Friday, February 4, 2011
Beauty of Lappland
Lappland is the northern part of Norway, Sweden, Finnland and Russia. It is the land of the midnight sun. Here are some beautiful scenaries, contributed by Mike Hansford.
The beauty of Egypt
Egypt is a beautiful country with a rich, ancient heritage. Watch this powerpoint contributed by Mike Hansford.
Balance rights of consumers and business
A view posted in my blog
Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia follow a similar legal system. Laws are passed to balance the rights of consumers and businesses. The aim is to provide an environment that businesses can innovate to improve their products and services and make a profit, and, at the same time, ensure that consumers are fairly treated. Thanks a lot! Keep it up!
Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia follow a similar legal system. Laws are passed to balance the rights of consumers and businesses. The aim is to provide an environment that businesses can innovate to improve their products and services and make a profit, and, at the same time, ensure that consumers are fairly treated. Thanks a lot! Keep it up!
Family Life # 182 - Avatar died
In game #182, my avatar died at the age of 27. It was unexpected. Quite sad, but it is life!
www.easysearch.sg (Family Life).
www.easysearch.sg (Family Life).
Behavior of a thief [3]
Two people were quite angry that I described the behavior of the banks as "like a thief". They probably work for the bank. Perhaps they are even involved in the practices that are described as being dishonest.
Some people find my words to be too strong. I agree. Normally, I do not wish to make judgment on other people. In this case, I avoid mentioning any specific person or bank. But I have to use strong words, so that people wake up from their slumber and do not think that the current behavior is acceptable, especially as the practice is quite common - in the pursuit of profit.
My aim is to make people realize that the behavior, which they think is quite common place, really amounts to dishonesty. If they shocked about the description, perhaps they should ponder about the truth of my words. (And accept my apology if they feel offended - as I do not wish to be personal).
Tan Kin Lian
Some people find my words to be too strong. I agree. Normally, I do not wish to make judgment on other people. In this case, I avoid mentioning any specific person or bank. But I have to use strong words, so that people wake up from their slumber and do not think that the current behavior is acceptable, especially as the practice is quite common - in the pursuit of profit.
My aim is to make people realize that the behavior, which they think is quite common place, really amounts to dishonesty. If they shocked about the description, perhaps they should ponder about the truth of my words. (And accept my apology if they feel offended - as I do not wish to be personal).
Tan Kin Lian
Family Life Game # 179
I played Family Life game #179. I was able to achieve the top ranking (among 200 avatars) at the mid-point of the game (around age 40). However, due to the competitive nature of the game, my ranking dropped to the 4th position by mid 50s. It is quite fun, but not easy to stay at the top. There are other players out to beat you.
Try the game at www.easysearch.sg (Family Life).
Read this book
Try the game at www.easysearch.sg (Family Life).
Read this book
A THOUGHT FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
Here’s a question that was posed to the Dalai Lama:
“What thing about humanity surprises you the most?”
His answer was as follows:“Man”
Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money
Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health
And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present,
And as a result he doesn’t live in the present or the future
And he lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.
“What thing about humanity surprises you the most?”
His answer was as follows:“Man”
Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money
Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health
And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present,
And as a result he doesn’t live in the present or the future
And he lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.
www.easysearch.sg
I have updated this portal to show the projects that are under development and those that are ready for viewing by the public. Some of these applications are useful to the consumers. Try them.
http://easysearch.sg/
http://easysearch.sg/
SGEP and minimum wage
SGEP has a few articles about the minimum wage. So people say "it is not the best solution". Of course, it is true - that it is not perfect. But, it is the best of all available solutions - that is why so many countries have adopted it, including Australia (remember - they were able to achieve an increase in fertility rate, compared to the decline in Singapore's fertility rate).
Read the continuing discussion in SGEP: http://www.easyapps.sg/sgep/latest.aspx
Read the continuing discussion in SGEP: http://www.easyapps.sg/sgep/latest.aspx
Increasing the fertility rate - Australian experience
SGEP has an interesting article (from Today paper) on how Australia was able to increase its fertility rate to 1.0 (from 1.7) while Singapore continued to suffer a decline in the fertility rate. It analyses the difference in approach of Australia and Singapore.
We have often been quite proud (some people say that we are arrogant) about the Singapore approach - so here is an example of one approach that has failed quite badly. We need to be able to respond more positively to the facts (i.e. be pragmatic) and not dogmatic about our approach.
One important quality of Singapore is pragmatism. It seemed to have been abandoned when it come to "baby bonus" and fertility rate.
Tan Kin Lian
http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC110205-0000138/More-babies,-but-was-it-the-bonus?
We have often been quite proud (some people say that we are arrogant) about the Singapore approach - so here is an example of one approach that has failed quite badly. We need to be able to respond more positively to the facts (i.e. be pragmatic) and not dogmatic about our approach.
One important quality of Singapore is pragmatism. It seemed to have been abandoned when it come to "baby bonus" and fertility rate.
