food for thought

My ez link card

2009-12-14T21:40:00.006+08:00

After months of training, fulfilling the relevant accreditation, and a series of presentations that I have to prepare everyday, finally I have the opportunity to share what I have learn by taking positions for my clients and providing advice on the general outlook of the market. It felt like taking public transport on your own for the first time when I was in primary school. The excitement, the adrenaline rush I felt was the exact same feeling I experienced when I was given the liberty to travel on my own.

Equipped with a trading platform that contains archives of analyst reports, charts, constant newsflow I was ready to embark on my 2 fast 2 furious journey together with my team of spartan warriors. A trading representative license(EZ LINK) is like your parents (MAS) giving you the right to take public transport on your own. You can choose which bus to take, when you board the bus and where you want to get off. Ultimately, we all have a destination that we want to go and the way we travel differ amongst individuals.

DAY 1)

I was happily waiting for the bus(stock) to come(bull run) and suddenly from a distance,(market dept) I could see that's the bus I wanted to catch(enter position). I wasn't sure where it was heading(price target) but it seems pretty good(3-5% upside) from a distance. I looked for my bus guide(fundamental analysis) immediately to check where it could be heading (price resistance)and suddenly, i realised my ez link card was no where to be found. I missed the bus!

to be continued.......

Too much is bad for you

2008-09-27T01:08:00.005+08:00

Some of us spend close to a quarter of a century acquring knowledge in school. Others spends more than that while another fraction of the population spend merely more than a decade acquiring knowledge in school. Although knowledge is very important for our livelihood, an EXCESS of knowldge might not necessary be in your best interest.

Ever wonder why there are some filthy rich people who refuses to live a lavish life? Ever wonder why they drive normal cars, eat simple food, scrimp, save and do nothing with that shit loads of money? They do that cause they simply know too much.

When you are an educated person, you tend to have a good understanding of how a business works. You start to understand the production costs of products, cost price of services and you start to realize that while you are satisfying your wants, you are making somebody very rich. Take a Nike shoe for example, it actually costs less than $10 when it is produced in China, high cost margin is due to the advertising and other distributing costs. The next moment, you get to know people in the F&B business and they tell you a plate of chicken rice cost only 50 cents when they are selling for $3 a plate. You next visit a garment factory that manufactures all those branded clothing and you start to realize that you once paid $100 for a piece of shirt that costs only $7 from the factory.

Thus with all the money and with all the knowledge you acquire, it becomes, NOT WORTH IT NOT WORTH IT NOT WORTH IT NOT WORTH IT NOT WORTH IT.............................................

Then you start to question, why in the world do I work so hard for money if I don't spend. Well, you are probably happier if you knew nothing.

The Art of Gambling

2008-09-21T15:10:00.003+08:00

We all know the odds are against us, we know we can never get rich from gambling, we know the chances of winning is low, we know we are rationale in our thinking, we know there’s no way we can beat the odds in the long term, we know the entertainment value is high, we know it’s fun, we know we can win. No point describing gambling is bad and all that, what we are interested is how do we beat the casino?

Rule No. 1 – Have plenty of sleep before you go gambling

Before gambling requires high level of concentration, it is important to have plenty of sleep before entering the casino. It is imperative to feel fresh before entering the casino and you require all that adrenaline rush before you make a killing. If you feel good about yourself, chances of winning are higher Even the army advocates 7 hour of sleep before any mission or exercise. If you are going at night, take a power nap and ensure you have enough energy to kill a tiger before making your trip there.

Rule No. 2 – Time is not of essence

Time is one major barrier when you gamble. If you keep thinking that you have a assignment due and you need to call your girlfriend/boyfriend at a later time, you reduce your chances of winning. Constant check of time takes a toll on your concentration and it will be better if you are going without regard of the time.

Rule No. 3 – Shift shift shift

Do you ever wonder what the role of the managers around the tables is? Ensuring the right change of chips is only their secondary job. Their primary role is to ensure that the dealers are not losing chips in the table. For instance, if the dealer keeps losing more than 3 times in a row, the manager will ask her to “take a rest” and replace with someone else. That’s how you can turn your winnings to a loss. What goes up will come down and what comes down will go up also. The principle applies not only to the stock market but also in gambling. Thus it is important to walk away or change a table when your luck starts to change. Now you know which dealer brings you luck, stick to him/her.

Rule No. 4 – Change of chips

When you are on a winning streak, let say you have a pile of blue chips ($10 dollars) you can request to change the chips in to green ones ($25)and black ($100) thereafter. The rationale of this tactic is to keep track of your winnings and losses. For instance if you managed to win $260, it is better to hold 2 black chips and 6 blue chips. This is because if you lose 3 blue chips in a row, u will be less prone to use your black chips on the next bet. However, if you have all in blue chips, you will subconsciously use all the blue chips and before you know it, you will lose it all.

Rule No. 5 – Never play alone in the table

Although you get to deal your cards faster, it also means chances of losing are higher. Because the dealers deal faster, you tend to have lesser time to think and respond. With the odds against you in the first place, it will be better for you to play with more people. This is the reason some tables are left empty and people only join “hot” tables. “You stay because you win” “You go because you lose” Empty table means trouble

Rule No. 6 – Break the fengshui

All casinos are designed in such a way that there are elements from preventing you from winning. This is known as fengshui. The architecture of the casino is like a bird cage and we are the worms that are fed on. In fact, all elements are against us when we take our first step in. What we can do to prevent this negative element is to avoid it. Never walk straight into the casino. We can walk backwards, sideways upside down, but never straight into their “cage”

Rule No. 7 – Double dragon

Ideally speaking, it is impossible to lose money in the casino as long as you have the capital. As long as you keep doubling your bets, chances is you will be able to recoup your losses eventually. For instance, if you lose your first $10 bet, bet $20 the next round.

Rule No. 8 – Bring your lucky charm

You tend to be luckier if you wear your lucky underwear or bring your lucky charm each time you visit the casino. Chances of winning are higher if you wear your lucky shirt or pants.

Until this point if you agree with me that these 8 rules of gambling can help you win, you are probably not rationale anymore. What we fear most about gambling is not about losing about our rationale but the power of temptation. Punters are often classified as the most optimistic people in the world and we are often driven by our greed to gamble. Casinos have one of the best business model in the world and what they are afraid most is not losing money, but you not patronizing them.

There are so sure that you will be tempted with gambling that they are willing to offer you a free $10 dollar rolling chip when you sign up as a member. They are also winning to offer you a free parking ticket as long as you play long enough in the same table. To make you stay longer, they provide you with free drinks entertainment all in all so that you will stay longer. The problem with gambling is that the problem lies not in rationale but the temptation to revisit the casino.

We all know we are gambling with moderation but it is not about how much we win lose or draw, but about thinking when to visit that place again. The average probability of winning each bet is approximately 33.3333333% thus if you win this time round, you are indeed very lucky. But chances of a constant winning streak are low. For instance assuming you play Russian roulette(The game whereby you put a bullet into gun with 6 slots and shoot yourself) Gambling is no different, in this case, it’s merely a gun with 3 slots and 2 bullets. High chances are you will lose.

Often the casinos are not using the odds against us but our individual greed and desire to earn quick money. When we lose, we tend to increase our stakes, when we win, we tend to visit the place again, thus there is no way we can beat the casino. We often feel the pinch when we pay $10 for a meal but when we lose a $10 chip, we smile at the dealer who took our money away. We tend to be very forgetful and graceful on a losing streak. For instance, if you lose $100, you will console yourself by telling you that you won $100 from the stock market the other day. Ultimately, it is the casino that has gained.

Leaving on a Jet plane

2008-09-15T19:21:00.003+08:00

After the UNSW Saga, I was given an option to leave for my studies in Sydney or continue to pursue my undergraduate studies in SIM. I was presented with a dangling carrot of $22000 "Scholarship" or opt for a education that costs 2 times cheaper. So which exactly costs more? A commerce undergraduate degree in UNSW cost approximately $38800 annually.

$24000 tuition fees
$10080 for a year's rent
$4800 for food and other MISC expenses

This might seem much higher than a course in Sim. $38k vs $12k. However we have forgotten other costs when you study in a local education. I define this as a FSF. Family Scheme Fund. Under the FSF, it comprises of

$6000 annually pocket money (Assuming you receive $500 a month)
$600 annual phone bill (Assuming $50 a month)
$1200 annual personal utilities (For all the additonal power you use on your computer and shower)
$1200 annual transport (Includes public transport and fuel for your car)

TOTAL = $9000

This would add up to $12000 + $9000= $21000 if I study in a local private institution.

The FSF is often neglected is our assumptions because we are used to consuming it without knowing how much it exactly costs. The truth is, this can be deducted from an overseas education because this is the savings that your parents benefit when you are studying overseas.

