cHooEE

Samsung Galaxy Note

2011-12-19T23:51:00.009+08:00

It looks like Samsung is really giving Apple a run for its money. This latest gadget has made a lot of people drooling for it. Currently, it is one of the hottest gadget in town. A lot of stores are runnig out of stocks. Those who still have the stocks are selling it at least RM100 above the RRP of RM2,299 that comes originally with a leather casing. Now the leather casing are not included anymore. One have to pay an additional RM150 to RM180 for it.

For a long time, I have not bothered to look at gadget but this one is making me giving it a second look. I am getting interested in this one. I like the big and clear screen.

Chinese Sticky Rice

2011-12-19T23:44:00.004+08:00

Yes! I made it! My very first cooking experience. What a sence of achievement! It looks pretty decent for my second attempt. Chinese Sticky Rice. I love the texture. I wasn't aggressive enough to put in the salt and dried shrimp though. Next time I will know the ingredients to put to make it taste better. Yes, I am going to be a cook. I am going to open a restaurent.. ahem ahem...

Steps:

1. Soak glutinos rice in plain water for at least 8 hours or overnight

2. Clean dried shrimps with water and soak it in water. Keep the water.

3. Clean shitake or chinese mushroom, soak it in water. Keep the water.

4. Soy sauce, black or thick soy sauce, pepper; mix it. Put in proportions according to your taste.

5. Chopped garlic

6. Garnishing: chopped spring onion, sliced ommelette, fried groundnuts.

7. Fried chopped garlic, dried shrimp and mushroom, fried until you get the aroma.

8. Put in glutinos rice into the wok on top of the fried ingredients. Mix well and fried until the rice turn translucent.

9. Put in the mix sauce into the fried glutinos rice. Pour the mushroom and dried shrimp water into rice. Stir until colour is even. Maintain low heat. Stir until rice start to get a little sticky.

10. Put the stir fried glutinos rice into a plate. Spread evenly.

11. Put the rice into a steamer and steam it for 15 to 20 minutes.

12. After 20 minutes, check the texture. If not soft enough, steam for a little while until soft.

13. Tips from my mum: the perfect texture of chinese sticky rice is the rice is soft and sticky but still maintain its rice grain shape. (not meshed and you could not see the shape of the rice grain anymore)

14. Put in the garnishing and it is ready for serving. Note: fresh spring onion is very important to give it the fragrant smell.

By Rick Levine

2011-11-28T14:31:00.001+08:00

today's horoscope

Don't let anyone push you around now; take a stand and be firm about it. Unfortunately, it may not be a simple task to set your boundaries, especially since you could be facing a formidable opponent. Don't be afraid to disagree, even if your words stir up conflict. The chances for resolution are slim today, so don't try to force a victory. Instead, just make sure that your message is heard and then move on.

Some advice on the road to success

2011-11-06T00:03:00.002+08:00

I like the advice of Tan Thiam Hock, an entreprenuer who writes on the star "On your own".

I particularly like this latest article from him titled above. Some of the excerpts :

Know your own limitations. Strengths. Weaknesses. Tolerence tests for suffering, humiliations, stress and financial deficits.

Once you know about yourself, set realistic and acheivable targets. Play to your strengths, be the biggest fish in a small pond.

Be happy with little successes.

All entreprenuers makes mistakes. A successful entreprenuer don't make fatal mistakes. They just make more right moves than the wrong ones. Just make sure the sum of positives exceed the negatives and you are on your way to a health balance sheet.

Whether your business is big or small, when your are faced with somewhat insurmountable problemsm, you will feel really lonely sitting on top of your own little hill. Learn to embrace solitude. Take this opportunity to learn where you have gone wrong. Take responsibility and do not blame others. Eat the humble pie if you have to. Take a step backward so that you can move two steps forward.

Unless you have a bottomless pit of reserves, over leveraging for expansion can be fatal if the new projects does not stop bleeding. Expand, consolidate, stengthen your cash flow, then expand again.

