rant of da day: how much lower?

[Category-Sillypore]
Article

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew urges residents to vote for lift upgrading programme
SINGAPORE: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says that the government will ensure that Singaporeans' assets will increase in value as the country grows.

And one way is to offer main upgrading or lift upgrading programmes to residents to enhance the value of their flats.

Speaking the launch of the lift upgrading programme at the Spottiswoode Park precinct, Mr Lee urged the residents to vote in favour of the programme, or miss their chance to enhance their assets while the economy is good.

quote of da day: the world *reverse-engineered*

quote of da day,
originally uploaded by stonz.

this is something cynical-bt truly believes in.
ammen

rant of da day: this world... doesn't work in mysterious way.

the world of computers.... is as simple as it gets.
Binary. 1's/ 0's. true/false. yes/no.
when you ask me on instruction/ help. bear this in mind.
follow the damn instructions.
the problem issn't gonna go away, if you pretend it is not there. Turn off the computer, go to sleep, when you wake up. the problem will still be there. there's nothing mysterious.
So.... if you choose not to follow the steps. you know it's gonna to piss me off further when you keep asking for help.
so there you have it.

i know. i know. i'm supposed to be patient.. etc

yeah. just needed to get that off.
need sleep.
pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffishhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

statement of da day

Telekom Malaysia Bhd has implemented a group-wide voluntary separation scheme (VSS) for eligible staff as part of its manpower rationalisation programme, which is expected to reduce its workforce by 10%.

now... that is one cool phrase. "voluntary separation scheme"

pic of da day: audi illusions ads

audi illusion ads,
originally uploaded by stonz.

the video version here.
stare hard. especially the vid.

Live match at highbury!

Delayed entry. Watched arsenal vs sheffield united at highbury. Just had to do it despite the 51 pounds tix. 1-1 result. Loved the way the fans shouted at the ref. Complete sentences and in proper english. "oh referee, he's wasting time!" "referee is a w@nker!"

Paris is eating...

Another post-dated entry. Last meal in france. Missed the 4pm train back to nice. Decided to have a nice meal. Medium-rare steak, hot frites (fries), a choc mousse and a shot of glenfiddish whisky. All's good.

London! Touchdown!

London! A post-dated entry. No mobile data network yesterday.

Day 4. We are off to london!

Busride to nice airport. To london! Aka 'cost3xLand'

train back to nice (from paris)

On the way back to nice via my 2nd 5 hr train ride. All snowy and white outside.

Our paris home and getting re-identified.

The singapore embassy in paris. Yet another personal screwup, i left the police report in nice. Cheers! Walked another 20 min to & fro to get a new one. Definitely losing weight, this trip.

Paris at last... No hiltons in sight

I'm just gonna milk this paris hilton thing to death. After 5 hrs train ride & 2 short metro sides. Porte dauphine. Where the spore embassy is. Lunchtime wait. Till 2pm. Tourisy stroll now!

To paris (hilton) with love...

To paris, to paris to buy a document of identity. Paris Hilton here i come! 5 hour train side that cost me 103€ (one way)

Only in france

Only the french darth vader is shorter than the stormtroopers.

day 2: dang!

Pretty much screwed. Passport dropped. Have to make trip to paris to obtain a document of identity. mlln !

Greetings from Nice

On the way to Cannes via train. 3GSM here we come.

laphroaig + evian + tall drinking glass (starbucks)

[Category-PokerWhisky]

Laphroaig + evian + tall drinking glass,
originally uploaded by stonz.

first step into the world of single malt whiskys.

managed to digout a bottle of evian 2001.
my starbucks doubleshot glass (tall glass for "nosing")

it was pretty fun. could nose some of the described scents. as well as taste, the peaty , smoky.


dummy's guide: from laphroaig's website.
Below are the 4 easy steps to unleashing and enjoying Laphroaig's full potential.

Step 1
Pour yourself a full measure of Scotland's most richly flavoured malts. Admire the full golden amber colour with its slightly greenish tone.

Step 2
Nose the glass (adding just a drop of water to release the full potential) and savour the pungent earthy aroma. Admire the heavy peaty smokiness and detect the delicate heathery perfume.

Step 3
Really taste the whisky - roll it around on your tongue and allow it to impress your palate. Take time to experience its full rich character and peaty flavour.

Step 4
Contemplate it, savour it, but never rush it - appreciate the lingering and unique mellow finish of the true single malt Scotch whisky for the connoisseur.

