A New Year! Here's to a successful 2009!

Well, we are already into the 4th day of 2009. 2008 was great! Lots of achievements, lots of close bonding of familial relationships, and joining another fellowship of believers. Surveying the newspaper though, nothing much has changed. Plenty of bad news to last a lifetime and more is our staple readers' diet.
War between Israel and Hamas, ever increasing financial gloom and doom, ever worsening environment, more crime, more stupidity, etc., etc.
I thought I'd comment on a wide-range of topics tonight.

Firstly, the elections in Kuala Terengganu. Now that the PAS leadership has conveyed that their candidate is the divine choice, what else is left to the brotherhood to do but to vote for him. After all, he comes with divine endorsement! Not to vote for the PAS candidate is to perhaps invite divine wrath, and censure? It finally boils down to a war for the minds and hearts of the electorate, doesn't it?

The BN on the other hand, pushes the god of money and development. Instant riches to the folks of KT should they vote the banner of equality. During these tough times, what better remedy than to spread much wealth around, at least enough to get out the votes. So who will really think this election through? Is there space left in the cerebral avenues of the electorate to think even?

My call is that it will go PAS way, albeit with a very, very small gap. The stakes are high for you know who. The party cannot afford to lose ... again! May I urge men of goodwill to beseech the Almighty that only righteous, wise and courageous leaders be elected, not just for KT, but for every other future by, and major, election.

Mark Hughes
The beleagured manager of Man City is just days, or perhaps, hours away from the sack. The new owners of other club in Manchester just proved their lack of street-wise-ness about EPL when they continued with Hughes. As much as he was an accomplished player, and a decent manager, he's not ready yet for the expectations of owners at the same level of Roman and gang. He needs to win some really worthwhile trophies 1st before he can be considered at the same level as Ferguson, Wenger, Benitez, and Scolary. So watch out for the sports headlines, "Hughes sacked!".

The Mid-east imbroglio
Well, it was coming! I was wondering when Israel would really go all the way to smash Hamas. And it looks like it may just be this time around. They seem very determined to totally crush Hamas' infrastructure, and paralyze this organization. I don't think they would accomplish all that they set out to do though, because this is a "systems" thingy. Or what some social scientists would refer to as "complex adaptive science". Hamas did not exist 4o years ago. The PLO did. But the ideals, or the ideology of Hamas certainly existed since 1948. And so Israel would have to fight for her survival until ... God knows! And He does!
So what happens now? Well, the Isrealites will take advantage of the Arab world's impotence, and the tacit backing of the US to continue their onslaught. Then, eventually, the US, under pressure from the rest of the world, especially the EU and UN, will advise Israel to go easy. And Israel would by then perceived that they have put across a point very strongly indeed. Things will then grind to the status quo. Or would it? I don't know ... Perhaps someone like Fareed Zakaria would be better placed to comment.

That's all for now.