LOL
"I'd like to wish happy holiday to all mothers who are about to deliver their babies.
Happy Labour Day "
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Reading Newspaper?
Well, what do you do to kill off boring time at sessions like this? He reads!! LoL
(Photo credits to its owner)
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Hougang By-elections Tag lines
I don't want to say anything political, just noting some of the more creative tag lines that the supporters of each side is shouting:
PAP's Desmond Choo:
"I want nobody, nobody but choo"
(I want nobody, nobody but you - choo)
WP's Png Eng Huat
"Hougang, HUAT ah"
(Hougang, (vote) for Png Eng HUAT ah)
(Huat (发／發）means prosperity / strike it rich,
a very good omen in Chinese and Hokkien)
Maybe the next time elections candidates will carry names like:
TAT (Cantonese) - Can
HO (Hokkien) - Can / Good
CHAN/ZHAN (Chinese) - Praise
...
...
...
Friday, May 25, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Solving Public Transportation 2
My grandmother, who goes out once in a blue moon, commented that the train doors are like lift doors. 2 doors which slides open and a window at the top middle portion for each door.
To us who take MRT on a daily basis, it is just a vehicle that takes us to places.
So when my grandma says the analogy, it really struck me hard!!
IF the MRT is like a lift, then what we need to solve public transportation could be
what would be like an escalator.
Have you ever taken the lift at crowded buildings / places (e.g. Shopping Centres during weekends or even MRT station during peak hours). The process will be wait > Lift comes > See if you can get in>If Yes proceed, If No, wait for the next one> process repeats itself again
On the other hand, in the very same building, have you notice how efficient the escalator is? People just hop-on, you don't have to wait, it moves slowly but you are still progressing, before you know it, you reached the next level while the people at the lift is still waiting. The amazing thing is while the lift can carry 20 people in one trip, the escalator can carry 20 people constantly at any one moment.
So to solve the problem of overcrowding trains, will we be able to think of something which can be like an escalator? Well, human mind is infinite, so it is not a matter of whether we can or not, but how soon can we?
Here's an interesting concept that I found on youtube to illustrate the concept. Of course, what needs to be improved is that there is still a limited space in the carriage, so waiting will still be a concern when the crowd builds up. What we should be looking at is something that will be able to flow continuously to a point where nobody need to wait.
Carriage that clips onto a non-stop train
(Video rights to its owner)
But instead of a training coming to carry the carriage, maybe the track should keep on moving or something to move the carriage when it is ready to go on track. Then there should be plenty of carriages at each station to prepare for boarding. Carriages uses a third track to zoom back to the place where the crowds are (suburbs in the morning and city in the evening) once it reaches the terminal station.
But instead of a training coming to carry the carriage, maybe the track should keep on moving or something to move the carriage when it is ready to go on track. Then there should be plenty of carriages at each station to prepare for boarding. Carriages uses a third track to zoom back to the place where the crowds are (suburbs in the morning and city in the evening) once it reaches the terminal station.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
[Fictional] Triple Decker Bus
If there would have been a triple decker bus, it will look something like this.
This is, of course, not real, just a illustration to Spot-the-Big-Difference Contest for the papers.
(Advertisement on TODAY, Wednesday 23 May 2012, PP11)
Budget Business Class
(Advertisement on TODAY, Wednesday, 23 May 2012, PP3)
Not sure if this is something new or budget airline has business class all the while.
Will you go for it?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Election vs Ferrari accident
I am not really an opposition supporter myself but I can't help but feel how spot-on the Hougang resident is when relating the situation in SG and the Ferrari-Taxi accident not long ago.
This was told to an election volunteer
What one HG resident told me
Yesterday I was adjusting one of the posters already put up. By coincidence I was wearing blue but not the WP tee shirt. A man in his 50s walk up to me and asked me if I’m from the WP. I said no, I’m not a WP member just volunteer hands and legs to help out in the election. I then asked the man whether he is WP supporter. He said “Of course! This time SURE VOTE for the WP!”. I asked him why? This is what he said to me.
We all better wake up or we will all end up like the Comfort taxi driver who was killed in the Ferrari accident last week. He means it in a figurative sense. We will be overrun by the way the PAP does things before we realise it will be too late. Just like the taxi driver who never imagined his life will be taken away from him. PAP is powerful and big like the Ferrari and like to step on the accelerator to make GDP grow very fast to make their companies grow very fast for high profits, cost of living e.g housing also rocket up like the high speed Ferrari.
Ordinary Singaporeans adversely affected are the collateral damage in their policy formulation like the taxi driver. The opposition are the brakes of the Ferrari. If the brakes are not working this Ferrari will go very fast and cannot stop properly. Taking the opposition out of HG is like wearing off the brake linings. The Comfort taxi had no air bags just like Singapore has little social safety net. When the hard times comes, our families will suffer not the ones who cause the hard times, they are well taken care of.
That is why he feels compelled to vote for the WP on 26 May 2012.
