Boon's Basement

Time for some reflection

// August 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // Thoughts

8 months of 2009 have passed and have you ever reflected on your past actions?
What have you achieved so far? Have you gotten wiser? Did you manage to keep to your new year resolutions? Time passes by so fast that sometimes we need some alone time to reflect on our lives. Now, take a moment, close your eyes and journey back to the beginning of 2009. Reflect on things that you have done or have had happened to you for the past 8 months and while you’re at it, play your favourite tune, it helps!

Here are some Chinese proverbs for your reading pleasure.

A little impatience will spoil great plans.
Chinese Proverb

Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.
Chinese Proverb

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Chinese Proverb

If you bow at all, bow low.
Chinese Proverb

A smile will gain you ten more years of life.
Chinese Proverb

A bird does not sing because it has an answer.
It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb

Behave toward everyone as if receiving a guest.
Chinese Proverb

A fall into a ditch makes you wiser.
Chinese Proverb

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.
Chinese Proverb

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.
Chinese Proverb

An inch of time is an inch of gold but you can’t buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.
Chinese Proverb

Love it, loathe it? Comments are appreciated.

-Boon

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BMW Shorties

// August 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Thoughts, cars

At4 am in the morning , I should be sleeping instead of surfing the web. I found an interesting site, www.bmwshorties.com.my, that features alot of short clips featured by aspiring Malaysian film makers. BMW Shorties is a platform for the independent film movie in Malaysia.

This video is quite interesting:

Le Mannequin from Vjan Wong on Vimeo.

Check out more short videos here: http://www.bmwshorties.com.my/2009/

Love it, loathe it? Comments appreciated.

-Boon

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Tanger Outlet, Hoshi Sushi.

// August 7th, 2009 // No Comments » // Thoughts

The weather was spectacular today as I spent half of my day at the Tanger Outlet in Riverside, NY. It was supposed to be an hour drive from Forest Hills but because of congestion on the Long Island Expressway (495), the journey took us almost 2 hours. Once we got to the outlet, we had to look at the signs for the stores we wanted to visit. It wasn’t the most intuitive, as the stores were scattered between Tanger 1 and Tanger 2, each accessible by car but by foot, it may take an extra 15 minutes walk.

Looking for the Coach store, I had to ask the car next to me, as we both waited for the red light. Realizing that the Coach store was on the other side of the road, I quickly made a U-turn, almost hitting an incoming car.

Apparently, weekdays aren’t as busy as the weekends for Tanger outlet. Unlike Woodbury Commons, Tanger outlet seems to be missing the tour buses that carry tourists from New York City. One of the reason could be the bad layout of the stores make it inconvenient for tourists shopping.

Entering the Coach store, we quickly spotted the differences between Tanger’s Coach store and Woodbury’s Coach store.

1. Tanger has less selections than Woodbury
2. Tanger isn’t as busy as Woodbury during weekdays, while Woodbury is constantly busy
3. When you buy bags from Coach at Tanger, the sales person will tear the prices off – the reason is to prevent people from reselling the bags. I find it ridiculous especially when Coach has unlimited return policy, it would create inconvenience for the store when customers return the bags. Silly store policy…
4. The sales associate at Tanger’s Coach aren’t as enthusiastic as those at Woodbury’s Coach

After spending $700 at the Coach store, my girlfriend and I went to the Children’s place because she had to get a gift for her friend. Taking the opportunity, I too bought some clothes for my niece in LA. I haven’t seen her in almost 9 months, since last Christmas.

After all that shopping, we headed to Stony Brook’s Hoshi Sushi for dinner. It sure brings back memories. For those UMN peeps who may be reading this post, just so you know..Boon misses everyone!
Speaking of which, my friend is waiting for his son to be born at any moment now. Phoenix, we are all waiting!

Love it, loathe it? Comments appreciated.

-Boon

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On my way to Philly~

// August 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Thoughts

I am at a cybercafe in Chinatown, NY, waiting for my bus to Philadelphia. The internet cafe charges $2 an hour. If you’re a VIP member, you only pay $1.50. Gosh!

