deranged Generation

Where is the time?

2009-08-16T11:06:00.003+10:00

I am supposed to come up with part 2 of the Han Today series but I just don't have the time eventhough I already have the story in my head.

Having been to a time management training course I should have no problem in writing a piece if I manage my time properly and efficiently. Sure, of course but when I do have the time I just want to chill and it is so precious to do so.

On top of that I've a new project - to write about the global financial crisis and how Japan can help - which is due around 3rd week of September and I haven't even drafted it yet.

Han Today - Part One

2009-07-09T20:33:00.005+10:00

Han Today is a series of mini articles and commentaries exploring the identiy of ethnic Han Chinese as result of the recent Urumqi riots. The series will delve into the question of what is Han, who is Han, the Han identity crisis and the future of the Han.

The Catalyst

If the Tibet unrests more than a year ago stoked up Chinese nationalism and unified tha nation then the recent ethnic riots in Xinjiang Province fueled or even awaken the idea of Han ethno-nationalism or Han pride.

The reason for the riot, whether it was instigated by overseas Uighur dissidents or genuinely sparked from the death of Uighur workers bashed to death by Han workers in Guangdong for rape allegations, is academic. It is expected that the usual international scrutiny that comes everytime after a mass incident in China that the Chinese government is robbing away rights or not doing enough to bridge the widening weatlh gaps, will this time be surface materials, if not plain juvenile.

For years since the economic liberalisation in China, the Han majority have been seeking an answer to their identity in the modern world. While they have a long and glorious history to look up upon it is of no doubt that being a Han today raises a lot question of who and what is it being a Han.

And the riots in Urumqi will force up that underlying question for an all out debate of being a Han.

Coming up: What is Han?

I still have a place in cyberspace

2009-07-09T16:07:00.002+10:00

which I have neglected for sometime, again.

Either I was too busy or had a blank mind.

Still at work and I think I should get my fingers back on the GST.

Angry

2009-05-12T10:37:00.002+10:00

Feeling very angry....very angry....very angry!

I need a punching bag.... a punching bag....a punching bag.....

But there aint any......

Fine.... the wall should do!

Of Chocolate and Taxation

2009-04-29T21:15:00.004+10:00

I was asked by a friend on how would I answer to the following question in a job application for the position of a Junior Tax Officer in a chocolate multinational.

Question: What has motivated you to apply for this position at [Choco]?

Answer: A confluence of my passion in taxation and a love for cholocates place me in a very unique position stimulating an intense motivation in me to apply for this position in which I believe I sit very well in contributing more than my knowledge and skills but an alignment of the company's nature and mine so close that it is not a choice for me to give this position a passing.

ATO should take note of this applicant as he or she has the potential to be the in-house expert in the taxation affairs of chocolate businesses.

Imagine in your CV: An expert in taxation of various types chocolates - white, caramel, dairy, nuts, fusion.....

My professional experience includes:

Assessing the quality of raw cocoa eligible to be classified as trading stock.
Reviewing the impairment of qualifying cocoa stock eligible for deductions.
Analysis of cocoa CGUs to be classified as primary production activities.

Cool eh...

Anal Retentive Reconciler

2009-04-28T12:24:00.006+10:00

On my lunch break and still going through the CA discussion thread which I've missed out for over a month. It is addictive, dramatic and beats any TV shows or novels out there, in the eyes of an accountant.

Stumbled upon a statement by a Sydney accountant:

'.....I have never had that before. I have never handed in an EP that I knew was so wrong and doesn't even balance - as an accountant who is a traditional anal retentive reconciler I am truly ashamed of the work that I have been forced to submit tonight.....'

She is correct.

I suggest that all accounting courses and textbooks should incorporate the true meaning of being an accountant:

The A(n)nals of Accounting

By Benkaiser

PREFACE:

Accountants. They are a sorely mistaken bunch as bean counters but they are not.

Accountants are traditionally anal in their role as retentive reconcilers. In their world, what comes in must go out and vice versa, not in the terms of laymen who would usually say "What the fuck?", hence their own world which is again, traditional and anal, although they have tried to be creative in recent years but only to create majestic corporate collapses and failures which in turn extended their analism into the real world....

ISBN: 1+ 1 - 2 + 8 x 8= 0 (NOT!!!)

---

Now I feeling taking a jab at auditors! wahahahaha!

When ignorance is not bliss

2009-04-24T22:59:00.010+10:00

I can confirm that the standard but flawed maxim that ignorance is bliss is indeed flawed. As a current CA candidate I did my due in studying, did the tests, participated in focus sessions, gave a presentation and submitted my assignment on time. My main focus was on my work and didn't really had the time to check out the the module discussion board which was flaming with candidates bombarding the Institute for practising 'unethical' conducts at the expense of candidates.

I've heard that because the assignment this term was especially difficult and so time consuming that the Big 4s apparently made a complain to the Insitute for affecting their staff with added stress and lost in productivity. One can imagine the costs of lost production if a small firm can lose about $18,000 to $75,000 for the 60 or so hours that the candidates spent on the assignment. It is not hard to believe if the partners actually complained.

But the biggest issue was the flawed assignment worksheet we were given. The excel geeks easily broke through the 'locked' protection and found the answers buried in the myriad of visual basic codes. So its not hard to imagine if there were 100% passes because the answers were in there all the while while the stupid people like me spent hours trying to balance the numbers.

A candidate revealed this 'loophole' on the discussion board but the post was almost immediately deleted by the administrator and subsequently contacted the candidate which apparently in the words of the whistle blower was threaten by the Insitute. But it was too late, the words spread far and wide throughout the country and beyond that eventually prompted the Institute to form a commitee to look into this issue.

I was clueless when I received an email from the General Manager last week informing us about the setup of the commitee and this:

'I want also to encourage you to continue your enrolment in the CA Program....

Sheena Frenkel
General Manager '

So today I decided to check out what was the fuss all about and it was like opening a pandora box. For nearly a month I was oblivious to this issue so serious that some candidates have threaten to take this to national television. The problem was very serious as it affects the credibility of the Insitute and academic fairplay for candidates for having made the 'threats', 'blaming software issues', attempted to cover up the issue by closing down threads and referring it as a rumour and should be treated as such BUT the worst of all, after unlocking the worksheets, the first 3 major parts of the assignment were only worth 1.63 marks!!!

1.63 marks for workings that took hours, if not days.

This was enough to call for a revolution and indeed it did.

Despite the furore, there were some light comments such as this:

...And I can just see the CPA using this as an example for an ethics question...

A major Australian Accounting Institution (not the CPA) had a security oversight on an assignment which resulted in unknown numbers of candidates recieving a time and information advantage. As a result, they initially deleted discussions on the issue, called it a minor issue, blamed an unnamed third party and then mass allocated a small percentage of marks to all candidates in order to appear to have taken action. The most ethical path they could, and should, have taken is:

a)...
b)...
etc

I felt shortchanged after coming to terms with the whole issue but I've learnt my lesson not to be so ignorant in the future which could rob my rights and fairplay right under my nose.

The following are some post extracts by candidates responding to the issue:

The ICAA should respect that candidates put blood, sweat and tears into their study and are bound to be upset and stressed when something like this occurs. We are only seeking fair assessment and clarification, which is not too much to ask for considering what they expect from us in terms of workload, time spent and finally fees!

---

I am soo angry about this, ecspecially when I think about the time wasted on reconciling my goodwill to the draft financials, when all along it was never meant to reconcile. And to know that section is now only worth half a mark. Thanks CA!

---

Words cannot describe how I feel knowing now that there were candidates who had a substantial advantage in the EP over others. I am absolutely outraged that this was even possible.

I am also amazed that only a total of 1.63 marks (about 6%) have been allocated across the relevant spreadsheets, considering there were a number of separate issues that needed to be looked at & decided whether they were to be included or not.

We all know that if we were confident that the acquisition spreadsheets were entirely correct, we would not have been questioning ourselves about the accuracy of those entries later on when things were not balancing correctly.

I am also disappointed in the professionalism that the ICAA has displayed with regards to this issue. When it was first brought to their attention, it should have been acted on - even if that meant advising all candidates of how to see the 'hidden' sections so everyone was equal, or providing additional time to complete the EP if they couldn't respond in a timely matter due to the programmers.

This is my 3rd unit & the amount of hours this EP required, far exceeded that of the EP's in my previous units. At the end of the day, it does not seem that there is much that we are able to do about this - just move on & keep studying in the hope that enough is completed to pass - I am just disheartened that after all of the hours & stress put in to complete this assignment it was not fair across the board.

---

Teamed up with the knowledge of VB and Excel workings, it is obvious that a technologically savvy person would have had access to all sorts of advantages within minutes.

To claim to rectify this by awarding the 1.63 marks is ridiculous. Having access to this data would have saved me personally at least 10 hours, not to mention that the correct answers would have flown through to consolidation journals and the rest. It’s the extra 10 hours I could have used to get that bloody cash flow right.

I'd like to say that I have been very unimpressed with ICAA’s handling of the issue. When this was first brought to our attention, the student’s post was deleted and the ones following it were too. When it became clear that enough people saw it to make a cover up impossible, a ridiculous comment was issued that this was a “rumour”. Obviously, the Institute never even bothered to check if it was true or not, the same way, I suspect, they never bothered to test-drive the “16 hour” EP.

Now the ICAA is trying to claim the posts were being deleted as a security measure. What a joke. The assignment had already been submitted, there were no security issues there. It’s not like we could tell other students who were still working on their assignments. The “security issue” theory does not explain why the original poster was being threatened via email and telephone to shut up or have their access to MyCA disabled, and accused of breaching the Academic Code. No censorship? Oh please. George Orwell would turn over in his grave if he saw this.

I find it amusing that the same badly secured assignment was previously used for MAA – undoubtedly people have been using the loopholes in Excel to cheat for a while, and yet the ICAA sees it as a proof that the issue is “minor”. There is a lesson in this – if you are going to use a computerised assignment, do put in some effort to ensure it is not easily “broken” with free software by anyone with a some knowledge of computers. I am no expert in VB, but even I could get the hidden data out!

Finally, I have to agree with the others about the lack of guidance received re the EP. Why weren’t we provided with a breakdown of marks for each spreadsheet? Why weren’t ambiguous directions, such as that regarding the contentious NO ENTRY issue, clarified and put up as announcements? How hard was it to put up an announcement to state that one NO ENTRY was required per journal, and only if you didn’t think that journal was necessary? I was initially going to put NO ENTRY in every spare line of each journal, but upon further discussion with other students, went for the other (correct?) approach. I have read many posts of Roslyn’s stating that “no further clarification is necessary”. Obviously, it was necessary, because so many people were confused, and stating that only one NO ENTRY per unrequired journal is needed is hardly giving away the solution.

This is my first module, and so far it hasn’t been the best introduction to the CA program. To say that I am underwhelmed would be an understatement of the year. I thought my university was an administration failure, but the running of this module takes the cake. I hope we see some significant improvement from now until the end of the module, and that ICAA takes responsibility for the EP, which was nothing but exercise in failure.

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by threatening [JULIE]* to remove her blackboard access and charge her with the offence of acdemic code policy breach is absolutely a joke, shame on you!

number one in numbers

bottom one in ethics

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the candidate

If I were in your shoes

2009-04-21T20:36:00.003+10:00

It is always easy to say 'if I were in you shoes, I will do this and that etc etc....' as if it is so simple to assume a role but do you have any idea what sort of nitty gritty that comes with it?

Many see leaders in politics or in the business world in very simple focals without understanding the many problems, obstructions and frustrations that come with the role and because of their position as leaders, such issues are often magnified that a common man will have great difficulty handling them.

I have for the first time understand one of the true frustration that comes with leadership and why leaders continue with their cause so stubbornly.

For a cause I am feeling a great sense of frustration because I truly believe in that cause. I have to admit that because its frustrating it actually catalyses me further to exert my authority and vision because being entrusted as a leader I have to lead.

For a cause.

Mr. Quitter

2009-04-14T20:45:00.008+10:00

A couple of years ago Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his speech during a National Day rally said that those who leave Singapore seeking the greener pastures abroad are quitters. His remark drew alot of flak but I think he had a point.

Objectively, what is the purpose of leaving one's homeland when it is not in any form of war, unrests, instability or abject poverty? The answers are pretty simple most of the time - Economic reasons and/or getting a 'life', a combination that is rare in much of Asia. And as such you see many Asians leaving their relatively stable and wealthy countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and to a certain, Korea, in droves to western nations where the combination is readily available and attainable.

But does the right to seek a better life in another country renders a person to be a quitter? He or she is simply exercising an option available to a better life. Hence the flak to Lee's remark. But better or not is relative. It all depends on what you want.

I recently came across a blog of a young bloke in Malaysia who is extremely desperate to get out of the country. He reasoned that Malaysia, like any other Asian countries, are nothing but a mere slave factory and to the extent of describing the region as a concentration camp. I am sure he can even possibly raise Karl Marx from his grave.

Not just one post but very much of his blog has been devoted to this issue - vilifying his country, Asia and the business class for exploiting workers to the maximum which I think has been extremely exaggerated. It raises the question of whether he is really a true blue quitter who cannot take the pressures or perhaps he is one of the few who dare to rant about the prevalent circumstances in which the majority suffer silently.

If without giving him the benefit of the doubt I would really like to say that he is an arsehole because to him it seems only the bad is Asia and all good is Australia. This is what I really feel.

Now, some might say I am being a hypocrite for I am already over on the other side of the fence. But I will leave this to another day as I am tired to write on. I may not even want to explain or justify but yea, anyway, he is an arsehole.

Ish...

Always Look On The Bright Side of Life

2009-03-24T19:58:00.003+11:00

It was a timely reminder when a business advisory partner this afternoon blasted out an old song, Always Look On The Bright Side of Life, by Monty Python.

I guess he might have felt the negative vibe in many of us in the office working quietly under immense pressure during such tough economic times. Not a word did he say why he did that but he just blasted it out as if the office was a pub.

Indeed a timely reminder that we all should take a break and look on the bright side =)

Shall not surrender

2009-03-24T00:43:00.003+11:00

The ceasefire has finally been called, much to my relief as I am stuck in the trench battle scared.

Hail of bullets and bombings continued througout the battle as I stubbornly held my ground and fought with all my might.

Taking this opportunity, I shall rearm, restrategise before the next battle. With the enemies having inched some territories, there is no time for complacency.

To the end, I shall not surrender.

The courage to let go

2009-03-20T21:51:00.003+11:00

I have always understood that at times one needs to let go in order to gain but it is the courage to let go that needs to preceed before anything else, before this notion can work.

It is the courage and I've been too fearful.

To that I will learn the steps to gain that courage.

Only it is because of her.

The show must go on...

2009-03-14T13:43:00.005+11:00

By not taking up the opportunities, by saying no, by taking the route well taken and by just being contented with mediocrity there will be no doubts that life would have just been easier and possibly happier for me for there won't be extended pressures, concerns and plain exhaustions.

Taking the path that I am currently travelling on is certainly tough because of my intense hunger for my goals. It is tiring. It is straining my health. It is slowly morphing me into somebody else. At times I wonder whether all these worth my time and effort but I do know by not taking the risks I wouldn't have a chance to achieve what I want. To some, it is a form of enslaving oneself and thus losing one's freedom but to me freedom is achieving what I want. Failing to obtain my goals, I understand, would really enslave myself in this bloody rat race.

