How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Your house seen in different perspectives

The following was forwarded to me by Bayi and I wish I could do something to the pictures, like using the same house with necessary 'make-overs' to reflect the intended messages. Anyway, this will do, with my comments in italics...

Your house as seen by:

Yourself...





Your buyer...
(This is probably the view when the prospective buyer is trying to haggle on the price with the seller. I am sure he would have found it attractive initially to be interested.)


Your lender...
(Ah, this reminds me of when my wife first bought the house for rebuilding. It was a run-down wooden house, but the bank manager was so eager to sort out the outstanding loan (non-performing, I guess) that he offered a decent housing loan to buyer to go with it! Though this was an exceptional case, it disproved the notion that the bank always try to lend as low as possible based on the value of the house. In fact, recent examples seem to suggest willingness of the banks to lend, depending on the credit-worthiness of the borrower.)

Your appraiser...
(here again, there are a few varying examples like whether the appraiser is acting for the buyer or banker, and the perceived 'nudge nudge wink wink' type of arrangement. Valuation is so subjective that different valuers will have different valuation figures, though they would try their best to base them on most recent transactions of similar type of property in the same locality. Here again, I cannot help thinking of cases of over- or under- statement of price for different reasons like tax or stamping fee.)

And... your council's rates appraiser...

(and political opponents? Anyway, I believe there are certain acceptable reasons which could help reduce the value for rating purposes, after valuation is done by the council appraiser. In many cases, house owners added extensions without approval and escape enforcement as well as increased assessment.)
Link

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