Not By Bread Alone

But circuses too - ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
[Embiggen!]
[N.B. UFC Freedom 250 and UFC A.D. 250 are very similar after all!]
(Source: bleacherreport.com, GPT Image 2)

With the GOD-EMPEROR's Birthday Games at the Imperial Capital just successfully concluded - entirely in keeping with America's Roman legacy - his ever-victorious legions are also executing a honourable withdrawal from Persia, to regroup for further conquests. Gentlemen, if you are of the opinion that things change... I am sorry to have to say that they really don't.

As for the rest of today's update, it will be a brief personal reflection on the trappings of, if not wealth, then a moderate degree of affluence. Yes, I am fully aware that it's one of those touchy subjects, but the nice thing about being willing to court controversial topics is that it only gets easier to do. In summary, I have gone from sharing a room with my grandmother to the age of around thirty-two (which, on hindsight, was perhaps not the best signal), to more or less having paid off two properties - including a detached house in Bukit Timah, since we're on disclosure. If I had been a little more aware, I should probably have just done all this earlier; if I had been a little braver, I would have just renounced. But I was neither, so here we are.

That said, I can't say that my life or habits have changed much. One of the greatest switchups from my younger self would be a reliance on private-hire vehicles (i.e. basically Grab) instead of public transport, which is more for saving time than any rejection of the latter. This might be a little sensitive, however, from how I recently absentmindedly asked an acquaintance whether he would like a ride (which I should perhaps have gotten earlier too), or take the bus - even the suggestion appears to have some implications, which I would honestly not have realised in my more innocent days.



Entirely sufficient
[N.B. And multifunctional in a pinch too!]
[N.N.B. That said, I'm considering the TRUMP Mugshot Collectible, containing a piece of the holy relic iconic suit he wore when he got his mugshot taken!]
(Source: linkedin.com)

Other than this, there's the accrual of credit card points, which I had never really bothered about, but I can well understand why people bother after experiencing business class seats for the first time* - being able to lie down for long haul flights does make the trip far more enjoyable. Oh, and there was a passing interest in watches - this being the only conventional accessory a guy is allowed - to the extent of attending a horological event, and compiling a list of potential acquisitions.

If one takes the main function of a watch as being to tell time, however, it was all entirely meaningless. Firstly, about everyone has a smartphone nowadays, which has more computing power than the entire world had about 1980, and as such is capable of keeping time as synchronized from the best atomic clocks too. Barring that, the ubiquitous Casio F-91W is rated as accurate within half a minute per month - but possibly far better - lasts basically forever under normal conditions, and costs like twenty bucks. Upgrade to a solar G-Shock for two hundred dollars, and I daresay one's lifetime timekeeping needs are solved, casual dives up to a hundred fathoms included, especially since one's arm probably won't survive anything the watch doesn't anyway.

But fine, it's fun to shake the Tag up once in a while, though I doubt I'll ever play the Authorized Dealer game to get dibs on a Rolex... and if you guys ever see me dual-wielding Pateks, you have my permission to smack me. And yes, on food. While I do think everybody should have the opportunity to visit Michelin-starred restaurants once in a while, and one can hardly fault their attention to detail and general put-togetherness as a class, it does get old rather quickly; usually, I'm entirely satisfied with getting my tummy (mostly) filled, and it can get awkward when the waiter introduces the lobster in such an intimate manner that one gets the feeling of having known it for a long time...



Do I need anything? Yes, lady, please stop blocking the light
[N.B. After which he "borrowed" some cash to tip the showgirls.]
(Source: instagram.com)

In the end, I'd say that the true value of wealth is freedom... which includes the ability to do or say stuff without caring overly what others think of it. Sometimes, one just really wants to sit on the floor (or the grass), you know?


[*On this, our Health Minister has apparently gotten a bit of blowback for flying First Class to Tokyo on official business, all the more after the DPM was reportedly in business class (and a car), and the Prime Minister and Senior Minister on budget airlines - but to be frank, it would be pointless to risk having them in nonoptimal condition for negotiations etc.]

[To be continued...]