Dear readers,
I've just created a facebook page for my blog. This will take my blogging experience and your reading experience to a whole new level. Through facebook, i'll be able to share market updates and discuss on the current economics and finance issues. Be the first to like and follow my page. Recommend to your friends too :)
Hope to share more with you all on the market conditions. It has been a wild ride these few weeks. See you in social media!! ;)
Click like on the right hand side or below to follow my page. Thank you for your support!
Saturday 31 August 2013
Scholarships for Accredited Schools in Rhode Island
Scholarships for Accredited Schools in Rhode Island
Scholarships for accredited schools, and accredited degree programs in Rhode Island certainly exist. In fact, traditional Rhode Island scholarship sponsors require that scholarship recipients must attend or anticipate on attending an accredited school, college, or university in Rhode Island. Another qualification by some scholarship sponsors is that students seeking Rhode Island scholarships should know something about the history of Rhode Island. As a general rule of thumb, the greater the value the Rhode Island scholarship then more is expected of the Rhode Island scholarship recipient.
Scholarship Quiz Questions for Rhode Island Scholarships destined for accredited Rhode Island Schools
The obvious question for persons seeking scholarships, grants, and financial-aid to attend one of the many accredited schools in the state of Rhode Island is: What must I know to qualify for a scholarship, grant, or financial-aid?
Persons seeking scholarships for the purposes of attending an accredited school or college in Rhode Island should know that many scholarship sponsors have different requirements, and altogether different scholarship applications. However, if a scholarship applicant is seeking scholarships, grants, or financial-aid sponsored by National Academy of American Scholars then the scholarship applicant should know at least the basic historical and founding facts surrounding Rhode Island.
For example, Rhode Island, officially the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States. Rhode Island is the smallest in area, the eighth least populous, but the second most densely populated of the 50 US states behind New Jersey. Rhode Island is bordered by Connecticut to the west and Massachusetts to the north and east, and it shares a water boundary with New York's Long Island to the southwest.
Why are scholarships for accredited schools in Rhode Island needed?
Rhode Island scholarships are needed for accredited schools and universities in Rhode Island because the Rhode Island Department of Education is focused on education, and students should be rewarded for attending an accredited vs. a non-accredited school. By sponsoring scholarships, and grants for students attending accredited schools in Rhode Island, we support the belief that every student matters. Also, a high-proportion of Rhode Island moms, Rhode Island , mothers, Rhode Island women, and high-school graduates, as well as a large proportion of Rhode Island working adults pursue some form of higher education.
We sponsor Rhode Island scholarships for Rhode Island moms, women, working adults, and students. Nearly all of these moms, women, working adults, and students rely upon accredited Rhode Island scholarships, grants, and financial-aid. Rhode Island colleges and universities have experienced consistent year-over-year growth in enrollment, as well as a notorious habit of raising tuition each year. Unlike some states with lower educational standards, and a high proportion of students who drop out of schools, Rhode Island is a state with stringent educational standards, and high expectations. Also, Rhode Island has many quality school districts. Students whom plan on attending any of the quality universities in Rhode Island like Rhode Island University, or Rhode Island State University, will need scholarships to attend such accredited schools or programs.
One of the best possible resources for moms, women, single moms, and adults seeking scholarships, grants, and financial-aid for accredited colleges or accredited universities is the website of National Academy of American Scholarships. We encourage adult students, moms, women, and single mothers to explore these financial-aid options for scholarships, as well other Rhode Island scholarships that are not listed but may be accessed by visiting our Rhode Island Scholarships pages:
For a detailed continuation of this article, and numerous sources of renewable High-paying Rhode Island scholarships, official State of Rhode Island Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and various other official Rhode Island Grant programs, and private sources of Rhode Island scholarships, grants, and financial-aid, please visit our Rhode Island Scholarships page:
SKSS Temple 25th Anniversary Procession Forest Gate
The procession started at Wansted flats and went past my home to the Temple in Shaftbury Road, E7. I was just back from a run so I dashed inside to get a camera.
It was very organised but lively and colourful with marching bands, drummers, singing and dancing. It took about 10 minutes for everyone to pass by.
