Ponder

As a woman, do I lack of emotions? :S

'Ekonomi Kerakyatan', 'Ekonomi Pro-Rakyat'; what was that again?

Disclaimer: Just an argumentative prose from a struggling Kenkyuusei, with no means to offend certain someones or certain things.

Presidential election is crawling nearer, and media recently is just too overwhelmed by a bandwagon war; between Neo-liberalism and State-owned based Economy or 'Ekonomi Kerakyatan' (pardon the mismatch, as i couldnt find any better translation).

So what was this 'Ekonomi Pro Rakyat' or 'Ekonomi Kerakyatan' again?

If 'Ekonomi Pro Rakyat' is meant to give a total liberty for a state-owned enterprise to run a business for the sake of topping the economic welfare, total nationalization of the economy will leave a limited role for private saving, and imply a serious restrictions on private economic activity.

This will consequently result in huge structural distortion, remarked by the presence of monopolization, olygarchy system, economic autarchy and centralized investment decision. The economy will strongly be exposed to domestic-oriented market, sooner or later be separated from other market by international currency inconvertability, trade restrictions and moreover, encourage state monopoly in foreign trade.

The burden of social spending in the name of fair wealth distribution will be astronomically high, relative to the level of economic development. Government should offset the big expenditure mainly by domestic production, as foreign trade is being restricted. On the latter part, the state's budget deficit will be very large, and government will employ monetary expansion to cover the deficit, mainly by increasing money supply which will lead to an increase in inflation. Well, my dear, this is again, the prelude of a crisis!

This -infact- was what happened to Russia pre-Perestroika years.

So are we going to re-employ plausible system that is already proven to be wrong? :)

I believe that Indonesians are smart enough on not to make a wrong move again; to be trapped in a misleading jargon called the 'Ekonomi Kerakyatan' or 'Ekonomi Pro-Rakyat'.

Evidence

What do you need, in order to prove that you are more capable than others?

I would say, credentials....

As a strong believer of meritocracy, I won't admit a person to have a native level of English unless he could bring a perfect TOEFL/IELTS score as an evidence; to be capable of reading 1000 kanjis, unless he could bring a JLPT level 2 certificate; to have an expert level of monetary economics unless he graduated with Masters/Doctorate level in Economics.

Having said that, If I were to choose a leader, I will choose those with accountable credentials, such as good track records or outstanding achievements in their fields. I would choose those who are proven to be better than I am. Show me your resume, prove it, and there you have my respects :).

And as long as I am still sane, I won't admit under-achieved leader candidates with no academic credentials. I am a scholar, and I won't chose any leader with no scholastic ability! How come you believe on someone with less capability than you are -using a credential as an indicator.

There are so many intellegent people being a Public Relation for that mentioned candidate, and I couldnt help but to think that they made a stupid move. I would say it is like a college student choosing a secondary school student to be a president for their Student Union.

Isnt it stupid?

I guess Indonesia's political situation is hard to fit the common sense though. I hope it's really a common sense, and not just my self-proclaimed-know-it-all-sense.

How to win an interview?

The answer is Be Yourself.

What a cliché! We all love cliché nonetheless! Superhero movies teach eclectic stories about good and bad deeds, and that happens for centuries. Bollywood movies depict hilarious cliché of abundance out-of-place rain and trees, and that still sells. Cliché represents mainstream and majority, hence the 95% significance! Cliche's voice is people's voice hence God's voice! (baka)

Most of the time I always win an interview, and its no lie! Be it a job interview, a committee interview, or any random interview. Though I must say that not everything ended up successfully, at least I still think I managed to impress the interviewer. During my undergraduate studies, I attended every career workshop held by the schools, and got advices on how to dress up and win from head to toe. Everything works out in theoretical way, starting from the style of handshake, how many accessories acceptable for wearing a suite, how appropriate the distance when facing the interviewer, how to dress up in formal suite for a specific hair/skin/body shape. In the end I became pretty much exhausted and do it on my way instead.

Lets think about it, imagine, an interviewer facing a bunch of job hunter with same attitudes and styles, same color of suites, same speaking tone, same body language, same hairstyle and makeups. I really pity the HR and the bosses out there, as they will face the same doppelganger over and over again.

