Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Don’t give money away to charities blindly.
Written by ED on July 1, 2007 – 7:02 am -I was baffled, and yet laughing at the same time. I don’t remember a single time which any minister stood out to say “Don’t give money away to government blindly too, only appropriately”. Our citizens are facing a hard time now, especially with all the increased taxes and it really worries me, when will the Singapore bubble finally burst into pieces? But then again, how can we decide? Taxes are mandatory and that only means we do not have a choice not to contribute to CPF or other taxes, like it or not. Sadly, we are not the one welding the cane.
Past few days, I read about an expat who will be coming to Singapore soon. His salary? A massive SGD$140k after taxes, excluding housing and travel allowances. In addition, the company is footing the bill for a 20foot container to ship his personal items into Singapore. At first look, it seems nothing but it suddenly struck me - how many average Singaporeans earn this sort of salary? I’m talking about individually and not as a household income. Only one thing that convince me of this salary, that not a single person in Singapore is qualified enough to take up that role. Not a single one.
It’s of little wonder why expats sing praises of Singapore. Firstly, they don’t need to serve National Service which takes up a considerable amount of time over the years, of which some individuals are fired from work due to excessive time out of work and who’s standing up for them? The government? The army? Secondly, when all is well they’ll be here to reap a fortune and when all is not, all they need to do is pack up and leave for their home countries. Who are the one to remain? Singaporeans of course.
Have we all been treated like cheap labour? Are our life worth nothing? I shall keep my own conclusion to myself. Friends who knows my plans in the next 5 years (hopefully I can achieve it), it’s not too hard to guess.
Just a few hours earlier on, I was told of an individual who worships our “lords” but as we would have grown accustomed to local contradictions, this individual holds an Australian PR. If he loves this place as much as he claimed, would he even back himself up with a residency elsewhere? What? Waiting for the time to make a run for it?
I have to be honest, that a lot of things going on in Singapore are sheer atrocities to me and that’s only my personal feel. There are even issues which I consider as daylight robbery made legal. While there are boards keeping tabs on the charities, who keep tabs on the government itself?
If you read the Straits Times today, you will see another shocking attitude of the Singapore Government. Prisoner was given 3 extra strokes of the cane and the rest is a mere “Govt regrets error”. The government has also rejected the request of compensation of $3million which the convict’s family is asking for. The clerk who allegedly added the 3 extra strokes in paperwork (from 5 strokes to 8 strokes) has since resigned but that’s about it? This prisoner got extra 3 strokes just because of a clerk?
Are our government telling us that the government need not make amendments, compensate or punish the culprits of such atrocities? All of us know how tough the law in Singapore is, but as this individual case highlights… there are people who holds immunity to the law. In US and UK, you can actually sue the government and relevant authorities for compensation if treated unfairly, but here? Is this what we call JUSTICE???
How about putting one of the minister’s son through the iron gates and have a taste of the cane? I bet 3 strokes of the cane is nothing to them, so I assume whoever’s son surely has no problems to it? Sorry, but I see this as a severe injustice and this incident is one of the many which makes our legal framework a joke.
Call me a quitter, I don’t really care. I can’t be blamed for looking elsewhere. At least now I know why, of those who migrated overseas, hardly anyone turns back anymore… Happy quitter or miserable & poor patriot? The first still sounds better.
Time to prepare for church now…
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National Stadium: The Final Roar (or meow?)
Written by ED on June 29, 2007 – 5:41 am -
For those who are of a decent mature age, part of your memories surely contains some bit and pieces of National Stadium. Like myself, it was the first time I watched Fandi Ahmad and David Lee in action. That’s beside the foreign teams that walked through the gates.
In addition, this is also the place of my first formal participation of National Day Parade as Presidential Lance Guards. Huh!? You don’t know what’s that? You see that two rows of soldiers lining up the sides of the Presidential Stand? These used to be the knights of the King in British terms, who flanked the top man in an empire. Since we do not have real knights, we can only use soldiers from Armour units to represent those “steel plates” that stands guard of the top man.
Remember Newcastle and MUFC’s visit? It was hell lotsa fun at National Stadium isn’t it? Our National Stadium has seen a fair share of exciting events and a reasonable bit of history and heritage. There are so many “first time” National Stadium has given us. How are all these history related to The Final Roar then?
Being the typical Singaporean that I am, I began to worry about the new stadium and its cost. We have had many many… ahem… and many many many years of experience of how we were given 10 cents and ripped $10 back in return. The thought of a new stadium coming up… points to only one obvious worry - how much more tax am I going to pay again in the years to come? Do you think I will still be in a mood to celebrate The Last Roar? C’mon… tear it down for good and let’s not beat around the bush.
