This is a simple movie
Nada Sou Sou but the ending is quite sad. No gimmicks, no special
CGI , no sex, no action, no violence. Watching it make me sad. But you should watch it. Because show like these genre is seldom seen nowadays.The middle part might be a little boring though.
For more details on this movie, click
hereI don't think I will be able to accept the loss of loved ones should one day they be gone, just like the entry I wrote a long time ago about growing old. I am very fearful of the day when my skin started to wrinkle and my head full of white hair...though it is already white. And I think all the issues
abt ageing gracefully in
singapore are just load of bullshits.
Yesterday I was accompanying my mother to the supermarket to buy daily essentials.There was this old man whom I saw around my estate before. Head full of white hair with limited mobility,I believed he is working as either a cleaner or road sweeper in my estate. He was at the chill meat section glancing at the meat available of the shelves. He stood there for quite some time, looking and selecting the meat and putting them back.
Looking at the scenario, I am not really sure but it could be that due to budget constraint he may not be able to afford the price of the meat. Perhaps I may be wrong. Perhaps the meat may not be fresh and therefore he placed them back. But if the first scenario is really true, then I am sad for him. It remind me of my grandparents generation when they have meat only for special occasions and right now the economy is booming and everyone trying to make big bucks but we have a old man over here who is still working at his age yet he is having a budget constraint to buy meat for his meals.
Should Singapore become a welfare state in future? I don't know though I still believe strongly that we should save up for rainy days and for our retirement. But in the case of the old man and many others in the same
predicament as him, what can they do?
Why do human have to grow old and suffer at old age?
During this week wednesday, I went to attend the tea session for LKC scholar programme.Seated inside the auditorium, I have expected a crowd but there were only roughly around 40-50 people.
A professor briefed us on what the LKC scholar programme is all about. It is indeed a challenging programme that expect you to gain from it as well as giving back to the society. But I was shocked when the prof annonuced that this scholarship is not available for application but only exclusively available thru invitation.
Holy Shit, me a poly diploma cert without any merit is being invited for this prestigous scholarship, sitting together with A level graduate with 4A and 2 dist for S paper? Suddenly I feel like I'm the tiniest person in the theatre, as though I have just enter the wrong hall and ain't suppose to be there in the first place.
But the prof was very nice. And the best thing I gained from attending this tea session even though I will not get the scholarship is his frequent input of humility and words of wisdom. To say the truth, the thing that irked me the most during the time when I was in NTU is those lecturers who could't even pronounced certain terms properly to save their skin even though they spend half of their life on their specialisations. Perhaps in the business field, things are a little bit different because you need to present and write well.
I think I can always remember the prof remark that our mere presence at the theatre itself doesn't mean we are that great. It may be due to the fact that life deal us the right cards at the right time while others may not be that fortunate or lucky than we are. Some of the outstanding students may have fallen ill during the exam and hence affect their grade, therefore they are not selected for the tea session. The prof keep reminding us that being invited for the session already mean something about your capability and we are all on equal footing inside the theatre. For a person whom withdraw from university because he hated electronics and got 2 F for his first semester exam, it is a huge confidence booster. But of course as always seen from fund investment, "past result does not mean of guranteed further earning" I have not done anything to be worthy of his remark.
Although it is only about 20 mins of "interaction" with him, "because only he talked and I listened" it is, in my own personal opinion one of the best lecture that I ever attend. It was a very good experience and I'm glad I attended the session. I'll be going for the normal smu interview again this sat but with an open mindset. SMU is a good instituition, no one can deny that but a 4 years course is just too long for me and it don't fit into my long term plan. We see how it goes then.
While reading the article "
Singapore's rich splash out with a vengeance" on asiaone.com.sg and the comment: " "The good times are back," said Roman Scott, a financial consultant."
I couldn't stop but think of a person I came across today afternoon at
Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange. There was this very old auntie whom I supposed is a cleaner. She look quite fragile but she was pushing the heavy trolley to the cleaning area. And I started to think why the poor auntie who is already so old still have to slogged her guts out for a
paltry $600-700 per month clearing rubbish and cleaning the premises.
