Pay-TV market has been monopolized by our great Astro up to now. Good news is that another new challenger has vowed to break this monopoly by Astro. MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd, which will be the country's second pay television, has initially proposed to launch 50 interactive channels to the country a few months ago.
Now, MiTV announced that it is on track for a soft launch in this coming October with enough content providers to roll out more than half of its targeted 50 channels. Unfortunately to Penangites, this soft launch would be limited to only Klang Valley. However, Penang is one of the targeted market for MiTV in the near future, if their initial launch in Klang Valley succeed.
The key players
MiTV key players are chairman Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, the 11th richest Malaysian with assets of RM 1.14billion, owns 40 percent of MiTV. MiTV founder and deputy chairman, Datuk Rosman Ridzwan together with his management team hold another 40 percent of the stake while the remaining 20 percent are held by private investors.
Transmission gadgets
MiTV will make use of the Internet Protocol technology for their transmission. MiTV calls it the Internet protocol over ultra-high frequency (UHF). With this, subscribers can receive MiTV channels by just plugging an MiTV set-top box into an indoor UHF antenna. Access is controlled by a MiTV codefor each subscriber.
Does that mean that it is not digitalized?
This type of technology cost is said to bare only one-tenth of what Astro, the country's first pay TV operator, spends on its satellite technology. This technology is a homegrown wireless technology developed by Datuk Rosman, the deputy chairman, and his team.
The cost of the research and development, and investments in the company is around RM100 million.
Business break-even point
MiTV has said that with this lower cost technology setup, it would need only 180,000 subscribers to break-even. There are 5.5 million TV households in Malaysia, part of which Astro has a market share. If 13 percent of Astro's existing subscribers base of 1.4 million subscribes to MiTV, this would mean that MiTV have achieved their targeted break-even point.
Is this possible? With the increase of the amount of unhappy Astro's subscribers, I feel that it might be possible for MiTV to achieve the proposed target. It is time for Astro's subscribers to have their voices of dissatisfaction being truely heard and action seriously taken by Astro.
However, is MiTV proposed strategy and technology used practical? Did MiTV understate their break-even point? Whatever it might be, let's just sit back and watch the show...
By the way, anyone experienced Astro's phone spam recently? It is said that Maxis provided your number to Astro, I am wondering if users other than Maxis experienced such a spam?
Lee Hom - Heartbeat
Friday, July 30, 2004
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Is it me or religion?
... judge me
It was not until I reached my twenties have I started to think about the function of religion. I am a Buddhist since the day I was born and until now, I still take myself as a Buddhist. I am not a strong believer in religion and yet I sometimes argued with myself on religion.
What have I been arguing with myself on this?
I have been thinking to myself what is the purpose for someone to have a religion? For me, I take it as something that will help in shaping a good me. Religion helps to create or bring out all the good values that a person have. As long as a person have these good values, it doesn't really matter, to that person, what religion they hold in theif life. Be it Islam, Christian, Buddhist or any other religions.
What is my range of "good values"? Values like not to lie, not to steal, not to hurt others, not to kill, and so on will make my list. As long as a particular religion provides these values, I feel that it doesn't really matter what religion that you hold. Well, some might realise that the above stated good values are actually the basics that each fellow Buddhist would learn. However, I do not imply that other religion does not teaches these.
... since I am a Buddhist, just bare with me.
For me, history of a religion is not that important. The value of that religion that is what I treasured. The teaching and reasoning is important to me while the person who discovered, reasoned out or taught it is not important. Because of this, I find myself unable to remember the names of these great teachers of the past. My sincere apology to them.
However, I am afraid that this is just an excuse for myself to not participate fully to a religion.
As a side reading...
I had an experience where one of my friends invited me to join them on a Christian event. Well, I did go and there, I found them to be joyful and full of happiness. I felt happy for them too. And at that moment, most of the outsiders might have the feeling that these people will try to convert me to become a Christian. Me, at that moment, is really doubtful and scared that they will actually try persuade me and I really have no real answer to give back to them.
Now, I think I have one... "Well, isn't it good to know that you are happy and joyful? And I am happy and joyful with mine too." - simply mean, you are happy with your religion and I am happy with mine too, so why the trouble to convert as long as we are happy in this world?
I am not trying to say anything about Christianity, but I would just hope that the next time I join one of these events, I won't have that type of feeling of trying to convert me again.
It might be my perception after all.
... is it me or religion?
It was not until I reached my twenties have I started to think about the function of religion. I am a Buddhist since the day I was born and until now, I still take myself as a Buddhist. I am not a strong believer in religion and yet I sometimes argued with myself on religion.
What have I been arguing with myself on this?
I have been thinking to myself what is the purpose for someone to have a religion? For me, I take it as something that will help in shaping a good me. Religion helps to create or bring out all the good values that a person have. As long as a person have these good values, it doesn't really matter, to that person, what religion they hold in theif life. Be it Islam, Christian, Buddhist or any other religions.
What is my range of "good values"? Values like not to lie, not to steal, not to hurt others, not to kill, and so on will make my list. As long as a particular religion provides these values, I feel that it doesn't really matter what religion that you hold. Well, some might realise that the above stated good values are actually the basics that each fellow Buddhist would learn. However, I do not imply that other religion does not teaches these.
... since I am a Buddhist, just bare with me.
For me, history of a religion is not that important. The value of that religion that is what I treasured. The teaching and reasoning is important to me while the person who discovered, reasoned out or taught it is not important. Because of this, I find myself unable to remember the names of these great teachers of the past. My sincere apology to them.
However, I am afraid that this is just an excuse for myself to not participate fully to a religion.
As a side reading...
I had an experience where one of my friends invited me to join them on a Christian event. Well, I did go and there, I found them to be joyful and full of happiness. I felt happy for them too. And at that moment, most of the outsiders might have the feeling that these people will try to convert me to become a Christian. Me, at that moment, is really doubtful and scared that they will actually try persuade me and I really have no real answer to give back to them.
Now, I think I have one... "Well, isn't it good to know that you are happy and joyful? And I am happy and joyful with mine too." - simply mean, you are happy with your religion and I am happy with mine too, so why the trouble to convert as long as we are happy in this world?
I am not trying to say anything about Christianity, but I would just hope that the next time I join one of these events, I won't have that type of feeling of trying to convert me again.
It might be my perception after all.
... is it me or religion?
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Languages... which one to use?
On July, 23, Malaysiakini reported on the objection from the "Pertubuhan Melayu" to make English as the "bahasa pengantar" for IPTA. From the reasons that Dr Arshad has provided, I was wondering if "Pertubuhan Melayu" is trying to pin-point the problems or trying to keep their "thick-skin".
Some statements, or most of the statements, inside that report makes me feel that they have run out of idea...
Dr Arshad said that the teaching of English should be fixed on at the school. While I do not disagree with this statement, but I really don't get what Dr Arshad is trying to hint out. Unless I misunderstood languages, but I personally feel that languages, while needed to be learn from the beginning, also need the be practiced.