It’s not that I ain’t patriotic but realistic “experience” with regards to public funds and transparency as we know it, paints a very very gloomy picture. Until now, we do not know how much public funds have EDB lose in UNSW Asia project. Their lids are zipped, which means as funds contributors, we do not possess any Rights to know where our money has gone to. Just recently, the shady deal of Thaksin’s satellite services has also been blown wide open. Again, where did these funds go to? It was predicted that this issue will be swept under the carpet, indeed we hear nothing of our money now.
I apologise if I sound discouraging, but these incidents doesn’t give me a good reason to celebrate the last activity of National Stadium. I do not know how people can still party when faced with this ugly truth, perhaps they didn’t mind, perhaps they didn’t think that far or worse, they don’t even care (while whining at the same time). When I am seated here with the possibility of “I’ll got something new to suck you dry again…” I don’t think it’s fun anymore.
All the funds injected into Goal 2010 has yielded absolutely nothing. World Cup 2010… oh purlesssssssseeeeeeeeee… meow~! What a joke? I am supportive of local talents - but only within reasonable goals and targets. If Goal 2010 is to materialise as planned, I must tell you countries like Brazil, Argentina, England, China, or Paraguay must be damn stupid to spend so many more years coming to the level they are at now. Isn’t it? My dear Sports professionals seated in the office, it’s time to learn from other countries and stop burying yourself in your hallucination. It’s ok to dream about in your bed, but to apply your late night dreams to the public funds involved is not a funny thing at all.
It’s really a wake-up call early in the morning to think about this. The moment I think about this stadium party on the bigger picture, the first and foremost thing that struck me was - OH NO!!! Which tax is going to rise again?
The Final Roar? You decide… I will be fine with The Last (pitiful) Meow. Are the teeth still there?
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Boring Channel News Asia…
Written by ED on June 28, 2007 – 10:55 am -Of course, it’s not like I’m watching CNA for the first time in my life. Just that I don’t usually stick my ass to my couch for any other segments other than for the main news. Somehow, today I did. And that must have been the worst decision on my part. If you are looking for the most boring presentation about latest movies… WELCOME TO CHANNEL NEWS ASIA.
This was the shot that greeted me when the movies segment kicked in. I can’t remember what’s her name, and I don’t really care. She went on and on in her monotonous voice until I was asking myself, “HelloOOOoooOOOooo… this is about MOVIES!!! It’s supposed to be entertaining and FUN!!! How the hell did it end up like this?”
Someone should really get her out of this segment. I am not criticising her for her research but the way she presented everything is utterly tasteless. If you’re a CNA fan, you should know she gives out popcorns to rate the movies, right? Today, she finished her line with “I’ll give this (movie) 3 popcorns…” and I turned my face into my coffee and “I’ll give this presenter one popcorn. Wait… make it 0.5 popcorn.” How can someone be presenting movies as though she is relating the results of the General Election? Imagine MTV Asia hosts in such a manner…
Interestingly, the main news segment or rather Primetime Morning hosted by Suzanne Jung and Steven Chia is alot better. Ironical isn’t it? In Primetime Morning, we can be talking about very serious issues and discussions but everything ends up more entertaining than… erm… movies. Not least to mention, Suzanne and Steven are really good with keeping it tight but yet light-hearted.
Oh wait… CNA is managed by Mediacorp? Oh… now that’s no wonder. Think Mediacorp - Think Boring Entertainment.
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Another good friend…
Written by ED on June 27, 2007 – 5:47 am -Want to know who keeps me company when I work in the wee hours? Listen to him sing.
This fellow is damn smart. He seems to know I am recording him and he keeps silent when he see the phone in my hand. I had to hide behind the fridge and he’s on the other side. Anyway, he starts singing at 5am sharp whenever he sees someone (which is usually me making coffee at 5am). If I am not in the kitchen and I hear him, I know it’s 5am. How nice… automated alarm clock. LOL!
Oh he’s crippled on his wings btw. That’s how my mum picked him up and keeping him with us now.
Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
What the hell… week?
Written by ED on June 26, 2007 – 9:55 pm -Well, gonna spend the rest of the week sorting out some work stuffs. DAMN CPF!!! Should they change their name to Certified Public Fund? It’s OUR money you are handling!!! Whatever… let me fix it for the rest of the week.
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