Giving up is not an option. Perhaps I have too much of it from the management that it has become so deeply ingrained in my mind. As a person who almost entirely rely on myself for emotional support this journey is indeed mind boggling, difficult and sometimes outright weird. Is this sustainable, I wonder.

Being told that I looked stressed, losing weight and shunning hangouts are certainly signs that this journey is taking a toll on me. I wonder whether I have regrets. No. In fact I am yearning for more and more. I have come to realise that I have become increasingly greedy which I do not know at what level is the contentment level.

I am physically exhausted, I am emotionally drained and partially blocked out mentally. What is really driving me on is this embedded spirit to fight and keep fighting. Stubbornly fighting and do not understand the meaning of surrender. Will this trait turn me into some ruthless individual devoid of humane touch?

Whatever it is I have to keep going on because I know I have a purpose for my existence in this realm. For what purpose? Only time and the efforts I put in will tell.

When will it close?

2009-02-25T23:25:00.002+11:00

Hey Good or evil,

Oh God or devil,

I wonder what is the level,

Only to realise there isn't any,

And the path is narrow,

There are no signs to follow,

Suddenly all seems hollow,

I ponder, I wonder,

I wander the narrow path,

When will all the mess come to a close?

Will Of The People

2009-02-21T11:39:00.006+11:00

I observed the Perak political and now a constitutional crisis with much amusement. Seriously, I think the Malaysian political scene is better than any political thrillers. I would gladly nominate the 'Malaysia: What it means to be in power' for an Oscar in the foreign film category.

Enough has been commented on the still on-going situation so I am not going to give my 2 cents on the Perak crisis or the Elizabeth Wong scandal. I am sure there is an information overload over the issues of the functions of a constitutional monarchy and morality in Malaysian politics. Also maybe I am just damn tired watching this real-life drama, though exciting but too draggy with no end in sight.

I don't care who was right or wrong but am very concerned about the state of the economy. It is a fact that the country's economy is running on an autopilot mode. Malaysia is not a republic so the term banana republic does not apply. Maybe BaNana Federation.

Whatever.

But I do feel strongly for the people of Perak who got cheated badly by the defections. I can feel their frustrations yet they, as rightful citizens of the state, are powerless to determine who or which party can lead them. In other words they are being dictated. This sense of frustration does not only apply in politics but also for each individual and the analogy of your belongings stolen by a thief who then walks free in the end rightly applies.

Now I can truly understand why the residents of Gwangju, South Korea in 1980 took up arms and started an uprising, which only lasted for 9 days after being crushed by the military, against the Chun Doo-hwan regime because the people of that city were surpressed to a dead end. Therefore they had no choice but to fight. To fight for a better tomorrow for their kids.

By the order of the day, it can be dangerous to go against the BN but I believe it is more dangerous to go against the people when they can take the bite no more. The people will and can crush a regime if they band together, especially so when bread and butter come lacking. So perhaps those in power, from either sides, please take note to becareful on trampling on the rights and aspirations of the people - They are your Boss.

Keeping our heads high

2009-02-04T20:23:00.003+11:00

I can't help but feel that the world is descending into chaos on various fronts and magnitude. Is this a phase we ought to have? From the circumstances, I believe so and we are actually in the process of intensified evolution in economics, politics and in our societies.

The outcome from this intensified evolution would probably create a new world order and hopefully, a better world. It is just a matter of time but we are not very sure how long this will last.

At the moment, to my understanding, there is no one leader who could rally the world to battle the crisis. Every country is trying to clean up their own backyard, for example, buy locally made goods campaign which in the long run could dampen international trade and delay a global economic recovery.

From the war in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, tensions in the Middle East, political unstability in South East Asia, and back in home front, the divide in parliament over the government's stimulas package are all indications of more troubles to come and it will take time to solve them.

As an individual I wonder what can I do? Look after myself of course and keep my head high and not let those troubles dampen my spirit. Is there all I can do? It depends on what I want - to go with the herd or make a difference. I prefer the latter option but I will need to clean up my own backyard first before attempting to help solve the problems at large.

Someone has to step forward and I will volunteer in this respect so that we can solve the problems together.

Having 1 cent in my pocket is just a cent but if I donate 1 cent together everyone else in the world there will be over a billion cents.

A Case Of Too Many Options Spoilt The Decision

2009-02-03T21:42:00.004+11:00

We make decisions everyday, conciously or unconciously, and it's only natural.

Sometimes we ponder over a long time to make a decision and it becomes more complex when there are more options to choose from. By the time we make the final decision our original objective may have changed without us realising it rendering the decision made useless or ineffective.

The more options we have the further is the distraction from our goal as we are not as rational as we would like to think. Because of greed and/or fear we keep as many options open as possible which many are irrelevant to what we want to achieve.

Often the simplest decision-making process is the best decision process, like flipping a coin or striking out some options in order to open the right option we want to choose.

Taking a step back and ask ourselves what do we really want would, perhaps, help us to make the best decision because we are not as rational as we would like to think.

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

2009-01-30T05:03:00.001+11:00

Wish everyone a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year of the Ox!

May we overcome the challenges and succeed!

Gearing into 'Post-War' Mode

2009-01-19T19:49:00.007+11:00

Respected Australian economic think tank, Access Economic's in its December 2008 business outlook paints a grim picture for the Australian economy in 2009 and its director, Chris Richardson said that the federal budget is 'buggered' and a recession is inevitable. The only comfort is that among the developed economies, Australia will experience a small recession as opposed to the deadlier ones overseas. And without fail China is in the centre role of Australia's economic quagmire.

Resource-rich states like WA and Qld will be hard hit as China's demand for resources soften while NSW has already joined the US and its in recession. Victoria will be next in line.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has returned from his holidays and was back to work this morning and on my twitter he posted: 'The Global Financial Crisis will create some tough challenges in 2009, but my priority remains the economy and jobs.'

I replied to his twit, 'Keep us afloat, Kev. Cheers'.

I am sure he and Treasurer Wayne Swan would be pulling their hairs and cringing over the gloomy economic outlook. Is there a way out of this mess?

What would I do if I am in Kev's shoes? My instinct tells me to shift the cabinet into a 'war-time mode' government in terms of policy execution and decision making process but managing the economy as if we are in a post-war mode; focusing on rebuilding the economy by spending on what is most needed by the country such as:

Improving public transportation;
Critical infrastruture expenditure;
Financial system reform/tweaking;
Fix the local credit market;
Encourage business and labour union partnership;
Lower taxes;
Education investment;
Increase defence budget; and
Provide incentive for community/grassroot economic self-reliance stimulus.

But whether the government is able to do so is another question that has to be answered before embarking on this plan. There are also other critical issues that have to be solved first such as budgetary constraints, funding, and federal-state cooperation. If the blockades are removed the end goals of this move should result in that the money spent would eventually reach the real economy and in the hands of the ordinary people and provide a new bedrock for an economic recovery.

Can we do it?

North Korea - China's new frontier? My View

2009-01-18T19:50:00.018+11:00

In my previous post I posted up a news piece about Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara's suggestion on China taking over North Korea if the country descends into political chaos following the demise of Kim Jong-Il. As an East Asian political junkie this piece of news of course roused my attention but not a new one.

I always wonder what are the ramifications if Kim Jong-Il dies in power leaving a power vacuum which I believe will be fiercely contested by the factions of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea and the military. Within the party there would be the nationalist faction and the pro-China faction fighting to fill up the power vacuum. On the other hand the powerful military, which Kim Jong-Il currently relies on for his power credibility under the Songun (Military First) policy, will seek the ruling reins as well which is very much unwanted by the international community for fear of launching an agressive stance to reunite the two Koreas by force. There could be a possible tie up between the Party's nationalist faction and the military to take control of Pyongyang. Beyond the borders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the international community prefers a pro-China leadership for a very obvious reason: Stability.

It is envisioned that a post-Kim Jong-Il pro-China North Korea would follow the footstep of China's economic reform 30 years ago; slowly opening up its economy, allowing private enterprises to operate and eventually establish a socialist market economy (with Korean characteristics). The biggest stakeholder in this is of course, South Korea. Despite the fiery nationalistic streak in many South Koreans, the South Korean government of the day are pragmatic over its Northern siblings erring to China for reform inspirations.

South Korea cannot absord the North even if the option of confederation is chosen. The economic consequences would be severe and the lessons from the reunification of West and East Germany presents a clear case for the South not to proceed with a pre-mature reunfication.

However the biggest question is the process of the transition of power. Will there be a smooth power transition or a bloody power struggle between the factions and the military. Any possible power struggle will not be welcomed and if the country does descends into chaos, China is the only country capable of intervening and restoring control. Afterall China understands North Korea inside out, better than South Korea, and act as a gateworld to the world for this hermit communist nation.

If intervention is the option, many experts believe that China will take direct control of the country for many years and some even think that North Korea could eventually become another Chinese province. Not an entirely absurd scenario since China has its own ethnic Korean prefecture - Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin province bordering North Korea.

Japan would certainly love the idea of North Korea being absorbed by China as the threat by the North to rain missles on Japan will be eliminated. No wonder the firecely nationalistic Shintaro Ishihara, who dislikes China and the Koreas, put forward the idea for the Chinese to take North Korea into its fold.

What about my take? For the first time, I agree with Mr. Ishihara. Who wants trouble in the peninsula that could drag China, USA, Russia, South Korea and Japan when the world is trying to achieve peace in the Middle East, eradicate terrorism and solve the global economic crisis?

Previous Post: North Korea - China's new frontier?

North Korea - China's new frontier?

2009-01-15T20:24:00.008+11:00

Bumped into this piece of news on Tokyo Governor, Shintaro Ishihara's suggestion on China taking over North Korea if the northern half of the Korean peninsula descends into political chaos:

by Staff Writers

Tokyo (AFP) Jan 13, 2009

Tokyo's outspoken governor Shintaro Ishihara said Tuesday that North Korea would be best taken over by China, allowing the impoverished hardline communist state to collapse peacefully.
Ishihara, who often provokes controversy with hawkish remarks, said six-way talks spearheaded by the United States had made little progress in ending North Korea's nuclear weapons drive or integrating it into the world.

"I think China's integration of North Korea would be the easiest solution, even for the United States. I suspect an underlying motive along this line already exists," Ishihara told a news conference.

"I wouldn't imagine that China would refuse the idea," he said.

Ishihara acknowledged that the idea would "probably" meet opposition in South Korea, which maintains hope of reunification with its communist neighbour after six decades divided by the Cold War's last frontier.

Koreans historically fought Chinese influence over the peninsula. Both Seoul and Pyongyang were angered several years ago when Beijing appeared to deny that parts of northeastern China were originally a Korean kingdom.

But Ishihara said that Seoul would benefit if North Korea became part of China.

"If South Korea agrees to the idea, I think that country (North Korea) would collapse naturally and it would bring back a civil society" instead of just dictatorship, he said.

Ishihara was speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan alongside other regional governors who launched a group to pressure North Korea over its abductions of Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies.

The governors said they would lobby the Japanese government to do more to break a deadlock in a North Korean plan to reinvestigate the kidnappings.

Ishihara, 76, is an acclaimed novelist turned popular three-term governor of the world's biggest city.

China and the two Koreas have often bristled at Ishihara's brash remarks, including his calls for Japan to shed its pacifist constitution and his justifications for Japan's past invasions of Asia.

This idea is not new and a number of analysts have taken up this scenario as a possible event but it takes a loudmouth politican like Ishihara to bring the case into the mainstream spotlight.

If time allows I will write my opinion on this 'takeover' scenario.

Get touchy feely

2009-01-15T19:52:00.006+11:00

It wasn't the first time that I was told that my official work correspondences can be quite 'official', 'technical' or to the extent of almost being a legalistic matter, as if I was writting a case law.

Today I was told to tone down by a partner in the firm who was exposed to my correspondences with third parties for the first time.

"Ben, you aren't wrong but just try to keep it......you know...friendly...touchy feely ....", he smiled and gave a wink.

"Yes, Sir!", I stood at attention and saluted. No, the salutation didn't happen but it could....really could have happened. I just have to get 'touchy feely'.

Attack is the best defence

2009-01-13T20:20:00.008+11:00

The holiday season is finally over and we back in stark reality. The global financial crisis is dragging Australia deeper by the day. Thursday will see the official employment figures but job ads in December sank to lowest on record, suggesting that unemployment will rise to as much as 11%. With the service sector forming 70% of the economy, this spells disaster.

There is no time to lose in implementing quick and effective policies and measures that could prop up the economy before things turn awry that economic self-restructuring is the only possible antidote.

Despite the government's $10 billion stimulus package given to families and seniors to spend during the holidays, IMF said the government needs to do more - more 'real' money to be pumped into the economy to help businesses to stay afloat. With cash already given out so what is next?

Tax cut. Yes, Wayne Swan is leaving the option open to bring forward tax cuts which will involve a broader taxpayer pool to have extra cash to spend. In fact the $10 billion stimulus package was in essense like a cash tax refund or more like cash tax rebates for Senior Australian Tax Offset and bonus Family Tax Benefits.

Although ratings agency, Standards & Poor said that Australia is strong enough to withstand the global crisis, we must however adopt a pre-emptive position before the problems come attacking us.

Attack is the best defence for now.

Pariah Stock

2009-01-12T19:12:00.011+11:00

Monday blues hit and didn't feel like working though I still had to but punctuated with constant checking on the stockmarket throughout the day to keep me sane. The market shed 1.4% today following a string of bad news on the world and local front. The resource sector took a rather big hit right after the opening bell.

On the contrary a particular stock I bought three months ago was acting like a salmon today and for the past week, swimming against the tide. To date it gained 36.6% in value although it took a big battering in December dropping to historic lows. I suspect someone or some group is pushing the price up as everytime shares on sale were quickly snapped up.

The stock is considered a pariah in the market for having lost more than 90% in market value from its 52 weeks high, and when I told a senior adviser from an associate financial firm that I bought this stock, he laughed and instead advised me to buy the big 4 banks as they were in value. Well if I'd bought the bank shares back then my portfolio value today will still be in the red. He is the expert anyway and I don't doubt his advice as he see it as a long term investment.

Yes, I am speculating and bought a pariah stock which performed rather unpariah so far. I hope my analysis turns out to be correct.

Maybe it will become pariah again but perhaps by then I would have cashed in rather unpariah... oh well...who knows... and who cares if its pariah or not if you can make the money..... (fingers crossed)

Financial Self-Reliance Society

2009-01-11T22:44:00.006+11:00

Today I woke up wondering how can we get through the economic crisis. How am I going to help myself if I get retrenched? How can I help my family members and friends if they are affected. Let's forget about government assistance. Consider it that we don't qualify for it. How exactly can we get through the tough times?

In the case of economic crisis and without government assistance I believe the community should come together and form a Financial Self-Reliance Society which members of the community together form a society with the aim of helping each other financially.

I believe that many will shoot down such a suggestion for not being viable but believe me, it can work because such societies do exist. Think Australian credit unions and informal finance groups in Asia.

