A Son Praising His Father

I had an interesting conversation with a male teenager of about 19 years old.  He workships and adores his father.  He said his father is a successful businessman with assets of about S$600 million dollars.  He said his father originally owned 4 bungalows in the luxurious Sentosa Cove - he subsequently sold 3 and kept 1 for his own residential use.  He admires his father for his humility, charitable and clannish traits to his family, friends and relatives.  He said his father lavishly provided for his family - he bought 2 of his siblings and mother each a luxurious car worth hundred of thousands of dollars each.  He himself drives a Lambourghini. He said his fuel cost for his car can total up to 3 to 4 hundred dollars per weekend. His father  believes in doing charitable work for disaster victims in the region - he has contributed to disaster relief work in Indonesia, Burma, etc. His father also believes in helping friends and relatives who are in debts.  He said he had on occasions delivered cash amounting to $90,000 to $100,000 to friends and relatives who are in dire straits.  I have no way of verifying what he told me.  Or is this "the cock and bull story of the year".  You judge for yourself.

Time Velocity

In a twinkle of the eyes we are apporaching the tail end of the year 2010.  If you are aged 50 years and above time seems to accelerate and the years seem to collapse into months.  Not too long ago many years back I was listening to a BBC Radio programe trying to make sense of the phenomenon. For the Seniors everyday is no different from yesterday.  Their lives are more or less set on routine. As such time seems to fly away! The teenagers and young adults look forward with great expectation to their dates and appointments in the days and weeks ahead.  The waiting gives them the sense that time passes slowly.  The important thing is to cherish every moment of everyday!  Have a happy holiday season!

Asset Bubbles In Singapore?

I fear and can sense the asset bubbles that are forming in our equities and real estate markets.  As at to date the stock market is at 29-month high and the mortgage growth has grown by 23% - 10-year high.  With the latest Federal Reserve's US$600 Billion QE2 accompanied by  the low interest rate environment cheap money is flowing into our shores.The latest slew of IPOs (with a few mega ones) and bond offerings by listed entities has heated up the market. On the real estate front the Government has released many building sites for developers' bidding not forgetting the build-to-order (BTO) projects offered by the HDB.  The whole exercise gives one the feeling of bubbles frothing and buiding!  The Government has subsequently introducted the latest cooling measures to arrest the euphoria and madness!   We must not forget the lesssons of the economic bubbles in Japan from 1986 to 1991. This led to the "lost decade" of the Japanese economy!   In 2003/2004 the Japanese Stock Market and the Real Estate Market crashed - a unit in the financial district nose-dived to less than 1% of its peak value whilst a residential unit fetched less than one tenth. It is in Singapore's interest to be careful and mindful! 

Curbing Triad & Secret Society Activities in Singapore

I refer to the recent reports of senseless killing and maiming of bodies by members of such Societies in the local Sinagpore media. I think such wanton, cruel and merciless conduct  should be put to a stop immediately. Full stop! In Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s ganglands' rioting and fightings were not uncommon.  Almost daily you could  read of such accounts of ganglands' tussels over protection rackets and territorial rights. At that the time the Government of the day acted firmly and resolutely by invoking Section 55 of the Criminal Law Act by rounding up members of such Societies.  Section 55 allowed the Police to detain the secret society members without trial up to 12 months in the first instance.  I wonder whether Section 55 is still in our Law Statues or it has changed into another legal term.  When you mentioned Section 55 most secret society members at that time would twitched their ears and showed more restrain and respect before they embarked onto any wrongdoings.  The Police should spare no effort to enforce such a law on such persons.  We do not want to see Singapore living under a "cloud of fear" wielded by members of such Societies!  Any persons with inkling of links with such Societies should be rounded up and be incacerated!