Predictable routine

2011-10-09T21:32:00.004+08:00

Another week has come and gone. It's been predictable cycle and routine. Hectic and long hours weekdays in the office and pretty monotonous weekends. Life has become monotonous. I need something to change the cycle.

Tiong's persistent perseverance pays off

2011-09-21T22:16:00.003+08:00

"Work hard with passion

Never feel inferior to others no matter what your place is in the food chain

Be realistic, kind, humble, earnest and compassionate"

Today's hard work may not being immediate success, but persistent perseverance will eventually lead to rewards

Tiong Hiew King

Born poor
Spent large part of youth tapping rubber
First 10 years, business was growing very slowly
Now one of the richest man in Malaysia

From Bankruptcy To Multi-millions in 7 Years

2011-09-04T22:05:00.003+08:00

Never judge a book by its cover, they say. When I saw the title of this book, I had an impression that this is another one of those countless "How to get Rich" books. After flipping a few pages, I find it quite absorbing. I decided to buy it at today's Bookfest @ KLCC. Guess what? I finished reading it today itself!

I like some of the phrases (very Singaporean) from this book like, "Rich people network, poor people just work".

This is a book that I will read again and again...

Jerome Tan's blog is here.

A Doctor in the House

2011-09-04T21:49:00.005+08:00

I finally finished this 800 page - book after a few months. The first few chapters on his early life was interesting. The last few chapters starting from the mega projects to the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis was also very absorbing. Some untold stories behind the scenes of major events in our memories could be found. Also good advice on some universal values we should all uphold.

I could only say, Tun's memoir potrays a very different personality compared to what we see from reports (online and print media) on racial issues/outburst we saw during his time.

This is a book all Malaysians should read, I think.

What’s up, doc? Investors knock at China hospitals

2011-09-02T14:25:00.001+08:00

Business

What's up, doc? Investors knock at China hospitals

Sep 02, 2011

BEIJING, Sept 2 — The black Audi parked at Beijing's best-regarded hospital bears a licence plate of a province about 1,600km away — testimony to the willingness of Chinese to go the extra mile to get top-notch healthcare.

But the cure sometimes seems as painful as the disease — even for the rich — as the healthcare system is riddled with crowded hospitals, too much bureaucracy and too few nurses.

That's where private investors see an opportunity, especially with the government showing its willingness to allow foreign investment in the hospital sector.

They have the remedy, they say, for a higher fee.

"Chinese used to think that their entitlement to healthcare meant they had to crowd into a crowded public facility, get very short visits with the doctor, maybe line up from five o'clock in the morning," said Roberta Lipson, CEO of healthcare company Chindex.

"These folks — who are staying at five-star hotels when they travel, taking trips to Europe, wearing designer clothes, eating at fancy restaurants — finally realise that in healthcare they can have a choice as well."

Originally aimed at expats, Lipson's four hospitals in China have seen increasing numbers of well-heeled local patients willing to pay more for better care.

There are 13,000 hospitals in China, all of them needing development capital, and Beijing has said it would encourage foreign investment. — Reuters pic

Potential foreign investors in the sector range from big hospital groups in the West to private-equity funds looking for profits from turning around loss-making Chinese hospitals.

Other beneficiaries would be the pioneers who already operate the roughly 100 foreign-invested clinics and hospitals in China, such as Parkway Holdings of Singapore.

Big money

Successful investors could see a return of about 20 per cent, says private-equity investor Yan Zhang , who together with Chinese partners is seeking US$60-US$100 million (RM178.9-RM298.1 million) in funding to invest in a hospital.

"Healthcare reforms in China will represent one of the largest private-equity opportunities anywhere. There are 13,000 hospitals in China, and all of them will need development capital of some sort."

Late last year, China said it would encourage foreign investment in the hospital sector. Most investors still await detailed guidelines, for instance on how to structure the investments or tap insurers, before taking the plunge.

Vice-premier Li Keqiang chaired a special meeting of healthcare policy advisers this summer to get things moving. That set off a round of official visits to the few legitimate private hospitals to see how they work.

Healthcare spending in China has been growing rapidly and the country's pharmaceutical sales are expected to rise more than 20 per cent annually in coming years, research firm IMS says.

