I wonder...

I was at my desk reading my Astronomoy textbook during the evening, stuffing information about telescopes into my churning mind when suddenly a cold wind blew into the room from my window...

That wind caressed around my face, forcing me to pause what I was doing and look out of the window. The smell of the wind mysteriously infused images of a wide open prairie like the one below....


Image from oklahoma.sierraclub.org


together with the chirping crickets(there really was crickets chirping), it gave me a feeling of serenity as the darkness slowly dissolves the remaining light of day, not a menacing kind, but a gentle cocooning of a tranquil night and a general sense of well being...


it makes me wonder, in our busy every day life in Singapore, how one does not seem to have the time to appreciate what nature have to offer... and which most of us in busy little singapore, could have forgotten about the beauty of mother nature....

I dunno what this means....

Can anyone tell me...what the heck does my name suppose to mean??

Interesting Read

Taken off CNA's Forum, from a poster with nick "aussie" replying to the topic on

"Will it make sense to employ a jobless grad who specialise in another field even if he willing to accept low pay?"

SGporeans' livelihood are in danger under inexperienced, incapable 2nd grade management.
The effects of all these latest policies will be detrimental to the well-being of the vast majority of SGporeans. A small island state with a population of just over 4M, SG has over 800,000 foreign workers. Whilst not having the brains to manage, SG try to make it to the books in every international ranking, never mind be it through the front or back door, often mindlessly. Being the freest economy is one. Free entry to all except in the area of politics which is still tightly regulated by light-eared incapable men who pays and blindly approve policies made by foreign consultants to the detriment of SGporeans.

As in any business, you do not want to satisfy all demands. Any smart business knows that it is foolish to produce to meet 100% of the demand. They always produce the 50%, work the OT, increase the production a little if the demand increases..and don't satisfy all 100% demand.
Smarter countries like NZ and most other countries protect themselves this way. Both young and older workers are employed and the country achieve a good standard of living.

How many fund managers is needed to manage $1M? How about $100M or $1B? The answer is just one. But to build up your own capability in the industry, you will need the many enterprising boutique funds to give the breadth, competition and innovation. SG, as usual, leap-frogged this important step for short-term gains. This is detrimental to future generations.
There is a difference to managing funds and marketing funds. 2nd grade SG management is undermining the future livelihood and survival of the citizenry. Be very careful, SGporeans. Be careful that your hard-earned funds will be forced to be marketed for investments that ultimately benefit not yourselves but foreign fund managers. Your money will be controlled by foreigners while you, your friends, your relatives are forced by policies that serve to wipe yourselves out of retirement. And is there a difference to investing CPF money and cash? They tell you to increase returns, you have to invest your cash. I didn't want to put this up but the situation is so bleak for SGporeans, I need to voice this. There is absolutely no difference what money you use. They are all money. Since the fund managers are not performing, it is better for you to manage your own money. The future for SGporeans is in very extreme grave danger. You MUST change the system and the people managing it. Given the calibre of the policies so far, I doubt SG management is capable of anything truly 1st grade. You will find whole departments swarmed by their "brothers." Like it or not, this is a culture thing, finally.

