Another mad/crazy semester

I screwed up my money & capital markets paper. Which means i failed the whole subject, which means I can't go to Monash, Clayton, which means i can't do accounting and finance (specialist) offered by Monash, Clayton. Sigh...........................all i can do now is to go to Monash, Caufield and work myself doing accounting and finance (maybe) general paper. But I'd heard that after heading to Monash, Caufield it is possible to transfer to Monash, Clayton the following semester which would be my year 2, second semester. How true is it? I'm not sure but if there's an opportunity to do so, I'll take it. Failed two (2) times try for the third. Am very disappointed with the exam. Everyone said it was extremely easy cause it was identical to tutorial questions and i said "phew it was tough, i might fail". *Heavy sigh* I can't believe...how to major in finance if the introductory, the very basic concept; fundamentals i failed to understand. HOW HOW HOW!!!??? Marketing didn't went very well either. Accounting B was also down. Now left is business law which I don't have a single unit of confidence in me. I don't know what to do now. Just don't know what to do...

Happy Deepavali/Diwali

Pavillion Kuala Lumpur had left a bad taste in my mouth after what had occurred on the 25th October 2008 when it was supposed to be a joyous day to celebrate cousin Melvin and Shi Ket's wedding. After the dinner which ended at approximately 11.25 p.m. we headed to find our car at the parking bay. We walked accompanying my grandma till we reach an exit of the complex to wait for my aunt's brother who was at that time, went to take the car from the parking bay because my grandma can't walk that far. But before that we paid our parking ticket which cost RM8. We waited quite sometime, until finally he arrived and bid farewell to my grandma. Than we head straight to our parking lot alongside Uncle Frankie, Aunty Esther and Joshua. They parked at level B1 (First level of the underground parking bay) while we parked at B2 (Second level of the underground parking bay). We went to B2 using the lift, then we came out of the lift to find the two (2) doors located right and left were shut. So we went to B3 (Third level of the underground parking bay) to find the same t hing, both doors left and right locked. Next we went to B1 again to find the doors locked, so we wondered how Uncle Frankie previously went to find his car. Then we went to level 2 again (the place we waited with my grandma previously), exit the complex to find a car entrance that leads to the parking bay. We walked manually into the car passageway which leads to B1 of the parking bay. We find a lift which was functioning, saw a man also searching for his car (He complained the same thing - doors are locked everywhere). Finally we reached level B2, found our car, drove out to the exit barrier only to find the ticket previously paid was not accepted because we lapsed the 15 minute time period to exit the parking bay. WHAT THE FUCK!!! My dad was yelling and cursing to the operator at the ticket machine. Then an attendant finally arrived to ask us to repay again because of the reason which I just wrote. My dad yelled at him , asking him to bring his manager to see us. He told us that i wasn't necessary to do it and pointed at me to pay the Rm3 instead of the RM8. Perhaps the reduction was to compensate us. I just shrugg off at him. What the hell am I supposed to go find another ticket machine to pay again. There was no apparent reason for us to pay again because it wasn't our fault for failing to exit the parking bay withing 15 minutes after paying the ticket. Doors were locked when we came out of the lift and we tried going through 3 floors (B1, B2 & B3) searching for a way to enter B2 parking bay. This attendant finally brought us to the office, but we didn't enter we waited and saw his manager coming to see us. We tried explaining but he didn't get which door we said was closed, and he explained that it is the shopping complex's policy to penalise any car owner who parks in the parking bay and not leaving withing the 15 minutes time period. My dad lambasted him back with all the valid reason. First the doors are not opened when we came out of the lift and we tried on 3 levels, therefore it was physically impossible to exit the parking bay within 15 minutes. Secondly, WHO THE HELL would want to stay in the shopping complex when everything was closed (It was 11.45 p.m. at that moment). The manager keeps on telling we have to pay to exit, and my dad treatens to break that barrier down because we are not going to pay either the RM8 or Rm3 preciously ask from us. My dad told him to bring his superior either the general manager or who ever more senior than him. He obliged; not long after Edmond and Alex was there so we told them our scenario and he too confessed that they can't find the car just now (But now they found it- Alex was driving it). Thirdly, there was certainly a breach of contract in this case. We had honoured our payment of RM8 in the beginning before we attempted to exit and now where is their honour of offering an exit for us. The matter of policy does not come into discussion here because in our circumstances, it is totally absurd and physically impossible to exit the bloody building in less than 15 minutes. We're no superman (...superpeople) here; we're just an ordinary 4 people in a family trying very hard to escape this horrific place. During the incident, present were the manager and other attendants (approx. 15-17 of them). Finally he allowed us to exit after hearing Edmond would pay the RM3 penalty. My dad continuously lambasted at them even in the car. This is precarious to their image as a 'rich and famous shopping complex' when simple problem which requires simple justification was not in motion. I understand their position that requires to uphold their instructed policy but looking at the current situation, in limited circumstances we have but of no choice to protect out rights as consumers. We are patronising the complex and it is their duty and prerogative to announce or position any signage to tell us where to go after the doors were closed. However there wasn't even a single signage available or spotted that was supposed to guide us and no any attendants that were located IN the shopping mall for us to ask. They had failed the reasonable bystander test, ultimately misleading us with utter silence on where to go to find our car. Therefore we as consumers are protected from paying that penalty charges. This is ridiculous to charge us by refering to Anonymous Shopping Complex v Anonymous where Anonymous CJ barred anonymous to claim penalty charges from anonymous due to the failure of anonymous to show valid signage to lead anonymous to locate their car at the Anonymous Shopping Complex...was just joking with business law...hahaha!! Where got case such as Anonymous v Anonymous and Anonymous CJ. Btw 'CJ' refer to chief judge. I don't dare to say that Anonymous Shopping Complex is inexistence because who knows it might be a complex in somewhere near Azerbaijan or Kazakstan or mayby located at the all famous Wall Street in the US.

