Going to a university that you like...
... is like marrying someone that you like.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Beer contains female hormones - NUL
Last month, National University of Lesotho scientists released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer.
Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption.
The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women.
To test the theory, 100 men drank 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period.
It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:
1) Argued over nothing.
2) Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
3) Gained weight.
4) Talked excessively without making sense.
5) Became overly emotional.
6) Couldn't drive.
7) Failed to think rationally.
8) Had to sit down while urinating.
No further testing was considered necessary.
Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption.
The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women.
To test the theory, 100 men drank 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period.
It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:
1) Argued over nothing.
2) Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
3) Gained weight.
4) Talked excessively without making sense.
5) Became overly emotional.
6) Couldn't drive.
7) Failed to think rationally.
8) Had to sit down while urinating.
No further testing was considered necessary.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Russell's Teapot
If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.
- Bertrand Russell
Overheard from bus station - crime
I overheard this from the bus station, spoken by a Caucasian expatriate:
Things aren't as bad as everyone think they are here. Too many people are pulled to this trend to change, just because. Changing for the better is a definite good, but I just don't like it when Malaysians put it like its gonna be doom.
I don't believe it's so, at least won't if they cut those oil subsidies.
Also by an expatriate
It's much more safer here than in Bangkok
Things aren't as bad as everyone think they are here. Too many people are pulled to this trend to change, just because. Changing for the better is a definite good, but I just don't like it when Malaysians put it like its gonna be doom.
I don't believe it's so, at least won't if they cut those oil subsidies.
Also by an expatriate
Not a crime at all to work towards your own standards. In fact I think all nations should aspire for a zero crime level. However; you're saying the current gov't is doing a bad job because of the crime rate? How do you compare this? They're doing bad because it's not zero? Would someone else do better? The only comparison is to other countries, and in that regard I would suggest the Malaysian gov't is doing quite well.
Irresponsible parents
I was following a debate between an expatriate and a local. The local was bashing the government, the expatriate was defending it.
A few things said were very true. One of those being that people are overly dependent on the government to spoon feed wealth to them. Take for example oil subsidies - how many people actually think that subsidies should be removed for the benefit of the nation as a whole? Many preferred the picture of an easier life led by subsidies, even when such policies are clearly unsustainable.
Another thing is with education and admissions to local universities, in which this was pointed out:
Too true. Too many parents who failed to support their children's education is relying on the government - on subsidized books, school fees, and government scholarships. Fine for people that worked really hard for scholarships but were skipped due to race and religion, but not fine for parents who expect the government to actually make tertiary education cheap for them.
I do agree that it is the government's duty to improve the education of its people. I don't agree that the government is responsible for our children's education, just because there are God-damned irresponsible lazy parents.
Too many people should not have had any babies in the first place.
A few things said were very true. One of those being that people are overly dependent on the government to spoon feed wealth to them. Take for example oil subsidies - how many people actually think that subsidies should be removed for the benefit of the nation as a whole? Many preferred the picture of an easier life led by subsidies, even when such policies are clearly unsustainable.
Another thing is with education and admissions to local universities, in which this was pointed out:
Anyone who relies on ANY gov't to educate their children properly is an irresponsible parent.
Too true. Too many parents who failed to support their children's education is relying on the government - on subsidized books, school fees, and government scholarships. Fine for people that worked really hard for scholarships but were skipped due to race and religion, but not fine for parents who expect the government to actually make tertiary education cheap for them.
I do agree that it is the government's duty to improve the education of its people. I don't agree that the government is responsible for our children's education, just because there are God-damned irresponsible lazy parents.
Too many people should not have had any babies in the first place.
Between boredom and stress
When I get my plate full of commitments I don't have to be involved in the first place, I feel alive - and stressed. I hope that life would be simpler.
When I am very free and can afford to play computer games for very very long periods of time, I feel lifeless - and bored. I hope that life would have more things in it.
I did not sleep yesterday. Just too much to do. Felt a bit stressed. Wondered why I got my hands on reviving the edboard in the first place. Wanted to sleep and play but couldn't.
I slept on the afternoon today consequently, after coming home from classes. When I woke up, I was dead bored. I could sleep and play games now, but I don't want to.
When I am very free and can afford to play computer games for very very long periods of time, I feel lifeless - and bored. I hope that life would have more things in it.
