Unbelievable I tell you. Barack Obama blows his nose and wins applause from the crowd in Texas. Sounds crazy? Watch.

As John Kass writes here, “When a presidential candidate is applauded for nose-blowing, what’s left to discuss?”

Move aside, Clinton.

“That kind of spontaneous affection Chairman Mao only dreamed of.”

Haha. OMG dem funny la.

I nearly fainted today when I read this:

I feel angry and cheated. (I was rejected, you see) But who cares now anyway. Not me. Stupid MCA propaganda. Why not make the comparison between the number of bumiputera students getting the scholarship as opposed to the number of non-bumiputeras? It is almost certain that a disparity in equality would surface.

Then, would MCA really have worked? I doubt so.

I was tagged TWICE. (Stefanie Lip and Kevin Chan tagged me.) =(

1. What was your dream during your childhood?
To be the Prime Minister of Malaysia. (Really? Maybe it was something like that. Too bad I’m Chinese.) Then it changed to pilot, to doctor, to who knows what…

2. Do you like rainy days or sunny days? Why?
Sunny. I don’t like it to rain when I want to go out for a jog. =)

3. Which colour do you like better? Black or White?
White. White Macbooks are really cool. Hey but so are Black Macbooks. Black then. Whatever la

4. Who would you marry?
A girl with beautiful character who is patient enough to deal with my stubbornness and bad attitudes.

5. Where do you want to go most? Why?
1) Stanford University to study. Stanford rocks la.
2) Around the world. The world is beautiful. I want to see it.

6. Which part of yourself do you love the most?
I love all just the same.

7. When you encounter a sad moment, what do you do?
If it affects others: Keep silent and reflect about life. Encourage the person if possible. Realise that life is so much more than striving.
If it affects me: Pray. Reflect silently. Pour out on others.

8. What are you afraid of losing the most?
My loved ones. Family and friends. The trust and faith of people.

9. If you met someone you love, would you confess to him/her? Or just keep it secret, observing?
Yeah I certainly would. But I’ll wait for a good time and not rush it.

10. List out 3 good points of the one who tagged you.
Stefanie Lip: Well-organized, reliable and trustworthy.
(Stefanie Lip was Secretary of DJ Prefect Board during my year. She did an awesome job. Her document formats are still being used by the prefects in DJ today.)

Kevin Chan: Great public speaker, creative, helpful
(Kevin Chan was DJ Assistant Head Prefect and did a marvelous job. His support was instrumental in the Board.)

11. What are the requirements that you wish for your other half?
Accepts and loves me for being me, not because of what I can be.

12. Up to now, what is the moment you regret most?
Can’t think of any, frankly. No regrets. Sorry to disappoint.

13. Which type of person do you hate most?
An arrogant person.

14. What is your ambition?
To start a company and grow it into a global magnitude.

15. Would you rather be someone else at this very moment?
No. I love the way I am.

16. If you can have 2 dreams to come true, what would it be?
1) Long term: I am able to establish a company that lasts beyond my lifetime and thrives worldwide.
2) Short term: Study at Stanford University.

17. What do you think is most important in your life?
Keeping the faith and the Word.

18. Who’s your favourite cartoon character?
Doraemon. (I read Doraemon’s comics voraciously while younger)
Frankly, I don’t fancy any cartoons.

19. What will you do if the world ends tomorrow?
Save souls for Christ at the last minute.

20. The most worthwhile decision you’ve ever made in your life so far?
Failing PTS was a not a decision but it had I passed and skipped a Standard Five, many many wonderful things would not have happened.
Failing to get government scholarships but getting an ASEAN Scholarship to Singapore was also not a decision but it was really worth it.
Looks like I was guided all along. I didn’t make the decisions. God did.

I tag… YOU READERS. You cannot escape!!!

I am writing this in response to Seah Chiang Nee’s “Insight Down South” column published in The Star last Saturday, 23 February 2008 titled “Goodbye and Thank You.”

We Malaysians like to compare our government to that of Singapore’s, which we all think is much better in governing and producing results (which unfortunately is undeniably true). Recently Malaysia’s PM Abdullah was even prompted to say that “They are grapes… and we are (an) apple. How can you compare grapes with an apple? We can’t,” when he told top civil servants not to compare Singapore’s economy with that of Malaysia’s. Certainly such a remark reflects the awareness of many that despite being such a small country, Singapore is doing so much better than the country which dumped it out in 1965.

