Finanical Crisis..

It looks like the financial crisis has finally overflowed into the economy. Althought there was wide spread talk of the crisis, it was contained to mostly financial firms for the past few months. Right now, in what is a sure sign of the spillover, the "Big Three" carmakers in the US are appealing for government bailout.

It seems this financial crisis is going to overshadow the Asian economic crisis in 1998. And it's exactly 10 years on. Talk about financial cycles. Job cuts have been creeping into the news lately too. DBS have started slashing 900 jobs, Citigroup is cutting a near-record 50,000 jobs worldwide. It is predicted that this will get worse going into 2009. I'm still a student but I can feel the fear in the air. This crisis is bringing back memories of 1998. Things were really bad then and I can't imagine it is going to be worse next year.

Already, the STI has free-falled to 1,665 points, that's more than half it's value slashed from early last year. I remember reading in the papers then that analysts were saying it would breach the 4,000 mark by this year. In just one year, things have changed so drastically.

But admist all the gloom and doom, there is always good news. Especially for the uninvested. Now is a good time to start picking up stocks. Of course, do the due calculations first and pick up the discounts. There is always some people who would say that the stocks will continue to fall. But if you are already buying at a (huge) discount, what's there to fuss about? The stock market is awash with prizes now. Certainly wished I had the capital to pick some up. Well, anybody out there wants to invest in my mutual fund?

Meetings!

Here's my list of meetings and project submission for the past one week:

Sat 8/11
- NUSSU Council Meeting @ BTC

Mon 10/11
- Meeting with SDE Dean and Heads of Department
- Meeting with faculty admin and year reps
- NUSSU Council meeting with NUS President and senior admin

Wed 12/11
- Prof Com project submission

Thur 13/11
- Board of Undergraduate Studies meeting

Fri 14/11
- RE Econs project submission
- QM project submission

There you have it! 5 meetings and 3 project submission in one week and my exams is starting just.. next week!! Can't believe I went through this week already. There was actually another meeting on Thurs with President Nathan but he went down with flu so his visit to SDE has been re-scheduled. Lucky, cause it would have clashed with the Board of Undergraduate Studies meeting.

What's with so many meetings you say? Well lots of issues are discussed during the meetings regarding the direction of the Union and the University or the students and the faculty, depending really on which level the meetings are at. Most of the NUSSU meetings are at university level where we will discuss changes, policies and direction for the entire NUS student body while most of the faculty meetings affect only students and happenings within SDE.

It's been a real eye-opener for me thus far. Being a student leader has given me so much more perspective on student activities. But it has also taken up much of my personal time. I need to start concentrating on studying and mugging for the exams right now.

Can you believe they wanted to schedule a meeting on the day just before my second paper?!? Like smack in the middle of the exams!? Luckily I managed to push that meeting back to a day after my last paper. Otherwise I would be so distracted. Not to menton I'm moving house mid-way during the exams.....

Well now that there's no more meetings and the projects are all done... TIME TO MUG MUG MUG!!!

YES to Singapore Textbooks!

Seems like I'm reverting back to a words-only blog. Too lazy to save and upload pictures these days cause it's just too damned time consuming.

I was reading my textbooks yesterday and I realised that almost every single textbook we use in NUS are textbooks written by American authors. It's pretty frustrating cause all their examples, writing style and train of thought are American. Like why do I care about the demographics of Ohio or Minneapolis?!? True they are only trying to illustrate examples but I'm pretty sure I would be able to understand better if it was in the Singapore context.

Perhaps this is one way in which America is spreading their culture. Students learn so much about America during their studies that America becomes like a 'promised land' and we take this mentality out into society.

I say Singaporean should study textbooks that are written by Singaporean professors, with a Singaporean style and in a Singaporean context!! I've have enough of trying to understand what it's like in America, having to put all the examples in the context of American society. Do American students have to do that? No, they don't have a clue about what's happening with the rest of the world!

Say YES to Singaporean textbooks!!!!!

Personality Test

Saw a personality test on Kelly's blog so I decided to take it. Here's what it says about me:

Reliable Realist (RR)
Reliable Realists are down-to-earth and responsible-minded. They are precise, reserved and demanding. Their most prominent quality is reliability and they will always make every effort to keep any promise given. Reliable Realists are more quiet and serious persons, they do not talk a lot but they are good listeners. They sometimes seem reserved and distant to outsiders although they often have a great deal of wit and esprit. Their strong points are thoroughness, a marked sense of justice, doggedness bordering on pigheadedness and a pragmatic, vigorous and purposeful manner. Reliable Realists do not dither about if something has to be done. They do what is necessary without wasting words.

This personality type not only expects a lot of himself but also of others. Once Reliable Realists have set their mind on something, it is difficult to persuade them otherwise. They do not like to leave anything to chance. Planning means safety to Reliable Realists, as well as order and discipline. They have no problem respecting authorities and hierarchies but do not like to delegate tasks. They are certain that others would not deal with them as conscientiously as they do. In management positions, they are very task-oriented - they make sure that things are well done; however, they do not have a great deal of interest in personal contacts at work.

In relationships too, Reliable Realists are reliability itself. As partners, they are faithful and consistent, well-balanced and sensible. Security and stability are very important to them. They have little time for extravagances and flightiness. Whoever has them as friend or partner can rely on them for a lifetime. However, it takes quite a while for Reliable Realists to enter into a relationship or friendship. They have little need for social contacts; they therefore take great care when choosing partners and friends and limit themselves to a small but exclusive circle which meets their high demands. They tend to show their closeness to people who are important to them by deeds - their partner should rather not expect romantic declarations of love.

Well, I felt that it was not really accurate. Maybe around 50% true or so...... What do you guys think? Oh yeah, the test is available on http://ipersonic.com/ if you wana take it.