an aberration in pronunciation

What is this election about?

2011-05-01T03:05:00.000-07:00

To me this election is not about the who is a better MP, or who gets upgrading or can run the town council better. This election is about changing course. Jamming the brakes and moving in another direction.

I agree with the PAP that they have done much to promote and bring in investments. Most of their policies are pro business and helped develope Singapore into what we are now. However, we cannot use old formula in a new environment. The PAP to me is choosing investment over the lives of the Singaporean. They strongly believe that without the investments Singapore is doomed. I partly agree with them. However, if they are paid millions to come out with the obvious solution, I think they are not worth what they are paid. Yes it is a difficult problem and there is no easy solution. No one said it is easy but if you pay youself so much then you better be able to come with the solutions.

I am voting for the WP Aljuinied this time to slow down the PAP in the wrong direction.

I hope WP would not disappoint me and move the government in the right direction. I am a forgiving person and is willing to give WP many chances.

I will not be threaten by a slum like aljunied. If necessary I hope WP could raise funds for the constituency . If Aljuinied choses WP, then Aljunied will have to stand together to build a better future with or without government's funding. Let them know WP is serious in their contest and show them that WP can do better than the PAP. Show them the strenght of Singapore community when they stand together! WP it is up to your leadship. Good luck and all the best. You have my vote.

Disempowerment

2011-05-01T02:57:00.000-07:00

Don't we often hear that yes we might vote for the opposition but ultimately the PAP will still win. Now that is a disempowering thought. No don't look at what you cannot control and beat yourselves up. Look at what you can do and do your best for the nation according to what you believe in. Look at the people around you, talk to them and convince them of your stand. If you are rooting for the opposition, you only need to convince 1 person from the other side to stand with you you would have helped the cause. Using the 66.6% out of 3 voters 1 chooses the opposition. For every opposition voter who can convince their peers/relative to change sides, the opposition would have a high chance of winning. Even if they do not win every increase in percentage sends a message to PAP that their days are numbered if they do not change. The voters should stick the spurs into the hide of PAP to get them to work cheaper better and faster or else they would soon not get a chance to serve us.

Where can you find Pro PAP blog Post

2011-05-01T02:35:00.000-07:00

I can hardly find any? Can you find some please direct me to those site! One of the reasons I think we can't find any is because they pay themselves millions without producing the results. They say look at the GDP figure they speak for themselves. The normal peasants use a different measure. Their lives are not better so how to justify the minister's pay. When they pay themselve millions without the stamp of approval from the citizens, people will find fault every corner they turn, because they got to get their money's worth. They get flak for every little mistakes. For eg the floods might really not be preventable but they get flak because they told the people they are the best and nothing will go wrong if we vote for them. The PAP leadership has lost it ability to lead the people because people respect and believe them. The PAP is now trying to rule with an iron fist, with fear and threats. This kind of leadership will be replaced sooner or later. They better think clearly and if they do lose a few GRC. It is not a freak result. It is only freak to them because they are sitting in the towers discussing how great and good they are and grumbling how the peasant have been ungrateful for what they have done. If they do lose it is a sign to them that they are disconnected. Don't try coming out with clever arguments to deny the disconnectedness. What the individual Minister thinks does not have any impact because ultimately it is the policies and the result of the polices that people judge the Ministers by.

Raiding reserves

2011-05-01T02:22:00.000-07:00

I am probably quite late to comment about the raiding reserve. Anyway here is my 2 cents. First of all to understand who is raiding the reserve I guess we got to know, who is the rightful owner of the reserves? Who really owns the land of Singapore? To me the land belongs to the Singaporeans and the reserves are for the Singaporeans. The government is put in place to manage the land to the best interest of Singaporeans. PAP sounds likethye are the land lord exacting high rentals from peasant, enslaving them for years to come, so that they can slave on for the rest of their lives. This to keep the economy growing and GDP rising, not forgetting bonuses soaring. How is that servant hood to the nation?

Blame it on the 66.6

2009-12-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

No it is not the Anti Christ I am talking about. It is the cursed 66.6% who voted for PAP. I am sick and tired of people blaming the 66.6% for voting PAP. I am not even sure how the 66.6% came about because there are so many walk overs. Techinically 66.6% only applies to the voters not 66.6% of Singaporeans.

People who blame the 66.6% ought to wake up. They are putting their fate in the hands of other Singaporeans. They emasculate themselves and make themselves powerless. Think about it again. If every believer can preach the Hammer Gospel or the Bible according to Chee and just convert 1 non believer. You would have your 66.6% flip the other way around. Do you part and stop whinning. Preach your gospels according to way of the hammer or Chee's glad tidings. Discuss and talk about it. Think of ways to change their minds and address their fears. You don't have to be a disciple to talk about it. If you are seduced by the dark side and is won over by them, then you deserve their rule. And if you too ashamed of the gospel to even talk about it, then I guess we would just have to accept our fate.

The Anti-Christ is coming. Whose nemesis is it going to be? You Singaporeans hold salvation in your hands. Don't complain when judgment day arrives. Paradise or Hell is ours to build.

Minibonds short term gain long term pain

2008-10-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

If there is mis-selling then the bank ought to do the right thing. By doing the right thing what I mean is to buy back all the toxic assets at the original value and compensate consumers.