Anonymous v Anonymous Shopping Complex [2008] RC BAC 123 High Court of Australia
Aplicant : Anonymous
Respondent : Anonymous Shopping Complex

Sorry about the limited type of court, deye studying Australian syllabus la.

Till then wishing all Malaysians, not only the Indians but all MALAYSIANs a very Happy Deepavali/Diwali. Remember to light your deepa(s) and avali(s) to celebrate the victory of good against evil. Expected to hear fireworks man, but it doesn't bother me studying just reminding me how great we are with diverse cultures but unified voice.

I like Doraemon

New version
Old version

When people ask me what anime/manga (whichever they call it) I watch. I'll say Doraemon. Yea man, thats my favourite comic/movie/manga (whatever it is). Since young I've been reading Doraemon, till now. No joke, the story is so fully valued with humour and morality. Friendship was the main criteria. Nobita, Sizuka, Giant and Sinyu plus Doraemon. Besides, its so bloody funny la, every time read also would not get bored of it. What can I say man, everyone has childhood memories, just that mine is still alive. Wakaka!

Benjamin Thum Chun Hon's 19th Birthday

Its 3.44 a.m. on the 19th October 2008. Can't sleep yet! Why? Was overwhelmed by the surprises given by my super, cool, awesome buddies. They crash into my house to give me a surprise birthday celebration. Thats right they crash into my house at 12.00 a.m. on the 19th October 2008!! That would be the last thing I'll ever thought off at 12.00 a.m. How wonderful they are? Too wonderful!! Don't know what really need to write yet, this simple short post is dedicated to all those who had participated to organise this special celebration whether directly or indirectly, well wishes from msn, handphone messages, etc. THANK YOU ALL!!! If I were to be transfered to Australia next year, definitely there would be a permanent big place in my mind for all of you guys. Wei Liang, Melisa Seo, Esther Ng, Nicholas Lam, Andrew Lee, Jerry Yap, Chen Siang, Tom Yam, Daniel Lau, Chieh Ai, Jo Wee, Yong Hao, Kar Kien, James Chai, Logananth, Alexander Tan, Carryn Tan, Lesley Tan, Nick Chew, Pei Chern, Chou Xie, Adrian Lim, Sze Luan, Kumar, Gun Wei Chye and others. Appreciate all of it!

Now though its my B'day, as how Melisa put it, me last birthday as a teen with a number one in the front (next would be 20 adi), I'll still criticise this MCA (Used to be referred as Malaysian Chinese Assosiation), but now I've no idea what they're are called. The election just ended,we knew who won. Was expected but then again; "What can a few useless guys winning a useless organisation achieve?"

