Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

I don't know her personally nor understand her politics. But she, as a human being, was shot and subsequently blown up by a shooter-cum-suicide-bomber last night.

I became aware of her when she expressed her intention to leave the comfort and luxuries of her UK residence to return to Pakistan in Oct 2007 to participate in the coming election.

There was an unsuccessful attempt on her life almost immediately upon her return. She was lucky at that time when she was at the opposite side of bus where the bomb went off. 104 people died that night.

She could have decided to leave but she chose to stay. For her cause, she paid with her life together with 20 over other human beings.

As a human being, I am saddened. I pray for peace on earth.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

the first Christmas tree for me this year
do u know u have to pay RM5 to use the toilet

in a high-end shopping centre in KL?

tell me which one

ice skating for many at Sunway...

Dear friends,

Thank you for being part of my life.

A sincere wish that we will all have a great year in 2008!

edgar

Architectures in KL

my bro's unit at the top left corner of condo

beautiful skylight at shopping centre 1

beautiful skylight at shopping centre 2

beautiful skylight at shopping centre 3from RM900,00 plus to RM1.something million

where residents there think 2000 sq. ft is very small :(

Ipoh and KL, here are the food delights...

1 whole chicken, 2 kilo of tauge and 6 hor fun servings for a whopping RM64!!!!!

price of a bowl of Ipoh horfun with fish cake slices has increased

from RM1.70 (when I first had it, I think) to RM3.20 now!!!!

whalloped bak kut teh... yummy :)

best char siew with engulfing aroma at the stall

RM48 tea set for 2 persons...

reminded me vaguely of Peninsular Hotel in HK

The Op

the senior optometrist

The doctor said, “Hi Edgar!” in a loud and commanding voice. Asked me briefly how I was feeling and for my I/C numbers. I couldn’t see much without my glasses as a nurse guided me to the operating table while I slowly recited my I/C numbers.

Told me to lie down.
Series of systematic instructions came in a torrent and with such ease (I guess) after thousands of such similar operations.

“Well Edgar, just a demo for you. This is what you will hear when the laser is switched on. (Then came repeated clapping sounds next to my right ear which I had heard while I was waiting outside the op room).”

“All right we will start the procedure on your right eye first. Open your eyes and look towards to the orange light.” (The nurse pasted something to keep my eyelid open and something metallic was placed on my eyeball.)

“You will feel a slight discomfort initially. Then you can see for a few moments as we create the flap. But don’t worry, you should be able to see after a short while.” (My heart was palpitating as I began to doubt my decision to subject myself to this “unnecessary” procedure that could endanger my eyesight forever.)

“All right, look at the orange light (lucky he didn’t asked me to walk towards the light) and don’t move (I was so worried that if I move a single muscle, the laser would miss and I could go blind) for the next 5 to 8 mins. We will the start the laser now.” (the clapping sound starts..)

My mind starts to wonder… then I told myself to focus on the light.. my mind started to count from 1 to 60… wondering when the 5 to 8 mins would be done…

Suddenly the clapping sound stopped. The doctor then explained to me that he would be putting back the flap and told me not to move. It felt like someone trying to stick something on a glass door and smoothening out the sticker to avoid bubbles being trapped underneath the sticker.

The same procedures and words were repeated again for my left eye.

A few minutes later, the op was completed and declared a success.

After an hour of recovering from the slight pain to both my eyes and high level of stress that my poor heart has gone through, I was duly accompanied to the taxi stand by a nurse for my ride home.

Thus this is the story of how I spent a few thousands on my eyes. The End.

my eyes opening experience Part 1

I walked casually into the clinic after lunch, without any appointment. Everybody (ie. I think they are all girls with long hair) was busy. I just took the form and filled it up.


I was duly given and told of an itinerary of eye tests, procedures, counselling sessions etc which I should expect to dedicate 2 to 3 hours of that afternoon to complete.


I was duly shown to a waiting area dedicated to 10-15 people like me at various stages of completing the itinerary. For all the various tests, I was attended to by beautiful people.


In one of the tests, the optometrist lady asked me why I looked so tired. I said I was bored. Her response, "Maybe we should put more exciting movies on the tv.... all right, can you read the third row of alphabets for me?" "... A . urr F.. D .. O and T ?"


As part of the process, clients like me are made to sit through 10 minutes of watching an educational video on Lasik to ensure that we know what we are doing.


After all the tests and video, I finally get to see the doctor. A hugh man. "Hi Edgar.. shaked hands.. and briskly ushered me to a machine and examined my eyeballs for 20 seconds flat. He then said something about my astigmatism, high degrees and mild presbyopia... in his medical opinion was for me to go for wavefront. "How much more?" I asked. "I don't discuss prices here. My staff will attend to you about this later." Duly ushered out of consultation room.


Next, group counselling session. Wow! Just to make doubly sure that e know what we have decided to go through. 6-8 of us were gathered into another room and we were given the dos, don'ts and risks etc etc.


After which, I confirmed my operation date and paid my bills. Yes, a few thousands poorer. But looking forward to the big day tomorrow.

