He is a dictator, a tyrant, a ruthless leader! He oppressed his people, he showered himself with good wine and good food. He is mad, insane, unpredictable. He always wanted to go to war with his neighbours, a very dangerous man.
Now he is dead, the situation in the Korean Peninsula and the world is getting more dangerous. The crazy North Koreans are going to attack South Korea and the countries of the free world. They are so poor, poverty everywhere, people are very hungry. They need help from the rich countries of the free world. Quick send more food and aid, but be careful, they may eat you alive.
Wow, now I feel damn shiok. I have just joined the free world gang of bangsters, to bang the North Koreans. Wait, wait, I need to let out a little secret. Where is North Korea? Who is this Kim Jong Il? Dunno leh. Then why have I got so many bad things to spew at him and the North Koreans? Dunno leh, I read all these stuff in the media. They all hated him and the North Koreans and wrote all the bad things about them. So must be true lah.
Dunno if the North Koreans know where is Singapore or is there a place called Singapore. But the media said he may attack Singapore. So frightening one. Better to join the bangsters and attack them first. The bangsters are the good guys and they must be telling the truths.
Okay, I feel good oredy. We are the good guys.
But why are the North Koreans crying and wailing over his death? No lah, all propaganda, just wayang. How could they be so stupid to wail for a tyrant, a dictator, a ruthless leader who padded himself with the money of the people and enjoy wine and song? Dictators like this must end up like Saddam and Gaddafi. The North Koreans are faking it. Don’t believe them and their media. This guy is bad, damn bad, and so are the North Koreans, also damn bad. Oh ya, a member of the Axis of Evil. Wow, where did I get such a wonderful phrase to describe this evil country?
12/20/2011
Robbery, robbery!
This was what I heard as I stepped into the office. This guy was so agitated and they have to calm him down. I took a close look at him to see if there was any blood on him. Normally robbery victim would be beaten up and there would be blood. But I could not see any blood, no blood. As the colleagues were comforting him he continued, they are going to rob you next month of $4,500. Now this is strange. How did he know that the robber is going to rob people next month and the amount as well. He said he read it in the paper. What? What kind of robber is this. This is damn classy man. Want to rob people and still advertised in the newspaper. This calls for respect.
As he continued everyone realized that he was talking about the raise in minimum sum for Medisave next month, from $27,500 to $32,000. Shit, he gave everyone a fright. This is not robbery lah. It is a kind and proactive govt planning the money of the people, and how to protect it before they are lost in gambling and investing. It is exactly this, with such caring and forward thinking govt that the Sinkies are having such a good life, progress, economic growth and so much money in their CPF. Without such good govt, they will have no money left in the kitty, probably losing everything in gambling or in the stock market.
This guy is too much. He is so negative in his thoughts. He could not see the positive side of things. The minimum sum is to help him to pay for his medical bills when he is old. Sure must pay and pay one. Putting aside more Medisave is just being prudent mah. And the big medical bill will definitely become affordable.
And there is Boon Wan in charge, sure got no problem one. He is one of the few good men left and he would want to do more good deeds for the people and for himself. This Medisave thing is going to save 2m people $9 billion. The amount of good karma created is immeasurable. Having the people save their hard earned blood and sweat money and preventing them from squandering it away. And by 2016, the amount could be $40k, lagi more good karma.
One point I am not clear. Is the CPF Board authorized to make this $9b decision? Does it have the authority to do so? Shouldn’t this be tabled in Parliament for discussion and approve by Parliament? My colleagues all agree that there is no need to go to Parliament. When your money is my money and my money is my money, what is there for Parliament to approve? I think I have to agree with this reasoning.
So we all got together to explain to this unhappy guy that he should be very happy about this Medisave thing. It is not robbery, definitely. And come 2016 he may have $40k in his Medisave. Shiok right? And if he suay suay need a by pass that cost $40k, he can tell the world that he got a by pass for free, all paid by his Medisave. No need even to come out $8.
We can see that our logic is getting through and he started to smile, and probably feeling very good about it. Well we have done a good deed.