Johnnie Walker : The Collection : The Inside

[Category-PokerWhisky]

Johnnie Walker : The Collection : The Story

[Category-PokerWhisky]

In summary: The outstanding collection includes Red Label™ - the Vibrant Blend - a favourite choice for celebrating every day and Black Label™ - the Definitive Blend - a deep and complex flavour. Gold Label™ - the Luxurious Blend - offers an indulgent experience, whilst Blue Label™ - the Rarest Blend - is created from the rarest and most expensive whiskies in the world.

Johnnie Walker : The Collection : The Stuff

[Category-PokerWhisky]

kewl stuff. the blue label bottle. actually is "individually numbered". 4D alert : 0 218188 JW

home news... interesting stuff, when i'm away.

[Category-Sillypore]
ST: Lively Exchanges

well.... "start a party". issn't that... from yonder years ago... the catherine lim incident. here we go again. put the turntable needle back to start and *listen* (again!)

here i go ranting again.

keep this up... it's gonna all blow up.
respect and admiration is one thing; how this country is run, can't be based on past records and nothing else.
the young un's will be asking, what can you do in the future. not some communist fighting stories repeated for 30-40 years.

slowly.... release first the thumbs.... oh yes... now loosen the 2nd finger. right... breathe... now the 3rd finger.. NO! No! don't put the 2nd finger back. relax.... you can do it.....

"go with grace" ahmem.

quote of da day: meetings

"The Romans did not build an empire by organising meetings; They did it by killing anyone who got in their way."

MISSING: Tan Pheng Cher Violet (singapore)

MISSING: Tan Peng Cher Violet (singapore),
originally uploaded by stonz.

my cousin who was in phuket when disaster struck.

update: prior to earthquake info. her travel group was heading to khao lak. (from phuket)

we haven't had any contact from her since.
please contact me with any info.
mobile: +65 96666506
email: boonteck@gmail.com

fashion police! chairman "mm" lee?

[Category-Sillypore]

php09wGjt,
originally uploaded by stonz.

how about that? a mao shirt.
it's sad enough that our MM is doing everything. SIA labour discussions for the past 40 years?; speak chinese campaign for the past 30-40 years?.

now he even shows that he got more style and fashion sense than the rest of the cabinent put together.

out with the windbreaker. bring on the mao fashion!

legit by association!

[Category-Sillypore]
here's something to try in google; search for "TEMASEK HDB CORP"
e.g.
http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&q=TEMASEK%20HDB%20CORP&btnG=Search&meta=


or
google: "HDB Corp Bonus"
http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&q=HDB%20Corp%20Bonus&meta=

no wonder i've been getting hits from Monetary Authority Of Singapore & Housing & Development Board
sorry to disappoint you people. i don't have any insider info on deals or bonuses.
and for once... i can say this "big brother is watching...."

screwed. i'm in conflict. bah!

Your highest score was a tie between Type 3, Type 7, and Type 8. One of these is likely your Enneagram type.

ISUZU: Total Assy

ISUZU: Total Assy,
originally uploaded by stonz.

this one reads: Total Assy.
as found "tagged" onto the back of IZUSU Panthers in jakarta

link of da day: GmailFS (Gmail File System)

a hack, quite nicely done. integrated into windows explorer. you'll see a "Gmail Drive"; login in... and use the gmail space as file storage.

your files are stored as "emails" when u login via gmail interface
(it's easy to use a filter: Matches: subject:(GMAILFS:*); Do this: Skip Inbox, Apply label "gmailFS")

[link]

rant: M&A singapore-style

[Category-Sillypore]
kinda long. but article is under businesstimes (aka the other "bt"); gotta snag-it b4 it goes into subscriberland

good move i must say.... godmother (fade-in: godfather theme) goes to work.... hey presto! it's a clean slate. *hush-hush* as long as the carpet is big enough.... sweep it under.

we are a global financial hub? yeah!?! of cos. gotta keep the good stuff for ourselves.

how abt a wager? by 2006... HDB Corp would be....."sleeping with the fishes". (fade-out muzik)


Temasek buys HDB Corp for undisclosed sum in surprise deal

By ANDREA TAN

(SINGAPORE) Temasek Holdings has bought over HDB Corp for an undisclosed sum in a surprise deal announced yesterday. The divestment by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) was sooner than expected; equally surprising was Temasek as the buyer.

The deal caught the market by surprise as no tender was called for the sale. Both parties were tight-lipped about the price, saying only that it was a 'mutually agreed' sum.

In response to BT's queries, Temasek said: 'Our immediate focus would be to further grow HDB Corp into a regional developer of township projects.' Industry analysts say a gauge of the transaction value would be the average price-earnings ratio of construction firms. Construction stocks are trading at an average price-earnings ratio of 23 and applying that to HDB Corp's estimated net profit of $8.7 million would yield a price of about $200 million.

