Tomorrow - Bulletin of Singapore Bloggers tag: life

A Singapore Taxi Driver's Diary

2009-08-15T00:50:07+08:00

Probably the only taxi driver in this world with a PhD from Stanford and a proven track record of scientific accomplishments, I have been forced out of my research job at the height of my scientific career, and unable to find another one, for reasons I can only describe as something "uniquely Singapore". As a result, I am driving taxi to make a living and writing these real life stories just to make the dull job a little more interesting. I hope that these stories are interesting to you too.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Stories and musings from an Stanford PhD and IMCB researcher turned taxi driver."

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CPF Life : Annuity without guarantee....

at82 — 2009-07-25T13:17:17+08:00

Lucky Tan said:

This week the govt passed amendments to the CPF Act that allows the govt to vary the payout on CPF Life at the Government's discretion. The reason given was that they may have to cut down the payout to ensure the solvency of the CPF Life scheme (due to incompetent management?). What is happening is this : in a life annuity risk is transferred from individual to the insurance company. However, with CPF Life, the govt passed the risk right back to the individuals. So ordinary Singaporeans are forced buy an annuity that we can't count on for a guaranteed income stream. Even with a guaranteed income stream, we are already forced to bear the risk of inflation ...like I said in earlier post, the basic scheme may not even provide enough for McDonald's Happy Meals due to inflation. However, with the guarantee on the income stream removed, the basic scheme may not even be enough for maggie mee! ...all to protect the govt's own scheme from insolvency....(hmm....protecting itself from its own lack of competence?)

Recommended by at82: "What good is an annuity if income stream from it is not guaranteed?! "

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Good Things in Bad Times

misty_cloud — 2009-02-11T13:08:15+08:00

The Crusader said:

Today, thanks to the recession, expected to be the worst in 60 years, prices of crabs are coming down to earth.

Just over a month ago, I had a 600gm Sri Lankan chilly crab for $18 at a seafood eatery at the junction of River Valley Road and Zion Road. This is at least 30 per cent cheaper that what it used to cost. The going rate at an established restaurant is $3.80 per 100 gm of crabs. Add in the 10 per cent service charge and seven percent GST, the 600gm crab would have cost me at least $27.

With the full brunt of the global recession about to hit Singapore anytime soon, I expect more seafood restaurants to further cut prices to stay in business. So readers, if you know of more attractive and mouth-watering dining offers, do share them with us.

Recommended by misty_cloud: "600gm Sri Lankan chilly crab for $18 !!

I think this recession will hit the seafood restaurants real hard. They're squeezed between having higher costs from rising food prices and yet having to lower their retail prices to stimulate the waning demand for their delights. "

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Powerfully Good Cookie.

mr.udders — 2009-01-28T00:19:12+08:00

Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan said:

Year after year I'd be reminded how superior my grandmother's tarts were. In our friends' homes, I would nibble politely and think privately, this crust is too dry. Or too flaky, or not flaky enough. There's too much pineapple, or too little. Only my father's mother got it right, I believed. I also believed she would teach me to make them one day. And then, when I was 11, she died.

Recommended by mr.udders: "A Lunar New Year's ritual helps the author connect with her grandmother."

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Hello 2009, Goodbye "Honest Mistakes"!

mr.udders — 2008-12-31T19:23:54+08:00

FeedMeToTheFish said:

The policy to make me pay extra administrative fee for using my own Medisave is sick. The cruel guy who came up with this policy is sicker than I am. In the first place, I did not ask them to keep my money in Medisave. They just did it. Now that I want my money back for my health, they tell me to follow the law and gratefully accept what they decide I should have. The other option they advised is for me to go fly a kite by giving up my citizenship. Only then will they pay me what's rightfully mine!

Recommended by mr.udders: "Is this true? If it is, it's definitely one helluva sick joke."

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TANGS to open store in Second Life

lancerlord — 2008-12-23T16:28:48+08:00

Damian Koh of CNET Asia reports that TANGS store is opening a virtual store in Second Life.

Remember the virtual world Second Life?

