October 2011 | SINGAPORE SHORT STORIES

Monday, October 31, 2011

Life is like a deck of cards, you need to see how best to make use of the cards

Life is like a deck of cards, you need to see how best to make use of the cards.

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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Drivers, please drive carefully and watch out for pedestrians

I was walking after passing a pedestrian crossing this afternoon when I heard a group of pedestrians laughing and talking, a second later, I heard a loud cry, a loud bang and a sudden halt of car engine. I turned my head and saw a man being knocked down and flung some metres. It was too horrible a sight and I did not watch further... an ambulance was called shortly and I hope the victim is now well and okay.

A Song to Remember

Mediacorp will be showing "A Song to remember" on Channel 8 soon. I welcome the show as it is something different from the usual bickering kind of production by Mediacorp that pervades the TV channels.

More and more pawnshops advertising on TV

I see more and more pawnshops advertising on TV, is it a sign that more and more new pawnshops have set up business here because the pie here is still big enough for more players?

How the Government can better connect with Singaporeans?

One way the government can better connect with Singaporeans is for the media to stop addressing politicians fielded from the Military with the title "Major-General"or "Brigadier General".

Alkaline Water

Recently I learnt that alkaline water is sold in some supermarkets here. I think I will explore whether alkaline water is beneficial to our bodies before buying it.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Singapore's MRT network improvements

The overcrowding of Singapore MRT trains seems not to be getting any better. I list down the improvement SMRT should do or should have done:

a) SMRT has built the first MRT train stations above ground. I think SMRT should have built, right from the start, all train stations underground like in Hong Kong. Singapore is a small country and building train stations above ground is wasting precious land. Also if no train stations are built above ground, then can people jumping down the tracks at these stations without safety barriers (which are introduced only lately) be avoided?

The Most Important Question for Everyone

The Most Important Question for Everyone is "What do you want?" You may not believe that this simple question is the most important question in our life , however, I speak and learn from experience.

Food Fix, fix food

These few days, I am in a food fix. Looking around when I am outside, I shudder to realise that prices of food sold are increasingly getting higher! In foodcourts, for $3.50, one could just get a small bowl of mee. And more importantly, are these food sold outside healthy? Of course not, I think!

It feels like Christmas

These days, it was very hot in the mornings and then when noon came, there was heavy downpour. It feels like Christmas with streets all drenched and nights cool.

Fitness First vs True Fitness: which gym is better?

I have worked out at Fitness First Gyms and True Fitness Gyms. I would think True Fitness Gyms are better as the weight and machine stations are more than those of Fitness First Gyms. Further, the membership fees of True Fitness Gyms are lower than Fitness First Gyms.

5th Body Found at Bedok Reservoir: a suicide fad?

Another body, the 5th in recent weeks, was found in Bedok Reservoir yesterday! I think it is bad news for the residents living nearby, and of course bad news to MP Low Thia Khiang who has just taken over the area after May's watershed General Election.

Review of our Casinos

The two casinos: Marina Bay Sands and Genting Resorts World have been built in Singapore. For local visitors, the admission fee stands at $100. For foreigners, the admission is free.

I have watched the "Get Real" programme on Channel News Asia which featured foreign workers doing construction work in Singapore, going to the casinos and losing their hard-earned wages in a single playing session. This is quite worrying to me, as I am not sure whether these foreign workers will turn to crime without cash.

Youth Juice

Everyone fears aging. Everyone associates ageing with thinning hair, balding scalp, sagging skin, reduce vitality, depression, lack of attraction and so on and so forth.

With modern advances made in modern medicine, everyone will be able to lead longer lives. However, as we all know, the quality of life hinges not on the number of days we live but also on the quality of our lives.

Unhappy Singaporeans

I am normally a skeptic of surveys but yesterday's results of Happiness survey on Singaporeans had me giving two thumb-ups! I agree wholeheartedly that Singaporeans are most unhappy about not having enough money. This is also the No. 1 most unhappy thing I have. I wish to have more money in this island where the cost of living is inching higher and higher, unrelentlessly. Just today, the seller of the chicken rice told me that her chicken rice cost 30 cents more as the price of chicken has increased too. She further told me that as a housewife herself, she also found it hard to accept that prices of basic necessities are increasing every so frequently.

