found this in my email... still sifting through it.

One of the Twelve
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. - 2 Corinthians 5:15

It is believed that there were about 5,000 believers during the time of Christ. Among those believers, it was thought there were three types. The largest number of believers were those who came to Jesus for salvation. They served Him little beyond coming to Him to receive salvation. A much smaller number, say 500, actually followed Him and served Him. Then, there were the disciples. These were those who identified with Jesus. They lived the life that Jesus lived. Each of these ultimately died in difficult circumstances. They experienced the hardships, the miracles, and the fellowship with God in human form.

If you had to say which group best represented your life, which one would you fall into-the 5,000 who simply believed, the 500 who followed and sought to implement what they were learning from the Savior, or the 12 who identified completely with the life and mission of the Savior? Jesus has called each of us to identify with Him completely. "This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did" (1 Jn. 2:5b-6).

Pray that God will allow you to walk as Jesus did. Experience His power and love in your life today so that others will see the hope that lies in you.

Lovesong

Several years ago, Dave and Nechelle (who coincidentally are getting married end of this year) visited my place in Perth and stayed for a few weeks. Dave was doing an elective at UWA, and Nechelle came for a week to visit. It was a really fun time, and me and Dave jammed alot. Nechelle also cooked the whole family dinner (see, i do remember things =P)

Anyways, this was THE song me and Dave played all the time. I remember those times well... that was when i finally learnt what a harmonic was (thanks Dave!). And we both absolutely loved (well i still do) this song.

So what's so special about this song? I'm not generally a fan of romantic ballads, but this song is special. You can read the words, and each time a different meaning comes up, but the same theme is ever-present. A deep desire to fall more and more in love with God.

This Saviour of mine, who made the "daisies and the roses", who's stature goes beyond "the stars in the heavens", who's "as close as a heartbeat"... who is God (and sometimes it's hard to recognize that when life seems harsh). This is the Saviour I fell in love with.

And this is my prayer to Him...

Lovesong for a Saviour (Jars of Clay)
In open fields of wild flowers
She breathes the air and flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses
In no simple language, someday she'll understand the meaning of it all

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close a heartbeat or a song on her lips
Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call her and she will come running
and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray

I want to fall in love with you

Sitting silent wearing their Sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it calls to the people
Who stare into nowhere, and can't feel the chains on their souls

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close a heartbeat or a song on our lips
Someday we'll trust him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call us and we will come running
and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and we'll pray

I want to fall in love with you

It seems too easy to call you "Savior"
Not close enough to call you "God"
So as i sit and think of words i can mention
To show my devotion

I want to fall in love with you

song of the week

This week's song is: Where the love lasts forever (Hillsong London)
it's been in my head for the whole week. so much that i'm doing it at band practice this week (God help my voice =p). But it's a great song. Lyrics are pretty meaningful.

Your mercy found me,
Upon the broken road,
And lifted me beyond my failing,
Into Your glory,
My sin and shame dissolved,
And now forever Yours I’ll stand.

In love never to end,
To call You more than Lord,
Glorious friend.

So I throw my life upon all You are,
‘Cause I know You gave it all for me,
And when all else fades,
My soul will dance with You,
Where the love lasts forever.

And forever I will sing,
Lord forever I will sing,
Of how You gave Your life away,
Just to save me, Lord You saved me.

I've just finished watching the FA Cup final. it happened again. United dominate extra time, and lose to a late... late goal... am i crushed? Definitely. Defeats hurt. But in the big picture, we've won the league... so it doesn't matter that much.

It's amazing how much emotion goes through watching a game of soccer: anticipation (Rooney picks up the ball on the run), hope (when the ultimate super-sub Solskjaer comes on), cynicism (when Robben "falls"), injustice (i swear THAT ball crossed the line) Heartbreak (cue in Drogba's goal)... yeah. the best part is going through that whole gamut of thoughts, and trying to realize that its just a game. at the end of it, whether my team wins or loses, it really wont affect my life in a really significant manner.

