Picatho's causeries

Ah! Finally it was a pleasure upshot - a release of last minute pressure - after months of harsh working pressure. Eventually I got my office's taxation jobs completed ahead of schedule before June 30. When I saw happy faces of my colleagues who were collectively enjoying the contentment of "mission possible" by beating the job's deadline, I was happy too this evening thanks to the full cooperation of all colleagues.

We had our works this year procrastinated for some reasons: some because we had failed to call upon clients to get task systematically at hand; some because some of our colleagues were still fresh to get idea to start; others because of the "World Cup 2006" heat that makes the whole system to slow down. That certainly included my frequent escapes from "dull and unpleasant tasks" to reserve for watching football!

Today marks the darker day in the life of consumers. Electricity tariff in the peninsula goes up by 12% from today.

TNB said the increase will not affect the low to medium income group which uses less than 200kWh of electricity per month as the existing rate of 21.8 sen per kWh remains unchanged. Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said those unaffected by the tariff increase made up 60% or 3.036 million of the 5.1million households in the peninsula.

Many poor consumers who are delighted that their watt consumption is falling below the marginal hiking point, are happy of being good fortune. As they have believed that the government is having the people in mind before allowing the increase by TNB. So they have expressed comfortably that they are not affected. In fact, it's so stupid for not understand simply the cost accounting implication that "wool is coming from the body of sheep".

Commodities from what you eat to what you use in daily life is mostly produced under a cost of electricity. Since the electricity hike will likely affect business circles in all sectors, certainly the burden would be passed on to consumers. And at the end, it is only those people in the low to medium income group to suffer from inflation.

Inflation and deflation play a vital role in the frugality of economy. Let see how people could stand getting balance within the degree of wealth (income) and comfort (spending) in everyday life! May I exclaim Malaysia boleh?

Today marks the annual "five month, five day" (colloquial for the fifth day of the fifth lunar month)Dumpling Festival. So my wife likes to eat dumpling.

She bought several her favorite alkalic dumplings home this morning. Although I also like this kind of dumpling but when I came to know the price of this dumpling, I "phewed" as if we were having some kind of golden dumplings. The brutal truth is this kind of tiny dumpling, sized slightly larger then a 50c coin, excessively cost RM0.60 each!

It is unavoidably that sometime we do sacrifice for the beguiling inflation rather than demandpull or costpush inflation.

A 3D2N trip to Pulau Perhentian from 12/05/06 to 15/05/06 with a group of church members have given me many captured memories. We have fun there and I really love the sea, the beach, the resort and the little nemo held during a temporary catch .....

Snorkeling around many islands gave me a true and exciting experiences. The resultant white sand beaches combined with a very relaxed atmosphere make this a "get away" feeling.

And ... a quick mistaken jump from a speedboat while making a snorkeling gave me a pain of both ankles' sprain .......recovered just by today. Anyhow it's a great remembrance!

Here are some of my shots ......

Accountants are facing a big challenge to stay in the forefront of the ever changing commercial environment.

The importance of maintaining professional knowledge has never been greater than today. Not only is there the need to keep up to date on tax, compliance and International Accounting Standards, there is also the need to broaden their knowledge on the impact of globalization on business.

National Institute of Accountants (NIA), Australia have had its inaugural conference together with its conference dinner successfully held in Malaysia on April 26 at Carlton Conference Centre of JW Marriott Hotel, KL. The conference was titled as "Managing change maintaining excellence - challenges facing the Professional Accountant" and was officiated by Y.Bhg Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, the Auditor General of Malaysia.

The conference was designed to introduce to its Malaysian members and accounting people an international seminar which is covering the topics such as Malaysian Accounting Standards Update; Corporate Governance; International Financial Reporting Standards; and Tax Reform - GST Implementation

Showcases such as Singapore's GST scenario and Australia's success IFR implementation, were also presented as a helpful example for the audience.

There was a large audience and me as a Fellow Professional National Accountant member was not the exceptional.

The NIA is now actively promoting recognition of its members, their specialized skills and the accounting profession in general. It is one of the three recognized accountancy bodies in Australia and is also a full member of the International Federation of Accountants.

Those who need further information regarding to the NIA, could contact the NIA Malaysian Branch Office for Mr T.K. Lee at Suite D03-01, Plaza Mont Kiara, No 2 Jalan Kiara, 50480 KL. Lee can also be reached by e-mailing tklee@maxis.net.my.

There're people having their own opinions or reasons to blog.

Few days ago, my wife had just nagged me, "Why are you blogging for nothing?" I simply countered her "Didn't you noticed that I'd lost my writing power on Chinese?

Frankly speaking, I've found myself these days tended to loss memory. But I'm not panicking at all as I'm very clear that I'm losing memory, not my mind. My cognitive function is still working enough for me to carry on blogging!

It's natural that you do indeed lose some slippage in memory as you grow older. But I believe that the natural decrease in memory function that may start at third age is not a sign of senility or of serious dementia like alzheimer's.

"In fact, people between the ages of 65 and 75 are actually better at certain kinds of memory than young adults," says Dr Adams-Price, associate professor of psychology and chairman of the interdisciplinary gerontology program at Mississipi. "Particularly in remembering to do things and keep appointments."

Feeding your head is the art of cherishing memories. If you keep reading and keep learning new skills, the ongoing stimulation of your cognitive functions can minimize memory loss. A pretty consistent line of research says that.

At first, I also thought of giving up blog writing or simply let it be fallen into 'coma' like what Lydia Teh's blog was suffering now. Because my mind just isn't on the ball all the time when writing a blog. Worst than I've to use a classic solution - "slow down," "pause for certain minutes to mentally form my intentions."

But after I've had balanced my learning time and ought-to-do-things time with pretty much respected to function. I've suddenly realized that anything that I can do to make myself pay more attention especially hobbies that require thinking - such as blogging, actually helps to cherish my rusty memories.

Oh yes, besides this and Ginkgo, there is compelling evidence that a habit of exercise can also helps to control memory loss!