KFC 's coupon meal vs McDonalds lunch time meals

Yesterday, I bought a KFC coupon meal at $5.50 for 2 pieces of chicken, a cup of coke and 1 whipped potato. I had asked for 2 pieces of chicken thighs and ribs, but when my order came, I had a chicken drumstick! Well, if you are my regular reader, you would have known that this is not the first time that my fast food order came wrong: it was always Burger King and now KFC. It seems that only McDonalds has the best receptionist who can really listen to customers' orders!

Kampong Ties and Ann Kok: the next Best Actress

Ann Kok who has recently returned to Singapore TV screens is seen acting in many TV shows, in particular, the block-buster of the year, Kampong Ties. I believe with the wide exposure on screen given to her, Ann will be confered the Best Actress at the next Star Awards.

Singapore Stocks rise 1.79%

As I have expected, Singapore Stocks closed higher, tracking similar movements across the globe. There is just so much optimisim for the EU crunch summit and the world is anticipating that Europe, led by Germany and France will agree to some resolution to prevent Europe's debt crisis from spiralling into a full-fledged global financial crisis.

Venice of Punggol

Venice is such an interesting and enchanting city of Italy. My wife and I had been to Venice which is really a magical and fanatastic place.

Passive Smoking: right to breathe fresh air

My neighbours next door smoke heavily at all hours of the day. My family and I do not have any choice but to close all our windows shut when we are at home. This proves so much inconvenience to us. My family and I prefer to open our windows to let fresh air and sunlight enter our house, ventilating and warming up our house. But whenever we open our window, within half an hour's time, we will smell the irriating smell of cigarette smoke and have to stop breathing in the harmful passive smoke and rush to shut down all windows.

Bidadari new HDB town

Along with Tengah, Bidadari will be redeveloped into a new HDB town. I think some people will think twice before choosing to stay in Bidadari unless one really runs out of options or are not too particular about the former land use of Bidadari.

Lawrence Wong to visit Finland and France

Minister of State for Education and Defence Lawrence Wong will be visiting Finland and France to study the higher education systems there. Lawrence Wong is one of the Singapore's newest political fast-rising stars, alongside Chan Chun Sing, Tan Chuan Jin, Heng Swee Keat and Sim Ann.

Facebook Page used more as Google Subscriber

These days, many websites have facebook pages for readers to "Like" or subscribe. The businesses post regular updates on their facebook pages which are checked regularly by their subscribers. I think the common use of Facebook Pages in this manner, is akin to Google RSS subscriber that is to update readers with news.

Scare Birds not Scare Crows in Singapore

I was surprised to see cupboard cut-outs of birds being suspended under the lamps in Tampines Circle Market. Initially, I thought they were for decoration though I wondered why the decoration items must be bird cut-outs.

Where can I can MSG-Free, Preservative-Free Food in Singapore?

This weekends, I do not know what outside food to buy for partake. These days, food sold outside is filled with so much preservatives and MSG. Since I am working, I have no choice but to buy and consume outside food on weekdays. Sometimes, sick of MSG food, I turned to Fast Food. I know it is junk food and even McDonalds Fries are heavily sanded with salt freely so much so that I make it a point to stress to the receptionists that I want my fries salt-free.

Food and Electronics Expo: not a good idea

I just came back from Food and Electronics Expo held at the Singapore Expo. This event was held at a single hall in Singapore Expo, hence there were electronic goods, food stalls and even clothes and a hair loss treatment booth in one hall.

Weekends at Last

Weekends are finally here at last. I am so tired from work. Weekends are good times for me to recharge and get away from work.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Economic Growth vs Social Happiness

Does the pursuit of Economic Happiness by government lead to Social unhappiness? This question has been hotly debated in Parliament this week since it opened on Monday.

Very Busy these days at work

I am so Busy at work these days that I found little time to do my blogging. Sorry readers, I will be back soon!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Neil Somerville: Your Chinese Horoscope 2012

It is that time of the year again when I lament once more: How time flies! Yup, we are in the midst of October and in just less than 2 months, we will be ushering another brand new year: 2012!

