Little Words over Many Subjects

On Psychology

Psychology – the scientific study of behavior and the mind.

- Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2002

From this proper, scientifically accepted point of view, psychology is ‘something’ that has nothing wrong. However, our (local) society are still too conservative to define psychology as this. Most of us (including me, to some extent) would think of ‘psycho’ when this term is mentioned. This is really bad! Better correct my misbelief fast, since it is so important in the field of…

Another thing unrelated to the above misconception, this time more on depression. How does it feel when somebody constantly murmuring about his intent to commit suicide when you already have a whole bunch of problems? I feel really, really strange why I need to face such situation continuously over long period of time. Of course (or luckily?) I’m not the one who wants to commit suicide. I realise the cause of his intent but I’m powerless to help. The only thing I can offer is to console him and to assure him of amelioration. Enormous pressure indeed. Period. No continuation on this subject OK?

On Economics
Got lectured by … haih, over the purchase of a book of introductory economics. After looking through the first few pages of this book I felt that everyone should at least get some grasp of economics, since it matter so much to our daily lives. Maybe it’s useless to read those financial journals without first understand the subject, since the content is virtually incomprehensible to me…

On Uncertainties
Uncertainties… Something really hard to spell out… However does financial stability eradicates uncertainty?

On Freedom
Constitution guarantee all of us freedom. However, the fact is that we may not be completely free and independent, even from the constitutional point of view. Some try to exert more control and influence over others. Some may try hard to prevent others to exceed him. We must admit that all of us, regardless of the status and financial well-being, are affected by these undesirables to some degree, just as gravitational forces. That’s true even if you don’t seek control and influence over others. How about social discrimination? Freedom of thoughts? Self determination? Nevertheless, my stupidity just allowed me to learn that we may safely ignore those influences if I am bold enough to give up some of my face…

On Harmony
I’m now greatly deprived of harmony. Previously, I tried to make peace with those which relations did not went so well, but to no avail. However, yesterday (29 Nov 2005) was a day I shall remember. I never face any one of them so calm (i.e. not furious) before up to that day. That event made me want to study economics even more, since what the theory said was right: of rational decision-making, sunk cost i.e. no use crying over spilt milk, and more. However, calmness did not mean that the problem can be solved; it just prevent the problem from exacerbating, but it’s good enough to keep the status quo, for now.

p.s. Due to some complications I might not be able to give prompt response to comments and queries on this blog for the time being, so forgive me if you feel turn down and bored during the past visit. Will solve the complications ASAP and this blog definitely will survive. Thanks!

Tan Sri, Do You Hear Me?

Talking about nostalgia, this is one of it…

No wonder everyone said I’m crazy… Yes indeed I am. Hopefully I can inscribe this logo to the bus again with my own hands, and with my own capital…

Will write more about this some other time…

And one more thing…

Tan Sri Loh, do you hear me?

…

Parent Renting and Absent Letter Trading Co.

At the end of October Mdm HSE wanted to close file for pemantauan and ask those who absent a lot (including me) to hand up at least a few absent letters, for the sake of formality. Well, a single absent letter would be easy to write but writing five or ten of it is no easy task.

Luckily I have saved a few absent letter templates on my PC and haven’t use it for quite a while. That was the perfect opportunity to use it! The template looks more or less like this:

(Name of teacher)
SMJK Chung Ling
Kampung Baru, 11400
Pulau Pinang.________________________________________________

(Name of parent)
________________
________________
________________
Penang. (Date)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Absent Letter

I regret to inform you that my son-or-whatever, ____________,
was absent on _____________ due to _____________.

I hope you will excuse him from being absent (he/she’s
already absent, so just accept whatever reasons that has been
given to you, abo then?).

Thank you.

Yours truly,

____________________
XXX, of PRALT* Co.
Power of attorney for
(Parent’s name)

*Parent Renting and Absent Letter Trading

There are a few options (diseases) to choose from, such as migraine, headache, stomach ache, anything that has a suffix –ache plus flu, fever, …

This company looks quite profitable. In my class alone I received 40 orders and a further 25 from U6B4, all through word-of-mouth. A RM 0.07-per-sheet profit would make RM 4.55. But unfortunately (fortunate for my customers) I just charge them for the basic duplicate fee without labor and royalty etc etc. If this company gets registered then the situation will be different…

So, should I start the company? Hehe…

Light Pollution

A few weeks ago (I think it’s actually two months ago) I went for a hike to Penang Hill as usual. I met the Indian guy who sells hand-woven grasshoppers near Top Station and we started to talk. Somehow we touched the topic of reviving the old glory of Penang Hill and he said that the lighting along the funicular railway was very beautiful. It seems like every one think so. However, I disagreed and asked him a question.

