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."