There should be no compromise and the banks should take responsibility if mis-selling is systemic. It should not be a case by case basis because it has nothing to do with the risk appetite of the consumer but the misrepresentation of risk profile of the product. Those guys with high risk appetite wouldn't go for a 5% PA returns. Even town council is dubbed. You think the town council has high risk appetite? Are they going to pay the TC back? Will they also be the vunerable investors? The statement is they are not significantly affected? Maybe they are vunerable investors to DBS?

I believe that the banks should be taken to task and made to pay. This is to ensure that they look before they leap the next time. They know that the regulators will be breathing down their neck, and if they decide to let consumers take extra risk without justified returns, they will have to eat the fruits of their schemes.

Why not train the consumer to be more savvy? It is good lesson for them. Caveat emptor? Don't buy if you don't understand the product. What this means is a lot of people will not want to invest in structured products because the trust isn't there anymore. Besides you can't train everyone to be more savvy but you can definitely controls the banks and make sure they look into consumer's interest before they think of their profits.

Besides, putting sole responsibility on the consumer is not the solution . The whole problem arises from bad product and the marketing of the product. Punishing the FIs would lead to them being more responsible in their selection of structured products and the way they market it, because they know they will be made to pay if they did something wrong. If MAS let them get away with mis-selling just to protect them from losses then we can guarantee somewhere along the line we are going to have this problem of mis-selling appearing in another form. They will also sell some toxic product with high revenue and let the consumers take the risk. I am not saying we won't see these happening if MAS acted to make the banks pay back. However, I think the FI will think twice before attemping some stunts.

If we protect consumer's interest, people would want to put their money with us and use our fund managers.

Will banks become too conservative and more banks would pull out of SG as a result of tighter regulations? Maybe but that is for the regulators to make sure that the balance is correct.

I am not an investor in any of the minibombs but I am all for payback to the consumers if mis-selling is proven. I think MAS should step in and do something about, cos sitting on the fence is rather painful. Sooner you act the less damage to repair.

So if DBS were to pay out whose money are we using? Probably tax payer's money, since our government has invested a huge chunk in it. Along with it maybe our CPF money used to buy bonds in GIC. Do I think it is fair? I would rather the bank be principled and act in good faith. We are all in the same boat and if it means delayed CPF withdrawal I am willing to sacrifice for my fellow singaporeans.

From silence to confusion

2008-06-28T02:55:00.000-07:00

He replied on the 8 May after my post on the 6th

Below is his reply.

Dear Palmist,

The concrete ledge you have queried is under the window where M.S. escaped through. He would have likely stepped on this ledge to reach the window.

I am unable to paste the photos here but you can see them in the following website:jean'site

He seemed confused. Either he didn't read my post properly or he didn't read the COI report. Is is easy to understand why he was mistaken and confused because there was no concrete ledge above the toilet door after all. My only conclusion is that the COI report is not accurate. Looking confused doesn't help to dispell the fact that the COI is inaccurate.

Dr Lam Pin Min's silence

2008-05-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

A while ago, I asked in the p65 blog about certain discrepancy in the Mas Selamat escape. His reply was "Thanks for the comments. I agree more details will help clarify the perceived “irregularities”."

So I decided to asked him, since the details will clarify irregularities why not ask the gov to publish those details so that it they can put to rest the speculation. I also disagreed with him that those are perceived irregularities because I cannot see and concrete ledge in the famous toilet picture. I then asked him to point it out to me and correct my perception if I am wrong. However I did not receive any reply. In fact my reply was 'censored' It is obvious then he cannot show me the concrete ledge and his silence and censoring, points to discrepancies in the COI report. I think I have done my part as a citizen to point out the discrepancy. The parliament has decided to turn a blind eye to obvious errors in the report. If anyone is complacent it would the the ministers not the citizens.

I am however a bit suprised that Dr Lam Pin Min decides to take on the challenge to blog about the Mas Selamat case. I wonder if he was arrowed to do it or he volunteered himself to defend the indefensible in order to score some political points. When I first read the blog I thought he was pretty brave to engage people on this. I guess they have the right to censor, so no biggy if things go out of hand. However they are dealing with the internet. You can't really put a muzzle on me.

I sincerely wish Dr Lam a good career, but I think he made an error trying to blog about this topic, when he is not prepared to take it on with sincerity. I would have respected him if he dare ask those questions I posted in parliament.

A skeptic's view on Mas Selalmat COI(we can't be complacent)

2008-04-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

There are so many inconsistency in the COI report compared to the pictures published.

Firstly the greenish grey pants was hung over the CONCRETE ledge above the urinal cubicle door.

There is no concrete ledge in the picture shown in the straits times. It is a plastic folding door. Are they talking about the same place?

There is also no water tap in sight so why did the COI report that Mas turned on the tap INSIDE the cubicle.

It is actually not a norm to have door for urinals much less for a security facility where you want to monitor the movement of rehabilitating prisoners.

If you look at the escape window it is located just below the celling. The door does not cover right to the top where there is no view of what's going on inside the cubicle. In fact if you look at the rear of Family Visitation Block where toilet was situated you can see right into the toilet. It means if Mas trys to escape from the window he can actually be seen from where the guard is standing. The view of the ventilation window is only partially blocked by the door. So how did he escaped without the guard noticing him.

The ledge below the ventilation window is also not normal. Nowadays the cistern for the urinals are usually hidden behind the walls or they are on the same side of the urinals. I makes no sense to have a ledge in the toilet because that is not space efficient.

