More changes

Now I have 3 admits out of 3 applications.

It's totally unexpected given that this year is one of the toughest years for MBA applications.....

Now.....I have to look for funding and resources.

It's going to be fun ride trying to sort everything out whilst working full time.....

Joy.....oh...joy...

Decision Time....

Been a month since I last blogged.

I have 2 admits and 1 interview from my 3 applications.

It's exciting times.....

I am finding it hard to work nowadays but I feel responsible and take pride in my work for my client hence I am motivating myself to work.....

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for those who die as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Wilfred Owen

Dow hovers around 8,000 points

The Dow seems to be remain rather steady at 8,000 points amidst fears of a swine flu worsening and the rumours of selected US Banks' need for further recapitalisation.

However there is some indication that investors are getting rather nervous pending the final results of the US Banks' stress test and on fears that the swine flu will become a full-blown world-side pandemic.

What's next? I don't think the world can handle a medical emergency. The Great Recession may just become the Great Depression.

Obsession or Necessity

Please try.....

Will Dow fall below 6,000 points?

Today, the Dow rallied and rose 240 points on the back of news from BoA that they will be profitable this year and GE may not need the government bail-out afterall....

Is the rise sustainable? Are we over the hurdle?
Are people happy with job losses and are still spending? Is consumer spending stable and looking on an uptrend?

Or is it because we have just put a screen over ourselves again and eased accounting rules?

Are we just fooling ourselves into another patch of financial accounting ingenuity?

Fundamentally I think most companies aren't making money from core operations and a significant chunk of profitability from yesteryears could be from financial engineering....

Reflection.....

Can Malaysia ever grow and emerge from its shadows of corruption and inefficiency?

In my humble opinion....yes!
But - and a BIG BUT - it will take tremendous efforts and re-education / cleansing of "certain" way-of-life currently being practiced.... which will certainly take years to eradicate

Whilst there are certainly benefits to corruption and inefficiency that could accrue to individuals, I am quite sure society as a whole suffers....as social good is diminished through such "practices"

So what can a humble citizen do in such situation? Wage a personal war? Succumb and join the dark side?

Catching you off-guard

see more pwn and owned pictures

Ever played hopscotch? You just might have to!

Seeing from the other perspective

Grey is the new black....

I believe that in the recent surrounding economic turmoil, one can no longer make judgment calls solely based on "black-and-white" quantitative facts. Grey issues such as human psychological patterns must also be considered.

In trying to solve the world's economic problems, I feel that the regulators may have neglected to consider the human and media aspects, and have instead been fixated on facts and figures. The decision makers may have "lost touch" with human and psychological factors.

For instance, what can the British government hope to achieve by printing and circulating more money? Create artificially higher inflation?
As long as the general public remain skeptical and highly pessimistic on the general outlook of their own economic situation and hold deep doubts on keeping their jobs, they will not spend.

It is human nature for people to retreat into their "safe harbor" and conserve cash during bad times. They will not spend even if they view future money as being worth less tomorrow than today's (i.e. negative real interest rate) as they believe fundamentally that $1 saved today will go a longer way in the event of job loss.

Hence the most imperative act for most governments is to create jobs. Once peopel feel secure, they will start spending again.

Walking home....

Sights from an afternoon walk.....

Wandering lust strikes again....

I have a lust for traveling...

Traveling satisfies my curiosity and desire to know about places, cultures, people, food, languages....

I like to be caught in a new place....being unprepared...having to adapt...

Am I strange? Most people like to visit places prepared....I don't!
I feel that it takes away the mysteries of the places....
I like to be challenged, to go down the different paths each step will take me

However paradoxically, I like to be safe and make sure I am prepared for contingencies...

Being adventurous doesn't mean that I like to look for danger. I avoid danger at all cost.

So where should I go next? Do I have the $ to go?

Leopard Print or Pink?

Men's Lingerie is apparently the latest craze in Japan....

You can get them wild or tasteful.....
Leopard print for the wild at heart....or sweet pink for the demure. White is also a good seller....

Apparently gender equality exists after all in Japan. The modern Japanese male is not afraid to embrace their femininity....
Yay they embrace breast support!

I wonder whether there are many choices available.

Front and back straps for the bras? Oooh....they have the choice! And with diamante buckles....
I am impressed...

How about the different types of underwear/panties? G-strings, bootleg, high cut, low waist? I don't see many choices available there...

Each set of bra and underwear retails for approximately US$30.

Clearly the focus is on bras.....and the importance of breast support....

I need to brush up on my Japanese now...to see whether the bras come in different cup sizes....

New year...new beginnings...new post

This is my first post since 2006.

It has indeed been a while since I have felt the urge to write...or have the time....to write

I am lost....for the 1st time in life....

My life till date has always been filled with purpose and direction. I have always known what I want to do and I will go all out to achieve them.

I never say "no" to myself or to others. I persevere....

Right now, however, I have no such answers for myself. I am contemplating.....

Contemplating.....what next to do...

Until I have fully thought though what I want to do and what goals I shall set, I am shackled to my inner thoughts...

I am bogged down by my thoughts....unable to start moving....