Becky Hiu: Two-Cents Worth

Resuscitation

2012-01-05T15:27:00.003-06:00

Dear Blog,

It has been awhile since we've last had a rendezvous. I'm now in my second last semester of my Masters degree and working full-time. No matter, I'm going to resuscitate this blog to pen my ideas and thoughts - mainly finance, economics and life, in hope that readers might be able to take away some ideas/contemplate things in a different light. Power of persuasion. Social media has exploded, no doubt about that.

- Becky Hiu

January 5, 2012

Would Genting Dominate?

2009-07-29T15:25:00.002-05:00

There was a press release recently about how Genting has intentions to takeover MGM Mirage's operations in Macau after acquiring a 3.2% stake in the company.

HMMMMM........

"Genting, Asia’s largest casino operator, is looking to expand at a time highly-leveraged US rivals are barely meeting debt obligations and may turn to asset sales to stay afloat." -excerpt from http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/29/business/4408519&sec=business.

There was mention that the main reason Genting is a huge deal in Malaysia was because it is a monopoly (there's only one legitimate casino in Malaysia). If they want to break through foreign markets, it might seem like a huge upside bet on their part.

Nonetheless, I can consider this as an excellent opportunity to gain a bang on their buck as parts of influential casino operating companies are valued for way less than they are worth. Well, consumers are not willing to splurge on gambling, are they not ?-in this crazy economy which seems like it is recovering but might head downwards again. Great potential gain and loss simultaneously.

"Genting’s head of strategic investments, Justin Leong told investors in London this month the company wants to be one of the top three gaming players in the world and will be patient in executing its expansion strategy." (ibid.)

Top 3? Fo' real? Well, for the sake of my country, I feel like this would be a really good deal but there are always consumer sentiments to take into consideration. Maybe Genting should scrutinize the markets and CPIs slightly longer before jumping the gun.

Another Day,
Becky Hiu

Hybrid Portfolio Theory - Gets You Thinkin', Ey?

2009-07-19T00:23:00.009-05:00

Hello peeps.

It has been awhile, has it not? Well, here's an interesting read about the Hybrid Portfolio Theory, where you place 80-90% of your investments in safe securities (Certificate of Deposits, Money Market Accounts/Funds, Treasuries etc.) and the remaining 10-20% in super risky securities and high-growth opportunity companies.

Here's the link to the nice read of the Hybrid Portfolio Theory: Venture Populist

Some actually had outcries saying that why should they pay financial advisors to place their money into safe securities when they can do it themselves. For the most part of it, I think that this theory works nicely for high net-worth individuals who have no inclination whatsoever with finance and have no time to do so in the first place. But, of course, if you're a conservative investor, this works VERY nicely too! :) It's always great to make more than the rate of inflation + some leftover after!

The remaining 10-20% of the portfolio would be allocated into risky securities, so that's where the financial advisors come into play. Getting a steady stream of income of lets say, 6-8% Return on Investment (ROI) ain't too bad, is it not? -especially if you're a rich dude/ dudette and compound interest has its own wonders, ey?

And, when a crazy economic turmoil hits, like the one we're facing right now, you won't be hit as badly. There's this field force of financial protection surrounding you.

What you earn = What you put in * (1 + ROI per year)^number of years.

***Hmm, that's quite an astounding amount when you power it up. Try hitting in a few numbers into your good ol' calculator. :)

By the way, getting a steady return of 6-8% for a conservative investor (which is actually a vast majority of people), is g-r-e-a-t!

Go figure.

Becky Hiu

Problem 1.8 - My Blunder

2009-07-07T11:55:00.004-05:00

Please click on this image to view a clearer picture of my solutions

This post is allotted for my Econ 107 class. I had trouble posting my answers on the Blackboard forum so I posted a JPEG image of my response here for my reviewer and Professor to view.

I hope they don't mind what I just did. This would most definitely not happen again. Wow to the powers of HTML.

Cheers,
Becky Hiu

Financial Adviser in West Des Moines Puts Client First as He Revamps Strategy

2009-06-26T12:06:00.006-05:00

When a financial adviser's compensation is tied to products he sells, how can he look out for the best interests of his clients?

If you're asking that very question, this is the very article you should read:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090626/BUSINESS/906260365/1029/archive#pluckcomments

"Busick created River Glen Wealth Counselors, a financial advisory firm in West Des Moines. "We are creating an organization that tips the scale in favor of the individual investor," he said.

Many financial advisers seeking this type of independence from product lines and financial services companies become fee-based. They usually get paid a percentage of the client's investments.

Busick decided this wasn't enough - he wanted a fixed-fee pay structure based on particular service, and one that was completely transparent to clients. "The goal is to be different on a cost level," he said.

