My pain with NTUC Income Motor Insurance

car and you

I have recently renewed my motor insurance with a 41% increase in premium.

For 2008, I paid $613.
And for the coming year, I have paid $864.86.
I have made no claim all these years and the above is after 50% No Claim Discount.
So I wrote to NTUC Income for an explanation.
The following is their response.

"Dear Mr Wong,

Thank you for your email.

We wish to take this opportunity to explain that we have recently revised our Motor Insurance rates with effect from 15 October 2007. The increase is not confined to your goodself but the revision affects all our Private Car policyholders. The revision is due to escalating claim costs among private cars and was necessary so as to keep our plans sustainable.

The increase in premium for our policyholder vary depending on the risk factors such as vehicle model, vehicle capacity, age, driving experience, occupation and claim experience etc. While it is not possible to increase the premium only on policyholders who make claims, policyholders who were involved in accidents and directly contributed to the losses have their premium increased much more.

The premium quoted is the best premium that we can offer. We apologise if we cannot meet up to your expectations and seek your kind understanding on the matter. If we may be of further assistance, please contact us by email to csquery@income.com.sg or phone us at 67881122."

So is the increase and quantum of increase fair? What is your experience?

The Singapore Flyer

Yes, it is a good wake up call that unexpected things can and do happen.

But more importantly - When things do happen, what do we do?

I am talking about the Singapore Flyer. I was lying on the sofa reading BBC on my cell phone at 2am. "Singapore Flyer" made headline on BBC??? Luckily nobody gets hurt.

Yes questions need to be asked and answered to avoid recurrence of this incident. But can we ask and answer them faster without compromising on the quality of the investigation. Why faster?

Singapore cannot disappoint the many tourists (albeit much less coming to Singapore) who have travelled thousands of miles to be here just for the ride. Not good for Singapore reputation.

Businesses there are so badly affected. Rent and salary still need to be paid. It is painful. So let us not give a chance for the business owners to cut heads to save costs. And contribute further to unemployment situation.

When the wheel stops, part of Singapore stop too.

This is not the financial crisis of any significant scale. So can a few good men and women in Singapore come together and help to put Singapore Flyer back together again, QUICKLY for Singapore sake.

P/S - I am not a stakeholder of the Flyer in anyway. Btw, can take care of the rat running around I saw while I was there?

Court 48

I was in Court 48. Why am I there? Not important la.

But what did I observe?
It was a busy afternoon with many people accused of offences under URA, HDB and ACRA.

There was this guy who is accused of 20 counts of illegal hawking. So he owes HDB/URA for fines outstanding.

A court officer explained the charges to him. The lady judge then proceeded to explain to him his options. The judge said she could grant an extension for him to plead and pay HDB/URA subject to someone bailing him out.

The man said he wanted to plead guilty. The judge patiently explained to him that by pleading guilty to the charges, it does not void the need to pay the fines.

He insisted that he wanted to plead guilty and he couldn't find anyone to bail him out. The judge subsequently delivered the sentence. After a few moment of punching her calculator, the man is liable to pay the Court $500 per count of illegal hawking or go to jail. This is in addition to the owings to HDB/URA.

I am puzzled by the man's strategy. Perhaps he is the fall guy who is ready to go bankrupt after jail term to avoid paying the outstanding fines.

Sad. He will be in prison while the rest of us celebrate Christmas.

P/S - Some info garbled to protect the identities.

Chew Tai Lu

the van literally parked in the bus bay with no care for the world

He is 56 and vice president of product innovation at SIA.

He was involved in a car accident which caused injury to 3 pedestrains and another car. From what I read in the paper today, he seems to have acted responsibly by staying around to help the injured, visited them at hospital, offered compensation etc.

He was fined $2,000 for causing accident.

So far nothing fantastic. But towards the end of the article, it reported that Mr Chew could lose his job and about $250,000 worth of share options given the conviction.

Is it true, SIA?

Don't cry..

If your boss come to you today and tell you there is no year end bonus, no increment but got pay cut and force to take compulsory annual leave, don't cry.

But instead we should pray that those guys in power, better get it right QUICKLY.

In the mean time, the many millions of Chinese workers will pray that the factory they are working for would still be around and re-open for business after the Chinese New Year break.

For us here in Singapore, let us hope that the tourists will find some monies under their bed and come and spend them in Singapore, people will continue to buy our electronic chips, pharmaceuticals, financial services (these represents the biggest contributors to Singapore economy).

For those in contruction business, let us hope you will still have something to build (big buildings to even long drains) and more importantly, get paid by the main contractors and developers.

But don't forget to pray for the environment and the mother Earth.
Keep them healthy for our future.

One year Anniversary

a drink

It has been slightly more than a year since I embark on my second entrepreneur stint.

In my first stint ie. towards the end of 1998 financial crisis, I took on a service business that the market here was not familiar. That stint was effectively ended by the dotcom bust. My expatriate customer base was being "reassigned" home. Coincidentally I was offered a deal to walk away financially unscathed and I took it.

My business model was weak and Edgar didn't know that many people in Singapore then. I was pretty much flying around the region. Singapore was not a familiar terrain.

This time round I feel I am much better equipped after my experience of working in a large local GLC and took the opportunity of "reinventing" myself from a general degree holder to a qualified professional.

Do I regret leaving a regular paycheck job? No. In fact, I enjoy the freedom, thrills and tribulations of making a living.

It is not easy but it has been fun... but I miss "you".

To friends and staff who have given me your support, I sincerely thank you.

My best wishes to you as 2008 draws to an end. Cheers

Thanksgiving Day

odd but happy couple

I want to thank you for everything and everyone that I have.