I am a bit artificial now

A part of me is artificial since Friday Nov 30, 2007.

What do I mean? I have decided about a week ago ie. after comtemplating for years, to get Lasik done on my eyes. My eyes have now been artificially carved by laser beams.

Why did I decide to do it?

• The dropping prices enhances affordability.
• The escalating comfort of seeing my brother and sister who did theirs and were up and running within 24 hours. I had thought one would have to suffer the temporary blindness for a couple of days.
• The short turnaround time of the whole exercise attracted me. If you decide to have Lasik done on your eyes, you could get them done by tomorrow.
• The lower prices put aside my concern about "useful life" of the Lasik op given my impending "lao hua". Sigh... :(

I am now a few thousands dollars poorer but my eyesight has gained almost 7-fold better.

Till the next posting, I will share with my personal experience of going through the process.

P/S - I am now back. I was really busy focusing my every ounce of strength and attention on helping my students in their pursue of their academic excellence.

HDB said more supply but higher prices expected

As per Nov 29, 2007's BT, the Housing and Development Board said they "will continue to monitor demand and could offer another 6,000 units through its build-to-order (BTO) system. However, prices are also likely to go up."

[Why? I ask myself.]

Related link:
Click here for the full text of Mr Mah's speech

Saying that he did not want to 'fudge the issue', National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: 'Prices will go up as a result of resale prices going up.' Mr Mah was speaking at the launch of two new housing projects under the BTO system.

Mr Mah's representation solicited an immediate response from Lu Keehong who wrote to BT's Forum on Nov 30, 2007,. Lu made the following queries about Mr Mah's position on HDB and its pricing policy.

1) Since when the new HBD flat prices are to be influenced by resale market prices?

2) As current resale prices are on an up trend, thus higher prices for new flats expected. So Lu asked whether vice versa was true in the last few years when property prices were in doldrum? Ie. did HDB price its flats lower in the last few years?

In conclusion, a few simple questions.

1) How does HDB price its flats of various sizes?

2) How does HDB determine its supply?

What is happening to "prices" in our daily life?

my expensive night

"Prices of live chicken rise by 20%" "Flour in short supply, so bread prices may be hit."

Both are headlines at page 2 of Straits Times today.

Now eating a $3-lunch is no longer filling to the stomach. To avoid raising the price, the hawkers and restauranters will just reduce the serving portion.

Your salary must increase by AT LEAST 7% this year. For otherwise, your real income would definitely be lower than last year...

P/S - refer to letters in the Forum page today

- Maybe that is why taxi drivers are taking the risk of being caught for touting... drivn to desperation to make a living ma...

- Maybe that is why the sales posters, stickers, flyers etc etc can be found all over the place with no regard to law... again driven to desperation to make a living ma...

- Maybe that is why karung guni men are so much noise in Clementi area... again driven to desperation to make a living maaaaaa............

farewell dinners

a gift i appreciate
a meal i will always rem
a team i have worked with

Attended a few farewell dinners on edgar recently hosted by his ex-colleagues. It is truly farewell dinners indeed. Sob sob...

I do notice people don't really catch up with ex-colleagues after leaving a company. So the farewell meals are thus really really meaningful. I actually said "pow chuung" as in "take care" to my some of my staff who are older than me.

I was so blessed with the good staff that I have the pleasure to have served with over the years. I will miss oei and all of you. I sincerely wish you all my bests. Good health, in particular.

As for me, I will embark on my next phase of my life.

See life clearer

I was duly introduced to this clinic specialising in lasik surgery by my brother and sister yesterday. It was buzzzing with so many people and activities on a saturday afternoon. The clinic really impressed me with many interesting features.

The clinic has firstly an interesting punchline - "see life clearer". Well for me, should we live our life trying to see things so clearly, philosophically speaking?

Secondly, the very pleasant looking ladies on duty today were all wearing hot pants in a clinic that does not look like a medical facility at all!! If I call the piece of clothing correctly.

Thirdly, I was shown that you are able to get lasik surgery done in just a few hours ie. from the moment you decide to go for lasik. You don't to wait for a surgery appointment over weeks.

Fourthly, my brother and sister regained complete use of their eyes after a good night sleep after surgery.

Fifthly, you would be chaperoned by a very pleasant looking lady after surgery from the clinic at 15th floor (I think) to the taxi stand at ground floor. This is definitely service!

Lastly, the clinic performs 30 surgeries on a quiet day. At $2,400 per surgery for both eyes, the clinic is generating a sales turnover of $72,000 a day or about $1.44mio for 20-working-day month. WOOOOW!!!!

auntie n uncle shopping approach

Auntie's char siew story

An auntie wanted to buy ony $2 of char siew to do her fried rice at home. The stall owner said a minimum of $3 is required. After some bargaining, the auntie won. Before she left the stall, she also asked for a few packets of chilli sauce.


Uncle's ABC stout

An uncle ordered a can of ABC stout to go with his peanuts. Coffee shop assistant delivered and asked for payment of $3.80. The uncle exclaimed that it is so expensive and swore never to return. After he paid grudgingly, he turned to other patrons and earnestly reported on the prices of the same can of Stout sold at NTUC Fairprice for $3.20 and at nearby hawker centre for $3.40.