For instance, the community of a suburb forms a Financial Self-Reliance Society which in essence act like a bank but with a community focus on helping members to weather through the tough times. When the commercial banks stop lending and if without government assisstance, members can apply for soft loans from their society such as paying off necessity expenses. But one critical aspect must be emphasised is that the society should run for profits. Yes, interests should be charged on the loans albeit at much lower rate than the commercial finance rates.

Running for profit is to bring home the point to borrowers/members that the society does not exist to provide free lunches to them. The society is formed only to assist members financially, and other auxilliary assistances, that they otherwise wouldn't be able to from outside sources.

But how is this possible?

It is not impossible and of course it takes up time and resouces but the most important aspect is participation and financial contribution by members who are cashed up. Inspirations can be drawn from the Chinese clan associations across South China and the Chinese diaspora which have became history in today's world. But back in the old days Chinese immigrants in host countries were usually discriminated upon by the government and local population and so clan associations were formed to assist members from financing to organising funerals. Through such organisations did they manage to get through the toughest of the tough times and eventually settled in the host countries often with substantial economic powers.

One lesson we can learn from these associations is that when we are united we can pull through adversity. Although the hey days of the clan associations are long gone but another form of financial assistance group was born and took their positions, known as informal finance in the academic circle. I am not referring to loan sharking.

The type of informal finance I am referring to is a group of people coming together to pool their money and loan that money to a member of the group who need it most by bidding up the interest rate although often the base rate is way lower than commercial rates and not to mention on a much better term. And I can tell you that it works for having seen how the entire process functioned. Families in dire need of cash flow to get through their financial crisis resorted to such informal finance since the banks or government wouldn't help and turning to loan sharks will only compound their financial problems.

This is why I believe that a Financial Self-Reliance Society can work. Imagine there are such societies in every community council we would see a society becoming self-reliant and innovative without resorting to taxpayers money. The system would work even better if there is government support by providing incentives for such societies to be formed. Add in a bit of regulation and providing expert support I believe such a system can flourish sparing the government time, effort and resources to focus on other critical areas of the economy.

So far my suggestion on how we, as a community, can help ourselves during tough economic times is only surfing on the skinny but I will spare you the details of the nitty-gritty but nonetheless it is a 'why not idea'.

“I believe that I was lucky to have suffered. Some people don’t realise that in suffering there is great potential, because if you are deprived for any reason, politically, socially financially, or otherwise, and if you set your mind in the right direction, you will find that the only way to survive is for you to excel, by being better.”

- Talal Abu-Ghazaleh

There is a Chinese Saying which literally means "Turning adversity into opportunities" and I believe yes, we can.

Feeling the heat

2009-01-09T13:31:00.002+11:00

Taking the lunch break to release some pent-up feelings.

In what was a casual conversation with a director 2 days ago about seconding me to another firm turns out to be rather serious matter.

Already two key partners have endorsed the move and the management will soon begin the process of sending me to a financial advisory firm to do...real financial advisory work. I welcome the move as this allows me to work in a field I am very passionate about but at the same time I feel the pressure to perform and excel in both firms.

It also means more workload, juggling back and forth between the two firms which in turns require me to up a notch on my time management and productivity tracking.

It is always easy to dream of doing something you want to do but when the real thing hits you its another story altogether. I reckon I need to chill out and instead of thinking of the looming pressure I will try to take it as a looming constructive challenge.

Alright, I need some fresh air.

Be like water

2009-01-07T09:25:00.004+11:00

Being long on the stock market any upswings will certainly bring me a smile. Markets around the world have been rather resilent since 2009 trading started, shrugging off a slew of negative economic data and news...so I am still erring on the side of caution because I suspect behaviourial tweeking is at play more than 'fundamentals' or ... could it be that the markets have already priced in the risks and lower profit guidance?

Who cares... throw out the books and journals....

Like Bruce Lee said, "Be like water....."

The problem of time

2009-01-05T22:01:00.003+11:00

I didn't make any concrete resolutions for this year because most of the time I forget about them so naturally. So I just let it be and see how it goes for this year but gave myself a general parameter on what I should improve.

Mostly to do with time management and prioritising tasks as there are more than enough jobs on my plate that I could possibly chew. Apart from doing taxation and auditing work I am also loaded with projects on IT business strategies, corporate strategic foresight and business advisory all of which requires considerable amount of brainwork - lateral thinking, analysis, critical reflection and the sorts.

The only problem is time. A partner popped into my workstation this morning with a stack of technology magazines and want me to digest the highlights and information and then possibly develop new or improve current IT business strategies for the firm and clients. On top of that is a backlog of books on loan to me by the same partner who wants me to pick up on strategic foresight.

The only problem is time. The projects excite me because the work process is dynamic with a lot of thinking and analyses involved but I've yet to produce solid results of revenue-generating ideas as I didn't put much priority into them. Ideas are in my head but it takes time to put into black and white formally. Meetings are coming up soon in which I've to present my ideas to the partners and clients. Racing against time to produce quality work and ideas.

The only problem is time...and also put on more thinking caps....

Class of Differentiation

2009-01-04T23:12:00.004+11:00

“So how’s the dating going on?” I asked while chewing a beef jerky and holding a nice cold beer.

Kuan sipped his beer and reluctantly answered, “Aiya...don’t talk about it lah...”

“Why? What’s wrong? Come on man...tell me....”

A long time friend, Kuan, came to Melbourne recently for a holiday and we met up one night to have our buddy beer session and he poured out his latest dating experience in which he’d hit the wrong type of girl described as a entirely different class altogether.

Six months ago Kuan got a job as an office assistant after quitting his previous job as a DVD salesman. He thought he would head no where if he stayed in his previous job and decided to upgrade himself for a better future and society standing. He fell for Melissa, a marketing executive in the company, who was friendly and nice to him. Kuan believed that she genuinely treated him as a friend.

“I thought I had a chance loh”, Kuan explained, “She was very nice to me and we even went out for a few times for lunch and dinner. Not only nice but pretty too. The whole package is very different from my previous girl friends. She’s like an angel!”

“Sure or not?”

“101% guaranteed!”

“Why extra 1%”, I asked in jest but with a deadpan face, “Anyway...and then what happened?” Another beer bottle I sat and listened to his story attentively.

“So I tried kaoing (courting) her loh but got rejected saying that I am not her cup of tea. Actually I know why wan...because I am like an Ah Beng (Bogan) mah....” he sighed and drank up his half bottle of beer.

I could empathise with Kuan’s story as it wasn’t just a failed love story but more of a class distinction that is getting increasingly prevalent in the urban centres of Malaysia, especially among the Chinese population. Five years ago I wrote an article on the phenomenon of a segment of Malaysian society which I called it the “The Rise of Anglo-Malaysians”, a group of Malaysians who adopt the English Language as their lingua franca instead of their native tongues. It is not difficult to find Malaysians of Chinese, Indian and to a limited extent, Malay heritage who speak English primarily in their daily lives.

Very much like in Singapore the Chinese Malaysian population is generally divided into two groups – Chinese speaking and English speaking of which the latter is more prevalent in the larger cities and the former in the smaller towns and rural areas. In the cities, the Chinese speaking group is still the majority but the younger generation, who are increasingly becoming English speaking due to higher education and the internet, are fast catching up in numbers.

Kuan and Melissa is a classic story of the distinctions of the two different groups of Chinese Malaysians. The heart of the differentiation lies with the perceptions of each group has for each other. The Chinese speaking group views their English speaking brothers and sisters as being snobbish and bananas (Caucasian wannabe). This group hold great pride in their Chinese language ability and take themselves as champion of Chinese culture.

Uncultured, rude, loud and unsophisticated are some of the impressions hold by the English speaking Chinese for the Chinese speaking counterparts. There are some like Jed Yoong who go at great lengths to give cause to close down Chinese schools entirely. While reading her blog I suddenly discovered that I am an inner city ghetto member just because I came from Bukit Bintang which many associate it as a Chinese speaking heartland littered with Chinese hawkers stalls, triads, pirated DVDs and prostitution.

The above, I must emphasis, are just some of the very general examples of the contrasts but are nonetheless valid starting points for comparisons.

Whether Melissa and Kuan failed or managed to work it out because of their different backgrounds should not be the main cause for such prospective relationship. A relationship, I believe, should be the domain of matching compatibility and personality. But the pressures from society are increasingly influencing younger Chinese Malaysian girls to look for English speaking Chinese Malaysian boys as their partners, which they believe are better in terms of ability to provide material comfort, status and have more mutual respect for ladies.

It would be nice if people could remove general stereotyping but that is the reality in which perception is king. It doesn’t matter if you a very nice Chinese speaking person but the initial impressions the person is likely to conjure are loud, uncultured and unsophisticated and among others not because they really are but the general stereotype imposed by society.

Sometimes I wonder whether such gaps exist because of inferiority complex. For instance the Chinese speaking group being viewed as loud and crude because Chinese dialects are colloquially spoken as such, but there are many English speaking peers who do not view and in fact even embrace the Korean language which is also sound very loud and crude. Is this because Korean entertainment is cool and hip? Could be as we can see how American media and entertainment influenced youths around the world. Madonna was Goddess, Micheal Jackson was King, McDonalds preferred over Char Siu Bao and etc.

I remember in the Singaporean movie, ‘I Not Stupid’, Fiona Xie played a snobbish teenager who openly declared in her essay that she wants to be a Caucasian and despise being a Chinese. I was once in the shoes of that teenager. I loved GunsNRoses, hated learning Chinese and spoke with an American accent as a very young boy. It wasn’t until I was 13 that started to embrace my Chinese heritage and even picked up the Hakka dialect to communicate with my grandparents. Today I still can’t read and write Chinese but could speak fluently.

For many years I was being called as an Ah Beng or Chinaman (Hokkien-Chinese term for a Bogan) just because of the area I came from. “What? You do not know how to read Chinese? Come on! You were from Bukit Bintang!” are some of the remarks I get occasionally and I got this remark because I do not know how to sing Chinese songs during a Karaoke session recently. They even thought that I was acting and trying to be ‘English speaking’. Once perceptions deeply ingrained are hard to remove from one’s head.

With already half a dozen of beers downed, I advised Kuan “Look at you. Look at your style and honestly you are not super lengchai. The way you speak and the stuff you like. So Ah Beng! If you want girls like Melissa you have to do something about yourself, brother. Girls like her will get turned off, you know?”

“Then how?” he asked.

“Put your leg down from the chair and eat your peanuts nicely. We are out of the DVD days on the street. Unless you find someone who is on your level”

“But I am very nice to her leh and not like other guys who play play outside”

“So what face the reality man...” and I downed the last bottle of beer.

To become a cat

2009-01-03T02:08:00.015+11:00

The city was rather silent for an early Saturday morning. The air was unseasonally cold as I stood on the balcony observing the night skyline. Quiet and peaceful and third day into 2009.

With Monday approaching I will be joining millions of people around the world in yet another round of rat race. A race to earn a salaried living. Some might dread the Monday while others might welcome it with much enthusiam. A new beginning or the same ol' again?

A pick up in wind chill heightened the question lingering in me for the past few days - A new beginning, an improved year or the same ol' again? This in turn raise the question whether I will be the same ol' or an improved rat in this rat race. A race that is getting increasingly cut throat and 'dangerous' in the current economic climate.

Can the answers be in the form of being in the right place, in the right time and among the right people in order to be at the top of the game? Maybe, but this raise another question - How? Luck?

I wonder. But such questions wouldn't exist if my aspiration of what I want to be and what I want to achieve are lower. Then perhaps I would lead a much simpler and contended life enjoying the basic necessities and eventually be just another ordinary person in the future with a stable job, a house with mortgage, a loving wife, have kids, annual holiday planned and budgeted for over a year, retire with my superannuation and play golf weekly.

Rather simple, straightforward and that could be the story of my rat life. But no, this is not what I want.

Can I have another story instead? Or is it that a life story is only written by circumstances? More questions.

I looked up to the clear night sky and wondered whether is this how a journey of life should be? Dictated chiefly by circumstances and self-effort only plays a supporting role?

I then imagined myself high up in the sky looking down the cityscape and beyond. It was beautiful. I saw the laneways, roads, boulevards and freeways criss-crossing and meandering over the land. Those roads were built by men and they managed to built them with the help of a map which is just an image from the above. Clear and precise where the roads can be built to expand, to reach and to connect.

What if I have a map of my life? Can I do likewise what those urban planners do?

Why not?

I went back to my room, spread across a piece of paper and drew a stickman in the middle representing myself right now and another one at the top of what I want to be. The two stickmen are connected by a straight line representing the road in which the journey I want to embark must be travelled on.

So I drew a very basic map of my intended life but this wasn't enough. I needed to compose stories to complement the map. Three stories came up with its own distinct plots.

Story 1: I achieved my goals and became a cat.
Story 2: I am just another another rat.
Story 3: How I became a dirty and hungry rat.

So my life moving forward could be any one of the three stories. I can clearly see the possibilities of how each story can become reality provided if I do certain things and of course the influence of circumstances.

Each story has a basic premise of the following:

I am a tax accountant, I run a small investment fund and have ambitions for great wealth, power and to be a who's and who's in the corporate and perhaps, political scene. I hold a post-graduate degree. I am aware of current affairs and an innate understanding of financial markets. I am a silent observer of details.

Then from the basic premise I compose plots based on:

1) Became a cat - how? by exploiting my what I am, what I have, my eccentricity, embrace change and pounce on opportunities.
2) Just another rat - how? by taking things easy, happy with what I am and what I have.
3) A dirty and hungry rat - how? by being complacent, joining the wrong crowd, resist reform and losing hope.

The above are just the skinnies as each plot has to take into account of the catalyst, facts and circumstances, and what-if scenarios, or in a more technical fashion borrowed from Peter Schwartz, the factors of Driving Force, Predetermined Elements, and Critical Uncertainties. Let's not forget the power of imagination which is one of the most critical building block of a good story.

Now I am aware of the possibilities of what and how my life could turn out in the future. I am now more aware of certain signs, actions, reactions and non-actions that could possibly lead me to one of the three stories. It is almost a case of the best way of knowing the future is to create your own future.

I've composed three possible stories of my life which act as my roadmap to what I want to become, A Cat.

At the very least I have started to write my own stories. Wars and battles aren't won just by sheer brute force and luck but by having stories composed - Strategies.

I want to be cat and not a rat and I can't just sit and wait or merely dream to become one.

You are what you think you are but you are not what you think you are unless you do it.

I have embraced 2009 by taking charge of my life story and try not to lose my wanted plot.

Signing off 2008 and Welcoming 2009

2008-12-29T21:23:00.005+11:00

Christmas came and went. Celebrated a lazy Christmas with a few friends, went shopping for working clothes on Boxing Day and spent the other days lazing around at home watching dramas, reading, surfing net and massive doses of sleeping. Yea, I slept two sessions of 12 hours each uninterrupted.

Basically I was being as lazy as I can.

Went back to office today to work and it was productive. I guess it must have been the silence, no interrupting phonecalls and emails and just peace. I remembered the days in uni when I could absorb my studies by studying in a quiet and empty corner of a library. Perhaps..ahem.. I need my own office to be productive. I wish.