River Glen works on a fixed-fee system, determined by the complexity of the service required, with the option of asset-based fees or performance-based fees for investment planning. "My first and highest priority has to be to the client, and bringing that fiduciary responsibility to everyone," Busick said."
-excerpt from the Des Moines Register, 6-26-2009 @ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090626/BUSINESS/906260365/1029/archive#pluckcomments

We do need client-focused companies to ensure that the financial system is sound and would adhere to the goals and best interests of the clients. That is what River Glen Wealth Counselors provides -transparency, competency and reliability.

Reference: http://www.riverglenwealth.com/

Update: 6-17-2009

2009-06-17T13:18:00.004-05:00

It has been sometime, ey.

Economic situation? Not too well. The DJIA has been fluctuating once again like a yo-yo. Oil? Hit its year high but still kinda fluctuating. I don't think it'll hit the 4 buck per gallon of gas like last July but who knows, the economy is as unpredictable as Iowa's weather.

"Millions of Americans who have worked hard and behaved responsibly have seen their life dreams eroded by the irresponsibility of others and the failure of their government to provide adequate oversight," Obama said. -excerpt from "Obama touts major rules to stave off econ crises" from Yahoo Finance. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Obama-calls-for-new-rules-of-apf-15550556.html?sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Hmm, yes, the government has most definitely contributed to this entire problem. But, I think it's everyone's fault. The government, banks -both commercial and investment, insurance companies, mortgage lenders, rating companies, consumers...i.e. everyone including you and I. I do know there's a heck lot of blaming going on right now but face it, if everyone's poking fingers at one another, where are we heading?

It's our behavior -the want -not need for more, more, more -GREED. Sky's the limit. People close one eye when it comes to certain ethical things -they say it's OK. If everyone's doing the same thing, who cares, right? It builds up and when the bubble expands and finally bursts -we suffer its dire consequences. Shame, shame. shame.

We used to learn about how to use those financial instruments such as MBSs, CDOs, CMOs and other complex instruments in finance classes. Now, we are learning that the crisis origninated from them. It was said that even Alan Greenspan and a room of all his leading economists did not even fully comprehend those instruments, what else others? Wow.

Nevermind. We still have hope -like how we have hope in Christ. Things are to get better in due time, I know it will. :D If people place their hope, faith and trust in Him, nothing is impossible.

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17

For Him,
Becky Hiu

Avoiding Conflict: What I should know about my Financial Advisor?

2009-05-30T17:48:00.006-05:00

//*Click on this picture to enlarge it*//

Check out River Glen Wealth Counselor's website @ http://www.riverglenwealth.com/

Has the Bull Pawned the Bear?

2009-05-06T18:06:00.003-05:00

Finally, I'm in the black with regards to my stock portfolio for this fiscal year of 2009. Will the rally sustain? That I'm not too sure -whether this is a "V" shaped rally or...a "W" shaped one.

Will a pull back occur again? There have been tons of positive indicators -an increase in the real estate market, better than expected profits, employers slashing less workers and a rally today as there's news that the investors are slowly gaining confidence in the financial institutions due to a better than expected outcome of the "stress test" by the US government.

Some say that this is a short term occurrence and this rally will soon fizzle out. We shall see in the upcoming weeks.

It takes at least 5 years to become a matured investor. It has been a couple of months for me and so far I'm doing good -beginner's luck? :)

Boomin'
Becky Hiu

Post Rojak-A Taste of Malaysia!

2009-04-18T14:48:00.025-05:00

"Rojak- A Taste of Malaysia" was a huge success this year. Even though it was held during the Easter weekend, we sold out all our tickets a week prior to the event, thanks to the publicity generated. All in all, we had approximately 370 people turn up for the event and this time around, more than half of the audience were comprised of Americans, as this night was supposed to promote the Malaysian way of life and culture to them.

VIPs such as the President of Drake University, David Maxwell, Dave Miles (Chair of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa), Jim Hubbell (Chair of the Board of Trustees for Drake University), Mark Heppner (Executive Director of the Salisbury House), Rick Neumann (Nyemaster Goode attorney), Linda Grandquist (Prairie Meadows Grant Advisory Committee member) and Barbara Gartner (Des Moines Art Center Board of Trustees) showed up, besides host families and the Des Moines community.

We had a different theme and layout this year round, utilizing a skit to tie in various performances which portray different festivities held in Malaysia all year long and the word "Rojak" which literally means a fusion of things suited this very theme. We added a touch of Jumanji into it, where 2 foreigners(Americans) were caught in this crazy adventure by playing the board game and experienced Malaysia through it. There was a ton of visual effects and videos which complimented the skit.

