Buying a house??? (Pre-planning)

Recently, some of my friends decided to buy a house, with different reasons. Based on my own experience and opinion on the matters, there is few thing to be considered. Whether before selecting house, when selecting house, and then things that should be known to owned a house.
'Why you want to buy a house?' is a very importance. It will give you the right motivation to went throught all the hardship along the way. It can be for your own accomodation or investment. The answer will lead to a difference path of decision making. Investment can come in short (i.e. rental income) or long term (i.e. forecast of increased in value).
'What type of house?' will come next. In current market, there will a lot of choices varies from landed property (i.e. single storey, double storey, semi-D, and bungalow) and non-landed property (i.e. apartment and condominium). The choice will depended on your own preference and lifestyle. For example, if your like to have some smal space to wander around, some place for gardening, small park or just some space for your kids to run around, obviously you will choose landed property and maybe the corner lot for bigger land. Another example if your lifestyle make you only has a small time at house, then an apartment will suit you more as less time is required to do housekeeping and decorating. Obviously, it depend whether it for your own used or investment.
Next, 'Location?'. Consideration need to be given on distance with your office or where jobs/work force are (for higher rental possibility). The availability of utilities and facilities also need to be look into. Availbility of shops, park/playground, banks, shopping complex, school, and excess to main road/highways. If the house if for investment, another main consideration is the renting market.
Well, that were the main questions (not all) need to be attended. Buying a house is a big commitment and decision, so all area need to be attended carefully.
Let buy a house and make it a HOME.

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.

This Social Website is Great....!!!!

It hard to discipline myself to blog at least once a day. Well, it quite hard to think of a topic really worth sharing.

Here a topic that I think worth to be type. ('_'). The social website is becoming more and more popular. One of the popular social website is Facebook. Tweeter is becoming more popular now. Before this we got Friendster, MySpace and a few more that i can't remember.
It becoming ways to connecting people. Sharing everything and anything. Even with stranger. Let just focus on the best thing of what this site offer us. For me it the chance to reconnect and stay connected with people we know. In fact, you will just surprise that some of the people you know in your childhood is connected to people you meet during your career path.
As for me, my Facebook friends now already 212 friends. I know it nothing compare to most of you. But i'm glad that i can say i know at least 95% of them, if not more. This is my friends from childhood, primary school, secondary school, matrix, uni, and career life. Most of them is a long lost friend. We haven't seen and talk for a very long time. Yet, we meet in this social website, Facebook and reconnected. I'm sure glad opening account with this site.

I always said, in case some of you never heard (or read in this case) "Once a friend, always a friend". Let enjoy our friendship.

Teaching of Mathematic and Science in..........?

Actually I been wanted to write something on this since the government in the process of REconsidering the teaching of Math and Science in English. However as the issue will not effect me directly. First because I don't have any child, in fact i'm not even married. Second, I not even in education line. Thus, I not the one suitable to say anything.

If i have anything related to it, I will strongly oppose the decision to teach Math and Science BACK to Bahasa Malaysia. I capitalize the RE word in the first para and BACK in the last sentence for a reason. It was the only reason why I prefer it to be teach in English. Not that I don't have nationalism spirit for Bahasa Malaysia but i feel if you don't want it to be teach in English then don't from the beginning. It just feel like they are trying to run from the problem arise rather than facing the problem.

I heard some discussion on the matter few weeks back. During break in a course I attended, the topic suddenly arise. The facilitator mention that everyone he asked doesn't agree with it. One of the participant whom is a parent also disagree with the decision. The participant was also mentioning her nieces and nephews in 'Kampung' didn't say anything when it was in English. Then, on what basis it needed to be teach in Bahasa Malaysia?

Last week I read some article in newspaper, can't remember which, the title is somethings goes 'Parent Association in 7 School Want School Be Given Chance To Choose'. Something like that if not exact. They want  the subject continue to be teach in English and it not one, there is seven. If it was not clear enough, I just happen to see in Tun Mahathir blog, http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/ the polls show 86% say no to teaching it in Bahasa.

It hard to say anything now but I really hope next time decision need to be done in what so ever, proper research need to be done. And then no decision need to be RECONSIDER and switch BACK to its nature.

Annual Grand Dinner..............

The Annual Grand Dinner is just around the corner. To be exact, it on next Saturday. The very last day in this month. Hope it will be great as a GRAND dinner should. This year theme is Nusantara but it was extended to few other country i.e Thai, Philippines, and Burma.

Last year Grand Dinner was good but some of my colleague mention that before my times, there is time of greater event. But my 1st Annual Dinner in BPMB was sure an unforgettable memories. First, I come as Austin Power, the weird agent Mike Myers. As last year theme was 'Get Smart', agent like smart. Well, I don't really went for smart in theme/costume clothing. I went for strange, weird, just the type that i won't aspect anyone else will want to wear. Unfortunately, I arrived late to the venue and miss the change to participate.

Secondly, as a new comer, just around one month at that point of time, I win 1st prize of the Lucky Draw. Which is 42" Sharp Aquos.

Well, it make it hard this year. What to wear to be up to the expectation?
But I wish i still have the luck to get something from the Lucky Draw.