A very cheerful and happy occasion. I was given a red scarf to wear (obviously my favourite colour) and marchers were giving children free sweets and lollypops. Click on picture to enlarge.
UNISON LGPS Seminar "Governance, Economics and Performance"
There are still places available (you have to be UNISON LGPS member and I assume apply to your branch/region/scheme for any travel/accommodation costs)National Seminar: Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Governance, Economics and Performance
Monday 30th September 2013 - 10.30am to 3.30pm
UNISON Centre – 130 Euston Road, London
The union’s Capital Stewardship Programme is holding a seminar for all regions and branches on the governance and economics of the LGPS. There are major reforms being proposed by the government for the management and organisation of the LGPS funds in England and Wales.
These can be found here on the UNISON web site http://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/local-government/key-issues/pension-power/resources/
The union has began a major organising campaign to discuss how best regions and branches can respond to these reforms.
Subjects for presentation include
- Public Services Pension Act and the LGPS
- How are the LGPS funds currently governed and UNISON proposals for change
- UNISON plan to meet the organising challenge of governance reform
- Economic performance of the LGPS funds
- Costs, structure and mergers – a panel debate – external speakers offer their views
- Responsible investment – in and outside the LGPS – a panel discussion
Email for registration form m.roper@unison.co.uk
Best wishes
Colin Meech, National Officer, Capital Stewardship Programme
Did You Miss This?
Yes, my fellow Ipoh-mali, Patrick Teoh, is back on the airwaves. Nothing controversial this time ... but he did touch on Rose Chan lol. Patrick spun songs for two hours which were popular when we were celebrating our Merdeka for the first time. Though I am not a big fan of the 50s, it was fun listening to songs my parents loved. I believe he will be spinning songs from 50s-80s ....
p/s one FB fan wrote that its called Pick of the Pops because Patrick is picking the songs ... geddit.
p/s one FB fan wrote that its called Pick of the Pops because Patrick is picking the songs ... geddit.
Friday 30 August 2013
Happy 96th Birthday Denis Healey
This famous picture of Denis is entitled by the BBC as "Denis Healey in a defiant mood".
Hat tip Comrade Rayner.
During the second world war he was the British Landing officer for the amphibious assault at Anzio.
Thursday 29 August 2013
Facebook Makes Me Mad Sometimes (Updated)
Posted this back in 2011. Well, its been nearly 2 years since my Facebook rants ... and plenty of changes have passed then ... I think the users have more than tripled or more ... and my FB friends have surged to just over 100, still manageable ... but the inherent silliness still prevails.
I can appreciate the wonders of Facebooking, to keep in touch and to share, in a manner that is more intimate and profound than say just by emails.
After sitting at a computer typing all day, the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit in front of another computer so that I can read the fascinating facts and fancies on "25 Random Things About Me" from 3 of my friends.
I also don't feel the need to constantly update an entire network of friends about the daily minutiae of my life. My life is to be lived, not to be updated. And the mf box "What's on your mind" ... I mean if I tell you what is really on mind mind, I would have no friends left??!! I mean, how to say "I have been thinking of screwing with the cleaning lady ten minutes ago"??!!
(Coffee Bean sure did not have locals at management level when they issue these cups in Malaysia and Singapore ... does not quite have the same meaning)
Don't just simply whack without offering solutions, I always say. Well, I hope Facebook will make all users to flag all their comments to 5 categories: if you are making a senseless comment that only your wildest fan or stalker will enjoy hearing, flag that as "1"; if its about something that is mildly important or things you found funny from some obscure site, then click "2"; if its and opinion that some may enjoy, then click "3"; if its a major development in your personal life or career, click "4"; if its absolutely must be viewed by all your friends, then click "5". Your friends , like me, who have a low tolerance of everything and anything, will possibly allow comments and updates that are "4" or "5" to filter to my account.
I won't be wasting time 'poking' cyber friends. Pick up the phone/mobile and call to ask them out for lunch or dinner, poke here poke there for fucks!!??
People make friends like they are collecting sand, ... "today I made another 4 friends", ... well, fuck me, I did not make four new friends the whole of last month in real life. It waters down the concept of who is a friend, and what a friend is to you. That definition is getting shallower by the day with the advent of the internet.