Moral of the story

Our young ones should too learn the value of money. We need to appreciate our own hard earned money and not to give them away so easily.

We have to make a fuss over paying too much for something, yes even if it is over 10cts. Unless of course, you can afford it.

Stick no Bills - Is it still a law?

need instant cash?

the leftover stain after removing a heavily glued poster

my electricity meter

Dear Town Councillors,

Reference to my email to you dated 21 May 2007. As the problem still persists and as some of you said you could not see the above pictures, I have now placed in this blog for easy reference.

What have been done to date? For my estate, I do notice the cleaners are working extra hard in clearing the posters, stickers from the walls. But is it effectively and efficiently solving the problem?

I don't think so.

Can you suggest a solution? The offenders are blatantly placing their contact numbers for your necessary actions.

I do believe that there is light at the end of tunnel (before we got pasted out!!!!)

one family unbroken

up and on

my school n the moon

the water that flows thru' the village

On Saturday night last, I attended the old boys' (yes, old) dinner at my alma mater.

We were all there to celebrate our boyhood lost forever. At least, I was. Some were as old as the school.. Some are very famous, or prominent, or rich, or still young etc etc. I think one came in his taxi.. For me, I guess I am pretty much in between everything. I am neither rich, famous, poor, old nor young.

One of us even came with the old school books. We were looking at the goondoo pictures of ourselves and teachers; and reminiscing about our stupid pranks, detention class, yellowed school shoes etc etc.

The most cherished moment of the nite was when my friend, of more than 20 years, related this story to me.

"My younger brother scolded my mum." he said. "Huh?" said I.

"He said my mum sent him to the wrong school, RI. She should have sent him to St. Andrew's too." he said. "Why?" said I.

His younger brother envies him for the many friends that his elder brother still have around him despite the years.

Peace overwhelmed me. Amen.

Bus fare hike, inflation and you

What is the headline in Straits Times today? What is the topic discussed on 93.8FM this morning?

Bus fare hike, my friends. But it is only 1-2 cents increase next month, you may say. Why is Edgar making a big fuss out of this 2-cent issue?

Assuming a Jane is paying $1 bus fare today, with another 30 years to retirement and that bus fare increase at 2 cents per annum, you would be paying $1.60 for the same trip in 30 years' time.

You would be drawing down on your savings to pay for your daily expenses.

Inflation is a disease that all should be very concerned with.

P/S - China equities experienced their biggest one-day drop in over 2 months yesterday in reaction to news that China's inflation rate surged to a 10-year high last month.

Legal definitions or legal loopholes?

** The following may be deemed not suitable for children. Please read on at your own risk.**

• It was reported in Singapore's newspapers recently that a man was caught outraging the modesty of a woman when he grabbed a woman's breasts from behind. He tried to defend himself in Court, through his lawyer, against the charge by saying that a woman's breasts are NOT private parts.
  
• A senator (I think) in US was charged with disorderly act in the toilet. The media's use of words to describe the act is very interesting. "He was caught in the act as what most people would generally deemed as asking for sex." (something like that la. can't remember exact quote.)
  
• Remember the Clinton-Lewinski saga. The government spent hours after hours debating whether to impeach Clinton on the issues of whether there was sex and secondly, define oral sex.

Punggol Paradise

a paradise?

We have been given a glimpse of staying in the paradise of Punggol where a river flows through with water activities in the 2 reservoirs, chilli crab dining, lush green parks etc etc etc

A few days later, we are given the nightmare of staying in Punggol.

What nightmare?

So NOW if you are going from North to town, you will get at least 4 gantries to reach office in Shenton Way. And on your way home in the evenings, you will soon have a gantry waiting for you till 10.30pm.

So by the time the Punggol Paradise is fully up in a few years' time, perhaps we may have to pass through 15 gantries!!!!

No worry Edgar, I don't drive, as you may say. You MRT type? Imagine this.

At least an hour long journey, standing in a crowded compartment all the way to office and all the way back in the evenings!

Bottomline - We need a solution.

Tit-for-tat?

waiting for fireworks

The fake milk powder.

The fake medicine.

Sale of pigs died of diseases.

The char siew pau made of grounded cardboard.

The slaves in the brick factory.



Fake Rabit sweet.

A worldwide recall of some toys produced in China for reason of toxidity in the paint used.

China has conducted tests on soya beans imported from US. China found some contaminants in the imports and has asked US to look into it.

Are the above incidents related? Are they started by some other issues?

US has been asking China to float its currency, to open its market and toughen its anti-priracy acts.

Are the toy company and the boss who hung himself in Hong Kong part of the big picture? Or am I too imaginative?

What do you think?

Now we have "No Sugar Added"

So now you are telling me that there is "No Sugar Added" to the FRESH juice that I am drinking.

So how about in the past when you are telling me that I am buying real fresh juice?

Have you been "poisoning" me with sugar all these years? Are you raising my addiction to sweet things with your intense concoction of sugar water?

