Michael Liew's Blog

Comex 2009 (10 to 13 Sep 2009)

2009-09-13T22:41:00.013+08:00

I decide to buy a new pc on a PC fair - at least one year ago. Due to some personal reasons, I only manage to buy on this September. I decide to buy a desktop pc instead of a laptop as I feel desktop is much better than laptop - at least for the life consuming (I'm someone who will on the PC for a long period of time).

Before I went down for the PC fair, I look for the information on the internet. Someone has uploaded the brochures from the PC fair. Quite nice right? Instead of going down to look through and compare one by one you get can know it from the internet. Fast, economic and easy. I like this way!

I browsed through the website and compare all the desktop I can find and I found this:

4 GB ram with 750GB hard disk with S$1,099, quite cool, isn't it? The only part I dislike is the microprocessor. I prefer Intel instead of AMD, but in overall I believe this is the best deal I can find among all the desktops around my budget in this PC fair. I went on the last day of PC fair, which is always has the best bargain or more free gifts if we bought on that day.

So today my friend, Bong and I went down to Comex 2009 which was located at Suntec and looked for this desktop. And now is the funny and interesting part. First of all, neither of us printed and brought the brochure with us. I remembered it is under "HP"and my friend, remembered it as under "Compaq". When I went into the pc fair, I straight forward went to "HP" and my friend called me,"This way!", try to lead me to Compaq. I a bit surprise, "I thought it is under HP and both of them are combined together already?" "They are sold under different brands althought they're combined." Bong answered. Without thinking too much, I followed my friend and changed my mind that the desktop I wanted to buy is under Compaq instead of HP. (Which one is correct? Please look at the brochure above.)

You know what? At level 4, there were at least 4 different stalls selling Compaq computers (one of them is Court, selling more than one brand in its stall), but no matter which stalls we went, it said all their desktops are equipped with Intel instead of AMD, (I wondering the reason Compaq wants to occupy more stalls is to make sure they have the more sales.) and we can't find it. We started thinking that we made the mistakes but to make sure we checked properly before we gave up, I suggested we went up to level 6 to look at it again.

When we reached level 6, we found one Compaq stall at there. We talked to one of the promoters that we were looking for a desktop which comes with AMD processor. The young promoter asked us to wait and he went inside. Both of us thought, "Finally! We found it on level 6." The thing happened next is I heard (only me, Bong never hear that.) The supervisor or manager, who standed on the stage to promote this stocks, talked to the young promoter and said that, "AMD? It will be very hot (when it ran with computers), we never sell!" The young promoter came back to us and said they're not selling. I told Bong what I've heard and he claimed the manager is not professional in that manner as he'll never say that if he is promoting AMD products.

We felt exhausted and Bong called his friend to check for us. His friend provided the model and the booth number but we still can't find. To make the story short, Bong looked for his another friend who is at level 2 and I keep searching at level 4 and looked for other desktops instead of the one I tried to look. Suddenly, I saw one poster hanging quite high and stated "S$1,099"
in a handwriting way. One of the Compaq stalls was pushing its desktop, they changed the price of that model and exchanged its LCD, instead of 23 inches, they changed it to 19 inches. Its original price is S$1,499, just changed the LCD to 19 inches, the price dropped for 500 dollars. I feel is a good deal and asked Bong to come up for some opinion, at the same time I asked the promoter to save one for me as they've left 5 stocks only.

(Under $50 * TRADE-IN REBATE, the fourth computer counts from the left side. That's the computer the stall was pushing but with smaller size LCD and with price at S$1,099.)

After that, I tried to look around and thinking that maybe can find a better deal. I went to look for HP stall (this is the second HP stall I can find at level 4, not the first stall I went to when I came for PC fair and it is just beside the Compaq stall which I just went into). When I was looking around the desktops inside the stall, I saw one lady holding a brochure. Inside the brochure is the desktop which I keep looking for since I came! I asked the promoter to pass me another same brochure, before that he told me they've sold all the units and that was the last one - the one that the lady was looking at and she was considering. What a sad news. I was a litte bit frustrated for this. Both my friend and I asked the promoters at Compaq stalls(included this stall, but we've never ask this promoter), they claimed all their desktops are selling with Intel processors ONLY. The young promoter told me that all this model desktops are sold on yesterday except 2 demo units. And today's selling price is S$899 and they left only one.

My friend came up and I told him all the situation. After comparing both models specifications and the prices. My friend convinced me to buy the desktop which was selling S$899 with the reasons of cheaper and he felt that it is more compatible to me. So we went to HP stall and told them we want to buy the desktop. The promoter told us we've to come and collect at 9pm if we bought it because they need the LCD for displaying (but the LCD is not include in the desktop I want to buy). We insisted to take it away instantly because by that time it was 4pm something only! The young promoter asked his manager and came back with the answer "No".

This give me a very good reason to buy the Compaq desktop with the price S$1,099 (I prefer this desktop actually.). We tried to bargain and asked for some free gifts but failed and at the same time, we found up we've to pay another 2 percents or 1 percent if we pay by credit card or NETS respectively. Bong's friend has found us and three of us try to take all the cash we've on hands and luckily, we've enough cash to buy.

I brought the desktop back to my home and equipped it.

And right now, in front of my new desktop, using it to write this post. Very happy to get a new computer! Writing this up on my blog, to share with my friends! Find up I'm someone who will get happy easily - just with a new pc. Haha!

-End-

Is Reading Important?

2009-08-07T16:59:00.004+08:00

Dear Lieman,

In your last mail you asked me about reading. And you quite skeptical about reading, finding a lot of books let you read do not provide any valuable information to you and you felt that you have wasted too much time on it.

Well, I would like to say - that's part of our life. Everybody will makes mistakes, this include everything, not only reading. Did Edison create the bulb just because of an experiment? No, more than 10 times, 100 times, 1000 times; if he felt that it is useless to create bulb because he failed then all the people in the world will never enjoy our time during the night.

Reading is very important, and I mean it. But you have to be careful while you read your books and you have to know what kind of knowledge and/or purpose you're looking for. For instance, if you looking for know how to draw a beautiful picture or how to draw a comic then you have to find a book teach you how to do that. You'll never find a book to teach you how to fish a fish. If you want to know how to cook you'll know you'll not find a book to teach you how to become a carpenter. If you want to study for mathematics you'll not look for a book about arts.

There are some authors in this world we have to be careful. The reason they publish their books is, purely, because of money. They have not spent too much time on their material and maybe not intended to hurt anyone because of that. We, as a reader, need to have a mindset when we read the books - a critical mindset. We have to think the points provided by the author logically? Useful? Can withstand the test of time? Or he writes that because someone asked him to do?

How to have a critical mindset? You might ask. Well, there is not exact answer but I can only provide some guidance. Firstly, read - read a lot of books. You might find quite funny as to judge a book we have to read a lot of books. But that's true! How do we able to know how to go to the destination we want? Can we able to reach just within one time? Unless there is someone guiding us, if not we definitely have to make some mistakes before we know how we able to reach there.

Secondly, life experience. We'll see a lot of people or have met a lot of situations in our whole life. That's something no one can take away from us. These will give us some sense to look the world differently; to look at the people we work/stay/play and/or others together differently; to know how to a better way differently. What have written on the book maybe, because of different cultures, different countries and/or others, it'll come out different results. We, of course, know better than those ,who live in different country, what kind of culture we've and how it affects us.

Thirdly, listen - listen to the elders/seniors/parents. These people met more people than we do, read more books than we do, have more life experience than we do. If they become our mentor, tell us a lot of experience and explain why and how. We'll, learn faster than anyone do around us.

There is not exact way to improve our critical mindset - the best way I can find is learn through others - either true or false - the most economic way to learn.

I hope I have provided some picture for you.
Good luck and happy reading!

Yours sincerely,
Michael

A New Life Start from July 2009

2009-07-31T23:45:00.000+08:00

Today is the last day of the month, July, which I try to start my new life.

I clean a lot of my old stuff which I don't feel is necessary on both June and July.

I move to a new home on July.

I cut my hair to change a style on July.

I buy a new pair of shoes on July.

I buy a new handphone (due to the damage of the previous one) on June.

I buy a new pair of specacles on July.

I buy a new book to read on July.

I buy a new pillow on July.

... and some other little things on July.

Let the past be the past.

Tomorrow is always a better day for me!

-End-

Settle My Own Thing Before Others

2009-07-17T21:20:00.003+08:00

Recently keep thinking of changing the job after Chinese New Year in the year of 2010.

