What's hot Singapore

Sylvia Lim's Video About Singapore Minister Salaries

2011-03-18T20:22:00.001+08:00

NCMP Ms Sylvia Lim raised her view on ministerial pay hike.

Silent Complaint About the COE Prices

2011-01-04T20:56:00.000+08:00

This is my silent complaint about the ridiculously COE price. You can call it "lor soh".

I remmember before ERP start, someone mention that they will cut the car tax. They will shift the cost of owning a car based on usage.

So many years later, EPRsss become ERPsssssssssssss. And COE price hit a new time high. The car usage price indeed is increasing, but the car price is getting higher because of COE. That piece of paper can be more expensive than a real car.

So now, the reason for higher COE price is to control the number of cars, so that it can ease the traffic.

Q: So what about ERP?
A: Errrrr, ERP is another way to ease the traffic lor.
Q??? Hmmm, ERP is not working without raising COE, so why not just raise COE at the very beginning. Build all those ERP for what ...

Q: What's next?
A: More ERP gantries so that we can monitor and control the traffic in the WHOLE Singapore island.

Q: What's next?
A: Increase the car park fee.

I just wonder, I am now paying ERP so that I can reach home in time to accompany my family for dinner. We need to pay for this, errrrr. Now, the car price is getting so high that many middle income people cannot "affort".

I suppose owning a car is only for those rich people in Singapore now.

A: If cannot own a car, there is public transport. Our public transport is considered world class.

So when more people use public transport, will it get over crowded? Will the public transport price get higher?

A: ..... If the people cannot afford a car, just use public transport. We cannot help the people to own a car.

Q: If there a promise that because of the price increase in COE, it will not affect the public transport at all?

A: .... The condition of public transport depend on usage and many other reason. Not COE. There are different thing.
Q???? ya ERP and COE are different things as well. So public transport will be affected lah, not because of COE, but because more people is using it.

"Reposition" the reason, like that I also can .....

North Korea Bombs South Korea

2010-11-23T21:41:00.000+08:00

Shocking news: "Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- In a sharp escalation of hostility along their disputed sea border, North and South Korean forces traded fire Tuesday, a deadly skirmish that jacked up diplomatic tensions in a volatile region.

Two South Korean marines were killed and 15 South Korean soldiers and civilians were wounded when the North fired about 100 rounds of artillery at Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, South Korea authorities said, according to the South Korean Yonhap news agency." ... read more at http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/nkorea.skorea.military.fire/index.html?iref=NS1

NANYANG Technological University falls 101 spots to 174 For Year 2010

2010-09-27T13:02:00.000+08:00

"NANYANG Technological University (NTU) has tumbled 101 places in a revamped ranking of the world's top 200 universities.

It has plunged from 73rd to 174th place in this year's edition of the widely viewed Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, published yesterday." - http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_579608.html

F1 Singapore Result For Year 2010

2010-09-27T12:59:00.000+08:00

You can get more information about F1 Singapore Result For Year 2010 at:

Singapore Grand Prix result 2010

"Fernando Alonso won the eventful 2010 Singapore GP only 2 tenths ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Mark Webber’s early pit stop gamble (behind safety car) paid off, he finished third just ahead of Jenson Button. Lewis Hamilton crashed out for the second time in as many races." - http://www.f1wolf.com/2010/09/2010-singapore-gp-race-result-two-in-a-row-for-alonso.html

Snake found in athlete room for the Commonwealth Games 2010

2010-09-27T12:50:00.001+08:00

"NEW DELHI – Two more Australian athletes withdrew Sunday and a South African competitor reportedly found a snake in his room as complaints over cleanliness, security and construction continued to dog the troubled Commonwealth Games a week before the sporting event opens in New Delhi.
...
On Saturday, Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell said that significant work had been done in recent days to push forward preparations, but that plenty more remained. Water was remaining in the basement of the athletes' village, there were transportation and technology difficulties and issues with security and fire safety, he said." from http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20100926/twl-com-commonwealth-games-problems-1st-1be00ca.html

Singapore Blogger that Demand free meals at Restaurant

2010-08-23T18:04:00.001+08:00

Just read a post about a Singapore Blogger, Brad Lau( his blog is ladyironchef), that Demand free meals at Restaurant.

According to http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/08/23/food-blogger-who-asks-for-free-meal-sparks-outrage-online/

The blogger in question, Brad Lau, who runs a food blog called ladyironchef, had informed the management on Friday that he would be coming down to review the Sunday Brunch promotion. ...The restaurant eventually offered to waive off the cost of the meal for him and his partner as well as the cost of the champagne out of goodwill, thus lowering the bill to $159.

Still upset but finally relenting to pay, the blogger then threw his credit card onto the bar counter in front of the cashier before storming out.

