Running out of ideas

Running out of ideas When one runs out of ideas, anything will do as long as it is an idea. Better than doing nothing. And best when the users will have to pay for the brilliant idea. So we have expensive electronic system to tell motorists how long it takes to travel to another point. We have electronic boards to tell commuters how long it will take for them to reach the start of a taxi queue. And now how long it will take for the buses to be late. Next time you will have electronic boards to tell you how long before the ERP will come on go off. And better still, to tell the motorists how much it will cost to go pass the gantry. And motorists who are caught in an expressway jam, there will be electronic signs to tell them how long will they get out of the jam. All these are great leaps forward in the harnessing of technology and science to improve people's life and lifestyle.

good for commuters

Bus arrival time So the bus panels to tell how late a bus will arrive is going to be set up. This is the strength of this island. Once decided to do something, just do it. No one really cares whether the commuters are willing to pay for the cost of the system. Someone has decided that it is good for the commuters, a better quality of life. So get it done, and the commuters will just have to pay for it. Would someone want to improve the efficiency of the system without adding all these cost? Looking at the good side, we will probably acquire another world number one title for introducing such a futuristic system for our commuters. And with so many panels under the blazing sun, perhaps they can consider building bus kiosk, and aircon them for the comfort of the commuters under the hot tropical heat. The panels need some protection from heat and bright sunlight. Killing two birds with one stone.

of compassion and wretched souls

For $4.2 million to be shared among the NKF, KDF and Khoo Foundation, kidney dialysis patients will now be subjected to means testing. These poor buggers will now have to prove how poor they are so that they can get another $100 to relieve them from this deadly curse of being alive. Means testing to catch cheats is not a bad thing. But who would want to cheat when they are in dire straits? We are a very caring and compassionate society, especially in how we exposed the sufferings of the poor and sick, on air as well. The only good thing in my view is to subject all the charities to scrutiny on their accounts and management of public funds. When Penny Lane wrote the lyrics of Amazing Grace and the phrase 'wretched souls', was he referring to himself or the poor slaves that he caught and sold?

myth 123

Myth 123 Plight of the big earners The CPI has gone up over the years. It was reported that the lower income group suffered the most as the rise in cost of living in the lower sector was the highest. It grew by another 2% as against 1% for the top 20% of the population. Look at these numbers and see how serious they are. 2% of a $10k annual income is $400 a year. 1% of a $5 million income is $50k! For the lower income group, their problem is so easy to solve. I think the govt handout will more than cover the $400 and with excess to spare. It is the higher income group that bears the brunt of higher cost of living. Prices of top end housing are running away. Soon they will not be able to afford them. You should pity them for having to queue over night just to get one of those units. And the cars are not cheap, about $300k each and drinking petrol like nobody business. And when oil price shoots to the sky, it will burn a hole in the pockets of their $5000 suit. Poor buggers. And now with the 7% GST, all their dining and wining will cost more. They might have to make do with a $200 bottle instead of a $2000 one. These are the people who are going to find it hard to keep up with the cost of living. And it is only right and proper that their income be raised accordingly so that their lifestyle is not compromised or they be forced to downgrade and live a lesser life. The poor should not envy the high income earners. They need the big increments and bonuses or they will be in trouble. They have more expensive problems befitting their lifestyles.

Do away with O level result

Do away with O level result Sunday morning is always a good time to take a flight to fantasy land, to explore the impossible or the ridiculous. Creative thinking or wishful thinking, all thrown into one. There is an article in the Sunday Times by Sandra Davie titled,'Time to relook admission policy' to the polytechnics. It seems that the trend is changing and more students or parents are finding it more dollar effective to enrol in Polytechnics rather than JCs. This has resulted in many students with very good results competing with students with lesser results and nudging them out of a place. And this is bad. The solution is to rethink the entry criteria. One of which is not to look at the O level results. Just assess the aptitude of the students. Offer the place on interest, passion and talent. Whatever all these meant, and how to assess them in an interview or what, the key is to throw away the 9 years of education leading to a silly slip of paper called O level result. I think this will make many parents and students jump in joy. Society will have lesser problems of stressed up students. Schools can then indulge in creative and really life relevant courses like gambling in the stock market or trading unwanted dolls or toys to learn business skills. And those who are talented can spend more time either in sports or practicing their acting or singing talents. That will be the great future for Singapore, highly charged with innovative and creative talents, a freer and lively environment where people just do what their gut feeling suggests. Our pop and artistic industries will bloom. More casinos can be built to replace all the dull and monotonous factories or research labs. The latter is a hell hole for people who do not mind mugging and slogging for 20 or 30 years of their precious lives doing nothing, except reading books that nobody understand. They really have no life. Life is meant to be happy and easy going. Go where the heart will take you. Be happy. I feel so good already.