MPs, NCMPs & NMPs - The need for a credible voice? Or a perpetuation of the current 'incredible' voices? Q1. If all opposition were branded as 'incredible' why are there now more pushes for internal opposing voices?A1. A realization that group think is very dangerous? Or to further protect the rice bowls of some by pandering to 'populist' demands for more opposition? Or is the ruling party and hence government of the day trying to look good in some international forum where a KPI such as 'level HR Nonsense? Examination Nonsense? - The Trouble with Performance Reviews No one likes to give them or get them. But you can conduct performance reviews that actually assess performance. Here's how By Jeffrey Pfeffer Some years ago a human resources manager at a Silicon Valley computer company offered managers free tickets to San Francisco Giants games if they completed their subordinates' performance reviews on time. When David Russo headed up human resources for Of Logic and Politics .... or the lack thereof ... Logic is hard to appeal to at a differing level given the virtual impossibility of the majority of Singaporeans to even have an opportunity to enter our hallowed (some say hollowed) halls of higher education. The writer below, in response to recent Parliamentary fubars, lists out in laymen terms how logic should work.But we of course understand that politics and propaganda work hand in hand with Ideas to help Sentosa's Marine Life Park Team circumvent the Whale Shark Exhibit winning bid submissions please ....... Letter from Marine Life ParkCorporate Social Responsibility Add To: (no named receipients)Dear all, Thank you for the interest that you have expressed towards our Marine Life Park. Although the feedback we have received till now is not always positive, it shows how concerned everyone is towards the success of the Marine Life Park and its ability to balance the need to educate the public on For Real? How disgusting if it is!!! http://singaporecitizen.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/shameless-st-sinks-to-all-time-low/#comment-851 Diving Season Opens for the Malaysian East Coast Another great diving year starting!On average the local (Singaporean) scuba diving community has seen 1 fatality per annum going back some 8 years that I have been involved.I hope 2009 goes by without any.Some of the main reasons I have seen for these accidents and incidents are:1. The dive professional is distracted. Personally or otherwise. Which should not be the case.2. The customer knows Money flowing out of Singapore if it were handed to the consumers? Going by the date sequence of these headlines ........ I'd say money was flowing out anyway whether or not it was given out as cash - which it is. At least our neighbours are profitting from Singov's pro-business policies.Feb 28, 2009http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Story/STIStory_344059.htmlCourts prepare for 'recession crimes' Feb 28, 2009http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Story/ Did Obama just describe how some Singaporeans feel? "I know how frustrating it is for taxpayers when they're looking and they're saying, 'let me get this straight -- you've got a guy who's making 20 million a year who ran his bank into the ground, and now we've got to come in and clean up the mess?'" - US President ELECT Barrack Obama. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20090211/tts-us-politics-obama-972e412.html Thesis Survey - Your assistance much appreciated Dear friends and readers,I am currently completing my Master's of Business in Logistics & Supply Chain Management with Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia.To complement the thesis I am performing some empirical research taking the form of a survey.Most people who have worked 5 years or more qualify. Any sort of improvement work performed or business process re-engineering experience Contractual age down to 18? Breaking open the reserves? Now Singaporeans can legally engage in businesses from the age of 18 and run the risk of runaway success or otherwise as luck, prudence and other factors may so allow.But 18 to 21 year olds still remain unable to vote and choose a government they may want to have.Makes sense?The former arguments so vehemently raised by so many quarters on how 21 year olds can barely think for themselves since My recommendation to AIMS When we reach this comfortable level of discourse and are not potentially sued till our undies are gone ..... perhaps there is yet a political future .... for the people, of the people and by the people ... Interim Posting on World & Singapore Economics Is Singapore ahead of or trailing the curve in this New World Economic Order?WEF (World Economic Forum): shaping the post-crisis worldThe global financial crisis will dominate discussions at the World Economic Forum’s 39th Annual Meeting later this month.Taking place in Davos, Switzerland, the meeting will be attended by some 2,500 people, including leaders from business, politics, religion and Uniquely Singapore - The Real Deal? Intentially written BEFORE the budget is announced and discussed .....As debate rages on about economic stimulus packages in this once-a-century occurence (in the words of the Toyota CEO) the government seems to be falling head over heels to appease the business sector.A business friendly budget in the form of rebates and or subsidies for businesses to apparently keep jobs is the most vocal What will you defend in S'pore? Hopefully, S'poreans can look beyond self-interest in their answersBy Goh Chin Lian - as carried in the Straits Times.I will defend my right to live in a country where the majority votes to keep one party in power.I will defend my right to live in a country where the majority votes to keep paying excessive amounts for basic services such as water, electricity and telecom services so that these Well Done on This Policy!! When Singaporeans should come lastShed foreign workers first in tough times, says labour chiefBy Goh Chin LianPresent at The Singapore Tripartism Forum yesterday were (from left) labour chief Lim Swee Say, NTUC president John De Payva, Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong and SNEF president Stephen Lee. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUANLABOUR chief Lim Swee Say wants companies to put Singaporeans at Proposed Wage Schemes For the Electricity Sector1. Given that electricity tariffs are adjusted every quarter and2. Given that the price of electricity is economically elastic, since that is the way the policy on usage and taxation treats electricity pricing3. Given that Singapore is a free market economy where nothing should stand in the way of potential consumption (read as protectionism in its various forms) then Opening Up The Web to Politics? Get it while its hot. The link works as of 2130hrs SST, 2nd December 2008. Not my fault if THEY decide to remove it.In brief:[Start Abridged Quote]Guiding Principles1.13 Our work was guided by the following four principles:(a) Government regulation should be used as a last resort1.14 One of the long-standing debates about the Internet is whether it should and can be regulated. Given the Uniquely Singaporean Economic Theorizing Following my 2 previous posts on why money should be given to Singaporeans for consumption an interesting rebuttal took place.The gist of that rebuttal over a period of 3 days basically stated that money in the hands of Singaporeans would basically end up flowing out of the country. Hence, money should be given to businesses instead.Fast forward to today. We read of a hawker who is imploring the A Pseudo Democracy? Real Choices? Or the choice to return to the DARK side? Sunday evening prime time news on 5 can be quite a shocker.Parents to decide what to do with school sessions? The choice is in their hands?Residents to decide on how to invest Town Council sinking [would have been an excellent pun here] funds? With a veiled threat that if residents choose to invest in Fixed Deposits the funds could diminish in value due to inflation?WOW! The sudden surge of Civil Service Pay Cuts!!! Never thought I'd see this headline. But here it is!In all fairness. This is an excellent move by the government. Now I wonder why no one is clamouring for pay increases since they are doing a swell job of (going to) leading us out of this impending time of gloom. I would! Our glorious PAP ministers should be paid much more since they are going all out to help Singaporeans to ensure that ' State Ownership or State Receivership? Last week or the week before a Straits Times writer inked about the perils of states going the communist way with a plea to maintain the free market economic model.Fast foward to this week. The US is bailing out banks and automakers for 'public ownership' stakes ..... communist sounding? There should be a public slap on the face somewhere for someone(s).We may live in a country that was never Welfare wrongly distributed! Quote:SINGAPORE: From next month, the government will enhance its business financing schemes to support an additional S$2.3 billion in loans to help local firms gain access to credit in the current economic slowdown.The measures will take effect 1st December 2008, and will be valid for one year at which point the enhancements will be reviewed for further extension.The Ministry of Trade and Political Theories ... The often quoted 'theory' in politics that people chance their votes with the underdogs only during good times is now officially debunked with Obama's presidency!!Reality 1 - Armchair critics 0 Economic Crisis - Gainers and Losers As news breaks on France, Germany, the UK and the US pledging incredible sums of money to shore up markets worldwide we need to bear in mind that when such actions take place it is ultimately the tax payers who are footing the bill. That is the only way governments obtain the 'cash' to spend.While it may be the duty of 'governments to help their peoples, businesses, savers' and all - it is not State of the Nation: Fit for Print Letters in National Education Machinery Series ... Straits Times ForumJuly 19, 2008Introduce disincentives to deter small families THE Saturday Special last Saturday ('We'll have more babies if...') featured the effects of our population control policies. It also highlighted the mentality of modern-day married couples who seek to maximise the subjective well-being of their marriage and small family, and reject the need to integrate their personal Shades of Grey Part 2.5 Much Ado Over Humanity.While the 'rights' debate has been largely 'kept silent' after the initial outburst reported in the local press others have taken headlines. These include the IBAHRI report and a UK author. Let's put the disparate pieces (as the press is wont to do to keep our minds befuddled until the next progress package comes along) together to complete the puzzle ....Both were in for More Pay for Ministers The Answer Then .... ?? 'More pay not the answer'SINGAPORE : Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has warned that Singapore could face another round of inflation if companies increase wages to help workers cope with the higher cost of living today. He said this will also affect Singapore’s competitiveness and the ability to create jobs.Mr Tharman was speaking to some 500 workers at the Singapore Industrial and The Illustrious Press Freedom topic again .... "Responding, the minister outlined the Government's attitude: 'The most important attribute is that we want accurate reporting. Because, if the journalists are just writing fiction and are just writing glowing portraits of me that nobody believes, then it is pointless.'Our attitude towards the press in Singapore is that they are partners in nation-building. 'Our mass media also understand our key ERP again? The speed of vehicular movement downtown where the brand new ERP gantries with their very expensive cameras to catch 'recalcitrant' motorists are an abonimation of the common sense when it comes to this form of 'taxation'.How could the case that ERP is not simply for revenue but rather for 'ease of traffic flow for motorists' stand in the CBD area when:1. The grid system of lights ensures there Chicken Relief Why Did The Chicken Cross the Road??BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change!JOHN MCCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to