Over prata on Monday night, in between my friend's son quibbling about a cheese prata with "free" egg, it reminded me of a friend I have not met for a while now, who yearns for cheese prata occassionally.

Anyway the point tonight is that everyone of us has a lot to be thankful for. Appreciate the positives in our life.

"We are still here and having a simple meal," my old friend said.

The financial crisis will pass. This is man-made and man can certainly correct this.

Just sit tight, pray and give strength to those who need it more for the moment.

Dear cheese prata friend, I still speak to u.

Taksins to divorce

Dear, I wish to discuss with you something.

Yes dear?

I just got off the phone with the lawyers. Thr Brits are cancelling our visas next week. And we will be given 24 hours to leave the country. Tentatively we go Beijing for a couple of weeks.

All right.. I go tell the children. And do some packing..

Dear... hang on..

Yes dear?

This situation cannot continue. I cannot put you and the children through this again and again. Jeff, our lawyer, has actually come with the idea that we should be officially unrelated ie. through a divorce. After which, he could seek the Brits to issue visa to you and the children on sympathetic grounds. Some of the money and assets be distributed to you and the children.

Then how about you, dear?

Don't worry about me for now.. Maybe I will hang around Bermuda or Christmas Island till we can formalise something... So is it ok that I ask the lawyers to do the paperwork?

If you think it is for the best ...

All right then. We will swing by to visit Arat at our Hong Kong consulate to formalise the divorce...

The above is purely fictional.

Mr Lim is angry

Why? Apparently the union was not involved to the prior the announcement of retrenchment of 900.

How come? Why the haste?
Or has someone conveniently forgotten the due process / protocol in managing a retrenchment exercise in this national and multi national company?

The 900 includes people who had approved the distribution of those ill fated financial products?

The adjectives of "a PR disaster" were being used on national radio this morning.

Dr Ng Shwu Yong

the Flyer

When I was reading the article entitled "Obstetrician suspended for tax offences" in ST today, I was thinking of drawing some learning points on tax for my tax blog.

I changed my mind as there was not much tax issue except for the well summarised conclusion on Dr Ng issued by Singapore Medical Association (SMA).

SMA has decided to suspend Dr Ng, of Esther Ng Clinic and Surgery, from practice given her multiple IRAS violations and convictions. They implied a "defect in character which made her unfit for the medical profession".

In 2001 and 2004, she was convicted for repeatedly failing to produce accounts for her clinic, failing to show up in court and ignoring warrant of arrest.

In another incident reflecting her obstinate streak - She left her PORSCHE at the workshop for 5 years after a dispute!!!

Well she has obviously made her money. She may probably be a good doctor too. But she is stubborn.

In positive light, one could refer to her as a principled person. Negatively, she could just be foolish. Perhaps one should know when to fold.

900 jobs for the price of Hi 5 Notes?

Somebody got to pay for it... but who?

So are the same relationtion managers, who cried when they broke the bad news to their clients, are "crying" now for losing their jobs with one month for every year of service?

"Sing to the dawn"

who will then sit on the same chair after that dog?
the two human beings dare not look at me when i took the picture

After the leap year thingy, now we are being bombarded with singing to the dawn.

Can you remember a movie being talked over news over 2 different days over 2 different weeks?

Well this is the one...

My children have long since been convinced not to pay $10 per ticket to watch cartoon. Ha!!

Banks and FIs, pls do the right thing.. How?

many would be happy with 50% refund

Singapore Way
MAS said, "If the investors had been mis-sold the product or where the product was clearly inappropriate to their circumstances, MAS expects the FIs to take full responsibility... fair settlement .. to be assessed on case by case basis"

How to assess?
The current definition of "vulnerable" customers are uninformed elderly, retirees with limited savings and those not English-proficient to understand the product literature.

If you open one door to an old illiterate lady, hundred of others would claim to be illiterate too. If FI pay to the old lady as "mis-sold", will it open the doors for others to take legal action on this basis?

Hong Kong Way
From what I understand, the government is asking the respective banks and FIs to partially refund the monies to all.. perhaps 30%?

Which is the better way?

Mr Tan Kin Lian to run for President?

You mean the man is doing all those things at Hong Lim Park and dealing with the pain of more 600 people when he has not got a single cent at stake in Minibonds or Hi-notes, as a pre-cursor to his bid for presidency?

I saw the headline for the Chinese paper. But as I can't read Chinese, I know no more than it is. I declare that I have worked with him in my years with NTUC Income.

Can someone please ask him this question directly? Or has he been asked and his answer is already reported in the paper? Then can someone please tell me his answer. I am really curious.

Why 21% increase in electricity tariff?

a vacant land for now

In yesterday's ST, Ms Jenny Teo, Director of Corporate Communications of Energy Market Authority (EMA) tried to explain the massive increase in tariff for Oct/Nov/Dec quarter.

Allow me to summarise her response first.

The tariff is set quarterly in advance against the prevailing fuel oil price.

Why pegged against fuel oil price when 80% of electricity produced is generated using natural gas? Answer - While the gas supply has been secured with long term contracts but its price floats with fuel oil price as per market practice. [Given the massive tariff fluctuation, should EMA consider alternative arrangements? Or the whole Singapore should continue to subject itself to these shocks?]

She said oil price went up sharply in July. [I am sure it did. But what I am not sure is the magnitude of how that affect the tariff by SO MUCH.]

Ms Teo said it has nothing to do with F1 on its electricity consumption.

Ms Teo also said the increase in tariff is also not linked to the privatisation of the electricity industry. She said the privatisation process should be in consumers' interest.