The scary thing is that there are ppl who take very seriously sportsperson halfway across the world winning/losing a game. I can refer you to the example of Andres Escobar, whose own goal in the 1994 World Cup led to Colombia's elimination. He was shot dead back home. There's probably some other issues there which led to his murder (his death was probably associated with large-scale gambling), but generally, who among us (i refer to us guys - have to admit girls are more logical about this =P) has never sworn or thrown something at a TV after seeing someone do something remarkably stupid played out on a sports field?

Which gets me thinking: why do we sometimes invest so much effort/emotions into things which really, at the end, don't matter? To escape a mundane reality? To be a part of something larger than yourself?

I remember a portion from the book Wild at Heart which alludes to why people might follow sport. We all want to be a part of a bigger picture. We all seek significance in some way... and sometimes we try to find it in being part of a winning team. I support Manchester Utd. We're a good team. We play good, flowing attractive football. Notice the "We". I've never played at Old Trafford. I've never even met any of the team, and yet immediately there's that association. I support a winning team. Therefore I'm a winner. And when they lose, am I a loser?

I've been listening to a Delirious CD, and there's a point when the lead singer goes "If we'd all just admit, that we all want to be winners here"... and he goes on and speaks of God. He speaks of how "there's a song the angels have been singing since the dawn of time... " and it is this: "Holy is the lord". And as I recall that now, I've just realized that sometimes we seek our significance in things which will fade away. One day, Sir Alex will retire, and United will go back to being an average team, which I'll continue to support ardently. One day, i will no longer be able to get away with dyeing my hair (refer you to my dad). One day, i will run into someone smarter, faster, funnier, stronger ... etc etc. For some of us, we've reached that point... where we sense that we're not that special after all. We're not the best. We're just normal people. Insignificant

But here's the thing. There's a greater story going on out there. It transcends sport. It goes beyond our daily routines, beyond our relationships. There's more to life than life, so to speak. As the song goes... "And I've found myself in You [God]". I want to live life that way. I cant say I'm at that point now, but i want to live my life in that place. That place where i find myself, my worth in where I am with God. That place where I'm part of a deeper story written by the One who made us. Where I stop striving to earn my significance, but where I start living in the significance of what God has done.

"so take me to that place / where i can see your face
cause all i want to do / and all i want to do is worship you" ("Found")

Congratulations, Nickolas!
Your IQ score is 136

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others.

Your Intellectual Type is Facts Curator. This means you are highly intelligent and have picked up an impressive and unique collection of facts and figures over the years. You've got a remarkable vocabulary and exceptional math skills — which puts you in the same class as brainiacs like Bill Gates...

*looks up at above results skeptically*
i love it when it mentions my "exceptional" math skills. I've spent the last 3 years of my degree avoiding all maths... to this date, mentions of the words "stochastic" or "regression" send shudders down my spine. I remember when my supervisor asked me to consider using regression analysis in my thesis. I think the look of horror on my face might be one he'd remember for a while (i really need to hide my emotions better).

wouldn't mind being Bill Gates for a day though, as long as i didn't have to look like him =p. I'd hope I'd make the world a better place. Or if not, at least I'd have a few extra effects pedals for my guitar... In which case the world would be a much noisier place...

10 random things

ok so Dave tagged me, and the way this works is that once u've been tagged, u have to come up with 10 random things about yourself (i know this is childish. i also know i'm turning 20, the age where childishness should end. but ... oh well =P)

number 1:
i cant touch my hands behind my back. you know the stretching exercise where you raise one arm in the air above your shoulders, bend your elbow back so your hand is in the small of your back, and put your other hand behind your back to grab the hand? i cant do it. i'm not even close. everyone else in cell can. i feel left out =P...