Can't beleive it!!! Imagine asking a few friend to join in for a meat, and spend a few hundred dollars. Next ask for FREE , errrrrrr, because and because he is so call a famous "food blogger" (and the blog seems to have an award or what, the organiser should do something about it, isn't it). Why not schedule every meals to 1 restaurant, ask your auntie, uncle, old friends, new friends, ah boy, ah girl and ... for the Free meals. Save quite a lot from it, yar...

What a shame ! What an arrogant guy !

More about this arrogant "Brad Lau" at
disgraceful food blogger demand free food from restaurant ...
http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?t=71393&page=2

You can see his photo and even his address from the link above.

YOG Food Criticism Again and Again

2010-08-23T16:49:00.002+08:00

YOG Food Criticism Again and Again, someone even call it "dog" food.
Sign :(

>> Live maggot found in athlete’s food at Youth Olympic Village
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/08/20/live-maggot-found-in-athletes-food-at-youth-olympic-village/

>> YOG volunteer: Not much improvement in quality of food
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/08/21/yog-volunteer-not-much-improvement-in-quality-of-food/

>>> Hmm, from the picture, looks ok to me :) Just wonder how much is spent on each pack of food here.

Just my thought, volunteer as it's call "voluntEER". There are volunteers that go to 3rd world countries helping people there without any "incentive". They paid for all the cost occurred during the trip helping other.

I am not bother about how the food taste (Ha ha, remind me about the time when I am in the army, serving with "dog" food when serving the nation :P Those are the time when mum's food taste so nice and even maggie mee taste wonder.), but food poisoning case should not happen at the first place.

BTW, is there any follow up on the YOG food poisoning issue?

YOG Food Poisoning

2010-08-19T00:35:00.003+08:00

Wow, what a news - More than 20 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) volunteers were reported to have suffered from food poisoning, having diarrhoea and abdominal pain after consuming their meals in the morning of August 15.

You can read more about YOG food poisoning incident at
http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/08/18/nea-moh-probe-food-poisoning-at-yog/

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1075888/1/.html

Watch Akeelah and the Bee

2010-08-12T00:36:00.003+08:00

Yesterday night, I feel like relaxing myself. So end up watching this movie: Akeelah and the Bee

This is an old moive, but a very nice one. Very Inspiring. I intend to ask my little girl to watch it as well.

Akeelah: [quoting Marianne Williamson] Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Dr. Larabee: Does that mean anything to you?

Akeelah: I don't know.

Dr. Larabee: It's written in plain English. What does it mean?

Akeelah: That I'm not supposed to be afraid?

Dr. Larabee: Afraid of what?

Akeelah: Afraid of... me?

You can learn more about Akeelah and the Bee
at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437800/ ... Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is an 11-year-old girl in south Los Angeles, with a love for words. Spelling words was a way for her to connect to her father who was killed when she was six. Akeelah is a bright student, but she has been skipping class and is barely passing. Akeelah's principal is about to put her in detention when he persuades her to enter the Crenshaw school's spelling bee...

Interesting tablet - Boogie Board Tablet

2010-07-22T11:04:00.002+08:00

While surfing around the web, found this interesting tablet - Boogie Board Tablet

It allows you to write on it (so no need paper and pen liao). But I just wonder why, they never include a SAVE feature in the device???

Don't seem to see this in Singapore :( So if interested, you will have to order at Amazon lor.

You can learn more about this at http://myboogieboard.com

pennyauction.com.my and pennyauction.com.sg

2010-06-25T23:06:00.006+08:00

I beleive I come across pennyauction.com.sg site from facebook. Out of curiorsity I check out the site. And also doing some research on related sites as well. I found pennyauction.com.my
So one from Singapore and the other from Malaysia (based on the domain name).

But the interesting thing is, the same products and bidders appear on the 2 sites. I am just wondering, does this mean that we are bidding against 2 countries. Maybe more, who know :P

I further search around and discover that this type of sites are quite popular now (or maybe much earlier).
They are call penny auction. Basically as a bidder, you need to spend some money (say $1) to bid. For every bid, the bid price will increase by a penny (or cent or whatever you wanna call it). Bidders will continue until no one is bidding. And the winner will then have to pay for the bid price + shipping fee.

Frankly, the whole model look great to me, not as a bidder but a site owner :P

Say you list up a popular product that retail price is at $2
(so assume that, typically people will stop biding at around $1)

Bid# - Bid $ Spend - Bid at $
------------------
1 - $1 - $0.01
2 - $2 - $0.02
3 - $2 - $0.03
10 - $10 - $0.10
....
100 - $100 - $1.00

Do you see the trend? For a $2 dollar product, and if the winning bid is $1, the site owner will profit about $100 - $2 + $1 = $99.
That's is a lot of profit margin for 1 sale, earn $99 from a $2 product !!!
Even if the winning bid is at $0.10, the profit is already $10 - $2 + $1 = $9.00
Now imagine that this is a $1000 product.

