DREAM HOME FRONT

For many of us, we can only dream of homefronts like this. Most of the folks nowadays live in apartments.I could not help noticing recently that even those who live in high rise buildings,put iron railings on their windows.Now who is going to break in through the windows on the 18th floor? Spiderman? Of course,its prudent to take precautions for the safety of our homes, but to tie the TV set to the table with an enormous iron chain is not prudence but absurd stupidity. Vijay

GOODBYE 2008

2008 has come and gone-just like that.And only memories remain.For me I spent a quiet day in Betung,Thailand and then drove to Langkawi.I find it a bit frightening that a whole year disappeared just like that.But whatever this year has in store for you,may you have the courage to face it.And may the God or peace be with you. Vijay- The Midnight owl

APPEARANCES

Learn to note the discontent and envy in the wolves eyes.You must to be detached and aloof in such circumstances.Its regretabble that most people are open books.It's wiser to portray a bland exterior and a sense of naivete and excuse ourselves at the earliest opportunity.This is a safer way than to continue to sit around,listen to their hostile conversation.Never respond in verbal arguments with this type.They will chew you without mercy.Such is their DNA.
Merry Christmas. The Midnight Owl

CLEANING UP.

Its the end of the year and I have started cleaning up the house.When clearing up the storeroom I found this bundle inside a box.Anybody out there who needs some old cash? Please give me a call immediately. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

CIVILIZED?

We live in a world today where society demands that we be civilized in our behaviour.But civilized values are not furthered if we are forced to surrender to those who are crafty and strong.In fact,being civilized in the face of such wolves is the height of stupidity.And be particularly wary of this myth of "best friends".It only exists in peoples fantasies.For "best friends" have been known to swallow their comrades alive,while wearing the sweetest of smiles on his face.

"Friend,do you betray your master with a kiss?" Jesus Christ's final words to Judas Iscariot,his own disciple who brought 200 Roman soldiers to arrest his former Master in the garden of Gethsamene.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE

It's the end of the year,and no doubt everyone will either planning their holidays, doing their shopping,or glad for the special bonus given only to you by your employers.It's all confidential,of course.For those who did not get any bonus,don't confront your boss.May all of you have a great time.As for me,I have decided to spend my holidays on a far away island on the other side of the world on a God forsaken island.

WAITING?

Dont waste your time waiting for that someone special to somehow fall into your lap.Those kinds of events only happen in dreams and fairy tales.Get out there and let yourself be seen. And then the miracles seem to happen. Vijay

Remember the other side of dreams are nightmares.In fairy tales the toad transforms into a dashing prince. In real life, sometimes the once charming person turns out to be a half breed Jackass!!. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

LAW OF CONTRACT- EXAMINABLE AREAS

For a contract to be valid there must be present all the main elements of a contract. However the contract will lose its binding nature if there are present negative elements which takes away the free consent of the parties. Sometimes the contracts are void and in other situation the contract becomes voidable. Explain, illustrating your answer with the relevant cases the difference between void and voidable contracts.
25 MARKS

The parties to a contract are bound by the terms and conditions as mentioned in the contract itself. However in some situations the parties may want to limit their liability in including in the contracts terms such as exclusion clauses. What do you understand by the term exclusion clause? Illustrate your answer with cases.

25 MARKS

LIP SERVICE

Okay sorry I said that okay? It was unintentional and I was not trying to even the score.I have already forgotten completely all our disagreements and subtle backstabbings.So please forgive me and for God's sake,will you please come down from that tree. Let's forgive and forget as I have done!!Anyway,what about the numerous times you have said things behind my back? Have I ever called that to account? Do you hear me? Don't look stupid!! Talk to me!! Vijay- The Midnight Owl

GOODBYE.

Thank you for another day.The day with all its unpredictable twists and turns nevertheless has to end.Its time for you to to show your face on the other part of this old planet and its weary humanity-some eagerly awaiting your arrival and others with a sure sense of dreariness.Nevertheless life must go on and I am unsure how to greet you when you arrive again.But I had enough of the day but neither am I ready to retire for the night.I welcome the night as surely as the midnight owl rejoices at your departure.For the Midnight Owls,life only begins at sundown.

HELPING ANGEL

Dont bet on it on anyone being there for you.I think by now you know better. It is far wiser to reflect on your life's journey and consider the harsh reality that just when you needed some help,no one was there for you.Of course some tend to help when there is no need for any personal sacrifice to be made on your behalf but too often help is only offered when they themselves have something to gain from your disadvantage.

Anyway if feel let down and need any help, please call my personal number 007.