number 2:
while i have 10 gbs of music, i probably only listen to 2 gbs over and over again. and i also listen to the same Jeremy Camp CD quite often (Carried: the worship project - awesome). I also love singing... and i do practice singing in the middle of the night... when everyone is asleep - not very socially responsible, am i? (there's a reason why at one point, we had no neighbours to the left, right and behind of our house)



















number 3:
i dyed my hair brown on a bet with a friend (who shall remain unnamed). i'm still a tad impressed by my impulsiveness =P. She might be as well. Mum wasn't. Dad recommended black with blonde highlights.
see before and after pics... this by itself probably merits a later post.

number 4:
i'm pretty hard of hearing in my left ear. i cant even use a phone on that ear. i blame this to years of ipod usage. why the left? maybe that's because i used to play right next to the drums at church...its all worth it. at least now i have an excuse not to listen to ppl (sorry mum =P)

number 5:
i break guitar strings as regularly as Harry Kewell gets an injury (i think i average about one a week - which is sad as i generally play maybe 3 times a week)... the most memorable was breaking the B and E strings of my electric during a church service, and being forced to improvise a solo for Follow the Son on the higher frets - not fun... if you dont know your scales well - thank God my brother covered haha...
as Andy would call it: "the passion" =D... having said that, at $5 a string, it's starting to become a pricy passion.

number 6:
i'm addicted to sport. totally addicted. i will take a combined 2 hour bus trip to play badminton for an hour. play cricket on Sundays. I try to play tennis on Mondays (badly, but i do try - despite Annabelle beating me regularly). i think my passion for football (soccer to you Aussies out there) is well documented... I've played with sprained ankles. I live and breathe it. Daydream about scoring the perfect girl... no wait ... goal =P. sport keeps me sane.

number 7:
despite the aforementioned hair colour, i am not an ah beng, or a ricey, or an Asian gang leader (my Dad's comment)... i still feel no urges to buy a polluting, way-too-fast jap sports car and rev up and down the streets of Northbridge, or to date an ah lian for that matter...
I can rev the 1.8l 1996 model Camry fast enough... (for an update on Friday's drag race: 1.8l Camry (1996) vs 3.2l Kluger (Circa 2004)... look out for it soon =P. the driver of the Kluger who shall not be named - she asked to remain anonymous - lets just say i lost badly, and to a maneuver which would not be out of place in the Sepang Grand Prix)

number 8:
I'm famous for being a tad... clumsy... example: managing to cut myself twice the other day. the first time was from reaching behind my laptop to unplug it. the second time was from getting the band-aid to fix up the first cut. enough said.

number 9:
i enjoy cooking (though i have a rather limited repertoire). for a detailed menu, ask me or Michelle.

number 10:
Annabelle and I shared the honours today at badminton... she won the first 2 sets 15-7, 15-8, and I won the last 2 sets 15-10, 15-12. She's getting good. very good. I worked twice as hard as she did to win the last 2 sets (and that was only because my male competitive spirit kicked in =P). Does this mean i have to get better at tennis? Fat chance. she beats me regularly. wait, she beats most of us guys who play regularly. too good, girl.

there we go. now who to tag? Boss, you're up next.

maybe i'm a little too competitive....

Just got home from uni... good day today. Skipped my 12pm Micro lecture to go do some shopping (secret business). Got to uni, worked on the thesis presentation a little bit (15 min presentation tomorrow morning - i really should be doing it now =P), and then went to my TIIE lecture.

There's nothing quite like a 3 hour lecture, with a pitifully short 10 minute break in between to make you realise how tiring writing can really be, and how unfortunately boring class can be. luckily the 2nd half was just presentations... so it wasn't all bad.

Also spent the day discussing with friends how my hair should be cut. For those not in the know, i'm getting my hair cut with Yong tmr... at Eternity Hair Salon (recommended by Kevin - i'll tell u how it goes). and no. it's not a gay thing. Guy bonding time =P...

I've realised in the last few days i actually have several fashion consultants i can go to haha. Yong for hair and clothes stuff, Kevin for recommendations as to places to get things done, and Michie... to prevent me from doing anything stupid. i guess i can add Amanda to this list because she tells me when I've been wearing the same shirt too many times (coming from a girl who couldn't pick what my favourite shirt was - but that's another story).

