While every country has the right to develop their own defense weapons
to protect themselves, the American outlaw and its crony allies are
saying the North Koreans cannot do so despite the daily threats of an
American invasion. Now the North Koreans are testing their ICBMs in over
flights over Japan and both Japan and the Americans are crying foul.
Did the Americans and Japanese remember anything about freedom of
navigation? Can the North Koreans exercise this right to fly over Japan
peacefully? A missile test with unarmed warhead cannot be more
threatening than B52s, B1s armed with nuclear weapons or American
destroyers similarly armed, flying and sailing in other countries’
territorial waters and airspace.
What are American and Japanese satellites overflying North Korean
territories daily and snooping on NK compared to the missiles flying
over Japan?
The Americans are threatening war again. And so is Japan. Now, would it
be nice for the Americans and Japanese to give the North Koreans a
reason to drop a couple of nuclear bombs over Tokyo or Osaka or any big
Japanese city? Can the Japanese absorb such a consequence and live with
it like Hiroshima and Nagasaki? If not, then both the Americans and
Japanese should tone down their war drums and be more civilized and go
talk to the North Koreans. Threatening a preemptive nuclear strike is
easy but the consequences of millions of casualties in Japan are no
joke. Can Japan afford a nuclear bomb on one of its big cities?
The warmongers should stop their madness and use their heads for a
moment and return to sanity. War is no longer an option in the Korean
Peninsula except for mad men and women.
The more the mad men and women threaten war with North Korea, the more
they would lose their credibility unless they dare to start a war. Come
to think of it this is not an issue, not important. The most important
part about all the ratcheting and drum beating for war is that Japan,
South Korea and that Americans would have more reasons to buy more
weapons. And so would little USAs that fear North Korea in their drugged
non thinking leaders’ head and also want to buy more weapons. It is
good for the weapon makers and arms merchants, the military war complex.
There is a lot of money to be made. The American war machine makers
must send a big bonus or commission to Kim Jong Un for fattening their
pockets.
Just a point to note. If the Americans keep on threatening the NK with
preemptive strikes by flying their nuclear bombers near the border, one
day Kim JongUn is going to miscalculate and think the Americans are
going to strike and he panicked and strike first. Then the world of the
Americans, Japanese and South Koreans would be burning in a hell fire.
Just keep provoking at the North Koreans, just keep at it.
10/30/2017
Kevin Shipp - CIA agent turned whistleblower
Watch this video of a CIA agent whistleblower. Kevin Shipp talking about the deep state and shadow govt in the USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHbrOg092GA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHbrOg092GA
CPF - It's now or never
The proposal of a class act to sue the govt on the CPF money by Lim
Tean/Phillip Ang and their team is a once or never event. Never has such
a task been taken up by a group of professionals for the people, to
protect the people's money from disappearing without their consent, to
return them to their rightful owners at the rightful time that the
scheme was meant to be.
Lim Tean and Phillip Ang are asking just for $10 or $20 from each CPF account owners to build up a war chest to pay for the expensive legal fees to fight this case. Many are still hesitating, some even bo chap. Think about it, for $10/$20, what do you get? Lim Tean/Phillip Ang would have to gather a team of legal experts to study the case and to make a legal case to sue the govt. A lot of people, money and time will be involved to make this possible for a miserable $10/$20. That is about the cost of a pack of cigarette or a lunch.
And more, Lim Tean/Phillip Ang and their team would be putting their necks on the chopping block, risking their career and reputation, and many things at stake. It is not so simple as just fighting a legal case but with many political considerations and consequences. Some are still hiding behind the kiasi label and not willing to contribute the $10/$20 when the stake is so high for this commando team.
Now, where is Tan Cheng Bock, Tan Jee Say and Tan Kin Lian on this issue? And where are the political parties claiming to want to represent the people in Parliament? Would they stand up and join Lim Tean and Phillip Ang in this fight for the people? If they don't, they might as well pack up their bags and leave politics altogether. Do not stand for any election be it just as an MP or the EP if they cannot see it important enough to stand up and fight together with Lim Tean and Phillip Ang. They need to put down their differences and other agendas to close rank for once, to represent the interest of the people, to protect the interest of the people, to protect their life savings.
Where are you, aspiring politicians? Where are you Singaporeans, ever complaining that always talks only and no actions when there is now a group of dare devils brave enough to stand up to fight for you?
The team is not asking for that special peanut but $10/$20 which should be reasonably affordable. They are not asking for a drum stick or a whole chicken. It's now or never. If you fail this team, no one would be there to fight for you anymore when you needed help.
This is your chance to say yes and to do your little part to make this happen. Here is the POSB Savings 198-91842-3 of Lim Tean to deposit your contribution. This is not a donation, this is a contribution to fund the legal suit to get back your CPF money.
Lim Tean and Phillip Ang are asking just for $10 or $20 from each CPF account owners to build up a war chest to pay for the expensive legal fees to fight this case. Many are still hesitating, some even bo chap. Think about it, for $10/$20, what do you get? Lim Tean/Phillip Ang would have to gather a team of legal experts to study the case and to make a legal case to sue the govt. A lot of people, money and time will be involved to make this possible for a miserable $10/$20. That is about the cost of a pack of cigarette or a lunch.
And more, Lim Tean/Phillip Ang and their team would be putting their necks on the chopping block, risking their career and reputation, and many things at stake. It is not so simple as just fighting a legal case but with many political considerations and consequences. Some are still hiding behind the kiasi label and not willing to contribute the $10/$20 when the stake is so high for this commando team.
Now, where is Tan Cheng Bock, Tan Jee Say and Tan Kin Lian on this issue? And where are the political parties claiming to want to represent the people in Parliament? Would they stand up and join Lim Tean and Phillip Ang in this fight for the people? If they don't, they might as well pack up their bags and leave politics altogether. Do not stand for any election be it just as an MP or the EP if they cannot see it important enough to stand up and fight together with Lim Tean and Phillip Ang. They need to put down their differences and other agendas to close rank for once, to represent the interest of the people, to protect the interest of the people, to protect their life savings.
Where are you, aspiring politicians? Where are you Singaporeans, ever complaining that always talks only and no actions when there is now a group of dare devils brave enough to stand up to fight for you?
The team is not asking for that special peanut but $10/$20 which should be reasonably affordable. They are not asking for a drum stick or a whole chicken. It's now or never. If you fail this team, no one would be there to fight for you anymore when you needed help.
This is your chance to say yes and to do your little part to make this happen. Here is the POSB Savings 198-91842-3 of Lim Tean to deposit your contribution. This is not a donation, this is a contribution to fund the legal suit to get back your CPF money.
10/29/2017
The plains of Jiangsu
Our trip to Rugao, a third or fourth tier city in China took us out from Shanghai to tour the plains of Jiangsu. This piece of land is incredibly flat and fertile and gave us a totally different impression of China, the big crowded cities, over built, bad air and dull over cast sky. The plains of Jiangsu is open land, agriculture land, and land for the people, for homes and industries, ie plentiful of land and space.
The pics in this post started from Rugao by coach all the way to Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, about 120km distance. Enjoy the scenery and open space and the architecture and homes of rural China and take note of the old tiny houses that were once there, some still there in the forefront of the bigger new homes, landed homes that are now the new China. The first pic is the city of Rugao to give a comparison of the landscape and infrastructure.
Highrise estates already starting to take shape in the rural backyard of China
Windmills along the Yangtze River
Closer look of the windmills and green energy
Still low rise homes as we approached Shanghai
Crossing Yangtze River
Outskirt of Shanghai, still flat land but more buildups
Outer city of Shanghai
Looking at Shanghai along the way to Pudong Airport.
The pics in this post started from Rugao by coach all the way to Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, about 120km distance. Enjoy the scenery and open space and the architecture and homes of rural China and take note of the old tiny houses that were once there, some still there in the forefront of the bigger new homes, landed homes that are now the new China. The first pic is the city of Rugao to give a comparison of the landscape and infrastructure.
10/28/2017
Benjamin Lim - Do you still remember him?
Terry Xu of TOC tried to assist the parents of Benjamin to raise fund
using GIVE.asia fund raising platform to sue the govt for the lost of
their 14 year old son. After raising more than $2,000, the campaign came
to an abrupt stop with GIVE.asia saying it is against their mission in
this campaign. Some netizens are furious at the way the campaign was
disrupted.
There is an article by a Ghui posted in the TRE on this subject and here is a comment from the same post.
Painful Justice:
October 20, 2017 at 4:42 pm (Quote)
Benjamin was just a very young 14 year old boy and did not deserve the heavy handling meted out to him even if he had misconducted himself as alleged. Oops, my apologies, this is what everyone thought or else he would not have taken his life. But the court found that everyone who had contact with Benjamin were very professional and very caring and thus free from blame. Benjamin's case was a totally unnecessary tragedy and no parents could have found closure losing a son under such circumstances. As parents, we empathize with the Lim family and fully understand what they are going through. We support the steps they are taking to seek redress.