I did not sleep yesterday. Just too much to do. Felt a bit stressed. Wondered why I got my hands on reviving the edboard in the first place. Wanted to sleep and play but couldn't.
I slept on the afternoon today consequently, after coming home from classes. When I woke up, I was dead bored. I could sleep and play games now, but I don't want to.
Sultan's intervention in appointment of MB
I feel that the Sultans should not be intervening in the appointment of MBs.
Heck, the system we have here is wrong. Sultans should be apolitical, but by giving them the powers to appoint whoever they like from the full pool of assemblymen from the winning party, by their own will, does not constitute their supposed-to-be political neutrality. The power to appoint is very important.
Sultans got things too easy. The nation do not owe it to them whatever wealth they have. They don't have the ethical right to the administration of the nation. They never worked towards their current statuses.
I don't like UMNO people but although the other candidate for the job can be corrupt, I can't accept that a group of people borne to silver-spoon on the nation's kind-will be having the arrogance to meddle in its administration.
Heck, the system we have here is wrong. Sultans should be apolitical, but by giving them the powers to appoint whoever they like from the full pool of assemblymen from the winning party, by their own will, does not constitute their supposed-to-be political neutrality. The power to appoint is very important.
Sultans got things too easy. The nation do not owe it to them whatever wealth they have. They don't have the ethical right to the administration of the nation. They never worked towards their current statuses.
I don't like UMNO people but although the other candidate for the job can be corrupt, I can't accept that a group of people borne to silver-spoon on the nation's kind-will be having the arrogance to meddle in its administration.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Dr Mahathir
Quoted as the "SMARTEST reply/response I heard whole night". Not by me.
Some guy pointed out that when he became PM during the early 1980s, Malaysia was economically equal to South Korea. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now.
Damn, I got to remember that repeating won't make your argument stronger.
Mr. Mahathir. Left the building just-in-time. He's much more better precisioned than Toyota. Every single white elephant was raised by the all-holy-and-untouchable Mr. Mahathir. He was a smart man. Smartest within UMNO. And he is still the smartest of them all. He is the person whom has successfully divided Malaysians into what we know today as "Race". To further strengthen the position of UMNO, he further divide Malaysian into "Religion". With him, we have the "they" and "us" analogy. But, that was never enough for our beloved Tun Dr. Mahathir. To ensure everyone loves him more than everyone loves Raymond, he strengthens NEP, and also ISA, while defining what is termed "sensitive", and what is not.
Most people would say, "hey, at least while he was in office, Malaysia grew". Yes, Malaysia did grow. Now, consider that a country as a seed, and the government as the gardener. Put a seed in any land (as long as there's water), it will grow. How well the tree grows depends on the gardener. Even if the gardener doesn't even look at the tree, nor watering it, the tree will still survive (we still have rain). The tree will grow at its natural growth rate. If the gardener fertilizes the land, it'll grow faster, and better, because the gardener is doing his job.
Now, lets look back at Malaysia. Instead of comparing different gardeners and their respective trees, we look at countries and government, who grow at almost the same time as us, with also in similar state after WW2. Where are we today? Kill all the White Elephants, you'll see Malaysia is actually nothing. Malaysia grew not because of its government. It's because of its private sector, which mostly has nothing to do with the government other than giving bribe to them. Of course, we can't deny FDI during the 1980s. But, where were the FDIs during 1990s and 2000?
Summary: Mahathir it just one of the smart guy in UMNO. Leave the office early, so that he wouldn't look like he failed Malaysia/Malaysians.
Some guy pointed out that when he became PM during the early 1980s, Malaysia was economically equal to South Korea. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now. We're way behind them now.
Damn, I got to remember that repeating won't make your argument stronger.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Well said. Pointless to be proud of your race
Someone said this. This hardly only applies to Africans.
When you say you are proud to be African ,why do you say so?
Did you choose your parents? Did you choose which part of the world you were born in? None of us did, we are a product of a union of our parents who were in a certain geographical area. I always laugh when anybody says I am proud to be Indian, Malay, White, etc. It's silly. None of us could choose our parents, we are what we are. Pride should be based on one's personal achievements.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Cost of producing oil is cheaper than price of subsidized oil
... is not reason to support subsidies.
Even if the cost of producing a barrel of oil is RM0.01 (1cent), selling it at RM1 when market price is RM5 means that you're suffering RM3.99 in losses for every unit you sell for RM1. Opportunity cost.