Hit the driving range after work, had a light 50s and walked away satisfied with a series of good bashes.

2009 will roll in quickly. Just 2 days away. I would imagine 2009 will be particularly hectic
year, professional and personally, but without such challenges how will one improve? Bring it on! I am anticipating the coming new year as a measure of time to allow me to restart afresh and hopefully improve myself as better person for time to come.

A lazy day pondering what to do...

2008-12-24T17:22:00.006+11:00

I've been looking forward to this xmas break since Easter as this is the only other time of the year I can take days off. Suddenly I find myself with nothing to do. Work? I've have alot to do but nah... I need a break. Friends are busy spending time with their love ones, family or out of town.

Today is a sunny, quiet and beautiful Sunday. So I thought maybe I should spend some time writing some words here since I've nothing to do besides work.

I like festive seasons because they make me jolly and of course, they are usually holidays. But the seasons also highlight the disctinction between those who have someone special in their life and/or with family and those who don't. And there are people who don't look forward to festive seasons because they will be alone.

This is my first Christmas Eve that I will be spending without much funfare. In the past it was either clubbing or house session with friends. This year many prefer to spend with their partners or family. Possibly a sign that we are getting older and doing things older people do.

Some have suggested that I need to find a girlfriend but that's easier said than done. I reckon it would be nice to spend time with a partner during times like this. But to get a girlfriend just so that I won't be lonely? No, thanks and I am fine with it.

The pile of books, mags and papers can be my girlfriends. Not to mention the movies and dramas =)

HUH?

2008-12-11T10:27:00.007+11:00

I came across this defination while reading a Trust Deed this morning and can't help but to shout it out here.

What the hell is this?

"Perpetuity Period" means the period ending the earlier of -

a) the day which is 79 years after the Date of Execution; and

b) the day which is 20 years after the death of the last survivor of the lineal descendants of his late Majesty King George VI living at the date of execution.

or such longer period (if any) as may be allowed under the law applicable to the Deed.

What happens if the Royal Family changes or in the event Australia turns Republican? Will the Trust Deed be deemed invalid?

My answer would be that this particular Deed will need an amendment (and possibly override the original governing rules) if the above happens. Lawyers...you gotta beware of what they write at times....

I can survive an economic depression!

2008-12-10T13:49:00.000+11:00

You Are 67% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression

Even though you may not be expecting the worst, you're the type of person who prepares for the worst.

You live a relatively modest life. You don't overspend, and you aren't very materialistic.

You are also quite self sufficient and independent. You have many useful skills.

You can take care of yourself and those you love... which is crucial to surviving another Great Depression.

Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

I am Austin

2008-12-10T13:42:00.001+11:00

You Are Austin

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll.

You're totally weird and very proud of it.

Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in... in your own strange way.

Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick

What American City Are You?

The Burst of Energy

2008-12-09T20:54:00.005+11:00

She really amazes me every morning as I do my dailyTwitter check. Based on the time she posts her regular cheerful morning burst of greeting to everyone on her Twitter list, she must wake up really early to be able to do her exercise which she calls it "trimming of female fat" and then fire her first round of Twittering. Yet despite the exercise and early morning get up she still has so much energy on the go.

Not to mention her updates later in the day which are on the similar wavelenght.

I wish I've as much energy as this young cheerful English girl who is a Melbourne-based social networking consultant. I reckon if I have half of her energy I would be able to do substatntial quality and productive tasks that would likely to leave me satisfied at the end of the day instead of thinking of all the To-Dos that I should do tomorrow while chilling out infront of the computer because I am physically exhausted after a long day. Most of the time I do my work at home is because of the deadlines and performance appraisals. Duh....

There are several outstanding projects and housekeeping work that involve quite a bit of pen , paper and brain pushing but I wonder when will I start pushing. And I hate the administrative paperworks. But I've no doubt if I have those burst of energy like that English girl I wouldn't be pushing but Karate my way through....

I want the energyyyyy.......

Who has the Green Bull?

Took the other path

2008-12-08T20:28:00.004+11:00

I didn't really care when I first got into my current job more than a year ago when I was asked which professional qualifications, CPA or CA, do I prefer? CPA was the answer because I'd to give an answer and the reason I gave was that I was more exposed to the CPA program through the many promotions on TV and mini roadshows.

I thought who cares whether one is a CA or CPA, they are all the same. Don't tell me that they each have a better way of doing debits and credits.

More than a year later I'd already completed two CPA subjects but I am not continuing the program next year as I've decided and enrolled into the CA program. It took about two months to formalise this decision after realising that by taking this path, albeith more expensive and apparently harder, would likely to bear me some positive fruits in the future.

During the two months, the intensity of realisation of the standing of CPA and CA in the employment market was pretty overwhelming, especially in the public practice field where CA is usually the first preferred choice. Although I know that some public firms do take in CPAs but they do it discretely. Almost all of the reputable firms call themselves chartered firms and always emphasis the support they provide for CA program and their preference for CAs.

I was pretty shocked when I found out that 100% of the listed companies are audited by chartered firms only.

I wouldn't really care if want to be in the commercial field which is dominated by CPAs but I guess I've found my passion in public practice, building my own fees and the different variety of jobs available, and that's how I formulated the decision to take the CA program mainly to capitalise on the Institute's reputation in the country and overseas.

Another attractive benefit I was drawn into is the mutual recognition of the CA program by the top accounting bodies in the world without having to do a conversion course if I want to practice overseas.

In other words I took this path solely to benefit myself as much as possible. I certainly do not want to be overlooked if I wanted to be headhunted just because I am 'perceived' to be a second tier quality accountant.

I've a huge respect for CPAs and my previous manager and supervisor are both CPAs and I had a great time working with them. All my floor staff colleagues are CPAs or doing the CPA program. I kept quiet about my switching except for the management and my former manager as I do not want my colleagues to feel that I am becoming a snob for abandoning the CPA program halfway.

But I understand that I will have to tell them all eventually, when I find the right time but this plan was shelved today when a partner, a CA, asked about my switching infront of my colleagues quite loudly. He asked why did I switch? I was pretty dumbfounded as I didn't want to offend my CPA colleagues and so I gave vague answers. My colleagues kept quiet and pretended nothing happened.

No matter what, I've made the decision and will not turn back. It will be a rough and tough journey ahead but I am determined to pull it through and sacrifice if I've to because I see this as a worthwhile quality investment.

A rollover or a restart?

2008-12-03T21:26:00.003+11:00

In less than a month we will leave 2008 behind forever and start a brand new year of 2009. Traditionally for many people a new year means a new start, a restart, reborn or reboot or whatever is your term for starting a new. It is just convenient to have this mark of time to start everything a new with a new period.

In doing so we often see new year's resolutions being drawn up as a guide but yet many fail to follow what they have set and before mid-year hits - what resolutions? Old habits die hard and at the end of the day we are still very much the same person ex-material sense. So in the end it wasn't much of a restart but a rollover with some minor tweakings.

In less than a month will be in 2009 but I bet the world wouldn't be greeting it with much enthusiam and optimism as economic experts have pronouced 2009 will bear the real brunts of the global financial fallout. Life is full of challenges and 2009 will just be another passage of time with a higher level of challenges that we have to overcome.

It can't be denied that the economic challenges were created by excessive capitalism on-the-run and now we are tasting the bitter medicine of which time is the best antidote to resolve the problems. But how long we need to go through the pain will largely depend on our resolve to defeat the problems together.

In short we can avoid the extension of a recession if we can just make one simple new year resolution in 2009 - stay optimistic and each of us spend a little on our indulgence to help kickstart or continue to oil the economic gears if you and I want a better economic future.

The Courage

2008-11-09T19:52:00.002+11:00

We never escape from the thought on how successful people became successful. Is it because they are smarter? Is it because they are hardworking?

Such questions will always be asked time again and again. The 'success' here refers to being extraordinary successful, ala Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Barrack Obama, Li Ka-shing and others.

Anyone with a tinge of ambition would look up at successful people in their field as their role model - in business, science, politics, social work, medicine, entertainment and others.

Again we ask how did they do it? Many would answer it was being at the right place, at the right time and with the right opportunity. So without those complementary factors, one yearning for success wouldn't find one?

In other words, luck plays a role if we believe that success is dependant on those three factors. In a way is like playing jackpot, trying to hit the right spots in one go.

Because of this, some just dream about what they desire to be or to have but resign to the fact that this is the reality - luck is king. No luck then nothing. But is it so?

I think in most cases these successful people created the story themselves in which they believe in so strongly. They created the time, place and opportunity because having those three factors mean nothing if one doesn't capitalise them.

Like you and me, many of them were just ordinary people and also yearned for success in the beginning but the distinguishing factor was they didn't just yearn for it but made it a reality. We like to believe that luck plays the biggest role because it is easy to blame on when things don't work our way. How convenient.

Some people are genuinely born smart but for people like us we have more to do and it is definately not the end of the journey.

When one has nothing, you have nothing to lose and the way out to break away from whatever is your predicament is to have the courage and be bold to get out of the invisible box. And since it is invisible, there isn't a box in the first place. The box is created by you.

Never give up trying just as Thomas Edison reminded us that he wasn't a born genius and yet tried countless times to invent the lightbulb.

As long as we have the right attitude, ability to think outside the box and the determination, we can invent our own lightbulb. The question is do you have the courage to do so?

Yes we can

2008-11-05T20:00:00.003+11:00

Transcript of Barack Obama's victory speech in Chicago:

Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.

A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.

Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.

Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.

And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.

To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.

To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

This is your victory.

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

For dream and with dream, therefore I am.

2008-11-04T23:22:00.007+11:00

If without dreams I wouldn't be here as what I am today.

I wonder what will I become if I lead a life without dreams?

Without dreams, can I reach this far? Without dreams, what can we do? Without dreams, what will be of us? Without a dream, I fear for without one.

Dreams are the fuel cells for the journey life. Without them we will be stagnant and mere meat and bones without purpose of our existence in this realm.

We eat, we drink, we sleep, we fight, we love, we care, we grow, we die - what are we for in this world?

Because of dreams.

Because of dreams I fight, I suffer, I love, I care, I eat, I drink, and I grow - all for my dreams but why must I fight, I suffer, I love, I care, I eat, I drink, and I grow for my dreams?

Because to live my dream I will be happy. Because of dreams we seek joy and happiness.

Because of dreams.

Everyone has a dream be it tomorrow's meal, your true love, your career, your wealth, your dream car and whatever you desire is a dream

For dream and with dream, therefore I am.

My writing journey

2008-10-30T20:21:00.013+11:00

I was pretty reluctant to write this post but a friend recently suggested that if I want to be understood more clearly then of course I've to be clear to others about myself and what I think.

Over the years I lost my ability to express myself in a more personal fashion and geared towards being opaque in my personal postings to the point that even Robert Langdon cannot decipher. Or to quote Shanice, "too cangih".

My background in blogging/writting was rooted in writing economic and political commentaries/articles in Blog City where I first started writing in 2003. I don't think it was even a blog but more of a net-based current affairs column with the exception that readers can comment and the added intereaction.

I was active in writting back then dishing out my comments and analyses on a regular basis. Each post took me an average of six hours to write and often forgetting about meals in the process. It was a very holistic exercise for me as I really do enjoy writing on current affairs. My activeness peaked when one of my commentaries was published by The Star under my usual pen-name, Benkaiser.

Over time I earned a small base of readers who would give serious and constructive feedbacks.

In hindsight I find it pretty amazing because a couple of posts discussing the possibilities of the future are realities today. One of it was about Air Asia which back then was a major minor peanut in the commercial aviation sector. I wrote about its prospect of surviving in the domestic market and it needs to branch out to regional destinations to survive the onslaught of competitors from Singapore to Thailand.

The wow-part for me was that the strategies I suggested on what Air Asia could do in the regional market is almost an mirror image when it first started venturing out of the borders.

Another wow post for me was about Penang, titled "Reinventing Penang" in which I wrote about the future of the state moving away from manufacturing and increase its reliance on service sectors. This was way back then when both the federal and state governments were comfortable being in that static position of relying Motorola, Intel, Seagate and other manufacturing giants.

Years later, the federal government launched the Northern Corridor project and now the current state government embarking on service-delivery improvements initiatives, which are so crucial to the northern jewel state. Many of these developments are like echoes of what I proposed.

By now, some of you may think I am boasting myself but I am just writing what I feel. That is all.

Moving on I closed down Blog City due to other commitments and moved on to Xanga where I started personal blogging. I found it fun writing about the going-ons of my life and friends in college which most of time I tend to dramatize but keeping to the facts. In a way it was like writing parodies or in the context of a novel. This was when I'd alot of creative licences.

But somehow over time, with the intrusion of personal problems and issues, those creative licences were slowly banned one by one after I migrated to Blogspot. My writing became vague, shorter, irregular and sometimes pure no-brainers. Without realising I actually lost my ability to write about myself, my life.

I was still going strong in serious writing but mostly confined to academic subjects with a lot of focus on hard finance. Slowly but surely my blog became a pariah to many, if not all readers having no idea what I was writing about.

Fast forward to present I started writing more again but mostly work-based. Recently I became a de-facto chief of information and research who is responsible for managing and publishing all the writings for the firm's e-newsletter. It is like being a magazine editor and so I've to do alot of solid research on taxation, accounting, economics, business, politics and other related topics as the articles are targeted at clients and general readers.

I am happy to take the role as way before I joined workforce I entertained the thought of joining business publications like BRW as a business writer or back to university and do a PhD so that I can become a full time researcher and get my research papers published in journals.

This is my journey in writing thus far and if given the chance to have those creative licences back I would be more than happy to have them again so that you-know-who-you-are won't complain so much :p

PS: I've a lil weird liking for writing legal/charter codes like those stuff in the legislation books.

Taking the calculated risk

2008-10-27T15:51:00.002+11:00

By now many would have felt the chill from the fast slowing real economy and probably started cutting down unecessary expenses and draft a whole new budget much tighter than before.

The combination of value whitewash in the stockmarkets and job security is a daily worry. Even the central bankers do not know what will happen tomorrow, so what more for the laymen?

Over some round of beers and already counting down towards Christmas my friends and I were planning our annual Kris Kringle - the main highlight was that we have decided to cut down the maximum value of each present, limiting it to $10 this year compared to $15 in the previous year.

It is not so much of the presents but the process of guessing who bought you the present counts, but still money counts anyway. For some of us the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis wasn't a too distant memory. It is still pretty fresh in my head.

Instead of guarding the purse zealously I've gone the other way instead when almost everyone is spelling property as D I R T Y. Due to some pressure I've to commit into this heavy landed transaction but only after some intense negotiation over the titles.

No doubt it will be a big blow to my purse and this is when financial planning really kicks in - draft up a comprehensive budget and stick to it like your life jacket for which failing to do so can cause some real financial pain. And it is really painful......

Oh well, real life economic 101 lesson came abit too early for me. The principle of allocation of scare resources is oiled up and working its gears. In other words I bought the opportunity cost.

But I believe that if the plan is well drawn out and executed then it shouldn't be a problem :-)

Current mood: ........

