Later....or sooner.

From Agagooga:

Quote-of-the-post
"I detest life-insurance agents; they always argue that I shall some day die, which is not so." - Stephen Leacock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I detest Stephen Leacock.
:)

Work

I have a father who works very hard.

He works from 9 plus in the morning till 1 or 2am at night. yes he's the father that I seldom see. I have not feel abandoned though, because I know he's working hard for a huge family. Not only he must support all 4 children of us, he has to take care of his parents and his cancer-stricken brother.

For many years he has been working hellish hours, and now and then mum will argue with him, wondering why he must work so hard. he will shake his head and tell us that mum thinks that the flat, the car, the bills all free one..... he work so hard so as to pay the bill.

and my mum, she still wonders why he works so hard.
we used to have abt 1 family meal per week. and now, its like once every blue moon that we will get together and go out, and when I said blue moon, i mean it.

yesterday my mum voiced out her concerns why am i working so hard, non-stop for such a long time.
and then suddenly i realised i am like my father. (only lazier)

well, at least my father has my mum. my family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

work is worth it when you know what you are working for.

Bad things come in series....

Calvin & Hobbes
Originally uploaded by Cherub evolon.blogspot.com.

Definitely true of what's happening around me now.

and the funniest Calvin and Hobbes I've seen in ages...

From Ucomics.

Friday night....

Friday night....

and I went to have my dinner alone in a hawker centre.


to add salt to my wounds, my favourite porridge stall in Clementi wet market sold out just before I placed my order.
"No more".


小碗面。。。 一个人吃的。。。
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been meeting people and working non-stop for 3 weeks plus. At first it was a thrill, it wasn't tiring.

I told myself I want to work very hard for my career. I want to teach people abt insurance, show them whats the real benefits of it. I give myself a few tough targets in Sept.

then you realise, whats the use of doing all these.

when you still have to eat alone.

做工做到哪么辛苦，还不是为了吃饭。。。。

Update on LCD monitor Part II

LCD; Cheaper one
Originally uploaded by Cherub evolon.blogspot.com.

Updates, with regards to this post.

Saw another "LCD" panel at the lift lobby at Strathmore Avenue (Queenstown area)

Hey at least this is cheaper!

A working man

The thing I hate most about my job is that I can't complain.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job. I love it enough to stay in this line for the 2nd year, despite that I have a lot of other opportunities available.
Many people have idea that insurance agents are in this line because they can't find a better job. Well, its partly true. But there are many others who are in this line because its a good professional career.

Yes, its a career, not a job.

But like all jobs, there are definitely bad things that you would love to whine about. (I hear them from my clients all the time) This job is no different.
But i can't complain!

I'm in a service industry. Yes, service. And most of my clients are friends. They are either friends who I managed to establish professional relationships. Or clients who I managed to create valuable friendships.

In any case, i treat every single of them professionally in my handling, and amicably in my friendship.

And if i complain in general, I don't want them to get the feeling that they are part of the complain, and feel guilty. Or worse, feel offended.
and since some of them know one another, i dare not complain for i need to make sure all our consultation matters are private and confidential.
(Note: i was just complaining to a friend and she thought that I was referring to her. HAIZ)

HAIZ....

So yea, my very first and perhaps only complain i dare to make online:


i can do with tat hairdo.

• I can't complain.
  

Sigh, readers, do you guys wanna know the perils of a career in the insurance line?

Train and Hospital

The contest mentioned earlier here..... is over.
I gave both tixs to my parents. and insisted that they spend a romantic date together.

(note to self: nxt time hold the contest a little longer! 3days zero application. 4th day, then everyone ask me whether they can go. damnit. I wanna go Orient Express also lor!!!)

U know you're there when ur father insisted that you better find a gf and bring her to the Orient Express, BY 26th SEPT.
爸啊，不是我不要。
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last Time: Dad & mum demand suggest that you look for a gf only much later in life.
Now: Dad asked u to find a gf.
Mum asked u worryingly sincerely whether you are attached.