Thus,

FSF = Savings in Singapore when you study overseas

Cost of education an UNSW =

$38800 - FSF - Variable Scholarship received =

$38800 - $9000 - $22000 = $7800

Too good to be true?

Losing my bachelor degree

2008-09-10T11:01:00.001+08:00

In finance we can quantify an investment by predicting the future cash flow of an intended investment. This means that we compare the return of 2 of more investment and choose the one with higher return. I suppose we can do that for marriage!

Let’s take a look at the startup cost of marriage. Based on today’s current market rate, a wedding dinner would cost approximately $40000, assuming 40 tables cost $1000 each. Other costs includes photo taking session $2500, cards and gifts $3000, down payment for a new flat $20000, renovations $30000 honeymoon, $10000, diamond ring ($3000-$30000) if you know what I mean! A simple wedding would cost you up to 100 to 130 grand! So what’s the opportunity cost of $130k?

· A Honda Civic Type R = $100k with enough change to buy 30 LV Bag costing 1k each

· Enough money to travel 2 times round the world with enough change to buy 3 Rolex

· A lifetime supply of haircut with wash

· Lifetime supply of fuel for your car

· Prada, Gucci, LV you name it

According to Cris, Marriage is an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her masters. How true is that! I asked around if it’s okay if couples maintain and manage individual finances after marriage and the answer is an unanimous NO. Do men get married for sex and get broke as a result?

Let’s consider another scenario. What if we decide to retain our bachelor degree (singlehood) and spend it “wisely” with our $130k? Assuming you have the urge to go for “part time course” (intercourse) 3-5 times a week and it costs you $100 per session, it will cost you $300-$500 a week, $1200-$2000 a month and $14k to $20k a year. With notes (condoms) it would cost you another $30 per week, $120 a month and $1.4k a year. This would add up to $15k to $21k annually. How about extra curriculum activities (other vices) such as music class (Lap Sup Bar KTV), additional research (Which LV or Gucci bag your girlfriends fancy), Physical Education (massage parlours)? This would add up close to an estimated additional 10-20k annually. Thus the total cost of maintaining your bachelor degree would cost you close to approximately 30-50k depending on how far you want to score. Assuming you retain your bachelor status for 30 years, it will cost you an approximately 900k to 1.5million!

There appears to be a flaw in the above assumption that losing your bachelor degree (getting married) would cost only $130k. This cost can actually be eliminated from the Hongbaos you received from the wedding dinner. Assuming you have 400 guests from 40 tables and each guests subsidize you $120 (some relatives might give you more) each, this would add up to 48k. For the renovation costs and down payment for your flat, you will probably breakeven after you sell your flat in 10 years. For the diamond ring, that’s probably the last ring you will buy for your wife and if she wears it for 30 years, a 5k ring will only cost you $167! a year. For the honeymoon, you can actually pay off with the surplus from the Ang Bao. It’s clear now which is more feasible. I did my sums; feel free to lose your bachelor degree.

The art of MCP

2008-09-09T20:23:00.001+08:00

he Art of MCP.

MCP is an acronym which stands for Male Chauvinist Pig. In order to fit into this category, you must

1. Always insist you are right.

2. Make every decision.

3. Be stubborn

4. Confused on what actually went wrong.

5. And never admit your mistake.

Before I go on to explain how this term came out. Perhaps I can describe the different demographics between a man and a woman using 3 theories. They are

· Accounting Theory

· Terms and Condition subject to changes

· The Gambling theory

The difference between a guy and a girl when it comes to accounting is that a guy will always “close the account” on a daily basis whereas a girl uses accrual basis. This means that if a guy ends of a day without his girlfriend complaining or quarrelling, you would assume that all is fine. Of course that’s a wrong assumption because what girl does is she will “accrue” over a period of time and strikes when the time is right. This means that what she’s unhappy might be donkey years ago but somehow or rather it will be presented in the current “financial statement”.

Terms and condition refers to STRICTLY no provision in any changes. In simple terms, this mean that you are not allowed to make any deviation from the plans that you have promised to do. “For instance, you promised to take her to the beach over the weekend, however due to some unforeseen circumstances, you postponed your plan” Well, this is not acceptable under the 10 commandments of pathology. ( PAT THO means dating in dialet) You might have the best of reasons, but still it is strictly prohibited.

The next theory that I am going to describe is called the gambling theory. In games such as poker or texas hold’em, there are strategies whereby you can either split the cards (CAI PAI) or joint your cards for a advantage in the game. Well you might come across situations whereby you are certain that you are going to win this particular quarrel but the other party can split the cards(means telling you that it is a separate matter and you are in the wrong!) or joint the cards( means telling you that what do you have to repeat your mistake from your previous incident).

However, I beg to defer. In my opinion, MCP stands for Manly Charismatic and Personality. Anyone that is deemed a MCP should be proud of it. Even the biggest company in the world has a terms and condition that states subject to changes and is incapable of fulfilling their obligations at times, thus its natural to have provisions for the statements that we have made(it’s okay to break a promise due to a valid reason)

Secondly, if you ever give birth to a boy and when he’s old enough to learn spelling, the only time he can score 9/10 is when you forbit to teach him the world “PROMISE”. This would save him from unnecessary if anyone blames him in the future. He can proudly say “Promise? “I never learnt that in school.

Well, as the saying goes, Nan Ren Bu Huai, Nu Ren Bu Ai. (Man not bad, girls don’t like). So the next time you are labeled a MCP, Smile and receive the compliments graciously, you are one step to becoming the next best thing !

Who makes more money

2008-09-09T20:21:00.000+08:00

There are a few success stories on people who don’t graduate from University but ended up earning much more than people who graduate with high paying jobs. Bill Gates is an over-used example so I shall refrain from using him as my thesis. How about hawkers? Businessmen ? Entrepreneurs ? Whom manages to carve a niche for themselves and makes good money. We often hear that education is a waste of time and when you go out to work, everything else remains constant. “Ceteris Paribus”

My explanation on the difference between the poor and the rich is based on an economic perspective I learnt in school. On my first macroeconomics lecture I came across these two terms, Induction and Deduction. As the definition implies,

· With the inductive method we begin with an accumulation of facts, which are then arranged systematically and analyzed so as to permit the derivation of a principle or arranged systematically and analyzed so as to permit the derivation of a principle or generalization. Induction moves from facts to theory, from the particular to the general.

· Economists may also go about their task by beginning at the level of theory and proceeding to the verification or rejection of this theory by an appeal to the facts. This is the deductive, or hypothetical, method.

The remaining article will describe why people who are uneducated can earn a higher return compared to the educated.

My assumptions in my thesis are that the educated tend to be deductive, whereas the uneducated tend to have an inductive characteristic. My assumptions are derived based on the fact that the educated tend to read more and hold a regular job, they read more and thus tend to apply whatever they have learnt on books to their job or to their daily lives.

In comparison to the uneducated, as they have no prior or little education compared to the educated, the uneducated have to derive knowledge from either experience or observations, thus when they learn something new, and it works well, they actually induce a theory because they did not refer to any theory to begin with.

So What Has This Got To Do With Who Makes More Money?

Well, in order to gain an abnormal return, you possibly cannot go with the flow but have to go against the flow. Take the stock market for example, if everyone can learn valuation knowledge from books, no one would be able to profit from abnormal returns because everyone is faced with the same identical information and knowledge. This is known as the efficient market hypothesis in portfolio management.

So How Do We Make Lots of Money from the Stock Market?

My thesis on why the uneducated makes an abnormal return is because the information they have learn from induction is not available from any books or published from any source. This “Independent” findings works solely for the user who has induced that particular theory and works well solely for that user. This is shown from many businessmen, who earn more than people who have received higher education compared to them. As they are not educated, they have to rely on their experience to carve out a niche for themselves. Subsequently, they discover a particular method or model that works well for them. However, what they do not realize is that they have actually induced a new theory. Another reason is possibly due to the fact that they are not restricted by theories.

To substantiate my thesis, I shall give an illustration on the business model of a loanshark. Well, in the past, if you were to borrow money, you probably need to bring your identity card, visit a loanshark, and sign an IOU certificate. This “business model” is not very effective because the loanshark are exposed to high risk of defaulting their “loans” and getting caught by the police.

Then the illegal business model was evolved into something that deserves commendation.

If you are in an urgent need of money today, you visit a loanshark, but instead of exchanging cash for an IOU, he takes you to a departmental store that accepts installment payment scheme. In this scenario let’s assume you want to borrow $5000. The loanshark purchases a Plasma television that is worth $7000 and you pay for it under your name. The end result is that you get the $5ooo cash, the loanshark receives a Plasma television which he/she can sell more than $5000, and he avoids default risk as you have to pay the installment in your own discretion. How ingenious can this be? The particular who thought of this model would have gotten a distinction for a business model project if he ever made it to University.

