Saving Private Fat Cats

“How much is 700 billion? The mind registers the number with such imprecision as to make it meaningless.”

Really: Just how much is US$700 billion?


This is the figure bandied by the US government to stem the country’s steep descent into god knows where its headed economic turmoil.

In numerical terms, 700 billion is not much really: just eleven zeros behind the seven. Even converting to Ringgit at a crude USD1 = Ringgit 3, we’d get eleven zeros behind 21.

But then, it would be 2.1 trillion. In Ringgit.

US$700 billion is also 6,713,000 billion in Indonesian Rupiah at USD1 = Rp9,590.

700 billion in Zimbabwean Dollar will however only get you about 1½ kilos of mince meat – if you can find the item in the first place.

US$700 billion is also the Pentagon’s budget with at least US$100 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, conservative estimate puts war casualties at around 700,000 in 2007 – four years after the country was invaded on the pretext of being liberated.

700,000. Approximately US$1,000 per head if you compare the figures bandied where WAR is concerned.

They didn’t need to bail the fat cats with taxpayers’ money after all.

All that money...

Our People, Our Shame.

A beautiful chicken coop from www.gardencluboftaos.com

Stories like these sure perks you up, don't they?

Just when you thought our newspapers cannot top "The Abandoned Toilet Couple" , along comes "A Spinster Living in a Chicken Coop" .

Both articles are very surreal; akin to fairy tales gone bizzare.

Perhaps it's just the reporters' doing: sensationalizing a nondescript piece of story just to get some column space (No offence, Hamzah :) ).

People living in a chicken coop is really a first for me.

I was born in a mixed Malay, Chinese, Sikh, Indian village in Alor Setar and my childhood is fill with adventures vis-a-vis the ubiquitous chicken coop. You have these cutesy little chicks which warms the heart everything they start chirping away while following their mother hen around.

We were relatively poor and rearing chicken is one way to cater for meals on the table in a few months time with both eggs and meat. Every family does it, so there was no big deal about having chickens in your backyard.

But what kind of a society allows someone to live in a chicken coop complete with a monthly rental to boot for the courtesy of such luxurious abode?

Wow. Living in a chicken coop.

That really puts some clear meaning to the Malay saying of "Kais Pagi Makan Pagi".

We've had people living in a toilet; now a chicken coop. Shall we bet of being able to top these in a few months time?