My views
Firsly, as an accountant, I will be convinced when I see the costing figures. Of course, Ms Teo will not share that info with the whole Singapore.

An investor must justify the billions of dollars paid for the power plant investments with an appropriate yield. So how did the seller justify the yield to prospective investors?

Secondly, I am still not convinced with the existing public-listed public transport companies being regulated by Public Transport Council (or something like that). For so many years, the management of these companies have to play between profit maximisation and fulfilling their respective public role.

We have now created another situation of selling our power generation companies to private companies and the existence of Energy Market Authority.

Developers can continue for now....

Continue what?????

Urban Development Authority (URA) has extended the expiry date by 3 months till Dec 2008.
Developers can now have another 3 months to submit building plans where some of floor areas, sold to you at thousands of dollars per square feet, are actually for window and planter boxes.

Now - The floor areas for window and planter boxes are not accounted officially to URA under the permitted Gross Floor Area. But the developers, with the help of architects, are able to carve out these small areas and sell them to homebuyers as part of total floor areas mentioned in the sales brochures. So mathematically speaking, total saleable areas could be higher than the permitted Gross Floor Area for the development ie. more $ for the developers.

The future to come - URA will require the developers to include such areas as part total Gross Floor Area computation.

Have you ever wonder why your 1,400-sq-ft condo unit looks smaller than 1,400 sq ft you paid for?

The answer - Look at the potted plants at the windows!!!

Singtel irked me today!

Yesterday I waited for 15mins waiting to talk someone at 1626.

My objective was to terminate my home telephone subscription. After about 15 years of paying $45 per quarter for our home telephone subscription, we finally agree to end it. But the funny thing is, it is not that easy.

I was told today I cannot terminate the land line as I have an existing broadband contract valid till Sep 2009.

The technical part is that the broadband requires a land line and thus they cannot cancel.

My counter response was - I signed for 2 separate services. I should thus have the right to terminate either service. I am not aware that I have automatically signed for a 24-month contract for a land line when all I did was to sign for 24-month broadband contract.

I told by the polite and patient Singtel staff that this is certainly unacceptable.

I was offered a compromised outcome ie. partially waived my quarterly land line subscription charges from now till the expiry date of my broadband contract.

As for Singtel, I think you better start thinking of resolving this technical hitch!!!!

So friends, beware!

How much did the Towkay lose?

A teenager bought a gift from Towkay Edgar.

The gift has a selling price of $21 when the cost is $18.

The teenager paid with a $100 note.

Since the Towkay has no small change, he used the $100 note and exchanged it with his neighbour. He gave $79 change to the teenager.

Later his neighbour found out the $100 note was fake, Towkay Edgar has to pay $100 back to his neighbour.

Question - So how much did the Towkay Edgar lose?

P/S Click "Comment" for answer.

M1, I will be breaking up with you on Sunday...

Dear M1,

We have been together since Feb 2, 2007 as I signed up with your Mobile Internet Service. It was a pioneering move by goodself in those days.

Despite what others say about your reliability (or the lack of it), my experience with you has been mutually rewarding.

I have been paying you $38.72 per month for the last 18 months and you have given me the freedom to operate from everywhere, anywhere and anytime.

Things could have continue like this until you started to court new customers with all the goodies and discounts while ignoring loyal customers like me. I began to ask myself why am I paying $38++ while others are paying half albeit the need to sign a contract for 24 months. Isn't our relationship beyond the need to sign a contract for me to commit to you?

Perhaps we have taken each other for granted.

Good bye for now, my dear. Wish you well.

Coffee shop talkings

"My umbrella business down... "
" How come?", asked his friend.
"the government is building so many covered walkways..."

Given all these parenthood incentives and the negative impacts on business, a man quipped..
"my restaurant's job advertisement should now say.. "Wanted Waiters/Waitresses, but only man to apply."

"It may be cheaper to dress up the men up as waitresses and pay them a little bit more for the inconvenience... and lower costs for the business.."

For ladies in the child bearing age group, a possible interview question would be, "Have you cut your fillopian tube?" [FYI - You can't this type of question during interview.]

Where were you last night?

"Mum, I was queueing up for my iPhone at Singtel's launch. It was incredible... "

"Son, I am so disappointed with you.

If you were to tell me that you were investing your energy on something more productive that would yield you profits in the future to come, I would say go do it with all my blessings.

But to queue up for a phone.. is definitely disappointing."

"But mum.. it is not just a phone. It is THE phone with THE experience."

Sigh.. as the mum walked away.. her son is busy pecking away at his queued iPhone.

P/S - Imaginary but could be real.

ERPs along the river

Chinatown Business Association feedbacked to LTA that ERP charges are be having a negative impact on business.

The gantries along the river has divided the City into two ie. the Eastern City and Western City.

But the ERP seems to have affected the Western part of the City but not the Eastern portion. Why is it so?

Or is it that the gantries have actually affected both sides of the river? The focus has been on Chinatown because the Chinatown Business Association has done a good job in raising their concerns to the Authority.

Or is it that Eastern City people had been going to Chinatown for lunch and shopping in droves in the past? With the gantries, are the Eastern City people now unwilling to cross the river for lunch and shopping?

The point I am trying to make is - Why the river gantries affected Chinatown area so badly? Any negative impact noted for businesses on the other side of the river?

In Olympics, we see nations of many races

Last time, it was quite common to see people of African descents representing US, UK and France etc etc. Nowadays, it is very common to see people of Chinese/Korean descents representing New Zealand, Australia, US, France etc etc etc.

I think I will see the days where ang mohs and African descents representing China, Korea and Japan. (Btw, we got ang mohs representing Japan already, I think.)

