at von's graduation party i was talking to a parent who was in the south korean diplomatic corps and who has met and admired tommy koh (me: he was from my high school!) when he was still a junior officer. he reminded me of the upcoming appointment of the un secretary-general, and he seems to think that tommy koh deserves the job. there was certainly a great deal of speculation in that direction last year, and i did wish very much for his nomination, but now asean has agreed to back thailand's dpm surakiart sathirathai, so singapore can't possibly put forth tommy koh or kishore mahbubani now, can we?