We don't blame you if you don't, but Singapore retailer TANGS apparently hasn't forgotten about it and the company's virtual store will open its digital doors come March 2009. Visitors will be able to browse and purchase items to dress up their avatars using the MetaCard that acts as virtual currency.

It's still not possible to shop in virtual TANGS and have items shipped to your real home, though the retailer did say it is exploring e-commerce options. When that happens, it'd be a great excuse to vegetate before the PC and live a virtual existence. Now, pardon me, while I go revive my alter ego.

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The Comfort of False Dilemmas.

mr.udders — 2008-11-28T09:28:50+08:00

groundnotes said:

ST’s headline was factual. The airport was occupied, thousands were stranded, flights were cancelled and chaos reigned. But it’s not in the business to only report the facts; its here to support the government construct a nation in its own image. This entails emphasizing and de-emphasizing meanings which enable the state to look good.

But the real question is not how Singaporeans recognize false dilemmas and reject them. The real question is, do Singaporeans want freedom from false dilemmas? I don’t really think so. Here are some reasons why...

Recommended by mr.udders: "A very cogent and coherent argument which shows a depth of critical thinking and wide reading. If only we had more socio-political writers like her/him and fewer pretenders to the throne!"

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NUS Second Life launched!

2008-03-15T02:19:29+08:00

The Campus Observer said:

"The NUS community has a place to call its own in the virtual world...Spanning four islands, the basic infrastructure of NUS Second Life replicates the University Hall comprising of meeting rooms and an outdoor amphitheatre with streaming music..."

"However, the virtual campus is not simply meant to be a social playground. It doubles up as an education centre with virtual classrooms available for lessons to be conducted in real time..."

"Another concern raised was the potential of student activism in the virtual world. “The provost was concerned about strikes, as one did occur previously in Second Life,” said Yap... "

Read the full article on www.campusobserver.org!

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "NUS gets its own island in Second Life...new hangout for the university community?

Read the full article on www.campusobserver.org."

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Life & death

2008-03-06T01:00:32+08:00

Shin Raza said:

I had a Great Day today. In case you don't know the difference between a Good Day and a Great Day, let me fill you in. A GOOD DAY: I'm still alive. A GREAT DAY: ...

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Shin, the author of this blog, is a young mother with advanced cancer. She believes she has only months to live and is determined for fight for as long as she is able. In her blog, she writes frankly and touchingly about dealing with illness and death. The blog is hardly depressing, despite the morbid topic. Shin's determination and courage shines through. Reading her blog, I find myself in awe of her strength; it is a poignant and uplifting read."

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A Day At Work

tinkertailor — 2008-03-05T22:27:39+08:00

stressed_teacher said:

I feel tired and worn out. Every single bloody day. On the way to school, I take out my handphone. There is still ample time to call in sick. I open up my handphone and pull out my school's number. All that separates me from making that call is just a press of a button that requires a force of around 1 Newton. And I surprise myself by being able to resist that temptation, even though I know that at least three colleagues who will make that morning call.

Recommended by tinkertailor: "Teaching is a fulfilling career in Singapore."

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Yvonne Lim Quits Smoking - Her Blog

litford — 2007-11-14T11:36:23+08:00

Fresh Air For Women said:

Yes, I am finally quitting cigarettes after smoking for 5 years! It’s going to be a challenge, I know. I’m both excited and scared at the same time. But I will take it one day at a time.

Many of my friends have asked me why I’m taking the plunge, and step out to publicly announce that I want to quit smoking.

Recommended by litford: "Yvonne Lim comes out in support of this year's Fresh Air For Women campaign as a blogging ambassador. Quitting smoking is hard for some, and what they need sometimes is support -)"

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My Worst Date Experience

IdeasAndrew — 2007-09-26T11:15:31+08:00

My Worst Date Experience said:

Come and share with us your story? We are compiling 99 stories of Worst Date Experience from men and ladies all over Singapore. It can be a very funny situation, very embarrassing occasion or even a frightening moment. It could have happened during one of your speed dating sessions, a blind date, or a group date. Whatever that may be, share with us your story. This compilation will surely help the guys learn a lot of what NOT to do during their dates. For the ladies, sit back and enjoy 99 good laughs but learn what to DO during your dates as well.