I didn't say that my grades are on the top, or my English is so superb that I could sway the interviewers, or my leadership capability is so exceptional that I could run as a candidate presidency :p. Hell NO, its just a super average Jane we talked about, with mediocre brainpower and run-of-the-mill leadership skill plus legendary messiness. But one thing is that, I would always try to be honest, and be myself, no matter what the situation is. Who need a straight A student with rocket science capability, if she or he cannot work in a team, or cannot cope with stress? People will need those who can trust others, can delegate tasks to others, and can work with others. Image and first impression are a crucial importance and its an absolute 'Yes'. However, in the end, its 'You' that matters the most! Lets cross check with HR people (and pardon me if I made the wrong perception. I am no HR afterall xD).

And its just last week that I got my first time coldsweat before attending a scholarship interview (I have never had this feeling before). This was different, the interview is conducted in Japanese, and I just learnt Japanese for 1 month. YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME, HOW COME I ATTEND AN INTERVIEW WHILE I HAVENT EVEN DONE THE ORAL TEST???? well anyway, the Vice President himself will come and see me. While I am sure that I will successfully butcher the language, this is my last attempt:
1. Try to talk 100% in Japanese no matter how atrocious the speech would be
2. Write myself a 4 pages CV in Japanese and MEMORIZE it before the interview
3. Jot a possible Q&A for interview, and again, MEMORIZE it
4. Smile and be honest xD
5. Recite prayers inside, and believe that God will help ;___;

It was due to God's benevolence that I managed to secure the scholarship last Monday. This has been a good lesson for me, that #4 and #5 work out better than #1-3. Though I might say that impression does count, but whats more important is your inner rich and personality. And I would testify that :).

And I sincerely thank God, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, for having faith on me.

Apratz and The Short Story Chronicle

Warning : This posting is intended to be an ego-booster; hence please read at your own risk

I thought I am just an individual with a mere passion towards writing but not necessarily equipped with the linguistic talent to write; at least that was what I believe since I was young, that my love towards writing is just one-sided xD.

It was still vivid in my mind when there was a short story assignment for my Literature class during my secondary school. I was so panicky since I was not really into writing. My dictions were all dreadful and the choice of words were in vain –and thing is, I ended up writing a short novella instead of a short story *grin*. The theme was pretty much influenced with the material that I read during that specific period of time –kindly take note that I have yet to know yaoi-related themes at that time, as I was still so pious xD. My first so-called novella is about a physically weak violinist and a precocious little girl who both involved in illegal drug traffic – a super corny romantic story, whatever, but good things often start in a corny way *grin*.

Yes this is a crime story about illegal drug traffic xD

And yes, writing a short story (literally a story that is so short) was a pain in the ass, since I am not used to create a discreet storyline or a fragment of a long story. Though I may be a simpleton, my mind is pretty much tangled and twisted –hence this is the biggest impediment to write myself a short story. I used to complicate a small thing! My long lost friend once said that listening to the lyrics of good songs can induce a decent idea of a storyline, and right now I am still struggling to implement what she said.

To cut a long story short, I joined an online fiction writing class in order to train (and to discipline myself) to write on regular basis. Problem persisted when there was an assignment to write a short story about ‘mother’ with the following objective: “Altering a cliché theme into interesting theme”. I was like being thrown into the bottomless pit of the inferno. What should I write, I shivered. To be really frank, what comes on my mind was the portrayal of a female chimpanzee nursing its baby in the zoo (???). I will self humiliate myself and challenge my sanity in case I really write about that. During numerous presentations and project discussion at work, I kept thinking how to develop a theme about mother that is both ‘cool’ and ‘gruesome’ xD.

Prototype idea : about a chimpanzhee mother T__T

And finally, my accumulated intense hatred and frustration towards certain things have driven me to write about a devoted nun, a virgin-Mary-like, an enchanting beauty with the reddish long hair, a tender-loving-caring mother who has a vampire son being held captive in the underground tunnel of a cathedral *fiendish LOL*. Every night, this poor bloody Mary should feed her son with her own blood in order to prevent him to go outside and do random bloodsucking. To my surprise, I got 99.9/100 mark for this assignment, and the tutor mentioned that he was deeply impressed with the short story. I had tears of joy *sob sob* that finally I was able to create a decent short story xD.

Today I just got news that I won the Lip-Ice short story writing competition as Top Honorable Mention and I am so thankful even though I didn’t win cash prize xD. The short story revolved around gruesome (and incestuous?) love between an angelic handsome priest and his gullible phantom son –yes I know that this is bizarre but I am a bitch for the twisted love story. This has driven me to continue my on-going novel that is already 120 pages long –unfortunately I can’t recall the whole concept of the story as this project has been discontinued since a month ago. I need to sharpen my peculiar way of thinking and not to drag this any longer -_-“. Wish me luck.