Soon SG will be transformed into MISS. Yes, SGporeans will MISS out under 2nd grade management which strives to preserve her hold onto power. Little wonder so many of you SGporeans are having difficulty getting employed. 2nd grade management has swarmed the Mini-Indian State of Singapore with alternative lower-cost labour in all sectors. They have sold you out. They are selling your livelihood, your future and your childrens'. They are selling, no, they are giving away the strategic growth due to SG's geographic location to foreigners. If you really understand the history, you will realise the truth. As an example, many factories was built at SG's cost to house foreign companies just to create employment. Now, many are vacant. Whilst the MNCs moved elsewhere, SG forced its own entrepreneurs to buy them. On the other hand, SG did nothing to help its entrepreneurs, in fact stifle them, whilst it was a mini-China then. Now, China set up show-rooms in many countries to make herself the world's production house helping her entrepreneurs, SG's management did the opposite. SG actually stifle her citizenry. As it is, SG wants to perpetuate her policy of maintaining the losses of her GLCs overseas through the blood and sweat of her citizenry and all foreigners working in SG through their CPF contributions and taxes. Why would any smart businessman sustain years and years of losses? Isn't it foolish? Inexperience is seeing its toll. Such suffering inflicted on the citizenry is unnecessary and foolhardy. It doesn't speak much for such 2nd grade management. It is better to let the really entrepreneurial citizenry the freedom to grow. GLCs should really be disbanded. If they can't perform after a very accomodating 2 to a maximum of 5 years, you know it is quite obvious their business model is wrong and hence, should be disbanded. Suzhou Industrial Park, STIC are just some off-the-cuff examples. Please stop throwing good money down the drain. It is unbelievable but true. SG lost nearly 50% of her investments in Japan. Actually, when SG invested her funds there at the height of the Japanese economy some years earlier, I was wondering how and who could be the capable "scholars" coming up with such ideas? His stupidity is beyond belief...and to imagine, managing $M and $B, it is unthinkable the salaries they command. Truly 2nd grade. A change is in order and necessary. A MUST indeed.

Disclaimer : View's entirely the author, not mine, though I am inclined to AGREE to what he/she have to say.

DSTA Fact finding!

Today was an interesting day, barring the lecutre in the morning... met up with Wei hao and Dr Pan in his office before heading off to DSTA at Depot Road. Dr Pan drives an Altis! Ah well...who wouldn't in his age. Just found the interior to be...well...lacking. For those of you wondering what an altis is, just look at your car park, i'm sure out of 10 cars you see, 9 will be altises.


image source from www.toyotasingapore.com.sg


Anyway, armed with a digital voice recorder from samsung, 128mb, with 50+ hrs of recording time, this little silver baby cost an unbelievable $356. mmm, must be the packaging.....



Upon arriving at DSTA, there was a system that even recognized Dr Pan car and let him in, and a VIP lot was reserved for him with his car no displayed. So VIP leh~ but arriving in style doesn't mean anything cos we were unglamiously stuck at the security counter cos we can't find the office number to dial to get an escort for us to go up...

Our contact person was a team of IT engineers from ... well.... the IT department of dsta. They were a bunch of friendly people and the entire meeting took close to 2 hours at least...from which, much was learned about DSTA operations although security was high on their mind...many things, though trival, was like off the records or strictly confidential...but the people there made us all feel welcome...i dun mind working there next time...heh heh... anyway as a soveniour, we got this stylish book



Quite an interesting day leh....

Wet day...

A glooming day it is today....rained forever....but my spirits wasn't dampened with the rain...in fact, after going to the botanical gardens and listening to the Centennial symphony played...it was quite...magical....considering the foggy and surreal environment of the park...so tranquil....sigh~

YET, it was piggy that made my day only in the afternoon, with the both of us trying out a new car polish that saw the morning and a good part of the afternoon gone...hope piggy doesn't have a sore arm or sth... keke... but I guess...it's still best left to the professionals for car glooming!

Busy week ahead...sigh...

Tell us something we don't know can?

Today, right on the cover page, the caption in bold red says "President Nathan poised to serve 2nd Term" .... YAWNZ...for something that is so obvious, you need to waste the front page?!? I think you could use the space better for things like where got the cheapest petrol or the best char kway teow or sth....frankly, with the rules that the PEC sets, I wonder who can ever get in lo...i think even if ex US President Bill Clinton wants to apply for a cert, not to mentioned the current one, i think both also will be under qualified...

I can't help it...AGAIN...

Disclaimer: The following article and picture are taken from Yahoo.sg... credit should be given to them, not me. link:http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050811/1/3u60l.html

My comments in bold...really just my humble comments dun sue me plz...can't even afford peanut shells now...

