What's Work?

Work - 일하다...That's how to write it in Korean. As for me (저는) I've been working for a medical company (외사) for the last almost 9 years (거의 9 년). When I first (먼저) took (찍다) the profile photo (사진) on this blog (플로그), I was a Section Manager at my old company. Leaving that company in summer (여름) 2011, I joined the new company as a Senior Engineer. I was fortunate to meet many good (좋다) mentors who guided and mentored me to where I am today (오늘). I was promoted in 2012 to Assistant Section Head, 2013 to Section Head, 2016 to Manager and in 2018 to Senior Manager. I was also fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work in Engineering, Software Engineer and Customer Service and hope to continue to do so for years to come. From here, where do I go? (여기서 저는 어디로 가요?).....

 여기에 오늘의 하국어 문장들이예요...(Here are today's Korean sentences)

1. 지난주에 뭐 샀어요? (What did you buy last week?)

2. 친구하테서 무슨 선물을 받았어요? (What gift did you receive from your friend?)

3. 어떤 핸드폰을 샀어요? (What kind of handphone did you buy?)

4. 파티를 몇시에 시작할 거예요? (What time will the party start?)

5. 도서관에서 어느 책을 골랐어요? 서점에서 어느 책을 골랐어요? (Which book did you pick in the library? Which book did you pick in the bookstore?)

6. 누구랑 점심을 먹을 거예요? (Who will you be having lunch with?)

7. 아버지의 날을 언제에요? (When is Father's Day?)

8. 주전자를 어디에서 보관했어요? (Where did you keep the kettle?)

9. 왜 안 말했어요? (Why did you not tell me?)

10. 이 케크는 어땠어요? (How was this cake?)

11. 이 토스트기를 어떻게 사용해요? (How do you use this toaster?)

12.  머리스타일을 얼마나 기쁜요? (How happy you are with the hairstyle?)

13. 야채를 얼마동안 끓었어요? (How long did you boil the vegetables?)

14. 제 돈용을 얼마에요? (How much is my allowance?)

15. 이 건물은 몇 층 있어요? (How many floors does this building have?)

16. 이건랑 그건 안 바꾸고 싶어요. (I dont' want to change this and that).

17.  지금 저는 일하고 있어요. (I am working now)

18. 그 양파하고 당근를 썰 수 있어요? (Can you cut the onions and carrots?)

19. 지금 친구랑 말해야 돼요. (I have to speak with a friend now).

20. 지금 왜 못 먹어요? (문장이랑 잘 / 잘못) (Why can you eat it now?)

21. 이 편지를 저 편지보다 더 길어요. (This letter is longer than that letter)

22. 만약 이 커퓨터를 비싸면, 저는 확실히 팔 거예요. (If this computer is expensive, then I will definitely sell it).

23. 잊기전에 적어주세요 (Before you forget it, please write it down).

24. 수업전에, 저를 찾아주세요. (Before class, please find me).

25. 그 한국어수업 참석할까요? (Shall we attend the Korean language class?)

26. 오늘 저는 바빠서 한국어수업을 안 참석했어요. (Today I was busy so I didn't attend Korean class)

27. 이 음식은 맛있어요 그래서 저는 먹을 것 같아요.(This food is delicious so I think I will eat it.)

How's the family?

We are fine....Yesterday night, which was Thursday, 18th June 2020, my wife and I brought the children to Klinik Singapore Lip Sin to get their flu vaccinations. The last time they had flu vaccinations was back in Oct 2017 for HY and Feb 2018 for AY. Fortunately, they had some flu shots because HY came down with H1N1 in January 2020 at the same time AY came down with Para-Influenza. Dr. Hwang, who is their pediatrician whenever they go to Island said it was fortunate they had flu shots because it can help minimize the effects of the flu.

Thus yesterday, we went to Klinik Singapore to have flu shots for everyone, me included. And after that, rewarded the kids with McDonald's Ice Cream - though I can't say it was truly a reward for them because they both put up quite a struggle when we were trying to get them to have their shots. They had Abbott Influvac Tetra shots.

And now, since I have missed one round of sentence makings, here are the next sets of Korean sentences.....

1. 방금 뭐 봤어요? (What did you just see?)

2. 시장에서 무슨 과일들을 샀어요? (What fruits did you buy at the market?)

3. 어떤 과일을 먹었어요? (What kind of fruit did you eat?)

4. 아침에 몇 시에 시장을 갔어요? (What time did you go to the market in the morning?)