Therefore, how should we practice?
One could be through the use of the teaching medium, like the textbooks. Another could be the conversation practice. I would also say that most of the languages that we learned, the most effective way to improve your languages is through speaking, or conversation.
Since the beginning of our birth, we learned the language that our parents spoke via conversation. I supposed that parents do not use textbooks to teach us the languages. My point here is, does Dr Arshad really realises the reason of that problem? I would put a guess that he does realises the problem, but finding excuses out of nowhere to stop their mother language from danger.
The next statement of his, I guess he unintentionally fired back to himself without realizing it...
Why I said that he fired himself with that statement? Now he said that English is a compulsory subject in school but still a lot of the students are weak at mastering it. Fine, isn't it? Now let's turn the world around and imagine that everything including the text books are in English, instead of Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Melayu becomes a compulsory subject where its textbooks would still be written in Bahasa Melayu. Got what I mean?
Now the result of this twist would be that the students will become weak in Bahasa Melayu. The point here is, if English is being used as the teaching medium in universities, then Bahasa Melayu's standard would drop just like our current English standard are dropping.
Simply said, if English is to be used as the communication medium, then Bahasa Melayu speakers will become weaker and weaker in the future, which I don't think that "Pertubuhan Melayu" wants to see.
Dr Arshad added more,
From my observation all this while, I see that most of the time, these people would use such an explanation as their valid point of argument, when they actually are running out of ideas. They always use other examples, or events to make comparison and then take them as their strong point.
To me, it seems that Dr Arshad does not take into consideration of the word "globalization". I am sorry to say that, if you want to compete in this world, you need to be able to communicate well with others. Unfortunately, most of the people in this world uses our international language to communicate effectively with others, which also happens to be English.
Yes, we can do translation if we are weak in English, but I guess we are not in the 60's globalization, but a new millennium globalization.
Everything communicates at cable speed-level, that is to say, time is an important property in our wired-world. Wouldn't it be good if we can avoid wasting time with translation?
When Dr Arshad says that "pekerjaan sentiasa terhad dan tidak mampu menyerap ratusan ribu graduan setiap tahun" (jobs are also limited and [the job market] is unable to absorb these hundreds thousands graduates every year). If I take his statement as a fact, that makes me to think of another question, although it does not relate to this topic of discussion, however the question is "then, I wonder why the government keep on pushing more and more students into the universities? Is the government trying to produce more and more starving graduates?"
The last statement makes me thought of a funny situation, where a brilliant Malaysian student is trying to exchange ideas with other students in countries like US, one of the English students say this, "This is our result of anti-matter...", the Malaysian students think to him/herself, "Anti-matter dalam Bahasa Melayu ialah...". What I am trying to say is that when the terms are different, it is sometimes hard for a person to get that term right, or understand the conversation correctly and fast. I personally find it hard to read a physics essay in English since I learned my physics terms in Bahasa Melayu.
My conclusion is that, while it is our job to keep our own culture in place, but we must not, at the same time, ignore the "market"'s requests. When the "market" wants better English, give them better English. The priority should go to the "market"'s request. I believe that Dr Arshad is also hoping to improve the English standard, but I think using English as the teaching and communication medium is a good start.
But again the problem now is that, most of our lecturers would not be competitive, because they are not used to carry out their teaching using English.
Maybe I have far-sighted my imagination... back to square one.
--"If you're still unable to shape the world, then adapt to it!"--
Some statements, or most of the statements, inside that report makes me feel that they have run out of idea...
Dr Arshad menegaskan bahawa perubahan penggunaan bahasa pengantar, daripada bahasa Melayu ke bahasa Inggeris di IPTA, bukanlah cara terbaik.
Sebaliknya, beliau yang juga bekas Pengarah Institut Teknologi Mara yang kini dikenali sebagai Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), berkata pengajaran bahasa Inggeris di sekolah hendaklah diperbaiki.
Dr Arshad said that the teaching of English should be fixed on at the school. While I do not disagree with this statement, but I really don't get what Dr Arshad is trying to hint out. Unless I misunderstood languages, but I personally feel that languages, while needed to be learn from the beginning, also need the be practiced.
Therefore, how should we practice?
One could be through the use of the teaching medium, like the textbooks. Another could be the conversation practice. I would also say that most of the languages that we learned, the most effective way to improve your languages is through speaking, or conversation.
Since the beginning of our birth, we learned the language that our parents spoke via conversation. I supposed that parents do not use textbooks to teach us the languages. My point here is, does Dr Arshad really realises the reason of that problem? I would put a guess that he does realises the problem, but finding excuses out of nowhere to stop their mother language from danger.
The next statement of his, I guess he unintentionally fired back to himself without realizing it...
"Bahasa Inggeris merupakan mata pelajaran wajib di sekolah tetapi masih ramai yang lemah walaupun telah diajar selama sebelas tahun. Masalah inilah yang perlu diberi perhatian," katanya.
Why I said that he fired himself with that statement? Now he said that English is a compulsory subject in school but still a lot of the students are weak at mastering it. Fine, isn't it? Now let's turn the world around and imagine that everything including the text books are in English, instead of Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Melayu becomes a compulsory subject where its textbooks would still be written in Bahasa Melayu. Got what I mean?
Now the result of this twist would be that the students will become weak in Bahasa Melayu. The point here is, if English is being used as the teaching medium in universities, then Bahasa Melayu's standard would drop just like our current English standard are dropping.
Simply said, if English is to be used as the communication medium, then Bahasa Melayu speakers will become weaker and weaker in the future, which I don't think that "Pertubuhan Melayu" wants to see.
Dr Arshad added more,
Menurutnya lagi, negara maju seperti Jepun, China dan Jerman tidak mengenepikan bahasa ibunda mereka dengan menggunakan bahasa asing dalam sistem pendidikan.
From my observation all this while, I see that most of the time, these people would use such an explanation as their valid point of argument, when they actually are running out of ideas. They always use other examples, or events to make comparison and then take them as their strong point.
To me, it seems that Dr Arshad does not take into consideration of the word "globalization". I am sorry to say that, if you want to compete in this world, you need to be able to communicate well with others. Unfortunately, most of the people in this world uses our international language to communicate effectively with others, which also happens to be English.
Yes, we can do translation if we are weak in English, but I guess we are not in the 60's globalization, but a new millennium globalization.
Everything communicates at cable speed-level, that is to say, time is an important property in our wired-world. Wouldn't it be good if we can avoid wasting time with translation?
Sebaliknya kata Dr Arshad, mereka mempelajari bahasa asing iaitu sebagai bahasa tambahan atau bahasa kedua.
Beliau juga berpendapat kegagalan siswazah mendapatkan kerja bukan kerana lemah berbahasa Inggeris tetapi pasaran pekerjaan sentiasa terhad dan tidak mampu menyerap ratusan ribu graduan setiap tahun.
