Inflation of 100,000% is Possible

Zimbabwe's economy is definitely heading somewhere - down the drains, yeah all the drains.......

Latest inflation figure was estimated at 100,000% (but compared against which year?). When a country was required to print a larger currency denomination, which in this case was a 10,000,000 (Ten Million) Zimbabwe dollar note, it has sounded to the world that their smaller denomination notes were of no further use. Why was that so?

Previously bus fares were at Z$1.5m (that's in millions) and now, it's Z$3m. School teachers have to quit their jobs and took up menial jobs near their homes leaving schools without teachers in the new year.

A pair of branded lady shoes was selling at Z$150m in early 2008 but it went up to Z$450m lately.

You would be considered lucky if you could get a job which pays you Z$500m per month which worked out to US$100.

Banks have issued new rulings due to chronic shortage of cash:-
* staff who earn over Z$1m a month must be paid by cheques (where high bank charges would eat up a portion too).
* no cheques of Z$50m or above (US$416) are acknowledged by the banks and there are limits on the amount of cheques that can be drawn each day.
* only Z$3m (US$21) could be withdrawn from the ATM (per day I presumed).

In a way, that piece of 10,000,000 dollar note that was issued lately could be quite worthless. Such hyperinflation could happen when a government doesn't control their spendings and when cronies were the ones getting paid if ever spent by the government.

Related blog posting:
* Zimbabwe's 10,000,000 dollars note
* How High Can Inflation Hit Us? 100%? 100,000%?
* What's Happening to Zimbabwe?
Tags: Zimbabwe, Africa, Inflation, Hyperinflation, Economics, Zimbabwe Dollar

Why Men Are Never Depressed

Men Are Just Happier People--

What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Depressed, Happier

Red Roses Available in Black Market

Imagine that Valentine's Day is near and you hoped to get some stuff that was red in colour for your wife/girlfriend. Suddenly, you can't see anything that was red in colour across the city.

The following conversation overheard in a florist shop:-
Man: I'm looking for some flowers for my girlfriend.

Shopowner: They are not available, Sir.

Man: What do you mean? You have no red roses? It's Valentine's Day today and you don't sell flowers in your shop?

Shopowner: It's very unfortunate, Sir. We can't sell RED roses but I suggest that you buy other type of flowers instead.

Man: How come it's not available throughout the city. Where are those red stuff?

Shopowner: The religious police made their rounds and warned shopowners to stop selling red coloured stuff as the red coloured items were banned.

Man: ???????? Fine, fine. Get me a bouquet of carnations then and please wrap it with red coloured wrappers.

Shopowner: Sorry Sir but we could not sell RED coloured wrapper as well. This is my selection of coloured wrappers but no red colour.

Man: This is crazy. Any ideas where I could get what I wanted.

Shopowner: You could go to the back lane. There's a guy there who has what you wanted but I'm warning you first, the police could be watching. Those items you wanted are only found in the black market now and the price were much steeper.


The above conversation could happen in Saudi Arabia as shops couldn't sell red coloured items in view of the Valentine's Day as it was considered un-Islamic - being viewed as as encouraging relations between men and women outside wedlock.

Florists took the risk of despatching orders for flowers in the middle of the night to avoid being caught. Rich fellas went over to Bahrain or United Arab Emirates to celebrate the Valentine's Day.

Related blog posting: What The Roses Say About You
Reading: Saudis clamp down on valentines -BBC News/Middle East
Tags: Red Roses, Saudi Arabia, Black Market, Valentine's Day

No More High Definition HD DVD???

Just when I was targetting to buy a DVD player, this piece of news came about - Toshiba to discontinue HD-DVD business. Toshiba promised to provide continuous technical support to customers who have bought their HD DVD earlier. Why the discontinuation? It seems that it was not selling as well as Blu-Ray DVD.

Pity the earlier purchasers. Even though Toshiba would provide technical supports, movie producers may not be producing DVDs in HD format since there would be lesser HD DVD users, less profitable. So, what's the point of owning one HD DVD when you don't have movies / softwares catering for it which means lesser usage of it, lesser breakdowns. Sometimes I really find such statements by an multinational companies ridiculous.

Looks like the HD DVD would be down the drain. What's the difference between a HD DVD and a Blu-Ray DVD? Read it in Engadget - Blu-ray vs HD DVD: State of the Division.

How did it come about with two different technologies for a DVD? I remembered those days (yeah, during my era and I doubt the young generation could relate to this) there was a war between the VHS and Betamax video format player and Betamax lost the war. This DVD thingy could be the same issue.

Now, what is Blu-Ray? You better read it in Blu-Ray.com.

Which consumer electronics manufactures this Blu-Ray DVD? I have to study which of this is the better ones now. It seems that Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson have it in their stable. Too many choices but Sony's DVD player seems to be getting headline when comparison was made against Toshiba's HD DVD.

