Chinese Stocks Slid 6.5%

Based on the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, Chinese stocks slid by 6.5% yesterday morning. The last time China’s shares went into a mini-slump of this magnitude, the rest of the world followed. But not this time. The markets pretty much shrugged it all off yesterday.

Why? (Maybe I should be asking: Why not?)

Probably one of the main reasons yesterday’s little hiccup in China was largely ignored by the wider markets is because there was a very good reason for stocks to fall. No one quite knew why the 9% plunge back in February actually happened, so investors immediately panicked that the big sell-off they’d all been anticipating was suddenly happening.

This time it’s obvious why Chinese stocks fell, so no one feels the need to panic. It’s nothing to do with the yen carry trade, or global inflationary pressures, or geopolitical disaster. The Chinese government simply trebled stamp duty overnight. That's it. Period. However, it’s still much lower than it is in Singapore, rising from 0.1% to 0.3%, compared to our 0.5%. But even so, when your trading costs jump like that, even the most ardent speculator has to pause to think for a moment.

Of course, the fact that the Chinese market has already risen by more than 50% this year means the speculators probably won’t stop to think for long. After all, who cares about 0.3% stamp duty when you’ll probably see a return 100 times that size inside your first six months of trading? At least if past performance is anything to go by.

So this is another of those moves by the Chinese government which says “we want everyone to know that we’re aware of this stock market bubble, but we don’t actually want it to burst.” And it’s not every day as a government that you get the chance to triple a tax & can still feel confident that people will happily pay it without rioting in the streets. After all, this is a bubble, so it’s the only responsible thing for the authorities to do.

Besides, they’re probably feeling a little bit cheated by the stock market boom. A World Bank report has found that the Chinese government could have got a lot more for all those state-run companies that have listed on the stock market. The World Bank reckons Beijing has lost nearly $10bn this year alone, because it has priced its assets too conservatively when they float.

For example, on its first day of trading, government-controlled lender Bank of Communications saw its share price jump by 70%, suggesting that its initial public offering (IPO) price could have been pitched at least a little bit higher without crimping investor demand. Of course, you could argue that maybe the Chinese have a better idea of exactly how much their banks are worth & are just glad to have them off their hands. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all pans out when the stock bubble does finally pop.

So all eyes are now focusing on Friday's opening. If market show further signs of weakness by lunch, please wear your seat belt. Your stomach might churn come Monday. Good luck to all.

He who has Health

For he who has health has hope; & he who has hope, has everything.

- Owen Arthur

Laughter is ...

Laughter is the most healthful exertion.

- Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland

Never Risk Your Health

To get rich, never risk your health. For it is the truth that health is the Wealth of Wealth.

- Richard Baker

The Greatest Game Ever Played

A golf drama based on the true story of the 1913 US Open, where 20-year-old Francis Ouimet defeated his idol, 1900 US Open champion, Englishman, Harry Vardon.

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Near the turn of the 20th century, young Harry Vardon becomes a champion golfer but learns that his amazing skill is no match for the class boundaries that exclude him from "gentlemanly" English society. A dozen years later, a young American, Francis Ouimet, fights against the same prejudice, as well as his own father's disdain, for a chance to participate in the U.S. Open against his idol - Harry Vardon. The struggles of both men for acceptance provides the background for an amazing contest of skills.

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Notably Quotes

Eddie Lowery: You need this for 72. Read it, roll it, hole it.

Eddie Lowery: Easy peasy lemon squeasy.

Eddie Lowery: Okie Dokie Private Smokey.

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Harry Vardon: [to Lord Northcliff] Let me tell you something. I came here to win a trophy. And on the face of it Ted Ray or I should carry it off. Not for you, not for England, but for sheer bloody pride at being the best, that's why we do this. And if Mr. Ouimet wins tomorrow, it's because he's the best, because of who he is. Not who his father was, not how much money he's got, because of who he bloody is! And I'll thank you to remember that. And I'll thank you to show the respect a gentleman gives as a matter of course.

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Eddie Lowery: You gotta' settle down Francis.

Francis Ouimet: Yeah, & how do you expect to do that?

Eddie Lowery: [looking at Francis] You just havetuh play better. [backing up]

Eddie Lowery: Keep your head down!

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Francis Ouimet: All I want is a chance.

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Most powerful phrase

There are 2 kinds of golfers: Those who keep his nerve & win championships, & those who don't.

- Harry Vardon

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Facts

Harry Vardon won six Open Championships, a record that still stands today.

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Francis Ouimet (1893 - 1967) won the 1913 U.S. Open. He also won the U.S. Amateur Championship twice, in 1914 & 1931. He played on the first eight Walker Cup Teams & was Captain of the next four for a team record of 11-1. In 1951 he became the first American elected Captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews & in 1955 was the first-ever winner of the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. Ouimet has been named to every Golf Hall of Fame, & has a room named after him in the USGA Museum. He remained an amateur for his entire golf career.

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Eddie Lowery (1903 – 1984) was an American caddy, amateur golfer & businessman. He is best known as the 10-year-old caddy of Francis Ouimet during the 1913 U.S. Open. He became a multi-millionaire as an auto dealer in San Francisco.

Lowery & Ouimet remained life-long friends & when Ouimet died in 1967, Lowery was one of the pall-bearers.

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Key Lesson

A major theme that runs throughout the movie is friendship. When the Open committee members suggested to replace Eddie with a more experienced caddy, Ouimet objected, turned to Eddie & said, "It's between you & me. We are a team. They don't get a vote in this." With this words, Eddie & Francis raced off to take the championship.

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In life, we all need a friend & buddy, or be one, just as Eddie is to Francis. This "caddy" principle carries our burden, sharpen our perspectives, provide guidance to us in the golf course of life, & keep our nerve together when we are under pressures. Looking back, I am thankful I have quite a few of these "caddies" in my life. Up till now, I have been a beneficiary of their love & friendship. I hope I am one to many others too.

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Together, let's hit some birdies & eagles!!!

To Insure Good Health

To insure good health:

Eat lightly,
Breathe deeply,
Live moderately,
Cultivate cheerfulness, &
Maintain an interest in life.

- William Londen

4 Cardinal Rules For Dreams

Dreams are:

Created based on your Belief,

Built on your Conviction,

Realised on your Perseverance, &

Repeated on your Desire.

- Unknown Author

Brazil's Blast

China has been in the limelght for as long as I can remember. But right now, the star performer happens to be Brazil, not China. Back in January, market analysts were talking about Brazil being another "China-like miracle." Yes, Brazil is one of the greatest beneficiaries of the China boom. Plus, just this week, Standard & Poor's surprised the financial markets with an upgrade of Brazil's credit rating, immediately prompting another surge in Brazilian assets.

Brazil's currency, the real, jumped by the most since September 01, hit a new six-year high & busted through the 2-per-dollar level for the first time since 2001. Bottom line: This year, Brazil's market is leaping forward at a pace that's even exceeding the rapid rises in China & surrounding areas!

Just look at the numbers above: In Asia, exchange traded funds linked to some of the strongest markets like Hong Kong, Singapore & China are up 15.7%, 23.8% & 25.3%, respectively. But, in the same time frame, the ETF linked to Brazil's market is up by 36.8%! The rise of Brazil & China should come as no surprise. In fact, each market is now taking its turn shifting into higher gear & accelerating. They consolidate for a short while, & then, one by one, they blast off. This a very unique yet interesting situation.

I think there must be powerful forces acting behind the blast-off in Brazil's market this year. I don't think I really have the answer here & now. No one has all the answers. But no answer can ignore the ever-present possibility of a correction, which typically comes without much warning. I will attempt to put up some forces at work behind this blast some time later, if I find that sometime.

Till then, be nice, & be safe, or else, be careful. Don't do what I won't do...

Eating Too Much Natural Food

You probably end up dead naturally...

Fluactuations!

