The fallibility of Man

"POWER CORRUPTS;

ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY."

Discuss.



Post Date: 8 Oct 08

Slowing Australian economy

To stimulate a slowing economy, the Reserve Bank of Australia lowered the cash rate by 25 basis points to 7.0%, effective 3 September 2008.

The Herald Sun reported that " ... the Aussie's collapse from its mid-July peak of US98.49c has been the most visible sign of the economy cooling to its slowest level of growth in more than two years..."

Aiyah. Because of this, my Aussie dollar fixed account has receded 8.6% (from S$1.3187 to today's S$1.2047).

Australian Dollar to Singapore Dollar Exchange Rate

Can't change into S$. Have to keep in A$, and survive on interest. Poor baby fund ...



Post Date: 4 Sep 08

Time for a holiday

Wifey has been asking when we can have our next break. Choices like Perth, Macau and Hong Kong were initially enthusiastically discussed but had to be eventually discarded.

We eventually narrowed our selection down to Cambodia. While Siem Reap is a great cultural place to visit, I wasn't too sure about the security there. Online reviews sought to soothe the fear, but I needed a second opinion. A DIVINE opinion.

Yes, it's a green light! Thank You very much!

After that, I walked leisurely to the hawker centre to have a light afternoon snack. The dark clouds threatened to pour, but never did.

The feeling is so calm, everything is working out, and I have this overall sense of contentment.



Photo credit here.

Post Date: 4 Sep 08

Hilarious Hitler!

This is damn funny!



Came from this original clip about Xbox Live:




Post Date: 20 Aug 08

Sick chicken

Coughed for one week and finally went to see doctor last night, and got an MC for today.

It's a good break, I must say. Had time to laze around, and finally started on Deathly Hallows. For once, all those office-related problems that I have been bringing back home in my head dissipated. Also gone were the down feeling, the self-doubts, the worries about how and where to find the money to upgrade to condo ...

My mind was surprisingly ... clear.



Post Date: 20 Aug 08

Ad from Japan Ad Council

A powerful ad. I haven't fully grasped all its underlying messages yet. But I want to document it here for future reference.





Post Date: 18 July 08

Thanks and farewell, Dr Ong

Dr Ong Chit Chung passed away peacefully of heart attack on Monday, 14 July 2008. Paid my last respects this afternoon at his Princess Of Wales Rd home.

It was an ang-mo style wake, and I wasn't too sure what I had to do, or not to do. But in the end, it went alright.

I had the privilege of serving Dr Ong as a VIP customer in my first job, attending to his telecommunications needs. Unassuming and friendly, he allayed all my early fears of being a difficult VIP customer. He even went to the extend of writing a complimentary letter and sending it to the CEO. It is now an important keepsake of mine.

I remember there was one I failed him, and he got really angry with me. The silly me failed to realise that I did not activate an important service for him, inconveniencing him on his overseas trip. I still blame myself for that foul-up.

I had the audacity of asking him for help in 1999 when I was going to register my marriage. Fort Canning Country Club was only a walking distance from the ROM, and it was a godsent that he was Chairman. When I brought the matter up to him in one of my visits to his office, he very gladly and quickly agreed. "Of course it can be done! We have very good food here," he enthused, and started recommending a list of finger food. He even assigned his own secretary to see to the smooth running of the event. I was very touched, and eternally grateful.

Considering he was managing so many companies while being an MP, I once asked him how he was able to juggle the heavy workload. "Have capable people that you trust to run the show," was his response.

Rest in peace, Dr Ong. And many thanks for touching my life.



Photo credit here.

Post Date: 21 Jul 08

Where the Hell is Matt?

Respect!


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands.



Credit here.

Post Date: 3 July 2008

Bill Gates retires

So yesterday is Mr Microsoft's last official work day.

How about 2 clips to commemorate the event?



I prefer the Letterman version : )





Post Date: 3 July 2008

20-year reunion

It has been 20 years since we left secondary school. A friend, together with some others, got together to organise a reunion this Saturday for the different classes.

I have informed the organisers I won't be attending. Such an irony, considering I was the organiser for my own class' 10-year reunion.

I was told the attendees number 50 adults and 50 kids. Sigh. Guess what will be the most popular topic that night? And some of these people that are going, I bump into them on the streets once in a while. It's either I have good memory or they have poor memory - they don't seem to recognise me! Don't see how a reunion will help.

