Why are organisations paying a lot of money to consultants who delivered failed projects? Read this article for the answer.
My observation
I hear of government agencies and business organisations spending several tens of millions of dollars by engaging consultants, especially on IT mega-projects. Often, the projects do not produce the payback. But, it seems to be quite fashionable for these organisations to spend big bucks. They are able to get their money back by raising fees and charges on the consumers. This results in the high cost of living in Singapore.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Private tuition and unemployed professionals
Read this article.
My observation
It contain good news that the unemployed professionals are able to earn an income through private tuition.
My observation
It contain good news that the unemployed professionals are able to earn an income through private tuition.
Wall Street Journal: 1937 vs 2010
Read this article.
My observation
The chart suggest that the stockmarket may be headed for a steep fall, if 2010 follows 1937. The extent of the fall is another 35%. Is this likely to happen?
I belong to the pessimistic group - and believe that a second dip is likely to happen. The government debts ins Europe, USA, Japan and other countries is serious and needs to be corrected. We can muddle along with government stimulus and low interest rate, but it will create problems, i.e. asset bubbles,
Read this article by Nobel Prize winner, Paul Krugman. I agree with his view on most matters, including this assessment. He speaks plainly and honestly. Listen to him.
My observation
The chart suggest that the stockmarket may be headed for a steep fall, if 2010 follows 1937. The extent of the fall is another 35%. Is this likely to happen?
I belong to the pessimistic group - and believe that a second dip is likely to happen. The government debts ins Europe, USA, Japan and other countries is serious and needs to be corrected. We can muddle along with government stimulus and low interest rate, but it will create problems, i.e. asset bubbles,
Read this article by Nobel Prize winner, Paul Krugman. I agree with his view on most matters, including this assessment. He speaks plainly and honestly. Listen to him.
Views of young people
Here are some views of your young people, in response to the survey
1. Leaders should engage their people more. PMETs may have good ideas which may be implemented to benefit everyone, such as education, transport and work-life balance. Show us believable statistics instead of numbers made from thin air.
2. Life looks bleak for me, so I won't marry or have children. I don't even know I can survive in five years time, most probably would get retrenched or replaced by foreigners.
3. Politicians tend to avoid recessions to remain in power. We should have gone into a healthier recession instead of opening the floodgates to foreigners to boost GDP numbers. I feel betrayed by the government and I am suffering from overcrowding and higher costs of living.
4. Nurses still can get a job, not much of a problem here.
5. No bonding left with Singapore. The PAP and system has shown me the truth -- You die your business. Whatever emotional ties I had with S'pore had been mercilessly cut during 2 years of slogging NS being tekaned while my foreigner classmates happily enjoy their 3-month holidays after A-levels and then straightaway go into NUS / NTU / SMU on subsidised school fees or even free scholarships. Plus seeing my 40+ and 50+ year-old relatives getting retrenched and having to take on $1K or $1.2K jobs even though they have polytechnic diplomas or many years of practical experience and know-how.
The Singapore system has only succeeded in turning all of us into self-centred bastards. Those who enjoy the privileges of the elite-class will want to stay on and lord it over the masses, squeezing them for more GDP growth. Those who are not elites just end-up fighting each other for scraps of garbage in order to survive. Those who can get off this god-forsaken mudhole will do so without remorse or hesitation. It is truly You Die Your Business!!
6. This country disadvantages it citizens in the mindless pursuit of ever increasing GDP. How that GDP benefits locals is any one's guess, as the GINI coefficient seems to be ever widening.
7. Please provide more options.
My job pays quite well - Strongly DISAGREE
My pay is adequate for the cost of living - Strongly DISAGREE
I find the HDB flat to be affordable - Strongly DISAGREE
8. It is one thing to be proud of our country and be disgusted at your government.
1. Leaders should engage their people more. PMETs may have good ideas which may be implemented to benefit everyone, such as education, transport and work-life balance. Show us believable statistics instead of numbers made from thin air.
2. Life looks bleak for me, so I won't marry or have children. I don't even know I can survive in five years time, most probably would get retrenched or replaced by foreigners.
3. Politicians tend to avoid recessions to remain in power. We should have gone into a healthier recession instead of opening the floodgates to foreigners to boost GDP numbers. I feel betrayed by the government and I am suffering from overcrowding and higher costs of living.