As you can see from the picture above there is a white pipe going from the middle of the toilet to the left side where the urinals are. It is interesting that the point of the pipe's entry is not blue but cement. It probably means that a hole was created and patched up after the building was completed. A new addition the was not originally part of the toilet. There is also the middle portion with a blue pipe that is slightly darker with a new cement block.

We definitely cannot be complacent this time and allow the COI to report things that are not accurate.

Streetdirectory down???? Yellow pages to the rescue

2008-04-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

Check out yellow pages. They have all the maps of streetdirectory.com complete with VM 2008 'copyright'!!!! : )

Citigroup Good Investment?

2008-01-30T07:37:00.000-08:00

Came across this video on citigroup.

Some say it is a good buy. Don't know who this guy is but if what he says is true, then GIC would be throwing money into a bottomless pit. As shadowy as those hedge funds are, our GIC also has their own agenda even if they claim that they are taking a 'hands off' approach in the investment. I guess we will never know and only time will tell. Let's wait for the show to unfold. The jury is still out.

Another piece of news from ST forum to consider.

Compulsory Annuities: worrying way of planning

2007-09-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

I think there are many ways to look at the compulsory annuities. It seems to me that the government is looking into ways to generate more profit rather than looking after the citizens. They get this big picture view about the economy and how to maximise it with the available resources. It would definitely be good for the financial players. They welcome it with open arms. You get people like Christopher Tan CEO of Providend praising the scheme. I think he is visualising the future earnings. It is good for the financial market. Stimulates growth and open up new sectors. Earn more money. It relieves the government from supporting the aged. It is fantastic plan!!!! The question is, do I want to sustain the high economic growth at the expense of my citizens.

Let's look at the annuity plan. Dr Ng says, "The aim is to provide a subsistence payout amount first, of possibly between $250 and $300 monthly. " What are they doing . Are they looking at the bottom line for the companies offering annuities or looking into the interest of the citizens? This is ridiculous when we hear that $290 is not enough to have 3 meals a day in present day Singapore, they are suggesting we subsist with $250-$300 30 years down the road.

Secondly, no data was provided for the correlation between social economic status and life expectancy. Logic would suggest that poorer citizens have a lower life expectancy because they do not have access to premium healthcare. If that is the case, it would be illogical for the payout to be at 85. Most of the people who can afford to retire gets the $300(1/2000 of a peanut as if they care), while those who cannot afford a decent retirement gets less from their CPF payouts and their money thrown into the annuity pool to the feed the rich. This is of course the worst case scenario. Again I don't think much thought is put into it planning and deciding of the age. They made their actuacrial calculations and know that it is going to grow wealth for the companies. Did they ask if it is helpful for the citizens.

I am sure there are many other ways to analysis it, but I guess the bottom line is that citizens are shortchanged with this kind of policy planning. It seems that preserving the reserve is more important that serving the well-derserved who have built the nation. So now, sacrifice for the nation so that we might have hugh reserve to ensure MORE GOOD YEARS! ZZZzzzz sleepy already. Forgive me if I sound incoherent.

The Christian Agenda!?

2007-09-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

I cannot get it why they like to blame Christians for believing different things. First of all Christianity believe homosexuality is a sin. It doesn't mean that Christians hate gays. No one says anything about hating sinners. We are all sinners. However, Christianity doesn't teach us to accept sin(as in, say it is ok to sin).

Secondly I don't think what the homosexuals want to do, is within our control. If they want it, just give it to them. In fact I have no idea why the government still wants to keep that archaic law. Just know that the Christian stand is clear. Homosexuality is a sin. I always believe God gave choices. We live with the consequences. The duty of the church is to tell the gospel not to enforce anything. Only the church is subjected and accountable to their leaders.

Thirdly, Christianity is not about the law but inner transformation. The law can restrain, but only inner transformation can deliver.

Charity?

2007-04-14T00:22:00.000-07:00

Donating the excess don't seem noble to me. It seems more like a wayang show to gain political points. I am sure many singaporeans would view this act with the same skeptic specs. If he is truly noble, then he should really freeze his pay instead of donating his pay increase. Really look into the problems or the poor and use the amount saved from the pay to fund the poor. All the GDP growth are from policies that squeeze the poor and put the low income labour out of job. All the stellar reports of growth materialised at the expense of the low skilled singapoeran workers. I wonder is it too much to give a portion of what was taken away back to them? Should the poor be sacrificing so that ministers can benefit more with higer GDP growth?

It makes no sense to pay the ministers more. Did we employ ministers with integrity? If yes, then would they be tempted if they are paid the same? Again, did we employ talented ministers? If yes, then why do we need to pay more. Do you mean that their talents is proportional to the pay received? If the ministers leave because of money then is it worth it to retain the minister? Furthermore, I am not sure if the minister can leave before his term end. If he cannot leave them why increase the salary? If he leaves I think we should just let him go because talent is not more important than dedication and loyalty.

Acting as the guardians of the 210 billion reserves, their eyes should not be on how much money they can make with 210 billion for themselves, but how they can use the money to benefit the country. If we just want to earn money we might as well do away with the ministers and get fund managers in to do the job. I am sure they can do a much better job than our talented ministers.

I guess money is singapore's god.

special formula for MR4?

2007-04-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

The special benchmark is not a benchmark after all. It is not the maximum pay they can get but a factor of what they can get. So how many peanuts are they getting???? We have no idea what special formula they are using. So if the benchmark is 1.2 mil and our MM, SM and PM are drawing more than 2.2 mil, raising the benchmark together with the nebulous formula would make their basic pay 4-5 mil. 12-15 mil for 3 talents????? Well done!

