Singapore Joins in World Kindness Day

Well, news say that Singapore Celebrates World Kindness Day.. I won't call it a 'celebration' cause there isn't any thing to 'celebrates' about.. Other than giving out Yellow Daisies to show your appreciation of the receiver's kindness shown to you, what's there to celebrates about, right? Thus, I won't call it 'Celebrates' World Kindness Day, but rather, Singapore is doing it part by joining together with the rest of the countries in the world to show a little appreciation to kindness.

Read here for more news.

However, interestingly (if there is such a word), Singapore really a society that appreciate kindness? Or is Singapore really a society that don't take nor appreciate kindness? Well, I won't say all Singaporeans are like this, and I'm sure that among the many heartlander folks, there can and have many little untold stories on how kindness had and were shown to others, but among the many competitive sectors and industries or job or environments, does our fellow Singaporeans really being unkind towards many? Here is one interesting articles from BlogTV.SG I came across that started me thinking and wanting to pen this down here in my own blog.

While I can agree with the writer, Valentine, that in many part of the Singapore, there are competition and unfortunately, many Singaporeans are raised in such competitiveness culture or mentality, but I wouldn't say this applies across the broad to all Singaporeans. While many can site many negative examples on just how selfish and self-centered Singaporeans are and can be, I too, had encountered many such bad experiences and I also can quote you many such negative examples as well, but then again, I also can site many examples that are positive and good that shows that there are still many Singaporeans that can be kind and will do the act of kindness towards other fellow Singaporeans, or even foreigners.

To me, being kind to other, it's not just about being a value that one carries within him/herself, but it's also a nature that can be nurtured. The crux of the matter should be, appreciating and being thankful to those who had shown kindness to you. It won't harm a thing nor cause you to loose a hair by saying "Thank you", and please for goodness sake, don't ever think that the other party must show you some kindness, or give up a seat for you, or to help you with the heavy stuffs, or just to press the lift door open button when you are entering the lift, they are not oblige to, in certain sense, but when they do, please be courteous enough to say "Thank You".

Even within the corporate world, or even in a state department, or military organisation, while it is within the Superior's jurisdiction or authority to 'tell' (or order or instruct) your subordinates to do certain works for you, but I do believe that your subordinates will be more willing to help and put in more effort to do a better job for you when you, as superior or boss or commander can lower your pride a little by saying the magical word "please" instead of giving the kind of tone that says "I tell you to do it, you jolly well do it, I don't care how you do it, just do it!" and it certainly won't help at all if the superior say thing like "Don't tell me the problem, give me solution!". Then when the job get done, please.. it won't harm a thing nor cost you a cent to say the word "Thank You". In fact, by saying all these magical words, one can actually cause the subordinates to work even harder or putting in more effort to do an excellence job for you. Most of all, don't ever put down the effort or say things that demeans the effort that your subordinates had put in even if it's a job not well done. Even grown up adult, not just little children, needs a little appreciation to be motivated and encouraged.

An act of kindness, it's not always on the big thing that matter, but it is always the little things in life that we often taken for granted that matters to many, little words or 'remarks' that we at time easily let loose from our lips that can make a difference in somebody life. I guess this can also applies to relationship for couples and marriages as well.

Be Kind to one another, start from something small. Be thankful when someone show you kindness.

End of Coffee Talk.

SingTel and StarHub's Fight Turn Ugly

Two major Telcos had fought over the broadcast of Soccer or Sport Channels to the viewers and it had turn to kind of ugly. Read here and here for more details.

Apparently, one accused another saying it's "3 years too late" and another claimed it had no relevant at all.. And one had claimed they have not received any official proposal while another claimed it had submitted the proposal to joint broadcast the channel, so then the viewers need not to have an additional set up box just to view the sport programs aired by SingTel, who had won the bid to carry the English Premier League for three seasons, starting next year, on its SingTel mio TV after outbidding rival StarHub.