But that's not the point of the post. Lately, i've realised that when i'm playing games... i get a little competitive. I played soccer today with some engineering guys, and Richie... and all was going well (was doing my not-so-good impression of a fullback rampaging down the right wing - think a better-looking Dani Alves, with miles less skill =P), until i decided to get into several tackles. In soccer, there are these things called 50-50 balls, where the ball is loose in between players from opposite teams, and there's equal chance of getting the ball. Generally... he who is bravest gets the ball, and hopefully one of the two (or possibly 3-4) players running towards the ball will pull out (Think of the game "chicken" on the soccer field).
So normally, i go into a tackle, and the other guy will either:
a. pull out of it, so i steal the ball
b. if he's bigger than me, stand his ground - i get... flattened
c. if he's the same size as me, also go for the ball...
see, in (a) and (b), no-one gets hurt (well i get hurt in (b), but that's besides the point - i asked for it). in (c)... hehe

So anyways, Richie had mistakenly allowed the ball to bounce away from him. I dashed in, and as i stuck a leg out to kick the ball, he stuck his leg out, knocking the ball away from me. Due to the laws of physics (momentum), my already outstretched leg kicked the bottom of his foot. i then, carried by momentum flew towards him (i had ran full tilt to get to the ball). Realizing impact was imminent, i stuck an arm out to protect myself. My elbow cracked him solidly on the forehead. We both went down (he was a lot worse off). It was a solid hit.

That wouldn't have been so bad, if i hadn't also contrived to later on, chasing another 50-50 ball... run into him. this time i got the ball first (no foul =P). There was a nice clash of heads... and a nice fall onto the ground. i quote Richie: "i cant believe this is happening again". It's actually the 3rd time I've collided with him. Last week, we were both battling for the ball again, when he contrived to head-butt me in the chest (a la Materazzi). so yeah... Sorry Richie!
(as a note - maybe next time, we should stay on the same team =P)

there was meant to be a conclusion to this... and this is it.

Your honour,
On the morning of the 8th of May 2007, the defendant arose at 7am, being awakened by his accomplice. The defendant stirred groggily from his slumber, and proceeded to matters of personal grooming, before taking the accomplice to school. An uneventful drive beginning at 7:10am resulted in the accomplice being dropped off at his school at around 7:30am. The defendant then proceeded home.
Upon arrival at home, the defendant unlocked the door, and was greeted with a rather rich odour (in the bad sense of the word - chocolate has a rich odour, but this smell was rather less pleasant).
The defendant proceeded to look for the source of the odour. An inspection of the oven revealed a slowly fermenting bowl of steam vegetables, with its own pungent odour. The offending food was disposed off, and yet the odour remained.
Being rather hungry, the defendant proceeded to make his breakfast. Upon opening the freezer, he was struck by its lack of cold. Upon extricating the bottom rack to retrieve the roti prata, the defendant noticed, to his shock that there was a puddle of rather bloody water on the bottom of the freezer. Meanwhile, the odour noticed initially became rather stronger to the defendant.
However, as there was a lit fire on the stove, and a pan heating up, the defendant proceeded to cook breakfast (while at the same time making ineffectual effects to mop up the puddle of liquid). Being of the male gender, the defendant failed at both tasks (multi-tasking being not a skill those possessing the XY chromosome have). The cleanup (with a rag) failed miserably, as more liquid kept dripping from higher racks in the freezer. More significantly to the defendant, the roti was burnt.
Eventually, the defendant conceded defeat in trying to do both tasks at once, and proceeded to eat breakfast. Breakfast would have been otherwise enjoyable, except for the fact that the defendant possessed a personality which hated the feeling of unfinished tasks.
Upon completing other tasks, which involved doing the laundry, and the sweeping and mopping of the floor; the defendant proceeded to clear out the freezer. Not wanting to throw out food that could have been saved, the defendant decided to use the highly scientific smell test ("if it smells bad, chuck it"). However, a quick sniff of some odoriferous poultry, provoked the defendant to a fit of retching. The defendant then consulted an advisor, who proposed a disposal of all the meat. The defendant, unwilling to apply the smell test, agreed. Approximately 10kg of meat, all smelling rather poorly was disposed off, and the remainder (some frozen-now defrosted greens) was transferred to another smaller freezer. The freezer was left to defrost properly (as some of the aforesaid bloody liquid was frozen solid after the defendant had in vain tried to turn the freezer back on to avert disaster)
The defendant would like to say that he is not responsible for this. While the defendant was the person in authority over the house in general, the defendant did not at any point touch the power point (it should be noted that there are two power points in the plug where the freezer was attached to, and 3 appliances: the freezer, toaster and rice cooker - anyone wishing to eat toast would presumably unplug the rice cooker, not the freezer). The defendant did not eat toast at all that weekend, and thus could not have unplugged the freezer.
Thus, responsibility for the incident must be attributed to the other bread-consuming inhabitants (whether temporary or permanent) of the house over the weekend. Having said that, as the defendant has cleared up the mess... there is nothing left to do, except to perhaps get the accomplice to handle the laundry as punishment =P.