We have been drinking these concentrated sugar-added liquid. So can I blame my obesity on you?

So friends, we really need to be aware of what you are putting into your mouth and down your throat.

P/S - I dilute my juice drink ie. half a glass of juice is diluted with another half a glass of water.

Some news bites still in my mind

a brightly-lit signboard at a dark public carpark

The following are some interesting news I read and whatever remained of them in my head.

The first two are very sad indeed and I do hope we will spare a moment and pray for them. One was really stupid and confusing. And one was just plain bloody. And I end with one star story in a condescending tone.

• Bus accident story - Rescuers found a 3-year boy alive held tightly in the bosom of his dead mother. Her head was broken and twisted all the way to the back.

• In the same bus story - The 8-month foetus was ripped off from her mother's womb.

• The Dalvey story - A father came home. Saw the 20-something-year-old boyfriend of his 30-something-year-old daughter, coming out of his daughter's room, wearing ONLY an underwear. The young man (I think) started stabbing the father and the maid... Haiz...

• In a matter of a few weeks, the stock markets of the world went into a tailspin. About 700 points disappeared from Singapore's Straits Times Index together with billions of dollars (some of them, mine).

• To the many new "bird" investors out there, you can now placed a "STAR" on your shoulder and say, "I have experienced one stock market crash, hereby named the Sub-prime thingy."

Good night, my beloved friends and take care.

"forwent" - a new word accepted by Straits Times?

In the Forum page recently, I was thoroughly surprised to see the word "forwent" used in "He forwent fares to help stranger.".

What is that?

My goodness, it is the past tense of "forgo" as in "I will forgo my trip to Japan to study for my coming exam". Or "I have forgone the opportunity to get promoted when we decided to have a baby."

Or maybe on second thought, my English is not too powderful... oops powerful.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori...

As I sat alone, thinking about the past, watching love, death and human brutality of "Troy" on TV, my mind suddenly went in search of some poetic lines but alas literature and poems are not my strength...

But this one line has stayed in my head over the years.. We were forced to memorise the lines in my secondary school days. Thus it wasn't a pleasure.

What is the meaning of the line? Well it is not something nice and thus don't go looking for the meaning.

Good night, my...

What happened to "Till death do us part"?

The answer - "The vow was applicable when people only live to the age of 35"


Now that our mortality rate are in the average 70 plus, is marriage to anyone too long?


Can we do a trial or term marriage thingy?

Should pregnanted Zoe be suspended without pay?

Definitely yes.


Based on my surface level understanding of her situation, she is basically a contract staff engaged to perform certain services for her client, Mediacorp.

So if you are unable to perform those services as per contract, you should not be paid. Luckily she never kena sued instead.

So if she is engaged to be "Queen of Caldecott Hill" for her image and personality, can she effectively performed that tasks given her physical state?

So it is fair to have the contract suspended (and not heartlessly cancelled) due to her pregnancy.

But if her contract provides for her to be pregnant and still get paid, and that she is not getting paid, then she should talk with the management or seek legal advice.

Similarly if the company has engaged an English teacher to brush up the English lanaguage of TV8 artistes and subsequently the teacher got "baby inside", should the company continue to pay when the teacher could not perform her duties.

My conclusion would be different if Zoe is a true blue staff of her company and that she is entitled to all staff benefits. In which case, she may wish to seek assistance from relevant government bodies.

So this is not an issue of sex discrimination. For all you know, it was just a cheeky comment from her that turned the media world upside down.

My encounter with a computer virus

My recent episode with a computer virus, that sends itself to people I am connected to by MSN, has given a few "thinkers".

• My existing anti virus from Trend Micro that is paid for, could not arrest the problem.
• The virus was finally eliminated by AVG, a FREE anti-virus software, that I downloaded from Download.com.
• Some friends, who are online but have not talked to for some time, were stirred into a conversation with me. I got to thank the virus for that.
• I will be even MORE earnest in doing my backups after this incident.

buses with camera

I heard somewhere that buses plying the CBD area will have camera installed to catch vehicles straying into the bus lane during restricted hours.

I would really applaud the move. Not just for the single reason above.

It would be a double-edged sword for the bus drivers where you can now have evidence that buses maybe beating red lights at Eu Tong Sen road, buses sitting in the middle of yellow box and blocking the world from rotating and buses straying out of bus lane toO.

Another use for these cameras would be to provide evidence on accidents related or not related to the buses. So take down the registration numbers of buses passing by the accident area if you need pictures of it.

Is the camera-in-bus story I heard, a REALITY? I really hope so.

If not, I still have to continue taking pictures of buses breaking traffic rules like the above.

A date with Tad Hamilton

I watched this last Saturday Home Movie... This particular line just pounced on me when the bartender was trying to persuade the male lead actor to go after his love instead of resigning to losing his love of his life to Tad Hamilton, his competition.

"How big a love are you losing?"

"If it is a small love, you will get over it in a few weeks. If it is a big love, probably a couple of years. But if it is a huge huge love, it may take forever."

Just want to share the lines with you.

"Thank you for waiting...

... your call is important to us. It will be answered by the first available officer."

