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!!!!!