And the chronicle is still on-going xD….

P.S.
I lurve gruesome and twisted love story in 2D way (plus it has to be aplenty of bishounens inside); BUT I am an acute haemophobia. Yesterday I just made a fuss at NUS Medical Clinic coz they have medical check up for the staffs –and yes, I saw blood, my blood, during the blood-test. I was so dizzy and powerless after I saw my own blood. When I reached home, I need to spare myself 4 hours nap in order to replace my blood loss… argh!!!

When An Idiot Talks about the Leaders....

I strongly believe that the most suitable person on earth to pilot this world into a better place to live was Lelouch Lamperouge; however, since we live in the 3D world and are sane enough to face reality, the argument is -unfortunately- void xD.

But it's not a while ago that I become a loyal adherent for Mr. Ahmadinejad -the current president of Iran- after reading his daily journal. I think of him as the most noble president/world leader alive...

I Need Luck! Aplenty of Luck!

I think every debater will bombard me with 'inconsistency' issue when i start blogging about this. But now i really need luck. Aplenty of them. Please cross your finger. I don't want to be penniless for the rest of the months while staying in a foreign country. I am ugly and fat, I've got no body to sell (wtf *lol*).

I have resigned from my current job. Affirmative. Yet i need to find another source of earnings in order to realize the 'next' step in my life. I once claimed that i intend to do academic research or community development (and no longer corporate), but in the past few days, i got chance to attend interviews for an investment banking company (and a public service company). Did i just say that i dont want to do corporate? Well, money is the root of all evil, and money did talk *evil grin*! There goes my consistency...

I know that the feeling of being jobless and penniless isn't really healthy. It'll eventually consume our positivity and self-esteem, especially when being in here, an (in)famous red dot lifeless land. Even thinking about the rise of inflation and the skyrocketing rent fee make me chocked, since the rate of inflation didn't justify with the rate of increment *lol*. Now i sound like i give up being a dreamer and turn into a loyal realist.

So now im crossing finger. I'm certain that He will always give the best (and therefore grant everything we want in just a matter of time).

Talking about positivity...

When im thinking back the old days, i have been bestowed upon countless of luck as well as 'lucky coincidence'. I used to be adventurous and unpredictable yet my carelessness level is Godlike! (Can you imagine, how frustrating the combination could be?) However, i tried to be positive at all times. I keep ensuring myself that everything will be fine, just chill up and enjoy everything even though as if we're standing motionless in the abyss of gehenna.

These are true story about positivity (and not stupidity!!!). Hope it inspires you (the positivity, not the stupidity coz im talking about positivity whatsoever!)

Giant Anchor embodied decisiveness! (actually pic is a bit unrelated -_-)

1) I have mistakenly booked my flight during my Mediterranean-Bohemian Euro trip. That time i was en-route from Thessaloniki, Greece on the way back to Copenhagen. I actually supposed to take connecting flight from Bratislava, Slovakia while i thought that i'll be taking flight from Vienna, Austria. And i just realized my mistake on the D-Day, 4 hours before departure! For God's sake, Slovakia and Austria are two different countries, and I am ALL alone with zero ability to speak in Slovakian or German. Let's say i can reach Bratislava sound and safely but there's still a big chance that i'll miss my flight. The horror images of 'The Hostel' haunted me by the time I reached Bratislava. Will I make it? WILL I? But fortune favors the bold! I am sure that I can make it! And then, yes, i can make it on time...

"I can make it!!" An Imbecile thinking about the future then suddenly haunted castle comes up (??)

2) Due to a mistake in flight booking again (this time it's my friend's), i need to spend 2 days ALL alone in Paris, France. I haven't booked any hostel while in the meantime people said that Paris is not that safe (and on the top of that, I can't speak French nor read map). So i decided to camp in Charles-de-Gaulle airport! My parents worried like mad, but hey this is the flame of youth! This is the essence of travelling! And in the end, equipped with amazingly dense-positivity i am still surviving without experiencing any pickpocket or whatsoever. Positive, positive and positive always!