I find up I'm really a nice guy - a guy who never think of "settle my own thing first before other people". I have spent so much time and effort on somewhere which I believe, if I smart enough, can do better than what I have done. I see a lot of people will only settle their thing instead of other people, am I too nice not to be selfish enough to settle my thing first?

Now everyday in my mind is "What should I do to make sure I can solve my problem?", "What should I do to make sure that I can achieve my target?" I find up some answers, but not good enough, not fast enough; but never mind.

Why?

Learn from the mistake and move on! That's what I tell myself.

Coming October will go back to Kuching, will spend more times with family and friends and after that when come back to Singapore, hopefully can see I near my target nearer.

Lastly, finish with a quote from Thomas Edision -

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."

-End-

My Direction Is...?

2009-06-05T01:54:00.003+08:00

Recently, I'm thinking a lot. Think that what I should do in the coming future.

Which route should I choose?

The main job I'm having right now is quite good, my income is much higher than normal people who is about my age. But, the problem is, I don't know how long can it be.

Quite sad and stress to know that I have to face the challenge by myself, no one can give me any advice or direction. Because, this is my own way.

I have 3 options:
First, stay on current job and play a different role, but it will take more risk;
Second, quit current job and change to a job which maybe have a chance to work in different country;
Third, quit current job and go to study.

To be frank, in the bottom of my heart, I want to choose the first one but it is also the most important among the three routes.

What should I do? I don't know the answer now...

Maybe I'll know in the coming few months... or next year....

A Happy and Guilty Day...

2009-05-07T23:46:00.004+08:00

Today, should be a happy day for me. But is it really happy? Please read on and you'll understand.

In the afternoon, my best friend, gave me a call to invite to have a dinner at his favourite buffett restaurant which is located in Orchard Hotel.

The Orchard Hotel (source: internet)

I was a little bit excited on it. After my work, I changed my clothes and met my friend. My friend asked me to wait for him at Toa Payoh MRT. After a few minutes I reached, my friend came and fetch and went to his car. We were talking happily, until we reached his car.

I opened the door of the car, without looking properly, I sat on the seat. I felt "something" at my bottom, I lifted and picked up the "something". My friend came into the car and saw it, he quickly grabbed the "something" from my hand and looked at it.

It's too late - a luxury sun glasses', Ray Ban (made in Itay), shape has gone, although not very serious damage. My friend was a little frustrated and sad; keep asking me why never see properly before I came in.

Ray Ban Sunglasses (source: internet)

I was thinking, my friend nicely invited me to have a delicious and enjoyable buffett; before we have anything, I spoilt his lovely branded sunglasses. What am I doing? My mood was coming down and my friend maybe saw I was feeling guilty and, although feeling sad, told me is a "gift" from his friend (later I found out he is trying to comfort me). But he was still feeling sad for this.

Without spending too much time on this, my friend brought me to the location and had our dinner. The dinner is nice: sushi, sashimi, cake, fruits, abalones, bee hoon etc. What can we ask more?

After having our buffett, we went to City Hall and looked for the shop which he bought the luxury sunglasses from. We can't find it, believing the shop should has closed.

My friend brought me to City Hall MRT and I came back to my home. Try to check "Ray Ban" from the internet, it is really a luxury brand. The sunglasses usually cost more than S$100. Looked at the website, more of them can only get the sunglasses from export. Wondering what should I do for this...

Is it a nice dinner? Yes.
Is it a special day for me because having a nice buffett? Yes.
Is it a perfect day for me? No, because of my carelessness.

Still feeling guilty. Will move on on this topic. Commit myself definitely will do something in the coming future for this.

Just move on and you'll see the result, Michael!

【LOVE LIFE 珍愛生命‧永不放棄】

2009-04-13T23:40:00.000+08:00

【 LOVE LIFE 珍愛生命‧永不放棄】公益廣告，
由黑人執導、范范配樂、王偉忠旁白。
SOURCE -- http://www.ilovelife.com.tw/

如果你的生命只剩下一點點，
你會用什麼態度去面對？

他們的癌已經擴散到全身上下了...
但是他們對生命的愛，卻是永無止境。

在人生當中，難免遇上失敗與挫折，
但跟這些孩子所面對的狀況比起來，
你是否應該更珍惜生命...

" 如果生命可以交換的話，你願意跟我換嗎？ "

當你覺得寂寞孤單，你的心將要破碎...
要記得這些孩子正在為你禱告。

" 請你幫我們好好活著，好嗎？ "

3月22日的一天

2009-03-22T22:54:00.007+08:00

早上醒来没多久,就收到家里来的电话,是母亲打来的,"Happy Birthday!"妈妈对我说.是的,今天是我的生日.准备好了下午要和朋友出去逛街,过一下对我而言特别的一天.

与家人聊完天后,就刷牙,冲凉,洗衣,打扫屋子.之后与朋友联络上了,就乘搭他的汽车来到City Hall地铁站附近.我们两个人走到了一间泰国餐厅-----Magic Wok;朋友说很好吃,就进去吃了.我们点了泰国黄梨炒饭,我觉得还行.

吃饭的时候,我们等着另一个朋友;吃完饭后,就去和他碰面.一行人没计划,不知道要干嘛,结果有人提议看电影;在没得选择的情况下,决定观赏<<七龙珠:进化>>(Dragon Ball: Evolution).

看电影的过程中,就感觉不怎么样.电影结束之前,就问说好看不好看,全票通过,不好看!一位朋友用两句话说完整部电影:坏人杀了好人的爸爸,好人就去帮爸爸报仇.确实,这两句话贯穿整部电影,朋友还说:周潤发居然会去演这样的电影.我们笑说经济不景气,他也有老婆孩子要养.<<七龙珠>>是一部经典的漫画,但是拍成电影真的不怎么样,勉强算是中品.

看完电影后,我们去Burger King吃晚餐.我请客.
吃的过程中,聊起了以前读中学的趣事.说趣事的结果,得出了两个结论:一,求学的时候,积极的态度基本上就决定了考试的成绩;二,中学时期,有一些"可爱"的老师和同学,即使毕业后我们还是会讨论他们的!哈哈!

我们聊了很久,过了九点中后,决定要走了.我们来到一个水池,我觉得很好奇,为什么水池中的水滴会"滑上滑下"的.我们走近看,朋友说是灯光的效果;但我却又找不到灯光来源,拍了几张照片.

还在研究怎么回事的时候,朋友说赶时间,没办法,就走了.我们经过一间时装店,有减价,外面摆了不同的衣服,好便宜,只有几十块钱,而且还是品牌的:有Levi's,Adidas等,就进去看看.进去后,吓了一跳;一件衣服超过两百多快!我问说是不是折扣前的价钱,朋友看了看,折扣前是五百多块.傻眼.朋友就笑问另一个朋友说:"快来看!快来看!这件衣服50%折扣,只不过是五百多件成两百多!"价钱太贵了.(=_=)"

外面和里面的价钱差太远了!看一会儿我们就离开了,这次没停下来,直奔归家之路.

简单的一天?我想是的,但是我觉得能和朋友一同出来吃饭,聊天,看电影,是幸福的.

最后以个人的全身照做一个结束. 2009年3月22日,我的生日是这么过的. :-D

读食谱也可以哭

2009-03-15T00:52:00.004+08:00

＂台词是借口　是幌子外表
内在是你情绪的表达
只是一个食谱的表面
就能把眼泪给做出来＂　
　　　　　～～～　李国修　老师

读食谱可以让一个人哭。你相信吗？

我看过。

听一个人读食谱可以让一个人想流泪的感觉。你感受过吗？

我有过。

秘诀是什么？
当你在阅读的时候，想着伤心的事情。那是你的人生经验，是经验档案；是属于个人的，别人没办法偷走也没办法给与的。

听起来很简单，是不是？
这还需要一个能力来辅助——————专注力。只有当专注力达到一个程度的时候，内在的情绪才会出来。

请从６：２７分开始。

很不可思议吧？人生的经验真的很宝贵。无论是喜的悲的怒的哀的，经历过后就属于你的了，属于你的内在了。我想一个人的人格很大部分是从这里来的吧。

记住当下体验的感觉，会对人生有帮助的！

愿与大家分享之！

要求完美/面面俱到 VS 灵活应变/不拘小节

2009-03-12T20:14:00.004+08:00

今天与一位同事讨论对于处事上的看法，发现他的处事的观念/想法真的与我不同，让我有恍然大悟的感觉。

我每件事都要事先知道，才好做事；他知道了要做什么事，剩的会自己想办法去完成。

我凡事要事先准备，不知道会说不知道；他会说每天的状况不一样，我查了让你知道。

我做事情面面俱到，认为要对所有人负责；他会不拘小节，认为是对的就去做了。

我害怕/讨厌/不喜欢会得罪人/让人不高兴；他却觉得心态正确，一切都是对的。

这让我想起了奇异的前任执行长说过的一句话：“人对了，一切都对了。“

上网查一查，结果发现下面的一句话：

"If you pick the right people and give them the opportunity to spread their wings and put compensation as a carrier behind it you almost don't have to manage them."

~~~~ Jack Welch,
ex CEO of General Electric

“如果你选择合适的人，让他们有机会来展开自己的翅膀，并给与他们合适的报酬，那你几乎不必管他们了。“

