National Lifelong Income Scheme

my Sat morning escapade

Did I hear wrongly on the news last night? The government is going to unveil a national lifelong INCOME scheme. I am all ears to any schemes that will ensure my income for life!!!

So what is this National Lifelong Income scheme?

It is the ANNUITY plan for those who live beyond the age of 85 - will be rolled out as soon as 2013.

Prof Lim's National Longevity Insurance Committee suggested the scheme should provide a basic and steady income for life; allow refund of the capital sum on early death; and start at age 80 instead of 85, but allow for options on the starting payout age.

The scheme sounds fantastic. Compliments to the brains that have gone into it and the hardwork of consulting more than 600 people from all walks of life.

But....

Why is it called an Income scheme when it is actually an annuity scheme funded by my CPF's life saving? Or did I get it wrong.. is it going to be funded by the government?

Who came out with all these wow wow names? The National Longevity INSURANCE committe???? The National Lifelong INCOME Scheme????

I didn't know insurance is equal to income. Branding gone awry?

When the buying stops, ...

Not only will the killing stops, inflation will slow too.

Property transactions slowing.

Extreme cash over valuation for HDB is unsustainable.

Expensive Chinese New Year's bashes at restaurants are still all book up.

Bak kwa prices (I am not crazy about it) are going up to as high as gold prices.

ERP gantries are springing up here and there and will cost 50cts more from tomorrow.

Stock markets have been correcting.

Interest rates are going southward.

Bottomline - I am not buying any New Year decor for this New Year. I am trying not to buy anything. Can you too?

How to cooperate and make money together albeit illegally..

Huh?

What happened?
A couple of days ago, several pest control companies were penalised for rigging the tender process of their customers.

For example
A hospital would require the service of a pest control service provider to maintain its premises. The hospital would then place that contract up for tender. It would invite the various "large" such providers to submit their bids.

But the service providers are few enough in this market for them to come "together" to agree on an "arrangement". It was to ensure an "orderly" market for the various participants in the arrangement ie. the whole Singapore customers are properly distributed to the participants at the "right" price. No need to undercut each other. Everyone would get a decent meal. Can you imagine them sharing the business from hospitals, clinics, factories, restaurants, government etc etc etc.....

I guess it was a wonderful arrangement probably for years until someone accidentally forwarded an email wrongly to a customer with details of the "arrangement". The customer exploded and the 5 or 6 pest control companies got penalised.

Moral of the story
Don't use email or put such details down in black and white. Just kidding la. Seriously, don't play this type of game.

Do you need a PhD to understand taxi's pricing structure?

I just wonder whether our taxing pricing structure is getting too complicated. As I am not a regular patron of taxi service, I am really at the mercy of the taxi driver when it comes to the billing/fare calculation.

The taxi fare in Singapore is dependent on the following:-

- which company's taxis did you take?,
- type of taxi ie. big, small, Merz, etc etc
- time of day you are taking the cab,
- did you pass through any gantry? Pricing of gantry vary over the day?
(Did I miss out anything?)

Are you very clear about the pricing menus of the various types of taxi as a passenger?

Moral of the story
I need a Phd to understand the economics of taxi in Singapore.

Uncle taxi driver, did you get a pay increase?

The newspaper has reported that taxi drivers are getting 10-15% higher collections. May I know are there many of you out there with such wonderful experience?

Recently the Authority ran a blitz on those touting taxis who were overcharging customers. I support the action indeed.

Recently the papers also reported a single taxi driver who decided to unilaterally "advertise" its lower fares to attract customers. But the owners of the fleet said no to such actions which was deemed to be undermining the system. The poor chap was just trying to make an honest living.

The moral of the story
So in Singapore, as a taxi driver, you can not overcharge and you cannot undercharge openly.

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.