Did she not save up for her retirement when she was young? Is she still working now because she wish to support her son/daughter or the person who is providing her lodging and food? She certainty is not those who wish to work because she do not want to sit around wasting time though. And it is quite heart-breaking to see people of old age unable to enjoy the remainder of their life after slogging so hard during their youth.
Over at the other end, we have:
SINGAPORE, April 25 (Reuters) - Celebrity-chef dinners, huge pay hikes, and hot properties with a garage for the Ferrari and a berth for the yacht... some people in Singapore are living it up.
And therefore saving for retirement is very important. If you know that you certainty ain't gonna be as rich as those who can afford housing at marina bay, I guessed you have no choice but to start saving hard the moment you started working so that by the time you decided to retire you are able to escape the fate of the poor auntie doing cleaning service at her age.
I'm thinking I should start saving up more agressively asap. Currently I am spending up to 40% of my wages earnt for my time @ Starhub. I hope to cut my spending down to 30% and increase my net worth to $8-10K at this year end. And it's good to have a plan to achieve the financial goal because it is always better to start early than late.
Today I also went for the informal tea session and essay writing for LKC scholar programme at SMU. Will touch on that tomorrow.
Today on my way back to home after a meal @ secret recipe with my colleagues, I saw a lady whom I thought was very pleasant looking. Her face was glowing with radiant, very pink for some reason I don't know why and wore a white jacket. She caught my attention immediately when the train slowed down to a stop @ the station I was boarding.
But...this type of situation is strictly to admire and then do nothing about it. Even if you lay down all your gut to approach her and talk to her, to ask her for a ctc num etc, I don't think she is likely to give.
Know your enemy, Know Thyself. Hundred battles fought, Hundred battles won.
And I choose only to admire from a distance. Sadzzz...
Btw Secret Receipe outlet @ anchorpt SUCKS bigtime. Patronise At Your Own Risk.
Hiaggen Diaz did at least partially make up the remaining of the meal though.
Since when did applying for a place for univeristy sound like applying for IPO for newly listed company with words such as "oversubscription"?
Overwhelming response to new School of Law which registers 15 times oversubscription with 1,251 applicants vying for 82 places
Singapore, 20 April 2007 – The Singapore Management University (SMU) has received a record number of 12,911 applications for admission to its six full-time degree programmes for Academic Year 2007/8 as of the closing deadline of 10 April 2007. This marks a 21% increase in applications from last year's figure of 10,680, making the university nine times oversubscribed with nine students vying for one of the 1,485 places offered. More than half (54%) of the applicants are ‘A' level students, followed by polytechnic students (27%) and international students (19%). Quality of students applying to SMU this year has also risen with more than one third (39%) of ‘A' level applicants scoring ABB or better in their results compared to 30% last year.
SMU choice of words is very powerful and professional and it is only in their culture and organisation that they are able to carry it off. Try asking NTU or NUS to do this and you certainty be reminded of NUS business advertisment of the "cute boy" part which left a bad taste at the end.
2 very strange and perculiar thing happened to me yesterday and today.
I was discussing with my mom yesterday regarding the lost opportunities to buy a condo few yrs back because with the current property boom we can actually make a pile if we really did buy a condo in a nice location.
Then evening my father went and opened the letterbox and there was a letter addressing to me from Hong Leong Finance. I was a little surprised but I guessed my mom have put some money inside using my name so I tore up the envelope and peer inside.
It was an invitation for me to attend a condo launch " Botannia" which will be located around west coast area!Haha
Gauging by the location which is near the Japanese School, I figured it is not a bad idea to buy the property and rent it to Japanese families to earn monthly revenue when you are old and retired but still wish to enjoy life as I understand West coast is quite popular with the Japanese. But of course theoretically it is easier to say than done because my father object to the idea of buying a condo few years back then.
The 2nd amazing thing happened today when SMU called and invited me for a informal tea session for the Scholar thingy which I listened in disbelief because hmm, I don't think of myself as particularly bright after the experience @ NTU and my poly cert is not a COM afterall. But since they invited me, I see no harm in attending the session but hopefully it will turn out to be a fun experience because I'm afraid during the session I will be kena shoot left right centre by the acadamics over there.
I think perhaps when I wake up tml the sun is gonna rise from the west liao...
