Unemployment Claims - USA

Whoever said that it's a good time to invest in stocks now may be a bit early or overly aggressive. Whoever thinks that the worst has past us is clearly dreaming. The unemployment numbers have to come down before we can say that this round of 'economic crisis' is over.

By the way, these are NEW unemployment claims.

Bug Attack!

Recently I've found these crawlies in my apartment.

First spotted by my wife who thought it was a piece of toilet paper moving on its own! But on closer inspection, it's a bug. It has a 'covering' that looks like diamond shaped paper/leaf.

I'm seeing them on the walls crawling very very slowly. Hanging of the corner of the wall and ceiling.

If you know how to get rid of them, please let me know!

p/s: that black dot on the pic is from my pen.

****update****
That is a case bearing moth larvae. yes it's a moth!

More China 'gloom and doom' news.

China and South Korea have announced sharp falls in economic growth, in a further sign of the financial crisis sweeping through east Asia.

China said its GDP fell to 6.8% in the final three months of 2008, from 9% in the previous quarter.

********************

Yes, yes... We all know the propaganda already. China has human right issues, China trained their athletes too hard, China has bad air pollution, China has unfair trade practices, China is going down the drain with this economic slump.

But 6.8% GDP growth?... That's like Germany on a good year.

Acceptance.

(Kinda a response to chris's post)

hey dude, what a nice post :)

I just came back from the wedding that you were just in. During the time of catching up, wife told me that someone said something about me that it's downright insulting...

When she first told me what was said, I was shocked. I mean it doesn't feel good to be demeaned, insulted directly or indirectly. I got over it fairly quickly (because God is a very skilled healer). And now that I thought about it, what she said revealed more about her than me...

Like you said man, "...Not everyone knows us through and through and we end up getting unnecessarily hurt by these people." In the end, we get hurt by ppl whom we want acceptance from... or our need for acceptance.

Acceptance is a funny thing. By itself it's not a bad thing nor a good thing. It's when we need that accpetance from a 'wrong' person. And when that person say things hurtful, we feel pain.

Anyone can say anything about us really. Someone wise once said, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. But for me, I'm concerned only with the one who has the final say- Jesus. He says I'm blessed.

It's interesting to note too that as smart, likeable, warm, loving...etc Jesus is, He isn't liked by everyone. In fact, most people hate him. During His days on earth, He was called names, ridiculed, stones were thrown (at least Bush got only shoes!) and in the end murdered and betrayed.

So if the best man on earth can be hated to such levels, what more me, a mere mortal? Furthermore, I'm far far from perfection.

Someone told me recently that at any one time, chances are, 1/3 of the ppl like us, 1/3 hate us, and 1/3 are undecided. Our job is to convince the 1/3 of undecision to come to our side. Math wise, it looks simple and logical. Still our hearts want to be love by everyone. Perhaps my pride is way too big to acknowledge that 66.6% of the world out there can't be bothered about what I'm saying or hate what I'm saying. Being rejected by 66.6% or 4 billion people isn't a good feeling. Imagine 4 billion rotten tomatoes coming at me!

But that is reality. Especially for us who are gifted (even less ppl understand us!) . Who can understand Galileo when he said that the world is round? (He should have just gone to China, they already knew) Who can understand Picasso when he drew those 'ugly' pictures? Who can understand Warren Buffet when he buys when everyone is selling? Who can understand Paul when he talked about the Gospel of Grace?

These men 'see' in their mind's eye.... who can understand Jesus when He said, " Believing is seeing but seeing is not believing". These men are seldom liked when they are alive. They could see where we could not and because of that they are rejected. Are they right? For sure. Are they liked? Not really.

And we are all gifted in our own ways. I can't see what you see, but I can allow you to express that which you see. And if I can do just that, you will feel and know that the love I show you is genuine - then you and I will both feel accepted. My life will also be made richer by your gifts to me. What a wonderful world that will be.

Sale up to 80%... while 'stocks' last!

Late last year we told friends and families that a next round of crash is going to happen. Some have no clues what we're talking about, some think we're talking air. One said,' Har?! Still got some more to go ah?"