As he continued everyone realized that he was talking about the raise in minimum sum for Medisave next month, from $27,500 to $32,000. Shit, he gave everyone a fright. This is not robbery lah. It is a kind and proactive govt planning the money of the people, and how to protect it before they are lost in gambling and investing. It is exactly this, with such caring and forward thinking govt that the Sinkies are having such a good life, progress, economic growth and so much money in their CPF. Without such good govt, they will have no money left in the kitty, probably losing everything in gambling or in the stock market.
This guy is too much. He is so negative in his thoughts. He could not see the positive side of things. The minimum sum is to help him to pay for his medical bills when he is old. Sure must pay and pay one. Putting aside more Medisave is just being prudent mah. And the big medical bill will definitely become affordable.
And there is Boon Wan in charge, sure got no problem one. He is one of the few good men left and he would want to do more good deeds for the people and for himself. This Medisave thing is going to save 2m people $9 billion. The amount of good karma created is immeasurable. Having the people save their hard earned blood and sweat money and preventing them from squandering it away. And by 2016, the amount could be $40k, lagi more good karma.
One point I am not clear. Is the CPF Board authorized to make this $9b decision? Does it have the authority to do so? Shouldn’t this be tabled in Parliament for discussion and approve by Parliament? My colleagues all agree that there is no need to go to Parliament. When your money is my money and my money is my money, what is there for Parliament to approve? I think I have to agree with this reasoning.
So we all got together to explain to this unhappy guy that he should be very happy about this Medisave thing. It is not robbery, definitely. And come 2016 he may have $40k in his Medisave. Shiok right? And if he suay suay need a by pass that cost $40k, he can tell the world that he got a by pass for free, all paid by his Medisave. No need even to come out $8.
We can see that our logic is getting through and he started to smile, and probably feeling very good about it. Well we have done a good deed.
12/19/2011
US to station combat ships in Singapore
After scaling down its invaison of Iraq, the US is going to put some of these forces in Singapore. While we don’t have a Saddam Hussein in the region, there is piracy and freedom of passage for all ships to think about. Freedom of passage has never been a problem. As for piracy, is it an American problem that they feel responsible enough to spend so much money, resources and personnel to tackle the problem? Who is inviting the Americans here to deal with the piracy problem? Or are the Americans inviting themselves here because the Asean countries could not solve the problems? Why suddenly piracy in the region becomes a problem and not before?
Many countries are viewing the American presence with suspicion. Why would a neutral Singapore want to host the combat forces of a foreign govt here? Money lah. Can charge them for rental and use of facilities what.
I think it will be nice if Singapore can also host the combat personnel and equipment of countries like China, India, Russia and Japan to combat piracy as well. When the Americans are living across the horizon think it is important to them, piracy must also be important to these countries as well.
I can see more money from rentals and services if all these countries park their combat vessels here. And it is good to have more parties here to balance the ill intent of any one party. Don’t forget who is the biggest pirate. These other countries need to be here to keep the biggest pirate in check before it does mischief in the region.
The rationale for more navies to be here is reasonable, logical and an air of fairness, non alignment, neutrality, and plenty of money to be made. And the Americans cannot object to such a good argument.
Many countries are viewing the American presence with suspicion. Why would a neutral Singapore want to host the combat forces of a foreign govt here? Money lah. Can charge them for rental and use of facilities what.
I think it will be nice if Singapore can also host the combat personnel and equipment of countries like China, India, Russia and Japan to combat piracy as well. When the Americans are living across the horizon think it is important to them, piracy must also be important to these countries as well.
I can see more money from rentals and services if all these countries park their combat vessels here. And it is good to have more parties here to balance the ill intent of any one party. Don’t forget who is the biggest pirate. These other countries need to be here to keep the biggest pirate in check before it does mischief in the region.
The rationale for more navies to be here is reasonable, logical and an air of fairness, non alignment, neutrality, and plenty of money to be made. And the Americans cannot object to such a good argument.
