Reuters has a nice interactive graphics on the effects of the recent events in Egypt, Libya and Japan.
Reuters lovely chart here
*Hint...buy silver now*
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sayonara Japan, maybe forever
Last year in November 2011, I had a vacation in Japan with my sisters. While trying very hard to stick to our itinerary and avoid getting lost in Tokyo city, I made a remark to my sister, Shiyun that the Tokyo that we were looking at was likely to be at its peak in modern history.
At that point of time, I was thinking along the lines of macro economics, like aging population, economic issues and their low reproduction rates (despite having an insane amount of porn in their media).But little did I knew, that the statement that I had made would had turned so true so soon. Things are now going downhill with such ferocity for Japan, that it is totally unreal.
On 11th March 2011, the forces of nature shook Japan with a massive 8.8-9.0 earthquake (depending on who you listens to), ravaged her with towering tsunamis, and then end the insult with an upcoming nuclear disaster involving 6 reactors.
The chains of events that had unfolded so far pretty much set what I had said to my sister in concrete. The Japan that she had visited will never be the same again. Probably by tomorrow, nuclear fallout would be spreading from the doomed power plant. That will send Japan into the Great Depression v2.0 faster than I thought, and with certainty.
By the way, you can kiss goodbye to the Japan holiday idea for a decade or so if the nuclear plant starts releasing nuclear fallout as prophesied.
At that point of time, I was thinking along the lines of macro economics, like aging population, economic issues and their low reproduction rates (despite having an insane amount of porn in their media).But little did I knew, that the statement that I had made would had turned so true so soon. Things are now going downhill with such ferocity for Japan, that it is totally unreal.
On 11th March 2011, the forces of nature shook Japan with a massive 8.8-9.0 earthquake (depending on who you listens to), ravaged her with towering tsunamis, and then end the insult with an upcoming nuclear disaster involving 6 reactors.
The chains of events that had unfolded so far pretty much set what I had said to my sister in concrete. The Japan that she had visited will never be the same again. Probably by tomorrow, nuclear fallout would be spreading from the doomed power plant. That will send Japan into the Great Depression v2.0 faster than I thought, and with certainty.
By the way, you can kiss goodbye to the Japan holiday idea for a decade or so if the nuclear plant starts releasing nuclear fallout as prophesied.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Great depression V2.0
It has been years after I started to explore the financial markets, looking for a greener pasture instead if climbing the boring corporate ladder. Forex trading is still my main focus but I couldn't tame the beast just yet.
As each financial market is entwined with another, I eventually dug more into macro economics. While doing some research on macro economics and through the studying of the 2008 collapse of the sub-prime market which triggered a chain of crazy bubbles explosions, I learn that things are not well now. I can go on and on but let's summaries this quickly.
The worst is yet to come. The rampant debasement of the fiat currency which is the world reserve currency call the US dollar is on the verge of pushing the world into the next Great depression and maybe even WWIII.
It's a doom and gloom story here is my prediction for 2011 and beyond.
1) The official inflation rate 2011 estimate of 2-4% will be a joke. It will beyond 5%. Everything will increase in price.
2) Most currency will fall in value in relation to gold and silver.
3) There will be more wars, civil wars, border disputes, unrest, protest, and basically lots of angry people all over the world.
4) Watch your petrol price. It is going to soar.
So what to do?
1)Dump US dollar, anything that is denominated in USD$ is going to look really sad.
2)Buy gold and silver. Not the jewelery type but ETF, 99% bullion, 99% coins, UOB silver & gold saving accounts.
Prices of gold and silver are going through the roof. Grabs yours today.
3) Hang on to your government job if you have one.
Things are not so rosy this year.
As each financial market is entwined with another, I eventually dug more into macro economics. While doing some research on macro economics and through the studying of the 2008 collapse of the sub-prime market which triggered a chain of crazy bubbles explosions, I learn that things are not well now. I can go on and on but let's summaries this quickly.
The worst is yet to come. The rampant debasement of the fiat currency which is the world reserve currency call the US dollar is on the verge of pushing the world into the next Great depression and maybe even WWIII.
It's a doom and gloom story here is my prediction for 2011 and beyond.
1) The official inflation rate 2011 estimate of 2-4% will be a joke. It will beyond 5%. Everything will increase in price.
2) Most currency will fall in value in relation to gold and silver.
3) There will be more wars, civil wars, border disputes, unrest, protest, and basically lots of angry people all over the world.