To which I replied with the song..."it's only just begun".

It's round two now at the Dows and.. Apple is out of Jobs :) Banks are still desperate for cash. Not only that, I hear that hedge funds need to liquidate their positions to pay back withdrawals request from last year. It would mean a big sell off of everything in the market which leads to plumetting prices.

We haven't even heard about credit loans, car loans yet.

It's not a beautiful picture really. However for the wise, therein lies great opportunity. Loans are getting cheaper. Good assets are getting more 'affordable'...

And inline with the Golden globe fever... I want to thank USA for this opportunity that they have given us. To be more specific, the Feds who has royally screwed the people of USA, the SEC and of course not forgetting the secretary of treasury.

Your determination to have more debt and to print more money has made all these things possible. Your undeterred support to your banker friends in these great times, giving them free loans to buy up other banks... *smiles* you know who you are... has also given all of us hope that indeed money is 'free'.

I hear you car szar, you're the fastest learner of us all, well done. The threat on massive unemployment did worked! :)

Last but not least, Mr President George W Bush. All this cannot happen without your clueless, aimless and visionless leadership qualities.

Your ability to dodge 2 shoe throws has inspire us all that indeed you can spew out any and every bullshit and dodge all repercussions.

******

You guys should have just elected Ron Paul instead.

Hero of the week - NINJA

The hero of the week - NINJA - No Income, No job or assets.

Mr. NINJA Loan, NINJA credit cards, NINJA Putra... the NINJA family is taking the headlines everywhere I turn!

Hero of the week - Bernard Madoff

There are con man, and there are CON master. I've always thought that if I were to be a con man, I should do it big time. Like really BIG time.

Why do it small time? Firstly, it's harder to con. Secondly, if your'e caught your losses still far outweights your rewards. Take our hero for the week for example. The con is worth USD 50bn!!!!! Who knows how much more he kept? The penalty apparently is 20 years jail or 5m fine.

I can almost hear it in court, "The defendant pleads guilty. Here's 10m, keep the change."

But the question I have in mind is how did he get past all the 'checks'. Did the governing authority practiced double standards in doing their job:- if you're a who's who they let you off easy, if you're a new player, they scrutinise you?

A friend have another good theory. The scheme he says, is 100% legit. Just highly leverage and exploiting some insider loopholes. When the financial crisis hit, the scheme starts to fall apart. So, Madoff, being the smaller fry is taking the fall. It's impossible for him to pull out such a scheme alone.

Now if the whole scheme falls apart, not only the insider loopholes will be compromised, the big fishes that Madoff works for will also be affected. Now, Madoff is already big, so you can imagine who the other bigger fishes are. Big money are also at stake .

Saying that it's a Ponzi scheme is easy and less 'technical'. Pleads guilty quickly. Investigation stops. Names are protected, loopholes are still intact. More money exchange hands. In about 2 years, the whole thing can start again when the financial crises is over. Afterall, humans do have a very short term memory.

Old photos.

We were at Cynthia's place the other night to see them off to dubai and we went through some old photos. Thought I post it up here. SJ is so pretty and cute, which made this photo look kinda classic. Hahahah

Below, exhibit A. Who's ass is it?

Najib says...

"Don't expect pump prices to be constantly reduced"

I actually agree with him. Oil has hit a critical level of $50 a barrel, if it holds I think it will go down further but if it doesn't hold, it may just go back up and hover between $50 to $70. Further, our DPM said:-

“If we keep cutting the pump prices whenever crude oil prices fall then we will have to also increase the pump prices every time there is an increase at the international market."

Isn't that obvious? I don't know how else to put it simpler. It's the market, it's how currency, commdities, stock prices... are priced. They change every day.

“We cannot afford this kind of volatility. The people may not be able to cope with these sudden changes."

The last time price went from rm2 to rm2.6 in one day. I would call such big jump 'sudden changes' wouldn't you? These are extraodinary times.

“Oil prices cannot stay so low for long. Sooner or later it will increase. If we cut the prices too much, we will have to increase it even more and this will affect the people,” said Najib to Malaysian newsmen after attending Friday prayers at the Islamic centre here.

