Friday, August 21, 2009
THEN and NOW
Hello, hello,
Three scores and six years ago, I went about barefooted. I climbed trees; I plucked and I ate guava. I poked a cassava stem into the earth and I planted it; I pulled out a mature one and I ate tapioca. I went out onto the seabed at low tide; I hunted crabs and fish and I ate seafood. I dug near the sea shores; I picked clams and the like and I enjoyed eating tuathaus. I had fighting fish and fighting spiders; I played spinning tops and I sport fighting kites, and space was free.
I had fruits and vegetables from the land, I had seafood from the sea, I had my skin toughened by the sun and I quenched my thirst with the rain. And I played freely.
We went freely to Johore Bahru; we ate chilly crabs at the HongKong restaurant; and we strolled about their Merdeka Park. We fetched foreign guests to visit the Haw Par Villas, the Botanic Gardens and the Kranji Memorial Cemetery. We searched for favourite hawker stalls and we ate C&G meals. C&G means cheap and good. We had open air satay and we had roadside steamboats. We just parked our cars and we ate thereby.
We can camp and sleep by the seaside provided we have obtained a permit. We can fish at the Bedok Jetty, but we cannot use nets nor boats. We cannot play badminton outdoors, because the grounds are in mounds and troughs. We have fruit trees in all the estates, but it is an offence to pluck the fruits.
We can visit neighbours, but we would not want to disturb them. We have companions close by, but we would rather talk on the handphone. We have high-earning childen, but they do not have time for us.
We have our Sentosa Island; we will have the Integrated Resorts; and we will have the Marina Sands. We can visit these places and enjoy their attractions. And we can gamble at the casinos, provided we pay a S$100 entrance fee. We have this and we have that, and we pay dearly to be there.
We have the Durians, we can enjoy operas, concerts and other performances. We have the CTE and the PIE, the KJE and the KPE, the AYE and the ECP, and we have the Circle and the PAP.
What ain't we got, we have got G S T .
WATMOU1
Ron
NotaBene: GST = Generous Surviving Tax = to help the poor !
Nostalgia: South Pacific = movie, Seasons in the Sun = song.
If we cannot remember, never mind.
If we do remember, maybe no good.Three scores and six years ago, I went about barefooted. I climbed trees; I plucked and I ate guava. I poked a cassava stem into the earth and I planted it; I pulled out a mature one and I ate tapioca. I went out onto the seabed at low tide; I hunted crabs and fish and I ate seafood. I dug near the sea shores; I picked clams and the like and I enjoyed eating tuathaus. I had fighting fish and fighting spiders; I played spinning tops and I sport fighting kites, and space was free.
I had fruits and vegetables from the land, I had seafood from the sea, I had my skin toughened by the sun and I quenched my thirst with the rain. And I played freely.
What hadn't I got, I hadn't got MONEY !
Two scores and four years ago, I was gainfully employed. I drove a Fiat 600D. I paid income tax. I contributed a dollar for a brick monthly to build the Singapore General Hospital, likewise the National Library. A dollar could buy quite a number of bricks then.We went freely to Johore Bahru; we ate chilly crabs at the HongKong restaurant; and we strolled about their Merdeka Park. We fetched foreign guests to visit the Haw Par Villas, the Botanic Gardens and the Kranji Memorial Cemetery. We searched for favourite hawker stalls and we ate C&G meals. C&G means cheap and good. We had open air satay and we had roadside steamboats. We just parked our cars and we ate thereby.
We dropped by and we chatted, we gathered and we had barbecue, we had booze and we used to toast; we had Auld Lang Syne.
We had company, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. We had the means, we had the style and we had cheers. We spent and we had our savings.
What hadn't we got, we hadn't got WEALTH.
Today, we have fully matured and we are not pecuniarily employed. We live on our savings and we watch our budget. We have our Senior Citizen concession pass; and we can travel on any MRT and SBS transport for less than 70 cents per trip, from start to stop. We pay to visit places of education and interest. We pay to pass the expressways and roads. We have to be very careful of the start and stop times of the ERP gantries.We had company, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. We had the means, we had the style and we had cheers. We spent and we had our savings.