I can feel the pain in the parents for losing a child at this tender age for something that did not deserve this kind of ending. You can bet how many tears have flowed in the family and how difficult it is to come to terms with losing a loved one. How can there be a closure to this case?
Would anyone who have directly or indirectly caused the premature death of Benjamin be man enough, be courageous enough, be honourable enough to kneel in front of the parents and beg for forgiveness? I think if such a thing happens, maybe healing will start. For the parents to want to pursue this matter, it is a sign that the grief is not going away and there is a deep sense of injustice in how they see how the case was closed.
It is very painful. It must be, and worst when no one owns up or found responsible for the lost of their beloved son, Benjamin.
Can this case be over because legally it is over, settled in the court of law? The court has already made its ruling that no one is found culpable to Benjamin's death?
Hope Benjamin would always be in the minds of those wielding power and authority to think very carefully, act very carefully, that such a painful tragedy would never ever happen to another child and another family. No amount of words and apologies can reduce the pain and sufferings of the parents and family members for losing a child in such circumstances. It was totally unnecessary and unacceptable and intolerable and inexcusable.
The law may say it is over. The conscience would not allow it, except for those with no conscience. Anyone think there is any injustice in this case?
There is an article by a Ghui posted in the TRE on this subject and here is a comment from the same post.
Painful Justice:
October 20, 2017 at 4:42 pm (Quote)
Benjamin was just a very young 14 year old boy and did not deserve the heavy handling meted out to him even if he had misconducted himself as alleged. Oops, my apologies, this is what everyone thought or else he would not have taken his life. But the court found that everyone who had contact with Benjamin were very professional and very caring and thus free from blame. Benjamin's case was a totally unnecessary tragedy and no parents could have found closure losing a son under such circumstances. As parents, we empathize with the Lim family and fully understand what they are going through. We support the steps they are taking to seek redress.
I can feel the pain in the parents for losing a child at this tender age for something that did not deserve this kind of ending. You can bet how many tears have flowed in the family and how difficult it is to come to terms with losing a loved one. How can there be a closure to this case?
Would anyone who have directly or indirectly caused the premature death of Benjamin be man enough, be courageous enough, be honourable enough to kneel in front of the parents and beg for forgiveness? I think if such a thing happens, maybe healing will start. For the parents to want to pursue this matter, it is a sign that the grief is not going away and there is a deep sense of injustice in how they see how the case was closed.
It is very painful. It must be, and worst when no one owns up or found responsible for the lost of their beloved son, Benjamin.
Can this case be over because legally it is over, settled in the court of law? The court has already made its ruling that no one is found culpable to Benjamin's death?
Hope Benjamin would always be in the minds of those wielding power and authority to think very carefully, act very carefully, that such a painful tragedy would never ever happen to another child and another family. No amount of words and apologies can reduce the pain and sufferings of the parents and family members for losing a child in such circumstances. It was totally unnecessary and unacceptable and intolerable and inexcusable.
The law may say it is over. The conscience would not allow it, except for those with no conscience. Anyone think there is any injustice in this case?
10/27/2017
US to be more focused and engaged in the region
This is the wish of Hsien Loong as the PM of Singapore. Singapore needs
the Americans to be here, to balance China’s influence and the
neighbouring countries. This sounds good as a geopolitical strategy.
There is a Chinese saying, 引狼入室, translated as inviting the wolf into
the house.
The USA used to be seen as a benign and gracious power particularly to its allies for several decades. But the history of US conspiracies and meddling with the domestic politics of countries, regime change, inciting and provoking wars, did not speak well for this once great power. It is now the cause of all the wars and troubles in the whole world. Every trouble spot has the American finger prints on it. It has rapidly assumed the image of the Evil Empire.
Now, how is this new image of the Americans going to fit in with Singapore and Singapore’s security? Is Singapore inviting the wolf into the house, inviting the Evil Empire to remain engaged in the region to create more trouble for the region, instigating one country against another? Please note, this country thrives on selling weapons and needs wars to sell weapons and to keep the Empire going.
While you are reading this, the Americans are at the verge of starting World War 3 in the Korean Peninsular and Iran. If the Russians and Chinese have not put their foot down to stop this menace, World War 3 would have started, by the Evil Empire of course. And there is the new hot spot, waiting for another invasion by the Americans, Venezuela. South China Sea is the reserved spot for the Evil Empire should other regions stabilized. Inviting the USA to the region, to stir shit in the South China Sea?
Things have changed. The world has changed. Lee Kuan Yew had died and his policies and world view of the Americans and their usefulness in the region must die with him. The Americans’ interest in the region is the American Empire, the perpetuating of the Evil Empire’s hegemony in the region and the world.
It is only luck that Singapore’s interest in some areas coincides with the interest of the Evil Empire. When the interests divert, Singapore too would be subject to regime change and interference by the Evil Empire. For the time being, Singapore is still safe but not for long. The Evil Empire only pokes its fingers in countries that are not loyal to the Empire. That does not mean it does not poke its fingers in the affairs of its colonies.
South Korea and Japan and the Philippines are clear cases of being under the control of the Empire. The latter has recently broke free from the American grip. Lately Qatar also came under the attack of the Empire for getting a bit closer to China. And Tillerson is in India stoking the flame between China and India and poking at the Indians to be another American proxy against China. The Indians love this attention.
Singapore is stuck with the Evil Empire and would not be able to steer a more neutral policy for its own interest. The deeper the Evil Empire stays here, the more it would be entrenched and the more difficult it would be to extricate it from the region. It would not go away.
There is no need to beg the Evil Empire to stay. Tell them to go away and they will beg to stay, and by force if needed be, to stay in the region to protect the Empire. Why does Singapore think it is necessary to go begging the Evil Empire to stay? Do a little bit of thinking. Does Singapore really believe that the Evil Empire will go away, will beat a quick retreat from the region on its own if Singapore does not beg it to stay? Silly isn’t it? See what is happening in the Philippines? When Duterte wants to evict them, the Americans went down on their knees begging to stay. They refused to go away.
Now who is planting this silly idea that the Evil Empire is going away and Singapore must constantly remind the Empire that they should be here, that they are welcomed and needed? Becare of 引狼入室!
PS. Watch this video and listen to Prof Martin Jacques' advice to the Philippines and how relevant it is to Singapore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc56bWY7oRg
The USA used to be seen as a benign and gracious power particularly to its allies for several decades. But the history of US conspiracies and meddling with the domestic politics of countries, regime change, inciting and provoking wars, did not speak well for this once great power. It is now the cause of all the wars and troubles in the whole world. Every trouble spot has the American finger prints on it. It has rapidly assumed the image of the Evil Empire.
Now, how is this new image of the Americans going to fit in with Singapore and Singapore’s security? Is Singapore inviting the wolf into the house, inviting the Evil Empire to remain engaged in the region to create more trouble for the region, instigating one country against another? Please note, this country thrives on selling weapons and needs wars to sell weapons and to keep the Empire going.
While you are reading this, the Americans are at the verge of starting World War 3 in the Korean Peninsular and Iran. If the Russians and Chinese have not put their foot down to stop this menace, World War 3 would have started, by the Evil Empire of course. And there is the new hot spot, waiting for another invasion by the Americans, Venezuela. South China Sea is the reserved spot for the Evil Empire should other regions stabilized. Inviting the USA to the region, to stir shit in the South China Sea?
Things have changed. The world has changed. Lee Kuan Yew had died and his policies and world view of the Americans and their usefulness in the region must die with him. The Americans’ interest in the region is the American Empire, the perpetuating of the Evil Empire’s hegemony in the region and the world.
It is only luck that Singapore’s interest in some areas coincides with the interest of the Evil Empire. When the interests divert, Singapore too would be subject to regime change and interference by the Evil Empire. For the time being, Singapore is still safe but not for long. The Evil Empire only pokes its fingers in countries that are not loyal to the Empire. That does not mean it does not poke its fingers in the affairs of its colonies.
South Korea and Japan and the Philippines are clear cases of being under the control of the Empire. The latter has recently broke free from the American grip. Lately Qatar also came under the attack of the Empire for getting a bit closer to China. And Tillerson is in India stoking the flame between China and India and poking at the Indians to be another American proxy against China. The Indians love this attention.
Singapore is stuck with the Evil Empire and would not be able to steer a more neutral policy for its own interest. The deeper the Evil Empire stays here, the more it would be entrenched and the more difficult it would be to extricate it from the region. It would not go away.
There is no need to beg the Evil Empire to stay. Tell them to go away and they will beg to stay, and by force if needed be, to stay in the region to protect the Empire. Why does Singapore think it is necessary to go begging the Evil Empire to stay? Do a little bit of thinking. Does Singapore really believe that the Evil Empire will go away, will beat a quick retreat from the region on its own if Singapore does not beg it to stay? Silly isn’t it? See what is happening in the Philippines? When Duterte wants to evict them, the Americans went down on their knees begging to stay. They refused to go away.
