What happen to our SAF?!!!!!! Why has pasir ris interchange become another changi airport? Why has all the recruits have a trolley and look exactly like SIA stewardess?! ARGH!!!!
I am PROUD..yes i am PROUD that i belong to the old batch(i think the last) where we get $240 for recruit pay, we long for long weekend because we serve right up to saturday noon, we leave tekong with our green fieldpack, we have the strong boots, whole part make of leather and most importanly, we have that ALI BABA BAG where we just dump all our barang barang and carry it like a coolie, with attitude of course.
Hai~...ALI BABA Bag is a lifestyle representation. It shows you are a true blue soldier. Regrets regrets...recruits nowadays pull their trolley proudly.
I think turkey leg would agree with me, because we STILL have our ALI BABA BAG.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Eunice Olsen very "sway"
Pretty is still associated with Bimbo. Look at Eunice Olsen, she is being blasted for not attending the swearing in ceremony and people kind of say:" does she know her priority? I bet she doesn't . Pretty don't know how to think the importance of blah blah blah".
She said she can't "siam" the korea performance as it can't be re-scheduled. Therefore if looking at things in another way, i would prefer her not to re-schedule the performance. It is a promise to those who are going to watch her perform and since she sort of agree to that first, she should attend to that first. Now thats professionalism. It is just a normal ceremony. Beside, i can bet with you $1 million dollars that those who blasted her, don't even bother to switch on the Tvee to watch the parlimentary thingy. Who does anyway, definitely not me! haha.
Singaporean are a funny lot. Nothing can seems to satisfy them. When Mark lee do some crazy antic like some minor stripping, people complain. When he stop someone from stripping another time round, people complain he is over-reactive.
I think we just got something to say whatever is the stituation don't we?
She said she can't "siam" the korea performance as it can't be re-scheduled. Therefore if looking at things in another way, i would prefer her not to re-schedule the performance. It is a promise to those who are going to watch her perform and since she sort of agree to that first, she should attend to that first. Now thats professionalism. It is just a normal ceremony. Beside, i can bet with you $1 million dollars that those who blasted her, don't even bother to switch on the Tvee to watch the parlimentary thingy. Who does anyway, definitely not me! haha.
Singaporean are a funny lot. Nothing can seems to satisfy them. When Mark lee do some crazy antic like some minor stripping, people complain. When he stop someone from stripping another time round, people complain he is over-reactive.
I think we just got something to say whatever is the stituation don't we?
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Will the real malaysian police please stand up
Hey guess what, i believe the summons collected by the malaysian ROYAL police force account for perhaps 80% of malaysia GDP. Fuck, real business don't want to go and do, but collecting summons the most enthu.
Look at the rape crimes, sodomy, rape young children, the tsunami, robberies, murders, aren't all these important than the summons? That IBM executive murder until now haven't been solved, yet they still can find the time to go arrange for media to go and "paparazzied" this man who owe thousands of summons.
Also, reports says they are going to apply for a court order here, sg court, to hurl those singaporean people who owe summons to them.
Please man, could someone tell the policia of malaysia that they are employed to solve those urgent cases and not be like the parking aunties of Singapore.
Sometimes it doesn't make sense, the summons collected will go into government budget. Then part of the budget definitely will go towards financing the police force and the police force do nothing!
But come to think of it, they are really doing something. They go collect summons which inturn go to the government and then go back to the police force which the police force pay them salary. HEY!! They are literally earning their own money!
Look at the rape crimes, sodomy, rape young children, the tsunami, robberies, murders, aren't all these important than the summons? That IBM executive murder until now haven't been solved, yet they still can find the time to go arrange for media to go and "paparazzied" this man who owe thousands of summons.
Also, reports says they are going to apply for a court order here, sg court, to hurl those singaporean people who owe summons to them.
Please man, could someone tell the policia of malaysia that they are employed to solve those urgent cases and not be like the parking aunties of Singapore.
Sometimes it doesn't make sense, the summons collected will go into government budget. Then part of the budget definitely will go towards financing the police force and the police force do nothing!
But come to think of it, they are really doing something. They go collect summons which inturn go to the government and then go back to the police force which the police force pay them salary. HEY!! They are literally earning their own money!
passion
I read my dear friend blog just now. Who is that friend of mine? Oh it is turkey leg. He said he want to be perhaps an electrical engineer or an aerospace engineer. However when he think again, he feel guilty because he is steering away from his original path of becoming an artist who is capable of visualizing human anatomy, which i believe he is trying to say he can x-ray a woman off her clothes, or a man's. haha.
Ok, here we are talking about passion. I believe my generation and of course the generation before us are always controlled. We do not want to be a doctor simply because a doctor is that evil twin who give us medicine, bitter medicine, so be a doctor is going against ourselves. The other evil twins is perhaps, our parents who forced us to study or work in a course or profession what we do not like, like, medicine.
But what can we do but to follow our parents idea in the end? Therefore alot of us go and be in some profession like doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. But hey, when we become those, we actually like it, because as we are in great demand, our payroll rises also!
So we toil and sweat for half a century until our initial passion creep onto us. But by now, we couldn't even fulfilled our passions.
What is the thing that separate us from our passion? Is it because that our parents told us not to follow it? Or is it cash hypnotised us until we couldn't follow that original path? Or because we ourselves afraid of losing, afraid of uncertainties, in one word, afraid is the word that forbade us from pursuing our passion?
I believe with much regret, it is the last option. We are afraid of losing that 100k paycheck, the kind of respect, the kind of level and perhaps, the kind of society which we are associate with. True you will say those unsought after profession like artist have a certain degree of respect associate with them, but don't you realise those respect come posthumusly?
To me i am at the crossroad also together with my buddy. What is passion to us except a very distant word?
Ok, here we are talking about passion. I believe my generation and of course the generation before us are always controlled. We do not want to be a doctor simply because a doctor is that evil twin who give us medicine, bitter medicine, so be a doctor is going against ourselves. The other evil twins is perhaps, our parents who forced us to study or work in a course or profession what we do not like, like, medicine.
But what can we do but to follow our parents idea in the end? Therefore alot of us go and be in some profession like doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. But hey, when we become those, we actually like it, because as we are in great demand, our payroll rises also!
So we toil and sweat for half a century until our initial passion creep onto us. But by now, we couldn't even fulfilled our passions.
What is the thing that separate us from our passion? Is it because that our parents told us not to follow it? Or is it cash hypnotised us until we couldn't follow that original path? Or because we ourselves afraid of losing, afraid of uncertainties, in one word, afraid is the word that forbade us from pursuing our passion?
I believe with much regret, it is the last option. We are afraid of losing that 100k paycheck, the kind of respect, the kind of level and perhaps, the kind of society which we are associate with. True you will say those unsought after profession like artist have a certain degree of respect associate with them, but don't you realise those respect come posthumusly?
To me i am at the crossroad also together with my buddy. What is passion to us except a very distant word?
Friday, January 14, 2005
Are you trying to impose your views onto your friend?
I am peeved two days ago when my friend, whom i introduced to my boss told me something. "He told me not to join your line, because it is like MLM. You won't get anything out of it." I wonder whether he said that to my friend because he is envy or he is jealous that i didn't extend my invitation to him to join the financial advisory line.
To me, whenever i state my own views, i would said in advanced it is my view and you should just listen and take it as a guide because i believe beside you, yourself can only make the decision for yourself and nobody else could make decision for you, including your parents. I may sound unfilial when i said that but isn't it true? Who know better of you than you yourself? Therefore i am very pissed when that guy, whom happens to be my friend also, told that to my army pal.
One would argue that, well it is a small matter. But to me, he has just block the potential of my pal to make money and who know, he may just succeed in this line, but because of the "good" imposing advice, he just screw it up.
The future has many uncertainties, you need to try in order to know what path you are taking. If our forefathers didn't come here to seek fortune because their compatriots told them don't go and they really did, do you think there will be Singapore and us?
You are entitled to your views, thats should i say, basic human rights. However, it doesn't give you the tyranntical behaviour of imposing your myopic views onto your friend. Are you his dad trying to make decision for him?
Back to that friend, Pang, i hope you do not try to influence Eugene. I am sure Eugene, as a soon- can-vote young adult can make his own decision. Beside, do you know anything about the financial advisory line and MLM line? If not, i hope you could do some research on these two entirely different industries before coming up with your own theory.
Beside, whats wrong with being a financial adviser? True there are black sheeps in the industry, but which industry doesn't have? Even police, the supposedly god-send people to help to ensure law and order can be bribed.