We managed to get a couple of American people involved in the dances and skit and that helped with publicity as well. The Malaysian Students' Department of Chicago (MSD) and the Campus Fellowship of Drake University allowed this event to be as great as it was as we used their resources and manpower to make things work. Below are some of the pictures taken which unfold the story of "Rojak-A Taste of Malaysia":

This Was Pre-MASA Night. We Had Our Discussion and Meeting Before the Night During the Rehearsal

Arrival of the VIPs, Accompanied by the "Kompangs", Which are Traditional Malay Drums
The Organizing Chairperson of Rojak, Becky Hiu (That's me) Giving Her Speech (It Was Nerve-wrecking)

President David Maxwell Giving his Spontaneous Speech

Our Very First Performance of the Night - A Duet by Shing Yiing Ong and Gary Shia, Accompanied by the Prodigal Pianist, Ian Wong -Mixture of "Melodi" and "Belaian Jiwa"

A Solo Guitar Performance by Havard Chan - a Rendition of "Rasa Sayang"

First Round of Raffle Draws with the MCs, Siva and Amy

Hannah Chung and Jason Rude, the Americans from Campus Fellowship, Who Were the Main Actors of the Skit

Jeremy Low -Wushu

Malay Dance Crew -Fusion of Traditional and Modern Steps

Thaipusam -Kavadi Carrier, Dhaya

The Mooncake Festival - the History

The Lion Dance from ISU

The Indian Dance Crew - Modern and Simply Awesome!

The Climatic Moment -Confrontation with the Tribal People

Overall, this night was a huge success all thanks to the people involved -the committee members and the performers.

Malaysia Boleh,
Becky Hiu

Rojak - A Taste of Malaysia

2009-03-22T23:35:00.007-05:00

Hello peeps!

I am proud to announce that the Malaysian Students' Association (MASA) Night Organizing Committee of 2009 will be holding its fourth annual Malaysian Night entitled "Rojak - A Taste of Malaysia". It would occur at 6:30 p.m. at Parents Hall, Olmsted, Drake University and the tickets are going for 10 bucks for Drake students and 12 bucks for non-Drake students (host families, friends, etc.).

This year round we're going with a new scheme and theme, as we've a running skit which ties all the various festivities held in my beloved country, Malaysia. Plus, we've glorious Malaysian food and dances, all put in a potpourri of culture - and all that for 10 or 12 bucks! You're really going to get your money's worth. I wouldn't want to elaborate more as this would spoil the myriad of surprises which are in store for you.

Something new, different. Look out for that as the organizing committee has really toiled and sweat to ensure that this year's event would be a complete success!

Tickets are out and ready to be sold starting tomorrow until the event date at the Olmsted Breezeway from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Drop by and support us!

Queries? Please don't hesitate to shoot me an e-mail at beckyhiu@gmail.com.

Best Regards,
Becky Hiu
Chairperson of the Malaysian Students' Association (MASA) Night Organizing Committee 2009
Drake University
beckyhiu@gmail.com

Should This Be Justified?

2009-03-15T13:40:00.004-05:00

American International Group (AIG) is to pay $450 million in bonuses to executives and financial products employees and the worse part is that this almost irredeemable corporation, once the largest insurance company in the world, has received $170 billion in taxpayers' money to prevent their total collapse.

What's more intriguing?

These payments are going to the staff which brought down this insurance giant to its knees! Appalling, indeed! I am appalled, to say the least! (you could tell with all these exclamation marks).

A couple of months back, AIG was on the brink of being thrown into the lion's den of bankruptcy, if not for the bailout cash it received. The contracts that the financial-products units sold to protect other institutions (Credit Default Swaps (CDS)) against losses from securities backed by subprime mortgages pushed AIG off the cliff, into an abyss of darkness. There were just too many firms who were insured by AIG and without the support of the government, there would be a worse spiral downwards if AIG were to fail.

"I'm sorry, Christiano Ronaldo. You should wipe that smile off your face and show a thumbs-down."

This is similar to the Lehman Brother's case. There are still debates going on whether the government could have prevented a great debacle by backing Lehman. They say that Obama's a modern day socialist. Many companies were holding the bag once Lehman failed. Who's at fault? Where is this heading? Confusion and chaos in the financial system, so to speak.

However, on a more positive note, there were some optimism in the markets in the past week. Has it bottomed? I'd say not. Citi did have a pretty good poise, though.

We're seeing some green blotz.

Becky Hiu

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.

The Credit Crisis Visualized

2009-03-03T14:31:00.005-06:00

Hey peeps,

This short video by Jonathan Jarvis, entitled the "Credit Crisis Visualized" is a really sweet video for all to view, especially non-finance related field people.

It brings visuals into effect, allowing us to actually see what's going on now, with regards to the credit crisis. However, it does not portray the entire picture in intricate detail, since so much can be said in an 11 minutes 15 seconds video. Simple words and little economic/financial jargon are used. No worries, mates.

http://venturebeat.com/2009/02/21/vi deo-the-credit-crisis-simply-explained/

To be up-to-date consumers/citizens of any country is something we should personally be responsible of.