Talent?

2007-04-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

What kind of talents are we really getting and retaining? I don't think our ministers are talented. They are efficient task managers but when it comes to politics they don't seem to have a clue on how to engage our citizens.

They are not talented creators who come out with unique systems that balances economy and social concerns. They always give the inevitability of globalisation without thinking of a solution. Status quo is good for them because it really doesn't affect them that much.

How to make profits in the company?? Cut cost. How to do that?? Pay the labourers peanuts so the bottom line looks good. When the bottom line looks good cream it off for yourselves as performance bonus. Seems like Singapore is almost addicted to this style of management. Perhaps the world is also doing that. GST for the poor or the rich I wonder? To me that is interest free loan from the citizens of Singapore.

Coming back to talent, the singapore ministers lack the communications skills. They are not talented politicians because they never have to sell an idea to the singaporeans. All they need to do is to annouce the change and put up a wayang debate. The debate is given limited coverage and often issues are not properly addressed due to time constrains. There is a lack of sincerity in the debate but what is new? I can only say that our government lacks opposition to sharpen their skills. They get away with reasoning that a simple peasant like me can see the faults of the argument. As lucky tan would say, they have a superior logic that only the elites can understand.

So really what kind of talent are we attracting and looking at?

the SPECULATIVE reason why minister needs to increase pay

2007-04-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

Ok the ministers retires and moves to the GLC drawing CEO pays double that of the ministers in cabinet. So if they have that option of moving to GLC and drawing bigger pay why not????? The government has created a problem doing that and to solve the problem, pay more so that the option of moving to a GLC wouldn't be more attractive than staying. In a way the leaking talent problem is caused by their own appointment of ex ministers to GLC.

The question is when these talents leaks to GLC, are they worth keeping? If they see no difference between serving their country and getting a cushy job in GLC are we getting the right kind of talent in the first place.

Are Christians The Culprit?

2007-03-22T23:20:00.000-07:00

One problem I have with the gay community is they want to put the blame on Christians for disagreeing with their lifestyle. While the Church community actively lobbies against homosexuality it does not mean that Christians are the only ones against homosexuality. There are a huge population of the older generation who are not very receptive to homosexuality(gut feel). It is not necessarily the Christians. Christians might be more vocal and visible that's about it. And of course the Christian community is a diverse one with different beliefs. I don't appreciate the homophobic tag nailed on my forehead just because my beliefs are different. I am sure gays do not like to be labelled as AIDS vector either.

Broken trust?

2007-02-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

How do we mend broken trust? By actions. Mere words are empty. Don't we all find it funny that after a fair and inclusive budget it did not received much praise from the blogsphere. Of the blogs I read only Aaron show signs of praise. The rest of the blogsphere are either silent or negative. Of course we find the ST getting feedback that the offset package was good(where they get the feedback I have no idea) I don't know about you but who praises themselve for a job well done and expect others to agree.

Anyway my guess is PAP has been breeding skepticism by giving goodies and taking it back with the other hand. Everyone is just waiting for the next time a price increase is announced. When PAP give goodies it means somethings are coming up the next few months. They give you a bit and take back with interest. Plus with all the privitasation going around who really benefit from the privitasation. Might as well let it be run by the government and keep the cost low, so they don't have to be accountable to shareholders and keeping increasing profits.

I find it hard to believe that they are sincere when they transfer the money out and yet want to retain part of the money in the CPF. It is like shifting money from one bank to another. How to offset GST with the money in CPF?????? How to defray rising cost using CPF????

Enough of rant. There is a lot to do to repair this distrust.

Rebl times: Star war updates :The empire strikes back

2007-02-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

We recently received news that the Emperor pass an edict to infiltrate the blogsphere to launch a propaganda war to add a light touch to the rebels mind. Sources reported that our own rebel spy did not have access to such high level information. A compassionate souls from the Empire was purported to be the source of these classified information.

The 'counter insurgence' effort to sqash rebel ideology was led Darth Gehgenn and Commander Yabe. Modus Operandi:to send obedient stormtroppers to subtlely manipulate views. As such all rebel forces are to remaind on high alert. Anyone not engaging along rebel lines are deemed to be extremely dangerous. We need to caution our forces against this infidels. Everyone who disagrees with us is against us. We must fight for our cause. Crush the empire forces!!!!!!!! Remove every trace of propaganda. Flak anyone who praises the empire for their efforts to take care of the people in the system.

We have recently received distrubing news that Jedi knight Roana shows signs of crossing over to the dark side. Seduce by the power offered by the empire, he actually dare praise the efforts of the empire for taking from the poor and BUYING people's heart with their own money!

Treat every rebel with suspicion and stamp out every evil ideology.

Come to think of it, the Empire has actually helped us refined our causes and demarcate ourselves from the empire. All they do is bad! Now we just got to rid all the pretentious Jedi like Roana! they are just Sith in disguise.

May the farce be with you!

testing

2007-02-01T02:20:00.000-08:00

war of words

2007-02-01T02:05:00.000-08:00

Why is it so difficult to talk nicely to one another! Another one of those lousy days where angry word spew forth like flood water breaching a dam. Catastrophic consequences. Now waiting for flood waters to subside and anger to boil over, before trying to mend the broken dam and negotiate a peace treaty.

human suffering?