Now who is planting this silly idea that the Evil Empire is going away and Singapore must constantly remind the Empire that they should be here, that they are welcomed and needed? Becare of 引狼入室!
PS. Watch this video and listen to Prof Martin Jacques' advice to the Philippines and how relevant it is to Singapore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc56bWY7oRg
10/26/2017
What is so competitive about the media industry?
I am not so sure what Warren Fernandez meant by saying that SPH would
hire more foreign correspondents when 130 staff was retrenched as part
of 240 eventually. Was he talking about hiring foreigners to raise the
quality of the paper to compete with other media in Singapore, to boost
readership and sales?
What kind of environment is SPH operating in this little island? What kind of news would be attractive to the readers? Who forms the majority of the readership? Would better quality news, like foreign news, or more EPL news be needed to raise sales and readership?
Is not that SPH operating in a monopolistic environment when the competitors are also part of SPH? How many foreign media are circulating in Singapore and what kind of readership, what volume of readership to they command? Is the foreign readership significant enough to hire foreign correspondents to win them over to improve sales of local papers?
By the way, with the tight control over the local media, what kind of news would appear in the papers or be allowed to be printed to attract more readers? Does it really make any difference if the reporters/journalists are foreigners? I am presuming here that foreign correspondents that SPH is planning to recruit are foreigners. I may be wrong here. And by the way again, what is the percentage of foreigner reporters/journalists in SPH and what is the percentage of locals, oops, I mean Singaporean reporters/journalists?
Should not the SPH be catering to the bulk of the readership whom I believe are Singaporeans and some PRs? I may be a bit behind time here knowing that more than half the population are foreigners now and it would be wise to write things that these foreigners would want to read even though some have become citizens and PRs. How about a few more newspapers for China Chinese, India Indians, Pinoys and what have you? Would these foreigners be interested in reading papers specially written by their kind and writing news about their homeland?
This is something SPH must be seriously thinking about. More than half of the population is foreigners. No wonder readership is falling with local news written by local reporters. Half the population of foreigners is a big market.
I read in theindependent talking about SPH going regional, to write about regional news, maybe competing in producing regional papers. Not sure if this is true. If SPH cannot even compete and be successful with a monopolistic environment in home ground, can it be a success competing in open seas, unknown territories full of sharks? This kind of one trick pony thinking is very similar to sending our sacked and jobless PMETs that could not get jobs in our very own country against foreigners and expect them to get jobs in the region when every country is protecting their jobs for their own citizens.
Stupidity has no cure.
PS. In a monopolistic environment, what competition is SPH facing? Got competition meh?
What kind of environment is SPH operating in this little island? What kind of news would be attractive to the readers? Who forms the majority of the readership? Would better quality news, like foreign news, or more EPL news be needed to raise sales and readership?
Is not that SPH operating in a monopolistic environment when the competitors are also part of SPH? How many foreign media are circulating in Singapore and what kind of readership, what volume of readership to they command? Is the foreign readership significant enough to hire foreign correspondents to win them over to improve sales of local papers?
By the way, with the tight control over the local media, what kind of news would appear in the papers or be allowed to be printed to attract more readers? Does it really make any difference if the reporters/journalists are foreigners? I am presuming here that foreign correspondents that SPH is planning to recruit are foreigners. I may be wrong here. And by the way again, what is the percentage of foreigner reporters/journalists in SPH and what is the percentage of locals, oops, I mean Singaporean reporters/journalists?
Should not the SPH be catering to the bulk of the readership whom I believe are Singaporeans and some PRs? I may be a bit behind time here knowing that more than half the population are foreigners now and it would be wise to write things that these foreigners would want to read even though some have become citizens and PRs. How about a few more newspapers for China Chinese, India Indians, Pinoys and what have you? Would these foreigners be interested in reading papers specially written by their kind and writing news about their homeland?
This is something SPH must be seriously thinking about. More than half of the population is foreigners. No wonder readership is falling with local news written by local reporters. Half the population of foreigners is a big market.
I read in theindependent talking about SPH going regional, to write about regional news, maybe competing in producing regional papers. Not sure if this is true. If SPH cannot even compete and be successful with a monopolistic environment in home ground, can it be a success competing in open seas, unknown territories full of sharks? This kind of one trick pony thinking is very similar to sending our sacked and jobless PMETs that could not get jobs in our very own country against foreigners and expect them to get jobs in the region when every country is protecting their jobs for their own citizens.
Stupidity has no cure.
PS. In a monopolistic environment, what competition is SPH facing? Got competition meh?
10/25/2017
Trump likes Loong
From the facial expression of Trump in the above pic, it is evident that Trump really liked Hsien Loong. Look at his face carefully, it is like he is saying, 'I like this chap. He knows what I want. He is so sweet.'
Photo credit to the statestimesreview and the Straits Times. I copied from the former site. Prime Minister Loong invited to the White House
Donald Trump twitted about his meeting with Hsien Loong by calling him
Prime Minister Loong. For other Prime Minister or ministers to be
misunderstood is quite understandable. Didn’t Trump know that his famous
father is Prime Minister Yew? Oops, I mean Prime Minister Lee. And the
son cannot be Prime Minister Loong but Prime Minister Lee. Is Trump
another hillbilly?
Some Singaporeans tried to explain this stupidity or ignorance to Trump by adding in their two cents worth of stupidity. They told Trump that Hsien Loong’s last name is Lee. What? What is that? When was Hsien Loong’s last name Lee? Are they telling Trump that Hsien Loong’s name is Hsien Loong Lee?
For goodness sake, Lee is the first name of Hsien Loong and the first name is the family name. The western convention of first name and last name do not have the same meaning as a Chinese name. The Chinese write their family name first. Their second and last names are their individual name. The last name of a Chinese is not his family name, stupid. Of course this may be true if he is a banana and wrote his name as Banana Tan or Papaya Lee.
There is no need to change the convention of how a Chinese name is written to fit into the western convention. Any westerner that has met up with a Chinese would know the difference, or at the most make the mistake once. It is not that hard to understand this little cultural difference. No need super intelligence to know this.
By the way, President Donald, did you get it? It is Prime Minister Lee. Don’t you remember his father used to visit the US and even addressed the two Houses? And his name, Lee… Kuan Yew. Please don’t tell Hsien Loong that you have met Prime Minister Yew, his father. It is not very nice. George Bush Jr could do better than that. Trump could not be pretending that he is another George Bush right?
Some Singaporeans tried to explain this stupidity or ignorance to Trump by adding in their two cents worth of stupidity. They told Trump that Hsien Loong’s last name is Lee. What? What is that? When was Hsien Loong’s last name Lee? Are they telling Trump that Hsien Loong’s name is Hsien Loong Lee?
For goodness sake, Lee is the first name of Hsien Loong and the first name is the family name. The western convention of first name and last name do not have the same meaning as a Chinese name. The Chinese write their family name first. Their second and last names are their individual name. The last name of a Chinese is not his family name, stupid. Of course this may be true if he is a banana and wrote his name as Banana Tan or Papaya Lee.
There is no need to change the convention of how a Chinese name is written to fit into the western convention. Any westerner that has met up with a Chinese would know the difference, or at the most make the mistake once. It is not that hard to understand this little cultural difference. No need super intelligence to know this.
By the way, President Donald, did you get it? It is Prime Minister Lee. Don’t you remember his father used to visit the US and even addressed the two Houses? And his name, Lee… Kuan Yew. Please don’t tell Hsien Loong that you have met Prime Minister Yew, his father. It is not very nice. George Bush Jr could do better than that. Trump could not be pretending that he is another George Bush right?
10/24/2017
CPF - Do you want your money back? Act now
CPF – An unending scheme that was meant to end at 55
A great saving scheme for retirement has now been turned into a nightmare for many hapless Singaporeans. They entered this compulsory scheme with the promise of getting their life savings back at 55. Without their permission and consent, many outrageous legislations have been introduced to hold back their money till eternity without having a say or a chance to say no or to opt out from it by the most honorable govt run by the most righteous and honorable men and women elected by the people to look after their interests and to protect their interests.
In the case of the CPF, many do not see their interests being protected but eroded by the very people they elected to protect them. Many want their life savings back but their voices were drown in the wilderness. Their elected representatives refused to hear them or to represent them. Instead their elected representatives participated in the horrendous schemes to hold back the money from them at 55. Now this scheme, instead of terminating at the age of 55, would only end when they die. Oops, not really the case. In some circumstances the scheme or the money would continue to be locked up in the CPF, transferred into the accounts of their beneficiaries and could go on and on, never ending.
What kind of monstrous scheme has this life saving scheme for retirement turned into? You ask me. Do you want it to be this way, without your consent, to becoming a money eating monster that eats away your life savings? Compulsory purchase of life insurance scheme, compulsory purchase of medical insurance scheme, and aka datang, or brooding, compulsory schemes for the seniors.