My point is not to conduct in illegal businesses but people who induce theories have a higher chance of gaining a higher return compared to people who deduce theories. No doubt that it is good to read more and receive a higher education, but it is definitely not the way to make it rich. The next time you don’t understand a point made by your lecturer in school, think in another perspective that the lecturer is not doing a good job in explaining well. Well if all else fails, fret not, because you will probably make it bigger on your own!

Credit Card

2008-09-09T20:19:00.002+08:00

Paying in full may never be the best thing to do

When we see something we really like, there are a few approaches we can do to own it. For instance you want to buy this 42 inch SONY plasma High Definition TV. You can choose to either pay in full or pay by installment. Ideally we should pay in full because we can avoid paying the interest charges. However, most people ended up paying installments because they would prefer not to feel the pinch at that moment of purchase. As the saying goes, “With installment, I can buy many things at one go” But of course its economically not feasible.

However, we tend to mixed up this rationale between human relationships and economics. Let’s take chasing girls for example.

Part 1

You met the girl of your penthouse fantasy and after much pursuing; you asked her out on a date. She agreed and you start brain storming where to take her out for dinner.
You came out with this fancy restaurant idea and impressed her.
Her birthday is in 2 weeks and you think of what is the best present to get for her.
You bought her something really nice but ended up burning a hole in your pocket.
But then again, she’s touched, so who cares!
Finally, after all the perseverance, you got laid.

After 3 months.

Part 2

You brought her to a food court.
Buy her Mee Pok!
She asked how come we so long never go eat restaurant.
You reply: “You think I print money ah”
She gives you one tight slap and stomped off.
You realized you are in the wrong and buys something for her
When she reaches her place, she asks you to go fly kite.

So what’s your damn point?

This is a simple illustration on what happens when we try to pay in full for relationships instead of paying by installments. Over impressing might in time turn against us because it’s hard to live up to expectations. Most of the time we tend to pay in full in other aspects besides monetarily. Acceding to all request, demands , going the extra mile, surprises might be beneficial in the short term, however once you reveal your last card, it might in time, turn against us.

Same goes for upbringing kids. If you buy everything whatever you kid wants, though you can afford it. Imagine what happens in the end. You kid becomes overly spoilt and demanding. Despite the fact that you very much want to satisfy your kid’s desires, acceding to all his requests might not be the best thing to do. In certain cases, it might be making up for what you lack in your younger days. For instance, you might be very poor in your younger days and you tell yourself that your kids must have this and that when they grow up. Unfortunately, the hunger to succeed would only apply to people who tasted hunger.

What should we do then?

Love, care and concern is a unlimited resource that we have that does not require any work or services in exchange for, compared to money, which is why we use it so freely. It is not necessary a bad thing because that’s how the term unconditional love comes about. But then again, anything that is moderate is healthy, and excessive, unhealthy. We might want to consider love as a resource that is limited and to quantify it. For instance, I have 5000 units of love.* This is how it works.

Love Financial Sheet

Debit

Assets

Money in Bank Account 3000 Units

Available free time 2000 Units

(After work and sleep deduction)

Credit

Liabilities 700 Units

Picks her up from work daily 600 Units

Brings her to an expensive restaurant 500 Units

Buy her a branded handbag 400 Units

Message her sweet nothings 300 Units

For saying and doing the wrong thing 2500 Units

5000 Units

We can see from this example that if we pay everything in full. Often we always find that we have nothing to lose if we accede to all, but in actual fact, we only regret when we lost everything. You might want to consider paying in installment instead of paying in full.

So why is everybody doing that?

The reason why credit card companies make so much money is because they market in such a way so that consumer would be encouraged to spend. With a higher spending power, customer can accumulate more points and redeem for free gifts. As for love units, what do u think can be redeemed for? For me to know and for you to find out!

This does not apply to everyone. Somehow some people have more love to spare I don’t know! You might want to pay in installment instead of paying in full.

* Disclaimer cause: The love financial statement is not conjunction to normal accounting practice in Singapore*

Chasing the bus

2008-09-09T20:19:00.001+08:00

Running after the bus is my only form of exercise after discharging from National Service. It amazes me how tired I can be despite the fact that it is only a short 100M sprint. (300M if I run to the next bus stop)

Whenever I see an approaching bus, I have to decide in less than one second to run after the bus or wait for the next one. Any procrastination would cause me to be late for our appointment or work. It is necessary to make a fast judgment on the time taken I need to run to the bus stop and the time taken needed for the bus to reach the next bus stop.

If you decided to run after the bus….

The advantages of running after the bus is that you get to reach work/appointment on time as punctuality is important as you may lose your credibility if you are late always. However, the disadvantages are that you may look really stupid as everyone is starring at you. Some might even smell foul after a sprint and spot a really cool hairdo after the frantic run. In worst cases, you might fall and drop some of your belongings, picked it up and create a bigger HOOHAA. But still, you reach on time!

If you decided not to run after the bus….

The advantages of not running after the bus is that you get to preserve your poise and you can still smell nice when you reach your work place. Disadvantage would be late for work and an extra 15 minutes of unproductive idle time.

How to decide whether to run or not?

We often refuse to try because we cannot predict the outcome. “All rollercoaster rides look scary” But 9 out of 10 take a second ride after their first try.

RULE OF THUMB No.1

The bus can reach first, but you must first catch the bus uncle attention in his mirror!

RULE OF THUMB No. 2

It is better to be early than late!

RULE OF THUMB No. 3

A great 15 second workout!

What if we ran but still missed the bus?

It’s the exactly feeling when it comes to a courtship. I set my eyes on this girl and I decided to go for it. After putting so much effort, she said I wasn’t her cup of tea. Likewise after running frantically after the bus, you wave and scream at the driver to wait for you, but because the driver had to move on, he pretends not to see you. For me, I’ll run to the next bus stop.

What if the bus still refuses to stop?

I would wait for the next bus or take MRT. Likewise, she may not be my cup of tea, but I might fall for a cup of TEH SI. There’s always a next bus on the way.

So what is your damn point?

No bus driver in the right mind will wait for you at the same time everyday. It’s up to us to monitor their schedule and make up for the differences if we fall short of it.

A child's pride

2008-09-09T20:18:00.000+08:00

We often behave differently when it comes to friends or relatives. Some feel more at ease when they are with their friends, whereas others are more comfortable with their family and relatives. Apparently there’s always an underlying reason why people behave in certain manner.

Jack and Gillian are siblings aged 3 years apart. Gillian has a more outspoken personality, comfortable in socializing and enjoys participation in discussion. Jack, on the other hand, in more inclined to listen more than he speaks. Jack is outspoken among his peers, conscientious in his work but compared to his sister, he is taciturn among his relatives.

It was only after 2 decade that Jillian discovered the truth behind the reason why 2 person brought up under the same environment would behave so differently. Perhaps some might perceive it as natural, but to Jillian, it was not.

Jillian was brought up by her paternal grandmother since she was an infant. Since young, she was taught about morals and values by her grandmother. She was constantly reminded about the rights and wrong. Whenever she was introduced to relatives and friends, her grandmother would sing praises of her irregardless of her behavior. Children under such circumstances will sub consciously form a mindset to meet the adults expectation. (Self-fulfilling prophecy). And over time, it becomes second nature to the child. It is because of that need to prove adults right that she is a “good child”, it forms a barrier to prevent her to sway to the dark side.

The reason why some children become rebellious at a very young age is because that parent does that recognized that a child’s pride is actually formed at a very young age and is very sensitive to whatever messages that is conveyed to them.

For instance, parents reprimanding children on public is detrimental towards the well-being of the child. What worse is during relative gatherings, a child is being criticized in front of relative and friends. This is especially so because when you are young, it is difficult to defend yourself and what you are left with is the impression that is stained on other people.

Another common mistake is parents tend to compare who has the most mischievous child. For instance, over the phone, one parent might complain to another parent about how naughty his/her child is and instead of sympathizing with the other parent plight, the other parent will bring out another fine example of impish behavior. This creates an injurious effect for the child who has overheard the conversation because that episode of broadcasting was absolutely immaterial.

Over time, that particular child would lose that self respect because he/she would have felt that no one believes in them. He/she would do things to prove others wrong and often seek refuge in friends. Parents never understood why the underlying reason why their children never speak to them as carefree towards their friends and why is it so difficult to control them as they get older. This is because that as the child gets older, he begins to gain enough control to defend and as a result gain empowerment through other means.