Riot police break up demonstration of four people in Singapopre



Riot police broke up a rare demonstration by four people demanding greater transparency and accountability in Singapore's state-managed pension fund and other government-linked agencies.
>> Of Coz rare demonstration la! That's why must send entire Riot police down mah...cos they rarely got chance to do live riot exercises leh.. must be an opportunist like the police u know?
A dozen anti-riot police wearing helmets and knee-high protective gear and carrying shields and batons formed a phalanx outside the offices of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) as a commanding officer approached the demonstrators.
>> Two things. Either they have too much manpower in the police force OR they scared they cannot handle 2 guys and 2 girls holding placards...guys..the phrase "show of force" has been brought to a whole new level...
"You are committing an offence of public nuisance. If you don't disperse you will be arrested," the officer told the protesters as business people and employees watched in the central business district.

The four protesters, among them an office administrator and the sister of an opposition leader, Chee Soon Juan, voluntarily dispersed. They denied being part of any political group.
>> Chee Soon Juan sister...no wonder got so much police la...heck lo...if chee soon juan himself appear, i think the entire police force will be there in an instant..sigh..this guy...dunno to laugh or feel proud of him...(no pun intended, seriously)
Police later asked them to hand over their protest materials -- T-shirts and placards -- as part of an investigation to determine whether they had violated any laws.
>> Sure have violate laws one la...the placards confirm never go though censorship board wat!
The two men and two women assembled at lunchtime outside the CPF building in the business district. They said they did not need a permit and staged their protest for about an hour.
>> these people obviously never hear of speaker's corner. You think your grandfather house arhz? any how and any where stage protest...Do not need permit still kenna busload of police?
Under the law, any public protest of at least five people without a police permit is deemed illegal. The protest took place as Singapore was in the midst of official celebrations of its 40th anniversary of independence.
>> Sure decrease to 4 liaoz...die..like that hor...a family of 4 how arhz....still can go kai kai notz??
The protesters hoisted placards calling for greater openness in how the government handles public funds used for retirement pensions, overseas investments and the building of subsidized high-rise apartments.

A police officer said they had received a telephone call from a "member of the public" about the protest, prompting them to send in the riot police.
>> HARZ! see? Member of the public is in quotes lo... Singaporeans the most bo chup in the world, this kind of thingy you think they will even bother to call meh?? I think they more busy trying to see how they can get 4D then call the police. Must be CPF ppl call one lo...
Monica Kumar, 45, one of the protesters, said they had been insipired by public outrage that followed revelations last month that the chief executive of Singapore's biggest charity, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), was being paid 350,000 US dollars annually.

The scandal sparked an online petition signed by more than 40,000 people and forced the NKF chief executive, T.T. Durai, and the entire board to resign.

"In reality, the NKF is reflective of the entire system in Singapore where public matters are run in a non-transparent and non-accountable manner," the protesters said in a statement.
>> this is scary..what if it's true? I mean, after all, our PM earns more than double the US president lo. US$1,100,000 vs US$200,000 (source: Asian Wall Street Journal July 10 2000) i neber anyhow come out with figures horz...
The statement called on the Housing Development Board and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) to open their books for public scrutiny.

GIC manages more than 100 billion US dollars in funds and invests globally.

"We call on the government to make Singapore more transparent and accountable, starting with the state organisations mentioned above," the protesters said.

I can't resist a dig at LTA when I see one

Reported on Channel News Asia Website:

SINGAPORE: After more than a week in operation, the Electronic Road Pricing along the northbound Central Expressway have improved traffic flow.

This was the conclusion supported by figures released by the Land Transport Authority to Channel NewsAsia.

It was on 1st August that motorists began paying ERP charges on the CTE going north.

Motorists travelling on the CTE on weekdays from 6pm to 8pm have to pay between 50 cents and a dollar.