This would lead some to think that if Malaysia’s government and political system were to be improved significantly to the standards set by Singapore, Malaysians would be a contented lot. After all, with such an efficient and clean government, what is there to complain about? Malaysians would no longer want to look elsewhere to migrate and instead would love to stay here and bask in the glory of this country, right? If everything were to be based on meritocracy, everyone would be happy and contented. No more racial influence in decisions. Then Malaysians would love this country even more. Leaving the country for “greener pastures” would be the last thing on their mind.

Really?

Then how come Singapore is facing an emigration rate which is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis? How come the grandson of Lee Kuan Yew, who is the elder son of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and is studying in the United States, has signaled that he might not return to the ‘little red dot’ south of Malaysia? How come the children of many Singapore Cabinet ministers have decided to stay in UK or US instead of returning to Singapore? As Seah writes, “Years of strong economic growth have failed to stem Singapore’s skilled youths from leaving for a better life abroad, with the number topping 1000 a year.”

Of course, there are reasons given for leaving Singapore. Some of them are high living costs, enhanced career prospects overseas, preference for a more relaxed lifestyle, and even uncertainty about Singapore’s future. Some blame it on Singapore’s authoritarian leadership that punishes citizens who are critical of the government, thus preventing them from speaking out freely. Others feel that foreigners are taking away their jobs and perks, causing the local society to be an amalgamation of foreigners and Singaporeans, with the proportion of the former steadily increasing. Such insecurities lead Singaporeans to look abroad. I have been there in Singapore myself. These sentiments are real and true. (I was a foreigner there as well, haha)

So, as much as I would want Malaysia to raise its standards of governance and thrive economically to the degree of Singapore’s success, I have seen for myself how Singaporeans themselves are leaving or are considering leaving despite living in a country which has become the envy of not just Malaysia but of many nations.

We Malaysians like to complain and complain about many things around us, which is good because it means that we have not lost hope in this country and would like to see things happen the way we think is best. I will definitely continue to grouse and gripe about the inefficiencies that plague this nation.

But look at what is happening now. Even Singapore is facing emigration problems (brain-drain, although it is gaining more net brain power than what they are losing). Malaysia, with all its flaws, is also facing emigration (to a larger degree i suppose).

To put it loosely in Manglish: ‘Good also leave, not good also leave.’

The irony.

I don’t know why I did this, or what made me do this in the first place, but I recently set up a website seeking donations/sponsors/loans for a Stanford education in the event that I am accepted.

I have not been accepted yet, and Stanford has said that it has received a record number of applications this year. Tough competition. More here.

“We have received nearly 25,000 applications for admission (the largest in Stanford’s history), which means that we will be able to offer admission to just 10% of those students who have applied.”

Stanford has also recently announced “the largest increase in its history for its financial aid program for undergraduates” but this need-blind policy only applies to US Citizens and Permanent Residents. This, unfortunately, is not very good news for me, a potential international student. But anyway I did not apply for Stanford’s financial aid since it would affect my admission chances as Stanford is not need-blind for internationals. (It means that they see my financial needs and would take that into consideration when making the admission decision. ‘If you can’t pay, I will admit someone else who can pay.’)

I am not being overconfident that I would be accepted, nor am I going to ignore admission offers from other universities should I be accepted as well. But somehow I felt very motivated to establish this website since getting the inspiration for it a week ago. It would also not be wrong to say that I felt rather led to set up this website.

So, without further ado, the website is as follows: Ern Sheong’s Stanford Campaign. Do give me some feedback by commenting here.

Yes I know this is crazy. Yes go ahead and laugh at such a notion. I’m laughing too. But wonders can happen. You guys who read my blog are my closest friends so I don’t mind sharing this with you.

Worse comes to worse, I am not accepted into Stanford and I delete the website. Or I am accepted and take up another admission offer with financial aid. Or I am accepted but suddenly God blesses my family with a large financial gain and I delete the website. Period.

Constructive feedback is much appreciated. =)

Quoted from chron.com:

The crowd at the Toyota Center event was the largest Obama has drawn in Texas since his campaign last year hosted about 20,000 people on the shores of Lake Lady Bird in Austin. He held another rally in November in Austin with about 3,000 in attendance.

Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said 7,000 tickets were printed for the Toyota Center, which cost $35,000 to rent, and another 14,000 people signed up online. He said the Obama Web site had a waiting list of 10,000 people requesting tickets.

Many of those attending waited in line for hours until the doors opened, only to face another 2 1/2-hour wait for Obama to take the stage. Few appeared to mind. They took turns chanting one of the campaign slogans — “Yes, we can!” — and watched a video produced by Bob Dylan’s son on the arena’s large video displays.

“The wait was worth it,” said Joyce Smith, 54. “This is history-making, and I believe in him. I’m ready for some change.”

The above passage is an account of how Obama is changing the landscape of America with a big bang.

People BELIEVE in change, and while Clinton might play down the role of Obama’s words, she underestimates the power of strong, compelling words. Let’s face it. She is fighting a losing battle. Obama’s words lift and give people new hope that their new President (Obama) can deliver at last. Obama rallies and encourages people to stand up for the cause that he has set for America. It is not about Clinton saying that she can work very hard to deliver for America, but rather it is about empowering the people of America to believe that they can achieve greater heights through Obama’s leadership, allowing them to take action and be accountable for them.

Obama recently won the Hawaii primary nomination contest, having won the Wisconsin primary hours earlier. This means that Obama has trumped Clinton in the primaries for ten times in a row now. Clinton has not won a single primary since Super Tuesday, although she is not too far off from Obama by the delegate count because she won delegate-rich states such as New York and California on Super Tuesday.

But to overcome the large hurdle in front of her, Clinton has to first prevent the BOMB from exploding.

The Big Obama Momentum Bodoh. (The Big Obama Momentum, Stupid)

Can she do it? My bet is that she can’t. The BOMB is set to detonate soon. Muahaha

“I am the BOMB.”

1) PART-TIME JOB: Tuesday, 19 February 2008, 11.00 am; Banana Leaf, Centerpoint

Some kind of part-time job interview to write for a new magazine called LED which will launch its inaugural issue in March. It is a bi-monthly lifestyle and living magazine. I will be given information about businesses such as boutiques and restaurants and I will have to write advertorial-like articles for the magazine. Marcus Chang introduced me to this job and he is also doing designs for the magazine. Looks like I got this job, albeit in a probation period first. I will keep my current sales job and write articles during my free time. =)

2) PRINCETON PHONE INTERVIEW: Tuesday, 19 February 2008, 9.00 pm, Starbucks Cafe, The Mall

Received a phone call from Professor Xu in Singapore who called to conduct a phone interview on behalf of Princeton. The interview lasted 10 minutes plus and it was mainly about general stuff such as my family background, involvement in sports and music, answering my questions about Princeton, etc. An easy interview, to say the least. Reinforced my perception of Princeton as a place with much emphasis on education quality but less on entrepreneurship and start-ups. Go Stanford!

3) VOLUNTEERING FOR WORLD CONGRESS OF IT: Wednesday, 20 February 2008, 10.45am, Menara Millenium

Basically there will be this World Congress of IT 2008 in Malaysia sometime this May, and 2500 delegates from all over the world, including some big shots like Bill Gates and many CEOs of the largest tech conglomerates, are coming to Malaysia. To run the event, massive volunteer manpower is needed and thus I volunteered myself for the event. I volunteered due to my interest in high-tech companies and my fascinating with them. Since signing up as a delegate for the Congress would cost me RM3000 plus, I figured that volunteering would be the next best thing. The interview went well, and I was rather fascinated that there was an office suite of many people dedicated solely to the WCIT event. So professionally and painstakingly planned. I stand to be paid RM 80 per day throughout the event, but nevertheless the experience and networking would be priceless.

Customer: One question, this internet package need to pay upfront right?

Me: Yes that is correct, it is packaged that way but you can pay monthly with credit card easy payment scheme.

Customer: New company always close down one what. What if three months down the road your company close down then how?

Me: We might be new and 8 months in the market, but we are actually doing quite well in sales and we are linked to a larger parent company.

Customer: What company is that?

Me: Mobif Berhad based in Penang .