5. 시장에서 어느 야채를 샀어요? (Which vegetables did you buy at the market?)

6. 제 의자 누구가 앉았어요? (Who sat in my chair?)

7. 우리는 언제 시장에 갈 거예요? (When are we going to the market?)

8. 저기요, 제 소주를 어디예요? (Hey, where is my soju?)

9. 이 물을 왜 안 마셨어요? (Why did you not drink this water?)

10. 그 영화는 어땠어요? (How was the movie?)

11. 이 문장을 어떻게 읽어요? (How do you read this sentence?)

12. 당신의 팔가 얼마나  아픈요? (How painful is your arm?)

13. 이발소에서 얼마동안 있었어요? (How long were you at the barber shop?)

14. 이 달력이 얼마예요? (How much is this calendar?)

15. 방에서 연필 몇 자루를 찾아요? (How many pencils are you looking for in the room?)

1. 저는 집에 안 청소하고 싶어요 (I don’t want to clean my house)

2. 저는 봐고 있어요 하지만 아무것도 볼 수 없어요. (I am looking, but I don’t see anything)

저는 꿈꾸고 있어요. (I am dreaming)

3. 지난 주에 과제를 선생님 읽을 수 있어요? (Can you read the assignments last week?)

4. 나중에 저는 집에 가야 되요. (I have to go home later)

5. 민혁씨, 왜 자전거를 못 타요? (Minhyuk, why can’t you ride a bike?)

6. 이 건물는 저 건물보다 더 높아요. (This building is taller than that building)

7. 만약 그 김밥을 맛있면, 저는 확실히 먹을 거예요. (If the gimbap is delicious, I will definitely eat it)

Also, as part of my Korean Lessons homework, I need to make 14 + Korean unit counter sentences such as:

사람 두 명; 코볼소 스무 마리; 연필 다섯 자루; 우유 열 잔; etc.. (명/분, 마리, 대, 개, 자루, 그루, 송이, 켤레, 장, 권, 컵, 잔, 살, 층)

What's up, Malaysia? And more Korean sentences....

An update on Malaysia - although the rakyat elected one government in 2018, Pakatan Harapan with Tun Dr. Mahathir as Prime Minister, today the government of Malaysia is Perikatan Malaysia (with the dreadful BN) with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin at the helm. Our country is truly a mess.....

1. 시장에서 뭐 샀어요? - What did you buy at the market? 

2. 무슨 가방을 살 거예요? - What bag are you going to buy?

3. 어떤 가방을 골랐어요? - What bag did you pick? 

4.  내일 우리는 영화를 몇 시에 볼 거예요? - What time will we watch the movie tomorrow?

5. 민석씨, 어느 자동차를 좋아해요? - Minseok, which car do you like? 

6. 오늘밤에 누구랑 만날 거예요? - Who are you going to meet with tonight?

7. 당신의 수업이 언제 시작해요? - When does your class start?

8. 그 책은 어디에서 놓았어요? - Where did you put the book?

9. 이 책은 당신 왜 안 읽어요? Why aren't you reading this book?

10. 그 책은 어땠어요? - How was the book?

11. 당신 제 지갑이  어떻게 찾았어요? - How did you find my wallet?

12. 경은씨, 기분이 어만큼 기뻐요? - Kyeong Eun, how happy are you?

13. 이 점심은 얼마동안 요리했어요? - How long have you cooked this lunch?

14. 이 사과 넷 개 하고 그 딸기 두 상자 얼마예요? - How much are these 4 apples and 2 boxes of strawberries?

15. 시장에서 포도 몇 상자를 샀어요? - How many boxes of grapes did you buy at the market? 

I'm adding on more Korean sentences....

Presently, the world is facing COVID-19, a disease that spreads through the aerosol droplets from those infected. That's my update.

Now to the Korean sentences I wrote last night but didn't post. It's 8.55am. on 17th June 2020 in Malaysia, by the way.

1. 지금 저는 잘고 싶어요. (I want to sleep now).

2. 저는 졸리고 있어요 그래서 잘고 싶어요. (I am sleepy so I want to sleep)

3. 현민씨, 여기 앉을 수 있어요. (Hyun Min, you can sit here).