According to records filed with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra), HDB Corp had net assets of $144.9 million and issued and paid-up capital of $142.6 million.

BT understands that the price paid was markedly below $200 million, or the net asset value of $144.9 million, or the company's paid-up capital of $142 million. Non-listed entities typically command lower PE ratios than listed counterparts in the same industry.

While Acra records do not show turnover or profit figures for HDB Corp, a tally of the numbers for the six HDB Corp subsidiaries bearing the Surbana name revealed a net profit of $8.7 million and turnover of $100 million for FY2004 ended March. HDB Corp uses the Surbana name overseas and in Singapore.

HDB Corp's main subsidiary Surbana Consultants had a net profit of $7.4 million on a turnover of $58.3 million, according to Acra records. Surbana International (Consultants) - the only loss-making unit - had a net loss of $2.4 million on turnover of $1.5 million.

Commenting on the deal, Temasek managing director for strategic development Wong Heng Tew said: 'We see good growth potential in HDB Corp and the markets it serves.

'We aim to be a value adding shareholder to HDB Corp and hope to grow it into a successful regional enterprise.' HDB Corp is in China, India, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Unlike the sale of CPG Corp which saw an international tender and a planned management buyout, there was no open bidding for HDB Corp. CPG Corp was sold to Australia's Downer EDI for $131 million in March 2003. CPG Corp was the former Public Works Department and a Temasek-linked company.

HDB said in response to BT's queries: 'We did not call a tender as one of HDB's primary concerns when considering the sale of HDB Corp was to avoid any disruption in services to HDB residents after the company is sold.

'We believe that under Temasek, HDB Corp will continue to deliver a high quality of service to HDB and its public housing projects, while it grows into a successful regional enterprise.'

HDB Corp was formed in mid-2003 after HDB's building and development division was corporatised. The $220 million restructuring of HDB resulted in the housing board shedding 2,630 jobs, of which about half joined HDB Corp. HDB Corp now has 820 permanent staff, Temasek said. Temasek said it does not foresee any impact on HDB Corp's staff.

HDB Corp is assigned HDB's design and development projects in the first three years but this will be lifted gradually to 90 per cent in the fourth year, 70 per cent in the fifth year and 50 per cent in the sixth year. HDB Corp said this will not change after Temasek takes over. HDB Corp will however not be able to retain the HDB name after June 2005.

Temasek said that 'should there be any merger, acquisition or divestment opportunities in the future, they will have to be evaluated based on commercial considerations'.

HDB Corp said: 'Temasek will exercise its shareholder rights to influence the strategic directions of all its companies but the day-to-day commercial and operational decisions will be left very much to management.'

link of da day: diy desk calendar 2005

DIY: desk calendar,
originally uploaded by stonz.

once every couple of years... i take a break from being a cynical bastard... and "give it away".

how abt this? a diy (u can get a pdf, print it, fold it) and give as 2005/ xmas presents to colleagues.
it's the thought that counts. thinking about doing it... works too. just let them know "i wanted to do this; just for you!"

[link]

new browns

29-11-04_2325,
originally uploaded by stonz.

meet revamped-left... and madeover-right.

rant: *gasp* oh no! the horror! oh my.....

[Category-Sillypore]
welcome to this edition of "...only in singapore"
every single day... the local news never fail to entertain and bring a smile to my face.... (immediately after that.... i do get embarrassed: we are like mountain turtles.)

A series of Nike ads in Singapore designed to resemble graffiti have stirred emotions in the Asian nation known for its obsession with cleanliness and civic order.

The small, page-size posters featuring anime-style images of NBA star LeBron James were pasted helter skelter over the ad panels of 700 bus stops, shocking commuters who are used to the ultratidy shelters.

At least 50 commuters have called or written to complain, said officials at Clear Channel, which owns the advertising rights to the bus shelters.

[link]

link of da day: "Admit to Something That Would Normally Result in Ridicule"

this incredibly funny forum thread [link]
"Admit to Something That Would Normally Result in Ridicule"


with classics like
"A mate of mine (no, really) was in Thailand getting a Thai massage off some hot Thai girl and he got the horn. She then noticed and said 'You want the wanky wanky?' He said 'Yeah, why not and closed his eyes. She then said 'Okay, I come back when you all done' and left him to it. She came back in about ten minutes and he said he has never felt worse in his life."

{pepsi-challenge} your stupidity immediately.