What hadn't we got, we hadn't got WEALTH.
We can camp and sleep by the seaside provided we have obtained a permit. We can fish at the Bedok Jetty, but we cannot use nets nor boats. We cannot play badminton outdoors, because the grounds are in mounds and troughs. We have fruit trees in all the estates, but it is an offence to pluck the fruits.
We can visit neighbours, but we would not want to disturb them. We have companions close by, but we would rather talk on the handphone. We have high-earning childen, but they do not have time for us.
We have our Sentosa Island; we will have the Integrated Resorts; and we will have the Marina Sands. We can visit these places and enjoy their attractions. And we can gamble at the casinos, provided we pay a S$100 entrance fee. We have this and we have that, and we pay dearly to be there.
We have the Durians, we can enjoy operas, concerts and other performances. We have the CTE and the PIE, the KJE and the KPE, the AYE and the ECP, and we have the Circle and the PAP.
What ain't we got, we have got G S T .
WATMOU1
Ron
NotaBene: GST = Generous Surviving Tax = to help the poor !
Nostalgia: South Pacific = movie, Seasons in the Sun = song.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Maintenance of Parents Act
Is there not a way to take good care of this issue ?
From August 2008 to July this year, 172 people filed applications,
much higher than the average of 100 in previous years.
So, the act is to be tightened !
Really, is not this all very shameful ?
How do we come to this ?
Have we really look at the holistic view to deal with this issue ?
In the 1940s, the children in the only Chinese school in my village would recite the story of the crow family such that I who studied in an English school remembered the story and its moral by heart.
The story went like this:
Baby crow too young, cannot fly
Parent crow flies to bring food
and feeds baby crow
Parent crow grows old, cannot fly
Young crow flies to bring food
and feeds parent crow
I did not know Mandarin then because I studied in an English school, but there was no way I could not, after much repetition of the recitation of the story, make out what it was all about.
We are number one. We are able to teach other nations. We have the best schools. We are best in almost anything any neighbouring nation dare to compare. Sadly we have discarded parents.
There is a very old joke about the tiger trying to cure its small wound. It bit a part of itself and patched the wound. Discovering the new wound it repeated what it did, biting another part to patch the newly created wound. Anybody can figure out the outcome of the tiger.
What we need is definitely a holistic approach to this issue of parental neglect. Its fault lies not on the children alone, it is very easy to just blame it on the children.
Let us consider:
Citizens build the nation, don't they !
Citizens pay taxes, don't they !
Citizens stand shoulder to shoulder, don't they !
Citizens defend the country, don't they !
The strong rise from the weak, don't they !
The governed elected the governors, don't they !
The wealthy grow richer from what ?
Citizens grow weak and fall, don't they !
Remember the crow story, don't we !
Ron
From August 2008 to July this year, 172 people filed applications,
much higher than the average of 100 in previous years.
So, the act is to be tightened !
Really, is not this all very shameful ?
How do we come to this ?
Have we really look at the holistic view to deal with this issue ?
In the 1940s, the children in the only Chinese school in my village would recite the story of the crow family such that I who studied in an English school remembered the story and its moral by heart.
The story went like this:
Baby crow too young, cannot fly
Parent crow flies to bring food
and feeds baby crow
Parent crow grows old, cannot fly
Young crow flies to bring food
and feeds parent crow
I did not know Mandarin then because I studied in an English school, but there was no way I could not, after much repetition of the recitation of the story, make out what it was all about.
We are number one. We are able to teach other nations. We have the best schools. We are best in almost anything any neighbouring nation dare to compare. Sadly we have discarded parents.
There is a very old joke about the tiger trying to cure its small wound. It bit a part of itself and patched the wound. Discovering the new wound it repeated what it did, biting another part to patch the newly created wound. Anybody can figure out the outcome of the tiger.
What we need is definitely a holistic approach to this issue of parental neglect. Its fault lies not on the children alone, it is very easy to just blame it on the children.