Ah Beng goes to a money changer in New York City with SGD$200 & walks out with US$80. A few days later, he walks into the same money changer with SGD$200 & gets only US$75. He asks the lady why he gets less money than before.

The lady says "Fluctuations".

On hearing this, Ah Beng gets damn angry & storms out, before slamming the door, he turns around & says: "Yah, fluc you Amelicans too!"

Note: Ah Beng misunderstood "Fluctuations" as "f--k you Asian!"

Smart Old Lady

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding.

Older Woman: "Is there a problem, Officer?"

Officer: "Ma'am, you were speeding."

Older Woman: "Oh, I see."

Officer: "Can I see your license please?"

Older Woman: "I'd give it to you but I don't have one."

Officer: "Don't have one?"

Older Woman: "Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving."

Officer: "I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please."

Older Woman: "I can't do that."

Officer: "Why not?"

Older Woman: "I stole this car."

Officer: "Stole it?"

Older Woman: "Yes, & I killed & hacked up the owner."

Officer: "You what?"

Older Woman: "His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see."

The Officer looks at the woman & slowly backs away to his car & calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: "Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please!" The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: "Is there a problem sir?"

Officer 2: "One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car & murdered the owner."

Older Woman: "Murdered the owner? "

Officer 2: "Yes, would you open the trunk of your car, please."

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: "Is this your car, ma'am?"

Older Woman: "Yes, of course, here are the registration papers." The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: "One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license."

The woman digs into her handbag & pulls out a driver's license & hands it to the officer. The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: "Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, & that you murdered & hacked up the owner."

Older Woman: "Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too."

Moral of the story: Don't play play with older lady.

Difficult Questions (Part 3)

Difficult Question: If me & your mum fall into the ocean, who will you rescue huh?

Personally, I hate this question & I don't think any self-respecting girl should ever ask your guy that.

"You"
+5 points

"You, of course" or "You, without a doubt"
+20 points

"My mom"
-30 points

"My mom, of course"
-150 points

Oh, & just so you know, when such questions are asked, girls expect to be answered in very serious manner cos these are supposed to be serious questions. If you answer with a laugh saying she must be joking & such, ==> - 80 points (cos you dont take her seriously.)

Yeah, it's tough being a guy. But it's no piece of cake being a woman either.

Difficult Questons (Part 2)

Difficult Question: That girl is very pretty right?

Note that this question is the same as, "Is your Ex pretty?"


"Nay, not really."
- No extra points (it is expected of you to answer like this)

"Compared to you? No way." either
+10 points (cos she will think you really feel that she is much more prettier than That Girl)
or
-10 points (cos she will think you really feel that girl is really pretty, juz not prettier than her).

(Look at her in a puzzled manner) "What girl??"
+30 points. For obvious reasons.

On the other hand, if you say:

"Ok lah."
-10 points (cos you think she is pretty but don't wanna admit it)

"Yeah."
-105 points (& she will sulk for the rest of the night)

"Are you kidding? She's gorgeous."
-800 points (& you need to spend the next one year pacifying her).

Difficult Questions (Part 1)

Difficult Question: Am I fat?

While the correct answer is No, I must add that guys must answer this question like it's a reflex (such as blinking your eyes when dust gets in)

Points awarded: +5 points

Another way to score is to look into her eyes for 1.8 seconds, frown a little & say, "NO. Why would you ever think that?"

Points awarded: +10 points.

If you hesitate before you answer, & then answer NO

Points awarded: -15 points (becos you hesitated, so it means you're lying)

If you look her up & down before you answer, & you answer NO

Points awarded: -25 points (becos you're supposed to know her body so well that you should know whether she is fat or not when she asks you)

An Honest Day Brings Progress

In the final analysis there is no solution to man's progress but the day's honest work, the day's honest decisions, the day's generous utterances & the day's good deed.

- Clare Booth Luce

Friendship is Like...

Why Finger is Better than the Cock - R(A): 3/10

1. They don't shrink afterwards.
2. You always have them with you.
3. You can chew on them when you are nervous.
4. You can use more than 1 at a time.
5. They are agile.
6. They'll never leave you.
7. You don't have to make your fingers coffee in the morning.
8. You can also use them to clean the wax out of your ears.
9. They want to when you want to.
10. They don't take up half the bed at night.

Ah Beng the Inspector

Ah Beng went for a job interview as a police inspector. The officer asked Ah Beng, "What is 1 & 1?"

Ah Beng replied, "Aiya . . . so simplur . . .eleven lah!"

The officer asked again, "Which two days of the week start with the letter-T?"

Ah Beng replied, "alamak . . . so easy . . .today & tomorrow lor!"

Satisfied with the answers, the officer asked, "Who killed Abraham Lincoln?"

Ah Beng couldn't answer the question, so he replied, "eh . . . don't know leh!"

The officer said, "Well, why don't you work on that & come back when you have the answer?"

Ah Beng left happily & met Ah Lian who was waiting to hear the results of the interview.

"Hoe say liao ! First day on the job . . . I oreddy working on a murder case!"

I Know Kung Fu...

Yes... I know Karate too... and 47 other dangerous words...

So don't mess with me....or else...WAHHHHHH TAHHHHHHH!!!!

Someone to Listen To

People starts talking to me. They pretend they needed advice, but actually they just want someone to listen to them.

- An American Psychologist

Addiction to Winning

"I am addicted to winning. When you are in the red zone, you got to score."

-An unnamed Football Coach

Contract Law

The professor of a contract law class asked one of his better students, "If you were to give someone an orange, how would you go about it?"

The student replied, "Here's an orange."

The professor was outraged. "No! No! Think like a lawyer!"

The student then replied, "Okay. I'd tell him 'I hereby give & convey to you all & singular, my estate & interests, rights, claim, title, claim & advantages of & in, said orange, together with all its rind, juice, pulp, & seeds, & all rights & advantages with full power to bite, cut, freeze & otherwise eat, the same, or give the same away with & without the pulp, juice, rind & seeds, anything herein before or hereinafter or in any deed, or deeds, instruments of whatever nature or kind whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding...'"

Okay...someone please kill him for me. I pay you $20K.

Confidence and Dreams

"Every dream has a beginning."

- Tagline of the movie Goal! (2006)

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"The only one who can tell me I'm not good enough is you. And even then I may not agree with you."

- Munez to his Coach

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If you like rags-to-riches fairy tales, you'll love this movie. Santiago Munez struggles to make his dream come true much to the disappointment of his father. Leaving his life behind, Munez boards a plane & heads to English Football Club Newcastle United. The trials & tribulations that Munez faces as he tries to achieve his dream will test every fiber of his being.

“Goal!” is basically like every other sports film before it, as a young hero does all he can to make it in the big league. Sports films are like romantic comedies we have seen the same thing a million times but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy the journey. This is a beautiful film that focuses much on themes like integrity, honesty, discipline, friendship & love.

Challenge the Unknown

Why do people persist in a dissatisfying relationship, unwilling either to work toward solutions or end it & move on? It's because they know changing will lead to the unknown, & most people believe that the unknown will be much more painful than what they're already experiencing.

- Anthony Robbins
Author & Peak Performance Expert

Why Finger is Better than the Cock - R(A): 2/10

1. Your fingers won't just fall asleep afterwards.
2. Your fingers don't want you to meet *their* family.
3. You don't get jealous of your fingers.
4. Your fingers don't mind if you fall asleep afterwards.
5. Your fingers won't let you down.
6. Your fingers don't want to watch a football match instead.
7. Your mother won't critisize your fingers.
8. You can't get pregnant from your fingers.
9. Your fingers don't need batteries.
10. People aren't surprised to find you have them.

Love is ...

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible, it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could.

- Barbara DeAngelis

Baby Talk

Little Frankie came running into the house & asked, "Mommy, can little girls have babies?"

"No," said his mom, "Of course not."