Take the case of the money that is to be pledged against the CPF you withdrawn, your own money, to purchase properties. Not only that you have to pay interest for borrowing your money, you would have to cough up more money to return to the CPF even if you are 100 or 200 years old or more if you have not met the minimum sum stipulated. Should not such pledges be terminated once a person reached the age to withdraw his CPF savings? There is no provision to end the pledging scheme. By right one’s obligation to contribute to the CPF should end at 55 and everything squares of as that is the age when one should be withdrawing his savings from the CPF. But now, when you sell your property, you must pay back to the CPF the money you borrowed from your own savings, plus interests, with no time frame in sight, with the conditions set for the minimum sum. Why like that?
What kind of fucking nonsense is this? Return our money. We want our money back.
Lim Tean and Philip Ang are risking themselves to fight for you, on your behalf to take back your money. The hope for success is very small, because the people you elected to protect your money would not be protecting you and your money but fighting against this. But don’t give up hope. This is your only chance to take back your money.
We must all do our part. This is what Philip Ang and Lim Tean expects from you, a small contribution to the huge legal fees that would be needed to fight this case legally. The details are a work in progress. Everything must start with a small step, a first step. Philip Ang wrote this, posted in TRE,
‘CPF members (non members are also welcomed) who wish to right this sorry state of affairs should contribute and no freeloading, please. Even if 20% of members contribute $10 each, this will be more than sufficient.
Our present priority is to create more awareness and raise sufficient funds before initiating action.
Lim Tean and I have set up a crowdfunding account @ https://www.facebook.com/tean.lim.75. (POSB Savings 198-91842-3) Please keep a record of your transaction as your particulars will be required before the launch of the class-action suit. Unused portion will also be returned, pari passu.’
This is the time to act to do something good for yourself. You need to act to protect your own money. Whatever the amount you can contribute, just send it to them in the above account provided.
This is the first time that Singaporeans are standing up for their own right, fighting for the right to their money, their life savings. Every drop counts. Do something to help yourself. Do it now.
PS. I have sent in my contribution by the time you read this.
A great saving scheme for retirement has now been turned into a nightmare for many hapless Singaporeans. They entered this compulsory scheme with the promise of getting their life savings back at 55. Without their permission and consent, many outrageous legislations have been introduced to hold back their money till eternity without having a say or a chance to say no or to opt out from it by the most honorable govt run by the most righteous and honorable men and women elected by the people to look after their interests and to protect their interests.
In the case of the CPF, many do not see their interests being protected but eroded by the very people they elected to protect them. Many want their life savings back but their voices were drown in the wilderness. Their elected representatives refused to hear them or to represent them. Instead their elected representatives participated in the horrendous schemes to hold back the money from them at 55. Now this scheme, instead of terminating at the age of 55, would only end when they die. Oops, not really the case. In some circumstances the scheme or the money would continue to be locked up in the CPF, transferred into the accounts of their beneficiaries and could go on and on, never ending.
What kind of monstrous scheme has this life saving scheme for retirement turned into? You ask me. Do you want it to be this way, without your consent, to becoming a money eating monster that eats away your life savings? Compulsory purchase of life insurance scheme, compulsory purchase of medical insurance scheme, and aka datang, or brooding, compulsory schemes for the seniors.
Take the case of the money that is to be pledged against the CPF you withdrawn, your own money, to purchase properties. Not only that you have to pay interest for borrowing your money, you would have to cough up more money to return to the CPF even if you are 100 or 200 years old or more if you have not met the minimum sum stipulated. Should not such pledges be terminated once a person reached the age to withdraw his CPF savings? There is no provision to end the pledging scheme. By right one’s obligation to contribute to the CPF should end at 55 and everything squares of as that is the age when one should be withdrawing his savings from the CPF. But now, when you sell your property, you must pay back to the CPF the money you borrowed from your own savings, plus interests, with no time frame in sight, with the conditions set for the minimum sum. Why like that?
What kind of fucking nonsense is this? Return our money. We want our money back.
Lim Tean and Philip Ang are risking themselves to fight for you, on your behalf to take back your money. The hope for success is very small, because the people you elected to protect your money would not be protecting you and your money but fighting against this. But don’t give up hope. This is your only chance to take back your money.
We must all do our part. This is what Philip Ang and Lim Tean expects from you, a small contribution to the huge legal fees that would be needed to fight this case legally. The details are a work in progress. Everything must start with a small step, a first step. Philip Ang wrote this, posted in TRE,
‘CPF members (non members are also welcomed) who wish to right this sorry state of affairs should contribute and no freeloading, please. Even if 20% of members contribute $10 each, this will be more than sufficient.
Our present priority is to create more awareness and raise sufficient funds before initiating action.
Lim Tean and I have set up a crowdfunding account @ https://www.facebook.com/tean.lim.75. (POSB Savings 198-91842-3) Please keep a record of your transaction as your particulars will be required before the launch of the class-action suit. Unused portion will also be returned, pari passu.’
This is the time to act to do something good for yourself. You need to act to protect your own money. Whatever the amount you can contribute, just send it to them in the above account provided.
This is the first time that Singaporeans are standing up for their own right, fighting for the right to their money, their life savings. Every drop counts. Do something to help yourself. Do it now.
PS. I have sent in my contribution by the time you read this.
10/23/2017
Han Fook Kwang - A happier story to population woes
I just want to quote this from Han Fook Kwang's article on the above.
'For the glass half-empty brigade, they all add up to a future Singapore
that is shrinking and ageing and so will be increasingly reliant on new
citizens, permanent residents and foreigners to make up the shortfall.
This sobering view is the dominant narrative whenever Singapore's
population numbers are discussed.
So, what's the glass half-full version of the story?
Interestingly, it also borrows from economic theory.
Experts say there is a demographic dividend which countries reap when they
bring down their birth and death rates. With smaller families and fewer
young children to feed, more resources can be deployed to each individual,
resulting in better educated and more productive workers. Smaller families
also mean greater opportunities for women to work.
The result? High economic growth, provided, of course, the right social and
economic polices are implemented. In fact, the theory is that after this
round of benefits from smaller families, there is a second round to be
enjoyed when significant numbers retire with savings and assets that can be
invested to produce more growth....'
I must say that the experts that thought of reaping rewards from no
population growth really have no intellectual depth. How can there be
economic growth when there is no population growth? This is outrageous
thinking according to the one trick ponies. You want economic growth, then
you must accept population growth. And Singapore can only continue to grow
with growing the population to 10m. But such one pony theory for stopping
the story at 10m is as far as their intellectual depth would go. For they
presumed that once 10m is reached, the story would end. No need to have
more economic growth, no need more population growth. To them it is a
static thing, with a good ending when 10m is attained.
While in the process of growing the population to 10m it is so easy to
stuff them in high rise housing blocks. But what would happen if they leave
their homes, all 10m of them? Now with half that population everything is
running to a stand still. What about more schools, hospitals, recreation
facilities, transportation network, jobs, water, energy, food, social
security etc etc. So easy to grow population to 10m and everything will
take care of itself meh?
Sorry, my intellectual depth also limited and cannot offer any solution to
a 10m population and when 10m is reached, and if the people want more
economic growth, the 10m would become 20m and on and on to 100m or else how
to sustain economic growth?
10/22/2017
An honest inside view of the Evil Empire
Watch this video, just for 2 minutes, the rest is up to you, to
understand what is really going on in Washington and what the Evil
Empire has been plotting to do while deceiving the world. Listen to the
comments by Gen Wesley Clark on how the evil men in Washington decided
to invade countries for no reason, made the decision to conduct regime
change and then fabricated lies to deceive the world of their real
intent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHHKz-7KDV8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHHKz-7KDV8
How to solve the sick SMRT?
After hiring a salesgirl and paying her millions to run the MRT and
making great profits while the train system headed to a standstill, SMRT
did not learn anything. You just cannot hire someone with no experience
in the running of a train system to manage a train system. The train
system is more complicated than what it appears to be. This is the view
taken from recent comments after the flood of problems and breakdowns.
And they went to hire another with no experience in running a train, a
soldier, to run it and the rest is history.
Then there is this volunteer in Khaw Boon Wan, also got no experience in running a train, that came in to try to solve the problem but also hitting a dead wall. He thought it was a piece of cake. Nah, it is not so easy to fix a faulty train system. This is not like switching it on and off, like stopping the building of more HDB flats and then restarting the same process.
The commuters are disgusted, exasperated, frustrated, losing their patience, and now every commuter, from the old to the young are crying out loud to voice their two cents worth of opinion and solutions. Outsource the management to some experienced train operators, hire foreign talents, send our millionaire train managers to learn from those earning peanuts in other countries, and all the standard solutions that one trick pony can think of. Then the same bunch of commuters answered themselves with their self doubts and doubting questions. Could these work? Of course cannot lah.
