A Spanish court had heard complaints by a Tibetan group of alleged
genocide by the Chinese soldiers in Tibet and even issued a court’s
order to arrest Chinese leaders like Jiang Zemin and Li Peng. China has
issued a strong protest and called the act despicable.
Actually China should simply issue an order for the arrest of the judge
who presided in this farcical and mischievous court case and all the
court officials involved for terrorism and for slandering the Chinese
leaders. Who did they think they are to go around arresting other
country’s leaders? There is no need to protest against the silly
Spaniards. Just make sure that those involved do not set foot in
Hongkong or Chinese soils. Put up an arrest on sight warrant with
‘wanted’ posters for the judge or judges and court officials.
China could impose a trade sanctions against Spain until the Spanish govt makes an apology for the silly act.
China can also remind the Spanish of their genocides in Latin America
and the Philippines, not forgetting the Spanish Inquisition. They killed
tens of millions of South Americans in the name of the God when they
invaded these countries. The British did the same to the North American
natives and more than a hundred millions were brutally shot in cold
blood. How to exterminate a continent of people? Ask the British and the
Spanish, they did it.
Who committed genocides?
11/21/2013
NYT’s harsh criticism of the Philippine military
There is a scathing attack of the Philippine military by the New York
Times today. Basically it said that the Philippine military is outdated
and lost, no equipment and no leadership, and doing so little in the
aftermath of the Haiyan disaster. While the eastern islands of the
country was devastated, the Philippine military were waiting for things
to happen, waiting for equipment, waiting for orders that never came
because their useless mobile phones didn’t work.
On the other hand the Americans were running the whole rescue operations with their latest military equipment, warships and airplanes doing the donkey work. The best the Philippine military could do was sentry duties to guard against looting. Let me quote, ‘The destructive fury of Typhoon Haiyan quickly laid bare the limitations of the Philippine govt’s disaster preparation and relief capabilities,…it is also focusing an unflattering spotlight on the nation’s military – an overstretched, poorly funded force that has been criticized for its late arrival to the disaster zone….even when several thousand soldiers were finally able to fan out across the devastated islands…their work was, and continues to be, hampered by a lack of provisions including food, heavy equipment and communications technology needed when cellphone service is down.’
My view is that the criticism is overly harsh as the Philippine military was not designed and equipped for disaster relief work. You should see how efficient they were in chasing foreign fishing boats in the South China Seas. They have so many ammunitions to fire at the unarmed fishing boats and even killing its captain. They even have a new warship with courtesy from the Americans. And they are ever ready to take on China head on should a war erupt. NYT should not under estimate the military prowess of the Philippine military.
The govt has also budgeted $2.15b to buy more war equipment to modernize its military. Only hitch is that the equipment is still on the way. Once the equipment arrives, it will be a military force to be reckoned with. It is unfair to expect them to be good at disaster work. NYT is expecting too much.
Singapore just spent $4.3b on a 5km road tunnel. This is exactly double the amount the Philippines are spending to modernize its military. For a small military set up like Singapore, this sum of money could double modernize the Singapore military surely. We may even have a new military force if $2.15b can modernize a huge military like the Philippines to take on China.
On the other hand the Americans were running the whole rescue operations with their latest military equipment, warships and airplanes doing the donkey work. The best the Philippine military could do was sentry duties to guard against looting. Let me quote, ‘The destructive fury of Typhoon Haiyan quickly laid bare the limitations of the Philippine govt’s disaster preparation and relief capabilities,…it is also focusing an unflattering spotlight on the nation’s military – an overstretched, poorly funded force that has been criticized for its late arrival to the disaster zone….even when several thousand soldiers were finally able to fan out across the devastated islands…their work was, and continues to be, hampered by a lack of provisions including food, heavy equipment and communications technology needed when cellphone service is down.’
My view is that the criticism is overly harsh as the Philippine military was not designed and equipped for disaster relief work. You should see how efficient they were in chasing foreign fishing boats in the South China Seas. They have so many ammunitions to fire at the unarmed fishing boats and even killing its captain. They even have a new warship with courtesy from the Americans. And they are ever ready to take on China head on should a war erupt. NYT should not under estimate the military prowess of the Philippine military.
