The current heat is causing a lot of inconvenience to people here. We are used to aircon buses, aircon MRT stations, aircon shops, aircon offices etc. However, there are still room for airconditioning like the Zhujio Market (now being refurbished), classrooms (where learning take place), bus interchanges which are so open to heat and dust, food courts (open to heat, dust and flies), etc.

The poor fans is no match to the mighty heat that is going to stay for some time. Imagine that it is still just the last week of April and people are feeling thirsty and so hot. As the climate is humid here, sweating is easy. 

In a crowded food court, it is not only the heat and dust, but also the flies and noise. The elderly ones employed as cleaners are slow and often it is consumers hurrying to eat on the messy, still uncleared tables. We are governed by time and as such there is so much hurry. I see head buried to their bowls or plates of food as the chatters go on with their close colleagues.

Back home from the hustle and bustle of working life and journey, people find relief from having a bath and then sit in the aircon home.

Let us think of ways of how to beat the current heat. The heat would continue to rise and I could imagine what would mid-June be like.

I am writing this article, being the victim, to listen to the views of fellow singaporeans. The incident happened on the 18 Apr 2007 and until today is still not resolved. Here it goes..

I was working at a site and when all the work was done, I was walking passing between two stationary vehicles parked bumper to bumper at a carpark. The driver of one of the vehicles incidently started the vehicle outside, 'not seated at his seat' and apparently the handbrakes were not pulled. So the vehicle jump forward sandwiching me between it and the vehicle in front at my knees. Both my knees are contorted in a backward position and i can feel something snapped in both knees. I was immediately sent of A&E and was discharged the same day as they do not see any bone broken. The next day, both legs were swollen, HR from my company has the cheek to actually called me back of the company to get a docter's referral despite my condition and is quick to classify the case as a industrial accident and register workman compensation for me. HR told me that I would allow only to see government hospital. Initially, being unfamilliar with such cases and in a worrisome state, I agreed to seeing government hospital. However, making appointments at government hospitals take at least 3 weeks, at that time I decided to wait in pain for that appointment. Subsequently I wise up and decided to pursue civil law instead of workman comp. I went for surgery on one leg, discovering that the mensicus and ligments are both torn and the other knee is pending surgery. Doctor says i will not be able to run or jump ever again, and my knees will wear out much earlier than is due, i.e age 50. Then, further surgery need to be done, i.e knee replacement

Fellow law profession people out there, i would like to hear your views as to whether the company has breeched any law by misleading me into quick settlement of the case. No doubt, in terms of integrity, i believe that is out the window.

Two, should the driver who started the vehicle faced any charges, and if the company is not taking any action on the driver, am i allowed to do so?

Three, what do u think is a reasonable compensation amount?

Four, is not choosing workman comp the right decision?  

 I'm age 33 and from the engineering profession.

In the course of many things, problems do crop up. Some of the devices to solve problems are:

(1) Breaking up the problem into smaller parts

A Problem has many components.  By looking at each part and solving part by part, the whole problem gradually disappears.

(2) Being cool and focussed

This is important because problem can make a person angry or unable to concentrate properly

(3) Have the resources available

If an engineer lacks many things, then he is slow and maybe fails to solve the problem. Resources include - men, machine, material, method, money, mindset (good attitude) and even map (or road map)

(4) Being confident

Our greatest  enemy could be fear or giving up hope. Without confidence or dose of inspiration, things become difficult to solve.

(5) Have an aerial view

A problem could be looked in different ways - microscopically, on the whole, or even out of the box approach. Go through each approach and the outcome is that the problem is solved. 

(6) Through Team Work

 The team is always stronger than an individual because of the synergy force at work.  A unified team is always an asset. However the strength of an individual should not be underestimated.

A problem is like a big fish that has been slowly cut away and finally the fish is gone.  

Dear Administrator,

I am disappointed with  the explanation and the ministerial statements made by DPM Wong and PM Lee in Parliament.

None of them dealt into the dangerous mindset that  JI leader Mas Selamat Kastari posed, and the failure of our security personnel to place him under the highest security surveillance.

 From what I had read, right from the onset  when he was captured in Indonesia and jailed in Singapore, the very fact that he adamantly refused to be rehabilitated, to accept religious counseling and above all, loving tender advice from his family members, would have send signals to ISD that he will  never give up his terrorist act, and would plan his escape which he had done before.

The other security lapses namely, toilet’s window not grilled, guards failed in their duties and physical security weaknesses are just plain complacency, incompetent and highly unprofessional. There is no excuse on these.

If  he is not recaptured, all people in Singapore will be wondering  when he will strike again!

Make no mistake he is dead set to cause the greatest damage to Singapore at any cost. His choice is to be a martyr.

Under such a daily threat, can our political leadership blame us for over-reacting ?

In my opinion, one escape is one too many especially terrorist like Mas Selamat.

Regards

My fren recently had to attend a court case for maid abuse.  She is charged with kicking the maid in the kitchen.

She only knew the exact charge on the day of case hearing.  She denies kicking the maid, best of all, she even feels that the charge cannot stand as the position and the area where the maid was kicked was not that accessable. 

But she has been sentenced to 1wk prison.  She will serve her term, next wk. 

She cannot afford to get a lawyer due to cost.  So she has no choice but to serve the term.  Its so sad. 

She asked for her MP's assistance but was told that they will not be able to help.

Its not fair... I told her.  She said yah.. its not fair.. but I got no money to fight.

My question.