I'm a SingNet user and also a Starhub Cable subscriber, so I do know what these two telco giants are fighting over about, and honestly, I don't really give a hood to what and why they are fighting over, as long as I get can watch the programs without much hurdles or troubles. But I have to set up too many set-up boxes in order to watch the programs, putting additional loading on the electricity loading on the power sockets and consumption of electricity, and have to pay a premium price to watch it (like what Starhub did and that's why I didn't bother to watch any of the EPL or sport programs cause it just too damn expensive to watch!), then I can and will tell SingTel or SingNet to forget about having me as one of the subscriber for these sport channels.

I do watch sports and soccer matches, but I am not such 'serious' or dedicated fan that I will pay so much out of my pocket just to watch the channels. I can live my life without watching the matches and can certainly can updated through other means or media.

So the two of the Telco giants can go fight over what they want, just be gentleman and open about the whole saga, it's no point accusing the other party of this and that. It does not speak well of you as a corporate giant, most of all, please do spare a thought for the pockets of the subscribers.

End of Coffee Talk.

Kung Fu Panda Coming To Singapore!

Have not being blogging recently, not so much that I'm busy (a little I guess) but mainly also there is nothing much to really Coffee Talk about. While there are many things happened around us alright, but I guess I don't have to make every things or news a Coffee Talk in my blog, right? Keke...

But then now, here is one topic of Coffee Talk that I can write about, A pair of China national symbol and endangered animal is coming to Singapore Zoo. Yup, it's the cute and adorable but extremely endangered animal, Panda, is coming to Singapore Zoo for 10 years. Well, apparently, it's not the first time Pandas ever came to Singapore, back in 1990 a pair of them were here for 100 days before. Read here for more details.

Honestly, I have conflicting thinking and feeling about this. I mean I would love to have the opportunity to come up close and personal with the Panda, this also gives me an rare opportunity to capture some photos of the Panda.. Especially so after watching the series of documentaries by Discovery Channel recently on Pandas programme in China, some of the scene showed just how cute and adorable these endangered animal really are, like when they are asleep or playing.. I told myself, if only I can have a chance of coming up close and personal with these Pandas, I would sure love to capture some of these cute moments and faces by these lovely Pandas. Now that they are coming here to Singapore Zoo, then I don't have to travel all the way to China and hope to catch a glimpse of these Pandas somehow through some sort of 'guan xi' with the local China authority.. Haha..

However, the conflicting part is that, Pandas are not tropical animal, Singapore's weather and climate will be too hot and humid for them, it's really not an suitable environment for them to roam freely in the open. Not forgetting about their unique and specific diet, they eat nothing else but bamboo leaves, and they can eat up 20kg a day. While Singapore Zoo claimed that they will build a special and control climate indoor 'house' for these Pandas and set a side a piece of land to plant those bamboos, but wouldn't these mean that the Pandas can't roam freely in the open but in the enclosed artificial environment? Will these really be a healthy and friendly for these Pandas? The video clip the news had shown about the Pandas were here back in 1990, the environment is pathetically small and cramp for the Pandas.. Back in China's preservation programme and center, at least, these Pandas can roam freely in an open environment, not to mention it's much bigger place as well. Thus, I would feel that when the pair of Pandas arrives here in Singapore, they would feel uncomfortable and like being 'imprisoned' in an enclosed environment.

Singapore Zoo is going to put in fund to build all these facilities to house and keep the Pandas, not forgetting that they even have a very ambitious programme that they hope they can contribute in the research or successfully to breed Pandas here in Singapore... While it's admirable and noble intent but somehow I just feel that why do Singapore just have to poke their nose into something and want to obtain a 'name' or 'title' for them? Furthermore, I'm sure Singapore Zoo is not about to let the visitors to view the Pandas at a 'reasonable' price, as it is right now, the entrance fee to Singapore Zoo is already pretty expensive, with the addition of these Panda and the new River Safari, I can almost be very certain that the entrance fee is not likely to be similar nor lower than the Zoo itself.

Thus, overall, while I do very much welcome and really wish to visit these Pandas when they finally can be shown in the public in 2012 and capture few nice photos of them (just hope the Zoo don't stop people from taking photos of these Pandas!), but I'm also very much concern they well being and the suitability of living in Singapore.

But still, I would think and it's much better to make a trip to China one of these day to capture the photos of these lovely and cute Pandas in a more open and natural environment then in the enclosed and artificial controlled enclosure.

End of Coffee Talk.

