Gold......!!!

We have seen a few movie showing women from northern Malaysian wearing so many jewelery, which most of it was gold. In general, our community especially women, loves gold. Even men was also wear gold nowadays. Be it in form of necklaces, bracelets and some in form of watches.
Well gold was not only loves by the community but was also favored by country. In fact recently China has bought some gold from world central bank (if i'm not mistaken). This is to reduce the dependent to the weakening US Dollar and to hold to more stable commodity as the reserve.
Gold is a stable commodity as there is no new source of gold were found in the world at least in the last 20 years. Thus, the price of gold actually won't really change except when there is purchase of gold by any country with premium price. Gold is also consider as inflation resistant as it is not effected by the inflation in any kind.
Yesterday, India also brought 200 tonnes gold from IMF, worth of USD6.7 billion. That amount of gold was half of the gold held by IMF. That is another signed that USD currency was not regarded as the world anymore as it becoming weaker during this economic crisis. Many people already suggested to change the world currency to other currency than USD. China is one of them even with a large amount of USD dollar kept by them in the US central bank (need to further justify).
This is article regarding this matter by Matthias Chang: http://futurefastforward.com/feature-articles/2751.
I remember some years backward, our former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad used to mentioning about using gold as the world currency (In form of Gold Dinar and Dirham?).  Even recently Tun did mentioning regarding changing of the US currency: http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/2009/10/sound-bites---the-us-dollar.html#more. But will Malaysia government buy more gold for the reserve?
To know more about Gold, the topic will be discussed in Bijak Wang this Saturday.

Dodo Bird - an extinct bird

During my recent department meeting, the story of the dodo bird is shared. Well based on the stories and some fact from Wikipedia. Dodo bird was a bird family that unable to fly, flightless bird endemic is the term. Dodo bird came or originated from islands of Mauritius. It has been extinct since the mid to late 17th century. Since then some phrase related to Dodo bird was used to show extinction such 'as dead as a dodo' or to show near to obsolete or coming to extinction, 'to go to the way of the dodo'.
It was said that during the time, Dodo life was to easy that food is easily found without any trouble. There was also no predator of any kind. Thus, dodo evolved to be fearless of people and animal. With it nature that unable to fly, made them an easy prey. When human first come to Mauritius, they also bring with them animal that become dodo predator such as dogs and cats.
Why I was writing this? Just to share point that brought up during the department meeting, when we already comfortable with the surrounding, most probable due to the long time in the field, we become stagnant and reluctant to changes. Thus, when it require changes, we refuse. Even if it mean we can be better. Well it also apply to our daily life. If changes mean that we'll be better, why not?

What a service.....so call international company.

Recently I was called by a sales person from a fitness club in KL, let call him/her "A". Well 'A' invite me to visit the club with intention of me joining the club. Well, after agreeing on a day and time, I went to the place. I informed the person at the counter that I have an appointment with this 'A'. The person then request me to fill in the guest book. With this I guess that 'A' will be informed about my presence. Unfortunately, I don't know what when wrong, I was waiting like I'm not wanted there. Not even single person asking or confirming whom i was waiting for and I'm waiting for around 40 minutes. I was really piss off that I just went out without talking to anybody.
Well the next day, 'A' called and asked why I didn't show up. Due to some cooling period, last night, I able to control my anger and maybe it partly my fault, I letting it of and tell 'A' to call me the very next Monday and we'll see what happen. Next Monday, 'A' called me to confirm another appointment. Reluctantly, I tell 'A' that I will probably able to come either Wednesday or Thursday, but I'll call first. That Wednesday I called just to be informed that 'A' was on MC. Okay, it was nobody fault.
End of the week, Friday to be exact, 'A' called during the Friday prayer and around half and hour after just to persuade me to come touring the club. I agreed to another appointment on Saturday around 4 to 5pm. Weirdly, on Saturday I was somehow late to the club and only arrived there around 5.30pm. Only to be informed that 'A' is on leave. A few minutes after I left this 'A' called me again and without any apologies, asking me whether I will go to the club and trying to persuade me to come on Sunday. Feeling irritated, I just said I'm busy, don't know whether I can make it or not and not pick up 'A' call ever.
If this is the kind of so called international fitness club sales service before I sign up and commit, I wonder how bad could their after sales service.