The best solution I can think of to temporary solve this problem and stop all the kpkbs and the pressure exerted on the train operator/govt is to tell the people that a complete overhaul or a complete rebuild, a new system, is the answer. Just this announcement alone will immediately stop all the kpkbs. Tell them the replacement system will take 5 to 10 years and the commuters would just have to live with it. You want a new and trouble free train system or not? The answer must be yes. And if yes, you got to bear with it, just 5 or 10 years to wait. In the meantime when the train is down and out, it is the commuters problem to find their ways to their destinations. As for the train employees, tell them to apply long term no pay leave and return when the new train system is up and running. Can save a lot of manpower cost.
This decision will buy 5 to 10 years of peace or at least the criticisms and complaints would die down for sure. And during this period of waiting and getting more frustrated, the commuters would get to reflect on the half baked or half working system and might even say, at least it is working now and then. It is better than nothing. They would get to appreciate a flawed system when there is no working system available, just like in the land of the blind, the one eye jack is king, even if they demand to be paid in the millions.
And you know what would happen after a few months without the train? The commuters would be begging for the flawed train system to run again. Never mind if it breaks down everyday, at least sometimes it would be working. Then the operators can be reemployed with all the staff and run the flawed and daily breaking down train all over again and no one would dare to complain again. If they dare to complain, threaten to take down the train and to rebuild a new one and the commuters have to wait for another 5 or 10 years for it to be operational.
This solution is kinda sound like Redbean's Art of Management, don't you think so? Just kick the bucket further down the road to buy time and peace.
Then there is this volunteer in Khaw Boon Wan, also got no experience in running a train, that came in to try to solve the problem but also hitting a dead wall. He thought it was a piece of cake. Nah, it is not so easy to fix a faulty train system. This is not like switching it on and off, like stopping the building of more HDB flats and then restarting the same process.
The commuters are disgusted, exasperated, frustrated, losing their patience, and now every commuter, from the old to the young are crying out loud to voice their two cents worth of opinion and solutions. Outsource the management to some experienced train operators, hire foreign talents, send our millionaire train managers to learn from those earning peanuts in other countries, and all the standard solutions that one trick pony can think of. Then the same bunch of commuters answered themselves with their self doubts and doubting questions. Could these work? Of course cannot lah.
The best solution I can think of to temporary solve this problem and stop all the kpkbs and the pressure exerted on the train operator/govt is to tell the people that a complete overhaul or a complete rebuild, a new system, is the answer. Just this announcement alone will immediately stop all the kpkbs. Tell them the replacement system will take 5 to 10 years and the commuters would just have to live with it. You want a new and trouble free train system or not? The answer must be yes. And if yes, you got to bear with it, just 5 or 10 years to wait. In the meantime when the train is down and out, it is the commuters problem to find their ways to their destinations. As for the train employees, tell them to apply long term no pay leave and return when the new train system is up and running. Can save a lot of manpower cost.
This decision will buy 5 to 10 years of peace or at least the criticisms and complaints would die down for sure. And during this period of waiting and getting more frustrated, the commuters would get to reflect on the half baked or half working system and might even say, at least it is working now and then. It is better than nothing. They would get to appreciate a flawed system when there is no working system available, just like in the land of the blind, the one eye jack is king, even if they demand to be paid in the millions.
And you know what would happen after a few months without the train? The commuters would be begging for the flawed train system to run again. Never mind if it breaks down everyday, at least sometimes it would be working. Then the operators can be reemployed with all the staff and run the flawed and daily breaking down train all over again and no one would dare to complain again. If they dare to complain, threaten to take down the train and to rebuild a new one and the commuters have to wait for another 5 or 10 years for it to be operational.
This solution is kinda sound like Redbean's Art of Management, don't you think so? Just kick the bucket further down the road to buy time and peace.
10/21/2017
Fancy finding a Singaporean with a little talent
This titled was inspired by a report on Banyan Tree Holdings, a
Singapore based hotel chain, building an eco friendly hotel in the
backyard of the Singapore Zoo. The front page article in thenewpaper on
12 Oct read, ‘Fancy sleeping in luxury ,quoting the CEO elaborating
about this novel and creative concept of building a hotel in the jungle
for guests to experience what it was like living in the midst of a
tropical jungle and about co existence with wildlife and nature.
On reflection, I think I will not be far wrong to say that all the CEOs of Singapore’s holiday attractions like the Zoo, the Bird Park, Botanic Garden, Sentosa are all foreigners. Not sure about the artificial garden in the heart of Singapore, could also be a foreigner. This one could be an exception as Singaporeans are very good in anything that is fake. And foreigners are heading most of the banks in Singapore, local banks and foreign banks. And foreigners are CEOs in many other institutions including institutions of higher learnings. Singaporeans first, do good, do together.
What do all this said about Singaporean talents? Is Singapore able to produce Singaporean talents for employments? I am very specific here, I am referring to Singaporean talents not locals. And to be more specific, Singaporeans that were born and bred here?
Why is it that Singaporean organizations are hiring foreigners as CEOs? Is it that our universities are not producing them, not doing the right stuff? What about our super talented students sent abroad to study in the best universities where these foreigners were educated? If it is due to a failure in our own education institutions, then sending them overseas should do the trick. But no, many of our best students went overseas also came back showing very little employable talent except to be civil servants or generals.
So what is the real stuff that makes the difference if it is not education? I think the foreigners are born with talents. Talents are born, and no amount of university educations, from the best universities could make the difference. There is no need to go for that expensive education. When one is born, one is either daft or talented.
Now you can understand the title, Fancy finding a Singaporean with a little talent. Singaporeans just don’t have talents and it is right and necessary to hire foreigners that are born talented to run Singaporean corporations and to provide jobs for Singaporeans. Without these talented foreigners, Singaporeans would be clueless about anything, except maybe queuing up to be Grab and Uber drivers. Or is that what they were taught in the universities, to become taxi drivers?
Let me be a little bit generous to say that actually Singaporeans still have two skills left. One is the ability to employ foreigners to hire more foreigners to replace Singaporeans. The other skill is to train jobless displaced Singaporeans to work overseas. This last skill is admirable, a heart of gold, thinking and caring for Singaporeans.
On reflection, I think I will not be far wrong to say that all the CEOs of Singapore’s holiday attractions like the Zoo, the Bird Park, Botanic Garden, Sentosa are all foreigners. Not sure about the artificial garden in the heart of Singapore, could also be a foreigner. This one could be an exception as Singaporeans are very good in anything that is fake. And foreigners are heading most of the banks in Singapore, local banks and foreign banks. And foreigners are CEOs in many other institutions including institutions of higher learnings. Singaporeans first, do good, do together.
What do all this said about Singaporean talents? Is Singapore able to produce Singaporean talents for employments? I am very specific here, I am referring to Singaporean talents not locals. And to be more specific, Singaporeans that were born and bred here?
Why is it that Singaporean organizations are hiring foreigners as CEOs? Is it that our universities are not producing them, not doing the right stuff? What about our super talented students sent abroad to study in the best universities where these foreigners were educated? If it is due to a failure in our own education institutions, then sending them overseas should do the trick. But no, many of our best students went overseas also came back showing very little employable talent except to be civil servants or generals.
So what is the real stuff that makes the difference if it is not education? I think the foreigners are born with talents. Talents are born, and no amount of university educations, from the best universities could make the difference. There is no need to go for that expensive education. When one is born, one is either daft or talented.
Now you can understand the title, Fancy finding a Singaporean with a little talent. Singaporeans just don’t have talents and it is right and necessary to hire foreigners that are born talented to run Singaporean corporations and to provide jobs for Singaporeans. Without these talented foreigners, Singaporeans would be clueless about anything, except maybe queuing up to be Grab and Uber drivers. Or is that what they were taught in the universities, to become taxi drivers?
Let me be a little bit generous to say that actually Singaporeans still have two skills left. One is the ability to employ foreigners to hire more foreigners to replace Singaporeans. The other skill is to train jobless displaced Singaporeans to work overseas. This last skill is admirable, a heart of gold, thinking and caring for Singaporeans.
10/20/2017
Xi Jinping, a man of his time
The leaders of China since 1949 had their roles cut out for them by
history. The most difficult period was the unification of China and the
driving out of foreign invaders that wanted to break up China as their
respective colonies. During such turbulent times, a tough and strong
leader with strong charismatic appeal in the form of Chairman Mao was
necessary to bring about a new unified China and avoided disintegration.
Chairman Mao was a leader of his time. Mao was an exceptional leader
under very demanding conditions, the founding of a new nation rising
from the ruins of historical forces.
When Deng Xiaoping took over the reign of China, his task was to rebuild China practically from scratch. Mao tried but with limited success in wanting to build a strong and self reliant China. Deng was a very brave and decisive man, to break away from doctrinal constraints and Mao’s ideological dominance and embarked on a new economic experiment, embracing the full force of capitalism and individual endeavour. Deng was instrumental in laying out the blue print and the foundation for rapid economic growth for China, breaking all rules as long as they worked.
Apart from opening up China to the world, Deng was best remembered for China to be patient, to bid its time, and plunged head on into economic development at all cost, even to ‘swallow bitter pill’, to stay away from major conflict whenever possible. Under his policy of rebuilding and reconstruction, learning everything from the world, China also had to suffer humiliation in silence by not fighting back in many occasions.