Jack was brought up by a nanny and because he was not well versed in his dialect, he faces communication problems with his grandmother. Unfortunately, the treatment he received from his grandparents was not favorable compared to his sister because he had no idea how to get into his grandparents good books since he was not armed with dialect proficiency.

Jack went on to excel in his academic studies as he had a desire to prove others wrong. He was focused probably because there were lesser distractions. Whenever relatives came over, he would stay in his room and study compared to his sister, socializing with her relatives.

Jillian only realizes the crux of the problem when her grandmother passed away. She was not certain that her younger brother’s pride was hurt at a very young age until she saw tears in her brother’s eyes when she started the neutral buffer.

Fortunately, it was a blessing in disguise that things turn out well. I must say that grandmother was a genius

Abstinence

2008-09-09T20:17:00.002+08:00

Over time, as we become more liberal, modernized in our thinking, the perception of abstinence depreciates. We no longer marry the first woman we meet, or rather preserve chastity. Abstinence is no longer the norm in today’s society. No longer have people treated abstinence as a form of fixed deposit. “The longer the fund takes to mature, the greater the value” More likely, the trend now is early gratification. “Use it while stock last” Nevertheless, this is only a generalization. Of course there are other factors such as religion, hormones index to curb or gauge our sex drive for the latter, thus

I classify abstinence into 4 major categories.

Early Gratification	Kiasu Syndrome
Ten Commandments	Fixed Deposit

Though there is no absolute solution on how we should gauge abstinence, perhaps the pros and cons of abstinence would aid in our decision.

We have the perception that we should preserve chastity for the one we marry because it is something very special and personal. You will only share it with the person whom you will spend the rest of your life with. (Fixed Deposit)

Sex is something sacred and is created by God for couple to enjoy themselves. Under no circumstances should one commit adultery and will only share it with your spouse. (Ten Commandments)

Sex is an expression and there is nothing wrong engaging in it before marriage. After all, if we wait till we were married, our stock would have expired. (Early gratification)

Since everyone is doing it, there should not be any problem engaging in it. I had better be part of the trend in case others might think that I am weird. (Kiasu Syndrome)

If you have ever spoken to a financial adviser or a insurance agent, he or she would have told you that all investments plans are different as individuals risk appetite is different and likewise, the higher the risk the higher the return. So how do we apply these into the 4 broad categories?

Fixed deposit (Low risk, Low return)

The benefit of preserving chastity is that you are less likely to get cheated because at least you get to preserve your chastity till you recite your oath. Your other half is willing to wait and is understanding of your needs. You do not lose anything besides a few boxes of tissue if nothing works out at the end of the day.

The flaw is this certain portfolio is that what if sex is nothing like what you perceive. For instance, its nothing like what we see on our 17inch screen. Perhaps it’s true that you get free sex after you get married, but it comes with an intangible price tag which might be costly for many.

Sex is over-rated in this sense because something valued so highly might be disillusioned at the end of the day. In layman terms, it is not worth entrusting something so significant (marriage, a lifetime) on something so insignificant (*sex, it only last a couple of minutes if you think about it)

Early gratification (high risk, high return)

The disadvantage of early gratification is that the risk of getting cheated is tremendously high (as high as tech stocks) Most of the time you cannot tell if one feeling is true and you have no ideal if there is any catch so as to trick you into bed. You might invest a lot into it but ended up with nothing (besides the presents he bought before)

However, this has the highest return because even if chastity is lost before you recite your oath. It will be a different ball game once you signed on the dotted line. Sex is no longer a determinant for marriage and it would probably be for a significant purpose. In layman terms, if one can score (get laid) why go into marriage? It has to be more than just scoring.

Kiasu syndrome (high risk, low return)

As the saying goes, curiosity kills the cat. It is imperative to make a clear assessment before making the plunge. What might be suitable for me might not be suitable for you. It would be disastrous if nothing is done to prevent the calamity.

Ten Commandments (low risk, high return)

As mentioned above, it is pleasant to find one who practices this in today’s society. It is rare to find one who abides to these rules. However, the only flaw in this is that the couple must think in the same frequency, otherwise sustainability is not easy. I believe these people will be blessed indefinitely. Imagine 2 people believing in the same cause and time is the best determinant. Perfect!

So which category do you fall under?

Difference between love and lust

2008-09-09T20:17:00.001+08:00

I enjoy looking at the definition of these 2 terms. Love is “A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness”. Whereas Lust is defined as “Intense or unrestrained sexual craving”. In simple words, lust is equivalent to “I want to sleep with you” and love is “intense liking for you”

However we tend to lump these 2 terms together because it is the common myth that the men’s aim of treating a woman so nicely is to get under her skirt. TRUE? Or FALSE? The answer is true! Men’s ultimate goal is to score point and eventually accumulate enough points to redeem under a woman’s skirt. Well, offended? Feel cheated? Ultimately it is human nature to procreate and it is our hormones are our body that is reacting this way that causes our brain to induce actions in order for the man to “score”!

Nonetheless, it is important for the woman to interpret what signals the male is sending in order to protect herself. In her subconscious mind, she will be thinking “Should I withdraw my fixed deposit?” or “Should I keep my fixed deposit for a long date?” Afterall, this is what one has to go through eventually during that “critical moment”.

Precisely why it is imperative for us to distinct between love and lust. The difference is merely separated by a piece of thin ice called effort! Despite the fact that all men would do anything to make a woman “withdraw her fixed deposit” the effort put in is significantly different.

For instance, all men want a piece of a hot babe. Apparently it’s rather rude to cite any celebrity so let’s give her a fake name. Let’s name her POMELO ANDERSEN. Imagine John is crazy about POMELO. He fantasizes about the stunts and tricks to do in bed with POMELO and he delighted the moment he thinks of it. However, suppose that John has an opportunity to get to know POMELO and he is supposed to do tons of things to impress her. For instance, work for one month (depending on the job and qualification), so that he can afford a brand new suit, buy her a good meal, shower her with flowers and surprise her with a diamond ring. Chances are that he will not do it! Because the opportunity cost of that split second (Okay maybe slight longer for some) of adrenaline rush is far too costly to bear.

Despite the fact that all men wants to “withdraw a woman’s fixed deposit”. Most of the time, it is merely a fantasy and not a motive to do make sacrifices for that lucky lady.

Chicks and Cars

2008-09-09T20:15:00.001+08:00

Automobile in today’s society symbolizes power and status. Expensive driving machines are used to reflect on their achievements, aid in their profession such as meeting clients as well as a channel to spurge on with a pool of cash to spare. With the change in financing rules, owners can obtain a loan up to 10 years, which make more of these owners easier to obtain their dream car.

After all, all of us love striking and stunning objects. The ability to make head turns and the incessant attention you receive is desirable. It increases one’s self-esteem, pride, confidence when you sit on these four-wheelers. The list goes on, reasons to own one of these fast cars are apparent.

Obviously, in order to own one of these machines, one must work twice as hard. These machines come along with an expensive price tag which many Singaporeans will agree that it is perversely to pay for it. Then again, people are willing to pay for the enviable effect that comes along with these ultimate driving machines.

However, there’s a weakness to even the best driving machines in the world. The shortcoming of high performance cars is that the fuel consumption is higher, the insurance premium is higher, and it is more unreliable due to the sophisticated technology used. Such cars requires high maintenance work which means that you have to send in to the workshop more often in order to ensure that you vehicle runs smoothly.

With the vast number of brands and makes in the automobile industry, consumers are spoilt for choice. The alternative to these ultimate driving machines are no-frills transportation with a roof that is stagnant compared to those which can be folded and kept in seconds like magic. These vehicles are the most common on the road as it is affordable. It lacks the ability to turn heads round and make the person next to you drops his jaw. In simple words, no WOW effect!

Then again, even nicest plant on earth needs the smelliest (shit) object on earth as fertilizer. Despite the fact that they are unable to maneuver at astonishing speed, they have excellent reliability as the technology used does not require to be service that often compared to performance automobile. Their fuel consumption is also envy for many with the increasing oil prices. Resale value is also better in comparison with high performance cars because people with enough cash to fill a swimming pool would usually buy first hand cars.

The other obsession that men have is hot chicks. Perhaps it’s redundant to explain why a man goes for hot chicks, but before I go into illustrating my point, please note that all my points are ceteris paribus (Theory that keeps all factors constant). This meant that I’m not stereo-typing but making a generalization.

I wanted to state that most men think with their D**k initially, but I remember reading a theory somewhere about human motivation.(The book is called Think and Grow Rich) It states that the strongest motivating factor is sex and if you know how to use this force to apply to other objects, you can have immense achievement. I interpret this theory in simple terms such as if you have make a subject that you hate and you can treat it like something that turns you on, you will do well. Or maybe if a supermodel is willing to “do” with you if you can pass your calculus test, maybe even the weakest student will ace that test. Probably that’s what that theory is implying.