Alright, I'm heading to the nearest electrical store to buy a Blu-Ray DVD player. What about the HD technology for TVs????? Going to be redundant soon??? Manufacturers, please decide fast as I want to buy a High Definition TV. Please don't surprise me as what Toshiba has done.

Reading: Analysts react to HD DVD demise - MacUser
Reading: HD DVD bids us adieu; Blu-ray triumphs - The Hollywood Reporter
Tags: HD DVD, Blu-Ray DVD, Toshiba HD DVD, DVD, DVD Player, VHS, Betamax, High Definition, Audio Visual Technology, Audio Visual, High Definition TV

Indonesians Recruited into Malaysian Paramilitary

It's in the news that Indonesians have been recruited into the Malaysian paramilitary force, also known as the Rejimen Askar Wataniah, which is the reserve component of the Malaysian Army.
This Askar Wataniah regiment was said to have recruited Indonesians to man the 2,000 kilometre long border of both Malaysia and Indonesia located at the Borneo Island. An estimated figure of 40,000 member force man the border. Those are huge battalions.

As published in Kompas, people living at the border knew that it was a fact that Indonesian youngsters have been recruited. The West Kalimantan Police has stated that none of their citizens have been recruited. So, who is telling the truth?

The Indonesian army said that if it was true, it could be Indonesians who have taken up the Malaysian citizenship as the citizenship was one of the main criteria in joining the paramilitary force. But how many of the 40,000 member force are Indonesians or previously holding Indonesian citizenships?

What's the issue here? The Indonesian army do not want any future confrontation with their blood brothers in case of any _ _ _ ??????? Indonesian army is preparing to invade Malaysia or what?

Reading: West Kalimantan Police deny Indonesians in Malaysian paramilitary - Jakarta Post
Reading: Askar Wataniah Memang Ada - Kompas

A video preview on Askar Wataniah's Regiment 510's annual training camp.
Tags: Askar Wataniah, Malaysian Paramilitary Force, Indonesia, Borneo Island, West Kalimantan Police, Indonesian Citizenship, Malaysian Citizenship

Shophouse Churches Must Get Permits

Churches in Subang Jaya which have been operating out of shop and factory lots have not been asked to close down, said incumbent Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.

“We have not asked them to close down, but to submit their application for permits,” said Lee, adding that such churches have to get a permit to operate from business premises.

He said many of the churches which are not on religious land have not applied for these annual permits costing RM1,000.

Lee was responding to a statement by incumbent Seputeh MP Teresa Kok that churches in MPSJ need to show concern about the municipality’s draft local plan.

According to her, only one church (First Baptist in SS17) is deemed to be legally on religious land in Subang Jaya, and that all others are officially illegal.

Kok said most of the churches were unaware of the draft local plan and it was now too late to submit their objection as the objection period was over.

She had however filed an objection on the issue, and called for more religious land to be allotted for non-Muslim places of worship.

Lee, when contacted, said the opposition was twisting the issue as the council had not asked the churches to close down but asked them to apply for permits.

Asked if this was the same requirement imposed on mosques, suraus and temples, Lee said: "If they are on their own land then there is no need for them to apply for the permits for their religious houses, but in the cases of the churches, they need to apply for the permits because they are operating from out of the shoplots in business centres and factory lots in industrial areas." - Sun2Surf
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How in the world will churches get to have a land reserved for them in a housing estate? If the churches can't get any land, other options would be at shophouses or even at warehouses / industrial/factory lots (like my church). When churches submit their application for one, it took umpteenth years (literally) for one to be approved.
Tags: Permit, Religious Land, Draft Local Plan, Place of Worship, Religious House, MPSJ, Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya, Subang Jaya

HIV Infected People Will Be Arrested in Egypt

In Malaysia, those people who were HIV infected or diagnosed with the AIDS virus, would still get some freedom in moving about and get to do what they wanted. For those who were weak, they may be resting at home or homes catered for HIV/AIDS patients.

I do not have a friend or relative that has the virus so I won't know how I would react and certainly won't be scared stiff but certainly won't react the way Egypt has reacted.

The Egyptian authorities would go all out to arrest those people that came down with HIV/AIDS. Why did they do that to those people who were already suffering from that sickness? It seems that arrested men would be subjected to anal examination to determine whether they were homosexuals. Ridiculous way of examining. The moment these guys were found involved in unusual sexual desires, they would be chained to hospital beds and undergo further medical tests.

To the Egyptian authorities, this could be a method of stopping the virus from spreading to other victims once and for all. Is homosexual the issue here or was it the disease? I wonder how would conduct a test on a woman if found infected too.

The Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International found this arrest shocking. I called this an extreme case (religious extremists) and the Egyptian authorities were really not well trained in handling such homosexual cases or cases involving people striken with HIV/AIDS. No human feelings/sympathy at all. Would simply call this torturing too.

I have read about so many non-profitable organisations that opened up homes for the HIV/AIDS infected people throughout the world and this Egyptian step must be the first of its kind in this world too. Guinness World of Records may want to recognise Egypt for this.
Tags: Egypt, HIV, AIDS, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International