Uncle Sam's Role

Uncle Sam's global banks' greed and financial engineering created the worst financial crisis of 2008/2009 since the Great Depression.  Subsequently the whole world was plunged into recession and many people were unemployed. With massive bailouts and stimulus packages, Uncle Sam managed to put the world's largest economy back on track.  It lowered its interest rate to almost zero and also instituted "Quantitative Easing 1" - printing money!  As a result the US dollars devalued and "cheap money" caused the world's commodities' prices, stock exchanges, real estates to escalate - my food prices,petrol, my cup of coffee, the gold jewellery that I buy, the property prices that are transacted are unimaginable!  Now there is talk of "Quantitative Easing 2" (printing more money) -  more cheap money looking for better yield creating bubbles in the world's stock exchanges, commodities, properties and prompting talk of currency wars. Uncle Sam must be mindful of what action it takes or does not take because it has implications and consequences for the whole world!  We all hope and trust its action will always be appropriate, measured and most important of all responsible!!!!!

Why Aren't The Americans More Appreciative of Their President Barack Obama

According to the latest polls, the approval rating of President Barack Obama has fallen to 44%.  He has my full sympathy for holding on to the world's most powerful job but alas a "thankless" job nevertheless!  The irony is that he has just rescued America from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of 1929 by providing massive bailouts for the auto and banking sectors and stimulus packages.  With almost a decade of overspending and over-leverage the American economy has to drain itself of the excesses and to slowly de-leverage.  An economy is like a battleship, it slowly turns around.  With unemployment at 10% it is inevitable that the American public is losing patience and heart!  However, I see the American President as a person who has "the helicopter view" of the whole problem: he knows the options, trade-offs, solutions,etc. I gauge this from watching the many media interviews/telecasts and town-hall meetings that he hosted. I guess you just have to give him time. I hope that his race and family background has got nothing to do with this!  American politics is complex and has many moving parts.  I just wish President Obama the best of luck!!!

Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+ | Video on TED.com

Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+ Video on TED.com

You may want to watch this video on longevity.  Just look out and learn the common denominators found in such communities. In this connection you may refer to my earlier post on 22 April 2010 where I listed broadly 3 main areas namely 1)Diet, 2)Activity, 3)Emotion which may account for their secret of their longevity.

SIA Bonds at 2.15% Coupon Rate

The SIA bonds at 2.15% coupon rate are not attractive.  You can buy better alternatives like the OCBC Preference Shares at the SGX (Singapore Stock Exchange).  Preference Shares have bond-like features like coupon rate (dividend payments) and tenure (5 years, etc.). The dividends payable range from 3.9% to 5.1% depending on which type of Preference Shares you buy.  At the moment you have to pay a high premium as the Shares are popular because of the low interest rate environment. Wait for the market to correct (expected to be next year & thereafter as the Federal Reserve will need to raise the interest rate sooner or later), then buy at the lower prices! Well, sometimes you just need to do some homework and research to look for better alternatives for your investments.  Happy Investing!

"Mum" and "Mom"

I always respect and love my Mom who passed away more than 30 yrs. ago. A village lady from a Kampong in Lorong Tai Seng area in Singapore, she was not fairly treated by her husband (my father). You see my father had a 2nd wife. Yes, in the 1950s & 1960s it was not uncommon for husbands to keep 2nd wives. Yet my mother did not harbour any animosity or rancour to the 2nd wife. In fact she cultivated good and friendly terms with her to the extent that when the 2nd wife invited her to make some investments in her (2nd wife) Indonesian business she happily did so. However, when President Sukarno announced his "Confrontation" Policy the business collapsed and failed. My mother did not blame the 2nd wife for the investment lost and kept "mum" on the matter in her own philosophical and quiet ways. In this connection I always wondered why an uncle (with his family in tow )from her village would always visit her without fail on the 1st day of the Chinese Lunar New Year! I never asked my mother but I guessed it was my uncle's way of showing and paying respect to a great lady! I will always cherish memory of my mother!!!