I guess my plea to my friends is to try and make Facebook work for us, to bring us closer together, not to agitate and piss the shit out of others, and waste our time and resources over inane stuff. Use Facebook as a tool, if you let Facebook take over your life, then you are the tool. Enjoy and maintain relations with family, friends and relatives ... in person as much as you can.
THIS IS WHAT I REALLY WANT ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE
This Is Called Wit - AbFab
The big difference between American humour and British humour, skilfully exemplified here, dry, sardonic, cutting, sarcastic, word play to the max ... from the ever brilliant John Cleese.
ALERTS TO THREATS IN 2013 EUROPE
From JOHN CLEESE
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Syria and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels ..
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the last final escalation level.
Regards,
John Cleese ,
British writer, actor and tall person
And as a final thought - Greece is collapsing, the Iranians are getting aggressive, and Rome is in disarray. Welcome back to 430 BC.
ALERTS TO THREATS IN 2013 EUROPE
From JOHN CLEESE
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Syria and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels ..
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the last final escalation level.
Regards,
John Cleese ,
British writer, actor and tall person
And as a final thought - Greece is collapsing, the Iranians are getting aggressive, and Rome is in disarray. Welcome back to 430 BC.
NHS999: Hurry, Hurry, Hurry to book your seats on the London Unison Express
Help NHS999!
Poster
Sign up to the Facebook event
Add a twibbon or badge to your facebook page or twitter profile
Sign the e-petition
Tweet#NHS999Sign up to the Facebook event
Add a twibbon or badge to your facebook page or twitter profile
Sign the e-petition
Learning the Use of Personal Loan Calculator for Determining EMI
A personal loan can be availed by any nationalized bank offering such personal loan. A personal loan is offered specifically offered to the salaried people of the state and central government organizations and professional people like doctors, chartered accountants etc. The loan gets approved on the basis of monthly income of the applicants. The eligibility criteria for the loan vary according to banks. Even though this loan does not ask for any collateral security but the minimum age of the applicant should be 21 years. In case the applicant is a salaried employee, he should be in the profession continuously for 2 years. The calculations for the loan again become easy as this loan also provides a personal loan calculatorwhich is available on the internet. The calculator does all the calculations and the applicant thus repays his monthly installments.
The personal loan calculator is featured on every banks official websites to make calculations of equated monthly installments easier. For calculating the EMI following inputs are required to be inserted in the calculator – loan amount availed rate of interest and the term of loan. This facility helps the applicant in deciding which loan to opt for according to his or her financial conditions.
Summary: To calculate impeccable EMI the applicant should use personal loan calculator.
Because Northamptonshire kids deserve better...
"Northamptonshire County Council has had it's third successive "inadequate" grading published. Whilst it's been badged as inadequate, five children have died in County Council care and despite this no serious case review has been published. The last two of the children who died did so during the second "inadequate" Ofsted inspection.
Here is the only news story that has been published about the deaths. Published in March there has been no update on this.
Council staff tell me that they are concerned about the situation with many qualified staff leaving and being replaced with unqualified staff and agency staff.
The Chief Executive of Northamptonshire County Council, Paul Blantern wrote to the children's social care staff on Friday stating:
"...Ofsted have commented positively in their report on many aspects of the work that we are doing:
· We are better at engaging and listening to the voice of the child
· We have strong leadership, both politically and corporately
· There is a vigorous recruitment plan in place, with a commitment to filling vacancies
· Our children’s homes are either good or excellent
· Our decisions on whether or not a child should be in care is appropriate
So while we know we are inadequate – and indeed, that was the rating we were expecting - I believe we now have everything in place to start making real improvements.
This is against a background of ongoing challenges in terms of demand on the service. Since the release of the Child Protection inspection report we have had a significant increase in the number of children that we need to provide a service to.
Since March, there has been a 30% increase in referrals to children’s social care, the number of children on child protection plans has increased by 17% and the number of looked after children has increased steadily. The number of children identified as ‘in need’ has increased from 4500 to 5300 – an almost 20% increase."
