Sensitive times

Recently, there has been a march in March over here in London to Free Tibet. Much has been made of it in the Western media about the sorry state of affairs happening over there.

Now, a lot of people have joined in the bandwagon and openly criticised China over this incident. There seems, however, to be a low understanding of the whole issue in hand.

Again, being neither from China (except for my ancestors) or Tibet, I prefer to take a more independent route to analysing the situation. People say that the Tibetan language has been in the process of being wiped out by these oppressive Chinese forces, yet many of the Tibetans know or only know how to speak Tibetan.

Take a few steps back and look at Wales. Although the Welsh speak a TOTALLY different language than the English, for generations, they have been in danger of losing their identity. Compare them to the Cornish people in South West England. I think less than 10% of these people still understand Cornish, except from pasties and cream over tea.

Take another example of those Basque or Catalans in Spain. Don't they also claim that they are not exactly Spanish? The Basque even speak a totally different language from Spanish. But they are viewed as terrorist in their 'own' country.

Then take another close look at Malaysia. If you have an eye and look what is happening over in the 'East' side. Culturally and by language, the original people of the lands speak differently and operate in a different manner from those in the 'West'. Has Malaysia been oppressing these people too?

So, before we open our mouths and criticise other countries policies or social economic welfares, take a look at our own backyard.

I remember hearing of a wise saying by a wise man - Stephen Bong, "If you don't know what you're talking about but you keep quiet, people may assume you're stupid. But If you open your mouth without knowing what you're talking about, it confirms you're Stupid"

The Guv'nor

Ince, Paul

Former midfield battler famous for short fuse, posing in Man United shirt while still a West Ham player, being disliked by all his former clubs, wanting to be known as the Guv'nor and being drummed out of ManYoo for being 'a big time Charlie'. Second only to Terry Butcher in bloody-but-unbowed national pride stakes, specifically after 0-0 draw in Rome with Italy. Now surprisingly competent lower-league manager.

I'm dreaming of a white Easter...

It feels weird.

Its an early Easter this year - This recent weekend, compared to being in April most other years. And the snow seems to have coincided with it at the exact moment. We've been having showers of hail and sleet throughout Saturday till Monday and this morning I wake up to snow flakes. Its really quite beautiful as I stood there admiring it for half an hour...

Well, global warming or natural change in weather patterns?

Scottish?

Hendry, Colin (pop: 'Braveheart')

The most Scottish-looking man ever.

If you don't sit down properly, the Boogeyman will come and get you!

One common term I've been hearing quite a bit is the nanny in my house saying to the 3 year old kid that if he doesn't comply to whatever she has just asked him to do, I would be coming in to rattle him. Me? Good old and fatty B? And what army?


Now, it got me thinking, what would the psychological impact be on the kid? No doubt I'm on pretty good terms with him (as I think I am with most), but then would this sayings get ingrained into that small mind that whenever he hears my name, fear strikes him first...


Well, I guess all parents or people bringing kids up don't want to be the bad person, so they always take a third party as an example to scare their kids. I remember as a kid my aunts used to either use the threat of policemen patrolling the area, or the drunken man down the road as example of people who would rattle me if I didn't listen to them.


Whatever it is, I hope Luke Yi won't remember me as the bad drunken man or strict policeman living downstairs... Ah, the bliss in seeing small ones grow up

2 good 2 bad

I was just wondering if people thought the same as I did...



VS



Do you think Berbatov (currently the striker for Tottenham Hotspurs) looks like Andy Garcia?



On the other hand, do you think Avram Grant (the current Chelsea manager) looks like a toad?

And it was said that it could not be done...

While all the furore dies down. While all the planning and positioning is taking place in Silver State of Malaysia, I was just thinking what some of the people were telling me earlier on.

Things like:
"Aiyah, nothing will change lah, why waste time and vote?"

"No difference one lah"

"How can the Chinese shake the elections?"

Well, here's to all you doubters. We have a few in our group, some prominently vocal when we urged the rest to exercise their roles to vote. See what us 'minority' can do?

Defeat will stare you in the face if you think you are defeated even before you are. The defeatist attitudes that you hold is easily rubbed on to others as losing is always easier than winning. But it is the desire to win that brings so much pleasure in seeing these doubters shut up.