A New Creation

I take a deep breath
I feel my Presence.
My thoughts I forego
Consciousness brings my Being.
My emotions I control
Awareness takes over.
The world's woes before me
Acceptance is all I need.
What blessings are bestowed
I shall enjoy them fully.
God's spirit is my redemption
Enthusiasm fosters my new Creation.

...........by S L Koh

In View of the Coming Election

I always admire those residents who live in the only 2 Opposition Wards namely Potong Pasir & Hougang. The infrastructure & estate amenities in those wards are nothing to crow about compared to those in the PAP consituencies. As reported in the papers their legitimate requests for funds for estate improvements/upgrading, etc. were blocked/thwarted by rigmarole of regulations & rules. As a result the estates common areas like roads, playgrounds, etc. were left at best at their most functioning states possible. Consequently the prices of the flats are affected compared with other more endowed/constantly improved/upgraded estates like Tanjong Pagar, Ang Mo Kio/ Marine Parade. Yes, I give my applause, salute and admiration to those residents of Potong Pasir & Hougang!! You continually support your MPs though you suffer loss in the material kind!!! Yes, there is much all Singaporeans can learn from you!!!!!!!!!!! Bravo, Bravo!!!!!

What Is the Most Important Lesson We Can Learn From the Financial Crisis of 2008/2009

The most important lesson we can take away is to equip yourself with Financial Literacy. We heard of stories of investors who had been burned, swindled or conned into putting their hard-earned monies, nesteggs into investments or structured financial products which they had no idea of what they were all about. Investors who had bought Minobonds, Pinnacles Notes, DBS High Notes, etc. will know what I am talking about. In fact 2 of our PAP Town Councils invested $16 millions of our tax-payer monies into such failed products - a sad and bad relection of supposedly sane and superior minds behind such investments! So before you commit yourself to buying an insurance policy, car or mortgage loan, annuity, etc. understand what you have bought and if you do not understand the product, do not commit or buy it! Let's why understand terms like savings, interest rate, compound interest rates, inflation, etc (in other words Financial Literacy) will protect oneself against charlatans in the insurance companies, banks and financial institutions that are out there to take advantage or worse to cheat you of your hard-earned monies! I believe such Financial Literarcy classes/courses should start at our Secondary Schools/Polytechnics/Universities before our students venture out into the society to begin their careers.

Books by Eckhart Tolle

I have just finished reading 2 books namely "Oneoness With All Life" & "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. He talks about awkening, the power of now; thoughts & the ego; unconsciousness & consciousness; forms & formless; being & beingness, etc. What I have learned is that there are 2 dimensions: the dimension of doing, creating, achieving and the spiritual dimension of being at peace with oneself, beingness, depth of the spirit from which everything flows. To achieve true freedom & enlightened living we need to know & to learn how to cultivate the spiritual aspect of living. Most of us live a lop-sided life emphasizing the doing & creating part and neglecting the spiritual aspect of being! For the Christians it is sensing or if you like cultivating the "spirit of God in us". Well, you can borrow the books from our National Library. Happy reading!

Is There Such a Thing as Strategic Gambling?

I have an interesting conversation with a male retiree in his 70s. He stays around Holland Avenue area. He told me he visits the Marina Sands casino 2 times a week. His contemporaries (all in their 70s) also join him in this weekly ritual. He will bring along $1200 each time to gamble on his favourite game the Roulette. I asked him whether he had been able to win against the House. He said he has a strategy playing the game - he will place his bets on 8 nos., black & white colours, etc. As I am not a gambler I could not understand let alone be interested in what his strategy was all about. He said if he made a profit of $1000 by 2 am he would call it a day. I guess he normally started his addiction from 12 mid-night. If he would to discover that the number he betted will persistently not appear he would just stopped temporarily or switched to another table. He said sometimes he would strike big in his winnings of thousand of dollars. However, he said should he be unlucky and lose his capital of $1200 he would not mind as he said he could afford it. According to him, sometimes making $200 to $300 per session will not be a problem !! I just wish him good luck and hope that one day his addiction will stop!!!!!!!!!

