Friday, July 25, 2008
Dental Servicing
Hi to all,
Happy are those in excellent health !
An elderly couple went to the dentist
after more than three years;
overdue from the regular six months servicing period,
and after a 10 days appointment.
The procedure was systematic, as follows:
1. the initial exploration through the labyrinth
of what's left of the set of teeth, the consultation.
2. the scraping of the built up tartars.
3. the polishing of the teeth.
4. the rinsing with saline solution.
5. the application of antiseptic gel.
The whole procedure was very methodical,
and lasted about twenty minutes.
For the couple the bill was $200,
$100 each;
and the GST was $14, the 7% tax for the service.
The couple could not tell whether the high fee
was because the job was overdue,
or just regular and standard.
The notable issue was the $14 tax.
Does this kind of tax benefit citizens ?
Ron
Happy are those in excellent health !
An elderly couple went to the dentist
after more than three years;
overdue from the regular six months servicing period,
and after a 10 days appointment.
The procedure was systematic, as follows:
1. the initial exploration through the labyrinth
of what's left of the set of teeth, the consultation.
2. the scraping of the built up tartars.
3. the polishing of the teeth.
4. the rinsing with saline solution.
5. the application of antiseptic gel.
The whole procedure was very methodical,
and lasted about twenty minutes.
For the couple the bill was $200,
$100 each;
and the GST was $14, the 7% tax for the service.
The couple could not tell whether the high fee
was because the job was overdue,
or just regular and standard.
The notable issue was the $14 tax.
Does this kind of tax benefit citizens ?
Ron
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Replacing a Gas Cooker
A short long story.
This morning, on coming home from marketing I received this message,
"Old lady's gas stove cannot be switched off,
so she kept it burning through the night", from a younger old lady.
My thought: Such a gas cooker is not easy to find nowadays,
the last time I had to run around a lot.
Now fewer people use this type of gas cooker.
Finally, I saw some gas cookers displayed outside a shop.
ME: You have single gas cooker?
Shopman: Yes.
ME: Where ?
Shopman: On the top.
ME: Oh, there, how much ?
Shopman: $45.
Remembering the last time.
ME: Can I fix it myself ?
Shopman: No.
ME: How do I get it fixed ?
Shopman dialed a number: Ah Hock, a client needs you.
ME: Ah Hock, can you do it today ?
Ah Hock: Yes, 1 to 3 pm.
ME: Can you be a little exact ?
Ah Hock: OK, 3pm.
My thought: I can have lunch and then be present later at her HDB flat when it is installed.
On the way home after lunch Ah Hock rang: 2pm OK or not.
Of course I was glad I didn't have to go home and then come out again to the old lady's place.
At 2.10pm Ah Hock came. Methodically Ah Hock changed the gas cooker.
Ten minutes later it was done; he packed the old one and took it away.
I paid him $40, and that was a job simply and well done.
My thought: Kanninare, I could do this job myself,
but I had to suffer the rigmarole and run around
at the mercy of the licenced gas cooker man.
My other thoughts: Shopman opens shop, sells item for $45,
but Gascookerman spends 10 minutes to do a simple job and charges $40.
My other thoughts: I had to be very patient and accommodating
so that I didn't have to spend more time
if the Gascookerman played hard to get with me.
My other thoughts: Despite all this, I was really glad that the whole episode
was not very taxing and quickly done in a few hours.
Have a nice day.
Ron
This morning, on coming home from marketing I received this message,
"Old lady's gas stove cannot be switched off,
so she kept it burning through the night", from a younger old lady.
My thought: Such a gas cooker is not easy to find nowadays,
the last time I had to run around a lot.
Now fewer people use this type of gas cooker.
Finally, I saw some gas cookers displayed outside a shop.
ME: You have single gas cooker?
Shopman: Yes.
ME: Where ?
Shopman: On the top.
ME: Oh, there, how much ?
Shopman: $45.
Remembering the last time.
ME: Can I fix it myself ?
Shopman: No.
ME: How do I get it fixed ?
Shopman dialed a number: Ah Hock, a client needs you.
ME: Ah Hock, can you do it today ?
Ah Hock: Yes, 1 to 3 pm.
ME: Can you be a little exact ?
Ah Hock: OK, 3pm.
My thought: I can have lunch and then be present later at her HDB flat when it is installed.