SGX well run and going places
This is about what summed up Goh Eng Yeow’s article about SGX today in ST. Everything is so excellently managed, good governance, good system, advanced hardware, actually it is near perfection, including profits, it could be the number One stock exchange in the world.
I just hope he knows what he is talking about. My observation is that in the next 6 to 12 months it may implode. Just wait and watch. I hope I am wrong. I pray Goh Eng Yeow is right.
I just hope he knows what he is talking about. My observation is that in the next 6 to 12 months it may implode. Just wait and watch. I hope I am wrong. I pray Goh Eng Yeow is right.
Morale of Sinkie professionals
The displaced or retrenched PMETs are pretty sore that all their talents are wasted and many have to end up providing super butler taxi services to the maids and foreign workers. It will make their day if the foreign workers or maid screw them up for taking the wrong route to their destinations. It is so pathetic that some of them are graduates, from foreign universities, and spending thousands of their own money or their parents’ money to acquire their qualifications and working so hard for it. No words can described this shitty state of affair when so many so called FTs with suspicious or mediocre qualifications are gainfully employed and being served by these fallen local talents.
There is another pool of top local talents that are often by passed for the top jobs as there are always found lacking when compared to the FTs. Many of the plum jobs have gone to foreign talents who are not much better than them in qualifications except that they were foreigners or have worked in a foreign environment. Some have even lesser working experience than the locals they are going to boss around with.
This discrimination or insult against local top talents is being practised across all sectors. It is quite shameful really, that whenever a top position is available, they immediately look overseas for a candidate. The look inward is more cursory and a wishy washy formality. Just watch, they will be hunting for the next SMRT CEO from overseas again.
Maybe it is the right thing to do. The local talents know that they are not good enough and better that the new CEO is found quickly as some of these local jokers would have to act in that position knowing damn well that there are unfit or would never be good enough for it. So why waste their time acting and warming up the seat for a foreign talent to arrive?
Many would probably find it more useful to plan on how to angkat or curry the favour of the incoming CEOs and be content if treated well and not being screwed everyday. And this has been the norm and every of these top local talents seemed quite comfortable with the game. I am sure there is no morale problem about this group of top local talents who are destined to be just second best.
And some of these problems also faced Singaporean talents overseas because of the glass ceiling, that most respectable countries would want to put their locals in charge no matter how good the foreign talents are. Many countries discriminate positively in favour of their own talent.
Maybe this is the success formula for Singapore, where there is a conscious effort to look outside for talents. And it is not discrimination either but the right growth formula. Our ex coolie genes are degenerating and need to be bastardised with new and superior foreign genes for that extra oomph.
There is another pool of top local talents that are often by passed for the top jobs as there are always found lacking when compared to the FTs. Many of the plum jobs have gone to foreign talents who are not much better than them in qualifications except that they were foreigners or have worked in a foreign environment. Some have even lesser working experience than the locals they are going to boss around with.
This discrimination or insult against local top talents is being practised across all sectors. It is quite shameful really, that whenever a top position is available, they immediately look overseas for a candidate. The look inward is more cursory and a wishy washy formality. Just watch, they will be hunting for the next SMRT CEO from overseas again.
Maybe it is the right thing to do. The local talents know that they are not good enough and better that the new CEO is found quickly as some of these local jokers would have to act in that position knowing damn well that there are unfit or would never be good enough for it. So why waste their time acting and warming up the seat for a foreign talent to arrive?
Many would probably find it more useful to plan on how to angkat or curry the favour of the incoming CEOs and be content if treated well and not being screwed everyday. And this has been the norm and every of these top local talents seemed quite comfortable with the game. I am sure there is no morale problem about this group of top local talents who are destined to be just second best.
And some of these problems also faced Singaporean talents overseas because of the glass ceiling, that most respectable countries would want to put their locals in charge no matter how good the foreign talents are. Many countries discriminate positively in favour of their own talent.
Maybe this is the success formula for Singapore, where there is a conscious effort to look outside for talents. And it is not discrimination either but the right growth formula. Our ex coolie genes are degenerating and need to be bastardised with new and superior foreign genes for that extra oomph.