Of course, you might be saying, still have supporting cost to run the business. Or course it will, which busines does not? But will they get should a high profit margin?

Personally, base of the research that I have found and digested, you might get "lucky" when not many people are bidding. Which will be quite unlikely if the site is popular. Beside, I wonder if the whole process is monitored. It is quite easy to trick in these type of sytem/software. By the way, I am not saying that all these sites are tricking. What I am trying to say it that, from technically stand point, if the whole process is not transparent, who know if the winner bidder is "real"?

Personally, I will not bid on these type of sites. But is up to you. Who know, you might be lucky :P
If I have a choice, I would rather start up a site for you to bid :) Supporter need :P

You can learn more about penny auction at:
http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/

I play with iPad today :)

2010-06-21T00:18:00.002+08:00

Today, I have a chance to play with the iPad that my relative just bought from US.
Looks to me like a big iTouch. The screen is clear. And playing game on it is cool.
What I don't like is the weight, after holding it for sometimes when reading ebook, can start to feel that it is getting heavier (ha ha, maybe my hand is geeting weaker when age catch up)

Looking for iPad alternative? I have foudn these pages offering some. Look cools.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/04/02/seven-more-ipad-alternatives/

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/12/seven-alternatives-to-the-apple-ipad/

Just wonder, will they be available in Singapore :?

I missed the replay for the recent Table Tennis Won Over China

2010-06-08T21:24:00.003+08:00

So sad, missed the replay for the recent Table Tennis Won Over China in the TV. Anyone aware of any re-show again?

Anyway, congrates to our Table Tennis team Singapore for winning the championship!

MOSCOW: Singapore's trio Feng Tianwei, Wang Yuegu and Sun Bei Bei rocked the sports world in Moscow when they beat reigning champions and world No 1 China 3-1 in the World Team Table Tennis Championships... read more ...

Table Tennis: Singapore women's team upset China to become world champs
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1059954/1/.html

Singapore Team Manager Eddy Tay ...
"So I think that makes a lot of difference, because suddenly, they felt that, hey, the past doesn't count, that although we have lost so many, many matches, it's like a fresh start."

Why buy iPhone 3 now?

2010-06-08T21:14:00.003+08:00

Today, when walking passed the Singtel shop, notice that there are people buying iPhone 3 now.

Just wonder are they awared that iPhone 4 is arriving soon. Why buy something when the newer version is around the corner.

Here is the link to know more about iPhone4:
http://www.apple.com/sg/iphone/features.html

Is Taxis Surcharge From the 2 New Resorts Right ?

2010-05-19T12:44:00.003+08:00

Taxi companies impose a $3 surcharge for trips from Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and an extra $3 for trips from Marina Bay Sands (MBS).
Is Taxis Surcharge From the 2 New Resorts Right ?
What's is your thought?

...While he can understand the rationale for imposing the midnight and airport surcharge - to compensate for the inconvenience, waiting time and driving distance - he cannot say the same for the surcharges at the two resorts.
... read more Taxis in Singapore: Pray, is paying the only way?

AirAsia Free Seats promotion

2010-05-19T12:38:00.002+08:00

AirAsia Free Seats Promotion is on.

Booking Period : 18 May 2010 - 23 May 2010
Travel Period : 3 January 2011 - 8 May 2011

Travel Notes
- Advanced booking required.
- Fares are not available during embargo period.

To learn more >>> http://www.airasia.com/sg/en/promotion/rr0560105.html

Due to overwhelming response from AirAsia Free Seats promotion, you’ll notice the site might be a little slower.

Singapore casinos hurt Johor Baru's nightlife business

2010-05-19T12:32:00.001+08:00

JOHOR BARU: The opening of the two casinos in Singapore is hurting Johor Baru's nightlife, with many entertainment outlets and massage parlours experiencing a drastic drop in business.

Johor entertainment outlet operators association president Tan Yam Meng said that many people, especially those operating pubs and discotheques, were complaining about the drop in business.

... read more at http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20100519-217018.html

Orchard MRT station targeted by terrorists

2010-05-19T12:30:00.001+08:00

JAKARTA: A senior Indonesian police investigator revealed yesterday that Singapore was a potential target for extremist groups in Indonesia and they had singled out the Orchard MRT station.

... read more at http://news.asiaone.com/News/the%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20100519-216992.html

Pay Tribute to Dr Goh Keng Swee

2010-05-14T23:05:00.004+08:00

Singapore's Former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Goh Keng Swee (吴庆瑞) has passed away on 14th May 2010.