Let us consider:
Citizens build the nation, don't they !
Citizens pay taxes, don't they !
Citizens stand shoulder to shoulder, don't they !
Citizens defend the country, don't they !
The strong rise from the weak, don't they !
The governed elected the governors, don't they !
The wealthy grow richer from what ?
Citizens grow weak and fall, don't they !
Remember the crow story, don't we !
Ron
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Using Microsoft Word
Hi everyone,
Guess who is teaching me when I use Microsoft Word ?
Is there an easy way to learn anything ? There is only one way to learn to do something - by experience. And learning it this way can always be fun, if one sets one’s mind to enjoying the tortuous journey rather than concentrating on quickly reaching the destination.
Learning to use Microsoft Word for me is like this. The tutorials are of not much help, and up to now I am still fumbling and tumbling along by experiencing it as I use it, the simple way I know how, never mind if it takes me one year, ten years or a hundred years.
Though learning while using it alone by myself I am never alone. There is always this wire thin guy which watches me at work. It has a thin wire-liked body with two over-sized eyes under a set of thick eyebrows. And it sits on the side and keeps its vigilance, like an old wise owl.
Whenever I do correctly like saving regularly as I progress, it wags its tail in approval against the mat on which it sits. Sometimes it scratches its bald head with its tail which puzzles me, as I myself wonder why, since I reckon I am working correctly. At times it lights up an electric bulb over its head; I gather that it has an idea but which I do not know how to pluck it out of its brain; anyway I do not care about this as my concern is to get on with my work
My aim is to compose whatever I need, typing along, copying and pasting, editing and rearranging a chart or figure to fit everything nicely into the least number of pages.
Yet there are times when I sense that it is reproaching me for doing things incorrectly. When I am resizing a heading or chart and alter its shape to fit into a page it rolls and drops it eyes and flips over within a box. And worse still are the times when I save my work after rearranging some copied articles, which is what I want to do, but somehow its reaction is very severe, it rearranges itself by disintegrating into parts, committing suicide I presume.
To heck with its reactions, its vigilance and its consequences, my objective is just to get what I want done and be done. I do not need fancy work and follow rules. But then, it will always be helpful to remind me to save my work when I am closing off. And the best ending is when it gives me its approval, packs itself up, rearranges itself into a bicycle and rides away into the sunset over the undulating pathway. That is a good goodbye, always.
Learning to use Microsoft Word can be enjoyable and beneficial.
Ron
Guess who is teaching me when I use Microsoft Word ?
Is there an easy way to learn anything ? There is only one way to learn to do something - by experience. And learning it this way can always be fun, if one sets one’s mind to enjoying the tortuous journey rather than concentrating on quickly reaching the destination.
Learning to use Microsoft Word for me is like this. The tutorials are of not much help, and up to now I am still fumbling and tumbling along by experiencing it as I use it, the simple way I know how, never mind if it takes me one year, ten years or a hundred years.
Though learning while using it alone by myself I am never alone. There is always this wire thin guy which watches me at work. It has a thin wire-liked body with two over-sized eyes under a set of thick eyebrows. And it sits on the side and keeps its vigilance, like an old wise owl.
Whenever I do correctly like saving regularly as I progress, it wags its tail in approval against the mat on which it sits. Sometimes it scratches its bald head with its tail which puzzles me, as I myself wonder why, since I reckon I am working correctly. At times it lights up an electric bulb over its head; I gather that it has an idea but which I do not know how to pluck it out of its brain; anyway I do not care about this as my concern is to get on with my work
My aim is to compose whatever I need, typing along, copying and pasting, editing and rearranging a chart or figure to fit everything nicely into the least number of pages.
Yet there are times when I sense that it is reproaching me for doing things incorrectly. When I am resizing a heading or chart and alter its shape to fit into a page it rolls and drops it eyes and flips over within a box. And worse still are the times when I save my work after rearranging some copied articles, which is what I want to do, but somehow its reaction is very severe, it rearranges itself by disintegrating into parts, committing suicide I presume.