Tan Kin Lian
http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC110205-0000138/More-babies,-but-was-it-the-bonus?
Family Life 1.1 is now launched
Family Life 1.1. is now ready to be played. The link can be found at http://projects.easyapps.sg/fl/
You can login and click on "Guide" to learn:
You can login and click on "Guide" to learn:
- How to register, login and play a game.
- Strategy to win in Family Life
- Compete with your friends.
Try it. It is fun. A new version 1.2 will be introduced by 1 March 2011. It will have a significant improvement.
Tan Kin Lian
Video on Family Life
Tan Kin Lian
Video on Family Life
FISCA Talks
Many people have lost a lot of money on structured products. New structured products are being introduced and more people will be snared in the future. To understand what are good and bad products, you should attend the talk by a risk management expert, Paula Tan. The talk is on 19 February. Details are available in www.fisca.sg/events.
I am giving a talk on financial planning on 26 February. This is specially suited for young people, to avoid being conned into buying a poor life insurance policy. Register at www.fisca.sg/events.
My new book, "Get Value on your life insurance" will be available on sale to participants at $8 (usual price $12). You can buy several copies to give to your friends. I will sign a copy.
I am giving a talk on financial planning on 26 February. This is specially suited for young people, to avoid being conned into buying a poor life insurance policy. Register at www.fisca.sg/events.
My new book, "Get Value on your life insurance" will be available on sale to participants at $8 (usual price $12). You can buy several copies to give to your friends. I will sign a copy.
Consumer Protection & Fair Trading Act (CPFTA)
The CPFTA now applies to financial services. Many financial advisers may be guilty of infringing on the provisions of CPFTA and may be providing misleading information to the consumers, especially in the form of verbal representations. If the consumer is able to provide evidence of the representations, they will be able to get the financial adviser to be charged for infringement of the CPFTA.
www.tankinlian.com
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=384
Read the article shown above. You can share your personal experiences on how you were misled by the fianncial adviser and get a lawyer to see if you can have a case to bring the financial adviser to court for infringing the CPFTA.
www.tankinlian.com
http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=384
Read the article shown above. You can share your personal experiences on how you were misled by the fianncial adviser and get a lawyer to see if you can have a case to bring the financial adviser to court for infringing the CPFTA.
Behavior like a thief [2]
I wish to share this personal experience. I was given an infinite credit card as a special privilege with fee waived for 5 years. I was not told about the annual fee and I did not keep track of the expiry of this waiver period. I authorized the amount due to be deducted from my bank account by GIRO (as I wish to avoid the exorbitant late payment charge).
As I received "tons" of letters in my mailbox, it was difficult for me to keep track of all the statements and letters. One day, I checked my past statements and found, to my shock, that an annual fee of $1,500 for the renewal of the annual fee. The bank did not call me to check if I wish to renew the card and pay this exorbitant fee.
I called their call center. Before I could tell them my issue, the call center staff offered to refund my annual fee, as he noticed that I have a lot of spending on the card. Is this the behavior of a thief - to levy a large annual fee and hope that the customer does not notice it? If they knew that I had sufficient spending for the waiver of the fee, why charged the fee in the first place?
I just went to the website of the bank to see if the annual fee for this card is stated. I was NOT able to find the annual fee, after searching through a few webpages. I got a lot of other information about the benefits offers, but NO INFORMATION about the annual fee. I had to get to the call center to get this information from the staff. I deplore this type of behavior - make it difficult for the customer to know the fee and levy it on the customer when he is not aware about it.
I have just written to the bank to give specific instructions that they are NOT to renew my credit card without my specific approval of the annual fee. We are dealing with people who behaves like thieves!.
Tan Kin Lian
As I received "tons" of letters in my mailbox, it was difficult for me to keep track of all the statements and letters. One day, I checked my past statements and found, to my shock, that an annual fee of $1,500 for the renewal of the annual fee. The bank did not call me to check if I wish to renew the card and pay this exorbitant fee.
I called their call center. Before I could tell them my issue, the call center staff offered to refund my annual fee, as he noticed that I have a lot of spending on the card. Is this the behavior of a thief - to levy a large annual fee and hope that the customer does not notice it? If they knew that I had sufficient spending for the waiver of the fee, why charged the fee in the first place?
I just went to the website of the bank to see if the annual fee for this card is stated. I was NOT able to find the annual fee, after searching through a few webpages. I got a lot of other information about the benefits offers, but NO INFORMATION about the annual fee. I had to get to the call center to get this information from the staff. I deplore this type of behavior - make it difficult for the customer to know the fee and levy it on the customer when he is not aware about it.
I have just written to the bank to give specific instructions that they are NOT to renew my credit card without my specific approval of the annual fee. We are dealing with people who behaves like thieves!.
Tan Kin Lian
Tangram and Shape Quiz puzzles
I am giving a talk on tangram and shape puzzles at Tampines Library on 19 March 3 pm to 4.30 pm. Keep the date free. Details can be found at NLB website soon. Attendance is free.
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