The same recorded message was repeated so many times till I felt like puking. I am repeatedly told that I am very important and yet I have to wait for service.

Looking at the elapsed time of the call on my handphone ie. about 10 mins, I was finally attended to by a sweet sounding girl apologising with the same standard answer ie. "We are experiencing a very high call in rate."

My response to the poor girl, "I have been given the same reason so many times. It is quite sad that DBS Bank is not capable of solving this problem."

P/S - If you were a DBS Bank officer and wish to do something about this, I called 1800-111-1111 at 12.28pm on 28 July 2007.

I nearly forget why I called in the first place. Oh yes.. I wanted to know why I cannot transfer my money from my saving account to my Cashline account.

"Mr Wong, you can do so under BILL PAYMENT. Let me walk you through."

"Huh?" I exclaimed weakly.

Cashline is not given the official status of being an "account of the customer". Now I know.

P/S - Dear DBS Bank, can you explain why I cannot make IPO application from Cashline account?

the poignant moment

A poignant moment.

Imagine you are the 70 years old lady sitting as in the picture looking at your cake while your family of husband, 1 ex-husband, 4 children, 7 grandchildren, relatives and friends singing "the happy birthday song" from the ten-table dinner that your beloved son had kindly organised.

Earlier in the day, you have to be reminded again and again by your grandchildren to prepare to go for your birthday dinner. Your beloved daughter-in-law had brought you to the hairdresser earlier in the day. You have to struggle into the few pieces of "big occassion" clothes.

During the dinner that night, you were moving from table to table, holding tightly to ang pows pushed into your hands from all directions from so-called relatives you could no longer remember where or how they got to know you.

You overheard someone talking about you. That person said you used to play mahjong at his place quite regularly. He said you refused to take taxi home despite your age and "lateness" after the mahjong session so as not to let the taxi drivers earn the few dollars from you.

Tears roll down your cheek. Is that how you want to be remembered by your friends and relatives when you pass off later to another world?

P/S - The purely fictional story above applies to both sexes.

my bowl of porridge

I had porridge for dinner just now. The heavenly taste of hot plain old porridge going down my throat, warming me against the chill of a wet Friday.

The Oasis, another old charm of Singapore, will eventually be torn down in the name of progress. I wish to enshrine a pic of its menu and a pic of the restaurant here.

Oasis is changing even as I eat.. the local and Malaysian aunties who were serving the tables have been replaced with our mainland Chinese friends.

Good bye to you.

The money of football

Mass hysteria greets the Liverpool football team when they arrived in Hong Kong last week. Tickets were rumoured to be at USD$2000 each in the black market to watch David Beckham played for 12 minutes and Chelsea, having a stroll in the park.

The success of English Premier League has created millions and millions more fans.

If each and every fan pay a dollar more a month, (which we are doing through Starhub cable subscription), ESPN and consequently the football clubs get more money to play around with.

Investors from US, Russia, even Thailand and Hong Kong see the profit potential and started buying clubs. With more money sloshing around the game, demand on performance of the team, players and managers increases.

Higher transfer fees and salaries will chase after the precious few talents capable of helping the respective clubs to win trophies!!!

From the substitute-bench-warmers to the superstars, getting salaries from GBP10,000 to GBP130,000 per WEEK, lack of patience for results will be the order of day.

About GBP90 mio has been allocated to clubs in lower divisions over 3 years to maintain a conducive base to develop young talents. That means some job security at least to some people eg. the old chap who maintains the field (or "pitch"), the young rookie cleaning up the dressing room, equipment, boots etc etc.

Therefore no matters how busy or importance a football team schedule may be, it is definitely appropriate to come over to Asia at least once a year to thank their paymasters.

For me, the new season will be starting soon. My weekend nites will be back to NORMAL again.

Fighting over water?

Yes, we have and will continue to fight over water.
I covered OIL in my last posting. Today, I will focus on WATER.

But water cannot disappear like oil after use? True. Water will transform from one form to another. So supply is constant. Great! Then no worry right? WRONG!!!!

Demand for water is increasing at alarming rate.

Where is the growth in demand coming from?
When people become richer - as millions in China are - they tend to eat more meat.

Beef needs about 10 times more water to produce than cereal crops. So more beef we eat --> we need more cattles --> we thus more living things fighting for a drink!!!

Friends, water is important. Period.

P/S - When cattles fart (which they do, like we do), it adds to the ozone depletion.

Oil and water - the liquid gold

These two liquids are the most precious liquid resources now and forever.

As oil fields, rivers, lakes and seas do not sit comfortably inside national borders, countries have and will go to war over these resources.

For oil, what are the challenges today and what can we do for our tomorrow?

• 5.5 billions people on earth depends on oil and gas supplied from about 6 countries in the world. And these 6 countries are volatile for various reasons.
• Energy consumption and rapid climate change.
• Consequences of those who have and those who have not (the oil n gas supplies). Eg. Recently Russia threatened to shut down supply to its neighbours if the price is not met.

Solutions to slow down the problems above:-

• preach and be energy efficient
• investment in nuclear power
• investment in wind, solar and biofuel renewable energy sources

...