2008-10-23T23:01:00.005+11:00

Borrowing from Tokyotimes.org here is how I am feeling at the moment - crunched

Me-Crunched

2008-10-23T00:56:00.008+11:00

I just discovered myself to be a listed share in this market, Life Market 6.6 Million Index, albeit one with high beta, probably above 2 which means I am pretty risky.

There was a huge potential for capital growth but also a deep hole for a massive loss on the other hand.

I am able to chart the course of my life which could rival the major world indices. This stock was quite resilient and even managed to defy the gravity of the credit-crunch crisis until ....yesterday.

While the current market turmoil is a result of the credit crisis which in turned was caused by the housing bubble, incidentally I am being affected by..well.. property.

The impact is so great that I have halt dividends payout because future earnings per share growth is close to nil. Price/book ratio took a hit as well and its now almost at 1:1 and possibly fall lower.

In summary - Performance Outlook for Benkaiser Share: Low
Recommendation: Sell

P.S: Because I am high risk the return will also be high if you decide to invest or speculate in me.

Just a little update

2008-10-19T18:03:00.004+11:00

There's nothing much about to write as it has just been work, research and sleep. Yea the usual routine. I am just dropping by after having finished an article for my senior partner.

Anyway I was asked by someone to blog and so I now oblige to satisfy that person's craving for my bland and technical posts that seem pretty sexy to that person. For this I've a little comment on the current financial turmoil:

"The whole process is a negative feedback loop and the cycle continues (downturn to recession) until the equation is reestablished at the lower stratum from which the recovery process (economic recovery) will begin...."

It is not exactly right that I don't have anything else to write besides the finacial market but at the moment I am racing against time to complete a range of outstanding tasks. But I reckon there will be more posts after next week.

Gaining Momentum

2008-10-03T23:12:00.002+10:00

It has been a week since I submitted my proposal to the management in response to their call to employees to provide ideas for practice management improvement. The feedback was pretty overwhelming.

The senior partners liked the idea and gave the greenlight for me to lead and implement the plan, which could be quite revolutionary in practice management.

On that afternoon I received a letter from the management - it was a surprise to me as I didn't expect it at all. But I guess it was like a reward for my participation.

Taking baby steps the plan is slowing being implemented and so far things are going well based on the latest feedbacks.

I guess when you see an opportunity and with good ideas, don't hesitate to speak up and if possible, do it. You will never know if you don't ever try.

Writing my story

2008-09-26T00:42:00.004+10:00

Despite my busy schedule I took time off to write a rather light-hearted and casual proposal for the firm's management which I thought at first would be relatively quick to write but the 2 page piece took almost an hour and a half. The time otherwise would have been spent on my superannuation readings.

On Wednesday a professor from University of Western Australia came to present the result of a survey of the firm which was pretty good but still contain room for improvements.The whole firm attended the presentation and not a soul was on the floor beyond the conference room - a sign of a serious issue.

At the end of it the management encouraged employees from all levels to speak up about the result and how we can improve further in the coming weekly Friday meeting which I've no doubt that the speaking will come from the upper level staff only, as usual. They always dominate the scene which is of course understandable given their level.

I only speak up when absolutely necessary.

Since the start of the financial year I sensed that the management is attempting a steady reform, from culture to work performance, and they are getting uneasy about middle to lower level staff keeping quiet all the time when they want feedback from us.

Well this time I am going on board as I've formulated my opinion strong enough to put it on table despite my written proposal is just a casual 2 page piece, which I deliberately made it so. This will be my stick to test the depth of the water, metaphorically speaking.

My plan is to email everyone my proposal tomorrow, setting an agenda for the weekly meeting and see how it goes.

After slightly more than a year in the firm, I am ready to write my own story.

Derailed

2008-09-24T22:58:00.003+10:00

As I've mentioned before over the past 3 weeks that the public transport crisis in metropolitan Melbourne could topple the current Labor state government in the next election if the problem is prolonged without any form solid solution in sight.

The opening of this week saw the Flinders Station dangerously packed with evening peak-hour commuters due to the rain. Connex, of course, blamed the weather for the train delays and consequently the packed platforms.

Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, currently on leave, continues to receive backlash from commuters. I am pretty sure she is currently one of the most unpopular minister in the cabinet.

From The Age today:

Catch our trains' say frustrated commuters

'Angry commuters have challenged the head of Connex and Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky to take a ride on Melbourne's overcrowded and "dangerous" train network.

- Kosky challenged to 'take a ride'
- Flinders Street station 'dangerous'
- 'Sea of commuters' block platforms

Frustrated passengers threw down the gauntlet to Connex executive chairman Jonathan Metcalfe and Ms Kosky in emails expressing their fury at crammed train carriages and packed station platforms.

[...]

A Craigieburn line passenger said it was "only a matter of time" before overcrowding at Flinders Street Station caused a death or serious injury.

"The Transport Minister and her colleagues should join the voters of safe Labor seats and catch the 5:36pm to Craigieburn," he wrote.

"She might see that this is a real problem that has a high potential to cause serious injury to children or the elderly or small-framed women who, if pushed in a big crowd, will not have the strength to resist the crowd and will be toppled onto the tracks." '

The metro railway contract currently held by Connex will be up for tender soon and so far Hong Kong's MTR and France's Keolis are bidding for the rights. Personally, I would like to see MTR to run the trains as they are no doubt one of the best railway operators in the world.

Ms. Kosky, you heard us?

Sparrow

2008-09-22T00:24:00.004+10:00

I might be biased because I'm Johnnie To's fan but I really must say that his latest film, Sparrow is simply cinematic orgasmic.

It was simply so enjoyable that I was smilling throughout the film. There's the cinematography, the acting, the music, the scenes and of course a rather refreshing story departing away from the usual standard Hong Kong themes.

If you want to be transported to a magical world that is not ancient fantasy or filled with fairies but set in reality then this is the film for you.

I am not going to tell you the story. Find it out yourself, if you are interested.

Saleable Service

2008-09-20T16:15:00.005+10:00

It would have been just another Friday afternoon, casual and taking things easy as we all were anticipating for the weekend.

But it was different this time. I was called in by one of the firm's partner into his office. I thought I was in trouble or something as I rarely work for him. What more could I expect when I was called in.

Did I do something wrong?

To much surprise it wasn't what I've thought. He just wanted to have a chat with me regarding my 'foresight'. He started off by asking me whether have I done any formal work before on future business planning or any of that sort. No I didn't.

The reason he summoned me because of a short story I wrote last Friday during a leadership training session. The coach asked us to write a story, past or future, and the moral of if it that could inspire our colleagues in the workplace to work as a team and advance forward.

While I guess most of the attendees wrote about the past, mostly about certain situations or problems which were then resolved and became lessons for others.

I didn't write about the past and instead I wrote about a scenario of the firm's future standing.

Apparently what I wrote, according to the partner, was future studies or Strategic Foresight as known in the academia. He thought that I might have the potential to turn this foresight into a saleable service, i.e: strategic management consulting.

In the firm he is one of the two senior partners who does consulting/advisory with no underlings, whereas I work for other partners in the compliance section of tax, superannuation and audit.

He said if consulting is what I want to do further down the line then I should start seriously considering the option of picking up the skills now and be involved in discussion groups and networking. He is willing to provide the platform for me.

During the meeting I was pretty stunned as his words were pretty much spot on on what I want to do in the future in the accounting field. I would like to become a consultant one day in addition to my other ambitions in the investment arena, and to a certain degree, politics.

It is also my intention to pick up some knowledge and skills in strategic management accounting next year, albeit nobody knows about it in the firm.

In a way I am delighted that someone is spot on regarding my career aspirations but on the other hand it would be a real challenge because in consulting it is either you make it or just get out.

Who would pay $1000 per hour for lousy advice?

Carnage

2008-09-18T21:36:00.010+10:00

The topic over dinner was all about the current US financial market meltdown and judging from the current flux of mess, it looks more likely to become a global financial meltdown.

In what was supposed to be a dinner of four turned out to be three as one friend just became redundant earlier in the afternoon which naturally spoilt her day and appetite. It seems like the meltdown have hit the shores down under. Even Macquarie wasn't spared - shedded 20% in market value.

The friend was an operation officer in a hedge fund company.

The other two friends are finance academics from Melbourne University and they are not optimistic about the state of affairs. Of course.

"First to go are those from the operations, next are Last In First Out", one of them said, referring that backroom people would always be the first line of cut followed by the professionals who came in late but first to be out. Only the experienced ones will be kept during such times.

Already there are leaks that some of the major Australian financial companies are putting a hold on their graduate recruitment drive next year. In fact those who have been recruited were told that their official intake might be delayed. For how long? don't know.

It would take some time for the whole financial mess to be cleaned up before things start picking up again and this could take at least two years, if not more.

Despite the carnage there is some silver lining. Like I said before, it is always a good time to buy shares during bear market or financial downturn.

Over pasta, fettucini, chicken main and calamari, the three of us agreed that we would all be rich men in the future if we can afford to buy the whole index now, sit on them and wait for a few years.

Perhaps index-tracking ETFs could be an alternative entry.

Only if we could afford.

No escape from the public transport 'crisis'

2008-09-15T21:28:00.007+10:00

The Labor Party Carlton Branch meeting this evening was supposed to have the attendance of Victoria Deputy Premier Rob Hulls.

I am certain that almost everyone in the room was expecting him. I was late due to the rain and ran to the meeting to find out that Mr. Hulls cannot make it due an emergency cabinet meeting. Spring Street isn't very far from the Trade Unions Hall in Lygon - so near yet so far.

In my mind I expected questions for Mr. Hulls from the floor to be on the lines of the implications of the recently concluded WA Elections, which the Labor Party lost to the Liberal/National tie-up on Saturday, and of course the Melbourne Metropolitan public transport 'crisis'.

The members in the room I spoke to agreed that the public transport problems have reached a tipping point that could launch an electorate backlash against the Labor Party. While it is understandable that the government cannot resolve the problems overnight but on the public relations front in providing confidence for the people has been rather disastrous. Think MyKyi and Lynne Kosky.

It is not just an issue of people's comfort in using public transport but also the implications for business and investments. Certainly this has affected Melbourne's status as one of the world's most liveable city. If Victoria wants to capitalise on the federal's initiative in turning Australia into a global financial hub then it has got to get its basic infrastruture right.

If it can't solve a public transport problem how can it provide a suitable platform for future investments and economic growth?

Until the people's grouses are subdued the future of Labor Party maintaining its hold in Victoria looks shaky, if not defeatable.

A warning sign for Victorian and Federal Labor

2008-09-08T21:05:00.006+10:00

It has been a rather exciting week for Australian politics from coast to coast.

After an internal party coup in NSW, in which the state Labor right faction kicked out Morris Iemma from his premier post, the WA election over the weekend produced a hung parliament.

The voters sent the WA Labor Party a strong message that it did not do well enough despite the state being the current economic superstar of the nation.

Surprisingly the WA Nationals became the kingmaker which is still deciding on which side to join, Labor or Liberal, and form a new state government. It is highly likely that the Nationals would pick the Liberal Party.

On the other side of the federal fence saw The Nationals losing a mid-north coast NSW seat of Lyne to an independent by a significant margin. Down in South Australian seat of Mayo where counting is still going on the Liberals is only razor thin ahead of the Greens despite that former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer held this seat previously.

The swings are a sign of voters' frustrations with both the Labor and Opposition parties in time of economic uncertainties - inflation, high interest rate, job cuts and a fast slowing economy.

Back home in Victoria theres the transport and housing issues in addition to the dark economic clouds. If John Brumby is serious in keeping the state, he should start doing some serious work fixing up the problems, rally the party and move the state forward. He is lucky that the he does not have to hold an election soon.

For sure John would not want to end like WA premier Alan Carpenter - an electorate backlash against a lacklustre and mediocre state government.

Kevin, this goes same for you. Enough of plain-speak rhetorics and its time for some real results for the people to see.

It is a bit of an edge

2008-09-03T19:36:00.005+10:00

It is the first time in my professional working life that I will be receiving an award of recognition of my skills and knowledge in Australian Taxation.

The mail arrived today at my desk inviting me to attend an award ceremony in two weeks time at a high end hotel in the CBD to receive my scroll.

It certainly made me happy as it can give me a bit of an edge over my peers in the industry. I am not overjoyed about it though because this is just the beginning of a journey of trying my best to stay at the top of the game.

Already I am feeling the pressure - personally and professionally, to continually strive for excellence in my work.

Although I am recognised as being very much up there and I will accept it as a fact but I don't see myself at the very top yet.

I am happy to receive the award but with guarded joy. There are still a lot more rooms for improvement.

Family wealth doesn't last 3 generations

2008-08-30T19:20:00.002+10:00

Family wealth doesn't last 3 generations, a notion that I can only agree subject to conditions because it is a notion that confines within a group of people: East Asians ex-Japan.

Many believe that its a curse of building wealth, the price to pay, and all sort of 'destiny of life' reasons. But they are not the reasons for a family wealth to be gone by the third generation.

The main reason is culture and to be more precise; Confucianism. The basic underlying is that a family wealth should be transferred through the main male lineage and leave the girls out most of the time. Wealth is for the eldest son to take whether he deserves it or not and if the father has a different view and pass it to another son then the eldest son will revolt because the view is already in place that the eldest son should inherit the wealth no matter what. So you can see the potential conflicts over the pennies.

In Japan there are many families whose wealth have been passed on for more than 3 generations and the Japanese are more confucianistic than the Chinese people today. The fact is that a society can subscribe to Confucianism yet cast out the bad or irrelevant parts by today's standards, and also adopt modern or western practice of preserving family wealth through the generations.

The trick is pretty simple actually. Create a trust, put the money into it, governed by a trust deed, controlled by an independent trustee and overseen by the law. This way wealth can be equitably transferred to off springs subject to conditions set in the trust deed. This is why many wealthy families in the west and Japan can last for centuries.

It is only a curse because we refuse to innovate.

Bluechip Girl: No letting go

2008-08-28T20:39:00.004+10:00

I've never thought it would be possible. Never, since she was such a hard nut to crack but over the two years since I knew her I remained loyal to this person for who she is, what she is after, what she stands for, and for just simply being her.

There were many occasions when I would be distracted and communication with her was almost entirely cut off. But she never came off my mind which I still wonder why.

There are many whys but I just don't know why. I've never met in real life and only heard her voice through the phone a couple of times and saw her twice through webcam. The rest was just pure virtual chat communication. In fact I've seen her sister twice for real and I wonder when can I see her for real.

Despite the no-show, I've dreamed of her, yearn for her and sometimes just miss her - someone whom I hardly know for real.

Despite such I am still drawn to her. The feeling is weird and I just don't know how to describe it. Given the chance I would most likely to go head over heels over her, if we are in the same place

But anyway I tried my luck and asked for her hands 'tentatively' and she accepted it with conditions.

Is this real? I am still savoring the moment for the fact that I managed to moved on to her so far.
Yes there are many obstructions but at the very least I can say I am linked to someone who has mesmerized me, so much so that she is just one helluva good bluechip share out there.

No letting go.

Will continue to go on

2008-08-28T20:20:00.003+10:00

Since I am so busy I thought whether this blog should continue its existence since after all, updates have been sporadic and far in between.