Customer:  Established company also can close down what. Recently got this satellite TV company shut down… Then what happens then? Where will my money go?

Me: Sir, everything has a risk one. This is business.

Customer: No la dun wan to buy la scared later your company close down.

Me: =.=“ (sweat)

Some people ah I tell you… if you think like that, don’t need to buy anything la mister…

I find that many times I do not bring the things that bother me to the Lord in prayer. I always forget that prayer is the way to connect to God, instantly and intimately.

Today, I sang this song “What a Friend We Have In Jesus” in church and I just teared as I was touched by God’s presence. I had always been carrying my burden “like a little boy carrying a big sack” (quoted from the prophecy spoken to me) and I had always forgot to let God carry the burden for me (through prayer) so that I can travel light and run faster.

Today, I let go of the baggage of fear, disappointment, anxiety/worry and all the things that hinder me:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1, NASB)

How? Make Jesus your friend and take it to the Lord in prayer (lyrics shown below):

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he’ll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

(Words: Joseph Scriven, 1855. Music: Charles Converse, 1868.)

I was in my mum’s car on the way to work in KL today when we encountered massive jams in many of the in-roads to the heart of KL, namely to Dataran Merdeka and the Parliament. Roads were shut and the police were everywhere cordoning the roads, causing me to be late for work.

Jam near Dataran Merdeka

Riot police on standby

Hindraf supporters near Dataran Merdeka making some noise

The view from the LRT on the way to my workplace near the PWTC Station

Well that’s all that I have to post here. Malaysia is rather strict about protests, for better or for worse. Where is the freedom of speech? But would that be good for Malaysia after all?

Posting here to share with others who were deferred in the Restrictive Early Action round what I wrote in the Optional Update Form. Deadline is March 1st guys, and it is not a postmark date!!! Hurry up!

Please list and elaborate upon any major awards or honors for academic or nonacademic achievement you have received since submitting your application.

I recently received the College Values Special Award in National Junior College and included it in the additional information within the Common Application form but did not get the opportunity to elaborate further. Hence I am attaching with this Optional Update Form a write-up detailing the story that led to this award. (Sorry I will not publish this essay here, not yet)

Please indicate any new areas of interest. What new activities (in or outside of school), jobs or hobbies have you been involved in, and what have you learned from your participation?

After returning from Singapore to Malaysia, I took up a sales job to sell a new wireless broadband based on ‘iBurst’ technology which was developed by ArrayComm of the Silicon Valley (iZZi Wireless Broadband). Selling it to customers was a grueling job given the fact that there is an existing established competitor (the national telecommunications company) providing wired broadband nationwide. Furthermore, there were limitations to iZZi’s wireless broadband coverage, as well as a rather burdensome upfront payment upon registration. There were also other mobile network providers offering HSDPA or 3.5G speeds for a much wider coverage, albeit at inferior speeds in many regions. From this job experience I’ve learnt that no matter how good a product or service is, it will have its flaws and drawbacks. No product can please everyone or make everybody happy, especially at the early stages of development. Sales is about highlighting the strengths of the product and maintaining a standard of integrity coupled with a steadfast belief in the product. I learnt to let go of customers whom I cannot please while pursuing other potential ones. I believe that such a mentality is essential in the establishment of a start-up, where version 1.0 may not and will not be perfect. My experience can be summed up in one sentence: Get it going while it is still coming in, and build momentum from there.

Are there unusual circumstances or is there other pertinent information that you think we should be aware of in evaluating your application for admission?

This is definitely not pertinent but I think the Admissions Officers should be aware of this: Stanford is my FIRST CHOICE and I want to spend my next four years there!!! (I just had to say this even if it is not supposed to help at all)

Stanford. The best place for nurturing entrepreneurial innovation.

Today, he went to The Mall near PWTC to set up the new booth and be immersed in the new booth location. He then receives a call at about ten something from a customer who asks him to come to his office at Menara Maxis Level 29 to discuss about wireless broadband packages. This customer was one of those whose hands reached out for one of the 500 flyers distributed in two hours on the previous day in front of Wisma Central.

