Friday, October 31, 2008
Simplicity is something we all know is good, but we usually overlook. It's one of those things where you-don't-know-what-you've-got-until-you-lose-it kind of situations. Sadly, as life goes on things get more complicated, with relationships, work, major crossroads in life. We like to dream big, like the Melbourne Model "DreamLarge", then we get all tangled up in sophistication, blah blah blah, that simple is no longer enough. Who needs to drive a Jag, when a small Toyota can do the same job? What do you need a 3 storey house for, when a 3 room flat can house the same family. Why do you need to be the CEO earning $100,000, when all your family needs a month is $8,000?
Yes we want luxury, we want comfort, we want convenience. But do we want it so bad that we forget what we need? Now without a 6-figure salary job our life "needs" cannot be met. How can we live in a 3 room flat?!! Where will my plasma screen TV go? Where will my pool table go? What will I watch without my SCV?
Dan
12:13 pm
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Singapore dollar is stronger than the Aussie dollar!!! First time since I've been studying here. The difference is marginal, but it's exciting.
Been cramming for exams. I don't like the feeling, but I guess thats what I have to do. I hate having to study subjects I have no interest in. Namely, management, but its compulsory.
Ok, back to study. Just needed to get it out of my system that Singapore dollar was stronger. Wonder if the other things I'm thinking might happen will happen. But I shall not say it cause I might be wrong. Have fun reading the news. We're living in exciting times!!
Dan
10:30 pm
Thursday, October 23, 2008
I remember pre-relationship days. Always wondering if she likes me or not. Should I take that leap of faith? I feel like not is the time, we've been spending so much time together. But what if its too soon? What if she says no because its too soon, but would say yes if given more time? I think I'm not alone when I say that it is a battle between the heart and the head.When entering a relationship, should we follow our heart or our head?
Heart has a lot to do with feeling. And while we all want to feel good, I think we all cannot ignore the element of risk involved with following your heart. We do what we feel is right, but is that the wisest decision to make? We make our judgments based on how we feel, but is that the best approach? I'm inclined to say no, but there have been times when I've made impulse decisions which paid off in the future. Following the heart is like investing in a high risk security. The returns are great, but so are the losses should things go bad. Head seems more logical, systematic, thought through. At first glance, this may seem like the better of the two options to follow, but thinking about it, will the thinking ever stop? If I think she's great, and we're compatible, I wait for what I think is a decent period before I enter the relationship, and just when I think that this is where the thinking stops, I think some more. Now that I've seen more of her flaws because of the relationship, do I think I can carry on. Then I try to think of a way to work around her flaws, because I think that it can be solved. You get the gist. When we think, we are inclined to think that there's a solution, otherwise why would we think in the first place? But is there a solution to everything? It does seem that thinking can get quite tiring, and I agree. What do we do after that? Don't care, and just follow our heart? Do what we feel is good, and hope for the best. It seems that while we would all like to follow the approach that is forward looking, the thought process is so difficult, we usually end up satisfying our short term goals first. But as time goes by, won't our long term goals eventually end up being our short term goals. So I guess in a relationship, our heart does eventually take over.
Dan
4:16 pm
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Technology. It's supposed to make our life better. Now we don't have to waste paper and ink, or money on postage, but just send an e-mail. We can send it to a few people at a time, instead of having to write out several copies by mail. Now we don't have to be confined to a desk just to use a computer, but we can bring our laptops out onto the lawn, or to the bed. Not we can call people anywhere anytime with our mobile phones, instead of having to search for a pay phone.
It has made our life so simple, that I dare say that technology has not just changed the way we do things, but the way we think about things as well. If someone uses a pay phone, we ask what happened to your mobile? When companies ask you to write in, it doesn't mean literally writing with pen and paper, but actually using an e-mail. The way we live has changed because of technology, and whilst that may be a good thing, I think that there will always be something technology cannot replace.
It cannot recreate an environment. Like a classroom. This is following how schools want to integrate e-Learning. In the past people wrote correspondences to each other, it had that sentimental value, which has now been lost to the very common, and require-almost-no-effort e-mail.
But I'm not trying to cast technology in a bad light. After all, I like having easy access to news online, being able to talk to my friends all at the same time without actually having to meet them in person. But I guess for me, somethings will always just remain old-fashion because of the way I was brought up doing them. As the saying goes, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Dan
5:07 pm
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
"Demand for domestic goods, is not the same as domestic demand for goods."
A simple concept which my lecturer put forth. But at 9am in the morning, it took my brain 15 minutes to process its full meaning, which really isn't a lot. I was at Borders today, and as we walked through the entrance this guy walked through and the alarm went off. Everyone around stopped and gave that "is-it-me" look, except this guy who continued to walk on like nothing happened. It wasn't long for this police officer to come running out of the store to stop the guy with a shop attendant. The police officer insisted to checking everything the man had, his bag, his pockets. I guess since the alarm went off the police officer had some right to inspect the guy, but I was thinking if there was something about the guy that made the police officer insist. What if it had been an innocent looking middle age lady with kids?
Dan
10:30 pm
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Something that struck me whilst reading all the reports on the global markets. I should state a disclaimer that this is purely a speculative thought, without any solid evidence to back up any of my claims, so do not take my word for it, and definitely do not make any financial actions based on my word.