4. 저는 너무 피곤해서 쉬어야 돼요. (I’m so tired that I have to rest)

5. 제 친구는 요리 잘 못해요. (My friend is not good at cooking)

6. 당신의 의자는 저 의자보다 더 가벼워요. (Your chair is lighter than that chair)

7. 만약 회사는 돈이 안 주면, 저는 집에 갈 거예요.  (If the company doesn’t pay, I will go home)

Tonight, I'll be having my weekly online Korean class and taking them from the car since 제 딸은 피아노 수업이 참석할 거 예요. I'll think of creating a story line + some more 9W6H questions. 

To go on...and on...and on.....There's more to this than writing a blog

Oh, so today I will continue to write up my questions for 9W 6H, that's how my Korean language teacher puts it....Some day I will take the time to write a blog that does not involve learning Korean. But for now....here they are and mostly about eating, pasta and restaurants.

1. 오늘밤에 우리는 뭐 먹어요? (What are we eating tonight?)

2. 무슨 파스타를 먹어 싶어요? (What pasta do you want to eat?)

3. 어떤 파스타를 주문할 거예요? (Which pasta will you order?)

4. 우리는 식당에서 몇 시에 만날 거예요? (What time will we meet at the restaurant?)

5. 나중에 식당에서 어느 파스타를 먹얼 거예요? (Which pasta will you eat later in the restaurant?)

6. 오늘밤에 누구랑 식당에 와요? (Who are you going with to the restaurant tonight?)

7. 다시 이 식당에 언제 와요? (When are you coming back to this restaurant?)

8. 저녁 어디에서 파스타를 먹얼 거예요? (Where will you eat pasta for dinner?)

9. 그 이타리식당에 왜 안 가요? (Why aren't you going to the Italian restaurant?)

10. 그 파스타는 시식 어때요? /그 파스타는 맛은 어때요? (How is the pasta tasting?/How does the pasta taste?)

11. 이 식당에 어떻게 왔어요? (How did you come/get to this restaurant?)

12. 당신의 파스타가 어마큼 맛은요? (How tasty is your pasta?)

13. 그 파스타를 어마동안 끓었어요? (How long has the pasta been boiled?)

14. 저기요! 파스타 넷 접시에 얼마에요? (Excuse me! How much is it for 4 plates of pasta?)

15. 우리는 와인 몇 잔 주문할 거예요? (How many glasses of wine are we going to order?)

This practice add-on and add-on to practice.......

This is my practice of how to use and as not to forget.....

고 있다 ; 고 싶어; (을)ㄹ 수 있다 ; 아/어/여 야 되/하 다 ; 를/을 잘 / 못 / 잘 못 ; ....보다 더 ; 만약...면

1st set :

저는 빵이 먹고 싶어요. (I want to eat bread)
저는 빵이 먹을 수 있어요. (I can eat bread)
저는 빵이 먹어야 돼요. (I need to eat bread)
저는 빵을 못 먹어요. (I can't eat bread)
호박은 빵이보다 더 비싸요. (Pumpkin is more expensive than bread)
만약 호박은 빵이보다 더 비싸면 저는 호박 살 거예요. (If zucchini is more expensive than bread, I will buy zucchini).

2nd set (13th June 2020):

저는 그 여자가 잊고 싶어요. (I want to forget her)
저는 차가 운전할 수 있어요. (I can drive)
저는 자야 돼요. / 저는 이 지갑이 사야 돼요. (I need to sleep / I have to buy this wallet)
저는 수영을 잘 해요. (I can swim well)
코끼리는 사자보다 더 무거워요. (Elephants are heavier than lions)
만약 당신은 이 커피 마시면, 저는 그 빵이 먹을 거예요. (If you drink this coffee, I will eat that bread).

Just some random Korean blog

So here are my 16 sentences for today:

1. 저녁에 뭐 먹었어요? (What did you eat for dinner?)
2. 아까 무슨 지갑을 샀어요? (What wallet did you buy earlier?)
3. 어떤 음식을 가져갔어요? (What food did you take?)
4. 오늘은 몇 시에 일어났어요? (What time did you wake up today?)
5. 어느 나라를 사람이에요? 어느 신문은 읽었어요? (Which country are you from? Which newspaper have you read?)
6. 이 우유를 누가 마셨어요? (Who drank this milk?)
7. 당신의 친구들은 언제 와요? (When are your friends coming over?)
8. 민주 씨, 어디여서 일해요? (Min Soo, where do you work?)
9. 이 음식을 왜 안 먹어요? (Why aren't you eating this food?)