China at present spends about 5 per cent of its gross domestic product on healthcare, while the global average is 9 per cent.

While communist China once promised cradle-to-grave healthcare, those promises stagnated after economic reforms began 30 years ago.

To remedy that, Beijing injected US$125 billion as part of its stimulus package to provide a very basic level of care to all citizens.

The Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing shows both the problems and the potential of the healthcare system.

With a reputation as the best hospital in the capital, it attracts patients who drive hundreds of kilometres for care.

Workers building the hospital's new wings thread their way through the wheelchairs waiting outside on the sidewalk. Crowds mill about the doors at all times and in all weather.

People's willingness to travel — and spend — to see the right doctor has excited investors, who foresee profits from upgrading the country's notoriously crowded and unfriendly hospitals.

The government hopes that private money flowing into big city hospitals will free up badly needed funds to upgrade county hospitals and rural clinics.

However, investors must be careful to define a clear-cut ownership structure among partners, including the local governments, said Gordon Liu, a professor at Peking University and adviser on China's healthcare reform.

"At the beginning it may not be a problem if the project is small, but if it grows fast to a big project, there may be a problem if you cannot define the government ownership share."

Ironically, Peking Union itself was originally founded by foreigners, in the waning years of the Qing dynasty.

But since the Communist rule began in 1949, the Chinese healthcare system has functioned as an offshoot of the state, and the popular perception now is that bribes are necessary to get decent care.

Moonlighting doctors

The healthcare reform has rolled out basic insurance to rural dwellers and built new clinics in the counties and townships, but has run up against a lack of skilled workers.

"I think they realise the pressure they have to provide good quality basic level of care which is accessible to every Chinese person," Chindex's Lipson said.

"That's a huge undertaking. They shouldn't try to attack high-end service at the same time, or niche requirements, or elective procedures which are better left to the private sector."

So far, the few private Chinese players have focused on elective procedures because they cannot tap the state-backed health insurance system.

Chindex hospitals and other clinics that cater to expats have mastered overseas insurance billing to get around that problem.

Some cities are slowly moving to allow state insurers to reimburse care at private facilities — a big positive for potential investors.

"That would be a huge stimulator," said Jin Wang, healthcare analyst at McKinsey & Co.

But the sector is still taxed higher — at about 25 per cent — compared with high-tech or outsourcing sectors where foreign investors enjoy tax rates of 12-15 per cent. And investment approval by the Ministry of Health can take up to seven years.

Private hospitals also find it difficult to attract top physicians as full-time staffers as doctors leaving state-owned hospitals risk losing their professional prestige and status.

Many of the doctors moonlight instead, keeping their ties to government hospitals, but earning extra bucks at private hospitals.

"I think the biggest challenge in building a new hospital in China is getting the doctors to staff it," private-equity investor Zhang said.

Those obstacles mean that it may be easier and more profitable to invest in and operate an upgraded wing at a state-owned general hospital than to attempt to build a private hospital from scratch.

Other promising options include the already established hospitals affiliated with state-owned enterprises, which may want to shed costly operations as they undergo restructuring. — Reuters

Singapore PM warns about risk of second global recession

2011-09-02T12:55:00.001+08:00

The Star Online > Business

Published: Friday September 2, 2011 MYT 10:52:00 AM
Updated: Friday September 2, 2011 MYT 11:24:15 AM

Singapore PM warns about risk of second global recession

SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says the global economy is deeply troubled and in the short-term, there is a risk of relapsing into a second global recession.

He said the economic problems in the United States and in the European Union would take years to resolve, even assuming they muster the political will and consensus needed.

"Singapore is vulnerable to these external problems, so we should be prepared for turbulence ahead. Fortunately, Singapore is in a good position. We have a vibrant economy, a capable and hard-working people and substantial reserves built up prudently over many decades.

"These give us the resilience and the resources to see us through the worst storms," he said in his speech at the swearing-in ceremony of the republic's seventh President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana last night.