Miss Boomz Did It Again!

Was reading the Newpaper this morning at work in the office, found this 'interesting' and yet utterly disappointing news. The former Miss Singapore World, Miss Ris Low, now infamously known as 'Miss Boomz', has done it again. Just when I thought she might had learnt her lesson from the recent saga and would lay low profile for the moment, but really didn't expect she has done it again so soon.. It does appears to me that she is in serious lack of attention and thus always wants to do things to attract attention, but then for all the wrong things...

During a web talk interview, she claimed to be the 'Spokenperson' for the Speak Good English Movement, however, National Library Board (NLB) was quick to disassociate and verify that she was not and have never been appointed as the an ambassador or official spokesperson for the Speak Good English Movement! Read here for more info or read today Newpaper for detailed info.

I seriously wonder what is wrong with her? Has she forgotten to take her medicine or what? Yet again here is another situation where she is caught lying again! This will discredit all her claims about she never had any intention to cheat during her exam when a revision note was found and discovered inside her pencil case. Who would ever believe her now? Is she so serious in need of attention that she has to do such low trick to gain whatever attention she can get, totally ignore if it's for all the wrong things? Who would ever employ her even after (if) she graduates from her dipolma? And she even thinks of make a come back for the beauty pageant in 2 years time? Think Miss Boomz can totally forget about it already, think the only place she probably have a chance to continue to live her life would be at a foreign land, but then again, if she continues with such mentality and habitual lies, she just might become a laughing stock and bring a mockery to Singapore and Singaporeans.

While I do feel an urge of anger towards her, but I'm beginning to feel pity for her, for her family and for her parents.

End of Coffee Talk.

To buy or not to buy..

My current car, KIA Cerato, is already 5 years old, though it's still going pretty strong, but it's the little problems here and there that gets to my nerve, like the noise from the air-con, remote door open/lock spoilt (got to use key to open/lock my car, thus, my car alarm is basically became reduntant and not activated everytime!), the metal 'breaking' sound as if like the car is going to break to pieces, etc. As much as I think it's still good to keep it, but I'm very tempted to look for another car.

With the current high COE prices, getting a brand new car is totally out of the question for me, so I guess my best alternative is getting a used car. Fortunately or unfortuntely, I manage to find one that is almost as good as new, it was only registered this year August and have only 2000km mileage! Best of all is that it's selling below the used car market price!

That's why I'm very tempted to make that call to the dealer and enquire for more info..

Honestly, the only thing that stops me from making that call and the decision to buy is really the car loan.. I'm not sure how much do I have to top up in cash if my current car is still not yet reach break even point, last I know is that if I scrap (it's not worth to sell it to dealer as used car any more) my current car, I still can get back about $20K, but will that enough to cover the current loan balance and then take up a new loan for this car? I will not be able to buy if I'm still requires to top up cash for the loan balance.

So to buy or not to buy?

End of Coffee Talk.

Usage of Public Transport Drop..

Today, there is another news or announcement or report made by a minister and yet either got the information from the wrong source of feedback, or simply doesn't really want to look at the root cause of the problem.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim was speaking at the Second World Roads Conference today, and he reported that a transport survey in Singapore has shown that the public transport share has shrunk. The survey found that 59 per cent of respondents used public transport last year, down from 63 per cent in 2004. LTA said it will push through two key strategies under its Masterplan to make public transport more convenient. The strategies are to reduce the growth of vehicles on the road and double the existing rail network by 2020. Read here to find out more.

But dear Minister Sir, does this two key strategies really works? Or are these two keys the real issues of people facing on the ground? Doubling the existing rail network may sound good and logical, but the amount of time requires one to walk from one point to another point just to change train or line already deters many, it's just so time consuming and tiring. Reducing the growth of vehicles on the road, only to drive the prices of COEs and car prices to even much higher level, in the end, who are the real winner and laughing their ways to the bank here? To many, owning and driving a car is not really a matter of luxuery but a need, taking public transport for their work simply won't work. Furthermore, what is the real cause of the matter here? It's not that the public transport isn't good enough, it's not the MRT network does not cover wide enough (in fact, it's already far too many for a small island like Singapore!!), it's for the fact that the public transport cost is just way too high! Over the years, the PTC had numerous time approves and increase the fare hike of the public transport but only on a extreme rare occasion that either stop the fare hike or reduce (at a pathetic amount!). The time requires one to complete it journey by taking public transport simply is not worth the cost. People on the ground are finding it way too expensive to take public transport, thus for those who still can tighten their belt a little to own a car, they would rather to own a car that gives them the conveniences that public transport can NEVER provides.