Alot of people think one need to set up his own private limited in order to be called an entreprenuer, but i beg to differ. If you do not have the capital to set up your own business, are you deprived of being an entreprenuer? I don't think so.
Being an financial adviser is a good way to be an entreprenuer and yet, do not really clash with your studies unless you do not know what is time management. You are free to work when and where you like, you constantly meet up with people and people are the real challenges compare to blueprints or accounts. Your brain are constantly stimulated with the verbal and communication sparing with your prospects. You get paid for your effort.
I do not try to impose my views on eugene. I do not discourage or encourage him to join a particular line because i respect him as a friend, i believe his making decision function is still alive and kicking. I told him my expierences, my views, presented the pros and cons from my perspect. Although the ultimate decision lies with him, but as a true friend, i think i should provide him with an opportunity, a potential of making changes in his life.
Yes, changes is what keeps us alive. Some changes is irreversible but some do not. However, without changes, we can be sure that we will never move. Opportunity comes and goes. Open up the door for your friend, but whether he wants to enter into the room or not is his own decision. However, you can be sure you are good when you open the door and not drag him in.
One has two legs, he can walk on his own.
To me, whenever i state my own views, i would said in advanced it is my view and you should just listen and take it as a guide because i believe beside you, yourself can only make the decision for yourself and nobody else could make decision for you, including your parents. I may sound unfilial when i said that but isn't it true? Who know better of you than you yourself? Therefore i am very pissed when that guy, whom happens to be my friend also, told that to my army pal.
One would argue that, well it is a small matter. But to me, he has just block the potential of my pal to make money and who know, he may just succeed in this line, but because of the "good" imposing advice, he just screw it up.
The future has many uncertainties, you need to try in order to know what path you are taking. If our forefathers didn't come here to seek fortune because their compatriots told them don't go and they really did, do you think there will be Singapore and us?
You are entitled to your views, thats should i say, basic human rights. However, it doesn't give you the tyranntical behaviour of imposing your myopic views onto your friend. Are you his dad trying to make decision for him?
Back to that friend, Pang, i hope you do not try to influence Eugene. I am sure Eugene, as a soon- can-vote young adult can make his own decision. Beside, do you know anything about the financial advisory line and MLM line? If not, i hope you could do some research on these two entirely different industries before coming up with your own theory.
Beside, whats wrong with being a financial adviser? True there are black sheeps in the industry, but which industry doesn't have? Even police, the supposedly god-send people to help to ensure law and order can be bribed.
Alot of people think one need to set up his own private limited in order to be called an entreprenuer, but i beg to differ. If you do not have the capital to set up your own business, are you deprived of being an entreprenuer? I don't think so.
Being an financial adviser is a good way to be an entreprenuer and yet, do not really clash with your studies unless you do not know what is time management. You are free to work when and where you like, you constantly meet up with people and people are the real challenges compare to blueprints or accounts. Your brain are constantly stimulated with the verbal and communication sparing with your prospects. You get paid for your effort.
I do not try to impose my views on eugene. I do not discourage or encourage him to join a particular line because i respect him as a friend, i believe his making decision function is still alive and kicking. I told him my expierences, my views, presented the pros and cons from my perspect. Although the ultimate decision lies with him, but as a true friend, i think i should provide him with an opportunity, a potential of making changes in his life.
Yes, changes is what keeps us alive. Some changes is irreversible but some do not. However, without changes, we can be sure that we will never move. Opportunity comes and goes. Open up the door for your friend, but whether he wants to enter into the room or not is his own decision. However, you can be sure you are good when you open the door and not drag him in.
One has two legs, he can walk on his own.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Why i can't save
When you are 18 to 25 yrs old:
" I really CAN'T SAVE lor. You know why or not? Cos hor...i just started working mah. I have limited income. Then my expenses high cos hor...i go zouk...and i really like that prada bag alot. Young better enjoy first, before i grow old cos if old, how to enjoy! Enjoy finding dentures only can? Then now COE drop, i need to save for a car, then i can cut down on travelling. Yah i agree car is ex lah, but then downpayment i pay little, other month i installment i pay bit by bit lah. When my income higher, then i will start saving lah oki?"
But when you hit 25 to 35:
"That time i tell you i get a car right? Now i got road tax, instalments, maintence, etc. I really CAN'T SAVE lah. I barely can breathe leh. Recently i get married. My children just born yet. I need to spend on those nappies, milk because my wife say no to breast-feeding, she said she rather leave it to the cows. I promise you, wait until i am older when my burden is lesser, then i will start to save."
And the golden age of 35-50:
"Its been 20 years since we first met. My children are all grown up. The elder one going to SMU and the younger one to NUS. They really need my financial support. This is the most crucial. I need to do my best to provide for them. So very sorry, i don't have money to SAVE. In fact i am quite broke nowadays. This is the worst period of my life financially. You know the mercedes ad which says:" when you are in your prime, you get a benz" I always wonder how come i can't get it. "
Twilight zone 50-60:
" I can't save. I know i should have saved when i am young but i can't make it. My age, who, other than mc donald, will hire me? Old and useless lah. CPF? every month they give me a payout of $200. So small, eat also got problem. You know the chicken rice cost $2 that time? Now..its $20!! I know inflation, yet i can't do anything. Save? Cannot lah...can't even eat how to save?"
Soon to hand over ic, above 65:
"Save?! Are you kidding? hohoho. I soon give IC already leh. Save also give Government in the end. Ask my children burn more hell bank notes lah. I try to save below."
" I really CAN'T SAVE lor. You know why or not? Cos hor...i just started working mah. I have limited income. Then my expenses high cos hor...i go zouk...and i really like that prada bag alot. Young better enjoy first, before i grow old cos if old, how to enjoy! Enjoy finding dentures only can? Then now COE drop, i need to save for a car, then i can cut down on travelling. Yah i agree car is ex lah, but then downpayment i pay little, other month i installment i pay bit by bit lah. When my income higher, then i will start saving lah oki?"
But when you hit 25 to 35:
"That time i tell you i get a car right? Now i got road tax, instalments, maintence, etc. I really CAN'T SAVE lah. I barely can breathe leh. Recently i get married. My children just born yet. I need to spend on those nappies, milk because my wife say no to breast-feeding, she said she rather leave it to the cows. I promise you, wait until i am older when my burden is lesser, then i will start to save."
And the golden age of 35-50:
"Its been 20 years since we first met. My children are all grown up. The elder one going to SMU and the younger one to NUS. They really need my financial support. This is the most crucial. I need to do my best to provide for them. So very sorry, i don't have money to SAVE. In fact i am quite broke nowadays. This is the worst period of my life financially. You know the mercedes ad which says:" when you are in your prime, you get a benz" I always wonder how come i can't get it. "
Twilight zone 50-60:
" I can't save. I know i should have saved when i am young but i can't make it. My age, who, other than mc donald, will hire me? Old and useless lah. CPF? every month they give me a payout of $200. So small, eat also got problem. You know the chicken rice cost $2 that time? Now..its $20!! I know inflation, yet i can't do anything. Save? Cannot lah...can't even eat how to save?"
Soon to hand over ic, above 65:
"Save?! Are you kidding? hohoho. I soon give IC already leh. Save also give Government in the end. Ask my children burn more hell bank notes lah. I try to save below."
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Wet Ending
It was swift and fierce like the Tsunami. The aftermath was potent, hundreds of Megabyte lost with no backup to fall on. No warning system installed either. Hey what are you thinking of ?! I am talking about my pc which has crashed on the following day of boxing day. Although i didn't expierence the onslaught of tsunami, but however, i could feel its impact on a smaller scale, The demise of my pc. I had just upgrade my PC at Sim Lim Square before i entered SP. I thought it will be reliable. But i was proven wrong. Just as i am reaching the climax of the Incredibles , my PC crash. I was devastated. All the data in my hard disk are gone as a result of formatting my PC.
The story is the same. Everybody just take things for granted. Just because Tsunami never occur in the Indian Ocean doesn't mean it won't happen. Similarly, a newly upgraded pc doesn't mean it won't fail you when you least expected it to do so. No warning system installed in my pc doesn't mean i do not need one.
Although this episode has happened to me for the first time due to my usage of pirated stuff, which i believe contributed to the demise of my PC, but i don't think i would ever learn my lesson.
I believe the Tsunami haven't let us learn the lesson of being danger-concious either for natural disasters have and had occured throught the history of time, yet, time after time, it happened still.
