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A crazy month - work has picked up and the Annual D&D thingy kept me on my toes - it was a really good night barring a couple of hiccups - but still awsome =) Justin Mission was the MC and he kept the crowd entertained, people were dressed like crazy - I must put up a couple of photos here - and maybe a couple of videos on youtube.

Apart from that, I seem to have always found something to do but mainly it is work; I am yet to even think about packing for the trip to Chennai - but its a week so it should not be too much of an issue. And the three days in Mumbai - hopefully - will allow me to visit my niece!

Apart from that, while shopping for the D&D prizes, I realised Singapore is yet to come a long way in terms of development. Epicentre, at Orchard and Suntec, operate bait and switch advertising and think it is a legal marketing tactic; Carrefour still sucks (rest assured, there was nothing purchased for the D&D but personal experience) and overall - most stores still suck.

I reorganised my Apple iTunes and hate my freaking music list - too many redundant songs in 22GB and I think I will have to invest another 24 hours into sorting that shit out. Argh!

Well, the good news is I scan at work so I can put up those two interesting diagrams that my second-in-charge described; then the photos and movies of the D&D - I should be getting the whole thing on a DVD - that should be awesome since I thought the MC rocked.

Frick. It is the marathon on Sunday and erm. Nevermind, if you do not hear anything about it, presume the worst.

This is officially exam time - few GA mates preparing for CFA and of course, the NUS exams. Heard that NUS had a "closed door meeting" in lieu of an increase in fees. What? Did we not go through a review just before the corporatisation in April 2006? What the hell? I hope the students seriously manage to ensure it does not happen - if this is the case, NUS would technically be revising every semester.

Well, I have to get something for my profs and friends for Xmas. Dang. I hate this "shopping" thingy but they deserve it - well, some of them.

I am listening to some of the stuff on the Rick Dees Top 40 and these songs are my fav -

Come to Me - Nicole Feat P Diddy
Gallery - Mario V.
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

Oooh! And so finally, Barclays settled my second month pay - welcome cash! Was blocked due to some issue with IRS and me being non-citizen. Well, it matters little - I got it now! All going to DBS for the loans anyways. Haiz. No savings for a while.

Well, nothing else interesting to post. Itching to watch Casino Royale - 007~!

Free wireless in SG from 1st Dec - for three years!

Woot! I must get a PDA!

Misread

Kings Of Convenience - Misread

If you wanna be my friend
You want us to get along
Please do not expect me to
Wrap it up and keep it there
The observation I am doing could
Easily be understood
As cynical demeanour
But one of us misread...
And what do you know
It happened again

A friend is not a means
You utilize to get somewhere
Somehow I didn't notice
friendship is an end
What do you know
It happened again
How come no-one told me
All throughout history
The loneliest people
Were the ones who always spoke the truth
The ones who made a difference
By withstanding the indifference
I guess it's up to me now
Should I take that risk or just smile?

What do you know
It happened again
What do you know

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I hope this song is as cool as the lyrics sound.

Surya - of all the mails you seem to have spammed - this is the only part that made any sense. I hope that things work out for you!

A friendship not worth saving?

The story of my life.

Anyways, I have a good mind to put this in pictorial form - meaning my vicious circle.

I always find it amazing how one action can undo a lot of good. Just like trust.

I have also a few funnies that I got as forwards that I will post - but later!

It don't matter no more

Well, the niggles have been sorted. It is amazing how much things people do and do not do that might affect relationships.

Well, moving on is always the best option 'cos it is water under the bridge.

I have to file for my freaking PR application.

I should really be visiting home sometime or getting my moms and pops down to Singapore. Either way, this has to happen in the first quarter of 2007 'cos I have not seen them for too long.

December is going to be a bore.

Reconciliation...

Barring one niggle, life has been on an absolute high. OK - maybe two niggles...

Work is beginning to shape up but there is a continuous need to do more but I am enjoying it. Really.

