Do you think nerds are boring?
You thought they have no social lives? Do you know they go clubbing but not the drunkard and debauched ones. They go library-clubbing! Some go book and journal clubbing too. What is library clubbing. basically it is studying in the library until it closes and going idnner together. And it is an all-guys club. One of the last bastions where feminism has not touched it! SO start one in your uni today!
18 Jan 2007
16 Jan 2007
Accounting.
The government is like a giant corporation,
but unlike other giant corporation it has no external audit. There should. I would rather part with 150 million ringgit of tax payers' money to hire KPMG or something so I can have the peace of mind the 150 billion ringgit in the annual budget is well spent. However this is not the case so does the government's books add up?
but unlike other giant corporation it has no external audit. There should. I would rather part with 150 million ringgit of tax payers' money to hire KPMG or something so I can have the peace of mind the 150 billion ringgit in the annual budget is well spent. However this is not the case so does the government's books add up?
15 Jan 2007
Floods in Johor again?
Two things that people can do,
Move out of those areas or spend money to improve the drainage. But before doing anything can't we get the many geologist in the local universities and make prove their worth by studying the cause of this flood and the many floods that happen all the time. Time for some canal bulding if it need be.
Move out of those areas or spend money to improve the drainage. But before doing anything can't we get the many geologist in the local universities and make prove their worth by studying the cause of this flood and the many floods that happen all the time. Time for some canal bulding if it need be.
Mat Rempits?
With certain politicians trying to legitimise them,
I will give them the benefit of doubt but there is certain similarities to Hitler and Ernest Rohm setting the SA or Sturm Abteilung. It hires thugs and turn into a personal army faithful to the National Socialist Party. Legitimising people rightfully in prison is akin to buying their loyalty.
I will give them the benefit of doubt but there is certain similarities to Hitler and Ernest Rohm setting the SA or Sturm Abteilung. It hires thugs and turn into a personal army faithful to the National Socialist Party. Legitimising people rightfully in prison is akin to buying their loyalty.
A new party?
The Malaysian Liberal and Libertarian Party will never win a sit,
But hopefully what it will do is create a market of ideas where people will need to sell their ideas with proof and strong arguments and not because they control the media. Debate is the key for it both educates and inform.
But hopefully what it will do is create a market of ideas where people will need to sell their ideas with proof and strong arguments and not because they control the media. Debate is the key for it both educates and inform.
10 Jan 2007
More thoughts on equity
This letter is from Malaysiakini,
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61858 well it stimulated a lot of thoughts on my mind. I think it is important that people should know that it should about the size of the pie and not the size of the slice. Usually a small slice of the big pie is better than a big slice of a small pie. Well it is sort of unfair to insinuate corruption because the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise and I am not for conspiracy theories but I would like to suggest like in a my previous the Gini coefficient be measured and we will have our proof.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61858 well it stimulated a lot of thoughts on my mind. I think it is important that people should know that it should about the size of the pie and not the size of the slice. Usually a small slice of the big pie is better than a big slice of a small pie. Well it is sort of unfair to insinuate corruption because the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise and I am not for conspiracy theories but I would like to suggest like in a my previous the Gini coefficient be measured and we will have our proof.
Monopoly of ideas in education
This is crazy,
But when you have one lecturer on a subject in the soft sciences he is basically monopolising the dissemination of information. If he is capitalist his lectures will be biased towards capitalism. Why can't lectures be debates between two opposing camps, for example capitalists veruss socialists on the need ofr minimum wages. Both have to justify their stand but at the end of the day the student thinks for himself.
But when you have one lecturer on a subject in the soft sciences he is basically monopolising the dissemination of information. If he is capitalist his lectures will be biased towards capitalism. Why can't lectures be debates between two opposing camps, for example capitalists veruss socialists on the need ofr minimum wages. Both have to justify their stand but at the end of the day the student thinks for himself.
9 Jan 2007
On the Failure Defense League
What does it mean to be a member?
A member uses his skills, knowledge, abilities, wealth, power and influence to help the marginalised in society be it the urban poor, rural poor, indigenous tribes or simply some weirdo in class that needs someone to talk to.
A member uses his skills, knowledge, abilities, wealth, power and influence to help the marginalised in society be it the urban poor, rural poor, indigenous tribes or simply some weirdo in class that needs someone to talk to.
A haiku
easiest to write,
most difficult to master,
and now for some verse:
spring petals falling,
children squealing in delight,
summer's reign begun.
fire cooking fish caught,
in lake full of maple leaves,
autumn's rule proclaimed.
fox tracks made on snow,
lead hunters among naked trees,
winter now resides.
farmers planting rice,
in melting-snow-watered fields,
spring has returned.
most difficult to master,
and now for some verse:
spring petals falling,
children squealing in delight,
summer's reign begun.
fire cooking fish caught,
in lake full of maple leaves,
autumn's rule proclaimed.
fox tracks made on snow,
lead hunters among naked trees,
winter now resides.
farmers planting rice,
in melting-snow-watered fields,
spring has returned.
Real oppression and war for oil
Nobody here heard of the Saharawis fight,
For an independent Western Sahara against the Morrocans. http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=62889 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polisario
For an independent Western Sahara against the Morrocans. http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=62889 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polisario
So will the smart ones be there?
It seems like a great idea,
To nationalise all healthcare. I thought of it once but then again doctors aren't economists http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/58533 If what that guy says happens smart people will stop becoming doctors. Only people with good hearts will be doctors but good-heartedness doesn't guarantee technological breakthroughs that will bring down the cost of medicine. Nokia is full of smart but greedy executives but now everyone can afford handphones.
