Enough of peeping into hotel or condo rooms-lah!

The world's economy shows signs of entering a huge recession; and I believe the blardy government is not interested in fixing our economy which will in tandem follow the US economy's collapse predicted to happen right after the December 2008 US presidential election.

Meanwhile,our government and various agencies keep on peeping into hotel and condo rooms -- after the failed Mohd Ali Rustam's failed Squad Skodeng, and the similar clone of the FT Reilgious Department -- to pry into Private Citizen's affair/s which actually fall within the domain of God and Man, nobody else's business unless the peeper is Anointed as God's keeper.

I left a comment on a Comment on MI commenter's, but it failed to register, so here goes:

"Hi purist: wrt "Frankly i am not bothered about whom Anwar sodomised. I think i can safely say half of malaysian men would have at least tried to sodomise their wife once. Are we going to take statistic now ? ", I agree with your First part only, not the wifey reference in second.

As a Malaysian adult, I believe what two consenting adults do/di/have done/will do wihin the four bright or grey walls of their house room or hotel suite if for the two to decide whether it's against God's creed. For other busy bodies, esp Police and UMNO snoop squads, go back to work! Now I'm going back to work, have to earn my B&B, and don't anybody ask what I do for a living as ong as I deem it's NOT illegal in my Lord's eyes, K!"

DESIDERATA: I will reprise a news report that predicts the gloom and doom kambing to thy neighbourhood's sundry and tehtarik shop neaerest YOU, poor consumer like Desi unless you became a billionaire-at-27 with several siblings following thy foolsteps. Eat, Drink and Be Merry, anywan?

TAKE1:

EU points at U.S. for WTO collapse

By William Schomberg REUTERS
Wed Jul 30, 3:34 PM ET



BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's trade chief Peter Mandelson said on Wednesday the United States helped to bring down global trade talks this week when its negotiators shunned a compromise proposal at a key juncture in the talks.


The United States hit back and accused the EU of having tried to undo a carefully crafted set of compromises because it was under fire from European governments including France.

The proposal in question was drawn up by the EU on Tuesday in a last-gasp bid to unblock an impasse over an agricultural trade issue being discussed by seven powers at the centre of the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks.

Mandelson initially declined to point fingers, calling the collapse of the talks a collective failure. But his frustration at Washington was clear in a weblog he wrote on Wednesday, describing the events of the previous day when the talks failed.

"...when WTO chief (Pascal) Lamy reconvenes the Group of Seven negotiators at midday, the Indians and the Chinese express reservations and the U.S. rejects the proposal outright, much to Lamy's understandable frustration," Mandelson said.

"It seems that the issue on which we have diverged is more important for some than agreement as a whole. Instead of reaching out for help to solve the problem, they are digging in," he said.

After that, a U.S. official "simply does not show up" when negotiations resume and U.S. trade chief Susan Schwab, heading into the finale of the negotiations, stopped off in the press room "to get her rebuttal in first," Mandelson wrote.

"The session that follows is tense and angry and Lamy does not allow it to go on for long," he said.

"It is bad enough to be facing defeat in the last mile of such a marathon. It's worse to realize that some of the people across the table, instead of working for success, are in reality preparing for failure."

U.S. COUNTERS

"The EU's anger is misdirected, misguided and being misused," said Gretchen Hamel, a spokeswoman for Schwab.

The trade official who missed the resumption of negotiations was in consultations with Schwab at the time, she said.

"To deflect from their own domestic concerns, the EU self-appointed their own official to renegotiate something that had already been agreed upon."

Hamel was referring to compromise proposals drawn up by Lamy on Friday in a bid to save the talks and which several of the WTO powers, including the EU and the United States, accepted as a way to take the negotiations forward.

The seven-year Doha negotiations have been dogged by differences often over the degree to which big developing countries such as China, India, Brazil or South Africa should open up their markets in farm and industrial goods.

Tuesday's breakdown after nine days of tense negotiations was over rules allowing developing countries to erect temporary barriers to foreign food products in the event of import surges.

The United States feared the new rules would close off markets for its farmers, who also faced a lower limit on their subsidies under another part of the planned WTO deal.

