I will admit. I don’t get Minecraft. I don’t understand why it’s such a hit. To me, Minecraft is a game with no real story, bad graphics and silly gameplay.
However I have to admire Minecraft developer Markus "Notch" Persson. In celebration of 5 million sales of Minecraft, Persson gave $3 million to all his employees in his company, Mojang. The thing is; Mojang is a small company with only 25 employees. That means each person gets $120,000 a person!
Talk about a bonus!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Common Sense
Now we all know that sporting events like Olympics and the World Cup are important to countries. They are chest-thumping events where the countries can show how powerful and great they are.
So it’s no surprise when we hear of the absurd lengths countries would go to ensure a good showing at the Olympics. Even by that standard, the latest directive by the British Olympic Association takes the cake.
The British Olympic Association has warned/told its athletes not to shake hands with other athletes, visitors and dignitaries during the upcoming Summer Olympics in London due to fears of spreading illnesses. They fear that sickness could affect the British medal count.
Wow! So much for a sporting event showing off great sportsmanship! The British Olympic Association backed off from the statement later stating that athletes “should use their common sense”. Too bad they don’t have common sense when they decide to release the statement in the first place.
So it’s no surprise when we hear of the absurd lengths countries would go to ensure a good showing at the Olympics. Even by that standard, the latest directive by the British Olympic Association takes the cake.
The British Olympic Association has warned/told its athletes not to shake hands with other athletes, visitors and dignitaries during the upcoming Summer Olympics in London due to fears of spreading illnesses. They fear that sickness could affect the British medal count.
Wow! So much for a sporting event showing off great sportsmanship! The British Olympic Association backed off from the statement later stating that athletes “should use their common sense”. Too bad they don’t have common sense when they decide to release the statement in the first place.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Irrational? Not So
Member of Parliament (MP) Baey Yam Keng recent defense of Chinese scholar Sun Xu is still making the rounds in Singapore. Chinese scholar Sun Xu's remarks that "there are more dogs than humans in Singapore" has caused outrage in Singapore and Mr. Baey had to apologize for his defense of Mr. Sun. Now it seems some people are unhappy with Mr. Baey’s apology.
Ng Bin Hong, in a letter to the Today newspaper on 5 March, expressed disappointment at Baey's apology saying that, "Mr Baey, in urging us to examine if our society is walking in a healthy direction, was one of the few voices acknowledging the social problem we face today…His comments did not undermine Singaporeans but, rather, cautioned against discrimination and bigoted behaviour. It is unfortunate that he ultimately apologised because of irrational, populist sentiments."
Now I have said before the outrage over the comment by Mr. Sun is a storm in a teacup. I don’t truly understand why Singaporeans are outraged about it because to me, it seems pretty clear both foreigners and Singaporeans dislike each other. Singaporeans do not like foreigners as they are competing for jobs and housing with Singaporeans. Most foreigners in Singapore have little to no desire to integrate with Singapore society as most of them have no intention of staying here long-term. Most of them want to return to their home country once they earned their money.
Basically, I don’t quite understand why there’s an outrage because the comment by Mr. Sun is so expected. So what if he’s a scholar, I’m quite certain Mr. Sun is not the only foreigner in Singapore who has said disparaging things about Singaporeans.
However I have to say Mr. Ng’s criticism of Mr. Baey’s apology is so strange it seems to be from another planet. Mr. Ng said that Mr. Baey had bowed down to irrational, populist sentiments from Singaporeans.
Now I don’t know much about Mr. Ng but I have to say I don’t find Singaporeans’ reaction to Mr. Sun’s comments to be either irrational or populist. If Mr. Ng goes to China, India, Australia or any other country and called the people living in that country “dogs”, what do you think it’s going to happen? Mr. Ng must have a very rosy tinted view of foreign countries if he thinks people will not react the same way Singaporeans did.
Just as I think Mr. Sun’s comments to be expected from a foreigner living in Singapore, I find Singaporean’s reaction to his comments to be expected as well! If some foreigner comes to your country and call your countrymen “dogs”, you will react. I don’t care which country you’re from; it’s common human reaction.