On Dr Tan's responsibility, Lee said: "You are taking office at a critical point in Singapore's economic and socio-political development."

"Indeed, protecting our Past Reserves was a major reason for creating the institution of the Elected Presidency.

"Our Past Reserves are our rainy day funds, which are not just for today's Singaporeans, but also for our future generations, our children today and their children tomorrow," he said.

Lee said the president holds the second key and must agree before the government can draw upon Past Reserves.

He said drawing on "our reserves should only be an absolutely last resort. Our first strategy is to ensure a resilient and dynamic economy."

"But our reserves give us confidence that we can weather any crisis, however severe it may be. My Government will continue to be prudent and build up our reserves year-by-year," Lee said.

He said there will surely be future occasions when the government will have to seek the president's approval to draw on our hard-earned Past Reserves again.

"It could conceivably happen within your term as president, if the dangers facing the world economy escalate and precipitate a major crisis.

"In such an eventuality the government will work with you, Mr President, to handle the request and decision deliberately, systematically, and in the best interests of Singaporeans," Lee added. - BERNAMA

For more Singapore news e from The Straits Times, a partner of Asia News Network, click here.

Klang Valley MRT

2011-02-27T16:36:00.001+08:00

See the Project Website.

Horoscope for the day

2011-01-14T09:58:00.001+08:00

Signs of what to come?.....

Your life is about to get busier, and although you might try to resist, this should be a positive change. It's not just about introducing more activities into your life; you are also anticipating all that you can learn with so much going on. The overall intensity continues to accelerate and could last for months, so conserve your energy. Too much frivolity can lead to burnout. A steady work pace enables you to accomplish more and relax with greater ease.

1.1.11

2011-01-01T08:36:00.001+08:00

A new year, a new leaf, a new chapter in my life. Everything is new. Everything looks good and I look forward.

Happiness

2010-12-13T09:02:00.001+08:00

Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.
- Robertson Davies

Legal Issues, Fees and Stamp Duties on Tenancy Agreements

2010-12-09T12:29:00.000+08:00

There is this website that provides very good information on these matters. Check this out!

http://www.laweddie.com/wordpress/faqs-of-legal-fees-and-stamp-duty-issues-of-tenancy-agreement/

MRTA Calculator

2010-08-02T12:41:00.003+08:00

Buying a house is a major thing. One thing that some people did not consider is MRTA. When I bought my last property, the bank officer proposed to me an MRTA for my loan in which the premium is equivalent to the total of my monthly bank loan instalment. I almost fall off my chair when I saw that! He proposed an MRTA which is has a return, protection and critical illness coverage. Basically, the insurance covers almost all situations, i.e. if I die, if I were to fall into one of the 36 critical illness, the insurance company will settle the loan. If I survive the entire period, I get to get back all the premium I have paid to the insurance company.

Do we really need to pay that kind of money to have such a comprehensive cover? That is a question insurance agents including the bank officers (I learned later that he too is an insurance agent and he gets commissions for the MRTA that I bought) will be only too glad to tell you that you need all of it. I mean what else does the bank want? They already got security from the property being charged, they only loan you 90% of less, they marked up their interest rate to cover the financial risk, not they want to cover in case you die. This is almost risk free lending.

In actual fact, you don't need to have such comprehensive cover. Most banks lend on the criteria that the loan instalment is 1/3 of your income. If MRTA takes up another 1/3, you will have only 1/3 to survive.

How much should you pay for your MRTA? Here is a website that could calculate the MRTA you need to pay.

http://www.fiscal-wise.com.my/FinancialTools/MRTACalculator.aspx

Getting Rich 101: Lesson # 1

2010-07-30T14:46:00.001+08:00

I have heard of this from friends, acquaintances and bosses many times. It is worth it to pay to get your children into elite private schools. Your children will get to mix with children from rich families and they become childhood friends. When they grow up, your children will get opportunities through his rich childhood friends. As they say, there are no friendship thicker than your childhood friends. I have seen this in real life with my own eyes, through the course of my work. 'Young chikus' becoming directors of companies running big businesses. The world is getting more competitive by the day. Every little edge you gain will be an edge over others. The rat race!