Why would u need to increase it EVEN MORE? Unless it peaks above $120 but that's quite unlikely.

When price went $100 to $140/barrel, our price went from rm2 to rm2.60.
When price went from $140/barrel to less than $50/barrel we went from rm2.60 to rm1.90?

Bring it down now and match it later. Is that so difficult? Right there's 'taxes'.

"Asked if the Government would allow the pump prices to float and be determined by the open market, Najib, who is the Finance Minister, said most petrol pump dealers would find it difficult to cope with such daily or weekly fluctuation of prices."

Well, then they shouldn't be in business. Most pump dealers have to cope with fluctuations like these in the world, how do they do it? Generally that's why you need to plan ahead, balance the cash flow and keep cost low. Something our government could learn really.

“If oil is too cheap we will not work very hard to seek alternative sources of fuel,” he added.

Ok, since when have we been working hard at seeking alternative sources of fuel? We have SURIA 1000 but that's hardly 'working hard'. Do we have wind farm? wave farm? Lowered taxes on fuel efficient cars like hybrid, electric, air, diesel, NPG cars? Solar cities? (and while nations are moving away from nuclear power... we seemed to be looking at it without having bakun dam finished. Why do I smell another billion dollars project?)

When oil was high, it was expensive to do so. Now oil is cheap we say we will not work very hard. So when's a good time?

Heads you win, Tail you lose pt 3

Tell me, what was the first word you said (in your head also count!) right after you read this.
.
.
.

Context... ever since petrol peaked a few months ago, the government has been crying foul about how they can't afford subsidy anymore. They were losing billions!! (So they say... except for that P-company which were making billions suddenly with the increase of oil price)

They had NO choice. See they say it here:

"PUTRAJAYA: The Government announced yesterday an increase in petrol and diesel prices, stating that it can no longer continue to subsidise fuel. "

Some people then say taking away subsidy is also good because we should go to a free market system. The government can also use what's saved to other areas.

"He said the Government would save RM13.7bil through the restructuring.

From the savings, he said RM4bil would go to the National Food Supply Guarantee Policy, RM1.5bil for subsidising cooking oil and RM400mil to subsidise rice imports to make the price uniform in peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

The Government would also spend RM200mil on flour subsidy, RM100mil on bread subsidy and RM7.5bil was meant for contributions to the subsidies for petrol, diesel and gas."

Subsidy or not, inflation quickly sky-rocketed.

And just as it quickly went up it came down. And down. It came down so much that we are now paying TAXES on fuel? TAXES?!!!

CCB! From GETTING subsidy at current prices we end up PAYING taxes!!!!!! and the more petrol price is dropping the more the government can take!

Now, with ALL the BIG savings we get from the cancellation of subsidy we were promised infrastructures.. bla bla blah... now leh? Now do we get more?

Savings + Taxes = more infrastructure? better internet lines? cheaper goods? or just more eurocopter?

When oil prices went up, the people had to take the big blow. We bore the inflation and now that the oil prices has come down we have to pay tax? Is this how a caring government show love?

So what did u say right after you read the news?

FUCK!

Rest

When you rest, God will do the rest

Heads you win, Tail you lose pt 2

Well, well, well....

I got news for you. Rm1.92 is the lowest the price of petrol can go. Why you ask?

Because:- (quote)

He said this would bring some stability to the retail price of petrol and minimise losses by petrol station owners.

Setting a minimum price would also enable the Government to reduce its subsidy on petrol if the global price fell further.

(end quote)

Now, how will putting a minimum price create a stable retail price? You mean stable, high prices to further increase inflation. Genius.

And what did you say? It's also to minimmise losses of petrol station owners? WTF?! Did I clean my ears today.... It explains how they may lose money. (quote)

Ahmad Sarpur, a dealer in Johor, said dealers could lose between RM13,000 and RM25,000 each time petrol is reduced by 15 sen per litre.

“This is because there is a minimum order quantity of 21,000 litres that we must pay for immediately. There is no credit,” he said.

“If the petrol is delivered in the morning and the price is reduced at night, we have to sell petrol 15 sen cheaper than what we had paid for it.”

