Rising Xenophobia in Singapore? Taken an extra long hiatus from blogging, ever since I've started work and gotten a lot more projects.. but well, blogging is about coagulating some random thoughts in my mind and putting it down on record so, at some future point in time, I might take a look and gasp at these thoughts. Or not, whatever...============Of "Real" Singaporeans, Foreign Talent and WorkersIf you ask me, Singapore's My reply to TTSH's reply on H1N1 issue Original thread to TTSH Patient Services:Hi,I am writing with respect to my A&E bill for H1N1 screening.The background of this was that I contacted a friend (let's call her A) who had direct contact with 4 confirmed H1N1 cases on 21 Jun 09. We were at a dance competition on that day and I only got to know of this at night. After watching a movie, I developed a bad cough, and together with another What price - social responsibility? So, if you've not had contact with a H1N1 case, you might well pass it off as a joke.H1N1 has been the subject of many of my colleagues' jokes, like, "how I wish I can be quarantined and work from home".Well not now, at least not for me.To be clear, I've had proxy contact only. A friend (let's call her Friend A) who was with a group of exchange students for a meal (or something). She learnt Minister makes another gaffe I keep telling myself that, in face of insurmountable evidence, Today MUST have gotten it wrong. But no, it stared out at me blankly. (See yesterday's version of Today for full report.)Minister of Manpower, Gan Kim Yong, made a very interesting statement in a dialogue with students when he was telling them that they shouldn't be choosy about jobs. He even told them that they should try out blue Credit Crisis: The end of Capitalism? Further to the previous post, this will be on a more serious note.Greed. If there was one word to sum the whole credit crunch up, that would be it.I am not about to espouse overly academic notions on the abovementioned topic, but rather more "layman" views. (As layman as my brain allows anyway...) Before we start, let's take a step back in time to when Karl Marx, Father of Communism, was still A real letter from a boss to his employees To All My Valued Employees,   There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job.   What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this Smile! :) Merry Xmas to all and Happy New Year! Fix-its for Singapore's Public Transport system In its push to achieve a seamless and reliable public transport system, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has helped implement / mandate (with the public transport operators) several measures.   They include: more regular bus services; more regular MRT services; more regular MRT services during lunch hours for workers in the city; increased transfer rebates between buses / The Average Investor mentality Look at this chart, and think to yourself, isn't this why u lost $ in the market today? Moral of the story: no guts, no glory.But yr risk better be calculated properly! Credit crisis jokes Amidst the doom and gloom, something to lighten up.........A trader: "This is worse than a divorce. I've lost half my net worth and I still have a wife." President Bush said clients shouldn't be concerned by all these bank closings. If the bank is closed, you just use the ATM, he said. George Bush said that he is saddened to hear about the demise of Lehman brothers. His thoughts at this time go Guaranteed What does this word mean to you? After this crisis, not much anymore. Capital guaranteed, funds protected blah blah. A whole load of financial bullshit jargon that is attempted at soothing your worries when purchasing complex financial instruments that you know as much as a first grader knows about Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Guaranteed. Those were the times, where capital guaranteed Drink driving The Singapore Govt has always been chided for being too serious, therefore instead of having sombre ads like a car skidding off the road and the whole TV screen splashed with red, it could consider having signboards like these.Cheap, good, and probably effective - people tend to remember funny things more than specially made "horror clips". Helps to lighten the mood when driving along the road Wall-E Movie Meme Contest I'm doing this cos a friend asked......... From THB's blog (as she is the originator) The craziest thing I have done for love is believing it is love when it actually was a booty call… Catch Wall-E in cinemas from 28 August 2008 (ORIGINATOR BLOG: http://the-hb-diaries.blogspot.com/) Well for me....... The craziest thing I have done for love......... is to sit in a 3 hour Philosophy lecture ( Just for laughs - M.A.H.A.T.H.I.R When Dr. Mahathir was Prime Minister of Malaysia...One lousy day in the middle of the economic crisis, PM Mahathir was feeling extremely frustrated and wondering how a neighboring country can be doing better than Malaysia.One of his aides said, I heard that the leaders consult Feng Shui masters to ensure prosperity for the country. Dr Mahathir thought if that was the case, Malaysia Bomoh also can How to have your cake and eat it Let's talk about how to raise the cost of car ownership, and at the same time raise public transport fares, AND how to make the public swallow the bitter pill.Impossible in other countries? Not in Singapore - adidas' famous (or infamous) slogan applies - impossible...... is nothing.