As usual, my boss wanted us to submit a leave plan for the next 6 months, ie, 2nd half of the year.
Dutifully, I submitted mine. 1 week of leave for end October/early November for oversea trip (Hong Kong Disneyland). Excluding this week of leave and other leave I may take, I say I will clear my leave after that week. Pending my situation, either clear at end of November when my contract ends or the whole of November/December if extended. I mean as kinda of hints, and if contract is not renewed or at least no more working in m1, I will clear my leave end of contract to clear out.
She simply dun take the hint. She replied, telling me that not to bunch up my leave together in case I cannot take it. *Pengz*
So does this mean these? If I no longer works at M1, she wun let me clear my leave? I will talk to her boss about it and see who wins. F will get an earful from me. Even if I do not leave, what is 10 over days over a 2 months period? Is it so difficult to take leave?
Nothing to say....
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
PTC approved yet another fare increase!
PTC has approved of fare increase for bus and train fares. So what is new?
This time round, the increase is small, subjected to a 2.4% cap. This roughly translates to about 1-3 cents increase for mrt/lrt and 1 to 2 cents for bus, travelling using ezlink card. The brunt of the increase is on cash paying passengers where they will be subjected to a 10 cents increase.
This will results in an estimated of 1.3 to 1.4 million of profits to SBS Transit and SMRT. Quite a big increase in profits, I must say.
A small increase, one may say but mutiple small increases are as bad as one big fare increase. Even worse, they can claim they are small increases only and not big increases and hence justifying yet another fare increase. Pardon the jump in logic, but well, not in the mood for long lengthy essaay, esp I have another 2 blogs to flesh out!
Read 2 letters to the forum page on the Straits Time (no URL as the online paper needs subscription). Interesting and thought for food. Esp when most of the time, we are always the passive.
Price adjustment, only downwards adjustment, should be done periodically to ensure that travel fares maintain low and not inflated towards operators' profit only. This will ensure that fares are in touch with the economic situation at times. Handling out subsidies to needy familes can reach so much, if the fares are high, you will be dragging people down to a level that they will need subsidies soon.
There is an article that is shown in all newspapers, saying the fare increase of an average household of 2 adults and 2 kids is only about $2-$3 per month. The average cost is $144 so it rose to $146. How do they derive $144 when I am hitting $100 a month.
Let's work out my cost.
Bus service 26/853 to Kallang MRT - $0.63
Kallang MRT to Jurong East MRT - $1.44
Rebate - ($0.25)
One way journey - $1.82
Two way journey - $3.64
Assume 20 working days - $72.80
2 adults like me will be a $145.80, above cost estimation. Yes, it did say average, I do not consider myself as the higher end, as more ppl take 2 buses and the mrt to travel to work.
Worse off, this is only for daily working commuting purposes only...
This time round, the increase is small, subjected to a 2.4% cap. This roughly translates to about 1-3 cents increase for mrt/lrt and 1 to 2 cents for bus, travelling using ezlink card. The brunt of the increase is on cash paying passengers where they will be subjected to a 10 cents increase.
This will results in an estimated of 1.3 to 1.4 million of profits to SBS Transit and SMRT. Quite a big increase in profits, I must say.
A small increase, one may say but mutiple small increases are as bad as one big fare increase. Even worse, they can claim they are small increases only and not big increases and hence justifying yet another fare increase. Pardon the jump in logic, but well, not in the mood for long lengthy essaay, esp I have another 2 blogs to flesh out!
Read 2 letters to the forum page on the Straits Time (no URL as the online paper needs subscription). Interesting and thought for food. Esp when most of the time, we are always the passive.
Price adjustment, only downwards adjustment, should be done periodically to ensure that travel fares maintain low and not inflated towards operators' profit only. This will ensure that fares are in touch with the economic situation at times. Handling out subsidies to needy familes can reach so much, if the fares are high, you will be dragging people down to a level that they will need subsidies soon.
There is an article that is shown in all newspapers, saying the fare increase of an average household of 2 adults and 2 kids is only about $2-$3 per month. The average cost is $144 so it rose to $146. How do they derive $144 when I am hitting $100 a month.
