just below the 20'N Latitude line.

Hence the one limiting factor in my life is that I have never travelled north of the 20'N Latitude line. Whilst practically, it would not be too difficult to "break" that intangible barrier; the implications of this limitation in my life reaches far beyond such a simplistic matter. To me, its a lesson to be learned by anyone who may want to know and a lesson to be taught to anyone I care about. It's about choice.

Our lives are what we choose it to be. I remember an episode of "Frasier" recently which explored how even small decisions may change the direction our lives head. However, the episode ended by showing that in the end, life is more or less fated. The two different direction Frasier's life took after a while finally converged.

I don't know if I really agree with this "fated" concept. Religiously, I believe that God made us and placed us in this world with one true gift. The freedom of choice. It is this choice which we make that decides how our lives will be. I believe that all hardship and sufferring really arises out of our human choice. It's because we made a decision which is not necessarily a "bad" decision. Things do happen for a reason.

So I do believe that my life, almost forty years of it, has gone in a certain way and panned out in a certain manner due to the many many small decisions I have made. It is these decisions which has caused that very limitation of not having travelled north of the 20'N Latitude. Things may be different had I done certain things differently.

So, you ask... what would I have changed in my life to have "succeeded" in travelling north of that Latitude? Nothing, nothing at all.

Its a very small price to pay for the life I have now.

The one after the BIG weekend...

Phew! My wife Jo-Anne and I just had a big weekend. I'm now lying back relaxed watching my beloved English Football Team Liverpool (Champions League finalists, no less) getting walked all over by Arsenal. Its not yet half time and its Arsenal 2 - Liverpool 0. Sigh....

Anyway, Saturday, we had our son Ethan's birthday party (one day early). Some forty people showed up and I guess it was kinda fun. Think the kids enjoyed the party packs and the cake whilst the adults enjoyed the chit chat. The babies, all thought it was one big bother.

Today, was Mother's Day - and a hearty though belated wish to all Mum's out there in cyberland... and of course, today is Ethan's birthday. We got him a kids' swing. Think he likes it...

We went for Mum's Day lunch with Jo, Ethan, my mum and Jo's parents. Was a good meal and we took the opportunity to take Ethan for his first tiny "dip" in the pool. Just let him dangle his feet in the water but the little fella enjoyed himself there. Also took him walking on the beach where he experienced sand between his toes for the very first time.

Later, we decided to chalk up another first by taking Ethan to the Botanical Gardens. Its been ages since Jo or myself ventured there and we were pleasantly surprised with the number of people out keeping themselves healthy. Our single round around the Gardens was tiring enough (especially when you are carrying a 10 kilo "weight" - who was busy making audible noises throughout).

We got home and after the usual routine, put Ethan to bed. Throughout the day, Jo and I have exchanged looks at each other. No words need be said - we are both simply happy with what blessings we have received especially for Ethan. He has changed our lives and we will always treasure that. Thinking back to exactly one year ago, I remember just getting home from the hospital, some 4 hours after witnessing the miracle of birth. Jo, of course was resting in hospital while I couldn't stay as we didn't get a single bedded room yet. As I got ready for bed, my mind raced as thoughts, ideas, worries, hesitations, happiness and uncertainty all jumbled up in my head. The 'rojak' of emotions didn't allow sleep to come easy. But as the pressures of assisting through a 14-hour labour earlier (NOTHING compared to what Jo had gone through, I'm certain!) began to take its toll and as I was drifting off to dreamland; I recall one prevailing thought - I am now a Dad!

Well, I'm still a Dad... its been a fulfilling and estatic year. I will cherish this first year and look forward to many many more...

Happy Mum's Day to you, Jo... you keep me going when I thought I couldn't anymore; and Happy Birthday Ethan... you are my reward.


Jo & Ethan... loves of my life!