Heading to Taipei, Taiwan to begin a new life in a new country, and working for Atelligent Global Consulting Corp. for 1 year...'Carriers shouldn't marry'Should this be considered an act of discrimination against HIV/AIDS carriers?KUALA LUMPUR - HIV carriers should not be allowed to marry, in order to avoid having sick children, a top Malaysian politician was quoted on Monday as saying.
'Somebody who is very sick like that should not be allowed to get married,' Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, chief minister of northern Perak state was quoted as saying by New Straits Times newspaper.
'If there's any breeding, sorry for having to use that word, the embryo will also carry the same virus. So that is even more unfair because you are actually passing that disease on to the child.'
He had been asked to comment on a statement by an official of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia that Muslims who test positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, would still be allowed to marry.
An aide to Mr Nizar, who is a member of the opposition Islamist party Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), said the minister was referring to both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted last week as saying all Muslim couples in peninsular Malaysia must undergo HIV screening before getting married.
The debate on the right of HIV/AIDS carriers, especially Muslims, to marry comes as mostly Muslim Malaysia is struggling to allay concerns of a rise in hardline Islam.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said last month Muslims are allowed to do yoga but without chanting, reversing an outright ban that had caused a flap in the country.
The government has also threatened to shut down a Catholic newspaper for using the world 'Allah', saying it could inflame the country's Muslim population.
Politically dominant ethnic Malay Muslims form about 60 percent of the population of roughly 26 million, while the ethnic Indian and Chinese minorities include Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians. -- REUTERS
It actually belongs to Shirley, who lent it to Rina who didn't manage to return it back.... and Rina didn't actually manage to read it till now so I borrowed it after learning from Shirley that it's with Rina (phew what an explanation haha)IMF conditions may result in 3m job cuts: economistsHaving read "The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein (see previous posts HERE), I find the contents of this article quite disturbing... I am not an economist, and probably am extremely clueless about how to fix fiscal deficits and such... but speaking as a person on the street, I wonder about the very high costs associated with the option of receiving aid from the IMF. It is sad that pumping this money into this economy will make life harder for those who have been working hard on driving the economy all these while... I wonder also, if such dire consequences would have been predicted if the government of Pakistan had gone with some other option of funding...
Sher Baz Khan
Saturday, 29 Nov, 2008 | 10:36 AM PST |
ISLAMABAD: Conditions attached to the $7.6 billion International Monetary Fund loan are expected to cause up to three million job cuts in different sectors and push another 5.6 million to 7.5 million Pakistanis into poverty over the next two years.
This was stated by the chief economist of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Mr Sakib Shirani, at a discussion on the IMF loan organised here on Friday by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). A number of economists and industrialists attended the discussion.However, Mr Shirani, who was part of the talks held in Dubai between Pakistani and IMF officials, said the government was left with no option but to seek the IMF ‘standby arrangements’.
The topic of the discussion was ‘IMF: pain or panacea’.
When asked about the immediate fallout of the conditions which was aimed at slowing down the import-led economic growth, Mr Shirani said that two to three million people would lose their jobs in various sectors, including fertiliser, manufacturing and services.
He said the GDP growth was expected to slow down to 3.4 per cent this year. ‘Some 5.6 to 7.5 million people will be added to the existing number of poor’.
...
CRSS executive director Dr Farrukh Saleem said Pakistan was facing three problems — trust deficit, budgetary deficit — the government raises Rs1.5 trillion as revenue and spends Rs2 trillion — and trade deficit — the country imports goods worth $35 billion and exports goods worth $20 billion. ‘Pakistan is now like a patient who is suffering from a severe heart attack and the only doctor around is the IMF.’
He said that over the past 64 years the IMF had been following a standard prescription: increase taxation, reduce government expenditure and devalue currency. But, he said, a large majority of the IMF recipients, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand and Congo, had failed to implement these measures.
The panelists were of the view that an increase in taxation would mean a further slowdown in the economy which would mean an increase in unemployment. ‘Same thing is with the rate of interest. The high cost of capital leads to closure of a number of industrial units, meaning more unemployment.’
to read the article in full, click HERE
In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that — to help people see themselves in others — through the power of film.
Check out http://pangeaday.org/index.php and watch the featured films... some of the films are quite short... but very powerful in terms of the messages sent across...
I was particularly struck by this one film titled "More", which tells the story of an old inventor who lives a grey, gloomy life and how he pursues bliss in his life -> Click Here to watch More
Another great film is titled "Papiroflexia" (Spanish for “origami”) and is about shaping the world with our own hands -> Click here to watch Papiroflexia
This is me in March 2008 in Tokyo, Japan. and yes my hair was long enough to tie up...
In THE SHOCK DOCTRINE, Naomi Klein explodes the myth that the global free market triumphed democratically. Exposing the thinking, the money trail and the puppet strings behind the world-changing crises and wars of the last four decades, The Shock Doctrine is the gripping story of how America’s “free market” policies have come to dominate the world-- through the exploitation of disaster-shocked people and countries. Click here to read more...What Sharon Means |
 You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic “Type A” personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. |
'What counts above all is coordination and the will not to act each for himself as we have seen a little bit in some European cases.'So while globalisation has taken off, along with the flourishing of trade laws, global governing bodies and international standards, we are still struggling with the other doors that globalisation opens up. How do we manage the safety and interests of our own countries while taking a consistent stand on the actions of other countries whose actions impact us? If trade and economic relations are such key drivers for the opening of a country's doors to the world that they can easily become the trump card for placing pressure for positive change, why then has the concept of social responsibility still only remained within the sphere of companies and businesses instead of being extended between states? instead of something driven together by both government and companies?
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND CHIEF DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN
This is one movie that has made my top ten best movie to watch list... so yes it's in the list alongside others such as the Shawshank Redemption, Remember the Titans, The Usual Suspect, Gattaca to name a few..
