Brangelina.

To lazy to write?
Yes, that explains ideally my condition for the past few days.
Lame. I know.
It’s not like this is an assignment I have to submit.
But writing is self gratifying. Personally.
So, today, now, I’m going to write about random things.

I’ve watched:
1) Slumdog Millionaire
2) Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3) Changeling

And I absolutely love: all of them. Not only because they are Oscar Nominated / Winner (though it was the main reason I’ve watched them) and not only because there are two of my favorite actor and actress (Oh, Brad and Angelina, you guys are too gorgeous), the movies are filled with emotion, plot and meaning. Let me reviewed briefly my opinion on these 3 movies.

Slumdog : Combination of fairy tale of a boy who wins Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, with very fascinating journey of life that leads to every right answer, portraying the reality of people in the slum of India. I’ve read so few Indian author novels like White Tiger and they are eye opener to the other side of culture and world.

Curious Case: A definite fiction, how life is filled with happiness and miseries from an eye (or more to writing) of a person born to live life in reverse. I love movies which depict writing in diaries because that showed what you wrote will be left behind and remembered. Life is not perfect, but what you made out of it that matters.

Changeling: True Story. A determined mother that fights for her rights, against group of arrogance men is so my type of movie. I believe in woman rights and power. This story is all about that. Also, portrays life is shitty, but you don’t give up. You have hope. We all need that in life. Angelina rocksss! (haha).

Okay. That’s all for the movie review. I’ve finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the third time and it never fails to move me. Sometimes, I wonder, what is my contribution to the world, or at the very least to my family, and myself? I am yet to be determined by these people to finally found the answer. May God help me.

Some good reading =)

Ok peeps. I am lazy to forward this on facebook, but I'm sharing this on my blog. My cousin forwarded it to me and I think it's a very interesting read (I've posted this after reading Fareez's blog so this is for you. Lol). Anyone who has articles / thoughts / opinions, please feel free to discuss them. I am no economist, but it'll be great to know these things (especially given the current turmoil we're in). And, to realize that money isn't everything. Cheers!

Leader of the Pack - Hasman on Wednesday

During the high level conference in Bank Negara two weeks ago, Morgan Stanley‘s chief economist Stephen Roach pointed out that Asia will probably will not de-couple from the US and Europe during this current crisis although we have a huge pile of reserve in the balance sheet. The main reason for this would be : “Asian countries tend to be followers, not leaders, so any recovery will depend on the recovery of the developed nations”.

As at 30 Nov 2008, the total US Treasuries have amounted to slightly over USD 3 trillion in circulation. Out of this USD 3 trillion, China and Japan, which is the largest and second largest subscriber of the US Treasuries, have a total combined holding of USD1.2 trillion (approximately 40%). To put things into perspective, this bloody country is borrowing money from the rest of the world especially Asia. We are financing their lifestyle (like Wall Street executives). We look up to them (like the Hollywood celebrities). We are not doing anything when they have murdered our brothers & sisters (like in Iraq). When they screw up, we have to bail them out (like Temasek, GIC & Abu Dhabi bought into Merrill, Citibank). When we purchase their Treasuries they use our hard earn money to maintain their high maintenance lifestyle (AIG top executives are still using taxpayers’ money for their fox hunting games). Who needs this kind of leadership? Without our money, the Americans will be poorer than the people in the slums of Asia. It is time for us to turn our backs; we live by our own rules and chart our own destiny. We should be the leader! How does one become a leader? One, we need to be innovative. When the Jewish children come back from school their mothers will not ask them how’s school today or what they have learned in school. Their mothers will ask them how many questions did they asked the teacher instead. By asking questions they will think outside of the box and be innovative. So, today when your children come back from school, ask them how many questions did they ask their teacher.

Gold Finger

Recently, I attended a talk on commodities market and outlook. The presenter showed a table on the amount of gold reserve in the world. When I studied the table, I saw US has the largest percentage amount of tonnage in gold against its reserves, which amounted to 76%. Only then I realized, “crap, this country has the highest gold percentage reserve, whereby the world is using its fake paper money for trading”. Next, I saw countries which had high foreign reserves like China, Japan & Russia. They have only less than 2% of gold tonnage against their reserves. It finally dawned to me that the whole thing is a total screw up. The world is using worthless US Dollars to trade and invest in US Treasuries as US is holding the largest amount of gold against its reserves. Let’s say if the US Dollar goes “kaput” then the global monetary system will revert to gold standard. In any way, US will still be benefiting. Nonetheless, I believe the emerging countries like China & Russia will eventually add more gold to its reserve and there seems to be a positive future for gold price. So, start buying gold.