10. 이 차를 어때요? 좋아해요? (Is this car good? Do you like it?)
11. 이 편지를 어떻게 쓸 거예요? (How would I write this letter?)
12. 그 라면이 어마나 매운요? (How spicy is that ramyeon?)
13. 어마동안 화장실에서 있었어요? (How long were you in the bathroom?)
14. 이 우산은 얼마예요? (How much is this umbrella?)
15. 당신은 아이들 몇 명을 있어요? (How may children do you have?)

Continuing my sentence making....

So, my kids (제 아이들은 같이 자고 싶어요), and that meant 3 people on a Queen Size bed. Usually at this time, I don't get much sleep. As a result, I'm there on the bed thinking (너무 생각하다). And it dawned on me why don't I just use sometime in the mornings/afternoon to also make sentences.

And since I'm into it, I also got up from bed at 4.30am and had a light snack. And thought how I would write that in Korean (저는 일어나고, "biscuits" 먹었어요).

Continuing from where I left off last night,

9) -는 것 / -(으)ㄴ 것 / -(을)/ㄹ 것 : 저는 아침에 빵 먹은 거에요; 제 부인은 지난 일요일 "락사"를 산 거에요

10) Verb stem + 아/어/여 + 야 되다/하다 : 이번 주에 저는 우유하고 과일을 사야 되요 (This week I have to buy milk and fruits) ; 매일 저는 운동해야되요 (Everyday I have to exercise).

11) 더 & 보다 : The car is more expensive than the bed. 그 차는 침대보다 더 비싸요.
The beef is more tasty than the pork. 그 소고기는 돼지고기보다 더 맛있어요.

12) 만약....-(으)면 : 만약 비가 오면 저는 운동할 수 없어요. (If it rains, I cannot exercise).
만약 저는 늦으면 학교 갈 수 없어요 (If I'm late, I can't go to school)
만약 저는 늦으면 학교 안 가요. (If I'm late, I won't go to school)

13) 조심 운전하세요 ; 운전 조심하세요

14) 아직 자요 (I'm still sleeping) / 제 아들 벌써 자요. (My son is already sleeping)

15) 차로 왔어요? (Did you come by car?)

16) 가방을 다 팔 거예요? (Are you going to sell all the bags?) ; 걱정하지 마세요 (Don't worry) ;
더 팔아 주세요. (Please sell more).

And that's it for today! Perhaps I will write more for practice and hopefully get more proficient. 

한국어 and More.....

Well, today I will be blogging new sentences to help me remember how to use some of the useful concepts I've learned from TTMIK.

And here they are:

1. 고 싶어요 - I want to.......so today, I want to study. 오늘은 공부하고 싶어요.

2. 안; 지 않다 - 텔리비전를 안 봐요 ; 텔리비전 보지 않아요. 

3. 한테, 한테서 - This is "to" and "from" but it is difficult a bit for me to wrap my head around as the 한테/한테서 really depends on the verb......

저 한테 편지를 받았어요? - Did you receive a letter from me?

저 한테 편지를 보냈어요? Did you send a letter to me? 

4. -고 있다 : 지금 저는 블로그 쓰고 있어요 ; 나중 저는 블로그 쓰고 있을거예요.

5. -도 하다 : to also "verb", to even "verb", 확인도 하다 (to also confirm, to even confirm), 잊기도 하다 (to also forget, to even forget); 고르기도 하다 (to also pick, to even pick). A sample sentence is:

그분은 편지를 두 장 받기도 했어요 (He even received two letters).

6. + 만 (only): 이 가방만 샀어요 (I only bought this bag); 앉기만 할 거예요 (I will just sit down)

7. -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 : 돈이 없어요. 저는 가방를 팔 수 있어요. (I don't have money. I can sell the bag).

확인할 수 있어요 (I can check).

8. [Object] + -을/를 잘/못 하다 : 저는 한국어를 잘해요 /  저는 한국어를 잘 못 해요 / 저는 한국어를 못해요.

Another sample sentence: 저는 새우 거 잘 못 먹어요. (I can't eat shrimps/prawns well).

That's it for today's sample sentences. I'll try to follow up with the rest tomorrow. 

Some new stuff - 

얼른 - Hurry

트윗 및 답글 - Tweets and Replies

마음에 들어요 - I like it

쪽지 쓰기 - Write a note

Some Korean stuff before I log off for today....

Well, today I'll just start with a bunch of Korean stuff........I'm learning Korean because as I grew older, I realized that my memory isn't what it used to be. I decided to take up learning a new language, Korean Hangul seemed easy to learn and the I needed to learn new vocabulary, grammar, etc. and part of my homework is making new sentences. I've completed this homework but I think I'll write more sentences here....There's going to be 15 of them first.