The govt has also budgeted $2.15b to buy more war equipment to modernize its military. Only hitch is that the equipment is still on the way. Once the equipment arrives, it will be a military force to be reckoned with. It is unfair to expect them to be good at disaster work. NYT is expecting too much.
Singapore just spent $4.3b on a 5km road tunnel. This is exactly double the amount the Philippines are spending to modernize its military. For a small military set up like Singapore, this sum of money could double modernize the Singapore military surely. We may even have a new military force if $2.15b can modernize a huge military like the Philippines to take on China.
New Master Plan for 500,000 new homes
This new Master Plan is called a draft Master Plan. Well, it is the new
Master Plan for the next 10 to 15 years, or between 2023 to 2028.
Would it make any difference if it is a draft or not a draft plan? At 4
persons per new homes, this plan can comfortably accommodate another 2
million residents.
The PWP of 6.9m is for year 2030 and for an increase in population from 5.3m, or an increase of 1.6m in 17 years time. So the two plans seem to be complementary to each other. Some may want to quibble why 7.4m (5.4m +2m) in 2028 and not 6.9m in 2030? Let’s not split hair (or split cables) over such a small discrepancy.
Many Sinkies must be salivating at this prospect, looking forward to such great places to live and play. And being public housing, they will definitely be sold at a discount from market prices, or with a generous dose of subsidies. The future is surely looking so rosy. Boon Wan is planning well ahead.
Let me make a guesstimate of the prices of HDB flats in Holland V in year 2023. If the price is going to double in ten years, each unit of a 4rm flat should easily be around $1.2m at least, conservatively. But not to worry, the income of Sinkies should also be double or triple by then, so these flats would definitely be affordable, or the govt will make them affordable.
I can only dream, for by then I dunno where would I be. The fortunate young Sinkies would be the future proud owners of these dream homes and living a great life, gracious living among 7m people.
The PWP of 6.9m is for year 2030 and for an increase in population from 5.3m, or an increase of 1.6m in 17 years time. So the two plans seem to be complementary to each other. Some may want to quibble why 7.4m (5.4m +2m) in 2028 and not 6.9m in 2030? Let’s not split hair (or split cables) over such a small discrepancy.
Many Sinkies must be salivating at this prospect, looking forward to such great places to live and play. And being public housing, they will definitely be sold at a discount from market prices, or with a generous dose of subsidies. The future is surely looking so rosy. Boon Wan is planning well ahead.
Let me make a guesstimate of the prices of HDB flats in Holland V in year 2023. If the price is going to double in ten years, each unit of a 4rm flat should easily be around $1.2m at least, conservatively. But not to worry, the income of Sinkies should also be double or triple by then, so these flats would definitely be affordable, or the govt will make them affordable.
I can only dream, for by then I dunno where would I be. The fortunate young Sinkies would be the future proud owners of these dream homes and living a great life, gracious living among 7m people.
SMRT wanting to raise fare?
What is the purpose of this fare raising exercise? To increase profits,
to buy equipment, to buy trains, to increase salaries or bonuses?
There could be some justifications to increase salaries as part of the annual increments and to off set some inflationary cost. This cost could easily be absorbed by the profits from its operations. As for bonuses, the workers could still deserve the usual but for top management, how many think they should deserve more than the normal? Working extra to solve all the problems they created cannot be justifications for more bonuses for working so hard. Management cannot be rewarded for self inflicted injury.
How much is needed and to be raised from the fare increases for capital expenditure? $100m enough? Or is it $200m?
Didn’t the govt already give a cash injection of $1.1b for capex? This is equivalent to 5 or 10 times the expected funds to be raised, assuming its target is between $100m to $200m. Even if the fare hike is to raise $1.1b, this is already given. Or is the SMRT thinking of raising more after the $1.1b windfall?
This is a private company with the public as shareholders. The shareholders are as good as being given a cash top up of $1.1b and they shouldn’t be complaining. In fact the public non shareholders should be asking why the SMRT/shareholders should be rewarded with the public’s money for failing to provide a satisfactory service in recent years. The shareholders have been amply rewarded and SMRT can’t be thinking of raising more funds to account to them and reward them with more dividends.