4) Watch your petrol price. It is going to soar.
So what to do?
1)Dump US dollar, anything that is denominated in USD$ is going to look really sad.
2)Buy gold and silver. Not the jewelery type but ETF, 99% bullion, 99% coins, UOB silver & gold saving accounts.
Prices of gold and silver are going through the roof. Grabs yours today.
3) Hang on to your government job if you have one.
Things are not so rosy this year.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Collateral damage
While doing my job as a all-in-one IT guy, there are so many times that I had came across issues which I could have make my own life easier by letting them go but didn't. It involves rubbing salt into old and fresh wounds, opening cans of worms and Pandora boxes, stepping on toes, jumping over people's heads, crossing hostile territories and getting death threats.
Ok I admit that I am making up the last one. Anyway, the benefits are there for the organisation to reap while I siphon some cash in return, making it a fair trade. But playing the devil with good intentions does require human sacrifices. I prefer to call them collateral damage, which could range from the lightest form as extra work for people, making people look bad to making people disappear.
Lately I claimed my latest victim, who was caught red handed in the cookie jar, and will end up exiting the organisation in shame. What did I gained? Nothing much except some extra work and the satisfaction of tasting blood. How about the organisation? Well this latest exploit bought them a few more weeks of time to drag their feet to get things done through the slow moving bureaucracy.
I am sure during the course my career in the organisation, more people will be crucified and sacrificed in the pursue of the betterment of the organisation .. and myself.
Next time, be wary of the IT guy next to you. You have been warned.
Ok I admit that I am making up the last one. Anyway, the benefits are there for the organisation to reap while I siphon some cash in return, making it a fair trade. But playing the devil with good intentions does require human sacrifices. I prefer to call them collateral damage, which could range from the lightest form as extra work for people, making people look bad to making people disappear.
Lately I claimed my latest victim, who was caught red handed in the cookie jar, and will end up exiting the organisation in shame. What did I gained? Nothing much except some extra work and the satisfaction of tasting blood. How about the organisation? Well this latest exploit bought them a few more weeks of time to drag their feet to get things done through the slow moving bureaucracy.
I am sure during the course my career in the organisation, more people will be crucified and sacrificed in the pursue of the betterment of the organisation .. and myself.
Next time, be wary of the IT guy next to you. You have been warned.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
How fast can a reward turned sour?
Somewhere around 15 minutes.
During last month department meeting, I got a surprise when my group head Mr See announced that I had won a newly created reward. This reward was meant for recognizing one person per department who had slaved the most to contribute to the department. I guess either my hard work and commitment to work had got me something to show for it. But instead, it is my lack of social life had came back to haunt me.
I opened up the envelop and read the content of the letter inside. The reward was a stay in one of the YTL luxury resorts in the region ... for 2. That's about when all the euphoria sunk to the deepest hole in the oceans.
Ok, let's review the conditions.
Anyway, got to make a choice, and I made it Tembok Bali, the spa resort.
During last month department meeting, I got a surprise when my group head Mr See announced that I had won a newly created reward. This reward was meant for recognizing one person per department who had slaved the most to contribute to the department. I guess either my hard work and commitment to work had got me something to show for it. But instead, it is my lack of social life had came back to haunt me.
I opened up the envelop and read the content of the letter inside. The reward was a stay in one of the YTL luxury resorts in the region ... for 2. That's about when all the euphoria sunk to the deepest hole in the oceans.
Ok, let's review the conditions.
- To be used within a year.
Sounds fair. - For a stay for about 2 days/1 night.
Hmm no transport? Some of the resorts are really far out. No problem though. - Employee must be present with employee pass.
Cannot sell or give away to anyone. I must be present to check in. Ahh no trading or Ebay. Oh wait, must be employee pass! That means I cannot quit to claim it. - For 2 person
Ok this is the worst part. I can't give it to my parents because of condition 3. If I bring my sisters, I need to pay for an additional headcount. Not all resorts have the capacity to allow a 3rd person in the room provided.
- Let it lapse.
Hope everyone forget it. - Forcibly give it away.
Tell my department head that I don't want the reward. - Go alone.
I rather stay at home then. - Go with sisters.
I got to cough up extra $$$ to rope in my youngest sister because she will go bankrupt after the upcoming Tokyo trip in November. - Go with a buddy.
Gayyyyy. - Get a girlfriend and go.