On other aspects, many corners of the country lament on the deficiencies of a certain government, complaining about the inadequacies they face in their daily lives (like us). Now, power has shifted, but is it for the better?

To manage a state, one needs to understand the dynamics of the everyday lives based on demography and geography. Of course the state would have to also depend on the more macro factors, say the amount the federal government would be willing to 'share', especially when we are looking at 'management teams' with different goals.

One of the main gripes I have heard so far with this handing over of power to the opposition is that the development sector has come to a stand still. Why is this you may ask?

Well, as it is well known with the previous regime, hand outs are common practice to get approvals for certain projects. The problem they have now is that hand outs were offered, but the project has yet to be completed, and the receiving party has left. Will there be any implications? Will the current state government do a radical analysis on some of these projects?

With so many questions, many projects have been stalled. The effects may be great, as each development project has its sub contractors. And each subcontractor may have their own hired labour. Everyday is money.

I guess when we look for change, certain sections of people would have to suffer the drawbacks. I hope the current state government would come into effect pretty soon, so as life can go on (NOT as usual).

Just as I hope that Malaysia will see brighter days, I hope the Silver State will once again rise to prominence as 'the place to be'.

A New Wave of Nationalism

The recent elections in Malaysia seems to have given birth to a 'new wave of nationalism'. No longer can the coalition government rely on the usual media to influence voters, with the new age media - the internet and mobile phones making the oppositions views available to more people. Congratulations to them on giving the people a more balanced parliament.

Now what?

Looking at the scenario, its not as simple as just lumping the 3 opposition parties into one 'Barisan Rakyat' as marketed throughout the build up to election day. I hold my doubts as each political party has its own agenda. I won't go as far to say that everyone can be corrupted at a variable level, but time and time again, it has shown party members or even party leaders selling out their original ideals.

I asked two of my consultants (unofficial) of the opposition would have actually planned for this eventuality? I am waiting for their response to this. The reason being, its very easy to get carried away by a new wave of nationalism, but when it comes to the dirty work, who will stay back and do it? One saying I found always useful in the Malaysian society is "hangat-hangat tahi ayam", which is always the case when we look at the previous, "Be Cool, Car Pool" campaign, the "Tak Nak!" campaign, the "Rakan Muda" scheme and to a certain extent the "National Service" scheme.

It's always very easy to come out with a creative idea that blows people's mind away, but then what about the logistics? Has anything been thought through?

I've heard several speeches by Anwar Ibrahim speaking about the time when he was in power, the petrol price did not go up at all. They tried, but after opposition from the people, they reduced it back to the original rate. Now, it is not that I doubt his sincerity on this topic matter, but then when I first worked in the Oil and Gas industry, the price of crude oil per barrel was below USD30. Eight years later, the price per barrel has shot above the USD100 mark.

If I were a politician, can't I say that crude oil prices have gone up a bit more than triple the price. Taking that into account the fact that our petrol price has not shot up to RM3.30 per litre since then hasn't the government 'really' been subsiding rising costs? Of course being an economist student, there are more variables that we can put into that raw equation of mine to influence my argument. But so can politicians.

I really hope that given 3 months, we can see a difference in the governing of MY country. But like I said, the hard work starts here and before I can dream on, the three parties need to sit down in agreement and decide how they are going to run the respective states of Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan.

Turbulent times, but exciting times...

... one really hopes this country will be brought into further prominence with this new wave of nationalism.

Italy's Ugliest man?

Gattuso, Gennaro

Possibly the only ugly person in Italy, almost as if they took enough ugliness for an entire country and shoved it all into one body.

I read this in the morning and I almost choked on my coffee... Ah, the joy seeing Shaun weep as his beloved Maldini says his last "Hurrah!"


*taken from Football365 website

Players and Victims

Player
noun [C]
someone who takes part in a game or sport

Victim
noun [C]
someone or something which has been hurt, damaged or killed or has suffered, either because of the actions of someone or something else, or because of illness or chance


I was talking to Seng earlier on and he was giving me part of his worldly advice, "Do you know what a player is? A Player is actually a victim. But he can do what other victims can't"

"because once you have been played (you become a victim), you know the dynamics of the game to be a player..."

