brilliant!
poem of despair read from top and of hope read from bottom...
============
Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed
January 20, 2009 in My poetry book
Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed….{http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA}
I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it .
Read the message, then read it again in reverse.
Which generation do you belong in?
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Dr. Li-ann Thio v. Random NYU Law IT Guy-Monday, July 13, 2009 12:48 PM - By Elie Mystal
http://abovethelaw.com/2009/07/dr_li-ann_thio_v_random_nyu_la.php
quote-
"The full Thio letter (reprinted below) goes into great detail about the conservative nature of Singapore's culture, and the difference between acting as a politician in Singapore versus a law professor in New York.
But you have to wonder if Dr. Thio has a skin that is thick enough to take slings (and straws) of outrageous NYC fortune. Take it from me, you can't blast out an 18-point memo every time some student writes down all of the ways in which he believes you are a terrible human being.
Seems to me that if you believe in free speech in an intellectual environment, you also have to support the right of students to express their displeasure about your political beliefs.
Read the letters from Graves-Pryor and Dr. Thio below".
====
must say sensible pragmatic advice...if you cannot take the heat...get out of the kitchen...it would be good though if people who espouse (and believe themselves to be bastion of) academic and intellectual freedom and ready to voice "today's heresey may be tomorrow's orthodoxy and vice versa" challenge themselves to survive the caldron of NY-styled liberal democracy...hopefully that may moderate their views and NOT to treat moderate even-handed views as "dogma of false neutrality"...
see also
Statement from Dean Richard L. Revesz of the New York University School of Law
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/nyregion/23nyu-text.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
Dean Revesz found parts of Thio's letter offensive, quote-
"In the last few weeks, a number of members of our community wrote to Professor Thio indicating their objection to her appointment as a visiting professor. She considers some of these messages to be offensive. In turn, she replied to them in a manner that many member of our community—myself included—consider offensive and hurtful. These exchanges have been circulated on various blogs."
why? one maybe sympathetic to the emotional outburst but if you want to be a public figure, then you have to take the heat and be savvy and not hit out at all and sundry...the slur on "NY Law community" and "many faculty members" will only reinforce NY community's and western stereotype that Singapore society can only stoutly state/defend their views while denying others the same...
quote from Thio's letter-
"If the NYU law community is unable to welcome me because of my convictions, they should say so. I am sure many faculty members are doing some soul-searching, perhaps regretting their original invitation. I am not naive. But just reflect on how this makes me feel. I do not feel welcomed as a person; I feel unfairly treated and greatly disrespected. Would any academic (who is reasonably sane) want to go into a situation where hatred of a person, as oppose to "sharp disagreement" with their views, is the order of the day? Mr Graves-Pryor and those who share his views have succeeded in communicating their extreme disapproval of me / my views. They may rejoice in speaking freely, as the US Constitution protects, while seeking to intimidate others from exercising that same right through intimidation and abuse. I maintain my disagreement with their views and the viciousness of expression but this is perhaps to be expected, given the intractable nature of law and profound moral disagreement where an overlapping consensus is not possible or elusive.
If NYU Law as an institution is committed to a genuine diversity of viewpoints and respectful interlocution, it would be an institution I would be honoured to be given the privilege to teach at. If not, then be frank and say so."
quote-
"The full Thio letter (reprinted below) goes into great detail about the conservative nature of Singapore's culture, and the difference between acting as a politician in Singapore versus a law professor in New York.
But you have to wonder if Dr. Thio has a skin that is thick enough to take slings (and straws) of outrageous NYC fortune. Take it from me, you can't blast out an 18-point memo every time some student writes down all of the ways in which he believes you are a terrible human being.
Seems to me that if you believe in free speech in an intellectual environment, you also have to support the right of students to express their displeasure about your political beliefs.
Read the letters from Graves-Pryor and Dr. Thio below".