Given the concerns about under-staffing and an over-zealousness to snatch something positive from the from the third inadequate rating in a row it really makes you question whether the reality of the task at hand has hit home.
Heather Smith, Deputy Leader of the County Council, emphatically assures us that the issue had never been about money. The Liberal Democrat leader urges for extra funds out of the budgets from other Council Services to tackle the situation.
Closer scrutiny of the new Children's Social Care Structure shows a high proportion of Senior Practitioner vacancies and those which are vacant occupied by a high proportion of agency staff (some of whom earn over £36 per hour) and some teams having proportions of newly qualified social workers of over 60%.
During budget negotiation, terms and conditions for Northamptonshire County Council staff were altered, making conditions of service in the authority some of the worst in the Country. Whereas every other authority has been recruiting on nationally negotiated pay, terms and conditions, Northamptonshire County Council has been recruiting with the equivalent of one hand tied behind their back with a set of working conditions that no other authority have.
Prospective staff will be right to view offers of employment suspiciously. Other directives have been issued to staff which state that there will be times when they will not be able to complete activity as required by professional standards in their contracted time and this will have to be undertaken outside their contracted hours. Essentially working for free. Is this really the way to get the best people to pull the service out of this hole?
Thirteen years ago in the same authority a child went missing in Council care (Sarah Benford) and there was nationwide publicity about this.
Now that five children have died and it seems that no one wants to know. I've been in contact with three different press representatives over the course of today and it does seem that those five children are dead and forgotten. With the clamour for no increases in Council Tax it really does seem that the children simply don't matter. Is this because we don't care any more about this? Or is it that whilst they remain faceless and nameless, it's OK not to care. Whilst the serious case reviews are not published ... that's the way it'll stay.
Over the weekend I suggested that people who did care and wanted to show that they care could perhaps make a statement ... perhaps through twitter using the hashtag
Wednesday 28 August 2013
Lead A Purposeful Life
No matter your background, rich or poor .... the moment you hear Nick shares his life and his message, you will have tears because he connects with us on so many levels.
Do You Know Crystal Lee
If you read Chinese papers you may know her already. Crystal Lee, a lovely Malaysian girl, talented beyond her years, has been making waves in singing competitions and motion pictures. As good as her singing is, her talent in acting is at a much higher level.
She won already in the local Golden Awards and recently garnered Best Actress for her significant yet highly watchable role in Unbeatable at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
She won already in the local Golden Awards and recently garnered Best Actress for her significant yet highly watchable role in Unbeatable at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Rochdale Future Direction Striking Workers March and Rally
UNISON Press release "More than 100 workers have begun five days of strike action in order to send their employer Future Directions a clear message that the fight against the substantial cuts to their pay and terms and conditions has not gone away.
The strike began at 8am on Sunday 25 August 2013 and follows 14 days of strike action already taken in recent months.
Future Directions CIC which is a company owned by Calderstones NHS Trust, bid for the contract to provide supportive living services from Rochdale Council, knowing that to make the contract viable they would need to make financial cuts as soon as they were awarded the contract. Future Directions is looking to expand its business and bid for more contracts at the expense of the workers who continue to deliver care to vulnerable adults, taking advantage of the fact that these workers care about the work they do and the people they work with.
A march and rally has been organised for Thursday, 29 August 2013 at 12 noon on 'the Butts' in Rochdale town centre in support of the strikers and their campaign to continue the fight against imposed cuts on their pay, terms and conditions. Many workers are losing more than £500 per month and having to use savings to subsidise their wages to make ends meet.
UNISON is asking branches to help support the strike action by giving donations to the hardship fund and help these workers to continue with their fight for a fair deal for Future Directions staff in Rochdale. For any messages of support or donations please contact the Rochdale UNISON Local Government Branch, 46 Richard Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL11 1DU, email address: Unison@Rochdale.Gov.UK telephone number: 01706 925952, branch secretary: Helen Harrison.
UNISON is continuing to call on Future Directions CIC to enter into meaningful negotiations with a view to resolving this ongoing dispute".
Hat tip picture UNISONActive
Try Dissing Feng Shui Market Predictions Again!!!