I have told my wife about this. She doesn't believe this. She never believed whatever I say anyway. This article is prove. It is not from me, this idea was never from me anyway. I heard it from other people years ago. Anyway, this is not about trying to get my kids to these elite schools. (It is a little too late for my kids now and I really can't afford to send them to the rich private schoold. Sorry boys.) The point is, she never believed in what I say. She is definitely not stupid. She is a top student during her school and college days. But why is she so stubborn?... sigh.....

Anyway, again it is not about proving who is right or wrong. Then what's the point? Well, I just hope that she reads this post and understand how competitive is the world now. The rich knows the route to richess more than the average people. There is no such thing as being at the right place at the right time. It is planned. You plan your children's place and where they are going to be. It will not guarantee any success but the probability or likelihood of their success is also higher. Your children get to mix with the 'right type' of people. Your children will learn their ways, the ways of the rich. Robert Kiyosaki, you like to belittle your dad for his lack of financial intelligence, perhaps he knows something that you didn't and you have the chance to know your Rich Dad and learn how to be like them. You must write an article on this technique.

It may sound materialistic. But just like computers, handphones and PDAs, there gadgets used to be exclusive items used by the rich, but they are so common now. In the future, this practice of getting your kids in the 'right environment' may be common thing. You are already seeing this. There are some schools where you can see many big cars dropping school children. You also noticed many parents are pushing their children to Chinese Schools. You see a lot of big cars in these chinese schools.

So folks, those of you who have kids and you have yet to register them in any schools, try this strategy. Read this article. He probably put George Soros to shame. He is already managing USD1 billion worth of funds at the age of 28. He is a millionaire at 20 years old.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/29/nation/6753558&sec=nation

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/29/nation/6756946&sec=nation

This is Getting Rich Quick 101. Lesson number one. Please be patient and wait for lesson # 2.

UFO sighting causes stir at beach resort

2010-07-20T09:33:00.001+08:00

The Star Online > Nation

Tuesday July 20, 2010

UFO sighting causes stir at beach resort

SIGHTINGS of an unidentified flying object (UFO) have been reported by guests and employees at a beach resort near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Harian Metro reported.

The tabloid even published a front-page blurb of the object, which had apparently caused much excitement and uneasiness among those staying at the Tuaran Beach Resort.

One of the guests, Jemas Dungil, 27, told the tabloid that a woman shouted when she saw a round blue flying object in the sky.

"We came out of a hall to see what the commotion was all about and I saw a round blue disc in the sky.

"It turned green a few seconds later," she said.

Several other guests and employees, who claimed to have also spotted the object, said it hovered in the air for a few minutes before disappearing.

Some even claimed that their handphones "went dead" when they tried to record the object with the devices.

Jemas said although she managed to capture a picture of the object, she did not believe that it was a UFO.

"What I saw was really extraordinary because it happened right in front of me," she said.

Another witness, Donny Benedict, 29, said he did not believe in the existence of UFOs, but changed his mind upon watching the unusual sight.

"I saw the object for about 20 seconds before it disappeared.

"It's strange that it did not make any noise like a normal aircraft," he said, adding that he regretted not being able to take a picture of the object with his handphone as it was out of battery.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/20/nation/6693090&sec=nation

Quote

2010-07-15T22:42:00.001+08:00

"Don't Lose Your Momentum" Donald Trump

Octopus oracle Paul, and parrot Mani

2010-07-09T21:26:00.001+08:00

Who is going to win the World Cup 2010? My money will be on Spain now. Why? This World Cup is so unpredictable and filled with so much upsets that by the last quarter final match, one of my acquaintance who is a football fan got so upset he said he will watch F1 from that moment on after Argentina's humiliating 4 - 0 loss to Germany.

Why did I put my money on Spain? Because Paul says so. Paul, the octopus oracle is probably the biggest star of the World Cup 2010, he definitely over shadowed names like Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and many more. Paul had accurately predicted the winning outcome of all of Germany's last 6 matches until their loss in the semi finals.