--N.O.T.H.I.N.G--

Exactly!! NOTHING!!!

With all the published news in The Star newspaper, how many people actually took the time to read, i skipped all those useless news. Financial news or other relevant news should be put forth before this immaterial election. But they'll never do it cause MCA owned a huge stake in The Star Newspaper mah.

Recession came knocking at the door.

Based on my last post, so the USD$700 billion injection bill was passed after observing a near total collapse of the global financial system, but there was a catch there; the remedy did not HALT THE MOMENTUM of the crisis! Great so the "man made disaster" was so terrible that stocks and indices across the globe felt to their knees at the lowest benchmark they could be in over a decade or so. Eight (8) national central banks made a coordinated rate cut (50bps = 0.5%) that was spurred by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). An unprecedented move I would say in this context. However the market did not felt comfortable with the move and it went on a free fall continuously. Spurring the first Japanese insurance company to go bust, Yamato Life Insurance Co. This is so serious. As of the time of writing, the market seems to be reacting positively now with Dow Jones scoring up a couple of hundred points (*Figure unsure*), hopefully it will sooner or later subside the invasion of one of the worst financial crisis since The Great Depression of 1929.

I personally classify this invasion into three (3) waves of attack. The first wave was the fallout of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The greed of banks to stimulate quick revenue had overlooked the potential disastrous risk looming around the corner since early of 2000s. Alan Greenspan, former president of the Federal Reserve like it or not, did contribute to this disaster. His continuous ambitious plan of cutting rates to stimulate growth, and by hedging those risk by derivatives is uplifting the whole disaster into the reality region. George Soros and Warren Buffet had once stated the destructive nature of derivatives to the financial market long before but this was strongly opposed by Greenspan even till today. The cooperation between banks, mortgage institution and rating agency (Standard & Poor's and Moody's) contributed to the overall downfall.

Second wave, hit the financial institutions across the European continent and starting to infest into the Asian markets with the first casualty of the Japanese Yamato Life Insurance Co. At the current moment although central banks and governments had injected billions of USD$ into the money market to reliquidify it after weeks of being frozen up due to the loss of confidence, the scenario remains the same (free fall). Therefore I would have to agree with other commentators that this is not a financial crisis because even though funds are injected, the financial landscape remain motionless to the injection and it can be conclude it is a confidence crisis. Whereby investors, depositors, policyholder, and et cetera are all loosing confidence to the financial system. They've been fooled once and not wanting twice. The continuous distrust would halt the entire economy form correcting itself. That's what the fearful scenario is happening.

The third wave is when it starts to hit the non-financial institution, such as the manufacturing, agriculture, servicing , etc industries. Giant corporation such as GM, GE, Toyota, Honda and etc are already expecting the deep cut in their yearly revenue. Which would ultimately slash the employment rate, creating unrest, social problems and the lists goes on and on.

Malaysia is still pretty much safe as a result of de-coupling from the US's economy, well maybe at the moment but definitely not for long. Singapore, our very own neighbour had fallen to a recession mid of last week. Should we strike the panic button? I really think we should.

WHAT? NO US$700 billion bail out plan?

ITS like WOOOW!! their faith is about to be sealed for the coming US election. And when I mean 'their' faith, i mean it includes us as well. No bail out plan, more victims of the financial crisis coming up next. So where do we head now? US Congress is playing politics with the world economy. How do we save these so called New York fatcats from utterly destroying the US financial systems? I'll just parrot out whatever they had stated regarding the crisis because in my capacity as a first year business student (Accounting & finance), I'm still lack of the experience necessary to give out comments.

The main reason for the failure to pass out that specific bill was because many lawmakers were unsure of the consequences of the bill's results. Its a major scenario whereby giving one man (Henry Paulson-US Treasury Secretary) wielding too much power to command the distribution of $700 billion tax payer monies. Yea this maybe a plan to save WallStreet from crumbling through buying out toxic assets from troubled financial institution but who is saving and protecting the tax payers monies. What happens if the whole bail out plan turns to out to be a failure? We're talking about $700 billion , no small amount. There was lack of discussion between the congressman with the US Treasury-Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve-Ban Bernanke. Too much information are remaining ambiguous. The bill stated that it would:

"Give power to the US Treasury Secretary- Henry Paulson the authority to
buy out toxic assets at a price he deems fit in the market price".

