Category: Sports

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Environment Sports

[791] Of reefs at Sipadan damaged

A large barge crashed into reefs at Sipadan on Tuesday . Reports indicate that the damage is extensive. Two witnesses wrote:

An enormous steel barge carrying thousands of tonnes of coarse gravel, sand, steel tubes, iron mesh, prime movers, a large bulldozer and a gigantic crane – which had incredibly been allowed to anchor right in front of Sipadan’s legendary dropoff before unloading its cargo on the supposedly protected island – was pushed against the reef by wind, ending up beached on the island like some monstrous whale. In the process of being beached, the barge scraped clean thousands of years of nature’s delicate work between the old pier and Barracuda Point. The barge’s flat steel hull wiped corals away like a giant knife slicing through butter, leaving in its wake hundreds of square metres of unnaturally flat limestone, and a veritable wall of coral and debris piled up against the beach.

While the damage is bad, the worse might not have come to pass. In the same report, the authors point out a sort of development going on at Sipadan. What the local government is doing? What kind of development does Sipadan need?

For goodness’ sake, just leave the island alone.

addendum – according to a blog, that development might be the construction of a marine research facility. What’s left to be researched when all is gone? The case is starting to look similar to the marina case at Tioman. The marina is meant to boost tourism. But who would come to Tioman when the marina construction ruins the reefs? Wacky government.

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p/s – I need to go to Putrajaya early in the morning tomorrow but UEFA Champions League final will be up in less than 45 minutes from now. Looks like I’ll be yawning throughout the morning. Possibly the day.

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pp/s – Arsenal made history – Lehman becomes the first keep to be sent off in a UEFA Champs League Final. LOL! But Arsenal fought valiantly I suppose, considering they played with 10 people against full team Barca.

Categories
Economics Photography Sports

[785] Of economics 101: substitute goods

Should I get a Pringles?

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Or locally produced Agromas instead?

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One thing for sure, both are unhealthy.

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p/s – Laffer curve. Though the idea is nothing new, there’s an interesting coincidence (via):

Economist Arthur Laffer made a very interesting supposition: If tax rates are high enough, then cutting taxes might actually generate more revenue for the government, or at least pay for themselves. (In one of life’s great coincidences, he first sketched a graph of this idea on Dick Cheney’s cocktail napkin.)

I know it was sketched on a napkin. But I didn’t know it was Cheney’s napkin.

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pp/s – Blind sacked. From Ajax-USA:

A surprise? Not exactly. Ajax officially confirmed today what everybody already knew: the club have decided to replace head-coach Danny Blind, as well as his assistants Ruud Krol and Gerard van der Lem. The reasons: Ajax never competed for the Dutch championship this season and the first team players have not made the desired progress, neither as individuals nor as a collective. Chairman John Jaakke and technical director Martin van Geel commented on the club’s decision at a press conference at the Amsterdam ArenA. They expect that the new Ajax-1 boss can be presented in less than three weeks’ time.

Henk ten Cate, Rijkaard’s man at Barcelona, might be the next person for the Ajax job. Also, from Ajax-USA

“Certain Dutch journalists have actually called my mother to ask her about my future! I find that scandalous. I understand that journalists are supposed to their job, but come on: don’t they have certain values? Leave my mother out of it!”
– Henk ten Cate, who is generally expected to coach Ajax-1 next season, on RTV Noord-Holland.

Categories
Economics Politics & government Sports

[780] Of blue is the color of the day

What a wonderful day it is day. It could never go wrong one way or the other because earlier today, there was a match between two English clubs that I feel no love for. One, Chelsea and the other, Manchester United. Win, lose or draw, I would get to celebrate and celebrate I did. Manchester United got creamed at Stamford Bridge. 3 – 0. Three against nil. Tiga kosong kawan!

Throughout the game, especially in the second half, Manchester United was dominated by Chelsea. It was satisfying. It is satisfying. Of course, the downside is the fact that that win makes Chelsea as the season’s champion, yet again. But I think I can suffer Jose Mourinho’s antic as long as Manchester United gets a beating. Hey, you can’t always get too much of a good thing. So, this tradeoff is just fine by me.

The only pity I felt for anybody between the two teams is for Edwin van der Sar. Too bad he’s an Ajacied, being on the wrong side. And for Rooney too. I don’t like his temper but that injury is much too cruel for a punishment, especially when it’s so close to the upcoming World Cup in June in Germany. I hope his injury is not too serious. I hope that injury won’t prevent him from making to the World Cup.