How so? Imagine selling that unit of oil for RM5 (market price) and then burning the RM3.99 to report an RM1 per unit revenue.
If Petronas' oil does indeed sell for more (since Petronas' oil is of a higher grade and fetches higher prices), then subsidizing it will incur an even greater loss. Opportunity cost.
If I sell you a RM 1 million piece of art (market price) for RM 10 just because I bought it from the artist for RM 1, opportunity cost dictates that I'm not gaining RM 9. My assets just went down by near RM 1 million from owning the piece to RM 10 after selling the piece.
The opportunity cost of a person attending university illustrates this as well. The cost isn't just the tuition fees (cost of drilling and processing oil) but involves potential incomes lost due to time spent studying.
Even if the cost of producing a barrel of oil is RM0.01 (1cent), selling it at RM1 when market price is RM5 means that you're suffering RM3.99 in losses for every unit you sell for RM1. Opportunity cost.
How so? Imagine selling that unit of oil for RM5 (market price) and then burning the RM3.99 to report an RM1 per unit revenue.
If Petronas' oil does indeed sell for more (since Petronas' oil is of a higher grade and fetches higher prices), then subsidizing it will incur an even greater loss. Opportunity cost.
If I sell you a RM 1 million piece of art (market price) for RM 10 just because I bought it from the artist for RM 1, opportunity cost dictates that I'm not gaining RM 9. My assets just went down by near RM 1 million from owning the piece to RM 10 after selling the piece.
The opportunity cost of a person attending university illustrates this as well. The cost isn't just the tuition fees (cost of drilling and processing oil) but involves potential incomes lost due to time spent studying.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Pak Lah did a big favor for the country.
Today BN lost their 2/3rds majority in Parliament and 4 states - Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kedah - in addition to Kelantan which opposition PAS retained.
It's rather pointless for a small-time blogger like me to comment on the elections since there are plenty of better sources out there.
But I just wish to say: Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi may have done the greatest favor for Malaysia since its earlier leaders yet - he made a situation conducive enough for opposition parties to grab states and parliamentary seats.
If BN wins big again, do you seriously think the country will be better off? Mahathir started nonsense in BN, if today BN is becoming humbler and more accountable, we have to thank Pak Lah for it :D
Mahathir couldn't remove Samy Vellu. Pak Lah did.
Opposition PKR won in my place (BN was incumbent) and in the place I study :D
It's rather pointless for a small-time blogger like me to comment on the elections since there are plenty of better sources out there.
But I just wish to say: Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi may have done the greatest favor for Malaysia since its earlier leaders yet - he made a situation conducive enough for opposition parties to grab states and parliamentary seats.
If BN wins big again, do you seriously think the country will be better off? Mahathir started nonsense in BN, if today BN is becoming humbler and more accountable, we have to thank Pak Lah for it :D
Mahathir couldn't remove Samy Vellu. Pak Lah did.
Opposition PKR won in my place (BN was incumbent) and in the place I study :D
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Why guys give love?
Question:
Response:
" The odd question is: How guy chooses a girl? I mean for a girl, we usually are the acceptors of love, but for a guy to give love... I feel it's amazing and always puzzled by it... "
Response:
" It's a trade. "
" Guys give love, girls give sex. "
When you buy a new phone, you give money to the dealer, dealer gives you the phone.
You're happy to get the phone, dealer is happy to get your money.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Malaysian men
Question:
Response:
" How do women perceive Malaysian men as in terms of physical looks, financial status and also characteristics/attitude. And what customization can be done to propel them to be on par/better than international standards? :P "
Response:
" Okay... I will give you an outsider's perception:
Looks: Malaysian men leaves much to be desired. The good looking ones are often mixed blood.
Charm: They're actually 'nice' men but not very smooth with the ladies I think. I'm inclined to say they are 'sweet'... so personality wise... good :)
I have to say... Malaysian men need to dress better... wear better clothes and shoes... no flip flops la... unless you got nice long legs and shorts to go with them :) but I like the traditional Malay dress (Baju Melayu) on men... kinda cute. "
Subsidizing oil just because we're net exporter
Why is everyone supporting oil subsidies so intent on balancing 'oil' accounts? You don't have to balance Petronas' profits with oil subsidies - in principle that's the same with taking manufacturing profits to fund oil subsidies. It doesn't matter from which accounts you're taking from, when you're spending you're spending from your total balance/treasury.