"He deems fit" is too ambiguous for these bill to be accepted by many lawmakers.

Secondly, many lawmakers hold a stand in their principle of a freemarket, whereby government intervention is unnecessary because hoping the market to stabilise itself as times goes by. But that would also leave room for more financial institution to fail. Every second is money, on Monday morning when Asian markets reopened, we could see waves after waves of drooping share prices, serious bearish outlook where thousand of sellouts occurring at once even though at that time the bill was still on discussion (no rejected yet). However though the Western countries are at the brink of recession, we here in the Asia are being supported by the continuous growth of China and India. Therefore the upcoming potential would not be a spillover effect in Asia although there will be slight turbulence form time to time. What the Deputy Prime Minister also the new Finance Minister said that "our fundamentals are strong" was a complete crap statement because its not because of our fundamentals but because of the ongoing growth rate of China and India that plays a supporting role in stabilising us. Our reliability to the US to buy our products especially crude palm oil is still strong, therefore the recession impact would definitely have a knock-on effect on us but perhaps only a lighter dose.

Overall outlook is still not good, near horrible if nothing is still done tomorrow by the US lawmakers. So from onwards after these crisis, the credibility financial institution of US banks would be a legacy to them, no longer able to rise again after so much of scandal revealed. Some layman may say the economy is bad, but why is bad? Its because the banks across the globe, including our central bank (Bank Negara) are too greedy with their slow but steady income and sought more income by commiting unethical business dealings. Our central bank governor may had retained our interest rate to promote growth, but who knows whats happening in the administration of Bank Negara. Some screw up matter could be happening in there.

This is already a world issue sophisticatedly brought to unprecendented level of fear in a new form of World War coming in the form of survival for the fittest. I do hope I'll still be able to find a job after I've graduated. GULPSSS!!! If there is SOMEONE out there who could mobilise the recapitalisation of important financial institution. PLS DO APPEAR QUICK!!

Act of stupidity

Raja Petra Kamarudin being detained under ISA. I can understand due to his outspoken attitude. But to detain an innocent journalist who is just doing her job is totally absurd to the highest order. How can you expect others to do their job properly if they are constantly harass by the draconian law; moreover this revolves around the exertion of freedom of press that was constantly highlighted by the Prime Minister and Information Minister prior the the 12th General Election. The thing that boggles my mind or even everyones' mind is that having known the popularity level of the Barisan regime is at all time low, why are they continuing to poke the hornets nest. They are directly accelerating the coming of the 16th September take-over by Anwar Ibrahim. What are they thinking? Has all resources been outsource to regain the popularity of the rakyat or they are just plain stupid. A reasonable person or in this case; a reasonable government would certainly take precaution steps to not increase the hatred flame of the rakyat. I've read the MalaysiaToday's website and one particular sentence in one article stole my attention. RPK stated that "...ask the Malays in the opposition to come out in defence of their non-Malay brothers and sisters and warn the Umno Malays, in no uncertain terms, that they take to the streets at the risk of facing fellow Malays from the opposition who will defend their non-Malay brethren to the last drop of their blood. I, for one, am ready to stand by my Chinese and Indian comrades. So let Umno be warned" (Hari Reformasi, The Day Of A New Dawn, MalaysiaToday). I respect him for that. At first, after the 12th General Election result, I was sceptical whether Anwar Ibrahim have the capacity to take-over the government by 16th September 2008 as he had constantly claimed even to the internation reporting medias. Since the arrest of Ms. Teresa Kok, MP of Seputeh for been alleged to have commented on the azan prayers around Seputeh and the abrupt arrest of Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng, the journalist who covered the story of Ahmad's racial slurs during the Permatang Pauh by-election ceramah, I am now convince certainly that Anwar Ibrahim would have to mount a take-over action at all cost necessary. Its no longer the government of the people, the tipping point had been reached. Whether Prime Minister Badawi was aware of such action being taken out without proper documentation from the Home Ministry, the issue had been made into an issue. Another thing which I've read from MalaysiaToday website not long ago, that UMNO doesn't really have the three (3) million supporters it claimed to have, which ultimately prove to be an expected situation looking at the current political landscape. Let me be honest here, at times when I watch the news regarding an UMNO member being accused of something (i.e. Ahmad) and it was reported that supporters of his are requesting the issue to be closed, it immediately strike my mind that "those supporters must have been his cronies or not who the hell would support such obvious issue". To me, its not the matter of being a decedent of immigrants or receiving equal rights, but it is the method he portrayed his belief in such demonising manner, especially those coming out from a politician. If he wants to belief in such thoughts, then be my guess but provided he is not a politician because being a politician requires some certain protocol being practiced and he had definitely violated it. Taking for example former premier, Mahathir who loudly from time to time criticises the Malays for loosing out to the other races; well I don't mind if that is his thought because he is just a normal rakyat of Malaysia just like you and me. There are no protocols for him to follow. Having said that, in my opinion and perhaps the opinion of my fellow Malaysians; Ahmad should have been sacked and not merely suspended for three (3) years and be shoved into the Kamunting detention centre under Section 73(1) of the ISA for being a real treat to the nation as a whole. I sympathises the Barisan National regime for constant failure to put out the flaming hatred of the rakyat. What ever had the Prime Minister tried to do; including eliminating corruption within the regime and awarding independence to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) from the intervention of the Prime Minister himself all the way to suggesting judiciary reforms are now what I believe to be invalid due to some irresponsible and stupid politicians causing uproar here and there. What a pity.