In an interview with Reuters, Mandelson said Washington's demand that its farmers get new market access in return for less subsidies had hindered the Doha round, launched in 2001 to help poor countries develop, especially in agriculture.

"The dollar-for-dollar approach does not add up in any way," Mandelson said. "Yes, there has to be balance, yes there has to be reciprocity, but in a development round a dollar-for-dollar approach is never going to stack up."

(Writing by William Schomberg, editing by Paul Taylor)

TAKE2:

Fed extends actions to ease global credit squeeze
From NST Online, Published: 2008/07/31



WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve took further steps yesterday to battle a global credit crunch, including an extension of an emergency lending program for investment firms facing a liquidity squeeze.

The Fed said it took the actions “in light of continued fragile circumstances in financial markets.”

In addition to the extension of credit to investment banks, the Fed said it would lengthen the terms of another program to help retail banks meet funding needs, and extend reciprocal credit arrangements with the European Central Bank (ECB) and Swiss National Bank to help European banks get dollar funding.

“The programs are designed to combat systemic risks to the financial system related to short-term funding pressures — pressures that can be significantly exaggerated by contagion and speculative bandwagon effects,” said economist Brian Bethune at Global Insight.



“These pressures re-emerged at the end of June and in early July — the fourth episode of severe pressures in the financial markets since the crisis erupted in US and European financial markets in August 2007.” The US central bank will extend past the original September expiration date to January 30 a program aimed at helping get liquidity to so-called primary dealers, big investments firms which have a relationship with the Fed.

The program was implemented after the collapse of Wall Street giant Bear Stearns, which faced a cash squeeze after being unable to borrow in private markets to fund operations.

It was the first time since the 1930s that the Fed had offered credit to non banks.

In a further step to help stressed investment firms, the central bank said the New York Fed would auction options for these firm to borrow Treasury securities to meet short-term cash needs. The Fed is adding US$50 billion to the program in addition to the US$200 billion offered through the program known as TSLF, or Term Securities Lending Facility.

Primary dealers eligible for the program include 19 big investment firms including Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch as well as foreign-based companies with US operations such as UBS and Daiwa Securities.

The Fed also yesterday announced a new longer-term loan program for banks under its term auction facility implemented last year to help depository institutions get liquidity without resorting to the Fed’s discount window, which sometimes carries a stigma.

The banks will be able to obtain loans for up to 84 days, up from the current 28 days.

Stephen Gallagher, economist at Societe Generale, said the new move will help banks facing problems providing liquidity for mortgages.

“The Fed wants to maintain easy financing during this time,” Gallagher said.

“Mortgage rates have been rising, but the direct benefit to the mortgage markets from this extension is dubious. Banks need to raise funding and the environment is poor. The Fed is offering banks additional support in this time period.”

In coordination with the Fed, the ECB and the Swiss central bank agreed to extend their swap lines to accommodate the longer maturities. These swaps allow the other central banks to provide dollar funding to financial firms in Europe.

The Fed authorised an increase in its dollar swap line with the ECB to US$55 billion from US$50 billion. The size of the SNB’s swap line remains at US$12 billion. Both are authorised through January 30.

Global Insight’s Bethune estimated that the previous programs “were equivalent to a reduction in effective short-term borrowing costs of about 25 to 30 basis points, and this latest expansion would bump this effective reduction in borrowing costs — perhaps by an additional 10 to 15 basis points — depending on market conditions.” - AFP

DESI: Go buy the NST or The Star-lah, AT LEAST READ THE FOREIGN NEWS! I know you peeps have to cut down on expenses after some 20% inflation the past two months -- the blardy gomen says it's only 7-8percent, are these morons from planet Bars? -- Peep buy again, I may gift thee TAKE3 if you beHAVE! DON'T TAKE TO THE STREETS, NYET!

TAKE3
to come, Okay! I'm providing a free service hear! Don't know Miss Patience is also Ms, Mr Virtuous, flee! Vamoose, geta here outa Hell!


TAKE4:

MISSing

"4" is my fave number (Sei in Kantonis!, followed often by liau, LIAU!:(:(when dealing with these witless morons, bolting the stable gates after the horses have bolted!
OR
while they go snooping, the equipment breaks down or goes MISSing.
Also PI Bala goes MISSing.
Also the Doctor who first examined Saifool another moron-after-the-PDRM's-heart goes MISSing.
One day so-ON, their wife/ves goes/go MISSing.