Just a short post. 5 exams in the next 2 days.

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:34

Be positive.

Gotta Run,
Becky Hiu

The Formula Which Killed Wall Street - The Gaussian Copula Formula

2009-02-27T19:22:00.004-06:00

This was the formula which literally "killed" Wall Street -the Gaussian Copula formula. It was constructed from the bivariate normal distribution via Sklar's theorem. Looks pretty simple, no?

I found this very extremely interesting read about this formula and how it brought down Wall Street as many hedge fund and investment managers were utilizing it to determine the correlation of risks and assets, just by trusting this formula, entirely.

Nasty.

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/17-03/wp_quant?currentPage=1

Becky Hiu

Idle Hands are the Devil's Tools

2009-02-25T00:19:00.001-06:00

(CartoonStock.com)

I found this amusing. Nevertheless, this statement can not be proven any more true.

Adios!

Becky Hiu

Respect

2009-02-16T10:36:00.003-06:00

Respect, yo'.

Attitude reflects personality and leadership.

Dictionary.com defines 'respect' as esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability.

"Do to others as you would like them to do to you". Luke 6:31 says so. It is the Golden Rule.

People ask why they are not respected and ponder high and low, wondering. It's really that simple. Nowadays, majority of the population expect something in return whenever they carry out a good deed and that is how the community has evolved into -prideful and full of greed. And, we could never be more wrong, justifying that very notion.

Respect can be subdivided into a myriad of categories, and namely in my perspective, punctuality, the "mean what you say and say what you mean" principle, sensitivity, and lastly integrity.

C'mon, time is of essence, and you can't adhere to this punctuality principle, you ought to gain less respect. Walking into class or a rendezvous late, without a valid reason shows utmost disrespect for the professor. "Mean what you say and say what you mean." This sentence speaks for itself; respect is positively correlated to this principle. Once you've made a promise or appointment, please, please, please, don't break or cancel them -this just shows your irreliablity, unless you have a very good reason for doing so. Sensitivity - correct others carefully as some people are more sensitive with respect to others; in short, don't be too blunt or sarcastic. Do it in a subtle manner, with compassion in mind.

"You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate". Luke 6:36.

Lastly, integrity goes hand-in-hand with respect. There is no compromising one for the other.

I think that if you were to adhere to those 4 principles mentioned above, you would be a much more respected individual, both personally and professionally. Luke 6 says it all.

Peace Out,
Becky Hiu

The Ponzi Scheme

2009-01-31T23:51:00.005-06:00

Hola Amigos and Chicas!

I am pretty sure that you have heard of the infamous Bernard Madoff who scammed thousands of investors of approximately 50 billion USD in the most publicized "Ponzi" scheme fraud in world history. His story flooded the front pages and headlines of the Wall Street Journal for days and weeks following the incident of the exposure of his entire scam plot. One French dude, named Rene-Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet who was himself an investment manager of a hedge fund committed suicide after he received news that all the money his fund invested in vaporized into thin air.

Sad.

I would like to elaborate a lil' on the infamous Ponzi scheme and what you should do to reduce the probability and possibility of investing in one which adapts its strategy. The Ponzi scheme was initially named after a famous con man, Charles Ponzi who duped thousands of New England investors into investing in a postage stamp circulation via arbitrage and told investors that they would receive a huge ROI (return-on-investment) of 40% after 90 days!

The few investors who started off were paid handsomely and word spread around that this investment actually works, which in turn allowed even more people to invest in this fund. However, this sounds way too good to be true, which was indeed TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! The earlier investors were just paid off returns which were generated by newer investors' dough of cash freshly placed into the fund and as you go on, this "pyramid" scheme would falter and collapse in due time.

This pyramid shows how the scheme can become impossible to sustain

Hence, if you do get tempted to invest into a fund/company which promises an insane, out-of-the-world ROI, and tells you that there is too much finance/investment jargon for you to comprehend on why they are generating such an incredible return, think twice (or maybe think multiple times before even attempting to look into it, as it is most likely a scam). You need to do your homework before investing in anything. If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

Booyah,
Becky Hiu

Miniscule Trends

2009-01-22T15:34:00.008-06:00

I am currently slightly more than halfway through a book, entitled, "Microtrends", authored by Mark J. Penn and E. Kinney Zalesne. This 500 over pages book probes the microtrends, which are considered "tipping points" of a huge trend or macrotrend, if you would like to call it otherwise and they entail topics such as love, sex and relationships, work life, race and religion, health, politics, money and class, technology and the list goes on, literally speaking.

One interesting section of the book is the part entitled, "Beogeois and Bankrupt". Penn started off by saying that "in France they used to parade you naked through the street as they seized your estate" and "in Dickensian (Charles Dickson, the famous author who wrote classics such as The Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities) England, they locked you in debtors' prison -which was better than putting you to death, which they were also allowed to do so." Interesting, isn't it?