2006-12-07T03:19:00.000-08:00

Bad news all the way. Friends parents suffering from end stage cancer. Relative facing renal failure after kidney transplant for 10 years. Good friends' marriage on thin ice. Sometimes I wonder how should I pray for them. All the striving to live the Singapore dream becomes meaningless in the face of death and heartbreak. Health is wealth that money cannot buy but too often we only discover the value when we lose it. Really wished the Almighty provide some answers to me so that I know how I can minister to them.

Civil service?

2006-11-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

"We will continue to make sure we will remain competitive both to recruit and to retain. We want to make sure we not only retain those with experience, but also provide challenging careers for those who are well-remunerated and those looking for new jobs," the minister said.

In the name of competition we have to increase the elites' pay and in the name of competition the structurally unemployed have to accept whatever crumbs left over. And how would the elite increase bottom line???? By cutting cost. Slash staff cost of the 'new poor'. Sounds like a vicious cycle to me.

With that and GST increase put together, it is difficult not to suspect that their offset package for the poor is all talk.

I say if people want to leave because somewhere else is paying better, let them go.

Firstly it is because they are in opinion well paid. Plus there are a lot of other expenses under the employment benefits we do not see.

Secondly if a person decides to leave the civil service for a better paying job, it shows that their life is about building their own empire. That person is putting his own agenda before the interest of the nation. His passion is not in serving the people of Singapore but he is asking how much can the country pay him for his services. I think we better get rid of all these talents because they serve their own interest and not that of the nation.

Am I being idealistic? Surely I cannot expect the civil servant to just serve the country and not take care of his own needs. However if we take civil service of other countries as bench mark we would be overpaying our ministers already. I am not sure why the benchmark is not civil service of other countries but the salaries of the top professionals in singapore. We like to compare GST with other countries without comparing their welfare spendings. How convenient when we compare things through our national PR arm.

Singapore has become too mencenary and we like to buy things. We like to buy talents and retain talents but fail to recognise that the talents will leave when the right price is offered. What we need is not talents but people who are passionate for Singapore. People who are willing to make sacrifices for singapore. People who can accept a 10k paycheque when they know they might get 15k somewhere else. This is because their motivation is not in the money but in nation of Singapore.

We seemed to think money can buy anything. I believe money can buy lots of things but not everything. Just look at the Shin corp eg and we will know we've failed miserablely because our investment arm could not understand passion and loyalty for the country. They think with money they can do anything.

I think Singapore has fallen under the influence of the Money god. Everything is measured in dollars and cents. We don't understand patriotism anymore because it is about money. Money can buy talented people but a person passionate for Singapore cannot be bought by money. I am afraid we are attracting the wrong type of people by dangling a fat pay cheque.

Use it or lose it!

2006-11-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Lots of piling works and maintenace work around the neighbourhood. Hooray, everyone should be happy that their place is getting a new facelift. The only problem is they seemed to be replacing perfectly ok brick seats with newer bricks. Is it a case of too much money, no where to spend? Better use allocated funds or else budget will be reduce the next finacial year. If the people have a say in the maintenace I would rather they donate it to the much needed opposition ward.

What is the use of the modern facade when the poor is wasting away in it. These pristine neighbourhood hides the poor in Singapore. Maybe we should really save the millions of upgrading and do something for the poor. If they cut upgrade spendings (I am for the lift upgrade the rest of the budget can cut), I think they could really save alot.

Instead of increasing tax why not do some cost cutting? I don't get the ministers pay. They are already drawing big salaries from the appointments in GLCs. The puzzling justification is that high pay will keep ministers from corruption. If our ministers are people with intergrity then it would be an insult to them to think that only high pay will keep them clean. Aren't the ministers there to serve the people, asking not what the power given to them can do for themselves but what they can do for the country?

Ok enough of rant. Time to sleepzzzzzzzzz

Offset package a freudian slip?

2006-11-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

What exactly is the government trying to offset? The 2% increase in GST. It seems to me that they do not intend to give additional help to the poor. Just offset the 2%. Very poor effort to convince the people that they really care for the less fortunate.

blonde bond

2006-11-21T07:16:00.000-08:00

They just bombed the new bond by creating a blonde bond(well that is just my opinion). Which bond don't give a damn about his martini being shaken and not stirred! I think my gf will consider this type of show a himbo show. Action packed and all, it feels more like a rambo/commando cross with a bit of MI/borne identity.

I don't recall any bond doing the cat walk parading flesh and showing off good physique. I thought that was the for the bond girls. The scene when blonde bond comes out of the water to the beach reminds me of Halle Berry coming out of the water in 'Die Another Day'.

They substituted cool gadgetry with a malfunctioning defibrillator!(damn did M15 even check their equipments before issuing them) Come to think of it why did they even equip the car with a defibrillator???? In case bond's crazy driving lands him in a car accident???? And who the hell would administer the defibrillator hidden in a compartment????? No haven't seen a car with a defibrillator!!!!!

Seems like the cool brunette? bond that could do no wrong is not marketable anymore. They need to follow the trend and add a touch of human fraity and a dash of realism into the new hero.

The show was good action and enjoyable . The only problem is current trends has killed the old bond. It almost turned into a blonde joke.

Discouraged!

2006-09-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Man! Pile of work still not done but has not done a thing. Time flies by. A ton of gloom added onto my already heavy heart. I need divine intervention! I seemed to have perfected the art of avoidance. I pray that the world will not come crashing down the day the pile of stuff I need to do becomes too big.

