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)

The dark side of a developed nation

Funny as it seems, that developed countries across the globe are often heavy criticiser of international human rights abuses, effect of barred media/ freedom of speech/ freedom of expression, etc of other developing countries. Being the s0 called "big brothers" of the world, entrusted to lead the world into the new era of globalisation, solidifying diplomatic ties of other developing countries and even to an extent of interfering several nations' political landscape. Yet they had failed to look themselves into the mirror and ask "who the real losers are?". Russian Federation illegitimate invasion into the heartland of Georgia clearly shows that such a large nation that was often at the limelight of the world (Post-era of the grand Soviet Union- USSR) is still unworthy to correct and criticise others. It is better for a developing country to wage a war against another developing country than a developed country waging a war against a developing country. Shameful for a leader who speaks often of peace and harmony, is now flagging its dark side to a minor country that is being limited in terms of weapon technology and human power.

Monash is becoming an ass

Monash University Sunway campus had terribly disappointed me with their full blatant lies and misrepresentation all over its brochures telling the world how grand and great they are. Let me share with you my experience while being coerced and later drifted away from my real intention.
At the beginning of 2008, after receiving my unstunning and disappointed SAM results, i forgo my intention to study engineering because I failed the qualification requirement of Monash and had no intention to go for other universities (those that I qualified) as Monash is well-known to be internationally recognise for it's capabilities of producing top-notch undergraduates students for the past several years. So my dad started throwing up questions at the counselors at the Finance Department in Monash University, Sunway campus regarding the chances of being transfered to Monash, Clayton campus in my year 2 which is 2009, and she stated that for Clayton, the requirement of the average marks is to be a minimum of 70% while Caufield campus is minimum of 65% and the rest (Berwick, Peninsular, Gippsland and South Africa) is lower then 65% (She was unsure). She failed to include that those minimum requirements were bounded to change from each semester. That lack of information had induce me to enrol for Monash, as if I was to be inform of the change of requirements then I would have alter my choice and enrol directly to Monash, Clayton campus or other universities such as University of Adelaide or University of Western Australia. Now, after attending two (2) "Monash transfer" talks and being briefed that the new requirement for transfer to Clayton and Caufield campuses had been upgraded to 70% for both respectively. This was due to increase in supply and demand of students and after attaining a minimum of 70%, you are only eligible to apply and not confirm a place in either Clayton or Caufield. Which means they'll pick only the creme de la creme which the earlier counselor had failed to project this information to me or my parents at the time of registration to Monash, Sunway campus. My guess is that too many people had opted for Caufield as a back-up plan if they were to fail the requirement to enter Clayton therefore they increase both to the same level of requirement. Worst of all engineering students only require a minimum of past (50%) to be eligible to offer for transfer to either Clayton or Caufield despite engineering being a much more tougher coarse (so to say) but with many people scoring high distinctions and my guess is that many people opted to study 2+2 if they ever plan to do a transfer, therefore in simple economic terms, there is no demand from the engineering school undergraduates students. Unfair it is because there was obvious a silence when it comes to transfer as many counselors were unaware of the requirements of transferring, as Monash from time to time changes it to suit to the situation without properly addressing to us students and luckily for me that I've done Specialist Mathematics in my YEAR 12 in SAM at Taylors, but to those who didn't do or had drop that subject then its too bad. But as a reasonable person, its hard to actually ask Monash University to find out the requirement as many of us were still unsure of our future path to universities. Therefore its difficult for us as we are at the loosing end no matter what happened, this is obviously a kind of moral hazard whereby one party is much more informed then the other creating an unbalance form of communication. Monash maybe be great at harnessing good undergraduates but seriously a no in terms of giving advice because many of it were omitted. Its so hard in semester two (2) to score an average of 74 marks (Distinction) for each subject. Business Law (Fat hopes), Marketing (attainable), Accounting B (Hopefully) and Money and capital markets (No idea). IN depressing shit, Fuck up la.

Questionable jurisdiction

Sometime long ago, I used to question why is it taking so long for a judicial case to be solve. After conducting my studies on Business Law for exactly four (4) weeks, I've realised how troublesome it is to conduct one tiny case. There are various ways that one can manipulate the exact meaning of the law. My point of argument resides at the methodology of justifying oneself upon convicted of performing unethical business transaction, whether big or small. In a simple yet nontrivial act of negligence, the plaintiff can possibly fail to take legal action upon the defendant if the former fail to prove that the latter had not in his/her capacity at that point in time to act according as a reasonable person justified by his/her position. Even though the mistakes are obvious in our general non bias eyes but yet the law can still protect these culprits whether intentionally or unintentionally. Whatever the case maybe, the truth is one can escape bars if one is smart enough to juggle with the law. So if that's the case why not amend the law?. Why is it when things are not going accordingly the way it was mend to be yet it could not be alter at any possible way to correct it? What is/are the obstacle(s) that pushes away the reformation of the law? Through my naivety (as it seems) I can conclude that the lawmakers are trying not to overly punish these culprits. As it seems to me that in a world free of troublemakers is unforeseeable as long as the world exist. Just like how corruption come vis-à-vis with democracy. Interesting though that people have minds that could think alike in this world. Based on my personal experience, I felt that (this could sound very rubbish if not read with an open mind) there is some form of link with one person's brain with another. A brain is a particular box of ideas that is so creatively crafted for a human that it sometimes outperform what it should be performing. Sometime we could predict things without any form of materials helping us out by just purely based on instinct. Amazing it may by, as the saying goes "we are only using less than five (5) percent of out brain's capacity to think". There were rumours too that says if we use more then the five (5) percent of our brain's thinking capacity, we could fly without the help of any form of mechanism. It was further justified by the people that says the only person whom had outperformed the five (5) percent barrier was Albert Einstein, and look at what he had achieved. Predicting theories that are clearly out of his time and only can be proven during our time. Miraculously he has no descendants that can continue his geniuses. Our brains are full with neurons (that are not in use) that will detached itself from each other as we grow older (that forbids us to learn faster compared to a younger person). Interestingly the mysterious box that resides in our head can be so powerful unfortunately it has no replacement if it goes bust. A heart can be replace with a mechanical heart, but can a brain be replace with an A.I. brain? Even if we would have that kind of technology we could ignite a new form of fear, robot invasion. As it had been shown in many movies with the latest, "I robot" stared by Will Smith. Anyway many things remain unanswered and this will goes on and on until one day when they all are answered, something new will await for us. Anyway good news, crude oil price drop to USD$118, demand slowing and supply from the middle east increasing, so far so good, go lower and we will get lower price from the pump.

