Here is the handout for the FISCA talk on financial planning. Feel free to download and print the handout. You can attend the talk organised by FISCA by registering in www.easysearch.sg/fisca (click on Events).
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
FISCA Talk - Get value from your life insurance
This is the handout of the talk given by FISCA on life insurance. Attend the talk and get a better understanding of how to select the right life insurance policy. Feel free to download the PDF for your reading. If you wish to attend the talk, go to www.easysearch.sg/fisca and click on "Events".
Let elected MPs do their duty
This letter was not published in the Straits Times.
31 August 2011
Editor
Forum Page
Straits Times
Forum Page
Straits Times
I refer to the letter from the director of corporate and marketing communication of the People's Association "Why opposition MPs cannot be grass-roots advisers". She said, "Besides connecting people to people, grassroots advisers are required to help the Government connect with people and help promote government policies and programs such as anti-dengue and active ageing........
I am disappointed with this partisan position taken publicly by a senior civil servant. I would request her to take a more objective look at the mission of the People's Association, which is to build and bridge communities and promote racial harmony and social cohesion in Singapore. I could not detect any reference to the need to link up with the people ONLY through the ruling party which forms the Government.
Members of Parliament from all political parties were elected to represent the people in their constituency. It can be argued that they are part and parcel of the government process of community engagement and representation. They should be entrusted with the role. All MPs, regardless of their political party affiliation, are paid out of public funds and should be required to perform the duties for which they are paid - otherwise, the public funds would be wasted.
I would suspect that the defeated candidates from the ruling party would have to struggle with the indignity of being advisers to grassroots organizations which have to connect with people who have rejected them. It does make a mockery of our democratic system.
After the last general elections, the Prime Minister had sincerely pledged to engage the people of Singapore and to respond objectively. I respect him for that and urge him to take a closer look at this aberration of our democratic process and let the opposition MPs do the job that they have been entrusted with by the people.
If they still do a good job, they deserve to be given the chance to be chosen again by the people. If they do not, despite the level playing field, the decision of the people will be swift and sure.
I would also call on the professionals in the publicly funded statutory bodies to perform their duty in a neutral and non-partisan manner. Singapore has matured and there's no need to perpetuate the political baggage of a different era.
Tan Kin Lian
Leona Lewis Releases Music Video for ?Collide? - News And Society
[unable to retrieve full-text content]The soccer star and his former "Spice Girls" singer wife proudly announced that their daughter has been doted with the name of Harper Seven Beckham. Breaking the news via his Facebook page, David giddily wrote, ?I am so ...
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Voice of the People website
Should Tan Kin Lian take the next step to organize discussions under :"the voice of the people"? Please take part in this survey.
Relieving Stress Fractures to Avoid Back Pain ? Mediaputz Article ...
You can relieve back pain if stress is affecting a fracture. The zones you want to focus on are the femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsus, and the metatarsus. Fractured bones to be precise are broken bones. The bones however are detained and held in tact by surfacing tension, as well as tissues that surround the bone. Fractures occur when the muscles are overexerted.
Many people are at risk of fractures, especially those who overexert the muscles while exercising. Some people strive to loose weight and fit in a bikini, accordingly these people may workout 7 hours in a day, which is overexerting the muscles. What these people fail to realize is that the muscles need rest, and that working out 30 minutes daily will help you loose weight.
Overexerting the muscles is one of the leading causes of fractures. To spot the problems doctors will use X-rays, bone scans, and so on. Fractures can worsen if left unattended. In short, if you injure the area and fail to seek medical assistance, your problem could worsen. While the body has elements that heal through a natural process, nature is interrupted as we age, which leads to slow healing. If you have sustained a fracture, it is wise to avoid workouts that overexert the muscles. It depends on the bones, i.e. if the elongated bones are fractured; you want to avoid overexerting the muscles up to eight weeks at most.
Fractures can affect the muscles. The muscles skeletal structure is made up of elongated threads of fiber. The fibers assist the muscles by supporting contractions and shortening, which joins the ending attachments. Tissue sheaths enclose around the fibers, which shape specific muscles. Within the muscles, blood will smooth out traveling over the muscles, which the blood will then spread out to the fasica and/or epimysium. The blood travels to the bundles of fasciculus, endomysium, nuclei, fibers and cells, etc.
Damage can occur to the muscles and tissues named. Damage includes complete and incomplete tears. Prolific bleeding may occur if the muscles are completely torn. The muscle damage can be treated with R.I.C.E, i.e. bed rest, ice packs, compression packs, and elevation. You will need to visit your doctor as well.
If the muscles are incompletely torn, likely sections of the sheath are interrupted as well. The injury is also treated with bed rest, ice packs, compression packs, and elevation.
Other tears occur in the muscles, which include intramuscular tears. The tear causes squander to enter the muscles, or blood and travel to the tissues. Fluid is restricted. The condition causes tenderness, and pain. Mobility is limited from this condition, which is in medical terms known as intramuscular haematoma.
If you are diagnosed with this condition, you will need bed rest, ice packs, compression packs, elevation, yet you should challenge the muscles in a couple of days. In other words, start moving around after you have rested in a couple of days.
Failing to do so will lead to worse conditions. Muscles can reduce contractions, which makes the muscles stiff and scar if movement is not applied. Calcification interchanges with the pannus. The results lead to joint subluxation disorders when calcification does not interchange. Calcification is irregular solidification, which can cause swelling and stiffness of the joints. In some instances, intramuscular haematoma can create calcification. Calcification disorders will deposits of calcium salt to occur, which makes the muscles unchangeable and inflexible. Unfortunately, intramuscular disorders can heal slowly, and sometimes surgery is necessary to correct the condition.
Back pain also occurs at what time the tendons are interrupted.