However, Shahrir said the Govern­ment had been fair to the dealers saying: “We have not reduced their margin of 12 sen per litre after it was increased in June and we will try as much as we can to keep upcoming price reductions to 15 sen at a time.”

(end quote)

Look, buddy, the government can just get their act together and announce on price reduction 'earlier'! And why the f#$k would you place an order the morning of an impeding price increase or reduction, unless you know the risk? It's just a normal business risk! Every business owners are aware of the risk involved, let the market play it out!

The prices of crude oil now is at about the level when we were paying rm1.60? maybe rm1.40?

But it gets even better, this setting of a minimum price would also enable the Government to reduce its subsidy!

Wow! Aren't we happy to hear that? What good news!!!! From a few years ago, the government has been able to saved billions in fuel subsidy since our fuel prices went up from rm1.10 all the way to rm2.60. Each increase the government assured us that the billions saved would go into more, better infrastructure for us.

Eh.. I'm still waiting leh? Now with the minimum price, they get to SAVE.. even MORE! wow!

Which means I get a bullet train ride to penang for free? Or another 2 more KLCC? How about some good bus services? So where are all of them? Not yet? Haven't yet? Are we there yet?

You know what... I kinda miss the bi-election days now. Every time there's a bi-election, we get better deals. No, it's not politically motivated of course. Of course not! Sheesh...

Action speaks louder than words. And a chain of events certainly tells a story. The way our government handle the oil prices really tell us how much they care for us.

Shopping with a sith

Previously on talking cock with cheryl....

Last week I commented on one of cheryl's picture that she looked like a sith in it...

Cher-Ryl: sith lady huh?

Me: i love sith ladies, coz im the jedi, we're opposites

Cher-Ryl: ahahahha

Me: you ain't have sith without jedi or vice versa

Cher-Ryl: i shoot lightning from my finger tips.
that is true
good and evil
are merely different standpoints on the same plane.

me: yeah... but that's coz the sith are insecure...
yeah
we jedi just gotta smile
and talk our way out
or maybe throw objects
or cry.... 'my hand my hand!

Cher-Ryl: hahahhahaha
ah well
lightning's cool
insecure or not
:P

me: dang
can i interest you with some cool lightsaber colour instead then ms sith?
we haev purple
blue
green
cyan
not just your regular red..
altho that fits nicely with your curvavious rubber costime
costume*
but you know.. red is not the colour for all occasions..
green does go quite well with lightning
blue goes with red blood

Cher-Ryl: you sell light sabers do you?
wow...
i'll take one of each please
can i join like the blue and the red... and i get purple?

me: haahahah sure
the purple is a rarity.. so 3 sabers but no discounts... sith or jedis don't need discounts!

Cher-Ryl: ahahahha
no..
the performance of the light saber depends only on the power of the wielder

me: exactly.... lightning or no
yes yes.. performance is dependance on wielder.. but
no performance like showmanship you know?
no biz like show biz
so blue and red and purple?
joining blue and red?
you think that goes?

Cher-Ryl: purple light saber will be the for the ultimate sith lady with an eye for fashion
hahahahaha
royal purple
sexy no?
hahahahha
XD
well, you could join blue and green... and get a light saber for the ocean
perfect for grilling fresh fish straight off the line.
mmmmmm... i can smell it now... fresh saber grilled grouper
aaaaah

me: ahhh..
you're a sith lady with fashion.. my my, you don't say :P

Cher-Ryl: hahahahhahahaha
uhuh you said it... i didn't
hahahhahah

me: in that case.. let me show yuo something really special
like SPECIAL

Cher-Ryl: ok
bring it on

me: i don't do this with all customers.. esp not a sith. they usually come blazing and not paying

Cher-Ryl: ahahhahah
ah well....

me: takes out a special saber.. with LV engraved on

Cher-Ryl: new breed of sith ladies will be... OOOOOOOOHHHH

me: here.. it's 'gold' ni colour!

Cher-Ryl: *blink blink*
wwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh

me: only one in this galaxy

Cher-Ryl: waaah waaaaahh waaaaaaah
only 1 in the galaxy you say?
ok gimme 2 please

me: yoda will 'kill' for this...
but don't tell anyone.. i think he's 'werid' that way you know....
too much suprresing
there's only !