Recommended by IdeasAndrew: "It is a fact of life that dating experience can be a nightmare, a joke, a frightening experience, a boring encounter or a combination of all the above. Why not compile all our past experiences and learn from each other of how to handle it."

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Poaching our wildlife

hai_ren — 2007-07-17T23:15:04+08:00

Ria Tan said:

This lone older guy was already on the shore for some time. We approached him and he had a bag full of stuff in one hand, and in the other, a large Bailer snail shell! Melo melo is listed among the threatened animals of Singapore. We have never seen a living Bailer snail besides at Beting Bronok. He allowed us to take a photo of it. We asked and he said he was going to eat it. We explained it was rare and asked him to leave it behind, but he just walked away. He wouldn't show us what else he had in his bag.

Recommended by hai_ren: "Too few people are aware of the rich diversity of life that still survive on Singapore's seashores. Many of those who do choose to exploit it, finding more pleasure in seeing our natural heritage in the cooking pot rather than out in the wild. How much more damage must be done before we care enough to protect our last remaining natural coasts?"

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Couple caught in the midst of an indecent act in broad daylight

meanie — 2007-07-01T15:18:28+08:00

Isaac Riley Ritz said:

Like I promised before, I have photos of a couple engaging in indecent act in front of alot of residents, but I just couldn't find the photos. If I find them, I shall post them on my blog. So here they are.

Recommended by meanie: "After the successful Casino proposal, will we attack the porn industry next? This is published on Stomp as well: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost3737.aspx lol"

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Just us 2... and the world dissolves

tinkertailor — 2007-06-29T16:17:16+08:00

eStee said:

There's something absolutely magical and beautiful about sharing something with someone you don't know. And I don't mean sharing a pen or a pencil, or something of that sort. I'm talking about sharing something intimate like an umbrella.

Recommended by tinkertailor: "A heart-warming post."

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Japanese girls prettier than Singaporean gals?

2007-06-02T10:38:26+08:00

thegreatsze said:

It is a simple society ... I will read pornographic material openly on the subway, but I will pay for everything you need; you will whine and behave coquettishly with great frequency, but you will also be quick to light my cigarette when I take it out from the pack.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "at jseng's request .. "yalor. what happened to all those babe photos? we should have more of those!""

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A Day in the Life of a 20-year-old Mum

alvinism — 2007-05-10T23:59:49+08:00

Rachel Chan said:

Logically speaking, Elle could be living a life like yours right now if she didn't get married and have a baby. And logically speaking, if you got married and had a baby, you could be living a life like Elle's.

So what was it like for a 20-year-old to be on the other side?

Recommended by alvinism: "Since Mother's Day is round the corner. :) "

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On Female Mediocrity

2007-04-19T21:02:19+08:00

thegreatsze said:

This is not an exercise in misogyny. Rather, it is a general diatribe against modern society. We - and by this, I mean both men and women - have unconsciously conspired to allow mediocre women to stagnate happily in their mediocrity.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "MCP or genuine campaigner for a better world? you decide."

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Insight to NTU's Allocation System for Students Attachment

2007-04-02T10:30:46+08:00

[pu2]: the simpler story said:

Alas, in the end we witnessed randomness taking victims when some smart students ended up jobless at the end of this phase. The rest of the have-nots, on the other hand, was able to feel slightly better as “that dude also hasn’t got a job”.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "As a student of NTU myself, I can identify with all the anxiety involved in the matching process. Indeed, some of us are left dumbfounded at the end."

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Virtual MarketPlace

2007-03-14T13:42:37+08:00

Pencil said:

After months of weeks of hardwork and countless hours of design and thought through, I have finally built the Xin Pa Sat. Xin Pa Sat literaly means New Market. Created after the Lau Pa Sat (Old Market) in downtown Singapore, Xin Pa Sat aims to be the virtual cousin of the vibrant Lau Pa Sat. A new market place for virtual trading of virtual merchandise, and maybe real world merchandise.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Virtual world representations coming your way."

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