Interesting Article from BT
Golden rules of investing DANIEL BUENAS advises investors not to forget that there is a creed they should live by
PAY, salaries and jobs - these have been perhaps the hottest topics of discussion in recent weeks.
Every other day we read articles and hear stories of how much some fresh graduate is earning at his new job as investment banker, or how our aunt or uncle made a killing on that high-end property he or she flipped.
And with the stock market soaring to new peaks, some of us must surely be feeling a little left behind as others all around seem to be making money as if gold were falling from the sky. Amidst all this, perhaps now will be a good time to review some of investing's golden rules, as well as to put some perspective to things.
The first thing that any investor should do is to develop an investment plan and strategy. However, while that may be the technical or 'hardware' side of things, one area that many investors forget to nurture is the 'heartware' of investing.
What do I mean by that? Sure, we all need a strategy to investing, but I think every person in general - and an investor specifically - should have a code, or creed, that he or she should subscribe to and live by.
There are no hard and fast rules, but here are some things that you might want to think about:
It's not about the money - really!
Let's be honest - in a society as materialistic as ours, money has become enshrined in our national psyche. This is not uncommon throughout the world, but one must understand that making more money is not a goal in and of itself. Sure, we choose to invest in order to grow our assets and income, but let's not forget that more cash is a conduit to a better life - for ourselves and our family. So if your pursuit for money means sacrificing your relationships, your health or the quality of life, then perhaps you should re-evaluate your circumstances.
And don't think more money will solve all your problems. Assuming you have no prior debt or other obligations, if you can't live within your means on your current salary, it is likely that even if you start to earn more, you will still have problems making ends meet. It is often those with the highest income who fall into the deepest debt.
Money is not just money
An addenda to the above point is that your money is more than a figure in your bank account - it is a tool, a living breathing creature that can be nurtured, grown and put to work. Accumulating more wealth is great, but knowing what to do with it is equally important. This ties in with why it's important to control your spending now, and not later. The effect of compounding means saving $1 today for investment is vastly different from saving $1 five years from now.
Recently, I spoke to a friend who, having just graduated, is already planning to buy a car. With a monthly income of just $2,500, and coming from a relatively humble family, I asked her why she would want to devote such a large part of her income to financing a depreciating asset.
'Why not?' she quipped back. 'I can afford it.'
Well, couple such an attitude with the ready abundance of credit cards and credit facilities - and given the Singaporean proclivity for expensive habits like travelling, buying branded goods, and holding overly lavish weddings - it is no wonder that many young working adults are mirred in debt by their early 30s.
You are in charge of your life - so take charge of it. Now.
OK, this sounds really trite and preachy, but it is true. Unhappy that someone seems to be making more money than you? Then do something about it. It's your life after all! Don't be afraid to fail, and don't let your circumstances hold you back.
Think you should start investing? Good for you. Everybody, should invest - wisely, I may add - so go ahead and do it.
But don't keep saying you want to invest, and never do anything about it. Empower yourself by doing some research, asking for advice (from some one qualified to give it), and then starting to invest. The sooner you start, the better. Just think of it this way: the longer you wait, the less time your money will have to grow, and the lower the long-term rewards.
Don't learn from your family if they're bad examples
This may be harsh, but it is true. Is your family mirred in debt, or making just enough to make ends meet? Figure out why this is the case. Sometimes, it is a matter of circumstance. But it could also be because of poor money management. And while job income does play a part, it is important to note that investing is not just a rich man's game - unless you are in the lowest income brackets, it is possible to save enough to invest on a regular basis.
When it comes to saving for investment, pay yourself first
It's a simple concept really. When you get your first pay cheque, decide how much you can realistically save in liquid assets and for investment. Take into account your monthly liabilities, and see what that adds up to.
For example, you may decide to save 15 per cent of your pay in cash to build up a reserve (most financial advisers recommend six-months in liquid assets), 35 per cent for investment (split into 10 per cent low-risk, 10 per cent medium-risk, and 15 per cent high risk).
The remaining 50 per cent can be used to pay bills and other obligations, as well as for general spending. In that way, you assure your future, instead of squandering it in the present.
In the end, investing is more than just making money. The more philosophically inclined would even say it mirrors the way a person handles life. To succeed, it takes discipline, risk-management and prudent judgement, but there are many rewards to investing carefully and early-on in life. Just don't forget what's really important, and the reasons behind growing your wealth.