1.   Will he police/whoever check on the truth OR enact to see if the maid's claim is true.

2.    I am lost.  Do I just sit and watch my fren knowing that she had to pay for her maid' lies.

Mala

Rice is grown in many Asian land such as Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, China, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia and also to some extent in Japan and Korea. 

In the wake of many commodities price increase, the increase in price rise is an unfortunate happening that is fueling inflation further. 

The price of rice has gone up due to:

(1) shortfall in production to meet demand

(2) some agricultural land being converted to other use like residential, setting up of factories or big buildings.

(3) decrease in rainfall and worse still droughts in some places  

(4) hoarding by middlemen traders so as to reap more profit as price rises due to supply being unable to meet/match demand

(5) increase in population and cultivation of rice lagging behind

In the face of this current difficulty:

(1) there are effort by many governments in Asia to stockpile rice to meet demand so as to hedge inflation for some time

(2) there is request by the Food & Agricultural Organisation (UN Agency) for more donors

(3) there should be encouragement given to farmers to increase the rice production

(4)  mass hoarding by individual should be stopped.  

(5) consciousness of cost and saving habits should be inculcated

Before I conclude, I must say that wastage of food should be stopped. I have noticed on many occasions people just eat 3/4 of the food including rice and the rest is thrown in the rubbish bin. 

What a waste! Imagine the people in poor nations who cannot afford to have proper meals and here we are throwing away things. It is a sin to waste food.   

Who is dictating the price of oil?

The producing country or the processing country?

Who is dictating the price of rice?

The producing country or the importers?

Who's law is this?

Human or god?

Silent and  stressed the voice of many.

Dear Executive Manager (Reach)

                             I and I believe most Singaporeans are very concerned about relentless rising food price. More price hikes are on the horizon as countries are moving towards to protect their own citizens in the name of food security.

                             To mitigate this, I suggest that our Government should teach us to fish and thereafter we will do the fishing ourselves and can also teach our neighbours and fellow citizens to do likewise.

                              I am referring to none other than indoor farming or hydroponics.

                              As Singapore is a extremely land scare country and about 90% of our population is living in highrise housing, it is evident that the concept of this indoor farming should be taken up by our Government and conduct such hydroponics course in community centres for the residents to pick up.

                              The advantages are so profound that it must not be ignored and for the following good reasons:-

                                First, it is a year-round crop production for the families and is sustainable of a safe and varied food supply. To learn and practice this technique is inexpensive and not difficult.

                                 Second, it is grown organically: no pesticides or fertilizers.

                                 Third, it is a good hobby for the elderly and the retirees. Apart from saving at least 30% of daily food cost, ( much more for those who like to eat vegetables and about 95% of those who are vegetarians) bonding within family members will definitely be deepened as they share the joy of successful crop production and eating together as a family.

                                  Fourth it is also a good for community bonding. The trained residents can share surplus crop production with their neighbours. They can also pass the acquired knowledge to those who are interested.

                                  Fifth, it is environmental and Eco-friendly. No tractors, plows, transportation is used. Thus reducing fossil fuel use.

                                   Last, but not the least for those who have green fingers and enterprising, it creates extra income and new employment opportunities.

                                   I think it is viable in our HDB's types of housing settings. If there is doubt, our Government  can always consult UN Food & Agricultural Organisation or international experts in this field.

WARMEST REGARDS

Once there was a bush with many blooming red flowers. A bee would visit each flowers, take away the nectar and come back again and again.

The flowers look healthy and bright; gradually as the nectar dries up, they begin to wilt, slowly fade away and eventually fall off from the plant. Soon there were no flowers on the bush left.

The rain and sunshine continued on and on and it is in the next season, a new set of fowers blooms. . They are ready to give fragrance and nectar to the world at large.

This is the cycle of the supply of talents. The flowers have the talent and they provide the services or goods. The bees act as middle agent while the product honey, beeswax and so forth that originally was derived from the flowers are the final product offered to the world.

Who are we? Providers of talents - services, goods, ideas, professional advice, guidance, entrepreneurship or leadership qualities. A person may be the CEO of a firm, a worker or QC inspector, a teacher, a cashier, a consultant, a planner, system analyst, a salesman, marketing manager, an engineer, a property agent and etc. Each of us work in such a way as to transform the world to become a better place to live in;  to help humanity to have consistent means of income, supply of goods and services and to provide total quality.

The young CEO maybe someone who has risen from the factory floor and become a leader after mastering all the workings and fine mechanisms of the whole firm. He is also a man of ideas, a man of great insight and vision, a man of passion and drive, a man who initiate actions and drives the organisation from success to success. Over the years he mellows down and then he is retired because "the nectar has dried up" - there is little ideas, little drive and little options or actions to take on.

The big question is how to retire gracefully, without being termed as removed or made redundant. The firm may decide at a certain point of time to bring in new talents or try something new & innovative. This is how sometimes the best of people fall 'casualty' in a reshuffle. As the premise of a big international firm is based on profit and the ability to capture the global market, things need not be done in the same old ways.

The man involved as the centre of attention should improve himself, upgrade his knowledge and be always learning and being active. However, if circumstances dictates such tghat he has to leave the post, then it is his good record, his long experience plus his good networking would surely land him into another good position in another organisation.

Therefore as a man nears his retirement, he should reflect upon himself and do some planning i.e. pre-retirement planning so as to adjust the transition to retirement and the retirement period. After retirement, it is a new world that a man faces.