Source: http://www.mediaputz.com/relieving-stress-fractures-to-avoid-back-pain/
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Compare Auto Insurance Quotes Online In An Trouble Free Manner
A car for most people, especially men, is much more than just a comfortable medium of transport. In fact, men in general are so passionate about their cars that even the thought of a minor damage makes them lose sleep. As such it natural for them to seek the best insurance cover for their vehicle and contrary to the popular belief, they can get the best policies at really affordable premium prices. However, for that it is vital to go beyond the conventional means of acquiring the quotation for vehicle coverage. Today, with major insurance providers offering their services through internet, the process of seeking and comparing auto insurance quotes online has not only become quite easy but also helps in saving valuable time and money.
The growing competition between various insurance providers and their desire to attract greater number of clients has enabled the customers to get the best services right at their doorsteps. New business strategies are being designed by these vendors to lure insurance seekers into buying the policies. Companies offering insurance services are well aware of the fact that the only way to win greater market share is by satisfying the diverse needs of clients. As such they are even willing to offer customized cover policies that are based on specific client requirements and assure the customer of complete protection and coverage for their vehicles in case of a mishap.
Most companies have floated specially designed websites for internet users where the clients can readily obtain a wide range of information related to the products and services being offered by them. Additionally, it is possible to find a number of online portals that enable prospective customers to not only obtain the insurance quotes from different vendors but also compare their prices and coverage benefits. This eliminates the need to visit the websites of different service providers individually and then attain and compare their auto insurance quotes online.
Generally, such portals have inbuilt links that enable the users to get the quotes from vendors. This saves a lot of time as clients can obtain multiple auto insurance quotes online within a matter of minutes. Moreover, these portals also offer advice about the most reliable and trustworthy companies that offer such services, making it easier for the users to choose from a plethora of organizations available online.
Campbell Solberg Associates are one of the foremost and reputable insurance agents renowned for their economical, honest and genuine auto insurance quotes online. For more information on their services you can logon to their website http://www.campbellsolberg.com.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Statement from Tan Kin Lian on the Presidential Election
31 August 2011
The outcome of the Presidential elections was obviously a shock to me. I expected a much better result and the prospect of polling less than the 12.5% of the votes (and losing the deposit) was felt to be remote.
Some commentators said that I should have known the ground feel on nomination day and withdrawn my candidacy then. This would have given the other "non-establishment" candidates the vital additional votes needed to win the elections and save me from the dismal disappointment of receiving only 4.9 per cent of the votes as well as a substantial financial loss.
As always, the wisdom of hindsight never fails but the truth was that on nomination day, the voters were still largely undecided on whom they would be voting, if at all.
My private surveys as well as information from a third party survey pointed to a credible level of support for me. I had also expected strong support from the heartlanders and the over 1 million policyholders of NTUC Income (where I had served for 30 years) as well as many people who remembered my advocacy of public causes and the plight of those who suffered investment losses during the last financial crisis.
Stacked against these positive indications was an on-line poll on Yahoo which showed a low level of support for me. However, I felt that the online poll was not representative of the entire voting population, as proven in the recent general election, and there were indications that this particular poll had been manipulated.
Anyway, it would have been difficult for me to drop out of the contest at nomination date. I would have disappointed the people who wanted to vote for me and also my supporters, who had put in a lot of work during the previous six weeks and my donors.
There was also the risk that I would be considered a coward or a quitter or someone who was never serious about the election. Most importantly, I felt that I could offer a choice of a different platform for Singaporeans to decide,
Some people asked if I would have withdrawn if I had reliable information that my support was less than 10%. The answer is that this is a moot point as we did not have that information. As already shared, we believed that on nomination day, the voters were still largely uncommitted.
I decided to contest the election on my platform to be the voice of the people, to use the influence of the President to make life better for Singaporeans and to be a truly non-partisan candidate. I worked hard to bring this message across in the TV broadcasts and the forums among the four candidates. Regrettably, I failed to convince the voters and became the candidate with the least votes.
I also suffered considerable damage from some mis-reporting by the mainstream media. My proposal on giving better recognition to male citizens who served national service was wrongly reported as advocating that females should also serve national service. Although the media reported my correction on this point, the damage had already been done and was irreparable. I also suffered from negative slant in the reporting on some other issues – which I shall not dwell on.
My post mortem showed that there were a few weaknesses in my campaign strategy, my image and messaging. I shall not go into them in detail.
The clear and positive message, sent in by many people after the results including those who did not vote for me, was that I was seen to be “sincere, courageous and spoke for Singaporeans”. I like to thank them for their support, understanding and encouraging words.
I was accused by my detractors of being the person responsible for letting Dr. Tony Tan become elected as President. They argued that I should have withdrawn, so that a “non-establishment” candidate could have been voted in. I had already explained why I could not take this approach.
I would also make the point that it was really up to the last candidate to withdraw as his platform was similar to mine in several respects. In the arena of natural justice, it is really only fair that the last one in should bear the responsibility for the outcome of the changed situation
My approach was to let the people of Singapore decide on the best person to be President. I do not have any preference for any particular candidate – not even for myself. I had congratulated Dr. Tony Tan for winning a hard fought contest. Time will tell if he can deliver the promise that he will act independently of the Government and protect the interest of Singaporeans. I feel that we should give him that chance.
The election had cost me and my donors a total of $120,000, including the loss of the deposit and also a dent to my reputation. However, I have already managed the disappointment and will take a positive attitude towards this outcome. I did receive slightly more than 100,000 votes from people who believed in my platform and looked positively towards me. Their trust and regard are worth the price that I have to pay.
I had also given a choice to the people of Singapore of a truly non-partisan platform. I respect their decision at this time but hope that the non-partisan concept embodied in my platform will find their support in the future.
I am willing to continue the work of being “the voice of the people”. If there is sufficient interest and support from other interested people, I will create a new website and mechanism to implement this role. If not, I will try to play this role in a smaller way.
I would like to thank the small team of about 50 people that had worked hard with me throughout the campaign and to the generous donors. They had put in time, dedication, support and care. I thank them very much for sharing the passion with me. My thanks also go to the 100,000 over people who voted for me.