Singapore dreaming Worldpress photo juxtapose

2006-09-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Watching Singapore dreaming and going to view the gruesome worldpress photos after that just makes me think that the concerns of Singaporean are so minor. Somehow I am still trapped in that rat race to acheive finacial gains when there are so many out there facing conditions 100 X worse. I don't know whether to count my blessings or vent my woes. I can identify the challenges highlighted in Singapore dreaming but it pales in comparisons when I see those brillantly-captured tragic depiction of human disaters. The decapitated head is still stucked in my mind. Yet the problems in this sheltered environment somehow seemed more real to me. I can understand the grief of those disater struck nations, but only from a distance. Perhaps Maslows can come to my defence, to explain my inability to empathise with the suffering. I suspect many Singaporeans feel that the finacial yoke is heavier and more real than starving or war. We wouldn't give up a Singaporean's dream for world peace : ) I guess only few would choose the road less travelled.

Little miracles of life to add an atom to my faith

2006-09-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

Zipper got stuck! Yank and pull till my face turn blue. Huff and puff but still woudn't do. Utter a pray and with a gentle tug. Zipper slides open and no more blues.

But more than that this incident has taught me to pray. Just a little prayer and a lot of obstacles are removed. If we would only tap into the divine providence, we would need to huff and puff so much. Thank you Lord for the little revelation.

wine?

2006-09-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

Bought a bottle of 1997 Alsace Gewurztraminer from a wholesaler clearing stocks. I spotted some fugal like growth outside the bottle. Checked with the employee attending at the cashier if the bottle is ok and whether storage was optimal. Got the usual employee response. So far no customer complain, we got no more stocks if you are not sure about the wine don't take it. What can I expect from an employee : ) Took it for $40 just to try it out. Well didn't taste as good as I expected. Nice aroma, sweet but seems to lack the acidity or balance. Kind of like drinking sugared water or rather syrup with a plain water aftertaste. Disappointing considering Alsace's reputation. Blame it on the storage! Anyway got another bottle from a different vineyard in Alsace. Hopefully that one is better.

Also got another bottle of 1997 Chenin Blanc from Vouvray for $40. Probably drink it this weekend if the mood is right.

Syringes for sale

2006-08-10T00:35:00.000-07:00

I sometimes wonder what is the best solution for the drug problem. I see people staggering into shops in their stupor to purchase the needle and syringes. You can spot these people easily. While some places send those addicts off, other countries give out free syringes to prevent infection. Not selling needles is not the solution. They just go hunting until they find someone willing to sell. Worst case use used needles. I personally think that throwing people in jail is also not the solution. Helping the drug addict cope with their problem and kick the addiction is the solution in my opinion.

However can we trust that the government would spend money for these programmes. We live in the world of instant coffee and our government is famous for measuring resutls and meritocracy. We of course would know that the drug problem isn't one with quick fix solution and it requires a long time to work with a drug addict. I hope someone up there can come out with a solution.

FEER?FEAR?

2006-08-05T02:47:00.000-07:00

In this day and age instead of trying to be global we try to isloate ourselves. I don't even know if it is practical. Just log on to the web site you can read the 'political' article. Seems like FEAR of losing control is gripping them while they try to manhandle FEER. Maybe they might also want to consider blocking the website.

Actually I have more to fear if the government cannot stand up and defend themselves against false accusations.

Business is pragmatic

2006-07-28T00:46:00.000-07:00

Went for a mini exhibition yesterday. Met some pharma suppliers from central asia. After the boring introduction I went to see their booths. Greeted me with warm smiles and after finding out that I am just a small timer immediately turn to another person and continue the conversation as if I never existed. I become invisible when business potential with me is low! Perhaps I need to polish my bullshit to appear like a potential. Stormed off the exhibit. I should have taken a few bite off those prettylicious hors d'oeuvre! Exited the hotel only to find out that the parking is super X. An unfilling trip for me bringing back lots of negatives. I guess I learnt a lesson or two about customer service. Make sure they leave my shop with pleasant experience whether they buy things from me or not!

On the wrong ball

2006-07-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

Our PM thinks that PAP should be hip and happening to connect with the younger generation. He sounded really out of touch with the people. In fact the government should be serious and not a court of jesters or entertainers. We don't need idols to run our country. After educating the masses, they expect people to be swayed just by trying to be a pop icon is silly. To connect and build rapport with the younger generation, they should COMMUNICATE intelligently with them. Don't try to sway them by looking cool and treating them as fools!

a meal that makes me CRY!

2006-07-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Went to eat at Min Jiang at One-North, Rochester Park. I think I was crying inside my heart when I look at the bill. I am not paying for it but it was for my birthday celebration and I suggested that place. Damn the wine and dine asiaone review for giving them a rating of 8.3/10 : ) It kind of made me feel pretty useless, making my parents spend this kind of money in such a posh place that serves mediocre food. I wished everyone enjoyed the dinner but somehow the perceived value of the food just does not match up to the price tag in my opinion. Every mouthful I take just taste a bit more bitter. I was hoping for something special, but was disappointed. Of course my parents and others gave some comments like 'this dish is unique' or 'that taste interesting' . In my heart I know they only say those things out of courtesy. Maybe I should have just celebrated with a simple meal at home. If you want to look good and be cool that is one place you can go, but eating there rips my heart out.

Besides, the place looked understaff. There was a lady at the other table waving her hand every now and then trying to catch the attention of the waiter/ress. I could see from her face that her patience is wearing thin. Damn again, we are like paying a bomb for the food at least we would expect the service to be of a certain quality.