Well, you can argue and debate, but man ... the CLSA feng shui predictor has more rights than wrongs ... and eerily correct so far this year. Hope the chart continues to be correct, which means a swift rebound.
Tuesday 27 August 2013
S&M Show Podcast Wednesday
TOPIC: What If I Knew At 20, What I Know Now
Blurb: Advice for young professionals thinking of playing shares. Pointers from the presenters' years of experience in losses, mis-steps, dos and don'ts .... with Salvatore Dali, Khoo Hsu Chuang, Julian Lim and David Chew.
http://www.bfm.my/snm-show.html
Song pick : A brilliant, very uplifting song by The Fifth Dimension .... Up, Up & Away.
On justifying military intervention in Syria
Sense about a very sensitive issue from Norman Geras at normblog. "The signs are now clear that Washington and other Western powers, including Britain, are considering military action against Syria on account of the regime's apparent use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. Would such action be justified? In the debate about this at least three types of issue are centrally involved: (1) whether there is a basis in international law for military intervention; (2) whether it is likely to do any good; and (3) whether it might be merited in any case on retributive grounds.
(1) My own view on whether there is a basis in international law for humanitarian intervention in situations of this kind is that there is. As I have already stated this view at some length, I will be brief on the present occasion. There is not only a right, there is a duty, of humanitarian intervention when a government is committing mass atrocities against a civilian population. This can be established by reference both to customary international law and to the doctrine of A Responsibility to Protect, underwritten by the UN. The question, in particular, of whether a UN resolution mandating intervention is required can be quickly answered - no - for a reason given here: 'The U.N. Security Council is not the sole or unique custodian about what is legal and what is legitimate'. To put the same thing another way: a system of law that would countenance mass atrocity without any remedy simply because the interests of a veto-wielding power at the UN blocks remedial action is morally unacceptable, indeed intolerable; and so where the UN itself becomes delinquent by not upholding some of its own most fundamental principles, the UN not only may, it should, be defied by member states willing to give those principles more respect.
(2) However, integral to the doctrines of humanitarian intervention and R2P alike is the requirement that a prospective military intervention should have a reasonable chance of success. Intervention is not to be contemplated without regard to the likely consequences. In the present case, this is, in my view, the most difficult of the three issues to resolve. Would military intervention against Syria now do any good? That depends, of course, on what its objectives are: whether to influence the overall outcome of the civil war in that country; or merely to weaken the regime's military capabilities; or to deter it from further gas attacks on the Syrian people; etc. I don't propose to offer answers on each different conception of possible objectives. Indeed I don't know that I can. My earlier uncertainties over Syria have not dissipated. But, in any case, one should note that intervention may be justified even if the overall balance of consequences is not beneficial.
(3) For intervention may be undertaken on retributive grounds, to punish a regime that so blatantly flouts the norms of international humanitarian law and the principles of all civilized morality. It may be regarded as morally unthinkable that such a regime should be able to commit gross crimes against humanity with impunity - without being made to suffer any significant penalty. In this situation military intervention is undertaken as a reprisal (scroll to the end) for the crimes committed.
How one weighs the force of (3) against that of (2) in a case where there may be negative consequences I am unsure. But it is these considerations rather than UN authorization or lack of it that should take precedence.
(1) My own view on whether there is a basis in international law for humanitarian intervention in situations of this kind is that there is. As I have already stated this view at some length, I will be brief on the present occasion. There is not only a right, there is a duty, of humanitarian intervention when a government is committing mass atrocities against a civilian population. This can be established by reference both to customary international law and to the doctrine of A Responsibility to Protect, underwritten by the UN. The question, in particular, of whether a UN resolution mandating intervention is required can be quickly answered - no - for a reason given here: 'The U.N. Security Council is not the sole or unique custodian about what is legal and what is legitimate'. To put the same thing another way: a system of law that would countenance mass atrocity without any remedy simply because the interests of a veto-wielding power at the UN blocks remedial action is morally unacceptable, indeed intolerable; and so where the UN itself becomes delinquent by not upholding some of its own most fundamental principles, the UN not only may, it should, be defied by member states willing to give those principles more respect.