"... and sometimes although you feel you are the player, but every game has its loser - thus you become the victim"


*context taken from a similar theme in Initial D, Chapman To's take on God.

Disparity in Incomes

From a recent trip to Bangkok, we were in discussion on how cheap fashion is over in London and Europe once the season has passed. Already as it is, street brands in Asia are relatively cheap, but when it comes to middle class brands like Camel or Renoma, it just does not make sense.

Confused? Well hear me out, During the sales in London, I can find certain shoes for as low as £9 per pair (assuming the exchange rate is RM7 = £1 for easy calculations) means RM63 for a pair of shoes with leather soles! The simplest of shoes with Bonia or Renoma brands in Malaysia already sell for a minimum of RM250 (£35.70) which is four times the price!

Then I was looking for a pair of shorts to play football with during a session with the chaps. For a pair of Camel shorts, it cost RM70 which would be around £10! I remember going through the sales and finding pants selling for less than £5... I had to go to the Reject shop and buy a pair for RM20 (roughly around £3). Then for working shirts, only the ones on sale would be the sale prices in London which was £10 per shirt.

What really is mind numbing is that most of the stuff sold in the UK is from Asia! So why is there such a difference in price? This brings me back to the topic of purchasing power. Imagine earning £2000 a month and paying for the shirt, shorts and shoes as per price quoted above.

Now imagine earning RM2000 per month and buying similar 'inferior brand' products for the prices stated above. I just heard that a friend bought a polo shirt for RM400+ (around £60). For god sake, after one or two seasons, the same shirt may be thrown out over here and sold for £10...

Since I am cycling over here, I decided to go into some of the bicycle shops down in KL. Shop looked like any other bicycle shop, only that the prices of bicycles could really kill. RM20,000 for a bike! Almost a whole years salary. The same bike can be bought for around £3000. Almost two months salary, but you catch my drift. If this doesn't show the disparity in incomes over in Malaysia, I really don't know what can.

Bushi and the return of Overseas Capital

People from the capital of Silver State in Malaysia who may be familiar with this restaurant that used to be there. Quite notorious for its hiring of hot chicks, or preference of hot chicks seeking employment in Bushi, there was a certain co-relation between beauty and business and it was something which had long enticed me. I think before it closed down, I've probably been a patron of the place once. Like all good things, this place came to an end.

Does an F&B outlet need to constantly have a change in themes or name? Back in the capital of the silver state, names like Public Restaurant, Overseas and Foh San are still popular choices after so many years.

There has also been another interesting co-relation of F&B outlets and people who have just returned from overseas (i.e. the UK, US or Australia). Every time someone comes 'back for good' they will most likely:

a) buy a house
b) invest in an F&B outlet

Currently with the British government packing migrants from Malaysia back by the bus loads, there is a huge possibility that we will be seeing much more F&B outlets springing up like mushrooms after the rain. How many will survive? We shall see...

Sleeping with you means...

In the recent furore on the Edison Chen scandal with a few top HK superstars, I found this portion of an article from Keith King pretty interesting:

I have monitored women for some number of years now and noticed that there are several classifications for those who sleep with you.

The Hopeless Romantics
Obviously there are those prominent ones who genuinely sleep with you for the sake of love. These are not hard to disguise as they say love is blind and they are almost willing to do anything to satisfy their partners.

The Leeches
Then there are those who sleep with you with an objective at the back of their minds. Be it for money or power, these species are extremely dangerous and seem to be able to control men to their whim and fancies.

Spider-webs
You have those who just haven't done it for a long time and want to feel the pleasures of it. Results are usually of opposite spectrums, either their wildly great or just a drop in the pond. Don't hope for too much though as these are usually passing moments of time. Unless both suddenly hit it off fantastically, there usually isn't much hope for a long term development.

Salty Fish
Then there are those who seem to feel that they owe you something. Maybe you hope for a relationship with them, but then at the back of your mind there is this mind numbing possibility that she just slept with you to return a favour.

Anybody share the same sentiments?

from the novel "Understanding Keith King"