Cannot imagine how Singapore will be now without him.
Singapore has lost a great Man :(

To read more about Dr Goh, read more ...

http://www.dso.org.sg/home/publications/comm/2-Tribute.pdf

http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/adults/1344

http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/highbrowseonline/general/dr-goh-keng-swee-passes-1918-2010/

State funeral for former DPM Goh Keng Swee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goh_Keng_Swee

$1,914 spent on Facebook's Farmville game

2010-04-23T14:53:00.003+08:00

This is how a "free game" turn to a near $2000 bill.
Let's be realistic, how many business will setup sites to allow you to play game for free? There will be way to "monetize the game". It's business.

A mother from the United Kingdom saw just how addictive this game can be when she opened her credit card statement to see a £900 bill ($1,914) from charges incurred playing the Facebook game.

It turned out that her 12-year-old son had racked up the charges - purchasing in-game "Farm Coins and Cash" using real plastic. The virtual money can be used to purchase buildings and upgrades within the Farmville game.

Cut Mother tongue weighting in PSLE

2010-04-23T14:38:00.003+08:00

While browsing around the web today, read from a forum that "someone" suggest to cut Mother tongue weighting in PSLE.

Forum link : http://forums.asiaone.com/showthread.php?t=29294

Frankly, I am not so sure who is the "someone", and don't bother to dig out more.

I just hope that MOE can look into this matter seriously.

Sometimes, I just feel that policy maker don't really take ownership of what they implement. Is there a mechanism in place that can track who is the one who suggest something, implement it and "FAIL"? So will necessary action being carried out for such "FAIL" implementation?

Or, who care, after implemented, it take a few years to prove it. Who remember "WHO" has said what ... Just create an impact now Zzzzzzz

COE price is so ridiculous now

2010-04-07T23:17:00.007+08:00

Can't beleive it, in such a short period of time, COE price jump more than double.
I have to think ( twice * twice * twice ) before changing my car now :(

Ridiculous ... well , will it raise further ???

First ERP and more ERPsss , now COE and more COE$$$ :( Not happy laio
I suppose, we cannot do anything. And for those that can do something about it, will say it's market driven or to ease traffic lor... Who ask you want to buy car ...
I thought someone before implementing ERP say it is to offset the price of owning a car? (or.. maybe I remember wrongly... anyway noting can be done)

Without a car, I need to spend at least 3 hours daily just to go to work and return home lor. Anyone hear me !!!

8 hours working + 1 hour lunch + 1 hour OT (we work more than that) + 3 hour travelling => 13 hours.
With 8 hours sleep, so leave 5 hours.
OK still need time for other little things like breakfast, dinner, ....
What life style are we talking here? Family time?

What a stressful life ....

... Over 3,800 bids were received for 2,166 pieces of COE in a bidding where premiums rose by as much as 26 per cent.

A piece of Cat A COE, used for small cars of 1,600cc and below, now cost $34,001, up by 19.8 per cent. Similarly a Cat B COE would now cost $45,501, a 26 per cent hike.

Premium for the open category, mostly used for cars, jumped 16.7 per cent to $49,000.

Premiums for commercial vehicles and motorcycles weren't let off either. Both went up to finish at $36,551 and $1,221 respectively.

Romanian envoy faces charges for Singapore death crash

2010-04-03T22:48:00.003+08:00

SINGAPORE has taken the first steps towards criminal proceedings against former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, a day after the State Coroner found him responsible for two hit-and-run accidents in Bukit Panjang last December.

... it will be very difficult to bring Ionescu to justice in Singapore, because the country doesn't have an extradition treaty with Romania.

As a "normal person", or call it normal citizen, I do not know much about these "legal" stuff. Or the so call Country to Country things. I suppose justice must be served, regardless if there is a "treaty" signed or not. So, does it means that without the "treaty", someone can just walk away from a charge? Don't Romania need to do something? What about the Singapore gov?

If this case just end without any justice, I just wonder,
... so certain people that have special "power", can use some kind of "legal" mean to walk away with another "legal" charge? As for the normal people, ... well ... need I say more :(

A related post found at STOMP - http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/what_bugs_me/346390/romanian_envoy_is_hitandrun_driver.html

Marina Bay Sands Career

2010-02-26T11:31:00.004+08:00

Looking for a career change?
Check out at Marina Bay Sands Career page for some job opportunities -

You can search for a Positions at MarinaBaySands site:
http://careers.marinabaysands.com/JobBoard/SearchPositions.aspx

At this point of writing, the MarinaBaySands site mentions 196 jobs available at
http://careers.marinabaysands.com/JobBoard/ListJobs.aspx

Click here to view a list of jobs available in jobsdb.com.sg