(2) However, integral to the doctrines of humanitarian intervention and R2P alike is the requirement that a prospective military intervention should have a reasonable chance of success. Intervention is not to be contemplated without regard to the likely consequences. In the present case, this is, in my view, the most difficult of the three issues to resolve. Would military intervention against Syria now do any good? That depends, of course, on what its objectives are: whether to influence the overall outcome of the civil war in that country; or merely to weaken the regime's military capabilities; or to deter it from further gas attacks on the Syrian people; etc. I don't propose to offer answers on each different conception of possible objectives. Indeed I don't know that I can. My earlier uncertainties over Syria have not dissipated. But, in any case, one should note that intervention may be justified even if the overall balance of consequences is not beneficial.
(3) For intervention may be undertaken on retributive grounds, to punish a regime that so blatantly flouts the norms of international humanitarian law and the principles of all civilized morality. It may be regarded as morally unthinkable that such a regime should be able to commit gross crimes against humanity with impunity - without being made to suffer any significant penalty. In this situation military intervention is undertaken as a reprisal (scroll to the end) for the crimes committed.
How one weighs the force of (3) against that of (2) in a case where there may be negative consequences I am unsure. But it is these considerations rather than UN authorization or lack of it that should take precedence.
Save Our Royal Mail
Recession Heroes Ep 2 - Trader with 17 years of trading experience still lose money
I missed episode 2 of recession heroes so i watched it online on catch up TV xinmsn. This episode is even more interesting and we can learn a few points from this female trader who shared her experience. I have also wrote about episode 1 here.
Here is the summary of episode 2:
This lady was retrenched during the 2007/08 financial crisis. She was a futures broker in a financial institution for 17 years. She worked mostly from 6pm in the evening to 5am in the morning trading futures market.
Why still lose money in trading?
After being retrenched, she thought she would be able to trade at home and have time to look after her son. But, within 10 months into trading at home, she lost quite a lot of money and stopped. Why did she lose money? She said trading in a financial institution allowed her to have tips and instant news to make decisions fast. Trading at home is different as most of the time the news is delayed. The second reason is trading an institution money's is different from trading your own money. The emotional and psychological aspect is completely different. Even with the experience and knowledge of trading, it is still highly possible to lose money.
My views on trading
After watching this episode, it confirms my view on trading. Firstly, I've heard that most people lose money in trading and it is said that only 5% of the traders in the world can make money consistently. I didn't believe it at first but now i believe in it. Secondly, i've heard that trading is a psychological and emotional game. If you can't control your emotions, you can't be successful in trading. This point is also confirmed.
So is it still possible to make money through trading? I think it is still possible to make money from trading but it will not be a lot of money. In actual fact, very few people are full time traders. Most trade on the sideline occasionally. You may not agree with me but i've traded before and know what it is like to lose money. It is really an emotional game. Want to make a lot of money through trading? Think again.
My views on investing
On the other hand, investing is different. Most people can make money through investing. The more knowledge and experience you have in investing, the more successful you can be. The longer time you have in the market, the higher the chance of having better returns. That is why i advocate investing more in my blog. The benefits of investing at a young age is great. You can read more on how to invest here and here.
Knowing the difference between investing and trading is important. Know which one you're more suitable for and learn as much as you can.
The story ends with this lady becoming a housewife and does some baking at home. She sells some of the cakes and pastry she bakes at home to friends and relatives. She has more time for her family and her son especially. As family income reduced greatly, she had to sacrificed yearly expensive and long overseas trips, dining out in fine restaurants at hotels and reduce spending on buying branded stuff. She is more happy now and lives a more carefree life.
You can watch this episode 2 of recession heroes on xinmsn here.
Related Posts:
1. How 27-year-old S'pore woman lands herself in $100k debt
2. How to pick stocks (Part 1) - Economic Moats
3. Channel 5 new TV series - Recession Heroes
Here is the summary of episode 2:
This lady was retrenched during the 2007/08 financial crisis. She was a futures broker in a financial institution for 17 years. She worked mostly from 6pm in the evening to 5am in the morning trading futures market.