Yes i dont want to leave this place but that doesnt mean that im okay with missing my flight T_T

3) On the way back to Singapore from Copenhagen, i ran to the wrong flight gate. Instead of running to British Airways -my actual flight, I bumped into Scandinavian Airlines and almost board the wrong flight and missed chances to go back to Singapore again. But then again, I kept telling myself that I will REACH Singapore for certain no matter what happens *the fire of youth starts igniting*. My actual flight was delayed so I can make it on time. Yes, it was a miracle, and i do believe that being positive is one of the key factor to reinforce it.

4) Et cetera et cetera.

I know that I cannot always effortlessly depend on luck and no others; but in fact i think i always do 'something' to reinforce that luck; I put extra effort like mad and pray like mad and being positive and confident like mad also. So here is the formula :

Luck = Effort + Prayer + Positivity

And it is absolute form of equation and cannot go on the way round! Thus you can't change that into this :

Luck - Positivity = Effort + Prayer

Or this :

Luck - Positivity - Prayer = Effort

Thats epic FAIL!!

After going through the dark tunnel, you'll encounter a very blue sky! ^o^

Hence, for you who already read this up to this point, i am not writing crap anymore. This is serious post even though the way i write is bimbotic (it has been always like that, I wonder). Let the luck emerges perpetually in our life, by doing non-stop effort, praying and being positive!

NTU 2008 Batch Convocation Day

Congratulations to all 2008 graduates!

Initially I intend to apply for 1 day leave just to attend Convocation Day on Friday the whole day, but I was engaged to a deadline at work. In the end, I only managed to catch the event for Civil & Environmental Engineering and no others.

'Sister' cum 'Yaoi-fangirl-in-crime' oopsie XD

Therefore, I was very sorry for all 2008 batch who happened to read this :(.

Gossip Girls : the idiot-PhD student-pretty financial analyst

Civil & Environmental Engineering Graduates plus wtf guests XD

Superbatch65 Members

Graduation day has always been a vivacious and memorable moment for me even though I am not the one who graduated. Thinking back the old times, 1 year has passed since my graduation day back then in 2007. For me, graduation day is meant to be a commemoration day to acknowledge that we are officially considered as an adult. It’s a new beginning to re-enter the world with a different perspective, wish and expectation….

But did Lelouch just say in the Code Geass 1 episode Finale that in the world of adult, righteousness is priceless?

I am an adult. We are adults! However, I do hope that we are still being righteous (or morally right in that sense) –even though we are all adults.

~basically this is just a random crap -_-; it’s a pity that you still continue reading XD
~~special thanks to yud1 who noticed the typo XD

From Jakarta with Nu-Haircut and Random Things

Dear Honorable Readers,

Apology for a delay in responding to your comments; as I was in Jakarta last week with limited access to internet connection. History is repeating, I had an awful haircut. This time it is Yzak’s wannabe T__T.

Maybe i should dye my hair gray and cosplay as Yzak T_T

So what I did during holiday?
- Relay Code Geass season 1
- Relay Gundam 00
- Relay Gundam Seed
- Watch ‘Nobuta wo Produce’
- Watch corrupted government officials in corruption trials
- Watch news of murders, senseless killing, death penalty
- Watch news about the energy crisis the earth is facing nowadays

And suddenly, I promised myself to save the world and make it a better place to live! Applause?

Okay, that’s corny. But perhaps those things have more or less influenced me with the decision I’m currently holding on : to quit my job :).

So Typical So Boring…

This post is dedicated to my sister who has secured a place in UGM – Accountancy.

Congratulation, Sis – even though I know that you won’t be reading this. Perhaps you don’t realize that I have been so envious of you! You possessed something that I am lacking of, which is perseverance and brain, and ability to conform. Unlike the moron yet adventurous me with tendency to jump prematurely into doing weird things, you can cope really well with your things and finish it smoothly. (inner self : Damn you lucky brainiac! Nerd! Geek! WTF with scoring almost 9 in all subject of the Final Exam and averaging almost 8.5 in the report card? You make me look even dumber! I always took remedial tests for lethal science subjects, and it occurred EVERY bloody semester! Do you think it’s fair? Hah? Haaaahh???)

The Moron and The Nerd

People said, like father like son, like mother like daughter (I made the latest one, whatever). All of my family members have destined to lead the path of an Accountant except for Yours Truly T_T. This family issue has been so typical and so boring for me. With Father being a Public Accountant, Mother has been a Corporate Accountant, Sister being an Undergraduate in Accountancy (and me being a fail business graduate). I think I am the only one going astray. In fact I got admitted into Business faculty by lucky coincidence. Initially I planned to enroll to Art Faculty in Bandung *grin*.

