The lengths Singaporeans will go to for ‘face’ is something I think non-Asians will never understand. Sometimes even I, a Singaporean, can do nothing but shake my head at the stupidity of us Singaporeans.
There’s a true storm in a teacup in Singapore at the moment due to an upcoming movie “Ah Long Pte Ltd”. It ruffled a few feathers in Singapore because it’s a comedy about loan-sharks in Singapore. Produced by Jack Neo, it’s being accused of glamorizing the loan-sharks. It’s seems that some Singaporeans are worried about our image and how this movie will be a bad ‘influence’ on the young.
Isn’t this stupid? I’m no fan of Jack Neo comedies, in fact any comedies, but even I have to say he’s getting bad publicity for nothing. These people are worried about Singapore’s image and bad ‘influence’…from a comedy? There’s Rambo 4 in the Cineplex right now people. There’s bad violent influence for you. Where were your complains then? Singapore’s image? If Singapore’s image can be damaged a comedy then that’s saying more about Singapore than anything else, don’t you think?
Crazy!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Empty Chinatown Stalls
You know how every year there's the light-up at Chinatown for the Chinese New Year? How the crowds will fill up the allays of Chinatown for the festival?
No such thing this year. Every year, I made a point to walk along Chinatown for the Chinese New Year. I can say with some certainty that this year's festival is one of the most flat I have ever went to. It's almost dead! There's even some stalls which are empty. Yes, empty Chinatown stalls one week before Chinese New Year.
Hopefully, it'll be better next week.
No such thing this year. Every year, I made a point to walk along Chinatown for the Chinese New Year. I can say with some certainty that this year's festival is one of the most flat I have ever went to. It's almost dead! There's even some stalls which are empty. Yes, empty Chinatown stalls one week before Chinese New Year.
Hopefully, it'll be better next week.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Why no seat?
Why? Why did you turn down a seat? What are you guys thinking?
Why did the GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corp) turned down an offer of a seat on the board of UBS AG? I know politically its' to show that GIC has no intentions to take over the Swiss bank, but when you invest $10 billion into a bank (with public money I might add), surely a seat in UBS is the least we Singaporeans can execpt.
Downplaying fears of a takeover is one thing, but what if UBS made another mistake and go into the red again? Without a seat on the board, how can GIC stop (or even know of) the trouble? GIC had also recently bought $6.88 billion worth of Citigroup stock; so as the logic of GIC goes, GIC is not going to have a seat on the board of either Citigroup or UBS despite spending over $16 billion worth of public money!
Does that make sense to anyone? I don't care how unusual GIC's investments are, but if you are going to spend $16 billion of Singapore's money, why can't you get a seat on the board? Someone explain this to me please?
Why did the GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corp) turned down an offer of a seat on the board of UBS AG? I know politically its' to show that GIC has no intentions to take over the Swiss bank, but when you invest $10 billion into a bank (with public money I might add), surely a seat in UBS is the least we Singaporeans can execpt.
Downplaying fears of a takeover is one thing, but what if UBS made another mistake and go into the red again? Without a seat on the board, how can GIC stop (or even know of) the trouble? GIC had also recently bought $6.88 billion worth of Citigroup stock; so as the logic of GIC goes, GIC is not going to have a seat on the board of either Citigroup or UBS despite spending over $16 billion worth of public money!
Does that make sense to anyone? I don't care how unusual GIC's investments are, but if you are going to spend $16 billion of Singapore's money, why can't you get a seat on the board? Someone explain this to me please?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Comics this week
Final Crisis #14- Last issue (after a few weeks of good stuff) was crap but there are signs it was nothing but a fluke, because this week's issue is very good. Mainly due to the fact that 2 of the plots have joined together (Superman Prime has joined the war against Monarch) as we finally see these some storylines coming together. This issue was also helped by the fact that there are no 2 page cameos by any of the other characters ; no Mary Marvel, Jimmy Olsen, Karate Kid or Holly Robinson (thank god) to slow things down. Nothing but the war between Monarch against the Monitors. There are also a few character development moments for the Challengers of the Beyond. I'm mixed about these; Donna Troy's was interesting, Jason Todd's was less...interesting. Who came out with that stupid name? But overall it's good, now I just hope there's no more 'fluke' in the future.
Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood #4- I loved it when Rene Montoya became the Question 52. I loved the previous issues in this Crime Bible mini-series, but this issue is a off-putting for me. The main reason is that I was never a fan of Vic Sage and his adventures as the (old) Question in Hub City. As such, I have no idea about Vic Sage's old supporting cast. His former love (and current mayor of Hub City) Myra Fermin, his friend Professor Rodor, his lighthouse, his police buddy; no idea who or what they are. And it's hard to get excited about an issue when you don't know half the characters on show. However, the main story was very interesting (a tightly woven murder mystery about dead cops) and it tied nicely into Rene's quest for the Book of Crime. #4 is a good issue but one you can only enjoy if you know Vic Sage. Good news for Vic Sage fans, but not so good for the rest of us.
Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood #4- I loved it when Rene Montoya became the Question 52. I loved the previous issues in this Crime Bible mini-series, but this issue is a off-putting for me. The main reason is that I was never a fan of Vic Sage and his adventures as the (old) Question in Hub City. As such, I have no idea about Vic Sage's old supporting cast. His former love (and current mayor of Hub City) Myra Fermin, his friend Professor Rodor, his lighthouse, his police buddy; no idea who or what they are. And it's hard to get excited about an issue when you don't know half the characters on show. However, the main story was very interesting (a tightly woven murder mystery about dead cops) and it tied nicely into Rene's quest for the Book of Crime. #4 is a good issue but one you can only enjoy if you know Vic Sage. Good news for Vic Sage fans, but not so good for the rest of us.