Nothing else is new except for my impending trip to Chennai. It has been some time since my last visit. I think it was in 1994. I have a short memory - I cannot even recall. I have been to India in 1998 - that was the really long pilgrimage with mum and grandfather. And then 2002 - for one day to Culcutta. That was fun barring the part that I lost all my stuff at the Airport, the corrupt officials not letting go off my passport upon entry demanding "Chaa-Paani" (Tea-Water - commonly used in India to substitute "a quick bite"). Of course, I offered him Indian Rs. 2. He took offence but thought I was ignorant and said he wanted it for all his groupies. I told the nasty old man that he could hold onto my passport as long as he wanted. He waited a while and seeing that I really had no intention passed it back and wished me a good day with special mention of my momma. Well, as long as I had my passport back, potty mouth could say whatever he wished.

But the day in Culcutta was awsome. India is always good. From a guy's perspective, there are chicks everywhere. Really. I mean, the best chicks in the silliest places. I mean, what are they doing hanging onto a train for dear life? But there they are; and everywhere else you look. And then the food. You cannot blame Indians for being fat. The food really is that good.

Chennai was not pretty. Thanks to my mom's need to visit obscure relatives, it meant a lot of fizzy drinks/ovaltine or some juice at each juncture. While she makes small talk, I enjoy my drink, get bored and finally - we leave. Only to repeat this cycle several times a day, for days. Chennai itself was HOT. I mean, 40c+ hot. It was dirty. There were people everywhere and my grandmother did not live in a posh neighbourhood so my last visit was not exactly the most memorable.

It will be a lot different. I will still have a chance to explore it and it should have improved. Thanks god for globalisation.

What else? Ah - that poor 17 year old. Hopefully, they fine him and let him go 'cos I am sure this is not the most fun period.

And the impending GST increase is most likely to take effect next fiscal year - 1st April 2007. 7%. Well, the Singaporean people have not really reacted to it. What can they do? IN some sense, having political stability is justified when you look at the scenario in Bangladesh today - protesters clashing to make sure the politicians know that they are unhappy.

Anyways, the knowledgeable second-in-charge proposed alternatives to looking at commonly used graphs. Let me get them into pictorial form - they cracked me up... but there is truth in jest.

Well, that really is it. Apart from the fact that the impending StanChart marathon on 3rd Dec. 10KM. What the hell was I thinking? Argh!

7%

Singaporeans assess future spending, want more help to offset GST hike

SINGAPORE : A two percentage point hike in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has just been announced, and already Singaporeans are assessing their future expenditure.

Some asking for more help to offset the increase.

Things will cost more when the 7 percent GST kicks in, and many told Channel NewsAsia that will affect their spending habits.

"Must think twice now before buying certain things... but 7% is a lot," says Mohd Shahrudin, a technician.

"I think if they want to increase GST, they should improve customer service, so people will be more willing to pay for the increase," says Karen Hui, a marketing support executive.

Others are concerned about the cost of living.

"I don't think it's a good time. Salary hasn't increased that much, and we have to pay more," comments banker Koon Sik.

"Perhaps we should waive GST for medical services and purchases of say pharmaceutical products, because a lot of the elderly have problems paying for those necessities," says Eileen Phua, a finance manager.

Many agree the offset package to cushion the impact of the GST increase among the needy will go some way to ease financial hardship.

Economist Jason Lee says: "It's not the first time they are giving out assistance measures. They've done it with the Progress Package and so forth, so I am sure it will have its intended effect."

Still, political watchers warn such offset packages must not encourage a crutch mentality among lower income Singaporeans.

The real challenge is in helping them cope with the demands of globalisation.

The government too, has to walk the talk.

Eugene Tan, Assistant Professor at Lee Kong Chian School of Business, SMU says: "There should be this commitment that the increments resulting from GST, the revenue increment, will actually go towards strengthening of the social safety net. And I would like to see the government also putting in an equivalent amount from its budget.

"You want to see the accountability and I think when people understand where their taxes are going, they will be more persuaded that this is indeed a move that benefits society."

Analysts say the move represents a shift in the social compact to one where the more well-off citizens take care of less fortunate ones.