I shook his hand and said THANK YOU. If not for the people of HG, Anson, Potong Pasir and Aljunied, we would have all been overrun by PAP policies and crushed by it long time ago. WP cannot lose at HG because Singaporeans cannot lose.
Once the PAP wins a clean slate, the Ferrari has no brakes and all we can do is pray we are in the 2nd taxi and not the one that went first. But at that stage, you never know…
(Taken from http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/05/21/what-one-hougang-resident-told-me/)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Rain, No?
(Please ask for permission if you would like to use this picture)
Rain or not?
It is all captured in this picture.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Price Fluctuates in this restaurant - what a good idea!!
(Screenshot from www.yahoo.com.sg for sharing purposes)
According to the site, the Exchnage Bar and Grill in New York, the price of food and drinks fluctuates according to demand.
Interesting idea!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Blog Updates
Great News!!
Thanks to the 'scheduled post' function of blogger, I scheduled posts of funny, creative photos, images and videos till end of June. So at least from now till the end of June, there will be at least one post every 2 - 3 days.
That will be on top of posting my day-to-day happenings or experience on this blog.
Thank you for your support.
Thanks to the 'scheduled post' function of blogger, I scheduled posts of funny, creative photos, images and videos till end of June. So at least from now till the end of June, there will be at least one post every 2 - 3 days.
That will be on top of posting my day-to-day happenings or experience on this blog.
Thank you for your support.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Irony well portrayed...
(Picture taken from mrbrown.com, mrbrown credits it to CNA)
But to be fair, PAP is not going to have someone sit at the seat all the time. It's be a simpler way to just cover the backdrop until the press session, or at least until someone from PAP is there.
Manchester is Blue
As we all know that people in Manchester supports Man City rather than Man U, and I am more in tuned with people in Manchester, I just couldn't help wanting to post this picture when I saw the papers today. Man City also won the title for Premier league this season with the same points as Man U - 89 but with just 4 goals ahead.
(Source: Today papers, 14 May 2012, Wednesday, pp24)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Mr Bean - What you expect and what it really is
Expectation vs reality
and I think it is real, he actually owned a McLaren F1...
And here's the proof:
Friday, May 11, 2012
Solving Public Transportation 1
Most of the time, during peak hours, you will notice a one-person-in-a-car situation. As the conventional car is now built to carry 5 people in the case of a saloon car, 4 or at least the 3 seats are the back are left un-utilised. So a more efficient form of transport would be a motorcycle, where it does not take up some much road space, it is able to squeeze in between the slow moving cars and it causes less pollution.
Yet in Singapore weather and traffic conditions, many would not want even consider that option, possibly due to these factors:
a) Exposure to risk 1 - Rider is outside vehicle when the vehicle is in motion, thus more dangerous. (the talk about metal outside man and man outside metal)
b) Exposure to risk 2 - Non stability, more likely to fall, again more dangerous.
c) Heat - Motorbike, despite that it is much cheaper, has no air conditioner. And AC is important in Singapore weather.
A three wheeler motorbike (scooter) below is now in the market but it does not eliminate point (a) and (c) above.
So it is possible that we have a smaller car, that of a motorbike size, yet let the person be inside the car and have air conditioner.
Consider this:
The above is the Peel P50, smallest production car in the world. If you still cannot see how small it is, here is another picture：
Manufacturers have been looking at alternatives as well, what they called Narrow Track Vehicles including Nissan Tandem, Renault Twizy, VW L1, VentureOne, etc..
Review of Renault Twizy：
（They disabled embedding)
3.5hours charge, 60 miles (100km)
Range 47 miles (75km)
Both above may not have doors or windows but if you look closer, it is a small enclosed space
where with some innovation and research, I am sure that installing air con into these vehicle
is not too difficult an issue.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Things you may not know on COE and car ownerships
COE coupled together with import tax becomes a double 'tax' to all buyers. Additional Reg. Fee (or ARF) is 100% of open market value. So even before COE comes in, you are already paying double of what you should be paying.
COE at $100k means you are paying $10k per year to the authorities. Five years ago, the only people who are paying $10k per year to the authorities are people who own and drives luxurious 5000cc or above cars.
Singapore hot and humid weather condition contribute significantly to the decision of just sticking to the car no matter what. Because the car comes equipped with this amazing invention called AIR-CON.
For the money spent A DAY on a $160k 2000cc car, say instalment + petrol + parking (55+20+5 = $80),
you can:
- Take public transport with the same amount of money for WHOLE work month based on $4 per day.
- Dine in a decent restaurant, having decent buffet for 2 with the same amount of money,
- Treat at least 26 person to a $3 chicken rice in hawker centre
- Buy a low end printer or mobile phone, one month you can buy 30 phones or printers.
- Take the whole family to Singapore flyer or other attractions
- Buy 240 packets of tissue paper from the 3 for $1 tissue auntie
- Feed a person (or family) in India for 66 days. (Not drive for 6 days, you can feed them for 1 year). Some people in India live on less than US$1 per day.
See the point. What's more, I am not talking about a high end high performance luxury or sports car. I am merely taking the figures from an average on-the0-road cars like Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Cefiro which you see many on the roads everyday.