Thus, why can't LTA and PTC simply look at the real cause of the problem and lower the fare prices for public transport so to attract more passengers? Of course, some of you top brass brainy people will always say public transport fare is not the cause of the issue, and you can always use all sort of statistic or 'survey reports' to support your claim. But hey, just how many of your people are taking public transport on the daily basis? If the government is so serious to promote the usage of public transport, then let all the high level civil servants starting from the ministers to take public transport to work and various places for meeting instead of being driven in a luxuerious car. Try doing this for couple of months and it will not be hard for you to find out what is the real cause of the problem in the public transport system.

Our public transport operators are own by profit driven companies that mainly and always cares only for the stake and the interest of their share holders, by this alone already defeat and twisted the name of 'public transport'. How can one call it a 'public transport' when it's runs by a stockexchange listed company?

Doubling the rail network? A tiny island like Singapore already have so many different lines, just how many more than will the government think it's enough?! How many more and how much deeper do we have to dig for all the underground tunnels? Can we always take for granted that Singapore is not near major earthquake zone? Do we need a major disaster on the underground tunnel than realise our ground are getting too weak and soft?

Then how about the issue that SMRT were given the rights and authority to fine passengers for having drinks and food inside the MRT, not even having sweet inside the mouth, not even feeding of babies, not even when one is feeling sick and need to take medication immediately.. Who would want to take the public transport then?

As such, I do believe I'm not the only one do sincerely hope that LTA can serious look into the real cause of the problem instead of simply taking the easy and profitable way out by reduce the number of cars on the road, making it harder for people to own cars, cause owning a car is not the cause of the problem that people are not willing to take the public transport.

End of Coffee Talk.

$1 Per Liter Petrol! Who don't Want?

Ya, $1 per liter petrol, who don't want? Who would want to miss such great bargain and deal? Well, while I can't speak for others, but it's me I guess. Cause I couldn't be bothered about such promotion offer by Shell. It's not that I think it's not worth nor the promotion wasn't attractive at all, neither am I so rich that I can give this a miss. Quite the opposite really, I do think such offer is veyr much worth it (if you are pumping full tank that is) and is very attractive indeed. But the problem is not with the promotion, it's the very kiasu (scare to loose) Singaporeans that will jam up all the Shell petrol koisks that caused me decided not to go for such promotion. Afterall, I'm a Shell petrol user, so rightfully, I should go too.. But after seeing what happened during the last promotion offer by Shell, I have decided otherwise.

As early on Thursday, I had already received an SMS from Shell about this offer today, without thinking much, I deleted the sms after reading. Soon after, more smses came in from friends forwarding such promotion offer to me. I had replied some and told them that I will not be going for this promotion cause it's gonna be sure jam like hell, the kiasu Singaporean drivers, regardless whether they are the regular Shell petrol users or not, thousands will sure go queue and jam up the whole road. I had even told some of them forget about it cause to me it's not worth it to be caught in a nasty jam just for such offer.

True enough, evening news reported there are huge and massive jam all over Singapore's Shell petrol koisk stations, not just long queues, but massive jam to even the road users passing by. There were even reports at some places, minor accidents had occured due to impatient drivers who intented to cut queue!

Read here for more info.

Reading the news reports and the evening news on TV, I can't help but to give a deep sigh on the kiasuism of Singaporeans, the amount of long queue and massive jam they had caused, I do wonder how many of them are truly regular user of Shell petrol. I do think that it had simply defeated the purpose of using the environmental friendly fuel. Many other road users who happens to passby those areas also got caught into the jam.

While Shell may achieved it plan of this promotion and laughing their ways to the bank and having a bigger bonus at the end of the year, but it also had reflected just how 'cheap' and kiasu Singaporeans still are today.

End of Coffee Talk.