SDO office in Komtar with half a million ringgit mess

The former Penang State Development Office in Komtar, which overlooks the city and the channel that divides the island and the mainland, is a picture of calm and peace.

However, behind the walls, the office on the 45th floor tells a different story - one of dirt, mess and abandonment.

Uncollected garbage, plastered ceilings and walls stripped apart, wires hanging loose and abandoned broken furniture paint a glum and gloomy picture.

Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik (left) claimed that the office formerly occupied by SDO Nik Ali Mat Yunus has been like a garbage dump despite RM450,000 of the rakyat's money spent on renovations.

Nik Ali had ruffled feathers in Komtar recently when he called Chief Minister Lim Guan Engbiadap for labelling him a 'little Napolean' over several issues related to state-federal relations.

At a press conference within the confines of the messy office today, Ng demanded an explanation as to what Nik Ali intended to do with the space after leaving it for another building.

Nik Ali and his office staff reportedly left Komtar for the Federal Government office, a huge multi-storey office building on Jalan Anson, after March 2008.

Ng, who is state DAP Youth secretary, said Nik Ali had "wasted public funds" by spending RM450,000 on renovation when he did not intend to use the place.

"We want to expand the state secretariat but it seems we need to spend a lot of money to re-organise this place, which Nik Ali has left in a mess," he told reporters.

"We are still estimating the cost, but we suspect it will be a lot. We are hoping the SDO can compensate us as per the tenancy agreement.

"However, compensation also means using the people's money, so we would like to hear from him what he intends to do with the empty space," Ng said.

The office, about 12,000sq ft in area, was leased to the SDO by the Penang Development Corporation for about RM15,000 per month.

"This office would have been a very beautiful and luxurious office but it now seems like it was something that once looked like heaven but has turned to hell," he said.

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Thursday At Del Mar

Bank lost a 50 cent pick four but the last race I did not like the looks of Beer Friday and Curly Boy and bet $20 across the board on the winner Offlee's Wilds Boy. The ROI minus the 50 cent Pick Four is $204.40. In the black $204.40.


              "Where The Turf Meets The Surf."

Race 1           Five Half Furlong Starter Allowance

 This is a weak starter allowance and offers no real value for the bettors. The 3 horses I like  are Lime Rock Revenge which has 2 bullets and is the speed of this short sprint. He just might not stop! Gab Power drops back with friends........he exits a key maiden win so please do not take this young dude lightly here!  Success Again which added blinkers for Doug O'Neil and rolled on by the field to win.

Race 2           Five Furlong Turf Optional Claimer
Two of the three Morning line favorites are coming off a long lay off and this might be a great betting race for a Pick three... ending with the 4th race on Defying Logic as a single. If I had any big ones I would play all with all with Defying Logic. The cost of the Ticket is $42...... that's my play for today!

The speed might just be the rail horse coming off a lay off Best Affair.  He is trained by Carla Gaines owned by Harris Farms.... enough said. Koolnquick last race did not stop but might have faster factions to deal with in this race with Best Affairs.  Indian Ashton  blinkers coming off today and is a salty veteran.... a works indicate he is fit and ready. Shadow of Illinosi was a monster last year and with a little more racing luck might have won 5 in a row but settled for 3 in a row.  Maui Mark is back after a vacation for Howard Zucker who can get them fit and ready for a big performance.  Let's not forget about the turf sprinter Danzing Tribal..... A wide open competitive contentious affair going five furlongs.

Race 3           Seven Furlong Maiden (32K)
On paper there are a number of horses who are dropping for maiden special weight races and look better then the 2 horses I like....... Indiara looks like she might be the betting favorite. Indiara looks like the horse to beat......seven clear of the third horse in his last race. Lost Prophet was claimed for 25K by Mike Mitchell and has a bullet work out in her last morning drill. Kaysa Deeya has strong speed figures and drops...... a major contender.  My  Romance......... drops.... East Lake Shore picks up Joel R.  and drops in class.....East Lake Shore is my pick of all the droppers in this race...... Now comes my horses....... I know I can hear you laughing on this one.....


Lisa Lulu comes back quick and gets the equipment change blinkers on. She shortens ups to seven  furlongs and exits a key maiden race with If I knew Susie.........she might just need this equipment ...... to focus more down the lane.......Pocatello Wild Cat trained by Fanning get the needed time off from hanging like a cheap suit down the lane...... Corey Nakatani takes the mount........... I have a hunch that this horse will finally show more speed and heart down the
stretch.
           
      

Race 4           Six Furlong Claimer  (10K)
This low level claimer is not one of my strengths .........It looks like the pace scenario will be Within Reason the speed of this field and Satellite needed his last and will set behind the speed. I like a horse coming off a long lay off and sports excellent work out tab.......Defying Logic....... Fanning last win was with Garcia taking the call and that was with a horse coming off a long lay off... Look at the long of 5 furlongs drills he has put in to this horse to have him cranked up and ready to fire.......Beware!