So if i were a bad guy... (a significant waste of time here)

Your results:
You are Venom

Venom 49% Mystique 49% Apocalypse 48% Dark Phoenix 48% Poison Ivy 47% Dr. Doom 45% The Joker 45% Riddler 44% Mr. Freeze 43% Two-Face 41% Lex Luthor 40% Magneto 38% Catwoman 31% Green Goblin 29% Juggernaut 29% Kingpin 28%

Strength, disguise and adrenaline are your greatest weapons.

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

Abstract

I've spent most of the day studying... with an abstract due tomorrow and a microeconomics test on Thursday, time is sparse. hence, today's post will consist of my abstract... a 499 word summary of what will be my year's work... an 11000-15000 (probably closer to the 11000 word mark).

enjoy reading fellas... and spare a thought for who's going to have to look up all that export data. although to be honest, there are probably worse things to research than one's own country. I'm actually quite interested in economics, and in Malaysia in general, so this thesis is probably going to be the point where that interest ends... =P

oh btw, honourable mentions go to Olivia and Annabelle for helping me proofread this at a late hour. Your comments were appreciated (i'll append Olivia's revamp of my abstract one day =P)
thanks girls!

A Revealed Comparative Advantage Analysis of the Export Competitiveness of Malaysia and Singapore

The ASEAN economies have generally experienced large economic growth and industrialisation in the past two decades. Export-led strategies have been at the heart of the region’s economic growth. However, the region’s vulnerability to the 1997 financial crisis and intensifying competitive pressure brings the risk that the ASEAN economies will be marginalised in terms of exports, with an adverse effect on growth. Export competitiveness is thus a key issue for ASEAN’s future economic prospects.

The dissertation will focus on Malaysia and Singapore for several reasons. Firstly, both economies are highly interdependent in terms of trade and capital flows. Also, in comparison to the other ASEAN members, there is a greater and pronouncedly increasing competition in bilateral trade between both countries. Finally, both countries are also especially open to international trade and capital flows and possess the most competitive economies in ASEAN.

Malaysia’s export sector, dominated by electronics and petroleum-based products has contributed significantly to its past economic growth, and its export competitiveness will be crucial to its future growth. However, a changing global environment marked by growing trade liberalisation, increasing competition and the emergence of other low-cost producers in the region requires an analysis of Malaysia’s export competitiveness.

Singapore’s export sector, dominated by the electronics sector has experienced slowing growth, partially due to increasing competition. Thus, there needs to be an assessment of its export sector to determine whether this decline reflects an erosion in competitiveness, or a natural process of shifting comparative advantage and market diversification.

