Monopoly (No, Not the Board Game!)

 Picture Courtesy of Pinco.co.uk

What are the characteristics of Monopoly?

No, silly. I don't mean the board game. Although I love the card version of the board game as well (Monopoly Deal *_*) - Monopoly is a situation in which a single company, organization or a group has a control or owns all or nearly all of the market; for a given product or a set service (Miniature extract from Investopedia, read 2014).

There are three main characteristics of Monopolization by a company or an organization. These are as shown below:

Golden Characteristic 1 -  There is no competition between companies

Golden Characteristic 2 -  The company reaps an enormous and abnormal sum of profit

Golden Characteristic 3 -  There are barriers to entry for other competitors

Monopolization - although an avid term to many third world countries; and is often seen in a horrible light, does have its own advantages to try own over it's disadvantages. The advantages can be seen such that because one organization owns the market, the pricing for the items or services are non-changing and not made a variable depending on what situations may bring. For example, it can be confusing and taxing to have customers needing to make millions of inquiries over the wide scope of items and services offered by different companies or organizations to find the perfect match to their desires - rather than having a universal company to deal with. 

Other than that, this also helps the government in their spending. Referring back to Golden Characteristic 2 - in which the company reaps a gargantuan amount of profit; in the case whereby the company is owned by the government (which is more likely so, and if not then taxes), then the large profit can be used for capital investment or the sorts - probably for the betterment of the country in terms of infrastructure. Remember that the term united we stand can play a huge part here, there is a higher likeliness of the business or organization can penetrate national markets given that most of the funds are concentrated on one business alone rather than being divided among several groups. Another factor that contributes to this is wholesale - which means the monopolizing company can obtain their stocks with a discounted price, and then hand it over to their customers cheaper.

Monopoly in itself is a huge word to be playing with in the solidarity of our palms. To contradict the advantages as stated, there are also firm disadvantages. The first disadvantage will be fiercely obvious to eyes of the public. Referring to Golden Characteristic 1 - and then 3; There are little to no competition between companies, meaning that the monopolizing company gets to become the ruler or king of the Market. This becomes more solidly enforced when there are barriers preventing other companies from taking part in the Market. Because of this, there is little to no pressure for the monopolizing company to do well in what they do - resulting in potential slacking of the workforce in the workplace or put generally; the company. Onto a worser note, these monopolizing companies resort to reap benefits while exploiting their customers. After all, these customers have no choice but to either accept the non-satisfactory services or leave it and live without it. Customers will often complain and rage all over the media in order to get these companies to notice their plea - but it will go unnoticed. After all, one or two missing customers will not affect its earnings.

Price wars can also occur to the benefit of the customers if monopoly does not exist. Each company eye-ing the market will provide a better and more affordable service that can capture the longing hearts of the customers in the battlefield of earnings, and the best company wins. Monopoly on its own does not allow this to occur, and many monopolizing companies actually mark up prices and practice price discrimination - in which the prices for goods and services vary on who the customers are. For example, the branch of a certain company located in a certain area might charge higher for their products compared to another location based on the earnings of the people in those locations itself. Because their goods will never fail to leave their grasp and go into choiceless consumer's hands, they can offer inferior products and services to their own chagrin.

Another disadvantage of monopoly is that black markets will tend to exist. Since there are no other competitors to offer an item or a product at a cheaper price or of a higher par or standard, agents of the black market will offer illegal schemes and methodism by exploiting various loopholes in the Market. For example, many smokers tend to buy untaxed ciggarettes by illegal means for a cheaper price rather than ciggarettes on a contrary of taxed prices resulting in around four or five times the original priced amount. 

The rich will become richer and the poor will become poorer. They will NEVER be able to break free from the chain of poverty if monopoly triumphs. Putting aside all advantages and disadvantages - monopoly will mean marked up prices. Adding salt to the wound, government taxes may occur. For example, Milkpowder for babies will cost around double or even triple it's original price - and breadmakers from lower income families will not have the incentive or funds to feed and raise their own blood and sweat, their young. They result in illegal means to raise their family in whatever ways they can; stealing, kidnapping and killing for money. Cars will be hijacked and then sold in other countries, or stolen just because the taxes imposed on them are too high to be longed for by ordinary citizens under the sun. People who are under the stress of these duple or triplefold multitudes will be under stress - and humans become desperate and impatient under pressure. Still wonder why the crime rate increases?

-----------------------------------------------

All facts aside, my original plan was to complain about the inferior services by the company monopolizing the fixed-lines in my own country - having workforce far too lazy to even come and inspect the area I currently reside in, cancelling their appointment a number if times and rescheduling it, only to once again break their promise. 

However, I don't see how complaining there can let me achieve any significant benefit - so I am going to once again play with lady-luck on submitting another form to install these fixed-lines in my area for phone and unlimited internet, not only for my own benefits but for the betterment of everyone residing in my current neighbourhood.