~~~~ 杰克韦尔奇
GE 前任执行长

呜呼~~！

平庸与非凡之辈由此可察之！

三年的人生（三）

2009-03-05T23:55:00.007+08:00

这里在提多一个这三年的人生经验吧。这个经验比较特别，我想我这一生可能不会有第二次同样的经验。我在新加坡遇到一个贵人，他带我看了新加坡的另一面，对于一个简朴的男孩来说，确实开拓了我的视野。他也是一个重承诺的人，他说的话他会努力的去兑现，而不是只是敷衍的带过又或者忘记了。他很聪敏，积极，上进，他选择行业带给他丰厚的收入。

我跟随着他，刚开始时他说什么我就做什么-----不会犹疑，不会迟疑，就是去执行。当时想的是有他一半的成绩就很好了，所以很努力的去做所有的事情；也不去询问究竟我的协助有没有帮助到他。原因很简单：1）要嘛不相信，相信就不要有这么多的疑问，相信他的安排。2）如果事情没有用，他是不会叫我做的。

随着日子的过去，我的工作很单调。我开始觉得自己没学到应该学到的东西。我开始有自己的想法，我提出来了，他也回答了我的问题。特别的地方来了-----我不知道他在说什么。我感觉可能是因为他没听懂我的问题，所以一开始我也不以为意，后来我发现到我们之间的问题就出在这里，我很努力的要去解决这个问题，但却一而再，再而三的失望。我想可能是因为他的想法与一般人不一样的关系吧！

后来我们曾在电话里聊了我的工作对我们这个二人小队的帮助，意外的发现-----原来我的存在并不重要-----这是我对当下讨论的结果。我不知道我的朋友有没有注意到这件事（事后我发现他没注意到，更别提这件事多我的打击和对我所造成的恐惧了。）这件事情的发现对我而言太重要了。我也闹过情绪，不开心过，我不知道自己在干什么。当时真的无所事事，胡思乱想，只想找一些事情做，结果就和这位朋友提出说想自己做做看。

我朋友答应了。我就去做了一件从来没用脑袋想就去做的事；真可笑-----一个二十多岁的年轻人，少说也有大专文凭的人，居然连最基本的思考能力也没有，没看清楚自己的状况就往前冲了，结果，很快，非常快，我就弹尽粮绝了。幸运的是，后来在一些机遇的情况下，我居然可以生存下来。对于我所做的事情，我除了说我自己“笨“以外，我实在找不到别的形容词。

我明白到我必须去做有生产力的事，但那需要时间，至于需要多少多时间，则因人而异。我的情况来说，乐观来说，两到三年，保守来说，要五年吧！我告诉自己，慢慢来，一步一步来,可以的！

后来我选择回去继续当我朋友的助理，发现我和他之间的问题还是一样，因此在某个程度上来说，我已经死心了，虽然后来我又有燃起希望，但没多久又被扑灭了。

一个人的处事风格及态度是不会轻易改变的；也因为这样，也造成了两个人之间可以互相信任，互相珍惜对方，感谢对方，但是这两个人在一起共事还是会痛苦和不舒服的。甚至后来还会造成（至少其中）一方会想离开而去休息，沉淀，思考而后重新出发的（即使是在感谢对方，相信对方，又或者是会造成痛苦的情况下！）。

现在大环境的情况愈来愈糟，再看看自己的条件及状况：说好也行说坏也行。我应该坚持下去吗？第一个三年过去了，我并不觉得自己有多了不起，自己有多大的进步，感觉自己和三年前的自己没有太大的区别。这打击了我的自信，也觉得自己很笨，努力了三年结果没差别，这还不可悲吗？梁朝伟在《无间道》里饰演的陈永仁说过的一句话顿时浮现在我的脑里：“三年之后有三年，三年之后有三年。。。“ 三年之后，我如果和现在还是一样，是可悲？还是可笑？

我四周的人在过去三年来处事的风格和性格没有太大的改变（我相信我也是一样）：只有坏的人更坏，好人依然是好人；进步的人还是在进步，原地踏步的人依然还是原地踏步-----我看我自己是属于后者的。

这时应该怎么做呢？一个最原始最简单也是最根本的答案-----改变吧！是的，改变是必然的。这一遍文章会留着，三年之后回来读读看，到时候的我是怎么样的呢？想法和现在是一样的吗？还是南辕北辙呢？我的经济情况有进步吗？还是一样吗？我有办法给我的家人好一点的生活吗？

三年后就会知道答案。

现在

设定目标

制定计划

然后

前进

三年的人生（二）

2009-03-05T22:58:00.011+08:00

为什么我会得出"一个人如果三年前所拥有的负面情绪及缺点，到了现在只会更加嚣张，目中无人，自以为是；对于那些真心与你交朋友的人，他们不会有太大的改变。"（我想是因为他们对人有始至终都是一样的，他们没在朋友面前演戏，所以才会给我感觉是一样的。）的结论呢？

且听我一一道来。两年前我有朋友来新加坡玩，我很开心他们来新加坡，甚至和老板提出早退的要求！只是为了可以和他们或带他们到新加坡游玩。当时的朋友中有因为年轻时“有话直说“，“年轻气盛“而起过冲突的朋友，但是他们的到来我是高兴甚至是兴奋的！毕竟是好几年的朋友了，不可能一直记得的事情而且“有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎“！我是冲动，但还不至于这么小器。结果呢？热脸贴人家的冷屁股。他们给我的感觉，就连基本的礼貌-----寒暄也没有！还有说话带刺的。结果是让人失望的，半途中，我们一群人就分成两组，我们这组就去其他的地方游玩。虽然当时有不满并私下有埋怨，但是我也心想说可能是以前自己不会“做人“的“因“而造成的“果“吧！我也认了。事后我才发现到这些我以为因为和我有过节才会这样对我的朋友居然几乎把所有西马和新加坡的朋友都得罪了。当时，我才恍然大悟的发现原来不是我的问题，而是他们的问题。真是 “一个人如果三年前所拥有的负面情绪及缺点，到了现在只会更加嚣张，目中无人，自以为是。“

再举一个例子吧。我大专的一位同学-----同时也是因为这个同学的帮助我才能毕业的-----要结婚了。我很开心，同时要与大专老同学见面了。我是真的很开心，也想到时和他们打成一片，同时我记得大专时的问题再加上社会上的经验。我注意了-----自己的言行举止，声量，说话的内容，少说话；但是就像我之前说的那样-----太迟了。虽然彼此之间还有寒暄，但是却很明显的看得出来，其他同学之间的感情与我之间是有差别的。他们会彼此开玩笑而且大笑但是与我的互动却很少（我说很少吗？还是几乎没有？)。婚礼结束之后，有几位同学还要去喝酒，我也跟去了。当时有一位女同学也跟着去，我知道她讨厌我（至今日我依然不知道我什么时候得罪她，求学时期，我们之间的互动少的可怜，更不可能起过冲突！）

到了酒吧后，她选了一个位置坐下来，而我选了与她的位置产生直角的位置坐下，心想她应该不会怎么样吧？结果呢？在我坐下的当儿，他一看是我，她就要求和她旁边的朋友更换位置，我假装什么都没看见。活动结束后，我们几位男同学坐了的士回家，到我家附近时，我下车之前，就和他们道别（这一别不知几时才会再见！）结果他们也只是敷衍的道别吧了。虽然我的一位好朋友结婚了，我很开心，但我也在同一天学了人生的宝贵经验-----一个人如果三年前讨厌你，三年后他依然还是讨厌你。