4. Nurses still can get a job, not much of a problem here.
5. No bonding left with Singapore. The PAP and system has shown me the truth -- You die your business. Whatever emotional ties I had with S'pore had been mercilessly cut during 2 years of slogging NS being tekaned while my foreigner classmates happily enjoy their 3-month holidays after A-levels and then straightaway go into NUS / NTU / SMU on subsidised school fees or even free scholarships. Plus seeing my 40+ and 50+ year-old relatives getting retrenched and having to take on $1K or $1.2K jobs even though they have polytechnic diplomas or many years of practical experience and know-how.
The Singapore system has only succeeded in turning all of us into self-centred bastards. Those who enjoy the privileges of the elite-class will want to stay on and lord it over the masses, squeezing them for more GDP growth. Those who are not elites just end-up fighting each other for scraps of garbage in order to survive. Those who can get off this god-forsaken mudhole will do so without remorse or hesitation. It is truly You Die Your Business!!
6. This country disadvantages it citizens in the mindless pursuit of ever increasing GDP. How that GDP benefits locals is any one's guess, as the GINI coefficient seems to be ever widening.
7. Please provide more options.
My job pays quite well - Strongly DISAGREE
My pay is adequate for the cost of living - Strongly DISAGREE
I find the HDB flat to be affordable - Strongly DISAGREE
8. It is one thing to be proud of our country and be disgusted at your government.
Temasek Investment Results
Mr. Tan,
Did you read the article about Temasek's investment returns in the Straits Times? A similar article appeared in the Asian Wall Street Journal - same information but completing different view - a more neutral view. Would be good to have our comments in your blog.
REPLY
I read the Straits Times report with some a pinch of salt. A large part of the investment gains came from the recovery of the global stockmarkets, and more specifically, the Singapore market, where Temasek held a large stake. I do recall that is fact was mentioned, but it was hidden amidst the overwhelming praises of good performance.
My personal investments also recovered significantly, and I did precisely NOTHING.
Did you read the article about Temasek's investment returns in the Straits Times? A similar article appeared in the Asian Wall Street Journal - same information but completing different view - a more neutral view. Would be good to have our comments in your blog.
REPLY
I read the Straits Times report with some a pinch of salt. A large part of the investment gains came from the recovery of the global stockmarkets, and more specifically, the Singapore market, where Temasek held a large stake. I do recall that is fact was mentioned, but it was hidden amidst the overwhelming praises of good performance.
My personal investments also recovered significantly, and I did precisely NOTHING.
Paul the Octopus
Paul the Octupus is famous for predicting correctly the results of the World Cup matches between Germany and other countries. Here is his next prediction.
Poor Paul. Now, he cannot get asylum in Singapore!
But, we have Mani, the parrot.
Poor Paul. Now, he cannot get asylum in Singapore!
But, we have Mani, the parrot.
How does believing we are souls help us in our daily lives?
Extract from book, Wisdom on how to live life - Dr. Tommy Wong
Tom: So by believing that we are souls, how will that help us in our daily lives?
Guru: We can see everyone as souls rather than bodies.
Tom: Okay, then?
Guru: We don’t differentiate ourselves with others by the differences in our bodies.
Tom: You mean we don’t differentiate ourselves by different races.
Guru: Right, there’s only one race and that’s the human race.
Tom: No more “us and them”.
Guru: We see everyone as souls, and we’re all the same.
Tom: We look for sameness rather than differences.
Guru: Yes, it’s like we’re all air and there is only one air covering the entire Earth.
Tom: We are all one.
Guru: We’re all connected so we look for cooperation rather than competition.
Tom: Your gain is my gain, and your loss is my loss.
Guru: We look for win-win solutions rather than “I win and you lose” scenarios.
Tom: So we’re all winners.
Guru: Wouldn’t life be better this way?
Tom: Better? It’ll be heaven on Earth.
The book, Wisdom on How to Live Life can be bought here.
Tom: So by believing that we are souls, how will that help us in our daily lives?
Guru: We can see everyone as souls rather than bodies.
Tom: Okay, then?
Guru: We don’t differentiate ourselves with others by the differences in our bodies.
Tom: You mean we don’t differentiate ourselves by different races.
Guru: Right, there’s only one race and that’s the human race.
Tom: No more “us and them”.
Guru: We see everyone as souls, and we’re all the same.
Tom: We look for sameness rather than differences.
Guru: Yes, it’s like we’re all air and there is only one air covering the entire Earth.
Tom: We are all one.
Guru: We’re all connected so we look for cooperation rather than competition.
Tom: Your gain is my gain, and your loss is my loss.
Guru: We look for win-win solutions rather than “I win and you lose” scenarios.
Tom: So we’re all winners.
Guru: Wouldn’t life be better this way?
Tom: Better? It’ll be heaven on Earth.
The book, Wisdom on How to Live Life can be bought here.
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