So, this salesman heads off to KLCC via the Masjid Jamek intersection from PWTC at 2.00 pm and arrives to find himself in a very classy, majestic building called Menara Maxis standing right next to the Petronas Twin Towers. He surrenders his IC for a moment and obtains a Visitor’s Pass that allows him to go only to Level 29 of that building. He goes up to the higher floors of the building for the first time and wonders how a normal salesman like him could enter such a beautiful office building meant for higher corporate echelons. He goes into the office in Level 29 and was greeted by the receptionist who ushers him to a corner with comfy seats overseeing the beautiful KL skyline (it is such a nice from up there). He looks outside the large window pane and admires the beauty of the KL landscape, wondering again what a part-time salesman is doing in such a beautiful office high up in the sky.

The secretary of the customer who wanted to see the salesman appears and brings him to the office located a floor below (Level 28). He meets the customer in a private cubicle (nice office) and then discusses the signal strength in the customer’s home area. The salesman tries his best to persuade the customer to buy instantly but the customer insists on a signal test in his own home first. The customer asks to conduct this test during the weekend and the salesman agrees to pay him a visit. So the salesman, not being able to persuade the customer to purchase on the spot, packs up and readies himself to leave. But as he walks out, the customer calls out and asks the salesman to wait for a while. After speaking to his secretary and confirming that the afternoon meeting was nothing important, the customer changes his plans and fetches this salesman to his home located nearby, in his very nice and comfortable monster-sized Ssangyong four-wheel drive (somehow this customer was quite free and can skip meetings).

His condo was a luxurious one, and his home was very cosy. But alas, albeit a strong signal strength, the download speed was less than satisfactory, even with the antenna attached. The salesman was aware that the download speeds these few days in KL were lower than usual due to some reason but all the customer wants to see is performance. So he hesitated in buying but he might just call the salesman during the weekend, since after all despite having lower download speed than usual it was better than his existing wireless broadband services (even if it was by a small margin). The salesman also told him that if he bought the more expensive package he was bound to get a better signal reception and hence better download speeds. The customer then fetches the salesman back to his office at KLCC, small-talking along the way.

Anyway, the salesman headed back to The Mall after that and got himself bored at the booth again. Doing outdoor sales can really be quite fun rather than being trapped in some stagnant place. Today, that salesman visited some interesting places which would not be accessible to a man in the street, he thinks.

Update at 4.30 pm, 16th February: The customer visits the salesman at The Mall near PWTC and buys the iZZiYOU package. Great day for the salesman.

This is the latest in the series of “Live To Worship” CD series featuring 2 CDs packed with 30 tracks of today’s greatest praise and worship songs! It includes Indiscribable (Cathy Burton), Mighty to Save (Hillsong), Miracle Maker (Delirious?), Hosanna (Hillsong United) and Saviour King (Hillsong). Get it today! (I got mine from Canaanland, 8th floor, Menara TA)

Loving it!

Stood in front of Wisma Central near KLCC today from 12.30 pm to 2.45 pm and gave out approximately 500 flyers to office workers who visited the building for lunch. The place was so smoky that i literally choked in front of the building as many people entered and left the place smoking cigarettes at the same time. Thankfully my supervisor placed me there for only two hours before telling me to get out of there. My throat dried up after saying “wireless broadband” for what must have been more than three hundred times. Some serious pollution happening there, seriously.

But for all my experience of giving out flyers in my previous working location @ Giant Kelana Jaya, nothing was like today. My hands could not give out the flyers fast enough. I had to devise some speedy mechanism to dish out flyers like flying saucers. Lol. People were generally nice, with the occasional thank yous and thanks a lots. And also unlike the previous location, where people take flyers and forget about you, I received about 5-6 enquiry calls today after giving out 500 flyers in two hours. One guy even asked me to go to his office in Brickfields near KL Sentral to test the internet connection out. (sadly, the download speed in his office cubicle was less than satisfactory, so he hesitated in buying but promised to contact me again if he wanted it) All in a day’s work! (more like a few hour’s work!)

Tomorrow I will begin work again at my new posting, ‘The Mall’ near the Putra World Trade Center. I will be at the iZZi Wireless Broadband booth opposite the McDonalds outlet. (I will be here for the next two weeks only. Not so sure about where I would go after that.) Come and drop by if you are free! And if you are looking for a part-time job (minimum 3 months commitment) get in touch with me and go see my boss! This job may require some hard work, but one can pick up some lessons along the way. =)