Cher-Ryl: ahhahaha

me: 1

Cher-Ryl: hahahhaha

me: ONE

Cher-Ryl: i was kidding
:P
it's a joke
HAHAHHAHAH
*katoing*
well
yoda can kiss my tight rubber ass
hmm.
gold would go pretty good with the purple too..

me: hahaha
yeah

Cher-Ryl: ok.
time to pay...?

me: anyway.. here take this sabers and get lost. jedi's and sith shouldn't be friends you nkow

Cher-Ryl: you accept credit cut?
slice slice

me: cut?

Cher-Ryl: hahahahaah

me: lol

Cher-Ryl: slice and ride

me: that's like 10mil banks

Cher-Ryl: hahahahhaha
yea
i know hahahahha

me: you can pay it back in installments when you wreck havoc in galaxies with your loot

Cher-Ryl: yayyyy
a sith knows a good deal when she sees one
hahhahaha

me: hehehe

Cher-Ryl: so rubbish

me: i gotta get back to work now mate

Cher-Ryl: !!!!
me too
hahaha
ttyl dude

me: haha
yeah

See how interesting work can get when you get to play jedi? :)

The Law and Punishment

Recently I got a friend who is going to get married to a non-christian and apparently someone told her that God will punish her for that. Another friend failed a professional exam 3 times and was wondering if God is punishing her with that to teach her something. Many times when I am at a low I think about that too. I wonder if God was punishing me putting me in such dire situations to teach me something.

Let me tell you, God do not punish you in the New Covenant. Not at all. Even if you sleep around and waste your life away, you're blessed. He doesn't 'CAUSE ' you to be punished. He does however 'LET' things happen to you. For example I never really did study much from primary school to university. I did above average. I was never punished for being 'lazy'. However what DID happen was I wasted all those opportunity to learn how to develop my character, be more focus, be more determine..etc

Did God punish me? No. He let it happened.

It's like jumping out of the plane at 10,000ft. He didn't cause us to die as a result but He has to let gravity does its thing.

If punishment did work in making us righteous, believe you me, he'll just rain down sulphur and punish us and we'll all be righteous. In fact, the OLD covenant is based on punsihment and the bible calls the old regulation, weak, useless and faulty. Go figure!

But some people feel that it's unfair! Is it unfair really that one can go on sinning and sinning and sinning and yet get off scot free? Unfair maybe, truth absolutely. Because while we get off scot free, someone didn't. He paid a hefty price for it - with blood. He died for it. He paid the price of our sins.

Jesus paid for it so that everyone can get off scot free. No skin off their backs. Free. So while some people think grace like this is 'cheap' (I don't think so) but let me tell you, it sure ain't 'easy'.

If dead could be measure in level 1 to 10, Jesus died to level 100. He died so well that all our sins are paid for. And when all the sins are paid for, what's left? Righteousness. That's what you get when you see Him resurrected and alive again. It's the prove that our sins are done for.

So some people ask: if that is the case, we can keep go on sinning and sinning and sinning and still be 'enjoying the benefits'? What a good deal! But wait, that's not logical! How can u say such thing in church....

What's more illogical is why do you need a savior to keep sinning? If you want to sin why do you need a saviour? You can do so without one. Try it if you don't believe me. Why do people want to go to a savior to keep on sinning? So that they can sin more?

Perhaps we should ask: can we keep on sinning in the face of so much love? How difficult is it to fall in love with someone who took a bullet for you? And if you didn't know that there was a bullet for you, go and read the Law.

Heads you win, Tail I lose

... wall street for you.

... and if they manage to brokee the deal to outright spend USD$700bn to buy back all the bad debts, and indirectly passing back all the risk to the taxpayers

....while the bankers, regulators (ie the Feds) get off scott free....

Hahahahaha! Muahahahaha!

All Americans taxpayers just got butt fucked / screwed / whateveryouwannacall it.

RPK to be detained for 2 years and the reason is...

as according thestar here: "his articles ridiculed Islam, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar."