The story is the same. Everybody just take things for granted. Just because Tsunami never occur in the Indian Ocean doesn't mean it won't happen. Similarly, a newly upgraded pc doesn't mean it won't fail you when you least expected it to do so. No warning system installed in my pc doesn't mean i do not need one.
Although this episode has happened to me for the first time due to my usage of pirated stuff, which i believe contributed to the demise of my PC, but i don't think i would ever learn my lesson.
I believe the Tsunami haven't let us learn the lesson of being danger-concious either for natural disasters have and had occured throught the history of time, yet, time after time, it happened still.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Don't feel left out..
Whenever you are in a group or gathered with your friends, you can be sure you can find a person who will stand out, and that is the socializer. The socializer is practically the one who will crack lame jokes, joke about almost everything or anything under the sun and poke fun at you. Often to the ire of the other members. However they will have a love hate relationship with him because without that socializer, that group will become very boring. So, everything actually everyone know that the socializer will poke fun at them, yet they still will invite him to any gathering because precisely of the reason that without him, the group will be bored.
A love-hate relationship was thus formed. However, the socializer actually has a very sacred job which perhaps, he himself do not even know. Usually, in a group, one or two will definitely be left out. So in this case, it is the socializer who is actually gelling up those left out personnel with the rest. Such is the sacred and important job of that of a socializer.
Why am i so vocal about giving kudos to socializer? Because i am one! hahaha. Sometimes i think without me, people will feel left out. However today i failed to complete my mission, one of my friends felt left out and i feel so much emotional.
I was have gathering with my army pals. 6 of us but only 5 of us were from JC( I am a JCIAN who downgrade to poly. You should know the answer of why). So there is this guy call Stephen who was from poly but he graduated. Initially, he was as noisy as the rest of us. However after that, he was mostly quiet.
So i gave him a call and he told me:" Aw, i felt so left out." Immediately i could understand why he felt this way. When i was in my secondary school, this guy call Han Cheong was downgraded from express to normal. And since that case happened, he dare not join us in any gatherings, even if he did, it was often after much coaxing. At that time, i thought:" hm...we didn't look down on you what, how come you think we are?"
It was after years later when i couldn't get into an University that i have the same feeling as what Han Cheong felt. This sense of self-depreciating feeling was actually, partly self invented. However as to stop thinking that way is, hard.
In a society where practically if you are a failure, you are labelled and sterotyped, it is very hard to shake off that social stigma of that a Poly graduates are much better than University graduates. That is why i can understand how Stephen felt. Although you may say:" whats the big deal?" But in a group where everybody is talking about the same thing which you have nothing to offer, you could feel that the society have been proven correct.
I don't really know what remedy to offer in this case. But everyone who will go out with friends, try to notice those who are quiet, especially those who suddenly turn quiet. They need your support and affirmation.
As for Stephen all i can told him is that:" Hey! Don't think you are lousy lah. You diploma Grad you say you lousy, then me this Half baked- downgrade to Poly 1 how sia?!!"
Stephen let out a loud graffaw.
Yes, the socializer always save the day.
A love-hate relationship was thus formed. However, the socializer actually has a very sacred job which perhaps, he himself do not even know. Usually, in a group, one or two will definitely be left out. So in this case, it is the socializer who is actually gelling up those left out personnel with the rest. Such is the sacred and important job of that of a socializer.
Why am i so vocal about giving kudos to socializer? Because i am one! hahaha. Sometimes i think without me, people will feel left out. However today i failed to complete my mission, one of my friends felt left out and i feel so much emotional.
I was have gathering with my army pals. 6 of us but only 5 of us were from JC( I am a JCIAN who downgrade to poly. You should know the answer of why). So there is this guy call Stephen who was from poly but he graduated. Initially, he was as noisy as the rest of us. However after that, he was mostly quiet.
So i gave him a call and he told me:" Aw, i felt so left out." Immediately i could understand why he felt this way. When i was in my secondary school, this guy call Han Cheong was downgraded from express to normal. And since that case happened, he dare not join us in any gatherings, even if he did, it was often after much coaxing. At that time, i thought:" hm...we didn't look down on you what, how come you think we are?"
It was after years later when i couldn't get into an University that i have the same feeling as what Han Cheong felt. This sense of self-depreciating feeling was actually, partly self invented. However as to stop thinking that way is, hard.
In a society where practically if you are a failure, you are labelled and sterotyped, it is very hard to shake off that social stigma of that a Poly graduates are much better than University graduates. That is why i can understand how Stephen felt. Although you may say:" whats the big deal?" But in a group where everybody is talking about the same thing which you have nothing to offer, you could feel that the society have been proven correct.
I don't really know what remedy to offer in this case. But everyone who will go out with friends, try to notice those who are quiet, especially those who suddenly turn quiet. They need your support and affirmation.
As for Stephen all i can told him is that:" Hey! Don't think you are lousy lah. You diploma Grad you say you lousy, then me this Half baked- downgrade to Poly 1 how sia?!!"
Stephen let out a loud graffaw.
Yes, the socializer always save the day.
Christmas
I have come to realise how time pass so fast ever since i went for my national Service. Although memories of my childhood are still fresh in the back of my mind, but somehow, i am quite sad that i cannot relieve those happy moments once again. Those moments where i am practically the tryant in the house. Being an only child has his perks you know. Those carefree moments where i would play with a ball and zoom past one room or another. Or leave my marks on the altar. That letter 'M' which i wrote is still visable.
Do you realised that when you are young, you hope that you could grow up faster and faster. During primary 1, you wished that you can be called Senior of the school and you wondered how many exams you need to pass in order to become primary sixters. But as you cross that hurdle, you come face to face with another hurdle, secondary school. And once again, you are a "oners" and u cross your fingers that you would be a "fourers" soon. Is the Theory of relativity coming into force? When you are in that time frame, you feel so slow but however if you are actually looking at that time-frame, this whole thing actually turn out to process and proceed at an alarming light speed.
When i am in that time frame, i was lamenting how slow the time is and that can i be off to NS and to University faster? Is there a faster route towards the end? But actually, i do not really want to reach the end. I want to enjoy the moment of what i am expierencing now. I am contridicting myself as usual.
But as though i have escape from the vicious cycle of karmic cause and effect, i find myself suddenly, worrying on how time have pass so fast. Perhaps is the rate at which things happened.
Countless of Christmas have pass by in my puny length of 21 yrs. Some i have been oblivious to, some i know the existence. As i am still engaging in a sure-lose battle to keep time off its fences, i wonder how many more christmas are left for me to savor.
Do you realised that when you are young, you hope that you could grow up faster and faster. During primary 1, you wished that you can be called Senior of the school and you wondered how many exams you need to pass in order to become primary sixters. But as you cross that hurdle, you come face to face with another hurdle, secondary school. And once again, you are a "oners" and u cross your fingers that you would be a "fourers" soon. Is the Theory of relativity coming into force? When you are in that time frame, you feel so slow but however if you are actually looking at that time-frame, this whole thing actually turn out to process and proceed at an alarming light speed.
When i am in that time frame, i was lamenting how slow the time is and that can i be off to NS and to University faster? Is there a faster route towards the end? But actually, i do not really want to reach the end. I want to enjoy the moment of what i am expierencing now. I am contridicting myself as usual.
But as though i have escape from the vicious cycle of karmic cause and effect, i find myself suddenly, worrying on how time have pass so fast. Perhaps is the rate at which things happened.
Countless of Christmas have pass by in my puny length of 21 yrs. Some i have been oblivious to, some i know the existence. As i am still engaging in a sure-lose battle to keep time off its fences, i wonder how many more christmas are left for me to savor.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Even iron bowl can be smelted down...
"Ok meng, tell us what you want to be when you grow up."
"Chi-cher, i want to be like my daddy and mummy, study very hard, get very good result, study until i can get a good job. I want to be an engineer because daddy and mummy say Singapore lack of engineers. I want to work for the civil service. Then rise up to be the president."
"Urm...rise to be president? But..Singapore's man of power is prime minister..."
"I don't care! I don't care! Daddy and mummy say must be president...Miss Wee i want to be the president!!"
"Oh okok Meng, don't cry. Thanks, sit down. So class...."
20 yrs later.......
"The Thai baht has just slide against the Greenback. Speculator are selling asian currency. A crisis is looming..Shankar, Channel News Asia"
" Suharto has just stepped down, indonesia is in chaos now. Looters are pratically combing all shops..."
"We got to bite the bullet."
"Unemployment rate has gone up again, economist predict a worse senario next year.....Glenda Chong, Channel News Asia."
"The government has just released our 3rd quarter growth, it has shunk. No more double digit."