Friday, January 25, 2008
The export of Kelong
'Kelong, Kelong' The chant of Singaporeans when their team are losing a match. Unfortunately, the 'fixing' of soccer matches is not a purely Singapore matter. We are now exporting the chant!
If you don't believe me, then how do you explain the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations? The coach of Benin, Reinhard Fabisch, has opening said that he was asked before their match against Mali if he could help fix the game's outcome.
Why should Singapore care? Here's the kicker for Singapore. Fabisch says that the man who approach him is working from Singapore, and he is willing to give the Confederation of African Football the name and number of the man who he claimed is working for a Singapore-based company.
Fabisch said that he would call the police if the man, a black African, did not get out of his sight in 2 mins. Good for him I say. Now to get the idiot who made the approach and the company he is working for.
A Singapore company I might add! After the mess of the China S-league team, this is not what we need right now. I just hope the FAS and police go through everyone with a fine-tooth comb this time.
If you don't believe me, then how do you explain the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations? The coach of Benin, Reinhard Fabisch, has opening said that he was asked before their match against Mali if he could help fix the game's outcome.
Why should Singapore care? Here's the kicker for Singapore. Fabisch says that the man who approach him is working from Singapore, and he is willing to give the Confederation of African Football the name and number of the man who he claimed is working for a Singapore-based company.
Fabisch said that he would call the police if the man, a black African, did not get out of his sight in 2 mins. Good for him I say. Now to get the idiot who made the approach and the company he is working for.
A Singapore company I might add! After the mess of the China S-league team, this is not what we need right now. I just hope the FAS and police go through everyone with a fine-tooth comb this time.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I'll believe it when I see it!
After last years fiasco, FIA is gearing up to prevent a repeat incident. FIA President Max Mosley has warned that any Formula One team found guilty of spying in future is going to be kicked out of the championship.
But somehow, I doubt it. Last year, McLaren were found to have a 700+ page dossier from rival Ferrari and they were fined $100 million. Yes, they were stripped of their 2007 constructors' points but it took the last race of the year before Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were NOT crowned world champion. (Big relief here for this blogger)
After having a 700+ dossier, McLaren drivers were still allowed to remain in the fight for the drivers' title last year. Can any team do worse than having a 700+ dossier given to them by a spy in the rival's team?
If they 'only' fine McLaren $100 million', how does FIA justify more punishment for other teams? If McLaren were got spying again (or Ferrari even), will the FIA dare to kick them out of F1? Kick out one of the top teams in F1? Somehow I doubt it.
But somehow, I doubt it. Last year, McLaren were found to have a 700+ page dossier from rival Ferrari and they were fined $100 million. Yes, they were stripped of their 2007 constructors' points but it took the last race of the year before Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were NOT crowned world champion. (Big relief here for this blogger)
After having a 700+ dossier, McLaren drivers were still allowed to remain in the fight for the drivers' title last year. Can any team do worse than having a 700+ dossier given to them by a spy in the rival's team?
If they 'only' fine McLaren $100 million', how does FIA justify more punishment for other teams? If McLaren were got spying again (or Ferrari even), will the FIA dare to kick them out of F1? Kick out one of the top teams in F1? Somehow I doubt it.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Global Stock Markets Slide
When it rains, it pours. And it sure is pouring now as stock markets around the globe are sliding to their worst levels since 9-11.
The stock market slide is not unexpected as the US sub-prime mortgages crisis bit into profits, but the speed of the drop sure is shocking. Japan's Nikkei for example has dropped around 17 percent since the start of the year; and it's still Jan 22! To be fair, fears of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis has drag all financial markets lower, not just Japan. Indices in Australia, China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines are all down since the start of the year.
And the fears are well-founded.
The latest bank to be affected is German bank WestLB. WestLB has said that it expects to make a net loss of 1bn euros due to the crisis and a similar amount in write-downs. That's 2bn euros in total! The bank is now planning to cut 2,000 jobs and merge with a rival state lender to stay afloat. Another bank hurt by the crisis is the Bank of China who is also reported to be about to make big write-downs from its exposure to US sub-prime mortgages. Add them to Merrill Lynch $7.8bn loss, JP Morgan's $1.3bn loss and Citigroup's $9.8bn loss; that's over $20bn loss due to the crisis. And those are the ones we know about!
It's pouring now at the stock markets; put your raincoat on, because it'll be awhile before we'll see sunshine again.
The stock market slide is not unexpected as the US sub-prime mortgages crisis bit into profits, but the speed of the drop sure is shocking. Japan's Nikkei for example has dropped around 17 percent since the start of the year; and it's still Jan 22! To be fair, fears of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis has drag all financial markets lower, not just Japan. Indices in Australia, China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines are all down since the start of the year.
And the fears are well-founded.
The latest bank to be affected is German bank WestLB. WestLB has said that it expects to make a net loss of 1bn euros due to the crisis and a similar amount in write-downs. That's 2bn euros in total! The bank is now planning to cut 2,000 jobs and merge with a rival state lender to stay afloat. Another bank hurt by the crisis is the Bank of China who is also reported to be about to make big write-downs from its exposure to US sub-prime mortgages. Add them to Merrill Lynch $7.8bn loss, JP Morgan's $1.3bn loss and Citigroup's $9.8bn loss; that's over $20bn loss due to the crisis. And those are the ones we know about!
It's pouring now at the stock markets; put your raincoat on, because it'll be awhile before we'll see sunshine again.
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