Olympics, my words

a gift

I watched the badminton final between the two Chinese ladies till 3am in the morning. I didn't know the 27-year-old-loser to the 33-year-old winner is Lin Dan's girlfriend, the man's finalist for badminton tonight.

Despite the toiled bent body postures of both ladies trying to win the gold medal, the loser showed glimpses of beauty that have been put aside for the sake of trying to be an Olympic champion. Her worn out physique and shapeless short hair due to the many thousands hours of toiling in the badminton courts.

To the many participants of the Olympics, it must be a big relief to finish the competition one way or another. So many hours of training in concentration camps, away from family and friends ie. away from your living your life for so many years. Strict regime on diet for years!!! So no wonder you see Tao Li going after ice-kachang after her finals.

To the teen gymnasts, I really hope they do get something for their future in exchange for their lost childhood.

To the weight lifter who has dislocated the shoulder, I wish you well.

To the sore-est loser by 1-hundredth of a second, Milorad Cavic, 2nd to M. Phelps in the Butterfly final. Moral of the story for Cavic - Mass (fingers) travels faster outside the water.

Must sports be like this? Must Olympics be like this?

Life and How to Survive It

Dear friends,

The following is a speech delivered by a Mr Adrian Tan. It is recommended to me by a close friend with a simple word "meaningful". Have a read.

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

I must say thank you to the faculty and staff of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information for inviting me to give your convocation address. It's a wonderful honour and a privilege for me to speak here for ten minutes without fear of contradiction, defamation or retaliation. I say this as a Singaporean and more so as a husband.

My wife is a wonderful person and perfect in every way except one. She is the editor of a magazine. She corrects people for a living. She has honed her expert skills over a quarter of a century, mostly by practising at home during conversations between her and me.

On the other hand, I am a litigator. Essentially, I spend my day telling people how wrong they are. I make my living being disagreeable.

Nevertheless, there is perfect harmony in our matrimonial home. That is because when an editor and a litigator have an argument, the one who triumphs is always the wife.

And so I want to start by giving one piece of advice to the men: when you've already won her heart, you don't need to win every argument.

Marriage is considered one milestone of life. Some of you may already be married. Some of you may never be married. Some of you will be married. Some of you will enjoy the experience so much, you will be married many, many times. Good for you.

The next big milestone in your life is today: your graduation. The end of education. You're done learning.

You've probably been told the big lie that "Learning is a lifelong process" and that therefore you will continue studying and taking masters' degrees and doctorates and professorships and so on. You know the sort of people who tell you that? Teachers. Don't you think there is some measure of conflict of interest? They are in the business of learning, after all. Where would they be without you? They need you to be repeat customers.

The good news is that they're wrong.

The bad news is that you don't need further education because your entire life is over. It is gone. That may come as a shock to some of you. You're in your teens or early twenties. People may tell you that you will live to be 70, 80, 90 years old. That is your life expectancy.

I love that term: life expectancy. We all understand the term to mean the average life span of a group of people. But I'm here to talk about a bigger idea, which is what you expect from your life.

You may be very happy to know that Singapore is currently ranked as the country with the third highest life expectancy. We are behind Andorra and Japan, and tied with San Marino. It seems quite clear why people in those countries, and ours, live so long. We share one thing in common: our football teams are all hopeless. There's very little danger of any of our citizens having their pulses raised by watching us play in the World Cup. Spectators are more likely to be lulled into a gentle and restful nap.

Singaporeans have a life expectancy of 81.8 years. Singapore men live to an average of 79.21 years, while Singapore women live more than five years longer, probably to take into account the additional time they need to spend in the bathroom.

So here you are, in your twenties, thinking that you'll have another 40 years to go. Four decades in which to live long and prosper.

Bad news. Read the papers. There are people dropping dead when they're 50, 40, 30 years old. Or quite possibly just after finishing their convocation. They would be very disappointed that they didn't meet their life expectancy.

I'm here to tell you this. Forget about your life expectancy.

After all, it's calculated based on an average. And you never, ever want to expect being average.

Revisit those expectations. You might be looking forward to working, falling in love, marrying, raising a family. You are told that, as graduates, you should expect to find a job paying so much, where your hours are so much, where your responsibilities are so much.

That is what is expected of you. And if you live up to it, it will be an awful waste.

If you expect that, you will be limiting yourself. You will be living your life according to boundaries set by average people. I have nothing against average people. But no one should aspire to be them. And you don't need years of education by the best minds in Singapore to prepare you to be average.

What you should prepare for is mess. Life's a mess. You are not entitled to expect anything from it. Life is not fair. Everything does not balance out in the end. Life happens, and you have no control over it. Good and bad things happen to you day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Your degree is a poor armour against fate.

Don't expect anything. Erase all life expectancies. Just live. Your life is over as of today. At this point in time, you have grown as tall as you will ever be, you are physically the fittest you will ever be in your entire life and you are probably looking the best that you will ever look. This is as good as it gets. It is all downhill from here. Or up. No one knows.

What does this mean for you? It is good that your life is over.

Since your life is over, you are free. Let me tell you the many wonderful things that you can do when you are free.

The most important is this: do not work.

Work is anything that you are compelled to do. By its very nature, it is undesirable.

Work kills. The Japanese have a term "Karoshi", which means death from overwork. That's the most dramatic form of how work can kill. But it can also kill you in more subtle ways. If you work, then day by day, bit by bit, your soul is chipped away, disintegrating until there's nothing left. A rock has been ground into sand and dust.

There's a common misconception that work is necessary. You will meet people working at miserable jobs. They tell you they are "making a living". No, they're not. They're dying, frittering away their fast-extinguishing lives doing things which are, at best, meaningless and, at worst, harmful.

