Rabbi's share

What is up with Mcdonalds in HK not giving out enough ketup these days?  Don't they understand that for us to enjoy their fries, or upgrade from a medium to a biggie, they need to provide us a sufficient amount of ketchup?

Usually in Hong Kong they only give you a tiny bag of ketchup for every order of fries.  So I asked for some more.  The lady at the counter slowly and reluctantly reached under the counter, seemingly grabbing a handful, but handed me one more tiny bag of ketchup.  Then she gave me this look as though I just had committed a sin, and I should feel penitent for costing the company an extra bag of ketchup, at the same time making people behind me wait a few seconds longer.  Her blatant attitude had provoked my irascibility, and my head was full of steam ready to burst.  So I stared back at her straight in the eyes..."Give me MORE!"

I mean what the hell is this, a cost cutting program to save money on ketchup?

I just read an article in the Wall Street Journal interviewing Joseph Zen, the newly appointed Cardinal in Hong Kong.  I never really cared about religion.  I guess the indifferent attitude toward religion was so deeply entrenched in me during the years i was in China that my four years of life in US was never affected by its religious atmosphere.  Nevertheless, some of the Cardinal's comments were so appalling and yet so true that it really compelled me to read till the end.  When asked about his concerns in China, he said: "People in China now tend to today, to try to please the powerful and oppress the weak.  Everyone acts like an emperor in their own small field but doesn't dare to offend their superiors."

I cannot agree with him more.  I've always despised people who please the powerful and oppress the weak.  They are called cowards, or in everyday language, fucking pussies.  I still have vivid memories of people who fit this image.  However, time and again I realized instead of accusing and despising these people, it is better to understand their plight.

Chinese have always been ruled by one party.  This omipotent sovereignty makes all decisions and cannot be challenged.  Rebels who protest against this sovereighty often result in being fired, being detained, or even being executed.  Remember the June 4th protest, or the more recent closing down of "Freezing Point"?

Chinese people are afraid to challenge authorities because they have too much to lose.  The same situation between the government and the protestors take places within a classroom between the students and the teacher; between the junior and senior employees in a working place and so on.  How can we change this situation?  Is democracy necessary?  I'll continue with my opinion on democracy next time I feel like writing.  For now, time for some blackjack!

To be continued...

I had a crazy idea for the last few days, so I decided to write about it. 

Have you heard of counting cards in blackjack?  It is a probability strategy that gives you an advantages over the dealer.  Sounds fascinating doesn't it?  I have heard about it through TV shows or word of buzz long before, but never really cared enough to do any further research.  Since currently I'm desperately in need of more capital of my own to create a portfolio of investments, I thought playing blackjack might be a way to start.  However, I never doubted the fact that becoming a professional gambler would be too reckless a career to pursue.  I just want to make some money and build up a small capital if Blackjack proves to be successful.

You will be surprised how many books has been written on the subject.  I searched for Blackjack under books at Amazon.com and a few hundred results popped up as though counting cards is not and never was a strategy known only by the few professionals.  Anyhow, I selected a couple which were recently published and  had nice reviews; I will set out afterwork to Pageone bookstore to get them.

I think my recent urge of investing and making money came from two factors: one, I am quite a material person and can be extravagant from time to time; second, I cannot picture myself holding a regular, salary paying job for 30 or 40 years until I retire.  So what's the solution?  Get rich quick so I can live off of my interest-paying savings later!

I'm currently stressed out at work, so i thought it might be a good time to take a break and relieve myself for a moment.  I can't say my life has been exciting recently.  I've already decided not to work for Deloitte permanently, thereby losing all my motivations working as an intern.  A few days ago some people from the human resource department emphasized these accounting jobs suits people who have extroverted personalities.  I thought that was fucking horseshit.  I don't know if working in big 4 suits anybody.  Besides the fact that people here gets a 40% raise every year, it really kills my conscience to say anything positive about the job.  Just to list a few things i don't like: extremely long working hours especially for auditors; people here rarely communicate in English, written or orally, so our precious youth of which a big fraction was spent on studying English is all wasted, your english can only get worse, not better;  the pay starts out really low, for those of you who invested a vast amount of money studying overseas, this is a bad return;  and most of all, auditors are often belittled and frowned upon by clients, they are worthless human beings who the clients cannot wait to get rid of.

I don't want to sound so pessimistic and depressive as many of my acquaintences received offers and are more likely than not to take it.  Nevertheless, people who climb the corporate ladder in an accounting firm eventually still makes a nice living.  But it's not for me.