the __earthinc – Page 447 – By Hafiz Noor Shams

[786] Of white elephant for the Thai monarch

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Thursday, May 11 2006
No Comments on [786] Of white elephant for the Thai monarch

The Nation reported that all “white” elephants found in Thailand must be presented to the king and become his sole ownership.

“White elephants are regarded as auspicious. The more a monarch acquires during a reign, the more prosperous and happy his kingdom will be,” according to The Nation.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

If no, Malaysia does have a “white elephant” in Johor. Since the Thais see white elephants as auspicious, they’d appreciate Malaysia offering our white elephant to them as, er, gift of friendship.

Economics Photography Sports

[785] Of economics 101: substitute goods

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Wednesday, May 10 2006
3 Comments on [785] Of economics 101: substitute goods

Should I get a Pringles?

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

Or locally produced Agromas instead?

One thing for sure, both are unhealthy.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

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.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

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.

Kitchen sink

[784] Of most useless key

I’m convinced that the most useless key on a typical 105-key qwerty computer keyboard is the scroll lock. Stuff from Google indicates that the key is an archaeological remain. Since that is the case, somebody should replace the scroll lock with the 13th function key. 13.

Don’t you think it’s annoying that sometimes, you can’t find the 13th floor when you need to get to the 13th floor? There’s the 12th floor. And there’s the 14th floor and the 13th floor is nowhere on the panel. Even worse, you need to go to the 42nd floor but according to the panel, you actually want to go to the 43rd floor?

Why don’t we be done with the number 13 and let 14 be the new 13? How about that?

I wonder if Laputan Logic gonna blog about the number 13. Should be a fun read.

Yup. You got it right. It’s a goddamn slow day.

Politics & government

[783] Of a man of principle

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Thursday, May 4 2006
3 Comments on [783] Of a man of principle

I admire Shahrir Abdul Samad, an UMNO representative from Johor Bahru. He is true to himself unlike so many others:

Shahrir Resigns From BN Backbenchers Club Chairman Post

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Bernama) — Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad Thursday resigned as the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman as many BN members of parliament did not support the motion without notice to refer a news report in the New Straits Times to the parliamentary rights and privileges committee Thursday.

It all first started with a news report by the New Straits Times:

Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink…
Customs ignored MP’s request
Hamidah Atan and Farrah Naz Karim

PUTRAJAYA: A Member of Parliament allegedly asked the Customs and Excise Department to “close one eye” in a case involving the import of sawn timber.

It is learnt that the department has submitted a detailed report on the MP’s alleged interference into the seizure of sawn timber brought in from Indonesia at Sungai Linggi recently.

The MP is said to have gone to the Malacca Customs Office on April 14 to “settle” the matter. He had allegedly requested that the department “close one eye” in handling the case.

The MP according to Malaysiakini is from Jasin, Malacca.

It’s disturbing to see the one that should resign stays while the one that should stay resigns. Even worse, the majority is not only uninterested in pursuing justice, but they are shielding the MP in question from possible inquiry. Though short of legalizating corruption, if this continues without check, kleptocracy will not be impossible. This is one of the reasons why Malaysia needs a stronger opposition in the Parliament.

All is not lost though. The Malacca Customs did their work and therefore, deserve praises for what they have done. Or haven’t done.

Photography Politics & government

[782] Of a flower on May Day

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Monday, May 1 2006
No Comments on [782] Of a flower on May Day

There is too much red today and I feel compelled to add two different colors to an already bloody reddish day. And for the past few weeks, I’ve been adding too many photos about architecture. So, I hope that this is breath of fresh air for you because this ain’t another red rose or red brick.

Earlier in January, I said that an old building’s facade in Kuala Lumpur is my best shot yet so far this year . Well, it was my best shot until I managed this macro shot of a flower (tag). I don’t know about you but I’ll say, this is a goddamned pretty picture. The shot was taken a little over two weeks ago near Jalan Parlimen where Tugu Negara stands.

I have one problem though – I don’t know the name of the flower. Somebody at Wikipedia suggested that the flower might be yellow toreador (Celosia sristata). A search on Google reveals that it isn’t so. The leaves look too different.

If there is any kind soul who knows the name of the flower, please do tell me!

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s – have you heard of NYSE Hostage? The ad first came up in the New York Times last friday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A mysterious advertisement in Friday’s New York Times accusing the New York Stock Exchange of bowing to terrorist threats has again spotlighted the struggle of controversial animal-testing company Life Sciences Research Inc. to get a listing on the Big Board.

Seems like a new war between animal right activists and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

pp/s – w00t for the Singaporean opposition:

PAP Not Doing Enough To Forge Close Relations With M’sia – SDA

By Jackson Sawatan

SINGAPORE, April 30 (Bernama) — The opposition Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) has criticised the People’s Action Party (PAP) over the state of relations between the republic and its neighbour Malaysia.

The economic union sounds good but I still prefer an ASEAN-wide version. But an economic union with Singapore might be the first step in that direction.

So, let’s break some Singaporean anti-democratic law (tag). I endorse this particular Singapore Democratic Alliance’s policy. Singaporeans, vote for the opposition!

Yeah, I’m shouting without really knowing what’s going on down south. Still, having PAP in Singapore (and BN in Malaysia) up at the top for too long is bad for both Singaporeans and Malaysians’ health!

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

ppp/s – our own Rajan seems to have taken interest in Singaporean election. Also, Workers’ Party’s rally. Huge. (via)

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p4/s – about the flower, two persons at Wikipedia, one at the science reference desk and the other at WikiProject Tree of Life suggest that it might be indeed Celosia cristata. However, the two suggest two different common name; one as earlier, yellow toreador and another cockscomb.