"We want to distribute the wealth of the nation, to the people."
"We are expierencing a structural change in our economy."
"Singapore is just a little red dot...."
"Mr Goh! Where is the 70million!!"
"Mary has a little lamb...little lamb..."
"Sir, something happened..."
"Powell, can't you see i am reading to the children?"
"But sir...."
"Fuck off "
peep peep!! peep peep!
"Eh world trade centre kena hit "
peep peep!! peep peep!
"Sentosa gt kena or nt"
peep peep!! peep peep!
"Dunno leh"
"Oh my god!!!"
BOOM!!!
"Jesus!!!"
BOOM!!!
"Mr president, something really happen to our world trade centre...they are hit"
"They are hit......are what?!!!!"
"Its best we stop reading and hurry back, air force one is waiting"
"Holy shit!Powell, why didn't you tell me earlier on....jesus...."
"I did but you...."
"Whatever colin..."
"My fellow america, this is the biggest crisis we have, terrorism has reached our doorstep. Islam is a religion of peace..."
"....its either you are with us, or against us..."
"We have detained 12 JI members under the internal security act..."
" and this blah blah blah..terrorist..blah blah blah"
"terrorist blah blah blah blah blah"
"iraq blah blah blah blah"
"budget deficit blah blah blah blah"
"PSA has just retrenched another 100 odd workers..."
"HDB retrenched workers......."
"GST will be raise to 5%......"
"阿扁说，我们是台湾国......."
"我们一再强调，只有一个中国，我们觉不容忍拆散祖国，台湾是中国的一部分"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ok meng, tell us what you want to be when you grow up."
"Chi-cher, I really don't know. Civil job not safe, go out also scared bomb hit me....i think i just want to go China or India and work."
"Why you have this thoughts? China is a communist country..everyone still ride a bike!"
"Yes chi-cher, but it will be powerful..."
"Oh really?"
"Yes chi-cher, becos everything changes.."
Yes....Everything has changed.
"Chi-cher, i want to be like my daddy and mummy, study very hard, get very good result, study until i can get a good job. I want to be an engineer because daddy and mummy say Singapore lack of engineers. I want to work for the civil service. Then rise up to be the president."
"Urm...rise to be president? But..Singapore's man of power is prime minister..."
"I don't care! I don't care! Daddy and mummy say must be president...Miss Wee i want to be the president!!"
"Oh okok Meng, don't cry. Thanks, sit down. So class...."
20 yrs later.......
"The Thai baht has just slide against the Greenback. Speculator are selling asian currency. A crisis is looming..Shankar, Channel News Asia"
" Suharto has just stepped down, indonesia is in chaos now. Looters are pratically combing all shops..."
"We got to bite the bullet."
"Unemployment rate has gone up again, economist predict a worse senario next year.....Glenda Chong, Channel News Asia."
"The government has just released our 3rd quarter growth, it has shunk. No more double digit."
"We want to distribute the wealth of the nation, to the people."
"We are expierencing a structural change in our economy."
"Singapore is just a little red dot...."
"Mr Goh! Where is the 70million!!"
"Mary has a little lamb...little lamb..."
"Sir, something happened..."
"Powell, can't you see i am reading to the children?"
"But sir...."
"Fuck off "
peep peep!! peep peep!
"Eh world trade centre kena hit "
peep peep!! peep peep!
"Sentosa gt kena or nt"
peep peep!! peep peep!
"Dunno leh"
"Oh my god!!!"
BOOM!!!
"Jesus!!!"
BOOM!!!
"Mr president, something really happen to our world trade centre...they are hit"
"They are hit......are what?!!!!"
"Its best we stop reading and hurry back, air force one is waiting"
"Holy shit!Powell, why didn't you tell me earlier on....jesus...."
"I did but you...."
"Whatever colin..."
"My fellow america, this is the biggest crisis we have, terrorism has reached our doorstep. Islam is a religion of peace..."
"....its either you are with us, or against us..."
"We have detained 12 JI members under the internal security act..."
" and this blah blah blah..terrorist..blah blah blah"
"terrorist blah blah blah blah blah"
"iraq blah blah blah blah"
"budget deficit blah blah blah blah"
"PSA has just retrenched another 100 odd workers..."
"HDB retrenched workers......."
"GST will be raise to 5%......"
"阿扁说，我们是台湾国......."
"我们一再强调，只有一个中国，我们觉不容忍拆散祖国，台湾是中国的一部分"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ok meng, tell us what you want to be when you grow up."
"Chi-cher, I really don't know. Civil job not safe, go out also scared bomb hit me....i think i just want to go China or India and work."
"Why you have this thoughts? China is a communist country..everyone still ride a bike!"
"Yes chi-cher, but it will be powerful..."
"Oh really?"
"Yes chi-cher, becos everything changes.."
Yes....Everything has changed.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Merger
4 yrs ago they split, 4 yrs later they merged. I am talking about the two media entities. Hm....40 years ago we seperated from Malaysia, 40 years later....will we merged?
Friday, December 03, 2004
Biased voting show is over...finally
Finally we bid adieu to Singapore Idol, where pratically every Singaporean become Singtel Most Preferred Customer. Imagine the millions of calls that pour inside since the start of the show. No wonder Singtel Shares always rise whenever there is any charity shows or Singapore Idol coming up.
Of course without saying, any most watched show will have some controversies surrounding it. The most recent one is of course, why Sly never be number one and Taufik number two and also secondly, how come both also have recording contracts.
Let me tackle the first controversy. Personally speaking, sly should be crown number one. Stop hurling the abuses Taufik fans, when i say that, of course i am saying it on the basis of some hardfacts. I am not a sly fan nor a taufik one, i am not even a Singapore Idol fan and avid, staunch watcher to be exact. But all i know is, how come this hokkien accent k-box ah beng crooner can from day one of the audition right up to now, manage to be alive and even at the last moment, ousted Olinda, a rather powerful female vocalist. Why was he able to do that? It must be all those votes and smses.
Actually like i have said in my previous post, you are voted due to your popularity, not because of your talent. This trend of only whom the Asian have, is clearly shown when even joseph escada(sorry for the wrong spelling), could even be Philipines president, not to mention the countless Indian ministers who are voted because they are movie stars.
Some reports have said, oh when on the crunch, Singaporean know how to vote for the talented one. I beg to differ. If they are ever so logical, they won't be Singtel Most preferred Customer in the first place! And those star award voting? If let say Fann Wong could just give me a room in her posh private landed property, maybe i would consider typing countless smses till blisters formed on my thumb. Those idol chasers may be logical, fair enough, but are they rational? If they are rational enough, they won't throw money like that.
But due to the "irrationalism" of the idolising trend, that is why, it is justifiable of me to say sly should win, Taufik shouldn't.
Next consiracy i think it is the judge. To me, those four person are merely for show. They are worth only during the audition period and thats it, period! After the audition, mainly it is the audiences who has the final say, because everybody can vote.
Ok perhaps those four are there to sort of give constructive comment but is it necessary, absolutely not! Their comment won't determine who and who is going to get kicked out. They are merely there to spice things up but contributing those seemly profound but actually shallow comment.
But wait a minute! They appear to be puppet, but actually, i believe, those four are the one who propelled Taufik to the top spot. I believe in the last episode, it was those four, and not those smses which determine taufik to get the crown. So there you have it, consipracy.
And guys out there, no use lamenting that sly also get a contract. Don't behave like a child. Who on earth say that being second, you can't have a contract? Taufik didn't lose anything, in fact, he will be remembered down history as the FIRST singapore idol. Will sly ever be the FIRST idol, no way!
Although breaking the english pop scene is hard, but i am sure Taufik has already know that, and so do countless of people. Sly may break into the mandarin market. He may succeed, but i think its a matter of time before he is forgotten. We look at F4, tension and mainly those singers with looks or popularity. Their popularity waned after 2 yrs or so. I believe sly will also be that. Is he a writer? Not do i know of. He is a Jay Chou type 2? Too bad, Jay is a singer who is there, at the right place at the right time, plus alittle bit of talent.
The market of mandarin pop scene is big, with China. However, given the nature and appetite of idolisers out there, sly won't survive long. On the other hand, i do believe Taufik could survive, if properly marketed to Indonesia and Malaysia.
He could be marketed to mandarin pop scene too. Those idolisers down there will feel he is exotic and therefore, accept him
Chill out idolisers, it is just another show, another marketing scheme of mediacorp and of course, Singtel.....not forgetting frementle
Of course without saying, any most watched show will have some controversies surrounding it. The most recent one is of course, why Sly never be number one and Taufik number two and also secondly, how come both also have recording contracts.