Why still lose money in trading?
After being retrenched, she thought she would be able to trade at home and have time to look after her son. But, within 10 months into trading at home, she lost quite a lot of money and stopped. Why did she lose money? She said trading in a financial institution allowed her to have tips and instant news to make decisions fast. Trading at home is different as most of the time the news is delayed. The second reason is trading an institution money's is different from trading your own money. The emotional and psychological aspect is completely different. Even with the experience and knowledge of trading, it is still highly possible to lose money.
My views on trading
After watching this episode, it confirms my view on trading. Firstly, I've heard that most people lose money in trading and it is said that only 5% of the traders in the world can make money consistently. I didn't believe it at first but now i believe in it. Secondly, i've heard that trading is a psychological and emotional game. If you can't control your emotions, you can't be successful in trading. This point is also confirmed.
So is it still possible to make money through trading? I think it is still possible to make money from trading but it will not be a lot of money. In actual fact, very few people are full time traders. Most trade on the sideline occasionally. You may not agree with me but i've traded before and know what it is like to lose money. It is really an emotional game. Want to make a lot of money through trading? Think again.
My views on investing
On the other hand, investing is different. Most people can make money through investing. The more knowledge and experience you have in investing, the more successful you can be. The longer time you have in the market, the higher the chance of having better returns. That is why i advocate investing more in my blog. The benefits of investing at a young age is great. You can read more on how to invest here and here.
Knowing the difference between investing and trading is important. Know which one you're more suitable for and learn as much as you can.
The story ends with this lady becoming a housewife and does some baking at home. She sells some of the cakes and pastry she bakes at home to friends and relatives. She has more time for her family and her son especially. As family income reduced greatly, she had to sacrificed yearly expensive and long overseas trips, dining out in fine restaurants at hotels and reduce spending on buying branded stuff. She is more happy now and lives a more carefree life.
You can watch this episode 2 of recession heroes on xinmsn here.
Related Posts:
1. How 27-year-old S'pore woman lands herself in $100k debt
2. How to pick stocks (Part 1) - Economic Moats
3. Channel 5 new TV series - Recession Heroes
Monday 26 August 2013
What is happening to the market?
I'm back from my holidays and time for me to start writing again. It has been a good trip and Taiwan was really fun. Every country i go to, i'll notice that each has its own culture and national identity. You could recognise who are the resident people there. Apparently, it is most obvious from the way they talk. Taiwan people have their own style and tone of chinese. China people have their own different set of style and tone of chinese. Even Singaporeans have their own style of chinese. One common language but different identity.
Just only one week of my holidays and the stock market has declined so much. Today the STI is dropping more than 50 points. Am i worried about my current stocks position? I would say i am not. I could still enjoy my holidays even though i saw the markets declining (well, i still checked the stock market when i'm overseas). This year, i've not invested a lot of my capital in the markets. I still have money to buy in when the opportunity arise. Thus, if it keeps on dropping, i can still accumulate more.
Yesterday, the most talked about stock was china minzhong. It dropped 50% and caused trading to halt on the counter itself. What is happening to this stock? There is a report by Glaucus Research accusing china minzhong of financial irregularities. How true is this report? I have no idea and i'm sure every investor will be clueless as well. We'll have to wait for the official explanation by china minzhong themselves. I do not have any shares in china minzhong as of now. Will i risk to accumulate shares of it? If i calculate my risk appetite, it could be worth it to risk a small amount of money to buy into it. This is money that i would be willing to lose. China Minzhong has been a good company thus far so if the report is not true, the stock price will recover quickly.
The current weakness in the stock market presents an opportunity to buy good companies at lower prices. Value investors do like the stock market to decline. When is a good time to buy? As an investor, i would say there is no perfect time to buy. Nobody can predict the bottom perfectly. You could learn some technical analysis which is chart reading to determine better entry points. But however, technical analysis has its shortfalls too. Losing money is part of investing. But you have to know why you're losing money. If you don't know why, then most likely you're investing blindly.
