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.

Count our blessings... in a way

my personal mini Chingay

The good news is that Ms SUN Yuanping skipped her college graduation ceremony for a job interview armed with degrees in marketing and botany from a well-regarded school in this central Chinese city and ranked in the top fifth of her class.

The bad news is that Ms Sun never heard back from that prospective employer, nor from dozens of other companies and government agencies where she has applied since she graduated last June.

She is one of the 1.45mio unemployed new graduates from a total 5mio graduates each year in China.

Recently, after tearful self assessment in many sleepless nights while living off a US$100 monthly allowance from her parents, she has decided to cut her expectations and began sending her resume to small businesses asking for salaries as low as US$140 a month, a third of what she had hoped to make.

Compared that image in China with the image of our graduates in Singapore which I saw on tv recently. I heard this guy said, "I will probably wait till the right job comes along..." or something along that line.

Greetings or Extortion?

During this Chinese New Year period, you will see or at the very least hear the roaring drums and piercing clanging of the cymbals.

Some of them were invited by the business owners or homeowners to give their premises a roaring start to a brand new lunar year. They would then be duly rewarded with a BIG angpow.

BUT I noticed there were some of them who were NOT invited to the business premises. The team, I saw, was wearing bright coloured baggy trousers with off-coloured t-shirts trying to distract me from their unkempt hairs. They sort of hang around banging their drum placed on a trolleyand wriggling the lame-looking "lion" at your premises UNTIL an angpow was handed over to them...

Greetings or extortion?

While we celebrate our CNY, ...

...I know of a family with a "cher char" business in financial trouble.

Just two days before CNY, PUB cut the water supply to the coffee shop they are running. They have been behind with more than $7,500 utilities bills unpaid over last few months.

I was told it was not the first time PUB had tried to cut the supply. Warnings were given but I guess the family just couldn't come up with the money.

This being the peak season to make some monies, their opportunity loss would be tremendous!!

It is certainly not easy to run a business.

Just pray that everyone will have a good, happy and healthy year ahead.

P/S - I will take a walk to the coffee shop later to check whether they have resume business.

Amazon to buy Audible.com

reflection of my life

When Amazon, the largest online bookstore, first announced its e-book reader Kinder, I said it would not be enough. Why would I buy a gadget for a few hundred dollars just to read from it? Can't I do it from my laptop?

Then Amazon added the volume button on its e-book reader. Amazon then went out and bought Audible.com, a major online distributor of audio books, for the contents to put into Kinder. The price paid is $300 millions. (peanuts by M&A standard in US)

What is my reaction to this new move?
It would not be enough again. Why would I buy a gadget for a few hundred dollars just to read and/or listen to a book from it? Can't I do it from my laptop or from my Nokia handphone?

If Amazon is going to do a-la-Sony ie. putting a security feature on the audio files, it better thinks twice.

Bottomline - Is Amazon scrapping at the bottom of its barrel for ideas?

Motorola is having trouble with its HP business?

Motorola, the good people who invented the mobile phone, is having trouble coming up with another killer idea since the first Razr phone was introduced a couple of years ago.

They are so troubled that Motorola is actually considering selling off its HP division.

Morals of the story

• One good idea every few years is no longer enough for a modern company today.


• Nobody is going to guarantee your lunch everyday just because of your past reputation.


• You must constantly evolved. To stand still is suicidal.

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............