====
must say sensible pragmatic advice...if you cannot take the heat...get out of the kitchen...it would be good though if people who espouse (and believe themselves to be bastion of) academic and intellectual freedom and ready to voice "today's heresey may be tomorrow's orthodoxy and vice versa" challenge themselves to survive the caldron of NY-styled liberal democracy...hopefully that may moderate their views and NOT to treat moderate even-handed views as "dogma of false neutrality"...
see also
Statement from Dean Richard L. Revesz of the New York University School of Law
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/nyregion/23nyu-text.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
Dean Revesz found parts of Thio's letter offensive, quote-
"In the last few weeks, a number of members of our community wrote to Professor Thio indicating their objection to her appointment as a visiting professor. She considers some of these messages to be offensive. In turn, she replied to them in a manner that many member of our community—myself included—consider offensive and hurtful. These exchanges have been circulated on various blogs."
why? one maybe sympathetic to the emotional outburst but if you want to be a public figure, then you have to take the heat and be savvy and not hit out at all and sundry...the slur on "NY Law community" and "many faculty members" will only reinforce NY community's and western stereotype that Singapore society can only stoutly state/defend their views while denying others the same...
quote from Thio's letter-
"If the NYU law community is unable to welcome me because of my convictions, they should say so. I am sure many faculty members are doing some soul-searching, perhaps regretting their original invitation. I am not naive. But just reflect on how this makes me feel. I do not feel welcomed as a person; I feel unfairly treated and greatly disrespected. Would any academic (who is reasonably sane) want to go into a situation where hatred of a person, as oppose to "sharp disagreement" with their views, is the order of the day? Mr Graves-Pryor and those who share his views have succeeded in communicating their extreme disapproval of me / my views. They may rejoice in speaking freely, as the US Constitution protects, while seeking to intimidate others from exercising that same right through intimidation and abuse. I maintain my disagreement with their views and the viciousness of expression but this is perhaps to be expected, given the intractable nature of law and profound moral disagreement where an overlapping consensus is not possible or elusive.
If NYU Law as an institution is committed to a genuine diversity of viewpoints and respectful interlocution, it would be an institution I would be honoured to be given the privilege to teach at. If not, then be frank and say so."
my response to some market comments
Comments in Italic=
The US Stock Market (especially the financial sector running on government bail outs and Fed assistance) has surely recovered but the business sector has apparently still not. UPS is also a barometer of world trade as they are in the business parcel package movement business.
The 49% drop in UPS profits vs. 17% drop in sales means that they are also operating below a certain critical mass.
What happens after the fire fighting?
The higher the DOW went in the current overdrive, the greater the gravity of a pullback later to reflect both the economic realities on the ground and reduced government financial assistance due to mounting deficits pressures which is currently being suspended. In the short term, fighting a financial collapse is more important then any deficits worries. At some point, the government’s hand must get off from the free market function. A “market collapse” is the government‘s clear concern but a “market decline”, so long as it is not extreme, is not the concern of the government. There is no argument that a total collapse has been averted by the Obama administration.
=====
my response to ABOVE market comments
UPS and Fedex performances are barometer of economic activities…that’s why last month when Fedex did much better than expectations but forward view weak market made excuse to fall…comparison with 1 year ago gives few pointers since global meltdown + 10% unemployment of course revenue & profit falls…what is giving market strength now is not the financials but because of broad based performance above expectations…
All the wall street/CNBC pundits were criticising Obama and want Geithner sacked on TARP and saving wall street but were proven WRONG…the same sang negative tunes on GM Chrysler and said NOT possible to emerge from bankruptcy in 2 months. They were proven WRONG…wall street done themselves in and the whole world with them and armchairs can only criticise because they no need to do, to execute and solve problems that Obama, Geithner, his energy healthcare and other serious folks have to do and achieve…so wall street+ armchair are doing what they usually do so well = take $ don’t do any work screw things up and criticise others cleaning up their shit and making US and the world healthy again…
The same jokers crying wolf caused Dow to drop to 6400. Now that Obama team got financials stabilize, they find something else to scaremonger…of course stock market will go up & down and overcorrect in both directions…that is not Obama’s job…
That’s why the team is focus on healthcare, energy/environment etc after solving the more immediate financial system threats, and GM/Chrysler collapse…
Of course the government’s hand will get off the free market function…government never intended to get on in the first place but the idiots who collect $b bonus and shit all over the place beg the government to come clean up so they can criticise the clean up…”Nationalisation” and “government interference” are the dumbest of arguments…if Warren Buffet puts USD180b guarantee or owns USD45b of a company’s shares will he not “interfere” and let the idiots continue to screw the companies, screw America and the world?