S'pore 45th Birthday.

With the impending 45th Birthday of the Nation, there is one burning issue I have been mulling over the past few years. Inevitablly after August 9 large and loud advertisements in our newspapers congratulating our Medals Honour winners are splashed for all to see. These advertisements will go on for days, weeks and even months only filling the advertising coffers of the Straits Times. These advertisements are put by businessmen, business conglomerates, MPs, residents committees and even Town Councils. I feel such unnecessary & "you-scatch-my-back-I-scatch-your-back" wontonly-wasteful spending is distasteful. I feel a more altruistic deed will be to contribute such spending (which I estimate to run into thousands if not millions of dollars) to Charitable Organisations. Maybe our MPs can take the lead in this! I wrote to the Straits Times on this matter last year. For obvious reasons the matter never surface in the Forum Column.

World Cup 2010 - Final Say

Spain is deservedly the World Cup 2010 Champion having defeated the Netherlands 1-0 during extra-time. Spain has exquisitely displayed the free-flowing and beautiful football that is identified with most South American teams. Being a European nation to have slowly transform to such a "samba" Team is I think in no small measure due to the huge import of South American players in the Teams that participated in the Spanish Laliga. Netherlands has on the other hand had morphed from a Team which displayed the "total football" which we remembered during Johan Cyruff's time to a Team which employed "dirty' & "ugly" tactics to win matches. In their Quarter-Final game with Brazil such wanton & dirty tactical foulplay was on dispay for all to see - pushing, pulling, tapping of ankles & knees to dislodge players. The Netherlands coach should have hidden his face in the sand for having nuturing such a Team. Yes, Spain the better Team is the World Champions!

World Cup 2010 - As I See It (Part II)

As the Tournament has quickly approached the Quarter-Finals stage, here are my impressions:-

1) England Team: The most-hyped and over-rated Team. Their players are over-paid and over-rated. In their match with West Germany they were trounced 4-1. England failed beause of 2 key players - John Terry (who was stripped of his captaincy role because of his marital problems) and Fabio Capello (Coach). Terry was a mere observer and a spectator in the match, hardly the stout defender we know when he plays for Chelsea. Capello did not had the courage to replace him when you know a player is not performing. Keep in mind that days before the match Terry was questioning Capello's authority and training methods, etc.
2) USA Team: The "Most Confident" Team. In every game they played they always said they are going to beat their opponents. Even their fans echoed the same sentiment. Perhaps being a "Super-Power" gives them that "Super-Ego". If only they were to humble themselves and show less hubris!!!!
3) Mexico Team: The Players really salute & workship their country!!! They sing their National Anthem "with gusto" standing to attention with their hands across their chests!!!
4) Showman of World Cup 2010 - Diego Maradona. The world-renown Coach of Argentina always pats, hugs and kisses his players. He craves for attention & publicity. He has complete rapproachment & intimacy with his players - he is their motivator! The Argentina Team of today is totally different from the Argentina Team of yesteryears!

World Cup 2010 - As I See It

I witnessed the best World Cup game played so far - the match between Brazil & Cote d'lvoire (Ivory Coast) on June 20. The game was played in the true & pure spirit of football - free-flowing, exquisite & attacking football I have ever seen so far in an International Tournament. Both teams enjoy in exhibiting their skills in what attacking football is all about - there were constant attacking moves from both teams although Ivory Coast was at one stage 3-0 behind - there was no letting up. The final score was 3-1 in favour of Brazil. I have also witnessed games played by North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Paraguay, Chile and the usual European Countries. My assessment of the Asian Countries are as follow:-
1) They still lack the football skills required - ball control, shooting, heading, etc.
2) Tactics & Techniques - these need to be learned, experimented & improved.
3) Their strengths - good attitude, commitment & sometimes "no fear" & "all for my country" bravo.
For the South American countries I give my hat to them for showing us how football is to be played - chasing every ball, passing the ball precisely & running to the ground.
For the European Countries, thanks for their Super-stars because of EPL, LaLiga, German League & Italian League but no thanks for their sometimes "dull" & "boring" football.
For the African Countries, they are learning the game & they may catch up with the South American countries. For all the Teams - please show us "how footballl is to be played" in pure poetry form so that the "World Cup" can truelly claimed to be "The Beautiful Game"

