Economics.

In Economics, there's demand and supply, which makes up the most basic and most complex part of the art. It applys in many places and many ways, though some that might not be obvious.

Demand is defined by the range of quantities and prices that people are willing to take/give for a good or service, tangible or not. It is downwards sloping, thus the higher the price, the lower the quantity demanded.

Supply is defined by the range of quantities and prices that people are willing to supply. It is upwards sloping, which means the higher the price given for the good/service, the more willing the supplier would be to supply that amount of good/service (provided that it is possible.)

Point 1. - Over-Charging
Of course, all ignorant (and/or dumb) suppliers would set high prices if they would anticipate high demand in his/her good/service/assets/whatsoever.

But definitely, that's not how things work. Usually. I mean, there's a reason why they are called ignorant *coughdumbandstupidpiecesofcrapologicalblehcough* right? But on a serious note, how many people can overcharge and people who still subscribe to them? I know of a few, but that's probably the minority of the people left in Czechoslovakia. =
Point 2. - At zero price
So what happens to zero price? Well, technically that is the point that the demand is infinite and supply is at zero. Well, but I am very sure that is not accurate. I mean like, don't you know of suppliers of goods/services/assets/whatsoever who supply at zero price, even when they know they are not going to reap any profits at all.

Stupid suppliers? Hey, call them what you want, I think there's more to what that meets the eye for this matter. Maybe like goodwill, branding, or many to get into a relationship with another firm to secure future opportunities. You never know. Businessman are always thinking too far for their own good at times. But you never know when the buyer would be "weirdly" willing to buy from the supplier at a high price for weird reasons too. You never know. =

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Good luck for everyone taking FMGT and BMGT tml. =

Changes in people when things are changed by people.

1. That familiar face looks absurdly strange. It feel as if you've seen him/her somewhere before, just that you don't really want to ask "Hey, have I seen you before?"

2. His/Her blog feels like a pornographic site. Something that you know that you are not supposed to be looking at, but just WANT to and DESIRE to see/read.

3. Food doesn't look too appetising at times. Okay, most of the time.

4. Colors look boring and dull. Even that hot pink tube. =(

5. When you pass by a place that was a memoriable spot, you tend to go, "You know, this was the place that we first -insert clever act-."

6. You feel there's something wrong in anything. Even if it's right.

7. The sun shines and you know you should wake up, but you just want to stay in bed till the sun sets.

The story of Bacchus.

Disclaimer: The below story is a long and draggy one. If its content is related to any real-life person, event, incident or thing, it would be purely coincidental.

Unless it is the exact same person that you think it is.
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I've this friend who's name is Bacchus. (his real name is not disclosed as he is below the age of 16.) He's 11 years old this year, but he's like no usual kid who lives down the street.


1. His background

He's a child prodigy.

He always far exceed expectations. He was able to absorb what was taught to him, and applied it well. It was so constant, his parents took it for granted. But the day came, and he was no longer able to learn or benefit much from his education and he knew that he needed courses to boost his knowledge.


2. His parents

His parent's didn't thought so. "No matter how good and smart you are, you are still a 11 year old. Like all the children out there, you are no different! Why should you go for courses when the rest are not?! It's not something that is expected of you, and it'll be a waste of our money!"

When he told me that, I was just lost for words. I just couldn't believe that such things actaully happened on Earth. It's like, for goodness sake, what is their -censored- problem?!?! So before I made a fool out of myself, I asked him if it was because they had financial problems.

His answer was, "My elder brother, 21, gets $750 allowance per month, and he's no longer studying or working, simply living off my parents. Although my family is not very rich, but I'm sure they can pay for a $50 course and a $25 skills camp, right? And they told me if I really wanted to go, they'll sponsor $10, and for the rest, I should save up myself."

I lost it. How could they be so -censored- ridiculous?! That's $75, once in a while! It would be value-adding, and much more of a benefit than a waste! Well, I've heard about what his brother does, simply just wasting the notes at clubs and girls. Well, I bet the money he uses for condoms is more than $75 per month!


3. His Allowance

Just to prevent myself being the ultimate idiot, I asked about his allowance, like was it equilvalent to his brother's.

"I get $1 a day, for my recess and break in school."

Okay. $1 a day. So lets say he saves 20cents a day, that's a whooping 375 days!