Imagine yourself being ridiculed, tortured and even thrown into the pits of despair of a dungeon-like place. Why would people still want to keep incurring mountains of debt? Seems like that position is super implausible and illogical, is it not?

According to Penn, and the American Bankruptcy Institute, 2005, the total non-business bankuptcy filings has creeped up more than 4 folds in the past 25 years, and continuing on, statistics say that in Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, more than 10 out of 1,000 people file for bankruptcy. It is an absurd note to find out that all these 'bankrupts' are not the crazy, irrational people who are extravagant spenders but instead, a typical bankruptcy-filer is a white, middle class, head of the household with children and a full-time job, and what's more...1/2 of bankruptcy-filers are married and better educated than most of the population!

And why is this happening? Penn illustrated a reason by saying that credit nowadays (this book was published in 2007, before the 'Great Depression of the stock market') is so easily attainable. He predicted that if this were to carry on, there would be a downfall of the economy, and so it seems, he was absolutely right! He mentioned that in today's middle class, the finances are already so taut that if a lay-off, divorce or illness were to beseech a family, all is hopeless.

Moving on, it is stated that if bankruptcy filings were to carry on, there would be approximately 8,000,000 people going bankrupt a year by 2025, and yes, this is in America alone.

A scary and provoking thought. Think wisely before you spend, and plan ahead as this may happen to anyone who is not careful. A fool and his money will always part ways. :)

To Another Day,
Becky Hiu

South Bound Trip

2009-01-10T16:12:00.014-06:00

Hello.

Winter break is almost coming to an end now but I could say that I have spent a good 19 days in 4 cities and 2 states, namely Orlando, Miami, Tampa Bay and lastly, Atlanta. Since it was a very long vacation indeed, I shall not blog on every single detail, but just some highlights that made the trip meaningful.

Disneyworld was marvelous. 4 humongous parks and 5 days were simply insufficient. Especially the Magic Kingdom park, of which we spent our Christmas eve, was like a sardine can -I approximated about a million people were there that night itself, due to the celebration and fireworks. Mickey Mouse and the Clan

It is rather hard to comprehend that why with the current economic turmoil going on, there are still barrages of people on vacation. I was almost smothered into a ball, with the stampede-like crowd around me. The longest wait in line was 170 minutes, which is equivalent to 2 hours and 50 minutes for a Buzz Lightyear ride and our average waiting time was approximately an hour plus, per ride. It was nevertheless worth it as Disney really brings your childhood memories back to you -right deep down in your heart.

The fireworks and the Magic Castle

Next up would be the our roadtrip to Atlanta, Georgia, where we stayed in a sweet hotel -Hyatt Place and visited the World of Coca-Cola. Of course, they would never reveal what the secret ingredients behind the syrup which makes the Coke oh-so-wonderful are. I just know that it consists of CO2 + syrup + H2O + a nice bottle -very detailed is it not?

How to Make a Coke

Classic Coke

Following Atlanta would be South Beach, Miami. That is the place to retire -superb weather, nice beaches and running on the beach (that, I like). The beach was awesome -sand and all. Besides that, residents there looked fit, since now they could not possibly be wearing hoodies and large coats to hide the blubber. We spent 2 nights at South Beach, which includes New Years and it was the first time I have seen fireworks so up close, plus, it was on the beach.

South Beach, Miami

Next up, we drove to Tampa Bay, which had white sand beaches. So all we did was chill under the sun for 2 days. Then, it was back to Orlando, Florida! We checked out Universal Studios, went for the Blue Man Group show, flea markets, Busch Gardens, Sea World, Aquatica and shooting! We did tons of stuff, but I have to sit down and recall each one.

Bang!

Wrapping it up, that was fun! :)

Scrooging off,
Becky Hiu

A Look Ahead: 2009

2008-12-30T01:42:00.007-06:00

Hello humans stepping into the new year,

It has been quite awhile since my last post as my entourage and I are on a south-bound trip to Atlanta, Orlando, Miami and Tampa Bay (we are trying to escape the horrid weather in Des Moines, Iowa). I have had internet access thus far but it has been a rather rushed and on-the-go trip. I would most definitely blog about my winter break in the upcoming weeks, as this is a rather long journey we have made.

It is currently the 30th of December, 2008. New years is just around the corner and this is my very first Christmas and New Years away from my home country and dear family in Malaysia. It has been difficult but I have learned to adapt to my new surroundings.

What is in store for us in 2009?

Well, I pray it is for the better, with regards to the economic standing we are facing right now. I pondered and also checked out the Internet for additional information and here are some notable events which are coming up.

