Of Apple And Phone - June 11

IT is so common, unfortunately, for commentators and reviewers to left out Microsoft and its Windows smart-phones nowadays. Once a leader of the market, Microsoft now teeters towards falling profit and shrinking market share. Rubbing salt into the wound, it is watching, quite helplessly, how arch rival Apple Inc. and its hordes of Apple Church adherents are thriving. And certainly, after slashing iPhone's price to $ 99, it has quite some time to endure the embarrassment and conceding at the end. Perhaps, the media should start worrying the absence of Bill Gates and how Microsoft, tacitly, misses him.

Again, on the 8th of June, the pilgrimage of Apple worshipers to California had been filled with surprises and renewed excitement. Apple iPhone 3G-S (peed) had been proudly brought onto stage to the exhilaration of over billions of Apple enthusiasts. This latest addition serves to fortify Apple's grip as the leading innovation centre. Even with the rare disappearance of techno-wizard Steve Jobs, it seems that Apple Inc. is determined to seal the championship and leaving rivals Blackberry and Palm in misery.

The key towards Apple's success is the existence of network effect, something that Steve Job had bitterly missed out during the hey-days of Silicon Valley. The economics of networking could well be characterized into 3 ascending degree. First, it is vital for Apple and others to gain critical mass at the first place. Getting minimum number of users, as a start, to launch the product is more of a problem in Eastern countries. Apple enthusiasts are well dispersed throughout North America and Europe, creating the demand necessary to form a network of smartphone users. There, people are ready to use iPhone to substitute for mobile phones. This is easier, compared to the next degree where users form a network which it utilizes most frequently or having most closely-connected people using them. This is harder, as network "lobbying" occurs where peers or business contacts constantly influence and override the purchasing decision of an individual.

The Douglas consumer or in lay-man term- conspicuous consumption, tend to lead towards group of friends using the same brand of smart phones. iPhone has been particularly successful with its Apps Store where people download and share interesting application software among its peers. Compared to Blackberry, iPhone has more than 100 times more of its collection of applications. Sharing, quite self-explanatory, describes the gist of the networking value.

With people around the world using apps from iPhone, it is only natural for software programmers to "lock-in" into Apple's format. These programmers who find salvation in designing great software will only continue to generate better apps. The self-achievement is not an incentive managers would want to miss of its programmers. So, this virtuous circle will continue and Apple looks set to dominate the network.

Marketers will know better as in the case of smart phones, application and networking value has been the real consideration, rather than the performance and cost. And Steve is still watching over Apple. There's more than meet the eyes.

My Days As Public Servant - June 3

A market failure. That's all that I can describe. The nature of the government agency is so different that one needs to constantly remind of themselves. No doubt, the pay and benefits, relative to its work load, are high enough that it makes General Motor parsimonious. Nevertheless, one also has to be reminded that government is NOT substitutable. The politicians could be changed, but never the government body. That alone, legalizes the liberty for misallocation of resources- an issue all economist worries.

I've been tormented, just in 3 days, not by the over-pumping of adrenaline or being suffocated from the minutes ever closing-in. I've been tortured by the guilt of not contributing enough that the paycheck that I'm about to receive end of this month-- weighty. Where the hell should I make disposal of my youthfulness? Never in my life that I've been told, in my best interest, not to run into superior's knob with completed work in hand. For a moment I've been thinking, then why the heck we are told to be efficient? It doesn't take long before I realize, I'm working in the public agency.

I have to learn. So tomorrow, I'll be reading Angels and Demons right here! And maybe, I could be inspired. Maybe there's a marker, leading from one to another. And maybe I will discover some top-secrets! Great! If not, then where do you suppose I should do here?

How To Continue This Road? - May 20

Have been thinking quite a lot about this recently, especially during exam time. How will I actually continue this long and winding road? What am i gonna do after this? What kind of job I will do? How to make myself, at least, not being regretful 40 years from now?

Looking back at myself, there were many many things, that I wish I could have done, or , undone in the past. At that point of time, I wouldn't know how much I've missed, until it's all over, until I could only see from here, at the ending post. I don't wanna repeat the same mistake. The next post, will most probably decades from now, and by the time, everything is too late, too old to change.