Though I am supporting the coming of a new age in Malaysian politics but nevertheless I am not fully supporting Anwar; due to his current stand of championing reforms that is of my type that I'm lending my support to his cause and not to him. My loyalty is to my country, and the loyalty of politicians are to me and the rakyat of Malaysia. Never shall we be swayed again by their smooth talking methodology as we had done it in the past before the coming of the new age. Politics remain something to be check from time to time. Lifting up our defenses would only cause the crumbling the new awaited age and revert ourselves back into the dark ages of Malaysian politics.

However as we are now awaiting the moment of truth in three (3) days times, the other side of the world is facing a tremendous financial crisis. The troubled financial institution of Lehman Brothers. Would it be a repeated scene of the Bears Stern last March where the United States Treasury and Federal Reserve would spend another couple of billions (tax payers monies) to bail this institution out just like it had done previously on Freddie Mac and Fannie May? Or would the Bank of America, Barclays-United Kingdoms bank or the Chinese bank would send the immediate help necessary to avoid Moody's and S&P rating agency to downgrade Lehman Brothers to a triple-B rating, limiting certain action allowed to be taken by the Lehman Brothers. Financial news at times are as interesting as Malaysian politics, full of speculation and guessing games of scandals and stuff.

Birthdays

Lam's B'day

Admiring Lam's room
To the "ROOM"!

Discussion, "Where to eat?"
Chen Siang admiring the song "Qing Tian"

Mar Vin with Lam's guitar
Lam's with his drum
Yong Hao's wanna "fight" look.
What to eat at "Vary Pasta"?

"Don't take my picture, I'm sleeping", Andrew


IN Lam's room.

Sprite bottle but I don't think the cup is filled with Sprite.

Carryn and Wei Liang

Gun, I GOT YOUR PICTURE!!! with Melisa

Lam's yelling for help, "I got cream on my face"
Stop running from the camera Gun
Esther with her "mmmm" look
"You slept with my wife!!" lol

Daniel in blue and Mar Vin in black
Lam negotiating how many candles to pull out, "What the babi shit you want me to pull out how man candles" lol
The "pulling" begins.
Not bad. lol

Chocolate Cake from Cake Sense, by Gun


Making his 581 pages long wish
EVERYONE!