Special Thanks:

http://knownai.hubpages.com/hub/Advantages-And-Disadvantages-Of-A-Monopoly-Market
http://www.economicshelp.org/microessays/markets/advantages-monopoly/
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/monopoly.asp


XOXO

KiiKiiYu

I don't usually complain about the internet speed

But when I do, the speed sucks ass. 

So I moved about one kilometre away from my old to my new house about a year ago - from the Muara Tabuan Area, Kuching to the Tabuan Tranquility P5 area IN THE SAME CITY.

Usually, fixed landlines for telephones will be set up quickly, but in the case of Kuching and up the status ladder my beloved country Malaysia, there is a system of monopolization and so all of the fixed landlines are managed by one company, Telekom Malaysia.

As a student and also an avid gamer, I am always in need of an internet (yeah, typical third world bastard) and it is amazingly irritating and boring having to live without phonelines and internet. So, my dad and I decided to send an official letter to Telekom Malaysia to "beg" them to install telephone lines in the housing area (which is less than a hundred metres away from an area with telephone lines - and the mini station). They reciprocated by answering that this so called "project" only "might" be proposed and even if the so called project is proposed, the decision will be governed mainly by the viability and the budget which is you know - very very convincing :|

So anyways, we went and got a Maxis Broadband internet plan - which looks VERY irresistable indeed. Although a quota is imposed contrary to the unlimited internet plan we had before, at least we had internet - or so we thought.

The best plan we took were for 12 GB of quota, with  36 GB quota for off peak (2:00 fucking a.m. to 8:00 a.m. - although it did make me wake up early everyday which is a good thing I guess). After the quota is used up, we are promised to be able to still surf the internet with a speed limit of 128 kbps (1.28 Mbps) instead of 21 Mbps - which is not bad to be precise...

Until we realized the horrible truth - the promised speed of up to 21 Mbps and up to 128 kbps were infact phonies. I only get to see the highest download speed of 10 Mbps instead of the promised 21 Mbps, and for the 128 kbps... well, see for yourself. (AM I USING JARING? WHY DOES THIS REMIND ME OF A DIAL UP LINE?)

We did try to contact customer service to ask for any possible solution to survive with this - and we indeed got a reply, which is applaudable - but not very helpful. (Looks like they have too much money to spend on SMS)

Trying to search for a better alternative, we tried to be directed to Maxis Fibre, instead of having a customer service representative answer the call, we were set to listen to a neverending Maxis advertisement for around fifteen minutes before we gave up and proceeded to spend the rest of our more "worthless" time using more "useful" things, like losing weight and gaining muscles.

And so, we decided to be hopeful - for the day that Telekom doesnt monopolize installs fixed lines in our area (TABUAN TRANQUILITY PH5 \o/ ) or that Maxis actually becomes more competent improves the quality of their channels for a faster speed. We customers dont want to pay for trash! want a better quality, not just quantity of broadband subscriptions with feeble speeds :3

A letter to my 16 year old (cute) self

To:  16 Year Old Self

                    Dear younger me, by the time you read this letter - you would be around my age or older. I write this letter in order to bash you for being so ignorantly naive about life and being less stupidly optimistic than your older self. I am here to tell you that your SPM or your Secondary Level Exams result does not matter. So what, if you managed to achieve grades with flying colors? When you are out there to work - no one actually wants to even know how you fare in secondary level educations or even bother to offer fucks if you brag about it.

There are many things that I do not want you to regret about when you reach my age, and I will list them down now - so make sure you take proper effort to widen your eyes and read them line-by-line, word-by-word you dipshit.

First and foremost; lose some fucking weight. No one takes you seriously until you lose those flabs and that double chin. People may tell you that it's okay to be fat since you're tall and whatnot, but I tell you - that advice is created by fat tall people, for fat tall people to feel better about themselves. It is never too early to start working out. It is never too early to eat healthy and exercise. Go, jog with your beloved pet - at which I will tell you straight out. She is going to be poisoned and put to sleep in two years time, so spend more time with her before you regret it.

Losing weight means people will finally look at you differently. You are no longer the snob that minds not what he eats, no longer the person looked down upon by others because you sweat a lot at hot places and get exhausted fairly quickly when doing a light chore. Don't be influenced by peer pressure. Live for yourself and be yourself, except thinner.

Secondly, do what you love to do - no matter what they say, no matter what critiques may throw at you. I do know that you love singing and voice acting in Japanese. I do know your mom and dad opposes this hobby, they feel that it is meaningless and stupid. In three years time, you are going to be mad addicted to KPOP, and even be in a depression because you cannot be in Korea, and you dont have the chance to become even a KPOP trainee even if you actually have talent buried inside you somewhere. It is hard for even me to tell you how not to be depressed - but depression is a painful thing. It feels like your heart is being pierced by needles, nails, glass - sharp objects, name it and it'l be there. You will not feel like doing anything else, but lie down in your bed and look sad all day. Your parents won't be very fond of this, and you will be ostracized. Fear not, this depression will only last for three to four months and you will be yourself again after you realize that you will never be able to become a KPOP trainee because you have reached the age limit for audition.

