Politics is not about shouting slogan, hunger strike, bold and rude questioning, selling twisted ideas to singapore, collaborate with foreigners, having a questionable agenda.
I don't understand why he support( morally i think. In Sg, we support morally) that chee guy.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Barriers to keep you safe, and you are complaining
I read one entry by a blogger about the north eastern side of Singapore, being fitted with green barriers that divide the road and of course, stop any jaywalkers from performing their act of potential death. The blogger said he overheard an conversation of an old lady, presuming to another old lady, complaining that she couldn't jaywalk and had to walk all the way to the nearest traffic light to cross the road. The blogger pondered why there is a need for the barriers if the area is deserted and it is okay to jaywalk. Such warp idea.
Now before we argue whether people ought to jaywalk or not. Let see why humans jaywalk. The question here is why human want to cross the road, not the chicken but human. There are many reasons why human want to cross the road. He may cross the road for fun, for school, for walk, for recreational,etc. Yes, crossing the road is a goal to be achieved. Now that is established, then why do they need to jaywalk? I think this is the same as asking, why do you want to cram up studying everything before exam, why you want to cheat during exam. Why you need that 3 in 1 coffee mix instead of manually adding milk and coffee powder. Exactly, human prefer to take the shortest avenue to achieve the same thing. So the reason for jaywalking is obvious, we want to save time. So human will jaywalk! its an inate behaviour!
So in order to save time, we jaywalk. But do you realise nobody jaywalks on an expressway? Well, because when human jaywalk, they exercise their brain to judge and to weigh the pros and cons. Risking their lives to jaywalk there isn't the most intelligent thing to do.
But, does that means jaywalking in deserted road, safer? On the contrary. Precisely it is deserted, vehicles will move faster. And when vehicles move faster, there is a need to set up the barriers because time is not on the driver's side and as human reaction time is pretty slow, slower if he is occupied with something else. Accident happen in this way because one party want to cut time, another party think its alright to speed up. All this are connected to the idea that the road is deserted.
So we should even more put up barriers in deserted road. However i assume the blogger main idea of questioning the viability of barriers is the expense that was spent in erecting up a stretch. He questioned that if the contract to erect one was given to a singapore company, then its alright as money flows back to the economy. However if given to a foreign one, money flows out.
Well, i feel that even if its given to a foreign company, it doesn't matter. Firstly, the cost of putting up one is not that great. Secondly, i believe that such national development projects may be undertaken by HDB surbana or some local satutory affiliated companies. Lastly and more importantly, what is money spent if we can save lives?
The blogger also says that its a sign of nanny-ism because of the barriers as it reflect the political, society atmosphere of Singapore. But to quote a man:" the sg govt is like an open book, but you need to find the answer yourself" And in this barrier incident, if singaporean can think for themselves and do not jaywalk, i believe the barriers won't be set up in the first place. We seek the answer ourselves and the answer here is Barriers to the Jaywalk Question.
Lastly, the blogger think that if the related ministry didn't put up the barriers and the jaywalker died from any accident, his own fault and nobody should care, i think he is missing the bigger picture that a good govt is one where take care of its people and in this case, value human lives.
Now before we argue whether people ought to jaywalk or not. Let see why humans jaywalk. The question here is why human want to cross the road, not the chicken but human. There are many reasons why human want to cross the road. He may cross the road for fun, for school, for walk, for recreational,etc. Yes, crossing the road is a goal to be achieved. Now that is established, then why do they need to jaywalk? I think this is the same as asking, why do you want to cram up studying everything before exam, why you want to cheat during exam. Why you need that 3 in 1 coffee mix instead of manually adding milk and coffee powder. Exactly, human prefer to take the shortest avenue to achieve the same thing. So the reason for jaywalking is obvious, we want to save time. So human will jaywalk! its an inate behaviour!
So in order to save time, we jaywalk. But do you realise nobody jaywalks on an expressway? Well, because when human jaywalk, they exercise their brain to judge and to weigh the pros and cons. Risking their lives to jaywalk there isn't the most intelligent thing to do.
But, does that means jaywalking in deserted road, safer? On the contrary. Precisely it is deserted, vehicles will move faster. And when vehicles move faster, there is a need to set up the barriers because time is not on the driver's side and as human reaction time is pretty slow, slower if he is occupied with something else. Accident happen in this way because one party want to cut time, another party think its alright to speed up. All this are connected to the idea that the road is deserted.
So we should even more put up barriers in deserted road. However i assume the blogger main idea of questioning the viability of barriers is the expense that was spent in erecting up a stretch. He questioned that if the contract to erect one was given to a singapore company, then its alright as money flows back to the economy. However if given to a foreign one, money flows out.
Well, i feel that even if its given to a foreign company, it doesn't matter. Firstly, the cost of putting up one is not that great. Secondly, i believe that such national development projects may be undertaken by HDB surbana or some local satutory affiliated companies. Lastly and more importantly, what is money spent if we can save lives?
The blogger also says that its a sign of nanny-ism because of the barriers as it reflect the political, society atmosphere of Singapore. But to quote a man:" the sg govt is like an open book, but you need to find the answer yourself" And in this barrier incident, if singaporean can think for themselves and do not jaywalk, i believe the barriers won't be set up in the first place. We seek the answer ourselves and the answer here is Barriers to the Jaywalk Question.
Lastly, the blogger think that if the related ministry didn't put up the barriers and the jaywalker died from any accident, his own fault and nobody should care, i think he is missing the bigger picture that a good govt is one where take care of its people and in this case, value human lives.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Going for the Extra Mile for service
After 35 years of courtesy campaign, some began to question whether those campaign are a waste of tax payers' money as there seems to be no improvement in service here. Hongkong once below singapore in service standard, meteor rise to quite a lot of notches infront of singapore.
To a country desperate and pananoid of not being first, this has call for a national inquiry on what we should do. Therefore, GEMS, another acronym is formed with the intend of "propaganding" the people to be more courteous and more polite.
Recently, a magazine conducted another survey to see how each country perform in politeness and kindness and all that. Singapore took the 35th place and once again send the whole country in chaos. Well not so much of a chaos because " i never say thank you when you hold the door for me is because i am busy smsing what".
I think the flaw or the answer to the question is, our campaign is not good because we never treat our own countrymen like VIP. Singapore is going to host the IMF meeting and viola! our expressways are given a fresh coat of paint, we began to collect 4 million smile, advertisement reminding us that we must be courteous because they are going to book our hotels, raid our shopping malls, dump millions of dollars at our mint.
Is money interconnected to courtesy? If our own countrymen can afford to splurge millions of dollars in a short span of days, would our campaign focus on our own people, will we paint our expressways for our own people?
To a country desperate and pananoid of not being first, this has call for a national inquiry on what we should do. Therefore, GEMS, another acronym is formed with the intend of "propaganding" the people to be more courteous and more polite.
Recently, a magazine conducted another survey to see how each country perform in politeness and kindness and all that. Singapore took the 35th place and once again send the whole country in chaos. Well not so much of a chaos because " i never say thank you when you hold the door for me is because i am busy smsing what".
I think the flaw or the answer to the question is, our campaign is not good because we never treat our own countrymen like VIP. Singapore is going to host the IMF meeting and viola! our expressways are given a fresh coat of paint, we began to collect 4 million smile, advertisement reminding us that we must be courteous because they are going to book our hotels, raid our shopping malls, dump millions of dollars at our mint.
Is money interconnected to courtesy? If our own countrymen can afford to splurge millions of dollars in a short span of days, would our campaign focus on our own people, will we paint our expressways for our own people?
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
A little of everything
Elections
Yes. I can vote. I always believe that voting is sacred and that it mark my coming of age. About receiving keys or seeing RA movies when one hit 21? Forget It! Voting is the ultimate prize. Why is this so? Well, even if one is eligible to vote, he may not be able to vote if its a walkover. The feeling was kind of surreal. Having accompanied my parents to voting booth twice, i can't believe i was standing at the booth beside them, striking the X and drop the ballot in the box. Who i cast for? Sorry i can't tell. 66.6% of the votes are cast for the incumbent. Triple 6...does that means doom is coming? I think its all superstitious. But i must put here, my 2 cent worth of analysis and proposal in the election.
I think why the incumbent lost yet again, hougang and Potong Pasir was that the upgrading cards was play too much. Everybody pay taxes so why those two constituents can't get their upgrading done? I think the main reason is that they are not close to any of our major expressway. If there is any expressway that link our Changi Airport to the city, you jolly well seen plants, shrubs, coconut trees lining along. To show good impression and how unique Singapore is to the tourist that is! Secondly, the opposition do have a point there. What is the reason for co-pay when we are actually paying for upgrading( by the tax monies)?
Japan
I am quite worried about the changes in the consitution changes made to the defence force of Japan. If you realise, Japan is slowly taking the step to have their armed forces fully operational, instead of just a defence force as it claimed. First the sending of security forces to conflict areas like Iraq, Afganistan. Together with billions of aid poor in. I think the aids is to ease people heart and hoping no one realise what it is doing, step by step.
After that, establish a need for the change in the defence force. In this case, China was used by them i think. China always react violently or aggressively to the visiting of the shrine. Japan is trying to play victim here. Why do i say so? Look, Japan invest in china, give them monetary aids and even issue statement of regret of the atrocracies done during the war. Yet China was seen as a petty fella, unwilling to forgive. So here we have it, another reason for the build up of force.
