Boyd Schidt

It joins Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall, John Lennon’s Imagine and the other pieces that are not just melodically pleasant to listen to but either screams at or touches your consicence..Pink’s Dear President.

I listened to the song 2 nights ago on my way back from work…didnt sound like a typical Pink song..but I wasn’t surprised that she came up with it.

The song really got to me…had deep lyrics and was very "pedas"…

I know a few presidents who would feel so small after listening to the song and heck they SHOULD feel small !!

It’s sad that while we busy ourselves trying to meet our respective KPI’s, chasing after the right landed property to buy, ladies fussing over what they wear, bags they carry, footwear they slip on….millions of people out there even here in Malaysia are struggling to meet the most minimum of human needs….and we city-folks have endless complaints..like being bogged with the decision of "mana nak makan?" be it for lunch or dinner when in fact we’re spoiled for choices. Bet the people in Ethiopia wouldn’t find it a problem to choose amongst the variety of food we have…

While people face tankers… we face X5’s, XC90s..I reckon a much prettier sight than tankers that may blow your home away in a split second

When people fear for their lives…we in the city drive like maniacs thinking we can cheat death.

People wear the same rags as clothes year in year out…while we buy new ones just cos we’re sick of wearing some a "few" times…

Are we global citizens? Don’t think so.

How many of us actually ponder about what we can do to help? Not many.

Here’s the lyrics to Dear President…tell me if it touches your conscience…cos it sure touched mine.

Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let’s pretend we’re just two people and
You’re not better than me
I’d like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly

What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proud

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why

Dear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
How can you say
No child is left behind
We’re not dumb and we’re not blind
They’re all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell

What kind of father would take his own daughter’s rights away
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You’ve come a long way from whiskey and cocaine

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye

Let me tell you bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don’t know nothing bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh

How do you sleep at night
How do you walk with your head held high
Dear Mr. President
You’d never take a walk with me
Would You?

Balinese massage..ylang ylang..a good can’t-put-down book..driving up Kundasang in Sabah…movie marathon in TGV..snorkelling in Tiger Island…these are some of the potentially therapeutic treats that I desperately need after painfully sitting for three final papers:-

1. International Trade: Theory and Policy
2. Advanced Microeconomics
3. Money, Banking and Capital Markets

I enjoyed answering the final exam ques for the first paper..very oxymoronic enjoy + exam but as weird as it sounds.. I was pleased with my performance during the finals.. plus I submitted an out of the ordinary term paper on..

"the Banana Trade: International Trade Patterns"

yes banana..Malay equivalent=pisang.

I think it’s high time for a shift in topics for term papers..be it undergrad or postgrad..students always pick one of the following usual..boring..predictable titles…

1. anything that has to do with Asean trade patterns
2. the two now big on the charts- India and China and..
3. the Seattle-protesters favorite… WTO.

I wanted a break from that cos I have to admit I too have written on 2 of the above topics…hihi..when I was an undergrad not postgrad..so excusable la

I think or at least I hope my Professor will enjoy my banana write-up..was tempted to submit it with an actual banana ..but that would’ve screamed wacko out loud wouldn’t it ;p Cavendish bananas anyone?

Ahh the idea of presenting the topic at some trade conference somewhere is getting me excited…haha.

Hey bananas are the second most widely exported fruit after citrus..so it’s a big deal k ;p

These food commodities have always been under the radar unlike cars, computer chips etc..studying food comms hits well with my interest plus it’s special knowledge so you really get a sense of added value out of the study.

Ok enough on the banana trade.

Oh yea..need to make a thank you shout out to a special soul for helping me out with the paper..thanks a lot + bear hugs + love ya!:-)

I’m relieved that the exams are over..now I can focus on work..have to get things done..more so cos my year end appraisal is coming up. It just never ends does it? exams then work..then something else pops up..

But this is how it should be…I’m young and it should be hectic..if I wanted a peaceful, relaxing…nothing to do life..I’d apply to stay in an old folks home and get a medical guru to speed up my aging process ;p

At the moment I’m praying that all will go well with my results this semester..am looking forward  to my therapeutic treats..wish I could do all of them..but for now the Balinese massage sounds good.