Word: avuncularity
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Gawler, an avuncular, semi-retired flight engineer, is navigating my journey into deep childhood, starting with the shrubbery behind Hong Kong's Kowloon Bowling Green Club (KBGC). Gawler is one of its longest-standing members. "The fa wong [gardener] had a house here and a well," he says. "All the kids used to play here, remember...
...Gradually, things changed. One crime lord took an avuncular interest in a young actress and began producing films with her in the lead. Soon the bhais were financing films, choosing actors, demanding distribution rights?mixing business with pleasure. But the relationship was often as symbiotic as it was predatory, because until last year, most banks would not finance Indian films. The money had to come from somewhere, even if the loan carried 50% interest?and the collateral was your knees...
...many ways Rockwell is the anti-architect. Not for him the clinical cool so often associated with designers. He's warm and avuncular, the kind of guy who welcomes dogs and children in the office. He doesn't even look intimidating: Barry Manilow hair, jeans unfashionably cut and those half-shoes, half-sneakers by Merrell. He's solicitous and courteous, and after he invites you to the theater he writes to thank you for coming. His forthcoming book, Pleasure, lists about 120 built projects, which is a very high number for a 46-year...
...Finally, it is Asai sensei's time to talk. He wears a gray business suit and glasses and has thinning gray hair. He doesn't quote scriptures or recite Buddhist chants. His short speech is delivered in warm, avuncular, soothing tones. Yet his words conjure up pictures of doom as he talks about last year's terrorist attacks on the U.S., about al-Qaeda and the threat of dirty bombs. "A big country like America couldn't even crush al-Qaeda completely," he says. "Because of this technology, these dirty bombs, even a small group can ruin America...
...little trombone and tennis on the side. Most Enron employees didn't know who he was until relatively recently. As head of Enron Capital Management--his job in 1997 and '98, when he was named CFO--he wielded his power across a very narrow band. In contrast to the avuncular Lay and the brilliant Skilling, Fastow was a PowerPoint executive whose number-crunching talent far exceeded his managerial and people skills. Indeed, when Fastow was charged with running an actual business--he was named managing director of Enron Energy Services in 1996--he botched it, and Skilling had to reel...