三年的人生（一）

2009-03-05T21:32:00.006+08:00

三年之後又三年，三年之後又三年，十年都嚟緊頭啦老細！（十年都快到來了，老闆！）

-------- 陈永仁（梁朝伟饰）
《无间道》

以上是梁朝伟在《无间道》里饰演的陈永仁对上司说过的一句话。陈永仁是一个卧底，需要过这提心吊胆的生活，情人对其的失望，被人误会的日子，造成他对卧底生活的压力及厌烦，所以对其上司要求结束这样的生活。上司和他说他还必须留下来，让陈永仁忍不住对其埋怨的一句话。还好，我比他来的幸运，我不需要当卧底，需要演戏给黑社会的老大看，又要担心自己可能会被发现是卧底。但是这三年的生活让我自己感到厌烦，由或者说是对人性有点无奈。为什么我这么说呢？

年轻的时候，我是一个自以为是，想什么就说什么的人；认为一件事应该这样做就去这样做，如果我发现一个人做的不对就会去说他，纠正他。这样的情况下只有一种结果-----我得罪很多人，造成很多人在我后面说我许多坏话。当时年轻气盛，觉得自己是对的，也就不以为意，为什么要去在乎别人的想法呢？

这样的习惯及想法带上了大专。当时因为自己功课不好的关系，我的同学可以直接跳过第一年而我必须从第一年读起。我觉得很丢脸，就下定决心说要把功课考好来，果不其然，经过努力后，我的成绩（应该是）班上的第一名，（也应该是）全年级的前十名吧！

功课考的好固然是好事，但我的老毛病依然没变，再加上自己的强势性格造成班上同学的不舒服，后来等到我发现时已经太迟了-----班上的同学已经排挤我了；再加上我在学校外参加的商业活动，同学就更加不喜欢我了。因为自己的无知及天真，又或者自己的社会阅历不足吧，差点造成自己毕不了业。幸好后来在一位同学的帮助下，我的成绩终于可以毕业。

这时渐渐的体会到人际关系的重要性，但是江山易改，本性难移，有话直说及说话太快太大声的问题一直存在。可悲的是，除了有话直说这个毛病，对于说话太快太大声及人家问什么我就回答什么的缺点我却没发现到！因为这些缺点造成生活上的一些困惑，直到几年之后，我才发现这个问题而开始收敛许多。

一个人迟早要成熟长大的，我开始检讨自己的毛病，去到一个场合会去注意自己的言行举止，注意自己的声量，不要随意的说话等等。但也因为这样，让我看清人性的一部份-----原来一个人如果三年前讨厌你，三年后他依然还是讨厌你；如果一个人三年前是一个嚣张的人，三年后他只会更加嚣张跋扈；如果一个人三年前认为自己与众不同，那三年后他会自名非凡。可喜的是，如果一个人三年前和你谈得来的朋友，真心与你交朋友的朋友，那么，三年后，他还会是真心与你交朋友的朋友的！

因此我的结论是，一个人如果年轻的时候说拥有的负面情绪和缺点，年长后只会变本加厉，变得更嚣张，更自以为是，更不把别人放在眼里；对于那些与你真心交朋友的人，他们不会变坏，奇妙的是，同时他们也不会变的更好，简单一句-----他们没太大改变，一样真心对你这个朋友。

給十八歲以下的你：文茜給年輕讀者的一封信

2009-02-24T01:36:00.001+08:00

給十八歲以下的你： 文茜給年輕讀者的一封信

　　現在的你或剛進校園，或仍等待一關又一關的學測，好進夢想中的校園。然而，金融海嘯讓你開始迷惘未來。四年後人生什麼樣？十年後世界又是何種風貌？
　　原本你打算丟離了從小背膩的書包制服，好好享受人生。如今全世界的國罵加起來都不足以緩解心中的徬徨。

　　這封信寫給不知名的你或妳。

　　現在的你或剛進校園，或仍等待一關又一關的學測，好進夢想中的校園。然而，2008年9月源自華爾街的金融海嘯，讓台北或高雄的你，開始迷惘未來。四年後人生什麼樣？十年後世界又是何種風貌？

　　十八歲，剛冒了青春痘沒多久，你本打算丟離了從小背膩的書包制服，好好享受人生。如今金融海嘯一來，全世界的國罵加起來都不足以緩解心中的徬徨。四年後有工作嗎？台灣還是那個台灣嗎？你做錯了什麼？為何被迫承擔這一切？

　　十八歲，有些人已走了很長的路。十八歲，林語堂也剛離開福建鼓浪嶼，前往上海聖約翰大學就讀。林語堂本是福建漳洲旁小村落龍溪的「土孩子」，改變他一生的，是父親從小給他的國際視野。破落的龍溪鄉下，有位長老教會的牧師，自小以中英文自學教導他的兒子，並噂告「長大定要唸世界一流大學。」自幼起林語堂即離鄉寄讀鼓浪嶼中小學，一個動亂的中國，一個看起來毫無希望的鄉下孩子。他忍受了童年的孤獨，藉由一塊偶然開放的鋼琴之島（鼓浪嶼別名），與世界悄悄連結。他的同學裡有英、法、葡、西…各國領事小孩，林語堂沒為他的孩提時期留下太多記錄，惟一惦記在心的是父親的話，大海的另一邊是另一個世界，「要讀世界一流大學」。林語堂後來實踐了父親的夢想，先留美於哈佛，再留德。他是世界上第一位華人紐約時報暢銷書排行榜作家，其作「生活的藝術」（Importance of Living）連續登「紐時」榜首五十二週，文字行雲流水，語帶幽默。嚴苛地說，他的文學造詣比不上同一時代的沈從文、魯迅、張愛玲甚至辜鴻銘，但他在世界文壇地位遠遠超越同輩，只因他擁有的世界觀，尤其以英文書寫的能力。

　　十八歲，霍金還在足球場上奔馳；他沒料到數年後，自己即將罹患肌肉萎縮症。就讀英國牛津大學博士班時，他的腦神經已開始明顯受損，一天比一天不會說話，一日比一日手腳萎縮，直至我們今天看到的「怪物」。踡曲於特殊設計的輪椅，霍金二十五歲後只能透過合成器發音，與世界甚至宇宙溝通。十八歲時的他，即時抓緊了青春，滿街追跑「女生」、踢足球；他一生相信，這世界最大的謎就是「宇宙」與「女人」。往往閱讀完愛因斯坦的物理著作，左手一擱，右手就拿起王爾德的「敗德」文學，探勘那女人究竟怎麼回事。

　　十八歲，巴菲特已賣過口香糖、二手高爾夫球、爆米花…買進股票，賺了一筆又賠光…並且當過送報生。他不喜歡桿弟類的勞力工作，但熱愛送報生的生涯。他擁有一條送「華盛頓郵報」的路線和兩條「時代先鋒報」的路線，兩報立場一左一右。每天送報前，他總是同時閱讀支持羅斯福與反對羅斯福的新聞論點，然後沿途「一個人工作，自己想通某些事」，除非那個路段「有隻惡犬」。巴菲特出生於1930年8月，算起來他娘懷胎時正巧1929年10月大股災前後；更倒楣的還在後頭，他十一歲某個星期天，一家人剛做完禮拜開車返家，廣播突然插播「日本襲擊珍珠港」，車上一陣騷動。從收音機巴菲特得知二次大戰就此開啟，更大的災難要來了。巴菲特的父親是他心目中的「大人物」，為了反羅斯福，還曾絕望地投入一場必輸的眾議員選戰。母親會彈管風琴，但平時只要一開口，對孩子盡是負面攻擊語言。巴菲特傳記作者發現他常大談自己的父親，或「父母親」，但絕不單獨提到「媽媽」。他的友人則回憶，巴菲特自小蒙受母親的語言羞辱，這是他長大後既需他人安慰，也冷靜無情的動力。一個沒有太多愛的孩子，對世界擁有很多夢想，但沒有不切實際的幻想。對巴菲特而言，如果母愛都不可信賴，長大後誰能輕易信賴？冷靜看「財報」，一切「眼見為憑」。這是股神的童年故事，時代與家庭讓一個十八歲的孩子過份早熟，但也學得五十歲的人都學不到的人生智慧。

　　十八歲的你是健康的，而世界的經濟是生病的；十八歲的你是青春的，而台灣的政治是衰老的。十八歲，學學林語堂，愛你生長的地方，瞭解你受教的文化，但別被故鄉拴住一切，勇敢地往前走，往更大的世界探索。十八歲的你，學學巴菲特，把童年的遺憾當作人生歷練，愈嘮叨的媽愈能歷練冷靜抗壓的投資之神。十八歲的你，學學霍金，即時享受青春的美好，人生有太多不測，別儘苦惱華爾街發生什麼事，抓住青春的尾巴，熱愛你的生命。

　　十八歲的我，發生中壢做票事件，世界正歷經第一次石油危機。衛生紙遭囤積，沙拉油也被廠商炒作，漲了十倍。上廁所擦屁股都是番奢侈，今天想來，還真覺有趣。我最遺憾的是十八歲前沒把英文學好，無能以英文書寫；沒環遊世界，趁年輕闖蕩天涯。最高興的是大一唸民法親屬篇，知道女人一嫁，什麼都沒，並預知法律不適合我，畢業後早早轉行。

　　欣羨年僅十八歲的妳。（2009.1.14）

編按：本篇文章引自陳文茜《亂世佳人》四刷。

A Part Time Job...