Continue singing on Youtube, you do not need to earn money and publicity. Just sing because you love to sing. Likes and comments from the public are just an added cherry on the cake you have baked. Update your videos more often, stop being a picky perfectionist that only uploads videos with perfect EVERYTHING. Look back at your old videos and realize that what is in them is not quality - but interest, happiness and ultimately uniqueness. 

Thirdly, do not be afraid of people. This does not mean that people should be afraid of you either - take initiative to know people, say hi to people. Make more friends - because ultimately your career is built on the number of friends you know. Having more friends also mean that you get to learn a lot of things from them, which is the basis of "Wisdom is Having Wise Friends".

There are many other things I want to advice and nail into you before you grow up, but I will narrow it down to three for now - not that I will send any more letters to you, because I feel that one is plenty. Things like "appreciate your unlimited internet, you will lose it in five years time" doesn't seem important enough - so I will let you learn how to handle them by yourself.

So until we meet; eat healthy, lose weight - appreciate everyone and love what you do.

Sincerest Regards,

Your 21 Year Old Self

Resignation, Retirement and Breaks

Recently, my dad told us that he was tired of working and wanted a break - and to work as close to home as possible. No one was surprised, really. This was following the recent cases of horrifying aircraft incidents such as hijacks and attacks, and my dad just so happens to be a pilot. Not for an airplane, but for a helicopter (but who cares, its still an aircraft). Inclusive of the fact that Ebola had just started to get into his country of work - his retirement plan is now becoming seemingly a necessity instead of a want.

As the main breadwinner in the family, he works hard to fund all four of his children's education - to a tertiary level, which is no walk in the park; so him wanting to take a well deserved rest is no biggie, really.

I, as the youngest in the family is still pursuing my bachelor studies (third year as in 2014) - with a simple 20% scholarship as there was no better scholarship scheme that fitted my background (Yeah, I am an honest guy that wont dare input false information for a scholarship), and this current scholarship is a bit of a foul because a CGPA of 3.75 is to be maintained for the scholarship to carry forward, and it is just 20% of the fees. I know of better scholarship schemes that offer a full payment of school fees with just a constant maintenance of a 2.00 CGPA, and to think I couldnt apply for it because of my background status (like income, etc) that I didn't dare to forge. 

Maintaining a CGPA of 3.75 sounds easy, but it actually isn't. The GPA corresponding to the marks are as such:

80% - 4.00 GPA

75 - 80% - 3.67 GPA

- - -

- which means that I am only allowed to obtain at least more than 80% for all four subjects and have only a few chances to pull the continuous CGPA up if I slip on a few subjects, but not all. The truth is hard and painful, like running into a brick wall. And there is nothing much I can do, except complain and pray that a better scholarship scheme will run headfirst into me; and that chance is also getting slimmer. No one in the right mind will offer a scholarship scheme to a third year student, finishing in another year. 

This painful fact is why I try so hard in my studies, though many people might see me as lifeless and booky. I have put aside a few best friends to study, and I regret that deeply even though I don't feel as if I have a choice. I wanted to apologize to them; but I feel as if I will be that little brat that apologizes and then does the same mistake again - and again. 20% is not much, but if it can lessen my dad's burden then it means a lot to me. 

I still fear of the day when this scholarship crumbles, even though I try so damn hard to redeem myself in it's grace. I fear of the day my dad will have to work harder even though he wants a break - just to pay for my studies, just to fund something that should no longer hold any more importance to him.

My dad had been trying to offer me the best - he wants me to study overseas, live overseas, experience the life overseas. I tried nicely everytime to offer a counter-excuse to refuse. Why? Because I know he will have to work harder. I know that he will have to suffer in order for me to obtain a meager half-baked experience overseas. Even though the offer seems too good to be true, I would rather work hard with my own sweat and blood to obtain what I want. I know of a few people that have practically begged their family for a chance to be overseas - I do not think of them as spoiled, there might be a pinch of envy in one corner of my heart; but I am happy for them.

I have just started my internship programme last month, on the 14th of June 2014. Working as a trial for not even a year, or thirty years up like my dad - I have already felt depressed and tired. I had practically not much time to do what I loved and wanted, and that was enough to give me suicidal thoughts. Thankfully, my brain had more control over my heart. I am grateful to my brain for self-inducing stupidly optimistic reasons for me to live on - and so I did. This is one of the reasons I felt that my dad should be able to rest if he wants to rest - putting aside the fact that many hap-hazardous incidents are threatening his life.

After the announcement this morning, I went online and looked for reasons that people may retire and what might happen to them; and I became more understanding towards my dad's plea for a break. If you want to read more about it, you can read it here: http://www.financialsamurai.com/the-dark-side-of-early-retirement-risks-dangers/

I just hope that my dad will not feel like he is useless in society's eyes after he takes a break - and if he continues looking for a new job in his homecountry, then I hope that he gets a relaxing job.

XOXO

KiiKii the Yu