On the way home after lunch Ah Hock rang: 2pm OK or not.
Of course I was glad I didn't have to go home and then come out again to the old lady's place.
At 2.10pm Ah Hock came. Methodically Ah Hock changed the gas cooker.
Ten minutes later it was done; he packed the old one and took it away.
I paid him $40, and that was a job simply and well done.
My thought: Kanninare, I could do this job myself,
but I had to suffer the rigmarole and run around
at the mercy of the licenced gas cooker man.
My other thoughts: Shopman opens shop, sells item for $45,
but Gascookerman spends 10 minutes to do a simple job and charges $40.
My other thoughts: I had to be very patient and accommodating
so that I didn't have to spend more time
if the Gascookerman played hard to get with me.
My other thoughts: Despite all this, I was really glad that the whole episode
was not very taxing and quickly done in a few hours.
Have a nice day.
Ron
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Legalising human organ trading
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has not rejected the idea
of legalising organ trading in Singapore,
but he said it must be studied more carefully.
To me, this is initial positioning for the advantage.
It won't be long that this will be debated in Parliament.
Many MPs will speak, some very strongly against it,
but it will be passed like any other before.
Those who will benefit always have the say,
those who have no choice and no say,
other than to suffer starvation,
will have to sell and just get the handouts.
The whole machinery in the business
will gain monetary reward:
the surgeons, the middle man, the hospitals,
the establishment and ............
The ironical truth is that the cycle of wealth
will turn around in a couple of generations,
and then some may get what they sow, no?
The thought of innocent healthy young people waking up
to find their organ missing is very very very frightening.
Wake up citizens !
Ron
of legalising organ trading in Singapore,
but he said it must be studied more carefully.
To me, this is initial positioning for the advantage.
It won't be long that this will be debated in Parliament.
Many MPs will speak, some very strongly against it,
but it will be passed like any other before.
Those who will benefit always have the say,
those who have no choice and no say,
other than to suffer starvation,
will have to sell and just get the handouts.
The whole machinery in the business
will gain monetary reward:
the surgeons, the middle man, the hospitals,
the establishment and ............
The ironical truth is that the cycle of wealth
will turn around in a couple of generations,
and then some may get what they sow, no?
The thought of innocent healthy young people waking up
to find their organ missing is very very very frightening.
Wake up citizens !
Ron
SIN BLONDEs
Hi all,
we've got our own BLONDEs
This morning at the KAKA grocery at Bedok South Central,
a couple pass by me at the fruits section:
SHE: "Look, 39 cents for 100 grams longan; ah, that works up to $2.00 per kilo.
HE: "Uh huh."
SHE: "And there, 49 cents for 100 grams longkong, and ..., that will be $2.50 per kilo."
HE: "Uh huh."
Note: Longkong is an imported new favourite fruit that is like a hybrid of langsat and luku. This one is claimed to be from Vietnam, sweeter than the one from Malaysia. Its price at Sheng Siong was even higher, $6.90 per kilo, costlier than grapes.
At the beach sometime ago:
SHE: "Be careful, that man looks like crazy, talking to himself"
HE: "No lah, he's talking to his friend."
SHE: "How do you know, you see, he is even waving to nobody."
HE: "Yes lah, he's got Bluetooth."
SHE: "What blue tooth, how can you see his tooth from here?"
we've got our own BLONDEs
This morning at the KAKA grocery at Bedok South Central,
a couple pass by me at the fruits section:
SHE: "Look, 39 cents for 100 grams longan; ah, that works up to $2.00 per kilo.
HE: "Uh huh."
SHE: "And there, 49 cents for 100 grams longkong, and ..., that will be $2.50 per kilo."
HE: "Uh huh."
Note: Longkong is an imported new favourite fruit that is like a hybrid of langsat and luku. This one is claimed to be from Vietnam, sweeter than the one from Malaysia. Its price at Sheng Siong was even higher, $6.90 per kilo, costlier than grapes.
At the beach sometime ago:
SHE: "Be careful, that man looks like crazy, talking to himself"
HE: "No lah, he's talking to his friend."
SHE: "How do you know, you see, he is even waving to nobody."
HE: "Yes lah, he's got Bluetooth."
SHE: "What blue tooth, how can you see his tooth from here?"
