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Fellowship of the Shares

godpa....elf's own view on globalisation (yah, being thickskinned and giving opinion when none asked for hehe):



i think it's good in that it generates wealth, esp for a resource-scarce country like s'pore. it also opens up opportunities where none would have existed--such as overseas job, travel for work, chance to emigrate as a skilled worker, etcetc.



but thing is, nothing's ever free. In return for wealth, s'pore gave up her history, her sense of identity and the people's sense of belonging. Witness how we consider anything about 30 years old as 'old', and tear down all our historical places. In Italy where i went last year, the hotels could come from the 15th century. I saw places that came from the 11-12th century. They were all treasured icons, and preserved. My friend and i were laughing how in singapore, we'd have torn them down already.
 



We also have to compete on a level playing field now: that means with china and india people who are more hungry, intelligent, and know how to be street smart, while us hothouse flowers are still whinging on about being 'underpaid', 'overworked' etcetc. And to a lot of ppl who don't work with the chinese, they think china's overrated, or they have just some hazy idea that 'china's rising'. What they don't realise is how fast and how good, and how soon our jobs here will be lost.



The complacent Singaporeans think we can speak good english, and that's our advantage over china. But in premier JCs now, there are PRC scholars with A2 for GP. They enter with C5 or 6, and they jump 10 marks by end of their JC years. Singaporeans enter with C5, and leave with C5; worse, they tell you proudly that "I don't read the newspapers".

I worked in the WHO lab for a stint. My working partners were all from china. They work hard, smart and fast. we're simply no competition. They're in the lab 12 hrs a day, 6-7 days a week. We work 10 hrs 5 days and complain it's too much. How to compete?



i do agree that singaporeans are underpaid tho. but then, that's just how globalisation works. if we price ourselves out of the market, we become like europe: high unemployment rates, high taxes to support these ppl, etcetc. I do wish the govt could see more from the ground rather than from the rarefied air of the elites tho. they simply don't know how it's like on the ground--the affective divide that catherine lim talked about is well and alive.  

 

lausk22....ehhh....this is in response to your post on SC ah....thought i'd shift it here to avoid distressing hikitty further....do go easy on her leh...it's very distressing if your portfolio is losing ya know....

anyhow, ehhh....by saying i have a lot of old men queuing up to be my godpapas....that's kinda like casting aspersions on my 'family' here, and on me too leh.... meh. but keke, it's all in fun ain't it? btw, i don't believe you've intro-ed yourself have you? what's the 22 behind for?



da gege, hehe, nice to know my big bro is so protective of me (and my pet). keke. and mehhh..... what's this about 'tackling'!!! ladies are not footballs.

bwah haha. elves can't be so crudely 'tackled'. As Coco Chanel once said, "A woman should never weigh more on a man's mind than a butterfly."



chinkiasu, ahhhh you have some really cute emoticons man. i like the puppy dog eyed one best still. it looks so woefully adorable. keke. and what's that 2nd one in a vortex? a bull run??? *puzzled* 



family. sigh. the moment you reach marriageable age, they want to hitch you off. sigh. *woeful eyes* godpa and da gege doesn't want me anymore.....*singing out* "I am nobody's chhhhilldddddd..."

wehhhh.......

:P

 

shplayer

I choose to retire in the year 2000.Cos i thought i have enough in my bank to go full time share trading/investment.

We are in the same era.We are the baby boomers.

Since my retirement,i have been lucky and actually improved on my investment and now never ever think of going back to full time employment.

But having said that,here personal taxation is high.Earnings of more than A$75k a year means that your tax rate is 48 cents in a dollar.

Where is the motivation?

Here it is important to have tax and estate planning.So one reason why I decide to retire early.

So do u think globalisation is good ?As per your case?

Cos of globalisation,I see many part time and casual jobs sprung up.

Cheers

 

geojam,

Not at all....nothing to hide.

I am one of the many middle age/upper middle aged Sporeans who got displaced by the restructuring in Spore. Not enough senior management positions here for all of us; too old to hire for junior executive positions. Over qualified for 'blue collar' type work. Furthermore, I'm too lazy go through the rigours of starting my own business.

So, you might say, I am compelled into temporary retirement......and perhaps may rejoin the ranks of employment if and when something interesting and financially rewarding comes along....though, I must say, I have not been looking.

And you, geojam?

 

I just love beef... :)

There used to be Bovril Beef Extract (before the Madcow Disease season) which I used to drink often, but nowadays I hardly see any, except Bovril Chicken Extract. So I have to make do with Ngou Ga Puay (Wu Jia Pi)... :)

 

fairygal

I think can go to www.smiley.com

cheers

 

shplayer

May i ask whether u are retired?

and full time playing shares?

Just curious.It is ok if u do not wish to answer.

 

choohian

Go to my post on 23/2 time 12:13.

U will see the recipe there.

 

Taste wise, I prefer bak kua....but its very greasy... too much is unhealthy.....high cholesteral etc. Beef jerky not oil...so perhaps less unhealthy..... notice, I did not say 'more healthy'.

 

Bak Kua is good, but I prefer Beef Jerky. Some Pork Bak Kua shops also sell Beef Jerky (smoked beef too). USA Beef Jerky is especially good!

Beef Jerky tastes superb with my "Ngou Ga Puay" (Wu Jia Pi" jiu)

 

chinkiasu, love your pictures, if that's what you call them. Do u have a name for them?

 

geojam, sorry. Didn't see your recipe for fairygal.

 

geojam, please teach me how to make bak kua.

 

Chinkiasu

It's all up to the mind, and luck la. People like you get to travel to different corners of the world, anytime. People like me plan for a trip or two annually. The bottomline is do what you can, do what you enjoy, and if you are happy doing them, nothing else matters. Life is short! Everything you see and experience will be a part of your life, selected memories of course for all things beautiful.  Have a great time in that little house you are in by the lake! You are a lucky guy! 



Seriously, how to do those thingy?

 

chinkiasu,



You propositioning elf eh?

I da ger ger, gotta vet your credentials first before you can tackle my mei mei.

 

Chinkiasu

like ur post.All  those cute little thingy.

Have to wait for Elf to answer what she wants

 

woa.. fairygal.. looks like you are a really contented lady.. personally, I cant seem to be able to really relax in Singapore..

even right now, I am at the Atlantic's edge (of the old world), sitting in "a house, which is upon a lake, and upon the sea... where the water lilies meet the golden seaweed..." and then I think of Singapore, and what to share this moment with you folks... 

 

 

aiyoh geojam, elf does not need reading course.. she needs

and perhaps

 

ratio of 5:1 sugar 5 salt 1.

Sugar is important,sweet meat mah.

wine not too much---for fragrant.

red dye little bit otherwise too red.

sugar when bbq will give corner black,black like bee chun heng,so look nice.

minced pork a little fatty ok,cos when bbq looks shiny.Cos fats got burn off and looks nice.

Please make it sell like GEOJAM bak qua.hahha