1.President-elect Obama would not be a "president-elect" any longer -20 January, 2009.
2.The economy is poised for a greater slow-down - "that's kind of sad, is it not". More layoffs, more pay cuts, more distress, more BAILOUTS. However, some optimistic economists say that:
"Maybe, if all goes well — we could be closer to the end of this recession than the beginning. Now 12 months into a downturn that appears to be deepening, there are early signs that the elements may be coming into place for a convincing recovery. That “best case” forecast calls for the worst of the downturn easing by the middle of next year, with slow but steady growth in the second half of 2009."
3.All TVs would be broadcasting in high definition -or rather for the entire US, at least.
4.Awesome movies are to be out -Transformers 2, Harry Potter (I'm not a big fan), the Fast and the Furious 4, Watchmen and, lots more.
5.Intel technology, the Core i7 processor, formerly codenamed Nehalem -aimed at high-performance servers; desktop and laptop versions will appear in the second half of 2009.
6.Resident Evil V, God of War III, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Batman, Dante's Inferno -most anticipated video games of 2009.
7.World Championships in Athletics at Olympiastadion, Berlin.
8.2009 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder LP560-4
9.Garmin, GPS navigator maker, plans to release multiple Android phones in mid-2009.

So, 9 new things for 2009.

Looking Ahead,
Becky Hiu

Dreary Practitioners of a Dismal Science -or Not?

2008-12-19T16:26:00.009-06:00

Hello fellow humans,

It is I, yet again. I am finally done with finals and it has been a really weary and dreary week. Speaking of which, I had my most excruciating final thus far, the 'History of Economic Thought' -it traces the thought of influential economic thinkers dating back to Aristotle, through the physiocrats era, mercantilists era, pre-classical and classical economics eras, neo-classical economics era, right until the present heterodox theory advocates. Before this semester, I had never taken a subject like this before, which entails a mountainous load-full of reading and research, besides exposing yourself with economic jargon -of which the class attempts to place you in the mindset of, for example, an 18th century political economic thinker.

Since I come from a mainly quantitative education background, encompassing ridiculous amounts of mathematical computations and a myriad of numbers, this is something relatively 'new' to me, as a Quantitative Economics major, I deal with the 'quantitative' side of economics, not the technical, sophisticated thoughts of how the 'labor theory of value' came to be or how the 'laissez-faire and socialism' systems would function and 'what should be the best monetary and fiscal policies to be implemented in the economy to prevent further fluctuations of the business cycle'.

Nonetheless, this subject has provided me insight as a future economist-to-be, how markets correlate and function -utility and exchange values, taxes, capital, labor, land and other variable factors of production. In this period of time, the world is under a global recession and I could actually take it from an influential economist's point of view, such as John Maynard Keynes, or John Baptise Say on the reasons why the cyclical business cycles occur and these people had so much ingenuity in them by predicting how markets would function, centuries after their passing.

David Ricardo, a classical economist who developed the Corn Law Model in response to the corn law controversy of placing tariffs on the importation of grain back in the 19th century labeled economists as the 'dreary practitioners of a dismal science' due to the fact that 'the falling rate of profit' would eventually bring upon us a 'stationary state' where everything comes to a abrupt halt and there would be no apparent solution of redeeming ourselves as he thought that there would not be growth in the economy thereafter. I was astounded by this very notion, but this has not occurred thus far in our global economy, all thanks to the rapid pace of the change and advancement of technology.

Dreary practioners? I fear not. I like Adam Smith's perspective of how everything would go well -flourishing economy and the invisible hand. So, should the government now intervene in bailing out the financial institutions, automakers and stimulating the economy? I think that it all depends on where and what your standpoint is -some just want the market to fix itself (advocates of the traditional laissez-faire system), others want government intervention (which pinpoints towards socialism, so to speak) and the rest have no viewpoints, so to speak. However, in my opinion, I think that the US government is attempting its very best to solve the crisis that the country is encountering now -but maybe that Hank Paulson should not have allowed the failure of Lehman Brothers, which left many firms left 'holding the bag' after its total demolition and led to a ripple effect in the economy.

However, it all boils down to consumer confidence, people. C'mon, look on the bright side, every business cycle has its trough and peak -think positive!

"Don't let your head be stuck in the gutter". :)

An Advocate of Optimism,
Becky Hiu

The Almost Incomprehensible Way of Wording an Exam Question

2008-12-15T02:10:00.002-06:00

My Econs 158 (History of Economic Thought) professor has a most peculiar way of wording his exam review questions.

"Income in our culture is the measure of worth", Andre pontificated to Sally over dinner."It's what Veblen described as the commercialization of taste and appreciation." Sally, her mind dulled by the wine and kept awake only by the indigestion induced by Andre's monologue, chose not to explain that this conception of income had been greatly reinforced by the emergence of neo-classical theories of value and distribution. Explain what Sally would have said had she not been indisposed."

Besides, there are like 30 exam review questions, of which, roughly covers EVERYTHING in the entire syllabus. Haha, talk about a nice, comprehensive final to sit for. Whee!