To nationalise all healthcare. I thought of it once but then again doctors aren't economists http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/58533 If what that guy says happens smart people will stop becoming doctors. Only people with good hearts will be doctors but good-heartedness doesn't guarantee technological breakthroughs that will bring down the cost of medicine. Nokia is full of smart but greedy executives but now everyone can afford handphones.
Where to buy medicines?
It doesn't matter who is selling,
As long as it is the best for the lowest possible price for the patient. http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61803 This only happens when the consumer doesn't have good knowledge( have second opinion), no choice( not to buy from the doctor) and no easy access( of course he is going to pay ridiculous prices instead of travelling two hundred miles to KL to get it). Freedom to choose.
As long as it is the best for the lowest possible price for the patient. http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61803 This only happens when the consumer doesn't have good knowledge( have second opinion), no choice( not to buy from the doctor) and no easy access( of course he is going to pay ridiculous prices instead of travelling two hundred miles to KL to get it). Freedom to choose.
Competition and choice
One reason why private companies aren't,
allowed in certain sectors is the argument that they will cheat the poor. What happens when the self-proclaimed protector of the poor is incompetent and not doing its job? http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61809 To make more money private companies have to continually satisfy customers. Government monopolies don't have to. Private investment companies anyone?
allowed in certain sectors is the argument that they will cheat the poor. What happens when the self-proclaimed protector of the poor is incompetent and not doing its job? http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61809 To make more money private companies have to continually satisfy customers. Government monopolies don't have to. Private investment companies anyone?
Ending the government's monopoly on education
This is one reason why it should be done,
It is hearsay in court but that doesn't mean it is not truth. People be the judge. http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61811 Competition makes things cheaper and give more choices. The parent will have choice to change to school that is better and lousy ones that try to be funny as above will wither adn die. Fancy losing your job?
It is hearsay in court but that doesn't mean it is not truth. People be the judge. http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61811 Competition makes things cheaper and give more choices. The parent will have choice to change to school that is better and lousy ones that try to be funny as above will wither adn die. Fancy losing your job?
8 Jan 2007
GINI coefficient
I always thought this was a lousy measure,
but I realised Malaysia Gini is 0.49! This is higher than the US which is at 0.4. It is a measure of the distribution of wealth compared to an ideal in which every segment of society owns the same amount.
If it is high in rich countries it is okay because no matter what the poor is still rich by comparison(e.g. Bill Gate's billions is of many percentage points of the economy compared to my thousands but I am not poor by any standard) but in a relatively poorer nation it is bad because it means to a certain extent the elite is benefiting at the expense of the poor especially if the economy is not growing or growing slowly.
I wonder what is the Gini co-effecient among the bumiputeras. I think it highlights the Malaysian leadership's ineffectiveness more than the equity issue. And its calculations is well much more standardised. ASLI should find out.
but I realised Malaysia Gini is 0.49! This is higher than the US which is at 0.4. It is a measure of the distribution of wealth compared to an ideal in which every segment of society owns the same amount.
If it is high in rich countries it is okay because no matter what the poor is still rich by comparison(e.g. Bill Gate's billions is of many percentage points of the economy compared to my thousands but I am not poor by any standard) but in a relatively poorer nation it is bad because it means to a certain extent the elite is benefiting at the expense of the poor especially if the economy is not growing or growing slowly.
I wonder what is the Gini co-effecient among the bumiputeras. I think it highlights the Malaysian leadership's ineffectiveness more than the equity issue. And its calculations is well much more standardised. ASLI should find out.
Time for a change in management?
Every ruling party after spending too much time in power,
will grow complacent and sooner or later will lose the elections or experience a change of regime. Sometime soon someone will be setting a viable alternative opposition party that will encourage debate and the momentum for change will be too great to be resisted. Until then there will other alternative parties that will come and go. However they need to come by to pave the way.
will grow complacent and sooner or later will lose the elections or experience a change of regime. Sometime soon someone will be setting a viable alternative opposition party that will encourage debate and the momentum for change will be too great to be resisted. Until then there will other alternative parties that will come and go. However they need to come by to pave the way.
Can Keynesian work?
I don't believe in it,
But I suspect it might work if the government gives up its monopolies and be as accountable as other companies with whom they will be competing against when it comes to providing services.
Seriously I do believe private companies can build low-cost housing at a lower cost and with higher quality albeit at a higher price due to the limitations of technology. But remember even the richest most glorious emperor two hundred years ago didn't have flowing water and indoor plumbing. And what is the point of affordable but low-quality housing?
But I suspect it might work if the government gives up its monopolies and be as accountable as other companies with whom they will be competing against when it comes to providing services.
Seriously I do believe private companies can build low-cost housing at a lower cost and with higher quality albeit at a higher price due to the limitations of technology. But remember even the richest most glorious emperor two hundred years ago didn't have flowing water and indoor plumbing. And what is the point of affordable but low-quality housing?
The ideal civil servant
I posted about him before,
but now I know his name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_%28Xia_dynasty_ruler%29 . This man examplifies what it "he who is greatest is the servant of all". Okay he was kind of cruel the part that impressed was never going home for 13 years. If only our leaders will serve masses with one tenth of the perseverance.
but now I know his name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_%28Xia_dynasty_ruler%29 . This man examplifies what it "he who is greatest is the servant of all". Okay he was kind of cruel the part that impressed was never going home for 13 years. If only our leaders will serve masses with one tenth of the perseverance.
Need for accountability
the government is like a corporation,
and the tax-payers its shareholders. If private companies are required to be externally auditted to make sure they don't cheat why shouldn't the government also be externally auditted?
We are after all entrusting them with a lot and alot of our money.
and the tax-payers its shareholders. If private companies are required to be externally auditted to make sure they don't cheat why shouldn't the government also be externally auditted?
We are after all entrusting them with a lot and alot of our money.
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