I have developed a taxi automated booking system (TABS). It is now being runned in simulation mode. A taxi company is likely to use this system with a fleet of 600 taxis. The simulation will reflect the real life situation quite closely. The booking fee is cheaper than the normal booking service.
A customer who wish to book a taxi will send a SMS to the server. You can try this service by sending a SMS as follows:
- Starhub mobile: Send "CAB " to 82028866
- M1 and Singtel Mobile: Send "CAB pppppp " to 82028866
Note: pppppp is the postal code of your location (not required for Starhub customers).
If a taxi is available within 2 km of your location, you will receive a SMS to call the mobile phone of the taxi driver. If no taxi is available, a SMS will be sent to you, saying that you have been placed in the taxi queue.
Please join this trial. During the simulation run, you will get a simulated mobile phone number (i.e. not a real number) of the taxi.
PRIZE: I will be giving a Tangram book to one person, picked at random, from those who participated in the trial for each of the next three days. Good luck.
Tan Kin Lian
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Invest in STI ETF
Dear Mr Tan,
I have read through some of the articles on your blog and am very impressed by your investment knowledge. I heard from my Income agent that you are very experienced with investment and gives excellent advice.
I have a savings account with Standard Chartered and would like to start investing in unit trust. From your experience, what is the difference between investing through the bank or through those brokerage firm like Phillips Securities?
Many people told me to invest in STI ETF, is it unit trust and is it a good time to invest now? How about REITS? Are these unit trusts?
Josephine
REPLY
STI ETF is for long term investment. If you invest your monthly savings, anytime is a good time. Do not try to time the market. If it better to buy through a stockbroker, rather than a bank. Philips Securities is okay. It is also all right to invest in unit trust, provided that the expense ratio is less than 1%.
Do not invest in an insurance policy as the "effect of deduction" is too high, giving you a poor return. Read my book, Practical Guide on Financial Plannng, available at www.easysearch.sg/ishop.
I have read through some of the articles on your blog and am very impressed by your investment knowledge. I heard from my Income agent that you are very experienced with investment and gives excellent advice.
I have a savings account with Standard Chartered and would like to start investing in unit trust. From your experience, what is the difference between investing through the bank or through those brokerage firm like Phillips Securities?
Many people told me to invest in STI ETF, is it unit trust and is it a good time to invest now? How about REITS? Are these unit trusts?
Josephine
REPLY
STI ETF is for long term investment. If you invest your monthly savings, anytime is a good time. Do not try to time the market. If it better to buy through a stockbroker, rather than a bank. Philips Securities is okay. It is also all right to invest in unit trust, provided that the expense ratio is less than 1%.
Do not invest in an insurance policy as the "effect of deduction" is too high, giving you a poor return. Read my book, Practical Guide on Financial Plannng, available at www.easysearch.sg/ishop.
Talks on Financial Planning to Students
Calling teachers or student leaders. If you wish to organise a talk on financial planning for the students, read this brochure. It can make a lot of difference to the future financial well-being of the students.
Holland vs Germany
I watched my first live World Cup match over television in 1974. It was the Finals between Holland and Germany. The star on the Holland team was Johan Cruff. Holland scored the first goal within 2 minutes. Germany was led by the legendary Franz Beckenbauer and won the Finals on 2-1.
Here is an exciting recount of this historic final. http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~goldkeep/Holland74/WGermany.htm
I expect to see these two teams play at the Finals of the World Cup 2010. If anyone takes and win this bet, make a donation to FISCA (http://www.fisca.sg/)
Tan Kin Lian
Here is an exciting recount of this historic final. http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~goldkeep/Holland74/WGermany.htm
I expect to see these two teams play at the Finals of the World Cup 2010. If anyone takes and win this bet, make a donation to FISCA (http://www.fisca.sg/)
Tan Kin Lian
Developing our own talents
In 1998, France won the World Cup. The team comprised of many players from the former French colonies in Africa.
This event prompted Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to raise the possibility of Singapore entering the World Cup using "foreign talents". The Football Association of Singapore took up the challenge and set the target of Goal 2010 for Singapore to win the World Cup (but thge goal was later clarified as participation in the Finals). This goal was subsequently dropped as the task was deemed to be impossible.
During this period, Germany went about in its own way to develop its youth squad and soccer training program. The result can be seen in the spectacular performance of the Germany team, the product of its youth development program, in World Cup 2010.
We can contrast the approach taken by the two countries. One decided to rely on "foreign talents". The other decided to train and develop its own people.
This is a lesson for Singapore.
Tan Kin Lian
This event prompted Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to raise the possibility of Singapore entering the World Cup using "foreign talents". The Football Association of Singapore took up the challenge and set the target of Goal 2010 for Singapore to win the World Cup (but thge goal was later clarified as participation in the Finals). This goal was subsequently dropped as the task was deemed to be impossible.
During this period, Germany went about in its own way to develop its youth squad and soccer training program. The result can be seen in the spectacular performance of the Germany team, the product of its youth development program, in World Cup 2010.
We can contrast the approach taken by the two countries. One decided to rely on "foreign talents". The other decided to train and develop its own people.
This is a lesson for Singapore.
Tan Kin Lian
World Cup and Management Science
Mr Tan Kin Lian.
It was an amazing game that Germany managed to beat Argentina 4 to 0. World Cup is really fascinating. However, World Cup also teaches us lessons in management. Germany has displayed discipline and teamwork in the game against Argentina.
While mega stars provide the excitement, results are delivered by discipline and teamwork.
Lothar Matthaus made an interesting comment that Michael Ballack’s absence was a blessing in disguise! He said “ …. I’m genuinely upset for Michael Ballack (injury) but his absence has helped Germany. I don’t mean that in a spiteful way, but Ballack was arguably holding up a number of players who have now blossomed. Each of them has taken on a little more responsibility and Germany is playing with far more pace. Ballack often took a lot of pace out of the game, but that wouldn’t fit the mentality of this young team. Missing out is a personal catastrophe for Michael, but it has benefited Germany.”
By the way, Germany has one of the younger squad. Lothar Matthaus made an interesting management statement that teamwork is more important than individual stars and fresh legs are what it takes to win tournament.
Cashew Nut
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/germany/7868860/Argentina-v-Germany-Lothar-Matthaus-says-Germany-are-better-without-Michael-Ballack.html
My observation
I have come comments to make about Singapore's own Goal 2010. See separate blog.
It was an amazing game that Germany managed to beat Argentina 4 to 0. World Cup is really fascinating. However, World Cup also teaches us lessons in management. Germany has displayed discipline and teamwork in the game against Argentina.
While mega stars provide the excitement, results are delivered by discipline and teamwork.
Lothar Matthaus made an interesting comment that Michael Ballack’s absence was a blessing in disguise! He said “ …. I’m genuinely upset for Michael Ballack (injury) but his absence has helped Germany. I don’t mean that in a spiteful way, but Ballack was arguably holding up a number of players who have now blossomed. Each of them has taken on a little more responsibility and Germany is playing with far more pace. Ballack often took a lot of pace out of the game, but that wouldn’t fit the mentality of this young team. Missing out is a personal catastrophe for Michael, but it has benefited Germany.”
By the way, Germany has one of the younger squad. Lothar Matthaus made an interesting management statement that teamwork is more important than individual stars and fresh legs are what it takes to win tournament.
Cashew Nut
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/germany/7868860/Argentina-v-Germany-Lothar-Matthaus-says-Germany-are-better-without-Michael-Ballack.html
My observation
I have come comments to make about Singapore's own Goal 2010. See separate blog.
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