2009-01-13T22:00:00.008+08:00

Economy recession... inflation rate keep increasing... Money is always not enough... What should we do?

The answer is...

Find a part time job.

Recently, doing a part time job, which is recommend by my friend. Well, the pay is quite ok, at least is able to cover my daily expenses. Haha...

Look at how serious I am when I was working. Have to let the boss see this photo!

Who was I talking to?

Laughing when I was working... Hehe!

I'm feel fortunate to get this part time job, looking forward to work harder for this year, maybe in this job or others.

Happy New Year!

Friends - Most Popular sitcom in US ever!

2008-12-14T00:27:00.018+08:00

Just watched finish the sitcom - Friends, feeling sad when I was watching the last episode of it. I do learn a lot of Amercian English from it. There are some statements which I'll never use if I never watch. For example, if someone ask you,"Are you seeing someone?" means that that guy is asking whether you have boyfriend/girlfriend. Sounds cool! Haha~~!

So friends, if next time I ask you,"Are you seeing someone?" you know what I mean. Or I said I'm seeing someone means what I have a girlfriend already.

I watched this sitcom for a few weeks, using a couple of weeks to watch the whole 10 series, got laughs and tears. What a sitcom!

Below are the characters in this sitcom:

Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green

Who used to be a baby girl or rich girl who not even know how to make a coffee. At first become a waitress in a coffee shop, later become a professional executive in a fashion company.

Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller

Someone who always organizes everythings, even the foods in the refrigerator. She will screams at you if you try to touch or reorganize her staffs in her house.

Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay

A lady that had a poor childhood. Her stepmother killed herself and stepfather went into the jail. She is very positive in her life and she is a vegetarian.

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani

A handsome guy who loves food and women. He is not a smart guy who can think very fast but he's the funniest guy in this group of friends. An actor who keep having a lot of auditions for the movies or TV dramas.

Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing

A guy who likes to tell jokes to keep , sometimes in an inappropriate times and places. He used to work in a statistical analysis and data reconfiguration but none of his friends can name what he is doing, later he become a junior copywriter in an advertising company.

David Schwimmer as Ross Geller

A PhD who works paleontologist in a museum company. A shy guy who loves to talk about dinosaurs when he meets his friends. He used to have a wife who end up find up is a lesbian. He married 3 times and divorced 3 times.

I can't stop my laughing when I was watching Friends. It is a great sitcom! I love the characters in this drama. Anyone of you watched this sitcom before? If yes and you really love it, please let me know. We're gonna have a lot of things to talk about it!

And... next time if anyone of you call me and heard that I'm laughing or happy, you should know what I'm watching... Hehe!

《股疯》主题曲《浮沉人世间》

2008-10-20T13:31:00.002+08:00

Just watched finish a movie - ShangHai Fever - How the people speculate in the stock market. The speculators spend their time in the stock market everyday and spend less time in their family. End of the movie, there is a song which is very good. The lyrics telling the people should think carefully before they involve in this "gamble world".

《股疯》主题曲《浮沉人世间》歌词：　　
　　
　　请你一定得要想清楚
　　身份地位权势名利
　　一切都会因此而改变
　　有时飞啊飞上天
　　也有时碎的一翻两瞪眼
　　就像大海浪潮
　　涨涨跌跌
　　永不歇
　　算算计计快点趁势追
　　日日夜夜担心又憔悴
　　输输赢赢总在一念间
　　酸甜苦辣滋味随人去感觉
　　前一分钟谁也追不回
　　后一分种无人能分解
　　起起落落竟是老天爷
　　捉弄苍生浮沉人世间
　　
　　
　　如果你要玩这游戏
　　请你一定自己睁大眼
　　人云亦云随波逐流
　　不会给你成功的机会
　　有人苦不堪言
　　也有人从此鸡犬升天
　　总是几家欢乐
　　几家哀愁
　　永不变
　　算算计计快点趁势追
　　日日夜夜担心又憔悴
　　输输赢赢总在一念间
　　酸甜苦辣滋味随人去感觉
　　前一分钟谁也追不回
　　后一分种无人能分解
　　起起落落竟是老天爷
　　捉弄苍生浮沉人世间

Buy American. I Am.

2008-10-18T10:17:00.012+08:00

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

Buy American. I Am.

By WARREN E. BUFFETT
Published: October 16, 2008

THE financial world is a mess, both in the United States and abroad. Its problems, moreover, have been leaking into the general economy, and the leaks are now turning into a gusher. In the near term, unemployment will rise, business activity will falter and headlines will continue to be scary.

1. mess - n. A disorderly or dirty accumulation, heap, or jumble.
2. leak - v. To escape or pass through a breach or flaw.
3. gusher - n. One that gushes, especially an abundantly flowing gas or oil well.
4. falter - v. To walk unsteadily.

So ... I’ve been buying American stocks. This is my personal account I’m talking about, in which I previously owned nothing but United States government bonds. (This description leaves aside my Berkshire Hathaway holdings, which are all committed to philanthropy.) If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities.

5. philanthropy - n. The effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations.

Why?

A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense. These businesses will indeed suffer earnings hiccups, as they always have. But most major companies will be setting new profit records 5, 10 and 20 years from now.

6. dictate - v. intr. to issue orders or commands.
7. widespread - adj. Spread out over a large area.
8. gripping - adj. catching and holding the full attention.
9. wary - adj. on guard; watchful; categorized by caution.
10. entity - n. The fact of existence; being.
11. prosperity - n. The condition of being prosperous.
12. hiccup - n. A short-term disruption within a longer-term plan, goal, or trend.

Let me be clear on one point: I can’t predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven’t the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month — or a year — from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.

13. substantially - adv. to a large extent, considerably.
14. sentiment - n. A thought, view, or attitude, especially one based mainly on emotion instead of reason.

A little history here: During the Depression, the Dow hit its low, 41, on July 8, 1932. Economic conditions, though, kept deteriorating until Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in March 1933. By that time, the market had already advanced 30 percent. Or think back to the early days of World War II, when things were going badly for the United States in Europe and the Pacific. The market hit bottom in April 1942, well before Allied fortunes turned. Again, in the early 1980s, the time to buy stocks was when inflation raged and the economy was in the tank. In short, bad news is an investor’s best friend. It lets you buy a slice of America’s future at a marked-down price.

15. deteriorate - v. To become lower in quality, character, or condition.
16. rage - v. to speak or act in violent anger.

Over the long term, the stock market news will be good. In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497.

17. endure - v.tr. to carry on through, despite hardships.
18. traumatic - adj. Of, pertaining to, or cause by injury.
19. epidemic - n. A rapid spread, growth or development.

You might think it would have been impossible for an investor to lose money during a century marked by such an extraordinary gain. But some investors did. The hapless ones bought stocks only when they felt comfort in doing so and then proceeded to sell when the headlines made them queasy.

20. hapless - adj. luckless; unfortunate.
21. queasy - adj. not feeling well; not comfortable.

Today people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn’t. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value. Indeed, the policies that government will follow in its efforts to alleviate the current crisis will probably prove inflationary and therefore accelerate declines in the real value of cash accounts.

22. opt - v. to make a choice from a number of alternatives.
23. virtually - adv. in fact or to all purposes; practically; almost buy not quite; nearly.
24. depreciate - v.tr. To lessen the price or value of.
25. alleviate - v. to make less severe or more bearable.

Equities will almost certainly outperform cash over the next decade, probably by a substantial degree. Those investors who cling now to cash are betting they can efficiently time their move away from it later. In waiting for the comfort of good news, they are ignoring Wayne Gretzky’s advice: “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.”