Most importantly, why I'm not going, is because most of my kakis are not going? Why can't they make it, you ask.

Why, to look after their kid(s), of course!

Whatever lah. Going to CommunicAsia 08 later after lunch.



Post Date: 20 Jun 08

Sianzzzz

Slept an additional hour this morning, but it still didn't help with the 偏头痛. Knew that it wasn't going to be a good day. Even my colleagues asked what was wrong.

Decided that I had enough and left for home at around 4.30pm.

On the way home, I tried to rationalise my sian-ness. I think it's a combination of factors, a perfect storm of emotions:

1. Office Work
Work has been really intense, and I've been kept on my toes. I'm not trained in my current responsibility, and I have no prior experience nor knowledge. Everything has been learnt on the ground. Because of this, I move very cautiously, poring over every detail and (try to) cover every angle. The buck stops with me. One wrong move/decision could send me to jail, incur the company a fine, or worse, send the whole structure down. It's not so much the pressure, but rather, the responsibility that's weighing me down. I need a break from months of scolding contractors, complaining to customers, spot checks and approving drawings/plans. And just before I left for home, another person was prepared to inconvenience us so as to get whatever he wanted. I was too tired to fight back.

2. Volunteer Work
Heard from a friend yesterday that the current case has been put on accelerated path. It's back to the good old days. We haven't been approached yet, but it might just happen. I really don't mind helping, but I always get the feeling our help is taken for granted, that it is 理所当然. Sigh. I may be over-worrying. Maybe the existing group can handle ... ?

3. Kids
Went to see the chinese physician again after another month of red marks. This time around, he diagnosed that the problem may lie with me. Sigh. Why is it so hard to conceive? Other people don't even need to try to get pregnant! And we just came back from dinner with a couple friend who brought along their 18-month-old boy. Guess what was the main conversational topic throughout the dinner?



Photo credit here.

Post Date: 20 Jun 08

BizTimes: Global IPO market still solid, thanks to BRIC

It's reassuring to be reading this in the Business Times. I really hope I made the right choice.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,4574,283651,00.html?

Ernst & Young report says Brazil, Russia, India, China will pick up slack

By MICHELLE QUAH

(SINGAPORE) Despite market volatility and the credit crunch caused by the US sub-prime crisis last year, global initial public offering (IPO) markets continued to see a healthy flow of activity, fuelled mainly by emerging markets.

Ernst & Young's (EY) fifth annual Global IPO Trends report said that global IPO activity soared to an all-time high of US$284 billion raised in 1,979 deals. And the BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China - were responsible for over 40 per cent of the proceeds raised.

Going forward, investment bankers and stock exchange executives interviewed by EY predict a healthy pipeline of global IPOs in the year ahead, especially from emerging markets.

This is despite a drastic slowdown in almost all global IPO markets in the first quarter of this year. There were 236 IPOs in the first quarter, generating US$40.9 billion - a 38 per cent drop in volume and a 15 per cent decline in capital raised, from the first quarter of 2007.

EY's report blamed the market turmoil triggered by the credit crunch, which led to a sharp deceleration in most IPO markets around the world. 'Faced with more scrutinising investors and stringent valuations, record numbers of businesses withdrew or postponed their IPO plans,' it said.

Notably, however, eight out of the top 10 IPOs last year were companies from the emerging markets - which were bolstered by robust economic growth at a time when developed markets had to endure a slowdown.

Overall, Greater China raised the most capital and launched the most IPOs, drawing in US$66 billion in 259 deals. The US took second place with 172 IPOs generating US$34.2 billion. The third spot was taken by a second emerging market - Brazil - whose IPO markets produced US$27.3 billion in 64 IPOs.

Investment bankers and stock exchange executives noted that soaring global liquidity and flourishing local economies have kindled emerging markets growth.

'It's a combination of the economic, fiscal and currency strength within these local markets, combined with massive global liquidity,' said Lisa Carnoy, managing director and co-head of equity capital markets at Merrill Lynch in New York.

Noreen Culhane, executive vice-president of the global corporate client group at NYSE Euronext, said: 'As these emerging economies develop so rapidly, there is both a need and an opportunity for new entrepreneurial businesses. These businesses need capital to fund organic growth and to gain a currency for acquisitions.'