Let's work out my cost.
Bus service 26/853 to Kallang MRT - $0.63
Kallang MRT to Jurong East MRT - $1.44
Rebate - ($0.25)
One way journey - $1.82
Two way journey - $3.64
Assume 20 working days - $72.80
2 adults like me will be a $145.80, above cost estimation. Yes, it did say average, I do not consider myself as the higher end, as more ppl take 2 buses and the mrt to travel to work.
Worse off, this is only for daily working commuting purposes only...
Run! Bernard! Run!
Ran 4.6km with DW and SL. The rest can't make it due to feeling tired, not informed etc
The first 2.3km was pretty okie which took me ard 12 minutes 30 seconds. Not enough for IPPT though. Using this as a gauge is not as good as I do not really know the time and motivation level is not high enough. However, my back muscle starts to strain, the muscle just under the left shoulder blade.
The 2.3km back was bad. My mental is very low with not much motivation. Feeling quite sick of running.
Back in army times, I used to run 4km, 6km, 8km and 10km quite regularly. It was a more conducise environment as the run is always started being fresh and energised and most importantly, I was still very fit. Okay, at least fitter than now. The mental strength was stronger then also.
Anyway, I dun like running at all.
To the extent that I will say, I hate running!!
The first 2.3km was pretty okie which took me ard 12 minutes 30 seconds. Not enough for IPPT though. Using this as a gauge is not as good as I do not really know the time and motivation level is not high enough. However, my back muscle starts to strain, the muscle just under the left shoulder blade.
The 2.3km back was bad. My mental is very low with not much motivation. Feeling quite sick of running.
Back in army times, I used to run 4km, 6km, 8km and 10km quite regularly. It was a more conducise environment as the run is always started being fresh and energised and most importantly, I was still very fit. Okay, at least fitter than now. The mental strength was stronger then also.
Anyway, I dun like running at all.
To the extent that I will say, I hate running!!
Thursday, May 19, 2005
It is getting more and more expensive just to travel
SBS are raising the price of travel again.
Surprisingly, profits are up SGD$4 million from last quarter although profit compare to the same quarter 2004, it is down by SGD$0.5 million. Another noticable profit line is that there is an incrase of 158% increase of profits for the year 2004 compared to 2003 which is a staggering SGD$30 million.
SBS is now a private company with government's interest in it. It does not really face a competitive market since it is a close and protected market. SBS provides the basic public transport in Singapore, so I gather it is towards the interests of the public rather than their shareholders. True, it is a private company and we should not let it be operating at a loss but with it operating at a bigger profit, shouldn't this excess profits be channelled back to those who need it? Prime examples are the hardworking bus captains and the poor and needy.
An increase in fares will suffocate the lower incomes and slowly strangle the middle class. Profits for shareholders are looked after but not the needy. Yes, SBS does provide transport vouchers for the needy but it is only for those who knows where to get them and able to get them.
Has SBS improved its services to the public? Better timing? more buses? Able to provide a general schedule for all to refer to? I have yet to see any improvement in these. Bus fleets are actually smaller now due to SBS down-sizing to increase profits. Timing is getting worse. Schedule is non-existent. What is worse? More bus services are trimmed away to force people to take its North-East Line which resultant in higher waiting time, travelling time and travelling costs.
SBS did selective comparison with other statistics and claims that cost of an average ride is about 65 cents which is more lower than some developed and neighbouring countries. However, most Singaporeans commuting on public transport takes an average of 2 rides to reach their destinations which bring the average costs of a trip to about $1.30. If the chosen countries by SBS, has an average of 1 ride per trip, the average cost per trip will be much lower than ours even if the average cost per ride is up to $1. This is also poor comparision as it is a selective and not representative comparision. We can certainly choose poorer countries with poorer exchange rate to show the opposite that our average cost per ride is much higher.
Even though the increase will be capped by 2.4%, multiple increases will make this cap invalid. Who knows when will be the next increase?