For Mr. Ng to say find Singaporeans’ reaction to Mr. Sun’s comments to be irrational; well…that’s just out of this world..
Ng Bin Hong, in a letter to the Today newspaper on 5 March, expressed disappointment at Baey's apology saying that, "Mr Baey, in urging us to examine if our society is walking in a healthy direction, was one of the few voices acknowledging the social problem we face today…His comments did not undermine Singaporeans but, rather, cautioned against discrimination and bigoted behaviour. It is unfortunate that he ultimately apologised because of irrational, populist sentiments."
Now I have said before the outrage over the comment by Mr. Sun is a storm in a teacup. I don’t truly understand why Singaporeans are outraged about it because to me, it seems pretty clear both foreigners and Singaporeans dislike each other. Singaporeans do not like foreigners as they are competing for jobs and housing with Singaporeans. Most foreigners in Singapore have little to no desire to integrate with Singapore society as most of them have no intention of staying here long-term. Most of them want to return to their home country once they earned their money.
Basically, I don’t quite understand why there’s an outrage because the comment by Mr. Sun is so expected. So what if he’s a scholar, I’m quite certain Mr. Sun is not the only foreigner in Singapore who has said disparaging things about Singaporeans.
However I have to say Mr. Ng’s criticism of Mr. Baey’s apology is so strange it seems to be from another planet. Mr. Ng said that Mr. Baey had bowed down to irrational, populist sentiments from Singaporeans.
Now I don’t know much about Mr. Ng but I have to say I don’t find Singaporeans’ reaction to Mr. Sun’s comments to be either irrational or populist. If Mr. Ng goes to China, India, Australia or any other country and called the people living in that country “dogs”, what do you think it’s going to happen? Mr. Ng must have a very rosy tinted view of foreign countries if he thinks people will not react the same way Singaporeans did.
Just as I think Mr. Sun’s comments to be expected from a foreigner living in Singapore, I find Singaporean’s reaction to his comments to be expected as well! If some foreigner comes to your country and call your countrymen “dogs”, you will react. I don’t care which country you’re from; it’s common human reaction.
For Mr. Ng to say find Singaporeans’ reaction to Mr. Sun’s comments to be irrational; well…that’s just out of this world..
Monday, March 5, 2012
Another Bailout On The Cards
Barely had the ink dried on the last bailout, word coming out of Europe is that Greece will need a third international rescue package worth 50 billion euros in 2015. This is only weeks after the second bailout which was approved last month.
I said last month when the second bailout was approved that I do not think bailing out Greece is going to work and this is the latest indication that I am right. Despite all the talk about how Greece’s problem stem from lazy workers, welfare state etc; the real reason why Greece is in a mess is the Euro. Simply put; Greece never had a strong enough economy to take the Euro as its currency. Their past government had to cook the books to get them into the Euro in the first place!
That is the real reason why Greece is in a mess right now and why no matter how hard they try, they can’t get out of economic troubles. In the past when a country’s economy collapsed, the country’s currency collapsed with it. Their products become cheaper, making it easier for them to export goods out and making their country cheaper for foreign companies to invest in. Tourism will also get a boost as it is cheaper for foreigners to visit.
That is not happening now in Greece because they have the Euro! Despite all the talk of recent weakness, the Euro is still one of the strongest currencies in the world. That’s a huge problem for Greece because the Greek do not have one of the strongest economies in the world.
That is why I say the bailout is not going to work and why Greece and the EU (European Union) need to bite the bullet and get Greece out of the Eurozone. No matter how the European restructure the debt, the Euro is the underlying problem. Until that problem is solved, there’s going to be a lot more bailouts for Greece.
I said last month when the second bailout was approved that I do not think bailing out Greece is going to work and this is the latest indication that I am right. Despite all the talk about how Greece’s problem stem from lazy workers, welfare state etc; the real reason why Greece is in a mess is the Euro. Simply put; Greece never had a strong enough economy to take the Euro as its currency. Their past government had to cook the books to get them into the Euro in the first place!