I heard Anwar's speech on this. He just said that we're a petroleum-exporting country and as such can afford lower prices for our people. This is just sad. He doesn't show any economic wisdom in my opinion, at least in this aspect. I can't accept such simplistic economic populist reasonings.
Oil prices must be allowed to grow. Higher prices reduces demand from those not willing or cannot afford it. Lower prices like what we have now artificially increases demand - this is what we don't want. We don't want to be paying for more as a nation when we don't have to consume that much in the first place.
I don't like BN. I don't like their holier-than-thou nonsense nor the corruption and dumb policies they do that no one seems to oppose. My support is with the opposition. It's just saddening that Anwar has to lower himself to such populist manifestos. Populism economics never work well.
The last time they did a minimum wage in Detroit, USA, the big3 auto makers in America had their market dominance slowly shrinking. No, economics isn't about doing things that are more popular.
Cut the subsidies and cut income taxes proportionately. Let tax reductions spur growth through the people's consumption. About time people tell the government that they prefer to spend the money themselves instead.
I heard Anwar's speech on this. He just said that we're a petroleum-exporting country and as such can afford lower prices for our people. This is just sad. He doesn't show any economic wisdom in my opinion, at least in this aspect. I can't accept such simplistic economic populist reasonings.
Oil prices must be allowed to grow. Higher prices reduces demand from those not willing or cannot afford it. Lower prices like what we have now artificially increases demand - this is what we don't want. We don't want to be paying for more as a nation when we don't have to consume that much in the first place.
I don't like BN. I don't like their holier-than-thou nonsense nor the corruption and dumb policies they do that no one seems to oppose. My support is with the opposition. It's just saddening that Anwar has to lower himself to such populist manifestos. Populism economics never work well.
The last time they did a minimum wage in Detroit, USA, the big3 auto makers in America had their market dominance slowly shrinking. No, economics isn't about doing things that are more popular.
Cut the subsidies and cut income taxes proportionately. Let tax reductions spur growth through the people's consumption. About time people tell the government that they prefer to spend the money themselves instead.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Malaysian General Election
There's really no point in voting for BN. They're gonna win for sure anyway. Might as well vote whatever opposition there is to balance out representation in Parliament, to check the government.
Another thing: I don't like the BN government, but I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to policies. Things like cutting oil subsidies are what I think is unpopular but good for the nation. It is exactly on this point that I disagree with the opposition's idea to increase subsidy should they be elected to power. By this promise alone, I'm supposed to not be voting for them (opposition) already.
I hate populist policies. I don't like subsidies that are aimed to get the vote. I don't like Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton for their stances against free trade - NAFTA especially (they want to radically review it) - because I think they're just exploting laymen's misunderstanding about how trade actually creates more than it destroy. Obama and Clinton was actually telling voters that NAFTA has failed to create any jobs.
But BN does even more stupid stuff:
1) Stopping peaceful demonstrations.
2) Dictating to us right and wrong (eg: demonstrations are wrong).
3) Controlling media (and student activism).
4) Extending Election Commission's chairman's tenure at constitutional retirement age (this is definitely ....).
5) Approved Permits for imports (+1 definite ugly policies).
6) Using economic development to win votes (this is government's duty).
7) Development regions aka mega projects (more space for corruption!).
8) Institutionalized racism.
9) Members of Parliament that prefer to fix potholes than make a point in Parliament.
10) Party whip that ensures all BN MPs toe party lines in Parliament.
11) Excessive government spending on development projects (do tax cuts and let consumer demand stimulate the economy in a corruption-free way instead).
12) Government blackmailing people.
and the list goes...
People say that the economy is being mismanaged. I can't tell and I doubt anyone's take in this is accurate. Policy-wise they've got my benefit of the doubt. I think that Malaysia isn't falling behind because of poor economic planning, but rather corruption.
BTW, if I'm Prime Minister, I'll slowly cut away the oil subsidies and return them in form of tax cuts. You guys can cry all you want.
Another thing: I don't like the BN government, but I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to policies. Things like cutting oil subsidies are what I think is unpopular but good for the nation. It is exactly on this point that I disagree with the opposition's idea to increase subsidy should they be elected to power. By this promise alone, I'm supposed to not be voting for them (opposition) already.