He also added that :" “His articles could arouse anger among Muslims,” Syed Hamid said, adding that he signed the detention order on Monday after he was satisfied with the reasons to detain Raja Petra. "

Firstly, I don't understand this: How did his articles ridiculed Islam? Like really how? What did he say about Islam that was ridiculous? And what did he write specifically that ridiculed Islam? How come these evidences are never mentioned?

Secondly, is one arrested for being a possible cause of anger? If there's a rumuor against you like Teresa Kok you get ISA for 1 week. If you're a possibility to cause anger you get detention for 2 years? What happens when you wave a keris around say let is soak with chinese blood or anyone's blood for that matter.... what do you get for that?

High stake poker.

The situation between Anwar and Abdullah is really like a high stake poker. A VERY high stake poker.

Now who is holding the stronger hand? Who is calling who's bluff?

And all this while the world finance sector is in turmoil!

Very high stake poker!

The bad soap opera - Blocking malaysia-today.net

It's like the bad soap opera on tv - you know what lines will be coming next - just like the banning of Malaysia-today.net. And "No", it's not a politically motivated move... just one day after Anwar's victory. Perfect.

I think our government clearly went against the guideline they have set for themselves when they setup the MSC- not to censor the internet. I believe, this move to block MT has definitely shaken the confidence of investors. It leaves me wondering how strong or resolute will the government follow through their other promises/guidelines/acts? Will they 'bend the rules' to suit?

It just doesn't lend credibility. Not that the current govt has much left, or if there's any to start with.

And what reason did they give to ban the site? At first the reasons given were that the published materials that are libellous, slanderous and defamatory. Really? Says who? Says our home minister here. Has the court proven so? Not yet. I'm no lawyer but can one simply say things like that?

Of course after a few days, the tone has changed. Now it's about religion.

"No" It's not politically motivated afterall.

I got another question running in my head. SKMM is a department under a minister. SKMM ordered the ban. The minister said, "No" they did not order the ban. Okay, I got all this parts so far.

So why not lift the ban now? Unless the minister agrees with the move. So don't say that you didn't give the order to ban because you here, you just gave the approval. Or did you? I'm confused.

And like all soap opera, even the bad ones.. they end their episodes well. They end it with just enough pull for us to wonder what will happen next (but of course we can kinda guess but you never know right?)...

So quoting the star here:

*start quote*

Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, said he was not aware that SKMM had ordered ISPs to block the website.

“I do not read Malaysia Today. Media practitioners must be sensitive to culture and religion,” he said.

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek declined comment as it was not under his jurisdiction.

SKMM chief operating officer Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi, who is overseas, declined to elaborate, saying a press conference would be held to explain why such action was taken.

It is understood that this is not the first time SKMM has ordered a website to be blocked.

Malaysia Today remains accessible through its mirror website.

*end of quote*

How classic is that? No one seems to be able to comment. Happy birthday Msia.

Why we should vote opposition...

Like the new 15cents drop in fuel prices? Like the fact that our PM finally took the train after so many years? Like that our PM actually attends debates in the Parliment? Like that suddenly our government seems to care of us? Like that more land scams are discovered? Like that a more fair and competitive Malaysia is build?

Like it? Love it?

Then vote the opposition. (At least for now.)

All the changes we have seen in the last 5 months has happened because we have voted the opposition in. It is because the ruling party has felt the earth move under them. Their power was rocked. Now, suddenly, they listen.

They treat us like children, luring us with candies for so many years... and when that don't work, they take the 'big projects away' like the second Penang bridge, like the LRT system for Penang.

But it is them now who are like kids, we took their candy away and they're crying and shouting and throwing toys around the house. Just read the newspaper... you'll know what I mean.

Like kids, we need to be firm with them... tell them in no uncertain terms that we don't like what they do. As such...I hope.. really hope that the by-election tomorrow goes to Anwar.

Myth - Plausible

Well... Saiful says it's not political! Sure or not?

When you put pieces together like this piece of news :'Saiful ‘appears’ to garner votes - the star 20th August, 2008'.

It's way too too too obvious isn't it?

No, there's no conspiracy against Anwar. Really one!