Oil dilemma

26th June 2008

Ended class at 10am, watched "Red Cliff" with Jo Wee, CX, Carryn, Pei Chern, Yong Hau, Andrew, Kar Kien, Daniel, Beng and Tom. It WAS "THE" SUPREME MOVIE!! "RED CLIFF" a.k.a "CHI BI" is like the bomb of all bombs. Nevermind the actor and actresses, but their strategies, although wasn't really emphasize in the film but was extremely outstanding. The Eight Tiagrams Formation (a.k.a. turtle formation) was really great. The used of the reflective shield and the distortion of the enemies view by creating a sand storm condition before direct engaging them was brilliant. Though in the novel was never written any of this, but to put it in the story, I'll say quite interesting. But I'll comment that the director and producer could actually emphasize more on their strategies cause the presence of Zhuge Liang makes it a trademark to deploy serious and cunning strategies in the battlefield. Overall marks out of ten (10), I'll say a 8.9. Night fall, went out with Adrian to Taipan, "Kayu".

27th June 2008

Night fall went to Li Shin's farewell/birthday barbecue party at her house. Met old friends; Da Qiang, Chai Yin, Mei Ling, Ning Ning, Bik Yun, Ken Hon, Ting Yu, Emily, Ze Ling, and Lester. Barbecued the chicken wings, prawns and sausages. It was so hot handling those chicken wings. Luckily it was raining (drizzling), at least to cool down the surrounding temperature. Chit-chated old times in Seafield.

And now for some serious issue concerning our nation's prestige. Foreign diplomats concentrated their attacks on Malaysia's legal system. Seeking justified explaination from our Foreign Minister regarding Anwar's sodomy case that is said to be tainted with political motives. The usual stuff, Rice (Secretary of State) coming in to meddle around with other countries sovereignty. Typical of Americans, not blaming her but she's just doing her job.

Anyway, I believe most of you all had heard about the good news. Oil price drop till USD$124 from USD$147 recently. Demand is falling, speculators taking a break and supply just keeps on climbing. Every car owners in America is vying to switch to fuel efficient cars and Japan's oil demand is decreasing by day, thanks to the overly speculated oil price. That was last straw for many major and minor oil consumers. The damaged had been done, the demand is going through a reduction. But the question remains, how long will it be? General Motors recent clinging to their smaller profit due to a drastic change of demand for luxurious and petrol guzzling vehicles among the Americans is trying to create more hybrid cars to satisfy the changing needs of their former and potential customers. Today's The Star Biz Week reported several high profile who commented on the coming liken-to-be future prospects in the O&G (Oil & gas) industries. Their general view as I summarised it is oil prices will not go lower then US$100. Thats a good start concerning the demand is indeed really shrinking. At least we will not be exactly directed to head into a stagflation- fears of all fears. Mayby our inflation rate at 7.7% high might not last long if and only if oil prices remain declining. The more the better. Think of it, when everyone cuts down 40% of of their utility on oil in the world, that would deal a severe major blow to those oil producing companies since everyone now is talking about reduction in the use of petrol and switching into trifty lifestyle. A little effort by everyone could be a huge threat. I'm not making a mountain out of a mole hill, neither is it a trivial issue, but more of a setback for our economy as well. We are considered as an oil exporting countries, although our petrol price is less subsidised, and if the demand decreases drastically we are going to fall along with other Middle Eastern countries, such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and etc oild producing countries. If the oil price remain high and continues to climb, we are not in a good position; neither would it be any better if the oil price decreasesas a result of reduction in demand. Any outcome, we will still be at the loosing end. Such a dilemma.

Disappointed & disorientated with unexpected results

Back to Monash for a week already. Can't say much on results, so horribly dissappointed. One (1) distinction, two (2) credits and one (1) pass-just scrap through; compared to others who can score like three (3) high distinctions and one (1) distinction. I am totally wiped out. No words to say anymore. My aim was two (2) high distinctions and two (2) distinctions. I got punk-ed!. Anyway, this new semester would be trice as hard as expected, no idea how am I going to push through it. With the likes of business law being repeatedly condemn of it hardness and 20% failing rate by both tutor and lecturer strike me even harder form all sides. Depression, yes I am facing it. Nonetheless I wont be like others trying themselves to be optimistic, cause lets face it, I'm doomed half-way already. My average points is now standing at 66.25, which means an average of 73.75 marks for each subject would be required to strengthen my average points at 70, which is the MINIMAL requirement for a transfer to Monash, Clayton, Melbourne. DOOOM!!! JUST DOOM!!! NOTHING BUT PURE DOOM!!!

On another unrelated matter, I just watch Batman: The Dark Night. Can't say much. The show is darn long. Not really up in a mood to type anything, down with a fever. SIGH!!