LTA's $200,000 and the Angsana tree

Question
Did LTA spend $200,000 on trying to keep the Angsana tree 2 years ago?

From what I heard over the radio on the 16th's morning, LTA said most of the $200,000 were spent on the structural work and was thus not wasted.

But this was not the story we heard before.

Even if we had spent to save an 80-year-old tree, I think it is fair.

The key issue is whether the monies could have been more strategically to save the tree.

An Angsana tree got executed today!!!

An Angsana tree was chopped down today so as to make the road safer for all motorists using that part of road. Yes, LTA has avoided taking such drastic action for 2 years already. It was thus a considered decision.

But let us take a few steps back into history and re-look at this tree situation.

Who was there first? The Angsana tree or the road? I am not sure, really.

If the tree was there first, can we, the human with brains, get the road to go round and further away from a precious tree that LTA had intended to save or be kind to?

But if the tree was planted by human beings to provide shade or for beautifying the road, then the decision to remove should have been easier.

Despite all the centuries of knowledge and successes that humans have accumulated on organ transplants, we could not transplant an Angsana tree.

I am going to discuss this issue with the trees at Botanical Gardens tomorrow.

Auld lang syne. What is done, is done. It is sad.

P/S - If my old man stands in my way to success tomorrow, should I chop him down to size?

"Can u anyhow email to all to get your complaint heard?"

An officer in SAF was charged for sending a complaint to the Minister and HUNDREDs of other military personnels.

This is considered wrong under General Orders of Mindef for the following reasons ie. the email was sent to:-

- men who were mostly NOT under his command nor

- people in an official position to resolve the matter.

So what can we learn from the incident? Is it applicable to commercial complaints against a certain poor product or service?

I have encountered individuals who have gone to various organs of governments and consumer groups to seek "justice" which they deemed to have been deprived of.

My Complimentary Massage

I got a spam call from a spa offering me free message.

"How did you get my HP number?" I asked.

"From our databases or it could your friend who have referred you..."

In my mind I told myself, "If you accept, you could be in for a "time-share" pressure selling."

I accepted her invitation anyway as the address given was in Takashimaya.

On Monday night with a very tight shoulder, I strolled in just before 8pm. Greeted by receptionist, I was invited to sit down at the sofa with a cup of tea. I readied myself for the onslaught of pressure selling to sign up for packages.

Not yet. I was only asked to fill in forms to complete their database on Edgar. I filled questions about my name, contact number, sex, marital status, occupation to THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE :)...

After which, I was efficiently guided to a room for the promised 30-min massage. It was pleasantly done.

I was guided to the lounge area for another cup of tea. "Pressure selling next. Edgar be ready."

I sat there for more than 10 mins, twiddling my fingers, looking at the ceiling, looking at decor, looking at people being sold etc etc.

Finally I decided to leave. "Good bye," said the receptionist.

"Good night and thank you," I said in appreciation that I was spared!

===============================

So what happened?

Did they just give me a free massage without even trying to sell me anything?

Or did they mess up ie. incurred heavy cost of bringing Edgar to the spa without ensuring a CRO is tagged to Edgar to complete the sales process?

Only they know.

Competition Commission of Singapore Part 2

In Jun 26, 2007, CCS, the anti-competition unit cleared Nets of the unilateral fee hike as being anti-competitive activity after the matter was raised by CASE to CCS.

Four heartland merchant associations, with about 4,000 members, have told the media that Nets has offered to charge them a lower rate, but only if they do not have other debt or credit payment facilities.

Isn't this clearly anti-competitive behaviour?

Are you experiencing of a restriction of your rights given the strength/dominance of a certain service provider in a particular market segment?

Mr Leong Sze Hian highlighted in his letter to Business Times' forum dated Jul 6, 2007 that when Microsoft did something similar by requiring vendors to not offer competitors' software, it was fined billions of dollars in several countries all over the world.

As a consumer, we have to be conscious of the development in this area before it becomes too late a few years later.

During a casual event with some CASE staff, I expressed my following views:-

• It is unhealthy to have a sole provider being overly dominant in its handling of its customers.
• On the other hand, Singapore, as a market, is just too small to support too many providers.
• These recent incidents are good at getting CCS to define / clarify their roles and responsibilities.

Extra Caning for Prisoner?

This 20-year-old man was ERRONEOUSLY given 3 more strokes of the cane than what he was sentenced for recently.

Apparently, someone in 1998 was given 48 strokes instead of 24 strokes!!!

Excuse me!!!

Is someone keeping count of the number of strokes given to the prisoner? Is there someone to double check whether the right court order is being prescribed to the right prisoner? How many people are supposed to be present in the room to witness? Who are the people supposed to be present?

Did someone lose count of the number of strokes midway thru' the punishment? Ouch!!

New Spam - BEWARe of tHis CRaP!

Beware of spams with the following subjects

• "Steven has Tagged you!:)"

• "Your friend has sent you an eCard"

Hi. Colleague has sent you a greeting ecard.
See your card as often as you wish during the next 15 days.