But they hope the interest of the middleclass will be considered, as a rise in the cost of living will be a burden for some.

To that end, grassroots organisations can be more proactive in identifying residents who need help.

"We know that some of the schemes that are in existence will be able to assist some of these families. The idea of forming the local network, making use of the existing infrastructure, schemes and network, will be the best way forward in getting help to the people," says Zainudin Nordin, Mayor of Central Singapore District.

Mr Zainudin says it may also be timely to review the current financial assistance schemes to factor in higher living cost. - CNA /ls

Uniquely Singapore

Singapore teen faces jail for 'stealing' neighbour's Wi-Fi

By John Leyden

A Singapore teenager charged with hopping onto his neighbour's wireless internet connection faces charges punishable by up the three years' imprisonment.

Garyl Tan Jia Luo, 17, is the first person to face charges under Singapore's Computer Misuse Act, the Straits Times via AP reports.

The teenager also faces a possible fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars ($6,425) if convicted despite the lack of aggravating factors to his alleged crimes.

There's no suggestion he did any mischief beyond allegedly freeloading his neighbour's net connection without permission.

After questioning by police, Tan was released on bail pending his next scheduled court appearance, which is due to take place Wednesday (November 15). ®

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Reproduced from The Register.

Focus

In any case, the events over the past couple of days should not distract me - I mean, in the overall scheme of things, they matter little.

I misunderstood an individual; in fact, in a funny way, my initial judgment was correct! I simply ignored it and in fact, tuned out of it. I should not have done that since I am usually spot on with my initial judgments!

You live and you learn!

I am almost back - hopefully, if a few things at work fall in place, it would be just perfect!

Another one bites the dust

Dog eat dog world. It has come to the point that helping another is only seen as handicapping him. Fuck. How could I have not seen that? I mean - really - it cannot be possible that I was actually looking to help. Of course, it must mean, to "help myself". Surely, there cannot be another explanation. And it is ironic - since these fucking preachers usually do a lot of things to fit in - but hey - if you do the same, you become a cocksucker.

This caps off a bad weekend for a long long time. Welcome to the real world, my friend!

The only up side is that the only way to go from here is up!

High and dry

It blows when you find that people do not live upto expectations. Maybe, I should not have expected anything but 10 minutes is sometimes is all it takes. I need to manage my expectations better; but at the same time karma is a bitch.

I have always been on extremes. Fuck! I am in such a pissed mood.

What is going on?

So what exactly has happened since the last barrage of posts. A lot. And I dare not even try and pen it down - 'cos it would a long ramble and well, I cannot even remember some of it.

The highlights - in terms of cricket - West Indies continues to impress. Against all odds, and that too lead by Gayle, they simple demolished SA by 6 wickets - again throwing away a couple of wickets towards the end, but they simply electric. Given they have beaten Aus. in the preliminaries means they would fancy a chance. Of course, they will stand a chance but my money is on Australia - they are eager to make a statement since this is the only bling they currently do not have and also, they are too good a side to lose twice - especially to the same team.

Work wise - finished rotations and realised, and this is not new, that communicating will remain to be supra important apart from performing. In addition, I should really be aiming to reach work earlier - so tomorrow - fresh start.

And I am a Permanent Resident. Glad to get that formality out of the way :)

And my nephew turned six on Tuesday - 31st Oct; Happy Birthday, Aliasger. Obviously, he does not read my blog. I hope that he will bother enough to dig through the archives when he is older. Or just use Google Blog Search.

Things are looking good on the friends area. I have a good set of people around me at work and it is almost mandatory since it really does become the people you interact on a day-to-day basis :)

Hmm... watching a lot of new content. Lost - watched till 3x04 and Prison Break until 2x08. Also, Desperate Housewives till 3x05. I also have four House episodes that I am saving for the weekend. It is amazing how they keep creating and holding interest! Though some of it can be corny/cheesy - on an overall basis, the above four will remain to be top faves - there are others but I do not have the time.

Wow! There is so much more but I am sleepy. Yawnz! I should really update this thing on a day-to-say basis... 24 hours not enough :)