It's been my dream to be in political field. From young, I've been influenced that way, indirectly being educated that way. History, epic stories and great legend had been my preoccupation, my past time. Could you imagine a six year old kid, walking into Speedy, asking for World War II documentary, rather than Thunder Cats or Transformer? I don't know how, it's just me..

As time goes by, experience in life has developed myself, getting me to know myself better. But, at the same time, confuses me ever more. On one hand, life tells me that one should go for your dreams, achieving ambition, becoming a great person. Leadership has taught me to be strong, critical and being audacious. Believing in yourself.

On the other hand, life teaches me how fragile it could be. We are living, just for simple reasons: food, family and fun. I've a junior, 2 years younger, already get married with a 7-month baby boy. While I'm busy with studies and assignments, she's been struggling to get a job. Money to support the family, raising the child. Nothing is more important than money for food. What about her dream? her ambition? Is that all? Is that everything? Is that the answer for the mystery of life? Is that what all we have?

As I was answering survey by GradMalaysia regarding opinions on future employers and companies, there was a real clutch deep in my heart. I was so unsure, so uncertain, not about answering the questions, but to the real reflection of how insecure I am to my confidence, dream and life, once breaking myself away to this long and winding road.

Random Craziness - April 10

Been very random lately. Talk like crazy, act like crazy, doing crazy stuffs. It feels so good to break your discipline, feels great to be wild.

Have been very responsible and intense all these while. Living every minute of the day, preparing myself for big chances, big opportunities that come knocking on my doors without prior knowledge.

Really scared that I might stick to current randomness. Afraid that I lost myself to the very thing I wish to avoid. It’s yet another day without sleep. Wonder how long I could stay like this.
Where’s my enthusiasm, passion in studies? I used to record lectures, and play it almost everyday. To keep and store every points I possibly could. But now… I just can’t wait to graduate, can’t wait to break free, begin a whole new chapter in the real world and not piles of books filled with dust, rotten and most importantly, repetitive teachings. Wonder if one could really finish the whole degree in a year, of course, by taking away useless modules

Year 1 (Sem 1)
Business Econs A & B
Economics of Pricing & Decision Making
Marketing Strategy
Economics of Business Decisions
Introductory Econometrics

Year 1 (Sem 2)
Macroeconomics (CEP)
Financial Economics
Industrial Economics
Economics of Innovation

I think it could really work. If we prolong the academic weeks. QM stuff is really foundation level, throw away management stuffs, and what’s that?? business ethics?? what the fuck is that?
seriously, we are spending too much time on useless modules. Why not cut short and maybe study something more in-depth? what again?? Strategic Mgmt?? another fucking subject, waiting to be fuck up.. Mohan’s modules are all useless shit

Knocking On My Head - March 27

It’s 2.45am now, and i’ve stopped writing on my assignments. Stumbled upon somebody’s notes on facebook. It gave me a moment of genuine chuckles, but in split seconds, bringing me back to my troubled reality.

By looking at the stats and data, i’ve tough time believing in, how much Malaysia has left behind South Korea and Taiwan, those who were at the same standard as us in 1960s. Probably even worse, crushed by our footballers.

Again, I’ve picked a tough module, knowing that I will complain when getting results, but still, I am studying what I’m interested, what I’m supposed to study. Economic and social development of countries. Better than spending RM 75 k to learn that one will be “guilty” if he/she gives low score to others in evaluation scheme. What the heck??? You need a degree to tell that??

Really being knocked hard on my head today. Somebody actually telling me she “hates” those who got scholarship. Of course, it surprises me when a bear actually talked his way to get scholarship. What happened to others? Are they mute or what? (just joking)

I need scholarship to complete my degree. But, not the degree I’ve wanted. It reminds me of what the McKinsey people said today. Do what it passions u. It always sound easy to the white barbarians. Do they know sometimes we don’t have a choice? Do they know we need to make sacrifices? Do what you are passionate at. bull shit la. What dream here dream there, if you want to dream, go America dream la.

Looking back at my assignment data. Malaysia’s GDP is only a bit higher than Samsung’s annual revenue. What the fuck? Really knocking my head now. Not because Malaysia performs badly. It’s because I’ve taken a fake econs degree and feeling helpless looking at it. But where else can i go?

PS: I saw someone’s name - Varaporn. What the heck? How does it feel to have the word “porn” in your name? Lau porn, porn Lau, Porn zheng, Zhou Porn.