The principal aim of the dissertation will be to determine the structure of comparative advantage during the period 1995-2005 enjoyed by Malaysia and Singapore in the global market. Firstly, the export structures of both countries will be analysed at a general level. The Balassa index (1965) will then be used to analyse trends in the pattern of comparative advantage in exports in both countries during the 1995-2005 period at a broad and disaggregated level. The leading manufacturing industries in terms of comparative advantage will be identified.

The degree of trade competition between the two countries will then be analysed using the index of trade competition. General trends in trade competition over the 1995-2005 period will be analysed, with a focus on 2005 where analysis will be done at a disaggregated level.

Linnemann’s (1996) COS index will be used to assess the potential for expanding trade between the two nations across different sectors. The extent to which the pattern of specialisation as observed in Malaysia and Singapore is competitive or complementary in the world market will thus be analysed.

Finally, the dissertation will focus in detail on the electronics industry of both countries. A revealed comparative advantage analysis of the different products within the industry over the period 1995-2005 will be undertaken. An in-depth analysis of this sector is relevant as it is a key component of the exports of both countries, being the leading export for both countries in 2005.

Just for fun, i've attached the original (pre-proof-reading) manuscript. The red marks indicate Olivia's comments (Thanks again =D)

The ASEAN economies have generally experienced large economic growth and industrialisation in the past two decades (rephrase?). Export-led strategies have been at the heart of the region’s economic growth. However, the region’s vulnerability to the 1997 financial crisis and intensifying competitive pressure brings the risk that the ASEAN economies will be marginalised in terms of exports, with (leading to?) an adverse effect on growth. Export competitiveness is thus a key issue for ASEAN’s future economic prospects.

The dissertation will focus on Malaysia and Singapore for several reasons. Firstly, both economies are highly interdependent in terms of trade and capital flows. Also (delete?), in comparison to the other ASEAN members, there is a greater and pronouncedly increasing competition in bilateral trade between both countries. Finally (additionally), both countries are also (delete) especially open to international trade and capital flows and possess the most competitive economies in ASEAN.

Malaysia’s export sector is dominated by electronics and petroleum-based products, which have contributed significantly to its past economic growth. Should try and link sentences somehow? Its export competitiveness will be crucial to its future growth. However (delete), a changing global environment marked by growing trade liberalisation, increasing competition and the emergence of other low-cost producers in the region requires an analysis of Malaysia’s export competitiveness.

(On the other hand…. On the contary? In contrast? Hmm.. ) Singapore’s export sector, which is dominated by the (delete) electronics sector (delete? I don’t like repetition =P. the term ‘electronics’ makes sense by itself anyway.) has experienced slowing growth, partially due to increasing competition. Thus, there needs to be (delete…is need for) an assessment of its export sector to determine whether this decline reflects an erosion in competitiveness, or a natural process of shifting comparative advantage and market diversification.

The principal aim of the dissertation will be to determine the structure of comparative advantage during the period 1995-2005 enjoyed by Malaysia and Singapore in the global market. Firstly, the export structures of both countries will be analysed at a general level. The Balassa index (1965) will then be used to analyse trends in the pattern of comparative advantage in exports in both countries during the 1995-2005 period at a broad and disaggregated level. (this will allow for… to be identified?) The leading manufacturing industries in terms of comparative advantage will be identified.

The degree of trade competition between the two countries will then be analysed using the index of trade competition. General trends in trade competition over the 1995-2005 period will be analysed, with a focus on 2005 where analysis will be done at a disaggregated level.

Linnemann’s (1996) COS index will be used to assess the potential for expanding trade between the two nations across different sectors. The extent to which the pattern of specialisation as observed in Malaysia and Singapore is competitive or complementary in the world market will thus be analysed.

Finally, the dissertation will focus in detail on the electronics industry of both countries. A revealed comparative advantage analysis of the different products within the industry over the period 1995-2005 will be undertaken. An in-depth analysis of this sector is relevant as it is a key component of the exports of both countries, being the leading export for both countries in 2005. Maybe refine it a little here… it’s a bit clumsy.

Yay! all done =)