The US Stock Market (especially the financial sector running on government bail outs and Fed assistance) has surely recovered but the business sector has apparently still not. UPS is also a barometer of world trade as they are in the business parcel package movement business.
The 49% drop in UPS profits vs. 17% drop in sales means that they are also operating below a certain critical mass.
What happens after the fire fighting?
The higher the DOW went in the current overdrive, the greater the gravity of a pullback later to reflect both the economic realities on the ground and reduced government financial assistance due to mounting deficits pressures which is currently being suspended. In the short term, fighting a financial collapse is more important then any deficits worries. At some point, the government’s hand must get off from the free market function. A “market collapse” is the government‘s clear concern but a “market decline”, so long as it is not extreme, is not the concern of the government. There is no argument that a total collapse has been averted by the Obama administration.
=====
my response to ABOVE market comments
UPS and Fedex performances are barometer of economic activities…that’s why last month when Fedex did much better than expectations but forward view weak market made excuse to fall…comparison with 1 year ago gives few pointers since global meltdown + 10% unemployment of course revenue & profit falls…what is giving market strength now is not the financials but because of broad based performance above expectations…
All the wall street/CNBC pundits were criticising Obama and want Geithner sacked on TARP and saving wall street but were proven WRONG…the same sang negative tunes on GM Chrysler and said NOT possible to emerge from bankruptcy in 2 months. They were proven WRONG…wall street done themselves in and the whole world with them and armchairs can only criticise because they no need to do, to execute and solve problems that Obama, Geithner, his energy healthcare and other serious folks have to do and achieve…so wall street+ armchair are doing what they usually do so well = take $ don’t do any work screw things up and criticise others cleaning up their shit and making US and the world healthy again…
The same jokers crying wolf caused Dow to drop to 6400. Now that Obama team got financials stabilize, they find something else to scaremonger…of course stock market will go up & down and overcorrect in both directions…that is not Obama’s job…
That’s why the team is focus on healthcare, energy/environment etc after solving the more immediate financial system threats, and GM/Chrysler collapse…
Of course the government’s hand will get off the free market function…government never intended to get on in the first place but the idiots who collect $b bonus and shit all over the place beg the government to come clean up so they can criticise the clean up…”Nationalisation” and “government interference” are the dumbest of arguments…if Warren Buffet puts USD180b guarantee or owns USD45b of a company’s shares will he not “interfere” and let the idiots continue to screw the companies, screw America and the world?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Andy's HK trip 9-11July2009
took advantage of SIA A380 inaugural flight to HK promotion on 9July2009 to fly peasant class last week at just S$298, tax and surcharge inclusive. must say the new economy cabin with 19" seats and 10.6" LCD is true luxury for a peasant (lucky me!) and I got upper deck aisle seat on 2-4-2 configuration to boot...
btw aerobridge is connected direct to upper deck...seems that HK airport ground staff haven't practice how to operate this and we got stuck for 1/2hr waiting for cabin door to open..price to pay for taking any flights or hotels for opening discounts but hey as long as we are safe the rest can be taken in stride...
booked myself into Royal Park, a relatively new (again cheap) hotel at Shatin, good size 24sq m room for just HKD900 for 2 nights (see photo), connected to Shatin MTR station and like 4 malls for endless shopping...read many raving reviews from other peasants and not disappointed...took A41 double decker aircon bus from airport for just HKD21 to hotel (2nd stop right in front of Royal Park Hotel) after 1 stop at Shatin bus interchange which was <5 minutes from hotel..the journey took just 40 minutes on a thursday afternoon (2.40pm - 3.20pm)-and same 40minutes from hotel to airport on saturday afternoon (1.40pm-2.20pm)..bus frequency every 20minutes..