Thirdly, US and japan are quite friendly nowadays as US are wary of the China miitary build up. And if Korea take back the land lease to US, US pacific fleet may not be operational in the North-west Asia area, the Korea base is of extremely important to US as it can keep a close watch on pyongyang and China.
Fourth, what has taiwan got to do with Japan? Japan said it aim to protect Taiwan in case of any conflict but i think it is not their problem anyway, its a Chinese problem.
Japan need to be under tight scrutinising. I think it is trying to be funny again.
Learning Malay and Arabic
If i got the time, i will learn melayu and arabic. Melayu for the reason that we are surrounded by Malay states. Its of purely economic reasoning that i should learn it. Actually i forsee Malaysia and Indonesia as the next emerging market. I think those 2 market haven't reach their potential yet. Forget about China and India, focus on this 2 turfs closer to home. Natural resources, human resources, geographical locations, malaysia have them all.
For Arabic, if one realise, the MAS has allow a islamic financial product to be launch in Singapore. Our ministers has made the prilgrimage to mecca, qatar, dubai, etc, the middle east countries. Both MMs went there. I think we are trying to invest there, or bringing investments from there.
If let say..20 years are left before oil was use up. The middle east, having rely on Oil so many years, will decided to build up their economies based on other stuff other than oil. Well, don't say 20 yrs, they are slowly doing that now. Their population are young, fulll of energy. So learning arabic is profitable.
Yes. I can vote. I always believe that voting is sacred and that it mark my coming of age. About receiving keys or seeing RA movies when one hit 21? Forget It! Voting is the ultimate prize. Why is this so? Well, even if one is eligible to vote, he may not be able to vote if its a walkover. The feeling was kind of surreal. Having accompanied my parents to voting booth twice, i can't believe i was standing at the booth beside them, striking the X and drop the ballot in the box. Who i cast for? Sorry i can't tell. 66.6% of the votes are cast for the incumbent. Triple 6...does that means doom is coming? I think its all superstitious. But i must put here, my 2 cent worth of analysis and proposal in the election.
I think why the incumbent lost yet again, hougang and Potong Pasir was that the upgrading cards was play too much. Everybody pay taxes so why those two constituents can't get their upgrading done? I think the main reason is that they are not close to any of our major expressway. If there is any expressway that link our Changi Airport to the city, you jolly well seen plants, shrubs, coconut trees lining along. To show good impression and how unique Singapore is to the tourist that is! Secondly, the opposition do have a point there. What is the reason for co-pay when we are actually paying for upgrading( by the tax monies)?
Japan
I am quite worried about the changes in the consitution changes made to the defence force of Japan. If you realise, Japan is slowly taking the step to have their armed forces fully operational, instead of just a defence force as it claimed. First the sending of security forces to conflict areas like Iraq, Afganistan. Together with billions of aid poor in. I think the aids is to ease people heart and hoping no one realise what it is doing, step by step.
After that, establish a need for the change in the defence force. In this case, China was used by them i think. China always react violently or aggressively to the visiting of the shrine. Japan is trying to play victim here. Why do i say so? Look, Japan invest in china, give them monetary aids and even issue statement of regret of the atrocracies done during the war. Yet China was seen as a petty fella, unwilling to forgive. So here we have it, another reason for the build up of force.
Thirdly, US and japan are quite friendly nowadays as US are wary of the China miitary build up. And if Korea take back the land lease to US, US pacific fleet may not be operational in the North-west Asia area, the Korea base is of extremely important to US as it can keep a close watch on pyongyang and China.
Fourth, what has taiwan got to do with Japan? Japan said it aim to protect Taiwan in case of any conflict but i think it is not their problem anyway, its a Chinese problem.
Japan need to be under tight scrutinising. I think it is trying to be funny again.
Learning Malay and Arabic
If i got the time, i will learn melayu and arabic. Melayu for the reason that we are surrounded by Malay states. Its of purely economic reasoning that i should learn it. Actually i forsee Malaysia and Indonesia as the next emerging market. I think those 2 market haven't reach their potential yet. Forget about China and India, focus on this 2 turfs closer to home. Natural resources, human resources, geographical locations, malaysia have them all.
For Arabic, if one realise, the MAS has allow a islamic financial product to be launch in Singapore. Our ministers has made the prilgrimage to mecca, qatar, dubai, etc, the middle east countries. Both MMs went there. I think we are trying to invest there, or bringing investments from there.
If let say..20 years are left before oil was use up. The middle east, having rely on Oil so many years, will decided to build up their economies based on other stuff other than oil. Well, don't say 20 yrs, they are slowly doing that now. Their population are young, fulll of energy. So learning arabic is profitable.
Monday, May 01, 2006
笨人歌
(from http://www.zaobao.com/yl/yl060426_510.html)
被人说笨心不甘，真要学笨不简单;
拾金不昧笨不笨，你若不笨便是贪。
大智若愚人称憨，卧虎藏龙在深山；
笨字拆开本是竹，清风傲骨腰不弯。
铁杵磨针不怕难，愚公移山为谁忙；
神农若不尝百草，后人那来千金方。
名嘴出口能成章，一时口误惹祸端；
原本一颗小红点，越描越黑越肮脏。
不奸不坏不是笨，知足常乐又何妨；
政府既然委贤良，奉公守法也应当。
虽然没有大革命，家家丰衣有米粮；
虽然没有大河川，车水马龙国富强。
被人说笨心不甘，真要学笨不简单;
拾金不昧笨不笨，你若不笨便是贪。
大智若愚人称憨，卧虎藏龙在深山；
笨字拆开本是竹，清风傲骨腰不弯。
铁杵磨针不怕难，愚公移山为谁忙；
神农若不尝百草，后人那来千金方。
名嘴出口能成章，一时口误惹祸端；
原本一颗小红点，越描越黑越肮脏。
不奸不坏不是笨，知足常乐又何妨；
政府既然委贤良，奉公守法也应当。
虽然没有大革命，家家丰衣有米粮；
虽然没有大河川，车水马龙国富强。
Monday, October 24, 2005
On over protectionalism
( the following piece is taken from another blogger by the name of erik. http://www.xanga.com/erikhagen . ALL GUYS should read it and i mean ALL GUYS)
When you're overly controlling, it gives off the impression that you don't trust her. If she really wants to go to a club, she'll go, but she'll just lie to you about it reaffirming your lack of trust, and it's kind of a cycle. The more you don't trust her and feel the need to control her, the more she has to lie to do the things she wants causing you to mistrust her even more when you find out. And it's so dumb to think that holding her back from going to a few parties is going to help her not cheat on you. If the girl really wants to cheat, she isn't dumb, she would find a way.
Also, when you're over protective, it really makes you look insecure and pathetic. Deep inside, you know that girls like confident guys, and that being a pussy will make her like you less. And that might be part of the reason why you feel like you need to be controlling, is that because girls cheat on pussies with confident manly men, and you don't want that to happen to you. Why don't you just be a better boyfriend; If you were a manly man, they wouldn't cheat on you with a pussy, you'd be everything they are looking for.
It seems like the only good thing that comes from being a controlling boyfriend is that you show you really care about her, or at least about not loosing her. Unfortunately, there are much better ways to show her that you care. And everyone including her knows this. Instead of showing her you care by getting mad at her when other guys smile at her, why not buy her flowers or take her on a picnic.
I'm not saying to act like you don't care if she's obviously taking the first steps to cheat on you. I'm just saying that if you know she loves you, then be confident in that and trust her more instead of being a pussy ass bitch.
When you're overly controlling, it gives off the impression that you don't trust her. If she really wants to go to a club, she'll go, but she'll just lie to you about it reaffirming your lack of trust, and it's kind of a cycle. The more you don't trust her and feel the need to control her, the more she has to lie to do the things she wants causing you to mistrust her even more when you find out. And it's so dumb to think that holding her back from going to a few parties is going to help her not cheat on you. If the girl really wants to cheat, she isn't dumb, she would find a way.
Also, when you're over protective, it really makes you look insecure and pathetic. Deep inside, you know that girls like confident guys, and that being a pussy will make her like you less. And that might be part of the reason why you feel like you need to be controlling, is that because girls cheat on pussies with confident manly men, and you don't want that to happen to you. Why don't you just be a better boyfriend; If you were a manly man, they wouldn't cheat on you with a pussy, you'd be everything they are looking for.
It seems like the only good thing that comes from being a controlling boyfriend is that you show you really care about her, or at least about not loosing her. Unfortunately, there are much better ways to show her that you care. And everyone including her knows this. Instead of showing her you care by getting mad at her when other guys smile at her, why not buy her flowers or take her on a picnic.
I'm not saying to act like you don't care if she's obviously taking the first steps to cheat on you. I'm just saying that if you know she loves you, then be confident in that and trust her more instead of being a pussy ass bitch.
Monday, October 17, 2005
What is your saddest moment?