Let me tackle the first controversy. Personally speaking, sly should be crown number one. Stop hurling the abuses Taufik fans, when i say that, of course i am saying it on the basis of some hardfacts. I am not a sly fan nor a taufik one, i am not even a Singapore Idol fan and avid, staunch watcher to be exact. But all i know is, how come this hokkien accent k-box ah beng crooner can from day one of the audition right up to now, manage to be alive and even at the last moment, ousted Olinda, a rather powerful female vocalist. Why was he able to do that? It must be all those votes and smses.
Actually like i have said in my previous post, you are voted due to your popularity, not because of your talent. This trend of only whom the Asian have, is clearly shown when even joseph escada(sorry for the wrong spelling), could even be Philipines president, not to mention the countless Indian ministers who are voted because they are movie stars.
Some reports have said, oh when on the crunch, Singaporean know how to vote for the talented one. I beg to differ. If they are ever so logical, they won't be Singtel Most preferred Customer in the first place! And those star award voting? If let say Fann Wong could just give me a room in her posh private landed property, maybe i would consider typing countless smses till blisters formed on my thumb. Those idol chasers may be logical, fair enough, but are they rational? If they are rational enough, they won't throw money like that.
But due to the "irrationalism" of the idolising trend, that is why, it is justifiable of me to say sly should win, Taufik shouldn't.
Next consiracy i think it is the judge. To me, those four person are merely for show. They are worth only during the audition period and thats it, period! After the audition, mainly it is the audiences who has the final say, because everybody can vote.
Ok perhaps those four are there to sort of give constructive comment but is it necessary, absolutely not! Their comment won't determine who and who is going to get kicked out. They are merely there to spice things up but contributing those seemly profound but actually shallow comment.
But wait a minute! They appear to be puppet, but actually, i believe, those four are the one who propelled Taufik to the top spot. I believe in the last episode, it was those four, and not those smses which determine taufik to get the crown. So there you have it, consipracy.
And guys out there, no use lamenting that sly also get a contract. Don't behave like a child. Who on earth say that being second, you can't have a contract? Taufik didn't lose anything, in fact, he will be remembered down history as the FIRST singapore idol. Will sly ever be the FIRST idol, no way!
Although breaking the english pop scene is hard, but i am sure Taufik has already know that, and so do countless of people. Sly may break into the mandarin market. He may succeed, but i think its a matter of time before he is forgotten. We look at F4, tension and mainly those singers with looks or popularity. Their popularity waned after 2 yrs or so. I believe sly will also be that. Is he a writer? Not do i know of. He is a Jay Chou type 2? Too bad, Jay is a singer who is there, at the right place at the right time, plus alittle bit of talent.
The market of mandarin pop scene is big, with China. However, given the nature and appetite of idolisers out there, sly won't survive long. On the other hand, i do believe Taufik could survive, if properly marketed to Indonesia and Malaysia.
He could be marketed to mandarin pop scene too. Those idolisers down there will feel he is exotic and therefore, accept him
Chill out idolisers, it is just another show, another marketing scheme of mediacorp and of course, Singtel.....not forgetting frementle
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Any Upsize?
Today one convict get his sentence, upped by a few more years. It remind me of when i am at mc donalds.
Judge:" Good Morning welcome to Mccourt".
Convict:" I need to have a 6 years sentence for rehabilitation".
Judge:" Any upsize to go along?"
Convict:" NO THANKS"
After 1 min.....
Judge:" heres your sentence, have a nice term!"
Convict:" How come so much?!!!"
Judge:" I UPPED FOR YOU".
HAHAHAHA..in this case..it is not the customer(convict) who want an upsize, its the waiter( Judge) who up for him!
I don't understand lah...I mean...ok u do wrong..u sent to jail..bad enough....how come some still so stupid go and plead or appeal? Every cases the outcome is more or less, upsized jail term. What for??? I think the judges also feel pissed. Maybe in the long long time during the colonial days, they had a meeting.
judge 1:" eh this can't go along doesn't it. Every cases people come and appeal. I have no time for my wife, my mistress, pratically everything!"
Judge2:"(bow to her masjesty portrait and speaking in a THICK Queen's english accent) I think...we need to have some measures...hm......"
Judge3:" Why don't we lengthen(the word upsized was not invented in those days) their sentence?"
Judge1:" But...doesn't it seems too cruel?"
Judge2:" Precisely!! It serve as an deterrance for crimes. And beside they done wrong and still have the cheek to appeal and hoping for a reduction? Fat Hope!!"
Judge3:" But the real reason is.........."
All judges in unison:" So that it will deter future convicts of bothering us and lighten our work again!!!"
Then 1 smart alerc pointed out:" But then....Singaporean got so smart meh?"
"Got lah"
"Eh you don't spoil mood leh"
" @$@#%$"
"School for fuck?"
but then 40 yrs later........
"..........Another convicted get his jail sentence upped to 4 more good years again when he appeal to the high court for a reduction in term" Cheryl Coke, Channel News Asia.
The smart aleck judge got it all right.
Judge:" Good Morning welcome to Mccourt".
Convict:" I need to have a 6 years sentence for rehabilitation".
Judge:" Any upsize to go along?"
Convict:" NO THANKS"
After 1 min.....
Judge:" heres your sentence, have a nice term!"
Convict:" How come so much?!!!"
Judge:" I UPPED FOR YOU".
HAHAHAHA..in this case..it is not the customer(convict) who want an upsize, its the waiter( Judge) who up for him!
I don't understand lah...I mean...ok u do wrong..u sent to jail..bad enough....how come some still so stupid go and plead or appeal? Every cases the outcome is more or less, upsized jail term. What for??? I think the judges also feel pissed. Maybe in the long long time during the colonial days, they had a meeting.
judge 1:" eh this can't go along doesn't it. Every cases people come and appeal. I have no time for my wife, my mistress, pratically everything!"
Judge2:"(bow to her masjesty portrait and speaking in a THICK Queen's english accent) I think...we need to have some measures...hm......"
Judge3:" Why don't we lengthen(the word upsized was not invented in those days) their sentence?"
Judge1:" But...doesn't it seems too cruel?"
Judge2:" Precisely!! It serve as an deterrance for crimes. And beside they done wrong and still have the cheek to appeal and hoping for a reduction? Fat Hope!!"
Judge3:" But the real reason is.........."
All judges in unison:" So that it will deter future convicts of bothering us and lighten our work again!!!"
Then 1 smart alerc pointed out:" But then....Singaporean got so smart meh?"
"Got lah"
"Eh you don't spoil mood leh"
" @$@#%$"
"School for fuck?"
but then 40 yrs later........
"..........Another convicted get his jail sentence upped to 4 more good years again when he appeal to the high court for a reduction in term" Cheryl Coke, Channel News Asia.
The smart aleck judge got it all right.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Huang Na
It is a really a phenomenon that the killing of Huang Na can caused so much attention from all walks of life in Singapore. Certainly Singapore as a safe place with low crime rate doesn't seems too good a bargin. People often relate low crime rate as no crime rate. This is a good reminder to us, the forever complacent Singaporean who often take things for granted that, low doesn't mean no.
Beside opening our very own blurred eyes to the reality that crime will and forever exist in our modern society, this sensation also tell us something, the efficiency of our immigration and custom authority. Very often now and then, we are shown at how efficient our Customs people are. Pictures of the illegal immigrant caught at the causeway custom were splashed on the front page of the newspapers. Statistics were reported. However, the case where Took Leng How can and able to escaped to Penang when his passport has been compounded by the police raise a serious security loophole which no newspapers has really ever questioned on why he is able to escape.
Without a passport, without any proper documentation. Yet, he is able to escape to Malaysia. Isn't this amazing? So for the past one month or so where he is caught and keep in custody, none of the officers spoke anything to clarify on why and how he is able to escape. Usually, when some trafficking was spotted or illegal immigrants were caught, the spokesman, usually a top brass with neatly pressed uniform will stand in front of the camera, deliver what was suspected as a pre-scripted comment to the citizen. A smuggly smile can be seen and it is translated as pay rise is on the card. But how come when Took Leng How escaped, no spokesman came onto the camera and spoke on why he escaped.
