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?!