            1. Defying Logic

Race 5           Six Furlongs Maiden (40K)
 On paper this looks like a speed dual with Melon Up and the filly Sign Up. Melon Up is the speed of the race but she must deal with other rabbit Sign Up.....Warren's Moon is a money pit but has the right style as a stalker in this somewhat contentious field for maidens. A interesting first time starter is the rail horse Sierra Snowflake by Relaunch and In Excess..... pedigree that might just be a runner....... but the rail at a sprint has not been the best post position at Del Mar this year on the poly track.

         1. Melon Up  2. Warren's Moon  3. Sierra Snowflake

Race 6            One Mile Sixteenth Claimer (10K)
It is a bummer that this is the last leg of the pick three because we have had a strict diet at Hollywood with this low level bottom feeders. I thought we might be lucky and have some new faces to look at..... Not so lucky...... I thought that Autocue did look good winning last time out. He was claimed last time by Kristin Mulhall. Super Harmony might turn the tables on him with a hungry rider up in the irons... A few big for sale signs on the other horses who are plodders....... Journeymen who does have speed takes a much needed drop where he is placed at a level to win..... if the favorites regress and they might I like Journeymen. It seems to me it is hard to judge Troubletimesthree who only got beat by one and half at a 25k level. Martin gets off the ride Roar........and the leading rider jumps on ............ your call! 

Late Pick three  8with 7 with 8 cost of ticket $1

Race 7             Six Furlongs Optional Claimer
 The Feature race is a sprint for fillies in a Optional Claimer Allowance. Jay Totter's method:


1. Softly Killing get the rail which has not been the place to be at Del Mar this meet. She is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and his main man is Joel Rosario who takes the call. She is 2 for 2 at Del Mar. She has strong 2 year old speed numbers.... 91......


2. Fund Raiser might just be the favorite based on her big speed numbers and she lost to Silver Swallow on the wire almost taking the field gate to wire her last race. She is a pro hitting the board in all of her nine races........


3. Heartless Vixen is the morning line favorite.... Why all the lay offs...... which tells me that she might just not be the soundest of horses. But having said that Ron Ellis trains and usually has them fit and ready first time out after a vacation away from the beach.

4. Holding Your Ground...... This trainer has sent out some bombs lighting up the tote board in the pass. She does look a little over her head but this race looks to me no really monsters ....... so... your call!

5. Via Veneto she looks in form and fit and look she beat Heartless Vixen 2 races back..... A major contender!

6. Five Silver Star ...Dude Girl... What happen you ran into a buzz saw the last 2?............ The other Hollendorfer horse that the public will by pass because of her last 2 races... I love her first 2 races then looks like she was in too deep of waters.  She is now back in much warmer waters..... She's no throw out! She had maybe excuses in her first race coming off a lay off and was not fit and ready. She then tried the turf which is did not like...... I might be over reaching but I expect she might dance a little more down the lane today........

7. Gumption  had to need her last race after a needed lay off facing two Grade stake races at Santa Anita then enter a high level allowance at Hollywood and threw in the towel at the half way point. She runs great for Smith at Del Mar and I think might just be over looked today by the public.

Race 8             Six Furlong Maiden (40K)

Jenny Jenny Emily one race does not make a career.  I think she might be a better runner today at 5 to 1 morning line. Desperate Measures figures to be the favorite after breaking slow at this level for Carla Gaines......and finished a respectable second. Twisp faces 40K Cal Breds for the first time after faces maidens straight and open maiden, the drop can only help with the new bug boy taking the mount. Homework with a race under her belt she get a better post position then her last start at Hollywood on the rail. She just might out run her odds today. Chk Chk Boom adds blinkers and that might be the ticket and getting away from Hollywood and a new environment.  A first time starter by Jim Cassidy is Sean S. and sports solid work out tab. Cosafina Carina had the extreme outside post position in a state bred maiden special weight with Tyler Baze taking the call. She ran like it might be a race to get her into the game. She drops to 40K and has 2 good works in,one for five furlongs.... and then a blow out. She might outrun her odds with the morning line at 15 to one. Tab Valdez who takes the call for Ed Moger.

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Free Market Mojo

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• “Sin Tax” Revenues Climb


• Who is Left-Wing, and Who Just Thinks They Are?


• Deportations Up Under Obama, ctd


• Anger Helps Negotiations in Some Cultures, Hurts in Others


• Behold! Engineering porn!