Last Time: all your relatives say the same thing abt hving a gf: Wait lor.
Now: in the hospital, your uncle told the nurse that you are staying in bishan also and asked her to talk to me. WAH LAO. Need like this or not?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

turns out that i'm the only one from my agency with enough production to win 2 tickets. the only other guy who is inside was awarded only 1 tix.
geez, going alone is sian, i think. because Orient Express is supposed to be very romantic :(

but my best friend pointed out that i would be able to mingle with all the successful people from my company, out of which surely a few are ladies, rich ladies somemore.

damnit X 2.

now you know why I don't like to discuss such things with my best friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I went TTSH to fetch my grandmum back to my home. She's staying over at my place so that we can take care of her while she heals her fractured bones. Had a fall in a bus. The bus driver was nice and sweet enough to offer to call up an ambulance. But my grandmum, ever the considerate lady, refuses.
turn up to be a much worse injury than she thought.

the doc recommended us to purchase a support stick (i have no idea what to call it) for her, but she didn't want to coz she is worried abt the extra costs. (i still bought it.)
after 10 days of hospitalisation, the first thing she asked me on the ride home is
"医药费多少?"


啊-ma 啊, 身体要紧啊!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saw an interesting sign while i was there.
Wanted to take a photo of it, but there were many docs and nurses around, so I figured i'd better be polite and asked for permission.

I asked the nearest doc, and she don't know whether she could give permission, so she asked the nearest nurse.
who then asked one of the bigger (in rank, not size lah!) nurse who then asked me to write to corporate communication department.

WAH LIEW. Need so 夸张 ma!

Anyway, i copied down the sign in my handphone.

Our staff are committed to serve you with their very best.
We seek your understanding,patience and co-operation so that they can serve you better.
The Hospital reserves the right to protect our staff from any verbal or physical abuse (ed: emphasis mine)

Update on LCD monitor

Regarding the LCD monitor installed at lift lobby at the last post.

I did a quick check and found the LCD monitors installed in Blk 119 and 122 of Bishan St. 12

I emailed the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council this:

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am a resident of Bishan St. 12, and recently, on my walks around the neighbourhood, I noticed the additional of LCD monitor installed at the lift lobby in block 122 of Bishan St. 12. A LCD monitor was similarly installed at the lift lobby in block 119 of Bishan St. 12.

Regarding these LCD monitors, I would like to request information of their uses, as I am rather curious and amused by these new additions. Please let me know if there is extra information I can read regarding these LCDs.

Thank you for your kind assistance.

PS: I have attached a photo of the LCD for your referrence.

Yours sincerely,
Cherub (Note: I left my real name in the email)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And the reply was:

Dear Ms Cherub (NOTE: I left my real name, and the person addressed me as "Ms". ARGH!)

I refer to your e-mail dated 12 Sept 05.

The Bishan East Citizen Consultative Committee (BE CCC) has embarked on the Connecting the Community Project to provide a one-stop community portal to link up the residents with the grassroots in Bishan East.They are doing a pilot project on the installation of PC panels in our estate.There will be mainly community news, ie. news from grassroots, news from Town Council, news from NPC and Facility Providers.

For any further enquries on this project, you may wish to contact the CCC representative, Miss Caroline Lee at caroline@cbn.com.sg

Thank you.

Yours sincerely

(signed)
Veron Loh Hwee Ling (Ms)
Property Manager
Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council

Bread without love

$3,000 worth of a romantic date.
A date of a life time.

and no one to go with. :(

I'm really lonely and tired.
Success can't buy u love.

The Orient Express Contest

UPDATE 2: I just learnt that the 4 hours dining trip costs about $3000!! SIAO BO! I thought its talk cock until i checked out the pricing at the website here.
Siao! i think even $1000 I also stun.....


UPDATE: Applicants can just send me emails or comments below on WHY THEY SHOULD COME ALONG ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS WITH ME"
hey, this is for fun only. haha :P

I have a problem.


You see guys, in my line, there are contests to motivate us and to reward us when we reach a certain goal.

I happened to have won a small contest.

And I have a nice prize.


Experience the Orient Express

2 tickets to go on board the luxurious Orient Express.
A 5-hour exclusive train ride and a sumptuous meal (4 course dinner with free-flow of beer, wines, juices and soft drinks) on board.