1) 무엇 (뭐) : 방금 뭐 했어요?
2) 무슨 + 명사 : 무슨 핸드폰를 샀어요?
3) 어떤 + 명사 : 어떤 음식를 좋아해요? ; 어떤 차를 운전해요?
4)  몇 시여 : 기차는 부산에 몇 시에 도착해요? ; 콘서트는 서울에서 몇 시에 시작해요?
5) 어느 + 명사 : 수영 씨, 어느 시계를 살 거예요?
6) 누구 / 누가 : 이 국밥을 누가 요리했어요?
7) 언제 : 우리는 언제 더 영화를 볼 수 있어요?
8) 어디에/에서 : 점심을 어디에서 먹얼 거예요?
9) 왜 : 당신은 왜 그렇게?
10) 어떠 + 이다 > 어때요 : 그 콘서트는 어땠어요? 재미있어요?
11) 어떻게 + 동사 : 우와 진짜 뜨거워요! 이 커피를 어떻게 마셔요?
12) 얼마나 (얼만큼) + 형용사 (동사) : 그 라면이 얼만큼 매운요?
13) 얼마 + 동안 : 얼마동안 대구부터 부산까지 운전했어요?
14) 얼마예요 : 이 김밥이랑 볶음밥 전부 얼마예요?
15) 명사 + 몇 U.C. : 길동씨, 오늘밤에 맥주 몇 병을 마셨어요?

Well, that took about 30 minutes to write. I hope I can do this better next time. I will also have some others to write, using 안, 지 않다, 을/를 수 이다, 고 이다, 고 싶어요, 만, 만약...명, ......but that will be another day.

Oh and today I had Laksa, Char Hor Fun, Curry Mee etc. for lunch and the laksa was wayyyyyy too spicy (진짜 너무 매워요!)....I was like having the laksa heat the whole day and had to resort to drinking loads of Chrysanthemum tea to cool myself down.....Oh well....I'll be having plain clean soup tomorrow for lunch and dinner to get a better grip on my digestive system after the crazy spice outing today.....hahaha... 

For now, good night!

Half a year later!.....

It's been nearly half a year since I last wrote a blog. And so much has happened. All I can say is that a disease that started out in China late December 2019 slowly spread it's nefarious tentacles all around the world that by March 2020 more that 1,000,000 people had been infected.

As a result, Movement Control Order was implemented in Malaysia and everyone ordered to stay home. Everyone had to work from home and the kids had to stay away from nursery and school.

I've signed up for Ubitto (for Korean learning) and Talk To Me in Korean (also for Korean learning). I used Ubitto to write a diary of sorts but I don't think I should use that forum to write my personal stuff. So I have decided to write it here. There won't be any translations, but perhaps 2 years or 3 years down the road I can read it and understand what I wrote and the mistakes I probably made.

So here is the update for 2020년 6월 4일

오늘, 저는 "우비또"에서 제 일기를 지웠어요. 선생님은 일기를 안 좋아는 것 같아요.

그래서 저는 일기를 제 블로그에서 썰 거 예요.

이틀마다 저는 피곤하고 게을러라도 일기를 쓸 거 예요.

저는 한국어 정말 공부하고 싶어요 그래서 포기하지 않을 거 예요.

열심하세요! 열공하세요! 화이팅!

That's for today.


  

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE YEARS???????

So, it IS obvious that I failed to maintain my blog in a structured way as I now wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020! LOL

It's been nearly 11 years since the last blog and so much has happened during that time. Just a quick recap about what has happened so far, put them aside and then blog on as if nothing happened. Not even that 11 year gap...................*sound of tumbleweed blowing across the empty dry desert*

2009 - Trip to Hong Kong

                                                          Me in Hong Kong at the IFC

2010 - Got married (I prefer to leave my wife anonymous. We'll just call her JY). No photos there....

2011 - Honeymoon - Switzerland, Paris & London! & Changed company and got to work in Stockholm.

Me in London @ Big Ben

Me in Paris @ Pont Neuf

Me in Zurich @ Rhinefalls

                                                                  Me in Stockholm

2012 - Birth of my lovely daughter HY, a trip to Japan.

My daughter, HY

Me in Tokyo @ Imperial Palace

2013 - Got to travel to Los Angeles

Me in Los Angeles @ Getty Center

2014 - A 2 month stay in Los Angeles and a 1/2 month stay in Stockholm (where I got the message from my wife that she was pregnant!)