USA
Tonne: 8,133.5
Reserve 76%

Germany
Tonne: 3,412.6
Reserve 64%

France
Tonne: 2,508.8
Reserve 59%

Italy
Tonne: 2,451.8
Reserve 62%

Switzerland
Tonne: 1,040.1
Reserve 24%

Japan
Tonne: 765.2
Reserve 2%

Netherlands
Tonne: 621.4
Reserve 58%

China
Tonne: 600.0
Reserve 1%

Russia
Tonne: 495.9
Reserve 2%

Taiwan
Tonne: 422.4
Reserve 4%

Portugal
Tonne: 382.5
Reserve 86%

India
Tonne: 357.7
Reserve 3%

(Source: IMF)

The Cube

When I graduated from college and went into the work force, I was very idealistic in achieving my goal. One of them is monetary goal. When you are trained as a capitalist in college, you work your life through as a capitalist. When I had just started working, I created a spreadsheet on compounded returns, savings inflow, expense outflow and additional bonus injection to achieve RM 1 million when I reach 40 years old. So, I charted my life out towards becoming a millionaire by 40. However, after a super stressful outing in Singapore for 5 years and burned out, I found myself wondering if this is what I really want in life? Will becoming a millionaire make me happy? Sacrificing my time with my family so I can have a million in a bank account worth it? There are so many unanswered questions.

I have many non-Muslim friends who went on pilgrimage journeys to their respective holy places like India, Tibet and Vatican. For Muslims, it is a well known fact that the pilgrimage journey is one of the pillars of Islam. A Muslim is required to go on pilgrimage to Mecca once in their life time if he or she has the means to go. Taking this notion from Ridhwan Bakar, a young author, “when you go on a pilgrimage to Mecca you will become a millionaire”. In Islam, when you pray alone, Allah will grant you 1 good deed (pahala). If you pray in jama’ah, meaning praying with other people, with an Imam leading the prayers, Allah will give you 27 good deeds. When you pray in Masjid Nabawi in Madinah, Allah will give 1000 good deeds per prayer. So, if you spend 8 days in Madinah and prayer 5 times a day in jama’ah, you will get 1,080,000 good deeds (1000 x 27 x 8x5). So, during pilgrimage usually pilgrims will spend about 8 days in Madinah before proceed to Mecca. By spending 8 days in Madinah, Allah will grant the pilgrim a millionaire status in good deeds, insyallah. Therefore, the millionaire status has become subjective to me now. It is not only monetary form; it comes in other shapes as well.

Joy

Syafiq can’t stop smiling since an hour ago. The sky seems bluer, the cloud seems whiter, and the fat girl he used to feel sorry for seems slimmer. Yes, it’s a great and beautiful day for Syafiq. From afar, he could see a glimpse of Ilia, the most stunning girl he ever sees, which he is having a crush on for ages. “Nothing can go wrong today”, he says to himself.

Surrounded by her friends, Ilia has been bestowed upon her a mix parentage of Chinese-Indian-Malay, which indescribable by any term used by ordinary people. If Chinese and Indian parentage you would call them Cindian, if Indian and Malay you would call them Indian Muslim (or Mamak in not-so-proper manner), if Chinese and Malay you would call them Mualaf or Apek or Amoi look-alike, but the combination? MaCinDian? Or MCD? Lol. He calls them the most beautiful thing in planet. Or perhaps that applies to Ilia only. Maria Ilia Noah. The girl nearly every guy has a crush on (except for Anand. He doesn’t like girls. Say they are annoying). Those fair skin, black hair and hazel eyes. Plus, she can sing too. She sang a Britney song last week and that was amazing. Better than Britney anyway. “Oh, sometimes God gives some people the best of everything,” he sighs. But knowing that he happens to be one of some people who are blessed today makes him feel equal to Ilia.

