Is Wal-Mart bad for America? Maybe

Is Wal-Mart the culprit of Recession in America? Not really

During the Econs lecture we saw a video of what is happening in America. Basically, firms are shutting down due to economic competition from foreign firms and Americans working in it are losing jobs. According to the video, Wal-Mart is accused of being the main culprit for inviting these foreign firms in dumping their goods in America.

However, before we justify Wal-Mart's actions of helping the chinese rather than fellow Americans, I think we should understand that it is not Wal-Mart's fault totally. In 2002, China entered WTO and before that, America is already working at a high economic perfomance. Thats the key, high salaries. Due to WTO, China is able to ship and dump millions of under-priced goods in America that forced local industries to be almost out of businees. Firms there no longer can afford the high wages to these workers. Another key to note is Globalization. The opening of the market to foreign firsm means that China allows foreign direct investments and firms in USA started looking for cheaper FOP countries such as China.

We must understand that it is because of China's low wage policy+WTO+Globalization that resulted in today's American situation. Wal-Mart, well we can say they are just a profit-driven firm like all others that are used by the Chinese.

"Phantom of the Opera" Real life edition

I cannot believe this when I saw the picture. It was horrifying. Imagine your face being covered by plaster cloth and you look just like something that jumped out of a horror movie. Phantom of the Opera, this is the first thing that came to my mind.

GP exam is over and I've got mixed feelings. I feel like I have written as best as I can but I seriously got no idea what my results will look like. Probably a just pass? Like for god knows how many times? Or will it be a fail? I guess I'm giving a pyramid 4-1-5 guessing. I've got 1 week break, need to qiong like shit. Revised China Studies today, feels damn confused by the notes. Still got maths and econs. Art, well, I'm real screwed. Coursework is halting for a few weeks but I've only got 1 week to memorize 6 artists.

I will never ask God for fulfilling my wishes anymore, just hope that he is always there to support me from falling into the abyss. I CAN DO IT!

Stepped down with honor

I officially stepped down today from Young Artist Club. Its been a long 8 years and I'm pretty much filled with emotions when I walked out of that wooden door. To think that it was this club that introduced me to the world of arts, opened the door that may be crucial to my survival in the future. But frankly speaking I've got no time. If it wasn't for the packed JC2 academic I would no have found myself grasping for time. Oh well we age everyday and it is impossible for us to stay at the same place forever, walk on O' Mighty.

Polo House

This came out of nowhere. We won the house champion for the 2010 road run. Oh my 天 can you believe it? We kept hearing Byron, Bryon, Byron on the price presentation but who would have expected that we would still win? Polo house for God-knows-how-many consecutive years have we made a complete sweep of any possible house championship. Inter house game, aiyah that one no need to say, we got as many 1st place as we can. House cheering, fun bun we win again, and road run. Polo house may have the ugliest color but I feel honored to be part of it.

And one more thing, this sentence from Mr William Chan motivated me to the max: "MOE will personally write to the university you are applying for, stating that you have completed China Studies in English for 'A' Levels, Only you and no one else." OMG can you believe it? Imagine how useful and powerful it is when UCL or NUS see this letter.

Level of screwedness: 47.9%
Hope of kicking back to JC1: 23.1%

I'm so screwed. It is today that I wonder why did I choose both China Studies AND Art. They are really killing the shit out of me. China Studies Proposal stage is already sickening and then there was Art, a subject that is brain-draining me. I'm almost out of ideas!!!!!! Sleeping at 2-3 am everyday for 2 weeks is hell, I experience it and I know. Art especially, personally I think I suck at it, really. I'm not an abstract person so I can't really think of any good ideas to put on my preperatory boards. I think my main problem is the complexity of my prep works. It sucks serisouly and I swear I will work for as long as it goes until I can get it correct. People say you've got to work on double on things you are not good at so, yeah I guess its another 3-4 weeks of 4hr sleep/day. Thankfully I'm not an OGL if not I'm 99.99% screwed.

Dear Lord, I sincerely hope that things will change for the better, Amen