Today i was at the hospital, helping my dad to do the discharged procedure for his discharge. As i walked passed the rows of bed, i heard this buddhist hymn. Yes, that song u heard when u visit a buddhist columbarium or at a wake. That hymn where it just repeat itself. So i turned and looked, i saw this frail old man, lying there, with an oxtgen mask strapped over his face. That look on his face, i know his lungs is failing him. His time on Earth is getting shorter and shorter. That same face, remind me of my grandfather.
When i was young, i often thought the saddest moment of my life is when i get caned for something i do wrongly. It was painful and most importantly, scars were left on my thigh and hands and i would worried that how could i face those sneering laugher when i get to school.
When i reached secondary school and when the mind began to be even more concious of the environment, the saddest part of my life is when i couldn't get into triple science class or double science. Its kind of stupid, now that i think back as to why teachers discourage students of going into the arts classes when they set up the class? But it spur me to work even harder, although i couldn't qualified for a science class.
When i failed my A level, thats it, the end of the world. My future was left hanging, suspended in the air. That is the first time i actually shed tears over results and the first time my mum never scold me for my results.
Just as i thought that getting trashy results was my saddest part, my grandpa passed away on 2001, near christmas time. The first time i witnessed a life, slowing ebbing away on the hospital bed, and when he acknowledge me as i greet him, he was in a semi-coma stage. At 7.30pm, he went. I remembered i cry buckets of tears during his wake and especially so when the coffin was being pushed into the furnace.
The saddest part of my life, is not about trashy results, is not about failing to go into a relationship with a girl i like for a very very long time, is not about arguing with your lecturers or getting frustrated with somebody else. The saddest part for me, is that your love ones departed, never to be returned, alive in your memories only.
For me, it has such an impact, the witnessing of my grandad demise, prove to be such a source of energy for me. For once, i truly understand the saying:" life is short".
Life is so short that you can't have time for small matters.
Life is short that you want the person you liked to be happy and not be bothered by you and thats why you stop wooing her.
Life is so short that you mustn't let your loved one down, especially your parents, that you must stop living a frivolous life but start to plan for your well-being and theirs.
And at the end of the day, you won't know whether you can say to yourself" i am alive!" tomorrow.
The saddest part of it all, is not to treasure and make full use of life.
When i was young, i often thought the saddest moment of my life is when i get caned for something i do wrongly. It was painful and most importantly, scars were left on my thigh and hands and i would worried that how could i face those sneering laugher when i get to school.
When i reached secondary school and when the mind began to be even more concious of the environment, the saddest part of my life is when i couldn't get into triple science class or double science. Its kind of stupid, now that i think back as to why teachers discourage students of going into the arts classes when they set up the class? But it spur me to work even harder, although i couldn't qualified for a science class.
When i failed my A level, thats it, the end of the world. My future was left hanging, suspended in the air. That is the first time i actually shed tears over results and the first time my mum never scold me for my results.
Just as i thought that getting trashy results was my saddest part, my grandpa passed away on 2001, near christmas time. The first time i witnessed a life, slowing ebbing away on the hospital bed, and when he acknowledge me as i greet him, he was in a semi-coma stage. At 7.30pm, he went. I remembered i cry buckets of tears during his wake and especially so when the coffin was being pushed into the furnace.
The saddest part of my life, is not about trashy results, is not about failing to go into a relationship with a girl i like for a very very long time, is not about arguing with your lecturers or getting frustrated with somebody else. The saddest part for me, is that your love ones departed, never to be returned, alive in your memories only.
For me, it has such an impact, the witnessing of my grandad demise, prove to be such a source of energy for me. For once, i truly understand the saying:" life is short".
Life is so short that you can't have time for small matters.
Life is short that you want the person you liked to be happy and not be bothered by you and thats why you stop wooing her.
Life is so short that you mustn't let your loved one down, especially your parents, that you must stop living a frivolous life but start to plan for your well-being and theirs.
And at the end of the day, you won't know whether you can say to yourself" i am alive!" tomorrow.
The saddest part of it all, is not to treasure and make full use of life.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Misplaced sympathy?
Today (08/10/05) if u have read the straits time forum section, you would noticed an entry by a mdm named assoc prof lee weiling. To those ignorant of who she is, she is the daughter of MM lee and some big shot in neuroscience. Neuroscience i think is those docs who specialised in the brains. The entry seems to see that the public donations to the siamese twins, huang na, the yishun siblings and some other unfortunate kids are being "unwisely" donated.
Why is this so? Well take for instance the nepal siamese twins case. Although their body is separated, yet they seems to be worse off as one is in a semi vegetable state and the other is sort of have a less than average IQ. For the yishun twins, they went all the way to taiwan for the separation which they could be done in singapore at a lesser cost. But it seems the yishun twins ability to walk with clutches are only temporary and now they are mostly bedridden. As for huang na, the money donated to her is of no use as she is dead.
After reading this entry, it set me thinking. Its true that singaporean love to donate to whatever cause. However, our kindness, has it really been misplaced? I don't know really.
For instance, the nepalese twins. To the public, seeing such cases, which are rare in singapore, bring about astonishment and sadness. Perhaps because in singapore there is practically no siamese twins, thats why people are anxious when they arrived here. And seeing them in that state, we donate money hoping them to be separated as a perfectly human has only 2 sets of limbs, 1 head and a torso. I don't think the public is aware or think about the implication of how are they going to survive when they are separated. I don't think the public know that they will become like that after separated.
The public donate out of goodwill. Although singaporean love to complain, but we donate out of goodwill really. So i don't think its misplaced sympathy or whatever. Perhaps the only people to blame for the predicement is the doctors. They are know their stuff, yet they performed the operation. I don't think its for the money but rather for the limelight for themselves and the hospital.
No matter what, public donation are a form of empathy for the less fortunate in this country. They musn't be discouraged.
Why is this so? Well take for instance the nepal siamese twins case. Although their body is separated, yet they seems to be worse off as one is in a semi vegetable state and the other is sort of have a less than average IQ. For the yishun twins, they went all the way to taiwan for the separation which they could be done in singapore at a lesser cost. But it seems the yishun twins ability to walk with clutches are only temporary and now they are mostly bedridden. As for huang na, the money donated to her is of no use as she is dead.
After reading this entry, it set me thinking. Its true that singaporean love to donate to whatever cause. However, our kindness, has it really been misplaced? I don't know really.
For instance, the nepalese twins. To the public, seeing such cases, which are rare in singapore, bring about astonishment and sadness. Perhaps because in singapore there is practically no siamese twins, thats why people are anxious when they arrived here. And seeing them in that state, we donate money hoping them to be separated as a perfectly human has only 2 sets of limbs, 1 head and a torso. I don't think the public is aware or think about the implication of how are they going to survive when they are separated. I don't think the public know that they will become like that after separated.
The public donate out of goodwill. Although singaporean love to complain, but we donate out of goodwill really. So i don't think its misplaced sympathy or whatever. Perhaps the only people to blame for the predicement is the doctors. They are know their stuff, yet they performed the operation. I don't think its for the money but rather for the limelight for themselves and the hospital.
No matter what, public donation are a form of empathy for the less fortunate in this country. They musn't be discouraged.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
scrutinised
Its been long since i blog. Sometimes i think, why do i blog? There aren't people who come visit my blog anyway except maybe myself and 1 or 2 occassional passerby who press the " next blog" button. There aren't any nice skins, dry topic, no scandalous juicy gossips or rumours, only boring personaly thoughts and political- themed posts. No pictures of myself or women either. But thats not the goal, the aim of why i blog. I think i blog as i want to preserve these thoughts, i want to capture a still of what is happening now. And when i am old, if i still manage to remember this address, i can view this blog, reflect on myself, laugh at my thinking when i am young. And if i have some serious concussion or suffering from senile dementia, i could perhaps, see this blog but have no attactment to it.
The difference between blogs and personal diary are only a thin line separating them. Blogs are sort of a more advanced ways to record a person's daily happenings, his feeling and his thoughts to be exact. However the catch is, the blog isn't private anymore. A blogger is exposing himself to the world, everything.
Yet, as the intent of the bloggers and the view of people are still, blogs are a reflection of the blogger's feeling and should be allowed. But as a blog is exposed, so should bloggers practise self censorship?
On a blogger view, i am opposed to self censorship. If the intention of blog is for the ease of writing a diary, then a blog should be seen as a private thing. And things being private, if someone pry about it, he or she could not accused the blogger of the content in his blog since the one who pry commit a sin, a mistake already by intruding other people privacy. This goes to people who view others blog and people who hold bloggers responsible for the bloggers view. It is just like the pot calling the kettle black. You are the one willingly to come and see my blog and yet you are accusing me of posting my inner most feeling which in the first place, you come to see my blog because you want to see my inner most feeling. Irony isn't it?
People may argue that since you want to keep the blog, you must be responsible for anything that you wrote. I think the act of publishing each entry is an act of responsibility and that the blogger is already being responsible.
However if we want to see the society as a whole. This thing call blog is seen as the modern day propaganda and revolutionary tool. Ancient people pass messenges to overthrow the Yuan dynasty by stuffing strips of paper in the mooncake, while modern people can rally people using blog.
Racist remarks, insults hurl at teachers. These bloggers are taken to court or disciplinary deal with. But, the action of doing that, aren't painting the picture abit too rosy, sweeping the dirt under the carpet? Racism will always present in the modern day society, students will always be frustrated with the teachers.