The two immediate successors to Deng, in Jiang Zeming and Hu Jintao were dedicated leaders/administrators to continue Deng’s work diligently, and yes, also taking a low profile, avoiding the limelight, avoiding playing an active role in world affairs. The works of Jiang and Hu saw China going through a carefully planned economy nation wide and the rise of China as an economically successful model of development. China moved from an underdeveloped nation state into a highly developed and industrialized country. The quality of life of its people and their economic well being took centre stage. During this period China successfully eradicated poverty country wide. The people were well fed and the country becoming more self sufficient in every field of economy and enterprise. China has arrived as a newly industrialized and rich nation.
Xi Jinping inherited a China that is very different from that of Mao and Deng. The efforts of Jiang and Hu as great disciples of Deng Xiaoping and dutifully executed his plans for China have bore great results. The basic problems of poverty, survival, a disunited country, were no longer problems to Xi. Xi Jinping would have to take China forward, to carve out a new role for this new China.
Xi Jinping is in uncharted territory. Just to continue economic growth like Jiang and Hu would not be good enough. He would have to show that he could stamp his own mark as a worthy leader of a new China. The rapid expansion of China’s economic development also brought about different sets of domestic problems with corruption being a troubling task for Xi to tackle. Xi’s performance in domestic policies has been commendable. While the country’s economy is steaming ahead, Xi has chosen to take China forward as a world leader. It is this new international role for China that puts Xi apart from his predecessors.
Stepping into the international arena would put Xi in direct conflict with the major world powers, particularly the USA. There would also be opposition from the pro American camp. These forces would stand in the way of Xi as was proven in the launching of the AIIB and the BRI but would not stop him in his pursuit for a greater China.
Under Xi’s leadership, China would take the initiative in world affairs. China is not going to ‘swallow bitter pills’ anymore. Deng’s policy is passé and a new course and direction are taking shape. China would assume its rightful place as a respectable world power in the international community. And there were many opportunities for Xi to stand firm, to hold his ground and make his mark.
The American provocations in the South China Sea put Xi to his first test. This was followed by the rising tension in the Korean peninsula, climate change, free trade, border disputes etc etc. The China of Xi Jinping is a world power with a bigger role and responsibility as expected by the nations of the world.
The deployment of the PLA in peacekeeping role in support of the UN missions, in protecting Chinese nationals overseas, and the setting up of military bases in Africa and the South China Sea are the manifestations of a China emerging from its past shadow as an active participant in international affairs, to play a part in keeping the world peaceful and safe. China is not only an economic powerhouse but also a responsible military power and would exercise its power if called upon, responsibly.
This is a new moment for China and a calling for a new kind of leadership in the likes of Xi Jinping, a world leader, not just the President of China. The geopolitical forces need an international statesman. The world is the new stage for China and Xi Jinping, the President of China, the man with a new calling.
When Deng Xiaoping took over the reign of China, his task was to rebuild China practically from scratch. Mao tried but with limited success in wanting to build a strong and self reliant China. Deng was a very brave and decisive man, to break away from doctrinal constraints and Mao’s ideological dominance and embarked on a new economic experiment, embracing the full force of capitalism and individual endeavour. Deng was instrumental in laying out the blue print and the foundation for rapid economic growth for China, breaking all rules as long as they worked.
Apart from opening up China to the world, Deng was best remembered for China to be patient, to bid its time, and plunged head on into economic development at all cost, even to ‘swallow bitter pill’, to stay away from major conflict whenever possible. Under his policy of rebuilding and reconstruction, learning everything from the world, China also had to suffer humiliation in silence by not fighting back in many occasions.
The two immediate successors to Deng, in Jiang Zeming and Hu Jintao were dedicated leaders/administrators to continue Deng’s work diligently, and yes, also taking a low profile, avoiding the limelight, avoiding playing an active role in world affairs. The works of Jiang and Hu saw China going through a carefully planned economy nation wide and the rise of China as an economically successful model of development. China moved from an underdeveloped nation state into a highly developed and industrialized country. The quality of life of its people and their economic well being took centre stage. During this period China successfully eradicated poverty country wide. The people were well fed and the country becoming more self sufficient in every field of economy and enterprise. China has arrived as a newly industrialized and rich nation.
Xi Jinping inherited a China that is very different from that of Mao and Deng. The efforts of Jiang and Hu as great disciples of Deng Xiaoping and dutifully executed his plans for China have bore great results. The basic problems of poverty, survival, a disunited country, were no longer problems to Xi. Xi Jinping would have to take China forward, to carve out a new role for this new China.
Xi Jinping is in uncharted territory. Just to continue economic growth like Jiang and Hu would not be good enough. He would have to show that he could stamp his own mark as a worthy leader of a new China. The rapid expansion of China’s economic development also brought about different sets of domestic problems with corruption being a troubling task for Xi to tackle. Xi’s performance in domestic policies has been commendable. While the country’s economy is steaming ahead, Xi has chosen to take China forward as a world leader. It is this new international role for China that puts Xi apart from his predecessors.
Stepping into the international arena would put Xi in direct conflict with the major world powers, particularly the USA. There would also be opposition from the pro American camp. These forces would stand in the way of Xi as was proven in the launching of the AIIB and the BRI but would not stop him in his pursuit for a greater China.
Under Xi’s leadership, China would take the initiative in world affairs. China is not going to ‘swallow bitter pills’ anymore. Deng’s policy is passé and a new course and direction are taking shape. China would assume its rightful place as a respectable world power in the international community. And there were many opportunities for Xi to stand firm, to hold his ground and make his mark.
The American provocations in the South China Sea put Xi to his first test. This was followed by the rising tension in the Korean peninsula, climate change, free trade, border disputes etc etc. The China of Xi Jinping is a world power with a bigger role and responsibility as expected by the nations of the world.
The deployment of the PLA in peacekeeping role in support of the UN missions, in protecting Chinese nationals overseas, and the setting up of military bases in Africa and the South China Sea are the manifestations of a China emerging from its past shadow as an active participant in international affairs, to play a part in keeping the world peaceful and safe. China is not only an economic powerhouse but also a responsible military power and would exercise its power if called upon, responsibly.
This is a new moment for China and a calling for a new kind of leadership in the likes of Xi Jinping, a world leader, not just the President of China. The geopolitical forces need an international statesman. The world is the new stage for China and Xi Jinping, the President of China, the man with a new calling.
10/19/2017
We Have NO Shame - Part 2
Willing,
Happy Victims of the Long Con!
Nunzio Quacquarelli,
the founding partner of Quacquarelli Symonds or the QS Ranker was amazed at the reactions from governments and the
universities because the QS rankings were NOT set up to serve University
administrators!
"What we've been surprised is the extent to which governments and
university leaders use the rankings to set strategic targets. We at QS think this is wrong. Also "Ranks
should not be a primary driver of university mission statements and visions.”
Just read for yourself:
Authenticity is the utmost important characteristic of integrity.
How much longer should Singapore continue to participate in the bogus and fraudulent World University Rankings? Have we no shame?
Willing,
Happy Victims of the Long Con!
Did
Singapore Government officials and NTU/NUS Managers knowingly become willing
participants of the World University Ranking scam and fraud for the past 10+
years?
Nunzio Quacquarelli,
the founding partner of Quacquarelli Symonds or the QS Ranker was amazed at the reactions from governments and the
universities because the QS rankings were NOT set up to serve University
administrators!
"What we've been surprised is the extent to which governments and
university leaders use the rankings to set strategic targets. We at QS think this is wrong. Also "Ranks
should not be a primary driver of university mission statements and visions.”
Just read for yourself:
Authenticity is the utmost important characteristic of integrity.
We need to set an honest and genuine example for our NTU Alumni, our Singapore Community and the world;
Or else, we are much better off selling fake Rolex at NTU
As the Chief "replica" Rolex Salesman has said: "It's fake, but it's a Rolex!" And he's selling them like hot “Hello Kitty” dolls! Well, the NTU grad is just copying NTU's branding strategy.
WHEN can we stop our Shame? If not now? If not by us?
Must Read: True Lies About Universities Rankings
Read All the Links … It’s Time to Stop our Shame! Now!
.
Class action suit against the Govt on CPF savings
Philip Ang is proposing a class action suit against the Govt on
accountability, transparency and the return of our CPF savings at 55.
Below is his proposal posted in the TRE. I will definitely support this
motion if it is finalized. Maybe Gilbert Goh should work with Philip Ang
to hold a mass briefing at Hong Lim and collect signatures of CPF
holders in support of this class action. Other forms of acceptance
should be work out to make it easy for the rest of the CPF holders to
accept this proposal, including house to house visit. The opposition
parties could be roped in to help in this cause that affects the pocket
of all Singaporeans.
While on this, the proposal should strictly be about Singaporeans and not about PRs and ‘locals’. Let them fight their own battles after all they could easily withdraw every cent they want when they decided to return to their home countries.