It is a far cry from the yesteryears when I could blog almost everyday on everything with a good dose of twists and sarcasm. I miss those days when I could dramatize events in my life and stuff I observed.

Pulling in a crowd wasn't a problem back then but that wasn't the my main objective of blogging.
To me blogging is like antidote to surpressed thoughts that otherwise would be difficult to express them out verbally. This is reality where there are parameters that restrict our expression.

This is not something an entirely new phenomenon but just an evolution from the days of pen and paper, AKA diary or journals.

Over the recent years and up to recent times it seems that I've been locked up in a cell called the writer's block. There were so many things to spill out as those years were helluva roller coaster ride for me. But it turned out that I couldn't write it well to express my true feelings and in the end I abandon it altogether save for some irregular, super short and shallow updates.

Although the thought of abandoning the bloggosphere altogether seemed kind of valid but in the end this is where my inner sanctum is. When I can't turn to anyone, the sphere has always been here for me to spill it out.

deranged Generation will go on...

Hope she recovers soon

2008-08-05T23:48:00.002+10:00

I didn't know how to response when I read the email marked urgent sent by a friend this afternoon. A gal friend has been hospitalized since last night, apparently from meningococcus, which can be life-threatening.

Meningococcus is a form meningitis, and according to wikipedia: Meningococcus is spread through the exchange of saliva and other respiratory secretions during activities like coughing, kissing, and chewing on toys. Though it initially produces with general symptoms like fatigue, it can rapidly progress from fever, headache and neck stiffness to coma and death.

Went off to meet up with a couple of friends at the hospital right after work to visit her but we were denied access because she is in the ICU, and in coma. She can't breathe on her own has to be on life support.

Words spread quickly, to NSW and then Malaysia. Her parents in Malaysia took the next available flight and have arrived not long ago.

Not wanting to let go easily we attempted to go up to the ICU ward but were punctuated by another group of friends who tried their luck to see her but with no avail. Throughout the time in the lobby as we chatted on her condition there were many pauses of uncomfortable silences.

Trying to keep calm was the order although everyone of us felt tensed and worried.

At the moment her conditions are not good.

Taking a cue from Sukah: "phui yean please be strong =( you can get through this "

Getting back to the basics

2008-07-17T20:15:00.004+10:00

A week ago I said the time is ripe for value hunting in the sharemarket but it can be frustrating for many enduring the whiplash like roller coaster ride in the market. What can we say when there are plenty of mess yet to be cleaned up.

For long-term investors bear market is the best time to pick stocks that provide value and good growth that otherwise would not be possible during bull time. Think like a businessman - buy low, sell high. If you think you found have found a bargain then why bother about volatility?

Well that's generally true but in today's complicated web of financial leverage and synthetic transactions, anything can happen. Just flip open the financial pages and you will see the carnage; Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, IndyMac and back home the range of margin calls and gearings gone bad catalyzing a string of failure for the likes of Lift Capital and Opes Prime.

Many investors are sitting on their hands waiting at the sidelines while the global financial mess sorts itself out, and of course the looming global stagflation which is a bigger mess. I say this is the time that we should get back to the basics and do some strong research picking the most fundamentally sound stocks.

It is a matter of survival of the fittest and the time we are in now is just part of the economic evolutionary process of weeding out the weak ones. It is just like.... life.

Value Buy

2008-07-07T17:14:00.002+10:00

I would have posted this earlier if not for physical injuries sustained on an early Saturday morning.

Basically the jizz is, after a meeting with the Macquarie boys on Friday, that its time to go dredge the market for fundamentally sound and value shares.

This view of mine formed 2 to 3 weeks ago has now be affirmed by the big boys and am currently having some stocks in my head that I am ready to plunge into.

Bear market is sales time.

Just OK

2008-07-02T23:29:00.003+10:00

Just Group (ASX: JST) downgraded its earning forecast by a whopping 10% and following the downgrade its shares shaved 12.6%, to close at $2.78. P/E ratio estimate for 2007 is around 8.8045 and actual current ratio at 1.46.

Can Just Group be THE indicator of an increasingly slowing consumer spending? It's management thinks so. And backing their view is the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Index which recently released that consumer sentiment dipped 5.6% seasonally adjusted from May to June.

For all we know the inflation fueled razing of consumer sentiment is kicking in as evidenced by the RBA which recently decided to hold its rate. A sign that the series of rates hike are dampening the insatiable consumer demand backed by the current mining boom.

But is it all what it seems? To me, perhaps its just not the drop in consumer sentiment but its labels: Just Jeans and Jays Jays are no longer capturing the market with its repetitive and stale designs that might have been 'cool' a few years ago.

Having been into Jays Jays outlet recently didn't really attract me as its range of designs were pretty much the same as a year ago. Dull, plain and boring. In other words, they are still in iPod generation ONE mode.

Just Group doing Just OK.... to me.

Early worm catches the worm

2008-06-22T23:07:00.004+10:00

A friend of mine in the funds management industry recently told me that its not a good time to buy shares now. Comments in the forums were pretty unforgiving to the stock analysts for having no guts to recommend any good and value stocks.

It is no doubt good to be prudent in uncertain times but in the market any situation provides opportunities, depending on how many managed to find and take it up.

Opportunities to buy and and sell or shorting will evaporate as soon as more and more participants start buying the 'opportunity' found. The trick is to be early in the game. And in this sea of red, somehow someone will be making the money.

So I beg to differ with my friend and I think its a good time to scout for good undervalued stocks. David Merkel, drawing on the advise by Ken Fisher, summarised and simplified my thoughts into the following line:

"If something true is relied upon by many investors, it is not valuable for smart investors. If something false is relied upon by many investors, it is valuable for smart investors to bet against that.”

Well I think the above could be simplified further using the universal proverb:

'Early Bird Catches The Worm'

Do you get it now?

Nothing short of a full reform - part 2

2008-06-21T15:20:00.005+10:00

It has been a hectic week for me leaving me no time to even put a short line but it also gave me a window of opportunity to catch up with the latest political developments in Malaysia especially the first 100-days after the election and Sabah's SAPP move to break ranks from BN.

Although reflecting the past 100 days since March 8th and observing the on-going politicking are certainly interesting which provides a great debating/conversation topic but at the end of the day it is still politics and just will not stop here.

Of course politics are needed to run a country, complement and assist economic development but at the end of the day what did the people received in terms of their wallets and bank accounts as a result from politicians politicking?

Politicians should be the ones to be reformed if Malaysia wants to move forward. Many of the current mindsets of Malaysian politicians belong to the 60s and has no place for them in 21st century.

Despite the opposition winning five states in the federation I have failed to see any of the parties in PR, that can offer strong credibility in building the nation forward other than sloganeering and eloquent speeches. Of course, time and faith must be given to allow them to have a chance in fulfilling their election promises which won over nearly half of the people in the country.

But the reality is that any political parties can draw up feel-good and hell of a promising manifesto. The BN did it in 2004 riding on the back of a so-called 'reformation' agenda which in the end did not materialise and slided backwards instead. People are skeptical and if given the choice of two evils, why not choose the lesser of the two evils?

Most politicians are like chameleons and they have to be as this is the game. While they can play the game all the want, I want to ask them and to know whether they really subscribe to nation-building as their goal or just merely to serve their constituency and survive the elections as they come?

The hint of looking at the larger picture was revealed by the opposition parties in the run-up to the election. Tony Pua and Jeff Ooi mentioned that Members of Parliaments are not just tasked to solving local problems such as drainage which comes under the responsibility of the local councils. For a very long time the majority of Malaysians thought that MPs are just 'lonkang' solvers. At the very least we now have new lawmakers that recognise the larger picture.

100 days after the election is a very short time and the new MPs who promised the people to reveal the details of the larger picture goal is a bit far fetched as they have yet to settle down comfortably in their role as MPs.

Politicians as the forefront 'advocate' of the masses should lead by example. After all they are like the captain of the ship and can you imagine what will happen if the captain is drunk in the rough high seas?

Perhaps all politicians before serving as MPs or intending to should be thoroughly educated in 'serving the people'. For a start in reforming the MPs and assemblymen, they can start studying the philosophies of Han Fei-zi, and hopefully subscribe to it.

Nothing short of a full reform - part 1

2008-06-11T23:46:00.006+10:00

If anything, as echoed by many recently, the Malaysian government should practice what it preach and lead by example which unfortunately is not the case. Telling people to change their spending habits and expectations in view of the rising impact of the global inflation is of no use if the leaders don't do what they say. Eventually people will change their lifestyle and spending patterns because it is just natural to do so - simple economics, even without government persuasion.

Arthur Shelly, an organizational behavior expert from RMIT University said in the context of a corporation that unless the management believe and practice what they preach the overall organizational culture and practice will not change very much what the management actually desire. Likewise, the same could be said for a country.

Dues of praises should be given to the Penang State government for leading by example which even in the event of an economic downturn, at the very least the people have confidence in the government in riding out of the downturn together. They will know the government is there and doing something to protect them which is what a government should do - love and protect its people. The contrast becomes more prominent when compared to the federal government.

Yearnings for improvements on the current state of political and economic affairs in Malaysia will literally be a no-show unless there is a full comprehensive reform in all spheres. It is time for the country to embark on the real journey of development.

-Watch this space-

Ruddy Rudding It

2008-06-10T19:59:00.002+10:00

The next time you hear about Kevin Rudd putting yet another 'half baked' proposals, especially on the international front, you can say , "Ruddy Rudding It! (again!)".

While in Japan, he announced setting up an international commission to oversee nuclear proliferation. Just last week he proposed setting up an Asian Union that resembles the EU. Those proposals are noble but there are many good ideas being dished up every week albeit going unnoticed. Even the Malaysian Prime Minister last week tabled a proposal to ban oil speculation to prevent massive fuel hike.

The question is, of course, how practical can the proposals be realised. Kevin's Asian Union idea is too idealistic to be workable in our lifetime. There is too much diversity, political, cultural, ethnic and religious blockades in the region for an EU-type union to work.

I am pretty surprised that Kevin, being a China-expert, can dish out such a proposal as he would very well understand in North-East Asia already there are barriers for China, the Koreas and Japan to come and work together as one. There is too much conflict of interests. Even the idea of getting these countries together to form a Confucian Union, based on their similar cultural values, won't be able to see much light for the next half a century.

With the benefit of doubt, perhaps he is suggesting a framework to work towards that goal for the benefit of the future generation. And if that is the case, I say aye. What Kevin really needs to do and focus now is the economy. Yes, it is the economy and so please rudd your way back home to battle any possible economic downturns. Asian Union or nuclear disarmament won't protect the worth of the dollar we have now.

Unsettling but is there a silver lining?

2008-06-09T13:13:00.003+10:00

With elections in many countries looming around the corner and the irresponsible remarks by Israel with plans to attack Iran, it is not too much to say uncertainty is very much in the air. The biggest question is where is the economy heading to? The consensus to that answer is stay out in the sidelines and watch out for the coming 'big' storm.

As the oil price shot to $150 per barrel everyone is feeling the chill that could be even more bitting when the oil price hike trickle down to other prices. But will the hike last?

Without any professional or substantial research, my gut feeling tells me that the oil price will eventually fall as we inch closer to the second half of the year. Things will look better until the end of northern summer. Despite being told many times that this is not the time to get into the stock market but I believe that if you are a long term investor, there are many value stocks now that trade below their fundamentals. But the of course there is this oil price hike looming over many industries that could cut a big chunk of profits away. We return again to the air of uncertainty.

The US credit crunch now looks painfully adolescent to the oil price hike affecting global economies. Nonetheless there are opportunities in the mess if you are willing to venture out of your storm shelter.

Fruits of a poisoned tree

2008-06-05T22:43:00.005+10:00

Although it is a global phenomenon, Malaysians' wallets took a really hard from inflation today. With wages remaining stagnant while the price of daily necessities already at sky high and the latest being petrol effective today, the current inflation trend is morphing a wealth deflation at an unprecedented pace.

I can see the validity of increasing the price of petrol to reflect closer to its market value and an attempt to unwind the already highly distorted economy but to the laymen they couldn't care more than protecting their worth of a dollar earned to exchange for something more but not less. A notion that is valid for the common people after all we all try to maximize our marginal utility, which is recognized as one of the pillar of economics.

Understandably the government does not have much apparatus to tinkle around as this is much of an imported inflation. The cash rebate is necessary but it is a flawed one from the very start. A maximum rebate of $625 only translates into $1.71 offset per day - by doing the math, this is not very much. In addition, there is the power hike as well and on top of that the already hiked prices of items such as rice, pork, flour, cooking oil and sugar. All of which are daily necessities.

It is not too much for the government to ask the people to change their spending habits and energy use but it doesn't really make sense when budgets are already tight in the first place. How much can one go further with all the cuts? Stop eating? Light the candles?

Another farce is the comparison of petrol prices with non-oil producing countries like Singapore and Thailand when it should actually be compared to oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. After all, Malaysia is a net exporter of oil and it got the benchmark wrong.

I have long recognized that Malaysia's economic development is haphazardly ad hoc, responding to problems and crisis when they arise by taking short term flawed and distorted solutions. Not to the discredit the government but its long term economic plan is also on the same basis. All but cheap sweets that will eventually cause economic diabetes.

It is time that Malaysia needs capable economic visionaries and managers to chart the nation's development by liberalizing the economy, remove flawed and outdated polices and embark on a comprehensive tax and social security reform. At the very least the government could provide a better cushion for the people to ride out the rough journey of an imported inflation.

When there is a good system in place with sound risk management polices and practice, we wouldn't have what we have today - to eat the fruits reaped from a poisoned tree.

Is Malaysia still a British Colony?

2008-06-02T20:34:00.002+10:00

I find it bewildering. First it was the Hindraf that took its cause to the British Government and now Sabah's Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (CASH) is following the Hindu rights group footstep in seriously considering a petition on the illegal immigrants issue to the British Government instead of the Federal Government or the King.

It is understandable that the present Malaysian government is just good at giving lip service, childish politicking and sleeping, but recent events have shown that our Royalty can play a balance and wise role in the country and as such I believe that groups like Hindraf and CASH should take their petition to the King directly like what BERSIH did last year.

How can we be accorded respect by foreign governments when we don't even pay respect to our government and monarch in the first place? Let's take a short break from the negative elements of the government of the day, at the very least it is essential that we should follow the right steps - take the cause to the government and the opposition parties. And if all means failed, sought the King for help, if not Sultans. What if everything fails? - People Power.

While it is true that Malaysia is part of the Commonwealth but we are not a dominion in the club. It is essentially being a 2nd class club member while the former dominions of the British Empire holds first class privileges when it comes to accessing the British Government and Monarch. Who are the dominions? Australia, New Zealand, Canada and some nations in the Pacific and Caribbean, and these countries recognize the British Monarch as their head of state. The citizens of these countries are also accorded citizen rights in the UK with the right to vote and stand for elections. Whereas Malaysians don't enjoy such rights except for visa-free travel and we don't call Queen Elizabeth II as our Agong.

So think. It is time to really stand up on our own. After all, do you think the British Government will intervene? Think. The answer is no. Malaysia is not Myanmar enough for them to be critical of us. It is high time for groups mentioned above to form a confederation of NGOs and demand the inept and myopic government of the day to buck up, shut up its nonsense and comical farce, and do the right and real thing. March 8th showed us that it is possible if the rakyat stands up for themselves.