Little Frankie then ran back outside & his mom heard him yell to his friends, "It's okay, we can play that game again!"

How To Prepare Chicken

A waiter asks a man, “May I take your order, sir?”

“Yes,” the man replies. “I’m just wondering, exactly how do you prepare your chickens?”

“Nothing special, sir. We just tell them straight out that they’re going to die.”

Teaching a Class of ...

A young female teacher was giving an assignment to her 6th grade class one day. It was a large assignment so she started writing high up on the chalkboard. Suddenly there was a giggle from one of the boys in the class. She quickly turned & asked, "What's so funny, Pat?"

"I just saw one of your garters!"

"Get out of my classroom," she yells, "I don't want to see you for three days!"

The teacher turns back to the chalkboard. Realizing she had forgotten to title the assignment, she reaches to the very top of the chalkboard. Suddenly there is an even louder giggle from another male student. She quickly turns and asks, "What's so funny, Billy?"

"I just saw both of your garters!"

Again, she yells, "Get out of my classroom! This time the punishment is more severe, I don't want to see you for three weeks!"

Embarrassed & frustrated, she drops the eraser when she turns around again. So she bends over to pick it up. This time there is an burst of laughter from another male student. She quickly turns to see Little Johnny leaving the classroom.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asks.

"From what I just saw, my school days are over!"

Moses & the Crossing of Red Sea

Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.

"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge, & all the people walked across safely. He used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters & call in an air strike. They sent in bombers to blow up the bridge & all the Israelites were saved."

"Now, Joey, is that REALLY what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.

"Well, no, Mom, but if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

Dividends are Important

Dividends are the best way to gauge a company’s true performance & prospects. After all, wouldn't you agree that in order to consistently pay dividends, a company must have a sound business model & steady profits. Simply put, a company’s ability to pay steady dividends over time — & its power to increase them — are the single best clues about the quality of the company.

That’s why the smart investors in the world today are sending this simple & blunt message to corporate boardrooms:

“Don’t give me any more slick press releases. Don’t make me any more empty promises. Just put your money where your mouth is ... and get my dividend check in the mail!”

Truth is: this is not rocket science. You don’t need an exotic stock trading system. All you have to do is to carefully observe & discover dividend superstars, buy & hold them. The stocks I owned so far had paid out closed to 5% in dividends. They are like fixed disposits to me, except they also offer capital gains.

The only problem here is that you will have to file tax for such dividend payouts. But hey, it is a good problem, & I don't mind paying tax for it. Keep the cheques coming, baby!

Signals to Watch Out For

There are important signals I want you to watch right now. So pay attention. I will only said this once, for I do not have plenty of time in my hand.



Copper
This is a key metal to watch because it's very sensitive to economic conditions. Copper is often a leading indicator for the economy — anticipating a recession when it falls, or pointing to a resumption of growth when it breaks out to the upside. Copper is currently trading at about $3.32 a pound. The two signals you want to watch are:
1. $3.60 on the upside,
2. $3.01 on the downside.

In between, copper is neutral short-term. If it closes above $3.60, the metal is off to new record highs, & all is well with the global economy (except inflation!). Conversely, if copper closes below $3.01 a pound, it will likely fall much lower, back to about $2.83 a pound. And it will be a sign that the global economy is heading into a mini-recession/correction.



Oil
Oil is still very much in a long-term uptrend, with higher prices yet to come. But short-term, it's in a very wide trading range defined by $55.76 on the lower end & $69.69 per barrel on the upper side. A close above $69.69 a barrel, & I have absolutely no doubt we will see $80 oil. On the other hand, a close below $55.76 would indicate that oil could fall further, to as low as $44 before the next explosive move up. Because oil has a $14-a-barrel short-term trading range, it can be very volatile, swinging back & forth, yet still be capable of blasting off to the upside.
The same holds true for oil a& energy shares: They are likely to remain in a choppy trading range until oil makes its next move based on the signals I just gave you.



Gold
My favourite watch! Short-term, gold must regain its previous rally & close above the $674.40 level to stay on track for new highs. On the flip side, if gold closes below $653.30, be on the lookout for a decline back to $610 — & possibly even as low as $564 — before the next leg up begins. Between $653 & $674, gold is essentially neutral short-term. So watch those two pivot points!

Stay tuned & watch for these signals, my friends. The horseman are coming.

Dissonance

dis·so·nance / ˈdɪsənəns/ [dis-uh-nuhns]

1. inharmonious or harsh sound; discord; cacophony.
2. disagreement or incongruity; lack harmony
3. a conflict of people's opinions or actions or characters

Dear Siao Kia,

After our last meeting, I began to go back & do some serious thinking by myself, since I can tell that you are obviously too drunk to fire any neurons, just drinking but not thinking with me. The one word that appeared seems to be "dissonance".

I have conflicting views in my current situation. I am confronted by multiple inharmonious outlook as I shuttle inconsistently between the beliefs I hold, the feelings I had, & the actions I took. I sensed you are also in the same situation, albeit with a different person (Miss MCB).

Past few days has been nothing but hurt & pain. I almost quitted. Questions abound. Should I give up what I believe to be right & true? What & who determine objectivity? This morning, I managed to put all these voices into writing, and here they are:

1. Certain choices I planned to take are not an option to me at all. They are non-negotiable.

2. God can turn things around. He can make a way, when there seems to be no way.

3. God's sovereignty prevails. Hence, what can I learned out of this painful experience?

Yes, it is difficult to love someone who has taken me for granted for 6 months (& still no telling when she decides to come back home). But I will not choose the easy way out. That way is not an option for me, at least not for now, & not from me. I can't stop her from going ahead with the separation, though. She has a choice, so have I. For now, I will choose to love despite of the pain.

I believe God can turn things around for the better. He is good to all. I might not be able to fully comprehend the word "good", nor calibrate exactly what is "better", I know I can trust Him to make things beautiful in His time. Otherwise, I really need to rethink my theology.

Coping with this dissonance has not been easy. I realised the root of all these centred on my wrong view of love. I wanted reciprocity; I wanted love in return. That's a way of saying "It's my way, or no way". If it is not my deal, then it is no deal. I realised that if God's term is similar to mine, Jesus will not die on the cross. My love should not be premised by reciprocity.

For now, I can only wait & be patient.

How to Double Your Money

Did you get the hint?

This might sound like a joke, but you won't be laughing if I am right.

Put the money back into your pocket...back into cash...stay safe...hold cash!

Correction Ahead! Siao Liao!! Siam Ah!!!

I see another big correction in the natural resource markets is coming. It may be tomorrow, next week, or next month. I don't know for sure when it will come, but it's coming. It might be as ugly as the correction we saw back in February, or it could even be steeper. Longer term, however, the natural resource bull markets are very much intact, & have much more to go on the upside. Right now, I just want you to be prepared for a possible correction.
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Overseas markets, especially those in Asia, are deeply intertwined with the bull market in natural resources. Hence, foreign markets are also vulnerable to a sharp sell off at any moment. Plus, plain & simple, they've gone up too far, too fast, & too furious! China's stock market performance has been literally out of this world — up 130.57% in 2006 and another 52.9% so far this year! Some said that if you (a mainland Chinese) are not invested or investing in the stock market in China, you are viewed as a social misfit! Talk about peer pressure.

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You can see why some of these markets need to blow off some excess speculation, & humble (or sober) some investors & traders, before prices can head much higher. China will probably lead the pack down again, just like it did in February. Mark my word. The road ahead is slippery!

Your Choice

We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them.

- William Arthur Ward

Why Finger is Better than the Cock - R(A): 1/10

1. You don't have to smile at them afterwards.
2. You don't have to get out of bed to fetch them.
3. They don't get tired before you do.
4. You always know where your fingers have been.
5. For variety, you have ten to choose from.
6. They are also useful *out* of bed.
7. You can stop if you want to.
8. Your fingers don't want to meet your family.
9. Your fingers don't get jealous.
10. Your fingers don't smell.