And global investors with an appetite for risk have been shifting assets to fast-growing emerging markets where higher returns can be achieved. 'It's a little easier to achieve the alpha or high growth that investors seek in the emerging markets, given their generally greater underlying economic strength,' said Jonathan Grussing, managing director and head of equity corporate finance at Credit Suisse in London.

......



Post Date: 16 Jun 08

Life's simple pleasures

Parked at Rochor Centre for a conference at Raffles City.

Had a leisurely breakfast at the Kopitiam coffeeshop. Watched the people going to work past me by.

The breakfast was nothing to rave about, but the me-time did me a world of good.

WARNING: crappy video quality ahead





Post Date: 16 Jun 08

Time for a break

These past 6 or so weeks have been quite intense, for both work and personal. I'm happy to report both have crossed the critical stage and now should be the stable, routine season.

In anticipation that we need to reward ourselves for the hard work (hehehe), Wifey and I booked the package at NATAS some 3 months ago. When it was still months ago, we lamented that it's still so far away. And now, we are wishing we had some more time to pack!

Indian Ocean, here we come!



Image credit here.

Post Date: 2 Jun 08

Out of the ordinary ...hmm ...

So the birthday came and went. Can't say I still enjoy celebrating birthdays, but it gives Wifey and I another reason to eat well. More of that later ...

Want to document some interesting events leading up to, and including, the birthday.

- On birthday eve, someone buzzed the doorbell. It was a middle-aged lady looking for 'Adrian'. She refused to take "No such person here" as an answer. She even prevented me from closing the door, and asking "Are you 100% sure?". I told her I was 120% sure. She left, only to come back again. After the 3rd ringing of the bell, I exasperatedly opened the door, and she asked "He went to Germany or something, right?" UURRRGHHH! Yet thinking of it now gives me the creeps.

- While in the middle of the night (birth day already), I was woken up by a 'tick tick' sound coming from the side table. I turned and realised it was coming from the cube clock that I bought in Thailand. Drowsily I got up and fiddled with the battery catch, and managed to yank all 4 batteries out. Guess what? The ticking didn't stop. Amazing! This thing doesn't run on batteries! (Child's Play, anyone?) Really was too sleepy to be frightened, so I went outside and chucked it on the dining table. The next day, I found out there were 2 smaller batteries with a different compartment. Orrrrhh ...

- So Wifey and I went to eat at this posh place, with supposedly a good restaurant. While the food was good, it was definitely waaaaaayy overpriced. The portions were so little, and the 5-course costs $130 each. To me, that's expensive. Anyhow, 1/3 way through the dinner, I suddenly had this very bloated feeling in my stomach, which then expanded up to my chest. Yes, I did have complimentary bread before the actual meal, but I didn't eat all that many, what! Was it the olive oil? Whatever lah. I suffered all the way until I got home ... where I got my gastric attack.

- To wrap the interesting day up, the gastric attack was followed by this wave of fatigue in quick succession. It was like I was going to crash any moment, and I had to get to bed. Fast. I think I was talking to Wifey ... and I fell asleep. How I hauled my tired ass to bed, I only vaguely remember.



Photo credit here.

Post Date: 30 May 08

1st Anniversary

Hi Father,

How have you been? It's been 1 year since you ventured into another world - how time flies.

It may have been one year already, but everything is still vivid: the emotions, the feelings, the images, the faces ... I think it'll be forever etched into me. I still get goosebumps. I still think of you a lot, when I'm in the shower, in the office, at Mum's place, and when I think of my birthday coming up. Not that this is a complaint. It's just that this is so symbolic of life isn't it? That with 生 comes 老,病 and then 死.

Wifey and I are fine. She just clocked her 5th year of service with the company this year. She's been a loyal employee - this is her one and only company since we came back from Australia. As for me, hehe, not so loyal. The current place is my 3rd one since coming back. But I'm happy to report that things at work is better now than one year ago. Even then, I must remain relevant.

Mum is fine too. Not too sure if I've told you this before, but she has rented out one room to 3 Vietnamese girls. They seemed ok enough, and Mum gets along well with them. Recently, we started going out for dinner with Mum, instead of she cooking. She requested for "something fresh". I didn't know Mum was adventurous with food! Her luck with lottery has also been nothing short of spectacular. It keeps her happy and excited. I think this is in no small way your doing, Father?