I have a very crude theory between regarding the correlation between chicks and cars because both hot chicks and cool cars have very good performance (If you know what I mean). If you have no idea what I’m referring to, I mean hot chicks looks great on photo or camera because they look beautiful. Besides excellent “performance” that these chicks provides, there’s also a desiring effect when your other half happens to be a hot chick. Likewise, the ability to turn heads round with a hot chick next to you is gratifying.

However, the drawback to this possession is that because of high demand, you have to constantly work hard to maintain serviceability. In simple words, the story does not end after you changed your friendster status to “IN A RELATIONSHIP” because such hot chicks are sought after and people will continue to chase after her. Therefore, you have to be good in order to keep those hands off her. Maintenance fee is also very high because you have to constantly ZHNG (modify) these objects in order for it to look good.

The alternative to hot chicks is cold chicks. (HAHA, I’m kidding!) Well, they are what we call the girl next door. These are the ones whom you don’t take a second look at and they tend to be introvert and spend less time grooming themselves.

Ultimately, which type of cars and chicks you chose are attached with costs that are not stated explicitly. Wants and Needs are diverse subjects that have to look into with circumspect. Suddenly it occurs to me that COE is just like marriage. If you are choosing a car based on the performance or the outlook and not your ability to finance it, ultimately you’ll regret your decision because new models changes every 3 years and even the latest model turned boring after a new model replaces it. Marriage wise, if you are only fond on the person based on her looks, chances is that after marriage, looks and size will change.

Men hope their wives would never change after marriage but they change, whereas Women hope their husband changes for the better after marriage but they never change.

Reverse Psychology

2008-09-09T20:14:00.000+08:00

Nobody in this world is obliged to make you happy; it’s an individual’s responsibility

I remembered reading an article on Reverse Psychology. After digesting the contents, another connotation occurs to me. I define Reverse Psychology as “The Art of bluffing oneself” (AOBO).

Studies have shown that the distinction between optimistic and pessimistic people is their ability in applying the (AOBO) technique. Another study has also shown that the distinction between successful people and underachievers is also with regards to their ability in applying the (AOBO) technique. And if you are curious on whether this (AOBO) technique differentiates introverts and extroverts, the answer is apparent.

Shit happens all the time, which is why it is important to look at things at a different perspective so as to make one feel better. The following article will touch on different issues in our daily lives and examples will be cited to explain how this (AOBO) technique is applied.

First I will touch on Skepticism of National Service. Certainly it is a universal sentiment that National Service is a waste of time, which is why many chose to avoid it or choose a vocation that is more smooth sailing during their 2 years of National Service. The motive behind this move is firstly because of opportunity cost. Men lose out 2 years to their female counterpart who does not have to serve National service. The latter can proceed with their studies or work and advance 2 years ahead of their male counterpart which some perceive it as unfair. Secondly, many have heard stories on how tough life would be if you enter certain vocation as they have stereo-typed unit life as an unpleasant experience.

Nevertheless, no matter how much we dislike the mud and dirt or the weekends spent protecting national interests, we have to serve the National due to apparent reasons. I will not touch on why we have to do National Service because it is perceptible but how do we apply the (AOBO) technique to improve our lives during that 2 years.

For those who have been through BMT outfield would know how tough it was. Countless of mosquitoes bite, sleeping on muddy fields, surviving on combat ration which result in shit that is hard as rock(You have to shake your ass before your shit drops) and the lists goes on. I remember going home for dinner after my first outfield experience. On the dinner table lay dishes with smoke hovering above it which for a moment seemed alien to be, probably because I was feeding on cold dishes for the past 7 days. When I drank my first scoop of soup, I can savor not only the taste but the warmth of family. My point is that despite going through shit for the past 7 days, it was this shitty period that one appreciates home cooked food. Ever since, I make it a point to consume home cooked food as often as I can.

For those “privileged” who went through Sispec or OCS would experience a period of time when time when book out is as precious as gold. Some would experience in camp training up to 2 weeks and overseas training up to 3 weeks. After experiencing isolation from “civilization” and breaking free from regiment, I can’t help but feeling ecstatic even if it was a short trip to the convenience store or a walk to the coffee shop to buy some of my favorite makan. My point is that one becomes more appreciate of the simple things in life after National service.

How about those who have to do Guard duty on weekends which you have to forego time spent with your love ones. Well, there are 2 approaches to this. Firstly, for people who enjoy clubbing during weekends, you can bring forward money saved during the week you are doing guard duty to the next week. This meant that you have enough money to drown yourself with whatever alcohol you can get your hands on. Secondly, for money savvy people, confinement to camp on weekends means an extra digit in your bank account.

For those who have been through training in vigorous terrain in

Taiwan

Brunei

, you can now survive in any jungle with a box of matchstick, map, compass and a jackknife. Sounds intriguing, but it’s a reality!

There are also abundant of resources to be tapped on during National Service. People come from different walks of lives with experience and expertise to share. This is especially so when you are enlisted into MONO intakes. I define MONO intake as the cultural exchange between the “street smarts” and the “book smarts”. You will be amazed to see how the “street smarts” performance outshines the “book smarts” in certain aspects. In the midst of these soldiers lie talents waiting to be revealed. The street smarts (SS) can also make use of these “book smarts”(BS) to improve areas they are weak at such as language or areas that requires more academic expertise. For instance let say one day Ah Beng decides to retake his N Levels so that he can advance to ITE, he can make use of the free time to consult Steward who’s an A level student. This is highly possible because despite coming from different academic backgrounds, they might be (SU*

*K) buddies in the army.

From the military knowledge that you gained from training would tell you that what you experience on screen (movies) is a far cry from reality. Shooting with 2 GPMGS (General Purpose Machine Guns), grenades sling on bodies is definitely not possible. With all that knowledge at the tips of your finger, definitely comes with an extra point from your prospective father in law.

Please do not get me wrong, I’m not implying that soldiers who go through a more vigorous path would be more successful in life because many soldiers who went through the service vocation continue to be very successful in life, therefore there is no correlation between success and vocations. In fact ironically speaking, people who got enlisted into the combat vocation is envious of people in the service vocation. Well, since our fate is sealed, I think its important to constantly use the (AOBO) technique to make our lives better, since we have to serve the 2 years anyway.

I have a army buddy that once said this to me “You have been consuming shit too long that you are contented when people offer you urine” I think he’s right =)

Opportunity Cost of being too happy

2008-09-09T20:13:00.001+08:00

Fear lies when there’s no fear itself

After much said on Happiness, which is one’s ultimate objective, I realized that there’s actually a cost to this. So what is the opportunity cost of Happiness about? On my previous article on “Correlation Analysis between Economics and Happiness”, I spoke about putting effort in order to be happy; however this topic will touch on the advantages of being unhappy.

Scenario A

Unhappy over: Results during examinations; objectives not met in work; amount of money earned compared to your peers; low productivity from your subordinates; lack of efficiency from your team members and the list goes on.

I cite these common examples to state the different reasons which are pissing us off from time to time. Well, some might claimed that it is human nature to compare with others that is making one so upset or simply because of high expectations. Now lets look at Scenario B

Scenario B

Happy over: Obtaining a mediocre score during examination (Because you don’t have to repeat that particular paper); Achieving 50% objective that your boss tasked you to do (So that you can avoid OVERTIME); Earning lesser than your peers (So that you are not the one picking up the tab); Paying lesser to your subordinates (Since they don’t meet my expectations anyway); Fun to be with teammates (Life’s never boring with them around).

It’s apparent that if you fall under Scenario A, chances is that people will looked upon you as driven, persistent, determined, assiduous and the list goes on(Click on SYNONYMS for more bombastic words). You might be unhappy most of time, but it is definitely not a bad thing after all because as the saying goes “You reaped what you sow” Possibility is that you have a standing in society with that “Unhappy” attitude.

What if you fall under Scenario B?

Chances is that you are generally well-liked by people, you are happy most of time, you are a optimist, you don’t suffer from high blood pressure, you are relaxed and despite all that attributes, there’s a drawback to this. “Fear lies when there’s no fear itself”. What this sentence means is that, it is actually quite scary when you are not scared of anything. Reason being that one tends to overlook alternatives or anticipate Murphy’s Law (Anything that can go wrong will go wrong). Secondly, without a demanding attitude, its pretty hard to achieve good results.

I once read “The Art of Happiness” by Dalai Lama, about the topic on pain. Dalai Lama explained that the fear of pain can aid in preventing you from getting injured or diminish further suffering. For instance, if you nervous system breaks down and your body do not have the ability to experience pain, this may pose a danger if you are cut accidentally and bleeds profusely thereafter. Without pain as an “alarm system”, you would not know when to prevent further blood loss which might be detrimental as time passes. My point is that pain correlates with being unhappy, which is not a bad thing after all.