My goal of the match is definitely Joe Cole’s. The goal is a case of brilliant assessment of the situation. It could be just plain luck but it’s brilliant nonetheless. As for the third goal, it describes Manchester United – a sinking boat. Hooray!

You know what would be better? Liverpool pushing Manchester United into third place.

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p/s – have you ever wondered the correlation between Bush’s approval rating and gas price? Well, wonder no more. The Big Picture explains.

Categories
Politics & government Sports

[778] Of ties with Israel

The other day on Bernama, there was a short writeup about Malaysian diplomatic ties with Israel. In it:

No Intention Yet To Establish Ties With Israel

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) — Malaysia never had diplomatic links with Israel so far and the government has no intention of changing the status quo in the near future, said the Foreign Ministry’s Parliamentary Secretary Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

“This is because Tel Aviv is yet to fulfil certain conditions, therefore there is no reason why Malaysia should review its current stand,” he said in reply to Salahuddin Haji Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) at the Dewan Rakyat here, Monday.

It’s a no and I agree with it.

Despite that, I feel it would be ideal if Malaysia could befriend every country in this world without prejudice; that includes Israel. All else being equal, ties between the two countries would benefit both. I’m sure Malaysia has something to learn from Israel and Israel likewise.

This isolation by Malaysia prevents economic opportunity that could arise from the Malaysian-Israelis ties from developing. At the same time, seven ASEAN members have diplomatic relations with Israel. If an Israeli firm wanted to invest in Southeast Asia, the firm would have to cancel out Malaysia and consider our neighbors instead. That would be opportunity lost; Malaysia’s loss is somebody else’s gain.

My wish to see ties with Israel however doesn’t mean I support many Israeli policies. I disagree with Israel withholding the Palestinian taxmoney and landgrab the resulted from the separation barrier.

Despite possible benefits that might arise from Malaysian-Israeli relations, the world is not an ideal place. If Malaysia were to form ties with Israel, many would not be too happy about it. I’d imagine several Muslim countries would impose punitive measures on us. The simplest would Saudi Arabia to reducing haj quota for Malaysia. A more serious measure would involve economic restriction. Worse, I’d hate to see Osama bin Laden or any Muslim extremist for that matter to even speak of Malaysia, threatening us of an attack.

At the moment, it does seem to me that the cost of forming ties with Israel outweighs its benefits. I don’t think an Israeli embassy here in Kuala Lumpur is worth risking peace that at home and Muslim countries’ friendship that we enjoy currently. Hence, I can only agree with the Foreign Ministry’s Parliamentary Secretary; no ties with Israel. At least for now.

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p/s – Ajax 2 – 0 Groningen. First leg is won. Second leg in the Euroborg. Despite the 100% win so far in the playoff, according to De Telegraaf, Danny Blind is on his way out. Some are skeptical about that report though. As for me, I’m not sure about letting Blind or even retaining him for that matter. This season is a disappointment though some very good signings have been made by Blind for the new season.

Categories
Photography Sports

[777] Of to our glorious dead

Last Saturday, I paid Tugu Negara a visit; it’s my first visit in more than five years. Tugu Negara is the Malaysian national monument and it’s here in Kuala Lumpur . And of course, I brought along my trusty camera.

I took considerable number of shots and there are two shots that I want to share in this post.

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Another shot from the other end, at higher elevation:

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I love how the shadow falls on the white marble. However, these pictures don’t turn out as good as I had hoped for. I suppose, this is one of those things that you need to be there to truly appreciate the atmosphere. Or that I suck at photography.

There are plaques at the ceiling. Lots of them but people are oblivious of it; most don’t even know that they are walking under it. Still, that’s comprehensible because a giant bronze sculpture stands about 20 or 30 meters away. But it’s sad to see that people are more attracted to size than details.

I don’t know what the purpose of the plaques but it’s no brainer that those plaques represent the Commonwealth forces. I’ll venture to say that those plaques represent all the Commonwealth forces that had served in this part of the world. A good numbers of them are ANZAC.

According to Wikipedia, today is ANZAC Day. Considering how much ANZAC had contributed to peace in Malaya and Malaysia, I feel it’s only right for me to wish all those that celebrate the day appropriately. So, Happy ANZAC Day, if that is how it’s wished as.

As for Malaysia, Hari Pahlawan falls on July 31. I look forward to visit the monument again on that day.

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p/s – this is old but Ajax 4 – 2 Feyenoord; aggregate 7 – 2 in Ajax’s favor. Take that! Next stop, Groningen and then off to the Champions League!

Also, there are six Ajacieden (plural of Ajacied?) in the Dutch national team and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been called up. Watch out Nistelrooy. Give way to the new king Hunter.