26. cling - intr.v. to remain close; resist separation.

I don’t like to opine on the stock market, and again I emphasize that I have no idea what the market will do in the short term. Nevertheless, I’ll follow the lead of a restaurant that opened in an empty bank building and then advertised: “Put your mouth where your money was.” Today my money and my mouth both say equities.

27. opine - v. intr. To express an opinion.

Warren E. Buffett is the chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, a diversified holding company.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/opinion/17buffett.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Finally I created an account to invest (but...)

2008-10-15T09:53:00.004+08:00

"Last night", I went to Stock Exchange with my friend.

At there, I'm thinking of create an account and invest security instead of the stock.

I asked the broker about the security, he explained to me how to earn money by investing the security.

At stock exchange, I decide not buy or invest anything at there but I just reminded myself to write on my blog once I have created an account and invest security at there.

When I opened my eyes, I realised it was just a dream. :D

Since in my dream I promised myself to write a blog when I create and invest in stock exchange, I decide to put it down here, although it is different case. :))

http://www.pyzam.com/

2008-10-08T23:08:00.003+08:00

Just find a nice website: http://www.pyzam.com/

For those who want to change the template of their blogs, come here and look for it!

No matter you are using blogspot, friendster, spaces or others. There are plenty of them.

There is only one disadvantage, when u use their template, you will always see a bar on top of your blog (Either is good or bad, depend how you look at it. I find this website by seeing the bar on other's blog also). Anyone knows how to remove it?

Regards!

Negotiation Quotes

2008-09-28T09:53:00.010+08:00

Just trying to search some negotiation quotes in the internet. Surprisely, find out some quotes which I feel are very useful not only in business, but in life too!

These are the quotes:

1. In business, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.
- Chester L. Karrass

2. He who has learned to disagree without being disagreeable has discovered the most valuable secret of a diplomat.
- Robert Estabrook

3. My father said: " You must never try to make all the money that's in a deal. Let the other fellow make some money too, because if you have a reputation for always making all the money, you won't have many deals."

- J. Paul Getty

4. Most people I ask little from. I try to give them much, and expect nothing in return and I do very well in the bargain.

- Francois FéNelon

5. It is a trick among the dishonest to offer sacrifices that are not needed, or not possible, to avoid making those that are required.
- Ivan Goncharov

6. Never forget the power of silence, that massively disconcerting pause which goes on and on and may at last induce an opponent to babble and backtrack nervously.
- Lance Morrow

7. Negotiation in the classic diplomatic sense assumes parties more anxious to agree than to disagree.

- Dean Acheson

8. During a negotiation, it would be wise not to take anything personally. If you leave personalities out of it, you will be able to see opportunities more objectively.

- Brian Koslow

9. Flattery is the infantry of negotation.
- Lord Chandos

10. If you come to a negotiation table saying you have the final truth, that you know nothing but the truth and that is final you will get nothing.

- Harri Holkeri

11. The single most powerful tool for winning a negotiation is the ability to get up and walk away from the table without a deal.

- Anonymous

12. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.
- John F. Kennedy

Sources:

http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Negotiation1.htm

http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Negotiation/1/index.html
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/negotiations/

A Failure To Learn From The Past

2008-09-26T19:19:00.019+08:00

Marti G. Subrahmanyam

After perhaps the most tumultuous week in the financial markets in living memory, the question on everyone's mind is whether this turn of events was inevitable. In order to answer this question fairly, one has to avoid making the common mistake of using 20-20 hindsight based on the facts that have come to light in the past 15 months or so.

1. tumultuous - adj. Characterized by tumult; noisy and disorderly.
2. inevitable - adj. Impossible to avoid or prevent.
3. hindsight - n. Perception of the significance and nature of events after they have occured.

Suppose we were back in 2002, looking at the architecture of the global financial system based on the knowledge of events until that point in time. We would have known about several crises of the previous two decades: the stock market crash of 1987; the Japanese financial meltdown that lasted through much of the 1990s; the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and the Russian default-LTCM crisis of 1998; and, of course, the dot-com collapse of 2002.

4. architecture - n. A style and method or design and construction.

What lessons did the past crises teach us? What were the warning signs that were already evident at that time?

The declining savings rate and the looming trade and budget deficits.

This trend could only continue as long as U.S. deficits were being financed by issuing large quantities of financial claims to countries with large trade surpluses--principally China and Japan, but also many emerging economies. These transfers of financial claims--principally U.S. Treasury obligations--are substantial in relation to the overall size of the financial market. They will likely cause major disruptions to economic activity if there is even a hint that they may be interrupted.

5. loom - intr.v. To come into view as a massive, distorted, or indistinct image.
6. deficit - A situation in which liabilities exceed assets, expenditures exceed income, imports exceed exports, or losses exceed profits.
7. claim - n. A demand for payment in accordance with an insurance policy or other formal arrangement.
8. substantial - adj. Solidly build; strong.
9. disruption - n. The act or an example of upsetting.

Low interest rates and easy availability of credit.

Cheap credit exaggerated the returns from leveraged investments at both household and corporate levels. This easy-money policy encouraged speculation particularly in real estate, but also in assets, more generally. The global real estate boom and the rapid growth of the private equity industry are prominent examples of the institutionalization of such leveraged investments.

10. exaggerated - v.tr. To enlarge or incrase to an abnormal degree.
11. particularly - adj. Separate and distinct from others of the same group, category, or nature.
12. prominent - adj. Widely known; eminent.

The backlash against regulation

The failure of corporate governance in companies such as Enron and WorldCom led to greater regulation of corporations, principally through the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The increased regulatory burden created a backlash against regulation in general. This sentiment was in tune with the prevailing political mood in Washington, which had lead to the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act (which separated investment banking from commercial banking) in 1999.

13. backlash - n. A sudden or violent backward whipping motion.
14. governance - n. The act, process, or power of governing; government.
15. sentiment - n. A thought, view, or attitude, especially one based mainly on emotion instead of reason.
16. prevaling- adj. Most frequent or common; predominant.
17. repeal - v. To take back or remove.

"Too large to fail" and moral hazard.

Although the argument about the systemic consequences of the failure of a single large financial entity has been used before, the most spectacular example of its use prior to the present crisis was the 1998 bailout coordinated by the Fed for the hedge fund Long Term Capital Management. This anchored in the minds of investors the notion that, at some point, large financial institutions carry such grave consequences for the entire market that the regulators have no option but to bail them out.

18. entity - n. Something that exists as a particular and discrete unit.
19. bailout - A situation in which a business, individual or government offers money to a failing business in order to prevent the consequences that arise from a business's downfall.
20. anchor - verb. To make secure.
21. notion - n. A belief or opinion.

The asymmetry in the regulation of commercial and investment banks.

Both types of financial institutions offered increasingly similar products and services. Even the deposit-taking feature of commercial banks was mimicked by the ability of investment banks to issue short-term paper, albeit without insurance guarantees.

22. asymmetry - n. Lack of balance or symmetry.
23. mimic (Past Tense mimicked) - v. To copy or imitate closely, especially in speech, expression, and gesture; ape.
24. albeit - conj. Even though; although; notwithstanding.

However, commercial banks were subject to more stringent regulations than investment banks, principally with regard to their capital adequacy under the Basle guidelines. Investments banks were subject to securities regulation, but not in terms of the risks they took or the amount of capital at their disposal. To stretch this point further, new entities--such as hedge funds, as well as more traditional financial arms of iconic manufacturing companies, such as General Electric and General Motors , or insurance companies, such as AIG were indistinguishable in their practices and products from conventional financial institutions.

25. stringent - adj. rigid; tight.
26. adequacy - n. enough; sufficiency
27. iconic - adj. Of, relating to, or having the character of an icon.

If the reason for regulation of commercial banks was the potential for systemic risk, regulation would be just as valid for these other types of quasi-financial institutions. The question is whether it should focus on the form or the function of a financial product or service.

The exponential growth of the derivatives market.

This growth was particularly noteworthy in the credit area, with the creation of more and more complex credit derivatives. Many of these products put a greater distance between the original credit transaction--say, a mortgage loan from a bank to a house buyer--and the ultimate owner of the claims, which were created by combining these loans and slicing and dicing them into various "tranches." The incentive of the lender to monitor the capacity and ability of the borrower to repay the loan was blunted as a consequence, creating a huge moral hazard for the credit markets.