Treasure Your Life

I chanced meeting a relative while shopping in the Tampines Mall area. Two years ago he was involved in an accident when a forklift lorry rammed into him. The right portion of his body especially the stomach area was badly sheared and his right leg was badly twisted. He showed me the scars. He said it was a miracle that he is still alive today! He had to undergo medical treatment and reconstuctive surgical procedures for many months and his hospital bills amounted to ten of thousands of dollars which luckily were paid for by the insurance claims. He now walks with a limp on the right leg. Life is fragile. Please treasure it!!!!!!!!!

Death - A Taboo Subject?

In our Asian culture we do not like to speak and talk about death. Some young people think "they will never die" or live like " they are going to live forever". For the Seniors as time seems to accelerate the reality of death stares at their faces! Yes death is our companion whether we like it or not. Whoever you are and whatever you are doing can all end suddenly! Before death touches us and bring us home to our Lord, let us cherish every moment and every day we have. Celebrate the miracle of life, live life to the fullness. If there is anything that you wish to do (like a phone call to say "I love you" or " I am sorry" and any dreams you wish to pursue, just do it! We need not fear death but enjoy the life we now have!

Ubiquitous Casinos in Macau vs 2 S'pore Casinos

On a recent visit to Macau I cannot help noticing the ubiquitous casinos said to number about 30 odd - they are just like the shopping centres we have in Singapore. I asked our tour guide who are the patrons of the casinos - she said mainly Chinese from the Mainland. I asked her what about the local population. She said she, as a working mother including many of her contemporaries will not dare step inside as they are mindful of the danger of gambling. According to her the locals who visit the casinos are (surprise!surprise!) the retirees who have the money & time!!! In S'pore we have 2 casinos & you know what? I salute the Government for its ingenious idea of collecting the Levy which as at today stands at $70 million translated to $280 million yearly revenue for the Government not counting the taxes on the profits of the casinos. The casino patrons are 50:50 citizens(including permanent residents)& non-citizens. The 2 casinos employ more than 16,000 workers,70 per cent of whom are our local people. My only worry is for our retirees - they should not be lured by the casinos just because they have the time and money.

Senile Dementia vs Wine/Beer Drinking

I just had an interesting conversation with an old lady of 70+ years. She said she dreaded the old-age disease Senile Dementia. She believed that by drinking wine & beer nightly she would thwart the onslaught of the dreaded disease. She said she does this practically every night - drinking at a coffee-shop at Bukit Merah Road & then taking a taxi back to her home (condo-unit) near Kheam Hock Road at Bukit Timah. She calculated that her total expenditure per night will be about $50 which totaled up to about $1500 p.m. She considers this amount worth spending vis-a-vis the amount that would be incurred if she will be striken down with Senile Dementia. To her simple mind the cost of hospitalisation, medical costs, etc to treat dementia will rachet to thousands of dollars if not ten thousands. She said her eye-sight and hearing are failing. She also said her children encouraged her to visit the Casinos but she was put off by the Levy. I admire her for her simple philisophy and wish her all the best in her Golden Years!!!!