... and risk being labeled as a wolf. - Go with the other winners.
Most of them are attached, married, wrong age group or are guys.
Anyway, got to make a choice, and I made it Tembok Bali, the spa resort.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Bodyguards and Assassins : After thoughts
Warning : Spoilers alert + crappy commentariesIn the movie, Sun Yat-Sen went to Hong Kong to hold a meeting to convince a group of Qing Dynasty haters to organise an uprising throughout China simultaneously. Empress Dowager Cix sent a team of assassins to murder Sun Yat-Sen while a local Hong Kong business man Li Yu Tang formed a cracked team of mainly rickshaw pullers and printing press employees to play defense.
The action started after 1.5 hours of character building. Somehow, Li Yu-Tang managed to pull off several miracles, and eventually bought enough time through a decoy mission for Sun Yat-Sen's meeting to be completed.
Here are some highlights.
- A Shaolin monk, Wang Fu Ming who was like the Orient version of the Hulk, smashed through groups of assassins while taking so much damage that I thought he should have died in two scenes before he actually died.
- Performed hardening roof and sides of the rickshaws used in the convey but neglected to add an extra armor plate to protect the back of the passenger.
- Get a incestuous opium powered begger Mr Liu played by Leon Lai to hold off an entire team of assassins ... alone using a metal fan with fatal results to everyone including himself.
- Use a conference call instead of a meeting. Skype? MSN?
- Employ Cisco Certis guards instead of rickshaw pullers.
- Cordoned off the paths used by the convoy instead of leaving it to fate.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A IT Infrastructure Guide to handle a confirmed virus infection for managers
As a general rule of thumb, the more computers you have in your network, the higher the chance of getting hit by a nasty bug. So what happens when you are actually hit by a nasty 1 year old worm?
Put yourself in the shoes of a IT Infrastructure manager, what will be your response ? You can select more than one choice.
If you had selected none of the options, you are an IT engineer like me.
Put yourself in the shoes of a IT Infrastructure manager, what will be your response ? You can select more than one choice.
- Panic.
- Continue to chit chat.
- Believe that your last anti-virus upgrade had covered all machines.
- Blindly trust that the sales pitch from your anti-virus vendor that the anti-virus is a prevent-all and cure-all which will also solve the world's crisis.
- Say "Trust me", turn around and call the anti-virus vendor to log a case, and start a anti-virus scan on a server with 20 users connected.
- Spend 15 minutes to draft an email to tell users that "we are sorry but we need to shut your favorite server down".
- Question whether will the virus spread when it did with a big bang less than a week ago.
- Refuse to disconnect the server because "I will not have remote console access to it".
- Backed with many years of Unix environment experience in a bank, decided that the Windows engineer recommendations to contain the virus was nonsense. (*Hint* Unix doesn't suffer from virus attacks)
- Refuse to install the only patch known to fix a vulnerability exploited by the virus because it is "a untested patch" when the situation is, without the patch, the whole network and all servers are not usable.
- Expect to see up a nicely drafted plan which will take hours to craft if you can get the relevant people together in time before taking any action.
- Call a debriefing with security experts and walk out because it's lunch time.
- Using phases like "didn't like your attitude", "you want to do things this way?" and "is this the way you do things?", rejecting all recommendations from the Windows engineer without coming up with any suggestions or plan,
- Yanking out the network cables to isolate the problem is too drastic.
- Killing the WAN link at the first hint of a major virus out break without spending time to analyse is not right.
- Repeating the same mistake again in less than a week.
If you had selected none of the options, you are an IT engineer like me.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Superior bangladesh technology
While getting into the train station gates as I did for days after days to get to work. I noticed a bangladesh guy was holding up the queue at one of the gates. The station gates refused to grant him entry as the contactless card reader couldn't read his Ezlink card. As it was rush hour at 7.30am, this little holdup raised a number of frown eyebrows.
Being the nasty bastard that I have always been, with my patience reached, I seized an opportunity when he shifted himself to look at his card to clear the gates. The gates did not failed me as it flew open as soon as I tapped my wallet on the contactless card reader. I took a quick glance at the bangladesh guy wondering what's wrong with him and the card.
Obviously the station gates are working as intended. And then I saw what was in his hands.