Nonetheless, my professor makes this subject interesting, with his manner of speech (he uses really, really flowery terms and economics jargon). It's just that there's so much to pound into my 13.5 inches in circumference brain.

Just another train of thought from me. Now, back to work!

Becky Hiu

Study Like a Rockstar!

2008-12-11T23:13:00.007-06:00

It's time to...

PARTY! oops...I meant...

STUDY like a ROCKSTAR!

Finals are just hovering around the corner, literally speaking, just over the bend!
I have 5 finals, of which 2 are comprehensive. However, look on the bright side, once they are over, winter break approaches.

Caffeine has been my very best buddy in this trying period of time and my subsistence is reliant on 3 main factors:

God
Coffee
Energy drinks

Just slightly over 10620 seconds to go!
All the very best to those who are having some form of examination coming up and also I bid myself all the best. :)

"Bigger. Better. Faster. Stronger. JUICED is a mix of amazing tasting, all natural mango, orange, and passion fruit juices packed with the potent energy blend of Original ROCKSTAR. JUICED is scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles, from athletes to rock stars."

Wow. I hope it works cause I'm living an "active and exhausting lifestyle". :)

Boosting Off,
Becky Hiu

Dismal Thought of Inconvenience

2008-12-05T16:35:00.008-06:00

A bag of Baked Lays chips lays astray by the sidewalk. Clearly, you can see that it is empty. No one is around, just the numbing breeze of wind brushing your face. Your hands are fitted comfortably and warmly in your pea coat. You look around, nothing. Just plain silence accompanied by the barely audible sound of the passing cars engines as they scoot across the street.

Would it be a hassle to remove your right hand out of your coat, walk up to it and throw it away in the nearby trash can?

It is the norm to just walk on by, turning a blind eye. It might seem like a trivial matter but every small good deed counts. It does, really.

It is the matter of inconvenience that deters people. Someone asking you to print them a copy of something, even though you have class in 10 minutes and your printer is giving you trouble. Someone asking you for help in homework when you have to walk 10 minutes in the cold to reach that person. Or even packing lunch for someone, getting something signed, allowing people to use your laptop when they need it badly and coincidentally you've an assignment to hand in the next morning...the list simply stretches on forever.

And, the best part is you just smile and zip your lips when a minority of them do not even show a trace of gratitude. I just know that I have earned another star in heaven. He will be smiling down at me. That is more than enough.

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12

Best regards,
Becky Hiu

Thanksgiving Break

2008-12-02T16:22:00.018-06:00

I have received feedback from my circle of friends that my blog seems dull, since it was mainly based on issues which I encountered or have perceptions on (business, news, finance, etc.) and not on my daily experiences in life. Hence, to spice it up, just up a small notch, I shall elaborate on what I did during Thanksgiving break, which was held over a span of a week.

First and foremost, we managed to settle for a hotel, or rather more closely defined as a motel or inn, located in a rather strategic position between Wal-Mart in Bloomington, and Denny's, a 24-7 restaurant, of which we ate practically at everyday for convenience sake. The inn was pretty neat, since each individual just spent a total of over a hundred dollars for 4 nights, and included 2 queen sized beds for 3 small-sized Malaysian individuals, not to mention the free breakfast of bagels and muffins every morning. The very best part was that this room was equipped with a nice 37-inch LCD LG TV and a small safe.

My roommates and I spent our Thanksgiving day with our ex-roommate from the last academic year (over here in the States, they go by academic year which is Fall to Fall and not the calendar year) over in St. Paul, which was approximately 40 minutes away from Bloomington. We indulged ourselves with a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner or lunch as some would call it and this was our very first Thanksgiving reception ever, since it was not a Malaysian or Asian thing to do so.

This was room 420 of Goodwin-Kirk (Spring '08)

Our host stayed beside a lake so we had the privilege of "walking on water" (it was frozen). It was such a picturesque view as the sun was setting below the horizon simultaneously. We snapped a few shots on water.

"Walking on Water"

It was cold

Having never seen snow, before stepping foot in the States, since it was 365 days of summer a year in Malaysia (we are so near to the equator and for those who do not know where Malaysia is, it is in between Singapore and Thailand, and Singapore is not the capital of Malaysia, thank you), we checked out Buck Hill, which was a ski hill. Being a beginner, I fell 3 times on the "baby" hill as I did not know how to balance and stop when required. I cannot turn my head to the right now without saying "ouch". However, after a few or should I say, many rounds, I managed to get the hang of it and even went up using the "lift" to the highest peak.