MY IDEAL CHRISTMAS

This is the setting for the ideal Christmas.I have seen Cabins like this in South Carolina.Its the perfect setting for Christmas.But have one depressed person in your midst and your Christmas has gone to the dogs. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

THE WALKING DICTIONARY

The proper way to pronounce the word ASSOCIATE is A-SSO-pronounced as CEO- and ends with CIATE.And not ASS-O-CIATE. There is a subtle difference in meaning depending on the way you pronounce it!So please be careful when using this word. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

EVENTS

Events in life mean nothing to us,if we do not reflect on them in a deep way..... Robert Greene.- The 33 Strategies of War

FREDERICK THE GREAT (1712-86)

For the love of God,pull yourself together and do not look at things so darkly:the first step backwards makes a poor impression in the army,the second step is dangerous,and the third becomes fatal. Federick the Great-Letter to a General

ANGER

It is normal for people to lash back at the earliest opportunity in moments of anger.Others,realizing the futily of fighting back,because their opponents are stronger and cleverer,maintain their composure,and bid their time,and in due time return to unload a double dose of their venom,often in the subtlest of ways.These are the sharks beneath the peaceful ocean.While maintaining their peaceful exteriors,they bite off huge chunks of flesh.The tide always turns,and the incoming tide is rarely noticeable at first.It is much better to take the peaceful road.When you are angry,take no action.Anger and impatience will draw you into situations in which it will be difficult to get out.Unless,of course,you love playing the victim and the useless,patronizing symphathy it brings.

Vijay- The Midnight Owl

FANTASIES

The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant.Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that surfaces when facades are peeled off.In exposing anyone,you will whip up emotions that can't be described by any language used by the human specis.In reality,those dark emotions are indescribable.So far better,to feign ignorance,and resist the temptation to take a closer look at skeletons in anothers closet.It is the height of wisdom to avoid stepping on anybodys toes.Ignore this advice at your own peril.
Vijay- The Midnight owl

WHAAOO!!

I woke up this morning and found this under my bed.Since there was no more place to keep my new stash,I threw it all into the dustbin. Good Riddance!! Now I can sleep in peace. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

ELEANOR

“You gain strength,courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt

The above statement sounds too idyllic.".. stop to look fear in the face..?" Definitely its not me, maybe for some other macho guy.For me its run without looking back!! Vijay- The Midnight Owl

TO ALL STUDENTS

It's exam period,and all students are advised to start their revision early.Take your books and notes- go to your quiet corner and start now.Because the questions are not going to be simple or straightfoward.And if it may please my Lord, kindly off that mobile phone of yours while studying.Thank You Vijay- The Midnight Owl

FASHION

I saw a guy in Batu Ferringi, Penang recently with this hairstyle.I had a half fright.If I had seen this guy in a dimly lit stairway,probably I would have fainted or ran like hell without looking back.

SHEEPSKINS

These seats are made from real sheepskins for the human species butt to sit on.For those of you who are prone to complain that life is unfair and tough, just be thankful that you were not born as a sheep or cow and land up as seatcover for someones bus or worse still,to be served as beefsteak for someones dinner. Vijay The Midnight Owl

NICE

The best thing to do in places like this is to read a book,go for a walk or seek the God of the Universe.But be careful though.If going for a walk,make sure you grab hold of a good size stick. The last time I went for a walk, suddenly out of nowhere monkeys appeared and started screeching madly and showing their teeth.I waved my stick but even more monkeys started appearing shaking the branches furiously.It seemed the whole tree came alive with these little devils. That was one disappointing walk to seek God. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

LETS DO THIS.

Consider the cat.Its looks harmless and minds its own business. But corner it,or rub it the wrong way, you will see the other side of this purring feline.Bared teeth,slashing claws and hissing sounds that resemble those of an agitated viper.Such is the fate of those who misread the peaceful exteriors, mistake it for harmlessness and push around the wrong person.Let the cat keep its routines,let it keep it's peaceful frontier.Heed this advice or pay the price. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

CARI JODOH

This is what all students should be doing while in the library. Pretend to be reading while quietly spying on the handsome over there.Cari Jodoh lebih penting dari baca buku!After all,if I fail the exams,I can always take the next exam. Just have to tell my parents that the lecturer did not know how to explain well.They will believe anything.They know I wont lie to them. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

A THOUGHT

I wonder what its like- to carry your home with you wherever you go.If all human had shells on their backs,I think the taxis and the buses would have been designed differently.Furthermore we wont be needing beds,for right after work we can disappear into our private world.So instead of seeing someone sitting on a chair, we would just see someones shell in a corner.But I bet all of us would have coloured our shells.The only problem would be,the way I see it- how we would have designed our toilets.The benefit is, once you marry,you can simply move into the other persons home. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