Tragedy in Thailand

It saddens me to see what had happened in Thailand recently. I feel that the protest leaders should be more responsible and accountable! After organizing and agitating the red-shirt protesters for change and democracy for the last 2 months, they acted irresponsibly and callously by saying they were surrendering when the Government decided to crack down on the protesters last Wednesday. By doing so they left the protesters leaderless which resulted in the mayhem of senseless rioting, looting and burning. According to reports more than 88 persons were killed and 40 odd buildings burned. The leaders could have managed the situation better by accepting some sort of compromise when the Government offered to negotiate - indeed such wanton loss of lives and properties could have been prevented! Yes, the leaders should be more responsible and held accountable for their actions - for protesting, demonstrating and challenging the Government of the day have attendant consequences which every leader should be conscious and mindful of. If they are "real" leaders and believe that their causes are just, they and their fellow protesters should have presented themselves as "passive resistance" freedom fighters as Ghandhi did in India!!! Yes,the protest leaders should be held answerable, responsible and accountable for the Tragedy!!!!

Re: $3 Taxi-Surcharge at Marina Bay Sands

There has been a lot of talk recently on the $3 Location Taxi-Surcharge at the Marina Bay Sands. My thought on the matter is as follows:-

Marina Bay Sands is located next to its neighbours like Esplanade & Marina Square Complex where the $3 CBD(Central Business District)Taxi-Surcharge is applicable. In fact it takes only 1 minute if you drive via Bayfront Bridge from Marina Square to MBS. Thus it takes common sense for a taxi-driver to queue & pick-up passengers from the Marina Square Area as he can collect the $3 Surcharge if there is no surcharge at MBS. It is a misnomer to label the Surcharge at MBS as Location Surcharge as you can clearly see it is situated almost within the CBD. Thus it should appropriately be termed CBD Surcharge.

Investment Quotes to Ponder & Chew Upon

In view of the financial /stock market turmoil follwing the Greece's Debt Crisis, it may be appropriate to ponder & chew on some of the investment advice available:-

1) The fundamental law of investing is the uncertainty of the future .....Peter Bernstein.

2) We know in retrospect that stock prices tend to overreact & valuations revert to the mean. But it's never possible to know in advance when the reversion will occur .....Burton Malkiel.

3) Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent ............John Maynard Keyne.

4) Remember the goal of investing is not to achieve the highest return. Instead, it is to have the highest likehood of achieving your objectives .....Anonymous.

5) If you are prepared to do something stupid repeatedly,there are many professionals happy to take your money ........Richard Thaler.

6) Let's say it clearly. No one knows where the market is going - experts or novices, soothsayers or astrologers. That's the simple truth. ..........Fortune.

7) There are only 3 types of market forecasters: those who don't know, those who don't know they don't know, & those who know they don't know, but get paid a lot of money to pretend that they do. .......... Larry E Swedroe.

8) I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people ....Sir Isaac Newton.

Yes, We Should Read More!

I remembered watching China's CCTV interview of China's PM Wen Jiabao in which he said "A Nation will not prosper if its citizens do not read". Yes, we should read more for our own sake. There is a whole new world that books provide for us to explore, learn, understand and stimulate us. Immediately after the Financial Crisis of 2008 there were tons of books published by journalists, writers, economists, etc. (mostly American/Western) delving into the How, Why, What Happened & Who-Dun-It? on the Crisis. Our Asian counterparts should emulate the West on this though hitching on the band-wagon of profits notwithstanding. So run down to our National Library with your Identity Card & start the reading habit. You can borrow a maximum of 6 books at a time. Happy Reading!

God Administers to Our Needs

I use The Upper Room for my daily devotion. About one week before our trip to Macau/Zhuhai for the period 16 to 20 April 10 my in-laws informed my wife that our departure time for the flight has been postponed to 11.15 am instead of the original 6 am. I was thinking "wooh! this is a buget airline; is it reliable?; did the travel agent screwed-up? etc. The worrying thoughts linger! Then on 14 April 10, there & behold in my hand my Bible Verse for the day:
1)Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God ..........Philippians 4:6
On 16 April 10 when we checked-in at our hotel the receptionists (2-unfriendly and glum-looking gentlement)informed our guide that booking had been made for only 1 room instead of 2 rooms. This time I was not surprised nor unduly worried for my devotion on 16 April 10 reads as follows:
2)Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge .............Psalm 62:8
Yes, indeed we need to just trust Him. On our way out for dinner, the receptionists informed us the Travel Agent has just confirmed booking for another room!!