Menurutnya lagi, siswazah berkelulusan bahasa Inggeris dari universiti luar negara termasuk Amerika Syarikat, Britain dan Australia juga menganggur.
"Pelajar-pelajar mampu menjadi cemerlang dalam apa juga bidang ilmu jika ia diajar dalam bahasa yang mereka fahami iaitu bahasa Melayu berbanding bahasa Inggeris." katanya.
When Dr Arshad says that "pekerjaan sentiasa terhad dan tidak mampu menyerap ratusan ribu graduan setiap tahun" (jobs are also limited and [the job market] is unable to absorb these hundreds thousands graduates every year). If I take his statement as a fact, that makes me to think of another question, although it does not relate to this topic of discussion, however the question is "then, I wonder why the government keep on pushing more and more students into the universities? Is the government trying to produce more and more starving graduates?"
The last statement makes me thought of a funny situation, where a brilliant Malaysian student is trying to exchange ideas with other students in countries like US, one of the English students say this, "This is our result of anti-matter...", the Malaysian students think to him/herself, "Anti-matter dalam Bahasa Melayu ialah...". What I am trying to say is that when the terms are different, it is sometimes hard for a person to get that term right, or understand the conversation correctly and fast. I personally find it hard to read a physics essay in English since I learned my physics terms in Bahasa Melayu.
My conclusion is that, while it is our job to keep our own culture in place, but we must not, at the same time, ignore the "market"'s requests. When the "market" wants better English, give them better English. The priority should go to the "market"'s request. I believe that Dr Arshad is also hoping to improve the English standard, but I think using English as the teaching and communication medium is a good start.
But again the problem now is that, most of our lecturers would not be competitive, because they are not used to carry out their teaching using English.
Maybe I have far-sighted my imagination... back to square one.
--"If you're still unable to shape the world, then adapt to it!"--
Monday, July 26, 2004
Gambling... open sourced?
Warning: If you think you do not have good self-control, please do not continue any further.
So what is this about? Basically, it is about a method that I used to use when I pay a visit to Genting's casino. Since I ain't having any luck in gambling, from the day I was borned, therefore I try to use a disciplined way when I go the gambling. While some of you might have realised about this method, however, this is a version for myself... =)
A disciplined way?
Actual Practice
I have actually practiced using the above method in real-life casino gambling, therefore I would like to share my experience here.
While this method can make me win, but I realised that I could only win about 100% from my initial investment. I couldn't exceed that point, to increase to 200%. After two to three hours of gambling, I lost everything back because the ghosts there is acting, and I lost my patience.
What actually happened? At that time, I bet on small but that counter showed big for more than 10 consecutive rounds!!
Can you believe that?! I can't...
While we can raise n to a bigger number, instead of 3, but the reason I limited it to 3 is because as n increased, the amount to bet will become bigger and bigger. If you realise from this method, we are actually winning only 1 unit for each win, no matter what is the value of n. Therefore, imagine putting 16 unit, with n=4, just to win a unit. It doesn't seems to worth the risk, right? Will you risk 16 unit just to win 1? This is surely not a good investment since the return rate is 1/16... =)
Try at your own risk and luck!!
So what is this about? Basically, it is about a method that I used to use when I pay a visit to Genting's casino. Since I ain't having any luck in gambling, from the day I was borned, therefore I try to use a disciplined way when I go the gambling. While some of you might have realised about this method, however, this is a version for myself... =)
A disciplined way?
- Method of gambling
- Patience
First, it would be the method to use. Place the bet at 2^n and start with n=0. Until you win, increase n by 1 for the next bet. After you won, repeat your bet at n=0.
Example:
n=0, Bet value: 1 => Lose
n=1, Bet value: 2 => Lose
n=2, Bet value: 4 => Lose
n=3, Bet value: 8 => Win
repeat bet with n=0, therefore
n=0, Bet value: 1 => ??
While this method is surely a winning method, however, it is only true if we have an unlimited resource (or $$$). Therefore, for my level of discipline, I limit my stop point, that is after a certain consecutive round, I will stop increasing the n value but return back to n=0. If my stop point is n=3, therefore, I will stop to bet 16 on the next bet but return back to 1, if I happen to lose at n=3.
So, how to imply it to the gambling table?
Let's try it on Big/Small table. This method is better with higher winning percentage but the most we can get is by guessing the big or small result. Start to choose any of the two. Let's say we choose small and our bet is 2^n, with n=0, and therefore our bet is 1 (this is just the unit of bet, and not actual currency value. If you start with RM5, then 1 is matched to RM5, and therefore 2 would mean RM10, 2 x RM5).
Let's say I lost at this bet. Continue my bet on the same result which, for my case, is still small at the moment. Now I should bet on small with 2, since 2^n with n=1 result in 2.
Let's say I lost again at this bet. Continue my bet on the same result which, for my case, is still small at the moment. Now I should bet on small with 4, since 2^n with n=2 result in 4.
Hopefully, I will win at this round or else my leg will be shaking when entering the next round, n=3.
If I win, I will refresh the bet with n=0. If I lose, at n=3, I will also need to refresh the bet with n=0.
I realise that I will lose patient after an hour or two playing with this method, therefore, I need to have a discipline in patience too.
Actual Practice
I have actually practiced using the above method in real-life casino gambling, therefore I would like to share my experience here.
While this method can make me win, but I realised that I could only win about 100% from my initial investment. I couldn't exceed that point, to increase to 200%. After two to three hours of gambling, I lost everything back because the ghosts there is acting, and I lost my patience.
What actually happened? At that time, I bet on small but that counter showed big for more than 10 consecutive rounds!!
Can you believe that?! I can't...
While we can raise n to a bigger number, instead of 3, but the reason I limited it to 3 is because as n increased, the amount to bet will become bigger and bigger. If you realise from this method, we are actually winning only 1 unit for each win, no matter what is the value of n. Therefore, imagine putting 16 unit, with n=4, just to win a unit. It doesn't seems to worth the risk, right? Will you risk 16 unit just to win 1? This is surely not a good investment since the return rate is 1/16... =)
Try at your own risk and luck!!
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Free Internet Telephony
I was told about a new web application that enable users to make free calls anywhere in the world. While it was not something new to the world, however it offers excellent sound quality and are highly secure with end-to-end encryption (technically, I don't know how it works). It also does not require users to reconfigure their firewall or router (meaning can be use at the office? hah, my networking knowledge is just like shit!!)
Anyone interested with this, feel free to go to Skype website to download the application, install and create a login account, start connecting with others that have the same application and start talking...
It might prove useful for those that have a broadband connection and someone far from your place... enjoy!!
I couldn't use because I don't have a private Internet connection here... sad.
Anyone interested with this, feel free to go to Skype website to download the application, install and create a login account, start connecting with others that have the same application and start talking...
