Earned Income

Just received my tax assessment for the year 2004, by this month I have to pay $212.56 for the income tax. Thinking back, I remembered my annual gross income for the year 2004 is $31,032.00 the tax is $212.56; for the year 2003 my annual gross income is $27,154.30, the tax is $78.44. After doing a little bit of maths I realised something. My annual gross income increased by around 14.3% but my tax increased by around 171%. This is the penalty for having earned income. Its not the only source of income you can have but everyone loves it. Not trying to say I don't want to pay my tax or tax is bad. Tax is part of the civilised world, without it the society won't function properly. I like paying tax, because without it the street lamps won't work, the roads won't be repaired, the fireman won't arrive on time and etc. There is other ways we can contribute to the society, and tax is only one form and its limited.

Think about it, look at the calculation, does it make financial sense or cents? Some who knows the tax system well enough may say that its because the income is in a different tax bracket. I would rather look at the mathematic calculations, and say whether is this the life I want for myself. Others may think otherwise, this is just how I see the picture. Not trying to solicit or anything, just hope others would not require me to do the 'right' thing which often means the same thing as them. I walk this road this way, we can walk together with same or different style or maybe they prefer to walk with someone of the same style, its their choice.

PS. Criminal strive on the indulgence of society's understanding.

Permanent Interest

Today something happened and really gave me an emotional jolt in the area of friendship and trust. Kept wondering for the past weeks, should I even be bother to think and get myself angry for mundane things that I felt not right and unfair to me. One of my friend said that I am self-centered, so have been trying to change that. Its not all about me right? Even if its my career and my life at stake right? I felt that all these doesn't matter anymore. Like former PM said, 'There is no permanent friends or foes, just permanent interest.' Trying to look at things at a wider perspective and things really cleared up for me. We are born alone, and we will die alone. No kinship or friendship will be that strong to walk with you on the road to the netherworld. Seriously need some time to think about whether the reason for my anger is the right thing. Does it really matter to me that much that I am been treated unfairly? I am confused, with so many years of education, are they teaching me the right thing? For a person who knew clearly how the bureaucratic system works in the organisation but yet chose to skip the chain of command. I am not sure whether am I right or wrong, but this does concerns me. Why am I always the last one to know about things that concerns me or involve me? Am I being too self-centered again? I hope not.

PS. So long and thanks for all the fish.

Apologies

Here I would like to apologies to all my friends. Those who tried to call me and SMS me, I am sorry for this erratic attitude and behaviour. There are certain things going through my mind for these few days and the more severe one is the pounding headache I had for days. Couping up at home for the past few days, other then going to work, I haven't been going anywhere except for the evening run. And finally thanks for the support, will be back soon.

PS. Because a thousand years from now, I am not longer in this world.
Unable to hold your hand or kiss your forehead.
Don't wait till a thousand years later when the world has forgotten me.
During the reddish dusk in the desert, who will undo that millennia worth of loneliness.

Judgments

For these past few months, I couldn't find another person that will judge you by your present. Many or rather all would judge others based on their past. Be it a long time acquaintance, or a close friend. Today I read my colleague's notes on organisation behaviour. Interesting, as there is actually many different terms for those types of judgments. I will try to recall as much as I can here. There is the 'halo effect', which caught my attention. It means that a person or matter is judged based on one singular characteristic of the person or the matter. This is definitely a biased judgment, all I can remember is those biased judgments. Apparently, you can't really find unbiased decision in this world unless its made by a computer. Even in the case of using a computer for judgment, it can be somewhat biased as the programmer is still human.

Then there is the other one called stereotyping, which means grouping a person or matter that display certain straits and characteristic exclusive to that group. As you might see that these are based on the characteristics and of course from the past. Since all studies are based on using past statistics to actually 'predict' the future. I think this is the way things work on the planet, or maybe for this time period. Of course we should always give more weightage to the more recent results as to trim off the biased aspect of the calculation or judgment.

Flipping

The other day I went to attend a seminar by Robert Kiyosaki. Its a very interesting seminar, very motivational. After that, my friend met his colleague there. Then she is telling my friend about this Thai guy she known from the other seminars and workshops. That Thai guy is really something, we were like talking about multi-streams of income. Apparently this guy owns a restaurant in Thailand. He mortage his restaurant, use that money bought a property then mortage that property and use that money to buy another property. Apparently he acquired coming to 20 properties in less than a month's time.

Thinking of it, it does makes sense (and cents too). Of course, when you mortage the property you must make sure that there is a positive cashflow coming from the property even after mortage. So at the end of the day, u have cashflow (although little, less the mortage payments) and you will own the property. At least for 999 years for freehold, but who can live that long. So basically this action of acquiring property through mortage the other property is called flipping. Hope its not too ambiguous but if there is any fact here that you think is incorrect you are welcome to leave a comment or shout it out in my shoutbox.

PS. Don't try to be an electrician please, so dangerous.

Too Emotional

Last night, my friends saw this accident on the road and decided to pull over and see if the victim need any help. This is the spirit that is worth praising. Remembering a few years back, my friend Prem told me about this incident he saw. There is a group of people beating up a poor chap. Of course personal dispute, we outsider shouldn't meddle butt the use of violence is definitely wrong. He said 'How do we expect these people to defend the country in time of war, when in time of peace they are hurting one another.'

This made me think whether my effort to defend the country is worthwhile or not. How can I defend this country from external threats when there are people hurting their fellow countryman. Its like no matter how well I tried to protect the surface, the core is already rotten. Sometimes I think whether or not should I continue to pursue a life in the public service. Trying to be impartial as not everyone is like those people. There are those that selflessly help others regardless of race, language or religion.

At times I felt that I am too emotional to be in the public service as I think of things through a more emotional channel than the rational ones. There are recent event although short, they did play a significant part in my growing up process. From all these I realised that I am not capable enough to perform important task or to be a decision maker. Maybe after I had overcome all these emotional hurdle then I will consider taking on such task.

PS. Regardless how much I still like you, I just want you to be happy. I respect your decision.

Empty Shell

Just the other day I was reading this article on the empty shell company. Defintion, it is basically a company that don't have an office, product, employees and such. These companies only have certain amount of funds as capital. The company then go public and aim to raise a certain amount of money. Then with the amount of funds gathered, the company will go on to acquire other company. Its like a business set up to acquire other business with the use of limited funds. Interesting way to start a business especially when you are out of ideas.

PS* Kids do not try this at home, apparently this only work in certain countries.