12/18/2011
Making sense out of the information available
So it is all about collector shoe problem. The power failure and damage to the rail tracks were caused by the collector shoes. And the trains have been running for 24 years without major breakdowns or this kind of frequency until these few days.
Logical deduction, simplified, is that the collector shoes have reached their operating lives and need to be replaced as they were working fine for 24 years, only starting to fail.
Another deduction, the shoes have recently been changed. If that be the case, either the new shoes were installed wrongly or the new shoes were faulty.
And better beef up on the standby power system and test them on a fully packed train and see how effective is the ventilation and how long it will last. This is critical as it can be deadly.
Logical deduction, simplified, is that the collector shoes have reached their operating lives and need to be replaced as they were working fine for 24 years, only starting to fail.
Another deduction, the shoes have recently been changed. If that be the case, either the new shoes were installed wrongly or the new shoes were faulty.
And better beef up on the standby power system and test them on a fully packed train and see how effective is the ventilation and how long it will last. This is critical as it can be deadly.
Pushing Singaporeans to a corner, in the name of progress
Has this thought ever cross the minds of Singaporeans while they are bathing in the economic success of the island with everyone feeling so rich, with properties exchanging hands with price tags like $20m, $30m and more? The same properties used to cost $1m or $2m twenty years ago. And I heard someone just bought a piece of property not to live in but to park his collection of fanciful sports cars.
The wealth and quality of life of many Singaporeans have improved tremendously over the last few decades. Can the Singaporeans continue to enjoy such phenomenal growth of wealth and lifestyle as we move ahead from here? Sure, many will even get richer and own flats of their own with several generations and extended families living in their own private flats, and their own car parks. This could be the new style of abode for many rich Singaporeans. Owning a landed property is not enough. They are looking at owning multi level private properties with each member living in different level for privacy, and their own covered car parking lots.
Contrast this development with the daily barrage of small is good where the attempt is to prepare Singaporeans psychologically to live in micky mouse size flats. The private flats I mentioned above are not HDB flats but each level a big luxurious apartment. The better off one that we know lives in a multi level private apartment, actually a small condo, with just one family of less than 5 members plenty of car park space for his collection of cars.
The average Singaporeans must live in smaller flats into the future and that is a certainty. Not that they need to sacrifice whatever land space in the island for the rich who want 20,000 sq ft for two and enough space for 20 cars. The growing population that is needed for growth and to sustain the growth needs more space as well.
And space is a big problem. With the limited space, not many more roads can be built except mass rapid transport. Owning a car is not going to be the norm into the future. Taking public transports and taxis are going to be the way of life. And don’t worry, there will be big publicity campaign to convince Singaporeans that the quality of their lifestyle will not be compromised. Travelling in class and style in trains or taxis will be much more fun and convenient that owning private cars. I know, I know, after the fiascos of the last few days, no one is going to agree with me that taking public transport is great romance and paying higher taxi fare is gracious living. And sharing the BO of unwashed workers who would be most happy to rub off their sweaty clothes onto Burberry and Zegna of stylish commuters is something to experience, daily. Sharing the same air in a train cabin with hundreds of people will definitely enchance the DNA quality of the ageing strains in the veins of ex migrant stocks. The new migrant’s DNA is like a breath of fresh air and will do everyone more good than harm.
Singaporeans could enjoy more spacious parks and watch TVs in public areas as well if they find their cubicles too small for such activities. Watching TVs in public areas means being entertained with fresh airs around and opportunity to make new friends. It is good for social integration and building good neighbourliness, and good for nation building as well. It will replace the anti social habit of glueing their eyes onto the Ipod or Ipad.
Singaporeans that live within their means will find this island really a paradise. Those who are able and can afford it, owning 20 or 30 expensive cars will be fun, and private car parks or COEs are great to have. For those who cannot afford such luxuries, there are smaller flats and world class transports and spacious parks for their amusments, and first world living that they have worked so hard for.