It might prove useful for those that have a broadband connection and someone far from your place... enjoy!!
I couldn't use because I don't have a private Internet connection here... sad.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
S.H.I.T to ponder?
Since my friend, Anand, blogged something about Office Etiquette 101. As an additional laughter, read this:
Thanks to Desmond for the source.
In order to assure the highest levels of quality work and productivity from employees, it will be our policy to keep all employees well trained through our program of SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (S.H.I.T).
We are trying to give our employees more S.H.I.T than anyone else. If you feel that you do not receive your share of S.H.I.T on the course, please see your supervisor. You will be immediately placed at the top of the S.H.I.T list and our supervisors are especially skilled at seeing you get all the S.H.I.T you can handle.
Employees who don't take their S.H.I.T will be placed in DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEE EVALUATION PROGRAMS (D.E.E.P.S.H.I.T).
Those who fail to take D.E.E.P.S.H.I.T seriously will have to go to EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE TRAINING (E.A.T.S.H.I.T). Since our supervisors took S.H.I.T before they were promoted, they don't
have to do S.H.I.T anymore, and are all full of S.H.I.T already. If you are full of S.H.I.T you may be interested in a job teaching others. We can add your name to our BASIC UNDERSTANDING LIST of LEADERS (B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T).
For employees who are intending to pursue a career in management and consulting, we will refer you to the department of MANAGERIAL OPERATIONAL RESEARCH EDUCATION (M.O.R.E.S.H.I.T). This course emphasizes how to manage M.O.R.E.S.H.I.T
If you have further questions, please direct them to our HEAD OF
TEACHING, SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (H.O.T.S.H.I.T).
Thank you,
BOSS IN GENERAL, SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING
(B.I.G.S.H.I.T)
P.S. Now send this S.H.I.T to 5 people who need S.H.I.T in their life, just not the same person who sent you this S.H.I.T. They have already had their fill of S.H.I.T.
Thank you for your time. !
Sincerely,
The Director Under the Main Bureau of Super High Intensity Training.
(The D.U.M.B.S.H.I.T).
Thanks to Desmond for the source.
花火大会、失望の日だった？
Last sunday, 18th of July, despite the fact that there was a 花火大会 (General meeting for fireworks), it turns out to be a disappointed day. Here's why...
Firstly, on that day, my friend and I planned to go for a Spiderman 2 movie on that afternoon. When we reached the cinema, we found out that the tickets were all sold-out!! That's fine, we could try another screening time, but sad to notice that the next few scheduled screening time too has been sold-out!! So we have to imagine the movie while it was been screened. A bad sign for that day.
It was, indeed, a sign for bad day...
Before we went to the cinema, we have actually secured a place for that evening event, the "花火大会". At first, we feel that the place that we have reserved was quite good, albeit a standing tree that might block us from viewing the 花火. Ok, place reserved and felt happy for the moment.
We were supposed to meet with our friends at around 6:00pm that evening to enjoy the fireworks together. Place to meet has been set and informed earlier and we thought that everything would be going well as planned. But wait, at around 6:00pm, although expected, a lot of people arrived and the area was packed with people. This caused the handphone's signal reception became weak, or in a "no signal at all" condition. Therefore, handphone seems to be useless... communication lost at that time.
At around 6:30pm, two out of three of our friends have been located, and finally at around 7:00pm, we got our last friend. Let's go for some fireworks...
On our way to our reserved place, the path, err I don't think there was any path, was fully-packed with people. Therefore, it was hard for us to get to our place and we have to struggle for some 30 minutes to get to a 5-10 minutes destination. Finally, we made it to our reserved place, everything worth the troubles and difficulties we have had this far...
7:30pm, the first firework started flying to the sky, and everyone starts yelling with excitement... but, where is the fireworks? We couldn't see it!! Are we at the wrong place? Nope, we were not at the wrong place but just that we were facing at the wrong spot. The fireworks has been covered by that standing tree that we thought won't be the problem for our viewing earlier this afternoon when reserving the place!! Well, we did see some sparks behind the tree...
It has been like that for the next one hour, although we sometimes saw about 10-40% of the fireworks, when the fireworks flew high enough and big enough to escape from that merciless tree...
8:30pm, another 15 minutes to go for the fireworks, and we think that we should better get out from here fast before the event ends or else we might have difficulties to board the train later, since there will be a lot of people heading to the station when the last fireworks went off...
Leaving the area with disappointment, we walked to the station, and on our way to the station, the fireworks was still being freed to the dark sky. From our standing point at this time, we could see the fireworks!! It was so beautiful especially the final round of the fireworks. The sky was so bright with the sparks of the fireworks hanging in the dark sky...
Although disappointed for the first hour, we enjoyed for the last 15 minutes. A good end for an unlucky day. After a day walk, it was a tiring day but at the same time, a good day to remember with such an event...
Thanks to Maiko for that whole day... ありがとう...
Firstly, on that day, my friend and I planned to go for a Spiderman 2 movie on that afternoon. When we reached the cinema, we found out that the tickets were all sold-out!! That's fine, we could try another screening time, but sad to notice that the next few scheduled screening time too has been sold-out!! So we have to imagine the movie while it was been screened. A bad sign for that day.
It was, indeed, a sign for bad day...
Before we went to the cinema, we have actually secured a place for that evening event, the "花火大会". At first, we feel that the place that we have reserved was quite good, albeit a standing tree that might block us from viewing the 花火. Ok, place reserved and felt happy for the moment.
We were supposed to meet with our friends at around 6:00pm that evening to enjoy the fireworks together. Place to meet has been set and informed earlier and we thought that everything would be going well as planned. But wait, at around 6:00pm, although expected, a lot of people arrived and the area was packed with people. This caused the handphone's signal reception became weak, or in a "no signal at all" condition. Therefore, handphone seems to be useless... communication lost at that time.
At around 6:30pm, two out of three of our friends have been located, and finally at around 7:00pm, we got our last friend. Let's go for some fireworks...
On our way to our reserved place, the path, err I don't think there was any path, was fully-packed with people. Therefore, it was hard for us to get to our place and we have to struggle for some 30 minutes to get to a 5-10 minutes destination. Finally, we made it to our reserved place, everything worth the troubles and difficulties we have had this far...
7:30pm, the first firework started flying to the sky, and everyone starts yelling with excitement... but, where is the fireworks? We couldn't see it!! Are we at the wrong place? Nope, we were not at the wrong place but just that we were facing at the wrong spot. The fireworks has been covered by that standing tree that we thought won't be the problem for our viewing earlier this afternoon when reserving the place!! Well, we did see some sparks behind the tree...
It has been like that for the next one hour, although we sometimes saw about 10-40% of the fireworks, when the fireworks flew high enough and big enough to escape from that merciless tree...
