China – What a disappointment!

It is unbelieveable, it is too early to tell, the Chinese must have been tweaking their numbers, and against the analysts of the world, the most intelligent bunch of idiots, China defies all the doomsayers by chalking up another scintillating set of economic numbers. The slump, the hard landing as predicted by these analysts all looked very silly.

Export growth in May over last year went up by a huge 15.3% exceeding or equal the once in 500 years annual GDP growth record held by Singapore last year, at 15%, or was it 15.5%? Imports also soared by 12.1% over last year. And the brilliant analysts with their grand computer assisted formula were expecting a sharp fall, which would lead to job losses and unrest.

There are so many countries with less than 5% growth and many with zero growth rates but with no social unrest. China must be different. A decline in growth from 8.5% to 8% is so terrible and could spell disasters for China. The bankruptcies of Greece, Spain and many European countries are well accepted by their people without serious social unrest. The only countries that would face serious social unrest are those targeted by the West for more military assistance to resist their ruling govts.

The doomsayers are obviously feeling very angry and deeply disappointed. Why is this underdeveloped country with unsophisticated country bumpkins failed to slow down and continue to make them look so clownish? What they also forgot is that a major slowdown will bring down the world’s economy as well. At the moment it is the Chinese economy and some other Asian economies that are propping up the international economy. Without these growing economies, the world would plunge into a major recession and they would not need any analysts and doomsayers anymore. And no more cheap and good Chinese products to lower their cost of living, no more Apple Iphones at affordable prices in the market.

Too early to tell, they echoed. They are still hoping to be right. For that to happen, Europe and America must first go on a tailspin, to cut their demands for Chinese goods before it hits China. And when Europe and America fall flat, China could still rely on its domestic market and other Asian and African markets to grow at 3 to 5% which are very respectable growth numbers during a recession.

And last month's trade surplus for China was $24b! That amount could probably save Greece or Spain.

The spirit of being exciting

The young sinkies are doing everything they could to live an exciting life in the oasis of affluence. They painted themselves, pierced their noses and everywhere in their bodies, boys and girls. They take soap bath on the beach of Sentosa, they experimented with drugs and parties, smoke and drink. They drive fast and fanciful cars.

The adults experimented with the meis meis and young girls, and with professionals as part of their jobs. They tried in Paris, in hotels, in car parks and in HDB flats too.

The oldies try working again, try to get hitch again, try to live young again, try to dance and play. Only problem, no money, no honey, and the joints are not moving.

Funny thing is that I don’t find anything exciting at all. Where is the spirit of excitement? What shall I do on a beautiful Sunday? Maybe should try the casino. That must be the safest place to be without getting into all kinds of trouble with the exciting spirit in living.

Runway 2020 Series

This is my Runway 2020 Series with models in fanciful hairdos and makeups. A piece of rar art created by the Art of RAR Technique. More rar art pieces can be viewed in www.artofrar.blogspot.com/.

What I did to justify my pay

As a photographer or an artist, there is always the moment in time to ask this question, how much to charge for my work. A photograph is a photograph, and so is a painting. They are basically ink on paper. They don’t cost so much.

Why is a Picasso worth several millions? Why is a Munch worth just as much? And why is the work of a new artist worth nothing much more than the ink and paper that he called art?

There are efforts, skills, time and talent elements in them. As for the ancient masters, there is the rarity, cannot get any more. And there is the hype element as well as the fictitious value of investment in rare art pieces.

The value or worth of an artist is debatable and controversial unlike those of a hard working labourer who earns his keep by the number of hours he sweat and muscle on. Then there are the pen pushers or those who use their fingers instead to work. How much is their labour worth?

And there will be those who demand to be paid in the millions. Could they really justify the millions for the daily chores they did? How many workers and employees, including those in top management could really justify the money paid to them? Just tally the things one did in the 8 or 12 hours of a day, half an hour for chit chat, half an hour for shitting, half an hour for tea breaks, one hour for lunch, half an hour reading newspapers and an hour reading reports and correspondence, an hour meeting people and getting to know people, a couple of hours attending meetings, talking cock and so on. How much would that be worthed?

The changing values and meaning of affluence

With increasing affluence, the meaning of good life today is very different from those of yesteryears. There was a time when the goals of life and living were fairly straightforward. Work and acquire enough wealth for a carefree retirement. This would mean a roof over the head and some savings that would last till the end of one’s life, and some children and grand children to share some family warmth and joy.

Many today have achieved this state of financial independence many times over while in their 30s or 40s. They have their dream homes, plenty of cash and could do many things more without having to work till retirement. There are exceptions at the other extremes.

For the successful and those who have acquired enough for their lifetimes or many lifetimes, the meaning of life becomes a pursuit for happiness in their chosen ways. Some choose to continue to acquire more wealth to last another few generations, some choose to make themselves merry.

Front page news in the ST today shows a very jubilant supporter of Holland in the Euro Cup. He decked his balcony with all the colourful banners of the Holland which cost him some small change. You can see that his joy is real. It came from his heart. The past misdeeds of the colonialist were long forgotten. There is a revived pride to be part of the colonial master’s celebration.

ST also gave two full spread to the celebration of the Queen of England’s Diamond Jubilee. Full colour pages must have cost a bomb to put them in our papers. Many former subjects of the British monarch must be reliving their glorious past and good times with memories of the Queen of England. The young fed with fairy tales of kings and queens and handsome princes and beautiful princesses will have their dreams come true with such extravaganzas.

In times like this, when all the material needs are fulfilled, and bloating bank accounts, something seems to be missing. How nice would it be if Singapore is represented in the Euro Cup or whatever Cups so that the Singaporeans can have something really to cheer about, to be part of and to be proud of and to hang colourful banners on their balconies. How nice would it be if the Queen of England is once again our Queen and we can dress up Orchard Road and the whole country to celebrate the event just like we did in 1953. Long live the Queen, and everyone can burst their lungs with God Save the Queen.

We sorely need a football team that can do us proud and give us a reason to cheer and celebrate and spend money wearing their jerseys, the scarves, waving their banners and beating the drums. We need a political figure to enjoy this kind of adulation and deference and an excuse to party, to sing and to dance.

Time to seriously consider spending a couple of billion to own a world class football club. It is a pity that Peter Lim failed or we will have Manchester United at our doorstep to adore and cheer for. It is a pity that we don’t have princes and princesses to make our dreams come true. A monarchy is not really a bad thing, really, when life is aplenty and everyone has all the money and time to look for occasions to celebrate.

We already have mayors, like the Mayor of Nottingham. We can go a few steps further by having dukes and duchess, counts and countesses, and a living king, and then write our own fairy tales for children in schools.