28. Tranches - A piece, portion or slice of a deal or structured financing. This portion is one of several related securities that are offered at the same time but have different risks, rewards and/or maturities. "Tranche" is the French word for "slice".
29. blunte - adj. Lacking in feeling; insensitive.

This growth was concentrated in the over-the-counter market.

Over-the-counter markets are more opaque than exchange-traded markets because the transactions are bilateral and the trades are not known to other market participants. The risks of default to the counterparties could be considerable, especially if there is no collateral posted. In contrast, exchanges publish their trades and use a clearing house for derivatives transactions: Prices and volumes are transparent to the whole market. Due to margins they impose on all traders, the risks to the counterparties are substantially mitigated. (A case in point is that no one today has a clear idea about the outstanding amounts of credit derivatives to the institutions that have recently failed or are likely to fail, causing the prices of credit default swaps to gyrate.)

30. over-the-counter - adj. Not listed or available on an officially recognized stock exchange but traded in direct negotiation between buyers and sellers: over-the-counter stocks.
31. opaque - adj. Impenetrable by light; neither transparent nor translucent.
32. bilateral - adj. Having or formed of two sides; two-sided.
33. collateral - adj. Situated or running side by side; parallel.
34. mitigate - v. To make less severe or more bearable.
35. swap - v. To exhange/trade (one thing) for another.
36. gyrate - v. To move or cause to move in circles or around an axis.

The increased complexity of new financial products.

These new products placed a greater burden on the accounting-standards boards to ensure that the financial disclosures matched the underlying economic reality. This opacity was an important component in the spectacular collapse of Enron, which had created an unbelievably complex web of off-balance-sheet entities that no analyst could fathom. As financial products and markets became complex, the accounting was struggling to keep up.

37. opacity - n. Lack of clarity.
38. fathom - v. To penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend.

The changing model of credit-rating agencies.

Credit-rating agencies moved from assessing and rating credit risk to advising financial-product designers on modifying their products to obtain a more favorable rating. Since these entities--principally Moody's Fitch and Standard & Poor's--are the arbiters of credit quality, much depends on their judgment. Their conflicts of interest have pervasive effects on the whole financial system.

39. arbiter - n. One chosen or appointed to judge or decide a disputed issue; an arbitrato.
40. pervasive - adj. extensive.

The above list indicates that many of the warning signs--some of them, admittedly, in their early stages--were there for the policymakers to see well before the present crisis.

However, they were ignored, and--even worse--were dismissed as irrelevant. In particular, the lessons from the Japanese and later pan-Asian experience were dismissed as being peculiar to countries with ill-developed capital markets and unrelated to markets in English-speaking countries, principally the U.S. and the U.K.

41. peculiar - adj. Distinct from all others.

In light of the above discussion, what could have been done to prevent or at least mitigate some of the systemic risk we face today? One can go through each one of the above trends, which could have been discerned many years ago, and state what corrective action could have been taken. It is clear that the excesses of the last five years resulted from a collective failure to learn from the past. After all, those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

42. discerned - v. To recognize or comprehend mentally.

Marti G. Subrahmanyam is the Charles E. Merrill Professor of Finance, Economics and International Business at New York University's Stern School of Business.

Original Link: http://news.my.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1694170#toolbar

Privatising fisheries works | A rising tide | The Economist

2008-09-24T00:02:00.009+08:00

FISH STOCKS
Sep 18th 2008

Scientists find proof that privatising fishing stocks can avert a disaster

FOR three years, from an office overlooking the Atlantic in Nova Scotia, Boris Worm, a marine scientist, studied what could prevent a fishery from collapsing. By 2006 Dr Worm and his team had worked out that although biodiversity might slow down an erosion of fish stocks, it could not prevent it. Their gloomy prediction was that by 2048 all the world's commercial fisheries would have collapsed.

1. avert - verb. to change the direction or course of.

2. overlook - tr.v. to watch over; oversee.
3. marine - adj. of or relating to the sea.

4. biodiveristy - n. The number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region.

5. erosion - n. The process of eroding or the condition of being eroded.

6. gloomy- adj. partially or totally dark.

Now two economists and a marine biologist have looked at an idea that might prevent such a catastrophe. This is the privatisation of commercial fisheries through what are known as catch shares or Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs).

6. catastrophe - n. A sudden violent change in the earth's surface; a cataclysm.

Christopher Costello and Steven Gaines (the biologist) of the University of California and John Lynham of the University of Hawaii assembled a database of the world's commercial fisheries, their catches and whether or not they were managed with ITQs. As these fisheries were not chosen at random and without having any experimental control, they borrowed techniques from medical literature--known as propensity-score matching and fixed-effects estimation--to support their analysis. The first method compared fisheries that are similar in all respects other than the use of ITQs; the second averaged the impact of ITQs over many fisheries and examined what happened after the quotas were introduced. Whichever way they analysed the data, they found that ITQs halted the collapse of fisheries (and according to one analysis even reversed the trend). The overall finding was that fisheries that were managed with ITQs were half as likely to collapse as those that were not.

7. propensity - n., pl, an innate inclination; a tendency.
8. respect - n. The particular angle from which something is considered.

9. halted - v. to cause to stop; to stop; pause

For years economists and green groups such as Environmental Defense, in Washington, DC, have argued in favour of ITQs. Until now, individual fisheries have provided only anecdotal evidence of the system's worth. But by lumping all of them together the new study, published this week in SCIENCE, is a powerful demonstration that it really works. It also helps to undermine the argument that ITQ fisheries do better only because they are more valuable in terms of their fish stocks to begin with, says Dr Worm. The new data show that before their conversion, fisheries with ITQs were on exactly the same path to oblivion as those without.

10. anecdotal - adj. Based on casual observations or indications rather than rigorous or scientific analysis.
11. lump - v.tr. To put together in a single group without discrimination
12. undermine - tr.v. To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation.
13. oblivion - n. The condition or quality of being completely forgotten.

RACING TO FISH
Encouraging as the results are, ITQ fisheries are in the minority. Most fisheries have an annual quota of what can be caught and other restrictions, such as the length of the season or the type of nets. But this can result in a "race to fish" the quota. Fishermen have an incentive to work harder and travel farther, which can lead to overfishing: a classic tragedy of the commons.

The use of ITQs changes this by dividing the quota up and giving shares to fishermen as a long-term right. Fishermen therefore have an interest in good management and conservation because both increase the value of their fishery and of their share in it. And because shares can be traded, fishermen who want to catch more can buy additional rights rather than resorting to brutal fishing tactics.

14. resort - intr.v., to have recourse

The Alaskan halibut and king crab fisheries illustrate how ITQs can change behaviour. Fishing in these waters had turned into a race so intense that the season had shrunk to just two to three frantic days. Overfishing was common. And when the catch was landed, prices plummeted because the market was flooded. Serious injury and death became so frequent in the king crab fishery that it turned into one of America's most dangerous professions (and spawned its own television series, "The Deadliest Catch").

15. illustrate - v.tr. To clarify by serving as an example or comparison
16. intense - adj. Extreme in degree, strength or size.
17. shrunk - v.intr. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle.
18. frantic - adj. characterized by rapid and disordered or nervous activity.
19. plummet - intr.v., To fall straight down; plunge.

After a decade of using ITQs in the halibut fishery, the average fishing season now lasts for eight months. The number of search-and-rescue missions that are launched is down by more than 70% and deaths by 15%. And fish can be sold at the most lucrative time of year--and fresh, so that they fetch a better price.

In a report on this fishery, Dan Flavey, a fisherman himself, says some of his colleagues have even pushed for the quota to be reduced by 40%. "Most fishermen will now support cuts in quota because they feel guaranteed that in the future, when the stocks recover, they would be the ones to benefit," he says.

Although governing authorities are important in setting up ITQs, so is policing of the system by the fishermen themselves. In the Atlantic lobster fishery a property-based system has arisen spontaneously, says Dr Worm. Families claim ownership over parcels of sea and keep others out. Anyone trying to muscle in on the action risks being threatened; their gear may be cut loose or their boat could vanish.

20. spontaenously - adverb. of one's own free will.

Jeremy Prince, a fisheries scientist at Murdoch University in Australia, has been involved in ITQs since they were pioneered in the early 1980s by Australia, New Zealand and Iceland. In Australia they are only one way of managing with property rights, he says. Depending on the nature of a fishery, other methods may work better. These might divide up and sell lobster pots, numbers of fish, numbers of boats, bits of the ocean or even individual reefs. The best choice will depend on the value and underlying biology of each fishery, and in some places they may not work at all. In a fishery with a large, unproductive stock that grows slowly, fishermen may prefer short-term profit to the promise of low long-term income and catch all the fish straight away. Nevertheless, Dr Prince believes that, overall, market-based mechanisms are the way forward.