To heck with its reactions, its vigilance and its consequences, my objective is just to get what I want done and be done. I do not need fancy work and follow rules. But then, it will always be helpful to remind me to save my work when I am closing off. And the best ending is when it gives me its approval, packs itself up, rearranges itself into a bicycle and rides away into the sunset over the undulating pathway. That is a good goodbye, always.
Learning to use Microsoft Word can be enjoyable and beneficial.
Ron
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Story of Andy Mun
A story from mouth to ear to type, transmogrified in transition.
Andy Mun was an ordinary man leading an ordinary life. But he was not happy with the regularity and rhythm of the usual sleep eat work play routine. He wanted to be rich, get what he wants, enjoy life and relax.
He tried instant wealth opportunities but these did not return their favours. He persisted and extended his efforts by offering sacrifices in the temple. This did not work either, and he went and prayed in the church. Alas, Mister Wealth did not grant him his wishes. Having spent a lot of money trying in vain to become rich he was exasperated and frustrated in getting poorer instead.
Finally he went to make a deal with Mister DorS of the dark clouds.
He said, "Hey DorS, everybody knows that you are hard-up for people's souls; you can have mine if you can make me very rich."
Mister DorS rubbed his hands in glee and replied cheerfully, "Certainly, I can make you very rich, and I will take only your soul in return. Now, what will you have me do for you."
Andy Mun asked, "Give me the 4 digits of the TOTO first price for this Sunday."
Mister DorS replied, "Okay, but I will only say it once, so listen carefully."
Andy Mun took out pen and paper, ready to write, "Go on."
Mister DorS said, "1 3, got it ?"
Andy Mun wrote what he heard, "Yes, go on", he was impatient.
Mister DorS continued, "3 8, got it ?"
Andy Mun wrote that quickly, "Make sure this number come out", and he was hurriedly off.
Mister DorS spoke after him, "I will have your soul then."
Andy went home, took out whatever ready cash he had and went to the TOTO booth. He bought all the requisite bets on the number he had written and then he went and had a good time, feeling dead sure that he would be rich for once.
When Sunday evening came, he tuned in anxiously to the TV channel for the TOTO 4D results. He scanned through the list over and over, but the number he betted on was not the first prize, nor was it listed at all. He rushed to the newsstand and bought a copy of the evening post. He flipped haphazardly to the TOTO results page, but the number was also not listed. "Damn DorS", he muttered.
Angrily, he went and confronted Mister DorS, "You are useless or you are a dirty scumbag", he let out in fury.
Mister DorS spoke benignly, "Whoa whoa, what did I do wrong."
Andy Mun slammed, "You did not give me the right number."
Mister DorS answered, "But I did, and you had even written it as I spoke it !
Now, read out what you had written and let us check."
Andy Mun took out the paper and read, "3888."
Mister DorS said, "But I had said 1 3 3 8 ."
Easy life does not come easy !
Ron
Andy Mun was an ordinary man leading an ordinary life. But he was not happy with the regularity and rhythm of the usual sleep eat work play routine. He wanted to be rich, get what he wants, enjoy life and relax.
He tried instant wealth opportunities but these did not return their favours. He persisted and extended his efforts by offering sacrifices in the temple. This did not work either, and he went and prayed in the church. Alas, Mister Wealth did not grant him his wishes. Having spent a lot of money trying in vain to become rich he was exasperated and frustrated in getting poorer instead.
Finally he went to make a deal with Mister DorS of the dark clouds.
He said, "Hey DorS, everybody knows that you are hard-up for people's souls; you can have mine if you can make me very rich."
Mister DorS rubbed his hands in glee and replied cheerfully, "Certainly, I can make you very rich, and I will take only your soul in return. Now, what will you have me do for you."
Andy Mun asked, "Give me the 4 digits of the TOTO first price for this Sunday."
Mister DorS replied, "Okay, but I will only say it once, so listen carefully."
Andy Mun took out pen and paper, ready to write, "Go on."
Mister DorS said, "1 3, got it ?"