SBS financial reports
Surprisingly, profits are up SGD$4 million from last quarter although profit compare to the same quarter 2004, it is down by SGD$0.5 million. Another noticable profit line is that there is an incrase of 158% increase of profits for the year 2004 compared to 2003 which is a staggering SGD$30 million.
SBS is now a private company with government's interest in it. It does not really face a competitive market since it is a close and protected market. SBS provides the basic public transport in Singapore, so I gather it is towards the interests of the public rather than their shareholders. True, it is a private company and we should not let it be operating at a loss but with it operating at a bigger profit, shouldn't this excess profits be channelled back to those who need it? Prime examples are the hardworking bus captains and the poor and needy.
An increase in fares will suffocate the lower incomes and slowly strangle the middle class. Profits for shareholders are looked after but not the needy. Yes, SBS does provide transport vouchers for the needy but it is only for those who knows where to get them and able to get them.
Has SBS improved its services to the public? Better timing? more buses? Able to provide a general schedule for all to refer to? I have yet to see any improvement in these. Bus fleets are actually smaller now due to SBS down-sizing to increase profits. Timing is getting worse. Schedule is non-existent. What is worse? More bus services are trimmed away to force people to take its North-East Line which resultant in higher waiting time, travelling time and travelling costs.
SBS did selective comparison with other statistics and claims that cost of an average ride is about 65 cents which is more lower than some developed and neighbouring countries. However, most Singaporeans commuting on public transport takes an average of 2 rides to reach their destinations which bring the average costs of a trip to about $1.30. If the chosen countries by SBS, has an average of 1 ride per trip, the average cost per trip will be much lower than ours even if the average cost per ride is up to $1. This is also poor comparision as it is a selective and not representative comparision. We can certainly choose poorer countries with poorer exchange rate to show the opposite that our average cost per ride is much higher.
Even though the increase will be capped by 2.4%, multiple increases will make this cap invalid. Who knows when will be the next increase?
SBS financial reports
Monday, May 16, 2005
End of EPL season 04-05
Last Sunday was the last match for the English Premier League Season 2004-2005.
Chelsea is the EPL Champions with a record of 95 points in the table. They achieved 29 wins, 8 draws and 1 loss. My beloved team, Arsenal is the runner-up.
Though Chelsea won by a gulf, it still have many records unbroken. They did not win the League unbeaten, Arsenal still maintaining a 49 consecutive unbeaten run which is about 1 and a quarter season long. Many will argue Chelsea won by 'buying' its way through with huge purchases, money supplied by Roman Abramovich. Claudio Ranieri formed the backbone of the Chelsea squad but broke the spirit with many changes throughout the season. Jose Mourinho forms a basic squad and sticks with it. The credit goes to Claudio Ranieri for its many good signings and Jose Mourinho just only stablises the squad with huge money backing. Once can only imagine when the money stopped, the club crashes. Afterall, it is a loss making club with abt 50 million pounds in losses for the season 04-05. This figure is set to soar for 05-06.
Relegation dogfight saw West Bromwich Wanderers staying in EPL while Norwich City, Southampton and Crystal Palace relegated to Championship League. Personally I wanted Crystal Palace and a lesser extent, Norwich to survive the drop but I must admit West Brom has improved by leaps and bounds to survive the drop with a big dose of luck with 3 other results going their way.
Till the next season in August!
Chelsea is the EPL Champions with a record of 95 points in the table. They achieved 29 wins, 8 draws and 1 loss. My beloved team, Arsenal is the runner-up.
Though Chelsea won by a gulf, it still have many records unbroken. They did not win the League unbeaten, Arsenal still maintaining a 49 consecutive unbeaten run which is about 1 and a quarter season long. Many will argue Chelsea won by 'buying' its way through with huge purchases, money supplied by Roman Abramovich. Claudio Ranieri formed the backbone of the Chelsea squad but broke the spirit with many changes throughout the season. Jose Mourinho forms a basic squad and sticks with it. The credit goes to Claudio Ranieri for its many good signings and Jose Mourinho just only stablises the squad with huge money backing. Once can only imagine when the money stopped, the club crashes. Afterall, it is a loss making club with abt 50 million pounds in losses for the season 04-05. This figure is set to soar for 05-06.
