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...