That is the real reason why Greece is in a mess right now and why no matter how hard they try, they can’t get out of economic troubles. In the past when a country’s economy collapsed, the country’s currency collapsed with it. Their products become cheaper, making it easier for them to export goods out and making their country cheaper for foreign companies to invest in. Tourism will also get a boost as it is cheaper for foreigners to visit.
That is not happening now in Greece because they have the Euro! Despite all the talk of recent weakness, the Euro is still one of the strongest currencies in the world. That’s a huge problem for Greece because the Greek do not have one of the strongest economies in the world.
That is why I say the bailout is not going to work and why Greece and the EU (European Union) need to bite the bullet and get Greece out of the Eurozone. No matter how the European restructure the debt, the Euro is the underlying problem. Until that problem is solved, there’s going to be a lot more bailouts for Greece.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
What They Should Do
A comment by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam has become a butt of jokes for all Singaporeans. The DPM said in parliament on Thursday that a family with a household monthly income of just $1,000 can buy a flat in Singapore.
It did not take long for Singaporeans to make jokes out of that. Even when you read the Strait Times newspaper, you can literally hear the laughter from the reporters writing the stories. This was from the Strait Times, a mouthpiece of the government. Then without giving a chance for the flub to die down, Minister of State for Manpower and National Development Tan Chuan-Jin made things worse on Friday when he took to Facebook to “clarify” the comment made by the DPM.
Mr. Tan “clarified” that the DPM was talking about a 2-room flat and then went on to breakdown how his statement is correct. He said that if the family wants to buy a 2-room flat with a selling price of $100,000, he can get 2 grants. One is the “Additional CPF Housing Grant” of up to $40,000 for first-time applicants and the other is “Special CPF Housing Grant” of up to $20,000, which is used for the down payment for the flat purchase. The person can then apply for a loan from HDB for the remaining $40,000, making a payment of $161 per month for the next 30 years.
There are so many things wrong with that clarification I don’t know where to start. Like can you get a flat in Singapore for just $100,000, even if it is a 2-room flat? Like who in Singapore would aim to buy a 2-room flat in the first place? Like can you get 2 grants from the Singapore government when you need to clear a mountain of paperwork just to get one? Like would the HBD give you a $40,000 housing loan when you earn just $1,000 per month? Like how the Additional CPF Housing Grant is only for first-time applicants and is only “up to $40,000”! Chances are you are not going to get the full $40,000. Like how after paying off a 30 year loan, what are your chances of retirement?
Look, this is a simple matter.
The DPM made a mistake. He wasn’t answering a trick question or anything. He was trying to put the screws on Workers' Party NCMP Gerald Giam on Thursday and got caught giving a bad example that had little to no basis in reality.
It was a mistake made on record, in parliament, and in public. The DPM should just dish out some apologies to the public and this will blow over. Any further “clarification” on the matter will just increase problems for the government. It’s a simple matter with a simple solution; just say sorry!
It did not take long for Singaporeans to make jokes out of that. Even when you read the Strait Times newspaper, you can literally hear the laughter from the reporters writing the stories. This was from the Strait Times, a mouthpiece of the government. Then without giving a chance for the flub to die down, Minister of State for Manpower and National Development Tan Chuan-Jin made things worse on Friday when he took to Facebook to “clarify” the comment made by the DPM.
Mr. Tan “clarified” that the DPM was talking about a 2-room flat and then went on to breakdown how his statement is correct. He said that if the family wants to buy a 2-room flat with a selling price of $100,000, he can get 2 grants. One is the “Additional CPF Housing Grant” of up to $40,000 for first-time applicants and the other is “Special CPF Housing Grant” of up to $20,000, which is used for the down payment for the flat purchase. The person can then apply for a loan from HDB for the remaining $40,000, making a payment of $161 per month for the next 30 years.
