Owl About Words: The Fuss Over a Folk Rhyme

Alright, time for yet another word from the days of yore. More precisely, the eighteenth century word, crinkum-crankum. Do you think it's another way to describe a cranky child or a crotchety old man? Or even an old jalopy that needs to be cranked up, in order to start? Those were certainly the thoughts swimming… Continue reading Owl About Words: The Fuss Over a Folk Rhyme

Perpetually Locked-down Women

As a sort of post script to my blog post of yesterday on women in crisis all over the world - through Covid and beyond - I thought I'd share a little poem that I wrote. It is about women who live their lives under a kind of perpetual lockdown, Covid has merely cast a… Continue reading Perpetually Locked-down Women

Women in Crisis: Covid and Beyond

It turns out that the Covid-19 pandemic is a good time as any to discuss gender bias and discrimination against women. Not because more women are at risk from Covid-19; on the contrary, the virus seems to attack more men than women. Not because more women are employed in the healthcare sector that is at… Continue reading Women in Crisis: Covid and Beyond

Writings on the Wall #7: Architecture

Even as the world finds itself in the grip of a coronavirus pandemic, and travel has all but come to a standstill, I thought I'd share my thoughts on what makes cities unique, in their own distinctive way. Architecture. It's one of the dimensions of a city that we admire as visitors. Not just the… Continue reading Writings on the Wall #7: Architecture

Covid-19 and The Big Reset: Owl Wisdom Podcast

As we cope with the world's worst pandemic, I would like you to join me in looking forward to a post-Covid world. In this Covid-19 special edition of Owl Wisdom Podcast, I try to anticipate our future after Covid and examine critical issues that the world must confront together to fight for healthier lives. It… Continue reading Covid-19 and The Big Reset: Owl Wisdom Podcast

Owl About Words: Clog and Dog

Hi. I am starting a new series of blog posts Owl About Words, in place of authors' quotes on books and reading that I have been sharing every month until now. It was prompted by my finding a delightful, old book at my parents' place, called Just Another Word. Written by a British journalist, Ivor… Continue reading Owl About Words: Clog and Dog

Building Brands in the Digital Age

As an advertising and brand communications professional from the days of adverts in column centimetres and VHS tapes and DVDs, I have to admit I am a little overwhelmed in the age of digital and social media communications. For starters, nothing communicates โ€œexcessโ€ more to me. The age of the internet is supposed to have… Continue reading Building Brands in the Digital Age

The Anarchy: A Cautionary Tale of Capitalism

I have never understood the recent trend (a decade or more) of subtitling book titles, and I suspect itโ€™s the publishersโ€™ tactic of trying to boost book sales. But in the case of William Dalrympleโ€™s recent tome, The Anarchy, the subtitle actually does more justice to the subject: The East India Company, Corporate Violence and… Continue reading The Anarchy: A Cautionary Tale of Capitalism

Writings On the Wall #6: Solidarity

With the threat of Covid-19 spreading to many more countries and cities, it is only to be expected that many places are under lockdown and people are being quarantined. Travel will be severely restricted. I had written in my post on Covid-19 that while the world takes precautionary measures and imposes restrictions, it is better… Continue reading Writings On the Wall #6: Solidarity