What are my plans for the future? Will I take part in a future general or presidential election? I will keep an open mind on this question. It will be decided at the right time in the future. In the meantime, I will continue to serve the people of Singapore by communicating with them through the social media and also assist them to the best of my limited ability.
To conclude, I would like to leave everyone with the following quote from Marilyn Vos Savant -
“Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.”
I have not given up.
Tan Kin Lian
Candidate for the Presidential Election, 2011
Candidate for the Presidential Election, 2011
TKL Facebook (www.facebook.com/kinlian)
I will be using Facebook more often from now. I invite my blog readers to go to www.facebook.com/kinlian and like my Facebook page. You can login regularly to get my views there.
Beware of investment scams
Singapore has a pro-business environment and adopts a "buyer beware" approach towards business dealings. Under this lax regulatory environment, several investment scams have surfaced in Singapore. I became aware of these scams after the victims had written to me for my assistance.
I wish to share some of these shady investments or scams with you.
a) Gold bar. This investment product pays an attractive interest rate, say 2% every 3 months, and promises to return the full capital at the end of the period of 6 or 12 months. There is also a certificate to allow you to collect the gold bar from a trusted third party, if the buy back guarantee is not honored. The risk is that the promoter will not honor the buyback contract, citing cash flow problems and other reasons. When you get the gold bar, you will find that you had paid a higher price than the real market value of the gold . I know of a specific case where the investor had paid a price, quoted in SGD per gram, which was 30% higher than the market price of the gold (expressed in USD per ounce). Although the price of gold had appreciated, the investor has recover the 30% in inflated price, before seeing any real gain.
b) Wine investment. This promoter sells you a portfolio of wine and convinces you that you can earn an attractive return, say 50%, when the wines are auctioned off in three years time. Several investors waited patiently for the stipulated period and received excuses why the auction could not be carried, e.g. bad market conditions. They were then pressured to make additional purchases to make a sufficiently large portfolio for a future auction. In most cases, the investors were not aware that they were sold the wines at twice of their real market price. It would not be possible to auction off the wine at a profit, if the investor had paid an inflated price.
c) Land banks. The promoter sells land plots in foreign countries, usually under agricultural or green zoning, at a price that seemed incredibly low compared to land in Singapore. The promoter promised to apply for change of zoning within 5 to 8 years and allow the land to be sold at a large capital gain. Many investors waited patiently for the planning approval but it never happened. They were not aware that they had been sold the land at 10 to 15 times of the real market value. Under this situation, who would buy the land from them at a higher inflated price?
d) Spa packages. One promoter opened a chain of spas and sold spa packages giving discount on spa treatments to be carried out over the next 12 to 18 months. The promoter closed their operations and many customers were not able to get the treatment that they had paid for. Another spa operator took over the liability, but it is not clear if the customer had received the value for the money that they had paid.
Here is the lesson. Always avoid putting your money in investments that promise an attractive return offered by companies that are not regulated by the authority. Even if they are regulated, you have to read and understand the investment contract and be aware of the potential risk. Do not trust the assurance of the person who markets the investment to you, as the marketer might give you some wrong information due to the desire to close the sale and earn the commission. Even if the marketeer is your friend, be aware that he might have been ignorant of the real risk of the investment.
Tan Kin Lian
I wish to share some of these shady investments or scams with you.
a) Gold bar. This investment product pays an attractive interest rate, say 2% every 3 months, and promises to return the full capital at the end of the period of 6 or 12 months. There is also a certificate to allow you to collect the gold bar from a trusted third party, if the buy back guarantee is not honored. The risk is that the promoter will not honor the buyback contract, citing cash flow problems and other reasons. When you get the gold bar, you will find that you had paid a higher price than the real market value of the gold . I know of a specific case where the investor had paid a price, quoted in SGD per gram, which was 30% higher than the market price of the gold (expressed in USD per ounce). Although the price of gold had appreciated, the investor has recover the 30% in inflated price, before seeing any real gain.
b) Wine investment. This promoter sells you a portfolio of wine and convinces you that you can earn an attractive return, say 50%, when the wines are auctioned off in three years time. Several investors waited patiently for the stipulated period and received excuses why the auction could not be carried, e.g. bad market conditions. They were then pressured to make additional purchases to make a sufficiently large portfolio for a future auction. In most cases, the investors were not aware that they were sold the wines at twice of their real market price. It would not be possible to auction off the wine at a profit, if the investor had paid an inflated price.
c) Land banks. The promoter sells land plots in foreign countries, usually under agricultural or green zoning, at a price that seemed incredibly low compared to land in Singapore. The promoter promised to apply for change of zoning within 5 to 8 years and allow the land to be sold at a large capital gain. Many investors waited patiently for the planning approval but it never happened. They were not aware that they had been sold the land at 10 to 15 times of the real market value. Under this situation, who would buy the land from them at a higher inflated price?
d) Spa packages. One promoter opened a chain of spas and sold spa packages giving discount on spa treatments to be carried out over the next 12 to 18 months. The promoter closed their operations and many customers were not able to get the treatment that they had paid for. Another spa operator took over the liability, but it is not clear if the customer had received the value for the money that they had paid.
Here is the lesson. Always avoid putting your money in investments that promise an attractive return offered by companies that are not regulated by the authority. Even if they are regulated, you have to read and understand the investment contract and be aware of the potential risk. Do not trust the assurance of the person who markets the investment to you, as the marketer might give you some wrong information due to the desire to close the sale and earn the commission. Even if the marketeer is your friend, be aware that he might have been ignorant of the real risk of the investment.
Tan Kin Lian
Streaming of Financial Planning Talk
Here is your chance to learn about Financial Planning from the comfort of your home.
Presentation Video is at http://www.ustream.tv/
Monday, August 29, 2011
FISCA website - interesting articles
The FISCA website contains interesting articles on financial and consumer matters. A few articles will be posted each day. You can view them at www.easysearch.sg/fisca. Some articles will be available for the public (click on the information tab) and others will be available only to members (after login).
Visit the FISCA website a few times each week and keep abreast of these issues. The direct link is http://easyapps.sg/assn/Org/Information.aspx?id=5
Visit the FISCA website a few times each week and keep abreast of these issues. The direct link is http://easyapps.sg/assn/Org/Information.aspx?id=5
Be aware of investment risks
A few people have approached me for assistance regarding their investment losses. They entrusted large sums of money to the wealth managers working for the banks. The investors claimed that they were not aware about how their money were invested and trusted that the wealth manager would take care of their investments. They end up with large losses.
In some cases, the investors were not able to read the portfolio statements, so it is likely that they were quite ignorant about the investments.
Some of the investments were in linked investments or leveraged investments, which carried high risks. These types of investments are speculative, and depend on the skill of the wealth manager to make the right timing decisions. It is almost impossible to acquire this type of skill. Some timing decisions is similar to gambling in a casino - a lot depends on luck.
It is likely that the wealth managers who contributed to these bad investments are also inexperienced in this field.
The more experienced wealth managers are likely to give more prudent advice - such as diversification of risk and selecting the right asset mix. In these cases, the potential return is likely to be modest, after deducting the fee payable to the manager. The investor should accept the lower yield, that commensurate with the lower risk. If the investor wants a higher yield, the wealth manager is likely to be forced to take a more risky approach - which can lead to disaster.
It is important that the investor should be aware of the risk and should select the knowledgeable wealth manager. If the investor is not aware about the risk of investments, it is better for the wealth manager to decline to take the client - so as to avoid these potential problems.
My advice: never invest in any investment that you do not understand. Invest in your education by attending the financial planning workshop organised by FISCA (www.easysearch.sg/fisca).
Tan Kin Lian
In some cases, the investors were not able to read the portfolio statements, so it is likely that they were quite ignorant about the investments.
Some of the investments were in linked investments or leveraged investments, which carried high risks. These types of investments are speculative, and depend on the skill of the wealth manager to make the right timing decisions. It is almost impossible to acquire this type of skill. Some timing decisions is similar to gambling in a casino - a lot depends on luck.
It is likely that the wealth managers who contributed to these bad investments are also inexperienced in this field.
The more experienced wealth managers are likely to give more prudent advice - such as diversification of risk and selecting the right asset mix. In these cases, the potential return is likely to be modest, after deducting the fee payable to the manager. The investor should accept the lower yield, that commensurate with the lower risk. If the investor wants a higher yield, the wealth manager is likely to be forced to take a more risky approach - which can lead to disaster.
It is important that the investor should be aware of the risk and should select the knowledgeable wealth manager. If the investor is not aware about the risk of investments, it is better for the wealth manager to decline to take the client - so as to avoid these potential problems.
My advice: never invest in any investment that you do not understand. Invest in your education by attending the financial planning workshop organised by FISCA (www.easysearch.sg/fisca).
Tan Kin Lian
Understand the issues
Dear Mr. Tan,
Hang Lian
Well done on the recent Presidential Election.
I'm not a Singaporean and have no rights to vote, but I have been keeping myself updated on the events. I may be wrong, but all along, I think you will be somehow crippled in your ability to help ordinary Singaporeans if you become a statesman. So, although I'm not happy with the outcome, but I do think that it's not a bad outcome.
I admire your spirit and courage to step forward for the election, it must have been a hard and long 10 days for you and your family, but I believe it's a fruitful journey.
Having been in a position to see the differences between the policies in NZ and Spore, I see some of your points, eg. a minimum wage. Unfortunately, I think some issues are not appreciated by a certain portion of the population, for example the NS one, I suspect a significant number of the female population was put off as the perception is that it's going to "disadvantage" them. The misquoting by the media is not helping either.
Finally, a Hi5! to you, Sir.
Take care.
Help people in need
Dear Mr Tan,
I would like to thank you for standing up and contest in the Presidential Elections.
Despite your initial reluctance and the tough competition, you still went ahead with the attempt.
I was touched by your sincerity that could be seen in all your speeches and your voice.
I am only 19 and did not have the chance to vote, but I am here to give my 2 cents worth on what I have seen.
Although you have lost the deposit of S$48k and only garnered less than 5% of the votes, you have gained the appreciation of thousands of Singaporeans.
They may not have voted for you but they know your courage and enthusiasm in helping people in need.
You have mentioned many times in your speeches about your mini-bond campaign to help the people.
However, in my humble opinion, it was not enough to prove to the people how you can be a unifying figure who speaks for them.
Singaporeans want the growing divides to be lessened.
You also did not leverage the advantage of knowing 4 languages as you hardly spoke during the rally.
I think it was a huge mistake to let too many speakers talk in your rally.
The main person should be you as you are the candidate for Presidency.
The people want to hear what you have to say, not others.
I know that you sincerely have the commitment to be a voice of the people but the points you spoke of were not enough.
With utmost respect to you, I will take Dr Tan Cheng Bock as an example.
Dr Tan garnered just 0.34% less than the current President-Elect.
This was due to the way he campaigned and his methods of getting connected to the people.
He stayed away from bread and butter issues, and did not promise anything he could not do as a President.
The people could not see the reasons to vote for you, other than knowing that you are a really kind and good man.
It was a pity that they did not have the chance to listen to what you have to say.
I think you will do better as a man than a President.
As President, you can only control the national reserves and attempt to influence the ruling party in decision making.
However, you cannot take part in any of them.
As a man, you can do much more than that!
I hope you will continue to help people in need, like the poor and lower-income Singaporeans.
Help can come in the form of educating other Singaporeans on the issue and not necessarily money.
There is still many things to point out but I think it is pointless as the PE2011 is over.
I agree to the things you want to do for Singapore but as President, many of which you have said is not possible.
The important thing is you have experienced and learnt from this.
I wish you all the best in whatever you do.
Finally, I want to thank you for everything you have done.
Many people will misunderstand you on the basis of rumours and stories.
As long as you stay true to yourself, don't be discouraged and carry on!
Yours sincerely,
Terence Tan.
Why I voted for TKL
Dear Mr Tan,
My mother and I both voted for you. We marked a " Cross " on the last " Tan " box. There are 4 Tans. BUt we both VOTED for you.
We are touched by your generous offer to donate half your President's Pay to charity. I do NOT know why your message of the " Hi 5 " did NOT get across to Singaporeans.
I personally like your ideas of " Pension " for the elderly. My mother is old. A pension for the old would be good for her. CPF money have NOT be enough for retirement.
I don't know why you received only 4.91 % of the votes. I was praying for you to win the Presidential Election.
Do NOT lose hope. I feel sorry that you lost your SGD 48,000 deposit. I think Singaporeans should and ought to have given you a chance.
Milan Lee
My mother and I both voted for you. We marked a " Cross " on the last " Tan " box. There are 4 Tans. BUt we both VOTED for you.
We are touched by your generous offer to donate half your President's Pay to charity. I do NOT know why your message of the " Hi 5 " did NOT get across to Singaporeans.
I personally like your ideas of " Pension " for the elderly. My mother is old. A pension for the old would be good for her. CPF money have NOT be enough for retirement.
I don't know why you received only 4.91 % of the votes. I was praying for you to win the Presidential Election.
Do NOT lose hope. I feel sorry that you lost your SGD 48,000 deposit. I think Singaporeans should and ought to have given you a chance.
Milan Lee
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Home Insurance Quotes: Taking Advantage Of The Competition
The increased awareness about the benefits of buying insurances and subsequent demand has led to a significant increase in the number of companies offering such services. The desire to capture greater market share, makes most of these companies offer a wide range of insurance policies that cater to the diverse needs of their clients. The changing times as well as the rising competition, has in fact forced many insurance providers to make drastic changes to the home insurance policies that were traditionally offered to the clients. Even well established firms are now willing to offer customized home insurance quotes to their clients at highly affordable prices.
In the recent years, property owners have realized the importance of getting their properties insured against natural and man-made disasters. Insuring a property helps in reducing losses due to its destruction by a significant margin by almost neutralizing the expenses incurred on renovation and reconstruction. With a multitude of companies offering tailor-made home insurance, quotes and policies, it is left to a prospective insurer to choose a policy that offers the best benefits at the most competitive premium rates. The cut-throat competition between major insurance providers has only helped people seeking home insurances quotes.
Today, it is possible to get a home insurance policy that covers not only the reconstruction cost of a property but also provides cover for re-fitting it with the items of necessity. Even though the premium rates of such policies are on the higher end, the fact that they cover a major percentage of losses in case of emergency situations is sufficient to make them preferable. Moreover, insurers can even get home insurance quotes that cover a wide range of personal items including electrical appliances, jewelry, and even clothes. And it is entirely possible to find reputed insurance providers that offer a decent discount to clients, who choose to insure not only their properties but also the entire contents stored in the buildings.
To make the most of the growing competitions between insurance providers, it is vital that you are well aware of the type of coverage you are looking for. Additionally, you also need to set a budget range for the insurance policy you want to choose as these two issues will play a significant role in deciding the type of policy you will eventually select to protect your property.
Campbell Solberg Associates are one of the foremost and reputable insurance agents renowned for their economical, honest and genuine home insurance quotes . For more information on their services you can logon to their website http://www.campbellsolberg.com.
Books by Tan Kin Lian
The limited period offer for my books will end soon. To place your order now, go to www.tankinlian.com/ishop and enjoy discounts of up to 50% for my books on financial planning, life insurance and puzzles.
Lifetime Deck Box Review
A review of a popular storage box for your deck..
Amplify’d from plasticgardenshedshq.com
The Lifetime deck box review below will give you all of the relevant information you need to make an informed decision as to whether the Lifetime deck box is a good buy or not.
The most popular deck box from Lifetime is the Extra large model called the Lifetime 60012.
It is made from sturdy high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic and has good, strong powder-coated hinges.
It has a capacity of 130 gallons or 16.4 cubic feet and has a nice brown and tan two tone appearance.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1c14s
Child Support Enforcement
A look at the role of the Office of Child Support in child support enforcement..
Amplify’d from onlinedivorceforms.net
The main task of the Office of Child Support Enforcement is to locate the parents and make sure that every single obligation regarding child support is carried out properly according to the order of the court or the terms in the agreement between the parties.
The main objective is the welfare of the children and that is why a child support enforcement program according to the Social Security Act is running in every single state and territory of the United States. The office of child support enforcement can be enforced through any local law enforcement agency, the Attorney General’s office or the department of human services. The allocation of the office varies from state to state. Check out child support calculator Texas and online divorce forms also.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1c0j6
Child Support Calculator for Texas
Amplify’d from onlinedivorceforms.net
There is a Texas child support calculator at the end of this article which can be downloaded in the form of a pdf document. The calculator is legal to use according to the Texas Family Code, section 154.129. You can simply fill in the form and when finished, it can be saved or printed. Check out child custody agreement forms and online divorce forms also.
The calculation of your child support obligations is simple enough. You fill out figures regarding your income and from there your social security and income taxes are deducted along with health care and union dues.
In the end you are left with your net income. Your child support obligations will be based on your net income and the amount of children you need to support.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1bzg2
Internet Marketing Ireland
Amplify’d from webdesigndublin.org
This page is intended to be an index or portal leading to useful, relevant articles and information about all aspects of internet or digital marketing.
This is a huge area and covers such business ideas or practices as
- Digital marketing or marketing via the internet to promote your existing products or services
- Affiliate marketing-the activity of selling other people’s products or services in return for which you gain a commission
- Starting a business online from scratch depending on whether you have an existing idea that you think would be ideal for promotion via the internet or you want to start a business online with some of the existing business models available
- Social media marketing-using social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and other social/sharing sites to promote your business or raise the profile of your business.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1c0eu
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Appreciation from a supporter
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you for taking the courage to come forward to stand in the Presidential election, though you have not make it and lost your deposit etc.
Mr Tan, I know you are the people's people and I am definitely sure there is a purpose for the defeat. With your 'voices of the people' website I know moving forward singaporeans need an avenue for them to voice out. A good example, the result shows the high percentage of singaporeans still unhappy with even the current policies and that is why they vote others instead and want a active President with transparency and not a passive President just lay back and collect $m. Knowing how the current system works, probably any feedback given to the civil service will not be actioned. This is proven todate. With your website, at least other singaporeans will know what is going on
Mr Tan, though I was unable to assist you due to the demise of my father, my family would like to thank you for your presence during the wake despite your tight schedule You are really a people's person. Imagine during the wake period, no sight of the presence or a note of condolences from his MP. This is really sad. Compared to opposition wards I understand that their MPs make it a point to attend every wake in their ward. This is really complacency and such MPs should not even exist.
Once again, thank you, Mr Tan.
David Soh
Message from Tan Kin Lian
I congratulate Dr. Tony Tan for his success in this Presidential election.
I wish to thank the voters who have shown their confidence in me. The campaign has been a good experience for my campaign team and for me, and I was glad to meet many ordinary people in Singapore who has greeted me with warmth and friendship.
My family and I also thank all my campaign volunteers, supporters, donors and well wishers for their dedication, tireless energy and care throughout the campaign.
I will continue to demonstrate my care and concern for the people of Singapore and will strive to be the Voice of the People through other channels.
Tan Kin Lian
Candidate for Presidential Election, 2011
Candidate for Presidential Election, 2011
Perspective of Presidential Election 2011
I will write a note each day giving my personal perspective of the major events that have occurred during the my participation in the Presidentail Election 2011. I will start with the shocking results of polling only 5% of the votes among a field of 4 candidates.
www.facebook.com/kinlian
www.facebook.com/kinlian
Post mortem on Presidential campaign
I was disappointed with my low score in the Presidential campaign. Please share your feedback in this survey.
Note: I have received over 100 replies within 8 hours! As the survey has reached its limit, it is now closed. You can now post your comments. (You can read the survey results in my facebook, www.facebook.com/kinlian.
Note: I have received over 100 replies within 8 hours! As the survey has reached its limit, it is now closed. You can now post your comments. (You can read the survey results in my facebook, www.facebook.com/kinlian.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Off Page SEO-9 Great Sources of Backlinks for Your Website | Web Design Dublin
Link extensions are also important and links from .gov or .edu sites are well worth getting and Google and the other search engines place a high value on these links.
Quite how high anyone’s guess but it is is widely accepted that they are seen as more trusted than many other types of links you might get.
Don’t forget to take a look at video 1 which is an introduction to search engine optimisation and keyword research and video 2 which takes a look at on site seo.
Where to get back links?
1) Directories
Website/blog directories such as dmoz.org and other well regarded blog directories.
Check thought whether they are do follow or no follow by looking at the source code of the directory. Themed directories will give you more link juice-a themed directory is a directory of sites in the same market as your site occupies.
Cooling off Day for the Presidential Election
There will be no posting of articles and comments in this Blog for 26 August (Cooling Off Day) and 27 August (Presidential Election). Posting will resume at 8 pm on 27 August.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Full speech by Tan Su Ling
Video streaming by UstreamMy eldest daughter, Su Ling, had to cut short her speech at the rally last night as there was not enough time. Here, she gives her the full speech at a Press Conference today.
Tan Kin Lian Rally - a positive view
Dear Mr Tan
I would like to congratulate you for having held a very successful rally. The weather was good and the turnout was great. Thousands have turned up to support your rally and I noticed 99.9% of them stayed from 7.30 all the way to 10.30.
Your ability to speak in so many languages during the rally is simply amazing. "Some" candidate "claims" to be multiracial but can he speak as many languages as you are able to.
Most importantly, having listened to yourself and so many other speakers, I walked away convinced beyond any doubt that you are the best choice for Singaporeans as our next President. Just to name a few of the many reasons
1) Independence, we need an independent President to effectively check and monitor the government. Needless to name them, some candidates are just too Pro PAP for comfort.
2) Sense of Justice, years before 2011 Presidential election, you have spoken on behalf of ordinary Singaporeans for the minibond issue. I don't remember anyone else having the courage to speak up against major LISTED companies and the establishments for the sake of ordinary Singaporeans.
3) Financial knowledge, having served as the CEO of NTUC Income for so many years, you have the technical financial knowledge of how to properly monitor and manage the funds (National reserve of Singapore). If a doctor is elected as President, I wonder if he has sufficient financial knowledge to understand what the government is presenting to him in reports and if he is able to counter propose with other measures.
4) Walk the talk, a lot of people can talk, they talk great ideas, but can they effectively walk the talk. We have no need of a President who can talk and just that - TALK. We need one who has the courage to be the VOICE for the people. We need one who can stand up against the government if the need arises. From the minibond saga, we can clearly see you as one who practises what you preach. Beyond that, you have also pledged to donate half of your Preseidential salary to the charity. This is another proof that you walk the talk and follow up with actions and not just mere hollow words.
On this Saturday, for the sake of Singapore and the future of Singaporeans, I hope everyone can vote for Mr Tan Kin Lian, the only logical choice for President. Only then, can the voices of ordinary Singaporeans be heard loud and clear by the government. Only then can changes be effected and the lives of ordinary Singaporeans improved.
Gary
(On a side note, your daugher is really an excellent speaker, she should consider running for the next election, I am pretty sure she would do very well. She can rouse the audience with her fiery speech that is full of conviction and that strike a chord with the people.)
I would like to congratulate you for having held a very successful rally. The weather was good and the turnout was great. Thousands have turned up to support your rally and I noticed 99.9% of them stayed from 7.30 all the way to 10.30.
Your ability to speak in so many languages during the rally is simply amazing. "Some" candidate "claims" to be multiracial but can he speak as many languages as you are able to.
Most importantly, having listened to yourself and so many other speakers, I walked away convinced beyond any doubt that you are the best choice for Singaporeans as our next President. Just to name a few of the many reasons
1) Independence, we need an independent President to effectively check and monitor the government. Needless to name them, some candidates are just too Pro PAP for comfort.
2) Sense of Justice, years before 2011 Presidential election, you have spoken on behalf of ordinary Singaporeans for the minibond issue. I don't remember anyone else having the courage to speak up against major LISTED companies and the establishments for the sake of ordinary Singaporeans.
3) Financial knowledge, having served as the CEO of NTUC Income for so many years, you have the technical financial knowledge of how to properly monitor and manage the funds (National reserve of Singapore). If a doctor is elected as President, I wonder if he has sufficient financial knowledge to understand what the government is presenting to him in reports and if he is able to counter propose with other measures.
4) Walk the talk, a lot of people can talk, they talk great ideas, but can they effectively walk the talk. We have no need of a President who can talk and just that - TALK. We need one who has the courage to be the VOICE for the people. We need one who can stand up against the government if the need arises. From the minibond saga, we can clearly see you as one who practises what you preach. Beyond that, you have also pledged to donate half of your Preseidential salary to the charity. This is another proof that you walk the talk and follow up with actions and not just mere hollow words.
On this Saturday, for the sake of Singapore and the future of Singaporeans, I hope everyone can vote for Mr Tan Kin Lian, the only logical choice for President. Only then, can the voices of ordinary Singaporeans be heard loud and clear by the government. Only then can changes be effected and the lives of ordinary Singaporeans improved.
Gary
(On a side note, your daugher is really an excellent speaker, she should consider running for the next election, I am pretty sure she would do very well. She can rouse the audience with her fiery speech that is full of conviction and that strike a chord with the people.)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Natural Candida Treatment
According to the website "Yeastrol is a homeopathic product that works like nothing else on the market today for both Male and Female Yeast Infections. Our experts in homeopathic treatments have combined 12 ingredients to fight not just the itching but also multiple symptoms of yeast infection from the inside out! Yeastrol gets into your system quickly, with just two simple sprays under the tongue, three times a day." Now this does sound very interesting!
From the comments I found on other forums and blogs, former customers of Yeastrol are extremely satisfied and very happy. Many have reported that Yeastrol completely cured their yeast infection, however a small minority did report disatisfaction at the amount of time it takes before the treatment starts to work.
I have been using Yeastrol Yeast Infection Relief for a while now and I started to notice a difference after 2-3 days. Probably the best thing about this product is the fact it tackles all candida symptoms at once. It has almost cleared my yeast infection completely and promises to provide long term protection from the problem – excellent for people suffering from recurring candida and yeast infections (like me).
From the comments I found on other forums and blogs, former customers of Yeastrol are extremely satisfied and very happy. Many have reported that Yeastrol completely cured their yeast infection, however a small minority did report disatisfaction at the amount of time it takes before the treatment starts to work.
I have been using Yeastrol Yeast Infection Relief for a while now and I started to notice a difference after 2-3 days. Probably the best thing about this product is the fact it tackles all candida symptoms at once. It has almost cleared my yeast infection completely and promises to provide long term protection from the problem – excellent for people suffering from recurring candida and yeast infections (like me).
TV Forum - Introduce the Presidential Candidates
Please give your impression of the four candidates - their strong and weak points, and the memorable statements (or sound bites).
What is at stake - fight for the soul of Singapore
The writer is a retired journalist from Straits Times. Here is his views about the Presidential election.
What is at stake?
By Ismail Kassim
18 July 11
I regard next month’s presidential race as Round Two of the fight between the PAP and the people. The outcome will determine the character of the nation in the next decade or two.
By the people, I mean the average Ah Beng, Raju and Ali, whose welfare has been sidelined by the government’s current obsession with achieving fast economic growth at any price.They are the collateral damage that Singapore has to pay for its unabashed and embrace of globalization and western capitalism, with all their attendant evils.
By the PAP, I mean the ruling party and its many supporters from the bureaucratic and business elites and all those who have benefitted immensely from its rule. After the electoral setback in the May polls, the PAP promised to review its policies and be more attentive to the needs of the average Singaporean.
I am sure PM Lee means well, but the problem is that it is never easy to change a course that has been followed so zealously for so many years. So far, I can only hear PR grunts in the right direction, but nothing substantive has emerged.
Change and reforms can only come under relentless pressure. Just look around the region and you can see how difficult it is for any ruling party to pursue reforms because of entrenched interests.
Malaysia’s Umno only talks about reforms, but lacks the will to follow-up, while in the Philippines the modern-day feudal lords still hold sway over the people. In Thailand and Indonesia the traditional elites still call the tune, while the poor remain poor.
In Singapore, what is at stake is not just cutting ministerial salaries by 10 or 20 percent and relieving the terrific jams at bus stands and MRT stations during peak hours. What we also want include:
# Equitable growth that benefits all sectors and classes in Singapore ;
# Respect for human and civil rights of all citizens;
# Stop abuses of power especially against the opposition; and
# Meritocracy and equality of opportunities extended to all sectors and for all Singaporeans regardless of race, language or religion.
In short, the fight is over the soul of Singapore . What kind of Singapore do we want to see in a decade or two? Something like Mumbai, Moscow , or Los Angeles ?
I still remember years ago the callous manner in which LKY dismissed the widening income gap as a world-wide phenomenon, the inevitable consequence of globalization, and that there was nothing much that any government could do.
The question that I have often asked myself is: Why is the PAP so obsessed with high rates of growth to the extent that it was willing to open the flood gates to anyone with the money or the desired skill or the right ethnicity to come in?
My guess is that it arises from the almost pathological insecurities of the PAP inner circle to what they consider as geopolitical realities.
The fact is that not a single shot has been fired in anger in the last half century since independence. Over the same period, bilateral ties have remained steady despite occasional hiccups and regional cooperation in Asean has made tremendous strides.
Yet, the paranoia towards our neighbours remains undiluted, and of course, the Singapore Malay minority has been made to pay a price. Even having the strongest military force in the region (at least on paper) has apparently not mitigated the PAP anxieties.
Hence, the reckless decision to pump for faster and faster growth and to internationalize the island by getting as many foreigners as possible to come on board as citizens and PRs so that the whole wide world will rise up in defense of Singapore should any existential threat arises.
To the PAP, this is the only way to ensure that our little red dot will last over the next millennium. I suppose this is the equivalent of giving a farewell present to the founding father when he passes away from the scene.
In Round One, the score was 60% for the PAP and 40% for the people, who were represented by the various opposition political parties.
The results of the president’s race will underline how strongly the electorate wants the government to change its policy goals.
Ideally, we should elect the candidate who most sympathizes with the aspirations of the people.
From the current aspirants, it is not difficult to find out who among them has consistently struggled for the working class in his role as a PAP backbencher.
And we also know, despite all his protestations of independence, the candidate who is the proxy of the PAP. He might have been a good banker, but certainly not a good bangsawan (Malay opera) actor.
As a fallback measure, it does not matter how many candidates are taking part, who are they, and also who eventually wins the top post.
What is important is to ensure that the candidate who represents the PAP’s choice does not win more than 60% of the votes.
This will send a clear signal to the PAP leaders that Singaporeans want change and reform at all costs.
So friends and fellow Singaporeans, don’t forget to keep up the pressure.
Ismail Kassim
18 July2011
What is at stake?
By Ismail Kassim
18 July 11
I regard next month’s presidential race as Round Two of the fight between the PAP and the people. The outcome will determine the character of the nation in the next decade or two.
By the people, I mean the average Ah Beng, Raju and Ali, whose welfare has been sidelined by the government’s current obsession with achieving fast economic growth at any price.They are the collateral damage that Singapore has to pay for its unabashed and embrace of globalization and western capitalism, with all their attendant evils.
By the PAP, I mean the ruling party and its many supporters from the bureaucratic and business elites and all those who have benefitted immensely from its rule. After the electoral setback in the May polls, the PAP promised to review its policies and be more attentive to the needs of the average Singaporean.
I am sure PM Lee means well, but the problem is that it is never easy to change a course that has been followed so zealously for so many years. So far, I can only hear PR grunts in the right direction, but nothing substantive has emerged.
Change and reforms can only come under relentless pressure. Just look around the region and you can see how difficult it is for any ruling party to pursue reforms because of entrenched interests.
Malaysia’s Umno only talks about reforms, but lacks the will to follow-up, while in the Philippines the modern-day feudal lords still hold sway over the people. In Thailand and Indonesia the traditional elites still call the tune, while the poor remain poor.
In Singapore, what is at stake is not just cutting ministerial salaries by 10 or 20 percent and relieving the terrific jams at bus stands and MRT stations during peak hours. What we also want include:
# Equitable growth that benefits all sectors and classes in Singapore ;
# Respect for human and civil rights of all citizens;
# Stop abuses of power especially against the opposition; and
# Meritocracy and equality of opportunities extended to all sectors and for all Singaporeans regardless of race, language or religion.
In short, the fight is over the soul of Singapore . What kind of Singapore do we want to see in a decade or two? Something like Mumbai, Moscow , or Los Angeles ?
I still remember years ago the callous manner in which LKY dismissed the widening income gap as a world-wide phenomenon, the inevitable consequence of globalization, and that there was nothing much that any government could do.
The question that I have often asked myself is: Why is the PAP so obsessed with high rates of growth to the extent that it was willing to open the flood gates to anyone with the money or the desired skill or the right ethnicity to come in?
My guess is that it arises from the almost pathological insecurities of the PAP inner circle to what they consider as geopolitical realities.
The fact is that not a single shot has been fired in anger in the last half century since independence. Over the same period, bilateral ties have remained steady despite occasional hiccups and regional cooperation in Asean has made tremendous strides.
Yet, the paranoia towards our neighbours remains undiluted, and of course, the Singapore Malay minority has been made to pay a price. Even having the strongest military force in the region (at least on paper) has apparently not mitigated the PAP anxieties.
Hence, the reckless decision to pump for faster and faster growth and to internationalize the island by getting as many foreigners as possible to come on board as citizens and PRs so that the whole wide world will rise up in defense of Singapore should any existential threat arises.
To the PAP, this is the only way to ensure that our little red dot will last over the next millennium. I suppose this is the equivalent of giving a farewell present to the founding father when he passes away from the scene.
In Round One, the score was 60% for the PAP and 40% for the people, who were represented by the various opposition political parties.
The results of the president’s race will underline how strongly the electorate wants the government to change its policy goals.
Ideally, we should elect the candidate who most sympathizes with the aspirations of the people.
From the current aspirants, it is not difficult to find out who among them has consistently struggled for the working class in his role as a PAP backbencher.
And we also know, despite all his protestations of independence, the candidate who is the proxy of the PAP. He might have been a good banker, but certainly not a good bangsawan (Malay opera) actor.
As a fallback measure, it does not matter how many candidates are taking part, who are they, and also who eventually wins the top post.
What is important is to ensure that the candidate who represents the PAP’s choice does not win more than 60% of the votes.
This will send a clear signal to the PAP leaders that Singaporeans want change and reform at all costs.
So friends and fellow Singaporeans, don’t forget to keep up the pressure.
Ismail Kassim
18 July2011
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