916

“Mr. Gobachev, tear down this wall.” - That was one of the most embarrassing moment as claimed by numerous analysts in Reagenlitics. But, the quote that seemed to undermine Soviet Union’s political clout, went well into Mikhail Gobachev’s ears and thus proving to be way more than just a gaffe. 20 years later, Sen. Barack Obama, stood on the same podium and addressed to over 200,000 supporters in what was an unprecedented hospitality an American politician or any other foreigners would received in Berlin. Although Obama has neither walls to tear nor cold wars to end this time around, the gigantic size of the entourage alone has sent significant message to Americans who will be voting in the upcoming presidential election.

An international hero doesn’t necessarily make one a local warrior. Despite being hailed globally, people like Gobachev, Reagen, Nixon and even Obama suffer to play matching games domestically. Look at the disgraced Nixon and one would understand enjoying warmth in then 11.1 billion China did not even bring a glim of light in homeland. In Malaysian context, similar models can be traced to names like Tengku Abdul Rahman and Abdullah Badawi while Tun Mahathir stands in worst of both worlds. The one that truly surpasses both barricades is none other than Anwar Ibrahim. Now, he stands in both dimensions and is being entrusted with hope, power and support that no other Malaysian politician will come an inch closer. He is indeed, our much-awaited premier of Malaysia.

The Malaysian political scene has being overwhelmed by two unseen height of political tsunamis. A catastrophe that is astonishingly well-received by all Malaysian Malaysia, yet another feat that is not being heard of. Such was a force that can only be integrated, completed and manipulated by Anwar in his quest to annihilate UMNO and the rest of Barisan Nasional. Then, Anwar launched what was known as a highly suspicious yet highly anticipated effort to topple the government. 16th of September, a day that was never before approached with such fervor and anxiety. At the time of writing, it is the eve of one of the most remembered day in all of Malaysian history. But, will Titanic reach the dock on time?

The rumor has to be spread with confidence and the speculation has to be intensified with sandiwara. All that has to do to keep Pakatan Rakyat’s MPs and state assemblymen in the pack is successful. There will not be any shocks like what happened in Kelantan four years ago and Sabah-Sarawak ages ago to haunt the oppositions this time, not especially the photo-shoot win in the Perak state. The rumor has keep them in checked and the next target is to shake the cracked and wounded BN’s ship. It is the BN’s turn to study and examine the new learning curve after the life-threatening defeat in March 8 election. Unfortunately, like what Anwar predicted, the BN has taken a detour to acknowledge their defeat and shun the fact that Malaysia needs change. And, the aftermath of this election has brought about the strongest internal breakdown in UMNO which involved 2 party presidents, one for the call to step down and another for the call to quit. Such is the turbulence in UMNO that none has able to recall how glorious and significant it used to present themselves to the people. Further humiliation has been witnessed when Najib, the son that will never destroy the party his father has co-founded, is in fact putting salt into UMNO’s wound when he was alleged to be involved in a bombardment that killed a Mongolian beauty. Anwar Ibrahim, all these years in the wild, has really become an overnight hero to the mass Malaysian.

Reformasi is inevitable. The 916 dateline is merely a tactic to sabotage the government. Theoretically, only a Prime Minister can be asked to step down when a vote of no confidence motion has been passed in the lower house. And 916 is definitely a close-shop day for parliament sittings. Practically, it is quite a Herculean task to get 30 or more MPs from an established governing party, to defect and to crossover to an aspiring opposition party and lastly to form an undemocratically elected government. Historically, none incident has ever happened in any other democratic country, however it is known that great people has often done great marvels in history of mankind despite being under criticism and pressure from social norms. But, politically, no governing party will wait to be taken over by the oppositions and live in unimaginable sufferings without giving out a good fight.

And Anwar really gives BN no other options, except staging a political assassination. If Anwar is dead, the Pakatan Rakyat will be disconnected among its component members, especially the much divided PAS and DAP. Or, a less barbaric way, is to imitate Thailand by staging a military coup and force a formation of a new government. Either way will do, as long as Anwar did not get to march towards Putrajaya with his fellow Pakatan Rakyat comrades. Either way will work, as long as Anwar did not obtain premiership and BN’s true-corruption-story did not appear on lights of mass communication. BN, 916 or no 916, is truly at Anwar’s mercy and the only way to turn around things is to impose a greater level of game that Anwar can’t play, to escape death or military power. 916 or no 916, Malaysia will never regain its political stability and will never cease to begin the agenda of development. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysians are counting on you, counting on you to deliver at any cost, notwithstanding at the expense of us, Malaysians.