The Salary Axiom

The pay raise is just large enough to increase your taxes & just small enough to have no effect on your take-home pay.

Today's One-liner Humor

At age 65 I'm bisexual. I said bye to sex.

Go Movie

Q: Why did Ah Beng go to a movie with his 18 friends?

A: Because below 18 not allowed lah !

晴天

歌曲：晴天
歌手：周杰伦

故事的小黄花,
从出生的那年就飘着,
童年的荡秋千,
随记忆一直晃到现在,
吹着前奏望着天空的我
想起花瓣试着掉落.
为你翘课的那一天,
花落的那一天,
教室的那一间,
我怎么看不见,
消失的下雨天,
我好想再淋一遍,
每想到失去勇气我还留着,
好想再问一遍,
你会等待还是离开.

刮风这天,
我试过握着你手,
但偏偏,
雨渐渐,
大到我看你不见,
还要多久,
我才能在你身边,
等到放晴的那天,
也许我会比较好一点.

从前从前,
有个人爱你很久,
但偏偏,
风渐渐,
把距离吹得好远,
好不容易,
又能再多爱一天,
但故事的最后
你好像还是说了拜拜.

Is the Dollar Still in Short-Term Rally Mode?

China is allocating some reserves (approx USD 3 billion) to more risky assets, to Blackrock Group - one of the world's leading private equity firms - & a true master of the investment universe.

Kuwait announced it is ending its peg to the U.S. dollar. Instead, they have decided to peg their currency against a basket of currencies. The threat of inflation, driven by 20% growth in money supply generated because of its dollar mopping up exercises prompted the move. My next question is: Will other Gulf States follow? I think it's likely!

On the surface, these two events should not be considered good news for the U.S. dollar; not by a long shot. And yet all of us woke up again to a firm dollar this morning. Good price action in the buck is definitely continuing, in spite of the supposedly negative news for the greenback. That's a little strange, & it leads me to believe the recent dollar rally - although clearly running contrary to the primary downtrend in the buck - may still have more room to run.

Turning to other currencies, the pound was at 1.9719 against the dollar & 1.4646 against the euro this morning, whilst the dollar was at 0.7424 against the euro & 121.46 against the Japanese yen.

Trade Safely, okay?

Realize the Power

"If the average person realized the power he wields over his life & destiny, he would live in a perpetual state of wonder & thanksgiving."

- Earl Nightingale

The Ubiquitous DISC Profile

You can check out the DISC Test here.

D - 68
I - 24
S - 0
C - 8

Score Explained:

DOMINANCE
People who score in the average range are likely to possess & display a mixture of the traits & behaviours associated with both high range & low range scores. A well balanced mix of the best of both ranges.

High D enjoys competition & challenge.
~ are goal orientated & want to be recognised for their efforts.
~ aim high, want authority & are generally resourceful & adaptable.
~ are usually self-sufficient & individualistic.
~ may lose interest in projects once the challenge has gone.
~ they tend to be impatient & dissatisfied with minor detail.
~ tend to want peace & harmony.
~ prefer to let others initiate action & resolve problems.
~ are quiet & indirect in their approach to most situations.
~ are usually cautious & calculate risks carefully before acting.

They are generally well liked because of their mild & gentle nature. Other people will tend to see them as being patient, calm, thoughtful & a good listener.
They are usually direct & positive with people, enjoying being the centre of attraction & may take it for granted that people will think highly of them. They may have a tendency to be rather critical of others. Consequently, other people may tend to see them as being rather domineering & overpowering.

People who score in this range are unlikely to be 'extreme' types.

INFLUENCE
People who score in this range:
~ are usually socially passive.
~ quite frequently have an affinity for things, machinery & equipment.
~ are generally comfortable working alone.
~ frequently have a tendency to be analytical & once they have sorted the facts out they communicate them in a straight forward direct way.
~ tend to take little at face value.

They may well have learned & developed good social skills but they only bring these into play when logic dictates such tactics.

STEADINESS
People who score in this range:
~ tend to enjoy change & variety in their work & non-work life.
~ are expansive by nature & tend not to like routine & repetitive work/activities.

They enjoy stretching themselves intellectually & physically.

COMPLIANCE
People who score in this range:
~ are independent & uninhibited.
~ resent rules & restrictions.
~ prefer to be measured by results & are always willing to try the untried.

Free in thought, word & deed, they long for freedom & go to great lengths to achieve it. They feel that repetitive detail & routine work is best 'delegated'.

Don't Quit

10 Reasons Why a Vibrator is Better - R(A): 6/6

1. It lasts longer than 5 minutes.
2. It’s reliable and doesn’t talk back.
3. I don’t have to clean its dirty laundry.
4. It’s ready ALL of the time.
5. It has never lied to me.
6. It is ALWAYS 8.5″, even soft.
7. It doesn’t look at other women.
8. It’s always happy to see me.
9. No risk of catching an STD.
10. It doesn’t stay out all night (w/o me).

Today's One-liner Humor

I'm going to start thinking positive, but I know it won't work.

Colour T.V.

Ah Beng wants to buy a TV set. He goes to a shop.

Ah Beng : "Do you have color TV ?"

Salesgirl : "Yes !"

Ah Beng : "Good! Give me a green one, please "

我会好好过

歌曲：我会好好过
歌手：李玖哲
专辑：baby 是我

你的爱很像泡沫
太轻或太重
都不在手中
我的爱就像天空
太放或太收
你都只是风
你来过却爱上自由
你出走我不问理由

我会好好过
等你再爱我
总有个角落
会让你想起我
我会好好过
等你再爱我
向右或向左
都有我站在这里守候

你留下很多
够我面对寂寞
寂寞不重
重是爱太多
我会好好过
当你回头
看到的一定是我

Never Surrender

Song Title: Never Surrender
Artist: Corey Hart

Just a little more time is all we're asking for
Cause just a little more time could open closing doors
Just a little uncertainty can bring you down
And nobody wants to know you now
And nobody wants to show you how

So if you're lost and on your own
You can never surrender
And if your path won't lead you home
You can never surrender
And when the night is cold and dark
You can see, you can see light
Cause no one can take away your right
To fight and never surrender

With a little perseverance you can get things done
Without the blind adherence that has conquered some
And nobody wants to know you now
And nobody wants to show you how
So if you're lost and on your own
You can never surrender
And if your path won't lead you home
You can never surrender
And when the night is cold and dark
You can see, you can see light
Cause no one can take away your right
To fight and never surrender
To never surrender
music~~~~~~~~~

And when the night is cold and dark
You can see, you can see light
Cause no one can take away your right
To fight and never surrender
To never surrender
Cause no one can take away your right
To never surrender
Oh~~~You can never surrender
Oh~~~You see never surrender

Right & True?

“If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it.”
- Marcus Aurelius

Dear Marcus,

If what I feel right now is right, why am I not doing it?
If what I know right now is true, why am I not saying it?

I guess I am just afraid... afraid of the consequences of doing & saying it. Someone said that cowards die many times before their death; the truely courageous never tasted death but once. For now, I am a coward.

EagleBoy

10 Resaons Why a Vibrator is Better - R(A): 5/6

1. It never tells me I’m fat.
2. It never criticizes me.
3. It never makes me feel like a cheap whore (unless I want it to).
4. It never demands a blowjob, as if it is his God given right.
5. It guarantees satisfaction & multiple orgasms.
6. It never whines or begs.
7. It never demands sex in repayment for dinner or a movie.
8. Its always FUN to be around.
9. It doesn’t need a bunch of coddling to perform.
10. It doesn’t snore, belch, fart or hog the covers.

Today's One-liner Humor

For Sale: Wedding dress, size 12, worn once by mistake.

Thermos Flask

Ah Beng goes to a store & sees a shiny object.

Ah Beng : "What is that shiny object ?"