A class-action lawsuit against the government.
This will not be a mere request or begging the government for transparency and accountability in the management of hundreds of billions in CPF monies. CPF members will demand for a full set of accounts to be published.
On the assumption that GIC’s 6% rate of return claims are factual, we seek the return of the difference between the amount paid to CPF members and what GIC claims to have earned. Plus interest.
We also seek the return of our CPF savings at 55. Returning our CPF through monthly installments at 65 – till we die – is not acceptable.
Neither will we accept:
– Frequent tweaks of CPF rules which have impacted the well-being of hundreds of thousands of retirees.
– The appointment of unqualified CEOs such as former military personnel/civil servant with no prior fund management experience.
We are also opposed to government abuse of our retirement savings to:
– Conceal the size of our national reserves.
– Channel tens of billions to a single fund manager, government-linked GIC.
We seek a revamp of the failed CPF scheme which should be simplified. To increase retirement funding, a higher percentage of wages should be allocated to CPF SA with a corresponding reduction in CPF OA allocation.
The limits to the use of CPF MA – arbitrarily implemented by the government – for hospitalization, insurance premiums, etc must be removed. After all, this is our money.
The government should also appoint other non government-related fund managers to manage our CPF savings.
Besides the above, other factors will also be taken into consideration after CPF members have confirmed their support for the class-action lawsuit.
Costs
The lawsuit will be funded by CPF members through crowdfunding. Depending on the number of CPF members involved, the cost should not be prohibitive, eg 10,000 members X $100 = $1 million or 100,000 members X $10 = $1 million.
Transparency and accountability are of utmost importance and details could be worked out at a later date.
While on this, the proposal should strictly be about Singaporeans and not about PRs and ‘locals’. Let them fight their own battles after all they could easily withdraw every cent they want when they decided to return to their home countries.
A class-action lawsuit against the government.
This will not be a mere request or begging the government for transparency and accountability in the management of hundreds of billions in CPF monies. CPF members will demand for a full set of accounts to be published.
On the assumption that GIC’s 6% rate of return claims are factual, we seek the return of the difference between the amount paid to CPF members and what GIC claims to have earned. Plus interest.
We also seek the return of our CPF savings at 55. Returning our CPF through monthly installments at 65 – till we die – is not acceptable.
Neither will we accept:
– Frequent tweaks of CPF rules which have impacted the well-being of hundreds of thousands of retirees.
– The appointment of unqualified CEOs such as former military personnel/civil servant with no prior fund management experience.
We are also opposed to government abuse of our retirement savings to:
– Conceal the size of our national reserves.
– Channel tens of billions to a single fund manager, government-linked GIC.
We seek a revamp of the failed CPF scheme which should be simplified. To increase retirement funding, a higher percentage of wages should be allocated to CPF SA with a corresponding reduction in CPF OA allocation.
The limits to the use of CPF MA – arbitrarily implemented by the government – for hospitalization, insurance premiums, etc must be removed. After all, this is our money.
The government should also appoint other non government-related fund managers to manage our CPF savings.
Besides the above, other factors will also be taken into consideration after CPF members have confirmed their support for the class-action lawsuit.
Costs
The lawsuit will be funded by CPF members through crowdfunding. Depending on the number of CPF members involved, the cost should not be prohibitive, eg 10,000 members X $100 = $1 million or 100,000 members X $10 = $1 million.
Transparency and accountability are of utmost importance and details could be worked out at a later date.
10/18/2017
Deepavali in the Republic of Singapura
They really look very good, like bollywood actors. This could be the Singapura's national dress they have been looking for, smart, cool and fashionable.What is missing is Hsien Loong and Chee Hian joining the cast.
Bollywood can set up an office here to start producing movies and they would have no problem finding good looking and beautiful actors and actresses in Parliament.
And oh, last year they had all the ladies in saris. Halimah can take the lead by putting on a sari with all the lady ministers and MPs. The picture would be complete, picture perfect.
What do you think?
And happy Deepavali to all the Hindus and non Hindus celebrating this holiday.
Have We NO Shame?
Authenticity
is the utmost important characteristic of integrity.
We need to set an
honest and genuine example for our NTU Alumni, our Singapore Community and the
world;
Or else, we are much better off selling fake Rolex at NTU
As the Chief "replica" Rolex Salesman has said: "It's fake, but it's a Rolex!" And he's selling them like hot “Hello Kitty” dolls! Well, the NTU grad is just copying NTU's branding strategy.
WHEN
can we stop our Shame? If not now? If
not by us?
Must
Read: True
Lies About Universities Rankings
Read
All the Links … It’s Time to Stop our Shame!
Now!
.
10/17/2017
To cry or not to cry for retrenched SPH staff
Mothership.sg posted an article on a townhall meeting by Warren
Fernandez, the editor in chief of SPH, to announce the retrenchment of
130 staff. The article said Fernandez said two things that infuriated or
exasperated the staff at the meeting. One was to blame the IT
department for locking out the staff from using the company's computer
system and the other, the hiring of 10 foreign correspondence while
talking about retrenching so many staff.
Fernandez also said SPH is still doing well with profit up by 32% to $350 million despite lowering revenue in some sectors. Some may want to question the need to resought to retrenching staff when the company is still growing its profits, but one thing that stood up like a sore thumb is the intent to hire 10 foreign correspondents.
Big question, who are these 10 foreign staff, from where, to do what that the retrenched staff cannot do or be trained to do? Are the skills requirement or expertise so special that none of the staff can do or can be trained to do? It would be criminal to hire foreigners and not retraining or redeploying retrenched staff if the new jobs can be done by these staff. Are there really jobs that are so specialised that only foreigners can do?
Are these foreigners from top notch foreign media from developed countries or 'foreign talents' from third world countries with top notch third world credentials and experienced to replace the retrenched staff? Or is this another sign of the Pinkerton Disease? Imagine Channel News Asia replacing its native staff with angmohs to report news from western perspective and interests? It would then be more appropriate to be renamed Channel News Angmoh. Where is ST heading, West or Third World?
Would SPH be transparent and enlighten on this hiring and would MOM be interested to know the details and could these 10 positions be saved for the retrenched staff?
Dunno want to cry or to pity the retrenched reporters. Hopefully they are not Singaporeans and to be replaced by foreigners in another case of Singaporeans got no talent or the required specialised skills of third world reporters.
Just wait and see how this case is developing and how it turns out to be.
Fernandez also said SPH is still doing well with profit up by 32% to $350 million despite lowering revenue in some sectors. Some may want to question the need to resought to retrenching staff when the company is still growing its profits, but one thing that stood up like a sore thumb is the intent to hire 10 foreign correspondents.
Big question, who are these 10 foreign staff, from where, to do what that the retrenched staff cannot do or be trained to do? Are the skills requirement or expertise so special that none of the staff can do or can be trained to do? It would be criminal to hire foreigners and not retraining or redeploying retrenched staff if the new jobs can be done by these staff. Are there really jobs that are so specialised that only foreigners can do?
Are these foreigners from top notch foreign media from developed countries or 'foreign talents' from third world countries with top notch third world credentials and experienced to replace the retrenched staff? Or is this another sign of the Pinkerton Disease? Imagine Channel News Asia replacing its native staff with angmohs to report news from western perspective and interests? It would then be more appropriate to be renamed Channel News Angmoh. Where is ST heading, West or Third World?
Would SPH be transparent and enlighten on this hiring and would MOM be interested to know the details and could these 10 positions be saved for the retrenched staff?
Dunno want to cry or to pity the retrenched reporters. Hopefully they are not Singaporeans and to be replaced by foreigners in another case of Singaporeans got no talent or the required specialised skills of third world reporters.
Just wait and see how this case is developing and how it turns out to be.
10/16/2017
Lessons from Selling Fake Rolex
Lessons from Selling Fake Rolex in Singapore NTU
An Incredible Entrepreneurship Case Study
I first met Tah-Nan (not his real
name) before 2010; a young Singaporean of mixed ethnic origins. I had spotted him in some of my lectures but could
not recall seeing him in any tutorial class. A couple of years later, at the
end of an MBA session where he had participated actively, he approached
me. Tall with black bushy hair and a
perennial smile on his face, he communicates firmly and inspires his listeners
easily to persuasion. He said he was interested in my watch and asked to have a
closer look. He examined my watch, seems surprised, and handed it back to me,
with a wry smile, saying “omg, it’s a genuine Rolex!” I was amazed by his remarks and told him: “It’s
a vintage Rolex with a Roman numeral face. I bought it about 20 years ago in Bern,
Switzerland. Why are you so surprised?” We proceeded to The Coffee Club to
continue the conversations, which led to the astonishing discovery of the
existence of the most lucrative business enterprise operating openly in secret on
NTU Campus – the sale of Replica Rolex watches.
In his early 30’s, Tah-Nan graduated from
the prestigious NTU Nanyang Business School (NBS) with business and finance
degrees before entering the Technopreneurship program at the Nanyang
Technopreneurship Centre (NTC).