Ultimate Wedding (part 2)

2008-09-09T20:11:00.000+08:00

Now that everything’s settled. After months of preparation, the wedding dinner is finally over. How about life after that? As a guy, I would give my cynical point of view to that. As there are countless schools of thought when it comes to this, let’s state a few.

In an ideal world, all woman hope their men to change after marriage
But in reality, men never change
In an ideal world, all men hope their woman to always stay the same
But in reality, woman after marriage can never be the same again

Once I had this discussion with Teck about chicks (as in babes and not baby chicken) and their pets (dogs in particular). Correlating chicks and dogs. He claimed that all chicks have dogs and all the dogs have chicks. After some observation, it’s pretty true to a certain extent. Teck next posed this question to me. “Would you keep a dog next time when you are rich?” My replied was “Hell NO! I would keep a woman!”

I remembered once watching an episode on WOMAN OF TIMES, starring CHEN HAN WEI AND FANN WONG. There was this scene whereby Fann asked Han Wei” why aren’t you eating?” His reply was “I like to watch you eat.” BULLSHIT! UTTERLY BULLSHIT! If a couple can say that to each other after 10 years of marriage “I LIKE TO WATCH U EAT” I would chop off my head!

In the past I used to think that one should accept one for who she or he is and no matter how that person is dressed, they should respect it. For instance, if you look like shit, the person next to you should live with it. Hell I was wrong! Xiaohui said this, “how would you feel if your date took so much effort to look good next to you and you look like shit next to her and expect her to life with it?” Meaning, looking good is a form of respect.

During the World Cup period, my attention wasn’t much on the scores, nor the footballers. Mine was actually on the WAGS (Wifes of footballers) Then suddenly, an idea came to my mind. Good marriage = (Paragraph 1 + Paragraph 2 + Paragraph 3 + Paragraph 4)

Step 1 Make lots of money
Step 2 Shower your wife with gifts
Step 3 Invest in slimming programs so she will forever look hot, even not hot at least warm.

What do you guys think? Woman requires constant assurance and security. For instance, you give her a diamond ring today and she’s really contented for the next 24hrs. However, the point scored today will be reset the day after. So it means that you have to work hard not for today but it’s an everyday affair.

The Ultimate Wedding

2008-09-09T20:07:00.000+08:00

Finally, after months of procrastination and incubation, I’ve thought of my latest topic. THE ULTIMATE WEDDING! Thanks to OPPRAH! Was watching OPPRAH yesterday at home and they featured a DREAM WEDDING edition.

Couple of months back, I posted this topic to my group of friends over dinner. “What is the most important thing to a woman which she deserves but men hardly pay attention to” The response includes WEDDING, SECURITY, ROMANCE and even VIRGINITY.

There’s no right or wrong answers to this question but it wasn’t what I was looking for. But because of a marketing gimmick I was thinking of for an event managing business model, what I feel is actually “Marriage Proposal”. Imagine this, much effort can be put into the proposal, after the proposal you can flaunt it to your friends and family and repeat the story as many times as you like. Best part of it; share the story with your children in many years to come.

I actually did a survey to find out which married couple actually had a marriage proposal before they were married and to my surprise, NONE! All along I assumed it was a norm. Isn’t that supposed to be? All the shows (Movies, Japanese Serial, Korean Dramas, Hong Kong Serial Drama) I watched had at least a scene of marriage proposal before the couple got married. In reality, all they had to do, is go to HDB HUB and sign on the dotted line. That was what Nasri told me. How about those guys that goes on their knees in public and proposed? Sweet? I think that’s totally CHEAP! What if the lady is not mentally prepared? It will be so embarrassing. I seriously think that unless you’re praying to God or begging for forgiveness, one should not kneel down unnecessarily.

My definition to marriage proposal would be an event that time and effort is taken into consideration of. For instance, time is taken to organize and prepare that special moment, secondly, effort is put in to create that atmosphere.

It is not advisable for me to give specific examples but perhaps I should cite a few for some inspiration. For instance, you guys enjoy dining along boat quay. You can actually rent a boat, decorate it with balloons, and arrive with a bouquet of flowers. I don’t have to elaborate further what happens next, but I confirm guarantee plus chop. She’ll appreciate what you’ve done at least. That’s 50 pts added! Fine! Some might think it’s a form of show off, how about this? There’s definitely a favorite song for everyone. If you are musically inclined and you know how to play an instrument, good for you! However if you have no musical background, fret not! It’s actually lagi better because the effort you spent learning that piece of song would actually carry more weight. 70 pts added!

Now that she has agreed to marry you. Congratulations! Now let’s talk about weddings in

Singapore

I always feel that there’s something lacking in wedding dinners. This is because

§ We have no idea how the couple met?

§ What’s the couple occupation?

§ How long have they been together?

§ How did the guy proposed to her?

§ What do they like about each other?

§ Special moments they can’t forget

What’s the first thing that came to your mind when people talk about wedding dinner?

Latecomers?
Red Packet Expenses
Late Dinner?
Dress Code?
Sharks Fin?
Suckling Pig?
Booze (YUM SENG)

What do you wished for if it was your own wedding?

Your guests to be happy for you
Hospitable treatment for your guests
Your guests to enjoy themselves
Things to run smoothly

I feel that there are many things that can add color even to the simplest wedding. An expensive wedding might not be an eventful or fun wedding. The only difference is that the utensils are more shiny, the suckling big is heavier, the hotel name has a harder name to pronounce and the air conditioner is slightly colder. However, an expensive wedding does not exactly add to the overall experience. For a more colorful event, the emcee could pose a few questions to the bride and the groom so that the guests can be educated on the love story of the couple. Throw in more juicy information like what is the groom fetish and I’m very certain gorging their food is not the only activity your guest will indulge in.

As for late comers, I have thought of a solution but I’ve decided not to post the solution online so as to be the pioneer in Chinese tradition wedding to start dinner on time. HAHA! For some that can spare the budget, perhaps throw in some games or song to entertain the guests. I think it will make the whole event livelier. At one point of time, I even thought of lucky draw for my guests. Well, just a thought!

There are different schools of thought when it comes to wedding. In the economical sense, its something not advisable because of the large outlay of cash involves. However there are certain things that can’t be measured with money.

Expiry Date

2008-09-09T20:04:00.000+08:00

Almost everything has an expiry date. What is the first thing that comes into your mind when we talk about expiry date? You might have thought about canned food, preserved food, etc. How about non tangible objects like money? Well, money does have an expiry date as well. In this case we defined this term as inflation. We would agree that any object that is created by man has an expiry date. For instance, any machinery that is built would eventually be non-serviceable one fine day. How about Love? Does Love have an expiry date?

Assuming when a couple breakup, it happens for various reasons. It might be because of a 3^rd party? Or after a period of time, you realized it is because of differences that you cannot resolve? Or usually misunderstanding that was never clarified? When that happens, we defined that love has expired.

One of the most unique breakup reasons is because of differences in religion. For instance, one of them might be a Christian while the other a Buddhist. Well, you must be thinking what this difference in belief has to do with their break up, but think again! Christians believe in life after death while Buddhist believes in reincarnation. In layman terms, there’s a possibility that a married couple can never be together forever in the spiritual sense.

There is a truth story about a couple who has a constant barrier within them because of their difference in religion. The crux of the problem for not having the same religion is that the couple is not able to think in the same “frequency”. One party would feel that the relationship would not last forever thus feel that the other party is obliged to convert so that this problem can be resolved. However, on the other hand, the “obliged party” might regard religion as something that is sacred thus felt that more reason is needed to make that change.

I have heard a quote from a famous Taiwanese comedian some time ago. He said “If a couple can live to 200 years old, they would have broken up long ago as they would be so sick of each other by then” Isn’t that so true?

My point is that the challenge in a healthy or a steady relationship lies in keeping it as fulfilling as you can. I believe the only worry is whether it is sustainable for the next year, next 10 years then we talk about the future. We all know what is the “HONEYMOON” period all about, and there’s an expiry date to that too. Wouldn’t it be great if all couples thrive to keep that passion burning and leave other subjects that you can’t change aside?

DIE DIE MUST SAME

OBSERVE AND SEE

WE ARE HAPPY AS IT IS

YOU CHANGE OR I CHANGE

So which category do you fall under?

If you happened to fall under the first category (DIE DIE MUST SAME). I foresee no compromising solution. However I see 2 side of the coin in this situation. The first scenario is that you break up with your girlfriend or boyfriend for another person of the same religion. But the problem is that the opportunity cost is high! For instance you are attached for 2 years. You know each other well enough and things are going great. Would you give that all up that you have built up for the past 2 years and start anew? I don’t know?