There are so many things wrong with that clarification I don’t know where to start. Like can you get a flat in Singapore for just $100,000, even if it is a 2-room flat? Like who in Singapore would aim to buy a 2-room flat in the first place? Like can you get 2 grants from the Singapore government when you need to clear a mountain of paperwork just to get one? Like would the HBD give you a $40,000 housing loan when you earn just $1,000 per month? Like how the Additional CPF Housing Grant is only for first-time applicants and is only “up to $40,000”! Chances are you are not going to get the full $40,000. Like how after paying off a 30 year loan, what are your chances of retirement?
Look, this is a simple matter.
The DPM made a mistake. He wasn’t answering a trick question or anything. He was trying to put the screws on Workers' Party NCMP Gerald Giam on Thursday and got caught giving a bad example that had little to no basis in reality.
It was a mistake made on record, in parliament, and in public. The DPM should just dish out some apologies to the public and this will blow over. Any further “clarification” on the matter will just increase problems for the government. It’s a simple matter with a simple solution; just say sorry!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Breakthrough?
What breakthrough? This was what I thought when I read of North Korea's pledge to suspend uranium enrichment, as well as nuclear and long-range missile tests in return for food aid. News reports call it a breakthrough and the international community has welcomed the deal but...what’s the breakthrough?
To me, the North Koreans lose nothing in the deal. They agreed to suspend uranium enrichment which they no longer need as they have enough for 20 nuclear bombs already; they agreed to suspend long-range missile tests which they no longer need as their missiles can reach Japan already; and in return they get 240,000 ton of food aid.
It’s a great deal for them. You got to give the North Koreans props for getting this deal. They lose nothing and get food aid. They also managed to give their new leader Kim Jong-un a good international image. Brilliant on the part of the North Koreans!
To me, the North Koreans lose nothing in the deal. They agreed to suspend uranium enrichment which they no longer need as they have enough for 20 nuclear bombs already; they agreed to suspend long-range missile tests which they no longer need as their missiles can reach Japan already; and in return they get 240,000 ton of food aid.
It’s a great deal for them. You got to give the North Koreans props for getting this deal. They lose nothing and get food aid. They also managed to give their new leader Kim Jong-un a good international image. Brilliant on the part of the North Koreans!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Comics this week
Justice League #6- With this issue, writer Geoff Johns wrap up the first story arc of the new Justice League series. It was a satisfactory though slightly underwhelming conclusion. Don't get me wrong, Johns and artist Jim Lee still managed to deliver an issue full of action and a few character moments for several of the superheroes. Unfortunately, it sort of the standard fare. There’s nothing outstanding in this issue which is disappointing when you consider the 5 issues before, most of which had moments that were outstanding. Still, it was a satisfactory conclusion to a good story and I am intrigued by the back-up story in this issue spotlighting the New 52 newest mystery woman, Pandora. Drawn by Carlos D'Anda, the back-up set things up for the future of the Justice League and it was interesting enough to make me stick around. Here’s hoping for more!
DC Universe Online: Legends #24- You have to give DC some credit. The editors at the company have some balls. They change things up with the New 52 and even on series like DCU Online (which focused on a different world), they are also willing to give the creators leeway to do the same. In the last issue, I thought DCU Online had jumped the shark. I was wrong, they didn’t just jump the shark; they dived in head first and dared the sharks to come at them. The title of the series is slightly misleading because the series now has nothing to do with the story of the online game anymore, and they make no apologies for it! I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do but you have to admire courage.
DC Universe Online: Legends #24- You have to give DC some credit. The editors at the company have some balls. They change things up with the New 52 and even on series like DCU Online (which focused on a different world), they are also willing to give the creators leeway to do the same. In the last issue, I thought DCU Online had jumped the shark. I was wrong, they didn’t just jump the shark; they dived in head first and dared the sharks to come at them. The title of the series is slightly misleading because the series now has nothing to do with the story of the online game anymore, and they make no apologies for it! I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do but you have to admire courage.
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