Perhaps the idea behind is not racism or hurling insult itself, the idea behind is that for racism,it is inflammatory. That will depend on the tone of the blogger and whether it is just purely a personal thoughts or is there any inflammatory hint inside his post.
But nevertheless, the recent episode of blog-induced trouble certainly make the blogging scene in singapore shaky. Bloggers now do not know what to blog or what not to blog. Since that is the case, has it been steer off the original road, which is preserving of an individual thoughts by keeping it using a more advanced diary?
The difference between blogs and personal diary are only a thin line separating them. Blogs are sort of a more advanced ways to record a person's daily happenings, his feeling and his thoughts to be exact. However the catch is, the blog isn't private anymore. A blogger is exposing himself to the world, everything.
Yet, as the intent of the bloggers and the view of people are still, blogs are a reflection of the blogger's feeling and should be allowed. But as a blog is exposed, so should bloggers practise self censorship?
On a blogger view, i am opposed to self censorship. If the intention of blog is for the ease of writing a diary, then a blog should be seen as a private thing. And things being private, if someone pry about it, he or she could not accused the blogger of the content in his blog since the one who pry commit a sin, a mistake already by intruding other people privacy. This goes to people who view others blog and people who hold bloggers responsible for the bloggers view. It is just like the pot calling the kettle black. You are the one willingly to come and see my blog and yet you are accusing me of posting my inner most feeling which in the first place, you come to see my blog because you want to see my inner most feeling. Irony isn't it?
People may argue that since you want to keep the blog, you must be responsible for anything that you wrote. I think the act of publishing each entry is an act of responsibility and that the blogger is already being responsible.
However if we want to see the society as a whole. This thing call blog is seen as the modern day propaganda and revolutionary tool. Ancient people pass messenges to overthrow the Yuan dynasty by stuffing strips of paper in the mooncake, while modern people can rally people using blog.
Racist remarks, insults hurl at teachers. These bloggers are taken to court or disciplinary deal with. But, the action of doing that, aren't painting the picture abit too rosy, sweeping the dirt under the carpet? Racism will always present in the modern day society, students will always be frustrated with the teachers.
Perhaps the idea behind is not racism or hurling insult itself, the idea behind is that for racism,it is inflammatory. That will depend on the tone of the blogger and whether it is just purely a personal thoughts or is there any inflammatory hint inside his post.
But nevertheless, the recent episode of blog-induced trouble certainly make the blogging scene in singapore shaky. Bloggers now do not know what to blog or what not to blog. Since that is the case, has it been steer off the original road, which is preserving of an individual thoughts by keeping it using a more advanced diary?
Saturday, September 03, 2005
tan weilian: Abled or Disabled?
Project superstar had just ended. It was one of the nicest shows i ever watched, given that i only watch two shows. The first is tian long ba bu and the second is of course project superstar.
Perhaps why i watch superstar in the first place is because my mom told me there is a blind busker who went for the audition. And from that onward, i followed practically every episodes. Although it was the blind busker, weilian who induced me to watch the show, but gradually, it were the pretty contestant that followed be through the whole show.
While i am watching this age old question surfaced again in front of me. Should we treat those who are disabled as disabled or abled body. And, are the disabled themseleves want us to treat them as abled or as disabled.
The meaning of disabled i think, is one who can't perform what an abled bodied person can do. The definition of an abled bodied is a wide subject. An impotent man may be classified as disabled by his wife but if he still can walk around unaided by a walking stick, then he is abled.
I keep on thinking that if i bump into a disabled guy, should i see him as being abled. I think sometimes, the disabled hope people to view them as abled bodies but yet, they would want to reserved those special rights that a disabled bodied usually have.
Take for instance the MRT lift. My rationale to the lift is that, how many disabled people actually use the lift in such a way that it would fully maximise the lift potential passengers carrying capabilities. I believe the lift is almost underutilised if we only allow people who are disabled to use it.
However, you could see in the forum of the papers, that disabled people complained that abled body are vying with them, are fighting with them for the lift. So, if they want people, in practical to view them as abled bodied, why go put a tag on themselves by themselves that they are in theory, disabled? I find this totally absurd.
Another piece of article that caught my eye is this disabled guy who said abled bodied guy are hogging the disabled toilet cubicle. I mean, where is the level playing field?
As an abled bodied, i need to wait for my turn to pee, so why can't you?
Back to the person in limelight, tan weilian. The critics says people vote due to sympathy. So do they and can you blame them? It is this tag of disabled that will always remain disabled enable the disabled to truly have the benefits of their own cubicle and their own elevators.
p/s: i may sound crude. but isn't it true? I only want to pass across a message that if you want people to treat you of what you want people to treat you as, then you must treat yourself of what you want people to treat you as first. No more, no less.
Perhaps why i watch superstar in the first place is because my mom told me there is a blind busker who went for the audition. And from that onward, i followed practically every episodes. Although it was the blind busker, weilian who induced me to watch the show, but gradually, it were the pretty contestant that followed be through the whole show.
While i am watching this age old question surfaced again in front of me. Should we treat those who are disabled as disabled or abled body. And, are the disabled themseleves want us to treat them as abled or as disabled.
The meaning of disabled i think, is one who can't perform what an abled bodied person can do. The definition of an abled bodied is a wide subject. An impotent man may be classified as disabled by his wife but if he still can walk around unaided by a walking stick, then he is abled.
I keep on thinking that if i bump into a disabled guy, should i see him as being abled. I think sometimes, the disabled hope people to view them as abled bodies but yet, they would want to reserved those special rights that a disabled bodied usually have.
Take for instance the MRT lift. My rationale to the lift is that, how many disabled people actually use the lift in such a way that it would fully maximise the lift potential passengers carrying capabilities. I believe the lift is almost underutilised if we only allow people who are disabled to use it.
However, you could see in the forum of the papers, that disabled people complained that abled body are vying with them, are fighting with them for the lift. So, if they want people, in practical to view them as abled bodied, why go put a tag on themselves by themselves that they are in theory, disabled? I find this totally absurd.
Another piece of article that caught my eye is this disabled guy who said abled bodied guy are hogging the disabled toilet cubicle. I mean, where is the level playing field?
As an abled bodied, i need to wait for my turn to pee, so why can't you?
Back to the person in limelight, tan weilian. The critics says people vote due to sympathy. So do they and can you blame them? It is this tag of disabled that will always remain disabled enable the disabled to truly have the benefits of their own cubicle and their own elevators.
p/s: i may sound crude. but isn't it true? I only want to pass across a message that if you want people to treat you of what you want people to treat you as, then you must treat yourself of what you want people to treat you as first. No more, no less.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Education is just like investing
To me, education is a long term investment where you cant see the gains in short term.
Study is like how you manage your portfolio. Both need time and discipline.
Good grades is like when the company you invest in, pay out dividend. The feeling is great.
Why settle for something less instead of more?
Study is like how you manage your portfolio. Both need time and discipline.
Good grades is like when the company you invest in, pay out dividend. The feeling is great.
Why settle for something less instead of more?
Friday, May 27, 2005
Is it His money?
Yesterday while waiting, supposedly waiting for a client( who fly kite without even informing), i witness an act of kindness.
I was sitting down at the Mac donald, opposite, adjacent, beside bedok interchange where this shabbily looking guy, holding some charity ticket approached me. He did not know i have the hate-charity-for-their-ever-thirsty-thirst-for-money-syndrome.
So i signalled with my hand, i waved to him that buzz off. So he stand there still, looking pathetically at me while i still, wave my hand.
So he have no choice but to approach other people. The next person is a malay woman with her kid, she too can't be bothered as she was on the handphone.
So the man approach this cute girl. Initially this girl shake her head. But the man use the same old trick of standing there for a few more second, looking with that meek eyes of his.
Then horrors! The girl craved in for that trick and took out a $2 note for the ticket. She must be one who is soft hearted, easily succumb( means easy to jio? hahaha, nah i didn't okay!)
But instead of taking the ticket, she don't want the ticket!
Hm...yeah its a charitable act of kindness but i saw the man, put the $2 note in his pocket. So...what does that means?
I was sitting down at the Mac donald, opposite, adjacent, beside bedok interchange where this shabbily looking guy, holding some charity ticket approached me. He did not know i have the hate-charity-for-their-ever-thirsty-thirst-for-money-syndrome.
So i signalled with my hand, i waved to him that buzz off. So he stand there still, looking pathetically at me while i still, wave my hand.
So he have no choice but to approach other people. The next person is a malay woman with her kid, she too can't be bothered as she was on the handphone.
So the man approach this cute girl. Initially this girl shake her head. But the man use the same old trick of standing there for a few more second, looking with that meek eyes of his.
Then horrors! The girl craved in for that trick and took out a $2 note for the ticket. She must be one who is soft hearted, easily succumb( means easy to jio? hahaha, nah i didn't okay!)
But instead of taking the ticket, she don't want the ticket!
Hm...yeah its a charitable act of kindness but i saw the man, put the $2 note in his pocket. So...what does that means?
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Mirror mirror on the wall
I was reading a blog entry by one of my sec sch friend. Rarely contact now. Cracks appear between us since jc for no apparent reason. I heard from one of my sec sch buddy that he find me lame and love to talk cock very much. After i heard i paused and ponder for a moment. Hey, aren't i always like that?! So why suddenly he dislike me?!