Having enjoyed such gracious and spacious living, with the convenience of public transport, Singaporeans would not want to go back to the days of landed properties and driving their own cars. The new lifestyle is progress for sure. But if the country could live within its means, live within its constraints and not wanting all the progress and convenience of a first world standard, if only it knows its limitation of land and not to use all up for more people, maybe, Singaporean standard of living could be back to the past, lower quality of life, having to upkeep and clean bigger flats which is a big chore, and having to drive their own cars without the convenience of MRTs and reliable butler styled taxis.
We have progressed and the quality of life can only get better. Or are Singaporeans pushed into a corner? What is the alternative for poor public transportation when ownership of cars is no longer an option? Is living in mickey mouse flats a no choice option?
The wealth and quality of life of many Singaporeans have improved tremendously over the last few decades. Can the Singaporeans continue to enjoy such phenomenal growth of wealth and lifestyle as we move ahead from here? Sure, many will even get richer and own flats of their own with several generations and extended families living in their own private flats, and their own car parks. This could be the new style of abode for many rich Singaporeans. Owning a landed property is not enough. They are looking at owning multi level private properties with each member living in different level for privacy, and their own covered car parking lots.
Contrast this development with the daily barrage of small is good where the attempt is to prepare Singaporeans psychologically to live in micky mouse size flats. The private flats I mentioned above are not HDB flats but each level a big luxurious apartment. The better off one that we know lives in a multi level private apartment, actually a small condo, with just one family of less than 5 members plenty of car park space for his collection of cars.
The average Singaporeans must live in smaller flats into the future and that is a certainty. Not that they need to sacrifice whatever land space in the island for the rich who want 20,000 sq ft for two and enough space for 20 cars. The growing population that is needed for growth and to sustain the growth needs more space as well.
And space is a big problem. With the limited space, not many more roads can be built except mass rapid transport. Owning a car is not going to be the norm into the future. Taking public transports and taxis are going to be the way of life. And don’t worry, there will be big publicity campaign to convince Singaporeans that the quality of their lifestyle will not be compromised. Travelling in class and style in trains or taxis will be much more fun and convenient that owning private cars. I know, I know, after the fiascos of the last few days, no one is going to agree with me that taking public transport is great romance and paying higher taxi fare is gracious living. And sharing the BO of unwashed workers who would be most happy to rub off their sweaty clothes onto Burberry and Zegna of stylish commuters is something to experience, daily. Sharing the same air in a train cabin with hundreds of people will definitely enchance the DNA quality of the ageing strains in the veins of ex migrant stocks. The new migrant’s DNA is like a breath of fresh air and will do everyone more good than harm.
Singaporeans could enjoy more spacious parks and watch TVs in public areas as well if they find their cubicles too small for such activities. Watching TVs in public areas means being entertained with fresh airs around and opportunity to make new friends. It is good for social integration and building good neighbourliness, and good for nation building as well. It will replace the anti social habit of glueing their eyes onto the Ipod or Ipad.
Singaporeans that live within their means will find this island really a paradise. Those who are able and can afford it, owning 20 or 30 expensive cars will be fun, and private car parks or COEs are great to have. For those who cannot afford such luxuries, there are smaller flats and world class transports and spacious parks for their amusments, and first world living that they have worked so hard for.
Having enjoyed such gracious and spacious living, with the convenience of public transport, Singaporeans would not want to go back to the days of landed properties and driving their own cars. The new lifestyle is progress for sure. But if the country could live within its means, live within its constraints and not wanting all the progress and convenience of a first world standard, if only it knows its limitation of land and not to use all up for more people, maybe, Singaporean standard of living could be back to the past, lower quality of life, having to upkeep and clean bigger flats which is a big chore, and having to drive their own cars without the convenience of MRTs and reliable butler styled taxis.
We have progressed and the quality of life can only get better. Or are Singaporeans pushed into a corner? What is the alternative for poor public transportation when ownership of cars is no longer an option? Is living in mickey mouse flats a no choice option?
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