Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Speed and control sensors of an automated car
What is the ideal speed of an automated car? What are its control sensors? Read this blog.
Invest in STI ETF
Last year, my wife asked for my views on the shares to invest in. Previously, she kept her money in fixed deposits, but interest rate had dropped to below 1% for a few years already. The banks sold her a few structured products over the past years that gave a very poor return. e.g. 2% for 5 years, but fortunately her principal was intact.
I advised her to invest in the STI ETF. This is an exchange traded fund that is invested in the component stocks of the ST Index. It is a large, well diversified fund with low cost.
Her friends advised her to invest in some of the hot stocks that have higher liquidity and market interest. Fortunately, she took my advice.
For a while, the STI ETF lost money due to the market collapse earlier this year. I advised her not to worry, as it is a long term investment.
Recently, she told me that the STI ETF had made a large profit for her. The gain must be more than 30% over the past year. This was the best performing share among the few shares that she held.
Some people complained that there is not much liquidity in the STI ETF. For most ordinary investors who are investing for the long term, the liquidity is sufficient. The fund manager will create more units if there is demand.
I advised her to invest in the STI ETF. This is an exchange traded fund that is invested in the component stocks of the ST Index. It is a large, well diversified fund with low cost.
Her friends advised her to invest in some of the hot stocks that have higher liquidity and market interest. Fortunately, she took my advice.
For a while, the STI ETF lost money due to the market collapse earlier this year. I advised her not to worry, as it is a long term investment.
Recently, she told me that the STI ETF had made a large profit for her. The gain must be more than 30% over the past year. This was the best performing share among the few shares that she held.
Some people complained that there is not much liquidity in the STI ETF. For most ordinary investors who are investing for the long term, the liquidity is sufficient. The fund manager will create more units if there is demand.
Views of an unemployed, mature worker
Dear Mr. Tan,
I want to thank you for speaking out for the unemployed people, especially those who are in their middle aged and are unfortunate to be retrenched. I am one of these people. I worked for more than 10 years in a foreign company who decided two years ago, to relocate to China.
It was a big shock to me. I had all along thought that I had a steady job with a large company. But, life is so unpredictable now.
At first, I thought that it would be not difficult for me to find a similar job. After all, I worked hard and had kept up to date with technology. I also had accumulated a wealth of experience that could be applied to other manufacturing companies.
This was not the case. I had difficulty in finding another job, even though I was prepared to take a 50% reduction in salary. Somehow, things do not work out. The human resource managers probably felt that I would not stay long with a big reduction in salary. I never got the chance.
Fortunately, I had some savings, so I am not in debt. But I had to cut down on my expenses drastically, including giving up my car. But, the rejection of my countless applications for a job was difficult to take at first. By now, I got used to being rejected and declined.
It is quite unkind of people to pass remarks that the unemployed are unskilled and not hardworking. This may be true for some people, but it is not true for many others, such as me. When I was younger and during good times, I always had the confidence that I could always have a job, with my skill and education. But not any more.
For people posting unkind remarks, I can only say, "your time will come". Only then will you realise why people like Mr. Tan is asking for employment practices to be changed and for the available work to be shared fairly among the willing workers. There is no point in having people with jobs working long hours, neglecting their families, while other people are unemployed.
Mr. Tan, thank you for suggesting this idea of sharing job opportunities. I hope that the leaders will pay attention to it. It is a good idea.
I want to thank you for speaking out for the unemployed people, especially those who are in their middle aged and are unfortunate to be retrenched. I am one of these people. I worked for more than 10 years in a foreign company who decided two years ago, to relocate to China.
It was a big shock to me. I had all along thought that I had a steady job with a large company. But, life is so unpredictable now.
At first, I thought that it would be not difficult for me to find a similar job. After all, I worked hard and had kept up to date with technology. I also had accumulated a wealth of experience that could be applied to other manufacturing companies.
This was not the case. I had difficulty in finding another job, even though I was prepared to take a 50% reduction in salary. Somehow, things do not work out. The human resource managers probably felt that I would not stay long with a big reduction in salary. I never got the chance.
Fortunately, I had some savings, so I am not in debt. But I had to cut down on my expenses drastically, including giving up my car. But, the rejection of my countless applications for a job was difficult to take at first. By now, I got used to being rejected and declined.
It is quite unkind of people to pass remarks that the unemployed are unskilled and not hardworking. This may be true for some people, but it is not true for many others, such as me. When I was younger and during good times, I always had the confidence that I could always have a job, with my skill and education. But not any more.
For people posting unkind remarks, I can only say, "your time will come". Only then will you realise why people like Mr. Tan is asking for employment practices to be changed and for the available work to be shared fairly among the willing workers. There is no point in having people with jobs working long hours, neglecting their families, while other people are unemployed.
Mr. Tan, thank you for suggesting this idea of sharing job opportunities. I hope that the leaders will pay attention to it. It is a good idea.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Experiences with Land Banking
5 people responded to my survey about their experience with land banking. The results are shown here:
| | When | Amount | Outcome |
| 1 | 2007 | $75,000 | No update from company regarding the investment. |
| 2 | 2008 | $ | Matured but yet to receive the returns |
| 3 | 2004 | $21,000 | Supposed to be 5 yrs investment but now |
| 4 | 2008 | $36,270 | Company rejected my option to surrender the plot back to them. |
| 5 | 2005 | $100,000 | Did not deliver on promises |
Hidden charges in Investment-linked policies
Read my letter published in the Straits Times.
I call on insurance companies to be transparent in their charges to commuters and not hide them from customers. If the charges are too high, they should reduce the charges and give better value to their customers.
I call on insurance companies to be transparent in their charges to commuters and not hide them from customers. If the charges are too high, they should reduce the charges and give better value to their customers.
Driver-less taxis
Here are some further comments on the driver-less taxi service to provide local transport within 3 km.
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