The 4 Malaysian Musketeers

Oh, I have to elaborate more on the Black Friday sales. Prices were rock-bottom, literally, as many retailers are suffering dire consequences of excess inventory (if you did not already realize that the U.S. was in recession since December 2007 -NBER). We visited the outlet mall, located approximately 45 minutes away at midnight on Black Friday and we were shopping till the break of dawn of which we relocated ourselves to the Mall of America (MOA) at 6 a.m. and continued on until near noon. This entire situation can be analogized as "where the hill of sugar was, the ants went". Oh boy, how exhausted we were at that point. MOA was huge, compared to what Des Moines has to offer, however, it is way smaller than what Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has to offer. I am trying to promote tourism for my home country, as you folks can see. One astounding article I read on Yahoo Finance reported that one man was trampled to death at a Wal-Mart branch as there were a stampede of people rushing in and this is absurd.

That is all I have, we did explore other places but I am not going to go on with those, since this post is already as lengthy as it is. All I know now is that I have to plan my budget, as we are heading to Florida in 3 weeks for our winter break.

Zooming Off,
Becky Hiu

Communication -Tying Things Together

2008-11-24T10:36:00.005-06:00

Today, my group and I had to carry out a presentation for our Management 110 class (Organizational Behavior) and we had the duties of conducting an "effective management training session" with regards to communication.

One thing that was rather astounding, was when my comrade gave them a real-life insight/experience as she suddenly presented -all in Chinese! She picked on a couple of students in the audience, of which one just constantly nodded his head, looking like a fool since he had no inclination whatsoever on the situation, whereas another student finally grasped what she wanted them to do, which was as simple as repeating "My name is _____." in Chinese. Even the professor was in a daze when she asked him to repeat after her -his pronunciation and intonation was just rather peculiar, I would say, in a subtle and nice way. Only the Malaysian students understood what exactly was going on and were laughing their heads off at this entire concurrence.

You might experience something rather similar to this in your future working environment, since the global marketplace right now is interconnected with people coming from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Hence, if you were to face something similar to this, you might just misunderstand the entire situation of what exactly your boss or manager wants you to carry out, and that, my friends, would make you look like a complete idiot.

Last but not least, what I would like to say is that the culture differences between Continental and Oriental countries are rather significant, as in Asian countries, people just focus entirely on academics and seldom with presentations, opinions, feedback and the like. We just study, study, study, mug, mug, mug for one huge whopping exam at the end of the semester, of which determines everything -your future, and salary of course.

The government, with regards to my home country, Malaysia, should make an attempt to incorporate a different learning style, from day one in elementary school which encourages total participation and two-way communication as most students have the ideas but just do not know how to "spit" them out. Besides that, many do not even know what is going on in the world outside, they seem like they are stuck in their own realm of thoughts.

I have been hearing numerous laments from Malaysians about how they do not obtain internships or jobs for that matter and with all said above, I think I know the reason why. I, myself have a lot to improve on, but it does help that I come from a diversified background and English is my first language, even though I have the ability to speak a few others. It is very, very difficult to shed your "Chinese", "Malay" or whatever-you-call-it-accent and that is also one of those factors which deters effective communication as it has been ingrained into you since birth.

Just some insight and thought. This was how my Professor looked like this morning. :)

Off to another day,
Becky Hiu

The Origin of "Two-Cents"

2008-11-22T13:41:00.005-06:00

Hey ya'll,

You may be wondering, pondering, or even, scratching your head, thinking what in the world the term "two-cents" meant when you saw the title of my blog. For those who have no absolute idea or inclination whatsoever on what it means, I'm going to enlighten you.

Meaning: An individual's opinion

" 'My two cents' worth' (or 'two bits' worth') implies that, in order to express and opinion, a small charge is levied. This could well be a simple notional charge and not related to any actual payment. It has been suggested that 'two cents' was the minimum wager required of a new player in order to enter poker games. There's no documentary evidence to support that idea. The US version of the phrase is pre-dated by the British 'two-penneth' and there's little reason to believe 'two cents' worth' to be anything other than a US translation of that. The card-playing origin of the phrase could just as well apply to the British version but, without evidence, that's merely speculation."

Ain't that sweet? :)

Booyah,
Becky Hiu

First Official Post

2008-11-22T09:38:00.002-06:00

Hi -to those who even have the smallest bit of interest to read and ponder,

First and foremost, this is considered an unusual random musing, coming from me especially, since I don't really blog or am compelled to conform to this trend. This could be a short layout of my life, how I carry it out, how I account for it and my personal opinion on different variations of subjects.

As a self-introduction, I am a Malaysian student, who has breached the American shores, looking out for opportunities in the working "field of mines" (you might never know when you step on one), ways to improve myself professionally, ethically and spiritually. Pursuing a double major in Finance and Quantitative Economics, with a minor in Mathematics, I have ventured into a vast field of studies, of which complement each other with due respect.

I could say that I have changed in the sense that I care about integrity and about people way more than I used to. It's all in God's plans. :)

Scooting off,
Becky Hiu