Andy Mun wrote what he heard, "Yes, go on", he was impatient.
Mister DorS continued, "3 8, got it ?"
Andy Mun wrote that quickly, "Make sure this number come out", and he was hurriedly off.
Mister DorS spoke after him, "I will have your soul then."
Andy went home, took out whatever ready cash he had and went to the TOTO booth. He bought all the requisite bets on the number he had written and then he went and had a good time, feeling dead sure that he would be rich for once.
When Sunday evening came, he tuned in anxiously to the TV channel for the TOTO 4D results. He scanned through the list over and over, but the number he betted on was not the first prize, nor was it listed at all. He rushed to the newsstand and bought a copy of the evening post. He flipped haphazardly to the TOTO results page, but the number was also not listed. "Damn DorS", he muttered.
Angrily, he went and confronted Mister DorS, "You are useless or you are a dirty scumbag", he let out in fury.
Mister DorS spoke benignly, "Whoa whoa, what did I do wrong."
Andy Mun slammed, "You did not give me the right number."
Mister DorS answered, "But I did, and you had even written it as I spoke it !
Now, read out what you had written and let us check."
Andy Mun took out the paper and read, "3888."
Mister DorS said, "But I had said 1 3 3 8 ."
Easy life does not come easy !
Ron
Friday, August 07, 2009
The SIGHT & SOUND in Make Money on the Stock Market
Do not take this seriously,
On the night of the August moon, come out and see Mars with your naked eyes, so said the emails year after year. I for one will not lose sleep and come out on the night of 27 August.
Buy this counter, sell that counter, outperform this, hold that and neutral whatever, the reports wrote. One wonders why the analysts are running errands on emoluments and do not make money that easily as they recommended.
There are other ways to make money, like listening to the noise in the market place, yes, the sight and the sound. Recently, several companies have or are returning home, or gone or going private, like HiapMohCorp, C&G Industrials, CKTang, ManwahFurniture, KingboardCopperfoil, or are taken over like SingaporeFoods, SingaporePetroleum, all at a good premium to their traded price. What does all this tell us ?
Companies are backing their results announcements with face to face briefings, providing food and refreshments; there being enough leftovers for attendees to scramble and tarpau to take home. What are these signs ?
Money is easily made in BULL markets and lost in BEAR markets with the same ease. So it looks like one has only got to know the BULLS and forget the BEARS;
and to leap in and climb out at the opportune time. There are always setbacks of course, like market lightning and thunderstorms, and earthquakes and tsunamis; these are also noises.
While at a bookshop recently I met an old colleague. Noticing that I was looking at books on finance he said, buy low sell high. Well, how does one make money otherwise ?!
If one knows the weather before stepping out,
one will not face hazardous elements.
Ron
On the night of the August moon, come out and see Mars with your naked eyes, so said the emails year after year. I for one will not lose sleep and come out on the night of 27 August.
Buy this counter, sell that counter, outperform this, hold that and neutral whatever, the reports wrote. One wonders why the analysts are running errands on emoluments and do not make money that easily as they recommended.
There are other ways to make money, like listening to the noise in the market place, yes, the sight and the sound. Recently, several companies have or are returning home, or gone or going private, like HiapMohCorp, C&G Industrials, CKTang, ManwahFurniture, KingboardCopperfoil, or are taken over like SingaporeFoods, SingaporePetroleum, all at a good premium to their traded price. What does all this tell us ?
Companies are backing their results announcements with face to face briefings, providing food and refreshments; there being enough leftovers for attendees to scramble and tarpau to take home. What are these signs ?
Money is easily made in BULL markets and lost in BEAR markets with the same ease. So it looks like one has only got to know the BULLS and forget the BEARS;
and to leap in and climb out at the opportune time. There are always setbacks of course, like market lightning and thunderstorms, and earthquakes and tsunamis; these are also noises.
While at a bookshop recently I met an old colleague. Noticing that I was looking at books on finance he said, buy low sell high. Well, how does one make money otherwise ?!
If one knows the weather before stepping out,
one will not face hazardous elements.
Ron
