Hola. What happened these past few days? I was really stressed out.

Wait……… me???? Stressed? Not really stress but more or less some problems I have ongoing in my weird weird life. Hold on, what is this? A blogger rant? Well, you can call it that way, or you can just call it the epitome of a blogger’s life, to entertain, but as usual, we are all human beings. Aside from that, it has been like awhile since I have also dwelled on real life posts.

Being a salary man, I live on my salary. (But didn’t I earn from blogging? – My blog money only enables me to eat peanuts. Enough said) Without my monthly paid salary, I feel weak and cash flow has been very bad due to these past 2 months. WHY?? Salary was not in for 2 months. Imagine everyday eating only simple bread, gardenia waffle. The waffle taste good though. This brings me back to the days when I was still studying in college where in those days, I ended up skipping breakfast, lunch and dinner and only had supper (I eat a lot if I want, and also do not need to eat when I want). It is like I have this weird stomach, which adapts to the situation (maybe that is why I am with this body size).

Amazingly, people think I have a decent pay due to my trips I have gone. Well, if I am you would have seen more trips on this blog which is like non-existant nowadays. I am just a humble salary man who saves his money for these trips. I was not born in a rich family unlike the lucky people who do (which I think made me the saving type).

Work has been a change for me. For those that know me, I have been a Java developer most of my working life and now slowly adapting to a new working life. It feels different, but then nothing untoward. Imagine 6 years of using Java and finally those skills are being put to rest. Though lucky I am coping well as of this date.

My social life has also changed. One is due to the resources I am lacking (no ‘tani’ sessions, no gaming sessions, no blogger events session). What does blogger events got to do with this? First and foremost, most blogger events are free, no charges. Cool… Some blogger events have goodie bags. Cool… Until we derived the part where we have to travel like 40 to 50km to and 40 to 50km back. Now that is so not cool. For something free(goodie bags, vouchers, movie passes), we tend to travel all the way to collect them and that is when we forgot to factor in the other charges of petrol, car tire wear, car maintenance, sleep time and others. I guessed I am slowly becoming a hermit who factors everything that is a cost. Wait I do have a social life – if Sims Social on Facebook counts! What a sad case right?

Life is sad and unexpected when you least know it. There are many things happening out there. For a person like me, I have been keeping tabs of what people thought of, what people tend to do, but sometimes we never know the details until someone spilt the beans. We look at things superficially and we never tend to look what is beyond that.

Some thoughts about BLOGGING

Those days, I aimed to be a prominent blogger as the blogger bug has not really hit most people yet, but look at what blogging has been doing to the blogging community now? Are the bloggers even called bloggers anymore? I meant those claiming to be personal blogs. I can see mostly posting about events and nothing more. Somehow people nowadays blog to make money rather than to blog (If you do not understand this metaphor, either my English is too ‘powderful’ or it is too deep the same way I do not understand some Chinese proverbs). In lame man terms, what does one blog? Their aim to be known? Some bloggers do go for events, but when they blog, they add some personal flavor to the post. Take for an instance a blogger I know, who goes for events and blog about it. That blogger does not blog the way most people blog like it could be seen in like any other blogs.

Take this scenario.

An event was held. Bloggers gather. Bloggers snap photos (Mostly snapped at the same time, same depiction). Blogger go back and post their photos and talk about the event and say it was a great time and met these blogger and that blogger and it was a great event.

After the Event

While saying it was a great event (maybe they wanted to please the sponsors), they do not portray what is so great about the event. The only thing I can see coming from the blogs are just the events photo (some direct normal shoots which most blogs already have), a group of people in those photos who attended (maybe so that other bloggers can go to your blog and grab that photo and increase their hits), and more photos of the lot (well, girls who blog like this would be an exception as most people who browse their blogs just want to see a pretty face, as for guys who blog like this.. SAD CASE). So is there discrimination? There is no discrimination. Guys who read those female blogger blogs are mostly interested in the photos and tend to just skip those lengthy words. Most female readers though would pay attention to both the photos and the text along with it. As for male bloggers, if you are not someone well known, someone who does not have humor in your postings, someone who cannot take nice photos or photos of other ladies, you stand at an odd of 1:100 for people to actually caring about what you blogged about (if you’re chasing for the fame of blogging). Of course if your blog is not really a personal blog and more or less about travel and food, then that is good. At least that blog has direction.

My thoughts about blogging stopped. Like they said, why bother? Well, then just do not bother about this post then. Though if you can actually read all the way till here, it meant it could also mean something else right?

Back to the point

Age is catching up. These years are supposed to be like the most stable years. As age catches up, more problems arose. Hair loss, health problem, body gets easily injured internally, body gets tired easily, sleeping time gets lesser and lesser, work and responsibility becomes greater, wealth management becomes an important factor and so much more.

So then what is my purpose of blogging these stuffs? To rant or to prove a point? To instill my thoughts into the readers? Or to make them sit and think about these things which usually people do not have any thoughts about it.