Salesgirl : "That is a thermos flask."

Ah Beng : "What does it do ?"

Salesgirl : "It keeps hot things hot & cold things cold"

Ah Beng : "I'll buy it"

The next day, Ah Beng goes to work with his thermo flask.

Boss : "What is that shiny object ?"

Ah Beng : "It's a thermos flask."

Boss : "What does it do ?"

Ah Beng : "It keeps hot things hot & cold things cold"

Boss : "What do you have in it !?"

Ah Beng : "Two cups of coffee & one cup of ice cream"

Infrastructure: The New Gold!

If you haven't realized: Inflation still remains a concern, & commodities, though exciting, look volatile as always. So invest in something like concrete & solid may proof discerning & appropriate. I am talking about roads, ports, rail lines, airports etc....

Fact is: Inflation isn’t dead. Good news is: There's a way that you can make more money from inflation & lower the risk from inflation in your portfolio at the same time. You can diversify into infrastructure stocks. I call them "the new gold."

According to the PPI numbers released last month, inflation is alive & well. The headline index of inflation at the wholesale level climbed at an annualized rate of 2.5%. That's not good news, since future inflation at the consumer level often follows the wholesale trend with a lag of six months or so. An annual 2.5% rate is certainly high enough to make the Federal Reserve nervous about cutting interest rates, as Wall Street hopes it will in the months ahead. It is not happening now, as expected.

In a normal financial market, I would advise adding gold & other commodity stocks as a hedge against inflation. The prices of the underlying commodities typically go up when inflation climbs, & the stocks of commodity producers climb even faster, since their earnings rise faster than the prices of the commodities themselves. That's because the costs at these companies are largely fixed, so increases in commodity prices drop straight to the company's bottom line.

However, this isn't a normal financial market we are talking about now. Because the sell-off of Feb. 27 was largely a result of traders unwinding speculative positions purchased with borrowed money, the prices of gold & other commodities didn't zig when the stock market zagged, as they usually do. Instead, since traders were also selling speculative positions in gold & other commodities, shares in these sectors went down along with everything else. Bad news.

Nevertheless, no one should abandon gold & other commodities as hedges against inflation. The sell-off in this sector seems to be over. So I'm going to stick with my commodity play, as they are also good hedges against the long-term downward trend in the U.S. dollar. But it's time to re-examine the assumptions behind portfolio diversification. The unwinding of global leverage & the re-pricing of risk in the asset markets that started on Feb. 27 is still a long way from over.

Investors who want to take some of the risk out of their portfolios by diversifying into asset classes that will go up when everything else goes down need some new tools. And I think investors should think of infrastructure stocks when it comes to hedging against inflation, besides the good old gold. Started to think about the infrastructure sector, companies that make the raw materials for building roads, ports, rail lines, airports, etc., companies that do the actual design & construction work on those projects & companies that raise the money for these projects.

You may have realised, increasing growth by building roads & other infrastructure projects has been a standard tool of governments at least since the days of the Qin emperor who started the Great Wall of China in the third century B.C. Spending on infrastructure creates jobs that lead to more economic demand that creates yet more jobs. China is doing this, but India is not.

In India, decades of underinvestment in roads, ports, airports & rail lines are a central cause of the inflation now at a two-year high of 6.7% & running out of control in the country. Take a look at the agricultural sector of India's economy to see the connection between infrastructure & inflation. While inflation in the economy as a whole is running at more than 6% annually, inflation in food prices is at 11%!

Some of this inflation can be blamed on short supplies of foodstuffs. But much of the country's soaring rate of inflation in food prices is self-inflicted. Somewhere between 30% & 40% of the country's crops rot in the fields or spoil in transit because of the country's creaky infrastructure. There simply isn't any way to get the food to market in time.

Agriculture isn't the only sector of the economy paying the price. On overcrowded highways, speeds average less than 20 mph is also costing the economy big time. Major cities in some Indian states cut power to factories one day a week. Ships have to be unloaded manually & cargo manually loaded onto trucks. Getting cars the 900 miles from the factory to the port at Mumbai takes one automaker 10 days!

India spends just 4% of its gross domestic product on infrastructure in comparison to the 9% spent in China. That disparity has existed for more than a decade. As a result, while China has 25,000 miles of expressways, India has just 3,700 miles. The government budget released in March promises to tackle the infrastructure part of the problem by raising spending on roads, bridges, airports, etc., by 40%. But the government isn't stopping there: It is promoting public-private partnerships on infrastructure projects that are projected to invest $300 billion to $500 billion over the next five years!

The lesson from India is simple but important: The faster a country grows, the more it needs to invest in infrastructure so that growth won't send prices rocketing out of control. It's not an overstatement to say that the faster the growth, the faster the increase in the rate of growth of infrastructure spending.

So how do you diversify your portfolio by adding this kind of anti-inflation hedge? For a start, you can add the shares of companies that make the stuff that goes into roads, ports, airports, etc. You can add the shares of companies that design & build infrastructure projects. You can add the shares of the companies that finance this global infrastructure buildup. India, for example, can't afford to pay the bill for its infrastructure needs out of government funds since the country's budget already runs deep in the red. Private investors will have to put up a big part of the cash. That means you, yes, you.

Practicing My Art

In a long line of people waiting for a bank teller, one guy suddenly started massaging the back of the person in front of him.

Surprised, the man in front turned & snarled, "Just what the hell you are doing?"

"Well," said the guy, "you see, I'm a chiropractor & I could see that you were tense, so I had to massage your back. Sometimes I just can't help practicing my art!"

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" the guy replied. "I'm a lawyer. Do you see me screwing the guy in front of me?"

Today's One-liner Humor

How do you tell when you run out of invisible ink?

Kiss Goodbye

曲名：Kiss Goodbye
歌手：王力宏

Baby不要再哭泣
这一幕多么熟悉
紧握着你的手
彼此都舍不得分离
每一次想开口
但不如保持安静
给我一分钟专心
好好欣赏你的美

幸福搭配悲伤
同时在我心交叉
挫折的眼泪
不能测试爱的重量
付出的爱收不回
还欠你的我不能给
别把我心也带走
去跟随

每一次和你分开
深深的被你打败
每一次放弃你的
温柔痛苦, 难以释怀
每一次和你分开
每一次 Kiss you Goodbye
爱情的滋味
此刻我终于最明白

幸福搭配悲伤
同时在我心交叉
挫折的眼泪
不能测试爱的重量
付出的爱收不回
但欠你的我不能给
我才明白
爱最真实的滋味

我终于明白

It Matters Not You Win or Lose

Today's One-liner Humor

They say it's a small world...unless you gotta walk home.

The Power of One

"The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself. Often well beyond any latent ability previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete, The body is simply the means it uses."

- Bryce Courtenay

Promise & Price

For every promise, there is a price to pay.

Jim Rohn

Persistence Grows Out of Root System

"The person of good & lawful purpose cannot fail. It only needs that he daily renew the fire & energy of his fixed resolve, to consummate his object." - The Mastery of Destiny

It is the great equalizer for all of those reaching for success. It overcomes lack of education, money, talent, intelligence, looks & all other seeming advantages. President Calvin Coolidge said nothing could take its place: "Persistence & determination alone are omnipotent."

I cannot think of one victory I've ever had that I won without persistence. For a while I just thought that I had to work harder and longer than anyone else in order to achieve because nothing has ever come easy for me. Then I really looked around & noticed that everyone else was just like me. Every mentor I've ever had & every successful person I've ever known has their own story of how persistence was the key to their success.

Here's what Bob Proctor teaches on one of the Universal Laws called the Law of Gender: "this law decrees that all sees (ideas are spiritual seeds) have a gestation of incubation periods before they manifest. In other words, when you choose a goal or build the image in your mind, a definite period of time must elapse before that image manifests in physical results."