Walking with head up high, he flashes his winning smile to Ilia and her group of friends. They are giggling and whispering to each other, but Ilia, being all composed and graceful, simply smile back, with the most sincere smile he ever received from anyone. Well, maybe because Ilia never smiles at him before. He was the invisible man. Not anymore. What happened today really made him feel like on top of the world and anything is achievable. “Just give it a shot Syafiq.” Walking with guys around him stares coldly, and girls look up to him, Syafiq feels envied and somewhat popular, like Zac Efron. Oh not Zac. He was already popular back then in High School Musical. More to O Shia La Beouf when he became a hero after he had a car which turned out to be a high tech, super cool robot. “Okay, here it goes,” he stops right in front of Ilia, where the big moment is about to take place. “Ilia, I want you to be my assistant. Cikgu Amin said I can choose anyone I want.” Pause. All eyes are on them now. “Sure Syafiq,” Ilia grins while receiving the attendance book Syafiq is handing her.

Syafiq is all smiles, with incomplete teeth shown that can’t hide his happiness. It’s the best day of Syafiq’s life when he’s appointed as the class monitor of Kelas 8 Cempaka.

Welllllllllll, life has its challenges. I am in one. I hope I can keep the optimism running high. For anything its worth, I am liberating in the midst of glooms. Metaphore. Just for me to get it. Heh.

Escapism.

A 20-something man sits in a taxi in front of his parents' house, trying to find the strength to tell them that he had quit college. Right before the final exam of the final examination of the final year started. He never feels as exhilarating as he ever feel before. Not even when he and a bunch of his friends tried to sneak in the girls’ dorm and being chased by the burly looking warden, whom he always suspected had a crush on him.

“Come on Josh, just do it. You’re a free man now. A nearly real adult.” His mental note to self.

Walking coolly but with obvious trembling hands, towards the door, he could hear noises in the house. “Damn, are they having dinner parties? Shoot, I should have chosen a better time.” Right before he turned his back to walk away from the doorstep, the door opens. “Joshua Sean Philip! My, you are all grown up now!” Standing opposite of him is Anna Marie Smith, not a relative of Anna Nicole Smith and definitely doesn’t have any resemblance of her except maybe by the exaggeration of the way she talks. Hugging him and kissing him, her high pitch voice had alerted his family members of his presence. Dad, Mom, annoying little brother and the last person who comes out the door literally stops his heart for a second (or two).

Natalia Johnson. Summer 2000. It was the best summer because Natalia, the angel sent from heaven (metaphorically) was there, with her soft supple skin and big brown eyes. Today, in 2009, she looks much better, and ehem, with an exquisite womanly figure (in translation: smoking hot). “Joshyyy, I miss you so much.” Look how tall and good looking you are now”. She gives him a small peck on the cheek, leaving him blushing.

“Honey, I thought you’ll be back next week. This is such a surprise. We’re planning to throw you a graduation party,” the sound of graduation stops his heart the second time. “Oh, Dear God, you are punishing me now aren’t you,” he walks slowly but dreadfully while plaster a fake smile, especially to Natalia. “Joshy, I heard you are graduating in Mechanical Engineering right. I’ve remembered you told me that you wanted to become a photographer and travel the world when we were little. You, with your Polaroid, always asked me to pose in weird angles and places,” she laughs. “This might not be a bad thing after all. She remembers I want to become a photographer and I think I have found the best person to back me up.” Josh is feeling the blood is running through his vein again.

Sitting in the living room, where everyone is looking so happy, and his father is beaming with pride he never seen before, not even when his brother won the National Debate Competition last year (yes, he is a nerd) is a hard sight to swallow. “Josh, I was just talking to Anna and Natalia here. How you were against the idea of studying Mechanical Engineering and wanted to take up photography. But in the end, here you are, an engineering graduate. Putting aside your dream for your family.” Oh, his heart just dropped from its position, wherever it is. But Natalia words before brought it back into its normal position and he is ready to say it. Out loud. Before he opens his mouth, he sees a smirk on Natalia face.

“By the way Josh, I’m glad you took engineering. Because honestly, all the pictures you took were not that good. And dull.” Echoes of laughter in the house following Natalia’s comment and all Josh could see is blurry images and a very drab future ahead, contradiction of his initial feeling when walking out of the taxi.

There is only one thing to be done now. Go back to the university with an MC. ASAP.