Tharman on the struggle for investment returns

Such clarifications from Tharman should have been shared with us long ago. All the grief and worry for nothing. I had even reasoned in an earlier post on this subject which is logically sound given the information I had.

This is an important revelation from the minister.

I had worried out loud that the returns to CPF might be guaranteed but we could take a huge hit on the SGD.  So much for no risk. Like they say low crime does not mean no crime.

All these is well and good but the man in the street would not know how horribly hard when you have such a huge margin of safety to also drive high returns. We can ride the short term fluctuations even if they are fairly wild but we are absolutely finished if ever the world enters a Dark Age. We should just leave end of the world scenarios alone. There is not profit in those.

Sylvia vs Teo CH: Another Trojan Horse

DPM Teo is one unimaginative minister who had fallen for Sylvia Lim's trojan horse. Their exchange is carried in Today Online.

Put on the cap of imagination please. We are not talking about now but something more far seeing. The key word in the whole exchange is this: cause-based crowds. It is not rioters, and definitely it is not doing it like we see elsewhere but DPM Teo just can't think out of the box. I have never met him but those who had spoken to him before told me he is so predictable and boring. He is not the go to guy to pilot us through turning points or discontinuous change.

The problem with this government is that it cannot imagine or tolerate that we would out grow Hong Lim Park. The first cause-based group to hit the limit of Hong Lim is the Pink Dot movement.

I am watching to see when and what Sylvia Lim will roll out. Chen Show Mao had earlier planted his Trojan too. These guys are long term thinkers because they have no choice going up against a very dominant PAP. On the other hand the men in white idea of long term thinking is to project the trend into the future. No wonder they are obsessed to paranoia with demographics but yet do not possess the insight and wisdom of the Swedish doctor Hans Rosling.

Singapore society need to grow and Hong Lim Park was one way to create capacity for civic growth. Like the economy, it is grow or perish. That is the underlying and deeper meaning of Sylvia Lim's suggestion, hence her riposte, "..freedom to civil liberty that we want to protect".

All these unimaginative dudes responding to Today Online post on FB don't get it. But over time such types will dwindle and if the PAP do not adapt they will disappear like these fearful types...Can you imagine Singapore as a global city filled with such afraid to lose types? Respect for civic liberties is a cornerstone of a global-polis. We will fail to retain much less attract the best to come here without it.

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  Loh Jensen Sylvia Lim's suggestion is so ridiculous!

  Like · Reply · 18 · 4 hours ago
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  Jason Chua Chin Seng Sylvia, gone retard. What Sylvia also mean is we should deploy SOC/riot police at Hong Lim every weekend now, for practice.

  Like · Reply · 13 · 3 hours ago
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  Jonathan Toh There is a reason why there is peace in our streets unlike other places like Thailand, Hong Kong and S.Korea... Allowing more "peaceful" protest is only going to open flood gates to more potential riots.

  Like · Reply · 13 · 3 hours ago
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  Sebastian Lim According to Ms Sylvia Lim, more riots is good so that the police can have more practices

  Like · 3 · 3 hours ago

Update: 4pm

I am sure the expressions members wear in the house was even more telling. Mohership.SG has kindly made them very accessible.

These smart folks, not even Laurence Lien gets it. Just like once upon a time they got misled by the very smart Thio Li-Ann on LGBT. Only the PM and LKY body language told me they were not persuaded.

Update: 10:10pm

Facebook regularly feels that Calvin Cheng should pay them for folks like me to see this on my newsfeed. It has dawn on me even more firmly after my 4pm update how people just don't get it. JG who commented on this post indeed has rare insight.

Of course the PAP always think the worst of any other party. That will eventually be their downfall. Never take your opponent for granted however humble. Best to wait for all the laughter to have subsided before you seize the opportunity for the loudest laugh eh? That woman is not stupid. Neither is Chen Show Mao.

LKY warned that Aljunied would have five years to repent if they voted WP. All I see is the PAP going left of centre in repentance and the WP cajoling them to move further left where they have entrenched themselves! Meanwhile LKY had no choice but retire.

Your most dangerous opponent win by losing and this is hardly original. Chiam See Tong used that strategy first. The arrogant PAP just couldn't be humble enough to learn.

Little India Riot: Top boy in a class of failures

The COI recommended eight measures and they were as expected gladly welcomed and accepted by the government. This is a 110% response when a 80 to 90% preparedness would have prevented the riot in the first place. The MPs of the area and residents have for years pressed for preventive measures but it had regularly fallen on deaf ears.

Oh,"....rushed to the scene" eh, conveniently forgetting how many hours it took for the SOC to appear.

I think the Home Affairs Minister was over the top praising his men. By and large they did what they could especially the junior officers given that they have hands tied. Certainly they are far more motivated than those working for SMRT. A few had shown exceptional courage under fire.

How could the minister not effusively encourage the Home Team especially when the fault was with him, his predecessos, policy makers and the most senior officers? Your underlings had successfully covered your backs for you all.

This is how the top boy in a class of failures perform. Many other countries make such mistakes and never learn. We are learning and responding with 110%. The one who passed is the government who had listened and prevented this from happening in the first place. The one who admit that his government is only the best failure would have confessed and apologized for their failure to prevent the riot. This is the best the PAP government can achieve, which by global standards isn't bad, but it also mean that they need more opposition MPs in parliament to keep them honest, as on their own they don't do a very good job in that department.

It is so easy to gain my vote but for your stupid pride you are still losing mine and I wonder how many others.

SQ plane near collision

Ever since one of our 747 crashed in Taiwan, I didn't think SQ was as safe as in the past. This incident only serves to increase my fear. Something like this isn't suppose to happen at all even without a tragic collision, it is likely to eventually make it to Natgeo Air Crash Investigation. Absolutely awful publicity for SQ.

It was luck and not skill that our plane did not collide with the Delta Airlines one. I wouldn't be surprised the SQ pilot would be sacked and banned from flying for life.

NUSS Car Decal

I am using this post to remind myself where to retrieve this decal if I finally need to use it. I thought I have misplaced it years ago until I started clearing up the dusty pile of stuff and found it this evening. I am keeping it in the second drawer from the top on my desk.

If this decal is never needed for access to certain car parks, I will never put it up. What for? The one I really want is from the Police. I think it useful for discouraging people scratching the car. My friend in SPH has one but he couldn't get another one.

Draco Set Top Box Problems

Our Draco digital TV STB started acting up last night. I removed the power supply and let it rest and could get it work again.

I tried to google for more insight into this problem but no luck. Calling the only number available with the documentation was a waste of time. Nobody picked up the phone.

Quite frustrating. Not even sure where to bring this lousy box in for service.

Swensens Berries Youghurt

Swensens start July with a thinner menu. Wifey's favorite Nutty Oreo is gone. There used to be four we could choose from but now only the Strawberry-Cranberry and my regular choice Zesty Mango are offered.

I think this berries one is going to replace the Mango for me.

Nice to note that prices didn't go up.