I think life will be merrier if the family composition satisfies the following :
- Father : Bio-molecular scientist experimenting on Frankenstein-look-alike
- Mother : Policewomen in seemingly 'The X-Files'-case department
- Me : Secret Agent cum Gundam Pilot cum Rock Singer (greedy? I am!)
- Sister : Nerd (that suits you, it wont change :p)

-_-“

Okay, sorry, I will wake up.

But seriously yes, instead of doing the same thing everyday, that will only profit gigantic firms and certain conglomerates; I think it’s the time to move on, to give back to the society and the countrymen. Yet, to where shall I jump will be a big question mark. I must get out from this comfort zone as soon as possible. And I am currently trying….

Accidentally found this group in Facebook :

Millennium Dreamers

In the spring of 2000, The Walt Disney Co. and the McDonald's Corporation honored 2000 of the worlds most amazing kids. These young heroes, age 8-15, represented over 90 countries. These were the young heroes of the world. People who literally stopped bullets, helped cure diseases, and saved the planet. Being among these amazing children is a memory that gives me hope for the future.

Do you know one of these amazing heroes? Get them to join this group. This isn't about bragging, this is about answering the question "where are they now?". The one thing Disney and McDonalds didn't do is give us a way to find out what bigger and better things that the Dreamers have moved on to.

I'm on a quest. Help me find the dreamers.

Orlando, Florida, USA : I was on the top right hand, beneath Mickey's palm

I was 14 that time. I was once being there, becoming an idealist, a dreamer, with pacifist viewpoint and abundance passion to save the nation, desire to stop middle east conflict, eradicate a tribal war in Africa, oppose the power abuse of United Nations, abolish discrimination, fight against poverty in less developed nations (and combat consumerism at the same time), as well as return the blissful smiles of my countrymen.

I am 22 this time. I want to retrieve that passion, and I don't want to just daydream, I want to do something real. I want to befit the title once and for all. I need not pseudo power, I need real power. I want to change the world and make it into a better place to live, and I can't do it (alone).

Let's start from now, from yourself. Lend me your hand. Together we can save the world.