2015 - Birth of my lovely son AY.

My son, AY

2016 - Nothing significant on the personal side. Internationally, US citizens elected Donald Trump as the 45th US President....Photo not required. His face is all over, and I mean all over :)

2017 - Trip to Turkey with my family sans AY who we felt was too young for tour travel.

Me & a good cup of tea somewhere on the road in Turkey

2018 - Return to Hong Kong (before the current mess it is in) with the family including AY.

Locally, Malaysians elected a new coalition government called Pakatan Harapan with our dear old ex-Prime Minister at the helm.

Me, AY and HY at Disneyland Hong Kong

2019 - Nothing significant that year as well, though I have to put it in that my aunt, matriarch of the family on my maternal side celebrated her 100th Birthday.

2020 - Let us see what the year brings!

I hope that in 2020 -

a) My children and my wife are healthy and happy.

b) I have a good time working for the company I work for.

c) I go back to reading books, spending time blogging & improving my 한국어.

d) Increasing my net worth.

And so, that's a recap of 1 decade of happenings! And off we go!

Gong Xi Fa Cai...

Well, here is the 2nd blog of January 2009...

GONG XI FA CAI! KEONG HEE HUAT CHYE!! KONG HEI FATT CHOY!!

It's been really hectic over the last few weeks leading up to CNY.

I think I will just blog what I think I will blog. :P

11th January - I am officially hitched. I am off the singles list. After having twice asked two different girls to be my girlfriend before, I still do not know how to do it without feeling anxious, nervous, stuttering and blank. Yes, I became a total wreck trying to ask my gf to be my gf. The first time was over the phone (soooooo unromantic) and I think I sucked at it.....And the second time took me an entire evening to brave myself up, so much so that it was almost 1.30am before I finally asked her.....Yes very inconsiderate of me to keep her up till so late when she could already have her sleep.

2oth January - Finally the world has seen the last of George W. Bush....I hope. He's been there for 8 years, soooo long, sooooooo controversial and sooooooooooo dragged that I believe Barack Obama will breathe new life...yes "Its ALIVE", into the White House. I hope he sorts out this ridiculous economic mess we are in.

21st January - Because of the economic mess, i have had to refinance my housing loan to pay for my car loan and free up some cash....Why?? Because I did not get any increment and have a 10% pay reduction. WTF. I loss a further RM2k trying to guess which direction the stupid market would go with a stupid stock just to get more money. WTF.

The Bosses of all Bosses of my company came....I wasn't there. I'd wish someone just asked him how he felt being one of the top paid tech CEOs in America. And why he took so much compensation....and why he didn initiate a structure pay cut for the company....CEO - 25% (just like the Motorola guy), Senior VPs - 20%, VPs - 15%, Snr Managment - 10%, Middle and Lower Management - 5%....And safe the engineers and assembly line folks from suffering.

I am already dying trying to be living....

26th January - Finally, Chinese New Year. The Year of the Ox....I think it will be an exciting year, whether the economy improves or not. It is the Earth Ox year. So either he will dig up lots of dirt on those dirty American companies while working the fields to get back a Bull market or the Bear is going to run rampant while the Ox just lies in the fields. I think the world leaders need to be farmers this year.

Someone wrote that Years of the Ox have traditionally resulted in lots of economic turmoil - perhaps we should change reporting cycles to 12 year cycles and use Chinese calendars for fiscal years instead. 2009 - SubPrime Mortgage Fallout; 1997 - Asian Financial Crisis; 1985 - Recession; 1973 - Oil Crisis.

Finally I hope to continue having a job this year, walk well with my girlfriend and hope all things work out, successful investments, wish my parents good health and enjoyment of their days together and my brother all the best in his upcoming marriage.

HAPPY CNY.

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Happy New Year 2009

2008 was over in a flash.

I really surprised myself still blogging here after 1 year plus considering I am a real lazy person to do this but this is a really good way to share some thoughts.

This was the first New Year's eve I had gone out with the hope of joining the Penang crowd with the countdown. The previous year, I went for the Penang Christian Center Watchnight Service waiting for 2008. After that we adjourned to Coffee Bean Bellisa Row to play some funny games.










Guy in yellow, i.e. Wei Kee and girl next to him, i.e. Beverly got married yesterday. Fantabulous dinner event, but that is for another blog post.

Back to the story.....

