Link roundup

1. Arguments against attending cooking school.

2. XKCD on media reports of hacking. Penny Arcade on the 3DS.

3. Diablo III will allow players to auction off virtual goods for real money. I wonder if that will be a major selling point, or just a feature that benefits gold farmers (The Old Republic looks nice, but if I can make money while I play...).

Link roundup

1. Want that cute guy to call you? Pick him up on a rickety bridge. Via.

2. New short story by Kelly Link. (I haven't read it yet, but I've liked everything else I've read of hers.) Via.

3. The winners of the inaugural Google Science Fair.

4. Always nice to be reminded that I'm not the only person who prefers email to Twitter and Facebook. (I love Google Reader, too.)

5. FYI, I'm continuing to experiment with Super Punch 2 at Tumblr and mostly post images there that I'm not also posting here.

Link roundup

1. Some interesting predictions about the future of the legal profession. Via.

2. Apple not only censors emails sent by Me.com users, but doesn't even tell the users that their emails have been blocked?

3. The keys to finding a job in Hollywood.

Link roundup

1. You didn't really buy that nonsense about how great the yakuza was for keeping order in Japan after the tsunami right? The nuclear power plants failed probably in no small part because they were dominated by the yakuza.

2. The latest incredibly raw personal story from Penelope Trunk - - the heart of the post is a really good message - - if you want a happy relationship, you have to be brave enough to tell you partner what's really bothering you.

3. The BBTS has new Marvel Universe preorders - -sets feature Tony Stark, Iceman, Absorbing Man, Astonishing Wolverine, Magneto, Ultron, Darkhawk, Sub-Mariner, X-23, Steve Rogers, and the Guardians of the Galaxy I posted earlier today.

Planning your Property Purchase. =P

Before you jump into buying a property, there are many many many things to consider... and mind you, I would try to summarize here and there, but the many different things to consider... is beyond just the mortgage loans, downpayments and property prices, and of course, the property itself.

Before making a purchase, do calculate the total expense of the acquisition. This would include stamp duties, mortgage and loan charges, solicitors'/lawyers' fees, maybe insurance and so on. There will be many banks willing to lend you money - so do scout around for the best deal, and select the deals/packages with the appropriate payment amounts and methods.

Traffic congestion in Puchong.

I would always encourage my friends who come to me for advice to scout the local surroundings. Places with convenient transportation and community facilities tend to be able to fetch better rentals - so that is some important things to take note. If you could, you could also go to the local council/municipality to check on various new proposals that may affect the property - OR... for some insider information, maybe you could ask me. =) ...and to check on the prices, I would always encourage personal research and reading. Do check the local area for the recently transacted prices to get the best gauge of its market values to ensure that you are not buying an overpriced property.

Mont Kiara properties.

What else do you need to consider? Do take note of the management fees and so on - and see what it covers. Maintenance fees today can range from the RM0.10psf right up to RM0.50psf, depending on the facilities provided, and depending on location.