Monday, December 29, 2008

My 2008

New Year means fresh resolution, but let me recap year 2008 that will be ending soon. Year 2008 was and has been an interesting year for me. It's the year when i had learned the meaning of hard work, through the exams that i had gone through. Malaysian Education System is such that people who had gone through hours of revision will succeed if only they had pumped the correct answers in the 3-hour paper (for each subject that is).

It does not matter whether you had experience the true meaning of chemical reactions through observation and test, the amazing anatomy of animal through disections and close-up with the building blocks of our life - cell. Our education system doesn't have the emphasis on the importance of producing an all-rounder, teach the beautiful rhythm and touch of poem, practice the most inspiring subject of all time, literature through Shakespeare's, Rupyard Kipling's, etc in more detail, the sight and sound than just through memorisation, getting rich or inovative through economics via practical programs or internship. Fortunately, every exams had been completed and i am now only awaiting for the result. Sadly, this year, the chemistry paper is so tough that getting an "A" in it is like the most impossible mission impossible.

The real purpose of exam is not to produce students who are brilliant in memorising or are able to regurgitate the facts only during exams. In my opinion, the greatest things that we can ever experience is failure, i had failed many times (not in exam la) but usually it is the greatest teacher in my life. By that, we learn not to repeat our mistakes and sometimes, it allows us to achieve the impossible feat or discover something that can revolutionise the world, all through failures and mistakes. I learned that the true values of exam has long gone all in the name of competition and "producing world-class students that are able to compete globally".. Something needs to be changed especially in the education system, it must not be exam-centric (like A-Level, our very own, beloved STPM, matriculation), mostly assignment based (South Australian Matriculation) but should be the one that instill first hand experience, contructive arguments and living skills.

This year, we witnessed the importance of responsibility. We learned the importance of what only one vote in the election can change the government. Our country needs people who are aware on the political scene as our country's path is determined by our decision, our mighty vote. For the first time, we had witnessed the loss of 2/3 majority in the parliment by the current governtment. We had seen the evil of discrimination through protests after the election or the opening up of a public university to the "other" citizens by only a mere 10-percent. In life, to progress, we must be confident in our own capabilities without fearing competitions or loss of advantages. Only then, we are able to look into each others' eyes confidently. 2008 also brings a gilmmer of hope, Barack Obama won the presidency by his "YES WE CAN" ray of hope. Colours of our skin, race or religion should not and never be the decider in deciding who should lead us. God had created us and make us different not for us to oppress each other but to learn from one another.

2008 is a year that greed does not pays off. The wealth of hedge funds, speculators all went down into the "ravine of failure" because they have no control on the volatility of trading. In greed, breeds hunger for more. Banks keep on lending money to people even though they have no capability to pay back, once it swells and the borrower could not pay back, subprime mortgage crisis strikes (jeng... jeng... jeng...). To recoup the loss, the bank desperately sells the properties at low price, this makes the bank make a loss. Then, credit-crunch happened... recession came... Oil price from above USD 140 per barrel dipped to USD 40 (increased after Israel-srike on Gaza) in the matter of months. Back home, after the increased in oil price, price of food went up and even McD (some did not notice it anyway, but i with the eye of eagle noticed) increased their price (they call it "revise" list). Strangely, the price never comes down after the "fall" in the oil price.

Lastly, year 2008 brings back my interest in economics and writing. Sometimes, to pursue our ambition, we had to sacrifice certain goals so that our ambition is achievable and at the same time, look into the many options that are available. The question is, have you ever know your true strength? My answer, not yet, but i am always willing to discover what my true strength lies and unlock it maybe one step at a time. I am never perfect and will never be, but through imperfection that we learn humility and the brotherhood of mankind. Our journey in life is continous and only death is the ending.

PS. quite a long post right?

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Compare ourselves against each other?

I received this thought-provoking message from a friend who had graciously fowarded it to me.

In life, we always have the tendency to be dissatisfied with what we have. Some might have an inferiority complex (extremely low self-esteem) to the extent of comparing with one another - whether s/he is better of than us in that field, this and that... but have we ever realise that we are lucky to have a roof over our head, food on our plate everyday and other "privileges" many people in other improvished nation could only dream of.















So, let us all be thankful with what that we have and pray for a world free from poverty, discrimination and most importantly, let us have a world filled with love, peace and understanding.

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." ~Lao-Tse~

Happy Birthday Mum!

Today, on Christmas's eve is also one of the most special day in my life, annually... it's my mum's birthday!!!


Well, happy birthday mum... may you be happy and good luck la... (honestly, i really dunno how to wish people properly... xD!!!)


Dear mum,



Thanks for been with me (plus dad, sis) for so long (19 years and counting...) and tolerate my laziness, maybe i am a little stubborn sometimes and many more... very little la, nice guy me...


A million thanks for accompanying me to many trips to hospitals, interview places last time and to the dentist...


For buying me a nice watch in san francisco, california...


and many many more.

Love,

Kyle

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Bored to Death

Buy low, sell high!

Explore the Carribbean...

Port Royale 2!

The latest Discovery Mag!!!


Today is one of the most "boring" day of my life... planning to watch "The Day the Earth stood still" starring Keanu Reeves as "Klatu" (so called representative from an alien race) but later decide not to!!! geez... why ar? Anyway, mum's been nagging me already, asking me to do something beneficial (learn new language aka mandarin, WORK!, paint my room, etc...)... should i or should i not?

Just received my subscription of discovery channel magazine... cool front cover... got picture of shark's fin... reminds me of something that i have not eaten for so so long, haha... but according to research it is said that shark's fin, tuna (bluefin - one that is used in sushi) contains high level of mercury. And guess what, mercury is even more toxic than most of the heavy metals like lead and a hundredth times more dangerous than arsenic!

Dang! sushi king in QB just pay RM 4 per hour (approx. USD 1.20 and the minimum wage in US is $ 6.55 per hour!!!) so little even be a pasar malam seller get much more than that. If you are wondering, yes, i am planning to work part time, maybe on the month of feb... but for now, i am scouting for the best "business deal" for me, myself and i. And, it will be a great "break" from playing computer games till wee hours in the morning...

i am damn lazy...


thats me...


or...


is it because exam's over?


or is it just so me? :P

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"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning" ~Winston Churchill~