21. reef - n. A strip of ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.

22. underlying - adj. Present but not obvious; implicit.

The most difficult place to introduce market-based conservation methods is in international waters. Attempts to do so have ended in failure. One problem is that there is simply too much cheating in the open ocean. Some scientists think a renegotiation of the law of the sea through the United Nations is the only way forward--or a complete ban on fishing in international waters. Although a dramatic course of action, the effects may not be so huge. Dr Worm reckons that 90% of the world's fish are caught in national waters.

So, if Dr Costello and his colleagues are right and the profit motive can drive the sustainability of fisheries, why do the world's 10,000-plus fisheries contain only 121 ITQs? Allocating catch shares is a difficult and often fraught process. In America it can take from five to 15 years, says Joe Sullivan, a partner in Mundt MacGregor, a law firm based in Seattle. The public, he says, sometimes resists the privatisation of a public resource and if government gets too involved in the details of the privatisation (rather than leaving it to the fishermen to work out), it can end up politically messy. But evidence that ITQs work is a powerful new hook to capture the political will and public attention needed to spread an idea that could avert an ecological disaster.

23. fraught - adj. First, Filled with a specified element or elements; charged.
Second, Marked by or causing distress; emotional.
24. ecological - n. (The science of) the relationship between organisms and their environment.

See this article with graphics and related items at http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12253181

Fish and the market | Economies of scales | The Economist

2008-09-23T03:18:00.008+08:00

FISH STOCKS
Sep 18th 2008

A new way of saving fisheries shows it can work; it deserves more attention

BEFORE 1995 the annual fishing season for Alaskan halibut lasted all of three days. Whatever the weather, come hell or--literally--high water, fishermen would be out on those few days trying to catch as much halibut as they could. Those that were lucky enough to make it home alive, or without serious injury, found that the price of halibut had collapsed because the market was flooded.

1. halibut – n. A white fish, Hippoglossus spp.
2. come hell or high water – adv. in spite of all obstacles; Synonyms – no matter what happens, whatever may come.
3. literally – adv. Usage problem (Used as an intensive before a figurative expression).

Like most other fisheries in the world, Alaska's halibut fishery was overexploited--despite the efforts of managers. Across the oceans, fishermen are caught up in a "race to fish" their quotas, a race that has had tragic, and environmentally disastrous, consequences over many decades. But in 1995 Alaska's halibut fishermen decided to privatise their fishery by dividing up the annual quota into "catch shares" that were owned, in perpetuity, by each fisherman. It changed everything.

4. fishery – n. A fishing business.
5. disastrous – adj. Extremely Bad.
6. in perpetuity - Idioms For an indefinite period of time; forever.

BREAM OF SUNLIGHT
Despite their salty independence, even fishermen respond to market incentives. In the halibut fishery the change in incentives that came from ownership led to a dramatic shift in behaviour. Today the halibut season lasts eight months and fishermen can make more by landing fish when the price is high. Where mariners' only thought was once to catch fish before the next man, they now want to catch fewer fish than they are allowed to--because conservation increases the value of the fishery and their share in it. The combined value of their quota has increased by 67%, to $492m.

7. incentive – n. Something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort.
8. mariner – n. One who navigates or assists in navigating a ship.

Sadly, most of the rest of the world's fisheries are still embroiled in a damaging race for fish that is robbing the seas of their wealth. Overfished populations are small, and so they yield a small catch or even go extinct. Yet the powerful logic in favour of market-based mechanisms has been ignored, partly because the evidence has largely been anecdotal. Now a study of the world's 121 fisheries managed by individual transferable quotas (ITQs), one form of market-based mechanism, has shown that they are dramatically healthier than the rest of the world's fisheries. The ITQ system halves the chance of a fishery collapsing.

9. embroile – tr.v. To involve in argument, contention, or hostile actions.
10. extinct – adj. No longer existing or living: an extinct species.
11. mechanism – n. An instrument or a process, physical or mental, by which something is done or comes into being: “The mechanism of oral learning is largely that of continuous repetition” (T.G.E. Powell).
12. Anecdotal – adj. Based on casual observations or indications rather than rigorous or scientific analysis; informal.
13. Halve – tr.v. To lessen or reduce by half.

By giving fishermen a long-term interest in the health of the fishery, ITQs have transformed fishermen from rapacious predators into stewards and policemen of the resource. The tragedy of the commons is resolved when individuals own a defined (and guaranteed) share of a resource, a share that they can trade. This means that they can increase the amount of fish they catch not by using brute strength and fishing effort, but by buying additional shares or improving the fishery's health and hence increasing its overall size.

14. rapacious – adj. taking by force; plundering.
15. Steward – n. An official who supervises or helps to manage an event.
16. Brute – adj. of or relating to beasts; animal.

There are plenty of practical difficulties to overcome. In theory, for instance, you should allocate shares through auctions. But if fishermen do not agree to a new system, it will not work. So fishermen are typically just given their shares--which can lead to bitter, politicised arguments. In Australia, a pioneer in ITQs, a breakthrough came when independent allocation panels were set up to advise the fishing agencies, chaired by retired judges advised by fishing experts. The next test will come in November, when two large American Pacific fisheries decide whether to accept market management.

17. allocate – tr.v. to set apart for a special purpose; designate.
18. auction – n. An auction in which an item is initially offered at a high price that is progressively lowered until a bid is made and the item sold.
19. typically – adv. In an expected or costomary manner; for the most part.
20. chaired – tr.v. To install in a position of authority, especially as a presiding officer.

ITQs, and other market mechanisms, are not a replacement for government regulation--indeed they must work within a well regulated system. And they will not work everywhere. Attempts to use ITQs in international waters have failed, because it is too easy for cheats to take fish and weaker regulations mean there are no on-board observers to keep boats honest. And ITQs will not work in slow-growing fisheries, where fishermen may make more money by fishing the stock to extinction than they ever would by waiting for the fish to mature. But in most of the world's fisheries, market mechanisms would create richer fishermen and more fish.

There was a time when fishermen were seen as the last hunter-gatherers--pitting their wits against the elements by pursuing their quarry on the last frontier on Earth. Those days are gone. Every corner of the ocean has been scoured using high technology developed for waging wars on land. Politicians and governments still seek to cope with fishermen's poverty by subsidising their boats or their fuel--which only accelerates the decline. Instead governments should promote property-rights-based fisheries. If fishermen know what's good for them--and their fish--they will jump on board.

21. pitting – v.tr. To set in direct opposition or competition.
22. Wit – n. The natural ability to perceive and understand; intelligence.
23. Quarry – n. A hunted animal; prey.
24. Frontier – n. A region just beyond or at the edge of a settled area.
25. Scoure – v.tr. To clean, polish, or wash by scrubbing vigorously.
26. Cope – intr.v. To contend or strive, especially on even terms or with success.

See this article with graphics and related items at http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12262197

家后 - A Song In Movie - "Money No Enough II"

2008-08-13T22:37:00.003+08:00

家后郑进一作词：郑进一/陈维祥　作曲：郑进一

有一日咱若老找无人甲咱有孝
我会陪你坐惦椅寮听你讲少年的时袸你有外贤
食好食歹无计较怨天怨地嘛袜晓
你的手我会甲你牵条条因为我是你的家後

阮将青春嫁乎恁兜阮对少年随你随甲老
人情世事己经看透透有啥人比你卡重要
阮的一生献乎恁兜才知幸福是吵吵闹闹
等待返去的时袸若到我会让你先走
因为我会不甘放你为我目屎流

有一日咱若老有媳妇子儿有孝
你若无聊拿咱的相片看卡早结婚的时袸你有外缘投
穿好穿歹无计较怪东怪西嘛袜晓
你的心我会永远记条条因为我是你的家後

阮将青春嫁乎恁兜阮对少年随你随甲老
人情世事己经看透透有啥人比你卡重要
阮的一生献乎恁兜才知幸福是吵吵闹闹
等待返去的时袸若到你着让我先走
因为我吗不甘看你为我目屎流

Michael Liew's Blog

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家后 - A Song In Movie - "Money No Enough II"

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三年的人生（一）

給十八歲以下的你：文茜給年輕讀者的一封信