Related Posts:
1. Why people lose their money during crisis?
2. How to pick stocks (Part 2) - The profitability of a business
Just only one week of my holidays and the stock market has declined so much. Today the STI is dropping more than 50 points. Am i worried about my current stocks position? I would say i am not. I could still enjoy my holidays even though i saw the markets declining (well, i still checked the stock market when i'm overseas). This year, i've not invested a lot of my capital in the markets. I still have money to buy in when the opportunity arise. Thus, if it keeps on dropping, i can still accumulate more.
Yesterday, the most talked about stock was china minzhong. It dropped 50% and caused trading to halt on the counter itself. What is happening to this stock? There is a report by Glaucus Research accusing china minzhong of financial irregularities. How true is this report? I have no idea and i'm sure every investor will be clueless as well. We'll have to wait for the official explanation by china minzhong themselves. I do not have any shares in china minzhong as of now. Will i risk to accumulate shares of it? If i calculate my risk appetite, it could be worth it to risk a small amount of money to buy into it. This is money that i would be willing to lose. China Minzhong has been a good company thus far so if the report is not true, the stock price will recover quickly.
The current weakness in the stock market presents an opportunity to buy good companies at lower prices. Value investors do like the stock market to decline. When is a good time to buy? As an investor, i would say there is no perfect time to buy. Nobody can predict the bottom perfectly. You could learn some technical analysis which is chart reading to determine better entry points. But however, technical analysis has its shortfalls too. Losing money is part of investing. But you have to know why you're losing money. If you don't know why, then most likely you're investing blindly.
Related Posts:
1. Why people lose their money during crisis?
2. How to pick stocks (Part 2) - The profitability of a business
Payday loan pension scandal? Disinvest or engage?
Yet I think that industry magazine "Inside Housing" has got the wrong end of the stick about its front page story on Friday "Revealed - Pay Day Loan Pension Scandal".
The "Scandal" is that the £2.6 billion SHPS invests less than 1% of its money in rip off Pay Day loan providers as does the Cheshire Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
My view on this are similar to the post I made about the similar pickle the Church of England Pension fund found itself in last month.
Pay Day lenders have "despicable business model based on ripping off its vulnerable customer base but hey, "welcome to capitalism", this is what happens when you get poor corporate governance of a company coupled with wholly inadequate state regulation.....engagement by responsible investors with the companies they own is key".
Pension Scheme trustees have a fiduciary duty to run funds in the interests of beneficiaries. They have an obligation to take advice from their professional advisers on where they should invest beneficiaries money.
To ignore this advice there is very slippery legal and practical slope if you decide to call for disinvestment on "ethical grounds". If you are a Muslim then you would probably want to call for disinvestment in all companies that lend money for interest (its all "usury"). So no investment in any banks or insurance companies then? If you are a vegetarian or vegan you would be unhappy in any investment in companies that take part in the production and sale of meat. So no investment in supermarkets or shopping centres?
Teetotallers would object to companies that sell alcohol, animal rights activists would object to investments in pharmaceuticals and environmentalists would not want their money in oil companies or mines. I can go on and on - but I think you get the picture.
What all pension trustees should be doing is making sure that they and their fund managers engage with all the companies that they own to try and ensure that they are socially responsible. SHPS should be working with other pension funds to firstly in private, try and change pay day loan business models. If (and when) this fails then they should instructing their fund managers to vote out the company Board and Executive team at the next AGM.
Now, I am currently unclear whether SHPS do any engagement? I am not sure either about the quote in "Inside Housing" from Cheshire LGPS that they do "not operate a socially responsible investment policy". Since it is clear from their statement of Investment Principles that they do (if appropriate) - and they are members of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), who are very well known for their active engagement with companies on a whole range of socially responsible investment issues.
I think that the key development in pension fund governance in recent years is the rising (not total) acceptance that you will in the long run get better returns from investing in well managed and responsible companies and that trustees have a duty as owners to try and ensure the companies they invest in act in this way.
The real "scandal" of Pay Days loans is the failure of successful governments (including Labour) to properly regulate the sector. Hopefully the next government will sort this out. In the meantime the SHPS, the Pensions Trust, the LGPS and all the Pension funds in the Community and Voluntary sector ought to be working together to bring about meaningful change in the companies they own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)