People will tell you that work ennobles you, that work lends you a certain dignity. Work makes you free. The slogan "Arbeit macht frei" was placed at the entrances to a number of Nazi concentration camps. Utter nonsense.

Do not waste the vast majority of your life doing something you hate so that you can spend the small remainder sliver of your life in modest comfort. You may never reach that end anyway.

Resist the temptation to get a job. Instead, play. Find something you enjoy doing. Do it. Over and over again. You will become good at it for two reasons: you like it, and you do it often. Soon, that will have value in itself.

I like arguing, and I love language. So, I became a litigator. I enjoy it and I would do it for free. If I didn't do that, I would've been in some other type of work that still involved writing fiction – probably a sports journalist.

So what should you do? You will find your own niche. I don't imagine you will need to look very hard. By this time in your life, you will have a very good idea of what you will want to do. In fact, I'll go further and say the ideal situation would be that you will not be able to stop yourself pursuing your passions. By this time you should know what your obsessions are. If you enjoy showing off your knowledge and feeling superior, you might become a teacher.

Find that pursuit that will energise you, consume you, become an obsession. Each day, you must rise with a restless enthusiasm. If you don't, you are working.

Most of you will end up in activities which involve communication. To those of you I have a second message: be wary of the truth. I'm not asking you to speak it, or write it, for there are times when it is dangerous or impossible to do those things. The truth has a great capacity to offend and injure, and you will find that the closer you are to someone, the more care you must take to disguise or even conceal the truth. Often, there is great virtue in being evasive, or equivocating. There is also great skill. Any child can blurt out the truth, without thought to the consequences. It takes great maturity to appreciate the value of silence.

In order to be wary of the truth, you must first know it. That requires great frankness to yourself. Never fool the person in the mirror.

I have told you that your life is over, that you should not work, and that you should avoid telling the truth. I now say this to you: be hated.

It's not as easy as it sounds. Do you know anyone who hates you? Yet every great figure who has contributed to the human race has been hated, not just by one person, but often by a great many. That hatred is so strong it has caused those great figures to be shunned, abused, murdered and in one famous instance, nailed to a cross.

One does not have to be evil to be hated. In fact, it's often the case that one is hated precisely because one is trying to do right by one's own convictions. It is far too easy to be liked, one merely has to be accommodating and hold no strong convictions. Then one will gravitate towards the centre and settle into the average. That cannot be your role. There are a great many bad people in the world, and if you are not offending them, you must be bad yourself. Popularity is a sure sign that you are doing something wrong.

The other side of the coin is this: fall in love.

I didn't say "be loved". That requires too much compromise. If one changes one's looks, personality and values, one can be loved by anyone.

Rather, I exhort you to love another human being. It may seem odd for me to tell you this. You may expect it to happen naturally, without deliberation. That is false. Modern society is anti-love. We've taken a microscope to everyone to bring out their flaws and shortcomings. It far easier to find a reason not to love someone, than otherwise. Rejection requires only one reason. Love requires complete acceptance. It is hard work – the only kind of work that I find palatable.

Loving someone has great benefits. There is admiration, learning, attraction and something which, for the want of a better word, we call happiness. In loving someone, we become inspired to better ourselves in every way. We learn the truth worthlessness of material things. We celebrate being human. Loving is good for the soul.

Loving someone is therefore very important, and it is also important to choose the right person. Despite popular culture, love doesn't happen by chance, at first sight, across a crowded dance floor. It grows slowly, sinking roots first before branching and blossoming. It is not a silly weed, but a mighty tree that weathers every storm.

You will find, that when you have someone to love, that the face is less important than the brain, and the body is less important than the heart.

You will also find that it is no great tragedy if your love is not reciprocated. You are not doing it to be loved back. Its value is to inspire you.

Finally, you will find that there is no half-measure when it comes to loving someone. You either don't, or you do with every cell in your body, completely and utterly, without reservation or apology. It consumes you, and you are reborn, all the better for it.

Don't work. Avoid telling the truth. Be hated. Love someone.

You're going to have a busy life. Thank goodness there's no life expectancy.

The Poor Water Quality Report

this marina is ungradeable yet as per NEA

National Environmental Agency's (NEA) recent revelation of the poor state of seawaters surrounding our beaches finally put to rest my long suspicion and hesitation in bringing my family for beach outings.

I am also amazed that people may spend hours of their life catching things from Singapore rivers ala "big longkangs" and bring them home to EAT. (Don't believe? Go to Tekka Market and see for yourself.)

Of course, our longkangs here are relatively cleaner output than some other parts of the world. In today's paper, you can see the picture of a man, half submerged in the water, clearing hundreds of DEAD fishes poisoned by chemical discharge.

P/S - Eating seafood in Melaka? Excuse me, where do you get your seafood from? Oh.. we catch them from the biggest longkang in the world (strait of malacca)!!! :)

Man with 7 wives

Can you solve this?

A man was traveling to Tombouctou.
At the bus stop, he met a man with 7 wives.

Each wife has 12 sons and 12 daughters.
Each daughter of the man's wife had 4 sons and 7 daughters.

Each son of the man's wife had 7 sons and 4 daughters.
Each granddaughter had 4 friends.

How many people got to Tombouctou?

P/S Click on comment for answer.

Beijing ERP

With just a simple announcement, Beijing has put in place a traffic control system.

What is that?
Odd-numbered-plated vehicles can be driven on odd days of the week and only even-numbered-plated vehicles on even days.

Sundays how? All hell breaks loose as usual. :)

Of course the devil is in the details for any scheme.