There is one thing I want to report to you. Last year, there was consideration for Wifey and I to sell/rent our place and move into Mum's. But before that, we had Mum stay over with us. After trying for a few months, Mum still prefered to stay at her own place. I think she's a bit disappointed that we did not move in with her. I think I'm a bit selfish for saying this, but having my own roof over my head is important to me. It's something like a safeguard for a conservative Chinaman. As for renting our place out, I dread to think of the condition when we take back the unit. Amidst all these considerations, we held back moving in with Mum. She worked fast, and found company, in the form of her new tenants. This arrangement is for now. What I intend to do is to look for a place nearer to Mum, with no bus transits in between.

What about you, Father? How are things at your end? Have you adjusted to the new surroundings? Have you made new friends? Do you ... miss us? I really miss you, and I know Mum and Wifey miss you even more, and they are handling it so well. I guess I have to learn from them, to deal with the loss.

That's all I have, Father. Will talk to you again. In the meantime, please bless Mum with good health and happiness, and us with good news on the baby front!

Bye, and take care.



Yours sincerely,

Your son-in-law



Photo credit here.

Composed Date: 13 May 08

Huh? Is that right?

Met some friends yesterday. Haven't met them in a while, and they commented that I looked thinner. "You now have a sharper chin lah", they enthused. Went home and quickly weighed myself, and couldn't believe my eyes.

I'm now a lightweight 63.5kg. BMI is 23 - normal weight : )

Can't remember the last time I weighed myself, but couldn't have been more than 3 months ago. Wah, lost 2kg in 3 months!

So much nearer to my ideal weight of 60kg.



Post Date: 28 May 08

Obigood

Good lah, good lah!

Many, many nights of insufficient sleep, some nights of only 4 hours' of sleep, surfing the web before sleeping ... at some point, something's gonna give, right?

After a few days of never-noticed-or-can't-be-bothered low-grade fever (eh, how come my throat tastes bitter and my eyes like burning, ah?), my body finally gave up fighting. Yesterday my throat was damn sore and the fever went full-blown. 37.7 degrees later, I got an MC to rest at home today.

Whatever happened to health regime of sleeping early? Huh? HUH?!



Post Date: 27 May 08

Baby fund

The arrangement with Wifey from last time was once we have a child, she'll take care of the child's health/insurance while I'll raise the money for education.

The money I set aside from last year were for:
- miscellaneous stuff like delivery package, checkups, etc
- seed money for education fund

Part of the money has finally been invested, after one year of procrastination and too much research.

Miscellaneous fund
- invested on 22.05.08
- topped up $1000
- invested in FCFD with DBS
- A$1 = S$1.3187
- instruction to roll principal and interest
- interest rate at 6.695%p.a.
- maturity in 2 mths

Education fund
- part of money invested on 26.05.08
- bought Schroder BRIC fund with Citibank
- RSP of $300
- sales charge of 2%
- fund price and number of units to be confirmed
- remaining money meant to be invested in commodity fund, but may have missed the boat. Need to re-evaluate.

I hope I've placed my bets on the right things, and that the money will be enough...



Photo credit here.
Disclaimer: my baby can't be blonde, and no way am I investing in US$!

Post Date: 27 May 08

Is the ice considered broken?

It's been 10 months since I announced to you that I wanted to take a back seat. You gracefully agreed that I can be your third line of defence. Before that, you had just started to help me and Wifey with our baby thingy.

We didn't want to appear desperate and didn't want to put you in a spot. That's why for the past 10 months, not once did we breathe anything about the baby thingy.

We were pleasantly surprised when you brought up the issue 2 weeks ago when we went to visit you. "The time is right", you mentioned encouragingly. I'm sure the incident 10 months ago caused much unhappiness. But when you voluntarily said that it was time, I was quietly glad, maybe all that unhappiness is already behind you.

But I must commend you on the timing. This is not the first time already, that you have impeccable timing. For this case, coincidentally, we also seeked our own help a few days ago. Maybe Buddha knows that I'm kiasu, so He double-confirms?

So last night we went to fetch you. The conversation topics may still be the same, but the ease seems to be lacking. Time will improve on that, for sure.

For all the time you were in the house, you didn't leave the seat. There was no opportunity for me to explain why there is a talisman stuck on my bedroom door. But I'm sure you already know. I'm prepared to explain, once the opportunity arises.



Post Date: 27 May 08