So everybody, anxiously waited when yes, a minister cleared the air during a parlimentary proceeding. However, instead of answering or perhaps, allocating more time to describe on how Took was able to escape, he stressed alot on how the custom is efficient and etc. One sentence was mentioned about Took and to me that is rather unnecessary. He mentioned that, if i am not wrong, Took was still in custody and that the police are still investigating. Everybody know that, so why bother to bring that out? First part of the speech you said that custom is efficient, then later, it was sort of refuted invisibly when you mentioned about Took and everybody think back on his escape to Malaysia. So in the end, Customs was not really safe afterall.
To highlight the importance of security, i was going to one army camp which i don't want to mention here last monday. Two RP was sitted in front of the guard house, their impressive SAR21 by their side. So after obtaining my camp pass, i put my bag on the table in front of them, asking them whether they want to check my bag. Housing the most elite troops of the SAF, i thought security was super tight but i was wrong. After discussing among themselves, one of the RP said:" we are told to check cars..bag...." So i said:" that means don't need to check bag?" That RP actually say yes! Imagine inside my bag was some TNT and i can just went in and blow the whole hell out of it. Imagine that!
Security needs time, need manpower and most importanly, need vigilant. There is absolutely no use if you have one guard standing one metre away from another of the whole orchard road if those guard are not vigilant enough.
Beside the breach of security and those loopholes which i mentioned, Huang Na case brought me to my attention that Singaporean are really paparazzis, each and every one. How much bereavement Huang Na parents received, how are they going to spend, what are they going to spend, etc, need to be reported to the Singaporean, by the order of the Singaporean.
I am sure everyone, in his or her conciousness, will remember how he or she felt when their loved one passed away. The amount of bereavement money or pek ghim is the last thing on our mind because we are all filled with grief. Isn't that same for Huang Na parents? The demised of their beloved daughter has brought them much greive. Adding to the fact that their one year old son has his birthday date near to his elder sister cremation date. Yet, unsympathising Singaporean pressed to know how much bereavement money they had, how are they going to spend it.
If we are going to control how they are going to spend the money, isn't that defeating the purpose of giving the money in the first place? Pek Ghim is given to alleviate the grief of the family of the deceased. True we can't pacify the psychological and emotional aspect of the family members, but what we can do, physically, is to help them through the giving of bereavement cash. If the parents of Huang think buying a benz with the money will give them relieve, then so be it, go ahead and purchase one i will say.
Also, its amazing when we don't question those dubious charitable organisation who every year pressed for donations 3 to 4 times a year, with each session having millions donated to them, for their balanced sheet? Yet we are being cruel to the parents of the deceased by asking them how much they received. If it is rude to ask people about their pay and salary, isn't it untolerable by God sake that we ask how much is their bereavement money?
Stop invading into other people privacy and disturbed them dear fellow intrusive Singaporean. If you think that because you give( the bereavement money) and that you shall receive( know how much in total), then i think Huang's parents would rather you not donating.
The stone age has gone and so do the bronze and ice age. Singapore has many firsts, but are we merely first in term of hardware? How about software, the people's minds? I am not surprised if one day, our UOB tower get hit by 2 budget airline planes as our security is actually, easily pregnable. Hope everyone remembers how the british boast that Singapore is an inpregnable fortress. I am sad that 60 years on, nothing has ever changed.
Beside opening our very own blurred eyes to the reality that crime will and forever exist in our modern society, this sensation also tell us something, the efficiency of our immigration and custom authority. Very often now and then, we are shown at how efficient our Customs people are. Pictures of the illegal immigrant caught at the causeway custom were splashed on the front page of the newspapers. Statistics were reported. However, the case where Took Leng How can and able to escaped to Penang when his passport has been compounded by the police raise a serious security loophole which no newspapers has really ever questioned on why he is able to escape.
Without a passport, without any proper documentation. Yet, he is able to escape to Malaysia. Isn't this amazing? So for the past one month or so where he is caught and keep in custody, none of the officers spoke anything to clarify on why and how he is able to escape. Usually, when some trafficking was spotted or illegal immigrants were caught, the spokesman, usually a top brass with neatly pressed uniform will stand in front of the camera, deliver what was suspected as a pre-scripted comment to the citizen. A smuggly smile can be seen and it is translated as pay rise is on the card. But how come when Took Leng How escaped, no spokesman came onto the camera and spoke on why he escaped.
So everybody, anxiously waited when yes, a minister cleared the air during a parlimentary proceeding. However, instead of answering or perhaps, allocating more time to describe on how Took was able to escape, he stressed alot on how the custom is efficient and etc. One sentence was mentioned about Took and to me that is rather unnecessary. He mentioned that, if i am not wrong, Took was still in custody and that the police are still investigating. Everybody know that, so why bother to bring that out? First part of the speech you said that custom is efficient, then later, it was sort of refuted invisibly when you mentioned about Took and everybody think back on his escape to Malaysia. So in the end, Customs was not really safe afterall.
To highlight the importance of security, i was going to one army camp which i don't want to mention here last monday. Two RP was sitted in front of the guard house, their impressive SAR21 by their side. So after obtaining my camp pass, i put my bag on the table in front of them, asking them whether they want to check my bag. Housing the most elite troops of the SAF, i thought security was super tight but i was wrong. After discussing among themselves, one of the RP said:" we are told to check cars..bag...." So i said:" that means don't need to check bag?" That RP actually say yes! Imagine inside my bag was some TNT and i can just went in and blow the whole hell out of it. Imagine that!
Security needs time, need manpower and most importanly, need vigilant. There is absolutely no use if you have one guard standing one metre away from another of the whole orchard road if those guard are not vigilant enough.
Beside the breach of security and those loopholes which i mentioned, Huang Na case brought me to my attention that Singaporean are really paparazzis, each and every one. How much bereavement Huang Na parents received, how are they going to spend, what are they going to spend, etc, need to be reported to the Singaporean, by the order of the Singaporean.
I am sure everyone, in his or her conciousness, will remember how he or she felt when their loved one passed away. The amount of bereavement money or pek ghim is the last thing on our mind because we are all filled with grief. Isn't that same for Huang Na parents? The demised of their beloved daughter has brought them much greive. Adding to the fact that their one year old son has his birthday date near to his elder sister cremation date. Yet, unsympathising Singaporean pressed to know how much bereavement money they had, how are they going to spend it.
If we are going to control how they are going to spend the money, isn't that defeating the purpose of giving the money in the first place? Pek Ghim is given to alleviate the grief of the family of the deceased. True we can't pacify the psychological and emotional aspect of the family members, but what we can do, physically, is to help them through the giving of bereavement cash. If the parents of Huang think buying a benz with the money will give them relieve, then so be it, go ahead and purchase one i will say.
Also, its amazing when we don't question those dubious charitable organisation who every year pressed for donations 3 to 4 times a year, with each session having millions donated to them, for their balanced sheet? Yet we are being cruel to the parents of the deceased by asking them how much they received. If it is rude to ask people about their pay and salary, isn't it untolerable by God sake that we ask how much is their bereavement money?
Stop invading into other people privacy and disturbed them dear fellow intrusive Singaporean. If you think that because you give( the bereavement money) and that you shall receive( know how much in total), then i think Huang's parents would rather you not donating.
The stone age has gone and so do the bronze and ice age. Singapore has many firsts, but are we merely first in term of hardware? How about software, the people's minds? I am not surprised if one day, our UOB tower get hit by 2 budget airline planes as our security is actually, easily pregnable. Hope everyone remembers how the british boast that Singapore is an inpregnable fortress. I am sad that 60 years on, nothing has ever changed.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
yay!!! 1 A and 6D
yup i got the result i aimed for, 1A and 6D. A big thank you to all my lecturers. Your enriching lesson make this happened. Thanks. To my friends who didn't score what they expected, do not give up. Like my Napoleon Hill says:" Any man who can conceive and believe in, he shall achieved". This sentence boils down to one of the bosses of Everest Associates( representing Prudential assc), my boss, Foo Cheong Yong, who told me this when i was in my lowest spirit and due to that sentence, it waken me up to face the world of failures. Thanks Boss!!
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Singaporean and their excuses
Finally i am contracted and is a financial adviser with prudential. My engine is all heated up, waiting for the flag down before i dash towards the bright future of no finish line. In our business, there can be no finished line. Having cross the finishing line means we are, well, finished.
Are Singaporen creative? Definitely! Singaporean are creative in coming up with excuses. I was having my roadshow at pasir ris. A small satelite town, but full of creative people. There are alot of distinct people. Once i tried to approach this malay lady. She told me:" oh cannot, i was in a rush". In a rush when she is like strolling? Never mind, i look at her with my eyes wide as she strolled to the ATM 50 metres away from where i am standing. After withdrawing her money, she stroll again to where she need to go! In a rush indeed!