PERSPECTIVE

True,I may not be endowed with fantastic looks like you,but the fact is I have sharper brains than you have and my food and accomodation is provided free for a lifetime.My master loves me and lets me sit on the sofa and watch TV!!All I have to do is to show some affection to that love starved man,by wagging my tail and feigning affection,look blur and to bark now and then at night pretending as if I am chasing off some intruder.Now can you beat that?And mind you,I dont have to join the traffic jams to earn my bread like you do!Now do you get the real perspective? Vijay-The Midnight owl

STRESSED OUT?

Now,Now take it easy.We all have our bad days but there is no need to take things in our own hands.Take a deep breath and please calm down.This is a test of one's nerve.The moment will soon pass.let it go and please get back to your table. Vijay- The Midnight owl

A THOUGHT

If you are a teenager,of course you hate the discipline at home and yearn the unlimited freedom your friends seem to have.They can stay late at Cyner Cafes and go for the late night movies.For some,they decide to run away from home and build a new life with their new found boyfriend.He looks so cool and promising.Listen, my dear Child,dont be stupid.The discipline at home was never meant for your harm but for your maturity.There are strange voices out there whispering and they are vile.Be deceived by the lure of unending freedom and you will pay a heavy price.Your day of leaving the house will come,but that day is not today. So get back to your room. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

THE ULTIMATE PRINCIPLE

People tend to eat us alive with the jaws of ingratitude. That is why I love an old old Jewish Master's saying- "Do good without expecting anything in return"

ON SHYNESS

Although the world has changed much since my time,and both sexes are more brash and direct,still there are others who are prone to shyness.If you are given to shyness, gravitate to the gregarious- they tend to loosen up all that is tight and restricted within you.Make this a rule of life and you will benefit more than all the theraphies in the world.But always keep the boundaries in mind- otherwise you run the risk of being labelled as "fah thin kei!" translated as jungle fowl which has horrible connotations in the Chinese language. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

HELLO THERE.

This picture will resemble for most of us what we would probably look lile in 20 years time.For some it may be ten,or even worse, just around the corner.However we may look like,just enjoy the time today, because there is no resisting time and age. Vijay- the Midnight Owl

BE CHEERFUL

SORRY LADY

Sorry lady,I cant come out today with you as I have to moderate the exam questions and get ready for my High Court case tomorrow. Some other time,okay? Because for me work cometh first.And for goodness sake,please stop whistling at me and looking at me like that!! NO MEANS NO!! Vijay- The Midnight owl

A SHOCK

I took this picture which I believe is a Mermaid while scubadiving off the Pulau Tioman coast.I was about 50 feet deep underwater and suddenly this creature was slowly passing by.It smiled and waved at me but I froze in fright. Immediately after that I bolted out of the water and went back to the hotel.I was so terrifed that I hid under my bed for 3 days.

Vijay- The Midnight Owl

THOU SHALT NOT!!

Never do this in the midst of a meeting, especially if the boss is talking. The Midnight Owl

WHAT MEN DESIRE

YOUR CHOICE

One of the more subtle lessons in life we have to learn is this-to detach oneself from the chaos of the battlefield.Let others lose their heads,but keep your presence of mind.When voices are raised and the excuses and the accusations seem to be getting intense,it would be foolhardy to respond in kind.It is easy to lose ones ones head and succumb to irrationality in moments like this.Be detached and analyze the situation not with your feelings but from rational self.Dont lose your head,use it. Vijay The Midnight Owl

PULAU KETAM

I had heard and read so much about Pulau Ketam that finally I had to go and experience it for myself.So I called King Casey,my contractor friend and both of us landed on Pulau Ketam.We ordered some seafood.The next table of foreigners were literally tucking in the big sized crabs.I heard the compliments, "This tastes really great. Its simply delicious!!". .Later while strolling through the island,I noticed that all the toilets were angled straight into the water. So that explains why the crabs here are larger in size!!My suspicions were confirmed! That explains why they were covered under tons of chillies!!Welcome to Pulau Ketam?? Oh my God!!! Vijay- The Midnight Owl