“Sin Tax” Revenues Climb Posted: 27 Jul 2010 05:07 AM PDT I don’t know how or why I missed this, so my apologies to my readers who I know will appreciate this little nugget: The Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau has released its Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report, showing a 41% increase (to $20.6 billion) in the amount of “sin taxes” on alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and ammunition collected by the federal government. The bulk of the $6 billion revenue increase is the result of higher tobacco taxes coming from the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009. Firearms and ammunition excise tax collection increased 45%, the largest yearly increase in the agency’s history.

Who is Left-Wing, and Who Just Thinks They Are? Posted: 27 Jul 2010 04:07 AM PDT A new study published by the University of Leicester Department of Economic suggests that highly educated people assume that they are left wing when they are more likely to actually be conservative. Interestingly, the study shows that some people may end up voting for more left leaning parties because they believe they are left wing, even though they are not. “The most startling result is that the more educated tend to believe that they are more left-wing than they are measured as being,” said Dr. James Rockey, the author of the study. “That is, well-educated individuals are more likely to think that they are quite left-wing but actually believe things that compared to the rest of the population would make them comparatively right-wing. “The analysis suggests that the cause of this is different to the effect of gender, income, or job type. Other results suggest that men and those with higher-incomes are more likely to both think that they are rightwing and to be measured as such.” Dr. Rockey said that one reason for this result may be that people believe they maintain their left leaning views despite the fact that changing circumstances and social networks may push their opinions rightward over time. This could be because these people compare themselves to their immediate social and work network rather than to the population at large. “The broad conclusion of the paper must be that individuals either choose not to, or are unable to, locate their ideological positions reliably compared to those of the positions of their compatriots. “This is further evidence not just that voters are far from fully informed, but that somehow voters consistently misperceive where they lie on the ideological spectrum.”

Deportations Up Under Obama, ctd Posted: 27 Jul 2010 03:07 AM PDT I posted the chart below earlier this month showing that deportations under the Obama administration have been higher than at any time during the Bush administration: Below is an excerpt from a new Washington Post article on the surge of deportations under the current administration: The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency expects to deport about 400,000 people this fiscal year, nearly 10 percent above the Bush administration's 2008 total and 25 percent more than were deported in 2007. The pace of company audits has roughly quadrupled since President George W. Bush's final year in office. The effort is part of President Obama's larger project "to make our national laws actually work," as he put it in a speech this month at American University. Partly designed to entice Republicans to support comprehensive immigration reform, the mission is proving difficult and politically perilous. I highly doubt that many Obama supporters are aware of this. I am equally sure that most Obama critics are unaware of this.

Anger Helps Negotiations in Some Cultures, Hurts in Others Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:16 AM PDT When negotiating with Europeans or Americans, anger may help your cause. The same is not true when negotiation with East Asians, according to a study on how people from different cultures react to anger during negotiations.

Behold! Engineering porn! Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT The left may look at this and say, “My God, how many jobs has this horrid machine destroyed!” I will leave Henry Hazlitt to defend the right: Among the most persistent of all economic delusions is the belief that machines on net balance create unemployment. The belief that machines cause unemployment leads to preposterous conclusions. Every technological improvement must cause unemployment. The logical conclusion would be that the way to maximize jobs is to make all labor as inefficient and unproductive as possible. Let us see exactly what happens when technological and labor-saving machinery is introduced. Example: a clothing manufacturer learns of a machine that will make men's and women's overcoats for half as much labor as previously. He installs the machines and drops half his labor force. This looks at first glance like a clear loss of employment. But the machine itself required labor to make it; so here, as one offset, are jobs that would not otherwise have existed. It is likely the labor employed to build the machines is less than the labor cut by the manufacturer. So there is still a net loss of employment to be accounted for. The machine was a large investment, so it takes several years for the machine to pay for itself. After the machine has produced economies sufficient to offset its cost, the clothing manufacturer has more profits than before. The manufacturer must use these extra profits in at least one of three ways: He will use the extra profits to expand his operations by buying more machines to make more overcoats; or He will invest the extra profits in some other industry; or He will spend the extra profits on buying things for himself, e.g. buy a new house or a new car. Whichever of these three courses he takes, he will increase employment. The manufacturer, as a result of improved production has profits that he did not have before. Every dollar of the amount he has saved in direct wages to former overcoat-makers, he now is able to pay out in indirect wages to the makers of the new machines, or workers in another industry, or to the makers of a new house or car. In any case, he gives indirectly as many jobs as he ceased to give directly. But the matter does not rest at this stage. The manufacturer competes with others. Due to competition the price of overcoats drops. The savings are passed along to the consumers. The consumers now have more money to spend on other things, which results in more employment. In brief, on net balance machines, technological improvements, automation, economies and efficiency do not throw men out of work. The central lesson is that we should try to see all the consequences of any economic policy – the immediate effects on special groups, and the long-run effects on all groups. Now this is real progress. Private sector progress.

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