Another guy was smoking at the dustbin where i approached him trying to do a survey. He told me he is not interested. Hm, how could you not be interested when you didn't even know what i am going to ask you! So i ask him why he is not interested and he said if i disturbed him he is going to sue me for harassment! Then should i sue him for threatening me using Law? Anyway he don't have the lawyer look.
This guy is even more powerful. He can't think of an excuse on the spot! He keep pointing to his watch and haw and ham. I know he is trying to tell me he is in a rush also so i said:" oh you are in a rush am i right?" And he give me a smile which means i have just spoke to him.
Well well, excuses and excuses. Why can't they just say no? The art of excuse is not saying one hundred and one excuses but just say a firm No. This lady, whom i was to met last friday, suddenly sprang a surprise meeting with boss excuse. I was willing to go down, from paya lebar to NUS just to have a talk of 15min with no selling, no presentation. Yet she offered me an excuse which is too powerful, she use her boss.
So i msn her today. Well suddenly she typed so many excuses that i can't keep count of. A merely 15min of lunch meeting and she can't make it, yet she got so many time for so many activities. Unbelievable.
Well, you may say we financial adviser are cheaters, are high class beggars are this are that but ultimately, who is the one who benefits from the policies, it is the policy holder. Are we the beneficiaries of your policies? Do we earn millions from you, do you have millions to spare first? We have to abide by MAS guideline, meet our agency targets and of course not to let ourselves down, we go so many miles hoping to achieve all that and also to satisfy your needs.
So please people next time you see a fiancial adviser trying to talk to you, grant him that 15min. It could be very well change your life. If you are afraid that you will buy something in the end which you do not want to initially, then you should really blame on your own because you can't stand on firm ground. The money is in your pocket, it is you wil take it out not the advisers who fish it out.
(sorry for this entry, i was pissed by this lady who give me hundred and one excuses.)
Are Singaporen creative? Definitely! Singaporean are creative in coming up with excuses. I was having my roadshow at pasir ris. A small satelite town, but full of creative people. There are alot of distinct people. Once i tried to approach this malay lady. She told me:" oh cannot, i was in a rush". In a rush when she is like strolling? Never mind, i look at her with my eyes wide as she strolled to the ATM 50 metres away from where i am standing. After withdrawing her money, she stroll again to where she need to go! In a rush indeed!
Another guy was smoking at the dustbin where i approached him trying to do a survey. He told me he is not interested. Hm, how could you not be interested when you didn't even know what i am going to ask you! So i ask him why he is not interested and he said if i disturbed him he is going to sue me for harassment! Then should i sue him for threatening me using Law? Anyway he don't have the lawyer look.
This guy is even more powerful. He can't think of an excuse on the spot! He keep pointing to his watch and haw and ham. I know he is trying to tell me he is in a rush also so i said:" oh you are in a rush am i right?" And he give me a smile which means i have just spoke to him.
Well well, excuses and excuses. Why can't they just say no? The art of excuse is not saying one hundred and one excuses but just say a firm No. This lady, whom i was to met last friday, suddenly sprang a surprise meeting with boss excuse. I was willing to go down, from paya lebar to NUS just to have a talk of 15min with no selling, no presentation. Yet she offered me an excuse which is too powerful, she use her boss.
So i msn her today. Well suddenly she typed so many excuses that i can't keep count of. A merely 15min of lunch meeting and she can't make it, yet she got so many time for so many activities. Unbelievable.
Well, you may say we financial adviser are cheaters, are high class beggars are this are that but ultimately, who is the one who benefits from the policies, it is the policy holder. Are we the beneficiaries of your policies? Do we earn millions from you, do you have millions to spare first? We have to abide by MAS guideline, meet our agency targets and of course not to let ourselves down, we go so many miles hoping to achieve all that and also to satisfy your needs.
So please people next time you see a fiancial adviser trying to talk to you, grant him that 15min. It could be very well change your life. If you are afraid that you will buy something in the end which you do not want to initially, then you should really blame on your own because you can't stand on firm ground. The money is in your pocket, it is you wil take it out not the advisers who fish it out.
(sorry for this entry, i was pissed by this lady who give me hundred and one excuses.)
Sunday, November 14, 2004
徐志摩
"我将于茫茫人海中访我唯一灵魂之伴侣，得之，我幸。不得，我命，如此而已."
---徐志摩 1897～1931
"I will seek, in the wilderness of this world, the only one that i love. Have, i am lucky. Not, thats just my life"
---Xu ZhiMou, 1897～1931, Chinese modern poet.
---徐志摩 1897～1931
"I will seek, in the wilderness of this world, the only one that i love. Have, i am lucky. Not, thats just my life"
---Xu ZhiMou, 1897～1931, Chinese modern poet.
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Voting ...not for Sylvester..
I believe the time is near. What time you would ask? Oh the time for election to come. I look with excitement when Goh Chok Tong hand over the baton to Lee Hsien Loong. So i waited and waited for election to come. But it seems lukewarm. Nobody breathe anything. When Badawi ascend the throne, immediately we have the Malaysian Election. It is quite normal isn't it. Because when the baton was given to Badawi, only one person in Malaysia has given his nod and that is Tun Mathathir. Then what about the people? The tribal council of millions haven't spoken, haven't cast their vote! So it is natural that general election is held quite fast after Badawi became the Prime minister.
Recently, if you have noticed, the ministers start to wake up from their hibernation, out of their burrows, start their walkabouts and all that. Okay stop that defamation or libel suits first, i am not saying ministers do not interact with the people if there is no elections but i am saying that i feel that now, the walkabouts have become more, interviews, appearance have become intensified.
Of course i am worried and excited. I am 21 and of a legal age to vote! Voting for your countries leader is unlike voting for Sylvester Sim for the Singapore Idol. Sylvester may, if lucky, cut 1 or 2 albums for 1 or 2 years after which he may go back to his interior design arena but ministers or policitian leaders are here to stay for 4 to 5 years. And anything can happen in these years. So they are given a very heavy burden and responsibilities. That is why, we don't use SMS, emails to vote. Neither are we allowed to vote multiple times for our country's "steerer". Everybody only have 1 chance and you better make full use of it. So, hm...Singapore Idol voting system is rather unfair and not just enough.
I am quite worried by the youngsters, particularly people of my age. What is their basis for voting? I recalled in class, my lecturer asked us to vote for that someone who we think best to deserve an A. So the classmates voted. However, what disturbed me is that, the attitude is, if i like you, i will vote for you. I don't really care whether you deserve that A or not. If i like you, you are in.
This attitude is quite similiar to people who say:" oh i may vote for the opposition because they can counter-check the government" or " oh to bring in some excitement to the local politics, PAP has dominated for too long". So are they saying they vote for the sake of adding more colours to the political arena, are they voting for the sake of the appearance merely of Chee or JBJ in the parliment, or, do they vote because they want to see Singapore grow to a greater height? It really worry me.
Ok perhaps having some oppositions to check the government is good. However, looking at our local oppositions candidates, i find it hard for them to convinced me that they will bring Singapore to greater height. Look at Tang Liang Hong, he was being accused of a Chinese Chauvanist. Of course he denied, however i feel, as a man, as a person, he should really come back and clear the air, instead of airing his woes in Australia. Chee Soon Juan, an avant garde attention seeker. Who could forget his $7million( pardon me if the figure is wrong) question to Goh Chok Tong. Is is appropriate asking such question to Goh Chok Tong in a wet market? What is his motive when he seek so many foreign organisations' support for his libel suits? He oused Chiam See Tong from SDP rumours have said, so can i predict that he will perhaps..oused the whole cabinet and start his dictatorship? Its scary isn't it. I do hope our opposition can really have some good new blood. And of course, stop asking some nitty gritty, petty questions in the parliment.
Perhaps Singapore is small, i don't see the need of having so many parties. We have PAP, SDP,SDA,NSP,etc. Over 10 odd big and small parties. If we have a land mass like Indonesia, ok its justifiable. But look, even America, a huge country only has, basically 2 parties, the Democrats and Republican. England we have Labour party and the Conservaties. In China we have only the CCP. Erm...okay China is exceptional.
Perhaps it is time the opposition have a coalition under one umbrella. Of course the people inside must have the same agenda or else fraction and friction will occur and it isn't good. Also, pooling of resources can have larger economy of scales, haha. And since there isn't any good candidates, at least the pooling will get stronger even without 1 or 2 strong candidates.