So back to this entry. We were having chalet couple of weeks back. One of my friend birthday. So i think he stay back or whatever while i go home because meeting client the following day. He seems unhappy by some remarks made by one of the friends.
The first unhappiness is about the chivas he brought. He is unhappy that he absorbed most of the cost. I feel that you didn't ask people to pay, of course people take it for granted. Ask and you shall receive isn't it? Thats sad being unhappy over the slightest thing.
Oh well, i am too lazy to type.
Can friends ever be truthful to one another? Telling them how you feel, speak out instead of bottling up and pretend here pretend there. Another vicious cycle as people like to hear good things and not the bad one, even suggestions.
Then what is the word friendship means?
Does going out everyday, talking lame jokes, orgling at girls, talk about good things, everything on the surface means you got good friends? Or friends who dare to give you advice, dare to tell you whats wrong, dare to be your mirror consider good friends?
In the past i used to ask my friends for a real survey on myself. Of course the truth hurts. My flaws i think are lame, too happy go lucky that i am seems to offer no security to people especially girls. Sometimes cocky and always surprise people, stupid surprises that will make people paiseh, too pragmatic, selfish sometimes.
Leopard never change its spot but i am glad i am mindful of my flaws now.
Hm...think i should ask my friends to evalute me again.
So back to this entry. We were having chalet couple of weeks back. One of my friend birthday. So i think he stay back or whatever while i go home because meeting client the following day. He seems unhappy by some remarks made by one of the friends.
The first unhappiness is about the chivas he brought. He is unhappy that he absorbed most of the cost. I feel that you didn't ask people to pay, of course people take it for granted. Ask and you shall receive isn't it? Thats sad being unhappy over the slightest thing.
Oh well, i am too lazy to type.
Can friends ever be truthful to one another? Telling them how you feel, speak out instead of bottling up and pretend here pretend there. Another vicious cycle as people like to hear good things and not the bad one, even suggestions.
Then what is the word friendship means?
Does going out everyday, talking lame jokes, orgling at girls, talk about good things, everything on the surface means you got good friends? Or friends who dare to give you advice, dare to tell you whats wrong, dare to be your mirror consider good friends?
In the past i used to ask my friends for a real survey on myself. Of course the truth hurts. My flaws i think are lame, too happy go lucky that i am seems to offer no security to people especially girls. Sometimes cocky and always surprise people, stupid surprises that will make people paiseh, too pragmatic, selfish sometimes.
Leopard never change its spot but i am glad i am mindful of my flaws now.
Hm...think i should ask my friends to evalute me again.
How Attitude Affects Us
HOW ATTITUDE AFFECTS US
Our attitude at the beginning of a job will affect the outcome of the job more than anything else.
Our attitude toward life determine their attitude towards us.
Our attitude towards others will determine their attitudes towards us.
Before we can achieve the kind of life we want, we must think, act, walk, talk, and conduct ourselves in ways characteristics of who we ultimately wish to become.
The higher we go in any organization of value, the better the attitude we’ll find.
Holding successful, positive thoughts in our minds will make all the difference in the world.
If we always make a person feel needed, important, and appreciated, he or she will return this attitude to us.
Part of good attitude is to look for the best in new ideas. So look for good ideas everywhere. We will find them in the most wonderful places:
On the bumpers of cars, on restaurant menus, in books, in travel, out of the innocent mouths of children.
Don’t broadcast personal problems.
It probably won’t help you, and it cannot help others.
Radiate the attitude of well-being
Don’t be embarrassed to share visions, desires, and goals.
Treat everyone with whom you come in contact as a fellow member of the human race-with all the rights, duties, and privileges thereof.
The Golden Rule still applies:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
-TED W. ENGSTROM FROM ‘MOTIVATION TO LAST A LIFETIME’
Get this from Denise Keller's moblog. They have those kind of shit for Eye for a Guy. I think she read alot. Her english is definitely better than average Singaporean.
Yepp..don't broadcast personal problems. Thats what i feel is critical and that is why i never mentioned or show my problems, emotional frequently. Because nobody can solve for you, even if u said or shown. But on the other hand, you will make others feel sad.
So peeps, i may be a joker but like all flesh and blood human, i got my problems, desire, ambition,etc.
I only choose not to show the sad, moody, angst part always but doesn't mean i don't have all that.
Our attitude at the beginning of a job will affect the outcome of the job more than anything else.
Our attitude toward life determine their attitude towards us.
Our attitude towards others will determine their attitudes towards us.
Before we can achieve the kind of life we want, we must think, act, walk, talk, and conduct ourselves in ways characteristics of who we ultimately wish to become.
The higher we go in any organization of value, the better the attitude we’ll find.
Holding successful, positive thoughts in our minds will make all the difference in the world.
If we always make a person feel needed, important, and appreciated, he or she will return this attitude to us.
Part of good attitude is to look for the best in new ideas. So look for good ideas everywhere. We will find them in the most wonderful places:
On the bumpers of cars, on restaurant menus, in books, in travel, out of the innocent mouths of children.
Don’t broadcast personal problems.
It probably won’t help you, and it cannot help others.
Radiate the attitude of well-being
Don’t be embarrassed to share visions, desires, and goals.
Treat everyone with whom you come in contact as a fellow member of the human race-with all the rights, duties, and privileges thereof.
The Golden Rule still applies:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
-TED W. ENGSTROM FROM ‘MOTIVATION TO LAST A LIFETIME’
Get this from Denise Keller's moblog. They have those kind of shit for Eye for a Guy. I think she read alot. Her english is definitely better than average Singaporean.
Yepp..don't broadcast personal problems. Thats what i feel is critical and that is why i never mentioned or show my problems, emotional frequently. Because nobody can solve for you, even if u said or shown. But on the other hand, you will make others feel sad.
So peeps, i may be a joker but like all flesh and blood human, i got my problems, desire, ambition,etc.
I only choose not to show the sad, moody, angst part always but doesn't mean i don't have all that.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
The original recipe for success. Its finger lickin good.
"And it all began with a 65-year-old gentleman who used his $105 Social Security check to start a business"
That 65 yr old grandfather is colonel Sanders. The founder of KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken. He started it when he is at the age of 65. Senior citizen age. How many grandfathers actually do work when they are aged 65? Not many. Even if they work, its for the sake of killing time or perhaps as the birth rates take a nose dive, no many grandchildren for them to carry and that is why they went to work.
But who really at the age of 65 go out to create his own business? Many i can count them in a hand.
Compared to the west, perhaps in asia countries, grandfathers, the patriach of the family, are expected to rest, play with the caged birds, occassionally playing chess in the coffeeshops. Sometimes change diapers or cradle the grandchildren. Not many are like Colonel Sanders, Meredith and Gretchen of Amazing Race 7, who dare to make their dreams become reality.
Singapore need to reshaped itself. Our economy is expierencing a structural change. I think our mindset need that too. Start from young.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing that the government is full of nannies? We are so used to be taken care of. We are so used in this sheltered environment that we forgot, we will forgot how to fend for ourselves if we are freed into the wild. Like a captive rabbit, once we are out, we will get bitten and left to die, something we won't even give a thought when we are in the cage, safe and sound.
Talk to alot of youngsters nowadays and you would realised, many complain and yet can't seem to find solutions. Talk to the old and sentences like " i have faith in the government", " the government can take care of it" came out.
In order to be more entrepreneurial, we need to really be more focus and especially, don't think time and money is a big issue.
I realised what hold us back is money. Dreams failed because the bank account is not fat. I think its kind of sad. I believe we should be like the businessman who Ngiam Tong Dow mentioned. said:" get the business first, how to build, decide later".
A drug addict has no money. Yet when the craving came in, money will strangely came. I think if we have the desire, money is just another typical objection. And like all other objections, there is a way to answer them.
Another thing that singaporean obsessed with is time. I think real entreprenuers, in order to follow their passion, in order to build up their business, spend endless time. They are willing to spend, or some said " waste time".
"You want to do that" What for, don't waste time lah" Yes we all love to say that. We said that to ourselves, we tell others that.
Pathetic.
Of course negative obsession with time and money are not enough. Other ingredient include not daring to be different, not daring to take risk.
I admire that friend of mine who in the end quit nus. He dare to follow his dream, he dare to take risk. Salute.
Taking risk with money, taking risk with life, taking risk for the rest of your life do not gurantee you success. But without taking risk, don't even mention success or returns.
Anyway, what thing is gurantee in this world? Your wife isn't your wife until the day she die. Yes, you can't even gurantee your wife won't run away one day.
http://www.kfc.com/about/colonel.htm
p/s: the "wise proverb" "Your wife isn't your wife until the day she die" is said by lau hong lian, a slack SP lecturer who although slack, is good in his work and jokes, political and dirty jokes. Sorry, can't mentioned here.
That 65 yr old grandfather is colonel Sanders. The founder of KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken. He started it when he is at the age of 65. Senior citizen age. How many grandfathers actually do work when they are aged 65? Not many. Even if they work, its for the sake of killing time or perhaps as the birth rates take a nose dive, no many grandchildren for them to carry and that is why they went to work.
