Live below your means



Most people would not disagree to the thought of owning a big house, however reality is that if you stretch yourself too much, you will soon find yourself sitting on beer crates, watching rabbit-eared powered TV, while cautiously hoping neighbours would not peer in the curtain-less windows.

Also, there is a lot more to owning a big house than meets the eye.  Apart from bigger mortgage payments, bigger houses need more electricity, water, gas, landscaping, cleaning, general maintenance.  All this adds up on paper, but not often in the head.

Therefore, it is never a good idea to borrow as much as a home lender (bank) is willing to lend. Do not think that you will make that extra buck spent on top of your budget back from higher capital gains of a more expensive property.  Worrying about bill payments month after month is not worth that mental real estate.  Live below your means.


That said, Donald Trump did not get where he is using his own money.  Leverage is key - learn to love it. 

______________________

Take care.  Spend prudently.
T.Y.

Early morning - 27 Oct 2011

In the living room at the prow of the house,

where light breaks and the windows are frosted with early morning's breathe,
I am writing a story.


The commotion of old keyboard keys.
Like a chain hauled over a gunwale.


Pause.
A stillness greatens,
in which the whole house seems to be thinking.


Expression chiselled on rocks
Butterflies fluttering in cranium


And then I am at it again with a bunched clamor
Quickly.
Quickly.
The flood gates have opened.


Thoughts to fingers.
Fingers in a blur to keep up.


Finished! Voila!


Mouse, top left screen, click.
"Save As".
Click.


Nothing. Pure darkness. Black out....

Memo - Remembering an old friend

Memorandum




To - Antz
From - Terence Yau

Subject - Remembering a friend Date sent 11 October 2011


A few years ago, I met a chubby-faced, slightly pot-bellied male Caucasian. I've only ever called him Antz. Antz had a quirky smile and an odd sense of humour which took me some time to get used to (difficult to tell whether he was being sarcastic or not). Nevertheless, he had a big heart and was a very understanding person.

Back in the day, I was in line to purchase his black Honda B16B-powered EG Civic. At the time, engine swaps were not that common and the redtop B series were fetching top money. Antz offered his pride and joy to me for NZ$14,000 (a bargain to me). It looked exactly the way I wanted a Civic to look like and had all the go fast bits that I wanted. Alas, money and cash failed to exchange hands due to my loan not being approved.

Fast forward a couple of months later, Antz passed away. I was at his funeral. The boys and girls of the Allmotorgroup car crew weeped as Uncle Frank delivered his well structured speech. I vividly remembered Frank trying to crack a joke at the end with tears streaming down his face that Antz would have liked his coffin to be matt black like what he wanted his car to end up looking. I made a mental note on that spot that if I am ever in the position to, I'll build a matt black EG Civic. One with capabilities that he would be proud to own and drive himself.

That day is today. Base is purchased. A game plan is in place.

Watch out 13 second bracket 1/4 mile!!! [CPYCAT] will get there eventually whether it be me behind the wheel or one of the other AMG old boys who are far more experienced. It'll be a "copycat" car with modifications similar to what he had on his back then. It'll never be as good, but it'll do.



Watch over us buddy. We remember you.



"Don't take life too seriously or else you will never make it out alive"



Let the booBAA live forever :)

Terence on behalf of AMG

R.I.P. Steve Jobs (APPLE)

Hi Internet people

I am sick of dropkicks comparing iPhone4 to iPhone4s. Lame jokes over and over.

Andriod fanboys = followers that buy cheap stuff. Probably same crowd that buy fake products.

SHUT UP if you have never used an iPhone.

I still have my POS Galaxy S (time used since new - 20 mins in total). Who wants to buy it?
Galaxy S2 is no improvement. HTC is better, just very slightly. HTC Sensational, HTC Inspire, HTC Evo, HTC Rhyme, HTC Boring *Yawn*

Interface that is catered for millions of different phones with millions of screen resolution, some with button keypad, others touchscreen.  More combos than a McDonald's menu!

I'm sorry, one size does not fit all. Try again Google. Look at Microsoft versus Apple. *Ahem* Free isn't always better.

Apple products = one better than the other even if it LOOKS the same. And yet Andriod fans comment how iPhone users only buy the phone for looks? LOL... Look again...

Everything else with a touch screen and a phone calling function = Ugly plastic copies of the definition of what a smartphone is paved by APPLE.

Yours truly
Steve Jobs fanboy (RIP sir.  May your innovation spark burn as brightly without you. Go APPLE)

***waits for angry angry Driod users to swamp in.***

My thoughts on Supercars

Supercars - they look fantastic, outrageous, gorgeous, cool...  Price tag - !!!  What mentality does one go through before coming to the realisation that he/she will buy a supercar?  Imagine waking up one morning and go, "I got a spare half a million in my bank account.  I shall use it to buy a car."  Yes, a vehicle that supposedly transports from point A to point B in a fashion not to dissimilar to being the most beautiful girl who walks into the room.  Or the most ugly.  People stare, whether it be for the right or wrong reasons.

Whatever the reason may be, I have to thank all these people who are wealthy enough to splash their supposedly hard-earned money on these machines.  Because without these people, car companies wouldn't bother with them, which means normal people like us would have nothing to dream/salivate about.  Also none of the amazing gadgetry in these supercars will trickle down to everyday affordable cars.

Next time when a Lambo/Ferrari zooms past you in anger, do not make a comment about how small the guy's private is (if it is a male driving it), instead appreciate the fact that he is keeping the dream alive!!!  

T.Y.

My short claim to internet fame

My appearance on www.stuff.co.nz - YouTube link

One of those mornings...

Once again I have been up the whole night partly trying to cram all that I can for the upcoming test later today at 5:30pm and partly marveling at my new Warhammer 40,000 starter kit, complete paint kit and a primer spray can.  I will use this as excuse for not remembering to bring a towel with me to the gym and only realizing so after doing several (2...) laps at the pool.  Silly me walked all around the changing room dripping like a dog.  At one point, I did think about shaking myself off like one.  I am sure all them important looking older gentleman wouldn't appreciate me spraying my filth all over their expensive suits.

A brilliant plan struck me like lightning, so much so it actually literally hurt my poor sleep deprived brain.  I grabbed my t-shirt (yes, yucky...), walked briskly into the disabled toilet, wiped myself off with my own sweat, then I realised there is a thick paper towel dispenser right in front of my eyes... Sigh.  No use crying over spilled milk, I swirled around trying to make a quick exit before the floor gets soaked from me dripping.  Guess what?  A pro ballerina would have been proud of me as I did, what seemed like a 720 before crashing into the wall...  Not sure whether I heard it correctly, but I was pretty sure I heard a, "OH MY GOD, you OK?".

The embarrassment continues.  I stayed in the cubicle till I think most of the people who were concerned about me left before I worked up the courage to dart straight to my locker.  I grabbed all my gear and started dressing myself furthest away from my locker.  Less suspicious.

Boxers on, jeans on, shirt on, wallet in right pocket, keys in right pocket, as I grabbed my iPhone I had to do a long stretch.  Arms upright in the air.  iPhone decided at maximum stretch pose it would launch itself... Crash. Landed on concert floor... There were still quite a few people in the changing room and they all stared at me and gave me the "WTF are you doing???" look.

Success! Finally made it out the gym alive. Drove home... "Wait.... where's my bag...."

Yup... It is still in the changing room...