But on the immediate surface of the idea, Beijing still has a system without massive investment of ERP gantries, in-vehicle units and cash card problems.

Have you seen the new T3?

We accidentally dropped in new T3 of Changi International Airport over the weekend.

This is what we saw. Check it out. They are WOWs!

Level 3 - many restaurants and coffee hangouts
Level 2 - departures
Level 1 - arrivals
B1 - NTUC Fairprice and hawker centre

smsed an old friend

i like the art

When you check in on an old friend whom you have not talked to or seen for quite some time by sms, what are the usual responses that you may get?

"the same old shit...", "the usual... ", "still surviving.. in this crap life" etc etc along these lines.

But when I sent a sms to a friend who is still flying with SQ after more than 10 years, this is what I got from her.

"Hi! Long time no hear from you! Thanks for the sms! All is well, I hope? I'm in Zurich right now, with the cows in the alps :o) Take care!"

Moral of the Story
We need to get a life. Well... the cows at the Alps are so blessed to have her around. For the many of us in Singapore, there is nothing exciting we can say about we are doing this weekend. As I have told many friends of mine, if I can press "RESTART" on my working life, I would have taken a job that would allow me to fly even more. (actually I got to fly about in my early working years) Be'cos once you grow older, other priorities will take precedence.

Why the need to travel? We need to have a BIGGER perspective of life.

ode to Gantries

To the rest of the World, this is our famous ERP gantry.

It is said that each gantry costs $1.5mio to build. With ST's new IVU, will it mean ERP charges would be lower? Don't think our pockets would be better off but LTA's efficiency would improve.

How do I feel about the inner city gantries ie. ERP within ERP?
Somehow feel like East Berlin and West Berlin. If I am on this side of the Singapore river today, I will try not to go to the other side of river.

Since the LTA would determine charges according to the average speed of vehicles passing through the gantries, my advice to all fellow drivers, we need to up speed collectively to save our pockets.

Our honourable minister said in the long run, the ERP gantries would be good for the restaurants and businesses in CBD areas. I heard over the radio, "In the long run, I wonder whether our businesses would be around to enjoy it."

It is confirmed...

... that US is the world's biggest polluter.

US President George W. Bush admitted so in his farewell words at the G8 Summit.

Value of Time

Brian Lam's design

Well this is the second time this year where I have to deal with someone in the banking industry for NOT understanding the VALUE of TIME.

Well Edgar, why are you picking on people in banking?
My answer would be that they are the people who is suppose to know very well as they charge you interest on loan every second of the day.

There was this salesperson from a local bank who was supposed to call me on Tuesday. She finally called me on Friday with her bubbly voice. I tried to dampen her bubbliness by telling her that I had wanted to complain against her for time tardiness.

She apologised with a reason. I was not going to accept it. So I told her in no uncertain terms that she has lost the deal due to her mistake. Full stop.

I am wondering why the bank allows the sales staff to hoard sales leads when the staff concerned was not able to complete the transaction. The bank should have a system for someone else to take over. Well the bank lost too. Poor sales management.

The third issue I have is that the caller's phone numbers is hidden. Why? Are you trying to do business or not?

Give you one, then take away the other...

my gifts

LTA has announced that we are keeping the oldest bus stop in Chao Chu Kang as part of our heritage.

URA (I think) announced a few days later that the Government is acquiring the New 7-Storey Hotel to make way for the Downtown MRT line.

Maybe, the future MRT station there could be call 7-Storey Station.

May inflation stays unchanged at 7.5%

had a quiet a walk there

I wonder how is it mathematically possible to report a price increase of 7.5% on average for ALL Items when the top 5 price hikes are pretty much necessities.

Remember yesterday's ST Money Page with the same title.

Cooking oil - 47.6%
Rice and other cereals - 19%
Fuel and utilities - 18.7%
Dairy products and eggs - 13.6%
Accommodation - 12.6%

As I have said in my earlier posting and echoed by Selena Ling, OCBC Bank Economist, yesterday where she said, "Given the fuel price hikes in Malaysia, meat and vegetables from there are obviously going to get more expensive."

Good nite..

ask three "Why?'...

This is an IMAGINARY conversation.

A motorist - "Why are there congestion on the roads of Singapore?"
LTA - Because the number of vehicles on the roads have increased.

A motorist - "Why the increase in the number of vehicles?"
LTA - Because we have a formula that would allow a 3% increase in vehicle population every year.

A motorist - "Why did you have such a formula?"
LTA - Because it is to fulfill your aspiration to own a car.

The motorist - "Huh?"

So the finger ends up pointing at our ourselves.

Money Not Enough, as usual

"George Tan is married with two children (3 and 4 years old). He and his spouse earn $50,000 per annum in year 2007. They have $10,000 in their bank account and $30,000 in their Central Provident Fund.

The assignment requires course students to work out a 5-year Personal Financial Plan (PFP) for the Tan's family, assuming that their household earning remain unchanged for the next five years."

The above is a brief portion of an assignment that my students are supposed to work on in the last couple of weeks.

A student gave me this interesting comment in last week's class. He said, "The family of 4 would find it hard to survive with $50,000 annual income."

So I responded in my usual practical self, "Before you get married, you better ask how much is your the other half is earning."

And after today's headline of of less-than-30-somethings who are earning alot but saving nothing, you better check whether he/she is in debt...

My incident with a trishaw rider...

Incident
On the 7th Jun 2008 about 8.20pm, a group of 5 or 6 trishaws zoomed past my family on the pavement just outside Raffles Hotel. I told them they are not supposed to ride on the pavement. One of them challenged me to complain. I asked him for his name. He said he is "Ah XXXX" in Hokkien. They were wearing bright XXX t-shirts.