On the 8th September 2008, Esther planned to crash into Lam's house after class to give him a surprise birthday visit. Afternoon we had lunch at Medan with Taylor gang (Wei Liang, Gun and Joseph). Later after class we plan, plan and plan till it takes so many hours hanging around Monash (From 3pm - 5pm). Basically the discussion was "Who is following Gun's car?, "How many people driving?", "What you all doing here, going somewhere"-by "Yam-a.k.a. KS" (Engineering students should know) and "What time going?". Daniel, Melisa, Kar Kien (join during lunch at Medan) Esther, Chen Siang, Kok Beng, Tom, Jerry(join during dinner), Carryn, Wei Liang, Gun, Joseph (join during lunch at Medan), Mar Vin, Yong Hao, Chieh Ai ,Lam, Jo Wee and me were there. In the end, only me followed Gun's new Honda Accord. Lucky fellar to drive nice car. Anyway, we were supposedly to meet Chen Siang at the Curve. So I called him which part of the Curve to meet, and he said "Err...the Apple meet at the Apple". Apple?!!. Is it the entrance of the Curve with the Big Apple Dougnut shop. Went there, no one. waited...still no one. Saw MyVi BJU ####, followed the car then suddenly the realising the car moving different direction, Gun made a turn back to Curve and then Mar Vin called telling us to meet at the Coffee Bean, but too late we passed it already so we straight head to Lam's residential area and wait for them at the guard entrance. Waited and waited again untill Jo Wee's red mercedes came. Then waited again for Chen Siang and the rest. After that we went and pay Lam a visit. Mana tau later he told us that he knew we were coming cause he saw Jo Wee's car around the highway turning to Sunway Damansara. haha everything got blown off. Anyway was a fun day for Lam I guess. For dinner we went to a shop called "Vary Pasta" near Atria. Then after that we headed home. Btw I too stayed at Sunway Damansara, and Lam's house just walking distance away from mine. haha its good to have a neighbour as your classmate during SAM and now. Thats why I directed Gun to Lam's house cause only me, Melisa and Chen Siang knows where it is. Melisa guide Jo Wee ansd Chen Siang guide the rest. Nice teamwork.

Andrew's Birthday

The very next day...ITS ANDREW's Birthday, so we went to MEDAN to celebrate. They bought Chocolate Banana from Secret Recipe. Kar Kien, Kok Beng, Chieh Ai, Andrew, Tom and Jerry bought the cake. Great week to start with I'll say!

Its rubbish, don't bother fixing your eye balls to it.

Budget, Budget, Budget... thats all we've been hearing for the last three (3) days and now its finally over with an unimpressive results for us the people. Never mind about that for I'm NOT!touching it cause then it'll be too dry for this post, not that this blog is not dry already but then again better not make it worse. Well what can I say; insufficient pictures just purely words, but I just don't have the time while fueling myself with freaking subjects to study for a freaking university to aim for another freaking university in a another freaking side of the freaking world with no freaking guidance from that freaking lady at the freaking marketing department for my freaking transfer progamme. Macam tak makan, buat kerja. Puasa also haven't come, somemore its a chinese somemore. Just purely unethical, either the fault of the university administration or her, which ever the case, Monash, sunway its just not as what I've taught of at the very first everlasting place. Whatever la, when all plans fail, credit transfer to University of Western Australia (UWA) or University of Adelaide. Yeas, I'm so bloody desperate to head to Australia by the early of year 2009, cause I need something different from my everyday lifeless life, scourging my body from day to day, night to night with such malicious cunning act that could devour me anytime, anywhere. What the hell is with my words? No idea, don't bother; just too bored with assignments, homeworks, worrisome problems and boredness. 95% boredness of repeating each day with the same vicious cycle of life. Really wanna use some freaking bad words but then would sound very unprofessional here. So be it, due to my over protectiveness with the professionalism incorporated into my professional blog, I shall resist temptation to tarnish my professsional well-build, well-design blog that suit my level of professionalism.

How crappy can a crappy person gets himself into?

Really crapped up!

ZZZzzz...

'One world one dream', Indeed!

A little article I found from bloomberg's website (To commemorate the Beijing 2008 Olympic). China had done a splendid job in hosting the 'world games' amid the various distraction aiming to derail their quest from performing a superior and flawless olympic games. Congratulations! to the Chinese nation, and now my best of wishes! to the United Kingdom to try and outperform China's current standing legacy.