I hate populist policies. I don't like subsidies that are aimed to get the vote. I don't like Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton for their stances against free trade - NAFTA especially (they want to radically review it) - because I think they're just exploting laymen's misunderstanding about how trade actually creates more than it destroy. Obama and Clinton was actually telling voters that NAFTA has failed to create any jobs.
But BN does even more stupid stuff:
1) Stopping peaceful demonstrations.
2) Dictating to us right and wrong (eg: demonstrations are wrong).
3) Controlling media (and student activism).
4) Extending Election Commission's chairman's tenure at constitutional retirement age (this is definitely ....).
5) Approved Permits for imports (+1 definite ugly policies).
6) Using economic development to win votes (this is government's duty).
7) Development regions aka mega projects (more space for corruption!).
8) Institutionalized racism.
9) Members of Parliament that prefer to fix potholes than make a point in Parliament.
10) Party whip that ensures all BN MPs toe party lines in Parliament.
11) Excessive government spending on development projects (do tax cuts and let consumer demand stimulate the economy in a corruption-free way instead).
12) Government blackmailing people.
and the list goes...
People say that the economy is being mismanaged. I can't tell and I doubt anyone's take in this is accurate. Policy-wise they've got my benefit of the doubt. I think that Malaysia isn't falling behind because of poor economic planning, but rather corruption.
BTW, if I'm Prime Minister, I'll slowly cut away the oil subsidies and return them in form of tax cuts. You guys can cry all you want.
Why do I like to argue?
Richard and I was taking a ride in Maryanne's car;
Richard: Why do you like to argue so much?
Me: I really don't like to fight. I just don't mind 'talking' if people insist with their ideas.
Richard: So you intentionally argue?
Me: It takes both hands to clap.
Richard: So who's fault was it?
Me: No one's. Arguing isn't definitely something wrong.
Richard: Then why are you more argumentative than the average person?
All along I don't see it as something bad. People just hate 'it' because no one likes to have an attempt to prove them wrong.
Sigh. I got nothing to say. Perhaps it's a bad thing after all.
Here's a promise to myself: I'll avoid arguments when it comes to those 'small little things' in life.
Richard: Why do you like to argue so much?
Me: I really don't like to fight. I just don't mind 'talking' if people insist with their ideas.
Richard: So you intentionally argue?
Me: It takes both hands to clap.
Richard: So who's fault was it?
Me: No one's. Arguing isn't definitely something wrong.
Richard: Then why are you more argumentative than the average person?
All along I don't see it as something bad. People just hate 'it' because no one likes to have an attempt to prove them wrong.
Sigh. I got nothing to say. Perhaps it's a bad thing after all.
Here's a promise to myself: I'll avoid arguments when it comes to those 'small little things' in life.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Phone gone
My mobile phone just died. It refuses to start, making a buzzing sound when I switch it on only to go dead the next second. I've got no idea what I should feel. My phone is old and I want to change it badly. Just that I'm really not into asking my parents for money.
Which leaves me with the option of buying one myself. I've got the money for a not-too-fancy one but I was thinking - if my dad founds out that I've not been telling him about this, he may feel that I'm leaving him out from my life again. I'm not in too good terms with my dad. We no longer disagree because we simply haven't expressed any discussion-worthy opinions but this only means that we are talking less now.
Admittedly I'm a bad child. I don't listen to my parents all the time, but I try to make them happy at least on the more simple things like running errands. I can't help to disagree with my mom and dad on a lot of things but I just hope that there's enough of those 'smaller things in life' to give me the chance to at least make them remotely happy.
Which is why I don't know if I want to tell my dad about my broken phone. I don't want to take his money on things I don't have to. Yet I don't want to make him feel bad...
Which leaves me with the option of buying one myself. I've got the money for a not-too-fancy one but I was thinking - if my dad founds out that I've not been telling him about this, he may feel that I'm leaving him out from my life again. I'm not in too good terms with my dad. We no longer disagree because we simply haven't expressed any discussion-worthy opinions but this only means that we are talking less now.
Admittedly I'm a bad child. I don't listen to my parents all the time, but I try to make them happy at least on the more simple things like running errands. I can't help to disagree with my mom and dad on a lot of things but I just hope that there's enough of those 'smaller things in life' to give me the chance to at least make them remotely happy.
Which is why I don't know if I want to tell my dad about my broken phone. I don't want to take his money on things I don't have to. Yet I don't want to make him feel bad...
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