I duly wrote to STB.
Firstly, are they allowed to ride on the pavement? Secondly, are they supposed to wear any identification tag or display license to provide the trishaw service?

STB duly responded as follows:-
Open Quote - We read with concern your unpleasant experience with the group of trishaw riders on 7 Jun 08.

Based on your description, the trishaw riders involved are from one of the three licensed operators - XXX Pte Ltd. With regards to your enquiry, we wish to clarify that trishaw riders are not allowed to ride on the pavement. Trishaw riders are to cycle as close as possible to the side of the road in an orderly manner.

Secondly, trishaw riders are to wear a uniformed attire (which is the neon XXX t-shirt for X Company), carry an identification tag and place a license plate number issued by LTA on the trishaw.

We would like to assure you that we have informed X Company about this matter and they have reverted that they will take the necessary actions to remind their trishaw riders to adhere to the traffic rules.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Have a nice day!" End Quote.

Arab bloggers applaud Israel's actions

ion under construction

As we know, most of the Arab world have not been in agreement over Israel and its existence for decades. But the purpose of this blog piece is to highlight the fact that even enemies do recognise each other's good work.

Two incidents were highlighted by Mr Abraham Rabinovich in his article for The Straits Times in Jerusalem.

• The open probe of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by Israeli police over allegations that he has received bribery in the form of "monies in envelopes". The Arab bloggers were lamenting that the lack of transparency in their own countries has allowed their own politicians to get away with the same crime. A tongue-in-cheek comment made by an Arab blogger said Mr Olmert should try to seek Arab citizenship.

• Israel commissioned an independent body to investigate the war in Lebanon about 2 years ago. The body concluded Israel has failed in the Lebanon war. Hizbollah's leader, who group is the arch enemy of Israel, actually praised Israel for its soul searching.

I am not here to applaud whose politics is right or wrong. But I am here to applaud the fact that even enemies will recognise a good deed done.

In our daily life, we should seek to recognise, respect and learn a good idea, effort of our friends and colleagues.

100 grams of bak kwa story

not sure what they are serving yet

A guy walked into a bak kwa shop and asked for 2 packets of 100 grams each.

The lady, behind the counter, proceeded to place some bak kwa on the electronic weight machine. The LCD panel said 406 grams for the 2 packets.

Thinking that she may have misunderstood his Mandarin, he repeated his order. Her response, "Yes.. about 100 grams each.."

He repeated the order again. Grudgingly, she began to remove some slices of the machine till 206 grams...

He, being irritated by her attempt to "up sell" or "over sell" to him, insisted for EXACTLY 200 grams of bak kwa.

Grudgingly, she removed one more slice and magically, the machine showed 200 grams exactly.

Moral of the story

If she is your employee, she is both a boon and bane for you. While she may have sold a few grams more to other customers, she has also helped you to spark a negative talking point about your business.

Stop this mess!

before i remove it

after i remove it
human mess
daringly placed for your convenience
it is placed there...

41% hike in petrol price in Malaysia

i was early for a wedding

5th May 2008 will go down in history and memories of millions of Malaysians and even Singaporeans, particularly those who got this habit of crossing the borders regularly to save a few bucks.

When Singapore raised its GST by 2% to 7% last year, I heard that 2%-tremor has only just been digested through the many layers of the Singapore economy.

So I wonder how long will a 41%-tremor take to go through Malaysia and Singapore? The tremor is already being felt in Singapore when express bus companies announced ticket price increases.

Singapore must not feel that we will be immuned from that shock! The 41% increase will not be just their problem.. it will be our BIG problem.

Trust me, the worst has yet to come... Sigh..........

Don't just say "sorry",...

You must mean what you say. And you must seek to do better than before. In short, don't take it for granted.

A few years ago, I called and apologised to a customer for a mistake my staff made. I was duly given a lecture on the relative weightage different people placed on the word "sorry".

"As a nurse, do you want me to say sorry to you for giving you the wrong medication or injection? People die if we make mistakes. When you people make mistakes, you just apologise and get on with your life."

Think about it, friends. Good day.

I will miss UEFA Euro 2008

$700 dinner

I am going to miss the tournament as a sign of protest for the way Starhub treats its customers.



I thought I would be one of the few lonely people who would protest in this form until I saw the news article last Sunday. It was reported that the take up rate for the subscription has not been to expectation.



So for now, I am holding on to my $10 from Starhub.

Spend money to get something!

I received a promotional material from a bank on my credit card today.

In short, the Bank is asking me to spend $10,000 in 3 months te get a travel bag!

What has the World become... I have been asked to spend till I drop...

So sad when the virtue of saving is silent.

P/S - Let us pray for the living and for those who perished in Myanmar and China.

This taxi kept the engine running...

... while he is having his lunch.

Why?

Perhaps Comfort Delgro can help to remind the drivers about this.

Really appreciate that.

How not to conduct your press conference?

Chelsea manager Avram Grant produced a bizarre performance at the post-match press conference following the 1-0 victory over Everton on Thursday night.

Perhaps he was upset by the Press who had hang him out to dry over speculation that he could be sack as Chelsea manager. He came up with the following bizarre press conference. Or perhaps he was upset that this match was moved to Thursday ie. only a few days after Monday's match.

This is a full transcription from ESPNsoccernet's Richard Jolly interview...

A deserved win Avram? Grant said: 'Yes.'

What particularly pleased you about the performance? 'I'm pleased.'

What in particular pleased you? After an eight second delay: 'I don't know.'

Is it a relief to win here? 'Yes.'

You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory? 'Both.'

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem? 'No problem.'