I really don't know how to make it up to my parents for bringing them to such a place. In my father's heart he would probably be thinking this place ho kuah bo ho jiak. A serious error in judgment on my part. I should have carefully considered blinkymummy's reviews.

B Vs B

2006-07-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

The quality of the ministers and press secretaries' replies recently were appalling. I wonder if they've become weak and flabby due to the lack of opposition. The most recent being K Bhavani criticism on Mr Brown's article. It is interesting that she is the president of IPRS. I would expect a more tactful reply rather than a careless write up produced in a fit of anger. Perhaps our top-down-management-style- government are not used to being told that they are wrong.

The title "Distorting the truth, Mr Brown?" shows that they are out of touch with the citizens. How is it distorting truth when citizens are unhappy with the rising cost? Or are they trying to manage citizens' perception to champion the cause of the government. To present to the world and Singaporean with the 4 million smiles. Who are they trying to kid? A person suffering from a load of debts is not going to rejoice by just reading that the annual household income has increased. They will say "bullshit! I am breaking under the finacial strain here and the road ahead looks bleak." Will the government please do something!

Secondly I am not sure why she says Mr Brown is a partisan player in politics. He has no political affiliation. However I am not so sure of K Bhavani's agenda.

I also observed they try to demonise pseudonym. What is Mr Brown hiding from? Defamations suite? Don't tell me people don't know who Mr Brown is. On the contrary K Bhavani's gender is a mystery till someone post some info on her. It is funny we seem to know more about hiding Mr Brown then the open K Bhavani.

About constructive criticism I can only say that if the government is more transparent on how they use the funds I am sure you'll get lots of suggestion on how to lower the living cost. Besides, a criticism can be construstive or destructive depending on how you want to react to it.

It is interesting that she mentioned that it is not for journalist to campaign for or against the government but everyone knows that the papers are owned by the government and used to promote government's agenda. So who is the one distorting the truth????

I would say it is a very poor attemp to manage our perception. They let their emotions/pride do their thinking for them. It shows that after years of unopposed single party rule, they are not so sharp with words anymore.

Superman?

2006-07-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

Wasn't too happy with the show. I went there to watch a super human with flawless character. I was presented with a irresponsible lover running away without a word and come back 5 years later to claim his lover. Shatters whatever good morals I perceived of Superman and it managed to inject in my opinion too much human fraity in him. I don't want to wake up from the fairy tale to be presented with a superhuman that stand for 'goodness' doing questionable things. Watch how he simmers jealously over Loius Lane's husband breaking the photo frame. That is not what I paid to watch. Don't people want to have a good time and live in a fantasy and feel good about their heroes? While it is entertaining, I am not happy with Superman at all.

choices

2006-06-27T03:29:00.000-07:00

The choice is clear, so drink your Pepsi
Wear your Nikes and Just Do It
I know it corny but can't help it.
So make your choices and live with it

Car Servicing

2006-06-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever brought a car for serving and come back with a host of problems? I haven't till my father bought a german made car.

eg 1

Driving happily for 1-2 years. Sent for servicing. Drove the car back home after servicing. 1 Hour later. Getting ready to go out for dinner. Engine stall. Call the tow truck to pick up the car again. Alternator spoilt. PAY for a new one and got it replaced. Do you come back from servicing with a damaged alternator?.

eg 2

2 weeks after servicing, the engine boom like a mustang. One would be happy to have a turbo charged booming engine except mine is misfiring. Guess got to go back to the service center for a cup of cappuccino from their spinelli coffee maker and get the problem fixed.

eg 3

2 months after servicing, front brakes gives off screeching sound. They just change the 2 front brakes 2 months ago. Send to the service centre. After diagnosis, they ask me to replace the rear brakes. I have a problem in the front brake and they are asking me to change the rear brakes?????? Upon further questioning, I discovered that a splint in the front brake went off position and they've already adjusted the splint back in position. I got a few question swirling in my mind. How the hell did the splint go off after 2 months? I can only conclude they did a bad job installing the brake. Why did they ask me to change the rear brake when the front brake is giving the problem. It seems like not only did they do a bad job in installing my brake they try to rip me off.

A conspiracy theorist would think that the service centre deliberately do a bad job so that they can 'service' me more often. I certainly didn't ask for special treatment but I am getting more 'service' then I need.

Vote secrecy?

2006-06-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

I wonder why would a secret vote need to be traceable. If the vote is secret how would they know if someone has tempered with the a vote? There is no way anyone can know if the vote is tempered with unless the perpetrator confess. If you get a confession what else is needed? Any brillant minds out there can help me with this puzzle?

What do you do when people irritate the hell out of you

2006-06-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

James 3:9-12

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig-tree bear olives, or a grapevine berar figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

I think I really need love for these irritating people out there. I find myself complaining about them which is of course a natural but not Christian thing to do. I wonder how I can cross from being a salt spring to a fresh water spring. Time to pray and ask for wisdom......

O Lord grant me understanding and love. Put in my mouth words of healing and remove the spite and venom. Clothe me in humility and forgive my haughty eyes.

Upgrading?

