Thursday, March 29, 2007

Just pay them more

It seems like there is some discussion lately about the impending increase to the minister of this fair island. I guess that as far as they are concern, this is warranted and in fact, in due time to prevent an exodus of talent.

However, in the word of his generation and by a civil servant no less, I would like to quote, “If people don't have a sense of value, they're worse than mercenaries...My generation has a value system. We hope the present generation does too. People who don't have that, we better forget them and hire more hungry non-Singaporeans to come here and add to our value system.” So, If the exodus of the top talent is largely due to the mercenary nature of theirs, it is probably better that they be replace by the top foreign talent that do have a good value system that can be added to ours for cheap.

For those who talked about envy, that is something that is very true and natural of that of a human being. In fact, while Gordon Gecko had you believe the driving force of the modern civilisation and economy is greed, it has been help by its twin sister, envy. And envy is what gets me green in the eye when I hear the annual pay check in tunes of 1.2 mil being drawn. To top it off, this amount will be raised to about 3 mil if they were to have their ways (which they normally will). Imagine this, you might have a chance about once or twice a month to get that amount (about a 1 in 45mil odds), but someone with the help of his peers will have this every year and most likely for 5 continuous year at a go. There is no reason not to envy that.

I admit that thus far the job have been rather well done, but unfortunately it is slipping in standards, and with fair proof to say that.

We have just recently pass a budget which by own admission, most of the minister and cabinet members would score an “F” in its comprehension. Now, if such is the level of comprehension of just another annual budget, woes behold to us commoner with nary a phd in economics to comprehend it, and how can we be assured, that the government will be able to execute it?

Our Foreign ministry seems to be doing a good job in setting on all the wrong footings with out neighbours, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. FDAs be damn if we get no sand and now no granite and we are not even able to even coexist peacefully with our neighbourly states.

Not to forget that our Airport have slipped in the International standing from 1st to 4th and since we are on the topic of aviation, how the heck does a country which prides itself in its Tri-partite relation with the Employer, Union and employee having to resort to litigation between our Silvery Kris Wing and its pilots?

But end of the day, they will get their raise while we will be contended when not getting any due to the stiffer global competition, the slacking in our productivity compared to other country and that my Chinese and Indian colleagues worked harder and cheaper and do not have to waste 2 week of the employers time in green uniform languishing in Tekong feeding mosquito.

Well, give it to them and I will just try to see if I can spread out the handout this year to offset the rising cost and competition.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

For the lacking of values

I read and felt compelled to defend a generation that I may or may not be associated with. And its only through a quick Google and a Wiki entry that did I realized that I might have been part of the generation branded Generation X.

First off, I realized that there is a need for the media to label and categorize certain age group to a certain generation, generalizing and drawing them with one broad stroke the definitive character and predominant attributes. I am fine with that necessity and to make the editors’ job easier and more sensational to sell more prints. I just find that all these labels being stuck on me a bit stifling. The question which I enjoyed posing is, can you see past all those stickers and labels to even know who I am, what is my belief and the values that we may or may not have?

In case you are wondering the impetus to all these, you might like to read

This

And

This

Which was sparked off by this

Which is largely believe to be from this debacle

(Another 1 here)

I have nothing against the one who questioned our values or the lack of it, in fact, I would respect him as I would respect anyone that is older and more learned than me and also contributed to a great dead to the prosperity of this island nation which I called home.

I am as you might be saying, attempting to defend a charge against a generation of which I might or might not be a part of and that the best representation is nothing more than anecdotal findings and first person encounter that I see as well as bits and pieces this ill-informed individual read.

First off, we might not have a value but I do know the value that your generation is true and tangible, to the tune of 3 million a year your peers are getting in the private sectors. That is probably enough to last me a few retirements provided that I am entitled to retirement, that is.




We are alleged to be blatant job-hoppers and bond breakers and do not subscribe to the term of loyalty be it to the company we work for and the nation of whom provide us a stable and secure place to grow and also give us money every year when the economy is doing well. Well, in defence to that, I can dare say that not a single time in my life did I dare to tell my employer that I will become corrupt and accept bribe if I am not paid in accordance to my peers. If I find jobs that are more challenging, I will by the procedures tender my resignation and do something else in order to better oneself and contribute to the economy. Neither do I ask for handouts or safety net. All I ask is that, if I were to give an idea, I expect it to be reviewed with an open mind, and if it is that great an idea, I do not expect to be thanked by not giving the first shot of that idea but to offer it to the highest bidders behind ballots in the name of fair-play.

I do not pretend to be political aphetic as you claim but when I am in disagreement with what you propose and your scheme, please do not ask me to go form my own political party. If you really want to hear our voices, we will speak. If you want to hear only good things, try FM91.3.

And with all due respect, we are certain that you will defend what you say and what you belief staunchly, we will never teach you how to do your job. And that I will try as much as I can, never threaten to sue people just so to shut them up. I will only do so if they fail to proof what they say are correct. Neither will we categorically deny what is true and only to sweep it away as an inconvenient blurb later. I will be a man and apologize. I am also not afraid to put down what I say in words and if someone feel uncomfortable in my presence to have their friends, father, mother, brothers and sisters to join me for a cup of tea (I prefer coffee actually) or chocolate, I never need to worried that I am being interrogated if it is just supposed to be a chat.