Follow Up News
PM salary saga part 2 - Singapore PM's salary stuns White House official
A senior White House official on Tuesday admitted he was floored by the news that Singapore's prime minister earned five times more than US President George W. Bush.
"I'm going to emigrate and run for office in Singapore," the official said on condition he be identified only as "a senior administration official who sits in disbelief after reading that story."
On Monday, the Singapore government had announced a fresh 25.5 percent pay hike for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, boosting his salary to 2.05 million dollars per year.
Bush gets paid 400,000 dollars per year for doing his job, according to the White House.
Combined with personal investment income, he and his wife Laura reported 618,694 dollars in taxable income in the 2005 fiscal year. They had to pay 187,768 dollars in federal taxes.
But maybe Bush shouldn't feel so bad. The Singaporean's paycheck is eight times fatter than Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's.
I thought nothing of looking at all the big hoo ha about the civil service pay rise until I saw this title on yahoo newsgroup: "Singapore PM to earn 5 times more than Bush"
and
Lee, who is estimated to have earned S$2 million previously, will earn six times more than Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after the pay hike.
Therefore, if it really takes you that much money to convince all the civil servants and public admin officers that Singapore is worth serving...then what is gonna to happen if our soldiers were being offered much more money to fight for their countries instead of ours?
would we all become mercenaries by then?
Recently I have been busy with work. Been working on weekdays and during my "off" day to clock OT to earn extra income so that I can have more allowances for my impending trip to aussie in June.
Life can be quite monotonous recently...such as waking up in the morning @7am, working till 6pm, go home have your dinner, surf a little web and sleep by 11.30pm. I have also been reading alot of news and commentary articles ever since I started working @ starhub purely out of boredom but at the same time I have been gaining from the diverse view offered by different writers and it does make me "think" about Singapore social-economic issue @ present and in the future.
Qing Ming festival is now ongoing. I went to pray to my grandma who pass away last year @ the bright hill temple @ bishan. A lot of things have changed ever since the last time I went there when I was a little kid so it kinda of shock me a little.
Monks praying @ 1 of the many large hall.
Offerings made to the deceased or ancestors. During the day I went, I could not help but noticed that most of the people visiting were ard 40-50 years old and I pop a question to my cousin whether this tradition will be able to substain when it is passed down to our generation which she non-chalantly remarked "they will be forgotten". It's a sad but true fact though.
This is the dining hall of the bright hill temple. When I was small, the place is old, dark with colored ceramic tiles, large round wooden table and chairs spread out. I think they tore the whole building down and rebuilt a multi story building with aircon. It's nevertheless a change for the better.
The design on top of one of the prayer hall. If you look close enough you should be able to spot the golden dietys among the pillar. The centre red flower should be the lotus. The craftmenship is excellent and I'm glad I have the chance to witness it even though I been there since young. I mean, when you are young you don't often appreciate stuffs like that right.
The sharp silver golden structure is actually the top surface of a building that house a 3-4 storey high buddha.It is actually quite prominent and you can see it quite a distance away if you are in Sin Ming Area.
Monks chanting prayers inside 1 of the room honouring the previous abbot of Bright Hill Temple Venerable Yen Pei. He was very well respected during his time when he was a abbot and I have the honour of lunching with him when I was very very young at the old dining hall I wrote about on top.
This is the first statue that greet you when you enter bright hill temple through the main entrance. Big, tall and awesome looking, it is always occupied with believers who will chant prayers with the monks on every festive occasion without fail. Fortunately, this is one of the few remaining hall that I could identify with because nothing changed much for this hall. It is still the same, just like the first time I step foot on bright hill temple to visit my grandma when she was a volunteer over there when she was alive.
So that's all for a very brief intro on Bright Hill Temple. The compund is really very big and till now I still have not got the chance to explore finish the temple. And sometimes it is quite heart warming to see familiar structure that I can identify with during the time when I am still a kid and now when I am an adult.
This is a simple movie Nada Sou Sou but the ending is quite sad. No gimmicks, no special CGI , no sex, no action, no violence. Watching it make me sad. But you should watch it. Because show like these genre is seldom seen nowadays.The middle part might be a little boring though.
