Basil's Brain

Do not expect any man to open a car door for you or hold a door open and let you pass through first unless he is your grandad or dad and that rare gentleman. Social graces. Is that a title of a book you are reading? or are you talking about a girl called Grace who is sociable?. That is the respond i get these days from teenagers and young adults. Loud voices, almost like shouting matches accompanied sometimes by rude gestures are treated with nonchalance and accepted as normal. The soft spoken aren't heard and would be considered not aggressive enough. Blaring ringtones of ridiculous songs and sounds and indiscriminate noisy chatter in public places especially in the cinemas and inside a crowded train compartment or packed bus is common everyday occurrences. No one bats an eyelid!. Overt displays of affection in public among the younger generation has crossed the line of what is acceptable and can be classified as public nuisance. There is a total lack of disrespect and being

It is one of those days...the weather reflecting my mood. There is so much going on in my head that i can't seem to sleep well. My body wants to rest though...sigh. i love sunny days. Its brightness cheers and helps me to hope and look forward. Assuring me that things aren't as bad as they seem. However, a cloudy day always gives me sinking feelings. i hate it. i try not to dwell though and do something fun. Playing with a child is a sure way to lift the spirits and that is what i did. It made me forget, renewed my energy and suddenly the glum was gone and the sun came out. Life too is like that i guess - dark days, bright days come and go. Our moods change from good to bad and back. Sometimes it is caused by the weather, other times it is our work, kids or spouse or it could be anything and everything!. We have a choice though...to do something about it and that is what makes this life worthwhile. "Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how

In a fortnight, Malaysians will be casting their votes in the 13th general elections. Candidates have been nominated and one independant candidate truly stands out. She is 94 years old but does not look her age and one can't help but admire her gumption to contest a parliamentary seat no less!. She will be taking on bigwigs in politics and will be campaigning door to door on her trusty bicycle. At an age when many slow down and reminiscent about what was, here comes a grand dame who wants to see change, who believes she can carry out whatever needs be and see that change turn into reality. A grandma who is fearless and courageous. A woman with a vision and mission, which no doubt she will carry out. It is indeed admirable that she has such confidence, the vigour and vitality to do something not only for herself but for others - to bring betterment and progress. She told a reporter that she felt duty bound and if she didn't heed that 'inner voice' and do what needs d

Tears drop... then spill long and hard The heart aches yet feels empty Sorrow... not wishing to be soothed Anger... not wanting to let go Regret and remorse tussle... back and forth Unanswered questions... forever lost Unsettled disputes... remain as such Such burden a battle to fight... What to do? Will it go away? Time will lend a hand Prayer will ease the creases of despair Support and strength will come...in many forms Accept gracefully Let go gently Step by step... Peace will come

Your lush greenery lies bare... Your once fertile ground gone bald Your canopy of green once sheltered many Alas,now... Habitats lost livelihood all but gone Flora and fauna awed before Now disappeared What a shame such pain... Oh Mother you are a sorry sight robbed of beauty None for our children to see Your tears no longer flood the plains Only trickles... fast vanishing Taking away coolness all around Green no more Blue no more You lack allure Your natural charm lost forever more Man's greed...be damned! Modernity...double damn!! Progress...at your expense? Mankind pays its price... Oh Mother What you once were... i yearn for What you are now... i cry a million tears

i witnessed a granchild of ten talking down to her grandmum who was in her mid sixties and i bit my tongue to stop the barrage of words waiting to shoot out. She was neither kin nor kith for me to reprimand her though i wish i could and had. What stopped me?. Wise advice from a friend that no mother likes her kids to be given a dressing down by another other than herself. So, i stewed about the girl's mum's attitude for not teaching her child to respect her elders. Shouldn't she have taught her daughter basic manners like talking softly and respectfully to her grandparents? This is just one incident- a total lack of disrespect, arrogance and aggression towards senior citizens...is appallingly increasing. It appears that a huge majority of the younger generation today are callous, crass and cruel in speech and action towards their grandparents, elderly relatives and neighbours and the general aging members of society. How and when did this happen?. Has the world moved

A fiery red ball appears... as backdrop in the horizon Within seconds splashes of pink, grey & orange overshadow the clear blue white puffs...now tinged Perfect roundness slowly, gently going down... paving way for velvet night Oh beautiful orb of energy evoking, stirring emotions... Salutations to magnificence Great ball of fire...subdued yet captures hearts beckoning serenity A slow descent full of majesty favouring mankind to savour infinite grandeur

I beg your pardon? That is how I reacted when someone first spoke Manglish   to me and I was confused.I was too   stumped to respond to a language which I thought was new but brave enough to ask for an interpretation of what was being said.This is the reply I got.   Where have you been? Don’t you know this is Manglish? the equivalent to Singlish, which is widely spoken by Singaporeans.It is now fine to speak in Manglish because we are Malaysians and we should be proud that we have our very own version of English!.No need to follow the white man and we can show those across the causeway that we too have our English lingo.   I was aghast. Whatever happened to good old English that we were taught in schools by dedicated and strict teachers? Remember   your   fierce English teacher who would punish you for not getting your spelling right or had you rewriting   pages of wrongly constructed sentences?   The heated debates and write ups of bad English, poor English among

The rolling waves call out to me frothy, foamy softness caressing my toes The sounds of the sea surround me a timeless song... Sometimes gentle a comforting lullaby Sometimes fierce mirroring inner turmoil The call is strong...this day tugging at heartsrings Anger abates Remorse recedes tears dry... pain loses its hold There is calm the soul becomes silent breathing... The sea has cast its spell...yet again

When A.P.J. Abdul Kalam completed his term as President of India, it was reported in the papers that he left the presidential residence with just one suitcase in a taxi. His book, 'Wings Of Fire' co written with Arun Tiwari is a must read about a genius who is simple and unassuming. We are all guilty of judging others based on looks, dressing, lifestyle, profession and other factors. However, what we fail to realise is that the outer doesn't necessarily reflect the inner. Each one of us is fighting a battle known only to us, thus what right have we got to judge another?. It is so easy to pass judgement but when it is you who is at the receiving end, what is the feeling? i have learnt and try my best not to judge a person for if we take the time to listen...there is a sad story, of struggle and pain. The happiest faces may conceal anguish that many would never suspect. Recently, i was mocked for the way i was dressed which left me stumped and a little miffed. Much la