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.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
So if i were a bad guy... (a significant waste of time here)
Your results:
You are Venom
Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz
You are Venom
| Strength, disguise and adrenaline are your greatest weapons. |
Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
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!
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.
Monday, April 30, 2007
a long break
wow its been ages since i last blogged... but i was surfing the other day and came across dave's blog... and he made mention of my blog preceding his... so yes... i feel compelled to keep the chain going.
well currently i'm in the middle of my Economics honours year, which entails 2 coursework units, and a nice, long thesis (11000-15000 words)... i've spent this semester going btw meetings with my supervisor, attending lectures (only have 7 contact hours, so its a bit... slack if i don't attend), and coping with the usual workload of assignments. honours assignments, btw are significantly different to undergrad ones. here's my assignment question for Topics in International Finance:
"...make a class presentation. the topic must be discussed with the course controller and it must be trade-related"
nice and clear there... i ended up talking about the flying geese model of economic development. But only after i had spent hours looking for research topics that were ... well worth discussing...
moving along from the academic side of life... i had the opportunity to go to Sabah on a missions trip last December. for the sake of brevity (and so i have something to write about in later posts), i'll just say that it was a life-changing trip. i learnt so much about myself, about life, about what is truly important in life, and about God. the trip was probably one of the most vivid experiences I've had in my life. no regrets (except that the trip wasn't longer =P).
so yeah ... what's happened in my life recently?
well currently i'm in the middle of my Economics honours year, which entails 2 coursework units, and a nice, long thesis (11000-15000 words)... i've spent this semester going btw meetings with my supervisor, attending lectures (only have 7 contact hours, so its a bit... slack if i don't attend), and coping with the usual workload of assignments. honours assignments, btw are significantly different to undergrad ones. here's my assignment question for Topics in International Finance:
"...make a class presentation. the topic must be discussed with the course controller and it must be trade-related"
nice and clear there... i ended up talking about the flying geese model of economic development. But only after i had spent hours looking for research topics that were ... well worth discussing...
moving along from the academic side of life... i had the opportunity to go to Sabah on a missions trip last December. for the sake of brevity (and so i have something to write about in later posts), i'll just say that it was a life-changing trip. i learnt so much about myself, about life, about what is truly important in life, and about God. the trip was probably one of the most vivid experiences I've had in my life. no regrets (except that the trip wasn't longer =P).
so yeah ... what's happened in my life recently?
- J-life Camp - Crossfire 07... sleep-depriving, personally challenging, competitiveness-inducing (ok that's not a word), inspiring - awesome camp. more on it in future posts. for now, here's the video (in 2 parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJuV8qBZ_Og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj5NRKPsH5Y - major personal screw-up at work. Just shows that even Christian's lives aren't perfect (even after the 'high' of a youth camp). but I've learnt much from it, and that's what matters at the end (though the monetary cost will be high... ouch!)
- a lot of sport... having reached the peaks of a "triple blister" upon successive games of tennis and baddy, I've decided to take it easy for a while (for 3 days at least - soccer on Thursday)
- much procrastination in my work... as evidenced by this post. i shouldn't be doing this now. thus, i'll end it here... cyas guys!
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