SEEING YOUR CARD
If your email software creates links to Web pages, click on your card's direct www address below while you are connected to the Internet:
http://71.141.241.207/?968e3ca036e47840d8e1178689
Or copy and paste it into your browser's "Location" box (where Internet addresses go).

No free drinks for Aunties... at St. James?

The issue here is whether St. James has the right to buy drink for sweet young things ONLY but no free drinks for aunties who were Gucci.

Sad to say, they do have the right. But for courtesy sake, let the house rules be known to all to avoid unnecessary embarassment to anyone.

Sweet young things (SYTs) are deemed "honey" to attract the paying customers. As an operator of such outlet, you either have to hire SYTs as employees or just "pay" these "free lancers" or "part timers" with drinks.

Is that the blunt and brutal truth of business and reality?

Grand Old Lady?

Who is that? The newspaper is referring to the National Stadium that will be torn down.

I wonder why the term suddenly appeared. What prompted the person to coin that term to describe the stadium?

Is it "grand" and/or is it "old" in comparison to the many other stadiums in the world? Yes there were certainly memories and yes, there were certainly significant events but is it enough? Perhaps, it is enough for many others but not for me.

I was offered tickets to attend the closing ceremony but within seconds, I have decided against going. I have decided that it was not a "moment of history" that is significant enough for me to participate in nor there were sufficient memories there for me to re-cherish for that few hours.

For most time of the year at National Stadium, there wasn't really much happening there. This is unlike some other stadiums where it is weekly or even daily happening place. They are really integrated into the lives of many. I wonder how many of the 45,000 people there yesterday, can truly say IT was part of their life.

There is this spot on the Nicoll Highway that I will try to remember to slow down to commemorate the heroic of a man (who is still buried there) who died saving a few of his men who were working in the tunnel that collapsed.

My tribute to the National Stadium.
I have spent more time at the National Stadium that any other stadiums on earth. The memories of Malaysia Cup spirit still linger in me. You were part of my growing up years. It will never be the same without you. Farewell to thee, my friend.

AWARE 130-page Report

Association of Woman for Action & Research (AWARE) was registered in Singapore in November 1985 as a voluntary organisation of women with three main areas of focus - Support, Research and Advocacy.

Recently they completed this Report with the following key recommendations. My views are, of course, attached :)

• Amend the Constitution to include a provision that no one will be discriminated against on the grounds of gender and marital status.

[Since we are in the mood of amending the Constitution to eradicate discrimination, may I propose that we amend the Woman's Charter too? When Woman's Charter was initially constituted, we human were all living in another planet and in another era. Women have come along way since then. Divorced husbands too need protection!]

• Set up a body that promotes gender equality.

[I am for it as it promotes equality between man and woman. Refer to my comment above.]

• Promote more flexible work arrangements to help more women.

[Nope. We should say "Promote more flexible work arrangement to help more men and women.]

• Need for legislation on sexual harassment.

[Agree. Again it should cover sexual harassment for both sexes.]

• Taskforce to oversee interest of foreign women.

[Nope. The taskforce must also oversee the interest of foreign men. Remember there are men who are exploited too. Remember the man who died in a worksite accident whose body was dumped in a carpark in Sengkang. Remember the man who was paid $20 (I think) to sleep in the middle of an expressway to look after some construction materials.]

• Strengthen laws to ensure women are not fired during pregnancy.

[I think this is fair.]

• System to prevent human trafficking.

[I think this is fair as AWARE is referrring to human and not woman trafficking.]

• CASE should play an active role in opposing the perpetuation of gender stereotypes in the media.

[I can accept this proposal.]

My DBS Platinum Cards

Dear friends and yes, including those who are working in DBS Bank too,

This is based on the last credit card statement I just received.

For my platinum card, I spent $668.17 and I got 132 points. It looks like I am getting 1 point for $5 spent.

More importantly, what is the $ value per 1 point that I am getting from DBS Bank?
Take for example - For a $100 CYC voucher, I need to get 3,500 points. http://www.dbs.com/sg/personal/rewards/
Thus each point is valued at $0.029 or 2.9 cents.
DBS is effectively giving 2.9 cents for every $5 you spent ie. 0.58%.

Hmmm.. it does not sound like a good deal at all. But as I have been a single-hearted loyal customer of DBS Bank credit cards, I really don't know what other banks are giving for every $1 spent on their cards.

Can tell me which banks give you a better deal?

I really don't feel very platinum right now... haizzzz

My first time - episode 2 :)

Dear friends,

About Monday last, I received another email invitation from Aesop thru' Mutiply.

The email was peppered with URL links to articles that were carbon copies of mine! I looked for some form of acknowledgement to Edgar but in vain.

I felt thoroughly violated!

I msned Aesop immediately. Aesop denied any knowledge of the existence of the blog in Multiply nor my blogs in Blogger.

This person knows both of us as it has placed Aesop's name, email address and HOME telephone numbers in the Profile page.

Aesop complained to Multiply immediately with a simple click on the screen. Ermm... apparently there must be a lot of people going round using other people's identity to do something silly. I too lodged my complaint to Multiply for violating my rights.