He was holding a receipt.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Goodbye to my O2 Atom
On last Sunday, I went to the Singtel shop at Bugis Junction as the last customer of the day, to buy the HTC Dream. I wanted the HTC Touch Pro 2 in May, but without a contract, it will cost a princely sum of $1388. Well, my O2 Atom had to go. it is slow, hard to use without a stylus (I broke at least 6 of them, which is damn pricey) and bulky.
Here is the pros and cons that went through my head before I made the purchase, and my experience of the phone for the last few days. I know this is an unfair fight, but I am going to justify my purchase with some twisted logic anyway.
Our 3 contenters are the O2 Atom, HTC Dream and the upcoming HTC Touch Pro 2.
Price
O2 Atom = $0
HTC Dream = $248 with 3G Flexi contract ($56/mth, 1GB data, 500 SMS and 200mins outgoing)
HTC Touch Pro 2 = $1388 (No contract)
Winner = HTC Dream. I got some money to spend, but not enough for the Touch Pro 2.
OS
O2 Atom = Windows Mobile 5.0
HTC Dream = Android 1.1
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Windows Mobile 6.1
Winner = HTC Dream. It's way faster than Windows Mobile. Somewhat like a iPhone OS which can multi-task programs.
Internet Sharing
O2 Atom = No
HTC Dream = No
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Yes
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Womdows Mobile 6.1 allows internet sharing with a notebook.
Bluetooth
O2 Atom = Yes. Bluetooth 1.0
HTC Dream = No
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Yes. Bluetooth 2.0
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. HTC Dream can only do bluetooth headsets and the O2 Atom can only do it at 1.0 speed.
Weight
O2 Atom = Heavy and bulky.
HTC Dream = Heavy.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = No idea.
Winner = HTC Dream.
Battery life
O2 Atom = Sucks
HTC Dream = Sucks
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Likely to suck
Winner = All sucks. It's a tie here.
Free Software
O2 Atom = Harder and harder to get
HTC Dream = Lots of free stuff from android market
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Loads of stuff if you know where to pirate them
Winner = HTC Dream and HTC Touch Pro 2. Software for nothing is always good.
Speed
O2 Atom = Slow
HTC Dream = Fast
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Likely to be laggy.
Winner = HTC Dream. It's surprisely fast.
Screen
O2 Atom = Small
HTC Dream = Large
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Large and hi-res.
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Yummy hi-res screen.
Input method
O2 Atom = Stylus.
HTC Dream = Touch and keyboard.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Touch and keyboard.
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Better designed keyboard compared to the HTC smallish keyboard.
Design
O2 Atom = Small, roundish and fat. Full of fingerprints all over the place quickly.
HTC Dream = Long, fat and ugly. Very plastic feel.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Long, fat and stylish.
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Less bad points than the rest.
Speaker and Vibration
O2 Atom = No speaker phone. Can't feel it in my pocket. The speaker is too soft.
HTC Dream = Good speaker phone, speaker loud enough, but weak vibration.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = No idea.
Winner = HTC Dream. I missed many SMS and calls while using the O2 Atom.
.
.
.
.
And finally the verdict is that the HTC Dream is cheap and good. But if i strike Toto today, I will still go for the HTC Touch Pro 2.
Here is the pros and cons that went through my head before I made the purchase, and my experience of the phone for the last few days. I know this is an unfair fight, but I am going to justify my purchase with some twisted logic anyway.
Our 3 contenters are the O2 Atom, HTC Dream and the upcoming HTC Touch Pro 2.
Price
O2 Atom = $0
HTC Dream = $248 with 3G Flexi contract ($56/mth, 1GB data, 500 SMS and 200mins outgoing)
HTC Touch Pro 2 = $1388 (No contract)
Winner = HTC Dream. I got some money to spend, but not enough for the Touch Pro 2.
OS
O2 Atom = Windows Mobile 5.0
HTC Dream = Android 1.1
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Windows Mobile 6.1
Winner = HTC Dream. It's way faster than Windows Mobile. Somewhat like a iPhone OS which can multi-task programs.
Internet Sharing
O2 Atom = No
HTC Dream = No
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Yes
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Womdows Mobile 6.1 allows internet sharing with a notebook.
Bluetooth
O2 Atom = Yes. Bluetooth 1.0
HTC Dream = No
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Yes. Bluetooth 2.0
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. HTC Dream can only do bluetooth headsets and the O2 Atom can only do it at 1.0 speed.
Weight
O2 Atom = Heavy and bulky.
HTC Dream = Heavy.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = No idea.
Winner = HTC Dream.