-------------The ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) system is an ingenious idea. Whoever came up with this idea should Drink, don't drive...... .... or so my friend's MSN nick read. Nothing different from the Traffic Police's message to drivers, but it had a slight twist to it. The next sentence read, "Beer is cheaper than Petrol". Haha, how apt, I thought. The rising cost per barrel of fuel has baffled even economists. Theories of demand shocks and stuff have so far not proven to be right, and last week, oil went into further northbound Do you feel the pinch? I got this from a colleague over email and I think it's good to share this...Disclaimer: the list and the dates have not been verified, and is for reference only.2007 and the list of price increasesJan: All diesel-driven vehicles to undergo smoke test.Jan: NUH's A&E fee raised from $70 to $80.Jan: Skilled Foreign workers levy raised by $50, from $100 to $150, for all sectors.Jan 26: SMU Law SMRT and the woes I've been wanting to do this post for the longest time, but never got around to doing this. Now that I've some time to rant, here I am again. The Singapore government is advocating public transport for all in Singapore (presumably except for those who can afford to drive cars and pay the exorbitant ERP tolls and parking fees). Public transport is good, as it will help save the world from global Dolphin massacre Disclaimer: the below link contains scenes of extreme gore and should only be viewed by unsqueamish people who do not faint on the sight of blood. Oh for those who only have disgust for human blood, it's dolphin blood ("thankfully"). I condemn such acts of cruelty, when we all know that dolphins are peaceful creatures. Man may be the "king of beasts", but that does not mean we have to lord it Back in SG and some thoughts...... In case any goon doesn't know I'm back in SG yet, this serves as a notice ;)Anyways, after coming back, I realized that Singapore on the whole has a risk-adverse environment and low tolerance for making mistakes. The price of efficiency and having the whole machinery oiled so well is that the people and government lose their heart, their feelings, their everything - all to become a unit of Back in SG! OK this is old news but I only had time to post it up now. came back on 31st Dec. Been busy meeting up with friends and family. Haven't seen u all guys for 6 mths! :) gimme a shoutout or something. Oh, I changed companies and recently got a job offer! Wheeeeee! Hiatus Hi people, been taking a hiatus from blogging for a while (as u can already see from the previous date when I last blogged), not even blogging on my personal site.Sorry about that. Will give a shoutout/comment when I next come alive on the blogging scene, probably at the end of the year. Just too busy with work/fun in SZ/GZ/Macau/HK now.Cheers! A Child's Understanding of Politics A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What is Politics?" Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way. I am the head of the family, so call me The President. Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People. The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, Excerpts of LKY's interview with IHT This is a good read, to understand the ideas in the guy who made Singapore what it is. That's not to say I totally agree with him, but some salient points are made, and I guess that it's good to know how our government (and our Prime Minister's father) thinks.One thing that has been dissed around in the blogosphere for the longest time yet and one that I take issue with is, why China and Hongkong Expats and the rising cost of living Mr Brown highlighted the rising costs of living in SG in a recent article, which can be linked from above. My heart goes out to expats working in Singapuraaaaa oh Singapuraaaaaaaa now, since I know that rent can be the most headache part of living in another country now, having experienced it for myself.But one of the forum posts that he highlighted struck a chord with me.not a dollar chaser: The modern allegory of teaching a man how to fish Straits Times Online: Help the poor to start businesses: Nobel winner Grameen Bank's business model is being copied all over the world. I think it's an excellent idea and there is no doubt that the founder of this bank deserves his Nobel Prize. Wonderful stuff. Poverty, a thing of the past in Singapore? A masterful piece by Martyn See... of the poor and the old. A must-watch, especially for the people at the top who are trapped in their cotton-candy world that poverty is history in Singapore.Imagine yourself at that age, collecting cans and cardboard. I would do it so as to recycle stuff in the environment, but not cos I need to eke out a living out of it. This film is moving, to say the least. Happy National Day Singapore On this very joyous occasion, I am not in Singapore.Before I launch into an endless tirade about nothing in particular, three simple words: Happy National Day! Yes, it's once again, 9th August. This is probably the first National Day I'm not on home soil, but I'm guessing it won't be the last. Strangely enough, I am missing home as I write this. More on this later on (or not, we'll see...)I Funny blog Of satire and laughter... and not to be taken seriously!! Presenting to you, Singapore Donkey. Definitely takes the Monday blues away! Thoughts and reality This is an interesting post by Mr Wang. In it, a scientist (Emoto) theorizes that thoughts can affect the formation of water crystals if they are directed at the water before it is frozen. Woah... I think this is just the tip of the iceberg as to what thoughts can do for the self.As I keep stressing, positivity also helps. And it especially helps when you're in a new environment and everything is