Yesterday was the Mid Autumn Festival celebration in my Junior College... this photo shows people from at least 5 generations of members from the Wushu club... says a lot about the kind of experiences we had in our 2 years in wushu...
"the US Olympic Committee, by paying US$25,000 (S$35,000) for a gold medal, US$15,000 for silver and US$10,000 for bronze, provides a fairer gauge: 25 points for gold, 15 for silver, 10 for bronze.
By that method, China have 1,870 points and the Americans 1,830."
4) the REAL Olympic medal tally| Read more at http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/STIStory_261297.html July 25, 2008 | |
| Tray Return initiative at Suntec food court struggles | |
| Food Court drive to get diners to clear their trays and dishes is ignored by patrons | |
| By Elizabeth Wilmot | |
| AN effort to get patrons at a food court to return their trays has had dismal results so far. Launched two weeks ago, the Tray Return Movement at Suntec City's Fountain Food Terrace has left even one of its organisers disappointed. The drive was spearheaded by property consultants Chesterton International Property Consultants, a subsidiary of Suntec Investment, which owns the food court. It is supported by the Singapore Kindness Movement. So far, though, little has changed. Many customers still leave their trays piled on tables, leaving cleaners with more work, and inconveniencing other diners. Said Mr Ricky Sim, managing director of Chesterton International: 'Of course it's discouraging seeing people not returning their trays. It is an uphill task we're facing.' He added: 'It's not easy. There are a lot of problems because people's habits do not change overnight.' When The Straits Times visited the food court yesterday for an hour-long lunch-time check, only a few customers were spotted returning their trays and used crockery voluntarily - and all but one did so simply to free up space on their tables. This was despite the presence of eight tray return points and posters promoting the movement everywhere. Even patrons seated directly in front of the tray return carts ignored their presence. | |
Completion, Good Reward.
The World is the final card of the Major Arcana, and as such represents saturnian energies, time, and completion.
The World card pictures a dancer in a Yoni (sometimes made of laurel leaves). The Yoni symbolizes the great Mother, the cervix through which everything is born, and also the doorway to the next life after death. It is indicative of a complete circle. Everything is finally coming together, successfully and at last. You will get that Ph.D. you've been working for years to complete, graduate at long last, marry after a long engagement, or finish that huge project. This card is not for little ends, but for big ones, important ones, ones that come with well earned cheers and acknowledgements. Your hard work, knowledge, wisdom, patience, etc, will absolutely pay-off; you've done everything right.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
Motivation can be split up between two different categories. The first is passionate motivation, this comes from craving to do something. The second is wealth motivation. Wealth motivation is craving to have something. The differences between the two may be subtle, but the impact is tremendous. One builds enthusiasm, while the other can be completely toxic.
The difference between these two drives is almost completely hidden. You can’t usually make a distinction from a written goal or mission statement. But the results are far apart. Passionately motivated people can easily overcome stress, pain and obstacles. Wealth motivated people are often frustrated, impatient and depressed at the slightest failure.
Wealth Motivation is Toxic
What is wealth motivation? It isn’t specifically being motivated by money. It simply means being motivated by outcomes over process. Wanting to be rich instead of being interested in earning money. Wanting a relationship instead of being interested in other people. Wanting a healthy body rather than being interested in healthy eating and exercise.
Wealth motivation isn’t, in itself, a bad thing. The problem is when it is used to disguise a lack of passionate motivation. When you aren’t intensely interested in the process, getting to the goal is going to be painful.
The best way to tell which type of motivation fuels you is to look at your goals and the pursuits required to reach them. Which draws you in more? Are you more interested in school or the degree? Are you more interested in running a business or being a successful businessperson?
Toxic Motivation Doesn’t Last
Wealth motivation might get you started, but it can’t finish the marathon. Every successful person I know got to where they are because they had at least some level of passionate motivation. Of the extremely successful people I know, passionate motivation is almost so high that it can often be hard to discern exactly what their external goals even are.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
How to Replace Toxic Drive With Enthusiasm
Just let go. The toxicity of your drive happens because you clutch onto it. The result has become so important to you that your willing to put up with the frustration, poison and pain that you have to go through to reach it. The first step (although certainly not the last) is simply to let go of this old drive.
When I used to run in track, our coach would explain that if you run up a hill lactic acids can build in your legs. It’s important to jog out the muscles a short time so that they won’t build up and cause problems later. I think sometimes the only way to get rid of a toxic drive is simply to jog it out. Get detached for awhile so you can begin fresh.
Win-Win or No Deal
Once you’ve detached from your goal, the only way you can create a healthy drive is to force an ultimatum. Either commit to finding a way to be wildly interested in the process AND the goal, or walk away from that area until you do.
Here are some applications you might want to use:
Enthusiasm Hurts!
Passionate motivation doesn’t mean that everything you do should be easy or painless. Many of the things I love involve a lot of pain, challenge or scare the hell out of me. The point isn’t to have a pain free, relaxing stroll but to be involved in a process you are fascinated by and care about.
I’m not interested in being rich. I live a comfortable lifestyle and I could live on a minimum wage salary. Being a millionaire doesn’t motivate me. But the process of owning a business, investing, selling products and earning money does. I’m interested in becoming a millionaire, not being one.
Being interested isn’t the same as expecting ease. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be interested if I thought it were easy. It is because I expect it to be challenging that creates the drive.
A Drive for the Game
When you play a game, you are driven out of the fun of the play. The spirit of the game is what makes it worth playing, even if your goal is to win. In life you can also have strict goals, deadlines and objective results. But if you aren’t playing for a love of the game, you might as well quit because you aren’t playing at all.
is fighting for Ice Cream with the team you love...