Is there an issue? 'No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say.'

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans? 'You represent the Chelsea fans?'

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a message for them? 'No message.'

Does this result mean you are back in it now? 'I don't know.'

How many steps have you climbed to undertake this press conference? 'I don't know.'

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the game to a Thursday? 'Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am ok.'

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race? 'No.' Is it easier to say nothing Avram? 'I don't what to answer. It is a good question. I don't know what to answer.'

Is this because of Sky? 'No. Sky is ok. I enjoy watching them.'

Is it a protest against newspapers? 'No. Why?'

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions? 'I answer every question.'

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race? 'No.'

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the title race? 'What I tell the players is something else. You want me to tell you what I say to the players?'

We just want you to answer the question really. Are you in the title race? 'I don't know.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence? 'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy. Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers? 'No.'

Are you upset? Do you feel you have been misrepresented? 'Maybe I have said because it is a bad season.'

Did Michael Essien faint? 'He had some problems, but he is ok.'

Michael Ballack? 'Injured.'

What's his problem? 'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram. 'Well call him then.'

Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram? .....

The End of this 7-minute torturous interview.

$1.8mio for doing nothing...

When you get paid $1.8mio by your company (or ex-company) for doing NOTHING for 6 months, you know you have reached THERE!!!!

Well this is exactly what happened when DBS Bank paid Mr Jackson Tai for the promise not to join a competitor or poach current DBS staff for a period of 6 months. His last salary package was already in the region of $7mio plus. (BT Apr 3, 2008)

While you may have signed on the employment contract to accept "non solicitation" and "non competition" clauses when you first joined the company, the Law also sees favourably of the need for a person to make a living and that your ex-company could not unreasonably restrict you from exercising your profession with a company in the same industry unless..... you have been specifically compensated ie. PAID to go on garden leave...

Well Mr Tai, all the best to you and enjoy your garden leave with your family. Till we hear from you again, adieu.

Different point of view

A husband and a wife were in Court over an alleged assault by the man on his wife.

She said, "He kicked me at my stomach."


He said, "She ran in to my raised leg."

Very post Valentine blues...

I am sick and tired of the "rose" that is said to be brilliant. I am sick of that woman telling her loving-looking boyfriend that she wants as many carats as possible. In his head, he must be thinking (while smiling to her) that the woman who is looking at him now is going to cost him a bomb!!! I am wondering whether there is a woman out there who would prefer $90 cash as compared to a dozen of roses with white furs that shall decay and decay in a matter of days....

Though I knew someone once who would keep a dried bouquet for eon.

On March 14, 2008, ...

my Saturday afternoon

Oil prices hit new high at USD110 and;

SGD rises to a new high against greenback @1.379 ie. USD.

So this led me to wonder whether the strong SGD is actually sheltering Singapore residents from external supply induced generated inflationary pressures?

So I did a preliminary study to compare the prices of oil, USD/SGD and at retail pump between Jan 1, 2008 and Mar 14, 2008.

My findings:-

• Oil price was USD$100 on Jan 1, 2008.


• USD/SGD was 1.4398 on that day.


• Pump price was $2.006 per litre before discount in Jan. Today it is $2.046 per litre.

Conclusion
Between Jan 1 and Mar 14, the 10% increase in oil price is cushioned by USD depreciated by 4.22% against SGD and thus holding the pump prices to only 2% increase.

This is a very simplistic cursory observation but may still point to the fact we are enjoying the strength of SGD as consumers in this country.

Similarity of "i" in the logo designs

Has anyone notice that corporate logos for Informatics and NTUC Income are very similar.

Go take a look.
http://www.informaticseducation.com/ and;
http://income.com.sg/

SMRT fined $387,176

I am really curious how LTA arrived at the unprecedented fine in such unprecedented six-digit number.

Is there a special formula related to the 7-hour long disruption to train service? Or is it related to 57,000 rush-hour commuters inconvenienced ie. SMRT got fined $6.79 per commuter in the rush hour? If it is not rush hour, it would be cheaper?

Why not a round figure of $500,000 perhaps? I am very curious, really..

Private schools and you...

We have read in recent weeks of the many woes and problems faced by both foreign and local students of local private schools here in Singapore.

My view is that the problem arises because of the way the students make decision about their future. How would I choose?

Is what I am going to study related to the career I am aiming for? Will it help me to make a living?

After choosing the course of study that I want to do, I would research which school in the world/Singapore that has been providing the best education in this area.

But most of the time, people place priority on the following instead.

School nice or not?
Is it in Singapore? I want to go there lei no matter what.
How long is the sutdent pass that the school can get for me?
How much is the fees? How long to study before can get degree?
Wah so nice.. can go UK in the third year to study a few months?

Well perhaps.. we got to re-jig our priorities before we sign on the dotted lines. For otherwise, you could probably face the prospects of the school closing down prematurely, lecturers not qualified, degrees/qualifications not recognised by employers etc etc etc...

Rubbish is getting very valuable!

a raided store

a "vulture" at work

Cost of living is going up. Prices of everything are going northbound. Including our "rubbish".

My old newspapers stacked neatly outside my home were stolen in the wee hours of the morning. Even my beloved old Adidas sneakers were stolen too.


The recycling bin is constantly raided by "vultures". While the public spirited residents dutifully placed items into bins prepared our town council during daylight, we got "vultures" who come out in the middle of nights on bicycles with a big basket attached to the back seat to hold any salvaged items. They would then sell their harvests for a few bucks.


One good thing that comes out of all these is that the human race in Singapore, as a whole, is getting more and more environmentally aware. Even a young student of mine displayed her displeasure when I use a blank piece of paper to answer her question.