This move by the LTA was to smooth out traffic flow during the evening peak hours.

And it seems to be working.

In the first five days alone, the speeds of vehicles were recorded at between 58 and 65 kilometres per hour, compared to an average speed of below 40 kph before the evening ERP was introduced.

LTA says this is within the limits of the optimal speed range for expressways.

Naturally, the drop in vehicle traffic meant other motorists were taking alternative routes to avoid paying the ERP.

So Thomson, Upper Thomson, Marymount, Serangoon and Upper Serangoon Roads have been experiencing slightly heavier traffic flows.

But the LTA says the conditions on these alternative roadways remain manageable.

The average speed on these carriageways is generally above 20 kilometres per hour, which is above the optimal speed range for arterial roads.

LTA adds that towards the end of the first week, some of the traffic flow on these roads even dipped a little as some motorists went back on the CTE. - CNA
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Noticed the sentences highlighted in bold? First, they say the ERP ease traffic flow, then at the last statement, they say that the traffic flow dipped even with ERP, which means, ERP STILL DOES not prove it is responsible for improving traffic flow yet. So don't say that it works lo...singaporean's not silly u know?

Come on la...even secondary school kids who do physics experiements knows the importance of taking a range of values over a period of time to average the results and to eliminate any fluke results,especially so for ERP which affects a larger number of people, hence more time is required to monitor the traffic. So instead of happily announcing that ERP works, do monitor the road situation for another few months before publishing your findings la...LTA do have smart people working there right?

ALSO, LTA says that the optimal speed for expressways is >50km/h and for smaller road is > 20km/h, so that means if you want to go home faster to eat with your family, pay LTA to enjoy eating with your family, if not, just crawl at 20km/h and eat your cold dinner alone.... so PRO family leh...see LTA so smart.... family is precious, that's why must pay to enjoy eating dinner with family.

Discount Hoax! Mwahahaha (it's not me)

The person who started the sms on 40% petrol discounts during national day ought to be thanked. He/She made us realise how Silly singaporeans can be, monkey see, monkey do leh.... I've personally seen long queues outside petrol stations during the 4pm-8pm time frame...

on forums, it had come to my attention that some dissatisfied drivers actually created a scene at the petrol stations...but really...wake up la these people, it's their fault lo...again..monkey see monkey do, never check the facts, some of these cars queueing includes BMWs and Mercs...why? own too big cars cannot pay for expensive petrol liaoz right?

BUT, in light of the current petrol situation, (every announcement regarding petrol prices is always an increase, never a decrease), i can personally understand how some of these drivers are feeling. All the biting of the bullet of ever increasing expenses must have caused desperation to believe something as unbelievable as a 40% discount in light of crude oil hitting an all time high of USD$64/ barrel.

The GARment ought to do something...every single one of us sillporeans know it's possible to do something to cushion the prices...or risk having sillyporeans do silly things like queuing for imaginary discounts...

My 2 cents worth.

PIGGY>> Oink oink eating broad beans and feeding turtle with a broad bean and lots of shells. Thinking back, why my stupid turtle is not that stupid enough to have queue for the petrol as well. however, my stupid turtle got so excited and panic for a moment when he saw the long queue. He was so stupid that he called his friend to verify about the 40% discount. Haiz, want to own a car to fetch piggy ard and have to worry about the petrol price. orh, so sweet! (Disclaimer: It belongs to piggy and piggy view alone as I do not agree on some of the things she said.)

Wah cannot like that OnE....

Another increase in petrol prices...might as well dun drive la like that, petrol is close to 2 dollars a litre liaoz leh....that translate to roughly 70 bucks for 35 litres...70 bucks leh!! last time( not too long ago) was only ard 40 bucks only lo...daylight robbery really...

my wireless network is up and running...connected an Aztech ADSL modem to a Netgear wireless router... freedom..can now msn while in toilet liaoz mwahahhaa..... =p will take a pic of the router when i have the time...