But who really at the age of 65 go out to create his own business? Many i can count them in a hand.
Compared to the west, perhaps in asia countries, grandfathers, the patriach of the family, are expected to rest, play with the caged birds, occassionally playing chess in the coffeeshops. Sometimes change diapers or cradle the grandchildren. Not many are like Colonel Sanders, Meredith and Gretchen of Amazing Race 7, who dare to make their dreams become reality.
Singapore need to reshaped itself. Our economy is expierencing a structural change. I think our mindset need that too. Start from young.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing that the government is full of nannies? We are so used to be taken care of. We are so used in this sheltered environment that we forgot, we will forgot how to fend for ourselves if we are freed into the wild. Like a captive rabbit, once we are out, we will get bitten and left to die, something we won't even give a thought when we are in the cage, safe and sound.
Talk to alot of youngsters nowadays and you would realised, many complain and yet can't seem to find solutions. Talk to the old and sentences like " i have faith in the government", " the government can take care of it" came out.
In order to be more entrepreneurial, we need to really be more focus and especially, don't think time and money is a big issue.
I realised what hold us back is money. Dreams failed because the bank account is not fat. I think its kind of sad. I believe we should be like the businessman who Ngiam Tong Dow mentioned. said:" get the business first, how to build, decide later".
A drug addict has no money. Yet when the craving came in, money will strangely came. I think if we have the desire, money is just another typical objection. And like all other objections, there is a way to answer them.
Another thing that singaporean obsessed with is time. I think real entreprenuers, in order to follow their passion, in order to build up their business, spend endless time. They are willing to spend, or some said " waste time".
"You want to do that" What for, don't waste time lah" Yes we all love to say that. We said that to ourselves, we tell others that.
Pathetic.
Of course negative obsession with time and money are not enough. Other ingredient include not daring to be different, not daring to take risk.
I admire that friend of mine who in the end quit nus. He dare to follow his dream, he dare to take risk. Salute.
Taking risk with money, taking risk with life, taking risk for the rest of your life do not gurantee you success. But without taking risk, don't even mention success or returns.
Anyway, what thing is gurantee in this world? Your wife isn't your wife until the day she die. Yes, you can't even gurantee your wife won't run away one day.
http://www.kfc.com/about/colonel.htm
p/s: the "wise proverb" "Your wife isn't your wife until the day she die" is said by lau hong lian, a slack SP lecturer who although slack, is good in his work and jokes, political and dirty jokes. Sorry, can't mentioned here.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Myself
Primary school teachers always like to ask us to write about ourseleves. A typical composition essay title. And we as students would gleefully write about myself. Then stand in front of the class, say it with pride what is our ambitions, our family and basically, ourselves.
Moving on to secondary school, the cross junction of breaking free from the old shell, the topic of myself was often scorned by students. The title was seems to be the old cultural backwater topic and no one should write about it. Cultural revolution at play. Teachers too would rather students to focus on more challenging topics instead. They too don't want to be seen as a primary school teacher inside.
But i feel its ironical that as we grow older, when more things, more temptations influence us, we seems to lost ourselves to the distant space. Gone are the firm answers when quizzed by teachers about ourselves during primary school.
And as we grow older we are often detached of what we actually want to do. Some says because when we are young, we do not really know much of the world and that the choices we make are childish.
I beg to differ. I think kids are alot smarter. They are innocent so they see things clearly. When a kid says he want to be a president, inside him, he know that a president weld a substantial amount of power. He is the head of state. When a kid says he want to be a teacher, to him, teaching is holy and he aspires to be a great teacher.
Perhaps as we grow older, true enough, everything we tend to measure by monetary, i myself included. That is why you see scholars breaking their bonds in order as what they put in, to seek more opportunity. Why they don't just admit because they can earn more money?
But happy to say, there are some people who gave up on high paying job to pursue their childhood dreams or to work as a much more well paid job, psychologically.
To me, i also belong to the vast number of people who are not in sync with their childhood dreams anymore.
I also lost myself to the society.
Not a single one is Neo Anderson.
Moving on to secondary school, the cross junction of breaking free from the old shell, the topic of myself was often scorned by students. The title was seems to be the old cultural backwater topic and no one should write about it. Cultural revolution at play. Teachers too would rather students to focus on more challenging topics instead. They too don't want to be seen as a primary school teacher inside.
But i feel its ironical that as we grow older, when more things, more temptations influence us, we seems to lost ourselves to the distant space. Gone are the firm answers when quizzed by teachers about ourselves during primary school.
And as we grow older we are often detached of what we actually want to do. Some says because when we are young, we do not really know much of the world and that the choices we make are childish.
I beg to differ. I think kids are alot smarter. They are innocent so they see things clearly. When a kid says he want to be a president, inside him, he know that a president weld a substantial amount of power. He is the head of state. When a kid says he want to be a teacher, to him, teaching is holy and he aspires to be a great teacher.
Perhaps as we grow older, true enough, everything we tend to measure by monetary, i myself included. That is why you see scholars breaking their bonds in order as what they put in, to seek more opportunity. Why they don't just admit because they can earn more money?
But happy to say, there are some people who gave up on high paying job to pursue their childhood dreams or to work as a much more well paid job, psychologically.
To me, i also belong to the vast number of people who are not in sync with their childhood dreams anymore.
I also lost myself to the society.
Not a single one is Neo Anderson.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Goodbye Mr Wee Kim Wee
I remembered him as this old man who stand in front of the padang every national day parade. And when i was small, my parents used to praise him for being a nice president, who cares for the people. To me, i sort of couldn't understand why his surname is also his last name and vice versa, thinking both Wee meant the same thing in chinese. Only when i grew older, then i know it better.
Due to prostrate Cancer, he passed away on 1st may 2005. But i think having lived for nearly a century, he is contented already. Afterall, he was a simple man. A man whom only a few could reach out to, enable so many to pay tribute and condolences is no small feat. It clearly shown he has shine and really reach out to those he reached. He touched the bottom of their heart.
I think looking at so many presidents of yester years, including S R Nathan now, i have came to a conclusion. While the government are the people's parents, the presidents are the nannies, always on the lookout, and always care for their grand children.
Reading the news and seeing him on TV reminded myself of my maternal grandfather who passed away on 2001, 20th of dec. It was him that once, memories flooded.
And it was my grandfather wake and funeral, and seeing the coffin being pushed into the cremation pit that jolted me out of my aimless life. Life is short. No matter whether you live to a hundred or fifty, compared to the vastness and the age old universe, you are just insignificant.
There is so much to accomplish but so little time. So many hands to reach out for, but ultimately, only a few are reached.
But nevertheless, i believed, touch the heart whom you have reached, just like our late president.
Goodbye Mr Wee.
Due to prostrate Cancer, he passed away on 1st may 2005. But i think having lived for nearly a century, he is contented already. Afterall, he was a simple man. A man whom only a few could reach out to, enable so many to pay tribute and condolences is no small feat. It clearly shown he has shine and really reach out to those he reached. He touched the bottom of their heart.
I think looking at so many presidents of yester years, including S R Nathan now, i have came to a conclusion. While the government are the people's parents, the presidents are the nannies, always on the lookout, and always care for their grand children.
Reading the news and seeing him on TV reminded myself of my maternal grandfather who passed away on 2001, 20th of dec. It was him that once, memories flooded.
And it was my grandfather wake and funeral, and seeing the coffin being pushed into the cremation pit that jolted me out of my aimless life. Life is short. No matter whether you live to a hundred or fifty, compared to the vastness and the age old universe, you are just insignificant.
There is so much to accomplish but so little time. So many hands to reach out for, but ultimately, only a few are reached.
But nevertheless, i believed, touch the heart whom you have reached, just like our late president.
Goodbye Mr Wee.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Happy birthday Mattew
I was so touched that Mattew, remembered me and invite me to his 21th birthday party. To think i don't even save his hp number. Sorry.
I was quite on close term with the drivers. Yes alot are uneducated or lowly educated. However, i find them to be endearing too. They have that kind of humility, the determination never to say die that i think will do them good.
People might say, one should make friends with those who are on par with you or higher. Then you will soar also. True, i believe in that. In terms of value, those friends certainly has much more value. You can learn more from them. And making more of these friends are beneficial.
However, if you are always too occupied with those friends, you will feel sooner or later, you will detact youself with other level of the society and think full of yourself as a high and mighty king.
So while you make friends of high value, making friends of those lower, perhaps in education, will tie you to your roots that one can fail just as easy as one can succeed.
Thats why you see those entreprenuer, they may not have a title, professor, next to their name, but they can still make their mark. Similarly, i believe those uneducated people or lowly educated, as long as you still have that one mouthful of breath, you will also make it.
I am happy for another friend, stephen. I mentioned about him earlier. NUS has grant himself an interview for industrial design. This is a highly sought after course. If stephen has been granted an interview, it means half of the battle is won. And mind you, he is not even a design student as the course name suggest. He is just a poly grad who make good. If a normal engineering student can be granted an interview, it shows that nothing is impossible. You may be good in something, but often, this world always surprises you for in this world, it is the world, the people other than you that dictate you and not vice versa.
Ordinary people can also succeed.