8:30pm, another 15 minutes to go for the fireworks, and we think that we should better get out from here fast before the event ends or else we might have difficulties to board the train later, since there will be a lot of people heading to the station when the last fireworks went off...
Leaving the area with disappointment, we walked to the station, and on our way to the station, the fireworks was still being freed to the dark sky. From our standing point at this time, we could see the fireworks!! It was so beautiful especially the final round of the fireworks. The sky was so bright with the sparks of the fireworks hanging in the dark sky...
Although disappointed for the first hour, we enjoyed for the last 15 minutes. A good end for an unlucky day. After a day walk, it was a tiring day but at the same time, a good day to remember with such an event...
Thanks to Maiko for that whole day... ありがとう...
My second hangover experience
Last friday night, I got to experience my second hangover. The day after a welcome party for the two new Malaysians who came to Japan on May, I have a minor headache and felt sick, after alcohol-ing for the second time in my life.
Still remember that the first time, it was back in Penang, the day before I left for Japan for the first time. That time, it was Mapel juice that have make me drunk. Now, for this time, it was "Nihon-shu", or Japanese osake. Shouldn't have taken more than one bottle of Nihon-shu.
However, this time, the condition was far worse than the first time. At least, for the first time, I did not vomit but for this time I did, although not a serious one. Thank goodness that I did not eat too much at that time.
Now, I have decided not to take more than one bottle of Nihon-shu, or not to take osake at all for some time starting from today. I have learned my lesson.
I hope that I will remember this in the future...
Still remember that the first time, it was back in Penang, the day before I left for Japan for the first time. That time, it was Mapel juice that have make me drunk. Now, for this time, it was "Nihon-shu", or Japanese osake. Shouldn't have taken more than one bottle of Nihon-shu.
However, this time, the condition was far worse than the first time. At least, for the first time, I did not vomit but for this time I did, although not a serious one. Thank goodness that I did not eat too much at that time.
Now, I have decided not to take more than one bottle of Nihon-shu, or not to take osake at all for some time starting from today. I have learned my lesson.
I hope that I will remember this in the future...
Broadband providers in competition... is it?
Recently, news have been sprung out that, in the near future, Malaysia will have more providers playing an active part in trying to boost the broadband usage in Malaysia.
Jaring, the second largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Malaysia, announced that it will launch its wireless broadband service in the next three months, while Airzed Networks is planning to venture into wireless broadband service for residential customers.
To date, Jaring has captured an amount of 800,000 Internet access subscribers, while its main rival, TM Net, has an amount of just under 1.8 million subscribers. Malaysia has a population of about 23 million and the amount of Internet access subsribers only amounted to 2.6 million. This number does not indicate the amount of broadband users but dial-up and broadband subscribers.
While the increased of broadband and wireless providers might help to boost the number of broadband users, however I feel that there might be other reasons for a user to choose the broadband to the dial-ups.
I put into consideration of the need for the current Internet users in Malaysia. That is, what they usually do when they go online and the content that they will surf for?
The first would be that most of the users connect to the Internet to check for mails, chatting and some light surfing like news reading from a certain websites. These users are categorized as "light users". The point is that it simply means that they do not actually need the broadband-like connection speed to perform these tasks. Furthermore, I would believe that most of the Internet subscribers are working adults and not children. If that is the case, Internet gaming, like networking games, and heavy downloading are seldom the case for these people, or subscribers.
The second that I would consider is the children needs and parents controls. No doubt most of the parents would wish to provide their family with a fast Internet connection so that their children could make good use of it to acquire knowledge from the Internet. In this case, try to imagine that their children uses it to play Internet games. How would the parent react to this? Will the parents down-grade it from broadband access to dial-up access?
While I am not trying to ignore the fact that there are children who actually benefited from the Internet, gaining more knowledge than they could acquire without the Internet, but at the same time, I would not agree that children does not misuse the Internet.
The reason can simply be seen with the misuse of the cybercafe. Cybercafe is supposed to be a facility for users to surf the net and gain benefit from it. However, the motive for these youngsters going to cybercafe is clearly not doing what has been expected. They go to the place merely for networking games.
The birth of the "Ragnarok" server for computer gaming has proof to us that most of the parents aren't happy with that.
The third would be the amount of people that owns at least a computer, and knows what to do with it. Despite the government efforts to promote Malaysian to own at least a computer for each family, but how many of the Malaysians who will or had actually do so, is yet another point that I will consider. Although I do not have data for the actual amount of Malaysian that owns at least a computer, but I do feel that the amount is not satisfying at the moment. Yes, I would agree that I could be considered as trying to speculate on this.
However, consider if the amount of computer owners are not at a convincing level. This would mean that the boost in broadband providers would not make much different since it would not help in increasing the amount of broadband subscribers. Therefore, in order to know if the increase in the quantity of providers will help in boosting the usage of broadband would require us to know if the amount of computer owners is high enough, that is to say, does Malaysia now have a strong market for these broadband technology?
If the government proposed to increase the broadband providers just in the hope to convert the current Internet subscribers, that is around 2.6 million users, to subscribe to broadband, then we should actually reconsider the logic of it carefully.
While I would greatly hope that with the current proposed plan by the government will actually help to increase the broadband usage, however, the doubts that I have in my mind just couldn't make me agree with the government effort without questioning its practicality.
I hope that I have over-worried myself about this... Maybe the deployment of wireless broadband might help to increase the usage of Internet and these services will be able to spread out to cover remote areas too. Let's just wait and see what will happen in the future.
Jaring, the second largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Malaysia, announced that it will launch its wireless broadband service in the next three months, while Airzed Networks is planning to venture into wireless broadband service for residential customers.
To date, Jaring has captured an amount of 800,000 Internet access subscribers, while its main rival, TM Net, has an amount of just under 1.8 million subscribers. Malaysia has a population of about 23 million and the amount of Internet access subsribers only amounted to 2.6 million. This number does not indicate the amount of broadband users but dial-up and broadband subscribers.
While the increased of broadband and wireless providers might help to boost the number of broadband users, however I feel that there might be other reasons for a user to choose the broadband to the dial-ups.
I put into consideration of the need for the current Internet users in Malaysia. That is, what they usually do when they go online and the content that they will surf for?
The first would be that most of the users connect to the Internet to check for mails, chatting and some light surfing like news reading from a certain websites. These users are categorized as "light users". The point is that it simply means that they do not actually need the broadband-like connection speed to perform these tasks. Furthermore, I would believe that most of the Internet subscribers are working adults and not children. If that is the case, Internet gaming, like networking games, and heavy downloading are seldom the case for these people, or subscribers.
The second that I would consider is the children needs and parents controls. No doubt most of the parents would wish to provide their family with a fast Internet connection so that their children could make good use of it to acquire knowledge from the Internet. In this case, try to imagine that their children uses it to play Internet games. How would the parent react to this? Will the parents down-grade it from broadband access to dial-up access?