Rise up people!

A rose among the thorns

2008-05-25T19:55:00.003+10:00

I've been so busy with work and..well..drinking that I've neglected catching up on investment and market updates and development except for grasping the general headlines. What I mean by catching up is getting into the bottom of the subject - understanding the jizz of things and the latest academic or working papers. After all this is where one of my main passion lies.

And so when I did the catching up, I found something 'rosy'. The field of investment is very much a male affair, dominated by men, whether it is from the back to front office. Essentially it is a male world. Even in the investment blogging realm, its just men, men and more men. So it was a very nice respite to see a lady bursting into the investment commentary and blogging field. And also for being pretty and even sexier for having the brains.

An example is Grace Cheng who operates GraceCheng.com: 'a leading New York-based financial website that is a must-read for traders and investors who want high-impact financial news, market information and opinions from traders.'

Not bad for a lady... and she also contributes to SeekingAlpha.com

Check out her bio at SeekingAlpha: Grace Cheng

It is just pleasant to see a pretty young lady standing out in the sea of men :)

Just realised...

2008-05-25T00:04:00.002+10:00

...that I actually have a blog! lol. As usual I neglected this blog in a seasonal pattern. No posts during busy period and when I have the time, it is so brief that its not even blogging at all. But what the heck, I write long or short whenever I want.

There are so many things in my mind that I want to spill it out here but just don't seem to have the right moment to write and publish it straight on. Also there were many stuff that happened recently that I would like to share some.

Maybe I am lazy. ....

Okay, I am lazy.

Guys: Masturbation is good for health::

2008-04-24T00:09:00.002+10:00

As reported by the BBC:

Men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular masturbation, researchers suggest.

Clear your pipes

What do you want from us?

2008-04-19T16:08:00.007+10:00

No matter what we do, as Chinese or Overseas-Chinese, we are just simply hated for being Chinese.

Click on it for a larger resolution

Showdown in Melbourne

2008-04-17T17:49:00.003+10:00

Talk is cheap, as always. Let the pictures do the talking

Hail and salute the brave Chinese people of Melbourne!

Zhong Hua Renmin Gongheguo Wan Sui!

Support China through Internet

2008-04-16T19:52:00.004+10:00

If you're a MSN user, please add (L)CHINA next to your screen name.

Hire Purchased Fishballs Accounting

2008-04-12T17:56:00.002+10:00

I had a dream of fishballs last night. My friends and I were having a hotpot and we 'Hire-Purchased' a bag of 30 fishballs. Since we did not buy it with cash we thought how to account for it?

I took out a journal pad and accounted the hire-purchased fishballs.

Firstly we need to capitalised the 30 fisballs which cost 20 cents per ball.

Dr. Fishball $6

Cr. Unexpired HP Charges $6

Secondly, account for repayments if any. Assume the repayment is $2 per week.

Dr. Unexpired HP Charges $2

Cr. Bank $2

Continuing the repayments will eventually extinguish the fishballs liability when the HP charges balanced out. Fortunately for us, there weren't any interest rates charged, otherwise we would have need a repayment schedule. And to our relief, GST is absent because the balls are food supplies....phew.

After journalising it, we had a fantastical hot pot.

Tibet: The flashpoint for Poem 56?

2008-04-11T00:14:00.005+10:00

55 prophecies of the Tui Bei Tu, in the form of poems and pictures, published during the Tang Dynasty came true. It has a total 60 prophecies and this mean 4 more to go.

In poem 56 it said:

'Flyers are not birds, swimmers are not fish,
A war does not depend on soldiers. It's a game of technology.
Millions of miles of deadly smoke, on top a mushroom and at bottom a fountain.
A sight out of people's imagination. Big trouble not solved, but greater trouble arrives.'

An image of 2 soldiers, each standing on a continent. The 2 continents are separated by the ocean. They do not use their hand held weapons. They only spew fire at each other. Two fish jump out of the ocean, and two birds are flying against each other.

So could the current Tibet unrest and worldwide protest against China be the spark for a possible massive 'confrontation'?

Time will tell. But at the moment it seems to be working on its way there.

Damm Free-Tibet!

2008-04-09T19:30:00.006+10:00

So much of fuck you very much to all Free-Tibet supporters.

Is this how you want to free Tibet? By attacking a disabled girl?

Now she is a hero! Salute!

Windstruck

2008-04-02T20:11:00.005+11:00

I came out of the office bastardized, struck, dazed, blur, overloaded, spinning, and etc etc... while the city was windstruck after a fierce windstorm that swept the city in the afternoon. It was wet, windy, chilly and getting dark, not too different from the state of mind I was in, though with more optimism.

Actually I'm just stuck with some superannuation transactions which made me frustrated. And on top of that I am exhausted from work and the readings every night. Sleep hasn't been too good, woke up on the wrong side of the bed which gave me a sore neck and shoulder. Still sore.

Received CPA AGM notice. Attend or not to attend? By proxy? don't know, don't care, decide later.

Just too much for now.

More readings to do but I am just mentally exhausted. Oh well, at least tomorrow will be easier, for attending a conference at the convention centre. Perhaps, during a break, I should just walk across the street to Crown Casino and try to pull off a jackpot! Win a poker pot! Strike a roulette! Win a Black Jack! and have a nice cold beer after that....arhhhhh...... purfect!

And I want:

Cigars, babes, fast cars, yacht, more babes, cash, penthouse, more cash, babes, caviars, abalone, more more cash, faster cars, helicopter, private jet, LV, Gucci, Christian Dior, Prada, Mandarina Duck, YSL, Chivas, Johnny Walker, Nescafe, Cheah Yin Fun, Coffee Mate, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and more more babes.............!!!!

Yeah, optimism rules! I can do it!!!!

Sleepy me

2008-04-02T00:04:00.007+11:00

Some sleepy snapshots of me webcamming with Min who is back in Malaysia for holidays. A respite from chatting with each other during odd hours for being separated by the vast Pacific Ocean. It is almost a day difference between the States and Down Under, but just 3 hours and soon to be 2 hours between Malaysia and here.

Alrite, lets see...

Hmmm.. okay

Yea...

Hmm.......

Okay..... I really need to sleep...

Goodniteee!

Craft the director in me

2008-03-31T01:01:00.002+11:00

What do you expect from a bunch of people who grew up and schooled together all the way from kinddies to college on a late Saturday night? You might need to write this down, grab a pen.

You would get a bunch of guys and a girl talking nonsense and acting like retards at a tram stop, right in front of McDonalds, chewing on fries, high from beers, talking nonsense and more acting of retardation.

Well that's at least what you get from my schoolies and me. The combination of D, J, M and I out on a weekend night will usually end up doing something super funky for our self-entertainment but could be super lame and stupid to others.

Of course I don't blame them because this is our culture! We like to play FBIs and SWAT team on the streets despite being 24s and 23s.

But on the other hand, if weren't for being stupid, lame and acting like a complete retard I wouldn't earn a bit of praise, that I have some talents in performing arts. When there is J, an artist and a pretty fierce art critic, praising you for having some creativity talent then you must have something in you.

Hmm.. maybe I should have a second career in the arts afterall I have suspected that I do have some talent in this department or maybe I am just stroking my own ego. Wahahahah whatever!

At least talking nonsense and acting like retards at a tram stop, right in front of McDonalds, chewing on fries, high from beers, talking nonsense and more acting of retardation is fun! :p

Get a fuck

2008-03-25T19:35:00.002+11:00

An auditor friend of me spilled to me that she took action for being pissed at her manager. She wrote a letter to the manager to complain on her inconsiderate action by texting her three times on a recently early Monday morning which then left my friend insomniac until dawn.

The manager texted my friend at 2 am, 3 am and 5.30 am.

At first I thought that the manager needs to get a life.

No..no...no..not a life, because after understanding that the manager is a female in her early 30s, I came to a conclusion that she needs to get a fuck otherwise she wouldn't be texting her juniors so early in the morning.

Any volunteers out there?

Mad Detective

2008-03-24T03:12:00.006+11:00

Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai never failed me in the past and neither did they do so with their latest film, Mad Detective. If there are films that pit the same actors most of the time that doesn't fail to entertain, then it has got to be made by them.

The latest instalment by Milkyway Productions heralded a new masterpiece that delves into the subject of just being human. Using an all too familiar cops and robbers background for the story doesn't matter here but in fact it actually propels the film to being entertaining in addition to the karmic message to the audience that being human or our conscience is actually a multitude of personalities in us. Some of us have a more pronounce multiples while others have them subtle.

The outline of the film as ripped from wikipedia:

'Inspector Bun (Lau Ching-Wan) is a brilliant detective who is forced into retirement after presenting his retiring boss with a severed ear. Bun's gift is that he can supposedly see a person's "inner personalities," or hidden ghosts.

Years later, Inspector Ho Ka-On (Andy On) visits Bun in an attempt to break the case of Wong Kwok-chu (Lee Kwok Lun), a colleague who went missing when he and his partner, Ko Chi-Wai (Lam Ka-Tung) were in pursuit of a suspect. Wong has been AWOL for 18 months, and his gun has been used in a series of armed robberies.

Bun comes out of retirement and discovers that rather than being one man, Chi-Wai is a seven spirit collective (with each perhaps representing an aspect of the Seven Deadly Sins). Ho doesn't know whether to buy into Bun's sixth sense or simply watch in awe and hope that there's more than madness to Bun's method'

Although the story sounds interesting but what really hooked me up was Johnnie and Ka Fai's directing, cinematography and casting. The way how they turned their abstract visualisation of the script into real actions is simply classic, without any CGI and not to mention their trademark gunshots.

As much as the film which I think is a hell of a great piece there was a flaw that I spotted throughout the show until the very end which debunked that reservation. The apparent 'flaw' wasn't a flaw, as it just wasn't supposed to be revealed until the very end, by just one line. Try spotting it.

Without further a do, go watch it.

Tibet: The western bait

2008-03-22T14:56:00.003+11:00

It has been over a week since the Tibet unrest unfolded. It began on my birthday, March 14th. What a nice surprise by the anti-Chinese Tibetans. Affairs in East Asia, especially Greater China are always close to my heart and the recent incidents in Tibet concerns me nonetheless.

As usual China is demonized by the western media regardless even though that the Chinese security were extremely restrained in handling the Tibetan protesters and mobs, so much so that they killed any non-Tibetans in their way, burned and looted shops owned by non-Tibetans. They even burned down a mosque in Lhasa.

Despite the videos posted on youtube showing the mobs beating and killing civilians, looting and burning shops, the western press purposely left it out and instead edited pictures to leave out the violence commited by the protesters. As if the viewers are stupid, western news channel beamed photos of Nepali security forces as 'Chinese' arresting Tibetan protesters. It was sickening

No longer are the western press free and fair but an absolute propaganda of an international movement to bring down China no matter what. Chinese people are always bad, according to the western press.

There are more than enough articles and commentaries arguing who is right or wrong and therefore I shall not delve further into this subject. All of you can access medias from around the world and you form your judgment on the issue, but also please give some time to the stuff reported by 'citizen journalist'/bloggers who published photos and posted videos of the violence committed by the Tibetan protesters. After that, you would feel that the unrests were an attempt at ethnic cleansing and not just a mere protests. The victims were innocent Chinese not Tibetans as the western press claimed.

For the true face of the western media see here: http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200803b.brief.htm#021

To the Free Tibet protesters around the world, I say 'Fuck you very much'.

To the overseas Chinese around the world who helped in exposing the lies and farcical face of the western media, I say 'Well done and continue the good work'.

If the protesters have the conscience and follow the 'true teachings' of your religion, stop what you are doing and reconcile. I want to bring to you the song by Alan Dawazhouma, a Tibetan from China who made it big in Japan by singing the hit title: Ashita e no Sanka (Song of Tomorrow)

The song combines elements of Jpop, Chinese opera, meaningful lyrics and sang by a Tibetan. And this how it should be, all for one and one for all. We are of the same people of our motherland.

Thanks guys!

2008-03-15T18:01:00.002+11:00

Thank you all for the wonderful night. It was a great night out with you all. So was the clubbing. Had a helluva good time on the floor.

Birthday celebration went on the whole day, starting in the office where my colleagues got me a cake followed by hanging out at Max B after work, dinner at Ants Bistro, drinks at Black Opal and a finale in Miss Libertine.

I also appreciate the presents very much. Really like the tie and the cuff links.

You guys rock!

Once again, Thank you so much!

Peaaaace

Tony's reply on the Perak MB tussle

2008-03-13T20:20:00.012+11:00

This morning before heading to work I emailed PJ Utara MP, Tony Pua to voice my concern on the DAP leadership opposing the appointment of a PAS assemblyman as the the next Perak Menteri Besar. My view is that the DAP Central Executive Committee should not have released such a damaging statement in the eleventh hour opposing the MB-designate chosen by the Regent of Perak. This is despite that the state DAP chapter supports the Regent's decision.

I do not support PAS, its ideology or policies but I believe given the fragile state of affairs, with the Barisan Rakyat holding only three state seats more than BN, the chances of the coalition being sabotaged by the BN is very high. The Sultan or Regent can instead choose a BN assemblyman to be the MB if he feels the the candidate commands the confidence of the majority of the State Assembly. As such the right thing to do is to unite despite the polar differences of the two parties. I am sure PAS do not want to be a one-term government, and they ought to be given a chance.

Tony replied and here I reproduce our correspondence:

7.58 AM

Hi Tony,

I am sending a quick but important message to you since you are now a Wakil Rakyat as well as a DAP member. Please tell Lim Kit Siang and the party CEC to withdraw their decision for not backing a PAS assemblyman as MB. Please don't do it, as what Lim and the DAP website have announced. The people are shocked and devastated that Perak cannot form a strong coalition. I am very sure that BN will use this as a target and splash across the newspapers that the Barisan Rakyat is a farce after all.

Deng Xiaoping said it doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white as long as it catches the mice.

Tony, please for the sake of rakyat, who voted the party overwhelmingly, convince the DAP leadership the voice of the rakyat concerned with the Perak MB tussle.

Thank you,

CH Chua

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6:09 PM

Hi Chee Hau,

While there are a lot of mails like yours (probably thousands) over the last day or so. I do hope that we do not get so blinded by victory that we are ready to sacrifice everything else just to get rid of BN.

LKS has nothing to benefit from making the statement he did. But I can assure you that should PAS decides to implement Islamic state like policies over the next four years, we will be crucified, by the same people who are giving Kit hell at the moment.

We want to form the government. But we need to do it on the right footing. It should be noted that the MB holds immense power in the state and if the ground rules aren't cut properly, then we will suffer for the next four years.

Tony

---

While I understand where Tony and the DAP leadership is coming from and in fact Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok voiced the issue two days ago at a forum organised by The Star, shouldn't all the parties have already come to an agreement on the MB post before submitting the names to the Palace?

This only shows how weak the coalition is, if any, and already I am sure that the people's confidence on them are starting to erode. As I am writing this, Perak PKR now opposes the State Exco line up agreed by DAP and PAS right before the swearing-in of the MB-designate. The agreement was that DAP holding the biggest majority would get eight posts while the remaining two to PKR and PAS.