How about the next category? (OBSERVE AND SEE). Well… after all religion is something very sacred and indispensable to many. However timing is an important factor is making ones decision. Perhaps things might change for the better after time and both will be singing the same tune eventually.

As for the (YOU CHANGE OR I CHANGE) category, I think its not a problem because both parties have come to a compromise.

Last but not least, (We ARE HAPPY AS IT IS), I guess it is something which all couples of different religion hopes to achieve. After all, you are blessed from both sides, isn it great?

Correlation Analysis between Food and Sex

2008-09-09T20:02:00.000+08:00

Food and sex are no doubt an essential for all humans and animals. So how are they alike? And how do we use their characteristics to our advantage?

Have you ever cane across a scenario during lunchtime whereby you feel like ordering a side dish after a main course but decided not to as you are too full? For instance you might be having a plate if Char Kway Teow and during that moment of hunger, a million of your favorite food comes to mind and you feel like ordering all of them. In such a circumstance, chances are that you’ll end up not finishing up the food you bought on impulse and burn a hole in your wallet.

The rule of thumb is clear. Firstly, there’s a limited capacity for all our hunger for food. Secondly, when that capacity (let say your stomach has a 1600cc capacity) is filled, there is no room for more irregardless the grade of the delicacy. For instance you patronize a restaurant and order 2 of your favorite dishes. The first one is a bowl of Sharks fin. The second one is a plate of Yang Chow Fried Rice. Both are your favorite food, however the fried rice came first and because your Sharks fin arrived later, you ended up satisfying your hunger with fried rice. This time you realized that the Sharks fin do not taste as good as expected probably because you are full. Last but not least, the rule of thumb is such, food serve when hunger strikes will always taste better than food serve after hunger disappears. In layman terms, no matter how good or how nice the food is, it will not entice you to eat when you are full.

Some have heard the phenomenon of women who can have multiple orgasms. However, after leaving out these rare gems, the majority of the population fall under the "can only do it once" category. I’m certain some are guilty of watching sleazy materials during privacy and thereafter proceeding to a sacred place called "the toilet" for a "do it yourself" (DIY) session. After that particular episode of "volcano eruption", chances is that you’ll probably have to rest for a period of time before the next (DIY) session. Rule of thumb no. 1. The majority of the people have to rest after the DIY period. Secondly, even the greatest pornographic material would not entice you to carry out a DIY session during your recovery periode(engine overheat). For instance, after your "engine overheats" your friend sends you a collection of pornographic material but you have to put on hold because it is still within your recovery period (engine still cooling down).

Now we see the correlation between these 2 subjects. The important thing is how we use this thesis to improve our lives. For instance, you are determined to save money by avoiding many of your frequent patronized restaurants amd your alternatives are food courts which sell cheaper food. By applying the rule of thumb mentioned earler, you can first consume a light meal at these food courts before thinking of consuming any fine delicacy you have in mind thereafter. This is because that once your stomach capacity(1600cc) is filled, chances is that you will be less likely to spend money at these expensive restaurants.

Intimacy is a controvesal issue for all couples. Different people value sex differently due to different background, beliefs, background and culture. Some believe in abstinence, whereas others believe in do it when the time is right. However, if not handled properly, it can lead to problems such as pregnancy, aids as well as relationship problems. Afterall, virginity is one of women most valuable assets. Its like government bonds, the longer you abstain from withdrawing, the higher the value. However, what if you are genuinely fond of this person but can’t curb the urge for factory production(SEX). Under the rule of thumb, humans have a limited capacity. Men mostly only have a shot of this. After a DIY session, chances is that your urge to have factory production would be close to nil. This is where the advantages of pornography comes along. By exposing yourself to such materials, it will lead to that episode of volcano eruption and thereafter back to square one.

Please do not get me wrong, afterall i’m not implying pornography is the best solution as the crux of the problem lies in desensitization. After absorbing a long series of pornographic materials, your mind forms a perception on how a naked women would look like or how a factory production(sex) routine would be. Experienced personnel will know that pornography is a far cry fromr reality. The problem with this is that one would tend to make comparison, which lead to making "special" demands during intimacy which will lead to confusion for the minor cases and police case for the major cases. We often hear this infamous accusation "Men are all the same, all they want is to have sex" So how do we counteract this problem? Obviously we are not trying to destroy our factory but providing another alternative. Therefore, the next time your volcano is errupting, explode somewhere safe. Pornography might be a great tool but then again, anything excessive would kill. Well, at the end of the day, if you can do anything to keep your hands to yourself, she will probably thing you are the most sensitive guy on earth

Why your IN LAWS never seemed to click?

2007-10-01T20:10:00.000+08:00

Before you start reading this passage, do mental calculations on how many families you know of that consist of 3 generations living under one roof? For instance, it consists of the grandparents, the parent and the grandchildren.

Next, ask yourself if you ever want to live with your parents when you are married. Ever came across people telling you that your mum not getting alone fine with your grandmother? Or heard phrases like “I’ll never live with my parents when I’m married” Statistics have shown that majority of newly wed couples chose to live away from their parents when their parents.

This might be my stereotyped opinion on relationships between in laws but I traced back to previous generations and it was proved that this hypothesis is indeed true or a high probability that the in laws can never get together.

A good friend of mine is bothered by the fact that his girlfriend and his mum can’t get along. He can neither neglect both feelings as both are equally important to him. I asked him why and his answer was “My mother doesn’t like her”. What is it that your mum dosen’t like about her? “I don’t know”.

People can’t get along for millions of reasons. But ultimately we know that behind every action, there’s a reason. So what’s the reason behind it? Is the mother in law finding fault with her daughter in law or does the problem lies with the daughter in law. Perhaps the daughter in law finds her mother in law too naggy or perhaps it’s a communication problem. Why the son is always stuck in the middle. Generations after generation, people fail to discover the truth behind this phenomenon.

The reason is simple! The problem actually lies with the SON! You must be thinking, what the son has got to do with it by standing neutral all the time? Is it because of his indecisiveness? Or because of his insensitivity? Probably true, but understanding the crux of the matter will further explain what has the SON got to do with the mess he has created subconsciously.

Any mother in this world would have experienced the pain and joy of giving birth. The pain could be excruciating and the overwhelming joy. It’s hard to imagine the nine month period of confinement without going through it. The average age that people get married in this generation is between 25-30 years old.

Literally, that means that your mother would have taken care of you for the next 25 years on an average. Anybody that has watched “I NOT STUPID” would know the pain that parents have to go through on the education aspect. However, parents are the greatest provider on earth. Besides education, they also provides love and care which money cannot buy.

You enjoy a healthy relationship with your parents. Every decision you take, you consult your parents. Your parents enjoy being the mentor and proud that finally you’re grown up. My point is that parents take great pain to bring a child up. So what has my point got to the crux of the problem?

Then the second woman comes into your life. You fall madly in love and decides to get married one day. Your world becomes so much more vibrant. Everything evolves around the both of you. You must be thinking, “what’s the problem?” My answer is, “That’s the beginning of the problem”

The son, let’s name him John.
The mother, let’s name her Auntie Susan
The daughter in law lets name her Suzy.

The reason why Susan and Suzy can never get along and problem will only start to surface when they get married simply because John failed to make Auntie Susan feel like she’s her most important woman in his life once he’s married.

The next exercise I would like you to do is do a mental calculation on the number of time you have a meal with your folks. My assumption is that your time would be probably spent with your girlfriend on weekends. Next, who do put in more effort for to impress? My assumption is that you will rather spend 10 hours doing a jigsaw puzzle to impress your girlfriend, rather than spending 1 hour more to study for your test, so that your results may impress your parents. Lastly who do you spend more money on? My assumption is that you would rather save up $500 to spend a diamond ring for your girlfriend, rather than spending $50 to buy your mum a new handbag that she has used for ages.

Of course this is not stereotyping but my pure assumptions. I’m sure there’re filial guys out there who balance things really well. My point is that Susan takes great pains to bring John up, but at the end of the day, if you measure penny for penny, John seems to be treating Suzy better than Susan. The problem partially is due to opportunity costs. We all learn from economics that there are opportunity costs in every decision we make. Some might argue that you can’t compare apple with orange and at the end of the day, its your wife that live with you for the rest of your life and not your mother.

Whatever people say, as long as their wife and their mother can live in peace, I rest my case. How about those that can’t? Thou shall reveal the solution.

Make your mother feel like she’s the most important person in your life

Which category do you fall under?

1) Save the Mother but drop the Wife.
2) Keep it afloat. Race as a dragon boat racing team.
3) Who to save when the boat capsized? Mother or Wife?
4) Save the Wife but drop the Mother.