~that was an amazing speech isn't it? XD, but I am serious...
~~this is the effect of post reading 'Confessions of an Economic Hitman' (John Perkins) and 'Making Globalization Work' (Joseph E. Stigltz) and post watching 'Code Geass : R2' and 'Gundam 00'
~~~and I am dead serious XD

The Never-ending Desperado Chronicles

Yesterday I've made a mistake at work. A very stupid mistake. A mistake that even an idiot perhaps won't do. And today, I was forced to go back to office to revise that stupid thing. Now i wonder where my brain is actually located, maybe it is there... (yes, there, nothing wrong with the location, just that the actual brain volume might be looked weird, whatever!)

Or perhaps the brain actually lies on the butt? I don't know *crying at the corner*

Anyway, i do really want to follow Homer's advice below. I think it is totally awesome, and even more critical, sinister, realistic (and not to mention much more brilliant) than Keynes/Nash/Smith theories ever...

Getting hooked to Friendster or Facebook is damaging…

… at least it applied for my dearest self. Frankly speaking, Friendster or Facebook (or Blogger or Whatever), are purposedly erected to create virtual social network, for people to socialize with other people even from across the continent. That was a splendidly brilliant idea to support globalization and the idea of making this world boundariless (well, Anita Roddick might oppose to this, but let’s leave her at it is).

Nevertheless, it is undeniable that it works out very well towards people who are longing for acknowledgement from the virtual world (something that she/he couldn’t derive from her actual world). This bunch of people will work their ass off to create imageries of ‘ideal self’ (instead of ‘actual self’) on those medium of acknowledgment. They will publish the fabricated and well-polished self portrait to emphasize on their (pseudo?) physical attraction, make so much hype of their achievement as if those are really a big deal amongst all traits that they have, et cetera, et cetera (sorry, I couldn’t elaborate much further).

I have once investigated this, and found interesting fact. Mostly, the wannabes are amongst the Asians (not to mention Indonesians), and not much of the Caucasians or people from neighborhood continent. Perhaps my random sample is pretty much biased, but kindly remember that Asians are being colonialized since the ancient time. This feeling of being underdog, and incapability to be proud of ‘what they currently have’ trigger them to create more buzz of ‘ideal self’. So here we are, the third world country that is being victimized by the evil consumerism (a no #1 product of capitalism). People are not yet proud of themselves if they don’t wear lavish clothes and consume luxurious brands. People are not yet proud of what they have unless they wear imported goods in every occasion. And voila, we spend much of what we can get.

After swamping all of you with this globalization crap, let’s get back to the Friendster/Facebook/Blogging issue…

In the end, I realize that I might have problem with self-confident issue, so I feel indifferent when seeing so much hype on some individual’s FS/Facebook/blog (either the authentic or the fabricated one). I often feel like I was like a useless retard when I compare myself with those damn lucky talented and high achiever folks on those ‘medium of acknowledgment’. I feel like, what am I doing until now, that I am unable to do something beneficial or significant towards myself and the environment?

Trust it or not, it damages my self esteem so much that I intend to stop involving myself on FS/FB/blog business. Okay, I hope that this underdog mindset only conquers my mind temporarily.

This is getting more serious, i mean- dead serious!

I've been sick for the past 2 days when I reached Jakarta. It was not an ordinary health problem -i suppose, since I never experienced that kind of thing in the past (I had weird stomach-pain that makes me hard to breathe and even triggers me to vomit when I start eating). It was until today that I managed to see a Medical Oncologist, in order to find out more about this sickness. The result was more serious than I thought : problems lie not only on the gastric but also liver (and a bit on the bile). I will undergo a holistic medical check up on Tuesday later on.

I guess, this is the result of my bad quality of life that I lead ever since I was a kid, and my current job nature happens to make things even worse.

Now I come to a very serious question.

Shall I quit my current job?

WTF!

My sister is still studying in high school (note : It is a boarding school quite remote from civilization, though once was distinguished as the best multiracial and national school in the entire Indonesia –I didn’t say that school is a hasbeen, though I want to-). She’s always asking for iPod Nano, latest Digicam, most recent cell phone, as well as up-to-date laptop when I am home, and keeps saying that most of her friends already have it thus bringing it easily to school.

I was like… WTH.. WTF… **&*^&%^%^E$%#$#$!!!!!

Did teenager nowadays have even a little bit sense of crisis? Did they really need a super advance laptop while they probably only require Ms. Office or Adobe Photoshop as their most necessity? I just don’t get the point. When I was on high school, I always went to the nearest internet café in order to do a project or homework, coz I didn’t see any urgent need to own a Notebook, or digicam while I was still on High School, especially on a boarding school that I mentioned above in particular.

Numbers... Money... But they're not yours XD

I realize that it must be hard being parents in today’s era, whereby cost of having the kids is skyrocketing (hence some people prefer to be a single or married without kids). I mean, what is the normal wage for a medium income family in Indonesia, minus the monthly household expenditure, minus the tuition fee of kids, minus income tax, minus transportation, minus recreation fee, minus this and that, and how much will we get as a monthly saving? Oh, did I mention the cost of e-goods and clothes? And now, kids / teenagers are sometimes brainlessly spending money out of nothing, and it doesn’t even worth to be called ‘an investment’ (I didn’t point out bluntly to all teenagers, just some, though still that many).

Having been working in a consultancy firm, sometimes I was wondering with the Indonesia’s statistical economic data above the paper, depicting the middle to high purchasing power of Indonesian consumers, for any branded or luxurious good. Some random data from a research firm (citation needed, but I forgot :S), Indonesian citizens are ranking the 2^nd in terms of likelihood to shop (the 1^st rank is Hongkong people, I left with no wonderment :p), it shows that Indonesians ARE affluent. In fact, when I was going back to Jakarta, I realized that things didn’t look that smooth. There’s still countless of people living under poverty line, and they’re outnumbered the percentage of middle-high income for certain.

And this was my conclusion why there’s no flawless research methods, as the data cannot tell you the 360 degrees of truth : the discrepancy of the affluent and the poor are getting wider and wider as time counts. The rich is getting richer, and the poor is becoming poorer, thus the soaring high earnings from the affluent party have constructed the National Income to be higher in number (but less representing the real welfare condition of the citizens, as the economic gap is so high). From the time being, I do believe that we can’t easily depend on qualitative approach, but also quantitative study at the same time, in order to get a better understanding of both macro and micro insight out of everything.

Anyway, I should have read over spoilers in Narutofan forum, why did i even bother to write things like these :S?