One of my most favorite inspirational examples about persistence is the story of an Asian bamboo species that even after five years of watering, weeding & fertilizing is barely visible. Then, in a span of about six weeks, it grows two & a half feet a day to 90 feet & higher. It grows so fast that you can literally "hear" it growing. The question to ask is did the bamboo grow 90 feet in six weeks or did it grow 90 feet in five years?

Obviously it grew 90 feet in five years, for all the time when growth wasn't visible it was developing a massive root system that would later support it magnificent growth.

Can you see where the current circumstance in you life are developing your massive root system? Can you see where you must continue to "fertilize" & "water" yourself even though maybe you can't see any visible changes today?

Napoleon Hill thought that persistence was such a key to success that he devoted an entire chapter to it in the classic Think and Grow Rich. He writes, "Persistence is a state of mind, therefore it can be cultivated….Before success comes in any person's life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a person, the easiest & most logical thing to do is to 'Quit.' That is exactly what the majority of people do. More than five hundred of the most successful people this country has ever known told the author their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them.

And that's worth thinking about.

Vic Johnson
(excerpted from Day by Day by James Allen)

Negative Energies

"Why was I not told,
that in my brain I hold,
in one tiny ivory cell,
both God's Heaven and God's Hell?'

-Oscar Wilde

'The cells in the various organs of our bodies will give up & die because they cannot stand the treatment they are often given by the imposition of limiting beliefs. Our cells were not intended to be bombarded with such negative energies as doubt, worry or fear. Whatever impairs these cells will also impair the digestive fluids &, as a result, the nutrition of the body is affected."

- Thomas Edison

My Instinctual Variant Test Results

It's interesting to know so many tests have been designed to try to understand so little of so complex a being as we humans. A friend of mine have been bothered by his "weirdness" lately & decided to seek out some answers from a battery of tests. Here's one he tried. The scores are mine, though.

Check it out here

The Instinctual Variant Theory holds that your instinctual drives can be divided into three forces (or clusters). The Sexual force drives you to seek closeness, like you would experience in a strong romantic relationship or a close friendship. The Social force drives you to consider the wider community, where you & others stand, what everyone thinks/feels/needs of you & what you think/feel/need of them. The Self Preservation force drives you to maintain individual concerns - security, health, comfort, etc.. Each person will have a different mix of these three variants. Your results suggest the following mix:

Sexual - 86%
Social - 62%
Self Preservation - 90%

Well, as expected, I scored low on Social & High on Sexual & Self Preservation. That would be me, for now. Or at least the one who designed this test thinks that would be me...for now.

10 Reasons Why a Vibrator is Better - R(A): 4/6

1. It has manners.
2. It is never insensitive or crude.
3. It doesn’t bring up all its other lovers.
4. It never tells me the same boring conquest story over & over.
5. It never watches sports on TV.
6. It never goes out & has revenge sex.
7. It has attachments that come in various sizes & colors to meet ALL my needs.
8. It is always there when I need it.
9. It likes ME best, not its car, team or mother.
10. Its better sex that any sex I ever had with a man & it never minds if I have a man join in on the fun.

Today's One-liner Humor

If a "fatal" error is made with the E-mail I sent, does that mean I killed somebody?

Ah Beng Spell-Checking

Q: After taking photocopies of documents, Ah Beng always compares it with the original. Why?

A: For spelling mistakes.

Believe in Yourself

They said a picture is worth a thousand words... never did I thought it would weigh a tonne also.

Run Far Enough

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got & you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you."

-William James

Obstacles for Growth

"This society is saturated with stories of workaholics, stress related illnesses & pay check to pay check woes. Is anyone tired of hearing how difficult life can be? How we are all subject to turmoil until the day we die? I don't know about you, but I hear too many stories that sound like they're coming from an ornery grandfather about how life 'should' be tough."

"To me, the truth is that we have been given obstacles as the only true method by which to grow. Without these challenges, life would be pointless. Sure, some seem unfair, even terribly tragic, but these are the very special examples of how much stronger we may grow. It has been my experience, in a very practical sense, through physical exercise, that when we are encountering our moments of greatest weakness we are actually at the doorway to our second wind. This is a simply application of the Law of rhythm, that the tide must go out before coming back in. Without these laws, these weaknesses & obstacles before our second wind & strength, how would we ever gauge the world in which we live, how would we ever grow?"

John Kanary

Dreams & Reality

"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams & reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so."

Belva Davis
Award-Winning Journalist

Leave Utilization for May 2007

A little planning goes a long way, my friend!

Leave Tips:
Take leave on 1st June 2007 (Friday) so that you can have long weekend 31st May 2007 (Thursday) to 3rd June 2007 (Sunday)

Leave Impact:
Total leave impact – 1 day (month of June 2007)
Total rest days – 4 days

爱错 - 王力宏

歌曲：爱错
歌手：王力宏
专辑：心中的日月

北风好不留情
把叶子吹落
坠落的它他选择的逃脱
叶子失去小心
风才感觉寂寞
整个冬天
北风的痛没人能说

我从来没想过
我会这样做
从来没爱过
所以爱错
我从那里起飞
从那里降落
多少不能原谅的错
却不能从来过

翻开回忆角落
忘记的生活
以为幸福都可以掌握
仔细回味当初那个故事背后
喔原来是我
犯下从没真的爱错

我从来没想过
我会这样做
从来没爱过
所以爱错
我从那里起飞
从那里降落
多少不能原谅的错
却不能从来过...

真的受未你的世界喔...
找不会那些感觉
其实我不想到别那些过去

我从来没想过
我会这样做
从来没爱过 (从来没有爱过那么认的)
我从那里起飞
从那里降落 (降落)
多少不能原谅的错
却不能从

从来没想过
我会这样做
从来没爱过 (爱过)
所以爱错 (所以爱错)
从那里起飞 (爱错爱错爱错baby)
从那里降落
多少不能原谅的错
请你原谅我的爱错

Fun with Numbers

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

No wonder they said that Mathematics is the language of the universe!

10 Reasons Why a Vibrator is Better - R(A): 3/6

1. It never asks me to suck its dick.
2. It never asks me to swallow.
3. It never pushes my head down towards it & tries to force me to give it a blow job.
4. It never can’t get up & begs for some oral to assist it in rising to the occasion.
5. It never spits nasty cum at me.
6. It doesn’t leave a nasty wet spot.
7. It doesn’t pout & make me feel like I’m fucking a small child.
8. It doesn’t think natural bodily functions are taboo.
9. It doesn’t make crude comments about “periods”, PMS or anything to do with douches.
10. It makes me happy, really, really happy

Never Criticize Your Wife

Never criticize your wife's faults. It might have been those faults that kept her from getting a better husband.

Taking Picture

Q: Ah Beng always smiles during lightning storms. Why?
A: Because he thinks his picture is being taken.

Great Attitude

"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed."

Earl Nightingale
1921-1989,
Author & Radio Personality

I Don't Understand: Why?

I don't understand:

Why we can't have morality without dictating religion.
Why we can't have differences without hatred.
Why we can't have disagreements without belittlements.
Why we can't love a higher spirit, but each in our own way.
Why we can't feed the homeless but can rebuild the world.
Why we can't find charity for our neighbors but can pray for a stranger.
Why we can't see our own faults but can so easily find them in others.
Why we can't see the good but so readily point out the bad.

Why love doesn't return the gift of generosity.
Why we profess to value honesty then lie to protect ourselves.
Why success can't be won without deceit.
Why we abuse the world but cherish possessions.
Why profit means more than the method that achieves it.
Why what people say isn't what they mean.

Why we complain more about what we don't have instead of seeing what we've already been given.
Why we want so much when it's usually the simple things that make us happy.
Why we try to be someone and something we aren't instead of celebrating who we truly are.
Why we aren't more thankful for the people in our lives instead of the things in our lives...