Many Don't See It

Tension in Middle East, the ongoing killings in West Bank and even the food crisis, fuel hike ... ... Regardless of who you are and at where you currently reside, like what Friedman has said, the world is flat. And his theory holds true as long as you are living on earth, you will surely feel the pinch of inflation and economic slowdown. Some has pointed to Iran's overzealous commitment to developing nuclear, while some take on China and India as the culprit of the collapsing of what was then a systematic world trade of crude oil. Agreeable to all these points, but many don't see all these catastrophe as the result of mismanagement of our environment. Many don't see it and many more remain ignorant or even worse, being critical of environmental conservation efforts. Ask any economist, they will tell you that the opportunity cost of development - forgoing nature conservation - will be too much a cost to pay.

The brass excuse of being poor enough to enjoy the luxurious environmental measures taken by Western's company just show how exactly is the mentality of the people of Republic of China. Despite the success of summer Olympics and the one-of-a-kind construction of "double-decker" tunnel highway, China is still far behind when it comes to environmental friendliness. The problem does not arise with ideological differences or excessive nationalism of its people to the extent of being labeled as xenophobic. The real issue is the degree of incentive given by the communist regime to all businesses. The key question- How serious is the government when it takes on environmental issues? To bolster up its economic needs, the Chinese officials have astoundingly shown their advocacy to pariah states like Myanmar, Sudan, Zimbabwe and even Somalia. Knowingly that they have been backed, local authorities continue to indulge in richness at the expense of its people. As a result, basic sanitation and sewerage system are not of an adequate standard for people of modern history. As for the Chinese, over-dependency of coal as main power source has deteriorated ground level ozone which causes uncontrollable pollution. Since China have sucked up most production which was left idle due to global economic downturn, its industries have the obligation to make sufficient compensation towards damages caused to the nature, a cost described as negative externalities in economic terms. And if the republic remains ignorant, then domestic nature issues will pile up in near future.

The United States of America, for the first time in history, suffer great humiliation when the Iranians refuse to bow down on its much critical nuclear weapon expansion. The humiliating part is not with the blatant opposition of the Iranians, but it is the fact that the States is no longer the sole political powerhouse. The rise of China and Russia has caused great anxiety to the White House as the country suffers from unprecedented economic slowdown and oppression from third world countries, e.g. trading crude oil and other resources to China, India or even Russia. Moreover, America have to take Iran's threat seriously to destroy the world's sole access to crude oil located in The Gulf, which will definitely cause price of crude oil to soar sky high. Just when these countries wrestle for international clout, the people of Israel and Palestine continue to immerse into endless killings and destruction. When the Jews return to reside at Jerusalem after the end of Nazi's Holocaust, the succeeding quest aided by Western sympathizers for settlements has been uncompromisable in the eyes of Palestinian and its Islamic allies. Despite being a stake of continuous strangling between the West and Islam, both ethnics continue to struggle for arable lands, sources of clean water and such. The Israelis are exporting agricultural products which used up entire water reserves and the Palestinians continue to substitute production with weapons and armed personnels. One would ask, why can't these two regimes give up fighting and start developing own demarcated settlements. Why do they have to keep competing on the already resources-scarce desert lands? And if charismatic people like Sen. Obama starts sounding like the butcher John McCain, then perhaps, we will witness the first two races to be completely annihilated in 21st century.

The mismanagement of nature does not only bug giant economy. Indonesia and Brazil - rapid deforestation, Niger and India- negligence on proper sanitation and people's health, and even filthy rich state like Dubai and Abu Dhabi take issue of nature as Western propaganda, one would really wonder, should mankind proceed to search for higher living standards and rapid economic growth , or should we do it by factor in nature conservation in all planning? Until we all see changes and improvement, one could actually taking into belief that death awaits us, and the end of the world is all real but rhetorical. Until then, the people will understand, that all efforts poured into enriching civilization, is all but endearing us towards termination of mankind.