"Hmmm. So Bacchus, why not ask from your relatives? You're very close with your uncles right?"

"Yes, I'm very close to them. But my mother said that I shouldn't approach them because I'm their kid, and should have no such relations with my uncles." Upon saying that, he looked on the floor, the way a flower would wither.

OM-censored-G. Paradoxical.

Okay, let me get this right.

Course and camp: $75
Less Fundings: $10
Expenses incurred: $65 (from purely savings, and no funding from others.)


4. My suggestions

1. Runaway from home?
- Nope. They say it wouldn't matter. They'll just make another and tell the new one how stupid the old one was.

2. Go on strike?
- Refer to answer of suggestion 1.

3. Do something that would cause them to worry?
- Refer to answer of suggestion 1.

You mean your parents don't give a damn if anything happens to you?

"No, because they can make love and have a new baby in time to come."


5. Conclusion

Absurd? Yes.
Stupid? Definitely.
-Hokkien vulagrities-? Of course.

Anthing Bacchus can do? Nope. (Maybe he could suck his thumb.)

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At this point, I'd like to thank him. From him, personally I've grown. In ways that I could never have imagined that I would have. Events after events, days after days, mistakes after mistakes, he never gave up in me.

Is God fair? Maybe. Although he couldn't build a house, he built a home that had no doors, no rules, and no boundaries. His creation was to serve his masters well, but his existance served mankind. He never had a tangible form, yet he was omnipotent.

Promises after promises were made to him, but it always seemed that nothing was written in black and white. Discouraged? Demoralised? It didn't seem so, does it?

For -insert clever name-'s sake, since when did they keep their promise? Let's see.

(Author took 5 minutes to think.)

I'm not kidding. I thought for 5 minutes but I couldn't remember anything they did that was a pivotal act. Positively, that is.

Hmmm.

-heavily censored-
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Thanks to: Behindthename for providing the following information.

BACCHUS
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)

From Greek Βακχος (Bakchos), derived from ιαχο (iacho) meaning "to shout". This was another name of the Greek god Dionysos, and it was also the name that the Romans commonly used for him.

An encounter with an Ah Beng (Hooligan)

It has been a really bad day, but I think this is pretty worth mentioning. Though its really common.

Well, it had been an okay day, just pretty rush and stuff. But all in all I didn't like fall down in my face or got caught by a hot babe for staring at her butt. So I was walking down the stairs, towards the bright future (okay that was cheesy) to meet my girlfriend. A really sweet girl. :) (author's note: love ya. :)) So, going on with my story, I saw this guy very formally dressed, holding a note book in his hand and a briefcase.

"He must be an insurance seller. Don't come near me, you loser." I thought.

So I continued walking straight, but it seemed that he started to walked towards me, and *POW* our shoulders collided. Coincidence? Accident? On my side, of course it was an accident. I was walking straight! He adjusted his spectacles that I accidently bumped into, and snapped out of that decent boy look.

"Chao **** ***! Walk cannot walk properly r? NNB!" He exclaimed.

Wow. That was a mouthful from his decent face. Being the smart alec I had always been, I said,

"Oie. I never walk into you hor. Its you fu*kface who walked into me hor, so fu*k off la."

That further angered him(duh.). He stared with his bloodshot eyes, ready to kill. Well, being the smart boy again...

"Diao simi diao! Diao la* j*** r?!" Le bo si bo?! Na Bei." (What are you staring at? My d***? You mean you don't have it? -vulgarity-) Well. Then I felt that there wasn't anything else that was more important than the pretty face of my girl, so I decided to leave.

As I was walking away, I heard someone shout, to I turned around. It was that loser kid.

"Wah tiao le, le simi mah bo zo. Zeh pang itao lan lan!" (I like to stare, what can you do? You also can do nothing!)

Which I thought was really true. What could I have done?

Nothing.


Lessons Learnt
1) Sometimes when something happen, there's nothing you can do. Le ma si lan lan.
2) Don't expect that person who's dressed formally to be nice. You never know when he'll "block your path when you have decided where to go".

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At this point of time, I would like to thank the publicity people (vanessa, samantha, shu hui, jaclyn, frances) and those who came down today (george, jialing, mathiaus) for staying back till so late. Also, I'd like to apologise for such an unhappy event. Sorrrry. ):

Oh, and Shawn Seet for the hokkien translations. (: