The owner of a small business told me that the keeping of tax invoices to support GST has added to his cost of doing business. He has to keep separate records for the purpose of GST, which is additional to the records for preparing his accounting statements.
Do you agree with this view? If you are runnning a business that needs to comply with GST or have any friends in this situation, please share your views here.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Health care reform in the USA
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHgrHkW_rbLI
This may take the form of a national cooperative, owned by the policyholders. It has to be national-based, rather than state-based, so that it can have an efficient size.
The Obama Administration wants to offer a government-backed insurance program to compete with private insurance. The aim is to extend coverage to all Americans and bring down cost.
This may take the form of a national cooperative, owned by the policyholders. It has to be national-based, rather than state-based, so that it can have an efficient size.
Another proposal is to remove the restriction on using cost-effectiveness studies to pick which drugs and medical devices Medicare funds for the elderly and disabled. Supporters like evidence-based research to be used to make decisions to figure out what strategies work, then have incentives to use the best possible -- not only lowest cost, but most effective -- treatment protocol. This would result in significant savings.
The opponents argues along with other Republican opponents that such comparative effectiveness research would be use to ration care.
The final bill being discussed in Congress will include some kind of nonprofit entity to compete with private insurers, whether a co-op or government- run program. This will encourage competition and private insurers may not make as much money as they’re making currently.
Tan Kin Lian
Quality of life in Ipoh
Hi Mr Tan,
I went to Ipoh yesterday to visit the cave temples. I enjoyed myself very much there. Things are so cheap and with the limestone hills as a backdrop and low storied buildings, there is such a huge expanse of sky over you.
Here you really feel that there are other ways to live other the life I know, and it can be so pleasant and enjoyable.
From Jusco I tried to take a cab to the bus terminal. The taxi driver wanted to overcharge me so I decided to walk back. I thought it would be good to see the hills grow dark as night fell.
Unfortunately as night fell, I lost my bearings. Luckily, I was picked up by a retired police officer who delivered me to the bus terminalI treated him to a meal. He told me that he retired at 40 and is now a used car dealer. He is doing very well, enough to play an expensive game of polo on horseback every month.
I envied him. He took pride in his job as a police officer and is enjoying his life. I do not think such a quality of life is achieveable in Singapore. It echoed the taxi driver in Penang who said, "Singapore is a place where you make money and get out". He had worked in Singapore as a SBS driver.
I'm thinking of buying a place in Ipoh in the future!
REPLY
Thank you for telling me about your visit to Ipoh (which I last visited 35 years ago). I will be visiting Penang, Ipoh and Kedah next month. My friend in Kedah will take me around.
I agree with your views about the nice pace of life in Ipoh. But many people in Ipoh seemed to take a different view, as they leave this town to work in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
I went to Ipoh yesterday to visit the cave temples. I enjoyed myself very much there. Things are so cheap and with the limestone hills as a backdrop and low storied buildings, there is such a huge expanse of sky over you.
Here you really feel that there are other ways to live other the life I know, and it can be so pleasant and enjoyable.
From Jusco I tried to take a cab to the bus terminal. The taxi driver wanted to overcharge me so I decided to walk back. I thought it would be good to see the hills grow dark as night fell.
Unfortunately as night fell, I lost my bearings. Luckily, I was picked up by a retired police officer who delivered me to the bus terminalI treated him to a meal. He told me that he retired at 40 and is now a used car dealer. He is doing very well, enough to play an expensive game of polo on horseback every month.
I envied him. He took pride in his job as a police officer and is enjoying his life. I do not think such a quality of life is achieveable in Singapore. It echoed the taxi driver in Penang who said, "Singapore is a place where you make money and get out". He had worked in Singapore as a SBS driver.
I'm thinking of buying a place in Ipoh in the future!
REPLY
Thank you for telling me about your visit to Ipoh (which I last visited 35 years ago). I will be visiting Penang, Ipoh and Kedah next month. My friend in Kedah will take me around.
I agree with your views about the nice pace of life in Ipoh. But many people in Ipoh seemed to take a different view, as they leave this town to work in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Shape Quiz (T Puzzle)
Print the PDF document in this website. Cut out the 4 pieces. Try to form the shapes shown in the brochure. It is challenging and fun.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Financial reforms in America
A key proposal of Obama's Administration is to set up a Consumer Protection Agency on financial products. It will encourage financial institutions to offer "plain manilla" products that meet their needs.
Critics said that it will stifle innovation. I disagree with these critics. My view is that consumers are best served by buying simple products. They do not need "innovative" products, which were created to make profit for the financial institutions, at the expense of the unwary consumers.
Another interesting proposal is for the products to be offered on an exchange. For example, the Administration is working on a health insurance product to be offered by the Government, which will be offered on an internet exchange together with private sector products. This will allow the consumers can make an informed choice on the available products. In my view, this is a major step forward.
I read that Paul Vocker, who is an adviser to the Obama Administration, is strongly in favour of all derivative products being transacted on an exchange, rather than over the counter. This will ensure transparency and fair pricing. I agree with this approach. If it had been adopted earlier, the world would have avoided the global financial crisis.
Free market and innovation have been misused by the proponents to act unethically and to take big risks, which has caused the downfall of the global economy.
We need new foundations to rebuild the global economy, namely:
a) plain manilla products
b) transacted through an exchange
c) consumers to be protected
My best wishes for the success of the financial reform that is being promoted by the Obama Administration. They have the courage to do the right thing.
Tan Kin Lian
Critics said that it will stifle innovation. I disagree with these critics. My view is that consumers are best served by buying simple products. They do not need "innovative" products, which were created to make profit for the financial institutions, at the expense of the unwary consumers.
Another interesting proposal is for the products to be offered on an exchange. For example, the Administration is working on a health insurance product to be offered by the Government, which will be offered on an internet exchange together with private sector products. This will allow the consumers can make an informed choice on the available products. In my view, this is a major step forward.
I read that Paul Vocker, who is an adviser to the Obama Administration, is strongly in favour of all derivative products being transacted on an exchange, rather than over the counter. This will ensure transparency and fair pricing. I agree with this approach. If it had been adopted earlier, the world would have avoided the global financial crisis.
Free market and innovation have been misused by the proponents to act unethically and to take big risks, which has caused the downfall of the global economy.
We need new foundations to rebuild the global economy, namely:
a) plain manilla products
b) transacted through an exchange
c) consumers to be protected
My best wishes for the success of the financial reform that is being promoted by the Obama Administration. They have the courage to do the right thing.
Tan Kin Lian
Unable to take up rights issue
Dear Mr. Tan,
I have invested in REITS. Due to the recent right issues carried out by several REITS, I have been forced to buy more shares or suffer dilution. Can you advice on:
1. Could you please kindly advise if it is worthwhile to buy & hold REIT for many years (i.e. 10-20 years)?
2. Should I switch into high dividend yield blue chips, as they do not issue rights often?
REPLY
All shares are subject to rights issue, i.e. not just REITs but other shares as well.
If you are not able to take up the rights issue, you have the option to sell the rights. The amount that you get for the rights should be almost the same as the amount of dilution in your shares.
For example,
Price of shares before rights issue $5
Rights issue (1 for 1) at $3
Share price after rights issue, due to dilution: $4
Value of rights, if sold in the market, should be $1.
The value of the rights is usually the same as the loss due to dilution, but it may vary somewhat, due to market condition.
Whether you should invest in REITS or blue chips is a different matter. Usually, it is better to be well diversified, e.g. buy a ETF of shares and REITS (if available).
I have invested in REITS. Due to the recent right issues carried out by several REITS, I have been forced to buy more shares or suffer dilution. Can you advice on:
1. Could you please kindly advise if it is worthwhile to buy & hold REIT for many years (i.e. 10-20 years)?
2. Should I switch into high dividend yield blue chips, as they do not issue rights often?
REPLY
All shares are subject to rights issue, i.e. not just REITs but other shares as well.
If you are not able to take up the rights issue, you have the option to sell the rights. The amount that you get for the rights should be almost the same as the amount of dilution in your shares.
For example,
Price of shares before rights issue $5
Rights issue (1 for 1) at $3
Share price after rights issue, due to dilution: $4
Value of rights, if sold in the market, should be $1.
The value of the rights is usually the same as the loss due to dilution, but it may vary somewhat, due to market condition.
Whether you should invest in REITS or blue chips is a different matter. Usually, it is better to be well diversified, e.g. buy a ETF of shares and REITS (if available).
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Learn about medication
I was prescribed with Naproxen Sodium before. I had some remaining tablets but forgot what it was used for. I searched Google and found the following explanation. It was quite useful for me to learn about the medication. It is important for each person to learn about the medication that they are taking. The internet provides an easy reference.
Naproxen sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is most often used to treat pain, inflammation, menstrual cramps and fever. It is also a favorite medication used to treat the stiffness associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions affecting joints. Naproxen sodium, or naproxen, as it is often referred to, is less commonly used to treat Paget’s disease and Barrter’s syndrome.
Note: remaining details are removed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)