So, until PM Lee dissolves the Cabinet, the electoral Committee start to redraw the GRC boundaries, i guess i just have to sit back and watch Singapore Idol and curse at the unfair, biased system of voting of the show.
Recently, if you have noticed, the ministers start to wake up from their hibernation, out of their burrows, start their walkabouts and all that. Okay stop that defamation or libel suits first, i am not saying ministers do not interact with the people if there is no elections but i am saying that i feel that now, the walkabouts have become more, interviews, appearance have become intensified.
Of course i am worried and excited. I am 21 and of a legal age to vote! Voting for your countries leader is unlike voting for Sylvester Sim for the Singapore Idol. Sylvester may, if lucky, cut 1 or 2 albums for 1 or 2 years after which he may go back to his interior design arena but ministers or policitian leaders are here to stay for 4 to 5 years. And anything can happen in these years. So they are given a very heavy burden and responsibilities. That is why, we don't use SMS, emails to vote. Neither are we allowed to vote multiple times for our country's "steerer". Everybody only have 1 chance and you better make full use of it. So, hm...Singapore Idol voting system is rather unfair and not just enough.
I am quite worried by the youngsters, particularly people of my age. What is their basis for voting? I recalled in class, my lecturer asked us to vote for that someone who we think best to deserve an A. So the classmates voted. However, what disturbed me is that, the attitude is, if i like you, i will vote for you. I don't really care whether you deserve that A or not. If i like you, you are in.
This attitude is quite similiar to people who say:" oh i may vote for the opposition because they can counter-check the government" or " oh to bring in some excitement to the local politics, PAP has dominated for too long". So are they saying they vote for the sake of adding more colours to the political arena, are they voting for the sake of the appearance merely of Chee or JBJ in the parliment, or, do they vote because they want to see Singapore grow to a greater height? It really worry me.
Ok perhaps having some oppositions to check the government is good. However, looking at our local oppositions candidates, i find it hard for them to convinced me that they will bring Singapore to greater height. Look at Tang Liang Hong, he was being accused of a Chinese Chauvanist. Of course he denied, however i feel, as a man, as a person, he should really come back and clear the air, instead of airing his woes in Australia. Chee Soon Juan, an avant garde attention seeker. Who could forget his $7million( pardon me if the figure is wrong) question to Goh Chok Tong. Is is appropriate asking such question to Goh Chok Tong in a wet market? What is his motive when he seek so many foreign organisations' support for his libel suits? He oused Chiam See Tong from SDP rumours have said, so can i predict that he will perhaps..oused the whole cabinet and start his dictatorship? Its scary isn't it. I do hope our opposition can really have some good new blood. And of course, stop asking some nitty gritty, petty questions in the parliment.
Perhaps Singapore is small, i don't see the need of having so many parties. We have PAP, SDP,SDA,NSP,etc. Over 10 odd big and small parties. If we have a land mass like Indonesia, ok its justifiable. But look, even America, a huge country only has, basically 2 parties, the Democrats and Republican. England we have Labour party and the Conservaties. In China we have only the CCP. Erm...okay China is exceptional.
Perhaps it is time the opposition have a coalition under one umbrella. Of course the people inside must have the same agenda or else fraction and friction will occur and it isn't good. Also, pooling of resources can have larger economy of scales, haha. And since there isn't any good candidates, at least the pooling will get stronger even without 1 or 2 strong candidates.
So, until PM Lee dissolves the Cabinet, the electoral Committee start to redraw the GRC boundaries, i guess i just have to sit back and watch Singapore Idol and curse at the unfair, biased system of voting of the show.
Friday, October 29, 2004
complacency
I think i am getting complacent for over such trivial results which i have achieved so far. OH NO!!! Why do i say that, because i just blew away 10 marks for my electrical technology semestral exam for nothing!!! The formula was right under my nose and yet i try to be funny by subsituting a value for one of the unknowns in the formula with another value which i thought was correct, even though the formula state so i was wrong! So whats wrong? Complacency man!!
The 3 greatest sin of a student is complacency, laziness and procrastination, in order. When a student get complacent, he would think that he is some guru or whatever and so he will be lazy and don't study. So he become lazy. And when he is lazy, he will procrastinate.
Although i do not have the last 2, the complacency part is slowly surfacing in me. Argh!! I must curb it, control it, i cannot let a small slipshot thrawed my plan of getting a scholarship? hahahaha.
I also feel my motivation start to fizzle in all aspect. My studies, my financial adviser job,etc. I just hope i can quickly get my license to practice and start finding people to strike a deal with. Also, hope that my motivation would be increase back to the same old time high level during this coming holiday.
Fear is crippling me. I hope i can muster the courage and approach. Yet i can't, because the ghost of the past keep haunting me....
The 3 greatest sin of a student is complacency, laziness and procrastination, in order. When a student get complacent, he would think that he is some guru or whatever and so he will be lazy and don't study. So he become lazy. And when he is lazy, he will procrastinate.
Although i do not have the last 2, the complacency part is slowly surfacing in me. Argh!! I must curb it, control it, i cannot let a small slipshot thrawed my plan of getting a scholarship? hahahaha.
I also feel my motivation start to fizzle in all aspect. My studies, my financial adviser job,etc. I just hope i can quickly get my license to practice and start finding people to strike a deal with. Also, hope that my motivation would be increase back to the same old time high level during this coming holiday.
Fear is crippling me. I hope i can muster the courage and approach. Yet i can't, because the ghost of the past keep haunting me....
Thursday, October 28, 2004
It ain't what it is
I read with regret of what has happened in the southern part of thailand. Now i can understand why alot of our young "able" males are going to bintan, not britian mind you!
Thailand used to be the place where cheap food, cheap imitation goods and cheap hookers roam in the streets. Apart from being questioned by your wife when she found that strawberry flavoured condom in your pocket, the last thing in your mind is that your hotel room is stormed by masked commandos, welding some automatic machine gun that can fire more rounds than you do with your brother down under, while you are in the moment of achieving the climax of the whole process.
Therefore, you have it, destination Bintan.
But apart from coming up with that reason on why bintan became such hot spot for singaporean looking for some fun, cheap, sastifying trills, another thing set me thinking: Are religion good or bad?
On one end ,the clerics teaches Islam as the religion of peace, while on the other, numerous heads are cut by a oh so blunt knife by some muslim extremists while verses are chanted in the background.
Christianity teaches peace also, yet the crusades kills so many people during the struggle of teritories( if i am not wrong) with the muslim.
And Dalai Lama, go around saying that tibet should be autonomous and rumours have said that he has some private armies, hm, so much so for a religion that advocate everything is "empty and emptiness is everything".
Beside all that, who else can forget our dear joachim kang, some other sexually and monetary deprived priests, brothers, fathers, monk, abbort, who either have sex with underaged girls or steal temple money for that Mecedes Benz SLK
It is really sad actually because all these happenings are man made. Thailand turn out to be like this because people are using violent, in the name of religion to create havoc for their own agenda. Same goes with Osama, the crusaders and others.
Religion, a power who can binds people, have been the scapegoat of humans own advancement, either bad or good.
Its sad.
Thailand used to be the place where cheap food, cheap imitation goods and cheap hookers roam in the streets. Apart from being questioned by your wife when she found that strawberry flavoured condom in your pocket, the last thing in your mind is that your hotel room is stormed by masked commandos, welding some automatic machine gun that can fire more rounds than you do with your brother down under, while you are in the moment of achieving the climax of the whole process.
Therefore, you have it, destination Bintan.
But apart from coming up with that reason on why bintan became such hot spot for singaporean looking for some fun, cheap, sastifying trills, another thing set me thinking: Are religion good or bad?
On one end ,the clerics teaches Islam as the religion of peace, while on the other, numerous heads are cut by a oh so blunt knife by some muslim extremists while verses are chanted in the background.
Christianity teaches peace also, yet the crusades kills so many people during the struggle of teritories( if i am not wrong) with the muslim.
And Dalai Lama, go around saying that tibet should be autonomous and rumours have said that he has some private armies, hm, so much so for a religion that advocate everything is "empty and emptiness is everything".
Beside all that, who else can forget our dear joachim kang, some other sexually and monetary deprived priests, brothers, fathers, monk, abbort, who either have sex with underaged girls or steal temple money for that Mecedes Benz SLK
It is really sad actually because all these happenings are man made. Thailand turn out to be like this because people are using violent, in the name of religion to create havoc for their own agenda. Same goes with Osama, the crusaders and others.
Religion, a power who can binds people, have been the scapegoat of humans own advancement, either bad or good.
Its sad.
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