How long has it been since a post like that from the Weird One? It must have been very long. Strange! Though I have many ideas to blog in terms of life meanings and some thoughts about the social life, security and relationships. Although, it is also wise as a blogger to balance some lengthy post with another kind of post. Imagine this, if all my posts were words, who would even bothered to read at all (unless the whole posts in the blog is about some one night stand script – which reminded me about a blog).

People change as they grow up. People see things as they grow older. The world is getting dangerous due to the fact of increasing inflation happening everywhere. The nasi lemak 20 or 50 cent that we used to buy is nowhere to be found. Now if one is lucky it is at least RM1.50 to get a nasi lemak or usually we can find one at RM3.50. Times have changed. We have so many devices which our parents before that do not have at all. We have mobile telephone, slowly we have smart phones. The demands of people are getting higher. People are copying everything. The younger generations are so obsessed with Korean dramas, up till the point they dressed like them, fake eyelashes, doll themselves up but till the very end, they do not have those Korean features which when revealed in public, I feel that they have put themselves into hot soup (but I guessed they do not really bother about it as they do not care what people see, though that is what they say when actually what they wanted people to see is their image).

Seemingly I think this piece has gone further than what it was meant to say. Indeed I have much to write out on this blog post but doing so would have made this post into an article. I will save my writings and thoughts for future posts. I think I will write an article at least once or twice a month for thoughts of life.

Notes: If you think that you have something to say, you can mentioned it at the comments session below or if you want to approach this blogger and talked to him regarding something, you can always email this blogger at the contact page or directly to his email me[at]danielctw[dot]com.

Signing out without much thought.

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Today as I go on my daily life, in the office reading the daily Sun, I have learnt new words. Since it has been a mundane and painful week (post-marathon effect, more on this soon), I have decided to amuse myself with the political scene in Malaysia.

Political prostitute? What a funny way to get ejected from a state assembly because of these words. When I read the news over the Sun Newspaper I was astounded.

From my understanding, the following words Political Prostitute can meant someone who sells himself for the means of being too involved in politics. From The Sun, it seems that one of the reasons Nga Kor Ming was asked to withdraw that statement was because of the reason of an insult to women.

For more insight of the story, here is the link.
Taken from http://www.thesundaily.my/news/218425

Deputy speaker Datuk Hee Yit Foong, who was presiding, asked Nga Kor Ming (DAP- Pantai Remis), who was debating the 2012 state budget, to withdraw the remarks as it was an insult to women.

She said, “It is an insult to women. Retract, or else I will not allow you to debate. Your mother and grandmother are also women.”

I wonder why? Was there a gender issue over the word political prostitute? Well, Nga could have used political slave (but that would meant something else). So in the end, I cannot think of anything wrong if based on The Sun itself. Maybe there is more than what was said, but I am sure you can be a judge to that.

Now imagined if I said political puppet, then later people say I am being derogative. Then if I said, political slave, I am being demeaning of lower class. How about political servant? Politically disabled? In the end, I think everyone would be forced to be nice in an assembly. I guessed that is how it would be. All things could be argued in the politic scene. I guessed that was what made politics drama like in our beautiful country.

Actually my case in view is how does one relate political prostitute with women? I still do not get it. Please explain. Also why are they fighting over something like political prostitute and frog? Why?

My 2 cents worth or my random weirdness. Also why am I suddenly talking politics. Must have been some weird medicine I took earlier. Doggone it.

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иконографияikoniSometimes we feign that we are young all through these years, thinking that time stopped for us. Seriously though we are getting older, which we all cannot deny but are we wiser as we get older?

As time passes by and as technology emerged, many people seems to be caught up in the age of IT and technology. Not owning a smart phone these days felt out of place (nothing wrong with not owning one, but just that sometimes we have to keep abreast with the current technology in this world. It does not meant that it is a necessity but it is complimentary).

So did we actually get wiser as we start to use these tools of technology? Or did we get dumber because we use these tools to look for our answers? Does our brain malfunction or rather use rather less brain cells because we rely so much on the computer or smart phone or any electronic devices to help us find the answer?

What are the boundaries? What are the limits? Why then does the school do not allow students to use a PC to search the World Wide Web for answers during answers? Well, some people say we should not deprive them of the benefit of being able to access the internet to look for answers but why? Is it to boost memory strength? Though how come what we did previously does not apply in the working world since we get to have our hands on these gadgets to help us do all the work.

You must have been wondering!!!

“OH NO!!!! Not another one of those WEIRD DANIEL moments where he starts thinking of things and start telling and boggling other people’s mind“

Though sad to say, he (The Weird One) is back with a bang (not gangbang) and will relive what he does best on the blogging world. To blog about his thoughts and not just his travel log or photos to showcase.

Back to the topic, are we wiser as we grow up? In what sense? Is it because we have gadgets to help us, we are wiser? Or do we use these tools to help us when we cannot do anything else? So many questions, so few answers which I would expect later on.

Sometimes it is good that we have the capacity to think. Not everyone is fortunate to have time to rest on the beach and ponder on thoughts that boggle their minds but like I said, anywhere would do. In life, we ponder about things at times which does not concern us.

Why do we do that?

