Flipping Fantastic: The Setting

Let us re-visit the setting of the short story,"Flipping Fantastic" by  Jane Langford.

What is the setting for this story?

The  places where the story revolve around is the home of Tristan and James. The other places mentioned are Peter Hill Primary where the play was staged,Chesterlea Grange where Tristan,James and their mother visited to enroll Tristan and Highfields Secondary School where James will continue with his secondary education.

We can assume that the twins live with their mother in a comfortable home which is disabled-friendly. Nothing is mentioned of a father in the story and so it is safe to assume as well that the mother is a single parent. The twins found their home a relaxing place to pursue their own interests with the love,support  and encouragement of their mother.

Peter Hill Primary is where the twins had their primary level education. It must be somewhere  near the home of the twins.

Chesterlea Grange is a fully residential school for special children. It is fully equipped with facilities for the physically challenged to acquire knowledge and survival skills. Here, the students will have a whale of a time playing sports,acting in plays as well as to spend their time leisurely  in the indoor video and games room.The environment is refreshingly clean, healthy and cheerful to promote the well-being of its residents. It is unlikely to be near the twin's home.

Highfields is a normal day school for students to pursue secondary education.

What about the time?

It is now, in present day.

Interest Hike Poser

 What is the current economic scenario?

Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz has just informed us that Malaysia is clearly on the path of economic recovery.According to this lady central bank governor, improvement in leading global economic indicators will mean the possible end of the current loose monetary policy.

Fourth quarter economic performance in 2009 was better than expected. The country as such is no longer under the yoke of  extraordinary circumstances.

In fact, several central banks have started to tighten monetary policy particularly the Reserve Bank of Australia [RBA].  RBA has raised its key policy rate three times in 2009 while the US's  Federal Reserve has just raised the discount rate charged to banks for direct loans by 25 basis points to 0.75% on 18 February 2010, buoyed by rosier economic data and improved market conditions.

“Any adjustment in interest rates will be to achieve a normalisation and not a tightening,” Zeti clarified.

Bank Negara has left the interest rate at 2% since early last year but improvements in factory output as well as exports have fuelled speculation that the central bank would raise the key policy rate – the overnight policy rate – sooner than the commonly held view for second-half 2010 rate hikes.

A report by Standard Chartered Global Research puts the next rate hike as early as March 4, a week after the scheduled release of the fourth quarter’s gross domestic product (GDP) data this Thursday.

TA Securities Holdings Bhd economist Patricia Oh had said in an earlier StarBiz report that there could be a rate hike as early as May based on the stronger GDP numbers for the final quarter of 2009 and the expected improved numbers for the first quarter of 2010.

However, economists also believe that any “normalisation” of interest rates would come only if the central bank sees the recovery gaining momentum and to prevent any build-up in financial imbalances.

So,what would it be then,Zeti?

Watch YTL Power and YTL-E Solutions

YTL Communications Sdn,the communication utility company of  YTL Power International Bhd is poised to become the first in the world to launch a nationwide 4G network, offering state-of-the-art mobile Internet connectivity to Malaysia.

To do so, it has  committed itself to purchase one million units of WiMAX single chips from GCT Semiconductor which will fully support YTL Communications with its deployment of a nationwide 4G service in the country.

Interestingly,GCT will share technical expertise and provide YTL Communications with the most advanced and lowest power WiMAX chips available on the market today, making YTL Communications’ vision of creating a complete ecosystem with nationwide mobile Internet service using 4G a reality.

The one million units purchased will be consigned to key original design manufacturers selected to provide innovative 4G devices to YTL Communications this year.

GCT is the market leader in providing WiMAX single-chip solutions worldwide, holding the largest market share based on WiMAX chipsets sold and number of WiMAX subscribers currently using GCT’s technology.

According to a spokesman from YTL Power, for this project,"driving economies of scale is central to the ecosystem building effort towards developing the world’s first nationwide 4G network,”  “This will ensure  future customers will have the best price-performance in 4G products and solutions.”

GCT president and chief executive officer Dr Kyeongho K.H. Lee said the one million-unit commitment by YTL Communications will firmly secure GCT’s leading market share position.

He said it will also allow the company to maintain more than 60% market share this year with design wins from over 40 countries, including Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Once this project go on stream it should have a positive effect on the share prices of YTL Power and YTL-E Soultions.

Teochew Porridge at Sunwaymas

It's another day at Sunwaymas.

As it was the day that the Hokkien celebrated the Jade Emperor God birthday, many shops were closed in observance.

I had wanted to eat at my regular shop. Chicken rice was on my mind. The shop was however closed too.

So, I drove back and ate at this quaint corner where a Teochew Porridge Shop stand. It is called the Eat-zy Teochew Porridge and Rice Resaurant.

They had the usual fare and more. Price is fair. Cost me about RM4.80, the first time around and tonight, I added an extra dish and it cost me RM5.80.

So what did I have  tonight?

One half of a salted egg-very good. Some fried salted fish,a mixed vegetable dish and a braised tofu in sweetened soy sauce.

I remembered the last time I had braised groundnuts.

Service was good.

I intend to try the other dishes available at this shop.