Author Unknown

10 Reasons Why A Vibrator is Better - R(A): 2/6

1. It doesn’t make requests.
2. It goes at my pace.
3. It gets me off FASTER than a man.
4. It gets me off more intensely than a man.
5. It doesn’t mind if I want to fall asleep after I get off.
6. It doesn’t slap my ass.
7. It doesn’t make me get on my knees & get hit from the back.
8. I don’t have put on any sort of theatrical performance to get off.
9. I am never ashamed to wear granny undies in front of it.
10. It doesn’t stop suddenly to answer its cellphone.

Go the Extra Mile

Driving down the highway one day, I saw this slogan on the back of a well-known trucking company's vehicle:
We Always Go the Extra Mile.

Then I noticed another phrase scrawled in the dirt just below it: That's Because We Missed the Last Exit.

Today's One-liner Humor

Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

Call 911

Q: Why can't Ah Beng dial 911?

A: Because he can't find the number 11 (eleven) on the phone.

My Little Eagle Boy-Boy

This little Junior EagleBoy just turned 3 recently.

Happy Birthday, Eaglet!!!

.

Who you are today is a gift from God;

Who you become one day is your gift to Him.

Don't be a Chicken!

Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle's nest rested. The eagle's nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley bellow. The chickens knew that they must protect & care for the eagle's egg, so an old hen volunteered to nature & raise the large egg. One day, the egg hatched & a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken.

The eagle loved his home & family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game, on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above & noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. "Oh", the eagle cried, "I wish I could soar like those birds". The chickens roared with laughter, "You can not soar with those birds! you are a chicken & chickens do not soar".

The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time, the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn't be done & that is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming & continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.

Sadly, this happened to a lot of people I knew. They faced setbacks & failures, they struggled, they tried but the results are not coming. Finally, they despaired & gave up. They don't dream anymore. The flame in their passion extinguished, the light in their vision, dim or dead. They have chosen the path of the chicken.

You know what: Chickens are meant for the menu, but not eagles. Have you heard of KFE? Kentucky Friend Eagles? Sadly, many "eagles" ended up in the kitchen & then on the fastfood table. Sad, but true.

Don't be a chicken! You were meant to fly, not fried!

This Never Happened Before

Song: This Never Happened Before
Artist: Paul McCartney
Lyrics: Paul McCartney

I'm very sure, this never happened to me before
I met you and now I'm sure
This never happened before

Now I see, this is the way it's supposed to be
I met you and now I see
This is the way it should be

This is the way it should be, for lovers
They shouldn't go it alone
It's not so good when your on your own

So come to me, now we can be what we want to be
I love you and now I see
This is the way it should be
This is the way it should be

This is the way it should be, for lovers
They shouldn't go it alone
It's not so good when your on your own

I'm very sure, this never happened to me before
I met you and now I'm sure
This never happened before (This never happened before)
This never happened before (This never happened before)
This never happened before (This never happened before)
This never happened before

From the movie "The Lake House" (2006)

I Must Not Fear

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me & through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

- Frank Herbert Dune

Mistakes

"Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worth while achievement."

- Henry Ford,
1863-1947,
American Industrialist

Taxed! Taxed! Taxed!

Your wages...................TAXED
Your groceries...............TAXED
Your company's profits.......TAXED
Your wine....................TAXED
Your bank account interest...TAXED
Your cigarettes..............TAXED
Your cigarette lighter............TAXED
Your property purchase.......TAXED
Your petrol..................TAXED
Your property income.........TAXED
Your car.....................TAXED
Your car mechanic.............TAXED
Your property sale...........TAXED
Your property agent.........TAXED
Your cappucino.................TAXED
Your stationary................TAXED
Your laptop......................TAXED
Your medical bill.............TAXED
Your medicine.................TAXED
Your death...................TAXED

Even after you die, the taxman's greedy fingers steal a percentage of whatever you've got left. Here they call it 'Estate Duty'.

It is scandalous how overtaxed we are here in the sunny island. No wonder that they say the 2 sure things in life are DEATH & TAXES!

10 Reasons Why A Vibrator is Better - R(A): 1/6

1.It understands if I’m suddenly no longer in the mood.
2. It would never dream of cheating on me.
3. It’s always ready, willing & able.
4. It’s never rough or angry.
5. It never gives me the silent treatment.
6. It never treats me like shit for no reason.
7. It never bosses me around.
8. It never stops doing what it’s doing, right when I’m about to come.
9. It costs very little to maintain.
10.It never hogs the remote.

Just One Chair?

Resolving to surprise her husband, an executive's wife stopped by his office. She found him with his secretary sitting in his lap.

Without hesitating, he dictated, "...& in conclusion, gentlemen, shortage or no shortage, I cannot continue to operate this office with just one chair."

Today's One-liner Humor

I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

Ah Beng's Computer

Ah Beng had just bought a new computer & was using it when he encountered some problems. He decide to use the 'Help' command after some tries. Soon after, he became very irritated & called the computer retailer for support.

Ah Beng : "I press the 'F1' key for help, but it's been over an hour & still nobody come & help me leh ?!"

5 Tips to Trade Like Pirates in Today's Financial Waters!

My wife & my 3 year-old son are not so excited about the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Most kids like pirates (I know), the young girls like Orlando Bloom (I guess), & the older women just likes Johnny Depp (I think)!

Of course, I'm most interested in the economics of the real pirates of the Caribbean. I'm talking about more than "pirate gold", but commodities & resources. I think commodities & natural resource investors can learn a lot from the pirates. I'll give you some specific below.

First, precious metals never go out of style. In fact, they are back in style! Gold & silver are great investments today. Why? Because they continue to have real value. And I believe uranium is our new "white gold" — a commodity that will ride a groundswell of demand that increases not only over months, but years. Supplies of uranium fell short of demand by 70 million pounds last year alone. And the supply/demand squeeze is going to get much tighter. In fact, some analysts say mine supply won't meet global demand until at least 2017. That's a 10-year bull market, which makes uranium look like a darned good investment!

Second, it's best to become an early investor. The first pirate to attack a Spanish treasure fleet was Jean Fleury, a privateer sanctioned by the King of France. In 1521, he bagged two lumbering treasure ships off the Azores. In those early days, nobody was expecting piracy in the middle of the Atlantic, so the treasure ships only had a few cannons & no chance against a heavily armed & determined pirate.

Third, think big by looking at the long-term picture. By the time Henry Morgan (an English knight turned pirate) came along, pirating was already a booming business. So he didn't have the first-in advantage of Jean Fleury. But he continue to prosper in his new pirating business. Here's the point for investors: Even if you find out about an investing trend after a lot of the easy money is made, you can still make big money with good timing & a long-term view!

Fourth, good management is critical to an endeavor's success. Sir Francis Drake was a brilliant pirate & is also cool under fire. Drake didn't give up in the face of adversity. When his scheme to attack the city of Nombre de Dios blew up in his face, he had his crew lay low for four months. Then, when their wounds were healed, they ambushed a gold-laden mule train. Nobody expected a pirate to attack a mule train! Drake bagged 200 mules carrying hundreds of pounds of silver & gold. Investors would be wise to emulate Drake's resolve & resourcefulness. And they should also look for these same traits when they investigate the management of a company they're about to invest in.

Fifth, good PR is worth its weight in swag. When pirates flew the skull-&-crossbones flag, they were advertising. And the message was simple — "Give us your cargo or we'll kill you."
Pirates relied on their fearsome reputations & publicity. One pirate, Captain Edward "Blackbeard" wound cannon fuses into his beard & set them on fire during attacks to make himself look like the devil. Though it's slightly different these days, good advertising & publicity can still do wonders for the investment business. Well-executed PR helps companies bring in revenue more quickly & at greater volumes. It also helps get the word out to the investment community.

So, go ahead & trade like a pirate!