had dinner with Brian Ho at Chao Inn (潮楼) at 1 Canton Road Tsim Sha Tsui owned by Taoheung (稻香）group which is like competitor to Maxim (美心). costs Brian a hefty HKD750..the soy goose meat was really good so was the pig stomach soup. the mid-size cold flower crab at HKD498 however was quite a disaster (c/w what I had several times at Maxim's 潮江春at Lippo Centre)-real heartache...but then the 10 floor restaurant faces the Victoria harbour and the window seats require minimum spend of HKD300pax so I guess just treat as paying for the view haha...the vista was fantastic of course though The Symphony of Light (Guiness Book of records for largest permanent display was like "don't know what it was"??)...after that a stroll along Avenue of the Stars harbourfront was quite nice...
next day I took E42 double decker aircon bus from hotel doorstep to Tung Chung cable car terminal on Lantau island next to airport - again a nice ride no jam 40minutes for HKD13.6 (must take bus more often)...there I took the 25 minutes ride by cable car crystal cabin aka glass bottom to Ngon Ping cable car terminal costing HKD157 return to see the Tian Tan Great Buddha (天坛大佛), a 32m 250 ton bronze buddha statue-largest in the world...the vistas include the vast South China Sea, the rolling grassland slopes of North Lantau Country Park, panoramic views of Hong Kong International Airport runway and planes taking off, mountainous terrain of Lantau Island, the Great Buddha Statue and the 360-degree view of the Ngong Ping Plateau..see http://www.np360.com.hk/html/eng/booking/prices.html) also see photos..
from Tung Chung I caught the MTR to Wanchai (change at HK station) and went hunting down Bo Innovation (see http://www.boinnovation.com/) address Shop 13, 2/f, J Residence 60 Johnston Road Wan Chai(Private lift entrance on 18 Ship Street) t. +852 2850 8371...
the out of the box tattooed chef Alvin's (a sometime rock and roll performer) mod restaurant was on the itinerary of Anthony Bourdain and attracted a 2 star Michelin rating in Dec 2008...I took the HKD178 set lunch (would love to go back with Lisa to try his HKD1080 degustation menu)..you get a choice of 2 innovative fusion tim sum, choice of main + a starch (which was olive fried rice) + dessert (some sorbet quite forgettable)...I took the wagyu xiaolongbao (came as a pair topped with a heap of caviar)..caviar was good, skin was good, wagyu or not, the filling was sweet however not enough sweet tasting soup with the filling which I thought should be the distinguishing feasture of xiaolongbao..instead of the foie gras pot sticker which comes with just a dash of FG in the filling, I chose the real thing - pan friend foie gras with miso sauce..this was taken with a cabbage leave wrap...quite nice really...but with HKD35 supplement meant it was HKD70 (as second timsum item was included as part of the HKD 178 set) it was a bit small (I probably try the foie gras pot sticker and the black truffle fun chiong next time)...for the main I took the sweet vinegared 24 hr pork belly confit (the taste of vinegared pork trotters which I like)...overall the HKD213+10% lunch was ok good I guess but not super value (say c/w Dozo's S$39.80 6 course lunch)...see pictures
ate some HKD19 beef inards noodle （牛杂面）along chiu chao street at Wanchai (came with a nice thick iced coffee too)..this the real tecochew stuff..see picture..
next day, before lunch with James Ho & airport, I took a stroll up 400+ steps to see the Man Fat Sze (万佛寺）or ten thousand buddha temple..a really nice walk...will do again any day...most enjoyable..see picture..
see more pictures at http://andyquak1958.spaces.live.com/default.aspx
btw aerobridge is connected direct to upper deck...seems that HK airport ground staff haven't practice how to operate this and we got stuck for 1/2hr waiting for cabin door to open..price to pay for taking any flights or hotels for opening discounts but hey as long as we are safe the rest can be taken in stride...