Food Audit

The plan by AVA to curb the use of trans-fat in all food sold is encouraging, however I hope that this effort will be sustained. We do not want to see another instance of a move like “Bring your own bag day”.

Hokkien Mee vs Prawn Mee

As a Singaporean, I feel it quite ashamed to confuse Hokkien Mee with dried Prawn Mee. Now I know what Hokkien Mee is, how it is like dried Prawn Mee but it is not dried Prawn Mee.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Remembering my tour mates for the wrong reason

Two years ago, I took my wife to Hokkaido for Honeymoon. On remembering back the scenes at Hokkaido, I remembered the sights and the scenes, the onsens, the weather and more.

But I struggled to recollect the faces of my tour mates: those who were in our tour group. I remembered hard and finally I could remember a couple: all for the wrong reason. Why is that so?

Singapore ladies are getting more open

I was at the supermarket this afternoon when I was shocked at seeing what the few ladies in front of me did.

Should we be Thanking John Scully for firing Steve Jobs?

Steve Jobs hired John Scully as CEO of Apples, only to be sacked by him a few years later. As a result of his dismissal, Steve Jobs founded NeXT and then was part of the Pixar venture which was credited for giving the world such exciting and innovative computer cartoon animation. I am thinking whether we should Thank John Scully for firing Steve Jobs else the world will not have such excellent computer cartoon animation. However, my premise is based on the fact that without the dismissal, Steve Jobs will not invent the computer cartoon animation we see today.

F1 in Singapore Roads

These few days, I witness racer-type cars speeding across our normal roads in the neighbourhoods. I could understand why such drivers like to speed their cars, making such a din: they want people to be impressed by them. Well, I think this way of impressing others is unwise and their speeding will pose a danger to all pedestrians and users of the common roads.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Circle Line is reinventing Staycation in Singapore

I hail the Circle Line as one of the government’s greatest works for the public ever. Why is that so? Well, Circle Line boasts an interesting array of MRT stations catering to different interests of Singaporeans: shopping, cultural, parks, historical, recreation and more.

Cockroach in my satays

Yesterday, my family and I were shocked when we saw a live cockroach halfway through our feast on a plate of satays! We were at a popular hawker centre and had ordered the satays from a popular stall. I immediately took the plate of satays to the stall owner and letting her witness the live cockroach still moving first-handedly. I demanded for a replacement of the satays and she exchanged the old satays with new ones promptly.

Michael Palmer, the next Law Minister?

Michael Palmer is sworn in as the Speaker of Parliament today. Since General Election, Michael has been given a heavier responsibility; from being fielded as the Member of Parliament in a Single Member Constituency in a three-corned fight in Punggol East to being nominated as Speaker of Parliament.

Singapore's 12th Parliament Opens on 10 Oct 11

Today, Singapore's 12th Parliament opens, after 2 watershed elections (the General Election and the Presidential Election) which saw the ruling party garner its lower share of the votes since independence at 60.1% and the President winning by less than half a percentage.

Singapore Short Stories Facebook Profile

Dear Readers and Supporters

Thank You for supporting Singapore Short Stories and making it one of Singapore's well loved lifestyle blog.

To interact you more, I have set up a Facebook Profile and hope you can add me as your friends so that we can chit chat more beyond this blog!

Thank you and see you on Facebook!

Service Standards in Singapore is falling

Yesterday, I went to a convenience store and raised a question to the counter staff in plain English related to newspapers. To my astonishment, the counter staff did not understand at all and instead asked in his native language, what I wanted. Apparently, the counter staff wanted me to repeat my question in a native language common to both of us, however I left after making my purchase. This is like turning the table: the counter staff should serve me but instead I am serving him by acceding to his request to speak in his native language.

PublicHouse.sg

Temasek Review, one of Singaporeans most favorite websites has been down for quite some time. The future of Temasek Review is uncertain. However filling up the void left by Temasek Review are some of the new social websites. I have been checking out some of these and publichouse.sg seems to be interesting.