I was quite on close term with the drivers. Yes alot are uneducated or lowly educated. However, i find them to be endearing too. They have that kind of humility, the determination never to say die that i think will do them good.
People might say, one should make friends with those who are on par with you or higher. Then you will soar also. True, i believe in that. In terms of value, those friends certainly has much more value. You can learn more from them. And making more of these friends are beneficial.
However, if you are always too occupied with those friends, you will feel sooner or later, you will detact youself with other level of the society and think full of yourself as a high and mighty king.
So while you make friends of high value, making friends of those lower, perhaps in education, will tie you to your roots that one can fail just as easy as one can succeed.
Thats why you see those entreprenuer, they may not have a title, professor, next to their name, but they can still make their mark. Similarly, i believe those uneducated people or lowly educated, as long as you still have that one mouthful of breath, you will also make it.
I am happy for another friend, stephen. I mentioned about him earlier. NUS has grant himself an interview for industrial design. This is a highly sought after course. If stephen has been granted an interview, it means half of the battle is won. And mind you, he is not even a design student as the course name suggest. He is just a poly grad who make good. If a normal engineering student can be granted an interview, it shows that nothing is impossible. You may be good in something, but often, this world always surprises you for in this world, it is the world, the people other than you that dictate you and not vice versa.
Ordinary people can also succeed.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Type of people
Barely 6 mth into my job, i have come into contact with alot of people. Different clients different days. Like our thumbprints, not a single person is alike in terms of thinking, acting and doing things. But i have come to the conclusion that if a person want to avoid you, he can gives all sorts of arguement and excuses which will force a dog to jump over the wall and the pigs will fly. No forgetting, sun will rise from the west.
However i do much love this challenges. Every job has its challenge. When i was a mechanics, my challenge was how to troubleshoot the vehicles, the machines to make it work. Ocassionally still have to beat the time in order to get things done. But dealing with people is yet another story. When you thought you have troubleshoot his worries and queries, he will come up with more questions to worry you! Sometimes these questions are asked to satisfy their inner curosity. But most of the time, the questions are asked in oder to make you stumble and lost your tongue which will they then, say "i am sorry you are not competent". But then, how to answer a questions which you yourself can't even answer?
Sometimes in the line, i wonder, do i really have to con or confuse in order to get the deal? I am not a story teller. Whatever i present is based on 3rd parties facts. Newspapers clippings, report from major independent financial firms, whatever whatever. I have display them as my arsenal. They do pack a potent punch but people still, denied them. Look like Straits Times is not all that convincing in its news reporting! Ha!
Back to the people. Like i say, alot of people i met. I am going to list them below and you all can have a good read.
Overly polite type
Once, at pasir ris while doing a road show, i met this overly polite guy.
"Hi sir"
"thank you thank you"
"would u like.."
"thank you than you"
?? " but i haven't do anything to help you"
"thank you thank you"
"but.."
"thank you thank you"
and he just walked faster and faster with each thank you thank you.
Lie in front of you type
I saw this macik and i approach her.
"sorry lah, busyyy"
And after saying busyyy, she walk slowly to the atm machine, withdraw her cash, and walk past me, very slowly.
Sue you type
I approach this man smoking near a dustbin. He don't look like that kind who could afford the lawyer's fee based on his dressing.
"Hi sir could i do a survey with you"
" go away"
Since you are rude, then lets play
"why sir, i haven't done anything"
"look i am not interested"
"of course you aren't, because i haven't show you anything"
"if you bother me, i am going to sue you"
hm..i should hand my friend name card to him to let him engage him to sue me.
Conspiracy type
Once i was talking to this bus driver at bedok. It was him that i verbal diarrhoea and get a somehow sarcastic talk by my friend boss. Apparently, he is my friend's client. We are talking about unit trust and i was telling him nothing is bound to go up. It will go down. And he actually know why it go down!
"You know why go down?!!"
" i know"
"why?"
" because hor, those stockholders hor, they eat the company money ah!"
i peng.
Merry go round type
This type is what you damn pissed with especially you know your plans are in fact, much superior. When you say A, he will say B. But his B will contridict his A. So you mention about the contridiction in B. He will say back A!
"see, prudential plan is much better"
"but then a difference of 10k is no difference, you know. I can easily earn back" ( This is A)
Here, he sound rather generous with his money. But wait,
"so your worries is about the premium? but then $20 dollar difference is no higher" ( my premium is higher than $20)
"No. $20 is alot of difference" (This is B. He contridict his A)
"but what you put in is what you get. And if 10k is no difference, then what does $20 make any difference. You put in how much, you will get how much" (I show his contridiction)
"10 k is really no difference" ( he go back to A. So here, we have a merry go round)
Alot of other cases also but i am too lazy to type. Ha ha. But i think doing sales, you really need to know the psychological mindset of people. I think this job will prepare me for other jobs in the outside world, for everyday, i am receiving the baptism of fire.
However i do much love this challenges. Every job has its challenge. When i was a mechanics, my challenge was how to troubleshoot the vehicles, the machines to make it work. Ocassionally still have to beat the time in order to get things done. But dealing with people is yet another story. When you thought you have troubleshoot his worries and queries, he will come up with more questions to worry you! Sometimes these questions are asked to satisfy their inner curosity. But most of the time, the questions are asked in oder to make you stumble and lost your tongue which will they then, say "i am sorry you are not competent". But then, how to answer a questions which you yourself can't even answer?
Sometimes in the line, i wonder, do i really have to con or confuse in order to get the deal? I am not a story teller. Whatever i present is based on 3rd parties facts. Newspapers clippings, report from major independent financial firms, whatever whatever. I have display them as my arsenal. They do pack a potent punch but people still, denied them. Look like Straits Times is not all that convincing in its news reporting! Ha!
Back to the people. Like i say, alot of people i met. I am going to list them below and you all can have a good read.
Overly polite type
Once, at pasir ris while doing a road show, i met this overly polite guy.
"Hi sir"
"thank you thank you"
"would u like.."
"thank you than you"
?? " but i haven't do anything to help you"
"thank you thank you"
"but.."
"thank you thank you"
and he just walked faster and faster with each thank you thank you.
Lie in front of you type
I saw this macik and i approach her.
"sorry lah, busyyy"
And after saying busyyy, she walk slowly to the atm machine, withdraw her cash, and walk past me, very slowly.
Sue you type
I approach this man smoking near a dustbin. He don't look like that kind who could afford the lawyer's fee based on his dressing.
"Hi sir could i do a survey with you"
" go away"
Since you are rude, then lets play
"why sir, i haven't done anything"
"look i am not interested"
"of course you aren't, because i haven't show you anything"
"if you bother me, i am going to sue you"
hm..i should hand my friend name card to him to let him engage him to sue me.
Conspiracy type
Once i was talking to this bus driver at bedok. It was him that i verbal diarrhoea and get a somehow sarcastic talk by my friend boss. Apparently, he is my friend's client. We are talking about unit trust and i was telling him nothing is bound to go up. It will go down. And he actually know why it go down!
"You know why go down?!!"
" i know"
"why?"
" because hor, those stockholders hor, they eat the company money ah!"
i peng.
Merry go round type
This type is what you damn pissed with especially you know your plans are in fact, much superior. When you say A, he will say B. But his B will contridict his A. So you mention about the contridiction in B. He will say back A!
"see, prudential plan is much better"
"but then a difference of 10k is no difference, you know. I can easily earn back" ( This is A)
Here, he sound rather generous with his money. But wait,
"so your worries is about the premium? but then $20 dollar difference is no higher" ( my premium is higher than $20)
"No. $20 is alot of difference" (This is B. He contridict his A)
"but what you put in is what you get. And if 10k is no difference, then what does $20 make any difference. You put in how much, you will get how much" (I show his contridiction)
"10 k is really no difference" ( he go back to A. So here, we have a merry go round)
Alot of other cases also but i am too lazy to type. Ha ha. But i think doing sales, you really need to know the psychological mindset of people. I think this job will prepare me for other jobs in the outside world, for everyday, i am receiving the baptism of fire.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Investment Linked and the financial advisory Industry
Recently there have been some controversies and debates surrounded investment linked products and insurance as a whole. Propositions and oppositions have been fighting like no one else business and mainly the propositions are people who are in the financial advisory industry while as usual, the oppositions are the people who need financial planning and often, the vanguards of this battle are they one whose financial planning go haywire due to the incompetency of their financial advisors.
What is Investment linked policy? Simply put, it is a financial plan where one could have both insurance coverage and also investment at the same time. Invest what? Invest in unit trusts. Here is where lies the problem as the allocation of the investment funds, or premium become murky as investors and perhaps even the advisor do not know how much is being allocated to which and hence it spark off a wide range of issues regarding the financial advisory industry.
For an ILP, usually the first few years, returns can't be seen. As with most investments, you will need a have a period in order to get your capital beef up and earn returns or incur loses. However it doesn't boil down too well with the average Singaporean who do not have the slightest hint of what investment should be. TV program showing fast bucks do not help the situation either.
I have met with several clients who ask me whether can they put in less but generate alot, in a short span of time. They saw investment as the Singapore Mint which can produce notes at an astronomical speed.
But who can blame them as Schools, parents do not teach them the way to safeguard and let their money grow?