Excerpts of our conversations:
Tah-Nan: I was already trading in leather
bags, electronics and wine from my suppliers in China, Thailand, Malaysia and
Indonesia. I don’t like the word “fake” since
the products are very real. Some are
really replicas or imitation of better known or famous brands. Others are
genuine factory surplus production. During the NTC Program, I began to develop
a unique Replica Business that would be exceptional in their marketing and
distribution impact. In just 6 years,
the business has grown to $9 million annually and nothing is slowing the
momentum.
Me:
So why are you still
in NTU? Surely, it’s time to leave the
nest and internationalise or globalize?
Tah-Nan: Actually, I work in NTU in the
President’s Office responsible for market development and students mentoring.
No fanciful job title. Just maintaining a low profile, and provide my bosses with
good optics and credits from my performance impact. I am nobody, and nobody will look for me there,
here or anywhere on campus.
Me: I see, the hiding-in-plain-sight
strategy?
Tah-Nan: Well, I am certainly not hiding. I
manage my supply and value chains through the internet and co-ordinate my sales
teams using social media and mobile apps.
Drop boxes facilitate convenient pickup for delivery to customers.
Singapore Posts is used for express and home delivery with no shipping
charge. This is a cash-only business and
therefore has no receivable issues.
Inventory is distributed at strategic locations known only to me. Sale team-leaders receive their goods via a 3rd
party logistic network.
Me: Why and how is your business
sustainable? What are the key
sustainability factors?
Tah-Nan: The key lies in brand correspondence.
Me: Brand correspondence? That’s not in any marketing literature.
Tah-Nan: It’s my perversion of brand mapping. That is, creating a trust and reliable brand
in the buyers’ mind by projecting a profound sense of brand layers. A good
example would be, say, a “Kobe Ham” sandwich wrapped in Gardenia bread and
packed in a MacDonald box. The sandwich
is called The McKobe, of course! And it will start its product life as a
credible trusted product when sold at MacDonald’s or from the shelves of
Fairprice, Sheng Siong and 7-Eleven! No one would even know that Kobe only
produces beef
and not ham (or pork).
Me: Interesting. Tell me your inspirational sources and case
studies, of any.
Tah-Nan: NTU
is my main inspiration, seriously!
I was working in NTU in 2008 when NTU’s fall from greatness, fully 29
places from 2003, was reported. NTU in 2003 was ranked 48 by a major University
Rankings Standard. In 2006, NTU “slides” to 61 and by 2008 has “plunged” to 77!
Panic and pandemonium broke out in the President’s Office that morning, enjoined
later by NTU senior Professors, Managers and student leaders.
Me: I remember that day too. I am still baffled why none of the esteemed
Professors in our Universities had bothered to examine the validity
and reliability of the presumptuous “World Rankings Standard”. Many
higher education experts, Professors
and research scientists by that time had already questioned and
condemned the dubious
nature of the Standards and the spurious relationships of its various
measurements. Anyway, what
happened next?
Tah-Nan: It was obvious to many NTU
Professors and graduates that the relegation of NTU to pariah status made no
sense at all, especially when we saw the many Universities who were ranked
higher and supposedly better than us!
The Rankings were as bogus and fake as my replica Rolex. However, my
products are replicas of the real Rolex, which is a genuine brand. The
World University Rankings standards are essentially fake, fraudulent,
unreliable and a scam. Their
criteria have no validity. They are simply
empty nothingness, really!
Me: Yes, the World University Ranking
standards have since been condemned by the United
Nations, UK
Government and the EU
Nations, in addition to several distinguished
Professors who are eminent authorities on Higher Education.
Tah-Nan: In the days and weeks immediately
following, meetings and brainstorming sessions were held on how
to “game” the fraudulent World University Rankings. NTU needed more
foreign Professors and many, many more
foreign students in order to rank ahead. Strangely, teaching and
learning were immaterial and irrelevant for a better University ranking!
Me: Yes, by 2014, NTU was ranked as the Top Youngest University in the World
by QS Ranker, and ranking just 39th Worldwide. Indeed, what a
“climb” from 77th in 2008! So
what are the lessons for your business?
Tah-Nan: To me, the main
critical lesson from NTU is that a fake and bogus brand is better than no
brand at all. We became a replica of
fake, bogus quality excellence!
Me: I believe NTU was already arguably among
the top best Universities in the region before we encountered the bogus
fraudsters calling themselves University Rankers. By April 2001, NTU's research had resulted in
20 spin-off companies, many of whom funded by venture firms, and 150
disclosures, 76 patents filed and 30 patents granted. The research papers of
its staff and students in refereed international journals also won numerous
awards in international competitions and conferences.
Tah-Nan: Sure, we had some impact, but no
branding! Most of the senior Professors
had no confidence and very low self-esteem since their boast of having high
journal and research paper outputs belied the underlying practice of false
authorship. Subordinate and junior
Professors are “persuaded” to include their supervisory seniors as main authors
on journal papers which they did not contribute to. Other than fake
publications, they had no other impact evidenced by consulting with industry
players or innovations or startup ventures.
Me: Sounds like Harvey Weinstein’s
sexual demands to budding actresses before he cast them in his movies!
Tah-Nam: Essentially the same, I think. Perhaps
that’s why we did not dare to denounce the results of the World University
Rankers. Our NTU leaders and senior Professors probably were afraid that the
Rankers were correct, and that they knew most of our research papers and their
authorships were fraudulent.
Me: I see now! Brand Correspondence! Brand Mapping! Use a fake and bogus Brand to
wrap our excellence, and pack it into an authentic Singapore box! What a brilliant idea, indeed!
Tah-Nan: Before they came to Singapore, the
World University Rankings were already suffering from real serious validity and
reliability issues to render them impotent and as meaningless as beauty
contests. Their acceptance by the only 2 premier excellent Singapore
Universities, NTU and NUS, gave them a much needed credibility
boost.
"We confer credibility and legitimacy to the World University Rankers so that they in turn would provide us a “World” Brand of Quality albeit a questionable, meaningless one without validity. Awesome!"
Me: So you concluded that having NTU as
your business base together with the Rolex box, logo and name would provide a
greater sense of “credibility” to your Replica Rolex watches, in a similar way
that we confer credibility and
legitimacy to the World University Rankers so that they in turn would provide us
a “World” Brand of Quality albeit a questionable, meaningless one without
validity. Really superb! Simply awesome!
Tah-Nan: Now you understand why I use NTU as
my base for the Replica Rolex business. It
provides a great façade and cover for credibility. I have students, staff and Professors as Sales
point facilitators. They are rewarded and incentivized by quarterly cash and
Original Rolex watches. Many of my Sales
people wear Original Rolex watches even as they persuade others to buy the
cheaper Replica versions. The conflation of Original and Replica Rolex watches
in marketing completes my understanding of brand correspondence using brand layers.
If discovered, NTU
is unlikely do anything to me since I am simply learning and imitating her
strategy!
Me: That’s quite original, man!
Tah-Nan: Let me tell you a bit more about
Replica Rolex buyers. They are responsible for some 30% of internet searches on
watches. Some years ago, a consortium of high-end Swiss watch brands known as
the Fondation
de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) mounted a public relations campaign with
the message that "Fake Watches Are For Fake People" to educate
people into buying the real thing, with little impact. Fact is that replica or
imitation watches exist to satisfy the desires of people who cannot afford
"the real thing" but want to portray the same status symbols as those
who can. It’s stupidly ironic. The
notion behind the desire to wear a status symbol that you know is not authentic
but would appear authentic to ill-informed people and those of low self-esteem.
That’s why I only reward my top sales people with Original Rolex watches.
Me: Do you think NTU needs to stop
participating in the annual fake and bogus World University Rankings standards?
Tah-Nan: Of course! It is disgusting! A bogus
brand is worn to impress plastic minds. The
only objective to use a bogus brand is to fool others. It is dishonest. A fake is and will always be
a fake, and so is the person or the organisation who owns one. And those who persist in wearing a bogus brand
cannot be taken seriously and so their reputation will suffer in the long run. No
wonder ever since NTU began to pursue the Rankings, she had also ceased having new
ideas to patent, or creating innovations and spinoff ventures with her students.
If NTU seriously care that the
world should think positively and highly about us, NTU should stop
brandishing and flaunting the fake and bogus World University Rankings brand as
our quality standard. Take this advice
from one NTU-trained entrepreneur with a successful replica Rolex business!
Me: I think you would qualify to be the Most
Distinguished Young NTU Alumni! Your nomination and citation may however be
quite controversial and contentious though.
Tah-Nan: Thank you. Would you want to invest in me?
All of a sudden, I found myself in a familiar place – on my bed. It was a
strange dream, or was it a real journey to the future in the past, I wonder? What is Tah-Nan doing now? Is he genuine and for real, I wonder? Would he become the Jack
Ma of Singapore? Time will tell,
I am sure, by my Original Rolex.
.