“Undeniably the lighting effects were very beautiful. However, don’t you think that it create some ‘disorder’ to the habitat and surroundings?”

“Nah, how come? It’s beautiful. Definitely no problem.”

“However do you realize that the ecosystem may get disturbed by artificial lighting that is too powerful…”

“No such thing lah! I already said it’s very beautiful…”

I was dumbstruck. He did not understand the impact of light pollution. So do the authority. It’s a trend that you have to lit a place brightly and only that can be called proper decoration. Maybe just being fanciful. Standing on the foothill, looking up the slope and the hill railway is clearly visible at night. Impressive huh? The fact is, much of the observatories located on city edge are facing problem just because of these stupid acts. Artificial lights lit the sky so bright that the optical quality is severely compromised. Relevant authorities spent extra money and resources to create problem. Brilliant.

The problem does not end there. Just imagine that when you’re sleeping like a log then someone directed a torch towards you. How does it feel? Excited? Or irritated? We humans do not feel comfortable with it, so do animals. They may be much more sensitive than we do, so I guess light pollution will affect them more. And so the imbalance of ecosystem and blah blah blah. Sounds more and more like PA essay. By the way, I wonder why the examiners of general papers are so good at searching and formulating solutions for current issues until they neglect this.

It’s a waste of money paying for lighting equipments and electric bills where it could be better spent on other projects that could be more beneficial to the public. What about public transportation system? I’m impressed by the authorities that they allow such a poor bus services running on Penang without feeling ashamed. IMHO low-power lighting along the railway is good enough. Complaints from tourists that it is not grand enough and blame the government for not doing a great job? Forgive me but I think that only uncivilized and irresponsible tourists may say that. Don’t get surprised, there are lots of such tourists; just cram yourself into the tramcar, listen to their yammer and you’ll understand.

Maybe I’m still not fully ‘recover’ from today’s lousy PA paper 2 so pardon me if I talked nonsense. Still a week to go…! Ah…

Confusion

I was totally confused. Disillusioned. Hard to imagine this kind of things. Yet it is so true. What is it actually? Read on…

Have you heard this before?

Panatipata veramani sikkha-padam samadiyami
Adinnadana veramani sikkha-padam samadiyami
Kamesu-miccha cara veramani sikkha-padam samadiyami
Musavada veramani sikkha-padam samadiyami
Sura-meraya-majja-pamadatthana veramani sikkha-padam samadiyami

Which literally means…

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from destroying living beings.
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from taking things not given.
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from false speech.
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from liquor causing intoxication and heedlessness.

Yes, this is a piece of devotional chanting I found from Puja, seen from a religious service I attended for the first time held by Mahindarama Buddhist Temple of Kampar Road during November 6, 2005. As you may have know that it was a religious service held for SPM and STPM candidates. I attended it out of curiosity. There are many devotees there and it was real crowded. I guess for many that was not their first time attending such ceremony. As such definitely that was not their first time they pronounce the above chanting. There are translations provided on the booklet so I guess every one should at least understand what the chanting is talking about.

However I am yet to see anyone who practice the above devotion in full. Okay, I’ll stop blaming other people, but take it as my own reflection instead. Personally, I felt much relieved yet feeling guilty upon reading the chanting. Why?

I have practiced lacto-ovo vegetarianism for quite some time, or at least, to the greatest possible extent.I don’t steal, just imitate on a few occasions.

I am still available although my behavior does not suggest that…

Feeling guilty to lie for my own safety!

Lastly, I’m sober.

However, the point is that why there are (virtually) nobody got noticed of the above chanting? God, if I knew that in advance maybe I would change my mind. Now having pronounced the above chanting I should at least follow what it says. I guess that’s perfectly all right with me. Maybe I am destined to be a vegetarian, after all I contracted skin allergy that simply does not allow the intake of flesh. By the way, I apologize for any functions and outings that I previously decided not to go, it’s mainly caused by this problem and not something else… Sorry… The rest are just basically moral values. So…