You are a filial son, save your mother and find another girlfriend.
If you are so in love with your girlfriend, save her and ask you father to remarry.
Cheers!

Economics and Happiness

2007-10-01T19:59:00.000+08:00

CORRELATION ANALYSIS BETWEEN ECONOMICS AND HAPPINESS

In other words it means the similarity between economics and happiness

Have u ever asked your economics teacher why everybody can’t be rich? I asked! He answered simply, because not everybody puts in the same effort! I deduced that there’re 4 different types of people. The hardworking ones, the lazy ones, the lucky ones and the unlucky ones.

If you belong to the hardworking or the lucky category, probability is that you are safe. Keep all factors constant. Ceteris paribus, you might be financial sound or financially comfortable.

However, if you belong to the lazy and the unlucky ones, it does not take a genius to realize that you’re going to face with problems such as debts, unemployment or bankruptcy.

Therefore not everybody can be rich! Simple as ABC! I shall not going to the theory of communism (Theory of equality), meaning everybody can receive equal financial status).

Okay! Now I’m going into the theory of WHY not everybody can be happy? I asked my friend once. She said she do’t know! I remember what my economics teacher said and I deduced that simply, because not everybody puts in the same effort. Like wise, there’re 4 different types of people, the hardworking ones, the lazy ones, the lucky ones and the unlucky ones.

Allow me to explain. The hardworking ones are the optimistic type. Whatever shit happens, they forget about it the next day, find new goals and move on with life.

The lazy ones are the pessimistic type. They cry over day and night thinking nothings ever going to work out and everything’s in the world is turning against them.

The lucky ones are the lucky ones. Obviously they always have something to be happy about. Maybe, buy 4D strike 4D. Born bright! Play all night buy score As. Born good looking, the type that everyone wants to take a picture of suck up to you or be your friend. As for the last type, the unlucky ones, shit happens every time they try to move on. Some misunderstanding happens between friends, family or colleagues. Every time they want to move on, they will be pilled by troubles and problems awaiting for them to solve.

But at the end of the day, we all know that everybody wants to be rich and happy and it all depends on the effort we put in. We might not be lucky, but as long as we’re not lazy in this 2 aspects, we might be happy one fine day! Nobody has the obligation to make us happy or rich. We have to find the reason of living the lifestyle we want to lead or what exactly drives us or make us happy. I thought of 5 rules of happiness

Happiness has an expiry date
When it expired, renewed it
It might be lost
When you lost it, find it back
We have to work for it

Hardworking but no luck
(Keep going. Every dog will have their day when the luck struck)

Hardworking & Lucky
(You have the whole world with you. Keep it up)

Lazy & Unlucky
(The world does not need you neither do you need the world. Do not know why you still exist)

Lazy but Lucky
(Count your lucky star. Pray hard every day, every hour, every minute and every second before it disappeared)

Correlation Analysis Between Friends and Academic Studies

2007-10-01T19:51:00.000+08:00

The difference in thoughts and perceptions cause actions that one might take and not because of events which took place.

From dinosaur age to this world we live in today, we face this problem called categorization. Centuries ago, humans are categorized by social classes. If you are born poor, you naturally belong to the lower class, whereas if you are born wealthy you’ll belong to the upper class. Although one has no choice on whether which class you wish to born into, there are norms that people from different classes cannot associate with each other not to mention getting married. This is especially so as people from the lower class will always be labeled as slaves and people from the upper class is labeled as nobles.

Although we do not face this problem in the world we live in today, we are not spared by this categorization problem. Children are put through many tests ever since they enter school. From spelling tests, to streaming to PSLE to GCE O LEVELS and the list goes on. So why are tests important? We all agree that it is to categorized different people with different capabilities together so as to work and excel at their own pace. There are different categorizations such as Express Stream, Normal Stream in secondary school. And when we grow up, we have the white collar workers and the blue collar workers.

This brings me to my point of friends. There are also categorizations involved such as acquaintances, confidants, enemies and the list goes on. So what has these different categorizations have to do on how we perceive things? To be categorized as whether two people are acquaintances, friends or enemy, it is similar to the tests we take in school. So how are these variables able to correlates with each other?

When we first study a subject, the outcome of it is you either fell in love with or simple have no interest in it. For instance, I fell in love in this subject called Mathematics in secondary school. Each subject just like friends, is unique in its own way and because of this affinity, it leads people to different paths in life. For instance, you have a choice of taking either history or geography in secondary 2 and this choice might lead you to whichever specialization you pursue in the university or even which career path you take in the future. In this case, if I was crazy about this subject, I might have pursued in Further Mathematics in JC or become a Mathematician in the near future.

How about looking at it from another angle? The acquaintances that we meet everyday, confidants that we make for a lifetime shares similar instances as the subjects we take in schools. Look at it this way, when you first come into a new class or meet a new group of people, intuitively, you will begin to classify these people either based on their looks, they way they speak, their character or special traits which we call X FACTOR. Similar to a subject that you are interested in, you spend more time reading about it, studying it, doing research and usually your topic revolves around this subject.

Same goes as making friends. You take the initiatives to create conversations, organize outings etc. However, when we make friends, they also have to go through this thing called categorization. So how is this done? Some people categorized it by the amount of time they knew each other, whereas others categorized by the amount of time you spent with each other. Let say, I’m always going out with this particular friend. That particular friend of yours might be your confidant because you known that particular person for the longest period of time.

So how do we know whether this person next to you could be your Confidant or whether this subject (Mathematics) that you are interested in could be your best subject that you excel in? The answer is of course, test! In order to claim that I love Mathematics and it is my best subject/friend, I have to be graded, tested through all the exams and shit respectively. As for “friends” we go through this test called the “TURBULENCE PERIOD” This test implies different things to different people but as the going goes, “only through hardships, you can see true friendship”. Same goes for studying for a Mathematics exam. You make countless of mistakes and practice before you finally balance the equation and solve the puzzle. However, because of this love for the subject, you believe that doing well for this subject would do you good in the future; you are willing to make the mistake so as to get to know the subject better.

How different it is from making friends? You talk and discussed points or argue on topics that never seem to agree upon. There are at times when you refuse to speak to that person because your point, does that get across, which is also similar to solving a Mathematics equation. You might have tried ways and means to crack this puzzle and most of the time you just leave the question blank and move on. The opportunity cost of misunderstanding that question might have been a costly one. It might change the love for that subject or even change the entry point to your next stage in life. Making mistakes is part and parcel of learning and it is the responsibility to clear up any doubts that separates a A student and a B student.

Same goes for friends. How many “BEST OF FRIENDS” never quarreled or went through a major disagreement or to a extent cold war or hot war because they can claim that they are “BEST OF FRIENDS” However, it is this tests that people avoids which distinct the differences between an acquaintance and a confidant. One might argue that a subject is stagnant whereas a human being is a living thing which can change. This complication usually sets in when we have this guarantee known as “PROMISE” Do you remember the last time you promise your teacher you will not be late for school or promise your parents that you would obtain a better grade for your next test? So how is this different from the promise you make to your peers. My point is that it takes both hands to clap. When you promise the subject that you’ll do well and target for a score let say “70” marks. How would you feel when you break that promise and fall short of that mark? Naturally you feel disappointed. However, many people fail to see that quarrels and broken promises within friends are part and parcel of getting to know each other better so as to distinct between a friend and a confidant eventually. Ironically. it is this test which we all avoid when it comes to improving relationships.

My next question is “Which is more complicated?”
A) A very chim maths equation
B) Human relationship

My next question is “Which would you value more?”
A) Academic subject
B) Friends

I’m certain that both your answer correspond with each other. But it’s a pity that we are willing to make more mistakes for that subject whom we all claimed that is stagnant rather than invest more time in our friendship. I mean come on, who in the world gets it right the first time? Would you claim he is your best friend without going through shit? As the going goes” Nothing is proven until tested”

The complexity of the mind brings me to my second point. The common flaw in all of us today is that we fail to look at things simple but tend to complicate matters. I once heard this. It is literally impossible for the opposite sex to maintain a platonic relationship. Well, my answer to this is not because of lust or getting confused and all that shit but because of the difference between the psyche behind the man and the woman. In this case, man always has to tendency to overlook on certain matters, whereas woman has the tendency on looking too much into one matter. Because of this difference, there’s a need to think simple so as to balance this so called “equation”.

Believe it or not, people always invest time and money on complicated stuff, but few knew the power of simplicity. When the Americans invested millions of dollars in developing a pen than can work in space, they have to produce a system whereby ink can flow under O Gravitational force. However, the Russians made use of this simple tool called the pencil. KISS (Keep It Simple and Stupid). Know your destination. Be focus.