From The Star Online:

Thursday July 31, 2008
Cops want drastic action
By LOURDES CHARLES


KUALA LUMPUR: The federal police logistics department has recommended to the Home Ministry that the contracts of several regular firms who supplied them with sub-standard equipment be terminated or suspended immediately.

Its director Commissioner Datuk Mashuri Zainal said his department had to take such drastic action as the lives and health of police officers and men were at stake.

He said bullet-proof vests and other equipment like anti-riot gear, including helmets, purchased through direct negotiations had been put on hold, as they had not been fully tested by the department for their safety features.

“The special committee set up by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to conduct pre-delivery inspection of equipment purchased has unearthed many scary details.

“Initial investigations by the committee also revealed the involvement of not only police officers and men, but also civil staff and unscrupulous suppliers appointed by the Home Ministry,” he told The Star.

At least 12 people, including police and civil staff, have been transferred and placed under investigation for alleged involvement in the matter.

Comm Mashuri said other shocking findings made by the special committee included the discovery of pigskin characteristics on the collar of SWAT boots. The Chemistry Department conducted a test on the boots and came to this conclusion.

The boots deal was projected to cost a whopping RM54mil.

Comm Mashuri said even drill boots used by recruits were not according to specifications and failed the test conducted by the Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence (STRIDE).

“The heels fall off easily and the material used is not waterproof, while the boots worn by traffic policemen are also not waterproof as required.

“What shocked us even more was that the boots worn by our Federal Reserve Unit personnel and those on United Nations duty in Timor Leste are not even nail-proof,” he added.

Comm Mashuri said the vision flicker lights, used during roadblocks, posed a threat to both the officers manning the roadblocks as well as to the motorists as they were not bright enough.

Even roadblock signage as well as the luminous cones had to be returned, as they were too flimsy and damaged easily.

The special committee, Comm Mashuri said, also inspected the single iron bed, mattress and pillow used by police recruits following frequent complaints.

“We found the iron rods used for the beds to be thinner than specified, while the pillows did not meet Malaysian standards, and were fire hazards.

“Our officers are uncovering more and more shoddy dealings as they probe further into the matter,” he said, adding that even the machetes (parangs) were smaller than specified, rusted easily and broke when used to chop branches.

Comm Mashuri said he and his officers would continue to conduct stringent checks as required under circular SPP 5/2007 issued by the Treasury involving the management of moveable assets.

The circular requires the receiving officer to ensure goods received met the required specifications, including testing them and ensuring the measurements, including weight, quality and quantity, were according to the order.

The goods must also be safe to use and in good working condition.

UPDATEd August 1 @11.45AM:

Since hardworking Desi could not find the original article for TAKE3 that I promised Thee, I decided to have what's called a FILLER in newspeak; bear with me, treat me to a pastry if you can still afford, othervice, a PRESENtry will do fine ~~ ENJOY! -- Desi

From The Malaysian Insdier, which is growing well&steady gifting malaysiakini.com a run for its money, honey, and now emerging on the near horizon another rival called The Nut Graph (visit howsy.blogspot.com for the story!)


Many worried country going downhill

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — An opinion poll carried out early last month confirmed what many Malaysians already know: four months after the 12th General Election, the people think the country is going in the wrong direction and are concerned about economic issues.

The Merdeka Centre survey, which only polled registered voters aged 21+, found that only 28% of respondents were satisfied with the way things were going in the country. The biggest concern is the economy, with 59% saying they were "worried over economic-related issues", followed by 10% citing concern over political matters.

Not surprisingly, only 40% of the voters polled in Peninsular Malaysia said they were satisfied with Barisan Nasional while 57% expressed satisfaction with Pakatan Rakyat. And only 42% of respondents said they were happy with the Prime Minister's performance.

Keeping in mind that the poll was carried out before Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's arrest and the surfacing of the Pas-Umno talks, only 11% of the respondents believed in the allegations of sexual misconduct against Anwar. A significant 66% agreed that "it was a politically motivated action to disrupt Anwar’s political career".

Significantly, confidence in the instituitions that would handle this matter is low, with just 33% of those polled saying they were confident.