Some Germans got so upset with Paul's prediction they wanted Paul cooked. Spain's President, of course happy with Paul's prediction, offered to send protection forces to Germany to protect Paul's life. Exaggerating? Read this news (sorry it's in Malay).

But Paul is not the only oracle which predicted the German matches accurately. There is another parrot oracle in Singapore, called Mani, which also managed to do that. For the Final match Mani predicted that Netherlands will win the 2010 World Cup tournament. So who are you going to trust now (Paul or Mani)?

BMI Chart

2010-06-30T21:44:00.004+08:00

Update:

I have reached my target of 150lbs now.

Able to run 7km non stop or 50 mins non stop.

Have to stop eating chips for good and be more consistent with my daily exercise.

Next target is 66 kg or 145 lbs.

-----------------------------------------------------

Posted: Apr 17, 2010

Started jogging almost on daily basis since 20 Mar 2010 and started controlling my food intake. Every morning roti kosong and teh tarik. Light lunch without rice or sandwich with soup at Subway (ouch expensive!) and just dishes without rice for dinner.

I am now capable of running 3.5km non stop or for 1/2 hour non stop.

My weight has dropped 8 pounds as at yesterday from 160lbs (20 Mar 2010). Waist reduced to 37 inches. My BP is now between Normal and "Low Normal".

My target is to push my weight down to 150lbs.

I have to be careful with my food. At today's lunch, 3 rounds of food is enough to add 6 lbs back to my weight!!! (that's the weight difference from morning and afternoon at 4.00pm!!!) But how am I to resist the cut roast lamb, sushi, fresh oysters and Russian mussels at the buffet lunch?!!

I have to run harder again in the next few days to lose this additional 6 lbs....

----------------------------------------------------------Posted: 2 Jan 2010

Looking back at my post dated 4 Aug 2009, my health profile has deteriorated. My BMI is now in the red zone with my weight at 160lbs (72.6kg). My waist 40 inches! By BP is in the Mild Stage 1 despite on medication.

I have to be more discipline. Occasional jogging is not working. It have to be combined with dieting.

The trouble is, it's so hard to control on food. My appetite is too good, my food portion is also getting bigger. And the late dinner...

----------------------------------------------------------

Posted: 4 August 2009

I've never been overweight before, but the past one year my waistline and body mass is shooting up like crazy. I blame this to the late dinner on weekdays and the ferocious appetite during the last 3 months. It looked like a tall order to lose 7kg. Titbits is something I love so much. Unlike money, weight, once gained is difficult to lose.

This is my statistics today. I will have to monitor my progress with my weight loss regime.

Malaysia: Young but poor in 2030

2010-06-29T22:21:00.001+08:00

When Idris Jala projected that Malaysia would go bankrupt in 2019, if the current fiscal deficit growth of 12% p.a. and economic growth rate of 6% p.a. continue, many parties were in denial. Some even called for his resignation.

Now Meryll Lynch made an even bolder projection. See summary of their report above. They foresee even further ahead compared to Idris Jala's projection, 11 years later. We will be a poor and young country. Meryll Lynch didn't forecast that Malaysia will go bankrupt but what they forecasted is just as bad.

I wonder what people would say of Meryll Lynch's projection?

Property Agent @ Lestari Puchong

2010-06-14T10:09:00.001+08:00

http://henrybong.iagent.my/default.aspx

The Internet

2010-06-09T08:46:00.001+08:00

"The internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates what you do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can be more alone. If you want to connect, it makes it easier to connect." - Esther Dyson

Happy Birthday

2010-05-30T23:51:00.001+08:00

Dear baba mame

Happy Birthday

Click on the link below to view your Birthday Card !
http://landings.tubely.com/bday.php?a=l&q=rKmtm5qksKvzheOeqaWlj5Whpqel

Thank you for being a Tubely member.
We wish you a life time of success in finding great friends, peace, happiness & prosperity.
If your email program shows the address above as a link, just click on it to view the card in your web browser. If it isn't a link, highlight the entire address, copy it, and paste it into the address window of your web browser.