The Regent of Perak postponed the swearing-in and has directed all the coalition assemblymen to sign that they support the new MB before the state government can be formed.

While I have great respect for Lim Kit Siang, I am appalled at the damaging decision made last night. Perhaps, he should step down from the Central Executive Committee and just be an ordinary member. I also do not understand why he could direct Perak DAP assemblymen to boycott the swearing-in ceremony that is supposed to be held today. By right the Secretary-General, Lim Guang Eng should have made the final decision.

I understand that the opposition states did not expect, in their wildest dream, to come to power so fast and furious and therefore their pickering over power suggests their lack of governing experience, but please settle the problems behind closed doors. While the people are happy to see them in power but confidence in them is really shaky.

Perhaps, my friend was right, who told me that although she is glad the opposition came to power in five states and captured half of the peninsula, skepticism still holds.

Finally, I would like to thanks Tony Pua for his quick reply. This shows that the new YB is willing to listen and respond to his rakyat. His reply was faster than our correspondence way before he jumped into the political arena.

Tired but still going on

2008-03-12T20:08:00.005+11:00

Exhausted. So much to do. So little time. Muscles aching, probably due to too much tension and lack of proper physical rest. I would love to take a short break and the coming Easter break is much sought after. Despite being physically exhausted my mind is running on energizer batteries, solar power, coal-powered electricity, Red Bull, ecstasy and various other energies.

So much is going in my head that I seriously wish that a 10000 gig external hard disk can be usb'ied into my brain and back up all the ideas. There is the stock market, tax laws and my still incomplete screenplay.

But what is seriously running in my mind now is that I can finally have the chance to submit a memorandum outlining my economic plans and recommendations to parties that are willing to review it. Yes, I am seriously thinking about forwarding a paper to the opposition states as I already have such plans compiled into a notebook over the years. All my economic development plans are for Malaysia. I used to run a dead serious site that documents my papers/analysis/columns, one of which was published in The Star.

Digging them out revealed the relevance of the contents I wrote. I am not bragging or showing off but the fact is that what I wrote about redeveloping Penang as Malaysia's next economic and financial frontier four years ago suddenly seems relevant to the situation in the island state now. The people of the state voted out the previous government mainly on basic economic issues and the state's future. What I addressed four years ago is what Penang needs to move itself away from the lopsided reliance on the electronics and manufacturing sector.

I believe I can contribute to the country by contributing progressive and constructive ideas on how to improve our economy but I couldn't find the right avenue to do it in the past. I don't believe the BN-led federal government and back then, the opposition parties were too weak to take such grand views seriously. They were preoccupied on petty problems such as clearing clogged drains that are supposedly the responsibility of the local councils.

Now the time has come to wipe the dusts of my yellow notebook that contains my various economic and social plans that I believe are relevant to helping the five opposition states to build and integrate their economies that could form the showcase for the rest of the country. Why them? I identify with their visions.

I will be to the drawing board and hopefully to be in contact with Raja Petra soon to submit my papers.

:)

Restoring the Malaysian in Me

2008-03-10T19:25:00.003+11:00

I've never really felt like a true Malaysian ever since I became conscious about national identity, mainly due to my schooling, upbringing and the existence of foreign blood in me. Malaysia was just a physical place that I grew up. As I attended an international school I never understood what it means to be Malaysian despite holding the nationality.

Identifying with Singapore was natural as there is where half of my blood came from. Second was my identity as a Chinese owing to my strong Chinese cultural upbringing in my family. Third was that I understood more of Europe and the western world because of my education. In a way, I felt like a foreigner and that feeling was amplified by my inability to speak Bahasa Malaysia.

Throughout my years growing up I came to understand that being a Malaysian is not the same as being a citizen treated impartially and fairly by the government like in other countries. We are classified as different races and treated differently based on our skin colour. This is done when we call our country, Home.

I always thought why? Singapore is basically our blood brothers and sisters but they can function where everyone is the same and treated equally. I still remember the Singaporean song, 'One People, One Nation, One Singapore', but I just can't seem to identify Malaysian as 'One People, One Nation, One Malaysia'.

In addition, the superb inefficiency and corruption really turn me off and still do. I am sure many of us feel the same. We question when will the day that everyone can be of One People and become a corrupt-free nation. With the exception of some activists and politicians, many resigned to the fact that is not achievable in our lifetime. Not even in the next 50 years.

At times I would day dream of the perfect Malaysia with equality, justice, freedom, democracy, efficient, corruption-free and a supercharged economy. Why not? It is not rocket science as we have the bedrock of a common law system that can work very well, provided that judges are fair and impartial, abundance of natural resources and a hardworking and intelligent population. If Singapore can do it without any resources why can't Malaysia?

Until 8th March 2008, being a Malaysian means we have to be at the whims and fancy of those in power, the BN and its cronies. But after that date, Malaysia came back into me and the idea of Malaysia for Malaysians suddenty became credible and workable. The key is to join hands, regardless of race, and make Malaysia a better place. We can do it if we believe in it and the fact you have voted for change, something that was almost impossible to dream of before the polls, is our first step towards achieving the goal.

If we don't give up, we can do it and restore the real Malaysian in us.

"We will surely get to our destination if we join hands."

- Aung San Suu Kyi

One People, One Nation, One Malaysia

Mainstream media continues to spin lies

2008-03-10T19:06:00.006+11:00

I bet many of you have read in the mainstream press that PAS will be implementing Hudud laws in Kedah. All is not true as Raja Petra of Malaysia Today, who correctly predicted that BN will be denied its 2/3rd majority, clarified that PAS President Tok Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed he never made such an announcement.

After all, The Star is owned by MCA and NST by UMNO. Very well they will continue to fool the rakyat despite the people's decision for change!

' The trouble is, many of you wear these 'boycott the mainstream media' T-shirts yet you still read and believe what the mainstream media spins. Would you become terrible offended if I shout 'Bodoh punya orang!'? I really don't know what else to shout under these circumstances.

Let me repeat what I have said many, many times in the past. PAS does not have 150 seats in Parliament. In fact, PAS, DAP and PKR combined do not have 150 seats in Parliament. Read my lips. “PAS NEEDS 150 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT TO CHANGE THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY OR OF THE STATES!”

Anyway, 150 seats or no 150 seats, PAS does not intend to introduce Islamic laws, PERIOD.'

Full story here: The aftermath of the 'bloodbath'

'Malaysia Today is watching. And we shall whack the daylights out of anyone and everyone who misbehaves or forgets his or her promise. The opposition won the five states and 82 seats in Parliament with the support of Malays, Chinese and Indians. It needed all the races to cross the finishing line. Just two races would not have achieved that. One race would have been even more impossible.

So remember who put you where you are today. Remember who gave you your job. The rakyat can hire and the rakyat can fire. We, the rakyat, made you and we, the rakyat, can break you. Just remember that and with God as our witness we shall not fail to do that if you fail to do what you promised to do'

I will be doing my part as well to watch the opposition states just as we have done for the previous BN federal and state administrations. Power to the people!

Congratulation, Malaysians!

2008-03-09T22:38:00.002+11:00

Well done! Malaysians of all races did the right thing and together we toppled BN's 2/3rd majority. This usher a new era for our country, a better place for everyone regardless of race and religion. I believe our country has arrived to the point that we can truly call our Malaysia for Malaysians.

From now onwards I hope that what the opposition will walk the talk. Implement what they have promised to the people. After all elected representatives are elected to serve the people.

Finally, Malaysians have to stood up! I am proud of you all.

I just love North Korea and Kim Jong Il

2008-03-04T19:20:00.003+11:00

Really, I like North Korea because it has quite big balls. Their movies are good too with big budget and high production values.

Check it out. No, really you must check it out.

Bald Fest

2008-03-04T18:51:00.003+11:00

There were many of them, shiny reflecting the lights. I started to fear, worrying that I might suffer the same fate and from now on I will really treasure every single strand of my hair.

Dragged myself out of bed to attend a tax conference at 7.30 am wasn't easy but what added further to my uneasiness was the number of bald guys in the hall so much so that I can't help but count them and I couldn't finish counting.

I wonder whether it is a prerequisite to be a botak in order to be a tax consultant.

Hibernation time

2008-03-02T14:53:00.004+11:00

As soon as the cold snap took over Melbourne my body went into hibernation mode clocking 24 hours of sleep over the weekend. Just sleep, sleep and sleep like nobody's business. Looks like my hibernation will be cut short as warm weather would dominate the coming week.

Meanwhile I am looking forward to Labour Day and the Easter Break: total of 7 days off, inclusive of the weekends! Marchubulous!!

Someone agrees with me

2008-02-27T21:12:00.004+11:00

Melbourne-based Asian expert, Michael Backman agrees with me on one point in his article on the Malaysian General Election:

'So what should Malaysians do? Firstly, in a country where voting is not compulsory, they should vote. There's no point complaining on internet blogs but not bothering to vote.'

Hi-five, mate!

Full story here: Malaysia needs a strong Opposition

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Related post: Just a tick, just do it

What a sucker

2008-02-26T13:23:00.008+11:00

I thought such an intelligent woman like The Star political analyst, Joceline Tan could be capable of writing a more balanced and fairer article on Malaysian politics but her latest article today shows she can only use her brain for seeing one side of the whole picture.

'There is considerable goodwill for the show of professionalism by MCA's top two and DAP leaders would have to think twice about attacking MCA's leadership.'

Gee, what a suck up. So much for being the 'PEOPLE'S PAPER'. Only the BN people are nice guys. Again, what a sucker. It really made me want to spit at the article but doing so means spitting onto my monitor. Therefore, I hereby resort to mentally spitting on to the article! Puiii!

Full story here: A platter of new issues

Of Clubs and Techno

2008-02-24T16:13:00.006+11:00

Normally I would be tapping to the beats but not this time, actually the second time. Those beats no longer appeal to me which seriously lacks melodies but just hardcore thumping. Well maybe this is because of my extremely strong liking of pure trance music like those produced by Paul van Dyk,

Was sort of dragged to the club by my colleague for the second time this month to the infamous CBD hardcore tech club, Bubble, because he wanted me to coach him some dance moves. He got hooked to the club and dance moves after he first attended it last month.

Since then he attended the club almost every Saturday drowning himself into the music and perfecting his dance. Glad that he found some passion in it just as much as my passion for trance and progressive tech music.

To me it seems like my colleague hit puberty late because he is two years older than me and has just discovered the joy of techno music while I was already into the music since I was 13 and started clubbing by 16.

I miss the real trance music dished out in those Melbourne raves as they truly made me felt like home, after all I grew up in clubs like Flux, Atmosphere, Emporium, Espanda, Club Med and Zouk. Yes, all those classic clubs that many young people today think are just blast from the past. Well, they were good! and were the pioneers of the Malaysian clubbing scene.

While in the club last night I felt old even though nominally I am still very young and look even younger that I could pass off as some freshie uni student. But then again, this signify everyone has a different path of life. If you found something you like even if it is a very much of a youth culture, just go for it and enjoy yourself. Don't care. Before I left the scene, some Chinese gentlemen in their 50s just popped into the dance floor. I couldn't stop laughing but hey, they were having fun!

No pulling back, mate.

Now, I am thinking of plans to start a true trance and progressive tech club. Anyone in?

---

Some old clubbing/raving pics

A tampon for the nose

2008-02-21T22:20:00.006+11:00

If sanitary pads are the best blood absorber and also apparently as the 'best band aid' for heavy non-menstrual bleeding then I would like to ask if the tampon is the best blood absorber for nose bleed?

I am now having my 4th nose bleed this week and stuffed up my right nostril right now is a piece of coned-up tissue to absorb and hopefully halt the bleeding. Looks pretty messy though. Perhaps replacing it with a tampon looks more clinical, if not a new type of Gothic fashion accessory.

Okay, let's see what brands are good.... hmm... I've no idea.

Any recommendations?

Just a tick, just do it

2008-02-20T19:51:00.005+11:00

It is a shame that overseas Malaysians are not allowed to vote through post except for students, diplomats and their families. From casual observation there is a substantial number of Malaysian expats who can and will vote if given the right to do so. Sadly, the law forbids such votes denying their basic right to vote guaranteed by constitution.

If given the chance, I would exercise my right. Just place a tick on your preferred candidate on the ballot paper, fold it and then stuff it into the ballot box. You are done and you have voted. Your vote will then be counted once the polls are closed.

Every vote counts and it is a fact that a candidate can win or lose by just one vote. But many Malaysians are famous for their lackluster attitude towards politics who are more commonly known as the 'silent majority'. But I would say they are a 'silent and scared majority'. Yet they like to complain alot but do nothing when the election comes.

Their abstaining reason is completely dumbfounded if not nonsensical if you have heard their endless complaints of the government and authorities being corrupt, inefficient, failed to deliver promises and endless other faults. They complain so much but they don't believe they can do anything about it by voting. If votes can't, will complaining do the work? They don't think they can change the situation when actually they can!

Former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir said you deserve the government you voted in, and to it I would like to add you also deserve a government from abstaining your vote. To those of you who thinks a tick is so hard, please don't complain in the future and take it like a man for what you have 'not' done.

The time has come for you to make a change. Just a tick, just do it.

Talk is cheap if not free.

No fishing for sympathy, please!

2008-02-19T15:12:00.006+11:00

Humans are humans, with a wide array of emotions but I just can't take it when people fish for sympathy from the slightest non-issues! Please, cut the crap.

If you choose to be an air stewardess then you have to bear the consequences and hazards that come with the job! If you are afraid of flight terrorism then why the hell you took up the job in the first place? More so when you gave such thoughts such a weight way before you signed the contract!

Air turbulence is a non-event yet you make a big deal out of it by calling people and try to sound like you almost died. You just want the sympathy! Not only you disgust me but even gave me goosebumps!

It is sickening! You don't fish for sympathy when you are not in dire straits! In fact, getting sympathy from people is not a thing to shout about in the first place!

If you are so afraid of those occupational hazards which you were already so well aware of it before then why did you freaking took up the job?!!

To work or not to work?

2008-02-19T00:33:00.005+11:00

The bug is back and it finally hit me after two weeks since the cold bug first appeared in the office. I was a high target since my cube mate got it first, and I thought I escaped it altogether until this morning.

It must have been the weather alternating between chilly and hot days reminding us the arrival of autumn next month. The view from my desk reveals the changing colour of the leaves outside. Like the leaves, my body caught the bug. Runny nose, lethargic muscles and the becoming more frequent nose bleed hit me this morning.

Adding to the discomfort was my head going haywire throughout the afternoon reconstructing the accounts while the clock ticked and ticked signifying my budget is closing in to my work-in-progress. Trying to keep myself fine, acting in the best interest of the client and adhering to the laws was the order of the day. But I was commuting in and out of my cube for more tissues instead.

I thought I might take a day off tomorrow, actually today, to rest but still contemplating to do so because I feel that I can still go on fine albeit being lethargic and having a tissue box as my companion. Mentally, I am feeling a sure go and more so after I thought I found a way to speed up the reconstruction and also minimise the tax liability.

Perhaps I need a flower so that I can decide with the petals.