Categories
Economics Sports

[514] Of Malaysia and the American trade deficit

Did you know, Malaysia ranked 7th as countries that contribute to the American $60 billion trade deficit?

The first place is China’s of course, contributing half of the deficit – $30 billion. Malaysia is attributed with almost $3 billion.

It’s interesting to see how the dots connect. And I wonder, does Malaysia have a trade deficit? I have to look that up.

I do know however, Malaysia has an huge budget deficit to GDP ratio; if I recall correctly, larger than the US. This is one reason why I find Malaysia is weird – in the US, the deficit is giving everybody headache; in Malaysia, almost nobody gives a damn.

Maybe because, the people in Malaysia care more for the establishment of moral police rather than maintaining and improving sound economic performance. Given that, it’s surprising to see Malaysia as one of the tiger economies.

p/s – to all Liverpool fans, aww, shut up and quit telling me that you guys are in the semifinal. Let me be with Ajax…

As such, w00t! Feyenoord lost 1-4 to Den Bosch. Pity Ruud Gullit but w00t! Ajax stays third and is making ground for second place!

pp/s – who am I kidding. Malaysia is an export-oriented country. Trade deficit. LOL!

Categories
Economics Sports

[512] Of lovely economics

I have nothing much to say. All I wanted to do by posting this entry is to highlight an article entitled Economics Often a Bundle of Contradictions.

WASHINGTON – Buying binges by consumers and companies can power the economy yet catapult the trade deficit. A weaker dollar can help U.S. manufacturers but hurt American shoppers. Rising home prices can give a homeowner a sense of wealth and make a house hunter feel cash-strapped. These are just a few of the apparent contradictions of economics.

Now, you know what I learn in macroeconomics. Well, part of it.

Fair use. AFC Ajaxp/s – after a string of bad performance and news, Ajax seems to have find it form in the last two matches.

Today, Ajax drilled 4 goals behind second placed AZ Alkmaar. AZ earlier this week won its away match against Villareal and making them closer the UEFA semifinal.

With Ajax’s win, the team has returned to the third place, with one point behind AZ. However, Ajax has played an extra game compared to both AZ and Feyenoord. Feyenoord, currently fourth in the Eredivisie, will play Ajax next week. Ajax need to at least draw with Feyenoord in order to stay third and keep a sensible gap with AZ. Else, no Champions’ League for us.

PSV is first and has possibly secured the Dutch crown.

pp/s – w00t! Somebody from Bloomberg actually replied to my job application. We’ll see what’s going to happen from here.

Categories
Politics & government Sports

[498] Of the largest courthouse in the world

And yes, it will be in Malaysia! (via)

KUALA LUMPUR: The new Kuala Lumpur court complex, scheduled for completion in February next year, will be the biggest in the world, with 77 courtrooms.

The RM290mil complex will house the magistrate’s courts (26 courtrooms), Sessions Courts (21 courtrooms) and the High Court, including the Family Court (30 courtrooms)…

(Cough) I’d suggest Malaysia strengthens the separation between the executive, the judiciary and the Parliament before we start building the world’s largest parliament house. As in right now, the Parliament is under Jabatan Perdana Menteri (that’s the Prime Minister Department for those that are mentally challenged in Malay), which technically, as I understand it, means that the Parliament is under the power of the executive branch of the government.

I’d suppose next year, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is nothing but history.

p/s – Danny Blind is the new Ajax coach. Ajax for Ajax!

Categories
Sports

[494] Of Ronald Koeman

Effective yesterday, Ronald Koeman, Ajax’s head coach resigns. He has been under a lot of pressure for the past few weeks. The fans’ dissatisfaction reaches a new height during the 2 – 0 win over FC Den Bosch last week. Ajax almost lost to the mediocre team – the two goals came after 90 minutes of play. With the disheartening loss in France, majority of the fans could not take it anymore and neither could Koeman.

What a year. We lost van Gaal and now we lost Koeman.

It is no more than three years ago, when everybody was talking about Ajax and how it might have found its new golden generation. I supppose, it will take a few more years for Ajax to get back on its feet after this fiasco.

And god, why don’t you give us 10 feet of snow and be done with it already?

Categories
Sports

[493] Of a beautiful mistake

Somewhere in Manchester, life must be really beautiful…

…to the Italians. Hurrah to Manchester United’s extremely fabulous keeper.

Now, let’s see how Ajax will do against an old French foe.