Time dotCom Sells DIGI

TIME dotCom Bhd (TdC), has disposed of 27.75 million shares in DiGi.Com Bhd for RM604.95 million, or RM21.80 apiece via private placement.

As such,the sale would reduce TdC's interest in DiGi.Com to 27.5 million shares, or 3.5 per cent.

The timely disposal will result in an estimated gain about RM5.33 million gross to TdC for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2009.

 TdC will enjoy pre-tax interest savings of RM23.4 million per annum going forward as a result of the full repayment of bank borrowings with the net proceeds from the disposal.

TdC as such  will no longer enjoy any future dividends declared on the shares disposed.


Given the current improved market conditions and DiGi's share price, and in line with its prudent debt management practices, TdC has decided to fully settle its borrowings which were taken to finance its investments in securities.

I think in a way this is also good for its parent company, Time Engineering Berhad.

Flipping Fantastic: Issues and Concerns

Reading this book  via the pages of the diaries of Tristan, James and their mother piece up a story of the concerns of the twin brothers for each other.

What brought forth these concerns?

The twins, Tristan and James have been together since they were young. They learn to help each other and in return, they help each other to fulfill each others' needs be it physical or otherwise. There were few concerns and issues that they could not resolved.

A new situation then arises.

They have both completed primary education and will move on to study at the secondary school level. They enjoyed their times at Peter Hill Primary though in different aspects. While James loved sports and played football, Tristan like to act in plays and dramas. Tristan was positive minded and full of confidence. James was timid and lack self assurance.

Tristan has been enrolled at a special school for the physically challenged called Chesterlea Grange while James will attend a day school called Highfields.This is the first time they will part ways. Tristan will only be back during the weekends.

After the stage play on the last day at Peter Hill Primary, their mother was deeply concerned about her two boys. Both had been extraordinarily quiet as if they were in a depression.

What was going in the minds of the boys?

Let us look at the issues and concerns of Tristan. He is feeling sad and bad. 'Sad' because he will no longer ever go back to Peter Hill Primary where he enjoyed school life so much. 'Bad' because he will be going to a new school leaving his brother James to go to another school. He believes that James needs his support and encouragement as James lacks confidence and need his encouragement.

What about James's concerns?

He is worried that Tristan would not be able to get around without him by his side. He senses the problems Tristan will face. Who will push his wheel-chair? How is he going to be help in physical exercises or in going to the toilet?

On the other hand, he feels he is still in need of Tristan in his new school to help him. as he is by nature a shy person, he is worried that he will not have anyone to help him. He needs Tristan to perhaps help him with his homework and also to give him constant encouragement.

As for their mother, she was worried whether she has made a wrong decision in separating the boys. She wanted Tristan to 'stand on his own two feet' by going to Chesterlea Grange where he can get himself involved in sports and other physical pursuits. If Tristan is enrolled in Highfields, he will still have to tolerate the facilities at school which may not be user friendly to a person in a wheel-chair. By separating the boys, Tristan will then be on his own and will be less dependent on James.

As for James, his mother feels that that he should also be made independent and to grow on his own rather than forever stay inside the shadow of Tristan.

When Tristan changed his mind of not going to Chesterlea Grange, his mother was worried but James is happy since he will again have Tristan by his side at school and at home. This was the climax of the whole story.

However, while they were discussing the pros and cons of Chesterlea Grange, Tristan felt the time has come for him to be on his own as well. This is a cross-road he has to decide the direction he must take. His new school had all the facilities and activities that is suitable for him and it is about time he should take the challenge to grow on his own without help from James.

So in the falling action phase of the story, Tristan decided to go to Chesterlea Grange and James went to Highfields.

Both enjoyed their new schools and found out that all their concerns were somewhat misplaced. Where Tristan find new joy in Chesterlea Grange, James had Kiara Jones as a friend to give him encouragement in his new school.

So, all the issues are finally resolved and the story ended  with happiness all round.

Flipping Fantastic: Exposition

Before we go to the issues and concerns plaguing the twins,let us look at the setting. In literary circles,the setting is that part of the short story called the exposition. The exposition is the beginning of the story where the main characters are brought into the picture.

So what is the setting or the exposition?

It is the last day in Peter Hill Primary for the twins. A play is always held on the last day. Both of the boys are involved in it. Tristan has the lead role while James took a bit part. The play was 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'. Tristan was selected for the role of Tom.

While Tristan took to the role like fish to water, James was ill at ease. Tristan had a good memory and could deliver his lines almost like a professional. James, on the other hand, is nervous and oftentimes stumble even if the role only has one line.

On the big night,among the parents watching,sitting in the front row was the boys' mother. She was so happy that her two boys were acting in the play. She marveled at how well Tristan delivered his lines. She was also pleased with James even though she senses he had stammered a little bit.

For Tristan, he was definitely very delighted with the way the whole play turned out. The stage and prop were all in place. Not a single thing was amiss. As for his acting, he felt he did a good job. James, on the other hand, felt he stumbled on his singular line and did noticed Jessica Parker laughing at him from the audience. He disliked the girl.

This was the setting or the introduction of the short story.

The other secondary characters to be mentioned in the short story apart from their mother and  Jessica Parker is Kiara Jones, a girl whom both Tristan and James liked.