booked myself into Royal Park, a relatively new (again cheap) hotel at Shatin, good size 24sq m room for just HKD900 for 2 nights (see photo), connected to Shatin MTR station and like 4 malls for endless shopping...read many raving reviews from other peasants and not disappointed...took A41 double decker aircon bus from airport for just HKD21 to hotel (2nd stop right in front of Royal Park Hotel) after 1 stop at Shatin bus interchange which was <5 minutes from hotel..the journey took just 40 minutes on a thursday afternoon (2.40pm - 3.20pm)-and same 40minutes from hotel to airport on saturday afternoon (1.40pm-2.20pm)..bus frequency every 20minutes..
had dinner with Brian Ho at Chao Inn (潮楼) at 1 Canton Road Tsim Sha Tsui owned by Taoheung (稻香）group which is like competitor to Maxim (美心). costs Brian a hefty HKD750..the soy goose meat was really good so was the pig stomach soup. the mid-size cold flower crab at HKD498 however was quite a disaster (c/w what I had several times at Maxim's 潮江春at Lippo Centre)-real heartache...but then the 10 floor restaurant faces the Victoria harbour and the window seats require minimum spend of HKD300pax so I guess just treat as paying for the view haha...the vista was fantastic of course though The Symphony of Light (Guiness Book of records for largest permanent display was like "don't know what it was"??)...after that a stroll along Avenue of the Stars harbourfront was quite nice...
next day I took E42 double decker aircon bus from hotel doorstep to Tung Chung cable car terminal on Lantau island next to airport - again a nice ride no jam 40minutes for HKD13.6 (must take bus more often)...there I took the 25 minutes ride by cable car crystal cabin aka glass bottom to Ngon Ping cable car terminal costing HKD157 return to see the Tian Tan Great Buddha (天坛大佛), a 32m 250 ton bronze buddha statue-largest in the world...the vistas include the vast South China Sea, the rolling grassland slopes of North Lantau Country Park, panoramic views of Hong Kong International Airport runway and planes taking off, mountainous terrain of Lantau Island, the Great Buddha Statue and the 360-degree view of the Ngong Ping Plateau..see http://www.np360.com.hk/html/eng/booking/prices.html) also see photos..
from Tung Chung I caught the MTR to Wanchai (change at HK station) and went hunting down Bo Innovation (see http://www.boinnovation.com/) address Shop 13, 2/f, J Residence 60 Johnston Road Wan Chai(Private lift entrance on 18 Ship Street) t. +852 2850 8371...
the out of the box tattooed chef Alvin's (a sometime rock and roll performer) mod restaurant was on the itinerary of Anthony Bourdain and attracted a 2 star Michelin rating in Dec 2008...I took the HKD178 set lunch (would love to go back with Lisa to try his HKD1080 degustation menu)..you get a choice of 2 innovative fusion tim sum, choice of main + a starch (which was olive fried rice) + dessert (some sorbet quite forgettable)...I took the wagyu xiaolongbao (came as a pair topped with a heap of caviar)..caviar was good, skin was good, wagyu or not, the filling was sweet however not enough sweet tasting soup with the filling which I thought should be the distinguishing feasture of xiaolongbao..instead of the foie gras pot sticker which comes with just a dash of FG in the filling, I chose the real thing - pan friend foie gras with miso sauce..this was taken with a cabbage leave wrap...quite nice really...but with HKD35 supplement meant it was HKD70 (as second timsum item was included as part of the HKD 178 set) it was a bit small (I probably try the foie gras pot sticker and the black truffle fun chiong next time)...for the main I took the sweet vinegared 24 hr pork belly confit (the taste of vinegared pork trotters which I like)...overall the HKD213+10% lunch was ok good I guess but not super value (say c/w Dozo's S$39.80 6 course lunch)...see pictures
ate some HKD19 beef inards noodle （牛杂面）along chiu chao street at Wanchai (came with a nice thick iced coffee too)..this the real tecochew stuff..see picture..
next day, before lunch with James Ho & airport, I took a stroll up 400+ steps to see the Man Fat Sze (万佛寺）or ten thousand buddha temple..a really nice walk...will do again any day...most enjoyable..see picture..
see more pictures at http://andyquak1958.spaces.live.com/default.aspx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)