While I am not trying to ignore the fact that there are children who actually benefited from the Internet, gaining more knowledge than they could acquire without the Internet, but at the same time, I would not agree that children does not misuse the Internet.
The reason can simply be seen with the misuse of the cybercafe. Cybercafe is supposed to be a facility for users to surf the net and gain benefit from it. However, the motive for these youngsters going to cybercafe is clearly not doing what has been expected. They go to the place merely for networking games.
The birth of the "Ragnarok" server for computer gaming has proof to us that most of the parents aren't happy with that.
The third would be the amount of people that owns at least a computer, and knows what to do with it. Despite the government efforts to promote Malaysian to own at least a computer for each family, but how many of the Malaysians who will or had actually do so, is yet another point that I will consider. Although I do not have data for the actual amount of Malaysian that owns at least a computer, but I do feel that the amount is not satisfying at the moment. Yes, I would agree that I could be considered as trying to speculate on this.
However, consider if the amount of computer owners are not at a convincing level. This would mean that the boost in broadband providers would not make much different since it would not help in increasing the amount of broadband subscribers. Therefore, in order to know if the increase in the quantity of providers will help in boosting the usage of broadband would require us to know if the amount of computer owners is high enough, that is to say, does Malaysia now have a strong market for these broadband technology?
If the government proposed to increase the broadband providers just in the hope to convert the current Internet subscribers, that is around 2.6 million users, to subscribe to broadband, then we should actually reconsider the logic of it carefully.
While I would greatly hope that with the current proposed plan by the government will actually help to increase the broadband usage, however, the doubts that I have in my mind just couldn't make me agree with the government effort without questioning its practicality.
I hope that I have over-worried myself about this... Maybe the deployment of wireless broadband might help to increase the usage of Internet and these services will be able to spread out to cover remote areas too. Let's just wait and see what will happen in the future.
Genting Casino in danger... soon?
No, it is not that PAS will take away the license for Genting Resort to operate its casino in Malaysia, but neighbourhood competition from Thailand and Singapore might emerged if both the neighbouring countries "OK-signed" to the proposal of building their own casino around next year.
Based on the figures reported, Singapore accounted for more than 20% of Resorts' hotels guests, while Thai visitors formed less than 7% of the total.
From these data, Singapore rival seems to have more impact on Genting than the Thai rival if both countries approved on allowing the deployment of casino on their own land. However it is, the impact has already took effect somewhere in February this year, when the share price for Resort World fell by over 20% while the talk of such an event reach to its peak. A sign of investors' fear.
For some brief information, Singapore casino would be build on its resort island of Sentosa, while Thailand would likely to locate its casino in the tourist area of Pattaya.
Genting, as well as other international casino-based business players, hinted on their interest in investing on these casinos, if it is approved in the near future. Estimates have put the value of Asia's legal gambling industry at about $14 billion. Therefore, this industry surely is a lucrative investment in the point of view as a business and as long as profits is concerned.
However, Malaysian still account for some 56% of guests at the resort's hotels while the total of Malaysian visitors accounted for some 86% of the total visitors for a year. Therefore, Genting is still considered to be at a safe point as long as the local "support" stays at that level of percentage.
At least one of my friends will still go to Genting casino whenever she finds it "fit". That's what she said...
Based on the figures reported, Singapore accounted for more than 20% of Resorts' hotels guests, while Thai visitors formed less than 7% of the total.
From these data, Singapore rival seems to have more impact on Genting than the Thai rival if both countries approved on allowing the deployment of casino on their own land. However it is, the impact has already took effect somewhere in February this year, when the share price for Resort World fell by over 20% while the talk of such an event reach to its peak. A sign of investors' fear.
For some brief information, Singapore casino would be build on its resort island of Sentosa, while Thailand would likely to locate its casino in the tourist area of Pattaya.
Genting, as well as other international casino-based business players, hinted on their interest in investing on these casinos, if it is approved in the near future. Estimates have put the value of Asia's legal gambling industry at about $14 billion. Therefore, this industry surely is a lucrative investment in the point of view as a business and as long as profits is concerned.
However, Malaysian still account for some 56% of guests at the resort's hotels while the total of Malaysian visitors accounted for some 86% of the total visitors for a year. Therefore, Genting is still considered to be at a safe point as long as the local "support" stays at that level of percentage.
At least one of my friends will still go to Genting casino whenever she finds it "fit". That's what she said...
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Haloscan add-ins...
Finally, upgraded comments functionality with Haloscan... will be "test-driving" it for a few weeks before deciding which one to use in the future...
Having difficulties while installing the Haloscan, plus some stupidities that adds up the time for the installation process...
However, everything is said and done, and now it is rolling... thanks to Haloscan again!!
later!!
Having difficulties while installing the Haloscan, plus some stupidities that adds up the time for the installation process...
However, everything is said and done, and now it is rolling... thanks to Haloscan again!!
later!!
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
最近、なんか元気出さない．．．
何処からはじめるのかなあ...
いきなり元気がないの私は仕事が集中できないし、淋しいし、いやな感じになってしまった。その理由をじっくり考えても、答えは出てこない...
何でだろう？
今の私は、予定によると９月にマレーシアに戻れるけど、突然に課長が私に「日本にの仕事が延長の可能性がありそうから、マレーシアに帰るのことを日本にの仕事の終わり次第と成るかも」って言ってた。
実は私は本当にマレーシアに帰りたくて、それを聞いたと失望の感じが出てしまった。日本に住みたくないではなく、ただマレーシアにしばらくいて欲しい。出来れば半年後また日本に戻ってくるとよいと思うけど、無理かなあ。
もし私は「今やっぱりマレーシアに帰って欲しいと答えて、マレーシアに帰ったら、また日本に来るの機会はない」と感じてる。
友達から示唆してたんけど、「延長すれば旅行とかやって、楽しいかもう」と言ってた。旅行はいいだけど、うん...やっぱりダメかなあ。
いろいろ迷っている...
どうしたら良い？
他の理由はあるけど、そこまでは言いたくない... (^-^)
多分心配しなくてもいいよね、それがどれほど困難でも、正しい方法は終わりで示されるでしょうね...きっと。
記：
これで日本語の練習でもできるし、いいだよね、ブロックって。(^-^)
いきなり元気がないの私は仕事が集中できないし、淋しいし、いやな感じになってしまった。その理由をじっくり考えても、答えは出てこない...
何でだろう？
今の私は、予定によると９月にマレーシアに戻れるけど、突然に課長が私に「日本にの仕事が延長の可能性がありそうから、マレーシアに帰るのことを日本にの仕事の終わり次第と成るかも」って言ってた。
実は私は本当にマレーシアに帰りたくて、それを聞いたと失望の感じが出てしまった。日本に住みたくないではなく、ただマレーシアにしばらくいて欲しい。出来れば半年後また日本に戻ってくるとよいと思うけど、無理かなあ。
もし私は「今やっぱりマレーシアに帰って欲しいと答えて、マレーシアに帰ったら、また日本に来るの機会はない」と感じてる。
友達から示唆してたんけど、「延長すれば旅行とかやって、楽しいかもう」と言ってた。旅行はいいだけど、うん...やっぱりダメかなあ。
いろいろ迷っている...