ILP work in a way that once premium is received, they are allocated immediately. It mean, they will be converted to units( and hence the name unit trust). The cost and the insurance coverage will be also converted to units after which the premium unit will deduct the cost unit and the remaining unit will be put to work.
The quotation of each plan shows 5 and 9% returns generated. However this is not guranteed. There is no short cut or magic involved. Even if you deposit in a bank, there is no guranteed that the interest rate will stays at the prevailing rate and not rise nor fall.
Some may argue that the fault lies with advisors who failed to mention or show the clients how do this work, how do the cost is being deducted, so on and so forth.
To this question, there are two side of the story. True some advisors are incompetent. They do not bother to keep abreast with the current affairs, especially with the financial news. They do not highlight the cost or do not even know how to calculate it even after being taught how to, to the clients. Worse, they spun fairylike tales to clients like telling them those 5 and 9% returns are guranteed. Yes, we should weed out these advisors.
However being said, i also discovered that it is just a vicious cycle. I tried once to explain to a bus driver, my friend's client actually, on what is a unit trust, how do it work, how is the cost calculated, only to have the bus driver confused and the deal just fall off. Me? I became a thousand year guilty guy who get a bit of sarcasm from my friend's boss.
You see, explaining to a group of people who don't even have the slightest idea of what is financial planning can be a big hurdle. For a start, they are already risk adverse psychologically. They treat all investments are losing money vehicle, especially in higher risk instruments such as stocks. So even before you start to spread your gospel of how the things work, they already have this mindset that it won't work for them and money is sure to be lost.
It is this mindset which prevent them from getting comfortable financially. It is also this group which the government are most worried about, seeing that they won't be retiring comfortably in their old age. And this is the group which the insurers and companies are trying to reach out to. And so, a vicious cycle just keep on repeating.
The delimma surfaced. If i become too technical, the client may be confused and everything just flopped. Yet this is my career, the source of my bread and butter. So should i just make things simple, just illustrate the benefits and forgo the cost and potential lost aspect? I badly need this deal you know. Go figure ladies and gentlemen.
Ever since CPF rates are fixed at 2.5%, government has been hinting and hinting that one need to plan for himself. We are not a welfare state, we can't expect the government to give handouts. And since that the government has been talking about personal financial planning, i speculated that the cut on CPF contribution are going to get more and more and the interest rate may be adjust to even lower than 2.5%( 2.5% is a requirement stated in some sort of law that it is the lowest and couldn't go anymore low in order to protect the people. But law can be change don't they?)
The situation could get worse.
Another aspect of things which i think can be improved is the image of financial advisors. You see them at the bus stop stopping you with surveys form. You treat them as if they are begging you. But if they don't do that, will you be the one to look for them instead? Absolutely not! Assuming that you know financial planning is vital. Yet Singaporean favourite excuse is " not enough time" Yes! You do not even have time to visit the toilet, so what make you have time to visit the financial planning companies?
So instead of you come forward, we come to you.
But having said, why do people are so afraid to visit the planners?
To me, i came up with a conclusion. Uneducated.
Schools never teach us. Worse, everybody say keep cash in your pocket or in your bank is the most sensible way.
You could see the obsession of Singaporean with cash. When ERS is announced, people queue up, to cash out their ERS.
$500 only, yet people are in a hurry to cash them out. If you cash them out and spend, i think its stupid. If you cash them out and deposit in bank, thats even more stupid.
You forgo the potential interest rate of 3 to 5% but rather earn a pittance of 0.125 to 0.25% in the bank. Isn't that stupid?
Last year, the ecoomy soar to 8.4%. As ERS interest is pegged to our GDP plus if i am not wrong, 3% more. So last year, the interest rate of ERS is 11.4%. 11.4% is about $50++. But if you put your ERS inside the bank, u earn only 0.25% which is i think, a few cents?
I think, in order to make people plan for their finances early. We should start educating them. Merely publish books like money sense and all that are no use, no one will listen. Start off in schools with the kids, after which they go home, they can teach their parents and so on.
After 5 to 10 years of successful education where everybody will know cash isn't king.
They won't be so scared when advisors approach them. And 15 years later, advisors need not to go into the streets and hawk their wares. Instead, people will come and look for them.
That should be the real and truthful image of financial advisors.
What is Investment linked policy? Simply put, it is a financial plan where one could have both insurance coverage and also investment at the same time. Invest what? Invest in unit trusts. Here is where lies the problem as the allocation of the investment funds, or premium become murky as investors and perhaps even the advisor do not know how much is being allocated to which and hence it spark off a wide range of issues regarding the financial advisory industry.
For an ILP, usually the first few years, returns can't be seen. As with most investments, you will need a have a period in order to get your capital beef up and earn returns or incur loses. However it doesn't boil down too well with the average Singaporean who do not have the slightest hint of what investment should be. TV program showing fast bucks do not help the situation either.
I have met with several clients who ask me whether can they put in less but generate alot, in a short span of time. They saw investment as the Singapore Mint which can produce notes at an astronomical speed.
But who can blame them as Schools, parents do not teach them the way to safeguard and let their money grow?
ILP work in a way that once premium is received, they are allocated immediately. It mean, they will be converted to units( and hence the name unit trust). The cost and the insurance coverage will be also converted to units after which the premium unit will deduct the cost unit and the remaining unit will be put to work.
The quotation of each plan shows 5 and 9% returns generated. However this is not guranteed. There is no short cut or magic involved. Even if you deposit in a bank, there is no guranteed that the interest rate will stays at the prevailing rate and not rise nor fall.
Some may argue that the fault lies with advisors who failed to mention or show the clients how do this work, how do the cost is being deducted, so on and so forth.
To this question, there are two side of the story. True some advisors are incompetent. They do not bother to keep abreast with the current affairs, especially with the financial news. They do not highlight the cost or do not even know how to calculate it even after being taught how to, to the clients. Worse, they spun fairylike tales to clients like telling them those 5 and 9% returns are guranteed. Yes, we should weed out these advisors.
However being said, i also discovered that it is just a vicious cycle. I tried once to explain to a bus driver, my friend's client actually, on what is a unit trust, how do it work, how is the cost calculated, only to have the bus driver confused and the deal just fall off. Me? I became a thousand year guilty guy who get a bit of sarcasm from my friend's boss.
You see, explaining to a group of people who don't even have the slightest idea of what is financial planning can be a big hurdle. For a start, they are already risk adverse psychologically. They treat all investments are losing money vehicle, especially in higher risk instruments such as stocks. So even before you start to spread your gospel of how the things work, they already have this mindset that it won't work for them and money is sure to be lost.
It is this mindset which prevent them from getting comfortable financially. It is also this group which the government are most worried about, seeing that they won't be retiring comfortably in their old age. And this is the group which the insurers and companies are trying to reach out to. And so, a vicious cycle just keep on repeating.
The delimma surfaced. If i become too technical, the client may be confused and everything just flopped. Yet this is my career, the source of my bread and butter. So should i just make things simple, just illustrate the benefits and forgo the cost and potential lost aspect? I badly need this deal you know. Go figure ladies and gentlemen.
Ever since CPF rates are fixed at 2.5%, government has been hinting and hinting that one need to plan for himself. We are not a welfare state, we can't expect the government to give handouts. And since that the government has been talking about personal financial planning, i speculated that the cut on CPF contribution are going to get more and more and the interest rate may be adjust to even lower than 2.5%( 2.5% is a requirement stated in some sort of law that it is the lowest and couldn't go anymore low in order to protect the people. But law can be change don't they?)
The situation could get worse.
Another aspect of things which i think can be improved is the image of financial advisors. You see them at the bus stop stopping you with surveys form. You treat them as if they are begging you. But if they don't do that, will you be the one to look for them instead? Absolutely not! Assuming that you know financial planning is vital. Yet Singaporean favourite excuse is " not enough time" Yes! You do not even have time to visit the toilet, so what make you have time to visit the financial planning companies?
So instead of you come forward, we come to you.
But having said, why do people are so afraid to visit the planners?
To me, i came up with a conclusion. Uneducated.
Schools never teach us. Worse, everybody say keep cash in your pocket or in your bank is the most sensible way.
You could see the obsession of Singaporean with cash. When ERS is announced, people queue up, to cash out their ERS.
$500 only, yet people are in a hurry to cash them out. If you cash them out and spend, i think its stupid. If you cash them out and deposit in bank, thats even more stupid.
You forgo the potential interest rate of 3 to 5% but rather earn a pittance of 0.125 to 0.25% in the bank. Isn't that stupid?
Last year, the ecoomy soar to 8.4%. As ERS interest is pegged to our GDP plus if i am not wrong, 3% more. So last year, the interest rate of ERS is 11.4%. 11.4% is about $50++. But if you put your ERS inside the bank, u earn only 0.25% which is i think, a few cents?
I think, in order to make people plan for their finances early. We should start educating them. Merely publish books like money sense and all that are no use, no one will listen. Start off in schools with the kids, after which they go home, they can teach their parents and so on.
After 5 to 10 years of successful education where everybody will know cash isn't king.
They won't be so scared when advisors approach them. And 15 years later, advisors need not to go into the streets and hawk their wares. Instead, people will come and look for them.
That should be the real and truthful image of financial advisors.
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