2 so-expensive-i-would-never-buy-on-my-own tickets.


Inside the cabin

And yes, it is really luxurious.


The information guide.

Formal wear. Minimum jacket and tie! wah liew, i hate wearing tie can.

Entertainment on board:

• roving magician
• pianist at the bar
• fortune-teller

Compartments will be available for those who want to have *cough cough* private conversations (I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP)

eh, so its a prize. what's my problem?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I do not have a date :(


So anyone interested in the Orient Express Train ride.....
Do email me at archcherub@hotmail.com or leave a comment here and tell me why you should go for this dinner :)

(this is for fun only, to be honest, but i seriously hv no one to go with...)

Hurry! this contest ends in 3 days!

LCD at HDB Lift Lobby

LCD at HDB Life Lobby
Originally uploaded by Cherub evolon.blogspot.com.

so I was walking home one day and I saw a new addition to one of the nearby flats.

A LCD screen at the void deck!

wah, entertainment while u wait for your lift! an extra irritating advertisment avenue!

seriously, what's next?

And the photos start rolling

So we went Comex, with a solemn pledge that we won't buy nothing.
NOTHING, we promised.

even before we entered Comex, i bought a sports shorts from a warehouse sales 1 storey below Comex.
Within half an hour, I bought a USB bluetooth adapter (what to do. camera phone more convenient for blogging materials) and my friend bought a wireless adapter.
And he almost applied for a new credit card.

We were forced to leave as Comex closes at 9pm. I swear, if not, i would have bought a laser printer and more CD-Rs.

sigh. the mind is weak.


My new blogging tooth tool

Questions abt Oil

I had a question recently from a reader, so I've decided to answer his question in this entry, since I've been blogging so little and i think if any of you guys have a better understanding of the issue, do help him out. (Note: if you hv any idea, do leave a comment or send an email to me)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm a Singaporean and currently very keen on understanding how much impact does the high oil price on singapore economy.

I suspect that the high oil price actually improve our economy instead of making it worst.

For example, I know that although many ASIA countries have bigger oil refineries than Singapore, but the country refining capacity can not cope with the local domestic demand and they have to import oil from various countries.

Singapore capacity is at 1.3m bbl and our domestic demand is only 700bbl and we are selling excess oil to other countries.

Can you help?

rgds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well firstly, I'm terribly sorry but my thesis is on the oil refinery industry in Singapore so I have relatively little knowledge to assist you in the sphere of oil prices affecting local economy. Even when it comes to the oil refinery, I have to admit that my thesis is sub-standard, not exactly the kind of book that makes you go "ahhhhh" in the library. Heh. I will try and answer all your questions to the best of my knowledge.

Firstly, Singapore has diversified her economy away from manufacturing and largely into service sector (such as finances, tourism, education, health etc etc). Even in the realm of manufaturing, there has been a move away from basic manufacturing towards higher advanced manufacturing that requires more technology and churn out more expensive stuff.
In short, there is a shift away from energy-intensive industries towards less energy needed sectors. Hence, in general, we are less sensitive to oil prices now due to the changed structural of our economy.

As for the impact of oil prices on the local domestic market, specifically to local inflation, I do not have a clear answer. Although record high prices are affecting our driving habits, I believe that it would not affect local inflation in a drastic way. I gathered this from some other studies of oil prices. Apparently, in developed countries, with higher income and more various options to spend their money, energy expediture has been reduced to a smaller percentage of a household total expediture. Since energy comprises a smaller share of the total expediture, the impact of a price rise has been relatively little.

Higher oil prices DO HELP our economy in one large way. High oil prices make it more profitable to explore and drill for oils in remote, hard-to-reach places, hence oil companies are more willing to fork out money to produce oil in these previously uneconomical oil-fields. Hence, they are now investing more on oil rigs, exploration equipment, and stuff like that on a global arena. Singapore has an active shipyard and many Singapore companies (Sembcorp, Keppal) are world players in this field. The Strait Times has been highlighting the many contracts and business they have acquired since oil prices increased.