どうしたら良い？
他の理由はあるけど、そこまでは言いたくない... (^-^)
多分心配しなくてもいいよね、それがどれほど困難でも、正しい方法は終わりで示されるでしょうね...きっと。
記：
これで日本語の練習でもできるし、いいだよね、ブロックって。(^-^)
AirAsia, goes public this September?
"Now Everyone Can Fly"
Couldn't imagine any farther that AirAsia has come to this stage. Started out at some three years ago with just two Boeing 737-300 planes to 14 aircrafts, they have done quite a well job with their no-frills flights.
It has been reported that AirAsia has registered a net profit of RM 20 millions for the financial year 2003.
theedgedaily reported that AirAsia expects to handle 3.2 million passenger this year, up from 2.1 million passengers in 2003 and 1.1 million in 2002. Obviously, to me, this is quite convincing and I see the potential of it to increase more for the years to come.
AirAsia has proposed a RM 760 million initial public offering (IPO), and it is supposed to be offered in June 2004. Later in June, however, it has deferred it to the next quarter (September 2004).
Since I am eager to see the performance of AirAsia in the future, therefore, I am looking forward in seeing AirAsia goes public this coming September. I might put a few dollars out to get some share of this "going-to-be-listed" company too.
Just my opinion anyway.
Couldn't imagine any farther that AirAsia has come to this stage. Started out at some three years ago with just two Boeing 737-300 planes to 14 aircrafts, they have done quite a well job with their no-frills flights.
It has been reported that AirAsia has registered a net profit of RM 20 millions for the financial year 2003.
theedgedaily reported that AirAsia expects to handle 3.2 million passenger this year, up from 2.1 million passengers in 2003 and 1.1 million in 2002. Obviously, to me, this is quite convincing and I see the potential of it to increase more for the years to come.
AirAsia has proposed a RM 760 million initial public offering (IPO), and it is supposed to be offered in June 2004. Later in June, however, it has deferred it to the next quarter (September 2004).
Since I am eager to see the performance of AirAsia in the future, therefore, I am looking forward in seeing AirAsia goes public this coming September. I might put a few dollars out to get some share of this "going-to-be-listed" company too.
Just my opinion anyway.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Cost of living... (1)
It has been said that cost of living in Malaysia is high, even though the amount of ringgit spent on some items is largely cheaper than other countries, in number.
Now, I would like to make comparison with Japan, but I feel that I should also have a point of reference to make the comparison easier to see (maybe not). Here is how I am going to compare:
I will use a type of income in Japan and compare it to the same type of income in Malaysia. To make things simpler for me, I chose the hourly paid income for a part-time worker. Those working at the supermarket as cashier, etc...
Now, if my knowledge is still up-to-date, supermarket cashier's hourly pay, in Malaysia, should be around RM2.50 - RM3.00 (like Super Komtar). While for Japan, supermarket cashier's hourly pay is around 700yen-900yen (like Itoyokado).
Therefore, let's fix it at the lower range, that is, for Malaysia, it will be RM2.50, and for Japan, it will be 700yen.
We have a mark to start comparing, and lets compare:
*Hour(s): The amount of hours that is needed for a person to work in order to get that item.
For the moment, all the listed items seems to favor Japan more than to Malaysia. Ok, I have actually tried my best in making the comparison, since I compared Malaysia's pirated DVD with Japan's original DVD (but using average price).
From time to time, I will try to add more for comparison, and if anyone have any other idea to make comparison, feel free to suggest, although I might not implement it (depending on how difficult for me to get the information).
I am trying not to act biased, and if anyone who have stayed in Japan before that would like to give/share comments on my method of evaluation, feel free to do so too.
Note:
I wish to include transportation fees, too, but I have difficulty in getting the numbers. However, for transportation fees, like bus and taxi, I feel that Malaysia is cheaper than Japan, but I am not so sure of that.
Now, I would like to make comparison with Japan, but I feel that I should also have a point of reference to make the comparison easier to see (maybe not). Here is how I am going to compare:
I will use a type of income in Japan and compare it to the same type of income in Malaysia. To make things simpler for me, I chose the hourly paid income for a part-time worker. Those working at the supermarket as cashier, etc...
Now, if my knowledge is still up-to-date, supermarket cashier's hourly pay, in Malaysia, should be around RM2.50 - RM3.00 (like Super Komtar). While for Japan, supermarket cashier's hourly pay is around 700yen-900yen (like Itoyokado).
Therefore, let's fix it at the lower range, that is, for Malaysia, it will be RM2.50, and for Japan, it will be 700yen.
We have a mark to start comparing, and lets compare:
| Malaysia (RM2.50/hour) | Japan (700yen/hour) | |||
| Item | Price | Hour(s) | Price | Hour(s) |
| Cinema Movie | RM8.00 | 3.20 | 1800yen | 2.57 |
| Imported CD | RM40 | 16 | 1600yen | 2.29 |
| Bread(A Loaf) | RM1.50 | 0.6 | 200yen | 0.29 |
| Coca-Cola(Vending Machine) | RM1.20 | 0.48 | 150yen | 0.22 |
| Novel (English) | RM30.00 | 12 | 1500yen | 2.15 |
| Lunch Set (Western) | RM7.00 | 2.8 | 1000yen | 1.43 |
| Watch(Swatch) | RM125.00 | 50 | 7000yen | 10 |
| DVD (pirated vs original) | RM15.00 | 6 | 4000yen | 5.72 |
For the moment, all the listed items seems to favor Japan more than to Malaysia. Ok, I have actually tried my best in making the comparison, since I compared Malaysia's pirated DVD with Japan's original DVD (but using average price).
From time to time, I will try to add more for comparison, and if anyone have any other idea to make comparison, feel free to suggest, although I might not implement it (depending on how difficult for me to get the information).
I am trying not to act biased, and if anyone who have stayed in Japan before that would like to give/share comments on my method of evaluation, feel free to do so too.
Note:
I wish to include transportation fees, too, but I have difficulty in getting the numbers. However, for transportation fees, like bus and taxi, I feel that Malaysia is cheaper than Japan, but I am not so sure of that.
Help for posting images...
I have had problems downloading the Hello BloggerBot for their image sharing application. Whenever I clicked on the "Download" link, it returns with the "Unable to display page" error.
Would like to know if anyone can help and suggest some other alternative "free" softwares that I can use?
Help is very much appreciated!!
Thanks.
Would like to know if anyone can help and suggest some other alternative "free" softwares that I can use?
Help is very much appreciated!!
Thanks.
Proton has their own engine, Campro, now... so what?