A $1.1b windfall still not enough? Even if it has to go into the red this year, it should accept it for their less than satisfactory service compares to past years. Oh, the $1.1b not counted. This is equivalent to how many years of profts? This sum has saved SMRT from diverting a big sum of money for its capital expenditure. The rest of the expenditure are chicken feat, aren’t they
There could be some justifications to increase salaries as part of the annual increments and to off set some inflationary cost. This cost could easily be absorbed by the profits from its operations. As for bonuses, the workers could still deserve the usual but for top management, how many think they should deserve more than the normal? Working extra to solve all the problems they created cannot be justifications for more bonuses for working so hard. Management cannot be rewarded for self inflicted injury.
How much is needed and to be raised from the fare increases for capital expenditure? $100m enough? Or is it $200m?
Didn’t the govt already give a cash injection of $1.1b for capex? This is equivalent to 5 or 10 times the expected funds to be raised, assuming its target is between $100m to $200m. Even if the fare hike is to raise $1.1b, this is already given. Or is the SMRT thinking of raising more after the $1.1b windfall?
This is a private company with the public as shareholders. The shareholders are as good as being given a cash top up of $1.1b and they shouldn’t be complaining. In fact the public non shareholders should be asking why the SMRT/shareholders should be rewarded with the public’s money for failing to provide a satisfactory service in recent years. The shareholders have been amply rewarded and SMRT can’t be thinking of raising more funds to account to them and reward them with more dividends.
A $1.1b windfall still not enough? Even if it has to go into the red this year, it should accept it for their less than satisfactory service compares to past years. Oh, the $1.1b not counted. This is equivalent to how many years of profts? This sum has saved SMRT from diverting a big sum of money for its capital expenditure. The rest of the expenditure are chicken feat, aren’t they
11/20/2013
TRE finding a formula for self destruct?
I am unable to gain access to TRE this morning. From what I have
gathered, you need to pay to get in. I hope I am wrong. If this is the
formula that TRE has chosen to finance its operation, I think it will
meet a premature death soon.
The game plan in cyberspace is quite different. Many great sites are all free access to viewers. They have to find other sources of revenue, mainly advertisers or selling some products. The monetary contribution is always voluntary. TRE may want to set up a team to canvas for advertisements or seek the experts on how to generate some income.
Even in a blog like mine that is quite well received, I would not dare to ask for contributions. Even lifting the fingers to exercise, to buy me kopi (OPM some more) is often difficult and too much an inconvenience, or simply too easy to forget.
TRE should leave the monetary contributions to those who are willing. There will be some who will contribute quite generously but many would not for some other reasons. There are many students or non working adults and retirees reading the articles and may not be able to contribute. Turning them off would reduce a big chunk of the readership and that is very bad.
TRE, are you reading this? I hope I am wrong and you are not doing so. Richard, what saying you? Or you have a mole telling you this is the best way to raise fund? Remember WTSAWTD? The mole will not tell you that TRE will be obsolete, will be history. You are not the only site in cyberspace doing the same thing.
The game plan in cyberspace is quite different. Many great sites are all free access to viewers. They have to find other sources of revenue, mainly advertisers or selling some products. The monetary contribution is always voluntary. TRE may want to set up a team to canvas for advertisements or seek the experts on how to generate some income.
Even in a blog like mine that is quite well received, I would not dare to ask for contributions. Even lifting the fingers to exercise, to buy me kopi (OPM some more) is often difficult and too much an inconvenience, or simply too easy to forget.
TRE should leave the monetary contributions to those who are willing. There will be some who will contribute quite generously but many would not for some other reasons. There are many students or non working adults and retirees reading the articles and may not be able to contribute. Turning them off would reduce a big chunk of the readership and that is very bad.
TRE, are you reading this? I hope I am wrong and you are not doing so. Richard, what saying you? Or you have a mole telling you this is the best way to raise fund? Remember WTSAWTD? The mole will not tell you that TRE will be obsolete, will be history. You are not the only site in cyberspace doing the same thing.
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