As for the local oil refinery, Singapore's oil refineries serves to refine crude oil and export oil products to overseas markets. It is actually the 3rd largest oil refinery (not in actual size, but in geograpgical concentration) in the world.

Again, I could not give a analysed report on the impact of price. But in my thesis, I did a simple regression on RATIO of input and outprices (meaning the difference in selling price and cost) and CRUDE throughput (total refining volume) to Singapore's refinery income per barrel. RATIO is insignificant in this regression which just means that the profitability has less to do with fluctuations in crude and oil product prices.

However, if one has followed the trend, the increases in oil price for the past few months is mainly to do with limited supply, and not demand. And this limitation in supply is more or less to do with refinery capacity, even before Hurricane Katrina. Many refineries in the world are operating at almost full capacity, Iraq's oil refineries have been slower than expected to operate. This limitation in refinery has been the primary fear to push speculators and hedging companies to predict a prolonged increase in oil prices, even when refinery volume is still capable of supply total demand, but in a very tight way. Hence, at the beginning, oil prices spiralled upwards due to this speculation (as much as US $10 per barrel in recent months is due to speculation in the futures market).

With Hurricane Katrine, 10 oil rigs are out, and the other rigs there are operating at reduced capacity. Oil refineries in the area are all out as well. No guess for the reaction of oil prices. Supply is now more tighter, and with the next new refinery in the world scheduled only to operate in 2007. This means that exisiting refinery are now more hard-pressed to operate, and they can charge a higher fee for processing crudes.

Singapore's refineries are processing crudes for overseas market, so my guess is that the various oil companies' operations here are churning out a more decent profit line than has been the past few years (Singapore oil refinery's profitability has been eroding due to competition and they have been pushing hard to climb up the valued-added chain to have more higher value crackers etc for higher grade oil products, as well as venture towards petrochemical sector).

Actually if you ask me, in the longer term, many countries would probably prefer to have their own refineries than depend on Singapore even though it may not be economical to do so. The recent episodes have demonstrated how vulnerable the supply chain is, and i think many countries are insecure. This has actually been happening for quite a while, despite Singapore possessing very efficient and high-tech refining equipment, other countries have been trying to refine more of their crudes in their smaller inefficient teapot refineries (they call them teapot refineries coz its so small, not because its cute! HAHA). There has been a large pouring of investment in new refineries, and these may prove to draw market share away from Singapore in the next decade.

In any way, as an overall net oil importer, the economy definitely would suffer in an oil price hike, despite an improvement in oil refinery and shipyard. Its just my argument that we are suffering less relatively compared to years ago when we have less service industry and more basic manufacturing.

Just in the Straits Times today (6th Sept'2005), there is a report on the impact of an oil shock PLUS a dampened US economy. I think JPMorgan Chase Bank research team identified Singapore as one of the bigger losers. I quote, "Every sustained US$10 per barrel hike in oil prices could shave as much as 1 percentage point off its GDP growth." This reduction in GDP growth is mostly due to reduced demand from US and other export markets, rather than domestic impact from the oil hike.


Oh btw, one last thing. In case you missed this, if we account for inflation, in terms of real value of oil, the prices of oil has not reach the heights of the oil shocks of 1970's yet. Meaning, this "shock" today is actually not as significant as the 1970's, and the market is actually relatively comfortable with the recent hikes. We can still afford to pay more for oil. (But I'm driving my car less now, heehee)

Hope this helps. Readers, do leave any extra information if you have any to add.
Thank you.

Sexy Wear of the Month

I think they mean it when they say its an uplifting experience.
Go Softwear C-Ring Thong

Excerpt :

This one has to be worn to be fully appreciated - an uplifting experience you won't forget!

Where u put the legs??


I really dun want to know...

Ghost Month

Ghost Month 1
Originally uploaded by Cherub evolon.blogspot.com.

onesingaporeminute. (a little meme started by mrbrown.com, read it here)
photos from cameraphone (Nokia 6260)

yes, I know I'm super late....
very busy in 7th month can!! they visit us only once a year!
tats why i nv blog! must entertain them!

(if u r wondering, no, the magic numbers all never come out for 4D, damnit)

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