Will be visiting Rub and Wharton. Will post an update on that!

10.19am update: I have boarded the bus, run by Eastern, and I am connected to the onboard wifi. This is what travelling should be, being able to go online whether you’re on a bus or a plane. Awesomeness!

Woot.

2.17pm update: I am at Rob’s Lab waiting for him to walk me to Wharton. The info session starts at 3 pm and the walk from Rob’s Lab to Wharton is about 10 minutes. The weather is beautiful here in Philadelphia, sunny with the humidity around 70-80%. Will keep you guys updated.

-Boon

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Can’t get a job upon graduation? Sue your alma matter!

// August 3rd, 2009 // 2 Comments » // News

A recent college graduate, Ms Thompson of the Bronx, NY, filled a lawsuit against her Alma Matter, Monroe College of New York because she couldn’t get a job after 3 months of searching. In her lawsuit, she is suing Monroe College $70,000 for the full tuition she paid and $2,000 for the stress she had to faced during her job search. With a 2.7 GPA , clean academic attendance and a Bachelors Degrees in Information Technology, Ms Thompson said that Job Counselors at  Monroe College didn’t do their best to ensure she gets a job. She also suggested preferential treatment given by counselors to students with 4.0 GPA, helping them get job placements.

Ms Thompson did not hire an attorney to represent her case because she couldn’t afford one and asked by CNN if she would encourage others to sue their Alma Matters, she replied yes.

Read the whole story here.

IMHO: She’s wasting everyone’s time. If i were the judge assigned to the case, I would throw it out of the court.
2.70 GPA, clean academic records…..haven’t she heard of the Global Economic Crisis?

Love it, loath if? Comments appreciated.

-Boon

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Confronted by the Malaysian Police? Know your rights!

// August 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Politics, Thoughts

Please follow the link to download the pamphlet regarding your rights when confronted by the Malaysian Police. LINK

Documents are available in English or Bahasa Malaysia.

-Boon

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Partly Cloudy, Pixar’s original short animation.

// August 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Entertainment

-Boon

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What has become of Malaysia?

// August 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // News, Politics

My beloved country, Malaysia was sucked into chaos yesterday (Aug 1, 2009) when two groups, those for and against the controversial ISA (Internal Security Act), took the streets in what was supposed to be a peaceful march from the heart of Kuala Lumpur (Masjid Jamek and SOGO) to the Royal Palace but was met with brute police intervention. Each of the groups was supposed to hand in their memorandums regarding the ISA. The Anti-ISA group wants the government to abolish the draconian law of ISA which allows the government to detain indefinitely anyone suspected of undermining the stability of the nation without trial while the Pro-ISA maintains the need for a law, created to capture and put to trial Communist Members back in the 1960’s <–Click here for wiki on ISA. The ISA has been the subject of abuse by the government and there have been many horrors stories related to the ISA.

The New York Times reported the ruckus here.

The Anti-ISA rally was dispersed by the Royal Malaysian Police through unnecessary shots of tear gas and chemical-laden water. A supposedly peaceful march turned into a scene of police abuse and brutality. “There was no need for the firing of tear gases or the chemical-laced water to disperse the march because it was a peaceful one”, said one of the rally members.

While elsewhere:

Malaysia, once a peaceful and developing country, is now faced with heavy corruption from all levels and ever increasing crime rate. Many Malaysians, feeling unsafe, even in their own homes during broad daylight, are taking matters into their own hands <– click for news . They are organizing their own crime watch groups, similar to that of Rukun Tetangga back in the days. (I foresee an opportunity for a new group of elite security forces for hire, consisting of foreign or local ex-police or ex-military personnel). The government has abused their power while the police force is good for nothing.

IMHO:

Malaysia needs change badly but I don’t foresee it happening overnight. Even the French Revolution lasted for 10 years and within the lost decade, many people sacrificed their lives for such change.

Let all Malaysians rise to the tyranny of the Government and make the necessary changes for a better tomorrow for our future generations.

We need a Malaysia for all Malaysians with low crime rate, high job opportunities, zero – corruption and Freedom of speech and press!

-Boon

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