Longer-Span & Disease-Free Life

I just complted reading the Book "Still Healthy at 100" by John Robbins. In his study of Abkhasia(Longevity Capital of the World),the Okinawans of Japan and some other long-life civilisations of the world (people averaging 80 to 90 years old) he found the secret in 3 areas:

1) Diet - the people consume a natural plant, seed & root-based diet. Meat is consumed to the minimum;

2) Activity - active lifestye - these people exercise regularly to keep their muscles & bodies in shape. For us a morning 30 to 45 mins brisk walk will suffice.

3) Emotion - Relations & Relationships - these people are jovial, friendly, calm, loving disposition, have no anger, hatred, jealousy, etc.

Well, read the book! It is available at our National Library.;

World Cup 2010 - "My Rice Bowl" or "My Country"

For the coming World Cup most of the top professional footbal players will face the dilemma "My Rice Bowl" or "My Country". What do I mean? These top professional players are paid millions by their Clubs. If they are to play their hearts out for their Countries, they may risk injuring or harming themselves and their careers! I saw that played out in the African Nations Cup Jan 2010. Didier Drogba (who currently plays for Chelsea FC & who wore the captain's armband for Ivory Coast) was a "mere passenger" in one of the crucial game I saw him played. Whereas Michael Essien returned to his Club Chelsea FC (yes he also play for the same Club)injured having done his national serivice for his Country Ghana. Drogba looked after "his rice bowl" but Essien served "his country" Just now heard the news that Emmanuel Adbayor who played for "Togo" announced his retirement from international duties!!!

"Idea System" or "Wits"

I refer to the "Insight" article by Cassandra Chew in the ST dated 9 April 10 on an interview she did with American innovation expert Alan Robinson. I cannot help thinking the "Idea System" refers to the "Wits"(Work Improvement Teams) that were in vogue during the 1990s. If I am not wrong the Japanese pioneered them. In those days our Civil Service, statutory boards, some govt. educational bodies, etc. were very active in such we called "brainstorming" activities. In fact there were contests organised and cash awards were given out for such activities. Well, after so many years the "Wits" is now known as "Idea System" in the the present so-called "Innovation" era?!

"Happiness" factor on Vacation

Will be taking a short vacation with my the other half & in-laws from the 16th to 19th April 10. We will going on a trip to Macau & Zhuhai. I recently read in a local news report that a research done overseas looked into the "Happiness" factor in going on vacations. They found that 1)people experienced "the feel good "happiness" "factor while preparing for the trip (normally about 2 weeks before making the trip. 2) they feel "stressed" while on vacation - because of new environment, etc. 3)the "happiness" factor waned 2 weeks after the trip. Well, what are your experiences?

Cost of Living In S'pore

I just spoke to a French man (probably in his 30s) today. He said he worked for a bank & his working hrs are from 2 pm to 2 am next day. He said he manned the European market counter. I asked him why he did not stayed back home & worked in Paris. He said the cost of living in his hometown is "expensive". He also said that Switzerland is also "expensive " indicating that he ever spent some time working there. He labelled S'pore "the Switzerland of the East". He rented with his friend a condo unit in the East Coast Area at $2500 p.m. From the conversation I can tell that expatriates find the cost of living in S'pore "relatively low". Thus, S'pore is a natural magnet for foreigners who want to work here - we have good governance, infrastructure, good schools, health & social amenities. Thus, S'pore need not use the carrot of "high pay" to attract foreign workers!!!!

You are welcome to Koh's Space. Here you may post any interesting ideas/thoughts etc. you may want to share. Uplighting & positive comments are most welcome!!!! Waiting to hear from all of you!!!!