``He is just a normal person, although he maybe from a different planet. A planet from a different galaxy.'' -- Russian swimmer Alexander Sukhorukov on Michael Phelps.
``It would be nice if historians talk about Michael Phelps winning seven gold medals, and losing the eighth to some guy. I'd like to be that guy.'' -- Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic on trying to stop Phelps's in the 100 butterfly.
``I'm stoked with this. I don't want to fight this.'' -- Cavic, after losing to Phelps by 0.01 second and disagreeing with his team's decision to file a protest.
``I don't even know what to feel right know; there are so many emotions. I kind of just want to see my mom.'' -- Phelps after breaking Mark Spitz's record with an eighth gold.
``I gave it my best shot and I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have filed my nails last night.'' -- U.S. swimmer Dara Torres after losing her final by 0.01 second.
``It was the most impressive athletics feat I've ever seen in my life.'' -- 400-meter world-record holder Michael Johnson on Bolt's world-record run in the 100 meters final.
``I blew my mind and I blew the world's mind.'' Bolt after winning the 200 meters in world-record time, breaking Johnson's 12-year-old standard.
``The secret of the team's success? Reggae power.'' -- Women's 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser after Jamaica swept the medals in the race.
``He could be a 400-meter runner as well, but he's just lazy.'' -- U.S. sprinter Wallace Spearmon on men's 100 and 200- meter champion Usain Bolt.
``I am not Flash Gordon or anybody. My name is Bolt, Lightning Bolt.'' -- Bolt dismisses Johnson's suggestion that he is Superman.
``Whenever he stood up, he fell down.'' -- Liu Xiang's coach after the defending 100-meter hurdles champion from China withdrew in the first round because of an ankle injury.
``There are so many people caring for me and who have done a lot for me. I am really sorry.'' -- Liu speaking in an interview with China Central Television about his withdrawal.
``The sky is my only limit.'' -- Women's pole vault champion Yelena Isinbaeva after setting the 24th world record of her career in the final.
``It was a race of attrition. I can count on one hand the number of races in which I've started to sweat before the race starts.'' -- U.S. cyclist George Hincapie after finishing 40th in the Aug. 9 road race in hot and humid conditions.
``We have been training in Baghdad, we train two sessions a day, it's sometimes very dangerous as there can be explosions. Before it used to scare us but now it's part of everyday life.'' -- Iraqi rower Haidar Nozad on his preparation for the Games.
``When I was about to do the third (lift), I kept in my mind that the Dear Leader would be watching.'' -- North Korean weightlifter Pak Hyon Suk after winning the women's 63kg event.
``I was here in February, I don't see no blue sky. To keep such clear air, that's fantastic.'' -- Men's marathon world- record holder Haile Gebrselassie rues his decision not to run the race as Beijing experienced its lowest pollution in a decade.
``You see those five little rings there? This is the Olympics. This is it. It takes all of you to win.'' -- New Zealand hockey player Blair Hopping after re-entering a game following a head injury.
``My performance was perfect and ideal. I would have been baffled if you do not say that was perfect.'' -- Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima comments on his successful defense of the 100-meter breaststroke title.
``I had a chat with Natalie Coughlin. It's nice to know the people you race against aren't as scary as they look.'' -- Australian swimmer Alicia Coutts on competing at the top level.
``Unfortunately that's our sport. Here you do your performance and turn it over to someone else's hands.'' -- U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin after placing second in uneven bars with the exact same score as gold-medalist He Kexin of China.
``The swimmers have to carry not so much body fat. They're awfully popular with the other gender.'' -- Australian beach volleyball player Joshua Slack.
``He's a gangster. It was street combat.'' -- French fencer Fabrice Jeannet on his epee bout with Sergey Katchurin of Kyrgyzstan.
``I'm very proud of having a son-in-law who can score two goals against Brazil and then gets fouled in the box for a penalty.'' -- Argentina soccer icon Diego Maradona on Argentine forward Sergio Aguero.
``There's a lot of unity and a lot of strength in this group. I don't know if that's of any interest to America, but that's what they're missing.'' -- U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon after returning to the team following his father-in-law's Aug. 9 murder at a Beijing tourist site.
``It hasn't been easy. When you throw in the emotional load that the team has had to bear through collectively, for them to come through is a wonderful achievement.'' -- McCutcheon after guiding his team to the victory in yesterday's gold-medal match.
``It's a storybook ending for us,'' -- U.S. volleyballer Gabriel Gardner after helping the U.S. win the gold medal.