I was already at Queensbay Mall by 5.30pm. I did not want to come into Queensbay Mall facing a huge traffic jam. We walked awhile until 7pm and had dinner at Secret Recipe.









At one point, we went out to see the preparations for the Countdown. As we approached the exit, the doors opened and in came Bosco Wong. For those who do not know who is Bosco Wong, he is a Hong Kong star. And he is the spokesman for Kim Gary - Hong Kong style food.















This, being my first time encountering any star, I was surprised by the speed at which the stars can walk, the security can walk and the fans can run......It was like one entire troupe of people rushing in one direction. You know, like how schools of fishes swim in one direction then change and move in another? This was how the fans were like.

Anyway, we followed Bosco to Kim Gary, stood awhile watching him sign autographs, throw aeroplanes and then both of us left for Secret Recipe.










Later that night, we watched Australia which was not half as bad as what other folks told me. All in all, I quite enjoyed the show.













It started at 9.10pm and ended at 11.55pm, with enough time of 5 minutes for both of us to rush down and joined the last 3 seconds of the countdown. We saw the fireworks too and it was beautiful, really nice. Everyone was joyous and happy. So was I, for the girl standing in front of me made me more than happy to have shared the moment with her.

That was how my New Year's eve 2009 was and hopefully 2010's won't be bad. Incidentally I was not flustered at all by the exit jam that lasted 30 minutes getting out from the Mall parking lot to the open roads. I guess the euphoria of the New Year was still there.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009.

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It has been a long while...

It has been a long while since I last blogged.

Oct 3 was the last blog posted, so that means 2 months. Omigosh! What have I been doing?

I must be the worse blogger in centuries...which of course could not be true since the internet was not developed until the late 20th Century.

I am glad though that I have managed to blog for over a year...meaning to say that at least it I know I won't let this blog die.

Well, I have been so busy since. During that time i had to write lots of performance report, prepare slidesets, organize a forum and so much more that at the end i am at a lost of creativity to write anything in the blog. D'oh!

Anyway just another set of quick updates in life and world:

#1 - I got to know this girl on Oct 9. Nope, i cannot say her name, cannot describe her, cannot blog anything about her except some vague things. She says i must not write about her. But i just want to blog about her a bit since everytime i am with her i have never enjoyed anothers company more. Nuff said. You get the picture. I am falling somewhere...

#2 - On that same day, my aunt in Kuala Lumpur passed away. Just a week earlier, she asked my mom to visit her. My mom and dad obliged and went down to KL, played mah jong with her, spent time talking and taking photographs. I later found out she actually told my mom about her (my aunt's) funeral arrangements. My parents came home after a few days away and a few days later my aunt passed on. I was really sad, because she made the most wonderful laksa, poh piah and a lot of other nonya dishes....May she rest in peace.

#3 - My doggie. He is growing. But seems small. As a Nobreeder i think there is a smallness in his genes. I think he won't grow big. Hmm...

#4 - Just a note that US elections ended on Nov 8 with US folks electing Barack Obama, the first African American president. Good for them.

Hmm...That's about it. No pics this round. But I have added another link. Timothy Lee has a blog. You know the guy i 'steal' photos from and put them in my blog....Hehehe....

..//..

What can we learn from the bailout plan initial rejection by the Congress?

I was thinking about the $700 billion bailout plan by the US Congress to stave off an economic standstill. US banks are just stuck where they are without the lifeline from Congress. While the Senate did approve the Bailout plan, now called the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the House of Representatives rejected it earlier on.

My first thought was whether the folks in the HoR knew what they were doing? The world, not only US, but THE WHOLE WORLD was facing a tough economic situation ahead if this plan was not approved. Yet they went ahead to reject it. That was surprising.

Another thing was, who was going to foot the bill? US taxpayers? The US government? Who was raising all that money and who was going to handle it? The Treasury? The Fed?

These were tough questions. But while everyone looked at the bailout plan rejection on Tuesday morning, and it got through Senate on Wednesday evening, there was another side to this coin. It is this:

The government system in the United States actually worked for the people. As Lincoln put it, a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Why do I say that??

Initially the whole plan was slopshod. Indeed, there needs to be an initial draft and Henry Paulson, the Treasury Secretary, recognize the threat of the credit crunch. I'd give credit to Mr. Paulson for putting the plan up because if the first step did not come from him, Mr. Bernanke would not have made a move.

Wall Street and the Federal Reserve would have let the banks die and other banks eat the dead banks up. But there were just too many investment banks falling, Lehman, Bear Stearns, Merrill etc. This needed government intervention.