It's very common for economists to use the phrase if the States sneezes, the rest of the world will catch a cold. Why? Because the States is one of the leading world economies, and so if they crash, every market in the world will be affected some how. Past and recent market movements support that claim. Australia claims that its financial system is stable much due to the thanks of China. Thus, if China sneezes, the rest of the world will catch a cold, and no doubt, Australia will be at the head of the line at the doctor's office.
But many political leaders think that such an event is unlikely because China is a booming economy, and those who ride the boom together with China can probably survive the current crisis without much damage to their financial system. But here's what I thought. Not until recently, did the States finally admit that it was in a recession. Having admitted 'defeat', many firms started to cut jobs. No surprise there, and those who endured the Asian financial crisis should be aware of the retrenchment, and how much pain it caused.
So I ask, why is China's economy booming? I mean today almost everything we purchase was made in China, undoubtedly because of its cheap labour. This implies that their manufacturing industry has been growing quite well. Question: How many of us purchase products that originated from China? Take for example, the China car company that broke into the car market in Singapore. Nobody in Singapore would buy such a car for obvious reasons. The things that we purchase that are made in China, originated from MNC's in the States, in Europe, and from the leading economies in the world, most of which are crashing. If these firms start their job cuts, then won't the factories in China go as well? If so, then won't the thing that is leading China's boom disappear? Suddenly, China doesn't seem like a good safety net.
Having said that, I do agree that China has the potential to become a leading world economy much like the States, and Japan, but I think I can go to the extent and say that that potential has not yet been fully realised. And, if it is not realised, then aren't we all just hanging onto empty hope?
Well, its just speculation, and only time will tell if China can turn that potential into reality and save some of the major economies that are going down.
Dan
6:21 pm
Saturday, October 18, 2008
It's not what you do, it's why you do it.
It's not what you say, it's how you say it.
It's not what you think, but how you feel.
A whirlpool of thoughts. I blame the exams.
Dan
12:19 am
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Liquidity here, interest rates there, old market fears, new market fears, and pledges all over the place. That is about what you will find in the headlines of the business section in every newspaper today. It is definitely an exciting time to be studying the subject, because then I know the why, instead of just the what. It's fun to explain to people, because then everybody won't just be repeating the headlines they saw, but also thinking what might happen next. Or at least just me.
After reading most of the headlines, I do not wish to be in the position of today's finance ministers. Having to make those major decisions amid a period of uncertainty. I mean your markets recover for 2 to 3 days, and then you find out that everybody is afraid again, and they crash.
But that's what shares I like I suppose. Now would probably be a good time to buy gold. But they'd be quite pricey since they've been rising for as long as the States has been denying it's recession. Still...better late than never.
Dan
4:00 pm
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I've been pro econs for awhile, always believing that the discipline does not predict what is right, but what should and probably will happen. Today my lecturer was talking about political economics, explaining that politicians shouldn't be trusted when they say that their policies are in the best interest of the public. After all, how do you properly measure people's preferences?
Dan
9:12 pm
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
I was bored in lecture today, so I thought of something which I think is actually accurate.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, just as product differentiation is in the eyes of the buyer.
I had/have four assignments due this week. It's crazy but I think I can actually do it.
I hate it when people tie up their trash, bring it all the way to the rubbish chute, and then just leave it there. After all that trouble, can't they just turn the handle and throw the plastic bag down the chute? Sometimes I just don't get the logic running through people's heads, if any at all.
Dan
6:31 pm
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
When darkness falls, it's hard to see the things that go on around you. But your sense of hearing sharpens in the absence of sight, and when quietness fills the room you can be shocked by the things you hear going on in the darkness.
Try it next time. Just lie in bed, and listen. Maybe press your ear against the wall. Who knows what secrets they will reveal.
Dan
3:49 pm
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Singapore Day Melbourne 2008 was yesterday. It was quite fun, with great weather and good food. I think it really reminded all Singaporeans of Singapore again, with the hot sun, and the insanely long queues. I had to queue for about an hour just to get in, and then find out that I had to queue some more for the food. So I waited for Bak Chor Mee, and before I knew it, I was in that queue for 2 hours!!!
But as Singaporeans what was the best part?? The FREE goody bags, the FREE food (yes, every single thing of it), and all the FREE stuff. I could not believe how FREE the whole thing was. I could have gone for the event without my wallet!
And the event really felt like Singapore. Everywhere you go, you bump into someone you know. Either an ex-classmate, an old friend, a course mate. And with performances from PCK, Dick Lee, and a couple of Singapore Idols, of course all with the propaganda message, it was definitely a good event.
They should have it again!!! But, I think that it will only be a hit outside of Singapore. I mean who in Singapore will queue to go in to have food you can eat anytime you want??
Dan
9:45 am
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Spent the whole day at the library today. It's been awhile since I did that. But what can I do? Exams are coming soon. Speaking of which, I hate my exam timetable. Long breaks, and I end on the second last day!!! The silver lining, I guess, is that I end with an easy paper. At least I hope it's easy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Now I know what its like to be Jack.
Dan
6:08 pm