Comments on Sky High COE
I had been reading with much interest the suggestions that people are giving in contrast to the sky-high COE prices today.
As time of writing this post, COE for CAT B 1600cc and above is at $91,000, just marginally shy of the $100k market.
One common suggestion that stands out is the reduce / modify / or even abolish the entire COE system and transfer the cost from owning a car to using a car. That is cars should be priced according to market forces and they should be no government intervention (apart from the import tax) to deter people from buying the car.
However, once the owner of the car drives the car say into town, he/she will need more charges than the current charges now. And since they are paying less in installments, they have a choice of spending the money saved to drive into town or save the money and choose an alternative form of transport.
Thus the rationale should be that the person who parked his/her car most of the time in the carpark should pay the least while the person who drives everyday, especially into congested area should be made to pay the most.
If you observed that people are shunning ERPs for $2 or $3 per time they pass through the gantry, I don't see why a higher charge will not deter the average motorists to drive into town and contribute to congestion.
In Singapore, a $120k (inclusive of COE) Toyota Vios depreciates around $40 a day. Adding up other fixed cost like insurance and road tax to average out to be about $5 per day, making it about $45 a day. Isn't this one significant reason why people cannot not drive each day as whether one drive or not, the $45 is still incurred (obviously you need to pay more than $45 when you drive as the variable costs comes in)
For the same car, less than $60k COE, it becomes $20 depreciation a day, $25 with all fixed cost, doesn't this figure make it more feasible for one to leave the car at home the whole day or just use the car at night with the option to use the car whenever necessary?
I think that making people give up driving is a far more effective idea than making people giving up their cars. To many, if not all, there will be some occasions where you will need to drive, such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, family gatherings, even just to drive out for suppers etc. As these events happen mainly on weekends and public holidays, out of the peak hours and peak areas, they hardly cause serious congestions.
Another good suggestion that I want to highlight here is to ballot for COE. The argument is that now with the sky high prices, it only allows the rich people to buy 2 or 3 cars while depriving the privileges to those whom really need a car: E.g.: Parents with children or people with elderly parents or people who need to fetch people who are not-so-mobile.
This way, it is a fairer system which does not deprive one of owning a car when you need it
As time of writing this post, COE for CAT B 1600cc and above is at $91,000, just marginally shy of the $100k market.
One common suggestion that stands out is the reduce / modify / or even abolish the entire COE system and transfer the cost from owning a car to using a car. That is cars should be priced according to market forces and they should be no government intervention (apart from the import tax) to deter people from buying the car.
However, once the owner of the car drives the car say into town, he/she will need more charges than the current charges now. And since they are paying less in installments, they have a choice of spending the money saved to drive into town or save the money and choose an alternative form of transport.
Thus the rationale should be that the person who parked his/her car most of the time in the carpark should pay the least while the person who drives everyday, especially into congested area should be made to pay the most.
If you observed that people are shunning ERPs for $2 or $3 per time they pass through the gantry, I don't see why a higher charge will not deter the average motorists to drive into town and contribute to congestion.
In Singapore, a $120k (inclusive of COE) Toyota Vios depreciates around $40 a day. Adding up other fixed cost like insurance and road tax to average out to be about $5 per day, making it about $45 a day. Isn't this one significant reason why people cannot not drive each day as whether one drive or not, the $45 is still incurred (obviously you need to pay more than $45 when you drive as the variable costs comes in)
For the same car, less than $60k COE, it becomes $20 depreciation a day, $25 with all fixed cost, doesn't this figure make it more feasible for one to leave the car at home the whole day or just use the car at night with the option to use the car whenever necessary?
I think that making people give up driving is a far more effective idea than making people giving up their cars. To many, if not all, there will be some occasions where you will need to drive, such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, family gatherings, even just to drive out for suppers etc. As these events happen mainly on weekends and public holidays, out of the peak hours and peak areas, they hardly cause serious congestions.
Another good suggestion that I want to highlight here is to ballot for COE. The argument is that now with the sky high prices, it only allows the rich people to buy 2 or 3 cars while depriving the privileges to those whom really need a car: E.g.: Parents with children or people with elderly parents or people who need to fetch people who are not-so-mobile.
This way, it is a fairer system which does not deprive one of owning a car when you need it
Funny Answers from a student
Vietnamese students have very good art skills and himaginasion (imagination). How in the world could he/she think of drawing a woman from 2 piece of black shaded part from the graph?
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Star Wars Day today
May, the 4th
Today, the 4th of May is declared by fans to be Star Wars Day because
Today, the 4th of May is declared by fans to be Star Wars Day because
"May the Fourth be with you..."
Marry GF on Birthday
(Credits of the photos to the respective owner)
LOL...It seems not that it does not make sense.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
SMRT Announcement
How come whenever I hear this announcement , I always thought I heard something else:
Dear Customer, due to peak hours traffic our management incompetency,
if you are not able to board this train，please wait for the next train. Thank you
if you are not able to board this train，please wait for the next train. Thank you
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
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