The plan was initially criticized as too expensive with abstract planning but as people started to realize the enormity of the consequence of continued bank slowdown, congressmen (and women) went into motion to work together to come up with a plan.

While the government provided the stimulus, Congress came up with the plan and voted on it. Day and night they toiled, until there was a workable plan. And while they thought this plan was 'workable', it was rejected by the HoR in a very close vote of 208 - 225. This was a very strong implication.

It meant the US system of elected representatives actually worked and was very alert.

The system set up by the forefathers was such:

Each state would have 2 senators. No matter how big or how small, the states had their 2 senators.
Each state would have an x number of representatives, depending on the size of the state. Bigger states more, smaller states less.

While this is the simple explanation, it showed that at the grass roots, people were still being represented. Either the representatives really thought the plan was not clear enough or they were afraid of losing their re-election due to voting for this plan because it did not benefit taxpayers.

Whichever it was, they voted and rejected it. Until that time, it was all the big shots who were appearing. Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, John McCain etc. but at the moment of voting, it was really the small guns who counted.

Though the initial HoR vote was rejected, it went back to the backrooms for a revision, and finally adopted by Senate. Now, it should be able to pass the HoR.

In retrospect, one realizes that it has shown how efficient, quick and transparent the governance of the United States can be if they have to. The Executive branch took the lead for government intervention, providing safety nets and coming up with a plan, and then getting the Legislative branch to help fomulate a more detailed and transparent act.

Most of all, when something did not seem right, they voted in their belief and principal that it should not be accepted. They rejected it. And in their rejection, came more co-operation and drafts, not retribution and punishment.

I believe that other countries that use this structure of governance should realize that this is the principal that guides the utilization of such a structure.

I wonder, are there any other countries out there that make use of this 3-tiered government structure of a Legislature, Executive and Judiciary?

..//..

Updates...

Ya, i know. I am a really lazy blogger..No one has told me that, because i don't have much to write here.

A lazy blogger - Is that an oxymoron, like an honest thief or a rich beggar?

Are bloggers suppose to update very frequently. I am really guilty of being low on inputs to my blogspot. I think I should write more frequently. There's so many things...

But i guess some updates are due from my end..

1. Dog. My house has a dog now. He is still a puppy. He came to us on 1st September at 6 weeks old. So now he should be 10 weeks old and is growing. Everyone in the family is having fun with him. He is called Caesar and he likes to run around. He is a very sociable dog. I hope he grows big. I don't like little display doggies and doggies that don't grow big. Currently he is busy trying to find ways of mosey-ing into the house. We keep him in the open compound to give him space to run about, but he is trying to smuggle himself inside to the living room. Well, like they are, he was very shy when he first came to stay with us, but now after 4 weeks he is getting into the routine.

2. Mooncake Festival. Twas a great Mooncake Festival. Went for a pot luck (if you don't believe in luck, then count your blessings and call it pot bless). There were loads of people, from the young...around 8+ to the not so young.. 50+ carrying lanterns and having a night of fun walking around.

There were loads of food too especially yummy sphagetti and poh piah (made by mother and daugher, as they say...a chip off the old block). Here you can see powerful Poh Piah Aunty wrapping the stuff.

Ya, and it was also a birthday party for me. I carried a Nemo lantern that I am sure will bring back lots of memories. Thanks to all who contributed in the purchase of this nice little fish. And especially to the Spaghetti Girl who was also the same person who ran around the streets in the rain carrying the Nemo lantern at the risk of being noticed by Penangites.

Joce & all...thanks!

3. Palm Palladium. Apartment is finally ready. I don't have good quality photographs, but this site has some tremendous photos on PP and other upcoming projects.

http://www.apartment-penang.com/2008/01/palm-palladium-condominium-penang.html

Had to put RM5000 for the sinking fund though, but now informed that it has been reduced to 10% of maintenance fee. That's great. So took some friends out for lunch and bought a new wallet. I can re-invest the new $$$ or pay up more for the housing loan. Makes me feel very poor already.

I NEED THIS!!

4. Gold. Prices are fluctuating thanks to the recent economic turmoil. But since I went into the Public Bank Gold Investment Account, I have made a turnaround of 10%. Much better than the Fixed Deposit rates harboring around 3.1%-3.7%. Now I feel a bit richer. A BIT.

5. 916. The event not the gold. Disappointed nothing came of it. End of story. What was he thinking?

"Apakah pelan sekarang?"

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