Battery life
O2 Atom = Sucks
HTC Dream = Sucks
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Likely to suck
Winner = All sucks. It's a tie here.
Free Software
O2 Atom = Harder and harder to get
HTC Dream = Lots of free stuff from android market
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Loads of stuff if you know where to pirate them
Winner = HTC Dream and HTC Touch Pro 2. Software for nothing is always good.
Speed
O2 Atom = Slow
HTC Dream = Fast
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Likely to be laggy.
Winner = HTC Dream. It's surprisely fast.
Screen
O2 Atom = Small
HTC Dream = Large
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Large and hi-res.
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Yummy hi-res screen.
Input method
O2 Atom = Stylus.
HTC Dream = Touch and keyboard.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Touch and keyboard.
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Better designed keyboard compared to the HTC smallish keyboard.
Design
O2 Atom = Small, roundish and fat. Full of fingerprints all over the place quickly.
HTC Dream = Long, fat and ugly. Very plastic feel.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = Long, fat and stylish.
Winner = HTC Touch Pro 2. Less bad points than the rest.
Speaker and Vibration
O2 Atom = No speaker phone. Can't feel it in my pocket. The speaker is too soft.
HTC Dream = Good speaker phone, speaker loud enough, but weak vibration.
HTC Touch Pro 2 = No idea.
Winner = HTC Dream. I missed many SMS and calls while using the O2 Atom.
.
.
.
.
And finally the verdict is that the HTC Dream is cheap and good. But if i strike Toto today, I will still go for the HTC Touch Pro 2.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Crappy week since my return from Perth
It had been a crappy week since I returned on Thursday morning from Perth.
When I reached home in the wee hours on Thursday morning, I couldn't adjust to Singapore's terrible heat after spending the last few days in Perth's autumn. The plane that I had taken on my return trip was stuffy and so was the taxi that I took on my way home. It didn't help when I reached home and found that my air-conditioner also call it quits. Instead of chilled air, it spewed heated air like the air-conditioner in the hostel that I had stayed in back in Perth. Perth is on the borderline of being cold while Singapore is not, so this sucks. The repairman visited on Saturday, took assessment and came back on Tuesday to complete the job for $220. Ouch.
On Monday, I found that the left side of my Audio-Technica ATH-EM7 earphone also decided to malfunction. The audio jack was found to be broken. I guess I have to get it repaired because the earphone itself is not cheap ($170 retail).
And today is my last day with Axiant Consulting, the firm that I had stayed with as a pseudo consultant for a year as the last chinese guy in the small outfit. I had never stepped into the office before and will likely not to for as far as I can see. Their HR screwed up and did not processed my transport claims for the entire duration that I was there. Shame !!!
Things didn't go very well today as one of the most labour intensive project that I am holding on ran into problems during a schedule disaster recovery exercise. It was 75% successful. Sigh. Another project officially got delayed for another 2 weeks because another project that it was depending on did not complete on time. Double sigh.
By the way, I am writing this because WoW is under maintenance now. This clearly shows my lack of a social life.
When I reached home in the wee hours on Thursday morning, I couldn't adjust to Singapore's terrible heat after spending the last few days in Perth's autumn. The plane that I had taken on my return trip was stuffy and so was the taxi that I took on my way home. It didn't help when I reached home and found that my air-conditioner also call it quits. Instead of chilled air, it spewed heated air like the air-conditioner in the hostel that I had stayed in back in Perth. Perth is on the borderline of being cold while Singapore is not, so this sucks. The repairman visited on Saturday, took assessment and came back on Tuesday to complete the job for $220. Ouch.
On Monday, I found that the left side of my Audio-Technica ATH-EM7 earphone also decided to malfunction. The audio jack was found to be broken. I guess I have to get it repaired because the earphone itself is not cheap ($170 retail).
And today is my last day with Axiant Consulting, the firm that I had stayed with as a pseudo consultant for a year as the last chinese guy in the small outfit. I had never stepped into the office before and will likely not to for as far as I can see. Their HR screwed up and did not processed my transport claims for the entire duration that I was there. Shame !!!
Things didn't go very well today as one of the most labour intensive project that I am holding on ran into problems during a schedule disaster recovery exercise. It was 75% successful. Sigh. Another project officially got delayed for another 2 weeks because another project that it was depending on did not complete on time. Double sigh.
By the way, I am writing this because WoW is under maintenance now. This clearly shows my lack of a social life.
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