Organizing my daily priorities

It is easy to write down goals and it is another thing to religiously follow them through. I am not sure what happens to me, I am always sucked up by my occupational work for hours daily that I return home, not being able to follow up through my goals. I think it is lethargy that is hindering my progress.

The Art of Words

There are thousands of ways to present something orally and in written form. Each presentation has different impacts and effects on the readers.

Deal Fun

With the advent of the internet, penny auctions are becoming the rave on the internet these days. Winning prizes on these auction site is not just about luck, but it is about bidding the right amount for the right targets as explained in dealfun.com scam. One should do some research as to the actual worth of the prize before he bids for it.

Saturday, October 08, 2011

Steve Jobs: Connecting the dots

Yesterday, I read the speech given by Steve Jobs at a Stanford University's commencement ceremony in 2005 and was touched and at the same time, inspired.

Like what Steve Jobs rightly pointed out, in life, we cannot connect the dots looking forwards but we could do so looking backwards.

Steve Jobs

Though I do not use Apple Products, I remember Steve Jobs as someone who is very innovative, creative and is a great speaker. Hence I feel a tinge of sadness at the passing of a Great Man.

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Personal timetable

When we were schooling, we have timetable for our lessons showing us when a particular lesson would take place. After graduation, I believe all of us should still work out a personal timetable to do all the things in all spheres of our life so as to lead a balanced life.

Food and Health Audit

Our food sold in our hawker and food centres have too much of MSG which is not good for our health. Why do I say they contain too much MSG? Well, after consumption, I will become thirsty after one to two hours.

Ageing population & MRT trains in Singapore

With an increasing ageing of Singapore’s population and overcrowding on the MRT trains and juxtaposed on these two trends, the nonchalant attitude of MRT passengers towards giving up seats to those who need them more, I can imagine 30 years down the road, there will be many elderly passengers standing on trains.

Losing my Battery at work

These days, I am still going to work as usual. However, the many months of project management have left me quite drained and hence though I am physically at work, I am quite drained out. After the project ends, I will be taking on more and more projects.

Circle Line Discovery Open House poorly planned !

The Circle Line Discovery Open House is poorly planned. To be a part of the Circle Line Open House, I started the train from Paya Lebar MRT station, a station on the Circle Line, only to be told that the train would stop at Marymount when the train reached Marymount. I alighted and inquired a SMRT official on how to get to the 12 new Circle Line MRT stations . He told me and a number of frustrating passenger who were also trying to experience the new stations that we had to go to either Harborfront or Buona Vista to get on to the train ride that will take us to the new Circle Line MRT stations. I was shocked!

Haw Par Villa: revisited after 20 years

Taking the free rides on Circle Line MRT discovery journey, my family and I revisited Haw Par Villa. Can you imagine the last time when I visited Haw Par Villa, it was exactly 20 years ago! At that time, I was so excited as a little boy, playing the water rides centred on a dragon theme and still remembering the very impressive movie shows on Chinese deities and myth there.

Circle Line Discovery Open House: I discovered WORST Prawn Mee I have ever tasted!

Today is Circle Line Open House. Having read how Singapore's best food is found in some of the hawker centres around certain Circle Line MRT stations, I tell myself that I must savor some of these local delicacies while exploring the Circle Line MRT stations on Circle Line open house today.

Circle line open house 2 Oct 11

Today, the full Circle Line will be opened to the public for free from 10 am to 6 pm. I am excited at the revenue opening of the Circle Line on 8 Oct 11 as it will open doors to many other parts of Singapore which may be not be as accessible by bus for Singaporeans.

Haze causes me to fail IPPT

I need to clear my IPPT soon. However with the reigning haze, I cannot practise my jogging outdoors after work. I do not have money to pay for gym to run too.

Pulua Bukom Oil Refinery Fire

I hope the authorities can investigate thoroughly the fire at Pulua Bukon oil refinery. I hope the fire is not an act of terrorism. With MRT compounds being accessible to intruders and vandals, it is no longer a remote possibility of a terrorist strike on Singapore grounds.

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