And seriously, I do agree that if one was found lacking in terms of values and moral fibers, they should be replace by talents from abroad, we should probably get more of those that blanked off their wife's Degree and stencil their own name to get a job, they are a talent and a steal, and also those who managed to run a few stalls in foodcourts without even a valid visas. And also foreign managers that tells us that NS is a liability to his department and he will always pick up a foreign talent over a local male with NS liability as a NSman. Those are indeed values, in fact, real value for money.

What I feel is that, a person or a generation’s legacy is the values imparted to the next generation, the failing of a generation that has no values, in the Asian’s context is the failing of the generation before for not inculcating it. As what they say (Pardon the poor translation)

养不教,父之过
Fathering a child without proper upbringing is the fault of the father

教不严,师之惰
Teaching without educating in the right way is the fault of the teacher

And also, while I am not a father yet, I would take it upon myself when I become one to make sure that to teach them not as I say but also as I do. I will try my utmost to make sure that they be set on the right path and hope that along the way that they pick up the right values from me and that I am not too dysfunctional as a parent rather than to blame them, the society or the system.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Stray thought for the day

Some stray thought that went through my head…..

One morning, a young college girl went to see her counselor, before she even sit down,

She declared,” I have decided that I am going to be a les….”

The councilor, almost choking on her glass of water asked,” Why?”

The girl said,” Well some old guy just told me on TV.”

This got the best of the councilor and she asked,” Which old guy?”

The girl said, ”If you must know, its Col. Sanders”

The councilor was really holding back from either rolling on the floor or tearing her hair, “What did he say that gave you the idea?” “He announced that finger, licking, good!” exclaimed the girl.

It is entirely possible that the girl is blonde….. but we are certain that the counselor has been warded in IMH.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Not about GST

I seriously have had it with the buzz about the GST increase. I much rather share with you some of the things I heard from a few people I overheard when commuting

1). From 1 that looks like a teacher

My student is really driving me nuts. Yesterday, I was teaching about percentage. I asked them when the percentage of increase when number of apple is increased from 5 to 7. 1 of them tell me that it is 2%. When I tell him it is wrong, he retorted that the mathematician on TV say that 5 to 7 is 2% increase only.

2). From a Houseman

Yesterday I had to perform a few stomach cleaning on some old folks. Seems like recently there are these bunch of people that tried to take their medicine all at one shot. And when we ask them why, they just say that some guys on TV says that it is better to take the medicine at one go.

3). Outside a toilet

Dunno why recently a lot of people are looking around for toilet, and some even start to hog the toilet stalls. I guess it must be the recent awareness created to get people to start looking for toilet and not wait until they feel like shitting.

4). From a young executive

My boss yesterday just told me to increase the price for the retailer channel by 2% and say that this is to help the bottom-line and also to help the consumer channel redevelopment while cutting the price in the corporate channel by 2% citing competition. I guess he heard it from a certain big incorporation that is recently having problem with their oversea business.

Well, there, I did it, 1 entry and no talk on the impending GST.

Yes, I feel so good about myself

Now I need to go buy those big ticket items before the increase kicks in

Monday, March 12, 2007

Thursday, March 08, 2007

All Hail the once and future Nerd

Got this from Montofori,

Yes, all hail the ultimate Nerd GOD

I am nerdier than 95% of all people. Are you nerdier? Click here to find out!

Sample of a tragedy

Saw this in a Chinese Forum and so I decided to translate it. Hope its still funny

*Disclaimer : I am not a Bush Basher*

One day, George W Bush visited an elementary school somewhere in Maryland. In typical Bush fashion, he begins to ask the grade 8 students, “Who can give me an example of a tragedy?”

A little girl raised her hand and said, ”When my best friend is run down by a car when walking down the road, that's a tragedy.”

“No, that's an accident, not a tragedy,” replied Bush

Another boy responded, “ It's a tragedy when my friends in a bus are being run over on a field trip.” To which Bush replied,” No, that's a terrible lost. Not a tragedy.”

Johnny raised up his hand to the chagrin of his Homeroom teacher, and quipped, ”When you and the first lady are on Air Force One and the Air Force One is shot down by a missile.” “Why so,” enquired the bemused and slightly puffed up President. To which Johnny replied, “ Well, it sure ain’t no accident and it’s certainly no fucking terrible lost to nobody.”

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Back again

I was being asked occasionally if this blog has come to an end. To everyone’s disappointment, the answer is no. I enjoy taking a break, a long break at times just so that I can come back and write a bit more before fading further into obscurity. I come to realized that there will be time where there is a lot going on in my head, thoughts fleeting through synapses faster than I can pen them down. And there will be time where I am just plain lazy to go to the keyboard and type it all out.

Well, 3 month into the new year and this is as good a time as any to renew this blog.

Yes, I am back, for how long? I don't really know.