2006-06-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

I think the issue is not about upgrading. It is about the disbursement of funds. Depriving the opposition of funds for maintenance work so that they look like slums aren't the type of diversity that Singaporeans are looking for. I think PAP misunderstood that everyone wants a PAP-styled upgrading. No they don't need PAP-style upgrade plus all the expenses and inconvenience. They just need some funds to spruce up the surroundings and make sure that this developed nation doesn't have slum areas. They don't need designers' facade and modern shelters that block no rain. What they need is a compassionate government who understands the needs of an arthritic elder conquering the stairs. If I didn't remember my facts wrongly Potong Pasir only need 1/8 of the funds promised by PAP to upgrade all the lift. If they can spend 8 times the money on just one constituent I don't see why they have no money to upgrade the lifts in Potong Pasir. I really like to see a more compassionate government and not one that just talk about dollars and cents.

Well it is still elusive after Minister Mah's explain on how the money is distributed. What is so difficult about coming out with the criteria? Whatever budget surplus set aside for upgrading/maintenance work, distribute it evenly according to population density. If that is too simplistic, factor in the age of flats. Instead they choose not to be transparent about the distributing process. Whatever justifications PAP gives sounded really lame. I wonder who buys those reasoning.

Unarmed combat

2006-06-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

Just watched it yesterday.

I think it wasn't well done. I felt that the story was not focused and did not develope properly. They did several flashback from different characters's point of view. However, I cannot find a logical progression for the flashback and I kind of get lost in time between the flashbacks. I was wondering if I am watching the present or still stuck in the past.

It could be due to the lack of time and funds. Well it is still a brave effort and we definitely need to start somewhere. Though I do not think it is a great show but I would definitely support the work. Without support I doubt Singapore film could grow.

Entrapment????

2006-06-13T03:44:00.000-07:00

I wonder why is CNB entraping small timers when we don't even know if he is an active trafficker(at least I don't have the information). Instead of surfing the net for prey to toy around, maybe they should really spend more time hunting down the real drug baron. I hope CNB is not patting themselves on the back for a brillantly executed plan. I think they caught a scape goat who bought the drugs from the real trafficker. Don't we watch enough TV drama to know this? I hope Adrian Yeo would be able to move on in life after this episode.

Just do it

2006-06-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

Instead of looking at the insurmountable mountain growing taller each day, I've decided to just take a step at a time. Do what I can. 101 errands to run on Monday on top of the current load. This is gonna be a tiring week ahead.

Verses of the day

Psalm 39

I said,"I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as teh wicked are i my presence."
But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish incresed.
My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

"Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
He heaps up wealth, not knowing how will get it.

"But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Save me from all my transgressions;
do not makeme the scorn of fools.
I was silent; I would nto open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
You rebuke and discipline men for their sin;
you consume their wealth like a moth each man is but a breath.

"Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Listen to my cry for help;
be not deaf to my weeping.
For I dwelll with you as an alien,
a stranger, as all m fathers were.
Look away from me, that I may rejoice again
before I depart and am no more."

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your fiath develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Strengthen the word in me O Lord. Grant me your grace and peace and help rise up to the challenges ahead.

Frustrated!

2006-04-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

Worked piled up like Everest.

Wondering how a feeble climber like me ever gonna plough through the seemingly inconquerable pile to reach the pinnacle.

Worst if I have to complete the climb before the deadline.

In fact, I am way past the dead line and stretching it beyond recognition.

Problem is I haven't even started the climb.

O Lord grant me strenght like Elijah.

Do a miracle in my life and help me break through.

Space out!

2006-04-06T23:37:00.000-07:00

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

I wished answers could drop from sky and motivation could flood my heart to overcome the inertia.

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

random rant!

2006-04-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

Lousy day

Heavy hearted burden with a load of cares

A cloud of failure looms over me.

Has failing become a habit, a constant companion in every endeavour??????

Hopefully a better day tomorrow.

P.S. Cafe

2006-04-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

Nice ambience. Woody, warm and fuzzy with the warm glow of spherical globe hanging from the celling. Nice couch with brown, orange, green and red(can't really remember filled in the colours with my imaginations). Wooden stools and black leather boxes. Very American was what my gf said.

Can't say much about the food there though. Wine selection is not great either.

We had 'crisp and dip'. Basically toasted pita, baguette with Indian tasting dip.

We had a nice time together relaxing there though.

One word of caution, in case anyone didn't read the words painted on the three wooden doors of the toilet. A 'M' door is sandwiched between the 2 'W' doors. No price for guessing what they mean. A pretty filipino babe decided to ignore the letters and burst through the door in the middle of my transaction with the urinal. Apologised profusely for the unintentional intrusion with her back facing me(the accidental flasher). Her bladder must be bursting for her to barged into any available cubicle. In case anyone is wondering why I didn't lock the door. It is because there are only urinals for communal use inside.

Speaking of toilet, my vote for the best toilet is Altivo@Faber.

Stand at the crossroads and look

2006-04-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the Lord says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

What is the way O Lord I ask. The burden on me has clouded my vision. Day in day out I looked oppressed and lost. Without a focus, wondering and squandering my precious time that could never be recovered. Watching the sands of time slipping away yet immobilized by fear. Inaction drowning me with sorrows. Couldn't breathe, my heart sinking in an overwhelming sense of despair. Struggle for survival, absent.

O Lord shine your directing light upon me. Lead me O Lord like the good shepherd. Break through the cloud of confusiong and release me from the oppression. Grant me diligent hand so that my soul will not starve. Cast the spirit of sluggardness out of the temple, that You've purchased with your blood. Put inside this earthern vessel Your love and Your glory. Shine through me.

Genesis

2006-04-01T02:55:00.000-08:00

A transition for a blog surfer to a blog owner on the 1st of April.

Hopefully it doesn't turn out to be a fool's errand.