These are things which help generate our mind receptors and also to make sure that our brain is still functioning. Why do humans worry? Worry?? We all worry for a reason, but it is also subject to our ability as to how we handle our worries. Some do not even understand the reason of why do they worry. Well, things go and come as they like but there are many things which raises a lot of questions in our daily life.

I guess life has a lot of meaning. This topic can go on and on with so many questions to be answered but leave very little answers to be given. Perhaps right now, the person reading this blog does not even understand a word of what this blogger is trying to say. Some even think that this is gibberish. Some even think that this is too deep, not something which they could fathom at all.

Some also thinks that I am using big words. Well, once a while, let the blogger relay what is in his mind. After this post, he will be his carefree self again. I am sure that will bring cheers to a lot of folks out there.

Till my next WEIRD thoughts!! Adios.

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Now that I think about it, I have been spending too much on my life with lots of unwanted spendings.

PS: Below is more of a serious note from the blogger. Proceed if you want to read about his serious personal life.

Well, not to say that I should not pamper myself at times to get stuffs that are interesting and fun to get but I think it is time to get into some serious planning into my daily finance and budget.

Those days I have been eating out and spending because of colleagues going out to eat at some fancy restaurant.

Ever since I came into a new environment I have now learned how to go back to how I used to when I was in college, I saved. So here is my long term plan.

Lunch RM3

Now imagine having RM3 lunch for 5 days per week, that would be RM15 and RM45 per month.

Now setting aside that, let’s say I do drive, RM200 – RM300 per month since now I take LRT to work.

New updates – Monthly Budget

Amazingly, counting the cost, that is how much I use in a month. All due to the commitments costing a bomb. I think maybe it is time for me to look at some of the commitments and try to device a plan to help myself to save more money in the coming future.

Some people said, you do not know the future, so why bother saving for something uncertain. Well, enjoy while you can but also learn to be a person.

Learning to be a person does not meant that you have to enjoy, feelings but there is also the practical aspect in all that. I shall try to minimize spending on stuffs that does not really benefit me much, for example my games on Magic the Gathering cards, mamak sessions (along with the MTG sessions) and also maybe some other things like having McDonald’s/KFC because your colleague wanted to go there.

Call me kiamsiap but I am not like those who earn big bucks. I shall also cut on my travel plans already. The travel is what took most of my revenue and cash I owned previous years.

I shall be on the reserved end. Sorry guys if I have to decline any invites from this day forward. I need to plan for my future.

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Sesame Chicken sounds yummy. It’s really yummy.

Ops… this is not what I was supposed to talk to. Though it is related somehow. WAIT!!!!! What do I meant by it is related? What has Credit Card got to do with Sesame Chicken? What about Roast Lamb? What about Barbequed Chicken? bla bla bla…

Grandpa Story Begins

Well, let me tell you something what it all has to do with a credit card. First and foremost, getting a credit card is very easy nowadays in our time. Unlike our parents and their parents time where only a selected few have their own credit cards. A credit card is now not considered a liability. It is more like a tool or a convenience when one does not have enough cash or in need to pay something high in value but afraid to bring loads of $$$ in cash terms.

So what does that got to do with Sesame Chicken? Of course, we eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep almost everyday of our life. Sometimes we do it too routine, we forgot how to enjoy life. That is why to me, I enjoy having a good sesame chicken dish with friends. Now there are many dishes along the way (beer…. ahemz… whisky… ahemz) , but what about when the bill is called? Of course, everything could be solved with just a credit card. Imagine a bill totaling USD300 (RM900) and no way am I going to pay those in cash. So a credit card is indeed a convenience.

Now there is a downside for this.

The downside of mismanaging your credit

Everyone knows having a credit card also has it’s downside. This problem happens when one spend lavishly and spent it on things they desire and not on things needed. Well, desire is one thing but over spending on too many ‘desired’ stuffs will definitely affect our credit management. Yes, when we spend more than we earn, we will definitely have problems resolving all the debts incurred from the credit card spending. I am definitely talking about credit cards and if you need to know credit report, you can always try something like any site where they will give you a free credit score report in order to gauge your credit level.

Of course, if you know you have credit score, you could always do like the above. Haha.. which in a way it hardly works, it is a comic for what it is.

Now what would you do if you have low credit score then? What should you do? How would you manage? Now would you like to listen to my advice?

Solution to a Low Credit Score

Sadly, not many people in Malaysia is really concerned about this. Those days, our parents save and save in order to survive and to ensure that we have a better life than them. Due to that, most children take for granted and spend like kings and queens. Well, indeed unlike those times, now we can spend more than how it was but also without proper planning, one is going to get a bad credit score for themselves.

So how was mine solved? I invested. I saved. I practically hardly go out, not to mention I do not smoke (saves a lot compared to those who smokes), I only drink when it’s an occasion (unlike those who goes clubbing and drinking parties), does online shopping (saves petrol, saves car and engine wearing out, saves from washing the car, saves the hassle of choosing items and fighting with the crowd in a queue). Ridiculous for some of you, well it should be. Though that is my way of handling it.

Why not you tell me how you do yours? How do you handle your savings from your work/parents?

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