Comments from Dr Feriz Omar, taken from Screenshots regarding the Malaysia car prices, makes my brain goes spinning again,
Excerpts:
So what is going on? If Proton has their own engine but does not reflect to anything at all, at least in price, then what is the point of having it (engine)? Furthermore, with this engine, the cost of the production is believed to reduce by 30 percent.
One word might be able to help describe this situation - monopoly.
Under the BizWeek column, from theStar dated 19 June, first paragraph reads:
And if we try to look at the share price movement for proton here, what I can see from there is that the public has not gain much confidence with Proton, or its Campro engine.
Now, Proton is planning to acquire a new plant in Indonesia, and when a question being asked about the price tag of that plant, all that is said is 'Cheap'.
Excerpts:
If only he told the price to the public, I am afraid that the public will react more on it, and might cause the share price for Proton to recorrect itself more.
Well, I will try to see what will happen from here...
Excerpts:
"Why is the Gen2, now supposedly a 100% Malaysian engined car priced at around RM$56,000? whilst the old Proton Wira with the Mitsubishi engine was priced at RM$50,000 (despite having to pay Mitsubishi royalty)?"
So what is going on? If Proton has their own engine but does not reflect to anything at all, at least in price, then what is the point of having it (engine)? Furthermore, with this engine, the cost of the production is believed to reduce by 30 percent.
One word might be able to help describe this situation - monopoly.
Under the BizWeek column, from theStar dated 19 June, first paragraph reads:
THE Campro engine is supposed to be the trump card for Proton Holdings Bhd to retain domestic market share and to establish a foothold in the overseas automobile markets.
And if we try to look at the share price movement for proton here, what I can see from there is that the public has not gain much confidence with Proton, or its Campro engine.
Now, Proton is planning to acquire a new plant in Indonesia, and when a question being asked about the price tag of that plant, all that is said is 'Cheap'.
Excerpts:
He declined, however, to disclose how much Proton was paying for the plant. 鼎heap cheap,'' he quipped when asked the price tag.
If only he told the price to the public, I am afraid that the public will react more on it, and might cause the share price for Proton to recorrect itself more.
Well, I will try to see what will happen from here...
Monday, July 12, 2004
Intelligence?
Intelligence, the ability to learn, understand and think in a logical way about things; the ability to do something well.
IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is a measurement of a person's intelligence that is calculated from the results of special tests. It has been said that people with high IQ will succeed better than those with a low IQ.
But how true is it?
I feel it unfair to use this IQ measurement as an indicator of that person's futures and success. No doubt that, and person with higher IQ will have an advantage against those who has lower IQ. But that does not mean that one is destined to fail in his/her life from the day he/she is born.
But from the definition of the intelligence, itself (see above), it is something that can be learned, and understand.
With this, I started to try to take into consideration of other factors as well. What other intelligence that we might need in order to survive in this world?
The first being the emotional intelligence.
In a book titled, Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman said, "Emotional intelligence, is the abilities such as, being able to motivate oneself and persist in the face of frustration, to regulate one's mode and keep distress from swamping the ability to think, to empathize and to hope."
The author continues, "While there are those who argued that IQ cannot be changed much by experience or education, ..., crucial emotional competencies can indeed be learned and improved upon by children - if we bother to teach them."
At least, these statements brings hope to those, including myself, who found themselves have low IQ scores.
The second being the financial intelligence.
I got to know this term from another book entitled, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki. From the author definition and the way I understand it, being financially literate means that you can handle your financial problems rationally, and able to provide solution to your everyday financial problems. This requires us to understand what is actually happening in this world.
The ability to turn a sum of amount to a larger amount is a type of test for financial intelligence. The ability to command your money to work for you instead of you working for money is also another type of test for financial intelligence, and so the list will continue. These abilities will together sum up as your financial quotient.
My point is, our brain is the most important "asset" to us and we should make good use of it. This brain of ours is the part that will decide whether we are successful or not in the future. Although some might have been defeated by the IQ, but that doesn't mean much to our future.
The good point is that we can learn from time to time to increase our intelligence.
IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is a measurement of a person's intelligence that is calculated from the results of special tests. It has been said that people with high IQ will succeed better than those with a low IQ.
But how true is it?
I feel it unfair to use this IQ measurement as an indicator of that person's futures and success. No doubt that, and person with higher IQ will have an advantage against those who has lower IQ. But that does not mean that one is destined to fail in his/her life from the day he/she is born.
But from the definition of the intelligence, itself (see above), it is something that can be learned, and understand.
With this, I started to try to take into consideration of other factors as well. What other intelligence that we might need in order to survive in this world?
The first being the emotional intelligence.
In a book titled, Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman said, "Emotional intelligence, is the abilities such as, being able to motivate oneself and persist in the face of frustration, to regulate one's mode and keep distress from swamping the ability to think, to empathize and to hope."
The author continues, "While there are those who argued that IQ cannot be changed much by experience or education, ..., crucial emotional competencies can indeed be learned and improved upon by children - if we bother to teach them."
At least, these statements brings hope to those, including myself, who found themselves have low IQ scores.
The second being the financial intelligence.
I got to know this term from another book entitled, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki. From the author definition and the way I understand it, being financially literate means that you can handle your financial problems rationally, and able to provide solution to your everyday financial problems. This requires us to understand what is actually happening in this world.
The ability to turn a sum of amount to a larger amount is a type of test for financial intelligence. The ability to command your money to work for you instead of you working for money is also another type of test for financial intelligence, and so the list will continue. These abilities will together sum up as your financial quotient.
My point is, our brain is the most important "asset" to us and we should make good use of it. This brain of ours is the part that will decide whether we are successful or not in the future. Although some might have been defeated by the IQ, but that doesn't mean much to our future.
The good point is that we can learn from time to time to increase our intelligence.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
My first blog...
I have never imagined that I have finally decided to create a blog for myself.
In order to start this new blog, I have been wasting most of my day time considering what should I do with my blog, what should the name be, any unique name for my blog space, etc...
I ended up given this blog the name "hanashimashou" not because it is special by its meaning, but because it is something Japanese.
It would mean "Let's talk" if my Japanese understanding isn't that weak.
So, any ideas, suggestions, comments, critics (hopefully not) will be welcomed in this blog and I hope that I might be able to keep my temper down for critics that doesn't goes my way of thinking.
Well, let's just talk with ease!!
In order to start this new blog, I have been wasting most of my day time considering what should I do with my blog, what should the name be, any unique name for my blog space, etc...
I ended up given this blog the name "hanashimashou" not because it is special by its meaning, but because it is something Japanese.
It would mean "Let's talk" if my Japanese understanding isn't that weak.
So, any ideas, suggestions, comments, critics (hopefully not) will be welcomed in this blog and I hope that I might be able to keep my temper down for critics that doesn't goes my way of thinking.
Well, let's just talk with ease!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)