STIIRRING

SUNRISE

Another sunrise,and this old planet of ours slowly stirs to life. And together with this planet every living creature has to stir to life too- to face anothet 24 hours.No one can tell us how the day will unfold. It may bring us moments of laughter or sadness and sorrow as those who were on holiday in Mumbai discovered.The same unpredicatability will be the rhyme and rhythem for the day.But whichever way the day decides to rhyme, one thing is for sure-theres no stoppin the sunrise or the revolving of the earth. Life must go on no matter what.God, give me the wisdom necessary to walk on this earth and handle whatever the day brings with all all its twists and surprises.Just dont let me be caught with my pants down. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

OPTIONS

In most verbal encounters- victories are negative- they lead nowhere.Keep your mind more on the aftermath of any encounter,and you will think more of the feeling you leave people with.By understanding that any victory or defeat is temporary,you will find it easier to keep yourself balanced during the thousands of spoken and unspoken battles that life confronts us with on a daily basis.The only real ending is death-I hope. Everything else is a transition. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

When guests are leaving,the mood of being reluctant to say farewell is essential.If they leave earlier on any pretext whatsoever,it means thay have deciphered your body language.
A Japanese Saying.

WMP 7773

Thats my Car No.7773. I have been receiving endless phone calls tonight and the phone is ringing incessantly.The reason? 7773 has struck first prize on Magnum tonight and the calls coming in are all congratulatory.At the time of writing, nobody seems to believe that I have not betted on this number.In fact,I had a call from Penang just now,asking me whether he could borrow RM30,000 from me as he has a pressing financial need.I just burst out in laughter over the phone. Vijay - The Midnight Owl

CLOSING THE GAPS

The most overated virtues in society today are beauty and property ownerships.At least here in Malaysia,that seems to be the trend.The need to live in places which make a statement about us.And the most not-sought-after virtue is that of silence.Have you ever been in the company of someone who chatters non-stop?Even when chewing their food,they let loose their words. I suspect their voices sounds like music in their own ears.If only they knew the truth.In situations like these,I sometimes imagine myself taking the chair I am seated on and ramming it over their heads and shouting- SILENCIO!!!
Vijay- The Midnight Owl

Of course,in real life I would never have the guts to do such a thing.

MASKS

The Mask.Every performer and actor on the crowded statge is wearing a Mask,the feelings and the emotions of the audience only lovingly embrace the Mask - a pleasant,loving an appealling face to show the audience.Should any actor by sheer carelessness or negligence make a Mask fall,a far less than attractice face will be revealed to the crowd- and one that few will forget even after the mask is restored. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

LEARNING FAST

Looks like someone out there is a fast learner.If only my students had such learning capacity-minus the obscene gestures.

FITTING IN

Try to fit in with the Company not meant for you,and you will exhaust yourself literally trying to be accepted.Face the facts.Their stripes may be similar to yours but their DNA and their concealed psychological makeup is somewhat different.We look similar but the subtle differences are all too glaring.Take your rest among those whom you can identify with as a person.Or maybe,your character traits are such you don't fit in anywhere.That's a great gifting which is rare in this age of dependability and the need to belong. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

ANOTHER WEEK

This picture reminded me of Mohave Desert in California.While there,I sometimes wander off into the desert towards a lonely tree.The place is entirely secluded. Such places evoke strange emotions which are not felt while in the city.That feeling of being alone there and you get that uncanny feeling that you are not in fact alone.Its hard to put that into words so I am not going to try. Vijay- The Midnight Owl

MY FAVOURITE COMPUTER

This is a picture of my favourite computer and friend. Each time I switch it on, immediately a hand reaches out and hands me the dough-all US Currency.I told him I have enough for the season, but he insists that I have it, for according to him, there is no one like me in all the earth.Why is everyone so generous to me? Vijay- The Midnight Owl

SUN-TZE

So to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence.The highest excellence is to subdue the enemy's army without fighting at all.
Sun-Tze(4th Century B.C.)

SURPRISE

MOST MEN ARE TERIFIED BY THE UNKNOWN AND THE UNPREDICTABLE.IT IS THE UNANTICIPATED BLOW THAT MAKES THE BIGGEST IMPACT- THIS LEADS TO CONFUSION AND PANIC.ONCE YOU ACHIEVE THIS,UNLEASH YOUR SWORD. GENGHIS KHAN.

Do not be deceived that the world had changed since the time of Genghis Khan. In modern times,ones adversaries hide their iron fist in a glove of rose coloured silk.Be caught off guard-then comes the "WHACK!!" as if from nowhere.


Vijay- The Midnight Owl;

RETREAT

Retreat is something you must do every now and then,to find yourself and detach yourself from infecting influences.And the best time to do this is in moments of difficulty,danger and the intense moment.

One word of caution though,don't detach from yourself.It would be difficult to regain one's composure after that.

Vijay The Midnight Owl