QDII: China’s Investment Rules Get a Makeover

China plans to loosen restrictions on QDII investment targets so that they can invest in new sectors. QDIIs are currently allowed to invest only in fixed-return financial products. China's QDII program is still in its infancy & the products are not selling well because of the narrow investment scope, high risks, low profits & poor accessibility. Furthermore, investors, both companies & individuals, would rather hold Renminbi than convert them into foreign currency because the yuan keeps on appreciating.

China launched the QDII system in July 2006, allowing QDIIs to raise Renminbi funds from domestic individuals & institutions & buy foreign currency from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) for overseas investment. So far, 30 financial institutions, 11 domestic banks, seven foreign banks, 11 insurance companies & one mutual fund, have been granted QDII status.

QDII – What is it?

• QDII stands for Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor
• A plan that allows mainland investors to invest in overseas equities
• Current quota is at $10.3 billion

QDII - Participants

• Banks
• Insurance Companies
• Mutual Fund Managers

QDII - Potential Investments

• Stocks
• Fixed Income

QDII - Effects

•Exchange rate moderation
•Liquidity Siphoned
•Trade surplus & capital outflows

From: www.usfunds.com

What Goes Around Comes Around

Warning: This Story is kind of LONG!

You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes & got out.

His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor & hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty & his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window & began to talk to him.

She told him that she was from St. Louis & was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about the money, just about helping someone in need, & God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, & it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, & Bryan added "& think of me". He waited until she started her car & drove off. It had been a cold & depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, & take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor - it didn't ring much. Her waitress came over & brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain & aches change her attitude.

The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan. After the lady finished her meal, & the waitress went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on the napkin under which was 4 - $100 bills!

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote. It said: "You don't owe me anything, I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, & people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work & climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money & what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she & her husband needed it?

With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, & as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss & whispered softly, "It's gonna be all right; I love you, Bryan."

Priority Manager

"Don't be a time manager, be a priority manager. Cut your goals into bite-sized pieces. Each small priority or requirement on the way to the ultimate goal becomes a mini-goal in itself."

- Denis Waitley

Success & Habits

“Every person who has become successful has simply formed the habit of doing things that failures dislike doing and will not do.”

John Maxwell

你把我灌醉

歌曲：你把我灌醉
歌手：黄小琥
专辑：黄小琥

开...城市边缘开
把车窗都摇下来
用速度换来一点痛快
孤单...被热闹的夜赶出来
却无从告白
是你留给我的悲哀

哦爱...让我变得看不开
哦爱...让我自找伤害

你把我灌醉
你让我流泪
扛下了所有罪
拼命挽回
你把我灌醉
你让我心碎
爱得收不回
唔……

猜最好最坏都猜
你为何离开
可惜永远没有答案
对我爱的太晚
又走的太快
我的心你不明白

我梦到哪里你都在
怎么能忘怀
你那神秘的笑脸
是不是说
放不下你是我活该...

Intelligence

AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months saying he lacked intellectual leadership. The Board fired him, & he received a $26 million severance package!

Perhaps it's not Walter who's lacking intelligence.

Is it still a Requirement?

A Priest & a Rabbi are riding in a plane. After a while, the Priest turns to the Rabbi & asks "Is it still a requirement of your faith that you not eat pork?"

The Rabbi responds "Yes, that is still one of our beliefs."

The Priest then asks "Have you ever eaten pork?"

To which the Rabbi replies "Yes on one occasion I did succumb to temptation & tasted pork."

The Priest nodded in understanding & went on with his reading. A while later, the Rabbi spoke up & asked the Priest, "Father, is it still a requirement of your church that you remain celibate?"

The Priest replied "Yes, that is still very much a part of our faith."

The Rabbi then asked him "Father, have you ever fallen to the temptations of the flesh?"

The Priest replied "Yes Rabbi, on one occasion I was weak & broke with my faith."

The Rabbi nodded understandingly for a moment & then said, "A lot better than pork isn't it?"

Today's One-liner Humor

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

Ah Beng's Burnt Ears

Ah Beng with two red ears went to his doctor. The doctor asked him what had happened to his ears & he answered, "I was ironing a shirt & the phone ring, lah - but instead of picking up the phone, I accidentally picked up the iron & stuck it to my ear"

"Oh dear !" the doctor exclaimed in disbelief. "But .. what happened to the other ear ?"

Ah Beng answered : "That stupid dumbo called back, lah !!!!"

Brain Waves

It will be really very embarrassing if man's brain waves can be read.

Your Reputation: Example or Warning?

"Each of us must be committed to maintaining the reputation of all of us. And all of us must be committed to maintaining the reputation of each of us."

"Accuracy builds credibility."

- Jim Rohn

The Bible gives us a list of human stories on both sides of the ledger. One list of human stories is used as examples – do what these people did. Another list of human stories is used as warnings - don't do what these people did. So if your life story ever gets in one of these books, make sure they use it as an example, not a warning!

Remember: It only takes one lie to taint your entire testimony in a court of law. Honesty is a vital part of having a good reputation & credibility. Guard yours at all cost!

Live & Learn

Learn as if you were to live forever;
Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

- Author Unknown

Today's One-liner Humor

When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane!

How much do you Make a Day?

A business owner decides to take a tour around his business & see how things are going. He goes down to the shipping docks & sees a young man leaning against the wall doing nothing.

The owner walks up to the young man & says, "Son, how much do you make a day?"

The guy replies, "150 dollars."

The owner pulls out his wallet, gives him $150, & tells him to get out & never come back.

A few minutes later, the shipping clerk asks the owner, "Have you seen that UPS driver?? I asked him to wait here for me!"

Monday Blues

To all my readers who are going back to their 3-by4 feet cubicle, aka 'shit-hole' this Monday: Good luck!

"This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting."
- Author Unknown

Working Mother

The phrase "working mother" is redundant.
- Jane Sellman

I agreed. All mothers are already working 24/7. Tough job, tough assignment, & tough character required.

Happy Mother's Day!

Ah Beng's Long Distance Call

Ah Beng talk to a long-distance telephone operator.

Ah Beng: "COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME THE TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAIPEI AND LAS VEGAS ?"

Operator: "JUST A MINUTE..."

Ah Beng : "THANK YOU , lah" AND PUTS DOWN THE PHONE.

Answers from a Wise Father - R(A)

Sorry guys, no English version.

The Problem

"The problem with our Government in this country is that they are in this country. Can we ship them somewhere? Like Christmas Islands or something?"

- Unknown Author

Today's One-liner Humor

It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.

The Lord Really Provides

Old Mrs. Watkins awoke one spring morning to find that the river had flooded the entire first floor of her house. Looking out of her window, she saw that the water was still rising. Two men passing by on a rowboat shouted up an invitation to row to safety with them.

"No, thank you," Mrs. Watkins replied. "The Lord will provide."

The men shrugged and rowed on. By evening, the water level forced Mrs. Watkins to climb on top of the roof for safety. She was spotted by a man in a motorboat, who offered to pick her up.

"Don't trouble yourself," she told him. "The Lord will provide."

Pretty soon, Mrs. Watkins had to seek refuge atop the chimney. When a Red Cross cutter came by on patrol, she waved it on, shouting, "The Lord will provide." So the boat left, the water rose, and the old woman drowned. Dripping wet and thoroughly annoyed, she came through the pearly gates and demanded to speak to God.

"What happened?" she cried.

"For cryin' out loud, lady," God said. "I sent three boats."

Always Know Where You Are

This looks a lot like some investors in the market now.

Things Happen For A Reason

I was reminded of a story about the reason we struggle sometimes.

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat & watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, & it could go no further. So to help the butterfly, He took a pair of scissors & snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body & small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge & expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of it's life crawling around with a swollen body & shriveled wings.

It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness & haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon & the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's wa y of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly.

Yes, your struggles & mine are here for a reason, some reasons. And did I tell you also, it's our destiny to soar! The cocoon of problems & difficulties are here for a while, but the strength it builds is here to stay.