The blog has apparently been brought down as per my last check.

Aesop and the good people at Multiply.com - Thanks for your cooperation in resolving this issue so quickly.

Competition Commission of Singapore

Wah so chim? What is that?

Among other responsibilities, it reviews anti-competitive activities in Singapore. In more human language, it is made up of a group of people with the responsibility of deciding whether a business has used its sizeable market share or monopolistic position to take advantage of its customers.

If I am not wrong, it is part of the requirement for Singapore to comply under Free Trade Agreement FTA signed with US.

Should Starhub, being a sole provider of cable tv services in Singapore, be called upon to answer for raising prices on its various cable packages?

Example - Imagine you signed up for 24-month contract for cable tv package at a price $60 per month. You got a 29-inch tv for a gift. So happy right? Then a few weeks later, you were informed of the impending price increase to $70 per month

Should you wish to stop the service before the expiry of 24 months, you are required to pay a penalty.

On the other hand, apparently the said 24-month contract allows the service provider to increase its price to whatever level it sees fit. You have no say at all but to pay till the end of term.

Why would one enter into a contract where one party can do nothing to change the terms and the other party can vary the terms and conditions?

Is this fair?

Should CCS should look into the following incidents too?

• SingPost's postage rate hike from July 1
• Nets fee increase on merchants using its payment gateway

How about SBS raising its bus fares? This is already covered by Public Transport Council PTC.

My first time - episode 1 :)

Hi friends,

On Jun 1, 2007, I received the following email from a person who looked like an ex-student of mine. Let us call this person, Aesop.

"Your Friend Aesop has invited you to be his contact on Multiply.
Multiply is a web site that makes it easy to share photos, blogs, videos and more with the people you know. Aesop is using Multiply to keep in touch with friends and family and she wants to include you.

Accept Aesop's invitation or learn more about Multiply:
http://multiply.com/si/A+StMHF3p

Personal message from Aesop:
Check out my Blog... Its "Everything with Aesop". I have so far "Nonense with Aesop; Business with Aesop; Politics with Aesop; Comics with Aesop". Enjoy your time there and Have great fun!"

Do you notice the remarkable similarity with how he named her blogs? Well I thought his/her attempt to "emulate" Edgar would be the best compliments he could give me. I gave no further brain cells to it...

Today, 10 days later, I received another invitation to join her Multiply's network. I was flabbergasted at what I saw!

Look out for my next posting tomorrow!!!!

P/S - He/She/his/her are purposely confused as I am not sure whether he is a she or she is a he.

"I confess"

Yes I am also adding pressures to the pockets of my customers.


HhhEEElllllLLLppppPPPP!!!!!

Starhub will get more $ from me!

Starhub has just announced price increase for its various packages.

Sigh!! More pressure on our pockets.

In return, Starhub wants to show its magnanimity by giving you 2 FREE channels ie. the History channel and Crime & Investigation.

Hello? Are we getting more time, more eyes, more brains to process what we see per person to watch the additional 2 channels!!!

The reality is someone must put a stop to these spiralling price increases that we are experiencing now from left, right, behind and centre of us.

Heeeelllllppppppp!!!!

Digital Age and changing business models

the enchanting blue

In today's Straits Times, it is reported that the sales of music through the CD stores have plummeted from $60mio in 2003 to $36mio in 2006 due to Digital Age. Big CD retail stores are on a retreat.

Couple of years ago when CD-rom writer technology was first introduced, my friend was thinking of setting a chain of PC stations where you could choose your own songs and burn your own CD compilation. You may laugh at the idea now but back then, it was a logical idea to challenge the capital-intensive big CD retail stores. We decided against proceeding as we got a feel that songs, like any files, can be downloaded over internet.

That reality has long arrived.

Will the same or is the same happening now to book stores?

I am reading both paper-based printed books and PDF-formatted digital books on my handphone. One more medium - I am also listening to audio books.

Position available - World Bank President

This is an advertisement to invite suitably qualified applicants to apply for the position of President - World Bank.

Beside the usual requirements, the following are additional criteria from my observation.

• You must have "z" in your surname. [The soon-to-be-last president is Mr Wolfowitz. The current candidate is Mr Zoellick.]
• You must promise not to promote your girlfriend / boyfriend using your position.

Please submit your application to me. Thank you.

Cycling on footpaths is ILLEGAL

But the MP for Tampines GRC and Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said let's do a trial to allow cycling on Tampines pathways for a YEAR.

To me, it is not just a matter of courtesy for a pleasant experience for cyclists and pedestrains. To me, it is just plain safety ignored without proper grounding and education for ALL residents.

Do not expect me to move aside for a cyclist to pass. If he or she touched me with his/her bike, I will sue him for physical assault, emotional disembowelment, loss of income and whatever else my lawyerS can think of.

Mr Mah, with due respect, please focus on clearing the jams off the roads and make them safe for all wheelers to use.

Let us not complicate the issue by bringing the unmotorised two-wheelers with significant kinetic energy onto the pedestrain pathways.

Good riddance to a lousy trial.

P/S - Btw, thank goodness I don't stay in Tampines.