Relegation dogfight saw West Bromwich Wanderers staying in EPL while Norwich City, Southampton and Crystal Palace relegated to Championship League. Personally I wanted Crystal Palace and a lesser extent, Norwich to survive the drop but I must admit West Brom has improved by leaps and bounds to survive the drop with a big dose of luck with 3 other results going their way.
Till the next season in August!
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
4iq Test
| Your brain: 80% interpersonal, 120% visual, 100% verbal, and 100% mathematical! |
| Congratulations on being 400% smart! Actually, on my test, everyone is. The above score breaks down what kind of thinking you most enjoy doing. A score above 100% means you use that kind of thinking more than average, and a score below 100% means you use it less. It says nothing about how good you are at any one, just how interested you are in each, relatively. A substantial difference in scores between two people means, conclusively, that they are different kinds of thinkers. Matching Summary: Each of us has different tastes. Still, I offer the following advice, which I think is obvious:
|
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My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
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| Link: The 4-Variable IQ Test written by chriscoyne on Ok Cupid |
Road Rage and something to help concentration
This will be a good read to all potential road rage people. Please hold your temper before thinking with only your little brother (pun intended!)
Road Rage
This is kinda late as when I first posted, it is the examination period and now it is over already. Anyway, Just something to help you along if you need this!
Concentrate!
Road Rage
This is kinda late as when I first posted, it is the examination period and now it is over already. Anyway, Just something to help you along if you need this!
Concentrate!
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Champions League and a Rude Guy
For those who follow English Soccer and European Competitions, you should know what is the Champions League without me going into details. Also, I will not go into details as it is lengthy explanation and efforts to explain over here will kill me!
Chelsea just lost to Liverpool by an agregate score of 0-1. A victory not just for Liverpool but for those who do not like or simply hate Chelsea. I do not like Chelsea at all. A team which is totally bought by money. The club operates at a loss to the tune of abt 200 million pounds. Imagine if the owner Roman Abramovich is to pull out his funds, basically it will collapse, players sold off, and probably dropped to Championship league or even 1st Division. Waiting for that day to come true. When UEFA's new rulings on home grown players come into force, Chelsea will suffer as its current squad will have aged and its main players are bought from other teams.
The rude man is not Jose Mourinho. I was walking towards the mrt today while travelling to work. I saw this guy, in his forties, in a white shirt walking towards me. I can see that we are going to collide if we stay on the same paths. I move slightly to my left, half expecting him to do the same to avoid me. However, when we meet, he just moves straight on, without avoiding and hit me right on the right shoulder. Because I was still moving out of position, I did no use much force. However, that asshole carry on straight and bang into me. Without saying an apology, he just walked off as if nothing happened. I was so tempted to scold him and reprimand him that if you bang into someone, you should apologise to him. What an asshole!
Chelsea just lost to Liverpool by an agregate score of 0-1. A victory not just for Liverpool but for those who do not like or simply hate Chelsea. I do not like Chelsea at all. A team which is totally bought by money. The club operates at a loss to the tune of abt 200 million pounds. Imagine if the owner Roman Abramovich is to pull out his funds, basically it will collapse, players sold off, and probably dropped to Championship league or even 1st Division. Waiting for that day to come true. When UEFA's new rulings on home grown players come into force, Chelsea will suffer as its current squad will have aged and its main players are bought from other teams.
The rude man is not Jose Mourinho. I was walking towards the mrt today while travelling to work. I saw this guy, in his forties, in a white shirt walking towards me. I can see that we are going to collide if we stay on the same paths. I move slightly to my left, half expecting him to do the same to avoid me. However, when we meet, he just moves straight on, without avoiding and hit me right on the right shoulder. Because I was still moving out of position, I did no use much force. However, that asshole carry on straight and bang into me. Without saying an apology, he just walked off as if nothing happened. I was so tempted to scold him and reprimand him that if you bang into someone, you should apologise to him. What an asshole!
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