Petrol Hike 1 year anniversary February 28, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Malaysia, Note2Self, Politics.24 comments
Today is the 1st birthday of our petrol hike.
As of 1624 hours, we would have saved RM 4,405, 234, 771. (see counter here)
We were told a year ago that the ‘subsidy’ savings of RM 4.4 billion would be utilised for public transportation.
Fine. I am first and foremost a user and supporter of public transportation as I do not drive (this ‘fact’ was meant for my ‘6 weird things tag’.)
One would be more than happy to support such a noble initiative, if only we could see some tangible results.
So this was my expected checklist:-
Bull gored February 28, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Economy, Malaysia, Note2Self.7 comments
(Updated: Sydney time 1021H)
-
Australian stock market in freefall
Colin Kruger, Sydney Morning Herald
February 28, 2007 – 10:21AM
Traders react to the negative economic news on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after the Jones industrial average fell more than 500 points.
Australian stocks joined the worst share market rout since September 11 amid fears that China’s boom might be over.
Australia’s major indices fell by more than 3 per cent when the markets opened this morning.
Australia’s All Ordinaries index plunged by 212 points to 5773 at the 10.15am open this morning, wiping around $45 billion from the value of the Australian stock market.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index had dropped 206.9 points to 5786.9.
The White House is nervously watching financial markets, after Wall Street and European bourses plummeted dramatically.
The fall was the worst to hit Wall Street since the September 11 attacks in 2001 and wiped out all of the market’s gains this year. (con‘t)
Excess Email & Phone = IQ drop February 27, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Miscellanous, Note2Self, Readings.8 comments
What I suspected for the longest time ….
BBC: Friday, 22 April, 2005, 06:29 GMT 07:29 UK
‘Infomania’ worse than marijuana
Workers distracted by email and phone calls suffer a fall in IQ more than twice that found in marijuana smokers, new research has claimed.
The study for computing firm Hewlett Packard warned of a rise in “infomania”, with people becoming addicted to email and text messages.
Tolls: Mabuhay ang Philippines! February 27, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Economy, Malaysia, Southeast Asia.7 comments
One of the questions put to Works Minister Samy Vellu on Feb 25, 2007 (NST, pp 7) was the following:-
Q: Are you looking at other countries for better methods of doing it (this author’s note:- i.e.tabulating toll figures)?
A: We can’t go to other countries as they are all very costly. We are cheaper. They’ll come to us now. (laughs)
Look no further Mr Minister.
The toll operators of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in February this year decided to REDUCE toll rates by as much as 10%, after it took over the 83.7 km expressway from the Philippines government a year ago.
ERRATA: Machap ADUN very very ill February 26, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Malaysia, Politics.5 comments
Profuse apologies. The Melakan source had sent me the inaccurate news that the Machap ADUN had passed away.
ERRATA: The state assemblyman for Machap (Melaka) has apparently slipped into coma.
This means quite likely there may be a by-election if he doesn’t recover.
Amir’s appeal letter: 14 Dalil Mengapa … February 26, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Democracy, History, Human Rights, Malaysia, Readings, Southeast Asia.add a comment
Amir Muhammad faxed his appeal letter, requesting the un-banning of Apa Khabar Orang Kampung, to the Censorship Board of the Ministry for Home Affairs today.
Please note: It’s a different ministry altogether that censors and bans books.
Feel free to write your own appeals to the Encik Mansor Embong. Address and fax number included.
(more…)
Muse February 25, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Event, Malaysia, Note2Self.7 comments
Never blogged from a concert but Muse is late. With Politikus and two metres from stage 🙂
Minutes after the post was uploaded from my cellphone, Muse came on stage! I should have brought a videocam. Damn.
Only one word. Awesome.
Darwin banned February 25, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Note2Self.21 comments
This is getting very tiresome.
An apt corresponding title to this emo post should read, “Darwin, Islam Hadhari and Freaks of Nature”.
Two weeks ago, CIJ‘s Sonia called up to check if it was indeed Darwin‘s The Origin of Species on the gazetted list of banned book. Preferring to err on the side of caution and referring to the author’s name in the gazette – ‘F.susilohardo Basuki Hernowo‘ (line item 51) – I told her it was most probably some Indonesian Christian book.
Last night, a foreign correspondent telephoned to make the same inquiry. After the conversation, I thought it best to have this checked out with some friends.
This morning, well, one should by now anticipate the not-so-stunning news.
Arumugam files review February 23, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Human Rights, Malaysia, Race Relations.2 comments
(Lawyer Nik (left) with Arumugam at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Registry)
新年快樂 (Xin nian kuai le!) February 18, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Event, Note2Self.7 comments
(Kampar, Perak – 18 Feb 2007)
Xin nian kuai le!
Wan shi lu yi,
Xin nian zhing bu,
Xin nian gai ge!
(powered by Airzed WiMax, Ipoh; context here)
elizabeth wong 