``I don't know about dynasty. Maybe legends.'' -- Misty May-Treanor, half of the gold-medal winning U.S. beach volleyball team, on how she'd describe herself and Kerri Walsh.
``Sometimes I work as a hairdresser through the day to make money and train at night. I train very hard, but our training situation is not good. We cannot shower in the training place.'' -- Taekwondo bronze medalist Rohullah Nikpai after winning Afghanistan's first Olympic medal.
``If the world were to draw any lesson from what I did, there would never be any wars.'' -- Georgian shooter Nino Salukvadze after sharing the medal podium with Russia's Natalia Paderina. They embraced while their countries exchanged gunfire.
``I proved the existence of Georgia in the world with my gold. It means a lot, especially in this difficult time.'' -- Georgian Greco-Roman wrestler Manuchar Kvirkelia after winning the 74-kilogram division.
``My opponent did not behave in a sportsman-like manner.'' -- Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan comments after Cuban opponent Angel Valodia Matos kicked the referee in the head after being disqualified from their taekwondo bronze-medal bout.
``I'm going to keep it until I die. I will show it to my son, he is 13 months old. When he grows up I will show him my gold medal, and my dirt.'' -- South Korean pitcher Bong Jung Keun explains why he filled a water bottle with dirt after his team beat Cuba 4-3 to win the gold medal.
``There is great disappointment in the whole population. They really feel that there is something about mighty America against us.'' -- Imro van Wilgen, secretary general of the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Association, after Churandy Martina was stripped of the silver medal in the men's 200 meters following a U.S. protest.
``The parks are a little like plastic fruit and we wouldn't want to take a bite of them. Freedom of speech isn't something you can put in a box.'' -- John Hocevar, co-founder of Students for a Free Tibet, on the designated Olympic protest zones.
``The reason was for the nation's interest. The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression.'' -- Chen Qigang, musical director of the opening ceremony, on why producers replaced 7-year-old Yang Peiyi with 9-year-old Lin Miaoke to lip-synch to Yang's recording of ``I Sing For My Country.''
``I just lay on my bed and watched soap operas.'' Zhong Man on his preparations for becoming the first Chinese male fencer to win an Olympic gold medal.
``China does have some problems with defense, but we also have problems with our attacks and our passing.'' -- China handball coach Kang Jae Won after his team lost to Kazakhstan.
``It is a very big concern. We cannot blame China for being so strong as it is their national sport. Other nations have to become stronger.'' -- Adham Sharara, president of the International Table Tennis Federation, after China's gold medal sweep in is sport.
``I think Chairman Mao gave me the power.'' Chinese badminton player Lin Dan after winning the men's singles.
``I'm a veteran. I've never dropped a stick in my life.'' -- U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay after the 400-meter relay squad was eliminated in the first round because of a botched baton change.
``They're taking a lot of medals but they didn't take it out from our hide,'' Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee, on China's performance after the Americans matched their Athens tally of gold medals.
``My message isn't just for disabled people it is for everyone. It's to use the negatives in a good light.'' -- South African swimmer Natalie Du Toit after becoming the first amputee to compete in the Olympics in the women's 10-kilometer event.
``It taught me to think step by step and be patient. When you are in so much pain lying in a hospital bed, you aren't thinking about the next month, but the next hour.'' -- Maarten van der Weijden of the Netherlands, a leukemia survivor who won the gold medal in the men's 10-kilometer swim.
``It was one of the goals of the season for me to do well here. So obviously the quarterfinals is not going to do it for me.'' -- Roger Federer after losing to James Blake for the first time in his career in the Olympic men's singles.
``The number of gold medals is a big surprise. The U.K. has a tendency to win big at large events and then become complacent. That cannot happen this time.'' -- John Steele, chief executive officer of UK Sport, on Britain's best gold-medal haul in a century.
``It is more important and more special than any championship that any of us will ever win.'' -- Kobe Bryant, a three-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers after helping the U.S. win the gold medal.
``It's the biggest meeting of East and West, in peaceful circumstances, in the world's history.'' -- International Olympic Committee member Kevan Gosper, who helped oversee China's preparations, on the Beijing Games.
``These were truly exceptional Games'' -- Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, in his closing ceremony address.
``It's been nothing but an upwards rollercoaster. It's been nothing but fun.'' Phelps on his eight gold medal haul.






(Bloomberg, 2008)